70 Retaliation

"So they withdrew." Marcus looked at the live stream from CNN and other news outlets.

"But they are not showing much." Nyx pouted for not seeing terrified faces.

"Indeed, Aurora, why don't we give a statement?" Seeing his Primordial Pet's disappointment, Marcus decides to clarify to the whole world.

No one is going to mess with the backyard of his house.

[What are your specifications?]

"Let's make it graphic; let's show Realitus at work. It will make a good advertisement, too."

"I don't think people will continue to buy your products." Athena chipped in from the side.

"I don't need others to buy my stuff. My neighbours buying it is enough."

"Even if you don't care about your neighbours?" Atalanta remembered what he said not long ago.

"Of course, I care about when someone uses my stuff, and I get the feedback.

I am goading for Americans to attack me; I want them to sink at least one Daedalus airship. I need to know my vessel's weaknesses. I might have some idea where are the weak spots, but I want actual combat experience."

"In that case, why did you create them so powerful?" Athena eye-rolled.

"They are not strong. The models already are outdated, my dear Goddess." Marcus' eyes rolled back at her.

"Outdated to you. No one even destroyed one before!"

"True. That's why I am goading people to attack these." Marcus replied with a shrug.

Then his gaze went to the holographic windows as he started to check the video Aurora was cooking for him.

"Very good."

~~~

[To people of the world. My name is Marcus Goldman. I am speaking to you all to let you know that you should stay away from my backyard. This message is my first and last warning.]

Marcus appeared on every single screen on every single TV in the world.

He doesn't care if they don't speak his language or understand; there will be the ones who understand and remind them.

[I do not need a space station which can nuke any city or place in the world to remind you of that. I have an army who can do it as well]

Images of thousands of armoured men boarding the airships appeared. This clip looked more like a video from a Star Wars movie than reality. But this was actual footage from when his S.P.B.A. was boarding the airships.

[This is a warning to the so-called 'police of the world' as well. If you are going to send a carrier group to show me something, let me do the very same thing.

But unlike you, I have the resources to wage war your little minds can't comprehend. So, if you have the guts to try, then do it. I am imploring you; I want that battle data.]

"He is mad or very confident."

"Mad? You have seen the footage we got from Carrier Group 3. Those things are authentic and huge."

"...What a mess this is."

Commanders in the Pentagon are struggling to come up with solutions to the demands they are getting from their people.

On top of that, some people want to use Marcus and his might as well.

This video proves that the Inventor doesn't have a high opinion of the West.

Not that they realised that he doesn't have any sort of opinion at all.

If anyone stands in his way, he will simply erase it.

And he has the means to do it. The thing about humans is that they have set values and beliefs. How could they think that this guy has a different set of values?

Though some people think that he has, after all, one needs to be crazy to build what he builds.

But then again, some self-centred beings will never even consider that.

~~~~~~Heaven~~~~~~

"It would appear that it's finally spilling out of control," Michael said to his siblings.

"With his development speed, it was only a matter of time," Rafael said with a knowing tone.

"However, we have another issue. With how this is going, he will dominate the entirety of the world, including every single Pantheon." Uriel explained the growing discord on the planet as a whole.

"Not entirely true." Michael chipped in.

"What do you mean, Brother?" Gabriel asked curiously.

"He is not expanding; he is destroying society from within. Regular people want to be protected. They seek security, a guarantee.

Marcus Goldman's country and surrounding countries will most likely align with him for his protection. What is the best way not to get destroyed by a space gun? Well, to become buddies with the one who wields the weapon.

However, there is another way."

"Pantheons will need to return from their seclusion?" Uriel understood immediately.

"But— I am ashamed to say this, but there is very little we can do what Marcus can. He single handedly dominated the war in the Underworld."

The Angels have their ways of watching the action in the Underworld. They saw first-hand Marcus' personal power and the power of his faction.

This human is in leagues of Dragon Gods.

"True, but regular people don't know it. They don't grasp the difference between us and Marcus' power.

I think it's time we start answering some of the calls for 'help'."

"But, Michael. If people are going to ask to destroy Marcus, we can't just do it!" Rafael said with a sweaty forehead.

"Just speak the words of father. Violence is not the way."

