Chapter 6 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

“Goddamn cowards,” Eli’keen looked up at Clive’s latest outburst. Clive shook his head, passing the report back to the messenger.

“The Alvans are too scared to support us in the ninth realm. Shows how reliable they are as allies.”

Eli’keen didn’t miss the sect leaders and clan heads interest from their side of the room. They had become a new addition to the war room.

Eli’keen felt that the room had become more theatre than work. He acts like the Shattered are just a passing problem, he’s setting up his legacy.

The realization hit Eli’keen like a wall, halting his movements. A new horror spread through him. This was the largest invasion in the ten realms history. No, I’m overreacting, there’s no way a head would use this to gain political position.

He tried to laugh off his thoughts, but it was lodged in the back of his head.

“They insulted our messenger and then do this,” Clive growled, gripping his hilt and pushing it forward.

“If they’re such cowards to fight we’ll be happy to borrow their ships and put them to use. We need those to save lives.” Clive drew himself up.

“Yes sir,” The messenger bowed deeply and snapped around, marching from the room.

Eli’keen saw major movement at the seventh realm table, he walked over, seeing the pieces move into position, showing the Alvan objectives at Kircross. The city was besieged on all sides, evacuating as quickly as possible, but they had little support isolated in a mountain range. Evacuating their people through their teleportation pads, they didn’t have the capacity to teleport over support, they needed airships.

I bet that Clive won’t mention this. Eli’keen saw as markers for the Imperium forces at Vehpolis were shifted.

“We will draw upon our very reserves and dedicate everything we have to the ninth realm fight. Though it will weaken our assistance in the seventh realm.” Clive agonized as new force markers appeared in Cronen.

“Send out orders, we only have two days until the offensive.”

Eli’keen’s sound transmission device took his attention.

“Eli’keen, a report from the seer formations in the tenth realm. We don’t know what he intends to do but Akran has entered the Ascension platform, his sworn continue to guard the fortress.”

“Entered the platform, he must be looking to destroy it,” Eli’keen muttered.

“Elder, we have detected the tower activating, but not defensively.”

“So it’s active, but not defending itself, when did he enter?”

“Yesterday, with the time lag on the seer formations,” The intelligence officer said.

We would get an immediate alarm here if someone was to destroy the platform.

Eli’keen frowned before a chilling thought struck him.

He pulled out a special formation of six ascending lights, the first one was glowing.

“Shit,” Eli’keen felt weakness run through his body.

“Elder?”

“He isn’t attacking the ascension platform, he’s using it. He’s trying to ascend.”

Eli’keen closed off the sound transmission and walked over to Clive.

“Sir, I need to talk to you.”

“What’s on your mind?” Clive sighed.

“Sir, it is about the tenth realm.”

Clive tilted his head to the side as Eli’keen indicated to a side room.

“Well out with it,” Clive said, not making a move to the side room or to use a sound cancelling spell.

Eli’keen showed Clive the ascension platform formation.

“What is this?”

“This shows if someone is attempting the ascension platform. Akran didn’t go to the platform to claim it, or destroy it, he’s using it to ascend.”

Clive’s eyebrow climbed.

“Look, we haven’t had one person ascend, most that come out are broken, stuck in their cultivation, never to advance again, some never come out again. No way some shattered mutt will be able to do it. Anything else.”

“Sir, he has~”

“Look Eli’keen I know that you have served this Imperium well, but I need you to focus on things that are important, you deal with the crafters and making sure our people have clothes and potions. I’ll deal with the fighting and leading the Imperium, right?” Clive clapped him on the shoulder and looked into his eyes, like an elder looking at a child.

“I understand,” Eli’keen grated as he felt something break inside, something key, something he had thought true all these years but had stopped his day.

***

The time since Louis Gerard had rebelled against Edmond had not been kind to him. The light had dimmed in his eyes over the passing years as clans had left what remained of the Sha and the Sha had gone from a power from the first realm into the seventh to a nearly nomadic grouping of clans that lived upon their warships.

Louis looked gaunt, with bags under his eyes.

Milo LeBlanc and Lady Veltren had stepped up for the clan, working themselves to the bone to get the best for the clan. They sold weapon designs and every service possible to generate funds and support.

They had carved out a location at Kircross, in the seventh realm. It was a key location in the northern mountain ranges of the fourth continent. Several cities were in teleportation range of the city, smaller cities that didn’t have the people or fighting power to stave off the Shattered and their tears.

Le Glaive the once proud flagship of the Sha had been stripped down into a utilitarian warship. Its perfect appearance was marred with the signs of hard months and battles.

Most of the lower realm clans had collapsed and scattered, others were gathered up by Edmond and joined the Alvan Empire or were at least connected to it.

“Report?” Louis asked the officer on watch.

“Some tears at the outer regions, the Grey Peak Sect fleet dealt with it.”

Louis grunted and moved to his command chair, the throne had been cleared and a simple chair remained.

The Grey Peak Sect had absorbed the Black Phoenix Clan, subduing them. The Grey Peak Sect were part of one of the smaller cities around Kircross. They’d withdrawn their civilians, but kept their fleet in the area, ready to reclaim their home and the region.

Of the groups that had gone against Alva, their fates varied, The Willful Institute and the groups that supported them were searched out, arrested and became Alvan prisoners, or died fighting. The Sha had broken, the majority joining Alva, The Black Phoenix Clan had lost their homes, most of their fleets, the leadership of the Eternus had been handed over, prisoners of Alva and the rest had been folded into another sect.

“Warship transition,” a seer officer said.

Louis check the scrying formation feed as the first three ships appeared.

“What the hell are those?” The officer said.

Louis blinked, not sure what he was seeing as flying ships with wings howled through the sky, they picked up speed as two more groups of three identical ships transitioned in. Larger winged ships appeared, cutting through the air, carved lines or armor and armaments they dominated the air with their presence.

Louis sighed as he saw Alva’s symbol emblazed on their flanks as the forward elements exited Kircross with speed. “Alvan warships.”

Flames spewed from their rears as they cleared Kircross and accelerated, a rumble ran through the air as the ships increased altitude.

“Holy shit.” The watch officer said as the ships rapidly disappeared into the distance.

“Well, the Sha brought new designs to the warship, looks like the Alvans have their own version, where are they headed?” Louis tried to sound calm and collected, painful memories surfacing.

“Looks like Vehpolis sir.”