Once the pain subsided. Onex got out of bed and went out. His kingdom has grown incredibly. He now had the technology of the last island he conquered and had twice the population.
But he still needed to find a Monarch. Which there’s been no progress in doing so. Onex glanced around, people talked, did their jobs, and just normal things with the addition of steam machinery.
It reminded him of the surface. It brought a sense of longing with it as well. But Onex did not dwell on it, he needed to work on meeting with a conquer. Suddenly, Onex saw the man who ruled over the steam island and approached him.
“Hey,” Onex greeted, “You said something about a Doctor. Who’s that?” He asked plainly.
“Why should I tell you?”
Onex shrugs, “Maybe because I’m your king.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m going to do whatever you ask.”
Onex suddenly smiled, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll push you into the void.”
“Huh? Are you serious?”
“What makes you think I’m not?”
The man sighed, “Fine. The Doctor is the twelfth Monarch, the Monarch of Steam. He is the one that gave us all this machinery, we were a sub-nation. Meaning he ruled over us, but he allowed us to live independently.”
“A Monarch! That’s great, I’ll finally be able to me one.” Onex exclaimed excitedly.
“You're crazy. What’s your name?”
“Huh? Onex.”
“Onex? Are you from the Inlion Noble Family?”
Onex’s eyes widened for a moment, he stood silent for a moment before answering, “No. I’m not.”
The man narrowed his eyes, suspicious of Onex, “Sure. Anyways, I’m Yeno.”
“Okay then, nice to meet you Yeno.”
Yeno did not respond. Instead, he nodded and walked off into the distance. Onex sighed in relief as he walked away. As he walked, he saw how much his Kingdom has grown over the time he was recovering.
The steam machinery allowed better crop growth and faster house building. More jobs opened up and more places appeared. An economy naturally appeared, right now it was just trade, but Onex planned to make coins and paper currency to make it more efficient. But that was for a later time.
…
A few hours past. When suddenly a loud noise shook the island. A thick gray cloud of steam covered the island and the surrounding void. The people were confused; some even started to run into housing.
But the steam left no visibility. Onex was about to start moving his island, but he didn’t know of which direction. He could hit another island; it was a big risk. But when massive lights appeared in the distance moving closer and closer to Onex Island, he knew that he had to move.
He used the masks power to start moving his island. He also split his island into 4 parts to increase speed. But the lights did not fall behind, they kept a steady pace behind Onex’s island.
Onex let out an annoyed sound as he used island split on some pieces of land that yet to have buildings. He sent them into random directions, then created distance between the 4 parts of his island to distract the chaser.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
But the Chaser seemed to know exactly the islands that had inhabitants and continued chasing the real ones.
This made Onex feel frustrated. He clenched his fist as he tried to think of a way to lose the lights. He could try to split his island more to increase speed. But the way the buildings were set up, it would cause damage or even take lives if not careful.
Onex scratched the back of his head.
I could go to the floating lights like I did with that Baseless and deal with it alone. But I don’t know what those lights are, it could be the Monarch of Steam. I wonder if I could…Oh wait! I can.
Onex suddenly had an idea. He quickly ran towards his house and found the table, grabbing the nearest pencil and paper he wrote a letter to the Monarch of Steam. Asking if it was them that was chasing him, and whether they could stop.
He slipped the letter into the box and watched it slip down. After a few moments, a different letter popped up. Onex quickly opened it and read through it.
To the King of X,
Yes, I am the Monarch of Steam, and as for chasing you. I will not stop until you give your land to me, after all, you stole my technology and shall pay for the consequences. If you think you can fight me, think again, you saw my steam gun before, now imagine that weapon, but automatic, in the air, on the ground, and underground. You will surrender to us.
From the Monarch of Steam.
Now Onex was absolutely unsure of what to do. If the Monarch was telling the truth, he would have absolutely no chance. But it could also be a bluff to trick Onex into surrender. He was conflicted on what to do.
Only one idea came to mind. But he was 90% sure it wasn’t going to work. But it was his last option.
He ran out of his house and went to the edge of his island. Looking into the area with the least steam and the most void.
The air was unusually chilly, but Onex stood tall. His heart beating with uncertainty. After a moment, he called out into the void.
“Hey! I know you can hear me!” Onex yelled, taking off his mask to yell louder, “If you really want me to find that book you’ve been asking for! Then help me here! Distract or at least help me get away from that Monarch!”
Onex yelled into the void for the pleading voice. Yet he heard nothing, and nothing happened. There was no voice, no artifact, no guidance, nothing to help him.
The lights were getting closer and closer. Yet the voice did not answer his pleads. Soon the lights were right behind Onex’s island. Even through all the steam, it cast Onex’s island in a deep dark shadow.
Bronze objects started to fly out from the place where the lights shun. Onex felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.
“I guess this is the end.” Onex said simply, accepting defeat.
Bu suddenly, the fog started to clear and give way to the open void. It revealed a massive island, at least a 100 times larger than his own. It only made Onex feel even more hopeless.
The bronze objects moved closer, some even landed and people came out of them. Forcing people to get in groups.
Onex stood there in silence. Watching as these people make his people hostages. All hope was lost. It suddenly reminded him of a story he once heard.
A hero saved the entire world from a threat of disaster. But right when the threat was taken care of and the world celebrated the hero’s victory. A new threat emerged, so powerful the hero couldn’t save the world, so the hero fell to his knees and watched the world he saved burn.
Onex felt that hero’s helplessness now as he watched his kingdom being taken by the Monarch of Steam. And some of the people from the bronze's crafts started to approach him.
But right before they could reach him. The Monarch of Steam’s island suddenly…tilted. Everyone froze and looked at the massive island titling. Soon a colossal hand appeared, pulling its self-up using the Monarchs of Steams Island lights.
It was made of swirling colors; every possible and not possible color was in the colossal hand. Suddenly, he heard the voice of the void.
A Base has appeared. It is suggested to leave the area.
Onex was confused by the message. But didn’t question it as he quickly started to move his island again.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the Monarch of Steams Island. Telling everyone to return to the island. And so, everyone on Onex’s island that followed the Monarch got onto a bronze craft and drove back to the tilted island.
Onex could make more of the ‘Base’. It was bigger than a Baseless, it had long fingers with wings and a pair of horns. It did not give any sense of fear like the Baseless, instead it made Onex’s brain feel like it was going to explode from information, yet he had not received any information.
It didn’t take long for Onex to escape into the open void. He let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” he whispered as he took deep breaths.
Soon after, he reemerged all of his island back together. The people were still scared, but much calmer after escaping. Onex put his mask back on while smiling. He cast on final glance into the void and walked into his kingdom.
