"Operation: Spearhead"

Ur castle

0400H

Mika's POV

Before dawn, we moved.

The sun haven't risen yet and the castle staff and guards are too tired from yesterday's siege and victory party.

It's the perfect time to go unnoticed.

"Mwuh... Isn't it to early, cousin." Prim yawned, sleepily asking her cousin who is preparing a horse.

As if they would use that.

"I know but we must travel to Geofu first so I can drop you off to Lady Claudia and secure her assistance against Vult." Alicia replied to the young princess before giving me a hard glare.

There was a slight change of plans.

Instead of going straight to Ken, we will have to separate in groups.

First, Arte will take theAkatsukito Ken. Her job is simple, scout for any monsters or any sign of attacks in the kingdom while staying out of sight (which is a challenge due to Akatsuki's golden armor). Communication is established through comms for any reports on her side.

Meanwhile, me and the two princesses will travel to Geofu to check on Claudia. If there's someone who knew what's happening in Ken, it would be Claudia.

I just hoped it wouldn't become a rescue mission.

*Atchoo*

"Bless you!" Prim absently said after I sneezed.

"Alright, Arte had already went ahead of us and our supplies are packed. Are you girls ready?" I asked them as both princesses trotted in the courtyard with a horse burdened with essentials.

"Yes, I already packed enough for 3 days worth of travel for the both us. I trust that you made the same arrangements?" I can definitely hear the sarcasm. Petty bitch.

"Arte had my supplies. And lose the horse, you aren't gonna use it." I summoned our ride.

In a flash of light, my old trusty Murasame appeared in its flight mode.

Both princesses gasped at the sudden appearance of the massive machine in the castle courtyard, their horse even rearing up in fright before Alicia reigned it.

"Magic? You have magic!" Prim exclaimed in excitement.

"Magic..." Alicia in the other hand doesn't.

Of course, I just became more threatening for her with magic and Armors by my side.

"Get your packs on the cockpit. It will be a tight fit but we can manage." It's the reason why Arte had my pack.

So for next few minutes, Alicia and I tried to put things to order.

Tried is the word.

Damned woman brought her entire closet probably with the amount of clothes in her pack. Granted most of them are armor and Prim's clothes but still.

We butted heads for while, luckily Prim is there to resolve the problem.

The armor and extra clothes were ditched, taking the necessary food and supplies instead.

Now came the next problem.

Sitting Arrangements.

The Murasame's cockpit is a one sitter with extra space on the back. That space was taken by their supplies.

Which leaves to our current situation.

"Wow!"

"Prim, don't move too much!"

"Will you too stop squirming!" I gritted out, annoyed at their constant movement and squirming while on my lap.

As the pilot, I obviously took the seat. Which led to Alicia sitting on my lap and Prim sitting on hers. I'm basically pancaked under their weight.

It also doesn't help that Alicia wore a skirt, causing for me to directly feel her ass through the thin layers of garment she has.

"!!!!" She turned her head behind, giving me a scathing glare as she felt my manhood poke her asscheck.

As if that will make me afraid, "Stop moving..." I gritted out.

She gave me a stinkeye before grabbing the excitable princess in her lap in place.

Finally...

"Alright, we are gonna start flying so don't panic. We'll reach Geofu in minutes if my calculations are correct." I told them as I began to start up the machines systems.

"Is this really fast?" Prim can't help but ask.

"Yes. On the ground, it takes one day on horse to reach Geofu from Ur but with the Murasame? It will only take a few minutes."

"We'll see about that." Alicia quipped sarcastically.

You know what, let's give her a taste of Murasame special.

"Alright, then LET'S GOOOOOOOOO!" I shouted as I went full throttle to launch the machine off the courtyard towards the dark sky of dusk.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHHAA!" Prim excited screams echoed in the cockpit. She enjoying the new experience at least.

Her cousin meanwhile doesn't.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SLOW DOWN!"

