Chapter 122: Man vs Hospitality

Chapter 122: Man vs Hospitality

The Bohens had gathered quite the motley crew of allies across their journey. It didnt occur to Basil just how many until they gathered for a war council.

No tent could hold them all, so they held the meeting on the deck of Cassandras ship. General Leblanc, chief commander of the French Armed Forces, was the first to teleport in; his aide, Neria Elissalde, followed shortly. Leaders from the Swords of Saint George gathered under the paladin Simeon, alongside minor warchiefs the Bohens helped in Germany and Hungary. None impressed foreign dignitaries as much as Vasis father, Branio, who had guards pull out a red carpet so his feet wouldnt touch the dirty ground. At least he took the time to hug his daughter in public along the way, much to her chagrin.

I am so proud, said the demon king with tears in his eyes. I look away for one month, and you are already higher leveled than Daddy!

You are not mad I became a full Fomor? Vasi asked her father. Considering she had denied a transformation into a fiend, she must have expected her father to be bitter about it.

Why? Your mothers cruel fairy elegance is why I fell in love with her in the first place! Maure wiped tears off his reptilian eyes. I already imagine you crushing mortals under your heel you grew up too fast

I, uh Vasi rubbed her hands together, clearly unsure how to reply. Thank you, Father.

You you called me Father His daughters words only caused Maure to cry once more. Im so happy!

While his behavior made Vasi uncomfortable, Basil noticed a small smile forming at the edge of the witchs lips. Perhaps there was hope for these two.

Even Ronald was present at the gathering. A Boss leaving his dungeon exposed the Neurotower to danger by removing its forcefield, but by now Chteau Muloup was a well-fortified fortress. Enough troops protected the Guilds base so that Ronald could afford to join the assault.

Only one person was missing.

Wheres Varney? Basil asked, though he already knew the answer.

Hiding, Shellgirl replied with a smirk. No seriously, Ive no idea.

Your guess is correct, Vasi said with a snort. Ive contacted him through the Logs. He said he was too busy treating refugees to send military support, but he will make sure his dungeon would work as a fallback zone, whatever that means.

Basil wondered each day why he had spared that cowardly vampire. I should summon him as a meat shield, he complained as he and his teammates took their seats around the war table. But knowing the leech, hell dodge and let us eat bullets at an inconvenient time.

There were many faces he did not recognize among the warlords present, including a man dressed as a Buckingham guard and snapping orders at a certain Karim. Most humans present were Europeans however, and either level sixty or approaching it. The Bohens remained the most powerful group present, but this war council was not to be underestimated.

Is it wise to organize a meeting so close to the enemys territory? Simeon asked the assembled warlords. Cassandras warship remained a few kilometers close to Ashoks God-Field.

Metal Olympus must have already detected us by now. General Leblanc stroked his beard as he observed the thunder-saturated horizon. However, I suspect they will wait for us to enter their masters field before engaging us. Their objective is not to win in a pitched battle, but to protect their territory. They possess eighty kilometers of buffer land to bleed us dry, so why would they attack us now?

I doubt they expect our plan of attack either, Cassandra said. They must be preparing for a standard assault rather than the more unorthodox tactics we've discussed.

Are we certain this ritual of yours will work, Cassandra? Simeon asked with skepticism. We exploited a similar flaw to invade the Unitys systems, but it strikes me as odd that Metal Olympus shares it.

I believe they are unaware of their weakness, Cassandra replied. We have experimented with scrying. We can observe parts of their dungeons by using our allies godly essences as a focus.

They dont know anything, Little Nessia confirmed. These people meddle with forces they do not comprehend.

General Leblanc joined his hands. What you want to do is a repeat of our successful attack on the Unity: make their Faction network believe we are part of it and let us in.

Oh, I love a good decapitation strike. Branio reminisced in his chair like a serial killer reliving his crime. I collected so many heads over my long career the nostalgia

We must take the Apocalypse Forces troops into account, General Leblanc pointed out. Our intelligence division informed us they intend to leave Thessaloniki once the Incursion concludes. From early reports, the Horsemen have elected to downsize their army and move with a smaller elite guard.

