I awaken to the sound of sirens blaring.
Waking up to sirens is not a nice thing, why can't it have been the soft sounds of birds singing.
“Daaaarrrling, I don't wanna get up.” Ray groans.
“Well then, you just lie there. I'll go deal with whoever should dare to awaken us at such an hour. They’ll pay with their lives, of course.” I say, hoping to comfort her.
“Well, that's not fair, I wanna have fun dealing out punishments too!”
“I guess we better get going then, huh?” I say, I give Ray a kiss on the forehead and then I stand up. I quickly equip my armor and draw out my weapons. Just as the first explosion rocks the shields.
Klack, just as the fort was fully repaired, now it's gonna get blown apart again. Poor guy.
I exit the room, Ray trailing slightly behind me. We head to the roof and are greeted with a wonderful sight.
The shield blaze as artillery rains down onto them. It appears the Quartet is adopting the strategy of: Hit it with enough explosives to overwhelm it. Which can work. But it's not nearly as fancy as Ray and I soloing half the fort.
“Ray, are you ready for a bit of fun?”
“Of course, nothing like the smell of sulfur in the morning. Really opens up the mind and makes one murdery.”
“I concur, now let's go find someone who knows what's going on.”
We head to the room that is apparently being used as a command center. Not that we would know, we've been busy doing various activities while everyone handled the busy administrative work. Having underlings sure is nice, they can do all the boring work. Ray and I can just figure out what needs to go kaboom, and then make it go kaboom. It's really a nice life.
“Oh, good, you're finally here, Milords.” Itvak, our personal intelligence officer says. He is like a genius, it's almost as though he knows anything we could need to know. Emil has really been doing good work with the administrative stuff, and I hear Linda has been a great assistant.
“What's up, Itvak? Have you been doing well?” Ray asks, far too informally considering we are in the middle of a battle.
“All things considered, I've been great, thanks for asking. Though this latest development is a little less great. I have no doubt that we shall persevere.”
“So, what's the situation we've got on our hands?” I ask.
“It appears that we have around five hundred soldiers besieging the castle. From the energy signatures, we believe three of them are of great-level. Our scouts have also spotted two contestants, Marcos Riven and Geo Riker.
They are currently sieging us with heavy artillery, attempting to break our eastern plasma-shield. At current assault, it will last for around fifteen minutes before shattering. At which point, they will be able to directly assault the fort, which would be bad.
On a more positive note, the delivery of the newly produced Exo-mechs and ghostsuits did make it through. We've now got enough to outfit a squad for each.”
Could be worse, could be better. At present we have around seven hundred soldiers in the fort (with 2 great levels), as well as logistics personnel. But around three hundred of the soldiers are required to operate the fort guns and keep it operational.
I don't like the odds of a 400 vs 500, especially considering our great/contestant numbers aren't that equal. Especially when you consider that Marcos is one of their contestants, and he is stronger than Ray and I alone. Together we should be able to handle him though.
That leaves our two great levels to fight Geo, and three of theirs. Not good odds.
You might be wondering, what about the other soldiers? Well, anything but a group of high levels isn't going to stand a chance against a single great-level, let alone three. The power gap is simply too powerful.
Case and point, earlier, Ray and I easily tore through all of the soldiers occupying the fort, it wasn't until I fought one of their core members (who are all great-level) that I actually had a decent fight.
So in summary, the odds are heavily against us.
Luckily, Ray and I are used to having odds stacked against us. I'm sure a bunch of very deadly soldiers aren't that much harder than our high school teachers, right?
Also, we’ve got explosives now.
Explosions make everything better. Or atleast, that's what kek used to say.
I think for a few minutes. Running the complicated combat simulations as though I am some human super computer.
“Okay, here's the plan. Itvak, I want all of our artillery focused on taking out theirs. If they wanna get inside, make them knock on the front door.
Ray takes a squad of high-levels and Yuin. Take the set of ghostsuits and sneak behind their lines. Cause chaos.” At my mention of chaos, a blinding smile appears on Ray’s face, almost distracting me from my tasks.
“Have Rigar take a squad in the exo-mechs to break into their front lines. Cause as much disruption as possible and ensure they can't conceive of a frontal charge.”
Everyone quickly moves to follow my orders. It's weird, having people place their complete trust in you. I'm just a worthless NEET, yet somehow I'm commanding an entire army in some convoluted AR/Real-world milisim-MMORPG hybrid.
