Xyreko appears in front of Daniel when he finally manages to get a break from nobles of the various regions approaching him. Right now, Sundenelle and Ryuogriar are handling discussions about the uniting wedding between the Fievegal and the Empire, while Hekate, Reignleif, Geirahoel, Aramellianna, and Yanidere are handling trade discussions with various nobles from all over the continent. Wenlianna is babysitting the Princesses with Treia, Doephluev, and Kera’tai, and Gwenesphia and Veiranoei are speaking with Grand Premier Kalegrynten and a couple of noble families from Mattarglos about the monster hunt. Rikuto and the Fievegal came to a signed agreement after several hours of discussions, negotiations on smaller details, and a review of terms by both sides. Afterwards, it is a sort of free-form mingling, though Rikuto is mainly speaking with Senn, who is still in disguise as Yuna.“Xyreko?” asks Daniel.
She bows, replying, “Apologies for appearing suddenly, your Grace, but it’s urgent.”
“Never a problem, even if it’s not, Xyreko. What is it?”
She whispers so that only Daniel can hear, “Grendel Six has fallen under attack.”
Daniel recoils away from her, whispering, “How bad?”
“I’m afraid… It’s quite serious, your Grace. Feno’xion’s remote body and the shuttle were destroyed. Grendel Six is stranded, and we’ve lost contact without our link through the shuttle.”
thinks Daniel to himself. “Kernuules?”
“Yes.”
“How long ago?”
“Minutes. I came as soon as Feno’xion recovered his consciousness and reported to me.”
“Any chance they’re still alive?”
“Meaning absolute respect when I say this, your Grace; they’re goblins. I would be more surprised if they were wiped out completely. Feno’xion reported they were fighting when the shuttle was destroyed.”
Daniel clenches his fists. His mind is filled with curse words at the moment, but he needs to focus.
Daniel’s mind races. He asks, “Who do we have that we can deploy in a hurry?”
“Ucahote has already dispatched three shuttles with a mix of Stalvaltan Guards who volunteered and members of the First and Third Regiments that had rotated out of occupying the Grand Duchy. However, even if they can fend off Kernuules for a time…”
“... Even Neith was unable to kill it,” finishes Daniel, prompting the Caretaker to nod.
thinks Daniel.
The mechanic does everything he can to think of something. He has all the power in the world at his finger tips, but magic won’t cut it. As much as he trusts Neith and Hekate, their strength isn’t useful. So, he has to go back to Earth. He has to pull something out of his memories that they can do here on Zenkon. But, there isn’t time. Kernuules is already slaughtering his allies as he stands around thinking.
“With your permission, your Grace, I can have the recovery team begin firebombing the forest. I can ask the dragons at the Citadel to assist. There is also a single tamed drake that the dattakoriens brought, if they won’t help.”
“Daniel?” asks Xyreko softly, since he still hasn’t given an answer.
He closes his eyes. Firebombing may be their only choice, but given what they described, it won’t actually stop Kernuules. If anything, he can regenerate the forest himself, even if they leave nothing behind but ashes.
Daniel halts his train of thought, snapping his eyes open. He looks at Xyreko, who teleported to him. “Xyreko, do you remember the spell Hekate used to take us to Ryukana that one time?”
“Yes, of course. Though I won’t have enough mana if your intention is to plead to the Divine Realm in person.”
“No. How about between two points on Zenkon?”
She cocks her head. “It’s less efficient than the teleportation I normally use, or the area teleportation Hekate uses for groups, but I should have plenty.”
“It can be sustained, right?”
“Yes…?” replies Xyreko, unsure why Daniel is asking these questions instead of granting her permission.
“Good. I’ll be at the Citadel in a few minutes. Choose an unused room in the interior and remove all of the air, not just the breathable components. I’ll explain once we’re there.”
“What about…?”
“This will solve Kernuules, I promise! Just do it, and I’ll explain.” Daniel is already heading towards Doephluev and Hekate with a brisk pace.
Xyreko bows. “As you wish, Daniel.” She disappears in a flash of light to carry out his instructions, even if she doesn’t understand them yet.
Daniel gently places his hand on Doephluev’s shoulder as Hekate explains, “... have been reestablishing territories destroyed in the west, so our production will continue to grow. As for our luxury goods, naturally, we won’t be divulging their origins to external parties. We’re happy to include them in the trade market, though.”
“Doephluev, can you ask everyone to gather around me? We need to talk briefly.”
She cups her cheek, being flirtatious. “Oh!? Darling, of course I will. Anything for you.”
Hekate’s ears also perked up when she heard Daniel speak, and she looks at the mechanic.
“Please excuse me, everyone. I need to borrow my beloved Consorts for a brief while.”
The nobles speaking to the group agree without issue, and Aramellianna jokes, “Does that include me, your Grace?”
He scoffs, though his mind is still racing with seriousness. “As one of my top advisors, yes, please. Sorry for the trouble. Future Grand Duchess, I leave your attendance to you.”
