A loud groan echoed throughout the Catastrophe Dragon Lord's lair, as Draudillon Oriculus, the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, tried to push herself deeper into the pool. She had spent most of the night in it, so her body could float and not feel as sore as it did. Well, she assumed she had spent most of the night in the pool. After a certain point everything had become a blur. However, even if she happened to forget everything that happened, her body reminded her of everything. Especially when it felt as if something had been displaced in her.
Lifting her head as best she could she examined her naked body, noting some bruising and a few scratches. Letting out a fatigued sigh, she guessed it was to be expected when her lover was a massive being of scales, even though they were oddly smooth to the touch. Her attention was then on the echoing footsteps that came from behind her. Moving her head back she looked at the approaching form of Naz'da'gar Cyddrunarth, with what seemed to be a toothy smirk on his face as he gazed upon her bare form.
"How are you doing?" He asked, kneeling next to her.
"I-I think y-you broke me!" She growled, letting out another groan as she tried to move.
"You are exaggerating. You're fine. Just not used to the strain." Naz'da'gar casually remarked.
"Is that what you call what you did to me!?" She argued, looking at the marks he had left on her.
"It is to be expected when two dragon-bloods mate. And I held myself back quite a bit in that regard." He replied with a light chuckle.
She frowned, deciding to let go of the topic. After all, she would have to get used to it. There was simply no other way around it after all. Not when she wanted to be certain that she had become pregnant with a powerful heir.
"F-Fine. I'll get used to it." She firmly said, causing him to tilt his head questioningly.
"For the sake of my Kingdom, I need a child. We can't stop until I have one." Draudillon resolutely added, causing him to chuckle.
"Your eagerness will betray you. Your body can only handle so much at one time. That being said, I have brought you some potions."
He presented her with two potions, one of them she recognized as a standard blue healing potion, while the other was orange in color. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of this unknown potion. While she was certain he wouldn't do anything to hurt her, the idea of taking an unknown potion still made her a bit anxious. She was brought away from these thoughts when her new and temporary mate let out a guttural sound, getting her attention on a more primal level.
"The blue one will heal your body. The orange will heal your fatigue."
Placing his hand on the back of her head, he helped the Queen drink both potions, starting with the healing potion. Slowly her marks were healed, allowing her to more easily sit up. Yet, such action still needed some caution on her part as she still felt as if something was displaced inside her body. Next came the strange orange potion, and all at once she felt as if her fatigue was erased from her body. She felt energized like she had never been before, and in her shock she couldn't help but ask the obvious question as she looked at him excitedly.
"I-Incredible! Where did you get that potion!?"
"You will understand if I can't answer that question." Naz'da'gar plainly replied.
Draudillon wanted to keep pushing the issue, but she saw that was not an option, as his expression told her he was not answering no matter what she did. Still, she wasn't going to let this pass. Even if it took some time she would get the answer. After all, not finding out more about this marvel of a potion that so reinvigorated her would be a waste.
"Hmph! Very well. Then, perhaps we should be heading back?"
"Indeed. Prepare yourself and I shall take you back to your chambers shortly."
When Naz'da'gar, now in control of his armor under the guise of Nazz, emerged from the opening the Prime Minister had showed him in order to enter the castle, he was greeted by an unfamiliar face that was seemingly waiting for him.
She was a stunning beauty, with a medium sized bust, light colored skin, platinum-blonde hair, and eyes that gleamed like yellow sapphire gemstones. She wore the outfit fitting of a kind of secretary, with a blue dress that stopped just at the knees, black stockings, blue high heel boots, and a black colored choker necklace. In her right arm rested an old looking book that she carried with care and grace.
"Greetings. I am the secretary to the Prime Minister Falko Kemuel Jantzi. My name is Elizabeth." She informed with a small bow.
Nazz was a bit unsure of what to say, as his senses had unexpectedly picked up on the presence of dragon blood in the woman before him. Although he could tell that hers was weaker than Draudillon's. Especially when it caused little to no reaction in him. However, he could still sense her above average power when compared to even the workers that had greeted his arrival to the Dragon Kingdom.
"Greetings." He cordially said, as he noticed her gaze focusing on where his eyes would be in the armor.
"I would like to know who I am speaking to, as I know nothing about a Dragon Lord named 'Nazz'. Or am I wrong?" She politely asked with a calm tone.
"Hm. You are very perceptive. Very well. My true name is Naz'da'gar Cyddrunarth. I'm surprised someone like you was able to see through me." He replied, to which she gave a small, amused smirk.
"The Catastrophe Dragon Lord… I was led to think you would behave in a different manner, but it seems I thought wrong."
"Who are you?" Nazz asked in a genuinely surprised tone.
"There is no need to worry. Now that I see you are not as the texts described, my intentions are not hostile. My line was created at the same time as the royal bloodline. However, ours was weaker, so we were tasked with serving each generation of the royal family, all the while protecting them."
"And you would have attacked me if I was hostile?" He asked in a tone that would have indicated a raised eyebrow.
"That is my duty."
"I see... Well, as you can see I am not a threat."
"Indeed. That is why I am here. To ask you to follow me. The Espada have been called upon for their first assignment." She informed with a professional tone.
"Then lead the way."
