263 Dimensional Descen (2/2)
”You’re absolutely certain that it’s a Dimensional Descent and not simply the opening of the Undead Plane Dimensional Door?”
”Yes, it’s Aunt Amelia’s assessment. With everything that’s happened after that as well, there should be no mistake.”
”Dimensional Descent” was a specialized term that even mages rarely used. This term referred to what would happen if two planes got sufficiently close enough to each other. Parts of some areas would begin overlapping. This would typically appear near the closest areas to the Dimensional Door. For example, if the Earth Elemental Dimensional Door at Antuen really succeeded in opening, then the surrounding environment would have begun showing signs of elementalization. The large amounts of naturally born small and mid-sized earth elementals were the best evidence of this.
However, in most normal cases, even if a Dimensional Door succeeded in completely opening, at most the area around the Dimensional Door would change to match the other plane’s environment. A complete dimensional overlap wouldn’t appear. To use an analogy, the change to the environment that a Dimensional Door typically brought about was like adding some sugar to water and making it into sugar water, while a Dimensional Descent was like squeezing two cups of water into one cup of water, which would likely result in the cup breaking.
”If one of the Elemental Planes performs a Dimensional Descent, then more than half of everything living in the surrounding area will instantly die off. Those still left alive would have characteristics of elemental creatures and would never be able to live normally on the mortal plane again. If the Undead Plane, which is filled with death, performs a Dimensional Descent…”
Doubtlessly, Harloys, who was an expert on magic, had the greatest right to make an assessment of what would happen. Yet judging from her current expression and silence, it was obvious that she didn’t have much hope for Port Victoria.
”I believe in Amelia’s ability to assess the situation. If the Undead Plane really is performing a Dimensional Descent, then we should consider not going there to save anyone; all the living will instantly turn into the dead, and part of the Undead Plane will appear there. And it’s probably a permanent effect. This is far more troublesome than any Land of Death.”
I nodded in agreement. Harloys’ assessment, which she had finally ended up giving, was basically the same as what I was thinking. However, I had thought of even more troubles.
”If that place has already transformed into a part of the Undead Plane, then that means some existences that are limited by dimensional natural laws will be able to descend there. No wonder Amelia met with trouble. There’s a high probability that she met a real Undead Emperor.”
It was obvious that the major city Port Victoria would become nothing more than a page of history. Its population of almost one million residents had completely turned into undead, and the veterans of the Undead Plane had their own home bases established there now. But, I was thinking of how the Bardi Empire was destined to leave its name in the history books for infamy, having paid such a large price—a price that was likely only going to grow even larger.
”There’s no response from the Bardi government?”
”None at all, and news about it has been suppressed. When I managed to escape, I even saw knights in the surrounding area keeping the main road leading to Port Victoria on a lockdown. Caped undead were also openly talking to military officials, while skeleton soldiers and zombies were being organized and commanded by human officers. It’s obvious that they’ve already reached an accord. And…”
”And?”
”I heard some news that the Bardi government’s official channels are announcing that the new undead armies are here to help the Bardi Empire defeat the Mage Country. Although it caused quite a lot of resistance, it all seems to have been suppressed.”
As a port, Port Victoria was obviously by the sea. And right across the sea from Port Victoria was the Mage Country. I was basically able to guess their intentions from these pieces of information.
The merchant city Port Victoria originally belonged to another country and was a location that the Bardi Empire had recently obtained; it wasn’t a place that they highly valued to begin with. A merchant city like Port Victoria wouldn’t have many military ships stationed, while the ones present, typically the small and medium-sized merchant ships, wouldn’t be able to carry many people. Even if Bardi’s renowned land armies went on ships into the Strait of Debo, they’d be nothing more than easy targets unable to conveniently use the advantages that they had on land.
After receiving more and more information, I had a guess—but there would be a huge amount of trouble if I was on the mark. I directly stated what I was thinking.
”How wide is the Strait of Debo? I only want the straight line distance.”
Yawen took out a map and measured it with a ruler. When she converted the distance scale on the map, she suddenly lifted her head.
”Less than two hundred kilometers! If the undead army makes a sudden march, one night will be more than enough.”
Undead weren’t afraid of fatigue and didn’t need to breathe. Natural barriers that were impossible obstacles for other living creatures were nothing in front of them.
The ocean waters were treacherous? Ocean waves were tall enough to capsize vessels? While that may be true for the ocean’s surface, the bottom of the ocean was always calm.
All the port areas where vessels could land at in the Mage Country were heavily guarded? In that case, just find any random unguarded area to climb ashore.
These were all tactics I had used back in the day to make use of the special characteristics of the undead, attacking with unexpected methods. Yet since I had made these precedents, it was only natural that they became standard undead attacking strategies.
With all this information, the big picture was getting quite obvious. But even the ruler of an empire wouldn’t be able to act entirely as he pleased, making such obviously ridiculous policies. At the very least, he would have to convince all the factions within his country and give the other factions red herrings of benefits to be gained; he would have to convince his subordinates somehow.
The current Bardi Empire was still likely at a cooperative stage with the Undead Emperors. As long as the undead were able to prove their worth, there would be plenty more cooperative opportunities between them and the Bardi Empire in the future, and of course the undead would help the Bardi Empire even more in the future. Since Port Victoria was formerly an enemy country’s city that had been recently conquered, why would the Bardi Empire care about it?
”If the undead armies suddenly ambush the Mage Country from underwater with high-level undead assisting them, then even the Mage Country might not be able to defend against them. Perhaps Amelia heard some news about this, which was why she personally went… Lilith, do you have more detailed information about what happened to Amelia?”
Lilith anxiously shook her head; she seemed to lack self-confidence.
”No. Not long after we arrived, the Dimensional Descent occurred. Of course, as a member of the Blood Tribe, I was fine. But, no matter how strong Aunt Amelia is, she’s still a human, and apparently she recently fought against someone powerful and was a little injured…”
However, I smiled at Lilith’s anxiousness. Perhaps this would be the brink for others, but I didn’t at all feel like that maniacal witch would have any problems. Her existence had already exceeded the capabilities of life.
”…Relax, she’s even less a member of the human species than you are.”
”Relax, Lady Lilith. I can sense that in that direction, Lady Amelia’s life forces are still blazing strongly. Not only one month, but I think she can easily maintain herself there for another two or three years. She’s not the one in trouble; the undead that angered her are the ones who have to worry.”
Eaglestorm, who had been closing his eyes and thinking, suddenly spoke up and made such a statement. Lilith, however, only believed his words halfheartedly. There was such a great physical distance between them; it seemed for even a Legend-ranked druid to make such a statement with confidence.
However, Harloys and I exchanged glances. Back in the Earth Elemental Plane, Eaglestorm had also witnessed Amelia’s complete form. As a druid who lived in the forests, it was basically a natural talent of his to sense a forest. If he said that Amelia would be fine for the time being, then it was very likely true.
Even at the very worst Amelia would be forced to reveal her true form, and she still wouldn’t be easily dealt with. I was able to somewhat relax when I thought of this. Yet all these things had happened, and I had already decided on what to do for the next part of our little excursion.
”Hurry up with our preparations and gather all the equipment we need. At the very latest, we shall move out on the day after tomorrow. It’ll be best if we can find a Bardi merchant, as that’s the best way to sneak in. If not, we’ll have to secretly cross the border!”