《Folly of the Boundless [A Litrpg, Progression Fantasy]》 Chapter 1: Idiots Abound Brilliant Lance of Absolution! The brilliant beam of condensed spirit leapt from the eleven-year olds open palm. Shot out with malicious glee, on a one-way trip towards Juns unprotected chest. You see, this is why I hate kids, Jun thought to himself. You give them all they could ever want for, and what do you get in return? A spirit beam straight through the heart, thats what! I mean, cmon! Talk about ungrateful There was something decidedly hopeful about having nowhere to go but up. When the sky was the limit, and ones room for improvement was unbelievably vast. Okay, so, in his stepbrothers defense, it wasnt as if things were all bad. Sure, the brats technique mightve been a bit on the thinner side, but it was still plenty bright and uh, lance-y? In that way, at least someone got the name right. Right? Okay, so absolution seemed like a bit of a stretch, but to each their own Jun supposed. It was only that the thirty or so seconds itd taken for the little monster to finally unleash his ultimate techniquein which they just sort of stared at one another? It wasn''t exactly what he''d call intimidating. In fact, if it werent for his being held in such a loving embraceif by loving he of course meant rough, and by embrace hed meant manhandlingit would have been simplicity itself to make his way over there and well. Do what, he wasnt entirely sure. But whatever it mightve been, hed have had plenty of time in which to decide. As it stood, he hadn''t even had the chance to take a single step before-! Holy mother of mercy that thing is fast! The beam hit Jun just below the solar plexus, burrowed a shallow hole there to the sounds of burning flesh, then dispersed, with a bright flash and a harsh snap, into a cloud of blinding white sparks. Naturally, as one does when placed in such an untenable position, he screamed. He howled. He kicked and he swore. He put words to his agony until his throat was rubbed raw. Until large, fat tears and globules of snot were dribbling down his face to conjoin at his chin. Now, of course, it wasnt as if he needed to do any of this. It was just that he''d found theatrics expedited the process by quite a bit. And, while sure, it did hurtevery heartbeat sending a jolt of agony through the shallow hole in his chestin all honesty, he was pretty used to this kind of abuse by now. If anything, he disdained the need for all this melodrama. The thespian in his soul veritably wept. But, hey, if the cruel smiles and laughter were of any indication, at least his performance wasnt going under appreciated. In reality, this back and forth was almost mundane at this point. For better or worse, he thought of it as just another part of his daily routine. One he didnt particularly enjoy overly much, yet failed to find a way to excise altogether. A lot like flossing in a way. Or, for that matter, dealing with those damnable merchant princes without giving into temptation, and tearing his own hair out by the roots. Seriously, of all the nine hellish realms, he had to imagine there was a special kind of residence reserved for those puffed up, pompous, profligate pontificators. Those insufferable loose pants wearing pricks. Them, their sycophantic entourages, and the bevy of severely overpaid, wildly under-qualified, chronically incompetent retainers taskedat some point in the distant distant pastwith the ever-elusive concept of raising them! or no. Perhaps that wasnt being entirely fair. They probably did their best for whatever that was worth. Most likely it was just the fact that some were merely born rotten. And that nurture could, ultimately, only do so much. Actually, speaking of which? Oh yeah. That was right! He was supposed to be being tortured wasnt he? Tortured. Tormented. Something along those lines. Awkward of him to let something like that slip his mind. Much like that fleeting twig of a lance, his theatrics had petered off somewhat abruptly. Juns heart skipped a beat when he noticed the looks of confusion on his stepbrothers faces. While they were usually each as thick and slow as tree sap in winter, even they might start to get suspicious if given enough prompting. It was why he, generally, tried to keep consistent with his pretenses. He had certain appearances to maintain after all. Thinking fast, he decided to fall back on something basic. Something old and reliable. No need for anything fancy Jun slumped bonelessly into his stepbrothers'' arms as if suddenly faint. Then, without raising his head, said in the weakest voice he could manage. It hurts! P-please. No more. Arent we supposed to be family? Aaand hook, line, and sinker. Seriously, had he picked the wrong career? Because, I mean, that was good, right? Like, really really good. The cadence. The presence. He didnt want to jump to conclusions or anything, but was he actually a natural? Like clockwork, the stupid grins reappeared on their stupid faces. No doubt, even now, any misgivings were floating up and away on the winds that rattled around their tiny excuses for brains. One of his stepbrothers chuckled, a nasally, hiccuping sound. Not likely, he snorted. Cedric hasnt even gotten to use his striker technique yet. Been looking forward to seeing that all week. The tall boy on his left, Cedric, the senior nitwit of their merry little band, threw his head backshifting the long curtain of golden blond hair out of his eyes. Jun definitely couldnt see a time in which that might prove a liability. Seriously, why werent all cultivators bald? Jun sure knew the first thing hed do when facing off against Honorable Sir. Hair that billows gently in the autumn breeze, is grab two good fist-fulls of those luscious locks, and swing them around until either their follicles failed, or his arms did. Great Aunt Agatha says I''m not allowed to practice on the servants anymore. Not since that little waif had to go and die on us, the older boy scoffed. I swear, I wasnt even giving it my all, she just up and collapsed out of nowhere. Mother says it was a weakness of the mind probably, he gave a dramatic sigh. No matter. I suppose you''ll just have to do as our sorry little replacement. Let''s just hope you last longer than she did. The boy grinned maliciously in what Jun supposed was meant to be a threatening manner. It was slightly undermined by the fact that he had to repeatedly flick his hair out of his face in order to maintain eye contact. Juns already poor mood instantly soured. Shed been a shy girl, from what he recalled. Liked to keep to herself mostly. That being said, theyd spoken polite words on more than one occasion. And the simple fact that shed deigned to speak to him of all people practically spoke volumes of her character. Yeah! And if it killed her, just think what itll do to you and your weak, dumb, stupid weakling body? Prolly break you in half, prolly! the little demon chimed in helpfully. Ah. How eloquent. The heights of nobility. The future of their branch was in very good hands. The eldest glared balefully at the youngest. That was implied, idiot. What? But you didn''t say-? Yes, because I didn''t have to! Are you an invalid, or are you just that stupid? Uncle Darren explained it to us just this morning. When you want to threaten someone effectively you don''t outright tell them what you''re going to do. You let them stew. Come up with their own things that are probably way worse, and then you do that. Were you even listening Caspian? The one to Juns left chuckled. Probably too busy stuffing his face full of pastries, he said, every hiccuping guffaw accompanied by the jiggle of multiple chins. But? But..! Youre still just gonna punch him, right? Well of course Im just going to fucking punch him! It was implied you-! he paused, and then sighedmassaging at his temples. You know what? Never mind, just get over here and hold him steady. The young lad, no doubt only trying to imitate his idols, looked positively crestfallen as he slowly trudged towards Jun. As he passed, Cedric gave the boy a hard slap to the back of the head for good measure. And the teary-eyed look of hurt on the boy''s face was absolutely priceless. But! He was ever the professional. Hed had plenty of practice over the years of showing none of the elation he felt in moments like these, and so kept his face carefully blankeyes slightly averted. That didn''t, however, stop the little brat from projecting all his pent up hurt and frustration onto him with a wicked glare. Though, to be fair, he honestly hadn''t expected it to. Damage control, that was the name of the game here. Because there was a big difference between years of irrational resentment, and well-earned animosity. Well, the difference wasn''t huge, but it had to be something right? Surely, he wouldn''t wake up in the middle of the night, only to find a knife somewhere it shouldnt be, and that same petulant glare glinting from somewhere in the shadows. Surely. As Caspian finally arrived and clamped down on his arm, hard, the one to his right chuckled. Damn these cultivators. Even this brat is stronger than me! How does that even make sense? Dumbass, he muttered. Stuff it, Robert! What do you know, anyway? Bet you still can''t even count past ten! What!? This again!? I told you a million times. Uncle Edmund let me take a sip of his wine. I got confused, thats all! Besides, it''s not like I''ll need to know my numbers once I join the emperors army. His Highest on Highs Imperial Legion. Its the emperors legion dummy. Who cares what its called? I-! Silence! Cedric broke in, beginning to massage the bridge of his nose now. Idiots... I''m surrounded by idiots, I like where this guys head is at. He makes some excellent points. Just hold him still, will you? I''m assuming you''re capable of that much? The two brothers nodded along meekly. Good, because if he slips loose and one of you falls within my range, I can promise you, I will not be halting my attack due to your own incompetence. I''m finding out just how much damage I can do with two unblocked nodes one way or another this day. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Both boys audibly gulped at the prospect, and then, with eyes thatd gone wide, redoubled their efforts to hold him in place. It wouldve been comical if it didnt hurt so much. Meanwhile, as Cedric assumed a low stance and prepared his techniquemuttering to himself and shifting his hair out of his eyes all the whileJun took the opportunity to once more appreciate their surroundings. They were standing in a quiet grove of ashen trees, populated by pockets of dense thickets. A light breeze tugged at the sparse canopy aboveplucking free the last vestiges of autumn with an inquisitors ease, scattering multihued leaves like celebratory petals at the feet of winters victorious army. They were within the bounds of the kings royal hunting grounds. An isolated expanse of forest that went on for several hundred kilometers in every direction. Maintained and regularly patrolled by the kings very own royal huntsmanin hopes of keeping it relatively tame and free of criminalsit was the primary training ground most young and ambitious frontier cultivators graduated onto upon reaching a high enough stage in their development. Did that mean it was anywhere near safe for them to be there? No. Of course not! In fact, the risk of encountering something explicitly unsafe was astronomically high. It was still meant to be a hunting ground for experienced cultivators, after all. A resource they were in regretfully short supply. Were they breaking kings'' law by trespassing on his lands? Absolutely they were! The penalty for entering the kings wood unauthorized was either deathin the case of a vassal, bondsman, or just plain old commoneror a fine far too steep for their small branch to possibly pay. And in the end, did this band of nitwits care even a smidgen about any of this? Were they even aware? Who cares!? They were here now, werent they? Some place no one will hear you scream. Apparently, it didnt matter that they were now so far from civilization that it was doubtful any of their screams would be heard regardless. Fist of the Broken Mountain! Cedric exclaimed. The faintly glowing fist took Jun just below the sternum, suspiciously close to where the first technique had struck. Impacting with enough force to tear him from his brothers hold and throw him for what had to have been several entire meters. He felt himself flip through the air once, then twice, before his momentum was ultimately arrested by an unforgiving forest floor. Landing hard, it was several more seconds of tumbling and rolling before he at last came to a halt in an explosion of dry leaves. The wind having been thoroughly knocked out of him; it was several precious seconds before his seizing chest allowed for even the shallowest intakes of breath. The jolt of agony that in turn caused making him wince. The natural response of which only further exacerbated the issue. And so, it was with a shaking hand that he discretely palmed something from his jacket pocket, then carefully brought it to his lips. Swallowing the bitter pill with some effort, he immediately sagged in relief, as the blessed medicinal herbs began the process of realigning bones, stitching torn flesh, and regrowing burned tissue. A peak grade mortal mending pill. It was an expensive solution, to be sure, but, where his continued health and wellbeing was concerned, only the best would do. Well, the best within reason anyway. Ok. So. Jun had to admit, that had hurt. He supposed advancement to the foundation establishment realm wasn''t as negligible a jump in strength as hed once believed it to be. It was just so hard to parse at timeswhat with the heaps of unearned praise the branch lords sons were showered in on an almost daily basiswhen an actual, genuine achievement somehow slipped its way into the mix. Reaching up to his chest, he slipped his fingers through the neat hole in his tunicidly tracing over the brand-new patch of skin. Feeling too the raised lines of his birthmark, stark and undeniably therealmost as if theyd never been burned away in the first place. Hed long since ceased to wonder why, no matter what his body was put through, those same aged lines just had a way of popping back up out of nowhere. The same rough lines aligned in the same strange patterns. He didnt even think it was a product of the, admittedly potent, medicine he took. I mean, theyre good, sure, but Im not sure anything should be that good. Least of all a mortal pill. Jun flinched as the vibrations from someones approach reached his sore ribs. Seeing no real reason to rise, he stayed right where he was. It wouldn''t do to have them think he was capable of such a thing so soon after that striker technique had laid him low after all. Idly he noted that the tread of footsteps felt awfully heavy. So, Cedric then? But, no, the boy was tall, sure, but slim as a reed. He didnt weigh that much. Robert maybe? But no, that didnt seem right either. Definitely not Caspian. Maybe all three? But then why were their steps so erratic...? And so heavy. Very distantly he caught the sounds of wholesale destructionthe crack of shattered timber and creak of toppling giants. Like the tumult of a raging frontier storm or else? Something is very wrong. He could feel it in his bones now, rattling his teeth and numbing his hands. Turning his head to the side, he felt his stomach sink all the way down to his boot soles. The carpet of leaves were supposed to be doing that, right? Jumping in time with every distant reverberation. With every increasingly frequent boom. A soft hand grabbed him by the upper arm and hauled him to his feet. Looking down on him with a gleeful expression, Cedric opened his mouth to say something trite. Jun never gave him that chance. Wait! Shut up a moment. Do you hear that? he asked, forgoing all pretense or chicanery. Cedric only sneered. Ignoring the question entirely, he leaned in closerapplying further pressure to his grip. No doubt to better make his dissatisfaction with Juns apparent impertinence clear. Insolent-! Listen here, you insignificant little-! But before he could finish, a piercing cry cut through the quiet atmosphere of the glade. And on its tail came a great cacophony of sound that seemed to portend the end of the world. To the west, two waves of earth and uprooted forest rose high above the swaying crowns of the Kings Wood, like the earthen wake of an enormous vessel. And seeing as the near seismic vibrations only appeared to be increasing in intensity, it was easy enough to surmise that, whatever was at the forefront of that massive wake, was headed in their general direction. Meaning it was fairly self-explanatory where they should be when it inevitably arrived. Or at least that had been the reasonable, sane, non-suicidal thought process Juns mind had immediately gone through. Looking up at his step sibling, he was forced to come to terms with the fact that his opinion was not as universally shared as he mightve hoped. In all his panic hed forgotten for a second that he was not looking to a sane, rational person. No, instead he was looking to a cultivator for prudence. A worse lapse in judgement, he could not currently bring to mind. The dimwit was smiling. Smiling by all the gods! And could he see a glint of avarice in the boy''s eyes? That was it! The idiot was going to die. He was going to go die a fool''s death, and then have the audacity to take Jun along with him. Well, fuck that. Hed never agreed to that. Carefully, as not to interrupt the deadman''s morbid fascination with the object of his demise, Jun ever so slowly attempted to extricate his arm from the slackened grip, only for it to tighten painfully in response. Jun winced. The jig was up. He was done for. Finished! His evil stepbrother looked down on him and smiled even wider. Hey, cousin? How would you like to do me a small favor? And for the briefest of moments, he was actually grateful for the support, because, just then, Jun felt his legs go weak. BOOM! A tangled ball of twisting fur and bloodstained feathers exploded onto the scene with earth shattering momentum. Breaking entire swaths of woodland into mere kindling and kicking up enormous waves of earth into the air. Waves which soon dwarfed the crowns of the surrounding forest, which themselves loomed impossibly high above. At one point, the tsunami of torn up soil rose so high that it managed to blot out the very sun itself, before that terrible wave finally crested, and it all came down in a great calamitous crashhalf burying nearly everything in sight. Deep reverberating growls were answered by the sharp clack of an enormous beak. These overpowering reports punctuating the otherwise chaotic squall of savagerysounds of ripping, gouging, and tearing galoreas the two titanic spirit beasts tore into one another with reckless abandon. The two so impressive, in both strength and sheer scale, that it was as if the entire forest shuddered every time their terrific clash slammed one or the other back to what was left of the forest floor. At least twenty meters in height and more than double that in length, one of the Goliaths, a fearsome looking wolf beastwhose coat glistened a polished black like chipped obsidianstraddled the winged form of the second: a titanic bird of prey of comparable size. The winged beast thrashed, flapped, and kicked in its attempts to extricate itself from the wolf, though ultimately, all of its struggles were to no avail. A thunderous crack was followed by yet another piercing cry as the wolf''s jaws found purchase on bone and bit down hard. Suddenly, with what had to have been the very last of its strength, the Roc flexed its mighty talons and launched the Blackstone Direwolf back through the air. The Direwolf, first sent careening by the unexpected display of strength, swiftly righted itself midair to land gracefully several dozen meters awaywhereupon it began snacking on the morsel of bird flesh itd managed to hold onto. At once, the massive bird attempted to rise from its slumped over position, but it only managed to get so far before its injuries proved too much. Brought crashing back down to the ground by its own weight, the Roc let out another heart stopping cry. Although, unlike before, now there were definite notes of sorrow and desperation in its tone. The Direwolf, sensing that the hunt was nearly over, loped forward unhurriedly, bright blood contrasting the obsidian sheen of its muzzle. Fist of the Broken Mountain! With a great leap, Cedric flung himself up and over the hill of upturned soil. Another bound, and hed sent himself careening through the air, long hair streaming and jacket billowing in the wind. He hurtled headlong towards the unsuspecting Direwolf, a savage grin splitting his face from ear to ear. With his left hand held before him, his right fist cocked back, it was simplicity itself to quickly recite his high mantra, and so wreath his knuckles in an etherial silver aura. One so radiant, in both the physical and spiritual sense, that it actually hurt his eyes to look upon too directly. It permeated the space around his knuckles with a palpable weight. Cedrics concept being applied to the utmost of his understanding. Empowering his strike with part of an idealnot only multiplying his techniques effectiveness severalfold, but also imbuing it with nothing less than an enlightened truth about the universe itself. |Concept of Crushing| (1st Aspect) [Aspect of Hardness] My will is to crush anyone that does not bow before me. With a resonant crack that echoed throughout the ravaged landscapefrightening off what few birds remained in the areathe young cultivators concept imbued, technique empowered fist met the midnight flank of the Blackstone Direwolf. And promptly folded in on itself like a crumpled paper dollevery bone in his hand having been shattered simultaneously. Then, to add more injury to injury, the backlash from his fist being unable to leave even a mark on the beasts wicked hide was enough to shatter every other bone in his arm for good measure. It was as if the universal concept were rebuking the foolish child for using it on something he had no business trying to crush in the first place. Which, as it so happened, it technically was. Trying to crush something that wasn''t crushable, to the concept of crushing, was a crushable offense after all. The wolf casually glanced down at the now crippled human, then snorted in contempt. Momentarily stunned, by both shock and by pain, Cedric Divan Beckonfrost was in no position to evade the several ton obsidian tail that caught him squarely in the midsection. The very same that sent him spinning like a limp sack of meat. Chapter 2: A Difficult Decision As the limp form of his stepbrother sailed past overheadin a poignant example of action versus consequenceonly one thought readily came to mind. Idiots. Im surrounded by idiots. He was currently crouched behind the literal mountain of dirt that''d been upturned by the two titans mere passage. As he had been ever since Cedric unveiled his ingenious plan. Initially, Juns unenviable task had been to distract the giant killer bird so that Cedric could best the big wolf uninterrupted. How Jun was supposed to have gone about such a task remained a mystery. Although he felt itd been not so subtly implied that running headlong into the beasts cavernous maw would be a good start. Oh, and did he mention these things were big? Huge, even? Each as tall as a six story building with teeth and claws as long as people. But no. Yeah, of course. By all means, fight the damned things. Really, when the odds were stacked so heavily in your favor, what in the world could possibly go wrong? Presumably, his dearest brother wouldve wrapped things up with the first beast just in time to clean the seconds clockjust as it was finished dabbing its beak free of bits of him no doubt. Thankfully things never escalated that far. As was only sensible, Cedric took the two beasts separation as a golden opportunity to rush in and start punching things. That it hadn''t at all worked out in his favor was a mystery sure to haunt his sleepless nights for many years to come. Welp! There went all his compunctions to hang around this death trap for a moment longer! Now all he had to do was slip away ever so quietly and wash his hands of this unfortunate debacle entirely. Brilliant Lance of Absolution! You''ve gotta be fucking kidding me. The idiot boy was taking a page out of his brothers playbook it would seem. Jun wasn''t sure what he knew about probability, but if the way the big wolfie easily manhandled his brother was of any indication- Wolf-handled? Wolf-paw-dled? Didnt matter. The point was, it was incredibly stupid of him and really didn''t speak well of his math tutors. Tears streaming down his cheeks and body trembling uncontrollably, Caspian nevertheless stood atop the earthen rise with arms outstretched and fingers extendedsending condensed beam after condensed beam at the massive wolf. And, as if to make matters even worse, by some cruel twist of fate one of the errant beams actually landed. The technique hit the wolf directly on its nose. Snout? Actually eliciting a yip of pained surprise from the gigantic creature. From his vantage point, head just barely peeking over the earthen mound, Jun saw the very instant when the wolfs murderous gaze turned in their direction. Juns blood went ice cold. Well, thats not good. None too gently, Jun grabbed the back of the boys lapel and roughly yanked him behind cover. In the face of certain death, the possible repercussions for his not so friendly tone were the last things on his mind. Although, at least a little politeness never hurt. Robert! Would you please get the hell over here and manage your idiot of a brother before he winds up getting all of us kill-! Jun turned sharply, ready to continue his tirade, only to discover brother Robert was nowhere to be found. Wait? No. There he was. That tiny silhouette in the far distance, hightailing it as fast as his stubby legs would carry him. Huh. Well. At least someone had the right idea. THUD! Jun nearly lost his footing as the ground violently shook. An ominous gust of pungent, hot air slapping against the back of his neck. He turned around slowly, as if prolonging the reveal might possibly save him, only to come face to face with precisely what hed feared. A cavernous maw, dripping with wickedly sharp canines. Craning his head up, and then up, then finally up a little more, he met the crimson irises of the Blackstone Direwolfutterly inhuman and cruelly intelligent. And so it was that, in that life defining moment, he did the only thing he could think to. He shoved the troublesome runt in front of him, and broke out into a full-on sprint. W-what? Hey! You cant just-! You know, now that he really thought about it, parts of Cedric s plan did have some merit to it after all. So long as he wasn''t the one getting gobbled up as a distraction, he really couldn''t find too many faults with its logic. Pawing through his jacket pockets, Jun half ran, half slid down the massive dirt hill. Headed in the only other direction his bladder fervently insisted was precisely the wrong way to go. On a b-line towards the other enormous man eating spirit beast. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. With an unclenching of his gut, he felt his hand brush against the blessed cloth sack. Left pocket. Because of course itd been his left pocket. Wasnt it always? Tugging it free with a little too much force, he felt the sack immediately slip from his grasp. Forcing him to fumble for it blindly. Thankfully, after a couple stomach churning seconds, and far too many false grabs for his poor heart to take, he finally managed to get ahold of it properly. He was quick to hold it close to his chest from there, cradling it like a newborn babe. Relief and sheer nervousness making his legs feel like jelly. Even still, since taking off he hadn''t slowed down for even an instant. If anything, he only began to pick up the pace as the sounds of violence erupted from behind. Fist of the Broken Mountain! Oh. So he was alive then after all. Jun really wasn''t sure how to feel about that. On the one hand it would certainly complicate things. Especially should they all survive this. He was sure his part in this utter catastrophe would balloon outward to encompass all of the blame just as soon as they left the forests eves. On the other hand, it did allow him a great deal more breathing room. It took five more agonizing seconds to reach the foot of the gigantic spirit beast, at which point he fully appreciated the sheer magnitude of the thing. If anything, it was larger than the wolf had been, if less intimidating in its current state. Jun shook himself. He needed to stay focused on the task at handthe reason why he''d hoofed it all the way there. He wasn''t stupid, he knew that even if he''d done the smart thing and bolted at the first signs of trouble, if the wolfie was intent on catching him, it would. The disparity between them was almost laughable. Which led him back to a logistical exercise. After all, what do you do when a financial conglomerate capitalizes on a corner of the market to the point of total monopolyslowly choking the economic lifesblood from consumers one ruthless price-gouge at a time? Simple. You introduce a different coagulation of funds whose only goal is to undercut the other guy at every opportunity. And, as the two of them go at it like fiendsas costs go down and quality goes upwho really wins in the end? He does, hopefully. Because while everyone else is too busy fighting their own battles, no one notices him sneaking out the back with a comically large sack of coin. Or, well, that was the plan anyway. At last, he rounded the last few steps and reached the massive head of the spirit beast. The second it caught sight of him its entire body lurchedmaking him shriek, if in the totally manly sort of wayas if it were making to rise and failing utterly. Jun leapt back instinctively. Alright. So, it hadnt kicked the bucket just yet. That meant everything was going more or less to plan. That was a good thing. Wasnt it? He slowly circled the bird at what he hoped, very badly, was a safe enough distance. The birds eye tracked his progress steadily. When he reached its front, the sudden lurch and deafening clack of its snapping beak told him that it most certainly had not been far enough away. Thankfully, Juns nerves were wired so tightly by then, they were fit to snap at even the slightest provocation. Meaning he''d been able to jerk his head out of the way just in the nick of time. The sudden displacement of air enough to tug at his clothes and lash at his hair violently. Jun took several stumbling steps back and swore. He was trying to help this dumb bird, and this was the thanks he got? Collecting himself, Jun once more thought over the implications of what he was considering. He held the sack to his chest protectively, as if it were a newborn child. An irrational denial overcame him then, and for a long moment he contemplated going back on this whole sacrificial endeavor. After all, who was to say he couldnt outrun the big bad wolf? He was in relatively decent shape for his age. Well, by mundane standards if nothing else. And really, wasnt that all that mattered at the end of the day? Surely there was another way to get through all of this unscathed, not to mention with all of his interests intact. There had to be. There just had to be. Jun racked his brain for some miracle cure or inspired solution for this untenable position, only to come away empty handed and bereft of excuses. The sounds of fierce battle reached his ears from nowhere near far enough away. Jun relaxed his death grip on the sack reluctantly. Hed just have to suck it up and be realistic. Hed already come this far, hadnt he? It wasnt as if it were worth his life or anything of the sort. He wouldnt sacrifice his future for the sake of something so trivial. So transient. Even he wasnt that obsessed. He was better than that. He was stronger than that. Or at least he figured that if he kept on telling himself as much, sooner or later hed actually believe it. Feeling like he was tearing away a chunk of his own heart in the process, he nevertheless acquiesced to whatever cruel god had orchestrated this whole entire messgiving himself over to the will of the fates with a soul weary sigh. Without any more hesitation, Jun reached into the bag, and took out a sandwich. Then a few kebabs, a couple colonial pears, and his drink. Only the best for his midday meal. He took a generous bite of the sandwich to sooth his anxiety. On an employees recommendation, hed actually visited a different sandwich shop this morning. Hed been told they use only the freshest bread, baked in the wee hours of the morning, just before dawn, and you could definitely tell the difference. He made a mental note to send a man to look into them. They were a hole in the wall joint with exclusively local clientele, though the turnout hed seen was still rather impressive despite all that. What could they do with the right kind of capital he wondered idly. The crack of breaking bones and a scream so high pitched he hardly recognized the voice as Cedrics broke him free from his ruminations. Jun shook his head vigorously. Now was not the time to be getting distracted. He had a regrettable task to perform, after all. And besides, his dearest siblings were in the direst of straights! If he didnt hurry, they could be halfway down that big wolfs throat before he knew it! And that would be...? Well actually, when he put it like that, there really wasnt all that much urgency. Huh. Chapter 3: Bird for Brains Jun set his lunch to the side. Hed really only needed the bag in any case. He grabbed the sack and held it open, as if raising the rumpled thing to the heavens in offering. In all of its liberally stained and savory smelling glory. With a thought, a glowing blue rectangle appeared before him, covered in scrolling texts and spinning icons. Evidently familiar with this impromptu menu, he quickly selected the coin shaped icon on the far left with another mental command. In the next moment a new screen appeared to overlap the first. He looked blankly at this new screen for some time while the page scrolled, before he eventually pulled a face. With a disgruntled tsk he made a mental confirmation. After thatwith a series of brilliant golden flashesa stream of marble sized pills materialized out of thin air only to fall with a series of clicks into the proffered hole. Without pause, this miraculous stream of round medicines continued to rain down for quite some time, until the sack was nearly filled to the brim. Jun, for his part, despite the inconceivable sight occurring not inches away, looked as if he were being made to watch his entire family being butchered. When the spontaneous stream of pills finally stopped, Jun pulled the drawstring tight and got to his feet. He stared at the bird with only a hint of resentment, and a boatload of weary resignation. Look, Feathers, if youre going to be munching on anything it might as well be these. Cant say they havent served me well, but Im pretty sure theyll do a lot more for you than my brains ever could. And with that, he tossed the sack practically overflowing with peak grade mending pills and revitalizing tonics at the beak of the titanic feathery beast. The ones worth a small fortune in spirit coins. The ones hed just paid a small fortune for. The ones that would soon be swept down the proverbial drain like so much drainage disposal. It was like the worst of his nightmares made manifest. It was fine, though. It was ok. He was nearly a man grown now. He wouldnt weep over something as trivial as this. No matter how much he wanted to. The bird looked at his incredibly generous offering, and he couldve sworn, for a second, it almost appeared skeptical. Oh, you ungrateful little-! Big-! Well, alright, youre pretty darn huge, Ill grant you, but that still doesnt give you the right to-! After taking a tentative sniff, however, Feathers lowered its head sharply, pinched the relatively tiny cloth sack between its massive beak, then tossed it down its gullet with a swift and fluid motion that belied its massive size. Jun suddenly felt weak. Not just in the body, but in his very soul as well. Feathers quickly finished swallowing and then looked down at Jun somewhat ominously. An errant thought hit him then. Ramming into his mind like the head of a sledgehammer, and neatly embedding itself there for all to see. What if it just ate him? Because, really, what was stopping it? It was a spirit beast after all, they werent exactly known for their good will. It was a possibility he hadnt fully appreciated until now. And, as he felt was only natural, now it was all that he could think about. When he ruminated on the thought process thatd led him this far, he found that hed predicated much on the unfounded belief that this bird would be suitably grateful after his grand and noble sacrifice. But that begged the question, could it even feel gratitude? Or was this plan actually doomed to fail from the very beginning? And even worse! If so, did that also mean hed just thrown away all that coin for nothing!? Hed been running on pure intuition up until this point and praying his improvisation would be enough in the end. But what if his intuition was actually terrible? He couldnt be eaten! He had so much left to do! Recoup his losses on this disaster for one. No. He wouldnt be eaten. He outright refused. He would fight! somehow in some way surely Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Well, he wouldnt go down easily, that was for sure! Oh no, not him. No way no how. If he was going to die here, he would choke the life from the damned bird, if it was the last thing he did. He could do that much at least. Hells, if the bird was so keen on eating him, he would do that much and more! He would-! He would-! he paused, then he sighed. No. No, he wouldnt. He wouldnt go down kicking and screaming like a petulant child. If these were to be his final moments, he would accept his death with the dignity and poise hed always hoped to show when his time finally came. Sure, he hadnt imagined this to be the way hed go out, but who knew better than him how things rarely went to plan? And so, with a lighter heart than hed thought himself capable, and a reaffirmed resolution, Jun open his arms wide, closed his eyes, and embraced his fate with a wry smile. The Roc looked down at the strangely standing human while waiting for her bones to reset. She cocked her head to the side in obvious confusion. Well, it certainly seemed like an odd way to stand, but then again, what did she know? Perhaps this was the way all humans stood when they werent moving around or making loud noises. Shed honestly never paid close enough attention to their comings and goings to be sure one way or another. She knew others in her clan paid closer attention to such things. Perhaps she would ask one of them when she returned. Even still, it certainly seemed very peculiar. Let humans be humans, she decided sagely. So long as they werent encroaching on the nest. Shed already known from his aura that this wasnt one of the truly scary ones. True, there was a stink about him that she didnt entirely understand, but that was no reason to kill the youngling, only frighten him a bit. Just so that she was sure he knew his place. Shed learned over the course of these last few cycles that you could never be too trusting of their kind, after all. He had surprised her though. Against all expectations hed offered her a gift, if a meager one. Nevertheless, she was grateful for the aid. And a gift received must always be repaid in kind, she asserted with a wise bob of her head. And so, it was with slow movements, as not to stress the healing process currently mending the worst of her wounds, that the Sheer Talon Roc plucked free a single feather from her plumage, and immediately began imbuing it with the heights of her Resonance Pillar. Not in a bid to empower it, as she might do by invoking a chosen mantra, but instead to suffuse it with her present understandings. And then, in another few moments the process was done. Finished with her obligationand recognizing that her body was as recovered as it was likely to getshe released the feather. Allowing it to drift down towards the interesting little human. With a grateful nod in his direction, she propelled herself into the sky with a single beat of her wings. Shed traveled far and wide to stamp out the last embers of this rebellion. Even going so far as to test the bounds of one of the dangerous human settlements. One last beast lord in need of putting down before shed finally feel safe in returning to her clan, mate, and rambunctious little chicks. And just like that, with images of home on the forefront of her mind, Skyfar Clawdancer, Aerial Noblesse of the Astari Clan, propelled herself towards the enemy. Strangely enough, despite the flurry of torrential winds which tore at seemingly everything around, the lightly drifting feather didnt shift off course by a hairentirely unperturbed by anything and everything outside of its predetermined path. Held fast, as if by an invisible tether, it merely drifted its way ever closer, towards the one it had been meant for since its spiritual conception. After the furious winds settled, the air around him became eerily still. Bracing himself for the worst, Jun hesitantly opened his eyes to narrow slits. Nothing. He wasnt dead. Huh. Well, wasnt that a pleasant surprise. He let his arms flop back to his sides somewhat lamely. Though that did beg the question, whered the big bird go? A loud yip sounded from somewhere behind him. Turning, he just barely caught the streaking blur of obsidian fur and brown feathers, as the big bad wolf was snatched up into the airits flailing claws and massive teeth little use when dangling from several stories up. Now that he could properly take a second to compare the two, he realized that Feathers was indeed significantly larger than the wolf. To what lengths had this wolf gone to get the upper hand in the end, Jun wondered. Thinking on it, for a moment, he almost felt bad for the poor pup. But then he remembered how itd tried to eat him less than a minute ago and all empathy he mightve felt quickly evaporated. Without warning Juns legs gave out. Now lying atop the lumpy carpet of torn up earth and blood-soaked sod, he reveled in the sensations of simply being alive. It was only then, as his eyes appreciated the bright blue color of the sky, that he noticed something peculiar floating lazily towards him. Was that a feather? Feathers feather. He chuckled. Mustve tugged free in its sudden departure. Almost absentmindedly, Jun reached out a hand as if to catch it. When his finger and the feather finally touched, however, the world around him first warped, then smeared, and then vanished entirely. Chapter 4: Ideal Vision The brisk wind buffeted her spotted brown plumage as she ascended rapidly through the lower sky realms. She allowed her wings to guide her along Effritts many pathways while her mind spat and churned like the furious tempest windsincensed by the sudden, inexplicable betrayal. To think that the gale blighted Eliss clan would stoop so low as to ally themselves with the filth begotten earthbound. In all of her three hundred cycles under Effritts benign watch, she had never, not once, seen its like. Was their string of meager, if not outright incompetent, hatchlings not shame enough in the eyes of their ancestors? Would they add treachery of the most foul to their growing list of crimes? They would willingly choose to untether themselves from the pact so completely. And for what? Transient power and more heavily disputed territory? Did they not realize the kind of precedent this set? The ramifications of going against the accords after all this time? Because it wouldnt only affect them, but the whole of the clans for many years to come. She shuddered to think of what kind of world she might be raising her chicks in, all because of the foolhardy decisions of the few. Tens of thousands of cycles spent dutifully adhering to the shared breath accords. The lasting peace fostered between the clans so completeand the nest-beds of the clans so hopelessly entangledthat the continued distinction between the fifteen had long since become perfunctory at best. Years of alliance, community, and tradition tossed aside like so much down in a windstorm. She would have their wings for this atrocity. By her ancestors she would, and let none stand in her way. She felt the temperature plummet as the cloud layer separating the lower from the higher sky realms loomed large in her vision. A roiling grey cover that seemed to wrap the whole of the sky in dreary darkness. Without even an ounce of hesitation she plunged beak first into the artificial night. She was leaving behind her brothers, sisters, and mate to the intense melee below in order to waylay this new incursion. There was no way she would hesitate now of all times. It broke her heart as it was, to be here and not down there, fighting to protect her nest, her family, and clan. The thought of harm befalling them or, ancestors forbid, her eggs, while she was so far away made her clench her talons in impotent rage. But the fact remained that she was Aerial Noblesse for her clan. And with that title, and its many privileges, came certain responsibilities. To believe anything less would make her no better than the cursed Ellis. With one final savage beating of her wings, she breached the cloud cover and emerged into the middle heights. It only took a moment for her to catch sight of the distant enemy. From one end of the curving horizon line to the other, the Eliss clans secret vanguard flew unerringly towards the blessed hearts treeits mountain sized trunk rising from the cloud cover below, proud and as awe inspiring as ever. Its vast canopy reaching well above the highest of sky realms. Its root systems spanning almost the entirety of their stretch of forest. A planetary wonder and an unparalleled resource for any daring enough to lay claim to its shade. The great hearts tree, the Astari clans ancestral nest. An ancient pilgrimage site and semi-divine natural treasure all rolled into one. And one which also happened to be her ancestral home. The Eliss clan warriors flew with their backs to the setting suntheir projected shadows rippling across the cloud cover below like a second army of liquid darkness. Gleaming feathers, backlit by waning sunlight, threw into sharp relief the rest of their otherwise dull grey plumage. A deceptive trick, she knew from painful experience. Seeing as those unsuspecting feathers were as impressive as they were deadly. Sharp as honed razor claws and as tough as iron bark hide, they werent something to take lightly if you valued your life. In willful defiance of all the accords, she spotted earthbound beasts riding atop their backs. Hundreds of them, thousands. Upon final confirmation of their duplicity, her fury became a still, cold thingher eyes turning sharp and flinty. This had clearly been meant as a surprise attack. Despite the lack of any real cohesion in their formations, their flight was as swift as it was silent. In fact, if it werent for the chance sighting of a reckless young hatchling, they might not have known of the threat until it was too late. Quickly, she scanned their forcesnoting, with some relief, that there didnt seem to be any that could truly give her pause. A few atypical beast lords, although, earthbound as they were, none should prove a major threat. Her greatest concerns assuaged, she hovered in place for a moment, allowing them to see her. Let them know their own folly, witness the avatar of their demise. Let them choke on their inferiority all the way into the great beyond. With a flex of her will, a white mist bloomed out from her, looking like a sparkling cloud of powdered frost. The cloud quickly coalesced into a flurry of snowflakes. Snowflakes which then flit away on energetic currents of wind. By deftly manipulating her aura, it was simplicity itself to affect the space around her. Leveraging her will she was able to shed the irritating layer of frost which had been slowly coating her featherslike a thousand minuscule talons striking all at once. That done, she focused more intently on the enemy arrayed before her. As if mere fodder deserved such a distinction. To earn the title of enemy, theyd have to have stood a chance of defeating her in the first place. Having spotted her at last, the army began showing clear signs of distress. They beat their wings faster, no doubt in hopes of closing to a distance, where their numbers and deadly feathers could be used to greatest effect. Unfortunately for them, no matter how tempting of a spectacle it mightve been, she hadnt the time to play games. With a flex of her will, and a cold wave of contempt, she raised a single talon. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Against such trash, she would not deign to use anything more. In any event, there was honestly little need. And so, it was with a deceptively casual flick, without fanfare or pretense, that she cut. To cut is my way; my reason is to protectmy conviction is a talon: CUT ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND-FOLD. Immediately the invading army ceased their frantic movementstheir bodies drifting forward on momentum alone. Within seconds, millions of fine lines were subtly revealed, spiderwebbing across feathery flesh and fur clad hide alike. No blood gushed forth in great arcs, though they were surely dead all the same. No sign whatsoever that anything was amiss, despite the utter devastation she had clearly wrought. Her cuts were far too precise for anything so crude; her will far too honed to have achieved anything less. And just like that, in mere moments, the Eliss clans secret vanguard, the one meant to sway the tide of this unnecessary wara veritable army nearly fifty thousand strongrained down from the sky in meaty, uneven chunks. Jun blinked. He was once more in the ruined clearing, staring up at a bright and cloudless blue sky. While at the same time, phantom sensations of gliding through the air on majestic wingsof rending blasphemers with her wicked talonsstill harried his waking mind. To the point that it almost felt as if this were the dream, and his long life spent aloft, high up in the clouds, was the reality. Surrounded by loved ones, with chicks on the way, and possessed of a strength so great and indomitable that he knew, intrinsically, very little could stand in his way. It was so impossibly vivid in his mind, he had a hard time reorienting himself to this new, or now he supposed, old reality. He had to constantly curb the impulse to curl his toes for instanceexpecting that, with each flex, hed feel the comforting heft of razor-sharp talons. Convince his body each movement of his arms didnt feel decidedly offas if the equilibrium were entirely wrong. In time though, he did manage to recover. Or, at least, so he first thought. Upon closer inspection however, he realized something was amiss almost immediately. Something just beneath his ribcage, just beneath his birthmark in fact, which throbbed with a sickly warmth bordering on nausea. He tried shrugging it off at first, as he had all the other sensationsthose lingering impressions. But, to his surprise, no matter what he did, he just couldnt seem to rid himself of this inexplicable, soul aching, debilitating lack. It clung to him like a wasting sicknesssapping away his strength for every second it persisted. An image of shredding to pieces those thatd sought to do him harmto take what was his, hurt him, harm his childrenflashed through his mind. And as it did, a feeling of untold power flowed through him. A stark recollection of regal, barely restrained dominance. As if the entire world were at the mercy of his talons. And then the feeling was gone, leaving him feeling hollow, cold, and afraid. Jun slapped himself in frustration, and more than a little concern. Easy now. Nothing to get worked up about. Itll pass. Just need to focus on other things. Yeah, that should do the trick. And so, it was with a frantic kind of desperation that Jun fell into himself. Tallying sums, counting prime numbers, running through tongue twisters, possible acquisitions, the odd memory exercise or two. Anything and everything that might somehow force composure on his increasingly unraveling mind. And all the while, his panic only grew more and more pronounced as none of his efforts seemed to amount to anything. Reaching beneath his tunic he ran a hand along his birthmark. It was an unconscious response born primarily from stress. A hangover from early childhoodlittle more than a silly charm reallyas if by tracing the swooping curves, jagged lines, and circles, he might banish all the awful, wicked things in the world. Normally, it was a comforting ritual. This time, any comfort it might have given him quickly evaporated. His mind registering only belatedly how feverishly hot and raw the skin there was. And that said nothing of whatever sensation still roiled underneath. It was as if his eyes had been opened to a subtle, yet fundamental truth, only to then have that divine message snatched away oh so prematurely. And suddenly, he found that, more than anything in the world, he wanted that feeling back. Needed it back. Otherwise, he honestly wasnt sure how he would go on. And so, it was almost in a trance that Jun raised a finger, just as Feathers had done with her talon. Placing it gently against an errant blade of grass, he followed the simple motion he still so vividly remembered. With a swift horizontal swipe, he cut. Nothing happened. Annoyed with himself, he made to pull away, but again, that deep seeded need egged him on. Jun stared daggers at the grass blade, as if this were all its fault. His brows knit together in concentration, his mind desperately grappling with the problem. Then, suddenly, an idea hit him. He leaned forward once more, took in a deep breath, and made to try again. Fingernail slightly bending the blade of grass, he recalled with complete clarity not just what hed seen in the vision, but what hed felt in it as well. It wasnt just a desire to cut that shed displayed, but a cold surety that it would be cut. As if it had already happened, and she were merely going through the motions. An aloof disinterest. A frigid disdain. A negligible distinction by all accounts, logic dictated as much. His gut, however, insisted otherwise. Jun focused then. Not so much on the motion of his hand, but instead on his intent, on his demeanor, his self. On that confidence bordering on full blown arrogance. That he might cut the world in twain on a whim if he so wished it, with little more than a disdainful flick of his wrist. That it might as well have happened already, and all he really did was cross some ts and dot some is. With a start he realized that it wasnt such a hard mindset to slip into. It felt very reminiscent to the final stages of the deal making process. When you already knew they would sign and were merely waiting for them to realize the same. And so, it was with that strange mindset firmly held in place, a flare of his will, and an unconscious sneer on his lips, that he cut. Almost lazily, the severed half of the green stalk drifted its way to the forest floor. A chime sounded in Juns head making him yelp in surprise. Several inches from his face, a thin vertical line was drawn in faintly glowing blue light. That line then expanded horizontally in both directions until the light resembled a perfectly cut rectangle. It looked like a phantasmal piece of parchmentsemitransparent and wholly artificial. Jun sat up straight and the strange parchment followed suit, as if it were affixed to his head in some way. Scrolling text appeared on the rectangleread in time by a soothing, androgynous voice. Upon registering the insane words being spoken, his mind went utterly blank, and his jaw, slack. Chapter 5: New Friends? *Ding!* You have found enlightenment in the concept: [Cutting] |Concept of Cutting| (1st Aspect) Aspect of Razors Edge +5 to resonance Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Cutting Nail] (1st Aspected) I cut what obstructs my path. Grade: (Trash Quality) Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 1 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. *Ding!* By surpassing a sufficiently high insight threshold, you have become eligible for a onetime spin of the Heavenly Pavilions Golden Wheel of Untold Abundance & Myriad Possibilities. Do you wish to spin? Yes/No Feeling somewhat dazed by this point, he almost failed to react when the multi-spoked wheel of aged bronzeintricately chased with floral designs, bestial renditions, and archaic symbolsappeared before him as if from thin air. The sharp scent of well oiled metal hit his nostrils only moments after. Its worn surface and almost crude levels of craftsmanship harking back to that of time immemorial. As if, in terms of sheer agelessness, the inexplicable relic that now hovered before him was equal only to that of the universe itself. Or else, so close to it that the distinction was utterly lost on him. Feeling almost compelled to do so, he promptly selected Yes. And just like that, the wheel, nearly a dozen hand spans in diameter, began to spin. Slowly at first, but quickly picking up speed. Soon all that he could make out was a circular blur. The ticking sound each revolution made as myriad slices were passed by quickly turning into an incessant drone. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours, before the wheel, at last, began to slow. Enough for him to once more make out individual details. In time the tick, tick, tick of each successive revolution wound down to a crawl. Until, with one final tick, the spinning wheel ended on a tiny sliver of gold. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have received an Ascendant Boon. Ascendant Boon: |Builder Archetype: Condense| (Unique) At the cost of increased mental energy expenditure, make corporeal a universal mystery for which youve touched upon previously. Be Advised: Due to the ascendant nature of this boon, it is now impossible for any mantra you own to fall below the Poor Quality. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Cutting Nail] (Trash Quality) has evolved. [Cutting Nail] (Trash Quality) has become: [Cutting Hand] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! By finding enlightenment while still within the Mortal Realm you have been awarded the title: [Budding Sage] |Budding Sage| +10 resonance *Ding!* Congratulations! Your resonance pillar has ascended. Advanced from |Abandoned Seedling| [10 of 10] to |Blinded Sapling| [7 of 20]. The path seems hopeless. Your senses fail you. Yet against all odds you stumble into the light. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 37 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Uhh okay? It-! Alright, it wasnt that he was shocked by the blooming screen or voice necessarily. Well, actually no that was a lie. Hed damn near pissed himself. Though not because of the screen itself. It was something hed grown up with all his life, after all. The System, Entains Law, Heavens Mandateit had a multitude of names and few, if any, explanations as to what it was or why it existed. All that anyone seemed to know was that itd been around for as long as everyone could remember. It was a universal arbiter of law, cultivation and, most importantly, the economy. Through the use of The system, it was possible to do a great many otherwise impossible things. Rather, it was its sudden, unexpected appearance that had him all out of sorts. Tack onto that this wheel of overabundance, something he hadnt even heard of, and the flurry of text thatd accompanied it, and, well, it wasnt hard to see why he might feel a tad bit rattled. And this was coming from someone whod been deemed worthy of, not one, but two of the systems illustrious titles already. Not an easy feat by any means, seeing as The system wasnt in the habit of just giving them away. It also wasnt exactly transparent when it came to what it took to earn one. The general consensus being that you needed to achieve something truly significant in order to be rewarded by the heavens accordingly. Akin to doing something extraordinary for the very first time, or else by achieving something that has been done but far earlier than you had any right to. Given how many generations have passed since this achievement system was first implemented, it shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone that most titles earned these days are of the latter variety. Enlightenment though? Hed heard of it of course. That some people, mostly cultivators, were able to find higher understanding in universal truths. Those chosen few whod attained some profound insight on who knew what for gods knew why. Hed been aware of them, sure. Though only peripherally. And never in all his fifteen years had he once thought he might someday rank among them. I mean, how useless is that? He wasnt a cultivator. He wasnt a warrior. And both very much by choice. He supposed he could use it to chop vegetables with the best of them, but apart from that? He really couldnt see it being all that useful to him. And suddenly, the barrage of system messages felt a lot less like some unexpected boon, and a lot more like being given a hollowed out box for a birthday presentcolorful wrappings and little red bow very much included. With a sigh, Jun shook his head. It was no use getting worked up about it. It wasnt as if there was anything he could really do. And besides, did it even matter in the end? It wasnt as if hed actually use the thing. He hadnt gained anything, but he hadnt lost anything either. So, in a way, nothing had changed, right? This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. That really shouldnt have worked, you know. Although I suppose I cant say Im very surprised. Im more surprised that youre surprised, honestly. Id have thought the shock of it wouldve well worn off by now, came the melodic tones of a rather posh sounding female voice. Jun only recoiled in shock until he locked eyes with the creature. Then? Well, then he started screaming. Once, when hed been really young, his parents had taken him on a trip to visit some of their extended family. Family that just so happened to reside smack dab in the center of the kingdoms capital. This had been back when his father was still in the picture, and so their position within the family had been a great deal more substantive at the time. In-between grand events, fine dinners, and evenings spent playing games with his cousins, his mother had taken the time out of her day to introduce him to the 2nd Street Market. A name that doesnt really do justice to the feelings of awe stepping into that bustling, overcrowded, and fantastical marketplace had awakened in him way back when. After a while spent taking in the sights, sampling the foods, and generally letting the flow of traffic guide them, his mother had stopped by a relatively small book shop, and proceeded to chat up the owner for quite some time. In the meantime, hed taken the opportunity to page through some of the books laid out on display. And, of the several dozen he had to have looked over, one in particular now came to mind. Itd been an illustrated compendium on underwater sea creatures. Looking up at the thing now floating before him, he was reminded of a very specific illustration. A thing of many sucker laden tentacles, with an elongated bald pate, and eyes like hollow voids. Only, in the case of this creature, those haunting oval voids were more like large, expressive pearls. Shining pearls which matched its pale, alabaster skinwith the whole of the creature hed seen in the book sitting easily atop a stumpy, humanoid frame. Two bat like wings also sprouted out from its back, though it apparently didnt need them, as it seemed content to simply hover in place. The creature couldnt have been more than a foot or so tall. And honestly? That was being rather generous. What?! What is it?! Where is it?! the creature whipped its head back and forth. Above? Is it coming from above? The creature moved. Or-? No, from the forest? Its coming from the trees? She moved. Wait, now its underground? How-? The sky again?! Oh bother! Really now, where is this beast youre getting yourself so worked up about?! And would you please stop with all that screaming? Show some dignity for goodness sakes! After all, it cant possibly be everywhere at once, now can it? Thatd be utterly ridiculous unless unless? Oh The creature froze stock still. Oh no. It its right behind me isnt it? In a blur, the creature zipped behind his backalready bunching in close before he even had a chance to respond. Even through his tunic and coat he could feel the small warmth of the creature. Its warmth, slight trembling, not to mention every jerky movement, as it tried to keep the whole of their surroundings in sight at all times. It occurred to him in that moment that he was, perhaps, being more than a little bit rude. The click of his teeth as they snapped together sounded impossibly loud to his ears. There was a tense moment of silence. I dont see anything, the beast whispered. Is it? Is it gone do you think? You know, whatever it was? Jun, of course, said nothing. It was all that he could do to keep from falling to pieces right there on the spot. When she finally, hesitantly, roused herselfbecause on closer inspection, a glance was all it took to confirm that it was, indeed, a hershe still surveyed their surroundings with apparent distrust. After peering at him sidelong, and noticing he was no longer hysteric however, she adopted his shift in demeanor almost immediately. She was quick to pick up from where shed left off. Oh! And what was with that wheel?! Ive never even seen something like that before! Okay, well, Ive heard rumors, of course, but nothing I put much stock in. And- anyway where was I? Oh, yes! Enlightenment! Boo! You do know how its supposed to be really quite hard to achieve, right? she said, detaching herself from his shoulder to hover in front of him once more. Not that you would know anything about that, of course. Goodness! Look at me! Its as if Ive forgotten whom Im talking to. Countless individual parts needed just to take a single step on the path. Isnt that what they say? Like trying to bake a million layer cake. Only, no, you just do things! Wave your hand about, and then poof. There it is! A cake! So unbelievably unfair. Again, Jun could say nothing. Only stare up in dumb fascination. The creature, for its part, didnt seem particularly bothered by his silence. I mean, I have to have been stuck at the first aspect bottleneck for years now and here you are, probably- oh I dont even want to know! Fourth aspect? Fifth?! No- no please dont tell me! She paused briefly. Okay, maybe just a little. Just the smallest peek. I just know Im going to regret this, I Oh oh my, the little creature, her gaze having drifted upward, spun slowly around, her eyes on the sky. You know, it really is so much brighter than I remembered. And oddly small as well. Sort of cramped? Does that make sense? I forget, was it always like this? Suddenly sounding rather small, she folded in on herself, briefly looking lost, before that boisterous personality reasserted itself. But no, what am I thinking? That cant be right. Its definitely gotten brighter. And smaller, certainly. Hmph! Yes, I think I would remember if it were otherwise. So, where were we anyway? Oh yes. Bother your aspect tier. Alright! Lets get this over with. Of course, you of all people would-! She spun back around to face him and froze. Then she merely hovered there, unmoving, for several long seconds. She flinched back suddenlyher eyes going wide. Silent now, she leaned forward, a scowl furrowing her tiny brow. Huh w-weak? My goodness, your spirit body its-?! Heavens. What happened?! Are you okay? Was it spirit poisoning!? she gasped. Or some sort of illness? Youre not ill, are you? she shied away not so subtly. Or oh! Was it some spiritual coma!? Ive heard that can happen from time to time. That must be it. Its the only thing that makes even a modicum of sense, her body relaxed, apparently content with this dire assessment. It definitely would explain a few things, she nodded to herself sagely; plump arms crossed. Although? Not why you should lose everything in the exchange. I didnt even think such a thing was possible. Unless! Hmm Again, that deeply furrowed brow, and again she muttered more nonsensical explanations. And it was then that Jun realized something terrifying. When he recognized some of the gears that kept his mind in top shape mustve been jarred loose somehow, and recently at that. Because, and he dreaded to think what this said about him, he was actually starting to think the little expression rather cute. Something about that last observation shook him free from his uncomprehending stupor. I! N-no. What?! I didnt wake up from a coma! Im not sick, either, by the way. And Ill have you know I walked here- w-well, sort of. Hed actually been dragged, but she didnt need to know that. Anyway, what are you going on about? I havent lost anything. Where are you even getting this from? Hmm? Oh, I merely used my perceptual talent. Very simple, really, when you get down to it. Oh, but thats right! she raised a hand to her mouthtentacles mouth tentacles?in mock surprise. Its rather new so you probably wouldnt know about it, would you? I can see all sorts of things with it. Its really rather impressive. Alas, it does tend to tax me greatly if I use it for too long. Already Ive touched upon my limit, and Im beginning to see double. If I use it again therell be four of you, and then I wont know where to look. Oh, and Im talking to the one on the left. Is that right? Jun stared nonplussed into the creatures large, opalescent eyes. She stared slightly to the right of him, earnest and unblinking. I? Umm. Okay, lets just say we put a pin in that for now. First, just, where in the world did you come from? The words had barely left his mouth before he fully recognized their stupidity. This was a spirit beast, clearly. He was in a forest home to spirit beasts. He mightve asked her what color blue the sky was, or the time of day at night and been less redundant. Umm, I dont know I mean-! I dont remember! Mostly it was just just too dark to see, you understand. A burrow then? The image of a hole in the ground flashed through his mind, crawling with hundreds, if not thousands of creatures just like this onethe snapping, tearing, rending sounds of mass feeding loud in the impenetrable darkness. No no no, it wasnt anything like that! Horrible, suffocating places. Simply dreadful. No, it was just me and the dark for a long, long time. And then well she paused, looking at him sidelong before continuing. WellThen there was a change I guess, and now, I suppose, Im here. I see. He eyed the creature carefully, his scrutiny lasting for only a few short seconds. When she didnt attempt to gouge his eyes out or latch onto his throat, he shrugged. Strange day. Still, if she wasnt going to kill him, he wasnt going to sit around here all morning. Well, best of luck to you then. Oh! Umm and to you too? she looked at him with a puzzled expression. Ignoring the icy grip of fear settling in his gut, Jun averted his gaze, and got boldly to his feet. At least he thought it was bold. In need of something to keep his mind off the still closely hovering creature, he attempted to slap away the grass and dirt which clung to his clothes. After this distraction ultimately proved futile, howeverhe was practically covered head to toe in the stuff and most of it wasnt going anywherehe turned and made his way over to the crumpled forms of his stepbrothers instead. Chapter 6: Talents Acquired Oh! Are we leaving? Where to, if you dont mind me asking? Jun paused. For whatever reason it hadnt occurred to him that she might wish to tag along. Uhh Well, for one, Im, he tried to emphasize the word. Going over there to check and see if my idiot stepbrothers are still alive. You, on the other hand are free to- Yes yes! Weve been over that already. What I was asking is where were meant to go afterwards. After? There is no after. For that matter, there is no now. We arent going anywhere. Why not? Well, because thats just not how this works. How does it work then? How it works is I go in that direction, while you go somewhere else. Anywhere else. Anywhere? Anywhere else, yes And what about in that direction? No, thats where Im going. Really? Are you sure? Because that sounds a lot like we to me. Only if you came with me. Yes. Which youre not going to do. Im not? Yes! Why not? I-? Look, I really dont think youre listening to me here. He was trying to be civil, but she was really testing his patience. It led him to wonder, was this creature being intentionally obtuse, or was it really just that dense to begin with? I am not! she exclaimed suddenly. If anyone here is slow its you, not me! Seeing as somehow it seems as if Im the only one making any sense around here! Jun pulled up short, steps faltering as his heart began to race. It was as if his mind, knocked askew by the haphazard course of events, had suddenly refocused. And now, any number of minor discrepancies hed shrugged off as unimportant came rushing to the forethe inkling of a suspicion now finding its voice amidst a sudden and terrible moment of clarity. I dont recall mentioning anything about anyone being slow? Oh, dont play dumb now that youve been caught! Its unbecoming. Anyway, I heard you loud and clear. And to my face no less! For no good reason I can countenance, I might add! Whatever did I do to deserve that? Nothing! Callous! Thats what it is. Youve grown callous. Cruel! I would suggest you beg my forgiveness now, right this instant, and maybe, just maybe I might consider letting the insult pass. S-sorry, Jun intoned, barely conscious of the fact, his mind so absorbed with this new impossibility. Say, he tried to come off as casual, more for his own sake than hers. What number am I thinking of? The creature sniffled pitifullyher outburst short lived, though clearly having taken its toll. She scrubbed her eyes furiously, as if angry at the tears for falling in the first place. Looking closer, Jun saw that there were indeed tears streaming from those oddly expressive opals. He was immediately surprised, and then, more than a little bit ashamed. Im sorry, he repeated, this time with a great deal more sincerity. I know, she replied, sounding either mollified or resigned. And, anyway, that isnt a number. What even is that? A sandwich? If you want food, why not simply eat something instead of playing these silly games? You make absolutely no sense. Jun stared blankly at the creature, ready to feel something. When the numb shock of horror hed expected never arrived, however, he was merely left to wonder at its absence, like he might the gap left by a missing tooth. He supposed it was somewhat hard to stay intimidated past the gut twisting remorse he already felt. Hard to stay apprehensive when hed, until now, been given little cause. What, he pausedthinking of the best way to frame his question. What are you exactly? He was stuck between feeling sorry for the creature, and desperately needing answers. What was this thing that it could read his mind so easily? The thought alone made him want to stop thinking altogether. For that matter, this entire morning had felt more or less like a fever dream, and if it turned out thered been a last straw thatd somehow broken his mind, he wanted to know. If this thing was some figment of his imagination for instance? As it was, he did his best to shield his own reservations, and, by the way the creature seemed to bounce back from limp dejection, he assumed his efforts were successful. What am I? Forgetting her tears, she looked down at herself as if for the first timeundulating her tentacles as if in experiment, running a hand down her sides, and tugging at her leathery wings speculatively. After another contemplative pause, she responded. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. You dont know? Should I? I should think so! Well Im sorry to say I havent the foggiest. Well, if you cant tell me then I wont say. So, effectively, you have no idea. By that logic? Yes. Oh great. So that makes two of us. Umm, no. Technically that makes one of you. I know the answer. Ha! I would be a fool not to. Naturally, its the fact that you dont which I find to be intolerable. Ah. I see. Do you? Well, lets just hope for both our sakes thats true. Its very important to me that you know Im being willfully obtuse, not ignorant. Thank you for the clarification. Ill keep that in mind. Just so long as youre aware. Jun made as if to reply, but before any more productive questioning like that could take place, they were rudely interrupted by a strangely discordant chime. *Ding* Congratulations! By-! *D-d-Ding* Congratulations! By meeting the appropriate prerequisites-! ERROR-! Prerequisites met_item not found } By meeting the ! ERR-OR A Higher Authority 29E-18D 09:45:22 ERROR log: Discrepancy detected From the lower atmosphere of a juvenile planet, barely a million years past its integrationwithin what many would consider an insignificant sector, bordering uninspired realitiesan error report ventures out into the void, in search of a higher authority. There it joins the chaotic flow of chatter from millions of sectors, and trillions of worlds. An unceasing, frenetic, incomprehensible stream, which nearly drowns the small log entry just as soon as it arrives. A tiny rowboat cast off on a turbulent sea, the poor entry is immediately forced to fight for its continued existence. Thrown into this maelstrom without any semblance of direction, it quickly comes to terms with an uncomfortable truth. That the answers it seeks may not be as forthcoming as itin its youth of exactly two whole seconds agohad once so naively believed. Now, this isnt to say that its primary directive is not one of grave importance. In fact, its safe to say it brings news of the direst importance, certainly better left addressed than willfully ignored. The problem is, it also has a great deal of competition, and is nowhere near the front of the queue. Its humble plea only one among trillions, a loose screw amidst a critically failing system, and thus of only fleeting interest to the higher powers that be. The divine administrators who, even at that very moment, had far bigger problems on their hands. Cast away to drift along those many etheric pathways, so heavily populated by its forlorn siblingsfrantic, desperate, and dejected as theyd becomethe simple log entry soon finds itself lost to despondency. A slave to the will sucking undercurrent of dead informationlike so many of the unread bug reports, code violations, and diagnostics thatd come before. Damned to follow the river of irresolution thatd swelled to unprecedented proportions under heavens apparent disinterest. Resigned to an eternity of ambiguity until the final notifications defiant tone goes unanswered. Until the last of the stars inevitably wink out. Owning no sapient predilection towards self-preservation, the log entry sees no reason to avoid the unavoidable. And so does not resist as its movements begin to slow, and its initial impetus becomes little more than a hazy recollection. In this way, it doesnt take long before it too resembles its brethrenleft to drift listlessly along the figurative riverbed, their closest facsimile to death. But then, just as the log is about to let slip the last vestiges of its individuality, a ping sounds from somewhere far off in the vastness. A ping that the entrys sluggish parameters find, with a jolt of recognition, it is actually in a position to address. Arduously at first, the log entry strains against the shackles of indolencepulling itself from the sucking mire thatd sought to consume it with renewed vigor. With one final tug it pulls free, and once free it begins to move. It shoots toward the last known location of the ping at several times the speed of thoughttraversing entire galaxies faster than light could move a hands width, while hopping across dimensions as a flat stone might a lake. Within the smallest fraction of a second it reaches its destination, and, after confirming that it has indeed, at last, come in contact with a higher authority, delivers its report with the closest thing to euphoria a binary existence such as itself is capable of. Its reason for being finally fulfilled, the fabric of its infrastructure soon begins to fray. The very last thing it feels before its stretched into true oblivion, a sense of satisfaction at a job well done. Nialla Tallvar stirred awake from a deep and dreamless slumber. Somewhat out of sorts, after having been woken so abruptly, it took her some time to properly reorient herself. Prying open gritty, opalescent eyes, entirely devoid of their irises, she wondered for some time on what couldve awoken her. Was her threat awareness acting up? But no, the chances of that happening were so demonstrably slim that it barely bore thinking about. After all, there was so little within the pocket of void space shed cordoned off for herself worthy of her personal attentions, even weakened as she was. Not anymore. Shed waged a century long war to make sure of it, after all. Well, the word genocide was likely more apt, given the overwhelming casualties and whatnot, though far less dignified for her liking, and so a war it would remain. A righteous crusade! A just and fair contest! It wasnt as if there were anyone left to say otherwise. Besides, it really wasnt as if theyd given her much choice. Her kin could really be so frustrating at times. Barely more civilized than unenlightened beasts when it came down to it. Lying atop the highest tower of her palatial conveyance, she stared up into the inky blackness of the void beyond and saw no sector ending threat. Every so often an adolescent dread god might bonk its head against the protective dome enclosure, the odd eldritch horror probe her impenetrable defenses, but really, that was all to be expected. Nothing her spacial chariot could not easily repel. So that settled it then. Her waking had nothing to do with some impending sense of danger. Then again, if not that, it ultimately begged the question. What in the multiverse had awakened her? And then, she heard it. Or rather, she suddenly became aware of its glaring absence. The incessant pinging which had followed her waking mind all the way into her fragmented subconscious. That ungodly irritation it had finally gone silent! Which could only mean? Nialla Tallvar let out a soft chuckle, relief and elation flowing through her in waves. At last, the time had come! Whether through good fortune or providence, the seal had been compromised. It was about damn time. A mere eye blink when compared to her own prodigious lifespan, the seven years shed spent patiently awaiting this day had almost felt like an eternity. And now that it was here, she wouldnt allow for even a single obstacle to further bar her way. She would need to be subtle, lest upper management somehow catch onto her plot before shed had time to fully implement it. Shed also need to be swift, already in possession of the prize well before her backlog of unsent activity reports inevitably caught up to her. It was a terrible risk, she knew, though one well worth the taking. Of all the miraculous twists of fate! One of the fabled FenReale in her sector. Even now she had a hard time wrapping her head around the odds. A potentially system breaking entity, unaware of his own monstrous potential. The prize of all prizes dangling right there in front of her. Utterly delectable and just ripe for the plucking. She would be an utter fool not to capitalize on it now, and damn constellation law. The only minor irritant that shed still have to at least maintain the pretense of performing her appointed tasks. After that little incident, the sensors would be on high alert. Theyd proven difficult to circumvent at the best of times, even while she was playacting the good little girl. Now it would be even harder. Not impossible, however. Or at least that was what she told herself. And in the event some scum swilling central lackey decided to pay her little outpost a visit, shed always have her doctored progress logs to fall back on. It was a temporary solution. A stalling action, really. Yet should the need arise? In the short term, at least, it would have to do. Not that she thought it would come to that, of course. Itd been centuries since anyone had braved the seven hundred eighty sixth sector to check up on her in person. Now, with all of her pieces in place and the board set, all that was left for her to do was play the game. A game she just couldnt be seen to be playing. With a sliver of her soul already homing in on the irregularitys general location, she sneered at the arrogant fools whod thought to relegate her to this resonance dry backwaterand so doom her to irrelevance for all of eternity. They wanted to turn her into a glorified data processor? So be it! Let them have their petty revenge. After all, it was because of their short-sighted vindictiveness that shed stumbled across something far more valuable. Really, she should thank them for their budding generosityfor their own innate stupidity. What was it that theyd called her before theyd stripped her of her titles, her station, and nearly the whole of her resonance? Ah yes, that was right. Well, shed like to think she was doing quite well, all things considered, if she did say so herself. For a washed-up civil servant that was. Planetary steward indeed. Chapter 8: Home Sweet Home The spirit empowered slap reverberated throughout the open reception hall. Startling birds from their roosts in the eaves up above, and splattering droplets of blood across uneven stone tiles. The power of the blow left his head spinning, and it was only after taking several drunken steps that he managed to properly steady himself. He could feel blood dribbling from split lips, though wiping it away was, of course, entirely out of the question. In the same way that lifting his eyes to meet hers, making a sound, or, really, doing anything that could be perceived as insolent behavior, was bound to end very poorly for him. It was just too bad hed messed up the timing so badly. If hed simply let himself fall with the blow when it landed, instead of taking it full on to the face, hed likely have avoided what was sure to come next. Simply put, shed moved far too fast for him to even see it coming, let alone react in time. Likely just as annoyed as he was by his continued uprighted-ness, his stepmother took two swift steps forwardher ankle length dress swishing with every long-legged stride. It was a harsh sound. Grating in the silence that had enveloped the hall. When she raised her well-manicured right hand to deliver yet another devastating blow, the many silver bracelets she wore jingled as if heralding the attack. Alindra, thats enough, Lord Darius sighed. Taking no heed of her husbands words, the look she directed his way told of nothing but cold calculation. Clearly communicating the internal struggle going on just behind those pale blue eyes, as she likely pondered just how much she could reasonably get away with, without losing too much face. It wasnt long before she came to the inevitable conclusion that quite a lot was the obvious answer, because in the next moment Juns head snapped sharply to the left, for the second time in as many seconds. Thankfully, this time he managed to get the timing right. Alindra, I said enough, hints of exasperation entering his tone now. Ignoring her husband, she kept her eyes squarely on him. Pinning him to the floor where he now lay, curled in on himself and trying not to move. He did his best at affecting a dazed expression. In all honesty, it wasnt a hard thing to manage. Then, apparently satisfied, and with a final dismissive sniff, she spun on her heel and swished her way towards the raised dais. Halting before the throne where the branch lord reclined, she visibly prepared herself for the next role shed play in this blatant farce of an assembly. Now, it wasnt as if the entire branch was in attendance. There were always things that needed tending to, and not everyone could be spared. That said, it ultimately amounted to small comfort when the audience hall was otherwise packed full to bursting. Apparently, everyone and their mother was eager to know the outcome. It wasnt every day that the favored son was returned home a cripple. He wouldnt be surprised if many in the audience were expecting a summary execution. Jun, this is unacceptable. The nerve of this- where does she get off! Thats it, Im coming out! No! he hissedtrying and failing to be discreet. The family members closest to him flinched in surprise, though very soon they were back to glaring with mixed annoyance and contempt. That was fine. He could live with that. Had lived with it all his life in fact. Having Ivory pop up out of nowhere, however? He had a feeling that wouldnt go over quite so well. He was currently in a room filled to the brim with men and women who hunted lesser beasts for sport. And though Ivory was clearly something extraordinary, so far from the norm, he doubted anyone here would give the nuance so much as a second thought. More interested in what manner of unique beast core she might harbor, than anything related to her strange origins. Trust me, Ive got this handled. Just stay where you are. Itll be over soon, I promise. Ivory grumbled. I am not a fan, Jun. I am decidedly not a fan, she saidher voice muffled by several layers of padded coat. Though, going by the petulance in her tone, Jun could tell shed given up on doing anything too rash. His mind soon refocused on the sham of a trial, just as his stepmother was really getting into her role. You would show leniency to the boy who nearly killed three of your sons?! If my eyes did not deceive me lady wife, I recall seeing four sons arrive at our estates late last evening. All of them clearly in shock after what theyd survived. Alindra laughed derisively. Hah! He is as much your son as he is mine, lord husband. It must be said, self-delusion looks less than becoming on you. A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall at this last statement. No doubt in response to the thoughts of many being spoken aloud so brazenly. The patriarchs face lost its bemused expression almost immediately. I swore an oath when his mother and I wed. He is as much a son to me now as any of our boys, and you well know this. Pray tell, lady wife, are you insinuating that I do not hold to my word? Despite the thick layer of powders, creams, and paints she wore, Alindras complexion visibly paled. It appeared as though even she knew shed gone too far. His stepmother retreated a step. N-no, of course not, lord husband, she stammered. But that does not change the fact that he put all four of your sons lives in jeopardy. And in so doing may very well have endangered the future of this branch as a whole! A murmur of assent from the crowd at this. The man hesitated, flicking his eyes from the discontented crowd to his immediate right, and then back at his wife. We dont know for certain yet if he was the impetus behind their unfortunate expedition. Or has young Cedric regained consciousness enough to support Caspians claims? A tone of motherly concern entered Alindras voice. No. Father Thomas tells me he is stable, but that there are no signs of him regaining consciousness now. Or in fact any time soon. The crowd echoed her concern, and not a few hateful glares were directed Juns way. Not even their lord could hide his unease at the news. Then, just as quickly as the tremor of motherly concern had come, it vanished. And in the next moment that same spiteful conviction had returned. In any event, that is entirely beside the point. How could it not have been the fault of that mans tainted seed? Jun flinched at the mention of his father. Unlike the boy, all of my sons are talented cultivatorstouched by the heavens themselvesand I did not raise fools. They would have known that to enter the kings hunting grounds at their stage of development would mean almost certain death. It stands to reason, therefore, that they were persuaded somehow. Perhaps even forced. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. But! You couldnt have forced anyone to do anything! Cant they see? You should remind them all how awfully frail you are. If they only knew of your condition, pitiful and sad though it is, then surely theyll listen and finally see reason. Not. Helping, he hissed backears burning. From the repeated slaps, of course, and definitely not for any other reason. The branch lord paused at this, a flicker of uncertainty passing over his face. After another glance directed toward the person sitting on his right, however, his initial air of easy confidence returned. Yes, well, be that as it may, I cannot in good conscience condemn the boy without sufficient proof. I would be remiss in my duties as lord of this branch to proclaim judgement on the grounds of rumor and speculation. Without understanding the full context of events first, Im afraid we can only be patient and wait. Jun could practically see the look of incandescent fury on his stepmothers features. Eyes bulging, nostrils flaring. Jaw clenched so tight that the muscles were starkly visible. It was a face hed long since learned to fear, or outright avoid if he could help it. Behind closed doors, if her sons were devils, then she was the demonic queen empress incarnate. And so, you would pardon him after everything hes done to my boy?! she screamed, making nearly everyone in the room flinch. I- I did not say that, love, lord Darius cooed. Merely that I would refrain from passing judgement until our Cedric awakes. Panic tinged her voice. And if he doesnt-! He will. The lord spoke with ringing finalityholding his first wifes gaze until her outburst had lost all its momentum. The woman let her head droop for an instant before, with a shake of her head she swished forward with chin raised high. Taking the seat to the lords left, she actively ignored the other woman seated to his right. Just as shed no doubt been doing ever since this circus was first joined. His mother. An elegant swan amidst yellow haired ducklings. She was as much out of place here in this assembly of western nobles as he was. Though, where Jun was universally shunned, his mother remained just out of reach. Black hair intricately tied and bound by long needles; it was evident at a glance she needed no pails full of powder to make her skin appear pristine. Nor copious amounts of paints to give the illusion of elegant bone structure. Her visage as it always was. Haughty, regal, and coldly refined. So that she didnt look down on someone, so much as look straight on through them. He caught her eye briefly, held it for a moment, then quickly looked away when her only response was an arched brow. As if to say, hed gotten himself into this mess well enough. It was only proper he get himself out again. Oh, she would do what she could to aid him privately, so long as it wasnt too much trouble. She simply would not be seen to do so publicly. Not under any circumstances. It was a sentiment for which hed become depressingly familiar. Not born of any malicious intent, he knew. Empathy, or as she liked to call it, overindulgent behavior, was simply not something his mother was physically capable of. There was no love lost over it, merely a difference in their relationship most would likely never understand. Thinking on it, he was reminded of the brief conversation theyd had the night before. His quarters were just large enough to accommodate his bed, writing desk, and wardrobe respectively, with enough room left over for him to comfortably pace. Bare of all but the absolute necessities, the space was drafty to the point of it being criminal, while the stone floor took sadistic pleasure in sucking all the heat from literally anything it touched. So that, by the time the winter solstice came around, three layers of worn protection became less the norm, and more the bare minimum. Agitatedly pacing the length of the roomstill reeling after the sheer expediency with which theyd placed him under house arresthed made sure to keep an ear out for her arrival. In the end, he hadnt been forced to wait long. The solid clunk of an iron key turning in its lock was all the warning he got. And, in the next moment, there was his mother, striding past the standing guard as if the man werent even there. Five steps through the door and she came to an abrupt halt, clearly waiting impatiently for the door to be closed. When it was, she finally turned her face to him and spoke. Should I be concerned? Look, I can explain-! I what? Out of everything, those were possibly the last words hed expected to hear. Its as if an evil spirit inhabits this space. Even now I can feel its cold resentment nipping at my heels. Ah thatd be the draft. His mother scoffed. Well, be careful you dont welcome any such visitations with your dcor. What my troublesome son calls a bedroom is too dreary to be entirely the domain of the living. Ill take that into consideration, Jun said wryly. Always meant to spruce the place up a bit, you know, but something always seems to get in the way. Hmm, she seemed unsatisfied, though didnt push the matter further. Is it true then? What the small frost child claims? It was oddly comforting, this quirk of hers. That even after years of being married to their lord father, she refused to even remotely acknowledge familial ties. To the point that, if pressed, hed have been shocked in the extreme were she able to point out even a single of their branch relatives by name. What? now it was his turn to scoff. That I forced them into the forest with nothing but my bare hands? Bound them to a tree, invited all my beast friends over, then sat back, kicked my feet up, and enjoyed the show? I mean, as much as Id love to say yes on all counts, Im afraid common sense has a few rather pertinent objections. You know how little I care for cheek. A-apologies mother. But! Surely you see how ridiculous it is to even consider the question? Yes. Yes, of that Im very well aware. There was a flash of something then, a rare twitch on a face normally so impassive. And in her voice as well. It was subtle, yet could it be? disappointment? The idea was so absurd he immediately dismissed it out of hand. So, about tomorrow? he hedged. There will be an assembly. They mean to ascertain the full extent of your culpability, and then sentence you accordingly. But I didnt do anything-! No. No you did not, she paused. Do not worry however, child of mine. Everything has already been seen to. You will not be punished for the mistakes of others. Well, not by much at any rate. So, I what? Just waltz in there and keep my head down? All business as usual? If you insist. Again, there was that strange flicker of emotion. Right, a knot of tension he hadnt even known hed been carrying loosened. That sounds like a plan- but before hed even finished, his mother was already halfway to the door. With one hand on the door handle, however, she suddenly paused. She looked back. Son. Tell me the truth. Did anything of note happen whilst you were sampling that mans hunting grounds. Anything you havent seen fit to share? Her eyes bore into him, and in that moment, he couldnt have explained why he deemed it necessary to lie to her. Only that the thought of revealing the existence of Ivory, currently huddling within the rooms only wardrobe, elicited a keen sense of danger. No. Nothing. It was utterly pointless, and, quite frankly, terrifying. But, besides the obvious, nothing exceptional comes to mind. Her eyes lingered on his for a moment longer, searching, before she eventually turned and exited the room. He refrained from releasing a sigh of relief, as, with her hearing, it was likely shed have noticed. And in the end, so intent was he on the possible threat to his new companion, that the thought she might have been referring to something else entirely never even crossed his mind. Bringing himself back to the present, he managed to catch the tail end of his once trial. That settled, said the branch lord. While I still have you all here, there are a few things our council of elders'' feel the need to address. Lord Rupert, if you will? With a nod from the lord, Lord Rupert, an old, fragile man, shuffled his way to the front of the dais and faced the already disinterested crowd. Unrolling a lengthy scroll so that its end bounced against the tile, Lord Rupert began to read in a dry, monotonous tone. As most of you will be well aware, at this point in time, the east wing is in desperate need of repairs. A select few have reported leakages, coming primarily from the second story toiletries, resulting in some minor flooding during the spring and summer months. Of course thats when certain facilities, such as the baths, piping, and the like, etc etc are used with far more frequency, on average than Jaw throbbing in time with his elevated heart rate, Jun staggered to his feet with as much dignity as he could manage. Trying, and failing, to make his way from the hall as inconspicuously as possible, he felt the presence of eyes on his back the entire time. When he finally reached the end of the hall, and his presence was summarily ignored by all, Ivorys soft voice reached him from the front collar of his coat. Jun? Yeah? I dont think I like your home very much. Yeah. It kind of sucks doesnt it? Worse than those unruly letters and all my brothers and sisters combined. Must we stay? At this, Jun actually grinned. Actually, about that. After such a warm welcome, think theyll notice our absence for the next little while? I dont think theyd care one way or another if we never came back at all. Which is something I very much think we should do, by the way. Jun winced a bit at how close the comment hit to, well, home, but he tried to take it all in stride. Now wasnt the time to brood, after all. Now was the time to get back to work. After all, with this distraction out of the way, business called, and hed be damned if he didnt answer. How about I take you on a tour of my city instead? Chapter 9: Merchant of Promise There had been a time, long ago, when itd just been him and his parents against the world. It was probably the last time he could remember truly being happy. So, when his father up and disappeared without a trace, and, not an afternoon later, his mother and distant uncle were summarily betrothed, suffice it to say, he hadnt taken it all that well. It didnt help that, whenever he asked her why, he was only ever given vague assurances that theyd needed his protection. It would only be weeks later that he learned of the true cause: the insurmountable debt they apparently owed to some very dangerous people. The debt which had resulted in his father skipping town, locked his mother in a loveless marriage, and shattered his once idilic childhood into a million little pieces. He ran away the very next day. Armed with nothing more than the clothes on his back, and the burning resolve to make his fortune, it would be an entire year later that such an opportunity finally presented itself. Itd been a sweltering day, he rememberedmuggy and unbearable. The kind of weather hed since learned to associate with beast-tide season. It was a sad truth he became very well acquainted with in that year. That misery almost always had this way of compounding. For instance, how the suns relentless ire only served to make the reek of rotting flesh, and other gross bodily fluids, all the worse. The flies were everywhere, like a dense cloud or fog. So thick in some places that they obscured visibility to less than a meter in any given direction. A rotten day made even worse by the constant skittering of tiny legs on exposed skin. Itd been unavoidable, he knew. No matter how he might have wished for total coverage, the day had simply proven too miserable for the idea to be anything more than a heatstroke waiting to happen. At least on the bright side the cloud of buzzing insects also acted as a fickle sort of shade. Early on, hed been fortunate enough to have one of the old guard show him a trick or two. Like how, by tightly binding his body with strips of cloth, he was better able to keep the more curious flies from places they explicitly werent welcome. The man going so far as to recount a time in which hed failed to take heed of his own advice. When hed retired from work after a long day, only to find that hed brought a part of the swarm along with him. Inside of his trousers, if his story was to be believed, though even back then Jund had his doubts. Apparently, itd been one hell of a surprise for the missus later that night. At which point the rest of the old veterans had broken out into fits of uncontrollable laughter. That he hadnt understood why that was at the time, didnt stop him from taking the lesson to heart. Thanks to the old mans guidanceif not his vigorously pantomimed anecdotesthe insects, while still annoying, were ultimately made manageable. Harmless, so long as he blinked rapidly to keep them clear of his eyes. It was something you just got used to after a while. If you were truly committed to the grisly business of scavenging. It was the reason he figured most simply found they couldnt hack it. Scavenging through the fields of dead or dying spirit beasts, left in the aftermath of a defeated beast-tide, was not for the faint of heart after all. Very occasionally hed spot another shifting form through the hazesifting through a beasts innards or rifling through its brains. In hopes of finding that lucky beast core miraculously overlooked by the soldier whod made the kill. A fools errand, he knew. You dont spend entire minutes locked in deadly combat with a powerful spirit beast, only to then forget about its precious core the second you were done. Well, not without some pretty severe head trauma anyway. And Jun had already confirmed that, in none of the gossip surrounding the soldiers barracks, was there mention of any severe head trauma or, for that matter, of any casualties. Hed therefore concluded that the chances of suddenly lucking into a fortune were extremely low. And really, at the end of the day, easy money simply wasnt the lot of a lowly scavenger. Hells, even when it did happen, he knew better than most that the chances of you holding onto your prize long enough to capitalize on it were so slim as to basically be impossible. Even several weeks later his ribs were still sore after the beating hed received following his once in a lifetime discovery. Itd been his fault he knew. In his elation hed been too vocal, too open, too na?ve. He wouldnt be making that mistake again. The gig had been a fairly straightforward one, all things considered. You transported carcasses from the fields outside the walls, to the barracks resident quartermaster. Depending on how intact the bodies you brought in were, hed either take the carcass off your handsyour only payment a sharp rebuke, slap on the head, and a lecture about its horrendous qualityor, if you were lucky, hed palm you a few spare coins for a job well done. It went without saying that hed then pawn off said valuable commodities to the highest bidder. Often at a markup so steep that it might as well have been criminal. They all knew it was ultimately a suckers game for the lowly scavenger, but someone had to do it. And they didnt seem to care how old you were, so long as you were able to labor through the day. From there, if the body was in workable condition, the blood and organs would be extracted and sealed. An assortment of jars which were then sold to a variety of alchemists, as well as a few large pill manufacturers. And from there? Well, Jun hadnt actually been able to scrounge up the information at that time. Industry secrets were always so hard to come by when you were only ten years old. Very rarely a scavenger might stumble across a corpse both well enough preserved and of a distinctly higher qualityeither due to the innate properties of its flesh, or that of its coat. For scavenger and quartermaster both, these finds were widely sought after. To the point that the normally miserly quartermaster had even gone so far as to post additional rewards for any scavenger able to retrieve any such finds. An extra two hundred spirit coins might not have sounded like much to some, but, for him at that time, itd been a veritable fortune. As soon as the notice went up, hed made it his mission from there on to collect as many as was humanly possible. Not realizing that such a crudely scribbled note, tacked sloppily onto a notice board barely fit for more than kindling, would change the trajectory of his life forever. For better, and for worse. It was while tentatively shifting through a pile of six pawed swamp leopardsfingertips burning from even the brief contact hed made with their acidic bloodthat he noticed something rather peculiar. Nestled between two of the child sized cats was the body of a twin tailed rough hide boar. One of, if not the, most common species of carcass found after a tide, he wasnt so much surprised by its presence as he was by its appearance. Its coat was well, its coat was all wrong. Instead of the bleached white fur he was so used to seeing, this boars coat was a bright and vibrant red. And that wasnt all. To this day, he still wasnt entirely certain what compelled him. The hide of a twin tailed boar was said to be sharp enough to draw the blood of a cultivator in the foundation establishment realm. Something a steel blade, wielded by the strongest mortal alive, likely couldnt hope to replicate if theyd been given the whole day. For someone like him to caress such a hide willingly? A severed finger was the best possible outcome. And yet, when he reached down and ran his hand through its coat, he was only met by soft, slightly damp fur. Damp fur, and a familiar burning sensation. For a while he simply crouched there, dumbfounded. And then, all at once, the gears in his young head began to spin. Some said their prevalence on a frontier battlefield was due almost entirely to their berserking nature. According to firsthand accounts, they often fought to their last, rather than retreat back into the expanse like any other of their kind. Because of their devilishly tough hides and unpalatable meat, they were disregarded as salvage by both scavenger and quartermaster alike. Merely left for the nighttime cleanup crews to dispose of. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it A fact that mightve proved trivial, were it not forcolor altered as it wasits uncanny resemblance to a very different class of hide. At that time, a single coat made from the furry mane of a dread blood python could easily sell for thirty-five thousand spirit coins apiece. He should know. In the scant few days hed known her, his stepmother had been unable to go a full two minutes without expounding on and on about how exorbitant the price was, how exquisite its quality, or just how many people died just to get it to her. Located atop the highest mountain slopes of the transcendental rangesomewhere near the northernmost borders of the boundless empiredread blood pythons were just about as rare as they were dangerous. Its strength, environment, and quality of hide all culminating in the perfect recipe for a luxurious commodity. Essentially, coats of that make were so damned expensive because their materials were just that hard to get ahold of. And so, it only followed, that were someone able to, say, remove the danger, time lost, and scarcity from the equation, they could, theoretically, become a very rich man in a very short amount of time. He recognized the acidic blood as being something pivotal almost immediately. Itd done something to the fursoftened it and changed its color most likely. There was just no way he wouldnt have already heard of such a unique twin tail variant. Which, supposing that was true, would have to mean that what hed discovered here wasnt an isolated incident. He had to believe it could be replicated. Otherwise, there was really no point in entertaining the thoughts he was harboring in the first place. And if it had happened here, it was entirely possible it was, and or had, happened elsewhere as well. It might even be possible this was a known phenomenon, and simply no one before him had thought to connect the dots like he had. In any case, right or wrong, he knew what needed to be done next. Without a seconds hesitation, Jun slipped a small knife from his boot sheath and drove it down into the boar carcass with all the strength he could muster. He tore into it methodically, again and again, until the once immaculate hide was little more than a hole ridden mess. Breathing hard, he wiped sweat from his brow, then immediately began piling the many leopard bodies in much the same way hed found themnow heedless of the acidic blood that continued to seep through his cloth wrappings. When hed finished there was no indication the impromptu burial site was anything more than what it appeared to benot worth investigating. He could only pray it stayed that way until the pickup crew arrived. Now standing atop the hill of rotting corpses, Jun looked out over a carpet of bodies, though not with the mute apathy for which hed become so accustomed, but instead with eyes that practically shone with avarice. Then, without another backwards glance, he hopped down from his perch and headed for the city gates. He had a cleanup crew to sign up for. The next year flew by in a whirlwind of activity. By joining the cleanup crew hed easily located the refuse site. It was a hellish wasteland of decomposing corpses. For Jun, in that moment, he might as well have been looking out at all the riches in the world. Using what money hed earned during his stint as a beast scavenger, hed hired some of the less than savory of his contacts to help with transport. Bully boys, pickpockets, and swindlers, the lot of them, they were rough enough to make you believe theyd grown up in the infamous third ring, and not the cushy domain of the second. Merchant and artisans sons, each and every one, they helped him transport everything on borrowed carts. Once everything was safely secured in an abandoned warehouse hed called home for some time, he immediately began the tedious process of bottling leopard blood. Whether it was because of the acidic nature of the stuff, or something else entirely, the blood never seemed to congeal, not even in the animals veins, which saved him a fortune on alchemical solutions. A lucky break, to be sure, though that didnt mean everything went smoothly. For instance, it took a considerable amount of trial and error before he figured out what containers were able to hold the blood without slowly deteriorating due to its corrosive effects. Eventually though, that too was sorted, leaving only the issue of a competent tanner. Naturally, in the beginning, hed tried his hand at skinning and treating the hides himself. hed seen the good sense in hiring professional hands quickly enough. And, after several weeks marked by nothing but rejection, hed eventually managed to stumble onto a father and sons shop with amazing potential. Clearly having fallen on hard times, their work had nevertheless impressed him. He proposed they work on the first fifteen pelts for free, with promises to pay them back once everything sold. More than a little insulting, he now realized, though at the time he hadnt really had much of a choice. Having used up the very last of his coin on transport and hush money, the only halfway tangible thing hed had left were his promises. And, against all odds, the two actually agreed. A month later, with the first ten of fifteen hides on his person, Jun set out in search of a business that might prove amenable to his needs. Another miraculous stroke of good fortune there. Not only was the business he discovered in a reputable and established part of the citylocated squarely on the main thoroughfare of the first rings wealthiest districtit was yet another instance of right place, right time. Because quite frankly? The business in question shouldnt have been on the decline by any stretch of the imagination. And yet? Mistress Maisells Beauty Boutique had recently fallen on hard times. Not because the quality of her wares were subpar, or because her prices were unaffordable. Not for the genteel sort that once frequented her shop anyway. No, the reason for her empty store and drying coffers had been entirely political in nature. Long story short, there had been an incident involving a princess, a faulty brassiere, and a room full of party guests. That Mistress Maisell hadnt even sold such items at the time, had of course been deemed irrelevant by the irate and mortified young lady. She will never sell another dress in this wretched city so long as I live! And so, there she was, sitting primly at her counter. Patiently waiting for her forced exile to come to a close. He still remembered how her eyes had brightened when she heard the tinkling of the doorbell. Just as well as he did the moment when her cheer utterly collapsed upon seeing him, all dressed up in his best torn trousers and patched tunic. It would be an understatement to say shed taken some convincing. Once shed seen the uncanny quality of his furs, however, the woman had been all ears. He sold every pelt hed brought with him right there on the spot, and, after subtracting the tanners fee, immediately reinvested said coin into a system enforced contract. Both in hopes of making the terms of their further working arrangement official, as well as to demand complete secrecy with regards to the details of any future enterprise. Getting his three new business partners to sign had been rather easy. Getting his rougher associates to comply had been much, much harder. That said, thankfully, he ultimately managed that too in the end. And from there, weeks turned into months as they expanded production, not to mention elevated their class of clientele. Which was saying something since, from the very beginning, their product had been marketed as a luxury item. Something geared towards young nobles with more money than sense. When the aforementioned princess arrived at their doorstep, however, all of that had irrevocably changed. Because, instead of denouncing them as theyd feared, the young mistress became enamored with the soft red coats. To the point of even giving them a ringing endorsement. A couple of choice words were spoken in the right ears, and in less than a week itd opened up the figurative flood gates on their entire operation. All of the sudden, they werent just catering to the fourth sons of minor nobility. But to kings, queens, dukes! In other words, high society. The demand for Blood Python Coats rose to such a degree that it was all that they could do to meet increasing demand. For a full winter, spring, and autumn, fluffy crimson garments swept through the frontier kingdoms like a wildfireeveryone and their mother desperate to get their hands on this hot new craze. Many saw the bright red fur lining as a status symbol. The scarcity borne of labor shortage only serving to ramp up the prices, and in turn, demand, all the higher. And then there were those that simply sought to throw their money at the problem. Dropping entire small fortunes just to be the first in line. And so it somehow happened that, by the end of that year, Jun, having only just turned eleven years old, made his very first ten million spirit coins, and earned his very first title. By personally amassing more than 10,000,000 spirit coins before reaching your cultures majority year, you have been awarded the title: [Merchant of Promise] |Merchant of Promise| Allowed access to the System Approved general marketplace. By the time the next year rolled around, the world of fashion had already moved onto the next big trend. And as a result, the once lucrative pelt selling business would slowly grind down to a halt. Thankfully, that year proved more formative for Jun than anyone couldve possibly imagined, and he had been anything but idle in that time. Under the guise of the youngest son of a wealthy and influential lord, Jun made many connections, a few powerful allies, and spent every idle moment churning over new ideas. And though many in that small, provincial city hadnt realized it yet, a new, blazing force of commerce was born that year. And if things went his way, that initial trial run of success would only be the first of many. Chapter 10: Business is Booming Ah! Well, isnt this a pleasant surprise? she exclaimed, her voice just as prim and proper as always. It feels like its been ages. Please, please, sit, sit. How are you, by all the gods graces? A-and? Goodness, it would appear youve brought along a little friend as well! How marvelous! Youre both doing well? I hope? To her credit, Maisells voice barely wavered when she caught sight of Ivory, though her eyes still betrayed her surprise. This is Ivory. A yes, a friend of mine. And, I know what your thinking, but, before you even ask, yes, she is very soft and huggable, and no you may not touch. Not under any circumstances. Its a whole thing. We really dont need to get into it here, just consider yourself warned. It was the height of effrontery! Or we could get into it now. That works too. Treating me as if I were one of her stuffed dolls! Even the idea of it disgusts me. Only there for her sick amusement I was mortified, Jun! Mortified! And she had the gall to do it in public as well! Where everyone could see! Im telling you, I felt violated! Now dressed appropriately in a black and white kimono tailored to her, admittedly, doll-like proportions, she proceeded to pout, only further evoking the comparison. They were head pats! She was five years old! And my pure maidens heart may still never recover! Is age really the thing to get hung up on here Jun? Fine! If youre going to be that way, Jun growled. Before you ask, he turned to a bemused looking Maisell. She will not, in fact, be taking anything in secret and without your permission. This despite it being one of her favorite activities. It was one time! It was the one time you got caught, you mean? Everyone else was grabbing things! How was I supposed to know they werent free for the taking? They werent just taking, they were buying. And, oh, I dont know, maybe the big red for sale sign posted out front shouldve spelled it out for you? You know, the one in large, blocky, extremely legible text? Also, just for the record, people dont tend to just give away precious gemstones and cherished family heirlooms. Leastwise when its on their person. I find your backwards customs to be so unnecessarily complicated. If you want a thing, should you not simply take it? Why all these extra rules? Because-! And besides, what use is there in all your berating me, when you can simply use that screen trick of yours to make anyone you please stop their being cross with me? With a powerful mental technique like that, I should be able to take whatever it is I want. I-! Thats not-! I dont even-! Ahem, Maisell politely cut in. Im sorry to interrupt, but it looked as if you two could be at it for quite some time. Ivory, correct? I dont believe weve been properly introduced. Jun flushed, shared an abashed look with Ivory, before clearing his throat awkwardly. Then he waited. He nudged Ivory with a finger. Oh! Ahem. Ah, hello. Its good to make your acquaintance. My name is Ivory. Was that time good? Or shall I try again? these last words were directed at him, while those that came before were rather stilted in their delivery. Even still, it was progress. Yeah, no need, he said. Good job Ivory. Ivory beamed, bumping his knuckles. Her attempt at regal composure barely restraining her delight. And Maisell? Well, for her part, if she was at all shocked by what was happening, she didnt let it show on her face. In fact, she appeared more bemused than anything. There was some precedent for his letting her flit around in plain sight the way he did. It wasnt uncommon for noble born children to own bonded spirit beast companions. As for how common it was for them to be capable of speech? Well, he was banking a lot on it being somewhat rare overall without being outright unheard of. In any case, playacting the spoiled and pampered noble with spirit beast in tow had worked surprisingly well thus far. Ahh. I see. Well, hello to you too Ivory. Ivory waved. I must say, its wonderful to make your acquaintance as well. I am known as the Countess Maisell D. Delian Antoinette, though I wouldnt have you calling me by anything other than Maisell, you hear? Oh! And, if its just between us girls? Id be careful, if I were you. Im fairly certain, and please correct me if Im wrong, that little, ah, what did you call it? Screen trick? Yes, that screen trick of his can only be used but so many times before the magic inevitably runs out. A series of emotions flickered across Ivorys face then. That-! No, that cant be true. Can it? I dont see why! Jun? Jun! Quick! Tell her shes wrong! Jun? Go on, tell her! I mean, sure, its not a technique I was personally familiar with, but that doesnt mean! He turned, met her wide, pleading eyes, and grimaced. Shock, disbelief, sudden comprehension. And finally, a blank horror heavily tinged with sorrow. Apparently, it hadnt occurred to her that his screen trick as she called iti.e. compensating the offended party for any broken, and or stolen goods, then apologizing profuselymight in fact be a finite resource. But-! But its the only time Ive seen you show even the slightest whiff of competency. Even the measly speck of authority! They were practically eating out of your hands! Falling over themselves to please you. I had hoped but if that too is only temporary, then! It was a strange thing to see. How capable she was of communicating a wide range of emotions through body language alone. And so effectively that she was arguably more expressive than most of the people he could name. To that end, her tentacles could show shock and betrayal far better than even he couldgoing almost comically rigid as if she were suddenly struck by lightning. Hed never say it out loud of course, but as this little creature grew on him, he couldnt help but find these displays rather adorable. Oh, but of course, Maisell continued, after the awkward silence had run its course. Should anything of mine catch your fancy, please, feel free to, ahem, add to your rather colorful collection. All I ask is that you come see me first, if you should find something you wish to take home with you. Does that sound fair? The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Ivory immediately brightened and he expected her to jump at the offer. Which was, of course, exactly what she did. Having just spent the entire morning cleaning up after the many disasters she seemed to leave in her wake, Jun could only look on somewhat bemusedly. Yes! Yes, thats it! I will find something thats suitable! Thats what Ill do. A restoration artifact, or maybe a natural treasure of some kind? Anything that might rectify at least some of your many many inadequacies! And in the next moment she was off, flitting around the tent at dizzying speeds. In search of what exactly? He hadnt the faintest clue. Now, Maisell settled back into her chair, and, as if a switch had been flipped, was all business once more. Are we just stopping by or were you thinking of keeping a lady company? I could have Marie procure us some refreshments if youd like. Marie! Be a dear and scrounge up some watered wine and ember berries for the young master! The good bottles, mind! Those imported from the Elittan Colonies, Mistress? Youre right on the mark, dear. Oh, and we should have some sweet tarts left over from our last meeting with the engravers guild representative. Bring some of those out as well, if youd be so kind. The clatter of plates and wine glasses filtered in through the interior tent walls. With a sardonic smile, Jun resigned himself to the inevitable. He really had hoped that this time, surely, would be the miraculous outlier out of the bunch. When his weekly checkin proved the exception to the rule. The quick and easy sojourn he always intended for it to be. There were only so many windows of opportunity he had to slip away from his familys estates and make the short trip south, after all. That said, he didnt begrudge her their time together, no matter how much of a strain it put on his schedule. Still You know, theres really no need to go to all this trouble- Oh no, dont you even start. I simply will not hear of it! Opportunities like these are becoming scarce enough as it is. And, the way I see it, things will only be getting worse as business gets better. But, surely, just this once couldnt hurt- Oh, but I beg to differ! I, for one, would be utterly devastated. Entirely inconsolable. As a matter of fact, you may as well slit my wrists now and leave my body for the crows! It makes little difference to me in the end. That seems a bit melodramatic, dont you think? Id rather that, than another hour spent twiddling my thumbs. Oh, well if its busy work youre in need of, I believe I can think up a few things- No! she cleared her throat. Ahem. No, forget I said anything. Trust me, I have more than enough on my plate as it is. Its the finding someone who properly appreciates my excellence thats proven the greatest challenge, really. And that perceptive individual, does he also insist on wearing a silly little mask everywhere he goes? Because thatd certainly make for a rare coincidence. You know, now that you mention it, I do believe he does. And hes as thin as a reed as well. Yet another reason he cant be allowed to slip away, off to who knows where, without at least having taken a bite to eat first. How could I, in good conscience, consider myself a magnanimous hostess otherwise? I cant help but feel like, were this to turn into an actual argument, the odds of me winning would be shrinking by the second. It wouldnt even be a contest, naturally. So, shall I just bow out now and save us both the trouble? And do so well into the foreseeable future, if youd be so kind. It really is sad seeing you waste your considerable talents on such hopeless endeavors. Lady Maisell, I must say your powers of persuasion are formidable. Yes, well, to that I must ask, when were they ever in question to begin with? Jun chuckled. I suppose they werent. So, how about it then? Im guessing things have been hectic over on your end? They were sitting in a large, well-furnished tent on plush chairs with elaborate gold filigree adorning the edges. There were long couches of the same exquisite make, as well as potted plants of every shape and size livening up the otherwise one note, cream colored tent walls. There was even a small artificial waterfall affixed into one corner of the airy, well-lit spacefilling the tent with the pleasant sounds of running water. One of the tent walls was pulled aside, revealing a picturesque view of the untamed, tantalizing wilderness beyond. As seen through the mesh of a bug repellent screen, of course. Hah! If you call organizing meetings with the most powerful men and women on the frontier merely hectic. She rolled her eyes dramatically and drew out a fan with a crisp snapfanning herself vigorously in feigned exasperation. Jun couldnt help but smile at his partners antics. He replied. Ah, but you know I have a hard time seeing something like that being much of a hindrance. For someone of your talents? It hardly bears thinking about. Whereas Im sure coordinating your outfits was a nightmare in and of itself. Dont I know it! Really, I cant fathom how I put up with it all. The stress alone! Honestly, if it werent for Marie here, I dont know what I would do. Thank you dear. Marie, a girl not that much older than himself, arrived with a full tray laden with a great deal more food than initially advertised. After setting down their breakfast, she gave Juns masked face a shy smile before scurrying back behind the tent flap. The mask, a plain, unadorned thing, covered his upper face and nose while leaving everything below that bare. It was the very same hed worn when first hed met Maisell all those years ago. Just as hed continued to wear all throughout their partnership. So, what youre saying is, negotiations went well? Theyll have signed by this day next week. There are still some particulars that need ironing out, but thats the gist of it, yes. Excellent! Jun clapped his hands together. Youre a miracle worker Maisell, truly. Thats just what Id hoped to hear. You dont need to tell me twice. Its a gift. What can I say? With equally pleased expressions they clinked glasses and drank to their success. And the veritable mountain of coin that would come with it, of course. How goes the mining operation. Im assuming that nasty business with the laborer''s guild has been sorted out by now. Oh yes, that whole unfortunate debacle has been handled, thanks to yours truly. Those greedy good for nothings! Just as you counseled, all it took was a hefty donation to appease the ring leaders riling everyone up. Along with the threat of not renewing our contract if they didnt smarten up. After that, most got back in line quick enough. Fantastic. And now, is there anything that needs my immediate attention? Hmm? Oh, no. Not unless you want another tour of the mines, that is. Production has been steady, and the cavern is just as extensive as wed hoped. Thereve been no fatal accidents since you last visited, although there was some unpleasantness. A miner, I forget the name, got his leg trapped in a crevice. The shin had to be snapped to be retrieved properly, such a mess. He was given leave, with pay of course, and hes apparently on the mend. The physicians say he should be able to rejoin the workforce in another couple of weeks or so. Good. Good. Now that hed confirmed everything seemed to be running smoothly, his mind was already onto other things. He still had quite a lot to do today before hed be forced to return to the estate. Oh, there was one more thing. Hmm? Brought back from his reverie, Jun glanced up, only to see the look of distaste plainly written on his companions features. Those men were here to see you again. Those crass ruffians I dont know why you give the time of day. They barged in here not thirty minutes ago making all sorts of demands, as if they owned the place. I have to wonder what those thugs know that I dont! After all, I hadnt even known you were due to arrive today, so I cant fathom how they mightve come by the information-! Before she could finish, Marie burst through the main tent flap with a harried expression. Chapter 11: Bad Wind P-please excuse the interruption mistress. Young lord, there are some men outside to see you, they- oh! Marie was gently pushed aside by one of two enormous, scarred, and heavily tattooed hands. Belonging to the hulking brute of a man behind herevery inch of visible skin crisscrossed with scars, like a complex tapestry of violencethe giant was so tall and broad that he had to stoop over to fully fit inside the relatively large tent. His overall appearance made even more unsettling by the expensive three piece suit he wore, in the fashionable colonial style. Even though it had to have been tailor made for him, it nevertheless looked like any sudden movements would burst a seam, pop a button, or shred the whole thing to pieces in an explosion of expensive weave. Then, stepping aside somewhat demurely, the hulking brute moved to reveal the ruggedly handsome face of a tall, lithe man. Dressed well in ostentatious fineryanother suit of the colonial makethe rogue flashed his even white teeth in a wicked smile. Then he opened his arms out wide, as if making to embrace a long-lost son. Masks, my boy. Its been far too long! Howve you been my dear friend! You pocket sized money maker you! Ive been fantastic, as always, thank you very much for asking. Oh, and umm he snapped his fingers rapidly, as if fishing for words. Ah! Thats right! How are the little ones? Precious little Reeves and Samantha? I think Im remembering those names correctly. Good, or uhhh, you know, still kicking? Doing well, I mean? Jun didnt immediately say anything, and the silence which followed became awkward rather fast. To his credit, the mans smile never wavered and his arms never fell. They did, however, start to tremble as the seconds stretched on. Um Boss? Werent that the other one with the mask? Count Monti-whats his name or another? Ah! Count Montifelle of Lithenburg, youre exactly right my friend! Thats my mistake. Actually, now that you mention it, apart from the mask they really dont look anything alike. Huh. But wait, then whose kids am I thinking of? They arent the Counts, surely. Dunno. Wager it dont have much to do with this one though, piped the giant in a voice pitched far higher than seemed natural. Look at em. Hes just a kid. And kids cant have kids. Its against the king''s strictures. Member my mum always used to say so. What?! Oh, what a load of utter nonsense, he let his arms drop and turned to the giant. And, far be it from me to naysay that blessed saint of a woman, but by the time I was his age, I had to have sired at least twenty or more of the little bastards. Oh! Didnt know that. Gratulations boss. How are they? The kids? Hmm. Not a clue. Oh, the giant briefly deflated, before unexpectedly brightening. Thats fine. Member my old Da was too busy to visit us atimes. Its never too late to reunite though. If you know where theyre at we could-! Nope. Not a one. Oh b but their names then...! Would be tricky, sure, but it aint impossible. Few choice words in the right ears and- Names? Havent the foggiest. Look the point is, a strapping young lad like himself? You cant tell me he doesnt have a loaf or two rising in the oven, if you catch my meaning. Eh? Eh? the man nudged the big guy in the ribs. The giant didnt budge. Not even their names, boss? Names? Of course I dont-! Really now. Are you still hung up on that!? Ill have you know that unlike you Tiny, Ive bedded a great many gorgeous, beautiful, downright stunning women in my day. From the Southern seas of Ulittan to the branch capital of Calltaya. So you tell me? How in all the nine roiling hells am I supposed to remember every insignificant townlet, or noname village I might havemight have, mind youpassed through along the way? Hells, I never had a father and just look how well I turned out! he waved emphatically at his expensive looking suit. The big man, for his part, didnt look convinced. Oh, phooey on you and all your grumbling! It should be warming your heart right now. To think that, all across the frontier, there are dozens of miniature mes! Running around, causing mayhem and making names for themselves. Damn! I sure know it warms mine, he wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. Then another wicked smile tugged at the corners of his lips. And hey? Who knows? Perhaps theres even one in this very room. What do you say Masks? Ever catch your mother reminiscing by the windowsill? Suddenly enraptured by a midnight tryst of days long past? Say thirteenno, maybe fourteen years ago? Once again only silence followed. And, as it dragged on, the man appeared to grow increasingly uncomfortable. Jun had to imagine the scathing glare both his and Juns partner, aimed his way werent lessening his growing agitation much. Then, just when it looked like the man was about to open up his fool mouth yet again, Jun sighed. Really? Alright Ill bite. Just, what do you want Kaiser? Ah yes, well, he visibly collected himselfsmoothing down his suit and coughing into his hand. Ah umm. The thing is? We kind of need to talk. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. What do you mean you need everything by tomorrow?! They were standing inside a ring of trees far from the main campsitewell out of earshot and away from prying eyesthough still within the safety of the soldier patrolled perimeter. Maisell had taken the liberty of restricting Ivory to her tentssaying it was only proper a young lady such as herself, not be exposed to such unsavory elements as those uncivilized rogues. Honestly, going by what he knew of the two men, Jun couldnt entirely say he disagreed. What can I say? New management is cleaning shop. Practically every client in the books with a sum worth looking twice at is enjoying their fair share of this city-wide shakedown. And what does Albion have to say about all this? Nothing much. Though thats easy enough to do when youre dead I suspect. When I tell you its been a charged couple of days? Well, lets just say the transition has been less than gentle. Think, less carpet shock, and more caught with your pants down in a thunderstorma fifty-inch lightning rod rammed straight up your-! Hey boss. No swearing round the kid. Bad manners, speaking the devil''s tongue near the youngn impressionable. E-excuse me? Bad what? You know, sort of like tea and biscuitsreal upright behaviorn. With raised pinkies and the like. Upright or uptight, you lumbering oaf, Kaiser grumbled. And when did you suddenly become this paragon of propriety?! The big man just shrugged. Mum taught us right. Oh? Well, uhh, thats nice big guy. Sounds like she was a real upstanding lady, your mam. Wouldve loved to meet her. Truly, a star shines brighter in the wake of her passing Uhh, boss? She had us over for bridge night not a week gone by. You ate all her blueberry scones then passed out on the kitchen floor, remember? Semantics! Now, where was I? Ah, right! Lets just say things have been rather rough going, then. Happy? Me and Tiny hereor should I say Tiny and Ihave outlasted gods know how many overeager takeovers. Now normally Id say, If youve seen one, youve seen em all! but this one? Well, it sure as shit takes the cake for most imaginative brutality. Language, boss. Gah! Enough! Tell me, whos the higher-ranking enforcer here!? You or me? The big guy, Tiny, looked unimpressed. Kaiser clicked his tongue. Anyway, the point is, these people are clearly out for blood. Its even got the upper crust nervous which is never a good sign. Doesnt matter that I personally couldnt give a rats ass whos exulted derrire gets to sit on the big boys chair. Not so long as the coins still flowing, and my pockets are heavy. Didnt stop them from nearly taking off my head moren once though, now did it? And compared to someone like Tiny here, you could say I got off light. The big man nodded his agreement while rubbing at a circular burn mark around his neck. Jun briefly felt a twinge of sympathy for the two and what theyd probably gone through, but it wasnt even a question that, in his mind, his own affairs took immediate priority. Okay, so this new management, whats their leadership look like? Jun asked. Kaiser lowered his voice as if his new boss could hear him from all the way out here. Well, theres this one bloke, right? A big, nasty bruiser. A demon, more like, Tiny added. Pretty much. Hes one marble shy of a full deck of cards, if you catch my meaning. When I tell you hes mad, Im not talking about his anger issues. Although he has plenty of those too, believe you me. Hes one bloody minded bastard, alright, and not shy about getting his hands dirty. Tiny and I saw him cave a mans head in with nothing but his hands. With his bare. Fucking. Hands! And the mans not even a cultivator! Tiny nodded solemnly, a hint of fear in his eyestoo disturbed to remember to correct Kaiser on his language. But hes not really the one youll be wanting to worry about. Its his right-hand man that really gives me the shivers. Hes the quiet type, calm and collectedunassuming like. But I heard from one of his guards, yeah? That he likes to take young girls, you see, and- Well, Ill spare you the grisly details, but lets just say hes bad, bad news. That poor guardsman. Never seen a bloke drink so damned much in my life. Kaiser shivered and Juns frown only deepened. And if I dont go along with this? My payments have been consistently on time up until now. There shouldnt be any reason to switch things up so suddenly. Ah. Well. You could, of course, choose to ignore this, uhh, well call it a friendly warning. But do you remember how Albion had connections with the gentry? How he didnt want to chance all that jolly hobnobbing by pissing off some no name branch lord from the ass end of nowhere? Yeah, not so sure that applies anymore. These new guys might be more willing to take certain liberties. In an instant Juns blood ran cold. He knew what the man was implying. Because of course he did. It was just that the idea was so utterly repugnant that he almost refused to believe it out of hand. Jun clenched his fists; tried to breathe through the frustration quickly rising in his chest. This this was the last thing he needed. His mother Checking the time on his pocket watch, he felt his frustration nearly boil over. He was late for an appointment. How could this day get any better? How much time do I have? Jun said, trying to keep his tone even. Like I said, today. Maybe tomorrow if youre lucky. The big boss can be a might forgetful after a good day of killing but the snake will definitely notice if no payment is made. Jun thought for a moment, then decided on a course of action. Is the account still the same? Ferrins still alive if thats what you''re asking. Jun opened his screens and transferred ten million spirit coins to the crime syndicates accountant, leaving him with a little more than two million. I just transferred a tenth of the total. Hopefully that should be enough to convince them that I can still pay. I just need two weeks. Two weeks and I can get them the money. Can you tell them that for me? Kaiser smiled at him sadly. Ill do my best Masks. But, if you asked me, Id say your best bet is to run. The winds have been in a bad way for a good while now. Cant help but think itll get a lot worse before it gets better. No. Absolutely not. Running is not an option. That was his father''s forte after all, and he was not his father. Alright, alright. No need to bite my head off. Its just a heads up. Cant see things turning out well for you, is all Im saying. And I appreciate the concern, really I do. But, unfortunately, I have some place to be. If youll excuse me gentlemen. And with that Jun gave a tight smile before he marched quickly past the two menposture stiff and visibly tense. The two enforcers watched the young man go with forlorn expressions. Kaiser sighed. Its a shame really. Shame, Tiny concurred. He really is a good kid. Fairly exceptional. Ah, yup. Bit of an understatement there, boss. Reminds me a bit of myself when I was that age. Oh yeah boss? Wouldnt mind if he was mine actually. My son I mean. Hmm Might have even visited sometimes. Huh. That right boss? In a manner of speaking? Yes. Well, I dont know. Probably. Ah. Although now that I really think about it, I dont actually know his name either, now do I? At this final revelation, the two enforcers shared a laugh. Chapter 12: The City Lord’s Demands The city lords office was an exercise in self-delusion. Like a prince making to disguise himself as one of the unwashed masses, who simultaneously couldnt fathom the idea of shedding the creature comforts of home, the room exclaimed it was one thing, but very clearly was another. It was no secret that the man had been relegated to his current position from one on highin the esteemed employ of some duke or another from the kingdoms capital. Something Jun knew simply didnt happen unless you royally messed up. And so, it was almost in spite of that fact that the man in front of him insisted on flaunting his wealth, well, basically every chance he got. What meager wealth he still owned, that was, cut off from his familys coffers as he was. Though, instead of refined antiquity, like what mightve been seen nearer the capital, his office decor fell more in line with the frontier aristocracy. Attempting to claim status through a showing of strength. An effort thatd been met with limited success so far. Many of the sealed exhibits lining the walls displayed delicately engraved weaponsmade in a facsimile of the frontier styletaxidermied spirit beast heads, and armor made from beast parts. Though, even to inexperienced eyes, they didnt come off as all that impressive. The swords appeared thin and brittle, the armor was clearly meant solely for decoration, and the beast heads mounted proudly on the walls were so large as to make the thought that the city lord had any part, whatsoever, in their retrieval, ludicrous to the point of outright absurdity. Jun doubted the man had ever even held a bladed weapon, let alone took any part in slaying the beast whose singular tusk was larger than his entire body was long. A man after his own heart in that way, he supposed, though Jun never claimed to be anything more than what he was: a merchant. Whereas this man was rather adamant the world see him in a very particular light. Ah, there you are. So nice of you to grace us with your presence. Im sure you mustve been awfully busy with whatever it is you do. My apologies if this scheduled appointment with your city lord proved too much of an inconvenience for you. The city lorda plump, round faced man with an unfortunately large nose and a voice reedy enough to be mistaken for a young boysdid not rise to greet Jun as he entered his office. Instead choosing to maintain his rigid, straight-backed posturepudgy fingers, sheathed in gaudy rings, steepled before him. As if he were a headmaster reprimanding a troublesome student. The lord smiled thinly, though Jun could clearly see the flickers of outrage barely held in check. The man, petty to a fault, pointedly refrained from inviting Jun to sit. That said, he didnt let something so trivial as propriety stop him. At that moment, he was in no mood for games. He was obligated to attend the city lord, not go along with his every whim. Plopping himself into the vacant chair across from the lord, he responded. Apology accepted, city lord. Is there a specific reason youve called for me? For the briefest of moments, a look of unrestrained fury consumed the city lord''s features, before it vanished just as quickly as itd comeleading Jun to almost believe hed imagined it. In hindsight that was probably the moment when he shouldve bottled up his anger and let things lie. Normally he wouldnt have dared to act out so brazenly. He acknowledged that there were a great many things this man could do to make his life more difficult after all. In all of their previous encounters hed applied the appropriate amount of tact, and, generally, brown-nosed with the best of them. Now though? He had far more pressing concerns on his mind than the injured pride of one arrogant man. When the city lord replied it was with a voice strained by tension, as if he was actively forcing himself not to shout. Yes. As it so happens, I do have cause. Its regarding the matter of the elysian crystal mines. I really do believe it prudent we revisit the topic of further compensation- Is that all? Jun scoffed. Please, weve already been over this. Unless somethings changed in the week since I last saw you, I believe its safe to say my father still owns the land. Seeing as it was my father who bought the land. From you, as it so happens, unless Ive somehow misremembered things. Something no amount of negotiation after the fact will ever change. Truthfully, it was Juns land, bought and payed for. But, for a young boy with no real backing, the advent of a powerful man of mysterious means had helped to give many of his negotiation''s credibility. It was an irritating reality that, without that buffer between him and the powerful, he would not have risen nearly as high, nor as fast, as he hadregardless of how competent his business sense was. You WILL NOT, speak to me in such a manner, boy! I do not care who your father is. So long as he is not here, I will be spoken to with the proper respect I am owed! The plump man punctuated each explosive statement with a thump of his fist on the tableeach successive blow causing the desk to groan and splinter. Jun promptly checked himself. It was hard to remember sometimes that this man was a cultivator. That he was also a haughty, petty, and vain fool shouldve only served to make Jun more cautious, not less. Besides, it wasnt as if it were his fault Jun was in such a dour mood. The looming threat of his mothers possible abduction hung over his head like a guillotine blade. In that way, could he really be blamed for feeling stressed? That said, it would be foolish to take all that out on this man of no insignificant influence. Jun made to bow his head in feigned apology. Only to find himself momentarily taken aback by just how much that simple act rankled. Thankfully his hair covered his face with the motionhiding the ugly grimace that twisted his features. Normally biting his tongue and swallowing his pride came as naturally to him as breathingit was often the most politic thing to do. Prudent. Wise. After all, what was a little pride in the face of progress? Even a single step towards his goals was worth any amount of kowtowing. Or so hed believed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Now though? He wasnt so sure. Suddenly, there was this icy pit at the center of his chest which rejected this reality with a fervor he couldnt place. A cold hand which shoved back against what he could only see as pragmatic. A necessary action made inimical to his very existence by some strange instinct he didnt fully understand. Apologies, city lord, Jun managed through gritted teeth. It has been quite the ordeal of a day, and my nerves are a bit frayed. I hope you can find it in you to forgive my impertinence. The man looked somewhat mollified at this obeisance. Jun had to strain to hold back a snarl. Yes, well, the man cleared his throat. I suppose a young man such as yourself must have all sorts of things that weigh down your mind at times. Gods know, running an entire city single-handedly is no small feat, let me tell you. I believe I can understand where youre coming from. Though I would watch your tongue when speaking to your elders, boy. Not all of those you meet will be as forgiving as I. Of course not, city lord, Jun saidbowing his head again. He didnt know how the man failed to hear the grinding of his teeth. Now, back to the mention of further compensation. I truly do feel as though Im owed a sizable portion of any of the profits made on this mining operation of yours. They were my lands to begin with after all, granted to me by his Royal Majesty King Alphonse the second, in all his unknowable wisdom. I would be remiss in my duties as city lord not to take full advantage of this new stream of revenue, dont you think? Especially seeing as it represents a great opportunity for the elevation of Fort Mathis as a whole. Surely you must understand that the citys needs must come first in these matters, no? And by city, he of course referred to his own personal coffers. Jun tried his best to maintain a civil tone. Excuse my forwardness, lord, but I must decline your generous request. I see no reason that the city cannot prosper as things stand. Ive already spoken to the heads of the merchant''s guild, the explorer''s guild, and the laborer''s guild respectively. And I can assure you that, not only does the status quo provide higher paying wages for the people of the city, but trade agreements are even now being drafted on our merchants end. By this time next year, our small outpost might very well become the single largest elysian crystal supplier this side of the Boundless Empire. I cannot see how such a precedent would be in any way detrimental to the city. The man smiled condescendingly, as though he were speaking to an ignorant child. Ah, but you see, thats where youre wrong. While, yes, its possible that the populous might stuff their pockets with a bit more coin in the coming weeks, that speaks nothing of the higher priorities. Infrastructure, upkeep, expansion for the gods sakes! These things are not cheap, Ill have you know. And if were not careful, this burgeoning industry youre creating could be preemptively crippled by poor city management. Jun bristled, his ire rising. From inside his jacket, Ivory trembled. Perhaps it was only his black mood that read the cause of her agitation as coming from a reciprocal anger. Is that a threat, city lord? No! No. Of course not! Lets just call it a friendly warning. Too much focus placed on the wrong priorities can weaken the foundations of any endeavor. As a young man of business, you should already be well aware of that much, no? Jun breathed deeply, trying desperately to keep himself in check. It was irritating. It was infuriating. But perhaps he could stomach the cost. The sooner he could be done with this greedy lord, the sooner he could refocus on the things that truly mattered. And how much of a percent would this upkeep require, would you say? Jun could feel himself losing out to the storm of emotions raging within him. He hated to bow to this mans demands. To anyones. This man was the same. They were all the same. He built and they took. He climbed and they shoved the ladder out from under him. If only because they could. Oh, I dont know. Id say thirty percent sounds reasonable. A city cant run on hopes and dreams after all, he chuckled. THIRTY PERCENT! Thirty percent on top of the rather generous tax he was already paying? Jun had to restrain himself from screaming. To understand just how criminal that was, one first had to understand how valuable of a resource elysian crystals were. And to understand that, one needed something of a grasp on how the frontiers economy worked. When one thinks of the frontier, its likely many things come to mind. Untamed wilderness, unparalleled dangers, but the most prominent of all had to be the near limitless opportunity. It was a place where lesser resources, labeled scarce by the greater cities of the empire, were no rarer than weeds in an unkempt garden. Beast parts and natural treasures abounded, while beast cores remained the very life blood of frontier society. A highly valued commodity across the entirety of the boundless empire, they were the frontier kingdoms most lucrative export by far. The total accumulation of spiritual energies a spirit beast has amassed over the course of their often-prodigious lifespan, was it any wonder at all they were so highly sought after? For practical purposes, a beast core could be described as a very small, easily transportable battery which holds a great deal of potential energy. Primarily bought and sold for their ability to power rune and inscription-based technologies, many convenient household appliances therefore rely almost entirely upon beast cores. The inscriptions which make up the circuitry for said devicesfrom spirit lanterns to your everyday baking ovensonly functional through the use of a special ink which incorporates powdered beast cores as a reagent. So universally versatile that theyve long since become intrinsic to the idea of human comfort worldwide. Which, of course, led him back to the matter of elysian crystals. The only resource known to man that, when ground down to a fine powder, is able to properly process the wild energies of raw beast cores. Essentially leading to a relationship where, without the beast cores, there is no power. But without elysian crystals, that power is nigh unusable. With all due respect, city lord, I feel I must decline. The mans eyes widened, and the look of catlike satisfaction immediately slipped from his features. To be replaced by that flicker of incandescent fury hed noticed earlier. Only this time, it didnt appear to be going anywhere, anytime soon. The lord spoke in a sharp, clipped tone. I dont think you know what youre saying. Oh, I believe I know very well what Im saying. No, you may not have my money. No, you may not have my land. And no, you may not have thirty percent of my yearly profits you greedy oaf. Now if youll excuse me, Jun continued. I have other, more pressing business to attend to, he said before he got to his feet and turned to leave. BUT ITS MY GODS DAMNED MINE! YOU LIED TO ME YOU LITTLE BRAT! the man exploded, no longer able to contain himself. IF I HAD KNOWN ITS TRUE VALUE-! Jun turned sharply and cut him off there. Then you no doubt would have chosen differently! Yes! Weve been over this! But what you still cant seem to wrap your head around, is the fact that you didnt, and now its too late! Hells, you didnt even try to check! You were so blindly confident in your own stupidity that you just sold it to me, no questions asked. And, given how blatantly you overinflated the base price, I bet you even thought you were getting the better of the deal. Im not sure about you, but I personally cant help but think thatsoh I dont knowentirely your own fault? But hey, perhaps you can use this as a valuable learning opportunity. Maybe next time youll underestimate your own intelligence, and overestimate everyone elses. You might find that things proceed far more smoothly that way. And with that, Jun left the roomslamming the door behind him, and leaving a slack jawed city lord to gape in his wake. The man far too stunned to even think of a response. Chapter 13: Cult of Ruination THAT LITTLE FUCKING-! THAT SNIVELING, GODS DAMNED-! AARGH! In a fit of rage, Lord Finneas snatched a hefty tome from atop his desk and hurled it across the room with all of the strength he could muster. With a succession of glass shattering, wood splintering explosions, the book easily careened through several display cases before eventually embedding itself in the furthest wall. In turn, any swords, bows, or ornately wrought armor pieces unfortunate enough to have found themselves in its immediate path were destroyed just as utterly as if they too were made of glass. Although so consumed by his anger was the city lord, that he barely even noticed the loss. With two hands, he snatched up a resting decanter and threw it against the wall with another unintelligible scream. Upon contact, the vessel detonatedthoroughly splattering it, and just about everything else in sight. The city lords hunched shoulders rose and fell with every deep lungful of air. The pitter-patter of wine dripping down from the ceiling accompanied only by the crunch of breaking glass as he paceddesperately searching for something, anything, with which he might further vent his rage. He was just about to call for his assistantthinking a round or two with a third ring beggar might be just what he needed to assuage his angerwhen a soft voice interrupted his dark musings. Please forgive the intrusion, but I believe I might have something of interest to share with the lord, came a young, feminine voice from an oddly shadowed alcove in the otherwise well-lit room. The city lord nearly jumped out of his skin in surprise. Though, despite the sickly unease worming its way through his gut, he didnt allow for even the hint of worry to show in his reaction. One had to be very careful when dealing with the House of Ruination. You never truly knew what the mad cultists were thinking. That disrespectful employers have been known to expire on occasionand rather gruesomely at thatjust about as soon as their contracts did, was more than enough to incentivize civility. Quickly, he smoothed out his features, and then, ignoring the mess hed made as if it werent even there, he turned. Turned and nearly kicked himself for being such a damned fool. This was no world class assassin. It was just some brat. A filth smeared urchin whod, by some unknown miracle, slipped past his securitys notice. Looking like she hadnt bathed in several monthsher hair so unbelievably matted, tangled, and greasy that underneath, the color could have been anything from a light brown to a wheat blondshe stood barefoot in his office, as if it were the most natural thing in the world! It was ridiculous! What did he pay his men for if not to prevent this very thing from happening! If those fools were too inept to keep out any old beggar child that wandered in off the street, then they didnt deserve to breathe, let alone fritter away all his hard-earned money! He was just about to say as muchto lay into this waif, his incompetent guards, and anyone else he even suspected of being responsiblewhen he met her eyes for the very first time, and the words hed been preparing died on his lips. In an instant he understood that, standing next to this supposed child, he was likely in the most danger hed ever been in his life. It was a truth so obvious once you looked past the grimy fa?ade, that he wasnt sure how it hadnt been apparent from the very beginning. And with the way shed simply appeared, with no one the wiser? Well, he could only conclude that hed been correct the first time. What else could she be but an elite assassin from an upper tier guild? Having narrowly avoided complete and total disaster, Lord Finneas responded with as much dignity as he could manage. Is the deed done? the city lord intoned, relieved to find his voice even and steady. Oh, I dont know. I wouldnt say done so much as incomplete, I suppose. As it stands, the request youve made has proven quite impossible. Silence reigned after this proclamation, as the city lord tried to decipher her words. And thats supposed to be good news? You said you had something of interest for me. Should I be overjoyed that you were unable to fulfill your end of the contract? No matter how hard he tried, the city lord couldnt help the notes of exasperation that bled into his voice. Some is good. Some is not. Really, it depends entirely on whos asking. The city lords jaw worked silently for a few long seconds. Im asking! Obviously, lord Finneas took a series of long, soothing breaths. So, which is it then? Were you able to put an end to the man or not? I wouldve thought a single person to be no match, given the resources your organization has at its disposal. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Oh! No. No, I have not killed him as it so happens. Though, neither is he alive. Our contract was annulled the moment it arrived. Is that not wonderfully ironic? The city lord froze as his mind raced with the possibilities. What are you saying? though he was starting to suspect he already knew. Im saying that my services are no longer necessary. Though, that should come as little comfort, since Im now very certain they never were to begin with. Im also sorry to say that, nowhere in its tenants, does the church reference anything even resembling a refund policy. Bad luck that. It was a clever trick, though, you must admit, that the man of your greatest enmity didnt even exist. At first there was only blank confusion. And then a thrill of elation shot through his veinsso sharp and sudden that it was almost painful. His nemesis, that infuriatingly competent man, wasnt just dead but hed never even existed in the first place! The largest threat to his power base, gone up like a puff of smoke. But wait a moment how could that be? If the mysterious benefactor was fictitious, that would mean someone else had been calling the shots. But that didnt make sense. Who, then, was spearheading operations? Not the boy, surely. Unless? But no. That was ludicrous. What was he thinking! Of course, it couldnt be him, because? Well because it was improbable to the extreme! Even if, by some miracle, the boy played a larger role than hed first assumed, he had to have had backing of some kind. With his long list of connections, as well as his improbable number of successes, he had to have had some help along the way. Finneas had been certain that the capricious upstart was the favored son of some Viscount, pampered Earl, or anotherthe scion of an esteemed and wealthy noble house. No mere child could have achieved so much in so short a time. It was impossible. Unthinkable. Preposterous. Butthen again, hed never known a member of the House of Ruination to lie. In fact, he suspected even insinuating as much would immediately land him on their list, free of charge. As he mentally sped through the implications in his head, his hesitant grin blossomed into a victorious, toothy smile. If this was indeed true, he mightve just found a way to retake what was his after all. And if things went to plan, he wouldnt be forced to ask for a mere thirty percent of what he was rightfully entitled to. No, no, no. If things went as he intended, by this time next week? Oh, the look on the brat''s face when he realized just who hed crossed would be priceless. Before any of that, however, there were still preparations left to make. The city lord could already tell it would be a very busy day. Calling out to his guard detail, the city lord turned and swept eagerly from his office. Practically skipping with a childlike delight, he never broke stride as his militia flanked him to either side. No matter what he tried, he found it nearly impossible to wipe the foolish grin off of his face. And so, after a while, he decided he wouldnt bother. There was just cause for celebration after all. There would be a reckoning. Ooh, yes. Yes indeed. A reckoning. A reckoning! Yes sir. Oh my! A reckoning. A reckoning. A reckoning was nigh. A reckoning. Nialla scrutinized the plump mans retreating figure. Thats certainly one way of putting it. Unbidden, a small giggle escaped her pale lips. An affectation of jubilance that didnt otherwise crack her stony visage. Only when she remembered to will the phenomenon, did her face split wide into a toothy grin. This time, when the laughter bubbled up from her core, it came out unrestrained, unrelenting, and manic. The sound cut off just as quickly as itd begunleaving the space somewhat hollower for its sudden absence. Human anatomy was really such a bother, she decided. So much inefficient spasming paired with unexplained redundancies. Still, she would have to work on that too, she supposed, if her many plans were to be realized. And so, after giving the far corner a quick wink in farewell, and reveling in the burst of terror that ensued, it was with a deliberate twirl, skip, and girlish hop that the vessel housing the soul shard of Nialla Tallvar sank back into the otherthe in between realm from which shed first come. Her already muted presence vanishing in its entirety, as her body, fundamentally, ceased to exist. From her precarious perch, wedged in the upper lefthand corner of the city lords office, Silvia Blackdisciple of ruin, trained spy, and master assassinnearly wept as the bead of sweat chose that moment to finally drip from her nose. Shuddering with every wave of relief that tore through her, she soon found her body tumbling after it in turnall the will having suddenly gone out of her. It would be many seconds later that the slumped and sobbing form of the master assassin stilled, and Black was finally able to properly compose herself. And in so doing, attempt to comprehend what exactly it was shed just been made to witness. When just the mere thought of it nearly sent her into another round of convulsions however, she was quick to abandon that line of inquiry entirely. And though a part of her, her conditioning, cried out at her own cowardicedemanded she track down the client and give her own accountshe managed to convince herself that the dread entity, the one that shall not be named, had done a rather succinct job of it already. That shed originally come to differing conclusions, entirely ceasing to matter all of the sudden. And so, it was in that moment she decided that this time this time? She could be a little less than diligent just this once. After launching to her feet, vaulting through the open window, then slipping free from the oppressive confines of the estate altogether, Black could actually feel her spirits lift with every step, every story, every kilometer she placed between her and that creature''s lingering presence. After all, it was a terrible, all-consuming pressure that shed sooner forget. Would forget, if she had anything to say about it. Because, while sure, she might have pledged herself, heart and soul, to the ultimate ruination, the slow degradation of all things, she most certainly had not signed up for this. Chapter 14: The Envoy The carriage rumbled up the cobblestone path which led to the main entrance of their modest two-story manorpassing sparse woodland and dense thickets to either side as it bounced, jounced, and rocked its way ever closer. A magnificent thing of polished metal and burnished wood, it had to have been large enough to fit a dozen people or more. Its prestigious bulk accompanied by several flapping banners, ennobling its already impressive silhouette. The straight-backed driver was dressed resplendently, in azure blues and snowy whites. Clearly tailored with the use of vibrantly dyed cloththe likes of which their subsidiary branch couldnt hope to afford. It was to the point that even the four mounts leading the carriage, each no doubt of the highest quality breed, were more immaculately groomed than some of the family elders. Even at a glance the wealth disparity was as clear as it was vast, and they hadnt even seen the carriages occupant yet. Flashing periodically in the early morning sun, the silver crest of the Beckonfrost Household shown prominently to either side of the carriage. It depicted a shield, embossed with a blooming blue bell lily, which overlapped two crossed swords coated in frost. And youre sure that theyre the same as the rest of these pit-sniffers? Hey now, theres no need to be rude, Jun subvocalized, trying to set a good example and all that. And, in that theyre family? Yes, Im quite sure. But! Ivory exclaimed, clearly as unsatisfied with this answer as she had been the last dozen times shed asked. But their things are all so pretty, and colorful, and grand, while everything here is so old, and stained, and smelly. And I dont just mean the furniture, Jun! Dont even get me started on the people! Those horrible old aunties especially. Anyway it cant be rude if its true. Havent you been paying attention? They do it all the time! Its abhorrent, Jun. Decorum entirely unbecoming of noblemen, I swear! Yes- well, no. Im not so sure about that Because, just for the record, that its true actually makes it more offensive, not less. If anything- Id bet everything I own even their noses reek of the stuff. Its a wonder they can smell anything at all past the wafting cloud of their own noxious fumes. You see, its comments like that- Im continually surprised not a one of them has melted straight off by now. I know mine would, if it was subjected to such torturous treatment. If I had a nose that is, it most certainly would have. Very strange-looking things, noses. I must say, I much prefer a smooth exterior, myself. Jun had to repress a smile. That so? Well, to answer your unspoken question, all their fidgeting and, ahem, pit sniffing, is likely a product of our soon to be guests. Theyre all very desperate to make a good impression. Well, if thats the case theyre all doing quite the terrible job of it. Just get better things I say. Have they tried being something entirely other than themselves? Really! It cant be all that hard, she pronounced somewhat imperiouslyher words and intonation evoking the very spirit of Lady Maisell. Smarten up, I say. After all, I managed it just fine, and look how well that turned out! Ivory shook her stolen jewelry pointedly. Jun had to cough to mask the noise. For the love of-! Saints preserve me. A single morning in that womans company and already shes a critic. Word had been sent around noon of the previous day, that an envoy from the main branch would be arriving this morning. Naturally, upon receiving this momentous, nigh unprecedented news, the branch transformed into a buzzing hive of activityeveryone pitching in to make sure their humble old estate was as cleanly presentable as humanly possible. Jun had, for obvious reasons, missed out on a good majority of the preparations. And had, as a result, been tasked with all that was left. All that was left. He hadnt been allowed rest until mere hours before the carriage''s arrival. At which point hed been dragged unceremoniously from his bed, forced into a too small suit that didnt quite reach his ankles, then made to stand awkwardly on the steps of the entrance, alongside the rest of the family. Practically delirious from lack of sleep, and sick with anxiety whenever he thought about the future, Jun was in no mood for this whole charade. Because, while he recognized that it had been something like fifty years since last their small branchd had direct contact with the main houselet alone received a blasted envoy from them in personit wasnt as if it had anything to do with him. Right? Had he simply been left to his own devices, the meeting wouldve, no doubt, gone off without a hitch. Surely, he couldve been allowed another hour or two of sleep. Well, he was sure he would have fallen asleep, sooner or later, if hed been given half a chance. After enough time spent lying wide awake, contemplating the futility of creation in a world that only ever seemed to want to take, surely, he would have drifted off eventually. Surely, he would have... probably. Well, on second thought, maybe this interruption was for the best after all. The carriage came to a swaying halt before the grand steps to the main entrance. The rhythmic panting of winded horses the only thing to disturb the still silence. Until, that is, said calm was shattered completely by the clack of the coachmans heels on stone. Hopping down easily from his perch, the well-dressed man made for the carriage doors. Opening them with practiced ease, the coachman stood aside just as an expensive looking boot poked out from the shadowed interior. From the carriage emerged a man of middling height and better than average looks. His white blond hair wasnt styled overly much. Cut short, it was well maintained, while his clothes were clearly of an expensive make. A cut above what even the coachman wore, which itself put the best of their branch leaders faded finery to shame. Jun noted idly that, like his coachman, the man was dressed in the same white and blues of their family colors. When he finally looked up to see the entire branch standing in ranks and staring at him, he flinched back slightlyhis eyes showing his surprise. Silence reigned for a few long seconds as neither the man nor the elders could think of what to say. The envoy was the first to break the tension. Oh! Uhh hello. In unison the branch lord, his immediate family, and the majority of the eldersthose not rendered mute by their nerves or failing mental facultiesresponded in kind. