...
The week had passed quickly. In fact, it was too fast for Uriel to adapt and assimilate everything that was about to happen over the next months in Antarctica.
During the week, he had gone to the Ivory Tower to relax and simply stop thinking. He helped Cassie understand the runes of the Tower of Hope. Likewise, he trained with Effie and Kai for a while, more specifically his battle arts with the bow and spear.
Then he trained with Nephis and Sunny in combat style to regain his senses, somewhat dulled by the lack of fighting.
Aside from that, he had met with Aiko, giving her a new batch of transcendent soul shards to sell, as well as delivering about a hundred chapters of his manhwa, which, due to its popularity, was being planned to be turned into an animated series that would be broadcast on the internet.
After doing all that, and about two days before departing, he had prepared all his things to leave on Sunday and arrive Tuesday at the coastal military base.
Uriel looked at his home one last time. Although he had lived there for only a month, he had obtained very good memories.
"Well... I guess when I return to this place, I'll be very different from how I am now. I hope it's more good than bad," he murmured, closing the door and setting the security system before simply turning around and leaving.
...
Uriel observed the long-range transcontinental train. Its appearance was like that of a metallic steel beast stretching hundreds of meters, its body made up of several enormous segments.
His attire was a black suit, with a black hoodie and a cap on his head.
The train was loaded with high-caliber ammunition, as well as machines to repair damaged sections, and Awakened who would guard the journey.
Uriel observed with slight amusement the face of Sunny, who had accepted Jet's proposal to head to the Antarctic center.
"Are you sure about joining, Sunny?" he asked.
"I am. Although it doesn't surprise me that you accepted."
"Antarctica seemed cool to me. I wanted to visit it someday. Of course, not under these circumstances, but no one can have everything they want in life, I suppose."
"And what do you think?"
"About what?"
"About all this that's happening."
"Honestly, I don't know. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Antarctica will be worse than the Dream Realm. Of that, I have no doubt. You're going to suffer, I'm going to suffer, possibly tens of millions will die before we can evacuate them."
"Can't you say something more pleasant for once?"
"Hey, I'm being positive. What's the worst that could—"
"Don't finish those words, Uriel. Trust me, don't."
Uriel pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Well, I guess everyone will be quite busy in Antarctica, so I'll send you some messages, maybe twice a week," said Uriel, beginning to walk toward the transcontinental train.
"Hey, Uriel. Don't you dare die," said Sunny with a serious tone.
"I won't. Don't you do it either, Sunny. If you do, who will I tell the story of how I came across a sleeping Cursed Daemon?"
With a final laugh, Uriel entered the train, leaving Sunny alone, who let out a sigh before also entering. He prayed that nothing bad would happen.
Although, knowing his terrible luck, it was very likely that many things would happen to him.
Uriel, as a Master and of the highest rank, had his own personal cabin, as large as his room at the academy.
Uriel sank into the expensive-looking armchair. He didn't have any suitcases or backpacks, since everything was in his dark storage, safe from being lost or misplaced.
Uriel observed the desolate landscape of the world devastated by war and the Spell. There were corpses of nightmare creatures, as well as ancient skeletons and war machines damaged by time.
Uriel took out his communicator, taking advantage of the fact that he still had stable internet coverage.
Closing his eyes, Uriel entered his mental space, where he simply did nothing for a few hours.
The next morning, nothing attacked the train, which he was grateful for.
After going to the train's dining car, some gave him a respectful salute.
After eating and listening to some trivial chatter, he returned to his cabin to continue resting. Before coming, he had traveled to his citadel, where he called all his creatures back to his soul, since he would need all the help he could get during the Nightmare Chain.
...
After two days of travel, the train had finally reached its destination. Uriel observed the expanse of restless sea waves, full of nightmare creatures.
He observed the fortified port, and also the enormous naval ships a kilometer long, full of resistant steel and large-caliber weapons. Even with their defenses and weapons, some ship hulls were dented and others had deep claw cuts from marine creatures.
The ships rested on the water like sleeping giants. Looking at them, Uriel felt a bit uneasy.
From what Uriel knew, these ships were in charge of going back and forth between Antarctica and this place with millions of refugees.
