12:00 AT, Day Forty Six | Mesa-Desert Border

  Ray and I stand on a sheer cliff and watch as the massive enemy army moves ever closer. The final tally for their forces is seven thousand two hundred and forty two. I do wonder what their plan is with such a large force. Even three or four thousand would be more than sufficient to break our defenses, as no one expected them to mobilize so many at once.

  We have also detected all three of their core members, including Regulus. Though Luna is nowhere to be found. She is probably sitting back in her castle sipping fine wine and watching her minions do all the work. After all, that would make sense for that evil bitch.

  “Ko, it is kinda beautiful isn’t it?”

  “Not nearly as beautiful as you are, darling.” I reply, which earns me a peck on the cheek, which I escalate.

  After I make my escape, I smile and Ray mirrors me. After all, our grand show is just about to begin.

  Several minutes later

  I walk towards the approaching army, a white flag waving in my arms. I am alone, I even left my weapons behind. I kept the armor though, just to be a bit safer. It’s not like I can do any damage, I am just a singular guy, right?

  This stunt is going to cost many headrubs later. So I have that to look forward to at least. If headrubs from my super cute girlfriend isn't enough motivation to carry out this plan, then I do not know what possibly could be.

  There is a commotion in the soldiers nearest to me. They seem to be shouting back and forth, trying to decide whether or not to shoot me. I am waving a white flag, even those klackers can understand what it means.

  After a bit of shuffling, they get some orders and one of them walks out towards me and motions for me to follow. And thus, I walk into the army of soldiers that look strangely like ninjas up close. I guess I never really inspected their uniforms, but up close they look like the classic ninja, but in white rather than black. I guess it fits with them using poison and liking ambushes though, so full points for the theming.

  I am led towards the center of the army, and into a large tent. Before I am allowed inside I am thoroughly combed and scanned. It seems they have heard of my stunt with the Quartet, I wonder how.

  I enter the tent and Inside is a large throne, on it sits none other than Regulus. I klacking hate how creepy he looks, and that power radiating off him is just so unsettling. Oh, and the worst part is his voice. “It seems we meet again, Specimen Kovon Ducker. Did you miss our conversations so?”

  “Absolutely not.” I reply curtly. “I simply came here to deliver a message in person. After all, it is only right to do so.”

  “Oho, and what might this ever important message be?”

  I lower my voice to a very threatening tone. “Tuck your tails and run far far away from us, or suffer the consequences.”

  Regulus doubles over in laughter, nearly falling from his seat. It takes him about thirty seconds to regain his composure. “Ha, you are a mighty interesting specimen indeed, I shall bite. Why should our great empire retreat on this day where we hold the overwhelming advantage?”

  I smile. “Then that begs the question, do you have the advantage?”

  “An interesting proposition indeed. It would seem that you believe the contrary? Then, o great hero, where is your proof?”

  I laugh. “Well then, you asked for it.”

  I press a button embedded into the cuff of my armor. Nothing happens.

  Regulus stares at me, and then he along with all the soldiers into the room burst out into laughter. “A grand display indeed.” he taunts.

  I hold up my hand as if to tell him to wait.

  On cue, the sky outside lights up with a familiar red glow.

  Then, fire rains down from the skies.

  Instantly, shields activate all across the snowflake army, and the projectiles from the hellstorm cannon are batted away near harmlessly.

  I feign shock as our attack is effortlessly rebuffed. I collapse onto my knees and stare outside as the hellstorm cannon is so thoroughly thwarted.

  Regulus laughs yet again, in a much more evil fashion this time. “That is the best you have? As if we did not prepare for such a weapon and take precautions. We are unlike those imbeciles of the Quartet. Our great Empress would never make such a mistake.”

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  I stand up and turn around, and hold my ground. Regulus thinks that we are fools. But you see, that was simply the first course in our grand feast.

  I smile. “Is that so? This is your last chance to retreat, you have been warned.”

  “I think it would be far more interesting to call your bluff.” Regulus says confidently. “None can surpass our mighty Empress.”

  I shrug and press a button on my other cuff.

  Several minutes pass and we engage in a brutal staring contest. Neither of us flinches. That is, until a loud rumbling is heard in the distance and Regulus turns to look in the direction.

  My smile only grows wider. They are going to regret not retreating.

  I did give them a warning, as I was required to do. But this weapon does feel a bit extreme… oh well. It is sure to score us lots of style points, and that is all that matters.

  The rumbling stops, and a bright white flash encompasses the world for a brief instant. Then, everything goes dark in comparison.

  The world erupts, and the respawn barrier appears around Regulus and I. A shocked expression on his face is the last thing I see before the world around us is consumed by a bright white fire.

  Or rather, plasma.

  After all, that is what happens when you detonate a large fusion nuke in the sky above and harness the power of the stars themselves.