As for my task? I head towards the armory. I pick up a super special package that I was saving for an opportunity just like this one. I also grab a couple scout drones and launch them.
They allow me to get vision on the entire battlefield. Even while I'm in the middle of combat. A feat only possible thanks to my insane brain and its love of processing enough information to kill an average person.
Naturally, I shall be handling Marcos and Geo.
With the package strapped to my back, I head out into the courtyard where Ray and Rigar’s groups are preparing to depart.
Rigar looks somehow even more menacing in their exo-mech. A towering 4 meter tall behemoth of metal and death. Equipable with all sorts of weaponry, in Rigar’s case, an even larger war hammer. Unfortunately, we only managed to get five of them for the moment. But that should do plenty of work.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I head over to where Ray and her group are strapping into the ghost suits. Technically they are exo-mechs as well. But they are skintight and not really vehicles, so they are called suits instead.
In this case, the outer layer projects an invisibility field that renders one nearly undetectable. However, it comes at the cost of any form of shielding while cloaked. A really useful tool for sneaking around to cause chaos. Too bad they were so klacking expensive to produce. Three of them took materials equivalent to twenty exo-mechs.
But, we believe the cost will be worth it. Either way, chaos is good and makes for a nice spectacle.
“Ko. Don't tell me you're gonna do what I think you're gonna do.” Ray asks, a concerned look on her face.
“Dont worry darling, I won't tell you that. You just go cause chaos, I'm just going to engage in some diplomacy with our fellow contestants."
Ray grabs me into a big hug and reaches up to ruffle my hair a bit. “You're such a jerk, you know.”
“Am I at least a cute jerk?” I say, alongside a few headpats.
“Perhaps. You're gonna owe me a lot of headrubs, you know.”
“Oh no, whatever shall I do, such a horrific punishment.” I exclaim with a sarcastic fear.
She punches me in the shoulder, hard. “Jerk. Now, let's go make fools out of these confederation peoples, shall we, darling?”
“Of course, after all, vi lunae lucis, omnia mutabimus.” [By the power of moonlight, we will change everything.] I proclaim.
We let out a laugh and it spread to everyone gathered nearby.
With one final laugh, Ray gives me a long kiss and then lets go. Her helmet expanded to cover her beautiful hair. Moments later, she, along with her squad, go completely invisible. If it wasn't for my inae field, I would have no idea they were there.
Ray and Rigar depart. Leaving me alone in the courtyard, save some logistics soldiers and Itvak.
I give it a few minutes and then I depart. Activating my scouting drones as well.
It appears that Rigar’s squad has already impacted the front lines. Trails of smoke and cracked ground can be seen in their wake. Poor soldiers, they must be terrified. Good thing they don't have organs, otherwise they might pee their pants, which would make a big mess.
Ray, expectedly, is nowhere to be seen.
It appears the Quartet’s forces are arranged in arc encompassing the entire eastern quarter of the clearing. Artillery gun barrels can be seen poking through the tree trunks, their menacing maws launching out heavy shells.
Plumes of smoke rise everywhere as things explode. Presumably by Ray’s doing.
It takes me a few seconds, but I finally spot my targets.
Marcos, Geo and two great-levels are standing in a smaller clearing, clearly some form of command post. They are surrounded by a thick, portable plasma-shield. Quite an expensive device to bring, I wonder what their material situation is like.
I catapult myself directly for the shield. My spear held out, charged with my {lightning bolt}.
I impact the shield with a massive boom. Everything set up for several dozen meters goes flying from the shockwave.
The lightning charge surges into the plasma shield as it arcs and scorches. Causing my face and hands to be severely burned. Luckily, I popped a health pack, which quickly nullifies the pain and helps to heal the damage as I take it.
Advanced tech sure is cool.
The shield eventually lets up as a few small cracks form. Which quickly expands into a hole that I easily slip through. Closing up behind me.
The moment I enter the shield, the world seems to calm. The explosions outside are quieted and I get a nice breath of fresh air. Free from the smell of ash and burning metal.
I gracefully land and suck in a nice deep breath. Everyone quickly draws their weapons and points them at me, preparing to fire.
“Wait! Don't fire, you fools!” Marcos shouts.
Everyone quickly holds their fire, trusting the man to know what's what.
“Why hello there, buddies. It's been a few days since we last met, hasn't it?” I say, trying my best at sounding smooth (it doesn't go well).
