An unthinkable plan

  The breaking light of dawn signaled the end of the grueling battle as a mercenary thrust his spear deep into the ribcage of a Bitzer. A minute after his actions, three gongs rippled out from the command center, confirming the elimination of the last Bitzer.

  A short time later, a procession of women and older folks carted out steaming vats of water and large pots of simmering gruel. The weary fighters sprawled and collapsed near the welcome bonfires while some ignored the fatigue to line up at the hastily erected serving tables.

  Hunger proved itself to be a terrible driver.

  "Chu, we have eighteen men dead, eleven injured. None of our family, thank the heavens. Fifteen of those men lost their lives at the claws under the single demon."

  "Identify the dead and make a list. We'll cart them down south for burial away from the farm. That Bitzer devil tossed men like rags over the walls. Find out if we have people missing."

  Chu replied as Miki scanned across a written scroll of the night's proceedings. Below the command platform, Stavia and Shine had assumed the role of scribes in noting down whatever they could at the time. The results of its inclusion could readily be seen.

  The four of them stood talking under the command tower while waiting for the arrival of the others. A large burly mercenary rambled towards them.

  "Greetings Apprentice Chu, the might and knowledge of the Tower Mages is astounding. You have achieved the impossible in defeating this large horde. Please accept my gratitude for saving us last night."

  "The Masters have said the Tower exists to combat demon beasts. I have merely done my duty. Please convey my condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. One day, very soon we will triumph over the raiders from the north."

  Chu solemnly said while nodding at the man. Captain Sweeto, like the majority of the fighters manning the defenses on the northeastern wall, scattered after witnessing the rampaging onslaught of the terrible Bitzer. By coincidence, the Bitzer granted Chu a great favor since it killed or frightened away the nearby fighters and villagers.

  The only ones who stood their ground, witnessing Lucy's battle, ended up being members of his own group. Chu spewed out a pack of nonsense to dispel any strange ideas from entering the man's head.

  Especially during the next critical four days.

  He greeted Captain Joss who walked up and waited for the village chief to arrive.

  "Captain Sweeto and Captain Joss. Form a couple of six-man groups with spears. I don't expect any Bitzers to be roaming around. Since nothing troubled Captain Joss during the little trip from the barn to the east gate, we should be fine. What I do want is to make sure we have no survivors."

  "By your command, apprentice Chu. We will finish the task by noon."

  The two leaders hastened out to accomplish the given task. The control of the battle during the night surpassed their experience. A girl who shifted fighters and noncombatants alike on the battlefield while delivering a simultaneous strike to the larger demon beasts should not be trifled with. The depth of the Tower frightened them into submission.

  "That's good. Ah, Chief Drey, there you are. I require some able-bodied men to clean the farm and surroundings while repairing the walls. This is a task requiring numbers. I also desire the assistance of every carpenter, woodsman, and skilled laborer in your camp. Before I arrange for a safe escort to Karst for the villagers, kindness must be paid in full."

  "Yes Master Chu, this humble man will have it done immediately."

  Chief Drey replied while mimicking the example of the two Captains. Last night he numbered among the villagers fleeing from the terrifying shadow which tore men open like old rags. Moments later, the indomitable beast dropped dead.

  A rumor surfaced that this boy and a few of his farming companions killed the beast. Chief Drey understood the consequences of not appeasing this entity.

  He reluctantly paused his steps on realizing he needed clarification.

  "Ah, Master Chu, we can cart away the blood-stained snow but what about the bodies?"

  "Good question. Carry the human dead after they have been identified down south of the north-south road and bury them. The demon beasts require special treatment since they are very dangerous. Have your men bring them, one by one, to the shed outside the south gate. I will handle them before disposal. Captain Joss will escort you."

  Chu replied. Of the men who knew of lifestones and Sersens, Chu spread the word about the Bitzers. This prevented adventurous fools from harvesting his loot. Waving around the Tower token also dispersed any enthusiastic disbeliever.

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  Wrapping up the brief but important meeting, he turned to Dyna. During the night, she and the wolves remained in the barn keeping guard.

  "While the men check the Bitzers, scout the north for me. I plan on sending the Captains on a trip to the village."

  "Eh? Chu, do you think it's wise? There could be more of these Bitzers around, especially the bigger one."

  Lucy asked.

  "No, I feel this is all of them. Dyna and the wolves can return in time before the Bitzers catch them from a distance. She's not venturing far so don't worry. Come on, we need to take a rest now since we have loads of work to do after midday..."

  ***

  "Captain Joss borrowed ten horses to escort the villagers out to bury the dead victims. The village women have been dousing the farm grounds with hot diluted alcohol."

  "Good, let them use our one keg we brought. Find out also if the tavern owners from the village are still alive. Have Dyna rest after her scouting because I want her to make a trip into the forest for me tomorrow. The wolves lurking around here are beginning to scare the villagers."