Basil scowled. From his experience in Hungary, he knew that the Apocalypse Forces version of downsizing involved culling the weak to help the strong gain levels. How much time will it take them to reach Athens?

Less than you, Basil, Neria Elissalde replied grimly. Their force is mostly made of undead, who do not have to worry about fatigue or logistics.

We must deal with Metal Olympus before the Incursion ends, General Leblanc stated. Or else well either be trapped between two armies or ambushed at an inconvenient time.

Branio shifted on his seat. Why not let our enemies kill each other first and then finish off the winner?

Because the Apocalypse Forces goal is to capture Kalki, not claim territory, Leblanc replied sharply. From experience, the Horsemen react to any resistance with overwhelming force. If the Avatar is accidentally killed in the crossfire, then we can kiss the planet goodbye. Letting the Malekings thralls escape with him would be just as terrible.

Branio didnt seem too bothered about the possibility of Earths destruction, but seemed to relish the upcoming fight. I will intercept them then, he decided. I have run out of heroes worth killing in my world, and my forces are better at claiming territory than rescuing hostages.

Vasi frowned at her sire with genuine concern. Besides the fact both Horsemen are stronger than you, Father, Belphegor is nearly impossible to destroy and Brina is an expert combatant.

My pony princess, your concern warms my heart. Branio chuckled. However, it is not the first time our family has danced with ghosts and liches. If this cant reassure you, I only intend to delay these two. You dont reach my age without learning when to exit the stage.

Oh my, I love those, one of his demon bodyguards said with a smile full of nostalgia. Nothing beats a paladins crushed face when he realizes well be back for round two.

Let us focus, please, Simeon grumbled, interrupting the chitchat. The main risk I see with this operation is that Ashok and Maxwell will evacuate their hostages once we begin the invasion.

Im not sure they can, Neria said. According to Benjamin, the Parthenon dungeon was specifically engineered to seal the Avatars away. Other dungeons wont do the trick.

General Leblanc remained skeptical. We cant exclude the possibility that Maxwell created a backup location without informing his allies. Considering the mans duplicitous nature, I sincerely doubt he doesnt have an ace up his sleeve. We must block all possibilities of retreat.New novel chapters are published on

Metal Olympus controls dozens of dungeons, maybe more, Simeon pointed out. Some of them could be outside Europe.

According to Benjamins postmortem notes, the Parthenon is the hub for them all, Neria replied. Since Ashok acts as the factions leader, his dungeon serves as the power center of the entire organization.

Ashok is Metal Olympus Guildmaster? Basil frowned. Not Maxwell?

The hall the Bohens landed in was some kind of temple, but not the Greek kind. Hundreds of colossal neurotowers supported a marble ceiling so tall not even Rosemarines head could reach it. The pond under the teams feet reached up to the ankles, and lotus flowers floated on its surface. All in all, the place reminded Basil more of an Indian sanctuary than the Greek Parthenon.

Wheres Steve? Shellgirl asked almost immediately. The Steamobile should have teleported with them, yet it was nowhere to be seen. Wheres Simeon?

Weve been had! Basil grit his teeth as he noticed a distinct absence of reinforcements. He scanned the area with Monster Insight, expecting Ashoks soldiers to ambush them. Bugsy!

I sense someone, Boss! Bugsy looked up at the other end of the hall, right behind Basil. There!

Basil turned around, his halberd raised for the kill. Instead of striking, he froze in place.

Three golden statues of the Trimurti sat at the end of the strange sanctuary in a lotus position, each of them larger than Rosemarine herself. The representations of Brahma and Shiva gazed down on the Bohens with an ominous look, but it was Vishnu that spooked Basil the most. Two of the Preservers four hands held crimson spheres within which the vague shape of a man and a woman could be seen. Basil immediately recognized Kalkis silhouette.

A second man sat atop the sphere, a mocking smile on his loathsome face.

Im sorry I had to reroute you so suddenly, Maxwell falsely apologized with a mocking tone. I thought we should have a little chat.

