novelraw Chapter 249: Slices of a Second
Chapter 249: Slices of a Second
Rikuto’s contingent meets up with the battalion operating a simple operating camp about five kilometers northwest of the fire’s current perimeter, a short distance outside of Urflasdat. The intense mana is less prevalent at this range, but the light of the fire has thrown off Rikuto’s sense of time. The sky is dark, but distorted by the bright, apparent sunrise in the wrong direction. It’s somehow even worse than the light pollution from major cities like Tokyo or Osaka, which each have the added disadvantage caused by smog and other air pollution associated with typical big metropolitan areas. The light’s intense luminosity is of such an immense brilliance, it could only be classified above the brightest cities on Earth as a near-absolute sky-wash, as he can’t even make sense of where the moons of Zenkon are, nor make out any of the constellations in the sky.
It’s highly possible the mana fire could illuminate a new moon by itself, defying the shadow of the world, so long as one is not viewing it from within the light dome. Even now, he feels more wonder than exhaustion, since the clock is still slowly ticking. He can’t know when the worst case scenario will be achieved, but the longer the fire burns, the closer they get to true apocalypse.
Rikuto knows Ryukana wouldn’t let the world simply collapse like this, but she also isn’t the world observer anymore. Her successor is good natured as well, but Rikuto backed himself into a sort of cut-off position due to his reckless use of the void artilleries.
It’s now that he’s forced to grasp what his fear started. At the peace conference, Daniel was unrepentant about building nuclear weapons, but it’s also clear that he isn’t abusing his possession of them. Even with the multiple attacks on the Citadel, he never employed them against the territories that attacked him, in spite of having the ability to easily deliver them to the hearts of those territories.
And, that includes Rikuto and Mornistae.
There are monsters in this world. Monsters that Rikuto mistakenly believed Daniel was the worst of. But, after starting this mana fire, Yaulander hasn’t even made an attempt to contact Urflasdat or gain control of the mana fire.
“Your Majesty! Look!” calls out one of the knights.
A humongous weight feels like it slumps off of Rikuto’s shoulders when he looks to the sky towards Urflasdat.
Glistening in the dim light that reaches it from the mana fire is a vessel of artificial construction cruising through the air.
Finally… It took you long enough.
Rikuto orders, “Create a landing zone and signal them with flags.
“Where’s the large ship going?” asks Larravu, who is staying close to Rikuto. She’s still feeling some residual nausea, but she’s remaining loyal to her duty as Rikuto’s guard.
It’s subtle, but Rikuto can see colorful light illuminating the bow of the airship as it continues towards the fire, rather than heading for them. It doesn’t seem to be an attack, but Rikuto will have to ask when the command team arrives at the forward operating camp he’s at. Heralesse was already in Urflasdat trying to convince the governing lord of the City and its surrounding territory to start seriously considering evacuations. While most people are probably awed by the light on the horizon, even late at night, it’s likely going to be challenging to convince the whole city to evacuate. Japan takes disaster preparedness very seriously in order to address the high potential for earthquakes, tsunamis, mudslides, and even eventually, a volcanic eruption. Rikuto spent his formative years learning proper evacuation procedures and routes, resources to use, and supplies to keep readily available if he needs them. He’s probably a little lazier about it than he should be, but he does make sure he knows the various evacuation routes for school or his home at an absolute minimum.
This world doesn’t have such efficient means of information spreading, though, meaning it’s difficult to mandate effective disaster preparedness, let alone an actual emergency response when one is needed.
Still, as the shuttle arrives at the quickly-made landing zone, Rikuto is hopeful that Heralesse and Daniel will bring good news.
That is, if Daniel were on the large personnel carrying aircraft.
Heralesse is one of the first to disembark, and she’s followed quickly by a male gatonine knight and an albino woman that nearly stops Rikuto’s heart.
