469 Magicks, the Gathering (1/2)
The New Kingdom of Mecca, Frontier City
The stout city gates erupted into flames and shattered pieces as a barrage of 70 mm rockets slammed into it. The city guards knocked off their feet could only watch with stunned fear at the metal wagons rolling into the city as if they owned it. Ballista towers and dragon cannons that tried to return fire were hit with explosions, turning them into ciders and mangled metal.
Strangely enough the metal wagons did not stop to attack anyone. They ignored the guards and city folk in their path and instead headed straight for the castle and the estates of the nobles. There, the rear of the boxy wagons opened up and soldiers in strange and ugly multi colors stormed into the estates and castles, subduing the guards. What further shocked the people was that these soldiers started to carry out chests of gold, silver and other valuables.
But despite their protests, the people could only kept quiet as they watch these strange soldiers with their powerful thunder weapons loot the city treasury and the manors of their lords.
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United Nations, City of Haven, Fortress Singapore
Ford was angry as he glared at Blake's image on the display, ”With all respect Sir, this is daylight robbery! How could you approve such measures!”
”You said we needed money,” Blake's tone was cold and uncaring. ”Now you have the money to fund everything you needed.”
”Not by robbing others and killing people!” Ford growled. ”Captain... Richard! Stop this madness!”
”Madness?” Blake shook his head, his tone soft. ”We had been kind enough to these... people...”
”This world has taken too many of our people away already!” Blake spoke forcefully. ”No more... enough is enough!”
”They want war? I shall grant them their wishes!” Blake said. ”And besides, I am only taking the wealth from those corrupted nobles who squeezed the common people dry! And since the nobles are already dead... I see no reason why not to take over their wealth and land.”
”Under our rule,” Blake's eyes glittered with steel. ”This world will be a better place! Famine... war... sickness... inequality... All... shall... be... gone!”
”But Richard!” Ford shook his head. ”There are better ways in doing this!”
”I agree there are better ways,” Blake ceded the point. ”But it takes too much time!”
”Understand this, Commander!” Blake said. ”We are at war! The enemy beyond the End Zone is right here in our yard! The nations and kingdoms of this continent are still fractured and in conflict!”
”You want to be Emperor?” Ford hissed. ”Just like that Bluewood Emperor? Is that it?”
”If becoming an Emperor can solve all these problems we face...” Blake softly replied. ”Than I shall raise up to be the Emperor...”
”What happened to your values?” Ford snapped. ”Your integrity? Your honor? How will Sherene felt if she knew how you changed?”
”ENOUGH!” Blake roared. ”Do not speak of her name! They took her away from me! THEY SHALL PAY IN BLOOD!”
”CAPTAIN!” Ford yelled back. ”You are breaking the code! Come to your goddamn senses!”
”Kevin...” Blake closed his eyes as he spoke in a mild voice. ”Either you stand with me, or... you can step down from your position.”
”This is something that I need to do...” Blake continued on. ”Don't worry... Either way, I will see this through to the end!”
Ford glared silently at the display as Blake terminated the connection. He slammed his fist down hard at the table top, ”FUCK! He has gone mad!”
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New Kingdom of Mecca, Reachfield, United Nations Forward Operating Base
Blake slumped back into the field chair and closed his tired eyes. He reached down to his boots and slipped a hold out revolver from his ankle holster. He opened his eyes and flipped the revolver chamber out and dumped out all five rounds onto the folding table. Slowly, he picked up one round and inserted into the chamber and spun it before flicking his wrist to snap the chamber back and placed the muzzle into his mouth.
He took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. There was a sharp snap as the hammer hit the empty chamber. ”ARGHhhhhhhhhhhh!”
Blake flung the revolver away as he bent down over his knees in frustration and pain. It was another day, and yet another failed attempt to die. He remained bent over his knees until he gotten his emotions in order before he straightened up and packed away his weapon.
”If luck does not want me dead...” Blake whispered to himself as he put on his coat. ”Then others shall die in my place... till I die...”
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The Old World, At the edge of the Sea of Cloud
A massive shape blotted out the sun, casting a deep shadow across the lands. The people in towns and villages, toiling in fields and forests, all paused their work to stare up at the object covering the skies. The simple folk started cheering as they recognized the banners trailing underneath the flying object while excited children tried to chase the flying island.
Dozens of fish shaped airships escorted the flying island that span almost a kilometre in length and four hundred meters in width. Jagged upside down mountains poked down from the island base with banners and flags fluttering from the sharp points. While on the topside, an iron castle with walls and even clumps of forest took up the entire surface. The castle and the walls were made up of riveted armor plating and steam cannon turrets were all over the place, their barrels pointed out at an angle. Even underneath the island were turrets mounted all over.
At the rear end of the flying island, there were over a dozen giant air screws that provided the needed propulsion to push the island. Giant smoke stack puffed out steam as the flying island and its convoy slowly made their way towards the Sea of Clouds.