Music to my ears.

Geofu

0430H

Grave's POV

I sighed in relief as the soothing cold towel brushed the aches of my muscles.

Just shows how old he is if his own routine is becoming too much for him.

Back in the day, he can go on from Dawn to Dusk but now...

His becoming old.

I snorted at the thought. No time to dwell on it.

.

.

.

.

Maybe... Might as well visit Claudia, just to make sure she didn't commit suicide.

Later...

"Hello, Daughter."

*Clang*

"I will kill you!" Claudia snarled behind the bars of her prison, still shackled by the special cuffs made for her.

They well made but it looks like the smiths failed to take account the walls attached to the shackles if the telltale cracks on the wall are too go by.

Truly remarkable for a princess knight.

Of all Celestine's princess knights, Claudia is definitely the strongest and his damned proud of it for raising such a wonderful woman.

On contrary of his son.

And his mood just soured at the thought of that dead wasted potential.

"You haven't taking care of yourself, Claudia." Her hair is akin to a rats nest, her skin cakes in dirt and dust and she reeks.

Are the servants not taking care of her.

"I don't need your charity, scum!" Oh, that's why.

Pride.

"How could you?! Klaus is your son! Why did you kill my husband?!"

"I didn't kill Klaus." I rebuked her.

"You had him poisoned." Oh, she finally worked out what killed him.

"Yes but I didn't poison him."

"So you hired assassins! Shows how honorless you have become in siding with Vult!"

"I didn't. Klaus killed himself!" I accidentally blurted out in anger, how dare she challenge my honor!

"What?"

"Did you honestly think I can kill my own son! His my blood and flesh! A failure he is but his still a Goddess be damned Levantine!" I cursed, nursing my head on the upcoming headache.

"You don't know the truth, daughter. You have become too blind under the Goddess' rule." I lamented.

She's confused. Of course she is. She and her goddess are living in a different world theirs.

Untouchable

Until now.

"What do you mean by that father?" She quietly asked.

I sighed, time to tell her the truth.

"Hmmph! You think your so called Goddess is running the Alliance? Wake up! She isn't! The Church and their scumbag of Pope does!

"Lies! Pope Ignacio is a righteous man serving Celestine!" Claudia barked back, defending the sleazy old man.

I can't help but shake my head to her.

Pope Ignacio is vile snake. For all his preaching and virtuous image, the old man is sinful man that loves his vices. Vices that centered particularly on Celestine. His lust and obsession to the Goddess is clear with his nun's, elven or blonde busty women.

Women that doesn't last long under his service before breaking.

"Your stay in the capital and duty to Celestine really blinded, you foolish daughter." I shook my head in disappointment.

"The man you say righteous is the one that pulled me under Vult's plans, the man who ordered Klaus' death as proof of loyalty to their cause!" Claudia gasped in surprise and horror.

"No, it can't be..." She shakily told herself, still not believing the true colors of the person she is serving in the Capital.

"Klaus also knew about this but he didn't tell you, foolish boy thinks it might cause friction to your marriage and I see it now." I snorted.

"But why! Why would Klaus kill himself!" She wailed, desperation settling in her tone.

"For family." I sighed.

She made a confused look, how naive. Even with her experience, she's still innocent to the inner workings of nobles.

"The Levantine Family is dying girl, Klaus knows and its because of his failures to provide an heir." I snarled, "For years, our family is the laughing stock among nobles, a dying bloodline. Every single of Geofu is just waiting."

"Waiting until we all die."

"A weak sheep surrounded by wolves."

"But we are still the rulers of Geofu, it's protector. It's why the fat snake came to me with an offer."

"Join or be eradicated."

I sighed, "Family comes first, I accepted."

"And Klaus?"

"He knew. He willingly accepted his fate but as long as I keep one promise."

"To protect you from Vult and his damn dogs. I accept." I closed my eyes, remembering my son's resolve that day.

