Molting the Mortal Coil

Chapter 148: A Plan

A few hours later, a huge beetle flew into that big tree and up to that mass of sticks and grass. Climbing over the edge, a trio of white ovoids were sitting in front of it. Three eggs nestled in the center of a massive nest. The bug, a Charming Lance Beetle, carried the heavily injured Sage within it and went over to the eggs, giving him the chance to reach out from within the beetles internal space and pulled the eggs into his Beast Pack. The inner area of the Beast Pack was essentially a thirty foot cube, which compared to the ten by ten by twenty of before, it was more than thirteen times larger in volume. Inside the pack was a large cage the size of a closet, one which housed the still trussed up Silver Vulture. Right beside the cage was another special object, essentially a giant incubator that tamers used to hatch or preserve beast eggs, which Sage now put to use.

A few years later, the giant incubator had over a hundred eggs collected within it, just like there was over a dozen large cages with even larger beasts trapped within them. Of course, these were just the successes. There was a small mountain of materials gathered from all the failure in Sages storage ring, the product of hundreds if not a thousand hunts hed conducted during this time. Those eggs had all been kept in a dormant state, prevented from hatching in preparation for his research. In the beginning, Sage just hunted the beasts to make himself stronger, improving his techniques and wanting to form a deeper understanding of the world around him. In between bouts of hunting hed take breaks to research the materials from the Hidden Domain, resting his body and reflecting on his tribulations.

After some time, he was suddenly inspired and started to work towards a new plan, one that he was now ready to begin putting into play. A huge formation had been set out within a massive cavern. Other formations were set up in the surroundings to provide protection and support the central array. That central array was made up of hundreds of interlocking rings, each of them spiraling around a bowl shaped depression in the center. All of them were carved into the stone of the cavern, at least a dozen different places even had colorful stones, claws, or crystals embedded into them, the supporting resources to strengthen the array.

At last, its time.

Sage walked up to the depression in the center of the arrays and took out the least valuable of the many eggs from his incubator, setting it in the bowl like depression atop a bed of spirit stones.

Time to begin.

Fort Oceanwall, Moonstone County, 10,000 Wave Province, Dou Kingdom.

An gruff man that looks to be in his late forties walks up to a counter and slaps down a sheet of paper. The attendant behind the counter looks up from the book he was reading, setting it down and turning the paper on the counter around to take a look. Nodding his head, he turns around and retrieves a small medallion off the wall, holding it up and looking towards the first man. The gruff fellow seems confused for a moment before he laughs and brings out a Silver Token with the symbol of a dog inscribed upon it. The attendant holds the small medallion over the silver token and a red light comes from the bottom of the medallion, bathing the silver token until the tokens eyes light up.

All done. The Black Skull Squad has been registered for the mission. Need anything else?

The gruff man has already turned around and started walking away. The attendant bows his head to the back of the gruff man, then puts away the medallion and returns to his reading. A few minutes later the gruff man has returned to where he came from, a table surrounded by a half dozen men, each of them large and well muscled even the youngest of the bunch. The youngster looks like hes in his late teens, but even so he looks like a bodybuilder, matching the huge physiques of everyone in the group.

Did you sign us up, Boss?

One of the other men slaps a hand against the youngsters shoulder, Youre so eager, Little Twig. Dont get ahead of yourself, the Boss will handle things, he never lets us down.

The kid rolled his shoulder and threw off the hand, Its not Little Twig, its Big Oak! How many times do I have to tell you!

The rest of the men started to laugh, each of them joining in the teasing. The Boss waited a few minutes before he finally held up a hand, Alright, alright. Weve teased the kid enough. Gather your gear and prepare supplies, this one might take a few weeks.

The men rose to their feet and after teasing Big Oak a few more times they dispersed, getting to work. Preparing mounts, rations, weapons, and tools. Working like a well oiled machine, the group of experienced mercenaries were prepared and on the way in less than an hour. They all rode on the back of a huge bird, a strange beast that looked like a chicken the size of an ostrich, most just called them Land Birds. They werent all that great at carrying cargo, nor were they known for stamina, but they had impressive speed and the mercenaries had storage bags. Within a few hours they had already traveled hundreds of miles and were nearing the area of their assignment.

10,000 Wave Province was a province on the coast of the Dou Kingdom. It was actually something of a massive peninsula and got its name from being on the border of over a dozen different seas, each of them having their own unique properties. Normally such a thing would be inconceivable, but due to a few inland seas and massive bays as well as some strange islands and the unusual shape of the province it barely worked out. Many from other areas criticize them for taking such an unusual name and being quite liberal with their claims of what counted as seas and different sorts of waves, but the 10,000 Wave Province stayed the 10,000 Wave Province, happy to keep their claim to fame even if it was mostly exaggerated.

The Black Skull Squad entered a small valley, dismounting from their Land Birds and looking towards their leader. The man in question stared out at the terrain for a few minutes before he started barking out orders, sending his six men off in different directions. Earth was moved, traps were laid out, preparations were made. A few hours later they reassembled, standing in front of their Boss with attentive stances.

As you all know, the Beast should be coming down this canyon sometime in the next few days. I had the intel confirmed from two different sources before picking this spot. Half of us will be on watch at all times, but everyone needs to stay ready. We dont know when or how this thing is going to show up. If we can take it down, the rewards are steep, but dont get cocky! Its already taken out at least three other mercenary teams before the assignment was bumped up to silver rank. Stick to the plan. None of you are allowed to get greedy and try to be heroes. If the plan doesnt work we retreat, got it?

Some of the men seemed hesitant before the Boss glared at them. Each of the uneasy ones looking around and then finally nodding along with the group. After a bit more berating, the Boss finally got them all to join in a bout of rousing cheering and general morale building behaviors.

They were all going to follow orders down to the letter and the plan would work out perfectly, right?