LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 285: Zach
Learning
They spent days in the library, formulating a plan. It had become obvious that something was present in that part of the Ethereal, the biggest issue was figuring out what type of something it was. Survivors spoke of something extremely fast, of roaring wind that filled the area with sound, deafening everything else. There wasn’t enough to figure out what type of being it was, though it was most likely a spirit of some kind, probably not an elemental one as those were usually found in their respective realms. And there were reports that conflicted with just wind related powers being used, which could indicate a spirit who could use more than one Essence type. Though, some type of wind or air related Essence was most likely as the source of this being's power.
It was what had made Zach decide to go for this one among the dozens of other possible targets. He had picked wind as one of the aspects in his arsenal, and replacing his Lesser Wind Aspect would give him the most benefits. The wind had always been a useful aspect for him, despite it not always seeming that way. Most people would dismiss it, but most didn’t realize how much just a faint wind blowing always in your face could matter in a fight.
He needed to improve his wind aspect blade, and he hoped that he would get something powerful. Of course, he could find a spirit that didn’t have exactly wind as an aspect, but as long as it was related, it should still work. The Aspects that were related to the ones he had in his arsenal would still work, if his understanding and testing were correct. Though the effectiveness might not be full the more different the Aspect was, though anything that included wind should get a solid effectiveness.
Most of his time now was spent trying to predict the being’s power. Naha and he were going through all the reports, noting the compositions of the teams that encountered it, noting how many survived and what their tiers of power were. Based on that they developed a strategy.
The teams had an average of seven tiers of power among their members, with one having as high as ninth tier and another a member as low as fifth tier of power. Zach was currently on eleventh tier of power and Naha on the thirteenth tier of power. Though, they wouldn’t be having a big team, the Empire could spare only a single guide. They were… reluctant to even let them go, obviously afraid that they would lose their lives and that they would lose people that should be helping them. Still, if they would die to something like this, then their addition to the team that was about to go against a Dome Leader would be worth little.
Zach estimated that the being was above the tenth tier of power, but not higher than sixteen. Based on how many people managed to survive and escape. A powerful opponent capable of fighting more than one foe at the same time. They had come up with a rough plan of how to engage in a manner that would give them more information regarding their foe.
“We’ve done all that we can,” Naha told him as they went their plan again.
Zach grimaced and turned his head to meet her eyes. She was standing next to him, leaning on the table and looking down on him.
She interrupted him by placing a hand on his shoulder. “Enough Zach. I know that you like to prepare, to read and research before making a decision. But we’ve reached the point where we got as much as we could out of these reports days ago.”
Zach wanted to argue, but then sighed. She was right, as she often was. Zach had simply fallen into the task. He liked doing this, and he didn’t often have a chance to do it uninterrupted, with as much resources as the Empire had put at his disposal. They had access to the entire library, everything that the Empire knew was here, and they could use it as they wished. Zach had taken the time to read up on their understanding of Class, on the unique fighting styles that they developed, their notes on various monster types and the best ways to combat them. It was an interesting read.
The combat styles had been a topic that he had spent some time. Zach already knew that with greater stats and abilities, fighting as he was familiar on Earth was altered into something much different. He had been trying to develop a style of his own as he grew in power, though his style was based on the insights of the swordmasters from Earth—which was why it was heavily based on melee and blade mastery. Many maneuvers that were impossible for ordinary humans, were not only possible, but a lot more effective here.
And the Empire’s texts on them were insightful and interesting. He could spend years in these dark rooms, just reading about everything. But he knew that Naha was right, they didn’t have the time.
“We should gather the supplies for the trip at least,” Zach said.
Naha narrowed her eyes, but then nodded. “Quickly though.”
“Of course,” Zach stood up. “After this, we should see if we can get back in one of those time-chambers.”
Naha nodded in agreement. “I don’t think that I will find more improvement with my skills, but more training will not hurt.”
Naha had improved all of her remaining tier six skills to tier seven, and had even merged another two into her second tier 8 skill. Zach’s only improvement was his single tier eight skill, though his gains had been more in the mastery of his power, and teamwork with Naha.
