The RT unit was now looking for a new victim, while the leaders were looking back at the King and how to punish him for his insubordination. The sight before them was filled with fire and explosions as the mechas tried their best to stop the Titan, which had cast a shadow just before the hill where the King stood. The sun was rising from the east and moving toward the west.
Both of the leaders were overlooking the battlefield. The King was confident that victory was in his vise grip, while Sara was still thinking over what had happened just moments before, trying to find every reason she could to deny the Foundation. The disputed zone, which had been filled with the blood of the Heavenly Army just yesterday, had finally seeped into the lands, making them infertile and dyeing the plants with a blood-red color.
The Heavenly Army had been split into two today. One was dragging the bodies of the soldiers and burning them, returning their bodies to the lands and their souls to the Goddess of Life. While the souls of the sinners were carried to be punished by the God of Death.
Codena's death was still fresh in many people's minds, but after yesterday's incident following the massacre in the elf village, her death was overshadowed by the deaths of many others. The elves were still grieving their lost ones, and the King felt guilt in his heart that he couldn't even be there—or what could he have done to protect them. He never said this to anyone and decided to carry it in his heart just like everyone else.
Roy : Any type of physical pain method is useless, as it is shown that he is unable to feel pain. Most mental attacks are nil against him. So the anechoic chamber is a no-go.
King : Drugging him will do us more harm than good. And punishing others on his behalf might also prove ineffective, depending on his humanity. Since many of us here lost our humanity just by living.
Roy decided to leave the idea after seeing Jay fell the Titan before him and decided to focus on something else instead.
Roy : I wanted to ask something regarding the Ascension Project. In this world where, through magic, one can control the elements, what distinguishes a man and a god?
King : Excellent question. For the elemental gods, their existence is almost reduced to nothing. Like the God of Fire, Metal, Water, and Lightning. Thus even their existence has been reduced to nothing. But there are still many concepts beyond us.
The King continued as the flares of the shattered Titan fell on the lands and started a wildfire on the disputed territory.
King : Chaos, Life, Death, Abyss, and Time are still beyond us. Thus they still continue to stand till this day.
Phoenix intervened in their talk.
Phoenix : Sir, the Titan has been destroyed, and the rest are taking on different mechas. But their scale and structuring indicate that they are part of something bigger.
King : We have a mecha critic expert deployed, don't we?
Phoenix : Sir, I happen to overhear, and I have an excellent suggestion.
The King patiently listened to Phoenix's suggestion, and he was satisfied with his answer. It was the perfect punishment for Jay.
Roy : So what did Phoenix suggest?
King : He asked me to give him the same punishment as you a hundred years ago.
Roy just stared at the King with his questioning eyes. A hundred years prior, he still was in the—
Roy : So you want him to have three children, take them to the Time Prison for ninety-four years, and then have them killed in front of his eyes? After that, get reprimanded by you, make the middle child hate you through three generations, while finally, after a few generations, the grandchild implants a curse which will cause your heart to freeze at the moment where you would need it the most. Sure, that'll work.
King : No, I was going to have him work comms. And that too for the entire capital.
Roy : Oh, that's worse. Perfect for him.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side, a soldier came running into the camp, bringing the grave news about the destruction of the Titan.
Soldier : Commander, the Titan has been destroyed and has set the entire area on fire, making it difficult for our men to proceed in its tracks.
Commander : Have the soldiers waiting inside the body come out safely?
Soldier : No. The Titan exploded as a grenade exploded inside its body, killing every soldier operating it and on standby for when it fell. We have a casualty rate of one hundred and fourteen from the Titan, and an additional thirty-nine soldiers have been injured in the aftermath.
Commander : Prioritize the rescue and treatment of the soldiers, and move the water mages to create a path to move safely.
Soldier : Yes, Commander. And we've also intercepted a conversation on an unsecured line.
Sara : Play it.
The soldier played the recorded conversation on a recorder.
Soldier 1 : It is very sad whatever happened with the elves last night. I hope they find peace.
Soldier 2 : I hope so too. Wait a minute, did you secure this line before contacting me?
Soldier 1 : Oh, I forgot. Well, whatever—as if the enemy will be hearing this. Oh, and I heard there is a new gal in the mage department who was taken in this night. I think her name is Lilia.
Soldier 2 : I was going to see the new face, then I heard that she was a Lopez fanatic. We don't go anywhere near those crazies.
The tape ended there. It was immediately clear to the commander that Lilia, who was missing from last night, had defected to the other side. As well as Blake might have accomplished the mission. Hearing this made Sara pick up the recorder and throw it on the ground so hard that it and the recording inside shattered into several small pieces.
Sara summoned another soldier and ordered him to get every high-ranking warrior to sign a mana oath. That day was very rough for the soldier, as the high-ranking warriors were constantly denying to sign it, as it diminished their pride. But with Sara towering over them, they had to sign it in the end.
The soldier swiftly left the camp, while the Commander was left alone.
On the bloody disputed area, where the midday sun had been towering over everyone, the RT unit moved swiftly toward its next target—the Serpent.
AI : Primary analysis of the Serpent shows that its body is made of steel, aluminium, and copper, with its scales of adamantite. Beneath those scales are various weapons and cooling vents hidden. Also, a possibility of the scales being launchable.
Jay : Thanks, AI.
Jay decided to inform the FX unit.
Jay : FX-01, this is RT-07. I am going after the Serpent. I am going after the Serpent.
FX-01 : RT-07, we still haven't received clearance from Homeland yet.
RT-07 : I have been given a free hand, FX-01. I am proceeding.
With this, Jay's target had been set: the Mecha Tempest.