Chapter 14

Worth That Cannot be Measured

Marietta sipped her coffee as she read the reports Commander Paulin had offered her. "It looks like it just might work. So how long will it be before you will be carrying out this plan?"

Commander Paulin smiled in relief to see there being some hope for them in this war. "Once we get a hold of the Outer Alliance, it will be a cinch."

Steeg pushed his specs back in with his finger in a sophisticated manner, "Breeching through the Vendeeni Wall is no easy task but not impossible. Still, getting past their defensive shields won't be enough. We're going to need to find an efficient way to infiltrate the main labs on there to get a hold of what we need."

"Yes, the black art is the main one. And don't worry about the main labs, I have thought about that as well. Let's just hope we can dismay the Alliance with our fleets." replied Paulin.

Marietta looked ecstatic. "I can't wait to tell this to the captain!"

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Gernn was one unfortunate locality which suffered from the loss of many innocent lives from time to time. First, it was the fifth yogen which condemned them in the eyes of Rashfall. Then, it was the Alliance who had overthrown most areas of the continent with their local bases. And now, the torture continued as the Outer Alliance members had just burnt down the village of Whipple for their reluctance to cooperate with the Alliance's demands. Only a few survivors were left in the village who were left starving and homeless.

Rodrigue, the demon from Daemonium, who was responsible for the incident reported back to Shin just outside Whipple.

"These pests have been taken care of. They were annoying as hell!" he said to Shin.

"We're all heading back to the main base now, so let's get going." Shin said in a hurry as he almost walked past Rodrigue. "We don't have any time to lose."

Rodrigue looked a little uptight as he raised his eyebrow. "You could give out a 'congratulations' or 'good job' once in a while. Feels good when I get that for shedding blood of these humans."

Ignoring his words, Shin walked past the demon trying to catch up with the rest of his squad along with Cliff who were already onto their way to South Gernn.

"Heh, he's no different." Rodrigue thought to himself out loudly while grinning.

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The next morning Mirage, Ascal, Xeim, Lieber, Misty, and Welch began passing the mountain trial up north of the Village of Qual. Ascal said the mountain pass was the borderline of this continent.

"So are you sure of this northern base? How did you find out about it?" asked Misty as she walked up the path along with the others.

"There are a few residents of Rashfall who live on the borders of these mountain trials." Ascal replied. "I'm guessing they're the ones who notified the Requiem Code of the Calamity moving closer in to us."

Ascal had a little suspicion of his own on the group. He felt the need to bring it up as they headed towards the other end of the Rashfall mountain path. "So where are you guys really from? And why are you after the Calamity?" he asked curiously.

Mirage was hesitating to reply. "W-We're still not completely sure about-"

Unable to finish what she was saying, she was interrupted by a voice very familiar to her. "Looks like you guys made it all the way here. And to think, after all that I had put you through... quite surprising ain't it?"

It was Cliff. Just ahead of them at the end of the mountain path, he stood tall and stiff while crossing his arms smirking at the rest of them not surprised to see them in the least. Suddenly, Mirage got the same feeling she did back at the Shrine of Kaddan.

"Uh oh, looks like we got trouble." Xeim whispered without keeping his eyes off Cliff.

Mirage stepped forward as she looked deep into the eyes of her foe. "Tell me, who are you? And what is the Alliance up to?"

"Who am I! Mirage, you're breaking my heart!" Cliff replied sarcastically as usual. "Honestly, I did kind of expect you all to follow us all this way but I was sent here to prevent you from interfering from our tasks. Don't worry, I wasn't given any orders to kill you, just to buy us enough time."

"Enough time for what? What the hell are you guys talking about?" Ascal said as he whipped out his sword. "So you're the ones who just popped from the sky, huh? I am going to vanquish you right here in the name of the Requiem Code and fulfill the yogen of the Shadow Light!"

Cliff simply shook his index finger in his own fashion. "Not gonna happen. I don't have time for idle chit-chat so it's either you guys head back or i'll finish you right here."

"Not if I can help it!" Ascal set as he charged towards Cliff in a mindless fashion.

"Ascal! Wait!" Mirage shouted, but it was of no use.

Cliff was just standing there gathering energy withs massive particles of forces surrounding him. His fist was enveloped with a large white energy ball as he draw it back and unleashed a thrust releasing enermous ball of energy. "I'll crush you! Max Shockwaaave!"

Before anyone could make a move, they were all caught by the impact and before she knew it, Mirage found herself on the ground once again as everyone lay helpless unable to get back up from that one devastating blow.

"Good job Cliff, you've really impressed me with your work lately." Shin came down to congratulate Cliff on his work. "Let's head to our main base to the western continent, our job here's done. No need to stick around our nose with these weaklings now."

"Ungh!" Ascal tried to get back up but was unable to.

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Mirage opened her eyes and looked around just as everyone was started to recover from the blow. Cliff and Shin were nowhere around. Mirage couldn't help but feel that they had failed yet again. They had reached the end of the mountail trail by now but the enemy had already fled.

"Think it was a trap?" Lieber asked as he rubbed his forehead with his palm trying to cover his bruise.

Xeim on the other hand who was bleeding intensely was getting treatment by herbal medicines from Welch. "Possibly. Dammit! They got away... yet again!"

"I think it's more like they spared us." Welch replied in a sulky voice.

Mirage was whispering to herself out loudly, "How far we've come... we can't lose hope now, can we?"

"Everytime we face defeat, I can't help but feel the Federation guys are right. This Alliance is impossible to deal with." Lieber looked towards Mirage who looked like she was lost in her own thoughts.

"If that really was the case, then why did we bother coming all this way? We weren't just going to investigate on what was going on, were we? I couldn't just sit back while all the friends i've had the past four years would give away their lives in this fight, I have to stand up and do something!" she replied.

Welch stood up vigorously as her heart started streaming with some energy. "I want to be somewhere where I can make a difference but most importantly, I want to be where i'm needed."

"Things have been kinda bugging me for the past few years." said Lieber as he inspected his phase gun as if it were some broken toy. "Somehow I feel there's still unfinished business out here for me, so i'm still gonna do whatever it takes."

"Me? I'm still holding my part of the deal, I see no reason to walk out of it." Misty shook her head confidently.

Xeim was still staring at his arm this whole time gazing at the swollen wound he had just suffered. "I guess everyone's got their reasons to keep going. I got mine too."

"We all have something we want to fight for, right? Then we're not going to stop." said Mirage in her usual 'mentor-talking-to-pupil' tone.

Ascal seemed to be a little frustrated which would explain his silence.

"And the Alliance?" Lieber asked.

"We're going to need to lay out a plan to deal with them instead of rushing straight into them from the front like we've done so far." advised Mirage.

"The only bases that are left now are in the continent of Gernn, I believe." Ascal mumbled as he picked up his sabre from the ground.

Mirage nodded once she had gotten back on to her feet. "Then let's get going. We're not letting anything hold us back this time!"