Chapter 107: Man vs Bloom

Chapter 107: Man vs Bloom

They buried Shesha and Garud in a mass grave next to a thousand others.

There were simply too many corpses and not enough space for funerals. The entire region stank of murder, blood, and charred flesh. The fires raged over Shumen hours after the battle, torching whatever building had survived the orbital bombardment. Only the dungeon on the hill remained intact as the citys tombstone.

When Basil asked Simeon how many had survived, the old man sighed in sorrow. Too few.

What did that mean? Thousands? Hundreds? How many people had perished tonight to satisfy a dragons cruelty? Basil had lost count of the corpses he had been forced to dump in holes hastily dug in the muddy ground.

Worse were those whose remains couldnt be recovered.

Like his mother.

As Rosemarine helped cover the grave pit with earth, Basil glanced at Steve. The Steamobile worked hard as a road roller to push the dead into their final resting place, a ghastly deed it performed while in its new form. The transformation unlocked from the Gearsman changed the front half of the Steamobile into a mechanical torso with mighty steel arms and the Gehenna Cannon for a head; the wheels at the back of the vehicle supported the body like a centaurs legs.

No matter Steves shape, a red spot on its metal shielding had yet to fade away.

Its her blood, isnt it? Basil guessed. You tried to save her, but it wasnt enough.

The Steamobile let out a sorrowful cry in response. Basil gently patted its armor with his hand to reassure it.

Im not blaming you, Steve. No more than I would blame a lifeguard for failing to save a woman from drowning after she has been thrown in the water. Basil glared at the moon. The blame rests squarely on those who endangered her in the first place.

Shellgirl and Bugsy had set up a Lair to connect the camp with the rest of their allies in Western Europe. As for Vasi, she had left for Outremonde to come back with reinforcements. This left only Plato and Rosemarine to help Basil mourn for the dead. His tropidrake planted seeds on the corpse-infested soil after helping cover it.

This way the dead will be reborn as trees, Mister, Rosemarine explained kindly. This is why humans leave flowers on graves, right?

Basil didnt have the heart to correct her. He simply looked at the spot where Shesha and Garud now rested. At least they would have a tomb for others to mourn over. Basil would raise a stone for his mother, but without her remains, he would never find closure.

This feels like when we buried Ren all over again, Plato said sadly. All were missing is the rain.

You think it would get easier eventually. Basil closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath. It never does.

No tears flowed out of Basil Bohens eyes. He was simply too exhausted for them. Once he would have sworn a blood oath over his mothers death and condemned the Unity to destruction; but as he stared at the blood-soaked ground, he couldnt even muster the anger to curse Blackcinders. He was simply too drained.

Basil Bohen felt empty inside.

With the citys destruction, survivors and military forces had retreated to a camp set in the countryside. Though the Swords of Saint George controlled another dungeon nearby, Simeon wisely realized that it would make for an obvious target. The enemy could attack them from above at any time after all.

Every soldier was busy with something: tending to the wounded, repairing equipment, surveying the area to avoid an ambush One would think most would have given up after todays disaster, but in desperate situations, there was no time for surrender. When its survival was on the line, man surrendered to the reptilian brain. Sorrow, fear, anger all of these mammalian emotions were pushed aside by the overwhelming urge to live another day.

Or perhaps all Shumens defenders had become numb to tragedy after too many of them. Basil wondered if he was in the same boat.

When Simeon landed next to the Bohens, Basil knew troubles were only starting. Sir Bohen, I have received worrying news, the paladin said. The Unity is retreating from Bulgaria.

Under normal circumstances, this news would have come as a relief. By now, Basil knew better than to get his hopes up. What do you mean?

Our troops and allies across the country all contacted me with the same intel, Simeon explained. Unity troops are either teleporting away or crossing the border south. Theyre leaving their installations and heavy machinery behind.

So this wasnt a planned retreat, but a panicked rout. Basil could only see one reason why Blackcinders would have her forces evacuate the country while abandoning hard-won resources.

