Chapter 64: Abduction

At Ash's office, the man was just looking outside his window silently. Positioned towards where Ursus is supposed to be. His eyes were calm, but it was the silence before the storm.

"This would be hushed up by Yan, more. We should do more, until Terra will fear our name." He pulled out his phone and texted a multitude of people.

The logistics needed for this was huge. So MountainDash and Penguin logistics were contacted to supply the allies with food, weapons, and medicine.

He also took advantage of the campaigning knights outside Kazimierz's capital. Telling Mlynar that Ursus almost got Maria killed.

The twin empresses were all too happy to move their army. Lungmen were offered to them and Chernobog was given to Kazimierz.

Mlynar and the campaigning knights loved their little payment. A major mobile city from Kazimierz's nemesis was claimed by them without really doing anything.

And they would deal a heavy blow to them as well. The war hungry motherfuckers weren't going to expect it. A tri-pronged, heavy assault would begin.

The twin empresses were also going to join the battle. Ready to support their husband and use their arts that defeated the witch king. Terra's most powerful arts caster at one point.

Ash chuckled, his slitted eyes narrowed dangerously. The real kicker that he was planning is their elite team coming from the far north. The ursine bastards won't be expecting it at all.

Their standing army will be mid-range troops while the campaigning knights are obviously going to be in the vanguard. Leithanien's casters are relegated to being the rearguard. Acting as human artillery barrages that would rain arts on the enemy.

"They won't know what will hit them." Ash snorted. Yan already lost custody of a couple of their Sui siblings. Which were super VVIP's in Yan.

"If Ursus wants war, we will give it to them. I didn't like the racist fucks anyway." Ash smirked. Though it won't be the war they want. It would be too brutal, too quick, too coordinated.

The bastard Kaschey won't have the satisfaction of Ursus fighting in a world war that will make Ursus great again.

They were the ones that would be creating an empire that was like the Gaul. Two supreme military giants combine to support each other and erase their weaknesses.

Kazimierz with their unrivaled strength in close combat. While Leithanien with their arts and unbelievably skilled casters. And Paradiso as the ace division.

Composed of the most elite squadrons and soldiers. Even the basic grunts would be treated as divine warriors that can mow down entire squadrons alone.

He then shook his head, they would be getting what they wished for. But a war council should go through first. Armies as large as the one they would be unleashing needs to be delegated properly.

So Ash took a soak in his private hot spring. Which looked more like a pool due to his size. Normal sized people would swim in it with how deep it is.

He sighed after taking a dip. "When did it all go downhill so fast?" Ash muttered. He then slowly opened his eyes, feeling someone creep up to him.

"Skadi..." He stared at the orca abyssal hunter and the white haired super soldier nodded at him.

"Hello..." She said awkwardly and the two of them just stared at each other. He nodded and she slowly went to him, inching closer.

"Sorry." She uttered, Ash raised a brow at that. "Why are you so?" Skadi looked up at his eyes and put a hand on his cheek.

"We abyssal hunters can feel emotions. And your eyes, it feels cold. My condolences, I know the feeling... Of loss, Laurentina is the only one left in our squad." Skadi hummed, closing her eyes.

"Is that so?" Ash wanted to snort, but it was a kind gesture so he didn't blew her off and they just enjoyed the warm waters.

"The salinity of the waters increased. Their blood made it more salty. You can smell the fishy guts spilling. Every breath you took was unpleasant. Their ripped bodies were floating around." Skadi shared and he listened intently.

"Does it get any easier?" He asked and Skadi went quiet for a few seconds. "I don't know..." Ash understood and sighed.

She basked in the warm waters and floated at the top. A little bit away from him. Her white hair sticking on her body as she gave him a little smile. (pic)

"I think it would take a long time. But you and Laurentina do make it easier." He breathed in a bit deeply and appreciated her company.

He made the water flow right to him and Skadi let herself go with it. She plopped down right at his lap and he started humming. It was one of Adele's favorites.

Skadi then started singing and her voice was strong, melodious.

"Did I hear someone singing?" Specter busted the door open. Her instincts as Laurentina that loved to sing tingled upon hearing Skadi's sweet voice.

"Hah, take off your clothes first Specter. It will get wet." Ash instructed her and the two sang, feeling his chaotic emotions calm a bit.

__War Council__

Ash, Soleil, Luna, Mlynar, and Enciades were seated on a table.

The snow leopard didn't really have much of an army. But she is still a tactical mind. Enciades is a warlord of Kjerag, even Mlynar can't claim that he was one.

"Ash, so are we really going to attack Ursus?" Soleil looked at him with worry.

