Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
The towns, the woods, the streets surrounding Walgonia's capital were soon to be lit by flame. As Arthur was there, in the center of it all, amidst the eruptions of rebellion.
Arthur: "THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT YOUR KING!? AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR YOU!"
The more control the Sect took, the more people that joined, the more people fought against it. Civilians, soldiers, Knights all ran through the streets to destroy their rulers. The anarchists tried their best to stop the sudden attacks with magic, blades, or might, but the roars of Walgonia were louder than their efforts. They burned their own homes, destroyed their own streets with magic, all in an attempt to push the Sect away. Fighting with flying, charging, screaming Demi-humans like there was never any hatred between them. So take their home. To kill their oppressors. No matter how many Anarchists were in their way. No matter how they had to die. Without any care for Arthur's presence.
Arthur:" Whatever! It only gives me a reason to let off some steam! I think Prometheus would think this was necessary!"
Arthur leapt into the sky swirling a large mass of flames tightly together, compressing and condensing them into an even more powerful attack, before flying straight toward the ground to unleash it. And adding fuel to the flame, he unleashed everything he had to push the wave of fire as far as it could reach. Taking out homes, streets of Walgonians and Anarchists, before it faded with only ash behind. He moved to eradicate it all, even if they lost more control of Walgonia in the process. At the end of it all, he'd killed more anarchists than rebels. But all he did was smile, stretch his burnt and exhausted body, and walk through the remnants of the town looking for anybody else to test his flames on.
Arthur {All this fightin is given me a great workout! Feels like I've been getting way stronger since I started this kind of stuff! Wonder if I could really get as strong as one of those Gods of War after all!}
However, just because he was stopping these rebels, didn't mean he wasn't making more. With almost every one of the areas the Sects took hold of finally pushing back, they were losing so much of their control so quickly. But it only gave them a reason to terminate the area. Sending out the Potential Pillars, Lower Pillars, Upper Pillars out every day to take more of the land they were losing. So by the time they've taken the last inch of land, even if they lost everything else, Walgonia would all be gone anyway. The only way to get a complete victory now, was to take back as much of Walgonia as quickly as they could. Before it would all be destroyed anyway.
Arthur's flames didn't just burn. It ate away the Spirit mana inside of everything, including the air. Decaying, burning away to create his black flames. So with this massive field of ash and death, it laid dead with spirits until the area replenished. And those spirits were screaming just as loudly as the people were. Losing the energy that connected them all, losing their own bodies, feeling their cores bursting away. It felt like they were torn from the inside out, and created such an intense pressure that the surrounding spirits felt their cries. A feeling that pushed through them all, a hatred, an intense sadness, that even affected those with Spirit affinities.
"What was that?"
For those with low affinities nearby, it felt like a small shutter of fear. But someone with as high of an affinity as Ryo were left wailing in pain, gasping their ODs like a part of them had died. And for the boy with the largest Spiritual affinity, he was forced out of his bed and onto the floor. Screaming as loud as he could, scratching at his arms till they bleed, scratching his face against the floor. And begging for it all to stop.
Gray: "WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHAT WAS THAT WHY WHY WHY! WHAT WHY WHY -
Rosemary leapt out of bed to help him, but he was stuck in a trance of pain. Watching Arthur step through the streets before bathing the Spirits in flames. Overhead, from below, through Alleys and walls, he watched Arthur kill him. Burn him to death over and over on top of each other, until it was all dead. And he opened his eyes in Ryo's arms in his living room, hardly able to speak.
Gray: "...The…Sect. We've…got to stop them…as fast as possible…"
Soku, Julius, Edward, Rosemary, Peter, and Leo all surrounded them with worry, other than Julius. Trying their best to figure out why Gray had started screaming out of nowhere. But Ryo already knew, and stood with an intense hatred for the Sect.
Ryo: "I've been reading their cries for the past few months, each time Arthur's unleashed his flames. He's never destroyed anything on the level he's been doing since he became king. And it seems the Spirits are finally trying to use a vessel to spread their message."
Soku: "And that vessel is Gray? How come he's always the special one?"
Ryo: "The vessel is everyone with high affinities for the Spirits, but it seems more like people who have a great relationship instead of just a lot of mana. I felt their pain just as much as he did, more so, I'm just used to regulating the spirits. But I guess Gray not being able to regulate let their message flow clearly, even if it was an intense way of telling us."
Edward: "So they're just trying to tell us to beat the Sect? We're already trying that."
Ryo: "They know. They're telling us we have to act as soon as we can. So the second we have a plan, we're going to act. And ready or not, we're all going to fight together."
