Rhombu was one of 15 continents that split from the original 7.
They were known as the sub-continentals while the 7 were referred to as the *High-Risers*. It was literally named after their physical positions on Earth.
The rest of the world, those not part of the highest echelon, were only aware of the phrase *Continents above the Cloud*, or *CotC*.
Rhombu had many different countries, far too many dozens to remember. The country where Sikhail GodFiend originated from, New Hope, was south from another country, Dew Drop.
New Hope was rather simple, sticking straight to pure strength. Dew Drop had other ideas, and experimented with the concept of mounted turrets. Their military loved it, so they adopted it as their official attire.
Just a few months ago, two different Dew Drop military squads stopped responding. Weeks passed as attempts to reestablish communication failed.
After much deliberation, they sent a few WMRs to check out the situation.
[Hell's Forging Zone, Dew Drop Country, Rhombu]
Many maids and servants marched orderly across brimstone and fire. There movements were perfect, on-sync, and didn't drop a beat.
(Whir)
(Whir)
As their heads turned, arms moved, backs bent, they put down food and drink across a vast conference table. The cups were all 1 millimeter from being full, the spoons 1 millimeter from the plates, and the napkins 1 millimeter next to the spoons.
There was kobe beef, chicken, sushi, and filet mignoin. Nobody stared at the foot, but at the Generals sitting in front.
Huge monitors with similar setups on screen. There were also a few offices and desks with a sign that said *The Elder's Chessboard*.
"Gentlemen, ladies. The issue has expanded across national borders. A bit of political manuevering is required."
"I've seen the reports New Hope shared. The same shadows, but in its infancy. Perhaps it's ground zero."
"That young lady that coughed out shadows. Clearly, she was some type of early prototype."
"That giant figure made of metal in that Private's hallucinations. It seems like the infancy of something she was trying out."
"That's correct. Someone's advanced it. The shadows are able to manifest those physical properties now."
"They have intelligence now."
"That's just a theory."
"You believe they're being controlled? I'm simply saying the latter has less evidence to back it up."
"What's your evidence?"
"They haven't been spotted out in the open yet."
"So you mean targeted attacks?"
"But why?"
"That's what I wanted to figure out."
"Is there enough to focus all our manpower on it?"
"Enough to reach out to New Hope."
"So what's the strategy?"
All the screens flashed before showing a single location. Office's with the title *The Elder's Chessboard*.
"Everyone. The Limitless Truth Alliance is indeed creating a new line of battle-suits. They're testing the concepts in discreet locations. There are no leaks, but an intruder within our ranks. A wolf in sheep's clothing."
"High ranking?"
"They're certainly not trying to blend in. They're directly disguising their methods."
"What's the difference?"
"Scandals that plague the lower ranks. Indistinct operations that reallocate resources in reasonable ways."
"A member within your ranks?"
"Possibly. They could even be listening in right now."
"How?"
"Bugs?"
"I mean the disguising."
"I'm trying to figure that out."
"Theories?"
"Imagine a black sparrow flew into the military base."
"Ok."
"Imagine it exploded."
"Metal detectors would catch it."
"Imagine they couldn't."
"It would have to be wrapped in a material that blocks signals. We would notice it."
"Imagine you couldn't."
"It would be very obvious."
"Imagine a black sparrow."
"Ok."
"Imagine what color it is."
"O.."
"You're saying the signal blocker is wrapped in a material that's the same color as the bird?"
"Now could a black sparrow fly into the base and explode without warning?"
"But, what's the actual theory?"
"That is the theory. I need to investigate it."
"Why not just share it…?"
"Do we share things we're not familiar with? What if nothing was said at all."
"Alright, keep us posted."
The screens with *The Elder's Chessboard* disappeared, leaving only the participants from Hell's Forging Zones.
"What about the two squads we lost?"
"The footage showed a battle-suit made of shadows. Shadowy battle-suit to be precise."
"So somehow they're crossing realities?"