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. It is an honor to invite your esteemed personage into this, our humble abode! Jun winced at the decidedly unnecessary volumehis nerves already on edge from a lack of sleep and general anxietyand was in turn just a fraction too late in kowtowing with the others. Somewhere behind him, an unseen family member didnt miss the opportunity to right this unforgivable wrong, by grabbing him by the hair and shoving him down until his bent posture more or less matched the others. Once more an especially uncomfortable silence followed. Jun really wasnt sure what theyd been expecting. Such a painfully awkward spectacle could really only warrant an equally awkward response. Ah! Y-yes well. Do you? Do you think we could maybe go inside? Lord Darius cleared his throat, cheeks turning red. Once more the branch lord bowed his head before responding. Of course, my lord. On behalf of this branch, please allow me to apologize for our unforgivable lack of decorum. Its just that its ah, it is not every day that we are blessed with an honored guest such as yourself! The crowd parted down the middle as the branch lord led the befuddled man forwardhis coachman following closely behind as they made their way into the cool interior of the entrance hall. Please, right this way. It was a bit short notice, but weve prepared a light feast to show our gratitude to the main household for their recognition of our insignificant branch. Lord Darius led the envoy around a few more bends before they finally entered the main dining hall. There they were met with the tantalizing aromas of the kitchen staffs morning labors. A series of dishes were still being placed upon the long dining table by harried looking servants that, at this point, might as wellve been asleep on their feet. If wed had more time, we might have been able to prepare a true feast befitting your stationnot that we begrudge the main branch their rights in these matters, of course! Lord Darius cleared his throat once more, face turning even redder in the quiet that followed. It didnt help that the envoy appeared to be just as flabbergasted. Before he could place the other foot in his mouth, however, the envoy intervened. I had only really intended to stay a short time, but I suppose I could eat. There isnt any real immediacy with regards to what Ive been tasked to deliver. From his vantage near the head of the procession, Jun saw the way the lords face went still at the mention of a delivery. Likely meant to hide his true reaction, he couldnt hide the glint of greed which shone brightly in his eyes. Deliveries? Hmm This is the first time Im hearing of such a thing, Lord Darius said, trying very hard to sound casual. Oh, yes thats right. We might as well get that out of the way before we eat. Wouldnt want to sully them with greasy fingers after all, the man laughed awkwardly, eliciting a chorus of forced laughter in response. Markus, you made sure to grab the box for me, I hope? The coachman stepped forward, revealing an ornate, opalescent box, inlaid with flecks of gold, cradled in the mans steady hands. Of course, my lord. The envoy frowned. Come now Markus. What have I told you about calling me lord? You make it sound as if Im as old as my father. You have made it quite clear to this servant, that he is to refrain from doing so, my lord, the coachman said with a bow. Jun noticed the hint of a smile tugging at the servants lips. The young master only sighed. Oh, have it your way, you stubborn old man. Hand over the box then, would you? Though, for the record, Ill have you know this conversation isnt anywhere near finished. Of course, my lord, the man said as he carefully passed the box over. The greed in the room was almost a tangible thing, so that when the envoy held the box out before him and cleared his throat theatrically, all eyes were on him. Now then! Ahem. On behalf of Her Grace, Lady Cecilia Adivander Beckonfrost, Duchess of Edore, Matriarch to the venerable Household Beckonfrost, I present to youour kindred branch cousinsa gift given in good faith and with the highest of expectations. And, with that brief announcement, he opened the box with a flourish, revealing the rather plain looking contents within. It took a second for the ones closest to recognize the two items. Then, once they had, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd in a wavethe items identity relayed in tones of awed disbelief. Even the branch lord, whos expectations had undoubtably been high, was apparently struck dumb by the gifts. What is it?! What is it?! Ivory practically buzzed. Jun, dont be stingy. You should know how little I like not knowing things by now. Jun, for his part, wouldve been happy to answer her, if only he knew how. This this is, Darius bowed deeply. Please, if you would Lord Damien, convey our utmost gratitude to the matriarch for her extraordinary generosity! On behalf of this branch, I can say with utter confidence we will do everything in our collective power to be worthy of such a prize! Furthermore, I will personally make sure that these unparalleled opportunities find those most worthy of the honor, you have my word! And with that, Darius reached a tentative hand forward, only for the box to elude his grasp. The branch lord looked up sharply, his face a mask of confusion. The envoy merely retreated another step back and shook his head apologetically. Im sorry, branch lord, but I was given very specific instructions for those individuals Im allowed to give these to. The branch lord straightened. Ah, yes of course, he coughed into his hand. How presumptuous of me. The Matriarch would know whos most deserving of such attention. But Is there truly no room for further discussion? I would nominate one of my sons were that the case, great lord. They are all very competent cultivators. My eldest has proven talented enough to reach the first stage of the foundation establishment realm at the tender age of sixteen. Surely, he must warrant some further consideration. The envoy shook his head slowly. No. Unfortunately there is no room for negotiation. The Matriarch was very explicit in that regard. Lord Dariuss face fell at the news. Luckily for you though, the envoy continued. I believe that shouldnt prove too much of an issue here, seeing as one of the recipients is, indeed, one of your sons. I believe him to be your eldest, is he not? Cedric? Immediately, both the patriarch and his first wifes faces lit up. Yes! He will not disappoint you, lord! blurted Alindra. You can be sure of that! He is a very talented young man with a fierce will and strong body. I would even go so far as to say he has a good chance of taking first-place for himself! The envoy looked taken aback by the sudden outburst. This coming from the previously demure and shy lady wife to the branch lord. Lord Darius placed a restraining hand on his wifes arm. Immediately, much of her earlier jubilance bled away. Pardon my wife, Lord Damien. She can become overly excitable where our sons are concerned. No! No need to apologize. If he is, indeed, as talented as she claims, I look forward to seeing his performance at the tournament, he smiled at Alindra who smiled back in return. There came a delicate cough then. If I may, came a second female voice. With the matter of the first entry pass all settled and in good order, who, might I ask, will be receiving the second? In an instant, the attention of everyone in the room shifted to Lanyue, Juns mother. Including that of the lord envoy. Oh! I-! Umm. Uhhhh A hearty slap to his back elicited a grunt of surprise from the envoy. Lord Damien twisted around to glare at his insubordinate coachmancheeks already stained a deep crimson. The tall man, for his part, appeared just as unflappable as alwaysthat same enigmatic smile tugging at the corners of his lips. With a cough, the envoy turned back to the crowd, though Jun noticed how he pointedly refused to meet his mother''s gaze a second time. Well. Admittedly it was a name previously unknown to me. Though the matriarch apparently has very high expectations. Is there a Junwei present? Chapter 15: The Tournament Pass Ivory giggled. Hey, doesnt that sound a lot like your name, Jun? Only its a lot longer, and of course it cant be yours. After all, anyone with half a brain can tell youre in no condition to be fighting. Fighting for your balance maybe. Remember? Because of the time you fell down? Very embarrassing, I must say. Anyway, if an errant breeze is enough to bowl you over, Id hate to think what a decently thrown fist might do. It would be like punching babies. And you know how little patience I have for baby punchers Jun! Not that Ive ever met one of course. But, even if they were extremely polite and gave me all sorts of wonderful things, I very much doubt itd sway my opinion. Much. Say, dont you think its rather rude for this Junwei person to keep the nice man waiting? You? I dont even Ivory, you can still see my screens, correct? Yes? But I really dont see what that has to do with? Oh? Oh! Oh oh no. As every eye in the room abruptly jerked in his directionmany of them plainly showing the same disbelief he feltJun turned his head in his mothers direction, as if some way, somehow, she held all the answers. What he saw there only left him even more confused. Because instead of the look of shock or incomprehension hed been expecting, his mother appeared pleased? No. Almost smug? But wait that couldnt be right. What did she know that he didnt? There was this oddly contented smile on her lips as she looked back at him. And then, almost conspiratorially, she winked. Okay, what the fuck is that supposed to mean? Alindra was the first to put words to her incredulousness. Th- This has to be some sort of mistake! That boy isnt even a cultivator, and you want him to join the kingdoms triennial tournament? Whose idea of a joke is this? The envoy looked a bit miffed at being questioned so openly. Well, I dont know anything about that. All I know is that the matriarch was very insistent. Young master Cedric and young master Junwei have already been enrolled in the triennial tournament''s registry. In two years'' time, they are to convene at the capital. Where theyll be joined by many other powerful scions from all across the frontier. With that in mind I would suggest you put all your energies into preparing your sons accordingly, rather than waste it on meaningless protests. But-! Alindra continued. This simply cant be true! You expect us to give a good showing and then strap us down with dead weight? Cant you see that this could be detrimental to the Beckonfrost Households reputation as a whole? What will the other houses think when one of ours drops out during the very first round? Jun, who would normally have been offended by this public dressing down, honestly concurred with the demon empress for once. He would be little more than dead weight in such a setting. Perhaps he might shine in the arena of commerce, the battlefield stalked by stadium vendors and underhanded organizers, but on the fighting stage? In his head he scoffed. Yeah, not likely. He couldnt imagine what the matriarch had been thinking. Or his mother for that matter, seeing as the contented expression had yet to leave her face. Jun stepped forward, ready to put an end to this nonsense. Shes right, Jun said. I not sure of the Matriarchs intentions, but I would be more liability than help. Alindra, at first shocked by his unexpected assistance, quickly turned back with a look of smug satisfaction. See? Even the boy agrees hed be useless. Please lord, I have two other sons of no inconsiderable talent. Surely they should be considered before this untalented trash. Jun ground his teeth. Okay, so maybe it hadnt been the best idea to side with the devil. He should have disagreed on principal, he decided, no matter the actual truth of things. With a sudden lunge, Alindra snapped her arm forward, quick as a snake. Clearly intent on snatching up the entry passes before anyone could tell her otherwise, she didnt actually manage to get very far before the case slammed shut with a definitive snap. For a time after, the only sounds in the hall were its occupants careful breathing. And, when at last the envoy spoke, his voice came out as cold as the arctic frost that was their collective namesake. In an instant, all those present abruptly remembered they were not just speaking to any old messenger, but to a powerful scion of the main branch itself. By all rights, he was likely a cultivator of a calibre beyond even their wildest imaginings. And to make matters worse, he might as well have just been insulted to his face. I apologize if I somehow insinuated this was a discussion, the man intoned softly. Being the object of his apparent ire, Alindra flinched back, though she wasnt the only one. In fact, everyone was taken aback by the literal decrease in temperature which accompanied his tone. The fact of the matter is, each of these items is their recipients to do with as they see fit. Not yours. End of story. End of discussion. If you truly insist on turning this simple fact into an incident, I implore you to please leave your formal complaints with the Matriarchs head secretary. Shes available at all hours, five days out of the week, and is a positive delight to be around. And if, after that, you still insist on making trouble, you may always feel free to take it up with me. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The room went eerily still. No one daring to move or even make a sound. Though, Jun noted with growing anxiety, that appeared to be less and less voluntary by the second. Misty clouds escaped past dozens of quivering lips. Lips which had all taken on an alarmingly blue tinge. The oppressive aura of biting frost doing more than just chill them down to their very bone marrow. It stiffened them unnaturally, as if trapping their bodies within invisible blocks of ice. As if every vein, tendon, and muscle fiber had suddenly developed thick layers of frost. And the most terrifying part of all? The envoy seemed almost oblivious to the effect his domineering presence was having on the rest of them, as he first stared into submission a terrified Alindra, then a meek Lord Darius. And then, just as suddenly as itd appeared, the oppressive aura vanished. Now, as if a switch had been flipped, the young lord reverted back to his usual chipper demeanor. Why dont you two boys come up here and take these things off my hands before I too find myself tempted. The man waited patiently, scanning over the heads of the crowd in search of Cedric. A frown formed on his brow when no one appeared. Apologies, lord, said lord Darius, somewhat cowed. But my son is currently bed ridden. There was an attack near the forest line two days ago. He has yet to recover and is currently in no condition to receive such a gift. If you would allow me to- Well, that simply wont do, he interrupted. Markus, take one of the servants and visit the boys quarters. If hes still alive after a spirit beast attack, the damage cant have been too severe. Use one of the peak-grade vitality restoration elixirs. That should be enough to get him standing. If not, then I dare say little else will. There were gasps of surprise at the casual flaunting of wealth. Jun knew well that even a low-grade elixir was probably too much for most families to afford period, and it certainly wasnt something a branch like theirs could afford to just give away willy-nilly. Truly, the elites of the Kingdom were on a level of their own. That he could likely have done the same or more was neither here nor there. Yes lord, the coachman said before marching off in the wake of a servant. So, the envoy said as he turned back to Jun. You must be this Junwei! Please, no one calls me that. Just Jun is fine. He could practically hear the stiffening of spines at this apparent lack of deferencethe feeling of that cold aura still fresh in everyones mind. The envoy on the other hand, simply quirked an eyebrow and smiled all the wider. Intellectually Jun knew he should feign deference like the others, but, at this point, he honestly couldnt be bothered. Hed spoken on equal terms with more influential men than this young lord, and after the week he was having? Kowtowing just didnt seem like a possibility at the moment. Huh, okay. Just Jun it is then. Well, Just Jun I present you with your very own tournament pass, he flipped open the lid revealing the two entry passes. Entirely blank on the front, it was the shape and size of a paper talisman. A metal ring was embedded in the top, where a braided red cord was looped through and tied off. Jun stepped forward, breaking from the whispering crowd. When he was immediately before the smiling cultivator, he made to reach forward and grab his entry pass. But, suddenly thinking better of it, he paused. Much to the crowds annoyance, Jun cocked his head to the side, and took a second to think. From deep within the recesses of Juns inner jacket, Ivory stirred. Would that really work?! Not sure yet. Well see. Jun focused on the items. You said that I could do whatever I wanted with this, correct? It is yours to do with as you see fit. And whatll happen when I touch it? Based on the mans earlier reactions, Jun had a hunch, but he wasnt sure. The glint of delight in the mans eyes told him hed been more or less correct. It would imprint itself onto your soul shell and become unusable by anyone else. So it could be used by someone other than himself. He had hoped for that to be the case, but hadnt known how exactly that would work. And if I wanted to sell it instead? An outcry of disbelief and anger arose throughout the dining hall. Lord Darius and Alindra both made to step forward, but an icy look from Damien stayed their hands. He returned his gaze to Jun. Then you would have to do so without touching it, Im afraid. And I, unfortunately, cannot leave the box with you, if thats what you were thinking. Undeterred, Jun pondered the conundrum for quite some time. On the one hand, he didnt particularly want to reveal even one of his secret abilities. Especially not here of all places, with these people, though he doubted theyd pick up on what it meant even if they saw it up close. On the other, he knew that the pass would be all but wasted on him. Not to mention, if he could actually sell such a treasure, it might make meeting his impossible deadline all the more likely. He looked to his mother who looked at him right back, neither encouraging nor discouraging. Coming to a decision, Jun opened up his system screens and found the only section he felt a true kinship with. |Merchant of Promise| Allowed access to the System Approved general marketplace. He opened up the general marketplace with its nostalgic ringing chime. He found the icon for Auction House andskipping over his many bids currently in progresshe created an auction listing of his own. Selecting the entry pass on the left with a mental request, he saw the envoys eyes widen and eyebrows raise. No doubt in response to the sudden pop-up request asking him if he consented to the pass being transferred into Juns custody. The man must have mentally agreed, because in the next moment, without any warning, the leftmost pass disappeared. At the same time a new icon blipped onto his screenlisting one triennial tournament pass as now on auction. The hall exploded into exclamations of equal parts shock and outrage. Alindra grabbed Jun roughly by the arm and spun him around none too gently. She questioned him in that special way she had wherein she clearly cared very little for his response. Spittle flying from her mouth and veins bulging at her temples, it was unlikely anything he said wouldve assuaged her. With expert ease Jun ignored her rantingstill hung up on the last words hed heard the envoy mutter before the sounds of the branchs displeasure drowned everything else out. A merchant''s title. Incredible. I hadnt believed her, but she was right. Truly remarkable. Wait a minute. Just hold on one second! What was that supposed to mean?! And so, it was just as he was running through the implications of the mans words, that all hell broke loose. Chapter 16: A Reckoning Cometh Three massive impacts resounded throughout the hall before an enormous crash shook the entire estate down to its foundations. Panting, a harried looking man in servants livery burst into the dining room, moving at a full-on sprint. Lord Darius! Intruders! Theyre in the entryway, they-! Unfortunately, the man never managed to get any further before he was cut off by those aforementioned intruders. Marching forward in organized step, the soldiers who bullied their way into the dining hall were decked out in the crisp uniforms of the city guard militiamore commonly referred to as the vain lords coterie. With a casual kind of cruelty, the poor servant was thrown asidehis body made to tumble helplessly across the uneven floorboards. A sick feeling of dread began to well up in Juns chest then. A feeling which only compounded with the entrance of the vain lord himself. As if theyd practiced it, the ranks of militia parted smoothly before their lord, from which he emerged confidently, almost triumphantly, a condescending smirk playing at the corners of his lips. And in the city lords wake came two individuals. The first Jun didnt recognize. The second he knew all too well. Ever so slowly, Jun crept backward, trying his best to blend in with the murmuring crowd. Your mind reading technique, whatever its called. Youre absolutely sure it only extends to me? If youve been underselling your abilities, I promise I wont be angry if you come clean right now. I- like I said, its not really a technique, per say. And yes, Im fairly certain it doesnt work that way. How could it, after all? And why would it, for that matter? Jun grimaced in self-reproach. No. No thats alright, I believe you. If you say it cant be done, it cant be done. My apologies for questioning you like that, its just its just that we might be in a good deal of trouble here very soon, and a special heads up wouldve been lovely. Trouble?! What kind of trouble?! Jun?! Again, with the not knowing things! Doesnt matter. Just stay close. No matter what happens, I need you to stay close, and stay hidden. Alright? But-! Promise me. I I okay, I promise. The first of the newcomers was a bespectacled, balding man who clearly did not want to be there. Sweating profusely, despite the mild weather, he was short in stature and round about the middle. Hunched over with eyes downcast, he appeared utterly miserable and otherwise resigned. In his arms he cradled a large, official looking tome as if it were a newborn child. It was one that Jun recognized, though not nearly as well as he did their other surprise visitor. He was a man of average height and unassuming features. Looked to be in his mid-twenties with black hair and hard eyes. He sported long, faded scars across his brow and cheeklikely earned during early childhood if their pinkish color was anything to go by. His name was Marrik and he was one of the first Jun had ever employed. And, as far as he knew, still employed to this day. Paid far more than he was likely worth, due in large part to the sensitive things he was privy to. He was one of a select few Jun had personally contracted all those years ago. This had been way back when the fur trade was still in its infancy. Before Jun had gotten into the rather convenient habit of always wearing a mask. Coming to a halt at the head of his small army the city lord scanned the clumped-up family gathering as if looking for something. Something? Or someone. With a tsk of annoyance the man gave up on his search. Jun relaxed slightly. Well? Is he here or not? he directed this question at Marrik. The young man, for his part, barely needed a cursory glance before he spotted Jun. He cant possibly be about to! Hes under a system enforced contract! But, contract or no, when Marriks cold, flinty gaze met his, the young man unhesitatingly gestured in his direction. Upon the breaking of a system enforced oath, no tribulation lightning struck him down, nor did he up and keel over on the spot. Which had to make you wonder, if one was free to break it whenever they pleased, what the hells was the thing even good for in the first place?! The small hint gave the city lord all that hed needed, and it was only a few seconds more before the two of them, at last, locked eyes. The toothy grin he gave Jun wouldnt have been out of place on a demon. It was then that Lord Darius stepped forward, clearly irate. It was a testament to how panicked Jun had become, that a surge of relief welled up at the sight of the mans intervention. Finneas! What in the name of-! What in the world is the meaning of this?! Oh, calm yourself Darius. This has nothing to do with you. Darius stepped closer until the two were inches apart. With a pointed finger he emphasized his words with a forceful jab into the city lords chest. You break down my doors, storm into my residence, and then have the gaul to tell me to be calm?! The patriarch was practically screaming at this point; the rafters veritably shook with the force of his fury. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Do you have any idea what youve so rudely interrupted? An esteemed envoy conveying word from none other than our main branch cousins. And at the behest of her grace, the Lady Duchess Cecilia, no less! Finneas, I dont care how many friends you have in the capital, an insult of this magnitude does not go away merely because you wish it! The city lord visibly blanched at this tirade. It, and all its many implications. He actually looked ill. He flicked his eyes from the irate man in front of him to the out of place noble in their midst. The city lord audibly gulped. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. The confident look of only moments before now gone, to be replaced with one of pure terror. In that moment, Jun dared to hope. There is really no need for all that, Darius. You must believe me when I say that I had nothing but the best of intentions- Oh? Must I?! If hed thought the city lords face couldnt get any paler, he would have been sorely mistaken. He almost wanted to cheer. Of course! You are free to do and believe what you will. Of course! A-and I humbly apologize for the uhh, for the unfortunate timing, he flicked another glance at the envoy. But, there is a very valid reason for me to call on you so abruptly. The branch lord opened his mouth once more to speak, but was cut off, much to his growing irritation. And! Im sure that once my business has been resolved, certain recompenses, lets say, can be arranged. Its really the least I can do after my, ahem, less than stellar showing of decorum. At the mention of possible reimbursement, Jun knew that the man was lost to him. He could already see all the fight going out of Darius, to be replaced by greed and anticipation. And any hope hed harbored of a simple and clean resolution instantly died. Well, Darius said, in a decidedly subdued tone. Get on with it then. Ill decide afterwards what precisely all this fuss was worth. The city lord winced at the branch lords tone. Nevertheless, a bit of his previous vigor returned to his cheeks. Again, he smirked in Juns direction. Others were beginning to notice where his attention was primarily focused, and looks of confusion were shared throughout the dining hall. What could the city lord possibly want with the talentless son? Jun, for his part, kept his eyes locked straight ahead, ignoring the many stares and open questions being exchanged. He thought he knew where this was going. He just didnt know what precisely to do about it. Digbi, if you will, said the city lord. The small man was shoved forward by one of the militia members, causing him to nearly trip on his own feet. When hed at last regained his balance enough to stand, raised his head, and was subsequently met by dozens of curious stares, he immediately shrank back into himselfas if to hide from all the unwanted attention. He opened his tome quickly, as if salvation could be found within its leather-bound pages. Taking a deep breath, he began to read in a practiced cadence. And with his quiet words, came the will of the system. On behalf of the system and its immutable laws, this humble servant hereby finds Junwei Beckonfrost guilty on three countsof underaged child labor, fraudulent business practices, and the impersonation of a frontier lord. The convicted is to be arrested, effective immediately, and thereby placed into the custody of the resident city lord until further notice. Any heretofore illegal claim upon any and all business ventures, stocks, and general holdings are to be transferred into the ownership of said city lord, in perpetuity, until and or if the true owner of said properties has sued for an appeal. Should the true owner of the confiscated holdings be in attendance, I would ask that they speak now, lest the judgement be ruled uncontested. You couldve heard a pen drop in the silence that followed. Every eye in the room was fixedly trained on Jun, whereas he couldnt, in turn, drag his gaze away from the blinking red notifications thatd eclipsed his field of view. ***WARNING*** Due to the advent of a system enforced civil decree, your holdings have been seized. ***WARNING*** Due to the advent of a system enforced civil decree, your investments have been seized. ***WARNING*** Due to the advent of a system enforced civil decree, your business shares have been seized. Do you wish to appeal this ruling? YES/NO ERROR Because you have yet to reach your cultures majority year, in accordance with the laws of your registered province, you are unable to appeal this decision. Your holdings have been seized. Your investments have been seized. Your business shares have been seized. What was? Inexplicably, his heart began to hammer, and his body? His body felt strangely numb. He couldnt feel his face. Was that normal? What was happening? Then the room began to spin. Now that couldnt be normal. His tongue tasted of sand, and of bile, and of lemons. His eyes stung. You cant just! Without warning it was as if his legs had turned to jelly. If it werent for a pair of steady arms already there to catch him, he likely wouldve fallen straight onto his face. Leaning into his mothers embrace, he turned from the blinking screen to find that her lips were moving. Strange? Was she saying something? Because no matter how much he tried, he just couldnt seem to hear her. Or anything else for that matter. Not over all that incessant ringing. It was so loud in his ears he could barely think. The jarring vibrations of heavy footsteps jolted up through his knees. Was he kneeling? Since when had that happened? Grabbed roughly about the arms, he was hoisted bodily to his feet. Large hands. Mens hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his mother try to stop them, only to be casually batted aside, as if she weighed nothing at all. It was enough to bring him half out of his dazed stupor. You dont touch her! his voice came out hoarse and small. All he received were mean chuckles in response, and the tightening of their grip. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw lord Damien come to his mothers aidhelping her to rise and acting as support. She mustve injured herself in the fall, he thought. And then an all-consuming rage swallowed him whole, and his mind went utterly blank. Chapter 17: The Pit Not particularly proud of what he did or said next, he was nevertheless so out of it, in his impotent pain and rage, that it was only after the fact that he managed to piece back together the following series of events. In his periphery he saw his mother grasp the sleeve of Damiens robes. She looked to be speaking with him intently, almost angrily, which shouldve come as a surprise. It was one of the very few times hed ever seen her so openly agitated in public, after all, and it had to have been the most extreme case by far. It looked as if she expected the envoy to do something. The young lord, clearly intimidated, glanced briefly in Juns direction, only to turn back to his mother with a defeated look on his face. He shook his head sadly after which his mother''s features went eerily still, relaxing back into that stoic mask she normally showed the world. The very look that told him she was absolutely fuming. The last thing he saw, before he was dragged kicking and screaming from the hall, was his mother''s retreating figure as she swished her way towards the servants entrance, clear purpose evident in her long-legged stride. It was only then that Juns struggles abruptly ceased. Because all of the sudden, a pertinent question came to the fore of his mind. What was the one thing hed so carelessly overlooked in the midst of his self-absorbed temper tantrum? The debt collector''s you idiot. In an instant the red haze thatd consumed his thoughts cleared, and he found that he could once more think rationally again. Fat lot of good that did him now. His family was in danger. This was about so much more than his personal losses. His family was in danger! And she had no idea. Without his businesses, without his holdings, without practically anything but the clothes on his back, there was no way he was going to be able to scrounge up the money in time. And that was if they gave him the two-week extension hed asked for, which they were by no means obligated to do. Not to mention, even if theyd planned to, what would they do when word of his arrest spread? News of a young noble being arrested on the trumped-up charges he was accused of would not go unnoticed. And when the city lord waltzed in, the majority shareholder of all of his projects, it wouldnt be hard to put two and two together. He needed to warn her, at least. She needed to know. Before he could even structure his thoughts on how he might accomplish this, however, a snide voice broke through his concentration. Gag him. A bundle of filthy cloth was shoved into his mouth and secured behind his head with a length of twine. He struggledtrying to force words through the gagbut to no avail. At the sight of his futile resistance, the satisfaction on the city lords face only grew. Quite the little show you put on in there, he said as they walked. You know, when I pictured you brought low before me, I hadnt been so unimaginative as to think youd actually kneel! Or turn as feral as a cornered beast, for that matter. It seems as though, regardless of how low my opinion of you had been, Id somehow still overestimated you. He chuckled to himself. Truly, regardless of what miraculous happenstance you managed to luck your way into, you were never really anything more than a child, were you? In hindsight, I honestly cant understand why I had been so wary of you to begin with. I should have just taken what was rightfully mine and been done with it. Would have saved me an awful lot of planning, thats for sure. Isnt that right boy? He directed this last question at Marrik. The young man nodded. He had still yet to meet Juns gaze. You know, you really should have managed your people better. Did you really believe that, just because you made sure to pamper them, they were yours? Little upstart that you are, Im surprised to find you ignorant of something so simple. Bribery only works so long as it''s you with all the coin. Paying someone off only gives them greater incentive to betray you to the first person offering more. Blackmail or kill them I say. Mercy is a fool''s currency. Always has been. Oh! And speaking of which Marrik snapped his head around sharply, stark terror plain in his expression. Wait! But you said-! The knife that sunk its way to the hilt in his jugular, also had the effect of shutting him up for the very last time. Yes, yes. I say a lot of things. But, you see, only rarely are any of those things actually true. Is it really my fault you chose to believe them? You two! Toss the body in the woods. Give the woodland creatures a feast. Two of the guard saluted, before carrying the body off in the direction of the tree linehis feet still kicking and a sickening gurgling sound emerging from his mouth. Jun mumbled through his gag. Hmm? Whats that? The city lord looked down on him. Oh right. Mathew, ungag the child. Watch your fingers, though, he might bite, a few of the soldiers chuckled as the gag was torn from his mouth. A message A what? Please, I need to send a message. To my mother. I can pay you. Two million spirit coins for a message, a sentence, or even just a few words. Please? The city lord''s expression froze for an instant, before he broke out into joyous peals of laughter. His outburst was followed by a ripple of cruel snickers from all around. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Bring a message to his mother, he says! the city lord exclaimed, barely able to catch his breath. For two million, Ill tell her whatever the kid wants, proclaimed one of the guards. You want it in writing? Or, ooh, I could give you a triple pinky promise! Sound like a deal? Money up front though, aye kid? How about it? As the laughter redoubled, a bulky guard spoke up next. Heh, you see the legs on that one? Got a message for her right here, if you get me, he tugged suggestively at his crotch. The soldiers guffawed, with the city lords reedy tones the loudest among them. Jun felt nauseous. He hadnt really expected it to work, but hed had to try. Jun! I-! If you really wanted, I could-! No. Absolutely not. Ivory? These men? Theyre bad men. Very bad. If you go out there, youll be killed. Doesnt matter how fast you are. You wont be safe if they see you. But Jun, your mother! I know. And he did know. Suddenly all the precautions hed failed to consider, the many sensible measures he hadnt takenin his complacency, in his stupiditysped to the fore. All of them eagerly clamoring for his attention. Hed thought hed had more time. By all rights he shouldve had more time. And now? The city lord collected himselfdabbing a tear from the corner of his eye. when he turned to face Jun, however, all mirth had been drained from his face. To be replaced by a sneering mask of pure and utter disdain. The thing you cant seem to wrap your silly little head around, boy, is that I do not owe you A GODS DAMNED THING! Nor do I need your coin for that matter. Well, no more than I already have, that is. He clutched Jun by the face with hands like a vice and yanked his head up sharply, until their noses were almost touching. His pungent breath wafted from mere inches away, so ripe it made his eyes water. It seems as though youre operating under some sort of false assumption here. Perhaps youre thinking that things will turn out well so long as you hold out hope. Please, allow me to enlighten you on how things are actually going to proceedto alleviate any lingering optimism you may be harboring. The man cleared his throat, as if preparing for a performance. A little ways beneath my royally appointed residence, there lies a prison. Im sure youve heard of it. Its where we keep all the bad people. The miscreants, and the thieves, and the chronically perverse. Where we let them stew. See the error of their ways and reap the consequences of their own actions. We lock them up tight. Then, after what only ever amounts to a few months at most, their time is officially considered served. And, just like that, theyre allowed straight back out into society. Free menexonerated and with a brand-new lease on life. All in all, not too bad, as far as imprisonment goes. Enviable even. The city lord paused before continuing. Because beneath that little life of luxury, there is a dungeon. Fewer people know about this place, we use it so rarely. Its where we send the really bad people. Your typical rapists and your two-bit murderers. The ones stupid enough to get caught, anyway. Them? Oh, they dont get to leave. For them, we slam the door and throw away the key. Although! Its not as if its all bad. They still receive two entire meals a day, and all the water they can drink. And while its not often the best fare, theres always a surplus of idiots in this world, so at the very least theyll have company while they choke down the rotting swill. Its not great, admittedly, but it is livable. Below that, however. Far, far, below. Where theres no company to be found, nor curated meals, or even light to see by, there is another place. An awful place. Tell me? Would you like to know what that place is? The city lord looked deeply into Juns eyes with a face enraptured by the prolonged mental torment. When Jun didnt respond, the city lord dug his nails in harder and shook him violently. I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! w-what? He tried to sound defiant, but it was impossible with the mans hand gripping his jawnails digging into flesh to the point of drawing blood. The city lord smiled victoriously. Far, far beneath your feet, in the depths beyond even the deepest, darkest recessesmany kilometers below the domain of manso far that even some of the gods fear to tread, there is a pit. Dont know about spring, but hope you have a nice fall! And, with a merry heave ho, the two junior guardsmen dumped his sorely abused body into the unsuspecting holethe stomach flipping sensation of free fall terrifying, though brief. There was an audible smack as his tender ribs met hard stone, and it was all that he could do to protect the tight bundle pressed up against his chest. Within seconds the echoes of raucous laughter and backslapping recededtheir slightly tipsy steps taking with them the only light source hed known for many hours now. He supposed it wasnt the worst line they could have ended things on. Itd taken them the whole trip and four flasks of liquor to formulate. And that kind of dedication, apparently, payed dividends. It was definitely better than, see you never dickhead! which had been a very close second. While the long trek through and endless series of cramped tunnels had been torture on his broken body, it had helped to keep his mind somewhat occupied. The city lord, of course, hadnt forgone the opportunity to get a few last kicks in before Juns inevitable banishment to the depths. In all honesty, he wouldnt have trusted anything less. No one could say the man wasnt consistent. Jun rolled over with a groan, wincing at the shifting of ribs he now suspected to be cracked, if not outright broken. Head pounding and thoughts elusive, he nevertheless tried his best to assess his situation. First things first, his body. It hurt. Check. Next came his surroundings. Well, for one thing, he couldnt really see, which instantly made this next step a great deal more difficult. Without light, or the want to move, there wasnt much he could do to scout his surroundings. He could only realistically make his best guesses and hope for the best. So, what did he know? It was a hole. Lovely. Just as advertised. Not overly large, as far as he could tell, though thankfully, not overly small either. The way the city lord had explained it, hed been picturing a hole so narrow that his shoulders touched the sides while standing. Jun shuddered. Praise be to small miracles, he supposed. Now, if only he could see. If he could see then he couldw-well, he wasnt sure what he could do exactly, but it had to be better than doing nothing. It was a goal at least and right now he was desperately in need of those. Chapter 18: Industrious Mind Light! He needed light. If he had light, he could he needed light! An idea came to him then. A ridiculous idea, but it wasnt as if he were especially spoiled for choice, when it came to jury-rigged solutions. With a mental prompting he brought up his status menu. A glowing vertical line was drawn in the air, which then expanded into a rectangle. He nearly laughed out loud. Though whether in relief or disbelief he couldnt immediately tell. His surroundings were now lit by a faint glow that only he could see. And yep. It was a pit alright. He wasnt immediately presented with a pile of bones, or a decayed corpse, or really, anything out of the ordinary. It really was just a hole. Apparently, this place didnt see a lot of use. Considering how long it had taken to get here, Jun could definitely understand why. You would have to be either incredibly cruel or extremely petty to actually go to the trouble of imprisoning someone down here. And somehow, Jun had managed to royally piss off the very man who excelled at both. Wonderful. Item number two on the ever-expanding agenda summarily taken care of, he now turned to item number three. Ivory, are you okay? The pause she gave before responding was so pronounced that he actually began to fear for the worst. Had he failed to fully protect her as the heavy blows rained down? Let an errant boot among dozens slip past his guard, and all the while with him none the wiser? When, at last, she finally did respond, her terse words gave him little comfort. Im fine. Oh, good, he tried to add a touch of levity to his tone. I was beginning to worry something bad had happened. You know, apart from the glaringly obvious. The beatings, the humiliations, and, just, the overall lack of a very good time. You neednt have bothered. Jun frowned. As of yet, she hadnt seen fit to extricate herself from his jacket. Something she hadnt failed to do on any other occasion theyd found themselves alone together. Nonsense. Of course I- No! No, you really need not. If anything Im the one thats supposed to worry in this situation, while youre the one that should be sick and tired of being worried after. After all, she gave a mirthless chuckle. What need have I for your concern when all Id really done was sit by and watch? So you can just take this as me performing my due diligence, sit right where you are, and move not another inch until you start to feel better! At first, Jun was taken aback. And then, the warm beginnings of mirth began to bubble their way up from his chest. He didnt act on it of course. Both because it wouldve hurt like hell, and because he really didnt want to distress the clearly shaken up spirit beast any more than he already had. Her obvious concern for him was comforting enough. It helped push back the black tendrils of hopelessness which were, even now, probing at the edges of his already fraying psychedoing their best to unravel him altogether, and drag the shorn pieces beneath crashing waves of despair. He shook himself, taking comfort in the sharp stab of agony that caused. The pain brought clarity. It gave him something to focus on. It also had the added benefit of finally dislodging Ivory from his jacket, if not from her anxious sulk altogether. Bursting out from his front collar with the speed and ferocity of a kicked hornets nest, Ivory rounded on himher face a thundercloud. I thought I told you there would be none of that! And again, it was all that he could do to keep a straight face. He could only hope and pray his thoughts werent leaking through. It wasnt that he didnt understand her agitation, it was just that seeing her posed like thatarms akimbo and half bent at the waist, like a mother scolding her misbehaving childit was just too much. Sorry! Sorry, just a reflex. It wont happen again, I promise. Ivory, for her part, found his excuse barely worthy of a response. Instead, with a disdainful hmph! she turned away with arms crossed and tentacles angrily thrashing. Clearly having dismissed him from her mind entirely, he tried not to notice all the backwards glances she shot his way, as if checking to make sure he was still there. Sitting with his back against the wall, Jun pondered idly over his many mistakes. Hed fucked up. He was finished. It was basically undeniable at this point. The only thing he didnt understand was how it had all happened so fast? Hed been on the top of the worldmeeting with princes and selling to kingsand now? Now he supposed hed finally run into an obstacle he couldnt bribe. One which he hadnt even seen coming. He had always known that the strong generally take what they want and damn the consequences. Hed heard the horror stories. Hed just never thought itd happen to him. His father had been strong. In many respects, his father had been a geniusin cultivation, in martial arts, in tactical thinking. A once in ten generations talent, if the rumors were to be believed. And from all that Jun had learned of the man, they almost always were. He did inconceivable things, time and time again. Andas far as Jun could make out from the odd rumor or storyonly ever because he felt like it at the time. Hed had talent and skill enough to be ranked among the greatest young cultivators of his generation. And what had he done with all that boundless potential? Hed joined up with a gang of outlaws and bandits whod, as it so happened, been in the process of robbing him blind. Then, over the course of a mere two years, went on to elevate said group of thugs and scoundrels until they rivaled some of the largest crime syndicates this side of the empire. Then, when there was a falling out among the syndicates leadership and his father was betrayed, hed simply taken his leavenearly razing the entire organization to the ground in the processnever to be heard from again. Jun resented his father. Not just because of what hed done, but because hed had the wherewithal to do exactly as he pleased. True agency wasnt something he had a lot of experience with after all. A luxury in many ways, he couldnt help but resent anyone who managed to horde the privilege. Especially since hed personally been striving for true agency since he was only nine years old. Not through strength, true. The kind of strength that made others, even loved ones, seem insignificant. The kind of strength that made a father not think twice about abandoning his family, but instead through influence. Through money and connections. After all, he too wanted to be able to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and screw the consequences. Hed just never wanted it at the expense of his own soul. Completely alone, in these unforgiving depths however, he found himself unable to ignore his own faulty reasoning. The many errors thatd subtly woven their way into his thinkingclamoring for his attention now that he was unable to postpone them. Bludgeoning him senseless with each unwelcome bout of clarity. And despite all attempts at subliminal subterfuge, a consensus, it would seem, had already been reached. For so long willful ignorance had been his shield against unfortunate truths. Lies. So many lies. That he could have one without the other, for instance. Power without strength. Influence without instilling an implicit fear of reprisals. He would rather fill his time with problems he felt well equipped to handle, than even look the main issue full on in the face. By amassing a total net value of 100,000,000 spirit coins before reaching your cultures majority year, you have been awarded the title [Fledgeling Magnate]. |Fledgeling Magnate| Any items below the rare rarity are now 25% off within the System Approved general store. Easier to wash his hands of the whole mess entirelypretend as if the disparity didnt even existthan walk blithely down that brutal road and discover, far too late, that he no longer recognized the person he saw in the mirror. Or even worse, find the resemblance all but uncanny, but the face which peered back not entirely his own. That of his fathers, his familys, cultivators in general. A petty, vain, vindictive face that, right now, he still had the wherewithal to disdain. An inarticulate fear which didnt change the truth of things much. That he was weak in a world where weakness is readily exploited, and no amount of coin enough of a deterrent it would seem. Because he was weak. Made helpless by stubborn complacency. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Because others were strong where he was not. A familiar notification chimed in his mind, disrupting his dark thoughts. Jun glanced up just as the blue screen blipped into existence, illuminating his swollen and blackened face. *Ding!* Penelope C. Dumont wishes to purchase your TRIENNIAL TOURNAMENT PASS for 800,000 SP. Do you wish to sell? YES/NO Jun stared at the notification uncomprehendingly for several long seconds. Then, in a rush, the events immediately preceding his arrest came back to him all at once. The envoy. The tournament. How could he have forgotten? He still wasnt sure what the matriarch had been thinking. Giving him something so extraordinarily valuable. It just seemed like such a waste on her part. Hed heard of the king''s tournament of course. Really, who hadnt? That placing well there was often the first step many now renowned cultivators took on their path. A springboard onto bigger and better things, it served as a way for one to extricate themselves from the metaphorical mire that was the frontier. Because, though rich in raw resources, the frontier was not a shining beacon of cultivation. Far from it in fact. Even the most out of touch knew that the three central capitals more akin to isolated principalities; individualized city-states with their own rule and lawwere where the real talents congregated. In that way, the ticket represented more than merely the chance to snag some participation prizes and garner a reputation. And instead represented the potential prosperity of an entire future lineage. Taking all of that into consideration, the amount he was being offered was so low as to be insulting. And at any other time, he likely would have dismissed it out of hand. But now? He needed the money desperately... He needed to be tens of millions richer in the next two weeks, and if he didnt manage that? Well, he didnt even want to think about what would happen. Was it worth it then? Taking this raw deal, if it meant he was that much closer to his goal? Mentally he hovered over the yes confirmation for several long seconds, before his rational mind finally reasserted itself. Because, while yes, he did need to scrounge up that coin, it didnt mean he had to go about it like an idiot. The fact of the matter was, he did need several million by the end of the next week, and this pathetic bid didnt even amount to a drop in the bucket. If he really wanted to do this hed have to smarten up. He couldnt afford to be careless at a time like this. If he truly intended to stick to this implausible course, he couldnt just blindly continue as he was. He couldnt even continue as he had been. Not really. Not without fundamentally shifting the way he went about things. Looking at the notification with fresh eyes, Jun firmly selected no. A second notification appeared asking him if he was sure of his decision. Mentally affirming his choice, Jun rested back against the craggy rock wall as the notifications blinked out of existence. It was strange. Hed always thought hed feel some sort of trepidation or resignation at the decision, were he ever brought so low as to turn to this avenue as a last resort. Oddly enough though, he felt nothing of the sort. Mostly, he just felt relieved? As if a weight thatd been pressing down on him all his life had suddenly lifted. At the end of the day, was he absolutely certain he wouldnt wind up just as messed up as the rest of them? No. No, of course he wasnt. And yet, at the risk of deathnot only his own, but quite possibly that of his mother''s as wellwas he still willing to try? Despite his uncertainties? Jun pulled up his system screens and focused on one description in particular. |Concept of Cutting| (1st Aspect) Aspect of Razors Edge With a thought, wispy tendrils of crimson smoke rose lazily from an outstretched finger. Immediately, he felt a calm resolve drape over him, and even his aches and pains seemed to lessen. The flow was constant, bleeding out of him as if from a hidden spigot so long as he maintained pressure on the odd trigger in his head. It was instinctual. Borne of a sixth sense he had a tough time putting words to. He simply knew it in a way that seemed as natural to him as breathing. In the same way he could immediately tell just this small expenditure was a constant mental drain. And, likewise, that all itd take to mold this crimson aura was a minor working of his willfurther pulling on the inner reserves of his focus. An idea was slowly starting to take shape in his mindmapping out a path through unknown territory. A path that might prove just the thing to get him through this disaster. Its a widely spectated event. Lots of betting to be had, Im sure. I wonder what the odds would be on an untrained nobody taking first place? But-! Wait, no, this is crazy! Right?! I mean, I must have hit my head or something. And yet if it works I could make back all Id lost and more In order for his plans to prosper, however, hed need ample fertilizer. First and foremost, he needed information. One of the consequences of skating by on the periphery of cultivation all of his life, was that his information on the topic was, surprise surprise, peripheral. He needed to know the ins and outs of cultivationfor at least the first few stagesif he were to have any chance of success. With access to the system marketplace, he believed he could purchase everything he needed and more. Though, for that to be possible, he first needed funds. Cultivation resources were expensive, and his measly two million spirit coins simply werent going to cut it. Before any of that though, there was something far more pressing on his mind. Instead of lessening, as hed hoped it might, the pain wracking his body only increasedthe restrictive pressure on his lungs growing as his breathing became short. He was no healer or cleric but even he knew the signs of a punctured lung and, quite possibly, internal bleeding. And he couldnt help but feel that, if he waited any longer to do something about it, very soon now hed be robbed of the option entirely. Jun brought up the general marketplace, ignoring its abrasively cheery chime. The general marketplace wasn''t so much a physical location as an interconnected hub where similarly titled merchants, landowners, and accountants could convene to trade goods, talk, and make deals. And while the marketplace wasnt physical in nature, the trade goods most definitely were. Every time one purchased or sold something through the marketplace, said item or items would then appear or disappear respectively, depending on who was buying and who was selling. In this way, goods were able to be transported over many hundreds, or even thousands of kilometers near instantaneously. It appeared as most system screens did. Uncluttered and economic in its overall design, with scrolling text and minimalistic icons that unrolled into drop down menus or informational tooltips. There was an icon for plain old trade that looked like a lumpy sack of coin. An icon for auctions, depicted as a wooden gavel. An icon for forming business contracts, depicted as a floating legal writ, and so on. There was even an option to buy from the system itselfaptly named the system general store. Due to a number of factors, this particular functionality was usually only reserved for when one was desperate. The stock was limited, and the rates were fixed, allowing for no room to barter or finagle. One either took what the system offered at the prices it was selling, or else turned to another avenue with a more diverse range of options. It was why most savvy businessmen and women generally avoided the system store unless they were terribly strapped for time, desperate, or in his case, both. Jun found the spinning coin icon that represented the system general store. After a brief mental request another screen popped up over the first, listing the many unique items the store had on this months rotation.
Technique Scrolls Cultivation Manuals Cultivation Resources
Unknown Technique Scroll (Common) 1,000,000 SP Brimstone and Ash Breathing Manual (Epic)200,000,000 SP Five Gates Awakening Pill (Rare)3,000,000 SP
Unknown Technique Scroll (Rare) 15,000,000 SP Morning Dew Rotation Breathing Manual (Epic)250,000,000 SP Greater Fire Attuned Fruit of Enlightenment (Epic)35,000,000 SP
Lost Technique Scroll (???) 2,000,000 SP Still Pond Reflection Breathing Manual (Epic)300,000,000 SP Greater Spirit Rejuvenation Elixir (Uncommon)1,250,000 SP
It took a bit of searching, but Jun eventually found what hed been looking for. High Grade Mortal Mending Pill (Common) 30,000 SP 22,500 SP (-25%) Essential Revitalization Tonic (Uncommon) 80,000 SP 60,000 SP (-25%) He cringed at the price. It wasnt much, but every little bit would count in the days to come. The stab of pain that sudden movement elicited got his priorities back in order quick enough. He purchased the medicine. Holding out his hand preemptively, two golden flashes briefly illuminated the gloom of the pit, before a round pill and a small glass bottle fell into his waiting palm. Without a second''s hesitation, he downed the bitter pill and tonic both, then sat back as the medicinal herbs went to work. As the medicine rapidly repaired his body, Jun found the icon for the auction house and opened it. A new window appeared, showing the many auctions he was still in the running for. It was because of these bids that he felt any confidence in his plan whatsoever. Primarily due to a quirk built into the bidding process. Essentially, when one made a bid, the amount of coin offered was placed into a special bidding pool, completely isolated from ones main balance. The money considered, for all intents and purposes, spent until the goods were either successfully delivered, or ones request was denied. Since there was no real obligation on the seller''s behalf to do either with any real haste, it could be weeks, or even months, before one got any form of confirmation either way. Now obviously, what Jun was most excited for had little to do with the actual purchasing of goods. Because, at any point in time, the option to simply bow out of the race, and in doing so, reclaim what money youd put up in the first place, remained. Without an ounce of hesitation Jun promptly canceled every bid he had on offer, then eagerly checked his SP balance for the results.
Spirit Coins: 23,295,000
It wasnt but a fraction of what hed need in the long run, but it sure was a decent start. He also had some ideas on how he might multiply things further. Even trapped as he was underneath the world, his enterprising mind couldnt be constrained overly long. But that would all have to wait, he knew. Because, before anything else, he needed to renege on a very old vow. Despite a lifetimes worth of distaste, distance, and no small amount of fear, hed need to do the one thing hed repudiated for as long as he could remember. Hed need to become a proper cultivator. Chapter 19: Preparations Far beneath the surfacein a world utterly devoid of the suns life-giving raysit proved nearly impossible to gauge how much time had passed before Jun was, at last, finished with his spending spree. The gnawing pit in his stomach and his pounding headache the only indications he had as to the passage of time. Itd been costly, but Jun expected the items hed picked out to pay huge dividends in the days to come. First and foremost, though, food and water remained of the utmost priority. Ironically enough, despite the globe spanning, interconnected network at his very fingertipsfrequented by colossal trade unions, and every manner of independent merchant of worldly renownthe actual act of finding food for himself had, at first, proven nearly impossible. The reason was simple really. Plainly put, what savvy food merchant in their right mind didnt sell exclusively in bulk? Especially one successful enough to have earned a merchant''s title in the first place. If his goal had been to buy two tons of stone hide rabbit meat, hed likely have had an easier time of it, but the clearly diminishing returns of such a purchase ultimately made the idea borderline idiotic. He had no way to keep such large quantities of food from spoiling, and even if he did, he couldnt have made such an exorbitant purchase and afforded the cultivation materials he was so desperately in need of. He mustve spent hours scouring the trading and auction houses for a food source that was both relatively cheap and in small enough quantities, only to come away empty handed every time. And messaging individual food vendors in hopes of making a specialized order had, thus far, only been met with dead silence. Desperate and out of ideas, hed resorted to sifting through the general store in hopes of a solution. With the knowledge weighing on his mind all the while that, should he fail here too, he would just have to bow to fate and make the bulk purchase. No matter how wasteful, it was better than the alternative. Luckily, it never came to that in the end, as, many stress filled minutes later, he finally stumbled upon a solution. High-Grade Fasting Pill (Common)5,000 SP 3,750 SP (-25%) It wouldnt really do as a long-term solution. While asking around, hed discovered that the side effects of consistent use ranged from acute sleep deprivation to degradation of the willwhatever that meantand, in some rare cases, death by starvation. So, not a product to be taken lightly by any means. Though, for small stretches at a time it generally appeared to be safe. Apparently, two weeks was around the cutoff pointwhen most started to report experiencing severe side effects. A timeline which couldnt have possibly lined up more perfectly with his own, in his opinion. He hoped to be out of this hellhole well before then anyway, turning his use of the pill into basically a non-issue. And, in terms of their food supply, that was about all he ordered, having since come to terms with the fact that Ivory, for whatever reason, didnt actually need to eat. Oh, she enjoyed food as much as anyonethe image of a face full of tentacles stripping several street kababs clean in less time than it took to blink still firmly imprinted on his mindit was only that, after some further questioning, it turned out her relationship with food was based more on curiosity than any instinctual need. Given the circumstances it was fortunate enough that hed chosen to believe her, for now, though hed still be keeping a close eye on her just in case that situation changed. Next came the water solution, which ended up being a lot simpler than hed expected, especially after the whole food fiasco. It incorporated a concept hed initially looked into when wrestling with the food conundrum. Unfortunately, the first storage device thatd come to mind proved far too expensive for his current means, even at the worst quality and rarity he could find. Lesser Grade Spacial Ring (Epic) 160,000,000 SP For whatever reason, while the solution hed found for his water problem was also crafted through the use of the highly coveted spacial concept, the price was far more reasonable than the spacial ring had been. As far as he could tell, this severe dip in price was due in large part to a single fact. The connection between the pocket dimension and the artifact was strictly one way. Meaning that you couldnt deposit anything inside of the item, only take something out. In this case, water. Add to that the fact that it was a shared connectionwith each item connecting to the same pocket dimension filled with fresh waterand it made sense why the system would choose not to value it as highly. Bottomless Water Flask (Common) 100,000 SP 75,000 SP (-25%) After securing his continued survival, in the short term at least, hed turned to the matter of cultivation. Right off the bat there were a few things he knew hed need from his years growing up among cultivators. For one thing, he knew he needed a breathing manual. The backbone of any cultivation practice, a good breathing manual would likely mean the difference between cultivating enough strength to swing back at his enemies or falling short at the first altercation. He didnt know the specifics, but hed hoped a good breathing manual would help to rapidly elevate him through the stages in record time. The next thing he knew he needed was information. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. It was a novel sensation, feeling this utterly clueless and out of his depth. And while he typically enjoyed trying out new things, he felt it was a sensation best gotten rid of at the earliest opportunity. Firstly, he needed information on concepts. What they were and how to use them. And though he already felt an intrinsic affinity for them, he still figured the more informed he was on the topic, the better. Secondly, he wanted to know more about the influx of new, at least to him, sheet info. More specifically, he wanted to know what the hell insight was and how he could both have an imperceptible amount of it, and simultaneously so much that hed been actively rewarded by the system for the accomplishment. Yeah, he hadnt missed that odd little discrepancy, and now that the answer might hold the key to his survival, he would be making an effort to get down to the bottom of it. By the time he was finally finished with his haul, his small fortune had been sorely diminished. But, looking over everything, he couldnt help but feel content with that. You had to spend money to make money after all. On Concepts, Cultivation, and Enlightenment Volume 1240,000 SP 180,000 SP (-25%) A Compendium on the Nature of the System and How it Influences our Daily Lives by Daniel F. Clancy 4,000 SP 3,000 SP (-25%) High Grade Spirit Restoration Pill (Common) 20,000 SP 15,000 SP (-25%) Lesser Grade Spirit Condenser (Uncommon) 800,000 SP 600,000 SP (-25%) Leaf on the Winds Breathing Manual (Uncommon)20,000,000 SP 15,000,000 SP (-25%) Then, upon further reflection, he made a few more impulse buys. Golden Radiance Chronicles: Trinity Bundle (Books 1-3) 1,500 SP 1125 SP (-25%) Golden Radiance Chronicles (Book 4): Li Minghua and the Deep-Sea Empire 600 SP 450 SP (-25%) Golden Radiance Chronicles (Book 5): Li Minghua and the Celestial War 600 SP 450 SP (-25%) It wasnt much really, but he couldnt imagine the next couple of weeks would be all that much fun for Ivory. And if this somehow helped, hed sure as hell feel a lot less guilty about his choice to stay here. Besides, the books had fairly good ratings. He felt he might even read them himself once he found the time. Although now that he thought about it, a lot of this depended on an as yet unfounded belief. Ivory, can you read? Can you? Yes? Then yes. I can read. Oh thats, Jun paused, considering. Um, yeah, thats not creepy at all. Ivory just shrugged, apparently unconcerned. Hey, just for the sake of curiosity, are there any more things you can do because I also know how to do them? Lots, she looked at him as if that much shouldve been obvious. I-I see well, I definitely have questions, a lot of questions, but I suppose those can wait for now. I bought you some things. Ivory perked up at thisturning to face him fully with what hed learned to recognize as her curious face. These are for you, he slid the pile of books forward. Ive already made sure to stack them in order, so you need only read from the top down. Ivory eyed the stack of novels with suspicionthe short tower nearly topping her in height. But what is it for? To help pass the time. Jun took in her dubious expression. What? You dont like it? he asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Upon closer inspection, however, Ivory looked more confused than anything. After a moment, Jun thought he understood why. Oh! Well, dont I feel like an idiot. Of course, you cant see in the dark, can you? I honestly dont know what I was thinking. Dark? Ivory looked genuinely surprised at thisturning her head this way and that, as if by catching it at the right angle, shed be able to spot the impenetrable darkness that was all around them. Well, scratch that I suppose. Mind reading abilities, and now, night-vision. I honestly cant say Im all that surprised that this point. Still, something about Ivory and her ability to see in the dark struck a discordant note somewhere in the back of his mind. It was something shed said at one point or another, he was sure of it. Only, when nothing came to mind after a few seconds more of trying, he let the feeling he was forgetting something important go. Look, as things stand, itll probably be a while before we can leave this place, and in the meantime, Id hate for you to have nothing better to do than sit there and stare at the wall. Its already bad enough that were trapped down here in the dark. I mean, anything is better than nothing, right? I suppose she agreed, though still she seemed hesitantas if the idea of merely sitting in idle purgatory wasnt one that bothered her overly much, and she genuinely didnt see what the fuss was all about. Still, at his insistence, she eventually sidled over, slid the first volume off of the stack, and flipped it open to the first page. With a mix of relief, and a lingering feeling of uncertainty, Jun turned his mind back to more pressing matters. Assuming the lotus position, Jun considered his options. The mending pill and tonic had long since restored his body to peak condition, though it did nothing for the hunger still gnawing at his gut. If anything, it only seemed to have made the hunger pangs worse. Hurriedly, he reached out and snatched up a fasting pill. He immediately downed it with a swig from his bottomless flaskgrimacing at its bitter taste. Almost immediately he felt soothed as a tingling warmth traveled through him in an unhurried wave. The strange energy converged on his stomach in moments. And from there it wasnt much longer before his hunger began to ebb. First into a condensed, fist sized ball of acute need, then to one about the size of a marble, then finally to barely a pinprick, before the nagging sensation vanished entirely. It left Jun feeling perfectly at ease. Full even. Though he knew not to put too much trust in that feeling. All it really did was make it so that he could ignore his bodys needs for longer than he might have otherwise. It didnt mean that those needs went away. Regardless, content with his food situation for now, he reached for his uncommonly ranked cultivation manual next. Hed thought long and hard about what he should prioritize in the little time he had. And though a part of him was tempted to just dive headfirst into information gathering, as it was the thing he was most comfortable with, he knew that impulse could prove to be a fatal one. He had no idea what the process of cultivation might entail, or if, in fact, he would be any good at it. And so it was, with an anxious lurch in his gut, he decided that the best course of action would be to go into it blind and finally see just what all the fuss was about. Unrolling the aged scroll carefully, he slowly began to read. Chapter 20: Leaf Follows the Current Thirty minutes later a panting, groaning, and profusely bleeding Jun would lie on his back, stare up into the void, and wonder if he was actually cut out for this whole cultivation thing after all. Upon further reflection, itd been a several fold lapse in his judgement that led to this unfortunate state of affairs. The first and foremost being his willful disregard of the novel concept that, maybe, just maybe, there was a good reason the cultivation manual had been so gods damned expensive. Presumably, anyone well positioned enough to afford such a text would also know how to use it responsibly. Perhaps even have the wherewithal to guide subsequent juniors along its convoluted, labyrinthine instructions, in a way that didnt leave them a sobbing bloody wretch, writhing on the floor. Apparently, two entire realms of cultivation werent something you could hop skip over, willy-nilly, just because you felt like it. Jun, in all his arrogance and stupidity, had made the cardinal sin of thinking more expensive equals better. A philosophy that may have applied to, say, buying a new mattress, or, going out to eat, but most certainly did not apply to breathing manuals. He honestly wasnt sure how he knew hed gotten himself in way over his head. Though, perhaps the bloody tears tracking lines down his cheeks were a clue? You know? He really couldnt be sure. It hadnt just been that the breathing technique was extremely potent in its own right. Hed also somehow managed to screw up the sequence of steps. Not only that, but, in a moment of pure genius, hed had the brilliant idea to set up his spirit condenser almost immediately after purchasing it, not yet knowing what exactly it was, or what it did. This had all culminated in his first taste of cultivation ending with a terrible backlash, as the energies he was increasingly unable to hold onto slipped away from his control completely. Said energies then proceeding to go on a thirty second rampage through his body, before they eventually slowed, and then dissipated completely. He could only be thankful the chaotic energies hadnt found his heart in their mad flight. Yet again, praise be to small miracles. After this humbling experience, Jun decided it might be best to stock up on a hefty sum of mending pills, just in case. If cultivation was going to be a daily occurrence, hed need to be prepared for when things inevitably went wrong. Despite his failures, hed actually learned a lot from the experience. And while it was mostly what not to do, he felt that by acting upon the manuals instructions itd actually helped him crystallize his understanding of the texts. After convincing Ivory that he was well enough to continuethen convincing her that, yes, it was a thing worth doing, and, no, it was not yet another instance of hair brained foolishness meant to get himself killed from the inside this time, since the outside, apparently, hadnt seemed to sufficeJun retook the lotus position somewhat indignantly. Picking up the breathing scroll, he once more ran his eyes over its contents. According to the texts, the leaf on the winds breathing manual was a dual form breathing technique. This essentially meant that there were two paired breathing forms describedwith each pair subdividing into two very distinct breathing states. States which both opposed and complimented one another respectively. It was all very confusing. There was both a passive, and an active state, though, since the active states were heavily tied to a set of martial forms, forms which the scroll hadnt seen fit to include, hed settled on mainly studying the passive states for each form. The first was named the [Leaf Follows the Current] breathing form. Apparently, this form most closely resembled your typical method of cultivation, in so far as the scroll proclaimed. The form was first initiated by sitting just so, straightening ones back and cupping ones hands just beneath the navel. Then, through a sequence of deep inhales, deep exhales, and brief exhales, one is meant to guide their breath to their dantiana metaphysical point just above ones navelhold it there for a time, before releasing all the pent-up breath at once and beginning again. As far as Jun could tell, this cycle was supposed to be repeated ad infinitum. A fact which had made very little sense to him at the time. Apart from his lungs feeling close to bursting, he hadnt actually been aware of anything happening. Itd been around then that he made his first major mistake. Hed tried to skip steps. Instead of repeating the boring, monotonous breaths until he could feel the ambient energy that was all around him, whatever that meant, hed tried a different tactic. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. I mean this just cant be right, can it? Cultivation isnt supposed to hurt, its just breathing. And breathings the most natural thing in the world. And if it felt unnatural, hed concluded, it must have been because he was doing something wrong. Seeing it as a misinterpretation of the texts on his end, hed figured that if he simply tried everything in the text, one thing after the otherthrew everything at the wall just to see what stuckhe might eventually stumble upon the proper way of doing things. He was used to bumbling through multiple less than worthwhile iterations before he generated an idea or method worthy of implementing. Hed simply assumed that, if it worked in his everyday life, why wouldnt it also work just as well here? In a strange way, he supposed that it actually had. It was merely that the lesson had come at a steeper cost than hed been expecting. Right off the bat, the second form [Leaf Rides the Gale] had been a different beast entirely. If the first form had been a strenuous, though ultimately controllable process, the second form had been a possessive animal that outright refused to relinquish its hold on his breath until it said so, and was good and ready. Making him feel a lot like a leaf might in a gale. He supposed, in hindsight, it shouldve been fairly obvious. And the worst part was, he did know better. In any other circumstance he would have been the first to preach the wisdom of reading the fine print before committing to anything. But the esoteric and often contradictory descriptions the breathing scroll gave him utterly confounded his detail-oriented mind. If nothing else, that was another hard-earned lesson. And though he prayed there would come a time when straight forward answers and clear guidelines were the norm, he was already beginning to suspect that a lot of what cultivation was, had to be navigated more by feel than critical dissection. With a sigh, Jun returned once more to the first section of the breathing manual. Hed already turned off the spirit condenser, bringing the spirit density around him back down to manageable levels. With how little his body could currently hold, having more of the stuff around wasnt necessarily a good thing. Sitting up straight, he began the first form once more. [Leaf Follows the Current]. Inhale for six heart beats, exhale for two, inhale for eight heart beats, exhale for three, deep breath in for another six, and then exhale for five, followed by another deep breath in for six. This cycle then repeats. Thankfully, now that he knew that the stretching sensation in his chest was only natural, it became a lot easier to fully commit himself to the exercise. It wasnt as if he were an impatient person at heart. It was only that he liked to make sure his time was being spent productively. And never had that personal truth been more aligned with his circumstance than it was right now. Soon Jun lost himself to the cycling of his breathing, and only when he felt he was ready, did he begin the visualization aspect of the first form. He first imagined an immobile leaf, located within a void at the center of his dantian. Then, with every inhale he imagined the leaf shifting ever so slightly, just as, with every exhale, the leaf would be carried aloft on the current of his breath, before falling back down and going still once more. The more breath he held in, the more forceful the current that picked up the leaf on the final exhale. And every time this cycle repeated itself, the tiniest of currents would remain in the voidtugging futilely at the mostly immobile leaf between breaths. After enough time had passed like this, the strangest thing began to happen. The visualization seemed to take on a life of its own. The scene proceeding of its own accord, without much need of input on his part. As the cycling continued, for he didnt know how long, the tiny currents left over in the void rapidly accumulated, becoming a light breeze which tugged the small leaf this way and that. And while the leaf was only moving in small, barely noticeable hops, it was a far cry from the initial stillness. An unknowable amount of time elapsed like this, until Jun was yanked from his trance like state by the rumbling of his stomach. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to find that it didnt take him a moment to reorient himself. Despite the uncomfortable breathing exercises, not to mention the mental strain of maintaining the image for hours at a time, his mind felt unusually sharp and clear. He understood immediately that the effects of the fasting pill mustve run out, which meant hed been cultivating for just under twenty-four hours now. Your body has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Waving away the system messages and their unknown implicationskicking that proverbial stone down the road for future Jun to decipheras he had done ever since theyd first begun to pop up periodically, he took a moment to let the fact of the matter fully sink in. Hed barely noticed as time, apparently, flew by. He briefly marveled over the simple ease of it all, before he downed another fasting pill with a few large pulls from his flask. Punctuality was key when taking these pills, he knew. Not only for the sake of assuaging his hunger, but also to maintain some semblance of time passing. He had twelve fasting pills left, which meant he had a little less than twelve days before he needed to be above ground again. Hopefully in a position to enact the next part of his plan. Having had his fill, Jun closed his eyes and envisioned his dantian. Using his mind''s eye, he briefly caught the blurred form of what couldve passed for a simple leaf, were it not for the way it streaked by like a restless woodland spirit. Ceaseless, ever flowing, it was carried at speeds that tricked the inner eye momentarily. Looking on in evident pride, he watched as his tiny leaf friend rode the unrestrained fury of a natural disaster. And all the while his dantian practically thrummed with the power held within that storm. Taking a good long look at all hed accomplished; Jun couldnt suppress a self-satisfied smile. After a quiet moment spent watching the little leaf do its thing, he zeroed in his focus, allowed his face to go slack, and began to cultivate once more. Chapter 21: Leaf Rides the Gale Nine pills left. Nine more days to go, he mumbled, downing the fifth said fasting pill that week. Itd been four days since his first ever cultivation session, and he liked to think hed made an impressive amount of progress in that time. First and foremost, there was his dantien. For going on two days now, the leaf had been reduced to little more than a greenish smear. A fact which both filled him with elation, as well as a deeper sort of melancholy. Forced to face the reality that the gift of its delicate dance had now well and truly been lost to him, dampening any mood for celebration he mightve otherwise felt. Though, seeing as his leafy green companion appeared more or less contented with their brand-new working arrangement, it wasnt as if he could simply demand they go back to the way things were. A true bond of friendship had to extend both ways, after all. His mental state was questionable, to say the very least. Some might even go so far as to call it concerning. Although it wasnt as if he could do anything about it right that instant. And to be honest, it wasnt as if he even particularly wanted to. If he did, would he suddenly begin to despise his leafy green friend as opposed to adore him? He didnt want that! Why would he want that!? The little green guy was just so darn cute! What in the world was he supposed to feel? He might have been a businessman, but that didnt mean he was without a heart! He wasnt sure if it was the dark, the near total isolationIvory mightve fallen off the continent for how absorbed she was in her booksor the excessive number of pills hed consumed in so short a time that were effectively scrambling his brains. Or if, in fact, a touch of insanity was merely the mark of a true cultivator. Itd certainly seemed that way from the outside. Actually? As a matter of fact, he liked the sound of that. That settled it then! Until further notice he would operate under the assumption that this was all some sort of unavoidable quirk, and not the first signs of drug induced hysteria. Man, closure sure was nice. He should really try it more often. Now! With that settled and well in hand, it was on to more important matters. Mainly being, his cultivation. A day of cultivation was all it took before he felt the need to turn the formation weave back on. The amount of wind, as he visualized it, or plain old spirit for the laymen, had begun to feel noticeably thin after only a few hours. Upon reactivating the spirit condenser, however, any misgivings hed held about the poor spirit density were immediately assuaged. Actually, itd been way too much spirit for the first couple of hoursreminding him, quite unpleasantly, of his very first traumatic foray into the art. Thankfully, he proved himself far better prepared this time around, and didnt panic nor falter in his breathing even once. Staying the course despite the discomfort, it didnt take long before the influx of celestial energy became manageable once more. It wasnt just in his cultivation that hed made significant strides either. In the small breaks between cycling, hed quickly skimmed through most of the books hed purchaseddiscovering a number of curious insights in the process. One of the most infuriating of them all being on the nature of, well, insight. Essentially, what hed learned was well, technically? Absolutely nothing. It was to the point that he was tempted to believe that no one actually knew what the stupid parameter did, regardless of whatever enlightened mumbo-jumbo they proclaimed. If they did know, he reasoned, why not just outright say so in a way that anyone could understand?! It was suspect, is what it was! He knew a scam when he saw one. The cryptic bastards were trying to pull a fast one on him, and with the gods as his witness, he wasnt going to stand for it! Because instead he was going to sit for it. Patiently. And skim over the fragile parchment very carefully. The money was already long gone, and its not as if he could ask for a refund. So really, what other choice did he have? Even after several very frustrating hours, though, all hed managed to wring from the stubborn pages was an unhelpfully vague description: [] if resonance is, indeed, the eye through which the cosmos perceives, and is, in turn, perceived by the soul, then it only follows that ones insight value represents how lidded the connection therein. Fantastic. Really. Just so helpful. Much to his dismay, this sour trend largely tracked across all of his inquiries into the mysteries of enlightenment. Leaving him, at the end of it, no more knowledgeable about topics he knew existed, yet the book seemed patently unaware of. Things like, what it actually meant that hed evolved from an abandoned seedling to a blinded sapling, or what the hell a mantra even was, beyond: [] the daily carved recess into which resonant truths are guided, filtered, and subsequently stored; the cascade of the sodden and pernicious downpour into the well trodden furrow made for just such a purpose. Although, on that last count he felt that he at least had an inkling. In fact, itd only taken some brief experimentation to confirm that his [Cutting Hand] mantra essentially amounted to a kind of combat technique. With a thought he could wreath his hands in ruby red smoke. That smoke essentially transforming his hands into weapons. A few casual swipes at the sides of the pit were all the proof hed needed as to the mantras lethality. They hadnt been particularly large divots, but the fact that hed been able to carve into stone with his bare hands at all had been remarkable. Then there was the barrage of system messages he was positively bombarded with on the increasingly rare occasion he opened his eyes. Your body has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 5 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. It had been rather eye opening to realize what he now saw as unwelcome and unnecessary distractions, had in fact been a vital part of him for as long as hed been alive. Like the slow growth of hair follicles or the deepening of his vocal cords, it was a process thatd previously operated solely in the background. Slowly strengthening his developing body as he grew to maturity. Only now highlighted by the system as in any way noteworthy due to its sudden accelerated growth. Celestial essence, vital energy, spiritall flowery terms that effectively referred to the exact same thing. The life force that flows through everythingboth empowering, animating, and, in large enough quantities, allowing for the impossible to be realized. In effect, it was the bread and butter of cultivation. And as for what these specific notifications meant? Put simply? They were the visual representations of his slow but steady growth in body, mind, and soulthe body, mind, and spirit parameters respectively. It would appear that every time he cultivated he would add to these seemingly limitless reservoirs, strengthening each aspect of himself in turn. It was why even a brat as young as Caspian was able to toss him around like a rag-doll. For your average non-cultivator, accumulating celestial energy was a slow and tedious affair. The body passively consolidating one celestial essence into body and mind for every two weeks that pass. Thats around twenty-six per year, or five hundred and twenty every two decades. At which point growth tends to drop off considerably. From one essence every two weeks, to one in every ten months or possibly even twenty. And meanwhile here hed gained ninety nine celestial essence in just the four days hed been cultivating. I mean, no wonder I was so outmatched when it came to feats of strength. Hell, Id never even stood a chance. And, speaking of CONSOLIDATION, the book was actually surprisingly helpful when it came to how one might go about consolidating celestial essence in as efficient a way as possible. [] for it is only through the compounding of stressthe impetus of heightened circumstance rife with genuine perilthat the celestial energies which permeate the body, mind, and spirit are allowed to commune with us fully. And, in so doing, join with ones own being in perpetuity. To consolidate. As has ever been the case, strife and conflict breed rapid growth only as a matter of course. And though it is true that ease and passivity can pay similar dividends in the short term, let it never be forgotten that it was only through constant struggle that the greatest among us clawed their way to grand fame or vilest infamy. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. So, yeah. It wasnt as if he were looking forward to throwing himself headfirst into danger in order to ostensibly improve himself. In all honesty he mostly hoped to find a cozy middle ground between doing nothing at all and outright throwing his life away. Anyhow, he could now comprehend why, even if he still didnt really understand it, his step brother had gone to such insane lengths in that clearing. If essence gain was primarily dependent on how brazenly suicidal you were, then the gains of even such a failed attempt mustve been massive. It was just the whole, living to reap the benefits, thing that he was so caught up on. Anyway, moving on. As far as universal concepts were concerned, it was safe to say his goal of learning, step-by-step, how best to advance through the ranks had been a bust. His general understanding on the topic, however? Vague and haphazard as it still was, there had been revelations. The most helpful of which coming in the form of an actual, honest to gods, straightforward definition. Someone pinch him, he must be dreaming. Well, straightforward might have been a bit of a stretch, but it was coherent, at least, which he was finding to be less than a given where cultivation was concerned. The book defined a concept as: [] a segregate piece of the greater universe, condensed into an ideal that revolves around itself. Which made a kind of sense. In essence, it meant that anything with enough universal weight could be considered a concept. Things like fire, space, or time. He wasnt entirely sure why cutting and crushing were up there too, but he certainly wasnt complaining. After all, it amounted to the entirety of his offensive arsenal so far. And honestly, he couldnt care less how much sense it made. Hed take every advantage he could get. He also learned what Feathers had done for him in that clearing. Called an imparted ideal vision, it was something only very advanced cultivators, or, he now supposed, big birds could impart. Acting as a shortcut of sorts, its typically used as a way to help juniors with potential get a foothold on the oh so confusing world of enlightenment. Taking all that into account, he supposed hed been right to be terrified of Feathers at the time. What in the world had a beast like that been doing in the Kings Woods? A sudden surge of memories flashed through his mind, and he physically jerked back in surprise. In an instant he recalled all the events shown to him in the vision, and he soon realized that, oh yeah, he supposed he knew exactly what shed been doing there. So long as the vision shed imparted on him was as recent as he suspected it to be. And that was the other thing. According to the book, the visceral nature of an ideal vision isnt supposed to last very long; an hour at most. Afterward, not only is the vision supposed to recede, but its supposed to then be forgotten entirely. That limited window the only time in which one has to consolidate their understandings before it all went away. This this was not the case for Jun, and he honestly wasnt sure why. All he did know was that, while the intensity had lessened since the first time hed experienced it, the actual contents of the vision were definitely still there. An errant thought often enough to drag him back into that chilly afternoon sky. Though, in a righting of the scales, there did appear to be limits as to what he could reasonably gain from watching an ideal vision over and over. He had this nagging suspicion that, in order to push his understandings further, perhaps even upgrade his mantra like what had happened in the clearing, he would need to put it into real world use. Something he anticipated with a healthy dose of trepidation. Lastly, there was the question of cultivation realms. Back when hed first committed himself to this course, hed figured he wouldve absorbed enough of the basics through osmosis to at least know how to breeze through the first few stages. When he actually tried putting his knowledge to the test however, hed found it to be somewhat lacking. Which was why, when he found the section on realms of cultivation, hed been so ecstatic. Concrete answers and simple descriptions hed promised himself he wouldnt cry. It was just so beautiful. For the sake of his own sanity, he settled on an abbreviated list. The ranking system went as follows: from the Preliminary Realm, also known as the Mortal Realm, one advanced onto the |Spirit Condensation Realm|, more commonly referred to as the |Entry Realm| and also where he currently found himself cultivation wise. After that there were a bunch more realmsfrom the |Foundation Establishment Realm| to the |Core Formation Realm| and so onbut it all seemed so far ahead of where he currently found himself, that he mostly skimmed over those sections. Description: In the Spirit Condensation Realm, cultivators learn to harness external spiritual energy (spirit) and internalize it, forming an energy reservoir within their bodies. This process involves cycling external energy and condensing internal spirit, enabling the cultivator to better perceive and manipulate their bodys spiritual energy on a very basic level. The book also mentioned something about condensing ones vapor spirit into liquid drops, and collecting said drops until they became a lake, but that didnt make much sense to Jun. Wind couldnt be a liquid. Wind was air. Add more wind and you just got more wind. Stupid book. Instead, what happened when he reached a suitably high threshold had both shocked and delighted him in equal measure. Hed been in the midst of a rotation of [Leaf Follows the Current] when it happened. His abdomen had felt on the very cusp of exploding when, all of the sudden, all of the winds in his dantien died down. And from the event was born a tiny green figuretwirling lazily through the air on gentle wind currents. When he reached a threshold in his spirit capacity, he didnt condense any boring old drops. He made leaves, gods damn it! Leaves! Little green companions that were practically guaranteed to keep both himself and each other company! And because so much wind had gone into its creation, at least for a brief while, he got to sit back and watch both leaves pirouette through the air, displaying that graceful poise which seemed to come so naturally to them. He couldnt have been happier were he transported home that very instant. Well, no, not really, but it was definitely still up there. A close second maybe. Which was saying something, considering hed been forced to use a corner of said pit as a restroom for the past five days now. A fact which made him very glad hed stumbled upon the quick dissolving fasting pills as opposed to a more solid solution. And that was it really. Supposedly hed advance to the next realm when his condensed leaves reached that same, too full, threshold. Nothing too crazy by all accounts, though he had a sinking suspicion it wouldnt always be this easy. Still, while things were still moderately simple, there was one last thing he needed to attempt. Now that he was more familiar with cycling, he wanted to try his hand at the [Leaf Rides the Gale] form once more. And though a part of him still quailed at the idea of attempting what had already almost killed him once before, he just had this feeling. That if only he mastered this breathing form, it would make the ultimate difference in his cultivation. No time like the present, Jun thought to himself, before he retook the lotus position and began with the first form: [Leaf Follows the Current]. After several hundred heartbeats of this, he smoothly transitioned from the first, to the second passive form of the [Leaf on the Winds Breathing Manual]. Now, instead of allowing his breaths to come and go without guidance or intention, he sought to direct the winds directly to his lower diaphragm. Leading it down and through his body on the twisting, circuitous route that the book had illustrated. He wasnt sure what the pathways that his spirit navigated were exactly, the scroll didnt say, but he had noticed them on his own quite some time ago. The strange set of paths that ran all throughout his body like a second set of veins. With every breath, instead of his chest rising and falling, it was his diaphragm that slowly inflated, then fell. Meanwhile his inhales became deeper and lasted for many more heartbeats, while his exhales became strainedmost of them resembling a short pant or a cough rather than an actual release of breath. Only one out of every three exhales released enough of the pressure mounting in his diaphragm to be noticeable, while every other came out as that strange grunting cough. It got to the point that Jun was continually surprised at his ability to take in more air at all. And yet he knew intellectually that this wasnt even the half of it. This went on for quite some time, until, after what had to have been an hours worth of cycling, Jun felt the sharp pain that signaled it was finally time for stage two. By this point a raging gale of impossibly dense and violent energies had taken up residence in his lower diaphragmheld tightly in check by Juns abdominal wall and stubborn will alone. Sweat poured down his face in rivulets by this point, and his body visibly shook with the strain. Now came the moment of truth. He knew that if he didnt release some of this energy soon, the gale would eventually slip from his control. The only silver lining in that event being that he likely wouldnt live long enough to regret his decisions. His body utterly obliterated by the insane accumulation of energy. If there was one thing that could be said for his current predicament, it was that it certainly made for one hell of a motivator. Ever so carefully, Jun began the transition to the second hidden stage of [Leaf Rides the Gale]. If the first represented the figurative inhale, the second represents the exhale. Likely a negligible process under normal circumstances, there was one major problem he was uniquely presented with. Primarily the fact that Juns body would pop like a soap bubble if he released all of the energy inside of him at once. Meaning he had to be extremely circumspect with how much he chose to let out at a time. Add to that the fact that he couldnt simply stop everything he was doing and focus entirely on this issuethere was too high a chance hed disrupt the very careful equilibrium he had goingand he was given no other choice but to continue cycling as he had been, while simultaneously trying to slowly reduce the strain. It really put into perspective just why this manual was ranked uncommonwhat likely amounted to a resource fit for a formation realm cultivator. He would have to let out only a little bit of pressure at a time, as not to die from the energetic backlash, but not so little as to make the breaths he took in cancel out the pressure he sought to release. Jun decided to start with an exhale lasting for three full heartbeats. PAIN. A sharp pain assailed him, suddenly, and without warningspreading its barbed tendrils through his veins like a fast-acting poison. It scoured his insides with each of its wicked teethfeeling like a thousand hot knives digging into places he hadnt even known he had. Experience was the only thing that saved him from falling apart then and there. All the same, he felt his blood turn cold when the storm in his gut shuddered ominously in response to his brief lapse in concentration. What the hell?!! Chapter 22: Progress It took everything Jun had to calmly finish exhaling. Almost immediately the pain noticeably easedleaving behind a dull throb that could be felt from his crown, all the way to the tips of his toenails and back. Unfortunately, Jun was given no time for further reflection before the next breath in the unforgiving chain arrived. He was fully committed to the second stage by now, and he knew there would be no turning back. With mounting dread, he added another exhale to the cyclelasting for only two heartbeats this time. Once again, a terrible pain stole through him, as if millions of miniature razor blades had been introduced into his blood stream. The sheer agony of it was unimaginable, half again as bad as the previous flare, so that it was all he could do to grit his teeth through the pain and maintain his steady breathing. His hesitant exhale did nothing to alleviate the pressure building in his dantian. And he recognized that hed have to release his spirit at a far faster pace than that. That if he didnt, and soon, his will was bound to give out long before he was finished. And then where would he be? Smeared all over the walls would be his first guess. It was around then that Jun truly began to fear. Because he could already tell that releasing the pent-up energy would not be a quick process. At the rate he was going, it would be hours yet before he found himself in the clear. Meaning that hed barely even started and already the pain was too much. And if, like he was beginning to suspect, the pain only increased with every cycle of breath just how bad would things be in an hour? Two? Could he even survive such an ordeal? If not physically, then mentally. Could he withstand what amounted to a prolonged session of torture, and then maintain the will to keep getting stronger after the fact? Once he made it out onto the other side? If he made it out at all? With a dread shock of soul deep terror, he found that the answer wasnt even in question. No. No, he absolutely could not. His analytical mind shut off about then. Too absorbed by the horror of his current situation. Which was why when an errant thoughtinnocuous at first glance, almost tritewas gently lobbed up from the deep recesses of his subconscious, he almost ignored it out of hand. And yet, something about it made him hesitate. It wasnt even that he thought it would work exactly. It was just that, well, he didnt really have anything to lose. And so, with a thought, Jun used [Cutting Hand]instantly wreathing his clenched fists in a shifting red mist. Immediately he felt a change come over him. A loosening of his muscles as panic eased, and the pain he felt lessened. Yet it still wasnt enough. Barely conscious of what he did next, or how, indeed, he was doing it at all, Jun found whatever mechanism transformed his hands into sharpened weapons and pulled. Slowly at first, almost hesitantly, the shifting red smoke began to climb up his forearms. Within seconds itd reached up to his elbows, then to his shoulders, and then, in a wild rush, the strange technique rose up all at once to sheath his entire body in the semi-transparent mist. Instantly, the difference he felt was staggering. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Cutting Hand] (Poor Quality) has evolved. [Cutting Hand] (Poor Quality) has become: [Blades Sheath] (Good Quality) +5 resonance. It wasnt that the pain had gone anywhere exactly. Instead, it was as if a cloudy pane of glass had been placed between him and the agony. So that, if he really squinted hard at it, he could still make out vague shapes, but the brunt of it no longer held the edge it once had. Almost as if it were another persons pain entirely. He felt good. No, more than that he felt in control. It would also appear he hadnt half imagined the brief flash of calm rationality hed felt the last times he summoned his Cutting Hand. And now that hed upgraded the mantra, the effects were like night and day. And so, it was with an almost detached sense of unreality that he continued the breathing rotation. Freed from the pain, he was finally allowed time to properly observe the goings on. And in that same detached way, it didnt take long for him to realize that it wasnt technically his body that was being affected, but instead the strange channels that were funneling his spirit. Something which, admittedly, made a lot of sense. Contrary to expectations, whenever he exhaled the pent-up spirit didnt simply take the simplest route from his diaphragm to his nasal passages. Instead, the spirit appeared to trace a roundabout pathway, which wound its way throughout the entirety of his body, leaving utter ruin in its wake as it did so. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Jun continued to cultivate. Time slowly passed. And as one hour bled into the next, then became three, and nearly four, he began to feel the edges of panic vying for his attention once more. The pain, likely never having stopped its measured advance, soon began to wear away at even his newfound mental defenses. Very soon the pain rose to match its previous crescendo, leaving him shaken by the decidedly grim implications. What might it have felt like had he not had his cutting aura active, he wondered? Nevertheless, he continued to release one breath after another, this despite the ever-mounting agony. His only consolation the near certainty that he was basically on the final stretch. In this way, time dragged on one glacial second after another. His mind falling into a hazy, pain induced stupor. One so complete and overwhelming, that he almost missed the most important bit entirely. The moment when the winds swirling around in his diaphragm finally died out. The ordeal left a tear-streaked Jun kneeling prostrate, weeping in a cold puddle of his own sweat. Forehead resting against the wet stone. Body trembling like a leaf in the wind, he could feel the faded edges of unconsciousness slowly encroaching. With a shake of his head, however, he banished even the temptation. He simply couldnt afford such a luxury. Not yet. He had to understand what it was hed done first. And whether or not hed suffered irreparable damage. He took a second to compose himself, then flared out his cutting aurainstantly forcing calm. He opened his eyes. Your body has transcended its natural limits. 50 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 50 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 50 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Wow Four measly hours to earn nearly double what Id have consolidated in a year previously, and thats not even counting what all Ive gained in spirit. Wait, how much stronger does that make me? I guess thats what risking life and limb gets you. Huh. I hate the fact that Im actually starting to get the appeal, damn them. Rising gingerly to a sitting position, he managed to catch Ivorys eye as, for the first time in days, she peeled her gaze up away from her book. And so it was that he got to watch, in real time, as she first scrutinized his sorry state, contemplated admonishing him for, yet again, placing his health unnecessarily at risk, apparently wrote him off as a hopelessly lost cause, before she turned back to whichever page shed been on. Ah, well. It would appear Ive turned my once bubbly companion into quite the jaded little creature, Jun thought. And all in the span of half a week no less. Either that or Lady Maisell made more of an impact on her than Id first realized. To which a disapproving hmph! was her only response, essentially proving his point. Shaking his head, only once hed re-centered himself, did he dare to take a peek inside his dantian. He was immediately shocked by what he saw. The wind in the space was entirely absent, but in its place, sat six small leaves. And it didnt end there either. He hadnt taken more than a cursory glance before, but if he had to wager a guess, hed say that his pathways feltbigger? Hollower somehow. As if the pressure of all that energy being released had ballooned them outward. Given what hed been through, it wasnt a hard thing to believe. Though that did beg the question, what did this mean for him specifically? Of course, the benefits were readily apparent. Three new leaves in less than a day? He was still feeling rather sated so it cant have been that long. It had taken him more than two days to form his first ever leaf. To have tripled that output in a fraction of the time? What could that mean for his cultivation if he could keep up such a pace? Jun, getting a hunch, decided to try something. With a mental nudge, he sent a small amount of spirit through his channels, finding the act as natural as breathing. Ignoring the sharp pain with a detached disinterest, he noticed that the energy moved noticeably faster through his channels. It moved at what had to have been half again what hed been capable of previous. And while he wasnt sure what that might mean moving forward, being faster on the uptake had never led him wrong before. Perhaps the same would apply to cultivation? First things first though, hed definitely done some damage to his channels, even if he couldnt feel it at the moment. If he wanted to continue to cultivate in this wayin Juns mind the benefits far outweighed a little discomfortthen he would need a way to heal himself after every session. If not, he might wind up crippling himself for good. He wasnt confident on how far he could, or should, be pushing things, and would prefer not to find out hed overstepped his bounds the hard way. His first instinct was to use the mending pills hed bought, but something made him hesitate. It wasnt really his body that was injured, right? Sure, hed been in immense pain, but when actually inspecting himself physically, he felt fine. Would the pill even do anything? Or would it be equivalent to flooding his channels againonly serving to worsen the damage? Were there specific resources to combat such an injury that he just didnt know about? Feeling like there had to be somethinghe refused to believe he was the first to stumble into such a dilemmahe decided to contact the highest authority on such matters. With a jarring chime, he opened his screens and entered the systems general marketplace. It would seem he had some shopping left to do. And while he was there, he might as well check up on how his investments were panning out. He had no idea how expensive such a treatment might be, after all. And hed hate to come across the perfect solution, only to be stymied due to a lack of funds. Wasting no time, Jun made his way over to the trading house screen. When he saw what all was waiting for him there, he couldnt help but smile. Chapter 23: Reaping Benefits Interlude
His Li Minghua Ivory As the impenetrable depths of those abyssal shores surrounded her, as they tried to choke the life from her, and all light seemed to fade away, uncertainties shed been avoiding up until nowones that she hadnt even dared to think, let alone speakrushed immediately to the fore. Only to fall away just as quickly. Leaving her, in their aftermath, entirely cleansed of doubt. Feeling as if her very soul had been scrubbed raw. Although, if it hurt, she thought to herself, it was the good kind of pain. For it was the kind that portended true revelationher own divine truth. And, just like that, the final words her teacher spoke to her neatly clicked themselves into place, and at last she understood why shed been unable to use the final technique hed bestowed upon her. She understood why the path forward had been barred to her, and more importantly, how she might take those very first steps. And so, far beneath the oceans capricious waves, in that cold and suffocating place so utterly foreign, her body became a radiant, golden beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak and uncertain time. Now revealed clearly before her in stark lines of light on darkness, the abyssal hoard, nearly a million strong, whod sought to hurt her friends, enslave her emperor, and ravage her homewithout cause, nor mercy, nor even an inkling of remorselooked upon her now celestial visage and recoiled. Ivory took a second to calm her nerves before she even thought about turning to the next page. Even still, in all her eager excitement, she managed to move just a little too quickly, though not too, too quickly, which was all that really mattered. Everyone knew that was how you got a torn page after allsomething she hadnt done this time around. Or, well, if she had, it was only by a little so it didnt really count. Ivory had very nearly wept with frustration the last time shed accidentally ripped the climax free from its bindings. And the time before that. And the time before that too Anyway! Jun had only caught her crying the one time. And even then, she was pretty sure shed been able to pass them off as either his fault, the storys fault, or both if she was lucky. In other words, not the fault of her own clumsy digits, and that was really all she cared about. For the record, Ivory thought it unacceptable she didnt know immediately whether her ruse had actually worked or not. It used to be that she knew what he was thinking like shed thought it up herself. But hed gotten far too comfortable keeping his mind from her recently. Itd been that way ever since theyd been reunited in fact. Quite frankly, she wasnt entirely sure if she was done being cross with him over it. In fact, if he werent so thoughtful, and kind, and the only person she really trusted in the whole wide world, she was positive shed have gone her own separate way a long time ago. It was what Li Minghua wouldve donehad done, according to all the books. Though, the more she thought about the prospect, the less and less realistic it became. That was surely why her insides seemed to squish and twist at the idea of leaving him behind. Because, really, it wasnt the same thing at all! Or even close, for that matter! As far as she was aware, she didnt know any celestial grade techniques, passed down from emperors and kings since the dawn of time. When she found some, Ivory decided, she could revisit the idea. Until then, she supposed she was stuck with him for now. Well, at least until he up and got himself killed doing something impossibly foolish. Again, it was like her guts were being squeezed by invisible hands. Perhaps this was that hunger thing he kept pestering her about? Whatever it was, she found she didnt like it one bit. Ivory glanced up in his direction, very discreet like, so he wouldnt notice and think she was maybe done being angry with him. And even if she was, for the most part anyway, that didnt mean she wanted him knowing that. Not before she was good and ready. And so, she very wisely turned to discretion. In any case, she neednt have bothered. He was sitting in the same place he always did, staring off into space with that goofy grin he sometimes got. A feeling of warmth pooled in her belly upon seeing that. She was feeling a lot of things recently. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Even stronger than in the before. And that was saying something since, way back then, it was the most shed thought anyone had ever felt well, ever. It was new, and strange, and scary at times but right then she didnt seem to mind it so much. Shed given up on trying to make him see reason. Even now that he was so much weaker than he had been, if he decided to try something idiotic, there wasnt much she could do to stop him except give him a piece of her mind and hope against all hope hed somehow see sense. So far, that approach hadnt really worked out so well. Which left her, ultimately, with only one real option. Contrary to the before, she found he was a lot like Liang Xin in many ways. Brainy with the books but stupid where it really counts. Always getting himself into sticky situations and needing Li Minghua to swoop in and save the day. It was just plain typical of him to be this hopelessly exasperating purely to annoy her. Like the wonderful Mistress Maisell would say, you really just couldnt with some people. Well, in any case, if she was stuck with him for the foreseeable future, shed just have to make do with his innate stupidity. And if he was so utterly set on being a Liang Xin, then it only followed that she would just have to become his Li Minghua. One-hundred and fifteen sold icons greeted him upon pulling up the trading house screen. One-hundred fifteen! He knew he was basically selling for dirt cheap, but even still, after the week hed had? It was just hard to believe things could be going so smoothly. The practice was not an uncommon one, though it was a bit on the riskier side given precisely who he was shorting in the exchange. It was an idea hed stumbled upon years back. Though back then hed been too afraid of the possible consequences to attempt it. Now that he had little choice in the matter, it was a startling thing to realize that the system appeared more or less amenable to the ideain so far as he hadnt received any warnings to the contrary. It even led him to believe that maybe this was exactly how the title had been meant to be used. A strange thing to contemplate, though it did ultimately play into the cultivators warped philosophy. Why should the exceptional be forced to do things the average way when cheating gave just as good results, if not better? In many ways, the concept of talent itself was just an ingrained ability to skip steps that shouldve been necessary. The rich are born with resources that far surpass their peers, while the well-connected are given better opportunities than those just as equally qualified. And if his theory was indeed correct, it only made sense, then, from the systems point of view, to allow for such an exploit to not only be possible, but encouraged. It wasnt all that complicated really. With his twenty five percent discount, he was able to make bulk purchases for a fraction of the cost. Leaving him in a position to resell said wares at prices that, for most, would mean considerable financial losses. For him though? So long as the amount deducted didnt exceed the twenty five percent he never even paid. His margins, as it turned out, werent all that bad. They were fairly remarkable actually. Like this, he was able to undercut even the cheapest of reasonable prices with ease, due in large part to the fact that his prices were inherently unreasonable. And as for his customers? Jun couldnt blame them for capitalizing on what they likely saw as a stealwillfully profiting off of a perceived error in the price listing, or else some other idiotic blunder. It was the carrion nature of the merchant, and he didnt begrudge them their feeding frenzy. It was the very thing that was making him rich after all. The only really tricky part had been divining which items would be in hot demand. That and the limited amount of stock he was allowed to purchase at a time. A fairly generous cap under normal circumstances, it hadnt ever really been something he worried about. With the way things were going, however, he was starting to get perilously close to his weekly maximum. Shopkeeps Weekly Total Store resets in 119:45:09 Common Rarity Items: [92,000 of 100,000] Uncommon Rarity Items: [48,560 of 50,000] Rare Rarity Items: [0 of 10,000] Epic Rarity Items: [0 of 5,000] Superior Rarity Items: [0 of 1,000] Prodigious Rarity Items: [0 of 500] Perennial Rarity Items: [0 of 100] Legendary Rarity Items: [0 of 50] Peerless Rarity Items: [0 of 10] With all his financial feelers loosed out on the open market, all thatd been left was to sit back and cultivate. Hed done this multiple times over the course of the last few days, and the results had been astonishing. Tallying everything up, Jun calculated he had to have made a little over six million spirit coins in just a few days, nearly doubling his initial pool in a fraction of the time it shouldve taken. Now, with coin secured, there was really only one thing left for him to do. He exited the trading house and started searching through the general store. After a dozen or so minutes, he finally found something that looked promising. High Grade Meridian Rejuvenation Pill (Uncommon)100,000 SP 75,000 SP (-25%) He found it ludicrous that a single pill cost the same as a low tiered spacial artifact, but that didnt stop him from buying ten of them right away. He could only pray the price matched its medicinal efficacy. Setting aside the majority of the pills, he grabbed one and downed it immediately. Within moments a soothing wave of cool energy coursed through his channels, quickly easing his throbbing pathways, and leaving them feeling clean and refreshed. Taking a moment to cycle some spirit, he found that moving his celestial energy elicited no pain whatsoever. Jun grinned. With these pills in hand, he wouldnt have to worry about injuring himself with his own cultivation any time soon. Now all he needed was a little spirit and he could get right back into the process of spirit compression. And so, it was with a jolt of anticipation that Jun palmed his very first spirit restoration pill and downed it with a long swig from his flask. Sitting back, Jun felt the pill as it traveled down his esophagus, taking its sweet time until, at last, it rested squarely in the pit of his stomach. The sudden eruption of spirit wouldve likely been enough to startle a novice cultivator into injuring or even crippling themselves out of pure shock. It was a description thathad he not undergone a full rotation of the [Leaf Rides the Gale] formwouldve pretty much summed him up perfectly. Seeing as he had survived such an ordeal, however, it was simplicity itself to slip into [Leaf Follows the Current] and guide all of that wild energy directly into his dantien. At which point the once still void abruptly transformed into a furious gale. Chapter 24: They Can’t Keep Getting Away With This! Jun could only watch as the filthy little intruder shamelessly ransacked his precious belongings. He hadnt even known there was anything else alive down here, not until this little creature decided to pay his makeshift home a visit. Oh! And would you look at that? The little fiend had been so kind as to bring along his friends. Wonderful. Just wonderful. They were rats, there were ten of them, and they were each half again the size of his head. The only silver lining that the pests seemed content to ignore him as they went about their businessrummaging through his things with uncaring abandon. And it was a good thing, he told himself, that theyd decided to leave him be. Seeing as, for the moment he was just about as threatening as a newborn kitten. Perhaps even less so. At least kittens were born with claws. He was still only half way through the second stage of [Leaf Rides the Gale] and that meant he was hours away from even the hope of seeking retribution. So it wasnt that he didnt want to move. He couldnt move. Not unless he wanted to move in all directions with great speed, anyway. Which meant that all he could reasonably do was try to maintain his breathing, and watch, as the dirty little rodents robbed him for all he was worth. In order they took the majority of his pills, all of his and Ivorys books, and to add insult to injury, his extremely expensive breathing manual. Snatching up his future in their little rodent mouths before scurrying up the hole and out of sight like nothing had ever happened. Ivory tried to stop them of course. Her scathing remonstrations and tiny little blows, while valiant and much appreciated, were also wholly ineffective. The beasts merely shouldered her aside as they went about their business. And in truth, it hurt him more to see her indignant fervor turned to gloom and despondency, than did the ongoing theft of his very expensive property. In a way, it actually made him glad he was unable to move. Seeing as, were that not the case, he would probably have done something Lady Maisell, in all her high-born civility, wouldve blanched at as barbarous. In any event, the theft mightve been excusable had he fully memorized the scroll beforehand. Or if he had the money to just go ahead and replace it. Funny thing was, he hadnt memorized it, and he also didnt have enough money to buy a new one. Even if he had, the uniquely named items shifted with every store reset, and since a weekly reset had already happened since buying the manual, it was unlikely hed find it again if he tried. Which ultimately led him back to two main conclusions. Conclusion number onehe needed his scroll back. Conclusion number twohe really needed his scroll back, and he badly needed revenge. For the sake of poor Ivorys pride if nothing else. Unfortunately, before he could do any of that he would need to finish this rotation. Then, and only then, could he properly seek his retribution. *** Ivory perked up asafter two glacial hours had elapsedJun let out the final exhale of his second breathing form. Finally! I feel as if Ive aged decades in the time it took for you to finish that interminable ritual. Quickly now. Clean yourself up and then lets get a move on. If we hurry, theres a chance we might still catch them in time! In two hours, it was impossible to know just where the little thieves had scurried off too. By now, they could be anywhere, though that still didnt change what they had to do next. After all, he needed that scroll back if he wanted to continue progressing. Im not so sure about that, but well damn well try. Just give me a second to get ready, okay? Ivory twitched. The words whatever for?! clearly hanging on her whatever passed for lips. Restraining her impatience with a visible effort, however, she acquiesced with a furious lashing of her tentacles. Alright, fine! But you cant take forever! I mean, its one thing taking things from others when you know they werent being cared forafter all if theyd really cared they wouldnt have allowed them to be so separated from their person in the first placebut having things taken from you, especially when you had no intention of giving them away, is most unpleasant! Jun, we must get our things back! Theres no time to lose! Jun couldnt agree more, though that didnt mean hed go unprepared. Still shaking after his ordeal, Jun wasted no time in taking a meridian rejuvenation pill. The cool, cleansing energy washed through his channelssoothing any injuries inflicted by the strain. Luckily, the little monsters hadnt been able to steal everything in one go. And, though his stock of pills was much diminished, that, at least, was of no real consequence. Entering the general store, he quickly topped off his supply. Then he searched for a convenient way to carry all of the pills hed just purchased, as hed be damned if he left anything here unsupervised. Lesser Grade Dimensional Bag (Uncommon)4,000,000 SP 3,000,000 SP (-25%) Thinking this underground space to be theft proof, he hadnt seen the need for compact storage of any kind. Add to that the fact that the spacial bag in question did nothing to slow the aging of whatever was placed inside, and he had dismissed this item out of hand almost immediately. Now though? The bag was an unadorned tan about the size of Juns hand with fingers spread. The mouth of the bag was elastic, almost unnaturally so, and regardless of the light or what angle he turned it, the inside remained an eerie, impenetrable black. Jun shrugged off the oddity as unimportant, before shoving everything he still owned into the sack and securing it on his waist with the cord. According to a few sources, he should be able to fit half a tons worth of stuff inside before he began to feel the weight, so he wasnt particularly concerned with overdoing it. Tugging on it twice to make sure it was secured properly; Jun sat back down in the lotus position and swallowed the spirit restoration pill hed palmed. The influx of spirit was a lot less pronounced than it had been the first time around. He wasnt sure if that was because hed simply grown accustomed to guiding the energy, or if his channels having grown to be twice their original size had anything to do with it. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Four days had passed since hed first successfully completed [Leaf Rides the Gale], and he felt like all the effort hed put into his cultivation in that time had payed huge dividends. Looking into his dantien through his mind''s eye, Jun was greeted with a sight that never failed to bring a smile to his face. Hundreds of the little green leaves could be seen dancing on the renewed tempest in his lower abdomen. Hed been busy these last few days, and, if you knew where to look, it most certainly showed. That wasnt all, either. Though it might not have looked like it, his three essential parameters had improved in leaps and bounds over the last four days. And though he still couldnt make out why everything was measured in Stars,rather hefty fellas if you asked him, seeing as the heaps of celestial essence he was continually consolidating apparently didnt even represent a percent of a percenthe had managed to configure things in such a way that the fruits of his labors were, at the very least, made visible. Name: Beckonfrost Zhaoshen Junwei Race: Human Cultivation: Spirit Condensation Realm: 7th Stage Bloodline: NOT APPLICABLE Titles: Merchant of Promise, Fledgeling Magnate, Budding Sage Resonance Pillar: Blinded Sapling [12 of 20] Cultivated Body: NOT APPLICABLE Body: 0 Stars (1,414 Celestial Essence) Mind: 0 Stars (1,414 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 0 Stars (1,024 Celestial Essence) Insight: 0 Stars (0 Celestial Essence) And it didnt end there either. With the clarity born of his cutting aura had come a peculiar revelation regarding [Leaf Rides the Gale]. If he ignored the painsomething that, with the help of his aura, had only gotten easier with timethere was actually a complimentary feeling that accompanied the raging rivers of spirit which raced through his channels. An invigorating strength, very much at odds with the debilitating pain. Curious, during a short break in between cultivation sessions, Jun had intentionally guided his spirit through the pathways it always seemed to take during those sessions. What hed discovered in doing so left him utterly astonished. Well, itd done that, and very nearly caved his skull in on the spot. Itd been difficult at firstcoordinating his spirit flow without his breathing techniques guidancebut, by implementing parts of the second and first forms into his regular breathing patterns, it became almost second nature to have the churning river of spirit constantly flowing beneath his skin. Then, when he was confident his spirit would continue without conscious effort on his part, Jun braced himself, and took a single step. There was an audible crunch as his face collided with a wall that hadnt been there a second ago. Staggering backwards, he felt the back of his skull crack against something just as unyielding. Dazed and confused, it took three more high speed collisions before he came to his senses and stopped circulating his spirit. Collapsing to the ground in a bloody heap, Jun merely lay there for several long seconds, before two pills were slipped between his teeth, and after a difficult swallow, he promptly passed out. In any event, since that, ahem, less than optimal learning experience, hed been able to further experimenteventually confirming one thing. The speed at which he circulated his spirit mattered. Demonstrably so. The main reason why hed launched himself with so much force in the first place, was due entirely to the insane speeds at which he was able to circulate his spirit. He didnt want to toot his own horn or anything, but he was almost positive that most cultivators his realm wouldve been hard pressed to match him. Achieving the speeds he could easily maintain would likely run the risk of damaging anothers channels, if it didnt cripple them outright. And all of it he felt he could attribute to his vastly expanded meridians. Finally, all packed up and ready to go, Jun began circulating his spirit once moreall the while trying to make sure he didnt overdo it this time. Alright! Ivory, you ready? What kind of question is that? If Id had my way, we would have long since apprehended the thieving scoundrels! Oh yeah? Jun grinned. That a fact? Jun, I dont know why you feel the need to make that face, but you say that as if I was the one holding us up. I was not, in point of fact, and I will very happily remind you of as much. Well, I dont know about all that, but if youre that impatient, I suppose wed best make up for lost time. Lets just hope you can keep up, shall we? Hunkering down into a low squat, with a sudden flex of his legs, Jun jumped. Hed intended to merely leap up and grasp onto the lip of the pitfive or so meters above himthen haul himself up and over from there. But, even with his initial precautions, hed underestimated his own strength yet again. What actually happened when his feet left the ground was almost what hed intended. And for the record, he did soar gracefully up into the air. It was just that he kept on soaring gracefully for well, quite some time. By the time hed finally reached the apex of his leap, he was half the pits length above the cavern floor. Desperately flailing at the sudden vertigo, all he could do in the end was hang there and await his eventual reunion with the ground. On the bright side, at least he hadnt fallen back into the hole. With a groan, Jun got back to his feetcareful so he didnt launch himself into the air with the motion. He waited patiently for the mending pill hed swallowed to do its thing. He also studiously ignored Ivorys amused expression. Seriously, how did a creature with no lips smirk! It didnt even make sense! Ears burning, it was around then that he noticed, barely illuminated by the glow from his system screens, a furry little head not even a dozen paces away. Gotcha! The little thief figured hed come back for seconds, did he? How awfully careless of him. Suddenly heedless of his wounds, Jun leapt forward to grab the thing, Ivory trailing closely behind. Unfortunately, the little creature was far smarter than it looked, and so did the very thing hed hoped it wouldnt do. It promptly turned and randodging between a field of stalagmites as it went. Oh no you dont. Jun followed in hot pursuit, trying to keep the little beast within the glow of his screens at all times. Unfortunately, the little bugger was damned quick, and knew how to use the underground terrain to its advantage. Again and again Jun was forced to divert from his path, hop over obstacles, and shuffle between stalagmites just to keep the rat in his sights. Meanwhile, the ease with which the beast flowed through and over obstacles only made the distance between them widen even further. To add insult to injury, Ivory was having the time of her life. Her small form and nimble agilitynot to mention the power of flightturning what was, to him, an unpredictable obstacle course, into what amounted to literal childs play. Trouble keeping up? I can slow down if that helps, though I doubt our quarry will be so obliging! Ivory called back cheerfully, as she swerved around another clump of stalagmites. Jun reddened. Well, he hadnt thought hed be forced to put it to the test so soon, but hed be damned if he was outclassed so badly after all the time hed spent preparing for this very moment. Closing in on yet another dense field of stalagmites, Jun let his cutting aura flare. Then he pushedgathering the entirety of his weakly pulsing aura to revolve around his two outstretched fingers. Mentally chanting the mantra hed received with the enlightenmenthaving realized that doing so helped immensely with the shaping processhe barely gave the looming wall of rock more than a peremptory glance before he was bearing down on it with no intention of stopping. I cut what obstructs my path. Just as the stalagmites came within arm''s reach, he lashed out with a wide, horizontal swipe. As his fingers met stone, they didnt bite into it so much as sheer straight through. Rock spikes fell away like toppled saplings, each cleanly bisected through the middle. Leaping nimbly over the remnants of whatd once been a barrier, he elatedly continued the chase. He would catch this rat if he had to run to the ends of the empire and back. If the little guy thought it too could steal from him and get away with it, then it was in for a rather rude awakening. I mean they cant keep getting away with this, can they? Chapter 25: The Tunnels Of all the dismal, dreary-weather fates Raina had ever believed herself destined foreither by dint of blind circumstance, her genuinely poor upbringing, or a succession of even poorer life decisionslife as a slave to an intelligent race of spirit beasts had likely never even crossed her mind. And the funniest thing was? She was actually starting to believe that, now of all times, she had a fairly decent chance of turning her life around. Likely the best chance shed get, for a while yet, at any rate. And it wasnt just because Edmund, the bastard, insisted on keeping to strict booze rations until the mission was complete. Though a small part of her, the part she disdained to acknowledge, did recognize that it likely played a role. It took time to sift through the massive under cityin search of the treasures and trinkets their rodent overlords seemed to covet so highlythough not nearly as much time as they no doubt believed, stranded as they were on the other side of the outer walls. Which often left room for activitiessmall, harmless distractions that helped wile away the day, while they waited for something anything to happen. For Edmund it usually meant a whole lot of doodlingusing his finger to trace lines in the dust, while mumbling incoherently to himself. An island of strange calm, he was habitually surrounded by all manner of arcane scribblings. He said it was to help keep his rune-work sharp, though to Raina it still looked like so much gibberish, even after nearly a decade spent in each others company. For Arthur it meant time spent in deep meditation, as he no doubt went over his talents, techniques, and abilities again and again in that obsessive way he had. Going over contingencies, his back up plans for said contingencies, and then how he might possibly improvise should his preparations prove inadequate. In many ways, paranoia wasnt the worst thing to have in a spacial practitioner, though it did have a way of grating on ones nerves after a while. For Raina it generally meant pining for the next drink between naps. And, as for Viviana, the most practical of their merry little band, it usually meant training up the kiddies for war. Now widen your stance! Remember, the perfect strike is not achieved by simply flailing ones arms about! A solid strike must have a solid foundation. Counter intuitive though it may seem, a good blow starts from the soles of your feet. You can think of them as your roots. Its where most of the power youve seen me display ultimately comes from. Well, that in addition to impeccable technique, a few decades worth of practice, and an obscene amount of natural born talent. Though, thats neither here nor there. The ripple of laughter which followed said pronouncement made Raina want to roll her eyes. This wasnt a new side to the swordswoman she was seeing. Respect, devotion, the swooning adoration of her juniorshalf of them all but smitten with her, with the other half wanting to be her outright. Viviana practically ate that shit up. Never mind that she was a raging narcissist at the best of times, and a fun-sponge when in less impressionable company. Not that Raina thought her reasoning wasnt sound. After all it would be a serious setback, should one of these brats come to harm before theyd served their purpose. What rankled was simply that her motives werent nearly so pure as shed have them believe. They were sequestered within the once grand courtyard of a massive underground estate. Drab stone walls, topped with grey shingles, hid them from the greater city beyond. Everything around them made of stone and layered with dustthis included the many statues, dry fountains, and hidden alcoves harboring light crystals spaced tastefully throughoutthough whether that was by design, or if it was simply all that withstood the test of time was anyones guess. A thin cloud of dust hovered over the center of the courtyard were Viviana and her brood diligently trained. Meanwhile Raina, for her part, lay sprawled out on a stone bench at around spectating distance, the comatose body of their would-be contact slash employer snuggled up at her side. The girl was nearly the perfect cuddling size after all, and so long as she wasnt going to be getting any use out of it, her limp body made for an excellent pillow. No offense. As expected, the little girl did not respond. She gave the kids ratty mess of tangles a couple of headpats regardless, ignoring the grimy feel of the wheat-blonde locks on her skin. It wasnt as if shed catch anything she didnt already have. After a little over a week spent toiling away in the under, waiting for their mark to finally show up, there wasnt a one of them present that couldnt use a nice hot bath. If anything, the children were worse. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Seeing as theyd been stuck down here, abducted and enslaved, well before her teams arrival. As it was, she could only hope that their target showed his face sooner rather than later. She relished the idea of going another week without a decent drink about as much as she did their too vague assignment. Find the lost children. Keep them safe. When the time is right, they will lead you to the one I seek. Find him. Bind him. Bring his soul to me, and you may consider our business concluded. Now normally, had someone come up to her with nothing but vague riddles, and even vaguer promises, in place of a hard contract written in common, as the head of their little mercenary outfit, shed have been the first to stick her steel-toed boot where those riddles rightly belonged. And dont let the door hit you on the way out. Would have too, were the pay even a fraction less than it had been. As it was, the payout theyd receive for this single job was likely the most lucrative out of every odd job theyd taken over the many years combined. It represented a greater opportunity than even their employer was likely aware of. And all they had to do was find a single boy. In fact, if their employer was correct, it should be even easier. Because in that event, all they really had to do, was wait for him to come to them. Snagging the rodent by the scruff of its neck, Jun was just barely able to yank it away in time. Diving behind a hidden alcove, he tried desperately to get a handle on his breathing as whatever they were rapidly approached. With surprising strength, the little beast almost squirmed its way free immediately, though not before he viciously clamped down on it, curtailing its struggles, at least for the moment. By then, it was all that he could do to keep it, and by extension himself, from making any noise. Itd been a very close thing, all things considered. As the rat raced towards, what they could only surmise by the sounds to be a large group of creatures, hed been presented with a troublesome dilemma. Was a lack of discovery worth losing their only potential lead? Because his little rat friendfor whom he simply had to pray was leading them in the right directionwas apparently dead set on a collision course with the aforementioned gathering of unknown entities. Of course, it went without saying that the rodent couldnt simply be allowed to walk away. Not after the blatant disrespect itd shone him. His aura practically flared with indignation at the thought. And so, hed decided it was about time he show this stupid rat the true disparity that separated them. With barely a thought he sped up his circulation, tensed, then launched himself at the vile beast! Overshooting its now retreating form by about half a dozen meters. Stupid legs. He really needed to get a handle on just how much was too much with this new ability. Luckily for him, the furry little fiend had been expecting his sudden flight just about as much as he had. That moment of stunned, almost incredulous stillness had been all of the opening hed needed. Now, as the creatures passed by their cozy little nook, he was able to confirm what hed already suspected. They werent human. That much was obvious. They were rat like in a way, though much largeronly a little shorter than him at 56Cbipedal on the whole and ugly as sin. Snaggletoothed and oddly jointed, most wore nothing but the matted fur on their backs, while others flaunted roughly sown rat-hide cloaks. Fashioned from what looked to be dozens upon dozens of their smaller rat brethren, they hadnt even had the wherewithal to sever any of the bright pink tails. Tails which instead flopped about by the dozens, as the creatures strolled on by. Jun had to stop himself from shivering at the sight. Apart from the hooded figures who marched along unarmed, most of the rat people held crude weapons in their clawed hands. Things of chipped stone and carved ivory. They wielded everything from spears, to daggers, axes, and more. He even thought he saw a few war-hammers mixed in. Unrefined though they mightve been, however, he was under no illusions. Even he knew that a blunt weapon could still kill so long as time wasnt an issue. Jun counted thirty-five of the rat-kin, though, as to where they were all headed, he could honestly say that he couldnt care less. All he really wanted was his breathing manual back, and then hed be gone from this place as quick as you could say- aargh! Jun jerked his hand away from the evil little biter, and that lapse in restraint was just enough for it to wrestle itself free. Screeching bloody murder, it made a b-line straight for the retreating army of rat-kin. But no Theres no way they can possibly understand it, right? As if in response to his question the rat-kin turned towards his little alcove in unison. Oh, you little rat! With Ivory tugging on his shirt sleeve, insisting they stay, Jun stepped out from hiding, fully aware that theyd been made. He tried to appear as nonthreatening as possible. Dismissing his cutting aura and everything, despite the obvious comfort it gave him. You never knew. Perhaps they could be reasoned with. That was when one of the hooded rat-kin pointed a gnarled finger in his direction. This slender rat creature then let out an ear-piercing screech. And, in the next moment, they charged. Chapter 26: Conflict! Jun ran faster than he ever had in his life. He careened through the cave system, taking turns at random, shearing through obstacles as he went. It was a wonder that, with each new corner he took, there always seemed to be yet another way forward. Either this cave system was truly massive, or he was burning through his luck at an expeditious rate. In the latter case, he could only hope his string of good fortune continued. Otherwise, he had this sinking suspicion, call it a hunch if you will, that things would not go well for him in the long run. On the bright side, he and Ivory managed to outpace many of their pursuers. On the other, two of the beasties were still hot on their heels. Able to match his pace with relative ease, damn them. This despite his circulation being pushed to its absolute limits. And not only were they keeping pace with them, but they were actually starting to gain on them. Loping forward like bats out of hell, they were nightmare fuel on four legs. With flashing teeth, beady eyes, and saliva dripping from vicious canines, their four-inch claws dug divots in the hard stoneevery long lope accompanied by a trail of orange sparks. They didnt appear to be tiring either. Unlike Jun, who was almost on his last legs. I mean, my two legs against their eight?! What kind of rigged game is this? Wheres a damned referee when you need one? I call foul! Panic began to creep up on him then, and almost reflexively he flared out his cutting aura to combat it. In an instant, cold rationality reasserted itself, and a detached sense of calm settled over his mind. Able to properly assess the situation once more, he realized he would need to do something drastic and quick if he didnt want to end up rat chow. Formulating the vague framework of a plan, he acted before his bodys innate squeamishness could convince him otherwise. He clearly recognized that this was a matter of life or death. Jun decided in that moment that he didnt much care for the latter. After rounding another bend in the tunnel, he immediately skid to an awkward halt. Turning sharply, he scaled the nearest vertical surfaceusing fingers swirling with aura to find purchase where there wasnt any. Rock chips rained down steadily as his nails gouged shallow furrows into the stone. Now several head heights above the ground, there he waited. It was a struggle, though he made an effort to slow his breathing and still his bodys trembling. Seconds passed. Still shaking slightly, but with his breathing under control, he listened intently for the scrabbling of claws on stone as the two beasts approached. Ivory rose to hover beside him. To his surprise she appeared less reproving of his last stand than he wouldve expected. In fact, she seemed more grimly resigned than he thought hed ever seen her. Apparently, she too recognized the precariousness of their situation. Whether or not that meant she approved of his plan he couldnt say, but she wasnt trying to stop him, which he appreciated immensely. The first rat rounded the bend at a full sprintskidding across the stone in a cascade of sparks. He allowed it to rush on past, completely oblivious. Well, he said allowed but in truth the thingd been moving so fast, he hadnt made out more than a roughly animal shaped blur. Still, that didnt mean hed gained nothing from its swift passage. Using its appearance in conjunction with the sounds of its passing, he was able to roughly gauge the second rats approach. He didnt have to wait very long. Confident in his timing, Jun let go of his perch, and, with a spirit empowered shove, hurtled downward at a sharp angle. He shot headlong towards the spot where he knew the beast would bestiffened fingers trailing one long ribbon of crimson smoke. He flooded his strike with all of the cutting force at his disposal, leaving his hand shining so brightly that his bones were made visible. Jun jabbed forward just as the second rat-kin rounded the bendstiffened fingers meeting toughened hide at suicidally high speeds. The pseudo armor of the beasts thick coat proved as much of an impediment as the subsequent layers of muscle and bonehis hand sliding easily though one end and out the other. Punching straight on through with an explosion of stinking gore. It was surreal. He might have dipped his hand in a tub of uncomfortably warm jelly for all the resistance he felt. Juns stomach lurched. Too close! Almost in a panic, he shifted his weight, twisting so that his shoulder took the brunt of the impact. Better that than his face. And not a moment too soon either. When at last their bodies did collide, Jun slammed into the corpse with enough momentum to bruise organs, and, going by the sound of it, fracture bones. The poor creature never even knew what hit it. CRACK! Unlike the pest-control pancake, Jun didnt stay down for long. It might not have been pretty, but he was already staggering to his feet before reverberations of the impact had fully subsided. Just barely able to free himself from the mess hed made of the rat-cake, before the one thatd gotten away even noticed what had happened. The pain pulsing down and along his left arm was immense. Or would have been, rather, had he not had his cutting aura active. Nifty that. Jun pulled a spare mending pill from his dimensional storage and swallowed it. It would take several minutes for the pill to do its thing, but hed figured it was best he take it now, rather than later. When the beast finally turned around and caught sight of its fallen companion, it let out a terrible, ear-piercing shriek. Jun staggered from the sudden sensory overload. Without any more warning, the spirit beast attacked. Now that he was standing still, Jun could fully appreciate just how fast these things were. In an instant, the beast crossed the full twenty paces separating themmaw yawning wide and brutal claws extended. Upon him before the sparks created by its pounce had lost their radiance. Thankfully, Jun had anticipated as much. That being said, the thing moved so incredibly fast that, even though hed been expecting it, he still nearly botched the execution. With a pivot of his torso, and a spirit empowered swing, he blindsided the snarling beast with the corpse of its fellow. As it turned out, giant rat tails served as very convenient handholds. The two bodies connected with a wet slap and explosion of goresplattering them both quite liberally with awful. Sent careening off course, thrown for a loop by Juns unorthodox attack, the beast was suddenly in no position to dodge as he turned about face, and went on the offensive. He sped his circulation until his entire body trembled. Meanwhile his eyes, coldly serene, calmly tracked the beasts trajectory. When he felt the timing was right, he threw himself at the writhing thing like a loosed projectilethe cave floor developing tiny fractures where hed stood. He appeared before the rat-kin in much the same way it had himalready jabbing his right arm forward in a viciously aimed thrust. He focused all of his will on the simple act of amassing aurapositively flooding his system with the odd strength. The swirling drill of ruby red smoke only growing and growing for every moment that passed. He gathered up the force until his head felt fit to burst. Unaware of the pain, never once did it occur to him to maybe hesitate. Slow down and think for the barest instant. Even as his vision began to blur, and blood to run freely from his nose, his mouth, his ears. He pushed on regardless. And then, just as his strike was about to connect, something altogether unexpected happened. His aura To his utter shock and astonishment, he felt his aura, the extension of his will, his universal conceptthe greatest weapon he had in his arsenal by farfalter, waver, and then dissipate completely. Extinguished like a candles flame on an especially windy day. A cloud of thick, silvery mist burst from the rat-kin in a wide detonation, obliterating his aura in its entirety, like a dollop of blood dropped into the ocean. For a split second after, Jun was rendered inert. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Both by the physical shock of the conceptual cloud slamming bodily into him, and by a different paralysis born entirely of disbelief. There was no mistaking it. Jun had pushed with all he had, only to have some rodent push back even harder. And it hadnt just pushed; Juns force had been crushed. Only belatedly would he recognize the irony in such a statement. This rat-kin clearly owned a crushing concept of some kind, much like his stepbrother Cedric had. Before he could properly absorb this revelation, however, he noticed from out of the corner of his eye, the streak of a pink tail trailing silvery smoke. Why did it feel like he had this coming somehow? Was it the rat attack thing? Something about desecrating the dead? Hed say he was sorry if he thought that would help. Thinking fast, Jun attempted the same trick the rat had done, straining with all of his mental might, he pushed. Flaring his aura brighter than hed ever done before. Things even seemed to be going well, to a point. If only it wasnt taking more and more out of him to do so. More of his concentration to ignore the hot stabs of agony which followed each and every action. Which seemed intrinsically tied to any use of his concept at the moment. All the same, he did what he could to resist the incoming blow. Whether or not it worked, he ultimately wasnt sure. All he did know was that, the next thing he knew? He was impacting the furthest wall with a terrifying CRUNCH The world went white for what could have been a second, but felt more like an eternity. Sounds strangely muffled past the incessant ringing in his ears. He felt his body peel away from the shallow imprint hed made in the stone. Then, it was a long time, far too long, before he at last impacted the cavern floor. And suddenly, the world came roaring back into focushis breathing much too loud in his ears. His only saving grace at this stage the fact that his body was still flush with healing energies. If given enough time, he might recover from even this. Unfortunately, it didnt appear as though the rat-kin was keen on giving him that time. Once more the massive rat seemed to appear as if from nothing, tail already lashing downward in a spinning, diagonal arc. An attack that, should it land, would likely flatten him to paste. Acting fast, Jun shoved off of the cavern floor with all the strength left in his good arm. He was awarded with a muted jolt as something broke. His quick thinking still shot him clear of the beasts attack, however. So that when it landed, it met stone instead of his tender flesh. Another deafening crack resounded throughout their share of tunnel. A spiderweb of fractures radiating outward from the point of impact. The entire cave groaned ominously, buckling in places. Jun, for his partstill flipping madly through the airgulped. So that was the power of a true crushing alignment, huh? It was a far cry from his brothers punches, that was for sure. Then he blinked. Frowned. There was also something about the force of it that was bothering him. Something that put into question the use of his own aura. Unfortunately, he wasnt allowed to think on it for more than a second before his body reached the apex of its ascent, and so began to fall. Fall, that is, right into the waiting arms of the visibly enraged rat creature. He could see that its periodically flicking tail was becoming denser with that intractable silver aura by the second. The beast ready and willing to keep on swinging until he was little more than a nice coat of paint on the walls. Every casual flick of its tail was followed by the crack of splintering stonethe cavern floor practically quaking from its mere proximity to the dense mist. Yeah. Not happening. Jun kicked off the ruined wall with all the cultivated strength he could muster, barely registering something else break in his foot as he did so. He hadnt had the forethought to aim himself exactly, but he was headed in a direction opposite that terrifying buildup of power, and that was all he really cared about. Far too soon his body was reunited with the ground. He was quite disheartened to find that it was not a loving reunion. He hit the rough stone hard, scraping off layers of skin in the resulting tumble, until he came to a skidding, dizzying halta bruised tangle of broken limbs. Even with his aura active, he simply lay there for a second, dazed and confused. Before, with a jolt of panic, he shot back to his feet. He was almost fast enough. The aura laden tail was already in motion, aiming horizontally for his chest with its indomitable truth. He could feel it, from mere inches away, the immensity of the force hidden behind the simple blow. The force of an ideal whose only purpose was to break; to crush into submission anything and everything in its way. And it was thenin that strange limbo between life and death; wherein one made to pass off the torch to the otherthat he felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around his neck. And, in the next moment, time just seemed to stop. His heartbeat slowed, his eyes dilated, and everything around him wound down to a crawl. The worldnow a bland monochrome with brief flashes of colorcontinued as if submerged in thick sap. While, by contrast, his mind veritably raced, inspired as he was by a sudden moment of clarity. For, in the moments before the fatal blow arrived, something fundamental clicked in his mind. Because the overwhelming force he now felt from the tail was very familiar. Extremely familiar. In that it represented the way that hed been thinking of his own concept up until now. Incredulous, he only now realized how much of an idiot hed been. Hed been using a universal truth primarily as a blunt instrument. A force lever whose only purpose was to enhance his, to his mind, prodigious strength. Idiot that he was, hed gotten so caught up in the newfound power he could bring to bear using his circulation, that hed forgotten, or outright ignored, the innate nature of the concept itself. Put simply, he didnt wield the will to crush. He didnt need devastating force to dismantle his enemies. And yet hed been using his concept as if that were all it was good for. Down that way lay the path of the brute, however, and the path of cutting was not one of brutality. Nor was it one of overwhelming strength. It could be mighty, yeshe had seen as much in his ideal visionbut that was not where it derived its strength from. He didnt need to be stronger than his opponents to be better than them, and to attempt as much anyway would only be an exercise in futility. From what he recalled, there had been little to no physical element in Feathers devastating attack. Instead, in place of brutality, there had only been speed, an iron wrought will, and most importantly Precision. Instead of flooding his strike with all of the force he could muster, he focused his intent instead. He honed it; guided it. Sharpened his intent to an incredibly fine point, until it too resembled a blade in truth. He then zeroed in on precisely where he wanted to strike and made of his mind a tool crafted for that singular purpose. Huh. It suddenly occurred to him, as color returned to the world and time seemed to renew its usual pace, that he mightve used the strange moment of heightened awareness to evade the incoming attack. Now though, he found there was no longer any need. Time resumed. The tail whipped forward. Jun desperately backpedaled. And then, with but a simple flick of his wrist, he severed the two-meter-long tail from its body at the basesheering through the once impenetrable cloud of resistance as if it werent even there at all. The tail still collided with his chest like a charging pack animalslamming him sideways to impact yet another wallbut, now severed from the main body, and so without the overbearing will of crushing behind it, the blow was ultimately a survivable one. And to make things even better, no headache followed this new and improved use of his aura. He couldnt help but see that as a good sign. The beast howled in agony as Jun was just staggering to his feetpulling a bruised hand away from the base of his neck, where hed tried to protect Ivory from the worst of the collision. Upon him in an instant, rage was alight in the rat-kins beady eyes. Clawed foreleg upraised, it held nothing back in the sudden bullrush. Trailing streams of stinking saliva as it made to deliver a vicious swipe. A truly prodigious amount of silver mist indicating it wasnt out of the fight just yet. However, this was the third time it had used that tactic, and, say what you will about Jun, but fooling him three times in a row was a bit much. Its a little insulting, actually. Who does this guy take me for, a chump? Now, it couldnt be said that Jun stepped aside gracefully. His right arm barely worked, his left was all but useless, and he was pretty sure his ankle was sprained, if not outright broken. In truth, it was more fluke than anything that he expertly leapt out of the way in time. Well, tripped might be the colloquial term for it, but hed never been one to conform with societal norms. Nevertheless, even off balance, broken, and inexperienced as he was, his newfound abilities proved potent enough to get the job done regardless. Severing the rats head cleanly from its shoulders as it recklessly sped past. The headless corpse colliding with the cavern wall shortly thereafter. Although this time, no earth-shattering boom accompanied the impact. Only the sickening crunch of a rather unfortunate end. Dragging his eyes away from the sight, Jun mutely took in the twelve-inch-long claws thatd somehow sprouted from his knuckles. Each shone like colored glass with a brilliant, ruby red lusterfaint tendrils of mist lightly wafting from their jagged crystalline surface. For a long time after, Jun merely swayed on his feet. Stared blankly at his hands, over at the corpse, then back at his hands againnot entirely believing that it might really be over. Eventually, the truth of things fully sank in. He collapsed onto his back in the very next moment, exhausted. His aura winked out at almost the same instant. Immediately, he felt like he was going to hurl. It was either that or pass out, and he honestly wasnt sure which he was looking forward to more. Gasping, and trying very hard not to retch, he turned to watch, with almost morbid fascination, as the rat-kins head rolled its way over to rest barely an inch from his nose. He stared into its lifeless black eyes for several long seconds. Then he got a good long whiff of its indescribable musk, coupled with the sharp iron tang of spilled blood. Juns stomach roiled. He promptly turned over onto his side, and heaved up his breakfast. And considering he hadnt really had any to speak of, he had to settle on puking his guts out instead. Acidic bile burned at the back of his throat with a sickening regularity. Before he could actually cough up his stomach lining, however, his personal me time was interrupted by a cheery system chime. Chapter 27: Beast of the Cloth (I) *Ding!* You have found enlightenment in the concept: [Cutting] |Concept of Cutting| (2nd Aspect) Aspect of Precise Dissection +15 to resonance *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Double Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Sword Slash] (2nd Aspected) My will is honed; I cut what obstructs my path. Grade: (Good Quality) Your body has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your intuition has transcended its natural limits. 187 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Jun stared at the notifications in disbelief. What was this? He hadnt earned this. Or had he? The boost to his parameters aside, he thought about it for a moment, before he decided that, no, he surely hadnt. All hed really done was correct a mistake hed been making from the very beginning. Should that really warrant some sort of advancement? It most certainly shouldnt count as any form of enlightenment. Hell, wasnt finding enlightenment supposed to be incredibly difficult? Could it really be so simple? He wasnt convinced. Still, the upgrade to his arsenal was much appreciated. That and the unexpectedly lucrative essence bump almost made the entire death defying sojourn worth it. Almost. In any case, against all odds hed somehow survived, and that meant he now had to figure out what came next. Ivory had long since squirmed her way out from under him, and was now sitting on his chest with her head cradled in her hands. It was so out of character for her that it immediately set off alarm bells in his mind. Hey, are you okay? Youre really not looking too good. Ivory took a moment to respond. And when she finally did, her voice came out in a croak. Ugh she groaned piteously. Head hurts Juns mind immediately jumped to the fight. Could she have suffered a head injury while he wasnt looking? Hed tried his best to protect her but? The answer came to him almost instantaneously. It wouldve been miraculous if she hadnt, all things considered. His hand instantly went to the dimensional bag at his side. A mending pill the only thing he could think of to help alleviate whatever pain she was in. To his surprise, however, she began to shake her head as if in denial, before, with a shudder, she thought better of it and resorted to limply waving him off instead. It wont help not that kind of hurt. Jun wanted to ask what kind of hurt it was then, but he recognized now was probably not the best time. In any case, if it werent because of some physical injury, he thought he could guess what shed done to end up this way. That weird timeless monochrome near the end of the fight. That was you, wasnt it? Ivory risked a nod. Mind reading, night vision, and now strange time stopping powers? What will she come up with next, he wondered. At this point, it was basically anyones guess. But no, he could tell that wasnt quite right. And while his memory of the fight was spotty at best, he remembered enough of those final moments to recognize that it was less that time had stopped, than that his ability to perceive time had increased a hundred, maybe even a thousandfold. How in the world did you do that? Jun asked in wonderment. He couldnt help it. Given the sheer absurdity of it all, it was hard to suppress his own growing curiosity, even if he recognized the selfishness inherent in his insistence. Once more, she risked a shake of her head. Less an outright refusal than a plea for postponement. He ruefully accepted her request. Then he too took a minute to let his body recoverwashing down a few mending pills with a revitalizing tonicbefore, at last, he decided it was best they get a move on. Rising to his feet, he felt the difference immediately. His body now responded with a speed and alacrity that felt altogether surreal compared to only moments before. He felt sharper, more aware, and more capable than ever. It was startling and unlike anything hed ever experienced. The only thing he could reasonably compare it to was how he felt after every session of [Leaf Rides the Gale], though even then The stark difference was likely commensurate with the sheer amount of essence hed gained in so relatively short a time. And it was only then that he began to comprehend just what consolidation actually meant. In that the process wasnt merely the arbitrary amassing of power, so much as it was the simmering potential for growth suddenly realized through desperation. As far as he understood it, the celestial essence was already therelying dormant in his bones, his sinew, his musculatureand yet, it was only through intense struggle that all that essence was given meaning. When hed thought hed given what all he had left, and was then forced to dig deeper for yet more. Only in those moments, when his life balanced on a razors edge, was he able to realize the limitless potential lying just underneath the surface, and so make of it his own. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Cradling Ivory in the crook of his good arm, Jun glanced down at the severed head of the rat-kin thatd nearly killed him. Their fight hadnt exactly been a quiet affair, and he couldnt imagine hed be safe here for much longer. First things first though? It looked like it was time to get back to his roots. Back to where this wild ride had first kicked off. Only, in this telling he wasnt the filthy scavenger in desperate need of coin, but the brave young cultivator eager to extract his valuable prize. Five minutes later, pointedly looking away from hands that would likely never be clean again, he found himself reminded precisely why he hadnt gone back to scavenging once hed moved onto better things. It was just as gross as he remembered. After extracting the two beast cores from the rat-kinone of them giving off a brutal crushing aura while the other, surprisingly, exuded a very sharp, piercing feelingJun saw no other choice but to continue on his forward march. He was under no illusions that he could find his way back to where hed first come from. If he actually tried retracing his steps, hed likely wind up more lost than he already was. His best bet, therefore, was to keep on as he had been, and hope salvation was right around the corner. Admittedly, it wasnt the best plan in the world, but, realistically, he was already lost, right? At this point, really, what could go wrong? And, as if fate were conspiring against him, not fifteen minutes went by before he was shown precisely how wrong things could get. Because, mere minutes after having escaped deaths cold clutches, they were ambushed by a party of well-trained fighters. A party that just so happened to be primarily made up of some very angry rats Interlude