It had already been a harsh two days since Leo had woken up. Filled with Gordon screaming at them in the mornings. Where they ran in circles, broke their bodies with intense work outs and mana flow, before Ryo took them to relax and focus on regulation. If they still had energy left by the end of the day they stopped by the Levithan camp with Gordon once again, so they could fall dead asleep back at home. Rosemary tried her best to master her fourth stage's flow, Soku practiced controlling her Mark and blade, Julius pushed himself to get faster than ever, and Edward crashed through the forest trying to unleash the Dragons Fist. But inside of it all, Gray was drowning the most.
Getting beaten over and over under Gordon's training. Falling behind in the jogs around the yard lap by lap, being unable to finish his push ups or pull ups, puking when everybody else was practicing their leaps. And when they practiced their mana with Ryo, Gray had to chip away at his mana spell by spell in the surrounding woods.
Gray: "Cenic!"
His speed at flowing mana to the Spirits, the density of the smoke, how long it took to fade. Then -
Gray: "Walnic!"
Again, again, and again, to even out the improper and unstable bubble he kept forming. From paper thin to almost a baby's finger, and instead of being filled with disconnected divots, it was finally stretching to get near a full dome. If Ryo told Gray to let the Spirits rest, he'd finally get to sit down, and start pushing himself to his limits with how much Spirit mana he could hold properly across his body.
Gray: "WHAT HAPPENS IF I BREAK THE SPIRIT SENSE!? I'VE DONE IT BEFORE, AND IT'S PUSHED ME INTO A KINDA OVERDRIVE!?"
Amidst the rushing bright blue mana around his body. Powerful enough to start sending quakes through his body, to boil his blood, to squeeze his brain tight, and crack the dark layer over his eyes of the Spirit sense.
Ryo: "That would be your threshold. Those cracks that appear in your eyes? It's an awakened vision. The Spirit State. But you won't be able to use it properly, even control it until you can activate it on command with Pure Spirit mana. And your ability to actually connect with the Spirits, or really any Spirit at all seems too far away for that any time soon."
Gray: "Oh great! It always seems like when I think I go forward I just get told I'm not even started!"
Leo had spent those days healing, so he could stand and walk around the village without assistance. And so he could finally walk away from his dad, as Lincoln kept trying to speak with him any chance he got. But he also kept looking away, whistling, drinking, or anything to make it seem like an accident. But so he could finally step into the meeting room with the other Commanders, and try his best to do his part in this war. But he hadn't made it yet. Right now he was walking alone, wearing his recently repaired Red Arrow Elite Gear. The Dragon Stone armor had been repaired after his battle with Raylice, but was left obviously damaged, with markings breaking up the Red Arrow crests on his chest and shoulders. Like it was crossed out for the broken land, and his broken brothers and sisters who were still making their way here.
It had been a week to the day since Athens fell. The sun had hardly risen, creating a cold blue sky over half snowed over the village of Greenvale. The Commanders meeting was soon to start, and yet so many people were filling the streets amidst their training. Healing. Or just talking with tea to get ready for the day. Leo watched with a broken glare in his eyes, trying his best to remember a time when Athens was like this. When his brother wasn't trying to kill him, when his mother was waiting at home, when his dad had a true smile. And he saw those smiles amidst these people, people who used to be separated. The mages, the healers, the knights, the soldiers, the guards and Leviathan members. The Elities to the simplest farmer willing to pick up a blade. Retired veterans picking up their helmets one last time, and children hammering away to make new blades for the first time.
He did see Athens. But he saw his family, the Red Arrows, amidst the war instead of the times of his childhood. Without his beard, head band, or dirt from the tunnels of Athens, he looked just as young as Gray's group. Because in truth he was. Only twenty four, and yet so old, so burdened. Without Toll to lean on, Garly to guide him, a clear goal in mind with Athens, knowledge of the land like the back of his hand, or an army of Red Arrows behind him. But he knew he wasn't alone either. He was just lost, and step by step he was finding his way somewhere. Yesterday it was to a healer so he could rest, today it was to his new friends, and tomorrow it could be in the middle of battle.
So he tried to focus on what he could do today, so if tomorrow didn't come, he could rest a bit easier. And he did with his first smile of the day, at the waves from Gray, Rosemary, Edward, and even Soku. Who had woken up two hours earlier and was in the middle of getting yelled at by Gordon for being distracted.
Gordon: "WAKE UP AND STOP WAVIN!"
He had them performing proper strikes, steps, kicks, and swift turns until they puked. Before he had them use it against each other.
Gray: "OW!"
Whether it was practicing grapples, leaving Gray in a few chokeholds from Rosemary.
Gray: "Uncle uncle!"
Sweeping legs, causing Gray to smash his face in the grass because of Soku.
Gray: "WOAH!"
Propper jabs, getting Gray hit deep in his chest by Edward and collapsing to his knees.
Gray: "Ueeegh, I'm good, just gimme a sec, gotta remember how to breathe..eeughghe"
Attempts to do proper and instant high aimed kicks that got Gray kicked in the head by Julius.