Every country in the world will know that they would be in an alliance now. And with their movements in Yan, they would be quite scared of them.

And scared humans tend to act irrationally. Fear makes them impulsive.

"Yes, we will be talking about where and how you'll be pressing the attack. We will combine our forces with Kazimierz. While Paradiso infiltrates the north and go for a three way attack." Ash explained.

"Won't combining Kazimierz's and Leithanien's armies be a disaster? There are no formal military campaigns together between the two forces." Mlynar was worried.

"That will be quite fine. Like Paradiso's new way of battle. The forces of Leithanien will be the first to attack. Artillery strikes with arts to thin out the herd. They can't focus their strengths when knights enter the fray." Enciades assured him.

"That is quite right, so that's how this will go down huh?" Luna nodded in satisfaction. Casters of Leithanien aren't really used to battle right on the thick of it anyways.

That was more of Ash's group of soldiers. They were prepared at any terrain and all sorts of warfare.

"Then we all agree with it?" Ash raised a brow and they couldn't really find fault with it.

"I have a request, I would like to enter the battle." Mlynar raised his hand and Ash smiled.

"Sure, Soleil and Luna will be participating too anyways. Kazimierz would also appreciate it. Having a grand knight that can't lead battles would be a disgrace." Ash agreed with him and Mlynar was satisfied.

They adjourned the meeting, but Mlynar remained in the room. Ash stared at him and gestured for him to talk.

"How is Maria?" Mlynar crossed his arms and his face had that grimace that always adorned the pegasus' face.

"She is doing good, which is more than what others could ask for." Ash stated and Mlynar winced a bit.

His question was a bit insensitive, but he cannot apologize. It would be worse if he did.

"Is that all?" Ash wanted to think by himself. "Can I roam around for a bit? To the cells?" Mlynar squinted his eyes.

"Sure, you're smart enough to know that doing something stupid is unacceptable." Ash shooed him away and the pegasus bowed shallowly.

He went to the mobile prison that Talulah was put in for transport. She was chained down by thick ice.

Kneeling down on the ground, her neck had a large manacle. Her limbs were in shackles, bolted to the ceiling and ground.

Frost were appearing on her clothes and skin. The cold air flowing from them almost made Mlynar shiver due to the temperature.

But she was unmoving, her eyes dazed. But Mlynar could see it, the girl was thinking. And he did not know what.

"Ash has decided to sent you to be with the front lines. I do not know why, but I have no love for the decision." Mlynar breathed in deeply.

His niece was almost killed by her. Even though she got possessed by some maniac. It was her weakness that let her get to that point. The others of the Nearl family is the only thing he has left.

Mlynar already once abandoned his dignity and honor. And as a knight, once you lose that. It feels like you would never have it returned once more.

All to protect Zofia and Maria who was in his care as the acting knight primus of the Nearls.

"Show your worth girl, this would be your only chance." He advised and left.

Talulah looked at the pegasus with a far away stare. "No mind to think, no voice to cry suffering, no will to break."

She chanted like a mantra. Until her eyes began to look hollow.

__Paradiso R&D__

Ash had a thought after Mlynar asked him about Maria. He hadn't really visited the pegasus. He sent her in that mission, so it would be the right gesture to at least look at her personally. Not just through reports.

"Hey, hey, Closure. How do you code them? Your AI's in Rhodes island is impressive! Teach me, please~" Ash heard the bubbly pegasus' voice pester the nerdy vampire.

"Ahhh... S-sure?" Closure was still a bit uncomfortable. She got taken from Rhodes island like commodity. But Maria's been slowly eroding her shyness away.

"Maria, don't be so hyper around Closure. Do I have to tell you how uncomfortable she looks?" Zofia scolded her with a sigh.

"Oops, hehe~" Maria sheepishly scratched her head and Ash nodded at her seemingly fine coping.

"It seems that you are doing good Maria." Ash appeared before them and they froze.

Zofia had a look of nervousness on her face, all twitchy. Maria grimaced, making Ash raise a brow. While Closure looked at him analytically. He was her boss now, and Closure thought that the superhuman might gut her for being such an unfair trade.

"Calm down, I'm just checking up on you." He rolled his eyes. He might be more angry these days, but he had it under control.

Though that made him think. It was just like his first transformation when he fought a squad of emperor's blades.

His emotions were going haywire. He hadn't checked his brain and hormones yet. But Ash isn't sure if he was even himself anymore. He is more violent, brash, impulsive.

"I'm fine, big brother Ash..." Maria slowly inched closer to him and hugged his waist. Her grasp on him was tight.

