I raised my arm and then dropped it in a chop like a racing flag.
“Comnce!”
Platoons one through four scrambled out of their skiffs and quickly ford a periter line while a couple of legionnaires from each platoon undid the tethers atop the crafts, allowing the drop skiffs to fly back to orbit and pick up the next four platoons.
Or that was the exercise anyway.
We practiced the drill in the large assembly hall of the Xing Long, the sa as we had done for the five days prior, speeding up our ti of execution with each run. I had gotten to know the Platoon commanders fairly well by now, learning their nas and capabilities and I watched each of them closely as they commanded the legionnaires under their charge. Thankfully there wasn’t a Token Black Robe in the bunch, which was a huge advantage right off the bat.
“Reset for second drop!” I shouted. “Rotate your n in and out of the safe zone, check for signs of Qi poisoning!”
They went through that simulation as well, using a line of chalk which denoted what would be the edge of the aetherite field to rotate their troops. If I were with them of course, they would have the benefit of my [Sacred Soul Shield] to protect them, but we were training for the worst-case scenario. We only had hints of what was down there on planet T’huet, but if what the reports said were true, then I would have my hands full fighting off scores of behemoths while the eight platoons took care of themselves against the main hordes.
The trickiest part would be surviving with only four platoons, while waiting for the other four to arrive. Or even worse was the extraction, where we would have to wait for the return of the skiffs once four departed. We practiced that drill next, running through all kinds of scenarios. Hein assisted in that part, adding chaos by randomly tapping legionnaires as he walked through the exercise.
“You Two have just been killed,” he said and then tapped a third. “You’ve lost your leg.”
I studied the commanders as they reacted to the situation. Not surprisingly, it was Kwan Li, the Dharmian commander who was the first to assist others in making the snap decisions.
“Just throw him in the skiff!” she shouted, pointing to the wounded legionnaire. “But don’t waste ti trying to aid him. Send three from the mining team to replace their positions. If we’re breached now we’ll all be lost.”
“Aye, commander!” they shouted and rushed to do just as she’d said.
I nodded at that.
It was solid logical thinking. Wounded like that, the legionnaire had a better chance riding it up on the skiff to survive, and that wouldn’t happen if they lost yet another legionnaire trying to aide him. It was clear Kwan Li had military training, and it was ti to ensure we took advantage of that in an official capacity. When the drill ended, I rounded up the platoons for an announcent.
“You’ve all done well,” I said. “I believe we’re as prepared as we’ll ever be for the drop tomorrow. Before we do, there is one last bit of administration to take care of. Platoon Leader Kwan Li, step forward.”
She did so with a bow. “Yes, Supre Grand Marshal.”
“Kwan Li, you’ve demonstrated exceptional leadership over the last five days. As such, I am promoting you to Senior Platoon commander. You will be in charge of the operation on the ground. You have my complete confidence. Legionnaires, let us congratulate Sister Kwan Li on her new position.”
I started off the applause and her eyes grew wide with shock.
But she was also seasoned enough to accept the promotion gracefully, rely bowing again. “Thank you, Supre Grand Marshal.”
I smiled at her. “You’ve earned it. I’ll be counting on you.”
She nodded and smiled again.
“Alright, I’ve pulled so strings with General Gong and arranged a feast for you all before we depart. After that, the next eighteen hours are all yours. We assemble three hours prior to drop. Be ready…” And then I added with a grin “… and please be sober.”
That got a mixture of laughs and cheers.
“Okay, go get so chow! Enjoy your ti off.”
As I dismissed the assembly Hein strolled next to smiling. “I think you missed your calling, Chun. You’d make one hell of a company commander.”
I chuckled. “Think so?”
“Since when did you grow the balls to command n like that?”
I had to think about it myself. “It just cos naturally, I guess.” And then I rembered sothing. “I’m also six years older now. I guess spending all that ti around ancient masters rubbed off so maturity or sothing.”
Hein smiled. I’d already told him the whole story and he nodded in agreent. “I suppose so. You do seem a lot older. Less chun like.”
I laughed. “Thanks. I’ve got to admit, though, I do kind of enjoy this army stuff. Sure beats the hell out of trying to navigate contracts and bullshit laws.”
As we made our way toward the ss hall ourselves, we chatted again about what was likely going on back ho. Everyday they went without aetherite was another day of slow loss. Kelsey was strong enough now to put up a decent fight against the Bloodmoon, but she couldn’t make the large dents that I could on its surface. And as long as we were in that crisis mode, we couldn’t make true progress.
“Even when I do get back with the aetherite, that’ll just be the beginning,” I continued my rant to Hein as we sat down with steaming trays of food in the officer’s ss. “That crazy bitch Lunalah destroyed 95% of the planet. We’ve got no ships calling and the Omni Gate is as good as useless to us now. We’ve got no money coming in. Plus, we have to pay for the other prison and here.”
“Didn’t you say you were going to sue Lunalah for the damages?”
“Eventually I guess.” I shrugged and then popped a pork and chive dumpling in my mouth, chewing it down before continuing. “But who knows what will happen with this crooked system. I thought having my own kingdom would be freedom, but damn does it co with a lot of catches.”