Gray: "This has gotta be on purpose!"
Gordon: "You've got like no actual fighting skill! So if you wanna stop getting laid out then learn! Blasting mana punches and spells will only get you so far! A lot of people in this world use mana only when they have to, or solely use it for magic. They'd just kick your ass. So swing again!"
They all practiced between each other, but Gray was obviously struggling the most. He hesitated, or acted too quickly. He couldn't overpower any of them, even Soku without his mana. He could listen, he could take the beating, but when it came to actually doing it correctly, he was always behind. He couldn't stretch properly, he couldn't catch himself or flip, he could hardly keep a proper stance. And when he tried, it just got broken by a punch he couldn't block. A kick he couldn't dodge. A grapple, headlock, take down, headbutt, liver punch, that broke him instantly. Rosemary and Edward seemed physically impossible to outpower, Soku and Julius impossible to outmanuver. And all Gray had was the will to stand, which they did too, they just didn't get knocked down to use it.
Gordon {These kids shouldn't be sent in should they? Hell they shouldn't have been sent to Athens, at least not alone. Any Commander would have laughed at me if they saw how we were operating. But what do we have? If we have to use every soldier, even civilian, then they're more than strong enough to fight. Ugh! I can't believe I'm having to rely on so much, I'm supposed to be the Leviathan Commander dammit! Did we survive on Kioshi and Musashi's strength this much!? Is that the only reason Walgonia's even survived the Sect these past decades!? If it is, what do we do!? Lincoln doesn't have the resolve Musashi has, he doesn't have Kioshis strength or magic, and Ryo doesn't even wanna fight head on!}
Gray continued throwing out jabs toward Soku, who ducked and swooped his leg again, amidst the surrounding soldiers all doing the same thing. Without any idea of the pain Gordon was feeling, the intense struggle. His face stayed composed, angry, and his eyes always stuck in a hawk-like focus. But his old hand was trembling slightly enough for another Commander to step forward. Or Ex commander in this case, as his people hardly existed anymore.
Leo: "I know what you're feeling. That you're heading toward some inevitable end? Like something big is just gonna explode right when you think you're ready, or that you can never be ready?"
Gordon: "I guess it's a mix. What about you? Have you spoken to the Red Arrows here?"
Leo: "Yeah, but we're just a part of the army now. It's not like they're weak, but I'm not really familiar with them. And they weren't pillars of our strength, even if that sounds mean. My friends Toll and Garly, they were the backbone of our physical might. The best tool I've brought to you guys other than numbers is Peter, and he's been off to work with Rick day in and day out."
Gordon: "That kid's pretty good I hear. Got some projects lined up that should help us in the war effort already, and Rick says he's a natural with the creation part. He just can't seem to use any of the magical tools, or lift any heavy stuff without falling over."
Leo: "Sounds like Peter. But what about those kids? If you didn't send them to Athens I would have lost that country before the Sect destroyed it. I might have beaten Raylice but they came up with the idea to weaken her, they took out Moro, Calgary, Irsa, even got revenge against the man who took Athens before I could do anything. They might be the weapon we need, right?"
Gordon: "That's what I hoped. There are stronger people yeah, but considering how well they work together. How they've gotten through everything so far. As a group, they are their strongest asset, aside from Lincoln and Ryo. If we all work with our soldiers, then our power should be far more than the Sects. It just relies on how the Upper Pillars move, and what Arthur chooses to do when things seem grim."
Leo looked behind them, toward the open sliding door to the large circular meeting room slowly filling with lower ranked commanders. Along with the focused Venyet, a yawning Carlos, a loud and boasting Jong singing to wake up his fellow Elite Knights, and soon, his father. A room focused, ready to work, to plan every step of their future. But ahead of him was the calm smiling Ryo, trying his best to guide the people of this war.
Ryo: "I wanna see how you're all progressing so far. So for these next couple tests, you're not allowed to go overboard. For example, Gray, you can't push your mana past what you can handle. Rosemary can't push her stages to the max. Edward can't explode with the Warriors Spirit. And Soku can't go overboard with the wind. You all need to hold the fine, dense control you've been working on."
Soku: "Hey why didn't you call out Julius!? What's with the favoritism!?"
Ryo: "Sorry sorry no favoritism! It's just that Julius doesn't really have the type of abilities you all do. Not to say you're average or anything Julius, it's just, you don't really have anything to master other than yourself and your blade."
Julius: "....nobody said I was average -
Ryo: "Okay let's start!"
Gordon couldn't help but chuckle at Ryo's struggle to guide the group, but he also couldn't help but feel annoyed at how easy Ryo was being with them. On top of telling the other trainees in the yard to rest, eat, and watch the group, instead of continuing to break themselves for a battle they had no idea when was going to happen, what was going to happen, or who was going to be there.
