My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 183: Cause

"My Tyrant, I have come to report that one of our scout units has been ambushed by a small group of Red Ants. The ants seem feral."

"Again? Just how many of these bastards are still hiding underground? Casualties?"

A figure dashed across the wilderness faster than even cars. He had a beautiful woman tied to his back, yet her body didn’t feel the slightest tremor.

With them was a being of metal that had bat-like wings and a human-like face. Most would consider her some kind of angel; only instead of legs, she had a rocket booster below her waist and black scales covering her skin.

They were quite an odd pair, yet while the two had differences, they also had many similarities. Their penchant for black and ash colors, as well as their eyes that had a soft glow of orange.

"None, I have instructed them to process the fallen for material and added their cores to the stockpile," the winged woman reported.

"Okay, I have no intention of waiting for them. Have the scout unit rejoin us at the city once they’re done."

"Yes, my Tyrant. Uhm... there is another matter."

"Hmm? What is it, Epsilon?" Elian probed.

"Uhm, the other tribe leaders and I are aware we are to kill anything that tries to hinder us. But what of those that do not?"

The Tyrant grew annoyed as he didn’t understand, "Explain."

When Elian’s tone turned colder, Epsilon noticeably flinched.

"Ah, our eyes still retain the ability to see heat and mana. There are monsters both big and small that burrow or try to avoid us. And..." the former Naga, gulped in nervousness, "If the Tyrant permits, we wish to hunt them all."

Elian’s eyebrows furrowed at her suggestion. On one hand, hunting the monsters felt like a colossal waste of time, but leaving them alone also seemed wrong. While Elian now had immense power, to the average human, these monsters were matters of life and death.

I guess they could be turned into material, although I doubt their cores would be of much use.

However, regardless of what Elian thought, he found it more interesting that they even wanted to bother in the first place.

"Why?"

At his question, Epsilon noticeably squirmed. Elian made no attempt to hide his dislike for this particular Weapon. Primarily because she was the first of his ’daughters’ that dared to scheme against him.

"Uhm... we, the Slinky Corps, believe we lack experience and wish to address that weakness."

"Experience?"

The explanation caught him off guard. Considering how organized the Naga moved, it was already very impressive. Elian intended to bring them for the coming invasion. That was how much they brought to the table.

Yet, contrary to his expectations, the Slinky Corps thought the opposite.

"Yes, my Tyrant. While we are experienced in fighting fellow Naga, when it comes to other races, we are far too lacking. The battles with the feral monsters proved that. We wish to correct this by fighting as much as we can."

"Hahahaha!"

Unintentionally, Elian laughed out loud; the irony of it all was humorous. If one saw the Slinky Corps, few would believe they were Naga. Few could still call them weak, yet the same battle hunger that drove them to kill each other for experience still burned as fiercely as ever.

How amusing. If I let them loose, how much would they grow?

Despite Elian and Bianca using the same Weaponizing process on the Virexans and the Naga, the results couldn’t be any more different. The former were like lobotomized hippies; the latter battle maniac who thought of nothing but war.

Excited at their future, Elian nodded and smiled, "Good. I like that attitude. I will permit it. Do as you wish, kill and hunt everything you deem worthwhile. However, humans and Snow Wolves are off-limits. Should you meet either, you are forbidden from killing them."

"Will that command hold true even if they have the ability to kill us?"

Epsilon’s question caused Elian to raise his eyebrows. Due to Weapons being near-immortal, he hadn’t considered the possibility. The average weapon boasted extreme resistance to physical force and near immunity to magic-based attacks.

The only way to kill a Weapon was to find its core and shatter it.

This principle applied to not just Elian’s creations but also to himself. There were a dozen ways to mitigate this danger, but apart from a few opponents, there wasn’t even a need to go that far.

Elian abruptly slammed his heels into the ground. His immense momentum caused a ditch to form from the kinetic energy. Epsilon similarly slowed down and raised her hand. In an instant, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoing in the air ceased.

