Chapter 120: Tanaka’s Decision

The message came just before sunrise.

Varkesh messenger and two guards flanked it on either side. Tanaka noted that the man did not wield a weapon. However, he did wear a black seal on a string around his neck. Tanaka took the seal when the messenger handed it to him. "This is from King Rhazek." The monster lowered his head. "Two days."

Tanaka gave him a puzzled look. The messenger continued, "At sunrise on the second day, Varkesh shall assault Eldoris."

Tanaka’s guards exchanged glances. Tanaka said nothing. The messenger met his eyes. "King Rhazek foresees that you will want to spend the time wisely." There was a long pause before continuing, "he refers to this as your ’last’ day in the mortal world."

Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "Is that all?"

"Just this."

Tanaka crushed the seal in his palm. The messenger left. Tanaka stood at the gate for a few seconds.

Two days.

That surprised Tanaka, not because he expected no war, but because he expected no specific, fixed day. Tanaka turned away from the gate.

"Two days."

The words came out in a whisper as he turned back towards the city

---

The council was together by the time the sun reached its peak. Everyone had already heard the news, so Raishin was already at the map when Raizen and Razer began talking strategy. The others had already begun preparing. Torga and Drakar began collecting supplies. Zephyr had Mana Birds watching the northern roads. Sora lingered closest to Tanaka. "So it’s really happening," He said. Tanaka nodded.

"At sunrise in two days." Raveana smiled.

"Good." Relia stared at her. "That’s not something you should smile about." "At least it’s not something I have to worry about." Raveana rested a hand on the hilt of her weapon. She was smiling about the news, not because anyone would actually lose men in this battle, but because she was glad it finally had a solid date, now that she could plan. Uncertainty was much more terrifying than a set date of definite doom.

Tanaka knew what she meant. He looked the room over. "I want everyone ready, but do not move out without my orders. We still have some leeway." Raishin nodded. "We’ll use it. Tanaka turned his gaze back to the map. He focused on the surrounding kingdoms.

Syrathen.

Valeria.

Darveim.

Tanaka’s first thought was to call them, but the last war had shown him what happened to kingdoms that stood alone. Eldoris had been attacked by Syrathen, before the alliance was formed. Now that it was formed, Tanaka nearly reached out, then pulled his hand back. "No." "What?" asked Sora. "This isn’t the same," Tanaka muttered. He thought back to the first war, when human soldiers had crossed the border.

There had been human commanders, entire armies, siege weapons, and supply lines running from one kingdom into the heart of another. It was not like that now. Varkesh was a monster kingdom, and so was Eldoris.

Calling the neighboring kingdoms to aid Eldoris would turn a fight between two monster nations into one of far greater stakes; the entire world was at risk of being consumed by the Demon Lord. Tanaka shook his head. "I can’t ask them to fight a war that isn’t theirs."

Raishin frowned.

"You mean to say our forces would be enough to take Varkesh on by themselves?"

"No," said Tanaka. Rogan crossed his arms. "Even if they offer assistance?" Tanaka turned towards the window. "That’s different, but even if they wanted to assist us-" "I won’t ask them to," said Tanaka. "I need to get this war won on Eldoris’ terms, on our terms. I need this world to survive by learning to stand on its own legs."

---

On the night of the announcement, Tanaka entered his room alone. The buildings beyond the window were still busy, even as the stars began their vigil for the night. Tanaka closed his eyes. "Soul Record." The text floated before his eyes.

[Soul Record]

Name: Tanaka Eldoris

Race: Abyss Devourer Slime

Rank: A+

Magic Core: A]

A long list of skills filled the other part of the page.

[Unique Skill: Endless Abyss]

[Extra Skill: Draconic Aura]

[Extra Skill: Dragon Transformation]

[Skill: Corruption Resistance]

Tanaka stared at the last skill on the list. His mind flashed back to the northern woods, the blackened tree bark, and the dead animals he had seen there. The corruption, the tainted magic, were still lingering in the area. His gaze went back to the record. Tanaka smiled faintly as he read the next line.

