The two go into the main lobby. As Grifvet was about to join up with the rest of the group, he overheard some Adventurers gossiping.
"Yea, it was a large carriage with the crest of the Arnheit family."
"Must be the Royals up to something again."
"They're always scheming, I wonder what is it now? A war?"
"Let's hope not. I prefer the peace we have right now thanks to the potential return of the Demon Lord."
"I hope so. Or is the Vampire Kingdom at it again?"
"Nahhh, I doubt it. The Vampires are too far to wage war."
Grifvet moves on and walks to the party.
"Grif, What was that about?"
"It seems that the Royals are up to something again.
Eattare and Pierence who also heard some rumors butts in.
"I heard some commotion an hour ago. They said a beautiful lady was with the Prince. They headed straight to the castle being escorted by these strange Knights in Red."
"I'm sure those guys had something to do with you Bahamut and your Master. Where did you come from again?"
"I came from the North. May I ask what this beautiful lady looked like?
"Oh wow, that was... very straightforward of you. She had blue eyes, long pretty golden hair and looked very attractive with two big racks."
"I say words only a person deserves to be heard. That is thine reward for maturing. The truth. That is from an enemy faction, she is the sword saint of our old world. It seems that she knows my Master is only asleep with his machines. We must go."
"Thank you... I guess? BUT WAIT, THE SWORD SAINT!?"
Ingraine then gets into the conversation, wanting to know more about the situation.
"So there's more than Breznick?"
"There is. There's the freedom loving people of Libertus and the Non Human Kingdoms of Interdictum and Keyneth to name a few. Very exclusive and would not let humans enter their Kingdoms, though the same sentiment to humans not allowing the other species in."
"Why's there Kingdoms only exclusive to Non Humans and vice versa? Why isn't it like this? And the Sword Saint?!"
Bahamut opened her mouth to answer, but Ingraine's innocent eyes and tone made her rethink her words.
"My Master and I's world aren't this equal. Everybody hates everybody, the few things they all agree on is what's keeping their world from going into full blown war. Though wars we're already happening on a daily basis, nothing yet on a scale unforeseen before. They've even cooperated before too, it's not that bad as long as everyone knows what they're roles are."
Eattare fixes her bangs and steps one foot in the conversation.
"I can see now why you people seemed so different. The place you came from is very brutal. It also explains the insane level you all possess. That is truly a world where only the strong may survive."
"Indeed, even I wasn't spared from its brutality. But that is in the past. I am here now, and I must find a way to free my Master before they come! And yes, it is indeed the Sword Saint who is after him. They uhhh... recently got into a conflict with her. As I said, my Master seems to attract trouble."
"Well that explains a lot about the recent news of newfolk coming along. So you all truly belong to a more dangerous and brutal world than ours?"
"Newfolk?"
"It's what we call the strange weirdos that came out of nowhere five months ago."
"I see, it seems that my counting was wrong. I have only counted four months since we've arrived."
"Though it seems that your world isn't any different from us, rather than it being more brutal, I don't really see the need to talk about it. But what about the Sword Saint?"
"I see, you people are very calm and lenient with these kinds of things. Well no worries, My Master has his methods. They both fought before and it's a tie now."
"People are more worried about the Demon Lord's army, they've been more active than the Vampires. At least you guys are pretty calm and are contributing to the community, but the Demon Lord will just outright enslave or kill us."
"Alright, that's enough talk. C'mon, let us find a person who can disable that seal stealthily."
"I'm forever indebted to you. I shall put in a good word for your exploits to my Master and his Leader."
It was the start of the afternoon when the party left the Inn. A crowd has gathered on the main street to the left of them. More people are moving towards it. Curious, the group follows the crowd and walks to the large four lane street. What they saw awed them, representatives and high ranking officials of the Kingdoms from big to small are marching towards the Castle where they'll assemble and walk to the Congressional Hall, a large Dome-like building meant for International talks and relations. The marching feet of various Tribes, Guilds and Kingdoms shake the ground. They hear gossip between the people.
"I heard the Demon Lord is making a move, I guess it has rattled the Kingdoms."
"I don't know, if the Demon Lord had made one, we would've known about it. My Guild came from the North. So if he ever did anything, we'd know about it."