I would have feel proud of him for once if he didn't die for it.

That foolish boy.

"Then the assassin?"

"A ploy to fool Ignacio's and Vult's spies. The assassin is just a random criminal who killed his wife in a drunken stupor. His trial was short and execution done immediately to fool them."

She then looked down, her anger and hate vanishing visibly.

It was just replaced by solemn melancholy and hopelessness.

"Then why I am still here? Alicia, my dear student is still fighting for how many days now without any reinforcements. Please let me go and help her, father..." She begged.

I shook my head in response, "Claudia, your the last Levantine. I'm too old now and your the only one that could rebuild our family after this ordeal. I can't risk you." My reply only made her sob in her helplessness.

"Fortunately, you don't need to go to Ur to help. They don't need it."

"What?" She looked up in surprise. Hope blooming in her visage.

I snorted at the sight, "You don't give your student much credit. She successfully defended Ur from the constant onslaught and siege from monsters and mercenaries alike for an entire month while isolated from the rest of the alliance."

"Be proud, you taught a good student."

She sighed in relief, a small smile blooming in her lips. Good.

"And I think she'll come here in a few days from now after some interesting news." She perked up in curiosity, "It looks like your student secured help from two Knights of Old or at the least someone who have found a way to use the old relics."

"What?" She looked confused.

"I have the same reaction too until those damn dogs told me the truth. Ur's siege broke after two knights came and assisted Alicia's forces in defending Ur. What's more interesting is that the monsters under Vult's control are running for the hills, they scared witless of the two knights." I chuckled at the memory.

The man is surely panicking in his little throne in Feoh after that mess.

"I-"

"Your liege, you need to come in the courtyard! It's urgent!" A soldier suddenly barged into the prison cells, calling for me.

It turned towards the young soldier, just sixteen summers old yet fighting in a war he shouldn't be in due to some madmen.

"Speak boy, what's urgent that it needs my attention."

It took him a couple of breaths to relax his burning lungs. The boy is stationed at the outer walls of his castle as he remembers so it must be something dire to send a runner directly to him.

Finally the boy spoke and I wasn't expecting the next words coming out of his mouth.

"A massive flying object is found circling around the castle like vulture! Defenses are already high alert and mages has started to work out what it is."

Huh?

"Well... This is a curious turn of events. Looks like our chat will be cut short for a while, Daughter." I turned towards Claudia.

She gave me an absent nod, a progress.

Later...

"Unbelievable." I whispered in awe as the massive object flew in the sky, circling around the castle.

I'm speechless.

So the rumors were true.

The Knights of Old ahs resurfaced or something in that manner.

"What do we do my Lord!?"

"Nothing, we do nothing." I told the good soldier, confusing him and his brethren.

"This is beyond our capabilities so we do nothing and negotiate." I clarified.

If the rumors were true then fighting is futile. The monsters are afraid and running amok to run away from this, what makes them think some puny humans can fight back?

Suddenly, the giant contraption flew towards the main courtyard. In front of our eyes, it's body unfolded. From it's arrow like form with wings, it turn into a huge humanoid akin to a golem.

It landed in the courtyard, dust blowing up from its massive bulk.

We then heard voices.

Someone I'm familiar with.

"Prim?" Why is she here and where is she?

Suddenly, the giant golems torso opened, revealing a smiling little princess.

"Lord Levantine!" She waved happily to me with a bright smile. I reciprocated but still confused.

I then saw that she's seated on Alicia's lap (she's here too!) and she's on top of some boy's lap.

Both are arguing heatedly.

What's going on!?

Later...

"Well ain't she a beauty?" I mused as I looked at the kneeling golem or Mobile Armor in Mika's words.

Speaking of the boy...

"She?" His voice came beside me.

"It's a ship right? Then it should be named after a maiden." It's natural. All ships should be given a maidens name for luck.

"It's name is Murasame."

.

.