Nazz found himself being taken to a fortified collection of buildings not too far from the capital. This was not one of the camps created to house those hired by the Kingdom, but was in fact the oldest and most well secured section of the Kingdom. It served as the center of their military command and a bunker of sorts, should the beastmen ever manage to invade the capital.
As he looked around, the Espada saw that the only reason he was even getting past the several security checks was because Elizabeth was accompanying him. After finding himself deep inside this location, he was taken to a specific building where in front of the door was a humanoid looking, 7 foot statue. Elizabeth gave it a small bow, and the statue moved, revealing itself to be a golem as it stood aside, letting her and her Espada companion enter into the building.
The first person he saw somewhat surprised Nazz, as he saw Leinas standing not too far from the door. With her were the Prime Minister and the young military representative Iain La Baran, with Elizabeth quickly taking the Prime Minister's right side. In the center was a large circular table with a map situated on top of it.
Highlighted on this particular map were three large cities, some smaller cities, camps, and a particular path that led to one of these large cities. In the end Nazz didn't pay much attention to this, as he was focused on why he and Leinas had been called there.
"Took you long enough. Where were you?" Leinas growled in barely stifled annoyance.
"I was bettering our relationship with the Kingdom." Nazz replied nonchalantly, leading to the Prime Minister letting out a low cough to get their attention.
"Ahem! Now that we are all here, I believe we should begin." He remarked in a neutral tone.
"Agreed. It's time to put your words to the test." Iain remarked with a low chuckle.
"Please remember your position." Falko mumbled, to which Iain let out an annoyed grunt.
"Given the fact Crystal Tear are currently deployed on another assignment, we have decided to deploy the Espada in order to deal with a situation that has been bothering us for some time." The young general informed, pointing at the highlighted path on the map.
"From what we know, this pass used to be used by hunters, smugglers, and whatever people wanted to use it as a shortcut through that forested area. But as you can see here, it provides an almost direct line between us and Asodosia, the third major city to have been conquered by the enemy. Taking this into account, for some time we have been sending teams to try and accurately map that pass, the terrain, and any enemy force that might be there. Until now no one has returned. That was until a member of the last party managed to do just that. While she is currently in a state of shock, having seemingly been present when her companions were killed, she did give us a description of what seems to be the only enemy that stands in our way." Iain continued, pausing as if to collect his thoughts.
"She spoke of an undead, which she noted to be wearing an Orichalcum plate. Coupled with the people it has been able to kill, leads us to put it at that level of strength if not higher. She said it was resilient to whatever they threw at it, with electricity being able to momentarily stun it. She also said it could teleport, but we are unsure if that is truly the case, taking into account it didn't use anything else that could lead us to believe it uses any kind of magic." He said with a degree of skepticism in his voice.
"Interesting…" Nazz mumbled.
"You want us to kill it?" Leinas plainly asked with an almost bored expression.
"If you had let me finish, yes. That is what we want you to do. Along with clearing the path of anything else that may be there." Iain replied as he narrowed his eyes in mild annoyance.
"You think there will be more undead?" Nazz asked.
"We are unsure. Some of our sources speak of the possible presence of a necromancer among the enemy's forces, which could explain what we are dealing with. Maybe the existence of more of them. However, with the losses both sides have suffered, the natural spawning of undead in the region is very possible." Prime Minister Falko replied matter-of-factly.
This did not need any kind of special explanation, as it was common knowledge that places that had seen a great deal of death would naturally spawn undead. It was one of the reasons why the annual wars between the Baharuth Empire and the Re-Estize Kingdom always took place in the same location. To limit the spread of naturally spawning undead. However, with the full-scale invasion of the Dragon Kingdom by the savage Beastman Country, such measures were not possible, as the beastmen seemed not to care if undead spawned or not.
"We can assemble a team of four to explore the pass. They will handle that undead. If there are more it will make sure to handle them. Even if it takes more than one trip." Nazz casually suggested.
"Only four of you? Isn't that too few?" Iain asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We will send three ranked members, which are Orichalcum class and above. From what you can tell us of this entity, it should be enough. If there are any more undead, I doubt all of them are that strong, and if they are we can take them out in more than one trip, or send in the rest of the team." The Espada calmly argued.
"Very well. This is also meant to test the Espada, so I'll let you do as you see fit. But understand we are expecting results from the expense of her Majesty's coin." Iain growled, trying to sound as superior as possible.
"We are here to deliver results. There is no need for you to worry." Leinas remarked with a confident tone.
"We will leave it in your hands. However, before you go, we must inform you on the Beastmen." Falko said in a cold tone.
"We have separated them into different ranks, in order to determine how much of a threat they could be if encountered. We begin with Regular Beastmen, which are comparable to Silver and Gold ranked adventurers. Since the vast majority of them are at that level, it should illustrate why they're so dangerous. By contrast, the average human without training is at or below the level of a Copper plate. It is that superior strength that has allowed them to overwhelm our cities." The Prime Minister paused to allow the information to sink in before continuing.
"Next are the Beastman Betas. They are comparable to the Platinum and Mythril ranks, but nothing that could give you any problems in small numbers. Then come the Alphas, which are equivalent to Orichalcum and Adamantite ranked adventurers. These are what we consider to be the top of what their kind can offer so far, often functioning as pack leaders and field commanders, and the ones you should look out for. That being said…" Falko tried to continue, when Iain spoke over him.
