Chapter 300: Ready for War (1/2)

A table was placed in the middle of Zac’s courtyard, and six people were sitting around it. Apart from Ogras and his three generals, there were also Joana and Alyn. This was a war council, but Zac still wanted Alyn's input since no one had a better grasp of the strength of his armies than her.

”So, Alea should already have filled you all in on the general plan,” Zac said as he turned toward Alyn. ”Are the armies ready to be deployed?”

”Honestly? Barely,” Alyn said with some annoyance on her face. ”A lot of those people are too soft. War is exactly what's needed to get a few of those people in shape. And if they die we at least save on costs.”

Zac frowned a bit at Alyn's callousness, but she was adamant.

”Months and months have passed and some have never even risked their lives. Many of those who joined the army were people who had huddled in fear within walls on the various islands, and they were thirsting for power. But now that they are faced with real risks many are balking, and we have even had to publicly execute a few people who tried to cause a disturbance,” the schoolmistress continued. ”There is a good core of over eight thousand men and women though, they will all be all be able to put up a fight.”

”What? Eight thousand?” Zac gaped.

”Only the elites are actually at the Academy by this point,” Alyn said. ”Many are on other islands defending our various facilities. ”In total, our armies have already passed fifteen thousand men, though we need to leave at least twenty percent to protect our interests and maintain order.”

Zac was surprised that the army had grown to such proportions, but then again new people were added to his kingdom every week due to the unceasing efforts of Mr. Trang and his fleet. By now there were over twenty ships in the armada, many of them high-grade vessels like the corvette he bought last time.

The best part was that they had been added to his naval forces without any cost to his personal fortune. Taxes from the consortia and the crystals from the mine were already providing Port Atwood with a hefty monthly income by this point, which made maintenance and expansion much smoother.

Still, eight thousand was nothing compared to a horde of tens of millions of Zombies. Even if they killed a hundred Zombies each they would barely have scratched the surface.

”This will also prove as an excellent opportunity for them. It is not easy to gain experience of large scale battles, but this provides just that,” Ilvere added. ”Many of our men are still quite low leveled, but an ocean of Zombies will provide an opportunity for rapid improvement.”

”Well, it is settled then. Ilvere will be in charge of Port Atwood's forces. Try to cooperate with our allies and the Sino-Indian alliance, but the safety of our people comes first,” Zac said.

”I understand,” Ilvere said.

Zac suddenly had an idea as he looked at Ilvere, who seemed a bit confused by the stare.

”Here, take this,” Zac said as he handed him a crystal.

”What's this? [Cyclic Strike]?”Ilvere said with some interest.

”It is a skill I received from the Lord of Cycles. It utilizes two opposite Daos to form a formidable attack. It is up to you whether you wish to learn it,” Zac said. ”But if you do learn it I would like to be updated on your progress in mastering it.”

Zac had realized that Ilvere was working toward gaining both the Dao Seeds of Heaviness and Lightness. Zac wasn't sure, but perhaps the attack would work for him as well, and if he did manage to master the skill it might provide a shortcut for Zac to master it as well.

”So this skill is why you came by yesterday?” Alyn said with interest. ”It is a very novel concept. Combining multiple Daos in one strike at F-Grade is quite uncommon.”

”Thank you, I'll learn it. I am aiming to fuse the two into the Dao Fragment of Momentum, and this skill might help me toward that end,” Ilvere said with some glee on his face. ”If I learn something I will update you.”

”Great,” Zac said with a nod. ”Next subject. The strike force. Who apart from Ogras should take part?”

”I guess I cannot opt out?” Ogras said with a grimace as he looked through the stack containing the information of the 17 incursions remaining on earth. ”Some of these forces are pretty dangerous.”

”You ate my food, now you need to work for it a bit,” Zac said. ”So, who else?”

”We have mastered the War Arrays for up to 18 people,” Joanna said, speaking up for the first time of the meeting. ”Truth be told we won't be able to increase your strength by a large degree, but we will be able to form a small shield that covers our small squad. With such a small area of protection, the shield will be extremely sturdy.”

Zac nodded, feeling it was a good idea. Having that small squad with him would help protect Billy from harm.

”That sounds like a plan. Your main goal should be to guard Billy from surprise attacks. He is very strong, but his defenses aren't the best,” Zac said.

”I will put together a team of our strongest people,” Joanna nodded in affirmation.

”You should bring the feral child as well,” Alyn suddenly added.

”Who? Emelie?” Zac exclaimed. ”Absolutely not.”

”She is only level 31, but her attributes are a match to many of the Valkyries,” Alea added. ”Besides, she is a support class.”

”I am not sure I need the boost against the Incursions,” Zac hesitantly said. ”It's not worth risking her life for that.”

”It's not only about that,” Alyn said. ”Support classes gain Cosmic Energy by simply empowering their allies. As long as you kill someone under the effect of her axes she will gain a part of the experience. Her levels would skyrocket if she came with you. And she could stay within the shield created by the spear maidens.”

”Honestly if you don't bring her she will get herself in trouble somewhere else,” Ogras said. ”She has turned almost crazy in her pursuit of power the last days. She said she needs to go to the underworld. Better keep her in sight where we can protect her. And you're rich enough to deck her in enough defensive treasures to almost guarantee her life.”

Zac sighed when he heard about the teenager's situation. She was probably extremely anxious to scour the underworld for her siblings. It was the last chance for her to find anyone of her old family alive.

”Fine, but keep her away from the fighting. I want her at maximum distance from me so people don't figure out she's a support,” Zac relented.