Chapter 93: Man vs Factory
As far as dragonlords went, Scalefrost had it easy.
Born on a cold world with pristine white scales, he had lived a privileged childhood among a wealthy, minion-owning brood. For years he had grown stronger on the work of others, as was his birthright, until it was his turn to serve. He enrolled in the Unitys army, where he learned to believe in Grandmaster Wyrdes vision of a perfectly ordered universe, and in the dragon races mission to bring peace, culture, and civilization to the lesser races across the cosmos.
Yes, sometimes civilization came at the end of a star cannons barrel, but non-dragons were like children in need of an education. If you truly loved them, then you shouldnt spare the rod when they misbehaved. It was an act of tough love, truly. When Scalefrost ate minions alive as a warning to the others to obey his orders, he was only showing them basic decency. Anyone with a good heart would have done the same.
Slowly but surely, Scalefrost had risen through the Unitys ranks until he became a Rook-Rankedmander under the esteemed General ckcinders. The unexpected demise of her son Steamslimea well-bred fellow, but one that stood in the way of his promotionallowed him a chance to assume a leadership role in her new operation. He and many dragonlords had been sent to the primitive world of Earth to gather resources and tame the local savages to fuel the Lunar Cannons development. Holdingmand over a factory and semi-strategic location might have seemed unworthy of someone of his abilitieshe was level forty-five after allbut Scalefrost considered it a chance to prove himself to his superiors. He had worked his minions to the bone to exceed gearsmen production quotas in the hope of obtaining a governorship.
He could already imagine his future once the Unity had fully subjugated this world: retiring to a humble yet lucrative governor role, enjoying his hoard as minions happily worked to mine gold and opals in the depths of the earth for his enjoyment. Scalefrost would be richer without doing anything, and the apes would find meaning in their purposeless existence. They would contribute to something greater than themselves; their masters worth.
Everyone would win, really.
At least, that was his n until he woke up to the tune of explosions rocking his base. rms echoed in the metal halls of his factories. The walls trembled and bolts fell off the ceiling.
This didnt look good.
What is going on here?! Scalefrost asked as he rushed into hismand room, the steel ground trembling beneath his feet. Three of his hobgoblin minionscraven, but cunningwere frantically typing on the keyboards of the powerful holomachines controlling the base. The light of half a dozen monitors nearly blinded him as they showed pictures of explosions and devastating sts.
Were being bombed, Your Majesty! one of his minions stated the obvious. One of the monitors turned white as an artillery shell hit the relevant camera.
Is it the Apocalypse Force?! Scalefrost had been asked to hold onto the bridge in case the demons descended from the north, where they had established fortified positions, but none of his scouts mentioned the presence of an army on his doorstep! Then bomb them back! What is Roarwing doing?! Is he napping on the job again?!
He already went out in the field to counterattack, Your Majesty, one of his hobgoblins answered. Permission to deploy the advanced gearsmen?
Granted, Scalefrost replied as he focused on the monitors. New models of mechanical soldiers poured out of the factory: mechanical spiders the size of elephants equipped with missileunchers on their backs; rounded satellites with turrets flying on their own by negating gravity around them; and red-colored gearsmen spewing fire from pipes and tentacles.<blockquote><strong>Spider Tank</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 39 [Artificial/Bug]</blockquote><blockquote>Faction: Unity.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Bomber Satellite</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 39 [Artificial/Avian]</blockquote><blockquote>Faction: Unity.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Hellfire Gearsman</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 40 [Artificial]</blockquote><blockquote>Faction: Unity.</blockquote>
These robots were Scalefrosts pride and joy. His loyal Crafter minions had toiled days and nights to bring the schematics to life so they could fuel their masters war machine. A pity these apes couldnt create anything with a higher level than their overseers; level 40 or so gearsmen were powerful, but far from the strongest constructs in the Unitys databases.
Still, these robots should be more than enough to repel whoever was stupid enough to attack his
A terrible screech echoed in themand room, causing Scalefrost to cover his sensitive ears to avoid being deafened. A terrible beam of light had hit his robots right outside the factory, vaporizing them instantly.
To Scalefrosts horror, a mighty bug monster burrowed out of the fuming wreckages of his troops. The creature, a centipede of colossal proportions, burning with power and wrath. He rampaged across the metal bridge linking the factories to the opposing river shore at an unnatural speed. Neither soldiers nor barricades could slow him down. A massive, familiar-looking armored train strapped to the brim with artillery weapons followed in his wake, firing missiles left and right. A strange mimic rode atop it with a maniacal grin.<blockquote><strong>Bugsy Alphone Venture (Volcanipede)</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 63 [Elemental/Bug]</blockquote><blockquote>Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Steve Roadwonders (Steamobile)</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 63 [Artificial]</blockquote><blockquote>Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Shellgirl (Mimic Booty)</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 63 [Slime/Aquatic]</blockquote><blockquote>Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).</blockquote>
Scalefrost choked in horror upon seeing their levels.
