CH.311 Protecting a city from a Dimensional Fissure
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally the day was here. Well, honestly I could deal without having to do this. I just hope everything goes rtively well and we can keep the city safe. On one hand, I feel like we should have warned them about what ising, but on the other, I really rather not. Maybe if I was better known I could say something is about to happen, but I’m not there yet.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now there was at least one problem. Of course. Our little invincibility barrier device. Alice actually made one just fine, that wasn’t the problem. It would even prevent those outside from hearing what happens inside, so it really is great to have.
<span style="font-weight:400">The problem was that while the device could make the barrier, that barrier wasn’t very sturdy. As in, not sturdy enough to take the might of Exodia just existing inside of it, not to mention the boomsing from fighting against whatever pops out of that fissure. So to put it simply, we had no way of keeping the people from seeing the fight.
<span style="font-weight:400">And it isn’t like I can just mind wipe everyone in an entire city. If it is just a handful of people, Mind Crush has proven itself as an effective way of destroying certain memories. But for an entire city, I’d need some sort of AOE version of Mind Crush. And while I probably could do that, it would take more than the time we have to test it, just to make sure it is safe. I don’t want to wipe out all the memories of every person in an entire city, just because it would be convenient.
Spoiler
[copse]
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Please take care of yourselves.” Lua said to us, as we were getting ready to leave.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll keep Brian safe. Promise.” Alice responded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I’m more worried about you, you know.” Lua admitted. “Don’t go overboard.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I’ll try not to.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll keep her safe as well.” I reassured Lua. “We will bothe back without a scratch. I’m honestly more worried about everyone else.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Master’s barriers are quite sturdy, so it should hold.” Agunan reminded me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Should being the opportune word. But I guess no pressure, right? We might only destroy a city with hundreds of thousands of people living in it.” I reminded everyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, Oroco city itself actually only has about 120,000 residents.” Alice corrected my number. “And there should be no way the destruction will reach the Hero’s country, as thatke is between ground zero and the Hero’s country.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yeah. That is true. The Hero’s country is in the middle of a hugeke. Those bridges connecting the three kingdoms to the Hero’s country are each little over 10 km<sup ss="modern-footnotes-footnote " data-mfn="1"></sup><span ss="modern-footnotes-footnote__note" data-mfn="1">6.2 miles long. And with the city in between ground zero and theke, the total distance from ground zero to the Hero’s country is just about 35 km<sup ss="modern-footnotes-footnote " data-mfn="2"></sup><span ss="modern-footnotes-footnote__note" data-mfn="2">21.7 miles.
<span style="font-weight:400">So yeah. Alice is correct. We would really have to fuck up for the Hero’s county to be affected. But as I’ve said earlier, the wall of Oroco city is just 5 km<sup ss="modern-footnotes-footnote " data-mfn="3"></sup><span ss="modern-footnotes-footnote__note" data-mfn="3">3.1 miles away from ground zero. And then there are the slums and fields that are outside the city walls. And that could honestly cause some casualties to rise.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, at least we have all morning to hopefully warn people. I guess we could wait until tomorrow to pop open the fissure, but I don’t want to risk it opening up by itself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. We need to get going, if we are going to be there on time.” I told everyone. “Please take care. Gradius.”
Spoiler
[copse]
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">Our flight over to Oroco city was about as uneventful as it can be. You can’t really look at sights, when our travel speed is mach 20. And because I fly in the upper atmosphere, no flying monsters fly that high, so there is no way we would run into any.
<span style="font-weight:400">Oh, by the way. There is no real reason for me to fly that high. I don’t have worries like fuel efficiency or anything like that, which makes modern airlines fly high in the atmosphere. I do it because Gradius doesn’t have an invisibility device, so flying super high is a good way to make sure no one can actually see us. And even if they somehow spotted Gradius, with the speed we travel at, one blink and we would be gone, and they’d likely think it was just a figment of their imagination.
<span style="font-weight:400">We arrived above Oroco city just a bit ahead of the scheduled time. I said we would be here at 10am, just so we would have the rest of the morning to give some warnings, before we pop open the fissure in the afternoon. But yeah, we were about 15 minutes early. Well, I’m sure they are still ready to ept us.
<span style="font-weight:400">We descended quickly at first, but when we were at a height of about one kilometer, I slowed down our descent and began to keep a closer eye on the ground. Mainly the area which I think is the airship parking area. Thankfully I had a general idea on what they look like from the visit to the Hero’s country.
