Chapter 93: Man vs Factory

Chapter 93: Man vs Factory

As far as dragonlords went, Scalefrost had it easy.

Born on a cold world with pristine white scales, he had lived a privileged childhood among a wealthy, minion-owning brood. For years he had grown stronger on the work of others, as was his birthright, until it was his turn to serve. He enrolled in the Unitys army, where he learned to believe in Grandmaster Wyrdes vision of a perfectly ordered universe, and in the dragon races mission to bring peace, culture, and civilization to the lesser races across the cosmos.

Yes, sometimes civilization came at the end of a star cannons barrel, but non-dragons were like children in need of an education. If you truly loved them, then you shouldnt spare the rod when they misbehaved. It was an act of tough love, truly. When Scalefrost ate minions alive as a warning to the others to obey his orders, he was only showing them basic decency. Anyone with a good heart would have done the same.

Slowly but surely, Scalefrost had risen through the Unitys ranks until he became a Rook-Ranked commander under the esteemed General Blackcinders. The unexpected demise of her son Steamslimea well-bred fellow, but one that stood in the way of his promotionallowed him a chance to assume a leadership role in her new operation. He and many dragonlords had been sent to the primitive world of Earth to gather resources and tame the local savages to fuel the Lunar Cannons development. Holding command over a factory and semi-strategic location might have seemed unworthy of someone of his abilitieshe was level forty-five after allbut Scalefrost considered it a chance to prove himself to his superiors. He had worked his minions to the bone to exceed gearsmen production quotas in the hope of obtaining a governorship.

He could already imagine his future once the Unity had fully subjugated this world: retiring to a humble yet lucrative governor role, enjoying his hoard as minions happily worked to mine gold and opals in the depths of the earth for his enjoyment. Scalefrost would become richer without doing anything, and the apes would find meaning in their purposeless existence. They would contribute to something greater than themselves; their masters net worth.

Everyone would win, really.

At least, that was his plan until he woke up to the tune of explosions rocking his base. Alarms echoed in the metal halls of his factories. The walls trembled and bolts fell off the ceiling.

This didnt look good.

What is going on here?! Scalefrost asked as he rushed into his command room, the steel ground trembling beneath his feet. Three of his hobgoblin minionscraven, but cunningwere frantically typing on the keyboards of the powerful holomachines controlling the base. The light of half a dozen monitors nearly blinded him as they showed pictures of explosions and devastating blasts.

Were being bombed, Your Majesty! one of his minions stated the obvious. One of the monitors turned white as an artillery shell hit the relevant camera.

Is it the Apocalypse Force?! Scalefrost had been asked to hold onto the bridge in case the demons descended from the north, where they had established fortified positions, but none of his scouts mentioned the presence of an army on his doorstep! Then bomb them back! What is Roarwing doing?! Is he napping on the job again?!

He already went out in the field to counterattack, Your Majesty, one of his hobgoblins answered. Permission to deploy the advanced gearsmen?

Granted, Scalefrost replied as he focused on the monitors. New models of mechanical soldiers poured out of the factory: mechanical spiders the size of elephants equipped with missile launchers on their backs; rounded satellites with turrets flying on their own by negating gravity around them; and red-colored gearsmen spewing fire from pipes and tentacles.

Spider TankLevel 39 [Artificial/Bug]Faction: Unity.Bomber SatelliteLevel 39 [Artificial/Avian]Faction: Unity.Hellfire GearsmanLevel 40 [Artificial]Faction: Unity.

These robots were Scalefrosts pride and joy. His loyal Crafter minions had toiled days and nights to bring the schematics to life so they could fuel their masters war machine. A pity these apes couldnt create anything with a higher level than their overseers; level 40 or so gearsmen were powerful, but far from the strongest constructs in the Unitys databases.

Still, these robots should be more than enough to repel whoever was stupid enough to attack his

A terrible screech echoed in the command room, causing Scalefrost to cover his sensitive ears to avoid being deafened. A terrible beam of light had hit his robots right outside the factory, vaporizing them instantly.

To Scalefrosts horror, a mighty bug monster burrowed out of the fuming wreckages of his troops. The creature, a centipede of colossal proportions, burning with power and wrath. He rampaged across the metal bridge linking the factories to the opposing river shore at an unnatural speed. Neither soldiers nor barricades could slow him down. A massive, familiar-looking armored train strapped to the brim with artillery weapons followed in his wake, firing missiles left and right. A strange mimic rode atop it with a maniacal grin.

Bugsy Alphone Venture (Volcanipede)Level 63 [Elemental/Bug]Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).Steve Roadwonders (Steamobile)Level 63 [Artificial]Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).Shellgirl (Mimic Booty)Level 63 [Slime/Aquatic]Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).

Scalefrost choked in horror upon seeing their levels.

Sixty-three He gulped, his mighty reptilian brain unable to process what he saw. Thats impossible

No creature in his base even came close to these invaders power. Not even Scalefrost himself. It must have been the Apocalypse Force. Only they could field such powerful units.

