Book 6, Chapter 110 - Epilogue: A New Plan (2/2)

They were spread pretty evenly across the globe. The one marked with a white symbol was Skycloud, and the Shepherd God’s failed home was marked in gray. The others were indicated with red, probably to indicate their hostile status.

“What you see are the precise locations of each Elysian land.” It was not at all strange that Wolfblade would know where these realms were. He’d wandered the world for over a thousand years, maybe even before some were created. “My suggestion is the furthest, Stormford. Being the most remote there are few or no wasteland powers they’ve had to contend with. That would make it easier for you to infiltrate, since they would not be wary of outsiders.”

Cloudhawk took a moment to regard the nuclear weapon nearby. He weighed his options, but eventually understood it was the best course of action. He collected the weapon and left.

Wolfblade called after him. “Also, I have an old friend in Stormford who would be happy to offer some help. He’s easy to find, you just need to...”

But Cloudhawk had already left.

Wolfblade sat back, picked up his cup and took a sup.

Squall had been standing to one side the whole time. Curiosity eventually got the better of him. “Think he’ll do it?”

“What makes you think he wouldn’t? He is the Demon King.” When he was finished with his tea, the demon rose and opened a window. The light from outside darkened his shadow. “Everything he experiences is a series of small tests. The real enemy has yet to arrive. He won’t fail so easily.”

**

“You really trust Wolfblade’s strategy?”

“Things being what they are we have to consider anything feasible.”

Cloudhawk was preparing for the journey. He’d spent the night with Selene together in the fort. She clearly had her doubts about the plan – at the very least he shouldn’t go alone. He wasn’t a trained infiltrator, they had Carnage for a job like that. He wasn’t just some grunt, either. He was the leader of their Alliance. If something happened while he was gone, how could he respond?

Selene’s attitude toward Wolfblade was similar to Dawn’s. He was dangerous, conspiratorial and not to be trusted. Even to this day no one knew what his motivations were. What they saw was only the tip of the iceberg.

“Don’t worry, I’m strong enough to move pretty quickly between two fixed points.” Cloudhawk wrapped her in a hug. “You’re absolutely right that no one is better for sneaking into places than Carnage. His disguises aren’t based on any relic so no power can reveal him. But that is also its greatest flaw.”

“Flaw?”

“He can’t duplicate the resonance of a relic, and that means he can’t pretend to be a demonhunter. At best he can assume the identity of a general. We know that Sky Fortress is gathering the best of the best, the strongest people in all the realms. Two months isn’t enough time for Carnage to find a way in.”

“So then your plan...”

“I’m going to Stormford and Carnage will go to the other three realms. I’ll do my best to reach the heart of Sky Fortress as fast as possible. Meanwhile Carnage will spread through the middle and lower ranks. Our chances will be better if we coordinate.”

“Is there some way I can help you?” Selene asked.

“Yeah, when I’m not here you’re in charge of the Alliance.”

There were plenty of capable people in the Green Alliance, but only a handful he could trust without reservation. Of that small group even fewer had the leadership qualities needed to run the show. Selene was the best choice.

While he was away the Alliance would be in a tug of war between Selene’s camp, Wolfblad’es people, and followers of the Cloud God. It was a good system of mutual control and relative independence. As long as Cloudhawk was around and they were all fighting for survival, these groups wouldn’t fight among themselves. These divisions actually served to make them stronger.

Two months…

That’s all the time he had to disguise himself as a mere demonhunter and sneak into Sky Fortress. He was the only one who could do it, the only one who could end this war before it began.

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