“So, seriously, just what is the situation?” I asked. “I get that we are utack, but why is the defensive line here? If the Anchor is destroyed it’s over, or if we lose the assets in Shaeu’s old dungeon… I get that this pce seems defensible, but…”

  “If I may expin…?” the Kamaitachi asked, as he seemed to be in charge of the defehe Kami hissed assent, and the weasel tinued. “When the initial enemy forces attacked us-us, we did iry to hold the area around the Anchor. However, they also have giant siege-beetles, which have destroyed every building in their path-path. I realised quickly though that-that they were just puppets, dolls like the little dogs are using to mih-with.” He gestured with one long sickle to the small group of Kobold mihat were listening to our versations ily. “Their orders seemed to be to attack where resistance was stro, so instead to hold the Anchor, we risked luring them to here-here…”

  A risky py indeed… Of course, my Anchor still stands, so I ’t get too angry. Thinking about the dangers of upgrading the Territory, there ’t be many whoing to risk Rank three until they have signifit forces in pce. I was too overfident.

  “That strategy is quite-quite the bold one.” Shaeu agreed with me. “Much could have gone wrong, and all my master has worked for would have been ruined. I would not-not have been pleased by su event. If they had beings who could reason, such as us-us, this pn would have failed miserably.”

  “True, but our options were limited. Grulgor and his Trolls are incapable of following our orders to defend-defend, so we let them roam freely, destroying all they e across. The pig-beasts are well armed, but against the might of the Trolls they are no-no match.”

  “So, that further spreads their forces, right? But what about these ghost girls?” I asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

  “They also seem to have little sciousness.” The Kamaitachi answered. “Though they appear and disappear at will, and roved uo defeat them, our attacks useless-useless. We have lost weaselkin and Kobolds to their ambushes, but they pose little threat to Trolls or us-us.”

  “We ussssssssed the power of earthhhhhh to create a ssssssacred sssssssalt barrier around the sssssshrihisssssss preventsssssss their ingressssssss, and reinforccccccesssssss the idea the Anchor isssssss here.” The White Snake Kami interjected, and the Kamaitaodded.

  “Yes-yes, they ot breach the salt barriers, It is Divis, very-very clever. It further serves to draw the eo us, where they do little harm-harm.”

  “I see.” I nodded, having got a grasp ouation. “Well, if we tio lure their forces into thinking that we are based here, that’s a good thing…” Luckily I had built all of my assets indoors, apart from the Defensive Empts, and one of those was gone already. Sihe Anchor room had turned into a pseudo-dungeon as well, simir to where Shaeu’s ir was, that meant it was hard to discover. Although if these siege-beetles hit the building by ce…

  g my hands together I looked at my subordinates, everyone waiting eagerly for my orders, especially Shaeu, who was looking at me with expectation, eyes agleam with e light.

  “You’ve done good work, and I apologise for leaving you to hahis alone. Fortunately, we are baow, strohan ever, and we’ve also found that we defeat the ghosts. They are vulnerable to fire, so Shaeu and I keep them at bay.”

  “Fire?” the Kamaitachi blinked. “What does he mean, princess?”

  “Ohohohoho!” Shaeu gave a ugh that a rich young girl might in a certain sort of anime, hao her fa a haughty manner. No doubt she’s picked that up from some show she’s watched…

  “Yes, bow-bow before my newfound glory!” she crowed. “My mother, my father, my siblings… all-all shall be amazed that I have transded the bounds of my limits as a Fae, and I noield the fme!” She raised one hand and a rich yellow bloom of fire winked ience before detonating in a shower ht sparks.

  As the Kamaitachi looked on open-mouthed in shock, I tinued, bypassing the interruption. “Anyway, we ’t keep relying on the fact that we are being attacked by troops from a Spawning Spire. Sooner or ter whoever is in charge will get tired of losing their forces, after all, it’s quite an iment keeping up armies like this day after day. They might throw iowel, or more likely…” Yeah, I'm sure of it. It’s what I’d do if my forces were getting sughtered due to ck of leadership on the ground. “… they’ll either e out themselves to and on site, or they’ll deploy some sort of leaders who rea the fly to direct them.” It would be just like the Gnolls in Las Vegas. Leaders could and the ‘soulless’ troops, making them signifitly more dangerous. Hell, even my Kobold puppets be put to work by the miners. “Anyway, if that happens, I have no doubt they’ll locate the Anchor and Shaeu’s old ir. If that happens, we lose. So…”

  I id out my battle pns. Shaeu and I would make sure one of us was here all the time to hahe defence, and we would also set up forces around key areas, so we could respond to any attacks against our strategic oints rapidly. Grulgor and the Trolls would be brought to heel and utilised better, and we would start to push back against the invaders, attempting to work out where their Territory was. Yeah, no way that we sit here on the defeil my Territory finishes upgrading. We have too much else to do…

  “I am rueing I could not-not vio let us…” Shaeu began, before blushing prettily. “I would have liked-liked the extra levels.”

  Yeah, I would have liked you to have them too, but … that way is no good! “Well, at least I might make a level or two.” I chuckled, rubbing her head instinctively. “It’s good ether too at least… and whatever is wasted oroops will be what they ’t spend on their owory…” I trailed off as sounds of colpsing buildings could be heard in the distance. “I think we all know what we have to do. Looks like we’re up!”

  As our forces dispersed to hold the positions I had ordered, Shaeu and I used h speed to rapidly reach our borders. The weakened defensive barrier was pletely uo even slow the invasion, as it was down since several days ago, and was slow tee while the Anchor was diverting all of our resources to its upgrade. This meant that the enemy could e and go unimpeded.

  “I see, those are indeed quite-quite the beetles. I am no lover of is, but we could-could use su our own forces.” Shaeu pursed her lips as she saw the attackers.

  “Yeah, no kidding.” I looked at the van-sized bugs ihey were Japanese scarab beetles, with copper coloured bodies and shiny green heads and throats. They actually looked kind of cute… I remember catg bugs ba the day with Eri and my sis up in the mountains. Aiko was really into it, if I recall. Eri not so much though, she spent most of the day ging to my arm…

  What wasn’t cute however, was the fact they were using their massive size to bulldoze through the Boundary shadows of the buildings, ploughing through walls seemingly unharmed by the falling rubble. They were followed by several-dozen more Orcs, though these were poorly equipped. I daresay their Armoury ’t keep up with the rate of attrition? After all, we’ve been plundering their fallen gear for our own use…

  “The dire they are moving takes them perilously close-close to our Anchor.” Shaeu observed. “I suggest we defeat them quickly.” Her pinwheels spun to life around her, dang.

  “Right. Here we go!” I raced down towards the first of the three giales. As I approached, the Orcs stopped their advand began to swarm at me, their formatied. I’ve led troops from a Spawning Spire before, and also fought them. I uand their limitations, and I use them to my advantage…

  Feinting backwards, scuttling away from the glittering head of the beetle as it tried to headbutt me, the Orcs were led inte of Shaeu, heedless of the danger. Seds ter they were all in pieces, the pinwheels whizzing through them, silver and crimson gore scattering from the whirring wires, ether pooling as they dispersed.

  Using that gap I thrust my spear at the beetle, bluesteel head shrouded in cutting winds, but the attack merely damaged the attractive emerald shell a little. As the impact jarred my arms I leapt backwards, a sed beetle ing at me. They collided, staggering, and Shaeu attacked, her pinwheel wires striking their bodies, only to get tangled in the hard shells, cutting in slowly with a muted whine.

  “Careful, the pressure on the wires is building!” I called out, seeing the wires tangling and bending. “They aren’t designed for taking strain, the bluesteel is too weak!”

  Clig her tongue angrily Shaeu withdrew her pinwheels and pulled out her bells and dagger. “They must-must have some power in their shells, master. The wires cut-cut through thick steel as if it was butter, so to think-think they barely scratch these bugs… it vexes me.” She stomped her foot adorably. “I demand-demand improvements. The dirt-grubbing dogs should have fished us up more ores by now-now, even uhe current trials.”

  Shit, she’s cute when she's mad… “I’ll see if I make some time. I think the shells might tain wind of their own, which is repelling ours. Damn, they are tough as hell.” My spear was making little headway, and even with my great strength it was tough. I was sidering our move when suddenly ole slumped to the ground, a brutal shattering sound ringing out, head split open by a ragged battle-axe that had been hurled from a distance. As gore and brain matter scattered, only to fade iher, the beetle leaving behind some of its carapace, glittering green and copper uhe non-light of the Boundary, Grulgor leapt forwards, his other worn axe smashing apart as it struck a sed beetle, staggering it despite its huge size.

  “Grulgood timing!” I enthused, using the opportunity to unleash fire, white hot fmes seeping through the dent in the carapace, starting to burn the beetle alive.

  Grulgor looked down at the ed handle of his now headless axe in puzzlement before tossing it aside. “I have e to crush ahese bugs! Grul likes strong foes.” he intoned, his voiing. He stomped on the head of the fallele I was broiling, and with a siing ch that head burst too. Yeah, every time I see Grulgor in a, I’m remihat being strong is nice, but I’m still at the level one blow end me…

  I turo the third beetle, expeg a tough fight, only to find it gone, pieces of shell and a puddle of ether all that was left, Shaeu holding her pinwheels and looking on in satisfa. Hang on, didn’t you switch ons a sed ago?

  Seeing my gaze, she puffed out her chest in pride. “I was-was going to use my bde to slice it, but then I had a thought, master. If the beetle resists by using the wind-wind, then surely…”

  Oh yeah, that… “Clever. I am impressed you thought of it in the heat of battle. It worked, judging by the debris?”

  “It did-did indeed, better than even I expected.” She stowed her ons, surveying the area. Grulgor was pining, missing out on killing the third beetle, but there would no doubt be plenty more foes to take down…

  ***

  Several hours ter we had secured the Territory once more, waves of enemies dealt with. I had even gained a Level during the final stages, as two more of the beetles were apanied by a wave of Orcs. We never did see any of those wraiths though… either their numbers are small, or they got scared after we finally slew a couple and whoever is in charge pulled them back…

  We had gathered up what ons and materials we could and distributed them, st what we didn’t need in the Warehouse. Grulgor had anded his Trolls to protect the areas around the Anchor and the Throne, and what weaselkin we had left were armed with crossboikes, also ready to ambush any attackers.

  “I think we’ve done what we . How often have the attacks been ing?” I asked the Kamaitachi.

  “A big wave like this-this… it is unlikely we will see more this day. We might see a few smaller groups, but they will likely retain their might for ane push tomorrow.”

  Seems abht. If I make aimate of the number of Spawning Spires and their Ranks for a force this rge… the speed of replenishment is… hmmm… “In that case, Shaeu, want to pop back to the Material for a bit to see Aiko and Eri? They’ll be worried if we don’t expiuation and you don’t return.”

  “Indeed.” She nodded. “I should not-not like to let them leave without a word, though I will see them again soon I have little-little doubt. I also check their training and give them some final advice.”

  “So, Shaeu will return shortly to lead the defence, and I’ll return where and when I as well. I’ll be gone some of the time, but with Shaeu here only an assault in force led by the enemy didate and his best troops, assuming it is one we are up against, would have a ce against us.”

  As we exged our brief farewells, Shaeu and I returo the Material, ready to expiuation to the girls in a… tactful… manner.