“They’re not catches,” Hein said, mixing a bowl of noodles. “Their responsibilities. With Freedom cos that. Why do you think I’ve stayed in the military? You think I want the responsibility of eking out my own living?”
I snorted at him. “Never took you for the lazy type.”
“I’m not. Just selective with my efforts. Which is sothing you should do as well now.”
“How do you an?”
He sighed and paused. “You forget who Blue Rose’s family is?”
We’d had the conversation once already, but it still wasn’t looking like a solution to . “Hein, I promised her that I’d help her, but that was it. I couldn’t then ask her to co bail out my entire planet. And I don’t even know if I’ll be able to help her at all.”
“I take back what I said. You’re still the sa old chun.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to for the genuine story.
“What do you want to do, man?”
“I can’t bla you, I suppose. You’re all muscle and Qi. This will take finesse beyond what you possess. But trust when I say this.” He pointed both chopsticks at for emphasis. “The Yi Fae family, Blue Rose’s birthright, makes the Su Long family look like commoners. With that kind of backing, you could even buy us.”
“What do you an us?”
“The Xing Long, you dope.”
I sighed. “Even if we got back her fortune, why the hell would she waste it on ?”
“Because she’s just like you.”
“What?”
“All muscle and Qi. She has no real interest in her family fortune else she would have pursued it already. She just wants her family honor restored. Beyond that, she seems content on simply following you around, for whatever reason, it seems.”
He said the last part with a hint of annoyance and I wondered if there wasn’t so jealousy there. He and Blue Rose had been an item. Or were still an item, maybe? I hadn’t asked yet, but I suppose it would be kind of annoying for your love interest to be hanging out with a male friend.
“You know there’s nothing romantic between us, right?”
Hein’s eyes narrowed with even more irritation. “Of course I know that, you idiot!”
“Sorry, you just seem kind of pissed off or sothing.”
He threw down his chopsticks. “I’m pissed off because you’re both so much alike. Both chuns who only like to fight. She’s sitting on a fortune and cares nothing for it really. It’s wasted potential.”
“So what do you want us to do?”
“It’s clear neither of you will know how to handle this,” Hein said. “When you get back from T’huet, I’ll accompany you back to Terra. I’ll speak with Blue Rose. We’ll make a plan from there.”
“Shit seriously? Thanks man!”
“It’s the least I can do to ensure you don’t drive what’s left of my family into poverty. Plus, it would be nice to see Su Ling again.”
I smiled and nodded. “It’s a deal bro. Thank you.”
He harrumphed and retrieved his chopsticks. “Don’t thank yet. You still need to co back from that Hell World alive.”
* * *
Twenty hours later I was back in the hangar of the Xing Long, running a whet stone along the length of a Phalanx Glaive I had borrowed from the arsenal back at Du Gok Bhong. It was a decent blade, with craftmanship I could now appreciate as an apprentice smith of the Muraboshi Tribe. There was nothing spectacular about it and the balance was a bit off, but it was made of Corrupted Steel which was all that really mattered.
With my newfound strength, it being made of anything less would make it a one or two shot deal when it ca to delivering [Lightning] charged techniques. It was a stand in weapons still, nothing compared to the Blue Steel hardened version of my Glaive and Axe back ho, but they were serving a greater purpose now. And one I could only relieve them from, once I returned with a crap load of Aetherite.
As I continued to sharpen my weapon my mind drifted. I had spent much of my downti doing the sa, contemplating what Hein had said in the ss hall. Maybe it had been my own pride keeping from thinking of asking Blue Rose for help sooner, or maybe the other priorities were acting as distractions. But Hein’s help in the matter was more than welco.
I smiled as I watched him going over last-minute check lists with Captain Li Jeng, preparing the four drop ships for our descent into T’huet. It was hard to believe the guy was my worst enemy so ten years ago, but now he was truly a brother I could rely on through and through.
That got thinking about the future and what all lay ahead. What was at stake. My son, his future. Our legacy as Terrans. I’d made a great leap from where I’d started, but it would be all up to now to get us through this pinch point to make those gains lasting. And getting help from Blue Rose would all be part of that now.
I still didn’t even know how I would accomplish any of that. How do you steal back a family fortune? My mind was drawing a blank, but at least I had Hein to rely upon for that now. The thought brought a sense of ease to my soul as I ran the whet stone across the blade again. Hein was right. I was all muscles and Qi, but at least I had people like him and Jian Yi to have my back where I really needed the extra help in my journey.
As for this next part though, I felt more than capable of handling it on my own.
Bringing ho the Aetehrite, was all up to now.
* * *
“Three minutes!”
I shouted the warning in the belly of the drop skiff, being tossed about in the re-entry turbulence with the rest of First Platoon. Kwan Li nodded and gave the wordless order for her n to unsheathe their weapons. I already had mine at the ready, tip down and buried into the deck of the craft.
As the vibrations and jostling finally ceased, the roof retracted and a blast of oven-hot air rushed inside. The all too familiar presence of Dark Frenzy from a Bloodmoon ca with it. I could sense the fear it brought on and the looks of strain on the faces of my legionnaires. I nearly activated my [Sacred Soul Shield] to protect them, but now wasn’t the ti.
