Deep in the cold and bleak realm, the cult of Kaiser was prepping as the Lord decreed it. Supplies to last several months were placed into chests that appeared to be living. As the members approached the chests, they would open wide automatically. Arms would sprout from the sides, and they would reach out for the items that were being brought to them.

Affilan oversaw the supply gatherings. Gone was her Nihon clothing from a faraway world. Now she wore a special leather-like suit gifted to her by Maelos himself, made from materials that he had gathered along his travelling conquests. Her head remained uncovered, for she felt it hindered her combat ability.

"Affilan, my dear. It is a shame that we had to discard your previous attire. But I hope this will suit your tastes."

"My Lord. This is one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive. I can feel the power imbued within the pieces. I do not feel I am worthy to wear such a powerful artefact. But I will promise you I will make full use of it." Affilan bowed with the utmost respect, for she could do nothing else but show her gratitude to the commander.

Maelos lifted her chin up. "Compose yourself now. You do not need to continue showing me such gratification. You have already proven yourself more than once." She did so without hesitation.

Kaiser's voice boomed across the realm. "Can you feel that, my children? The time is almost upon us. The foolish gluttony of those ancients. It will soon be their undoing." Maelos, Affilan, and the others in high positions could feel a strong change in the world of Maliterr. It was a monstrous overflowing power, like nothing they had felt before.

Maelos trembled. No matter how well he trained, such targets were still beyond something he could manage.

Affilan noticed the trembling; she remained silent, for fear of upsetting the commander. Though she felt disgusted that he would show such an emotion. You are the leader, yet you dare to show weakness? And in front of Kaiser? Such horrific shame you bring upon us. A spark ignited within her. An anger, born of disdain for her superior.

***

A few hours the previous day, Dillee and the requestee spent several hours waiting at Lexi's Blackmoon. Lexi wasn't in the building today. But one of his hotel assistants was working. Unfortunately for Dillee, he had no money, and neither did the requestee. Dillee still hadn't quite grasped the concept of how to use money, despite reading all about it. It also dawned on him that he had no way to hold currency. And in the future, he was going to need to figure that out.

Sir, I hope with the funds you generate, you will be able to provide me with a tool just like you have. I can be of so much more use that way. Dillee rarely thought of things outside his bond and usefulness to MC, of course.

"WE LISTEN TO THE BATS!" The requestee shouted aimlessly.

Also, I hope in the future that we will be separated. If I must spend any more time with this complete tea leaf, I will strangle them in their sleep... His patience was truly being tested today.

Dillee noticed that there was a TV above the reception. "Excuse me, miss, would you mind turning the TV on? I have been hearing that there are strange events happening around the city. I would like to keep up to date on what's happening as it goes by."

The gobhead working behind the counter begrudgingly switched the TV on with a groan. "I suppose so. But if it bores me, I'll turn it off."

There were several scenes of live footage being shown around the city. The camera panned between bird's-eye views and up-close shots from each of the districts. On the western side, it appeared that there were dozens of guards swarming through the streets, attempting to search for something. Rifling through trash cans galore, entering homes without warrants, causing backlash from the citizens.

In the Eastern District, there were protests going on beneath the outer walls. 'Save our walls' and 'Don't tear down our history' were written on signboards and banners amongst the protesters. Bloody protesters, find something else to do other than annoying people trying to do their jobs.

The footage of Dillee appeared from the central region, although he didn't respond to it. And lucky for him, he wasn't in his transformed form. If the receptionist had noticed exactly who was standing next to him, things may be a little different right now.

Footage eventually panned to the Southern District. The audible cogs of Dillee's mind began to whirr when this footage appeared on the screen. Scenes of the homeless emerging bloody and bruised out of the sewers caught his attention. You made it into the sewer, didn't you, Sir? By Jove, you bloody genius. I expect no less from my bestie.

Unfortunately for Dillee, things were not looking well on the eastern side. The demolition that was due to occur by the construction workers seemed to have been replaced by a shocking invasion of Mandems.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Dillee took the hand of the requestee and rushed out of the venue. This old boy doesn't know where you are right now. But until then, I will try to help the people.

With all the chaos, it was much easier for Dillee to sprint through the city streets with the requestee over his shoulders. Even in his natural state, he still harboured considerable strength and was able to tackle his way through several groups of lower-levelled sentients.

"So sorry about that, chap!" Dillee sent a man crashing into a bush. "Forgive me for the sudden grounding, Madam!" He yelled as he sent a random guard onto her back and stood on her. These were just a pinch of the things Dillee had to apologise for as he rushed to reach the Eastern District.

A scent overcame Dillee as he entered the district. Even amongst the panic and tension, there was a smell in the air. A merchant that the kids and Horace had traded some drool with was rushing away from his stall. A pot was cooking on a lit stove. Oh my. That's my drool. You're a genius for thinking of that idea, Sir. That will surely make you some more coin once this is all over.

