CHAPTER 42

With my Gravy-lead, I make my cubes as light as possible. I use them to hit any people that got too close. I’m thankful that the empire actually put tracking inside their silver armors. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to track any of them. With this tracking, it’s easy for me to know where they are. The more I kill, the more their bodies pile up into a natural barrier. They keep coming, I keep killing. Is that all you got?! Bring more!

There’s something going on with the ground. Something green. Leaves! Something is growing on the land! I hope that this land will witness our final moments. Let it pass the story down to the next generation. Let the land grows as it records our fall in this final stand.

Something else grows on the ground. Cube! A Contractuary is growing! Our only hope is here!

“Defend the Contractuary!” I scream.

We encircle the Contractuary. I use my cubes to create an orbit around the growing television tree. My cubes kill and kill. Another natural wall is forming around us. Some part of the wall tries to get up as they’re revived from Ambrousian’s ability. Nostrades, Nostreidon, and everyone else on my side hits everyone that got past my orbit. Grow faster you square tv!

Yes! Finally! The Contractuary is ready!

The soldiers are confused. One second, their bodies were moving on their own, this second, they have to decide what to do with their bodies.

“You’re free!” I scream. “Submissing Form won’t affect you in this area!”

They all look at each other. It must’ve been a while since the last time they have their own free will. Please make the right decision!

“I don’t want to think,” says one of them.

“Yeah! I don’t want to do anything! I just want to watch my body moves!” “I like it when they sit on me!” “Thinking is hard! Put me back to sleep!” “That stupid tower is taking our enslavement away! Let’s kill it!”

I’ve given them the choice and they’ve picked what they want to do. If they want to kill this Contractuary, they’ll have to kill me first!

My cubes become an orbit again. This time, movements of the former slaves are slower because they actually have to move on their own. These soldiers were used to move on autopilot. Their coordinations are off. Good. Easier for us.

Wait a minute. Some of them are running away! That’s good! Some of them are beginning to think for themselves! At least, they can use their survival instincts! It must’ve been the first time they feel fear in their lives.

Another Contractuary is growing from the ground!

“I’m defending that one!” I scream.

Nostrades and Nostreidos make a way for me. They follow me to the new Contractuary. I form a new parameter with my cubes. It starts as hard, but it gets easier as more bodies form additional barriers.

Wait. Some of them are fighting each other! Congratulations! They are on our side! They want to defend Contractuary with us!

Something is growing!

It’s a tree! It’s not Contractuary! It’s a normal tree! This is the effect of Tyfobius! Native plants to the world is growing in this land! The trees provide additional covers for us! The land is fighting with us! Some of the trees have thorns that pierce them! Good! Some trees form vines that bind the former slaves. Thanks for the help!

The group that covers the first Contractuary can move to a newly grown Contractuary. Some former slaves are helping them. Sweet!

My group can also move to a newly formed Contractuary. We also have freed people fighting for us. Due to their participation, I can’t use my cubes to make an orbit. It might accidentally hit them. No matter. The more allies we got, the merrier.

There’s a trench around me. That must be where the river used to be. Nooo! That means that the purple salmon didn’t make it!

Purple beams! Some of the controller of the slaves are here!

One of us are down! I must take care of them!

One punch to the cube, one down. Another punch, another down.

A purple beam hits me! Another one! Third purple beam hits me too! They’re pretty determined to kill me!

I jump into the trench. One of my cubes follow me. The other one stays outside of the trench. I use the second cube to sense everything around it.

It’s impossible! This ability doesn’t allow me to differentiate who is who! I have to go out to avoid hitting my own team!

There’s no other way. I wait for the purple beam to stop. Then, I take a peek. Wait. All three of them had already fell? That’s good but how? Everyone from my teams is far away from the slave controller. Even my Lapis Lazuli confirms that!

One of the slave controller tries to get up! I must—a sledgehammer ends them. Nostra brothers?

It is one of them. Nostrazeus.

He extends his hand to me. He’s fighting on our side?

I take his hand. The red streak on his hair is gone. He must’ve died from the explosion. It’s possible that he stopped attacking new Adventurers right now because of new informations from Sorcerous Lake. No time to dilly dally! We still have a fight to win!

We expand and expand until we reach the edge of the blast zone. We can tell because the flora in and out of the area are different. We can go on, but it’s almost dusk. We should go back. Even the new Contractuaries won’t spread beyond the blast zone. The war for today is won. The war for tomorrow will present itself for grab. We did it! We’ve spread Contractuaries! This is an anti-slavery zone! Do not bring that to our doorstep!

I look back. Everyone is looking at me. I’m the one that kickstarted all of this. I have to say something. I have to—

—say something encouraging.

Wait! It’s night! What?! I shouldn’t be able to remember night, right? Let alone experience it! Did someone hack this world?

Clapping.

“Congratulations.”

A silhouette of a creature. Humanoid. It is black. Only its eyes are white.

“It’s been a while since I see someone made a history.”

“Who are you?”

“You don’t need to worry about me. More than that, you don’t need to worry about anyone tonight. Everyone in your new nation is under my protection for tonight.”

I look around. Everyone else is also there behind me. They’re witnessing this creature with me. This is not a dream.

“You’ve succeeded above your personal and collective suffering,” says the creature, “you deserve to rest for a while. In the meantime, I’ll record all of the important parts of your lives so that everyone can witness and relive it.”

“You’ve been here the whole time?” I ask.

“As you’ve figured, some worlds can be programmed to specific needs. I simply programmed it so that I can observe everything without being perceived. However, since you’ve accomplished such a task, I would like to congratulate you personally on your achievements.”

“You’ve already done that.”

“My apology. You were confused at that time. Since you’re much more collected right now, allow me to repeat it. Congratulations.”

“You’re welcome?”

“Now that I’ve said it, I’ll take my leave. I’ll return again whenever someone made a history on this magnitude. Keep impressing me, will you?”

Huh? It’s dawn already? Where’s… of course it’s gone. Whatever that creature is. At least it didn’t attack me? How about—they’re fine. They are as confused as I am. I have to say something to break the ice.

“What should we call this place?” I ask.

Nostrades and Nostreidon say at the same time, “How about Bread Nation?”

That’s stupid! But then again, Bread Village was originally their home. They should have the right to give it any name they want. I’m still an outsider even after everything I’ve done.

“Bread Nation it is then,” I say.