To Anneria: Maiden of the Silver Light

Ch-6

To Anneria:

Maiden of the Silver Light

"What? How could we just lose them like that?"

Second-hand rants away at his screen as Taishae was not in his best mood of interest.

"Our viewing crystals went offline hours ago, and the reception is bad enough."

"Can't you see how bad this is? If Moon heard of this, he would flip a gasket." Second hand muttered.

"I wouldn't worry too much." Taishae crossed his arms in confidence. "Even if we're…. Unaware of the enemy's position, we'll find a way around it. I actually like this."

He closed his eyes, taking a breather.

"Taishae… This is an embarrassment on both our parts, but how long will it be till maintenance arrive?"

Taishae looks over the phone book flipping to a marked page, checking over the notes he wrote down on the costs for maintenance.

"So, how many crystal screens are we talking about here?" He asked.

Second-hand takes a moment to check on their inventory.

"About a set of three Crystal screens we need here, but not including yours."

"Ok, so that's three at the base and two at this capital. So five in total. This will cost at least 12,000,000 Tridals. Plus shipping and handling for the parts to be ordered. They'll be at the capital around late afternoon and the base at half-past ten."

"What! You couldn't find any other service cheaper?" He stumbled.

Taishae tossed the phone book aside.

"Well... It's the only one I could find that fixes viewing crystals for private organizations. I had to schedule an appointment… It was tiring enough to be on hold for their call. Unless you want us to consult with someone for a loan."

"No! We're deep in debt already. Moon would not like that. Fine, better than nothing, I suppose. So this will come out the Empire's funds then?"

"Well, they say they do accept credit as well." The metal general added.

He just shakes his head, waving one hand in disagreement.

"Oh no no, forget that. You remember what happened last time. Vilevelious threw a gasket over the interest rates and extra charges."

"Fair enough then."

Taishae turns around, checking back on Moon's position on a map. Then, thinking of what to say, he awaits an answer from him.

Somewhere deep under the sea… Moon leads a small group of his force to some ruins. Swimming swiftly through the pushing currents, he is interrupted by a call. Picking up, he hastily answers.

"What is it now?"

Taishae explains their situation.

"Our viewing crystals, you say? Did someone forget to pay for the cable bill last month? Cause I told them I didn't want the premium service."

Taishae explains.

"Huh? Oh, repairs, you say? That's fine then; it's been like nearly millennia since the last checkup. I wouldn't worry too much about Elena and her company's position anyway. No matter where they get off, they'll be seeking the Silver Maiden's temple. So tighten the defense there for now."

Before Taishae got a chance to hang up, Moon threw a few last-minute things in.

"Ooh, wait before you go. Ask for a catalog when maintenance arrives."

Taishae hangs up, and Moon continues his exploration. Finally, a symbol was unveiled, clearing through the dusk and mud on some scrap metal.

"Hoo, what do we have here?" His eyes widen a bit in surprise.

The Baronia Empire logo was engraved on the ruins.

"This must be what remains of their fortress. This will be fun."

He was more than eager to start salvaging what he can across the Baronia remains. Looking for a large opening or open gap to get in. Wondering what lead them to their destruction, a flashback comes to him.

"Hey, Brother! I got this for you."

Moon remembers a time, a place where he and his brother were young, probably once human. Then, a younger man hands something to his older brother.

"What's this? A luck charm?"

"We'll be rooting for you, big bro. So this will be your final battle?"

Then, Moon turns his back from him.

"Yes…The war against the Hundred Demon Tribe will soon come to an end. This battle will determine it all. If we prevail."

He just smiled back, giving a final wave before parting ways.

"Make sure my wife is safe…."

"Got it, bro!"

Pulling out his blade, he makes one giant leap, dashing away in the fading light. Back to the present time…

Arriving inside, a Glamour troop reports on a find.

"Well, you don't say. Well, what are we waiting for?"

Delving deep from one room after room, they arrive in a massive room still intact. Filled with air and some lights flickering, Moon was jumpy. They were inside Baronia's monster hangar. Filled with plenty of new weapons and arsenals at their disposal.

"Look at this? Some of these monsters are still fully intact? Brand new in their tube, never used yet. A Baronia brand seal of approval right on the corner."

A massive container at the end catches his eyes.

