Chapter 86: Bad Timing

News From Around The World

Who Is Everett's New Companion?!

Many Medical Charities At Risk Due To Magic Medicine

#LevelUp Challenge Results In Deaths As Would Be Human Adventurers Take Selfies in the Middle Of Battle

First Human Death From Dreamscape Reported In Mexico

Many Injured During Razor Ice Storm In Toledo, Ohio

VVVVVV

Temple Of Kara, Sogen

Three V-17 Shikra aircrafts flew over the mountain range several kilometers west of the Brazilian border. These mountains appeared after Xoth and Earth fused. This convoy of aircrafts contained a small military force and diplomats. One of the passengers happened to be the orc blacksmith, Jux Oro.

The diplomat that sat across from Jux were reviewing the dossier for the mission. He was dressed in a black suit and his hair was short and tidied. Jux, on the other hand, had to constantly remind himself that he was safe flying through the air at goddess knows how fast.

"When was the last time you saw your daughter?" the diplomat, Victor, finally asked after reading for an hour.

"A few years," Jux replied. "Due to the how isolated the temple is, it takes weeks or even months to reach it by our means. Letters are the only way I can contact her quickly since we have carrier folgols. I'm really looking forward to seeing her again."

"Temple is within sight," the pilot announced over the aircraft's comms. "Settling down in nearby field."

The Shikra aircrafts flew over an open field where and landed on the ground. The jet engines shut down and the soldiers, diplomats, and Jux walked out. Right away they were greeted by a group of priestesses along with their Guardians. Jux and Victor walked towards them while the soldiers stayed behind at the Shikras.

An elven woman walked out towards the two. She had a look of defiance in her eyes.

"I do not know what you are here for, but we have no valuables here," she declared. "We are all in mourning and do not appreciate this intrusion."

"We're a diplomatic team here on behalf of the human race," Victor quickly introduced. "We come here in peace. We're sorry about the intrusion, but this is an urgent matter."

"So you're the humans I have heard so much about." The elven woman looked past him at the soldiers. "A lot of soldiers for a diplomatic team."

"Standard precaution considering we are still trying to catch up to the world's average level," Victor explained. "I'm Victor Morgan. United Nations Diplomat."

Victor reached out his hand and the High Priestess grabbed it and shook.

"I am High Priestess Eri Trolen."

"So you've heard of humans?" he asked.

"Priestess Suvie notified us of the situation on your world, Earth, and ours." She looked at Jux with squinted eyes. "You look familiar."

"Jux Oro," he replied. "Usha's father."

"Oh, right. I'm assuming you're here to see her?"

"Yes."

"I'm afraid, you just missed her. Usha and Suvie both left yesterday."

"What, why?!" Victor said.

"They said that their destiny laid elsewhere. Said they were seeking out someone by the name of Thomas Everett."

"How do they know about him? In fact, how do they know about our world?"

"Suvie is a very powerful Spirit Maiden," Eri explained. "She has a unique ability called Astral Projection. With the ability she can navigate the spirit world and view the physical world anywhere that isn't blocked by magic barriers. She used this ability to follow after Kara when she vanished from our world. From there, she viewed the events of your world. Once our worlds merged, Suvie and Usha made preparations to leave to meet with this Thomas Everett. Why are you here to see these two?"

"They didn't tell you?"

"Just the whole 'destiny' line she gave us."

"Damn it," Victor cursed under his breath. He quickly corrected himself. "My apologies. Destiny is putting it lightly. Suvie and Usha are both beings known as Elementals. Their aid is needed in the war against Hastur. It seems like they knew about it all if they left to find Thomas Everett."

"Why Thomas?"

"He's what's known as a Nephilim human. He is able to unlock the powers of an Elemental."

"Well, I'm sorry you wasted your time."

"Well, we weren't here just for them. As a representative of humanity and the United Nations Defense Force, I wish to extend a hand in the spirit of cooperation and diplomacy."

"As Spirit Maidens and Monks, we welcome peaceful cooperation especially in the effort against Hastur."

