There was a saying in the days of old, back when the Neugomian Empire was in its days of expansion, back when the Eastern Empire's lands were but 4 warring sects who fought against each other without end: in the scorching desert sands of the barren Irania, there lied a hidden kingdom hidden beneath the sands, and no outsider would ever be able to enter its cities without paying in blood.
The Clan of Zhao was a mysterious, gynarchic nation of assassins that few have ever managed to understand its inner workings, as it was a country that specialised in absolute subterfuge and deception, qualities that proved necessary for their survival due to being situated between 2 powerful empires that could snuff them out in the span of mere days.
The people of this nation were eastern, copper-toned people who relied not on magick for their day-to-day lives, but the raw physical tenacity and martial skill they could bring out from their own bodies, as with their resolve they had even managed to thrive in the harshest deserts toiled by the sun's blazing heat: the greatest luxury to them wasn't gold, silver, or food, but water, for it was the most limited resource of their lands that many of them were willing to slay their own kin for.
Their capital, Al-Zhahar, was the largest and only city that the Zhao Clan possessed, and it was a place where the vast majority of their resources and most important individuals were most concentrated at– its vastness was tucked away in subterranean space, concealed by the endless dunes of sand that lied above the embrace of their hidden city, and the only way to leave and enter the Zhao Capital was through a single method directly controlled by the Zhao Clan's High Mistress, the reigning monarch who all of the Zhao clanswomen humbly paid their respects to.
The Nadirian Veil Engine, an ancient mechanism as old as the age of modernity, a machine that now ran through a creative fusion of magick and technology thanks to the determined minds of the Zhao Clan: it was a machine that could reveal and seal entire cave entrances into and out of the capital, and if it were to be deactivated, the city's veil would swiftly fade away, and Al-Zhahar would quickly be uplifted back up into the scorching surface of the vast desert above...
Unfortunately however, this sole flaw would be exploited by the very same invaders who were about to bring an end to their hundreds of years of unconquered glory...
...
...
The chilling air that swept through the now-cold sand dunes of the Virak Desert proved surprisingly refreshing as it blew upon his face– it had been 2 hours since night fell, and by now, the sun was no longer present to torment them with its radiant, all-scorching embrace.
The First Son of the Zhao High Mistress, the only tolerated male presence among their brethren, one whose existence had only been accepted due to his royal lineage; his name was Orion, a brown-haired young man with a toned body that made him appear quite well-built when compared to most other men of his age...
Currently however, this incredibly important individual was riding his trusted camel-mount into the night-shrouded sands of the Virak Desert to feel the cold wind of the freezing night, accompanied only by his sole, female bodyguard, Vega, one of the best swordmasters of their clan, a woman who he could gladly trust his own life with in the most perilous of situations.
"... Don't you think it's too cold for us to be taking a stroll this night, Young Master? E-Even I am finding myself feeling chills from the sheer cold today." the bodyguard, Vega, would voice out her concerns, her body still slightly shivering from the cold despite the thickness of her crimson robes and furred coat-jacket.
"Nonsense, Vega. These are the only moments in time where we can actually feel any cold at all." Orion replied with a confident smile. "Usually, it's always so hot, even back in Al-Zhahar, so we should actually be happy about the cold right now."
"I suppose you do have a fair point with that, Young Master..."
There was a certain truth within Orion's words, as the heat of the desert had noticeably become more intense of late, a phenomenon that was even starting to bother Al-Zhahar and its vast, underground space; the underground mechanisms of the Nadirian Engine itself had even been forced to open and convert entirely new cave sections that served as ventilation, and even then, the usually heat-tolerant people of the Zhao were slowly becoming more and more affected by the rising temperatures.
... In truth however, the issue of the rising desert heat was not the only cause for concern that was bothering their clan, as there was another problem rising in lands far away from their own, one that even the Zhao's High Mistress found herself quite anxious about.
"Hmm, speaking of chills though... I heard mother's recently become quite bothered about the latest happenings in the west." the First Son curiously posed a question. "Would you mind bringing me up to speed about this, Vega? Even mother's subjects refuse to discuss this when I ask them."
