Part 2
-Nabe's Adventure-
Nabe's team entered the mines in a three-rank line. The mages in the middle while warriors were both in front and back. Lily is next to Nabe as they enter the mine. They exit the long tunnel and enter a large cavern with multiple caves and bridges. Four archers fire an arrow in every direction wondering how large the cavern really is. They wait to hear the sound of the arrow to hit a wall or ground but no sound is made.
"This place might be bigger than the Dwarven Kingdom and the training maze combined. How long have they been digging?" Said Nabe.
A dwarf checks the ground underneath their feet. He picks up a handful of dirt and tastes it.
"Checking the ground, I could say it's a few thousand years old."
Lily pulls on Nabe's robes.
"Yes, Lily?"
"The mines are much older than that. This is one of the newer sections." Lily says calmly.
"Really?! How can you make such cravens?" Nabe says with both shock and awe in her voice.
"We don't, they do."
Lily points to a large worm like creature digging through the earth. The creature's size seemed to be limitless as it tunnels through the rock like it was pushing through soft mud. Everyone is shocked seeing such a creature. A dwarf asks Lily a question.
"What are they?"
"We called their race the 'Diggers'. They make the tunnels while we make shiny stuff."
"So, dwarves don't mine?" He says in disbelief.
"We don't. Papa said a dwarf hasn't mined anything since the old days before the Diggers."
"So, what do dwarves do?"
"We make art. We are the best artists in the continent." She says calmly with pride in her voice.
The dwarves were quite surprised to hear her calm answer.
"Do your people drink wine or beer?"
"No, we prefer tea. Papa like green tea."
Lily smiles remembering an image of her father and her drinking tea together. The dwarves begin to laugh upon hearing her statement. The smile warms Nabe's heart.
"Once we save them, let's get them drunk! A drunken dwarf is the best dwarf!"
A dwarf yells in excitement. The others also agree to his plan. Nabe made a smile hearing their plans. A beastman scout raises his hand and everyone immediately shuts up.
"They're coming."
The ground underneath their feet begin to shake violently. Everyone looks around to see an endless horde of Forgotten exiting tunnels and heading towards them.
"Everyone! We can't stay in the open! We're going to run through them 'till we find a better position!" Said Nabe.
Nabe's team begins to run forward heading into the nearest tunnel. They enter the tunnel and Forgotten await them. Nabe carries Lily in the middle of their formation. Forgotten emerge from the walls trying to grab Lily and Nabe but the experienced dwarf adventures can quickly tell where an attack is coming from. They continue to run forward through the Forgotten while being chased by the horde. Seconds felt like hours as they continued to run.
"Lady Nabe! We can't continue to do this all day!"
(What should I do!? If we stop we may die, but if we keep running we'll die! There must be something!)
"Go right! The palace is to the right!" Said Lily.
"You heard her! We can defend ourselves in the palace!" Said Nabe.
The team heads right into a carved tunnel and the Forgotten continue to increase in numbers trying to stop Nabe's team. A Forgotten class-5 bursts through the floor underneath in front of the lead members and removes the heads of 5 of them. Their bodies fall onto the ground but they couldn't stop to recover their remains, so they ran over their fallen comrades' bodies.
Elves fire lighting magic making the class-5 avoid the magic attacks but two beastmen warriors pierce his heart and head with spears. They continue to run unable to recover their comrades' bodies. Nabe tosses Lily to another adventurer and turns around looking at the Forgotten swarm getting closer.
"Back off!"
[Orb of Lightning]!
An orb of pure lighting appears in Nabe's hand. She pushes it before her and gives it a roundhouse kick sending it towards the Forgotten horde. The orb impacts the forgotten exploding and causing the tunnel behind them to collapse.
(I'm sorry my friends, but this is the best grave I can make for you. Your names shall be etched onto Momon back when we return.)
They arrive at the palace entrance escaping from tunnels and into an large craven. They are at atop a large set stairs that descend towards the palace. The palace doesn't have single light so the descent looks as one goes into the abyss.