Sundenelle should have returned to the Imperial Capital already, and though she has direct ties to the Fievegal, if the engagement wasn’t just a political scheme between the Empire and Daniel’s small-but-powerful territory.
Rikuto jogs close and bows. “E-Empress Sundenelle, I had no idea you would be joining us.”
“I’m here to represent the interests of the Fievegal and the Empire simultaneously,” replies Sundenelle, completely calm about the situation. She adds to her knight, who helped her disembark the shuttle, even though there’s a ramp, “Thank you, Sir Ecklevon.”
Heralesse adds, “It’s thanks to her Majesty that we were able to return so quickly. And, as I understand it, Aramellianna and Hekate are on the airship to engage the fire directly with something Wenlianna developed.”
“I’m afraid I don’t entirely understand it myself,” adds Sundenelle. “It’s supposedly some kind of mana extractor, but they are unsure if it will have a direct effect on the fire.”
“What about Daniel, then?”
“As I understand it, my Imperial Fiance is still at the Citadel,” replies Sundenelle thoughtfully, and the reply makes Rikuto’s eye twitch a little.
Seriously? She’s pushing buttons right now? Wait…
“You said he’s still at the Citadel? From his message…”
Heralesse is the one to interrupt him, adding, “They manage to capture Zuzia. Daniel is forcing a contract change so she won’t be a slave to Grand Prince Yaulander. They should be returning soon.”
“How do you know that?” asks the Japanese man. He’s shocked that his American counterpart seems to be focusing on anything other than the fire. Though, maybe he doesn’t know what Rikuto knows. One wouldn’t necessarily think about downwards when a fire is burning, but it’s not just a fire, in spite of everyone calling it that for ease of communication about it.
Rikuto is only speculating, but he has very good reasons for his speculations. He can only pray there isn’t a magma pocket before the mantle, and if they’re really, REALLY lucky, the crust of Zenkon is significantly thicker than even the thickest parts of Earth’s crust.
“I need to speak with Daniel,” reiterates Rikuto. “I was able to momentarily stop a small section of the fire’s advance, and I want to make sure we make the best use of the mages the Fievegal has.”
“You were able to stop the advance?” asks Sundenelle, genuinely surprised and intrigued. “With mana?”
“Yes. The energy of the fire seems to be similar to the… uh… Divine Summoning ritual, which…” Rikuto looks aside, realizing how shameful it is that he partook in it, as well as finishing it.”
“Hey, don’t worry too much about it,” states a new female’s voice from behind him, and a fairly surprisingly strong hand smacks him on the back. A golden-hued brunette passes by him, saying, “Sundenelle! Thank you so much!”
“Z-Zuzia!?” asks Sundenelle with surprise in her tone as the otherworlder hugs the Empress.
Rikuto and Heraelesse are struck speechless as Ecklevon tries in futility to stop the hug, but realizes quickly that he probably can’t stop Zuzia if he wants to.
Zuzia is larger than Sundenelle in the way a European would be to an average Asian woman, taller, more naturally muscular, and a more obviously ample chest and hips. Rikuto didn’t get a great look at her when she arrived from the summoning and subsequently fled, but she’s unmistakably a European of Earth. It’s a minor distinction between the “off-white” Rikuto would call the typical human denizens of the Stoerykame continent, who have only the most subtle, somewhat inhuman ‘color’ hues to their skin from mana and their lineage. It’s barely noticeable, but when an American and Polish woman are standing next to them, it is a little easier to see.
“Z-Zuzia… I… You’re safe…?” asks Rikuto, shocked. “No… How are you here?”
The tall brunette is easily as tall as Rikuto, maybe even slightly taller, and she looks at Rikuto.
“Hmm? Her Imperial Ultra-Greatness of the Fluffy Empire,” replies Zuzia playfully as she points. Rikuto looks and flinches. Hekate is flashing into existence momentarily, since it has to be here due to the kemonomimi girl being a powerful mage who can teleport. And, each time, she drops off a couple of people, with Daniel quickly surveying his surroundings.