The Tyrant couldn’t help but look to the right. There a large army of black beings of all shapes and sizes stood. Born of his vision and brought back by Bianca, they represented the force Elian had to bear.

He couldn’t help but feel proud of them. With their numbers, if Elian decided to butcher an entire city, it was doubtful that any single human faction could stop the Slinky Corps.

But with their power also came immense danger. Betrayal, deception, and malice were things Elian grew to hate from learning of Bianca’s story. By giving more power to his allies, the chance that they would turn on him also grew.

As a weakling, Elian grew up being a pessimist. It was nice to believe that everything would always work out. But everyone knew life was never so kind, nor was it fair.

After a few moments, Alpha the centaur, Gamma the elemental, Beta the kraken, and Zeta the artillery battery came forward. They joined Epsilon and waited for Elian to speak.

"Epsilon asked me a question: should you all face a human I wished to save, and said human had the power to kill you all, should she prioritize my will or her survival?"

The tribe leaders all stood motionless. It was truly a dilemma; logic would dictate a sentient being to prioritize its own survival. But the ones here were not free beings but Weapons bound as slaves.

After Elian gave them a few moments to digest his words, he continued.

"If I commanded you to give up your lives for my cause, what would you do?"

Immediately, all five tribe leaders answered in one unified voice, "Our lives are yours, Tyrant!"

"Ho? So even if it meant your demise, you would follow?"

One by one, they elaborated.

"Of course, given who the Tyrant is, I am sure that death would be fighting against a battle that is impossible to win!" the centaur declared as he kicked up his front legs in the air.

Gamma rose up like a geyser, stretching his body like water. "I agree. The only time the Tyrant would ask for our lives would be in glorious combat! I also have no qualms about dying in such a manner!"

Meanwhile, Beta slammed his many tentacles to the ground as if he were playing whack-a-mole. "My life is yours, Tyrant. Use it as you will."

Zeta bowed her head and folded her spider legs. "Tyrant, you are Ysh-Natul’s hope for salvation. If my life can be of use to your purpose, I freely give it. I only hope that you would still protect the Naga even after I pass."

Elian went wide-eyed. He expected them to agree with some doubts or requests for things in exchange, but what the Tyrant got were fanatical answers worthy of those brainwashed by a cult. When he finally turned to Epsilon, she smiled radiantly.

"I am the same as my brothers and sister, my Tyrant. Be it now or in the future. I follow your will unto my death."

Satisfied, Elian nodded.

"Good. Then brand this command in your souls. Until the day I ask for your lives, I forbid you all from dying. Should a human or snow wolf put your lives in danger, prioritize yourselves. Kill anyone who opposes you. Should you die, I will avenge you."

With fanatical smiles, the Naga roared in a powerful voice, "BY YOUR WILL, TYRANT!"

Hearing the boisterous display of the army before him, he felt emotional. While he started his journey alone, dying in a dark cave, now he had enough power to dictate the fate of others.

Elian couldn’t help but gaze at the face of the lover behind him. His current reality wouldn’t have been possible without her.

Carefully he adjusted her position and softly kissed her on her head. Affection and gratitude overflowing from his heart. Her words kept replaying in his mind.

Words that now embody the Slinky Corps.

"No. I want to do this. The more we raise, the more will protect you. I bought a lot of high mana monster cores. I will let you know when I can go again."

Be it against the Virexans, the Karnathians or the Naga, Bianca always desired to raise as many Weapons as possible. Despite her being severely weakened by each soul bind, she pushed herself to the brink, never sparing anything.

"Please let me protect you, Elian. This is my freedom and my consequence."

If only a single purpose, she knew that each one would protect Elian as if it were a desire Bianca etched into their very souls. Now. Such an army gathered around the Tyrant. He couldn’t help but lick his lips in anticipation.

Without further words, Elian resumed his journey.

Epsilon and Alpha, along with their tribes, the fastest of the Naga, chased after him. The three other tribes turned around. They would soon begin what later would become notoriously known as "Salvaging" operations by the Weapons of Valestra.