NOVEL WEB Volume 1 – Chapter 8
Twelve hours earlier, on the outskirts of the Fortress City of Wealdthurst.
“Lieutenant, what’s the status report?”
“Yes Vice-Commander! The second unit of scouts has just teleported into Wealdthurst. The first unit has not returned. It has been 2 hours since the agreed return time.”
The vice-commander furrowed his brow. He was a man of intimidating stature, a wall of muscle covered in battle scars. His beard grizzled and his hair like the mane of a black lion.
“Teleportation mages are simply too valuable to lose even a single one. Wasn’t the second unit informed they should retrieve them at any cost?”
“Yes Vice-Commander!” the lieutenant nodded respectfully.
“And what about our own situation? Have the suppression units arrived?”
“Yes Vice-Commander! They’re waiting for your orders.”
“Good,” he said with a nod. “Then we shall begin the operation immediately. Order all suppression units to advance towards the city center.”
“Hold on a moment Vice-Commander”, a man covered in jet black from head to toe, two short swords by his side interjected.
“I believe it would be prudent to receive word from my scout units before entering the city. Who knows what may lurk within?”
“What do you think I am, Javelin, an idiot?” the vice-commander roared angrily. “I know exactly what could be lurking within. And I’ll tell you this: if something happened to those scouts, then there will be hell to pay.”
“It is my job to ensure we have all the information to make this campaign a success.”, said Javelin. “I’m sure you understand that.”
“Javelin...” the vice-commander growled. “I don’t care how many years you’ve served under me. You’re still a mere rat that scurries in the shadows for all I’m concerned.”
“I beg your pardon, sir,” Javelin replied coldly. “But I no longer serve you, but the Emperor himself.”
“You’re right about that,” the vice-commander snarled. “So what is it you’re so worried about?”
“I’m afraid that the enemy might have already taken control of the city.”
“What?” the vice-commander bellowed.
“It is highly likely that the scouts who entered the city were already attacked and disposed of. They are trained in the secret arts of stealth and information gathering. But they are foremost trained on how to survive in any situation, no matter how dire. These are my men. I have taught many of them personally,” Javelin said.
“And yet they failed to return. What does that say about their chances of survival?”, asked the vice-commander.
“I can only assume that they fell into the hands of the enemy. A powerful enemy.”
“So you do believe those adventurers that teleported into the Emperial Capital. Their insolent pleading for an audience with the Emperor, were you there?”
Why the adventurers didn’t plead their case to Bernhart’s senate first was probably a sign of the desperation and urgency they must have felt. Perhaps they thought the squabbling senate would have been less receptive to their call for help than a kingdom or the Empire itself.
“I was not there, but one of my... informants was. The Emperor was furious, and at first ordered them executed. But then Pendrik stepped in, soothed the Emperor’s rage and allowed the adventurers to explain themselves,” Javelin said.
“Ah, the Master of the Mages, always curious, always cautious, just like you, Javelin,” the vice-commander said with a snort.
“Pendrik has never been known for his patience or mercy. He is merely curious of everything in this world. If he didn’t believe these adventurers had something of value to say, he would have seen them executed just as well,” Javelin explained.
“I see,” the vice-commander said thoughtfully. “So, why did you come here now? To warn us of this danger? Or to try to stop us from going in?”
“I’m here merely to pass on what the adventurers said, something which was left out of the reports, as they were considered unreliable before your departure,” Javelin said.
“Then what changed?” the vice-commander asked.
“The Emperor himself has changed his mind,” Javelin said.
“Changed his mind?” the vice-commander said with a laugh. “Why would he do that? What did they say?”
“They spoke of a new cataclysm-class monster. One they believe must have broken out from the dungeon beneath the city,” Javelin lowered his voice.
“Impossible. The dungeons are sealed tight by a protective anti-monster barrier. There’s nothing down there but low-level monsters and treasure,” the vice-commander said dismissively.
“I assure you, I didn’t believe it myself at first,” Javelin continued. “But when I heard the details, I knew I had to bring it to your attention.”
“Go on then, let’s hear it,” the vice-commander said impatiently.
“The monster, or rather the monsters, are worms...” Javelin went on to explain what the adventurers saw.
“You’re telling me they turn men into zombies who ravage women? Then those women give birth to more of these worm monsters?” the vice-commander said incredulously.
“That is correct.”
“Then we need to send every available soldier into the city. We cannot allow these things to escape. Not after all the work the Empire put into capturing these walls during the war,” the vice-commander said.
“Do you not see the danger in doing so, Vice-Commander?” Javelin said with a frown.
“What danger?” the vice-commander responded with a sneer.
“If we open the gates to allow reinforcements, those worms will spill out into the countryside and all over, not just Bernhart, but to the Empire as well,” Javelin said gravely.