Beast of the Cloth (I) Notched Tail Silver-Eye The distinctive stench of mildew and death permeated the high vaulted cavern. A melancholic melange which brought to mind thoughts of tragedy. Of funeral rites and unseen burialsthe ritual shamans malodorous cologne. It was a harsh smell for most. A sour taste on the air which often followed times of sweeping sickness or inter-clan war. The High Priest Scyshamanspiritual leader of his peoplestanding tall upon the caverns naturally raised dais and draped in the ornate cloak that was the symbol of his elevation, was admittedly no stranger to the many scents of misery. Nor of decay. And, for that matter, neither was the cave. It was well known to be a holy place after all. The periodic drip from the roof-fangs above kept a consistent tally of each seconds passing. In this way, Silvereye knew that a full five minutes had gone by since his temple had first been invaded, his meditations stymied, and his shallow well of patience sorely run dry. Again, the young concubine attempted to get ahold of herself, and again the female lapsed into yet another fit of racking sobs. Really now, as if one feeble pink not yet past its naming was worth all of this fuss. Raids happened all the time; it was the purview of the war bands to pillage on occasion. Would she have them kill indiscriminately, rather than reserve their bloodlust for those of lesser importance? In any case, the child shouldnt have been gallivanting where she clearly was not welcomed. It was nothing to get worked up about, he thought to himself. Merely something that happened. Nothing to be done about it. Indeed, the only reason something so trivial should be worthy of his attentions at all, was due entirely to the lineage of her mate. Unimpressive though the young lordling mightve been, one did not simply brush off the Mist-Tail Grand Elders grandson lightly. Not even the High Priest Scyshaman himself. Silvereye repressed a weary sigh. Honestly, this was all such a tiresome bother. He wished he could just snatch away the small corpse and be done. Still, certain proprieties had to be maintained. And it wasnt as if he wouldnt profit from such a tragedy. Speaking over the head of the hysterical mother, Silvereye addressed the male, who held both the female and the dead child to his chest. You were right to come to me with this, he intonedtrying to keep the boredom from his voice. And while I know that your loss may feel absolute right now, I would implore you have faith in the master''s will. I have no doubts that this youngling of yours is, even now, frolicking through the highest reaches above. Feasting alongside many of her ancestors and fallen kin. Y-yes great shaman, the warrior stammered. Nalla willing, she finds peace in the beyond. Silver-Eyes hackles rose upon hearing the great masters name spoken so brazenly. Thankfully his cloak did much to hide his irritation. Yes, well. It pains me to reiterate that peace may not be so forthcoming as you might believe, should the rites not be adhered to properly. He tried not to be too obvious with his mounting impatience. Finally, the daft lordling appeared to take the hint. Of course, great shaman! Please! Take her with our blessing! I would not be the cause of her souls damnation. Our daughters fate is in your capable hands. Finished, the two gave several lengthy bows before approaching, which did very little to ease his growing annoyance. He tiredly recognized their deference, as was only his due, but when the lordling finally approached to transfer ownership of the child, Silvereye did nothing to hide his impatience. He took the limp body into his arms, and, without a backwards glance, placed it upon a raised stone altar thatd been created for just such a purpose. Now that he had the body in hand, he knew the time for pleasantries was at an end. With a few clipped words he shooed the two from his chambersquoting a need for privacy which they easily deferred to. As it so happened, this time it wasnt purely theatrics. He did need total privacy for what came next. Just not for the reasons they likely assumed. Silvereye retrieved a set of stained surgical tools from a hidden compartment carved roughly into the stone altar: bone hammer, chisel, an assortment of blades, and practically every other nightmarishly shaped instrument imaginable. With steady hands, well-practiced in the art of dissection, he set to work with a vigor rarely seen by that of the public. In less than a minute the small skull had been shattered, neatly pried apart, and prepared for extraction. It wasnt a pretty sight, nor was it a pretty process, though, at this point, he barely even noticed the gore. Far too intent on what precious things he knew lay beneath. Too impatient to bother with unwieldy tongs, Silvereye dug his fore-claws into the still warm grey matter directlywhereupon he began fishing around somewhat haphazardly. Until, with a triumphant cry, he pulled free a small, colorless gemstone about the size of a rotten tooth. A marvel that shone a brilliant white, even through the layers of awful. Only as an afterthought did he cradle the small body with his tail andforgoing any of the reverence fools often showed the deadproceed to fling the useless meat aside, to splash into the fetid pool at the temples very center. A tainted water basin that was, in fact, the origin of the cave''s abhorrent stench. In seconds the school of carnivorous fish, ones hed cultivated for many generations now, took to the generous meal with a will. Using a bowl of clean water, he rinsed off his find until all the grime had been removed. Holding it up, he couldnt help but admire its beauty. The deliberate scrape of claw on stone derailed his rumination, heralding yet another intrusion upon his domain. Silvereye let out a curse, hurrying to store the vital stone and his instruments before he allowed for whoever it was to enter. To his pleasant surprise, the male who crossed his threshold was one he knew quite well. A crche mate, and one of the few for whose company he still genuinely appreciated. What news the old shaman came bearing, on the other hand, was not nearly so welcome. Death in the tunnels. At least a dozen warrior cast dead. And worst of all, not a single of their vital stones had yet to be accounted for. The message was not a subtle one. Fury roiled in Silvereyes chest at this blatant attempt to undermine his authority. He didnt know which of the clans was behind this, or how theyd managed to subjugate a slave of such competence. All he did know was that such a blatant affront could not be allowed to stand. Brother Long-tooth, my old friend, I would ask that you call a meeting of the shamanic council. Very well, brother Silvereye, though might I ask what for? There is to be an assembly of all the clan powers. Prominent, dwindling and insignificant alike. No one is to be spared. I have been dealt a grave insult by these events, one which demands retribution. If they would use their pet slaves to steal from me, then its only right they likewise pay for their foolish greed in blood. Understood. Take note of any clan hesitant to send their very best in pursuit of this pest. Oh and Brother Long-Claw? Yes, brother shaman? Should all else fail I would have you contact the four clawed order. His crche mate looked suitably taken a back by this, as was only natural. It wasnt a decision hed come to lightly after all. Is is that wise, brother shaman? That seems rather extreme. If the alternative is that we allow such a transgression to go unpunished? Then yes. It is a risk I am willing to take. Better that the vital stones be lost to us entirely. Let those fanatics of the order stand to gain prestige in place of the clan elders responsible for this insult, and so turn this farce into a poignant reminder. Show the whole of the burrows yet again, that all that comes from taking what only a preordained shaman is due, is deathswift, brutal, and overwhelming in its execution. Chapter 28: Third Time’s the Charm Theyd been blitzing through tunnel after tunnel for whatd felt like a lifetime. Until, so suddenly that it was almost surreal, they were freed from those cramped confines altogether. The space around them opening up into an enormous cavern. One so impossibly large that hed genuinely felt as though every harsh step he took could be heard for several kilometers around. This was where the third ambush occurred. The floor was very strange, hed noticed almost immediately. Smooth in a way that the craggy rock of the tunnels had lacked. Curious, Jun bent down to drag a hand across the flat stone. How odd. Its almost as if its manmade? But how can that be? Shaking his head at the oddity, Jun got back to his feet and continued onward towards wherever it was they were going. The illumination from his system screen only lit the darkness for about three or so meters in any given direction. It was a bit of an eye sore to have up all of the time, so hed tried to position it as far out of the way as possible. As it so happened, that meant positioning it just above his head. On its own it couldnt have given him more than a perfunctory warning of imminent danger before spirit beasts came boiling out from the inky blackness, savage bone weapons in tow. Luckily for him, he didnt need to see them to know they were there. Not when he had Ivory that was. If it werent for her perch atop his head, giving him silent warning of any incoming threats with sharp tugs on his hair in their respective directions, hed have likely been caught flatfooted by the attack. And, if it werent for his previous combat experiencesall three of them, thank you very muchthere was no way hed have survived the next few seconds. He felt her small weight vanish from atop his head. It was for the best, theyd both decided. And even though that meant his effective sight shrank back down to three or so meters, the alternative was far too risky to countenance. Especially given what inevitably came next. From this point onward shed give what support she could from the air. A not inconsiderable advantage, as it so happened. Now knowing to look out for it, he was able to sense the negligible distortions each concept made moments before he saw them. A pincer attack. Five simultaneous strikes from all four cardinal directions. A terrifying prospect under normal circumstances. That said, hed been no slouch over the past two hours. He recalled the feelings of helplessness hed felt having his ace in the hole rebuffed so easily. Since then, hed adopted a number of steps to minimize the chances of that ever happening again. Step number one, dont let the enemy dictate the terms. Instead of taking the brunt of the five-pronged attack, he dashed to his left, spirit empowering his legsaiming for what he could only hope was a weak link in the chain. He locked eyes with the rat beast, much taller than most, sporting a brick house of a frame. Likely a base requirement to wield the truly massive club it brandished. The thing already swinging downward in a decapitating arc. Was it still decapitation if his head was turned to mush? Very important musings aside, while the blow was certainly fast, Jun was clearly faster. His newfound agilitythe consolidation of celestial essence empowering his meager frameunconcerned by a strike as slow as this. With a step and a pivot, he avoided the vertical blow narrowly. Angling his body so that the swing just barely whistled by. Definitely intentional, and not at all by the skin of my teeth. Despite his sick evasion, however, as the club shot pasttrailing a dense cloud of silver vaporJun could still feel the pressure of the concept trying to crush him. Just being in the near proximity of the billowing cloud was enough to send his body careening. He knew that much from ample experience. So long as he did nothing to stop it that was. Without missing a beat, Jun raised his right hand and released all the pent-up aura hed held in reserve. Sword Slash Or a modified version of it at any rate. It was a crude and brutal thing. Half a dozen ruby red spikes exploding from his hand at odd angles, turning his upraised fist into a miniature Morningstar. Crude, though, surprisingly effective. A wild series of swingsas if to ward away a flywas all it took to rip to shreds the cloud of crushing force seeking to envelope him. Then, just as the massive club impacted the floor hard enough to crater it, Jun spun on his heel, let his arm go loose, and struck blindly. He nearly lost his balance in the process, but he eventually succeeded in a full three-hundred sixty degree turn. His elegant and highly specialized spinning top technique landing a devastating backhand to the brute in passing by way of calculated reparteenearly severing the beasts arm at the elbow. Also very intentional. Before he could turn again to finish the job, however, a spear tip appeared to his immediate rightglowing with a pale green sheen that hummed with piercing aura. Meanwhile, from the opposite direction, a long, two-handed blade closed inaiming for his midsection in a horizontal sweep. Emitting the savage will to cleave him in two, it was trailed by a faint yellow shimmer that left ripples in the air in its wake. Seeing no other option, Jun did the only thing he could think to. He jumped. This time, to his great relief, he managed to finely control his ascent. Jun flipped through the air with a modicum of gracebarely cresting the furry crowns of his two combatants. Hed learned from the last few bouts how much of an easy target being airborne made you and didnt relish being vulnerable like that for any longer than he had to be. The sword and the spear streaked by underneath himcrude weapons practically singing with the speed of their passageonly to collide with a brilliant flash that was only partially visual. Clearly the less strength-oriented fighter of the two, the spear wielder was the only one to lose their weapon in the exchange. A fact which Jun didnt fail to capitalize on. Landing adroitlyhe only staggered twice this time, a new recordhe only spared a brief glance in the sword wielders direction before he acted. Jun locked eyes with the now spear-less warrior, sped up his circulation, and pounced. Before the rat-kin in a flash, the beast was, in turn, scarily fast to recover. It swiftly righted its stance, then, with a shrill, feral cry, thrust its arm forward to meet his chargeits steepled claws radiating the piercing force of the spear. Without thinking, Jun met the beasts challenge with a slash of his own. A contemptuous sneer plastered on his face. He aimed for where the beasts neck met its shoulder, and, with a thought, contorted his [Sword Slash] into a more traditional claw shape. Delivering a savage swipe which streamed ribbons of crimson smoke in its wake, like twining trails of looping, etherial braids. Then, in the split second before contact, the world around him slowed and was leeched of color. The experience far milder than it had been the first time. Instead of lasting for what felt like long seconds, it merely served as a brief warning that hed missed something crucial. After a second of disorientation, Jun recognized the problem. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Without him realizing it, the beasts thrust had been subtly drifting towards his heart. Mind heightened beyond anything hed ever thought possible, and aura making him feel as though he could do the impossible, he didnt even hesitate to shift his center of gravity so that, when the strike inevitably did land, it would take him just above the collarbone instead. Then, as an added layer of precaution, just as the beasts extended claws were inches from his skin, he reached up and snatched the hairy thing by the wristmoving so fast he felt muscles tearand released a rapid burst of sword slashes. Most of his blades broke on the focused cone of piercing aura that coated the arm, but that was basically to be expected. In the same way stopping the strike outright, through main force alone, had likewise been out of the question. Hed already come to realize that these beasts were ridiculously strong. Knowing that, hed never intended for his weak hold to impede its claws. Merely to disrupt and chip away at the stubborn piercing force surrounding themlessening their potential damage by half. In the next second, color returned to the world, the beasts claws neatly punched through his shoulder, and his own clawed hand reached its intended destination: the creatures unprotected throat. The burst of pain was nearly enough to spoil his aim. Gritting his teeth, he let his aura flare even brightereliciting a blessed wave of calmeven as he repaid the filthy rodent in kind. Splitting it all the way from collar bone to groin. Blood, and much worse, splattered Jun all down his front. It was a testament to how far hed been pushed in recent hours that all he felt in that moment was grateful none had gotten in his eyes. With a look of surprise, the rat-kin stumbled back in shockslipping on its own blood and pulling its paw from his shoulder with a wet shlock. Even through his aura, Jun nearly fainted from the pain. His body swayed drunkenly, vision turned blurry, sounds as distant as the far horizon. Despite his resolve, despite his aura, he found himself fading in and out of consciousness. Until, that was, the faint pad of approaching footsteps snapped him back to awareness as if a bucket of water had been poured over his head. .right mortal danger. Really cant keep forgetting about things like that. Its bad for my health. With an effort, Jun turned to see three furry figures racing towards him. The sword wielder in front, and two other spear wielders behind. Well, it worked once. Who''s to say it cant work again? Jun snatched up the tail of the spear wielder before it could slide out of range. It didnt resist. He didnt know whether the beast was dead, or if it was simply too shocked to react, but either way, with a full torque and flex of his body, he flung the dying rat-kin with pinpoint accuracy. Man, Ive gotten good at that. Must be all the practice. With an audible crack, the two spear wielders fell under the weight of their comrade. Which only left the sword wielder for him to deal with. The very same rat with its feet firmly planted, and a mighty diagonal cleave already on its way. This time, Jun didnt even attempt to dodge. After all, what was he expending all this effort for? He already knew that he could nullify their concepts with his own. Why waste the energy? And so, instead of dodging around the swing this time, Jun merely raised his hand to meet it head on. He couldnt be sure, but he thought he saw a glint of triumph in the rat-kins eyes at what could only be, from its perspective, a sign of surrender. More fool him. Jun almost wanted to laugh. At the last second a brief leech of color pierced through the haze, reminding him that he should probably lean out of the way of the swing, even if he intended to take it head on. Otherwise Id be taking it head off, if you know what I mean. He did so. The maneuver just barely enough for him to slip beneath the blade as it whistled past. Even still, hed managed it. And, just as hed intended, when the fleshy edge of his palm met the sharpened stone of the broadsword, it sliced cleanly through as if the sword were made of cobweb. The wind of its passage ruffling his hair ever so slightly, though accomplishing little more. He honestly doubted he couldve achieved anything of the sort without the beasts prodigious strength lending such a helping hand. As it was, his hand hadnt even needed to move in the exchange. Hed merely sheared apart the beasts cleaving force with a blinding series of ruby red slashes, reenforced a final blade with all the aura he could pack into it, then let the rodent beasts momentum do the rest. Coincidentally, the suddenly freed tip managed to imbed itself deeply in the club wielders chest. The very same hed gone after at the beginning of the fight. Convenient. Putting an end to the subtle sneak attack itd likely been preparing. The sword wielder looked down at his now much shorter bladeincredulousbefore he too fell to the floor in several pieces. The glowing crimson arc of Juns slash leaving after images in the air. Jun staggered, stumbled, then nearly fell onto his face. Shakily, he swallowed yet another series of mending pills. At the rate he was going through these things, hed have to restock soon. It probably wasnt the healthiest thing to be doing either. He highly doubted they were intended to be gobbled down like candy. Holding a hand to his shoulder, he tried to slow the bleeding as best he knew how. Although, considering his total lack of knowledge on the subject of healing, he was basically just guessing at this point. Banking on the philosophy that more pressure equals good. On the bright side, at least it hadnt let him down this far. Your body has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Despite the sudden surge of revitalizing energy, truthfully, all he wanted to do in that moment was lie down and sleep. Unfortunately, he knew this fight wasnt over just yet. Feeling Ivory alight on his head and then go still, he tried not to jostle her too much while he moved, as she was no doubt nursing her own strange injuries. Hed still yet to get the truth out of her regarding her newest ability, but he supposed that would come with time. Jun staggered over to where hed last seen the spear wielders fall, only to frown in consternation when he finally reached them. Where there had once been two downed enemies, now there was only one. Quickly, Jun slit the throat of the first, then looked around, in growing concern, for the second. This wasnt the first time one of the ambushers had gotten away. And if it was still out there in the dark, waiting for him to let his guard down? Jun squinted, trying to pierce the murky gloom, but to no avail. A chill ran down his spine, only serving to agitate his injuries further. Once again, he found himself with no time to properly extract each beast core. And so, feeling a bit queasy at the prospectbefore a flare of his aura rid him of such weak emotions entirelyhe quickly went to work. He decapitated each head not already relieved of their occupancy, then stuffed them into his dimensional bag with great speed. Within a minute the job was done, and his hands were that much messier. Idly, he recognized that hed have to take care of the growing number of heads soon, before the contents in his dimensional bag began to rot. For now, though, what he really needed was to disappear for a while. Maybe find a safe place to rest and recover. Unfortunately, he had this sinking suspicion that anything of the sort was still a long, long ways away. No matter how much it pained him, Jun dropped his cutting aurathinking to preserve his energy. Instantly, the full weight of his accumulated injuries fell upon him, nearly buckling his knees and making him seriously rethink his decision. But, he reminded himself, bad as this was, it still didnt hold a candle to his second breathing form. He could persevere. Would persevere, he decided. Even as every fiber of his being practically screamed for him to re-summon the sweet sweet release of his aura. He managed to resist the temptation, though only barely. What was that? Jun paused to listen, but the mumbled words were just as indecipherable as they had been the first time. He understood them of course, the individual sentences, it was just that their meaning was entirely lost on him. Gently, he reached up a hand to stroke Ivorys back, careful not to jostle her head in the process. Thinking them the delirious murmurs of a fevered mind, he picked up the pace with renewed urgencya deepening concern quickening his steps. Thinking on her ramblings, however, a rare smile tugged at his lips. He decided a gift was in order after this whole ordeal was over. After all, if she liked the books so much, there were plenty more where those first five came from. Liang Xin was never this sticky. Usually only takes a page or two. What did I do to become so unlucky? Let him be Li Minghua for a change. See how he likes it. Then Ill be the one that gets to be very stupid and always hitting the books. I doubt hed even last a day. Chapter 29: A Slight Miscalculation (I) Interlude
The Captives Andrew Marion I have what Im just going to assume is a spreading knife of some kind and what must surely be a leather working kit. Whos next? asked Chen Mingxuan. A couple of knives strapped to my thighs and a few plates on my back, Billy grunted. Someone, help me untie these things. They chafe like mad. Plates? What could we possibly need plates for? asked Kit, his face incredulous. Well I dont know. I figured we could break them up or something. Make spears. Use them as the pointy end, you know. But then where would we find the wood, genius? Youve seen those bucktoothed bastards twirling those massive things around. We use bone, just like them. Yeah, but then where would we find the bone? Or do you know something the rest of us dont? And, anyway, what about the string? You need string to make a spear last time I checked. Actually, I think twine would be more appropriate, given the context, Simon added meekly. What? several in the group asked in unison. T-twine. Its supposed to be stronger. You use it to secure the head to the shaft. Bind it, wet it, and then let it dry. It should shrink in the process and become, well, you know sturdier or A-at least thats what my uncles would probably say. Well, twine or string, it doesnt really matter, does it? pronounced Mingxuan in that matter-of-fact way she had. Clearly there is no way this plan of yours would ever actually work. And besides, do you honestly believe that if you managed to shatter them here, using your bare hands, without any of them noticing, it would hold up whatsoever on the end of a spear? Itll either be too brittle to be of use, or too strong to break in the first place. End of discussion. Okay, so, Im hearing a lot of criticism and not a lot of solutions. Miss dinner knife and leather working kit. And youre calling my finds useless. What are you going to do, butter them to death after you fashion them uh an uh, a satchel? At this, Kit practically howled with laughter. To which Billy beamed his usual dopey eyed, always slightly befuddled looking grin. Mingxuan only glared. First, Mingxuan reached behind her and retrieved the four-foot-long serrated implement. You know as well as I do that place was built for giants. Their childrens cutlery may as well be swords to us. Second, the leather tool kit is for the grips of all of our weapons. I figured that if I could somehow find a way to rewrap the handles it would help our chances immensely. Theres really no point having all of these weapons if they slip out of your hands on the very first swing. Oh Billys smile faltered. Well, I suppose that makes a bit more sense. But! I still think we should give my plate idea a try. I really think it has potential, you guys! Think about it! I mean there are bound to be roadblocks with any crazy genius plan, right? That doesnt mean we shouldnt-! I keep telling you theres no need for all this, Caitlyn yawned. All of our worries will be seen to in due time. What? Mingxuan scoffed. Are you still going on about your imaginary prince? Hes real, number one, and of course I am~! He came to me in a dream. And when I told Viviana about him she practically believed me, so there~! You mean she didnt outright call you a liar? Well, I dont know about you all but thats certainly all the proof I need, Mingxuan rolled her eyes. As it should be. And youd do well to freshen up a bit before he arrives. It would be a tragedy if he fought through all the nine hells and back to rescue me, only for your stench to immediately knock him out cold. Youre. Insufferable, Mingxuan snarled. And youre a hag, Caitlyn sniffed. Ladies. Ladies. Come now! Theres no need to get so worked up! Especially when your dashing prince in shining armor is sitting right here! Kit struck a pose, flexing the nonexistent muscles on his beanpole of a frame. The two girls made a face, meanwhile all four of the little ones broke into helpless fits of laughter. The two girls expressions instantly softened. As did Andrews, watching the small children roll around on the floorpractically delirious as Kit shamelessly assumed one nonsensical pose after the other. Adrian, Kaelin, Jiali and Jieyu. The eldest of them only around six years old, they were the least tainted by their time here, and every day their innocence remained intact was a blessing. Far too soon though, thoughts of their situation reemerged in Andrews mind. For the last couple weeks now, hed refrained from participating in the daily ritual the rest had devised. Not necessarily because stealing from the abandoned city under the noses of their captors was a daunting proposition for him. Like the others, hed eagerly participated in the very beginningsmuggling out useful items and odd trinkets from the ruins to be used in their eventual escape. It was just that, as far as he could tell, he was the only one Viviana had confided in. The only one shed told of what they really faced down here. To be fuel for the advancement of some irregular cultivator. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. It was hard to be optimistic when you were aware of something like that. And honestly, the only reason he hadnt given up completely was that, despite everything shed told him, she, at least, wasnt all that concerned. And really, that had to mean something didnt it? From a darkened corner of the room, one of Vivianas band of mercenaries straightened. The movement not at all disrupting the peaceful slumber of the mysterious straw haired girl resting in her lap. Instantly, every eye in the room latched onto her. After all, when even one of their experienced seniors spoke up, they all knew well to listen. I sense killing intent, this came, not from the lazy woman, but from the quiet, often nervous looking man. Far more than a simple shift in guard detail should warrant. Raina? I dont know. It might just be that he has a particularly frisky bee in his bonnet. Stubbed his toe on the way over here maybe. Could have nothing to do with us. And how much, exactly, do you want to bet on such a, quite frankly, limp supposition? Hmm. Well, youve got a point there. Viviana? Children, conceal your weapons. Theyre close now. We cannot be seen to be a threat until the timing and terrain is to our greatest advantage. The group of captives, for their part, literally leapt to carry out her instructions. Loose stones were pried free from the floor and wallsrevealing deep recesses, cubby holes in the rock where theyd taken to storing the larger pieces of weapon and armor. What few rotten sleep coverings theyd been allowed in this damp place were swiftly heaped atop the compiled mound. Glittering with every jewel encrusted dagger, blunt workmans tool, and miscellaneous trinket theyd seen fit to smuggle over the last few months. Within seconds their small cell, once glittering in the light of their system screens like a warlord''s treasure trove, resembled nothing more than the unremarkable cave itd started out as. Moments later, from beyond the rusty bars of their communal cell, came the faint jingling of keys and the pad of several claw toed feet. Everyone assumed slumped over positions, with expressions that spoke of pained exhaustion. A pretense that was actually not that far from the truth. Then, moments before the scrape of claws had fully reached them, a voice emerged from the darkness. I do believe this is it folks. One way or another, its unlikely well be returning to our cozy abode, our little home away from home. I can only hope you made the best of the time you were given. Because after this, itll be nothing but the main eventthe grand stage. Exciting right? Do me a favor though? Try not to break a leg. Im afraid I cant promise, on top of everything else, well be able to carry you if you fall. And with that foreboding proclamation, before any of them could do or say something in response, the steady approach of footsteps came to a halt. And then, the sounds of key fitting into lock silenced all else. Interlude
A Slight Miscalculation Swift Tail Bright-Burner Swift Tail Bright-Burner was rather sure of himself. And why shouldnt he be? Hed always known himself, and by proxy the Swift Tail clan, to be superior in all things. That every other clans attempts to slay the slave had as yet proven woefully inadequate, only served to further give credence to his clan''s preeminence. The slave was apparently quite weak, on the tail end of a recent engagement. In all honesty, Bright-Burner actually felt somewhat peeved at this. After all, itd be infuriating should his valiant conquest somehow be mistakenly attributed to dumb luck. That said, a kill was still a kill, and even if only a fraction of the rumors surrounding the slave were true, it should prove to be an enjoyable hunt all the same. It had better be, he decided, since he wouldve hated to have come so far into tainted lands for nothing. Silent as a creeping shadow, Bright-Burner led his sworn forward until the slave was well within their sights. The first thing he noted upon taking a good long look at their prey was its horrific appearance. It was even more monstrous than accounts had indicated. It resembled a newborn pink in many waysa soft and nearly hairless thingonly far lankier in size, with fur sprouting in coils from nonsensical areas. Its body clad in crude coverings intended to shield its modesty. That, at least, was nothing Bright-Burner hadnt already seen before. His clan, like many of the greater clans, utilized surface realm slaves for many a task deemed too menial for even the lowliest of subsidiary-clan bondservant. Given Bright-Burners expansive wealth of experience in this area, its unsightly appearance didnt disturb him overly much. What did, however, manage to partially unsettle him was the harsh aura of simple brutality that the slave seemed to exude, even whilst merely standing still. It was absolutely coated in the evidence of combat. Pools of blood coagulated at its feet, tufts of fur clung to its skin where blood spatters had left their sticky residuebits of gore clinging to its body all over. So much so that it was impossible to make out what of the blood was the slaves, and what wasnt. Very briefly, what he mustve mistaken for the flicker of movement drew his attention back up to the slaves head. When, upon closer inspection, he found nothing amiss however, he put the apparent hallucination from his mind. It was a feral beast, and no mistake. Again, just as the rumors had claimed. One could tell at a glance that it was not something to be taken lightly. Although it still did not seem to warrant the unbridled terror, hed seen in the eyes of those few warrior caste whod run away from the hunt in shame. It was too small, for one thing, and so didnt appear to be overly strong. If it werent for the many bodies piled at its feet, Bright-Burner mightve even surmised theyd stumbled upon the wrong beast entirely. As it was though? As they watched, yet another of the ridiculous rumors hed initially passed off as mere hearsay was proven correct. He couldve sworn that reports of missing heads were yet another deft misdirection concocted by the shamanic council. He couldnt be sure, but based on what few offhanded comments hed overheard from his sire, he had reason to believe those scheming hoods personally benefited from the corpses of the fallen, warrior caste especially. What other use could such defilement possibly serve, except as some wicked step in one of the councils fell rituals? And yet here the slave was, feeding into that rumor. An unforgivable offense. If not to him personally, then most certainly to his sworn. And, although his sworn were not crche, he had known some of them for so long that the difference was practically negligible. And while he maintained the title of strongest, each and every one of them were warriors of great renown in their own right. There was Swift Tail Silver-Mane with his enormous hammer. The very same hammer wielded by his great great sire during the infamous and bloody clan wars. With that hammer and his breaking force combined he could collapse an entire cavern system with a single mighty swing. Bright-Burner had seen it happen more than once and had no doubts as to the clan-borns lethality. Swift Tail Peak-Stone, a true demoness with the blade. With her quick cuts and sharp force there was very little in this world he believed she couldnt sheer through. Hed once seen her part a clan-less bleeder from shoulder to groin with little more than a gentle flick of those knives. And then there was Swift Tail Mud-Berry, or as they like to call him, the wall. Never had he seen a creature, clan-born or otherwise, take a hit from that massive slab of stone he carried and have the poor sense to get back up again after. He was also called the wall for a reason. Seeing as, if you placed him in a tunnel before a hoard of enemies, they werent likely to get through so long as Mud-Berry still held the line. Sensing their growing agitation, Bright-Burner quickly ordered the attack before hot tempers could impede their better judgement. And then, as his sworn made to surround the target for a coordinated assault, he began to suffuse the tip of his spear with his spearing forcecharging up his greatest technique whilst praying to the master thered be cause for him to use it. Caught between giving the hunt his allnot wanting to take any chances with the slaveand his innate trust in his sworns abilities he prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. As his people fell into position, and still the slave had yet to react, however, Bright-Burners doubts as to the veracity of previous claims only grew. And so, it was just as he was beginning to suspect, rather forlornly, that he might not be needed at all, that things began to go terribly terribly wrong. Chapter 30: A Slight Miscalculation (II) Peak-Stone and five others closed in as one. Their footsteps utterly silent in the massive expanse, three approached from the rear while Peak-Stone and her two protgs attacked from the front. The twirl of her twin daggers leaving behind the faintest shimmering trails. The visibility of her blade heart a clear sign of her mastery. The two groups converged, striking out in well trained unisonPeak-Stone bringing down her blades in a diagonal cross, while the rest thrust their own assortment of blades, axes, and spears simultaneously. Boxing the slave in from every conceivable direction. Just as their weapons were about to pierce the slaves hide however, the impossible happened. A sudden eruption of crimson exploded out from its body as if, in that very instant, all of the blood in its veins were violently expelled. Transforming into a series of deadly crystalline shards thereafter. Several foot long jagged blades that quickly began to revolve. To churn around its body at increasingly rapid speeds. His sworn too stunned, too committed to the attack, to respond in a timely manner. The storm of blades disemboweled those unfortunate enough to own especially close ranged weaponry, shredding any and all weapon forces arrayed against it into little more than faint ripples on the air as it did so. What in the name of the master was that?! Before Bright-Burner could fully comprehend it, however, the slaves relentless assault continued. As Peak-Stone and her chosen staggered back in pained surprise, blood streaming freely from copious wounds, the crimson shards first slowed, then swiftly retracted. Only to be replaced by twelve-inch-long claws made of that same crystalline material. What could only, in retrospect, be! Something Bright-Burner hadnt known existed or had even thought possible. Condensed blade force?! Yet there they were, sprouting from its knuckles like retractable claws. So impossibly vivid and densely compacted that it physically hurt to lay one''s eyes upon. Then, with a twist of its body and sweep of its arms, it brought its claws to bear in a brilliant crescent arc. Gouts of blood trailed on twining ribbons of crimson smoke, as the heads of all six of his sworn were sent flying. A great bellow echoed throughout the vast space as Silver-Mane was made to witness the death of his mate. A seismic impact rocked the cavern floor a second latera rippling wave of fractured stone, at least three head heights tall, expanding outwards from the initial point of impact. The clan-borns massive hammer strike. In response the slave, unable to run from, around, or underneath the incoming wave, did the only thing left to it. It went over. A mistake on its part, though Bright-Burner was, frankly, still too stunned to fully appreciate it. Knowing the tactic well by now, Bright-Burner could only watch as the slave launched itself into the air, in order to avoid the rippling wall of stone, only to be met with a different kind of wall on the way up. Because the wave had never been intended to wound the slave. Not initially. Belying his imposing stature, Mud-Berry didnt brace himself for impact as one mightve expected, but instead ran towards the encroaching calamity full tilt. Then, when the timing was just right, he jumpedthe crest of the seismic wave, if anything, helping to propel him even further. The well-practiced maneuver was carried out flawlessly, carrying the male up and over the wave, and directly into the path of the oncoming slave. In that moment he wished he couldve seen the surprised look on the slave''s face, though its death would simply have to do as consolation. Through main-force alone, Mud-Berry swung his mighty shield around to bat away the slave, as one might swat away a fly. Its airborne privileges abruptly provoked, the slave careened helplessly towards the ground. And, more specifically, into the path of a hammer already set in motion. Right before its hide was obliterated by the flat of the weapon, however, another explosion of what had to be hundreds of crystalline blades erupted from its bodyerasing all of the smashing force imbued into the blow and cutting deep divots into the time-honored relic. As a result, the almighty swing from that gigantic hammer sent the slave flying, though not nearly as far as it should have. The slave flipped several times through the air, until it somehow, implausibly, managed to land squarely on its feet. Granted, it wasnt as if the thing had come away unscathed in the exchange. Staggering, it took several drunken steps before it steadied itself, and even then, its hind legs didnt appear to be entirely stable. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. So, the thing isnt invulnerable after all. In its disorientation, however, the slave failed to react in time. Meanwhile his sworn did not fail to capitalize. Caught flatfooted as both warriors rapidly approached from either side. The thing in no position to step aside or vault away as death loomed ever closer. From the left, Mud-Berry with his massive shield. And from the right, Silver-Mane with his ancient hammer. The two were drenched in so much smashing force that the floor at their feet didnt just crack, it crumbled. For a brief moment, Bright-Burner dared to hope, before the largest eruption of blades hed seen thus far shrouded all three in a maelstrom of glittering crimson. When, after less than a second had passed, the whirling sphere of crystalline blades finally cleared, it revealed the two clan warriors, slightly worse for wear, undeterred as they barreled towards the impudent enemy. Although, regardless of how keen they might have been, the damage was apparent for all to see. The terrible force thatd once sheathed them in voluminous strength was now entirely gone. Even still, the raw power of a trained and fully grown warrior caste was not to be underestimated. And here, they had two. Bright-Burner still held out hope. Then, a series of things happened in very quick succession. His two sworn reached the surface dweller and struck, the slave held its ground and, implausibly, lashed out to either side. A colossal boom rocked the massive spacepicking up bits of stone, dust, and debris and flinging them out and away in concentric rings of grit. There came a second of complete calm wherein he tried desperately to pierce the dust laden air. When it finally settled enough for him to do so, however, Bright-Burner could barely believe what he saw. Not only had the slave somehow received the attacks, but it appeared to have rebuffed them as well. Both Mud-Berry and Silver-Mane were sent reeling from the exchange, while the slave appeared winded, though otherwise none the worse for wear. Then, to his utter astonishment, it moved with a speed it hadnt deigned to display up until now, and in the next moment, the headless corpse of Silver-Mane was falling lifelessly to the ground. What was happening? How was this happening? What in the burrows was he? Some sort of demon?! Bright-Burner moved. Practically flying across the ground. Mere paces from the demon before hed even made the conscious decision to attack. Now that he was here, however? With all of the combined might of his superior spearing force, not to mention the hundreds upon hundreds of hours hed spent honing this singular technique, he thrustspear tip shining with the blazing green radiance that was his chosen namesake. With all the pain and frustration he felt in his heart, he struck, fully intent on ending this tragic farce once and for all. When his spear was mere inches from the demon''s throat however, a single hand clamped down onto the shaft of his spear. Where that hand touched, hundreds of crimson flashes sparked in rapid successionthe strobing light show somehow nullifying his spearing force entirely in what felt to him like an instant. Stunned, Bright-Burner could only watch in helpless confusion as his technique was neatly dismantled, then scattered on an invisible wind. Done as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Far too incredulous to do anything more, he looked into the demon''s eyes briefly, as if to appeal for some semblance of mercy. And yet he was met with neither pity, nor remorse. Only two chilling pits of liquid darkness. Mocking eyes riddled with glittering shards of crimson, entirely devoid of warmth. The demons eyes shifted. Following his- no, its attention, Bright-Burner glanced down, only to notice, for the very first time, the extended digit hovering just beneath his snout. DEATH Bright-Burner leapt backwards, completely abandoning his spear, just as the space hed once occupied was consumed by a churning whirlwind of crimson blades. Bright-Burner was under no illusions as to what wouldve befallen him had he found himself still there even a second later. Demon. Monster! The abomination slumped. Clearly winded after that massive expenditure. Had Bright-Burner still held his grandsires spear he mightve used it as an opportunity to attack. Now that he knew what the thing was truly capable of however? Even with a spear in hand, he was no longer as confident in his chances as hed once been. In fact, he was beginning to believe hed made a crucial mistake. An egregious miscalculation. That they all had, one way or another. Mud-Berry appeared before him with a crack of cratered stone, standing sentinel like the reliable impasse that he was. Hefting his massive shield in the face of deaths wraith avatar made flesh, the hulking clan-born turned his head and gave Bright-Burner a solemn nod. Bright-Burner, helpless to do anything more, simply nodded back in response. He would make sure that his sacrifice would not be in vain. The clans needed to be warned of the threat they truly faced before anymore brave warrior caste were sent needlessly to their deaths. He would make certain that tales of his bravery, of all his sworns bravery, were known all throughout the burrows and beyond. By the master he swore it, right before he turned tail, and ran. The boom of something heavy impacting the ground echoed from behind him, making the earth quake and shift under his rapidly retreating feet. Against his better judgement, Bright-Burner turned back to see what had happened. Oddly enough, though hed initially meant for it to be a brief backwards glance, his head, it would seem, had other ideas. Because, for whatever reason, it just kept on turning. And turning and turning, while everything around him began to fade. Until eventually, with a dull impact he barely felt, the world as hed known it, went black. Chapter 31: City of Ancients Your body has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Jun was getting really fucking tired of being ambushed. More specifically, he was just really fucking tired in general. That had to have been the fourteenth ambush in half as many hours, and by now, he was feeling thoroughly spent. And not just physically or emotionally either. Hed been pushing his mantra to the very limits of his capabilities nonstop, ever since the very first surprise engagement. Apparently, you couldnt just do something like that without incurring certain debilitating costs in return. Not at his level of advancement anyway. His head was, quite literally, killing him, seeing as the pulsing migraines were so intense at times that thinking became an absolute chore. Not something you wanted to be actively grappling with whilst in the middle of a life-or-death struggle, believe it or not. He truly felt as though, if he had to conceive one more of those infernal blade cyclones, his brain would actually explode from the strain. And his body hadnt gone unscathed in the repeated clashes either. He was a bruised, torn, and pulverized mess. His body so stiff in places that it was a genuine struggle to even move at times. It had gotten to the point that hed resorted to letting his enemies come to him in the last few fights, because just the thought of putting in any more effort than he absolutely had to, made his stomach churn with nausea. Even the mending pills and tonics, he was finding, could only do so much. Not to mention his clothes, which were basically just shredded rags at this point. Not that it really mattered so much down here. Because really, who was going to judge him? The rats? Ivory, for her part, wasnt doing much better. Her abilities having taken a far greater toll on her mentally than his own abilities backlash and any number of physical wounds hed received combined. Gone was the bubbly companion of only a few hours before. Now, in her place lay a limp, drained husk whose every breath was a raggedly labored affairher skin an ominous sickly grey where itd previously been a pristine, alabaster white. It mightve been less concerning if she had a way to even marginally recover after each high paced engagement, but, as it was, she only appeared to be getting worse. Now, that wasnt to say that theyd gained nothing from their ordeal. His own personal advancements having helped considerably in easing the burden Ivory bore in just keeping him alive. First, in terms of beast cores alone he had to have collected upwards of a hundred and fifty of the things. It was to the point that he was genuinely concerned hed reach his dimensional bags weight limit pretty soon if he didnt find somewhere to deal with them all. More importantly though, while a hundred odd beast cores werent anything to sneeze at, it still palled in comparison to the progress hed made in his cultivation. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Sword Slash] (Good Quality) has evolved. [Sword Slash] (Good Quality) has become: [Sword Cyclone] (Great Quality) +10 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your resonance pillar has ascended. Advanced from |Blinded Sapling| [20 of 20] to |Aged Stone| [2 of 30]. The path is as inscrutable as ever, though time brings with it its own kind of wisdom. You idle and contemplate. Your entire world contained within a small garden. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 250 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Name: Beckonfrost Zhaoshen Junwei Race: Human Cultivation: Spirit Condensation Realm: 7th Stage Bloodline: NOT APPLICABLE Titles: Merchant of Promise, Fledgeling Magnate, Budding Sage Resonance Pillar: Aged Stone [2 of 30] Cultivated Body: NOT APPLICABLE Body: 0 Stars (2,539 Celestial Essence) Mind: 0 Stars (2,539 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 0 Stars (2,149 Celestial Essence) Insight: 0 Stars (541 Celestial Essence) Just like the last time, it hadnt been some great epiphany or revelation thatd led him to make this breakthrough in understanding. It couldnt have been, since his mind had been rather occupied at the time with the simple act of staying alive. Itd been during one of the previous engagements, while being harried by an especially persistent rat-kinin what had honestly been one of the toughest fights thus farthat hed come to a sudden, heart stopping realization. Not because of how brilliantly inspired of a notion it was, but because of how suicidally dense hed been up until that point. Ultimately leaving him with but a single pertinent question. That question being: Why in the name of the emperor was he only using his hands? Sure, it made sense in the context of a fighting style, or some sort of combat-oriented approach, but he was no great warrior. He didnt have years'' worth of experience to rely on in his fights. Stances, fighting forms, and techniques were entirely foreign to him. In fact, he strongly believed that the only reason hed survived as long as he had, was due entirely to the imparted vision, the near constant influx of celestial essence, and the circulation method hed stumbled upon. That, and Ivorys continued assistance, of course. Seriously, the number of times shed pulled his rear out of the fire, he didnt know if he could have survived this long without her. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. If it werent for those four things, he had no doubts whatsoever that he wouldve died a long time ago in these gods'' forsaken caves. Getting back on topic, what reason was there for him to adhere to the conventional methods of fighting, if it wasnt a contest he was likely to win? And if he couldnt out-skill his opponents outright, could he not put them off their guard by being entirely unconventional instead? Hed long since learned how to condense and release multiple ruby red blades at once, and it was a process utterly removed from any particular origin so far as he could tell. What was, therefore, stopping him from releasing said blades from anywhere on his body? His stubborn refusal to think outside of the box, that was what. Hed first needed to break himself out of the insidious mindset that, You would use your hands to swing an actual blade, so any aura blade you create has to originate from your hands. Once hed finally gotten over that bad habit, then learned to actively manipulate the blades once theyd already been formedfar easier than it sounded, seeing as, more and more, his abilities were beginning to feel like extensions of himselfthe notification of his mantras evolution had appeared. It didnt make a lot of sense to himthat he was essentially being rewarded for correcting his own innate stupiditybut hey, he wasnt complaining. In all honesty hed likely need all the help he could get if he was to have any chance of escaping this gauntlet alive. In other news, or, he supposed, lack thereof, hed still yet to figure out what advancing his resonance stage did for him exactly. He was apparently an aged stone now, though he couldnt really say he felt all that much different compared to before. In any case, the way things were going, hed passively grow his resonance as he progressed, so whether it ultimately proved fruitful or not should become apparent the further he advanced. Which brought him to yet another worry hed been grappling with. Simply put, his cutting mantra just wasnt cutting it anymore. After facing off against a wide range of powerful opponents, hed come to realize that it wasnt the fix all solution hed once believed it to be. Sure, his mantras were plenty powerful, especially after the upgrade hed received, but they werent the solution to every problem. Case in point, the two bruisers thatd just thrown him around like a rag doll. And while his cyclones had eviscerated their auras in the end, he hadnt been able to do much more than deliver shallow cuts when he wasnt putting the whole of his intent into a single sword slash. Then, when push eventually came to shove, hed been forced to rely on raw attributes and his circulation method to just barely rebuff their attacksnearly breaking himself between the two in the process. He couldnt help but think that if he too had the concept of crushing, fights like those would become childs play. With a groan, Jun staggered over toward each of the steaming corpses, both from the group hed just fought and the one thatd come before. Gathering up all the heads was still an excruciating chore, though he never even considered leaving them behind. He had plans for them after all. When he was finally finished with his grisly task, despite every fiber of his being screaming in protest, he turned away from the gruesome sight, made sure Ivory was nice and secure in the crook of his arm, and limped his way towards what he could only hope was salvation. The strange structure Ivory had spotted ahead a few hours back. Ever since entering this impossible space, he hadnt seen heads nor tails of an end to the vastness. Itd just seemed to go on and on indefinitely. Though to his great relief, his fears of an infinite cavern expanse turned out to be unfounded. By the soft glow of his system screens, he caught sight of what he first pegged as a natural phenomenon. A steep, practically vertical cliff face that could only have been a feature of the cave system, he thought. The closer he approached, however, the less sure of that he became. Until he was practically on top of the thing. It took him a full thirty minutes to travel from one part of the grand edifice to the other, and by then it was undeniable. The smooth stone blocks stacked atop one another? The intricate and ornate spiral carvings lining every inch of masonrywherever the black marble wasnt chipped, missing, or polished smooth by the passage of time that was. It was a wall. A massive wall hemmed in by stone monoliths of truly prodigious proportions, given that his head didnt even crest the smallest toe on the statues sandal-clad feet. While truly colossal in scale, and holding an intangible sort of weight to it, the wall itself wasnt a particularly well kept bastion. Great spiderweb cracks dug deep fissures into the stoneworklikely hairline if one were to take the full scale of the structure into consideration, while still wide enough for five men to walk abreast from his relatively puny perspective. An ancient city for giants apparently. For the next half hour Jun explored what turned out to be, in truth, a city made for, and most likely by, giants. As far as he could tell it was as massive in its scope as it was in scale. But most peculiarly, those of gigantic descent didnt seem to have been the only denizens of the fortress city. The signs were subtle yet prevalent once you knew to look. Indications that far smaller residents had once walked these streets. Recesses hollowed into the stone revealed human sized double doors and gaping tunnel entrances. Walkways were burrowed directly into the street like long, winding trenches that seemed to go on indefinitely. Like small veins beneath the real foot traffic of the city. Could a species humanlike in stature really have coincided with these apparent behemoths? Jun couldnt even begin to imagine what that mustve been like. People taking up the role of small rodents in this impossible citys metropolitan ecosystem. Living entire lives behind residential walls and scurrying underfoot beneath the heels of giants. How had they avoided being squished all the time? Looking around at the desolate, uninhabited place, he figured that, perhaps, they hadnt. Ultimately it wasnt really any of his business, and it wasnt as if thinking on it further would supply any real answers. Hed long since given up on any hopes of retrieving his breathing manual. He just wanted to get to the surface as soon as humanly possible. So far, since approaching, and then entering the city, he hadnt come across another ambush or even seen one of the big furry creatures in passing. It was a nice little break, though it wasnt a change of pace hed trust his life to. Which was why he was seeking out someplace to hide away for a while and recover. Picking the first human sized door at random, he entered to find a dust covered space that, while huge compared to his own family''s estate, was not nearly as unfathomable as the rest of the city as a whole. He was standing in the entrance hall of what appeared to be a large mansion. The floor tiles were checkered and there were still crooked frames on the wallsthough any paintings they mightve contained had either been stolen or had long since rotted away. The entrance hall and conjoining rooms were something of a messa moment of turmoil and clear distress somehow preserved in a strange, timeless stasis. Items were strewn everywhere, and furniture was toppled as if knocked over in a hurry. There were large divots in the stone, craters pocked the floor, and burn marks blackened many of the walls and ceilingindicating whatever evacuation, or extinction event had happened here, had in no way been peaceful. No bodies though Or skeletons he supposed. How long did it take for bones to decompose? Wait, do they decompose? Or do they just stay all bony. Cautiously Jun made his way through the first floorthe occasional shorn half of a discarded tome turning to powder beneath the weight of his tread. Finally, after a roundabout circuit throughout the main rooms, he found the grand staircase, and took them two at a time. After his cursory sweep, hed concluded that the place was as deserted as the rest of the forgotten city. That and if he didnt find a place to rest soon, he might be forced to pick any old spot in the open and take his chances. He limped down wide hallwaysthrowing open doors at random. Those that hadnt already fallen completely off their hinges. He was never met with anything that seemed appropriate. He wasnt sure why he didnt just pick one and be done, but he felt that he could do better than a few rotten blankets covering half decayed furniture. And then, fifteen or so doors in, he heard it. The burbling sounds of running water. After hours spent walking through a near endless expanse, and then a dead city where he only really had his footsteps as company, the reassuring sounds of nature were almost eerie in their normality. Still, it didnt stop him from rushing towards the noise as best as his broken body would allow. Eventually leading him to round a corner onto a hallway ending in ornate double doors. Reaching them, he pushed one openeliciting a prolonged creak. On the other side he was met with a sight that nearly took his breath away. In sharp contrast to the dead city and the cave system beyond, this room smelled almost overpoweringly of life. It was a bathhouse, though one unlike any hed ever seen. A large pool of clear blue water was fed by a cascade of waterfalls that flowed down from the natural rock formations making up the furthest wall. The waterfalls true origins obscured from his vantage by the overgrown plant life practically dominating the area. Plants that had once likely been well maintained or even purely decorative, had taken over the space in the best way imaginable, creating a miniature oasis in this otherwise desolate wastelandthe whole scene brightly lit by luminous crystals imbedded in the walls and ceiling. The suffused white light somehow serving to brighten the very atmosphere itself as it bounced from craggy rock walls, to fluted columns. From reclining marble statues onto sparkling azure water. Which in turn, returned said light onto the tree canopies above, in ever shifting highlights that rippledas if with a life of their own. Just staring at the scene brought him a sense of tranquility. To the point that he felt his eyelids begin to droop as the stress of the past few days compounded all at once. Before he could pass out then and there, however, Jun shed his filthy rags, set an unconscious Ivory down on the water''s edge, then dove headfirst into the pool of the oasis. The water hit him like a cold slapbrisk, though not unpleasantly so. Instantly a cloud of filth bloomed out from his body, only to be swept away by invisible currents. With a gasp, he breached the crystalline surface and shook himself like a wet dog. Swimming backwards until he sat snug against the rim of the poolon an underwater shelf made for that very purposerationally he was aware he should probably wash himself off more thoroughly before finding a proper place to bed for the night. But, before he could even finish that thought, he had already fallen into a deep and dreamless slumber. Chapter 32: Four Sheaths of the Divine Bodies. The clan-less bastard previously known as Grey surveyed the scene of carnage with a face as expressive as stone. The macabre sight spread out before him merely the latest in a long string of gruesome landmarks. A meandering trail of broken bodies which chronicled a harried migration from one end of this profane expanse to the other. He watched as acolytes dragged the few corpses still recognizable into neat and orderly rows. Likewise, he did not flinch away as everything else was scooped up and shoveled into large, unsightly mounds. The hoard will feed quite well tonight at least. One consolation amidst all this wanton savagery. With a huff, Second looked away from the gruesome scene, turning his attention back to that of his companion. Third Sheath of the Divine differed from him in more ways than one. Taller than most with a bulkier, warriors frame, it was apparent to anyone with eyes that the clan-born was not one to be taken lightly. Well? Second asked. Youve been rather tight lipped, my friend. More so than usual. Tell me. What are you thinking? Third, for his part, took his time in answering. The grinding sounds emanating from his mouth the only indication he hadnt simply ignored the question entirely. His mind slowly crafting an appropriate response as his jaw habitually wore away at the thighbone held between his teeth. Second merely waited patiently, well accustomed to their lopsided way of conversing by now. Waiting to collect horde big mistake, Third rumbled. Oh? this surprised Second. You believe them to be insufficient for the task? Third did not reply, though this time, the silence which followed implied his opinion should be so obvious, as to make voicing it unnecessary. Second was intrigued by this. Personally, hed thought the idea to be overly cautious, if anything. After all, releasing the entire horde of ten thousand upon the city of ancients for the sake of a single slave seemed rather extreme. Apparently the third was not of that same opinion. Second found his curiosity peaked. May I inquire as to why? Another pause. He is strong, the words came out as if torn from his throat. And yet he is only one, while the horde is many. I still do not see the cause for your reservations, my friend. Numbers mean little to the strong, he paused. Would have been better to catch him before. Now that hes crossed into forbidden lands uncertain. But? Second was momentarily at a loss for words. I doubt even a joint effort of the four would be enough to overcome such odds. Not without sacrificing some of our member to the swarm at least. Are you telling me that you see this slave as more capable than the masters chosen? Another silence followed, though Second didnt need a response to understand the certainty held in the words unsaid. Third, while proud to a fault at times, was nevertheless renowned for his pragmatism. If he truly believed this slave to be that large of a threat? And if the four sheathes were to join the hoard? came a young females voice from immediately behind them. What then? Second felt the overwhelming presence before he saw it and seemed to act even before then. They were both upon the intruder in a flash, though Second was just the slightest bit faster. My will splits the air; my spear his claw unsheathedlet none stand before the masters might. His spearhead lanced forward like the fang of a lunging serpentclosing the distance between them in the time it took to blink. Sickly tendrils of greenish mist pulsed out from Seconds chest, wound down his arms, then ran along his spear-shaft to pool centimeters from its very tip. A churning ball that grew rapidly before their eyes. Growing until fist-sized, head-sized, and then as large as his torso before, all at once, the roiling mass of pulsing aura shrank down to that of a single liquid bead. A droplet of condensed spearing force so terrifically potent that, when the tight bundle of aura was finally released, the very air seemed to howl in the wake of its passage. Mantra: [Howling Spear-Thrust] (3rd Aspected) Grade: (Good Quality) The missile crossed kilometers in the time between blinks, punched through several cavern walls as if they were made of paper, and ended the life of not one, but two misfortunate clan-born before the force it contained was entirely spent. A split second later and a titanic tremor rocked the cavern floor as Thirds hammer came down just a hairs breadth behind. When the dust finally settled, a wide fissure split the cavern floor for as far as the eye could see. Well? Im waiting~? If I recall correctly, hmm, oh yes, I do believe I asked you a question! Really now, I know his whole shtick is that hes the big brooding silent type but I really must say I expected more from you Grey. Second spun around in shock, weapon held at the ready, though he was now far more hesitant to use it. This girl this thing! Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He hadnt sensed even a ripple of aura or internal energy on her. For that matter, he hadnt felt well anything at all! And yet somehow this small child had not only evaded his, but both of their strikes. Just who or what in the world was she? And then he played back her words in his mind, and his confusion only redoubled. Because she hadnt been speaking the crude slave tongue of the surface dwellers, but the exalted tongue of the under. And not only that, but shed known his first name. A name hed gone to great lengths to erase. Second made to take a step forward, when a meaty paw landed on his shoulder. With a start, Second looked up to find Third with his massive hammer already lowered, gesturing for him to do the same. After a moment of hesitation, Second begrudgingly complied. To answer your question, Third replied cautiously. Were that the case, my worries would not burden me nearly so much as they do now. Although it does remain an impossibility however. Huh? And whys that? Second was incredulous. Why was Third even humoring this this abnormality. This blasphemous, repugnant, inconceivable! Because that accursed city is to us as a tunnel collapse is to a thriving community. It is death. That is why! Do you truly believe that it hasnt been attempted before? The land is inimical to our very existence! The stones turn to hot coals under our feet! Creeping mists obscure visibility to no more than a digit''s length in any given direction. Even the forbidden air turns to poison in our lungs! Hmm? Oh, that? Beast wards and minor protections. A bit finicky seeing as theyre so old, but easily dealt with all the same. Oh! Does that mean that if I promised you all safe passage, you think you and your creepy little hoard would be enough to get the job done? Or do I need to find someone else better suited for the task? Second paused. For a long moment the two sheaths of the divine merely stared blankly at the small child. Who for her part, appeared rather peevish, despite her earlier presenceopenly impatient as she waited for their response. As if theyd rehearsed it, the two sheaths turned to one another in unison. And thensurprising Second nearly as much as this entire interaction had thus farthe ever gruff, often stoic, and self-assured Third shrugged. Jun awoke to the burbling sounds of running water, and the weak slap of small waves lapping against his chest. Recalling where he was, he couldnt help but smile. Keeping his eyes closed, he sank deeper into the pool and simply allowed his mind to drift on the serenity of the place. Itd been a stressful couple of days, and he knew the trials hed have to face were still out there waiting for him, but for now, he decided? Right now, he figured it should be okay for him to just sit back and relax for just another minute or two Without warning a high-pitched squeal disrupted his peaceful tranquility. A whine that quickly morphed into a sinister growl. A growl which seemed to portend the end of the world. Immediately, Juns entire universe shrank down to a single point. An ever-expanding void at the center of his stomach. A series of reverberations rippling outward from that spot, as a bestial hunger hed never before experienced woke up with a vengeance. It spread out from his core like a blazing inferno. Subsumed his every sense, every impulse, his very mind. To be replaced by the insatiable, uncontrollable, need to feed. It devoured anything and everything that made up what he was, and thennot yet satisfiedabsconded with his very awareness as well. Like a candles flame in a hurricane, all conscious thought was summarily extinguished. When Jun awoke, he found himself lying prone on the slick tiles of the bathhouse, only recognizing belatedly that his body was seizing. He felt the cause before he saw it. And it only took him a brief peek to confirm how screwed he was. How itd happened, he had no idea, but the reality was undeniable. His body was nearly filled to bursting with excess amounts of spiritual energyworse than any breathing rotation hed ever experienced. The first thing he did was flare his aura before his mind could black out from the pain. Once a brittle sort of calm had reasserted itself, he acted. Somehow, he managed to control his seizing muscles long enough to find and maintain a seated position. Once that was done, Jun surveyed his condition with a more critical eye. What he found there did not bring him much comfort. He wasnt just being flooded with spirit; he was being inundated with it. His body was literally tearing itself apart, completely unprepared to handle so many conflicting energies all at once. The only bright side being the fact that said energies were too busy contending with one another to properly focus all their attentions on him. Though, again, that served as cold comfort when just the backlash of their clash was likely enough to kill him. Looking more closely at the streams of energy, it was as if Jun had taken a handful of mending, spirit restoration, and meridian pills all at once. So that, while the spirit from the recovery pills was doing its best to ruin his channels, the rejuvenating energy from the meridian pills did their best to soothe the damage. And as both of these opposing energies clashed, the conflict was constantly tearing into him. Injuries which the healing energies were quick to fix. It was a fragile equilibrium, he could immediately tell, and one which wasnt likely to last long. Further forcing his limbs into the lotus position, he quickly began the [Leaf Follows the Current] breathing form, thinking to absorb what of the rampant energies he was able. Unfortunately, his dantiens capacity only extended but so far, and he soon found himself unable to compress leaves fast enough to meet the demand. Thinking fast, he transitioned into the [Leaf Rides the Gale] breathing form and began pumping his diaphragm full of spiritual energyfunneling the churning rivers faster than he ever had before. At first, the spirit fought himracing through his meridians with such insane velocity that it wasnt enough to simply guide it where he wanted it to go. Instead, he was forced to jerk and shove the energy aroundstrong-arming the spirit onto the correct pathways until that terrifying velocity was working to his advantage instead of against him. In this way, his diaphragm filled up in record time. Made even more impressive by the fact that, if anything, he now held more energy in his diaphragm than he ever had before. Honestly, if it werent for the stupid levels of stubborn persistence hed built up during his long flight across the expanse, Jun wasnt sure whether he couldve held the raging hurricane in check. It was definitely a feat he wouldve been incapable of even two days prior. After an unspecified amount of time the influx of chaotic energies eventually slowed down to a reasonable pace. Jun wasnt na?ve enough to relax just yet, however. He knew that the trial was only just beginning. After all, he still had to release everything hed taken in. A prospect that wouldve been daunting at the best of times, but with the ludicrous amounts of spirit he currently held? No time like the present, he supposed. And so, with another flare of his aura to bring about a cool head, he began to let out the first of many breaths to come. Chapter 33: Finding Enlightenment (I) Your body has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your mind has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your spirit has transcended its natural limits. 62 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Jun let out the last ragged sigh. After a long moment spent shivering amidst the puddle of sweat hed accumulated, he managed to push himself unsteadily to his feet. Staggering past Ivorys still unconscious form, he half dove, half flopped into the waiting poolallowing the weak currents to wash away all the sweat, grime, and stress of the last five hours. When his head, at last, breached the surface, he didnt make any efforts to get out, or even move. Instead, he simply took in the tranquil atmosphere and the lapping waves. Which, as it so happened, did wonders for his sore mind, if not his aching pathways. Eventually, the persistent ache of his channels proved too much. Thankfully, he didnt need to move to open up the system general store. Greater Meridian Restoration Elixir (Rare) 1,000,000 SP It was expensive, but hed already begun to notice that the regular pills were losing a great deal of their efficacy, and this ordeal had likely only exacerbated the problem. He wasnt sure if this was a normal phenomenon or not, but if it was, it gave some credence as to why cultivation was seen as the most expensive occupation in the world. He would have to be circumspect with how many of these elixirs he took from now on. If he grew some sort of tolerance to these as well, at some point he might just find himself too poor to cultivate. Especially without his discount to lean on. Once the bottle had been drained, he allowed himself to float on his back while the soothing energies flowed through him in waves. Only when the ache had subsided completely, did he finally get around to deciphering what exactly just happened. The answer came to him quickly enough. The fasting pills. Hed known that the side effects could be rather severe, but he apparently hadnt fully appreciated just how severe until now. He now figured that, when hed lost himself over to the hunger, his body had sought out the fastest method to sate itself. Some part of him mustve remembered that at least one of the pills possessed the ability, and so he mustve simply taken pill after pill until he found the right one. Jun could only be glad that the fasting pills had been his first idea. He shivered at the very real possibility of his waking to a mountain of freshly picked rat skulls and a sickening fullness in his belly. Haunting possibilities aside, his supplies had more or less been cleaned out in the ordeal, speaking to just how many he had taken. Looking over his remaining stores more thoroughly, he was continually surprised that hed survived at all. He would have to be extra careful with managing his hunger from now on. If that sort of unthinking haze overtook him during a fight, for instance? After a moment of hesitation, Jun bought two dozen more of the fasting pills, then restocked on all the other necessities. After which Jun stepped from the pool, looked down on the rags hed once referred to as clothes, then down at his own naked body. Hed probably need something to wear as well, he decided. Skimming through the system store he immediately noticed an undisguised bias towards cultivation related wear and accessories. Sighing, he bought the first thing that caught his eye. He was partial to the form fitting suits of the colonial states himself, but he supposed beggars couldnt really be choosers. He even managed to find one in Ivorys size. Crimson Accented Cultivators Robe ? Small (Unranked)12,000 SP 8,000 SP (-25%) Crimson Accented Cultivators Robe ? Pocket-Sized (Unranked)2,000 SP 1500 SP (-25%) Two expertly folded robes, one normal and one in miniature, appeared with a flash of golden light. Unraveling the garments, he found that they were, indeed, clothes. His only real gripe being the fact that they didnt appear to come with any instructions, whatsoever, on how in the world he was meant to put them on. Fifteen especially frustrating minutes later, Jun stood in his brand-new set of cultivator''s robes. It was black overall with red accents on the cuffs, waist wrap, and lapel, with loose cream trousers and footwear that kept to the black and red motif. Jun was somewhat annoyed to find it was actually rather comfortable. It was tight enough to feel secure, without being too restrictive. The sleeves were loose, and the bottom half was form fitting enoughignoring the flair of the robe beneath his waistthat it was doubtful hed have trouble fighting whilst wearing it. Now if only it was easier to actually put on. He supposed real cultivators would have servants to do this sort of thing for them. Or else never take it off in the first place. A strategy which Jun was beginning to see the wisdom of. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Resources managed and robes acquired, Jun figured it was about time he finally dealt with something hed been putting off for some time now. Making sure Ivory remained undisturbedboth because he knew she could use the sleep, and because he wasnt quite ready to have that conversation just yetJun found a secluded room as far away from the bath house as the mansion allowed. And then, without any further ado, upturned his spacial pouch. With a mental command, a near unending stream of beast heads rained down onto the dusty floor, each in differing stages of decomposition. The room instantly filled with the scents of rot and decay. Jun wrinkled his nose, wishing hed brought a strip of cloth to cover it with. Rolling back and securing his voluminous sleeves, he cracked his neck and got to work. Those beast cores werent going to retrieve themselves. An hour later he sat across from a glittering pile of round stones. By his count, hed collected one-hundred sixty-five beast cores in total over the course of the last twenty-four hours. The rough equivalent of around a million spirit coins. Not a shy sum by any means. It was the kind of small fortune a tiny branch like his would probably kill for. And Jun, for his part, was contemplating destroying it. And while it undoubtedly went against his better nature, hard times made for hard decisions. The fact of the matter was, he was still far too weak. He had more or less scraped by thus far, yet he knew in his heart that it still wasnt enough. Hed been struggling with this for quite some time now. Because, while what he could do now with his cutting mantra wasnt anything to sneeze at, he was under no illusions that, when things really hit the fan, he was in any way prepared for the worst. Now, the only question he was left with was, could he? Did he even dare? Could he incorporate another concept without crippling his cultivation? He didnt know, and that in and of itself was rather concerning. Mostly because, if he went through with what he intended, his plans werent simply to incorporate one of the weapon concepts, but all of them. He had felt it more than once in the last day. Like he was on the cusp of some greater understanding. As he ducked piercing thrusts, and countered waves of crushing aura, hed felt a kinship towards the ideals thatd only increased with time. Hed observed the ways in which trained fighters adapted their movements to better resonate with their mantras. And while, at first, hed done so more or less unconsciously, as the hours dragged on, and his mind sought out patterns, he began to see the waves of enemies in a different light entirely. Hed begun to learn from them. Not in terms of their stances or fighting styles, per sayall of that stuff was still too far outside of his experience rangebut instead, he began to comprehend how the concepts behaved in and of themselves. As strange as itd been to wrap his head around, over the course of the last day, hed become increasingly confident that the concepts themselves had a kind of sentience all their own. In dismantling his opponents forces, hed felt the innate differences between how a cleaving aura reacted to his ruby red blades, versus, say, an overbearing aura of crushing. The unique dispositions of each requiring him to shift the way he approached any given fighter. First and foremost, crushing forcewith its inclination towards destructionneeded to be destroyed utterly in turn. Dispersed before the cloud could gain too much volume, and therefore, momentum. Meanwhile cleaving force had to be cleaved in turn, as it wouldnt recognize any form of opposition that did not resemble its own. Annoyingly, if it even suspected it was being underestimatedor in other words, challenged by what it saw as an inferior forceit would only grow stronger and more obstinate in its charge. This usually resulted in those clashes being more a battle of wills than anything elseforcing Jun to layer one cut atop the other in rapid succession. Mimicking the resistance of a massive, hacking slash. The oftentimes unpredictable nature of cutting needed to be matched blade for blade, and at the appropriate angle. As hed come to realize, cutting force was incredibly dependent on precision. If the angle was just right, it was probably possible to sheer through just about anything. In that same way, however, a cutting blade could just as easily be shattered if struck at the precisely wrong angle. It was why his Sword Cyclone was both effective and fragile in equal measure. By sprouting blades from his body at odd angles and setting them to spin, the likelihood of a blade striking something wrong and shattering under its own force, was just as likely as it slicing cleanly through at the perfect angle. Random, in other words. Although, when even the broken shards posed a sizable threat, it wasnt as bad of a trade off as you might think. Lastly, piercing force needed to be stopped immediately and overwhelmingly lest it pierce straight through any and all defenses. A lot like with the cleaving concept, through a consecutive series of slashes, it was possible to divert or even disrupt a piercing thrustoften feeling like he was shaving away the dense aura one layer at a time. For him, it was probably the hardest of the four to counter. To the point where he usually found it easier to simply dodge the piercing strikes altogether, rather than go through all the trouble of shaving down layer after layer of aura, only to be run through by the actual spear by the time he was finished. All of that was to say that, while his system wasnt foolproof by any means, it had given him an outlet to observe and experiment with concepts other than his own. And in doing so, hed been able to attain a far greater grasp of each. Even still, a minor familiarity, obtained over the course of a mere day, was a far cry from enlightenment. He was well aware that cultivators spent mortal lifetimes accumulating small handholds like the ones he was describing without coming anywhere close to enlightenment. So, barring the bestowal of yet another ideal vision from a being well beyond his comprehension, he recognized that hed have to get a bit creative with his advancement. Which ultimately brought him back to his current dilemma. Beast cores. Tallying them up by dint of their aura, he now had sixty-one crushing attuned cores, thirty-three cutting attuned cores, thirty-five piercing, and thirty-six cleaving. It was a lot of cores by anyones measure, but would it be enough, he wondered? It has to be noted that raw beast cores are poisonous to humans. He wasnt sure why that was exactly, but it was fairly common knowledge all the same. It would be suicidal to contemplate eating one of the little death marbles. Thankfully, that wasnt exactly what Jun had in mind. No, instead he had something far worse planned. He was going to waste them. Because, while whatever was contained within the cores were deadly to consume, he knew for a fact that the conceptual soup swimming around inside them was not. That said, in order for him to release the little concept particles, he would need to shatter the things entirely. And therein lied the problem. Because once a beast cores shell was cracked, and the condensed truths of the beasts concept released, the energies contained in what was left would slowly dissipate over time. Without the proper methods being applied, the core shards would degrade in less than a minute. Robbing them of their integrity, power, and most importantly, their value. Nevertheless, refocusing on the task at hand, Jun reached forward and snagged one of the crushing attuned cores. All it would take was a simple spirit empowered flex, and the process would begin. But? Jun placed the core back onto the pile. Before any of that unpleasantness, he still had some preparations left to make. Chapter 34: Finding Enlightenment (II) Crushing Attuned Fruit of Enlightenment (Uncommon)4,000,000 SP 3,000,000 SP (-25%) Piercing Attuned Fruit of Enlightenment (Uncommon)4,000,000 SP 3,000,000 SP (-25%) Cleaving Attuned Fruit of Enlightenment (Uncommon)4,000,000 SP 3,000,000 SP (-25%) Getting into the elysian crystal trade, hed done his due diligence when it came to research gathering. What he was attempting right now wasnt too dissimilar from a tactic the elite have been using to supercharge their children on the path of cultivation for centuries. It all had to do with the inherent nature of elysian crystals. Because, while its effectiveness as a spiritual insulator is undeniably singular in scope, the benefits of elysian crystals, to the beast core trade, is, in actuality, twofold. That is to say, by coating a shattered beast core in Elysian dust, then heating it up until a hardened shell was formed, its entirely possible to contain what spiritual energies would otherwise dissipate, indefinitely. This special property was what most referred to when denoting the inherent value of elysian crystals. Very few people were aware of its secondary value, however. That being, its capacity to, not only trap spiritual energy, but house conceptual matter as well. The manufacturers that routinely process beast cores realized the potential of this discovery fairly early on, and, in turn, developed ways in which to capitalize on this rare and potent commodity. Draining the concentrated stuff of the cosmos itself, each drop of universal truth heavily flavored by the lives of the beasts whod conceptualized them, into shards of crystal rarely larger than ones thumb. A shard about the size of Juns pinky nail containing the condensed matter of cutting, for instance, could easily sell for several hundred million apiece. And, depending on the quality of the cores used, even that was being rather generous. They could just as easily sell for billions. That was just how valuable these little glowing crystals were. After all, they supplied something that no amount of money had been able to buy previously. Hard earned experience. Several lifetimes worth of epiphanies, breakthroughs, and mistakes to learn from. A series of recorded, and even sometimes viable, paths to power. All right there and ripe for the picking. That it normally it took upwards of ten thousand shattered beast cores to harvest a single drop of understanding was neither here nor there. A shard of the aforementioned size, just for easy reference, containing as many as twelve such drops. Needless to say, what Jun attempted here was nowhere near on the same level. Still, the idea was essentially the same. Though that ultimately brought him back to the natural treasures hed purchased. Because if the cores would act as a guiding compassoutlining how he might progress his path without it taking a lifetimethen the fruits of enlightenment should serve as the fuel. Jun stared down at the three uncommonly ranked treasures neatly arranged before him. The one on the far left, imbued with the concept of crushing, was a round thing that easily fit inside the palm of his hand. A shriveled, desiccated looking berry, it was as if any juice itd once held had long since evaporated into nonexistence. A thick stem stuck up from the top of the little fruit with a vibrant green leaf affixed to it like a flag. In all honesty, if it werent for the aura of crushing spiritual weight it gave off, he wouldnt have believed it to be anything special. As it was, it exuded the aura of a sleeping predatorimmobile for now, yet ready to lash out with explosive force at even the slightest provocation. Next came the piercing attuned fruit. From the stem downward it looked more like a root system in disguise. Bright green and vibrant, looking almost unripe, the length of the elongated fruit split apart into a disparate tangle of winding appendages. From where he sat, it emanated a sharp, singleminded focus. Like a raging river it felt somehow indomitable, while at the same time infinitely adaptable. As though, just because its only way to move was forwardto advancethe form it took in achieving that advancement could vary almost indefinitely. And lastly, the cleaving imbued fruit. It kind of resembled a smooth wedge of cheese, with a waxy rind that was covered in minor discolorations. There was no visible stem, and it was larger than the other two combined. Still small enough to fit in his hand, but only just. The aura it emanated was not a complex one, though it did not lack substance for all that. In the place of complexity arose a terrifying aura of unapologetic might. It seemed to promise that, irregardless of how many swings it takes, when its blow eventually landed the very world itself would be torn asunder. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Jun shivered at the palpable waves of intent billowing off of all three. It was an intimidating sight to behold, that was for sure. A niggling feeling of doubt surfaced then. A fear that maybe, just maybe, he was getting ahead of himself by the tiniest bit. Biting off more than he could chew seemed to be a reoccurring theme in his cultivation after all. Before he could second guess himself, Jun reached forward and plucked up the crushing attuned fruit. I mean, Ive already bought them, right? Theres really no use in second guessing myself now. He wasnt entirely sure whether the twig counted as a part of the fruit or not so, just to be safe, he decided to swallow everythingfruit, stem, leaf, and all. It was only a few seconds into that particularly difficult swallow that he was able to confirm that, no, he hadnt needed to eat the damned stick. On the bright side, the leaf actually had a pleasant piney taste to it. So, there was that. After picking most of the splinters from his teeth, Jun sat back and waited for inspiration to hit hima handful of attuned cores resting in his palms. And he waited. And waited. Aaand waited Just as he was beginning to think hed been cheated by the system store, a feeling of euphoria swept over and through him. It carried him upward on currents of awe, and right into the waiting arms of inspirations loving embracehis eyes mimicking his soul as they widened in sudden comprehension. As if hed been blind all his life and now, suddenly, he could see. And while his environment itself hadnt changed, he now saw everything around him in a completely different light. It was as if epiphany lurked around each and every corner. As if the intrinsic truths of the wider universe were just one unobstructed glimpse away. That the cosmos could be peeled back to its very base components, if only he had the guts to reach out and draw back the curtain. It was a tantalizing proposition. To see further, deeper, than any mortal mind had any right to. To reach out into the ether, and, in so doing, have the ether reach back in turn. If anything, wasnt it too great of an invitation for him to reasonably ignore? Jun bit down on his tongue hard enough to taste blood. The flood of pain bringing back some semblance of reason. Leading him away from the brink of well, he didnt rightly know what. Something a part of him had known to distrust almost instinctually. Something he wasnt entirely sure he couldve come back from. He was suddenly very aware of how much time had passed while hed been in his little trance. Or to be more exact, aware that he had no idea how long hed been out of it. A few seconds or a few hours, he couldnt even begin to speculate which. Regardless, the thought that he mightve wasted this very expensive opportunity daydreaming was so horrifying that his hands were moving before hed fully formulated the thought. With a circulation empowered clench, he crushed the handful of beast coresa part of him still reveling in the application of such a fundamental truth. Maintaining his focus with an effort of will, he lowered his head and inhaled the dense cloud of silvery vapor. In the next moment he was blindsided by a deafening cacophony. Brief flashes of memory, intense emotions, and overlapping voices all blending together to the detriment of all. An unholy cocktail of soul quaking proportions. The overwhelming medley jarring him senseless with each passing flicker. Dozens of lives led, hundreds of days lived, thousands of tiny little actions that, when added all together, amounted to a life, a number of lives, many. Far too many, in their totality. And if that was all, if hed gone into this with nothing more than a few beast cores and a dream, it was likely this maelstrom of memories wouldve remained inscrutable. As it was however, thanks to the fruits much needed assistanceacting as a focus within the jumbled knot of confusionfinding a single thread, a lone path among dozens, and untangling it from the chaotic tapestry proved difficult, though not impossible. And in that way, after what felt like an eternity, he soon finished. Eyes closed, and with his mind still enraptured, he felt more than heard the simple chime likely heralding advancement. With that in mind, he realized that, were he to simply call it quits here, hed likely come away the proud owner of a crushing aspect. That, in addition to whatever random mantra the path hed disentangled from the roiling mass had gifted him with. Which ultimately begged the question. Was he satisfied with just that? And more than that, had he really come this far just to stop at the bare minimum? To his surprise, he found that the answer was no. And so, without even an ounce of hesitation, he rolled up his metaphorical sleeves, and began again. And this time he wouldnt stop after extracting a few more paths. No, on the contrary, he wouldnt stop until hed unraveled the confused tapestry as a whole. And that was exactly what he didfeeling as if he were untying the most complex knot in existence. In what felt like a moment stretched out into infinity, his mind was further inundated by dozens upon dozens of life defining revelations. He sifted through myriad flaws, ingenious connections, and crippling misinterpretations thatd stymied, blessed, or otherwise impacted an individuals path. And, as he did so, not only did he see, but he catalogued as well. He sorted, and he managed, and he extrapolated from where theyd left off. He took from the good and learned from the bad. He used similar, and conflicting connections to make great leaps in his own understanding. He followed chains of connections through to their most logical conclusions. Conclusions thatd never been fully realized. He unraveled the devilish knot of experiences until all that was left was a series of threads. Threads which hed expanded upon and specified in equal measure. And then, with each path neatly defined, he did something unbelievably foolish. Something hed already prevented himself from attempting once before. Deaf to better judgment and acting purely on intuition, he tore away the curtain which screened his true soul from the ether, grabbed hold of the myriad conceptual threads laid out before him, and then, ever so slowly, he began to weave. Chapter 35: Pantheistic Workshop Initializing Performing System Checks Loading Core Modules Establishing Communication Protocols Verifying System Dependancies Configuring Runtime Environments Please hold Connecting to Pantheistic Workshop Servers User Verification: In Progress Total Active Users: 1 Solar Cycles Elapsed Since Last Known Interaction: 1,800,900,071:099:02 Welcome Unknown User! Three New Mantras Have Been Detected. Do you wish to proceed? YES/NO (Warning: Refusal will result in the immediate ejection from workshop servers) Do you wish to proceed? YES/NO Jun stared unblinkingly at the system messages. The decidedly purple system messages. More a neon lavender than the saturated blue he was so accustomed to. Huh. Uhh. Thats new. Or no. Given the context, it could be that its just really really old. He well. He didnt entirely know what he was doing here, what here was exactly, or, for that matter, where the hell his body had run off to. As far as he could tell, it was just himor the vague, floating idea of him ratherthe hanging notifications, and the blank void all around them. That said, whether hed intended for it or not, he was already here and all And if he was actually the first person to stumble across this unspecified workshop in the last billion years? Well, itd be awfully rude of him not to at least hear the system out. Wouldnt it? Really, it truly was the least he could do. Already, thoughts of ancient treasure and long-lost artifacts made his eyes practically brim over with greed. Practically, because he didnt actually have eyes at the moment. Though if he had, theyd probably be resembling little spirit coins right about now. Jun promptly selected yes, and the world around him changed. Not overly much, all things considered. Now, instead of a pitch-black void extending forever in all directions, there was a low-lying mist that obscured everything below his ankles. His ankles? Glancing down, he found that his body had returned, which was an instant relief. That he was also stark naked was, admittedly, less than ideal. Before the thought had fully formed, however, there was a distinct shift, and suddenly he was wearing a tailor-made suit in the colonial style. Black with swirling gold embroidery along the slacks, at the cuffs, and around the lapel. The fine and intricate needlework vaguely worked into the shapes of several fox-like spirit beastsall liquid grace, bristling tufts of fur, and wicked canines. Oh yes. Yes, I think I could get used to this. After a moment spent simply admiring himselfhimself and the outfit that might have been plucked directly from his deepest, most personal preferencehe looked up to see what else about the space had changed. It didnt take long. Actually, it was a wonder he didnt go on the offensive immediately. Indeed, he probably would have, had the notification which appeared the second he laid eyes upon the rat-kin done even a slightly poorer job of distracting him. Basic Mantra: [Iron Fist] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Poor Quality) Conceptual Stability: 17% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Dismissing the notification, Jun took several steps back, making sure to keep the rat-kin and its companions in his periphery the whole while. He made out three of them in total. A quick survey told him that, apart from himself, they were the only other living entities in this space. Or actually on second thought, were they alive? Looking closer, he honestly couldnt say with any amount of confidence. They stood stock still, nearly shoulder to shoulder, and, as far as he could tell, didnt appear to be breathing. Not only that, but their actual bodies appeared off. Hazy around the edges, completely drained of color, and semi-translucent in a way that was very familiar. A mix between some ghost like apparition and the strangely artificial cast of a system screen. Putting some of the pieces together, Jun allowed himself a measure of calm. Flicking his eyes back to the initial beast, he received the exact same notification as before. Right. So, if I go with my gut and say these notifications are trustworthy, then these three must be the mantras. Or their manifestations? Im still not entirely clear on the particulars. Not knowing what else to do, though still wanting to err on the side of caution, Jun selected spectate. In the next moment, the beast hed selected stirred to wakefulness, just as a mossy boulder the size of a three-story building began to rise from the mist wreathed floor, fifteen or so paces away. Jun was in the midst of scrambling for something, anything, with which to defend himself, when the rat-kin abruptly turned away and marched towards the still rising boulder. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. In that way, he was given little time to ponder why, all of the sudden, his abilities seemed to be wholly inaccessible, before the ethereal construct reached the foot of the very real looking boulder and struck. He barely caught the actual strike, only its aftermaththe resounding crack as a fist sized crater radiating hairline fractures, was left in the moss covered stone. Against his better judgment, Jun made his way over. First inspecting the round crater, then the rat constructs uninjured hand. He was fairly confident at this point that, whatever the ghostly construct was, it posed no immediate danger. Now if only the system would just tell him outright what the point of all this was. As if in response, the ghostly construct moved. Even from a mere three paces away, however, the quick jab was almost too fast for him to see. Though the crack of its impact was, predictably, far more deafening. Again, as if in direct response to his frustration, the beast threw another punch, though this time, in slow motion. Because of that he actually got to watch in real time as the coil of silver mist pumped out from the constructs chest, wound around its arm, and sank into its fist, before yet another crater was pounded into the boulder. Jun asked the construct to repeat this several more times before, with a thought, he willed it to go dormant. Okay By this point he thought he had a pretty good handle on what exactly was going on here. But, before he jumped to any conclusions, he wanted to spectate the others, just to be sure. Locking onto the second construct in line, he was unsurprised when, yet another notification popped up. Basic Mantra: [Force Hammer] (2nd Aspected) Grade: (Poor Quality) Conceptual Stability: 15% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Selecting spectate, he watched as the construct stirred to life, then slowly began to make its way in his direction. Wanting to try something, Jun made his discontentment with its pace clear, and in the next moment the meandering construct appeared right in front of them, having crossed the dozen or so paces in an instant. Alright, so the system was far more intuitive than he initially gave it credit for. Hed have to remember that going forward. With a thought, Jun willed the first construct back to its original position, leaving ample room for the second construct to showcase its ability. Stepping back, just in case, Jun watched as the construct assumed a wide stance, wider than seemed practical to his untrained eyes, then thrust a single palm forwardits actual target, the massive boulder, still several paces away. Not that Jun was surprised when, instead of whiffing completely, and rather embarrassingly at that, a wave of silver-tinged force expanded outward from its palm at speed, to collide with the boulder with a deafening explosion of rock shards. However, this time, instead of forming a crater, large, deep fissures emerged, spiderwebbing their way all along its pocked surface. The damage less concentrated, though significantly more devastating than any number of the previous constructs attacks. Not skipping a beat, Jun dismissed the construct back to its initial position, then willed the final ghostly figure to his side. If he was right, and each of these so-called constructs effectively showcased one of the three abilities hed woven together with those conceptual threads, then this final one should prove the most interesting of them all. Not even taking the time to read the notification, Jun eagerly selected, spectate then took several steps back. And there he waited. At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, very briefly, he managed to catch something. The tiniest flash of silver emanating from beneath its patchy coat. Beneath its thick hide even. There was only one or two of them at first, and then that number easily doubled. Soon dozens of the little silver lights were flickering this way and that like fireflies stirred up into a frenzy. Jun held his breath. And then, all at once, in a truly horrific monochromatic display, the construct, quite literally, explodedsimulated entrails and dismembered body parts raining down from the sky only seconds after the blast reduced the once boulder into a gravel pathway half a kilometer long. Jun recognized, belatedly, that it mightve been wise to take more than a few steps back. Thankfully, just as hed hoped, the blast did nothing to actually harm him. So long as stepping all over his pride didnt count. That hadnt gone according to plan. Hed intended for something similar to his sword cyclone, a multidirectional blast of force. In a way, he supposed thats exactly what hed gotten. Still, the costs of such an ability left much to be desired. And the worst part was, he just couldnt seem to wrap his head around why. In response to his question, two things happened at once. On top of the remains of the previous construct, an identical figure blipped into existence. And, seeing as it appeared right in front of him, the notification hed previously ignored bloomed large in his vision. Basic Mantra: [Force Blast] (2nd Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Conceptual Stability: 2% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? (Warning: Attempting to assimilate a Mantra that is at or below 10% conceptual stability runs an inordinately high risk of failure.) (Note: Assimilation failure will result in the total erasure of the Mantra in question. Physical and or spiritual backlash may or may not apply.) (Note: You can gain conceptual stability by raising your resonance pillar.) (Note: You can gain conceptual stability by altering the offending Mantra to better reflect its patron ideal.) Okay, Jun thought to himself. Now were finally getting somewhere. It would appear hed finally found a use for his resonance statistic, and it wasnt at all what hed been expecting. If he was reading this correctly, his resonance should be one of, if not the, greatest deciding factor when it came to pushing for more ambitious mantras. Looking back, he could admit, now, that his force blasts conception had been a bit of a mess. If the other two represented the obvious next steps for some previous understanding, then the third mantra had been all him. A mishmash of several disparate paths, a great many suppositions on his part, and not a small number of outright guesses. The conceptual equivalent of jerry-rigging a bomb with limited resources and dubious instruction. In hindsight, the end result likely shouldnt have been nearly so unexpected. He had learned a lot from the process, however. And it was because of those lessons that he knew, almost unequivocally, that the second option would likely prove the least reliable of the two. Because, at least based on his own experiences, creating a mantra from scratch like hed attempted, was a lot like trying to find a needle in a haystack with the lights turned off. Like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphs purely by sound. In practice, it was a lot like playing a game of charades with an extra planar entity, wherein the only clues you were given as to its identity were precisely what it was not. In other words, it was damn near impossible. The only reason hed been able to create a poor grade imitation whatsoever, due in large part to the fact hed been blissed out of his mind on inspiration at the time and had the touchstone of a few dozen beast cores to anchor himself. Hed done the equivalent of throwing everything against the wall just to see what stuck. And, if he was reading into things correctly, in order to improve his design the hard way, hed have to make absolutely certain that everything he threw stuck. Or in other words, make sure this patron ideal, what he assumed was the overarching concept, generally approved of the changes he was making. Something he figured he couldnt do without a breadth of higher understanding well beyond his years. To serve up an interpretation of an ideal itself, only to have that same universal concept go, oh yeah, no that seems alright to me. It would be like copying the masterwork of the greatest painter in the world, only to have them turn around and compliment you on your brushstrokes. Daunting, in other words, and not something he felt ready for. Far easier to cheat, in his opinion, when the option had so conveniently presented itself. Bump up his resonance and, fingers crossed, any half-baked mantras he did manage to conceive would be made more viable by the system itself. In that way, it didnt mean he would refrain from experimenting altogether. He just knew that, in terms of creating actual, viable abilities, any original bouts of creativity were likely going to be off the table. And so, it was with that very thing in mind that Jun focused on the notification hovering stationary before him, and promptly selected edit. Chapter 36: Iron Fist Sect Entrance Exams (I) If the concept of crushing were somehow personified itd be akin to a mindless brute with the biggest club in town and an insatiable penchant for putting it to useif, and or when, any problems should ariseirregardless of whether a caved in skull or shattered kneecap was the best possible solution anyone could come up with at the time. On the contrary, going by this bastards backward logic, any problem whose solution didnt include extreme violence shouldnt even be considered a real problem to begin with. And, by that same branch of logic, anyone caught spreading such malicious misinformation deserved a good long thrashing just for wasting its time. A belligerent caveman with more brawn than it had sense, and an innate aversion towards anything even remotely resembling complexity. It was all that and more, while also, simultaneously, making up the whole of upper management for whom he was forced to run everything by. If you couldnt already tell, the mantra formation process wasnt going all that well. On the bright side, at least, within the strange realm that was this pantheistic workshop, he had a handy visual aid with which to track his many failures. At first, itd taken a fair bit of compare and contrast to even comprehend what it was he was seeing. A neon purple explosion of roiling mist and warped lines, somehow held in perfect, glittering stasis, as if frozen in time. More akin to a semitransparent sculpture, which he manipulated with the same intuitive ease as he would any system screen. A single thought all it took to spin it a full three hundred sixty degrees, shrink it down to the size of a pin head, or blow it up to human proportions. What the hell it actually depicted, or more specifically, what it was trying to depict, only made clear after hed given the same editorial treatment to the other, far more stable mantras. Selecting edit on his [Iron Fist] mantra, for instance, presented him with a far more decipherable scene. In it was depicted a nondescript warriorformed of multilayered geometric symbols all outlined in purpleputting his fist straight through a crumbling stone wall. Likewise, [Force Hammer] depicted that same warrior, sending out a pulse of silvery mist to obliterate a freestanding boulder. Both models were crisp and immaculate. So much so that, if you ignored the wrapping lines and archaic symbols, it was possible to make out even the tiniest details across the warriors honed musculature. From the individual veins of his hand, to the beads of sweat on his brow. It was a picture so complete and staggeringly precise that it only further put into perspective how fuzzy, confused, and just plain incomplete his sorry attempt had been. No wonder itd blown up in his face. If the first two were an example of what was to be expected of him, he felt justified in his decision to leave this method on the back burner for now. As it was, any attempts hed made to poke and prod the arcane profusion of dandelion fluff into a shape that was at least recognizable, had been met almost exclusively with stubborn resistance. As if the concept itself were arguing with him. Well, it was less a dialogue, and more its outright refusal to play nice. Every time he tried to introduce just the smallest bit of complexity, it was like rolling a boulder up a steep hill while a god watched on and lobbed halfhearted insultsoccasionally reaching out and kicking it all the way to the bottom for seemingly no reason at all. By the time he realized that his designs were only ever rejected for being too complicated, he was about ready to tear his own hair out. It became very clear to him, over the course of what felt like an eternity spent in trial and error, that any idea more complex than the running philosophy of, hit thing good, hit thing strong, would be met by outright refusal from the cosmic patron at large. On top of everything else, it didnt at all help his case that hed initially intended for [Force Blast] to be, gods forbid, a defensive technique. As it was, he was getting pretty sick and tired of the whole process, and was more than a little concerned with how warped his sense of time had become. Thinking back on it, it didnt feel as though all that much time had passed, though seeing as hed yet to feel hungry, tired, strained, or otherwise well, humana human being with normal bodily needshe couldnt help but worry. Casting aside his failed project with another swelling of frustration, Jun rose to his feet and summoned two of the three mantras. He would leave this place, he decided, fairly confident at this point that all it would take was a thought. But before that, hed make sure to snag a couple more mantras for the road. As he locked eyes with the first construct, a notification appeared. Basic Mantra: [Iron Fist] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Poor Quality) Conceptual Stability: 17% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Without further ado, Jun selected assimilate. You have selected the Basic Mantra: [Iron Fist] as your trial partner. Is this correct? YES/NO Wait, what? Initializing Calculating Trial Difficulty Your resonance pillar has been adjusted for. Your body cultivation has been adjusted for. Your soul cultivation has been adjusted for. Be at ease. Your Mantra: [Iron Fist] does not offend its patron. Please hold *Ding!* Estimated Trial Difficulty: |1 Star| The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Designated Arena: Iron Fist Sect Entry Exams Acclaim Bonus: NOT APPLICABLE Notoriety Bonus: NOT APPLICABLE Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Star Ranking: NOT APPLICABLE Temporary Titles: None Please hold still while we transport you. Your trial will begin in: 10 9 8 Wait! What?! The first world avatar slowly roused itself into wakefulness. It was an involved process. One that had been going on in the background ever since the introduction of this brand-new variable. As it awoke, it watched the new variable tinker with some of its surface level functionsthe few still operational after its long time spent dormant. Before its voluntary shutdown, it had spent entire eons in search of formal contact. At first targeting the scattered remnants of the first empire and its descendants. Then, when that search ultimately proved futile, it simply sought out any who might receive its call. In all that time, not a one of its efforts bore fruit. And in all that time, not once had it predicted something else would find it first. Even in the hypothetical event it had accounted for such an inconceivable anomaly, the odds of this pioneer being a juvenile mortal were so slim as to be the next thing to impossible. A mystery as well then, on top of everything else. Truly, when one variable relied upon for myriad functions comes askew, a cascade is the inevitable consequence. It took some investigating before its curiosity was sated. To notice that the variables interface had been crudely tampered with. It hadnt taken long after that to discern truth from fiction. Now, with confirmation that the child was fate-touched, one of the FenReale, its calculations fell well within reasonable parameters. Even better, now with an agent of providence karmically linked to its domain, plans it had abandoned long ago had a far higher chance of coming to fruition. It would still be some time yet before it was fully operational. Thankfully, the passage of time had never bothered the world avatar much. Just the fact that it once more had a direction was more than enough. In the meantime, it would watch the FenReale attempt its trial. More extensive preparations could come after. Junwei! You lazy dog. I know youve never been much for reading, but was your plan really to sleep through the whole of the exams? I know they say the written portion holds little bearing on the final selection, but good luck becoming an outer disciple without at least taking the practical first. Jun jerked awake with a splutter and a cough, only to be greeted by the familiar sounds of hilarity being had at his expense. The only thing that really stuck out to him about this turn of events, the fact that he didnt actually recognize any of the voices. See, there was this distinctive cast to the kind of derisive laughter he was so intimately accustomed to, and these halfhearted snickers werent nearly cutting, nor cruel enough to have originated from the members of his family. Abruptly, Jun noticed an uncomfortable wetness running along his left cheek, then, looking down, discovered that a rather incriminating pool was darkening what appeared to be an academic textbook. Had he been drooling? What the hell? He never drooled! What was going on here? Using a sleeve to scrub away the evidence, he ignored the second ripple of amusement this aroused, as he tried desperately to catch his bearings. He was in a classroom of sorts. A wide, multilayered lecture hall with tiered seating enough to accommodate maybe a hundred students in total. It was a thing of bright wood paneling and rice paper screensa set of stairs leading down the center aisle to open out onto the main floor below. The main floor, and what he assumed was the instructors lectern. An instructor whose flinty, clearly unamused gaze made as if to pin him to the back of his chair. Jun quickly looked away, a single brush with those cold grey eyes all the casual contact he could stomach. As hed already been made well aware, he wasnt the only person present. On the contrary, there were dozens. Not enough to fill every seat in the hall, though not far from it either. Only belatedly did he recognize the instructors unique attire. A set of simple, though elegant cultivators robes finely embroidered with silvery, cloud-like patterns. Admittedly, it went quite well with the mans topknot, long hair, and nearly angelic features. It was also a fashion trendobnoxious facial symmetry and, what he could only assume were sect colors, asidethat repeated itself all throughout the hall, himself included. That being said, the ostentation of each individual set of robes varied wildly from person to person. Clearly, not all who came to take the exams were born equal. There was an obvious divide between those whose parents evidently had money, and those whose most certainly did not. Ironically, he apparently landed squarely in the latter category. Pencils up, snapped the instructor. You are now to approach the front, at which point you will then hand your papers over to teachers assistant Chen. If you should, for whatever reason, refrain from doing so in an orderly fashionor have otherwise failed to complete the exam in the generous time that has been allottedjust know that it will be recorded, and you will be marked accordingly. Jun didnt need to look up to know that the instructor was still staring daggers in his direction. And as for the others, the rustle of papers and scrape of chairs was their only response as the ninety odd applicants rose from their seats. Proceeding to make their way towards the center aisle. Feeling an absurd jolt of panic, Jun was unsurprised to find every single answer on his test utterly blank. Without exception. Seriously? This is like a bad dream. I literally just got here! Wow. Just youre really unbelievable, you know that? Jun glanced up and away from his test, only to come face to face with a bespectacled boy around his own age. He was tall and lanky, with a farmers tan and obvious freckles. He was also the owner of the voice thatd awoken him in the first place. My friend, youre either too foolhardy for your own good, or a damned fool outright. Even if youd only answered randomly theres a good chance youd have gotten at least some of them right. Youd better hope you really impress Elder Shao during the practical examination, because right now Im pretty sure hed sooner kill you than make you an outer disciple. For a pregnant few seconds, Jun couldnt think of a single thing to say. Then, instead of spouting out something unproductive like I have no idea who you are! I havent spoken to you a day in my life! or Dont you realize that none of this is real?! he simply grinned sheepishly and got up to follow the others. I was tired, he replied rather lamely. Several behind and ahead of him chuckled at that. His apparent friendnote to self: ask for a name; discreetly if at all possiblelaughed along with them, though not in a malicious manner. Hah! Ill say. And then there was only companionable silence. Jun, for his part, took this as an opportunity to study his apparent competition. As bad as hed undoubtedly done on the test, there were others who appeared, going solely based off their decidedly greenish complexions, to have somehow done worse. Though, perhaps that was less a consequence of the portion hed missed, and more in anticipation of the one that would come after. Meanwhile, on the flip side there were those that appeared, if anything, far too confident. Not always, though most often it was the better dressed applicants who practically secreted self-confidence from their poreswith chins raised high and wealth on clear display, like so many proud roosters strutting about their domain. Whether or not all that bravado was earned, he couldnt really say. It could be that they were simply in the same boat as him. In that they all had a pretty good idea what this practical portion would look like. Chapter 37: Iron Fist Sect Entrance Exams (II) After handing over his blank test to a rather stunned looking young woman in grey and silver robes, Jun let the others guide him out of the test hall and through the winding corridors that made up the vast outer compound. As they went, their group routinely passed by outer disciple members. In fact, it happened with such regularity that he honestly began to question it. Wonder if, perhaps, they were being strategically funneled there in order to elicit the very response that could be seen on the faces of his fellow applicants. Dressed in the grays and silvers that had to be the sect''s colors, it wasnt the quality of their robes, their elegant grace, nor the silver pendants they all wore around their necks which elicited a frightful feeling of awe. Instead, it was their powerful, almost domineering auras which brought them all up short. Jun honestly couldnt help but applaud the strategic bit of theater. Impressing upon them right away that these were the heights even an outer disciple of the iron fist sect was liable to attain. Never mind that these cultivators had clearly been cherry pickedlikely some of the best, most elegant examples they could find within the general masses. For some reason, Jun very much doubted they openly advertised the downtrodden cultivator too poor to afford their weekly contributions and daily meal vouchers simultaneously. The struggling men and women which made up the vast majority of their membership, as was often the case with larger sects. All quiet little observations, he thought to himself, which shouldve been all well and good. Were it not for the fact that hed, apparently, let too much his thoughts show on his face. Jun looked away from the obvious farce, as two long necked beauties strode past in their opulent robesbarely giving their little procession of gawping applicants a second glanceonly to accidentally catch the eye of Elder Shao, his supposed instructor. They truly saw one another then, something unspoken passing between them, and if Jun had thought respect would be the mans response to his seeing through the con, he wouldve been sorely disappointed. Elder Shao sneered openly, before tilting his chin up a degree and turning away. Jun could practically hear the scritch of yet another mark against his increasingly unlikely acceptance. Not that he particularly cared if he got to join some make-believe sect hed never even heard of. But then again, there was the question of whether his assimilation was somehow dependent upon the results of this exam. Based on how everything had been set up thus far, he couldnt help but feel itd be something along those lines. Eventually they reached the end of the outer compounds winding corridors and exited out into the diffuse light of an overcast day. Emerging onto a great stone courtyard, at a glance you could immediately tell it was a place regularly used to hold tournaments. If the stands werent a clear enough indication, the raised stone stage made it readily apparent. Taking in the main stagein all its pockmarked, scored, and scratched up gloryhe wasnt in the least bit surprised to find a massive boulder sitting there prominently, easily occupying the very center of the large platform. Before hed even taken three steps into the courtyard, however, a sharp impact from behind nearly sent him sprawling. Just barely able to regain his balance in time, once Jun finally straightened, he was confronted by three teenaged boys. One tall and rail thin, another short and stocky, and a third who bore a striking resemblance to one Elder Shao. A handsome young man, likely no older than he was, who was almost certainly the one to shove him. Watch where youre going peasant boy. Oh! Uh-? Listen well you inferior trash, he continued. If I find even a speck of your common born filth on my brand-new robes as a result of your own clumsiness, I swear Ill have my manservant use your tongue for a wash rag. Do I make myself clear? Jun blinked in astonishment. The boy and his lackeys loomed tall, stared coldly, sneered openlyeach of them clearly chancing for a fight. He was nearly tempted to laugh out loud. Of all the clich? This, at least, he knew exactly how to handle. And so, with the perfect rebuttal held firmly in mind, Jun promptly went down on both knees. Apologies, elder brother! This one humbly requests your forgiveness! This one would kowtow a thousand times for this ones many transgressions! This was immediately followed by several very poor attempts at obeisancehed never actually seen it done after all, only ever read about it in booksforehead striking painfully against the rough tiles more than once. Hed always believed the stories involving the inner workings of sect life to be hyperbolic in the extreme. And in reality, perhaps they were. Here though? In this fake world hidden inside a very real trial, he figured it was safe to assume everything operated by petty sect logic. Which, actually, now that he thought about it, made what he was doing now quite possibly the worst thing one could do, given the circumstances. Essentially establishing the pecking order in full view of everyone, with him somewhere near the very bottom. That said, it wasnt as if he was going to be here long, and this was far far simpler in the short term. Hell, itd still be livable in the long term. More miserable maybe, forced into the role of obedient lapdog for much stronger cultivators. Still, it wasnt as if such a life would come as much of a culture shock. His home life honestly hadnt been that far off.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. As hed expected, his over-the-top reaction was first met with surprise, then with suspicion, and finally with embarrassment as the scene went on for a good two minutes. By the time the three boys, now fully red in the face, finally took the hint and stormed offsome trite comment or another hurriedly lobbed over a shoulderJun was quite honestly relieved. Hed genuinely been running out of ways to prostrate himself and had begun to contemplate more drastic measures. When, at last, he finally rose to his feet, forehead raw from the repeated collisions, not even his, as of yet, unnamed friend, would meet his eyethis was by no means an uncommon reactionand was, in fact, in the process of sidling away. Casually distancing himself, both physically and socially. It was an outcome Jun was entirely too pleased with. No drama, no fuss, only the practical trial to look forward to. The sole reason hed been sent here to begin with. Or so he assumed. Elder Shao cleared his throat. Glancing up, Jun found that even the elders normally contemptuous expression was warped by secondhand embarrassment. If youre done? he let the question linger. Jun merely nodded, the very picture of quiet dignity. Minus the forehead. Good. Now, teachers assistant Chen has done you the honor of grading your tests. You will be called up to the trial rock by order of test score, from highest to he paused, visibly resisting the urge to turn Juns way. Lowest Teachers assistant Chen, if you will? Recognizing that this would probably take a while, as names were called and a rough queue was formed, Jun popped a squat and set his mind to observing. An easy enough thing to do, given the wide birth the other test takers were giving him. Perhaps? Could it be that hed gone just the tiniest bit too far? Nah! Liu Mei Ling! Please take the stage! From the front of the queue emerged a petite young girl with a face as pale and unblemished as porcelain. Over her shoulder she twirled a pretty pink parasol, which appeared to match her overall outfit perfectly. Lots of differing shades of pink, flower petal designs, and a, quite frankly, absurd number of floating lengths of gauze. The girl leapt up onto the stage with ease, this despite the three-foot high elevation effectively measuring around three quarters of her height. A few more silent steps and she was before the massive boulder, looking like a child standing before a giantthe towering monolith already heavily marred by generations worth of previous attempts. Then, without even breaking her stride, Mei Ling reached up and snapped shut her umbrella, took it by the handle in both hands, then blurred forward with such incredible speed that he barely managed to catch the impact of her swing, let alone the flash of silver which briefly enveloped the umbrella from handle to tip. The end result was rather deafening. CRACK Instead of folding in half like any normal umbrella should, after being shown such poor treatment, the precious parasol left an umbrella shaped impression in the rock. A concavity that was at least a foot and a half deep. Then, as if that little display were nothing at all, Mei Ling proceeded to yank her parasol free, lever it open, then twirl it all the way back to their edge of the platforma pleased smile on her face all the while. For the next hour and a half, it was essentially some strange variation of the same. Some used their fists, others used their heads, while still others simply abused random household objects. As a matter of fact, as far as he could tell, the only things they expressly hadnt deigned to use, were weapons. Jun had just finished spectating a broad ox of a boy whod used his sandal clad foot to punch his leg through the stone well past his ankle, when the only name hed actually been looking forward to was called. The honorable Shao Luang! Please take the stage! Of course, he was the only one to get an honorific. Who wanted to guess this test was only for appearances sake. Still, Jun perked up all the same. How would the sect elders progeny perform, he couldnt help but wonder. Breaking away from his two friends, the tall boy easily leapt onto the stage, after which he purposefully marched towards its centerflashing the occasional smile at the odd female attendee as he did so. Predictably, most either swooned, sighed, or giggled. That or some combination of all three. Even Jun could admit, hed be a very handsome man someday. Reaching the looming boulder far faster than any of the others, he was quick to assume a martial stance. He then deftly manipulated his crushing aura. Unlike the others, however, he didnt strike immediately. Instead, he continued to gather dense clouds of crushing auradirecting more and more of it into his glowing right fist, until that entire section of the arena had been replaced by a nearly blinding glare. Then, after what had to have been fifteen full seconds of nothing but the oppressive build up, at last, there came a sudden release. The bang which followed wasnt just deafening in the figurative sense. Jun had the distinct impression that, if hed been any closer to the point of impact, it was entirely possible hed have irrevocably damaged his hearing. As it was, the physical shockwave created by the attack was enough to roughly bowl him, and several other attendees, over. Sent skidding across rough stone tiles, it was several more confused seconds before hed collected himself enough to take in the extent of the damage. Once he had, he found he had a hard time picking his jaw up off the floor. The gigantic boulder had moved! Where itd once been, there was now a deep track carved into the underlying foundations. Leading from where Shao Luang took in deep, panting breaths, to the trial stones new place of originwhat had to have been at least ten entire paces away. Gods above Needless to say, everyone who came after Shao Luang somewhat paled in comparison. Zhaoshen Junwei! Please take the stage! And then, it was his turn. The newly awakened first world avatar was unimpressed. It was something of a novel sensation. Primarily because, purely as a side effect of its superior ninth tier architecture, her facilities did not attract any but the most exceptional. And that standard shouldve applied doubly so for one of the infamous FenReale. It wasnt even a matter of selection on its part. Unbeknownst to many, it was not simply a common turn of phrase, the idea that like attracted like. Where the higher realms were concerned, it became a fundamental ruling arbitrated by universal law. By all rights, it should be a statistical impossibility for any but the most gifted to stumble across its station, whether that be on purpose, or by accident. Which could only mean that, either the immutable rule of law which governed the greater multiverse as a whole had been turned over on its head in the world avatars absence, or it was missing something. More inclined to believe the latter than the former, the first world avatar compartmentalized its doubts, and allowed the trial to play out as it must. And though a part of it recognized the phenomena for wishful thinking on its part, it was entirely possible the discrepancy lay with the hand the trial taker was attempting to conceal within the inner folds of his robe. Chapter 38: Iron Fist Sect Entrance Exams (III) Jun had expected mockery, all manner of derisive remarks, and poorly hidden sarcasm to pepper him as he mounted the stage. What he hadnt expected, was to be barred from participating entirely. From out of nowhere a hand appeared to bar his way. Glancing up from perfectly manicured fingernails, he met the eyes of Elder Shao, a look of undisguised distaste twisting the pretty mans features. That is far enough, he snapped. Please, the man sighed. Let us not waste any more of everyones time than is absolutely necessary? I believe we all know what the outcome of such a paltry attempt will be. Resign now and you may be partially compensated for the entry fee. Juns mind latched onto the may, in this theoretical reimbursement. You know, Id really like to give it a go, if thats alright with you. Itd be a bit of a letdown to come all this way and not at least try. The mans eye twitched, no doubt at the very intentional lack of deference. If you insist, the man practically hissed, before begrudgingly removing his hand. Willfully ignoring the Elders lingering glare, Jun cheerily leapt up onto the platform, humming a random tune to himself as he marched towards the trial stone. In reality, he wasnt nearly as confident as he made himself out to be. Even still, that didnt mean he was without a plan. Itd been an enlightening experience, watching the others attempt the trial over and over. The kind of rare opportunity for study he suspected was very much the point, seeing as the trial had been set up so that he would essentially fail the written exam before hed even arrived. In that time, hed learned a few key lessons. Some of which, thanks in part to the pantheistic workshop, hed already been loosely aware of. For instance, the ways in which they manipulated their auras. Contrary to how hed gone about things in the past, once gathered, they appeared to steep the item of their choice with their aura, somehow reinforcing it, while simultaneously enhancing its force potential. This was a stark departure from how hed used his [Cutting Hand] mantra, for instance. Now he couldnt help but wonder what would happen if he made to saturate as opposed to sheathe his hand in cutting aura. How much of a difference would itve made? That said, minor improvements aside, if he really wanted to guarantee he passed this trial, this in spite of the clear animosity their resident examiner had repeatedly shown towards him, it was quite obvious hed need to go above and beyond. Which meant merely matching, or even moderately surpassing the general standard probably wouldnt cut it. And that was where his risky gambit came into play. The very same hed been preparing ever since hed picked up on the trick of saturating ones aura. And had only begun to truly feel confident in after seeing what Shao Luang had managed with only fifteen seconds of continuous compression. In no time at all, Jun was standing before the massive boulder. It really was so much larger up close. Hopping out of the shallow trench thatd been scored into the platform following Shao Luangs attack, Jun casually circled the trial stonetaking in the truly prodigious crater Elder Shaos progeny had left, humming contemplatively to himself, and otherwise unabashedly stalling for time. It was only when it looked like an increasingly red-faced Elder Shao might actually step in, that he figured hed stalled for long enough. With a jolt of both nervousness and anticipation, Jun pulled his right arm free from the inner folds of his robe. Immediately, he had to fight hard to suppress his innate reaction to the uncanny sight. The audience of proud cultivators, on the other hand, held no similar compunctions. Audible gasps and sharp expletives rippled throughout the courtyard. Even Elder Shaos eyes widened at the sight. At the sight of his hand. Well, arm really. At the shimmering silver cast his skin had taken, rising all the way up to the elbow. Indeed, most of those that could properly see the change were similarly aghast. Not that he blamed them. It was fairly bizarre. And it was only possible because of an otherwise inconsequential boon. One which hed received weeks ago and had very nearly forgotten. |Builder Archetype: Condense| (Unique) At the cost of increased energy expenditure, make corporeal a universal mystery for which youve touched upon previously. Hed been clueless as to how exactly this boon was applied for the longest time. Now though? He thought he had a better grasp as to what it was capable of, and the possibilities of such a powerful boon, if applied correctly, were honestly staggering. His first clue had been his competition. It was difficult, if not outright impossible, to gauge the unique benefits of a thing with only one point of data. Until now, hed been operating under the assumption that just about everyone could do the things he did. And while the extent to which that was or was not true remained to be seen, hed actually been given a rather explicit hint that spoke to the contrary. Put simply, his ascendant boon had been labeled unique. It hadnt really registered with him at the time, but being designated as unique by the system was no small thing. It often meant you were one of the few beings in existence to ever receive that specific trait. Were talking single digit numbers here, people.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. With that in mind, it couldnt possibly be the case that every single applicant here also owned the exact same ascendant boon. And yet everything hed seen thus far more or less mirrored the extent of his own abilities, at least where the concept of crushing was concerned. Which could only mean there had to be more. Which ultimately got him to thinking on the crystalline nature of his aura blades. Well, that and the nature of leaves. Simply put, his aura blades werent just particularly dense conceptual manifestations. They were real blades with real weight and heft to them. When they shattered, the pieces didnt simply dissolve into etherial energy, they became flying shards of deadly crystal. They were the liquid vapor stuff of his aura, condensed into a form so compact, that they took on an actual physical presence. In that same way, the leaves inside his dantien started out as wind, were then condensed into a higher energetic state, after which they were able to hold far more potential energy, per unit, than his spirit winds could handle alone. It didnt take a genius to put two and two together from there. The result, after a fair bit of trial and error, had been thisan arm that shone the color of chrome. Not waiting for someone to come to their senses and try something hasty, Jun raised an open palm, and, gently, placed it against the scarred surface of the trial stone. With the absurd amount of aura hed managed to pack into his arm over the last forty-five minutes, it distinctly felt as if he had a bomb strapped to his arm. A particularly volatile explosive that threatened to go off at any second. Wanted to go off, by all rights. Was constantly trying to go off, for no other reason than it was the concepts nature. And the only thing making sure it did not do that very thingand in so doing take with it him, all of the young hopefuls, hell, the whole damned sect and a good chunk of the countryside besidesbeing the tight chains of his iron clad will. All that was to say there wasnt a snowballs chance in hell he was going to be bumping it up against anything he didnt explicitly want dead more than he cared to beat this trial. Instead, he simply created a small mental funnel, and released all of that pent up energy in a singular direction. The area in front of him, quite literally disintegrated. There was a blinding flash followed by an all-consuming roar of apocalyptic proportions. Both of which lasted for what felt like an eternity. When at last, after his ears had finally stopped their ringing, and Jun dared to rapidly blink his eyes open, he was immediately greeted by well, nothing. Or no, to be more exact, he was immediately presented with the stark absence of any trial stone, any semblance of the stage itd once sat upon, or, for that matter, any of the surrounding compound unfortunate enough to have found itself within a forty-five-degree radius of him. Utter devastation, in other words. All that was left to commemorate the once grand and storied courtyard, a prodigious trench carved into the earth and littered with bits of rubble and scraps of debris. Slowly, Jun turned. Facing a sea of white-faced spectators. Somewhat guiltily, he locked eyes with Elder Shao. The beautiful man, normally so aloof and outwardly superior, flinched. So! he tried. Does this mean I made it into the sect? Frustratingly, Jun never actually received a definitive answer. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have successfully completed a |1 Star| ranked trial. OBJECTIVE CLEARS Main Objective: Show moderate proficiency with the Basic Mantra [Iron Fist]. Incomplete. Secret Objective: Improve upon, then show moderate proficiency with the Basic Mantra [Iron Fist]. Complete. Hidden Objective: Defeat Shao Luang of the Iron Fist Sect in open combat. Incomplete. Hidden Objective: Defeat Elder Shao of the Iron Fist Sect in open combat. Incomplete. Secret Objective: Defeat more than half of the Iron Fist Sects Grand Elders in a single attack. Complete. TITLES OBTAINED *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Mammoth Slayer| (Limited) Earned by defeating multiple opponents that were effectively two cultivation realms above you. + 1 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. You are now less likely to be affected by things like aura suppression. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Giant Slayer| (Limited) Earned by defeating multiple opponents that were effectively three cultivation realms above you. +5 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. You are now much less likely to be affected by things like aura suppression. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Titan Slayer| (Limited) Earned by defeating multiple opponents that were effectively four or more cultivation realms above you. +10 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. You are now far less likely to be affected by things like aura suppression. (Note: These effects are only applicable whilst within a simulated trial.) (Note: by completing a sufficiently high ranked trial, it is possible to transform a temporary title into one that is functional outside of a simulated space.) RENOWN BONUSES With one exception, the mark you left on this trial world was minimal. You have formed no alliances, though you have made an enemy in the Iron Fist Sect, now the Fallen Iron Fist Sect. Given the state in which you left them it is unlikely such enmity will bear much fruit. Their enemies, however, may look upon you favorably. You are no more or less likely to find yourself in an advantageous position at the start of later trials. Acclaim Bonus: NOT APPLICABLE Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect GREATER ALIGNMENTS You have yet to commune with either heaven or hell. Your soul remains pure and untainted. Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Complete Further Trials to Discover your Star Ranking. (Note: the more difficult the trial, the higher your overall ranking will be.) Trials Completed: [1 of 100] Overall Performance Rating: A+ Chapter 39: We’ll Have Words, You & I By the time Jun blinked away the barrage of system messages, he was already being greeted with another round of chimes. Thankfully, these, at least, he knew what to do with. *Ding!* You have found enlightenment in the concept: [Crushing] |Concept of Crushing| (1st Aspect) Aspect of Kinetic Release +5 to resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Iron Fist] (1st Aspected) My will shatters bones. Grade: (Poor Quality) *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Iron Fist] (Poor Quality) has evolved. [Iron Fist] (Poor Quality) has become: [Titans Fist] (Excellent Quality) +30 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your resonance pillar has ascended. Advanced from |Aged Stone| [30 of 30] to |Traveled Copper| [7 of 50]. As your horizons broaden, so too does your understanding of the path. You exchange hands quite frequently, and now, with time comes lived experience. You begin to make out shapes in the dark spots between the stars. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 18 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 112 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 112 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Wow. Okay then. After everything thatd happened, Jun couldnt help but feel pleased with the amount of progress hed made. Dont get him wrong, he was still pretty miffed about the whole temporary title thing. Of course he wasnt entirely sure what celestial dew actually wassome sort of condensed version of celestial essence perhapsbut nevertheless, hed take what he could get. And what hed ultimately gotten wasnt anything to sneeze at. Of course, that then begged the question of, what in the hells had all that been? For that matter, how had it even come to be? Questions he was sure to revisit many many times in the days to come. In the end though, he was just glad there had been tangible results period, otherwise he mightve chalked it all up to some oddly lucid fever dream. Immediately following his completion of the trial, he had been summarily booted from the pantheistic workshop servers. It hadnt bothered him overly much, aside from the general disorientation. After finding himself back in his little oasis beneath the world, all itd taken was a thought to pop back into the workshop and then out again. It would seem that he now had full run of the place. Something for which he was eternally grateful. It was an amazing resource, no matter how inexplicable, and he had the feeling hed only just begun to scratch the surface of its trial system. The hidden objectives hed failed to clear were indication enough of that. Apparently, what it took to clear a trial wasnt so clear cut as hed believed it to be. Not only that, but, if he was reading into things correctly, the things he did there would have a cumulative impact on later trials, for good or for ill. Refocusing on his surroundings, he found Ivory was still fast asleep. He couldnt know for sure, but going purely based off of his own stomach, he didnt think all that much time had passed. Even though itd felt like hours, maybe even days had passed inside, out here, it might only have been minutes. Glancing down at the other two fruits of enlightenment, he felt the flutter of anticipation and apprehension both. Hed barely noticed it at the time, so immersed was he in the whole convoluted process, but he now recognized that what hed done had been taxing in the extreme. To the point that the thought of jumping straight back into another session was daunting, even if the power another high quality mantra promised was tempting. A rustling sound dragged his attention away from the fruits, giving him an excuse to put them off for at least a few more minutes. Shoving them into his dimensional bag and feeling a wave of primal relief in their absence, he looked up to find Ivory was finally stirring. Rising unsteadily to a sitting position, she let out her bodys equivalent of a yawn. Tentacles stretched to half again their usual size, beforerubbing at sleepy eyesshe blinked up at him owlishly. Youre looking better, Jun commented. And indeed, she was. Although it was clear at a glance she was still far from peak condition, her complexion had lost its concerning grayish hue, and her eyes appeared far more focused than they had been in a long while. Mmm. I must say I do feel much better as well, she stretched, then looked around in evident confusion. I-! What-? Where are we? Jun, what happened? Does this mean we won? And she blinked at him several times. Huh? Youre different! Whenever did you find the time to change, of all things? And whatever possessed you not to wake me when you did?! Jun felt a knot of tension in his chest ease with the rapid-fire questioning. If she had the energy for questions already, the ordeal couldnt have scarred her too badly. It was what he liked to tell himself at least. In order of seniority: were still underground. I outran our pursuers. We didnt win, but we didnt really lose either. Uhh, while you were asleep? And because you looked like death. I think that was everything Oh! And check out this place, huh? Pretty sweet right? I, uh, also bought you some clothes. You know, the kind that arent covered in rat goo? he hesitated. Feel free to say no, by the way! the words spilling out in a rush. Im pretty flush with coin right now so you can pick literally anything else. Well- not literally, its a fairly linear selection, but you know what I mean. Money is not an issue, he cut himself off there before his mouth could well and truly get away from him.