"What do we have here?"

Inspecting the monster inside, a disclosed writing at the tip of the corner reads "Faucet Face." Moon pulls the container out to get a better view of the light. Then, putting a smile on, he was determined.

"This one will do just fine. It's huge compared to our usual monsters in our arsenal so far. Come on! Let's get going. Take this back to the capital. Take whatever we can bring back. We won't be coming back anytime soon."

He gave the command as they clear out most of the good stuff in the room. They head back out into the sea. A while later…

"I'm back!"

Taishae turns around when Moon materializes from the liquid water in the throne room of Anneria. Glamour soldiers begin unloading all the stuff into the room.

"You're back, my lord."

A maintenance crew was in the middle of fixing up the crystal viewing screens.

"Hoo, I see the monster fixing crew is already here. Oh, hand me that catalog." Moon requested.

Taishae notices all the things brought back.

"I see you brought not only our monster parts but something else as well?"

Pushing aside the pile of scraps and pieces, the general checks out the big container.

"What is this creature? Is this a Baronia model?"

Moon rolls his eyes over.

"Hoo yes… This will be the next thing we'll use on Alistor and his petty company."

"A showerhead monster?" The General made out from the blurry case.

"Yes! Isn't it fabulous?"

"But it's a Baronia model? It won't operate on our command. Suppose we'll have to reformat it to our own programming then." He mentioned importantly.

"I'm aware. It may take a while, but hey…. Elena and her fleet won't be getting to that temple right away. So that gives us plenty of time."

Skimming through the catalog, he notices a new crystal screen model, having read almost none of it. He immediately halts the maintenance crew.

"What is it?"

Emperor Moon shows something to Taishae in the catalog.

"You can't be serious?" The General nodded.

The ad shows a new model priced excessively, catching his eye.

"New and slick, this is something we definitely need."

"But they're priced more than what we're paying already to fix what we got."

Moon was now in the middle of a call.

"How much we're talking here?"

He holds the phone by his neck as his order commenced. The catalog is still clenched in his hands.

"20,000,000 million Tridals per each, you say? Hmm, I like that. Can you replace all of them then? Really you can get them in before midnight? Yes, make that five then."

Taishae was surprised for a brief moment on such a hasty decision. He questions him to have Moon reconsider, but his mind was made up. Moon helps himself to a drink in a glass.

"We took an entire region not long ago. So we may as well have the best tech on our hands. We can easily secure more funds without effort. I have another plan in mind that we can try later."

"Very well. I'll let Second Hand know to be expecting a few packages."

Back from Anneria…. Steffbird's ship leads the fleet by a huge cliff. Planned initially ahead, they are to meet up with Anneria's resistance force.

"Wow, that's one huge cliffside." Katty pointed out.

Elena makes the call to Steffbird to sound the horn. Their allies are within reach from a visible distance.

"We're close to the Silver Maiden temple now that we took the long detour across. So that's your first destination on priority." Elena updated.

"Yeah… The Silver Maiden temple. If the story is true, we might as well check it out." Alistor agreed.

"This place is called BreakPoint end. A major cliffside filled with caves and hidden passages across Anneria." Claws informed.

"Hmm, that's good. At least we won't have to engage the enemy from the front." Maigashi replied.

Deployed onshore, anchors laid at rest as the party takes their first step on land. Then, finally, Alistor and his team were ready to get into action. Allies from the Anneria resistance greet them at the sight of Elena's return. Claws went out, rushing to two familiar faces within the greeting crowd.

"Hey! So you both made it back." A friend of Claws spoke.

"Great to see you two both still hanging on there." Claws said. "Oh, sorry…This is Alistor and his team that helped us back on the way."

Alistor and each member of the party briefly introduce themselves, quickly getting acquainted with Claws comrades.

"The name's Ralph."

"And I'm Mira; nice to meet you all."

"So Claws? Ready to knock some heads just like the good old days?" Ralph jumped.

Claws felt baffled for a slight second. Then, bumping some fists and exchanging a few shoulder smacks, the two were left to their own business catching up. Mira escorts the rest to their designated camps.

"Still the same as always, Ralph." Mira sighed. "We haven't got a clue what we'll be fighting against."

She was gloomy compared to his other friend with her bang covered one side of her eye. Elena was not at ease, witnessing what power the enemy has already demonstrated. The memory of the massive tide of darkness haunted her mind.

"That metal-faced monster Taishae... Sometimes I get the feeling that large wave of power is not from him." She admits.

"Whether it's a hunch or not. Taishae is Vilevelious' brother and must be stopped at all costs." Alistor said.

"We're here!" Tannen said.

With Steffbird's ship unloading the last of the cargo, disappointed looks were soon on their faces. But, unfortunately, it was not much to be excited about.

"I know this isn't much right now, but don't be deterred." Mira apologized. "We'll constantly be moving on the road, so expect temporary spacing for now."

She and Elena leave them to their personal business.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Claws asked.

"This sucks! They could have given us two tents at least. It's cramped as hell in here." Maigashi ranted.

"Agreed." Tannen sighed. "It's getting stuffy."

The rest were feeling discomfort. Auroa agrees with the idea, filing a complaint about a spare room.

"So, what room are you staying in?" Maigashi glared back to Claws.

He and Ralph felt nervous for a slight second from the gleaming crowd. Ralph reluctantly points to the large tent they are staying in, not far by Elena's quarters. Alistor and the gang go to take a look inside.

"For the love of…." Auroa halted at his words.

"Just great, really great. We get a shithole of space, and those two get a deluxe suite to themselves. Well, screw this then…." Maigashi cursed.

"Not a whole conspiracy at all. Shithole as agreed." Tannen sarcastically remarked.

"Ugh… I'm filing a complaint." Auroa nodded.

He left with Katty and Zolhalla following along.

A while later…Little or no success; there was nothing that could be done about it. Sunset closed in as they look out with envy.

Annoyed as ever, something must be done. Sairori was only neutral in the crowd about the whole situation. Though cramped, he still kept his hopes up.

"Elena sent us a word for our first plan of a raid for tomorrow." Sairori updated. "Best to get some rest while we can."

"Argh! Why the confined spaces?" The captain wondered.

Steffbird finally comes in to greet them, but he is treated to a surprise. With a sleeping bag in his hands, Maigashi eventually loses his cool.

"That's it! We're getting that second room." Maigashi marches out, firing at a neighboring tent with his bow.

A neighboring scream could be heard. Alistor and company eventually settled outside. Abandoning the small tent, they set a bonfire.

"So why you here? We thought they would assign you with a better room for a captain like yourself." Katty honestly asked.

The captain seemed bitter at first.

"Argh! The coordinator says dey ain't keeping a place for old crust buckets like me in high class. That's why I'm assigned ere. Whether they win or lose, once my contract expires, I'll be on my way." Steffbird said.

"I see… Don't worry about it." Sairori reluctantly cheers him up.

"Hey! What about a song?" The captain sprung up.

"Not a bad idea." Zolhalla's mood got cheery.

Dining together and sharing laughs, they sing away all night with the captain, fooling around across the small bonfire they made. Then, sooner or later, they fall asleep outside in the cool breezing outdoors.

A little while later… Before sunrise.

Moon and Taishae didn't waste time resting back at the capital. As a result, the showerhead monster began functioning.

"It's almost complete with such power surging through it. How much more time will it be, Tai, my man?"

The power suddenly wanes. Lights flicker on and off.

"That's the third time we lost power. It's 90% powered up, my lord. Just another big battery and it should be ours to command."

"Alright, I guess hmm. A shame the other monsters we found couldn't work. Plenty of parts salvaged here and there." Moon regarded looking back at the scrap pile.

Power restores, but another battery was not found, leaving him to a slight disappointment.

"What? What do you mean we're all out?" The metal general questioned a soldier.

"It seems another battery won't be ready until afternoon. We've been at this all night. "

"So it's a minor setback. We still got other monsters to bide some time." Moon reminded.

An incoming call then comes in from the new viewing screen.

"Incoming call from commander Roxcrusher," Taishae announced.

"Answer away then." Moon apathetically permits since he could care less.

Roxcrusher appears on the screen. A golem with an all-seeing pyramid eye looking straight at them updates them on the current status.

"General Taishae! The enemy's location has been confirmed. They outnumber us by the thousands. They'll be approaching the Maiden's temple soon. Is the secret weapon you promised ready?"

"Yeah, about that…." Taishae rolls his eye over to the lord.

"Oh, don't look at me. We have setbacks with all these outages. We need one last battery for our new monster to be ready. So we'll send something to reinforce your lines."

Disappointed for the time being, the commander returns to his post. Worried by the minute, Roxcrusher's army considers falling back. Whooper grunts are seen among his units as the commander halted them.

"No! We stay put. The resistance must not breach the temple. Our lord already wiped out two-thirds of their army. If we abandon our post, it will hurt our morale."

Returning to the capital….

"So, what two warriors will you send out?" Taishae asked.

"Hold on a minute. One second." Flipping through the scrapbook of monsters, Moon makes his choices. Then, tearing the pages out, he hands them to the General.

"These two? Odd choices you have made, are they not?"

"They're perfect for stalling."

"Very well. No more questions. Rise forth! Cone Face! Blanken!"

Two monsters pop out from the pictures in the palm of the General's hand. A clown-like monster wielding a large ice cream scoop and a Blanket monster as soft as a pillow.

"Now go and assist the commander."

Both monsters are jumpy, agitated like schoolchildren. They teleport immediately from the capital.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Morning comes in…

The first instance of battle. Alistor and the party move in from the sides as Claws lead the front charge of assault. Overwhelming the Aggerona army by the sheer numbers, the battle was quickly one-sided. Whoopers are sent flying back.

"Where are the reinforcements?" Commander Rox demanded. "Ready the traps."

"But our men are down there?"

"Who cares? Do it now."

Taking their position at the top of the temple stairs, stones roll down the hills. Claws back away, running back from the group of rolling stones.

"The commanding monster is at the top." Katty pointed to the group.

"Let's go then," Sairori spoke. "You guys cover us."

Leaping out of detection, the two hack at what comes in their way. First, Auroa and Maigashi destroy the incoming stones from a distance. Then, as the Whoopers went to reload the traps, Claws was back in action.

"Gah! It's too late for that. They've reached the stairs. Wait, what?" The commander was unsuspectingly surprised by Tannen.

Tannen swooped in, destroying most of the traps and defenses, allowing the others to confront the commander at the gate. The resistance closes in from all sides surrounding Roxcrusher.

"Good for nothing. Hmm, something's coming?" Rox noticed.

Two monsters jumped to their surprise. First, the massive blanket creature expanded, now covering a mass part of the army which sends them to another spot in the battle.

"What? They just vanished."

A radio transmission comes into Claws.

"What? They were sent back to base? Well, this is annoying."

Cold waves of cream drop down on the other side, causing many to slip over and tumble like dominoes. Cone Face plows down, mocking them.

"Tannen. We might need you back over here." Maigashi said.

"This one's different. Watch yourself. Looks can be deceiving." Auroa glared.

Claws occupy the front line against the illusive Blanken as Tannen falls back to assist Maigashi and the others against Cone Face.

"Watch out!" Claws yelled out.

Pushing Ralph and Mira out of the way, Claws gets caught in the blanket's sheet. He teleported back with a mass group of his men to home base, dropping down.

"Ow, that hurts!" Mira moped. "Huh? So it really does send us back to base. What the hell?"

Claws get back up with the others, charging their way back to the battlefield. Tannen swoops down to strike at the dreaded Cone Face with his scythe, but his attack slips through.

"It's not taking any damage. Any ideas, Alistor?" Maigashi asked.

"Not really much at the moment. Maybe we can try melting it away?" He thought.

"Not a bad idea." Auroa considered.

"Incoming attack!" Alistor shouted.

Meteors of ice crash down, walling off the stairs to the temple. Katty and Sairori were now the only ones at the top. Claws' team arrives back to the scene, noticing a massive wall of ice stopping their advance.

"Huh? That's odd?" Claws questioned.

"Yoo-hoo! Wee hee hee!"

"Oh, Gawd!"

Blanken drops down on the crowd again, sending them back to home base. Cone Face was at a standoff against Tannen with the backing group.

"Hoo hoo hoo. Around and around, away you go. Next stop, nobody will know."

Cone Face hurls a massive ball of ice cream, leaving them speechless to even defend against.

"Where in the world is Steffbird? We could use his help just about now." Maigashi asked.