Yanidere blushes a little, and she replies, “Oh! Yes, on my way.”
Yanidere signals to her younger sisters, who are staying together with Stalvaltan Guards protecting them as they mingle. Everyone gathers together with Daniel, and he asks, “Wenlianna, would you mind giving us some privacy?”
“Of course!” The brunette receives a magic device from her personal guard, and she activates it. The device prevents eavesdropping on conversations in its immediate area, and Neith casts a special barrier that amplifies the effect.
Daniel says, “Grendel Six has been attacked by Kernuules, and the situation is dire. I intend to return to the Citadel to provide assistance with them. Neith, I’ll need you to fly me as fast as possible to the engagement zone from there.”
“As you-...”
“My Liege,” cuts in Magnir, who nods the moment he has everyone’s attention. “Forgive me, but allow me. If flight speed is the only thing you need, Sir Neith is more suitable to protecting the Empresses as a group than I am.”
Neith nods in agreement, saying sincerely, “Sir Magnir is right, your Grace.”
“What does it matter?” asks Geirahoel. “We’re going, too.”
“About that,” starts Daniel, which earns him a small army’s worth of glares. He puts his hands up to disarm them. “Please, hear me out. I won’t be on the ground, and as long as Magnir can avoid Kernuules’s ranged attacks, Kernuules won’t be able to withstand what I’m about to do. I guarantee it.”
This shifts the irritation to shock.
Kera’tai whispers urgently, “Daniel! You JUST got done agreeing not to do .”
“If we only need to burn the forest down, we can handle it with ease,” adds Gold, who joined the group.
“I’m not using what you think,” replies Daniel. “But, it will be similar, yet undetectable.”
This surprises the ones who know, while everyone else hopes someone will fill in.
“Void artillery?” asks Wenlianna, knowing enough to know that they have the magic artisan that created it in their employ.
“No. Even if I wanted to build one, there isn’t enough time. I’m asking you all to trust me and Magnir, and… cover for my doppelganger.”
“You want us to continue meeting with foreign nobles?” asks Reignleif, realizing what he’s saying first.
“Yes. For two reasons. The first is that we can’t risk anyone figuring out that I’m gone, if we can help it. And, second, I need your wisdom in the continued negotiations. I’ll be wearing my equipment, so Hekate and Xyreko can bring anyone I need, but I need to move quickly right now.” Daniel takes a knee himself, and he’s reminded of some of his own injuries. “Please, grant me permission for this.”
“You’re going after another monster, and you want to go with less support than any of the others?” asks Gwenesphia. “That’s just foolish.”
Senn, still appearing as Yuna, replies as she enters the sphere of silence, “Actually, Daniel and Magnir or Roeta are the best choices…”
When everyone looks at her, the elven sage adds, “I asked Doephluev to relay the conversation via telepathy. Thank you.”
Doephluev smiles. “But, why is my Beloved and either of the dragon knights preferable?”
“Lack of mana…” blurts out Treia. She blushes when a few people look at her.
Yuna smiles and nods. “Indeed. The goblins and their equipment have very minimal magic presences; no more than wildlife in the forest, with the exception of the magic crystals, but their signature is still minimal, even as much mana as magic crystals can house. If Magnir burns through his mana flying to the area, Kernuules won’t detect him from range, meaning you’ll be able to ambush it.”
Daniel nods. “Thank you, Kaeralegier. I would guess you’re right, since I doubt it’s that interested in what I’m doing most of the time.”
“I don’t have time for that. But, I can drop something from really high up.” He looks at Xyreko. “Did you remove the air as requested?”
“Yes. The room is sealed, and I’ve removed everything, but you won’t be able to enter. The insects that were lingering… I won’t allow you to enter.”
“I know. The room’s under vacuum now. I’d boil alive. The perfect conditions for what we’re about to do.”
“Well!? Don’t keep us hanging!” exclaims Hekate as she pounces onto his back. “You know you can trust me, so I want to know what your next god-killer is.”
Ryukana appears along with the three dragon Empresses. With the exception of the violet-haired goddess, they’re all in their battle-ready attire.
“I am curious as well, Daniel, if that’s alright. I hope you aren’t planning on destroying the world.”
Daniel laughs. “Not in the least, my Lady. We’re going green with weapons of mass destruction.”
He accepts a notepad and pencil from the Caretaker, and everyone crowds in to watch what he draws.
Kaeralegier’s voice is playful as she somehow observes Daniel’s drawing.
Daniel explains, “Xyreko, I need you to sustain these portals until we call on them. I have an improvement to make for the lurker on me, so what she’ll see from my perspective is only the easy version.”
He then draws arrows and a simple cylinder between the two rings representing the portals.
He then finally states with a cautious smirk, “Let me tell you how we’re going to cheat at kinetic bombardment.”
***
Chapter 200: The Fracture of Grendel Six Part Two
9 min read