*Sigh*

"Fine. We will descend then."

~~~~~~Takamagahara~~~~~~

"This is getting out of hand! This human is provoking everyone! His passive aggressiveness is getting out of hand!

Even one of his toys is on our land! Sister, we must strike him down!" Susanoo was slowly getting irritated by this. Little by little, his patience is growing thin.

"Then go. If you think you can destroy that monstrosity, then so be it. But once you leave, you won't be coming back." Amaterasu said with a heavy voice as she gazed at what was happening on the ground.

"Ugh…"

"Instead, you should answer your prayers. This situation is not our business; we won't interfere."

"How is it not our business? That thing is floating above our city!"

"A rented city. You were the one who told me to rent it out in the first place." Amaterasu snapped back at him.

"Fine. Whatever, but I will be the one to say, "I told you so." Susanoo huffed like a child before walking away to brood somewhere else.

Amaterasu rolled her eyes before pondering on this. She is not naive enough to ignore this. All she could do was focus on followers.

It's time to answer their call; that should help them to calm down to some degree.

The only one who didn't speak was Tsukiyomi, the God of the moon.

He was pondering on this development. Maybe he should visit this human in his dreams to understand him more.

Maybe he could glimpse some of his actual plans.

Regardless, he will answer the prayers of people who believe in him. This way, they could calm down their people.

~~~~~~Kuoh~~~~~~

Rias, who was in her club room, watched television with bated breath. She has been camping in her club room for days. She was not leaving this place at all. By this point, she was what is called Hikikomori.

Just watching anime or, in this case, news. Rias' Queen told him that Marcus was on television, so she watched him.

Seeing so many warships under his command, she starts feeling bitter.

Why can't he give her one so she could look for her brother!?

Yes, she knew that he had no reason to do it. But still, if he can make them at such a mass production scale. The news already told her that he has a massive construction site. Satellite images confirm it.

'Sona did get her Sacred Gears from him. Is that because Serafall is close to him? Does this mean I could do something similar? Get a warship if I am close to him?'

By this point, her mind is getting polluted by despair; she is willing to do anything.

At that moment, a crimson Gremory circle glowed in the middle of the room. Rias ended up standing up and looking with expectations.

When the light settled down, it was her mother!

"Mom!" The Heiress rushed over and hugged her.

"Rias, it's good to see you alive and well."

"What's with the drama!?" The girl jokingly replied, but then she noticed that her mother looked tired—more than she had ever seen.

"Mom, tell me we have won, and it's finally over?" Rias hoped for the best. But her mother didn't look her in the eyes.

"Go and find Sona; we need to discuss the situation."

