Chapter 529: Plans for Incursions

"Despite occasional squabbling, we all want the same thing: for Deadwaste to survive the incursion." Sheiri spoke evenly, clearly prepared, and though the information was familiar Kai sensed that she was reinforcing the elites' agreement. "Individual nations may fight selfishly, but at the Frontier we stand for all, because there is no other choice. Let me demonstrate a record of an incursion several centuries ago."

She tossed a piece of silver into the air, which was immediately caught by her power and expanded into a disc. As it formed, Kai recognized the continent of Deadwaste, rendered in simplified style. Monsters of liquid metal surged from the center, invading all four nations, and despite the chaos of detail, the results soon became clear.

Goralia and Irun stood firm, but the Elemental Nations collapsed. Monsters not only pushed further from the Frontier, they began to spread out, hitting Goralia and Irun from the north. With fewer defenses set up and fighters exhausted, the monsters punched deep into both. Kai was caught up with concern for the past hunters when the floating metal froze again.

"Handling an incursion requires strength, yes," Sheiri continued, "but also coordination. We seek to split up the monster hordes into packs that individual cities can survive. This is why the region near the walls needs to be controlled: if the monsters congregate toward a specific target, they could overwhelm our defenses, whereas the same number could be absorbed if spread out over the continent."

"We almost had a problem with that last time," Kai agreed, tactfully avoiding mention that southern Goralia had been the instigator.

"For this reason, we focus on alpha strikes on more powerful monsters near the Frontier wall. A powerful warrior who can take on a large horde can actually lead to a problem: they'll gather monsters near them, and those they don't kill will continue onward as a dangerous horde."

Zae Zin Nim stepped closer to the metallic representation and frowned. "What if the individual is capable of eliminating all of them?"

"That's tricky," Handelrey spoke up from the side. "Because monsters concentrate where others are dying, some always get around. If we try to fight at the choke point near the center, the pit retaliates with more monsters. We do attempt something similar: if, despite all our efforts, some monsters are forming an excessive horde, we drop an elite into their midst and try to draw the excess to them."

Kai wasn't sure if he would need to say anything, but Zae Zin Nim seemed satisfied by the response and stepped back beside him. He'd told her everything he'd experienced before, so even though she was still inclined to resolve the problem with overwhelming force, it seemed she'd be willing to play along.

"That's a role we hope the three of you can take," Sheiri said, "along with taking on the most dangerous monsters. However, this is where we have conflicting visions of the ideal incursion defense, because we expect various weaknesses. Yuinafal has presented a detailed plan of defenses involving squadrons strengthened by his resources, which will attempt to blunt those unstable fronts."

As she spoke, Sheiri demonstrated with new wall-like lines that rose from her liquid metal continent. There was too much detail for Kai to fully absorb, much less analyze strategically, but he thought the point was that Yuinafal had an approved plan. The man himself stood without any expression, though his supporters shifted nervously.

"Now Kai and his allies have offered their own help, and their plan isn't incompatible with these reinforced squadrons. However, both sides have methods that will work primarily on hunters with over 100 Power, and those are in short supply across the continent. Therefore we need to decide on a fundamental plan without wasting the time we have left."

When Sheiri went silent, she looked over to Aeglien, who spoke up. "Both factions will go to Irun and take a portion of their strongest soldiers, then train them for two months. At the end of that time, our administrators in Irun will determine which plan has the greater potential for their front and begin scaling up the procedure."

"How will the results be evaluated?" Yuinafal asked. "Kai has a larger number of resources, as well as treasures plundered from Cloudspire, that will give him an advantage. I suggest that each side begin with a balanced set of resources for a fairer test."

"We can't afford to weaken ourselves for the sake of fairness," Kai objected. "I suggest we use all resources available, and we'll take a handicap that Irun evaluates. If Yuinafal's methods scale better, we'll abandon our own plans and channel our resources into his."

For a moment Yuinafal stared at him, then he gave a nearly imperceptible nod. Because he thought that would benefit him, or was it actually a mark of respect? Kai's suggestion seemed to go over well with the other elites, and one of the Irunians stepped beside Sheiri.

"A hybrid result is also likely," the old man said. "Unless one side is totally superior, there will be a place for different types of warriors. We can determine the exact details of the comparison later, but Irun is content with this plan. The trouble in Krysal is a greater concern."

The others seemed to agree, leading to a shift in everyone's position. Omilaena glanced over at him and she seemed mildly annoyed, but Kai believed in her regardless of whether they had a handicap, even an unfair one. Besides, he truly meant what he said about wanting the best result for Irun overall.

Sheiri remained in the center of the group, managing the model of Deadwaste, but it seemed that she was no longer leading the conversation. Instead Aeglien stepped forward, alongside a woman who appeared to be of Krysali descent as well. Normally Kai wouldn't think about details, but since the elites seemed to be speaking for their home nations, he found himself examining the woman... she had very expensive-looking armor and what appeared to be a crystallier badge.