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally, when we were only about 300 meters off the ground, I finally noticed some movement at the parking area. And then a pair of birdfolk, dressed in some sort of military uniform which seemed quite light, probably to not hinder their flight, flew up from the ground and headed for us. I kept up the slow descent, but I also opened the canopy, so we could make contact.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... Excuse me, but would you be Lord Wood?” One of the winged-folk asked. Wait, were they birdfolk or winged-folk?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, I am. May Ind?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... yes. That is just fine. We shall lead you to the ground.”
<span style="font-weight:400">As I said earlier, the parking area on the ground was simr to the one in the Hero’s country. But unlike that one, this one had just five spots. As a reminder, the Hero’s country had 10. The Hero’s country had 4 airships parked there, here there was just one. I wonder who it belongs to? Does the local lord own a personal airship? Or is it some duke visiting? If I recall correctly, the one ruling this city is Marquess Oroco. I did check that when we submitted the flight n. I guess a Marquess could own an airship, but I’m just not sure. Maybe I should look into who owns an airship in this country? I also need to check what level they fly at, just so I don’t identally crash into any airships. That is also a good reason to fly super high.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">Once we were on the ground, I unsummoned Gradius so Alice and I could get to work. Mainly, we need to work on looking over the fight area, and get as many people as possible into an area where they won’t be caught up in what will happen.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sadly, we couldn’t get in contact with the town’s lord in time, but we were able to meet with someone important. The leader of the town’s knight order, the honorary baron Kiara Hunter. Yeah. The leader of the knight order in this city is a female. Also, she wasn’t human, but some sort of an evolved birdfolk. Unlike most birdfolk, who have wings instead of arms, Lady Hunter had arms just like a regr person. But she also had wingsing out of her back. ording to Laura, her race is most likely tengu, but she could also be a siren, as it can be a bit difficult to tell the two apart. But tengu are the ones that are more physically inclined, while sirens are more magical, so for a knight captain, tengu would check out.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So, what is it that you wanted, Sir Wood?” Lady Hunter asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nothing much. I just wish to give you a warning.” I answered. “A strong monster will appear today, about five kilometers from the city wall. If you have a map handy, I can show the exact location. I just wanted to tell you that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I see. And what would your information source be?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The Goddess, or more specifically System Agent Aulis. So basically the Goddess.” I answered honestly. Were System Agents a secret? I don’t think they were. Well, I already let it out, so it''s toote to worry about that.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... are you serious? I don’t have time for jokes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sadly, I am. I honestly wish it would be basically anywhere else, but this is what we have.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“From where would a monster even show up? Monsters don’t just pop up out of nowhere!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I’m not sure if I’m allowed to answer that. All I can say is that you’ll see.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you are expecting me to believe that? With no information, other than ‘I’ll see’?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, to be honest, not really. I knew you wouldn’t believe me. I just wanted to give you a warning to make myself feel better. Now you know, so it is no longer my issue.” I just told her, as I got up from my seat to leave. “Come on Alice. We still need to inspect the area, put up a barrier and call Lady Janina here. She will be disappointed if she doesn’t get to spectate.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure. I told you this would be a waste of time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. But at least we got it done.”
<span style="font-weight:400">As I was about to leave, I realized that this doesn’t feel right with me. I shouldn’t put peoples lives on the line just because I’m feeling petty. And I think I have a way of getting Lady Hunter on my side.
<span style="font-weight:400">(Laura, please hide some of the… not somon skills, thanks.) I quickly asked Laura, before I spoke up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Lady Hunter. Onest time. I would like your help. The System is asking for it. Status Open.” I opened my status for Lady Hunter to see. If this doesn’t work, I may as well work alone.