[Poison Resistance - Greater Poison Resistance]

His thoughts trailed back to the dungeon, to the many venomous foes he and Sora had battled. They had adapted, repeatedly exposing themselves until they had taken the poison into their soul. They had needed that adaptation, and Tanaka needed this new resistance. Tanaka continued scanning down the page. There were other new adaptations listed alongside old defenses, strengthened by constant exposure to toxins.

He was growing resistant to poison and drowning. Poison couldn’t stop him, the water wouldn’t claim him. Corrupted mana no longer lingered for long in his body.

The things he had needed to survive had made him stronger at adapting, but he had also had to learn what weaknesses were worth overcoming by seeing the ways in which he had been close to death.

So many things had tried to kill him by corrupting and draining his life force, but each experience led to a new defense. Tanaka closed the Soul Record. His eyes were still open as he looked past the window into the sky. Rhazek had said these would be his "last" day in this world.

Maybe arrogance or maybe power made him say it, but Tanaka could not deny the feeling that the man’s declaration was justified. Tanaka thought back to the meeting that morning, recalling how dense the pressure around Rhazek felt, the sheer weight of his mana.

Tanaka had felt himself pushed beyond his limits as their gazes locked. Power itself wasn’t a concern, that would only make the coming war more intense, but Tanaka did not like it as greatly as Rhazek was willing to fight.

It was more a matter of timing, that was the discomfort that prickled at his thoughts. Rhazek had only barely advanced in his evolution. He was powerful enough, but lacking in experience. Tanaka doubted that he would win a fair fight against the man, but neither would the Demon Lord be an easy opponent.

Each force would evolve as the battle progressed. Tanaka stood up from the floor.

He moved towards the window, looking across the city. The people had done well under his leadership. The streets of Eldoris were lined with shops that kept opening despite the lateness of the hour.

Goblins worked into the night, Moonhares prepared their remedies, Kobolds hauled goods throughout the marketplace, and Orcs came to deliver their hunt-fresh stock to the shops, while Star Wolves stood their post near the borders. Tanaka thought back on all the trust they had shown in their support of him. That was all before the thought of dying came to him, the hated idea that had taken root over the course of the last year.

Tanaka hung his head.

"If this gets beyond what I expected," Tanaka murmured, "if it gets dangerous enough," his knuckles whitened, "I’ll send everybody home." He made a mental note of it as such. Those strong enough to protect someone would stay and guard the people.

Injured fighters would withdraw to let fresh soldiers take their place.

Non-combatants would be relocated to keep them farther from the front lines. If Varkesh persisted in their advance, it would be Tanaka alone or no one at all who remained to see the war to an end. Eldoris would not become a waste ground merely because of his inability to judge the severity of his enemies’ attack.

"If I die," he continued, "Eldrin can lead the people."

Tanaka had disliked the idea most of all the time, but at that moment his dislike was more of Eldrin’s lack of skill in battle. He was not the strongest, or most dangerous individual in Eldoris. However, Eldrin understood people, the mechanics of trade and crafting, and the overall economic process that made a living for the thousands that called this monster graveyard their home.

Eldrin had been the one who had watched Tanaka’s progress through these events. He was a someone ready to inherit a kingdom from the shoulders of those greater than himself. Tanaka exhaled. "I’d rather not find out," A shadow crossed Tanaka’s face with a small smirk but the words were still said aloud anyway "...but if it should come to that."

There were only a few clouds in the sky over Eldoris. The moon had yet to rise, and far above and beyond the horizon, the world went about its predictable and unchanging way.

The armies had not crossed through the northern borders, the walls were untouched, and the people of this town still breathed today despite the potential for their suffering to take a darker turn in less than two days.

Tanaka looked up into the clear night sky.

For the first time since Rhazek had returned, Tanaka stopped concerning himself with Malachiel’s return.

Maybe he would return in the morning and maybe not at all, but either way, that was no longer his concern. Eldoris and these people were his responsibility, and the choice he had made was his alone. Tanaka narrowed his glowing yellow eyes.

"Let the war begin."