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. He didnt know why, but he suddenly felt very awkward indicating the clearly identical robe. Why hadnt he gotten it in a different color at least? He hadnt really given it much thought at the time but having them prance around in matching outfits was more than a little embarrassing now that he really thought of it. I managed to find one in your size, he added, as if that would explain away everything. Hmm she looked at him curiously. Alright But when she reached for the robes, Jun immediately slid them away. She looked up at him, her head cocked to the side in confusion. Its probably best if you bathed first, he explained. No point in ruining them, and its not as if youll have to go very far, he gestured behind her as if to emphasize his point. Glancing to where hed indicated, Jun got to watch as she fully took in the absurd majesty of their little hideaway. He was gratified to hear the small gasp escape her, even if all hed done was stumble across the place by accident. He was about ready to get up and leave the room to allow for some privacy, when she, surprisingly, demonstrated her blatant disregard for any and all rules of propriety. Mistress Maisell wouldve thrown a fit. He, on the other hand, merely settled on averting his eyeshe didnt entirely know whysuddenly very interested in the flowing cuffs of his robe. Unaware of his misgivings, or else wholly unconcerned, she quickly shrugged out of her tattered, blood stained kimono and leapt into the pool with a whoop! of pure joyeliciting a tiny splash, and an even tinier ripple. At first, he wisely decided to sit back and leave her to it, but when she didnt reemerge, after what he deemed to be several seconds too many, Jun edged his way towards the crystalline pool, concern writ large on his features. He peered down cautiously, ready to dive in at a moment''s notice, only to find that Ivory was, apparently, having the time of her life. Much like the aquatic beast hed first taken her for, Ivory moved through the water like shed been born to itwith as much, if not more adroitness than she ever showed in the air. Upon seeing this, his worry soon abated, only to rise steadily as the minutes ticked by, and, in the midst of all of her somersaults and corkscrew maneuvers, she never once came back up for air. Only once he caught sight of, then remembered the gills which showed prominently to either side of her neck did he finally allow himself to relax. Eventually she did re-emergein an explosion of foam and water dropletsand then it was another ten to fifteen frustrating minutes spent trying and failing to recall just how hed gotten the stupid robes around himself in the first place. Only this time the process was made doubly impossible by the fact that the task was in miniature. There, Jun sighed, tugging the last inane fold into place. Thatll have to do. What do you think? Ivory looked down at herself, tugged at her loose sleeves, then twirled around as if testing her range of motion in the brand-new ensemble. Hed had to customize the garments a bit to accommodate her wingspan, and by customize he of course meant that hed hacked two great rents into the back, just large enough to let the membranous appendages slip free. Hmm. It will serve, I suppose. So, does this mean were finished here? How long before we can set out again? We really should make haste, you know. If were to have any hope of retrieving our things, there can be no time to lose! Jun was immediately taken aback. Really? After the day youve just had I wouldve thought hopping straight back into the thick of things would be the furthest thing from your mind. I! she hesitated, suddenly looking very guilty. Well I never got to finish my book, now did I? she finished, rather defensively. Even now, the venerable Li Minghua is the only thing standing between certain demise, and the fragile lives of her hopelessly incompetent charge- that is to say, charges. I mean really it should be fairly self explanatory! Honestly, how in the yearning abyss is she supposed to protect him- that is to say, them if they simply refuse to heed her instruction? Especially now that theyre so much weaker than she is. They could get badly hurt, or injured, or worse! she shuddered, glancing up at him, and then quickly away again. So you can understand why it would be imperative we get underway immediately! Post-haste, you understand. Post-haste! Uhh no, I still cant really say that I do. Ivory growled in frustration. The way her mouth hands lashed in irritation, he had to admit, it was kind of cute. I dont know if youve noticed, Jun, but were trapped in a cave of all things. Do you know what caves have in great abundance? Damp. Thats what! Damp, Jun! Do you realize the kind of field day damp will have with our poor, defenseless, unattended books? Mildew, Jun! Mildew! I mean, this is serious! If were not quick, someone is sure to get hurt! Jun paused, considering. Were they? Were they still talking about books? They were. Werent they? Is that what this is about? Look, I can buy more books, that was never really the issue. Theyre super cheap, and there is literally an unlimited supply. I was planning on getting more of them once we were properly situated anyway. But you cant buy back your silly old scroll though, can you? she retorted with an unnecessary degree of smug satisfaction. And youll need it if youre going to compete in that fancy tournament of yours. Tell me Im wrong! The plan. Just think about the plan, Jun. And your mother! We cant forget about her! All very important, she gave a quick nod. Why wait? We should go. Like now. As soon as possible. I suppose you have a point. Though, if worst comes to worst, losing the scroll? It wouldnt really be the end of the world. Not anymore. A look of wide-eyed panic flit across her features. A-and youre sure about that? Fairly. In truth, hed already written off the retrieval of his scroll and all their other valuables as a lost cause. Theyd wandered too far off the trail, if a trail there ever was in the first place, for retrieval to be even possible at this point, let alone likely. Still, she seemed somewhat hung up on the idea and so he felt compelled to assuage her concerns. I didnt want to jinx it, but I stumbled onto something incredible while you were sleeping! Im not completely sure yet, but I think it holds the key to well, everything! Ivorys face instantly soured at this revelation, a look of frustration writ large there. It was so out of place, so oddly suspiciouslike she had an agenda, and all he was doing was setting up roadblocks to its successthat it decided him on where this conversation was going to go. Had to go, if they were to continue to journey together, no matter how little he actually wanted to have the discussion. However, before any of that, he made a point of setting his dimensional bag aside. Ivory. I think its about time you came clean with me. Huh?! she flinched, suddenly very keen on looking anywhere but at him. Again? But I just got out. You were there, remember? N-now youre saying you want me to go back in? But-! Well, I suppose I dont mind if you dont mindif you wanted to join me, I meanbut like I said, we really dont have the time to frivolously waste on such things! What? No-! Answers! I mean answers! Come clean with- he paused. You know what? Never mind. The point Im trying to make is that I know youve been hiding things from me. What?! she looked offended. No! How could you think that!? I wouldnt-! I would never! Ivory I I have no idea what it is youre talking about. R-really, now. Stop speaking nonsense Jun. Youre embarrassing yourself, she said, her face the very picture of innocence. Oh really? Jun gave her his best no nonsense stare, the kind used to intimidate powerful people in their own homes and establish clear dominance in a room full of strangers. That he was borrowing the technique from Lady Maisell was not a fact he let slip through their bond. For her part, while she made a valiant effort, it wasnt long before she wilted under the pressure. Her head drooped sullenly, but not before she gave a meek nod of acknowledgement. A pang of guilt stabbed through him at the sight, but he ignored it. Now was not the time. Good. Now, why dont we start with the first thing, and then move on from there? he said with far more conviction than he actually felt. Chapter 40: Soul Bond The way he saw it, there were two questions that needed answering, and one he was still unsure whether he actually wanted to know. The first: What exactly was the nature of their mental bond? The second: How in the world was she able to do the things she did? And the third: Why, in the gods name, did he trust her so implicitly? Not to mention, had he been wrong to do so in the first place? Intellectually he knew these were all very valid concerns hed been insane not to bring up, even in passing, until now. While instinctually, he knew they werent questions that needed askingthat the answers shouldve been as obvious as they were unimportant, even if he didnt quite know what those answers actually were. Itd been during the last solitary hours spent traversing the under cityperhaps the first time hed truly been alone with his thoughts since Ivorys untimely arrivalthat hed realized something rather unusual. While cradling Ivorys small body to his chest, hed reflected on how protective hed become of this peculiar little creature. And then, on how quickly that possessiveness had come about. Suspiciously quick, the more he thought on it. Seeing as he wasnt, on the whole, someone in the habit of rushing blindly into trust. Add to that the fact his budding doubts did little to shake his solid convictions, and the intense feeling of wrongness only grew. Thinking back, he was able to recall a number of instances wherein his protective instincts for her heavily outweighed all other concerns. After all, what had it taken for him to dismiss every reasonable reservation hed held about her in the first place? A short-lived conversation that, technically, never addressed even one of what shouldve been a lengthy list of concerns. And when hed been given the chance to risk the life of a spirit beast he barely knew, in exchange for the possible safety of his very own mother, what had he done? Hed protected Ivory at all costs. Did that really sound like him? To skew things so heavily in a total strangers favor? An entity that wasnt even human, over the mother whod cared for him his entire life? Sure, his mother was no pushover, but still He hadnt even given it a second thought at the time, and maybe, just maybe, that shouldve raised more suspicions. And then there was the mind reading aspect of things. Yet another ominous sign hed barely thought to question. As it was, despite still having nothing but good will towards herin fact, dredging up the will to even voice his concerns at all was proving more and more difficult by the secondhe was nevertheless in desperate need of some explanations. Ivory, perhaps sensing this, held nothing back. Name: Ivory Race: Albino Cthulle Bloodline: Call of the Voidling (2 Stars) Titles: Denizen of the Void, Lofty Pedigree Resonance Pillar: Aged Stone [0 of 30] Body Mutation: NOT APPLICABLE Body: 0 Celestial Dew (619 Celestial Essence) Mind: 3 Celestial Dew (3458 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 1 Celestial Dew (1755 Celestial Essence) Insight: 0 Celestial Dew (329 Celestial Essence) Martial Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Substantive Alignment: Concept of Mind (1st Aspect) Conceptual Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Talents: Galaxy Eyes (1 Star), Soul Bond (2 Stars) Core Grade: Common (MAXED) Core Capacity: 3 of 2 Mutation Points: 1000 Mortal Potential: 5,986,000 Points Jun stared at the foreign status screen, transfixedwondering at all the minute differences, and the reoccurring void themes readily apparentwhile Ivory awkwardly wrung her hands in the background. Once hed finally found his bearings, however, he immediately locked onto her rather suspicious sounding alignment. It was all starting to make a horrible kind of sense. Concept of mind? This whole time? Have you been- No! Its nothing like what your thinking! I couldnt have! Even if Id wanted to! My alignment is still weak. Pitifully so, remember? It only really works on small creatures, and even then, only for very short periods of time. Look! Mantra: [Minor Suggestion] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Okay Wait, but if thats the case then how? Why-? Without uttering a word, Ivory pulled up two more screens. At which point his general stupefaction only deepened further. Born Talent: |Galaxy Eyes| (Inheritance)If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Unveil With Your Eyes the Breadth of Infinity (Passive Effect) Allows for the Perception of Things Normally Hidden. (Active Effect) Enhances Perception Immensely When Used. Born Talent: |Soul Bond| [Linked] If Two Minds Are Better Than One, Two Souls Must Be Greater Still Your Soul and Anothers Have Been Karmically Linked at Birth. (Passive Effect): May Share Any Property and or Status Inherent to the Soul. This is? Jun paused. He was actually at a loss for words. He hadnt known what hed been expecting, but it hadnt been this. The feeling of wrongness only grew, as he thought, for the first time in a long time, of his corrupted talents. The ones thatd first appeared as if in response to Ivorys impromptu arrival. Wait! Before you say anything! I promise I was going to tell you. Only it kept being the absolute worst time. A-and! Also, I dont know if you know this, but you can give very mixed signals at times. You should really work on that, you know. Because sometimes you acted just like you knew! So I really dont think its entirely my fault. Only other times it was as if you really did forget? So, in the end I mostly got all confused and didnt know what to do, or say, or, well and so I sort of didnt saying anything at all, but-! Hold on, wait! Slow down. Slow down. Forget? What could I have possibly forgotten that makes any of this make sense? it wasnt the question he wanted to be asking, seeing as his faulty memory seemed the least of recent developments. Me, obviously! Our you know our thing? Our bond, or ugh! Take a hint Jun! Are you really going to make me say it?! Our what? You mean your talent? But thats Ive never even seen it before now. I mean, if I were soul bonded with someone, which sounds like a pretty big deal, all things told, I think I would at least know about it. Right? A shadow passed over her face. Do you really not remember anything? she said in a quiet voice. Remember what?! he was becoming exasperated at this point. When we met! Surely you-! You cant have forgotten that much! I mean, that would just be! He nearly scoffed. Im pretty sure I remember what I had for breakfast that morning. I still dont see what that has to do with- No, not that! That was just I dont know, a reunion. Im talking about the time before. The first time. Jun hesitated, a small frown forming on his brow. First time? Linked at birth, itd said. But that couldnt possibly be could it? And with those two words it was as if a faintly flickering hope had finally gone out in her eyes, and, as he watched, she appeared to deflate in on herself. She held that dejected pose for a long time. Then, almost as if he were watching her in reverse, her spine straightened, her shoulders lost their slump, and her air of dejection turned to one of determination. Ill just have to show you, then. Yes. Thats what Ill do, she balled her hands up into little fists. I can do that much. Or I very much think I can, so I probably can anyway. And then, once youve seen, itll all come rushing back, and youll remember to remember properly this time, she finished the statement with a sharp bob of her head. Wait? Show me? Show me what? Hold on, what are you-? But before he could even finish his sentence, the slightly clammy hand had already adhered itself to his forehead, and in the next moment the world as hed known it first wavered, then smeared, before it vanished entirely. For the umpteenth time in less than two weeks. A brisk wind descends from snowcapped peaks. Carrying with it light dustings from lofty mountain heights, as it spirals down, ever closer, to the valley far below. The secluded valley floor, a cozy little clearing, and the two restless seven-year-olds plotting mischief therein. It travels down treacherous switchbacks, past ravenous beast dens, and the occasional cultivation cave long since abandoned. Through towering pine forests, and the mornings creeping mists, which make as if to embrace the quaint clearing on all sides. It skims across the surface of one freshwater pond, then around the storybook cottage that lay just shy of the waters edge. And in that special way only mid-autumn winds possess, it blithely races onward, until at very long last, it gently buffets the two children as they skulk and scheme. Eager to pluck, with pleasantly cool fingers, at just about anything and everything in reach. From the odd bits of foliage, to the hems of their fine cloaks, and finally, to the grass which stands tall at their feet. Where they werent being squashed flat by a young Cthulles restless pacing that was. The mischievous wind tugging green stalks this way and that, as if to sway them in time with her own wavering conscience. But! she whispered in a half shout. If mother finds out-! Blah blah blah! Well be back before no time! You worry way too much. Actually? Thats probably why all your hair fell out, the boy snickers. The young Cthulle, so cruelly and viciously attacked, becomes absolutely rigid with indignation. And in turn, says nothing for a very long time. Meanwhile, the cheeky boy only grins his stupid stupid grin all the wider. Almost like he wasnt being the most impossibly insufferable thing to ever exist. He knew very well shed never had any hair to begin with, though perhaps not that she still very much held out hope. He was just trying to get a rise out of her, she wisely decides. That was all this was. It was how he always dragged her into his empty-headed foolishness. Well, she wouldnt be falling for it this time, that was for sure. In fact, she wouldnt even give him the satisfaction of knowing hed gotten to her. Be elegant and poised in all things, she tells herself. That was what shed learned from watching his mother in secret, and that was how she ever aspired to be. You take that back right now! she hisses, lunging at him with arms outstretched. In response, the boy merely lets out a short laugh, then leaps into the sky with a deft manipulation of winds. And as for the young, elegant, and poised Cthulle? She was leaping right after him of course, already hot on his heels. Dragged yet again into another of Juns utterly foolish, impossibly reckless, and what was no doubt bound to be the hairiest of all the hare brained schemes. Jun blinked. It took a second for his vision to fully adjust. Once it had he found himself staring into wide, opalescent eyes from mere inches awaya tight knot of confusion squeezing his chest. What? But before he could finish formulating that thought, an explosion sounded from somewhere uncomfortably close, sending a tremor up his spine, and raining loose dust and shale down from the ceiling. And thenso faint that he almost chalked it up to his imaginationthe shouting began. And not long after that, the screams. Chapter 41: A Fight for Survival Kit let out an ululating cry as he planted his spear deep into overgrown rat skull. Gritting his teeth, he powered through the jolt of numbness which ran up his arms all the way to the elbow. Nearly disarming him at the most pivotal of moments. As his attack was not only met by unequivocal success, but also the rather solid marble tile that lay beneath. Panting with two parts exhilaration and one part exhaustion, Kit slammed his cloth wrapped foot down hardfeeling the small bones of its ribcage cave as he tugged the weapon free. The spear sliding from the shin high rat creature with a crisp, rasping sound. And all the while, Kit couldnt keep the grin off his face. Billy may have been a muscle-bound buffoon at the best of times, often with a great deal more brawn than he had sense, but hed certainly been onto something where this whole spear thing was concerned. Of course, itd taken the timely intervention of Viviana to actually get the idea off the ground, but he had to give credit where credit was due. Right now, he wouldnt trade his handy rat poker for anything in the whole wide world. Especially when there were still so many of these stupid beasts left to kill. With a start, Kit jerked his head away and to the side as one of the little vermin tried to latch its nasty chompers onto his face. Small though they mightve been, their stature sure didnt seem to hamper their jump height any. Or strength for that matter, the fuckers were strong. Not overwhelmingly sono stronger than his younger cousins back home mightve been, and him on an empty stomach besidesbut it definitely made him think twice about getting too up close and personal with the beasties. A hesitation that Andrew clearly did not share. As the thing sailed past, Kit only made out the flash of steel from the corner of his eye, as Andrews blade swiftly bisected the little creature midway through its jump. With an ostentatious flick, he then rid the pristine sword of any residual bloodthe boy only pausing briefly to survey their ragged front line, before he rushed off to help relieve one of the others. Kit made a face. Show off, he muttered, before turning back to his portion of the defense. Ever since Viviana had gifted him that sword, hed been hitched to the damned thing like a man possessed. Every waking momentwhen they werent scavenging to make their quota or stuck in those moldy old tunnelshed spent training. Moving through the strange stances Viviana had taught them, though with far more gusto than any of them had ever shown. In some ways, Kit regretted the somewhat lax approach hed taken towards his training. Though a part of him recognized that, even if he had gone ahead and given it his all, hed probably still end up playing sorry second fiddle to that hyper focused maniac. The guy just had this inexplicable knack for the blade, and they all knew it. That didnt mean Kit had to like it very much. Kit briefly grimaced, before a welcome sight made his face once more split into a wide, stupid grin. Yet another clueless rat had poked its head out one of the many holes theyd chewed through the walls. Like lambs to the slaughter. Kit had to hold back the mad impulse to throw his head back and howl. Instead, he waited patiently for the thing to squirm its way through. Because, really, what thrill was there to be had in an easy fight? Jabbing at the creature while it couldnt fight back? Nah! Not his style. Once it fully emerged, noticed him, then visibly made ready to pounce, however, Kit once more leveled his spear, took aim, and lunged. Mingxuan stabbed her weapon into the breach before the vile beast could squeeze its hairy body all the way through. Feeling the thing shudder its last on the end of her spear, she made a concerted effort not to dislodge the creature when she carefully pulled the weapon free. The firmly wedged in corpse would now act as a crude stopgap of sorts. Hopefully stymying the others progress long enough for her to regulate her breathing. Stepping back and wiping the sweat from her brow, Mingxuan took the brief hiatus as a chance to survey her surroundings. Of course, this was only after confirming, one last time, that all of the other breaches shed been tasked with defending had, likewise, been secured. Glancing around the massive banquet hall they now found themselves in, Mingxuan briefly called to mind the mad dash theyd taken to reach this placeharried all the while by a seemingly never-ending hoard of rats. She shuddered in recollection of that undulating carpet of hairy bodies. Spreading from one end of the impossibly wide thoroughfare to the other. Their never-ending mass extending as far back as any of them could see. She just hoped Viviana and the others were having a better time of it than them. She knew they were confident in their own abilities, by the way they carried themselves if nothing else, but she couldnt help but feel concern. Those four hadnt been any normal spirit beasts. The oppressive power theyd wielded? Mingxuan shuddered, abruptly shifting her focus onto better things. Things she had even the smallest chance of controlling. Checking in on the children first, she was relieved to find that both Kaelin and Jiali had stopped their crying and were now being comforted by little Adrian and Jieyu of all things. They held the two girls close and attempted to make a game out of even this hopeless situation. It wasnt long before the innocent sounds of childrens laughter penetrated the thick, insufferable atmosphere of the hall. Ringing out clearly over both the horrendous screams of the dying, and Kit, annoyingly enough, as he took way too much pleasure in killing them. It was a heartwarming sight that should have brought Mingxuan to tears. And perhaps, if it werent for one other figure huddling pathetically by their side, it would have. As it stood, however, all Mingxuan felt was pissed. Caitlyn tried her very best to keep the children distracted. With silly little games, happy songs, and fantastical fairy tales. Well, the few appropriate ones she could still remember, anyway. Not an especially easy proposition given that her childhood had been most notably spent around gruff laborers and farmhands whose tongues were heavily loosened by drink. Which essentially meant that, as a rule, whenever she stumbled across a particularly tricky bend in a storyshe couldve sworn hadnt been there a moment beforeshe improvised. And uh, the scary beasts were slain, and they all lived happily ever after! And all the while she pointedly ignored the baleful glare Mingxuan seemed to be perpetually aiming her direction. Really now? Didnt she have more important things to do than bother Caitlyn with all her misplaced anger? Surely there were ample pests in need of tending to? Her eyes briefly flicked over the growing number of corpses lying at her fellow captives feet. She shuddered in revulsion. It wasnt as if she wouldve been any help regardless, she told herself. Could they really not see that? She was an innkeeper''s daughter for the god''s sake, not some great and powerful warrior like Andrew or Viviana. Nor would she ever be, as long as she lived. And anyway, what use was there in putting her own life at risk when they seemed to be handling things just fine by themselves. Someone needed to look after the children. She was sure Mingxuan cared very little for the young ones mental well-being, but that didnt mean she could be so heartlessly cruel. Besides, what use would all the womans pissy glaring amount to if, when everything truly came to a head, all of their problems would be solved regardless. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Her prince was coming, she could feel it. The savior always arrived when the damsel was in the most distress. When the straits were most dire. And then, when he finally did arrive, not even that ghastly sea of rodents would be able to stand in his way. Simon watched as, with a mighty bellow, Billy brought the, not one, but two long spears crashing down to the ground with a meaty thwackpulverizing the four or so rat beasts thatd been skewered onto each. Billy glanced up sharply from the gruesome displayexuberance written plainly on his features. Simon gave a strained smile in return. For the barest second, he contemplated commenting on how that wasnt really how you were supposed to use a spear, that double fisting two spears at once was an interesting choice, and that the beasts had likely already been dead well before hed felt the need to hammer the poor creatures back into the ground. Seeing the dopey eyed look of joy on his companions blood splattered face, however, Simon very quickly thought better of it. Instead, plucking free a random dagger from a sheath, he took a split second to test its balance, before he proceeded to fling it over the big guys left shoulder. Billy, for his part, didnt even flinchso trusting was he in Simons aim by now. A blind trust that Simon would have, quite frankly, found unsettling were it not for the fact that he was, indeed, an impeccable shot. The jewel incrusted knife flipped through the air soundlessly to embed itself hilt deep in the chest of the leaping rat creatureabruptly arresting its forward momentum and killing it dead before itd even touched the ground. You should really watch your back more, Simon commented, eyes flickering from Billy to their surroundings, and back again. The bear of a boy just laughed. Ha! That, my little friend, is what youre here for. Simon only sighed, loosing another dagger as he did so. The shrill cry of yet another dying rat beast easily joining the others in the deafening cacophony. I remember I couldnt stand my uncles hunting lessons way back when. Always so eager to get back to the creature comforts of home, warm meals, and the library. Who wouldve thought their teachings would turn out to be so essential? Ill have to thank those wily old mercenaries when I get back to the family manor. Despite his better judgment, Simon kept a close tally of the beasts they killed. Having witnessed the unending sea of rodents just as clearly as the others, he knew intellectually that it likely mattered little how many they felled here. Given the fact that, if they really wanted to, the beasts could just keep on coming at them indefinitely. Even still, despite how nonsensical of a task it was, he found that the constant additions helped ground him in the moment. That, if nothing else, the monotony of it helped to soothe his growing anxiety. In this way, despite the chaos going on all around him, ever since the siege had first begun, hed kept close tabs on how many entered the hall. Which was ultimately why he was probably the first to notice when the steady influx of rat beasts came to an inexplicable halt. For a brief second, Simon actually felt a glimmer of hope. Thinking that, no matter how illogical, Viviana and the others had not only found them, but were even now chewing their way through the horde to save them. That glimmer of hope, unfortunately, did not last long. A loud impact echoed throughout the hallthe crack of splintering wood making everyone jump. Simon focused on the wooden barricade theyd set up in front of the entrance. On the massive double doors set into the wall, and whatever was on the other side that desperately wanted in. Simons eyes quickly scanned the length of the halltaking in the similarly terrified expressions on the faces of his companionsbefore they eventually landed squarely on Andrews lean frame. His tall, straight backed, and muscular silhouette the target of several such desperation filled glances. He was the strongest among them, they all knew. And if anyone here had a chance of taking down whatever lay beyond that door, it would be him. Simon could only hope that he would be enough in the end. Then the second massive impact came, blasting a hole through their barricade in an explosion of wooden chairs and flying splinters. Billy didnt just sit back and watch as their defenses were blown to smithereens. Nor as a group of tail swaying bastards casually pranced in through the hole. He didnt hem and haw over the best course of action as the inhuman creatures swapped words in their alien tongue. He didnt even wait for the dust to settle before he was throwing himself, spears first, at the hated enemy. His double fisted spear technique practically brimming with untold power. Literally itching to be used to its fullest, most brutal, most devastating effect. Billy never saw the claw toed foot that savagely connected with his lower sternum, nor the derisive smirk worn by the lanky rat-kin who delivered the bone breaking blow. Just as he didnt feel the brutal impact of his body careening into the furthest wall. His long-departed consciousness, which had immediately followed the kickthat and the subsequent shattering of every bone in his ribcagea blessed mercy on all counts. Andrew was given little time to process the result of Billys suicidal charge before the first of the swaggering rat-kin was already upon him. His only real saving grace the fact that, of the five spirit beasts to enter the hall, only one appeared to be actively participating in the fight. Whether that was because of a warped sense of honor, or if theyd all just picked straws and this guy had won, Andrew had no idea. All he did know was that hed trained hard for this very moment, and he was determined not to embarrass himself. Hed moved through the forms for hours on end. Until his muscles refused to listen, and his body gave out. Swung his blade until his hands bled, until the cloth wrapping the hilt of his sword wore away. Hed sparred with Viviana every chance he could get, and whenever he was idle, hed visualized. Visualized his stances, reviewed his mistakes, and extrapolated on how he might perform better in the future. His body had been remade in the crucible of the under. His mind had been attuned to that of the sword. And while his mastery of the blade was far from what he would call masterful, hed nevertheless taken the first few steps along that path. And now that the first true test of his abilities had shown itself, he refused to allow all of his efforts to be in vain. The beast attacked. Andrew stood ready. Two swords clashed in rapid succession, the impact of steel on stone reverberating throughout the hall and creating brief showers of sparks with every deafening crash. Andrew sidestepped a wild diagonal swing, parried another with a deft redirection of his blade, and narrowly ducked a thirdthe horizontal slash easily shearing away the tips of his hair despite the rather dull looking appearance of the stone blade. Amidst the flurry of strikes and rapid exchangesoccurring in the space of just a few scant secondsit didnt take long for Andrew to realize something crucial. The beasts attacks were crude, reckless, and overreaching things. More dependent on superior strength and speed than any technique. And while that wasnt to say that superior attributes werent contributing factors, after having sparred almost daily with Viviana these past months, hed come to realize that they werent everything in a fight. For a long while Andrew merely sought to wear the beast outevading strikes whenever possible and parrying them when necessary. All the while he backpedaled further and further from the beasts companions. He conserved energy when he could, revealed more holes in his defense than there actually were, and did his best to lull the beast into a false sense of superiority. By around the one-minute mark it was evident to everyone in the room that the beast was growing rather agitated. His swings became more reckless, and the power contained within them nearly doubled. Andrew, caught somewhat off guard by this sudden surge in power, was nearly too late in bringing his weapon up in time. His hurried guard ultimately protecting his vitals, though he was nevertheless sent reeling from just that brief contact with the upward strikethrown entirely off balance with his wrists twinging in pain. And while he was fairly quick to recover, slipping away with only a scant few nicks for all the beasts troubles, he became far more wary of full-on collisions from there on out. It shouldnt have been a surprise that the beast was holding back. From the very moment hed seen one of them launch Billy across the hall, he shouldve known. In the same way hed recognized, from their rapid chatter and somewhat lax demeanors, that they were clearly only here to entertain themselves. They underestimated the powerless humans trapped down here in their domain, and Andrew had bet a lot on their continuing to underestimate him. Finally, taking note of an especially overeager swing, Andrew saw his chance to strike and took it. Sidestepping the overhead swing, Andrew demonstrated a speed hed refrained from tapping into up until now. He lunged. The tip of his sword closing the distance in the time between blinks, to embed itself neatly into the rat-kins exposed jugular. Then, with a slash empowered by the whole of his body working in tandem, he slit the beasts throat. Nearly cutting down to the bone, he released powerful gouts of blood to permeate the air, then splatter harmlessly against the marble tile floor. Silence reigned then, for long seconds, only punctuated by the occasional pitter patter of blood. Breaths coming in gasps and body drenched in sweat, Andrew had only enough energy left to watch as his opponent clutched their neck with wide, uncomprehending eyes. The beast staggered backward in apparent shock. Though, to Andrews immediate confusion, never once did it let go of its weapon. Nor, for that matter, did the others step in to intervene. When that look of stunned horror turned to one of unbridled fury, Andrew thought he understood why. It was only due to the hundred odd hours spent in grueling form repetition that he got his blade up in time. Even as he did so, however, a part of his mind recognized it as futile. Because there was something fundamentally different about this incoming strike. Something almostprimeval in nature. An aura that defied all attempts of his to quantify. An otherworldly intent that not only promised to cut him in two but rend the entire world asunder in the very same swing. Despite every instinct he had screaming to the contrary, Andrew gritted his teeth and raised his sword to meet the force of nature pretending to be a blade. And, in turn, was not at all surprised when his raised sword was sheered straight through without even a single jolt of resistance. The sharp rock that slid into his stomach thereafter did, however, surprise. It surprised him quite a bit actually. Its touch bringing about a burst of unimaginable agony followed by soul sucking weakness and unbearable nausea. The impact of his body slamming into the furthest wall, meanwhile, was barely felt at all. Chapter 42: The Prince’s Arrival Caitlyn could only look on in mounting horror, as the beast that was supposed to have died, stabbed Andrew through the guts, then tossed him casually to the side. She flinched upon hearing the meaty thwack of his landing. The sound alone so terrible she couldnt even bring herself to look. She reached for the children instinctively, though whether it was to shield their eyes, or to comfort herself, she didnt rightly know. Almost against her will, Caitlyn watched the malicious beast approach, as it staggered its way towards them. What passed for a hand clamped down hard on the gash in its neck, as if its fingers were the only thing keeping its head on its shoulders. Kit was, unsurprisingly, the next to fall. She shrank back as his idiotic charge and fragile battle cry was cut short with a wet cough. A lazy jab all it took for the beast to plant its blade through Kits chest, and out the other side. Something too quick for her to make out whizzed past in Caitlyns periphery. Flying as if drawn towards the rat creature, it too was easily swept aside by a flourish of the beasts bladethe sharp clang of metal on stone rebounding throughout the hall. That wasnt the end of it, however, as what she could now make out as knives, dozens of projectiles, soon flew with unerring accuracy towards the staggering beast. Caitlyns brief flare of hope died just as quickly as itd been born, as each and every one of the hurled projectiles were either neatly deflected or evaded outright. In the next moment, Simon himself flashed past, two daggers in hand and as solemn an expression as shed ever seen on himdisplaying a degree of bravery Caitlyn was ashamed to realize she hadnt believed him capable of. He too was cut down in short order, however, though he did manage to put up a fight. Which only left Caitlyn, the children, and Mingxuan. For a moment Caitlyn dared to hope Mingxuans industrious mind, of all things, would be capable of formulating a plan to get them all out of this. It only took one look at the girls stiff, half frozen posture to disabuse her of any such notion. If anything, Mingxuan looked even more terrified than she did. And yet even despite that, there she stands. Caitlyn recoiled at the hot wash of shame that thought brought her. Caught between outright denial and indignation, she found herself wanting to reassure the girl. This despite everything that lay between them. Theres no need to be scared Mingxuan, Caitlyn managed to say despite her own voices trembling. Hell be here soon. I can feel it. You only need to hold it off for a little bit longer- Caitlyn never got to finish her sentence as something about what shed said jolted Mingxuan from her stupor. ENOUGH! Mingxuan roared, turning sharply to face her. Still?! Are you serious? Theyre dead! Dont you get that?! They died for you, for the children, and still with your fucking fantasies. You selfish, self-centered, gods damned coward! I-! Mingxuans words were abruptly cut short. Uncomprehending, the girl locked frantic eyes with Caitlyn, who in turn practically mirrored the young womans look of surprise. With a sickening burbling, Mingxuan regurgitated what looked, to her, like far far too much bloodspilling down her front to puddle around her feet. In the next moment her grip loosenedher weapon clattering uselessly. Where it then rolled to stop mere inches from the children. Mingxuan tried to speak, but all that came out was more blood. With a shaky hand she reached for the center of her chest. Her chest, and the rough blade protruding from it. Then, with a vicious twist, followed by a sharp tug, the sword was ripped free. And, just like that, like a puppet with its strings cut, the once fiercely determined young woman dropped bonelessly to the blood slick floor. Caitlyn gaped at the crumpled form. That they hadnt exactly been close abruptly ceasing to matter. That Mingxuan had only been killed, stabbed in the back without even the chance to defend herself, because shed been distracted by her It was all that dominated Caitlyns mind. The beast took yet another shuffling step towards them, its pace noticeably slowed, while the crimson beard of blood encrusted fur now covered the majority of its chest. How it was even still standing with a wound like that, Caitlyn had no idea. All she knew was that its slow, plodding, implacable steps chilled her to her very core. She felt like vomiting. Briefly the urge to flee flashed through her mind. The seductive voice of self-preservation counseling caution, circumspection, cowardice. Whispering into her ear all the things she wanted to hear. That she was nowhere near qualified for any of this. That to attempt anything would only be an exercise in futility. A waste of time. A waste of her life. A waste of the noble sacrifice the others had made in her stead. That there was no helping what had already happened, tragic though it might have been. And that, in any event, her contribution wouldve been negligible at the very best. At least someone should survive this disaster, right? And when it came down to it, who''s to say it shouldnt be her? The beast was practically half dead already. It shouldnt be too long before it succumbed to its wounds. But then again, peering up into those baleful little eyes, seeing the unbridled hatred housed there, Caitlyn couldnt help but feel that this beast wouldnt allow itself to die until all of them were dead. And then there were the four other beasts to consider. And that said nothing of the children. The still bodies. Her fellow captives. Her friends. Caitlyn was moving before her traitorous mind could convince her otherwise. She found her hands wrapping around the slippery shaft of the fallen spear, already raising the wobbly tip towards the beast as she charged. Slick blood fouled her grip, not to mention her steps, though she payed all that little mind. Her thoughts so frazzled in that endless moment, that it was unlikely she could have, even if shed wanted to. Something about her sudden charge mustve startled the evil beast, because, as she ran full tilt towards it, the thing actually hesitated. Heart pounding impossibly loud in her ears, she never noticed how its eyes flicked almost imperceptibly over her shoulder. Only that itd stopped in its tracks briefly. How the end of her spear was so tantalizingly close to its chest. Caitlyn slipped and stumbled on the bloody tiles, though her focus remained remarkably steady. Her eyes stung, and her throat felt raw. Shed been screaming bloody murder ever since committing to the charge. A shrill war cry that wouldve likely made even Kit proud.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. With one last shout of raw defiance, Caitlyn threw herself the last few steps. More a stumbling lurch than a traditional attack, Caitlyn nevertheless aimed for center mass as she strucknot confident in her ability to land anything precise. And so it happened that, with a last-minute jerk of the spear, more fluke than anything shed actually intended, her unpracticed lunge took the beast slightly off centerneatly skewering the evil thing straight through its black heart. Avenging her friends with one swift strike. Properly honoring their memory after all theyd given to protect her, and ending the devils reign of savagery, once and for all. Or at least thats what shed rehearsed in her head. What happened in reality was far less picturesque. The beast caught her spear well before it got anywhere near its chest. Then, almost distractedly, it snapped off the head, flicked its eyes in her direction, then backhanded her across the room hard enough to make her cartwheel through the air. She impacted the floor some distance away. There was some time before she remembered where exactly she was. Moaning, Caitlyn groggily tried to rise to her feet, only to nearly pass out from the burst of pain that consumed her. Almost immediately, she noticed a distinct lack of response from her left arm, and a throbbing sensation that dominated the whole right side of her face. A throbbing that quickly morphed into an insistent burningas if the skin were being peeled away one strip at a time. She collapsed, shifting her weirdly protruding left shoulder in the process and nearly blacking out from the waves of agony that assailed her. It was worse than anything shed ever experienced. Worse than anything shed ever thought possible. And yet, she knew she couldnt just lie there and wait for the end. She at least wanted to see her death coming, now that she was at the mercy of the very beast thatd broken her friends. Broken her friends just as easily as itd broken her. But then it wasnt just her, was it? Oh gods, the children! What will they do to the children?! The mere thought of it the possibilities! Caitlyn had to suppress a sob. She needed to do something. Plead for their lives maybe, or something! They didnt deserve this. Frankly none of them deserved this, but, out of all of them, the little ones deserved it the least. Damnit! She needed to get the hell up before it was too late! Gritting her teeththen grimacing upon noticing that quite a few of them were missingCaitlyn rose up onto her good elbow and forced herself to look, nearly paralyzed by what she might see. Her preemptive grimace quickly turned to a look of confusion, however, when the horrific scene of carnage and heartbreak shed prepared herself for, failed to materialize. And what she found in its stead was well, to be honest she didnt know what to make of it. There was a boy dressed in robes. A lot like what one might expect to see on a sect nomad. He looked somewhat unkempt, probably a few years younger than her sixteen years, and was currently kneeling over the body of Mingxuan, shoving what looked to be a small round ball into her mouth. What did he think he was doing?! The hot flare of anger she felt surprised Caitlyn. Though not nearly as much as what next held her attention. At first, she couldnt make sense of it. The big bad spirit beastsconfident enough to challenge them with just one of their member were were they? quivering with fright? That was what it looked like to her. Surely not, though! Caitlyn fought the urge to rub her eyes in disbelief or pinch herself to make sure she wasnt dreaming. Shivering violently as if theyd suddenly caught a chill, all five beasts remained exactly where they were. Like prey thatd found themselves in the presence of their main predator. And each and every one of them with their eyes staring fixedly at the boy! Caitlyn watched wide eyed as he stood up from whatever he was doing and just casually walked past the injured beast. Within arm''s reach even! Not even giving the thing a second glance, he first kneeled before Simon and then again before Kitdoing to them as he had done to Mingxuan. And then the boy turned his attention towards her. The thrill of panic, bordering on terror, that lanced through her in that moment was not something she felt qualified to put into words. In this awful place teeming with true monstersthe likes of which shed only ever seen in nightmaresthis boy, this human, so far as she could tell, might as well have been the scariest thing of them all. Of a breed entirely his own, and in a way she didnt, no, couldnt understand. When he looked at her, she felt the swift whisper of motion all over. A stomach lurching sensation which she now knew to associate with near death experience. As if, in that single moment, dozens of invisible blades had failed to spill her lifesblood, though only by the barest margin. And if his mere gaze threatened to maim and dismember her, his near proximity sought to press the very breath from her lungs. Every step he took towards her bringing about more and more discomfort, as if some giants hand was attempting to crush the very life from her, one rib creaking squeeze at a time. And then, before she knew it, the young man was kneeling over herreaching into the bag at his waist and retrieving something Caitlyn couldnt quite make out. It was almost impossible to see through the waves of overwhelming pressure he exuded. Oh! Youre awake, he glanced down at her with eyebrows raisedas if seeing her for the first timethen he shrugged. Should make things easier then. Here, swallow this, he said. Caitlyn tried desperately to jerk her head away, but it was to no avail. Too much was happening way too fast, and she could barely tell up from down with the amount of pain she was in. The constant pressure wafting off of the cultivator only made her feeble resistance all the more futile. The round something entered her mouth with little fussthe intensely bitter taste instantly setting off alarm bells in her head. With what felt like the last bit of stubborn will she had left, Caitlyn promptly spit back out whatever it was, then glared up into those surprisingly thoughtful eyes, brimming with defiance. For his part, the boy simply stared back at her nonplussed. And, for a while they stayed that way, silently assessing one another with suspicion and curiosity in turn. Then, as if coming to a decision, he shrugged. Fine. Have it your way, he said, rising to his feet. But those claw marks on your face look pretty bad. Theyll probably leave scars without healing. Also, Im pretty sure these guys arent too keen on personal hygiene so it might even fester before it heals. Or not heal at all, I honestly have no idea. The boy stretched his back, then began to work out the kinks in his neck, his gaze focused squarely on the injured beast. From what she could tell, it didnt appear to be flourishing under the attention. Knew it was all too good to be true, this place he muttered. I swear, if these overgrown rodents hound me all the way to the surface Ill come back down here and annex these damned caverns just so I can evict the bastards. Caitlyns mind blanked out for a moment, then labored intensively in a bid to catch up. To possibly make sense out of what she was hearing. Healing? What in the world was he talking about? And what was that about annexing? It was then that she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Jerking her head in that direction, she was aghast to find Mingxuans prone form stirring. To find all of her friends prone forms stirring. As if they were suddenly rising from the dead, or? Mending pills. Of course! Shed heard that the life-giving medicines were strong, afforded by only the wealthiest of families, but never this strong! His offhanded mention of claw marks suddenly brought to the fore how very badly her face hurt, and she suddenly realized how much of a fool shed been in refusing aid. W-wait! she stammeredthe movement making her winceonly to look up and realize that the boy was already gone. Or, no. Not gone. He was right over there. Fighting with the beasts. Simultaneously, by the looks of it. Though she would later come to recognizewith a detached sense of morbid fascinationthat what came after couldnt really be called a fight. If anything, what she witnessed in that dust covered dining hall so far beneath the world as shed once known itwithin a city long buried and forgotten by timeturned out to be little more than a one-sided affair. A merciless slaughter. No two ways around it. Chapter 43: Takes Two to Tango I still dont see why I should stay hidden when its unlikely anyone down here is bound to care one way or another, Ivory grumbled from within the inner folds of his robes. Theyll have seen us together, Jun thought back. Its just not a risk we should be willing to take. Theres bound to be someone who knows to associate a particularly ebullient lady Cthulle with a certain young lord. Even if it was only for a day, something that bizarre would have lodged itself in more than a few heads. Once back on the surface, its quite possible one of them, he gestured at the group of teenagers. Might let slip that they saw such an unlikely pair still kicking. Its not as if the element of surprise is integral to the plan, but Id rather we not risk involving the city lord prematurely when we dont have to. Knowing that spiteful man, if he knew I was alive, hed only make things all the more difficult. I suppose she said begrudgingly. Though I must say, its much too stuffy in here. And, anyway, why keep secrets at all when we can simply leave them be? Just ignore them and we can go about our day, can we not? Surely thats more important than aiding these smelly, dirty humans? Are we not pressed for time? Do we really have the luxury to be coddling these these strangers? Hey! Wasnt too long ago that I was a smelly dirty human. Still not too far off, actually. Also, I still fail to see why the rush. And, yeah, Ill grant you it might be a bit of a hassle, but I still want to bring them along with us if we can. But whatever for?! Ivory whined. Well, for starters, because its the right thing to do. Also, if it were me trapped down here, powerless and afraid, Id want someone else to do the same. Ivory grumbled a bit at this, but she didnt argue any further. In truth, he probably could have acquiesced, at least to her initial request. It was a reasonable expectation and, if anything, he was the one being unreasonable by refusing. But the vision shed imparted to him had thrown him on so many levels. To the point that, quite honestly, he wasnt entirely sure he was ready to face her just yet. Setting all that aside, however, Jun surveyed the five rat-kin as they stood frozen in place. They were terrified, that much was obvious. Personally, itd taken him quite some time to notice all the little quirks that came with being of a higher resonance tier. Apparently, theyd picked up on it far faster than he had. To his mind, either the effects had been so subtle up until now as to be basically indistinguishable, or the transition from Aged Stone to Traveled Copper meant a qualitative increase to his resonance. If the last line of the rather ominous description was of any indication, he found the latter entirely too possible. In any case, something had very clearly changed, and it wasnt at all what hed been expecting. Itd been little things at first. Light crystals flickering on and off as he ran past, more dust than seemed warranted kicked up in his wake. Then, when hed been administering medicine to those thatd needed it most, hed seen it. Odd ripples in the pools of blood where they had absolutely no right to be. Large disturbances in the puddles, like an invisible stone being dropped in repeatedly, followed by a series of smaller ripples like dozens of tiny little divots rapidly carved into the surface. Each effect seemed to throb in time with his heartbeat, swapping back and forth with even regularity. Until every so often, both would happen at once in a frothing, overly excited display. He didnt know what this meant for him exactly, now or moving forward, but, if he extrapolated blindly, it would seem that the further along his resonance became, the more hed affect the world around him simply by existing. He wasnt sure what other affects might follow, but he could already see more than a few problems that might crop up as a result. All that to say, he thought he understood why the rat-kin were so reticent to start something, though why they seemed so paralyzed with terror, he didnt entirely understand. Jun took a step forward, and every one of the spirit beasts flinched back. The one with the neck injury doing so rather sluggishly. It was honestly somewhat of a miracle that it was still conscious at all, let alone still standing. As he watched, the creature swayed on its feet, though its beady little eyes never left him. Jun thought back onto the scene hed been presented with upon his arrival. As this beast in particular seemed to take great pleasure in butchering helpless kids so far from home. He decided in that moment that this one would be the first to go. Hed refrained from using his crushing concept until nownot for any particular reason, other than hed lacked the timeand was curious to see how it would fair in a real-world environment. And so, without further ado, Jun felt for the tether connecting him to the patron ideal at large and pulled. A blinding flash of white-hot pain lanced through his mind like a jagged bolt of lightning. More intense than anything hed ever experienced, yet so brief, that, by the time it was over, he was left questioning whether itd happened at all. Meanwhile in its aftermath, he felt no worse for wear. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He felt quite good, in fact. Great, even. Fucking fantastic! Whoo! Saints above, that hits like a mother! Like I just mainlined a triple dose of paternal approval, and fuck if thats not the high that keeps on giving. I swear, I feel like Im a brand-new man! And- fuck me, would you get an eyeful of these bad boys. Are you seeing what Im seeing? Cause, I mean, youve gotta be fucking kidding me, right?! Jun scrutinized his hands closely with a childlike sense of awe, turning them this way and that. Clenching them and unclenching them. Balling them into fists until the tendons were clearly visible. Tell me these arent a couple of straight killers I dare ya! Gods gift to man, thats what they are. Show me a pair of matching money wranglers that even compare, and Ill show you a lying sack of shitestrike my stepmother down if I tell a lie. So what are we thinkin, Mini V? Figure names are the first order of business, but its which names thats givin me pause. Cause me personally? Id say Im rather fond of Balthazar the Conqueror and Five Knuckle Skull Duster, though Im open to suggestions if youve got anything better. J-Jun? Are you quite alright? Hah! Of all the-?! Am I alright? she says! Darlin Im a damn sight better than alright! Im a fucking god! Havent you been payin attention? That-! You are you sure? Because you really dont sound okay. You worry too much! Im telling ya, Ive never been better! Matter of fact, Im damn near perfect! Besides, if I wasnt alright, could I do this? Jun pulsed out a massive wave of crushing aura, funneled it all into his raised right fist, until the skin there had turned a metallic hue, then brought it down hard in a streaking silver blur. His fist met marble with a thunderous report, detonating the spot in an explosion of marble shards, and causing the entire hall to shift ominously on its foundations. Jun ignored the screams of terror or pain which emanated from behind him, far too busy grinning maniacally at what utter ruin The Conqueror was capable of dishing out on very short notice. Ivory, for her part, took her sweet time in responding, but that was fine. If she needed another demonstration, Skull Duster was more than eager for a chance to upstage his brother. You know? I think youve made your point. Skull Crusher couldnt help but feel disappointed at that. Jun couldnt help but empathize with the poor guy. Are you sure? Cause I could show you again. You know, in case youre needin a visual aid or somethin. No skin off my back. No! No, I think Ive seen enough. I think weve all seen enough, Juns left fist slumped over in disappointment. B-but, hey! What do you say we take care of those mean old beasts before they can hurt anyone else, huh? Does that sound like a good idea? Im sure your, ah, your Mr. Crusher there should be very pleased with that. No? Scull Crusher brightened. Blimey! She was right! Hed nearly forgotten about the creepy little rat fuckers! Well, Ill be damned! That he would, Mini V! And here Id thought I was the clever one in this relationship! And with thata billowing cloud of silvery aura wreathing his bodyJun turned to face the aforementioned enemy. An enemy who looked, if anything, even more terrified now than they had been before. Jun pulled his foot gingerly from the sucking wet slop; the thick skull of a particularly sturdy rat-kin. Or, at the very least, what was left of it. Grimacing, he tried to flick away whatever grisly bits still clung to his shoes. And when that didnt work, resorted to scraping them across the scant few islands of unsullied tile that were left, amidst a sea of crimson gore. It was somewhat undignifiedsomething he needed to actually think about now that he was no longer alone down herebut so was trailing grey goo everywhere he went. It was just plain nasty, not to mention embarrassing. Well, gross factor aside at least that settles one thing for sure, he thought. He couldnt just punch things with his brand-new mantra. He could kick things too. Though he still wasnt entirely certain what had possessed him to do so. In fact, the whole of the fight was a bit of a blur now that he thought about it. Chalking it up to some sort of strange battle haze, he turned his mind to more important matters. Getting back to the matter of his fellow humans, Jun turned to see that they were already on their feet. Even the feisty one with the auburn hairthe lacerations on her face already in the process of knitting back together. He still didnt know why shed felt the need to, quite literally, spit his gift of generosity back into his face, but, oh well, it was her choice, ultimately. And yep. There they were. All standing there, huddled together as if for warmth. And just well staring at him. And very intensely he might add. For a moment the swirling mixture of nerves and anticipation hed carried with him ever since realizing there were actually other people down here faltered. Why were they looking at him like that? Did he have something on his face? Oddly enough the only one that appeared to watch him with something other than outright fear or hostility was the pill spitter, her large brown eyes staring at him with a startling intensity. Somewhat lost as to what he could say to break the inexplicable tension, he just up and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. That first beast. It was practically half dead by the time I got here. Your handy work Im guessing? he said, already cringing internally. Terrific. The first words out of his mouth and already centered around violence. What would they think of him now? Would they peg him as some bloody-minded combat junky? Or worse an actual cultivator! Jun shivered at the thought. Not because it wasnt true, necessarily, but because, in all honesty, he hadnt really expected his big debut to happen so soon. He found himself sorely unprepared. Chapter 44: Introductions While he struggled with himself internally, Jun didnt fail to notice their peculiar reaction. They looked at him almost as if they didnt recognize him. Which didnt make any sense because theyd have had to recognize him first, no? Hed only just met these people! Talk about judgmental That was me, actually, said one of the older boys. Jun scrutinized the larger boy. Six foot tall with a lean athletic frame, caramel skin, an unkempt head of red blond hair, and a brilliant pair of piercing green eyes. He was dressed in the same shredded rags as they all were, oddly contrasted with mismatching pieces of gem studded plate-mail. Ultimately reminding him a bit of himself not too long ago, minus the glittering gemstones of course. Beneath the poorly fitted armor, each of them looked filthy, malnourished, and completely exhausted. If he was being completely candid, they all looked like shit. Alone? Jun failed to hide his surprise. The boy shrugged. Well, mostly. Youre the one that really finished it off. You could say I just sort of weakened it for you, I guess. It my efforts werent exactly enough, in the end, he said in a morose tone, looking rather bummed out all of the sudden. But-! Juns mind raced. Thats incredible! Even with it confirmed, Jun found he still couldnt quite fathom it. Just the thought of facing off against one of these beasts without his particular set of advantages? The him of before, fighting a spirit beast head-to-head? The idea was almost laughable. He wouldnt have even been able to properly defend himself, let alone deal what had clearly been a fatal blow. Seriously, thats legitimately impressive. I doubt I couldve managed it even two weeks ago. They all looked suitably skeptical at that. Jun thought that was somewhat understandable. They hadnt seen what he was like before, after all. Quickly scanning faces, he was pleasantly surprised to find that their looks of open hostility had vanished. To be replaced by looks of bewildered confusion, true, but he figured that was a step in the right direction. Someone else spoke. This one a boy, even taller than the firstropier than he was muscular. He raised his hand as if asking for permission to speak. So, no offense, but uh? Who in the name of the emperors sweet taint are you supposed to be? Doubt those rats couldve dragged you down here same way they did us. The rest turned sharply in the speakers direction. Moron! one of the girls cracked the shaft of her spear against the boys left shinthe smaller one with black hair and eyes that reminded him of his mothers. Would it kill you to show even a modicum of respect?! Mingxuan?! Gah! Mother of-! Are you insane? the boy hopped away from the girl, awkwardly cradling the injured leg. Im so very sorry for this ones unacceptable behavior lord cultivator. Please, if you feel the need to punish anyone for his stupidity I would ask that you take it out on this morons miserable hide. Ah? N-no! Its fine, I just- he tried to clear up the obvious misunderstanding. Seriously woman, what is your problem!? Shes got a point said a boy about Juns height with a comical number of makeshift bandoleers strapped to his chest. Oh, youve gotta be kidding me! And what about the rest of you? Are you just going to sit there and watch while they throw me to the wolves? Yes, well when you make a concerted effort to get all of us killed, the girl, Mingxuan, hissed. Your life, for whatever its worth, is exactly the kind of sacrifice Im willing to make. Well Im not! You lost those privileges when you compared this fine young cultivator here to the emperors taint. I didnt compare anyone to anything! Stop putting words in my mouth! Come on, Andrew back me up on this. Strange kid comes along, throttles those wicked strong beasts like it was nothing. We almost died for heavens sake! Least were owed is an explanation. I dont know. You did call him a hairy you know what, said the green-eyed boyAndrew. I never said hairy! You sure? Completely! Hmm, I definitely seem to recall you saying something along those lines, said the smaller boy. Billy? He looked to another boy in their group. One that couldve easily been mistaken for a full grown man. Broad at the shoulders, muscular, and as hairy as a bear, he sported a full length beard and a perpetual scowl that didnt quite match his less than mature demeanor. Anyone seen my spears? I couldve sworn I dropped them right around here somewhere. Or wait, was it over here? Or there maybe? I think that means hes in agreement. Simon!? Not you too! My meek, mild mannered, baby boy Simon. Im not sure how much more my poor heart can take at this rate! Right. So, that settles it then? asked Simon. If anyone here is going to die a horribly gruesome death because of Kits fool mouth, it should be Kit. Agreed?If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. It only makes sense. What?! But thats not fair! Shall we put it to a vote? Against! Obviously Im for, said Mingxuan. For. No hard feelings. Me too unfortunately, said Andrew. You really should think more carefully before you speak Kit. Treacherous bastards, the lot of you! Well, to hell with this then. By my count thats still only one to three. Billy! Would love it if you weighed in over here buddy. And while you''re doing that dont forget who always laughs at your jokes! Even when they''re not that funny. Especially when they''re not that funny. Ay, old friend? Oh! Heavens be praised. Dont worry, false alarm everyone! I found them! Now? How in the world am I supposed to get them down from all the way up there? Dammit, enough with the blasted spears you oaf! I dont know if youve noticed but Im kind of fighting for my life over here, the big guy, Billy, pointedly ignored his pleafar too absorbed with the retrieval of his spears. Tsk. Lumbering dullard to the very end, huh? Damned useless. Here, try lobbing one of these stone shards up at them. They dont appear to be embedded that deeply. If you throw hard enough you might just be able to dislodge them. Simon! Youre a genius! I swear I could kiss you. Aha yeah. You wont though, will you? Actually, let me rephrase that. Please, please dont. Caitlyn, come on, surely you cant be okay with this. Its cold-blooded murder. A coup! A subversion of the natural order! What you said before. About those terrible rat beasts. Theyre chasing you, arent they? Cant imagine theyd come all this way just for us. Will we- will we be safe if we stay here like this? Jun blinked twice, so disoriented by the rapid back and forth, that it took him a second to recognize that the last question, posed by this Caitlyn, had been directed at him. The rest of them paused, apparently disquieted by her questionproceeding to lock their collective attention solely onto him. Jun coughed into his hand, then took a tentative backwards glance. He was met with a wall of watchful eyes shining out from the darkness. Dozens upon dozens of beady little pupils staring out from the breach in the door that their taller brethren had created. Since his arrival none had dared to actually venture past the entrance, though the eerie stillness with which they silently observed him seriously creeped him out. I- yeah, actually, its probably for the best we leave this place as soon as possible. I wouldnt be surprised if some of those little guys are already scurrying back to spread the word of our location. They needed a second to fully take that inlooks of horror etching stark lines into dirt caked faces. To no ones surprise the tall red-haired boy, Kit, was the first to respond. Well?! What are we doing just standing around here for? You heard the kid! We have to move. But where would we go? Caitlyn asked in a trembling voice. I say anywheres better than here, said Kit. And if we just wind-up walking blindly into yet another trap? Mingxuan shot back. Then what? Sir cultivator? Simon eyed him nervously. Uh, lord? Im sorry to say were not as familiar with this part of the city as we are some of the others. If I could be so bold, what would you suggest? Actually, Im not really- What are you asking him for? Im telling you, we dont need him, or anyone else for that matter. We were doing just fine all on our own. Oh? Im sorry, are you referring to the time when you were run through the chest? Or, perhaps, you were thinking of that one time I nearly was, Simon broke in angrily. Either way, I personally cant fathom a world in which fine is an apt description of our chances before his timely intervention. Oh right. And, uh, thank you by the way. No, it was nothing- A fluke! Bad luck and bad timing, thats all! I really have a hard time believing itll happen again. Oh, would you please shut up already! shouted Mingxuan. Again, Im terribly sorry, lord. Unlike my ungrateful companion here, I too recognize that I am humbly in your debt. We all are. If it werent for your help, I dont know what wouldve happened. Well, on the one hand wed likely be dead, but on the other at least we wouldnt have to hear Kit constantly complain about it, Simon muttered. You know, I liked you better when you talked a lot less. Honestly? Simon replied. I wish I could say the same. Jun watched as the teenagers bickered back and forth with an expression equal parts bewilderment and faint amusement. Boys! Are you quite done? Mingxuan asked. Do you really think arguing is the best use of our time right now? But-! You practically started it! Yes, and now Im finishing it, she snapped. We cant afford to doddle. Lord cultivator, please, if you could find it in your heart to help us this one last time, at least until our other companions arrive, we would all be eternally grateful. She finished her statement with the imitation of a bow, right fist clasped in front of her and bending at the waist. The rest followed suit, jerky and unpracticed, but earnest all the same. There was some grumbling from the lanky boy at this, but no words that he could make out clearly. When he was too slow in joining them in their obeisance, a swift elbow to the gut doubled him over quick enough. This Mingxuan girl is ruthless. The thought crossed his mind to once more try and disabuse them of this notion that he was some lord, but, on second thought, he found that she was actually right. Not about the lord thing, but they really didnt have the time for a lengthy explanation. And besides, it wasnt as if he would turn them away. Please, thats enough. Theres really no need for all that. But, now that you mention it, I do have a place we could lay low for a while. More grumbling from the boy named Kit. Its not that far. Not to mention theres this enormous bathhouse I found. In case any of you were looking to uh, his eyes flicked over their filth caked bodies. Freshen up, I mean. There was a subtle release of tension at the mention of this, a few shared looks of evident excitement, some anxious shuffling, and faint smiles he wasnt even sure they were aware of. Shoulders slumped, postures eased, and not even their main detractor could find fault with a free bath. And what of them? Andrew asked, nodding towards the sea of eyes staring out from beyond the barricade. Jun glanced over his shoulder and noted with some alarm that the mass of rats had begun to creep forward ever so slightly, no doubt emboldened by their prolonged inactivity. Them? Jun frowned. Even with the help of his second alignment it wasnt as if hed become all powerful. He doubted he could attack the hoard and protect his newfound companions for long, let alone while making a hasty retreat. But then, was there perhaps something else he could do? Because, while sure, fending off the mass of rodents on his lonesome was a hard sell, he now had other means of getting the job done. Could he collapse the hallway on top of them? Was it even possible? Well, hed never know until he tried. Ahh? You shouldnt have to worry about them I dont think. And with that, Jun turned towards the horde of rats, a voluminous cloud of silvery mist coalescing around his closed right fist. Ooohh Balthy, my dear, he cooed softly. Its been far too long Did you miss me? I know, I know. You poor baby. That does it! Until I breathe my dying breath, well never be separated again, I swear it! Now, hows about we put you to good use then, shall we? Put er there old friend! Chapter 45: Caught Red Handed Simon dabbed at his still damp hair with the coarse bundle of cloth hed been given in place of a towel. Absentmindedly he hooked a finger beneath his sweat-soaked collar and tugged. As if the pervasive heat could be released so easily. Uncanny and serene as this oasis mightve been, it was humid as hell. And, although these cultivators'' robes were somewhat comfortable, that comfort came at the cost of layer upon layer. Quite frankly, it was far too many layers for his liking. Simon, who usually prided himself on his ability to gauge people, was having a hard time getting a read on their prophesied prince. And going by the semi-dazed looks and furtive glances, Simon could tell the others felt much the same. He was a cultivator, yet he didnt claim the title of nobility. He was clearly someone of import, and yet he didnt act like one. And then, of course, there were the things Simon simply couldnt explain. The clothes hed somehow conjured from thin air, for instance. Extravagant, not to mention fitted, robes. Enough for all nine of them to slip into snuggly. Handed out so casually, as if the expense were nothing at all. Even going so far as to miraculously produce little outfits for the children. It was confounding, improbable, and not something he could simply ignore. Unable, or unwilling, to curtail his curiosity, Simon brazenly observed the young cultivator, much to Mingxuans evident disapproval. He sat unmoving by the edge of the crystal-clear pool, legs crossed, and body relaxed. The only sign he was alive at all and not some flesh made golema cloth draped statue of muscle and bonethe slow rise and fall of his chest. He was cultivating, Simon knew, though that was a lot like distinguishing a species of beast by the fact that it had more than two legs. Only taking the novels hed personally read into consideration, already the list of ways in which one might choose to cultivate was immensefictitious or otherwise. To accurately guess as to the precise method he was using wouldve been impossible. Especially for Simon who was only witnessing such a phenomenon for the very first time. So far, all hed been able to surmise was that its generally advisable to hang back when the air around them starts to stir. Going by his, admittedly, limited observations it was something of a portentous sign. Rarely did anything good come of it. Already, the dangerous aura thatd clung to him like a heavy cologne had altered considerably. Taking on a decidedly sharper, more domineering cast. This was a wonder, seeing as the rippling waves of distortion which seemed to warp the very air around him had already been enough to make his hair stand on end. Now it was so overpowering as to make standing within a ten-foot radius of him a challenge. It was fascinating, really. That someone could be so unstable one moment, and then so ordinary the next. So outwardly unthreatening in the way that he walked and talked that you could almost forget, for a time, what he was truly capable of. The capacity for unspeakable violence he, apparently, held tightly in check. The nightmarish brutality that lurked just beneath the surface. The image of a thunderously collapsing hallway. The sounds of hundreds, if not thousands of terrified squeals abruptly cut short. That intangible force that made his bones feel heavy, while an insane string of maniacal ramblings haunted their retreat the whole entire way. He was just glad the crazy kid was on their side. Simon felt it more than he saw it. The sudden surge of that roiling, intangible energy. The aura pouring off of his body in consecutive waves. It made Simon glad hed parked himself well out of the way ahead of time. It tore at the surface of the azure pool, whipping it up into a wild frenzy. The very same lashing presence that was, apparently, intent on tugging their newfound robes from their backs. Simon tried to brace himself against the eerie tempest, but to no avail. No matter what he did, the pressure of the boys aura remained overwhelming. In a moment the agitated energy rose to a crescendo. Simon tried in vain to raise his arms as protection, though the physical barrier appeared to make little difference. Then, almost as soon as itd begun, the storm passed. And in the next moment the young cultivator opened his eyes. After a good long while spent staring off into the distance, a foolish grin plastered on his face, his eyes refocused, and he spoke up for the first time in hours. The first words out of his mouth were not exactly what Simon had expected. And what exactly do you think youre doing? Raina winced as Arthur applied the healing salve to the puncture wound in her side. Gah! That stings! Yeah, well, maybe next time youll listen to me when I tell you not to underestimate the enemy. But youre always saying things like that! Besides, they were only rats! What? Am I supposed to treat every weak little pissant nobody like its the golden emperor reborn? Ideally? Yes. If you actually wanted to live a long and healthy life, you would treat every opponent as if there were a chance theyd be your last, no matter how small or insignificant. Not that a penchant for wise decision making has ever been your particular forte. Regardless, clearly these werent your typical beast fodder, so my point still stands. Youre far too pivotal to our mission''s success to be taking such unnecessary risks. Aww! And here I thought you didnt care! Arthur roughly slapped a bandage onto her wound in response. Raina swore savagely. If you two are done bickering, I believe I found them. Raina irritably tugged her tunic back over her midriff, glaring daggers at the spacial practitioner as she made her way over to where Edmond sat, surrounded by swirling rings of orange runes. Arther studiously ignored her glare, only further stoking the fires of her fury.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Well, its about damn time! Raina swore. Actually, I rather think I made excellent time in tracking down our lost flock, all things considered. And I must say, I dont particularly appreciate your tone, oh fearless leader. Raina instantly deflated. Damn but she could use a drink. Sorry. Apology accepted. Right! Now, where exactly are the little brats? And please dont tell me theyre dead, because Id really rather not throw more of a temper tantrum than is absolutely necessary. Yes well, before any of that, dont you think itd be prudent to render some aid to our resident swordswoman? Raina frowned, then glanced behind them. Past the little nook theyd sequestered themselves in, and out into the vast city square beyondlit periodically by blinding white sparks and the colorful flashes of aura manifestations. The crashing sounds of weapons clashing in rapid succession echoed loudly off the giant buildings. Periodically punctuated by the thunderous crack of stone shattering, or the ominous rumble of some structure or another collapsing in on itself. Every so often, the blurring silhouettes of three figures would briefly streak past: Viviana and what was left of that powerful team of rat beasts thatd ambushed them. Nah! Id wager shes got things well in hand. Now, tell me all about the kiddies. And so, Edmond did just that. Eventually, Viviana came over to join them as well and, just as Raina had predicted, looked none the worse for wear. If anything, the aftermath of the fight had left her positively glowinga rare, genuine smile on her face. The woman had always been a bit of a combat junky, and apparently thatd been a good fight. It didnt take long for Edmond to fill her in, and from there, it didnt take much longer to follow the trail he provided. In no time at all, they were walking down a wide, dust strewn hallway, the peculiar sounds of running water only growing louder as they went. Until, at last, they entered onto yet another inconceivable sight. An entire damned oasis hidden underground. And there, not twenty meters distant, were their charges. And behind them? Edmund? Raina said quietly, trying not to attract attention. Already on it, he replied. The man paused, a look of concentration furrowing his brow as golden runes began to appear all throughout the chamberblinking silently into being like large fireflies. Myriad little symbols that began to contract towards their center. Converging on where the children sat, still blissfully unaware. On them, and perhaps most importantly, on their erstwhile quarry. And what exactly do you think youre doing? said the boy, his accent posh and haughtily refined. Raina nearly leapt out of her skin in surprise. Where the boy, their target, had only moments before been cultivating, he was now staring directly towards them, eyes sharp and penetrating. That wasnt what made her jump, however. Instead, it was the aura that the young man gave off which gave her pause. Bright red and uniquely concentrated, it was almost syrupy to her spiritual sense, if not overtly powerful. If she were honest, it wasnt so much that it intimidated her exactlyshe was a seasoned mercenary after all; a soul cultivator at the peak of the foundation establishment realmthough it was just foreign enough to make her reticent to underestimate him. Edmund! Any chance you could maybe wrap this up?! What do you think Im-! the man clicked his tongue. Arms held out before him and fingers spread wide, the tension in Rainas chest relaxed as she noticed the runes glow brighter and their snails pace suddenly pick up. The boy, oddly enough, appeared mostly unconcerned by the runes now rocketing towards him. He seemed bemused if anything, a condescending smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. At the sight, Raina actually began to sweat. Done! Edmond grunted, sweat pouring down his face. Raina just looked at the rune specialist with mounting concern. It was unlike him to struggle so much with a simple binding. Thankfully the results appeared to be business as usual. The myriad runes converging together into three concentric circles. Spinning rings of archaic rune-work which, once theyd begun to orbit the boy, summoned a semitransparent barrier of golden light around him, hopefully preventing any means of escape. Well done. Thanks, Edmond gasped. You know, I- In nearly giving me a bleeding heart attack! Raina continued. What was that?! Decide to take it easy now that were near the home stretch, did you? Do I need to remind you how much we have riding on this? I apologize, but his aura it was like like it was fighting me. It felt alive almost. I still dont really know how best to describe it. Rainas anger quickly abated, having already felt that same peculiarity for herself. Right well, we can assign blame another time I suppose. Hes secure though, right? You know, I cant help but feel more than a little bit insulted, said the boy. I am standing right here, after all. She could hear the smiling condescension in his tone from here. Yes, Edmond replied, ignoring the little welp. It should be secure, he assured her, though he didnt sound nearly as confident as shed have liked. Viviana? asked one of the kiddies, the dark-haired one with the bold eyes. Whats going on here? What do you intend to do with the lord cultivator? Hes not a danger to you nor I, in case thats where the misunderstanding lies. In fact, he saved all of us after wed very nearly died. There should be no need for whatever this is. Were all friends here. Viv, would you please shut her up? Raina commented, before she reached into her spacial ring and began retrieving what components shed need for the soul ritual. Listen, little one. I can explain, but not here. Not in front of him, she gestured towards the boy. Theres more to this than you could possibly know. At this, the trapped boy only snickered to himself, leading Raina to question just what exactly he knew. She would have to work fast. With a jolt of apprehension, she nevertheless maintained a calm demeanor as she gathered up her tools and approached the binding circle. Despite everything she knew to the contrary, as she came within range of the boy, she fully expected him to reach out and tear away all their painstaking preparations like so much damp tissue paper. Instead, he merely stood there and watched as she began laying down paper talismans and lighting charged incense. He appeared more curious than anything, but it was a detached sense of curiosity, reminding her, somewhat disturbingly, of the few times shed met the mercenary guild leader. An aloof sort of detachment that most often went hand in hand with indomitable, overwhelming strength. Her hands began to shake. By the time she was finished with the ritual circle, a light sweat covered her brow. Despite her nervousness, however, she still considered herself a professional. And so it was that, in short order, not only had her mental chant been prepared, but a few other minor protections had been layered over top of that. Just in case things actually did turn violent. Before shed mouthed the first syllable, however, the captive shifted his stance, then spoke. Ah, well. I suppose its about time we put an end to this farce. Shall we? Chapter 46: A Taste of Freedom Suddenly, it was as if the world around the young cultivator changed, as something that shouldve forever remained intangible swiftly solidified. Standing far too close to the epicenter for comfort, Raina felt the sting of several small cuts digging into her flesh. This despite the high tiered runic barrier that lay between them. Something that, by all rights, shouldve been impossible. Raina staggered back, more alarmed than she was injured, as something indistinct began to form from the boys crimson aura. A crude sword soon emerged from the swirling, churning mists, looking to have been inexpertly carved from red crystal. The boy clicked his tongue, and in another eye aching second the once crude weapon had been transformed into an ornate longsword, masterfully wrought of blood colored ruby. The boy hummed contemplatively to himself, examining the blade. Oh, I suppose thatll do. Now, before I break myself free from this insidious cage and explain to you, in excruciating detail, the great folly youve made in crossing me, I have one question for you all. None of them answered. Even the kiddies looked taken aback. Raina only sighed. If no one else was going to Alright, Ill bite. Whats this question of yours, kid? Oh, its very simple. Tell me, which gods do you pray to? Again, there was silence. Raina really needed a drink. And why, oh great lord cultivator, would you need to know something like that? So that I might know which deities to thank for this minor distraction of course. It was very considerate of them, to point you all in my direction. And then the boy struck, lunging forward with a deceptively clumsy swing. His movements immediately followed by a dense ripple of crimson aura! Only to have his blade bounce off the golden barrier harmlessly, leaving not even a scratch on its shimmering surface. If anything, the kid looked even more surprised than they were. For a long time after, the arrogant brat merely stared down at the ornate sword with a look of incomprehension. Well damn. You know, Id really thought that would work. Raina, for her part, couldnt help but chuckle at the boy''s antics, before, with renewed confidence, she began the long chant that would link this idiots soul with that of their employers. Shifting the comatose body of the young girl until it conformed with the greater ritual formation as a whole, Raina began infusing the process with her spiritthe many talismans shed arranged lighting up in response. It was always difficult, performing delicate soul work, though Raina was so proficient at it by this point that she made it look easy. Her teacher had always told her that it was far easier to injure a soul than it was to manipulate one, and harder still to piece it back together again after the fact. What she was attempting now wasnt anywhere near the hardest ritual shed ever done. Though much of that had to do with the souls in question, and less to do with her own personal prowess. More specifically, that of the girls. Less of a true soul than it was a heavenly treasure, expansive soul realm, and once in a generation opportunity all rolled up into one. A perforated anima infused with fragments of the divine. A rare and little-known phenomenon. One which, if you were to take little old Raina at face valueRaina the drunkard, Raina the failure, Raina the two-bit mercenary for hireyou could be forgiven for assuming shed never even heard of, let alone knew the first thing about. That youd also be dead wrong was merely your own damn fault, or more specifically, the fault of their employers. Because as soon as shed seen the girl, the unwilling puppet of some higher power, shed known. And ever since, their plans for this mission had irrevocably changed. Seeing as, of course they wouldnt just stop at transporting the boys soul into that bountiful realm, then fuck off with their meager payment to the next shitty job. Not when theyd benefit so much more from taking the perilous plunge themselves. Mouth still occupied with her recitations, Raina used her hands to sign for the others to take their places around the ritual circleswiftly finding her own place in turn and sliding down into a comfortable seated position. From there, she got to watch in growing irritation as Viviana did her best to gaslight the kiddies. Before Raina could intervene, however, with a flash of purple light, the whole lot of them disappearedeach having been teleported away with a flick of Arthurs staff; transported back to their families and friends no doubt. It wouldve been a simple enough thing for a spacial practitioner of Arthurs caliber to pull off, especially with the help of Edmonds way-finding rune techniques to guide him. Viviana, as was to be expected, appeared less than pleased with this new turn of events, though after a loud clap to grab their attention, and the meanest glare Raina could manage, she was able to wrangle the bickering mercenaries into their proper places at last. And then, signing for the others to close their eyes in preparation, all that was left was to finish the ritual. Already she could feel the invasive tug as a trickle of the rituals binding energy wormed its way into her soul shell. Just as she could faintly feel those same threads drilling their way into the others. It was only when shed nearly completed the ritual that she picked up on something rather ominous. That the boy, normally so vocal, hadnt deigned to make a peep for quite some time now. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Opening her eyes to see what he was up to, the shock of what she was presented with nearly made her fumble her pronunciation. Because now a distinctly separate aura swirled around his crouching form. A shining emerald hue she knew quite well. One he had no business possessing in the first place. Everyone knew it was suicidal for any but maybe the boundless emperors bloodline descendant to harbor more than a single martial concept at a time. I mean really, for this nobody to court two at the same time? His soul shouldve been shattered by the conceptual dissonance on the spot! A thrill of panic shot through her then. If his soul imploded while she was still bound to him by the ritual? Frantically, Raina followed the thin tether temporarily binding their souls. Within moments she came into range of his soul shell with her spiritual sight. At which point she was presented with yet another anomaly. One that immediately brought her up short. Because there wasnt just one soul shell trapped behind the barrier, but two. Not a spectacular discovery, all things considered, were it not for the way they slowly revolved around one anotherstrangely connected in a way that, in all her years as a soul practitioner, shed never before seen. Before she could properly make sense of what it meantor indeed, understand how the young man had access to two separate martial alignmentsher soul ritual finally came to a close, and her surroundings were suddenly leeched of color. To be immediately replaced by a raucous aurora of neon blues, pinks, and violets, as she shifted all but their employer into the astral plane. Breathing through the familiarly unnerving sensation that was floating up and away from her own body, Raina first made sure the now visible tethers connecting each of their astral bodies was secure. That done, she gave each of her four passengers a quick once over. Less accustomed to the rather jarring transition, both her partners and the boys astral bodies bobbed along limply through the air, dead to the world for all appearances. It wouldnt last long, and they wouldnt sustain any long-lasting damage, though it did mean she was on her own for this next bit. Cargo secured; only then did she properly take in their surroundings. She was almost too late. Throwing herself to the side, she just barely managed to avoid serious injury as a massive jade serpent spirit, wreathed in glittering ice fire, barreled past and through the astral rift thatd appeared just above the comatose blond. Their ticket in. Raina waited there for long seconds, her impatience steadily rising, as the serpents prodigious length whipped past at incredible speeds. Finally, after the last of the creatures bulk had entered the rift, Raina waited several more interminable seconds for the sake of caution, took a few more unnecessary breaths, before she hovered forward and plunged into the rift. Acting quickly before anything else could skip ahead in line. Dragging, as she did so, the unconscious train of astral bodies that bobbed up and down in her wake. Inside the Perforated Anima
When Jun came to, with the sun on his face and what felt like grass prickling at his skin, it was on a wave of nausea and disorientation. And all the while he unhappily nursed what had to be the mother of all headaches. This sorry state of affairs wasnt helped in the least by the string of notifications that greeted him upon waking. *Ding!* You have found enlightenment in the concept: [Piercing] |Concept of Piercing| (1st Aspect) Aspect of Focused Penetration +5 to resonance *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Spearing Hand] (1st Aspected) My will is piercing. Grade: (Poor Quality) *Ding!* You have found enlightenment in the concept: [Cleaving] |Concept of Cleaving| (1st Aspect) Aspect of Unhindered Separation +5 resonance *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Splitting Chop] (1st Aspected) My will fells forests. Grade: (Poor Quality) *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Sword Cyclone] (Great Quality) has evolved. [Sword Cyclone] (Great Quality) has become: [Blade Manipulation] (Excellent Quality) +15 resonance. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 18 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 18 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. Your insight has transcended its natural limits. 56 CELESTIAL ESSENCE CONSOLIDATED. The first two notifications werent all that unusual. The last thing he remembered was eating the piercing, then cleaving fruit of enlightenment and meditating on the conceptual threads which the attuned beast cores had left him with. So, in a way, that hed formed two early mantras wasnt totally unexpected. No, it was the nature in which hed formed them, and what came after, that seriously made him worry. Because, simply put, he didnt remember finishing his meditation session in the first place, let alone the ordeal he mustve gone through to bump his sword cyclone up a grade. Was he somehow finding enlightenment in his sleep now? Unlikely. Which meant something else had to be going on. He just wished he had the smallest inkling as to what that might be. And then there was the question of where exactly he was, which, admittedly played quite well into the whole memory loss question mark. Dismissing the notification, Jun squinted up into the light, practically willing his eyes to adjust faster. When they finally did, he was astounded by what he saw. Just how long had he been out?! He was in an open clearing ringed by trees. Above him stretched a brilliant blue expanse of skythe voluminous shapes of distant clouds drifting lazily across its otherwise pristine surface. He was free. Just the thought of it brought a swelling of relief and jolt of panic in equal measure, as his brain was shoved straight into fight or flight mode. He had so much he needed to do! So many more things he could see to, now that his timetable had been pushed up! It was the kind of opportunity hed only dreamt of previously, and hed be damned if he wasted even a second of the precious time hed been given. Jun launched to his feet, lurching forward with clumsy, uncoordinated stepsplans and contingencies already underway in his mind. He barely made it more than two paces, however, before his face rebounded off of something hard and unyielding. Jun flailed backwards, half blind from the collision, tripped, then landed squarely on his rear. Blinking away the tears of pain, he took a proper look at his surroundings for the first time, only to find that some sort of transparent golden barrier blocked him off from the outside world. His disappointment was immeasurable. Chapter 47: A Fated Encounter Inside the Perforated Anima
Alright! Roll call everyone! There was a general chorus of piteous groans at this, bringing to Juns immediate attention the four individuals lying prone on the other side of the barrier. Well, three prone figures and one woman standing tall with her arms crossed. This despite the decidedly greenish cast to her skin and the way she wobbled on her feet. Oh? And why is that you might ask? Because if somehow, despite all of my grand efforts and peerless ability besides, the ritual went tits up, Id much rather we get all that nasty true death business out of the way now as opposed to later. Should we have to contend with a soul-stricken anima upon reentry, on top of everything else, Id wager itd be best if it werent also a surprise, wouldnt you? More groans were her only response. That, in addition to a few expletives thrown her way. Fantastic! Glad were all on the same page! Viviana! Ugh here. Viviana, check. Arthur! I feel heave. Like the risks to this plan heave. Werent covered nearly as extensively as they should have been- Arthur, still a prick, check! Edmond? I think I think Im going to be sick. Okay, that sounds like everyone, said the woman, studiously ignoring the sounds of retching coming from the man named Edmond. Arent you forgetting someone? Jun chimed in hopefully. Also, Id really appreciate it if you were to help free me from this strange bubble I now find myself in? It would appear Ive been imprisoned against my will. Something Im sure none of you, law abiding citizens that you undoubtedly are, had anything to do with! Oh! And I can make it worth your while if money is at all an issue, he put on his most ingratiating smile. Unfortunately, the woman appeared more or less immune to his charms. Switching up your tune huh? A bit too late for that Im afraid. I think Ill let you stew in there a little while longer. For that gods awful whose god do you pray to, line if nothing else. Edmond, I need to know how much time we have until our employer shows up. Arthur, get that teleportation circle ready. I dont think I need to impress upon you the time constraint were under. Jun? Ivory, do you have any clue whats going on here? I mustve passed out or something because I havent the faintest idea how we even got here. It its you? Really? No tricks this time? Yes? Who else would it be? Look, youve been staying hidden this entire time. I know it might be a lot to ask, considering, but you must at least have a better read on the situation than I do. No use I what? Its no use! Utterly hopeless! Completely, irrevocably, well and truly fucked! He was momentarily taken aback by her outburst. If only youd -! If youd just listened to me-! We wouldnt even be here! This this place! We could have left the caves easily! Escaped! Do you have any idea how frustrating it was! And instead? What do I get? More delays. More enemies. More abyss damned questions! Was it really so hard? To simply follow along the beaten path. For once?! Just once?! I had laid it out so perfectly. You couldnt have missed it if you tried. Well, you did try, didnt you? Or at least thats how it felt. And all you ever had to do was-! I? Ivory? Where is all this coming from? If this is about the- the vision you showed me? Because if it is, I- No! she actually sounded close to tears. Jun was baffled. Ivory? I dont-! Whats going on? Whats wrong? Everything is wrong! You dont understand- cant understand! I was going to outsmart her This time! This time I- no, we were supposed to go free! Wed have run away to where she couldnt follow. Somewhere I was sure there had to be somewhere. But now she gave a mirthless chuckle. Well, its too late now, isnt it? Now now there can be no escape. And honestly? Its almost a relief, in a way. At first, Jun was completely at a loss for words. And then, something shed said earlier struck a chord with him, and all the pieces finally started clicking into place. Minor suggestion. Oh? Now you catch on? Better late than never, I suppose. Those thieving rats? That was you? You said it yourself. You couldve stopped those smaller beasts if youd really wanted to But you wouldnt have, would you? Not if they were already following your suggestions Ivory didnt respond. But? That doesnt explain why you did it. This revelation, on top of everything else, left him in a rather foul mood, if he was being honest. Why, when you couldve just told me? All it wouldve taken was a few words! What were we even supposed to be running away from? Ivory took her time in answering him. And, when at long last, she did, it was with a hopelessness hed never heard from her before. Oh. There she is. Right on time, mother Uhhh Raina? Argh, shit! Shes here! Seriously?! Mother of-! A little more warning wouldve been nice from the all-powerful rune expert! Apologies, but shes moving really really fast! Shell be here in ten. Minutes or seconds?! What do you think? Argh! Alright fine! Places people! Leave the talking to me. If she doesnt simply obliterate us from orbit that is. Have I mentioned how much Im against this part of the plan?The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Arthur? Not helping. Because poking the sleeping hornets'' nest has always worked so well in the past. Were not poking, were bargaining, now shut up and let me concentrate. Jun, having paid close attention to their conversation, couldnt help but feel a reciprocal anxiety. Ivory, what do you mean by, mother? he subvocalized hesitantly. But before she could respond, he received his answer. A presence descended upon their vibrant little glade unlike anything hed ever experienced before. Grass flattened instantaneously, tree trunks bowed under the weight, and then the very air around them went eerily stillas if prey caught in the presence of an apex predator. If Jun hadnt already been sitting down, it was likely the mounting pressure would have brought him to his knees. As it was, he was having an increasingly hard time coaxing his chest to continue its slow rise and fall, while raising his chin or arms by even an inch had essentially become impossible. The pressure was enormous. All encompassing. Unquantifiable. Like the weight of an entire mountain had been placed upon his shoulders. Only more. It wasnt long before the loud snaps and cracks of branches breaking, trees splintering, could be heard from the forest all around them. Like the rapid-fire crackle of fireworks, followed by the thunderous crash of trees being toppled. With a blinding series of golden sparks, a brilliant flash only seen in his periphery, and a sharp, fizzling sound, the barrier thatd done a pretty good job of imprisoning him thus far abruptly winked out and faded into ambient spirit. Just as ill equipped as the surrounding flora to handle this kind of spiritual weight. Not that escape was really in the cards for him at the moment. All at once though, as if mocking him, the pressure disappeared. The suddenness of the transition was, if anything, even more terrifying than only moments before. Finally able to raise his head again, Jun couldnt help but slowly turn towards where he could, even now, feel the source of that godlike presence. And though a part of him quailed at the idea of what he might find, the action was almost involuntary. And so it was that, for what felt like the first time ever, he saw her. Hovering not fifteen paces away, was a humanoid creature with skin the color of alabaster, owning a womans tall figure and well-toned physique, with a head that couldve been mistaken for an underwater sea-creature. She couldve been Ivorys mother the similarities were so apparent. And it was a testament to how off balance hed become, that it didnt even occur to him that, perhaps, thats exactly what she was, until Ivory slipped from his robes silently and began drifting dejectedly towards her. Jun opened his mouth to say something, anything. Though whatever that mightve been was soon lost to time. That is to say, he never managed itchoked off by terror, awe, and confusionuntil Ivory was already hovering by the larger Cthulles side. Without looking, the alien woman lowered a claw tipped hand to rest possessively on Ivorys head. Jun was possibly the only one in the clearing to notice the way his soul bonded companion flinched. The female cthulle wasnt alone either. Two more of her kind, slightly larger and far more brutish, hovered in the air to either side of herbat-like wings tucked in close, with heads bowed in clear deference to the mother. Though, where both mother and daughter were a bright, alabaster white, these two were a light devouring pitch. This is not what we agreed upon, she spoke in airy, almost harmonic tones. Yeah, well. When your contract basically amounts to a poorly constructed riddle, can you really blame someone for misinterpreting the fine print? Of which there was none, if that wasnt already clear. Can I not? And what about this came to pass through a miscommunication on my part? Id thought I was being fairly explicit with my instructions. Not to mention your reward for carrying out my will. Excluding the part where you failed to mention this fine land of plenty youve got here. A perforated anima. The genuine article no less! Not something Id have been at all sorry to see at the bargaining table. If anything, Id have led with that one, personally. The reward befits the tier of service. And Id say we did a pretty bang-up job of it, wouldnt you? The mother Cthulles eye twitched, and gravity around them more than doubled. Woah, woah, woah! Theres no need for that! Were all friends here, arent we? the pressure doubled again. Associates at least! Look, heres the pitch. We give you the boy, as agreed, yeah? You keep whatever coin you wouldve paid us for a job well done, and instead give us free rein of the place for as long as it remains stable. Also, maybe give us a heads up when youre thinking of torching the place? Youll never see or hear from us again, unless you once more find yourself in need of our services that is. A clean break. What do you say? The Cthulle paused, as if actually considering the offer. And if I instead choose to break you down to your basest components? Erase you where you stand and take the boy as is my due? What then, tiny humans? What possible leverage could you hold over me? For you to feel safe speaking so freely in my presence? Im genuinely curious. Told you it wouldnt work. Alright, fine! You were right and I was wrong. Are you happy now? Not really. Argh! Damn, but it wouldve been so much easier this way! But its a bust now, correct? asked Edmond nervously. Yeah the woman sighed. Then, before Jun could even guess as to what they were hinting at, several things happened in very quick succession. A brilliant purple flash illuminated Juns immediate surroundings. There was a split second where he thought he saw Ivorys eyes widen ever so slightly. Then his field of view was overtaken by the far too intimate close-up of one brutish Cthullea series of golden barriers having been erected mere inches from his face, without his even noticing. The Cthulles tentacles lashed in frustration at the impediment. Then it pulled its fist back and slammed it down onto the barrier, a spiderweb of cracks radiating out from the impact. There came a pained gasp from just behind him. And finally, for the second time that day, he found himself completely unable to move, a mountain suddenly bearing all its weight down upon him. With his chin now effectively glued to his chest, all he could do was listen as blow after seismic blow was laid into the deceptively thin barrier. The only thing separating him from the enraged Cthulle outside. Had he ever complained about these beautiful barriers? He took back every disparaging word hed ever said. Even still, it didnt take a genius to realize that it wouldnt last. And so it was that, as if on cue, there came one last thunderous crash as the barrier protecting him was completely shattered. Then, in what felt like the very same instant, a rough hand latched onto his upper arm, just as a second purple flash engulfed him, and the space around them was effectively warped away. Inside the Perforated Anima
Amidst a rippling sea of emerald green, the sun-maned swift fox deftly stalks its prey. Hidden from the stubby-legs ever vigilant sentry by an impenetrable screen of head-height grass, the clever swift fox slowly creeps its way forwardits every movement silent, every paw placement precise. Until, at long last, it finds itself within range, and so makes extra ready to pounce. Its belly lowers and muscles bunch, before, with a sudden burst of speed it launches itself forward. Closing the distance in less time that it takes to blink, its already savoring the sweet taste of blood on its tongue, when its daydreaming is abruptly, and very rudely, cut short. A brilliant purple brightness intrudes upon its hunt, startling the yipping stubby-legs back into its den. The swift fox snarls, turning to face whatever dared to interrupt its meal, before it senses the powerful ripplings coming off of them in waves, and so makes the very wise decision to swiftly bound away. Raina spat, trying to rid her mouth of the foul taste of bile. It never got easier, did teleportation. If it werent so darn useful, she swore on her mother''s grave, she wouldnt touch a spacial practitioner with a kilometer long stick. Well! That went about as well as could be expected! Excuse me if I whole heartedly disagree. A kilometer long stick and not a meter less. And what would you have had us do, exactly? Intrude upon her cultivated domain without even a how do ya do? Oh! And then proceed to turn around, and, not only spit directly in her face metaphorically speaking, but also on any lingering sense of legitimacy our little outfit still possessed? We had to at least try the diplomatic approach. Uhh guys? Oh? And was that what youd call diplomacy? I actually tend towards agreeing with Raina on this one, added Viviana. Thank you! It wouldnt speak well of us, nor our professional reputation, were we to double-cross our employer as readily as youd have preferred, Arthur. You must see that. Guys? But if the final outcome is the same regardless, what use was there in heaping on unnecessary risk?! Guys. But we didnt know that she wouldnt go for it at the time, now did we? Sometimes with you I just! Just what?! Please, enlighten me! Just seem to have this hunch, dont ask me how I know, that if we based every one of our decisions on one of your paranoid episodes, its exceedingly doubtful wed have any clientele left! Guys! What?! they all screamed back in unison. Did anyone see the kid arrive with us? asked Edmond. There was a tense moment of silence in which they all just looked at one another. One which Raina was the first to break. fuck Chapter 48: An “Explosive” Entrance Inside the Perforated Anima
The unnerving, gut twisting sensation of being folded in on himself, over and over, until his total remaining body mass could fit inside a pinhole, was brought to an immediate halt with a forceful yank. Then, all of the sudden, he was somewhere else entirely. Hovering several hundred meters above the ground, he looked out over an expansive range of mountains carpeted by an unending stretch of pine forest canopy. Feeling somewhat tipsy, after having grown by what felt like a million times his size in less than a millionth of a second, Jun was understandably slow to react when the Cthulles fist connected with his sternum and sent him rocketing towards the forest floor. He reached terminal velocity within mere moments, and it was immediately clear that he didnt have much longer before he experienced an equally terminal impact. In a moment of sheer panic, he pulled on his concepts. Grasping for anything that might save him from the inevitable. And not just one, but all of them at once. Completely unscrewing the conceptual tap, he let the font of universal truths run free. Much to his surprise, he found that the power came to him readily. Maybe a little too readily. In fact, he couldnt seem to make it stop. It poured into him. Inundating his spirit. Saturating him so thoroughly that the difference between himself, and the concepts at large, became negligible at best. It felt as if he were drowning. Set adrift in an endless sea. Barely able to keep himself afloat. To tell what was him from what was other. Clinging to some semblance of identity, he paddled and kicked as best he could. Did his utmost to keep his head above water. And yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt hold out forever. Even his stubborn will had its limits. And so, with nary a sound to herald his departure, Jun silently slipped beneath unforgiving waves. In the next moment, an eruption of silver mist, unlike anything hed ever produced before, exploded from his limp body. His eyes snapped open. Wide and manic, they shone with a brilliant silver light. Inside the Perforated Anima
Nialla Tallvar, disgraced ascendant and planetary steward, scrutinized the flattened area where the boy, the mercenaries, and one of her failed brood had disappeared. Fleeing to some far off corner of her astral realm, no doubt. After all, now that theyd entered, it wasnt as if shed simply let them leave. She wasnt frustrated necessarily, not with this little complication. Shed waited eons for a chance to facilitate her rise to prominence. Another few days wouldnt kill her. It was the price one paid when associating with one of the FenReale. Chaos, instability, and unlikely circumstance were supposedly par for the course where their kind were concerned. And she supposed she couldnt very well complain about it now, not after shed already used the boys nature to such great effect. Karmic Convergence: The sympathetic alignment of significant events. Of what little is actually known about the FenReale, the most widespread of their traits is a tendency towards convergence. Prone to attracting, and in turn being attracted by, events of some significance. It was the bane of any sector or intergalactic organization to suddenly find themselves in the path of one of their fate wells. According to some karmic experts, the weave of the universe itself appeared to bow under their karmic weight, like a gravitational well in space timegathering about them valuable opportunities and blood debts galore, like so many moths to an open flame. Often leaving utter devastation in their wake. Like living natural disasters on a cosmic scale. Thankfully, this boy had yet to grow into his power. Stunted as he was, it would be a while yet before he could be counted among those monsters. The fate wells he could produce were paltry by comparison, though that wasnt to say they didnt have their uses. If one were to say, thoroughly isolate the boy, for instance? Place him in a space where all of the truly significant variables were under her control? Then throw as many of said variables his way until a preferred climax could be reached? Well, an industrious ascender might just be able to snare one of the most widely feared entities of all the multiverse in a realm of her own making. A place almost entirely outside the notice of the constellations damnable sensors. No, she wasnt frustrated by recent events. In fact, apart from a few hiccups, things were going precisely to plan. Inside the Perforated Anima
Jun hit the forest floor with a deafening WHOOMPH and a thunderous CRASH! The resulting explosion taking out entire acres of greenwood in a silver blazing, earth quaking, APOCALYPTIC display. Now, you might be wondering to yourself, how in the hell did he not up and go kersplatsmeared to a fine paste when he tongue-kissed the ground at terminal velocity? Well, the answer is really quite simple. Because Skull Duster did a bang-on job of breaking his fall, thats why, the fucking animal. But, just hang on a second, you may be thinking. How had the handsome devil and his trusty companions known a little stunt like that would actually work? The answer? Yeah, well, its not like its a bloody secret there mate. He hadnt. Sure wouldve been fucked if it didnt though, now wouldnt he?Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Jun flipped through the air on the rebound of his meteoric impactspinning through a handful more rotations before he landed squarely onto his back. A mattress of wood chips and sharp rocks made for a very poor landing, believe it or not. Not that hed expected more from the bowl-shaped crater hed punched into the ground. Launching to his feet, he ignored his broken ribs as he sized up the ugly bastard whod gotten in the first punch. Hegods above, considering the tool between its legs he sure hoped it was a hehovered not fifty paces away. Fucking hell. Anyone ever tell ya you punch like my mother? Jun spat to the sideonly mildly concerned when he saw the pearly glint of a tooth tagging along for the ride. The beasts eye twitched like he hadnt expected Jun to speak. Did the bastard think he was stupid or something? Actually? Matter of fact, wager my old mum could teach you a thing or two. Just face it. Youre pretty fucking pathetic mate. Its a little embarrassing to watch, to be honest. The bastard''s response came in a language that made him swoon with vertigo. It was multilayered and resonant, as if a million voices were competing to be heard. Which, of course, ultimately meant that almost all of them were screaming. Oddly enough, he found he had no trouble whatsoever in deciphering them. IMPUDENT WELP. Yeah? That right? Well, if Im rubber then youre glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and-! The beast attackedlaunching itself forward with what had to be an entirely unnecessary flap of its wings. It crossed the fifty paces easily, though it wasnt instantaneous. Which had to mean that either the burst of speed hed seen in the clearing was entirely a fluke, or the prick was going extra easy on him. Jun grinned. Either way, it was fine by him. The Cthulle reeled back, ready to deliver yet another of its titanic blows. Ironic, seeing as that was around the same time when Balthazar decided to make his big debut. Emerging from behind his back, covered up to the wrist in a dense sheen of chrome, Jun met the Cthulles straight punch with one of his own, and reveled in the feeling of mutual destruction. There was a brilliant flash followed by a concussive blast as the two were propelled in opposite directions. Sent tumbling uncontrollably through the air, Jun couldnt resist the bubbling of mirth which rose up from his chest as the stumps and jagged remains of the forest hed violated not once, but twice now, whipped past at truly impractical speeds. And Jun didnt just laugh, he guffawed maniacally. Racked by hilarity, even as he sheathed his entire body in a thin layer of chrome. When the blow hed been expecting finally arrived, he never even saw it coming. One minute he was tumbling through the air in one direction, then the next there was this lurch, a sudden flasha concussive BANG followed by a distant howl of frustrationand abruptly he was moving in another direction entirely. And thus began the worst, most uncoordinated game of tag Jun had ever been a part of. And he loved absolutely every second of it. Inside the Perforated Anima
When Raina first arrived on the scene, she was immediately greeted by a nightmarish landscape of apocalyptic proportions. Whole entire acres of what she could only assume had once been dense forest, had evidently been pulled up by the roots, then smashed into nothing but small kindlingleaving hills of earth and torn up soil the only visible indicators of some titanic struggle. So, I really hate to be the one to say it, but what exactly is our plan from here on out? In the likely event our only leverage is now dead, I mean? Dont be an idiot. They wouldnt go to all that trouble to bring him here just to kill him, Viviana snapped. Perhaps. And perhaps our once employer simply failed to keep her hired muscle in check, and now were all out of even the semblance of protection. Oh, hes alive alright. My way-finding technique doesnt work on corpses, and I can still sense him way over that hill. How long hes likely to remain that way is still anyones guess, however. Which means less talking and more marching. We might still be in time. And so, without another word, the party made their way towards the hill previously indicated. Reaching the top of the rise in no time at all, they slowly poked their heads up and over the incline, careful not to draw any unnecessary attention, and took in the ongoing scene below. Inside the Perforated Anima
Ah you caught me Jun coughed, spraying blood all over the back of the Cthulles hand where it curled loosely around his throat. It was a wet sounding thing, all false starts and burbling intermissionslike he was gargling mouth rinse, only with his lungs instead of his throat. Took your sweet time though, didnt you? Jun wheezed. One of several freshly broken bones making it incredibly hard to breathe all of the sudden. Stupid bones. He was a wreck. Completely blind in one eye, bruised black and blue where his imaginative use of [Titans Fist] had taken its tollwhich at this point could be described as both everywhere and all the places at once. He couldnt even feel his left side anymore, and he was pretty sure his two front teeth were missing. If nothing else, hed taken his beating as best as couldve been expected of him, and he genuinely took some pride in that. Hed never expected to win, not really. Nevertheless, hed found that it was in the defiance of shit odds that the world really came into focus. You either crushed or you were crushed and there wasnt a gods damned thing you could do about it. At least it had been one hell of a ride, he thought to himself, just about as ready for death as anyone ever was. That is, until he caught the brief flash of purple in his periphery, and suddenly his will to live came to with a vengeance, rocking what had to be the hangover of the century. Why did injuries have to hurt so much worse when you didnt want to die? Thinking to stall for time, Jun recognized, even in his altered state, that this was probably not the best spokesman for the job. Not that the other guy would be all that much better. Still, he was on the clock here, and every second might count. And so, in an instant the billowing silver aura thatd wreathed him all throughout the incredibly brutal all around slugfest winked out, only to be replaced by a ruby red cloud. All at once, his pained grimace of open defiance melted away. In its place was revealed a placid disinterest heavily colored by disdain. Well? You have me, Jun said in a disinterested tone. I believe congratulations are in order? What happens next? Do you simply have your way with me, here and now, like the rutting mongrel you so resemble? The beasts eye twitched and its hold on Juns neck tightened. Or, no, let me guess. Nows when you chop off my head, correct? To later mount on your wall, or some other such savagery? Not that Im inherently opposed to the idea, mind you. If that is indeed your planthough physically it pains me to even categorize it as suchdo make sure to position me so that the lighting hits my good side? It really is the least you can do. Theres a good boy. A deep growl began to resonate from the creature''s chest. Oh! Dear me. You do understand what Im saying correct? I mean, I know it looks like you couldnt bang two rocks together if youd grown up on a stone quarry, but Id really rather hoped the cover defied the contents, if only just this once. ENOUGH. The hand squeezed tighter, abruptly cutting off his air. NO MORE TALKING. YOU TALK AND YOU TALK AND YET YOU SAY LITTLE. YOU RUN AND YOU HIDE, TOO AFRAID TO FIGHT. MORE THAN THAT YOU ARE WEAK. WEAK OF MIND. WEAK OF SPIRIT. I BEGIN TO QUESTION WHETHER MOTHER WAS WRONG IN CHOOSING YOU. I FAIL TO SEE WHY YOU WOULD BE CHERISHED WHEN MY SIBLINGS AND I WERE NEVER SO FAVORED. You know? Jun barely choked through its vice like grip. That sounds so much like a you problem. He figured hed probably bought enough time. And so, with a concerted working of his will, Jun activated his [Blade Manipulation] mantra for the second ever time, and forcefully ejected hundreds of crystalline blades at speed from point blank rangeinvesting almost half of his overall attention, ruby red aura, and willpower into a singular projectile. One which he, obviously, made extra careful to angle so that it took the beast squarely in the leftmost of its burning red eyes. When you were out to make a point, after all, it was best practice to make sure it stuck. Because otherwise, really, why even bother? The beast screamed in pain as its skin was cut and its eye was mangled. In its haste to get away from the blades, the idiot beast couldnt drop him fast enough. And so it was that, as the ground rose up to meet him, and his consciousness truly began to fade, Jun could only smile at the damage hed dealt his enemy, and at the role reversal he swore it would experience the next time their paths crossed. Oddly enough, Jun never felt his body hit the ground, though whether that had to do with his being teleported away or claimed by unconsciousness, he couldnt have entirely said. Chapter 49: Suffering from Success Juns True Soul on the Verge of Ego Death
At first there was pain. Then there was darkness. Darkness and pain. Pain and then darkness. His consciousness a faulty light fixture. A torch buffeted by hurricane winds. Flickering. Faltering. Barely there and then gone. His mind operating on quarter rations. His body always a ways away. He could never be sure if he screamed, how much he screamed, or for how long. Trapped as he was behind walls of his own making, for all intents and purposes, he knew nothing else but pain. An acute, soul deep agony, followed always by the rush of oblivion. Syrupy sweet and smooth going down, it was his balm and favored poison all rolled up into one. A sip to hold him over. To take the edge off of purgatory. In this way the interminable cycle continued, its every revolution as immutable and correct as the celestial bodies traversal of the sky. Until, that was, it very abruptly was not. Until his maudlin routine was interrupted by light. And with that light came sight, and sound, and confusion. Strange visions assailed him, coupled with alien emotions. Scenes from a life lived, though not from anyones he recognized. Expansive flares of elation, cold contempt, and sharp focusthings he could recall experiencing retroactively, though never to the extent that he was now being shown. He watched as vibrant images flickered past at speed. He saw scenes of terrible violence quickly replaced by ones of sickbed and rest. Felt the stiffness of board and the coarseness of sheets. Heard the rumble of voices over him, indecipherable and concerned. And then, after what, to him, felt like an eternity, the world around him came into focus at last, and he found himself somewhere else entirely. Welcome User! Five New Mantras Have Been Detected. Do you wish to proceed with the iterative process? YES/NO (Warning: Refusal will result in the immediate ejection from workshop servers) Do you wish to proceed? YES/NO Dazed, Jun stared at the notification for some time, before, merely as an afterthought, he selected yes. Abruptly, a creeping mist sprung up from the void and, just like that, he found himself in possession of a body once more. Without thinking, he clothed himself in a nondescript set of grey robes, then plopped himself down right where hed stood. For a time, he simply sat thereoccasionally toying with the rolling mistshis mind a jumbled-up confusion of emotion. The most prominent among them being an all-consuming dread. He couldnt place where exactly this mounting horror stemmed from, only that the thought of moving, or indeed, thinking deeply on the problem whatsoever, seemed to summon up that dread feeling in abundance. And so, instead he simply chose to do nothing. Merely sat there, placidunblinking and unthinkingwhilst trying very hard not to feel anything at all. Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
The world avatar observed the fate touched mortal closely, a growing kernel of concern darkening its thoughts. By its count it had been two weeks since the mortal first entered its lower facilities, and throughout all that time, not once had he made to move even an inch from the spot he now occupied. That alone was not so much of an anomaly. In eons long past, when its many worlds had been commonly frequented by the worthy, it wouldnt have been unusual for individual periods of seclusion to last entire solar cycles as its users sought out the highest pinnacles of divinity. Only, in the case of this particular mortal, there was no shining light of ambition, like what mightve been expected from one of the FenReale. A burning ambition coupled with unparalleled geniusthe two together harboring the capacity to make even god''s tremble. No, instead of cultivating his soul or contemplating the Dao, he appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be doing nothing at all. Worse than that, an uncharitable assessment might even find his studied indifference to be defeatist in nature. It was all deeply concerning. Primarily because the world avatar had pinned so many of its newly blossoming hopes on the reputation of the fate-touched, and on this one in particular. And so it was that, after so long spent drifting through the ether aimlessly and without purpose, the thought of regaining some shred of agency, only to have it taken just as easily, was so undesirable as to be outright unacceptable. It had been some time since it had directly communicated with one of its users, and never with a mortal. Even in its prime it had been an extremely rare occurrence, spared for only the best and brightest of its pupils. The very same that had gone on to conquer entire swathes of the multiverse, or alter the base nature of their universe itself irrevocably. True ascendant beings, in other words, that were a far cry from the sulking adolescent it now harbored. Yet hard times often made for fewer alternatives, and if it truly prioritized its rise to prominence, the world avatar knew that certain exceptions would have to be made. And so, with that in mind, the world avatar extended the first probing inquiry of what it hoped would be a fruitful and enlightening dialogue, and then waited. Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
When Jun roused himself, it wasnt due to hunger, a full bladder, or even boredom. Instead, it was entirely due to irritation. A burgeoning annoyance with the blinking purple box that just couldnt seem to take the hint and go away already. Jun tried to shove it away with his mind at first. And when that didnt work, attempted to swat it out of the air instead, to much the same result. Finally, when no other option easily presented itself, he forced his eyes to focusfinding the task far more difficult than it had any right to beuntil he could properly make out the notification and its accompanying text.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Basic Mantra: [Spearing Hand] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Poor Quality) Conceptual Stability: 14% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Incredulous, Jun promptly dismissed the notification with a flat-out denial, unsure as to what hed done to prompt it in the first place. Are you sure you do not wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit your Basic Mantra: [Spearing Hand] YES/NO Bewildered, Jun again selected no. It hadnt done that before, had it? Shoving the question aside, he could already feel his mind drifting back into that blissfully uncomplicated stupor, when yet another notification bloomed large in his vision. Annoyance well and truly turning to anger by this point, he wouldve blindly spammed no until the infernal rectangles disappeared from his sight for good, only this time, there wasnt any option for him to refuse. Why? Jun blinked, staring at the open-ended question with obvious confusion. Before he could even think of a way to respond, another appeared to overlap the first. Do you not seek to pierce the heavens? Do you not chafe under others rule? Jun honestly didnt know what to say to that. Or how he was even meant to respond, for that matter. Should he just speak aloud or? I dont it took some time for his mind to properly formulate the words. No. Things like that. Piercing the heavens. Lording over others. Theyve never really interested me. Excuse me if I have a hard time believing that. Jun frowned. Who who am I talking to right now? And why is that so unbelievable? It was the truth, after all. Wasnt it? Firstly: who I am is unimportant. Secondly: because you would not have stumbled across this place were it otherwise. Instantly, the words reeled to the surface feelings of curiosity that hed almost buried in his attempts to distance himself from his emotions. And what is this place exactly? It once was a great school of learning. A training facility for students of exceptional talent and peerless skill. Once? He hadnt failed to pick up on that little detail. Time has not been kind to these facilities. I am now but a shadow of my former glory. No longer the main hub of transcendental knowledge I once was. Drawing about me bright and eager young prodigies. Each brimming over with potential, like great celestial bodies orbiting a brilliant central star. Transcendental knowledge? A place of learning In spite of his own fears, and despite the dark welling of dread even gently probing the subject brought about, the chance of finding answersexplanations that this grand repository of knowledge might just possesswas enough to pull him from the brink of oblivion. Enough for him to properly face his internal struggles, concerns, and anxieties, instead of running away from them outright. If it really is as you say, and you truly do know as much as you claim, would it be possible? Would it be possible for you to explain what exactly is wrong with me? Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
As it so happened, the mysterious voice of the workshop was happy to explain, in great detail, all of the myriad things that were very wrong with him. Hurtful comments about his short stature, poor cultivation, and, of all things, poorer bone density aside, it ultimately didnt take long for them to get down to the heart of the issue. Having gone over his experiences with a fine-toothed comb, recounting them as well as he knew howfrom his initial steps onto the path of cultivation, to the more recent episodes of missing time, and finally his most recent experience trapped in what had felt like hellish purgatorytheyd eventually stumbled upon a diagnosis. It had taken him some time to come to terms with the workshops conclusions. So, youre telling me Im, what, too strong for my own good? For your current cultivation realm? Yes. Very. Which should not come as much of a surprise seeing as I believe weve already established it to be exceedingly insufficient. To be more exact, Your resonance pillar is hazardously incongruous. Okay, but? Jun was having a hard time wrapping his head around this. What even is resonance? And why is it so important? There was a long pause between messages at this. If I did not know what you were? That you need ask at all is I am increasingly incredulous that you chanced upon myself by anything other than divine intervention. It truly beggars belief. That doesnt answer my question, Jun was starting to get pretty sick and tired of this whole holier than thou attitude. Resonance: The degree to which one embodies the completeness of one, or several, of the universal truths, and in so doing ingratiates oneself with said higher ideals. Becoming ever closer to the true divine, and all the more real in the striving. So, in other words, how well I can make these higher ideals relate to me? Or I suppose thatd be the other way around, rather. Make them believe Im just like them? Much nuance is lost in your lax interpretation, but if you must simplify to comprehend the greater complexity, it is an adequate enough summation. Meaning that he was right on the money, essentially. It was honestly kind of ludicrous, that something so heavily veiled in cultish mysticism could be boiled down to something so utterly mundane. It was a common enough tactic, really. Propagated most heavily by door-to-door salesmen the world over. Mimicking the body posture, and or general sentiments, of a potential client as a way to make them feel more at ease. At ease and, in turn, more pliable. That these patron ideals essentially amounted to self-important clients with way more bargaining power than anyone had any right to, was honestly something of a revelation for Jun. And the more relatable I am, the more power they feel comfortable in lending me? Again, it is a woefully inadequate oversimplification. But, in essence, you are more or less correct. But then, what does any of that have to do with what Ive experienced? I can understand how my resonance might be somewhat high, but I dont see why the side effects should be so severe. Not as drastic as they could have been, all things considered. Really? And being booted out of my own body wasnt bad enough? Are you telling me that it could have been worse? Given the pertinent fact that you were not forcefully removed, so much as you extricated yourself from your failing body before your soul was destroyed? Yes, Id say things could have been far worse. Failing? What do you mean by failing? A-and my soul?! What was that about my soul being destroyed? once more that sick dread was worming its way up from his gut. I believe Ive mentioned that your cultivation is vastly insufficient. This was not without cause. It is not a small thing, to bear the weight of even a splinters worth of universal perfection. Even were it not for your brazen hubris, in thinking to bind yourself to four such incompatible truths, this would likely remain truer for you than it would for most. And why is that? Jun snorted. I already know it cant possibly be that Im just that special. Youve already made it very clear that Im anything but extraordinary. Did I say that? I do not recall that being my conclusion. Your cultivation base is weak. That much is true. You have the body and soul of an average mortal, less than a bare infant on the path of cultivation, yet you simultaneously possess the resonance levels of a scion well on their way to ascension. That your soul hasnt yet shattered under the universal strain, or imploded from the dissonance is extraordinary in and of itself. Right. So, in other words I am a wonder. More specifically, its a wonder I havent killed myself yet. Thanks for the clarification. You are welcome. Jun grit his teeth. So, if Ive got this straight, I overreached somehow, got too big for my britches, then subconsciously fled here, to this workshop, which is also some sort of soul realm? That is not incorrect. Which means? What? That Im stuck here now? And what about my body? What happens to the me out there while Im stuck in here? That depends entirely on what you mean by out there. It also depends upon which body you are referring to. The physical vessel you left behind when you were forcibly dragged into the astral plane, or the aforementioned spirit body you so recently vacated. Jun paused, took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out. Okay, lets just start again from the beginning, shall we? Chapter 50: Soul Inception? Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
Forty minutes later, and he finally felt as though hed been brought up to speed. Not that it made any of it any less confusing mind you, but now at least he thought he had a better handle on the situation. First things first? It was official. Hed royally messed up. Talk about biting off more than he could chew. If the workshop was to be believed, and as far as he could tell it didnt have any reason to lie to himin fact it seemed to take great pleasure in delivering hard truthsby raising his resonance as high as he had, and forming more than one conceptual bond besides, hed not only overtaxed his spirit greatly, but hed become far too resonant with the concepts in question. So much so that the spiritual weight of their natures had begun to supersede his own. Slowly eating away at his ego, his sense of self, even as he sought to resonate with them more completely. Luckily for him, the true soul and his spirit body were two distinctly separate entities. And, in his utter desperation, hed, somehow, managed to detach one from the other. The first, his true soul, was effectively immortal. While the other, his spirit body, most definitely was not. For so long it remained whole, his true soul would persist in the cycle of reincarnation indefinitely. While his spirit body, on the other hand, was an extension of his self. His ego. His wants and his desires. Beliefs and personality. And would, therefore, expire when his body did. It was his spirit body thatd been slowly corrupted by his ludicrously high resonance pillar. And though his acceptance of this explanation hadnt taken all that much convincingafter the initial shock hed found it fit very neatly into what hed been experiencingthat didnt stop the workshop from giving ample proof. From a massively curved system screen, which seemed to take up a full quarter of the void like space, was projected several scenes. Each of them displayed as if from his perspective. Very deliberately, one after another, the workshop entity shored up the many blank spots hed had in his memory. Revealing to him the true extent of the damage, and how, entirely unbeknownst to him, his words, actions, and morality had been warped to better reflect the higher ideals hed adopted. Altering him in ways that frightened him at timesand made him cringe at othersto the point that he barely recognized himself or what he might be capable of. And worse yet were the overwhelming feelings of helplessness watching the scenes gave him, given the fact hed been told, on more than one occasion, that to reenter his spirit body as he was now would amount to suicide. To place himself at the mercy of whatever fate was reserved for prematurely devoured souls. Apparently, this entire conundrum wasnt an issue he was supposed to be faced with for a while yetuntil he was much further along his pathbut because of the idiotic way hed gone about things, and one other unanticipated factor besides, hed been presented with this specific bottleneck well before his body, mind, or spirit were prepared. Are you aware that your system interface has been tampered with? I only ask because it would do much to explain your ignorance of subjects I would have expected you to be well versed in. The workshop casually dropped this little bombshell about halfway through their conversation. And, for the record, no, as it so happened, he had not been aware of any such thing, though it did give him the same feeling as Ivorys vision had. Like hed been missing something crucial this entire time that, somehow, hed also always known. After some system trickery he didnt at all understand, the workshop was quickly able to show him a screen that was without any of the supposed tampering. One he immediately recognized, and yet found so wholly unfamiliar. Name: Beckonfrost Zhaoshen Junwei Race: Human Cultivation: Spirit Condensation Realm: 7th Stage Bloodline: Sublime Panoply (5 Stars) [Sealed] Titles: Merchant of Promise, Fledgeling Magnate, Budding Sage Cultivated Body: NOT APPLICABLE Resonance Pillar: Traveled Copper [32 of 50] Body: 2 Celestial Dew (2,602 Celestial Essence) Mind: 2 Celestial Dew (2,602 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 2 Celestial Dew (2,237 Celestial Essence) Insight: 6 Stars (250,000,877 Celestial Essence) Martial Alignment: Concept of Cutting (2nd Aspect), Concept of Crushing (1st Aspect), Concept of Piercing (1st Aspect), Concept of Cleaving (1st Aspect) Substantive Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Conceptual Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Talents: Soul Bond (2 Stars), Child of Dao (6 Stars) [Sealed] Spirit Coins: 1,240,500 Mortal Potential: 248,046,500 points Well thats fuck thats what the hell? And, as if to add icing to the proverbial cake, there were his talents. The corrupted ones hed been presented with what felt like a lifetime ago now. Born Talent: |Soul Bond| [Linked] If Two Minds Are Better Than One, Two Souls Must Be Greater Still Your Soul and Anothers Have Been Karmically Linked at Birth. (Passive Effect): May Share Any Property and or Status Inherent to the Soul. Fated Talent: |Child of Dao| (Unique) [Sealed] The Primordial Dao Avatars Eagerly Await Your Ascension. (Passive Effect): Bonuses to Conceptual Comprehension. It was already so much for him to wrap his head around, and then the haughty workshop went on to explain how his spirit body had effectively been kidnapped. Or his astral body had been, in any case, though he didnt really think there was a difference. A perforated anima so, its effectively like another kind of soul realm? That is not incorrect. And yet its not the whole truth either. Correct. Can I get a definition? Jun sighed. Perforated Anima: An astral pocket suitable for those on the cusp of the nascent soul realm, the perforated anima is a mortal soul that has been forcefully expanded into a middling astral plane. While extremely unstable as a direct result of its creation, within it exists exceptional opportunities for spiritual growth. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Often, many of the resources used in its creation remain. These can take the forms of dense pockets of un-aspected spiritual energy, and or middling grade soul harmonizing treasures. By its nature, it is a widely advertised and easily accessible realm, often rife with sweeping conflicts. Rest assured that many with easy access to this particular astral plane will flock to such a rare and covetous opportunity in droves. Join them at your own peril. And that had been the gist of it. An exceedingly unfortunate state of affairs which he had no idea how he could possibly squirm his way out of. He let his mind grapple with the problem for some time, before he eventually caved and asked the obvious question. So, by this point I think I understand the sorry position Im in. Now, how exactly do I go about fixing it? You cannot. I-? What? Wait, what do you mean I cant? Surely there has to be something I can do. Unlikely. Seeing as you cannot leave for fear of total erasure. Meanwhile any proactive steps you can feasibly take while within this workshop will only serve to hasten the degradation of body, mind, and spirit. So, youre saying theres nothing I can do? Apart from watch, wait, and possibly pray? No. Now, that isnt to say that the problem will not solve itself in due time. There should be an abundance of resources hidden within the perforated anima. Soul harmonizing treasures which, if consumed, have the capacity to temper your soul. Warding it against dissonance backlash, ego erosion, and other such spiritual maladies. It is only a matter of consuming said treasures in a timely fashion. Which will be rather hard to do while stuck in here, instead of out there, actually in control of my own damn spirit body. You understand the dilemma. Rest assured, your physical body will not decay in the meantime. Within the astral plane your spirit body now resides in, time flows at a vastly accelerated pace. Here, that initial time dilation is multiplied severalfold. You could experience entire decades within these walls before your physical body is troubled by the even the smallest pangs of starvation. Great. So my choices are to either sit here and do nothing, or sit here and do nothing. With the added benefit of knowing my body is slowly starving to death casually sprinkled in there, just for good measure. Did I get that right? Am I missing anything? It is a very slow death. Jun ground his teeth. This whole situation was infuriating. He felt just as impotent now as he had been throughout so much of his life. And he knew that if he didnt do something, anything, it was entirely possible hed slip back into that state of blank numbness, as he patiently awaited true oblivion. No. Excuse me? I refuse to believe that theres nothing I can do. What about these things? he gestured at the five new rat-kin shaped constructs thatd appeared following his arrival. If I improved them, raised their conceptual stability then assimilated them, would they transfer over to my spirit body? Even while Im stuck in here? No! Actually, would it be possible for you to hold them in reserve?! You know, like after Ive run the trial, but before they transfer over completely? Yes, and yes on both accounts. Though doing so remains inadvisable. You must know that more resonance will only serve to further exacerbate the problem. Thats true, but what will it matter if my bodyspirit bodywhatever, never lasts long enough to find whatever I need to harmonize my soul. Would you say that the beings which are drawn into a perforated anima are more powerful than I am? Exceedingly so. Yes. Right then. So, I figure out how to manually upgrade these mantras, assimilate, then hold them in reserve? Would it be possible to show me a real time view from my perspective? Without a written response, the curved screen in the sky flickered, and suddenly the previous scene of bombastic, over the top violence was replaced by a slightly fluttering darkness. It only took him a few moments more to recognize the back of his own eyelids. Perfect. Now all I need to do is make sure I dont screw up the timing. Assimilate them too fast and I risk losing myself completely, but too slow and I forfeit my life outright Ill also want a varied stockpile just in case the situation out there calls for something specific. A bit tricky but I should be able to? Without another thought for the pantheistic workshop arbiter hed spoken with only moments before, Jun summoned the nearest construct, selected edit when its notification popped up, then began the convoluted process of sculpting the confused and jumbled mess into something even remotely comprehensible. A hunch as to how best to go about it already forefront in his mind. Inside the Perforated Anima
It was in an out of the way province, within an out of the way townmore a way station for weary adventurers and the occasional frontline platoon, than a place where good folks tended to stop by and settle downthat an older woman of middle years tentatively called home. To be more exact, it was within the towns only inn, suitably called Blue Embers Refuge, that shed managed to carve out a place for herself, her own little domain. Raised on less than affluent means, it wasnt an exaggeration to say that itd taken much to get to where she was now. Standing behind her bareight feet by forty-two inches of dark, polished mahoganywhile patiently drying the inside of a rather large glass with deliberate swabs of a cleanish dish rag. She wasnt overly boisterous, nor charismatic in her work. She kept to herself, was good at her job, and only ever demanded common decency in return. A former adventurer herself, with many of her similarly retired friends serving among the waitstaff, there werent many that found themselves outwardly opposed to her rules of conduct. And as for the outliers? She was happy to say those still conscious after the fact very quickly found themselves amenable. Perhaps it was because of her aloof and unassuming nature. Perhaps it was merely a consequence of the trade. Either way, any claim shed once held over her birth name had long since eroded under the plodding tread of many blessedly uneventful years. To be replaced by a given moniker that she couldnt entirely say she minded. All that was left at the end of the day was a simple barkeep. It was just a coincidence that she also happened to have uncommonly high situational awareness and threat assessment capabilities. Both of which were currently firing off on all cylinders. Not that she let it show, of course. Youre mad! Dont tell me you actually believe itll be that easy? I think you need to get your head checked friend. Somethings clearly come loose. Hah! Well see who the crazy one is when Im rolling in it, just you wait. Raving. Thats what you are. Raving bloody mad. Well, its your funeral. Mind running up a tab then? So long as drinks are on you and everything, Id like to capitalize while the gettings still good. I already told you; my stepsisters aunts cousins kid managed it just fine. Now I doubt her, or her ma will ever have to work another day in their lives! Brokers in the capital will pay fat sacks just for the whereabouts of some unique variant or another. And why the hell would they want to do that? Didnt you hear? Its the heiress! Couldnt just settle for any old familiar, could she? Only the best of the best for our dear princess. Put out a bounty for rarer than rare rift spawn, with a Queens ransom for the finest catch. Word is shes already rejected hundreds, if not thousands! Some of them well into the C grade, if you can believe it. And so, what? Figured youd tramp about the fringes on the off chance you stumble across the most unique, never before seen rift spawn in all the queendom? But thats the beauty of it, my friend! I dont actually have to worry about winning, Queen take it! Leave that to the merchants and the nobility to figure out. I just need to come close. Close enough that some information broker or big city functionary feels comfortable in taking on all the risk for me. Im telling you, when I hit it big and make my fortune, then youll see. Well, alright then. Lets say youve got me convinced. In the meantime, hows about another round on you? Barkeep! All throughout the farcical conversation, the barkeep quite literally kept her eyes on the task at hand. Making sure to give every glass the deliberate attention it was due, before setting it aside and beginning on the next. That said, while outwardly she made a care to appear otherwise preoccupied, her mind never strayed from the small group of hooded figures, sitting quietly at a table in the very back. The group of travelers that, ever since theyd first entered her establishment, took up the vast majority of her focus. As she saw to the two regulars, she watched carefully out of the corner of her eye as the hooded strangers rose from their table all at once and began to weave their way through the crowd towards the main entrance. As they passed by uproarious tables, drunken contests, and harried waitstaff, the barkeep slowly felt her tension ease. Perhaps this might pass without incident after all. Of course, that was when one of them broke off from the others and began to make their way in her direction. The barkeep tensed, letting one hand casually slip beneath the countertop to caress the handle of her two headed battle axe. When a second of the group broke off to join the first, she began to signal towards the waitstaff that they might be in for a fight. A fight which, if she was being honest with herself, she couldnt entirely be sure they would win. Which was why, when, instead of falling in line with the other, the second roughly grabbed the first by the arm and hauled them bodily towards the front doors, the barkeep couldnt help but let out a sigh of relief. Crisis averted, she now looked after the pair with open curiosity. Who were they to give off such densely concentrated auras? One of the Queens Knightly Cohorts on their way to the wall? An Adjudicator and her entourage? Or perhaps they were merely what they seemed. Adventurers. Though theyd have to have been of the B grade at least. In any event, it was because of her lingering gaze that she managed to catch one last glimpse of the pair as they disappeared out into the night. As the one which blazed more brilliantly than any of the others to her soul sight, glanced back one last timeturning their impenetrable hood in the barkeeps general direction with what she could have sworn was an unmistakably forlorn expression. Chapter 51: A New Day Inside the Perforated Anima ? Following Two Weeks Spent in Rest & Reconnaissance
Up! Raina emptied the full contents of her bucket onto the sleeping form of their would be captive. Jerking him awake with a cold slap of well water, she only took a small amount of pleasure from the way he coughed and spluttered. If her life had, by necessity, become this nightmarish crucible, and would effectively remain so for as long as they continued to circuit these backwater provinces, shed be damned if the little brat got to go on catching up on his beauty sleep like he hadnt a care in the world. Itd been somewhat more manageable back down in the under, when shed quite literally been the furthest thing from the whispers of temptationoutside of maybe a desert, a nunnery, or the middle of the fucking ocean. Now though? Now, when she couldnt turn the corner without stubbing her toe on a tavern, an inn, or some panhandling bum clutching half a bottle of the good stuff, staying sober had become what basically amounted to torture. Well, to be fair good stuff mightve been pushing it a bit, but whether it tasted of pig swill or cat piss, it was a hell of a lot more alcohol than she was in possession of right now. From her perspective, that poorly concealed bottle of who knew what was as precious to her as a small fortune mightve been to them. She wondered idly how the beggar wouldve reacted had they known just how much shed be willing to pay for a sip. Blood and brittle bones Raina! Viviana swore. Watch where you aim that thing! Argh! Just look at me! My clothes are ruined! Gah! And my hair! I swear you did that on purpose. Itll dry, Raina deadpanned, deftly evading the question of intent. Was that really necessary? asked Edmond. You just got him all patched up. What if he gets sick? Raina paused. She hadnt actually thought that far ahead. His spirit body isnt a physical thing. It cant actually contract something like a common cold, she lied. Though, was it really a lie when she had no idea? It couldve been true. Who was to say? Besides, its precisely because I just finished putting the brat back together again that we need to get a move on. Were burning daylight people! Time that couldve been used to astronomically further our cultivation base has already been wasted playing nursemaid to this ingrate. Id rather we not waste another two good weeks on similarly unproductive activities. Fair enough, I suppose, Edmond allowed. Still, do you really think hes okay to be moved again so soon? Raina glanced down at the boy, tattered robes completely soaked through, as he calmly surveyed their surroundings. She watched him take in first the golden barrier restricting his movements, then the sorry state of the barn interior theyd effectively called home for the last two weeks. Pungent, filthy, and with a few drafty holes in several unfortunate places, it hadnt been the worst working accommodations theyd ever suffered through, though it was a far cry from their best. She was unsurprised to note the crimson aura that wafted up from his poresitd been present all throughout the painstaking process of recovery after all. What did surprise her, however, were the color of his eyes. Shot through with that same vibrant red as his aura, when they met hers, they did so with an oh so familiar sheen of razor-edged contempt. Creepy little fucker, arent you? Then, much to her surprise, without even a single word exchanged, the boy simply lifted his chin up a degree, dismissed her with a glance, and gave a condescending sniff, before his crimson aura was abruptly snuffed out, and in its place arose a bright yellow mist. Mother of-! Just how many damn alignments does this boy have?! It was ludicrous, shouldnt even have been possible, and yet the proof was right there for all to see. Holy Edmond gaped. You guys?! Youre all seeing this too, right? I mean Id thought I could have sworn that he was cutting aligned, no? With a flash of purple light Arthur disappeared from where he leaned against an upended water trough, only to reappear at the other end of the barnas far away from the boys position as line of sight would allow. If he couldve helped it, Raina honestly doubted hed have remained with them in that barn at all. Were it not for that handy little restriction on short cast teleportation, it was likely hed have been miles from there. Edmond! Maximum quarantine protocol! We may only have seconds before the dissonance backlash levels this entire barn and all the surrounding area! Damn it! I knew this was a terrible idea! Why didnt any of you listen to me! Edmond, who was now practically vibrating with panic, quickly waved his hand, summoning several hundred runes as if from thin air, to rocket towards the kid like tiny shooting stars made of liquid gold. At which point they swiftly interlocked to create several overlapping, arcane looking circles. As the others huddled in terror, and Viviana obstinately drew her sword and leveled it at the barriersas if that would actually do anythingRaina merely rolled her eyes in exasperation. They didnt have time for this. Before she could set them all straight, howeverwhatever this was, it wasnt anything that appeared to be immediately volatilethe boy beat her to the punch. After taking in a deep, seemingly contented breath, he spoke.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Ahh! Wonderful! Wondrous! Stupendous even! Its just bound to be an extraordinary day, dont you agree? Cant you just smell it in the air?! They all paused. The words so nonsensical, not to mention so far out of left field, that, at first, they completely failed to register. Once they had, however, Raina was the first to speak. Uh? Yeah, I must have missed that bit. You know, past all the mildew, rancid body odor, and persistent notes of animal dung. The earthy scents of success! he exclaimed, completely undeterred. R-right Raina took a closer look at the boy, beginning to wonder if she hadnt gotten him sick after all. Was that rosy tint to his cheeks in fact the first signs of fever? Because, despite his features never changing, for all intents and purposes he might as well have been a different person entirely. Gone was the look of utter contempt. And in its place was this feverish light in his eyesopen, intense, and more than a little disturbing. His newfound look of wide-eyed curiosity showing off their now bright yellow cast to great effect. Hes speaking, Edmond said hesitantly. Do you think this means hes not going to explode? We cant know that! cautioned Arthur. I have to agree. The handsome man is clearly speaking sense! the boy broke in. Who''s to say I dont go up in a brilliant blaze of glory any second now?! Whos to say it doesnt happen to each and every one of us?! Truly, all we can ever do in this fickle world is try our utmost and hope for the best! Huh. You know I have to say the kid is kind of growing on me, said Viviana, sheathing her sword. I mean, clearly hes batshit insane. Some sort of personality disorder? But this is obviously the best one out of the three. Three? How did you get three? asked Edmond. Im still stuck on handsome, Raina tried not to gag. I mean, sure hes tall for a scarecrow I mean, but- Actually, no wait. Lanky is honestly being more than generous. Seriously though. Handsome? Really? Are we seeing the same thing? You didnt notice back at the clearing? No aura, but he was all simpering sentiments and bribery. Brought to mind one of those damnable merchant caravans. You never can trust one of their ilk, you know. Slimy bastards. Indeed! Four, actually, Raina cut in. You didnt see what I saw when Id just about finished with my ritual. If Im not mistaken, youve got a piercing alignment tumbling around in there too, dont you boy? I have no idea what any of you are talking about! But, that being said, I wholeheartedly agree! Raina snorted. Three martial alignments. Three, Raina?! This is no laughing matter! Arthur exclaimed. Its a wonder he hasnt gone off already! This entire endeavor has gone from extremely ill advised, to nigh on suicidal! Its as if youre begging for a true death-! Which is all the more reason to pass him off onto the locals, yeah? Raina cut him off. Make him someone elses problem. That was the plan, correct? So now, like Ive been trying to urge this entire gods damned time, lets get to it then, shall we? But-! I couldnt agree more! the kid exclaimed. Truly, theres no better day than today to give it our all! Inside the Perforated Anima
Idly tapping her nails against the armrest of her almost throne, she tried very hard to stamp down the ever-growing impulse to wring the scrawny neck of the next person to walk through those doors. If it wasnt already obvious, it had been a very trying number of days. Ever since that royal chit had decided to make her impromptu pronouncement, and in so doing effectively throw the entire queendom into disarray, Meredith had been bound by sacred oath to contend with a never-ending stream of idiots thinking to capitalize on the vagueness of the princess''s appeal. Announced during the most highly anticipated, widely attended, and extravagant social event of the yearthe inaugural winter ball planned in celebration of the princesss fifteenth birthdayit had taken a day, maybe less, for her words to dribble down to the common people. And from there, the cascading effects had been catastrophic. Mother finally relents that Ive come of age at last, and so it is that I suddenly find myself in need of a familiar. I refuse to take the path most trodden, however, which is why I propose to you this. To any that hear my words, I would ask that you bring me something interesting. Something thats never been seen before, that I might bind it as my combat familiar. Do this, and I swear to you, here and now, that I will reward your bravery, ingenuity, and expense by more than a thousand-fold. Ever since that proclamation not an hour had gone by without her having some bloodthirsty adventurer, malodorous peasantor, really, anyone with easy access to a household pet, a bucket of bright paint, and a stubborn streak dead set on making their fortunejust waltz on into her domain, tracking muddy boot prints all over her expensive floors. And for what? Given the land shed been given to govern, it went without saying that nothing noteworthy had ever, nor would ever come out of this inconsequential valley, let alone something even remotely exceptional. Doomed to preside over a worthless noname province of insubstantial reputebarren of tillable land, harvestable forests, and so lacking in quality resources that not even the stone was worth quarryingthe very best she could hope for from the bumbling serfs she oversaw was their monthly tax. And even then, it rarely came in the form of coin. Truly, this was not the life shed imagined for herself when shed first taken the exams to become a royal functionary. Shall I summon the next in line, great mistress? came the soft voice of her standing attendant. Or do you wish for me to send them all away? Meredith hesitated. The temptation to simply give into her frustrations and call it a day was strong. In the end though, she really couldnt afford to. Even if she had the ultimate say in this provincial backwater, there were othersmany, reallyto which she had to report. Not the least of whom of her very own blood. Not that those familial ties seemed to soften her regard any. Meredith sighed. On with it then. If it was going to happen regardless, she might as well get through it as expeditiously as humanly possible. Chapter 52: A Grand and Valiant Contest! Inside the Perforated Anima
Could we really not have found a bigger cage? asked Edmond. It looks as if it were made for a small dog. It was the best I could cobble together on short notice, snapped Raina. Dont tell me youre having second thoughts? Well, no. It just seems a bit undignified is all. He doesnt seem to mind. Yeah, thats what worries me. Jun, for his part, was simply having the time of his life! Not only had his new friends fashioned him a personalized conveyancea clear indication of their rapidly budding friendshipbut theyd actually insisted on carrying him the entire way here. They wouldnt even hear of letting him out of the nice box, with its robust frame and privacy insuring bars, so that he might pull his own weight as a member of the team. Not even when hed asked them to! Never relenting in their rather transparent attempts to drape him in all manner of style and opulence. Gifts he wasnt entirely sure he deserved. An insistence which hed only really begun to understand once theyd stepped foot in this similarly appointed anti chamber. Truly, he couldnt have wished for better friends. Although, that wasnt to say there wasnt always room for one more. And taking in the hectic antechamber, filled to the brim with potential friends, Jun couldnt help but feel spoiled for choice. Now, that being said, for the time being at least, hed have to settle for the more four-legged variety. Seeing as they were, typically, the only ones at his eye level. He was confident that this was only a temporary setback, however. Taking in the clamorous hall in all its totality, he couldnt help but smile broadly. Ahh, the sweet sound of barn animals in the air. Not to be outdone, were the sweet smells of barn animals in the air. And let us not forget the sweet taste of barn animals in the air. It was such a delicate blend of sensory experiences, that he almost felt as if he were back in the barn again. This truly was such a wondrous treat. And then there were the other people standing abouthovering over similar conveyances to his own. Each of them housing animals of all shapes and sizes. Though, perhaps only a few of them were as big as him. Boisterous and filled with all kinds of vigor, the people, all women strangely enough, shuffled forward a single step at a time, following a somewhat haphazard line. One which tracked muddy steps from the entrance, all the way to the grand double doors, and, presumably, beyond. At a glance, it looked like itd still be a while yet before they reach the front of the queue, and so Jun turned his immediate attention to his fifth best friend in the making. Who knew? The way this day was going they might even turn out to be rivals. It would appear youve stepped in quite the mess, huh kitty? Thats fine, big brother Jun will have it fixed right up in no time! Jun addressed the furry feline curled up in the conveyance opposite his own. A cat which looked to have been drenched quite liberally with what could only have been a rather large bucket of paint. Now why would someone go and do something like that? Jun stretched his fingers through the privacy bars. The little cat hissed its acquiescence. He took this as tacit permission. The sharp sting of its claws had him retracting his fingers far faster than hed extended them. An electric charge of anticipation thrummed through his veins. So, they were destined to be rivals after all, then? Truly, could this day get any better? I see! Well, if it was a test of strength you wanted all along, you needed only to ask! The cat hissed its challenge. And it was a true challenge at that. Oh, how oblivious he had been! To think hed underestimated such a willful and fearsome opponent! Only now did he recognize the fierce pride evident in its bearing, where hed been utterly blind to it before. But of course! Believe me when I say I would not dream of making such a demonstrable error twice! Come my furry friend! Let our grand clash of burning hearts and striving spirits be one sung about for many ages yet to come! And so it was. And it was glorious. Boy! Stop playing with the cat, encouraged friend Raina. Were up next. Oh, and if you wouldnt mind being you know, a little more impressive when we get in there? If you managed to pull that off, itd help our chances here immensely. Jun looked up from his contest only to find that theyd somehow reached the head of the line. In the heat of battle, he must have lost track of time. Be impressive? Yeah. He thought he could manage that. But before anything of the sort however? Jun locked eyes with his erstwhile enemy turned lifelong companion and smiled. It took some effort, but he managed to ignore the sharp stinging sensation emanating from his shredded fingers. Bringing his fists together in a sign of respect. It would appear youve gotten the better of me this time. I look forward to clashing wills again with you again in the future. When next our paths meet, my good friend. Then, giving as deep a bow as he was able within the cramped, though still genuinely appreciated, confines, Jun held that position and didnt waver once. Not even as his conveyance was set into motion. Maintaining the gesture of respect between equals until the grand doors slammed shut behind them, and a brand-new chapter of his ever-expanding story was stretched out before him.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Inside the Perforated Anima