"There's no need to tell them that. It was just a top-tier Alpha."
"Still, they need to know about it. Not long ago, while on an assignment, two members of Crystal Tear encountered a beastman that managed to put up more than a decent fight. Even managing to injure one of them, until the rest of the team appeared. It then decided to retreat. While we have decided to call it a high-level Alpha, some considered calling it a 'Beastman Elite'. One that can only be faced by teams of Adamantite or Warrior-Captain level fighters."
"Which is an exaggeration. Especially when you take into account the report stated this thing had a katana that seemed to be capable of delivering ranged attacks." Iain added dismissively.
Once Iain had finished his statement, both Leinas and Nazz immediately understood the reasons for his skepticism. Any fighter that could wield a katana would be considered a highly skilled combatant. A fighter among the beastmen, which are normally reputed to be a savage and barbaric race wielding such a weapon, would be surprising in of itself. The fact that the katana it wielded sounded like a type of magic item? Even more so.
"We will be on the look out for this one then. Is there anything else that you can to add?" Nazz plainly asked.
"They were unsure of its racial-type, but it seemed to be missing an arm. In terms of rankings there are still two others, which might be seen as exaggerations, and are more than likely references to their ruling hierarchy. These would be the Shaman and Lord Beastmen, which would allegedly be at the level of heroes. And finally above them, theoretically being able to match the Thirteen Heroes of legend, would be the King ranked Beastman, which rules above them all." Falko replied.
Nazz and Leinas exchanged quick looks at each other as they processed the information. To be honest, Nazz as a Dragon Lord was not surprised by these rankings. He had seen much during his time, including beastmen that would fall under the rank of King. Leinas wasn't that worried either, having found confidence in the power Aizen had gifted her.
"We'll be careful. We don't plan on dying before making an impact. That being said, can we go?" Nazz asked in a somewhat bored tone.
"Hah! Confident as always. You can leave. Someone will be sent to get the team you have decided upon." Iain informed with a superior smirk.
Having been dismissed, the Espada exited the building and began making their way back to the camp, when they were greeted by the familiar face of Roos. She appeared to be somewhat nervous, as she seemed to be making sure no one was listening in on them.
"Did they tell you about the rankings we have for beastmen?" She asked in a low tone.
"They did." Leinas replied.
"What did they tell you about Beastmen that are Elite ranked or above?"
"That they did not exist, but that some believe an Elite has been encountered." Nazz added.
"And they're right. That being said, follow me to some place quieter."
The duo did as they were told. Especially as they both could tell that she had some important information to give them. Which not even the Prime Minister either knew about, or was in a position to share. They walked for some time, until they arrived in an alley, where she finally let out a relieved sigh and began to speak.
"As you know, I work with Cesar in order to gather information, and from time to time I acquire knowledge that cannot be properly used because its source cannot be properly explained. That involves the existence of Beastmen of those ranks."
"So, they do exist?" Leinas asked with a firm, focused expression.
"Correct. I asked Cesar about it, and while he did tell me about a few Elite ranked ones that he knows, along with some names, he gave me the names of the Lord and King ranked ones."
"We're listening." Nazz said, crossing his arms.
"First, there exists a number of Elites, even if they're far fewer than Alphas. Cesar told me about four of them specifically. The one you were probably told about that scarred a member of Crystal Tear, is named Nato. He's a rare marsupial-type beastman, who uses a katana he got from one of his victims. He also mentioned this katana has some kind of enchantment where it can use wind based attacks to increase its cutting power, and to use ranged attacks." Roos said, pausing to let the information sink in before continuing.
"Next he mentioned Tonga and Loa, the brothers that rule Himassa, the second city that we lost. They were part of his tribe, and the ones that overthrew Cesar, killing his family and leaving him in the state he's in. Finally there's Fale, a large Hobgoblin who is in charge of Asodosia, the latest city to have been taken. He's the one in charge of the united tribes of goblins and ogres that once used to occupy part of the isolated areas that bordered our kingdom and the Beastman Country."
"So, there are at least four beings that need a team of adamantite ranked individuals or Warrior-Captain level fighters to combat?" Leinas asked in a stern tone.
"I-Indeed."
"Hm. One would think that they would be more well known by now." Nazz remarked in a contemplative tone.
"Take it as a hint of how the enemy isn't as simple as one might think. From what I've learned, they're kept away from the frontlines until the time comes for any major moves." Roos explained in a cautionary tone.
"It's also interesting that you mentioned goblins and ogres. One would think they would have been killed off by the beastmen." Leinas remarked inquisitively.
"Well, Cesar said that Kana, the female hobgoblin that serves the King, was the one that argued them not being killed with how useful they could be."
"This Kana seems the rather clever sort." Leinas said in an almost amused tone.
"How strong is she?" Nazz asked in a firm tone.
"Cesar is unsure, but he said she's either an Alpha or Elite level magic caster. Not only that, but he mentioned that she seems to be one of the few people Kaze actually listens to. I would imagine to be able to do that with a War Troll, it must mean she's quite the talker." Roos replied.