As they entered the eastern district, he stopped to speak to the requestee properly. "I pray to the gods that you will join me in the fight, Dr A.I. The chaos that is about to commence will go down in history." Dr AI didn't respond; Dillee just assumed it was going to be OK. They had managed to make it to a food court that had long been abandoned. Dillee placed Doctor AI on the ground and moved them over to a wall, hiding away from Mandems that he spotted.

Ten. Twenty. One hundred… No, scratch that, one hundred fifty. Dillee, old 'chap. These mandems look much tougher than those gobhead cretins we fought in that shanty shithole.

"I absolutely adore this door handle; will you go to the dance with me?" Dr A. burst out loud, looking around aimlessly.

The schizophrenic ramblings of Dr A.I. gave away their hiding spot. Mandems caught wind of the word slop, turning away curious to the babbling, causing Dillee a sudden wave of stress he wasn't used to.

The doctor sent his sap pressure spiralling toward a rupture. "You fruit loop! I'm relieved that there are things for me to smash around here. DO SOMETHING USEFUL PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU."

Dillee transformed, snarling and flinging drool. With a powerful, ground-shattering jump, he flung himself straight into the incoming horde. Several mandems were sent crashing into bike racks, knocked from the devastating rush attack.

Bullets riddled the leafy legend, and knives chopped at his bits. This wasn't to keep the G.M.O. down, though, and he pressed on with his beatdowns. "Roo, Roo, Roof! Raggghhhhh RAROOO!" Dillee was doing some fantastic dog impressions here as he punched, kicked, threw and rag-dolled Mandems around.

Unfortunately for him, however, these were an elite group. A group that was far better trained and equipped to deal with such a target like Dillee. They teamed up, allowing some of their more durable teammates to bait Dillee into attacking. Then they fired off various debilitating and entrapment projectiles at Dillee. A net pinned him down that was full of razor-sharp spikes, digging deep into his leafy limbs.

Mandems stun net - inhibits target's senses for 300 seconds.

Mandems acid jar - covers a target in acid, reducing the toughness of armour and skin - damage taken +10%

Ouch. Stop chopping at me, you bastards. This won't hold me forever. Just you wait. Oh God, what are you doing now? You flipping dingbat! Dillee felt a little panic as he watched Dr A. begin to wake up from the apparent trance.

"Look at me, sis, no hands!" Dr A skipped into the fighting and began squirting the pink stuff around. Dillee, being nonhumanoid, simply shook the oddly perfumed liquid away.

Lùth and Kaha came from within, but he could not comprehend just exactly how Dr A was constantly refilling the syringe without him noticing.

The doctor did not stop once, even after some Mandems lashed out at them. They simply took the hits and carried on skipping. Until reaching the crumbled, broken eastern wall, and flopping to the floor face first.

Dillee, who was still under the paralysing trap, had to wait until the effects wore off. But the way it was going between the invading Mandems, it seemed as if they would end up defeating themselves. As the HRT began to kick in and they began having internal fights with one another, "BLUD. YOU STOLE MY BIRD, INNIT." "Fuck off, brev. Sob. Your birds are well butters."

"Man don't want no clapped minger you get me?" Sob

***

The Tenner's, including the infamous headcase Edge Lord, appeared before the mayor. Although the saviour remained hidden from any sort of tracking arts and abilities.

Jo the mayor was panicking. "What the hell is going on in my city!? Why are the greys attacking? And at the same time!?"

Rank number 3 Anders spoke up, considering himself the most senior person of authority. "I'm sorry, Jo, we tried to get here as quickly as we could. There were things to deal with in the North. But we are here now."

Rank number 2 The edgelord spoke with a gentle and polite tone. "I'm sorry, everyone. I truly wish this class could be of more use to society. For any of you whose guild members I have accidentally attacked, please accept my most sincere apology and allow me to make it up to you in this moment of crisis."

MC Wotters responded in kind. "As long as you don't go trying to chop my head off this time, sure, why not... But if you attack my boys one more time, I am most definitely going to drive my sword straight through your nards."

Edgelord fell to his knees, repeatedly apologising. But Barry gave him a good nudge, telling him, "It's OK, lad."

Despite the presence of all these powerful rankers, Jo was still overcome with how to deal with the situation at hand. And Anders felt obliged to take over. "Lawrence, you need to signal the evacuation order. Guild leaders, effective immediately, a full guild response is in effect; all hands on deck for this situation. Any ranker below rank 1000 should be put on evacuation aid duty. All those 999, be ready for combat. Let's try to save this city, people!"

"Sigh. If only it were that easy, pal. MC, brace yourself, bud. I'm about to rock your world, heh-heh. I should really stop talking out loud." The saviour flew from the mayoral tower, heading in the direction of the southern district.

He spotted Amelia firing shots at the group in the distance and first had to speak with her. He made the journey in seconds, landing beside her.

"Oi, visor head. Why are you shooting at that lot? We've got a job to do. Also, I'm pretty sure you've hit the citizens at least twice!"

Amelia laughed and continued to fire off in the direction of the city. "It's alright. Non-lethal rounds just tickle a tad. Besides, if I want to see how well my special little sausage is doing, I bloody well will. Piss OFF, CAER."

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