Author Note: Please read the most recent update on chap 1!

Chapter 30

Four months after the defeat of Sloth

It was the smoke that tickled my nostrils first. As I watched their dark shadows make their way through the dense forest. They spread throughout the clumps of trees like an infection, spreading and corrupting the very ground we walked on.

My hands dug into my pocket as I took a knee. My fingers slowly untwined the hold of my telescope as I peered through the glass. "Bill…" I called out to the boy behind me. His footsteps resounded as I turned around to catch his eyes.

His soft brown eyes caught my own as we both peered through the dense forest. "Thirty cultist it seems." I spoke as my finger outstretched, my hand pointing in front of me. "There making there move right now on the village."

Bill nodded his head. He raised his fingers to his mouth as a soft pitched whistle erupted. The sound of tethers latching to the tree ensued as twenty followers began to surround us. Mostly infantry but a couple members of the flight core.

In a span of four months, we have advanced greatly. The tether gear now was far better…due to our exploits these past four months. Witness accounts of the damage done to the whale, our liberation of countless villages and the killing of Sloth. The followers of Flugel are now a name, a fierce band of warriors and soldiers who have decided to do what the sword saint and failures of the government have failed to do. Defeat and eradicate all traces of the witch from this world.

The gear we held was now different. the body of the device is located on the hips, in this model it is located on the upper back. It is attached to the user's body with harnesses on the torso and arms. The cables are stored in two independent winches and are fired from the operating device located in the user's arms, not the hip.

We even swapped changed our way of using our fire stones. Mitch found a way of compressing them and turning them into some sort of liquid. With a newly acquired firing switch, with the pull of the trigger it incites a chain reaction that burst us into the air.

Complicated, I was too much of a fool to understand it, but it works well. Mitch really was one of the smartest of us. My hands went to my waist as I pulled out the dual pistols, at first glance they looked like the standard holsters but bigger.

The mechanics of the pistols were always something me and Mitch struggled with. He was familiar with muskets and even took apart my bolt action rifle and even the shotgun. Though, he has struggled to replicate both.

For the tether gear we could not always rely on swords and fire spears. Bill and Ian were the most skilled with the blades, and the spears were way too destructive…my hand went to my head as the memories came back.

Four months…still cannot believe it. I can still remember the craters that we caused, the mounds of cultist charred flesh, and even worse the innocents we failed to save that day. I shook the thought free from my head as I began to walk to the followers that gathered.

I could not save them…hell I am just a fool. A gate that has collapsed completely so now I must rely once again on my strength and wits. Instead of blades, each operating device can accept a single-use cartridge, consisting of a barrel, and preloaded projectile and powder charge.

The cartridges were anchored at the person's hip. They functioned like the fire spears, single shot and devastating. The closest way I could describe the guns were like shooting a short iron pike at high speed at someone.

I cocked the rod into my gun. The rod perfectly fitting into the barrel as the followers' eyes trained on me. "Listen, we don't have the time to explain all this bullshit. Though, it is the same…cult is attacking village and we have to attack them before they do."

We failed…

"Kill them all." I raised my left hand in the air. The pistol catching the gleam of the rising sun. "Remember, this is an extermination…"

I am scared, I do not want to die again. Though, I fear failing again…a whole village…

"We do what the failures in the capitol were supposed to do. We oppose the witch; we are not heroes or knights but men and women of action!"

Men…women…children! Holy shit, there was that one little girl that survived. How the hell could I forget her eyes and broken face. It is because of me that we failed!

"Fight…for our freedom!"

A righteous battle cry erupted from the ranks as we leaped free from the trees. Underneath my pistol, the grapple tethered and reconnecting as the blast of wind cut into my face. The grapple latching back and forth to the trees as we soared through the air.

These months of training have been good for all of us. Ten days was insane but now with breaks and with an actual schedule for training then we learned how to truly fight.

I raised my weapon as I unlatched from both trees soaring overhead as my hair flew behind me. Bang, my gun radiated as fire unclicked as the barrel shot free from my hands, a couple of the other members of the infantry and flight corps followed as their spears and guns radiated like my own.

The barrel sped through the air as the unaware cultist turned around. Both of my pikes implanting themselves in cultist though each missed their mark. While I aimed for there bodies, my shots landed at one of the cultist legs, and the other in the lower shoulder.

Though, they both collapsed due to the stopping fire of the pike. I landed on the ground tracking up dust as my boots pounded into the earth. My guns reaching down to my thighs as I reloaded the weapon. The smell of charred smoke radiated through the forest, bits of iron and bloodied limbs numbed over my other senses as the heat hurt my eyes.

The fire spears were stronger now. Hopefully, when we confront the whale, we can at least hold our own against gluttony. A battle cry radiated in my ears as my guns went up, a cultist with there iron blade was charging at me.

I aimed as my guns boomed. The stake piercing through his mask as the cultist collapsed into the dirt. I gazed around once again as I raised my holster as the grapple shot free. I caught from my view a couple of other explosions that echoed as more fire spears extinguished the lives of more cultist.