Spoiler
<table style="border-copse:copse;width:50.2008%;height:888px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Name: Brian Wood</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Race: Dragon Hearted ?</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Level: 128</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">HP: 5700 (+19,600)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Mana: 6790 (+17,800)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Strength: 2200</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Defense: 2870</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Magic: 2400</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Skills:</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Draconic Body LV.1 (racial)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Draconic Magic LV.1 (racial)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Pack Opener LV.7 (unique)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Storage LV.10 (unique)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Limit Break LV.1 (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Telekinesis LV.5 (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Summoner’s Unity LV.10 (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Dungeon Founder (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Summon Water Spirit (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Health Conscious (extra)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Sword Technique LV.4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Shield Technique LV.2<span style="font-weight:400">
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Mana Control LV.12</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Defense Boost LV.8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Dragon Life Dedication (Greater True Fire Dragon)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Water Spirits Blessing (Greater)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Honorary Baron of Ruiso Kingdom</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">Language Comprehension (humanoid) (draconic)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">ve Master</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:24px">
<td style="width:100%;height:24px"><span style="font-weight:400">ves: Rhianna</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
[copse]
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course my race didn’t show up as One without a Race, but just as Dragon Hearted. I also didn’t have Laura reduce her System Support grade, like she did when I showed my Status when I was given my noble title. But my unique-racial skill was hidden, as were Space Magic and Different Dimension Factory. But the two racial skills that were kind of a part of my unique-racial skill did show up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So, Lady Hunter, would you please assist us in our endeavor?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... Please give me just a moment. I’ll get a map.” Lady Hunter said.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right about here.” I pointed on the map. “In this general area. That is as close as I can point to.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... Is that… truly the case?” Lady Hunter asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t ask that again.” Alice told her. “Either believe it, or just stay here and do nothing.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. I … no … you are correct, Miss Watchman. I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. Something like that shouldn’t just happen. I don’t want it to happen. So I don’t want to believe it.” Lady Hunter reasoned. “But … I feel… I know you must be telling the truth. You wouldn’t reveal your status like that if you weren’t.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks. That will hopefully make this easier.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then what do you wish for me to do?” Lady Hunter asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I want you to pull everyone inside the city walls. That includes the less fortunate ones that live outside. After that, you can just leave the rest to us.” I instructed her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s imp… How long do we have?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know the exact time, but likely at some point in the afternoon. Likely around the … fourth bell.” Oh yeah. That is another thing I never talked about. Because most people in this world can’t tell the time, towns and cities use bells. There are six rings per day, from six in the morning to nine in the evening. So a ringing every three hours. So saying something happens around the fourth bell, means it will happen at right about 3 pm.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... that isn’t a lot of time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, me Lord Oroco for allowing slums.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you ming the Lord for this?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. I’m ming him for how he runs his city. What is happening now is entirely out of his control.” I corrected her. “But if this city had everyone living inside the walls, none of this would be necessary. I could have just put a barrier along the outer wall and we could have gone with that. But that isn’t the case, so…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... Alright. I get your point. Even if I don’t like it.” Lady Hunter said. “I shall get to work now. I’ll do my best to get everyone behind the wall. But are you sure you won’t need any help fighting… whatever it is that will appear?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. You’d likely just get in the way. No bad feelings, please. It just is the truth.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... alright. But if that is a lie, I’ll challenge you to a duelter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And at that time, I’ll dly ept.”
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">After Alice and I left, I saw Lady Hunter flying somewhere. And soon a big bustle began near where I pointed on the map. She really must be working hard.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for Alice and I, we were enjoying a good lunch at a local restaurant. We were able toe in just before the lunch rush, so we had good seats. The food was good, not amazing, but just good. A bit pricey, but I guess big city and all of that.
<span style="font-weight:400">After lunch, we tried to head outside, but were stopped by the knights. They told us that no one was allowed outside the walls until tomorrow. Or at least that would have been the case, had Lady Hunter not spotted us and allowed us outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once outside, I got out my carriage and we headed to ground zero. I also took Lady Janina’s dragon avatar out of Storage, so she could enter it whenever she wished. And by the time we had finished our inspection of ground zero, Lady Janina was here.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll be watching from the wall. If you need help, I’ll teleport my real body here and give you a hand.” Lady Janina told us.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... you can do that?” I asked her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since my soul is already here, it isn’t too difficult. But I do need a strong focus point.” She answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. We’ll alsoe to the wall for a second. I’ll introduce you to Lady Hunter, as she will also be there.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you. I do hope this will be entertaining.” Lady Janina said. “If not, I might have to ask you to entertain me again.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... not here. I’lle to the Coast for that.” I said, realizing what Lady Janina meant by ‘entertaining’ her. I can’t just summon multiple Gods here and have them fight her. Everyone would lose their minds.
<span style="font-weight:400">And honestly speaking, I do kind of want to know if an infinite attack Obelisk the Tormentor can punch out Lady Janina. And what about the Wicked Gods? Could they match up to her? Well, let’s worry about that another time. Now, we have a fissure to close.
<span style="font-weight:400">… well, first I have to open one. Then close it.