They walked through the library on their way out. Once at the exit, Zach looked back on the shelves filled with books, pausing in the doorway. He wished the world was different, he hadn’t realized just how much he enjoyed reading until he reached the Infinite Realm. He had barely read anything on his own accord on Earth before the Framework arrived, and after he had no opportunity. It was only after he arrived here, after he had entered the Wardens library that he realized just how much he could learn from those texts. The Framework had taught him the value of research, of planning and preparing, but it had also awoken a love of learning. He didn’t know why though, but it was hard for him to leave the room.
“Zach?” Naha whispered, and he turned his head to look at her.
“This,” he waved behind them at the library. “It is so much knowledge Naha. How much more powerful could we get if we knew what was in every single text stored here? What secrets could we uncover? It… every time we go out and fight, I feel like I am on the edge. One wrong move and we could die. But here? Places like these always fill me with the sense of safety.”
Naha’s lips quirked up in a smile. “Of course it does,” she told him. “Being in here would mean avoiding the blood and death that are a reality on the outside. I can see why you would prefer it.”
Zach sighed, yes, he did prefer the peace and quiet to fighting. But he knew that it was necessary.
“Knowledge could arm people,” Zach said slowly. “If every person had access to this wealth of it, if all of them had the chance to study in peace… Instead, people here guard everything that they discover, hoarding knowledge that could’ve prevented things like the situation we are in now.”
Naha’s expression turned sad. “It is what people do. But we could change that,” she told him. “Once we get strong enough, we can do whatever we want. We could teach others to do better.”
I will never stop trying to be better.
The words that he had spoken to himself before echoed in his head. A small part of him, something that he wanted to do, to be.
“Teach others?” He said, wondering what that would be like. He had always imagined a future where the two of them conquered a territory far away from the core, where they could grow and do things their way. Her suggestion struck a cord. He wanted to protect the innocent, to always try to do good, to always try to be better, to move forward. What kind of a place that would be had never been clear; they wouldn’t have been a sect, a kingdom, or an organization like the Wardens. Something else, something… different.
A school, a place of learning. Where he could teach others how to avoid his mistakes, steer them away from making the wrong decisions. Protect the innocents, raise them up to be better. It was appealing. Though, obviously unrealistic, for now at least. Naha had the experience of centuries, she would’ve been a better fit to teach others. Zach had always tried his best, even when it didn’t work out. There was a lesson there too, knowing that sometimes no matter what you did you couldn’t win. That you couldn’t always fix your mistakes. There was much that others could learn from his example, but he had a lot more to learn before he could teach anyone anything else.
He shook his head and turned away from the library. “Let’s go,” he told her.
Her eyes followed him intensely. “You think too little of yourself, love.”
Zach didn’t answer, and the awkward silence was thankfully broken by the arrival of a group of the Empire’s guards. They bowed to them and their leader spoke.
“Your presence has been requested, if you would please follow me.”
Zach tilted his head. “Requested by whom?”
The guard looked him over, and then answered. “The Emperor.”
Zach walked alongside Naha and the other members of their team. Eratemus led them, with Vryull and Maleatus following behind him, Zach and Naha behind them, and Selia, Erdania, and Ryun at the back. They had been escorted out of the Citadel, put on floating transports that reminded Zach of the things he had seen in the City of Inventions, and then headed for the walls. As they approached the edge of the shield that protected the city, Zach realized that there were several layers of protections outside the main wall. Three more walls were beyond the one that surrounded the city, and all three were outside of the barrier.
What he could see outside defied words. The only way to describe it was… war. The skies were dark with the moving shapes. Air ships firing on flying monsters, glowing shields protecting them and torn apart pieces of monsters falling like rain. Soldiers flying in formation on winged beasts, wielding long lances, others glowing orbs that shot lighting across the sky. All three walls were manned, massive war machines build alongside them, some firing into the sky, others sending glowing projectiles at the sea of black that climbed over the black mountains that towered in the distance, taller than even the walls the Empire defended. The monsters were crawling over them, charging and trying to overwhelm the first wall.
As they passed out of the protective dome, sound assaulted them. Grinding sound of moving machines, clangs of clashing metal, the screams of the dying, the roars of the living. It overwhelmed, making a terrible symphony of sound that made the sights before them far more terrible.