"Is that so? Then that's good." Ash could smell her fear. Not of him, but of her failure. She was shaking like a leaf. Most likely blaming herself for the botched mission's failure. As she was the shield of their squad.

He rubbed her ears for a minute and Maria sighed in content with that. She was happy that he did not blame her. But it still lingered in her mind, what if she was enough?

"Ash, it is good to see you doing fine. It's hard to get a hold of you these days." Zofia was a bit awkward, but she was genuinely glad to see that he was stable.

"I have been busy, I guess you should already know this. But I took care of three deities." Ash snorted.

The three of them almost had their jaws drop to the floor. Everybody watched the titanic battles of course.

And he wasn't exaggerating. Undermining his feat even. They all watched the tapes of their battle in Yan. He fought five of them, Nian and Kjera was of course included in that.

He just thought that they didn't count because he knows what their powers are so he could neutralize them easily.

A bead of sweat formed on their foreheads. He was quite honestly, a monster that can invade entire countries on his own and make it conflagrate.

"Closure, how is Paradiso treating you?" Ash gave her a little smile and she nervously returned the gesture.

"I'm fine lord Ash..." Closure was all shifty and awkward as hell.

"Come here." Closure froze for a bit and she slowly walked towards him, expecting torture or her premature death.

When she arrived next to him, she closed her eyes. "Tell Kal'tsit that I love Rhodes island. And to take care of my robots." Ash raised a brow.

He got amused so he grabbed her waist with one hand and put her on the crook of his neck.

Closure's eyes dilated and she started panting immediately. "Uhhh, what are you doing?" Zofia blinked.

"It's a little welcome present, the least I could do." Ash shrugged and they saw Closure lick his neck like it was the most delicious candy.

She then bit into him and began to suck his blood like a dehydrated man in a desert.

Closure went limp and passed out with a face of ecstasy. Ash chuckled and he checked her body.

'Interesting...' Closure's body was simultaneously commiting seppuku and then repairing itself.

He then handed her to Maria and left the premises. "That guy's still an enigma, what the hell just happened?" Zofia shook her head.

She then followed him and saw him just stare out into no-man's-land on a balcony.

Zofia slowly walked behind him. Her arm stretched out and her fingers crept on his body. Softly, as if it was touching glass.

"Are you fine, Ash?" Zofia asked with worry. Based on what they were seeing, he was in a fine line between enraged and going full fuck everything.

"I am Zofia, as fine as I can be that is." He just continued to look forward and Zofia went to his side.

"You know? I used to be a competition knight once. Always entered the top 16 too." Zofia sighed and Ash listened to her story.

"Bring honor to the house you know? Be like Margaret and all that. Mlynar and I would fight because of my willingness to enter that farce he said." She quoted the air and snorted.

"But I received an injury. Not really debilitating, but it was career ending. I was a great competition knight until I received a blow to the knee, ahem. I mean wrist." She shook her head.

Zofia went quiet for a second and she sighed. "You know that the hands are the most important body parts of a knight. So I retired after that, aimless, depressed."

"I don't know how you feel Ash... But I just wanna tell you that I'm here. I felt lost once, and I found what I could do by teaching Maria what I can." Zofia hugged him tightly again.

She remembered that by all means, he was just a sixteen year old. Not that anyone knew he is older than that mentally.

It was so easy to forget, that he had millions of lives on his shoulder. Saving them all from oripathy and catastrophes.

His light burned so brightly that it would cast a shadow to anyone in the world. But he was just as flawed as the others.

"Thanks for worrying." He hugged her back with one arm because he was too large.

"Anytime champ, you're Paradiso's symbol of strength, hope, and light. God, I sound so cheesy." She put her hands on her face, feeling embarrassed. Her face heating up.

He chuckled with amusement and kissed her forehead after parting her bangs. "I'll remember that, thanks."

Zofia smiled softly and was happy that he wasn't stewing on his own thoughts.

"Like I said, we're just here." She shrugged and they looked at the originium crystals growing from the ground.

__Ursus frontier__

At the borders of Ursus, armies were beginning to march and the scouts began to see them.

Banners of Kazimierz and Leithanien were not hiding themselves. At the Kazimierz and Ursus border, Mlynar led his troops.

"Ursus scum, it is time for your reckoning! Chaaarge!" Mlynar raised his blade and golden light seemed to envelope the vanguard of his army.

A torrent of raging light poured out of him as he used his arts. Margaret might be the better swordsman right now due to her augments and teachings from Degenbrecher.

