Chapter 287 B4 Chapter 43 - Missing Friend

Vivi almost didn’t want to see her old friends from Zand.

Not because they’d done anything wrong. Without Aang’s Union, Vivi probably wouldn’t have survived through Zand. There were genuine people even amongst a group as deranged as Zand’s nimrods. Some of them, like Aang, weren’t even there for crimes. He’d just been born in the prison and kept in.

She sat in the carriage with Coshi to the front lines, where everyone was supposedly training, and she felt a little embarrassed. Her armor was back in spatial storage, since moving around with it was inconvenient at best. Her raincoat would remain her favourite outfit to wear outside combat.

She knew Zand’s prisoners had been locked up in Shivenar for a few weeks now, but she hadn’t done anything to help them out. Returning the favor for Ven and Aang was just another deed she’d promised she’d focus on after storm season, when she had the time.

She probably should have mentioned something about them sooner. Right now, she really didn’t feel like a good person.

“We didn’t just hire straight criminals,” Coshi said, as if to reassure her. “A majority of the brutes and murderers are still imprisoned. For those that were freed, the criminal records have been investigated as thoroughly as we could, and they’ve all been interrogated, and vouched for.”

“Vouched by who?” Vivi asked.

“By one of my Lights,” Coshi said, a distasteful tinge in her tone. “Micha was captured on a mission near the fourth level. We thought he’d died, but apparently he was thrown into Zand. He certainly hadn’t committed any crimes to land him in there. But he survived for four years and made close friends along the way. Apparently, there were unions in the facility.”

“Was he a member of Aang’s Union?” Vivi asked.

A smile appeared on Coshi’s lips. “Seems like you were a member as well. Micha says good people lived there. We’ve picked ten.”

“He’s right,” Vivi said. “I wasn’t a member, but they helped me out. I… haven’t really returned the favor.”

“Oh, don’t be so guilty,” Coshi said. “They all credit you for helping them escape. Nobody holds grudges against you.”

“They should,” Vivi said. “They’re finally out, and we’re immediately making them risk their lives on a mission.”

“You don’t necessarily need to pick anyone from Zand,” Coshi said. “They might have seemed honest for years straight, but when given an opportunity to escape, and to truly achieve their freedom, they might betray you. Aang’s Union could very well remain here to defend the walls, replacing the men you pick to assist you.”

“I won’t force anyone to come with me,” Vivi said. “I can’t guarantee everyone will survive.”

“Nobody can guarantee anything right now,” Coshi said. “I give my full support to this journey. Ythar might not be my god, but he might be one of the few living beings who can answer why in the name of the abyss these storms are still building all over the levels.”

“They’ll run out of hosts to reanimate soon, right?” Vivi joked.

“Sure, and once every grain of sand has been turned to a monster, we’ll have godslayers to deal with!” Coshi said. “This whole season is insanity.”

The wheels of the carriage bumped on cobblestone, and the snaps of missiles launching were growing louder. There were occasional breaks, but for the most part, metal was constantly being launched at monsters. Foundries around the city, Vivi had been told, were simply mass producing missiles now, having abandoned most other duties. The same went for runesmiths, though Shivenar still didn’t have enough labor force to add even outside-carved runes to all the missiles being launched. For most missiles, the only rune that was carved was for the enhancement string to take effect. The few inside-carved missiles were saved for emergencies only, and search missions had been conducted just to retrieve fired missiles.

Overall, Shivenar was doing a phenomenal job. Their defences would hold. Food sources, Vivi wasn’t so certain about. The whole city was rationing meals and using as much ether as possible to make nutrients last as long as they possibly could. Even ordinary citizens were maxed out with ether to extend nutrients.

Funny, how ether lost all value as money when food itself became far more valuable.

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The city’s portcullis was kept open with so many soldiers going in and out. The carriage passed through, and Vivi and Coshi found themselves on the battlefield.

Stepping out, Vivi scanned the teams of ballistic crews wielding slingshot launchers. The number had increased drastically, with over a hundred demons now either firing or supporting the launchers. After a little bit of searching, her eyes found the first familiar faces.

Ven and Aang already looked natural with slingshot launchers in hand. Their stances were firm to support the launch, and their aim...

Something had been done to the slingshot launchers. They weren’t aiming with iron sights anymore. Instead, some sort of perfectly straight ray of light pointed from above the barrel, at the target. With its help, Aang and Ven had an easier time supporting the launchers with their entire bodies without having to angle their faces against the iron sights.

Vivi remembered Aang’s aura as being masterful, the most intimidating thing she’d felt next to Uundref’s. That was back in Zand, though, when she hadn’t even imagined that something on Shilman Fried’s level could exist. In comparison, Aang and Ven weren’t nearly as grand.