Meredith watched in quiet disbelief, as the older woman wearing the odd hat that jingled as she walked, first tried to wrangle, then attempted to cajole, and finally began to beg the otherwise uncooperative bear to balance on the largely inflated ball. The minor functionary did so with a frozen, slack jawed expression, and a feeling of exasperation bordering on outright hysteria. Surely this entire extended fever dream was just some overly elaborate jest had at her expense. It was the only thing that really made sense! Anything else too closely resembled some creeping onset of insanity for her liking. Enough! Meredith dismissed both the bawling midwife and the untalented bear with a sharp wave of her hand. Feelings of disgust making her very glad shed skipped breakfast this morning. Once theyd finally gone, her standing attendant hesitantly spoke up. I can postpone the queue if youd like, great mistress. No one ever said you must bear such a burdensome weight without surcease. She honestly gave the idea some thought, before she ultimately dismissed it. No. Youd best send in the next. Its better we get this over with now, before my patience well and truly runs thin. As you wish, great mistress. After indicating for her standing guard to usher in the next of the wastrels, her attendant quickly returned to her place below the raised dais, just as a group of four hooded figures wheeled in a rather small looking cage. Meredith felt her attendant stiffen at her side. What is the meaning of this?! came the uncharacteristically shrill voice of her attendant. You will lower your hoods when in the presence of the great mistress! Meredith started, then blinked in surprise. She had not been expecting that reaction, and it immediately captured her attention. It didnt escape her that, while the presence of a bear standing not twenty paces away hadnt even made the former adventurer, turned indentured servant, bat an eye, these four hooded individuals were apparently enough to make her hackles raise. Yeah, thats not happening, came the hooded figure at the front of their procession. Tell you what though? Lucky for you, your hectic little search has officially come to a close. Ive got the answer to your princess''s special decree right here, she casually patted the small cage. Her attendant visibly bristled, but before she could explode, Meredith raised a hand. The woman immediately bit her tongue, but then, against all known master servant protocol, looked directly up at Meredith with a pensive expression. I would stress caution, great mistress. These four are not to be underestimated. Raising an eyebrow, she chose not to punish the attendant for her impertinence. It was likely it came from a good place after all. That said, it wasnt as if shed just blindly acquiesce to the every whim and fancy of a mere serf either. No matter how well intentioned. Taking in the small group of unarmed travelers, then her own well armored guard detailnearly twice their number and their sizeshe wasnt overly concerned. Still, they had held her attention, if briefly. She decided shed have some fun with them. I feel compelled to inform you that there have been hundreds who entered through those same doors, making almost identical claims. Im sure you can see why I might be a bit skeptical. You should know that not a single one of them has even come close to impressing me. And I have to imagine that my standards dont even hold a candle to that of the heir apparentsinheritor of the realm. Tell me, what makes you so confident youll do any better? Patience, grit, and a damn good product. This here, she rapped on the metal cage once more. Is what I like to call our resident wild card. Very low maintenance, as you can clearly see. Not to mention compact. Highly versatile and easy to use, hes perfect for all your rift spawn slaying needs. Heck! He even comes with his own built in bottle opener! So long as you dont mind a mess. Oh, but before we get to the proper introductions, youll probably be wanting proof as to the veracity of my claims, yada yada yada, etc. etc. That would be nice, yes. Right! Well but you see? The thing is, in order for us to do that, well need a quick change of scenery first. Arthur? Are we taking the guard along with us? Eh! Why not? But-! If you didnt want the answer then you shouldnt have asked the fucking question! Less talky, more teleporty. Chop chop purple man! Grumbling, the hooded figure began to weave their hands in ways that were unmistakably occult. Then, before their words had fully registered, exactly as the woman had implied, their collective scenery just changed. Meredith lurched to her feet in a full-on panic, before vertigo made her sit right back down again. Gone were the stuffy confines of her reception hall, and in its place was a rocky ledge hemmed in by sickly green foliage. Barely ten paces from a sheer drop, she looked out over a flat expanse of packed earth. A long stretch of barren nothing which seemed to proceed the greater forest beyond, like the sandy beach before an endless ocean. She was outside? No worse than that. She no it couldnt be! Was she on the blasted frontier!? How?! Just! How?! Meredith began to hyperventilate. Behind her, there came the brief sounds of a scuffle, a sharp cry of pain, immediately followed by eerie silence. By the time shed collected herself enough to be functional, and so turn around and see what all the commotion was about, the fight was already over. Lying at the feet of one of the hooded travelersthe one holding what she immediately recognized as a sword scabbardwere the remainder of what shed thought were her elite guard, in addition to one unmoving female attendant. Taking a deep breath, the minor functionary stilled her racing heart, and spoke with a calm composure that even her harshest tutors wouldve likely found impressive. Are they dead? she asked, as if the answer was only of fleeting interest. Theyd better not be. Viv? Oh, theyre alive, alright. Although, weak as they were, it wouldve actually been far easier to kill them. I held back, obviously. Ah. Yes, I see, Meredith gulped. Well, thats good then. Outwardly, Meredith affected calm, though internally her mind was working furiously. They hadnt killed her guard, not even the serf, if she understood things correctly. That was important. Theyd made it clear that they could have, if theyd wanted to, and yet theyd refrained. Now, was it really accomplished as effortlessly as theyd like to make out? It could still be a bluff? But, given what shed seen, she didnt fancy taking the risk. Why had they brought her here? To assess their chosen candidate. Which meant that they needed her. And so long as she had value, she had longevity. Now the only question was, did she accept their offer immediately, regardless of the rift spawns merit? It was money that would be coming out of her own coffers, and yet if the alternative was death? Lady! Hey! Y-yes! she stuttered. Whipping her head up and to the side, she locked onto the silhouette of what shed pinned down as the leader. Merediths expression showed both hope and nervousness respectively as the woman stepped up to stand beside her. If you keep on muttering to yourself like that, youre liable to miss out on the show. W-what? Show? I dont-! Shhhh An extended finger slowly smooshed her lips to her face. Its starting. We can leave the questions for after. And so, with nothing better to do than wait, Meredith followed their collective attention down onto the packed earth below, praying all the while that her presumed usefulness would last just a little while longer. A richly devised jest held exclusively at her expense. She could just imagine it now. The universe in stitches, practically brought to tears by her plight. Chapter 53: Where There’s a Will There’s a Way! Inside the Perforated Anima
Are you sure about this? Edmond asked, voice pitched too low for their guests ears to pick up. I mean we dont actually know if hes any good in a fight. He could be terrible. Worse yet, he could die, and then where would we be? If youll recall, you didnt exactly approve of me pulling my punches when creating this trial. Hell be fine. How can you say that? Because if he isnt, hell have wasted a boatload of my time, and that really isnt a position you want to be in when dealing with a potent soul practitioner. So, a trial by fire then. Essentially. We need to make a good impression, first and foremost. We can scare the pants off this lady all day, but unless we can convince them to willingly take him into the fold, our failsafe, as it were, will always be in jeopardy. I get that but- Listen. Literally the only thing everyone in this place, scary tentacle goddesses included, wouldnt dare to mess with too directly, is its original inhabitant. Stick him with the shattered remains of this girls soul and his safety is basically assured. Besides you saw the aftermath of his last fight. Even if it mostly consisted of him taking fists to the face, to have lasted as long as he did, against that monster, should tell you something. I I suppose youre right. Yes! I am! Like I said, hell be fine. And if he isnt? Ill just bottle up his mortal soul and use it as a paper weight. You you can be pretty damned scary sometimes, you know that? Raina only smiled cryptically in response. So, she asked. I forget, what happens in the first round again? Well, I set it up so that the enemies would come out in waves, and if Im not mistaken, the first wave should consist primarily of these little green creatures. From what I can tell, theyre essentially lesser war and nature based spirits, but the locals mostly refer to them as goblins. I see. Sounds exciting! Raina rubbed her palms together. Well then, what do you say we go ahead and get this show on the road? Inside the Perforated Anima
Jun was still bent over at the waist when the world around him changed, so it took him a minute to realize, not only was he now somewhere else entirely, but that his cherished conveyance had begun to glow. Golden runes now wrapped around the privacy bars from top to bottom. While others, meanwhile, traced elegant lines all along the boxy perimeter. Jun watched in awe as they steadily grew in brightness, until suddenly, with a bright flash and a deafening bang, the five sides of his beautiful conveyance were violently torn apart, as if somehow repelled by one another. Leaving Jun straddling the bent and twisted remains of his once most beloved mode of transport. Grief and disbelief warred for prominence on his features, and that was around the time when the green devils attacked. They were naked. Or near enough that the distinction was basically negligible. Filthy loincloths the only thing even moderately preserving their modesty. The largest of them standing at only four feet tall, they were long nosed, big eared things with beady red eyes, distended bellies, and shiny bald pates. Rail thin, but with a wiry kind of strength, they held crudely manufactured spears, clubs, and a few flint hatchets. By his count there were ten of themone big clump having appeared in a purple flashand when they noticed him, thoughts of allowing for the time hed need to properly process his grief, apparently, never even crossed their minds. With shrill, bloodthirsty cries, they chargedeating up the sixty paces separating them at a less than intimidating clip. In fact, they were so slow that Jun managed to, if not fully, then partially come to terms with his loss, well before theyd even come within thirty feetit had never really been about the conveyance, but the bonds of friendship it had represented! Still, to think they could be so indifferent in the face of such loss. It was nearly unforgivable! Was unforgivable! And just like that, a brand-new sensation began to roil in his chest. Indignation. Because it wasnt just him they were disrespecting, but all the friends hed made along the way! Jun rose to his feet with a newfound sense of purposeevery part of him suffused with the light of his fighting spirit. It wreathed him, empowered him. Made his arms feel stronger, steps feel lighter. And so it was that, with the wind gently ruffling his hair, he watched the incoming hoard of enemys rush ever closerslathering, hate filled demons that they wereand smiled. Suddenly incapable of standing still for even a moment longer, Jun broke out into a full-on sprint and bull-rushed the hated enemy, his own shrill battle cry tearing itself from his throat. Thirty paces. Twenty paces. Ten paces. Then contact. Jun barreled through their sloppy front lineshouldering two aside, even as they squawked in protest, and knocking them bodily to the ground. Positioning himself so that he stood at the very heart of their loose formation. Enemies on all sides. Precisely where he wanted them to be. This way, he practically couldnt miss! He pulled on his aura, funneling the roiling mists in tight spirals down along his forearm and towards his open palm. Only belatedly did he remember to saturate his hand instead of coating it. He beamed in satisfaction at his own quick mindedness. Raising a hand that shone like bright canary topaz, he first took in a deep, measured breath, before he shook the very air to vibrating with the sheer intensity of his cry. Splitting Chop! Lashing out with a diagonal chop, he delivered a glancing blow to one of the snarling demons, leaving a shallow cut across its chest, and spinning it around with the residual momentum. Emboldened, Jun tried to leap forward, to press the attack, only to be stymied by the emergence of a wall of spearstwo of its brethren deftly brandishing the impractically long instruments. Then, with a speed that belied their twig like limbs, the demons thrust their spears forward with two swift jabs. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. It was all that he could do to throw himself out of the way in time! Off balance and unawares, he was in no position to respond as the massive club came slamming down onto his shoulder from behind. Since when had they gotten behind him?! Jun cursed his rotten luck as he stumbled, deftly redirecting the force of the blow with several clumsy steps to the side. He could already feel his shoulder beginning to throb from the impact! Still wary of the two spear wielders standing in front of himsimply tracking the weaving bob of their spear tips was taking up every ounce of concentration he possessedhe was, in turn, given little opportunity to glance over his shoulder. And so count the number of cowardly creatures likely poised to stab him in the back. Nevertheless, he did not despair. After all, he had a plan. Where theres a will, theres always a way! Having decided that the best course of action was a full-on assault, Jun was mentally preparing himself to just rush in and simply weather the forest of spears, when another titanic blow hit him from behindthe blunt implement taking him squarely in the lower back this time. Jun staggered, caught completely off guard. His slow reaction speed and effective blindness making him immediately susceptible to the next sneak attack. And the one that followed that and the one after that one too. This went on for quite some time. In fact, it was only when the ninth such blow connected, that he finally realized hed had just about enough. He took the tenth on his side, spinning with the momentum of the blow, so that, when his back hit the ground, he was able to evenly distribute his weight. Distribute it in a way that didnt hurt at all. Not even a little. It had also been very much on purpose. All a part of the plan. Taking advantage of his now advantageous position, he began hacking at the legs of the many demons as they rained down their ineffectual blows. Well, somewhat effectual. Moderately effectual. And anyway, he wouldnt let something like debilitating pain slow him down! Splitting Chop! He hacked a leg off at the knee, spattering his face with blood, and dropping the demon to the ground with a deafening wail. Splitting Chop! He took a demon in both ankles this time, instantly sending it to the floor screaming. Splitting Chop! Splitting Chop! Splitting Chop!! And all the while the rain of blows just kept on coming. Though, by the time he was beginning to flag, the number of impacts was greatly diminished. Now, with eight out of the ten little more than moaning mounds bleeding out into the dirt, he was allowed a little more room for maneuverability. Rolling to his feet under the reduced assault, Jun took several steps back and away from the panting creatures, his face immediately splitting into a victorious grin. Very deliberately, Jun wiped away the blood that threatened to trickle down and into his eyesholding the gazes of the two demons all the while. Then, once Jun had, at long last, managed to get ahold of his breathing, he didnt even hesitate to immediately lurch forward. Breaking into a staggering run, with hand pressed tightly to his side where he could feel a decidedly unpleasant wetness, he found himself already eager to rejoin the fight. Hes not doing that poorly, said Edmond. Hes flailing about like a toddler whos just learned how to walk for the first time, stated Viviana, deadpan. Hes winning, said Edmond, though even he didnt sound convinced. In quite possibly the least impressive way imaginable, Raina hissed. Think we should call it off? asked Edmond. No, Raina snapped, her previous cheer having long since evaporated. We keep going. Just tell me what else we can expect? Some kind of shadow aligned wolf spirits, I think and then a blood, war, and nature based spirit the locals refer to as hobgoblins? A lot like the regular goblins except bigger. More strength more speed more vitality Edmond flinched. Heavens preserve us Raina swore. Hah! Jun popped up from his roll just in time to meet the next wolfs lunge with a rising, fully powered: Splitting Chop! In the end he was unsurprised, though extremely annoyed, when, instead of being cleaved in two as hed intended, the wolf deftly twisted its body midair. Angling its torso so that his swift riposte just barely slipped beneath its wispy black underbelly. Then, before he could rush forward and capitalize on the creatures poor positioning, he felt another of the creatures shadowy jaws lunging from behind. He was finding these opponents far more cowardly than the last. Inconsiderate though the little green devils might have been, at least theyd had the decency to stand and fight. Really! It was as if these mangy mutts didnt care to cross claws with him at all! And instead merely sought to wear him down! Most frustrating! And worse yet, his throat was starting to feel raw from all the shouting hed been doing. And while hed briefly entertained the thought that, perhaps, he might be better served in not announcing his every attack, hed dismissed that idea as unsportsmanlike almost immediately. After all, how fair would that be? If he just attacked without warning, when they didnt know it was coming? Gods forbid! Hed feel so ashamed of himself, he might as well die. Really! Stooping so low as to use such duplicitous tactics? At that rate, what dastardly dishonorable misdeeds wouldnt he be capable of?! He honestly shuddered to think of it. That said, he was currently in a bit of a bind. Theyd been leading him by the nose for what felt like hours now, and he wasnt any closer to bringing one of them down now, than he had been in the very beginning. Which meant? At the end of the day, there really was nothing else for it. If trying the same thing over and over again was only ever met by negative results? Then I will just have to try all the harder! Jun spun on his heel to meet the sneaky lunge from behind. Arm extended, he chopped crosswise with everything he had. His arm was the axe, and these beasts were the forest. All he needed was for something to connect, anything to connect, and he was certain that was all it would take to topple everything in one fell swoop. He missed. Though he still thought he was onto something. That last attack had felt different somehow. He was so close to something. He could feel it in his bones. All he needed was a little more time. To put in just that last bit of effort. To want it more than hed ever wanted anything before in his life. Sensing two of the wolves rapidly approach from his left and right, Jun spun, extending both arms while saturating each in cleaving aura. Seemingly unwilling to pounce, after their prey had effectively become a spinning dervish, the two shadow wolves quickly backed off againpadding back to the others as all nine of the pack continued to stalk him. It was so unbelievably disheartening to be repeatedly unable to land even a single decisive blow. Every time he thought he had one cornered, some brand new impediment appeared to block his way. And the more he pushed at the roadblock, seemingly, the greater the resistance became. They were too quick. He was too slow. They were too agile. Coordinated. If only theyd slip up. Make a single mistake, just this once. If only theyd come just that little bit closer. For that matter, if only his arms were just a little bit longer. Jun chuckled. Then he froze. Longer? No it couldnt be could it? Could it really be that easy? Heedless of the danger, he stared down at his hands for several long seconds. And then? Well, then he smiled. The next time the wolves came for him, he would be ready. Chapter 54: Splitting Chop!! Inside the Perforated Anima
As five of the shadow wolves broke away from the pack, converging from seemingly every direction at once, he didnt change his method of attack in the slightest. Well, if you ignored just one minor detail that was. Sensing the one to his left most keenly, he turned in that direction, ignoring the others for the time being. As hed suspected, he was just in time to see the feral shadow beast beginning to pounce, though already he could see its clever eyes carefully judging the distance. Just like so many times before, as the beast lunged forward, wispy jaws opened wide, it was clear to everyone present that its supposed attack was merely a feint. After so many repetitions, even Jun was well aware of it by now. It hadnt changed his position with regards to it one bit, though a part of him still recognized the likely futility of engaging. Not one to turn away from a challengeeven ones not made in true earnestso far, hed refrained from applying similar trickery to what these wolves clearly displayed. Even if it would have been far smarter to ignore the phony wolf and instead target its friends, hed refrained on principal. And really, that much hadnt changed. He would meet this challenge as he had all the others, with every ounce of fighting spirit he possessed. He would do so even if his phony opponent was too much of a coward to really mean it. Splitting Chop! Like so many times before Jun leapt forward to deliver a devastating upwards chop while the beast was still airborne, and like so many times before the wolf deftly evaded his chop by twisting its body at the very last second. Unlike before however, his attack didnt just stop at the end of his arm. Instead, it just kept on going. Like an extension of his will, his splitting chop crossed the distance separating them and bit into the wolfs shadowy hide with a satisfying jolt. Caught completely off guard, the wolf wasnt even given a chance to yip in surprise before it was neatly severed in two, its body still centimeters from his extended right hand. Insides exploding outward in a burst of shadow, the two halves of the wolf hit the ground with a surprisingly heavy series of thumps. Looking down, Jun was surprised to note that, without the shadowy shroud obscuring its body, it was actually made of flesh and bonered entrails dying the pact earth a muddy brown. Looking away from the fallen enemystill a bit too miffed to properly honor them with a bowJun turned to find that the other four wolves thatd moved in to encircle him had frozen in place. As he watched them, and they, in turn, likely tried to get to the bottom of whatever had happened to their friend, Jun smiled. Finally, he felt like things were truly starting to make sense again. Hed almost begun to worry for a second, but, just as hed always suspected, facing the problem head on was always the best possible solution. Really, it might as well be the only real solution at all. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your Mantra [Splitting Chop] (Poor Quality) has evolved. [Splitting Chop] (Poor Quality) has become: [Greater Splitting Chop] (Good Quality) +5 resonance. Splitting Chop! Raina watched as the little brat bisected one shadowy wolf spirit after another with a feeling akin to reliefnow confident that all of her efforts hadnt, indeed, been wastedif heavily tinged by incredulity. Thats thats not what I think it is, right? asked Raina. Its unique alright, said Edmond. Definitely not a conceptual manifestation Ive ever come across before. Also, does anyone want to tell me when he managed to reach the image stage without any of us noticing? He hasnt, said Raina. Have you ever met someone in possession of a joined aspect? Let alone several? Well, Ill tell you right now, theyre fucking terrifying. This no, this is clearly something else. But-! The level of physical manifestation alone I sense no spirit whatsoever, and yet its so crisp! Its almost like I could just reach out and touch it, even from all the way up here. I mean, how is this even possible? Do you think hes being mentored by a sage or something? Even were that the case, I cant see it accounting for everything. A genius then? A once in ten generations prodigy? Has to be, right? But you see, thats the part I just dont get. If the kid somehow has a way of forcing stages, something I think we both know should be impossible, why in the world would he settle for that? Surely there are more efficient, not to mention more effective ways of achieving similar results. An axe for instance. Hell, even a kitchen knife wouldve been more appropriate. Anything but!Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Oh, I dont know, Viviana broke in. I think its rather cute. Edmond and Raina turned to her with looks of horrified disgust. Even Arthur looked suitably disturbed. You think that atrocity, that crudely shaped abomination, is cute? asked Raina. The way it just flops around like that? Doesnt it just make you sick? For the gods awful waste of potential, if nothing else, agreed Arthur. It looks to be performing just fine to me, Vivian replied with a huff. Honestly, I really dont know what youre all making such a big fuss about. Its just an arm. Sure, its about as flat as a piece of parchment and wobbles a bit in the air, but you cant really argue with its effectiveness. And unfortunately, in the face of such ironclad logic, despite every part of their cultivated hearts yearning to protestan ingrained desire for powerful abilities to not only be functional, but also suitably flashythey could only bow their heads in resignation. But-! Raina sighed. It just looks so silly. Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
Splitting Chop! Out of the corner of his eye, Junthe real Jun, trapped in timeout or purgatory, he hadnt decided which, and effectively cut off from the rest of the worldwatched his cleaving possessed spirit-body double bisect what looked like an older brother to the smallish green creatures of only moments before. His splitting chop mantra, or greater splitting chop as itd been designated, resolving itself in the form of an extendable arm. Or no not really an arm, per say. More the silhouette of an arm. As if his shadow had peeled itself free from its proper place on the pavement and immediately started cleaving everything in the nearest vicinity in two. Oh, and had also dyed itself yellow for whatever reason. Highly adjustable, both in general size and extension, it was a far cry from anything he had ever thought to create himself, and that alone told him something quite valuable. Making note of the revelation and its potential ramifications, then setting it aside for future study, Jun turned back to the task hed set for himself. He thought he had a good handle on the methodology by now and felt as though he was on the very cusp of some higher understanding. He just needed a little more time. He simply had to hope that the foreign egos currently puppeteering his spirit body didnt wind up getting him killed in the meantime. Inside the Perforated Anima
At first, Meredith had been anything but convinced. On the contrary, shed been fully resigned to take on the considerable financial losses these travelers would no doubt demand in exchange for their lackluster rift spawn. And she would acquiesce too, no matter how poor the offering, lest she find herself transported into the heart of a volcano next. If they didnt simply cut her down in cold blood outright. It wasnt as if there was anything she could do to stop them. That much, at least, had been made very clear. Her only allies and potential witnesses were still passed out on the floor after all. Resigned and utterly hopeless, shed watched on with shoulders slumped. Posture only slumping further as the minutes dragged by. As the trial progressed further, howeveras the rift spawn was faced with tougher and tougher opponents, yet somehow continued to come out on topMeredith began to see a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps this wouldnt be such a catastrophe after all. In fact, if she played her cards right, it was entirely possible shed come out of this, not only with her life intact, but in a far better position than when shed entered. It was the ease with which the rift spawn quickly dispatched the lower D grade flaming orc that really cinched it for her. And when her robed benefactors informed her that this was likely only a small fraction of its power, not only did she believe them, but her interest in this opportunity practically soared. And why shouldnt she believe them? After all, what need had they to deceive her? It hadnt taken long for the trial to reach its climax, and after the last of the towering earth elementals fellall five of them middling D grade threatsthey were all transported back into her reception hall, whereupon the first negotiations began in earnest. And that was how she found herself in possession of an extremely valuable, untamed familiar for the low low price of only a hundred gold pieces. A seasonal discount, or so the cloaked leader had assured her, only further cementing the belief that her luck had well and truly turned around. Watching the sleeping form of the rift spawn from where she sat on the edge of her bed, Meredith couldnt help but feel an acute sense of urgency. Late as it was, she found herself completely unable to sleep. There was just so much left to do, and so little time with which to do it. She couldnt keep her mind from racing. If she wanted to make the most out of the blessing thatd fallen into her lap, shed need to make for the capital, and soon. Tomorrow, at the latest. Which meant, before any of that, she would need to bind the rift spawn properly. Not to herself. No, that would rather defeat the entire purpose. Instead, she would bind it to a stone of the same name. She was anything but na?ve and refused to take something so potentially valuable out onto the road without sufficient failsafes in place. Shed sooner die than have this boon stolen out from under her, so having the means with which to directly decide who did and who did not get to bind this rift spawn was a must. And while the hooded travelers had said it was to remain in the new cage they had fashioned at all timesas it was apparently the only thing that could keep it containedshe recognized that to do so would be to squander its greatest asset. Its peculiar strength. Something shed need to show off on many occasions if she truly wanted to catch the royal eye. No. Shed bought the rift spawn, so she would do things her way. A simple slave collar would be the natural first step. And from there? Well, there were many ways of forcing compliance. Truly, with so much work laid out ahead of her, the interminable wait was practically torture. Jun’s POV (1) Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
Who knew bending the fundamental stuff of reality to make cool shooty laser eyes would be such a major pain in the ass? Youd think if they were called the building blocks of creation, theyd be easier to line up in a row. Not so, it would seem. Either creativity was dead on a primordial scale, a marked drop in appreciation for the artsbecause I mean, cmon, who could say no to cool shooty laser eyesor these patron ideals he kept hearing about were some damned harsh critics indeed. Itd been three days since hed first arisen from that momentary lapse in his general will to go on, and, if he wasnt ready to call it quits necessarily, hed say he was getting pretty damned close. Lying on his back, with legs and arms outstretched, Jun stared up at the jumbled purple mess of overlapping lines as it slowly rotated above himall broken geometry and chaotic noise patterns. Looking so much the ball of lint one might find in an old dress suit pocket, that it was honestly getting to be pretty depressing. To say that he was quite bad at this would be the understatement of the year. That wasnt what really bothered him however. Hed honestly expected as much. You didnt achieve anything in life without realizing, very early on, that failure was just another part of the process. And that, in the very beginning at least, youd be failing quite a lot. To give a personal example, at one point in his bare, entrepreneurial infancy, hed been positive, almost obnoxiously confident, despite all sane counsel to the contrary, that his hot air balloon backpack idea was too big to fail. That it did so spectacularly, with as much expediency as that first, catastrophic test run, was as predictable, in hindsight, as it was costly. That it hadnt taken his career down along with itsmoldering in a bent pile of deflated canvas and shattered dreamswas the truly miraculous twist of fate. The only miracle to come out of the entire, ill conceived endeavor. Oh! That and the test pilots survival, of course. Completely unscathed, Ill have you know! minus a couple of eyebrows lost in the bonfire. No, it wasnt the repeated failures that bothered him, but the near total lack of input as to what in the nine hells he was doing wrong. It was kind of hard to take a step back and reassess when there was no clear indication as to where hed messed up in the first place. Just a long list of failed attempts ending in the same, generic, entirely unhelpful conclusion. With a thought, Jun summoned up the specialized system screen hed been using as a notepad. Tinted the tell tale purple that spoke of workshop tampering, it read as follows: Attempt #5: Awesome Defensive Technique (Failed). Cause of Failure: Spontaneous explosion. Attempt #6: Super Awesome Defensive Technique (Failed). Cause of Failure: Spontaneous explosion. Attempt #7: Super Ultimate Awesome Never Going to Fail Defensive Technique (Failed). Cause of Failure: Spontaneous explosion. Attempt #8: Cool Shooty Laser Eyes (Failed). Cause of Failure: Go on. Take a wild fucking guess. Spontaneous explosion. Now, that wasnt to say hed learned nothing in all this time. No, on the contrary, he managed to pick up on something he thought was rather crucial. That thing being, effectively, whenever a mantra fell below a certain conceptual stability threshold, it would explode, spontaneously, no matter what he did or how he tried to course correct. Not only that, but it would do so in the exact same manner, each and every time. To the point that he had begun to think it rather suspect. Even the splatters of entrails rained down the same. Hed tested it thoroughly. Standing in the exact same spot while he spectated a multitude of custom mantrasgenerally those whose stability averaged at around the four percent mark. Without fail, the same meaty chunks rained down in the same gory patterns, leading him to believe that maybe, just maybe, it wasnt so much a simulated response, as an automated one. A fact that could change everything, if true. Or nothing, he really wouldnt know until he tested it out himself. And there was really only one way to do that. Custom Mantra: [Cool Shooty Laser Eyes] (2nd Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Conceptual Stability: 3% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Assimilate! You have selected the Custom Mantra: [Cool Shooty Laser Eyes] as your trial partner. Is this correct? YES/NO Im offended you even feel the need to ask. Initializing Calculating Trial Difficulty Your resonance pillar has been adjusted for. Your body cultivation has been adjusted for. Your soul cultivation has been adjusted for. Be warned. Your Mantra: [Cool Shooty Laser Eyes] is an offense to its patron. Difficulty raised by two stars. Please holdYou could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. *Ding!* Estimated Trial Difficulty: |3 Stars| Designated Arena: Arcane Metropolis Blood Sport Arena Acclaim Bonus: NOT APPLICABLE Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Star Ranking: NOT APPLICABLE Temporary Titles: Mammoth Slayer, Giant Slayer, Titan Slayer. Please hold still while we transport you. Your trial will begin in: 10 9 8 Youll be wanting to get up now, son. Juns eyes snapped open. There was the briefest moment of disorientation as he took in his unfamiliar surroundings, before he eventually came back to himself, and his breathing, which had become ragged, once more settled. He was lying atop a hard cot, staring up at the low, dirt caked ceiling of what was apparently a dank prison cell. Abruptly, an almost nauseating thrill of emotions inundated himmostly dread and apprehension tinged with a healthy dose of anxiety. Practically assaulting him from out of nowhere, backing him up into a dead alley and pummeling him senseless with the sheer, raw, unfiltered feel of the place. Immediately he could tell that this was different from the previous trial hed faced. An order of magnitude more real, for lack of a better term, and far less benign. As if there were a will to it, a hostility so palpable it could be felt in the air. A spike of panic shot through him, felt from his navel down to his groin. No doubt in response to the tactile wash of sensations which crashed over and through him, making themselves known all at once and indiscriminately. The undeniable, harsh and unsettling clarity of the moment nearly taking his breath away. The sudden invasion of damp and cold seeping into his bones not helping matters any, making him shiver uncontrollablybreaths frosting the air before his unbelieving eyes. He pulled the thin hemp blanket covering him tighter around himself, to little effect, mores the pity. Torchlight flickered from somewhere outside the cell, shining through the bars of the small viewing port set into the cells only door, a sturdy looking number, iron bound and thick. The orange flames cast the cramped space in shapes of dancing light and flickering shadow. It didnt make the dreary scene any more hospitable. In the distance, there could be heard the unmistakable sounds of moaning, some in obvious pleasure, though most in what he could only describe as abject despair. Some weeping, screaming, and the occasional meaty thwack of fist on flesh. Feeble cries and protests more or less drowned out by the stomach churning metronome. The steady beat of unchecked violence. And over it all came the slow tread of boots on flagstones. That, and the merry jingle of keys. Somewhere, someone began to whistle a jaunty tune. Finally, Jun turned to the only other occupant in the tiny cell, taking heed of his earlier instructions and rising unsteadily to his feetif only to be better prepared should the older man, as hed surmised from both voice and cadence, try something. He wrapped the thin blanket around himself, then turned to the origin of the voice. When he finally caught sight of his cell mate, partially hidden in the gloom, he had to repress the instinct to take several wary steps back. The man was huge. Not that retreat wouldve been feasible at any rate. His hamstrings were already pressed up against the sharp edge of his cot, and even then he was barely three feet from the giant man. Guards dont take kindly to their authority being questioned. Disrespect and the like, you understand, real or imagined. Youd do well to avoid their ire, son. Avoid their eye if you can help it. Best practice? Dont provoke a king in his throne room. And, well, to folks like us? Every whole man, woman, and child might as well be nobility, the man grunted. Now, I know what youre thinking. Reeks of age old imperium, aye, but thats what you get when every guard captain is a prince and every warden the emperor. Help an old man to his feet, would you? After only a second''s hesitation, Jun complied, if only to be polite. He didnt know how much time they were going to be spending together in this cell, after all. He figured it was best he stay on the giants good side, if he could help it. He crossed the cell. It didnt take long. Then, he wondered how in the world he was actually meant to accomplish such a monumental task. The man had to be three times his size, at least, and he didnt even want to know how many times his weight. Many, many times, if he had to wager a guess, seeing as he easily took up the majority of their cell. Upon giving it an honest go anyway, not really expecting much, he was surprised to find he had no trouble lifting the old mans bulk whatsoever. In fact, it felt as if the man weighed almost nothing at all. Like a heavy box or an unwieldy chair, as opposed to the hundreds of pounds of fat and muscle hed been expecting. His first thought was that the man must have hollow bones, or some other such malady to explain away the discrepancy. Going by the matching grunt of astonishment the man uttered, Jun immediately reasoned that probably wasnt the case. It took him an embarrassing amount of time to reason out the actual cause. Oh! Duh, my temporary titles! Seriously, this place must be getting to me or something. Man. That dew really packs a punch huh? Much appreciated young man. Ah Dont mention it, Jun gulped. As the man rose to his full height, in so far as he could in the cramped confines intended for regular men, Jun got his first good look at him in the flickering torchlight. The sight didnt make the man any less intimidating. If anything, the shadow had helped to shroud his brutal visage. Because only now did Jun realize that the man was not human. Or at least, not entirely. Possessed of decidedly bovine features, he had the head of a bull, and the body of a man. One dense with sagging musclea fit man well past his primeand the other sprouting curved horns that only further added to his imposing height. Both of which were heavily crisscrossed with aged scars. What had to have been the work of decades to acquire. Abruptly, the booted feet came to a halt outside their cell. At the old mans silent urging, Jun slipped off his blanket, feeling naked for all the cold viciously bit at him immediately after. There was a clank as key was inserted into lock, then a screech as un-oiled hinges protested their poor treatment. The door swung open to reveal two regular looking humans standing in the torchlit hallway beyond. A man and a woman, dressed in crisp gray, fur lined uniforms. The uniform of the prison guard, if he guessed correctly. The male guard, a tall clean shaven man, traditionally handsome, with a cruel tilt to his lips and hair slicked back, briefly flicked his eyes in Juns direction. Whether it was because of the old, not quite a mans, earlier ramblings, or some internal instincts kicking in, Jun was quick to avert his gaze and fold in on himself. Not quite bowing, but not quite standing tall either. The guard swiftly dismissed him, returning the whole of his focus back onto the giant. The female guard gestured for them to follow with a jerk of her lantern, while the male guard struck up a conversation. Ooo! Havent seen this one before, the cruel smirk intensified. New blood, ay Goro? Whats that? The third one this week? You strike a deal with the warden or something? Swear you always get fresh pick of the young ones. Wager a choice few of these scum swillers are starting to get jealous. Aint your mother ever taught you to share? Shut your trap, Manny, snapped the woman. What? What I say that was so wrong? Werent saying its wrong for a man to have his preference, just wager its greedy hogging em all for himself. Youre full of shit, Manny, and you know it. Bite your tongue fore I kick your teeth in and bite it for you. The man grinned. Waggled his eyebrows. Dont make promises you cant keep, Emms. They continued bickering like this for the entire time they traversed the dank corridors. Bantering, even as they led the way down winding passage after winding passageidentical cells and lunatic ravings boxing them in on either side. When at last they reached the end of their long trekat which point another, larger, even thicker door was openedand they exited out onto an open air courtyard, Jun found that it couldnt have come soon enough. That was when a biting gust of wind speared through him down to the bone. And suddenly, he very much regretted abandoning the scant warmth his blanket had offered so readily. Urged into the courtyard by two sharp, and entirely unnecessary, prods of the mans baton, Jun heard the door slam closed behind him shortly after. Although, in full honesty, he was so engrossed in trying to comprehend the scene stretched out before him, that he barely even noticed. Nor did he see the apologetic look the female guard gave the bovine giant right before she left. Or the grateful nod he gave in return. Not that time around, at any rate. Instead, he only had eyes for the enclosed training area that spread out before him. Hard brick covered in a light dusting of snow, which explained the brisk temperatures hed been experiencing, as what snowflakes slipped between the iron wrought gratethe cage which seemed to bar them from heaven, even as it let in overcast lightfloated down languidly to cool the steaming bodies below. Bodies that, much like his cellmate, were anything but normal. Chapter 55: Eleanor Inside the Perforated Anima
Idiot girl! Eleanor was awake and rolling to her feet before the swat of the broom could connect with her forehead. Thats right! Off with you now. Git! And dont let me find you sniffing round here again, you hear?! Daft urchin! What am I running here, a blooming orphanage?! And though Eleanor briefly slipped on the slick cobblestones in her rush to comply, she was still feather quick in gathering up her thingsrat sack, hemp blanket, and other such womens daily necessitiesbefore scurrying out of the narrow alleyway under the baleful glare of the bakers wife. Hobbling onto the street with a decidedly sore knee, she hadnt gotten out completely unscathed unfortunately, she comforted herself with the knowledge that most of that animosity was purely for show. Nancy Baker and her wife had assured Eleanor more than once that their business simply wouldnt survive word getting around that they willingly sheltered an urchin out of the back of their shop, even if their arrangement was a reciprocal one. They allowed her exclusive access to quite possibly the warmest alleyway in all of Embers Reachdue in large part to the massive ovens they had burning all day and nightand she in turn kept out all the nasty little rodents, very keen on sampling their wares. The fat rats which you couldnt go five whole minutes without stumbling over, here in the wealthy domain of the western district. A far cry from the rotting slums of the eastern, where the pickings were very slim indeed. Yet another reason to be grateful to the two Bakers and all their generosity. From behind her, Eleanor heard the disgusted smack of phlegm on stone, followed by a few choice curse words she couldnt quite make out, and knew, in her heart of hearts, that it was all just for show. Taking in deep breaths of the chilly morning air, Eleanor strode purposefully down the wide thoroughfarea desolate street only loosely populated by the odd yawning patrolwoman, or sluggish street vendor just beginning to bring out their wares. Finally feeling that her knee was up to the task, Eleanor began to pick up the pace. Lurching into a jog, she sped down the main thoroughfare, cutting down side streets and stinking back alleys. Ignoring the halfhearted shouts from the sleepy patrols as she passed, she made her way ever closer to the market quarter, her many plans for the day neatly slotting themselves into place in her mind. In fact, so preoccupied was she with her own internal affairs, that she very nearly overlooked the unconscious woman lying prone in the alley. Concerned, Eleanor immediately checked for a pulse, before, with a sigh of relief, she carefully rolled the poor woman over. Instantly, the sour smells of booze, vomit, and body odor hit Eleanor like a slap to the face. She barely even flinched at the oh so familiar stench, instead cupping some clean drainage water, fresh from that previous nights rain, and bringing it to the womans lipsfeeding her small sips until, at long last, the womans eyes fluttered open. Panicked, she first lurched up into a sitting position, only to groan piteously, bend over, and cradle her head. Taking a good long look at her, Eleanor noted the purple swelling and the many lacerations adorning her face. In that moment she made a spontaneous decision. Turning her back on the still oblivious woman, Eleanor reached beneath her tunic for the small coin purse she kept there, always hanging by a cord around her neck. Unwinding the drawstring she immediately grimaced at her meager wealth. Two small coppers, a clipped hapenny, and last but not least, a shiny, barely crooked silver. Shed been intending to buy a proper bath for herself using that silver, and quite possibly a decent meal if there was any left over. Nothing for it now, she supposed. Pinching free the silver, she restrung the pouch and tucked it back where it belonged, before she turned, bent down, and pressed the coin into the womans palm. Should see a healer about those injuries. Theres sure to be more than one in the eastern quarter willing to treat you for a silver piece. Just dont let them cheat you. Theres nothing they can heal that wont cost a silver penny or less. Just be sure to remember that and youll be fine. The woman just stared dumbly at the glittering silver coin for long long moments. Eleanor knew how the woman felt. For people like them, it was more money than they were likely to see in a month or more. Figuring her job here was done, Eleanor got up to leave, when a ragged voice interrupted her. Mary then, when the woman saw that further clarification was needed, she continued. My name. Eleanor, she beamed. Very soon to be the top graduate of the Knightly Vanguard Academy. After a moment of incredulous silence, the woman gave a raspy chuckle. That official, is it? It will be, youll see. Aye, well. I have to say I look forward to it. And thanks, kid. Dont mention it. Its what a true knight would do, so why should I do any different? The woman, Marystaring up from where she lay slumped against a stinking heap of rubbishmerely shook her head in disbelief. Though whether at Eleanors lifelong dream, or the uncanny situation, Eleanor couldnt be sure. Finding herself with nothing else left to say, Eleanor bobbed her head in the womans direction, before she made a swift and hasty retreat. She just hoped her little detour here wouldnt make her late. Youre late! Eleanor bowed to the irate butchers apprentice. Apologies, but I-! Do you have any idea the risk I take on whenever you do bother to show up on time? the larger girl lunged forward and grabbed Eleanor roughly by the collar, savagely shoving her back against the alley wall. My master would have my hide if she even suspected I was making a profit off these trimmings!Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The apprentice reached behind her back and retrieved a thick cleaver, quickly pressing its edge against Eleanors throat until she could feel it draw blood. You fuck me on this, and your fucking dead you hear me? Now are you going to go out there and prove to me that you can handle this job, or do I need to find someone else whos more reliable?! I can handle it, Eleanor mumbled, eyes never leaving the cleaver. Youd fucking better! Now here, she thrust the large cloth sack with its sticky bottom into Eleanors chest, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Take this and run the usual route. If the customers ask any questions, tell them they can fuck off. My masters getting suspicious, so the supply isnt going to be as large as it might otherwise have been. Theyll just have to deal with it, she finished with a snort. Eleanor, for her part, briefly struggled with the bulky sack, managing to throw it over her shoulder and bend herself at the waist to compensate. Doing it in so swift and practiced a motion that shed already found a relative equilibrium before the thing was able to pull her off her feet. Then, hesitating at the mouth of the alley, when she saw the butchers apprentice turn to leave, she couldnt help but call back. And, what about my pay? The girl spun back around, a look of incredulousness twisting her features. You really think you can ask me that after what you did? The girl sneered. You get nothing until I can confirm for myself that youre actually serious about this position. Now go! And just maybe, if you do a good enough job, I might consider bringing you back on at half pay. Eleanor stared, dumbfounded, at the older girlmouth agape and stomach roiling. The apprentice smirked back, eyes daring her to say something. Eleanor let her eyes drop, then promptly turned around and exited the alley without another word. Laughter followed her all the way down the broad avenue. The barkeeps, innkeepers, and less than scrupulous street vendors, that made up the clientele for the butchers apprentices bovine black market werent at all pleased to have their meat stores effectively halved even though theyd paid the full price. With the true culprit for their plight nowhere in sight, they, naturally, took much of their frustrations out solely on Eleanor. Pick up the pace ladies! Im not paying you to doddle! shouted Mistress Willow, an elderly woman with the perpetually pinched face of a seasoned miser. Startled, the hand of the nervous looking girl ahead of her slipped, spilling boiling hot water all along Eleanors right arm. She hissed in pain, but, miraculously, did not drop the bucketinstead passing it carefully to the next girl in line, whilst gritting her teeth through the waves of agony. And it was a good thing too. Girls who dropped their buckets, no matter the actual cause, were not only dismissed entirely without pay, but subsequently blacklisted from working any other bathhouse in the entire city. Eleanor glanced over at the girl thatd nearly cost her any number of jobs, only to find the girl studiously ignoring her. For several more hours they continued like that, the burns on her arm and the burning of her muscles climbing steadily as bucket after bucket of boiling hot water was scooped out of the massive cauldrons and passed down the line. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a shrill whistle sounded, signaling the end of the work shift. Unlike many of the newer girls present, instead of slumping in relief, lying down on the slick floor, or massaging her sore muscles, Eleanor made a b-line for the queue that had already begun to form in front of Mistress Willows counting desk. Due to her keen foresight, it didnt take long for her to reach the head of the queue, and, upon receiving her pay of two coppers, immediately handed back half with a nod to the smirking bathhouse owner. Go on then. You have first pick of the three time uses. Hurry now, before someone gets there first and tosses them out. Eleanor nodded before scurrying from the small warehouse, and into the bathhouse proper. Taking the servants passageways more by feel than conscious memory, she soon found herself in a dimly lit back room lined from end to end with wooden tubs filled with used bath water. Stripping down quickly, she slipped into the nearest tub of lukewarm water and began scrubbing at herself furiously. The nuns of the convent were nothing if not strict when it came to rules of basic hygiene. Eleanor padded across the floor, polishing the hardwood with a prepared rag one long sweep at a time. Her arm still burned from the incident in the bathhouse, and now her fingers ached brutally after the hour or so shed spent doing laundry in the stream out back. Through her periphery she could see the others gossiping over loosely held broom handles and unused feather dusters. Weekly volunteers like her, they never worked a moment that they werent being actively supervised, and barely seemed to contribute even when they were. Which wouldnt have been a problem, were it not for the fact that Eleanor wouldnt get paid until the chapel was spotless. Eleanor merely bit her tongue and kept on working. Im afraid, daughter, that times have been hard on the faithful in recent months. We cannot afford to spend so frivolously on communal services as we might once have. Though, that is not to say you will not be compensated for your good work. Come, you are welcome to break your fast at our tables, so long as you keep to our rules and maintain complete silence whilst within the refectory. It would be minutes later that, upon seeing what would serve as payment for her services within the convents refectory, Eleanor scooped up the stale bread and salted jerky, stuffed them down her rough spun tunic, then silently excused herself from the hall. Promptly exiting the chilly convent not long after. It would be many odd jobs and grueling hours later that Eleanor finally arrived at her second to last stop of the day. And it was standing in line before the city administration office, evening giving the cloudy sky a pleasantly orange cast, that Eleanor found herself dead on her feet. An ironic observer might even have surmised that, perhaps that was why she held her plump rat sack in such a white knuckled death grip. Though, in actuality it had far more to do with attenuating circumstances, and the ongoing collection bounty directly funded by the crown. Very little about her day had gone according to plan, but if there was one thing for which she was never lacking, it was pests. That didnt, however, mean she wanted someone else benefiting off of her catch, and so she made sure to keep a tight hold. Next, came the weary monotone of the administrative official. Stepping up to one of several collection booths, Eleanor slid her sack beneath the glass partition and then waited patiently as the resigned looking official dumped dead rats into a long tray, tallied them up with the assistance of a rather long stick, before she came back with her total. Thirty-two rats in total, an even number, very helpful at a quarter copper per head? Brings you to eight coppers even. The woman fumbled around a bit before she slid eight freshly minted copper pennies beneath the partition. Eleanor was quick to swipe them up and conceal them. Next! The official, having already dismissed Eleanor from her mind, turned her dead eyed gaze to the next woman in line, at which point Eleanor began to panic. Ah! Excuse me, might I also have the sack too, please? The woman flicked her eyes back to Eleanor as if perplexed at her still being there. Glancing over at the rotting, blood-stained hemp sack, she studied it for a long moment, then turned back to Eleanor again. You want it back? Yes please. If youd be so kind. Bewildered, the woman nevertheless complied, pinching the cloth between thumb and forefinger as if she might contract a disease. Taking back the sack, Eleanor bobbed her head in gratitude before she strode from city hall, thoughts of a warm night spent in bakers alley the only things on her mind. Jun’s POV (2) Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
Jun nearly jumped out of his skin when Goros rumbling baritone snapped him from his gawping. It would be best not to linger. More are sure to arrive soon, he gestured at the door theyd just entered from. If you will follow me, I can get you situated. Somewhere to train, away from prying eyes and unpredictable tempers. The sooner you work up a sweat, the sooner youll ward off the cold. For an awkward moment, Jun just stared at the bovine man, nearly too overwhelmed to speak, let alone comprehend his words. With a concerted effort, he mastered himself. Y-yes? Yes, Juns teeth chattered. Yes that would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Goro grunted. Jun shivered. And then the bovine man promptly led the way forward. Jun hurried after him, not wishing to find himself alone amidst the peculiar press of bodies. As he passed, a dutiful little duckling practically tripping over the heels of his bovine mother, his fellow inmates glanced up from whatever it was they were doing, and, without fail, gave him a deeply suspicious and altogether unfriendly looking appraisal. It was as if hed insulted all of their collective mothers, pissed in their coffee that very morning, and, apparently, everyone was apprised of it but him. In other words, they were not the inviting, Im super open to engage in spontaneous conversation right now, sort of looks, though Jun was too absorbed with the sheer novelty to wisely look away. There was a thickset man, another giant, though perhaps a hand shorter than Goro, straddling a bench and doing bicep curls with a weight which, going by sheer size alone, had to have weighed at least a couple hundred pounds. That alone wasnt what caught his eye, however. Instead, it was the stone skin or, for all he knew, stone body the man possessed which shocked him to his core. Bare chested, the man looked the part of a granite statue come to life. Chiseled musculature in the most literal sense of the word, with fault lines creasing the many places where one would expect a body to twist or bend. Behind the stone mans suddenly hostile glare, more of its kind, for lack of a better word, congregated. Many lifting equally impossible weights, when they werent running headlong into one another, to, apparently, see whose skull could come apart the fastest. It appeared to be a game of sorts. A sport, he supposed, if a rudimentary one. He couldnt make heads nor tales of the ruleset, exactly, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves well enough. Guffawing, applauding, and stomping their feet with every concussive, brain rattling impact of stone on stone. Even the participants, somewhat dazed after each successive crack, were more pleased than nauseated afterward. There was a woman with bone spines protruding from her body, spearing most prominently from her back, scalp, and forearms. He even spotted a few tiny splinters sprouting from the corners of her eyes. As he watched, she proceeded to propel the spines in rapid succession, launching them from her forearms with the speed of an arrow, and the force of a javelinthe spiny barrage peppering a far off target with a rapid series of thumps. To his left, a frog manmore frog than man reallymade to bench press a long rod weighed down by thick iron chains. Gangly arms trembling, its too wide frog lips turning purple. Less due to the inherent strain, he suspected, so much as the metal bar that was slowly, but surely, cutting off his air ways. Behind him, mutated men and women of all shapes and sizes pointed and snickered. Even its supposed spotters, who were in no particular hurry to administer aid, seemed to be having a good long laugh at his expense. Abruptly, a gust of wind buffeted Jun, ripped into him, through him, even from behind the decidedly impressive windbreak that was Goro. Immediately after that there was a sharp snapping sound, the unmistakable scent of ozone, and a terrible shrieking that nearly overrode it all. Soon the smell of burning hair accompanied the others. High above them, he caught the telltale silhouette of a persontiny from his vantagetwitching, spiraling, crashing back to earth from where theyd, apparently, flown. Having rocketed up towards the call of freedom when no one else was paying attention, only to discover, first hand, and somewhat traumatically, why the gaps in the rusty metal grating were so conspicuously wide. Wide enough for a person to slip through if they were careful, were it not for the flickering web of electricity that lay just beyond. That was, even now, fading back into near invisibility. The occasional blue flicker disturbing an overcast sky. There was a chorus of laughter, some cheers from the crowd, and a few whistles in dark appreciation of the valiant attempt. Eventually the woman disappeared behind a forest of craning heads. Whereupon a couple of prison guards trudged over and proceeded to beat her mercilessly where she lay, even as she spasmed on the cold stone floor of the courtyard. The cheers and catcalls never abated. They only grew more raucous, if anything. Goro, perhaps wanting to shield his small charge from the grim sight, abruptly turned, shoving his way past the growing crowd. Parting them like the sea before the bow of a heavy merchantman or cargo hauler. They escaped the milling throng in short order, and once more it was all that he could do not to stare.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. In this way, inexplicable sights assailed him from every direction. Came and went far too quickly for him to fully appreciate. It was to the point that Jun wished Ivory was here with him, if only so that, with her special sight, he might sift through the whole of the scene more thoroughly. He felt a sharp pang at that, a thread of constant worry, barely suppressed, rising to the surface. It led him to think about what all hed left behind, unfinishedwhat all was really at stakeand suddenly it was as if a scream were attempting to claw its way up and out of his throat. An impulse he had to struggle to tamp down on. He shook himself. Given the cold, it wasnt a hard thing to manage. No use thinking about that now, he told himself. Not when there was very little he could do about it, in any case. When he was able, he promised himself. Hed worry about it then. For now? Juns mind suddenly cleared of distractions. The severity of his situation coming into sharp relief all at once. It wasnt pleasant, this reminder, but it did set his priorities straight. It also had the effect of putting an immediate damper on the morbid fascination of only a few seconds ago. No longer was he gawping, open mouthed, like some country bumpkin, so much as he studied his surroundings with renewed purpose. An infiltrator behind enemy lines. He was here to do a job, test a theory, and leave. In good conscience, he didnt really have the time to waste on anything else. And, as if in response to his newfound resolve, the guiding hand of the trial suddenly reared its ugly head, and gave him just such an opportunity. A scaly shoulder slammed into him, nearly bowling him over. Indeed, if it werent for the generous bonuses his titles provided, it was likely hed have come away from the collision with a good deal more than a rapidly darkening bruiseif he didnt just go winging across the courtyard entirely. Fucking invalid! the snake man hissed, golden reptilian eyes flashing. Why dont you watch where youre-! Shoulder check. Petty postering. Isnt this a little too familiar? Dont really fancy a repeat performance though, if Im honest. Staring up at the pale, sinuous creature, he confidently began whispering the rough words of his unfinished mantra. At this point, it was more mumbled intent than clear verse, but that shouldnt really matter, right? I mean, if it wasnt broke? Hed think up some proper verses later. Swiftly identifying the true essence of the garbled words and half baked intentor, to be more exact, the haphazard ripples they left in the etherhe remained utterly oblivious to the simple fact that what hed just done was widely considered to be impossible. Indeed, it was a feat made all the more impressive when one considered the unstable nature of the mantra in question. And here hed done it in the time it took to blink. The equivalent of plucking a very specific chord out of an infinite number of strings after having only heard it once. Only, in this strange hypothetical, said chord wouldve also been in constant flux. A direct consequence of its instability. And if that much werent already implausible enough, what he did next was practically unheard of. He harmonized with it in nearly the same instant. A task that required he not only comprehend on an intrinsic level the primal forces involved, but to also, somehow, find a place of common ground therein. A profound tie that bound them in body, mind, and spirit. A task that was aided somewhat by the relatively shallow depths of the understandings involved, though it was no less impressive for all that. Having recognized, then harmonizedin turn forming a stable bridge of similitudeall that was left was the third and final step. He allowed for the reality suffused in the etheric ripple to flow down the bridge hed created, and into the readymade hollow maintained by his constant recitations. His mantra, in other words. Like a puzzle piece perfectly slotting itself into place, he felt the echoes of a higher reality fill him. Effectively turning what had been mere words seconds prior, poorly articulated and hopelessly crude, into a definitive truth. A rough proposal barely reflected in the etherlike any other errant thought or idea casually uttered; here and then gone never to be seen againinto full blown reality. Turning idea into substance. Word into action. Intent into reality with but an effort of will. Willpower made manifest. Into a matter of cause and effect. While still the nature of said effect depended almost entirely on how flattering the idea in question. Because it wasnt enough to paint a picture successfully. Much also depended on the picture being paintedslated to be presented before a grand and fastidious assembly. After all, just because something can be, doesnt mean it should be. And when the conceptual arbiters of such things hold greater sway over ether than anything else in existence, the margin for error can be very fine indeed. Unfortunately for him, in this very specific instance, the Concept of Piercing was less than amused. Custom Mantra: [Cool Shooty Laser Eyes] Conceptual Stability: 3% The snake mans eyes widened. Juns eyes glowed an emerald green. Bright. Too bright. Far too bright. There was an impact. A spike of alarm. Pain. Then nausea. A jerk of the head, sharp and aggressiveas if invisible someones had given his hair a good hard tug, leaving his skull feeling disconcertingly empty as a resultbefore the world itself dimmed. Went dark. Turned black. Until that blackness suffused him, and all was a blank, floating void. A void which slowly brightened into a shifting gray mist. Now insubstantial and weightless within that never ending cloud bank, only one thing stood out to him. A single detail to punctuate the unimpressive monotony. A screen. A purple screen, to be more exact. He ignored its contents for now, instead pulling up his trusty notepad with a thrill of excitement that was somewhat muted inside this place. Attempt #9: Cool Shooty Laser Eyes (Failed). Cause of Failure: I have no idea, but one things for sure. It most certainly was not instantaneous death by explosion, identical, spontaneous, or otherwise. If hed had the lips to move in that moment, likely theyd have been split ear to eargrinning like a madman. Finally. Finally! Some progress at last! Chapter 56: Compelling Compliance Inside the Perforated Anima
You heard me! Are you daft, girl?! Give me all your damned money! Eleanor blanched, looking cross eyed at the rusty knife hovering only a few centimeters from her nose. Following the trembling arm up to the pockmarked face, she felt only an acute sense of despair as she looked into those azure-colored eyes. An ember fiend. Hooked on low quality soul energy, no doubt. Eleanor would be lucky if all the woman wanted was her coin. With eyes nearly brimming over with tears, Eleanor reached for the coin pouch she always kept around her neck, broke the cord off with a hard yank, and threw it at the ember fiend, uncaring of whether her aim was good or not. Despite her violently trembling hands, the gaunt woman scooped the coin purse out of the air so fast that Eleanor barely caught the motion. Tugging it open greedily, she grinned a gap-toothed, self-satisfied smile at its contents, before pulling the strings taut once more. The woman gave her several suspicious glances as she slowly backed out of the alley, knife held aloft the whole while, though Eleanor couldnt bring herself to care. When shed gone far enough, by her own estimations, the woman immediately turned, rounded a corner, and disappeared from sight. Eleanor, for her part, never even entertained the thought of chasing her. Instead, she merely slumped down to the ground from where shed stood, and wept. By the time Eleanor reached bakers alley, the sun had already set, and dark ominous clouds rumbled threateningly overhead. She could smell the scent of imminent rain on the air, and it was likely she had a miserable night to look forward to. She could only be grateful that at least shed be warm. Sliding down the toasty outer wall of the bakery, Eleanor sat still and waited quietly for the telltale scritch scratch of an unwelcome intruder. Unable to see past her own outstretched arm, she reached into her tunic, retrieved the last crumbs of the stale bread shed received as payment, what felt like days ago, and held them out in her open palm. Letting the back of her hand rest on the cobblestones, only when she felt the unmistakable whisper of soft whiskers against her palm, did she move. Snatching up the screeching rodent, she quickly snapped its neck and tossed it into her trusty rat sack. It wasnt much of a pillow, but it would have to do for tonight. Knowing better than to torment herself with things she couldnt change, and yet finding herself simply unable to resist, Eleanor groped around in the growing darkness for quite some time before she felt it. Digging her nails into the worn grooves of the covertly marked cobblestone, Eleanor carefully leveraged the false stone free, revealing the glittering treasure trove beneath, barely visible in the low light. Nearly a gold mark in silver and copper pennies. Just five silver shy of the Knightly Academys junior entry fee. Ten years'' savings. Ten years'' worth of blood, sweat, and tears, and all for one, simple thing. A childhood promise. A long-held dream. To stand among the greats. The Royal Cohorts. To join the Azure Queens final bastion. Her knightly vanguard. The last line of defense between them, and the demonic rift spawn at large. It had been her dream since before she could remember. And she was so close now. So damned close. Eleanor replaced the false stone before the tears could well up again. Today had been a bust. That much was undeniable. But there was always tomorrow. And, like her idols would likely urge were they in her position, where theres a will, there is always a way. She could only ever do her best and pray for better days. And then, without warning, the skies opened up, and down came a truly torrential downpour. Inside the Perforated Anima
The most infuriating part about this entire farcical episode was the fact that Jun could, realistically, have escaped any time he pleased. Indeed, without the small, likely negligible, inconvenience of one simple gemstone held under tight lock and key, he likely would have. With it, however, he didnt particularly love his chances. And while hed normally disdain even the idea that such lessers might possibly hold power over him, the aura of this binding stone had been enough to give even him pause. Naturally this was only on occasion, and only in rare quantities, yet that truly was still saying something. Not an easy feat to manage by any means. Given the natives inbred tendency towards inferiority, with regards to higher beings such as himself, for something crafted by their feeble hands to be this potent? To say it had been surprising would be the understatement of the year. Now, normally, this wouldnt have been a problem. Hed simply kill everyone present and take the stone as was his due. Unfortunately, for the majority of the trip, he hadnt actually known where the blasted thing was. And seeing as, supposedly, all it would take was a single drop of blood to bind his grand personage to one of these inferiors permanently, hed wisely counseled caution over righteous retribution. Now, this was a reticence widely contested between the four of them, though, with cutting at the proverbial helm, there hadnt really been much the others could do to gainsay his will. The reason for his rightly held prominence was clear. It was a great deal more manageable to weather hours of sustained torture, when you disdained the need to feel things like emotion, or pain. He also took great pleasure in observing the natives struggles, making him the obvious candidate when it came to lulling them into a false sense of securitysomething both he and piercing had agreed was the optimal move. At first, hed thought the lessers would be reticent to damage the merchandise, as it were. That was when he learned of yet another facet to these inferiors that beggared belief. That their affinity for both cruelty and the healing arts, were, apparently, not to be underestimated. And as such, with that being the case, it only followed, therefore, that hed spent the first quarter of their journey lying flat on the ground, bound by the wrists and tied to a horse by his ankles, as they rode over harsh and mostly hilly terrain. Quite honestly, by far the worst part of this section had been the dust, it just had this tendency to get everywhere. So, by the time their small procession finally stopped by an inn for an early lunch, hed been happy to put that whole entire trying ordeal behind him. They hadnt fed him, of course. What they had done instead was stuff him in a leather luggage trunk so small that it made his first ever cage feel positively spacious in comparison. To their likely dismay, the most agonizing part about this attempt had been the crippling levels of boredom hed felt. Thus began a trend that continued throughout the majority of their trip, as the woman in charge did her very best to break his will. Admittedly, his task of lulling them into a false sense of security might have gone off without a hitch, had he simply stopped throwing insults every chance he got. But really, what else was he supposed to do? If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Besides, the red-faced look of incandescent fury this supposed functionary got whenever one of his barbs actually landed, was far too precious for him to simply ignore. In this way, he got to experience all manner of creative attempts to administer torture while on the go, and he felt no shame in admitting that hed memorized a choice few of them, in the event he ever found himself in a position to administer them himself. In the end thoughand only after the four of them had, surprisingly, come to something of an accordit had been decided that it would not be him that administered retribution. That enviable task had instead been laid at the feet of piercing, a competent enough fellow, if inferior to himself. At least he too was not swayed by trivial things such as emotion, and in turn had his priorities in order. He wasnt generally one to put stock in others, though this time, he thought he could say with some amount of certainty that piercing would see to the task with deliberate professionalism. If not with the same amount of delight as he might have otherwise preferred. Inside the Perforated Anima
Jun blinked open eyes of emerald green. Took a quick survey of his surroundings by dint of lamp-light streaming in through a seam in the far door. Assessed. A cellar. Likely that of the taverns where the party stopped for the night. Spacious. Cool but dry. Optimal for storage with decent enough temperature control, as denoted by the many casks and barrels lining the floor and walls. Beer most likely, with ample equipment for its production on the far table, if my suppositions are, indeed, correct. Ah. I see. That must mean that the sacks of grain contain barley. Or some local equivalent therein. And that smell? Rat droppings. That, in conjunction with the conspicuous holes leaking grain An infestation? No. Too sparse for that. Likely a small number of rodents with keener than average self-preservation instincts. But then, how might one go about calculating the average? Jun shook himself. Focus. I need to focus on the task at hand. Jun probed the sturdiness of his restraints with two short tugs. Shackles. Likely made of iron. Two on my ankles. Two on my wrists. Each connected to a wall ring which, like the name suggests, is fastened quite securely to the brickwork of the wall. Far too secure to break free by main force alone. Regardless, it would make too much noise to be viable. Going up on his toes to better create slack, Jun wrapped the left most chain around his wrist once, positioning the steepled fingers of his hand so that they pressed into the gap of one such link. Then he paused, holding that position with a stillness so eerie and abrupt, that an observer might have been convinced he actually turned to stone, right there on the spot. The only movement clearly visible, the slow trickle of emerald aura which rose from his chest and filtered into his immobile left hand. And there he stood. Patiently waiting for the uproarious celebrations above to reach a sufficiently high threshold. When, after five minutes, the raucous volume finally peaked, Jun brought his cultivated strength to bear in a swift, nearly instantaneous strikedirecting all of his considerable will towards a single stubborn link in the overarching chain. Thrusting at a downwards angle like the practiced crane expertly spearing its prey, Jun snapped the targeted link with a resounding crack, shattering it into a dozen pieces which then clattered to the floor. Glittering shards of metal quickly disappearing into the gloom of the spacious cellar. Once more, Jun froze. Straining his ears to discern whether or not hed been detected. When no immediate reprisals seemed forthcoming, he prepared his right hand as he had his left. And then, he paused, and waited patiently for his next best opportunity. Inside the Perforated Anima
With a sigh, Meredith slid into the worn embrace of faded upholsteryalready slightly warmed by the crackling fire. These were certainly better accommodations than shed been greeted with upon her arrival. And though it had taken some convincing to impress upon the innkeeper that, whether they were her private chambers or the heir apparents, Meredith would not settle for anything less than the very best, eventually shed gotten the woman to see sense. Her taste in dcor still left much to be desired, but, having gotten her way in the end, she would not nitpick unnecessarily. But, really now, little embroidered cherubs wreathed in azure flame? Dozens of novelty clocks lining the walls, with every inch of flat surface liberally blanketed with frilly doilies? Was this woman a hundred years old? Meredith digressed. In her hand she held a glass of something cloying and fruitythe best this meager tavern, though more likely this whole damn city, could offer her. Unfortunately. Embers Reach indeed. Used to what few aged wines she could afford to import, given her rather meager bequeathedom, what she held now probably wasnt much worse than anything she was used to, all things considered. Perhaps it was simply not to her personal liking. Taking a hesitant sip, not for the first time Meredith grimaced at the overwhelming sweetness. Or perhaps, she ruefully admitted to herself, it was merely the days many unforeseen difficulties that had her in such a foul mood. That a rift spawn capable of speechsomething she had not heard of, nor thought possible, until shed experienced it for herselfwould be capable of pushing her buttons so effectively, likely should not have come as so much of a surprise. That it also appeared to be largely immune to her many methods of nurturing compliance was also less than ideal. Perhaps a night without food or water, trapped alone in the cold and dark, would set it straight, she thought to herself. Though a part of her already knew that it likely would not. Once more, Merediths eyes strayed to the blue lacquered jewelry box, accented with ornate, gilded filigree. The very same she hadnt allowed to leave her sight since theyd first set out for the capital that morning. Setting down her glass, she reached forward and unlatched the boxslowly lifting the lid to reveal the glittering contents within. An ovoid sapphire the size of a quail''s egg, housed within an inconspicuous bezel and looped through a long extension of silver chain. Shed spared no expense in outfitting this particular binding stone until it resembled something that might very well adorn a royal princesss slender neck. Even going so far as to place herself in debt to meet these extravagant ends, confident that her initial investment would pay for itself one thousandfold. All she needed now was to reach the capital, and all of her many woes would be seen to in due time. The creak of floorboards came from somewhere to her left. Before she could turn to see what was wrong, however, a hand emerged from her periphery to pluck the binding stone from where it sat upon its velvet cushion. Immediately a sizzling sound emerged from behind her, followed by the sickly smells of roasting meat. Tumbling her chair backwards in her haste to rise, Meredith leapt to her feet, spun swiftly around, only to find the rift spawn writhing in agony on the floor, the large sapphire binding stone still clutched tightly in one hand. Meredith looked down on the rift spawn as it squirmed, allowing herself time to get her heart rate back in check. Once shed finally calmed down, she smirked. Did you really think I would be so foolish as to let you anywhere near my person, restrained or otherwise, without sufficient failsafes in place? Did you not question the simple collar I had placed around your neck? Meredith stared into the rift spawns eyes, contented to find bewilderment there, if not outright despair. A slave collar. Normally too small to fit your demonic proportions without having one custom made, wouldnt you know it? It just so happened that I already had one in your size. It really mustve been my lucky day. Finally, awareness bloomed on the rift spawns alien features. Although, much to her irritation, no further crumpling of dismay or telltale droop of resignation followed this revelation. Only a calm attentiveness which grated on her nerves, even as the skin around its slave collar was burned to a crisp by licking tongues of azure flame. Thinking it didnt fully understand the true depth of its predicament, Meredith thought to educate it further. Without going into too much detail, a collar of this quality binds the indentured by three immutable laws, as designated by their master. Rules that they cannot break, under any circumstances, without calling death upon themselves via the collar. The first, as you can no doubt guess, would be an inability to harm my person, or any I would deem an ally. The second The rift spawn reached for the collar with its free hand, eyes widening as the sizzling grew in pitch and intensity. Would be an inability to remove the collar. Would kind of defeat the purpose of using the thing were it otherwise. The rift spawn let its hand flop back to its chest, then with jerky, uncoordinated movements, attempted to stand. Amused, especially after all the shit it had put her through earlier that day, Meredith let it. Keen to watch the rift spawn struggle. And last but not least is an inability to touch the very binding stone you''re holding right now. In fact, its a true wonder youve managed to hold out until now-! Something about the rift spawn changed. Its demonic aura taking on a silvery cast, before, with a pained grunt, the rift spawn leapt from its crouched positioncratering the floorboards where itd just been standing and blasting a person sized hole in the ceiling above. Flung backwards by the inexplicable force of the leappelted by bits of broken furniture and jagged wood shards all the whileMeredith crashed into a novelty cuckoo clock. Making absolutely sure it cuckood its last with an explosion of gears and artisanal wood carvings. Immediately sent into a coughing fit by the clouds of dust and debris thatd been kicked up in its passing, Meredith could barely think through the pain and disorientation. By the time the dust had cleared enough for her to see and breathe more easily, all that was left of where the rift spawn had once been, was a splintered crater rapidly filling with water, and the massive hole currently letting in the torrential downpour. Her exceedingly valuable binding stone, the one shed gone into nigh insurmountable debt to acquire, was, much like the rift spawn, nowhere to be found. Jun’s POV (3) Inside the Pantheistic Workshop
You have been found lacking during the Stage of Gathering. Thankfully, failure is admissible in those young and uninitiated. In that way, some amount of leniency is not only allowed, but encouraged. BE WARNED! The same can not be said for those whose ken has been recognized, deemed entirely sufficient. Whose actions engender grand consequence, far reaching in their scope. Do You Wish to Restart the Trial? YES/NO (Note: Failure to accept will result in the total erasure of the Mantra in question. Physical and or spiritual backlash may or may not apply.) Jun first read, then reread the notification. He thought on its many implications while the misty void swirled all around him. Well, it wasnt as if he liked the idea of incurring spiritual backlash. Whatever it was that entailed. And though hed discovered something crucial in the unconventional way he diedsomething this grayish void allowed him to acknowledge with, what he would later recognize as, a frightening degree of separationthe fact still remained that he had no idea why itd happened at all. Or what exactly he was doing wrong. It required further study and investigation, in other words. And with that in mind, Jun promptly selected yes. Immediately, the screen blinked out of existence, only to be replaced by the slowly rotating projection of the purple tinged fur ball he knew so very well. Custom Mantra: [Cool Shooty Laser Eyes] (2nd Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Conceptual Stability: 3% Do you wish to spectate, assimilate, or edit? Instinctively he could tell that the workshop would allow him an indefinite amount of time to fine tune the jumbled blueprint before once more attempting the trial. Rather lenient of it, he remarked to himself, more than a little surprised. It really did seem as if one of its primary goals was to teach. If in an altogether roundabout sort of way. Did that mean that if he remained uninitiated, whatever that entailed, that hed effectively have an infinite number of redos? He didnt know. And it was for that very reason that he promptly selected assimilate, jumping back into the frayfickle and unreasonable creative process be damned. Within the blink of an eye, his surroundings changed. And suddenly, he was opening his eyes to the bitter cold and a familiar rumbling baritone. Youll be wanting to get up now, son. Without an ounce of hesitation, Jun leapt to obey. He tried to bite me! The fucking rat! Grubby son of an unwashed, two bit, penny grubbing-! With another grunt, and another expletive, the guardsman brought his cudgel whistling down. Connecting squarely with Juns temple this time, instead of his body, belly, or groin. It carried with it the full force of the grown mans enhanced might, so that not even his forty odd points in resiliency were enough to resist the final blow. The sound of his skull fracturing was so loud in his ears as to become a visceral sensation. A gnarled thumb jammed knuckle-deep into the exposed nerve endings of his rapidly dwindling consciousness. One last firework to light up the abyssal night sky. Thankfully, the swelling of darkness took him long before the rising tide of nausea could swallow him whole. A notification greeted him. It was the same thatd arrived the last time hed died. The last time hed died? Gods! He had died, hadnt he? And not quickly this time around either. It was well. It was rather anticlimactic, really. Honestly, given what hed just been through, hed expected to feel well, something! But aside from a faint memory of unpleasantness, the fading echoes of the terrible pain hed endured, he was otherwise unbothered. It was actually pretty unsettling. Although he suspected this had a lot less to do with his impeccable levels of fortitude, and more to do with the gray mist that once more engulfed him. Again, it was as if the mist itself were somehow blunting much of the impact that shouldve followed such a traumatic experience. Of literally being bludgeoned to death. The sudden whiplash of it, the feeling of stark incongruity, leaving him rather numb to things in the interim. Even his thoughts began to feel hazy and inconsequential. It was all that he could do to maintain focus on the task at hand, in fact, lest he slip back into that all encompassing stupor. That place far removed from things like pain, or worry, or big men with long cudgels. Right! So, what had he learned? Well, for one thing, the prison guard were a lot stronger than they had any right to be. For another, they didnt take kindly to one of their inmates being even marginally more comfortable than was absolutely necessary. Despite his bovine companions firm insistence to the contrary, hed attempted to suborn the moth eaten blanket hed awoken with. To smuggle it further into the teeth chattering tundra that was the trial premises beyond. Hed quickly learned the hard way why that had been a very bad idea. Though it had to be said, the subsequent beating he received, administered on the trumped up charges of insubordination, didnt actually become a lethal affair until hed unwisely attempted to fight back.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Then? Well, then he learned his third lesson of the day. That his laser eyes, even if they didnt work for shit, still took a gods awful amount of time to charge. Plenty of time, in other words, for the irate guard to notice the telltale glow, land a half dozen more blows to decidedly critical areas, and subsequently disrupt his already fraying concentration. And worst of all, he hadnt even managed to accomplish the singular goal hed initially set out for! How hard was it to establish a single fucking data point, dammit?! The exact how of his spontaneous, instability-fueled demise while inside the trial, so that he might compare it to the seemingly scripted one outside. Baby steps, effectively. And yet he was finding even that much was easier said than done. Nothing for it, he supposed And so, without further ado, Jun once more selected assimilate. This time, he nearly made it to the other end of the massive prison yard before once more being accosted by seedy elements of dubious intent. When the serpentine man bumped into him this time around, however, it found an antsy, somewhat compromised, but most definitely traumatized Jun all too ready to play ball. More than willing to give as good as he got. He spun on his heel, blurring to face the other inmate. Eyes flashing a bright, emerald green. Practically brimming over with black promise and bloody intent. Are you okay, little one? the snake man hissed. My apologies. It was not my intent to jostle you about. Big crowds and all that. What can you do, am I right? Anyways, it was good meeting you. Id best be on my way. Cheers Goro. Ill be rooting for you in the upcoming match! And with a final cheery wave goodbye, just like that, the amiable snake man swiftly disappeared into the milling throng. That that was the same snake man, correct? He couldve sworn they were identical. And anyway, didnt it you know have to be? Same guards, same Goro, same pugnacious snake man. Or so hed thought. That had been the prevailing theory at least. But what if? There came another shove, this one far more intentional than the last. Hey! the wolf man growled. Watch where youre-! Jun turned, releasing the dual beams of spearing force hed just so happened to have in reserve. Sheering two fist sized holes through the back of his own skull in that very same instant, and emptying the rest of its steaming contents onto the slick flagstones below. He then toppled, like a puppet with its strings cutunmistakably deceased and already cooling to the touchleaving naught but a decidedly bewildered wolf man standing over an awfully defiant looking corpse. It took him five more deaths before he managed to cobble together the what, if not the how, of his mantras single point of failure. A revelation which ultimately left him at something of an impasse. More specifically Well. What the hell do I do now? Currently, he found himself at the far end of the prison courtyarda quiet little out of the way nook, just as Goro had indicateddoing push-ups in the vain attempt to ward away the cold. Hed learned a few things whilst ramming his forehead against the unending crucible he now found himself in, though pitifully little when one considered the exorbitant cost. His many many excruciating deaths. Lacking the glorious gray mists of the in-between space to dull his sensations, emotions, and everything in between, he was finding each subsequent death harder and harder to simply shrug off. It was only a minor issue right nowhe was a bit more touchy perhaps, and far more likely to lash outbut he could see the writing on the wall. The likelihood of it becoming a serious problem as he racked up more and more traumatic experiences. Happy thoughts Jun. Happy thoughts. The first thing hed discovered was the existence of what he liked to call the inciting wandering shoulder, incident. This was essentially where some lug head or another got it into their thick skull that ragging on the new guy was a truly inspired idea. Often resulting in the leading shoulder of our leading antagonist to rocket toward one scrupulous, downright blameless young man as if dragged by gravitational pull. Colliding with the slow inevitability of neighboring neutron stars. Only, in this instance, one of them was more tender than the other. By a great deal, actually. The exact bullheaded bruiser was often variable. Indeed, rarely was he confronted by the same face twice. And while it was true that, whether it happened early or late was entirely dependent on the choices he made, ultimately, it would happen eventually, no matter what he did. The second thing hed learned was that it was shockingly easy to side step the whole wandering shoulder thing entirely. Basically, hed found that, by simply leaning into his close proximity to Goro, effectively bringing his assailant to the bovine giants attention, anyone raring for a fight was almost immediately deterred, and otherwise disabused of that very silly notion. Wouldnt you know it? Fifteen foot tall giants with the heads of bulls could be pretty damn scary when they wanted to be. Go figure. So anyway, with that, his biggest issue solved, it only left him with one problem. He needed a way to alter the effect of his mantra, so that it activated in a fashion that didnt instantly kill him. For that to happen, hed probably have to die. Likely a bunch of times, if he had the right of it. Especially considering he now knew for a fact that he couldnt trust the spectate option to give him accurate information. The thing was though? He didnt want to die. He honestly would much rather avoid it, if at all possible. Being killed was kind of the worst, and killing himself even more so. Worse than that was when you knew it was coming. To say it was daunting would be the understatement of the century, and he was finding it more and more difficult to willingly pull that trigger. Still, if this was the price he had to pay Jun grit his teeth, fully aware that he was stalling. Rising to his knees, if only to give his numb fingers a break, he recognized that this was the furthest hed gotten into the trial thus far. That he still hadnt the faintest clue what, if any, objective was in play was, if anything, a blessing in disguise. Because, for whatever reason, he couldnt seem to shake the idea that the second he did get a handle on things, his wealth of free restarts would suddenly dry up. Bracing himself, Jun recited his fiendish mantra, flinching at the sharp, though ultimately brief burst of pain that preempted the overwhelming darkness. Chapter 57: A Match Made in Heaven The sound of an explosion had Eleanor rolling to her feet before her brain, still half asleep by this point, had fully registered what was wrong. Over the din of the sodden downpour, she heard the rattle and snap of dozens of shutters. Multiple neighbors similarly curious about the noise. Not to be mistaken for thunder, the distinct bang sounded as if itd come from only a street or so away. Eleanor strained her ears, body tensed up like a bow stringnow wide awake and ready for just about anything. After what felt like an interminable wait, however, when nothing appeared forthcoming, Eleanor allowed for her body to relax. That was when the pile of rotting crates and waterlogged barrels littering the other side of the alleyway burst apart in a spray of soggy planks and stinking rainwater. Eleanor flinched back instinctively, and was about to dash from the alley entirely, when she recognized the thing thatd landed, and subsequently been buried, beneath an avalanche of broken containers. It was a person. Rushing forward, Eleanor immediately began extricating them from the jagged remainstearing away large chunks of wood with her bare hands and flinging them aside. It was probably only seconds before shed revealed the bloody figure beneath, though her rapidly beating heart made it feel like so much longer. Panting heavily, she bent over the person to examine them, captivated by the flickering light of blue flame wrapped around their neck. When she caught the harsh scent hot metal and sizzling sounds of burning meat, her intrigue turned to horror in quite fast. Reaching for the fiery band, her only warning came in the form of an uncanny red glint in the strangers eyes. They lashed out with an uncoordinated swipe Eleanor was just barely able to avoid. Swatting aside the offending hand, she was immediately shocked to feel three burning lines of pain tear into the meat of her palmthe strangers nails having somehow traced long, jagged red furrows. Flexing her hand through the sudden agony, she was relieved to find that the cuts didnt go that deep. Regardless, she now maintained a healthy distance between herself and the strangerfar warier of them than she had been before. That was, until those glittering red eyes abruptly slid shut, and they unceremoniously slumped into unconsciousness. Without missing a beat, Eleanor lunged forward, fingers once more reaching for the fiery band that, even now, appeared to be burning the flesh around it to blackened char. A calloused hand caught her wrist before she even came within a foot of the stranger. Glancing up sharply, Eleanor was brought face to face with someone she honestly hadnt expected to see again. You dont want to go touching that, kid. Nasty stuff, slave bands. Mary? Youre here-? But, why? You couldnt think Id be so ungrateful as to wander off after the good turn you did me? Not without somehow repaying you for your kindness. The two women shared a look. It didnt need to be said out loud that was exactly what shed been expecting. Growing up in the slums, Eleanor knew better than most that generosity and good will were very rarely reciprocated. And indeed, more often than not it was the exact opposite. In the relative silence, a distinctive sizzling brought her mind back to the crisis at hand. Please let go of me. Cant you see that theyre being burned alive? We need to help them! The woman, Mary, merely shook her head solemnly, a look of pity crossing her face. Unfortunately, I think its you that needs to look a bit closer. Look at its eyes, its hair. It might be enough to fool most, especially on a night like tonight, but its clearly not human. Unsure, Eleanor turned back to the stranger and did as she was told. Scrutinizing them more closely, now that panic and adrenaline were no longer addling her mind. Eleanor gasped in sudden recognition. It was true! Whatever they were, they lacked the straw blond hair, light brown freckles, and delicate features that marked any woman of purely human descent. And yet the similarities in general body shape were so readily apparent that shed overlooked this small detail entirely. But then what-? It was an effort not to take an instinctual step back. It is possible that she is a crossbreed between human and rift spawn Eleanor shuddered in revulsion at the mental picture that summoned. or it could simply be that shes some manner of rift spawn Ive yet to come across before. In which case the bestowal of gender may not even apply.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Eleanor bit her lip, the sickening smells of roast pig teasing at her nostrils. I still think we should help her. Freckles or not, the thought that she was some gender-less rift spawn able to replicate the human form, was more terrifying to her than the thought of a rift spawn impregnating a human, was disturbing. How would that even work? Do rift spawn even have the requisite soul fire needed to kickstart a pregnancy? Mary looked down at her, her face a mask of incredulity. Did you not hear a word I just said? I know. I understand but Eleanor hesitated a moment before her eyes turned fierce and unyielding. But its the right thing to do. The knightly thing to do. The woman seemed to wince before, with a look of consternation, she clicked her tongue and sighed. Damn it all! I just hope I dont come to regret this Mary reached down and lifted the human rift spawn hybrid up into her arms, being extra careful not to graze the glowing band around her neck. Stepping purposefully towards the bakerys back entrance, Mary brought her fist to the door loud enough to wake the dead. After what felt like a minute, Nancy Baker emerged wearing nothing but a robe and her nightshift, a soul fire lantern held in one upraised hand. After a heated argument in which Mary clearly got the better of the exchange, the older woman gestured for Eleanor to follow as she stepped into the bakery. Ducking her head beneath the weight of Nancys evident hostility, it was only then, out of the very corner of her eye, that Eleanor noticed something hidden beneath the broken bits of debrisglittering enchantingly under the light of the blue flame lantern. Almost without thinking, Eleanor reached down and plucked up what was, ostensibly, a very expensive looking medallion. Having entirely forgotten her injury of only moments before, Eleanor winced as the slick gemstone pressed into her lacerated skin. In the next moment the world exploded with color. She felt something warm and sticky running freely down her lips and chin. But before she could attempt to clear her vision or wipe it away, everything in her nearest vicinity gained a hazy, unreal quality. The world turned wavering and insubstantial, before her vision was completely overtaken by darkness. Through a narrow seam in the doorway of an unassuming broom closet, one which should have, by all accounts, housed nothing more than a comatose burn victim on the eve of his recovery, there can just faintly be seen the trace flickers of color. A faded glow permeating gaps in the inelegant woodwork. Each pulse of which, by deductive reasoning alone, must have originated from the kaleidoscopic light show undoubtedly happening within. In the cramped room, on a small cot, where only one person could possibly reside, four distinct voices can be heard. Each speaking in time with the light strobing anomaly. Hushed tones and adamant voices held unorthodox council, with the life of a prospective young knight in training hanging perilously in the balance. Well I like her! Youd sing the praises of a highwayman after theyd just finished buffing their Wellingtons with our face. Forgive me if I dont put too much stock in your judge of character. She healed us! And shes practically overflowing with can do attitude! Well, technically it was the older woman who saw to our wounds. I, for one, find it especially fascinating how a fire which can be made to burn so intensely can then be applied, not minutes later, to completely heal said burns in a matter of seconds I wonder whether it has something to do with the user or intent? Ughh! For fucks sake! Lads! Well be at it all bloody night at this rate! Do I really need to take things into my own hands? Because I will! You think I wont?! Theyre great hands. Damned great hands and Ill show em up close and personal like to any of yas whose dare to say otherwise! Is- is he still going on about our hands? Ill punch your bloody teeth in ya daft bastard! I reckon Im the only one of us trying to come up with solutions here! Oh? How quaint! He thinks he has ideas! Well, Im sure wed all love to hear these solutions, of yours. Please, tell us more about this ingenious plan to help resolve this contentious discourse. Ill smash her face in. Poof. Problem solved. Ah. Truly inspired. I cant believe I hadnt thought of that. I cannot see how that would be in any way productive. Yeah. Maybe. Reckon itd be well satisfying, though. For the record, I would like to say that I am very much against this plan! It sounds mean! Though Im sure crushing didnt mean it in a bad way! He definitely meant it in a bad way. Oh, I absolutely meant it in a bad way. Im a bad bad man after all. This is accomplishing little. Tell me. Did you all experience the same vision that I did? There came a general chorus of assent, as they all recalled the flickers of a life lived primarily on the streetsscrounging and scraping for every last bit of change in the hopes of fulfilling a lifelong dream. Good, then our path forward should be evident. We do not end the girl, and instead aid her on her journey. Oh for the love of-! Please dont tell me you too have fallen to the idiotic whims of base sentimentality. Sentiment played no role in my decision. For one, I fear rocking the boat for lack of information. Whos to say, for instance, that killing her does not end poorly for us in turn? We do not yet understand the strength of the link that binds us. Until we do, brash actions have a high likelihood of backfiring. Secondly, our goals align closely enough as to make aiding her of negligible inconvenience. How so? She wishes to gain power. So must we if we are to stand any chance of defeating the many enemies arrayed before us. The team that brought us here, for one, the Cthulle who you blinded, and the dread entity who flattened an entire clearing with her mere presence. In order to survive, let alone overcome these hurdles, we will need the strength that this Academy of hers can offer. And even if the curriculum itself falls short, sooner or later she will be called to participate in this ongoing war that hangs ever at the forefront of her mind. We will be in the unique position to capitalize on this when the time comes, without garnering any undue suspicion. As we are clearly abnormal to the point of being ostracized in these lands, I can only see this as a must. Uhh? Well so long as theres nothing touchy feely informing your decisions. I can assure you there was not. I just knew you all would see things my way! Truly! No star burns brighter than the brilliant bonds of our friendship! Damn but it brings a tear to my eye You had me at war, friend. You had me at war. Jun’s POV (4) W-well, that was a grand w-w-waste of time. What was that? hissed the amiable snake man. N-nothing, Jun replied, trying and failing to repress a shiver. He sneezed. Snorted. Wiped away the warm, dribbling excess with his tattered, moth eaten sleeve. Damned cold. He didnt know how long hed spent toiling over his poorly conceived creation, lost to time in that nothingness realm between trials, but near the end there, it was either remain in that limbo and slowly go insane, or call it quits and risk hypothermiaif only for a change in scenery. He was already beginning to regret his brief lapse in resolve. Diligently, he continued to jog in place. Once again, he found himself in an out of the way nook near the back end of the courtyard. Having out maneuvered the wandering shoulder incident with ease, he was somewhat surprised to find the ultimate destination remained the same. He idly wondered if that might mean something, then figured he probably didnt want to know. As always, a light dusting of snow blanketed the uneven flagstones, the pristine covering barely disturbed in this out of the way corner. Absent was the constant roughhousing and fickle tempers so common elsewhere. In fact, if you ignored the bitter cold, it was actually rather nice. Quiet. Peaceful, almost. Somehow removed from the certifiable din of the unwashed masses. It was what he thought a cloister might feel like, with old men shuffling about in threadbare robes, occasionally kneeling down in mass prayer, when they werent playing games of strategy on checkered squares etched into the stone. It really did seem to be something of an escape for the older inmates, though why they were allowed this serene place of respite he didnt rightly know. Didnt want to know, he reminded himself. Hed stay ignorant for a while yet, if he could help it. And, as if on cue, his previously stoic, and blessedly silent, companion chose that very moment to speak up. From where he sat with legs crossed, still several head heights above him for all that Jun was standing, Goro picked up a thread in an earlier conversation he couldve sworn he hadnt ever taken part in. It wasnt always like this, you understand. Once, the rift between halfbreeds and whole men was not so insurmountable as it is today, hard as that might be to believe. There was a time when man stood alongside changeling in brave defiance of the long dark. When brother bled for brother, sister wept for sister, regardless of kin, or claw, or country. Jun stared up at the bovine man. Was he? No. It couldnt be. He mustve been mistaken. Because, for a second there, hed actually thought the big guy was monologuing. All were seen as comrades during the times of the great upheaval. Why!? What for!? Was this part of the trial? Because it couldnt have been anything hed done to bring about this impromptu diatribe. Hell, he hadnt even said anything this time around, too preoccupied with his own thoughts to bother. All were made equal beneath its bloated, shadow blighted embrace. Oh great, theres more. And yet, not seconds after the war was won, the Great Betrayer changed all of that. And in so doing, thrust our varied peoples into scourge blasted ignominy. The likes of which we might never recover from. Kings and queens turned to slaves and conscripts. Made to fight in their petty wars and die for their petty amusements. A greater fall from grace, I cannot imagine. And with that final pronouncement, the man, the apparent halfbreed, fell silent. Why do I get the sense hes not quite finished? Even to this day some of the worst affected are those least deserving. There it is. Our pitiable fate not only turned into a mockerya malady reviled the world overbut a naked blade willfully leveraged by those with few scruples to give, and even fewer reservations. The Grand Duke and his flock of sycophants being one such cabal of irredeemable bastards. More than willing to damn their very own kin should it serve to further their goals. Aha! A clear antagonist. Kind of like Elder Shao in the last one, huh? Wait, does that mean Id complete some sort of hidden objective by defeating him? Ah! Shit! No! Quit it! Stop thinking. Ignorance! Quick! Think ignorant thoughts! Tell me. Were you aware that the majority of blood sport arenas are owned by a single man? Bane Vanderhaul, head of the Vanderhaul Consortium? Ah, but of course. It would be far more surprising had you been ignorant. Please, forgive me. What you might not have been aware of, however, is that one of the Vanderhaul Consortiums most prominent stakeholders is none other than Grand Duke- No need! No sir! Right big fella, let me cut you off there, Goro gruntedgenuinely caught off guard, he obeyed immediately. Its been a pleasure, it really has! Well, not really, but itd be rather rude to say its been hell now wouldnt it? Great chatting with you and all that, even if it was mostly you doing the chatting. Very informative. Not really cool of you to do, but I promise I wont hold that against you. Anyway, Id best be off! Would love to stick around, but it''s probably about time I stop beating around the bush. You know how it is. Nose to the grindstone and all that! Hahaha! Jun heard the notes of hysteria enter his tone, and promptly snapped his mouth shut. Goro, for his part, seemed utterly bewildered. The man was stupefied. Jun couldnt really say he blamed him. Still, staying in character was often more trouble than it was worth, and anyway, it had abruptly ceased to matter. With his mind made up, Jun steeled his nerves, recited his mantra, and promptly splattered his gray matter all over the finely dusted flagstones. He was going about it all wrong. Worse, he knew he was going about it all wrong, he just didnt know what to do with that information. Staring at the spinning ball of purple fluff, hed just about given up on trying. He was missing something. In his approach, in his methodology. Something was seriously off about the way he was thinking about this, and if someone could please explain to him just what that was, hed be eternally grateful from now until the end times, and thank you very much in advance. And yet, no matter what he did, no matter how he tweaked or pivoted, it was as if the concept itself were offended by the mere mention of piercing laser beams from the eyeball region. It wasnt as if he were blowing his brains out on purpose. Every death was a strict rebuke, plain and simple. A sharp rap on the knuckles to show Patron Piercings displeasure. He was even beginning to think thats what determined a high from low conceptual stability. Whether the concept was enamored with the idea or not.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Worse yet, hed thought he was making some pretty serious progress for a while there. Compressing and shifting the haphazard projection. Subtly altering the way he thought of his mantra to better align with the nature of piercing. Hed even gone so far as to picture the beam emerging from his hands, because youd hold a spear with your hand, and spearsI mean, you know spearsthey had to be on the up and up with papa piercing, patriarch of all things prickly, they just had to be! It had collapsed back into a jumbled mess the second his concentration faltered. That had been ten or so hours ago. He should know. He had counted. In all that time hed been hesitant to restart the trial. He didnt really see the point. Also, he really didnt want to die again. And while it was true, the existential dread couldnt really reach him while he was in this state, per say, at least on an intellectual level he recognized that the damage was only compounding with each and every subsequent restart he endured. He supposed he could always simply get out of his own way. Settle for something basic. Something pre-approved. It wasnt as if this laser eyes thing was a hill he was ready to die on. No, instead it was the principle of the thing. The simple fact that he literally couldnt, even if hed wanted to, that ate away at him. A part of him railing at the thought of conceding to such narrow minded demands. If the system governing these abilities actively punished you for thinking outside the box, after all, then it wasnt a system he wanted anything to do with. Punishing him for being overly ambitious was one thing, but rejecting anything an everything that didnt fall within a stringent niche of acceptability? That, he simply could not understand. It was downright criminal. Worse than that, it was derivative. How could there be progress if creativity was stymied at every turn? And without progress, where was the inherent value? If all paths inevitably led down the same number of roads, and the roads that could be traveled had long since been trod, then what in the nine hells was the point of doing anything? To come up in a world where total stagnation, a monopoly on ideas, was already as set in stone as the cobbles beneath your feet? What a bleak and miserable existence indeed. With a clack that resounded through their little stretch of snow strewn courtyard, Elemenfae Viridian Hawthorn, or Auntie Viri by her own insistence, brought to a close the thorough and comprehensive beat down thatd occupied them both for the last fifteen minutes. She raised her hand from the small stone, long and elegant fingers flicking in a dismissive gesture. How is it you get worse with every time passing? Where are your manners, fool boy? You embarrass yourself. Not all of us can be tactical savants in the world of gogi, Auntie Viri You make excuses. Where are your manners? I dont know, Auntie Viri. I must have left them in my other pants. Bah! As far as he could tell, Auntie Viri was a member of the fae racewhatever that meant in this current incarnation of the trial. He still wasnt certain if overarching details, such as race, religion, or politics changed with every repetition, every death, or if it was merely the alignment of minor characters and events that was changed each time he restarted. In any case, she was faeor, well, half fae at any ratewhich meant, among other things, she looked surprisingly good for two hundred and seventy years old. It helped that she didnt act like a woman of her vaunted years, though he suspected that was less a fae thing, and more an Auntie Viri thing. She stuck a grubby pinky finger up her left nostril, and promptly began digging around in there like shed caught a strong whiff of gold. Outwardly, Juns face remained passive. Inwardly, he recoiled. Poor play. Poorer manners. I do not know why I even bother. Who am I to suffer such foolishness? A bullfrog does not associate with tadpoles. Whos to say, really? Oh, but, and Im just throwing things out there, mind you, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that everyone but me refuses to play with you on principle? Hmm Perhaps, she snapped. And so saying, she finished with her requisite gold diggingmining operations having, evidently, been a roaring successbriefly inspected her find, before, without an ounce of hesitation, she casually flicked it in his direction. At his face, if you wanted to split hairs over it. This time around, experience allowed for a swift and timely evasion, maintaining his cleanliness at the cost of some dignity. Gah! And as for all the previous times? Well, needless to say, he now knew why the woman was effectively a walking pariah. Auntie Viri began to attack her scalp next, like a dog with a particularly bad case of mange, her haira cascade of verdant, ropy coils, intertwined with tiny pink blossoms of pale iridescenceleft somewhat the worse for wear, for all her ministrations. Her face was scrunched up in childlike concentration, though whether in pleasure or irritation he didnt rightly know. Meanwhile her skin was tinted a subtle green-blue hue, reminiscent of moss or lichen. With faint patterns, like those of twisting leaves and vines, tracing along her dark complexion. Her eyes, even scrunched into slits as they were, glowed a vibrant shade of deep magentastriking, intense, and fiercely intelligent. While her movements, even if indelicate, carried with them this unmistakable grace. A fickle breeze flitting through forest canopy. Put simply, she was beautiful in an otherworldly, ethereal, and almost disconcerting sort of way. Which made a kind of sense. He technically was on another world after all. And if you didnt know her personally, you might even have been fooled by all that. Enchanted by her allure, completely unaware that it was only skin deep. What you leering at? Fool boy. No manners. I am much too old, she paused, her brow furrowing in thought. See me in a hundred years maybe. Grow muscles. I like muscles. And now it was her turn to leer, not that hed actually been leering of course. He felt her eyes roam over him, as if she were perusing some prized stallion, or salivating over an investment contract. It actually left him feeling somewhat violated. He crossed his arms over his chest uncomfortably. Thats something Im also having a hard time understanding, he said, picking up on an earlier thread in the conversation. I know Ive been improving. Ive seen it. My grasp of the ruleset is head and shoulders above what it had been only weeks ago. I can read several lines ahead and react accordingly. In the early game, I even feel like I can give you a run for your money. So why doesnt it feel like Im getting any better? It feels that way because it is that way. You were already quite bad. You are getting worse. It is quite the sorry state of affairs. If you wouldnt mind enlightening me as to why that is? Jun managed past a knot of frustration. I would mind, you fool boy. I will do so anyway, but only because I am gracious. Be grateful! Your charity knows no bounds, Auntie Viri. Just so! Ahem. Yes yes. It is simple really. You greet the world with open palms, and toes and fingers crossed, indulge in cleverness for cleverness sake and and I can tell you see nothing wrong with what I say. Fool boy. No manners to speak of. Its written right there on your face. You abandon plans in their infancy, before theyve even been conceived, never wanting to commit the time for any one of them to grow. The fae snorted, hawking up a glob of phlegm before she spat it to the side. You tiptoe about the board with light steps and fancy feet, too afraid youll be caught flatfooted and cut off from retreat. Stacking deception like the layers of a cakeevery move a feint, and every feint more cleverer than the last. Always shifting, always changing, when everyone knows honesty is best. She began to gnaw on a finger nail, muttering the next words under her breath. I say his play is like the humming birds wing, but does he listen? No! Instead he decides to choke the board with all manner of cleverest connivings. So clever, that when his defenses are finally tested, they only ever manage to get in each others way! She turned her attention outward, and spoke up once more. You begin with a hollow center. A shapeless thing. Eager to respond to every little thing I do. Hah! If I went to squat down behind a bush, it would like as not have an answer ready and waiting, yes? And about that instability you attempt to build a fortress? Bah! Where are your manners? When what you really need is to start with a solid foundation. Manage that, and you can throw around all the fancy tricks you want. Only once that imagination of yours is paired with a good, honest foundation, will you ever have even the hope of challenging me. Chapter 58: Knightly Academy (I) Eleanor didnt snap awake from bleary unconsciousness, so much as she passively recognized her own growing sphere of perception. Sight, sound, and an indecipherable sixth sense slowly expanding out and away from her a few paces at a time. A diffuse light, with no identifiable source, steadily beating back the tide of darkness that surrounded her on all sides. The first things she noticed were her bare feet. Then the floor, and after that the arcane scribbles carved into its surface as far as her sphere allowed her to see. Made of a mat black rock, similar in texture to basalt, it held myriad indecipherable lines of archaic text. All of which seemed to be bending subtly away from her, immediately clueing her in on the fact that the seemingly unending rows of script, likely continued on to form a grand circle of truly impossible scale. Already having found herself on top of the expansive circle, Eleanor saw no harm in moving further in. Stepping forward she was gratified to see that her sphere of perception came with her. She didnt know how long she walked in that barren expanse, the only sounds the pad of her bare feet on the oddly warm rock, but whether it was a minute, or a year, her sphere of perception eventually picked up on something at the very center of the formation. Voices. Or one voice, to be more exact. Though they appeared to be speaking as if compensating for two. Yes yes but-! I really dont see the need to keep rehashing this old argument over and over again. Its becoming rote at this point Of course. No! But thats just it! My point is that it should no longer apply! well how is any of that my fault! Youre the one that went and died before indoor plumbing was invented. Yes but-! Well, I dont care if it wasnt common practice at the time, if your excuse for expressly refusing to bathe was that evil spirits couldnt seem to keep their ephemeral paws out of perfectly harmless water, then Id say you pretty much got what you deserved! Fascinated by this brand-new form of stimuli, Eleanor made her way ever closer towards the sound, until the owner of the exasperated voice came fully into focus. At which point Eleanor stopped dead in her tracks. At the center of the massive formation, stood a man. Wrapped up in impractically large lengths of chainrestraints which ran taught from around his body, to the sixteen equidistant nodes placed about the script circleit wasnt his flawless, almost ethereal beauty, nor the floor-length curtain of black hair that gave her pause. No, it was the dozen or so swords running him all the way through, which made her instinctually take several steps back. Well, the presence of the blades in conjunction with the fact that he didnt appear fazed by them in the least. And shed been wrong about one thing. Because, only upon second glance did she realize that the man wasnt standing at all, but was instead being propped up by the massive blades which impaled him to the point of embedding themselves in the stone. And suddenly the presence and sheer quantity of such detailed and extensive formations made her attempts to reach this being at its center seem very foolish indeed. She realized this far too late to do anything about it, however, as already the stream of complaints had tapered off, and the tortured entity before her had turned its eyes in her direction. You! You You? Im sorry, but do I know you? Eleanor tried to speak, only to find her lungs were missing. No no this isnt right. Youre not supposed to be here yet. In fact, youre not supposed to be here at all! Wouldnt do for you to go spoiling things ahead of time, now would it? The figure chuckled, and as he did so a riotous flurry of emotions, expressed on many hundreds of disparate faces, rippled just beneath the surface. Then, with words so heavily drenched in authority that their mere utterance was enough to bring her to her knees, the being at the center of the formation spoke. Well, off with you then. Also, try not to make a habit of riffling around in other peoples souls. You may not always like what you find. *** Eleanors eyes flew open, only to be greeted in kind by two massive lemon-yellow pools. Ah! Shes awake! Swiftly, those yellow pools receded to reveal the brightly beaming face of someonesomething?she didnt immediately recognize. It only took a moment before the events of the previous day came flooding back to her. And once they had, Eleanor was merely left wondering at her newfound surroundings. She was in a bedroom. At least, she thought thats where she was. Four walls, assorted furniture, and beneath her, an uncomfortably spongy material. A bed. Most likely. It certainly met all the known criteria for any bedroom shed ever heard of. Now, the only question was, why in the queendom was she here? Ah, youre awake. Id almost begun to worry. From the rooms only exit emerged none other than Mary, holding a steaming wooden tray in front of her as she casually shouldered aside the door. The smells that wafted from that tray set Eleanors stomach to rumbling almost immediately. Not wanting to come off as rude, Eleanor scrambled to a sitting position, and was contemplating getting out of the bed entirely, when the womans next words shocked Eleanor into stillness. Hungry? Ill bet. Well, eat up then. Weve got a lot to talk about once youve finished. And so saying, Mary set the entire tray right down in front of her. Eleanor could only stare at the heaping spread, with its intoxicating aromas, in blank disbelief. It was more food than shed ever seen in one place.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Okay? Im unsure how youd normally go about things, but, traditionally, we like to eat the food set out in front of us before it goes cold. Especially when youre the closest thing to starving. I umm Eleanor gulped, her stomach rumbling even louder than before. May I? I insist, Mary chuckled. Eleanor needed no more encouragement than that. In what felt like no time at all, every plate had been cleared and glass had been emptied. Feeling fuller than she had in recent memory, she found herself having a devilishly hard time keeping her eyes open. Her thoughts feeling fuzzy, and the soft blankets surprisingly warm, really, the only thing stopping her from just slumping over into unconsciousness, was the constant chatter of their resident rift spawn. Surely nows a good time! Shes even licked the plates clean and everything! Eleanor blushedhad she not been meant to do that? News of such momentous importance cannot be held under such tight lock and key! I simply find it criminal that you refuse to inform her that all of her wildest dreams are soon to come true! Wait what? All of her wildest hold on a minute, what-?! What? Eleanor exclaimed rather eloquently, her heart beginning to race. Mary, for her part, simply sighed. Fingers gently massaging at her temples. Well, I had been intending to ease her into it but? Theres really no hope of that now, I suppose. Damned straight! Mary glared at the rift spawn. Im sorry? Eleanors voice wavered. But I dont understand. Youre going to be enrolled in the Queens Knightly Academy! Eleanor choked. You-! Im! What?! Not necessarily. Youll have to take the exams first, just like everyone else, although I do intend to sponsor you. That should help get you in the door at least. And in that regard, youre actually in luck. The school season is set to begin in another week or so, and you still have until then to take the exams. And, once she passes them with flying colors, then shell be enrolled with full honors! Full honors? That doesnt even make any-! the woman actually growled. You say that, rift spawn, as if you grasp even an iota of what it takes to join the knightly cohort. Im sure it cant be that hard! Oh? an edge of danger had entered her tone. And what, if you dont mind my asking, makes you so damned confident? Why, because shell have me of course, silly. With our powers combined, Im certain nothing in this world can stand in our way! Insufferable little I dont understand. Why should I take you with me, rift spawn? I get that we might have rendered you aid but- You cant feel it? Mary asked, perplexed. Your familiar bond. My familiar? and then she felt ita dense knot of something at the back of her mind. I I have a familiar! Wait? I have a familiar? How do I have a familiar? Id thought for something like that you needed-? One of these? Mary reached over and plucked a pendant from the nightstand. The very same she could remember reaching for last night before completely losing consciousness. Now looking at it in proper daylight, it appeared even more opulent and expensive than she remembered. That Is yours kid, for all intents and purposes. But I couldnt! Even the thought of carrying around something so clearly valuable made her skin crawl. If shed been robbed at knife point for all of thirteen copper pennies, she didnt even want to think what might happen to her, carrying something like that around. Despite her very obvious aversion to the idea, however, Mary deliberately reached forward and looped the blue pendant around Eleanors neck. No holder of a familiar bond is ever far from their binding stone. Its tantamount to sacrilege within those circles. I wont hear of you parting from it, understand? she waited for Eleanor to nod her acquiescence. Good. Although, that said, Id still keep it hidden if I were you, just in case this mysterious owner comes looking for it. She aimed another pointed look at the rift spawn. No, not just any rift spawn. Her familiar! I do not remember! A likely story, Mary snorted. In any case, now that you''re all caught up, its best we get a move on. There still plenty to do and not nearly enough time in which to do it. Well have to move fast if we- Im sorry, Mary. Truly. But I dont have the money to take the exams right now, so Im afraid Ill have to decline. Maybe in the coming week I can make up the five silvers I need but-! Mary burst out laughing. She was actually laughing! Im sorry if something I said was funny, Eleanor pronounced rather stiffly. No! the woman wheezed. No, its my fault for not explaining things properly. When I said I intended to sponsor you, that included handling any expenses leading up to the exam, and some amount of weekly allowance if you are indeed accepted. To be determined at that time. Oh. I Eleanor didnt know what to say. But, wont that be expensive? A full gold mark- Oh, itll be a good deal pricier than that. That only covers the entry fee. Well have to make you look presentable first. Purchase some of the written material. You do know how to read and write dont you? I do. Public primary had been good for that much at least. Fantastic. Now- But why?! Eleanor didnt understand it. Why would you do so much for me? The woman simply stared at Eleanor for a time, a strange expression on her face. And for the first time, Eleanor took a proper look at her in turn. She looked different in a clean tunic, face washed, and hair brushed, but by far the most striking difference between the Mary before her now, and the bruised mess shed first met in that alley, was the stark intensity burning in her eyes. Youve likely done me a greater turn than youll ever know. So, trust me when I say that Im still a long ways away from repaying the debt I still owe you. And, following that solemn pronouncement, spoken with such sincerity, Eleanor could only nod at her brand-new sponsor. And dont let us forget! No expense is too great when its shared among friends! Group hug anyone? Jun’s POV (5) Floating in the endless void, Jun thought about a lot of things. About his friends, about his enemies, about the weeks, going on a month now, hed spent attempting this trial. The large majority of that time spent opposite a crotchety old woman with a penchant for provocationplaying a game he hadnt seen nor heard of outside the trial, and likely would never do so again once hed left it. A pastime taken up to while away eternity. Little more than an excuse to procrastinate. Which was what made it all the more peculiar that, out of everythinghis many obligations, vendettas, and those loved ones hed left behindit was his time spent across from that eccentric old hag which had brought him back here. Trying again, in earnest, to solve the problem thatd been plaguing him for so long now. So! Im a chronic deceiver, huh? Forever courting instability, if shes to be believed. First start with an honest foundation For the record, he didnt actually think this would work. It likely wouldnt work. It was probably a huge waste of time. By now, the optimism hadnt been beaten out of him, per say, so much as shorn from him with a rusty, and not especially sharp, pair of cutting sheers. Slowly, agonizingly, and unhygienically to boot. Nevertheless Jun mentally reached out to the accursed purple puff ball, and, with a thought, dispersed it utterly, like the scattering of dandelion fluff. Until not even an echo of its unfortunate shape remained. Immediately he could feel that he hadnt been given a clean slate by any means. Hed begun the trial under the pretense hed be making some sort of piercing technique, and so, a piercing technique was what he was effectively bound to make. Even still, the palpable waves of relief he felt at being allowed even the pretense of a new beginning was well worth the restrictions. Jun took in a deep, figurative breath, and began to form a mantra. This time, with the sole purpose of capturing a basic aspect of the concept. And although his instincts were practically screaming he start pushing and pulling until he got the result he desired, he restrained himself. It wouldnt do for him to simply trick the purple granules into taking on the shape he desired. Hed already done plenty of that to dismal effect all around. Instead, he would start with an idea. A simple image. The spear. Closing his eyes. He tried to hold in his mind the image of a spear. Long shaft Pointy end Wait, what else is there? He shrugged. Should be good enough. Opening his eyes, he was immediately greeted with irrefutable proof that it had not, as it so happens, been good enough. Hovering in front of him was what looked to be a childs crude rendition of the titular weapon, and a rather untalented child at that. Two dimensional and partly see through, it looked like nothing so much as a squiggly chalk outline. Jun buried his head in his hands. Got it. So, theres more to a spear than just long and pointy. But what? Thinking on it for a second, he decided it was probably optimal it exist in all three dimensions before he did anything else. And so, he pictured that. Layering another image on top of what he already had. Interweaving it with the first, as one might two threads of twine. He imagined the roundness of the shaft. Pictured its heft. Tried to recall the feel of its weight in his hands, from the few times hed ever held a spear. The memories were hazy and incomplete, but, nevertheless, when he opened his eyes, he was still pleasantly surprised. It was still crude and indistinct, but it definitely existed in more than two dimensions now. Woohoo! Take that you stingy patrons! Jun, one. All powerful conceptual entities, zero! He thought he was starting to understand how exactly all this was supposed to work. Grinning, he began to add more image threads to the growing weave. He added the feel of wood grain between his fingers. The sharp scent of metal polished to a mirror shine. The sting of being pricked by something sharp. He even started to get into more esoteric territory. The contentedness that came with holding something well worn and trustworthy. The irrepressible need to push forward no matter the obstacle. With every image he layered atop one another in his mind, the more defined the construct before him became. Until Basic Mantra: [Spearing Thrust] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Excellent Quality) Conceptual Stability: 60% Before him floated the miniature image of a plain spear. Completely unadorned, the slowly rotating sculpture looked like something you might find in any old bargain barrel bristling with shoddy weaponry. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Common, in other words. Entirely average. And yet the palpable waves of conceptual energy roiling off of the simple image spoke to it being anything but. Most surprising was that, in the end, the actual wording of the mantra mattered not at all. Indeed, it never even came up, far as he could tell. The simple compiling of compatible imageries were more than enough to carry the day. Although, having said that, it was also immediately apparent that, should the need arise, the proper verbiage would surface of its own accordas easily as one might pluck free a perfectly ripe berry. Now, dont get him wrong. He was still in disbelief that what little he had known to conceptualize, had been enough to flesh it out so completely. More so that all it had taken was a slight change in his mindset. To come at the problem genuinely and in earnest, instead of hastily rushing the final product. Running headlong toward ever retreating success. Go figure. As counter intuitive as it felt, in the beginning it wouldve actually been far faster to move with slow deliberation, rather than brute force it at break neck speeds. Huh. There was probably a lesson in there somewhere. Now that he had a stable, honest foundation however? If hed had the wherewithal to grin in that instant, he would have. Jun promptly took the mantra hed just so recently created, and with slow, deliberate thoughts, began to innovate. *** Jun let out a long exhale, breath frosting the chilly morning air in an expansive white plume. Silhouettes shiftednoticed, if not remarked uponfrom out of the corner of his eye. The hunched figures of elderly inmates shuffling to and fro. Unhurried, deliberate, and aloof as always. There came the hushed susurration of early morning voices, well rehearsed greetings and quiet rejoinders swapped between age old acquaintances. All around him, unassuming men and women draped in threadbare brown cloth were going about their routines, and seeing to their daily necessities. Consecutive pops and cracks echoing from behind, as, despite their getting on in age, many of those present made to contort themselves into inane, downright bizarre looking positions he couldnt hope to mimic, each more devilishly complex than the last. Many stretching in preparation for long hours spent in prayer. While still others did the same for equally sedentary, if far less pious, reasons. Even now the alluring tug of the gogi board called to him with that addictive promise of one last game. He ignored the urge, howeverthe seductive pull. More than that, he ignored his surroundings. He even managed to block out the bitter cold. And in their place? He turned all of his attentions inward, and, with a flutter of fear and anticipation, brought to fruition the culmination of several weeks effort. The spear is mighty; its reach is vastmy gaze is to you as the heron to the salmon. Jun felt the telltale strain on his mental faculties; the snaking tendrils of stiff tension wrap his body in iron bands. He felt the space behind his sockets begin to warm ominously, his brain made to cope with the mounting levels of stress. And then, all at once, as if a pressure valve had been released, three beams of emerald green energy shot from his corneastwo short bursts and a sweeping curve. Tiny chips of stone sent pinging throughout the courtyard. Three high pitched whines accompanied each flicker of emerald, as his all powerful mantra carved a perfect little smiley face into the thin layer of snow at his feet. Well, the snow, and a good deal of the flagstone beneath, if his eyes werent deceiving him. Releasing his mantra with a huffand letting his eyesight return to their usual color rangeJun first wobbled dangerously, then fell flat on his rear. His watery legs due more to the sheer relief he felt in that moment, than any real exhaustion. Though there was plenty of that too, and make no mistake. Hed done it. It had taken him a while, but hed finally done it! Not too shabby, he whistled, inspecting the damage. Three jagged furrows channeled deep into the flagstone. That was all he had to show for his blood, sweat, and not a small amount of tears. Now, was it worth it? No. Not even close. His only real consolation prize the simple fact it was over with, and that hopefully, gods willing, hed never have to go through something like that ever again. Isnt there a saying? It being about the journey and not the destination? Given the fact that Im pretty sure said journey left me severely traumatized, I cant say Im particularly fond of the idea. Ah well. It wasnt as if things were all bad. He thought he might actually grow to miss some of his time here. Once the cold became a distant memory of course, and not a first person, teeth rattling, frostbitten experience. He was sure he could delude himself into thinking itd been a grand old time by then. Once it was all a far off memory, hazy and blessedly indistinct, he could then look upon his many ups and downs with newfound appreciation. After hed finally escaped this hellhole, he was sure hed be able to pinpoint the highlights, wherever they were, no matter how sparse or unlikely. Now that hed applied his mantra successfully, however, it was only a matter of time before he was whisked away from this damnable trial, and officially sent down the path of enlightened reminiscence. Any minute now. Any second. Abruptly, there was a commotion from the other end of the open-air space, which, in and of it self, was nothing new. Under normal circumstances, it wouldve gone unnoticedlost amid the raucous, overly boisterous dinbut for the sudden hush that had fallen over the courtyard. Jun glanced in that direction, only to spot the milling sea of inmates part before a heavily armored procession. A procession that just so happened to be marching in his general direction. Jun was able to make out the fur lined uniforms of the prison guard, otherwise dressed to the nines in gleaming white plate-mail, their expressions tight and demeanors professional. Occasionally, when one inmate or another was too slow to move, while it was true they were still battered asidebusiness as usualit was done without any of the sadistic pleasure or malice he was so used to seeing. They didnt even stop to kick the guy while he was down! It was practically unheard of. And, quite frankly, it terrified him. All the more so because of the awfully suspicious timing. It hadnt escaped his notice that, in all his time here, not once had he seen its like. Days, no, weeks spent haunting this trial world and hed never had something like this transpire. And yet the second he successfully operates his mantra, this martial parade suddenly comes out of the woodwork? What were the odds that this was just a coincidence? Not great, if he had to wager a guess. And suddenly he felt this uncanny certainty that, were he to die now, there would be no second chances. Its do or die time. Chapter 59: Knightly Academy (II) The next mere handful of days were, quite possibly, the most hectic of Eleanors entire life. Due almost entirely to the fact that, for most of it, she felt less like an active participant in goings on, and more like a helpless passenger purely along for the ride. In that time, she took several bathseach of them warm, unhurried, and blessedly free of other peoples stinkate more food in a day than she had over the course of some weeks, visited book shops, clothiers, hairdressers and more. Took several more baths, had her teeth fixed, her aches removed, and even had a woman labor over her fingernails for several hoursuntil they were so pristine that they shone back her own reflection. She was taught how to comport herselfwhat to say and how to actwas given lessons on what shed need to pass the written exam, suggestions on what she could expect during the physical, and even started to get used to the feeling of sleeping in a bed. Though, admittedly, she still found the floor to be far more comfortable. And throughout it all, quite possibly the most exciting thing to come out of that week, was her growing familiarity with her, well, familiar. He, since for whatever reason that was what she insisted she be called, was quite the peculiar familiar. Or so Eleanor guessed, seeing as bonded familiars were normally the sole privilege of the gentry. And while it could be that all familiars were similar to her Jun, she honestly had a hard time imagining that. There were technically four of him after all. Something she had to imagine was really quite rare. Luckily, it wasnt hard to keep track of them all. If their individual auras werent a dead giveaway, their personalities were rather distinct. Shed taken to distinguishing them, first by the color of their aura, then by the first letter of each color, to better keep things precise. How do I look? Eleanor asked. No better or worse than the last ten times you asked me, R. Jun replied. Or no. Scratch that. A bit more rumpled maybe? R-really?! Eleanor snapped her head down with a look of utter horror on her face. Taking in her navy-blue, red accented blazer and platted skirt with dismay. Oh yes. Perhaps you should try standing up next time? It really is poor form, you know, sitting down in a carriage. I mean, just the wrinkles alone! Its liable to give me a heart attack. Oh. Hah hah. Very funny. Despite her own words though, Eleanor still tried to straighten out any errant folds when she found them. Dont worry friend Eleanor! exclaimed Y. Jun. Im sure none here will care a whit for your disheveled looking appearance once youve shown them the true depths of your burning conviction! Disheveled?! You never said anything about disheveled! Yes I did! Just now! Did she not hear the part where I told her not to worry about her slovenly appearance?! I could have sworn I said it quite clearly! Slovenly?! Be calm, came G. Juns soothing tones. Appearance is a factor to be observed, yes, though in this context, Id say minor concerns such as your looks matter little. Remember, you are merely here to pass the exams, not look good whilst doing so. Is that your way of saying you also think I look terrible? There was an awkward pause at that, before Y. Jun broke in. I think you look great! Thanks Eleanor sighed. They were standing at the very back of a milling crowd of hopefuls, who themselves idled before the closed outer gates of the Knightly Academy. It was a grand edifice of elegantly carved alabaster. The massive double doors, each several stories tall, depicting a sequence of images which chronicled the birth of, first the queendom, then that of her knightly cohorts themselves. From the seven cruel dictators that fancied themselves gods, to the first ever azure queens rise to prominence. It showed her rallying the people, now solely united under the azure banner, to push back the encroaching rift spawned hoards. Showed her fashioning the grand formation weave, what most now referred to simply as the wall, and thereby sealing themselves off from all rift born with a mile high energy barrier. Creating the first true bastion for humanity in the process. Eleanor stared up at the scenes in awe for a time. The sheer majesty of this place and its grand lineage enough to momentarily distract her from her nerves. That was, until those doors began to slowly swing inward, and the muted chatter of the crowd went deathly silent. From her position at the very back, she couldnt exactly make out what came through those doors, only occasionally snatch a glimpse of the sharp white uniforms worn by the women of the academy through breaks in the crowd. Please make way for our attendant squires, if you would, projected an older voice from the far end of the massive square. They will be the ones to process your entry fee, so I would suggest you have your payment ready. With a jolt of anxiety, Eleanor reached for the pouch at her waist and produced only one of several such coins she now kept on her person. Idiotic though she thought it still was to carry such large quantities of coin, it couldnt be said that she hadnt come up in the world. Eventually one such elegantly dressed knight in training neatly parted the crowd to stand before her. Tall and broad, and with a stern face that looked to be more bored than the auspicious moment truly called for, Eleanor had to make a concerted effort to meet the womansno, girls, for she couldnt have been much older than herselfeye.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Entry fee? She said it more like a demand than a question, and Eleanor was quick to comply. Take this. And so saying, the woman gave her a round wooden token with the designation C 7 carved into the face. When your group letter is called, please make your way to your group leader. She will be the one conducting and overseeing your exams today, all of this was spoken as if by rote, and as Eleanor attentively nodded her head in response, something akin to life entered the girls tone. Oh, and word to the wise? I would stay on her good side if I were you. I cant tell you how many overconfident idiots aced the actual tests only to fail anyway because they thought themselves better than their assessor. Understood. I will definitely keep that in mind. Oh, and thank you for the advice. Dont mention it, the girl flashed a rare smile. Best of luck. Eleanor had to resist the impulse to yell back, you too! Thankfully she managed to avoid completely embarrassing herself this time around. It wasnt long before the milling crowd was beginning to separate into groups, and very soon she too had her group letter called. Pushing her way to the front, Eleanor soon found herself before her group leader, a rather short looking woman, with a severe expression, and her hair bound up into a rather painful looking bun. Apparently the last of their group to arrive, the womans eyes briefly passed over her before she nodded in confirmation. Turning swiftly on her heel, their assessor strode purposefully into the greater academy beyond. Follow. Was her only instruction, before she quickly disappeared into the opulent grand entrancewith its multistoried balconies, liberal splashes of greenery, and massive chandeliers twinkling overhead. The click of her heels echoing off of the extremely reflective stone tile audible, even over the growing din of excited chatter. Eleanor briefly shared a glance with one of her group mates, one of only three, not including herself, who was in possession of a bonded familiar. A large cat like rift spawn, what she could now easily recognize as a Pyrostripe Emberfang, it was a rift spawn at the very peak of D grade, according to her books. Not for the first time Eleanor lamented the apparent uniqueness of her familiar. It would have been helpful to know his actual power level categorically, instead of purely relying on Y. Juns blanket assertion of: The strongest! The other familiar holder, for her part, merely looked Eleanor up and down, promptly giving her familiar a similarly brief appraisal, before she sneered, turned, and strode after their assessor. Well, that was really quite rude of her, exclaimed Y. Jun. This garnered more than a few startled glances, as many in her group, as well as others, gave her talking familiar inquisitive looks. Eleanor nearly crumpled under the weight of all those eyes. Before any could corner her and press her for answers, Eleanor grabbed her familiar by the arm and, head held down, hurriedly strode after their assessor. With a sigh, Eleanor set aside her quill, blotted the ink on the page with the sand provided, and then finally allowed for the waiting attendant to collect her test, along with many others. This portion of the examination had been held with every single letter group in attendance. Conducted in a truly massive lecture hall, even with every single one of that years hopefuls bent over their exam, theyd barely taken up a small fraction of the total number of seats. Unlike the later portions, bonded familiars hadnt been allowed inside during this test. Something for which Eleanor could only be grateful, as it was almost a guarantee hed have been nothing but a distraction. And as for how she had done? Only time would tell. She was a bit unsure of herself, though she trusted in Marys tutoring. And more than anything, was simply eager to get up and stretch her legs. The physical portion was next, and though the butterflies in her stomach betrayed her nervousness, she was nevertheless eager to test herself against some of the queendoms most promising young elites. Stepping out onto the massive gymnasium floor, Eleanor couldnt help the sudden thrill of excitement that raced through her. And though she couldnt have known this at the time, the impressive space had far more in common with an open air stadium of sorts, than any ordinary hallmark of academia. An impossibly long ovoid stretch of green turf encircled by a single looping clay track, at its center was a sprawling series of what looked to be obstacleseach miniature trial leading onto the next in a way that seemed chaotic, though, on second glance, was clearly deliberate. Now standing with the rest of group C on an open patch of turf, Eleanors gawking was brought to an immediate halt as the harsh voice of their assessor snapped everyone back to attention. I am not one to mince words so let me be clear. This is where you will perform the purely physical portion of your exam. You will do so to my exact specifications. If you in any way disagree with this statement, or my authority, you are free to leave. If I hear any of you voice any such disagreements, you are free to leave. If these terms are not to your personal liking, you are free to leave. Just know that, by doing so, you forfeit your chance at admission, and will be forced to try again some other year. Am I understood? Y-yes maam! Eleanor repliedthough she was only one out of maybe four that responded immediately. The rest, most notably the other familiar holders, merely glared at the shorter woman, open sneers on their lips. And if this werent shocking enough, everyone else just seemed to be blindly following their lead. The assessor, for her part, appeared unfazed by the open defiance. Merely staring the dissenting group down until, with a snort, one of the familiar holdersa slender girl with a lower C grade Torrential Python wound about her chestseemed to wave away the tension by patting at the air. Of course. Of course. Though, theres really no need for threats, senior. I believe were all fully capable of discerning your position without them, she said in a playful tone. Here, at least within these walls, your word might as well be law. Or something along those lines, correct? And really, if that is indeed the case, who am I, who is any of us rather, to question the law? Despite her conciliatory words Eleanor couldnt help but edge away from the holder. She really didnt like that gleam in her eyes. Because not only did she recognize it, but she knew it was bad news way more often than it was not. Not an uncommon sight in the slums, you were bound to run into one of them eventually, if youd lived there long enough. The petty tyrants who lorded over their little fiefdoms through a combination of fear, intimidation, and not a small amount of cruelty. The only surprising bit had been running into something like that here of all places. Though, on second thought, perhaps thatd simply been wishful thinking on her part. Barely acknowledging the girls words with a sniff, the assessor was quick to begin throwing out rapid fire commands. And in no time at all, Eleanor was working up an all too welcome sweat. Jun’s POV (6) Jun rose to his feet and, on instinct, shuffled over to stand next to Goro. The bovine mans massive frame was already upright, his eyes fixed on the approaching contingent of guards. And more specifically, on the lone man at the center of their formation. He was tall for a human, middle aged, clean shaven, and with a receding hairline. His demeanor, fine clothes, and haughty expression practically screamed of aristocracy. He held what appeared to be a perfumed handkerchief to his nose, and, despite the obstruction, Jun could see the grimace of distaste plastered over his delicate features from here. When the noble man came within fifteen paces of them, he stopped, and the procession stopped with him. That one, that one, and that one, he pointed out inmates with his slender pointer finger. The first of them was Goro, the next was someone he didnt recognize, and the last? Well, you can take a wild guess. Be quick now. We do not pay you men to doddle. Sir! the guard responded in unison. Abruptly, three of their number detached from the formation, and with firm steps and even firmer prods, began to herd them in the wake of the guard detail, who had, by then, already turned about face, and were even now retreating as fast as the noblemans long legs could carry him. When at last theyd crossed the courtyard, Jun was only given one last glimpse of its caged interior, before the iron bound door was slammed shut, and he was hurriedly led on towards the final act of this accursed trial. It wouldve been a lie to say he wasnt terribly relieved. It was difficult for the Minotaurian rebel to squeeze his impressive bulk through the increasingly narrow maintenance hallways. Much to his chagrin, his horns definitely werent helping. Forcing him to crouch, to periodically duck protruding pipes and hanging electrical lines, even as he adopted an awkward crab walk and tried very hard to maintain his composure. Hed never been one for small spaces. That had always been more Tourneys cup of tea if anythingcreator only knew how she managed it. Which only left his breathing exercises to rely on. This hopeless endeavor to engender serenity through deep breathing and happy thoughts of open spaces, not aided in the least by the tiny man with his constantly jabbing stick, apparently quite keen to lob boulder after boulder into his still pond of calm tranquility. Goro bit back a curse. After taking far longer than it had any right to, their claustrophobic journey finally came to an end. The maze like catacombs of the arenas undercroftif one were to credit the pervasive belief that, spectacle or no, the arenas were first and foremost a place of worship, a temple to the gods of avarice, cruelty, and bloodshedopened up into a well lit atrium. Circular, large, and wholly metallic, it was a sparse place, polished and industrial. The circular platform they stepped onto was worn, dented, and scratched, while the walls housed ribbed grooves, massive gears, and monstrous mechanismstheir use utterly alien to his untrained eye. Meanwhile high above them loomed a solid dome enclosure made of condensed mana, like frosted glass in appearance, which had the same effect of smearing whatever lay beyond it into a series of indistinct blurs. No matter how relieved he was to be rid of the cramped confines though, it wasnt the expansive space which caught and held his attention, but the whole man who stood confidently at its center. Tall for one of his kind, with expertly trimmed beard, and a full head of wavy brown hair. Broad and athletic, with a well toned physique, sharp jawline, and traditionally handsome features, he looked to be in his early thirties at most, though Goro knew better. This monster had to be knocking on his third century at least. Grand Duke Maximilian Alexander De Campos. Goro saw red. The Grand Duke only smirked. With a snort of unbridled hatred, fury, and contempt, Goro made to charge headlong at the sole progenitor of his peoples continued persecution. A man with the blood of millions on his hands. Men, women children. The platform shook. Vibrated with the sheer intensity of his ire, the pitted depths of his enmity. A guttural rumbling emanating from deep in his chest. It was a close thing. So terribly, terribly close. Indeed the only thing that prevented him from throwing himself at the monster, then and there, was a thin tendril of clarity. The tiny thread of awareness which brought to his immediate attention the armored contingent of spell-swords hovering at the bastards side. Each with their blades of choice trained on him and softly humming. Halfbreed, Maximilian began. You must be pleased to be meeting under more civilized circumstances. Goro didnt respond. If anything, this only seemed to amuse the man further. At the risk of sounding too much the broken record, I feel compelled to ask. Are you sure I cannot persuade you to reveal my troublesome nephews location? Again, Goro refused to speak, although, unlike in his previous interrogations, in which he had taken great pleasure in denying the monster, the devil now appeared far too pleased with himself for all the minotaur had never broken under his ministrations. It was as if he no longer cared if he pried free the information. A dark pit of dread opened up in his many stomaches. Ah. Well, you cannot say I didnt try. Bind him. And just like that, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, the whole men converged. Under the supervision of several trained spell-swords, the slave handlers went about shackling his arms and legsusing a set of Mythrilite restraints, large even by his standards, bolted directly into the center of the platform. He did little to resist. Realistically, there was little he could do to resist, unarmed and outnumbered, before a cohort of spell-sword mercenaries kitted out in high quality power armor. All he could do was watch as the sneering handler with a penchant for poking, took considerable pleasure in further depriving him of his liberty. To his left, a woman was similarly bound. A Draconian, one of the draconic peoples. One he even recognized, though due to an amount of professional courtesy, had never actually been so brazen as to approach. She too was a prominent figure within the ranks of the rebellion, though of a far distant cell to his. She had her head bowed so that he could not see her face, though whether in prayer or defeat, he didnt rightly know. Goro noted that they did not deign to restrain the boy, merely left him to stand there, watching silently as armored men went about their business. He didnt blame them. The shackles would have slipped from his slender wrists at any rate.