With our feast complete and our newest members settled in, it wasn't long before we once more began making preparations for taking down one of the Ark's ultimate life forms. In this case, the albino King Kong expy known as the Megapithecus. Who lived on a snowy mountain and had an army of yeti under his control.
Yeah, no pressure.
First off: get some mounts adapted to the cold.
TO THE TUNDRA WE GO!
Taming woolly rhinos was the first part of our plan.
By no means was it easy - woolly rhinos were more docile than normal rhinos, but they tended to respond very aggressively to being hit with tranquilizers. This led to several amusing/annoying instances of our group being pursued by angry rhinos until the sedatives finally knocked the herbivores out cold. Despite these issues, we managed to domesticate a herd with only a few bruises and broken bones to impair us, which soon healed due to both our implants and careful application of medicine. I made a mental note that I would make obtaining these implants mandatory for any special forces back at the hub (or at least strongly encourage them) so that I could exploit their advantages to the fullest. Immortal soldiers get!
Of course, those weren't the only creatures we had to contend with in the cold - mammoths, dire bears, Purlovias, and dire wolves were all creatures that we faced, beatdown, and tamed to aid us for the coming battle with the second ultimate life form. All would be useful in the cold mountaintop that would be our arena to face the Megapithecus, so we wasted no time in gathering them for our usage. We needed every advantage that we could get.
Back at our camp, things were going on in a somewhat boring manner. Sure, we'd literally had royalty dumped on our feet, but for the most part, Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia didn't really do too much of note. The boy did manage to tame a Troodon just by staring it down, somehow, but otherwise he and his sister simply didn't do anything interesting enough for me to record. Sayoko, meanwhile, made a point of hiding just what her capabilities were. I'd find htem out evenutally, but not now.
Though, on the plus side, our other child villagers had made friends with the two siblings, which was always a plus - Lelouch really needed friends.
...Now I was worried another group of characters from fiction would get dumped on us. Given the dire wolves, probably House Stark.
The Overseer recoiled in shock when its attempt to try and pull over the seven...eight...nine...ten possible candidates from Earth XVCI were interrupted. The source was a group of powerful beings who had a strength it could not compare to, but how they possessed such strength eluded him. Whatever they were, though, it was clear messing with them was not in its best interests, at least for now. Perhaps later, but not now.
Fortunately, it seemed the universe was willing, if not to prevent me from getting involved in the events of Westeros, then at least delay the happening of such to some other time.
This left me with the opportunity to observe some other things I wanted to know - namely, how those from medieval times built their homes. The knights and Vikings I was now leading took a lot of time and effort to build their dwellings (including a mead hall and a small keep), something I made a point of taking notes on. Additionally, I had drones back at the hub examing how the Legions, Warborn, Chosen, and Wu Lin built their settlements, if only so that I could set up future areas of habitation in the event I started taking on followers from world with similar levels of development and culture to these groups. Of course, then I would need to handle the monsters...eh, one problem at a time.
Back on the hub, in the province of New Ashfeld...
As he watched the battle conclude, Elt knew he would be lying if he wasn't impressed with what he saw. Against expectations, the warrior wielding weapons and armor that resembled those he had seen on a Hero from Zipangu had bested the lady Knight. Despite this, neither seemed to have ill will toward the other, and they soon parted so that the next match between a woman wielding a sword and a knife and a man wielding a sword and shield and wearing a bear pelt could begin.
The expedition from Lescatie had not expected to find people like them here. Their initial experience with those of this...federation had been with the ones who used strange guns and blades, and machines that let them fly and travel beneath the waves. To say that meeting these knights had been surprising was...well, something of an understatement. While they spoke a strange language and had different armors than those used by the Order, it was...refreshing to see something familiar in this unknown and alien world.
Elt had been amazed when he had found these...heroes dueling. They weren't like those chosen by the Order or the Gods - they had no divinely given powers to back them up, just their will to fight. But they made up for it with skill - Elt had never seen people fight with the techniques these warriors used, or their weapons. Particularly surprising were the ones called Lawbringers - their weaponry reminded him of Merse, his captain. As much as he wanted to claim that Merse would win against these men, he had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't - she was strong, but these warriors were experienced and capable. They'd wait her out before going in for the kill.
Of course, none of them could hope to match Wilmarina Norscrim.
"Enjoying the fights?"
Elt started in shock, before noticing the man standing next to him. Said man was one of the heroes of these people, but he didn't exactly look the part, wearing a skull on his helmet.
"...Yeah, I guess."
"I admit that I am still surprised that that Orochi is able to best the Warden. Even if he loses as often as she does, it's still a shock to see your friends lose."
"I understand the feeling, even if I haven't experienced it firsthand."
"I see... Tell me, are you a soldier?"
Elt glanced up at his companion for a moment before answering. "Yes. I am a member of the Order of the Ice Flower. Not a Knight, though, much less a Hero. Just a soldier."
"Hmph. A Hero. I've heard those from your lands use them term before, but I don't understand why you hold such reverence for it. You speak of them as if they are gods among men."
"You could say they are. Heroes are chosen by the Gods to help us defeat the monsters that seek to destroy mankind - the demons, the dragons, the orcs, and others like them."
The skull-helmed man titled his head at that statement. "You actually fight those creatures?"
"I haven't yet, but I've seen them. They are...not like the stories I was told."
"Interesting... Sorry to ask, but what is your name?"
"Call me Elt."
"Then you may call me Stone. So, tell me, what are these creatures like?"
"Well, first off, all of them are female. And they look a lot like women."
"Seriously?"
"Yep. And they don't really seem to be interested in eating people, though I don't quite think that's much consolation, since some of them what to take men as husbands, whether they like it or not. And they turn woken into more of them."
"You come from a very weird world."
"So I have been told."
"Well, I certainly think you'll find kindred spirits here."
"Yep."
"...Why were you watching the duels earlier, little boy?"
Elt bristled under the comment, but managed to keep his reply calm. "I haven't seen the way your people fight. It's new and interesting, to say the least."
"Are you perhaps a little jealous?"
Elt opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, and after a moment, shrugged before nodding. "A little - I never received much training beyond the basics, and in Lescatie, it is rare for a common soldier to meet a hero."
"Good to know. So, would you like to train under me?"
Elt's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?!"
"Yes."
"But-but-but I am no knight!"
"Before I became a Conqueror, I was rotting in a dungeon for daring to strike a noble. I care not your origins, only that you train in earnest."
"But I have low pressure!"
"There are medicines and potions here that can fix that. Do you have any other reservations?"
"...No."
"Do you want to train under one like me?"
"...Yes."
"Good. Then I will speak with your commander about taking you into the Iron Legion. Once that has been arranged, your training will begin."
Back on the Ark, a few days later
As the day once again wound down, I watched as our youngest members began to play a game of catch. Joining them were the exiled prince and princess - the surprise arrival and specimen implant had fixed little Nunnally's eyes and legs, allowing her to enjoy certain childish pleasures once again. And that brought a smile to her brother's face.
I'd made sure Sayoko would look after them tomorrow, because where we were going, children had no place.
Especially if you were trying to kill a giant ape.
AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!