"...Right."

~~~

Sona's and Rias' peerages have gathered in the occult room. They are anxiously waiting for Venelana to start talking.

"Let me start with the basics. The situation is bleak. Very bleak."

Everyone trembled when Lady Gremory started like this.

"There are less than a hundred devils left."

"!!!"

Everyone looked stupefied.

"The only reason we are still alive is because Marcus Goldman is waging war for us.

But, you shouldn't be naive to believe that he will leave after he wins the whole thing."

The gathered devils slowly nodded their heads.

"I assume we will become his vassals?" Sona pondered.

"That is a legitimate possibility. I guess he will bring some devils back to fill up his pillars."

"...Pillars?"

"Oh, right. Marcus Goldman is the direct successor to Solomon. He is the second Solomon."

"!!!"

Rias and Sona gulped down after hearing that.

"...Mom, are you saying that our greatest ally is the one who will most likely enslave us?" Rias sarcastically joked this was such dark humour that her skin was crawling; how bad it is.

"Exactly what I am saying. *Sigh* It shames me to say this, but I am his Bael Pillar, Serafall is his Sitri Pillar, Latia Astaroth is his Astaroth Pillar, and Seekvaira Agares is his Agares Pillar.

You could say we are alive because we belong to him." Venalana explained with a self-mocking smile.

"Then his Gremory pillar is still empty, is it not? I can take that place!" Rias swiftly got over and suggested this.

"Rias. Calm down."

"Mom! We can't just stand here and do nothing!" The Heiress has shown her despair, and she complained out loud. How can she just stay here while her kin is gone!?

"...And what will you do?"

"...I…"

"Can you make Marcus turn you into his Pillar?"

"..."

"Or make him do something for you? You know he won't do it just out of sheer spite that someone is trying to force him.

Just look at the news! He nearly blew up London just because someone tried to make him leave!"

Venelana motioned at the news running on the TV. Even they are watching this in the middle of the battlefield in the Underworld.

Particularly, his Assistant wants to end the war so that she can redirect her efforts towards Earth. Quinella has an ambition to conquer the realm she was born in.

Not that the Devils know about this. All they know is that the AI-turned-human wants to be next to her creator at such an interesting time.

"...I understand…"

"Rias, listen, IF you want him to take you as a pillar or do anything for you, you need to show results. Especially now! We are a dying race! There are more Yokai than us now! But unlike Yokai, we don't have a Pantheon looking out for us!"

Sona sharply said with a serious look.

"I intend to live, so I will do whatever I can to please Marcus Goldman." The Sitri Heiress said to her rival.

"You don't need to push yourself this much, Sona. Your sister is already working to ensure everything is fine with your clan and lands." Venelana said with a small smile.

"That is wonderful news, but I can't rely on my sister to do everything."

Just like that, Rias has a goal to work towards. If only the ancient devils could hear her.

"Then it's settled! I shall train! I will become so strong that Marcus Goldman will make me his Gremory Pillar!" Gremory Heiress stood up and clenched her hand. A red aura surrounded her as her eyes glowed in crimson colour.

If only the Ancient Devils had seen Rias Gremory, they would be rolling in their graves. A devil wants to become a slave to a human.

They would know that the world is ending! Well, it kind of is ending, but not in a conventional means.

While Venelana could only grimace at this, she was feeling like shit now. If she had been more proactive, this situation would have been better for her family.

Supposedly, if she was more of a devil instead of a doting mother, well, she can't complain about spilt milk now.

"Then you can start by training. This area is heavily surveillance by Marcus Goldman; just train and improve your Power of Destruction. He will notice you and start giving you more assignments.

Like Latia Astaroth. She is his girlfriend and already has an Airship of her own."

"...What!!?"

The most surprising of them all was Sona! She knows Latia! The girl is her age and from a branch family of the Astaroth clan!

The Sitri Heiress thought she was at the front regarding this race! She thought she was at the front regarding devils her age chasing Marcus.

She can accept that her sister is with him as she is one of the strongest devils! But Latia!? She is like her! A High-class Devil! She doesn't even know if Latia even knows the Kankara formula or even has a proper Peerage!

'So sneaky! How could this happen? I have underestimated or, more likely, didn't pay attention!'

For a second, she got snappy and bit her nail.

"That's right. She runs mundane things for Marcus alongside her Clan. Of all of the devils, she was the luckiest; the majority of her clan survived the whole ordeal as they were in the human world following Marcus."

"So what is the reason for this attack, Lady Gremory?" Akeno asked.

"Reason? Well, Factions realised that the Biblical faction was weak. The big man up there is dead."

"!!!"

"Evil Gods surged from the depths of the Underworld and swept everything away." The Brown-haired devil lady explained in a distant voice.

"...I see…"

"Yes. I suggest all of you start training. Since there is nothing else to do, you should focus on gathering strength."

"Yes!"

"Rias, a moment of your time."

The Crimson-haired girl followed her mother as they went to a separate room.

"Listen, Marcus summoned me when he was just a child. I was the one who taught him basic magic. You could say I was the one who helped him start where he is now."

"...Does that—"

Venelana stopped her before she could speak more.

"But this was it. If you haven't noticed, I was always there for you. But simultaneously, I neglected my duties as a pillar to him."

At this moment, Rias forgot how to breathe.

"This was where Serafall took over, as she knew the long-term consequences. One could say her job even suffered because of this.

You could say this is the reason why she has an airship and is working her way to regaining her lands from the evil souls controlled by the Incarnation of evil."

"...So you saying is that—"

"I messed up as his Bael Pillar. He could have some sort of prejudice towards Gremory because of it."

Rias started to deadpan at her mother! She wanted to be angry, but she could not.

"So you're telling me that I will experience an uphill battle."

"Most likely. However—" Venelana leaned forward and whispered to her ear.

"We could double team. That is if you are willing."

Rias' blue eyes widened as she stepped back and looked at her mother. The brown-haired devil had a devil smile on her lips.

"...You do want the Gremory clan to return, don't you? Do you think there is a better chance?"

The suggestion was wild, but it was very devil-like. The Gremory Heiress slowly nodded her head, but then she remembered something.

"...Haven't you forgotten that I have arrangements with Phenex?" Rias pointed out. She was still pissed about this arranged marriage!

"Oh sweet, my sweet little girl. For one, Phenex must be alive; for the second, the moment you are Marcus Pillar, you are his."

"Wait, mom…did you—"

"Not yet. As I said, I was focusing on raising you."

"Raising me!? Don't be ridiculous. You have been lazing around most of the time! And I was attending classes!"

Knowing Rias was right, Venelana placed her finger on her daughter's lips.

"No need for the details."

"Ugh! Where I had to get 'over it' with my marriage, you were ditching your duties to Next Solomon!" Now that Rias realised this, she was more pissed!

"...Yes! Fine, I understand. It was my fault. I didn't want to be his slave."

"So did I! But you two pushed this on me!"

"I get it. That is why I am giving you a solution." Venelana pointed out the solution.

"I understand. I agree. I will be part of this scheme." Rias seriously nodded.

'From one arrangement to another, but this is fine!'

"Good, then he will visit Japan in a few days. Be ready."

The Crimson-haired devil Heiress nodded as she proceeded to think of ways to make this work!