“Are you a psychopath?!” Marcos shouts, "That's a micro-fusion bomb on your back! Are you trying to get yourself killed?” He says, pointing to the special package strapped to my back. Which is in fact, a micro-fusion bomb. Capable of basically vaporizing most things within a 20m radius.
“Oh, you mean this little thing? I thought it was a box of sweets. Whoops. I just wanted to have a nice, diplomatic chat. After all, we are civilized humans, after all.”
Geo speaks up, "I'm pretty sure sane and civilized humans don't show up to speak with bombs strapped to their back.”
“Oh, well, I claimed I was civilized, not sane. Who needs sanity anyways, this whole scenario is a bit klacking insane already, what's a little bit more insanity on top?” I say, as I find a comfy chair nearby and take a seat.
Everyone is still watching me, weapons drawn and pointed at my head.
“Well, you've definitely got a spunk kid, that's for sure.” Marcos says, with a laugh. He then drags over a chair and sits down opposite me. Motioning for Geo to do the same.
“See, now isn't this better? We are all settled in, calmly ready for a rational discussion.”
“I wouldn't call this a rational discussion!” Geo exclaims, only for Marcos to motion for him to be silent.
“So, Mr. Ducker, what do you want?”
“Well I have two simple propositions for you, Mr. Riven. Option one: surrender, stop your attack. Leave all of your weaponry and ammunition. Then proceed to walk away from this Fort today.” Geo’s eyes go wide at my suggestion, though he does good and keeps his mouth shut. “Option two: I detonate this fusion bomb and we all get to have a little nap. While my associates continue to dismantle your attack, the fun way. Now, personally, I’d prefer option two. Explosions are always cooler, and I'm sure the audience would like to see what this bad boy can do.” I slap the bomb on my back, as though it's just a box of sweets.
Marcos and Geo look at each other for several moments and then seem to come to a conclusion.
Before I can react, Marcos pulls out a pistol and shoots me square in the chest.
Oh fun, they choose the cool option.
The bullet sears into my armor and I can feel it melting some of my flesh. It hurts a lot, though Initae has given me far worse with just a punch.
“Oh goodie, you choose the fun option!”
I detonate the fusion bomb and the world flips upside down.
Immediately, I along with everyone nearby are surrounded by a solid green barrier that protects us from instant death.
But all around us, the detonation still rages and decimates the surrounding area, easily cutting through the plasma shield.
Moments later, I get a birds eye view with my drones. All that remains of the command post is a large crater, faintly smoking from the inferno of plasma that just passed through.
Naturally, I along with the other contestants are whisked away into the darkness below the arena.
Its pitch black, I cannot see anything. I also get a strange sense of sleepiness, likely some drug being injected into my system to simulate the respawn process.
Just before I pass out, I get a glimpse of Ray and Rigar high-fiving, triumphant as the remainder of the Quartet’s force scatters in a hasty retreat.
As I said, many problems can be solved with a good explosion.
Im sure Im going to have to give lots of headrubs to Ray because of my death, but oh well. Who wouldn't want to give their super duper cute girlfriend lots of headrubs? Sounds like a win-win to me.
I'm sure that whatever should come in the future, Ray and I shall overcome it, together. So, bring it on.
End of Chapter 100
Next: Chapter 101 | Burnt Toast
A/N: Hiya dear reader. It's been a fair moment, hasn't it? Well, it is I, the Illustrious author back, once again. I hope you're fine with a bit of rambling, for old times sake.
What is so illustrious about me you ask? Well, I've written 100 chapters of this webserial. That means something, right?
Can you believe it's already the 100th chapter? It feels like I just wrote the first chapter yesterday. I can still remember my thoughts as I devised Ko and Ray’s interesting personalities. To think, tomorrow is the three month anniversary of the serial, I think I might be getting old (heck, the kids nowadays would probably say I was ancient the moment I turned 18), the weeks just pass by without me noticing sometimes.
They, along with the story itself, have definitely grown far beyond what I originally planned though. Don't worry, there is still plenty more to come. Not to mention many crazy plot twists that are soon to be revealed, you won't want to miss those.
I hope you've been enjoying my little story. If you have, ratings, follows, favourites, and comments are always appreciated, so perhaps consider doing so.
As of writing this, we are nearing 100 followers, if not passed it already. I think that's a pretty big milestone, so thanks to everyone who has decided to read Ko’s story. Oh, we have probably hit 250k words too, so that's cool.
Until the next time, dear reader.
- Cathrix, professional author, writer of a story with a quarter million words or more!
PS: If you haven't yet, do be sure to join the discord at: