The Astrum.
The name of our personal airship.
At least, until Vakra finished building our other ship. Speaking of which, Vakra had once again refused to come with us.
He wanted to monitor the situation from afar and continue his work on increasing the Enforcer's powers.
I still felt upset at him for declining to join us afterwards...but I had to respect his decision. It might have even been better this way.
Vakra said that we would likely meet again someday as well...
But that was only after we had departed Delvandal.
The idea of having my own ship and going to other worlds to fight the Corruption excited me... Almost to the point of hurting my head.
We were on the Astrum, en route to our destination. First, we would be looking at Port Sagral.
This particular airship was one of the stronger types used by the Elysium military.
And since it was Elysium technology, it went without saying that the one we used on Ignitus paled by comparison.
We'd become very familiar with it as well. We had been using it for over three years, after all.
It used a condensed heart stone core to function and flew using gravity thrusters. It had many weapon systems but its primary purpose was troop and vehicle transport. It was essentially a flying fortress.
As I sat checking the systems on the bridge, Rune approached me.
She had been training as a mechanic of this advanced machinery and would often give me progress updates on her training as well as the state of the ship itself.
"Hey, Mizik. I just want to say that things are running smoothly for now. Nothing major to report," Rune said.
"Good. I haven't detected any signs of the Corruption. Is Leiso around?" I asked.
"I passed her on the way over here. She's talking to Sato and Stella about doing some field exercises. And also about Stella's unhealthy obsession with you..." Rune said.
"I hope she gets through to her..." I said.
"Right...things get kind of awkward when she starts going on about you. You certainly have a knack for attracting crazy women, Mizik..." She said.
"That sounds more like something Jallah would say."
"He mentioned it a while ago. I hadn't really noticed until he said anything. Thankfully, Isabella and Leiso have good heads on their shoulders."
"I...would like to talk about something else..." I said.
I really didn't want to think about Leiso that way. Not that she wasn't attractive or a great and respectable woman, just that...Leiso was sort of like a family member to me at this point. Like an older sister. All of the Enforcers and Rune were considered family to us.
"Ah, sorry. Did you have any questions about my training?"
"I don't think I asked you this before. But I want you to learn everything about the ship Vakra is building while it's being constructed. That way, you can perform your duties better."
"I won't be the only one doing maintenance on this thing, will I?" Rune asked.
That would be one hell of a job for a single person. I didn't plan to have her alone.
"Jallah will be assigned to it when he's on the ship. I also plan to have a few of the soldiers trained. You won't be alone, I promise. You'll just be in charge of everyone," I said.
"I'll be in charge? I heard you say it before, but...not Jallah?" Rune said.
"No. I have other things for Jallah in mind. I want him to be special forces. He's good at infiltration and is talented at detective work. I think he'll do well in that field. You're good in battle, but..."
"It's okay. I already know. I can fight, but I'm no Enforcer. I've always been happier in non-combat roles, anyway. Besides, Jallah would have a heart attack if you put me on the front lines," Rune said with a smile.
"Yeah. I won't do that to him. You're probably better at this stuff than he is, anyway," I said.
"He's certainly no electrician..." Rune said fondly.
And it's ironic, since one of his Aspects is lightning... Of course, that could be part of the reason...
Suddenly, I remembered something...
"Hey, you're doing okay after...you know...Michael, right?" I asked.
Rune seemed somewhat sad as I spoke.
"He was one of my best friends... We grew up together. After he became an Enforcer and I became an Attendant, he always made sure I was taken care of. Even after Jallah went missing... I think about him a lot, still, but I know he wouldn't want me to cry over him. Can you promise to avenge him for me, Mizik?"
I nodded.
"I'll make that bastard pay for having his monster eat him and Gavin."
Rune smiled.
"Thank you, Mizik. You're a good friend."
As we spoke, I saw that we were now passing over a portion of Lokan.
And when we got closer, I felt a strong feeling of impending doom.