"Speaking of which, how strong is he?" Leinas casually asked, which caused Roos to pale slightly before hesitantly answering.
"A-According to Cesar, he's the only King ranked Beastman among their forces."
"That explains why he is the one in charge." The Tres-Espada sighed before continuing.
"What about the Lord ranked Beastmen?"
"Cesar said there were seven of them. One of them you already know his name. Tomo is a bear-type beastman who, according to Cesar, is the second strongest among their forces. Cesar compared him to a walking disaster, seemingly able to create earthquakes if he so wishes. But he has a calm personality, only acting when he has to, or when he's provoked."
"Hmph. A walking disaster indeed…" Nazz mumbled dismissively.
"Then there's Haku, the father of Tonga and Loa. He also resides in the same city as his sons, but he is very inactive when it comes to taking action, since he seems to only focus on his children. Cesar said he is known for his endurance and strength. Endurance that at times is said to be superior to Tomo's. Another is Hash, a flightless birdman-type. Cesar said he is the nicest one among them, who lives in a rather isolated area helping to raise their young. In terms of what he can do in combat, Cesar said that he is very well known for how masterfully uses his claws."
"Sounds like a waste of power, no?" Leinas remarked in a confused tone.
"It seems he wants to lead his kind in a different direction, where conflict with us isn't necessary." Roos replied, causing the two Espada to exchange glances.
"The worst out of all of them, and the ruler of the first city we lost, Asike, is a female feliform-type beastman named Oka. From what he told me, she is the personification of all the horrors we hear our people go through in beastmen controlled territory…" She continued, pausing as said horrors formed in her mind, before she then shook her head to dispel the images that were forming.
"Ahem! M-Moving on… There's Scurll, a monitor-type Lizardman who came to the area some time before the war began, along with her children. She took up a small area at the edge of their territory, and no one really saw fit to question her. Especially when she didn't present herself as a threat. Then there's Sabre, a wolverine-type beastman. She is the loner kind who, according to Cesar, is the one that spends the most time on the front lines, and the one he says is responsible for the 'large' scale attacks on some of our men." She then briefly paused her explanations, as another bitter memory seemed to surface, and once again she shook her head before continuing.
"And finally, there's Shi. He is a wolf-type beastman that was born in this territory, left, and returned some time after the war began. Cesar doesn't know much about him. We only know that he is covered in several scars, and wears a coat made out of the scales of some creature."
"They sound like a troublesome bunch. We will be careful and act appropriately if we run into them." Nazz said reassuringly.
"Still, why did you tell us this? Why not tell others?" Leinas asked in uncertainty.
"Well, I do tell some of my superiors, but they aren't willing to take a beastman's information at face value, or can even explain that one of them gave us that information. That, and no one else would be able to do anything about it. From what I've seen of you, and how strong all of you seem to be, I-I think this is the best option for me."
"We thank you for your confidence. I will make sure it is not misplaced." Nazz said stoically, to which she gave him a respectful nod.
"That being said, you two should get going. Your assignment is an important one." Roos said, to which the two Espada nodded as they began to walk away.
It didn't take long for the duo to return to their horses and begin to make their way back to the camp in order to put together the team that would take on their first assignment. For a while there was only silence between them. Especially as Leinas was in the process of using her ring to transmit to the others the information they had just received. After this she ended up being the one to break the silence, since something had gotten her interest during the meeting.
"Did you pick up on the presence that assistant was emitting?"
"You mean Elizabeth?"
"The one in the meeting with us, yes."
"I did. She confronted me this morning, and didn't do much to hide the fact she has dragon blood in her veins."
"I-Is that so?" Leinas asked, raising an eyebrow at him while keeping one eye on the road and the other on her partner.
"Indeed. Much like the Queen, she is a descendant of the Brightness Dragon Lord. However, since her line is weaker, she is tasked with serving and protecting the royal bloodline." Nazz calmly replied.
"So that means we are now 100% certain the Queen has Dragon Lord blood in her? But why did she confront you in the morning?" She asked, feeling uncomfortable at being left out of the loop.
"You see, yesterday I was called to her chambers. It seems like the royal bloodline is growing weaker, so she wanted to inject some new, stronger blood into it."
"What!?" Leinas nearly shouted, being caught by surprise.
"Hm? Is something the matter?" Nazz nonchalantly asked.
"D-Does that mean you spent the night with her? I-Is this what you meant by 'bettering' our relationship with the Kingdom?"
"Correct. And I will be doing that for as many nights as the two of us are able until we end our assignment and have to leave." Nazz continued, sounding very relaxed/casual about the subject.
"And you weren't going to mention this to us? This is not what we came here to do." She firmly reminded.
"I know exactly why I'm here, Tres. There's no need for you to remind me. However, you cannot say that it was a coincidence that I was sent on this assignment. Even if that is the case, this won't be a distraction if that's what you are worried about. In the long run it will earn us, the Espada, this kingdom's favor." Nazz calmly explained.
"You think Aizen set this up?" Leinas asked as she narrowed her vision.
"Perhaps. And it's not like I'm the only one facing possible distractions. As you seem rather interested in that Elim fellow." Nazz remarked in an amused tone that would have indicated a smirk.