"I hear it's because of a new threat that came to our world."
"You mean the Outworlders? Did they bring their world's Demon Army into ours?"
"I don't know yet, but I heard from some drunk guards that the Sword Saint was the one in the carriage. Something big must be going down."
"Then I'll have to take my wife and children out of the North, I'm not taking any chances if this is the Demon Lord or not."
"Looks like it's time for me to invest into visiting the other continents."
"Nitwit, when Dragovh falls, the other Continents are next you know?"
"Better have more time than no time."
The party members look at each other, worried about the current situation. Ingraine looks at Bahamut with a worried face.
"What'll happen to you Bahamut?"
"I do not know, but I do know that those people were talking about my Master and his friends. That threat from the North, that is surely them!"
"Then that means we must hurry in finding a way to unseal your folks without alerting the Mages."
"Indeed, let us depart. We have to find a way immediately."
Meanwhile, inside the massive Congressional Hall of the Kingdom, Elizabeth is standing behind a Podium, surrounded by the different representatives and leaders of all the sectors of the continent. From the Reptilians, to the Dragonkin. From the Farmers Guild to the Weapons and Armorers Industry. All fill the gigantic Dome that could easily fit thousands of people. She might look proud and mighty, but inside, she's a terrible nervous wreck. But in her mind, she must convince these people of the dangers that lie in the North, of an empty city where the smell of Evil attracts the Demon Lord's creatures.
Everyone sets down and awaits the start of the Congressional Meeting. After a minute or so, the National Anthems of the various Kingdoms start playing one by one. The Papa then leads a prayer for the Gods to guide them and have a blessed and productive meeting. In the middle of the Congressional Dome is a stage with a path that leads to it. Steps are heard in the tunnel, its King James. He walks to the center, in view of everyone. He's wearing his formal Military uniform and as he struts along, the medals on his chest make clunking sounds as it makes contact with one another. He stops dead center in the middle. A silence dawns over the Dome.
The atmosphere is heavy, no one knows why they're called so suddenly. Some had to use special magic just to reach the meeting in the required time.
"I thank you all for appearing here today. I know that it's a bit sudden to call for everyone. But today, a new enemy looms over us all. An enemy that the Sword Saint labeled as more Evil than the Demon Lord's Armies."
The officials and generals start whispering with one another, many out of fear that they won't be able to hold their ground against two Demon Lords.
"But I can assure you all that humanity and its friends will persevere. We've done it two thousand and five hundred years ago, when the first Demon King swiped the land from under us, we shall be able to do it again. I called upon you now to hear our Sword Saint's words. As many of you have known, there hasn't been a Sword Saint since Two Hundred Years ago. Saint Augustus was the last, but now, we have a new Sword Saint. Saint Elizabeth of Breznick and even rumors that Heroes are being made from these appalling times. Let us all hear her out. Saint Elizabeth, you may now speak."
Everyone turns their head to the attractive blonde woman standing on a podium in front of the main stage. In full view of everyone, from the King to the Papal's Cardinals to Earls and Representatives. She then breaks the silence of the large Dome.
"My name is Elizabeth Graine, the so-called Sword Saint of this continent and of the Holy See. I've come here today on behalf of my King. To call upon the arms of the people. The people that have already been devastated by war. Even today, many are still recovering. But I must break this peace, for another army, one far more dangerous than anything in this land. Capable of striking down anyone with their machines, they have guns that are as big as the gates of this city. They know no bounds, and only know their objectives. Many say they are human, but we can't risk it."
Elizabeth then brings a Rare Item called Telekinetic Rubie. It has the power to project saved videos. Formerly used as the game's replay and save moment function, now serves as a pseudo memory player.
"Many years ago, the Kingdom of Breznick and the people of Keyneth found a base off of the West Coast of America Server. This was a Naval base creating massive metal ships."
The Rubie shows a memory of Elizabeth first seeing a massive carrier being built on a dry dock late at night. The sparks of the welding machines from the bottom to the top show how busy it was.
"Impossible! Such a thing could never float! It'd sink!"
"Hence why they're so dangerous. They have mastered the art of modern buoyancy. The world we came from was brutal, it didn't hold back in making sure that we knew our mistakes. Knowing this, we do not have a problem with technology. Our problem was their use of this said technology. Than building upon huge cruise ships, they'd rather build machines of war."