I saw the Corruption below twisting and warping the landscape through the front of the ship.
"Commander, Corruption infestation sighted. Orders?" One of the men said.
"The weapons on this ship won't have any effect. Bring us down nearby and we can mount a better attack," I said.
They did exactly as I said, and while we were landing, I sent out an alert through the speakers.
"ALERT! THIS IS COMMANDER MIZIK IRATUS. WE'VE DETECTED A SMALL-SCALE CORRUPTION INFESTATION. I AM ORDERING BOTH SQUADS ALONG WITH ISABELLA TO THE LIFT BAY."
After I spoke, I also made my way over.
* * *
Isabella stood beside me after we were lowered out of the hangar bay followed by our soldiers.
As we waited, I could already see several Corrupted soldiers rising from the ground.
"Fucking abominations... Both squads, open fire," I said coldly.
Currently they all possessed energy assault rifles connected with their heart devices. They could change the power output and unleash bolts of purified divine energy.
All twenty of then got in formation and unleashed a hail of divine energy blasts against the Corrupted soldiers.
They went down with ease. As soon as they fell, Isabella raised her hand and a field of light erupted all around us. It spread out and reduced the stragglers to ashes.
At the same time, it cleansed the ground. Preventing any further spreading of it.
Damn, I wish I could still do that... I can only kill Corrupted soldiers...
"Thank you, Isabella," I said.
"No problem. I'm here to support you, Mizik," Isabella said with a smile.
I nodded and we continued forward.
The Astrum deployed three tanks and a hovering assault plane to act as support.
They would be next to useless.
I had long since lost faith in all forms of conventional weaponry to combat Corruption. After witnessing an entire continent get blown to hell by hundreds of nuclear warheads and not doing a damn thing to it, one could hardly blame me.
Eventually, we arrived at what I assumed was similar to what happened in the distant land of Falkos back in Avernia.
Ahead of us, was a darkened region that had completely consumed an entire village. I could see the Corruption twist and writhe on the ground.
It seemed like things would finally start to get serious...
"Sir...orders?" Sato asked hesitantly.
"It looks like this is the first time one of these has appeared. This is what we all discussed from my journal entries. A contamination zone. If we enter it and kill the one controlling the Corruption within, it should disperse. Isabella, I'm counting on you to help me destroy all of it," I said.
Isabella nodded.
"My light will cleanse it."
After that, we took up a formation and began making our way into the zone.
As we progressed, Corrupted soldiers constantly rose from the ground and attacked us. They were easily cut down and obliterated by the combination of our attacks.
Eventually, Corrupted behemoths and deathwings started appearing.
A deathwing was what I'd taken to calling the flying variants that shot spikes from their wings. Although Cassandra said that Difar called them briar-bats.
To me, that was a stupid name.
Isabella and I made quick work of them using our magic. Hers was obviously more potent, but mine still had more than enough offensive power to destroy them.
The further in we went, the more enemies that appeared.
Just before reaching the center, a massive figure rose from the ground.
A Corrupted titan had appeared.
"Woah...that's a really big enemy..." One of the men said.
"Stay focused. Be ready for anything!" Sato said.
"Everyone stand back. Isabella and I will take care of this. Shield up, Isabella."
"Right!"
Isabella got in front of me and raised her shield as I changed Vengeance into a pair of bladed shotguns.
"Shield enchant, BOLSTER!" Isabella said. Her shield became enveloped in blinding pure light. At the same time, our own defenses rose considerably.
The titan swung its mighty fist down at Isabella and impacted her shield. There was an explosion of light and nearly half of its body was reduced to ashes. I leaped into the air and aimed both of my weapons at it.
"Sword enchant," I said. My weapons became enveloped in a dim, pale light.
When I came close, I let loose with a barrage of gunfire.
The shots tore straight through the Corruption and eventually impacted its core.
I heard a shattering sound and the creature was reduced to ashes.
I landed in front of Isabella and she walked up beside me.
Then we felt an oppressive presence nearby.