Even from the corner of my eye I could see Bill's dual swords cleaving easily through a pair. The grapple disengaged as I landed on top of one of the trees. "It's over…isn't it." Lukas spoke.

I walked over to the young marksmen as I stood next to him. He was crouched over as he held the musket with both hands. The barrel was simmering, and he was already ready to reload the next round, but I stopped him.

"Yep…" I nodded my head as I gave out a hand to the boy. "It's all over."

Me and the rest of the followers disengaged and made our way to the village to report to the elder that the witch cultist in this area have been killed. We do not ask much for payment, a portion of food and anything they were willing to spare.

There was only one thing that I demanded from them…knowledge on any transcripts of the whale and his movements. Rein, after we set up camp was convinced that the whale held some sort of pattern in its movements.

That it cannot just be random, and it was not just a simple beast like the great sages and the rest of the nobility believes. We must find it's weakness somehow…so any towns with any recordings or any travelers with gossip about the whale was recorded.

So, here we were cutting through the forest. Pastrache and me riding together leading in the front as the others followed behind. A massive carriage holding the food, donated funds, and papers sprawled with information on the whale was packed in crates.

"Ay, Dismas…"

Bill's voice erupted into my right ear as he rode next to me. His blue ground dragon tailing my own as it tried to match Pastraches superior speed. "Yes, Bill." I spoke to the green haired boy. His expression darkening as we maintained eye contact.

He began to ruffle through his hair. "Have you been okay, it's just that you aren't looking too good." He spoke. His words were ruff but had care in them, caring enough to not say the wrong thing as my eyebrow shot up in confusion.

He groaned as he continued looking at me. "Dismas…you smell like shit and your hair is way too long. Like for the dragon, when was the last time you had a nap because you have those horrible bags underneath your eyes."

For dramatic effect he used his holster to point at my eyes for me to only slap his hand away. Damn, what do I even look like now…

My hair was now down to my neck and my bangs were in my eyes. Sometimes I would wrap it up in a hat and wear goggles when maneuvering around the tether gear. "I'm fine, Bill." I smirked to the boy, but I knew that he was not convinced.

I could not tell him or anyone…the very nature of this curse, that sickening pressure on my heart and that smell that surrounds me. Alone, I guess that is how I am now, I guess. Alone, with the seeping voices of madness in my mind.

Though, Frederica…she was the last person to cut my hair, right? It just felt wrong for someone else to do it.

I quickly shook the thoughts out of my head as we approached the camp. We set up in a forest clearing and I could see the faint shimmer of the blue barrier crystals.

Three follower guards sat in watch as we began to ride inside. There are muskets at the ready as some were even loading their fire spears for any suspecting mabeast attacks. The first thing I saw through the dense brush was the clearing.

There was a medium sized river on the right of the camp. Fishing rods, nets and even bits of boats were scattered along the small beach. Decent picking for fish and fresh drinking water. Not only that but bathing water.

My eyes went to the right of the camp. Lined like dominos were the tents. It was like a rainbow of dreary colors, tents filled with sewed in patches of cloth and it reminded me of there original camp in the slums.

Though, something changed. That depression or hopelessness was now gone but it felt…brighter now. There was music being played, cheering from the recent victory as the followers rushed towards us. Pastrache even started getting nervous as the followers began surrounding us.

"Easy girl." I spoke into her ear as I lightly patted her scaled head. "You're the star of the show. The greatest ground dragon to ever be born." I added on as I thought for a second a small smirk appear on her face.

I disembarked as the followers began to unload the supplies. My eyes trained on a large smoke cloud coming out from one of the buildings. I had to check on Mitch and the rest of the engineer corps, I gazed at their smiling faces.

Soon…we will kill the whale and start our crusade against the cult. I promise, Frederica…our children will not grow up in a world where the witch rules with fear.

We will take it back…one step at a time. I will keep on moving forward until I exterminate them all from this world, and if need be…my hands shot into my pockets as I began walking towards the building of the engineer corps. "We'll kill them all…and steal the throne by force if we must."

"Oi, Dismas…" Bill once again spoke as I turned around to meet his eyes.

He scoffed as he held a box of Appas as he began to walk away, the followers following suit as he began to walk to the kitchen area. "Ask Lora, I guarantee she'll give you a haircut!" He yelped as he finished speaking.

Sure…Lora. I turned back around and began walking. My left-hand combing through my hair, bits of memories resurfacing. Frederica, Beatrice, Ram, Rem and even Em…

My heart skipped a beat as I stopped outside of the building. Puck, her frozen dead body in my hands as I cried…the madness seeping into me as I struggled against it. I cannot…not anymore, I do not want to die.

I will protect Frederica and Beatrice…I know that I may very well never be able to be by there side ever again, even if they both hate me or want nothing to do with me anymore. I will always protect them, until we all reach that happy ending.