“We’ll deal with that when it happens. I want you ready to teleport in once the suppression units arrive.”
“Those are not the orders given to me by the Emperor,” Javelin said firmly.
“Then watch from afar, like the scurrying rat you are,” the vice-commander said with a wave of his hand.
“As you wish.”
Javelin turned on his heel and walked away.
—
The vice-commander, his soldiers and the suppression units did not return. It was now approaching sundown, and the fires in the city were now casting a glow onto the rain clouds in the skies above.
“I hope they’re alright,” said one soldier.
“Me too”, another added.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” said a third.
They’re all dead, or even worse, Javelin thought to himself.
He looked around at the remaining backup suppression units. They were a motley crew of misfits and rejects, men and women, that had been cast aside by the main army for various reasons. Some because they couldn’t keep up with the gruelling training, others because they were too old or sickly to. They were meat-shields for the main army. The proper soldiers here stood few. There were no initial preparations made for a major battle. Upon changing his mind, the Emperor decided not to commit any more troops.
He didn’t need to.
Javelin had secretly brought with him the Empire’s greatest weapon. One that even the vice-commander wasn’t privy to know anything about: The Saint of the Empire.
To Javelin, the Saint was a fanatic. Blessed by god as she may be, she was still a fanatic.
In her early days in the Church, she was known for great piety, humility and, most of all, her love of the downtrodden, the orphans, and even criminals.
She was a woman of compassion and kindness, but also of justice and righteousness. She was a symbol of hope for the Empire.
The people loved her.
But as time passed, the church changed. And so did the Saint. A surprising new power grew in her, and it was not long before the church became wary of her.
They tried to silence her, but she was stronger than any man.
She was sent to the front-lines to fight various hordes of demons and monsters in the hopes she would fall, but they were no match for her.
The Emperor had deemed her a danger even to the Empire itself, but he was no fool. He turned her into the Empire’s greatest weapon instead.
He gave the order for the Saint to be captured. Javelin was the one that carried it out. It was his first secret mission for the Emperor. The Saint did not resist.
She was to be held captive in the mausoleums beneath the capital and called upon only when the Empire faced an existential threat.
She had destroyed many a city, killed countless of our enemies, all for “the greater good”.
Javelin pitied her.
But now it was time for her to show her true strength once again.
A blue glow.
“Javelin! How are you, my sneaky friend? Still spying on potential love interests?”
“Hello, Sebastian,” Javelin said with a smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Not just me. Pendrik is here as well. You know, because he has to, not because he wants to,” Sebastian chuckled.
“I see,” the Javelin said, turning to the man in white robes called Pendrik. “So what brings you to my humble abode?”
“I’m afraid you know what brings us to ‘your humble abode’”, Pendrik said.
“Yes, I do. I’m just making small talk, something you might do well to learn, even in your old age.”
“I don’t think you understand how serious this is, Javelin,” Pendrik said with a frown.
“I’m afraid I understand just fine. And if you’re here, then you must have found something interesting,” Javelin smirked.
“Yes, indeed. This cataclysm is unlike any recorded in the tomes of the Empire’s history.”
“I agree. I’ve never heard of such a thing before. But I am curious as to how you came to that conclusion.”
“I’ve been studying the ancient tomes in the Forbidden Library, and I have come to a startling realisation,” Pendrik said.
“What’s that?” Javelin asked.
“I believe the Empire is doomed unless we destroy Wealdthurst in its entirety.”
“What are you talking about?” Javelin said.
“This cataclysm didn’t originate from the dungeon. It likely came from outside out of the city, seeking to destroy it from within. For you see, those worm monsters that the adventurers spoke of, they are not native to the dungeon. They are the spawn of the evil gods themselves. And they are coming to destroy the world.”
“What are you saying?”
“What I’m saying is that this is our first battle against true, incomprehensible evil and it must be a decisive one or all hope is lost,” Pendrik said with a grim look.
“If you’re right, that explains why the Emperor had me bring the Saint here,” Javelin nodded.
“No need to be so dramatic, Pendrik, it’s not just the Saint. Gathered here are you, Pendrik – Master of the Mages; Javelin – Master of the Shadows; and of course the greatest of us three, the Master of the Mighty!” Sebastian broke into a bellowing laughter.
“Glad to see you still have your sense of humour,” Javelin said.
“So, when do we start the fireworks show? It takes the Saint two hours to complete her chant, right?” Sebastian said. He was grinning.
“We’ll wait until midnight. A scout unit may still return,” Javelin answered, “But we must send all the men here back to the capital. They must not witness what is about to take place here. The coverup, leave that to me and the Emperor, he’ll surely find some way of making it to his advantage.”
