[749] Age of Upheaval
* * *
The Holy Convocation.
A supranational body formed by the Three Imperial Realms, the Seven Kingdoms, and the Two Military Lords; it fields the Valkyries, the units arrayed against the heavens.
Founded by Teraja and built with the cooperation of twenty-four nations including the Convocation itself, it was humanity's greatest army.
With the Immortals' community quiet and celestial activity subdued for now, nations argued that the Valkyries should take the vanguard against the seventy-two legions of demons.
"Kashan, enter!"
To the anthem of Kashan played by the Cotria Republic's military band, Uorin strode in with composed dignity.
The close-guard fanned out in concentric rings like a net, their gazes crisscrossing the area.
Behind Uorin, the Pungjang—the foremost school of swordsmanship—matched her steps with not a centimeter's deviation.
'I thought I'd be used to this by now…'
Gando served as Uorin's aide.
'I'm not used to it at all.'
The Convocation's time and place changed each session, but as the stage where the world's leaders displayed national strength, its scale dwarfed any other summit.
"Receive the state guest!"
Along the golden overpass, Cotria's honor guard spun heavy scale-spears in salute to the Empress.
'They've come fully prepared.'
The Cotria Republic of the Seven Kingdoms jutted out like a dolphin-shaped peninsula on the southern edge of the Gustaf Empire.
With Gustaf to the north and no other neighbors, Cotria should have been swallowed by the Empire long ago—yet it defended its territory under the proud name of the Seven Kingdoms.
'They must be proud of their efforts. But the biggest reason is—'
They possessed an ancient war machine: the Ex-Machina.
It was presumed to be a kind of ancient weapon, and Uorin had said it might not be a power-based weapon at all but one rooted in the Law.
"Gando."
Uorin spoke quietly.
"Any word from Shirone yet?"
Since Shirone had begun wandering the world after becoming one of the Five Great Stars, Uorin had sent word, but no reply had come.
"She hasn't answered."
Gando hesitated a moment before adding, "Shall I send someone again?"
If a polite message were coldly refused, the Empire would be forced to use coercion.
"No. It's fine. She must be busy."
Uorin's voice carried a clear note of disappointment, and that surprised Gando.
'Her composure seems unsettled today.'
Uorin called again.
"Gando."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Orders?"
"Sit at my side today."
"Yes?"
He had accompanied her to the Convocation many times, but this was the first time she'd insisted he sit beside her.
"The Gustaf emperor has changed."
Gustaf Habitz XVII.
According to the previous Mistra's memories, he had once been an intriguing man on par with her.
'He must be quite advanced in human years now. I wonder what kind of person he's become.'
"Am I worthy of that? If you're worried, shall I give the Pungjang separate orders?"
Gando attended to the Empress's every convenience, but in combat he was roughly mid-ranking among the close-guard knights.
"It's fine. Just stay by my side."
"…Understood."
If what Uorin disliked wasn't force, Gando was a suitable companion.
After the Three Imperial Realms' entries, six nations besides Cotria passed through the gates, each flaunting military strength.
Parras from the central east, the Wén from the east, Zaibe from the central continent, Airon from the southern continent, the southern tribes' confederation, and Arakne representing the ten island kingdoms of the southern sea.
State rank is relative—numbers alone don't measure a nation's true power—but none of the Seven Kingdoms was weaker than Shirone's homeland, Tormia.
"Enter, the Two Military Lords!"
Only after all the human contingents had passed did the representatives of the Dragonkin and the Fair Folk appear.
Unlike the ostentatious human rulers, they kept their presence minimal—only two in all.
The Dragonkin took pride in being the strongest in any situation; the Fair Folk despised ornament.
"Long time no see, Apostle of Time."
Enox, the Fair Folk's representative, greeted the approaching dragon whose body was as big as a house.
First-rank dragon Blitz.
A blade-like snout, a sleek body, and blue scales that glittered as if electricity ran through them even while he stood still.
"Thunderwing—didn't expect you to come."
Though foremost among the Twelve Apostles in combat, Blitz disliked getting involved in politics.
"I don't want to, but I can't refuse. I don't care for the Convocation, but there's an important matter today."
"A matter important to the Dragonkin… hmm."
Enox, who had been musing with his chin cupped, turned to Blitz with a broad smile.
"Is the sun going to explode?"
"That's not funny."
Enox's smile froze into a grimace.
"Oh, of course. Would someone as exalted as you laugh at a lowly fairy's joke? How noble."
"..."
Blitz walked on in silence for a long moment, then snapped his neck sharply at the gates.
"How is it that after four thousand years that damn bipolar disorder still hasn't been cured?"
"Don't mind him. Would you talk to someone like me?"
The Fair Folk were as pure as they were mercurial; where humans grew angry, they grew melancholy.
'In some ways I like them even less than humans.'
There were humans who fell in love with Fair Folk and married them, but most such unions did not end well.
"Thank you for coming personally. Please enter."
A minister at the gate bowed, and Enox's face lit with a broad grin.
"Your Highness, you look well."
Even from a distance Uorin made an impression; Enox's beauty was not human beauty but no less striking.
"Oh, yes. Very fit."
