"This is becoming routine," Shade began as he played cards with his right-hand man, Frédéric.
"After a while, you get used to it, Captain."
"I don't think so."
"Do you really think so, Lorent?"
"Yes, boss."
Shade made a thoughtful noise while in the distance they could hear the sound of battle between the Black Numbers and the nightmare creatures.
Shade used darkness to raise a large stake that impaled a fox-shaped abomination with multiple eyes. It collapsed to the ground lifeless. Throughout all that, Shade didn't even look at the abomination.
"Anyway. We've been on missions like crazy. We've gone from one place to another killing Corrupted Tyrants, Corrupted Terrors, Corrupted Monsters, and most recently a Fallen Titan."
"That sounds simply ridiculous when said so casually," Lorent commented.
"Aha! Gotcha! Royal straight flush!" said Frédéric, showing his cards.
"I have a full house," said Lorent.
"Well, reverse," said Shade, leaving Lorent and Frédéric bewildered.
"Sir, we're playing poker, not uno."
"I win. There's no law that says I can't use this card," he said, taking the soul fragments under the bewildered gaze of both.
"Captain. We've eliminated the Fallen Terror from this area," said an Awakened.
"Good, rest. You have two hours before we move from here."
"Yes," said the subordinate, walking away to spread the word.
Shade summoned the Black Knight, who vanished to eliminate the approaching abominations.
Soon, Shade thought. Soon he would have a third dark creature of Supreme rank, then forty, and then five if he counted Iroh. Although he was still keeping the gremlin in his Sea of Souls until he could make it devour part of the body of the Saint of the Chained Isles. When he would have free time — which wouldn't be soon, he deduced.
It was already mid-August, and soon the Legacy clans would arrive.
If all went well, he could simply continue doing missions with his Black Numbers and relax in the simple pleasure of killing abominations, or occasionally summon the Winter Beast to eliminate those farther away in Eastern Antarctica.
Right, that reminds me that I need to bring Soul back before the battle at the Black Skull, Shade thought.
He would leave Skadi in his citadel to watch over it in his absence during his Third Nightmare.
Maybe if I make Soul kill Skinwalker, he can reach natural Supremacy and prevent it from spreading to millions of people.
Shade looked at his cards with a frown, lost in his thoughts.
"Is something wrong, Captain?" Lorent asked.
"No, I'm just thinking about turning into a chicken," Shade murmured.
Lorent and Frédéric sweated a drop at their leader's strange outbursts.
Two hours later, the entire Black Unit began to move away toward the siege city. Their missions were over for now, and his subordinates needed to rest and return to the Dream Realm to recover.
The journey was calm until they reached the assigned citadel, where they didn't have to fight because the Second Army had created a passage for them to the city walls.
Arriving at the designated place, Shade got out of the military vehicle and stretched a little.
"Alright, rest. See you in a few hours. Frédéric, you're in charge."
"Yes, sir."
Shade took out his communicator and saw a message from Central Command that he needed to meet with Saint Cor.
After receiving the location, he walked to a dark area where he simply disappeared, and less than a minute later, he arrived at the large building on the other side of the city.
Shade walked until he reached the audience hall, which was undoubtedly luxurious, with windows that let in natural sunlight.
Inside the hall, he saw Jet sitting relaxed on the sofa and Sunny thinking about murder.
Shade walked to one of the chairs and sat down casually. He only made a gesture to Jet and Sunny, vaguely without much desire to talk.
Shade waited a few minutes, bored, until the door opened, revealing the government Saint, whose appearance was unchanged since Shade had met him.
"Soul Reaper, Sunless Ascended, Lord of Darkness. Welcome."
His voice was hoarse and somewhat rough.
"How was your last mission?" asked Saint Cor, looking first at Sunny and Jet.
"Everything went well, sir. We located the Corrupted Terror, met up with the Wolves and Night Singer, and helped them finish off the creature. Casualties were minimal."
The Saint nodded his head, unperturbed by the news of a Corrupted Terror's death at the hands of Ascended.
"How do you like being in the SRU?"
"I like it, sir," Jet replied.
"And you, young man?" he asked, looking at Sunny.
"I feel it suits my abilities."
"Good. You've had an admirable performance as advanced scouts," said Saint Cor, and then he looked at Shade.
"How did your mission go?"
"Well, sir. We managed to recover the city taken by the Fallen Terror, in addition to locating the old underground refinery storage," he explained. "However, there's a slight inconvenience."
"What kind of inconvenience?"
"There's a problematic creature spreading rapidly. It's not conscious and functions more like a kind of fungus near the refinery," Shade explained.
The Saint nodded without changing his expression.
"Good. Your performance has been exceptional... it's a waste of your talent."
"Consider your position reassigned with immediate effect. The relevant documentation is already being delivered to headquarters."
What the hell? Shade thought.
"Excuse me, sir... but reassigned to where?"
The Saint looked at Jet fixedly for a moment and then pointed to himself.
"My personal retinue. Officially... though unofficially, you will act as special envoys assigned to the Legacy forces."
Oh, so that's it, Shade thought, remembering the conversation with Saint Cor upon arriving in Eastern Antarctica.