—
One man sat atop a grassy hill, the sun setting behind him. Behind him was a small tent.
Somehow, the massive walls of the Fortress City of Wealdthurst still loomed large even from the great distance.
Javelin had been sitting on the grass polishing his blades, quietly observing the glow emanating from the city. Perhaps Wealdthurst could still be saved without destroying it. Perhaps the Emperor should have sent a larger force. Maybe the vice-commander, as much as he loathed him, had the right idea. There were surely countless innocent people inside the walls waiting for reinforcements, for a saviour. The Saint of the Empire, she would bring salvation, but of a different kind. Despite that, he truly pitied her the most...
A blue glow.
Javelin immediately got up off his feet and rushed toward the source.
“Report!”
A woman stood before him. He recognised her. She was a teleportation mage in the second scout unit. She was shaking, tears were streaming down her face.
“Report!”
“We... everyone is dead... we’re too late...” she breathing heavily. Hyperventilating.
“What happened?” Javelin said calmly.
“A hell on earth!!” she sobbed, “There’s nothing anyone can do, there’s just too many of those things!! And the men, they all turned into monsters!”
“What did you say?”
“They all turned into monsters, they attacked us, and we couldn’t fight them, they were too strong, and then the men in my unit started turning into monsters too!” she was yelling in between breaths.
“Did you see the worm monsters the adventurers reported?” Javelin asked.
“Yes, that’s all I saw! There’s so many they cover the streets and houses! They crawl out of the women and girls... after... after... the man rape them... there’s just so many-“
The woman started throwing up, and then she collapsed. Blood started pooling underneath her.
“Pendrik!! I need you healing arts here NOW!” Javelin shouted.
—
The sky was dark.
The air was chilly.
The wind was blowing.
The ground was wet.
The rain was falling.
The clouds were covering the stars.
The night was not silent as the screams in the fortress city rippled through the surrounding fields and the heavens above.
It was time.
Javelin walked into the tent. The only light was the dim glow of a magic gemstone hung from the canopy.
There were 5 people inside. Javelin, Pendrik, Sebastian, the woman who escaped the city – unconscious, recovering from her wounds, and at the centre, the Saint.
She was a woman of incredible beauty. Her hair was blonde. Dressed in a light blue dress, with slits exposing her pale delicate thighs. She was tall, statuesque, and she was well endowed. She had a noble bearing despite her commoner upbringing.
Kneeling in prayer, her body was completely bound by golden chains which shined in the gemstone's glow.
Her eyes closed as she steadily breathed under her constrictive bindings. She was wearing a thin golden choker around her neck and around her mouth was a golden ball gag pressed against the Saint’s gentle pink lips, which prevented her from uttering a single word, from chanting.
Javelin knew the chains, and the gag were magic items to ensure the Saint would not use her powerful magic unless released, but he always thought they made the pure Saint look somewhat indecent.
“Ready?” said Sebastian, looking at Javelin and Pendrik.
Javelin nodded, then each of the men pulled out small golden locks from somewhere inconspicuous on their clothing. The three locks were already opened.
The three men looked at each other and simultaneously snapped the locks closed. Then they withdrew three golden keys from the same spots where they had hidden the locks.
The Saint was unwavering in her obedience, but one could see a thin layer of sweat on Sebastian’s brow.
“There’s no going back once we do this,” Javelin said.
“It is for the greater good”, Pendrik calmly responded.
Sebastian remained silent.
Javelin and the other two men took their keys, exchanging them. Javelin passed his to Pendrik, while he passed his to Sebastian, who passed his to Javelin.
They then stood in a circle around the Saint. Three loose chains with larger rings at the ends were hanging off the Saint. They each attached the locks to the rings, locking them in place, held in their left hands.
After exchanging brief looks, they called out together, “As commanded by the Emperor we call upon you, the Saint of the Empire to rid this world of evil!” while carefully inserting the keys held in their right hands twisting them in the lock holes. With three clicks, the chains and the ball gag loosened.
The Saint opened her ash-blue eyes.
“I shall do as god wills it,” the Saint said quietly. It was the voice of a young woman, gentle, but filled with sorrow.
She then stood up, the loosened chains still clinging to her body, but no longer forcing her into a kneeling prayer position.
Javelin the spoke.
“The proud Fortress City of Wealdthurst has fallen to an evil pestilence, which corrupts its inhabitants. It threatens not only the Empire. The disease shall spread to every corner of the world if we do not stop it now. We command you to destroy Wealdthurst completely. Leave nothing standing. Leave no man, woman, child or creature alive. Turn it all to ash.”
The Saint nodded, accepting the order.
Javelin continued, followed by the others.
“I am the Master of the Shadows, Javelin Greystone. I hereby grant you permission to use your powers.”