Moving a population of eight hundred million people was a monumental task and not at all easy to achieve.
Uriel felt sorry for those in charge of the logistics of the round trip.
He was convinced that many things would happen. He only hoped it was just his paranoia working against him.
"Hey, you have to stop overthinking things," said Shade.
"I'm not overthinking it that much."
"You are. You've spent the last what? three days? Thinking about the worst-case scenario. Don't worry. We have a year, months to evacuate at least 80 or 90% of central Antarctica, before the Winter Beast appears. Besides, with this chain of gates and the nightmare creatures we kill, we can get Memories that we'll use to feed the dark creatures. Who knows, maybe even get a new one."
"But still..."
"Ah, for the love of... Look, if you keep this up, I'll simply take control for a few months to see if I can shake off your paranoia, understand?"
"Alright, alright. I'll do it," said Uriel, giving in to Shade for once.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned his head, observing the figure of Jet, who was approaching with Sunny. Both seemed to have been talking about something.
"So here you were," said Jet.
"Master Jet," Uriel greeted with a tone of respect, making Jet sigh. Even when she had told him not to address her with such respect, Uriel kept doing it.
"Well. Welcome to our little port."
"Yes, this is small... I don't even want to imagine what would be big for you," he expressed, pointing at the enormity of the coast, where continuous soldiers and military equipment moved from one place to another.
"I'm beginning to see how it's possible to evacuate nine hundred million people."
Jet shook her head.
"Don't be so sure. This is one of several convoys that will set sail for the southern quadrant. They will take the first evacuation army to Antarctica. Then they will return bringing a few million refugees... and they will return. If all goes well, by the time it has already begun. The fleets will bring more reinforcements, board more civilians... and repeat the process as many times as necessary."
"Master Jet, I have a question," said Uriel.
"What is it?"
"You mentioned that the event suddenly triggered. If it hadn't triggered, how much time would we have had?"
Jet thought for a few moments.
"At most, about six months. Maybe five. According to the analyses. With all this happening, we had to accelerate everything. This took us by surprise, and the logistics are still being set up."
"So everything is chaos," said Sunny, summarizing the situation.
"Exactly."
"If everything goes well... there being zero chance of something like that happening. It will take us at least a year to gather everyone... if we're still alive. Who knows, maybe we'll be overwhelmed and devoured by abominations in the first months."
Sunny's expression darkened.
"...You really know how to boost morale, you know?"
"Hey, Sunny, that's good news. Who knows, maybe I can kill a Titan?" he said with an amused smile.
"If a Titan appears, you'll undoubtedly die."
"Hey, what do you know? I've killed one, you know? Well, my realistic giant flying dragon did it, actually. You know? It was a beautiful butterfly."
Sunny rolled his eyes.
Jet observed the conversation between the two with considerable amusement.
Her mind traveled to the past, remembering how those two at the beginning barely tolerated each other, but now they treated each other so closely that, if Jet didn't know better, they would seem like brothers.
"Well, anyway. It's nice to see you get along so well. We need trustworthy people for everything that's coming. After all, it takes special people for this."
"I didn't know I was so special," said Sunny.
"It takes a special kind of people to face the deepest despair and keep fighting. You two are those kinds of people."
"Why does that sound like the 'I've gathered you here because you're the best of the best' recruitment speech from Men in Black?" said Shade, amused.
"I guess she's doing it to boost morale," Uriel responded mentally.
Uriel returned his attention to Jet's words.
"...And we will all experience a lot of despair in the coming months. I have a feeling."
Uriel sighed. Looking at the sun high above, he had the feeling that it would be an incredibly long and terrifying night.
...
[End of Volume Three: Dark Peace]
(Note: Well, this is the final chapter of the third volume of this story. In the draft of this volume I had many things, but after rereading I realized there was a lot of unnecessary filler that would simply make the story boring and difficult to read, so I only left the most relevant parts.
If you noticed, this volume was a calmer one, slice of life style, to give Uriel a break before he returns to his endless suffering. And believe me, starting from the next volume there will be no rest for the main character.
Anyway, comment and give me power stones. Also leave me comments with your opinions about this volume. Well, I'll take some vacation time, I think a time finish the final chapters of the fourth volume. Well, that's all, see you I think.)