Chapter 1030: Agar’s distress (2)

Chapter 1030: Chapter 1030: Agar’s distress (2)

Within the cold, silent confines of the Dungeon’s training space Frost stared fiercely at the holographic image of his father, his emotions in no small amount of turmoil given what he just heard.

His kind and gentle brother Agar was under attack, fanatics that once plunged the entirety of Nova into chaos were marching upon his doorstep, slaughtering his monsters with their unusual light magic and even going as far as to sever his connection to his own Dungeon.

The young man was of course filled with fear and dread, powerless to defend his own home he called out to his most reliable ally, his and Frost’s eldest and most powerful brother, the great and ever stalwart Yami.

Unfortunately however his hope was suffering from the exact same aliment as was another member of their family. The Church of Light was on the move, and they promised nothing but misery for those finding themselves upon their warpath.

"Seek out Father" Was Yami’s sole advice before ending communications and returning to face the menace that dared to invade his home. Unlike Agar and Hadeok, Yami was strong enough to hold them at bay, derailing their initial advancements.

Ever trustworthy of his brother’s advice Agar wasted no time in contacting his father, Lord Dark who of course was not all that pleased with the situation. The Church of Light was a stain upon the world in his opinion, and he wanted nothing more than to see them eradicated but his station prevented him from taking direct action or even indirect action in some cases against them.

Thus bringing Frost into the equation but of course upon learning of his Father’s so called inability to take effective action he was quite defiant in response, staring him down with no small amount of frustration.

"Calm down Frost." Dark was quick to take a stern tone, forcing Frost to swallow his complaints until after he finished explaining himself.

"You are well aware of the accords, and the shackles we Gods bind ourselves with as well as the reason why, so it does not matter how loud you squeal or how much it pains me to remain as an observer, an observer I must remain." Frost had learned much from Shivali and from his time in the Realm of Niflheim, more so than his brother Agar so Dark appealed to his distress with cold hard logic.

He could not personally interfere, so it was pointless to demand it...but that did not mean he was completely powerless.

"...." He knew his father was right but that didn’t make the situation any easier to accept.

"What are you suggesting then?" Frost eventually asked after a few deep and strained breaths. His father wouldn’t send Agar his way nor would he intrude on their call just for the sake of it.

"...." Dark now with Frost in a more calm and receptive state glanced at Agar before explaining his proposed methods to the two of them. "I can’t involve myself directly as that would go against the accords nor can I fashion Agar, Yami and Hadeok with tools that would allow them to easily bring down their foes, but I can help facilitate foreign aid." His gaze loomed over Frost, clearly he was to be the suggested foreign aid.

"Specifically?" Asked Frost, his brow remaining furrowed. Aid was quite a broad term, did this mean he’d allow open DP transfers, materials exchanges or something direct like the transportation of personnel.

"I can transport you and a contingent of your monsters to Agar’s location thus allowing you to fight on his behalf."

"On his behalf? He can’t stop them with his entire roster so how am I supposed to help him with a mere contingent which is how many exactly, father?"

His words albeit not intending to struck Agar where it hurt most causing his expression to darken. He wanted to profess the falsity of such a statement but that would be straight up lying, his forces were nothing but eggs crashing against a rock wall after all. Regardless of whether he sent an E-rank undead or a C-rank the results were always the same, complete and utter annihilation.

"Ten, I’ll allow the transport of ten monsters alongside yourself."

"Ten? What the fuck am I supposed to do with ten monsters. I’ve got more than that stationed in a single primitive shelter. You might as well sign off on Agar’s death right now because there’s nothing I can do with such paltry numbers." Frost was justifiably furious, even if he filled all ten slots with B-rank monsters how on Nova could he hope to stop a tide that can literally steamroll Agar’s entire army....again he meant no offence towards his younger brother.

"If your situation was like Agar’s then yes you’d be right but that’s not the case here Frost." Dark was unperturbed by his seventh son’s upset, his gaze once again landing on Agar who’d been rather quiet since his arrival.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Frost questioned in a direct fashion, already getting tired of his father beating around the bush. Was it really so hard to get to the bloody point.

"Brother, while Hadeok and I and to a slightly lesser degree Yami can’t help but suffer under their wrath you’ll likely be an exception." Suffering indirect blow after indirect blow Agar finally found his voice and according to his words while he and his monsters would have no choice but to succumb to the Church of Light’s aggressive onslaught Frost and his subordinates would have no issue fighting them on an even playing field.

"I can fight them?" This was good news of course, but he was still in the dark as to why this was the case, something Agar was more than happy to remedy.

"Most definitely. While their magic and abilities have let’s say an unfair advantage against me and my subordinates such effects would be rendered moot against someone with your disposition." I.e. his ice based origin. Agar and Hadeok were primarily dark aligned, their monsters being undead and shadow demon based respectively whereas Frost and his monsters were all ice based. Light magic even the strange holy light used by the Church of Light would find no advantage over such elements thus resulting in a more base conflict.

Agar continued his explanation. "With that advantage gone brother all you’d need to contend with is their base numbers which all things considered isn’t all that drastic, a hundred give or take mostly between D and C-rank with about ten being at the B-rank."

"Ten, ten B-ranks and you consider that number manageable brother. If this was in my own Dungeon with my own forces yes I could easily take out a hundred strong delving party like them but as our Father said he’s only allowing an allotment of ten monsters, a tenth of that number and given what I have available few if any will be at the B-rank." The numbers may not be all that drastic in volume but that depended on the force one could bring to the table. If Agar’s forces were completely useless that meant he’d have to go against ten times his own number and it wouldn’t be quality vs quantity but rather quality vs more numerous quality.

Frost may be a genius, a battle savant but even he had his limits, a ten to one difference in quantity yet no difference in quality would take a miracle to overcome.

"Ten monsters aren’t enough father, give me 30 no 50 and I’ll be able to ensure my brother’s survival." If his retinue wouldn’t suffer from the Church of Light’s unique abilities then the fight could be won but only if he had the numbers.

"No, ten is all I can allow. Any more and it’ll be seen as active involvement on my part, favouritism of one creation over another." Dark was quick to shoot down such a request and in doing so nearly caused Frost to blow his top off.

"Then what’s the fucking point? Why come to me at all? You know if I help him with such restrictive terms you’ll be losing not just Agar but me as well." Frost argued back with the fierceness of a rabid dog, Dark’s face was too calm and too unresponsive for his liking.

"I never said it’d be easy Frost. You’re going up against the Church of Light one of the most dangerous organisations on the planet so of course there’s going to be a bit of risk."

"Risk? It’s a death sentence nothing more."

"Is it? You may be outnumbered if you count just your own forces, but you’ll have the environmental advantage as well as the element of surprise....I’ve seen men win battles a hundred to one with much harsher conditions."

This wasn’t just a random statement on Dark’s part, an environmental advantage and the element of surprise could indeed maximise one’s odds for victory, perhaps even create miracles but Frost was no battle hardened strategist hell he’d barely been alive for less than 2 years. To expect such qualities from him was a tall task but then again not an impossible one given his unlimited potential.

Perhaps Dark well and truly thought Frost had the means to triumph over the Church of Light or perhaps he was missing something, either way the offer of ten monsters for his retinue remained despite him glaring at his father with a gaze so enflamed the air around them rose several degrees.