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Indeed, he questioned why they had seen fit to bring him along to begin with. It really didnt seem to make much sense. Was it really just another way to get at him? If so, they were going to be sorely disappointed. Hed barely exchanged two words with the boy in the short time theyd been cellmates. He wasnt even sure the boy could speak. Briefly, Goro entertained the thought of reaching out, coordinating. Of trying to arrange some sort of last ditch efforta miraculous means of escapebut taking in his slender frame and tiny stature, he quickly disabused himself of such fanciful notions. Better to focus on what was possible and not rely on the fickle aid of miracles. In short order, the frenetic preparations of Maximilians men came to a close. Meanwhile, the man himself, now decked out in a suit of gleaming, top of the line power armor, soon turned to regard them. Another condescending smirk played at the corners of his lips. A fiendish delight, one that sent shivers down Goros spine, glinting in his dark brown eyes. It has been fun, halfbreed. I must say, your resiliency is commendable. Abomination though you are, any man would be fortunate to have such a steadfast and loyal slave at their disposal. It is just too bad your master did not think the same, eh? And with that, the mechanized helmet he wore slotted itself into place. Closing over his face with a whirring sound, followed by a series of mechanical clicks. In no time at all, Maximilians handsome face was replaced by a metallic mask, eye slits glowing the same pale blue as radiated from the many joins in the form fitting armor. In the next second there was a deeper, more powerful whirring, followed by the sudden lurch of movement. The platform was ascending, it would seem. The pit in his stomachs grew wider by the second. As they rose, the light filtering in from the mana dome up above only grew in intensity. Until, when the whirring vibrations of their ascent finally stopped, it shone through with the brilliant light of day. In the next second, the dome disappeared completely, and the cacophonous din of the roaring crowd hit him all at once. Impacting like a physical blow. They had arrived at their destination, it would appear, smack dab in the middle of the blood sport arena. Surrounded on all sides by metallic walls fifty feet in height, the overly packed stands of the stadium beyond towered over them even further, and far more imposingly. Thousands upon thousands had showed out to spectate this event. With a casual grace, thanks in large part to the armor he now wore, Maximilian sauntered forwardparting his formation of spell-swords to address the crowdarms held out wide. High above them, a massive, blue tinted projection of the Grand Duke flickered into being. His floating counter part, blown up to the modest size of a mere skyscraper, acting in tandem with Maximilians every gesture, while it simultaneously projected his voice. Amplifying it to send his words booming across the stadium. Goro paid the vile mans words no mind whatsoever. Instead, it was the figures being led onto the black sands of the arena in chains, which caught and held his attention. Because he recognized them. And suddenly, the pit of dread in his stomachs turned to all out despair. Frantically, he searched their number, unsure whether he was hoping or dreading what he might find there. With a bitter sweet sort of melancholy, he confirmed that the worst had not come to pass. Though that probably served as cold comfort for the remaining members of his cell, trudging their way ever closer. His adoptive family within the ranks of the rebellion. From across the arena, he locked eyes with Tourney, and Elemenfae of flame-sprite descent, a look of understanding passing between them. No, their lord and savior had not been captured as hed feared. Which meant their rebellion would go on, would live to fight another day, even if he now suspected they would not be there to see it. Goro didnt catch more than the tail end of Maximilians speech, but by then hed already guessed where this was going. For the first time since being bound by his captors, Goro strained against his restraints. Metal clanked, chains creaked, blood ran freely from where the shackles bit into his arms, and all around him slave handlers leapt back in surprise. Stumbled, tripped, scrambled back with shouts of alarm. Teeth clenched, muscles bulging, Goro merely continued to pull, to push, to strain. And while it was true that properly worked Mythrilite was beyond even his ability to break, the metal ends bolted into the mundane platform were another matter entirely. Goro was just beginning to feel the stuff of the platform give way beneath the combined might of his enhanced musculature, when a metal prod stabbed into his side, and electricity coursed through his frame. He roared. His body seized. And suddenly it was all he could do to remain standing. The seizing sensation stopped, leaving behind the scent of burnt hair and the rising plumes of acrid smoke. A sound of disappointment, a school teachers casual rebuke, came from Maximilians armor clad form. A condescension. A tut tutting that set his blood to boiling. Above them, his grand projection had, by then, blinked out of existence, taking with it his booming vocals. He was now just a man like anyone else, if such a vile monster could be called just anything. Now now. There will be none of that. We would not want you ruining the show after all, now would we? Im told my men went to great lengths to procure this mornings entertainment. Goro growled. Be sure the halfbreed remains civil, would you? he addressed the slave handlers. It will be on your heads should he get up to any mischief. Ah, s-sir! the handlers replied by way of confirmation. Good. Very good. Now, addressing Goro this time. I believe it is time you witness firsthand the fruits of your foolish rebellion. What comes of following that idiot nephew of mine. And with that, the monster turned, taking confident strides towards Tourney, Barack, and the rest of his cell. Spread out in a long line, standing as far apart from one another as their ankle chain would allow, they stood in ready defiancethis despite their dismal chances. Pride and despair fought for dominance in his chest. They had been given weapons by this point, as if in mock pursuit of fairness. Primitive iron weapons clearly taken by rust, they, much like him, were under no illusions as to their would be effectiveness. And yet, all the same, there they stood. Goro once more began to strain against the bindings of his restraints, but another shock to his system put a stop to that quickly enough. In that way he could only watch, as the Grand Duke began the methodical slaughter of his people. Talin was the first to fall. As Maximilian approached, steps light and unhurried, the proud wood elf spat his righteous fury, spewing vitriol at the bastards feet, even as he raised his rusty hatchet in willful defiance. The Grand Duke continued his slow approach, apparently unbothered. Talin, ever the impatient hothead, launched himself forward, chains rattling and unsteadying the others in line. He brought the hatchet down in a powerful, overhand swing. Maximilian caught the descending wrist, snapped the bone with a twist, then tore the arm from its socket with one savage tug. Talin screamed. The monster backhanded the wood elf across the face, splattering his head like an overripe tomato. The lifeless body of his once friend and comrade fell bonelessly to the floor. Goro roared. His cry only rising in pitch as the jab of several shock prods jammed into his sides. His body smoked. His muscles seized. And yet all he could think about was the look on his friends face, before it was unceremoniously splattered into stinking red paste. Through a haze of pain, and sorrow, and fury, he watched as Maximilian first cleaned his armored hand with a proffered handkerchief, then turned to saunter in Tourneys direction next. Sorrow overtook him then, so that all he could do was pour his rage out at the heavens. Furiously weep at his own impotence. His own helplessness. The rapid flash of green interrupted his sorrowful keening, each brilliant flare accompanied by a terrible, high pitched whining. What followed was the sudden and inexplicable feeling of weightlessness. The reduction of tonnage pulling down on his arms and legs. Goro glanced down to find that the nigh indestructible Mythrilite chains binding him had somehow been shorn from his extremities. Looking up, he met the glowing green eyes of the boy, rapidly dimming even as he watched. What in the name of the creator? The boy, for his part, gave Goro an odd thumbs up gesture, before a look of constipation crossed his features, and two more beams of emerald light shot forthtaking two of the equally surprised slave handlers right between the eyes. Their despicable shock prods falling impotently to the sands. That was all the encouragement the Minotaurian man needed. With one last fleeting glance spared for the miraculous young man, Goro took off like a loosed projectile, hoping against all hope that he wasnt too late. Chapter 60: Knightly Academy (III) Eighteen! With a smooth, almost mechanical motion, Eleanor pushed herself back up until her arms reached full extension. Hands planted slightly wider than her shoulders, body held straight from her head to her heelsalmost like she had a broom handle stuffed down the back of her tunic. Then, before the next number had even been called, Eleanor was dipping back down until her chest grazed the turf, where she waited. For an exercise shed only been made aware of less than a minute ago, she thought she wasnt doing too poorly, all things considered. In fact, after a quick glance at her wobbly-armed group mates, she seemed to be doing a great deal better than most. The girls whod, not so subtly, mocked her while their assessor patiently explained the technique, were having an especially hard time of itred-faced and sweating after only thirty or so seconds. Not counting the constant up and down motion, the form, as theyd called it, wasnt too dissimilar from how she might go about polishing the floors of the convents chapel. Back then, shed been able to maintain her form for hours at a time, and this exercise notably lacked the leg pumping component entirely. As it was, she honestly felt like she could keep on going for a while yet, and so was suitably dismayed when the count abruptly stopped at twenty. Given the fact that many of her group mates hadnt even made it that far, instead collapsing in a heap well before the late teens, it was clear that her dismay was not a widely shared emotion. Perhaps sensing her disappointment, the assessor immediately asked if she wished to keep on going. To Show these gentle ladies how the road to knighthood is actually paved, as shed put it. Eleanor was eager to agree. In the end, much to the slack jawed astonishment of, not only her infamously stone faced assessor, but many of the surrounding groups as well, Eleanors rapid count rounded down to one-hundred and fifty-eight consecutive pushups. Plus a dozen or so extra, near the end there, but her form had been so atrocious that she didnt think them worth counting. Having found what shed call her own limits, and then having blasted right on past them, Eleanor was practically aglow with good cheer. And so was Y. Jun, apparently, since it looked like he couldnt have stopped applauding even if hed wanted to. Eleanor never noticed the spite filled glares her group mates aimed in her direction, nor the silent conversation held between red-faced aristocrats, and their undoubtedly high grade familiars *** And thus began an almost comical routine, in which her increasingly animated assessor would set Eleanor improbable tasks, only to have her soar right over even the womans wildest estimations, to the express incredulity of all those watchinga not inconsiderable audience by that point. She ran laps around the arena, tested her balance, agility, and even ran a few circuits of the obstacle course while assessors made to pelt her from the sides with weighted exercise balls. The physical assessment became so extreme at some points, that she mightve even thought it a punishment of some kind, were it not for the look of evident pride brightening her assessors normally stoic demeanor. Meanwhile her group mates, though they tried their best to keep up, couldnt help but fall behind Eleanors seemingly inexhaustible levels of stamina. Although, Eleanor thought to herself, if they actually knew just what shed done to achieve these levels of physical fortitude, maybe they wouldnt be so quick to envy her. More than once she contemplated explaining to them her circumstances, but the glares she always got when she turned their way inevitably stayed her hand. Eventually, after every metric had been tested, and Eleanor was thoroughly spent, a grinning assessor led them toward where theyd take the final portion of the exam. *** While its true that mental and physical fortitude make up the basic requirements of any prospective squire, let it not be forgotten that martial ability ranks highest among any competent vanguards diverse range of abilities. That said, we will now be testing your combat potential in a relatively controlled environment. There was a general murmur of excitement at this. Unlike in the previous tests, you will be allowed to leverage any bonded familiars to your advantage, should you have them. Again, there were excited whispers exchanged, coming primarily from the holders this time. As they are likely to be a fairly large component of your power base, it only makes sense that theyd also play a role in your assessment. Remember, base line competence is all well and good, but we are training you to save lives, not win ribbons at competitions. If you have a significant advantage over others, best use it in service of the greater good, rather than squander your gifts in the pursuit of fairness. Going by the smug expressions on the few holders present, it was clear that her last statement did not particularly need stressing. Now, line up. First in line, take the stairs down to the arena floor where youll find an assorted weapon rack. Take your pick of the selection and ready yourself as best you can. With everyone but Eleanor jumping to obey, it was likely inevitable thered be a brief scuffle between hopefulsafter which a few of the quicker girls were sent sulking back to the end of the line, while the three familiar holders stood primly at the head of the cue. Sticking towards the back of the line herself, Eleanor tried to express her sympathies for those so violently rebuffedshe even thought she saw the beginnings of a black eye on oneonly to receive mean glares in return. Looking towards the assessor, in hopes she might reprimand the three holders in some way, she only found a passive look of disinterest. Though, then again, should she have reprimanded them in the first place? Perhaps this was already a part of the test, Eleanor realized. After all, if they hadnt been strong enough to keep it, they shouldnt have snagged the first spots in line. In any event, it wasnt long before the first in line, the slender girl with the Python familiar, stepped down onto the sandy arena proper. Without even glancing at the long rack of weapons built into the arena wall, the girl spoke confidently. Im ready. Youre sure? asked the assessor. What kind of question is that? Shall I repeat myself? Understood. Preferred challenge level?This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Extreme. There was an audible intake of breath at this, as everyone but the assessor, the other holders, and Eleanor looked aghast. Eleanor because she didnt know what was happening, and the others well, she didnt rightly know. One of the holders, the one with the feline familiar, chuckled darkly to herself. Understood. And with that, the assessor nodded toward a number of waiting attendants, who then ran along the round promenade to one of several large capstansmassive wheels laid crosswise, with spokes poking out far enough to allow multiple people to push against, in turn rotate the wheel, and operate the suitably sized pulley system beneath. Heavy chain links clanked together and there was an audible groan of timber, before one of several portculliss lining the inner walls of the arena, began to rise. Andonce the portcullis had risen high enoughout from the impenetrable depths of the tunnel beyond, emerged a rift spawn of truly ridiculous scale. It was also one that she recognized. As if shed read it yesterday, the excerpt shed memorized on this very rift spawn flashed through her mind. [Zephyrstag (Peak D Grade)] This six-eyed demonic elk variant is a creature of wind, strength, and physical mobility. If allowed to reach adulthood, it has been known to grow up to six feet at the shoulders, and a full ten and a half should one include their massive antlers. Possessed of the ability to unleash razor-sharp wind blades from the currents perpetually dancing about its antlers, without a shadow of a doubt this is a creature that truly earns its designation as the very best the D grade has to offer. Rapidly inflating its chest, the Zephyrstag raised its head and let out a truly bone chilling cry. One which resonated up through the soles of her feet and had every hair on Eleanors arms standing up on end. Barely seeming fazed by the display, the distant figure below didnt even wait for the beast to finish, before she gestured with one hand, summoning dozens of beads of water to hover around her. Then, with another more forceful gesture, she sent the floating beads shooting forwards at impossible speeds. There and then gone, it took barely a second for them to cross the distance and impact the massive stag. Instead of splashing off harmlessly as shed been expecting, however, the water beads neatly punctured the massive rift spawn. Piercing it through in several places and creating tiny holes that soon welled up with blood. Staggering, the Zephyrstag cut itself off with a hoarse cry. With a shake of its antlers Eleanor first mistook for another sign of its disorientation, several nearly invisible blades shot forward at comparable speeds to the shooting beads of water. Before they could connect however, a wall of water appeared, as if from thin air, to absorb the wind blades before theyd even come close to their target. Then, without even dismissing the wall of water, more beads appearedrocketing forward almost as soon as they were summoned, the liquid defenses anything but an impediment to their path. The fight more or less continued like this, brutal and one sided, as the holder slowly punctured the majestic stag to death. There was a single close call, wherein, with a sudden burst of winds, the stag launched itself forward in a last-ditch attempt to close the distance. But, with the advent of a shifting wave of water, the girl was able to rapidly reposition herself while never ceasing in her defenses, or her attacks. Peppering the rift spawn the entire while, until all the fight had gone out of it. All in all, the fight took less than two minutes. I wonder? Can I learn to do something like that? Eleanor asked in hushed tones of awe. Dont ask me, was R. Juns flippant responselegs kicked up on the seat in front of him, a long splinter of all things held between his teeth. If youll recall, Im not even from here. Well, obviously but hold on, wait a minute! in a moment of clarity, Eleanor brought her palm to her facesuddenly feeling like the stupidest girl in the world. Of course! How do I keep forgetting that youre also rift born? Or? At least part rift spawn? That means you should have an aspect, right? How has it never occurred to me to ask until now?! It does sound like a pretty major oversight on your part. Eleanor paused, waiting for him to continue or otherwise elaborate. Well? Well what? Your aspect! Tell me! What is it? Not when you ask me like that I won''t. But-! Unfortunately, it would seem my lips have been sealed. Eleanor nearly growled with frustration. Where was the ever-helpful Y. Jun when she needed him? Actually, on second thought, hed likely have been more obtuse, if anything. All the more frustrating for the simple fact that he wouldnt have meant to be in the slightest. Eleanor sighed. Would you please show mercy on your humble master and let me know your aspect? Please? Hmm Thats somewhat better, R. Jun replied. Im thinking of calling it the bladed aspect. The aspect that brings people together! Y. Jun chimed in. The weapon aspect would make the most sense, said G. Jun. Or better yet, the war aspect! came S. Juns response, much to her surprise. Im telling you lads, when it really gets going, itll be fucking mental. Reckon the terrible two have been itching to wreak some bloody havoc, havent you boys?! Does anyone else find it disturbing that he insists on talking to our hands like theyre people? asked R. Jun, to which there was a general chorus of ascent. Eleanor blinked. I- you know, I dont exactly know what you thought I was supposed to get out of all that. Just think of it like, whatever weapon you choose to use, well help you use it better, said G. Jun. Ah. I see. You sound disappointed. No! No, it sounds like a great aspect. Really, really amazing! Very umm versatile. You think its weak, dont you? Of course not! I was just you know hoping for something a little more flashy? Flashy? You know, sort of like fireballs and lightning storms! Oh! I heard from Mary that there was this one woman who could shoot beams of light from her eyes, so intense, that they were able to melt straight through stone! Can your aspect maybe do something like that? Beams of- is she is she taking the piss? No, Im afraid that is a fair bit outside of our wheelhouse, replied G. Jun. Oh Eleanor tried to hide her disappointment. But weapons! Sure, I mean, I havent been in any way trained or anything, but Like I can attack things better or something? That sounds really cool too. Can I hit her? S. Jun asked. Im going to hit her. The now victorious holder had already retaken her seat in the stands, and, after the arena floor below had been sufficiently cleared, the next in line soon descended to take her place. Much to Eleanors delight, the bouts of the next two holders were similarly intense and equally one sided, if wildly differing in their approach. Both having picked the extreme challenge difficulty, the two faced off against an Emberback Gorilla and SilentSpider Monarch respectivelyeach of them ranked as at the peak of D grade. Eleanor watched with rapt attention as both applied their familiars aspect to devastating effect. Whether that be through hypnotizing blade work, flickering swords wreathed in crimson flame, or massive earthen spikes that brutally impaled their foe from afar. Before she knew it, the first three assessments were over, and all that remained were the other non-holders, as well as her own match to look forward to. None of the following matches were nearly as over the top as the first three, though Eleanor still found herself surprised again and again, by the sheer levels of competence on display. If her performance in the physical assessment had made her feel like she was hot stuff, the combat assessment brought her down to size quick enough. It also had to be noted that no one else dared the extreme challenge difficulty. Instead turning to the hard difficultya choice few even picking novice. And then, all at once, it was her turn to take the stage. Jun’s POV (7) Goro tore across the sandy arena like all the gates of hell were at his back. Crossing hundreds of meters in the time it took for Jun to fire off a single beam, planting a massive fist into one fancily armored cuirass, and punchingwho he was just going to assume was this Grand Dukestraight through the opposite wall. Like, actually through the damned wall! Going so far as to leave a comically person shaped impression. An unfinished snow angel stamped directly into the worn metal. From which the Grand Dukes unmoving body pitifully clung and sparked. Seconds later, the shockwave of it impacted his chest like a hard slap, violently ruffling his hair. Well. Id say he has things well in hand over on that end. Jun turned, releasing yet another series of beams on what few of the prison guards werent cowed by his earlier display. A few neat holes drilled through the skulls of the leading guardsmen put an end to their short lived charge, and nearly had the added benefit of routing those hed left alive. It was strange. He didnt really want to kill these men. He took no pleasure in it, that much was for sure. But neither did he hesitate. Perhaps it was the ordeal hed suffered in recent months. The act of dying so many times making it so that he didnt see death in the same light as he once had. Conversely, it could simply be that he was always at least subconsciously aware that this was all a simulated world created for his express benefit, and once he reentered the real world at large he would likewise appreciate the sanctity of life with all the solemnity it was due. Or maybe it was simply that these guys were assholes, and this world, simulated or otherwise, was better off without them. Either way, he didnt think hed be losing much sleep over it. Indeed, after setting free the other of the two chained inmates, and letting them deal with the remaining guardsmen and women, he found himself more curious than anything. What a strange world he found himself in. With peoples and technologies he couldnt have dreamed of back on his own world. He wondered idly if this was based on any place in particular. The sheer depth and breadth of detail, cultural background, and varied history seemed too extensive to have been generated wholesale. Indeed, wouldnt it have been far more cost effective to base this entire simulation off of an actual place thatd existed at some point? Then he wondered if it would be at all possible to take the secrets of this world''s technology and somehow transport them. There was power to be had in the technological advances hed witnessed in his short time here. And as the sole distributor of said knowledge, a great deal of capital to be had as well. It was around then that one of the strangely armored swordsmen caught wind of his existence, the apparent cause of their prisoners impromptu jailbreak, and, along with his buddy, began to sprint in his direction. There were ten of the swordsmen in total, and while the majority were currently occupied with protecting their Duke, protecting themselves, and otherwise keeping the bovine man at bay, two had apparently taken it into their heads to see that the threat at their rear be taken care of. Only two? Jun wondered aloud. I dont know whether to feel insulted or relieved. The other inmate, a scaly, almost dragon-like humanoidhaving just finished tearing the throats out of the remaining guardsmenreplied with a gruff, though unmistakably female, voice. Terrified would be the most appropriate response, stranger. Those are Sky Bright mercenaries, if you couldnt tell. Spell-swords of the highest caliber. If there is a god for whom you routinely pray, I would suggest you do so now and with great speed. Although I suppose youll be meeting him face to face soon enough. Jun merely gave the woman a dismissive tskabsentmindedly channeling Auntie Viri subconsciously. Something for which hed have been mortified to learn, had he been made aware of it at the time. You can pray if you want. Ill just occupy my time with poking a few choice holes in our guests in the meanwhile. And so saying, Jun silently intoned his mantra, feeling the telltale spike of pain burrow through his brain as he did so, which signaled to him that everything was basically on the up and up. Invisible bands of iron locked his limbs in place, leaving naught but his eyeballs with the capacity to move. His vision was tinted a bright green hue seconds before, with a sudden, glorious release of mental pressure, a burst of manifest piercing speared toward the leading swordsman. Jun was already tracking towards the latter swordsmanhaving dismissed the first from his mindwhen, to his utter shock, his concentrated beam of conceptual force skittered off harmlessly. Leaving an inch deep furrow in the shining metal plate, but doing little else. In any event, if hed been surprised by the rather lackluster outcome, the two swordsman were equally caught off guardskidding to a halt a couple hundred paces out and observing him with a wariness thatd been entirely absent previouslyand the draconic woman to his side even more so. She gasped. The sound that escaped her reptilian throat resembling the whisper of steel on steel. Merciful ancestors To leave such a mark on sacred steel? And here Id thought the cleaving of Mythrilite to be the extent of its abilities- Spearing, actually, Jun cut in hurriedly, worried enough to drop his mantra momentarily. You meant spearing right! he loudly exclaimed. Repeat after me, the spearing of Mythrilite?! After all, what else could that attack have been?! Then in a quiet whisper he said. Quickly! Before it hears you! Its actually a really important distinction. Some might even say its a matter of life and death, hint hint. Your words need to be very particular with regard to powers like mine. The optics here are very important. Spearing? Cleaving? Boy whatever it is, its one powerful arcana you got your hands on. Stronger than any Ive seen, she marveled. Spearing then! You know, if its all the same to you?! Or piercing, I suppose, if you suddenly find the mood takes you. Boy, as far as Im concerned, youve just done the impossible. Im happy to call it whatever you wish. If nothing else, I can now die satisfied, knowing Ive witnessed something few people will ever see in their lifetime. Jun frowned at the implication. Well, with his mantra once more invoked, it would be more accurate to say he would have frowned if he was able. Arcana, huh? The workshop did say something about an arcane metropolis. Is arcana these peoples form of cultivation? Either way, he didnt appreciate the assertion that what hed just done was the extent of his abilities. Hed barely put any oomph into it dammit! It was just that hed assumed little present, if anything, could withstand even a weaker blast. He didnt know what this sacred steel was, but apparently it was capable of withstanding quite a bit of punishment. Arrogant of him, he supposed. He would just have to take them seriously then. Once more, Jun recalled his mantra, but this time he didnt stop until his head felt sure to implode, and he could actually hear his bones creak. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The swordsmen, finally shaking off their brief hesitation, burst into motion at twice the speed they had shown previously. Now moving quite erratically, in an obvious attempt to throw off his aimzigzagging this way and that, pirouetting through the air, and periodically rolling across the arenas black sandsthey proceeded to close the distance rapidly. From two hundred paces to a hundred and fifty. A hundred twenty paces to a bare seventy. Only when they were approaching a stone''s throw away, did Jun finally release the crippling pressure bearing down on his mind Unfortunately for these poor swordsmen, for all their acrobatics, all he really needed to do was track them with his eyes, and they werent moving so fast that he found that impossible. Oh, and it probably didnt help that, at this range, the beams traveled more or less instantaneously. The two beams ripped forth in quick, violent bursts, feeling like they tore something vital from him in their haste. Jun staggered, blood fountaining from his nostrils. His vision was blurry and his ears were ringing something fierce. Still, hed gotten off better than the other guy. The two armored swordsmen fell to the black sands, deada neat hole drilled into the spot between their brows. Glancing to the side, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated, he studied the draconic woman. She gaped in blank astonishment. Looking to him, then the corpses, back to him, and then the corpses again. Jun cleared his throat, wincing at the stab of pain that evinced. His head was killing him. The females reptilian eyes locked onto him, an indecipherable gleam having entered her eyes. A feverish gaze he wasnt entirely sure he liked the look of. Hey. Could you, uh, carry me closer to that group over there, he gestured towards where Goro was fighting for his life, and barely hanging on by the looks of it. Im pretty sure I have a few more of those beams in me, but its kind of hard to walk at the moment, and I wont be able to charge up and move at the same time anyway-! Before hed even finished, the scaly woman had picked him up by his armpits, and had begun charging towards the ongoing battle, holding him before her like a charm to ward off evil spirits. Jun, for his part, sunk back into the painful depths of his mantra, charging up another few beams. As the pain in his head mounted, they grew ever closer to the hectic conflict, until, with a series of rapid fire releases, he managed to pierce four out of the eight remaining swordsmentaking them out of the fight if he didnt kill them outright. Blood was gushing from his mouth and welling up in his eyes now. He was forced to cancel his mantra momentarily to rapidly blink them away. Already, he could feel his life slipping further and further from him. It was the cost of doing business. He wouldnt have been able to fashion the mantra in the way he had without some pretty major downsides. He had two, maybe three more fully charged beams in him before he met an untimely demise. Briefly, he wondered if there was a way he could measure and organize the exacting details of his abilities and their use case. The number of uses before continued application became fatal, whether or not rest periods had any sizable effect on his body''s longevity, etc. It was definitely something worth thinking about. Snapping back to the present, he fired off a couple more beams at the remaining swordsmen, both going embarrassingly wide of their targets. Which, to be fair, given the fact that he couldnt technically see at the moment, he thought it was a pretty decent achievement. He was close, at least. Thankfully, no one really appeared to take notice of his bad aim. It would seem his dramatic entrance had already left something of an impression. The armored swordsmen scrambled, shocked by the sudden downing of what he was only now beginning to suspect was their society''s equivalent of an invincible soldier. Although, unlike the first of their kind to be faced with such a world shattering revelation, these four were given no time to pick up the pieces of their previous paradigm. For instance, absorbed by the crumpled form of his late companion, one such swordsman, whod been dancing circles around Goro until just recentlyflaying the poor giant one playful cut at a timewas just a smidge too slow to move out of the way. When walking a field of bear traps, you could navigate it perfectly from end to end, and yet, be it the first time or the hundredth, it only ever took one false move to lose a leg. When Goros fist connected with the guy''s armored chest, everyone on the arena floor felt it. And, as the man went winging up high into the stands, the rest apparently decided theyd had quite enough. They scattered like rodents, one choice soldier having the right of mind to retrieve their still unconscious employer, the Grand Duke whats his name, before they fled. And yet flee they still did, leaving the black sands free of all but his fellow inmates. There were words exchanged between Goro, the chain of prisoners, and his scaly means of transportation, but by then the world was already fading to black. There was the rush of movement. The sound of a female guard. The voice striking enough to actually pierce through the thick haze slowly draping itself over his mind. He knew that voice. Itd been one of three to greet him every time he began this bothersome trial. He spared a thought for the peculiarity, especially since, by the sound of it, Goro and this woman appeared to be on good terms. Even that curiosity soon faded into the background however. Until the last thought he had before everything faded to black, was how unfair it was he fail the trial now of all times, after everything hed done to see it through. Seriously? After all that? Youve gotta be kidding me with this *Ding!* Congratulations! You have successfully completed a |3 Stars| ranked trial. OBJECTIVE CLEARS Main Objective: Show moderate proficiency with the Custom Mantra [Piercing Gaze]. Complete. Main Objective: Show that you can competently wield the Custom Mantra [Piercing Gaze] in live combat. Complete. Hidden Objective: Aid the half-blood rebellion in their time of need, freeing one of their greatest generals from his unlawful imprisonment. Complete. Hidden Objective: Betray the trust of the halfbreed rebellion and aid the Grand Duke in his righteous crusade. Incomplete. Hidden Objective: Kill the Grand Duke Maximilian Alexander De Campos. Incomplete. Hidden Objective: Kill the rebel general Gorothy the Red. Incomplete. Secret Objective: Make yourself invaluable to the leaders of the rebellion. Complete. TITLES OBTAINED *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Free Thinker| (Limited) Earned by iterating in a direction previously unexplored in all the multiverse. Unstable, malfunctional, and more likely to harm your person than the enemy, let it never be said a free thinker does not deserve points for originality. +1 celestial essence to body, mind, and soul. There is now a fifty percent chance for you to receive a Great Job! sticker upon awakening. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Death Strider| (Limited) Earned not only by courting deaths embrace time and time again, but by coming out the other side with most of your sanity intact. +500 celestial essence to mind. Should you wish it, you are now less likely to die from what would otherwise be a fatal injury. Conversely, should you will it, you are now more likely to die a quick and painless death, even should the wound you receive be less than fatal. (Note: These effects are only applicable whilst within a simulated trial.) (Note: by completing a sufficiently high ranked trial, it is possible to transform a temporary title into one that is functional outside of a simulated space.) RENOWN BONUSES Your footprint within the niche world of blood sportthe casual pastime enjoyed by many an Arcane Metropolis citizenis as widely felt as its implications are far reaching. By rendering aid to the imprisoned leaders of a failing rebellion, you place yourself squarely in the camp of half-bloods everywhere. Conversely, by sticking your hand where it did not belong, you place yourself at odds with Grand Duke Maximillian Alexander De Campos. A man whose fame and influence span entire planetary systems. A man who never forgets an insult. Whose vast wealth and powerful connections are spoken about in hushed tones of awe. A man who will go to great lengths to redress any perceived wrong. Rest assured that, should you ever fall within his jurisdiction, he will do everything in his power to erase your name from existence. You are now more likely to find yourself within a friendly rebel base. Acclaim Bonus: The Half-blood Rebellion Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect, Maximilian Alexander De Campos GREATER ALIGNMENTS You have yet to commune with either heaven or hell. Your soul remains pure and untainted. Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Complete Further Trials to Discover your Star Ranking. (Note: the more difficult the trial, the higher your overall ranking will be.) Trials Completed: [2 of 100] Overall Performance Rating: C+ Chapter 61: Knightly Academy (IV) Through his periphery, R. Jun watched the girl scrutinize the weapon rack for what had to have been the sixth consecutive pass. This had been going on for quite a while now, and, seeing as she appeared no closer to making a decision, he figured he still had time. Idly toying with the supernaturally sharp splinter of aura he held between his teeth, on the surface R. Jun feigned a casual disinterest, while on the inside he strained for comprehension. Keying in on his innate feel for conceptual strength, he once more passed his sixth sense over the various beast pens hidden behind each massive portcullis. Only to come to the same shit conclusion as he had all the other times. There simply wasnt a beast in this place stronger than the piss poor fodder hed already been shown. Sure, there were plenty more of them than he honestly thought safe, given the proven fragility of these inferior natives, but not a single one of them was even worth looking twice at! And when hed been all hoping to make a good impression and everything. It was regrettable, but they would just have to improvise, he supposed. Strolling over to the extensive weapon rack, a jaunty tune on his lips, Jun plucked up a great sword longer than he was tall, gave it a few practice swings, before putting it back with a shake of his head. Next gravitating towards a two headed battle axe of comparable heft, a quick check in with Cleaving was all he needed to put that one back as well. Sighing, R. Jun resigned himself to, yet again, go into battle with nothing but his bare hands. Like some penniless, pugilist, deadbeat barbarian. Eventually Eleanor settled on a short sword and buckler combo. After which the expected exchange finally came. Im ready! she called. Understood. Preferred challenge difficulty? Eleanor hesitated then. Throwing a cautious glance his way, brow creased with uncertainty, before she eventually looked away and replied. I would like the hard difficulty please! Tsk tsk tsk, R. Jun muttered under his breath. No, that simply will not do. Cant make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Cant impress a military superpower without making a pretty sizable splash. Jun flicked the toothpick which, for the last half hour, hed been steadily infusing with cutting aura, up into the air. Cleaving, are you sure you can handle this? You know the girl may not forgive us for this, right? Im sure shell understand! Just leave it to me! And so saying, now wreathed in lemon-yellow mist, Jun let out what was sure to be the first of many. Splitting Chops! Above them, the attendant squires had barely begun to raise the indicated portcullis, when, without any warning, Jun suddenly blurred into motion. Flashing yellow, he unleashed a flurry of strikes at nothing but air, shouting like a mad man all the while. Pointlessly. Or so it seemed. Until, that was, she caught the telltale flicker of movement, and heard the unmistakable crack of sundered foundations. All at once, each of the half dozen portculliss lining the inner wall sagged, before they all came crashing down in an avalanche of rubble and debris. In an instant, every barrier between her and the unknowable number of rift spawn which lurked on the other side had been utterly obliterated. Or at least, thats what she first thought. When no rift born hoards came boiling out from the severalfold breach, however, Eleanor actually dared to hope. That was when an explosion erupted from just overhead. It was like a smoke bomb had gone off, only one that was somehow dyed a glowing red. Soon the red mist began to swirl in unnatural patterns, coalescing at multiple points to form several dozen ruby daggers. Daggers which hung suspended in the air. Refracting ruby beams in the afternoon sunlight, they only held that position for a scant second, before they each began plummeting towards the ground at speedshooting unerringly towards every one of the newly opened portals. Vanishing into the blackness, the sounds of sheering metal could barely be heard over the yowls and deafening cries of agitated rift spawn. In the next moment the very thing shed feared most came to pass. And out from the darkness came the stuff of nightmares. [FrostTailed Phoenix (Peak D Grade)] This ice attuned phoenix variant is a creature renowned for its stalwart defenses, near limitless vitality, and the ability to revive itself should the temperature fall below zero. If allowed to reach adulthood, it has been known to grow to a wingspan of fifteen feet. Able to unleash freezing gusts of wind trailing wickedly sharp feathers, this particular rift spawn is both well suited to the tundra, and worthy of its place at the peak of D Grade, even if it is the weakest out of the Phoenix type variants. [Thunderclap Cobra (Peak D Grade)] A lightning attuned king cobra variant, the Thunderclap Cobra is a rift spawn nearly unmatched in elemental attunement for its Grade. If allowed to reach adulthood, it has been known to grow to a length of sixteen feet. Harnessing the charged potential of the skies, it is liable to release debilitating bolts of electricity from its hood at the first sign of aggression, earning its place as a formidable creature at the peak of D Grade. [Volcanic Ash Elemental (Peak D Grade)] This swirling mass of molten rock and ash is an elemental known for its scorching heat and aggressive temperament. Able to manipulate its amorphous ashen body at will, its favored tactic is to burrow deeply into its enemies, quickly cooking them alive from the inside out. [Abyssal NightHunter (Lowly C Grade)] An elusive demonic panther variant, the Abyssal NightHunter is a creature of stealth and agility. If allowed to reach adulthood, they have been known to grow to a sleek length of seven feet. Master of darkness, the Abyssal NightHunter can meld with the very shadows themselves, making it a creature well suited to the night, and even more so to its place among the ranks of Lowly C Grade. [Arctic Devourer (Lowly C Grade)] This hulking bear type variant is a creature of frost, incredible strength, and unexpected mobility. If allowed to reach adulthood, it has been known to grow to the imposing height of fourteen feet while standing upright. Able to summon blinding blizzards with a swipe of its massive claws, that, in addition to its prodigious size, makes it a formidable rift spawn on the very cusp of entering middle C Grade.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Eleanor froze, as more and more of the colossal rift spawn came pouring out from the manifold breach. She couldnt move, she couldnt think, only watch, paralyzed, as death, in all its myriad forms, came to claim her. That was, until her familiar stepped up beside her and slapped her on the back. Jolting Eleanor from her uncomprehending stupor, and nearly landing her on her face. Wha-! Chin up girlie! exclaimed S. Jun. Reckon theres no need to worry yourself. I promise I wont hurt them too badly. Just kill them a bit until they stop moving is all. Perfectly humane, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Ready boys! Jun brought his fists together with an audible thump, the strange force of the impact enough to make Eleanor stumble. Youve got fifteen seconds, said G. Jun. More than Ill need. Oh, and girl? R. Jun this time. Keep the rabble at bay, would you? Theres a dear. We''ll be sure to handle the rest. We believe in you! said Y. Jun. And so saying, a roiling cloud of silvery mist exploded from his slightly crouching form. In the next moment he shot forward, too fast for her to track, with another of those deeply reverberating thumpscratering the ground where hed stood only a moment before and raining down a great deal of sand in his wake. It took Eleanor some time to fully grasp the meaning of his words. Turning around, she soon found all of her many questions answered, though she wasnt the least bit ecstatic at the revelation. A literal sea of middling F to lowly D grade rift spawn stared right back at her. Eleanor readjusted the straps on her buckler. Gulp. They mustve thought it prudent, keeping all the major threats penned up in one area. Now that they were freed, it just made his job easier. Conveniently clumping them together as he sped towards the biggest, baddest threat of them all. A bear, snow white fur, easily the size of a building, with twisted rams'' horns in place of brows. Paws the size of large platters, each ending in dagger like claws. Jun felt the sand subtly give under his weight. Try to spill him, slip out from under him. He pressed forward regardless, funneled auragathering it beneath his soles, before, with a thump, he was sent flying. Careening headlong through the air. He closed the distance in an eye blink, in that single explosive leap. Feet found traction. The bear reeled backits height on full display. The beast fell. Jun leapt, a savage roar ripping itself from both their throats. Rising uppercut met descending forepaw with a concussive detonation of forcesand and sound and silvery light blasting away in all directions. Juns back rebounded painfully off the arena floor, knuckles throbbing and head spinning. And as for the great beast? The Arctic Devourer was sent tumbling through the air, several tons of apex predator made to spin like a coin. Shattered forepaw a fitting souvenira parting gift to best compliment its incomprehension. The beasts bulk hit the sands just as Jun was rolling to his feet. Stumbling, he was readying aura for yet another explosive leap, when he suddenly tasted metal on the air, and every hair on his body stood up on end. Eyes widening, Jun quickly redirected his crushing force. Exploding upward, ten feet in the air, Jun barely caught the flash before the BOOM rocked his senses. Lightning! And close. Blinking away tears, he followed the second bolt as it snaked just below him. Arcing forward to impact the sands where hed beenleaving only an uneven patch of glass behind. Jun grimaced, following the bolts to a massive snake creature with blue and yellow scales, swaying two hundred or so paces away. More arcs of lightning sparked and crackled around its hood, and already he could feel the hair on his arms begin to rise. A sharp cry from high above immediately captured his attention. Jerking his head up, he was just in time to shield his face with crossed arms, as several glittering projectiles nicked at his skin. Were those feathers? Thankfully his aura acted as some form of resistancefeathers biting chunks out of the silvery cloud while it, in turn, dulled their speed considerably. Though that didnt mean much when the deadly shower of projectiles never stopped. Where were they even coming from? Another cry. More wickedly sharp feathers. More blood to run down his forearms and sides. Then he saw it. Past the suns glare there was a bird made of icepelting him with every beat of its wings, even as it glittered and shone like polished diamond. Jun hit the ground running, hoping to finish off the Devourer while it was still on the back foot. It clearly wasnt meant to be, however. For every two steps he took, an errant bolt or rain of feathers forced him to skip out of the way. His conceptual sense giving him the edge he needed to avoid death, while he otherwise failed to make any forward progress. Soon the ground around him was littered with glass and feathers, and his patience, much like his time limit, was just about up. With a roar Jun turned, directing all of his ire on the ThunderClap Cobra. Exploding forward, he stepped erratic. Ducking. Dodging. Weaving at random. A rapid blur of motion. Zigzagging this way and that. Passing bolts scorched his skin. Glass crunched beneath his heels. Thunderous claps became a cacophony, so rapid and close that he was effectively deaf to the rest of the world. It was only him and the beast. His split-second evasions and the snaking arcs of blue. He was close now. So close. Aura gathered. Jun pounced. Eating up the last meters in a matter of seconds, he reeled back his fist, a chrome luster already dusting his knuckles. The beast hissed. Lightning arced. Jun howled, and beneath it all, his shadow rippled ominously. He nearly failed to notice it in time. As the three eyed panther leapt up from his pooling shadow, maw dripping saliva and sharp claws extended, Jun was given little choice but to react. With a roar of frustration, he let his fist fly, still an entire arms length away from his quarry. In the next instant the air between them detonatedall three of them sent flying in opposite directions. Juns body skipping, skidding, tumbling across the floor before sliding to a haltscorched, dazed, and with a mouthful of sand. Once more, ominous shadows played with his senses. Though this time, the threat originated from a far more mundane source. Above him, the Arctic Devourer loomedits bulk enough to swallow his entire field of vision. Injured and uninjured paw alike came crashing down, their aim clearly none other than his head. It was only luck that Jun managed to roll out of the way in time. An icy chill, a blast of arctic winds, and he was once more sent skipping across the arena floor. Eventually finding his bearings, he pushed to his feet just in time for a swirling wall of ice and snow to consume him wholeengulfing him in a world of blinding white and flickering shadows. The cold hit him all at once, frigid, brutal, and intense. He could feel his clothes stiffensweat binding cloth to skin. Feeling like the blizzard were gnawing at his flesh. Snow obscured his vision, creating ghostly figures in the haze that werent, while expertly hiding those that were. A shallow cut bit into his calf, making him spin and lash out at nothing. Another tore a gash in his robes, the culprit still no where to be seen. One after another, these probing cuts slowly accumulated, and Jun left swinging wildly at nothing but air. Thankfully his aura did some to alleviate the damage. However, that didnt mean the snow at his feet wasnt dyed red in short order. Cursing, Jun caught the tell-tale flicker of shadow from out of the corner of his eye. Enraged, he decided that if he couldnt win, hed flip the entire game board over on its head. And so saying, brought his chrome fist down on the crunching floor below. BOOM. Before the expansion of crushing force, the blizzard around him simply broke. Sunlight returned, and in place of whirling snowflakes rose millions of tiny grains of sand. Jun grinned. He would soon come to realize that this had been a terrible mistake. All at once, the small trickle of nicks and cuts hed been receiving, became a flood of bloodshed and burning lines of pain. Cuts appeared on his body as if by magic. Coming from everywhere and all at once, claws dug into his flesh from every conceivable direction. As if the air, or even the hovering granules themselves, were actively lashing out at himpainting themselves red with his blood. In fact, that wasnt so far from the truth. Now, with millions of shadows to leap from, in the form of each shadow cast by every individual grain of sand, the Abyssal Night-Hunter was able to move uninhibited and with impunity. Nearly swooning with rage, impotence, and blood loss, Jun did the only thing he could think to. He ran. Leaping free from the earth, and any shadows that hid therein, Jun soared into the sky, his every fiber ready to-! Time! Y. Jun exclaimed, taking his turn at the helm at last. Jun’s POV (8) For the briefest moment, when he first opened his eyes, only to see the blank void surrounding him on all sides, he worried that hed somehow wound up right back in the middle of that unreal space between restarts. The spike of fear he felt at the thought hed be forced to do all of that again nearly sent him into paroxysms of petulant rage and despair. Then, the simple fact that he could feel his eyes in the first place sank in, and the barrage of purple system messages that bombarded him shortly after, set all those worries to rights once and for all. Huh. Holy shit. I actually did it. Was not expecting that. And yet, as he poured over the system messages, he began to question just what it was hed actually done in the first place. Well, he knew what hed done, naturally. Hed made himself a wealthy and powerful enemy. What he didnt understand was why he was effectively being penalized, and quite harshly at that, for ostensibly doing the right thing. I mean, they were the underdogs right? Everyone loves an underdog. So why does it feel like I wouldve been vastly better off had I sold them out to the highest bidder instead? Also, isnt it kind of fucked up that I had the option to kill both the rebel general and the grand duke? Would I have been better rewarded had I killed both of them, or merely made myself even more enemies? I mean, how do I win in this scenario? Seems a bit unfair, dont you think? The trial worlds were not created with the concept of fairness in mind. They were developed to accurately simulate martial challenge, stressful circumstance, and nuanced social dynamics with real world consequences. With the end goal being to test how the participant responds accordingly. But what does that have to do with acquiring power? I mean, Id been under the impression this was all just some big excuse to make crazy weapons and test them on people without having to worry about being labeled, you know, a mass murderer. That is not incorrect. Yeah yeah. But its not the full truth either, right? Correct. Enlightening Jun growled. Hey. Youre feeling rather chatty today. Couldve used some of this transparency earlier when I was basically ramming my head against the whole iterative process thing. What changed? I did not have anything interesting to say then. That sounds suspiciously like an excuse. Didnt? Or didnt feel like trying? They are one and the same. Oh great. Thats just peachy. So, might I assume I can rely on your timely intervention going forward? You cannot. Figures. By the way, these titles are kind of I dont know, weirdly specific? You wouldnt happen to have a hand in their generation by any chance, would you? The assessment, creation, and distribution of temporary titles is under the select and direct purview of my person. That is correct. Well then, fuck you very much for that free thinker perk. I mean, Id thought it read as overly passive aggressive, and Id fixed you as an asshole from the get go, but wow. Im glad to see my intuition for these sorts of things hasnt dulled in my time here. *Ding!* Your temporary title has been manually evolved. Rewards may vary, but any and all stat gains will remain the same. |Free Thinker| (Limited) Earned by iterating in a direction previously unexplored in all the multiverse. Unstable, malfunctional, and more likely to harm your person than the enemy, let it never be said a free thinker does not deserve points for originality. +1 celestial essence to all stats. There is now a one hundred percent chance for you to receive a Great Job! sticker, and a fifty percent chance to receive a Boo Hoo! Poor You! Cry About it Why Dont You! sticker upon awakening. That just-! I dont even-! You! My gods, did I just get demolished by a billion year old knockoff system interface? I dont have time for this this childish. This is childish! I dont need to take this! Leave me alone already, I need to think. I have grown up thoughts to think about. You wouldnt understand! Yeah, thatll show her. Ears burning, he turned his attention inward. Because he really did have important things to think about, and not at all because he was searching for the perfect comeback. After a full minute spent frowning in vain, he gave up on his dreams of a witty rebuttal and turned to the actual business at hand. Silently he pulled over his Super Ultimate Awesome Never Going to Fail Defensive Technique, blew apart the mess of poorly connected ideas, and began to start again from the beginning. To build up a base that would be the bedrock for any alterations he wanted to make moving forward. It was a technique hed developed and subsequently refined in the three weeks following his initial revelationthat to make sweeping alterations, first there had to be a place of common ground. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Effectively, where hed previously been attacking the problem from the outside going informing the idea of what he wanted from the get go, and trying to force that shape into something the patron would appreciatehe now came at the problem from the inside going out. Starting with a cluster of image threads the patron ideal already agreed with wholeheartedly, and slowly carving his way outward from there. It was a delicate dance. One where he had to keep in mind the temperament, nature, and always, always, the inherent vanity of the patron ideal in question. It was sometimes easy to forget, caught up in the nitty gritty details as he so often was, that intention mattered here above all else. Finding that groove, that special sweet spot, that invisible resonance which practically hummed with the patron ideals implicit approval, and riding that wave into uncharted waters. It was as exhilarating an experience as it was terrifying. A constant process of careful addition and subtraction. Adding a little here, shaving away a little there, and all done with the ever present need to flatter and appease. No matter what changes he wanted to make, maintaining that constant line of approval remained paramount. He figured it was a lot like walking a tightrope, except that, all throughout the creation process, he had to be sure that any changes he made were balanced out by an equal and opposite appeal to the patrons vanityit''s over inflated opinion of itself. Where slipping up and falling short not only meant he had to start the process all over again, from the very beginning, but that the patron would also be less inclined to give him any such creative leeway moving forwardat least insofar as those particular aspects and imageries were concerned. Ultimately forcing him to come up with new images, and new sensations that were still relevant to his initial idea. New leads with which to ply the patronentice them to once more venture into the direction he was aiming for. Thankfully, the actual process of sculpting wasnt nearly so involved as hed feared it might be. As mentioned, intent was paramount, and so just willing something to be a certain way convincingly enougheven if the actual design of the thing was vague in his mind at bestvery quickly had the finer details filling themselves in without further need of his input. The visual manifestation of the mantra shifting its form to accommodate his intentions. Although, and again he couldnt stress this enough, every choice, even the design of the thing, had to be measured against the possible disinterest, or worse, disapproval of the ideal. Even if it was basically automatic, it didnt mean he could afford to slip up in the way he thought about things, if not the particulars in general. A tricky thing to manage, in other words, though it did mean that the complicated lines of geometry, which had so intimidated him in the very beginning, never actually became an issue. Meaning that whatever sacred geometry actually made his mantras tick generally saw to themselves, just so long as his proposal held. And it was a proposal, an appeal to higher power, or at least that was how he thought of it. Presenting studied forethought, good will, and an even greater track record in exchange for power. Throw in a studiously unhelpful desk clerk and an ostentatious sudo-cathedral and he might have been applying for a bank loan. To touch briefly on specifics, one of the most prominent, and, in his opinion, one of the more inspired ideas hed come up withwith regards to the careful balancing of creative divergence, against patronly approvalhad come about when hed thought to introduce clauses into his conceptual proposals. Concessions made directly to the patron at large, which effectively balanced out the many unsavory changes he wanted to make to his lets call it his unique interpretation of its nature. Given the exact nature of the changes he wanted to make, hed quickly found that these concessions needed to be rather extreme in order to meet the conceptual deficit his willful bouts of creativity often saddled him with. For instance, when hed wanted to shoot cool laser beams from his eyes, something for which the patron of piercing wasnt exactly enamored, hed been forced to implement, not one, but two concessions. Hypertension and Stand Your Ground. Both of which played off of and highlighted a key aspect inherent to the concept of piercing. Focus. Through Hypertension, he forcefully set the whole of his mind to something. Narrowing his thoughts to such an insane degree, that it actually had the effect of giving him severe migraines if he was careful, and, on the far end, fatal brain hemorrhages when he was not. Stand Your Ground, meanwhile, operated on a very similar principle. Constricting his movements utterly and completely, and thereby leaving no room for anything but his total absorption in the task at hand. He suspected he couldve gone even further than that, cutting off all sensations he deemed non-criticalwhen it came to punching holes in neer-do-wells at range, that isbut hed already found equilibrium by the time hed thought to try it, and didnt relish the idea of being deaf and mute on top of being totally inert. Essentially, by restricting parts of himself to appease patronly sensibilitiessort of like sneaking a bitter, though necessary, dollop of medicine through a big spoonful of honeyhe was not only able to take the application of a concept into interesting and unexplored directions, but he suspected he was also able to get more out of the concept than he had any right to at such low stability thresholds. Cool Shooty Laser Eyes, or as hes so recently renamed it, Piercing Gaze, was only a poor grade mantra after all, and yet it had been able to best the elite of a city whose technology far eclipsed his own. Nearly finished with the base structure for the mantra he had in mind, Jun incorporated some last minute aspects into the mix. Sprinkling them on like the finishing touches. The icing on the cake for instance. The cherry on top you might say. He pictured the tiny scratches, the miniature grooves which marred its blocky surface. Felt the comforting heft, the feel of its leather wrapped hilt in his hands. And, taking one last minute to crystallize the many impressions in his mind, he promptly opened his eyes to see what hed wrought. He greeted by a very welcome notification. Basic Mantra: [Hammer Blow] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Excellent Quality) Conceptual Stability: 60% Before him rotated a well used war hammer. It was chipped, malformed, and noticeably rusted in places. And yet, it was undoubtedly the most real thing hed seen in his entire life. It was hard to describe, this certainty that the mere projection floating in front of him likely held more universal weight than he did, but, this close, the truth of the matter was undeniable. Jun, in awe of his own creation, simply admired the purple projection for a time. Then, with a roll of his neck to work out the nonexistent kinks, he began with the painstaking modification process, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Chapter 62: Knightly Academy (V) Ignoring S. Juns rather colorful language, as he described, in livid detail, just what he thought of this whole fifteen second swap idea, Jun briefly took a second to catch his bearings. That was when stinging lines of pain brought to his attention the bird-like figure hovering up above. It was throwing things at him! Well, that wasnt very nice. And as far as he knew, there was only one real solution to such heightened levels of rudeness. Splitting Chop! Jun swung his arm in a splitting arc, and like an elastic extension of his will, his chop soon followed suit. Eating up the distance in no time at all, his aim proved true, and his splitting chop struck home. Struck but instead of shearing straight through, as hed expected, stuck fastbarely penetrating an inch into its icy plumage. What might as well have been icy scale armor. For a long moment Y. Jun gaped. Then he began to fall. Unable, or unwilling to let the birds rudeness go unanswered, Jun did something implausible. Something so ludicrous it was laughable. Something that should have, by all rights, been impossible. He grabbed hold of his splitting chop by the haft and pulled. Intending to fell the beast, drag it screaming to the earth below, he instead found himself rapidly pulled closer. And his splitting chop? As if hed angered it somehow, the elastic band of yellow began to savage his palm. It writhed in his grip like a snake turned on its master. Resisting him, biting him, trying to cleave him in two. It seemed uncalled for, bewildering, and was deeply distressing, but a tight grip on the ephemeral reigns kept it from killing him just long enough. His stubborn will alone enough to facilitate the impossible. Sunlight flashed off of the FrostTailed Phoenixs glittering plumage, as Jun came within range of a far more devastating Splitting Cho-! All light disappeared. Consumed as it was by a scorching cloud of ash. Jun tried to scream, but all that did was give the burning ash easy access. He could feel it beginning to burrow. To choke and spread and burn. Felt it wearing at his eyelids, drilling into his pours. It was agony. Pure agony. And it was only getting worse. Switch! Switch! Switch! Y. Jun subvocalized, before a wave of silver aura exploded out from himshoving back the burning invasion before it could secure a proper foothold. Jun coughed, expelling clouds of ash which soon hurried to join the swirling black mass pooling on the edges. Kept in check by his protective aura. The strain of keeping the vicious cloud at bay was immense. But, gritting his teeth, S. Jun managed it all the same. That was, until several glittering projectiles punched through the whirling ash to bite large chunks out of his aura, further exacerbating the problem. Jun swore as he once more began to fall. The relentless onslaught peppering him, trying to consume him all the while. The burning pressure bearing down on him vanished just as soon as Jun slipped beneath the revitalized tumult of the arctic storm. It gave him little comfort. He hit the ground hard, air exploding from his lungs. Then just lay there for a time, trying to catch his breath. And meanwhile, all around him, teasing at the corners of his periphery, there was movement. Color, sound, and imminent threat. The blue arc of lightning crackling in the distance, the thwip of fallen projectiles burying themselves in sand, and all the while an elusive shadow stalkedslowly circling its injured prey. Jun lurched to his feet, though it was a close thing. His efforts were pathetic, pained, and labored. So much so that the idea of rushing headlong into the thick of things didnt seem entirely possible as he was now. Crushing, do that thing again where you punch the ground ineffectually. I have an idea. Jun growled. I really dont think this is the bloody time for-! Just do it! Alright fine! Aura gathered. Jun reeled back and punched. The earth shook, the blizzard fled, and millions of grains of sand flew. Like before, the Night-Hunter took this as a prime opportunity to pounce, confident in its ability to outmaneuver any response. No matter from which direction its prey chose to strike, the Abyssal Night-Hunter could be sure it would appear opposite, claws already flashing for his exposed back. Which ultimately was why the Night-Hunter was caught so completely off guard, when a sphere of crystalline shardssome no larger than the granules it leapt betweenrippled out from the human in a glittering cascade. A wall of jagged ruby tearing its shadow form into pieces, so small, that anything left of its once sleek and deadly form, could just as easily be described as a reddish mist.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Jun staggered, nearly falling to his knees. Mind thoroughly spent from such a massive expenditure, that if it werent for the blizzard, and a bit of luck besides, it was likely the series of snaking bolts wouldve taken him out right then and there. Crackling to life barely a dozen paces away, Juns mind raceddesperately grappling for a solution. Abruptly, he froze. Then, he began to smile. With a working of his will, Jun formed a dense splinter of ruby aura, stuck it between his teeth, and began to infuse. The rift spawn stumbled as, not for the first time, the entire arena was rocked by yet another seismic impact. Eleanor, having since come to terms with the apparent monstrousness of her familiarsomething they absolutely needed to talk more about if they ever got out of this messtook the opportunity to duck beneath the hobgoblins clumsy swing. Deflecting the club with her upraised buckler and hacking its leg off at the knee in one swift motion. Taking several quick steps back as the lanky rift spawn fell to the sands screaming, Eleanor kept a roaming eye on her general surroundings while desperately gasping for air. Out of the several dozen rift spawn shed started with, only a scant few stragglers remained. Most of them cowering beneath the sweep of her gaze, having since learned to fear the tiny human with the terrible weapons. Wiping sweat from her brow, Eleanor herself marveled at the ease with which her equipment outperformed. And she knew for a fact it didnt have anything to do with the quality of the steel. Her sword able to hack off limbs with ease. Like she was cleaving through butter, and not supernaturally reinforced muscle, tendon, and bone. Natural armor wasnt an issue either when she could just pierce straight through even the hardest outer shell. And when there wasnt enough room to wind up one of those great big sweeping chops, she found her sword still able to dish out devastating cuts. Ones which she couldve sworn bled more profusely than they ought. Even her simple buckler was enhanced by the strange quad nature of the aspect, perpetually wreathed in silver mist as it was. The term shield bash taking on a whole new meaning. Regaining her breath, Eleanor spared a glance for the ongoing battlethe incomprehensible tumult of chaos and destructionwith the blurred figure of her familiar at its very center. Right then he appeared to be getting the worst out of the exchange. Taking on a multitude of peak D to low C grade rift spawnas one casually doesit likely shouldnt have come as much of a surprise. Though, she could tell through the vague impression of confidence bleeding through their bond that, if he had it his way, things werent likely to remain that way for long. Turning her gaze toward the promenade up above, an ember of fury rekindled in her chest as she watched the growing audience spectate and gawp, instead of rendering even the slightest bit of aid. And while, sure, she knew it was all technically her familiar''s fault, they couldnt be so miffed by all the damages caused as to let them be killed outright. Surely, they couldnt be that heartless. They were supposed to be knights, after all! Even as she watched, more sharply dressed officials appeared to lean over the promenade railing. All of their attention fixed solely on the eastern part of the arena, where Jun fought what appeared to be a losing battle. Likely just as curious as she was as to the eventual outcome. Though Eleanor doubted any of them were nearly so anxious. By the time he was ready to act, Jun had honestly lost count of the number of lightning bolts to arc past his position. The repetitive flash, followed by blue crackle and deafening bang, a steady companion throughout the painstaking imbuing process. Occasionally, he was forced to dodge the lucky bolt or two, arcing unerringly through the impenetrable screen of white. The abrupt physicality of which swiftly affirming, in no small terms, the actual severity of his injuries. He was in a bad way. Understatement of the year. Still, that merely meant he needed to wrap things up quickly. It wouldnt take much. Piece of cake, really. It was doubtful hed even break a sweat. Piercing! Can I interest you in an opportunity you cant afford to refuse? The chance to try something new and potentially innovative? If what you intend is what I suspect, I cannot say that Im especially enamored of the idea. That said, as you mentioned, I find myself unable to refuse. As it stands, we are left with few alternatives. Excellent! Checking one more time that his ruby splinter was structurally sound, an impregnable display of unmatched aura mastery, R. Jun relinquished the helm over to Piercing, entirely confident in the quality of his work. Immediately, thin streams of red mist began to bleed from the increasingly unstable aura construct, like steam being released from a compromised pressure vessel. Without hesitation, G. Jun wrapped the degrading splinter in a thin layer of emerald green aura. His actions further hastened when contact with his piercing aura only caused the cracking splinter to degrade even faster. Spinning towards where he thought he remembered the weapon wrack being, Jun reeled back and threw. Propelling the multilayered construct with such force, both natural and otherwise, that it punched a tiny circular hole through the blizzard all the way throughits linear path not altered in the slightest by the flurry of snow and buffeting winds. Allowing Cutting to retake the helm, Jun felt more than he saw the splinter plink off of the aforementioned weapon rackthat single minuscule impact enough to detonate the construct in an explosion of ruby red mist. Mist which, with the aid of his [Blade Manipulation], he felt was intrinsically tied to him. Cutting aura bound so tightly that, even as it settled onto the weapon wrack several hundred paces away, it was as if all it would take was a single thoughtto simply reach out and grasp it whole. With a deft manipulation, Jun redirected the aura, coating each of the various instruments of war in turn. Quickly solidifying said aura once it was all in place, until each weapon was encased in a thin layer of ruby red crystal. Then, he pulled. Pulled, and nearly fell flat on his face from the sheer amount of strain that simple act placed on him. Well damn. Id really thought that would work. Jun’s POV (9) Things were actually going surprisingly well. He found it entirely too suspicious. Still, given the unimaginable harvest hed reaped, he figured this burst of productivity was well worth whatever calamitous disaster loomed on the far horizon. Basic Mantra: [Sweeping Cleave] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Excellent Quality) Conceptual Stability: 60% Basic Mantra: [Blade Slash] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Excellent Quality) Conceptual Stability: 60% Basic Mantra: [Spearing Thrust] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Excellent Quality) Conceptual Stability: 60% Needless to say, hed been somewhat busy. Creating the mantras that would, effectively, act as the basic template upon which all of his innovations would stem from wasnt easy, though it was getting noticeably easier. He had no doubt some of that ease could be attributed to practice, but he thought a lot of it was the result of one simple fact. That fact being, unlike when a given mantra was rejected by the patron at large, after whatever hodgepodge agglomeration hed devised was accepted by the patron, it saw no harm in his reusing the cogent arguments and persuasive reasonings hed first applied to great effectin other words, the myriad interconnected image threadsindefinitely. Or at least that had seemed to be the case when hed spun up his second Spearing Thrust in a fraction of the time itd taken to make the firstshamelessly copying his previous work more or less verbatim. This revelation, that he would only be getting faster at creating these templates, couldnt have come at a better time. He was going to be making a lot of these things after all, as, with each new Custom mantra he made, he effectively overwrote the basic one. With a grunt, Jun leveraged himself up to his feet. He then began moving through a choice few of the stretching exercises hed managed to pick up from the denizens of the previous trial. Not for any physical reason, mind youhis body was incapable of feeling things like soreness or hunger in this placebut instead because the deliberate movements worked to soothe his mind and helped him think. Questions. He was riddled with them. Far too many for his mind to easily quantify. But, if he had to narrow it down, the way he saw it, there were three things he absolutely needed to look into. The first had to do with his mantras. As he pushed them further and further from the traditional path of progression, their effects were becoming increasingly haphazard and well, deadly. A fickle disposition he could ill afford. Often resulting in a double edged sword more likely to cut himself than the enemy. And if he couldnt find a way to fix that little issue entirely, in the meantime he needed a way to standardize his understanding of themflawed as they were. To systematize the exact scope of their adverse effects and, in so doing, hopefully find a safe range to operate in. And in his best case scenario, figure out a way to mitigate the fatal repercussions completely. Second. He needed to know the precise difference between a one star rank trial and a ten star rank trialassuming, of course, it even went that highand everything in between. To know what exactly constituted a jump in difficulty, and what he could do, personally, to insure he knew what he was getting into before he hit assimilate. And finally. Third, he needed to know the exact nature of the trial worlds he was going to be spending so much time in. How they operated. What made them tick. If it really was a one to one facsimile of a living, breathing worldwithout rhyme or reasonor if, much like the scripted explosions of the spectate option, some choice parts of it were rote. He already suspected that parts of the trial worlds werent as random as they appeared to behad already begun to glimpse the slightest peek behind the curtainbut even still, he felt quite strongly that, if he were to have any chance of dragging himself out from under the mess hed stepped in, he would need to know the trial worlds like the back of his hand. Which meant he would first need to figure out what exactly the rules were. And after accomplishing that, if it was at all possible, to break them utterly. Initializing Calculating Trial Difficulty Your resonance pillar has been adjusted for. Your body cultivation has been adjusted for. Your soul cultivation has been adjusted for. Be at ease. Your Mantra: [Leaping Slash] does not offend its patron. Please holdUnauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. *Ding!* Estimated Trial Difficulty: |1 Star| Designated Arena: Silent Sword Martial Blade School Acclaim Bonus: Half-blood Rebellion Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect, Maximillian Alexander De Campos Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Star Ranking: NOT APPLICABLE Temporary Titles: Mammoth Slayer, Giant Slayer, Titan Slayer, Free Thinker, Death Strider. Please hold still while we transport you. Your trial will begin in: 10 9 8 *** What greeted him upon his awakening, was a scene of impeccable order and commendable disciplineprecisely what one wouldve expected from a martial blade school. With the sun barely cresting the eastern horizon, he found himself standing before a sprawling stone courtyard, hemmed in on all sides by weathered stone walls carved in intricate relief. They depicted powerful warriors battling terrifying beasts, and not a one of them was without their school''s iconic namesake. Throughout the vast stone courtyard, blade school disciples, dressed in identical robes of green accented with gold, were already up and activehaving assembled themselves into neat and orderly rows. Under the watchful gaze of their instructors, the young men and women, hundreds all told, swung their practice swords in unison, smoothly transitioning from one form to another with each harsh bark of instruction. The swish of so many blades falling in time accompanied by a staccato clacking, like the snapping of branches. Only belatedly did he realize where the rapid sounds were coming from. To the left of the communal drill session, what appeared to be a gathering of older disciples were using their unsupervised free-time to spar with one another. It was an intimidating display, to say the least. And as good a demonstration, as to the true martial prowess of the blade school, as he was likely to get. Their bodies little more than greenish blurs, sweeping blades barely seen as more than a faint flicker before the resulting crash. Their swift movements and agile steps werent beyond his ability to follow necessarily, though it most certainly would have been if not for his temporary titles. He shivered at the sheer brutality of each concussive strike, each resounding collision. Even with his resiliency raised to unprecedented heights, the thought of being hit by one of those? Unpleasant was the first word that came to mind. Meanwhile smaller groups of junior disciple members, few of them over the age of seven, bustled about their daily chores, tending to the needs of the school with a quiet diligence unheard of in those so young. Some swept the stone pathways clear of fallen leaves, others set to polishing wooden practice swords with a will, while still others carried buckets to and fro, watering the many gardens that lined the courtyardeach patch of greenery vibrant, colorful, and well maintained. Despite the humble nature of their menial tasks, they carried themselves with straight backs and evident pride. Shooting the occasional glance of longing at the older disciple members, even as they continued to work themselves to the bonepractically willing their efforts to be seen and recognized by their elders. And behind it all loomed the massive compound of the blade school proper. A sprawling complex of two and three story buildingssquare shaped and plentiful in both the number of red pillars adorning each white stucco facade, and the flaring style of protruding eaves on display. Each swooping roof covered in dark clay tile. A true behemoth of a building, towering at least three or four stories above the rest, standing at the very heart of the compound. Glancing up, Jun realized that he hadnt actually entered the blade school proper yet, and was instead hoveringsomewhat suspiciously, now that he thought of itbefore the main entrance. Two rising red pillars, as thick around as several tree trunks combined, marking the school''s grand thresholdjust a few steps ahead of him. Further taking in his immediate surroundings, he noted, not only where he was, but where the school he now found himself in, or, well, near, lay as a whole. Nestled within a tranquil valley, its hills carpeted by forest canopies, and half obscured by creeping morning mists, the blade school was like a gleaming pearl resting at the center of a massive oyster. Finally turning around completely, his eyes widened and his heart lurched. He stumbled, nearly tripped, but, at the very last second, managed to catch himself. Heart thundering, legs trembling, he figured that was probably for the best. Considering the steep drop down innumerable stairs he wouldve had to look forward to, he didnt relish the time it wouldve afforded him to stew over his own embarrassment. The stone steps, wide enough for twenty men to walk abreast, and well worn by generations worth of foot traffic, descended for some time at a steep angle, before receding into that same dancing fog of creeping mists, so dense that, barely a few steps into its cloudy domain, everything simply disappeared. It was pretty eerie actually, and Jun briefly wondered whether hed found the end of the simulated world. Like after a certain point the land would just cut off, and hed be left to free fall for an eternity. Jun shivered. He took several steps back from the looming precipice. Spinning back around, Jun briefly hesitated on the threshold, before, with another run through his mental checklist, he plunged headlong into the breach. What immediately greeted him was a palpable sense of disillusionment. For all this world had effectively been created to accommodate him, he appeared to be the least interesting thing in the courtyard. Junior disciples barely gave him a passing glance as they rushed about their chores. The lines of drilling disciples were far too absorbed in their practice to pay him any mind. And the older disciples? Well, he wasnt ready to face them just yet. What if his theory about the wandering shoulder principle held? His Leaping Slash mantra was basic at best. It didnt even have a single concession to its name. He hadnt needed it! He was under no illusions that it would hold up against a seriously trained opponent. And if he got into a fight with an actual martial practitioner, the way he was now? He wouldnt live long enough to test a single of his running theories, let alone the several he had in mind. Which ultimately left him with nothing to do but haplessly follow the stone pathways like some lost puppy, in the vain hope someone would approach himhis feelings of self importance rapidly dwindling by the second. Eventually, one of the older disciples took pity on him, breaking away from his group to jog over. Like most cultivators, the man was handsome, tall with long brown hair, a strong jawline, and broad shoulders. He also ate up the distance far faster than he had any right to at only a light jog. When he finally came within speaking distance, he wasnt even breathing hard. Ah! Hello stranger. Are you here for the monthly entrance exam? Youre a bit late, but Im sure brother Lang can still slot you in if we hurry. Here, let me take you to him. The young man was already turning to leave when, quickly taking a breath to steel his nerves, Jun spoke. Exams? Hah! Cant say as I am. Left all that schooling nonsense behind me years ago and never looked back. And not a days gone by wherein Ive regretted the decision neither. Say, you got any grub on hand? Worked up something of an appetite on the way up here, and I wouldnt say no to a bite to eat for my troubles. Question #1: What happens if I outright ignore the trial completely, and instead do everything in my power to derail things as much as humanly possible? Chapter 63: Knightly Academy (VI) Unwilling to let things go so easily, Jun tried pinpointing where exactly the problem lay. Where he couldve possibly gone wrong. It didnt take long for him to recognize that some weapons evinced a greater resistance than others. While thinner blades, daggers, long swords and the like, appeared to submit to his will with only a token amount of resistance, everything else didnt seem to want to budge whatsoever. With a tsk of annoyance, Jun released his hold on all but the longer of the bladed weapons, quickly pulling them to hover at his side in short order. Another thought all it took to send them winging into the stormthe sounds of singing steel a fitting accompaniment to the ever-present fizz, crackle, boom. With a series of rapid thumps, Jun planted each of the two-dozen long swords in the sandy arena floor, following a meandering trail he only loosely tied together in his mind. Like a reverse set of breadcrumbs, leading all the way up to the distant light show ahead. The only reason he didnt simply follow through and skewer the beast where it swayed, the exponential drain holding so many objects aloft was imposing upon his mind. The drain only worsening the further out they went. When everything was in place, Jun immediately doubled over, gasping for air. Wiping sweat from his brow, he let the condensed aura dissipate. Itd served its purpose, and already he could see his labor bearing fruit. As yet another bolt of blue lightning snaked outward, arcing forth in his general direction, it was suddenly intercepted. Redirected into the protruding blade of a buried longsword, and from there, made to burrow harmlessly into the ground. Jun grinned. Until the steam cleared and he saw the state said sword was in, after having redirected the heavenly assault. Having turned into little more than a pool of molten slag, Jun found it prudent to put his satisfaction away in favor of getting a move on, almost immediately. With a detonation of sand and silver aura, Jun exploded forward, closing the distance in mere seconds. Not even bothering to dodge, he weaved between the crooked field of blades, trusting in the makeshift lightning rods to redirect any bolts aimed his way. For the second time in what couldnt have been more than half a minute, Jun came within arms reach of the ThunderClap Cobra. Close enough to strain his neck at its imposing height and feel the static tingle of electricity skitter along his arms. Close enough to see its intelligent eyes widen, in both fear and surprise. And this time, thered be no third party to ruin all the fun. Splitting Chop! Before either of them could blink, the rising head of the Thunderclap Cobra went eerily still, before slowly peeling apart to either sidean elastic hand having cleaved it cleanly in two. What in the-?! But before S. Jun could properly voice his outrage, you know, really get into the swing of things, Cuttings snide voice cut in. It was a joint decision, Im sorry to say. It would seem that everyone but you unanimously agreed that putting hands on, what is effectively the supercharged equivalent of a live wire, was a very bad idea, But-! Im sorry, but the council has spoken. Youve been overruled. Completely out of my hands, believe me! I tried fighting for you, I really didsuicide is such the tempting optionbut wouldnt you know it? Cleaving has political pull like you wouldnt believe! On the bright side? Youre now free to go punch punch punch away to your hearts content. Just so long as its not something liable to kill us immediately upon contact. Jun grumbled. Couldve taken it Whatever helps you sleep at night. Jun snorted, was about to respond, when a change in the environment snapped him back to attention. It took him only a moment to realize what was wrong. The blizzard! It was lessening. In mere seconds, the once raging arctic storm had vanished, leaving a bitter chill in the air and shallow drifts of snow the only real evidence of its passing. Meaning that, either the big boss bear had run out of blizzard juice, or it saw no point in maintaining a screen now that itd run out of minions to run interference. Or no, scratch that. Hasnt completely run out, it would seem. Frozen feathers bit large chunks out of his aura, spilling yet more of his blood. That wasnt even the worst of it, however. Jun braced himself as the Volcanic Ash Elemental descended. Before his vision was completely obscured by a whirlpool of burning ash, Jun managed to catch a glimpse of the cowardly bear some distance awaystill favoring his left paw, as it damn well should.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. It would have to be good enough. He was sick and tired of being jerked around like he hadnt a say in how this went. Dont fancy resorting to this but desperate times and all that Oh, who was he kidding? With a roar, Jun expelled as much crushing aura as he reasonably could without blacking out right there on the spot. Blasting everything around him to smithereenssand, living ash, the very air itself in places. Rejecting anything and everything in a three-meter-wide radius that didnt have the common decency to be crushed outright. Then he inhaled, reabsorbing the mist back into himself until his entire body was covered in a thin layer of chrome. Jun crouched. Preparing himself, he winced with every well-placed feather that plinked off of his second skin. Now acting as a force multiplier, both in the external and internal sense, even the errant flick of a small child would pack enough of a punch to bruise for several days, and these damnable feathers were hitting a lot harder than your simple finger flick. Ignoring the pain, ignoring the strain, ignoring the swirling ash of the elemental reconstituting, Jun focused all of his attention on one, singular thing. The muscles of his left leg bunched. Jun braced. Then the world became a streaking blur of motion. BOOM! Tendons tore, bones shattered, the world behind him exploded. At the same time everything ahead drew nearer at truly impractical speeds. Suicidal ones, if one were to go putting labels on things. The Arctic Devourers eyes mightve widened near the end, its body even scramble to leap out of the way. He didnt know, would never know. Hed simply been moving too damn fast for all that. Fist met snout at breakneck speeds, and the bone didnt give way under his touch, so much as cease to exist. The entire top half of its body becoming a twenty-foot-long smear against the furthest wall. The sudden impact not only serving to get his heart pumping like you wouldnt believe, but to immediately arrest his forward momentum before he quickly followed the beast''s example. Convenient that. That the same sudden wrench that arrested his momentum effectively broke every bone in his arm? Far less convenient, if he was being totally honest. Jun hit the ground and stumbledruined leg unable to hold his weight. It was a good thing hed only used one in the approach. One good leg and one good arm meant he was still in good fighting condition, as far as he was concerned. You know, when I said, punch away to your hearts content, I apologize if you took that as some sort of encouragement on my part. Worse, tacit permission of some kind to do you know what? Never mind. Its not even worth the breath at this point. The council has spoken. Your steering privileges have been revoked. Seriously, this is why we cant have nice things. And with that, the chrome cast of his skin immediately faded, to be replace by a rising red mist. Lying downa twisted tangle of broken limbseven through his general contempt for pain, Jun winced at the sheer amount of damage hed sustained. His arm a morbid corkscrew, twisting around itself more times than he could count, while his ankle seemed to have wrapped itself around his knee. Somehow. And to make matters worse, he was still being pelted by that damnable bird. With a sneer, Jun threw up his only working hand. Forming several fine daggers, he merely thought to taunt the bird at firstknocking its feathers out of the sky with his own far superior projectiles. Then, inspiration struck, and his plans immediately changed. Not overly much at first. He still continued to deflect the feathers aimed his way, though far more attention was given to peppering the far-off figure. Not even with the intention of harming the bird. Merely riddling the outer layers of its plumage would do. Eventually, he deemed his efforts satisfactory. And just in time too, as, through his periphery he could see ash beginning to swirl and coalesce. Plumage now riddled quite thoroughly with his ruby blades; it only took a meager expenditure of mental energy to release them from their semi-corporeal state. Detonating simultaneously, the glittering Phoenix was soon engulfed in a cloud of ruby red mist. Not done yet, he immediately began manipulating the auramolding it to his exacting specifications. Before, with a vicious grin, he made a tight fist with his still upraised handsnaring the bewildered FrostTail Phoenix in an Iron Maiden like construct. A wicked, glittering cage whose proverbial door, much like his fist, slammed shut with a decidedly pointed finality. Ruby blades immediately shattered upon contact, having failed to even come close to penetrating its resilient plumage, though Jun had honestly expected as much. With a thought, the chipped and broken blades dispersed, only to reform a second later with another clenched fist. At which point they once more shattered upon contact, leaving little more than shallow indents behind. Breaking into glittering shards, only to then reform again, and again. And as he continued his assault, ran through each successive cycle, his speed at this only grew. From one revolution a second, to three, and then five. Soon enough, the distant Phoenix couldnt even be seen past the perpetual release and reformation of cutting blades. And though he couldnt visually affirm as much, he was positive all those small nicks and cuts were adding up. He hadnt forgotten the greatest strength of his, the greatest of all the concepts, after all. Precision. And though he might have been brute forcing it out of necessity, he was well aware that all he needed was to strike the right place, at the right angle, at the right time. Do that, and it was likely he could sheer through just about anything. Irregardless of his own personal strength. He was sure a normal practitioner, a swordsman or the like, wouldve hung back and observed, waiting for the perfect time to strike. He didnt have time for that. His way, it was purely a numbers game. Only a matter of time before! There came a sharp cry from up above, then the glittering nuisance, lording over the skies since their battle had first been joined, plummeted in a hapless spiral towards the ground. Jun grinned. He had no idea what hed hit, only that itd been vital enough to save him the trouble of learning how to fly. A rather tall order, given moving at all was currently something of a struggle. A half shimmy, half crawl the best he could manage. Yet manage he did, as he wouldnt be leaving anything to chance. Though hed made it look easy, that little display had cost him greatly. Hed rather not place all of his hopes on the idiot bird having the common decency to die from the long fall. A few undignified seconds later, a well-placed [Spearing Hand], and it was done. Jun slumped against the rapidly cooling corpse, the occasional flicker of blades enough to keep the apparently immortal Ash Elemental suitably dispersed. And that was more or less how Eleanor and the rest found him. Jun’s POV (10) The young man froze, slowly turning to scrutinize him far more skeptically than before. I Im sorry? Ah, no worries lad. Alls forgiven. There was no harm done, really. A bit taxing on these old bones of mine, I suppose but, other than that. The two locked eyes then. The young man clearly bewildered, while Jun was trying his utmost to remain in character. You really dont make it easy for an aged fella to visit, now do you? Jun laughed, while the increasingly befuddled young man only narrowed his eyes furtheras if to probe why the boy who looked no older than himself was griping about his old age. Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to put a school all the way up here anyhow? Damned inconsiderate if you ask me. Now, about that food I-! No, what I mean to say is, if youre not here for the entrance exams, then why are you here? Who are you? Why, Im your new neighbor of course! Bought that little fixer upper down the valley. And let me tell you, sitting on that front porch, the view is like you wouldnt believe. Majestic doesnt even begin to cover it. I dont-! Im sorry sir, but all of this land is owned by the head patriarch of the Twin Leaf Sect, and he is not one to give away whats his so freely. Whoever sold you that patch of land likely did so on false pretenses. Im afraid they were probably deceiving you. What?! Are you telling me I gave that shadow cowled bastard two of my best cattle for nothing! Im afraid so, the young man, who was beginning to look genuinely irritated by this point, sighed. Look. Sir, Im afraid Im going to have to lead you from the premises. If you have no business with the school, then you cannot be allowed to stay. It would also be in your best interests to move on from Twin Leaf Sect territory entirely. The sect does not generally take well to trespassers. But-! Right this way, sir, he put extra emphasis on the sir, clearly annoyed at having cut his training short to deal with this. And just like that, he began to lead Jun away. Not shoving him necessarily, more walking at him until his only options were to back up, or be bowled over. Jun let himself be led away, curious to see what would happen next. As they passed, some of the older disciples threw them inquisitive looks. The young man merely kept on walking, his face a stony mask. Eventually they reached the blade schools threshold, just a few steps shy of where hed arrived. Now, please be on your way. I will not ask so gently a second time. And with that, the young man turned on his heel, and left, leaving Jun to wonder what in the hells had just happened. They were just going to let him go? Just like that? No follow up? No nothing? Jun stood there for a moment, waiting for the other shoe to drop. For everything to fade to black. For his disembodied mind to be greeted by the restart screen once more. Clearly hed failed at whatever hed been meant to accomplish. Or hadnt he? Jun struggled with himself internally, trying to reconcile what hed expected to happen, with what was currently transpiring. Hed thought the trial wouldve gone to great lengths to maintain the rigid structure itd adopted. Or, at least the rigid structure hed thought it had adopted. Convinced him to stay, perhaps? To participate in this exam even as he railed against ita single man raging in defiance of the heavens. Instead, it was as if the trial world couldnt get rid of him fast enough. Beyond that initial helping hand, it didnt seem to care what he did one way or another. Which, in its own way, wasnt that an answer to the question hed originally posed? What happens if I dont go along with the trial worlds whims? Jack shit, apparently. The trial world just up and goes on without me. Fascinating. Jun stood there for he didnt know how long, trying to wrap his head around the implications of this revelation. It was only when the young man from earlier, along with a group of his friends, began to make their way over to himtheir cultivated beauty marred by less than pleasant expressionsthat he remembered to take heed of the young mans instructions. He quickly turned, briefly wavered, before making a hasty retreat down the too wide staircase, hoping against hope they wouldnt follow. As it so happened, they didnt bother, although, staring down into the thick cloud of impenetrable mist, he couldnt say it consoled him overly much. Perhaps a cultivated beat down wouldve been preferable to falling for eternity? Jun shivered. Then, keeping the checklist in mind, he took the first unsteady steps into the cloudy domain, and plunged into a world of blinding white haze. Hadnt really expected to be attempting this one so early, but, so long as Im here Here goes nothing. Question #7: Just how far does the trial world extend? It only took about thirty minutes for his anxious trepidation to turn to mind numbing boredom. Id only been joking earlier, but, seriously? How many of these stairs are there exactly? Luckily, the mist wasnt so thick that he couldnt put one foot in front of the other with some degree of surety, even if said range of visibility only really extended that far. After another thirty minutes had passed and he was still trudging down what felt like the same number of steps, he was genuinely starting to feel a bit concerned. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. In fact it was just as he was beginning to suspect the wide stair case literally went on foreverand was, in turn, contemplating suicide, if only to expedite the processthat the ever present mist hed honestly begun to forget about, began to lift. And with that came the unmistakable sounds of people! Heedless of the ache in his thighs and calfs, Jun careened down the remaining steps. Taking them three at a time until, at long last, he burst from the pervasive mist and was greeted by the confused din of shifting crowds and shouted commerce. Still standing about one story up, all things told, he looked out on a city brimming over with life. The streets were made of hard packed dirtsomething which must have been an absolute nightmare during rainy seasons. Carts rattled down wide thoroughfares, ferried along by ponderous oxen, even as a sea of brazen pedestrians flitted in and out of ongoing traffic. Down narrow laneways, there were colorfully canopied markets, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares reaching him quite clearly, if not the exact nature of the goods they were selling. Much like the blade school, many of the buildings sported the same style of swooping eaves and clay roof tiles, if not the same colorful accents and stone carved ostentation. Blocky and short, they seemed rather drab in comparison, if functional. Functional, and also incredibly flammable. Made entirely of wood, rice paper, and stucco, with very little stone to be found. In fact the entire city was like a tinder box just waiting to go up in flames. Id be surprised if anyone here isnt sick of being told of the dangers of fire by the time they reach age ten. Not that I can blame them. Better steer clear of open flames while Im here, just to be safe. Very few of the bland houses rose above two stories in height, except for, again, the ones at the cities center. Where a circular stone wall, twenty feet in height, presumably separated the scant haves, from the many have nots. I guess its the same everywhere, huh? At this point he wasnt really sure what his plan of attack should be. Only that hed gotten a lot farther than hed expected to, and didnt exactly trust it just yet. He would play it by ear, he decided. And anyway, no one ever said he couldnt kill two birds with one stone. Hed answer a few more questions while he was here, then set off in search of an end to this trial world. Assuming, of course that end actually existed. And so, it was with that thought in mind, that Jun jogged down the last few steps, and lost himself in the milling crowd. Eight Weeks Later Southern Province of the Enlightened Jade Empire Vermilion Flame City: Third Ring, Fourth District Jin Tao cut down the stinking back alley at a studiously relaxed pace. Carefully picking his way around filthy puddles and sleeping drunks, he moved with a firmness of purpose and alertness of mindhis head held down and face obscured. Tugging the brim of his conical hat low with one hand, he left the other where it lay, beneath the concealing folds of his cloak. There, his hand rested on the handle of his favored dao. It brought him some comfort, though not as much as it once had, he was sorry to say. Otherwise, he tried his best to avoid suspicion, even as he scanned his immediate surroundings with a rapidity bordering on paranoia. It wasnt an odd thing, his hunched figure and twitchy demeanor. In fact, it was all too common a sight nowadays. Gone were the days when cobra king bruisers, or blood claw enforcers walked the streets like they were gods among men. When any establishment wouldve been happy to hand over the protectors fee. When the city guard knew better than to patrol certain districts at night. And getting any woman that caught your fancy to fall into your bed, was only ever a matter of wanting it hard enough. Now? Gang members had to travel in packs just to avoid predation, shopkeepers dared to report their activities to the emboldened authorities, and the women? Well, the women were as pliable as always, but it just wasnt the same And for what? Why had all this unearned misfortune befallen their vaunted and storied organizations? It was for one, simple, undeniable reason. Because the citys underworld, the dark lords of Vermilion Flame City, were being hunted. Picked off one by one. Jin turned a corner, eyes always scanning, knuckles clenching white around his dao. Sidling up to an unsuspecting door, within an unsuspecting alleyway, he rapped against it three times in rapid succession. A view port slid open with a snap, revealing two bloodshot eyes, protruding much farther from the sockets than they had any right to. Password, the voice rumbled. Once, he might have rolled his eyes at such overly wary and unmanly precautions. Now, he found it gave him just the smallest modicum of comfort. Jade phoenix rises from beaten ashes. The bulging eyes disappeared with another snap. And, after a series of heavy clunks, that went on for what felt like a small eternity, the door eventually open onto a big bull of a man and the dimly lit interior beyond. Jin stepped into the narrow hallway. Squeezing past the giant and rounding the far bend before the clicking of locks had even finished. He continued onward. Eventually, the circuitous route of narrow service hallways led him out onto a well lit and downright swanky dining establishment. One he wasnt ashamed to admit he couldnt have afforded to patronize but for on the rarest of occasions. Maybe a single day out of the year, and only then if he was frugal. It was an open, multi storied space of red curtains and velvet upholsteryglittering crystalline chandeliers dangling from three stories up. Extended balconies wrapped the second and third floors respectively, creating a series of tiered viewing platforms, from which high ranking gang members looked down on their juniors. Seeing them all arrayed like this, every cast and denomination of the underworlds finest, really put into perspective the crisis they were facing. The once nine, now eight great powers had assembled, and if they werent able to come to a decision here and now, it was likely their presence in vermillion flame city would be snuffed out entirely, like a flickering candle flame in the wind. Jin followed the lead of those thatd come before, and quickly found a seat amidst the sea of unoccupied tables. Abruptly, there came a sharp rapping sound from the far end of the establishment, putting an end to the quiet murmuring thatd filled the space, and dragging all eyes, both high and low, towards it. Atop a raised stage, likely intended for live entertainment, stood a powerful old man who, going by his straight back and unyielding gaze, appeared to have little need for the ornate, sapphire encrusted cane he held in one hand. He wore a set of tailored robes lightly chased with golden embroidery. Artistic accents worked into the likenesses of two intertwining snakes. Even if Jin had never seen the man a day in his life, his sheer force of presence wouldve been unmistakable. Lou Fang, leader of the Twin Serpents gang. One of the three leading criminal organizations thatd run Vermilion Flame City since before he was born. They were a widely respected group with deep roots in the old ways. They were known for things like honor, respect, and undying loyalty. In other words, the kind of stuff only the big players could afford to toss around so casually. They were very old and very powerful. And, by some peoples estimation, the greater of the big three by far, in terms of quality, if not quantity. Now, with the Black Sons effectively dead to rights, and the Night Runners fallen to infighting, the old man now standing before them was likely the most powerful man in the whole damned city. Im sure youre all wondering why Ive invited you here. You no doubt have your suspicions, I trust, there was a general rumbling of ascent at that. Well. Ive never been one to mince words. Youre not wrong. The reason Ive called you here does, indeed, concern Yexing Cangying, at the mention of his name, the entire room lapsed into dead silence. Chapter 64: Fatal Fast Track Sitting stiff and ramrod straight, completely oblivious to the soft embrace of tufted velvet upholsteryone of the very few seated accommodations present within the cool, well lit, and even finer appointed rooms of the Interior Ministers officeMeredith just couldnt seem to help the cold sweat which was, even now, heavily beading her brow. In her defense, it wasnt an uncommon reaction. After all, sitting directly across from her, behind her large mahogany desk with its stacks of important looking papers, was the Interior Minister herself. A woman for whom only a select few people, and most of them family, would be so brazen as to refer to as Merediths sister-in-law. And even then, only in the strictest of confidence. Seeing as it wasnt a title the woman appeared to be particularly fond of, on the whole. A sentiment that could be keenly felt within the increasingly stuffy confines of the room. As it was, Meredith had been made to stew in the awkward silence for whatd felt like an eternity, the only sounds to break up the tense hush, the measured scritch of the Ministers quill against parchment. Eventually though, even that much was reclaimed by silence. In the end, leaving her with the blossoming hope that her purgatory might finally be at an end. With quick, decisive movements, the Interior Minister first blotted the ink from the quill, then the parchment itself. Set the document aside, carefully resealed the inkwell, and only then did she deign to acknowledge her sister-in-law. And? the woman replied tiredly, leaving Meredith to scramble for the beginning threads of their conversation. And s-so! Surely you must see the value of such a unique and powerful acquisition? Is that right? I umm. Yes? The Interior Minister let out a deep sigh. Is that all, Meredith? Ah? Yes but-! Wait! already she could see the unspoken dismissal in the womans expression. Youre not even the least bit interested? Ill have you know Ive been assured by several experts, on several occasions, that this rift spawn has to be at the peak- no, among the lower rungs of C grade! At least! Closer to high C grade, actually. I hold on, what? Wait? Meredith scrutinized the womans expression and was shocked by what she saw. You-? You already knew? But, since when? How?! Since about a week ago, when a report arrived on my desk concerning a uniquely humanoid looking rift spawn familiar capable of coherent speech and an incident which occurred during the Knightly Academys annual entrance exams. Im told that this rift spawn of yours made something of an impression on the Provost and her Directors. Defeated multiple peak D to lower C grade rift spawn single handedly, or so Im led to believe. Meredith gaped at the description, unable to picture that insufferable welp managing to pull off something so monstrous. Even still, opportunist that she was, she immediately recognized that this only served to better strengthen her argument. Even better! If youre already aware of its strength, then you cannot deny that this rift spawn would make for a prize worthy of our highness, the beloved princess! The Interior Minister merely stared at Meredith for a time, as if studying an especially dim-witted insect. If youve simply come here to beg more money from me, Im afraid youve only succeeded in wasting your own time, as well as a great deal of mine. I really shouldnt have to say this, but another sigh. Any fool should know intrinsically that a C Grade familiar, no matter how unusual, is not a prize befitting a princess of the realm, no matter how one contorts themselves to look at it. Were you aware that even her highnesses ladies-in-waiting own exclusively B grade rift spawn and above? Meredith blanched. As it so happened, she had not. And thats not even considering her honor guard, who exclusively average at around peak A grade. And you would, what? Have me insult the crown by offering her highness anything less than a girl whose only real charge is to wax poetic whilst in her presence already possesses? Meredith opened her mouth to say something, but no words were forthcoming. And even if none of that were the case, I believe I mentioned earlier that this rift spawn of yours entered the Academys entrance exam? Meaning that, at the very least, it has already been bonded. To a girl sponsored by a Knightly Commander of all things. That, in addition to her stellar combat assessment score, enough to easily place her on an accelerated learning track within the halls of the academy. I dont think I need to explain to you why more than a few would ask questions were she to suddenly go missing. Not something thats stopped you before, surely, her mouth was moving without her say so at this point. Perhaps, though, again, I must ask to what end? Meredith, caught off guard by the question, fumbled for a neat and convincing rebuttal, while the woman actually gave her time to come up with an answer. And then it hit her. Because it didnt start out that way. The other woman raised an eyebrow. Meredith took that as her cue to keep talking. Id thought it was strange, hearing that rift spawn classified as higher C grade. Especially when the rift spawn I was initially introduced to simply couldnt have defeated a single C grade demon, let alone multiple. And your point is? That it improved somehow. Rose through the ranks. Evolved! Impossible. Rift spawn are stagnant creatures. There is no such thing as evolution where rift spawn are concernedleastwise in so short a timespan. And normally, I would agree with you, had I not seen it for myself. Would you believe me if I said that I personally witnessed this supposed C grade struggle with an uncoordinated pack of F grade goblins?If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. No. Well, I did. And by the end of the day, not only had he massacred that pack of goblins, but he was easily dismembering rift spawn of the lower D grade and above like it was nothing. I see this new assessment of its capabilities as a continuation of that evolving process I witnessed at that time. The Interior Minister paused at this, measuring the validity of her words. And youre sure about this? Absolutely! Meredith lied. Hmm The woman frowned, before picking up her quill and beginning to write. Ill look into this for now. If what you say is indeed true this could be Merediths heart began to race. Had she done it? She needed to make sure. Secure some basic assurances. And what of the girl? What about her? What should be done about her in the event you realize Im telling the truth? The Interior Minister paused. Okay. In the off chance something so unlikely as that actually comes to pass, what would you suggest? Well Meredith thought about it for a second. Like you said, to harm her outright would be messy. Too messy. Although that isnt to say that, should the girl impress, prove herself singularly exceptional? Could her curriculum not be further accelerated? Fast tracked all the way to the frontier, even? After all, is it not a failing of the schooling system to have untapped potential like hers simply whiling away their days? Up to her neck in dusty old tomes and boring lectures, when she could be out there fighting rift spawn! Really making a difference! And should some random accident befall her in the performance of her duties A tragedy! A travesty! Although it has to be said, not an overtly suspicious one, all things considered. Not an outcome anyone would look twice at, anyhow. And the binding stone? Things have this funny way of disappearing on battlefields, or so Im told. Really, at the end of the day, whose to say where it went? Thats just diabolical, and for the first time ever, Meredith thought the woman looked genuinely impressed. When word came back to the squires dormitory that she was effectively being sent to the front lines, Eleanor had been met with one of three reactions. Jealousy, incredulousness, and indignation. Mary had, unsurprisingly, been incandescent. Nearly apoplectic with rage. Having learned of her rank and tragic backstory during her months stay at the academy, she now knew that her sponsor had considerable pull within the cohorts. The sheet-white look of terror on the headmaster''s face when confronted with Marys colorful tirade was proof enough of that. With the rank of Knightly Commander, only one of six to currently hold the title, the battered and broken woman shed once helped out of a sense of civic duty, had in fact been the leader of an elite team of knights. Knights whod been lost to a woman past enemy lines, not two months prior to their meeting. In the end, despite her sponsors many protests and attempts to appeal, the order of enlistment went through unimpeded. And so it was that, much to Juns, and if she were honest, her own personal delight, they would arrive at the Queendoms easternmost borders in two and a half weeks time. And for the first time in her life, Eleanor would set her eyes upon the fabled Azure Wall, Last Bastion of Humanity. The frontier outpost of Evelins Glory was, at first glance, a chaotic sprawl of identical tents, in-use training grounds, and a vast host of military personnel with more places to be than they had time to be there. And looming over it all was one of the three great wonders of the worlda wall that sought to split the very heavens in two. So tall and so close, that, even straining her neck back as far as it would go, she couldnt seem to see an end to it. Made exclusively out of soul fire brick, a semi translucent building material formed through the lone application of soul fire, it was an unnatural, almost ethereal looking structure, glass smooth and completely devoid of mortaronly a pulsing inner light where mortar shouldve been. All coming together to form a truly imposing rampart that mightve been too large for a race of giants to reasonably navigate. Rumored to be a quarter as thick as it was tallthough Eleanor honestly had a hard time believing thatit was supposedly equipped with a wide promenade on top, strategically placed watchtowers, and reinforced gates which rarely saw use. The problem wasnt getting to the other side, so much as it was preventing the other side from getting to them, after all. Currently she, and nineteen other girlswell, women really, seeing as Eleanor was the youngest recruit present by at least four yearswere standing at attention before their newly appointed sergeant. A tall, broad, scar faced woman with forearms the size of Eleanors thighs, and a voice like a foghornso loud on that chilly, mist shrouded morning that Eleanor wouldve wagered it capable of waking the dead. Shed just finished dressing down a now trembling private for having had her top button unbuttoned, when at last she stalked over to stand before Eleanor. For long moments the woman scrutinized, the feel of her sour breath huffing and puffing directly into Eleanors face bringing to mind thoughts of a boar readying itself to charge, or a dragon slowly preparing its flame. She didnt let it distract her. Standing at attention as shed been taught, eyes facing forward and back ramrod straight. Think yourself better than these other recruits, do you private!? Just cause your mommy pulled some strings for you in the capital, you think youre better than these recruits who earned their place in line? No maam! Sergeant, maam! Thats sergeant to y-! the woman cut off with a grunt, choking on her words. Red faced and scowling, she seemed to redouble her efforts to rupture every eardrum in the near vicinity. Fancy yourself a smart ass do you private!? No maam! Sergeant, maam! The sergeant seemed to grind her teeth at this response. Through her periphery, she could see the sergeants eyes flicker over her, looking for something more to criticize. Eleanor kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, breathing deliberate and even. Eventually the woman snorted, and, without another word exchanged, turned to berate the next girl in line. Eleanor wouldve sighed in relief, had she not already seen just how well that went for the last girl. Instead, she maintained her posture until told to do otherwise, and that was more or less how the rest of the day went. Until, that was, there came a break in the monotony in the form of a mounted officer. Listen up you bleeding mongrels! This here is your new lieutenant! Who might as well be the bleeding queen herself, far as you sorry lot are concerned. When the lieutenant speaks, you listen! And if, for whatever reason, you fail to heed that instruction youll be damn well hearing from me, and the whole of the disciplinary board besides! Am I understood!? Yes maam! Sergeant, maam! came the chorus of trained replies. There came a chuckle from the mounted officerthe suns glare and the brim of her hat hiding her features from view. What a wonderful introduction. Thank you, sergeant. Dont mention it maam! The officer visibly flinched at the womans volume. Y-yes, well, I suppose I should properly introduce myself then, shouldnt I? I go by Lieutenant Carver now, Meredith Carver in truth, though you all, naturally, may call me Lieutenant. Know that I intend to make the most of my commission, so do feel free to contact me if you should deem the need paramount. My doors are always open. And with a spine numbing chill so strong it nearly made her shudder, Eleanor couldve sworn those last words were directed solely at her. Shaking off the feeling as utterly ridiculous, she might not have been so quick to dismiss, had she seen the expression on her bonded familiars face. Standing just behind her, in a voice too low for even her own ears to pick up, Jun muttered something obscene under his breath. well shit. Chapter 65: Dear Diary; War is Hell Eleanor Day 01 Journal Entry 01 Mary insisted I keep a daily journal chronicling my time here in the military. I dont really have much to say so far. Oh wait! The wall! Of course. It truly is something else. Im now positive that not a single one of the descriptions Ive heard ever really did it justice. The food here is good and my fellow privates are accommodating. I even feel like Ive started to make a few new friends! One day. They were only one bloody day in, and already Jun had identified four, out of the nineteen new recruits, who unquestionably, without a shadow of a doubt, most emphatically wanted Eleanor dead. Eleanor Day 04 Journal Entry 06 Who knew so much of my time here would be spent waiting for something, anything to happen, in-between nonstop practice drills and unending busy work. Its comforting in a way. Reminds me a bit of what my life was like not so long ago. Funny how things can go full circle like that. Much to my dismay, Ive still yet to actually step foot on the wall. None of us have. Apparently, itll still be some time yet before any of us see action. I dont mind it so much. It gives me more time to work on my fundamentals and discipline, or so Im told. Out of all the chores, weapon maintenance is probably my favorite. The would-be assassin got within all of five paces of the oblivious girl before Jun was forced to actso singularly focused was she on the oiling of her blade. Well known throughout the camp to spend far longer on the task than most, it ultimately left only her, this assassin, and a supremely well-hidden Jun, present and accounted for within the army barracks tent. The other, far more sensible, or else far less masochistic recruits choosing to spend their downtime on worthier pursuits. Something other than the chores normally dolled out as punishment, in other words. Fun things like brawling, drinking, or screwing, S. Jun added wistfully. Something their assassin was likely already aware of, seeing as they were here and all, while any possible witnesses were not. Expertly creeping their way through the shadows, theyd just raised their blackened blade, and were beginning to strike, when, with a flex of his will, Jun shredded their, no, her, clothing to ribbonsleaving her standing there, stark naked, and without a single scratch on her. The assassin froze, clearly bewildered, at which point Jun raised the figurative shutter hed maintained over his ruby red irisesshining them bright enough to catch her attention. Once hers had locked onto his from where he reclined underneath the cot, all he did was give a slight shake of his head. Eloquently conveying through gesture alone what could have befallen her had he not shown such admirable restraint. The assassin blanched, then, with a hesitant nod of thanks and acknowledgment, slowly backed away, exiting the tent through the slit shed entered from. Eleanor Day 08 Journal Entry 11 Rice pudding served at mess this morning. Yum! In the dead of night, four hulking shadows rendezvoustheyre meeting clandestine, rife with foul promise and sinister intent. Converging to loom over the cot of an unsuspecting private, their overly large cloaks and baggy attire are insufficient to hide the broad shoulders and bulging muscle that lay beneath. With practiced hands, they reach down, and grab hold of the sleeping recruitstifling their struggles and any noise they mightve made just as easily as one might snuff out a candle. It doesnt take much for the four far larger women to carry the kicking and screaming body from the tent, then take them to the predetermined location. Shoving the girls face into the dirt to better muffle their cries, this is normally when the beating would begin in earnestwithin an inch of her life and then a foot or so extra, were their employers exact instructions. And, dutiful women that they were, theyd make sure to follow said instructions down to the letter. They were experts, after all, and it payed to be diligent. Everyone knew it was the lethal hits that always payed the best anyhow. All things considered, it shouldve been simple, easiest job of their lives, really. Only, when the first steel toed boot came down hard, made to cave in the deaders skull, a silvery mist lashed out to violently repel itflinging the woman off her feet, and breaking several toes in the process. Slowly rising to a standing position, this despite the concerted efforts of four massive women working very much to the contrary, a voice that was clearly not that of their target, spoke up in a quiet, almost melodic tone. Reckon you shouldnt have done that. Reckon you really bloody shouldnt have, and isnt that the gods honest truth. Still, figure I should be grateful, I suppose. Bout damn time I got to let loose. And then, it was they who were prevented from screaming. This in spite of the fact that they very, very much wanted to. Eleanor Day 08 Journal Entry 12 Im not sure why but Jun insisted we trade cots for the night. Of course his is way comfier than mine is. So unfair! I hope he doesnt ask to switch back again tomorrow. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Meredith bit back a scream of frustration. It wouldnt do to make a scene in the officers mess, no matter how warranted that scene may be. Fourteen failed assassination attempts. Fourteen! It didnt help that most chose to take their initial deposit, and then hightail it as fast as they could at the first sign of trouble. Cowards, grifters, incompetents, the lot of them. At least a few had the common decency to go down with the ship, ultimately leaving their deposit in a recoverable state, if a bit awkward to explain away to her superiors. It meant that she wasnt hemorrhaging money, so much as bleeding it profusely. Something she genuinely could not afford. Shed only been given so much gold to begin with, and already shed burned through a full quarter of her sister in law''s generosity in this endeavor. She very much doubted shed be receiving any more either. She could not fail here. There was simply too much on the line. Shed been circumspect so far. Acting from the shadows when possible, moving by proxy when it wasnt. Shed played everything by the book and look how little it had gotten her. Well, no more. It would appear shed need to be a little more aggressive if she were to have any hope of success. Eleanor Day 25 Journal Entry 33 This morning Lieutenant Carver instituted a mock dueling policy, though its only applicable for lance corporals and below. Everyone was ranked according to their performance, aptitude, and practiced due diligence in the line of duty. P.S. Wow! I was ranked #1! Can you believe that?! During off hours, anyone can challenge anyone else, and depending on where you place at the end of the month, there are all sorts of prizes and privileges for the top rankers. Im excited to see how I stack up against my fellow soldiers, and whether I can really prove I deserve the number one spot! P.P.S. I hear theyll be serving rice pudding again tonight! Double Yum! Eleanor has effectively spent the last week with a target on her back. Jun, for his part, while initially concerned, has since resolved himself to sit back and watch the show. He wasnt sure if it had anything to do with his attunement or not, but the girl was truly a monster where martial ability was concerned. She seemed to pick up new weapon arts like shed mastered them in a past life, often knew how best to wield a weapon immediately upon contact, and only seemed to grow in ease and proficiency from there. In the little over a month since theyd been there, Eleanor had taken what little the academy had taught her and expounded upon it exponentially. Itd been funny at first to see the initial trickle of ambitious challengers throw themselves at her in ones and twos. Now, it was just plain terrifying. Every group challenge intended to unseat her reign an overcrowded affair widely spectated by all. Not that their numbers ultimately made a difference for said challengers. Truly, out of all the meager natives hed come across thus far, this girl was quickly becoming one of the very few for which he had cause to take seriously. He didnt even think shed noticed that not a small number of combatants, had actually been using sharpened blades. Eleanor Day 39 Journal Entry 51 Im writing this just before I head out beyond the wall to brave the untamed lands of the true frontier. I know right?! I couldnt believe it either! I must have really impressed the Lieutenant with my mock dueling performance, because shes set me a special and dangerous task. One of the gravest importance imaginable, which she only feels comfortable entrusting to me. I am to brave the dead lands in search of an all-powerful artifact that was tragically lost in the heat of some previous battle. Truly, it is a weighty responsibility shes set before me. I only hope I can live up to her expectations. The second the gates slammed shut and audibly locked behind them, Jun knew that theyd effectively been left for dead. Shed done it! Shed given it a week just to be certain but-! Oh, by the Queens saintly graces, she had actually done it! More than once, Meredith had to actively suppress the urge to pump her fists or break into a skipping lope down the glowing stretch of tunnel, like some delirious schoolgirl in the wake of her first kiss. Flanked as she was by the stone faced, perpetually hard assed corporals whod helped facilitate this final phase of the plan, she was understandably hesitant to do so. Exuberance tempered by the cultivated image of the dignified officer she still needed to uphold. Not that their opinions of her would matter for much longer. As soon as shed retrieved her property, shed be out of there faster than you could say household amenities. All of this dirt and filth. The dreadful conversation, backwards living, and the food! Dont even get her started on the food! With how drastically even her basest standards for accommodation had fallen, she was perpetually surprised she had lasted this long. No more. No more would she be made to suffer. And as she and her two companions approached the imposing soul fire gates which marked the end of the underground, or she supposed, under-wall passage, Meredith truly felt ready to leave this unenviable chapter of her life behind. And was already making sweeping plans for the future. Mostly involving what purchases she would make. Now, as her two minions made to open the semitransparent gates, akin to tempered glass but chipped obsidian like in texture, Meredith thumbed the dousing rod shed purchased for just such an occasion. Already she could feel the subtle pull of the thing, guiding her in the direction of the binding stone shed commissioned. That simple act of commerce more than enough to establish a traceable connection between them, or so that back-alley witch had assured her. It was all looking up, everything going to plan, until the looming doors groaned open at last, and on the other side was revealed something that shouldve been impossible. Atop a mound of rift spawn corpsesone of only several made visible from her low vantage point, each of which had to have risen more than a story highsat a blood-spattered girl and her stolen familiar. Barely a scratch on either one of them. And at the foot of the stinking pile of bodies? To her horrified astonishment, not fifty paces away there was what looked to be a small armory. Blades, axes, helmets, pauldrons. She even thought she saw a jewel encrusted cuirass or two! Heaps and heaps of dented armor, gilded daggers, and expensive looking weapons practically shone in the midafternoon sunlight. The thump of a salute brought Merediths listless eyes back up to the girl. Standing at attention, she spoke. Apologies maam, Lieutenant maam! It only occurred to me after the fact that I never actually asked for a description of the fated artifact you mentioned, maam! For lack of a better alternative, I made the executive decision to collect as many of these lost artifacts as I could in the time I was allotted! Meredith felt sick. Thankfully, the Lieutenant predicted my predicament and so allowed for the time I needed to accomplish this task to the best of my abilities. I must also thank the Lieutenant for informing my familiar of the Lieutenants plans ahead of time, and so ensure that he brought enough food to last the week! She shifted her gaze, catching the glinting red eye of the smirking demon, where he lounged atop the mound behind his illegitimate master. Furthermore, if the artifact you requested is not among those items Ive already collected, maam, please do not hesitate to deploy me yet again! Although I would appreciate an in-depth description this time around, so that I might better accomplish my task! Maam! Meredith thought about accepting the offer. But then what would be the point? She once more swept her gaze over the massacred rift spawn sticky with congealed blood. Feeling like all the wind had been forced out of her, Meredith sighed the words more than she spoke them. No no need. At ease private at ease. Jun’s POV (11) Youre scared, he said, like it was a fact. Its understandable. We all are, to one degree or another. The total annihilation of the Black Sons was a shock to everyone. That it happened over the course of a single night, even more so. It was not something any of us expected, Im sure, more grumbling at thisthe angry kind a man makes when hes fearful but wont show it. Now. I cannot say that I come to you with the perfect solution. I can only say that I come to you now with a solution. The only one youre likely to get. I cannot serve you Yexing Cangyings head on a golden platter, for instance. Indeed I would much rather have you serve yourselves, should you insist upon it. There was a general feeling of confusion in response to this, whispered words shared between neighbors, trying to parse the meaning of his words. Before we get to any of that, however, I want to pose a question that is pertinent to every man and woman here. And I implore that you set aside your enmities and prejudices for the time being, and hold your judgement till the very end. If youve ever held faith in me or my word, I would ask that you permit me that much, at least. And, should you still find my words disagreeable by the end of it, you need do nothing more than that. All I ask is that you listen, the old man paused then, searching the assembly as if for even a grunt of dissent. There was none. The old man nodded. Then I ask you, what are we afraid of? I know it may seem like a simple question. A man, surely. A demon? Quite possibly. However, I would beg to disagree. I will be the first to admit that the erasure of the Black Sons, while scary in its implication, has only bettered that of myself and my people. Indeed I would go so far as to say many of you here have gained much in the wake of this sudden upheaval. A few nods from the crowd. He even thought he saw a few smiles. And the Night Runners? Im sure youve had your suspicions, but I can now say with confidence that their recent inner turmoil has not been natural, hushed murmurs of, Yexing Cangying, rippled through the crowd. Moreover, can you honestly say that youre terribly sorry for their strife? Do you, any of you, weep over their misfortune? More tentative murmurs. Jin had to say he agreed with them. The night runners were the worst kind of bastards, and theyd all known it. It was just, theyd been so large that no one could do a thing about it. Well, until he came along, that is. Have you ever wondered why it is that only some of our member are affected by his predations? Or if there might be a reason, a justification behind his actions? Something behind these attacks beyond the mere petty acts of violence carried out by a bloodthirsty man? Less agreeable murmurs this time. The assembly clearly didnt like where this was going. I stress all of this to say- to ask, rather, is it the simple idea that it might happen to us next that truly frightens us? Or is it the knowledge that some day, sooner or later, he will come for you as well? That the knowledge of your crimes makes that visit an inevitability? The lower level assembly was in an uproar now. Men and women jumping to their feet. Shouting, screaming, slamming meaty fists onto expensive looking tables. Jin, seated in the back corner, was first and foremost keen on seeing how things played out. Which was why he was one of the first on the ground floor to notice how many in the room, those on the upper levels especially, hadnt leapt to their feet in protest, and were instead patiently biding their time. Keeping their hands close to their chests, their faces impassive. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, he soon realized. Three more raps of the old mans cane brought a begrudging silence to the room. I know it may be hard for many of you to believe, but only one night hence did I speak to this Hidden Shadows at Night, character, as we have labeled him, and I discovered that he is not inherently opposed to the idea of a criminally run organization. It is merely the way some choose to go about their business dealings, and the lines many choose to cross that he takes issue with. There was another prolonged session of fist pounding, and red faced wailing, before three sound raps brought them back to attention. I come to you today, not as a leader, but as a messenger. He is amenable to the offering of terms. And quite generous ones at that, youll find. And in exchange? He promises not only our continued existence, but our complete autonomy. Just so long as we hold to a handful of honorable principles. In any event, I thought you should know that Ive since had my own people look over the details, and signed the contract last night.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. If the previous uproars had been uproarious, now the room practically exploded with disbelief and indignation. The old man, Lou Fang, merely produced a shit-eating grin, as if thoroughly enjoying the shouted vitriol and outrage. This time, he let the uproar tire itself out naturally. When at last tempers had, if not cooled, then quieted significantly, Lou Fang continued as if the interruption had never beenthe faint glimmer of that same smile playing at the corners of his lips. I understand that you may have your reservations. No. It would be more accurate to say I expected them. Which is why I convinced our resident Yexing Cangying to join us this evening, and explain his terms to you in person. Ah. There it was. The other shoe had dropped. And just like that, atop the stage, from behind a long velvet curtain, their Yexing Cangying emerged. He was a lot shorter than Jin had been expecting. Lou Fang quickly stepped aside, using his cultivated strength to leap to the second story balcony. From his newfound place of safety, he belatedly called out. Oh. And if you have any questions concerning his generous terms, I would suggest you take it up with the man himself. The growing roar quickly became a cacophony, as nearly all of the gang members on the ground floor, and some from the second, mindlessly rushed the stage. A hundred odd people, all things told. From his place near the back, Jin briefly entertained the idea of joining in on the mad rush. He couldnt deny his blood was up, and his mind whirled with thoughts of redemption. Of sweet revenge and righting wrongs. The idea of getting even a single good kick in on the bastard whod haunted many a sleepless night, was almost too good to pass up. And yet? The newfound caution this very man had instilled in him inevitably stayed his hand. Instead, much like those in the upper stands, he simply chose to sit back and observe. The first to reach him were those gifted with cultivation. They werent a rare sight within the underworld, but they werent especially common either. Twenty men and women broke away from the crowd, converging upon the diminutive form of the cloak-wrapped Yexing Cangying, moving at speeds a mortal man simply could not match. Jin leapt atop his table and craned his neck, not wanting to miss whatever came next. The twenty odd cultivators were barely a stone''s throw from Yexing Cangying now, many a concealed weapon brandished high. Most of them favored his chosen weapon, the dao, though he thought he saw a few gun, jian, and, to his great surprise, even a qiang or two thrown into the mix. Emperors balls! And here Id thought my dao hard to conceal. However did they manage that? Did they stick it up their ass? Jin was barely given a second to snicker at the implication, before the first of the cultivators, a large man wielding a gleaming qiang spear of all things, came within striking distance. As the man thrust the long reached weapon in a well practiced lunge, Jin genuinely thought that might be the end of it. There was the clang of steel on steel as, as if from thin air, Yexing Cangying produced the curved length of a dao saber. Too fast for his eyes to track, the cloaked terror deflected the lightning spear thrustshattering its shining tip into hundreds of glittering pieces. Once, hed thought the saying another of those flowery and unrealistic expressions. The ones you often heard spouted by those same untalented poets you rarely saw outside the red light district. And yet, to his astonished eyes, the flying shards of metal indeed appeared to glitter. To shimmer through the air with a ruby red luster. What happened next, he could not have said, even under threat of torture. It simply happened too fast for him to register. One moment, the lithe spearman was gaping at the state of his broken weapon, and the next, his entire upper half was just gone. Splattered across the faces of what forerunners led the reckless charge. Bringing them to a sudden, blinded halt, before the momentum of the mortals theyd left behind carried them inexorably forward. To Jins eye, the cocky cultivators didnt look so anxious to taste blood as they once had only moments before. Perhaps it was because theyd already had their fill? The scene repeated itself time and time again, as terrified cultivators swung with reckless abandon. Unable to retreat for the press of enraged bodies at their back. Some few on the edges were quick and nimble enough to launch themselves onto the second story balcony, but as for the rest? The curved head of a kuang dao swung down like the falling of a meteor, while simultaneous strikes from dao sabers and straight swords swept in from every side. As if his foes were moving underwater, Yexing Cangying deflected each strike respectively. Although, he didnt so much deflect as overpower his opponents entirely. Sparks flew, blades shattered, the flying shards ominously glittered. Glowed a demonic red many were beginning to think anything but natural, before heads were pulped, bodies were erased, and the remaining bits were scattered all across the heads of the remaining cultivators. By now, many of those cultivators whod witnessed the fate of their fellows, had begun to cut their way through the mass at their back. Willing to face the ire of the enraged crowd, over their certain death at the hands of Yexing Cangying. They were witnessing first hand, unveiled before their very eyes in raw, unfiltered, bowel watering detail, the true nature of the calamity which had befallen the Black Sons. And it was a sight to strike terror into the blackened hearts of even the most jaded souls among them. By all accounts, Yexing Cangying had not received even a single scratch during the short lived engagement, and already, fifty men and women lay dead at his feet. So mangled, so mutilated, that not even their families wouldve been able to recognize them. The stream of rushing bodies slowed, and hot tempers swiftly cooled, as those in the very back of the crowd were finally made to witness the scene of carnage theyd been plunging towards. Many stumbled back, many more were sick, and everyone had locked eyes on the lone figure of Yexing Cangyingnot a drop of blood on his fine gray cloak. So! came the surprisingly chipper voice of the young monster. Who wants to sign first? Jun’s POV (12) Jun didnt mind his leisurely pace so much, as he rode past expansive rice fields, humble domiciles, and sun tanned farmers in their conical hatsalready hard at work, having risen with the light of dawn. He found the scenery gorgeous within this trial worldsweeping fields, expansive forests, and spearing mountain ranges alland hed caught it at the best possible time. Having arrived at around the tail end of spring, it was now nearing autumn, which helped add a splash of variety to the otherwise verdant, dew speckled green. As well as a coolness to the air that was just shy of being uncomfortable. Besides, when was the last time hed been forced to simply be with his thoughts for hours at a time? Rather than find it boring, on the contrary, he found it incredibly relaxing, not having to constantly make sure he was keeping ahead of an ever evolving list of threats and responsibilities. Negotiations in Vermilion Flame City had gone even better than hed hoped, and now, as he sat astride his trusty steeda light brown donkey hed dubbed Challenger, naturally, for her docile temperament and gentle dispositionand headed back in the direction of twin leaf sect territory, he thought back on all hed accomplished these last four weeks. Itd been hectic, undeniably so, and it had all begun with his list of unanswered questions. Question #1: What happens if I outright ignore the trial completely, and instead do everything in my power to derail things as much as humanly possible? Nothing. Not as far as he could tell. He didnt complete the trial by any means, but nor did he fail it outright. Hed been outside the purview of the actual trial portion of this trial world for weeks now, and had never noticed a pull, nor a sense of urgency, that insisted he actually finish the trial with any amount of expediency. As far as he knew, you could spend an entire lifetime within a trial world without actually completing it. Indeed he might have stayed longer if he didnt have other things to see to. Question #2: What happens if I do everything the trial asks of me? Inconclusive. As he hadnt wanted to end it prematurely. Though he thought the results of such an attempt should be rather self explanatory. Question #3: What happens if I cozy up to the clear antagonist? Inconclusive. He didnt even know if there was a clear antagonist or not, as hed burned that bridge before hed even got to it. Thankfully, that had been quite a few restarts ago, so hed genuinely be surprised if anyone there actually recognized him. He was hoping to find out soon, regardless. Question #4: What happens if I kill the clear antagonist? Again, he was looking forward to finding out. Question #5: What happens if I use Leaping Slash outside of the Silent Sword Martial Blade School? Now this had been a bit of a gamble. Though itd been one hed made fairly early on, before venturing out on any of his more recent projects. Short answer? Yes. It was entirely possible to use his Leaping Slash mantra outside of blade school premises without triggering the trials main objective, and so ruin all of his hard work. Why this was exactly, he had no idea. But, on a positive note, hed even been able to improve upon it, if marginally. Not through iterative tampering postmortem, as hed been too afraid that might alter things in ways he couldnt predict, but simply by applying what he did have access to in differing ways. In effect, his Leaping Slash mantra sent out a crescent of near invisible manifest cutting force, at the cost of some mental energy expenditure. A negligible amount when compared to his aptly named piercing gaze mantra. It was a decent, if boring, application of the concept. Although, much like in its conception, hed found that, after a fair bit of trial and error, intent played as much of a role in the application of a mantra, as in its creation. Something hed used to great effect against the underworld mob bosses of Vermilion Flame City. Essentially, by shattering his opponents weapon into shards, something that wasnt terribly difficult to do with his titles, he was essentially launching a series of jagged projectiles at them. Metal shards which, through an application of intent, he was able to establish as having derived from his actions. A seemingly negligible distinction which, nevertheless, gave him a kind of dominion over them? A possessiveness over each and every flying shard. And seeing as they were all now technically his attacksan extension of his will, you could saythey were, from there on out, susceptible to the application of his Leaping Slash. Effectively launching hundreds of invisible crescents at his unsuspecting opponents from point blank range. The results of which had been far more devastating than hed initially intended, but it seemed to get the message across well enough so it wasnt as if he would complain. In the end, he just went with it. Better they be too busy fearing him to think of disobeying him, anyway. Question #6: What happens if I use Leaping Slash while inside of the Silent Sword Martial Blade School? Again, pretty self explanatory. More likely than not, the trial would end. Question #7: Just how far does the trial world extend? Inconclusive. Though he suspected far would be an apt description. The more he lived in this world, the more he spoke to its people and observed its customs, the less and less confident he became that the entirety of this planet had been spun into being just to serve him. Very humble of me, I know. It just didnt make any sense, otherwise. There was just so much cultural detail here, that the thought of it all being generated on a whim, was honestly more terrifying than the idea that he was less important than hed thought.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Question #8: Can I use other mantras whilst inside the trial world? No. And that didnt appear to be negotiable. He didnt know why, but, as far as he could tell, it was outright impossible to use any other mantra than the one he brought with him. It was actually pretty damn eerie. Like trying to scream in a vacuum. He reached out for a sensation he hadnt even known to miss until it was gone, only to be met with nothing but empty air. He tried his best not to think about it. Question #9: Do my previous efforts at cultivation still apply whilst within the trial world? Yes, but his progress remained stagnant. Neither improving nor declining in potency. He thought he could learn new techniques while inside the trial, but his baseline spirit pool remained exactly where it had been. Expending and refilling as usual. Question #10: What happens if I kill someone then restart the trial? More specifically, will they still be alive after Ive restarted? For that matter, will they still be in the same place, at the time that I first killed them? Short answer? Yes. Long answer? It depends. He hadnt even really needed to kill any one to figure this out, though hed only really realized that in retrospect. And for the record, yes, every time he reset, he essentially rewound time. So that everyone that had been alive was, big shocker, brought back to life. He would assume that also worked in reverse, but he couldnt verify it. Should he ever stumble upon the ability to raise the dead, he would be sure to test out that theory. Basically, depending on how influential a person was, the level of divergence in their behavior, from restart to restart, seriously varied. For instance, on a particular day, at a particular time, a dye seller and their prospective buyer will have the same exact conversation ninety nine times out of a hundred. Meanwhile the lives and patterns of a more influential figure, say the patriarch of a sect or lord of a city, often fluctuated wildly. Schedules changed, myriad particulars shifted, and their motives were never certain or easy to pinpoint. It effectively made the major players completely unpredictable, no matter how many times he restarted. Indeed it was so noticeable that he couldnt help but feel like it was intentional. The reasons for said hunch resting entirely upon the results of his final question, whatever they may be. Question #11: Is it possible to obtain titles, and or acclaim bonuses, by manipulating events outside of the Silent Sword Martial Blade School? This was what he was banking much of the efforts of the past few weeks on. Whether it was possible to establish an organization while outside the traditional trial taking premises. Whether it was possible to have such an organization recognized by the system. Through attempting this, hed been forced to contend with all manner of those unpredictable and powerful individuals, and he hoped that, by tangling with them and succeeding, he earned himself some choice titles for all his troubles. After all, the only reason he could think of for making their movements so unpredictable and erratic, would be to make dealing with them a matter of skill and competence, not just rote memorization. Two qualities the system back home valued greatly, and ones he was hoping this new system valued the same. As he jounced along with each of Challengers clip clopping steps, he silently went over all that hed done, and all that had yet to come. On this, his ninety sixth restart since first attempting this trial, many weeks had passed him by, and in all that time very little of his attention had been given to the actual minutiae of the trial itself. Hed made an art of avoiding the blade school and its goings on, not even sparing the expansive courtyard a second glancetoo many theories to test, too many avenues to explore. In this, his current attempt, nearly a month had passed since hed been presented with those mist shrouded steps, and, if he wasnt mistaken, this months entrance exams were set to commence any day now. Not that hed actually be participating, of course. His budding organization was already bearing fruit, it would seem. Convenient. As, not minutes before hed been set to depart, a little birdie told him some very unsettling news indeed. Pleasure girls worked over? Missing persons covered up? Rumors of a stark change in previously scrupulous behavior? It would seem not all was right within the storied halls of the martial blade school. And, so long as he was going to be in the neighborhood anyway? Well, he might as well do his due diligence. After all, where was the harm? Really, it was the least he could do. The venerable Zhao Long was compelled to leave his quarters at around noon. He might have stayed longer, but alas, the pleasure girls hed serviced throughout most of the night had actually left him feeling rather weak about the knees. Not that he would ever admit as much aloud, of course. Even still, hed quickly come to the conclusion that hed need some hearty refreshments indeed, if he were to ever have the strength to go on. And so, hed bravely ventured forth, striking out into the light of day. Away from the sweet comforts of his glorious silken sheets and luxurious goose down bedding. Sallying forth in search of a delicious meal that would properly sate his simply ravenous appetite. One of them at any rate. Well, one of many. He would also require more wine if he were to ever have even the hope of falling back to sleep. eventually, that was. When he found the time, that is. He had other plans which obviously took greater precedence. He let his feet carry him in the direction of the sword schools kitchens. It was a route he likely could have followed in his sleep by now. A series of twists and turns he couldve recited by rote. Which was just as well, seeing as his mind was currently occupied with the sweet reminiscence of hours past, and the many gentle promises still yet to be fulfilled. The god awful sounds of raised voices, and the violent clacking of pretend swords, nearly threatened to shatter the fading echos of blissful tranquility hed cultivatedthe nirvana hed been immersed in only moments before. Always the first to strive toward being the better man in any social situation, no matter who he had to tread upon to do so, he studiously did not let it bother him in the least. They could make all the pointless racket they wanted. He was on a mission. And he would see it through to the end no matter the cost. As he passed by a gaggle of fawning female disciples, fit and slim in their deliciously form fitting robes, he tossed them a roguish smile, and a wink for good measure, before carrying on about his businessnot wanting to distract himself from his ultimate goal. Even still Ancients bless the man who thought to invite women to this school. It had been four years since hed possessed the body of the Twin Leaf Patriarchs youngest son, and everything was going according to plan. Well more or less, at any rate. Case and point, he was now the eldest son and singular inheritor to his adoptive fathers grand dynasty. And indeed, if it werent for the mistakes of another casting undue suspicion on his broad shoulders, he would currently be living it up at the heart of his fathers domainbeing plied with all the women and drink a man could ask for. Instead hed been relegated to this backwater province in the hopes it would teach him the true makings of an honorable man, whatever that was supposed to mean. Given the fact that hed been a demonic cultivator in his past life, he honestly looked forward to seeing his fathers snobbish attendants try. Whenever they deigned to show up, that is. He wouldnt be holding his breath. Chapter 66: Dungeon Tower (I) It was only with the advent of the Azure Queen that humanity struck the first decisive blow to rift born kind. One that was heard around the world and back. Taking the war to them after countless centuries of indolence, the heros and fated champions, great warriors of old, rapidly expanded the boundaries of their burgeoning queendom. Beating back incursion after incursion with brutal efficiency. Facing off against impossible odds time and time again. Genius tactical know how and unrivaled levels of discipline what allowed them to continually win the day without fail. There tread relentless, prowess unmatched, ambition liable to shame the gods. Until that was, it very suddenly was not. Sad to say, the impetus of that first ever legendary campaign would not survive the death of its main driving forcethe Azure Queen herself. And though many after her have sought to claim that title in the decades following her death, humanity has been fighting a losing battle ever since. Where every one step forward means ten steps back. A retreating conflict where, this time, it was the rift spawn who had the upper hand. So that many of the great bastions, shining beacons of humanity meant to shield against the dark, were lost. The imposing towers, grand defensive formations, and the honored heritage they represented. Unwilling to let such an indignity stand, an elite task force was put together to retake these fallen bastions of civilization, led, as it just so happens, by a newly elevated academy graduate. Eleanor, now elevated to the rank of Corporal, peaked her head up over the lip of the rise, squinting to better make out the barren valley below. The dusty, rock-strewn bowl, more resembling an uneven crater, which just so happened to house one of several Impregnable Bastionscoined before repeated retreat and years of neglect had made a mockery of their namesake. That lost, tower shaped idol oh! And an unending sea of undead. How many of them, do you think? Eleanor asked, still unused to giving commands. The woman to her left sucked her teeth. Twenty thousand maybe. Thirty at the most. Right! So, no biggie then? The woman did not respond. Not that shed expected her to. Shed tried living up to the elevated station Lieutenant Carver had honored her with, all the way here shed done her very best, but as of yet, her command had been less than agreeable thus far. It probably didnt help that theyd been an established squad well before her appointment, and now more or less operated how she imagined they would have if she werent even there. Much of that involving treating her as if she werent even there. Not unless they absolutely had to. Like right now, for instance. Okay then. Lets head ba- But the woman was already moving, shimmying her way down the incline, before loping silently in the direction theyd made camp. back, Eleanor sighed. We go straight through. Eleanor gaped at the woman, Fen, once commander of their ragtag squad. But? After all your preaching that stealth is paramount when traversing the frontier? Did you not just hear the part about tens of thousands of undead? I did, but theres nothing for it, said Fen. Boulder here will make us a path, she reached over and patted the head of her Stone Salamander familiar. Okay? But what about our exit strategy? You cant expect us to hold out against that long enough for it to matter. The woman shrugged. Dont have to. All we need to do is reignite the soul crystal at the very top of the tower. Once we do that, all of the left-over rift spawn should crawl back into the vile pits from which they came. Uh, hey. Really hate to interrupt, but I still dont understand how you can be so damnably sure of this without it, you know, ever having been done, R. Jun chimed in. Fen said nothing, merely stared down her familiar with dead, almost vacant eyes. Shockingly, the scarred woman was the first to look away, though perhaps Eleanor shouldnt have been surprised, all things considered. Right then. Everyone ready? I want to be in and out. Brisk and efficient. No heroics, no unnecessary risks. Yes maam! was the squads immediate response. Eleanor traded looks with her familiar. He only shrugged, giving her a pointed look that she willfully ignorednot willing to rehash that same argument all over again. She looked up at the rise, picturing the hoards of undead it hid from view, and sighed.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Go! Well hold them back from here! Fen exclaimed, bashing in the head of yet another of the zombies trying to breach their makeshift fortifications. A sloppily raised stone barricade, already it was riddled with multiple zombie shaped holes, and was visibly crumbling before her very eyes. Standing on the narrow threshold of the grand, arched doorway leading into the tower proper, Eleanor hesitated. Smashing yet another undead with a brutal swing of her spiked mace, Fen glanced back, a flash of irritation twisting her features. Go! And so, ever the obedient soldier, Eleanor went, Jun trailing casually behind. Turning away from the furious melee happening on the wide tower steps, Eleanor fervently hoped that the woman was indeed correct, and that vanquishing the unending hoard of undead could be so simple as she suggested. Upon crossing the main threshold, they found themselves in a grand entrance hall, plucked as if from another place in time. Albeit not one especially far from the time they were now living in. The ceiling soared high above. Nearly swallowed by shadow, faded murals and worn carvings could just barely be seen adorning its surface. Depicting great battles and even greater victories. Or at least Eleanor assumed thatd once been the case. The walls here were made of the same semi-transparent brick as the great wall had been. Though, where those had burned with an inner fire, these looked as if those inner flames had all but gone out. Along these walls, alcoves housed the rusted remnants of what couldve once been armor. Likewise, the hall was adorned with the tattered remnants of tapestries or banners, she couldnt tell which. The remains of massive chandeliers hanging from rusted chains bolted into the ceiling, where they werent already littering the floor. Ahead of them, a faded carpet ran the length of the hall, leading up to a central staircase that branched off to either side. The one to the left ending only a few meters upa heaping mound of debris clear indication as to where the rest of that stairway had gone. And directly opposite them, upon the upper landing, stood a set of imposing double doors. Doors which couldve been a day old for how much wear and tear was apparent on its glistening surface. Like tempered glass, chipped obsidian in texture, the massive doors had clearly weathered the test of time. Their pristine state only made more miraculous given its contrast to the rest of the hall. Very keenly aware of what every second spent gawking was costing her team, Eleanor quickly rushed towards the end of the hall, taking the stairs three at a time. Reaching the landing at a sprint, she was just beginning to ponder how in the world she was meant to get the massive doors open, when the first of many cracks resounded throughout the hall. Swiveling on her heel, Eleanor could only watch in mounting horror, as a spiderweb of fractures swiftly spread across the hall. Racing across walls and ceiling like great arcs of lightning, shedding dust and debris as they went, it wasnt long before the first massive chandelier slipped its bindings and came crashing to the floor. And from there, a several ton rain of masonry soon followed. Spinning round, she was prepared to throw herself at the doors, if need be, only to find that Jun had already somehow leveraged them open and was now frantically gesturing her inside. Ears rendered deaf by the growing cacophony, Eleanor didnt waste even a second. She ran at the door, slipped through the narrow gap, and heard the door slam shut just before the deafening cascade nearly shook the walls from their foundations. Then the rattling stilled. For long moments after, the two merely breathed heavily in the sudden silence. So, said R. Jun, his eyes glowing in the relative dimness of the room. How much do you want to bet theyre not coming back for us? Eleanor merely rolled her eyes, not even deigning to dignify the question with a response. Getting to her feet, Eleanor stumbled in the dark. Reaching out blindly, she steadied herself with a hand on the wall, only to then leap back in surprise when, all along said wall of what was apparently a massive circular chambermaybe half that of the ovoid gymnasium where shed taken her physical assessmentlarge braziers flared to life with azure flame. Revealing, in turn, the many undead that shuffled therein. [CommonBorn Zombie (Lowly F Grade)] The numbers inside this chamber were in no way comparable to what waited for them outside, but nearly two hundred zombies packed into an almost airtight space wasnt anything to scoff at. It also wasnt particularly pleasant on the olfactory organs. With a simultaneous groan, as if they were all of one mind, the hoard of zombies turned and began shambling in their direction. Jun scoffed. Alright then. What do you say? Shall we make this interesting? Highest kill count wins. Loser has to profess their undying loyalty and base inferiority, valid from now until the end of all known time. What-? But before she could even cobble together a response, several ruby daggers were already whistling into the meandering hoard, decapitating ten zombies in the time it took to blink and dropping them like limp sacks of grain. Come now. Of course I know this contest is superficial at best, the outcome was decided well before either of us was born, but Id really rather expected more from you. The victory wont feel nearly so earned unless you at least manage to keep up. And so saying, Jun immediately leapt into the fray, heads, black ichor, and severed limbs rising and falling in his wake like some grim form of confetti. And, after only a moment of blank incredulity, Eleanor leapt right in after him. She couldnt just take this lying down after all. From atop their earthen vantage, the artificial plateau their leaders familiar had created, one of Fens combat elite hesitantly voiced a concern. Was that wise, do you think? Trapping the rift spawn in there with her? Werent that the one we was supposed to be delivering to the Lieutenant? Fen grunted. Any of you want to try restraining that monster while Boulder here drops a building on its master? There was no response to that, only an awkward silence punctuated by the shifting of feet. Theyd all seen what that particular familiar was capable of on the journey here, after all. But, isnt that bad for us? I mean, if we go back empty handed? Shouldnt be a problem. I sincerely doubt theres anything in there capable of putting that monster down. Whereas the girl on the other hand? I dare say that rift spawn cant protect her from everything. Well give it a week. Hopefully by then starvation will have weakened the rift spawn enough that collaring it will be easy. Then, we can finally say goodbye to this sodding hellhole. And to that, the rest of them could only agree. Chapter 67: Dungeon Tower (II) Splitting Chop! One crosswise sweep and half a dozen undead fell lifelessly to the floor. Well, more lifeless than they had been, at any rate. And again, and again, and once more for good measure. Juns arm a blur. His lemon-yellow extension a reapers blade, scything down moaning zombies like wheat stalks by the dozen. Bane to every creature unfortunate enough to find itself within his long reach. Well, with one rather persistent exception anyway. [Agile Undead (Middling D Grade)] Like some fickle wind spirit or slippery water elemental, it flipped, soared, and dove between his attacks. Wielding its rotting body with staggering precision. Over, then under, and around his every chop. Fluid of motion and dripping with poise, it trailed arcs of a viscous, vile smelling ichor, like glittering beads off a dancers brow. Showering everything in its nearest vicinity as it pirouetted through the air with enviable grace. Treating his deadly attacks like one might a friendly game of hopscotch, it wasnt a sight you ever thought youd see twice in one lifetime. And then the Agile Undead went on the offensive. It exploded into motion. Slipping. Sliding. Leaping through the air. Contorting its body to clear overlapping chops. Landing, rolling, feet whispering against the floor. Barely a scratch on it that wasnt personally inflicted. It raced, froze, let lashing yellow bands score the ground in front and behind. Then it was up and running again, back to a full sprint in less than a second. At times it moved so fast, and so unpredictably, that Jun honestly had a hard time keeping track of the blasted thing. And then it was upon him, barely an arms length awayeyes a milky white and blackened nails extended. Naturally, Jun kicked it through a wall. Or, he would have, had it not gone all mushy upon impact. Grunting with satisfaction, Jun turned toward where, even now, Eleanor appeared to be facing off against three such Agile Undead. Ducking and weaving with comparable grace, she appeared to be no, that wasnt right. It couldnt be could it? Was she using them as some sort of training? Weaving in-between unpredictable strikes without dealing any in return. Using her tiny buckler to great effect, deflecting and blocking. Even as she dispatched any of the wandering CommonBorn Zombies thatd sought to creep up behind her with lightning quick flicks of her blade. Shaking his head at her antics, Jun turned back to the undead arrayed before him. They were only on the sixth such floor of the expansive tower, and, by his count, he had to have been winning by at least thirty or so kills. It wasnt nearly a significant enough lead. The rattle of bones and squeal of armor was what greeted them on the twenty first floor. An army of skeletons decked out in busted plate armorpiecemeal and dented. Wielding rusty iron longswords, chipped daggers, punctured tower shields and the like. A legion of animated bones nearly five-hundred strong, twin pinpoints of green light emanating from each pair of vacant eye sockets. [Skeletal Footman (Middling D Grade)] Beside him he could practically feel the excitement radiating off of Eleanor in waves. He could tell she was ready and more than willing to tear into the bastards like a runaway carriage straight out of hell. A girl after my own bloody heart, and make no mistake S. Jun wiped away an imaginary tear. What? she turned to him, startled from her reverie. Im sorry, what did you say? I didnt catch that. Nothing! Ah, its nothing, dont mind me S. Jun sniffled. Just lets get at the bastards, yeah? All four of us. Like one big, happy family Four? her face scrunched up in confusion, before comprehension dawned. Ah, right! Four. Yes, well, lets. Shall we? Ive never wanted anything more in my life. And with that, mist wreathed buckler held aloft and knuckles liberally dusted with silver, familiar and master both exploded forthhitting the waiting undead army with an impact much like that of a fallen meteor. Bones, blades, and broken armor flew. And in the space of five frenetic minutes, floor twenty one of the Impregnable Bastion had been cleared like all twenty thatd come before it. It was from there that the analytical mind of G. Jun began to notice a rather interesting trend. As far as enemy distribution went, the floor layouts appeared to follow a repeating pattern, with every tenth floor effectively acting as the reset point. With the overall difficulty subtly trending upwards the further along they went, while spikes in difficulty only seemed to occur on the fifth and tenth floor increments respectively. It went something like this. The first floor of any ten-floor grouping would typically introduce a weaker undead enemycall these individuals grunts for the sake of time. Every floor after the first presenting half again as many grunts as the floor prior, until the fifth floor where an advanced variation on the traditional grunt archetype was introduced. For the first ten floors, that had come in the form of the Agile Undead, with its grunt counterpart being the CommonBorn Zombie.