"He's out this morning at some nearby town by the harbor. He's checking some black market." Tannen noted.

"What!? Shopping?"

"That's what he told me." Tannen shrugged.

Cone Face dances around, childishly mocking the crowd. Auroa lands a few strikes with his whip, but his attacks slip through it.

"The monster's body is slippery," Auroa noted.

"Play! Play! play!"

"Ok, what now?" Maigashi turns around.

Blanken made a ridiculous-sounding scream landing over them. Alistor and his whole team get caught within its sheet, traveling through a tunneling portal. They arrived back at base, landing on their bottom.

"Huh? Back already."

"Ow!" Maigashi got up from his behind.

"Hey there!" Claws lend a helping hand.

"They sent you back too?" Alistor asked.

"Yeah! It's my third time."

"How annoying…" Maigashi sighed.

"Hmm, attacking directly doesn't work. We'll need to try out something else." Auroa nodded.

An idea soon caught onto Tannen's mind.

"The enemies are akin to school children; we should play along and find an opportunity to trick them at their own games."

Not too soon after…

Alistor and his whole team set out on the plan by dividing up into small groups, going along with the monster's game. Both monsters take the bait trying to catch them.

"I wonder how they're doing against the commander." Claws thought aloud.

"I wouldn't be too worried about them," Auroa said. "Here they come!"

From the top of the temple entrance, Katty and Sairori fight against the colossal commander. Parts of his limbs are chipped away until they break apart.

"Ha, haha. Nice try."

Roxcrusher regenerates his lost limbs from the stones.

"This isn't getting anywhere." Katty looked out. He finds Ralph and Mira approaching the battle scene. "How long have you guys been behind that corner?"

"Does that really matter? Let's do this." Ralph hesitantly acted.

"Wait!" Mira tried stopping him, but he was too hard-headed.

He lands a blow to the commander's heart. Roxcrusher pauses for the moment.

"Is that all? My turn then."

The stone commander punches Ralph down to the ground, pinning him. Completely unable to move. The sound of cracking bones is heard. Sairori rushes quickly, taking out the stone arm as soon as possible.

"Hang in there…." He slaps at Ralph, pulling him out of battle.

"This game tires me. Time to end this." Commander Rox begins charging a laser from the tip of his core eye.

"Celestial Fire!" Mira yelled.

She fires a bursting shot from her arrow. It hits the commander directly.

"What? I can't move. My eye!"

His laser flies off course, blowing off a part of his body. Stunned and immobilized, his body was no longer regenerating to their surprise. As a result, both his legs fall off, so he loses his balance.

"Can't let them reach the temple."

Crawling for survival, with only one arm, he manages to blockade the entrance with his body. Sairori leaves Ralph to Mira back in her arms to take care of the rest. They notice an exposed core on Roxcrusher's chest.

"So that is all to your secret of regeneration. A core stone you try to hide which is now deeply exposed." Sairori pointed.

"Gah! So what… I'll show you. I am one of Lord Vilevelious bests."

Roxcrusher's body begins pulling back together. His body, this time, enlarged from more giant stones to hide his core. He suddenly takes notice of the other battle going on down below in disaster.

"Oh no!"

"Wow! That's smart."

Thanks to Tannen's cunning plan, Alistor's team successfully tricked both monsters at their own game. Blanken tumbled over Cone Face; both monsters tried regaining balance. Roxcrusher overlooks the battle down below, feeling agitated.

"Is this some kind of joke?" The commander felt insulted. "Of all the monsters, it had to be these useless ones?"

Cone Face and Blanken, along with everyone else, could overhear his ranting. Though they were not through yet, they became saddened. Facing away from Alistor and his team with heads down.

"What? What are they doing?" Alistor wondered.

Left confused, he lowers his guard, expecting them to try something. But, instead, Cone Face and Blanken continued walking away.

"Their morale is broken," Tannen said.

Before Alistor and the rest had the chance to attack, both monsters already left, leaving Roxcrusher alone to deal with the rest of them.

"That wasn't nice to say to your team." Mira pointed.

"Team? What team?"

He attempted a swing, but Mira dodged.

"Garbage!"

He took another swing, but it's the same result.

"Time to end this. Katty, you stay back. I got this." She insisted.