Your Majesty, weve identified the ringleader! One of his hobgoblin minions typed on his keyboard and summoned a picture of a fearsome horror trampling steel walls underfoot; a mighty reptilian beast covered in leaves and thorns, with petals for a face and hungry fangs.

I am the seed from which your nightmares sprout! the monster roared with a beautiful, gleeful voice. I will sow your corpses with my brood!

Rosemarine Eglantine de la Barthe (Tropidrake)Level 63 [Plant/Dragon]Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).

Scalefrost hissed in rage upon seeing her creature Type. A race traitor! He should have known! No way these monster savages could destroy a Unity installation without a proper dragon leading the charge!

Wait, this flowery vermin couldnt have been a natural dragon. She lacked the presence and nobility of a genuine wyrm. She was a pale copy of Scalefrosts race, an imitation spawned by this planets broken System. Her kinds very existence represented an insult to true dragons and had to be eradicated. Monsters could be tamed and reforged into proper minions; these creatures were faulty from birth.

Speaking of dragons, Scalefrost searched on the monitors for Roarwing only to freeze upon seeing his comrades beheaded corpse appear on one. The killer, an armored ape wielding a pointed stick of steel, was shredding gearsmen left and right at supersonic speed. Even Scalefrosts trained eyes struggled to follow his movements.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Basil BohenLevel 63 [Humanoid] (Tamer 20; Alchemist 1; Runesmith 9; Technomancer 3; Deathknight of the Sepulcher 10; Dragonknight 20)Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).

Basil Bohen? Where had he heard the name before? It sounded so familiar

Critical hit! Supereffective hit!

Looks like he has been Plato tried to think of a good quip, but the best he could come up with seemed terrible. Looted!

Was that pun truly necessary, oh king of cats? Vasi asked as her invisibility spell ran out. Most hobgoblins were dead, except for one whom she had restrained with chains of ice.

I always kill my enemies twice, Plato said as he stepped over the remains of hobgoblins and jumped on the computer. Once with words, then with swords. Their shame prevents resurrection.

An excellent way to live, Vasi mused as she faced her captive. I hope Basil will forgive me for this indiscretion

Vasi gathered her breath, then pressed her lips against the hobgoblins. The sight of a hideous green humanoid kissing Basils girlfriend made Plato shudder, even if it was for a good cause.

[Hobgoblin Assistant] has been [Charmed]!

Now, my dear, Vasi said as she released the hobgoblin, whose will was now under her mental control. Would you mind granting me complete control of this installation?

Yes, Your Majesty, the thrall replied as he moved on to the monitors. The shadow of a black dragon briefly materialized on them, their features indistinct; it briefly glared at Plato and Vasi before vanishing without a word.

Ominous, Plato commented before deciding to tease Vasi a bit. I would wash your lips if I were you. If you taste like a goblin, Basil is likely to eat you on the spot.

Dont worry, he has already tasted me in many places, Vasi replied coyly as she observed the keyboard. How very interesting. The rune language system is the same as with the holomachine.

Your Majesty, I am sorry, we have been remotely cut off from the larger network, the hobgoblin apologized. I only have access to local infrastructure.

Can you remove the slave collars? Plato shuddered. He had always been thankful to Basil and Ren for never putting him through that torture; he didnt wish it on anyone, not even a dog.

Vasi smiled enigmatically. She glanced at a monitor showcasing an inactive gearsman. I think we can do far more than that.

Basil was busy tearing a gearsman apart when the rest of them shut down all at once.

Ugh? He looked around the ruins of barricades, halberd raised. Half a dozen gearsmen had fallen inactive to the ground and all the alarms ceased. Whats happening?

Basil should have known better than to expect an answer from machines, as none replied to his query. The explosions that had rocked the area not so long ago slowly stopped. This disturbed him slightly, and he refused to lower his guard.

Hello? Basil kicked a gearsman in its metal frame. To his surprise, the machine instantly rose up on its telescopic metal legs; its central eye snapped open with a green light. Yet it didnt open fire immediately. Whats happening?

In response, the gearsman started to move around. Its legs clumsily stepped to the right, then to the left, then daddled along the street in a way Basil found farcical.

Ta da, ta da, tada tada tada tadaaa The voice of Plato came out of the gearsman. Tadadada!

Basil squinted as he lowered his halberd. The Pink Panther, really?

Do not mock the classics, doubter, Plato replied through the gearsman.

Handsome, weve taken control of the command room, Vasis voice echoed in the background, this time through the bases loudspeakers. We can command the gearsmen from it. Kalki is freeing the hostages as we speak.

I suppose thats one of the downsides of relying on drones to do your dirty work, Basil mused. Youre one good hacker short of a disaster.

Also His girlfriend chuckled. I humbly suggest that you take levels in Technomancer next.

Whys that? Basil asked with a frown.

A System notification appeared in response.

Vasilisa Yaga has forwarded you the following Crafting Schematics: [Hellfire Gearsmen].

Basil looked up at the huge death robot in front of them, then over his shoulder at the factory that created it. A gleeful smile formed on his lips.

Karma was a harsh mistress.