It was weird to think, but I would be robbing them of their vital exposure to either grow or die. A part of now fully understood Chief Yora. I could only imagine how she felt, cohort after cohort, watching the weak die.
Hopefully there wouldn’t be any deaths tonight.
But I knew that was wishful thinking.
And we were touching down on a Hell World.
“Deploy defense skiffs!”
As I gave the command, the platoon imdiately broke into their smaller units and took to the sky on their three-man vessels, surfing the air waves as we flew down. As expected, the commotion of our entry had already drawn interest. The sky instantly darkened as swarms of Tentacle Rays spread across the horizon.
I grinned as my Fla flared.
I’d been fighting nothing but weak, Bloodmoon demons for months, but now so Star Borne fodder was here for to kill and I couldn’t wait to test out my new gains. Opening my ridians I channeled my Frenzy and shifted into my Lesser Deity form.
The world slowed as my body changed in a flash, becoming the ten-foot-tall Struggler with a demonic red hue. I could sense the cosmic corruption all around , Dark Frenzy and the remnants of the Star Borne variety not far behind. We had a little over 14 hours of night to mine and the sooner we got safely to the ground the better.
I blasted off the skiff with a touch of [Ride the Lightning], hurtling towards the swarm. I detonated the sky with [Wrath of a Million Slain Souls] and the unnatural screeches of thousands of the creatures dying, brought fresh Frenzy to my Fla, triggered by my [Bloodlust].
I angled downward next, looking for our drop zone. As the ground ca into view, painted with the red glow of the moon, the Hell World landscape took full form. Thousands of demons undulated like waves below and as my descent continued, my mind scread at what I saw. Monsters of all kinds. Star Borne demons that followed no natural law when it ca to their make-up. Giant frogs with their eyes inside their mouths. Insectoid-like creatures with tentacles and claws. Giant squids that swam through the air like water. I focused my senses and my mind resisted the madness, even without the help of my [Sacred Soul Shield].
That alone was a gain worth celebrating.
I let out a war cry as I dove towards them with another burst of [Ride the Lightning], hitting the ground with an explosion of [Lightning Kiln of Fury]. The massive fireball consud an area a mile wide, and the wail of a hundred thousand demons filled my ears with their simultaneous death cries.
I cultivated the Frenzy my [Bloodlust] generated from my Fla and used it to bolster my speed as I took on [Mark of the Savage]. As the flas and smoke cleared, the charred bodies left in the wake of my technique blanketed the ground like ash. But as I expected, even at my level, there were things here that could survive a technique like that. I watched for movent and dashed towards whatever they were with a blast of [Lightning Walk].
I sliced through the half-burned creatures with my Glaive, not giving thought to what they once were.
One down, I counted.
Two.
A dozen.
More.
I ping-ponged across the barren area that I had made, clearing out the leftovers as the four skiffs finally descended from the sky. As they touched down, legionnaires spilled out and went into the drill we had practiced for the last five days. They unhooked the tethers and Kwan Li got the platoons onto the periter right away.
I looked to each of them, sensing their fear, and gauging their resistance to their first taste of a Hell World. A couple I could tell were already in over their heads, hyperventilating and eyeing the tethers as they retracted into the sky. As if they wanted to jump right back into space with them.
“Don’t panic!” I shouted with [Struggler’s Resolve]. “You’ve trained for this. It’ll be a hard night, but you’ve been through one like it already, back at Du Gok Bhong. Prepare for the first wave to co in. Kwan Li, set up the periter at the edge of the aetherite spoil.”
I hovered in the air as they got to work, gauging how long my huge dent in the sea of demons would last. Not long, by the looks of it. Although I’d cleared an area a mile wide, I’d just set off a planet-sized alarm bell that was now drawing every damn demon to our location.
The fight would be rough, but even more so for the few legionnaires that were already suffering symptoms from seeing the unseen. We’d need that aetherite sanctuary for them to recover.
“Kwan Li, how long till we get that aetherite periter set up?”
Hurried footfalls ca from behind , along with Kwan Li’s voice that was out of breath. “We have a problem, Supre Grand Marshal. We can’t find it.”
“What?”
“I don’t think its here.”
I scanned the horizon again. We were at the base of a mountain. The mountain. “Are you sure?”
She shook her head. “Maybe it’s all changed since the last survey. Or maybe we were slightly off on our landing?”
“It’s there!” soone shouted and both of us looked to see one of the legionnaires from Third Platoon perched atop his drop skiff. I flew over to get a better look and the guy—Chun Pei, I rember his na was—pointed at what looked to be a river of gold running down the mountainside.
“Looks like we were off by a couple of miles,” he said and then grimaced. “Well…Maybe ten?”
I looked back out at the horizon and the massive wave of demons closing in on all sides—behemoths towering in the midst of them. We’d played a desperate gambit to gain aetherite in droves, relying on the benefit of its protection at the sa ti.
But now that sanctuary was over ten miles away.
And we were caught out in the open with our pants down.
Only one word ca to mind.
“Shit!”
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