"T-That is none of your business."
"My thoughts exactly. As long as you keep your priorities straight." Nazz said in a plain tone.
"Likewise." Leinas hissed back.
After arriving at the camp, it didn't take long for the Espada to put a team together and be greeted by a number of the Kingdom's army that would then lead them to the pass they were to explore and clear out. The chosen team was composed of three ranked members in Leinas, Inon, and Carmyn, along with the unranked Grimmjow.
As they were making their way through the pass on horseback, silence dominated most of the time. Yet Inon's silence seemed different than usual. As if there was something he wanted to say. The one to first pick up on this was Carmyn, having spent enough time traveling with him to be able to understand what was going through his mind. At least most of the time.
"Why don't you speak up? You can't be like that forever." She said, sounding somewhat annoyed.
"I-I'm not sure if I am in any position to speak." Inon remarked in uncertainty.
"We're listening Inon. You are free to say what you wish." Leinas calmly informed.
His expression turned strangely serious and determined, as he spoke in matching tones.
"T-Then… When the time comes, I want to fight Tomo, one-on-one."
Once again, a silence fell upon them. Leinas kept her eyes on the road, Carmyn was left with a somewhat surprised expression, while Grimmjow seemed to be distracted by something in the forest.
"I don't want to say 'no', but that is a tall order. Especially when we have a 'role' to play." Carmyn said plainly.
"That is why I tried to remain silent." Inon informed while lowering his head.
"We'll see what we can do. If he is the strongest beastman, not counting this 'Kaze', we might be able to do more than just play our part." Leinas stoically pointed out.
"Don't get any ideas, Leinas. If we mess this up, I don't want to have to explain your mess to Aizen." Carmyn hissed in reply.
"Good thing then that I'll take the responsibility if that is the case. Being the higher rank and all." Leinas calmly remarked, yet the smaller Espada didn't seem too pleased with the idea.
"That aside. What's got your interest, Grimmjow?" Leinas asked the duplicate.
"Yeah, something in the forest. I saw it in the distance a while back, and now it seems to be following us. Shows up from time to time." He replied, sounding not that interested.
"You were going to tell us when?" Carmyn growled at his nonchalant attitude.
"You seemed busy. I didn't want to ruin the fun, and it doesn't feel like anything special."
"Still, it would be helpful for you to tell us you found our target." She replied with a hiss.
"Keh. Fine. Then want me to get him?" He said back in an uninterested tone.
"You brat…" Carmyn began, when Leinas spoke over her.
"Very well. Go get him. Just make sure you don't tire yourself out too much." Leinas said, causing Grimmjow to roll his eyes as he jumped down from his horse.
As soon as the duplicate's feet touched the ground he vanished from sight. In the distance, watching them from behind a tree was their hunter. The same undead that had put an end to all those that had tried to travel through the pass. His sack, which had been ripped before, had been put back together as best as an undead could. In his hand rested the sword that had once belonged to the Worker named Ramish. His silent stalking was put to a swift end when a figure suddenly appeared before it, delivering a swift uppercut that sent the undead flying into a nearby tree.
"Yo." Grimmjow greeted with a pleased grin, his hands going into his pockets.
His eyes lazily went to the sack that had fallen from the undead's head with the impact, then to the exposed face, which had a right eye and a scarred left side. It was nothing that interesting to him. It didn't take long for the right eye to look up towards him, seemingly burning with very lifelike anger, as it slowly got back up, with a tight grip on its sword.
"Come on. Show me the power that has all those Kingdom guys so worried."
The undead got back to his feet, marched towards its target, and brought its blade up for a larger swing. Grimmjow easily avoided it by shifting his body to the right, and then lifting his leg to kick his opponent in the gut. Much to his surprise, the undead managed to use his free hand to grab on to his leg, and easily send him into the same tree the undead had been thrown into before. He followed this by marching towards the fallen Grimmjow, who jumped back to his feet almost as soon as he was thrown. He showed no real signs of damage, looking more disappointed than anything else.
"Keh! Seems I was holding back too much. Not bad for a mindless grunt. Now, let's see how you handle this."
With a small grin he charged the undead, easily closing the distance between them. The duplicate allowed his opponent to attack him with a downwards swing, letting the blade hit the ground so he could put one foot on top of it, and then use his free leg to deliver a devastating spin-kick to behead the undead.
"Well…"
Just as Grimmjow was in the middle of proclaiming his victory, the still standing undead delivered a punch to his gut with its free hand, revealing to the duplicate that his foe was still functional without its head.
"Oi! I thought undead like you were done when you removed the head!" Grimmjow hissed as he jumped away from the headless body.
Letting his hands fall to the side, Grimmjow scratched the back of his head as he waited for what his foe would do next. Much to his surprise the undead threw its sword at him, to which the duplicate decided to swat away instead of dodging or blocking. However, in the moment he acted his opponent vanished. Almost immediately he saw the figure in the corner of his eye. The undead was now behind him, his arms moving to wrap the duplicate in a tight hold.
"Cheh! 'Guess that confirms you can teleport…" Grimmjow hissed, as he seemed to struggle in his opponent's grip.
