Although he was meditating, Levi’s guard was raised to the limit... he had checked House Zen’s estate security measures, and what he found left him feeling more sympathetic for the Runehoof Kin.
The majority of the citizens practiced a pacifistic lifestyle from birth, spending most of their time in meditation, caring for their families, or running small local businesses in the town. This meant even though most of them had a decent spiritual talent, they never used it to harm others.
After House Zen’s economy was shattered, they could no longer afford a high-detail security system that maintained the peace and stopped intruders. Now, all House Zen had for protection were themselves and some low-tiered guards situated in populated mountains to offer an illusion of safety.
In reality, House Targon could send mercenaries back and forth without much resistance since the borders were protected only by a chain of jagged mountains that isolated the core estate from the rest of the desolate territory.
’Their ancestor predicted this situation would happen...’ Levi murmured inwardly, ’He has designed the territory to have a natural barrier surrounding it that might slow invaders.’
’It’s pretty obvious...’ Ash’Kral remarked indifferently, ’Some races simply aren’t designed for survival in our universe... You’d think they would learn to pick up a weapon after losing their planet to the nightcrawlers and defend their second home.’
Levi remained silent, understanding that Ash’Kral was right from a realistic standpoint... the Runehoof Kin had it in them to become great Psych Warriors, who could ensure the survival of their race in this merciless universe. Instead, most of them still chose to live a pacifistic life, even though trouble kept knocking on their door.
Still... Levi shook his head in rejection. He might understand it, but it didn’t mean he approved. As he gazed at Sati’s serene demeanor while she guided him through her family’s meditation techniques, he couldn’t help but feel that people like them weren’t a bad ’code’... it was the system that was corrupted, and sought to corrupt them too.
’I know it’s an idealistic view... but I genuinely believe that life would have been better for everyone if they had followed their teachings.’ Levi sighed, ’No wars, no struggles, no pain... only peace of mind.’
’In your dreams... not even their own kin practice their dharma fully.’
Levi was unbothered, knowing that such a fantasy of peace was nearly impossible to attain in their universe... even if someone replaced the two Primordial Trees and dealt with the conflict, there would be only a short period of peace before nature takes its course.
For life was born from chaos and thrives in it.
...
About eight hours later... near the borders of House Targon and House Zen, Silas’ son sat inside a small operation room crafted purely from smooth gray silk.
The cocoon-like room lay buried deep beneath the roots of a giant, leafless tree... a skeletal monarch amidst a forest of its own barren kin. These trees seemed to have rejected the very concept of life, their branches reaching towards the sky in defiance.
Just a couple of hundred meters away, the land underwent an unnatural transformation. The mountainous chain of House Zen loomed over, a vertical fortress of ancient stone and spiritual discipline. Between these two worlds lay a river-like expanse of greenish grassfield... a scar that served as a natural border.
This divide was a clash of existence.
On one side, the Targon forest exuded a predatory silence... a culture of shadows, underground tunnels, and ambition that grew like a virus in the dark.
On the other side, the Zen peaks represented a culture of height and transparency... theirs was an ambition of transcendence and soul-soothing peace, a society built on the philosophy that the closer one climbed to the sun, the further they drifted from the grime of the world.
A mere hundred meters divide... and yet, it was House Targon’s sole leash.
’Mission status,’ Simon asked, his voice as indifferent as always.
A moment later, he received an update from the strike force telling him that they were at the location... Simon summoned a few dimensional screens, showing him live footage of the serene town.
One screen showed him a busy, but quiet market... the goat-monks shopped in silence, using gestures mostly. There were hundreds spread out across the market, which was layered across the central area of the Zen’s estate mountain.
The screen wasn’t fixed, appearing like the filmer was sharing his point of view as he walked through the market... he was saluting as other monks smiled back kindly.
Another screen showed him the bottom of the mountain hidden amidst a lush green forest... the spy hid silently on top of a tree branch, camouflaging himself fully.
Suddenly, six shadowy figures dashed across the screen for a split second and then disappeared. Seeing this, Simon ordered the spy to pack up, and then he turned off the screen.
He knew that the hired strike force was made up of Tier 5 elites, who wouldn’t allow anyone to spy on them during duty... they worked in the shadows and preferred to keep it that way, as it was the sole method of ensuring their identities didn’t get burnt.
After a few minutes of moving around the mountain’s foot, the squad sent each other telepathic messages repeating two words.
’Array planted.’
Receiving everyone’s confirmation, the shadowy squad leader sent a confirmation to Simon, and then he disappeared with his squad, attempting to leave House Zen’s territory as fast as possible.
This was their way of operation... swift actions, even swifter escape.
The moment they had gotten about two kilometers away from the mountain, they stopped and entered a military-like formation to clear their environment.
’Whenever you’re ready,’ the leader said behind the shadowy mask with an altered robotic voice.
Simon switched to the live feed of the market... his emotionless gray eyes roamed the small, rugged streets and the peaceful townfolk going by their day like always... a daily boring routine and yet, they were content. Simon took in the scenery fully and then ordered without an ounce of hesitation.
’Show them that peace has a price... a price they couldn’t afford.’
The strike force’s leader went silent for a moment and then shared a head nod with his people while holding a crystallized device, covered in Ilthorien inscriptions.
’Compressed air and gathered heat, make the earth and thunder meet... Ignite the core, expand the light...’ The squad leader finished the incantation with a grim tone, ’Turn the day to blinding white!’
Immediately after, the Ilthorien inscriptions illuminated the crystallized device for a split second before its light was devoured by a sudden series of white flashes blasting the clouds.
One of the strike force members whistled in delightful awe at the horrific sight of the estate’s mountain suddenly tilting slightly to the right amidst a gigantic cloud of dust and debris.
And then it arrived... Ka-BOOOOOOM!!
A thundering explosion, carrying with it a massive cloud of dust and debris, hit the squad members in the face and yet... none of them budged. They just watched as the biggest mountain in House Zen’s estate collapsed slowly in the direction of another mountain!
’Good work on the array’s placement...’ The leader smiled coldly, ’We are about to get paid handsomely.’