As expected... The First Son wasn't even privy to this sort of simple information; for a descendant of the bloodline who ruled their clan for countless centuries, the First Son was rather unimpressive compared to his predecessors, with his only notable talent being that of an incredible adminstrative leader who typically stood in the sidelines– because of this, his royal lineage was often ignored and disregarded by most of the clan, not because he had been born as one of the only few men within the clan, but because of his pitiful lack of martial talent or any sort of physical gifts, and the fact that his own mother had never even seen him as a worthy successor only served to make it worse.
What a shame it was, for him to be born as an unimpressive individual in a nation full of schemers focused only on the endless web of deception that entrapped their clan, or so did Vega silently think to herself...
"Ah, Young Master... It's about the newly coronated emperor of the Neugomian Empire." Vega began to explain. "From what little information we could obtain from the western lands, we heard that the empire is planning another expansive effort into the east, and the fact that they've begun amassing their forces again is worrying even the High Mistress herself."
"I see... The empire, huh? That's indeed, quite concerning..."
The Neugomian Empire... Ah, that powerful nation their clan had managed to stalemate against in the last war they fought in... That name brought a bitter feeling to the First Son's mind, as it reminded him of the woman he was quite close with all those years ago...
That blonde swordslady who was an incredibly proficient beast in martial arts; even though she hadn't been born as a Zhao by blood, her raw talent in fighting and swordsmanship was enough to earn the respect of the entire clan, so much so that she had even been adopted into the royal family by the High Mistress herself.
... Unfortunately though, that woman became too strong for her own good– she eventually reached the peak of martial might, a swordsmanship so precise and elegant that she could easily usurp the High Mistress and take her place as the clan's rightful leader. Because of this, she had been cruelly betrayed by being sent on a suicidal mission she couldn't survive, and now, nobody had heard from that pitiful woman ever since...
A pity, it was... He had already begun to consider that woman as a close sister of his, for despite not even being related to her by blood, the First Son could somewhat empathise with the hardships that woman had to go through ever since she was born.
As the First Son pondered amidst the thoughts that ran through his mind, a faint yet notable noise would reach his ears, its direction hailing from the thick layers of sand underneath, and it was an unusual sound that would immediately garner the attention of both of them.
GRRNK... GRRNNK... VRRRR...
"Young Master..."
"Yes, I hear it too, Vega... What the hell could that sound be?"
Seconds passed by, and the strange underground noises gradually began to grow louder– it was an unusual, drilling sound that none of them could expect to hear in such an open wasteland, and the fact that the noise was slowly increasing in intensity only made them feel more anxious about what the cause of these unusual noises truly was.
BOOM... CRACK....!!!
"W-what in the...?!"
"Young Master, LOOK OUT!"
And then, to both of their surprises, what came next was something they couldn't have even avoided; massive fissures formed on the ground, so large in size that even if their steeds had chosen to flee as soon as they heard the sounds, they still would've fallen into the massive cracks already forming beneath their feet.
VRRRRNNNN.... VRRRRRRNNN!!!!
"YOOUNNGG MASSTERRR!!!"
"AHHHHH!!!"
The last thing the First Son could remember was falling into one of these massive fissures, unable to resist the pull of earth's gravity as he rapidly lost his consciousness due to fear and panic...
[...]
The bright lights lit up the darkness of the spacious, metal room with their radiance, allowing the 3 individuals within its massive space to speak to each other without the trouble of darkness burdening their important conversation...
Just a few hours ago, after the previous imperial assembly had finally concluded, the newly-crowned emperor, Novus Sturne, would hold a brief yet important discussion with the Divine Historian of the East, one that involved the approach as to how the empire would initiate its plans of conquering the nations of the east.
"... This is quite troublesome. So, the usual approach to warfare won't even work on them..."
"Indeed, Your Grace. The people of the Zhao specialise in warfare tactics involving deception and subterfuge. Any sort of conventional strategy won't work on them effectively."
The Zhao Clan, an eastern nation of martial artists and assassins who excelled in hit-and-run tactics and guerilla warfare, cunning tactics that allowed them to survive the onslaught of the Empire's previous incursions into their lands– their only city, Al-Zhahar, was concealed underground, and the moment an invading army would come close to its general vicinity due to a stroke of luck, the Zhao could simply ambush them from beneath the sands and flee before they would sustain any losses.
