The Collective

Drums thundered across the lower deck, building in anticipation. The pipes and trumpets played their parts as the accordion fought against the band.

Once again brass horns blare and drown out all other sounds.

WUUUUUUUUM!

And once the Airship jerked hard as another volley was shot.

Shiro grabbed onto the railing for a moment as the entire deck shook beneath him.

There goes another one...

A nearby sailor stumbled head first before stumbling into one of the horns

"I'm fine!"

The crew members laughed among themselves as they reloaded.

There is a minimal range that the heavy rail cannons cannot hit, so getting in close isn't a bad idea...

But our walls are lined with light rail cannons, archers, knights and shoulders whose morale is high and ready.

Shiro started getting lost in thought.

Not to mention that the Airship can fire closer to the wall.

What's their plan? This can't be it? Where's the traitor? The ace in hole? Demons with talents? Did they not expect me to be in the Airship? Did they not even sabotage a cannon?

WUUUUUUUUM!

The sound nearly knocked Shiro out of his thoughts.

Calm down Shiro. We're still in the middle of this war and you still have two custom weapons up your sleeve. They are losing the early game but it's not over just yet.

A few sailors cheered from the other side of the deck.

At least morale was still high.

With dramatic timing, a loud explosion came for the deck over head. And the airship jerked violently as it recoiled from the force.

"Was that ours?"

"I don't think so!"

Be careful what you wish for I guess?...nah I just expected more.

Shiro looked to one of the crew members who had a light rail cannon.

"Hey! I need to borrow your cannon!"

"Aye aye Boss!"

The crew member handed over the light rail cannon and his bolts some of which stood out to Shiro.

"Hold up, why do you have these?"

The crew member looked down at the bolts.

"Though it would be good to have. Right?"

"You're on airship?! You know what, never mind, you're actually right."

The crew member gave a proud smile.

"Thank you, Boss."

Shiro loaded a basic bolt into the light rail cannon. The capacitors hummed as the electric runes began to charge them. A faint glow traveled along the weapon as Shiro held it tightly.

He gave the lower deck a quick glance before heading up toward the upper deck.

As he climbed up the ladder to the upper deck, he heard a voice he did expect. It belonged to a heavy, older man. One dressed in ornate regal robes as he stood on the upper deck of the airship floor.

"Shiro, there you are?! Shame we have to meet like this, but I've been looking for you."

Shiro stopped halfway up the ladder. He already knew that voice.

Alamak... Guess I know who the traitor is now.

Slowly, he continued climbing. Keeping the light rail cannon on Alamak as he did so.

"Alamak. Didn't expect to see you here. I take it you're the traitor."

Alamak raised both hands slightly.

"Now, now."

Shiro's finger stayed close to the trigger.

"Don't move."

Alamak stopped.

Around them, the sounds of battle continued heavy rail cannons fired in the distance.

WUUUUUUUUM!

The Airship jerked violently. But neither of them looked away from the other.

"Are you the Traitor?"

"The traitor? No not the one you're thinking of. But me being here is a betrayal."

"Offly vague. Care to explain?"

"You're going to have me explain while you point a weapon at my head."

"You don't leave me much choice."

Alamak sighed.

"You were never good at politics..."

Shiro stared down Alamak.

Alamak paused before continuing.

"...But as I said earlier, I'm not The traitor. I have no allegiance to the Demon King or his armies. I didn't give them any information on the rail cannons or the airship."

Shiro narrowed his eyes.

"I don't have some lie detector talent like Gris, but let's say I believe you. Why are you here?"

"I belong to a group called, The Collective. And they have gained quite an interest in you. They believe in your potential. In your abilities."

"Yeah? and they decided now was the best time to send a salesman? I know you were able to sell the light rail cannons at four times the price to make them, but this doesn't seem like a good sales tactic."

WUUUUUUUUM!

The Airship jerked violently again as the crew continued to launch volleys unaware of the stare down happening above them.

"See this is the part where I said I wasn't The traitor but still A traitor. The collective has taken an interest in you, but they haven't seen what you can do. What you're capable of! You risk destroying everything that the collective hopes to achieve!"

Alamak ripped off his shirt.

Shiro immediately too aim with the light rail cannon.

"What the..."

The folds of Alamak's belly started to open, revealing that they were tucked lips all along. The strange flesh stretched apart The mouth that made up his stomach bore multiple rows of shark teeth.

Both Alamak's stomach and mouth yelled in unison.

"You must die!"

Three frog like tongue shot out of his stomach at Shiro with incredible speed.