"Hello, Uncle Roger," Thirteen greeted the Tigerkin Shaman, who was busy smelting the materials they would use to create the ammunition for his Grand Ballista.
"Zion, you came at the right time," Roger replied. "It's halfway complete. Did you come here to check if things are going as scheduled?"
Thirteen nodded "Yes. Things are a bit hectic in the Warsor Plains, so I came here to take a breather."
"A breather? Sounds nice," Roger commented. "Still, to think that you're making our old bones do the work for you. You really know how to order people around, don't you?"
Thirteen smiled faintly because he also felt a bit guilty for asking the Shamans for help. However, there wasn't really anything he could do about it.
The material they were using was something that only Shamans were allowed to work with, for it was something sacred to the people of the Valbarra Archipelago.
"Uncle, I'll be staying here until this thing is completed," Thirteen stated. "So, please, put your back into it."
"You little rascal. Come here so I can cane you," Roger said as he lifted his walking stick and waved it in Thirteen's direction.
The seven-year-old chuckled and ensured that he remained well outside of the old Tigerkin Shaman's striking range.
Just like the Tigerkin had stated, the thing that they were working on was halfway done. So at most, it would only take them a few more days to complete the ammunition for the Grand Ballista.
This Bolt, which they had named "End Bringer," was only halfway finished.
Its final length would be six meters long, and its weight would be around thirty tons.
Thirteen would apply Rune Magic on it once it was completed, strengthening its body further, and making it extremely hard.
Before he left their hidden base, he had asked his father to create another bolt, which would have the same length as the End Bringer.
He had already given Gerald the design of the bolt, and with Netero working with him, they should be able to make a cast for it without problems.
This was to make everyone think that the bolt they were working on was the same bolt that they would use during the war. However, this was only half true.
The other bolt was only meant to give everyone some peace of mind. Some of them seemed to be getting worried that they had made a weapon, yet they still hadn't made its ammunition.
Another reason why Thirteen left was because the other Tigerkins were looking at him with pitiful gazes.
All of them were hoping that he would free them as well, but Thirteen wouldn't have any of it.
He threatened to cover them from head to toe with Giga Chad's spray, forcing all of them to back down and no longer pester him.
It was not that he didn't want to free them.
He didn't mind doing that.
However, he really needed the manpower to help finish the tasks that he needed to finish before the war started.
Setting them free now would be putting the cart before the horse.
Since the Majin Prince would just massacre everyone once he arrived and enslave the rest, the freedom they sought for would be short-lived.
The number of people who knew about the real danger of the upcoming war did not surpass the count of fingers and toes on Thirteen's hands and feet.
He planned to keep it that way because the less people knew about it, the better their counterattack would be.
Two days later, Thirteen placed the last runic symbol on End Bringer, making him and the Shamans breathe a sigh of relief.
"Thank you very much, everyone," Thirteen said. "Rest assured, I will make sure that Valbarra Archipelago will not fall under the control of Arundel. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you came to me before the war starts. I still need your help to ensure that this mission will succeed."
"Of course," Auntie Helen replied. "Although we are old, we are still capable of using a few skills here and there. Just send Rocky to pick us up when you think that Arundel is near our borders."
"Zion, I pray that the Spirits will continue to protect and guide you," Uncle Roger said. "We will use our strength to aid you."
Thirteen nodded. "Thank you, Auntie Helen, Uncle Roger, everyone. I'll see you in a few weeks."
Rocky emerged from the ground and swallowed End Bringer whole. It would stay inside his body until the time it would be used to fight against the Majin Prince.
That way, it would remain hidden from the sight of everyone, who were doing their best to prepare for the upcoming war.
Thirteen mounted Blacky's back, after which the Warsor Black Hound began to swim in the sea, headed to the biggest island of the Valbarra Archipelago.
As they were traveling back to their base, Thirteen wondered if Cristopher had already reached the place he asked him to go.
This war against the Majin Prince could not be won by the Barbarians, Orcs, and Tigerkins alone.
They needed allies, and they needed a lot of them.
Cristopher might not have a lot of redeeming qualities, but Thirteen sincerely believed that he was the perfect man for the job.
He had asked Jasmine, Ariel, Payton, and half of Payton's subordinates to accompany the chubby boy in his mission.
This was the only way he could think of to keep him safe and protected, allowing him to focus on his mission without worry.
"Man proposes, God disposes," Thirteen muttered with a wry smile on his face. "Unfortunately, the God of this world is merciless. No one can help us but ourselves."
Thirteen still had a lot of things to do when he returned to the Warsor Plains, and truth be told, it was too much for him to handle it all.
But there was no one else who could use Rune Magic aside from him, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and create the ultimate battlefield.
A chessboard which would grant him the chance of victory against one of the strongest beings in existence, who stood high above mere mortals like them.