This "struggling" however didn't take long, as it was nothing more than an act, and with a little added strength Grimmjow broke free of the hold, spun around, and delivered a devastating strike to the undead's torso, denting the rib-cage and sending the body once again onto the ground. It didn't take long for the body to begin moving again, just as the rest of the Espada began to approach, now on foot having left their horses behind.
"What's taking so long?" Carmyn asked in an annoyed tone.
"The bastard just won't stay down." Grimmjow replied in an equally annoyed tone, to which she rolled her eyes.
"Inon, destroy the head." She instructed in a deadpan.
The tall Espada simply gave her a nod, before walking up to the undead's fallen head. The right eye still moving looked up as Inon squashed it with his foot, which caused the body to stop moving, and fall down as if it were a puppet whose strings were cut.
"Oi! You could have just told me to do that."
"I was just testing out a theory. It could have failed as easily as beheading him did. Still, it isn't exactly normal for fleshy undead of this type to continue moving without their heads." The small Espada pointed out.
"The teleportation ability also seems misplaced for an undead that focused on non-magic based attacks." Leinas added contemplatively, as she walked towards the body.
"It probably has something to do with the necromancer we've been told about." Carmyn remarked.
"In that case, doesn't it mean that it is a highly skilled individual?" Inon asked in curiosity.
"Indeed. Especially when the enemy are beastmen. Just seeing them use magic is a surprising enough occurrence." Carmyn replied.
Their conversation came to a quick end, when the forest suddenly came alive with several different sounds, causing them to put their guard up as they tried to understand what was happening. Leinas was the first to see what was going on, as in the distance she saw the ground move and shift as something steadily emerged.
It turned out to be the decayed remains of a gold-ranked adventurer, reanimated as an undead. This was followed by all members of the Espada seeing similar things happen all around them. From the ground, from behind trees, or even dropping from treetops, they were now surrounded by at least 40 undead. All of them with a similar presence to the one they had just defeated.
"Keh! So if that one gets killed, these guys show up. What a cheap trap." Grimmjow commented with an eye-roll.
"Looks like we are surrounded." Inon calmly remarked.
"Alright. Let's try to make this last a while." Leinas instructed.
She took up her stance with her adamantite spear, as Inon likewise took up what looked like a boxer's stance. Carmyn sighed in an aggravated manner as she mumbled how bothersome it was to constantly hold back. Nevertheless, she lifted up her wooden staff, the tip of which started to glow with a soft greenish-blue light, as Grimmjow unsheathed his blade with a bored expression on his face as Leinas then suddenly shouted...
"Attack!"
Night had fallen, and in the entrance to the pass Roos, along with a few other soldiers, were waiting for the return of the Espada. Some were beginning to lose hope, while Roos did her best to keep her faith in them. As she let out a sigh, her eyes were gifted with the Espada emerging from within the pass. They looked somewhat worn out, yet when they became visible to all, the group of soldiers cried out in wild cheers, as they knew victory was theirs.
"You did it!" She declared exuberantly.
"We did. The pass had about 41 undead. We believe most of them were those sent in to clear the pass before us." Leinas informed grimly.
"A-And you managed to take all of them out?" Roos stuttered in wide-eyed shock.
"It wasn't easy, but we did."
"I-I see. I'm glad to hear that. Then please, don't let me hold you! Go back to the camp and rest. Tomorrow morning someone will meet you to get a proper report."
Just like she had promised, Leinas delivered her report in the early morning, which naturally spread through the Dragon Kingdom as it carried the news of an important victory for their side. The young general Iain got his copy of the report mid-morning as he took care of some paper work. A process he took some enjoyment in. Especially when the other generals Ezekiel and Sol seemed not to take it that seriously. Meaning they did not reap the benefits he saw in doing this.
Having quickly read the document, the young general excused himself from his office. He made his way to his private quarters, for what his servants understood as him taking a small and well-deserved break. In his bed chambers, he had a door that led to a small, dark room, lit only by candles where in the center rested a crystal shaped item. This was known as a [Relaxation Point]. An item used by those of higher status that could afford it, which would allow the owner to relax when it is in their presence, or for maximum effect, they can perform a mediation session next to the crystal.
In Iain's case, this was but a very elaborate and high-tier fake. While the crystal was the same used for a [Relaxation Point], the magic itself was something else entirely. Sitting in front of the item, having made sure the door was locked, the general took a deep breath and began his mediation session, allowing his soul to make a connection to the item. He took a few breaths, each getting slower and shallower, until eventually his body stopped breathing altogether.
The next thing Iain was aware of, was complete and utter darkness. Yet he was already used to this, although he would have to admit that in the first couple of times, he had panicked, as he knew that he was in a cramped coffin-like container. After about a minute of waiting, someone came to open said container, light bathing him as a figure came into view. This revealed something that most people of the Dragon Kingdom would react with hostility and hate: a beastman. In this case, a Quagoa.
As he emerged from the container, he looked down at his body to witness and confirm the results of the ancient magic that rested upon the crystal. His body was now that of a humanoid golem, very similar in form to a mannequin. It was brownish in color, with a unique symbol on his chest to identify him. He had left his body behind, his soul now controlling this construct. Looking around in order to see if anything had changed since his last visit, he saw several other containers decorating the walls. All of them belonging to people like him, who had turned to a higher power in order to achieve their goals.