“I am the Master of the Mages, Pendrik Whiteswallow. I hereby grant you permission to use your powers.”
“I am the Master of the Mighty, Sebastian Blackriver. I hereby grant you permission to use your powers.”
“I am the Saint of the Empire. I shall do as you command.”
The Saint then stepped outside into the rainy, chilly night. She was followed out of the tent by the three men. Her steps were short, restrained by the chains, but still dignified.
“If it’s alright with you, I’ll begin. Is that the City of Wealdthurst? It’s my first time seeing it in person. I’ve only read about it in the books as a child. To think it would be because of me it should fall,” the Saint would use whatever chance she had to have some casual conversation. She didn’t have many.
“It is not because of you it falls. And do begin, time is of the essence,” Pendrik returned things bck to business.
“Alright,” the Saint said almost in a whisper, as the rain drenched her robes.
She stepped forward and begun her chant.
“I pray to Thee, Goddess of Destruction…”
“I always found it strange that the Saint prays not to god but to a goddess,” Sebastian noted.
“She can pray to whomever she wants as long as she gets the job done,” Pendrik interjected.
The chant would take about two hours to complete. It was only known to the Saint, and never recorded, for it was different every time it was spoken.
—
The fires in the city only got more intense over time, Javelin thought to himself.
“The fortress city truly has fallen,” he said, completing his thought out loud.
“No time for rumination now. The chant is almost complete,” Pendrik said as he sighed.
“You can tell the progress of the chant? But it is different every time.”
“It tends to follow the same structure and themes. I’ve heard it more times than you and Sebastian.”
“Wait-”
It was barely perceptible from the distance, in the dead of this dreadful night, but Javelin’s Sight skill was top class.
The massive gate to the city had a hole blown away through it as smoke bellowed out.
A giant peered out from behind it. It was inhuman. An amalgamation of broken limbs and twisted faces. It stood the height of two men. Without delay, it sprinted onwards, picking up incredible speed as it ripped the grass out from beneath each step. It was heading right for the camp.
“We have incoming!” Javelin called out.
“I see it!” Sebastian responded, “I’ll intercept it before it gets to the Saint!” He held no weapon.
“Stay back, you fool! The chant is almost complete!”, Pendrik yelled.
Sebastian stopped mid-stride.
“… Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Holy Judgement!”
The Saint finished her last line.
A beam of blinding light burst through the dark cloudy skies and impacted at the Adventurer’s Guild building.
—
“Hero, but I don’t wanna go!” Elissa was throwing another tantrum. “My children are here and they’re having so much fun! It’s unfair.”
She had just been patting the head of our maidenly cat girl visitor, but was now getting a bit rough.
Everything was fine until I suggested we leave immediately. I confirmed with the maid that there was still time before the Demon Lord Council, but I really wanted a change of scenery, and this was a great opportunity for that. Plus, maybe I can get a better peek at those black tights wherever we’re going...
“Ouch-meow!” the cat girl called out as Elissa squeezed a tuft of hair.
“Your Lordship, if it helps, I am able to teleport your friends with you, so you can continue your fun at the Demon Lord estates-meow!”, the cat girl added as tears were beading in the corner of her ruby-purple eyes.
“My friends?”, Elissa stopped her assault as she looked at the three guild girls.
We’re taking them with us?
“Mistress, oh, what a splendid idea!!”
I had released Ao from “couch mode” moments ago.
Well, I guess he is helping.
“… Alright! But we’re coming back here when we’re done!” Elissa admitted defeat.
“I’m able to teleport us to any place which I’ve been to before, so that won’t be a problem, Your Lordship-meow!”
That’s interesting. Does that mean the cat maid has visited Wealdthurst before to teleport here in the first place?
Regardless, we had a deal.
What to do with the remaining humans in the guild? Our audience. I’m pretty sure most were busting to go to the toilet. Not that they didn’t have bigger problems to worry about, like what was happening to their city.
“Leave them. I’m not interested in them,” Elissa said as she glanced at the men and women still within the grasp of my tentacles. I was expecting looks of relief, but their anxious demeanour hadn’t changed.
“Then let us go now,” I said, releasing my grasp on the captives.
“What the hollow skies permit, make room for us travellers…” the cat girl wasted no time chanting. I haven’t even got her name yet. I guess I’ll ask on the other side.
For some reason, I wasn’t that worried about my first teleportation experience as a blue glow surrounded Elissa, Ao and the three guild girls.
—
“What… what do we do now?” one of the guild administrators finally broke the silence in the lobby.
Before anyone could answer, the night turned to daylight as a warm light filled the room, filtering through the broken windows and doors. Tiny orbs of light appeared everywhere and gently bounced against the furnishings and the skin of those in the room.
A woman broke into tears, “We’re sav-”