Theyre going to bombard Bulgaria. Basil glared at the moon falling beyond the horizon. Earths satellite had almost disappeared from the sky, but it would come back soon enough. All of it.

Simeon nodded darkly. I guessed as much. Our allies counter-bombardment must have spooked them, so theyll wipe out our nation as a warning to all others.

Considering the moon needed to hover above the right face of Earth to target Bulgaria, then it meant the country had roughly twelve hours left before the next bombardment. A terribly short window of time.

Plato looked up at his best friend with a deep frown on his face. What do we do, dog?

We have no choice. Basil clenched his jaw in frustration. As much as it hurts me to say it Kalki will have to wait for now. Blinding the moons eye and killing Blackcinders takes priority.

Basil could only hope Metal Olympus wouldnt kill their friend in the meantime. He doubted murdering Kalki was Ashoks intentionconsidering he captured the Avatar alivebut the false gods motives remained obscure. He probably intended to use Kalki to further his own plans, whatever they were.

Well come for you, Kalki, Basil swore on his dead teammates graves. Shesha and Garud fought to the bitter end to protect their Tamer. Basil cut his fingertip open and shed blood on their grave to show his respect. I, Basil Jean-Franois Bohen, son of Dragan and Aleksandra Bohen, promise you that much. I swear to Christ that well save you, even if we must travel to the moon and back.

No oath of revenge this time? Plato asked.

I would rather swear to save the living than avenge the dead. Basil glared at the horizon and the vanishing moon. Though well do both in due time.

Afterward, the Bohens rejoined the camp to find it overcrowded. A Lair-linked portal allowed European reinforcements to arrive with the material needed to construct the Unity Neurotower. Its schematics were so complicated that it required dozens of crafters and twice as many workers to build, so Bugsy and Shellgirl helped human soldiers raise its steel foundations.

Among the reinforcements were familiar faces.

Here comes the French, Plato said. Do you bring good news to open the New Year? Please tell me you do. We need some right now.

Im afraid not, Plato. Neria Elissalde had come in full battle armor. Benjamin Leroy followed her like her shadow, his black wings furling around him like a cloak. He looked more like a classy vampire than Eddie ever did. Especially since the New Year Event is not yet done.

Unfortunately, she was right. The slaughter would carry on until midnight.

Neria gave Basil a pained look. Basil, I am sincerely sorry for your loss

I dont want to hear that, Neria, Basil interrupted her. He knew she meant well, but he was in no mood to hear condolences. Not as long as Blackcinders breathed. Not now.

I understand. Neria wisely decided not to push the subject further. Let me say this at least: the Unity wont get away with this. Well fight at your side.

We? Plato asked while squinting at Benjamin. I thought this one was under litter arrest?

General Leblanc is giving him special privileges for good behavior, Neria replied.

And because you will require my expertise for this particular operation. Benjamin shrugged. Neria is my parole officer. She has orders to shoot me dead if I try to escape.

But you wont, Neria said with a gentle smile. You are not that kind of man, Benjamin.

Basil noticed that these two were now on a first-name basis. Good. They both needed a friend.

Once our man-made Neurotower connects to the Unity network, I will launch two programs, Benjamin explained. The first will create a portal between this particular tower and the Unitys lunar base. I will do my best to open it in a relatively safe place and keep it there so you can make your way back, but youll be on your own on the other side.

And the second program? Basil asked.

It will activate a unique, viral Awaken Soul spell of Walter Tyes design and spread it through the Unitys network. Benjamin observed Basil sharply. He said you had commissioned this weapon.

Sort of. Basil was surprised Walter went through with the proposal in the end. Perhaps he cared in his own creepy undead way. How does it work?

If it works the spell should awaken the shackled soul of every Gearsmen it affects, granting them intelligence and self-awareness. The Unitys network is heavily segmented, so I doubt it will expand beyond Earth, but it should infect all of their terminals on our world.

