The Red Hand

Chapter 371 – Just a Scouting Force.

"Hmm, it looks like some forward units have already reached us." Silfana said as she and Kira watched a group of Demons riding large horned beasts crest a nearby hill before ducking back down behind it as soon as they were seen. The creatures were several times the size of their riders and their thick tusks combined with their long flickering pair of tails made them an imposing sight, especially when combined with their black fur and leathery brown skin. "I figured that we'd have a bit more time than this, but oh well. We'll deal with them all the same" It was expected that the Demon Army would take another day to reach their position, but the Vampire presumed that if their scouts had reached them that it was only a matter of time until the main force caught up.

{Those beasts must be the creatures that make up a portion of the monstrous cavalry forces. They remind me of Phase Beasts, but I doubt they can slip between dimensions to get closer to their prey.} (Silfana)

"Black Company has informed me that the Demon Army increased marching speed around mid-day. At their current pace, they will reach a position not far from here around noon tomorrow, but I suspect they'll hold off attacking until the following morning, so not much has changed." Kira said as she began writing things down on a data pad. "I will alert Lady Akagi of this change and see if she wants us to make any changes."

"Go do that, and in the mean time keep everyone on alert. If they try and attack us earlier than expected I want us to be ready to repel them." Silfana nodded.

"I highly doubt that Penelope will launch this assault before full preparations are completed." Halifax said as she exited a nearby building and walked up behind them. "She's the kind to want nothing less than absolute victory, especially when on such an important mission. Attacking just after a harsh march will leave the soldiers exhausted, and she knows that."

{Though she probably doesn't really care how many die as long as it gets her a victory.} (Halifax)

"How good of a commander is she?" Silfana asked, figuring that a Demi-God that dealt so directly with the mortal world was likely at least competent at war. “Should I be concerned that she's seen through some of our plans?”

"As a commander? I honestly have no idea how good she is." Halifax shook her head, explaining that she'd never seen her lead forces of this scale. "She's led smaller units during combat missions, but I don't think she's ever led this many troops at once."

{It's not like Demi-Gods are freely able to lead mortal armies without authorization anyway. Normally, if they tried to do something like, that they'd get a massive earful when they got home. Though that does beg the question if Reflia authorized this since she's here.} (Halifax)

"Based on reports from Black Company and the intel that the Ninja could dig up on her, I'd say she's probably adept enough at it." Silfana said. "Though her lack of real experience shows from some of her hasty actions. Making her army rush to our position when there's no reason to do so leaves them vulnerable to an attack when they are exhausted. Had I not been given orders to crush them at their full power, I'd make short work of such a tired force."

{Armies march on their stomachs and an tired man cannot fight, such are basics drilled into you during any military education.} (Silfana)

"I can already sense the Demon Army approaching, and I'd say that's one of the largest gatherings of soldiers I've seen in a very long time." Halifax gave a wry smile. She could sense the large mass of life force coming toward them, and she felt a twinge of indictment at the prospect of a battle.

{I can sense Penelope too, and I have a feeling that there's going to be no talking that overly filial child down from this. I'll have to either beat her into submission... Or end her... Hopefully Arcus can talk her down, that idiot was always the only one she'd listen to.} (Halifax)

"They can send as much cannon fodder as they wish. We'll simply sweep them aside like the insects that they are." Silfana smirked, practically licking her lips as the thought of the coming slaughter. "At least this time I may get a bit of fun. My last war resulted in my death, and I'd prefer not to repeat such a mistake."

{And I've been given the go ahead to enjoy myself as much as I wish.} (Silfana)

"You were killed by Hishya, right?" Halifax asked as the three of them walked out the front entrance of the base as the Sun was starting to get low in the sky. "I don't think you'll have much trouble against most of the people of this world, but I'd advise you not to get full of yourself. As weak as an individual soldier can be, this many could prove an issue, especially if Ariel and the Elector-Kings swarm you during the mayhem."

