"Yes, it is exactly as I say, my Queen." Aristidis states while the scene shows him with a cellphone upon his ear, and standing alone close to a grassy plain as he looks toward the horizon, the night slowly being lighted with the rays of the still unseen sun. "Preparations are already completed, and we shall embark for the royal palace of Gallia once the time is right."
(=Aristidis, what you plan to do is too much of a risk, even if he deserves as much for what he did till this point. The possibility of starting a war between Tristain and Gallia is just too great.=) Henrietta tells him through the phone, rather concerned with the plan he described to her not too long ago.
The pitch-black Storyteller appears unconcerned and pompous. "There will be no war, because it will not be seen as your fault. My official stay might be within Tristain territory, and my connection to Louise, my summoner and citizen of yours, might make it seem like even more of a responsibility for your kingdom, not to mention how tremendously I helped you in the past, but that does not change the fact that I am technically a ruler myself, thus making each decision I make, my own. And I mean, it is not like anyone really expects a ruling figure, even someone capable like you, with an irresistible personality let me add, to be able to keep under control a great power such as I. At most, I might be forced to pay a fine to Gallia or something, which is of no consequence to me considering my Tome. Really, it is more on him in the case he decides to start a war with Tristain over this, and even he should be able to understand it is not worth it in the slightest with my increasingly empowered self here."
There is silence from the Queen's part, taking into careful consideration his words for a moment. (=You make a sound point like always. You know what, nevermind my needless concerns- give him all he deserves!=) She finishes with part of the full and newfound enthusiasm she keeps deep inside her about this.
Aristidis chuckles at that amused. "Ha-Ha-I shall. Expect my appearance in your royal bedroom after this." He quietly says the last part with much of seductive energy.
With that, he ends the call, and after placing the cellphone away by moving it down on him and off the screen, he looks at the sun that is beginning to make its appearance toward the horizon, with him then bringing the same hand up again to show now holding a golden pocket watch, whose cover he opens with the click of a button to check the time within, before nodding to himself as he then proceeds to close it once more while moving himself the other way with a vertical palm next to his mouthless part. "All abo~ard! Time to move on, everyone, proceed in an orderly line, and do not push the ones in front of you, there is space inside for every single one of your unique personalities!" While telling that part, the scene zooms out just enough to show Louise, Siesta, Charlotte, Kirche, and Tiffania standing in front of him, before they proceed to the side toward somewhere, with a large group of other characters following their example as they come from off the screen of the other side, with each different figure being covered by a dark shadow, covering them for now from the viewers for content purposes.
~Some Time Later~At Gallia's Royal Palace~
Early in the morning within the royal palace at the capital of Gallia, King Joseph was present in his personal room where he uses to conduct his most secretive plots, with a kneeling Sheffield being before him, the latter's clothing burned or ripped at some parts, and her hair somewhat of a mess, while also gasping a bit for air due to obvious, past overexertion.
The Gallian King was like most of the time unemotional, yet rather curious since it is the first time he sees his faithful servant in such a condition. "I await for your report."
"Y-Yes, my king." The pale woman responds after a few seconds of catching her breath, before raising her head to look at him, her face showing hints of tiredness, shock, and mild concern. "I was able to infiltrate the academy, but I fell straight into one of the Storyteller's cunning traps, after reaching the first part of my mission. His summoner then cast a spell on me before I can react, denying me of my rune's power, just before he summons one of his servants to deal with me."
While speaking of the last part, a brief flashback shows the moment she encountered that darkened and large, owly figure from the last episode, which turned out to be Barnaby from Billie Bust up, who was accompanied by his many friends/servants, the Barnaboos, which were smallish, round ghosts in the colors of yellow, with an orange inside obvious by their eyes and mouth, and with some wearing top-hats and bow-ties, who all together forced her to run away for her life, while in the meantime they were singing a happy, enthusiastic, but macabre tune, and yes, there were over-the-top obstacles in her way as well.
Once the said flashback ends, Sheffield continues. "It was as silly as it was terrifying. Like a children's fairytale going horribly wrong. Frankly, I have no idea how I was able to run for so long, before they eventually give up on hunting me down."
"I see." King Joseph responds with understanding after hearing once more the capability and tenacity of the Storyteller.
Yet despite that, he doesn't show any disappointment over the failure of this mission, and instead smiles sinisterly. "It still doesn't matter. Even if he won this, that elf we sent the same night should be more than enough to deal with the other matter."