Hekate appears with the last group, panting heavily as if she had to heavily exert herself, which does make sense.
“Daniel! Carry me!” Without any shame or hesitation, Hekate pounces onto Daniel’s back, and he grunts out an “Oof!” before simply chuckling and holding her thighs to approach the rest of the group.
Kera’tai, who Rikuto recognizes from the peace summit, complains lightly, “Hekate, that’s no fair.”
“Hey! I teleported us all here! Hekate privileges!” She clings to Daniel’s neck firmly, and the American approaches the group of royals. “Xyreko overheard the conversation and we decided to make haste here. Fortunately, the mana extractor is pulling mana, which Hekate could use for a quick charge.”
“It’s still really exhausting though! You should praise me more.”
“So, yeah,” adds Zuzia. “Here I am. And, seriously, Sundenelle, thank you. You were right.”
The albino Empress gently pets Zuzia’s neck, which is bandaged. “The collar is gone, then? I’m glad.”
“I’m Daniel’s slave now, so if it comes down to it…” Zuzia feigns helplessness by cupping her own cheek with a sad expression.
These words cause Rikuto to twitch and glance at the American, who rolls his eyes. But, as if it’s some inside joke he’s not privy to, Sundenelle adds with a serious-sounding tone that carries only a slight playful edge, “If he doesn’t free you, I’ll kill him myself.”
“I’ll have you all know, Neith is only alive because I missed.”
The armored dragon behind Daniel’s group laughs, adding, “Indeed so. But, I do know how to kill you now, my Liege.”
“Daniel doesn’t need slaves anyways!” whines Hekate. “He has me!”
“Anyways…” Zuzia looks to the light on the horizon. “We’re fighting a literal sunrise, aren’t we?”
Rikuto snaps out of the momentary distraction. He has questions, but they’ll have to wait. Everyone has been conveniently gathered, and he needs the Earthlings to confirm and add credibility to his concerns.
“Right. But, it gets worse. I believe… if we don’t stop the fire before it gets too deep, we’re looking at a super-eruption.” Rikuto cuts right to the heart of the concern, and he knows it reached the right audience when Zuzia’s and Daniel’s face both turn completely serious.
Hekate notices Daniel instantly, asking, “Wh-What’s that mean?”
Daniel asks intuitively, since it’s probably the most an American thinks about it even speculatively, “Yellowstone, or Mount Fuji?”
“Yellowstone would be a firecracker in comparison,” replies Rikuto grimly. “We’re not talking about a normal release of pressure that works its way up. The fire is disintegrating solid matter downward, in addition to outward. I think… it’s thinning the crust, which means…” Daniel was right to ask about Yellowstone. It’s talked about as an active supervolcano, which is much larger than the typical mountainous ones people think of, like one of the islands of Hawaii or Japan’s Mount Fuji. Yellowstone is speculated to have a volcanic explosivity index value of 8 compared to something like Mount St. Helens’ value of 5. The historical supereruptions of Yellowstone, as ancient as even the most recent one was, were still thousands of times more powerful and destructive than Mount St. Helens.
“If the mantle is exposed, it’ll explode?” asks Zuzia. “That doesn’t make sense. The mantle should be heavier than the crust, right?”
“I understand why you’d think so, but it’s not quite right. Maybe if there was time to expand and cool slowly, it would be a different story, but instead, the fire’s eating a hole in a pressure vessel. The mantle is pressurized with molten rock with no room to expand, trapped gases, and other geological forces. The ‘pressure vessel’ is millions of tons of solid rock that form the crust. Just a little pressure finding weak spots is one of the ways volcanoes form. Zenkon won’t deflate like a balloon, but the cap is being removed. And, once it’s all the way off, the mantle will explode like a soda can that’s been shaken up.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on NovelBin. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“H-How do you know this?” asks the brunette. “I mean, it sounds… believable, but even if the fire is burning downwards, we’re talking kilometers and kilometers of rock, right?”