We looked towards what seemed to be the center of the contaminated zone, and saw a lone figure rising out of it. It was a humanoid individual.
He wore the same uniform that Cassandra had when she was still a General for The Dark Army.
Including a mask that hid his face. He also had an enormous sword on his back...
A sword much larger than Honor or even Extinction, Difar's Corrupted magic sword.
Suddenly, I could hear the voice of Vengeance.
[That is a false wielder. He holds Strength, the hammer of might. Its forms are: Form Two: Blast Hammer, and Form Three: Force Impact. Slay the false wielder and collect his sword.]
Will do.
I stepped forward and the Corrupted General slowly pulled his sword off of his back.
After had did, the sheath disappeared and revealed a massive black blade glowing with purple runes.
"Everyone stand back. Isabella and I will handle him," I said.
At that moment, the General stepped forward.
"You dare to stand against Lord Difar's Corruption? You will be purged and the Chosen Hero will be thrown into the Abyss. I am Rostak. Wielder of the Corrupted blade: Weakness. You will fall before my power!" Rostak said.
By the gods, I hate that stupid fucking title... Damn you, Oracle! Chosen Hero...? Seriously...?
Without a word, I shot forward and nearly sliced his head clean off.
He blocked it with his sword and was sent flying back from my impact.
He landed on his feet and readied himself.
Then his sword changed into a two-handed warhammer. He swung it down and as soon as it impacted the ground, explosive shockwaves rang out and destroyed the immediate area.
Isabella protected everyone with her barriers, and thankfully, none of our soldiers were wounded.
"Hmm...you might be more of a challenge than I thought. What is your name, Chosen Hero?" Rostak said.
Instead of answering, I teleported in front of him and shot him point blank in the chest with my shotgun.
He recoiled from the blast and readied himself again. Then, I saw a warping power envelop the head of the warhammer.
Probably force impact... That one obliterates everything it touches, doesn't it?
"If you simply prefer to do battle, then I can understand. Let our weapons be the voice of our hearts!" Rostak said.
"No, actually. I didn't want to talk to you because in a few minutes, you'll be dead. There's no point in telling you anything," I said.
"How insulting... You dare to speak against a General of The Dark Army?! You will be punished!" He said angrily.
"Idiot... Fine. Just die for me," I said.
He swung his hammer at me and my instant reaction allowed me to dodge with ease. But that hammer would have done serious damage if it had landed.
The shockwaves from simply being so close to it were enough to break a normal person's bones. I was having a difficult time deciding if I wanted to parry his attacks.
Likely, it would shatter my bones and cause me to drop my sword if I attempted it.
Not that losing an arm would be problem, now. My regeneration would fix it within minutes. Still, it was annoying to lose an arm in the middle of battle.
I distanced myself from his attacks and he slammed his hammer into the ground.
The shockwave threw me somewhat off balance and he took the opportunity to sprint straight towards me.
Before he could land a hit, Isabella appeared in front of me and blocked the attack. The explosive impact made my bones rattle...
"BLAST NOVA!" Isabella shouted.
Her shield flashed, and a massive explosive cone fired out, engulfing Rostak completely.
The explosion was larger than anything I had ever seen her make. I was in awe for a moment.
When it cleared, Rostak stood clutching his shoulder.
One of his arms had been blown off and Weakness was laying on the ground in front of him.
"You are much stronger than anticipated... But I will not fall here. The Dark Army will have this world!" Rostak said.
As he spoke, he raised his remaining arm to the sky and the ground began to shift beneath us.
Hundreds of Corrupted behemoths began rising out of the ground all around us.
Our troops got closer to us and we readied ourselves for battle.
Honestly, I wasn't afraid for myself or Isabella.
But our soldiers might not have been able to handle such things alone...
Just before the behemoths attacked, I saw spectral blue flames erupting everywhere.
Suddenly, legions of undead began rising out of the ground as well. To top it all off...there was a brightly shining lantern hovering above us.