"I fear that might not prove to be the case." The pale woman states, causing Joseph to raise a curious eyebrow at her, her expression now that of shameful frustration. "That obnoxious being admitted that he knew about our connection and your entire involvement in all of this, along with everything regarding Charlotte and her mother from the very beginning. I've been tricked like a fool!"
Hearing that, the Gallian King couldn't help but be surprised for a moment, only to come to the understanding that it is not really an unexpected fact, thinking of the high intellect the Storyteller has shown to possess, and the former also believes that the latter has most definitely already healed the mind of his deceased young brother's wife through his impressive magic.
That moment, the sound of distant rumblings catches both his and his Familiar's curious attention, who gets up as they both look toward the open windows leading to the room's balcony.
While stepping outside to look at where they believe the distant sound comes from, the scene moves at the most distant and lonely houses, where a few peasants perform their daily duties, only to stop what they were doing as they too begin to realize the faint, rumbling sound, which is like a thunder rolling in from afar to them, and all look around trying to see where it comes from, and of course what produces such a strange noise.
Mild tremors they then begin to feel under their feet as they all now look down and around themselves, with some starting to fear of an imminent earthquake.
The rumblings grows louder and louder, resembling now the stampede of a thousand horses charging towards them, with the additional three-second-sound of what they can describe as the loud, roaring howl of an unheard-of-beast, turning their now alarmed attention toward the horizon it comes from, where they see at the distance a cloud of black smoke coming out of something that at first resembles an approaching, black-colored chimney.
As it comes closer and closer, with speed equal or even surpassing that of a horse, its sheer size becomes apparent, with the peasants quickly running out of its way out of utter fright, seeing the next moment passing through a black, long, metallic mass with seemingly numberless wheels upon iron tracks that magically appear on the way for it to move on, with the track completely passed by it vanishing as soon.
While heading for the city, for the citizens and caught by surprise guards who watch from a proper distance, the metal mass appears to them like multiple wagons tied to each other in a straight line, with each having at their top instead of a standard roof, what appears to be a long barrel, to the citizens' eyes appearing like a thinner type of strange cannon barrel.
The entire thing is something they have never seen before.
An armored train.
The bulk of heavy armor rushes toward the collection of the city's buildings, causing the people to panic as it appears it's about to crash its way through, only for it to actual be able to make sudden turns, and maneuver through the roads without issue, and without hitting anyone while at it of course, showing an unnatural level of control that would normally not be expected of such a bulky and clumsy-looking construct.
At one point, the train ends up in a road that is a clear dead-end with a big house being what blocks the way, and as everyone runs away through the alleyways, a mother with a child in her arms remain in the middle of the trains path, the woman frozen from fear as she watches it coming, her child crying in response to all of this.
But just as it appears like the armored train will run them over, it instead raises itself into the air, following the track trail that makes it pass right above the two and the building, before moving downward once more onto the road forth, continuing its way normally.
King Joseph and Sheffield keep on watching from the balcony, the latter starting to get worried as the train is dangerously closing in on their royal palace, with the guards close to the entrance below quivering in place, trying to think what they are even supposed to do in this situation.
After reaching a certain distance, the train's wheels are abruptly immobilized, as the whole thing comes to a very slow and eventual stop, its side facing the palace, which produces a unbearable screeching noise of metal against metal, causing the people closest to cover their ears, with some comparing the said noise to that of the wails of tortured spirits echoing through haunted woods, till it thankfully ceases along with its movement.
While watching at its unmoving form, a hissing sound accompanied by the slow opening of the frontal piece's door opens, revealing the Storyteller, his hands behind the back, and his expression serious.
Needless to say, none expected this sudden appearance.
Also, through the windows of the rest of the armored train's wagons, other than Louise, Siesta, Kirche, Charlotte, and Tiffania, there were more characters who were apparent through said windows, and which will be presented simply due to their great number.
Starting off, we have the three imps and the one anthropomorphic hellhound from Helluva Boss, Blitz, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona.
From the Pirates Of The Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Hector Barbossa, and the most notable members of their combined crew.
From Kya Dark Lineage, some of the different lycanthropes that are the Wolfuns.
From Pokemon, the trio that is Jesse, James, and Meowth.
From Piemations, the one and only Suction Cup Man, alongside the Scotsman from Samurai Jack, Deadpool from Marvel, the robot Bender from Futurama, and Tyrion Lannister from Game Of Thrones.
From Lucky Luke, the four, uneven in height Dalton Brothers, Joe, William, Jack, and Averell, with the first having to stand up on his seat to look outside of their own window.
