Chapter 65: Tempest Reinforcements [1]
The white Varanite stone walls of Tempest City gleamed under the soft radiance of the defensive boundary array, a stark contrast to the brutalist obsidian architecture of the North.
In the central command sanctum, the air was thick with the scent of burning ink and rare desert incense.
Alisa sat behind a massive desk carved from ancient ironwood, her long, pale rabbit ears drooping slightly as she methodically sorted through the encrypted report on her desk.
The latest reports from the Mandraxx network had just compiled, and the contents were heavy.
Elijah was a traitor.
The realization hit her like a physical blow.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the parchment, wrinkling the paper.
He was a fellow Rabbit-kin, one of her own kind whom she had personally vetted and placed into the deep-cover network.
To know that he had sold out his own flesh and blood to the Troll King for a few silk cushions and a plate of pheasant filled her with a profound, aching sadness.
But beneath that sadness was a deep, burning embarrassment.
’The Apostle had to fix my mistake’ she thought, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders tensing.
She was the Director of Mandraxx, the one who was supposed to be the eyes and ears of the God of Beasts.
Yet, Apostle Jarden had been forced to directly intervene in other to purge the traitor within her organization.
It was a humiliating blot on her record.
"Hmph... and besides he didn’t even bother to invite me," Alisa grumbled under her breath, her long ears twitching upright as she puffed out her cheeks in a sudden, pouty display of frustration.
"He’s up there in Norona City, playing with those pathetic lots, scheming against that bad Troll King, and turning old tunnels upside down." she mumbled.
"He gets to have all the fun while I’m stuck here doing inventory and staring at reports. It’s completely unfair."
The heavy oak doors of the office suddenly swung open with a light, cheerful click.
"If you keep scowling like that, Director, your whiskers might fall out," a bright, melodic voice called out.
Eurenia walked into the room, a brilliant, radiant smile stretching across her face.
She wasn’t wearing her usual administrative robes; instead, a faint, metallic hum resonated from her posture, indicating she had already prepared her mana cores for displacement.
Alisa blinked, looking up. "Eurenia? What’s with the look?"
"We just received a direct decree from the high command," Eurenia said, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she tapped a glowing, crimson-coded command slip onto the desk.
"Apostle Jarden has just sent a command. Our orders have arrived."
Alisa quickly grabbed the letter, her eyes scanning the lines as the divine signature of Jarden Rome flared briefly before her.
"We’re going?" Alisa’s voice leaped an octave, her previous embarrassment instantly dissolving into pure, unadulterated excitement.
"Yes," Eurenia nodded, her smile widening. "The Apostle has ordered a total mobilization." she paused
"While the two of us slip past the western gates to support your spies, Mayor Manuses and High Priest Croak have been commanded to draw the steel of Tempest City.
They must prepare the main forces for open war. When the western walls fracture, the army must be ready to march."
Alisa practically leaped out of her chair, her long ears standing completely rigid with joy. "Finally! No more paperwork!"
"I was already getting bored of sitting in this office all day" she stretched her arms, "Through this task. There should be a way for me to break the wall of Martial Warrior right?" she asked.
"Probably" Eurenia shrugged, "But why are you that eager to reach the next cultivation realm?" she asked.
"Why?" Alisa grumbled.
"I can’t be the only Martial Warrior in the upper echelons" she sighed, "Very soon, just as your commanders are now Martial Warriors"
"My subordinates will also evolve into cultivators, I need to be realms above them so they will naturally follow my every commands"
"Sure" Eurenia grinned, she placed her hand on Alisa’s shoulder, "Trust me when I say this, you’ll never be weak under the watchful gaze of Lord Varanus"
"As long as you remain loyal to him"
"Hehehehehehe that’s good" Alisa giggled, "Why do you say so?" Eurenia curiously asked.
"You see, I can proudly declare that I’m the most loyal follower of Lord Varanus" her eyes flickered, "No one is more dedicated than me"
Just like that, hours flew by.
Night fell over Tempest City like a heavy, velvet curtain, the stars obscured by the faint, shimmering light of the high protective arrays.
In the secluded, subterranean deployment bay beneath the city walls, the atmosphere was dead silent and businesslike.
Alisa and Eurenia stood side by side, completely transformed for the dark path ahead.
Gone were the loose dresses and bureaucratic tunics, replaced by form-fitting, slate-grey Mandraxx battle suits woven from high-tier shadow-silk and kinetic-absorbing alloys.
The suits clung tightly to their frames, minimizing their spiritual signatures to an absolute whisper.
Alisa adjusted the straps of her twin daggers, her amber eyes burning with focus, while Eurenia checked the concealed mana cartridges lined along her forearms.
The heavy thud of armored boots echoed through the stone bay as a towering, imposing figure stepped out of the shadows to see them off.
Mayor Manuses stood before them, his massive frame clad in full, polished battle plate that caught the dim violet light of the deployment array.
His expression was solemn, carrying the heavy gravity of a veteran ruler who knew what was about to happen.
"The western city is a meat grinder right now," Manuses spoke, his deep voice vibrating against the stone walls as he looked down at the two women.
"The Trolls have martial masters at every post." he smiled. "But the Apostle has open your entry paths."
"Do not hesitate, do not leave a trace, and return to us in one piece."
Alisa pressed her right fist against her chest plate, bowing her head in a sharp, military salute.
"Mandraxx will not fail the God of Beasts a second time, Mayor." Alisa declared.
"Tell High Priest Croak to have the main vanguard ready. When the signal flares, we’re tearing Norona City not only down from the inside...."
"But outside as well!"