Return of the Tower Conqueror

Chapter 381: When the Star Fell (XI)

When the Star Fell (XI)

Emma and others stared at the sight with gaping jaws and wide eyes, their minds incapable of processing what they were seeing. They were jetted off on a plan as soon as they left the Tower and were flying over the Pacific. Most expected they were flying to another continentand though they were technically correctthe kind of continent they landed on blew their minds.

Sitting there, in the middle of nowhere, beneath the scorching sun, was a plateau of dirt stretching out for hundreds of miles, nary a lifeformfauna or florato be found. It was a stretch of dirt that escaped the horizons curve on all ends, indicating that it was massive. There were only a few structures there that they could seesome houses, some towers, but most was just nothing.

Among those already there was Quinn who was ushering about some young-seeming and drenched-in-sweat mages and ordering them with specific tasks. Everyone seemed to be in an unrelenting hurry, barely even registering that the plane had landed and spat out nearly a hundred additional souls. They all stood about mindlessly until Quinn noticed them and, a moment later, approached with a faint smile.

She remained silent as her keen eyes seemed to dig through their skins, as though trying to peer within their souls. Though uncomfortable, everyone knew better than to resist, simply staying still and waiting. Eventually she stopped, glancing for a moment toward the sky. Others followed, their jaws quickly gaping even further if possible.

If the first time they saw the flashes was like witnessing 4th of July fireworks, then this was well, it was certainly much worse. Even with some aerial shield that the mages deployed, the strobing flashes of light were unrelenting, painting the sky like an ungodly brush in infinite colors. There were no breaks, no pauses, no breaths taken between each blinding stroke of illuminationit was as though cataclysmic skies were being torn open and an era of decay was being ushered in.

By then, they began to feel itthe residual Mana that found its way down from beyond the Earths atmosphere. It was suffocating, so much so that even Emma and Senna and the ilk had to use Mana to protect themselves. Fear slowly began to worm its way up their spinesthey were summoned here to fight, that much they knew, but even with the purification few felt they could as much as stand there, let alone fire off a skill or two.

While Quinn was putting finishing touches to the battlefield, the twins regaled the newcomers to the varying corners of the island, linking everyone into a Mana-fueled neural network in which they could communicate with their thoughts. It was very limiting, however, as only a few could speak to all, and the all could only speak to the few.

Soon enough, everyone paused whatever they were doing and looked upa boom echoed out into the world, the first time that a sound made its way through, and a flash of red light appeared in the sky. Bit by bit, it grew larger, until they realized it was heading toward them. Panic took over, but there were no orders to erect a shield or to interceptso everyone merely covered themselves in Mana and waited.

However, just a few miles off of the surface, they noticed that the reddened shape was slowing down, coming to complete halt some six hundred yards off the ground. Though it stabilized, it was covered in a thick layer of Mana-dilution, preventing anyone from seeing anything.

Quinn suddenly took flight and appeared near the figure, and though quite a few wanted to join, one look at the twins told them that it was best that they remain grounded.

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You could have held on for a few hours longer, Quinn complained half-heartedly. While the extra few hours would have afforded her some leeway to perfect a few things, she was already quite ready.

Shut it, woman, Cain grumbled. I nearly fuckin died trying to make it seem like I almost died.

what?

Bah, Cain flayed his arms out. Whatever. You couldnt understand the mighty ways of the mighty Cain and his illusions that sway the eyes. How did things go here?

They were baptized, Quinn replied. Unfortunately

No seed?

No, there are four, she said. But all are delayed.

Damn. Dogshit luck. Who would you rather take onthe thrice-Awakened alongside the twins while I support elsewhere, or vice versa?

You do the support, she said. Well just stonewall them.

Try to kill them.

Impossible, she firmly shook her head. Not everyone is like you, Cain. In fact, killing even a twice-Awakened is a monumental undertaking, let alone a thrice-Awakened one. Just because you can whip out your magic and start claiming heads doesnt mean its a common occurrence. Best youre going to get is stonewalling and stallingbeyond that, were helpless. So, finish your job quick and come help us.

