Chapter 8: A New Nation (P3)

????: Souka!!!

I watch as strangers rush to a female's side. She's been all but blasted out of the sky by what looked like fire. As her allies make their way towards her, however, something lands in between them and their companion. Even before the dust clears, I can already guess exactly what it is. There are only a few of my subordinates that are this battle-hungry after all.

Me: Ruby, that's enough!

She flinches upon hearing her name though perhaps it's because I didn't even wait to be able to see if it's her before calling out. It might even be the fact that I am here, to begin with, but she does stand down. As I begin walking towards the scene, I notice that the girl's companions have used the opportunity to rush to her aid and are using the opportunity to treat her with something I can only assume is a potion.

Aika, Mai and Emerald have also stopped fighting their opponents who all retreat with the opening now provided by my "arrival" to their fallen comrade's aid. As I continue to observe the scene before me, it occurs to me. What are Ruby and Aika doing here? For one, Aika is one of the head maids of the palace. On the other hand, Ruby should be with Necron preparing for war.

Perhaps sensing my confusion in regards to seeing her here, Aika quickly moves to explain but I cut her off. Regardless of why they were here, the fact remains, so too were intruders.

Me: Mind telling me what you were doing in our territory, let alone near our capital?

When they don't immediately respond, Ruby acts up again but I stop her before she can make any indication of who I am. I'm not sure why, but a look at these individuals and how they were seemingly doing their best to avoid fighting my own people tells me that they weren't here for us to begin with and just happened to cross paths with us.

As if to shut down my suspicions, Emerald points out that they were nearby, seemingly spying on us and were intercepted by Mai and co. Still, I can't help but shake the feeling that they were here by pure coincidence. After all, this was Clayman's capital mere moments prior. They could very well have come here to kill or spy on him only to find him nowhere to be seen. Either that or they are subordinates of his preparing to have revenge but if so then they wouldn't try so hard to avoid fighting.

Me: I'm guessing you were here for Clayman, correct?

Even though the one that seems to be their strongest companion manages to hide his emotions, the rest aren't so skilled and easily confirm my suspicions. If that's why they are here then that must mean they were enemies of Clayman. It'd be foolish to go around making unnecessary enemies right now when we are already preparing for war with the Eastern Empire and possibly the Demon Lords to the south. That being said, there is also the possibility that they already consider us enemies and were here to spy on us from the beginning. It's also possible that they might not have been but will consider us as such going forward after this encounter.

Sigh.

What to do...

Me: You're free to go.

Everyone seems shocked at my decision but the guy that was fighting Aika is the first to recover and quickly vanishes with the previously injured girl in tow. The others of their party quickly follow and soon we're the only ones that are left. Everyone's now staring at me dumbfounded. I suppose given they were the ones fighting, it seems illogical to just let them leave but at the very least, Camille seems to have caught on to what I was thinking.

To avoid any further confusion, however, I explain my reasoning for letting them go as well as why they need to be more careful when dealing with strangers in the future. There's no telling how many wars will be fought if we keep just attacking first and asking questions never. We might even miss out on potential allies if we keep going like that and while I have confidence in our ability to hold our own against certain types of opponents, I'm still sceptical about how well our human armies will perform against more powerful species. Even so, that's a train of thought for another time.

Me: Now then, we have wars to prepare for, don't we?

Souei's POV:

I've just arrived back in Jistarv following orders to keep Clayman under surveillance. To my surprise, as my team and I move further inland, we don't come across a single patrol. It's as though the land has been completely stripped of life.

As we continue heading towards the capital city, however, we suddenly come face to face with a horde of monsters, demihumans, dark elves and even species I had never seen before. The others in my team arm themselves for combat but I signal to them to stand down and observe. As I thought, the horde completely ignores us, seemingly running as though being chased by death itself. I momentarily consider questioning one of them but before I can decide, the horizon lights up as though on fire.