And finally the main, and in-a-sense entire team from Cyberpunk Edgerunners, David, Lucy, Maine, Dorio, Pilar, and Rebecca.
Once all of them were shown in the way they were, upon the roof of the middle wagon lands Titania Prime from Warframe after coming from above flying, here to be present in this episode too.
Before anyone says anything, Aristidis snaps his fingers. "Do these belong to you?"
After asking King Joseph that, the door of the wagon carrying the Wolfuns slides open, with them throwing out and straight to the ground in front of the royal palace and its present guards ten people, with their appearance causing shock to the said guards once they get a proper look at their fallen forms.
It was their fellow soldiers who were sent just the last day on a mission, only instead of the ones some of themt used to know, now they are husks of their previous selves.
Some of them are in fetus position and move in place while quietly whimpering, some of the others are using both their hands and legs to cover their sensitive areas, backside, and mouth, with eyes wide and filled with shock, their stance unbroken as if their life depends on it, and the rest of them are frozen in place, mouths as wide open as they can be in continuous silent screaming, the very image unnerving and frightening greatly their peers.
It's more than obvious that they went through hell to end up as they did, with even Aristidis's ladies feeling awful for these ones.
"Also this reminds you of someone?" The Storyteller then asks the Gallian King while pulling into view with a hand from the side Bidashal, who was tied with a rope and gagged with a piece of cloth, with his ear properly covered, the third feeling really uncomfortable with his current situation, as the second along with the pale woman appearing more than surprised with seeing this, coming to the understanding that the elf was defeated effortlessly.
Aristidis points a finger from his free hand at the king. "All I asked was for me and all associated with me to be left unbothered. And what you do? You annoy me for a reason I still have no knowledge of."
Before anyone can even consider interrupting him, he immediately turns the same hand to make a stop-sign. "And NO. You have lost the right of explaining yourself after this fiasco. You know what else? I will show you the same level of respect you have shown us all this time, and see how you like it yourself."
"Everyone!" The pitch-black Storyteller yells so he can be heard by his special passengers, and says the following calmly as he lowers his arm. "Express yourselves before the king."
On command every single one of the Tome-Characters begins to throw swears and use the most inappropriate gestures they know, with the Team Rocket trio doing a more tame version in comparison, just to slowly stop after hearing and seeing the performance of the rest, being rather shocked with the severity of it, while the main ladies themselves not believing in their ears as some cover their mouths out of their own shock.
In the meantime, Sheffield was in disbelief at the horrendous offence being thrown at her king, while Joseph himself just looks unemotionally at the whole thing.
After approximately a minute passes, Aristidis signs with a hand for them all to stop, which they do so almost as soon, and then proceeds with a genial face to speak some more to the king. "I say with this we are even, despite how more severe your heinous actions against us have been. Seriously though..."
The mouthless Storyteller glares in menacingly hateful manner at the king and his Familiar, with an intense, pressuring aura reaching them as soon, sudden and powerful enough to startle them both, while the weight of it making them feel like their entire body is heavier in a wrong way where they stand.
"I will tolerate that behavior of yours no longer. If you think you can just keep at it and not expect consequences, you are severely mistaken. Your kingdom will end up searching for a new ruler in the case you do not listen to reason for once in your relatively short life. In simpler terms, just to make sure what I say is absolutely clear, since your intellect is being questioned at this point, next time. Will be. Your last. I jest not. It is a clear warning about your imminent erasure from the face of this world. I will not just end your life. I will wipe out the very memory of you from the entirety of the planet. Your image will be destroyed from every picture and painting. Your name erased from every text containing it. The next generations will look back at the day, and never know you even existed. Because no death is more absolute... Than history forgetting you." The Storyteller tells him, his words and demeanor making clear that this is not an empty threat, and he means everything he said.
And that scares the girls and some of the Tome-Characters who are not used to seeing that side of his, with King Joseph narrowing his eyes a bit in response to the said words, while a cold sweat runs across Sheffield's actually worried face, seeing this as a rather serious situation.
In the meantime, Deadpool looks toward the hypothetical camera/fourth wall in a semi-secretive manner. "Talk about ominous foreshadowing, am I right?"
"You know I can... You know I WILL... You know there is nothing you can do once I actually attempt to do this. If you have even a small percentage of love, for yourself at the very least... Then you will not test me any further." Aristidis tells the king while narrowing his own eyes, and after a moment of eerie silence, his face turns genial as he lifts a hand. "WELL, that was all. Have a good day!"
And with that, the door closes shut as the armored train's engine starts, and moving away toward the way it had come.