Novus could remember the memories from his previous life, back when he was a soldier who served the GFI's cause: he could recall that the invading elves used to perform these kinds of cunning strategies in losing battles, specifically in woodland forests infested with their abominable magick...
He could also remember a familiar GFI Stronghold that worked similarly to that of the Zhao's way of defence... An underground base located somewhere in what was once known as Iran, a fortress that possessed a powerful engine which could rapidly open entire cave-ways that led into and out of the base's main location underground...
Could the Zhao Capital actually be this Initiative Base that Novus was recalling in his mind? While he didn't have enough evidence yet to conclude this as the truth, there was a strong feeling in his mind that this was indeed true due to all the coincidental similarities.
"I see then... Well, in this case, the only way to defeat them for sure is to take a swift decapitation approach... To quickly aim for a central hub, or an important part of their city, perhaps." Novus surmised his thoughts aloud. "Do you have any important information about their capital?"
"Indeed, I do, Your Majesty, though it's not much, I'm afraid. From what I heard from the merchantry I used to deal with in my travels back then, I believe the Zhao Clan's capital is located somewhere beneath the sands of the Virak Desert." the Divine Historian answered. "I'm not certain of its precise location though, I apologise for not being able to provide anything more."
"Hm, don't worry about that, what you gave me is sufficient enough. We'll be having someone else to provide us more information, after all."
In any case, at least the general location of their enemy's most vital spot had been revealed: on the other hand though, Novus still had to think of the strategies they would take to bring the Zhao Capital to its knees and make them submit, and this was going to prove quite the difficult task, given the unusual methods of warfare that the Zhao Clan used in battle.
"Ah, master, the Fortress's notification systems have told me that your sister has just arrived... Would you like me to prepare a new batch of tea for her arrival?" Speranza, who had been standing quietly beside Novus, would offer with a smile.
"... No, that won't be necessary. They won't be here long enough to enjoy what you brewed, anyway."
CREAAKKK...
The wooden doors leading into the room parted, allowing the newly-arrived people, the Imperial Princess and her guardian knight, to enter the room, as the princess would then walk towards her brother with a smiling expression on her face, almost as if she were proud about something.
"Hm, I wasn't able to arrive at your little ceremony a while ago, so I'll say it now. Congratulations on your coronation, my adorable little brother." Aldyth mentioned through the artificial device on her neck that simulated her voice. "Although, I am wondering why you called for me all of a sudden. I'm busy dealing with the rebellious remnants from the magick towers, you know?"
"... I didn't exactly call for you specifically though, I was requesting the presence of your friend over there... Altair, did I say your name correctly?"
The blonde knight beside the imperial princess stepped forward as Novus mentioned her name.
"It is as you say, Your Majesty. Is there anything you'd like me to do?" Altair spoke as she made a light bow.
"You were originally a warrior who served the Zhao Clan, yes? Tell me, is there some sort of... Er... 'Mechanism', they have that can open and close pathways into their capital?"
To Novus' complete surprise however, Altair would immediately confirm his answer, which thus proved the previous suspicions he had earlier.
"... You are correct, Your Majesty. It is an ancient mechanism they call the 'Nadirian Veil Engine'." Altair answered with a nod. "Before I was captured in my last battle however, I heard that it had recently begun breaking down in the past 200 or so years..."
"Breaking down?"
"Yes, though it was most likely because of the engine's old age. They've been attempting to patch it up using whatever arcane methods they could devise, though they've only managed to extend its life by just a few years with every attempt they made."
"Hm, I see... And what if we were to... Let's say, tamper with its functions? What about, if it was completely deactivated all of a sudden?"
A somber, regretful emotion surfaced upon the blonde-knight's face as she continued to answer her liege's questions, an expression that Novus and the others immediately took notice of.