Surprisingly, Aang’s aura was still easily recognizable from those around him. He had an odd way of channeling ether. He wasn’t lazy about it, but he definitely wasn’t graceful either. Wisps moved around him forcefully, and every time they tried to escape, Aang made an effort to pull them back to fully utilize as many wisps as he could before they burned. Not an efficient method by any means, but it worked. He was definitely comparable to third elevation hunters.

Vivi didn’t recognize the eight other Zand members by name, but she remembered a few of their faces. They’d be nice people for certain. Coshi was already approaching them without any worries. Hesitantly, Vivi followed.

Ven fired a missile, killing a walking cactus. He turned around to reload. He first spotted Coshi, and the Luminary’s presence made his posture even straighter. He saluted.

He then spotted Vivi. His first reaction was to freeze, until a grin appeared on his face. His commanding officer, one of Coshi’s Lights, saluted as well. Coshi gave him a nod before walking straight to Ven and Aang.

“Welcome, Your Majesty,” Ven said.

“It’s ‘Bless the Luminary,’” Coshi said with the tone of someone who’d already said that a few times before. “Or ‘Welcome, Your Insight.’ That one has fallen out of fashion, since the recent three Luminaries have hardly had insight to offer.”

“Bless you, and everyone in this city,” Ven said. “And bless the Ethersmith. Hello, Vivian.”

Vivi felt her face getting hot. “Hello…”

She lowered her head. “I’m sorry for not helping you out of the cage sooner. Truly, I’m sorry. You deserved my help.”

“No, no, raise your head!” Ven said with awkward gestures of his own. “It’s storm season. None of us expected you to abandon your duties. We’re happy you still see us favorably.”

Behind him, Aang seemed to agree, but he stayed silent. A man of few words, as Vivi remembered.

“A few weeks of imprisonment is nothing,” Ven said. “We’re out of Zand. This apocalypse is much preferable.”

“Uh-huh,” Vivi said. Chatting with Ven felt entirely different from what she remembered. Ven didn’t seem nearly as mysterious and knowledgeable. That made sense, since they weren’t in Zand anymore. Vivi was his superior by now, and by a lot.

“I’m glad everyone is safe,” Vivi said. “I unfortunately don’t have much time to chat. I’m forming a raid party to head to the surface. To save a friend.” And maybe, to save a god.

“If this mission gets us out of a cell, I’ll devote myself to you,” Ven said.

Vivi studied him. He seemed serious enough. He’d probably do a decent job. But Coshi was right. Zand’s prisoners didn’t truly want to head to the surface. They just wanted freedom.

Nobody here wanted to head out. Vivi didn’t either. This was just something that had to be done.

An ethereal aura was blown open a mile away with perfect accuracy, shot by one of the more experienced ballista operators—a man Vivi had seen fighting the very first storm of the season, when they still used the old, flimsy ballistas. His name was Rellis, if she remembered correctly. He’d often chatted with Patryn. They must have been friends.

With that monster dead, there was a calm moment on the front lines. Weapons were reloaded, and everyone stretched or sat down, preparing for the next attack.

Vivi took a position where everyone could see her. I should probably wear my armor for this, she thought. One piece at a time, she summoned her armor from spatial storage. A lot of the armor pieces could be summoned straight on her, but it took her a minute to wear it all at once. A lot of men watched curiously.

She then added ether the runes and to her voice and announced, “Everyone!”

All attention shifted to her. She took a deep breath.

“Patryn has been captured on the surface!” Vivi called out. “So is everyone else we lost during our last mission.”

The demons kept listening.

“It’ll be a dangerous mission,” she continued. “I can’t confirm anyone’s safety. But I know I’m not the only one whose friend is missing.”

Everyone must have known what she was about to say. Determined expressions filled the ranks.

“I’m heading to the surface,” Vivi said. “And I need your help. To anyone who wishes to save those who we thought we lost, I request you to join me!” She lifted her sword.

Nobody cheered right away. They didn’t salute or praise her. The front lines stared at her, considering her proposal.

Until the first demon lifted his slingshot launcher in the air, the barrel pointing up. The second demon quickly followed.

One by one, almost every slingshot launcher pointed in the air.

“Bless the Ethersmith!” Rellis called.

Everyone else followed. “Bless the Ethersmith!”

Vivi felt an itch in her throat, a happy smile appearing. She returned the salute.

“Coshi,” she said. “Pick fifteen of the strongest or most determined members. Prepare a slab of meat for Boblin. We’ll depart in six hours.”