As they both look at them go, while somewhat in disbelief he brought that iron bulk of obviously destructive power along with all those characters that were obviously a threat to the Gallian army, only to simply insult him before leaving, the Gallian King turns his sight toward his Familiar.
"My Myozunitonirun." He draws her attention, before telling her the following. "The Storyteller and his party trespassed in the Gallian Kingdom. So, it should only be fair for me to retaliate in response. Let us make use of that new toy of ours, and see how he fairs against it."
The pale woman just looks at him for a moment, till her known evil smile forms on her face, all worries more or less vanished.
Not that too long after, the scene cuts to the armored train as it makes its way through a wasteland, before the said scene zooms in and within the first wagon, where Aristidis has moved the tied-up Bidashal using Kronk's help, and who is in the middle of untying the elf while Louise and the rest of the girls watch.
"Now that was not so bad, was it?" The mouthless Storyteller asks Bidashal as the former produces magically a cup of coffee from thin air to drink from, with the muscly servant having finished untying the latter while helping him to stand. "With this, you have officially and properly paid for your wrongdoings against us. I truly hope it was not too much of an issue for you."
"Well, I definitely shouldn't complain, all things considered." The elven individual responds with a sweat drop, and then nods respectfully. "Again, thank you eternally for what you are doing for us elves. You will have to excuse me though, for it's time I make my return to our capital in Sahara to report about this as soon as possible. I don't want them to accidentally attack the soldiers you sent for our protection, after all."
"Just remember your own end of the deal regarding lovely Tiffania." Aristidis reminds him, and then something comes to his mind. "Speaking of, how about we take you there ourselves? Our current train should prove more than appropriate to reach the place fast and comfortably."
Bidashal feels a bit concerned about, while at the same time fears to not insult Aristidis's goodwill. "As much as I would appreciate that... I don't think it's a good idea. This... transportational mean of yours is definitely going to cause quite the alarming reaction from them."
"True, true." The pitch-black Storyteller admits with a hand on his own chin after thinking about it, before having another satisfying to him idea as he places the arm of the same hand upon Bidashal's shoulders. "Still, you should let us escort you till the borders, at the very least."
"That, I can accept." The elven man states, even though he still feels a bit uncomfortable with the Storyteller's odd level of friendliness.
Louise steps forward, obviously concerned. "Aristidis, was it really necessary this course of action against the King of Gallia?"
"Yes." Charlotte answers as soon herself, her usually stoic face showing signs of anger, which is more than enough to make her close friends to sweat drop due to understanding the hate she holds for King Joseph and uncle of hers.
"What she said, and you should also know better than anyone that I am not one to not act accordingly to what is right and just." Aristidis answers pompously with his head raised upward, before looking at her while shrugging. "And I mean, what is the worst that can happen?"
There is a relatively long silence as he looks at each one of them, while they wonder whether he expects a answer from them or not.
"Retaliation?" Siesta decides to answer with a raised hand and through an unsure question.
"Siesta!" The mouthless Storyteller exclaims a bit upset, which startles her, and then sighs annoyed with a hand on his face for a moment as he then proceeds to folds his arms. "Sweetie, none of you was supposed to actually answer this question of mine. You were meant to let the silence go on, before I state the fact that nothing happened after I said that, thus completing my little reference. We literally watched the Sonic version containing it some time ago."
The black-haired girl remembers the part he is talking about as she and her group realizes what he was trying to do, as the elven man wonders what that Sonic the Storyteller speaks of is, with her feeling somewhat awful for it. "Ah- I'm so sorry, dear, I completely forgot!"
"It is ok, it is ok. Everybody makes mistakes- no need to be hyperbolic about it." Aristidis says to calm her down, before reacting in place as if realizing something, and walks toward the closest window to open and move his head to look outside toward the back, with the rest wondering what is this about suddenly. "Not that I actually expected for nothing to happen of said nature."
After saying that, the rest of the group watch outside of the windows to see what he is looking at as well, and notice an enormous figure completely covered in a brown cloak and with a large sword in one hand, running very fast after them, and actually keeping up the pace with the train, resulting in a rather big collection of surprise from the passengers.
While reaching but keeping a certain distance from the train's side, the enormous figure pulls with its free hand the cloak off itself, revealing beneath its gray and knightly-looking exterior, with red dots for eyes obvious in an opening on its helmet-type head, with Sheffield being on one of its shoulders commanding it.
And she has quite the crazed look on her face as she proceeds to laugh toward their way. "You thought you could just insult my glorious king, and call it a day as if nothing important? Our Jormungandr will make sure you won't live enough to regret that choice of yours, you arrogant fool!"
