Chapter 32: The Generals

"King Jerome, I'm here to recruit you."

A lone figure stood in front of me. His wore clothes similar to that of royalty and being a military agent. He had a long black hair and a hat that covered his eyes.

"What recruitment? How did you get here?" I questioned. I grew anxious. To be able to infiltrate my nest undetected is quite concerning. My cameras didn't even detect him.

I slowly calmed myself. Getting panic at the face of an opponent is not a good idea right now. I let out a silent sigh and refocus.

From the way he hit me just now. I could tell that he is far stronger from Graha. His abilities arean unknown variable...for now. I have to be careful.

His face gained a small smile as he starts to walk in a slow pace around me.

"It's simple. We have been monitoring you for the last few months since you defeated Labak. You, a newly turned had defeated two kings in just one year. I applaud you. Such a feat is impressive for someone such as you. News travel around, you know?"

His footsteps echoed through the rooms. He walks around me like those of a shark. His unseen eyes seems to analyze my very form. His gives off an aura of a deadly and a very calculating man. Even his presence alone screams death. Any normal human being might have passed out by just being near him.

However, I held on. My face didn't show any emotion. My eyes are focused on the figure before me. My body's tensed but ready for battle.

"Your tales of your conquest to Labak's nest had been heard by many kings. Even our lord had taken notice of you. However, he still didn't deemed you of enough interest to keep his focus on you for a while longer.

...Until your battle with King Graha that is."

They knew about that, huh? I'm a bit pissed that seems that everyone knew of my exploits. It seems I have to upgrade my security system if I made it out here alive.

"What I did is just simply protecting my nest. If your lord is angry for my involvement of killing one of his subordinates then you must know that I only did what I had to do. Graha came right in my doorstep and demanded war. I gave him a chance to walk away but he insisted. His death is the cause of no one but himself."

He let out a chuckle at my response. "...no, no. You misunderstand something. King Graha is not one of us. He is an independent king. Him and my lord are not on the same side. They are not enemies perhaps but that doesn't make them comrades."

Oh, well that's a bit of relief.

"And if that's true then why are you here? From what you told me do far, your lord sent you here to recruit me. Why?"

"...Well, King Jerome. That's because he saw some potential in you. What you were able to do in just one year despite being a newly turned is impressive enough. Such talent would surely be noticed by my lord."

"...You keep talking around with me bring talented and all. I appreciate your compliment but I don't see any difference from myself and any other sentients. Surely they can even mimick what I did and may even do better than I."

"That's where you're wrong King Jerome."

Meanwhile, the other side of the nest is currently experiencing destruction by an ongoing battle of two individuals. Their clash had left many facilities and buildings getting a a brunt of their might. Cracks and numerous holes can be seen all over the place. One individual currently fighting the other is Juha Bara. Her dress was a bit torn by the ongoing battle. The other one is wearing a familiar uniform that's similar to the one who is currently confronting King Jerome. The said individual is a female and has a mask that covered half of her face. On both of her hands are two long swords that are similar to the ones samurai uses. She slashed in a downwards motion towards Juha. Juha is able to make an ice shield before attacking her opponent with a blast of freezing light beam. The said beam is as white as snow and had the temperature of the lowest measurement. Juha's opponent saw this attack and quickly went to the side to avoid the beam. They now stood a few distance from each other. Their forms are still. Unmoving yet ready to intercept. Juha's blank mask stared towards her enemy's eyes that are field with conviction and bloodlust.

The atmosphere is tensed. Both opponents analyze the one in front of them to prepare themselves for the inevitable battle once again.

"Serbara. How long has it been?"

"Shut it, Juha." Serbara delivered a double horizontal slash towards her opponents but was intercepted by another ice shield. The force of the impact sent Juha a few feet but was able to stop her momentum with ease.

"What are you doing here?" Juha questioned while preparing herself with new attacks to launch towards Serbara.

Serbara also assumed her fighting stance. She looked at Juha in intense focus.

"Orders of our lord."

Juha was a bit surprised at this.

"What does he want, Serbara?" Juha questioned. Her voice was laced hostlity. 'Him? Did they know?' Juha thought.

"It's none of your business, you defect!" Serbara yelled. She jumped up high in the air and brought her two swords together in an x motion. Moments later, small particles started to gather around her swords. It was radiant purple and it shone through the surrounding like a sun that just has risen.

"Pulling all the stops to finish this already, is it? Are you that threatened of me, Serbara?" Juha goaded while preparing an attack of her own.

Once their attacks are ready, they launched. Serbara dashed towards Juha like a bullet and did an x-shaped slash towards Juha. Purple energy came out of her blades. The energy particles looked like a fire slash. It was shaped like a crescent moon and it moves at a frightening speed. If one would look from a certain distance, the attack would look like a burning crescent moon is descending towards a certain direction. Juha waved her hands in a circular motion. Ice particles gathered the circle. The ground below her started freezing. The soil from below are now a crystal white. Her robes fluttered in the air and with a thrusts of her hands, a freezing white beam fired from the circle.

Their attacks rushed towards. The pressure cause the nearby dusts and light materials to flew up in the air and when both attacks collided, a mighty explosion occurred. To much that the ground shook a little. Their attacks however didn't dissipate. It held strong and both continued to push through. Both of them aimed to overpower the other. The struggle for dominance started. Juha pushed on and so does Serbara. As the struggle rages on, Juha's beam is starting to push Serbara's attack back. Serbara noticed this and tried to put more energy to her attack however Juha's attack still pushes through. Seeing the futility of it all, Serbara canceled her attack and dashed to the right side, barely avoiding the beam. She's now right in front of Juha. Her swords are coated in purple flame. Juha was shocked at her speed and tried to block the eventual attack. Just as Serbara's about to swing her swords, she was suddenly forced to dashed away from Juha since a second later, a massive jaw passed through her previous position. Juha stared at the one who saved her. Their in frontbof her, stood Whity. His body is fully incased in armor. Right above is thousandths upon thousands of battle drones.

Serbara couldn't help but curse at the sudden change in the tide of battle. She's in a very unfavorable position now.

"Serbara, you are surrounded. This drones may not be that much for the likes of us but with a number such as this? You wouldn't stand a chance. Surrender now."

Serbara was quiet for a few long minutes. Juha could tell that she's mostly likely contemplating on how to escape this situation.She gave him a few moments to make her decision. If she surrenders, all good then. If not, then she dies. Plain and simple.

A few minutes has passed and Serbara still remained silent. Sensing that her opponent will definitely not answer her, she beckoned for the drones to attack.

A sudden crash occurred right beside Serbara. Juha stopped the drones from advancing further. Right at the smoke, a muscular figure, slowly stood up. With a wave of his hand, the dusts.

"What are you doing here?" Serbara angrily asked.

"Orders. As much as I want to have kill them you right now, I know that the consequences for such action are not worth it."

"Whatever."

Juha just stared at the two. She didn't recognize the newcomer that just joined the fight. 'He must be another one of his', Juha thought.

"Whity."

Whity stared at Juha. "You will take on the new one while the other one is mine."

Whity barked in confirmation. All the combatants stared at each other. The drones took out their weapons from their bodies and aimed at the two intruders.

And from then on, the battle continued.