บท 34: Swarm [3]
Liam didn't try to explain what he knew or how to Dakkon or Luna. He muttered under his breath to Noona 'Are you able to pull up any local satellite imagery in the last 24 hours over the area?'
Noona responded without hesitation <Even better, I found an old 'Earth mapping' satellite that the Chinese had conveniently planted over the East Coast. It was able to pick up everything in the last 72 hours.>
'Great, they always were craftier than the US presidents wanted to admit. What's the situation?'
Luna gasped in surprise as an image suddenly formed in the air in front of her, Dakkon, and Liam.
Noona's voice narrated in an unusually serious tone <In the last 48 hours, the Shu moved North for approximately 125 miles before returning and rushing Southeast. Meanwhile, we can see traces of the Shanmao as they headed Southeast. They started with a great advantage, and as of the recording were already over 75 miles to the Southeast. But, the Shu move much faster than them…>
<Based on my projections, the Shu should catch up to the Shanmao refugees in the next 30 hours. We are approximately 122 miles off from the point of contact by my estimations. We could get there in 27 hours if we left now without rest, but our chances are…well to be honest non-existent.>
As Noona delivered her information in a perfectly straight forward and concise manner, she ended her statement with an obvious glare of discontent at Dakkon.
<He has recovered a good deal, after using all those precious resources he certainly should have. But, he is still not combat ready and will need another 8-12 hours of recovery before he is able to provide impactful support.>
Dakkon's mind raced as he heard all of this. His people were in danger, and yet he was a burden to the people who could possibly save them? He felt utterly despicable. He had already fought to his moment of death, yet at this moment he still felt as if he hadn't contributed enough.
Dakkon's brows furrowed. He was clearly hesitating before he spoke, "Would you go to help my people if we could make it?"
Dakkon's eyes were piercing as they looked at Liam. He no longer was mentally fogged, and knew he had previously wrote this man off as a retainer when clearly he was so much more.
"I intend to go." Liam spoke casually, as if the nature of Dakkon's impairment had no bearing on his decisions.
'Is this the confidence that one gains with power? He would go with or without me? But why, he's clearly not even of a feline branch of the Fera…?' Before Dakkon could voice his doubts, Liam spoke again.
"The Shu are currently chasing the Shanmao, and if they catch them they will decimate them. That being said, the Shanmao are also moving in the direction of the Huli settlement we are going to. Thus, if the Shanmao get wiped out, the Huli will be next."
Dakkon's eyes widened in realization. So they were only moving to face the Swarm to protect the Huli who would be bystanders if not for his people? Dakkon thought deeply, but he didn't remember any Huli tribal townships between them and the Laohu. Nonetheless, he was grateful for the assistance when a feminine voice spoke.
"But the Huli enclave I'm from isn't anywhere near there?" Luna's confused voice broke Dakkon's thought process. He turned fiercely toward Liam and was about to reprimand him, when the weird…thing…on his arm started berating Luna.
<Hey! I got a great idea! Lets change your name to Idiot!>
Luna's eyes shook in confusion as she looked at Noona, and before she could retort, Noona blasted her again.
<Liam didn't need an excuse to help you, so you decided it isn't convenient for him to help someone else when he decides to? Maybe next time, let him preserve someone's dignity instead of destroying both their dignity and hope at the same time? Is that too much to ask for, Idiot?>
Luna had never been berated so strongly in her life, but instead of responding in anger, her ears visibly wilted and her two tails wrapped around her waist. She realized now that Liam was just trying to find an excuse to help Dakkon and let Dakkon save some dignity at the same time. Instead, she had called Liam out for his deception, making both men look slightly awkward.
Dakkon's wavering will firmed upon understanding all of this and he finally spoke.
"I…I have something that can help us destroy the Shu…"
All eyes rounded on Dakkon sharply and he sighed in discomfort. He knew that a lot of questions would come when he spoke next, but his great sins could only be washed away with acts of repentance. Otherwise, every Shanmao soul carved on his body would burn him for eternal damnation.
"The Shu are led by The Swarm. However, The Swarm's most powerful ability is how it can devour the gene energy of any dead being near it. It grows ever more powerful with that, although no one has ever survived facing it directly, it is known in these lands. It is said that its power is the power of Devour."
Luna's eyes narrowed when she heard of the power of 'Devour'. It was an incredibly potent genetic energy with a potent ability. It could consume all other genetic energies to strengthen itself.
Luna glanced at Liam and saw that he didn't seem to understand what 'Devour' was, so she explained to him.
"Devour genetic energy is different than every other genetic energy. It doesn't get corrupted or tainted by consuming other genetic energies, it can convert all other gene energy into 'Devour'. It mostly increases physical abilities, although it has been said that it can target the Consciousness if it is powerful enough. Considering the nature of The Swarm, I would say it is likely it can Devour the consciousness of other Shu."
Liam nodded thoughtfully before turning back to Dakkon, "What is it you have that could fight the Shu, but failed to use during the invasion?"
This was a key question, if Dakkon claimed they could defeat the Shu with what he had, why hadn't he used it?
Dakkon sighed deeply before elaborating, "It's not that I have it, or can even control it. But I know where it is. It's a close by relic of the Ancestors, we have called the place it is located 'The Final Resting Place'. Everyone and everything that gets close to it, falls asleep."
Luna interjected "Why would you think we could use that? We can't get near…" Luna suddenly stopped as she turned and looked at Liam. Just as she was about to speak she heard from Dakkon,
"He's…an Ancient Ancestor…isn't he?"
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