Leo: "I know you're the hard-ass type like my dad or whatever, but be honest. If they break themselves everyday, even if they can heal, what happens if an accident happens? Somebody gets too hurt, overworks themselves into mana decay or some other disease you can't just heal from. Gets permanent damage? Isn't it strong enough to fight when the date is just slapped on them?"
Gordon: "I…well! Whatever. I guess you're right. It's just hard to see people treating the situation like a joke! We're in real danger here! Not a war, not a battle! I wasn't Commander during the Demi-human war, and I know I've only commanded under times of peace, but I lived through a harsh life in Oni-mas before I got here. I know what can happen when things go too far, just how bad they can get. I won't let Walgonia fall into an endless land of battle and death like that hell. And the Sect are just like the Kami; they'll do anything if necessary."
They continued to look over the kids for a moment, watching as Ryo struck a line across the grass a few yards away with his katana. And spoke towards the group, all getting ready, while Gray took a runners stance he learned from gym class. Listening as best he could while leaking a low flow of mana over his body, pulling it back and forth in his best attempt to stop it from flaming out into the air. Before pooling Spirit mana throughout it, igniting in a flash of blue.
Ryo: "The person who arrives last gets a penalty! The first gets a reward! Now, prepare yourselves -
Rosemary leaned forward ready to swipe her arms back in a low powered fourth stage.
Rosemary {Flicking would boost me, but I can handle this power! I can use my entire body instead!}
Edward prepared to leap across like a long jump.
Edward {I can't boost forward like the others, so I'll use all I can in a single leap!}
Soku struck a strange stance with her legs and arms in front of another, preparing to spiral and burst forward with wind and a hint of her Mark.
Soku {This is my world! I'll dust them before they get half way!}
Julius, without a thought, leaned his body forward to begin sprinting.
Gray: "START IT ALREADY!"
And Gray swallowed his anxiety. So Ryo could pull in a flash of spirit mana, and snap his fingers with an ear piercing burst of spirit mana. Sending them all charging.
Soku: "SEE YAH!"
Soku spun forward like a tornado with a burst of wind behind her from her Mark, flying across the grass in a flash. Yet right beside her was Rosemary, who jumped while flinging her arms back to fling herself forward, like she was skipping through the space. Slightly behind them was the pink flash of Julius, sliding over the ground with instant smooth steps on pace to pass Soku. And sprinting, racing, breathing with one foot in front of another. Thinking it over and over to not trip, before trying to leap the final step. And behind them all was Edward, breaking open the dirt with a burst of his might, flying toward them all to the finish line. But Soku slid to a stop a few seconds after flying off, quickly met with Rosemary and Julius by her side. All to watch Gray barley land on his feet over the finish line, and turn to see Edward kick up even more dirt with his loud landing.
Edward: "Dammit!"
Gordon: "Mph, these are just kids' games."
Gordon couldn't help but scoff at Ryo's ways yet again. But he went to turn around anyway, moving toward the meeting room to start it. But Leo's words froze him for just a second, softening the iron wall that was Gordon just a bit, as they all had these past months.
Leo: "I dunno. I think it's giving them a needed perspective. How strong they are, their weaknesses. And if they need to be a group? How to find your place. Isn't that what you made them do? Fight each other as a group, figure out this same thing? He's just doing it with a smile, instead of punching them across the -
For Edwards' penalty, Ryo held his arm tightly, and pulled forth a large sum of Spirit mana forcibly into Edwards body. Leaving Edward roaring in pain. As his mind, body, and OD began to burn under Ryo's might. Leaving him gasping on his knees trying not to vomit over the grass.
Leo: "Maybe there is a little violence, but compared to my dad this is still pretty nice."
Leo got out another laugh from Gordon before finally getting the courage to walk forward with him. Into the meeting room to shut the door, and figure out just how they were going to take back their country.
Edward: "What kinda penalty is that!?
Ryo: "It'll make it a bit harder for you to focus on your next task, but also to start getting you used to intense rushes of Spirit mana. If you ever face a Spirit mage, Spirit Beast, or go to a highly spiritual area, building natural resistances can save your life. Or at least prolong it."
Edward: "Oh, uhh, thanks?"
Ryo: "No problem, now follow follow!"
Soku: "Hey wait, you said I'g get a reward!"
Ryo: "Wait until I can explain, I promise I won't forget."
Ryo pulled them into the middle of the grass they'd dashed over, still watched by the relaxing and talking soldiers. When they arrived in the center Ryo vanished with another bust of Spirit mana, drawing a line in the dirt with his place in a large circle surrounding them, before appearing right back where he left faster than Soku had crossed the finish line.
Ryo: "Your reward is picking who goes against who first!"
