Chapter 27 Part 1 of 1 (Patreon)

Roska looked at the soldiers and police officers gripping their weapons, standing ready inside the ‘empty’ tavern.

She looked through a crack in the wooden shutters, they closed with a gust of wind, opening wider giving her a clear view of the Warehouse district.

For the past few hours she and her people had been preparing. Across Vuzgal Police officers backed up with Alvan soldiers were waiting patiently for their targets.

“In position.”

Roska heard the last squad leader report in as she too a breath. “Go!”

The doors of the tavern were thrown wide open as the waiting squads rushed out with their weapons at the ready.

“Vuzgal police! Put your arms up! You’re under arrest!”

Stunned traders looked around with wide eyes as police officers and soldiers appeared.

They stormed out of abandoned buildings that seemed lifeless a second ago, pouring through the alleyways and roads, surging towards the warehouses. There was not a single gap for the traders or their guards to run.

A man tried to draw his sword, several arrows piercing his body as he collapsed.

“Don’t try to stop me!” Another yelled, pulling an axe from his storage ring. He coughed as arrows slammed home, his eyes went wide in shock as he dropped the hammer, collapsing.

The police offcers reached the first traders and their guards, pushing them to the ground and securing them.

Her sound transmission device beeped from the other special team members.

“Target Delta secured.”

“Target foxtrot secured.”

Across the city they were locking down the traders and guards linked to the Elsi family. As well as the spies that were connected to anyone but Vuzgal.

Roska used her sound transmission device to connect to director Elan.

“We have the rats.”

“Carry on, send the spies not affiliated with the groups attacking us through the totem. The rest of them bring them in for questioning.”

***

Jonas Elsi cursed his luck.

Uncle said that there was little chance I’d be caught! The Vuzgalians must have been tracking us all this time. Just what was with all of those aerial beasts and people rushing out of the gates?

Jonas saw familiar faces being thrown into the back of the caged carts. They’d all been bound with chains that cut off their mana and left them tired. Their storage rings had been torn from them, leaving only their clothes.

Jonas felt his tooth where he had embedded a storage ring. There was now a gap there.

“What are you doing with us! We are free traders do you think you can get away with this!” Jonas yelled.

“Traders? You’re an Elsi,” A police officer snorted and walked away.

Jonas felt a thread of fear in his gut. They know who I am?

“You’re all loaded up!” The police officer told the cart driver.

“Come on!” The driver clicked at his beasts, the convoy of caged carts moved through the streets, soldiers marched along with them. The procession got glances and people muttering to one another before it entered a training ground.

The carts came to a stop and the cages were opened.

“Out! Move it!” The soldiers ordered, a spear butt motivated the person closest to the door.

They were pulledout, pulling on the linked chains, dragging the others out.

The soldiers pushed them into lines facing an officer standing on a podium.

“You have all been found guilty of spreading information to the enemy, leaking trade routes to bandits leading to loss of goods and lives. To extorting other traders and committing murder in this very city. You have two options, one you will sign a slave contract and serve out the rest of your lives to repay what you have done. You will get food, living quarters, water with the opportunity to gain education. If you do not accept you will be put to death and be turned into undead to defend Vuzgal.”

“How is this a trial?” A trader yelled out.

We have been watching. Do not worry there are those among you that are spies for other nations or sects that have been reporting faithfully to your masters that wish to attack our city.

“You have five seconds. Those of you willing to take the slave contract lower your heads. Those of you unwilling, please serve the undead legions well.”

“I am of the Stone Fist Sect you dare!” Jonas yelled out.

“You are from the Elsi clan, as we’ve been able to tell the Stone Fist Sect is not backing this attack yet. Don’t worry we’ll hunt down Oskar Elsi as well to join you in the afterlife if you decide. Two seconds”

People ducked their heads as Jonas felt panicked. There is no way that they would!

“The traders will have your heads!”

“Will they? Don’t worry, we already have your ‘confessions’. Even if they’re not really from you. With our information and how it all links together do you think that it will matter?” The officer’s smile made Jonas feel the ground was falling apart underneath him.

He let out a gasp as did others as blades sunk into their backs.

Poison rushed through his blood stream overcoming his cultivation in seconds.

This wasn’t supposed to happen! I’m an Elsi!

He collapsed with weak legs, seeing the bowed heads up and down the lines, the tears in grown men’s eyes.

***

Klaus stood at the top of his fighter’s association’s building watching Vuzgal.

He let out a sigh and looked around association’s circle, the other associations buildings stood there, proud and unyielding their gates closed as guards patrolled their grounds, mana barriers protecting them each from the outside world.

A messenger ran up on the roof.

“What did Lord Chonglu say?” Klaus turned.