"Fear not. I am aware of my own limits..." Silfana said as she held her hand out, summoning her Night Blade. "Limits that, I'll have you know, have grown to far greater heights as of late." She cackled as she flicked the Rapier, causing an arch of black energy to crackle and streak across the ground before shooting upward, over the hill and killing the small group of scouts and carving them into bloody pieces.

"I see, so you've become like Zephiria." Halifax noted the presence of Akagi's dark power within her attack.

{Giving her more power was definitely not the best of ideas, Akagi...} (Halifax)

"Yes, but unlike that Mage I have far better control over such power." Silfana said as she allowed the blade to vanish. "I've been alive for a very long time, and a Vampire's body tends to be even more resilient than that of a Star Human. While I can't use the power granted to me at its fullest just yet... Well, it's only a matter of time until I've mastered it."

{And once I do, I'll make sure to repay that Dragon for her humiliation!} (Silfana)

"Yeah... You are defiantly the kind of person that would try to take over the world, resulting in me having to kill you." Halifax rolled her eyes as Silfana cackled evilly.

"I concur. Silfana's personality is rotten to the core, and Lady Akagi's indulgence of her inner desires has done little to help her." Kira sighed.

"What, did Akagi promise you more kitty time if you bent the knee?" Halifax said, half-jokingly.

{Or maybe it was a new onesie!} (Halifax)

"I know that you're just prattling, but I'll have you know that Akagi did give me something quite delectable in return." Silfana turned to the two of them. “It was a reward suitiable to one such as myself, and one that I couldn't pass up no matter what.”

"An endless supply of blood?" Halifax snickered as Kira sighed. “Your own personal kitty?”

{Or maybe she turns you into one so I can pet you!} (Hishya)

"Lady Akagi gave her this world as a reward." Kira's comments caused Halifax to stop laughing abruptly.

"What?!?" Halifax was taken aback, not expecting such an answer. "She's going to let you run this place?!?"

{Is she going to make her the fucking Vampire God or something?!? Is that even possible?!? Wait... This is Akagi, of course, it is!} (Halifax)

"I'm going to take my rightful place on the Imperial Throne and reclaim my destiny from the usurpers who dare ordain themselves as rulers." Silfana replied, and, still stunned, Halifax looked to Kira for clarification.

"Silfana was promised the role as the ruler of this world's mortal population." Kira shook her head. "She will be installed as Empress and Lady Akagi's intention is for all those from Enoris that she saves to be absorbed into it."

"I did

"I'm not sure how I feel about you taking over." Halifax said. "You're kind tend to be problematic."

{Vampires almost always think of mortals as cattle, and I've only met a handeful that weren't total assholes.} (Halifax)@@novelbin@@

"Casual racism, nice." Silfana retorted. “In this day and age I can't believe that people like you still exist.”

"Am I wrong?" Halifax snorted back. “Go ahead and tell me I am and I'll retract my words.”

{Also, do Vampires even count as a race? Your kind are created via a kind of infection that mutates the body. I don't think that technically counts as a race!} (Halifax)

"I won't say that you're right." Silfana laughed, acknowledging that Halifax's opinion of her was correct. "But os it my fault that I am who I am?"

"Yes, you chose to become a Vampire, Silfana." Kira sighed for the umpteenth time. "To be fair, I doubt you being Vampire or Human would matter much, since your personality would likely be the same either way. But don't go acting like a victim who had their nature thrust upon them against heir will."

"From my experience, rotten people tend to be rotten no matter what shape they take." Halifax nodded. "So I suppose Kira is right."

"Hey, I intend to be a kind, benevolent, but strict Empress." Silfana said as she turned to head back inside the base. "After all, from my experience, people tend to need a firm hand on the leash, lest they run amuck with their so-called freedom."

