"This is true." Clance nodded. Another strong sister was definitely a good thing.
While Lillia and Clance chatted, Blake laid there with Joy and Destiny snuggled into his arms, looking up at the sky. Both girls had already fallen fast asleep. He wondered just how long it had been since the three of them had been together like this. He gently rubbed their backs as they hugged him tightly, seemingly not wanting to let go.
The next morning, he sent the girls off before going back to work. Blake had many things to do at this time. He had to settle the defenses of the island and rally the troops who would be going to the astral domain with him. They would first set up camp in Ishtar's domain and use it as a base camp. Ishtar planned to move her people to Destiny City, where they could live in peace and stay away from the war. This meant she planned to settle her floating island there down into the forest of her domain. They had many things to do once Destiny City got into orbit with the moon.
On the second day of Destiny City being in space, both islands settled into orbit as they had planned. Blake was currently holding a meeting. "We will not start our conquest of the astral domain until we have dug in enough and set up a place for our base of operations.
"Our ability to take Earth back will rely on how many gods we can force to submit to us. We need a strong force that will allow us to take back what has been stolen and then seal the underworld gate once and for all." Blake looked at everyone at the table seriously. He knew his idea was crazy, but he had to pull it odd no matter what.
"Lord, if we do take back Earth, what do you plan to do about all the races that have gathered here? Will you kick us out?" This was one of the dragonic princes who was asking this question.
"No. If you wish to stay in Destiny City, then so be it. I will not force anyone to leave. If the leaders of old wish to spread their wings once more and rebuild their empires, I will not care. But I will say this. I will not remove the contract that you have on you. This contract is made in a way that it will be passed on to any newborns as well. There is no removing it. Destiny City will always come before friendship. I will not allow anyone to hurt it, even after everything is said and done. Our world will still be at peace for all generations that follow." Blake had thought it through and had the contracts be ones that would be passed down to the next of kin. It made things much easier and safer for his people.
"I see... I was only asking because, and I think everyone here agrees with me, we do not wish to leave. While most of us had no other choice but to come here, we have all found a place here in this city you built up. We see this place as our home. We see you as a wise and kind ruler who cares about his people. You would not do things that would harm us but to better our lives.
"Many of us have talked and discussed your idea over and over again, and we all came to the same conclusion. Waging a war that we have a 10% chance of winning is worth it if it means we can take our homeland back.
"I think I speak for everyone here when I say thank you for all your hard work and planning. We will follow you to our deaths." The dragonic prince's words gained a round of applause from everyone present.
Blake looked at everyone's firm determination and wondered what he had really done to gain the trust of so many. War was not a simple thing. There was no way they would not lose people. But this time around, it must be done. He did not want to take any of his wives this time, but no matter how much he pleaded with them, they refused. Even Destiny and Joy pushed their way into the ranks.
Destiny was going to be making golems, and Joy planned to teach everyone everything she knew about her current fusion magic so it could be used in battle on a grand scale. She had come up with a kind of fusion magic, but it could only be used in war. Or else she would wipe out the entire city.
They would both be on the back lines, but they would still be going to the astral domain. Blake tried to talk them out of it, but they said their specialties would be of use. Blake sadly could not retort back. They had both been researching their fields for so long that they had become the best specialists on golems and fusion magic in all of Destiny City.
"Then I will be relying on all of you. What we are about to embark on is not only a crusade for our homeland but for one of all mortals. To teach the gods who look down on us because we are weak that they can not live happily if they are not doing the jobs they are meant to do. If the devils have invaded the mortal planes, then the gods need to take action and live up to their word." Blake was saying this because he heard from Ishtar that Anu had laid a law out thousands of years ago that stated that if the mortals were threatened by an existence that did not belong on the mortal plane that, he would help push the enemy back.
It was because of this rule he made and the fact that he was going back on his word that angered Blake the most. One must always live up to their promises no matter if you are a god, a mortal, or a devil.