"Jormungandr? That small golem?" The mouthless questions with a raised eyebrow, and loud enough to be heard, the fact making him utter a laugh of his own out of amusement. "Now THAT is an insult toward one's name!"
His lack of respect even at such a point infuriates the pale woman, who commands her Jormungandr to rush sidewardly in an attempt to crash against the armored train's middle, only for it to make a sudden turn around the said golem as it was coming, completely avoiding it while going the opposite way and gaining some distance from it as its master realizes a bit slowly the surprising to her dodge, before stopping her enormous walker to proceeds with much of hate have it chase after the said train once more, determined to bring into completion the will of her king.
Back inside the train, Aristidis is currently using the speaker to inform all of his passengers. "Attention everyone, your captain obvious is speaking, as you have seen we are under attack by a titan-posing chunk of metal. Ready arms, and prepare to show who's the actual boss here. No music this time though, so apologies are in order."
Says as the scene shows all said passengers equipping themselves, with the trio of Team Rocket looking all around them and wondering what the hell are THEY supposed to do in response themselves, because apparently they have no pokeballs with them for this one.
As Aristidis closes the speaker, Kirche curiously proceeds to ask him the following. "How come and no music this time?"
"Let us just say that it is quite the pickle to have both battle music and magically placed railways at the same time with all other things considered." The Storyteller answers with a sweat drop and a seemingly weary expression, causing his group to understand that he speaks about the overuse of his current magical amount, while Bidashal tries to understand what is that even supposed to mean, mostly the pickle part.
Back outside, the Jormungandr has reached the armored train and is right behind of the last wagon, its giant sword raised and ready to perform a vertical strike with it, but as it was about to do that, all of the train's autocannons quickly turn to aim at it, which the pale woman takes notice of, before beginning to shoot at the iron golem that has ceased movement where it stood, with a greenish, semi-transparent magical barrier forming all around it that moment, resulting in the continuous barrage of projectiles to hit and explode upon the said barrier, creating little by little a smoke cloud around their target.
Sheffield is the one responsible for that barrier, being a unique ability to the Jormungandr that can only be raised on command.
Yet despite that, she can't help but understand the frustrating difficulty of the situation, seeing that the autocannons are not stopping on shooting, obscuring the vision past the barrier, not to mention more coming her way, as the scene moves past the smokescreen to show the armored train moving in a zigzag manner before the iron golem and keeping a proper distance without any intention of retreat anymore, while all of the armed passengers begin shooting everything they have at their enormous target.
Bullets and explosives from the Tome-Characters, and even elemental magic being thrown at the Jormungandr from the Kirche and Charlotte who wanted to give a hand in fighting back themselves, all of them having their own level of glee in their face while doing so.
At one point, Titania Prime who was still atop one of the wagons' roof, aims a large gun at the obscured-by-the-smoke target, before she pulls the trigger for a beam of powerful energy to be unleashed upon the magical barrier, and actually penetrating it, resulting in part of one of the iron golem's shoulders to be struck and make a hole there, causing it to move a step back while grabbing with its free hand the wound out of pain as the barrier fixes itself again, showing that way it must be sentient, with the pale woman in complete disbelief at what she just witnessed.
"No..." She utters in her immense frustration, showing unwillingness to let this be. "Get up, and fight back!"
After giving her command, the Jormungandr slowly gets up, and then leaps forward, planning to bodyslam the train, only to for the said train to avoid it by moving below it, and toward the location it was, causing the iron golem to strike the wasteland's ground, and simply raise dust around itself.
As the iron golem was getting up while the dust around it was dissipating, Sheffield notices the armored train this time heading straight for them, as if wanting to crash on her golem, which makes her smile sinisterly, seeing this as his lapse of judgment, and her chance to strike him down along with his party.
She commands her Jormungandr, and while it raises its giant sword to perform a horizontal strike, something completely unexpected happens.
The sides of the train's wagons along with its engine open, and two metal wings slide in view from each, before the said wagons and engine separating themselves from one another, only for each to fly away in different directions through the use of turbines, that were apparently installed behind each from the beginning, thus avoiding the strike that way.
"WHAT?!" The pale woman exclaims after witnessing that unexpected display, her disbelief not possible to get greater at this point.
The pieces were flying high into the air and in a wide circle around the enormous iron golem, at such distance that it might be unable to reach them now.