{Order and stability are the two most important things, everything else can come secondary or not at all. The History of Earth, Enoris and Altus tell me that people crave the former far more than the latter and will happily give up almost anything if it means they're safe and fed.} (Silfana)

"She's trouble. I still do not understand why Lady Akagi has given her this much favor." Kira sighed as the Vampire returned inside the walls of the base to make preparations for battle.

"I've known Akagi for far less time than you, but from what I've gleaned, she tends to prefer chaos and things that will make her laugh over almost all else." Halifax said.

"Yes... You're not wrong to point that out. Lady Akagi is one who enjoys... What was the phrase? Watching Rome burn?" Kira repeated something that she'd heard Kana say. "I've been told the Lady Akagi's always been like that, and I can't say that our own meeting didn't have that trappings of such things." She said with a small smile on her lips

"Oh? That begs the question, how did you and Akagi meet anyway?" Halifax asked the Half-Dragon. "Hishya told me you were some kind of important person during their time trapped in that game world and that she helped you out but I've never heard the details."

Kira paused and thought for a moment before answering. "Its a long story, one that is not worth getting into the details of right now, but the long and short of it is that she gave me the courage that I needed to kill

_____________________________________________________________________________

< Ro & Zo POV>

"Maaaaaan... How hard is it to find a stupid Axe?" Zo groaned as she flopped on the ground. She and her brother had stopped searching for the day and he was busy preparing some soup over a campfire. "And why are you cooking? We don't need to eat."

"Some warm soup will calm you right down, Sis." Ro said as she took a spoonful out to taste it. "Plus, food tastes good and I know you enjoy a good meal, especially after seeing all that good food in Hitomi's memories."

{Yakiniku will be the first thing I have when get go to Earth with the Boss.} (Ro)

"Fair, Fair.” Zo said as she stared at the twin moons above. “But hey... I'm surprised that you of all people decided to serve Boss." She said as she sat up. "You've always been the really pigheaded type and wouldn't even listen to me or Mom, so its kinda strange to see you so meek." She smirked. "Or did you choose to work for her because you found her cute?"

"Our Boss is a femme fatal." Ro said as he put the lid back on the pot. "So I'm not interested in getting anywhere near that."

"Ah that's right, you did said you were saving yourself for me didn't you!" Zo laughed as she dodged a rock thrown at her. "When we were kids you did say that you'd grow up to marry me one day! Such a man! You remembered your promise!"

"You..." Ro sighed, embarrassed and exasperated. “Just shut up...”

{Why did you have to bring that up...} (Ro)

"You used to call me the cutest girl in all the world!" Zo continued her jabs at him. "Ahhhh... You were such a cute little guy back then, so why did you turn out so rotten?"

"I don't know, maybe because my older sister corrupted me." Ro said as he sat on a log that he'd made from a chopped down tree. "She's a wicked woman with awful taste in men to boot." He laughed.

"Is it awful taste if I pick them up, use them, and then discard them?" Zo asked.

"I suppose not, but I wonder where you learned that stuff from?" Ro thought aloud. "It couldn't have been from Mom,since she was a Saint." He smirked. "Though perhaps that means you inherited it from Grandma?" He laughed as a rock flew past his face, crashing into and destroying a tree in the background.

{OI!} (Ro)

"Don't you fucking compare me to that whore." Zo hissed. "The fact that her disgusting blood flows through my body..." She spat on the ground. “It makes me sick.”

{Well, there's not really blood in our bodies but I see the point.} (Ro)

"Now, now." Ro tried to calm her down. "Don't let that idiot get under your skin. Let's focus on the mission and do our Boss proud." He continued. "Besides, Elariel is going to get what's coming to her, so we can just savior her punishment when it's laid down."

"True, true." Zo grinned. “Its only matter of time before that bitch gets what's coming to her anyway.”

{I hope your daughter makes you squeal, you fucking pig. Fuck knows that you deserve it after everything you did and for how you treated Mom.} (Zo)