“The lateral radius is already over twenty kilometers. I think we’re on borrowed time for the vertical radius.”
“Th-This all sounds really bad,” remarks Veiranoei, the gatonine ‘Empress in name only’, or so the rumors go. “But, what does it mean?”
Daniel explains, “If Rikuto’s right, he’s saying…” Daniel looks at Yuna and a male elf behind him, “Lord Serrentuk, are there fire mountains on this continent? They intermittently spew out smoke and, just occasionally, explode violently with molten rock and ash.”
“None that I know of, your Grace,” replies the elven sage, glancing at the black haired elf beside him. She, too shakes her head.
However, Neith, the gray dragon speaks up. “My Liege, I know of what you speak. I investigated one such island that was actively… ‘erupting’? It looked like liquid fire, but was indeed stone. And, it rapidly boiled the sea water around it.”
Daniel nods. “Many islands are actually formed by volcanoes and then drift off of their hot-spot.” He continues his explanation to Veiranoei and for the others, “Deep in the e-, in the heart of zenkon, deeper down than the mountains are high, there is a somewhat distinct transition between what is called the crust, which is much like the skin of a fruit, and… rock hot enough to be liquid, but in a somewhat elastic state.”
“Plastic specifically, but I know that’s not really good context here,” adds Rikuto. He picks up the explanation, “The crust seals in this molten rock, and if it’s breached, the pressure will rapidly fling this rock as lava, which is a glowing liquid that will start wildfires, melt anything it touches for hours after the fact, and the ensuing dust cloud will block out the sun for a very long time. Whatever life manages to survive the shockwave of the initial blast would slowly die of poison gas, starvation as all the plants die, and even lack of sun, to a degree.”
A golden-haired dragon asks a bit boisterously, but seriously, “What are we sitting around talking for, then? Harbinger, do something.” She smacks Daniel rather casually on the shoulder, and he glances at her with slight exasperation.
Zuzia remarks, “It’s difficult to believe, but… I think Rikuto’s right.”
“Please forgive the bluntness, but I know I’m right. Or at least, this should be the worst case scenario we work under. We can’t afford to keep wasting time.” Rikuto sends a brief glare at Daniel, who had the opportunity to address it right away, but decided to play political games instead.
And, the American seems to know it, because he remains quiet and his expression definitely has a weight behind it.
“What haven’t we tried yet?” asks Zuzia, focusing on the what, rather than the who. “Xyreko, right? She mentioned something about you being able to stop the fire for a bit?”
Rikuto sighs, nodding. His own thunder is snuffed out with the very person whose life he changed forever asking him that question. “Yes. There is a part of the spell for the Divine Summoning ritual that… basically suspends the mana, which felt very similar to the mana fire. I can teach it to everyone here capable of magic, but it’s an extremely heavy burden, and for even a small volume of resistance, it takes a substantial mana pool.”
Hekate slides off of Daniel’s back, bounding around in front as her tail wags slightly. “Then, I’ll learn it! I have lots of mana. And, my mana will replenish itself when I’m close.”
“That works for you,” starts Kera’tai. “But, the rest of us will be bombarded by a poisonous feeling.”
“And, I am resistant to magic, but I don’t really have any capacity for controlling it,” replies Zuzia. “I managed like one spell while Neith and Serrentuk were pummeling me.”
This causes Heralesse and Rikuto’s expressions to turn to horror, and she adds, “It was necessary. I’ll explain better later.”
Sundenelle nods in confirmation. “She speaks the truth. But, please… tell me; this ‘super-eruption’. Is it… really as terrible as you say? How long do we have?”
