NOVPUB<<Indeed, matriarch. Gao Jun Yao has been compromised and captured.>>
<<Tsk. Damn...I suppose that’s the price to pay in this cold war of ours, but still...it’ll be hard to find such a useful pawn.>>
<<Indeed, matriarch. Indeed.>>
<<By the way, have you managed to restore more of the Citadel’s capabilities?>>
Floating in an ocean of endless darkness, with the only source of illumination being the geothermal vents that provided warmth and strange, almost alien sea beasts that glowed with light, was a strange floating fortress that was as big as the entirety of Blessed Willow Island. The foundations for this fortress was a massive scallop shell that was covered entirely in strange, ancient runes, and carved in such a manner to suggest that it had been modified to act as a naval vessel.
This place was known as the [Dark Shell Citadel], a mobile fortress that could channel the power of an ancient scallop-like beast in order to move and defend its inhabitants.
Once upon a time, this fortress belonged to a top tier Aether Saint known as Black Shell, it was said that not even eighth tiered aether beasts would be able to penetrate its walls. A good thing too, since the Abyssal Lands were full of such beasts.
It was said that Black Shell would roam about the Abyssal Lands with the [Dark Shell Citadel], and use its power in conjunction with his own to launch surprise attacks on the world above, and plunder resources ripe for the taking.
Alas, time and fate were cruel mistresses, and Black Shell would fall before the might of a knightly queen and her entourage of demons, leaving [Dark Shell Citadel] to be abandoned for years and years. That was until the Fallen clan had stumbled upon the place right when they were escaping into the Abyssal Lands in the first place.
They had considered their finding of the citadel a blessing, and a sign that the heavens had not yet forsaken them. 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Ever since that day, the Fallen had made it one of their top priorities to restore this strange floating fortress to its former glory, in the hopes of either weaponizing it against their enemies. So far, the results have been mixed.
<<As it stands, matriarch, we have managed to restore another of the citadel’s cultivation chambers, so we’ll be able to train up more elite warriors. But the issue of lack of resources are still present. We just don’t have enough high quality aether crystals to bring everything back to full power. Not unless we pull warriors off of our defensive perimeters that is.>>
<<Tsk! Dammit,>> Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan cursed as she heard the latest report. <<And we can’t risk attacking the aboveground territories again due to them being on high alert...any luck on being able to ransom all of those prisoners?>>
<<The messages have been sent. We’re just waiting on their replies.>>
<<Hmmm.>>
The Fallen Clan’s attack on Willow Scale wasn’t a complete loss, but it wasn’t a grand success either.
They had managed to give the Zhen Clan a major black eye by not only kidnapping a whole host of young scions from all over the world, but they also managed to gain some crucial manpower in the form of the criminals and captured warriors the Zhen Clan had detained over the years, including their lost War Elder. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to increase the casualty count or destroy the Zhen Clan’s arena due to some unforeseen circumstances.
<<Any luck on determining on what that monster that ate the [Ghost Flame] was exactly?>>
<<No, milady. That was originally Gao Jun Yao’s role, and well...>>
<<Dammit...right...>>
Making matters worst, this also came at the cost of several dozen of their trained warriors and now, one of their biggest spies/resources.
Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan was deep in thought, trying to figure out what the course of action their clan should take, when an unannounced but not unwelcome visitor entered her chambers. It was none other than the War Elder, Gao Ao Long.
<<I see you’re in the middle of deliberating. Did I come at a bad time, matriarch?>>
<<Not at all, War Elder. In fact, I could use your council. You’re looking much better.>>
<<Wonders a bath, a meal and a new set of clothes can do for a man.>>
<<How’s the arm?>>
<<More cooperative.>>
Gone was the emaciated and bedraggled old man with an oversized arm, replaced by a distinguished looking gentleman with a manicured beard and a fuller form. The demonic looking arm he had, that was once exposed to the elements, was now wrapped in fine bandages that were imbued with a runic power. Granted, those bandages didn’t do much in terms of suppressing the sheer fury and power that naturally radiated from Gao Ao Long’s stolen arm.
<<Apologies, matriarch, but I couldn’t help but overhear that you were having an issue? In regards to resources?>>
<<Indeed, War Elder,>> the matriarch readily agreed. <<Due to us having to hide out here in the Abyssal Lands, we have to spend most of our efforts fending off the Aether Beasts that regularly try to attack us. We have plenty of food and materials to work with as a result, but we lack the facilities to process everything the way it should be processed. It’s enough to survive, not thrive.>>
<<Hmmm. I can most likely help to organize our forces to attack the surface territories and I can most definitely help with dealing with those snarling monsters outside the gate. But it sounds to me that biggest issue is the quality of warrior at our disposal. From what I could sense as well, the strongest warriors currently available at the citadel are only Aether Lords, excluding yourself of course.>>
Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan could only grimace and nod in response to the War Elder’s assessment.
<<The years have not been kind to our family since your capture. It’s honestly a miracle we’ve made it this far.>>
<<Miracles…,>> the War Elder mused while lifting his demonic arm to gaze at it.
An unusual smile then formed on the Elder’s face as he stared at his arm further, a wicked idea beginning to form.
<<Tell me, matriarch, are you familiar with the [Ballad of the Maelstrom]?>>
<<The end song about the Invulnerable Storm Queen? What about it?>>
<<It’s not just about the Storm Queen, matriarch. One of the song’s main subjects happens to be the Undertow Kingdom, the Storm Queen’s domain.>>
<<I remember that part. A lost city she made with her own power to protect the downtrodden, guarded by the fierce Storm Knights that could easily fight one against hundreds and win with ease and so incredibly wealthy that it put even the Pearl Scale Empire’s vast treasuries to shame. A surprising state of things given that it was a place where slavery was abolished. But, I also recall that it sank to the bottom of the sea,>> Gao Shen Yuan replied while readjusting her seat. <However, I get the feeling you’re bringing this up for a good reason?>>
<<Where do you think I got this arm?>>
At this response, Gao Shen Yuan paused her movement before her diverting all of her attention to the War Elder. A look of sheer disbelief was plain on her face.
<<You found the Undertow Kingdom?>>
<<I did,>> the War Elder nodded. <<And if my memory is still what it used to be, I can lead us there again. We won’t have to worry about resources or lacking firepower once we find it.>>
<<How so?>>
<<Well, that is up to you. We could forge an alliance with them, we do have a shared animosity for the Pearl Scale empire as whole. I’m fairly certain that we could work with them in order to drown out the Blossoming Scales Kingdom before moving on to bigger prey as it were.>>
<<And if they refuse?>>
<<Well...,>> Gao Ao Long trailed off as he lifted his wrapped up arm, moments before flexing it and releasing the dormant [Chaos] that composed its malformed structure.
<<You once asked me how I acquired this powerful limb of mine, yes? I happen to remember where I acquired this arm, and who I had to fight in order to claim it. The fellow I had fought over for it happened to be made of the same substances as this arm. Albeit, he was a very different sea creature than this arm of mine. What do you think about surgery and acquiring a special limb of your own?>>
Gao Shen Yuan was silent as she mulled over the War Elder’s question, but only for a second. After this second was up, she asked only one question.
<<How soon can we leave?>>
_____________________________________________
<Wait...I just remembered something important.>
=What’s that?=
<Weren’t we suppose to find an opportunity to get out of the city and ditch the family in order to find the Storm Queen’s tomb?>
=I...wait, we didn’t remind our lord about that?=
<No.>
=Shit.=
<Yeah...we gotta tell him.>
=Yup.=
<...>
=...=
<=Three, two, one, not it! Dammit! Fine, we’ll do it together.=>