Haah, fine, he shrugged. You think we stand a chance without me going too nuclear?

Perhaps? she replied, tilting her head. You never said how many of them there are.

A lot. Perhaps even too many for the number of traps youve prepared, he said. But, Ill be a good dog and corral them where they need to be. So, just be ready to unleash all hell.

Everything is in place. Despite the painful lack of talents this world is strangely organizational and devoted. Even creative, as quite a few of them offered some clever ideas on the improvements. Make sure to reward them after the fact.

Tell that to Rick, Cain shrugged. Hell give em a mansion or something.

If they live.

They gotta. Cant be handing lives over to some raging cunts with a boner for slaughter. Thats my job!

Quinn smiled lightly before she looked upthrough the tear in the shield, she saw the descending figures clad in thick layers of Mana. And here I thought that staying here for decades would have been a bore.

There can never be a boring decade with me around, Cain jested. Maybe a week or a month, but even a year is a bit out there. Decade? Nah. Theres a higher chance of shitting out a helix-shaped load of gold.

Yes, you are very good at tooting your own horn. And pulling the horns of others. Your people have a lot of expressions involving horns. Its quite strange.

You should see what we do with animals balls. We are quite strange, but very lovable. Get Senna up there. Lets go.

Lets go indeed.

Senna didnt miss the signalas soon as she saw Quinn indicate with her head toward the shaded figure, she spun a blade beneath her feet and flew herself up. She reached him quick, within seconds, and saw a somewhat tired and tattered figure floating there effortlessly, a faint smile hung on his face, dirty, somewhat reddishlikely from bloodhair fluttering in the wind. He was hazy, even up close, and seemed even more distant than ever before, as though he was reaching toward realms she couldnt even fathom.

elo firefly, he greeted her with a sheepish smile. All that mystique vanishedin the end, he was him, as he always was. It appeared as though nothing would ever change that. Miss me?

Always, she replied honestly, stretching her lips into a smile. Are you alright?

Alright? Bah, kiddo. Not even a truck-kun could deal with your dad!

Track-kun? What? she titled her head.

oh. Damn. I felt that one. Anyway, theres a heap of thingamabobs coming our way. Care to escort your daddy and help him a bit?

So long as you promise youll stop using daddy, she said. Please. Please.

Really? Figured since you swing your way, you aint ever calling another man daddy.

Do girls use mommy? Would that make it weird with Em?

Stop talking. Please.

What? Im naturally curious! No judgement, firefly! You wanna scream mommy? Scream

Ill never speak to you again if you dont. Stop. Talking.

Man. Been a while since I last saw that look, he grinned, entirely unbothered. Fine. I wont be the creepy, meddling, weird daddy. Ill just be the cool, silent, brooding daddy.

Haaah whatever. What am I supposed to do?

Welp, you and I will be in charge of keeping their armada from trying to attack the rest of the world, he said. In a little while, youll see me flying about everywhere. Lag behind me and try to corral the stragglers. However his voice suddenly deepened, expression flatting. Do not, under any circumstances, engage in a fight. Just support me from the rear and fire off your weapons from vast distance.

Huh? Why? Im strong!

Theyre stronger, he replied. Theyre all at least twice-Awakened. No matter how talented you are, firefly, theyll kick your ass seven ways to Sunday. So, be a good daddys princess, and listen to him for once in your life. If you dont, Ill keep pestering you about your sex life till I croak or you kill me. I promise you that much.

fine.

Good, he patted her head gently. Besides, youll be too busy observing me to fight, anyway. Learn a thing or twoyoull finally see some depths, I think. Itll do you good. This whole thing is a marathon, kiddo, and this is just a random hurdle we need to leap. Mountains that block our paths are yet to appear, Im afraid.