Rikuto replies seriously, “Days at most. Like I said, I can confirm the mana fire is burning downwards as well, and it’s impossible to see how deep it has gotten. Earth’s crust was an average of about thirty to fifty kilometers over a continent like this. Zenkon seems to have the signs of being a larger planet, but with slightly lower gravity, from what I’ve gathered, and I don’t know for sure how this would affect the crust’s depth. I’d like to think the larger diameter of the world itself means the crust is thicker, but we should operate on the assumption that we have no more than a few days, which, as I understand it, will be when we lose the last resort.” He looks at Daniel again, and the American nods once very subtly.
Sundenelle covers her mouth as she thinks, crunching data and fearful that it’s already beyond their ability to stop it.
I hate that it might come down to nuclear weapons, but I admit, I don’t think even Hekate will be able to do much better than I did, even if she can sustain it like she says.
“Sundenelle, is the fire still officially in Imperial territory?” asks Daniel.
Heralesse answers, since she already knows the answer, “I’m afraid not. It crossed over late last night. But, Count Ethuvere, the margrave and governor of Urflasdat, has given us… unofficial permission to combat the fire.”
“I’ll use the Imperial authority to shield the Fievegal from any blowback as well, Daniel,” replies the young Empress. “Do you have a plan?”
“Not entirely. Neith, I’d like you to retrieve Magnir and try your fire breath. I’m not optimistic, but we lose nothing by trying.”
“As you wish, my Liege.”
Rikuto adds, “Please focus on the embers around the edge, rather than the body of the flame, first, Neith. I want to avoid driving the nadir of the crater that’s forming any lower.”
“Nadir?” asks Hekate.
“The lowest point of a depression,” replies Zuzia. “And, I assume we’ve tried water already?”
“Yes, exhaustively,” replies Heralesse. “If anything, the water just burned instantly like everything else.”
“With your permission, your Majesties, Father and I will attempt weather magic to see if we can overwhelm it,” offers the black haired elf Rikuto knows as Yuna. He’s surprised to learn that Serrentuk is her father, since his features are distinctly not Japanese the way Yuna’s are, but it’s something Rikuto can try to ask about later.
More importantly, he’s surprised by their offered assistance. “Weather magic?”
“Indeed, your Majesty,” replies the younger elven sage. “It will be relatively localized, of course. But, the two of us should be able to make enough coverage for a large enough portion of the fire to determine if it’s effective.”
“Will there be lightning?” asks Treia, one of Daniel’s gatonine consorts. Gwenesphia is the only one of the three missing.
“No,” replies Serrentuk. “Not with the spell we’ll use. And, it will take a couple hours for us to formulate the full spell, which should be well after the dragons have determined their effectiveness. It’ll cost us nothing but mana if we must cancel the spell mid-casting.”
“If that’s the case, Daniel, can I ask you to send a shuttle to my village to retrieve the elders?” asks Kera’tai. “We can cast a black fire spell that might be effective as well, but it will take our strongest elders and my father to make anything impactful.”
“Do you perhaps mean Gloom Inferno?” asks Sundenelle.
“Indeed! At least, I believe that’s what it’s called here in the east. It’s a fire spell that consumes the mana of the target, so it may be able to catch up to and burn out the embers themselves.”
“Won’t it just burn the whole world like this fire, then?” asks Zuzia with a bit of surprise as she glances at everyone else, unsure if she’s the only one completely out of the loop.
“The ground doesn’t contain enough mana,” replies Kera’tai. “It’s not nearly efficient enough to sustain a flame on most materials. It’s most effective on monsters and… um… any other beings powerful in magic.”
Hekate’s tail noticeably ‘inflates’ from her fur standing on end.
I suppose it’s fair for her to be afraid.
Daniel nods in agreement, “It shall be done. Se-Serrentuk and Yuna, if you would, please begin your preparations and begin casting. If you need anything, contact us immediately. Xyreko, send a golem with them.”
“Of course, Daniel,” replies Xyreko’s voice as she steps up, having remained at the back to listen to the group discussion.