  Chu replied while standing outside the butcher shed and inspecting another dead Bitzer. Ms. May nodded and departed after delivering the report. She cast a curious glance at the rows of men standing over recently hauled Bitzers.

  "Right eye."

  "Yes, it's the right eye."

  "Take this one over to the line for later. Ah, this one is a left eye, Miki, Lucy, double-check for me."

  Four villagers dragged the right-eyed Bitzer to the neat rows and columns of carcasses sunning on the snow. Under strict quality assurances, Chu let the men drag it behind him. They then ambled off into the surroundings to fetch another frozen body.

  The weather-beaten, wooden door to the large butcher shed creaked open, as Jim and Toll stumbled out while dragging a demon beast. A party of waiting villagers hastened to relieve them of their burden. The eerie creak sounded once more as the door shut behind another victim.

  Chu watched as the men tossed the processed carcass onto the wagon. It joined a dozen others to be soon carted away for mass burial. Chief Drey already had men somewhere in the grassland digging the frozen, winter soil. A short time later Rugol and Clod exited the shed with a body in tow while sending a nod to Chu.

  When Jim and Toll exited again, Chu nodded at the bloodstained men before entering. The wide shed invited death with iron saws, axes, and instruments of severing corpses hanging or lying stained on the corner tables.

  A large cauldron bubbled with boiling water on one side, with the open trapdoors on the roof serving as windows.

  He walked across the active butchering station to the adjacent shut door. Two persons occupied this smaller room.

  "Dammit Chu, this is torture. I'm working like a slave here. My hands are shaking man! Look at them, their burning red!"

  "Have you finished another batch?"

  Chu ignored the complaining boy while speaking to Rose, who was sitting and writing at the table. She nodded as he inspected a large wooden chest on the ground beside her. Reaching inside she pulled out one of the bundles and opened it.

  A bluish lifestone and a small wooden flask greeted him. He pulled the stopper while staring at the warm, sloshing, red blood inside.

  "Good job, don't over rush things since I've allocated two days for this task. Remember to sterilize the bowls and dipper in hot water and don't skimp on the blood. Equal measure for both halfstones is a priority. Labeling is also important."

  Chu said while walking over to Ming.

  "Switch with me. Bring over the rest of finished halfstones and have Jim start with the right eye ones. Get someone from the farm to help outside. I want Lucy to join us inside to speed up the process. Hopefully Halter can keep up in making us these flasks."

  Ming stretched his bones before closing the door while leaving. The contents and activity inside the room remained a secret from the others. It's not that Chu didn't trust Jim and the rest, but the less they knew the better.

  If his plan succeeded, then they would have no reason to fear.

  He had high hopes for this experiment. Especially since the mixture of Bitzer blood drawn from the heart, refused to coagulate...

  When work halted at sunset and the villagers bustled around to rest and have a meal, Chu smuggled the chest containing the day's work, into the barn. Taking a quick bath and downing a bowl of watered-down gruel, he joined Finn inside one of the rooms.

  The lamps which surrounded and brightened the area also warded off the lazy chill.

  "This is a very intricate work, Old Hodge has been fiddling with the discarded stamps to see how well it works on his latest paper. So far he has found it works best when pressed with the weight of an anvil."

  "We only have a small window, so I need it done within two days. Luckily we had over a year to fiddle with the basics of the printing press. It's the thin lines and symbols I'm worried about."

  Chu replied while running his hand across the carvings.

  "What about these two symbols at the top and bottom of the circle? You sure you want me to leave them out?"

  "Yes, I'll sort them out myself. The other has more, so please be careful when copying it. It is imperative the lines don't cross."

  Chu instructed to Finn. The young man nodded while continuing his work.

  By tomorrow he should ignite enough stars to allow him to channel spiritual mana. Together with Dyna, Miki, and Lucy, they could activate enough talismans. As a backup plan, he decided to have the girls create some ancient talismans in the event Finn failed to deliver.

  The tally today placed the number of Bitzers over a hundred according to Captain Sweeto. If he gained forty lifestones, barring any major lopsided number in the halfstones, then five chances to each stone dictated two hundred ancient talismans. According to Tower logic, this is what he needed.

  Chu, however, was convinced he could achieve a thirty percent chance of activation or even more. With the modifications and equipment, it might cross fifty. He had no doubt of creating a Sersen before a lifestone crumbled.

  A ridiculous outcome meant the production of forty Sersens.

  To generate the impossible could only be derived from injecting technology from his past world. Imagine what he could have done had he been a genius.

  Chu, however, was a businessman.

  He had no intention of mass producing and selling this technology but preferred to horde it for himself. Since he decided on this idea, why should a businessman settle for sub-par items?

  If his experiment proved correct, then instead of forty Sersens, he would have only four.

  Quality over quantity.

  Only for himself.