Sheffield sees how they have stopped attacking, but as she was just starting to wonder about the reason, a bluish light's sudden glow draws her attention forward at the distance again, where she sees levitating in midair a man with black-colored, long and spiky hair, iconic scars on the face, and an orange, fighting uniform.
That's right, Yamcha from Dragon Ball, who was currently in stance, and in the middle of uttering appropriately his words while charging in between of his positioned hands the most famous attack in his series. "-HA~ME~...!"
The pale woman sees the increasing power of the light, while also feeling the intensity of the energy about to be unleashed, and her eyes widen from shock, coming to the understanding that what is coming is no joke.
"HA~!" The man finally yells while thrusting both hands and energy forward, unleashing a thick, powerful beam of energy.
The time slows down for the moment, for dramatical reasons, with Sheffield doing nothing but keep on looking at the incoming attack, her mind mostly preoccupied with the question: how can one person possess such an unimaginable power?
She is having such a hard time trying to comprehend all of this, that the thought of teleporting herself to safety is not even there, making clear that she will not dodge this one before it hits.
Just as it seems like the beam is going to connect, it flies past her and the Jormungandr, making her snap back to reality as she realizes the fact, with her looking back to see that it is headed for the middle of a distanced mountain of the wasteland, which after a small delay of the beam having finished its way, causes an enormous explosion, breaking the entire thing into pieces while the earth trembles for the duration at the power of the impact, and eventually showing a crater where the mountain used to be, after the area there clears out of the dust cloud it created.
A cold sweat runs down from the pale woman's forehead and face, seeing what would happen if it hit her and her iron golem.
Not even its magic barrier would have been able to withstand that much power.
"I could have him end you right here and now, you know." Aristidis begins from high above, drawing her attention that way, as the scene shows him peeking out of the window of his flying wagon, looking at her with an unemotional expression while continuing, and while Yamcha is seen flying next to the said wagon. "I have every reason to, yet I chose not to. But, I believe I have explained myself more than enough already. To both you and him. I will kindly ask you of this one thing for you to do before we leave, though. Just this ONE simple thing. Take life seriously for once, do something actually productive with it, and please stop wasting everyone's precious time with your unoriginal, historically repeating antics."
After telling her that, he snaps his fingers for Kronk to come and close his window, before all of the flying wagons and locomotive engine fly away together, leaving Sheffield upon her Jormungandr golem alone as she just stands there looking at them go.
The pale woman then clenches her teeth, the immense frustration and shame being too much for her after failing her master yet again, till she lets out toward the retreating-group's-horizon a loud scream of everything she was bottling up inside her until now.
Back at Gallia's royal palace, King Joseph was keeping on watching toward the horizon his Familiar and their enemies went, expecting patiently for a report.
"Sorry to deliver you this..." A voice right next to him trails off as he draws his startled attention, where a man stands, covered in thick, dirty-brown cloak and hood, googles with thick, black glass, and a brown surgical mask covering his face, while looking downward at what appears to be a lighted and advanced-looking tablet in his hands.
The mysterious man moves with a hand the tablet for Joseph to look at its screen, where Sheffield's humiliating defeat was apparent. "But your girl didn't succeed in the end."
The Gallian King is not surprised with his Jormungandr being unable to defeat the Storyteller in the end, but he is a bit surprised with this man's out of nowhere appearance as he looks at him with half an eye curiosity, for by the way he looks, one thing comes to mind, while the mysterious man retreats the tablet. "You're the stranger she met in Albion, during the war between Reconquista and Tristain."
"That's me, your man of science, your Highness." The stranger expresses jovially while swiping with a finger something on his tablet's screen, before moving the said screen toward his way, in a manner that covers it to the viewers, showing once more something to the king from where he stands. "And this time I have quite the deal for you. Guaranteed interest for someone of your special character."
King Joseph turns fully to look at it better, and then smiles sinisterly at what appears to be indeed something he would like to use for a plan he just formed into his mind.
~Hours Later~Close To The Borders Between Romalia And Sahara~In The Middle Of The Night~
In a thick forest at Romalia, and under the cover of the night, a large number of men can be seen hidden behind the trees, looking at the desert expanding past the smaller vegetation of their borders, the land of the elves and enemy.
These men might not quite look like it, due to most of them being obviously mercenaries because of their get-up, but they are under the orders of the Pope.
And it's not something they have not done before either.
Their mission is simple: infiltrate the land of the elves, and unearth from its vast sea of sand every piece of advanced weaponry possible, while making sure their activities remain as much of a secret as possible to the elves, obviously.
