The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building] Chapter 712 – The Luxury of the Boss’ Cabin

Divines have not taken part in sanctioned duels for thousands of years, I have never witnessed one. Apparently, Allasaria has seen precisely one during the Age of Heroes, although the duel between Molkorm of Slaughter and Hero Arapheus may be the last ti there had ever been a duel in recorded history. Granted, it was apparently magnificent, and it set the standard for why we do not see these fights anymore.

Molkorm, true to his na, slaughtered Arapheus. A mont later, Molkorm was beset by a hundred other heroes and Divines, still bound by the limitations of the duel. Whereas an investigation onto what caused the rule-breaking was launched, it did not matter. The paradigm fundantally shifted after that, Divinity now knew that upon entering a duel and binding itself with inhibitors was a direct risk to life. Duels were now too dangerous to continue with. Ultimately, if there was an investigation and if we hunted down everyone who broke the ancient codes of honour, maybe the tradition could have been salvaged. Molkorm, unfortunately, was an unpopular Deity even amongst Divines, there was a half-hearted attempt led by Maisara, although she quickly moved on to pastures that did not utterly cripple her reputation.

The inhibitors were in place because of the Tyranny-era, Baalka versus Fortia duel, which ended up with a plague that ravaged the world for twenty years, according to historical records and to Fortia herself. Nevertheless, the Goddess of Disease lost the fight, according to codes of honour, she should not die for she surrendered. Nowadays, she would be executed for such an action, but not back then apparently. That was the last unsanctioned duel.

On the battle-field, so aspects of Divine Duelling were preserved well into the Age of Reconstruction. Speech-giving, for example, was a custom which had carried over. Kassandora put a stop to it, when during a war, Divines serving under her were ordered to shut up and kill quickly. That is the history of Divine Duelling, it did not flicker away, nor was it a tradition slowly forgotten. It was assaulted and each ti, it lost a part of itself until now, where the concept does not exist. Divines do not duel, they fight and they kill.

The Divines of Reconstruction, and especially those of Pantheon Peace, that have I have spoken to, weep for this lost art. So of them even proclaim they wish to restart it! And that the way we fight is disrespectful! Nowadays, to duel is to play around with prey. Divines, at least those of my age and older, fight swiftly and to kill. Soone like Fer or Kassandora would never play around with , they would imdiately try to destroy my staff or behead . Nevertheless, the feeling is not mutual.

Duelling began as a humiliation ritual. To not accept a duel was to concede strength, to accept a duel was to enter a one-sided beatdown. There is too much variability within Divinity for such things to be fair. The rules which were added and slowly dismantled were only there for the sake of pretending that it was anything but a humiliation ritual.

Ultimately, we have grown past the need for humiliation rituals at this point. Arda has enough conception of itself to understand that there is no glory in it.

Better to just kill and have it over and done with.

- Excerpt from “History of Duelling”, written by Goddess Elassa, of Magic.

Admiral Callaghan stood at the large glass window of the Kassandora, his back to the bridge, as the Imperial Flagship made yet another pass along the north shore of Ainai. They had completed two runs already, only returning to Kandai to reload. The job today for the Flagship’s squadron was to support the defence line and Port-Fort Origin. It wasn’t anywhere near as large as the main one, Pfip, but it was a series of rivers which had been excavated into the desert and filled with seawater. Four in total, they were connected by pre-built steel bridges, or had been rather. Heavy Cruiser Nissen had dragged the steel bridges into the ocean when the enemy had co over the horizon.

Boom! Boom! Boom! One of the lights turned from green to orange as turret two fired its three massive paths in quick succession and began to reload. The other three turrets were cooling in the desert heat. Tartarus had peeled off during the day and started another grand offensive during the night, maybe expecting the cover of darkness to shield them sowhat. Callaghan readjusted his cap and watched three massive explosions cut a chunk out of the demons on the ground. It was true, maybe, the black armour was difficult to make out in the night, but from the INS Kassandora, Callaghan could not care less. If anything, the cooler night air simply ant he could shell faster. Turret two’s lamp changed from orange to yellow. “Turret Two loaded, waiting to cool.”

