524 The Core (1/2)
The crystal chandeliers swung wildly above him as the ground shook underneath his feet and his personnel manservant and steward rushed in, half dragging him out of his chair with the help of his guards. Crown Prince Yemen was half angry and surprised by the sudden actions and as he turned around to voice his displeasure, he saw out of the crystal windows, balls of rolling flames and smoke covering the docked airships.
His mouth remained wide open as his earlier protests were forgotten, allowing his manservant and guards to drag him away from the windows and out of the dining halls. When the doors of the dining halls slammed shut, the sound and actions shook him out of his shock. He pushed the hands away from his body as he demanded, ”What is happening? Are we under attack?”
”Yes, my prince!” His Chief Guard gave a bow. ”We need to move you away from the windows and towards the command throne now! It is the safest location in the Fortress!”
”Who has such guts to dare directly attack us?” Crown Prince Yemen regained his pose and angrily swept at the stain on his clothes. ”Get me a fresh set of clothes! These are ruined! Take them away and burn them when I have changed!”
”My Prince...” His Chief Guard restrained the urge to groan as he urged his prince with a worried tone. ”We need to get you to safety now!”
”I am very safe now!” The prince growled back. ”This Fortress has a level ten magic barrier! And I have you all around me! What do you think your salaries are being paid for?”
”I need to change!” The prince snapped as he stormed off towards his bed chambers. ”This is totally unpresentable!”
The guards could only resign themselves as they hurried after the prince back to his bed chambers to change. Prince Yemen impatiently gestured his guards to leave him as they entered his chambers first and checked around for any intruders.
As he was halfway deciding on which clothes to change into, more thunderous roars broke out and the ground shook again. Prince Yemen frowned at the interruption and finally settled on a martial looking set of clothes. His manservants with a worried expression quickly helped dressed him before they exited his chambers, finding his guards has doubled.
Under the harried urging of his Chief Guard, he finally made his way into the Command Throne room, where most of the senior nobles and their staff had gathered. The gathered nobles bowed and saluted the Crown Prince as he settled down on the throne that overlooked the throne room.
”What is happened? Who is attacking us?” Crown Prince Yemen demanded as he glared at the communication crystal which a floating image of Duchess Manarva could be seen. ”What are your pickets doing?”
”Dying, I am afraid,” Duchess Manarva's distorted image snapped back. ”We do not know who is casting these spells! I have already put out the order for all ships to be on battle alert!”
More thunder rolled over and the ground shook once more, making the chandeliers and crystal windows shake and creak. Crown Prince Yemen's face turned dark and he yelled, ”I gave you the command of my ships! Now do your job! Find the enemy and destroy them!”
Duchess Manarva's eyes turned cold and she threw a deadly stare at the Crown Prince. She spoke in a frosty tone, ”I know what to do... You do not have to teach me... boy!”
With that, the image of the Duchess fizzled away as she cut off the communication magic leaving the Crown Prince speechless with anger at the slight he has taken. ”That... bitch! She dares look down on this prince?”
”My prince!” Lord Ableman suddenly appeared next to his prince. He quickly calmed his lord's anger down. ”We should depart immediately! We do not know what spells are those and when will they target us!”
”Why run like a coward?” Crown Prince Yemen sneered, as he directed his displeasure onto Lord Ableman. ”Who even has the ability to even scratch this Sky Fortress?”
”We must prepare for all kinds of scenarios!” Lord Ableman did not give up as he urged his Prince with his advice.
”Stop being a defeatist!” A follower of the Crown Prince's faction said from the side, loud enough for everyone to hear. ”The Crown Prince's bravery is something we all should aspire to follow!”
Lord Ableman sent a warning glare to the noble who spoke out. The noble instead rise his head back and send a stare back in challenge. The Crown Prince bobbed his head as if in agreement. ”He is right! We just can't run like cowards!”
”We must stand and show whoever is attacking us the iron in our resolve!” The more the Crown Prince ranted on, the more confidence his tone and bearing became. ”And show that bitch how the Iron Kingdom fight!”
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UNS Vengeance, Flag Bridge
The Imperials has finally quietened down as their eyes and ears were glued to the main display on the Flag Bridge that was showing a rain of destruction being visited upon the Outlanders by the main guns.
Even the constantly criticizing Lord Dietrich had nothing to say as his mouth hung half opened and closed like a gold fish after witnessing the destruction shown. Emperor Aslan's eyes were too glued to the view as his mind tried to comprehend the might of the United Nations was shown.
If he was to take the dragon cannons for comparison, which he had felt was already very powerful, almost equal to a level seven spell, then, the twelve thunder pipes of the United Nation's island ship was at least a level ten or more each!
The pride of the dragon cannons he has gotten from the Great Sage has totally melted and blasted away after witnessing the real thunder weapons of the United Nations. Yet a part of him wanted to deny the images that were being shown were fake but he knew after witnessing the power and shock of the thunder weapons, it was just him trying to run away from the truth.
He cast a glance at the tall short ear hooman whom he was certain must be laughing at their shocked reactions but instead, he saw a worried frown on his face. Was there something else that could make the United Nations worried if they had such powerful weapons?