And it was time to earn their paycheck, as the one in charge signs through a series of hand-gestures for his men to move forth like they always do, with a smaller number of men first stepping out of cover while quickly but carefully approaching the desert, before the rest move after them.
As they all keep on moving, within the large group behind, the scene zooms in toward three specific ones, with one of them appearing relaxed while sighing pleased, and then somewhat leans next to his associate/friend. "One more night to be paid for just doing a relaxing look-out and digging."
The third guy past the middle one did not like that comment as he leans forward enough to look at him. "We barely found anything during those past few times of ours, while also having an incredible close call at the last one with that elf patrol. We don't need you jinxing it more."
"Will still be paid, though." The first one simply responds with a shrug of the shoulders, to which the third growls mildly annoyed at his overly laid-back personality.
"Guys, guys." The second one begins in an attempt to calm their situation. "We can talk about it later, let's not make any sound. The elves might hear us coming."
The third guy looks at him with a raised eyebrow while straightening himself up. "How the hell will they hear us coming- we whisper, and there is still no elf for miles."
The first guy put a finger behind each of his own ears, and moves them forth and back. "They have those long ears for a reason."
The second one points a finger at him. "Bingo."
The third guy sweat drops. "I don't think having long ears necessarily makes them capable of hearing..."
He stops as a distant sound slowly catches his and everyone's else attention while trying to understand where it comes from, reminding to some a flame's flapping on a strong wind, yet faster and stranger, which doesn't make much sense to them.
At that moment, the area lights up around them, with the scout-team at the front being lighted the most, before they look up to see a giant flaming ball coming dangerously fast their way, with the scouts having just a second to panic before it crashes upon them, causing a strong wave of heat and fire to spread forcefully around, devastating, and pushing most of the scout-team away as burned and ruined corpses, while the remaining ones run away toward the main group absolutely fearful, with the main group trying to process what the hell happened.
With the violent gust of a sudden wind, the flames around the area are extinguished, and a giant figure is noticed in the middle.
A man doned in heavy armor with a long cape and fur in different places of the armor as part of it, with a large red mane coming out from behind the helmet that looks like a lion with large two tasks, where his hardened face can be seen through, and carrying in each hand a curved greatsword, which due to his size appear like one handed swords, with a normal-sized horse being under him, that somehow has no issue carrying the giant's weight on its back.
The one they see is none other than Starscourge Radahn from Elden Ring, and his proud steed Leonard, both of them at their prime.
As all of them look with awe at him, a great number of figures can be seen coming in lines right behind him.
The Knight with the blue cloak Artorias The Abysswalker, the giant of a wolf that is the Great Grey Wolf Sif, the golden armored man with the lion-themed full-helmet Dragonslayer Ornstein, and the giant and also golden armored Executioner Smough from Dark Souls Franchise, and everyone at their best like expected.
Right behind those, and being the rest of the army, are the Redmane Knights alongside the Cleanrot Knights, from Elden Ring, like the first.
Before the Romalian party can react in any way at the sight of said army, the sound of the music Abysmal Earth from Drakengard 2 echoes around the area, with Ornstein zooming forth and impaling with his spear one of the men in an instant, shocking everyone around him, and as everyone remains unmoving, looking at him for the moment, they eventual notice how the rest of the heavily armored army is approaching them fast, while Ornstein throws the dead body of his spear by swinging it to the side, resulting in the Romalian party to finally make up their mind about running back the way they came from while screaming about, once they realize whose army this is.
As they run, some of the men end up being crushed by big, incoming rocks, while one or two of them were struck by a golden lightning acting like a javelin.
When they move to their borders once more and within the thickness of their forest, things were not any better- NO it was actually worse!
Ambushes everywhere they went!
Two Death Angels from A Quiet Place, extremely agile creatures that look like a cross between a gorilla and a bat, swiping with their arms one human after the other into pieces in quick succession.
The Carrion from the game with the same name, a large, amorphous biological, blood-red mass of numerous whip-like tentacles, bulging eyeballs, and gaping mouths lined with misshapen teeth, tearing and eating humans apart with somewhat clumsily, yet very efficiently.
The well-equipped team with the leader of their operation having his iconic gas mask with red lenses, HUNK from Resident Evil Franchise, who gun down soldiers running past them, using rifles and more.
A similar situation happens with the next bunch, who gun down the enemy in a similar fashion, but this time being Wolfuns from Kya Dark Lineage doing the work using their special rifles, with projectiles that not only damage, but also give to their targets quite the push.