  The light that fuels all life, can also be the greatest way to take it, or so we have thought.

  We thought right.

  The instant before I fall unconscious, I see nothing. As in, the entire army is simply gone, nothing but a barren plane full of smoke where an army used to be.

  I think it's fair to say we earned all the style points for this encounter.

  20:00 AT, Day Forty Six | Arce Lunae / Recovery Bay

  I open my eyes to find a very cute girl staring at me intently. I must be dreaming, for there is no possible way she could be real.

  “Daaaarling. You. Are. A. Jerk.”

  Oh no, it seems that I am in trouble. Perhaps my grand plan had one critical flaw.

  I forgot to account for just how terrifying Ray can be.

  The pod opens and I am immediately captured into her inescapable arms. A truly horrifying fate. “Daarling, you owe me a lot of headrubs.” she whispers into my ear, digging her nails deeply into my back.

  “Hmm, that sounds like a wonderful way to wake up.” I whisper back, which only prompts her to grab on harder. Thankfully my skin and bones are made out of real tough stuff, or she might just break me. Though it seems she might still break me anyways.

  Through some miracle we manage to make it to our bedroom without ending the hug. Ray roughly throws me onto the bed and wastes no time curling up into my side. For being so cute, I reward her with many headrubs. I even end up using both hands, for maximum headrub power.

  After all, she really does deserve it.

  “I love you.” I whisper after she is a bit more satisfied.

  “I love you more. Now, more headrubs.” she demands, ever so greedy my cute girlfriend is.

  “So demanding, just where did you get it from?”

  “It’s your fault, jerk.” She mumbles.

  “Oh really, how is it my fault?”

  She looks up at me. “Remember my first day of high school?”

  “Yeah, kinda hard to forget how thoroughly you showed off. Really showed them what a superstar you are.”

  She jabs me in the ribs. “Hey, I still had no clue what I was doing. Anyways, after the ceremony you patted me on the head.”

  I laugh. “Really, that is when it all started?”

  “Jerk. This is all your fault, you know.” She grumbles.

  I trace my finger along her jaw, which causes her to make very nice sounds. “Well in that case, I guess I should be really thankful for my past self.”

  “Jerk.” She turns towards me and wraps her arms around my waist.

  I start to get a bit tired, lulled asleep by Ray’s wonderful embrace. “You are the light of my life.” I murmur before drifting off.

  One Sleep Full of Many Cuddles Later

  I squirm around and try to find a comfortable position as Ray keeps trying to tickle me. It seems she hasn’t forgiven me yet, and insists on being repaid by torturing me even in the middle of meetings. Which I am completely fine with, and all the others gathered seem to be as well.

  “So, I take it that those snowflakes have quieted down?” I ask Emil.

  “That would be correct, Milord. In fact, it seems that all of their forces have gone quiet. They have practically disappeared again. It seems that they are likely afraid of us potentially having more nukes.” Emil explains.

  “Then it is a good thing that we have yet to show them our true power.” I smile, and Ray squeezes tightly causing me to squeak.

  “That it is, Milord. If they knew the power that we are about to unleash, they would likely surrender right away.”

  Very good news indeed. Though internally I do worry about what they have planned. I doubt a snowstorm is the only thing they have devised. We will win, but Luna has demonstrated that she is no pushover.

  “Darling, when can we try out that special ingredient you teased us about?” Ray whispers into my ear.

  “Hmm, there are still a few things to be worked out. But tomorrow is probably good enough. So Emil, can we prepare a feast? With distribution for as many soldiers as possible, while keeping the defensive lines up of course.”

  “As you wish Milord.” To the side Linda and several other administrative people sigh deeply. I do feel a little bit bad for overworking them, but they did sign up for it after all. So it is all their fault really.

  We still have to defeat Luna, but with Ray and I together, we are sure to do it no problem. After all, the moon does control the tides, and snow is just water.

  So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 140

  Next: Chapter 141 | Shifting Tides

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  They’ve been drinking my future like it’s corp-subsidized coffee. I’m about to make them choke on it.

  I’m Dash. My great-grandfather was one of the Fifteen who saved humanity during the System Apocalypse, founding the corps that rule the solar system. That legacy should’ve been mine. Until my father was disinherited and died, leaving us with nothing but a single building on Earth 2.0.

  My compatibility tested at 17%. Failure. While classmates advanced to System Academy, I got mining school, fighting bugs for drops. But the 17% compatibility score was a lie. A rival corp has been draining my power.

  When a broken System finally manifests, it grants me Hoqalo, a trait to forge gear better than anything factory-made. Now, armed with my tools and my corporate grandmother’s dangerous resources, I’m done fighting for scraps.

  They stole my future. I'm stealing it back with interest.

  | LitRPG | Cyberpunk | Magitech | Underdog | Book 1 Written |