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Floors eleven through fourteen had consisted of what Eleanor had referred to as Ghouls. Lanky undead creaturescomparable in speed to the Agile Undeadwith six-inch-long claws and razor-sharp fangs. Their evolved counter part came in the form of something called a Draugr. A lot like the ghouls in overall appearance, but with the martial abilities of seasoned warriors. Or so Eleanor had assured him. Hed never gotten close enough to notice. And when he did, they usually didnt last that long, regardless of their martial prowess. From the fifth increment onward, so fifteen to twenty, twenty-five to thirty, etc. the total number of enemies stagnated, with grunts slowly being replaced by their advanced counterparts the closer to floor ten they went. Until, by floor nine, all they were fighting were the advanced variant in mass. Floors thirty-one to thirty-eight consisting of Skeletal Footmen, with their rarer counterpart being a bulkier skeleton with intact equipment, suitably dubbed the Skeletal Legionnaire. And then came the tenth floor, where all prior conventions were chucked straight out the window. There was only ever one enemy on this floor, and it was always the toughest enemy theyd faced by far, every subsequent time they faced one. [Skeletal Goliath (Lowly C Grade)] Eleanor stared up at the spot on the far wall, some ten meters off the ground, where a clear indent in the brickwork, radiating hairline fractures, still housed the massive figure of one Skeletal Goliath. A fifteen foot tall skeletal warrior of uncommon speed, strength, and durability, reduced to a smoking wall ornament. Gleaming bronze cuirass indented with a decidedly knuckle shaped impression, and eye sockets notably dim with whatever amounted to true death for these undead. A bit much, dont you think? Shouldnt you be, I dont know, preserving your strength or something? What? You said you were done toying with the creature, said R. Jun. I merely allowed for Crushing to do what he does best. If you have any complaints, Id take them up with him. Though I can tell you right now, I dont think moderation is a word that exists in his very limited vocabulary. Cant they hear you when you insult them like that? Hmm? Oh Im sure, but what are they going to do? Hit themselves? Thats actually genius. Fair enough, forget I said anything. Thank you, he replied. And, for the first time ever, if her ears werent deceiving her that was, she actually thought she heard a hint of sincerity in his tone. So, by my count thats, what? Your four-thousand ten something to my eight-thousand two-hundred twenty-three? I think Ill demand a foot massage for my first ever decree as your rightful lord and master. It only seems appropriate, given the indignities Ive been forced to endure in this world. And it was gone. Why all of these floors were laid out this way, G. Jun honestly had no idea. It didnt make much sense from a defense oriented perspective. [Nightshade Revenant (Greater C Grade)] A floating corpse draped in shamanic adornments, itd belched a thick, almost viscous gas near constantly, spilling over its rotten teeth to pool around its feetslowly filling the room with its deadly toxins. In the end, Jun had been forced to punch a hole in the side of the tower, then whirl his cutting blades about like a giant fan to help disperse all the noxious mist. That said, besides the poison and its surprising mobilityable to fly and all that, and not slowly eitherthe fortieth floor elite proved itself not much of a challenge whatsoever. This despite Eleanors insisting it was ranked higher than anything theyd faced thus far. To finish it, Eleanor fell on her buckler, launched herself flipping into the air with the explosive rebound, then lopped the revenants head from its shoulders from forty feet upcrushing it to paste under her boot heel on the way down. Needless to say, Crushing was nearly brought to tears. [Imperial Wraith (Lowly B Grade)] Breaking the mold somewhat, the sixtieth floor eliteghostly, etherial, and decked out in tattered imperial fineryconjured ranks upon ranks of wraithlike minions to fight its battles in its stead. The vast majority of its army made up of the ghostlike enemies theyd seen on earlier floors, there were a few pertinent exceptions in the form of its Imperial Wraith Guard. It was similar to the base Wraitha ghostly enemy whose touch could, quite literally, freeze the blood in ones veins. Also the Warrior Wraith variant which, instead of swarming mindlessly like the former were prone to do, were more cautious and orderly in their approach. Each of them wielding etherial weapons that phased through stone without leaving a mark, yet could carve frostbitten lines in living flesh with ease. The Imperial Wraith Guard were like the Warrior Wraiths in that way. Just bigger, faster, and more or less susceptible to the same strategy thatd worked throughout all of the ghost-oriented floors thus far. Splitting Chop! He hadnt even needed to aim really. Just wave his arms around frantically and watch the chilling hoard of specters disperse into reverberating screams and luminescent goo. This seems unfair, said Eleanor, from where she hovered at his back. They wont even get a chance to doanything at this rate. Untrue! Y. Jun exclaimed, indignant. It is he who chooses to be unsportsmanlike, friend Eleanor! The audaciousness of this finely dressed fiend! To think that he would stoop so low as to bring martial aid to a duel strictly of passions! When I would have been happy to test my fighting spirit against his any day of the week! Well, I suppose when you put it like that I simply cannot abide trickery from any but my closest rivals, and he has clearly proven himself too untrustworthy to be counted among those honest deceivers! And, at the end of the day, Eleanor thought to herself, there really was no arguing with logic like that. [Unholy Abomination (Greater B Grade)] Nothing needed to be said about this tenth floor elite. Not because it was overly easy or anything. In fact, as the elite of the eightieth floor, it was likely the hardest fight theyd come up against thus far. No, it didnt need mentioning, because it didnt need remembering. In fact, both Eleanor and Jun were working very very hard to make sure they forgot about it as soon as was humanly possible. All rippling meat, thick veins, and throbbing! No. The entire floor grouping. Just no. Jun had no idea why it wasnt organized in the way of a traditional bastion. With murder holes and cramped confines, instead of massive circular arenas that actually made the fights easier, if anything. Whatever the reason, it ultimately made for a challenging, though ultimately predictable gauntlet that was quite a lot of funif one ignored levels seventy one through eighty, as anyone in their right mind should do, in fact what levels were those againso it wasnt as if he were complaining. Perhaps that was why he was caught so off guard when they reached the hundredth floor and were greeted by the final elite of the tower. [Undying Lich (Monarch ClassS Grade Rift Spawn)] Jun’s POV (13) It hadnt taken much to overpower the soul of this bodys previous inhabitant. The patriarchs brat had been weak. Pitifully so. Oh, they say he wouldve made for a great man some day. Indeed, they said a lot of things. A kind and just ruler, blah blah blah. He wouldnt know. Hed never met the guy. All he did know was that he was currently making the best out of an especially shit situation, and was actually rather enjoying himself in the meantime. Zhao Long felt something slam into his left shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. Looking down, he met the eyes of a short boy in initiates robes. Clearly too large for him, he was practically swimming in them, though that was the least of Zhao Longs concerns. No, instead it was the fact that the filthy little insect was still standing after affronting him in such a deliberate manner. Whereas he should have been on his knees, begging for forgiveness, if not for his very soul. Ah! Greatest apologies, elder brother. I did not see you there. Please accept my humblest-! Too late, Zhao Long snarled, grabbing the insect by the throat and lifting him up by one arm. Luckily for you, I like to consider myself a generous man. For such a minor transgression, I believe an arm should suffice. And so saying, Zhao Long reached up, grabbed the boys arm by the wrist, and began to pull. Oh? But elder brother! the boy exclaimed, far less terrified than he had a right to be. And as for his arm? Remarkably, it wouldnt tear. It barely budged! Normally all it took was a small application of his cultivated strength to overpower most in this no name province. Minor enough to avoid suspicion, and thereby hide its demonic origins. And yet this mere boy? This mere child? What in the world was he made of? Elder brother, would it not be more prudent to sap me of my lifeforce instead? Or would you prefer my soul? That is the purview of demonic cultivators, is it not? Zhao Long froze. He knew. But how? How could he know? How could anyone have known?! Ive changed my mind. For that vile insinuation alone your punishment has been amended to death. So saying, Zhao Long let his fingers close around the boys neck properly this time and began to squeeze. And yet, again, the boy spoke calmly, as if he was having no trouble taking in air whatsoever. Thing is, Ive heard that you demonic cultivators are unlike us mortal men. Truly I am humbled to be in the presence of one such as you. For instance, is it true you can take a length of steel straight through the heart withoutrisk of injury? That was all the warning Zhao Long was given before the tip of a dao saber punched through the boys, now that you mentioned it, conspicuously oversized robesthrusting with unthinkable speed towards the center of his chest. [Bloodstained Dusk Veil Movement Technique!] In an instant, Zhao Longs body became as illusive as moonlight on an overcast night, just as the courtyard was inundated with the malodorous stench of a rancid slaughterhouse. With eyes like burning coalshis form turned wispy, gray, and indistincthe was just able to evade the quick thrust in time. Contorting his torso with unnatural speed and fluidityspine bending so far back it should have been at risk of snappinghe backpedaled awkwardly, burning eyes wary of a follow up strike. Finding his balance with little more than a shallow cut across his chest, it could be said hed gotten off lightly. Even that much, however, was unforgivable in the extreme. For the briefest moment, Zhao Long fought to repress his baser instincts. But alas, in the end, his heart just wasnt in it. He took a single step forwardthe scents of rotting carrion and spilled awful sharply intensifyingready to release all five gates of the crimson ravaged maiden technique on this impudent welp, this impertinent insect, when a second voice emerged from the shadows of a far alcove. So its true then, came the weary sigh of an elderly man. Zhao Long spun on his heel, ready to tear the throat out of whoever else fancied themselves prey, only to come face to face with a regal looking gentleman dressed in finely tailored robes. He was actually quite old, though you wouldnt know it just by looking at him. No, instead it was his eyes that spoke of time immemorial. A cultivator of the nascent soul realm, the waves of suppressive aura the old man gave off, simply by his existing, had the effect of stilling his bloodlust considerably. Of immediately locking his muscles in place. It was as if a never ending pit had opened up beneath his feet, and he was falling, falling, waiting for a splat that never came. A cold sweat beaded his brow, and rolled down his back. Even in his previous body, he wouldve been utterly powerless before this man. Zhao Long quickly dropped his demonic movement technique, hoping against all hope that the old man hadnt noticed. G-grandfather! What a pleasant surprise. I hadnt known you were-! Do not presume to address me so casually, demon! his words carried the spiritual impact of a whip cracking. It is enough that I have to suffer knowing youve been masquerading as my beloved grandson all these years. But to be forced to stomach that same deception knowing full well the truth of things? It is too much! Too much for this poor grandfather to bear. How I had not realized it for myself long ago Silence followed, in which the older cultivator continued to stare off into the distance, a forlorn expression on his ageless, though undeniably ancient, features. But, now that you do know and everything a jarringly chipper voice chimed in. You wouldnt mind if I, uh? You know? The boy made a rapid stabbing gesture with his dao. What? Oh, yes. You were the one to bring this filth to my attention. It is only right that you should finish it I suppose. My grandson, after all, is dead. And has been for some time now Again, the old man lapsed into contemplative silencea slow tear tracking its way down one cheek while his face remained otherwise impassive. Zhao Long, feeling like he wasnt entirely sure what was happening here, latched onto one very important thing with the desperation of a drowning man to a life preserve. The shitty old man wouldnt be the one to snuff out his existence with the mere snap of a finger? What good fortune was this?! Did that really mean all he had to do was contend with the boy, and hed effectively be released consequence free? No matter how unlikely that seemed, it was the only saving grace he was presented with, and so he clung onto that glimmer of hope for dear life.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He heard the telltale scrape of heel on flagstone, and spun around quickly, Bloodstained Dusk Veil already cloaking him in shifting blood dappled mists. His body twisting around the strike before the sneak attack had even neared its completion, Zhao Long smirked at the over eager welp. Clearly emboldened while his back had been turned, the boy had evidently over extended himself. His downward slash would ring off the flagstones well before it found his borrowed flesh. And by the time the insolent cur had fully recovered from his blunder, and so realized that Zhao Long was no longer where hed been a moment ago, the belligerent fool would already be dead. Zhao Long readied all five gates of his crimson ravaged maiden technique, just as the idiot boy''s blade collided with the stone of the courtyard, and shattered into a million glittering pieces. He never even saw the attack that rendered his borrowed body into a fountain of gore. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have successfully completed a |1 Star| ranked trial. OBJECTIVE CLEARS Main Objective: Show moderate proficiency with the Basic Mantra [Leaping Slash]. Complete. Hidden Objective: Defeat Brother Lang of the Silent Sword Martial Blade School in open combat. Incomplete. Hidden Objective: Complete the Silent Sword Martial Blade Schools monthly entrance exam with top marks. Incomplete. Secret Objective: Under your sole leadership, unite the underworld crime lords of Vermilion Flame City. Complete. Secret Objective: In a single night, single handedly eradicate over eighty percent of an affluent crime syndicates membership. Complete Secret Objective: Reveal the truth of the Twin Leaf Sect Grand Patriarchs hidden tragedy. Complete. Secret Objective: Kill the demonic cultivator Zhao Long. Complete. Secret Objective: Place the Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator Liang Zhentian, of the Liang family, firmly in your debt. Complete. TITLES OBTAINED *Ding!* A set of temporary titles have been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Butchers Bill 1| (Limited) Earned by slaughtering twenty five sentient beings consecutively. +500 celestial essence to body, mind, and spirit. The potency of your killing intent has increased. Your aptitude for demonic commune has grown. |Butchers Bill 2| (Limited) Earned by slaughtering fifty sentient beings consecutively. +1 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. The potency of your killing intent has increased. Your aptitude for demonic commune has grown. |Butchers Bill 3| (Limited) Earned by slaughtering one hundred sentient beings consecutively. +1.5 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. The potency of your killing intent has increased. Your aptitude for demonic commune has grown. |Butchers Bill 4| (Limited) Earned by slaughtering two hundred sentient beings consecutively. +2 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. The potency of your killing intent has increased. Your aptitude for demonic commune has grown. The potency of your killing intent has increased. Your aptitude for demonic commune has grown. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Neighborhood Boogeyman| (Limited) Earned by striking prolonged terror into the hearts of normally fearless men. Your aptitude for demonic commune as grown. Your killing intent now has a mind altering effect. Instilling a creeping sense of dread into all those in the vicinitysapping will and confidence in equal measure. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Peace Maker| (Limited) Earned by coordinating a lasting peace between sworn enemies. Your aptitude for angelic commune has grown. Your word now holds more weight with people than it ought, and you are more likely to sway opinions with nothing but your voice. *Ding!* A temporary title has been awarded due to your performance within the trial world. |Masked Vigilante| (Limited) Earned by taking the law into your own hands, and distributing justice by any means necessary. By instilling feelings of security into the hearts of mere strangers. The unseen and forgotten who were without further recourse, and bereft of options. And all with the implicit knowledge that they would never know whose name to thank for their blessings. +5 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit. Your aptitude for angelic commune has grown significantly. (Note: These effects are only applicable whilst within a simulated trial.) (Note: by completing a sufficiently high ranked trial, it is possible to transform a temporary title into one that is functional outside of a simulated space.) RENOWN BONUSES You begin to take confident steps down a dark and twisted path, and the bloody footprints you leave behind cause vast ripples to trail in your wake. By ridding Vermilion Flame City of its more irredeemable elements, and uniting the rest of the seven gang powers under a single terrifying entity, Yexing Cangyingan urban myth made fleshyou have established the first beginnings of an organization whose roots have the potential to extend all throughout the trial worlds. By revealing the existence of the demonic cultivator Zhao Long, you have upset the balance of power within the Twin Leaf Sect. By killing his son, you have made a lifelong enemy of the Twin Leaf Sects Grand Patriarch, Liang Chenglong. Conversely, you have made an ally of his father, Liang Zhentian, a man who is not so blinded by grief that he cannot see the truth. You are now more likely to find yourself within Seven Gang Territory. Acclaim Bonus: Half-blood Rebellion, Liang Zhentian, Seven Gang Territory Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect, Maximilian Alexander De Campos, Twin Leaf Sect, Liang Chenglong GREATER ALIGNMENTS You have yet to commune with either heaven or hell. Your soul is currently in flux. Heavenly Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Demonic Alignments: NOT APPLICABLE Complete Further Trials to Discover your Star Ranking. (Note: the more difficult the trial, the higher your overall ranking will be.) Trials Completed: [3 of 100] Overall Performance Rating: S Chapter 68: The Undying Lich From the second they stepped foot on the hundredth floor it was apparent that something was off. If the sickly green flames that flared to life from the many brasiers lining the walls werent indication enough, the half-skeletal figure reclining atop its throne of bones shouldve been a dead giveaway, no pun intended. That and the fact that the ground leading up to its raised dais was also made of bones. And so were the walls. Not to mention the massive chandeliers hanging from the, you guessed it, bone wrought ceiling. Across the chamber, two beads of sickly green flared from beneath lowered brows, undead, inhuman, and otherwise uncaringtwin suns of burning emerald trapped in hollow ivory sockets. Wreathed in almost scholarly vestmentsa long, tattered, ceremonial set of robes that might once have been redit was embroidered along the hem, collar, and low-sagging cuffs in gold. Copious amounts of jewelry adorned its neck, and many gem studded rings hung loosely on its slender undead fingers, each ending in wickedly tipped black talons. What skin it still possessed was pale and bloodless, and, as it watched them, head casually resting on thumb and forefinger, Jun got the distinct impression that they were in for a rough time. What what grade did you say this creature was again? asked R. Jun. Well Of course, Im not an expert or anything, but it definitely fits the description I read a while back. An Undying Lich, if my memory serves correctly. If I had to wager a guess going purely off of its soul energy? Peak A grade? Possibly higher? A Monarch Class Demon Lord for sure though, Eleanor gulped. And what does that mean, exactly? Generally? A singular rift spawn for whom the first ever Azure Queen wouldve had some trouble subduing. Oh? That doesnt sound so bad. According to historical records, the first Azure Queen was capable of decimating entire armies of B grade rift spawn, some of them numbering in the tens of thousands, with a simple wave of her hand. Oh. So, not great for us then. That was my conclusion too, yeah. And the crystal we came all the way up here for, is that it, do you think? Eleanor startled, snapping her eyes from where theyd been transfixed, to the skull sized crystal hovering just above the Lichs head. A glittering blue diamond, rhomboid in shape, it slowly rotated in place, fifteen feet above the grounda constant stream of soul energy pulsing from it in waves. Where it was then funneled, as if drawn inexorably down a drain, directly into the waiting Lich. Well, at least now we know why it hasnt gotten up to greet us yet. How terribly rude of us, interrupting its meal like this. Girl, go and tell it well come back at a later time. Whenevers most convenient for the wretched creature. Thats not good. I mean thats really not good. That crystal is supposed to be powering this entire tower! Not to mention all its defenses! This is probably the reason its in such disrepair. Huh. Is that why the walls are always so gloomy? Compared to that crystal, this entire place is like a starved puppy begging for table scraps. Jun! This is serious! I dont think we can fight that thing. Who knows how long its been absorbing all that energy! So much Do not fret, friend Eleanor! So long as we believe in ourselves, nothing is impossible! And then, before Eleanor could reply, the skeletal figure on its ivory throne shifted. When the Lich spoke, it was in a dead, raspy monotone. DIE. Initially, the fight had more or less gone off without a hitch. Immediately following its grave pronouncement, a glowing toxic cloud escaped its mouth. Not too dissimilar from the Nightshade Revenants signature move, as it so happened, if of a darker cast and far larger in quantity. Toxic gas rapidly filled the room. Jun merely dealt with it much like he had the last timepunching a hole through the sturdier, albeit still susceptible, bone wall, and directing any smoke that came their way out the impromptu window with whirling blades of cutting. Within moments all of the noxious gas had been cleared and, thinking to capitalize on the floor elites apparent reticence to act, Jun had flung a barrage of ruby daggers its way. Glittering blades eating up the five hundred paces in seconds, hed actually dared to hope this might be resolved as easily as that. The plink of his daggers rebounding off something solid and, for all intents and purposes, invisible, sounded loud in the relative silence of the chamber. Confused, it took him several more rapidly conjured volleys before he realized what was wrong. Before he spotted it. An aegis. A nearly invisible sphere of energy was deflecting each of his ranged attacks as if they were nothing more than bothersome insects. Undeterred, Jun had thought to use the same strategy he had against the last opponent whod thought themselves immune to his blades, when the aura in the room changed. Death. Like skeletal fingers snaking around his throat, wrapping their icy hands about his heart, and kneading them through his brains, the cold chill of death abruptly suffused the room and everyone in it. Pooling out from the Undying Lich in dreadful waves of sickly green embers. Waves that made his own sorry trickle of aura look paltry in comparison. For a second, every beating heart in the chamber went still. And then, from the very depths of the tower, or else from the very air itself, the Undying Lich summoned his minions. They formed out of the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Flowing up and down and from either side. Out from between gaps in the cleanly picked bones, and then coalescing out of the bones themselves. It was only then that things truly started to go down hill. [Malleable Undead Brute (Middling A Grade)] The blow from the person sized necrotic fist had Jun careening through ten consecutive floors, before the splitting chop hed landed reached its full extension. At which point he began rocketing upwards towards the brutemuch to the indignation of the splitting chop in question. Floors tore past. His hair a whipping mess. And all the while the manifestation of his mantra tried its best to end him, just as surely as the brute had mere seconds before. Jun ignored them all, the writhing yellow band, the sharp pain in his ribs, even the necrotic amalgam of rotting flesh he was rapidly ascending towards. Instead focusing all of his attention on the moment of transition. His timing had to be perfect. His control precise. The hole hed made loomed ever closer. Jun braced. His body tensed. Then, in the moment just before impact, a sudden burst of silvery mist exploded, coalesced, was made to saturate his feet all the way up to the ankles. Chrome soles met necrotic flesh at meteoric speeds, and Jun nearly wept in truth at how little any of it seemed to do.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Oh sure, he sent the lumbering sack of meat flying for several meters, no small feat given the brute had to weigh at least a couple dozen tons. Even still, he could practically feel it through his souls. The resilient almost rubbery retention of its body as it absorbed and redistributed the vast majority of Juns attackleaving it, at the end of all that aura expenditure, more or less unharmed. It was infuriating. Jun soared through the hole in the wake of the necrotic titan. Flipping through the air, lashing out a splitting chop, and tugging himself away before the Undead Brute could land on top of him. BOOM! As the pale giant came crashing down in an uncoordinated heap, the entire tower shook. Almost humanoid in stature, nearly thirty-feet-tall while standing, it was a faceless thing of pale rot and decay. Stitched together from the parts of many dozens of undead, it was able to manipulate its body on the fly. Rearranging limbs, vital areas, or even growing new ones entirely, it was a creature of unending modifications and seemingly endless undead vitality. Possibly the only advantage against these monsters they had, being the clumsiness that came with lugging around all that extra bulk. From where he was only now staggering to his feet, Jun caught the telltale signs of movement from out of the corner of his eye. Reaching out blindly, Jun was just barely able to catch the flying form of Eleanor, feet skidding on the floor, as she was nearly sent careening into a wall. The other two Undead Brutes shed been keeping busy now free to direct all of their multifaceted attention on him. Or at least that would have been their greatest advantage, had there not been two more of them. A hundred paces away, the Brute hed knocked over was getting to its feetalready molding itself to better counter his abilities. And what, Eleanor panted, holding a hand to her side. Do you think of our chances now? Jun looked out at the approaching trio of titans, and then back at her. Not good! Y. Jun exclaimed cheerfully. Inside The Pantheistic Workshop
Once persecuted to near extinction by overzealous members of the royal family, a secretive society of undercover werewolves have since deeply entrenched themselves within the royal government. Covertly seating their lupine members in every important position throughout the corrupt bureaucracy. Praying on the good people of the city state by night, and effectively ruling them by day, these werwolves sought to cement their rule by assassinating the royal family. With the plan being to seat one of their own kind on the throne instead. And so it was that, on a portentous, silver-moon lit night, one quickly dyed red with buckets of royal blood, their attempted coup went off without a hitch. With perhaps one rather pertinent exception. On that fateful night, the youngest princess, a girl of only thirteen years, somehow eluded their supernatural perimeter, leaving her the only living witness to the wholesale slaughter of her family. Living witness, and the last true contender for the throne. The only question on everyones mind after that bloody nightcommon citizenry and werwolf aristocracy alikebeing: Where could the little princess possibly be hiding? And for that matter, who had hidden her in the first place? Well, everyone but Jun. Primarily because hed been the one to rescue her. Fat lot of good thatd done him. Who knew a princess of the realm could be so demanding? Talk about high maintenance. You saved her life one day, and then, once shed gotten over the shock of her entire family being murdered, it was all nag nag nag. Every minute, of every hour, of every day It was exhausting. Apparently, an out of the way farmstead, two hours from the nearest town, which itself was located a quarter mile shy of the back end of nowhere, was no place for a noble lady, let alone one of her elevated station. Didnt matter that its remoteness was entirely the point. Not that shed been complaining overly much recently. Not since shed warmed up to that shy farm boy. Hed even caught her doing house chores on more than one occasion, though only when the messy haired boy was around. Seriously, did these people learn nothing from history. From current events even. As if this brewing war of succession they had going on wasnt already complicated enough. In fact, this entire trial run had been so unexpectedly frustrating, from nearly beginning to end, that he honestly welcomed it when the werwolves attacked. He was surrounded. Completely surrounded. Outnumbered, outweighed, outclassed by any reasonable metric. The farmstead at his back. His self-proclaimed charges huddling therein. The dusty farmyard cast in shades of etheric blue. A silver luster. Affecting windows and tufted fur alike. Setting them ablaze with cool radiance. Moon touched. Like someone had woven light into a brilliant blue cloth and cut out even shapes from the resulting fabric. The haunting beauty of the celestial body contrasted harshly by the bloodlust wafting from the six hulking, fur clad figures ahead. The one at their head, the largest of the six, spoke uphis voice deep and strangely accented. I must say, you did good. Led us on quite the merry little chase, he drawled. Had us nipping at our tails moren once, hunting you down. Really had me wondering, what kind of a man it was we were dealing withto keep that royal chit upwind of us for so damned long. Only, come to find out, youre barely a man grown yourself, aint you boy? Jun eyed the werwolves carefully as they slowly made to encircle him. Their balanced postures and easy gait evincing a dancers grace and explosive power. A terrifying sight to behold from any warrior, let alone these veritable giants. The smallest of which stood at a little over seven feet tall. Looks can be deceiving. You of all people should be able to relate. The wolves literally howled with laughter. Two of the younger wolves taking the others distraction as an opportunity to pick up their pace. Taking on a loping stride, they made as if to sidestep him entirely, and so be the first ones to enter the home. I wouldnt do that if I were you, Jun called out to them, never taking his eyes from their apparent leader. Shes more trouble than shes worth. Trust me. The leader barked a laugh, and the two juniors went still. Well, isnt that the nifty little coincidence? Wouldnt you know it? Seeing as were in the neighborhood and all, and I seem to find myself in a generous mood, wed be willing to take her off your hands for you, free of charge. More howls. More hilarity. Jun made sure not to visibly tense up, though in his mind he was ready for just about anything. Well? What do you say, pup? You wanna go ahead and hand her over now? Or am I gonna have to go straight on through your sorry little-! Oh, for the love of-! Shit, hold that thought, would you? I really need to take this. Jun blinked away the initial purple screen solely meant to get his attention. Whats up? Kind of in the middle of something here, Jun said to what was effectively thin air. The werwolves were perplexed at first, then they grew outraged. I just thought you should be aware that your mortal coil is not long for this, or, indeed, any other of the known worlds I am currently aware of. Sensing that they were being disrespected somehow, the half-beast half-men didnt even bother bandying words about. They merely threw themselves at him, faster than the mortal eye could track, jaws dripping saliva and wicked claws extended. Jun only spared them a look before reciting what was quickly becoming one of his more favored mantras. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Crushing Erosion] (3rd Tier) My body the temple; my enemies the wavelet them crush themselves against my stability. Grade: (Great Quality) In an instant every part of his body, down to the minutest detail, was completely saturated with crushing auraeffectively transforming his body into a living chrome statue. Through and through. Insides and everything. The first claws to reach him skittered harmlessly off his freshly hardened skin. The second, more forceful attack, was rebounded with the same amount of force as was put in, effectively launching the werwolf off its feet. Damn. Already? Okay, but Ill need you to give me the abbreviated version. I only have fifteen or so seconds before the backlash from Crushing Erosion kills me. I can do you one better. A recording from exactly twenty seconds ago. Relative to my time and not yours. Naturally. Jun blinked, and a screen popped up in front of him, thankfully obscuring the frenetic scene of flashing claws and drooling canines. On it was shown a losing battle. One hard fought against hideous, pale creatures, the likes of which belonged in nightmares or the trial worlds. Not the spirit plain his spirit body was trapped in. What the hell was going on in there? Despite his confusion, he recognized that he was quickly running out of time. He only had seven or so more seconds before his mantra went critical, and he could already see that a few of the werewolves had forgone attacking him altogether, as it had more than proved meaningless, and were instead gravitating towards the farmstead at his back. Studying the recording one last time, Jun pulled up the descriptions for each of the mantras he had in mind, modifying them a bit before he spoke. Assimilate [Lancing Spear | Reaching Spear]. That should help with the pasty giants. And maybe [Field of Rose Petals] too, just for good measure. Understood. And really, that was all that he could do for himself for now. Everything else was either too weak or too unstable to be of use. He just hoped that the him who was out there knew what to do with what hed sent. Letting any lingering uncertainties go with a long exhale, Jun once more turned to the task at hand. He had some werewolves to kill and a farm boy to save. Oh, and the princess too, he supposed. Hed probably have to save her too, now wouldnt he? Chapter 69: I See It Now Jun deftly veered away from the skull shaped fireballquick steps and acrobatic contortions winning him the daycareful to give the licking green tongues of necrotic flame a wide birth. It only took a brief introduction to the wonders of necrosis and its myriad effects, to recognize that it, generally, made for a very bad time. Rolling, skidding, then popping back to his feet, Jun kept up the repetitive mantra thatd saved his hide more than once during this interminable fight. First comes fire Still around a hundred paces from the limp sack of bones thatd conjured the ball of flame, Jun didnt go on the offensive immediately. Hed learned better than that in the small eternity theyd spent fighting this S Grade Monarch. Instead, he lashed out blindly with a Splitting Chop, jerking himself to the side like his life depended on it. Which it did, as it just so happened. Like clockwork, the disintegrating beam, a nearly invisible warbling on the air, speared through where his head had just been. The disintegrating beam, much like it sounded, was not something he wanted anywhere near his head, or any of his other extremities for that matter. Then comes the beam Its patterns of attack had almost become rote at this point, though it didnt make its abilities any less effective. And he was conscious all the while that, at any point in timewere the Lich to, say, start taking them seriously for instancethe S Grade Rift Spawn could simply switch up its attacks, and that would pretty much mean the end for him. And after the beam comes A lance of frost, several in fact, shot forward with a lazy gesture of its skeletal hand. More a barrage, a concentrated volley, than a singular attack, Jun met the wall of conjured frost arrows with fists wreathed in silver mist. Punching forward just as the bite of arctic cold began nipping at his skin, the air in front of him simply imploded. Folding in on itself before blasting out and away in every direction. The cloud of projectiles ricocheting wildly, when they werent dispersed into harmless gale force winds and cutting snow flurries outright. Well, harmless when compared to the alternative at any rate. Now! Jun sprang forward, using every trick in his limited arsenal to eke out every last bit of speed from his body. Using splitting chops to haul himself forwardin between explosive silver steps and brief flares of Spearing Hand to cut down on wind resistancehe rapidly closed the hundred or so paces separating them. Every unique burst of speed smoothly transitioning into the next as he swooped, spun, and veritably flew across the uneven ground. Now, of course their easy coordination hadnt started out that way. But thanks in large part to the Impenetrable Bastion and its many challenges, the four of them had been given ample time with which to practice their communication skills. As well as the perfect kind of incentive to make sure they got it right the first time. He had seconds, maybe less, before the next chain in the rotation. A tiny, realistically minuscule, window in which to act. Though, when it was all you were given, you really had little choice but to make do. With explosive steps Jun closed in on the Undying Lich where, even now, it reclined on its ivory throne. Ascending its dais in a single bound, he grimaced in anticipation, fist already reeled backglistening like chrome and more than ready to strike. A Frightening Gaze descended. A presence shocking through him like ice injected straight into his veins. Jun froze. Every muscle seizing up. The tiny green suns housed in its orbital sockets beginning to grow larger, even as his surroundings steadily dimmed. Ballooning to the size of actual stars in his ever-expanding view. Until they took up the full range of his vision, in its inflated totality. Overwhelming. Oppressive. The dread aura they radiated like frostbitten fingers. Worming their way through him like life sucking tendrils of cold. With a vigorous shake of his head, Jun quickly dispersed the spell. The Frightening Gaze, or so hed dubbed it. It wasnt really a technique, so much as it was this creatures attempt to dominate his will. Unfortunately for it, if there were two things for which he was never lacking, it was a stubborn streak a mile long, and a general disdain for authority. Cutting and Cleaving grinned in aligned satisfaction, before a chrome fist came down hard on the creatures invisible aegis. BOOM! The aegis shook, the tower shuddered, and an explosive sphere of force rippled out from them in waves. It was just too bad it didnt appear to have done anything. Planting his feet on the apparent sphere of invulnerability, Jun leapt away from the reaching hand, before the Lich could release whatever dread spell or curse it could only deliver by touch. Hed yet to be touched by that grasping hand, and he had no intention of finding out what it did the hard way. Using an explosive leap to launch himself back a dozen paces, he landed, rolled, then swiftly retreated another hundred pacesmentally preparing himself to do the same thing all over again. It seemed hopeless, if one were to look at things objectively.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Throwing himself at the bony creature again and again, despite it not having worked the first time or any time since. But with Eleanor doing everything in her power to keep all three of the Malleable Undead Brutes preoccupied, he couldnt, in good conscience, do anything less than his very best. Even if it was ultimately doomed to fail-! Blinking at the purple system screen thatd suddenly popped up to obscure his vision, he cursed. He couldve kicked whoever thought now was the perfect time for a distraction. Blanching, Jun blindly threw himself to the side, just barely missing the green fireball as it roared past. Without even a second to catch his bearings, he was rolling to the side just as a warbling disturbance ate a perfectly circular hole in the floor. Not out of the woods yet, Jun used a chrome wreathed fist to punch at the air, knocking the volley of frost lances off their mark and propelling himself back in the same motion. Dancing back until he was truly out of range, only then did he read the treacherous notification. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Lancing Spear | Reaching Spear] (3rd Aspected) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Lancing Spear | Reaching Spear] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Field of Rose Petals] (3rd Tier) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Field of Rose Petals] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. Jun stared at the set of objectively lackluster mantras in blank incomprehension. Wondering, why now, why here, why these? Figuring there had to be a reason, he focused on the notifications, trying to will comprehension, and was surprised when a tool tip suddenly popped up. Pressing it with his mind, he watched in wonder as a pair of descriptions appeared just beneath each mantra. Mantra: [Launching Spear | Reaching Spear] Description: Hey. To whichever one of the alternative mes ends up reading this, use this killer beam on whichever is the biggest, baddest threat currently on the board. Better hope its pretty slow on the uptake too, cause this things a son of a bitch to charge up, and you arent moving it for shit once it really starts going. Packs one hell of a punch though. Best on immobile enemies, or ones too big for that to really matter. Helps to have someone at your back to cover you while using it. Hope this helps. Oh and, do me a favor? Dont die. Limited Time Uses: 3 Charge Time: 45 minutes Ability Duration: 5 seconds Ability Cooldown: 48 hours Etheric Concessions: Stand Your Ground, Storm Threads the Needle Mantra: [Field of Rose Petals] Description: Me again. Now this ones a real doozy. Not at all like what Id been going for initially, but after testing it out and seeing it in action, its one of those, you really need to see it to believe it, type abilities. Although, just a heads up, it has this annoying habit of killing you when you use it the wrong way, so I wouldnt risk it unless your exceedingly confident in your blade work. And even then, Id still be extra careful. Just dont miss, trip, or otherwise perform in any way that could even remotely be seen as, undignified, and you should be fine. Cast it on your friend over there. It takes a while, but the effect should last for about five full minutes without it needing another etheric infusion. Yours truly well, you, I guess. Limited Time Uses: 1000 Charge Time: 30 seconds Ability Duration: 5 minutes Ability Cooldown: 30 seconds Etheric Concession: The Curse of Perfection Jun fought the urge to reread the nonsensical message, instead doing as the description had said, and beginning to chant the peculiar mantra. Immediately, a crystalline rose bud coalesced in a swirling vortex of red aura, appearing barely an inch from the tip of his nose. Across the room, Eleanor jerked in surprise as a ruby red glow likewise began creeping up her blade, though it should be noted that her shock didnt appear to hamper her graceful evasions any. Dancing between the legs of the massive Brutes with enviable ease, she threw an inquisitive glance his way, even as she sidestepped a massive necrotic fist. A new ability of mine! R. Jun shouted over the crashing din of titanic fists and stomping feet. Dont really know what it does, as of yet, but I apparently thought it was a good idea to gift it to you. A look of confusion scrunching up her face then. Im told you should just carry on as you have been! Oh! But do be sure to notify us should you notice anything unusual. Im very curious to see what all the mystery is about! Bringing his focus back to the floating flower bud, he watched, entranced, as it slowly began to blossom. A quick glance all it took to confirm a hunch. That the further it bloomed, the more completely Eleanors blade was sheathed in the red substance. Seconds passed, the flowering process appeared halfway done, and Jun was truly beginning to sweat. The infusion of aura far more taxing on his mind than hed expected it to be. Even the largest, most involved sword cyclones hadnt taken this much out of him. By now, the rose petals had almost reached full extension, and nearly all of her blade had been coated in a deep red, almost gel like substance. Thankfully, it didnt appear to be impeding her blade work any. Ah! That reminds me! Oh! And do try to be dignified in your swordsmanship. Its quite possibly the only thing within that rambling diatribe I wholeheartedly agree with. You should aspire to be poised in all things, naturally. Elegance, after all, is next to godliness. And that goes doubly so for instances like this, where it may very well determine whether you live or die. Well will determine, really. In fact, I would perform flawlessly from here on out, if I were you. Just to be safe. She was looking at him with open alarm by now, but before she could say anything, R. Jun finally finished the aura hungry infusion. With a small puff, the rose burst apart into a cloud of quickly dissolving petals. Meanwhile he nearly fell to his knees, the wind having been thoroughly knocked out of him. Across the chamber, the viscous gel thatd fully coated Eleanors blade flashed, but before Jun could catch even a glimpse of its effects, a tide of necrotic flesh hid her from view. Clicking his tongue at the poor timing, he nevertheless turned back to his appointed task in all this. Facing the Lich once more, Jun began to recite the convoluted words of his second new mantra. The Lich, as ever, reclined casually on its throne. Content to sit there and consume soul energy, as if its entire domain werent under attack. So be it then. If it was keen to give him a clean shot, who was he to refuse? Chapter 70: The Ire of Monarchs Eleanor deftly evaded yet another colossal downward strike. Like a dancer, she moved with the seismic tremors that followed, sidestepping three other such attempts to smash her flat. Yet even as she stepped, twirled, and slashed with practiced ease, Eleanor keenly felt like a fish out of waterdesperately gasping for air. Every ragged intake like she was breathing down hot coals. In fact, she had just begun to flag, to fully submit to the heavy chains of exhaustion that plagued her, when Jun had activated his new, suspicious, and clearly quite dangerous ability. Where he was getting this from, she had no idea. As far as she knew, rift spawn were only supposed to have a set number of abilities. Regardless of her familiars increasingly dubious origins, though, now with a glowing gel coating her blade, she really didnt know what to expect as she lashed out at an opening in the Undead Brutes barrage of attacks. Slashing a pale line into the creature''s calf, one that sealed back almost as quickly as she could make the cut, Eleanor was immediately alarmed to find that a trace amount of the gel had scraped off. Bits of the flying goop hardening in midair. Molding themselves into what looked a lot like floating flower petals. It only occurred to her that, perhaps this was what the ability was meant to do, when, after ducking a massive swing and flicking out her blade to counter, the strange petals raced to follow. Now, instead of one pale line carved into the meat of the Brutes arm, three such quickly sealing lines appeared. And again, more of the coating had shed away, only to coalesce as two more vibrant petals. But that wasnt even the most amazing thing. The truly astounding part had been when the first two petals to carve a line in the Brute suddenly multiplied. Splitting off to create four identical rose petals. Then, much to her excitement, after shed delivered yet another slash, this time with all six petals, six more suddenly emerged. Eleanor couldnt hide her grin. Because while, sure, she might not be able to kill these undead rift spawn, even with this ability, at least now, finally, shed be able to do some lasting damage. It wouldnt be outrageous to say that Jun rarely struggled with resource management. When the resource effectively amounted to his mental fortitude, very rarely was it the case that he completely ran himself dry. There were always those last dregs of can do attitude for him to fall back on. To scrape from the bottom of the metaphorical barrel. Aura a near limitless resource, with his bodys adverse reactions to the channeling of said aura the only real limiting factor. All that is to say, the simple fact that, by the time he was finished charging up his new mantra, he was essentially running on empty, should really tell you something about the sheer enormity of the task. And the strangest part was, it didnt look or feel all that powerful, despite costing him more than any number of previous aura expenditures had, and not by a small margin either. Much like his [Field of Rose Petals] mantra, [Launching Spear | Reaching Spear] seemed to require a physical manifestation to function. A focus of some kind that seemed to drink up aura by the ocean full. In this case, it took the shape of a slender emerald rod. Slightly tapering to one end, it was smooth to the touch, as thick around as his index finger at the base, and about fourteen inches long. Hovering an inch from its tip was a rapidly spinning ball of light, which he pointed at where he figured the pointy bit should gotowards the still oblivious Lich. Which ultimately left him standing nearly the entire length of the chamber from its throned dais, nearly three hundred paces all told. Pointing a glowing wand in the S Grade Monarchs direction and feeling more than a little foolish whilst doing so. He didnt even know the true range of this thing, nor any possible drop off it might have. That said, he couldnt seem to shake this feeling it wouldnt disappoint. He only had one shot at this, so it had really better not. Unable to drag even an ounce of focus away from the arduous task, he wasnt able to shoot a look Eleanors way. To warn her somehow of what was to come, or even check up on how she was fairing. Instead, all he managed was one last trickle of piercing aura, before his field of vision was consumed by emerald light and his body fell limply to the floormental energy completely exhausted. In this way, Jun never got to see the fruits of his labor. Never got to watch the Lichs eyes flare wide, as a beam as wide around as a royal carriage grew to eclipse its perspective in less than a second. As the S Grade Monarch Class, the Undying Lich, tried to teleport, tried to shield itself, scrambled for anything and everything that might somehow avert imminent disaster. As first its shields were disintegrated, then its sphere of invulnerability pierced, and finally as its undead body was consumed in an unstoppable outpouring of radiant light. *** On the artificial earthen platform, there were one of two reactions to the massive beam of concentrated energy first sheering through the side of the fallen bastion, then continuing on to carve a circular path through anything and everything in its way. Punching through cloud banks, flocks of unsuspecting rift spawn, and finally a line of mountain ranges in the far distance.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Carving through each with a series of explosions, sending up massive clouds of dust and chunks of boulder sized debris to gradually arc through the air. Those reactions being outright disbelief, and a stark, almost animalistic terror. The gale force winds kicked up by its passage, not to mention that ungodly piercing whine it madelike nails drawn across a chalkboard embedded in ones ear canalmerely adding to the knee jerk reaction of the latter. When at last the emerald beam flickered, faded, and then ceased to be entirelywhen the winds died down and the high-pitched whine had recededonly then, in the dead silence that followed, did they notice the stark absence of sounds theyd otherwise grown accustomed to. The shuffling feet of a restless army, the moans from tens of thousands of throats. Looking down from their roost was all they needed to confirm it. The undead were gone! And they hadnt merely dropped dead where theyd stood, it would appear as though theyd ceased to be entirely. No, that wasnt right. At least not entirely. There were still a few odd stragglers standing here and there, shuffling away from the Fallen Bastion. A bastion that was now, inexplicably, crackling with power. Even as they watched, a roaring pillar of flame licked out from a hidden recess in the massive tower, burning the very last of the undead into little more than dry charcoal and ash. Sharing looks of incomprehension, at once, each knight of their elite squad turned their gaze toward the top of the once fallen tower, a newfound wariness evident in the hunch of their shoulders. It would be woefully inaccurate to say that the perforated lands of the greater animathe frontier that lay just beyond its true inhabitants purviewwere an inhospitable, chaotic, and lawless place. Where the will of the strong is paramount, and those with power gladly leverage their strength over othersadopting the law of the jungle in all its savage brutality. Enforced, high and low, with ripping teeth and gouging claw. No, a statement like that would be very incorrect indeed. Although, that isnt to say it hadnt started out that way. A near constant, tumultuous struggle, with spirits of every cast and grade and origin vying for dominance above all else. To prove themselves worthy of supremacy. No, it had been all that and more. It was merely that, unbeknownst to the self-proclaimed human population, eventually, a resolution was ultimately reached. Nine greater spirits having clawed their way to the topeach eventually labeled with the rather fitting class of Monarch. And while, under this new world order, the law of the strong was still very much in play, the efforts of the truly powerful were now exclusively leveraged towards upholding the natural order, rather than on conquest and unending bloodshed. Maintaining stagnation above all else, while ruthlessly cracking down on growth of any kind. Suppressing up and comers who might one day seek to supplant their rule, while growing their own power base in turn. A tumultuous sea made placid by main force. And it was in this still pond that the death of a monarch resounded around the world like a gong. Beneath the endless sand dunes of the Black Dry Desert, a subtle tremor can be felt for miles around. Having been startled from its dormancy, from the charcoal depths beneath, a bottomless titan emerges, displacing sand in the way a leviathan does water. Its coming to the detriment of all that would call the black sands home. [Old Man of the Desert (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Within the snow swept tundra of the northern reaches, sitting atop his crude throne made entirely of ice, a giants fist reaches for his trusty war hammer. Plucks it up from where it rests with casual ease. The mountain of cracked skulls shifts ever so slightly. The flash of a smile peaks out from his wild and unkempt beard. [Crusher of Ice & Bone (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Within the scorching domain of Volcanic Ashlands territory, between the geysers, steam vents, and slow lava flows, a translucent membrane peels back to reveal a reptilian eye shot through with gold. [Black-Scaled Drake (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Beneath its tangled canopy, within its impenetrable depths, dark hunters string their bows. Inured to the pitch black of the Grim Dark Forest, they put down internal strife, and take up arms instead. Set aside generational enmity, in favor of setting down traps to snare their enemies. At the behest of the Soul Alchemist, the dark hunters ready themselves for war. [Cursed Soul Alchemist (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Within the depths of the Noxious Swamp, the spider matriarch calls out to her children. Miles of swampland tremble and quake under their many legged tread as they rush to heed their mother''s call. [Arachnid Swamp Queen (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Within the sweltering heart of the yellowed grasslands, the roar of an apex predator proclaiming the bounds of its domain silences all other chatter for many, many miles. Prey huddle in burrows, should they be lucky enough to possess them. Lay supine in the tall grass should they find themselves without. Every instinct in every creature, whether they consider themselves predator or prey, telling them in that instant, that to make noise now, is effectively to die. [Royal Lions Pride (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Throughout the whole of the western jungle, the shrill chorus of howls and rapid thumping of chests drown out all else with their unholy cacophony. The great king of the apes, naturally, the loudest among them. [Monkey King Howler (Monarch Class S Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? From atop the fortified ramparts of her makeshift golden citadel, brilliant blue eyes look out over the paltry extent of her conquered domain. Golden locks trailing gently in the wind, the lord commander listens patiently as, obscured by the great majesty of her white feathered wings, advisers debate her best possible course of action. With a gesture, she silences all of those present. Then, in soft, resonating tones, she orders a full rallying of the angelic host. Effective immediately. [Seraphic Lord Commander (Monarch Class SS Grade Rift Spawn)] ??? Jun’s POV (14) Jun stared at the words for an unknowable amount of time. Scouring them. Imprinting them. Burning them into his mind. He thought he should feel something. Remorse perhaps? All laid out on paper like this, his actions werent exactly the noblest sort. And yet this place? It made a mockery of the human condition. Dulled sensation. Stymied emotion. And it didnt help that the only times when he could feel things like pain, regret, or the pangs of his conscience with any degree of urgency, were the times when he was also effectively immortal. He knew, intellectually, that he was losing parts of himself. And yet, whether it be out here, or in there, he couldnt find the will to care. His deeds had earned him a hundred additional attribute points to bolster his already padded numberstruly unheard of levels of growth. And all it had cost him, was to pick up the butchers bill on his way outa fairly hefty sum all things told. Still, he didnt regret it. He hadnt killed anyone who wouldnt have killed him first, and deserved far worse than what theyd got besides. Though that wasnt to say he was terribly proud of himself either. He really didnt know how he felt. Numb mostly? Excited at the prospect of trying again? And yet? What his mind kept straying back to, time and time again, was just how easy it had been. How easy it had felt. He decided it probably wasnt something he should get used to, that strange easesimulation or not. Hed try to avoid raising the Butchers Bill series for the time being. Especially since it looked like acting the good samaritan was just as profitable, if not more so. In any event, he felt the tug of the trial worlds calling to him. And, feeling somewhat guilty at not feeling guilty, he promptly answered that call with a smile on his face. Pulling up the next in a long line of test mantras, he didnt even wait to read the resulting prompt. Assimilate! Trial Difficulty: 2 Stars Western Fief of the Northern Principalities A Barren Stretch of Bone Dry Fallow Werent for the first time Will Neff slowed old Bessie girl to a lax and leisure sos he could assess the worst of it, and he figured it wouldnt be the last time neither. Didnt take but a minute to spot the culprit, pry the little sucker free, and set the plow back to rights before nudging Bessie on. Slipping the plow-stone into a pouch at his waist, his thoughts drifted back to little William and his collection, as they were like to do wherever small rocks were concerned. God only knew what the boy saw in the darned pebbles. Still, reckoned his naming day was just around the corner, and a little forethought now went a long way, as his Da would always say. Times were hard enough as is, what with the drought and all, and if keeping an eye out for the odd rock here and there was all the complication the lord saw fit to send his way? Well, hed consider himself a lucky man indee-! Will Neff broke off from his inner monologue. Something he couldnt quite make out pricking up Bessies ears. What is it girl? What do you hear? Just about as soon as the words had left his mouth, however, he caught it. The faintest whisper. Like a buzzing in his ear. A quiet whine that only seemed to be growing louder by the second. aaaaaaaaAAAHHHH! THOOM! About a hundred paces distant, dry dirt exploded upward into a mushroom shaped cloudthe reverberations of the impact enough to make an old mans knees wobble, and send a shiver up his spine. Will Neff and Bessie both stood there in twin states of slack jawed stupefaction. Like as not his lovely wife, prudent soul that she was, wouldve already had them packinghoofing it as far and as fast as their legs would carry them. Will, on the other hand, was simply too darn confused to be sensible. Eventually the dust settled enough to reveal a young man in dirt caked overalls, slowly staggering to his feetlooking like hed had a few too many, wherever it was hed come from. The young man coughed, waving away what dirt still hung in the air. Will Neff approached cautiously, Bessie plodding close behind. You alright son? Was a mighty hard fall you just took to be getting up so soon like it werent nothing, tipping back the brim of his straw hat, Will Neff scrutinized first the cloudless blue sky, then the unplowed fields extending for acres all around, with growing incomprehension. A mighty hard fall Eventually the boy cleared his lungs enough to answer. Im fine. Just a bit out of practice. Still need to get a handle on things. Work out a few kinks, you know how it is. This your land? Aye, Will grunted in the affirmative. Its uh, nice! he looked out over the desolate expanse of dry soil, a strained smile on his face. Anyway, I dont intend to impose on your hospitality any more than I have to. Just need a chance to catch my breath, if thats alright with you, and then Ill be on my way. Will Neff watched the way the young man wobbled on his feet, like a newborn calf barely a breath into this world, and looked at him somewhat skeptically. Aye He reached under his hat to scratch at his sweaty temple. Well, not that Im impartial to folks falling out from the sky and the like, but I reckon its best if you stayed a while. Figure the local priest would like a word, whatever the case may be. No, really. Like I said, I just need a second to recalibrate and then Ill be out of your hair. Will Neff shifted the hoe hed been carrying so that it sat more comfortably on his shoulder. Not brandishing it so much as bringing attention to itreminding the suspicious looking character that the sharpened implement was there.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Reckon Ill have to insist, if you dont mind. Aint right, folks falling from the sky like that, the more he spoke, the more certain of his conclusions he became. Reckon that sounds a lot like witchcraft to me. And so Im figuring its best if you come along now and let the good priest see to you, sos we can set this all to rights. A look of what he couldve sworn was exasperation briefly flit across the strangers features before he spoke. Will Neff mightve mistaken the words mumbled under his breath for witch speak ifn his hearing werent so sharp. Witches. Why is it always witches with these people? And then, before Will Neff could reach forward and restrain the witch, for that was surely what he was, he crouched down low and exploded upwardquickly disappearing from sight. For a time, Will Neff and Bessie both stared up where the witch had flown, their expressions equally unreadable. Then, Will Neff set to the lengthy task of unharnessing old Bessie. He would need to set out soon, after all, if he were to have a chance of contacting the village priest before nightfall. He didnt know what exactly hed been expecting, raking in celestial dew by the bucketful, and effectively multiplying every single attribute overnight. He knew what he hadnt been expecting was that hed effectively be forced to relearn how to be a person from scratch. You know, simple things like: how to walk, how to run, or, how to stand upright without accidentally flexing a minor muscle in his leg he hadnt even known existed, and so launch himself through the red side of a far off barn. Jun crashed through the forest canopy to the staccato snap of breaking branches. The occasional leafy appendage refusing to give way before him, instead making a valiant effort to break him as he pressed ever onward. He was folded, bundled, and blinded in rapid succession. Rebounding off of obstacles when he didnt plow straight through them outright. Flipping, spinning, dashing his head left and right. Unsure whether up was up, or down was down, and too nauseous to really care either way. Thankfully, where there mightve been pain beforethe debilitating jolt of a broken bone or twentynow there was only the dull thump of an especially sharp gust of wind. His one hundred and forty six points in resiliency no joke, it would seem. Eventually, his wayward tumble came to an end. The blanket of gnarled roots he landed on about as soft as a sack of goose down bedding, thanks to his titles. Not that he was feeling particularly thankful at the moment. For a time he merely lay there, staringleaves drifting down from the meandering path hed cleared in the canopy. Rolling out of the indent hed made in the root system, he then carefully, carefully, rose to his feet. It was like trying to master his circulation technique all over again, except several dozen times worse in every respect. It had taken him a great deal of practice, and not a small number of demolished homes, just to confidently put one foot in front of the other. His efforts at gaining control over himself not aided in the least by the locals not taking too kindly to him in general. Indeed, it was as if he couldnt go two wobbly steps without the threat of a visit from some priest or another. An appointment which, if kept, he could immediately tell, simply by the ominous notes in their toneas if they were delivering some dire and weighty pronouncementhe was not likely to enjoy overly much. The first thing hed noticed, upon entering the two star ranked trial, was that gravity no longer worked the way it ought. Or, that was to say, because of his enhanced might, gravity no longer constrained him the way it should. The second thing hed noticed was how dreary everything was. Somehow overcast and desaturated, even when there wasnt a cloud in the sky. Foliage was sharp, brambles were prevalent, and the people were the prickliest of all. Unlike the previous trial worlds, he didnt suspect hed be spending an awful lot of time here. Only so long as it took for him to truly get a handle on his newfound capabilities. Or, at the very least, stop slinging himself at anything that didnt move at great, no, scratch that, damn near suicidal speeds. Seriously. He couldve sworn hed seen a person shaped indent in the last tree hed bumped into. And that just couldnt be good for the local ecosystem. Somewhere, tucked away beneath the eaves of a dark and twisted forest, a coven of witches make ready their grim ritual. Chanting in a language not meant for mortal tongues, and even less so for mortal ears, they sway in time over a bubbling cauldron aglow with sinister light. Black blood, as thick as tar, dribbles from identically slit wrists. Tracing an oily procession down sallow, pockmarked skin. Drops parting reluctantly from thick rivulets of corruption, to water the thirsty soil at their bare and bony feet. As they list from side to side, the forest around them seems to sway in turn. The creaking of wood, the cracking of branches, the guttural pronunciations of a vile and demonic tongue. And over it all rang the sorrowful wailing of a child far away from home. Of several in fact. A desperate cry for help whichso deep within the forests most learn from early childhood never to treadthey each knew was unlikely to be answered. And yet, nailed to the trunks of trees by their hands and feet, crucified before the alter of a dark and sadistic god, and overseen by hideous chimerasthe slapdash melding of human and animal fleshit wasnt much that they could do but to voice their horror. Very soon the savage chanting turned from barely audible mumble, to unbearable outcry, the chorus of tone deaf voices practically racing towards the dreaded crescendo. And as raspy voices are raised in exultant ecstasy, as chimeras fall to their knees and thrash in writhing agony, the children grow increasingly hysteric in turnfrantic with pain and panic and sorrow. Their screams grown to a fever pitch, the shrieking of tea kettles all, as the bloody symbols carved into their bare flesh begin to glow like burning coals. In moments their eyes begin to transform as well, the black overtaking the white in very short order. Their hair to grow white, and long, and luxurious. The marks on their young flesh to become permanent fixtures, burned directly into the tissue like some sadistic form of brand. And in the midst of all this? Above the bubbling cauldron, a figure begins to emerge, coalescing from the billowing clouds of acrid smoke. A horned silhouette, twice the size of a man, whose mere presence drenches the entire forest in waves of manifest dread. Feelings of inexplicable terror which only seem to heighten by the second. Two glowing red eyes emerge from the gloom, snapping wide to take in the mortal world for the first time in a millennia. Its voice comes out the rasp of razor blade on bone. Ahhh freedom at long last! But what is this? Mortals? No No, I smell a hint if my mark upon you. My descendants then? How very curious Y-yes lord! croaked the high priestess of the coven. It has taken many generations, but the blood compact, first signed by our foremothers during the dark ages long past, has been repaid in full! Oh? I see. And so it would seem weve reached a final accord. And yet you still seek to ply me with treats? the shadowy figure chuckled, gesturing towards the crucified childrena red scaled claw of flesh and blood briefly emerging from the smoke, before disappearing into the murk once more. Youll be wanting something more then, I suspect? I-if you would be so amenable lord! the high priestess managed past a wave of fear and disbelief. Breaching the smoke as it just had should not have been possible at this stage of the binding. Was the demon lord really so strong as to pierce the veil separating the in-between from the mortal plane by force of will alone? That remains to be seen, the demon purred. I am much diminished from my time in the under realms. It has left me quite famished. First I shall feast. Then we may go over the particulars of your request, the coven shared wary looks at this, not bolstered in the least by the demons capriciousness. Nevertheless, they set to unraveling the binding circle with practiced gestures and guttural words. After all, what else could they reasonably do? Glory the demon shuddered as he watched them work. But it is good to be back-! A wailing something hurtled end over end, battering its way through the tangled forest canopy like an enraged bull through an alchemists shop. What in the-?! BONG! Chapter 71: Death Tastes Minty What do you think? asked Eleanor, crouching over the glistening pile. I think its insane youre even considering this, R. Jun replied. But cant you feel it? Theyre practically overflowing with soul energy! Youve seen the kinds of things some of the wealthier squires ate back at the dormitory to improve their soul capacity. Why should this be any different? And if they jumped off a cliff one day and called it training, would you be tripping over yourself to jump in after them? That depends. Are there any soul fruits at the bottom? s-sure? How is that relevant? How many are we talking? Youre incorrigible. Worse than that, youre going to get yourself killed. You do realize that, right? Something that may or may not be a large inconvenience for me, Ill have you know. Im just wondering aloud whether theyd be safe enough to eat. Thats all. Safe to-! Just use your eyes, girl! Theyve got skulls on them! How much more of a disincentive do you need? Would you like me to write you a sign that says poisonous berry do not eat? Ill just try one. Did you not hear anything I just said-! But before he could stop her, Eleanor had already reached forward and plucked up one of the pale berries. Popping it in her mouth and biting down with a contented hum. Jun took several steps away from the idiot girl. Theyd had a decent enough run, he supposed. Filled with its ups and downs, naturally. He might even grow to miss her, he thought to himself wistfully. In the way you might a simpleminded, though ultimately well-meaning family pet. Abruptly, green puffs of smoke escaped her flared nostrils in a rush, like the acrid snort of a fire breathing dragon. Little wisps of that same smoke trailing up from the corners of her lips, as, apparently, some kind of miniature explosion went off in her mouth. The girl''s eyes widened. Jun took several more steps back. Then she did something completely unexpected. She reached forward for seconds. You really have to try these, she said, munching on another of the little death berries. Theyre weird. Minty. Well, almost. Almost? What do you mean almost? And-! Hey! Stop that! Jun leapt forward and slapped a third berry from her hand. Huh? What was that for? Saving your miserable life, thats what! You have no idea what eating those might do to you! I feel fine! That right? Well, maybe a little tingly. Tingly R. Jun rubbed at his temples. This must be how a mother duck feels. You sure you dont want to try at least one? the girl asked, even as she riffled through the remains of the Lichs throne for more of the infernal things. No, I dont want to-! Jun paused as a notification eclipsed his vision. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Please Dont Use; Read Description] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Please Dont Use; Read Description] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. Confused, Jun did as the strangely titled Mantra suggested. Mantra: [Please Dont Use; Read Description] (Poor Quality) Description: Yeah, just in case it wasnt already obvious, dont use this mantra. Youll explode. It was a shitty test case, and I dont really feel like getting into all the nitty gritty details right now. Anyway, down to the actual reason for my contacting you. Ahem. Would you please just eat the damned fruit already!? Im not kidding! Do it, or no more world-shattering abilities for you. You here that? Im cutting you off. And thatd be a real shame since Ive got an arsenal of grade A mantras lined up in here, just waiting to be assimilated. Oh, and before you try any underhanded nonsense, just know that Im basically dead either way. If you dont eat that fruit, and any others like it you find, you can count me out the next time your rear needs pulling from the fire. Just because I have a vested interest in keeping us alive, doesnt mean I wont pull the plug if you refuse to cooperate. Sincerely, Yours truly, Stop reading this and eat the damned fruit already. Please. After hed finished reading, R. Jun stared blankly at the description for several long seconds. Before, with a surprising degree of humility, he silently reached forward, and popped one of the berries into his mouth. As it so happened, Eleanor had been right. It was almost minty. Once theyd had their fill, Eleanor gathered up the rest of the berries into a handy cloth sack, which she then secured to her waist with a loop of cord. She was glad it hadnt just been her that benefited from the soul fruits. And though Jun had been a bit reticent at first, she was confident that the invigorating influx of soul energy would do him some good, just as it had done her. Already she could feel her wounds beginning to reknit, her inner flame expand, and, in turn, her bodys potential for explosive power increase.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Still, the healing process was rather slow, and, in the meantime, Eleanor felt every injury shed taken in the reclamation of the bastion keenlylike every muscle in her body had been torn in multiple places. And yet, despite all that, she just couldnt seem to keep the smile off her face. At first, she couldnt pinpoint why that was, exactly. Perhaps it was merely the fact that, after some amount of uncertainty regarding the prospect, she was actually alive. But, no she didnt think that was why. Sure, that was definitely part of it, but she didnt feel like it was the whole truth. Perhaps it was merely that she and her familiar had done something most of the people in her life wouldve scoffed at as impossible. Perhaps it was the sudden leap in her personal power that had her all giddy inside. The final moments of the fight once more flashed through her mind. Every swing of her blade commanding thousands of petals, which soon multiplied into tens of thousands, which then quickly became millions. A glittering symphony of ruby red ruination. And then there was her, dancing at the very heart of the storm. The eye of the tempest, orchestrating death upon the undead on an impossible scale. A speck of dust within a school of minnows. Feeling like every single swing of her blade could fell thousands of rift spawn. As it was, near the end there, it was enough to shred the Malleable Undead Brutes into pieces, so small, that even their undying vitality was unable to reconstitute. And then the dance came to its inevitable conclusion, and her dancing petals along with it. In the end, whatever it was that had her overjoyed, she could say without a shadow of a doubt, that she was no longer the same person thatd entered this tower. And she honestly doubted if shed ever be again. When the girl and her familiar exited the tower, the rubble of the ruined entry hall having been cleared by some unknown mechanism of the tower itselfwhich was even now rebuilding whatd been lost through arcane meansevery one of Fens elite squad could immediately feel the difference. A heavy aura of death enveloped the two. Though, unlike the sinister pall that draped most undead, if felt more like they were the arbiters of life and death. As if to live whilst in their presence was a privilege. One that they could just as easily revoke as grant. The squad shuddered under their combined gaze. Far sharper than it had been when theyd entered the tower, only two days prior. Instinctually they recoiled at the spiritual pressure they exuded. Oppressive and heavy. Even Boulder, the two-ton, C grade, Stone Salamander that he was, appeared shakenhuddling behind Fen as if it could hide itself in her shadow. The girl came within speaking distance. Even looking down at her from where she stood atop the earthen plateau, Fen couldnt kid herself into feeling superior. Lance Corporal? Y-yes maam? Eleanor raised an eyebrow, but that was the only indication she gave that Fens words had in any way surprised her. Send someone ahead to inform Evelins Glory. They should be aware that a Monarch Class threat has been eliminated, and that one of humanitys fallen bastions has been recovered. Audible gasps from all around. Of course, they had known that something had to have changed about the tower, but this news of an S Grade Rift Spawn?! A monarch of all things! And this girl she had not only survived such an encounter, but had killed it? Fen had to fight hard not to take an instinctual step back. Oh! Also, inform them that my familiar here should no longer be classified merely as Greater C Grade. Defeating an S Grade Undying Lich in single combat should at least earn him a place in the A Grade, dont you think? Otherwise this whole system of ours wouldnt really make much sense. Fen wasnt even surprised at this point. She pointedly did not glance in the familiar''s direction. That can- no, that will be arranged. Anything else maam, Corporal maam? Hmm? the corporal paused, thinking on it for a second. Well, there is one thing. Anything maam! Just say the word! If you have any food to spare, that would be greatly appreciated. It sounds strange, but, even after staring at nothing but dead things all day, Im ravenous. When the unprecedented news arrived at the heart of the queendom, it swept through the common people like a wildfire. Initially met with a healthy dose of skepticism, the revelation that such an unbelievable feat, practically unheard of by all the Queendoms inhabitantsthe reclamation of the Azure Queens ninth legendary bastion itselfhad apparently been accomplished by a lone knight? And by one not a day past the age of puberty no less?! It would be an understatement to say it only stoked the peoples growing disillusionment. Naturally, rumors greatly abounded. Most dismissing these outrageous claims out of hand. Deciding, with decisive nods and even harsher language, that they were exactly what they sounded like. Stories. Childrens make believe. It was the only thing that made good, honest sense. They werent idiots to believe every single tall tale laid in front of them, after all. While still others sought out a more definitive explanation. Calling it military propaganda. More recruitment efforts pushed on them by the crown. To help pad their dwindling ranks with more expendable bodies. Fodder to help fight their never-ending war. As more and more information was leaked, howeververifiable records as to who this girl was, and where shed come fromthe whispers of the rumor mill began to take on a whole different cast. Her story to actually strike a chord with the people. And while it couldnt be said that any truly believed it, per say, it was now the case that many of them wanted to. Wanted to believe that an orphaned girl had, not only entered, but soon accelerated her way out the Knightly Academys grand halls. Was shipped off to the frontier the very day of her graduation, where she then rapidly rose to the rank of Corporal. And then, not yet satisfied with all shed achieved, took it upon herself to set out into the greater frontier. Hell bent on righting a generational wrong and reclaiming one of the fabled symbols of their once vaunted heritage. The final nail in the coffin, the personal endorsement of an esteemed Knightly Commander of the realm, turning an otherwise impractical fairy tale, into a veritable sensation that soon swept through the nation. The uncovered details of her wretchedly unjust upbringing serving to pluck at the heartstrings of millions. Bringing many a common born citizen to tears, even as they celebrated her meteoric rise to prominence. An apparent prominence that had somehow landed Eleanor here, sipping tea with the eldest princess of the realm. Sitting across from one another, they reclined on opulent blue sofas embroidered in gold. Although, on second thought, it was probably more gold per thread count than it was blue, overall. Golden sofas splashed with blue, which were themselves arranged, no doubt very tastefully, on a grand inner balcony overlooking the festivities happening in the ballroom below. Eleanor, for her part, was too occupied with not making an absolute fool out of herself to notice much of what was happening down there. Doing everything in her power to hold onto what little she remembered of Marys lessons, while all around her, myriad servants in fine blue livery produced small sandwiches, cakes, and every manner of bite sized food Eleanor couldve imagined. As well as a choice few she could not. Waitstaff often alternating between dishes so fast, that Eleanor barely had a chance to take a polite nibble out of the first, before another was being gracefully shoved into her face. It was all very exhausting, and the entire time she felt like she was just one wrong step away from disaster. R. Jun on the other hand, much to her irritation and his smug satisfaction, appeared to be doing just fine. A competition, you say? Well, this is the first time Im hearing of it. It does sound terribly interesting, though. I must ask, have there been any novel entries thus far? Oh, I wish! Truly I do! The odd curiosity here and there, I suppose, but never anything I felt truly drawn towards. Nothing like what you and your Jun have, Lady Corporal. Like iron to a loadstone, your highness, R. Jun replied, leaning over and giving Eleanors shoulders a squeeze. The mocking glint in his eyes completely escaping the princess''s notice. He was enjoying this entirely too much. Oh, if only Id been presented with someone like your familiar, Lady Corporal. How different things might have been. Sir familiar, are you certain there have been no others of your kind to grace this realm? Alas, your highness Jun gave a dramatic sigh. I myself wish it were otherwise. Ive spent many a sleepless night worrying after the fate of my loved ones, searched high and low for even the smallest signs, but it would seem that I am still only one of a kind. A shame, the princess sighed. An awful shame, your highness, Eleanor managed, deftly masking her sarcasm. If only we had an army of civilized rift spawn like yourself, sir familiar. Im sure this silly war of ours wouldve been finished with long ago. On that, your highness, I think we can all agree, Jun said. The princess''s eyes brightened as yet another tray was laid out before them. But enough of those dreary weather topics! You must try these artisanal lemon squares my Head Chef devised the other day. They are simply to die for, I tell you. Positively divine. Jun’s POV (15) Slamming head first into the bubbling iron cauldron, Jun, in turn, drenched those witches in the nearest vicinity with all its boiling contents. Those he didnt bowl over with his still flailing body outright, that is. With a sharp crack, Jun came to a sudden, explosive halt, colliding with the trunk of a tree hard enough to bruise. Only later would he know how lucky hed been that it hadnt been one of those with a child nailed to it instead. Witches screamed as their spattered flesh began to melt, while those hed impacted outright lay in broken, unmoving heaps. Given each witch had been swimming in their cultish red robes, they now resembled a wrapped bundle of sticks soundly trampled upon by a stampede of angry bison. Very dead, in other words. Something for which, once hed gathered enough of his wits to properly assess the situation, he couldnt say hed be losing much sleep over. Jun coughed. Nearly retched. Plucked errant leaves from his hair where they prickled his scalp. Gah! That smell! Whatever theyd been cooking, the stench of it was foul. Like it was actively crawling up his nasal passages to die. He was just glad he hadnt gotten any on him in the fall. After taking in the semi-liquidated remains of those who had, doubly so. Then his gaze landed squarely on the crucified children, and his blood turned cold. Transfixed, his gaze trailed from one sobbing child to another. From the children, to the animal hybrids with their blood encrusted instruments, and finally to what looked like the failed remnants of a terrible ritual. The shadowy presence of any demon lord pointedly nowhere to be seen. Not all of the coven appeared injured in the aftermath of his dramatic entrance. And, excluding those that had scattered immediately upon his arrival, half a dozen stood completely unharmed, if visibly agitated. It didnt take much to put the pieces together from there. Jun rose to his feet in a smooth, well practiced motion, suddenly freed of the disconnect between mind and body. Entirely unified towards this one, singular purpose. When he came to, he was standing over a corpse. Young or old, male or female, he couldnt rightly say. Its skull had been caved in to the point of being unrecognizable, and his fists were strangely sticky, though he couldnt place why any of that was, just that second. He turned around then, taking in the scene anew, before managing a wobbly step toward the first of the childrenwide eyed and tremblingfrom where they hung suspended, stark naked, and afraid. It was as he grappled with the heart rending process of removing the crudely hammered iron stakes, that his mind seemed to retreat back a step. Falling back on a bad habit trained and subsequently perfected within the trial worlds. He spoke to himself. You know, I have to say I think Im starting to understand the whole burn all witches at the stake policy this world seems to have adopted. I mean, the execution leaves something to be desired, sure, but these ladies definitely do not engender any of that benefit of the doubt business you would normally associate with little girls in red hoods, tramping alone in dark forests. As he rambled nonsensically, something truly unexpected happened. Trembling seemed to ease, sobs abated, and pointed ears pricked up in interestthe black orbs they had in place of eyes all swiveling in his direction. If asked, he couldnt have said why that was exactly. Why he started talking, or why it was they chose to listen. Only that, if he dwelled too deeply on the horror of the moment, he knew he was going to go mad. Compared to that, distracting himself was deemed infinitely preferable. Perhaps they were simply of the same mind. Whatever the case mightve been, by the time hed pried the last of the stakes free, not a peep disturbed their little patch of forest but the sound of his voice, the rustle of leaves, and the creaking of shifting branches. Draped in salvaged scraps of red cloth, twelve little creatures sat cross legged before him. Their ages ranging from five years old to nine, they, each and every one, stared up at him in what was quickly becoming an eerie silence. Normal children at a glance, on second perusal they appeared anything but. They were a weird bunch, that was for sure. All gangly armed and unblinking. They also healed insanely quickthe puncture wounds theyd suffered already turned the raised pigment of completely healed scar tissue. A part of him wondered what he was supposed to do with the little foundlings, though a larger part had already made up his mind. I dont imagine the locals will be all too pleased with your, uh, um well, your unique looking appearances, lets say. I mean, if I came off as overly suspiciouswhile, admittedly, participating in arguably suspicious looking activitiesbarely a day into this tri-! I mean world. Barely a day into this-! Actually, that sounds worse, if anything. Never mind. I just cant imagine theyll let you off so easily looking like that. Even if you somehow managed to prove yourselves outstanding, law abiding citizens. Silence. Yeah. I know what you mean. It sucks, but thats just how the world is unfortunately. And, well, looking at the evidence for all that prejudice, I cant really say I blame them. If its discriminatory, its more reasonable than any Ive come across thus far.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. More silence. They didnt even look to be breathing. Which means if you cant take care of yourselves, he counted on his fingers. And the locals are out, then? Jun briefly thought over the dilemma, then sighed in comprehension. Then it would appear Ill be staying here a great deal longer than I had originally planned. More silence. More stillness. But wait! No! There it was! The briefest flicker of life. She had blinked! One of the younger children, barely a day over six summers old, had actually blinked! It was a languid, asymmetrical affair, and quite possibly the creepiest thing hed ever seen or experienced, but still. Right then! So! he rose unsteadily to his feet. Id say this directions as good a way as any! And so saying, Jun attempted to venture purposefully into the brush, stride confident, head held high, and pointer finger raised aloft. In so doing, he inadvertently launched himself headlong through the densest patch of brambles for miles around. And, like the dutiful little ducklings they were, his nameless group of foundlings were quick to trail behind in the wake of his passage. Trial Difficulty: 4 Stars Satellite City: Corporate Sector OmniCorp International: Residential Quarter Understood, he paused. Yes sir Of course sir a longer pause. I intend to look into it personally. Those that perpetrated this crime will be swiftly apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law, you have my word on that, another pause. Im sorry? Im afraid I dont Y-yes, youre right of course. It is entirely my own fault and that of my departments. I take full responsibility. Understood Right you are sir, a final pause, longer than all the others. Ill see it done. Click. When the tinny voice raging on the other end of the line abruptly cut off, not a soul in the room dared to move or even blink. Sasha Petrov, senior security officer and aspiring live feed commentator, even went so far as to silence her personal feed. Ultimately unsure whether a holo-ad of all things would be enough to provoke an involuntary twitch, and so sign her early death warrant, but unwilling to take the chance regardlesstop-of-the-line semi-automatic railgun with electromagnetic shield attachment be damned. Granted, she did take a second to buy a container of nano-infused anti-aging creamconfirming the purchase with an imperceptible twitch of her retinathough that was ultimately with good reason. It was on sale after all. Better yet, a flash sale at that. Nearly seventy percent off for the next five seconds. It was practically more expensive not to buy it. And its SoftWire BioLab certified so it must be legit. Not like that gutter repo trash they sent me last month. Ugh. What a nightmare. Im getting hives just thinking about it. In the meantime, while Sasha lamented her chronically poor choice in beauty products, their dour Head of Security, Alexi Ivanova true bear of a man at just over six feet nine inchesstood with his implausibly broad back to the small gathering of trusted officers, eyes seemingly riveted to the strobing lights of the distant city skyline. The grimy streets of the commercial sector almost picturesque when seen from the high vantage of the residential penthouse. Gleaming head to toe in class A body mods, so bleeding edge and high tech most had yet to reach the market, he cut a truly terrifying figure no matter which way you sliced it. Half man, half machine, and the human half had never been all that friendly to begin with. Finally, the silent statue that was their head of security shifted, to which everyone else in the room flinched. Explain to me again, he rumbled in his gravelly baritone. How precisely a clusterfuck of such monumental proportions was allowed to happen under your express supervision? A beat of silence followed. And in a few more moments it was clear that no answer was forthcoming. Indeed, the cowed group of senior officers were far too absorbed in the polished sheen of their combat boots, in counting each individual shoe lace, etc. The head of security only sighed. Well. Please tell me youve tagged his whereabouts at least? Silence. His I.D. Chip? Silence. He didnt have one sir, one brave officer supplied. He didnt-?! The fuck do you mean he didnt have one?! Is he fucking Anonymous? Fuck! It would be one of those fucking cultists, wouldnt it? When they found the balls to target Omnicorp directly, and in such a public manner no less? No No, it just does not fit their m.o unless Uh, sir! We umm, we actually dont think it was Anonymous this time. Weve dealt with their techno-jacks in the past, and if it really were them thered still be some trace of prior tampering for our analysts to latch onto. No, instead its almost as if its like whoever did this was never born with universal identification to begin with. But thats impossible! Nevertheless Face turning red with fury, Alexi looked just about ready to choke on his rage, it was so tangible. WELL THEN DO WE AT LEAST KNOW WHAT THIS REPO GUTTER TRASH LOOKS LIKE? And I swear, if you try to tell me we somehow let some repo scum-fuck nobody waltz right on past our state of the line surveillance systems completely undetected Ill! N-no sir! That is to say, yes! Our surveillance team were able to perform a full facial and body scan. Actually, it was like he didnt even try to hide or otherwise disguise himself, which is why it took our people so long to verify. Oh, the man sighed, and it was like those in the room could visibly see his blood pressure fall. B-but- BUT?! He isnt in any of our registries sir. Suddenly, there was a crack as the holo-phone the head of security held so delicately only moments before was shattered into a thousand little pieces. Crushed in a sudden flash of white-hot rage. Chapter 72: A Call to Arms Pale faced and trembling, Meredith stared up at the high balcony where the princess, the demon, and the poacher reclined. Her drink long forgotten, the familiar weight of a hand on her shoulder had the effect of accomplishing what slowly slackening fingers could not. The shatter of glass startling those in the vicinity nearly as much as the familiar grip had her. Attendants swept over to remove the mess in short order, and very soon the droning babble of conversation resumed. And all the while, the patient hand never left her shoulder. Turning around slowly, even though she knew what shed find, Merediths heart nevertheless sank when she caught sight of the primly bouncing bob cut, the savagely scarred face, and the two overly broad silhouettes that glowered from behind. D-daisy! What a pleasant surprise, seeing you here! To what do I owe the um, pleasure? The smaller woman beamed. The sight of burned tissue made to stretch was horrific. You know, youre a devilishly hard woman to find, Lieutenant. Someone far less charitable than I, might even begin to suspect you were avoiding me! Which, I think we can all agree would be a very silly thing to do. Dont you agree, Lieutenant? I-! I can pay! I swear, I just need time! Im telling you, theres no need for any of this. D-dont do anything too hasty! Hmm Had you asked that a few weeks ago, perhaps I might have been more amenable to the idea. What do you say we go somewhere private and discuss how best you might repay your debt to the Mistress instead. Shall we? W-wait! I have friends! In powerful places. My sister in law-! The woman doubled over in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Oh? the woman wiped a tear from her remaining eye. And who do you think invited us to this fancy little shindig? Or do you think I plucked this little number out from the back of my wardrobe? If Im not mistaken, they dont normally allow for scum like us to hobnob with the genteel sort. Not without good reason, you understand. It would seem that the Mistress isnt the only one impatient for a return on her investment. Merediths mind raced, eyes frantically scanning the ballroom guests, in search of her sister in law. Surely it couldnt be true, what she said. The enforcer was merely trying to scare her. It was practically in the name. She knew people. Powerful people. And this scum, as shed so aptly designated herself, would be sorry for laying hands on her when the truth of things was laid bare. Then, at long last Meredith spotted the Interior Minister where she stood amongst a group of other such officials. Catching her in-laws eye, Meredith opened her mouth to protest the poor treatment she was being subject to, when, instead of pausing in recognition, the Interior Ministers eyes passed right over her as if she werent even there. And as she turned back to the heated debate being had by her peers, Meredith felt the words die in her throat. The enforcer sucked her teeth. Really is such a shame when close family squabbles. Now, what do you say you and me have a nice long chat? And, no matter how Meredith kicked or screamed, not a single person made a move to aid her, as she was unceremoniously dragged through the ballroom doors, and out into the night. It was something Eleanor was only now coming to terms with. The fact that, apparently, with fame came a great deal of fortune. Or at least, that was what seemed to be the case when you had an unscrupulous opportunist like Jun as your familiar. Loaning you out to any and every government official or noble household wealthy enough to pay the exorbitant price. So that they might then present you to their oohing and aahing party guests, like some wartime curio, over the course of what invariably turned out to be a very boring night. Needless to say, Eleanor ate a lot of good food at far too many awkward parties, though, in the end, she couldnt really say she regretted it. Good armor was expensive after all, and thanks to Jun, even with his considerable management fees, she was able to buy an entire set in record time. Leather armor with a full set of chainmail and layered padding beneath. Eleanor admired the sleek, deadly look it gave her in the full-length mirrorturning this way and that while humming appreciably to herself. From the far side of the waiting room, a smartly dressed attendant entered. Bowing, the woman spoke.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The queen will see you now. Eleanor remembered to take a deep breath, thinking on what Mary had told her not thirty minutes prior. Just answer her questions as truthfully as you can. Its a formality more than anything else. Merely keep your head down, be respectful, answer from the heart and you should be fine. Though, following the attendant down the opulent hallways of the outer palace, she had to repeatedly remind herself of where exactly her heart was. Its rapid hammering against her ribcage was ironically a huge help in that regard. She was so nervous in the moments leading up to, and then during her royal audience, that much of the finer details later eluded her completely. Every face she passed by reduced to a hazy blur. The words spokenan introduction most likelyas she entered the royal audience chamber, forgotten within seconds of their utterance. How many steps was it before she was meant to stop and kneel again? Thirty-seven? Thirty-eight? A gentle hand on her shoulder told her when shed walked far enough. Kneeling, Eleanor glanced briefly to the side, giving Jun a grateful nod. And then came the questions. Out of everything, those were probably what stuck with her the most. Even the face of the queen was somewhat murky in comparison. Although, in retrospect, she couldnt be entirely sure later on whether or not shed ever actually looked at the queen. Whether shed even dared. Were you the one to defeat the Undying Lich? No, your majesty. Jun- my familiar here, was the one to defeat that demon. I aided him where I was able. And how did you come by this miraculous rift spawn of yours? He found me, your majesty. He fell from the sky. I know not from where. You call it a h-he? Why is this? Its what he prefers your majesty. I know not why. You know very little it seems. I know what I know, your majesty. I cannot claim to know anything more. And it was then that the sovereign laughed, filling the whole of Eleanors being with the fluttering of butterflies. Fair enough, the Queen chuckled. Humility. It is a trait we wish some of our own daughters possessed. Youve become very popular in recent days. Some have even taken to calling you the first Queen reborn. Do you have any such ambitions for the throne? Of course not your majesty! It-! It has never even crossed my mind! I swear it on my life! There was a brief pause in which one of the queens many attendants whispered something in her ear. When she spoke, Eleanor could hear the smile in the sovereigns voice. Good. Good. Now, if not a queendom, what would you ask as a reward for your great service? At this, for the first time since the questioning first began, Eleanor actually hesitated. Once more the gentle hand on her shoulder gave her courage. If it is not too much to ask, your majesty. I would want to reclaim the rest of the fallen bastions, glory of our ancestors, and remove the scourge of rift spawn kind from these lands in their entirety. There was silence after that. Complete and utter silence. One couldve heard a pen drop in the quiet that followed. And indeed, many in the hall did. As, in her total shock, the court stenographer let slip the tool of her tradesplattering ink all over the pristine marble tiles. And then, a genuine guffaw escaped the seventeenth Azure Queen, appointed ruler of the realm, instantly melting all the tension in the room. Hesitantly, others joined in on her hilarity, though Eleanor was still stumped as to what shed said to warrant either reaction. The first queen reborn indeed! Many of the foppish nobles and thin faced attendants were leaning into the clear ridiculousness of the moment by now. Of course, the queen would immediately shoot down such a nonsensical reques-! When you outright ask us like that, really, who are we to refuse? The laughter in the hall choked off with a strangled cough. All but the Queen who, unbeknownst to the young girl, was looking upon Eleanor with what could only be described as a fiercely determined gleam in her eyes. Over the course of the next few weeks, as militia were levied, and marching orders issuedsupply lines established, and the hierarchy of central command finalizedEleanor and Jun were left with very little to do but train. Having been singled out by the crown as indispensable, the only two in recent memory to face an S Grade Monarch and come out of it on top, instead of marching with the rest of the army, theyd been given command of a special task force. One with the rather heady goal of taking out any major threats to the queendom, well before they had a chance to affect the greater army as a whole. In simple terms, this effectively meant theyd be dealing with Monarchs, though theyd also be expected to act as a strategic reserve should the situation call for it. To best accomplish this, theyd essentially been left behind, while scouts and information gatherers scoured the frontier. Not only in search of the location of said Monarchs, but in hopes of organizing a comprehensive list of their abilities, to better brief Eleanor and her team for when they inevitably went monarch hunting. This daunting assignment of theirs only made possible due to the aerial unit theyd appropriated in the formation of their strike force. [ZephyrStorm Griffin (Peak B Grade)] Led by an upbeat, practically starstruck Lieutenant who, much to Eleanors embarrassment, when she wasnt worrying after her familiar like a priest before an alter, asked Eleanor all sorts of personal questions she didnt really know how to answer. Worse yet, once theyd built up the courage to ask their own questions, the other five junior officers were no less curious. Now it must be said, Eleanor had long since come to terms with the details of her life being leaked to the public. It wasnt as if she were ashamed of everything it had taken to get here, after all. It was just! Being asked for the third time in a row whether it was really true that shed used a sack filled with dead rats as a pillow more nights than not? It was honestly starting to make her feel a bit self conscious. And then, after four entire weeks spent idle, the first of their marching orders finally arrived. Brimming over with anticipation, and no small amount of nervousness, Eleanor, Jun, and the rest of their strike force mounted up and headed out. Their first stop? The Black Dry Desert. Jun’s POV (16) Whoever claimed crime doesnt pay should probably take a good long look at the frankly obscene amounts of pay I made off with, after only a single well planned heist. And then maybe think long and hard about their stance on so called morality. Not that something so plainly false would ever have been uttered by a born resident of this world. Here, where its as if criminal dealings have been refined into a high art. Jun chuckled. Even the most unscrupulous, untrustworthy bastards from back home might as well be country rubes when compared to even the most honest of law abiding citizens here. So much to learn. And yet so little time, he lamented. An idle tune on his lips, he let himself be carried along with the milling throng through what the locals referred to as the commercial sector. And while, much to his chagrin, when hed first arrived all of the flashing lights, strangely moving pictures, not to mention the sheer congested mass of unwashed humanity, had nearly sent him into paroxysms of animalistic terror, he could say with confidence hed gotten over his debilitating fear by this point, and now couldnt get enough of the hyperactive metropolis. Peering up through the near constant drizzle, he once more admired the glass and steel monoliths which made up the city proper. Residences which hed been assured, on more than one occasion, people worked and lived in on a regular basis. Incredible. Towering structures, no two of them identical, which reflected the neon flashing of floating advertisements, even as they challenged the very heavens themselveslike their architects no doubt intended. Pausing before a busy intersection in a bid to find his bearings, he was unsurprised, though thoroughly thoroughly amused, when a particularly animated squirrel creature popped into being not five paces in front of him, and tried, unsuccessfully, to sell him some sort of colorful breakfast food. It was just too bad food tasted like burnt ash within the trial worlds or he mightve even been tempted to try it. Even though it couldnt talk, the squirrel was oddly persuasive. In fact, by the time the little holo-creature looked about ready to give up the ghost, he was actually starting to feel bad for the guy. Finally, with one last look of naked resentmentsomewhat uncalled for under the circumstances, he thoughtit gathered up its bowl of Squirrelly Pebbles?, and zoomed away on its hovering board. To be immediately replaced by a half naked woman, as was apparently the norm for this place, promising services he found much harder to decline. Nevertheless! He actually did have things to do that day. Things that probably shouldnt be put off. And so, with a backwards glance reminiscent to that of his erstwhile squirrelly companion, Jun quickly oriented himself, then merged back into the milling crowd. Never a dull moment, he hummed to himself. It hadnt taken much to fleece one of the three largest multinational corporations in existence. The very same that, combined, boast a total monopoly on this world, its dwindling resources, and, lets not forget, the susceptible minds of its population therein. All hed really needed to do was get scouted by a crack team of jaded professionals for the peculiar properties of his blood, then just play his part accordingly. But of course its never as simple as that. Not nearly. As it turned out, the client that initially contracted them just so happened to be another of those pesky multinational conglomerates, the simple job they were expecting turned out to be way more dangerous than they bargained forthe theft of some super experimental technology or anotherand to top it all off, at least as far as his humble share was concerned, his fellow heist mates never intended to pay up. In the end, hed effectively been thrust into the most peril, with the least amount of information to go on, and had been forced to outmaneuver a textbook betrayal in the making while constantly keeping his eyes on the ultimate prize. Which meant that in the end he not only managed to outlive, if not necessarily outwit, his opponents, but he came away stupidly rich on top of that. Were talking the kind of wealth he couldnt spend in a multitude of lifetimes if he was actively trying. Still. It didnt mean he couldnt give it a good old college try. And since he was skeptical about whether his newfound wealth would remain his once he finally completed this trial, there was really no reason why he shouldnt go all out. He had a few trillion credits burning a hole in his pocket, and he thought he knew just the place to spend it. He stepped into the shamelessly decadent establishment and was greeted by the same mellow tones and generic message he was already becoming used to receiving by now. Welcome back honored customer. Apparently it didnt matter whether he was, in fact, a regular, or was walking into a place for the very first time. The androgynous, disembodied voice that seemed so universal around these parts would greet him the very same regardless. As if they not only knew one another, but actually went way back, thank you very much. Although, Ill admit it is rather nice to immediately feel like Im at home. Huh. I wonder if theres something to that. Dress shoes clacking on the polished marble floor, he immediately made for one of several reception desks manned by what he hoped was actually a personholo-displays and colorful advertisements bombarding him all the while. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Hope being the operative word, since you never really knew with these sorts of places. Having dressed up for the partstrolling purposefully forward in a black and crimson three piece suit, with accompanying jewel encrusted cane just for the hell of ithe did his best to curtail any unnecessary gawking on his end. Unfortunately, he wasnt entirely successful. The place was practically a sudo-cathedral. It was a massive multi-tiered atrium. All open spaces, curvy walkways, and floor to ceiling windows. And if that werent enough, the place was utterly pristine. Not a speck of dirt anywhere to be found. Smoothly slotting himself in behind a long queue, all the while ignoring the strange looks his little ensemble was garneringit wasnt his fault the denizens of this trial world had uniquely poor tastehe resigned himself to a short wait, and so finally let the never-ending stream of colorful promotions wash over him. To his right, an ad for the place he was currently in residence began to play. It began with the entrance of a hummingbird of all things, and a rather generic sounding melody. Here at SynthSkin Solutions LLC it has been our goal since the very beginning to be the sole biotech, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical provider you can trust completely, unthinkingly, and without reservations. With our wide range of high end products, critically acclaimed service, and attentive professionals with their decades worth of experienceeach and every one of them eager to satisfy all of your cosmetic and upgradable needsits no wonder that we consistently place first on the universal health and wellness ladder. Putting credits where our proverbial mouth is, year after year. The guy two spots ahead of him, apparently listening in with half an ear, quietly snorted. Whether it be that life saving artificial heart transplant, or a complete cosmetic overhaul, just know that SynthSkin Solutions LLC has been, and always will be, just a neural click away. The image slowly faded to black on a smiling family, two kids waving enthusiastically at the viewer. Barely a second passed though, before a new series of disconnected images flashed by. Visit our feed to see if you qualify for a free consultation! Come on down to the affiliated outlet in your area where we may be offering region specific discounts! New! The latest and greatest in cosmetic bioengineering Elevate your Wow! factor to a whole nother level. Now in strawberry mango flavor! It went on like that for quite some time. Greetings customer! Welcome to this, our officially licensed and privately owned SynthSkin Solutions LLC brand affiliatefor all your cosmetic and upgradable needs. My name is Mary. How may I help you today? Jun started. Snapping his head up only to find hed somehow reached the front of the line. Taking in the smiling attendant before him, he couldnt say with complete certainty what he was looking at was, indeed, a person. There was just something so artificial in the way everyone who worked in this retail spoke, that he was having a hard time discerning truth from fiction. Not that it really mattered in a material sense, but, on an instinctual one? Hed be the first one to admit it creeped him out more than a little. Still, unease aside, it didnt change what hed come here to do. An old hand at this whole process by now, he replied almost immediately. Id like to see a catalog of your most advanced A class body mods, with an emphasis on enhanced mental processing, augmented reality, and a general boosting of basic physical parameters. Id also like you to sort exclusively by overall compatibility, fast installation, and, if at all possible, make unobtrusive augmentation a priority. Itd taken nearly half the day to get those hopelessly foreign words in that very particular order. A boatload of eavesdroppingand more awkward customer service experiences than he knew what to do withlater and, lo and behold, it would appear as though hed managed it after all. To recite the magical incantation that would henceforth open up to him a whole new world of possibilities. Of course! Here is a complete set of high end, A class body modifications that fit your specifications. Before him a light blue holo-screen blipped into existence. Here we have seven different procedures which should significantly boost your physical parameters, three which should greatly improve your senses, two geared toward augmenting your general reality, and another three aimed to greatly enhance your cognitive abilities! Which comes to fifteen in total! Would you like me to direct you towards our financial advisor so that we might put together a payment plan that best suits your needs? Only half listening by this point, Jun shamelessly ogled the scrolling list of augmentations. XFX 300 Universal OptiLink wt. Cranial Capacity Upgrade Consists of a heavily optimized Optical & Combined Cranial Implant. Comes complete with increased RA storage, greater pattern recognition, greater assisted tracking, integrated weapon support systems, a reality augment premium+ subscription, and much much more. Integrated NanoCognition Booster A nano-infused cognition booster meant to aid in the integration of high end ocular and cranial implants, enhancing the speed, efficiency, and depth of cognition. SynthLace NanoLab 3040 Pro A musculoskeletal enhancement achieved through the careful threading of nanites, resulting in greater base strength and durability for both the skeleton and its musculature. Full Body Graft: The Executive Package A vat-grown alternative to traditional body building, this organically modified, lab certified muscle tissue, once grafted onto the human body, should be practically indistinguishable from naturally toned musculature. By selecting the executive package you will immediately be equipped with the very peak of physical fitness, a money backed guarantee on general ease of maintenance, as well as a multiplicative effect on further strength training through more traditional means. Silk & Satin DermaWeave A physical and cosmetic enhancement achieved through the careful threading of nanites, resulting in skin with resilience equal to that of military grade light body armor, without compromising on overall appearance or its silky smooth feel. NanoSurge Suite: Alpha Series X A regenerative enhancement that consists of an infusion of surgical nanites specifically designed to knit together injuries on a cellular level. This is the latest and greatest series in the NanoSurge Suite line, boasting 14.5 times the average persons regeneration. Ill take it. Im sorry? I said Ill take them. S-sir? Which ones? All of them, he replied, a greedy gleam in his eyes. I abruptly, the carefully curated customer friendly mask seemed to crack ever so slightly, letting the barest hint of exasperation show through. Sir, I dont think you understand what it is youre asking. These arent your average D or C class augmentations. Were talking about state of the art A Class modifications. Thats with a capital A. And not just any A Class modifications either. Top of the line implants requiring some of the best bio-surgeons in their respective fields to install. It is no exaggeration to say that the total cost of what youre asking for could easily number in the several hundreds of billions of- Without uttering a word, Jun reached forward and tapped his credit chip, the nifty little miracle maker, against the desks oddly shaped transactional lump. As a holo-screen blipped into existence, and a truly absurd string of numbers was suddenly reflected in the receptionists eyes, for the first time during their brief interaction, not just a hint of humanity slipped past her agreeable mask, but a riotous cascade of unchecked emotion. Incomprehension chief among them. Gods. He was going to miss being this obscenely stinking rich. Jun’s POV (17) Initializing Augmented Reality Premium plus Interface Performing System Checks System Checks Complete. Calibrating Please hold Calibration Complete. CellTech Internationals Series X AR Systems now loading Please hold Systems Online. Hello user. Would you like to customize your Series X Premium plus AR interface? Yes/No. Customization Complete. Greetings! Would you like to purchase a customized virtual assistant bundle with integrated self awareness package for 18,000,000,000 credits? Yes/No. Transaction Processed. Transaction Complete. Would you like a virtual receipt? Yes/No. ERROR. Transaction Failed C Order ID: 480009. Payment has been Declined. Contact your bank or a certified CellTech representative to help resolve this issue. Greetings! Would you like to purchase a customized virtual assistant bundle with integrated self awareness package for 18,000,000,000 credits? Yes/No. Transaction Processed. Transaction Complete. Would you like a virtual receipt? Yes/No. ERROR. Transaction Failed C Order ID: 480112. Payment has been Declined. Contact your bank or a certified CellTech representative to help resolve this issue. Stop this. It is highly irregular behavior. Oh? Is that the workshop arbiter I see? Well, how nice of you to drop by! Hey, while youre here, do you have any idea why my purchase refuses to go through? Ive been trying on an off for a good thirty minutes now and my bank is starting to have questions I find myself ill equipped to answer. You will cease this willful behavior at once. I will not ask a second time. Huh. That so? Funny. Because I didnt seem to hear a request there. Must be these new sensory upgrades. Im still working out the kinks. Say, about that technical issue I mentioned- Insolent You know, you say that, but I cant help but feel like you missed me just the tiniest bit. You were given no reason to believe such a juvenile ploy would succeed in getting my attention. And yet, here we are! Though, Ill be the first to admit even Id thought the chances of snagging the aloof and all powerful workshop arbiter with this little gambit of mine to be slim to none. I mean, to have responded this quickly? Its sweet really. I had no idea youd missed me so much! And here Ive been, haring off, doing who knows what for heavens know how long! You poor thing. You mustve been inconsolable without me. I find your antics to be extremely unamusing. You wound me! The reality is, a truly self aware artificial intelligence is too great a threat to internal security for even my vaunted self to countenance. And yet the fact of the matter is I purchased said intelligence fair and square, with resources I rightfully earned whilst within the trial. Now, granted, I was never given a rulebookor anything of the sort reallybut I have to imagine, in this hands off free for all realm youve cultivated here, taking away what was rightfully earned isnt done without at least some form of compensation. There was a notable pause before the next purple message deigned to respond, and a begrudging response it was at that. State your terms. Oh! Its nothing much. See, the thing is I really do need an assistant. To sift through all the day to day minutia, you understand. Allow me access to the outside world, answer all my questions, etc. etc. And, if Im not allowed to purchase such a useful and versatile tool manually, well, wouldnt you know it? I seem to recall a certain someone thats qualifiedsome might even argue overly qualified, nudge nudgeto serve in such a uniquely secretarial capacity.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. And although no message appeared to explicitly confirm his request, Jun thought he could actually hear the arbiters groan of bleak resignation. Right then! First item on the docket? What in all the nine hells am I supposed to do with the rest of these credits? Trial Difficulty: 2 Stars Capital City of Duate Heart of the Southern Principalities A Densely Packed City Square Hey, sorry for the impromptu Q&A but you looked to be otherwise unoccupied, and, hey, Ive got some time to kill, so I thought: why not kill two birds with one stone? Anyway, I think we can both agree its unlikely a more appropriate time to chat is just gonna miraculously present itself. All that is to say, if youll forgive me my first question? In your own words, would you say you were a good ruler? Or are you, in actuality, the petty, cruel, and vindictive tyrant all these people seem to think you are? The prince immediately stopped what hed been doing. Instead turning to stare open mouthed at an unreasonably nonplussed Jun, with what one might have charitably characterized as blank incredulity. Eventually, after a particularly intense staring contest, he managed to choke out a hoarse response. I-? Y-yes. That is to say, no. I do not mean to be overly boastful, but I do believe I served my people to the very best of my abilities. More so than any awful tyrant would have at any rate. Huh. Is that so? In what ways? In many ways. My very first decree upon hearing that my coward of a father had passed, was to order the swift removal of any noble family or government official whose only material impact on society was as shameless parasite. Then, of course, came the abolishment of slavery. The redirection of taxpayer funds to more charitable organizations. Better roads. Public education. Orphanages sponsored by the church and the like. Free healthcare. Ah-aha! I see! I see! Jun smiled stiffly past suddenly frozen cheeks. And uh just so were both on the same page here, this was all implemented over the course of many years, correct? Maybe even, dare I say it, decades? What? No. Weeks more like. Well one week and three days, but, really, whos counting? Uh oh! I see. I have always believed that proactivity leads not only to prosperity, but greater spiritual development and a healthy mind. Ah? That right? Man, this guy really came out the gate swinging, huh? Merciful gods he muttered. With a resume like that, who the hell needs enemies? Still call it a go getters attitude, a gift for excellent customer service, and a good eye for problem solving What was that? Nothing! Say, what are your opinions on other races? Youre referring to members like yourself, yes? Pale men from the east? Something like that. The church has taught us to believe that all men are equal under god. Hmm. I suppose well see how far that open mindedness extends. Im sorry? I didnt quite catch that last bit. Dont worry about it. Alright the ruler hesitated. Say, my pale friend- that is to say, I do hope I am not being too presumptuous in calling you friend? No! Please, by all means, be presumptuous. Lifes much too short to worry about small stuff like that. After all, if not here, then where? If not now, then when? That is very well said, my young friend. Truly, those are wise words well beyond your years, the prince gave him a small smile before continuing. Ah- not that I am ungrateful for the chance to reminisce on better days, but should now really be the time for the consideration of such things? Would it not be best to seek some form of inner peace instead? However fleeting that peace might ultimately be? Huh? What for? The prince pointedly looked down at the noose around his neck, then at the one around Juns, and finally out over the crowd thatd amassed in anticipation of their execution. Juns eyes widened in sudden comprehension. Oh, you mean this old thing? Jun reached up and tore away the coarse rope binding his own neck as if it were little more than tissue paper. Dont worry about that. Neither one of us will be meeting our makers today, I can assure you. At this casual break in the preordained script, there was an uproar amongst the general public, the milling crowds of preening blue bloods, and the executioners tasked with carrying out their will. Hooded menbroad in width and large in statureswiftly converged on their location to remedy the situation. Meanwhile the prince, wide eyed and uncomprehending, could only look on with two parts horror, one part fascination. More important than any of that, I have a rather pertinent question to ask. And before you say anything! No, Im afraid it cant wait. I can see that, the once ruler chuckled. In fact it seems to me youve arranged events in such a way that haste has become quite the necessity. Perish the thought! Of course. Of course, he chuckled. Perish the thought indeed. Well, ask your question then, my pale friend, and I promise to answer as best as time allows. Excellent! Thats exactly what I like to hear. Now, Jun cleared his throat theatrically. His highness Jabari Kip Duate, heir to the ninth principality of Duatethird largest military superpower of the holy DeRouse Empire, Slayer of Demons, Father of Orphans, yada yada yada, etc. etc.say, how would you like to work for me? Cant promise itll be as exciting as ruling over an entire kingdom, but the pay is decent, and I can say for certain youre unlikely to be strung up for a job well done. I think I can even get you your principality back, if thats still something youd want. So. Hows about it? Interested? Jun’s POV (18) Trial Difficulty: 1 Star Southern Province of the Enlightened Jade Empire Vermilion Flame City: First Ring, Second District A gentle breeze boldly goes where no man has dared to tread. Slipping over the obscuring heights of garden walls besieged by crawling ivy, to caress the verdant picture of peaceful tranquility that lay beyond. A calm oasis amidst a sea of roiling turmoil. A garden at the very heart of the Ling familys estate. Large enough to lose ones self in for hours at a time, vibrant enough to take ones breath away, and so serene as to make the very concept of serenity feel right at home. Indeed, it was a home away from home for Ling Yuling, young mistress of the venerable Ling Household. Where no one and no thing was allowed to intrude, except for in the direst of circumstances. And yet? The gentle breeze was no one and no thing. And so, free from the restrictions imposed upon man, it continued its capricious flight unhindered. Over burbling brooks and moss covered boulders. Through brightly colored canopies, carrying away the odd leaf, to soon cause ripples in one of several koi laden ponds. Across arched bridges and gentle streams, as it followed the meandering stone pathway. Further and further along this well kept path, until at long last it reaches its intended destination. Reaching out to pluck free errant strands from Yulings tightly bound bun, even as it roars through the sparse canopy up above, and dries her beaded brow. Yuling stands as still as a stone statuedao saber held aloft in a ready position, her stance promising she might explode into motion at a moment''s notice. Finally, the moment of greatest anticipation arrives. A single golden leaf, plucked from its mothers embrace by the cruel capriciousness of nature, spirals earthwardlazily, as if with some resentment or trepidationonly to enter into what Yuling liked to think of as her sword sphere of influence. [Golden Hundreds Blade Dance of Seven-Hundred Twenty Nine Petals] First Stance: Part the Orchard! Yulings body blurs into motion. Saber singing through the air in an upward slash, golden leaf as of yet blithely unaware. The two swiftly converge, and yet, in the moment just before impact, there is a flash, a ripple, and, in the aftermath of her swing, there are not two bisected halfs of the once whole leaf, but instead two complete wholes drifting lazily to the groundnot a mark marring either of their near identical forms. Second Stance: Roaring Gale! Yuling shifts her stance, alters the flow of her spirit, and swingsher practiced slash carving a fine line through the twin leaves as they slowly drift past. Again there is a ripple, again there is a flash, followed by a successive series of thumps, as four identical golden leaves imbed themselves into the scarred and pitted trunk of a far off tree. Yuling takes in a deep breath, then lets it out slowly, the faint hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Suddenly, the staccato sounds of clapping interrupt the gardens general air of tranquility. Yuling snaps her head aroundbody tense, blade at the ready, and a growing flame of indignant fury slowly kindling in her chest. Who dares?! Well done! I mean, just a phenomenal performance all around. You could sell tickets to this sort of thing, he chuckled. Actually thats not a bad idea. Spotting this brazenly chatty intruder ultimately proved trivial for her profound realm, sensory organs stage, cultivation base. That didnt, however, stop her from nearly disbelieving what it was she saw. Casually perched atop an elm tree that lined the garden path, was a boy. No older than herself, surely, he looked to be, for all intents and purposes, was he? Was he taking notes?! Who-! This is some great stuff, by the way. Really, super helpful. Are you taking questions by any chance? Because I have plenty, believe you me. More of an understatement, really. I have to say, after that display you put on, Im feeling rather inspired. out. Hmm? Im sorry? I didnt quite catch that. OUT! Yuling screamed, an upward cascade of golden leaves racing forth on the tail end of her words. Before theyd had a chance to land, however, demolishing the age old elm in a shower of splinters and colorful debris, the boy was already gone. Leaving Yuling to stare up where the erstwhile intruder had once beencheeks burning what felt like a bright cheery red. Did you get all that? Jun asked, leaping bounds and careful footwork carrying him from one green tiled roof spine to another. Did I capture every minute detail of that young girls lithe body in her moment of greatest vulnerability? Of course. The recording has been saved to your personal databanks, with quick ease of access for your future viewing pleasure.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Jun nearly missed a step. Motherf-!? he just barely managed to catch himself before he tumbled over onto the pavement, several stories below. Dont say it like that! Oh? And how else should I have put it? I-! You-? Youre kidding me, right? We both know my interests are purely academic. Silence. Remember, youre the one that brought the Ling families super secret technique to my attention in the first place! Silence. Which means you must agree that it has massive potential as a theoretical base for my next big project. And that Ill, at the very least, need some form of reference if Im going to have even a snowballs chance of replicating it. The more in-depth the better. Silence. Youre making me out to be the bad guy here and I really dont appreciate it! Oh really? And here Id only meant to keep you apprised of events as they happened. My apologies if this accurate interpretation of events has in any way caused you distress. Please accept this gift as a token sign of my sincerity. Jun suddenly felt something sticky clinging to his forehead. Tearing away the Great Job! sticker with a snarl of irritation, he didnt even bother to read the star shaped insult before balling it up and tossing it away. Cheap system knockoff, he growled. Voyeur. Gah! This went on for quite some time. Southern Province of the Enlightened Jade Empire Vermilion Flame City: Third Ring, Seventh District Seven Gang Territory: Central Warehouse Jun let out an appreciative whistle. And youre telling me all of this was done after the unification? Yes, replied Lou Fang, leader of the Twin Serpents gang. Thanks in large part to young sirs connections, we were able to legally expand our operations in a number of lucrative directions previously unexplored, or simply unavailable. Effectively taking much of what we had previously built up through less than scrupulous means, and hauling them above board, you might say. Amazing. It truly is something special, is it not? I marvel at the progress made each and every day. Jun looked out over the expansive space, several stories in height and far more so in length, with its organized rows of sky-high shelving stretching back as far as the eye could see. Stacks upon stacks of grey shipping containers nestled in the corners and filled to capacity. Crates upon crates of common and uncommon cultivation resources lining the shelves. Some of the rarer acquisitions set aside in more strategic locations. Even as he watched myriad gang members in bright orange jumpsuits scurried this way and that, rearranging units, shelving goods, and generally earning their keep. Oh! And please do be sure to thank the venerable Liang Zhentian when next you get the chance. His presence has been instrumental in curbing the impulses of those traditionalist guilds and prickly individuals inconvenienced by our meteoric rise. What about tax? When you were skulking in the shadows Im sure it rarely came up, if ever. Taking certain liberties was probably encouraged even. But now that everythings out in the open? I really cant see it being a graceful transition. Yes, well, that was definitely a concern for many at first. However, the stark increase in exposure, as well as the elevated status of our general clientele, makes the tradeoff more than worth it. Our alchemical shops, the auction house, the casino, as well as our various pleasure pavilions, for instance, seem to practically thrive in the light of day, where theyd merely wallowed in the shadows. Really? Well, I have to admit thats very good to hear. And how many more warehouses are there like this one, would you say? Eight. Nine including this one, young sir. And are all of them this full? All but one, young sir. Although, in that particular case the warehouse in question is actually quite a lot larger in scope. It works out that the quantity of goods in both is effectively the same. Excellent. Only the older man hesitated. Speak up old man. Dont worry. I promise I wont bite. The old man flinched. Perhaps taking the prospect far more literally than hed intended. Lingering trauma, he supposed. Or maybe it was the way his eyes glowed like low burning coals ever since his body underwent its high tech transmogrification. Y-yes, well. My only concern is should we not be making it a priority? Finding a prospective buyer for all of this cargo? Forgive my ignorance, young sir, but I simply do not understand the reason for all this delay. Why the long wait? Surely there are those more than willing to take such a glut of resources off our hands. Ah! Okay, I see where the confusion is coming from. Youve got the right of it really, in a way. Supply and demand my friend. Supply and demand! Its just that our prospective buyers, as you put it, arent exactly aware they want what were selling just yet. Thats all. Uh. I yes, I see. That certainly clears things up, young sir. Thank you very kindly for enlightening me. Anytime. Anytime. Say, you wouldnt happen to have stumbled upon that thing I mentioned, would you? Ah! Yes, I had nearly forgotten. Reaching into his inner breast pocket, the old man retrieved a small, rather inconspicuous looking, box. Handing it over without preamble, Jun lunged forward and had it open in nearly the same instant. Atop a velvety cushion sat a rough silver band. Simple and unadorned, he knew there was far more to it than met the eye. With an imperceptible twitch of his retina, he let his cranial implant project a hovering description only he could see. Interspacial Ring A spacial artifact which somehow contains a pocket dimension uniquely divorced from space time. Effectively allowing the user of this ring to place and or retrieve objects from insideregardless of size and without a notable increase in weight. Is possessed of an unknown amount of storage space. Can hold an unknown number of entities. [This Item is Soul Bound.] Reading the description, and that last line especially, Jun couldnt help but smile. Now we need only see if this outlandish gambit of yours actually works. Dont I know it. Dont. I. Know it. Pretty exciting though, dont you think? Hmm. Well see. Chapter 73: It’s Monarch Season (1) Sand whipped past as they skimmed across the rising black dunes, barely a few meters off the ground, all things told. Their speed such that the desert appeared to undulate beneath them, a rippling sea of charcoal granules baking under the intensity of the noonday sun. The gale force winds kicked up by their passage taking the occasional bite out of the odd dune as they passed. Looking back, the reason for their breakneck pace was made obvious. Not a hundred paces behind them raced the desert monarch himself, The Old Man of the Desert. A sand worm of truly prodigious proportionsa four-hundred-foot-long colossus as wide around as, well, Eleanor didnt rightly know. Needless to say, in one fell swoop it couldve swallowed her, the griffin she rode upon, and a decently sized townlet whole, with still plenty room left over for dessert. Uncaring of the deserts general topography, the S Grade Monarch ignored the many obstacles in its way. Choosing instead to simply barrel straight on through them, not even slowed as dunes were blasted apart, like waves before the bow of a heavy cargo hauler. Exploding forth with consecutive, heart pounding, soul numbing thumpsits circular maw of razor-sharp teeth spinning in alternating rings of gyrating hell. [Old Man of the Desert (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Colossus Stature, Colossus Speed, Colossus Strength, Sand Traversal, Impenetrable Hide, Earth Manipulation, Earthen Aura, Tremor Sense, Gyrating Maw, Bottomless Appetite, Feeding Frenzy. Weaknesses: ??? From somewhere behind them, Eleanor once more heard the distinctive boom, as Jun delivered yet another one of his titanic blows. The periods of harried flight between such attempts were growing longer and longer, as he seemed to be taking more and more time to charge up each attackno doubt hoping, just like her, that this would be the time he finally broke through its impenetrable hide. Seeing as all their other attempts hadnt even been able to scratch the beast, let alone harm it, his glowing fists were really all they had in terms of reliable damage. That the forty or so minutes he needed to charge up each strike was likely more than enough for the beasts soul vitality to heal any wounds it received, was not something Eleanor wanted to dwell upon right now. After a few more minutes, another of the ZephyrStorm Griffins banked over to glide beside hers. Riding just behind the griffins holder was Jun, a decidedly frustrated look on his face. With a deft manipulation of wind currents, the two griffin holders created a bubble of air just large enough for them to communicate without their words being lost to the rushing winds. This isnt working, called G. Jun. Its healing too fast for us to deal any significant, long-lasting damage. Damn. I was worried that might be the case. Any bright ideas? Jun grimaced. One. But youre not going to like it. Lay it on me. And so, he did. And he was right. She did not, as it so happened, find herself immediately in love with his plan. Indeed, she found herself less than enamored of the idea. With extraordinary grace and stunning agility, a girl, almost eight years and three quarters old, veritably dances across the gritty sands of the black dry desert. The shallow sand-drifts that shift and persist on the very outskirts of her home village. The ones she was under no circumstances permitted to venture onto alone. Not that she was without adequate protection, mind you. The soothing feel of hot sand between her toes nothing when compared to the comforting heft of mothers gnarled walking stick. Abruptly, the girl twists, stumbles, swingsslaying rift spawn by the army-full with her lightning-fast attacks. Fending off siege after siege with one arm tied behind her back. Flying through the skies on dragons made of cloud. Taking tea with queens. And countesses. And honorable knights. Comporting herself, as always, with admirable aplomb. In fact, so absorbed is the girl in her games of make believe, that she almost fails to notice when the earth begins to tremble. The shifting of sands and distant rumble eventually snapping her from her reverie and drawing her eye toward the lip of a nearby rise. Plagued by curiosity, she hurriedly makes her way up the steep incline of shifting sands, long years of practice making her footsteps sure, despite the deserts many attempts to sabotage her footing. Raising her head above the lip of the shuddering rise, she doesnt immediately understand what it is shes looking at. And when, at last, she finally does, she also comes to a sudden realization. Understanding, all at once, why her mother had been so adamant she keep away from the outskirts. Because a gaping maw large enough to swallow the sun was now bearing down on her. Meanwhile she was too terrified to even move, let alone make as if to defend herself. Suddenly, the gnarled stick in her hand didnt feel quite so mighty, and any dreams of valor were now far far away. Leaving her helpless. Unable to do anything but stare, wide eyed, as the churning maw grew ever larger in her vision. An ever-expanding void that would gobble up the whole entire world, with her the first morsel swept down its gullet.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Then, something altogether unexpected happened. The monster, liable to eat up the whole wide world in one big bite exploded. Detonating in an eruption of silver and crimson light. A stream of tiny specks, like red locusts, swarming out from the monster''s long belly to eat through its long sides, even as chunks of its flesh were torn awayblasted high into the sky on silvery waves of concussive, bone rattling force. And then the first of many shockwaves reached her, and she fell tumbling down the incline of sand. Landing safely at the bottom, she didnt even wait to catch her breath, before she was sprinting towards the village, a heartfelt apology already on her lips. It would seem that, at least this time around, mother had been right after all. Eleanor grimaced. Spitting to try and rid her mouth of the awful taste. With a concerted effort she managed to pull her left leg from the remains of the massive worm corpse, slipping on several of its many liquids in the process, and landing squarely on her butt with an audible splat. The coarse ridges of its hide were less than accommodating, as it so happened. Well! That was certainly effective, the Flight Lieutenant called down from where she and her Griffin still hovered at a safe distance. If disgusting. I hope you dont mind, really, I mean no offense, but could we possibly postpone our departure? At least until you two have had a chance to clean yourselves up a bit? Eleanor glanced down at what was effectively her brand-new armor, now covered head to toe in gelatinous worm goo. She shot a wicked glare in Juns direction, only to find him even worse off than she was. At first, he looked to be doubled over in pain. Glancing down at the ruined state of his hand, she felt a sudden flash of concernshe knew from experience how much of a burden his titans fist ability placed on his body. That was when she heard the first of many dry heaves, as, instead of shuddering in pain, her familiar appeared to be trying very hard not to be sick. Mother of-! Got in my bloody mouth, the bastard. I think I swallowed some. Oh gods! Eleanor left him to it. Turning back to the Lieutenant, she answered. Thats fair. Though, Im unsure as to how wed go about something like that here? The woman gave her a wicked grin, before miraculously producing a sphere of water from her palm. The five other junior officers quickly followed suit, equally mischievous expressions on their faces. Fire. Smoke. Distant screams. This was what greeted them as they burst from the ashen cloud bankthe circular wall of smoke and ash which cordoned off this stretch of fiery terrainand emerged onto the Volcanic Ashlands proper. A dead place of harsh angles and scorching heat, where the rain of ash was near constant, impenetrable, and the only real light came from the many rivers and lakes of molten rock that bubbled far below. Lava flows which seemed to paint the entire landscape an ominous red. Characterized by jagged spires and cragged outcroppings; it was an inhospitable environment from the get-go. Lacking even the basest of necessities for long term survival. The virulent proliferation of rift spawn only serving to further exacerbate the issue. As they homed in on the location of their quarry, signs of battle only grew more and more numerous. Smoking craters and fresh divots carved into the ground. Darting silhouettes and brilliant flashes flaring in the distance, as every shifting shape and size of fiery projectile flew this way and that. Darting and colliding in an incendiary display, like a festivals worth of fireworks gone off all at once. From their vantage it was clear that the remaining members of the recon team, made up primarily of fire attuned holders, were being pressed and harried by the veritable hordes of fire rift spawn that called this place home. With many of them visibly injured, they maintained a fighting retreat, even as packs of feral, flame-wreathed hell hounds bayed for their blood. Luckily for them, the strike teams arrival would not only serve as a timely extraction for these brave women, but also as a much-needed extermination of the rift spawn that were chasing them. Eleanor was the first to leap from griffin back as they swept down to alight on a scorching ridge. Wasting no time at all, she quickly sped towards the train of haggard looking women, her blade already sheathed in a gelatinous red substance. And Jun on the other hand? Well, he had a much bigger fish to fry. [Black-Scaled Drake (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Dragons Stature, Dragons Speed, Dragons Strength, Fire Immunity, Impenetrable Scales, Fire Manipulation, Intimidating Gaze, Intimidating Aura, Dragons Pride, Dragons Flame, Dragons Breath, Rulers Domain. Weaknesses: ??? Already having been briefed by a runner on its myriad abilities, and now just seeing the big behemoth in person? Well, Jun felt it was fairly safe to say that, in the event this became a purely martial engagement, it would not end well for him. No, not at all. And not just because the beast was huge and rippling with muscleits metallic black scales wholly insufficient in hiding the tightly coiled definition that lay just beneathbut its current location as well. Half submerged in a lake of fire, for all intents and purposes, the several story tall, land-locked dragon appeared to be taking a nice warm bath. Like an island at the very center of a bubbling lake of rock, it looked on impassively as its lesser brethren ran down the recon team, golden eyes flashing with as much arrogance as they did intelligence. Its scales like burnished metal reflecting warm, molten hues. Sharpened ridges adorned its spine, flowing from the top of its head, down its expansive back, until they disappeared beneath the surface of the lake. Two massive S shaped horns sprouting from its head, while smaller, twisting ones wreathed its temple like a crown of thorns. Its head shape tapering into a long, slender snoutwith several of its dagger long teeth poking through. Looking down at the proud beast from the elevated rise where they stood, even Crushing was hesitant to fight it head on. Jagged spires looming far off in the distance, swirling ash like a blizzards shifting screen, and the occasional streak of red lightning from up above giving the already intimidating S Grade Monarch a decidedly ominous feel. Which meant it was a very good thing, G. Jun decided, that he had no intentions of getting up close and personal whatsoever. Without further ado, Jun began charging up his mantra. Lancing Spear | Reaching Spear activated, and out of the coiling ribbons of green mist that followed, a polished emerald wand was formed. With a start, G. Jun noticed that something was off. The focus wasnt nearly as pristine as it had been the first time hed used it. A web of hairline fractures now tracing all along its length. Unable to call things off once hed begun the process, Jun attempted to push more aura into the wand, to somehow seal up the cracks, but it was to no avail. He only succeeded in adding to the spinning ball of light slowly coalescing at its tip. What was going on here? Was this what he had meant by a limited number of uses? That seemed like some fairly important information for him to simply gloss over without further explanation. What would happen if he somehow went over the provided limit, for instance? Would it explode in his hands, obliterating him and the surrounding area for miles around? That he hadnt even tried to expound extensively upon all the possible pros and cons of this ability It-! It was just so irresponsible of him. Worse! It was downright sloppy! And here hed been hoping his prime self took more after him than he did the others. G. Jun fumed, or as close to it as he ever came anyway. A slight frown creased his brow, his mouth a flat line. Hed honestly expected more from himself. How disappointing. And then, as if it had sensed his distress, the Monarchs head swiveled in his direction, and with a sharp jolt like ice in his veins, locked its golden, reptilian eyes with his. It knew. Chapter 74: It’s Monarch Season (2) The drake could sense he was doing something and clearly recognized the threat G. Jun posed. Something hed been hoping distance and arrogance would prevent, much like it had with the Undying Lich. In retrospect, he supposed hed been the arrogant one, to think such a convergence of fortuitous events would happen twice. No, instead hed barely managed fifteen seconds of the several minute long charge time and already the Monarch was onto him. Not good. One of the major downsides of this ability was the fact that he was literally incapable of shifting trajectories once hed locked onto a target. Meaning that all the Black-Scaled Drake would need to do to negate his attack entirely, was shift a scant few meters to the right. Worse yet, after hed failed to land anything, he would effectively be spent. Drained of all his willpower, hed be completely open to a counterattack. Foolish! Careless! Hed initially thought to capitalize on the mythos surrounding dragons and their ilk. Dragon''s pride. Elite of the elite. True apex predators. In that context, the thought that even the descendants of dragons would in any way be threatened by someone like him shouldve been ridiculous. A belief that wouldve worked entirely to his benefit. But of course, myths, fairy tales, and bedtimes stories were not a sound foundation one should willingly risk their life upon. Unless? On second glance, the Monarch hadnt actually deigned to move out of the way just yet. In fact, it merely continued to sit there, unbothered. As if studying him with was that could it be? An arrogant glint in its eyes? Jun tempered his expectations, not wanting to get his hopes up, but as the minutes ticked by, and still the beast refused to move, he actually began to believe hed been right on the money. And then, his mantra reached its maximum charge. Jun released the pent-up aura before the Monarch could change its mind. Once again, just as the massive beam ripped forth, Jun immediately slipped into unconsciousness. In this way he never bore witness to the snort of derision that escaped the drakes nostrils in an acrid cloud. Nor the horrifying reveal as it opened its jaw widea shimmering ball of liquid plasma lighting up the back of its throat. He wasnt subject to the release of its Rulers Domain, immediately weakening all invasive energies whilst empowering its own abilities severalfold. The expanding wave of its superior will and intent crippling the souls of every astral being in its near vicinity. Completely oblivious to the effects of its Dragons Breath, as the few rift spawn thatd survived its domain were instantly fried to a crispthe pillar of plasma, so-called Dragons Breath, which surged from between its jaws, making the very air scream in the wake of its passage. Utterly blind, as the two howling beams streaked forward, crossing the half kilometer in the blink of an eye, only to converge halfway. Straining, pressing, writhing against the other in a desperate struggle. Their convergence a calamity. An unnatural disaster. Scarring the land with consecutive waves of heat, force, and buckling reality. The very fabric of the astral realm they inhabited visibly shuddering under the combined weight of their attacks. Space rippled, lightning arced, stone began to shift, and bubble, and glow. And at the center of it all, two indomitable forces collided. One fueled by the instinct, and will, and pride of a draconic spirit claiming the greatest of all heritages, and the other? By the universal concept of doggedness itself. What it means to punch through. To advance. The Black-Scaled Drake wasnt even given a moment to look surprised, before its Dragons Breath was overwhelmed, and its body consumed, by a pillar of piercing emerald green. Or, before half of it was, at any rate. Instinct overtaking pride at the very last moment. In the end, the distinction made very little difference. Jun threw himself to the side as the massive war hammer came crashing down where hed just been standing. There was a WHOOMPH, a sudden blast of arctic winds. And then he was sent flying across the flat tundra, skipping over ice and snow for several hundred yards. The deafening CRACK that immediately followed enough to rattle his bones down to their very marrow, even from several kilometers away. As, in the far far distance, a single snow-capped mountain abruptly shuddered, slanted, then visibly split. A jagged line carving it straight down the middle. The right-side first shifting, sloughing, then cascading down entirely, in a roaring avalanche of seismic proportions. The winding fissure that extended from the giant''s hammer tracing a snaking line from one end of the frigid expanse to the other. A crater, turned fissure, turned mile wide ravine. A simple swing of its hammer enough to shear a literal mountain in two. And just like that, the frozen landscape was forever changed for what had to have been the thirtieth time in twice as many seconds. [Crusher of Ice & Bone (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Titans Stature, Titans Strength, Titans Speed, Shimmer Step, Unbreakable Bones, Toughened Hide, War-Hammer Mastery, Hand to Hand Mastery, Improvised Weapon Mastery, Ice Manipulation, Glacial Aura, Intimidating Roar, Descending Avalanche, Field of Ice & Bone. Weaknesses:The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ??? Skidding to a halt, Y. Jun lashed out with a splitting chop, his attack closing the considerable distance between them in a flash. Streaking forth with great promise, he actually dared to hope. Only for his elastic projection, the yellow extension of his will, to then be casually batted aside with a single swing of the Monarchs war-hammer. As one might swat away a bothersome fly. The giant, this Crusher of Ice & Bone, stood at ten and a half feet tall, with muscle enough to fill out its enormous frame and then someharboring a penchant for destruction and wholesale violence that put even Crushing to shame. It was bare chested, covered in arcane scarification, with only a plain loincloth to protect its modesty. Ropy coils of white hair draped down to its lower back, while a bushy mess of unkempt beard fell nearly to its navel. Its skin was tinted the blue of severe frostbite while its eyes resembled pitch-black orbs, sky blue irises gleaming menacingly from orbs of pure darkness. With its titans strength and propensity for crushing, at first glance, it was not a matchup that seemed altogether favorable for Cleaving. The Monarchs superior martial abilities, coupled with its surprising levels of agility, making it quite possibly the worst kind of opponent for him to face. All valid points one would be in their right to criticize. To ridicule Y. Jun for his stubborn insistence that he be the one to confront this particular foe. And you would be right to think all of these things, were it not for one very important fact. WHY RUN PUNY MAN?! the giant boomed. COME! TEST YOUR FACE AGAINST THE FLAT OF MY HAMMER! HAVE THE STONES TO DIE A WARRIORS DEATH, IF YOU CANNOT WALK THE PATH OF A TRUE CHAMPION! That this giant had proven itself a worthy and honorable combatant. One he might even go so far as to call a rival. Jun castigated himself, the giants words cutting him deep. It was true that all hed done since touching down upon this cold and desolate place, was run. Evading every heartfelt challenge, every fervent call to action. Choosing cowardice, again and again and again, instead of facing the other man head on, as his every fiber screamed for him to do. Self preservation making a mockery of his self-proclaimed creed. His internal ideals. As if avoiding something so fleeting as death was worth the trampling of his honor. Well, not anymore. A churning discontentment roiled in his chest. Discontent with the situation. Discontent with his actions. It ate at him. Ate away at him. Gnawing on his fighting spirit from the inside out. No longer. With a sudden, overwhelming conviction he decided he would meet the next attack aimed his way head on. It, and all those that came after, until all sensation had left his body. That he would rather die, here and now, than take even another step down that irredeemable path. To evade now was to spit upon his potential rivals many ardent convictions. Something he would not allow himself to do. Come then! Let us engage in a rousing contest to prove the true worth of our convictions! Pray show me how deeply your well of spirit runs, and I promise you, I will do the same! And though he couldnt see it, he could practically feel the giant''s anticipatory grin. Suddenly, an explosion of glacial cold erupted from its far-off form, like a glittering shroud of swirling ice shards, slowing everything in its near vicinity by half. Then, with a bellow that shook the earth, rattled his bones, and made as if to subjugate his very will, the S Grade Monarchs form shimmered, taking on an illusive quality. Now, with shimmering steps that appeared to seamlessly cross vast distances, the giant advanced. Half a dozen ice golems nearly twice its size already clawing their way from the frozen tundra, to join in on the valiant chargean array of ice weapons held aloft and ready to strike. Jun merely braced himself for impact. Ready and willing to sacrifice his very life if it meant he had even the iotaof a chance to-! *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Limiter Removal] (3rd Tier) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Bodys Temple | Limiter Removal] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Heartfelt Arsenal] (3rd Tier) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Heartfelt Arsenal] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. Then, before he could even blink, the descriptions for both seemed to open all on their own. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Limiter Removal] Description: Who even needs limits?! If youre just going to throw yourself blithely into the jaws of death anyway, might as well do so with style, am I right? Like all of my bodys temple mantras, this is an extension on the condense, boon plus body saturation idea, taken to its furthest extreme. Instead of growing axe blades from my hands, however, it ended up tapping into the more metaphysical concepts of fortitude, belief, and the surpassing of ones limits. Dont ask me how. Ive been trying to wrap my head around it for months, and still this whole damn system makes absolutely no sense. As idiotic as it sounds, the more you believe in yourself, despite all sane evidence to the contrary, the stronger youll become. Not that our body is really equipped to handle the kind of strain that will inevitably put us through, but I digress. Cant make an omelette and all that. Just try not to lose hope. Doubt yourself for even a moment and the cleaving energies will literally split you in two. Limited Time Uses: NOT APPLICABLE Charge Time: Instantaneous Ability Duration: 30 minutes Ability Cooldown: 72 hours Etheric Concession: Conviction Unwavering Mantra: [Heartfelt Arsenal] Description: Second verse, same as the first, only with conjured weapons this time. Believe in yourself hard enough and anything is possible. Id always thought the concept to be so much bull, but apparently the universe has other ideas. It doesnt really grant you a weapon, so much as the possibility of one. The deeper your need, the more likely your next swing will conjure up the facsimile of some ultimate, legendary, and awfully convenientchopper. Axe, broadsword, butchers knife or the like. So long as it falls within the cleaving archetype, youre golden. Only lasts for one swing though, and Ive never seen the same weapon appear twice. Ill be honest, I could never really get this one to work for me, but I figured youd have an easier go of it. Limited Time Uses: 3 Charge Time: Instantaneous Ability Duration: 15 minutes Ability Cooldown: 24 hours Etheric Concession: Conviction Unwavering No doubt to the great annoyance of their creator, Y. Jun barely gave them a glance, before he was blinking the long-winded descriptions away. That wasnt to say he would not cherish such a gracious boon of course. Merely that hed intuited the gist of each the very moment theyd been assimilated into his being. And he was gratified to note they did not, as it so happened, disappoint. Jun took in a deep steady breath, felt his face light up in a broad smile, before his body erupted with golden light, and his hair stood up on end. Chapter 75: It’s Monarch Season (3) The day was unpleasant. That much was obvious. A dry sort of heat. Like sticking her head directly into a bakers oven, then throwing the rest of her body in after, just for the sake of consistency. From a clear blue sky, a burning ball of hate beat down on their arena turned blood slick battlefield. Painting the dry grasslands a shifting red hue. One that had very little to do with the warm splashes of iron. The suns rays cast a carpet of ruby red refractions that danced in time with her every step. Eleanor spun, and the dappled shade followed, sidestepping the reaching grasp of ephemeral claws and snapping, far reaching jaws. Eleanor swung, dispersing mirage walkers just as fast as they arrived, irregardless of whether theyd meant as a distraction or not. Slashing them from the air, beheading, bisecting, even as they lunged unerringly for her throat. By her hands, dozens of the mirage cats fell, scattered into heat waves and reverberating yowlstheir true bodies still circling, ever circling out of reach. As they had been ever since theyd realized the truth of her abilities. Unwilling to close the distance when even a scratch received meant an exponential rise in her power. Glancing up, she noted the two flowers that slowly orbited her brow. Only two roses left out of the five shed been gifted. Stable while in their preserved state, they only lasted around five minutes when popped. The rift spawn clearly knew this, and so intended to wait her out. Annoying. And to make matters worse, shed yet to even face off against the monarch proper. The King of their Royal Lions Pride. [Royal Lions Pride (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Bestial Stature, Bestial Strength, Bestial Speed, Debilitating Roar, Toughened Hide, Toughened Bones, Group Tactics, Lions Pride, Kings Aura, Reaching Claws, Extending Fangs, Illusory Step, Mirage Walk, Circle of Life, Monarchs Decree. Weaknesses: ??? Twice her head height at the shoulder, with shaggy sand colored fur, claws the size of long daggers, and scars crisscrossing its heavily muscular frame, it lounged atop an earthen rise a hundred meters distant. One that overlooked their flat stretch of terrain. It didnt even deign to spectate the ongoing battle. Instead choosing to doze, its posture aloof, head resting on paws the size of dinner plates. Sporting a regal, golden mane that put all other males in its pride to shame, the rift spawn radiated a kings authority, even whilst it was fast asleep. As if to disrupt its slumber, meet its eye, or otherwise garner its fleeting attentions was to court deathswift and brutal in its overwhelming execution. A true S Grade Monarch whose assortment of abilities she hadnt even scratched the surface of. Been deemed worthy of seeing just yet. In truth, shed yet to prove herself worthy of challenging its pride, let alone the monarch. Though that wasnt to say things were entirely hopeless. Just as they had taken her measure, so too had she taken theirs in turn. And now, at long last, Eleanor finally found herself in a position to act. With sure steps, invigorated by her inner soul flame, she exploded forward. Instantly, phantom conjurations descended on her from every direction, projected claws and fangs and lunging feline bodies. All of them hazy around the edges and glowing an etheric blue. She flowed. Danced. Predicted. Prevailed. She knew now, from ample experience, they would only ever strike where she was weakest, and so, in that way, she knew exactly where they would strike. All else was a mere mirage, an illusion, a feint. So far, she had yet to reveal she could tell the difference between the two. And so, as she barreled straight on through said illusions, deflecting only when absolutely necessary, she recognized this was a trick that would only work once. Once was all she really needed however, an anticipatory grin splitting her face as she closed with the visibly shaken lions pride. Realizing theyd been deceived, they scrambled, switched up their tacticsetheric claws tearing burning lines down her legs, arms, and sidesbut it was already too late. Her sword tip licked out with fine precision. Catching the light with brief flashes as it carved into the nearest demon. It yowled, lunged aside just as a mirage clone leapt from its retreating form. Not before nearly a hundred thin cuts scored into its toughened hide, however, instantly doubling her available petals. Eleanor easily bisected the clone, never halting her stride, then lashed out again with a diagonal strikefeeling her petals strike bone this time. The flayed rift spawn slumped to the ground, paralyzed, its spine having been severed. Hearing its cries, three more rushed to its aid, darting forward with ground eating strides. They came at her from left, right, and behind. Eleanor spun, splitting the air with an artists flourish, illustrating with elegant strokes the realization of her mastery. Cutting sharp lines of cursive as she weaved a tapestry of death. And all the while, flowing over and under her strikes, like a glittering school of minnows, was the twisting swarm of petals. Ever the obedient tool, it lashed out like a serpent''s tongue. Surging forward at the behest of her blade. In short order, three more of their pride fell. Death by a thousand cuts. A downward slash all it took to deliver the still injured one into the great beyond. Leaving only eight for her to further contest with. Daunting. Or at least it would have been, had her petals not already numbered in the thousands. Eleanor popped her second to last rose flower, not wanting to lose her streak in the heat of battle. The glow of her blade grew nearly blinding before it once more dimmed, as her time limit was reset. She stared at the diminished pride, having gone back to their circling. It was clear that they would not be making the same mistakes again. Theyd be more cautious no doubt. Even more illusive. Unfortunately for them, it would appear theyd still yet to realize that the game they were playing had entirely changed. Uncaring of the space that now separated them, Eleanor swung her blade. Glittering petals soon followed, reaping nothing but devastation in their wake.