Chapter 214: The Monster of the Caliphates

Eight hours before the grand attack, a peculiar meeting occurred right in the middle of the ocean.

"Seeker. It's nice of you to drop by." Richie laughed as he waved his hands and created a sound force field that protected Seeker as he landed from the sky's great heights.

As Seeker landed, the trio started to sink in the ocean. As it submerged, they then began to move at a breakneck speed. A large bubble-like sound shield covered them and allowed them to move in the water.

"Richie. And may I know who this friend is?" Seeker asked respectfully.

"Sammy Theoden. But my real name is Shuffler Atkins."

"Oh. I'm sorry. But I don't know who you are." Seeker laughed.

"Then that's quite sad. I must have died a useless death in your future." Sammy shook his heads.

"Now that you are with Richie, I'm sure you'll make quite an impact on this life. Richie, how did you bestow your sounds? Did you take inspiration from my stories about Hermes?" Seeker asked.

"How did you know about that? I was hoping to give you a little surprise." Richie asked curiously.

"It's part of my new training. I could sense past the three dimensions, and I could see a thick aura similar to yours on Sammy."

"Oh? Is it beneficial for me to learn that trick you have?"

"Yes. But I'm not sure if you can see it. Meng has been trying to see it all his life and only managed to affect the area within him. His desolation is something that was far more terrifying than we thought. The desolation is something that happens beyond the three dimensions. You should have seen all those scientific charts on how they present gravity around a planet? They make a net-like chart that creates a sloping pit around it. You could say that the same thing happens around Meng. Only instead of gravitational pull, we have desolation."

"So that's it! It's not a form of poison or chemicals. His body is creating a desolate field around him! Amazing!" Sammy exclaimed.

"Oh? You prioritized the brain of your future team?"

"There's Arthur, Lowengren, Lennox, and because you know the future, you. I need someone to be the brains for my team." Richie smiled.

"Tell me more about the dimension. Boss is a little eccentric, and with his newfound religion, he probably wouldn't care."

Richie frowned but didn't say anything.

"Alright. Put it simply… the theories that Nogard had over this special power is simple. The brain is actually a conduit that connects us towards the other dimensions. If we were to use Eagle's terms, then in man's trichotomy, the spirit is housed in the brain. That is why the most perfect science is something that should occur within the brain. You received the last message is sent?"

"Yes. Regarding Progenitor. Richie already explained it to me."

"This Progenitor of ours was on a roll. He focused on science that aimed to use the brain's connection towards the other dimensions to alter the very limitations of man. Those who are Overcomers are basically those who have found a way to create a significant change in the dimensions beyond the Fourth. Lennox's thought process, Richie's sound, Meng's desolation, the empowering emotions of lust that the Tyrant Empress release and so on…"

"What exactly is this fourth dimension? I never really paid attention to my physics class." Richie pondered.

"Allow me, boss. Imagine the world of those ancient Pokémon games that have been recently re-released. The later games used three dimensions. They used the XYZ axis. You can move forward, backward, left and right, and you can move up and down. But the older versions only had X and Y in their axis. You can only move forward, backward, left, and right. The concept of jumping or moving in a third dimension was not possible." 

"Ok. I think I understand that part. You can't move in the old 2D pokemon games like those in the Piercing series or in Generals."

"Right. Imagine a character in the 2D pokemon games trying to move like those in a 3D game."

"It's impossible. Since the game was designed in 2D, you can't move in 3D."

"Now, if you had the right codes, you could bypass the two-dimensional laws and walk through walls. You that, you can walk from the first town and run to the Elite Four because of that." 

"Still following."

"Imagine if you could move in 3D in that Pokemon Game. You could jump over obstacles, or go under it if possible. You'd be able to move and do things that originally was impossible to do in the 2D world!"

"So you're saying that Meng's ability is something like that? Because he has access to another dimension, he can create desolation?"

"Right. In fact, all of you disgusting monsters have some way of acting in those dimensions that its effect in this 3D realm are those very attacks you guys can make. It's minimal for you, though. Like you guys can only move in another extra direction. Like Meng can jump up in that Pokemon 2D world, you can duck, but Seeker, he can directly change the code and make him walk through walls."

"It's not that exaggerated." Seeker clarified. He then turned to Richie.

"So its basically like Jesus. He lived next to His Father in heaven. He assumed a form that might have comprised several dimensions. Then He stepped down from heaven and breached the dimensions to become a character in this pitiful three-dimensional world of ours."

"Amen." Sammy answered helplessly.

"Does he… listen to Eagle's sermons?"