The walls were brownish in color, with light coming from crystal fixtures that were carefully placed around the room. In front of him, already showing some signs of impatience, was one of the residents of what he knew to be an underground civilization. A Quagoa with a purple robe covering his body, decorated with golden lining. His fur was lighter in color and shade than the usual member of the species, since they typically had fur coloring of brown or black tea, which was the most common.
Quagoa are a form of mole-type beastmen that have sharp talons on both their feet and arms. They were a race that lived underground, and as such had keen eyesight in the dark. However, due to this they were more or less blind under the light of the sun. They are physically superior to humanoids, but considered weak by demi-human standards, yet he had come to understand that these particular members of the species were stronger then average.
"Follow me." The beastman instructed, as he began to walk away.
Iain did as he was told, beginning to make his way through several hallways. Walking past several other Quagoa, and even other golems like the one he was controlling, all of them also escorted by a guide. He never said anything to them, since he did not have any interest on who these people were, or what their goals were. Especially when he was aware none of them came from his kingdom.
As he walked, he turned his head to the side to the openings that served as windows for the compound he was currently in. Through them he could see the center of civilization that this particular population of Quagoa had made. It was a great city, made out of stone and hardened dirt, with several crystals adorning the buildings so it could remain properly lit. Even he had to admire the work put into it, and how it even managed to compete with some human cities he had seen.
He was also well aware that this was not the work of a random tribe. No, he knew that they had been brought here long ago by the one he chose to truly serve in place of his queen. They had been uplifted, provided with everything they needed, and in turn they worshipped their savior as a god. Perhaps a god was not that far off the mark. At least that was what Iain thought when he took into account all he knew about this being.
His thoughts came to a quick end, when he bumped into someone on the way, who themselves were just entering the hallway he was in. Quickly he looked to see what had happened, and found out he had bumped into one of the Quagoa that was carrying a crate filled with some expensive looking ores. Yet while the creature didn't seem all that bothered, the one standing behind him was another matter.
"Oi! Ar' ya' blind!?" The figure spat, as he marched up to Iain.
Before his golem form now stood a Dark Dwarf. He was comparable to a child in terms of height, yet his muscular body, slightly tanned skin, rough demeanor and large braided black beard told him otherwise. Iain had interacted with dwarves long ago, yet he was always surprised by the differences between them, and the Dark Dwarves he saw here, as their more well proportioned body made one think twice before taking them lightly.
As he understood it, there was a large clan of Dark Dwarves that was called upon from the outside world to serve the needs of the master. Perhaps it was the fact that they served the same being, that allowed them to work side-by-side. After all, he had heard that Dwarves and Quagoa were natural enemies, though he never bothered to learn more on the subject.
"I…"
Iain went to speak, but the Dark Dwarf wasn't having any of it.
"Don't 'I' me boy! Pick those up. We have more ta' do than walk 'round 'ere like you lot." He growled.
"That's enough. Do you not know who this is?" Iain's guide remarked, motioning to the symbol on the golem's chest.
The reaction was almost immediate, as the Dark Dwarf let out an annoyed snort, before sighing. Looking at the golem once more, and directing his attention to the Quagoa who had bumped into Iain.
"Oi! Tha' same goes for ye'! Get those ores back in ther' crate and get movin'. They're waitin' for us."
The beastman let out a low growl, yet did as he was told, seemingly understanding the urgency. Shortly after the duo was gone and Iain was back on track.
After a long walk, he arrived at his destination, only if partially. He now stood before a set of large and heavy double doors, which were flanked by a large Quagoa on each side. On their bodies were minimal, yet very powerful armor, with large, slightly glowing spears in one of their hands. Like their armor, these were powerful magic items, which symbolized their status as guards directly tasked by their master.
"He is here for an audience." The guide announced.
"There's one already taking place." One of the guards informed.
"The leader of the Dark Dwarves arrived not long ago." The other added.
"He will wait." Both declared in unison.
"B-But I come here with important information! Let me though!" Iain announced.
"You will wait." They said, once again in unison.
"Damn…" Iain began, when another being entered the area.
This one was wearing a black robe with golden lining, with his head partially covered by a hood. This was also a Quagoa, but unlike the others present, he was an undead. Not only an undead, but an Elder Lich at that. Such was the power of the being they called a god, allowing one of them to not only learn magic, but also to serve his greatness for all eternity.
"Open the doors. This man brings news of a subject that is of great interest to our Lord. Let him in." The Lich said with an echoing voice, speaking softly as he waved his hand.
The guards bowed, took a step to the side, and each pushed a half of the large door aside, letting Iain step through.
Now accompanied by the Lich, he now found himself in a massive cavern. He was on a small platform that led to a seemingly endless void. There two large crimson eyes rested, along with a steady stream of a green colored smoke that had an overwhelming, yet strangely smooth smell. In the center of the platform was the leader of the Dark Dwarves. He was on his knees and kneeling before the figure.
"I-I apologize for the delays my lord, b-but w-we are currently short on trustworthy men to bring in. Many have been hired to do other jobs around our area." He informed with trepidation in his voice.