“What about the rest of us, then?” asks Zuzia. “Are we going to focus on evacuating the city?”
“The Count’s refusing to give the order,” replies Heralesse. “He doesn’t understand that the flame consumes everything.”
“Then, we need to drag that dupka out here to see it in action for himself.”
Daniel, who seems to be worn down by some level of guilt, exhaustion, and whatever combat he was apparently in before heading to the operating camp, retorts a little dryly behind his weary tone, “I don’t know Polish, but I know a veiled swear when I see one.”
Zuzia looks off to the side, saying quietly like someone guilty, “It’s not that bad of a word…”
Rikuto then says, “If you, Sundenelle, or Heralesse can convince the Count to come out and see it, then please do. The city won’t be able to withstand it. If anything, the taller buildings and the perimeter wall will help it spread faster.”
“I tried explaining that to him, but he insists that he would need permission from the King of Ahmpur, which makes sense, but… we don’t have time to wait for a response.”
“He seemed to be delaying intentionally,” murmurs Sundenelle. “I may not have direct authority here, but to have been shut down as well… I believe something else might be happening.”
“As if we need more politics right now of all times,” grumbles Treia.
“Then, let’s focus on our missions now,” replies Daniel. “Zuzia, I don’t know if you’ll be able to get them to evacuate using my name. If you haven’t already heard the rumors, I’m not especially popular in the east. If you’re going to drop a name, you may wish to use Yaulander’s or Sundenelle’s.”
“What rumors?” asks the Polish woman.
“Rumors that started because of me, but are untrue, I regret to say,” replies Rikuto.
“Daniel saved Eri’s life!” exclaims Hekate. “And they slander him like he assaulted her!”
“Regardless of the truth, the story took on a life of its own to destroy Daniel’s reputation," adds Heralesse. “But, I agree. It’s not important now, other than Daniel’s name will do more harm than good.”
“We can wait a little longer, Daniel. Maybe until that stupid Count’s house burns at least…” suggests Hekate.
Zuzia cocks her head a little, glancing at Daniel. But, the American reprimands his fox-eared companion, “Hekate, I don’t mind you having an evil sounding nickname if you settle on one. But, I don’t want you to be actually evil.”
Her ears flatten, and she replies, “Fine. But, he wouldn’t be so skeptical if his stupid house was the nandeer of the fire’s crater.”
“Nadir,” corrects Daniel. “And you’re right, but in a callous way. There’s a lot of farmland that will be lost if it reaches the city, and they won’t be able to sustain themselves as well. Treia, if you would, go with Zuzia, Sundenelle, and Heralesse. If you can convince the Count to either see the fire or go behind his back, at least try to get some people to head out of the city. Veiranoei, I’d like you to look after Wenlianna when she finishes on the airship.”
“M-Me?” asks the gatonine.
“Yes, please. I trust you to drag her away if she gets too reckless, regardless of whatever it is. And, you’re strong enough to do it in a hurry.”
“And what, I’m too small?” asks Treia with an accusatory tone. She and Veiranoei are close to the same build, with Veiranoei only having a slight edge in certain feminine areas, in spite of them both having rather impressive-looking knight builds similar to Larravu.
“No, but your Father is a merchant, isn’t he?” Treia twitches at Daniel’s words, seemingly surprised that he remembered. He continues, “That may be at least useful enough when talking to merchants. Veira’s family also does a lot of trade, but… I believe it’ll be better if you handle it, please.”
Treia nods without complaint. “Sure, of course.” She gives a gentle smile to Veiranoei, who also seems relieved for some reason.
“I was hoping more of your mages would be here to learn the spell,” states Rikuto.
“Hekate and Yaulwembor will have to do,” replies Daniel as he gestures to the reptilian woman who is hovering close to him. She has a bored expression, as far as Rikuto can tell, but when he last saw her, he assumed this was Ryuogriar in a hybrid state between the more humanoid form and her true dragon form, whatever that appears as. Though, Daniel did correct him, since Yaulwembor has some sort of disorder where she can’t understand words.
