Chapter 6
Owl rolled his eyes; really, this was totally ridiculous. Getting information from the rest of the Imperial Alchemist was like trying to pull teeth out from a rabid raccoon. No sense of priority in these guys.
“ Fine. I will go first, then.” He took his jacket, starting to unbutton his shirt while ignoring the tired sigh his Captain let out. Owl was very aware of her feelings about tattooing the array in his skin.
The array itself was beautifully made, if he was the one to point it. Almost artistically made in the intricate circles and dense lines, dark ink clashing with his pale skin in a way he was aware made people want to get a closer look.
Of course, he was surrounded by Alchemists.
The hunger in their eyes had little to do with him and a lot more to do with the array itself, which made Owl incredibly uncomfortable and made him want to cover himself almost immediately. Terrifyingly enough, it was worse than being ogle at by nasty old men and unsatisfied ladies.
“My alchemy is based on controlling and manipulating electricity.” Owl continues, giving an example of what he was looking for. “As you saw before, I pull the energy of my own body to make it work but I absolutely can take it from outside sources. I can pinpoint the target with fingertips and the longest distance I made was across the shooting training field.”
“You show your array like that and expect it to stay with you?” A man with red eyes asked, a nasty smirk accompanying his word.
Owl snorted and waved a hand dismissing the words. “I mean you could try to replicate it but the theory alone took me five years and adapting it to be functional were another three.”
He put his clothes back on, taking his jacket from Yun with a little thanks. Refocusing on the scowling man, he gave him his sweetest smile. “I would encourage you if I wasn’t sure it would cost the Empire an Alchemist.”
The colonel from before let out an amused snort, “Prideful much, Major Veska?”
“No, sir.” Owl blinked innocently at him, “Just confident in my own talent.”
The room roared with laughter; all but the snarling man. Owl didn’t need to see to his side, he knew Yun’s eyes were narrowed on him. Ready to pull a bullet on his skull if he moved towards him.
“I will go next.” The colonel said, he stood up and showed his gloves. There was a blue array engraved between them. “Ice manipulation. Not really impressive in places like this but let’s not forget that blood is a liquid as well.”
Owl kinda wanted to take the gloves (by force if necessary) so he could study the array even if it was for a few seconds. Suddenly the hunger was making more sense; a lot more sense, actually.
He took a deep breath and looked away for a moment, refocusing his attention on the next man. They were all showing off, even as they maintained their secrets under a tight grasp, and Owl was man enough to admit he was impressed by most of them.
It was also terrifying; atomic bombs, indeed.
The last one to explain was the red-eyed one, “I don’t mind giving a demonstration.”
That had the entire room’s attention; Owl especially was captivated. The man was dangerous but getting the opportunity to see combat alchemy was an opportunity he would rather die to miss.
The man took his jacket off; Owl admired the large tattoo on his arm. He touched the chair he was sitting before and Owl gasped as the flow of energy surrounded the object and the chair broke down.
“Destructuration.” He explained as he puffed his chest out; it was well deserved too. “Twenty years of research and testing.”
Twenty years?
Not his research, then. Owl was slightly disappointed by that but it wasn’t any less impressive, the theory alone—!
“How large can you extend the wave?” He asked, dark curiosity rolling off his tongue.
“Seven meters from the epicenter.” He licked his lips in a suggestive gesture, eyes fixated on Owl’s. “I can direct the direction of the wave and control exactly how much damage will be done.”
“Impressive.” Owl admitted, raising his chin. Holding his gaze for an instant before dismissing the man entirely, turning to the colonel and the others, gesturing to the table with the maps of Einri before starting to explain his plan.
They discussed it for a little more than five hours until they were satisfied with the strategy, they would hit different buildings at the same time. Causing destruction and chaos all around the city; they would kill many but Owl hoped it would be enough to end the war once and for all.
They would also need to take their troops out before starting; that alone would take days and even then it wasn’t sure they would be able to ensure they didn’t ended up killing their own people by mistake.
It was a heavy thing to be aware of.
But better a few lived than the many that would fade if the war extended, both in time and territory.