He stroked the ice coffin for the last time and croaked, “Farewell, my love.” With that, he activated the coffin’s accelerators, sending his beloved Tataki's body into the Sun.
Chapter 18. New Ways
Alex had been busy trying to forget his loss, spending months burying himself in many urgent matters. The tiring work helped him alleviate his mental torture.
Meanwhile, the mechoes and the Ultras chose Earth’s moon as their outpost, planning to create a shipyard and a repair base there. Alex gave them unrestricted access to money, enough to last several centuries.
The number of Ultras increased daily. The Intellectum rain affected all living and non-living things too. People ceased to be surprised by the revived trains, which endeavored to understand themselves and their surroundings. To prevent possible negative consequences in the future, the clan council decided to send the revived machines found by patrolling mecho teams to the Moon.
For weeks, he’d longed to visit the Moon base and plunge headlong into a grandiose construction site. He wanted to see ultra-modern technology and feel the great future approaching. Instead, he was forced to take part in skirmishes with the high-leveled undead.
Alex’s associates suggested leave Earth and go into orbit. He had the feeling that he wasting precious time.
He rose very early that morning, around 5 a.m. “Why can’t I stop asking myself if we’re doing something wrong?” he thought aloud, training on a small sports ground on the roof of the Krestovsky Island estate.
Something needs to change! Something needs to change! the thought throbbed incessantly in his mind.
He had a presentiment, and realized that radical changes were needed... but didn’t know which ones.
“Hell! Soon we won’t be able to withstand the damned undead! And then what?” he asked himself. “We’ll have to leave our home planet… Yeah, can’t imagine worse…”
Increasingly, the undead used multi-layered force shields and magic-infused claws. Together with the development of the undead’s magic, their combat acceleration and dexterity, mankind’s future seemed rather gloomy.
At the same time, a huge community of people located in the northwest of the city fought the undead around the clock. The people formed legions of ten thousand men each and served in shifts. Though the people had so far managed to successfully repel the attacks, what was uppermost in Alex’s mind was that the undead leveled-up extremely fast.
Alex also faced a financial shortage. Too late, he realized food, uniforms, weapons, and medical treatment for a large number of people would be expensive. Although Alex had plenty of loot, he was in no hurry to sell it. He waited for the Admins to attack, like a patient predator in ambush.
“Damned undead!” Alex exclaimed. What are their tactics? They rely on their own strengths and skills. But we also use many weapons, and other tools – equipment, mechoes, Ultras…
“Yes! I found it!” it dawned on him. “We need to pump our skills and not rely on technique.” He suddenly felt strange, as if a wave of tenderness and adoration covered him. The message sparkled before his eyes a second later.
.
Blessing of the Earth.
Intellect +10,000 (duration — 90 seconds)
.
“It looks like a message bypassing the system,” Alex whispered, admiring the sparkling inscription. He stood for a few seconds without thinking, then felt his mind working at an accelerated pace. Alex realized their development path wasn’t effective enough in the long run. People should level up themselves, not weapons. They had to create a combat system involving strong physical training, powerful magic-energy swords, and shields. These shields must withstand the impact of spaceships and be utile in hand-to-hand combat.
He had a fleeting vision. A boarding team, wrapped in smart power armor and with glowing power swords in their hands. He also envisioned an incomprehensible inscription – Onuga Haz.
What is it? He had no clue.
Alex reasoned, “I need to work out a path for the development of earthlings. I’ll call it ‘Berserker from Earth’.” He paused. “There will be a spell that allows people to expand their mana. We also need a multipurpose hazard shield and paired boarding blades that can cut through the ship’s skin. Finally, I will create a new buff brand linking all these skills and equipment. At first glance, the task seems unrealistic, but I have to try. I have to try…”
The powerful ‘Blessing of Earth’ buff had ended. Alex saw Sophia’s hologram as confirmation of his bad morning’s misgivings. His exhausted friend nodded affably, then said, “Good morning, Commander Phoenix. I must speak to you about an urgent matter.”
With a smile, Alex remembered New York, John F. Kennedy Airport, where he first saw this beautiful woman.
“Wonderful to see you, Sofia. Good morning,” he greeted her. Alex preferred calling her by her name, avoiding her nickname, in memory of those old, serene times and feelings he didn’t want to lose.
“I am glad to see you rested, Commander,” Sophia said smiling.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asked.
“The undead seem to have acquired social status. The hierarchical distinction as a reward.”
“What do they have?’ Alex asked, confused.
“Awards, medals, orders. I think there is something in this, look…” Sofia displayed a bright, clear picture – four crosses and two orders glittered on the chests of the slain undead. “We tried to determine the stats of these artifacts, but without success. I regret to say, Leach Nekri returned. He sent many of ours to respawn –”
“Sofia, where are you?” Alex interrupted.
“The outskirts of Oranienbaum, the fortress of Peter III, Petershtadt. The headquarters of the Seventh Legion is now here, Commander.”
“Got it! I’ll be right there,” Alex said and cut the connection.
Alex wanted to use the portal but remembered that he had not yet installed a stationary portal in the Seventh Legion. He reproached himself for his lack of foresight. He couldn’t risk