And another similar situation, only this time the enemy is gunned down by the submachine gun of a small, soft-green chipmunk that is part plant, the assault rifle of a small, green monkey, and the minigun of a big yellowish, smiling bear-looking creature, the said creatures being a Lifmunk, a Tanzee, and a Grizzbolt from Palworld.
With all that chaos was going on, the Romalian party scattered all around the forest, its members who were still alive that is, while their pursuers chase after them without looking like stopping doing so any time soon.
The scene then shows the three mercenary men from before running together, having been lucky enough to be of the few who survived so far.
"Keep running and don't look back!" The second guy yells while trying to keep as much of his composure as possible.
"No need to tell me twice!" The third yells back in response, while the first guy just screams out of panic for the duration.
As they run, they suddenly come to a stop as they spot a tall figure in their way, walking menacingly toward their way with a large, broken-looking greatsword in one hand.
The said figure wears armor, and a torn, red cape and hood that covers almost half his face, letting only his grey beard and overall facial hair be obvious, and appears to have grown multiple humps on his back which are apparent by the way the cape covers them, as a reddish energy is exuded like smoke from him.
The Slave Knight Gael from Dark Souls Franchise is blocking their way.
"For my lady's painting." He man says, with that along with the way he keeps on walking toward them in the way he does, really freaking out the mercenary trio.
When they attempt to begin running toward a different way, they stop right where they are the moment they see a different figure approaching, which is a tall female with long, red, messy hair, a red cape with white fluff at its upper end which gives a royal impression, a simple yet regal, soft-brown dress, a golden, winged helmet that covers both her eyes and nose, and a golden prosthetic for a right arm, which has a very long blade fixed at the wrist, with her left leg, and the bottom half of her right leg also being replaced by golden prosthetics.
Malenia The Blade Of Miquella from Elden Ring was now blocking their way.
"I am Malenia, Blade Of Miquella." She introduces herself while appearing almost as menacing as the other one, which makes the trio of mercenaries back away for a bit, until...
Atop a large horse, wearing a Japanese-themed armor, and equipped with a large Yari-type spear in one hand, comes and stops from the way behind them and getting their immediate attention as he screams while brandishing his said weapon. "MY NA~ME! IS GYOUBU MASATAKA ONIWA!"
From Sekiro, yes.
He then points his Yari at them. "And as we breath-"
Right after exclaiming that, a different figure jumps off the back of his horse, and lands with his feet onto the ground, revealing to be an old man with a long, white hair, beard and mustache, with white robes, a sheathed sword, and a staff which proceeds to raise.
"-You~! Shall no~t! Pass!" Gandalf The White from the Lord Of The Rings completes the statement, before hitting the end of his staff upon the ground, causing a wave of white magic to spread around him in a display of power, without harming anyone but still making their point clear.
The three mercenaries seeing how they are surrounded in the way they are, proceed to hug each other, trying to find the slightest comfort in their predicament as they mumble silently due to the absolute fright they feel, with the scene soon after showing through their eyes Malenia being already in midair with her prosthetic arm's blade at the ready, before unleashing her Waterfowl Dance upon them, as the scene moves immediately above the forest as the victims' screams echoe through the night, while in the meantime the scene fades and showcases now the Storyteller Aristidis laughing in a maniacal manner alongside the said screams of horror...
Till he stops himself as the scene zooms out to show him inside the main cast's room alongside Louise, Siesta, Charlotte, Kirche, and Tiffania. "And that is how you do a crazed villain's laugh." He explains proudly after demonstrating it, which apparently had nothing to do with the previous scene.
The girls were more than freaked out by the showcasing of that laugh.
"Please, never laugh like that again." Louise in a sense begs her beloved, causing the rest of the girls to nod violently positively at that request, really not wanting to see that side of his again, with their reaction resulting in him letting out a small giggle of amusement, while the scene blackens everything but the space around his head, before winking toward the screen which blackens completely in response.
~Meanwhile~At The Zone Of Darkness Kremant And Derflinger Reside In~
In the complete blackness of this all, the man in the black cloak with the M-shaped hood that is Kremant, and the black-cloaked man with the white, expressive mask sit together upon their couch while watching the whole thing in the TV like they always do.
Only this time, Kremant appears somewhat sad about something, or at least enough to sigh for it.
Derf raises a masked-eyebrow toward him. "What got you down all of a sudden? Aren't such scene normally a sure laugh for you?"
"It's not that." The black-cloaked man tells him, and then looks at him. "It's just that seeing all this... I have enough knowledge to know that this story approaches its eventual ending."
{To Be Continued}