~~~~~~South Atlantic, Aboard Scavenger~~~~~~

"This is starting to become annoying. I suppose I can understand how World Conquerors have to feel." Marcus commented with a frown. DNA strands surrounded him as he worked on Bismarck and Belfast's early designs.

He was distracted from his work as he could see news feeds from America and other countries.

"France, Canada, the United States, to some extent England. All of them are still striking against me."

"Then don't watch the news. It's not like it's necessary." Athena casually commented as she had her seat. She was reading a book which appeared from somewhere! The Goddess can summon books on the fly!

"But it is!" Nyx commented with a grin. She wants to see him nuke those bugs!

"In what way?"

"Haven't you understood yet? Our beloved Master told them to zip it. But they didn't listen. These stupid people are still demanding their government to do something about him." Nyx, like a devil, whispered what Marcus was thinking.

"This requires an action, doesn't it, Master?" The Primordial sneaked over to him and gently cuddled into his side.

"You are not wrong. I haven't made an example yet." He pondered on this. He then mentally summoned a hologram and checked several things.

"It appears that the West believes that they can just talk shit about me and think nothing is going to happen." Marcus frowned as he saw several posters and flags with his face crossed out.

"I do believe it's called 'Freedom of Speech' and 'Freedom to Express Themselves'," Athena commented from the side as she saw the same images. Her lips have turned thin.

"I heard of it. However, I am pretty sure when you do, you are taking responsibility for your own actions." As Marcus said that, another window popped.

This window is Ars Almadel Salomonis' targeting system.

"Switch to EMP; we are not killing them. No, that is too generous. I am going to make an example."

[Switching Ammunition]

"Show me the map with the most strikes related to me."

The world's map appeared as a sphere. It was rotating and stopping at Washington DC.

"Not a surprise." Athena already expected that. Americans always make the biggest noise.

"Of course not. It's the capital. The biggest strike is at the White House and the Congress." Marcus, with his finger, just jabbed in the middle of the capital.

"Show me the extent of the damage once I shoot the Ars Almadel Salomonis."

[Calculating Damage]

The East Coast started to light up. The window showed the difference in damages depending on how many reactors are being used,

'Four reactors would place the entire East Coast into the stone age!' Athena gulped down at the sheer scale of this space station's ability. But this was it. This attack would be just an overload of electrical systems.

Not the true destructive power of Ars Almadel Salomonis.

"Hmm, that's too big. Let's switch to 2. Placing Washington and surrounding areas is enough.

"You may fire Aurora."