Callaghan watched the ground artillery down there fire again, from the central island and from behind it. Ground reinforcents were coming too, smaller ships were given the pass to get close to the ground, the effect of the ICDT tower in the second line was beginning to slowly clear the Eparika too. The top layer of sludge which coated the oceans sparkled with starlight, with Tartarian fla, and with the glints of Imperial gunfire whenever the angles lined up nicely. Behind the Kassandora, the INS Aris launched another series of missiles towards the ground. The Hallin behind that fired a full volley with its guns, all aid in different spots.

Callaghan watched the missiles as they shot straight up into the night sky. The airforce must have gone on break, bombing runs had stopped ten minutes ago, the final plane had flown back over the Kassandora a few minutes, back north to Kandai. Callaghan suspected he what that ant as BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! “Turret Three Reloading!” One of the lights at the front of the cabin changed from green to orange. Down at the deck, Callaghan saw the black cloaks of Arcadia’s magicians run from the front of the ship to the back. Aero and hydromancers, a team of four had been assigned to the ship to assist with firing. Cooling the guns rather, and supposedly to engage at close range if any of the flying critters ca close, although the Kassandora had enough AA batteries to make sure it was safe.

Callaghan watched a stream of fire arc in the distance like a snake roaring upwards. It splashed down into a trenchline. Demons had filled up the first moat and were in the process of filling up the next, forcing the ranks ahead of them to dive in to simply fill in the gap in the dirt with bodies. The light at the front changed from orange to yellow. “Turret Three loaded! Cooling!”

It was an odd feeling. Callaghan didn’t even know how to describe the lancholy. There were n dying in the thousands over there and here, the crew was sitting in comfy leather seats. He was standing and watching the battle from a distance, the biggest worry was what exactly? The status of the guns? “Admiral, communication to you.” The radio operator shouted. His accent was knew, Callaghan hadn’t even rembered the fellow’s na yet, but they picked him up on the island because he could speak their language along with Allian. “From high command!”

That was Fortia then, it was an odd change of pace now that Of Peace took command instead Of War. When Kassandora rang, she made it known and she would typically just ring Callaghan’s phone number to get a report imdiately. Fortia though seed to work. “What is it?”

“It’s a reminder to stay clear of the coastline.” Definitely Fortia’s style. Kassandora issued an order once and once only. Of War did not do reminders.

“We are.” Callaghan replied, more to himself than to the man. Fortia didn’t call in the first place. He just stood at his bridge and watched the lights in the distance. Flashes of cannon blasts from the left, explosions on the right, and then trails of fla or fireballs being launched in return back in the other direction. All while the slow push of that endless Tartarian infantry advanced.

And then, his phone began to ring. Half of the bridge stopped and turned to look at their boss, pretending not to be extrely interested. Callaghan didn’t even so much as turn to face, nor even check who it was when he hit the answer button. He could guess frankly, the command from one boss had just co through, now the command from the other boss would co through. “Admiral Callaghan of the INS Kassandora speaking.” He said dryly.

It was the deep feminine voice he had been expecting. “Admiral.” Kassandora said.

“Yes Goddess?”

She was very obviously pouring herself a drink. Callaghan would recognise the sound of liquid falling into a glass anywhere. “Did you bring your sunglasses?” The Admiral stood, holding his phone, unable to believe the question he had just heard. If anyone else had asked it, he wouldn’t bother with any response that wasn’t a flat glare. But it was Kassandora, and she demanded answered.

“I did.”

“The order was given twenty minutes ago.” Kassandora said. “I’d advise putting them on. Prepare for daybreak.”

“Understood Goddess.” Callaghan turned and walked with the phone held to his ear to his desk. His face must have been saying this was not a phone-call from ho, the n on the bridge cast a single glance at him, and then proceeded to get back to whatever they were working on at their stations. “I have them.” Callaghan said, he looked over the sunglasses with an unamused expression. Fortia would dismiss and then disconnect, Kassandora would just disconnect, if she hadn’t... “Is there anything else?”