But Mlynar was taught by the hero of Kazimierz Kirill himself. As his son, he would bring glory to Kazimierz and invade Ursus as a change. Unlike the other ten times that they tried to take land from them.

Deafening roars of the knights exploded into action. Their morale was sky high as they followed the golden light of the grand knight of Kazimierz.

"Quick! Report this to command and request for support! Kazimierz is attacking!" A soldier shouted to his comrades.

But they suddenly saw something twinkle in the skies. Their pupils dilated as they saw a rain of fire, earth, lightning. A myriad of arts from Leithanien's caster division fell from the heavens.

At the Leithanien and Ursus border, the twin empresses were leading the battle. Except they were still wearing their dresses.

"I guess it is time to have more territory?" Soleil chuckled as she prepared her wand.

"Ursus has been arrogant, we will show them how we defeated the witch king." Luna snorted.

"Bring her here!" Soleil shouted and a cage got rolled in to the front.

It opened up with a hiss and the walls fell down. Talulah who was chained up by the ice bindings of Kjera appeared.

The soldiers of Kazimierz and Leithanien whispered to themselves, wondering who was she and why was she so heavily shackled.

Talulah just raised her head and Kjera's bindings slowly melted away.

The Draco stretched and smoothened out the kinks on her body. She then picked up her sword and stared right at the fortifications a little bit away from them.

"Hmmm, how are we gonna do this?" Luna tapped on her chin and Soleil's eyes widened.

"I know, she uses fire right? Let's do a collaboration arts with her." Soleil suggested and Luna blinked a few times before she nodded.

"Wait for a minute, then let fire rain down on these dishonorable scum." Luna ordered Talulah.

The two's arts units glowed brightly and everyone felt a gust of wind gather on the fort. What they didn't know, was the empresses were gathering a mixture of gases.

Soleil who was the more brute force type caster gathered tons upon tons of oxygen. While Luna mixed it up with hydrogen and contained it well so it won't just diffuse to the atmosphere.

Water deposits dried up due to the thousands of tons of gas they converted. And when they were satisfied, the duo grinned at Talulah viciously.

The Draco raised her arms and a gigantic sphere of fire formed above her. Sweltering heat made the ground molten. A haze appearing, shocking the soldiers with her tyrannical arts.

And with a swing of her arms, it flew right towards the fortification in a parabola.

Slowly, the army waited for it to hit. And after waiting for a few seconds, everything ignited.

With an earth shattering explosion, the ground trembled violently from the reaction.

Everyone could see the dust rise from the dirt as the shockwave travel mercilessly. Soleil and Luna created a barrier and the force hit their shield like a truck.

"Now that's what I call fireworks. That was quite amazing." Soleil smiled as they watched the fort crumble.

"Come on, let's advance. We have to keep on tearing down their borders." Luna sighed as she pulled her towards their next target.

__Paradiso__

Everyone was preparing for a mission, deep behind enemy lines. They would circle around Kazimierz and Ursus' border to enter the far north.

Ursus wouldn't know what hit them, they would be coming from nearby the Infy icefield after all.

"Stupid Ash, beating us up then making me work hard." Nian grumbled as she finished another batch of bullets, casings, and primers.

"Hah, let it go. He's much calmer now at least." Kjera shrugged and that was as good as it could be.

"Right... He did let his allies press the attack. I don't think Ursus will be a country anymore if he led the alliance just like with Yan." Nian shivered.

"Definitely... Just one of us will be able to topple entire empires. And he can beat us up like we are children. I knew he would be stronger conscious, but he's just ridiculous." Kjera shook her head in disbelief.

"I bet Yan's going crazy right now." Nian chuckled and Kjera raised a brow at her comment.

"Are you ok with him tearing down their lines of defense and causing a civil war there?" Kjera blinked at Nian.

She would be furious if Kjerag got embroiled in a civil war.

"They'll take care of it quick, but they'll be crippled for years. And don't get me wrong, Yan is my home. But I hold no love for it, even Chongyue who is a military officer there doesn't love it with all his heart." Nian explained.

"There's just this something inside of us. Maybe a lingering resentment from Sui... It kind of felt good to see Yan burn." Nian shrugged and Kjera gasped.

"Well, I see. That does make sense." She left that alone.

They then heard alarms blaring. "An invader!? But how?" The two immediately went to the war room.

And the offender that suddenly just appeared, was currently located in someone's room who sleeps a lot.

"Laurentina, it is nice to see you again." A woman with their trademark red eyes and white hair carried her carefully.

"Skadi will just have to follow I guess. She's been mingling with surface dwellers. Silly girl will definitely prevent me from taking you." The woman snorted and she disappeared.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.