When Blitz raised his head, a soldier on the wall flinched and slid off in shock.
"Eek!"
"The gate is low."
Must the dragon bow his head to enter?
"Sorry. It was built to human height…"
Blitz was attending the Convocation for the first time, and the minister couldn't bring himself to say more.
"Hmm…"
A sound like bone twisting began to come from Blitz's body as he looked down at the minister in displeasure.
Enox frowned as Blitz's massive form compressed and reshaped into a human shape.
It was a reconstruction only a first-rank dragon could perform.
"This will do."
Blade-like blue scales replaced hair, and under protruding brow bones lightning flashed in his eyes.
"Ah, of course. Thank you."
To the band's music, the trumpeter cried out.
"Enter, the Two Military Lords!"
The Convocation began.
* * *
Three thousand demon soldiers surrounded Julu's pyramid rising alone on the land of death.
"Move in! Kill every one you see!"
Each time division commander Gashias swung his saw-bladed weapon, monsters from the dungeon were sliced down to the bone.
"Pathetic things."
With no heart to them, Julu spoke empty words and lifted his hand from the pyramid's summit.
"Erga."
Endless abyssal darkness.
A black bird flew toward the sky and was crushed with a crunch.
As it had been long ago, when Julu had done the same.
Kieeeee!
The crumpled black mass unfurled into a gargantuan form and spread into a ten-meter-tall reaper that radiated lightning.
"Charge! No retreat!"
A curtain of electricity roiled like a wave, but the demons paid no mind to torn flesh and hurled themselves at the pyramid.
"Try me, Erga."
As the lightning faded, the lich thrust both hands skyward and a smoky, wraithlike mist eddied about him.
"The wailing of the dead."
A death-class spell no living being could wield—a horrific calamity only Julu could manifest.
"Huff! Huff!"
Kangnan gripped a pair of machetes and hacked through the pyramid's labyrinth.
'How many are there?'
She'd met demons in the desert now and then, but she'd never faced an army this large.
"Die! Bring pain to the humans!"
Blue, corpse-like veins stood out on the soldiers as they leveled their spears and charged; Kangnan threw herself into the whirl of blades.
"Yah!"
She swung her machetes savagely; enemy necks thudded and bodies fell.
"Rabe! Nabera um!"
Through a gap she'd forced open, division commander Gashias swung his saw-toothed greatsword.
"Ugh!"
She crossed her machetes in an X to block, but the saw hooked and jerked the handle from her grip.
"I know how to make a woman suffer!"
Gashias shoved forward from the shoulder.
"But I only kill!"
"What did you say—!"
Having lost her weapons, Kangnan twisted into a Rammuai stance.
"Shut your mouth!"
A fierce high kick struck armor; the heavy body slid as if on wheels and crashed into a wall.
"Division commander!"
The shock—coming from a human, let alone a woman—made Gashias shake his head in disbelief.
"Not a step further!"
Each time Kangnan whipped her shins like a whip, demons' knees shattered and skulls exploded.
"…Is that so?"
To the demons, cruelty was as natural as humans chewing pigs to fill their bellies.
"Advance, all units!"
The demons split left and right before Kangnan and surged deeper into the maze.
"No! Not there—!"
As Kangnan screamed, envisioning something awful, Gashias swung his blade.
"Uooooooo!"
When the saw teeth sank into her belly, sparks flew from Kangnan's eyes.
"Graaah!"
Howling like a wolf, she clutched at the wound and bit down on the blade with her elbows and knees.
Rammuai strike—Arang.
Gashias, staring at the wolf's apparition, swung his sword and brought down the wall.
Kurururung!
"Ughhh!"
Kangnan rolled across the floor and lay clutching her abdomen. Then came the sharp snap—the saw-toothed greatsword shattered.
'To break a sword forged from hell-iron…'
She might deserve a warrior's respect, but demons could be cowardly when it served Satan's aims.
"Sorry, but this is where it ends."
Kangnan sprang up.
"Gaold!"
No matter how complex the labyrinth, with that many troops someone would reach the lowest level.
"Division commander! Here!"
At the voice from below, Kangnan raced down the stairs and found Gaold's door thrown wide open.
"Nooo—!"
As she screamed at the corridor's end and launched herself with all her force—
Kuuuuuuung!
The pyramid shook up and down so violently it was unreal.
"...."
Silence followed; from above only the thudding of demons running along the walls reached her.
"Uh…."
Kangnan stepped cautiously into Gaold's room.
All the demons lay crushed into bloody pulp; in a corner was a lump of meat that must have been Gashias.
She scanned the carnage and at last saw Gaold—so emaciated he was almost all bone—sitting in a fixed stare.
"Uh…."
She wanted to say something, but seeing Gaold's face contorted in pain, fear rose first.
"You mutt."
Gaold raised a trembling hand; the tendons on its back twitched and his fingers shook wildly.
"Perhaps…."
In a hoarse voice he managed to force out the words, slowly folding his fingers until only his index and middle finger remained extended.
"Any cigarettes left?"
"Uuuuugh!"
Before hot tears could blur her vision, Kangnan flung herself at Gaold, face wet with tears.
(End of Volume 30)