Daniel clicks his teeth to get her attention, and she snaps her gaze attentively to him. He then gestures at Hekate, who gives non-sense hand signals, but with magical energy glowing around her hands.
This is enough, as Yaulwembor nods and gives a deep, low warbling growl that sounds relatively gentle. Daniel pets her head gently, saying softly, “Thank you, Yaulwembor. I’m sure we’ll be counting on you.”
“Pardon me, my Liege. Magnir is arriving. We’ll deploy immediately,” interjects Neith politely.
Serrentuk asks, “Do you mind giving us a lift to the fire itself, sir Neith?”
“Not at all, Lord Serrentuk,” replies the dragon. “We’ll be moving fast, though.”
“No trouble at all.”
That said, Yuna is quick to withdraw something from her own magic bag, and she pops it into her mouth quickly, taking a drink. “A-Anyone else need ginger?” asks the elven sorceress.
“I’ll take some,” states Zuzia. “Sir Neith, is it too far out of your way to swing by the City to drop me off?”
“I can do that, but I assumed you would be taking the shuttle.”
Zuzia looks at Daniel. The American replies, “Grendel Six should be on the way here. And, I’ve got Hekate if I need to get anywhere quickly. You guys use it.”
“Don’t mind if I do. Nevermind, then, Neith.” Neith bows as the blue dragon armored like a cross between a knight and a mercenary lands nearby. He says with a dip of his helmet, “Your Majesties, General.”
“Sir Magnir, thank you for coming,” replies Daniel. “Focus on whether or not you are able to stop the advance of the fire before anything else. We’ll scale up if it works.”
“Of course, your Grace.”
“What about me, Harbinger? You’ve conveniently left me out,” remarks the golden blonde dragon who is wearing rather lazy-looking clothing that threatens to let her huge breasts spill out if she were to simply pivot too quickly. Rikuto knows she’s not Ryuogriar from her voice and amethyst-violet eyes instead of ruby-red, but she has a very similar, very distracting build.
Daniel seems more dismissive of her than he seems with his other consorts, including Veiranoei, but he does reply to her, “I’d like you to stay with me and Hekate, Jeavana. If you think you can do Rikuto’s spell, I’d like you to try it. If either of us are about to be lit on fire, I’d like you to pull us away.”
“So, I’m your errand girl?” asks the dragon sarcastically. She presses closer to Daniel, but both Hekate and Yaulwembor move to block her with scowls.
Must be nice, Daniel.
“If you want a specific task, you could help us evacuate Ahmpur,” remarks Zuzia. “Or, uh, Urflas…town.”
“Urflasdat,” corrects Sundenelle gently.
“Right. Thanks. So, uh, Jeavana, right?”
“Unless you want me to try to chase them out as a dragon, I’m better with my fangs than my words, Zuzia. Let me know if it comes down to chasing time.” The blonde gives a devious grin, and she slips around behind Hekate without warning, managing to snatch Daniel’s arm and hug it to her chest. “Besides, Emperor Harbinger is just trying to hide his feelings for me. If I can get an Emperor to accept my babies as his own, they’ll be set for life! And me too! Heeheeheehee!”
Hekate clenches her fists, and violet-blue ‘flames’ of mana ignite around them. “Jeavana… Daniel may be hesitant to eat a dragon, but if you don’t back off right now…”
“I have to protect him!” complains the busty dragon, and Rikuto palms his face, feeling embarrassed and utterly awkward watching the foolish scene play out.
“We’re going,” adds Zuzia with irritation, and Rikuto is thankful she agrees with him. As much as any guy probably wants free reign over whatever women will have him, there’s a time and place for everything.
Regardless, everyone has their tasks, it seems, so now, the next round of attacks will begin.
***