[Targeting.]

~~~

The massive Space Gun, following Marcus' trip, stopped doing that and instead started to move and target North America.

Some of the people, by this point, were tracking this thing. It was the most obvious thing to do.

When they saw it move and target North America, warning bells started to get triggered!

Before this, it was pointing down, but now it started to move. The barrel began to lift itself and point at North America.

Light started to gather in the barrel.

"Shit! It's going to shoot!"

"That kid is seriously shooting it!?"

"No shit! I think he is making an example!"

The people at the observation telescope exclaimed as they started to contact their superiors and military.

But a blue electrical beam just left the barrel and rushed towards its destination, bending to the planet's curvature.

The flying time was extremely short, as it slammed into its destination in less than a minute.

~~~

"Arrest Marcus Goldman! Arrest Marcus Goldman!"

"Confiscate his Technology!"

As thousands of people gathered in Washington DC, many of them believed that Marcus Goldman should be arrested for threatening a capital, collecting sunken ships, including the Titanic! And, of course, now, because of the latest video.

None of these people thought much about striking. They always strike about something. Nothing new in America. It's the same in France and the UK.

"Hmm? What is that?"

The sky turned bright as something was coming, something big.

Then it slammed into the centre of the city.

At that moment, all of the electronics died! The loudspeakers, the cars, phones, and the electrical grid; everything was dead.

Except for the people who looked confused.

A few seconds later, they finally realised what just happened!

"My phone is not working!"

"Yeah! Mine too!"

Everyone started to check their stuff.

"...T-That light has fried all of the technology!"

Sure enough, the chaos started. This time, people realised that Marcus was dead serious.

~~~

"The damage was greater than we had anticipated. It appears we have not addressed several key things in our calculation." Marcus looked at the map of the East Coast.

Washington DC, Baltimore and it nearly reached Philadelphia.

Not only that, but it spread out through the cables way outside the intended target.

[Recalibrating according to the new data]

"This happens when we don't have legit testing data." Marcus almost scoffed at this.

"Sir, it appears they are retaliating." One of the officers said as they were observing things from the satellites.

"Oh, is that right? First, they slender me, and now they are biting back for that smack." The inventor frowned while saying this.

Nyx, watching this with fascination, could only contain her excitement! Finally, some abuse!

"Four ballistic missiles were launched from a carrier strike force. They are rushing towards Ars Almadel Salomonis."

"Hmm, what kind of inventory does my station have?" Marcus requested an update.

[Currently, only the M.G.M.I. portion is online. S.P.B.A. Is still under construction]

"Mechanised infantry only, huh? Well, this is fine. Sending my knights would be an overkill; send out the Yaegers, sink that carrier group."

[Understood]

"And the ballistic missiles?" The navigation officer asked him about the incoming missiles.

"What about them? It's not like missiles can do anything." Marcus rolled his eyes.

Hearing how the Yeagers would see an action made the Primordial giddy while Athena sighed in defeat. This situation is getting out of hand. Why can't these regular people get over the idea that their military is no match?

"Well, at least they will get down from their high horse." The one who mumbled was Atalanta, as she remembered how many forests ceased to exist because of the rapid expansion of the human race.

With how Marcus' faction is structured, he will restore many of the lost forests. That is one of the reasons why she accepted to be his household cat.

"I don't know much, but this just looks stupid." Gu Yuena commented from the side.

"They are attacking a vastly superior force, with vastly superior technology. This response just looks dumb. If it were me, I would be waiting for the right opportunity." The Dragoness commented as she saw the rockets finally hitting the target, but nothing had happened.

Instead, the section of the station rotated, and something else was being launched right back at them. It was cube-like projectiles. These were the Yeagers.

~~~

"The missiles were a direct hit!" The officer exclaimed loudly as the missiles slammed into the station. Thankfully, it was not that high in the atmosphere, almost like it was like that just to tease.

"Good! Is that monstrosity down?" The Captain nodded; there was a slight smile on his lips.

"...Umm…no."

"...I see. There is a reason why it's so low in orbit then."

The rest nodded at the realisation. If it can tank ballistic missiles like that, there are not many things they can throw at it.

"Sir! Incoming projectiles!"

"Projectiles!?"

"Yes! At least nine!" The officer exclaimed as he looked at the radar.

"But, why projectiles? Doesn't that thing shoot energy-based attacks?"

Sure enough, the sky turned red as small meteorite-like objects became visible.

"Brace for impact!"