Soku: "Um, for what?"
Ryo: "That would be cheating."
Soku: "Can't I just pick who I go up against then?"
Ryo: "Nope!"
Soku: "UGH! How did you live with this guy Gray!? Whatever, Rosemary vs Gray go!"
Gray leapt between Soku and Rosemary in a panic, before Rosemary pushed him down by his head. It was enough to shove him into the grass, and yet it felt oddly soft, but still Gray lunged back up anyway.
Rosemary: "It's alright, and we aren't even fighting. So what do we have to do?"
Ryo: "First to land five hits against the other wins."
Rosemary: "What!?"
Soku: "Fight Fight Fight! I've always had Rosemary!"
Edward: "Oh but Gray could win with that mana overdrive thing he says."
Soku: "No I already told you he wouldn't do that against her, and how do you know the stupid name he calls it?"
Gray: "You guys debate who can beat who in a fight? I thought it was just me and Rosemary that did that."
Rosemary: "Gray! Don't tell them that!"
As they lost themselves to bickering for a moment, Ryo watched over with a smile. While also listening in on the conversation over in the meeting room using the Spirits. Doing his best to guide, and to keep track of everything going on in Walgonia, so he could find his own solution to all of this chaos.
Gordon: "Yesterday we ended off with where she would attack, so I'd like to start with what Lincoln, Jong, Ryo, and I have come up with so far."
The room was once again filled with various groups. Guards, soldiers, Knights, Elitie Knights, Levithan Soidlers, even the Head Levithan Yui all spoke about their own districts in the sides of the room, while the leading commanders stood in the center with Gordon. Where he took hold of a large wooden stand holding a map of the land around Walgonia's Capital, and the Capital itself.
Gordon: "The north is still holding out, and with the recent news of Prometheus taking out cities closing in to take it, we have to act before they can take the rest of Walgonia. They're stretching across the east, and even if they've struggled to take the West. But they've lost land in the South from the attacks led by Chris."
Chris stepped forward, having arrived with Venyet and Carlos a few days earlier, finally recovered from the battle that got in their way on the way here.
Chris: "Gurren was a group effort, but the others were all because Gray Kyojin was there to help me and my forces. But we left holes in the Sects control, and we destroyed the factories creating prototypes for a new type of weapon. But they could have started again somewhere else, or could rebuild there. It's only more of a reason why we've gotta strike quickly!"
Leo sat down and tried his best not to drown in the thick words of the Commanders and strategists, but he couldn' t help but lose his eyes to his father standing and drinking proudly directly across from him. His heart instantly struck with pain, flashing the intense fear of Athens through his blood like he'd been stabbed. It was a violent, visceral, deep ache within his chest that pulled his mind into flashes of Raylice, the flames, his brother, before rage took hold. Yet he bit his lip, gripped his fist with a tiny spark of lighting, and let out a long breath to relax and get his focus back onto the meeting.
Jong: "After we reunited in Gurren, we split off into three groups. The group lead by Lanner has yet to return, but Chris' team and I were able to free a few more villages, and two towns. However I lost what should have been a third during the attack at the Town of Shells. But for the time being, bits of the west and south have been broken. The Upper Pillars are separated on all sides trying to break away at us. And if the word of the rebellions are true, then Arthur is losing his hold over the ground near the Capital day by day. Even if he destroys it himself."
Yui leaned forward after sharing a drink with Lincoln, placed her black Leviathan mengu mask back over her face, and stepped beside Jong in the circle. Pointing toward the castle directly."
Yui: "Couldn't Ryo or Lincoln go into the Castle, kill Arhtur instantly? Hell Lincoln might be able to free the Capital himself."
Gordon: "Because if Lincoln does that the Upper Pillars could appear at any moment and kill him! But you're right that Lincoln's strength is our strongest card. But if he fought through it all, the Capital would be completely destroyed, especially with the Upper Pillars. Kioshi died because she didn't want to destroy the castle, kill anyone, let alone destroy the whole thing! If we want to save Walgonia we can't let anything be destroyed, especially the heart of the country!"
Yui: "So what!? We come here everyday and we've hardly narrowed it down! We're draining the East of Soldiers, the West, and when the North falls what do we do!? Try and save that? Or hope they can handle it and leave them to die while he fights for some stupid city!? We need to kill those Upper Pillars! That's the only way we can save Walgonia!"
Dershia pushed forward with a face tense with rage, gripping Yui's dense shoulder tight before pulling away with a struggling restraint.
Dershia: "They would never send out their true forms like that! You just want us to give up Walgonia, for what!? To kill a vessel!? We hardly know anything about them, but the only stuff we know is due to that Kyojin kid! Word from Azalea herself!"