"The Engine is what allows the Capital to keep itself submerged beneath the Virak Desert's surface, it was never able to remain beneath the sands in the first place. Deactivate it, and it will be forced to return to the surface, making it completely visible and vulnerable to any form of direct assault." Altair explained, a pang of regret building up in her chest as she spoke. "As for why I know of something this specific... Well... I and a few of my clansmen attempted an uprising against the current ruler by seizing control of this engine."
Her body trembled slightly as she made a light sigh, as if she no longer wished to tell anything else that she knew…
"W-We failed, of course, and my comrades were executed without mercy. As for me, I was instead sent on an impossible mission, to assassinate the First Prince of the Empire, and this would lead to my eventual capture."
Everyone within the room, both Aldyth and Novus especially, instantly became shocked upon her revelation– she had never mentioned this dangerous past of hers before... If she had already considered betraying the ones she previously served, then would she ever consider it again with the current people she was associated with?
"... Why did you and your allies cause such an uprising in the first place?" Novus would pose another question, though this time, his voice was laced with a bit of wariness.
"... Your Majesty, do you remember when I mentioned that they've been attempting a few arcane methods to keep the engine functioning?" Altair hesitated for a moment before she answered Novus' question.
"At first, it started with the use of magick crystals we acquired through private trade with the western merchantry, but eventually, the cost of maintaining the mechanism became too high for them to work anymore, to the point that not even high-grade magick artifacts could prove effective..."
Then it immediately clicked within Novus' thoughts... A realisation of horror briefly flashed within his mind, as Novus finally realised why she considered rebelling against the nation she previously served, and it was for a rather reasonable purpose to begin with.
"They... Eventually chose to sacrifice human lives, didn't they? Then again, what could you expect from magick anyway..." Novus asked, with a faint tone of disgust present in his words.
"... Indeed. Specifically, they began to use human souls from our own youth, as ordered by the High Mistress." Altair confirmed, with the weight of her sorrow settling across her face. "With every passing year, they would choose 5-6 souls as a sacrifice to the engine to keep it from dying out..."
"I-I had only managed to find out about all this when my closest friend was selected as a sacrifice. I tried to put a stop to it, but in the end, she still inevitably met her end due to my failure." Altair continued to lament. "... They forced me to watch her sacrifice, as punishment for the rebellion I led... They placed her bound body on a table of stone and slit her neck and wrists, letting her bleed out and die as she begged for mercy..."
How pitiful... It was at this moment that any trace of doubt or suspicion faded away from their hearts– it was now completely apparent why she had chosen to never speak of this, and nobody would be able to blame her for remaining quiet about this matter until now.
From out of nowhere however, Altair would suddenly kneel before him in a pitiful form of desperate submission, to beg the newly-crowned emperor for a vengeful justice that she herself had not managed to achieve.
"Y-Your Majesty... I'm aware of your plans to conquer every nation of the eastern lands, including that of my homeland. I will not dare to oppose your ambitions, and I will even gladly assist you in any way I am able to." Altair begged, a few tears beginning to trickle down from her eyes as she pleaded. "B-But, please... May I ask just one thing from you? I will gladly give you anything you want from me in return, e-even if it is my life you wish to take."
"... Go ahead, what is it that you want, Altair?"
The blonde-knight then looked straight into his gaze, the rage and determination in her eyes practically overflowing as more tears continued to pour down from her face– it evidently wasn't an anger directed towards Novus however, but rather, a hatred for the very nation she had once wholeheartedly served since childhood.
"My Clan, the Zhao... I urge you to bring an end to their vicious barbarism. Subjugate them so thoroughly with your might, that they will never again even consider doing something so revolting." Altair pleaded. "I know I may sound hypocritical due to being an assassin once, but... Your Majesty is the only one who has the power to achieve this."
"T-this is all that I ask of you, and I won't ask anything more from you from this point on, I-I give you my word."
"..."
Of course, Novus wouldn't reject what she wished from him, as her desire was coming from a completely reasonable standpoint in the first place; to begin with, conquering the Zhao Clan was already within his intentions, and achieving this goal would also simultaneously fulfill the very thing that Altair was asking him to do.
On the other hand, the determined anger that Novus witnessed from her had given him an idea, one that would serve perfectly in the plan he was devising to perfectly integrate the Zhao in the new order he was planning.