Sixty-three He gulped, his mighty reptilian brain unable to process what he saw. Thats impossible
No creature in his base even came <em>close </em>to these invaders power. Not even Scalefrost himself. It must have been the Apocalypse Force. Only they could field such powerful units.
Your Majesty, weve identified the ringleader! One of his hobgoblin minions typed on his keyboard and summoned a picture of a fearsome horror trampling steel walls underfoot; a mighty reptilian beast covered in leaves and thorns, with petals for a face and hungry fangs.
I am the seed from which your nightmares sprout! the monster roared with a beautiful, gleeful voice. I will sow your corpses with my brood!<blockquote><strong>Rosemarine Entine de Barthe (Tropidrake)</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 63 [nt/Dragon]</blockquote><blockquote>Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).</blockquote>
Scalefrost hissed in rage upon seeing her creature Type. A race traitor! He should have known! No way these monster savages could destroy a Unity instation without a proper dragon leading the charge!
Wait, this flowery vermin couldnt have been a natural dragon. Shecked the presence and nobility of a genuine wyrm. She was a pale copy of Scalefrosts race, an imitation spawned by thiss broken System. Her kinds very existence represented an insult to true dragons and had to be eradicated. Monsters could be tamed and reforged into proper minions; these creatures were faulty from birth.
Speaking of dragons, Scalefrost searched on the monitors for Roarwing only to freeze upon seeing hisrades beheaded corpse appear on one. The killer, an armored ape wielding a pointed stick of steel, was shredding gearsmen left and right at supersonic speed. Even Scalefrosts trained eyes struggled to follow his movements.<blockquote><strong>Basil Bohen</strong></blockquote><blockquote>Level 63 [Humanoid] (Tamer 20; Alchemist 1; Runesmith 9; Technomancer 3; Deathknight of the Sepulcher 10; Dragonknight 20)</blockquote><blockquote>Guild: Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens).</blockquote>
Basil Bohen? Where had he heard the name before? It sounded so familiar
Oh.
Oh!
Its <em>him</em>. Scalefrost all but choke on the word. The savage that killed Steamslime and Apollyon.
Only then did he realize why the armored train he had seen earlier felt so familiar. These soulless barbarians had murdered Steamslime and turned his shell into a car!
What would they do with <em>his </em>corpse?
At this moment, Scalefrost realized that all his dreams of governorship would nevere to fruition. He would be lucky to escape with his life, let alone with his honor intact. The base was lost and his hopes of a promotion with it.
Send a SOS to General ckcinders! Scalefrost ordered his soldiers. I must evacuate the base immediately!
What about the Crafters? one of his minions asked.
Scalefrost nced at the relevant monitor. Hundreds of pacified humans worked to craft gearsmen parts, runestone cores, and other armaments along nearly endless assembly lines. The Unity kept them well-fed and rune-carved cors ensured their obedience; for they would die if they left the bases premises. It would be a blow to lose them all.
And yet it was already toote. Another group of invaders had made its way into the foundry. Some ape with a flute yed a song as a golden snake coiled around a gearsman guard and a colossal bird scraped another between its talons. The Crafter minions, deceived by this spectacle, cheered at the scene. It disgusted Scalefrost.
Detonate the cors, the dragon ordered in response.
The hobgoblin soldier looked at his master with a disturbed look; his kind never had the stomach to do the right thing. Your Majesty, are you sure?
Good minions would rather die than live without a dragons guidance, Scalefrost replied. If these savages could string two sentences together, they would tell you the same. Killing these poor Crafters will spare them a lifetime of misery without our enlightened rule.
That, and they had learned gearsmen schematics as part of their work. Scalefrost simply couldnt allow their knowledge to fall into the wrong hands.
Ill evacuate now, Scalefrost decided as he walked towards themand rooms entrance, finding the doors already opened. Huh. Odd. A hobgoblin minion moved away from his keyboard to follow Scalefrost, who had to chide him, Youll stay behind.
What? the hobgoblin choked in surprise. No doubt he was floored by the honor granted to him. Why?!
You have served me well, Scalefrost congratted them, though he didnt really believe in his own words. Try to buy as much time for me as you can. Your sacrifice will be hono<blockquote>Critical hit! Supereffective hit!</blockquote>
The message shed before Scalefrosts eyes right as his throat turned sore. He coughed as he struggled to form words and put a hand on his neck. Something viscous flowed between his ws.
<em>What is this?</em> Scalefrosts eyes widened in dread as he looked at his hand. White liquid dripped on his palm. <em>Is this blood?</em>
<em>His </em>blood?