"Krysal is the front we're most concerned about," Aeglien said. "Here the sides are not so clear, and there is no easy competition. What is certain is that, with the crystallier system broken, Krysal is likely to struggle with the incursion. They have an increased number of hunters capable of stopping a general horde, but a deficit of those strong enough to take on stronger monsters. Furthermore, a number of other problems have emerged thanks to the political instability..."

As he continued, Sheiri began raising sections of her display. This time Kai followed more easily, remembering so many of those regions from the revolutionary war. He was glad that the elites seemed to be neutral on the political subject, but the situation sounded worse the more he heard.

"These eastern regions have the greatest weakness," Aeglien explained, "because they had the bloodiest revolutions. Thankfully the western cities have agreed to send reinforcements, unlike in the past, but they are also spread thin. Then we have this region of the southeast... the people's council that has taken over refuses to participate, demanding support as recompense for their past slavery."

"I maintain it would be easiest to leave them to their folly," the Krysali woman said. "If we coordinate between southeastern Krysal and northwestern Goralia, we can contain the disaster there and save our elites for other difficult fronts. Which, I must remind you, are quite numerous this time."

Kai struggled to believe what he was hearing: the elites were really considering just letting a whole region of Krysal die? Admittedly, they were allegedly being selfish, and he could unfortunately believe that some of the revolutionaries would do something like that. But he didn't want to think that the elites would do something so remorseless, especially since even after the revolution, the decisions were still made by a few people in charge, leaving innocents to suffer.

Unfortunately, as they outlined other problems in Krysal, Kai understood their desperation. Even if he believed that the revolution had ultimately been for the best in the long term, it had destroyed infrastructure and Krysal had yet to rebuild itself.

"What about Krysal's leadership?" Kai asked once they were done. "I assume they're cooperating, but have they agreed to sacrificing the southeastern region?"

"Admittedly, they have been better organized than before," the Krysali woman said, "but they're resistant to such suggestions. It remains to be seen how that would be resolved."

As soon as he got a chance, Kai needed to speak with Krainuun. He didn't think that all of this would be resolved at this meeting, yet it seemed like the elites were moving toward some sort of conclusion.

"We've set a deadline of three months," Aeglien announced. "At that time, we will need to decide on a policy, whether it is accepting losses or adopting some other strategy. If you can convince the principal parties, we're open to hearing your strategy for Krysal, but you can see why it looks desperate right now."

"I understand," Kai said. "Can we get teleportation out there? Maybe Omilaena to Irun, while Zae Zin Nim and I can-"

"Not quite yet," Sheiri said. She clapped her hands together and the map of the continent retracted into a globe of metal. "There's also the question of leadership. We're an egalitarian organization, but when it comes to the incursion, some people need to make decisions while others follow."

"We can live with that. But-"

"You misunderstand: there are some here who would prefer that you be placed in a leadership position. You're a son of Goralia, and for all that some have objected, you proved yourself capable of handling large scale conflicts in the Krysali revolution."

That hadn't been what he expected. Kai looked over the elites, and though he recognized only some of them, he could imagine what they saw. Yes, he'd made some mistakes, but they could acknowledge everything he'd done, from saving Monskon City to returning with unprecedented resources.

"So where does that leave us?" Kai asked.

"One final test," Sheiri said. "We will be evaluating you on several factors, from ability to work with local forces to completing your phase training. If you prove yourselves, we'll put you in charge of key fronts during the incursion. But if the majority decides against you, then we'll ask that you abide by that decision and fight where we order."

"I can live with that." Kai nodded and then glanced to his wives, who agreed with only somewhat more reluctance. Omilaena clearly wanted to be in charge of her own projects, while Zae Zin Nim would be blasting monsters regardless.

And that seemed to be the end of it. Many of the elites moved away, some even stepping directly into portals as if this had already taken too long. Yuinafal met his gaze for some time, face unreadable, then departed with his own allies. Kai found himself wondering how they were going to coordinate the rest, particularly the upcoming competition in Irun.

"So we have two months to prove ourselves in Irun." Omilaena sighed and gave an exaggerated shrug. "So be it. I'll handle the majority myself, but I do need a little support."

"I will focus on perfecting my phase training while I cultivate," Zae Zin Nim said. "I don't want to organize the armies, but I trust you in a leadership role over this Yuinafal."

"I'm not sure we're actually in competition for that part," Kai pointed out.

"That can be presumed based on everything else."

Omilaena slid an arm around Kai's waist and Zae Zin Nim's shoulders, leaning between them. "So back to work, huh? We have a two month deadline in Irun, three months to get Krysal into shape, and about four to finish our own training. Sounds manageable."

And then, Kai couldn't help but think, the incursion. The ultimate deadline.