"We also have people among us who are spiritually sensitive and we do not have people knowledgeable in real spirits. We can provide additional resources in exchange for your help."

"Do you have these people with you?"

"Several, yes." Victor looked back towards the aircrafts and made a hand signal towards them.

The side door of one of the aircrafts opened up and a single woman walked out. She quickly walked towards the group and introduced herself to the Head Priestess.

"Hello, Head Priestess. I'm Amy White. I look forward to learning about being a Spirit Maiden."

VVVVVV

Zokot Kingdom

Dellik sat in his throne with a bored look on his face as scantily-clad female slaves danced in front of him. He was killing time as he waited for the assassin to arrive from Almawt and was already half drunk. The doors to his throne room opened and several guards walked in.

The lead guard approach the throne and went down on one knee. His squad of soldiers did the same.

"Your Majesty, the assassin from Almawt has arrived," he announced.

"About time," Dellik groaned. "Where is she?"

"I am here," the black clad assassin replied. She walked in without invitation and stood behind the guard. "Where is Alala?"

"One should properly greet the king in his presence," Dellik reminded her.

"My apologies," she plainly said. The assassin bowed down and said, "My name is Xexi Ekafsi. Also known as Shade. Congratulations on earning your rank by not dying."

"You insolent cur!" Dellik roared as he launched himself out of his chair. "You have any idea who I am?"

"I already said." Xexi betrayed no emotion again. "The man who earned his position by not dying. I wish to waste no more time and speak to the one in charge. Alala."

"Guards kill her!" he growled.

The guards got to their feet and reached for their swords.

"Stay your blades," a voice echoed in the throne room.

Alala materialize into existence between the guards and king.

"Her disrespect is-" Dellik tried to argue.

"Irrelevant," Alala answered. "She is a excellent assassin. I also saved your men."

The guards felt several things poke at their throat. They felt around their neck and found spikes made from the shadows inside their armour.

"That's enough, Xexi."

"Yes, Mistress."

The shadow spikes retracted and Xexi turned to Alala.

"Dellik, you and your men may leave."

"Shouldn't I be involved in this meeting?" he asked in annoyance.

"And what contribution can you offer?" Alala replied as she looked back. "Your usefulness to Lord Hastur is your ability to keep the Nobles in line and to continue the slave trade. Failing to do either will result in your termination. Literally."

Dellik stepped back in fear.

"Now leave us."

"Yes, Mistress." Dellik power-walked out of the room with his soldiers behind him.

"Now that that distraction is gone, back to business," Xexi said. "I would like to finish this assassination as soon as possible. What are my leads?"

"Straight to the point as always," Alala commented. "Good. Lucky for you, it may be easier to track Thomas Everett than most of your quarry."

"Please explain. I heard in reports that he has the ability to teleport and his home's location is unknown after his first one was destroyed."

Alala looked back and yelled out, "Slave! Come here."

Xexi looked in the direction Alala yelled at. From there, a frail and injured human woman walked out of the shadows. Her clothes were dirty and torn in places. She quickly trotted over to Alala while staring at the ground with little life in her eyes.

"Take it out."

The woman took out a small rectangle shaped item with a glass surface.

"It seems the humans are extremely social," Alala explained to Xexi. "And their technology is heavily involved with their sociability. They have method of interaction that is called social media. It's within these networks that they will write about everything about themselves. Since we have captured some human slaves, we have been gathering a great deal of Intel on them all over the world." Alala smacked the human on the back. "Show her!"

The human quickly opened her phone and displayed pictures, images and words. Xexi watched with great interest as the human tapped one of the images and a new image appeared that showed words written by other people along with pictures.

"They will post about anything here on this Chatter app. And they even sort it through things called hashtags. Slave, input hashtag T Everett."

The screen changed and the feed was flood with images of Thomas Everett and written words about him.

"This is a live feed about everything about him. These humans seemingly worship him. From here we can monitor it and know when he shows up in public and even who is with him."

"So we wait?" Xexi asked.

"We wait and prepare. As soon as he shows himself in public, we attack."