Souka: Wha-

I barely manage to grab her and pull her behind a tree before the blast wave hits our location. The others, including the fleeing crowd, aren't so lucky as the wind goes as far as to lift those with smaller bodies and send them flying. Still, I manage to use my skill to grab ahold of our team members and pull them to safety but our hiding place soon becomes a death trap as an earthquake hits us at the same time as the rumbling sound of the blast. The tree we are all behind gets ripped from the ground, forcing us all to jump around to try and avoid being crushed.

Souka tries to continue towards the light on the horizon but as she does, a purple beam of light rockets up into the sky, so bright it all but turned day to night. The light is followed by an almost eerie silence. As everyone gets back onto their feet, I run a quick check to make sure everyone's present. However, something seems to be blocking my thought communication and telepathy skills as I can't get through to anyone. I try using spatial skills to leave the battlefield but they too fail to activate leading me to the conclusion that we're currently trapped within an Anti-Magic Area barrier.

Deciding there isn't much I can do about it, I continue my search the old fashioned way but things quickly take a turn for the worst as a white substance begins falling like snow from the sky. Touching it reveals a similar texture to that of ash but I don't get time to process much before the sound of thundering hooves cause me to turn just in time to see an arrow being fired at me.

I easily manage to dodge the attack and jump away to a safe distance as I continue searching for the rest of my team. However, as more and more cavalry arrives, it becomes increasingly difficult to see or sense anything through the confusion as the soldiers mow down all within their path.

Choosing to stay hidden as much as possible rather than engage the enemy unnecessarily, I dodge in and out of the crowd and finally locate Souka. She's engaged in combat with someone but even from this distance, I can tell she's having trouble.

I begin making my way to her but another of our teams gets there first and succeeds in helping her to disengage and withdraw. Seeing that my assistance is no longer needed, I try calling out to them but as the first words leave my mouth, something hits the back of my head. The last thing I remember is a look of surprise on Souka's face as she sees me and tries coming towards me but my vision of her is soon obscured by charging horses. I quickly lose consciousness.

<->

Sometime later, I awaken. I'm immediately aware of something being on top of me but when I push it off, I find it's a dead body or rather the skeletal remains of one. Remembering what happened prior, I quickly stand to find that I am in fact within the equivalent of a graveyard. In every direction, there are bones for miles.

As I continue staring at the dreadful scene, I remember that Souka and the others were here with me and quickly try contacting them. I'm filled with joy when they answer immediately and the glee within their voices tell me that they are just as thrilled as I am to reestablish contact.

When they arrive, I find out that they've been looking for me for about two weeks since the attack. In that time they've had to dodge patrols and even fought against a few beings, barely managing to escape but they kept up their search knowing that I was out there somewhere thanks to our connection. I also learn that they haven't reported back as yet. I am furious at this at first but anger quickly turns to frustration and later gratitude as I realise it would have looked bad if everyone found out I got knocked out from behind.

Me: Have you learnt anything about what caused the light?

Souka: We haven't been able to approach the location we were told Clayman's castle is located due to heavy military activity around the area but from what we managed to gather from those fleeing the area, the castle was attacked and conquered by a large army.

Me: The Eastern Empire?

Souka: We're not sure but assuming the patrols within the region are a part of the army we were told about, no. Most likely they belong to another nation though I can't think of anyone who'd attack Demon Lord Clayman besides us and Eurazania.

If we really have no information on them then it would be wise to collect such data. I'm sure the others will find any new intel we can provide, helpful. It'll also give me a plausible excuse for being away for so long. Still, I am surprised not one of us have been contacted by Lord Rimuru or any of the others. I'd think they'd at least be worried that we haven't checked in...

Souka: Someone is coming.

I was so lost in thought that I barely register what she says and by the time I do, I've already noticed the approaching person myself. Still, a quick scan of his wares tells me he's not a threat. I'm proven correct when we stop him to ask some questions but he immediately panics and begins commenting that he and his wagon have already been searched by another patrol.

Souka: We aren't one of the patrols. We just wish to ask what happened.

