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GingerBoi123Ranbu no Izayoi
Hien and Izayoi both began to field the various questions asked, speaking in turn to each inquiry.
"Indeed," Izayoi nodded in agreement to Rudolf's sentiment. "The presence of the Blight will at least ensure a minimum of sapient contact from bandits and the like, though yes, Blightbeasts will likely be an issue." She started to say something further in response to Miina and Robin, but Rudolf beat her to it. Curious that the boy knew so much about magics. Every desert dweller knew of the illusion that was magical water out on the dunes, but a monster hunter from some backwater in Edren ought not to be too familiar with the laws of aetheric transfiguration.
"He speaks truly. Water produced by magic will not nourish the body in any way, but your ice magics should still be able to alleviate heat. Though I would not recommend expending too much of your mana on such, in case of Blightbeast attack."
Meanwhile, Hien looked to Esben.
"Taking advantage of the chaos you all have left from the previous night. Valheimr corpses line the streets, and the entire city saw the Proudclad fall. No matter how the occupiers try to dress it, this was a resounding defeat for them. I hope to win more to our cause and rally those who were scattered by the previous raids. Anything further, well. My apologies, but I'll not risk saying further until you return safely, in case anyone is captured on this mission. You understand, surely." He paused.
"As for the other matter, Lady Ciradyl has relayed your suggestion. We can discuss it further upon your return."
"Unfortunately, I am familiar with the distance we are set to venture toward. Without the wagon, we cannot transport enough water for the lot of us to sustain ourselves on the journey to and back. Considering the Blight, any local source of water is likely tainted." Izayoi said to Galahad. "Our funds are at your discretion past the necessities."
"You leave on the morrow. Good hunting, and godsspeed." Hien nodded, leaving the Kirins to sort out market shopping and preparing for the rest of the day.
___
Five days later...
The party left Kugane and began the journey northeast. They followed the river north for the first two days, preserving their precious water. Osprey's plains turned to savannah a day out, followed by desert not long after. They journeyed as long as they could before leaving the relative safety of the riverbank, starting to march through the desert proper.
From the moment they set foot into the dunes, not a day passed where they weren't attacked by Blightbeasts. Wolves, scorpions, hawks, snakes, it seemed half the desert was warped by the infernal affliction, and packs of beasts attempted to ravage the small caravan as they passed through their territory. Fortunately, they were all rather easily repelled, the party's recent experiences hardening them against threats and battle.
Finally, at the end of the third day, the Kirins reached the portion of desert that Valheim had been sighted in. The sand-blasted remnants of a settlement by an oasis loomed in the distance, gunfire and swords audible. As they closed in, the party could see lightly-armored Valheimr, what plate they wore covered in desert ponchos, falling back in good order against a horde of Blightbeasts, a massive, mutated sand worm at the vanguard. The worm tore through soldiers three at a time, gunfire sinking into it to little avail.
"Blast!" A woman in officer's armor snarled, continuing to signal the retreat. "Fall back, full retreat!" A comms man knelt next to her, handing her a radio attached to the massive pack he bore. "Base, requesting exfiltration and deployment of the Project! We're being overrun!"
As the party closed in further, a pair of airships closed the distance from the north towards the ruined village, cannons blasting at the horde. It cleared out the majority of the beasts, but the sand worm only seemed enraged by twelve-pounder fire, howling through its wounds. One airship broke off to retrieve the surviving Valheimr, while the other continued straight for the massive Blightbeast. It stopped directly over the worm, and a figure shot out of its hold, crashing straight down. A moment later, the worm froze in place before wailing piteously, splitting vertically in half a moment later. Black ichor coated the sands as the projectile dropped from the airship rose up.
It was an armored man, if men stood to near eight feet tall. The armor was rich purple and befit a giant, ending in a horned helm resembling a death mask. Clutched in one hand was a crimson katana of immaculate make, its quality as an artifact obvious. Izayoi froze in place as the party drew close enough to confront the figure, her breath hitching.
"That sword...how dare you bear it!" The samurai hissed, hunching down into an iai stance. "Kurogane's masterwork is not for the likes of you to wield!"
The retreating Valheimr officer waited for the last of her men to board the other airship as she beheld the Kirins from a distance, jerking back as she seemed to recognize them.
"So these are the ones from Reisa's all-points-bulletin. No matter, Project Revenant will deal with them. The scientists will be glad to have more combat data, at least." She turned and boarded, the Valheimr in full retreat on one airship as the other remained within the area, seemingly observing the coming battle.
The Revenant beheld the fighters before it, raising its sword.
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!"
An unearthly howl emerged from its helm before it charged, swifter than even Izayoi as it suddenly stepped into the midst of their formation, the crimson katana it wielded lashing out seemingly everywhere at once.