“Bring outside.” Kassandora said, and obviously drank. Did she just purr? Callaghan blinked to himself, then managed to kill his sigh before it made any sound. Kassandora was precisely the last person on this world he would want to sigh to. “I want to hear it.”

“At once Goddess.” Callaghan said, raised his over hand and waved in the air. A simple spin of his hand to make sure that everyone here knew everything was alright and they were to just keep on working. And with that, he supposed there was no point in delaying, he walked to the heavy steel door that led to the outside.

Callaghan stepped out onto the decking which went around the tower. The crew of the Kassandora had seen enough shelling for it not to be a sight anymore. A pair of n were on their smoke-break at the main deck, chatting quietly under a small roof. Another fellow was taking a leak off the ship and into the sea. That was standard, Callaghan would know the ship was being haunted if they went for ten minutes without soone breaking official regulations. He just rolled his eyes and Boom! Boom! Boom! That was loud enough to make his ears ring. “Those were the guns?” Kassandora asked over the phone.

“Turret four.” Callaghan replied. “We’re firing in sequence and using mages to cool as we go.”

“A yes was enough Admiral.” Kassandora replied. Was the Goddess actually drunk? Surely her words weren’t being slurred right now? Callaghan didn’t have the bravery to ask. Sothing through the phone sounded like a dance being set down on the table. And more pouring. “I’m drinking to celebrate Admiral. Do you have a drink?”

“We keep one on the bridge.”

“Drink today went its done.” Kassandora said. “Do you know what we’re talking about now?” She had to be drunk. Callaghan had no damn fucking clue. He went to the centre of the bridge.

“I don’t.” He just replied, maintain his careful neutral tone. The future rested on this woman and she had the track record to prove it. If she wanted to drink, then let her fucking drink.

“Numbers Admiral. Numbers.” Kassandora said. “Casualties. Damage. The stuff that wars are won on!” She very obviously took another swig of her drink. “I’m drinking whiskey right now, what do you like Admiral?”

“Whiskey as well.” Callaghan said.

“Excellent. The Empire knows how to select for taste. I would have demoted you if you drank beer.” Callaghan cracked a smile. He didn’t know if he believed that… Although now that he thought about it, there wasn’t a single beer or wine drinker in any eting. He looked down at the two massive frontal turrets, each one had enough space within it to be a bus. “You didn’t answer my question, do you know what is happening right now?”

“I do not.”

“The SMC received the greenlight twenty minutes ago. Sunbringers left the tubes eighteen minutes ago.” Kassandora spoke slowly. “At their speed, they should pass over you in a minute. There’s twenty-four in total.” Callaghan turned around when he heard the na of the Empire’s nuclear arsenal. Away from the front. “Scout planes report Tartarian forces are bulking up on the first line for five kilotres back and up and down the front.” Another ti, a glass hit a desk through the phone. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Turret One fired this ti, the magicians were already running back, their staves glowing. It was true, Callaghan felt the air cool when they passed by on the deck below. “Assuming they group up, at an average of one demon per square tre. We’re talking about a million per square kilotre.” She chuckled. “There’s maybe sixty, maybe eighty, maybe a hundred million in the blast zone right now.” Another drink as Callaghan looked towards the northern horizon for any shooting stars. “Did you Elassa fight?”

“I did not Goddess.”

“Well that is a sha. She killed forty thousand in one battle apparently, that’s the estimate.” This ti, the chuckle sent a chill down his spine. Callaghan saw sothing cross the horizon. A bright light. One. Then two. Three. A line of them. “I do a hundred tis that in the push of a button Admiral. That is what warfare is.” She drunk again. Callaghan almost dropped his phone when he realised those weren’t planes or satellites but the bright glow of massive missiles, each one easily as long as a ship.

“I see them.” Callaghan said.

“I knew you would.” Kassandora said. “I’d advise putting your glasses on.” She cooed. “They glow bright.”