Yui: "And you trust that!? Azalea is the Witch of Darkness! You think she would ever tell the truth!? Even on her death bed!? And that kid that fell outta the sky or something with her mana, and uses her Cloak!? Why is he even on this mountain!?"
Hearing her rage toward Gray, an army of eyes perished toward her. Jong, Dershia, Chris, Venyet, Carlos, Leo, even Lincoln and Gordon. A handful of Knights, Red Arrows, Warriors, and Leviathan soldiers he'd saved over his battles. All the people who knew to trust him before anybody else stepped forward, and she dropped her head.
Yui: "I just want to take back our home! I want revenge, and I know it's stupid. I'm sorry sir."
Gordon felt like he needed to scream, to show his resilience and power as a commander. But he didn' feel rage. He just shared with her sorrow, and motioned for her to stand straight. Before looking out toward Gray's training, he'd been listening too just as Ryo was listening to the meeting.
Gordon: "We're all struggling, we're all tired. But in the end, we need to work together. And you're right that we're draining soldiers. So we need to redirect those coming, now! We need to get ready to take the Capital. If we all move out around the Capital to take back the South, along with the Capital, then we would essentially take it. With the North still standing for the time being, we'd be cutting off the Sect to sides of Walgonia they don't have full control of. So if we move to take it all back, all at once, how could they react?"
He was coming up with the idea as he spoke, and everybody around tuned in. Even Ryo shook from his words. Because it seemed like that was it, that was the Siege. The Heart, it wasn't the Capital. It was their heart. It was all of Walgonia.
Leo: "During my battle in Athens I tried the same thing. But in the end I'd spread myself too thin for the battle. But I don't think we're the ones going to think this time. If there were only a few Upper Pillars, rebels and even more soldiers fighting in Walgonia, then we could overwhelm the Sect. But you can't focus on everything. We need to take the largest towns or cities on each side, and take the land around the Capital. If we push the Upper Pillars Vessels out, they'd either all have to go after Lincoln, or go out by themselves to stop it. And they couldn't possibly stop every battle, at least not in a few hours. And a few hours could change everything."
Lincoln smiled toward Leo's words under his gourd, before whipping his mouth and finally speaking.
Lincoln: "So it's settled then. However long it takes to set up our forces is when we strike. So what are we waiting for?"
Everybody moved out in a loud wave, Gray and the others couldn't help but notice, pausing right before Gray and Rosemary could start to watch them all push into the streets. Gathering and ordering everyone to move, to send out messages, to leave on wagons or Dire Wolves to contact other camps; The planning phase wasn't over, but they didn't have time to finish. They'd need to start and hope they figured it out by the end.
Gray: "Hey should we be doing something!?"
Ryo: "No, but I will return. You continue here, and I'll make sure to return. Don't think you're getting out of my pop quiz, I think Gray called it that."
Soku: "You told him about this stuff!?"
Gray: "Hey you picked me to go against Rosemary!"
Soku: "You said the pop quiz thing first!"
Gray: "Yeah but you didn't know that!"
Ryo quickly vanished to join Gordon back inside the Commanders quarters, leaving Gray and Soku to realize how pointless all of the talking was. But the training, the resting, the sleeping. Gray saw it all as useless. In the end he wasn't smart enough. He wouldn't be strong enough. He'd need to know now how many people die to survive. He knows he'll leave a trail of blood with him. So what was the point of all this effort? Forcing the smile again, forcing himself back up, forcing himself to do anything. Maybe for a time, for just a second he felt like he could really do anything. When he got that "Third" chance at life.
Gray {Athens, all of this effort. Is it really gonna play out right? This world isn't one I can trust, nothing has ever worked! It always just blows up! What are we supposed to do!? What can we do!? What -
The moment his expression fell, and his eyes pulled back from the light, Rosemary took hold of his hands and yanked him back into reality. Staring forward, directly into his quivering face.
Rosemary: "Don't forget that I'm here, okay? We all are. And we're all scared."
Gray: "But is this even worth it!? The training! We need to be with Ryo planning! Or out there fighting! We're not gonna beat an Upper Pillar without getting Lincoln or Gordon or Ryo killed! Somebody is gonna die! Somebody always dies and I wanna stop it! So please! All of you!"
Sweating and breathing with hard exhales,he turned to them all. But, aside from Julius, they'd all seen this before. That tone of rage and fear, of pain. That defensive tight stance that looked ready to fight or run away. That sound of absolute despair in his voice. Soku didn't want anything to do with it, because she didn't know what to do at all. Julius paid no mind, and Edward didn't hesitate.
Edward: "We're brothers in war right? And Rosemary's your love? Soku's your friend? Are we not here?"
Gray: "What are you saying!? Of course! That's why I'm asking for your help!"