"... Rise, Altair. There's no need to plead for something like that. The Zhao will be conquered and brought into our dominion, and it will come to pass no matter what obstacle appears in our path." Novus declared to her. "However, I do admire the look of determination in your eyes when you begged me to fulfill your wish..."
"As such, it would be a shame for you and Aldyth to remain mopping up the useless remnants of resistance back home."
A look of surprise appeared on Altair's face as her eyes widened slightly.
"... W-what could you be implying, Your Majesty?"
"Simple, Altair. You and my sister will be reassigned to take part in our assault on the Zhao, and after they've been successfully subjugated by our forces..." Novus told as he pointed his index finger towards her.
"I shall personally appoint you to be the next ruler of the Zhao, the one who will lead their clan into a golden age of prosperity... Under the empire's guidance, of course."
The blonde-knight's eyes widened as she heard his words... Was His Majesty truly serious when he declared that all of a sudden?
"... Do you truly mean what you say, Your Majesty?" Altair asked, confused and still unable to believe what she had just heard.
"Of course I do. But first, allow me to explain how we'll proceed with our assault on the Zhao's capital." Novus stood up as he proceeded to begin explaining. "The Veil Engine, which they've begun powering with magick according to you, will most likely be emitting an enormous amount of arcane emissions, and we can use that to our advantage by detecting it from afar..."
[Gateway Network Successfully Established: Preparing Translocation...]
ROAAARRR!!!
"W-What the hell is that thing?!"
"... Just what is that monster you brought here so suddenly, Novus?"
"!!!"
A swirling gateway of quantum energies materialised at just an arm's length to Novus' left; what came out of it, at least partially, was a monstrously behemoth-sized metal worm, with only a small portion of its head peeking out of the artificial gateway due to the room's limited size. Its gaping mouth was full of mechanical drills, and a single hole where crimson lights radiated from its jaws as it then silently observed every individual within the room.
"Everyone, meet Jormungandr. You may call it with whatever nickname you prefer, but the sole duty it'll be accomplishing will remain the same nonetheless." Novus explained with an enthusiastic look. "This beast is one of Thurien's most precious pets, and it'll be the hunting dog in charge of seeking out the very place we'll strike at."
"... I see... Well, if that creature is as impressive as how you hype it up to be, then I suppose it can achieve its duty effectively." Aldyth spoke calmly, her eyes still cautiously fixated upon the iron beast peeking out of the gateway. "Although, I'm certain that this metal creature isn't going to be the only thing you'll be using. The worm is merely meant to search after all, yes?"
"Certainly. Letting the worm simply ravage the Engine would prove contrary to our goals." Novus answered. "After the worm successfully locates the definitive location of the engine, Thurien and I will be jumping in to seize the Engine's controls for our benefit."
"I'll be having the Royal Guard accompanying us in the assault, so you don't have to worry about us." Novus continued as he reassured Aldyth. "Now then, before we conclude this little meeting, I'd like to ask Altair a few more questions, specifically about the defenders we might encounter..."
[...]
The Nadirian Veil Engine, located within the largest chamber of Al-Zhahar's central space... It was stored in a massive room of metal, lit only by the luminous radiances hailing from the Engine's metal framework, with the entire chamber being guarded only by the Zhao Clan's finest warriors; the Nameless, an order of black-robed swordswomen which consisted of the greatest, most dedicated Zhao warriors, with their sole duty being to ensure that the Veil Engine continued its main purpose, and to be prepared to lay down their lives for the Mechanism's safety if it proved absolutely necessary.
In truth, the swordswoman known simply as Marmluk was the strongest among all the 100 warriors of the Nameless who guarded the central chamber, and it was because of this strength that she was chosen to be the chief head of her fellow chamber-guards...
It had been 20 years since she first took charge as the chief-guard, and not even once had she ever failed in her role, even when the one known as Altair had initiated an uprising that nearly succeeded in its attempt.
"...?"