From the darkness, the eyes were painted with annoyance, followed by a loud groan, which was then followed by a booming voice, feeling as massive and overwhelming as one would imagine a higher power to have.
"You are short on men?" The voice asked.
"Y-Yes."
"I do not recall every being short on anything when you, and your people needed it. Or am I remembering it wrong?" The booming voice hissed.
"N-No. Never did anything like that happen, my lord."
"Then, why have you done this?"
"I-It wasn't intentional. That much I assure you, my lord. My people do have other businesses that they're a part of, and I-I can't stop them from taking some men along with them. As you know, they're quite skilled…" The Dark Dwarf began, only stopping when the being chuckled in annoyance.
"One week. I will give you one week to get them back to work. If you fail, I will have no choice but to take away the defenses I have given your people."
"B-But, my lord…" The dwarf tried to argue, but the being wasn't in the mood to listen.
"Leave. There is someone else waiting to have an audience." The oppressive voice commanded.
The Dwarf looked at Iain and the Lich, seeing that his time was done, and he now could only go back and see his superior's orders through. He got up, giving several bows as he did so, before turning around and leaving. With him gone, Iain took his place, kneeling and giving the being a deep bow, as he waited to be addressed.
"I was wondering when you would come here."
As the voice echoed, the entity began to move in the darkness, the eyes becoming larger as it moved closer to the platform and Iain. While he couldn't see through the dark veil, Iain could imagine the being's massive form move through it. Yet in the end he knew that what was currently within the chamber was but a fraction of his superior's 300 meter long frame.
From the darkness came the beast's head, which was that of a dragon, with two large horns resting upon it, with large barbels on the snout that could be compared to an elongated mustache, and finally a row of menacing, razor-sharp teeth. This was his master, Zyl'vryg Grayl'dranth. Also known as the Elder Coffin Dragon Lord.
If Iain was to be knowledgeable of this rare species of dragon, he would note that his master looked wrong for some of his kind. This rare type of dragon was known for its serpentine form, that grew a meter with every year the dragon was alive, with its wings adorning several portions of the body. However, with time the dragon would grow too large for its several sets of wings to keep up with the body's size. Meaning they would either take to a grounded existence or take to the sea.
In the case of Zyl'vryg and a few others, they would use magic to levitate their body, allowing them to keep the ability to travel through the air. Yet given his age, one could see that the Dragon Lord had stopped aging when he was 300 years old. Not to mention his lack of any fur, and the faded look of his scales, which now had an ashen look to them.
This came from the fact the Dragon Lord was an undead. Not only that, but he was seen by his peers to be the highest ranked and mightiest undead in existence. Not to mention his mastery of several other abilities not related to necromancy and his bountiful knowledge in different types of magic. Indeed, in a sense he was nothing short of a god to his many followers across many different races on the continent.
Floating next to the creature's head was a large pipe, from where the green smoke was emanating from. The Dragon Lord took in another drag, before blowing the smoke at Iain's golem form as he prepared to speak.
"It seems my undead have been defeated."
"M-My apologies, my lord." Iain's golem form quickly said.
"According to the information I was given, this means there is a team in play stronger than even Crystal Tear. Perhaps there is something you have failed to inform me of?" The Dragon Lord hissed.
"My apologies! I-I was busy with my work, my lord. There is a new team that was hired by the queen. The Espada…" The golem began, just to be interrupted.
"The Espada? How many of them?" The undead dragon said in a curious tone.
"Four ranked members, and three unranked. But how do you know of them, my lord?" Iain asked in a subservient tone.
"My other sources have told me of them. Yet they seem stronger than what I was led to believe. Still, I suppose it is to be expected when Leinas Rockbruise is among them."
"S-She is one of them, b-but I don't see why…" Iain was saying, just to once again be interrupted by the Dragon Lord's booming voice.
"You fool! That woman is a former member of the Four Imperial Knights of the Baharuth Empire."
Iain was left in shock. How could he have forgotten about this?! He had heard the rumors, and even had some of his sources look into her departing from the Empire. Yet in the end he didn't believe that someone would leave such a high position. Then he realized the power she was said to wield, and yet it still made no sense for someone like her to be only the 3rd-strongest of the Espada Mercenary Company.
"I'll arrange for them to be sent on a dangerous assignment, and make sure they are taken care of." Iain declared, just for his master to laugh in reply.
"You won't do anything outside of what we have already discussed. I imagine they are planning to use the pass to make their way to free Asodosia?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Let them then. If she is the only one at that level, then I'm certain Fale can handle her. I will also make it so that a few others are sent there. You on the other hand, will stay put and do as you were told."
"A-As you wish."
"If I may, my Lord, if these Espada are a problem, I wouldn't mind taking them out." The Lich calmly said.
"No. We know too little about them. Once we know more, if they are at the appropriate level, I will consider deploying you. For now stand back, and allow our pawns to do their work." The Dragon Lord commanded.
"Iain, you may leave. I expect you to keep me informed of what these Espada are doing."
"Yes, of course! I will not fail you again, my lord."
"Humph! See to it that you don't."
The booming voice of the Elder Coffin Dragon Lord seemed to rubble and vibrate the very air around them, as it's head retreated back into the cavern, and its glowing blood-red eyes seemed to shine like two, blazing red suns in the darkness...