Chapter 88: Devils and Angels
I've never seen anything like this in all my years.
After what happened today, I'm lucky to have made it out alive.
Having lived in the royal capital of Ishtar for generations, my family had built a sizable farm to provide grain and livestock to feed our citizens. It was hard work, but it was a simple and honest life that provided for us.
Every decade those accursed beetles would emerge, intent on devouring our very livelihood. Thankfully we've always been able to prepare our defenses beforehand. With enough soldiers and farmers at hand, we would beat them back into the dark holes they emerged from.
However, this time, something was off. They came out a full two years early. Not only were we caught off-guard, but they swarmed in numbers greater than we had ever seen. I should have payed more attention to the warning signs that been cropping up.
The children playing in the fields had told us they heard strange high pitched sounds coming from the fields at night. We dismissed it, chalking it up to their over-eager imaginations. Later, the livestock began behaving strangely, they became hostile and uncooperative. We had to force them into the fields to graze.
I remember the last few days before the attack. The insects and birds were going mad! Chirping and screeching without end. Wolves howled at the moon until their throats gave out. It was as if the world itself was going mad.
The morning of the attack will forever be ingrained into my memory. Everyone could hear the noise and it seemed to be growing worse by the minute. People rushed out of their farms, gathering together in the fields to confirm that it wasn't just them.
Just as we'd made a collective decision to send someone into town, it stopped. Everyone was relieved that the ordeal had passed without incident. Then, much to our abject horror, the Iskarii beetles started emerging.
It was a disaster. Normally, the beetles prioritized our fields, only rarely attacking the people or livestock. Unlike the previous invasions, these beetles were crazed and seemed to be driven into a frenzy.
Striking out at anything within reach, they attacked without respite. Ignoring damage to themselves, they attacked without any sense of self-preservation. The only saving grace was that the crazed beetles even turned on their own kind.
I watched in horror, as my neighbors tried to fight the damn things, only to be torn apart on their own fields. I had to convince my fool of a son to take the family inside. Some of the farmers had already run off to inform the town guard. We only needed to survive until the soldiers arrived.
Backed into our home, I was forced to watch my son and grandson battle the beetles with pitchforks. I wished that I could do more, but as an old man, I knew that I'd only be getting into the way. With a heavy heart, I knelt to the floor and prayed for miracle.
'Blessed be thy kingdom and country'
'Blessed be the glorious light of dawn, that chase away the darkness'
'Your humble subject prays for salvation, please save my family'
'We ask this unto you, o brightest one, our lord and savior, Helios'
That day, I witnessed a true miracle! Our prayers were answered! War horns blared out and King Reginald the second himself had rallied the army. Reinforcements had arrived with him bearing an unknown banner.
They dashed in like thunder, trampling the beetles with their mighty wolves. Their majestic white armor glistened the sun like beacons of hope. Moving directly through the chaos, they helped evacuate us from this hellish nightmare, striking down heaven's wrath on any that got in their way.
What else could they be, other than Angels sent from heaven?
As we were snatched to safety, I saw that Angels weren't the only thing unleashed upon the beetles. Our lord Helios had dragged Devils from the bowels of hell itself to smite our foes. Clad in twisted black metal armor, they rode giant bears into combat, whilst striking out with cruel weapons.
Their sheer visceral might reminded me my days in the army, of those wild men who only found solace and comfort on the battlefield. I had to cover my grandchildren's eye, hoping to shelter them from witnessing the brutality.
We were taken into a temporary camp that had been erected for the survivors. Medical treatment and hot meals were provided to us by the strangers there. The people handling the food and supplies all wore the same strange dragon emblem that the troops used.
I asked them what it stood for, partly out of curiosity, and partly out of the need to properly thank for saving my family.
'Dragon's Den trading company'
I would remember that name for the rest of my days. The benefactors who saved us in our darkest hour.
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"I can't even begin to thank you for the support you've given us Zanir. I've prepared the items that you've requested for your rewards."
King Reginald had kept his end of the bargain, providing health potions that would be invaluable to my spatial world, along with unprocessed gold ore, and unlimited access to all libraries in the Ishtar Kingdom.
"Thank you, your majesty. My associate, Angel, will stay behind to facilitate the duplication of the library books."
The King was slightly shocked that I wouldn't be staying. He spoke out to ask why.
"You're leaving so soon? We'd love to have you stay to help us rebuild, surely we could work something out?"
Xander took the initiative to reply to King Reginald.
"Your majesty, we've discovered unknown magical devices that we believe to be involved in this attack. We're not sure how, but we suspect that it aggravated the beetles, forcing an early and especially aggressive attack."
King Reginald was understandingly outraged upon hearing this.
"Y-You mean someone did this intentionally! This is an act of war! Who was it?"
I stepped in to help pacify the king.
"Your majesty, it was my assault team that recovered the devices. We're looking into it, but it's going to take time to ascertain their origin. Xander has offered to take me to the spatial mages headquarters, so that we can ask them for help. If another kingdom or empire did this, the implications could be huge."
Visibly relieved, King Reginald passed over a scroll with his reply.
"I understand. Thank you again for everything you've done. Take this royal certification with you. It certifies you as an ally to the Kingdom of Ishtar. Godspeed to the both of you!"
Before leaving I needed to acquire one more thing to help set my plans into motion.
"Your majesty, one last request if I may? I'd like you to grant access to my other subordinate, so that he may use the docks to send off a small fleet."
He only needed a few seconds to think it over.
"I will grant your request, though I must caution that there are some known pirate groups in the area. Advise your men to stick to the trade routes and they should be fine."
Thanking the king, Xander and I left the royal palace, as I contacted Devil to begin a top secret operation. I let Xander know that I would need a few hours to prepare before we left for the spatial mage tower.
I needed to visit my spatial world and setup the things that I'd recently acquired. The Golden Sun Tiger and Iskarii Beetles needed to be integrated in with the other animals. I also needed to add the gold ore to the mine and health potions to the magical copse.
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