In the best case scenario, the Unitys forces on Earth would find themself with a civil war on their hands. This would cripple their operations on the planet. In the worst case scenario

Can we guarantee the awakened Gearsmen will shoot at the enemy rather than us? Simeon voiced Basils own fears.

No, Benjamin replied bluntly. Thats the thing with free will. The awakened Gearsmen will do whatever they want. Each individual is as likely to stay loyal as to rebel.

Simeon crossed her arms. Its not the best of plans, he said. But the confusion it sows in the Unitys ranks might secure our victory.

Im willing to take the risk, Basil said. When confronted with the possibility of Blackcinders using the lunar cannon to reduce his homeland to ashes, even the worst plan looked viable. Does General Leblanc agree with me?

Neria nodded sharply. We dont have enough ICBMs left for another strike on the moon. Either we win this round or we lose the war.

The Unitys dungeons produce a field with a very simple effect, Benjamin warned Basil. Level penalties do not apply within its range. All their forces on the moon will fight back at full power, and Blackcinders herself will likely exceed the Level Barriers limit.

Basil shrugged. He was used to being the underdog.

When can you open the portal, Mr. Leroy? Simeon asked Benjamin. We only have half a day before we enter the cannons line of fire.

Hours, the programmer replied. Before the moon rises again at least.

So well only have a short window of time to sabotage the weapon. Simeon nodded sharply. Very well. We go all in.

What about the class information I required? Basil asked.

Neria forwarded Basil data through the Logs. We managed to map out the Alchemist, Runesmith, and Technomancer classes, since some of our soldiers filled out each of them. Walter Tye also shared details on the Chronomancer class, but Warrior Saint is unknown to him.

Basil checked her information and grunted in disappointment. With only five levels to assign, empowering Runesmith now would strengthen his Runestorm and Magic-Eater Perks. Both were good, but not quite appropriate for what awaited his Party. Leveling up Technomancer would increase his Runic spellcasting slightly and help build golems, which required more time than they had. Alchemists Perks would only enhance his crafting abilities further.

The Chronomancer class though

Warrior Saint Level 1 to 5 Stat Gains: +5 STR, +5 AGI, +5 VIT, +5 SKI, +5 MAG, +5 INT, +5 CHA, +5 LCK. Youve earned 200 HP and 100 SP.Turbo: Physical (Passive): Your [Physical] attacks ignore Resistance and inflict 30% more damage.Sacrosaint Tactics I (Passive): Grants +10% damage, damage resistance, evasion, and accuracy to all party members.Divine Auspices I (Passive): You can now learn and cast [Prayer] Spells up to Tier I. If you gain the ability to cast [Prayer] Spells from other classes or Perks, the Tiers stack together. Additionally, if you possess Perks in other schools of magic, their Tier is raised by I.[All for One] expanded [Sacrosaint Tactics I] to your Guild. [Divine Auspices I] raised your [Runic] Spellcasting Tier to III.Congratulations, Rosemarine Eglantine de la Barthe metamorphosed into her final form: the [Hesperides Dragon]! All her Perks have been upgraded and she has gained new ones!Rosemarines [God Field: Garden of the Hesperides] has changed the field into a [Holy Garden]![Wood], [Life], [Fire], [Water], [Earth], [Light], and [Mythic] are empowered.[Corrosion], [Metal], and [Frost] elements are weakened.All creatures with a strong [Wood] affinity benefit from a [Regen] effect and Resistance to Ailments while on the Field.[Plant] creatures have all their stats buffed.