The Forgotten were forcing their way through, so they decided to run down the stairs hoping it's empty. The elves use flight magic to help the dwarves descend the stairs. Nabe looks back to see the Forgotten stopping atop the stairs. Nabe's team enters the palace and places defensive magic on the doors, ensuring they don't break with a single hit. Everyone begins placing magic traps around the entrances.
"Everyone! We have gotten a moment of peace, but don't let your guard down. We are still in enemy territory!"
"Yes Ma!"
Nabe takes Lily and puts her onto the ground.
"You ok!?"
"Yes, I'm fine but we shouldn't stay here." She says calmly.
"Why is that?"
"I just remembered that papa said that they came from here."
Nabe eyes widen upon hearing her.
"Scouts! explore this castle and ensure that we are alone! I want half staying here and the other half to come with me!"
"Yes Ma!"
The beastmen begin running through the castle. Nabe leaves Lily with the adventures guarding the door, while she and the others explore the castle. Nabe has 15 people with her, the guards numbered around 30, and the scouts numbered 5 people.
Nabe's team enters the throne room seeing blood everywhere. Not a single corpse was left but everyone knew the Forgotten had done this slaughter. A dwarf spots a book and gives it to Nabe. She begins to read it out aloud.
-King's Journal-
Date 7 month of star calendar day 15
[Today the Diggers found an unknown entrance to a tomb. I will be sending some explorers to research it. Hopefully they found something of importance and return home safely.]
Date 7 month of star calendar day 20
[The explorers found it to be quite a large room and found many unknown writings. They only have been able to translate one word, and it said "guild" but they did find numerous amounts of treasure. We could have found an ancient dwarven kingdom.]
Date 8 month of star calendar day 10
[The explorers were all killed when the room collapsed. The other staff at the scene were trying to open a hidden floor but it caused the place to become unstable. We lost a lot of good people but the work continues. We found what those ruins hold. Another piece of good news, we found a worm like creature but it was dead.]
Date 9 month of star calendar day 5
[More worm like creatures begin to appear but they are harmless. The hidden floor has been opened and a perfectly designed tunnel was there waiting. It led to a large throne room. I shall arrive a week later to examine the throne and thank the explorers for their hard work.]
Date 10 month of the star calendar day 1
[I killed the king and the royal family. I have begun my takeover of this kingdom the land above me. I write this to remember the date when my rule began. The scenes of blood fighting blood shall encompass this world.]
Nabe closes the book and places it into her bag. Everyone is quiet to respect the fallen.
"Let's look for this entrance."
-Momon's Adventure-
Momon enters a cave while the rest of his team are helping the front line. Momon's aid has turned the tide of the battle. The peace faction was pushing the Forgotten back. He stood before the leader of the peace faction. A giant winged serpent, his size cannot be measured as the cave is very dim. Numerous Injuries can be seen on his body. Momon spots a wing that has been torn off.
"Hello dark warrior.~ I am Vaan leader of these warriors and the last of my kind.~"
"I am Momon of Team Darkness and I have been sent with orders to seek your aid in the final battle that'll end these Forgotten."
"Final battle?~ Please explain.~"
"I come from a land in the west over the sea. My Emperor is on his way here to finish off the Forgotten. We have met with the leader of the Forgotten and the two want to end this conflict in a single battle."
"I see.~ I can hear your noble spirit telling me the truth but I cannot agree.~"
"Why?" Momon asks confused at his words.
"Behind me are those who can't defend themselves.~"
Vaan moves his body and a large group of women and children are sleeping. Momon walks inside and can see a blue gas in the cave.
"They sleep?~"
"You can't attack because of them."
"With time the Forgotten will take over and everyone here will be killed.~"
"We can take them back."
"You can't.~ The Forgotten are numerous.~ I know your are powerful but you can't keep everyone safe.~"
(What would Nabe do? She's always the one with the plan. How can I move so many people without being noticed?)
Momon ponders on the thought but nothing comes to mind.
*Buzz*Buzz*
A message scroll activates in his cape and he pulls it out and finds that it's Evileye.
[Momon. How are things going?]
[Difficult, to say the least. I met with the leader of the peace faction and he agreed to our plan but there's a problem]
[Oh? What's the problem?]
