The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) by A. Kay (best fiction novels of all time .txt) 📗

vault to make sure all the Bands are well equipped with Energy gear. We’ll want the Void Band openings as large as possible.”

“The Bands provide our best long-range attacks,” Elder Vachyl said. “Not to mention their value as close support. Losing them to sucking air will have a significant impact.”

Having a Void Band in this age made you a glorified appah, but in the age these people came from, they were weapons of war. “That is an excellent point. We will use Analyze on the air, and as soon as it becomes breathable we’ll cycle the Bands into combat.”

“What if the gas is a drug?” Drivyd asked. “Like the ether cavern you found.”

“That’s a possibility,” Ruwen said. “It won’t be ether because it’s combustible and risks detonating their flammable neck sacks. Ether only worked in the cavern because it lacked oxygen. That rules out things like methane as well, which is abundant nearby. To answer your question, each group will need to stay near their designated Void Band until it’s safe to venture out, regardless if the gas acts as a drug.”

Vachyl nodded. “We can evenly distribute the Fighters with Gust as well. It will further roil the air.”

“Superb idea,” Ruwen said.

Drivyd narrowed his eyes. “So your plan is to let them attack, resist until they retreat, chase them into their trap, trigger it, neutralize it with Void Bands, and then destroy them.”

Ruwen nodded.

“I’ve heard worse plans,” Drivyd said.

Elder Gabryel placed her palms on the table. “But if they don’t attack, we don’t either, right?”

Elder Vachyl stiffened. “Your pacifism will get us all killed, again.”

“Quit blaming me for that catastrophe,” Elder Gabryel said.

“Instead of attacking the enemy, we were all near the city, at your insistence, when a meteor obliterated us,” Elder Vachyl said, his voice hard.

“Enough,” Ruwen said, and then repeated something Sift had said. “Shade’s first rule: the past is a home for fools.”

The two fighting Elders stopped arguing and faced Ruwen, their faces angry.

Hamma had also heard Sift say that to Ruwen in Blapy, and he spoke to Hamma in Chat. Please don’t tell Sift I quoted him again. He’s already unbearable.

Drivyd laughed, the sound loud in the silent room. “Well said, Overlord. The mistakes of the past should remain there. I support this plan.”

“We should discuss how to split our forces,” Elder Vachyl said.

Elder Odalys smoothed the front of his robe and turned to the Observer Elder. “How confident are you, Drivyd, that this is the enemy’s entire army? The Overlord’s logic is sound, but it occurs to me this could be a distraction.”

Elder Drivyd spread his hands, jostling the balloons over his head. “We have fewer Scouts in the mountains to the west, but they have yet to see a single Naktos or Haffa follower approaching the city. And thanks to Yana and her Workers, and your own Stone Mages, we know nothing is within twenty-five hundred feet below us. To the north, past the area controlled by the dungeon, not a single enemy. To the south, there is much more activity, but after hearing about the ether cavern, I believe that area is the forward operating base for their Scouts.”

“That leaves the east,” Elder Vachyl said.

Drivyd nodded. “Three Scouts have made it to the coast. Naktos and Haffa have a large camp along the water, but it appears mostly empty. I don’t have as complete coverage as I’d like, but based on my experience, I’m certain there is nothing within a day’s striking distance of the city.”

“How is Haffa helping Naktos?” Hamma asked. “Why were four of Haffa’s Mages protecting the Naktos Mage that attacked Ruwen? I feel like we are missing something.”

“That is an outstanding observation,” Elder Gabryel said. “We need to be cautious.”

Elder Yana tilted her head. “I’ve spent some time in the mines. The hardest part is getting rid of the dirt and rock, which is why Void Bands are so valuable. But they still fill rapidly. It’s possible they are using the Haffa Mages’ control of water to move the tailings away. It’s still a slow process, and rock is heavy. Even if it doubled their tunneling speed, we would have ample warning.”

“Why are they tunneling to begin with?” Hamma asked.

Ruwen had spent some time thinking about this as well. “Another great question, Hamma. When I went to retrieve oil, I found Naktos already setup there. This ether cavern could be part of the same logic. The two most important resources for mass revivals are oil and terium.”

Elder Zahara narrowed her eyes. “They’re mining terium.”

“It fits,” Ruwen said. “The Desolate Mountain Range is known for dense terium deposits, especially Uru’s portion of it here in the north. It wouldn’t surprise me if that tunnel in the cavern goes all the way to the Frigid Sea. Naktos and Haffa are mining the terium they need to support the war effort.”

Elder Zahara tapped her chin. “If Uru has left this area dormant for over ten thousand years, it’s possible those gods have been mining here for a long time. You said Naktos didn’t seem the type to get involved with a war, but if he’s also protecting his mining operations in the south, it makes more sense. That’s simply good business.”

“I’ll say this again,” Elder Gabryel said. “We need to be cautious. If any of this is true, it means they’ve been here for years and have an extensive infrastructure. We must leave sufficient troops to protect the city.”

Elder Vachyl nodded. “On this, we agree. Of those ten thousand troops in the enemy camp, only seven thousand are combat. The rest will be support. I propose we attack with fifteen thousand combat troops and leave five thousand to protect the city, along with the ten thousand noncombat personnel. Having double their combat troops gives us an enormous advantage, but the temple quickly reviving our dead makes us unbeatable.”

Elder Gabryel considered for a few seconds. “It does seem like a good balance.”

One by one the Elders all agreed, and then faced Ruwen.

Ruwen turned