Luck

80

(A+20%)

30

(C+20%)

61

(B+20%)

77

(A+20%)

Physical

Mind

Soul

Corrosion

Metal

Wood

Life

Support

Ailment

Strong

Strong

-

Weak

Weak

Strong

Strong

Strong

Strong

Fire

Water

Earth

Wind

Frost

Lightning

Light

Darkness

Mythic

Strong

Strong

Strong

-

Weak

-

Strong

-

Strong

Passive Perks

Active Perks

Divine Vessel

Gaias Fury

Vineyard Queen

Heras Grace

Ladon

Hesperides Seed

Cosmic Flower

Eden Guns

God-Field: Garden of the Hesperides

Divine Harvest

Nymph Mode

Bacchanal Mists

Turbo: Wood

Wine Tribute

Plant Crown

Firepetal Storm

Passive Perks:

Divine Vessel: Halves all damage taken, negates [Instadeath] effects, protects from all ailments, and grants permanent [Float] status. Additionally, the user can act as a deity for the purpose of empowering [Priest] and similar classes.Vineyard Queen: Rosemarine treats all natural weapons, such as claws, fangs, breath and vines, as if she had advanced proficiency with them (x2 damage, +10%). Additionally, Rosemarines natural attacks may inflict the [Paralysis], [Poison] or [Sleep] ailment on contact (30% chance for each ailment).Ladon: Rosemarines natural attacks benefit from the [Bugslayer], [Manslayer], and [Giantslayer] effects (x3 damage against [Bugs], [Humanoids], and [Giants]).Cosmic Flower: When exposed to sunlight or moonlight, Rosemarine benefits from [Regen] and [SP Regen] Buffs (recovers 1/16th of full HP/SP per minute), and her [Eden Guns] Perk doesnt require charging time.God-Field: Garden of the Hesperides: Rosemarine transforms the local area (one km per level radius maximum) into a personal, advantageous field. She can mute this effect or reduce its range at will.Nymph Avatar: Rosemarine can switch shape between her dragon self and a humanoid-sized dryad avatar at will. When in dryad form, Rosemarines type changes to [Plant/Divine], and her physical stats are halved, but she can otherwise use all her other abilities.Turbo: Wood: All of Rosemarines [Wood] elemental attacks bypass Resistance and inflict 30% more damage.Plant Crown: Rosemarine immediately inflicts [Charm] on all [Plant] Types within fifty meters of herself unless they possess a higher level, higher Charisma, the boss status, or immunity to the [Charm] ailment. If the ailment is lifted on a [Plant] Type affected by it, they become immune to [Plant Crown] for 24 hours.

Active Perks:

Gaias Fury: 100 SP, [Wood], [Earth]. Summons frenzied plants to attack enemies and infest buildings within Rosemarines God-Field (150 [Wood]/[Earth] damage).Heras Grace: 100 SP, [Life], [Light]. Regenerates HP to all allies within a fifty meters radius (base power 300).Hesperides Seed: 60 SP, [Life], [Mythic], [Wood]. Rosemarine can spawn a Hesperides level 30 Monster from her body ([Plant]/[Fairy] Type). Hesperides are powerful dryads with magical abilities who can serve as the seed of a new forest.Eden Guns: 150 SP, [Wood], [Mythic]. After charging up for a minute, Rosemarine unleashes a powerful breath of divine pollen from her mouth and twin cannons (base power 120 per cannon, [Wood]/[Mythic] damage; this benefits from [Vineyard Queen]s proficiency multiplier). This magical attack ignores the targets defensive stat and armor, but not damage reduction.Divine Harvest: 150 SP, [Life], [Wood]. Rosemarine can spawn a [Golden Apple] fruit. Consumption of this item fully regenerates the targets HP. Rosemarine can generate as many fruit as she wishes so long as she has the SP needed.Bacchanal Mists: 40 SP, [Mind], [Ailment]. Creates a powerful mist that dispels buffs/debuffs in the area and has a 30% chance of inflicting the [Drunk] ailment.Wine Tribute: 40 SP, [Water]. Rosemarine traps a single target in a prison of wine, choking them to death (100 [Water] damage per minute of exposure).Firepetal Storm: 80 SP, [Fire], [Wood]. Rosemarine unleashes a storm of burning petals (base power 150 [Fire]/[Wood] damage). This attack gains +20% chance of inflicting a critical hit.

The time has come, Mister! Rosemarine roared. Her voice, as terrible as melodious, echoed all across her garden. We will eat the moon, and then well shoot the baby stars!

The Bohens were going cosmic.