Chapter 710: True Demonlord [41] (1/2)
Skyscrapers, casinos, and the unique infrastructure of the town layout swapped to the south, the extreme end of where matters grew worse. Helicopters of allegiances to Phantom landed. Rescued noncombatants and vigilantes alike ambled to parked planes. The stairway climbed onto freedom and a sliver of happiness.
”There they are,” hailed Jonl, the remainder arrived without trouble. A loud gust blew onto the bystanders, regardless, he strongly made it to Team 01 and 02.
”How was the escape?”
”Frightening,” gasped Kinka.
”What about the army, I saw reinforcement make way from the other side?”
”Worry not,” winked Ginka, ”-we were saved by a strange entity.”
”I agree,” nodded Meza, ”-an ethereal being who vanquished our opponents nonchalantly.”
”Right,” a butler walked into view beside whom stood a maid, ”-gather round, people.”
The crowd waited nervously, ”-my name's Éclair, I serve the Alchemist known as Igna Haggard. I'm sure the guard is raised and tis fair, I'd have it no other way. The reality of the situation is, we were asked to rescue you from certain death. Comes to no surprise the military had asked for a culling. In response, Lina Holseter, of the Holseter family, pleaded for thy safety. There are multiple jets readied to takeoff – check with the maids for further information. Three flights in bound, Melmark, Hidros, and Dostein. Hidros is for those who wish to escape life in Alphia and start anew. For those critically injured, the trip to Melmark is onward to the hospice, the escort will handle the procedure from thereon. Glad to say, the mission was a success. Congratulations to everyone, luck of retrial and freedom has been bestowed.”
Collective relived glances diffused, the butler made for the evacuation teams.
”Uonl, Froy, and Meza,” he called, ”-might I have a word?”
”Sure,” they followed to a somewhat secure location.
”I wish to relay a simple message, a suggestion I dare say. After the battle is concluded, the military will take control of the infected area. There's nothing to be done – the spy network knows no bound. Sooner or later, hitmen will knock on thy door. This comes from my lord, fly to Hidros and start again. Alphia's a place of misfortune, long are the days of the land of dreams faded.”
”We run away,” murmured Froy, ”-fine.”
”Are you serious?” refuted Uonl, ”-what about the others, are you going to run away?”
”I'm running, I don't care,” he shoved Uonl's arms aside, ”-I've had enough of seeing my comrades die. So many of us left to be eaten, not once, NOT EVER, did I think my actions would bring peace.”
”Calm down,” said Meza softly, ”-we'll split into three teams, same as before. Uonl, don't mistake arrogance with confidence,” he walked to the distraught Froy.
”Shut up,” he grabbed both their arms, ”-don't walk away, I'm not finished talking. I never said I wasn't coming with. We're sticking together until the whole situation is resolved.”
”Glad to see an agreement,” added Éclair, ”-life in Hidros should be easier gained. If working doesn't pan out, there's still monster problem – perhaps sign to an independent guild and earn thy way to a sustainable future.”
”We appreciate the kindness,” they broke towards the respective teams. Lines were readied to board the jets, as expected, one bound to Hidros didn't hold many passengers, not until each team decided to follow the alchemist's advice.
”Éclair.”
”What is it, Starix?”
”Problem,” said she in a maid's outfit, ”-the master's dot has gone offline.”
”Offline!” the outburst didn't pull attention, ”-I apologize,” they shuffled towards a hangar, hidden from the passengers, ”-what's the meaning of gone?”
”I'd tell you if I could, highly suspect death or worse…”
”Death?” a shiver went up their spine, ”-what about death?” a zombie-like creature rose from the pits of shadows, ”-what about the death…” heels clopped against the polished floor, ”-tell me what happened?” the mask returned to her pocket, the faded outline leaped into view.
”Lady Fia, I'm astonished.”
”How did you mask the presence?” fired Starix, ”-should I dispose of her?”
”No, no,” he grabbed her fast arms, ”-don't resort to violence,” he pulled between the maid and princess, ”-lady Fia, I have a favor to ask. My lord has gone missing from the radar.”
”Didn't he evacuate?”
”No, I'm sad to say, the operation never stated his departure. He is likely to have conjured doppelgangers to fool the military. I should maybe explain how all were able to escape. The instant he dropped onto the battlefield; the evacuees were shuffled into a premeditated escape path. The vehicles, high-end stealth transport, gemstones of Phantom's research, evaded detection and made for awaiting helicopters. To the army, a replica of the trucks and passengers traveled at a slower pace. That alone wouldn't fool them for long – create a loud enough mess to set sights on him. Reinforcement was the perfect bait. A trusted ally jumped in, exterminated the forces, and left; they'd be forced to investigate.”
”Can't he escape?”
”No, I wasn't finished. After the destruction, the escapee's trucks would crash against an incoming armored tank and explode. Fake deaths to fool the combatants.”
”What about Igna?”
”He's cast a large illusion spell, the amount of mana required to keep the show alive is extraneous.”
'Idiot…'
”My lady, stop!” interjected Starix, ”-heading to a battle zone is unwise, reconsider.”
”I'd rather die,” she took flight and left.
”Why not stop her?”
”Starix, a princess should know about the prince charming. Master's dot vanished; we can't argue the facts. She's strong, we're wise to goad her into scouting the area. Enough talk, let's end the operation.”
Most of what was said came from hypotheses. Knowledge of the battlefield was long gone, a communication blackout to stall the enemy. An educated guess turned reality. The night wrapped the continent by storm. Fire glared into clouds of smoke. The decrepit land of monsters cleared to a moment of tranquility. The outer gates shut not after an insurmountable amount of carcass spread around the cracked road. Blood and bodily fluid stained the grayish gate yellow, brownish orange, and black. The stench of death choked unfortunate bystanders. '-Damn,' *huff puff,* '-regeneration isn't kicking in,' he sat with back against the shut gates, head rested to the cold robust metal sheet, the eyes shut. The right leg of the pants tore from the knee down, a devourer got the better earlier in the fight, it cleanly bit off the leg, which regenerated soon after. Marching soldiers' beeline across Q3, at the helm, Captain Soong.
”Alchemist,” guns hoisted, ”-are you alive or dead?”
”Dead,” said a tired response.
”Shortly, yes,” he marched forth, ”-tell me, boy, what happened to the vigilantes?”
”Dead,” he coughed, ”-same as me,” emotionless crimson-colored pupils glared into his soul, ”-the ringleader's out to play.”
”Son, don't make this harder on me,” hands clenched behind his back, ”-there's no doubt in my mind the vigilantes are dead,” a slow-moving behemoth crawled to a stop, ”-the tank took care of the valiant escape attempt.”