"Exactly what was this naval machine supposed to do?"
"Its job is to ferry equipment and aircraft to a battlezone. A floating airport. An airport is a place where our flying machines dock when not needed."
The Rubie then shows a memory of her watching a built Nimitz Class Supercarrier catapult an F-18 fighter jet off its ramp. The officials couldn't believe their eyes, this machine that is made of metal with wings could take off at such a short distance.
"This must be a trick! This is not possible! No human could've made this! This must be the work of the Demon Lord!"
"I can assure you sir that this is indeed the work of humans. This is the pinnacle of human ingenuity. The ability to kill one another at distances you can't even see your enemy."
"How far exactly? We could maybe try to fly to it before it could attack."
"We've done that before. Our Dragons and Dragon Riders wasn't even able to reach 5 Cessels or Kilometers in our term."
"But you could dodge it right?"
Elizabeth lets the Rubie to do the talking, It replays a saved video of when a united attack of hundreds of player Kingdoms sieged a Forward Operating Base, aside from the absolute slaughter happening on the ground, where players are getting gunned down hundreds of meters before even making contact with their enemies, high above, heat seeking infrared missiles zig and zag through the air, following the heat of the Dragons. The more nimble ones were able to dodge the AIM-9X Sidewinders but it would only circle back into the target till it either dies or runs out of fuel. Most of the Dragons would be falling from the sky when the fighter jets boom past them.
"By the Gods... it's like watching iron Angels dance above the sky."
"Oh merciful Gods, please guide us." The Cardinal makes a gesture, drawing a small cross with his fingers.
"What am I seeing? This is impossible. Such speed, not even the Demon Lords winged beasts could go that fast."
"What lightning bolt magic are they using? I never seen it fire off with such deadly velocity and piercing power."
"All you have seen here has no magic in them, they're all powered by fuel synthesized from the ground. This is as I said, the peak of human warfare. Someday, this continent and its Nations will also pass this phase."
"May I have this moment Miss Elizabeth."
"Of course your majesty."
"Seeing all this damning evidence of our enemies capability. What're we supposed to do exactly?"
"Before we got transported here, we just managed to escape the clutches of their army. They called themselves the Dark Knights of Eldwood."
The Dome is suddenly filled with whispers and conversations between the officials and generals.
"Then they're from the Demon Lord's Army!"
"ANOTHER DEMON LORD HAS APPEARED! WE MUST ACT QUICKLY!"
As argument and shouting was about to bring panic, Elizabeth casts a spell called "Calmness". A Divine Magic capable of calming creatures within a set range. The room was suddenly in silence once again.
"Though they have the name Dark Knights, they do not have the alignment of Evil. They have the alignment of Lawful Neutral. Hence I came here today to ask all of you to decide whether to act upon this now, or to wait and risk getting invaded. Right now, this very army is frozen through a legendary seal by our World's six greatest mages. But this won't hold for long."
Elizabeth's Rubie then replays a memory of the Port getting bombarded by long range missiles.
"They're not the type to just sit down and let the world roll over them. They have already shown to have no mercy and would immediately act upon when needed."
The Rubie then switches when PilotMan was chasing after her in the sewers, and intimidating her by appearing outside the manhole she exited from.
"As you can see, these are extremely powerful humans. Their leader, a man named Hassan was not only able to instantly kill our Worlds' mightiest Knight, TryingEasy but also hold himself out against Ancient Magic. Magic only an extremely select few of us could cast. It takes hours or even days to cast them."
"So you're telling me, it'll only be a matter of time till their combined power or something will break the seal?!"
"Yes, its Twelve higher ranking Generals are all at max level. Maybe right now, the seal is holding up, but as their Resistances and Debuff defenses stack, the more likely the seal will be broken from overload."
"Sssshhhhoo, you want ussss to fight them ssssss?"
"Yes, and to take them out now, before they awaken once again."
"Can't we maybe use them as a means to fight the Demon Lord? From what you've said, they have no side. Nor Good or Evil. Could we maybe meet halfway?"
"Of course, anything to avoid a bloodbath."