.

.

.

"Good enough." I shrugged. I won't judge.

"Oi!"

For a boy who's tongue is sharpee than Alicia, he's easy to rile up.

After there arrival and introduction, Alicia and Prim went to retrieve Claudia for their journey to Ken.

I told them she's in a house arrest but I allowed them to go nonetheless.

It's for the better.

Mika's arrival surely alerted the spies in Geofu and will call for those dogs.

Geofu is done for.

Mika and his Murasame can defend the city surely but time is not on their side today. Their main mission is to rescue Celestine and stop whatever Ignacio is planning with the monolith underneath the chapel as per my warning to them.

Something Mika is very interested with.

"Father..." I turned around to see Claudia, groomed and cleaned from her imprisonment.

I have no words to be give to her now.

"Go." I simply said.

She nodded and joined her apprentice.

There goes the last Levantine.

Mika's POV

"Mika we won't fit inside." Alicia came with Claudia in tow, armed and ready.

I ignored Alicia, making a shushing sound as I contacted Arte.

Lord Levantine's info and association with the Black Dog's and the conspiracy changes things.

Whatever was sealed underneath Ken, it was sealed by magic by reason as just like back in Eldonia.

Something like the Giant Gundam cannot be unleashed on Ken.

As of right now, Arte is surveying Ken from above and observing Celestine. Unlike Claudia's forceful house arrest, Celestine is most likely tricked by the Pope as she is freely moving in her castle.

Something is amiss.

"The Pope arrived." Arte's voice came from my comms. I put her on loudspeaker for everyone else to hear.

"They are transporting Celestine but..."

"But what!?" Alicia impatiently asked.

"Vult and a few Black Dogs are here, they came from some kind of teleportation spell, probably acquired from ruined Dark Tower."

I obviously ignored Alicia's accusing stare to speak to Arte.

"Their positions?"

"Celestine and the Pope are riding towards the chapel and Vult's already in the chapel."

"I think they have cracked the seal."

Lord Levantine made a sharp intake at the possibility.

"That's it we need to go, were going in hot. Arte take position as air support and overwatch, report anything new while we're inbound there."

"Yes, Master." I then cut off the comm.

Now for the hard part.

"Alright, who wants to fly?"

Chapter End

Author's note.

Why is Grave Levantine a good guy? Cause his not bad at this timeline. This timeline is 2 years earlier than the original Kuroinu timeline. At this stage, Vult is still building his conspiracy party (there's no way he took down the 7 kingdoms without inside help). This will culminate to the original timeline of capturing Olga.

Then Mika fucked it up by killing Olga.

With Olga dead, they need to accelerate their plans as with Olga dead, their mercenary work is basically over.

Remember, Black Dog Mercenaries are the main fighters against Olga, hired to bolster the kingdom's defense.

Olga's death killed their main source of income.

So Vult had to initiate the plan earlier.

But then there's Mika, he killed about 90% of the monsters in total in his rampage.

Thus Vult's army is weakened.

His capture of Feoh is fluke and by surprise with Beardsley assistance if you don't already know.

As for the other kingdoms, they are in captured due to lack of monsters. Only Feoh, Ken, Ur and Ken are affected.

Feoh is captured

Ur was under siege but currently recovering.

Geofu is held hostage by other nobles and Vult's forces.

Ken is under martial law upon Feoh's capture to protect Celestine. By the Pope's orders.

So there you have it, the current events in the story.

For the other princesses, they are irrelevant.

Mai, most likely captured in Feoh due to her proximity of Vult in the earlier years. Her date is sealed.

Lulu, to far away and working on her own kingdom.

Kaguya, indifferent to the events of the other kingdoms. Her religion is a cult at best and she's eastern, known for isolation. It's no wonder why her kingdom fell in the original without any resistance due to how weak their forces are compared to the other kingdoms.

Next Chapter

"The Beast of Mars is unleashed."