[The base they're hold up in is surround by Forgotten and they're protecting women and children so they can't leave.]
[I see, but I have some good news. General Enri has arrived with 10 skeletal dragons. That should help with your problem.]
[Can you have them sent to us?]
[Of course. She'll be happy to meet you.]
[Message ends]
"I have some great news Vaan. We're going to be able to get everyone to safety."
"Explain.~"
"The lead general of the empire has arrived and she has dragons that can lead your people to escape."
Vaan raises his head hearing those words that lifted a burden off his back.
"Momon, there are more dragons~?" Vaan says with curiosity, tinged with hope in his voice.
"We have an entire nation full of dragons." Momon says proudly.
"What do you need us to do?~" Vaan says with renewed focus and purpose.
-Back at the fort.-
General Enri has started moving her forces answering Momon's call for aid.
"Get moving maggots! We have work to do!" Exclaiming forcefully.
She jumps atop of her lead dragon and so do her monsters climb atop the dragons. The skeletal dragons carry three containers each worth of troops.
"Let's fly and show these 'Forgotten' that we of the empire are the true monsters!"
The monster legion gives a battle roar that shakes the skies. Enri signals the dragons to follow her lead. Enri's dragon flies off and the others follow her.
(A few hours Momon and I'll be there.)
-Back to Momon-
Momon is leading his adventure team alongside most of Vaan's army. The two made a plan that could buy some time until help arrived. The Forgotten outnumber Vaan's forces 3 to 1. The Forgotten have always been on the offensive but due to Momon's aid the Forgotten are retreating. Vaan will stay back with some troops to defend the innocent people while Momon will lead everyone else in a surprise attack. Momon's charge will distract the enemy until General Enri arrives with reinforcements.
Momon's forces are quickly moving towards the Forgotten's camp and were mere minutes away from making contact.
"Is everyone ready?!" Momon says forcefully.
The army's shouts signal it's ready for combat.
Momon's the first over the hill expecting hordes of Forgotten, but instead it's blood painted warriors of this nation. The one leading them is a single blue dragon that is drenched in blood. At the dragon's feet the giant from earlier is beheaded. The dragon turns his head towards Momon. He stares at Momon and a chill crawls up his spine.
"Thanks for joining us brothers of peace, but we are joining our brothers and families so prepare to die."
"Everyone retreat!"
Momon gives the order and everyone turns around running away even Momon himself.
"Momon, why are we running?!"
"They are suicidal warriors with high morale. If we fight them now the losses will be too great. We must defend ourselves till General Enri arrives!"
"Yes Sir!"
(Damn everything! That must be the war faction. General Enri, hurry up and get here!)
-Ren's Adventure-
Ren's team has subdued the villagers and secure the location. They were struggling to free themselves but they can't break the magic enchanted rope.
"I wish Nabe was here. Magic is her department."
Ren walks up to one of the villagers. The villager is a wolf-type beastman. The villager begins to foam at the mouth trying to bite Ren.
(Maybe it's a disease, are the Forgotten making these people sick.)
An adventurer runs up to Ren presenting a banner.
"Sir Ren, I found this at the edge of the village. I think it a royal banner."
"I think you're right. I saw this insignia all over the castle."
Ren grabs it and giving it to Silver. Silver begins to smell it causing him to growl at the banner.
"What's wrong boy?"
Silver continues to growl so Ren throws it at him and Silver rips it to sheds. Ren goes into his bag and pulls out some vials.
"Alright buddy, time for smell test."
Ren holds up a vial label human blood. Silver has no reaction. Ren holds up a vial of Forgotten blood and Silver begins to growl.
"So, we are dealing with Forgotten. Great. Everyone be guard! Silver has picked up Forgotten scent."
The adventures pull out weapons and begin scanning for the smallest of movements. Ren and a few others look over the village for anything that might have caused the beastmen to rage. An hour they searched for a clue but only the royal banner was their single link.
(Has the royalty of this nation turned into Forgotten? We can't stay here. We must keep moving but if we let these beastmen go they'll kill each other. We can I do to ease their rage?)