Having his long blade ready, commander Rox prepared to go all out by firing every stone he got. Mira disappears in a glance, the golem losing track of her. His stone body scatters apart. Rox attempts to pull himself back but is immediately stricken. His core shatters in a bleak second by her arrow.

"Crud!!!"

The battle was over in a split. All the stones fall to place, leaving the commander to explode. Claws then rush over to Ralph's side.

"So, how is he?"

"Just a few broken bones on the ribs here and there," Mira assured him.

"Sorry about that. I couldn't help myself." He tried hard to speak.

"Don't worry. You just rest. We'll take care of the rest from here." Claws said.

As Mira carries Ralph back with the resistance, Alistor and his party enter the Silver Maiden's temple.

Zolhalla and Steffbird soon catch up to the party at the entrance.

"So where's the monster! Let me smite them!"

"You overslept. It's already over." Katty muttered.

He stumbled for a brief second.

"So you find anything good at the market?" Maigashi wondered.

"Aye! They had some shabby deals going on in the black corner. So I stocked on some goods. We'll have a barrel of fun!" Steffbird assured.

And so they entered inside. The temple was pitched with faint glimmering lights from the torches.

"Been a while since I last stepped in this place." Claws mentioned.

"How long ago?" Alistor asked.

"Let me think." He rolled his eye, looking back. "Long before I became a knight as far I know."

They move through vast rooms and passages, deciding not to separate before growing bored.

Back at the capital…

"Seems Rox had failed. Even with our monsters, he failed to utilize them properly." Taishae nodded.

"Well, I never liked the guy anyway," Moon said. "Let Alistor and his pesky crew have their way at the Maiden's temple. It serves no significant importance to us."

After a while later. Alistor and party continue searching through the temple. Room after room, large and small, Maigashi begins to grow tired of the search. They arrived eventually at the main temple's heart. Looking up at the walls, all they find is a stone portrait engraved with the Maiden's picture depicted on it.

"So is this it?" Maigashi was not impressed.

"Seems like it." Tannen shrugged.

"We've been searching for hours. So this might be a dead-end?" Steffbird questioned Alistor.

"I don't know. Somehow it doesn't feel over yet."

"Are you sure?" Auroa replied. "We've seen only old artifacts and cracked walls so far. Though I see some inscription on the Maiden's portrait, we can check over."

"Let's check it out then."

Getting close, neither of them understands it. Zolhalla takes one look at the writing but was clueless.

"What do you think, Claws?" Alistor asked.

Getting his attention, he somehow recognizes that style of writing.

"I can barely make out the words it says." Claws honestly told. "But Mira would probably decipher these better. A few of the words I can figure is "Lady…Ice….In a desert zone…She reaches"."

Alistor takes one look at the Maiden's eyes in the picture. At that moment, the same female voice from his vision echoes in his mind. The others were fixated on the wall looking for a sign of any clue.

"Who's there?"

He spots a fainted silver light calling to him while the others don't notice a thing. He is the only one able to see it. Leaving them behind, he chases after it, leading him to another dead end at the temple with more symbols and writings. The light takes the form of a feminine figure reaching its hand to him.

"Who are you? Why do you call to me?" He quietly spoke.

She vanishes. Alistor hesitantly takes one step back for the moment, but it suddenly happens. He accidentally steps on a hidden switch on the ground. It activates, teleporting him away to another place in time.

"Hmm, where did Alistor go?" Auroa bothered to ask.

"Meh, who knows? Probably just out daydreaming." Maigashi yawned uncaringly.

Alistor wakes up in another realm. A chamber of ice, cold and frozen, with silver-plated walls. Bearing with the cold, he spots something at the heart of the room—something covered by a thick fog all around.

"Could it be? She's in there?"

Moving closer to it, the fog soon clears. A glass tube lying flat on its side was covered in sheets of ice.

"No way out, it seems." Looking back.

He chips away from the sheets of ice on the container, revealing a pale-skinned woman. Upon seeing her face, it was at most love at first sight. The glass tube opens up the moment he touched it. Mesmerized by her astounding beauty, he couldn't take his eyes off.

"The Maiden of the Silver Light…"

Laying in front of his face, the glittering beauty sleeps. Silver coated dragon scale armor and hair as bright as the flakes of snow. The lion waits to be awakened.