Time had come to a halt, yet the enemy could still move within it.

Chat this! Rosemarine raised her cannon arms at Maxwell without skipping a beat. Eden

Stop! Basil shouted, his dragon halting her movement. You might harm Kalki!

I would not recommend it. Anton Maxwell hadnt changed one iota since the Bohens last encountered him in Paris. His red, lionlike mane smelled of blood, and sunglasses hid his deceitful eyes from sight. Everything about his body language screamed danger. If you wake these two up, this ruined world will come to an end.

Vasi floated above Basil, her staff raised for battle. My Logs option is disabled, she warned her boyfriend. I cannot send messages.

Thinking about summoning reinforcements, are you? Maxwell crossed his legs in amusement. Dont tell me youre worrying about the cannon fodder?

What have you done with our allies, villain? Bugsy snarled, his star of a tail turning red as blood.

Nothing. Your plans will unfold as you expected, at least once time resumes in three, two Maxwell snapped his fingers. Right now.

The gray veil covering the world vanished and the march of time resumed. Floating droplets fell into the pond as gravity called them down, and the sound of distant explosions rocked the ceiling. It appeared the Bohens allies were assaulting the complex as planned.

Or they had fallen into ambushes.

If were here Shellgirl frowned as she realized the obvious problem. Who is taking care of Ashok?

Nobody, Im afraid, Maxwell replied. Perhaps I will send you to him once were done. Im in the mood to gloat for a few more minutes.

Wary of a trap, Basil analyzed Kalkis prison and Maxwell himself with Monster Insight. The System confirmed the man trapped in the sphere was the real deal.

As for Dismaker Labs CEO a notification spelled out his real name to Basil.

Mammon, System VirusLevel [ERROR]Faction: Apocalypse Force.

Mammon Basil clenched his fist. So it was true you are a Horseman.

Ive always favored the guise of the wealthy and the powerful, Maxwell mused. It helps with the suckers.

All this time, you were just the Malekings little pet? Plato snorted. Disappointing.

Is the flock's master the largest ram eating the grass, or the shepherd who herded them? Maxwell chuckled. That brute does not even care for his own faction, let alone command it. It is I who raised him as an icon to worship and convinced fools to follow in his rampage. Many civilizations are too peaceful to embrace the weapons provided by a System, even with all the carrots it provides. They need an existential threat to gather against.

And the Unity? Vasi glared wrathfully at the mastermind. You shared the Neurotowers blueprints with them, did you not?

Dragons do not need any push to think themselves masters of the universe, let alone their so-called Grandmaster. Maxwell made a mock reverence. But true, those self-centered reptiles wouldnt even have imagined the existence of other worlds if I hadnt revealed it to them.

It was him all along, Basil thought grimly. The blood of a hundred worlds stained this cruel puppeteers hands.

Truly, who is more worthy of calling themselves Conquest than my humble person? Maxwell put a hand on his chest, right where his heart of stone should have been. Humans called Alexander a conqueror because he despoiled a quarter of this world, but I have destroyed thousands of them. His empire lasted a fortnight, while those I have inspired trample billions into dust as we speak.

Everything that this monster touched turned to ashes.

And now youre going to kill Kalki before our eyes and add this planet to your list of crimes? Basil asked with a scowl. Is that yet another cruel trick of yours?

Kill the Avatar? Is that what you think this is, a hit-and-run? To Basils surprise, Maxwells condescending smirk appeared genuine. I would never raise a hand against either of these two.

Maxwell caressed Kakis prison with his free hand, his touch as soft as a lovers.

After all, he said with the most maniacal of grins, my beloved child isnt born yet.

The words hung in the hall like a curse. Basil paled behind his helmet, as he finally realized that survival hadnt been Maxwells only motivation for his atrocities. He had assumed the parasite left a trail of broken worlds in his wake in the name of survival, and perhaps it was one of his motives.

However, there was a second urge inherent in all lifeforms. One Basil, even Walter, had failed to take into account.

Youve never wondered, Maxwell taunted them with a vile smirk, why I called the company Dismaker Labs, have you?

Reproduction.