"The place where the shadow was spotted. Very dark. Maybe it was advantageous to launch an attack there."
"Any analysis?"
"Scientists are still working on it. Current theory is the stability of the experiment is being tested."
"So more attacks are going to come?"
(Static)
(Stat-Bzzzt)
(Static)
A man in uniform appeared on a screen. He looked quite young, early 20's. Half his body was blown apart. He had 4 missing fingers. The skin on his knee was gone. Covered in frostbite.
"Howling Typhoon!" someone stood up and yelled.
"Ah.. Captain, I'm glad I could hear your voice before I died," Howling Typhoon muttered with great difficulty.
"Who the hell jinxed us just now? God dammit."
"Have some damn respect."
"What happened Howling Typhoon?"
"I was scouting a lead. It wasn't quite right sitting with me. It led me to Lavishing Rainful Country. I appeared there at least when I regained my senses. Many dead WMRs. I looked around for anything. Didn't find jack. I found some more tracks and followed them," Howling Typhoon told a story.
(Silence)
(Cough)
(Barf)
(Silence)
"I found some kind of secret area. Couldn't tell if it was underground, in a building, anything. I kept walking until I blacked out. It was so cold," Howling Typhoon continued.
(More barfing)
"I woke up. Someone was tending to me. Frostbite all over him. Had been hanging on until someone arrived. I asked him about the area, if he had noticed anything suspicious. He told me there was someone named *Ice Pick*. Villain or hero, no one knew. There were two of them. One causing trouble, the other trying to stop them," Howling Typhoon added.
(SPLASH)
Howling Typhoon's leg exploded.
"I don't have a lot of time. First my kidney and lung exploded. Now my leg exploded. The third explosion kills me. That's what I found out. Ice Pick. The bad one. I can't find him, but I think he's related to everything," Howling Typhoon revealed before exploding one last time.
"Goddamit. Ice? What the hell?"
"They're trans-morphing now?"
"He said he followed a lead. Ice and shadow? What's going on? What should we do?"
A soldier stood up. A fairly youthful woman. Ash-red braids and dual colored eyes. Blue and green. Her face was pale and troubled.
"First Lieutenant Orchii?"
"Howling Typhoon was a soldier under my command. I'll go and figure out what happened to him."
"We're sending backup. No objections."
"Of course."
"We'll also send out a call to nearby countries and capable active-duty soldiers."
"Thank you."
"Look at the damage. It's for the sake of protecting Lavishing Rainfall, Dew Drop, and our allied countries."
"I'll set off by the end of the week then."
"Understood."
"What should the message be?"
(Chatter)
"Attention. Danger level critical. Two unknowns, both named Ice Pick, need to be scouted out. Do not apprehend without backup. Be ready to deal with frostbite and unexpected attack vectors. One dead. 3 combustions and dead."
"Alright, I'll put it out."
"What's the connection?"
"Ice and shadows?"
"We'll find out."
"Should we let the higher-ups know?"
"We ARE the higher-ups as far as that goes. If we need to pull out the big-guns, we'll determine that later."
"Great."
Everyone got up, tidied themselves, and left.
(Whir)
(Whir)
The servants and maids got to work. All the dishes and glasses were cleaned, the tables were wiped, the floor swept, and the room reset to its default state.
——|——|—|—|——|——
[Military Staging Base, New Hope Country, Rhombu]
"Commander, the James Leeren Luxury Hotel in Beachfront city has reached out for help. Mercenaries have locked down most of the building and security has reported plenty of dead bodies, all doctors. Even those who had been there in the last few weeks were found dead a few days ago."
"Local security can't handle it?"
"Mercenaries have high level of training. Suspected to be from the Limitless Truth Alliance."
"How's the unit manifesto look?"
"Front line just finished mapping out another conflict. They're ready. Haven't had a need for the primary brigade yet."
"I heard that the academic enlistment has very few degenerates."
"Sir, that's right."
"Honestly, I was expecting a massacre."
"Sir."
"Tell the front line to stick closer."