"Every single day," Sammy complained.

"A few more sermons, and I'd be a believer..." Sammy mumbled silently.

"And when Jesus ascended, He was a being that was fully three-dimensional, and at the same time, He carried with him the fullness of these other dimensions." Richie continued.

"Right. I'm leaving now." Seeker shook his head.

"Leave? How?" Richie wondered.

It was then that Seeker and the Adult gazed on the area around him.

"Don't resist." Seeker said to Richie as he reached out to push his arms outside the sound bubble.

Suddenly, Seeker's figure moved out of the sound bubble as another sound bubble surrounded him.

Seeker's expression was that of extreme delight.

"Amazing. He manipulated it! He actually commanded my sound!" Richie was surprised.

"Too bad I can't create sounds of my own. Lynd's observation and sympathy allow him to take a peak and therefore understand the soul. And on the dimensions beyond us, he can replicate it because he knows your heart and emotions. I can't do that. I can't make an attack that has the soul in it. I can only control it. But of course, it's useless if you resist. I can't forcibly take control of something from you or use it against you. This is because I can see and do elementary manipulation of the dimensions beyond the fourth. This is my prize from treading on the Gold Dragon of China." Seeker gave a boastful smile.

"Then, this should really help you!" Richie waved his hands as eight small metallic balls floated and moved from his sound shield and went towards Seeker.

"Balls of Thunder? No, wait. It's far stronger than this. You… managed to contain such a powerful shout?" Seeker was stunned.

"You're not the only one that improved, kid." Richie laughed.

Going back to the present, the contained thunder that Seeker used to counter the Empress was these same balls. Unlike the other bombs that imitated it and only had a small portion of Richie's shout, this actually contained the full force.

And it was these bombs that Seeker used to deflect the powerful attacks of the Empress. The explosions that occurred shook the entire Kraken. Even some of the Commanders and soldiers deep inside in the Kraken lost their balance from the strike.

Cliff was thrown off to the back from the explosion. He immediately ran towards Seeker to talk to him.

"Zeek!"

"Cliff. I don't have time. But now that I did that, things will get worse from here. The Emperors won't be holding back. Oh? And it looks like the shield will soon fall." Seeker immediately turned his attention to the west side of the sea.

"My goodness. What a monster. Lowengren told me about this… but I didn't expect it to be this bad! Cliff, my condolences." Seeker laughed.

"What?!" Cliff wondered.

"Listen here, Cliffy… We big boys are going to be busy. You're the eldest among your brothers and sisters, so you should be the one to block that one. Of course, I won't be too cruel. Here are some neat toys you could use to fight him." Seeker threw four small rings towards Cliff.

"That's the prototype that Meng developed. It uses both Lightning Rod and Electro-magnetic technology. It's like those little boosters we experimented back then."

"But… this technology! Chinese and British techs?! It will make the WGP chase after us!" Cliff had been with Arthur long enough to know this.

"Don't worry. After this battle, things will change in the future. But more importantly, you'd be dead if you didn't have that and fight him."

"Who are you talking about?"

"You should be able to sense him… right about… now."

Great fear enveloped Cliff as the memories erupted and caused Cliff to fall on his knees.

The familiar pressure was far deadlier than what it was a few months back.

"When you fought him… how did he look like?" Seeker asked.

"What? Like the one in the file, of course! Him and those crazy nails of his!"

"Oh. Then don't be shocked about his current appearance. The Empress is up. I'll be fighting her and drawing her out of here. Whatever you do, don't bring your battle near the battlegrounds of the Overcomers."

"Other battles?"

"Richie's here. If I brought him here, you should know how dangerous things will be." Seeker smiled as he vanished.

Cliff felt a strange sense of confidence.

"You really think increasing my emotional confidence would help now?" Cliff cursed.

"What happened?" Gardo appeared next to Cliff.

"You're… alive?!"

"Yeah. Solarium tech is basically concentrated Eradication. Fight fire with fire." Gardo laughed.

"You didn't sense me?" Gardo then realized it.

"Somethings… drawing my attention. We don't have time. So here's the plan." Cliff began to explain.

Up above the Kraken, a strange ball of Wind flew as fast as it could.

The Throne of the Emperor suddenly rushed off to another side of the Kraken as it learned of a very shocking news. Its sudden departure caused the giant snake to trail after it.

"Chance! Sorry kiddies. I can't play much longer. My team needs me!" Hermes laughed as he retreated.

"Let's retreat too. Conserve your energy." Typical ordered. He immediately leaped from an ideal platform, and the two beside him followed.

