=That would explain how the Fallen managed to stay down here all the ti without establing a city likem Under...wait a minute, does that shell look familiar to you? Because I swear we’ve seen it before.=
=Not just that, I swear we saw this thing pop up again in our records pass that mont. I just can’t rember when...=
...
’Holy fuck that’s a big ass fortress! Yeesh! mory relays do nothing in converting the true...girth of this damn thing. It’s as big as the Blessed Willow Manor, if not bigger.’
[Captain,] Wavebreaker piped up. [I don’t an to question your judgent in sending zakos instead of us to go after the Fallen’s Matriarch, but why?]
[I’m with big sis on this,] Slug-at-arms interjected. [We could clear out that fortress faster than they could do take us out.]
[Indeed!,] Shellvalier agreed.
’Two reasons. First, I am a paranoid motherfucker and know damn well that assholes like the Fallen have a "last resort" option that will probably need to be dealt with.’
[Like what?]
’Tsunami generator, ancient weapon, sothing deadly and stupid like that.’
[Ah.]
’Second, and more importantly...there are so emotional things that need to be settled up with before we do anything further.’
[Emotional?]
[Like what?]
’Them.’
___________anwhile..._________________
"Where the hell did those forces co from?!"
"How are they able to swim through [Shadow Water]? We can only last down here for a minute at most without using the [Shadow Squids]."
"So these are the zakos that helped to cent the infamy of the Kaijin Lords...," Gao Ao Long muttered to himself as he stared at the display. "The difference is like night and day..."
Not too long ago, Buzza showed Gao Ao Long how to create his own minions, psuedo-zakos, using first tier aether beasts and a little bit of his own blood.
The results were crude monstrosities with vaguely human traits, that served as decent scouts but not much else.
Supposedly, true zakos made by actual Kaijin Lords not only looked significantly more humanoid, but had the capacity to fight as hard, if not harder, than well-seasoned aether warriors. They also, apparently, had the capacity to evolve into true Kaijin as well.
But what made true zakos so valuable in the eyes of Gao Ao Long at least, was the fact that they could be made from anything and required zero maintenance.
Scraps of tal made tallic soldiers ard to the teeth.
Chunks of rock made stone warriors that could weather most blows.
Even the bones of dead beasts could be used to make savage warriors with the tenacity to match.
Never having to eat, sleep or anything most mortal warriors needed, zakos were the ideal soldier.
And now am army of them were barreling towards them like a horde of sharks that slled blood in the water.
Thankfully, it was easier to be on the defensive side during a siege battle than it was being the attacker.
Especially when the defenders had access to an elaborate defensive array.
"War Elder! Our escort team has managed to make contact with the Matriarch and Buzza. But I don’t think they’ll be able to fend off the attacking soldiers."
"They’re called zakos, and don’t worry about that. I can take it from here," Gao Ao Long said as he redirected his focus away from the Kaijin Lord and his entourage and towards the zakos attacking the Fallen Matriarch.
For a brief mont though, the matriarch was in the crosshairs of the defensive array as Gao Ao Long readjusted his aiming.
’Huh...all it would take is one missed shot and...wait, what the fuck am I thinking?’
Once the temptation had passed, Gao Ao Long began to defend his matriarch in earnest.
’Why did that thought pop into my head?’
...
"Careful, matriarch! We can’t keep these things off your tail for too long!"
"Is this entire day just going to be nothing but assholes chasing ?! Co on!"
"Worry not, matriarch. They’re only zzzakozzzz."
"Doesn’t change the fact that they’re relentless!"
Several dozen feet away from the Darkshell Citadel, Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan and Buzza we’re being chased down by an army of weird looking humanoids that vaguely resembled armored fish-people, while several brave volunteers from the citadel itself ca to slow them down.
However, their efforts were for naught.
These armored fish-people were mostly immune to the aether arts of the escorting soldiers, so while they could slightly slow them down, they ultimately couldn’t do anything substantial against them.
As such, the zakos were now getting dangerously close to apprehending the Fallen Matriarch.
"They’re getting closer!"
"Matriarch!"
"Accursed-!"
BOOM!
"HA!"
However, before the zakos could lay a single hand on the Matriarch or Buzza, a barrage of [Chaos] infused water bolts ca flying towards them and annihilated the zakos with every hit.
This, in turn, gave the retreating parties a chance to return without a single scratch.
Although, they now had a lot of resentnt built up.
’I am going to relish drowning this entire city of it ans taking those fucking monsters with it...’
_Now back to sothing more emotional..._
[Father, you’re dying. How are you this energetic?]
[Because I sense them! After all these years I can finally sense them again! Ahahaha!]
[You keep saying that, but you’re not explaining who!]
Shortly after Tortallion lost his arm, Terra had planned to drag him back ho for the sole purpose of giving him so place comfortable to pass.
That house was full of mories, and more than once, Tortallion had shared that he had wouldn’t mind passing him there.
However, before they even had a chance to go towards that specific direction, the old turtle kaijin suddenly perked up and looked more energetic than he had in literal decades.
After which, he bolted towards an unknown direction and forced Terra to chase after him.
Eventually though, she found out the reason why he was acting this way.
[Papa, seriously, where are you going? Who are you sensing...oh.]
[There they are!]
A short distance away from them now, Terra saw floating in the air a group of figures.
One was a man dressed in a black [Regalia], covered head to toe, who was giving off an intimidating aura but also had this sense of familiarity to him.
Another figure was a young woman, dressed in an outfit that looked rather impractical and shiny on the surface, but was radiating enough [Chaos] to make her certain that her abilities were anything but ordinary.
However, of the beings present in this group that caught her attention the most, were a trio that she recognized as being kaijin.
Not only that, but they were radiating auras that were similar to her father’s!
Shocked by the sight, she ended up slowing down to a stop while her father kept flying forward until he was right next to them.
The trio of unknown kaijin had developed warm expressions on their faces once they saw Tortallion.
As for Tortallion, he was crying tears of joy.
[Can it really be? Are you three...]
[The last remnants of the Storm Queen, given form and refined by the current lord? We are. My na’s Wavebreaker, pleasure to et you.]
[So you’re the Unbreakable Shell of the Storm Knights, huh? I think I can take ya. The na’s Slug-at-arms.]
[Have more respect for forefathers, Slug! I am Shellvalier, it’s good to et at least one of my hard shelled ancestors.]
To say Tortallion was happy would be an understatent.
eting these new Storm Knights reminded him of the past, when he and Miavora would greet new Kaijin into their ranks.
A feeling of nostalgia and warmth filled Tortallion at this mont, sothing he never thought would be possible again.
Not to say he didn’t appreciate eting Zhen Liu’s other kaijin, but they radiated an aura that wasn’t what he was used to feeling, not like these three.
Nor like his daughter.
[Ah! Right, Terra! Co over here!]
[Yes, pa-father.]
[Wavebreaker, Slug-at-arms, Shellvalier. I would like you to et Terra, my daughter.]
[It is a honor to et you, blessed Kaijin.]
[Blessed? Please, were all weirdos here. Ain’t no need to be formal,] Slug-at-arms dismissed casually...up until Wavebreaker smacked him in the head.
[Slug, manners.]
[Yeah, yeah...]
As the kaijin and Terra mingled with one another, Tortallion’s gaze eventually looked pass them so that he could properly greet the current Kaijin Lord.
However, just as he was about to do so, he noticed sothing.
Or to be more accurate, soone.
[Kaijin Lord! I have to thank you for...for...it can’t be...]
Tortallion was stunned silent as he swore he was seeing a ghost.
Because floating next to the current Kaijin Lord was a young woman who looked painfully familiar.
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