The Next Erased Title for Security Reasons

Chapter 11: A Paean from the Sky

'Novas Veniat'

Merdane, Meltinzer

"A spider clambered down a glass wall, into wine.

Its venom swirls in the light liquid. It knows,

To kill without fail, it must poison from within."

The hooded man on a horse sang softly. From the tower that surrounded the capital, guards spotted the Third, Fifth and Ninth Fleets of the Federation of Anarchy, slowly making their way to the Royal capital.

[Rewind]

Aire Militaire, Kapitel Nurista, Floating Islands

The Island of Nurista was the capital city of the Federation of Anarchy. A land where the humans from below and the indigenous crossbreeds coexisted harmoniously. Aire Militaire, the castle at the centre of the island, was the base where the Behemoth and his council of Alpha Generals gathered for their conferences.

The Alpha Generals had assembled. The Behemoth gave orders. The countdown had started.

The past few days, there had been small scale attacks by both the Meltinzer army and the Federation. King Naffsetar had requested Chara's help. The troops from the Northers, North-eastern, and Eastern Charsch forts had been dispatched to assist Meltinzer. Rebel villagers surrounded Merdane. They were under the Federation's orders to not allow anyone entrance or exit from Merdane. The small scale rioting was efficiently controlled by the combined Charsch and Meltinzer forces. Everything was going on smoothly, as per the Behemoth's plan. Under careful supervision.

Then, on the day of positioning, the Federation's army was deathly silent. The Behemoth and his trusted Alpha Generals watched the skies, waiting for the pentangular positioning of five moons in another world far far away.

The Behemoth announced: "Come, my brave people. Let us march unto Meltinzer!"

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[Fast forward]

Merdane, Meltinzer

The third and fifth fleets of the Federation were often seen before mass destruction, but the ninth fleet was never usually sent out. It was reserved for special occasions and, wild rumours circulating around it including that it was the Behemoth's personal fleet, used only for advanced warfare, and that the twenty ships following it were the flagships of every other fleet, and captained by the twenty Alpha Generals. These rumours were enough to make the ninth fleet sacred. And unfortunately, all of them were true.

However, this time, the ninth fleet's flagship came accompanied by only two warships, and the other two fleets' flagships were not seen.

Horror-stricken, the guards ran to court to inform the king. Leaving the palace gates wide open for the three horsemen who galloped merrily into Royal Palace. The Behemoth smirked. The fleets had served their initial purpose.

King Naffsetar turned pale when he heard of the three fleets. The swarm of armed wingboats didn't help much to make it better for them either. Saphniel, Naffiel and Pappillia, who were present at court were equally dumbstruck. No one had expected the Federation to strike so soon. The King wanted to call a truce.

"But why would they strike now, when everything has been so peaceful the past few days? Something is wrong, it's dangerous. I think you'd better stay here than venture out, my King. They might try to kill you. We'll send a warrior." Saphniel said wisely.