I shook my head again as I stared at the building where the engineer corps supplied our crusade. It was a destroyed building before. Most likely a massive blacksmith work area. Broken windows, destroyed walls and hell even the furnace was destroyed.

Mitch and his team were insane with there time with there work. Producing spears, gear, and weapons but I could tell…

I hated the guilt I felt, they worked there ass off, but I know that it must be so hard for them to deal with. Though, should we expand and recruit other members?

I opened the makeshift iron door as a blast of heat emptied from the door. Dark soot covered the floor as the resounding pound of hammer and welding of iron and steel radiated in my ears.

My eyes went to the door as I spotted a bundle of fire spears neatly packed together. Beautiful and perfect, we were truly lucky that Mitch was there.

"Sire…" I heard the boy speak as I turned around to meet him. His eyes locked on me as we both shook hands. "Ay, what did I tell you…Dismas." I repeated my name.

"Sorry, but hey if your king what does that make me?" He pointed to himself with a satisfied grin as he opened his mouth. "A weapon master…" He uttered out, straining the words to sound cool.

Me and him both left the forge as we both spoke outside due to some more pressing matters. Mitch's hands went into his pocket as he began to fumble through a pamphlet, I seen it before. That was what Mitch would record data in, and would hold my ideas in.

"Okay…Dismas, here is everything." He spoke as his eyes trained along the paper notepad. "Fire spears production is standard…bolt action rifle is still in development, estimated time is between three to four months of creation, abandoned the recoil control and thermite fire spears."

My eyes shot open as I stopped him there. "Woah, why the heck are we getting rid of those fire spears?" Mitch was insane with the fire spears, being able to turn mining equipment into powerful weaponry. The recoil control spears nearly eliminated all recoil in a standard fire spear, with greater control we could be able to plan our attacks more fluidly. Hell, the thermite spears were a major success. They could start a damn wildfire if they gone out of control. They worked by melting firestones instead of packing them inside, moment the spear erupts it creates black tar or rather something like Greek fire, it was so strong it horrifically burned a guiltylow mabeast, and even was able to last on water.

Mitch sighed as he took off his glasses. "Dismas no offense but those ideas sounded good on paper but the amount of time it took to create them just wasn't worth it." He pointed to the diagrams. "The recoil fire spear took three weeks to make one, you mess up in production by even a tiny bit the whole thing is a bust. The thermite spears are way too strong, we made twenty of them for the whale but using them against human enemies or basic mabeast are too strong, those could liquify nearly anything. Hell, they were specifically made for Lora to use when we go against the whale."

Those were some good reasons, so I simply nodded my head. Though, his eyes bulged out as he stared at me. "Though, Dismas…what the fuck is this! A blimp!" He ripped out a piece of paper as I stared at the diagram. There were crossed out letters or parts of the blimp, some even nearly distinguishable for me to see.

"So, you can't make this?" I asked.

He gritted his teeth. "That's not the point. Me and my team can make anything we need, but to make a blimp like that would take at least fifty talented engineers, thousands of coins to purchase the materials, and the fuck is this…machine guns?"

Oh, crap. I sighed as I nodded my head. "Fully automatic weaponry." I pointed to the sides of the diagram. "I want four of them to function in the gunnery compartments, also medium sized barracks…I was also thinking about including a bombardment system."

Mid conversation Mitch slouched onto the wall of the forge as his hands combed through his hair. I felt guilty, Mitch and his team were obviously suffering but what the hell could we do?

"Mitch, I get what you mean but considering my situation. I do not want word of my candidacy to reach the capitol. Crusuch, Pricella, Anastsia, Emilia and even Felt are our enemies. I would rather them not know of my existence till the last possible second."

It was better to keep our enemies in the dark. If we need to steal the throne by force I would rather them know the bare minimum of the followers and me. So, if we fail and our schematics or secrets are leaked into the world. God knows what consequences we shall encounter.

I sighed as I stared at the young mechanic. "Though, you are correct I will definitely think about what you are saying and hopefully reach a conclusion."

I gave him my hand as I helped him up. Though, right before I could say goodbye, I heard the crunching of leaves as someone began sprinting towards me. His clothes resembled the orange tone of the infantry as he stopped in front of me. "Cadet…Ryan." I spoke the boy's name as he nodded his head.

"Sir, Rein has found a pattern in the whales' movements and believed that we know when it will appear next."

What…after all these months Rein finally figured it out? It was no secret that the Crusch camp was going to make there move soon, so the Followers would have to steal the glory before they did.

I nodded for him to continue. "In the next five days, the whale shall appear."

Author Note

Well I am back and sorry for the late. I had some personal shit I had to attend to but I will try and get back onto schedule. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was short but decent. Next chapter should show how the mansion inhabitants are handling Dismas leaving them for four months. Then after that the whale battle and then we are on our way to season 2.

PS: Frederica is not going to die, but I am not sure how I want her and Dismas's relationship to go. There will be a scene later on where they talk about there relationship and I will decide from there.