"Sir, with all due respect. Why am I being reassigned? I have my subordinates, and my function is vital to continue gaining ground against the Nightmare Chain. I consider that I would be more useful remaining in my unit than being assigned as a special envoy," Shade said, trying to avoid being taken by Valor or Song, which would take away his free time and preparations.
Wake of Ruins looked at Shade.
"On the contrary, you are the right person for this, Ascended Uriel. Your power will be better utilized under this reassignment. Added to the fact that you have a good relationship with one of the leaders of the Song delegation."
"That depends on who that leader is. I only know Song Seishan from guiding the events at the Forgotten Shore," Shade replied.
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but why me as well?" Sunny asked.
"Like Ascended Uriel, you, Sunless Ascended, have a close relationship with the Valor clan."
"That depends on who it is."
"Why, of course. It's young Nephis of Valor, the Changing Star," said Saint Cor, looking at the clock on the wall.
"She will arrive soon along with the others from Valor. In fact... I think they'll be here in a few minutes?"
Shade saw Sunny's eyes open wide as saucers, which amused him greatly.
Jet looked at Saint Cor and said, "Weren't they supposed to arrive in a couple of days?"
The Saint shrugged.
"They were. But since Tyris had some free time — due to the fact that the three of us were battered in the last battle — the schedule was moved up. Sunless Ascended arrived just in time."
Shade yawned, taking out his communicator out of boredom to distract himself. To his bad luck, the connection was only for communications, and if he wanted more, he would have to pay a large number of credits — something he refused to do to lose money.
After a few minutes, he felt a change in the atmosphere, which shifted slightly.
Turning his eyes, he looked at the four new people who had arrived. Around them was the aroma of the Dream Realm. For a moment, they seemed like an old memory before it disappeared from nowhere.
Strange, Shade thought.
Shade looked at the newcomers, recognizing three.
Nephis, Saint Tyris, and Morgan of Valor, whose face he had seen in old advertisements before they used her image.
Morgan had wavy black hair and alabaster skin. Her armor was adorned with a vermilion cape, the same color as her eyes. Her entire being radiated a lethal sharpness like a living sword.
The other beside her was a tall, severe man with marked, easy features and piercing eyes. His hair was black, his resemblance to Morgan was evident, with gray hair at his temples. His figure radiated an almost palpable authority and pressure, and his piercing blue eyes were like calm, serene steel. His armor was simple, almost unprotected.
This man was Saint Madoc, if he remembered correctly, the older brother of Anvil of Valor.
"Star of Ruin," said Madoc.
"Whispering Blade. I must admit, your appearance has surprised me a little."
The pleasant smile of the Valor Saint widened a bit.
"Is it not fair that I am here? My clan announced support for the brave men of the Evacuation Army. That, of course, includes my personal help."
"However, you should not address me. I am only here to offer support and ensure that nothing improper occurs. The true leader of this expedition is my niece Morgan. She will be in charge of everything." He gestured to Morgan and then to Nephis.
"And, of course, my other... niece... will support her in this expedition. I trust you know the Changing Star. The three of us are the vanguard of the Valor force."
Saint Cor remained silent for a few moments and then nodded, slowly looking at Morgan.
"In that case, welcome to Antarctica, Lady Morgan. Lady Nephis."
"How curious that there are two Saints in your group, in addition to the granddaughter of the Immortal Flame... and yet the three of them appear to be subordinate to a young woman with no known achievements. Some might interpret that as a sign that Valor is not taking this matter seriously..."
Wow, that was a direct hit, Shade thought without uttering a word.
He was merely an invisible spectator thanks to his Silence memory, whose enchantment kept him without much presence as long as he didn't move or make noise.
"You are mistaken, Saint Cor. The Valor clan takes this matter very seriously. That is why they have entrusted me with considerable power and authority."
"Forgive this old man's frankness, Lady Morgan, but what kind of authority can a mere Ascended hold? I have five Titans roaming the continent and twenty-seven cities to protect. What can you do to alleviate my problems?"
The Ascended shrugged in silence and then took a step back. The two Saints did not move. A whirlwind of sparks appeared from nowhere, filling the hall.
Shade watched with a raised eyebrow as about two dozen Transcendent echoes filled the room.
"...These are my credentials. Are you satisfied, Cor the Transcendent?"
Wow, she's arrogant for someone who'll get beaten up later by her brother. I suppose being irritable and annoying runs in the family.
Shade smiled maliciously.
Hey, Uriel, wake up.
What do you want, Shade? I'm about to solve the ultimate Rubik's Cube.
I have a way to make more money.
And what would that be?
Well. We know how to draw. We can draw anything. So why not make NSFW of Morgan and sell it on the internet?
Are you insane?
No. Think of the millions we'll make. The future is now. Besides, her arrogance irritates me.
Shade heard a mental sigh from Uriel.
Do what makes you happy. Just don't come crying if you get caught.
Shade smiled, looking at Morgan.
Just wait, Morgan. I'm going to make millions off your image, and no one will ever know.
Shade began laughing maniacally in his mind while on the outside he remained stoic.