????: You haven't heard? Demon Lord Clayman is dead! His castle was flattened and the ones that did it are hunting down every last soul that served him. Why do you think the land's on lockdown? If you aren't with the patrols, I suggest you clear out like I am doing before they find you. If-

Me: Thank you.

He stumbles over his words when I interrupt him but after a few extra glances at our party, he continues on his way, muttering that the young of the world are crazy. Laughing to myself, I inform the team that I'm going to confirm whether what the man has said was true or not. They are apprehensive about the idea but are unwilling to allow me to go alone so we all set off together.

It takes us some time but we finally arrive within sight of what has to be the largest city I have ever seen. From the intelligence we had gathered before, I know that this city shouldn't be geologically possible as the terrain wouldn't allow it but as I continue staring at it, I can't deny that it's actually there. What's more, people are moving to and fro amongst the farmlands outside the city walls. A few of them notice us but don't seem particularly alarmed as we approach.

A few steps later, I find out why as we all hit an unseen barrier. The minute we touch it, however, the area we came into contact with lights up. Jumping back, we barely have time to register what happened before two females, one in a maid costume, fall from the sky, landing between us and the barrier armed and looking as deadly as can be.

????: Tsk tsk...where do you think you are going? Spying on us are we? Here I thought we had already killed all of his subordinates.

????: Unlikely.

????: Well, in any case-

Before any of us are allowed the chance to respond, she lashes out with her sword. I barely manage to block it before another attack forces me to jump back. While in the air, however, I deploy clones to assist the others in dealing with another opponent that has arrived. This in turn causes the other half, of the two we had initially encountered, to finally take action. As the fight progresses, however, I can't help but feel they aren't even trying to fight us. Still, the minute this thought enters my mind, my opponent seemingly decides to up her attacks.

I barely manage to dodge by launching myself into the air but this is all a part of my plan as I have now secured her in my most complex trap to date. Still, when I trigger them to incapacitate her, the steel threads nearly screech against her armour, completely ineffective in doing so much as scratch her skin. Even more damaging to my pride, she effortlessly slices through them thus breaking her bonds.

Touching down a safe enough distance from her, I quickly scan the battlefield to ensure everyone's ok and notice that two females are observing the proceedings at a respectable distance. Before I can observe them further, however, a scream pulls my attention towards the battle of my clones where I find Souka slamming into the ground at high speeds. I hadn't even noticed that she and the other dragonewts had taken flight to gain an advantage on their opponents but now, as she lies within her own crater, I can't deny the inevitable. They are definitely strong.

The other dragonewts all land and rush toward her as my clones move to protect them from all sides. I begin making my way towards them but something lands between us, kicking up dust in the process. Even before it clears, however, one of the females that were observing from a distance finally intervenes.

????: Ruby, that's enough!

As the dust clears, I notice that there's a female within a red dress standing still as though she's been caught doing something wrong. I also notice that the other opponents we were facing have all stopped attacking. With this opening now provided, I quickly make my way to Souka's side all the while noticing that the female that stopped our fight is making her way towards us. As we begin treating Souka with a full potion, however, she stops and speaks.

????: Mind telling me what you were doing in our territory, let alone near our capital?

I hesitate to respond and the others seemingly follow suit. Still, this is enough to anger the red-dressed one to the point that she's ready to attack. Before I can take up battle positions, however, the lady from before cuts in and tells her to stand down. Despite us not answering her initial question, she moves on to another which catches me off guard but I still manage to suppress my emotions.

????: I'm guessing you were here for Clayman, correct?

The others aren't so skilled, however, and all but verbally declare that we want him dead. Despite my concern that this could very well be a trap by Clayman or some other trick, she doesn't seem upset or angry by the revelation. In fact, it seemingly pleases her and after what seems like an internal debate on her part, she finally informs us that we are free to go.

The minute the words leave her mouth, I grab Souka and use spatial magic to move directly to Tempest. I don't even wait on the others to follow. If they are as smart as I think they are, they'll follow my lead and leave just as quickly. After all, I'm sure they all know we came very close to death just then.

Sigh

This will be one hell of a report.