"I created a forest of thorns, but all we could do was wound him! If we fought him with his four underlings, we would surely die!" Typical cursed.

"Young Master. I'm sensing strange energy up above." Suit reported.

"I sensed it too. That's what made Hermes retreat. If he needs to get with his team, it shows that he couldn't handle whatever's coming with his current power. Let's retreat. Whatever's up, there would kill us. If that Richie wishes to fight her, we can't afford to be nearby! Move down to the Kraken! We rescue Seeker's team as instructed."

Suit immediately piloted his Armor and moved downwards.

The tornado and wind that protected them disappeared. Thus, the Kraken attacks finally shot its full force towards Suit.

"Finally! Something fun!" Suit laughed. After the stressful and life-threatening battle between Hermes, this was very easy.

The massive Armor made expert evasive maneuvers and would even detach its parts and reconnect it to dodge the torrential rain beautifully. Suit was a master in Exoskeletons and Armors. He was an Unlocked with a Skill in piloting.

With his extraordinary sense and almost artistic piloting, he fought the various secret services. He defeated the strongest of members in the Underworld. With the Unlocking, this unworldly control that impressed Meng grew to a whole different level.

"Young Master. Who is it exactly that requires Master Richie to face? Isn't this person a mere Near-Overcomer?" Despite the intense action of his piloting, Suit couldn't contain his curiosity.

"There are actually two of them coming. I don't know who would face the one on the east. I could sense their bloodlust even from here. They are simple Near-Overcomers. But in terms of the Unlocking, they are Inhumans. And the feeling I get from them is also different. We call Young Master Seeker and the other Overcomers as monsters. But these two… they are literal monsters. You'll understand once you see them."

Up in the sky, Richie hovered and waited. Richie wore a strange garment. He had an Eagle mask covering his face, a red cape, and strange claws on his hand.

The green aurora had lit the night sky, and even though the storm had shunned the stars and the moon, it was extremely easy for Richie to see through it.

"Boy… those nations couldn't really help themselves." Richie glanced at the various planes that were circling around the Kraken. Several airplanes and boats had already sunk. 

"Hmm… I guess after this, I get the frequencies of those pilots. I'm sure Seeker needs more skilled pilots like these." Richie bemused as he glanced at the planes that keep themselves from getting shocked as it kept bombarding the Kraken.

"Now, to deal with the monster from above." Richie smiled and waited.

A figure emerged from the dark clouds. This figure's flight was so fast that it actually parted a small hole on the dark clouds overhead.

The figure started to slow down and ultimately stopped its descent as it drew near Richie. 

A woman of divine beauty stood and hovered on the air. She had black wings behind her that kept flapping.

"Who are you?" The woman frowned.

"Eagle Man." Richie laughed.

The woman gave a wary look at the man. She couldn't understand how this person was capable of flying on the sky.

"What's with the costume?"

"To hide my identity, of course. There are eyes around here that we should be wary of. You should have worn a mask to hide from them." Richie shook his head.

The woman sneered.

"For someone as beautiful as me, wearing a mask is an insult."

"Really? I know a woman far more beautiful than you. She wears a mask because she's so beautiful it could kill the world." Richie laughed.

The expression of the woman changed as a strange reddish hue began to envelop her.

"Wow. So this is what the Gold Dragon meant. Anyway, I'm here to put a stake at your heart, oh great vampire of the Caliphates."

The woman's angry expression turned to shock. The reddish hue around her created sharp spikes on her wings. Her body was also coated with a strange red armor.

"You know of me?"

"Yup. I even understand the mystery of this strange skill of yours. Leukemia, right? If Meng has cancer and mutated his body, you have that on your blood. Still, it's bizarre that you can do those things with your blood. Do you also suck blood from people? Anyway, Arthur believes that talking to you is pointless. So the best way to deal with you is to defeat you and spare your life. That would prove that we are on Progenitor's side." Richie smiled.

The woman remained silent, but her eyes widened.

"Shall we start? I need to defeat you. That little doggie on the east could kill Cliff after all." Richie smiled.

"If it's a battle you want. It's a battle you'll get!" The woman howled angrily as she flapped her wings and dove towards Richie.

Thick red blood enveloped her hand as it transformed into a strange claw.

"Boy! This is something right out of a horror film!" Richie chuckled as he undid the sound that was carrying him and started to free fall.

"I'll be taking your blood, Eagle man!" The woman raged as she flew faster to catch up with Richie.

"My dear, batsy… Eagles prey on bats, you know?" Richie took a single step midair, and a powerful explosive force launched him towards the woman.