In the Dome's "Kings" section, a young man with a pointy crown raises his hand. Everyone was busy chatting with one another, but when King James looked at the man, he only had to say "Shush" and the Dome was in silence once again. The word he spoke was normal, but his tone commanded sheer respect.
"I am King Melakor Tannislov the fourth. Leader of the Northern Kingdom Meilurious. This place where that army sleeps is deep inside our territory. Within the Great Lake of Laurie. I do not recommend for us to simply just walk into it. It has become a breeding ground of the Demon Lord's various beasts. From Giant Snakes and Spiders to Undeads and Abyssal Demons."
"Then exactly what do you propose we do?"
"I say we bomb the city with great magic and find a way to cast a spell that could kill them in their frozen sleep."
As King James was about to reply, a Great Mage teleports into the Dome. Everyone was shocked by it. The old geezer seemed to have teleported straight into the action with no regard for manners.
"I apologize for my rudeness but I do not recommend you do anything relating to magic that would have contact with the Seal."
"And why is that?"
"Currently right now, what we performed was a multiple spell cast. We put mixed and combined Sealing spells on top of one another in an attempt to constantly override their debuffs and resistance. Doing anything that would tug or even nudge at that balance could result in their awakening."
"Then what do you suggest we do, Great Sage?"
"Oh, I am no Sage but I am great. I can also deal great damage. But I'd rather not risk my head. As their founder is known to be quite adept with his Great Sword."
Everyone was again in silence as they thought to themselves a possible way to deal with the army.
"Before we go any further, I see some of us are divided on what we should do. To those that say I and raise their hands are for peace and are willing to wait for their awakening and to talk to them."
King James raises his hand and says I first, shocking the Dome. But only a few stood with him. The vast majority stayed silent.
"I see, then it is decided, We shall go to war against this army. I suggest we first go and send our Magicians and Alchemists with our top professors of the various magic institutions to investigate the Seal and how to properly destroy our enemy."
"I can see that working. Though it's not clean, our Seal is not that tough against external forces as it's already stressed enough by keeping the powers of the Twelve great Knights of Eldwood at bay. It'll only be a matter of time before they awaken."
"Great Mage, exactly how long do we have before your seal breaks?"
"Without outside intervention? About two years or so. With outside intervention? Depends. If there's a lot of Mana, it could be instantaneous or a few hours."
"By the Gods, we must send our Templars immediately! Call for a Crusade!"
"Of course, great father. We must move quickly before they awaken."
"Papa Alexandrious, what do you suggest we do?"
The Papal looks at the Rubie placed at the Podium, playing a memory of her fighting against the skeletal soldiers of Eldwood.
"I shall first cast a great divination of the land. Preventing any creature from wandering deep into it. I'm sure the Demons have done a good job of keeping the local ecosystem away, but I must make sure even Humanoids are warned of the peril that awaits them. After that, we shall send in our experts to investigate and see how we could prevent this from getting worse."
"Then I shall send my Nation's fine Navy of a thousand ships to sail through the River of Malek and into Laurie. We shall trap them there and if they try to awaken, we shall overwhelm them with our numbers! I, King Melakor, shall not miss such a party!"
Many of the officials and generals seemed to agree with the plan of using numbers. Elizabeth on the other hand knows that this has been done before and it cost way too much in the end to be feasible once again.
"May I put one suggestion down? We must limit our numbers. They have great strength and range. If we attempt to attack them with sheer numbers, the losses will bite everyone back in the long run. We must create a forward army capable of punching through their lines."
"Looking at your memories, I can see that their metal bows are unable to penetrate divine armor. Though only a few of us have Knights even equipped with such material."
"No, we could huddle in our resources and try to create as much as we can."
"Representative of the Trading Guilds: This is stupid! Do you know how much it costs to make one chest piece of those? It takes us months to even properly get it right. What makes you think we are prepared to mass produce this?!"
"Then how about this, I shall send our Continent's Hero. My very own beloved Son Prince Sigured. He's armor is made from Adamantium and has Great Divination casted upon it by the Gods. I'm sure not even their metal could pierce through it. I shall even go the extra way and send my Honor Guards to aid him in this great war. Though I'm against this, this is the vote of the people, and I must answer to it as the King that I am."
"Then I back him up, I shall send the Sisters of Battle and the Templar Knights of Heaven Come."