Edward: 'No! You're asking for us to tell you why it's impossible! I know somebody is gonna die, a lot of people will. They always have and always will, because that's war! And you can't run away from it! Valatroctius, Ravoria, The Southern Islands, anywhere! You filled people fighting, destroying, taking! You've said it over and over! That we have to do all we can do! And this is what we can do! We can work, we can help, and maybe we can save lives along the way! Are you really gonna try and give up now!? If you wanna run or die then do it trying to save somebody, because that's what you wanna do right? You talk about Hero this and Hero whatever, so do it!"
Edwards' instant defense pushed Gray back, but it made it hard to deny or scream out. Because Gray knew what he was doing, that all of this body breaking and tension since the Disaster of Athens was pulling him down. A victory, a plan, something. He knew that he would find something that made him go. Whether it was someone screaming for help, an Anarchist about to lay waste to a family, his own family, he'd use it to stand and fight. Although, he could find reason reason reason reason, and it would mean nothing every time. As the light of his soul would die out anyway. So he stopped fighting, and just leaned forward with dead eyes. Staring at the small scars across his hands.
Gray: "....Sorry. Let's just keep going I guess."
Rosemary held Gray's hand tighter the moment he went to let go, and pulled him through the yard without a word. Leaving Edward and Julius to step forward, and Soku annoyed they skipped out on training after all of the arguing.
Soku {I hope they're right about Gray being wrong, and I hope he's not wrong either.}
Gray: "Where are we going? Shouldn't we be training?"
Rosemary: "...I wanted to give you a break for a second. What, don't wanna walk with me?"
Gray: "I do! But I just kinda freaked out, shouldn't I try and keep moving with them!? Oh and sorry about that really I -
Rosemary: "Calm down! Why are you pushing yourself so hard right now? Just breathe and walk."
Instead of almost tripping over himself with every step, he finally pushed firmly forward. Swallowed his panic, and let out another harsh breath. Instinctively he rummaged into his new short sleeved Leviathan shirt pocket he sewed on, and held the Cloaks Charm tightly. So he could walk on pace with Rosemary, side by side with her hand the only warmth he could take. Still he couldn't focus on her, nor himself, as the commotion of the village behind them got even louder.
"Where are the mages! I need more images!"
Jong: "Who knows the East! People who know the land go over there!"
Dershia: "Leviathan soldiers follow me! I'll separate yah into the groups!"
Inside the Commanders quarters, Gordon ran across between different maps trying to find known Sect cities with a few other Knights, marking them with small crystals.
Ryo: "I assume you've got a plan?"
Gordon: "Yes! Kinda! Right now we're putting all focus on collecting, directing, and filling are forces! And the second we're ready we're going to send everybody out! Every single thing we have! And take all the major cities we can! But I need to figure out who's going to the Capital, it's the Heart, but if Upper Pillars appear they could tear us to pieces! So I want as little forces as possible, so even if the Sect out number us ten to one, we'd slaughter them anyway. And any damage the Pillars would do would be killing more of their own people than us!"
Ryo: "And what of the Civilians!? There are still thousands of people living in the Capital, along with the cities you're targeting!"
Leo: "That's the second part of what we're doing. When we get everybody together, hopefully we've also evacuated as many people as possible. Or at least set up districts or safe zones for the people who don't leave. It's something we didn't have in Athens, and it cost us thousands. I'll make sure we save as many people as possible."
Walgonia was on the move as fast as possible. To use its greatest strength against the Sects. Their massive number of soldiers. From regular people, Demi-humans of any kind, races of any kind, Mages and Spirit Knights, Spirit Mages and regular weapon users, Marks of Providence, and even those from across the world that had found their way here like Gordon, Leo, Ryo, Lincoln, Yui, Peter, and many more across the ranks. The world's strength was together, across it entirely, to make Walgonia the ever lasting force it has been for centuries. It was the Country That Never Falls, and it would stay that way until the world itself went up in flames.
And Gray walked away from it all with a desperate look on his face, before smiling at the back of Rosemary's head. Before she finally stopped to lean over a wooden fence, toward a handful of Spirit Beasts. Spirit Pigs, Cows, Chickens. All slightly different from Grays world. As low Tier Spirit Beasts, they were almost twice as big, almost twice as powerful, and almost twice as smart beasts. Yet it seemed to make them more calm and easier to guide than the animals Gray was used to, so they didn't rampage between their wide pens.
Gray: "Back in Athens…you said you wanted to talk? What did you wanna talk about?"
Rosemary: "Oh, I hoped you forgot about that. It was just…it doesn't matter. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Gray: "But that does matter. I care about that way more than talking about myself. You went through way more! That woman that saved my life, Calgary, the Tower. I couldn't believe it, all I did was get myself in trouble. Hurt myself. You have real problems, all of mine are my own mistakes."