Ren turns to spot a female beastmen. He stares at her deeply so she freezes in place. She becomes nervous at Ren stare.
(What's greater than rage?)
A magical light bulb turns on in Ren head. Ren opens his bag looking for something. A few minutes pass and Ren pulled out a pink vial. Ren quickly heads over to a raging beastman grabbing him by the jaw and makes him drink it. The beastman begins to choke on the drink and begins to cough trying to gasp air. The adventures are curious as to what's happening.
A few moments later the beastman returns to normal but he has an intense look in his eyes as he stares down a female adventurer. Ren snaps his fingers before the beastman eyes making him focus on Ren.
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes, of course." he looks down and around seeing everyone tied up.
"Why are we tied up?"
"Seems like you don't remember you were trying to kill you neighbor. We are from... the jade faction and we been sent to ask for your kingdom help in killing the Forgotten."
"What do you mean by 'trying to kill'."
"We found you all almost killing each other. We came in and tied everyone up till they cool down but seems like the Forgotten got here first and messed up your minds. Can you tell me anything from before we got here?"
"Um, well I remember the prince coming through here then the king and queen. I can't remember anything else."
"I see, this helps a lot."
"Can you answer some of my questions?"
"Sure. Ask away."
"Why do I feel so energized?" Ren turns red hearing the question.
"Well I had an idea to break you rage mind control and I thought something stronger than rage is love. Especially the love for the opposite sex."
"That's why I feel so...hyper."
"I couldn't think of anything else but it worked."
"I thank you but will it work on everyone else?"
"We can hope."
Ren unites him and begins to make the others drink the vial. Everyone after a few minutes returned to normal beside having a very strong urge to reproduce. The villagers told Ren the same story of the prince coming through here then the king and queen following afterwards. Ren and the adventures have mounted up and left the village heading towards the royal family.
An elf rides beside Ren.
"Excuse me Sir Ren, what did you give them to drink?"
"When Emperor Ainz aided the Dragonic kingdom in their victory over the Beastmen Kingdom. The population of both nations was reduced, especially the Dragonic Kingdom, so Emperor Ainz made a potion to encourage people to mate. I have some of the potions with me as they are part of the southern half culture."
"Where can I get some? My wives want kids and I might need the extra energy."
"Wives? How many do you have?"
"Oh, 10 and counting."
"Why so many?!" Ren says with shock and disbelief.
"When the guildmaster arrived we were able to communicate with families so I told them how I'm going to fight with Team Darkness so they thought I became a member and every female in my tribe wants to have my child."
The elf has a depressing aura around him. Ren pulls out a box of 12 potions and hands it to him without saying a word. Ren pats him on his back and wishes him good luck.
-Kingdom Discovery-
A spy team arrives at the new jade capital. They look above it and are surprised by what they see.
[Message Scroll]
[Guildmaster. It's spy team A reporting in.[What have you discovered to break silence? [I don't know guildmaster, but the Forgotten have taken over the jade capital [What?! I must alert everyone! [No guildmaster because these Forgotten are acting strangely compared to the ones before [What do you mean? [The Forgotten are acting like... people. [Explain. [I see farmers, guards, and even some shopping. [What in the supreme beings name...? [We request permission to investigate further. [Granted.]
[Message ends]
Evileye leans forward in her chair with a look of puzzlement. The elf queen alongside other adventurers wonder what she heard. She opens her mouth saying one sentence.
"You'll have to till wait next time!"
*Author here: sorry for the cliffhanger but next chapter bring some popcorn because it's going to get crazy! Hope you enjoyed the story because seekers will have 3 chapters left after this. It took a while to post this since my life became busy. As always, if you enjoyed the work please leave a review or PM, or if you have issues also leave a review or PM.*
*Editor here: Hey there peoplez! It's your friendly neighborhood editor and author, Mad_Dan90! To make a long story short, the person who normally edits Seekers wasn't available and won't be for the foreseeable future. Due to that, I took over editing duties. Still, I am quite busy myself so another reason why it took so long for Seekers to come out. Anywho, until next time, enjoy the posts and be awesome to each other. Later!*