They landed on the third Wall, and then proceeded on foot over a bridge that led to the second one, leaving the protective shell of the shield dome behind them. Zach was surprised that the other walls weren’t included in the shield. His surprise was picked up on, and Maleatus answered his unspoken question.
“It is by design,” he said waving his hand back at the glowing dome. “A shield of that size would require a lot of power, and no matter how strong it was, it could be drained. A constant attack by an army like that one there would drain it quickly. This way, by fighting outside of it, they can keep the enemy away, and if any force gets through it will not be enough to take the shield down on its own. Not faster than the Empire’s soldiers can hunt them down.”
Zach tilted his head, seeing the logic in it.
“Maleatus is correct,” Eratemus added. “Their shield is impressive, but it would’ve fallen long ago if they didn’t have their army here keeping the enemy from it.”
They continued their walk across the bridge, moving from the second to the first. Zach noticed that the gap in between the walls was filled with traps, and probably a lot more than what his eyes could see. If he was part of the Empire, he would’ve filled them with arrays as well.
The people on the third and the second wall had mostly been moving crates, supplies and ammo, from what he could see. Catapults mounted on the walls were firing constantly, sending glowing balls out into the enemy army. It was the first wall where the true fighting was taking place. Zach saw archers firing into the distance, gunmen in the towers, shooting down at the monsters trying to scale the walls.
They were led to a large spherical plateau on top of the wall, large open tents were placed in a circle around it, protected by barriers raised at the edge of the wall. Tables with maps and people leaned over them were everywhere, runners dressed in uniforms were moving between them, delivering or taking messages, then running off with the use of their powers, disappearing in a flash.
As they were led to the biggest tent, Zach looked out at the battle. What he had first assumed were black mountains revealed themselves to be mountains of corpses, black monsters piled up on each other. He saw them even below the wall, other monsters climbing on top of them to reach the edge. He caught a group of drakes jump off the walls after a powerful counter attack that blew the monsters away from the wall. They quickly fell on the steps made out of corpses, flying over them and pouring a green liquid from long tubes connected to cisterns on their backs. Zach saw the acid eat away at the corpses, the stench spreading quickly and the smoke rising high.
“So, that’s how they deal with that,” Maleatus whispered.
No one said anything, there wasn’t anything to say. He saw tall monsters, as tall as multi-story buildings walk in the distance. Each was engaged by a group. One of the closest had a golden shape flying around it. The sand itself was shifting beneath its feet, an army of sand soldiers fighting the smaller monsters beneath it. Tendrils of sand were grabbing and pulling the tall monster down, and the golden shape flew down, sand rising up and following him down to bury the monster beneath its weight.
The monster never resurfaced, and the sand trembled. As far as the eye could see it rose up, grabbing the monsters, even the great mountains of corpses. Everything tumbled down, as if some great monster opened its maw beneath the sand and swallowed everything up.
The golden shape flew up, and then headed for the wall as breathing room was established. But already in the distance, Zach could see towering shapes coming with another tide of monsters beneath its feet.
The golden shape grew clearer and Zach saw that it was a winged drake, wearing a bright armor covering his whole body. He landed on the wall and immediately people approached him. He pulled his helmet off his head to reveal scales of muted brown, almost the color of sand. The attendants grabbed his helmet and offered water, which he took and drank from generously.
Then, his eyes turned and landed on them, after a moment of hesitation, he walked over in their direction, pausing in front of Eratemus.
“Emperor,” Eratemus said, and then after a moment inclined his head.
Zach hesitated for a second, not sure what he should do. Kings and Emperors usually required kneeling, but this was not his rulers. On the other hand, they were in his lands. Zach bowed at the waist, not making a full bow, but gave more than the simple incline of Eratemu’s head.
The others around him followed, each bowing, though with different depths. Ryun alone didn’t bow, his eyes looked up at the drake but it was impossible to see anything in the pure black of them.
The Emperor’s eyes didn’t leave Eratemus, they narrowed and his fist clenched, but then finally he sighed and closed his eyes. After a few seconds he opened and spoke.
“Welcome guests,” he said slowly, looking them all over. “Come, share in the shade of my tent. We have a lot to talk about.”