Something was bothering the warriors of the Nameless as they stood on guard however, and these were the tremors, the shaking of the earth surrounding them, which steadily became stronger with its chaotic, irregular patterns of arrival– whether it was merely a work of nature, or something completely different entirely, was something the warrior known as Marmluk couldn't determine, though for now, all she could was to remain at her post and fulfill her duty no matter what.
VRRRRNN....VRRRRNN....
"What in the...?"
A new sound suddenly accompanied the tremors that were gradually beginning to build up in strength; it was the noise of metal drilling forcefully into hardened earth and stone, and its sounds quickly gave rise to sensations of caution as their grips on the handles of their holstered blades...
Why had this noise begun appearing out of nowhere? Could it be related to the Veil Engine's complex functions? Or perhaps it was...
No, it couldn't be... That sort of thing was impossible in the first place... Unless...
BOOM... CRACK....!!!
VRRRRNNNN!!!
A hideous beast tore through the iron wall to their left... A massive monster of metal whose shape closely resembled that of a worm; its tremendous mass far outclassed even the impressive size of the engine itself, with the mere sight of such a monstrosity immediately driving the elite Zhao warriors into a frightened yet disciplined panic as they made their determined battle formations.
"B-Battle formations, warriors! Do not allow that abomination to destroy the Engine!"
To their confusion, the metal beast remained motionless for a while, as if it had become momentarily disorientated by the solid layer of metal it just tore through. Soon enough, however, one of the countless metal plates armouring its body began to open, letting loose 4 one-eyed, floating orbs of iron that began zipping throughout the room in full defiance of gravity.
"Look out for those metal orbs!"
"Cut them down the moment they come close!"
[Scanning... Determining Point of Interest...]
[Identifying nearby magickal source... Evaluating Signs of Life...]
A strange light emanated from the eyes of the speeding, spherical creatures as they eagerly scanned every corner of the room, a blue, yet gentle radiance that gracefully showered wherever the metal imps chose to look– with great terror and confusion, the Zhao warriors would attempt to cleave through their metal surfaces with their swords, though unfortunately, the speed at which the spherical demons were soaring allowed no blade to even graze their metal hides by an inch.
[Parsing... 3.... 2... 1...]
[Success: Target Search Location found. Preparing to broadcasting Coordinates...]
Eventually, after having fully scanned the entire room with their luminous, cyclopean eyes, it didn't take long for the metal probes to finish accomplishing their tasks, as they then hurriedly scurried back to the metal worm at terrifyingly quick speeds.
ROAAARRR!!!!
The worm let out a terrible, metallic scream, and it seemed to be a signal for them to return, as the still-open metal plate allowed the orb-like creatures to re-enter the worm's vessel; afterwards, the metal worm then let out another, horrifying, ear-piercing shriek, before its gaping maw began opening ever-wider as it simultaneously slammed itself into the floor and formed another tunnel with its colossal body, leaving the room without having even caused any casualties among Marmluk and her comrades.
"... Where is that damn thing going? Why did it choose to leave all of a sudden?"
... Was that it? Surely, that couldn't be the case? Or so did Marmluk and the other warriors of the Nameless think to themselves amidst their tense silence. There must have been a reason as to why the beast came here in the first place, and its arrival surely mustn't have been a mere accident or fluke.
And then...
[Gateway Established: Facilitating Mass Translocation...]
FLAASSHHH!!!!
The metal worm was still slithering its body into the new, cavernous tunnel it tore open, when all of a sudden, a brand new wave of unwanted guests was brought into the Engine's Chambers by the bright flash of light, ones far smaller than the previous intruder but ultimately far more numerous...
...
...
7 hours have passed since Jormungandr's deployment into the subterranean space of the Virak Desert; now however, after endlessly digging beneath the desert sands to achieve its duty, the metallic drillworm finally found the main point of interest it had been sent to search for...
The Nadirian Veil Engine's location had finally been located, and the planned attack would quickly follow up soon afterward– Novus, accompanied by Thurien, as well as the reformed, 500-strong Royal Guard, had all been brought within the Engine's vicinity, their arrival temporarily managing to catch the Nameless off-guard as they wasted no time in their sudden attack.
"Well, it seems we've arrived successfully." Thurien, who stood beside Novus, would say out loud. "Do what you all have to do then~."