What followed next was a chain reaction of objects slamming into the ships. With absurd precision, all of them slammed into the warships. Not a single missed its mark!

The sailors rushed to intercept whatever it was, with rifles in their hands; they were ready to defend their ships.

The cubes which landed on the ships proceeded to move—slowly transforming into towering machines. Raptor-like legs, it had swords for hands, and the chest armour resembled knights' plate armour. Lastly, it had horns on the helmet.

[M.T.M Reactor Online]

[Initiating Purge Protocols]

[M.G.M.I. 'Yeager' Online]

The robotic sound spoke as the machine proceeded to move.

"Fire! Fire!"

The marines with assault rifles proceeded to open fire, but the bullets simply bounced off.

Instead, the mechs swung their hands and cut everything in their paths.

"Holy shit!"

"Fuck! That thing is immune to bullets!

"Someone board a jet and use rockets!"

The men swiftly adjusted as the aircraft carrier had loads of jet fighters stored on the top.

Well, the ones who didn't fall off after the Yeagers landed.

Some pilots rushed at the closest jet fighter and climbed up into the cockpits.

However, the carrier had two Yeagers, not one. The second one was operational as well and started to cut apart everything.

Including jet fighters and people. The black and red blades cut everything, regardless of metal, flesh, clothes, or even ammo.

Since they were not hot, the ammos didn't even ignite!

As the Yeager was slicing through the opposition, a jet fighter turned to the side and started to launch rockets at the mechanised infantry.

The first rocket slammed and exploded upon impact. The explosion forced the mech to take several steps back.

"What the fuck! It's not even scratched!"

"Shoot more! Shoot!"

The second rocket blasted at the mech. The machine took more steps back; this time, the metal was scorching hot and was deforming.

The third one was released, but this time, Yeager moved, leaning forward and proceeding to jump with a spin, cutting the missile in half!

The more it moved, the more it repaired itself!

"Holy shit! Is it some sort of nanotechnology!? It is repairing itself!" One of the sailors exclaimed as he took several steps back.

Regardless, what followed next was the Gatling gun spitting bullets at the Yeager.

This time, the Gatling gun bullets were pushing the machine back more and more until it finally dropped from the carrier.

"Hell yeah!"

The marines and sailors looked ecstatic to see that the monstrosity went over the board and into the ocean.

But that moment, the carrier trembled! It started to turn to one side!

"One shit! That thing started to cut the hull!"

"But that's impossible!"

"Tell that to those sword hands!"

The Yeager, which was supposed to take a dive, was stabbing its way through the hull and cutting it apart until it was inside the ship, and now it continued to slice and dice.

The other ships were not as lucky as the carriers, as the frigates and other support vessels started to sink.

~~~~~~Back at Scavenger~~~~~~

"It appears they are doing well against conventional armies. I should send more of my troops to be tested against fellow humans.

They sometimes pull out some ingenious ideas to take down stronger enemies."

Marcus commented as he looked at nine screens; his gaze then went to the notification pop-up.

His eyes lightened up.

Finally! THAT experiments can be underway!

He checked the notifications. A grin appeared on his lips. This message was it! The ERROR he wanted to see.

'So it is the mirror theory.' He stroked his chin, completely forgetting about the Yeagers slaughtering the US Navy. Instead, he started to check the data he got.

'It appears leaving an empty shell was the key. I didn't insert any memories until the mirroring can happen

The key is to have a perfect replica of the body. However, the one thing that depends is the person itself if it wants to cross over.'

"I have things to do. You girls can enjoy watching the show. I have to attend something important."

As Marcus said that, he got up from his throne and walked towards the S.P.B.A. Wing, where the bio chambers are.

It took him several minutes, but once he was there, he walked to the corner where one of the chambers was on.

Inside it was a girl with long white hair. She had an ahoge sticking out.

"Kiana Kaslana, or is it Sirin? I do wonder which one crossed over." The Inventor pondered as he checked the biometrics of the body and the soul.

~~~

For advanced chapters (+5 chapters, 25k words) my pat: pat reon.com/DragonsFics

OR

Discord: discord.gg/denoffanfics

~~~

P.S.: I do weekly voting on Patreon if you want more chapters for this fic (or other fics ) vote there.