127 Big Changes in the Wes (2/2)
The gigantic Commander Genk dismounted from his horse and looked ahead with enlarged eyes.
The poor horse collapsed beside him, gasping for breath like a overzealous marathon runner. He was late, what would he discover at the end of this road of destruction? He didn't even want to consider.
”We move forward on foot,” Genk ordered. The men prepared their provisions and proceeded on their journey with haste.
Qin Li, Fu Qian and Zhi Ruo stood at ground zero, this was the epicentre of the carnage. This was where Hartley's dark sphere had detonated. Other than smoking debris the only other thing left was the lower half of the saint's body. The blackened cauterized legs and abdomen of the withered man still sending swirling smoke to the sky.
Qin Li directed the elites and the volunteers to search the almost 200 meters wide and 20 to 30 meters deep blast radius.
The people searched diligently in silence with bowed heads as they concentrated on the task with nervousness. No one wanted to be the one to discover Hartley's corpse. It was evident to them that none caught in this blast could survive.
About half a mile back from ground zero was a hill of rubble standing ten meters high. Hartley's eyes flashed open and was greeted by pitch black darkness. Memories of the explosion flooded back. His back ached as sudden pangs of pains darted through his body.
He struggled to move feeling pressure from all sides. Pulses of blue light from the sphere still protecting his body illuminated the darkness in spaced out intervals. In that flash, Hartley quickly surmised the situation he was in.
His hand trembled as he summoned the strength move, with a simple wave, a large piece of rock was sent flying, opening an exit to the hill of debris.
Light flooded in as Hartley staggered out with groaning sounds. A few seconds later the pile fell in on itself with dust and chips of rock spraying out.
Hartley took a breath, pulled himself together, looked around and assessed the damage laid out before him, the battle was won, but the collateral cost was high.
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Hartley now resigned himself to the fact that the black sphere could only be used as a last resort, at least until he could improve it to a stage where he could control it better.
Hartley staggered along and saw people scattered all over the battered landscape busily moving rocks, not just soldiers but also civilians, he was puzzled for a moment.
That was when a young man dressed in civilian garb saw Hartley from 20 meters away. He wiped his eyes in wonder and joy then came closer, as soon as he recognised Hartley he started shouting merrily at the top of voice. ”The young lord is over here.”
The majority attracted by the cries came rushing over. Swarming around with elated expressions. Soon the group of Qin Li, Fu Qian, Fu Jianu and Zhi Ruo arrived in nervous haste.
After regrouping with the others in joyous celebration. Hartley hugged the relived Zhi Ruo after exchanging a few intimate words and kisses, using her as support for his weakened and limp body. Rough joyous laughter surrounded Hartley from both sides. Qin Li and Fu Qian could hardly hold in their mirth.
Long shadows were drawn over the western hills, the long day was transitioning into night. Hartley and the others were swarmed and escorted by the elites of House Hartley with the excited residents trailing in their wake.
They made their way away from the destruction and towards the manor, Hartley looked back over his shoulder and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
It would be a massive endeavour to clean up the the damage... ...
The triumph over the noble allies in the west had catapulted Hartley to a major figure in the capital. In the days after the battle, the other nobles in the west who hadn't joined the assault on the western hills were quick to send their regards, fearing Hartley would wrongly assumed them in cahoots with his enemies.
In all but title Hartley had become the ruler of the west.
Commoners continued to seek refuge in the western hills as Hartley consolidated his new power.
In the east of the capital it was a typical day, the sun lashed over the tightly packed roofs. People went about their day as usual, some discussing rumours from a monumental battle that happened days aback.
In the meeting room of the castle to the east, commanders and captains sat with gloomy faces, Baron Hongtian was sat in a cushioned chair across from the eldest prince, his eyes no longer held its former confidence and his posture slumped lazily.
”Missing presumed dead.” The Baron lifelessly answered the question posed.
”So what about Hong Zang ?” the eldest prince inquired about another name on his list as he stared at a messy pile of parchments laying on his desk.
”Missing presumed dead.” came another monotone answer.
”Elder Juantao?”.............. ”Missing presumed dead.”
The usually calm Prince banged on his desk in anger. A saint, a half-saint and damm near every ally in the west were missing presumed dead.
In an attempt to rally his support in the west, he was finding it difficult to gather his old allies. Despite the answers from the Baron, he knew some of them weren't dead, they were obviously cowards who had heard reports of the secret weapons of the western hills and the mass casualties it had inflicted.
They instead opted to flee the west leaving a vacuum of power that would be filled by Hartley.
This was bad, instead of levering Hartley out of the picture, the prince had inadvertently made him the undisputed ruler of the west.