Rosemary wanted to focus on Gray. To help him. To look away from herself entirely. But hearing his words, looking at his face, she couldn't help but give in. Leaning further down against the post to hide her fearful glare.
Rosemary: "...I was worried that maybe we'd rushed into things. During Athens, especially now that it's over…it feels like we haven't gotten the chance to really be together. And I know I'm not really ready to move on from where we are now. It's everything with the GoldenKnights, now Calgary? It's just hard to -
This time Gray stepped forward to take her hand, and left her frozen mid-breath. He tried his best to stand proud, to shake the look of dread soaked into him, and even smiled toward the rest of the village.
Gray: "I love you because you're the only person who's ever made me feel loved. Because you're strong, funny, proud, resilient. You're also better at sowing than me, and you're smarter. I only want to be near you, anything else is just extra, and if you ever wanted to get your own room, even ban holding hands, I'd still stay."
Rosemary: "Don't sound too desperate now."
Gray: "Hey I'm not good at this! Don't sound like Soku. You're supposed to rub off on her not the other way around!"
Rosemary: "I thought you said I was funny."
Gray: "Well yeah I do think it's funny, but it's only funny if I'm allowed to have my stupid response after."
Rosemary: "Well I'll rest assured, because you've got a lot of those."
Gray: "See like that!"
Rosemary wanted to talk to Gray about it. About the things Calgary said. How scared she was inside Athens dungeon. The pain she felt watching Irsa fade away amidst her healing of Gray. How close she was to dying in her attempts to defeat him. Everything she did felt like a harsh scar, one that would reopen the moment she even thought about it. So she'd get Gray to laugh, so she could laugh. And they could actually relax. But after about thirty minutes or so, Rosemary panicked and pulled Gray back toward the training field. Where they could figure out what to do next, and explain to Ryo where they were.
Gray: "Hope Gordon isn't there to hit us!"
Rosemary: "Don't say that out loud!"
Gray: "See now you're sounding like me! Way better than Soku!"
But when they returned, they found the yard empty of them. Instead they heard them from the Commanders meeting room, where they rushed to join. Finding it rushing in and out with people, Commanders, all while Gordon, Leo, Ryo, Edward, Soku, and Julius stood together over a map of the Capital grounds.
Gordon: "Good, you're finally here. I needed to speak with you both, you all, about this Siege."
Gray: "Do you guys know the plan yet!?"
Gordon: "Not exactly. Right now it seems too simple. Just putting all focus on what we've already been doing, rounding up our people, taking back our land. But now it's focused. We're taking back the major cities, and I want your help taking back the biggest. When you last stepped foot in that Capital, the Sect took everything from us. Our strength, our safety, our families. The next time you go in? You'll be taking it all back."
All of their eyes widened. With a whirlpool of memories. Ophelia's screams, Musashi's soul being torn out, Kioshi's top half bursting to soak them in blood. But there, Edward and Soku saw their only family left. Gray had killed Jeremiah. Rosemary had failed to do everything she fought for, whether it be facing Carla, protecting Ophelia, stopping Gray from leaving them, or stopping them from going into that damn ballroom. Although, it wasn't the same anymore. The last time they trained this hard in Greenvale, they'd just lost everything. The same was true now, but that everything expanded to Athens and everyone in it. They had expanded. From Soku only being able to jump and throw out a small wind blade with her wind, Rosemary breaking herself from the smallest use of the Fourth stage, Edward holding everything inside even if it cost his life, and Gray couldn't take a punch without falling to the ground. They'd all been hit, cut, screamed at, thrown through walls. They'd been tormented, tortured, captured.
In the hands of Potential, Lower, Upper Pillars, Spirit Beasts, Bounty Hunters, other countries, kings. In the hands of themselves. They stood, together, free, and willing to put themselves back into hell. If it made everything they'd lost worth it. So Gray could rest easy, so Rosemary could feel useful, so Edward could live up to the Helsing Legacy, so Soku could live the way Ophelia wanted her to, and so Julius could gain immense renown from freeing Walgonia. And return to Valatroctius, its only living heir to the throne.
Edward wanted to speak first, but he looked to Gray. Gray's eyes were widened with more fear than anyone else, so he looked to Rosemary. Rosemary was frozen silent, without any idea of how to react, so she wanted to see how Soku felt about the entire situation. And Soku sat with her eyes to the wooden floor, too terrified of going back to the Capital to even think about talking.
Ryo: "Even still it's not starting tomorrow. But at the end of the month, maybe earlier, the Siege must happen. You still have things to learn and trials to get over, so don't worry about not being ready. Just know you have time to try."
Gray: "...Then where do we start?"
Ryo: "I'd say right back to what you were doing, but I think Gordon's right. The time for relaxing, games, it might be over. Now, it's time to turn Spirit Boot Camp into a Leviathan one. So you'll be prepared to face the Capital, and Arthur."