Oh, you have a frog in your throat? A furball appeared out of nowhere at Scalefrosts feet, wielding a sword of light. Let me help. Im French, I know these things.
You Scalefrost rasped in anger as he struggled to form words. He ignored the lightning bolts vaporizing his goblin minions or the shadow of General ckcinder shing on a monitors screen. He only had eyes for that creature that dared to raise its paw against him. Die!
Possessed by rage, Scalefrost attempted to stomp the animal with his hand. He crushed steel with enough strength to shake the room, but missed his target. The invader bolted to the side, jumped off a wall, and then leaped again at the dragon.
Scalefrost barely had time to look at his uing death before the de hit his neck.
The beheaded dragon copsed on the steel floor and gold rained down over his corpse.
to remembered these creatures as being harder to kill. Steamslime had cost him a life in the past, the second out of four. Months of killing everything in their way had certainly helped.
And much like Steamslime before him, the dead dragon dropped quite a lot of treasure. Piles of coins, jewels, weapons, and other items materialized over his corpse. to wondered how much of it was the dragons hoard or reward for the kill. Shellgirl would be quite happy with the golden harvest either way.
Looks like he has been to tried to think of a good quip, but the best he coulde up with seemed terrible. Looted!
Was that pun truly necessary, oh king of cats? Vasi asked as her invisibility spell ran out. Most hobgoblins were dead, except for one whom she had restrained with chains of ice.
I always kill my enemies twice, to said as he stepped over the remains of hobgoblins and jumped on theputer. Once with words, then with swords. Their shame prevents resurrection.
An excellent way to live, Vasi mused as she faced her captive. I hope Basil will forgive me for this indiscretion
Vasi gathered her breath, then pressed her lips against the hobgoblins. The sight of a hideous green humanoid kissing Basils girlfriend made to shudder, even if it was for a good cause.<blockquote>[<strong>Hobgoblin Assistant</strong>] has been [<strong>Charmed</strong>]!</blockquote>
Now, my dear, Vasi said as she released the hobgoblin, whose will was now under her mental control. Would you mind granting meplete control of this instation?
Yes, Your Majesty, the thrall replied as he moved on to the monitors. The shadow of a ck dragon briefly materialized on them, their features indistinct; it briefly red at to and Vasi before vanishing without a word.
Ominous, tomented before deciding to tease Vasi a bit. I would wash your lips if I were you. If you taste like a goblin, Basil is likely to eat you on the spot.
Dont worry, he has already tasted me in many ces, Vasi replied coyly as she observed the keyboard. How very interesting. The runenguage system is the same as with the holomachine.
Your Majesty, I am sorry, we have been remotely cut off from thergerwork, the hobgoblin apologized. I only have ess to local infrastructure.
Can you remove the ve cors? to shuddered. He had always been thankful to Basil and Ren for never putting him through that torture; he didnt wish it on anyone, not even a dog.
Vasi smiled enigmatically. She nced at a monitor showcasing an inactive gearsman. I think we can do far more than that.
Basil was busy tearing a gearsman apart when the rest of them shut down all at once.
Ugh? He looked around the ruins of barricades, halberd raised. Half a dozen gearsmen had fallen inactive to the ground and all the rms ceased. Whats happening?
Basil should have known better than to expect an answer from machines, as none replied to his query. The explosions that had rocked the area not so long ago slowly stopped. This disturbed him slightly, and he refused to lower his guard.
Hello? Basil kicked a gearsman in its metal frame. To his surprise, the machine instantly rose up on its telescopic metal legs; its central eye snapped open with a green light. Yet it didnt open fire immediately. Whats happening?
In response, the gearsman started to move around. Its legs clumsily stepped to the right, then to the left, then daddled along the street in a way Basil found farcical.
Ta da, ta da, tada tada tada tadaaa The voice of to came out of the gearsman. Tadadada!
Basil squinted as he lowered his halberd. <em>The Pink Panther</em>, really?
Do not mock the ssics, doubter, to replied through the gearsman.
Handsome, weve taken control of themand room, Vasis voice echoed in the background, this time through the bases loudspeakers. We canmand the gearsmen from it. Kalki is freeing the hostages as we speak.
<em>I suppose thats one of the downsides of relying on drones to do your dirty work,</em> Basil mused. <em>Youre one good hacker short of a disaster.</em>
Also His girlfriend chuckled. I humbly suggest that you take levels in Technomancer next.
Whys that? Basil asked with a frown.
A System notification appeared in response.<blockquote>Vasilisa Yaga has forwarded you the following Crafting Schematics: [<strong>Hellfire Gearsmen</strong>].</blockquote>
Basil looked up at the huge death robot in front of them, then over his shoulder at the factory that created it. A gleeful smile formed on his lips.
Karma was a harsh mistress.