“He read the letter and burned it, said that he did not have time for the associations until the Willful Insitute is crushed.

Klaus sighed and shook his head.

“He’s still too young.” He could escape with his family and Mira, the blame would fall upon us instead of him. What makes these Vuzgalians so damn loyal to Erik and Rugrat?

He thought of the weeks that he had spent training the duo. His lips were sealed from telling anyone else about their abilities and strength.

They’re powerful, enough to bring many to their side, but they are just two people. They must have consumed all the resources that Vuzgal had to spare in order to get as strong as they are. The Willful Institute has many fighters that are as strong as they are. Even if they can defeat someone of the seventh realm. Canthey fight ten of them together? A hundred?

Klaus looked up at the skies, odd aerial beasts flew out in every direction, covered in wooden armor.

“How is the evacuation going?” Klaus asked, his eyes looking over the city.

“All family members and non-essential members have pulled back to other assocaitions.”

“What’s the situation at the totem?”

“People are fleeing as fast as they can, the Vuzgal leadership is not stopping them though they do warn that all land that is left unattended for more than one month will be repossessed by they city and they are not liable for damages.”

“They make it sound as if they can hold. With only a few thousand people they want to hold back an army of hundreds of thousands?” A sad and tired smile spread across Klaus’ face. “They would have made fine members.”

“Sir the military and police conducted lightning raids across the city last night. They targeted traders and their guards. Most of them around the warehouse district.”

“The trader community has a long memory, if they attack traders now then they could work against them. Even support the sects attacking Vuzgal.” Klaus frowned. “What is happening and why am I only hearing about this now?”

“They struck without warning in the middle of the night. We didn’t discover anything was wrong until it was just announced by the Vuzgal Police.” The aide took a breath. “They also took out all of the spies and informants within the city. They questioned them last night and they have been dumping them at the totem. Those that were spies of attacking sects were executed.”

“Just what is happening? They have been so quiet, meek even, not leaving their city walls. Is this really the Vuzgal we know?”

“The news is causing people to leave in mass. Vuzgal announced that they will stop people leaving tomorrow morning. Everyone is fleeing.”

“They must have a reason for attacking the traders or else they just killed themselves no matter what. Just what are they thinking?” Klaus frowned looking at the central tower that stuck up proud in the middle of Vuzgal. Why do I feel like I have been blind for too long.

***

Early morning came, light started to fall on Alva as the members of Dragon Regiment fell into their squads, talking to one another in low tones or waiting in silence.

Their carriers and gear showed signs of wear and tear, a frayed scar here on a carrier, faded camoflague with having to scour the dirt out.

They held their heavy repeaters with comfortable ease, the weapons of war as familiar as a farmer's shovel.

"Move into formation!" Lieutenant Colonel Zukal called out.

The groups pulled their helmets on, closing them off from the outside world and ran to their positions, holding their repeaters at the ready.

Domonos walked out onto the training square. We cleared out all the spies two days ago and locked the totem yesterday. Now, just like in the beginning Vuzgal has only Alvans and the associations within its walls. How things come full circle.

He looked at the men and women under his command.

When we had to defend Vuzgal there were one hundred of us. He picked out familiar faces among the ranks. Now, there are nearly ten thousand in Vuzgal alone.

"I heard that some bastards wanted to take what’s ours. I think that its time we educated them on what happens when they attack our lands, our homes, our people.” He felt his own anger in each word, he saw it reflected in his soldiers as they stood taller, set their shoulders and gripped their weapons tighter.

“Lets get back to the rest of the regiment, to Vuzgal! Turn to the right!"

They moved as one even without the drill instruction.

"March!"

Those at the front led, not needing any guidance as they headed out of the Alva training center.

The gates opened for them as Domonos saw Commander Glosil waiting for them.

"Dragon Regiment, Eyes, right!" Domonos and the other officers saluted commander Glosil who held the salute as they passed through the gates.

"Members of First Battalion Alpha Company eyes forward!" The group through the gates snapped their eyes forward. Their feet fell at the same time, born of ingrained training and a deep desire to not trip up the person ahead or behind.

"Members of First Battalion Bravo Company eyes forward!" The second group passed through.

Domonos caught Glosil's eyes and nodded. I'll do my duty, I'll bring back as many as I can. Alive or dead I will leave none of them on the field.

He passed the gate and looked forward, Two thousand members of the Dragon Regiment snaked through to the totem.

Domonos felt a deep sense of pride, of anticipation mixed with fear and determination. It was his regiment, and his city, he had been entrusted with both. Any bastard that thinks they can take Vuzgal will have to walk over the entire Dragon Regiment to do so. Bring it on mother fuckers.