81 Saving a world?

We are back on board of the Nomad and I watch the tactical display in unconcealed dismay. The demons which got created until now are still on a rampage. 

"Our weapons don't work. Even by using completely non-magic projectiles, the demons don't get killed. It only takes them longer to regenerate." A technician informs me of the situation. "The only thing that worked so far was to slay them with a mana-crystal weapon in mana absorption mode." 

I nod at the explanation and think about the situation. 

"Going down and fighting them hand to hand will cause us quite a few causalities for sure." Nicosar points out one of our options.

"Destroying the planet would just set them adrift. But at least they wouldn't be able to continue to feed on mortals." Celes mumbles to herself 

I think back to the moment when I looked at these ghastly things with my mana sight. They looked similar to a soul. An artificial soul. What's the reason for their existence. I have to get a look at one of these things up close. I just saw the newly made ones, which hadn't fed yet. I need to see one of those things while feeding. 

What actually happens to the soul? 

The prisoners told us that from time to time a group of demons would return to the cavern and pray to the sphere. Were they bringing back the souls they caught? It's a creepy thought but were they acting as gatherers? 

A shiver runs down my spine when I think back to my own experience with the sphere.

I open the command menu for the plasma weapons of the nomad and lock everyone else out of the system. Then I restrict the settings to my command chair. 

"Your majesty?" The weapons officer turns around to me with an inquiring but polite voice. I just locked him out of his console. 

"It's just an experiment and I don't want anyone to know the magic for this." -Me 

After ensuring that I am the only one with access to the plasma weapons, I call up the magical casting devices, which are used to create the containment field for the plasma.

The plasma weapons are a combination of magic and science. A stream of superheated plasma is caught by a magical barrier and then ejected with movement magic. 

In principle the casting devices of the cannons could cast any other spell too. I tune down the amount of plasma, which frees one of the casting devices for another purpose. 

Then I change the magical system within the device to interact with the plasma. The wonderful blue orb of runes which displays the magical system turns into a red one with sickening swirling interactions on its surface. 

"Give me a target which is beyond saving and has a high concentration of demons." I give the command and a technician zooms the screen on a city. There isn't much to see on that scale, but there are many red dots and a few blue ones. The red dots obviously represent demons and the blue.... 

Being sentimental won't change the situation. 

I input the coordinates and press the button to fire the cannon. A swirling maelstrom of red energy is sent down towards the surface. It's a doomsday magic without a name. I never bothered to give it one and I only use it if I really want someone dead. 

It acts like a shredder on all levels of existence. Even souls are hacked to so many small pieces that it would take an eternity for them to heal on their own. 

Everything happens in silence, as the maelstrom hits the surface and the screen blackens out for a second. 

After it comes back and shows a wasted city with a crater in the centre, the technician gives his assessment. 

"No demons... no anything. The place is dead like the surface of a moon.... your majesty." 

"Give me the coordinates for other high concentrations of demons." I urge the Technician to continue. 

Over the next twenty five minutes I fired the plasma cannons on thirty four different targets. 

Nobody said a word during the entire time. Everyone was aware that I was wiping out quite a few innocent mortals together with the demons. But their souls may heal after an eternity, to them it wouldn't make much difference if they reincarnated after a hundred years or a few thousand..... or so I told myself. 

At least they would reincarnate, compared to those who were thrown into the sphere. 

After the last big concentration of demons was wiped out, I gave orders for our warriors to go down and take care of the rest. 

Then I deleted my changes to the plasma cannons and made sure that they couldn't be restored. I don't feel comfortable with trusting anyone else with this spell. It crushes mortals and gods alike. There isn't much difference. 

I left for my private quarters afterwards. In my room, I take out a bottle of wine and fill a glass with the content. It's not like I am mourning for the innocents, who were caught up in the crossfire. I am a pragmatic person. What has to be done, has to be done. My own people are my first priority, I would be doing a bad job as a king otherwise. 

It just leaves a bad aftertaste if I think about the future. I may have to do it again. And what will the other powers do if they learn what we are capable of. 

Do they realize that this weapon would have made no difference between a planet populated by gods and a world of mortals? I hope not. 

The door opens and Celes enters the room. "I said good bye to Evenguar. He thanked us for saving his world." 

I arch an eyebrow. "I wonder if he will still be of the same opinion, when he becomes aware of the damage and the casualties." 

"He already knows that it doesn't look pretty at all. But he already foresaw the end of his world. So this outcome is still better than his apprehensions." Celes hugs me from behind and I pull her onto my lap to embrace her. 

We sit there in silence for a few minutes until I speak. "I am still a little mad that you didn't tell me about this new whirlwind, that's been added to the family." 

"Like I said, I found out only recently and I am not sure if I should have it." -Celes 

"What's the problem?" I ask her with a surprised voice. 

"I have no idea who it will be. And having a random soul as a baby creeps me out." Celes tenses up. 

"Aengus was like that too? I could search for a nice one? It should be no problem, we did the same thing with Seria." I am a little confused, but I won't force Celes into this. 

"Aengus was already there when it happened. And Seria was Sofie. It's different." -Celes 

I smirk at my wife. "Why don't you ask Lada. She is still a little down despite her new job. Or Enyo she would be a real baby because she is completely wiped. We don't have any idea what to do with her besides rehabilitation." 

"You creep me out! No way! Enyo is complete out of question! And Lada is the president of the multiverse now!" Celes goes stiff and objects to my idea. 

"Well, you could ask her. It's not like she still couldn't do the job. And she would get to be Seria's little sister. As for the time while she will be a child, there should be a replacement." -Me 

Celes elbows me into the side. "I knew that you are useless in this matter. This is a delicate field for a woman!" 

"Hrm. Anyway. I humbly await the Queen's decision in this matter until she decides to make one. You know, it's been a long time since you sat on my lap. I didn't remember until now because you drugged me, but I really like this." 

I grab her chest with my right while I slip my left between her legs and bite into her earlobe. 

"Hey!" -Celes 

"What's wrong with it. I can't do any more harm than what's already done. Or do you want to tell me that it would turn into twins if we did a bit more." I pull Celes from behind into a tight embrace. 

"hhgn! That's not the issue! Haah!" Celes tries to get away but I attack her weak spot, which is her neck. 

"I always wanted to try the cat costume on you! You know, the one with the tail!" I whisper into her ear while she starts to shudder under my arms. 

"hhhhnn? Tail? … no! Not that one! No you won't stick that into..... I already have a tail!NOOOOoooo" Celes tries to resist but I already pull her onto the pathway to our wood house.