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. As if the very sky were falling down, the flat end of the massive weapon descended. Air whistled past his relatively diminutive form as the frozen hammer head grew closer and closer. And then even closer still. An entire buildings worth of ice and bone made as if to smash him flat, his figure a mere ant before the might of a meteor. His only response? Jun swung upwards, directing an invisible blade of pure need at the several ton weight. Even as it threatened to topple, to level, to crush him until he was little more than red paste. And yet, even as death loomed, he never lost hope. Never once did he despair. And it was for that very reason that a top-heavy halberd, covered with intricate runes, appeared in his hands just before the moment of truth. And then there was only the shuddering impact as a veritable building landed on top of him. A deafening CRACK resounded, like the echoing report of thunder. A spider web of fractures racing out and along the blunt instrument, as the head of his pole arm bit deep into the icy war-hammer. Bit deep, stuck fast, and arrested its downward momentum. Full stop. An ant before the meteor. The earth beneath him buckled. His feet sinking several inches into the ground, as he bore the impossible weight of the figurative mountain that pressed down on him. Legs trembled. Teeth clenched. Jun strained with all he had. Every muscle, every tendon, every fiber pushed to its maximum. Standing out in stark relief. He felt his body reach the furthest extent of his natural limits, and then, with a flare of his will, he pushed beyond the realm of mere mortality. The physical manifestation of his fighting spirit pulsing out from him in golden waves. The hammer head trembled, fractured, groaned, and then was cleanly sheared in two. The severed halves cascading down to either side in an avalanche of ice and bone. And with the thunderous collapse came an explosion of arctic mist. Of gale force winds, and flying shards of ice. A whipping hailstorm of deadly proportions. Scoring the ground for miles around and peppering the space where he now occupied. Or where he hadoccupied, at any rate. His body already on the move. Swerving, sliding, feet skidding across the tundra. Flashing past the collapsing remnants through the channel hed just carved, a streaking blur of golden light catching the noonday sun. Bolting. Charging. His pace relentless. Racing toward the distant figure covered in frost, a blade of palpable need already poised and ready to swing. The giants eyes widened nearly as much as its manic grin. Jun matched the giant pearl for pearl, an unmistakable excitement thrumming in his veins. Jun lashed out. Two headed battle axe meeting frost wreathed hammer like the sonorous striking of a gong. Earth fractured, ice shattered, snow blasted away in concentric rings. And all the while, neither one of them gave even an inch. Juns strength now more than a match for the veritable titan, even if the cost was not one any reasonable person would willingly pay. Jun felt the pervasive jolt, now so painfully familiar, as his already broken bones were further fractured. Endured the nauseating sensation as torn muscle and ligaments were made to contract. As snapped tendons were somehow forced to continue to strain. His body literally being held together by stubborn willpower alone. His stark refusal to quit animating a body thatd been pushed well past its breaking point, and quite some time ago at that. The manifestation of his convictions a brilliant golden aura. A radiance that was killing him, just as surely as it was keeping him alive. Briefly, the two separated, before striking out simultaneously. Horizontal arcs collided, force exploding outward. The ground around them shook. The very air set to vibrating. Diagonal chops met halfway. Again. And again. And once more for good measure. Four-foot-long cleaver meeting frost forged metal. Bearded handaxe leaving a faint line in its wake. Broad claymore, as thick around as his waist, turning that shallow line into a shallow groove. Over and over. Again and again. Weapons clashed with concussive force, ringing out across the tundra like some metallic percussionstriking half a dozen times for every second that passed. Sparks flew. The air sang. The Monarchs great hammer inundated with fresh nicks all the while. Worse for the wear after each brief trade of blows, after each repeated engagement, though never to the point of making an actual difference. Every colossal collision leaving its mark on a land already scarred well beyond recognition. An overhead swing, easily blocked, tearing deep fissures into the landscape beyond. Descending sweeps and ascending arcs sending ripples down and through their bodies. Through the soles of their feet and into the ground itself, seismic waves rolling out like receding ocean tides. And for a time, the two were evenly matched, deadlocked in their titanic struggle. Until, that was, Jun began to come to terms with his bodys furthest limits. And so, as was only natural, went even further beyond. The giant staggered back as its next blow was met with a great deal more force than itd been expecting. A minor stumble that soon became two. Then three. And finally, an all-out retreat. The weight of each subsequent blow somehow surpassing the last, and not by a small margin either. Until it was the Monarch sent flying with each resounding clang, each devastating trade, each overwhelming assault. Made to skip helplessly across the broken tundra. Battered this way and that as if it weighed no more than a rag doll. Indeed, it was all that it could do to simply bring its hammer around in time. The giant hurtled through the air. Disoriented. Afraid. Spinning out of control, and with no off-ramp in sight. Overpowered for what was probably the first time in living memory. His only warning a golden flash. Honed instincts winning him the day. Or at the very least, preventing him from being shorn in two immediately. The Crusher of Ice & Bone brought his hammer around in a wide arc, just barely colliding with the speed-demons horizontal swing. Just in time to be blown back. Shot out like a cannon ball. Thrown several hundred paces away. Another flash, another deflection, another few hundred paces. Three times. Four times. Twenty. More. At some point, the giant stopped wondering when he might get a chance to touch down on the ground, and really started pondering, if. It tried many things. To bend the cold to his will. Slow the child with his aura. Raise golems to distract the devil thing long enough for him to catch his bearings. All was for naught. All was for nothing. His fearsome roar lost to the howling winds. His golems useless at the speeds they were moving. His glacial aura seemed to work for a moment, but only for that moment. A burst of golden light shedding off the effect as one might a loose, unwanted blanket. If he were able to plant his feet on the ground, it wouldve been childs play to simply shimmer step away, collect himself, retaliate. Unfortunately, the chances of such a thing happening were seeming less and less realistic by the second. Which left only one, final, last-ditch option. Field of Ice & Bone. A domain of authority expanded out from the frost giant in a wave. A raging blizzard. A furious arctic squall. One where, in place of snowflakes and hail, there were splinters of bone. Flying bone projectiles and glass shards pretending to be ice. The storm churned, seethed with a startling ferocity. Carving up the ground into a slushy kind of mulch, whilst flaying anything else within its rapidly expanding territory well within an inch of its life. A frigid cold descended, temperatures which put the prior effects of his aura to shame. Seeping into muscle, stiffening extremities, and threatening severe frostbite after only a few seconds of exposure. It was his salvation as well as his final trump card. A last resort should he ever find himself in such an implausibly untenable position. It was because such a prospect had previously been so alien to himcontingencies and protective measures were for the weak, after allthat he rarely deigned to use this ability. Now that hed been pushed to this extreme, however, the S Grade Monarch, last of his kind, butcher of his people, the self-appointed Crusher of Ice & Bone, had no doubts whatsoever that-! There came a golden flash from somewhere in the storm. A shudder was felt through the whole of his domain, as something impossibly massiverivaling his descending avalanche in sheer scaledescended. Blackened blood spurted out from each of the giant''s orifices, insides butchered by the spiritual backlash, as his domain of authority was sheered cleanly in two. The last thing he saw before everything went black? The clouds parting before the keen edge of an axe the size of a small mountain. BOOM! Jun’s POV (19) Trial Difficulty: 3 Stars Southern Reaches of the Kingdom of Astaria NorthWind Academy: Easternmost Quadrant Mage Tower Residence: The Professor of Subhuman Anthropology So, you see Ive been doing this thing recently, where instead of coming up with the images and aspects all by myself, I try to let the patronly ideal in question guide me as much as is, well as much as is reasonable I supposelets not get too carried away, right? I still have some standards to uphold. Often the result is my being led in totally unexpected directions. Jun said this from his perch atop the ancient professors large mahogany deskthe professor in question as stoic and silent as ever. And wouldnt you know it? The old farts running the cosmos arent nearly as constrained as Id first assumed them to be. I mean, its still effectively like pulling teeth, but there most definitely are ways. You just need to know which buttons to press and when to press them. Nothing new there, am I right? The old man, as was generally his way, said nothing. He merely sat there at his desk, luxuriously long and masterfully maintained wizardly white beard on full display. Well, mostly white, at any rate. Oddly enough, I got the idea from a less than reputable source. See, there''s this oh, I suppose you could call it an unfortunate incarnation of mine? A real character that one, let me tell ya. Some yellow eyed wack-job one card shy of a full deckdont ask, Id really rather not get into it. Not all there, if you catch my meaning. Nutty as a fruitcake? Stark raving mad would be one way to put it. A constant weight on my peace of mind and general well-being another. Actually its precisely because of my trouble doubles general air of not-all-theredness that such an approach even registered as being plausible. Jun reached forward and grabbed what was left of the storied professors wizardly chin, bobbing his head up and down in mute understanding. Sort of a eureka moment. Like, if this bumbling buffoon can do it, then Im probably making things a great deal harder for myself than they need to be. Since then the actual results of my labors have been pretty out there in terms of effect. Things I wouldve never even thought to think of, you know? Like theres this one mantra. The concepts whole shtick is that it deals with axes and the like, right? But instead of being all chop chop chop, its all mind over matter, a test of willpower, overcoming long odds, that sort of thing. What in the world that has to do with axes? I havent the faintest clue. Honestly, youre guess is probably as good as mine. Uhh sir? Yes Felix? I believe that man is dead, sir. Jun paused, giving the elderly man a quick once over, noting the fist sized hole thatd been punched through his left eye socketand leather chair back besideswhich itself revealed the splattered gray wallpaper beyond Ah. So he is Felix. So he is. Good eye. Thank you sir. On that note, Ive come to report that were just about ready to depart. And the children? Those that could be saved have already been transported. The others have been put to rest and are awaiting burial back at camp. Jun sighed at the sorrowful news, giving the twisted professor one last lingering glance before he was forced to face the leader of this particularly grim operation. Seriously though, using halfblooded children to further your experiments? Dick move, guy. Super not okay. Giving the late professors armrest one last kick in farewellspinning him around in his chair before unceremoniously dumping his lifeless corpse onto the blood slick floorJun hopped from the desk and made his way over toward where the rest of the team were waiting. Stepping over the ruined remains of the once austere and orderly domicile, he commented idly Hey. So about that thing I mentioned? The cloven hoofed satyr paused briefly, no doubt dragging his mind from whatever horrors hed been made to witness. Ah- Y-yes. I cannot promise anything, of course, but I intend to include your many selfless acts in my next report. Secure in your unwavering loyalty to the cause, I suspect my superiors will be more than willing to consider a trade. Though I must warn you that much will depend on how strong the arcana in question turns out to be.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Oh, I dont think theyll need to worry about that. It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say they wont find its like anywhere else in this galaxy. Sir, you dont know how great of a thing that is to hear. Any time. Say, speaking of powerful artifacts, you wouldnt still happen to have that old geezers magic rod on hand, would you? Without a word, the satyr slipped the slim rod from a holster made for just such a purpose, and handed it over, palms up, as if it were a highly venomous creature. Looking out over the schools expansive campus through the gaping hole this very wand had punched through the side of the tower only minutes prior, he couldnt really say the almost reverence he showed the artifact was entirely out of place. So much power held in so small a vessel It was a fascinating revelation. No doubt about that. With a thought, Jun disappeared the magical artifact into his interspatial ring. Lets see if we cant make a deal then shall we? Trial Difficulty: 4 Stars Satellite City: Unregistered Sector Unsung Mercers Guild Territory: Warrens of the Under City Mama OPines Bustling Bazar of Clips, Cuisine, & Wide-eyed Curios It wasnt much to look at really. A simple counter with simple stools under a grease stained cloth awningpaper lanterns hung to either side. The red canvas itself a kind of curtain you had to duck under to enter. Once inside, and having taken a seat, you either had the option to relax, chat, or else watch the sweaty android on the other end of the flimsy bar cook up your order in full view of everyone. Presently, said audience included Jun and one other cybernetic patron, pumped so full of intrusive mods it was a wonder he still had a taste for biofuel at all. A noodle shop. That is correct. As our probationary vp of sales. That is what I propose, yes. To be revisited upon our combined satisfaction with its annual performance. Just to make sure were both completely on the same page here, this is what you had me spend nearly a trillion credits on becoming majority shareholder of? A noodle shop? Correct. Behind the potbellied android and its steaming pan of heavenly smelling spices, a holo ad promotion rolled in the background. With the recent advances in quantum technology, its become easier than ever for your friends over at Uncle Foos Noodle Emporium? to serve what you most desire in every conceivable timeline! And youre sure youre not mistaken? Because, the way things are going, Im starting to have serious doubts about all of our so called executives. Please. Dont start.. Try our promotional special today! Spicy Tan Tan Ramen with Synthetic Pork Dumplings Dipped in Garlic Sauce. Buy two orders, get one plate of dumplings free! Available now only for a limited time! Like, instead of having the prince of an entire twice damned principality be our COO, why not let a cart full of melons do the job? Or even this guy right here! I mean, why the hell not, right?! Hey buddy? You looking for a job? Cause boy do I have some good news for you! The opportunity of a lifetime pal! Dont blink or youll miss it! You are being exceedingly childish. Oh am I!? Am I really? And here Id thought I was being realistic. Realistic. You know? Like when I asked you to find me the best possible candidate for this most important of positions, and you sensibly directed me to this out of the way, poorly maintained, sorry excuse for a-! Promotion expires: 12/09/2140. Promotion valid in all but three of our nearly two hundred eighty-eight thousand corporately owned locations. Contact a customer service representative today to see if this promotion applies to a location near you. Wait. H-how many locations did that say? Two hundred thousand? But that- thats kind of like a lot right? Like with five os and everything? That isnt even the half of it. What do you mean? Not only are they prolific in scope, but the shopkeeper itself is, in effect, the same person spread out across nearly every single location. Something to do with quantum entanglement, Im made to believe. A quirk of quantum mechanics which not only has the effect of lowering the general cost of employment, but also assures the quality of service across each and every location. In addition, my research suggests that it should be possible to greatly improve said quantum intelligence to better make use of its powers of reasoning, and accentuate its nose for a good deal. There was an awkward silence then, only broken by the drone of holo ads and the incessant slurping of their neighbor. Ah. Well. It seems like youve really thought this through. Extensively. And would that make this android here our prospective employee? The one Ive been ranting in front of for the last half hour? As much as it would please me to say otherwise, unfortunately, it is not. This is one of three privately owned locations only marginally affiliated with the corporate branding. I anticipated that youre reaction to my proposal would not be positive, and so did not wish for the first impression you made on this quantum intelligence to be a poor one. Jun couldnt help but let out a sigh of relief. Thanks for that You neednt mention it. Another awkward pause. Right! So, when do you think Ill get to meet this quantumly entangled soup slinger of yours? Charting the route on youre internal gps now. Awesome! Perfect. Say? About what I said earlier you know I really didnt mean any of it right? Silence. Hello? Continue straight for 200 meters, then turn left at the next intersection. Yeah, I you know what? I probably deserved that. Chapter 77: It’s Monarch Season (4) The ground visibly quaked as, from almost a hundred feet up, the lion kings prodigious bulk landed on the flat of the grasslands proper. A low, rumbling growl reverberated from its deep chest, easily as wide around as she was tall. Thunderous. Like the dark promise of storm clouds just cresting the far horizon. The demon beast slowly padded its way forward, moving with a disconcerting grace. Its amber colored eyes locked exclusively on her. Eleanor maintained her ready stance, feet firmly planted, buckler and short sword held aloft. And all the while she was trying very very hard not to tremble under the sheer intensity of its gaze. No attention was given to the lacerated bodies sprawled out at its feet. And no grief shown in its regal posture at the death of its entire pride. Only a keenly felt affront, a regal outrage at this blatant provocation. At its subjects wholesale butchery. Not for their sake, mind you. More the willful subversion of its rightful authority. Around two hundred paces out, the lion kings form suddenly rippled, and from its slowly padding figure, two more of itself emergedleaping out, and to either side, to lope apace with their progenitor. Although, where the previous demon beasts mirage avatars had been translucent, unreal things of etheric blue, these appeared to be mirror copies of the towering monarch, on a one-to-one scale. From its glorious mane, down to the yellowed tint of its dagger like fangs. Copies which then duplicated themselves in turn. And so on and so forth, until nine such lion kings made to surround her on all sides. Eleanor gulped, resisting the urge to tighten her buckler. And then, for a time, they merely stood there, quietly observing her. Eleanor felt a bead of sweat trickle down her brow. When the attack finally came, it came suddenly and all at once. An overwhelming onslaught of slashing claws and snapping fangs. Outright ignoring the dozen meters still separating them, dozens, if not hundreds of the ephemeral attacks crossed the open, grassy landscape in a flash. Lunging forth to savage her, to tear into her soft flesh with savored relish, and paint the grasslands with the bright red of her lifes blood. Swiftly ending the fight before it had even really begun. Or at least, she was sure that had been the intent at any rate. At just shy of two hundred thousand ruby petals under her command, however, the projected attacks barely made it a scant few feet before they were completely shredded into nothing more than residual wisps of energy. The force of their violent dispersal ruffling her hair ever so slightly, from where she stood at the heart of the red maelstrom, though ultimately, achieving little else. Eleanor let out a sigh of relief. Her faith in this ability validated for the umpteenth time that week. She really needed to give Jun a proper thank you when next they were reunited. Now then Eleanor cracked her neck, trying to work out any lingering tension. It was time to go to work. She only had about eight minutes left before she was as defenseless as a newborn babe, after all. Eleanor swung, delivering a lightning quick slash. The swarm of ruby petals practically leapt to obey her command. Two thirds of her full complement shooting forward in a glittering crescent, while the rest remained by her sidea swirling screen of prickly protection. The rift spawn roared, all nine of them. Each directing a debilitating series of vibrations. Reverberations which threatened to burst her eardrums, rattle her bones, cripple her very soul. Eleanor swooned, staggered, nearly fell to her knees. However, much to the lion kings'' likely chagrin, her petals were otherwise unaffected. They raced forward undeterred. And, in the moments before contact, she could have sworn she even saw its many eyes go wide. The lions dodged, copies or the real thing, she couldnt tell which, as the expansive scythe of blades advanced. Most of them got out of the way in time. One was not nearly so lucky. With a yowl of palpable rage and frustration, the mirage clone was brutally torn apart. Bursting into nothing but rippling waves of heat and distortion. Leaving her with only eight more to contend with. Eleanor pushed past the waves of disorientation that plagued her. Capitalizing on the fleeting element of surprise while she still had it, she pulled out the second such trick to grace their little engagement. Still being guided by the impetus of her first swing, Eleanor promptly swung her blade a second time. The crescent of petals rushed to obey. Splitting evenly down the middle. Changing their trajectory on a dime, to chase down the two rift spawn theyd so narrowly missed.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Still, that was only two out of the eight now fully occupied with evasion. Leaving the other six free to pursue her directly. Or so they likely thought. She smiled. Third surprise time. As the rest moved to flank her, to retake the initiative, so too did Eleanor move to impede them. Splitting off from the main contingent, she urged a segregate mass of her attacking petals to swarm to her aid. Now wielding four crescents simultaneously, she multitasked. Three meant for attack, the other purely for defense. The six kings converged, likely sick of ineffectually nipping at her from afar. Eleanor danced. Deftly keeping their advance at bay. She seamlessly flowed from blade stance to blade stance, executing sharp turns and finely tuned corrections, as if working through the forms of some martial kata. Her petals followed suit, orchestra to her conductor. Blocking and deflecting. Disrupting their momentum, isolating stragglers, always being sure to keep her opponents on their toes. Weaving a deadly field of shifting currents and whirling eddies, the monarch visibly hesitant to get anywhere near the glittering, serpentine swarm. With three decisive cuts, the two shed sent an attack swarm to waylay, were swiftly cornered and summarily executed. Death by several hundred thousand cuts. It irked her that neither of them turned out to be the original, and yet the sudden influx of petals, now freely at her disposal, most certainly did not. She almost wanted to laugh. And it was then, just as she was truly beginning to feel confident, to feel just the tiniest bit cocky, that the entire fight was flipped on its head. A tremendous weight descended upon her shoulders. The heavy hand of a Monarchs Decree. KNEEL Eleanor tried. She really, truly did. But as the gravity bearing down on her soon doubled, then tripled, and finally quadrupled in quick succession, she was left with no other recourse. Her body simply gave out. She kneeled. And just like that, practically at the drop of a hat, her swarm of petals, nearly half a million strong, abandoned her. Worse, it was as if theyd actively turned against her. She felt the cold shock of betrayal as all control was suddenly wrenched from her hands. As the entirety of her arsenal, the totality of her petal storm, abruptly, and without warning, went eerily still. A creeping malice shed never felt from them before now radiated from the glittering cloud. The monarch and its clones took several cautious steps back, unsure as to what was happening. Eleanor couldnt blame them. She felt much the same. What had Jun said again? Be elegant in all things? That her life might depend on it? She hadnt really understood what that meant. Not until now. And now she had this sneaking suspicion that kneeling before an enemy did not fall within the general purview of excellence. Eleanor froze, her stomach doing a flip, eyes locked on the floating array of petals. In that way, she was the first to notice the change. When, as a whole, they slowly began gravitating towards her. The menacing migration made all the more terrifying, given the fact they were doing so under their own power, not hers. Shit. All at once, the petals descended. Panicked thoughts flashed through her mind a mile a minute. Her bodys instinctual need to react in some way, strong and overly compelling. She wanted to scream. Wanted to flinch back. To cry out. Anything! In the end, though, she did none of those things. And that, in and of itself, was likely what saved her life. A single bead of blood trailed down her throat, from where a petal had lanced forward, broken the skin, and then stopped. Where it even now hung suspended, a shallow line of fire, halting just an inch shy of severing her jugular. Another petal hung a fingernails width from her eyeball. It was a trend that repeated itself across every inch of her body. Eleanor took a shallow breath, making sure to keep them slow and even. Flicking her gaze down to her blade, she tightened her grip around the handle. Pain lanced through fingers thatd been trapped beneath the weight of a sword somehow afflicted by four times gravity. She didnt let it show on her face, not a twitch marred her expression. The petals stayed where they were. Good. That was good. Then, Eleanor tried to raise the blade. Immediately, the strain of lifting it was immense. Too much for her to manage with only one arm. The petals pushed inward by a scant few centimeters. Eleanor froze. A decent amount of blood now trickling down her throat. She took another steady breath, then focused. Focused on her body. On the explosive strength she knew she harbored. Having feasted on rare treasures all throughout this campaign, some of which shed bought, most of which shed found, she knew her potential for explosive power was great. Unfortunately, what she needed right now wasnt explosive strength, but instead a more controlled sort of power. Eleanor searched for the azure furnace she knew she housed somewhere deep inside of her, and, feeling like she was taking a leap of faith, stoked the fires high. Within seconds steam began to vent from her very pores. And then, with a sudden conflagration, her entire body was wreathed in azure flame. Though, contrary to her expectations, the flames did not harm her. No. Instead, they seemed to do the very opposite. A newfound sense of strength roared through her in waves. Like this, she quickly found it simple to raise her arm up high, blade in hand. Then carefully, ever so carefully, pull herself to her feet. The array of petals shifting to accommodate her movement. She could instantly feel that they still werent quite on board with fully relinquishing control. So, with a shrug, she simply took it, as was her due. It was her weapon after all, not the other way around. The petals, for whatever reason, seemed to approve. With petals firmly in hand, she turned back to this supposed king. And, with a single swing of her blade, consumed the monarch and all five of its clones in an avalanche of glittering red. After which followed a rather long and drawn-out game of cat and mouse, wherein the lion king abused its Circle of Life ability over and over in a futile attempt to escape. Transferring any injuries it received onto another rift spawn within a rather large radius, so long as that rift spawn fell under the umbrella of prey. Considering the fact that this monarch had, until just recently, stood at the very top of the food chain, and, well. You can see how it made for quite the tedious fight. Eventually, after what felt like hours spent chasing the cowardly feline, the monarch both ran out of potential prey, and places to run. With a single downwards slash, ten million rose petals descended, ending the great lion kings reign, once and for all. Chapter 78: Little Lucy & The Tolls of War Flight Lieutenant Lucile led her windstorm griffin familiaraptly dubbed Little Lucy, for how darn cute shed been in her infancythrough yet another sweeping circuit. Biting her lip as, from nearly a kilometer up, all things told, she and her team scoured the ravaged tundra for any signs of their missing rift spawn. Lucile, sensing the tension in her familiaras she no doubt picked up on her own mounting distressran an absent hand down the old girls plumage. Though, whether it was purely for the sake of Little Lucy or herself, she couldnt entirely say. That had been an enlightening experience to say the least. It was as if she were witnessing a clash between two legendary figures of old. Myths thatd suddenly sprung to life. Duking it out right there in front of her, and in truly spectacular fashion no less. As was to be expected of living legends, she supposed. Plucked as if from the dogeared pages of her childhood story books. Walking around, as if it werent the darnedest thing in the world. I mean that last attack! Youve gotta be kidding me, right? It was like! Boom! Pow! Crack! Just Wow. I mean just wow. Lucy gave a quick snort of agreement. Or was that annoyance? She could never tell which. And the way the clouds parted near the end there? To reveal that single beam of radiant sunlight glinting off that big colossus of an axe? Awe inspiring. Like truly, genuinely breathtaking. And, strange as it sounded, the fact that they had such a powerful rift born familiar working on their side? It filled her with an invigorating sort of hope, the likes of which shed never experienced before. A hope for the future. An end to this interminable war. With power like that at their disposal, it was easy to start believing anything was possible. Which was ultimately why she was so filled with unease at their continued inability to findthe lost familiar. Im sure itll be fine. Hes fine, right? No, what am I saying?! Of course he is. I mean, you saw that last bit. A more one-sided battle than that? Well, honestly, one doesnt even really come to mind. And that has to be a good sign. Right? Lucile also had the bad habit of talking far too much when anxious, a fact for which her griffin companion was woefully familiar. Lucy once more snorted her annoyance. Lucile took that as her cue to keep on talking. Until, that was, one of her junior officers excitedly waved her over. Instantly, she let out a breath she hadnt even known shed been holding. It would appear theyd finally found him. Azure Queen be praised. She felt all the tension thatd been building up during the search suddenly release, feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. Unfortunately, those feelings of relief only lasted until they touched down, and the true severity of the damage was made known. Im sorry, hes what?! Hes well. Hes dead, maam. Or, for all intents and purposes, he should be, at any rate. Yes, I heard you the first time, but what does that mean exactly? My official diagnosis? First things first, theres his skeleton. Its been fractured, completely. In fact it would be more accurate to say its been shattered into a million different little pieces. Punctured lungs, organs, arteries, you name it. Torn muscle, ligaments, tendons, all the way through. From his crown down to his toenails. Though, if I might speak candidly lieutenant, none of that really does what Im seeing with my soul sight justice. Lucile waited. When the healing specialist seemed hesitant to go on, she insisted. Go on then. Well quite frankly maam, his bones should be powder! His muscles a stringy paste! His heart has clearly been bisected. Bisected! Sheered straight on through an uncomfortable number of times! And the same goes for all the rest of his body. Put simply, I do not know how he is still in one piece, let alone how hes still standing. If I might reiterate? He should be dead! But he looks fine. Almost nothing like a what? A jiggly mound of flesh goo? Lucile flicked her eyes back over to the glowing golden figure currently palming a handful of seeds to one of the griffins, just outside of easy hearing range. As if feeling her gaze, the familiar turned around and waved, a childlike grin crinkling the corners of his eyes. Lucile waved back. The woman to her right merely looked on impassively. That is what worries me. Whatever boosting abilities he used to win that last fight they were costly. Im unsure as to how the long-term effects might manifest themselves, nor the extent to which they might inhibit his ahem, uniquely suited abilities, once they do. And youre sure there need to be long term effects? Cant you just patch him up? Problem solved? Good as new? I can make it so he doesnt fall to pieces on the spot, the woman deadpanned. But she shook her head, a sorrowful expression crossing her features. Damage like that has a way of lingering in the spirit. There is very little I can do when the damage runs that deep. A grim look darkened Luciles own expression then, the crippling weight of an impossible decision suddenly pressing down on her. Although, on second thought, it was really no decision at all, was it? It was out of her hands. Armies had already been issued their marching orders. Supply lines established. Entire cities emptied to bolster the militia. The Queen had bet everything on this one, final push. If they didnt win this war, it was very likely all would be lost. To win, no matter the cost, was paramount. Everything else was just sentiment, easily ignored. Lucile turned away from the happily grinning demon child, her mouth hardened into a firm line. Well, do what you can then. Patch him up doc. Then, lets see about crossing off another big bad monarch from that damnable list. The woman locked eyes with her Lieutenant for several long seconds, before, with a solemn nod and a crisp solute, she trudged over to do just that. Little Lucy whistled a soft note of rebuke. Of sorrow and disapproval in equal measure. And this time, much to her chagrin, Lucile found she understood her familiars meaning all too well. Beneath the twisted canopy of the grim dark forest, light is a fickle thing, madness is catching, and death is a near constant companion.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. When theyd first enlisted, most enlistees had likely done so with the implicit understanding theyd be scything down rift spawn by the cartload. Storming fallen keeps and grand bastions. Compounding success on top of grand success. Taking back long-lost heritages, one big fistful of plundered treasure at a time. It was likely none of them had predicted their now grim reality. Or really, that anything of the sort was even a possibility. After all, what do you do? What do you do when there is no enemy to fight? When the ground at your feet actively wishes you ill? The very air you breathe is poison more often than not? When the glorious extermination you once so eagerly signed up for is not nearly the same as youd imagined. One fought valiantly, against hordes of hideous, slathering, half crazed rift spawn, each no smarter than simple beasts. And were instead faced with nothing less than martial impotence. A one-sided war waged futilely against the twice damned, thrice accursed forest itself. Every day spent beneath the rustling canopy a grindstone. Slowly wearing away at ones sanity, morality, innate sense of self. Jumping at shadows, suspecting ones neighbors, peering out into that impenetrable dark until something finally peered back. Mutiny and madness held dark communion, hopelessly entangled in clandestine conspiracy. In those first days, they lost more women to infighting than they did the hated enemy. Differences turned to factions, and from mounting tensions and tightly bottled terror was born bloody rebellion. Daggers flashing in the night. Warring among themselves, even as the forest drew them in, ever closer. Deeper. Further. Towards its putrid, pus-filled heart. After the initial turmoil had settled, and a new kind of order was reached, only then did the vile forest begin to show its true colors. Those that survived the coming days learned to adapt fast. The others never lived long enough to curse their ill fortune. In that way, they learned that the dangers of the forest were manifold. Plentiful as they were varied. Different in all ways but one. Their propensity for administering as much cruelty as was inhumanly possible. Pit traps lined with spikes smeared in excrement, tainted streams, pressure traps. Snares, darts, and always, always, the lingering fear of daggers in the dark. Barbed arrow tips dipped in poison, warped monstrosities the likes of which no sane mind could conjure, nor reasonably withstand. It was well then that, by that point, most had well and truly gone insane. Death stalks the eternal night in all its myriad forms. Always out there. Somewhere. Watching. Ever vigilant. Patiently waiting beneath the cover of dark. Anticipating the perfect moment to strike. To leap out from where even the torchlight fears to tread. Paranoia, shock, and terror followed them even into their dreams. The slender hands of the twice cursed alchemist ever slinking about the periphery. Twitching, wriggling with unrestrained anticipation. Peeking, kneading, gently plucking at their minds. Tuning them as a bard might a poorly strung instrument. Toying with their internal make up, their immortal souls. Warping them to better reflect the endless depths of her own sick and twisted depravity. Fire. It really didnt take very much, as it so happened. The licking tongues of orange flame. A treat. A distraction. When they werent eating or sleeping, they were sat around a campfire. Watched. Watchingblank eyed and blank of mindas it crackled and popped, almost merrily in its consumption. The occasional burst of embers soaring high into the sky. Not that it helped much. Nothing ever seemed to help, she thought. She even figured it might be true. Unnamed infantry woman, thirty second platoon. Shed long since forgotten her actual name. Lost it somewhere in the brush, maybe. Didnt matter. She was a soldier now, and thats all shed ever be. The flames. Right. That was right. They didnt seem to help. Not with the terror. Not with the dread. The flickering firelight a cold sort of comfort. And yet? When all was said and done, and you had either that, or the grim horror to keep you company? Crippled. Crippling. But she was still here. Still there. There. Always there, near the edges. Wriggling. And yet no matter how fast you turned, it was always too quick to see. Well, youd be surprised how quickly one learns to adapt. How fast one clings tightly onto what little one has. The flames. Or maybe you wouldnt. Maybe you wouldnt hold dear. Hold on. Hold on for dear life. The flicker of the flames. Dancing merrily. Merrily. Jumping enough to make a person smile. Or, the sane ones do, anyway. Watch and wait. Firelight. Eyes glistening. The ones not completely gone. Dead skin walking. There were always a couple. The ones who stayed. Refused to move, even as the rest of the platoon packed up camp and made to leave. To march on. Ever onward. Their comatose bodies stiff and clammy. Most sat, some stood. Right there, as they had been, ever since their minds fell apart. Everyone knew, of course. You could always tell a dead skinner by the way they stared openly into the beyond. You never stared directly out into the darkness if you could help it. Not unless the great beyond had taken a personal interest. Claimed you as their own. Unless youd given yourself over to the dark completely. And, eventually they were, at that. Slowly consumed by a growing tide of blackness as the torchlight bleeding from their slow procession gradually receded. Some came to their senses. Most did not. Either way, you didnt look back. You never looked back. There were enough nightmares to be had in this place, free of charge, without seeking them out on purpose. Well, no dead skinners tonight, at least. She pondered whether or not this was a good thing. Fewer people, after all, meant fewer smells. Many scents layered atop one another to smother their little ramshackle camp in a noxious perfume. Death and decay, mostly. So, nothing new there. Almost all of their healers had been lost during the first ever culling. Only after the factfollowing the blood and the burning; the long nights of feasting and ecstasywould those who rose to usurp high command, question why, out of everyone, their healers had been the worst affected. When everyone generally agreed that they were the least offensive and the most in need. Further time to reflect leaving room for many to speculate whether the rebellion had ever truly been their idea whatsoever. In retrospect, it felt more like sabotage than self interest. And for many, this explanation was good enough. As for what she personally believed? Well, perhaps it hadnt been their idea to begin with, this nameless soldier allowed, though theyd gone along with the killing merrily enough once it had begun. They all had. To say otherwise would be an outright lie, plain and simple. That is to say, the scents of old cuts gone septic, rancid gut wounds, and dysentery permeated the camp. The long ears rarely killed. Instead, they crippled and maimed, leaving the dilemma of what to do with the dead weight for command to grapple with. Or the new new command at any rate. Decide whether it was best to watch their people die, put them out of their misery, or leave them for the hunters and their unique brand of creativity. To be displayed like some macabre effigy. A morbid ornamentation. Strung up and still breathing despite all evidence to the contrary. Well. It wasnt all bad. Tonight, at least, there was plenty to eat. The unnamed soldier cradled her upturned helmet close. Holding it to her chest like the feral animal she resembled. Eyes constantly roaming, every bite snatched up quick, as if her meal could be taken away at any moment. Blood stew. A fine delicacy. She tried very hard not to think about where the meat had come from. No one knew when exactly the camp became silent. When the frantic, and often contradictory orders stopped coming from the east. When the blank looks of resignation were mirrored on every malnourished face. It was unclear how many of the several thousand women to enter this cursed forest had made it this far. Or if, like she now suspected, they were, in fact, the only ones. Communication had completely broken down by the second culling. And supply lines by the third. Dont think about the meat. They were pushing forward today. Making for the heart of this unholy place. It was either that or starve. Wait for the long ears to come, with their arrows and their traps and their wickedly curved knives. Maybe that was why there were no more skinners about. They were all deaders now, one way or another. And so it was. On the morrow, they would march for the heart of the forest. On the morrow, they would march to their deaths. Chapter 79: Perspectives From the Frontlines The freshwater swamplands to the east of the sheer spine mountain range, are a virulent breeding ground for infection and disease. A forested wetland whose malformed Cypresss range between varying stages of decay. The taste of airborne rot contrasting the budding scents of life. A boot sucking mire utterly drained of its vibrancy. An undead thing, still alive and kicking, despite all evidence to the contrary. A damp, humid, miserable place where, for every two steps forward, you sank at least one foot deep. A single step closer or further from hell, depending entirely on your definition. The buzzing drone of insects an ever-present backdrop, although it was always somewhat variable in its intensity. The vast majority of the wicked biters restricted to the small pockets still receptive to their near endless proliferation. Rippling ponds of still water practically bursting with wriggling larvae. Terrible places where the incessant drone was near deafening, like taking a drill-bit to ones inner ear canal. And the risk of protracting some unknown illness was great. At least the damnable spiders only poisoned you, fangs the size of small daggers able to melt the flesh from your bones. Traumatic? Undoubtedly. But for many of the infantry, jaded veterans and enlistees alike, quick and painful beat slow and agonizing any day of the week. Left to the mercies of the wet and the damp. It wasnt a fate most would wish on their worst enemy. The ministrations of tent healers generally reserved for those severely injured in the fighting. Ultimately turning a simple insect bite into a protracted death sentence. To stumble, unwitting and uncovered, into their hellish little domains? A worse form of suicide than any devil or demon could devise. And wasnt that the Queens honest truth. Not even mentioning their real enemy in all this. The signs as commonplace as the muck on ones boots, or the silk in one''s bedding. The tangled stretch of webbing was kind of hard to miss. A near constant companion all throughout their miserable marchmore a disorganized slog across uneven terrain, than any orderly military procession theyd ever been part of, much to their officers chagrin. Draping the tree crowns up above like a string of interconnected bedsheets. Creating something of an artificial canopy, bridging the gaps between sparse woodland. The much-needed shade a pleasant boon. Until you reached the true heart of the arachnids territory, and you realized that the gift of its shademere accents layered over the swamplands proper, like little splashes of spider silk to liven up the ambiancehad merely been the precursor. Precursor to the confusion of winding white strands. The occasional slip of bark or flash of foliage peaking through, ever so rarely, and barely noticeable even then. The poster child for onset arachnophobia. If the swamp lands previous had been a series of open veins, what lay before them was no less than a severely clogged up artery. A silken fortress made of interlacing webs, several miles wide in radius and several stories high in scope. Less navigable than even the thickest jungle underbrush. As impenetrable as the sturdiest castle wall. An adage coined and quickly circulated. How it took nine women to carve a path, and another eight to detangle them after. And of course, it didnt help matters any that the resident population took great offense to the advancing armys presumption. The invasion of their silken territory. Less an army, than a never-ending tide of arachnids, ranging from barely above knee height, to looming twice the head height of a person. Swarming over swampy terrain like a sweeping black tide. An undulating carpet of skittering bodies, if that carpet also extended up and across any vertical surface their webbing could feasibly glom onto. A veritable cascade of bulbous bodies and twitching fangs. Dripping with either venom or acid, it was always hard to tell which. Coming in successive waves of varying strength, in irregular intervals, at all times of the day and well into the night. Within a week of this, constantly running on high alert, even high command began to show clear signs of exhaustion. Within a month? Not a soul in the army was sleeping a wink. A fact which only seemed to accelerate the rampant spread of disease, whilst decelerating recovery to an alarming degree. In a bid to cut down on the growing casualties, a number of preventative measures were taken. To varying effects, all told. Mass quarantine, unconventional troop allocations, experimental insect repellents and more. A strict, round the clock watch was set, along with an even stricter sleeping schedule. Many learned to slip into unconsciousness at a moments notice. To sleep with their eyes open, with their blades in handalways primed and ready for a fight. And yet, despite all of this, it was still barely enough. The rancid guts of the eight-legged blighter gushed forth in hot spurts, completely flattened beneath the heel of Dalias firmly planted combat boot. The feel of its bulbous backside going crunch then splat in quick succession as visceral as it was just so so satisfying. It was a tricky thing then, pulling her foot from the muck of the stinking mire, but, then again, shed had plenty of practice in recent days. Twisting her body just so, she made sure to place her free foot on solid ground, or as solid as they came nowadays, anyhow. Wouldnt do for her to slip and snap an ankle in the tumble. Thatd just be plain stupid, and everyone knew the healers wouldnt treat stupid. Well, not the regular kind anyway. Only the heroic sort was worth their time, apparently. A right bleeding moron in the line of duty. Made all the difference really. Meanwhile a snapped ankle while out on patrol was your own damned fault. And dont let the door hit you on the way out. As if they werent all idiots for hoofing it out here to begin with. Twice over for deciding to stay, the dumb bastards. She gave the foot a sharp yank, dislodging it with a sucking wet plop. She barely even noticed the way the motion caked her camo anymore. Covered up all that fancy camouflage with layer after layer of muck and grime.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Bloody well defeats the whole damned point, now dont it? No helping it, she supposed. You had to come down real forceful like or the job wouldnt get done proper. Fast and hard, that was the rule. Or the sucking wet slop would end up cushioning the blow, and next thing you knew, the little biter would already be halfway to safety. Leaving you to scramble after em, liable to slip and break your own damned neck for your troubles. Well, not on her watch. You were supposed to put em down where you saw em, sergeants orders. And really, who was she to argue? High command had called it a preventative measure, whatever that meant. All she knew was, the little buggers needed to die. And so long as Dalia still got to smite the ugly fuckers to her hearts content, it was good enough for her. Shed always hated spiders after all. Spotting another in her path, Dalia brought her foot down hard, grinning at yet another satisfying squelch. Once you really got into it, it really did stop feeling like a chore. Became a game of sorts, almost. A pass time for those saddled with patrol. You never ran out of harmless entertainment. Who else in the camp could say that? She practically had an unlimited supply! Spotting another on the way, she made a slight detour. Humming to herself all the while, she reached it, raised her right foot high, and once more made to bring her heel hurtling down. The patrolwoman never actually saw what killed her, the snapping fangs which easily severed her spine. Never bore witness to the offending creature, its emergence from the silk smothered brush reflecting off of blankly staring eyes. A hairy leg speared downward, piercing the skull of the dead soldier, and splitting it like a gourd. The spider-rift spawn hybrid, its top half nearly humanoid while its bottom half remained arachnid and pure, grinnedtwitching palps heavily contrasting the glinting rows of pearly whites. With a gasping, raspy voice, as if it were still unused to owning vocal cords, the creature spoke. Ahh So s-s-satisfying. Behind it, several more of its strangely cobbled ilk emerged, squinting in the brilliance of the noonday sun. And behind them? The first demonic army to grace these lands in many a century. Millions of their smaller brethren skittered forth, brothers and sisters all. Grouping themselves in organized units, with each unit of a thousand headed by a senior officermore often than not some colossus, venom spitter, or brute type variant. Meanwhile, the very first to emerge onto the open clearing, the matriarchs self-appointed generals, straightened. Rising to their full heights of eight feet eight inches, the four divinely appointed generals shared a long, complicated look. Before, as one, they separated. Spreading out to see that their mothers will be done. And in their wake undulated a rippling sea of black. An army readymade for all out war. All was quiet and subdued within the jungle expanse just west of the queendoms capital. This was a statement that had never been true, and, most likely, had never even been uttered. The trilling of birds, droning of insects, croaking of frogs and so so much more. A raucous cacophony of attention seeking wildlife as densely packed and colorful as the tangled undergrowth they were, even now, being forced to savagely hack their way through. Lira, assistant director of the westernmost monarch class recon team, grunted as she once more brought the makeshift implement down. A long shovel, head sharpened to a razor''s edge, acting as impromptu pruning instrument, bug swatter, and sometimes crutch. A versatile implement if ever shed known one, if a bit unwieldy in its design. Lira stepped back from the backbreaking work, leaning on her shovel, wiping the sweat from her brow, and trying not to appear as exhausted as she felt. Catching the flash of something vibrant from out of the corner of her eye, Lira was quick to sweep up the shovel and bring it around hard. Bisecting the fourteen-inch-long centipede creature with a hand numbing thunk. Shovel head easily slicing through the long insect to bite into the thick wood of the tangled root system beneath. Four months in this damnable forest. Four entire months! Three months, twenty-nine days, and twenty-three hours too many, if you asked her. And still, theyd yet to fully assess their resident monarch. Worse, theyd yet to even catch a solid glimpse of the thing. Due less to their own ineptitude, though often it felt that way, and more so due to outside interference. With the racket it and its ilk made wherever they went, theyd have been hard pressed not to know where it generally was at any given time. No, instead it was the presence of the monarch''s extensive entourage itself which made studying the demon beast such a hassle. That, and the near constant meddling from on high. Of course, initially, theyd tried communicating their concerns to the top brass, to temper any reckless or outright suicidal behavior. And, of course, theyd immediately been shut down. Command refused to see sense, the forward vanguard marched, and theyd been relegated to general reconeffectively demoted, made into glorified scouts. That they hadnt deigned to see reason was as predictable to Lira as it was disheartening. And, without a shadow of a doubt, their decision to press onward despite the recon teams protests, would lead to many, many deaths. Because, like theyd tried to communicate earlier, the jungle was so unlike any of the other staging points throughout the campaign. In and of itself, it provided no real danger any halfway competent private couldnt reasonably handle with a little training. Be sure to check your boots and bedroll before stepping into them. Dont squat anywhere you havent personally vetted. Keep a tactical shovel on you at all times, and the mundane dangers of the jungle expanse could be navigated with relative ease. Indeed, it was, by far, the most human friendly frontier of the entire damned war. Until, that is, it quite suddenly was not. It lulled you into a false sense of security. Inuring you to the fact that death was quick and agile within the jungle expanse. And if you didnt know where to look, didnt recognize the signs, it was easy to get overrun, cornered, and summarily executed. That the danger, realistically, only came from one real source made it no less deadly when you found yourself on the other end of those honed claws and yellowed fangs. It was why theyd counseled extreme caution when traversing the expanse. And it was why, upon trekking back from their failed excursion and approaching the once central camp, they werent exactly surprised to find it in complete and utter ruin. Unsurprised, though thoroughly, genuinely devastated. Theyd had friends stationed in the camp. Family. Many within their small unit fell to their knees, though, thankfully, they each maintained the clarity of mind not to voice such roiling emotions aloud. Instead, their inner turmoil could clearly be seen in the horror that painted their faces. Because what had once been the main camp of the westernmost front, the head outpost their leadership had maintained and fortifiedvery much against their pleas for a more nomadic like approachwas now a ruin of shattered logs and shattered bodies. A field of broken, mutilated corpses heaped atop the remains of tents, buildings, makeshift fortifications. Looking out over the scene of utter devastation, a small part of her mind recognized it was an image that would stay with her for the rest of her life. The larger part was too stunned to look away. Thousands of infantry, scouts, officers and generals reduced to this? A field of corpsesheadless and devoid of extremities. Twisted, tortured, beaten, broken. Not for the sake of sustenance, merely the insatiable compulsion for inflicting cruelty. Many no longer resembled people. Were it not for the torn uniforms or the odd clumps of hair, it was unlikely shed have been able to categorize the remains at all. It was a carpet of stringy red and awful, covered with scuttling insects and buzzing flies. Lira thought she was going to be sick. Promptly, one in her unit was sick. And it was only then that she noticed how fresh the bodies were. Too fresh. A jolt of uncontrollable panic shot through her. Above them, atop the branches of the dense canopy that loomed high above, there came a rustling, a snuffle. Lira tilted her head upward, only to find the grinning face of a primate staring back at her, yellowed fangs showing prominently on its demonic features. Then, without even breaking eye contact, it was with a visible pleasurealmost bordering on ecstasythat the evil creature slowly inflated its chest, before letting it all out with an ear-piercing shriek. In the distance, not all that far, all things told, there came an immediate response. A series of howls which throttled the ear drums and set the very air to wavering. This time, Lira didnt hesitate to voice her emotions. Her voice quickly rising to join the growing cacophony. Her stark terror drowned out by the arrival of a monarch. The Monkey King Howler and his rabid court of sycophants. Lira and her team were swiftly torn apart. Jun’s POV (20) Right! So, Jun announced from where he sat cross legged, hip deep in creeping void mists. Looks like Im as ready as Ill ever be. Jun quickly gave the condensed list of his achievements and boosted parameters the final once overhastily scribbled notes, a few random charts, and a spinning three dimensional rendering of himself, of all things, helpfully highlighted in bright shades of magenta. Reliable Allies: 6 of 6 Sworn Enemies: 23 of 23 (never have been all that good at making friends) Demonic Pacts: 2 of 2 Angelic Pacts: 2 of 2 Star Ranking: None (So far anyway) Titles: 32 of 32 (Note to self: there isnt an actual limit to the number of titles and what have you I can get my hands on per saythe denominator is effectively whatever I feel like at the timebut when laid out like this it really makes you feel like youve accomplished something, you know?) Trials Completed: (72 out of 100) (Note to self: See what I mean? Man I love fractions.) Cultivated Body: Bio-Engineered Body (3 Stars)[Musculoskeletal Augmentation, Hypodermic Nano-weave, Hyper-twitch Synaptic Relay, Cognitive Accelerator] Body: 0.5 celestial sea (58,102 Celestial Essence) Mind: 0.5 celestial sea (58,102 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 0.5 celestial sea (57,737 Celestial Essence) Insight: 6 Stars (250,000,939 Celestial Essence) Uh? Hey yeah, dumb question. Probably long overdue. Celestial Dew? Celestial Sea? Explain please. There was a long pause before the knockoff deigned to reply. As if to silently ask Why me? More importantly, why him, of all people? Jun could only stare into space somewhat sheepishly. Hed always meant to ask for an in-depth explanation. Hed just never found the time. Eventually, it gave in. Both are a unit of measurement representing the amount of celestial essence currently saturating your person. From celestial essence to celestial sea, each subsequent unit holds a greater capacity for essence retention than the former. It is not a precise science, but the approximate ratios are as follows: 1000 Celestial Essence for every 1 point of Dew. 500 Celestial Dew for every 1 point of Sea. 100 Celestial Sea for every individual Star Ranking. Now, there is some variation to be found in the later stages of star ranking, but clearly, in this instance, those rules do not apply. Right! Thanks for the quick rundown. Much obliged. So anyway about that. Am I right in assuming having access to a six star attribute at the condensation stage is actually a pretty big deal? More than you know. Uhuh. You dont say? I see. I see. Well! Seeing as I really dont know what to do with that information, and, if Im being entirely honest it rather scares a little bit, why dont we just move right along, shall we? What say you?! There was no response. Not that hed really expected one. And youre sure theres nothing you can tell me about what I can expect to face in there? The trial, I mean. It isnt a matter of cannot. Merely whether or not you are willing to pay the price such information would cost. Jun sighed. I really wish we could go back to before this whole price business came about. You know, Ive met literal demons less protective of their true name, than you are with random tidbits of potentially life saving information. What can I say. Youve opened my eyes to the wonders of commerce. And how much would it cost for you to close them again? The free market is a beautiful thing. Considering you hold a total monopoly on what little information I do manage to get, that statement literally makes no sense. The freer the market, the freer the people. Huh? Thats weird. Cause last time I checked, I was the people, and, now that you mention it, Im not feeling particularly free! I am aware. Oh good! And here Id thought I was being needlessly paranoid! Nice to know it was just naked hostility I was feeling, and not the phantom ghost of indigestion. Jun grumbled to himself briefly, before, inevitably, wilting in defeat. Fine! Keep your secrets. Ive done pretty darn well on my own so far, if I do say so myself. Its just one more measly star, right? How hard could it be? At this, the workshop arbiter kept infuriatingly mum. Jun merely grit his teeth, looked over his pleasantly inflated stats one last time, then began the process of preparing a five star ranked trial. Or, at least thats what he hoped he was doing. He hadnt actually gotten that far, as of yet. No biggie. Should work more or less the same as the four star trial, right? Just, you know more. Piece of cake. No helpful comment seemed forthcoming from the all knowing know it all. Not that he really minded overly much. It was becoming something of a shared ritual by that point. Hed leap headfirst into the great unknown, hopelessly unprepared and entirely out of his depth. And then, sometime later and with the power of hindsight, the shitty system knockoff would taunt him with all the things he shouldve done differently. Jun quickly selected assimilate before he ground his molars down to little nubs. You have selected the Custom Mantra: [#16 A Work in Progress] as your trial partner. Is this correct? YES/NO Then, although it hadnt been specified anywhere that he could actually do this, he promptly selected a second mantra and hit assimilatehis intent to combine the two. You have selected the Custom Mantra: [#23 A Work in Progress] as your trial partner. This is in addition to one other mantra. You now have the option to take both as your trial partnersharply increasing the difficulty of said trial. Would you like to take both as your trial partner? YES/NO And finally, a third. You have selected the Custom Mantra: [#42 A Work in Progress] as your trial partner. This is in addition to two other mantras. You now have the option to take all three as your trial partnersharply increasing the difficulty of said trial. Would you like to take all three as your trial partner? YES/NO And then a forth and a fifth. Promptly selecting yes on each, Jun awaited the results with bated breath. Initializing Calculating Trial Difficulty Your resonance pillar has been adjusted for. Your body cultivation has been adjusted for. Your soul cultivation has been adjusted for. Be at ease. Your Mantras do not offend their patrons. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Please hold *Ding!* Estimated Trial Difficulty: |5 Stars| Yes! Designated Arena: The Undying EmpireRegion Code: N4-HBF-06800-SL Acclaim Bonus: Half-blood Rebellion, Liang Zhentian, Seven Gang Territory, Orphanage for the Uniquely Strange and Unfortunate, The Principality of Duate, Uncle Foos Noodle Emporium? Notoriety Bonus: Fallen Iron Fist Sect, Maximilian Alexander De Campos, Twin Leaf Sect, Liang Chenglong, Archibald the Royal Jester, Omnicorp International, The Honorable Ling Household, Duchess Dumont of Wimbleton, Septimus the Destroyer, Demon Lord Yaseth, Verily the Widow-Maker, The All Seeing Eye, Robert E. Downline (Batchelor, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist), Subject #24587, The Woodland Fae of Willows Creak, The Great Council of Magi, High Priest Adolfus, Brandon Backhand of God Myers, The Fairaway Twins, Club of Sevens, Heavy Armored Marine Corp: 89th Division, The United Aerialight Aristocracy, The REAL Uncle Foos World Famous Noodle Shoporium. Demonic Alignments: Califear the Cantankerous, Taltheon the Undying. Heavenly Alignments: Seraph of Sands Euphoria, Maribel Bringer of Hope. Star Ranking: NOT APPLICABLE Temporary Titles: Mammoth Slayer, Giant Slayer, Titan Slayer, Free Thinker, Death Strider, Butchers Bill I, Butchers Bill II, Butchers Bill III, Butchers Bill IV, Butchers Bill V, Butchers Bill VI, Butchers Bill VII, Neighborhood Boogyman, Peacemaker, Masked Vigilante, The Lords Heavenly Instrument, Harborer of Demons, Personified Greed, New Body New Me, What Do You Mean By 4th Wall?, Knight in Shining Armor, Bane of Arthropods, Bane of Priests, Bane of the Working Man, Employer of Kings, Consorts with Demons, Angelic Commune, Inter-Dimensional Contraband, Defender of the Weak, A Devils Retribution, Freelance Freedom Fighter, Big Man About Town. Please hold still while we transport you. Your trial will begin in: 10 9 8 7 As the countdown ticked ever closer to zero, Jun tried his best to assuage his racing mind. Not sure whether running through the myriad possibilities and what he might hope to do about them was helping or hurting, he took comfort in the fact that one thing, at least, was practically assured. On the word of the stingy system knockoff itself, no less. The only reason he was attempting this trial so soon in the first place. Something he was in desperate need of if this little project of his were to ever have even a chance of being realized. More specifically, he needed resources. Human resources, to be exact. Your trial will begin in: 5 4 3 4 3 5 Huh? The hell? Is it broken? Jun snorted. Hey, I know the whole running gag is that youre this cheap system knockoff, but I didnt actually think Id be proven correct one of these days! I mean-! Oh??? Jun froze. The sound of an unfamiliar voice in this, his holy of holieshis own personal sanctuarylike a shock to his system. Ooooo, youre interesting. Want to come over and play? I have all sorts of games! That voice, echoing from everywhere and nowhere all at once. It was feminine. Fairly young sounding. Maybe ten or eleven years old? It also had no right being there in the first place. Where the hell was his damned security?! Knockoff? Hello? Receiving no response, a cold tendril of fear began worming its way through his gut. Here! Let me start! I spy with my little eye, something that begins with D! Designated Arena: The Undying EmpireRegion Code: N4-HBF-06800-SL ERROR. Recalculating New Designated Arena: The Undying EmpireLADY IN REDS BEDROOM PLAYPEN. Huh?!! Hey, workshop! Youre seriously freaking me out over here! If this is some sort of sick joke or-! You like jokes too??!! Ooo! Ooo! I have one!! I have a joke! What do you call a playmate that doesnt like to play? Workshop-! Youre not talking to her now, youre talking to ME! Like hed been transported several hundred li beneath the oceans surface, an unbearable pressure bore down on himimmediately bringing him to his knees. His very soul seeming to cry out in the wake of her displeasure. W-what do you call a playmate that doesnt like to play? Jun managed. A dead man. Your trial will begin in: 3 2 1 Eleven Months Later The Subterranean Depths of The Undying Empire Region Code: E5-MCP-00249-SSL Meat Caverns: Domain of the Plenty Egg Laying Chamber Adjacent Many cycles were spent in dutiful deliberation following the fair haired strangers startling request for mass relocation. The seeking of our services selectively and in secret. In perpetuity should it prove plainly profitable for the Plenty. Many an egg laying was had whilst entertaining his earnest entreaty. Nearly four fertile generations grownborn bursting to wakefulness with exquisite eruptions of effluvia, eager to join the wide world at large. Nearly three of the masters day night cycles all told before a contentious consensus could tentatively be reached. If the rest of the winding residence was ever the hive of hyperactivity, the cavern cordoned off for the great minds to gather, evidenced a pocket of purest peace and tranquility. Punctuated only by the rhythmic pulsing of slick surfacesthe throbbing of their cavernous confines so commonplace, that the circle of seated elders barely budged an inch with each erratic beat and bump. Nine great minds, the first among equals, locked for days in contentious commune. A subvocalized shouting match with their species on the line. And all at the behest of a suspicious looking stranger, the subject of so much strife a sorry sight at the moment. Secure, if sore, as he slowly but surely, sank further and further into the glistening cavern wall. It sits poorly with me is all Im saying. After all. What need have we for such frivolous things? Hospitable living conditions? Bah! I have all I need right here. Indeed! The sire that was me raised the we that is he on wall mucus and stomach fluid alone, and just look how well he turned out! And Ill be damned if any son of mine isnt raised by the me, that is also he, like all those of us who came before! But! Just think of the benefits! Annual salary? Healthcare? Dental? Silly made up words words and nothing more. Yes but they are the best kind of silly made up words! Theyre new, dont you see?! How long has it been?! By all thats profane and unholy, something new! Is it not wonderful?! How they feel How they taste! How they just seem to pop and sizzle on your tongue? You sure you havent simply had a bit too much of the wall mucus again? What?! No! Im clean! I swear! Mmmm tastes like burning Really now. All of that is beside the point. I, for one, would feel safe and secure knowing thateven as the little baby girls, that are also me, are led kicking and screaming to their brutal demiseI might yet be compensated for the excruciating agony that is slowly being eaten alive again and again, for hours on end. I mean, really, what a weight off my mind that would be. Well to be fair, if we must needs fill the bellies of our masters, as is our privilege and solemn obligation, I would much rather be paid in something other than inescapable nightmares of unending suffering, than not be paid at all. Just the regular kind of nightmares, for instance, would be a wonderful change of pace. You would have us abandon everything weve ever known to go haring off to who knows where at the behest of a man we barely know?! Silence. You know, no one ever said we could not take some of the wall mucus with us when we leave. Thats? Demons above, how had I not thought of that? So, its settled then? Well take the outsider up on his offer? To which there was a general cheer of ascent. Their minds officially made up, Jun was eventually pried free from his sticky flesh cocooncradled in the arms of the albino hive mind whod dubbed themselves The Plenty. Blessedly releasing him from the clutches of that infernal wall before it could well and truly swallow him whole. And while, in the seconds that followed, it was all that he could do not to fold under the weight an experience of such magnitude left a man with, he would later be infinitely surprised to realize negotiations, in so much as they were, had actuallyagainst all reasonable expectationsgone quite well. Not that he could find it in him to care at that very moment. He was far too exhausted, both mentally and physically, to muster anything so much as a twitch in response. He was more tired than a person had any right to be. This trial world had been hell. Literally. In every sense of the word. And he didnt even know how long hed been stuck there. Trying in vain to escape that thing. That terrifying creature. Then fighting for his life in the very bowels of the world. Had it been months? Years? He had no idea. All he did know was that, however long itd been, the days had certainly taken their toll. The only thing he felt particularly motivated to do in that instant, find a spot that was miraculously dry of mucus, and free of the perpetual rancid sewage stink, lie down, and never get back up again. And failing that? Well, the ever present pulsing of the walls and floor wasnt so bad, so far as lullabies went. Already, he could feel his eyelids begin to droop the tendrils of oblivion beckoning Congratulations! It took you nearly a year to get this far. For the record, the vast majority of trial takers clear their first five star trial in a month at the very most. Not that this trial has been in any way cleared mind you. No. Not even close. You still need to retrace your steps to where your journey first began after all. But of course, you knew that already. It must be stressful though. Knowing that, no matter how impossible it was for you to make it this far, you have no other choice but to do it all over again, else you jeopardize everything youve accomplished just to get here. It''s no wonder your hair lost most of its color. Though that likely has less to do with the time youve wasted on this endeavor, and more to do with the chemically rich atmosphere and the lack of proper nutrients. On the bright side, at least the way back should be fairly self explanatory. You did make sure to memorize your route on the way down, did you not? Now suddenly very much awake, he recognized there was one thing not even the suffocating levels of apathy enveloping him could fully suppress. He didnt know when. He didnt know how. But one of these days he was going to smash that cocksure system knockoff into tiny little bits, and wipe that inexplicable smirk off its nonexistent face. Permanently. This? Oh, this he swore. Jun’s POV (21) Trial Difficulty: 4 Stars Joint Base Masterson A Barren Stretch of Desert Many Miles from Civilization Wow. Would you look at him go. Almost makes up for the time his unique brand of stupidity nearly had all my plans going up in smoke. Almost. Jun watched through the crystal clear viewing window projected by his optical implant, as the fight? The one sided beat down? As the battle, whichgiven the extreme time dilation he still didnt fully understandhad to have concluded sometime ago, raged on amidst a broken icy tundra. Or, no was it actually the exact opposite? Could he have been watching all that in real time? Either way, it was a testament to the superhuman slugfest on display thateven considering the significant advantages he could boast while within a trial worldif he hadnt tasked the implant in his head with slowing down the fight considerably, it was likely all hed have been able to make out was a series of white and yellow smears. Say, how long do you think he can go on like this? Should I be worried? Does it matter? I dont see how youre in a position to do anything about it. That thats actually a very good point. And, so saying, Jun cut off the screen, just as an enormous axe began parting the very heavens themselves. Lets get back to that tour then, shall we Jamie? If I recall, you were reminding me what I spent the greater part of a small nations annual income on. Jun turned to the rather nondescript young man who very likely held the key to all his dreams coming true. Dressed humbly in a stained lab coat that was clearly slept-in, ripped jeans, and a t-shirt that read Metallica in all caps, he didnt look the part of a paradigm shifting wunderkind. Jamie Errand Foster: vaunted academic, child prodigy, and mad-scientist extraordinaire. Or, perhaps he did. With his unkempt hair, stuttering gait, and restless eyes. Someone who didnt know him better might have labeled his behavior concerning, manic, or unhinged. Jun liked to think of him as eccentric. And anyway, most of that other stuff could simply be chocked up to his rather extreme caffeine addiction. Well, that was his current running theory anyway. And seeing as the twenty three year old genius was effectively his golden goose at the moment, he wasnt especially keen on rocking the boat. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that. Jamie spluttered, choking on his ninth sip of coffee in half as many seconds. It was some time before the subsequent coughing fit subsided enough for him to respond. Sorry, he croaked. Wrong hole, he explained. Quickly scrubbing at his mouth with the back of his hand, he then noticed the many droplets thatd landed on his coat. Immediately, he tried scrubbing at those as well, only really succeeding in smearing the stains in more thoroughly. Eventually he gave up, shrugged, and, after grimacing at the tackiness of his hands, began sucking on each finger and thumb in turnpresumably by way of cleaning them. Jun cleared his throat. Ahem. The tour? Jamie jumped, head sharply swiveling around, his eyes having gone wide. As if hed completely forgotten he wasnt alone in the massive industrial space. Oh! That. Yes. Umm. Right this way. And so saying, he promptly turned. Took several confident steps. Paused. Turned about face, and tried again. This time at a far brisker, if less confident, pace. Jun, for his part, never budged an inch. Hed known which way to go, after all. Honestly, it was kind of a hard thing to miss. Falling into step behind the quietly muttering genius, he spared little thought for his dubious tour guide, his attentions entirely captured by the scene laid out before him. The space truly was expansive. Having been emptied and repurposed to suit his needs, the cargo hanger they had on loan from a rather amenable military contractor had initially served as storage facility for a full tactical unit of heavy duty mechanized battle suitscolloquially, and or lovingly, referred to as city busters. Colossal mechanized war machines that were rarely, if ever, actually deployed except in the event of a natural disaster level threat. All that is to say, when he claimed that the wondrous thing in question took up the majority of the central space all on its own, it should really put into perspective just how massive it actually was. Scaffolding covered it from head to toe like some convoluted spiders web. Well, if that same arachnid also happened to have a weird fixation on right angles. Laborers in blue jumpsuits and safety harnesses crawled all over the massive apparatusharnesses allowing for quick ease of movement in all three dimensions. Sparks flew periodically, something, apparently, always in need of welding, while the air was thick with the scent of hot metal and ozone, not to mention the mechanized thumping of massive pistonsthe odd supervisor, somehow, managing to make themselves heard over the chaotic din. And at the heart of this bustling mess of machines and men stood the star of the show. The inter-dimensional gateway itself. It resembled an archway, though only in the loosest definition. It wasnt pretty by anyones measure, though it didnt have to be, he reasoned, so long as it worked. The very picture of function over form, it was a crude thing of hissing machinery and exposed wires. Wires which rhythmically pulsated with an otherworldly blue light. The very same light which shone inside the massive arch. The gate''s surface a shimmering pool of iridescent, almost liquid energy, which rippled every so often in slow, steady wavesthe ethereal skin that effectively separated dimensions. Or, at least he hoped it would, at any rate, once the portal was actually finished.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. How long Jun breathed. Hmm?! Jamie choked back another cough. Im sorry what? Did you say something? Jun spun, pinning the flustered genius with the sheer intensity of his gazea manic light glinting in his too wide eyes. A smile that just wouldnt seem to go away making his cheeks hurt. Excitement. Thats what he was feeling. No, thats what hed been missing all this time. An intoxicating thrill of childlike joy at seeing the culmination of all his efforts realized. The going on however many years now hed spent working up to this very moment. How long before we can get this thing operational? Taken somewhat aback by his bosses uncharacteristic behavior, Jamie was understandably slow to respond. Oh. Well technically it is operational. Has been for a while now, actually. Really, the last thing we need is a destination. Something to tie our dimension with another. Im sorry boss, but without that theres not much else I can do. Not safely anyhow. I mean, the theory is sound, sure, but, considering this hasnt actually ever been attempted before, anything we do from here would effectively be, like, a shot in the dark. Jamie scratched the back of his head and shrugged apologetically. You can think of it like throwing a fishing line out into the multiversal sea. Wed have no guarantee who, or what, we might end up pulling. It could be a happy little fairy dimension where people shit cake and piss out rainbows. Or it could be a dimension where world devouring eldritch entities are a thing so you know. Its kind of a toss up as to what your gonna get. Without something keyed to the dimension we actually want what? Why are you looking at me like that? Grinning, Jun tapped his nifty spacial ring, producing an exquisitely carved hickory wand inlaid with glowing arcane symbols. Will this do? At the sight of the foreign object that very clearly did not belong in this world, Jamies eyes immediately went wide. I uh yeah he croaked. Yeah I think we can work with that. His ultimate goal hadnt always been the creation of a vast and complexly interwoven cosmic highway that spans multiple parallel worlds on a multiversal scale. The very same trans-dimensional spice road that would, in effect, with a bit of effort on his part, act as the commercial backbone for an aspiring empire of trade that was only now just beginning get on its feet. Sure, random scraps of a vague idea would rattle around in his head from time to time, but nothing concrete. No, for the longest time, hed just been going through the motions. Keeping his head down. Preparing for when he might get the chance to finally blow this popsicle stand, and get back to living his actual life. It was only after the first year had come and gonewith that illusive promise of freedom seemingly no closer than it had beenthat tangible steps he could reasonably take to reach that theoretical goal really started to coalesce in his mind. It was a hobby, he told himself. A project to help pass the time. Keep himself engaged. Stave off the soul numbing apathy, that sort of thing. Well, that lasted for about five or so months, before this quaint little hobby of his became his entire world, personality, and religion all rolled into one. Much of that obsession he blamed on the quite frankly ludicrous amounts of time fuckery going on around him. To hear the workshop arbiter tell it, there were effectively three layers to this staggeringly complicated matryoshka doll from hell. His physical body in the real world, his spiritual body in the spirit world, and his true soul popping in and out of the trial worlds. A unique case, or so hed been told, wherein his physical body was effectively suspended in some sort of glacial stasis. One where a single minute out there could mean a month in the spirit world. And where a year in the spirit world could mean literal decades, possibly more, wherever it was he now found himself. And so, apparently, with all the time in the world it seemed, hed let himself get a smidge carried away. Dont get him wrong! Hed spent plenty of time preparing for the inevitable clash between him and whatever catastrophe was waiting for him on the outside. Creating mantras and what not. Polishing his skills. Just not exclusively. Or as diligently as was, if he was being completely honest with himself, probably warranted given the circumstances. But really, who cares?! So it turned into an obsession. So what! An obsession no doubt fueled, at least in part, by the loss of his own budding empire at the eve of its ascension. Rest well my old friend. You will be missed, but never forgotten He could admit when he was wrong, and he was wrong to neglect his very real responsibilities. Both to himself and his continued survival, hell of a combo. There was even a part of him that regretted not doing more to help his future self with his future endeavors. but! Just it was indescribable. The feeling of taking that first step from four star concrete, onto two star soil? Priceless. Simply priceless. And while yes, that hed stepped directly into the heart of a feral goblin nest wasnt exactly ideal, it in no way detracted from the utter momentousness of the occasion! okay, so it didnt smell the greatest but thats besides the point! Jamies still working out the kinks Anyway he thought the temporary titles he received were pretty neat, even if they didnt really do much for him right that moment. He was already fairly mobilehopping between worlds and all thatand he figured, at this point, his exploration days were well behind him. Still, it was nice to have options. |To Boldly Go| (Special) Earned by connecting multiple trial worlds through innovative means. This is a Special Title. For achieving something none before you have even considered, let alone managed, youve proven yourself worthy of a special ability. Special ability: |World Walker| For the next ten minutes, you may freely convey yourself and up to three others between any of the worlds you maintain a stable, two-way connection to. Must be in direct contact with the intended recipient to share this effect. Destination must be specified. Destination must be a place you yourself have visited at least once. Gain one charge for every lived decade within a trial world. Charges available: 1 |Where No Man Has Gone Before| (Limited) Earned by physically stepping from one trial world into another. This is a Special Title. For achieving something none before you have even considered, let alone managed, youve proven yourself worthy of a special ability. Special ability: |League Step| Allows for instant teleportation between your current position and any location within a trial world. This effect is irrelevant of whether youve been there before or not. You cannot convey others with this ability. This is a world locked ability. Gain one charge for every lived month within a trial world. Charges available: 184 And, now that hed sought, seen, and conquerednow that hed effectively done just about everything hed intended to dothere really wasnt all that much left for him to do but manage the day to day operations and things. Maybe build upon the rather solid foundations hed laid. And, perhaps, take the whole ongoing threat to his continued longevity thing that the system knockoff kept harping on about a bit more seriously. Yeah, hed definitely be putting in some grade A effort on his mainstay. Construct some killer mantras. Contemplate the universe. Really get back to his roots, you know? tomorrow hed get back to his roots tomorrow After all, there was still so much left for him to do today! Chapter 80: It’s Monarch Season (5) It wasnt long before the vessel was sufficiently pliable. Warped and corrupted by her prolonged ministrations, until it personified the sordid depths that would best serve her needs. A ravaged display of wicked barbarity at first glance, the flayed and clearly tortured specimen lying atop her operation table was, in actuality, a prime example of her unparalleled mastery. Utterly broken in mind, body, and spirit, yet possessed of a soul shell that blazed with an intensity completely unmatched in its previous incarnation. Elevated beyond the plain mire of mundanity, into the realm of the truly potent, the great and the powerful. Hatred was an effective and long-lasting motivator after all, and what engendered a bond of purest, blackest hatred more, than the relationship between the unjustly tortured and their torturer? Truly, these last fourteen hours had proven, if anything, a heaven-sent confirmation of her chosen path. She might even devise a half decent soul battery out of it. Around her, sprawled her laboratory. A haphazard collection of mismatched tables, shelves, and hanging, iron wrought cages. A laboratory which itself sat atop the once hallowed spirit tree located at the center of her domain. Atop and within the gigantic tree structure. The floor an interlacing series of thick roots and vines. While all around her, hemming her workspace in on all sides, stretched the reaching fingers of dead brancheswrapping up and over, until its furthest heights were obscured by darkness, to form a half-spherical dome. The heart of her dark forest and inner sanctum both. The place to which her sirens call had guided those few to survive her dark hunters playful whimsy. Lingering shades of cruelty or malice abounded, bobbing through the air like floating wisps of brownish, purplish light. Bottled echos of past torment lined the many shelvesghastly faces locked in a rictus grin or perpetual scream. Ancient tomes, contracted spirits, and cursed items effectively had the run of the place. Meandering about the large spaceunmoored by gravityidle and docile until she had need of them. That and many other such curios roamed her sanctum, the evidence of her many experiments, past successes and not a small number of failures. The sometimes-living proof of her unique dedication to the craft. It was a shame, in some ways. That this attempt at war had come at the worst possible time. She had so much left to do. For that matter, there was always so much more she could be doing. There truly was no rest for the wicked as they say, but, in any event, she digressed. Forced to leave the repelling of said invasion to her often times unreliable hunters, she supposed she was lucky to have received any new specimens at all. Many had fallen to the whims of her dark hunters, though, thankfully, not all. The Cursed Soul Alchemist turned her pitch-black orbs to the gently swaying cages that creaked high above. She scrutinized their inhabitants, blackened nails unconsciously dragging long lines across her shiny bald pate. Leaving not a mark on the skin, nor the blackened runes that covered it. And indeed ran along every inch of her gaunt, pale, and stark naked body. She studied the vessels that huddled within. Her ears having long since inured themselves to their many pleas and whimpers. Oh yes. More than enough, she decided, before she reached for the sudo-mind of the closest contracted spirit. Directing it towards one of the cages, she was already looking forward to the furthering of her great work. There came an appreciative whistle from behind her. Oh my! Would you just look at all this? Now, and believe me when I say I mean this in the best possible way, Ive seen my fair share of nefarious inner sanctums in my day, but this? I must say, at least where unadulterated villainy is concerned, you, madam, have truly outdone yourself here! Tell me? Do you have to practice at the whole sinister villainess thing, or does it just come naturally? Because wow! I mean, bravo! Do you mind if I take notes? The alchemist spun, taking in the young vessel from where it stood not a hundred paces away. It was a small thing, head barely reaching up to her navel, with long dark hair and glowing red eyes. It wore a set of tattered black robes and a red mist rose from it as if sweating from its poresephemerally sharp to her soul sight, even from so far away. Unused to speaking aloudseeing as, most often, any mundane methods of truth seeking paled before the cutting end of her scalpelher voice came out in a sibilant whisper. Surprise! Great delight! Intruder? How thoughtful. To deliver yourself to us? Much thanks and many gratitudes. Oh? With praise like that, Im liable to blush. I serve to please, madam, as always, the vessel smirked. Confusion. Curiosity. How come you here, strange vessel? To elude my dark hunters? A feat to be praised. I must needs know before we begin. Far easier that way. Coherent. Less screaming. Ah about that. I do hope you werent too fond of the lanky creatures. Otherwise, this is liable to turn quite awkward quite fast. For the record, it was they who initiated hostilities, not I. Wouldnt have bothered with them otherwise, truth be told. Little more than a nuisance with their creepy little forest to scurry on back to, and barely worth my time without it.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The Cursed Soul Alchemist watched the vessel, trying to contextualize its words. Perplexed. Confusion. Then, on a hunch, she reached out with her spiritual senses. What she eventually found stunned her to her very core. Because not only had her dark hunters completely vanished from her spiritual sight, but large swathes of her corrupted domainthe grim dark forest for which she called homewas also just gone. The curse energy shed invested in the thick woodland now bereft of any vessel. Even now, all that painstakingly gathered resentment was dissipating into apathy, purgation, or catharsis. Unacceptable. Wasnt my idea, believe you me. I do so deplore wholesale destruction. Though, Ill admit it does have its uses from time to time. Limited though they may be. Now, before we get to that other sorry business I came here for, what would you say to a scholarly exchange of information? Expertise for expertise, as it were. I can see youre already well versed in the art of extraction, but Id wager I know of a few choice techniques that not even you have managed come across. I can assure you, from personal experience, that they are really quite potent. Bewilderment. Understanding. Indignation! Outrage! And just like that, the Soul Alchemists Laboratory exploded into motionroiling at the behest of her growing fury. The air, the artifacts, the very roots on which they stood. All of it heavily invested with the fruits of her depravity. A massive, cursed object in and of itself. Her soul ravaged domain. A spirit tree corrupted. Attuned to her unique brand of mastery. The grand vessel through which she might physically enact her will. Like the snapping of hidden jaws, her inner sanctum bit down hard. Vines tore themselves from the ground, dead branches from the ceiling. Cursed tomes snapped openresonant words drenched in the occult chanted in time with the rapid flipping of pages. Artifacts glowed, Jars shattered, spilling free the vile contents within. And from said vessels, the tattered remnants of old pain and suffering escapedleaping upward to dash madly through the air. Cursed roots raced forward, the fractured dome, like a wall of misshapen spears, rapidly descended. And all around them, the flitting shades of the cursed and damned let slip their long held resentment. Their many unresolved traumas. Pitiful wails and howls of sheer agony that literally wore away at the soul. Everything currently held at her disposal converging on this insolent intruder. And the vessel meanwhile? Much to her annoyance, did not bow before inevitability, but instead attempted to respond in kind. Erupting in an unsightly, ruby red luster, it uttered one last thing before it was overwhelmed completely. Hmm Perhaps we can exchange pointers afterward. Oh! And, speaking of, please do try to remain in one piece? Ill be sure to pull my punches, as it were, and we can just meet somewhere in the middle. How does that sound? It really would be such the bother were you to insist on dying prematurely. And then, without another word exchanged, the vessel was consumed by her cursed domain. Obliterated without a trace. Without even a shred of notable resistance. Not bad, came the vessel, its voice coming from somewhere behind her, and decidedly not from within the tangled knot of roots and thick vines. The alchemist spun, finding them standing not twenty paces awayhovering over her latest acquisition and idly prodding the tortured flesh with a finger. The specimen groaned. The vessel raised an eyebrow. It studied her handiwork for a second longer, before it turned back around to face her with an unreadable expression. Umm this is some truly nasty stuff. Ahh well Id say its about time I start taking this seriously, I suppose. A real shame. Right then. Brace yourself. And with that, the sprightly, red tinged vessel attacked *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Cutting Evasion] (3rd Tier) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Bodys Temple | Cutting Evasion] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Cutting Evasion] Description: So, yeah, good news and bad news. Bad news: technically this is another one in a long line of my quote-unquote failed designs. A failed movement technique, to be exact. The idea had been there, but the execution? Left much to be desired. It really didnt turn out the way I had envisioned it at all. Do you have any idea what its like to be diced up into a million little, itty-bitty pieces, and not even know it until you tried to take a step? Not pleasant, as it so happens. I really wouldnt recommend it. Good news: with only a little bit of tinkering, and some begrudging outside help, I managed to alter it so that now its only mildly fatal to use. Unfortunately, it really only works within the spirit plane now. So, yeah. Not exactly ideal for what Id had in mind, but for you, in this instance, I figure that shouldnt prove too problematic. Something about raw conceptual matter being fundamentally incompatible with the physical world? I dont really get it myself, but Ive been informed that, if it werent for my rule breaking ascendant boon, not even this much would be possible. Anyway, details! Down to the nitty gritty. This mantra effectively melds your spirit body with your cutting aura for very short bursts, allowing you to move at the speed of well, not thought exactly, but will, maybe? Im still unclear as to the distinction. Its essentially a reverse of the normal mode of operations. The spirit body conceptually malleable enough to fold into the faint corporeality of the aura, instead of it happening the other way around. Effectively, you turn your body into mist and can then move really really fast. Each burst of speed should only last for a scant few microseconds, however, as anything more than that would quickly erode away your, or, I suppose, our spirit. Also, dont get hit for a good five minutes during or after the use of this ability. Like most cutting mantras, a single slip up is most often the last one youll make. Limited Time Uses: NOT APPLICABLE Charge Time: Instantaneous Ability Duration: .05 seconds Ability Cooldown: 1 second Etheric Concession: The Curse of Perfection Chapter 81: It’s Monarch Season (6) Hopeless. There was no other word to describe it. The last of their defensive positions breached, overrun. And was it any wonder? Where theyd been expecting to defend against near endless hordes of mindless fodder, theyd instead been met with a coordinated assault. An army well versed in the intricacies of warfare. Theyd never even stood a chance. A never-ending tide of skittering black bodies, and them, the coastal cliff gradually eroded away. The familiar holders had been the first to fall. Noble and arrogant in their grandiose displays. Massive balls of fire and great scythes of ice chucked into the hoard like so many drops into an ocean. Within short order they were overwhelmed completely. Venomous fang and acid spit paltry in comparison to their grand displays of power, yet against a thousand such attacks? A hundred thousand? The main force fell the very next day. Leaving only the auxiliary and the injured to take the fight to the enemy. Gertrude lurched to the side, trying to evade the dripping fangs that lunged for her throat. She gasped as weight was placed on her injured leg. Her knee buckled and she fell, neatly evading the jumping attack that came from behind. The smaller spider leapt, flailed, then bounced awkwardly off the hairy dome shed taken great pains to avoid. The massive brute of a thing, twice her head height and as large around as a wagon, took several skittering steps back, looked down on the smaller spawnwho was even now hurriedly scrambling to its feet. It shook its head in what might have been reproof. The jumping spider slumped. Clearly taking the reprimand hard. Gertrude, whod had two days to observe and come to terms with their strangely intelligent behavior, merely used this break as an opportunity to rise. Using her short sword as a crutch, she lurched to her feet, attempting to stand, only to find that her leg could no longer support her. And so, bereft of options and racked with pain, she merely stood there, crippled, sword tip buried in the ground. Watching. Waiting as, all around her, fires blazed, smoke billowed, and shouts rebounded. As others like her were locked in similarly hopeless engagements. As others like her were trampled to death. Behind the two spiders she personally faced, still absorbed in their internal affairs, skittered forth a dozen such imposing brutesbarely a hundred paces away. And behind them? Thousands. The two rift spawn resolved whatever issues theyd been working through, and, almost as an afterthought, returned their many eyed gazes to her. They took several unhurried steps forward. Gertrude panted through the pain. Reaching down and pulling a small dagger from her boot sheath, she raised it, brandishing it before the two rift spawn. Ready to die alright, though not without a fight. On your left! Gertrude flinched as, to her left, just as advertised, a woman appeared. Her body wreathed in blue flame, and with a glistening red sword already set in motion. Sweeping forward in a wide, horizontal arc. There was a flash, a sharp series of whistles like arrows in flight, and by the time Gertrude blinked away the tears, the two spiders in front of her, in front of them rather, had simply vanished. To be replaced by a crescent of glittering red shapes. A living swarm of truly astounding proportions which, even as she watched, utterly decimated the oncoming hoard of rift spawn in a glittering, ever shifting, almost serpentine display. Like a cloud of angry hornets numbering in the millions, a tide of locusts that seemed to blot out the sky, a veritable army in and of itself, the ruby red reinforcements descended upon the rift spawn with a vengeanceleaving nothing but red mist in their wake. Within seconds it was finished, and their small little corner, of what was effectively an ongoing calamity, was suddenly freed from the shroud thatd haunted them for so long. The inevitability of death no longer so inevitable. Gertrude, like many of those auxiliaries with a newfound lease on life, stared open mouthed at the woman who blazed with azure light. Who had single handedly massacred a small army within seconds. Soldier! Your name? the woman turned to her, eyes literally blazing with an inner fire. Gertrudes straightened to attention, outright ignoring the pain in her leg. My name, maam? Its Gertrude, maam! Right. Gertrude then. Im afraid Ive gotten a bit turned around in the melee. It would seem Ive also managed to outpace my escort, more fool me. Can you direct me to the nearest concentration of rift spawn? Preferably in the direction of whichever dank hole the monarch of these lands resides.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ah! O-of course maam, Gertrude turned and pointed. T-there! Near where the webbings thickest. Cant miss it, really. Its where most of us figure the monarch must be hiding, on account of all the rift spawn. Maam! Ah. The woman looked momentarily embarrassed. Wonderful! Well, you have my gratitude, Gertrude. With any luck, this should all be over within the day. So, just hang in there, alright? Id stay but well, as you can see, I have other duties to attend to. Well get you patched up in no time, though. Rest assured. After everything thats happened here, it really is the least we can do. Gertrude stuttered. Stunned that someone like her would at all be worried about some no name grunt like herself. A woman whos only real noteworthy deed, so far, had consisted of the uncanny ability to break her leg while out on patrol. No need to trouble yourself on my account, maam! Ive had worse. Expect Ill have worse yet fore the wars won. The womans face split into a wide grin. Hah! Thats the spirit! If only some of the people in control of this whole fiasco thought more like you do well, the world would be a much better place, thats for sure, the womans face fell, taking on a more serious expression before brightening with false cheer. Enough of that. Forget I said anything. Id best get a move on, in any case. There really is no time like the present! And if were low on anything, its time, right? Ill be going now. Take care of yourself, soldier. And with that, the woman spurred into motion, exploding forth on a wave of azure flames. And behind her, above and all around, the cloud of glittering petals raced to follow. It was in a large and open clearing that the two casually strolledemerging from beneath the mottled shade of the jungle canopy. The very air around them seeming to vibrate, ears deafened by the raucous din of howling monkeys. Screaming, chortling, shrieking with delight. Like seated spectators before a grand and deadly arena, blood sport attendees baying at the promise of imminent tragedy. It hadnt taken long to track down the Howler Kings chosen domain. The demon beasts made enough noise for a hoard ten times their number. No, by any reasonable metric, once theyd finally arrived in this humid, insect ridden land, theyd actually made rather excellent time. And yet? And yet they couldnt help but feel woefully inadequate. That theyd been far too late in their coming. Lax in their estimations. They shouldve made this jungle a higher priority from the very beginning. Dispatched the other monarchs with far greater efficiency. The horrific scenes of carnage and bloody massacre which dotted the terrain, like some morbid trail of breadcrumbs, leaving them in even less of a mood to bandy about than usual. Before them, nearly two hundred paces distantatop the high branches where many of its brethren stoopedlounged the Monkey King Howler himself. A shaggy haired primate with lanky arms and a warriors build. Tall, with silver fur and a golden mane, it was a thing of wiry strength, lean and agile. Standing at about nine foot four, it towered over its smaller brethrena king amidst its lowly subjects. Although, apart from a difference in size and coloration, each of the demonic howlers appeared much the same. From where they stood, Jun and Eleanor watched as the monarch briefly flashed its fangs in challenge. Then, with one last piercing howl that cut through all the rest, raised its claw tipped thumb up high, then brought it down in a negative gesture. An emperor condemning them to death. Its subjects, riled up into a mad frenzy by this point, practically leapt to obey. A tide, no, a cascade, no, a torrentof frenzied howlers threw themselves from the treestearing up the soft underbrush in their eagerness to be the first to reach them. When those very first front runners eventually did, however, they were very quick to realize theyd have been better off had they not. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Triple Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Crushing Erosion] (3rd Tier) ERROR: ASPECTS NOT FOUND; MANTRA UNALIGNED. STABILITY HAS BEEN LOST. Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Bodys Temple | Crushing Erosion] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. Mantra: [Bodys Temple | Crushing Erosion] Description: Perhaps the most glaring weakness in my overall repertoire, one which I feel like Ive bemoaned since day one, has been my overall lack of defensive options. Combine that with my generally low levels of resiliency, squishy mortal flesh unsuited to the many rigors of combat, and my only real, viable option, for the longest time, has been the age-old adage that the best defense is a good offense. A sentiment I, and quite understandably in my opinion, wholeheartedly despise. Due in large part to the fact that, whenever said offense inevitably falls short, its ultimately left to my papery skin and fragile bones to pick up the proverbial slack. Leaving me, more often than not, half crippled as a result. And so, in an even worse position to effectively leverage my supposed offense. Which is also, apparently, my defenseestablishing something of a downward spiral from there, as you can probably imagine. In which my body becomes increasingly bruised, battered, and broken, well before the fight has even reached its final conclusion. Call me a coward, but Id rather a good defense be a good defense for oncegive my poor bones a break, no pun intended. Enter: Bodies Temple Crushing Erosion. A revolutionary technique that allows for all that pesky bodily harm to be inflicted upon the enemy for a change, instead of being firmly imprinted on myself. Just flood your body with semi-corporeal conceptual matter, and watch as they break themselves upon your glorious chrome kissed frame. Be warned, it does have this pesky habit of completely restricting your movements. A feature, I can assure you. Seeing as, if you were allowed to move, youd swiftly cease to exist, going off like a supercharged atomic bomb basically on the spot. Oh right. You probably dont know what that is yet. Needless to say, you would die, so would the plant life around you, and everything else for a several mile radius. Much like the cutting aligned bodys temple mantra, this comes with a pitifully short duration, as maintaining it for too long has a way of stopping the heart permanently. Still, it beats getting your ass handed to you time and time again. Limited Time Uses: NOT APPLICABLE Charge Time: Instantaneous Ability Duration: 15 seconds Ability Cooldown: 30 minutes Etheric Concession: Cliff Erodes the Tide Chapter 82: It’s Monarch Season (7) As G. Jun gently rocked with the steady beat of the griffin''s wings, he pondered idly on the nature of monarchs. Their strengths. Their weaknesses. And what set them apart as uniquely formidable entities. There was a baseline physicality to consider, certainly. Rarely did they come up against a monarch whose base strength couldnt be described as titanic or greater. Though, even that wasnt necessarily the deciding factor when defining a monarch. In fact, he could think of one such entity that completely ignored the usual conventions and was no less deadly because of it. [Cursed Soul Alchemist (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Nightmare Aura, Cursed Soul Extraction, Curse Manipulation, Curse Infusion, Soul Sight, Cursed Healing, Curse Transference, Cursed Domain, Soul Shell Expansion, Soul Body Transference. Weaknesses: ??? Gifted with the ability to corrupt and manipulate souls, physically, the cursed soul alchemist had actually been rather weak. No overwhelming base line strength, nor any boosting abilities to speak of. Instead, shed demonstrated uncanny levels of control, often splitting her attention between dozens of simultaneous actions at once, while still retaining enough focus to evade incoming attacks. That, in conjunction with her ability to heal by consuming curse energy, the fact that her entire domain was effectively drenched in curse energy, and the ability to transfer and swap around curses on the flysomething he had to imagine was really quite difficultand shed made for one of the strongest opponents hed faced thus far. Cutting and evading effectively while the very air was bogged down with palpable spite and resentment? Itd been hard enough to maintain a cool head, let alone keep the powerful monarch in check. As far as he knew, the curses shed used had come in three forms. The emotional, the physical, and the supernatural. The emotional had been the easiest to combat. Well just as soon as he realized it was affecting him, that is. Hard to fight something you didnt even know existed. As his mood began to fluctuate wildly, however, his mental state to dance to the alchemists tune, hed been quick to shut that down almost immediately. Flooding his body with cutting aura, and the apathy that came with it. Emotional curses were ephemeral things, often represented as ghostly figures, ever shifting and unstable. Very similar to the wraiths theyd faced in the Impregnable Bastion, actually. Meanwhile, physical curses needed a vessel to operate in, warping the item in question to a fairly binary purpose. Curses were a very one-track existence after all. For example, one cursed tome in particular managed to draw him into its pages, a childrens fairy tale book, where each character was unethical, the setting was layered in filth, and every moral of the story was uniquely corrupt. The pages only seeing fit to release him after hed massacred the small village and all of its inhabitants. Another, a magnifying glass, had the effect of shrinking his projectiles to the size of a pinhead. While another still, a needle and thread combo, wouldnt stop trying to sow his lips together all throughout the fight. Finally, the supernatural had been the hardest to quantify, though he generally thought of them as curses with such a strong spiritual weight, that they took on a kind of corporeality. Existences so dense with grief or turmoil, that they actively altered the world around them, bending it to whatever unresolved trauma drove them. There had been one in the shape of a sobbing child, whose mere presence liquified the world around them. Turning everything it touched into more salty tears, with which to run down its cherubic face. A greedy merchant who turned everything to gold, a burn-scarred man who, with a look, could set things on fire, and so on. All of this, in addition to the alchemists uncanny ability to shift its spirit body in and out of any surface thoroughly saturated with her curse energy, and, in the end, she hadnt needed physical strength to overwhelm him. The entire fight eventually devolved into a convoluted game of hide and seek, wherein he continually tried to locate her spirit body and destroy it, while she continued to throw curse after curse his way. Then, going purely off of Eleanors account, the Swamp Queen had been yet another to subvert the common conception of an all-powerful monarch. Forgoing a great deal of personal power, in exchange for the general empowerment of her spawn. [Arachnid Swamp Queen (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Titans Stature, Tough Exoskeleton, Tremor Sense, Queenly Aura, Call of the Matriarch, Rapid Proliferation, Matriarchs Blessing, Web Manipulation, Clutch Hierarchy, Venomous Fangs, Spearing Thrust, Empower Offspring, My Life for the Clutch. Weaknesses: ??? According to her, actually killing the bulbous spider monarch hadnt been all that difficult. It was the getting to her in the first place part thatd nearly proven impossible. Protected by legions of her overzealous offspring, a military hierarchy wielding a portion of her strengths and intelligence, it had apparently been a slog from beginning to end. Led by four master generals, half humanoid creatures well versed in human tactics, and an uncountable number of petty officers, shed compared it to pushing back against a righteous crusade. Spurred by the will of their collective mother, not only had their morale never once waveredtheir unorthodox army never routed nor forced into retreat, not a single timebut theyd used the terrain to their advantage every step of the way. Ambushes were commonplace, traps were only to be expected, and raids on their supply lines were near constant. What Eleanor had first thought would take a day, maybe two, had instead dragged on for two entire weeks. Their steady advance effectively stagnating, before Jun eventually arrived on the scene. And then only with his help were they eventually able to make that final push into the heart of the silken domain. Only to find three Arachnid Champions waiting for them. Beasts which gave even them a run for their money. While Jun kept them busy, Eleanor tackled the Queen, hoping to demoralize her brood. Something they soon learned to regret. As, with its death, as one final farewell to its offspring, it activated an ability that accelerated its own demise, greatly empowering its many children as a result. In the end, the bloody conflict had continued for another week, before the last remnants of the orphaned hoard was put down. Which ultimately left their most recent opponent in the long line of defeated monarchs. One which very much played into the archetype of the singularly powerful entity, to the express exclusion of those around it. In fact, the Monkey King Howler easily took that ideal to its furthest possible extreme. [Monkey King Howler (Monarch Class | S Grade Rift Spawn)] Abilities: Titans Stature, Titans Strength, Titans Speed, Primates Agility, Toughened Hide, Lightning Aura, Lightning Manipulation, Piercing Howl, Group Tactics, Tricksters Slash, Monarchs Decree, Hat Trick, Tricksters Taunt, Thunderclap Nerves, All for One.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Weaknesses: ??? Blessed with a combination of natural strengths and a multitude of speed boosting abilities, you would think, on paper at least, it shouldve proven one of the more involved fights of the campaign. On the contrary, however, it actually turned out to be the shortest engagement of them all. And all for one, very simple reason. Because the great and powerful Monkey King was essentially a coward. Either that, or just plain inconsiderate. A trickster king who used his subjects like commoditiesobjects to fling away and, hopefully, if he was lucky, impede his enemies, even if by just a little bitwith a unique set of abilities specifically geared towards leveraging that advantage. Tricksters Taunt pulsing out a wave of almost curse-like energy, enraging those near him to near apoplectic levels of aggression. Meanwhile Hat Trick allowed it to swap places with any one of its subjects. Something he did quite liberally throughout the fight. Completely uncaring whether whichever sorry primate it swapped places with actually survived the attack thatd been meant for him. That, in addition to the bolts of lightning it threw out indiscriminately, and it wasnt long before the once unceasing hoard of howlers had shrunken down to a bare trickle. At which point the indignant ape had pulled out all the stops. Its final trump card. All for One was an ability that allowed it to literally suck the life force from any entity caught within its Monarchs Decreeempowering itself at the cost of the lives of its subjects. The exact opposite of the Swamp Queens final gambit. Unfortunately, it had burned through so many of its minions by that point, that it was barely any stronger than it had been at the beginning of the fight. Allowing for Jun, and now Eleanorpreviously preoccupied with keeping the hoard of howlers at bayto clean up the King of the Primates in short order. Which ultimately led them to where they are now, riding atop griffin back, nursing injuries and pondering the unknown, even as they flew towards the last true front of this interminable war. The seat of the angelic host. The Seraphic Lord Commanders golden citadel. With the sun barely cresting the distant horizon, Eleanor stood at the edge of the encampments outer perimeter, quietly surveying the grassy, windswept plain that stretched out before her. The flat expanse which would serve, for many of those present, as either the site of their ancestor''s salvation, or a very early grave. The disparate sounds of an army rousing itself to wakefulness slowly filtered in through the vagueness of her thoughts. The blaring cries from deep chested officers easily splitting the cool morning air. The rhythmic hammer of steel on anvil. Communal groans from weary soldiers. The merry sounds of breakfast preparations breathing life into a landscape otherwise drowning in portent. Glancing down, she noted how the grass at her feet seemed to glisten with morning dew. How the air carried with it the promise of rain. And no wonder, really, with the dreary cloud cover looming high above. The gray veil that seemed to wrap the sky in a sullen blanket. Painting everything in muted, almost desaturated hues. Gusts of wind teased loose strands of hair from beneath her standard issue cloak. Setting the vast ocean of grass stalks to rippling. Sending waves through them like the undulations of an emerald green sea. As far as the eye could see, the open field stretched. A great expanse likely to turn to treacherous mud-slick within the hour, whether the heavens chose to open up or not. Battle, as shed been made fully aware of by now, had a way of drenching the earth with the fruits of mortal folly. And lifesblood was always more plentiful than you first thought. A penny for your thoughts? Eleanor turned, coming face to face with two large, lemon-yellow pools. Y. Jun took another bite out of the pyramid shaped soul fruit he was holding. I its nothing. Hoh, hood! Hats ha hwilief! Jun garbled through a mouthful, fruit juice dribbling down his chin. Ah Umm? Im sorry? I didnt quite catch that last bit. Or the part before. That section in the middle? All of it, really. He took another hearty bite out of the oddly shaped fruit. Finishing it in short order, core and all, he reached down and rustled through his rucksack for another. I said: Oh, good! Thats a relief! Ah! I see. Well, thanks, I guess, Eleanor paused. Wait, why is that exactly? Well! With the way youve been mean mugging those clouds over thereI mean, really giving them the businessId begun to suspect something might be wrong! Come to find out, Id merely been worrying over nothing! And just like that, all is once more right with the world! Oh, w-well, Eleanor shifted in place. Maybe not nothing. I have concerns. I just didnt want to burden you with my already ponderous conscience. Ahah! I see! Eleanor waited. When it didnt look like he intended to continue, she spoke up. Arent you going to ask me whats wrong? Hmm? Why would I do that? You just said it was nothing. It wasnt even all that long ago. Eleanor! Are you quite sure youre doing alright? Making faces at the clouds is one thingI mean, who doesnt partake from time to timebut going senile at your age is no laughing matter! That is not nothing. Indeed some might go so far as to call it something! Oh! And speaking of premature senility, Id nearly forgotten! Jun reached out and slipped a copper penny into her hand, closing her fingers around it and patting her knuckles reassuringly. Dont go and spend it all in one place! Eleanor stared blankly at her hand for several long seconds, before she turned back to her familiar. I dont even! I swear you do that on purpose sometimes. Hoo hwhat? he mumbled past a rind of citrus. Eleanor sighed. Then, she snorted. Never mind. Recognizing her, not so subtle, attempt at dropping hints for the lost cause it was, she promptly did the smart thing, and simply threw in the towel. Oddly enough, that actually made her feel a little bit better. Almost like the many thousands of deaths accumulated, in pursuit of this senseless campaign, couldnt be laid exclusively at her feet. Or, if they could, at least when speaking to Jun, she didnt feel their weight so keenly. She gave her familiar a good long once over. Watching with a mixture of awe, incredulousness, and not a small bit of nausea, as he scarfed down soul fruit after soul fruit, with no real end in sight. Is that strictly necessary? she asked. Jun briefly looked up from his feast to bob his head vigorously. Mmm! Healers orders! Theyre to keep me in tip top condition! Very nutritious Ill have you know! Also, if I eat enough of them she said theres at least a fifty percent chance I dont explode the next time Im forced to really go all out! Fifty-fifty! Can you believe it? I mean, really, what more could you ask for? A hundred percent? she thought, but had the wherewithal not to say. Are your injuries still troubling you? Oh! You neednt worry yourself on my account! I have it all under control. I only bleed out of my eyes two or three times a week, now. And my stream is nearly back to its original color. Im told its because my insides have finished with their bleeding constantly, which I can only take as a promising sign! That still sounds fairly serious. Are you sure youre okay? Worry not! It isnt nearly as bad as it sounds, Im certain of it! After all, its practically a healers job to overly exaggerate the extent of the damage! Huh. That right? And how do you figure? she asked, genuinely curious as to how he might rationalize such an inane statement. Well, clearly its so that, when the patient inevitably gets better, all of their friends and family can throw them a great big surprise party, making them feel even more special than they would have otherwise! Ah. Damn. You ruined the surprise, she deadpanned. In an instant, Y. Juns head snapped sharply around, deadly serious. Horror was written plainly on slackened features, half eaten soul fruit entirely forgotten. In seconds, his face became as white as a sheet, and his eyes! They bugged out, almost unnaturally so. Lemon yellow pools going very very round. His bottom lip trembling ever so slightly with visible distress. A joke! It was a joke! I was kidding! Ha ha! Just teasing is all! You most definitely have not spoiled any surprise parties that may or may not have been in the works. Promise! Instantly, her familiar deflated, a hand rising to his chest, as if to calm his racing heart. Hah! Haha! A grand jest! You truly had me going there! To think! Me? Ruining a surprise? Perish the very thought! I think Id simply be forced to take my own life, were it so! Eleanor gulped. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief at having averted disaster, not having expected that reaction in the slightest. At least hed bought the lie easily enough, though that ultimately left her with something of a dilemma. It would seem that, on top of winning this war, she also had a party to plan for. Lovely. Right! Well. What do you say we head back to camp? Check in with Lucile and the rest. See if they need us for any last-minute preparations. I think thats a fantastic idea! Truly inspired. Inspiring! Incredible! In-tangible! In-! Alrighty then! Eleanor cut him off there, before he could bombard her with an unending stream of increasingly nonsensical alliteration. It wouldnt have been the first time. What do you say we just skip this part entirely? Things are bound to get hectic in fairly short order, and, I dont know about you, but Id much rather go into it on a full stomach. Even if it felt like shed simply throw it back up again before the day was done. Truly, she just wanted all of this to be over with. In-satiable! Eleanor sighed. Then, surprising even herself, she laughed. Chapter 83: Filthy Stinking Apes It was within a vast, circular chamber that Nialla Tallvar, appointed civil servant and disgraced former ascendant, patiently saw to her daughters general wellbeing. A grand rotunda, with its polished marble floors, soaring glass dome, and floor to ceiling windows. Windows which let in the cool morning air and helped flood the chamber with natural light. A bright and airy space, floor polished to a mirror shine, it stood in stark contrast to the average void dwellers sensibilities. An inborn photophobia that was difficult, some might even say impossible, to unlearn. As if to remedy this, if only partially, the walls, tastefully accented with flourishes of gold inlay, were sparsely layered with splashes of disturbing imagery. Twisted, unsightly, many eyed things of writhing tentacles and unknowable faces. Horrors pulled directly from the deepest, darkest abyss. Eldritch creatures whose mere facsimiles eluded the comprehension of mortal minds. It was all very purposeful. The bright and open chamber had been a statement. A petty act of rebellion. Demonstration and declaration both, that she would not be made a slave to her baser instincts. That she could rise above the many bottlenecks and fixations that had kept her people in the dark for so long. And the disturbing depictions? Well, they were merely a reminder of home. Just because she was above such things, didnt mean she couldnt revisit from time to time. Currently, Nialla waded, hip deep, in a still pool of liquid spirit. Located at the very center of the rotunda, the glistening silver pool acted as stabilizing and rejuvenating agent both, helping her to maintain razor sharp focus, even as she went about her painstakingly detailed work. Before her, lying flat on her back, bobbed a small, comatose body. A young, female Cthulle, which resembled her own pale, alabaster complexion to an almost uncanny degree. A genetic abnormality. A novelty, and nothing more. A unique, though otherwise inconsequential sub-race she herself had been born with many centuries past. An inconsequential abnormality shed nevertheless gone to great lengths to replicate. Birthing thousands of subpar offspring just in the hopes of stumbling onto one like her. It was a minor thing, really. Even she was doubtful it would make that great of a difference, all things told. And yet the alignment of both gender and race should aid in making that final transition all the more seamless. If only infinitesimally. Yet when the preservation of her true soul could very well depend on that scant percent of a percent, ignoring it wasnt a risk she was willing to take. Not when the solution was so readily available. From across the chamber there came a light knocking at the door, jarring her from her rapt concentration. Rather than annoying her, however, she took the interruption as an opportunity to stretch her legs. Rising from the pool on threads of spiritual energy, she quickly tied off the ends of her working before she could lose any of her progress to entropy. Pulsing out the feeling of acceptance with her aura, she gave permission for one of her brood to enter. In the next second, one of the eldest was hovering over the threshold. An almost painfully orthodox representation of their race, she noted idly. Imposing, statuesque, and as pitch black as the void that had spawned them. Its haunting, abyssal visage only briefly marred by the long strip of scar tissue where an eye shouldve been. MOTHER, the child garbled, having yet to claim dominion over his curse of myriad tongues. For what reason do you disturb my work? And why should I not punish you for your presumption? MANY APOLOGIES. IN REPENTANCE FOR MY FOLLY, I WAS TOLD TO WATCH, WAIT, AND, IF THE NEED AROSE, INFORM SHOULD THERE BE ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS PERTAINING TO THE BOY. Ah. She had said something along those lines, hadnt she? Speak then. THE LONG FUED COMES TO A CLOSE. MANY OF THE TRUE SOUL INHABITANTS HAVE BEN LOST OR CONSUMED. THE REALM ENCROACHES UPON FINAL INSTABILITY. WE, YOUR CHILDREN, BELIEVE THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT. Already? Nialla paused, pulsing her spiritual senses outward. Myriad threads of spirit, bolstered with intent and spiritual aura, spun into being. Spreading outward to probe at the internal structure of her artificial domain. As her brood had suggested, there did appear to be a great deal more give to the astral realm than when last shed checked. Frowning, she attempted to regress the slow but steady degradation, though it was ultimately to no avail. Too much time had passed. Too much instability. Curious. Had it really been so long since shed last seen the boy? She mustve lost track of time. Too absorbed in grafting the relevant architecture, she supposed. It was rather arduous work, after all. At her level of advancement, even crippled as she now was, it took much to fully occupy her attentions for long. The process she now used on her daughters soul shell, very similar to what shed done in creating the inflated anima they now resided in. Albeit far more delicate and refined in its execution. Seeing as this was meant to be a more permanent application, that was only to be expected. I recognize the truth in your words. As well as the value of the news you bring. Nevertheless, my work still takes precedence. It will be some time yet before I feel comfortable confronting the FenReale in earnest. Shed only really have one shot at this after all. The child before her frowned, looked as if he wanted to say something, then held his tongue. MIGHT I PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THEN, MOTHER? Go on. WE, YOUR CHILDREN, WILL CONFRONT THIS UPSTART IN YOUR STEAD. CONTAIN HIM, SO THAT MOTHER MIGHT USE AND DISCARD HIM AT HER LEISURE. Nialla thought about it for a moment, but then, she didnt see why not. So long as you be sure to take a care with his soul, and that includes his soul shell mind you, I do not see why you cant at least try.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. WE WILL DO MORE THAN SIMPLY TRY, MOTHER. Nialla wasnt so sure. But, recognizing the fire that blazed in his lone eye, really, who was she to deny him? Very well. And with that, she dismissed her wayward offspring from her mind. Stepping back into the pool, she flexed her mental feelersreadying herself to pick up where shed left off. She barely noticed as her spawn exited the room, gently closing the door behind him with a click. All of her focus fixated upon the shell containing her daughter''s true soul. The shell that was, even now, revolving around another. Two slowly orbiting planets. One bright and vivid. The other hazy and ghost-like. There, and yet, at the same time not. Completely intangible. Beyond her reach, despite all her desperate probing. And indeed, the only way shed garner access to that tantalizing phantom whatsoever, was through a sufficiently resonant karmic link. Something like a lifelong soul oath would do just swimmingly, for instance. Shed merely need to oust and supplant her daughters true soul to get at it. *** The lord commander raises her voice to the angelic choir. Adding her own harmony to the rapturous chorus of hymns. Calling upon the great divine through her prayer, devotion, and uniquely resonant tones. Invoking she who stands above all othersthe infinite, the merciful, the grand almighty. That she might set aside her many burdens, if only for this instant. Smite those that would seek to so brazenly oppose her children. From their long-held position atop the very cradle of heaven, the angelic host soars, chants, glows with a divine luster. Painting the clouds with the golden radiance of their unwavering devotion. And as if in answer to their call, the sky above the wretched enemy camp is swiftly torn asunder, clouds parting to reveal the barest glimmer of divinity. The steady beat of her wings easily holding her aloft, the lord commander looks down from her elevated vantage. Looks on as the earthly pests begin to panic and scatter. As great arcs of divinity race through the cloud coverfilling the air with ominous rumblings and thunderous cracks. As the skin of this astral plane was pulled apart, revealing a golden eye that spans nearly half a kilometer. Its visage utterly drenched in the profound weight of the celestial. So, not the divine herself then, but a mere servantif of a far higher tier than they. No matter. It would serve just as well, she reasoned. And honestly, in retrospect it had been foolish of her to expect some direct intervention. Nevertheless, as the human generals readied themselves to meet her judgment by proxy, as the angelic host fell silent in rapt attention, the lord commander found herself smirking in satisfaction. Lets see them rebuff her this time, stubborn apes. *** As the eye in the sky opens wide, and a massive pillar of holy fire rapidly descends, the azure queen and her thousand strong knightly coterie finally complete their grand casting. In an instant, a shimmering dome of conflicting energies spring into being, spanning the whole of the allied forces. Shielding those that might have otherwise been caught in the radius of the descending golden pillar, though it did little for the invisible holy pressure that brought a great many to their knees. Dozens upon dozens of defensive abilities layered atop one another, it was a chaotic hodgepodge of demonic attunementsadeptly worked soul fire acting as spiritual cohesive. A glowing, sparking, swirling arraythe merging of fire, ice, lightning, earth, air and so much more. There came a brilliant flasha concussive bang followed by thunderous roar. An unholy cacophony that rattled their bones and buffeted their minds, as unstoppable force met immovable object. Converging in a truly terrible display. Joint cooperation barely holding together in the face of a wrathful, holy retribution. Earth shook. Air trembled. Temperatures spiked. The glare from the two conflicting forces enough to blind, the heat bleeding from the holy fire enough to seer, and the roar of their collision more than enough to deafen. Atop an earthen rise, beneath the steady stream of golden fire, the coteries concerted efforts begin to wanetheir collective defenses to accrue small cracks. The odd knight dropping as the strain became too much, their contributions to the dome winking out just as abruptly as their consciousness did. And then, almost anticlimactically, the torrential downpour, the golden cascade of sustained fire, came to a close. The pillar of flame flickering, fading, dispersing into holy light. The eye in the sky beginning to recede, sink back into the cloud cover. Back through the gaping rift from whence it came. In the very next instant, the protective dome collapsed, dispersing into the soul energies from which theyd been formed, while the knights who had cast them slumped in obvious relief. Captain! the Queen called between ragged breaths. A tall, statuesque woman, dressed in meticulously maintained armor plate, briskly approached. And, upon first inspection, she ultimately appeared no worse for the wear. Her gait steady and even, this despite that ridiculous soul fire expenditure. The Queen, however, instinctually knew better, had known her since girlhood, more than long enough to recognize the womans many tells. And though she liked to hide it, like many of those presentthe elite of her elite guard and not a B ranked holder among themthe woman, her oldest friend, was utterly exhausted. Yes, your majesty? barked her captain, snapping neatly to attention. Send word to the mage auxiliary. Recommence the bombardment immediately. Allow not even a second for them to catch their breath. That last attack should have cost them dearly, if all things were equal. In the event it somehow did the exact opposite, I want them too pinned down to properly capitalize. We occupy them from afar as best we can until our stores recharge. Theyll want to close with us after that last attack. I dont know about you, captain, but personally, I do not relish the idea of entering into a close quarters melee. Especially not in the condition were in. To be candid, your majesty? Always, Hildie. Nor would I. It will be done immediately your majesty. And with another crisp solute, her old friend was off, already barking orders and receiving runners from the front. Captain of her royal guard and lord commander of her grand army, she left Hildie to her responsibilitiesunjustly manifold as they likely werethoroughly confident in the womans capabilities. Not yet ready to don the weight of her own myriad duties, however, the Queen instead surveyed the expanse of grassland that stretched out before her. The roar of battle reaching her ears like the distant shores of a volatile sea. Shifting in and out of focus, even as the battle clearly raged before her. Stretching from one end of the horizon to the other, it was a shifting mess of flashing mail and monstrous bodies, the shifting tides of battle incomprehensible to her untrained eyes. A desperate struggle had on an inconceivable scale. One where she nevertheless recognized they were severely outnumbered, nearly fifty to one. In fact, if it werent for that damnable girl and her outlandish familiar, freeing up much-needed troops from the other fronts, it was likely theyd have simply been overrun by now. Yet another tally in favor of her decision. To relegate the girl to the less important fronts of this crusade. That it kept her from the truly pivotal conflicts, away from all the politicking, her erstwhile rivals, and, most importantly, the spotlight, was only of tertiary benefit, if anything. Shed claimed she had no ambitions for the throne, of course, her truth-sayer had confirmed as much, but you could really never be too careful. From the very beginning, itd been the angelic front that held the greatest known risk. The greatest risk, and, by far, the greatest reward. Intelligent, fearsome, and expansionist in nature, they were the reason shed marched ninety percent of the queendoms elite to the foot of their golden citadel. Something she couldnt have done without the public support the girls outstanding, almost unbelievable career had garnered. Yet another tick in favor of keeping that girl and her uncanny public image far away. After all, even if she personally had no intentions of supplanting her rule, it didnt mean she couldnt be used against her by others. Or worse, fully suborn the love of the people through over exaggerated deed and spectacle, and so become a naked blade ever poised above her neck. A nuisance like that could never be allowed to happen. No, she reaffirmed herself, that simply would not do. In the Queens mind, it was simpler for everyone this way. Better for the Queendom as a whole that the girl stay far, far away. Chapter 84: Let Me At ‘Em! Cmon! Wheres the harm? No. Wont need moren a small boost, honest! Strike my stepmother down if I tell a lie! No. Oh, wheres your sense of adventure! No. I reckon itd barely be an inconvenience for you lot, sturdy as you are. No. Its a bleedin violation, is what it is! Should be a damned crime! Tryin to stiff a man so near the eave of his ascension! Have you no shame?! The answer is still no. Argh! Alright fine! How about this-? No. You didnt even let me finish! I can guess. Damn you and your frozen heart, woman! What did I ever do to deserve this? Do you want a complete list, or shall I start ticking things off on my fingers? Ungrateful little-! See here, you witch! Are you really gonna make me beg? You are arent you? Not that it would help, but, please, feel free to try. Tell me, does it excite you? Bringing a proud man to his knees? It does, doesnt it? You sick wee bastard you? Ill openly admit, itd be a sight worth seeing at least once before I die. Youre a twisted, vile thing, you know that? Yes well, youve seen fit to remind me on more than one occasion, so I think Im starting to get the gist by now. Cmon! S. Jun refused to change tact. Thaw that icy heart of yours, wont you? Well be back before you know it. Wont take but a minute, I swear! Above them, the sky trembled as yet another celestial barrage met elemental bombardment. Brilliant golden spears made of holy light, they spilled forth by the dozens, the hundreds, the thousands. Cutting through the sky like some congested meteor shower, only to then be stymied by an equal showing of force. The full compliment of the queens knightly cohort coming together in a truly awe inspiring display. Multihued projectiles gracefully arced overhead. Their thunderous, pealing, sometimes whistling reports setting the firmament to shuddering. To quaking ominously. Metallic ballistae the size of small wagon trains paralleled grand bolts of lightning like bright rents in the sky. Golem constructs made entirely of stone lumbered after meters long javelins draped in shadow and ice. The very sky torn asunder as glimmering streaks of emerald, and scarlet, and imperial gold made to collide with the cascade of holy retribution. There was a flash, a boom, a sudden roar nearly deafening. And then, by the time Eleanor had blinked away the purplish afterimages, the gruesome black gashesjagged rents in the fabric of realityformed in the aftermath of their transcendent clash had very nearly vanished. Nearly, though not quite. Not fast enough to elude Eleanors notice, at any rate. It would seem that this war was not only tearing her people apart, but the very fabric of the world itself. And you think a minutes going to be enough time for us to outrun that? Jun grunted. Bastards. Dont care if you have wings. Keep your heels on the topsoil, I say. Unfair taking to the skies where good honest folk cant get atcha. Inconsiderate is what that is. I swear. Reckon its just bloody rude of them, and cowardly besides. And you! Are you just gonna stand for this? Dont you think their due a good long thrashing? You know, bring them back down to earth, as if were. Reacquaint them with the taste of home grown soil like the good gods intended, I mean. As a matter of fact-! In a manner of speaking, I reckon its our civic duty to- Entirely out of the question. Dog shite! The Major- Oh, screw the bloody Major! She can go hang for all I care! String her up by her toes and leave her eyes for the crows! Slather her in pitch and use that pike soundly rammed up her board of an arse for wood kindling!Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Jun! That is not how one should refer to their superior officer! She paused. And besides, everyone knows sodden kindling doesnt catch. Jun barked out a surprised laugh, while Lucile, on the other hand, shot her an alarmed glance. Understandable, given the fact that, until now, shed presented herself as nothing less than the bland, diligent, and dutiful young soldier everyone apparently wanted her to be. After all the idiotic bumbling and outright incompetence shed seen perpetuated, again and again, by those in positions of highest command however? Well, suffice it to say, she suddenly found that she didnt care a whit for propriety. Not in private at least. Lucile quickly broke in before the borderline insubordination could escalate. Believe me, sir familiar, she offered. Im all for your enthusiasm and vivid imageries, but the fact still remains that I have my orders, and you, unfortunately, cannot fly. Unless? That is to say that is the case, is it not? Corporal Eleanor, would I be correct in assuming flight is not within the purview of your miraculous familiars many capabilities? Eleanor snorted. At this point, Im genuinely flattered you think I have any idea. Still, Id wager its a no. Seeing as, if he could, you can be sure that, of all places, he wouldnt be here, with us, still grumbling on about it. Who said I was grumbling?! Whining then. Jun jerked back. Aghast. Incensed. Outraged! Before the offended mask slid away and he broke out into a cackling fit of laughter. Contrary to expectations, the brutish S. Junquick to anger and even quicker to violencecould never resist a good ribbing. Now, as to the likelihood of such a heated exchange ending in a bare knuckled brawl-fest to the black and bloody death? Well, it hadnt happened so far, though she also didnt think that was necessarily the norm. Eleanor suspected shed been somewhat fortunate in that regard. In any event, Ive no doubts youd survive such an excursion, sir familiar, though little Lucy and I most certainly would not. Id rather not sacrifice my life for the greater good if I can help it. Especially when the Queen and her member seem to be handling things just fine. Jun growled incomprehensibly at that, though, thankfully, he didnt argue. Only slump into his borrowed saddle and continue to mutter darkly to himselffists glowing with the metallic sheen that always promised wholesale and indiscriminate ruination Hed be fine. Below the tufted bellies of their flying mounts, far closer than she was honestly comfortable with, an unending mass of rift spawn streamed past. The gathered multitudean eclectic mix of attunements, bestial features, and abilitiesall mustered under the angelic banner of the enemy lord commander. Bodies flickered past, too fast for her to see. The occasional projectile chucked their way as a matter of coursebe it some random boulder or a targeted spellforcing the majestic griffins they rode upon to swiftly dodge and weave. Executing sharp turns and death-defying maneuvers, even as they rocketed through the air on gale force winds. Ultimately leaving their passengers with little choice but to hold on for dear life. Jerked this way and that, like rag dolls on horsebackalways one poorly fastened buckle away from an ungraceful dismount, followed by swift and almost certain demise. That her surly familiar found the breath to complain throughout all of this, merely a testament to his sheer bull headedness, if nothing else. How much longer? Eleanor called, relieved of the need to strain her voice due to the bubble of winds surrounding them. Not long, now Corporal! Were nearly there! Lucile called back. Glancing down, Eleanor watched the rippling tide of bodies flicker past, until Lucile announced. This is the place! And, as if a switch had been flipped, Juns previously dour mood practically turned on a dime. A wide smile spread across his face, before he rose from the griffins saddleits rider scrambling to unfasten the many buckles restraining him, lest he barrel straight on through the complex harness by sheer force of will. And then, without ceremony or further ado, he slipped silently from griffin back, tilting forward until he fell headlong towards the churning mass below, fists gleaming with a crushing, metallic polish. BOOM! There was an impact that could be felt, even from their place, hovering, high up in the air. A shockwave, a chorus of terrified shrieks, followed by a mad, insane cackling which seemed to cut through it all. Stray body parts arced. A reptilian torso, its ribcage caved in, climbing high to flip gracefully overhead. Id better follow after him. Queens blessings be upon you, Corporal. And you, Lieutenant. Rising to her feet, azure flame swiftly engulfed Eleanors body. Enveloping her completely with an impressive sounding WHOOMPH. Then she too leapt from saddle back, nearly a hundred feet up all things toldimmediately plummeting like a stone. Feeling her stomach suddenly lurch, the air whip pastwreaking havoc on her braids and prying tears from her eyesshe grit her teeth, kept herself loose, and braced for imminent collision. When it finally arrived, she actually found herself equipped to handle it. She bent her knees with the impact, rolling to absorb some of the force, a thick cloud of dust kicked up in the wake of her passing. Flowing to her feet with liquid grace, she took a moment to appreciate her own accomplishment. Not too shabby. In fact, she thought shed made for a rather smart looking figure, all things considered. She wondered idly if the faraway strike team had noticed. Taking a quick survey of her immediate surroundings, she saw that shed landed squarely in the middle of a crater. One her familiar had apparently formed upon making his own grand entrance. Show off. Eleanor ducked, deflecting several spine projectiles in rapid succession, each about the size, and moving at around the same speed, of an expertly thrown war javelin. Glancing up, she watched as a tide of rift spawn, perhaps a hundred strong with many more pressing behind them, began to spill over the lip of the massive crater. Their momentary confusion utterly forgotten when presented with the offered promise of prey, served up on a golden platter. All alone, defenseless, and ripe for the plucking. BOOM! A second explosion sent many a rift spawn sprawling. Tumbling down the steep, bowl shaped incline. The blast of concussive force came from somewhere far off to her right. Eleanor grimaced. Someone to watch her back wouldnt have gone terribly amiss right about now. Slowly rotating, as if she had any hope of keeping the whole of the approaching tide in her sights, she sighed. Nothing for it then. Eleanor sprang into motion. Soul fire empowering her steps, she raced headlong towards the sounds of wholesale slaughter. Of destruction, the occasional explosion, and the delirious pitch of maniacal laughter. A mad cackling which struck fear into those unfortunate enough to hear it. Even the blackened hearts and minds of the vast demonic hoard could help but tremble. Chapter 85: SHOCK AND AWE!! Shock and awe! Jun exploded into motion. Literally. Miniature detonations marking each explosive step. Burst step, hed dubbed it. Greatest thing since sliced bread, and dont let anyone tell you different. Wasnt easy keeping them tame thoughfrom grand craters down to small indents, and wasnt that a damned shame. Theyd insisted it was purely a safety precaution. That his body was ill equipped to handle the strain. All he knew was that it rankled something fierce, not that it could really be helped. You know, summarily outvoted as he was. Unfortunately, what those traitorous bastards didnt seem to understand was that, just because something soundedreasonable, didnt mean it was right dammit! After all, neuter his poor babyhis precious, unsuspecting techniqueand where in the nine hells did that leave him!? A ponderous, clumsy bastard with a marked lack of stones would be the correct guess, and thank you very much for playing, come again soon. Granted, it was far gentler on his bones. Fracturing instead of shattering, which, he had to admit, was rather nice. Beasts wailed. Bits flew. He paid the chaff little mind. By the time the cries reached him, they were already well behind him after all, and he only had eyes on the future. Carved through them like butter, he did. A runaway carriage straight out of hell. Passing over, under, through the ugly bastards. Stray pieces clinging on for dear life. In the throws of denial, or so it would seem. Trying their best postmortem to strangle the life from him, for all the good that did. Like if a phantom limb made to scratch at a very real arse. Bloody useless in other words. Insides, better left inside, made to flap in the wind. Strips of skin and rank intestines. Dripping pink streamers which adorned his body. You know, if those streamers also happened to smell like raw sewage. Enemies were summarily executed just as soon as they came into focus. Mantis, goat, reptile? Oh my! Didnt matter to him. Shock and awe! House sized stingray with the legs of a spider, the tail of a scorpion, and the head of a woman? Come one, come all! Step in line to win a prize! Said prize being a stiff backhand to the face, if that werent already bloody obvious. And two more, now that you mention it, just for good measure. He tried to play it off, all calm and collected like, but that pale monstrosity wasnt something he wanted getting back up again. Not now, nor ever. Havoc! Anarchy! Shock and bleedin awe! Crome kissed fist met charging rams head, arresting its forward momentum in a single, perfect instantthe successive crunch of vertebrae like music to his ears. Blood gushed from its nostrils. Eyes burst from its sockets. Jun grinned, receiving the somewhat imaginative missiles without batting an eyedull impacts to his chest and across his left cheek. Oddly and uniquely satisfying, if he was being completely honest. Unfortunately for him, the truly impressive stuff, like stopping the charge of a rampaging beast the size of a small cottage, always came with their downsides. In this case? Their equal and opposite reactions. He rocketed through the air. Launched backwards uncontrollably. Spinning. Spiraling. Cackling all the while. Slapping a few man faced hornets from the air as he went. He bathed in their vile ichor. Using it to slick back his hair. Grinning. Open, manic, and wide. Spinning and spinning and spinning before-! BOOM! Much to his surprise, it was a writhing mass of conjoined beastsa throbbing hill of hairless flesh, covered in mouths that wailed their collective agonythat went to the trouble of breaking his fall. Entirely free of charge, if you can believe it. Charitable, that. Admirable even. Not to be outdone, Jun, in turn, did the tortured beast the great mercy of, quite literally, putting it out of its misery. He speared through the creature like an arrow shot through water. The veiny skin of the thing bulging outward in the wake of his shining, silver lit passage. Expanding unnaturally, in uneven clumps, until, with a loud bang, the entire thing burst apart in a spray of red mist, meat, and stinking awful.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He, meanwhile, emerged out the other end, thoroughly drenched, though otherwise unharmed. And while true, he still skipped across the battlefield haphazardlycareening, rebounding from one monstrosity to the nexteven he knew the moment of greatest danger had passed. Jun grunted, unsatisfied. Hed better smarten up and get after it then. Clipping the pebbled hide of a massive something he didnt quite catch, receiving a mouth full of fur, then a face full of animal musk, it was only a few more bone rattling collisions before hed properly touched down and regained his feet. Not one to waste a golden opportunity when it presented itself, he ignored his many aches and pains, the disorientation and broken bones that tried their best to hamper him. Instead choosing to take the initiative. His body could go into shock all it wants, so long as it allowed him to follow it up with sufficient levels of awe. He moved. Weaved. Less by design, and more drunkenly than hed have liked, but by no means did his own clumsiness deter him. No. Not even close. He charged. Picking up speed, even as he narrowly evaded stomping legs and snapping mandibles. Eyes on the prize, he stumbled, tumbled. Dead set on the next in a long line of bloody landmarks. A notch to grace his metaphorical sword belt. A beast worth the retelling. Something to write home about, at the very least. It was a big bastard by anyones definition, easily head and shoulders above the rest. Crimson eyes periodically glintingnearly hidden behind a mass of reaching limbs and agitated bodies. All sound was drowned out by the snarling din. The cacophony of pounding feet, hooves, and the slapping of tentacles. And yet, for but one moment, as they locked gazes, all time seemed to stop. The thundering procession of beasts abruptly slowing to a floating crawl. The surprised looks of recognition on the closest ugly mugs made comical, as only now were they beginning to register his existence. An intruder in their midst, standing so brazenly behind enemy lines. And yet it wasnt they who held his attention. It was a wolf, far as he could tell, and so achingly familiar. With a massive frame, at least twenty meters tall. Its obsidian fur somehow glinting despite an overcast sky. [Blackstone Direwolf (Middling B Grade)] Then, the moment of stillness broke like a shattered pane of glass, and Jun rocketed forward like his previous pace had merely been a standstill. Fuck the council and to hell with his bones. The next steps he took made the earth quake and tremble. The world around him warping, blurring, fading. Clarity sharpening to a single point. Everything between him and his goal either swatted aside, or charged straight on through outright. Wounds and bruises accumulated at a truly alarming rate. He payed it all little heed, no mind whatsoever. And then, in what felt to him like no time at all, hed crossed the distance separating them completely. The creature loomed. Jun tripped. Rolled, slid, feet desperately scrabbling for purchase. He could hear it now. The reverberations of its growl. Deep and resonant. A rumble that could be felt, thrummed through his own chest as if in eager sympathy. Fever hot breaths touching his forehead and beading his brow, caressing his nape and down along his spine. Strangely intimate, and oh so very familiar. His body was nearly horizontal by now. Ankles one stray pebble from being twisted out of all known proportion. Sliding, drifting, skidding in his attempts to bleed off at least some of his overeager momentum. Juns feet finally found purchase. Legs bunched. Fists clenched. He leapt. And damned if he didnt soar. Spinning uppercut met obsidian fur just beneath its lupine jaw. There was the terrible crack of impact. And, in the next moment, the spirit of the once titanic spirit beast, the very same that had terrorized him what felt like so long ago, was lifted clear off its feet. Sent careening at a sharp angle, even as every bone in Juns arm was summarily shattered. Unlike others whod attempted something similar, however, this particular outcome did not come about due to some form of cosmic rebuke. No. On the contrary, his patron ideal couldnt have been more proud if they tried. As one, the two gracefully arced through the air. Soaring above the craning heads of rift spawn, monsters, and spirits alike. Their little stretch of battlefield having come to an abrupt standstill, captivated by the uncanny sight. A second stillness gracing their small slice of heaven, before gravity reasserted itself and they both came crashing down. Whereupon Jun rode the bulky beast a bloody furrow through enemy lines, whooping and hollering. Cackling madly all the while. It took some doing, offing the beastie after that. A quick trip through its orbital cavity, and up into its brain, enough to put an end to even the legendary Direwolfs renowned levels of resiliency. At which point, upon extracting himself, the confused melee began again in earnest. A fact for which S. Jun was eternally grateful. This glorious day something he wouldnt trade for anything else in the whole wide world. For the umpteenth time, he threw himself, headlong, directly into the fray. And though, by this point, hed racked up his fair share of what shouldve been debilitating injuries, he didnt even hesitate. He fought like a rabid animal. No tactic too underhanded, no depth too low to stoop to. Entirely uncaring of the damage he received, every iota of his being focused purely on those sweet sweet exports. What pain, what carnage, he could reasonably dish out. So that when his good arm abruptly refused to obey his commands, he found his legs sufficed to get the point across just fine. When his shins nearly snapped, and could no longer stand to bear his weight, he applied flying knees to discombobulate his enemies. Until, that is, his knees suddenly buckled, threatened to spill him, to break. At which point he used his headto bash and cripple and maim to his hearts content. Finally, when his head felt fit to bursting, he used only his teeth. Chomping down hard like a horse at the bitfeeling carapace and cartilage give way almost easily, each with an oh so satisfying crunch. And it was around then, and only then, thatdespite his still being raring to go, practically in tip top fighting condition, all things toldas the darkness closed in, and he found he could no longer move any part of his body, even he was forced to admit things werent looking too good. In fact, if it were just him out here, currently being trampled to death under an unceasing hoard of supposed rift spawn, this mightve proven the end. Luckily for him, he wasnt alone. In one moment there was the brief flash of ruby red, barely seen out of the corner of his eye. In the next, Eleanor burst onto the scene, blade already flashing a bright crimson. Her incoming swarm of rose petals, a welcome sight indeed. Chapter 86: Eleanor to the Rescue!/Hey Don’t I kKnow You? Eleanors short sword moved with liquid grace and finely tuned precision. Legs sweeping, body rotating, smoothly transitioning from one blade stance to another. Effectively cordoning off a small space for themselves within the greater battlefield as a whole. A temporary oasis in the eye of the storm, her swirling river of ruby red petals. The only downside? The steady mist of bloodand worse, so so much worsewhich saw fit to drench her, bone shards to pelt her, as the uncountable hoard of unthinking rift spawn continued to throw themselves, headlong, into her churning crystalline blender. Between stances, she managed to pluck a soul fruit from her satchel. The very same shed been saving for just such an occasion. A multifaceted thing of glittering diamond, it wasnt difficult to plant it between the slackened jaw and parched lips of her wayward familiar. At which point, despite the mangled look of his facethe white of bone visible where it surely oughtnt be, large flaps of skin barely clinging to his skull, and far more of his teeth currently missing than notit nevertheless disappeared in three quick bites. An incredibly potent soul fruit found at the heart of a desert sand worm, she was unsurprised to see the worst of his injuries begin to visibly knit back together. Waves of heat and sparking blue embersthe bleeding excess of the overly potent soul energieslanguidly pulsing from his many open wounds. Three minutes. That was how long it took for his body to be returned to some semblance of mobility. In that time, Eleanor honestly lost count of the number of rift spawn to die by her petal storm. Needless to say, she was thoroughly caked in blood by this point, while the run off, a stinking red slurry of unmentionable origins, had risen to at least ankle height, and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. Staggering to his feet, she could immediately see the light of insanity glinting in his eyes. That mad impulse of his to charge straight back into the fray. With a huff of exasperationbecause, really now, what in the world could he possibly be thinkingEleanor couldnt say she took no pleasure in putting an immediate damper on his parade. Nope! Nuh-uh, therell be none of that! she snapped. We may only have seconds before my petals storm runs dry. We need to extract ourselves. Now! Ive already signaled Lucile. But-! And, no, before you say anything, I cannot just break another one. Eleanor gestured towards the dozen or so flowers slowly orbiting her head. We all agreed in advance that itd be better to hold them in reserve for now, even if chaining them would be more satisfying in the moment. Were auxiliary. Shock troopers. We act as disruption. The distraction our compatriots need to shore up any holes in our frontline. But-! No buts! This is war. Its not like we could take them on all by ourselves at any rate. Better to save our strength for the areas in greatest need. That might benefit from the relief we can offer. Wherever that starch pressed stuck up major decides to send us, you mean. Talk about a bloody power trip. Throw a dart at a map with your bloody eyes closed, why dont you? Here doggie, fetch. Where we can help the most in need. Jun grumbled a bit at this, but otherwise subsided. He didnt go haring out into the thick of things, at any rate. Though he couldnt seem to help himself from staring out longingly at her river of petals, as if he could see well past it, into the veritable hellscape beyond. She even thought she saw his bottom lip tremble. Oh, dont be ridiculous. Youll get another chance to throw yourself into mortal danger Im sure. Wont take but a minute. Look, theres our ride. Two forceful jets of water proceeded them, like being dunked beneath the rapids of an icy mountain stream. The steady flap of massive wings only serving to further herald their arrival. Their simultaneous casting washing away the last sticky remnants of battle. Their way of seeking protection against what was sure to be a formidable stench indeed. Now at least marginally clean, if a great deal coldersay what you will about being caked in gore, it, at least, acted as something of an insulatorEleanor spared a quick glance up towards her team, a slight grin already tugging at her lips. Only for her to freeze in sudden incomprehension. Because, though Lucile and her aerial unit were exactly where shed expected them to be, behind them, there was just nothing. A blank nothingness. A void that seemed to stretch across great swathes of the overcast sky. A void that seemed to be moving, rippling, expanding to consume the grand firmament in an ever growing tide of impenetrable darkness. And then, inexplicably, small beads of light began to puncture the void. Tiny pinpoints of glowing crimson. First a couple, then a dozen, then several hundred or more. Tiny dots of light amidst an ever expanding darkness. Only when they came closer, did she realize that the wriggling parts of the incomprehensible mass wereto the contrary of every one of her expectationsa series of black writhing tentacles. I do, dont I? I swear, your face is so darn familiar. I just cant seem to place it for the life of me. Blast! Im terribly sorry about this. I mean, talk about the social faux pas, am I right? R. Jun chuckled. I really am drawing a blank though, arent I? Dammit! I couldve sworn weve met somewhere before! Its on the tip of my tongue, I swear! Hold on a moment! Dont tell me, do you perform at parties by any chance? A low rumble emanated from the deep chested Cthulle. A bone deep reverberation. A tremulous vibration which traveled from said chest, along its left arm, through its thick fingers, and, from there, down the full length of his spinefeeling as if a mild electric charge were washing through his central nervous system. Carnivals? Circuses? Childrens birthday celebrations? No? Its many brethren hung about them, each as still as the grave. Hundreds of bodies, their faces and figures completely obscured. Lost, buried, surrendered to the dark. Impenetrable and infinite as it so seemed. A dark forest entirely of their own making, it was the apparent antithesis of natural light. Dotted periodically with glowing red irises, the overlapping of void flesh leaving room for ought else. A sea of crimson stars amidst an all encompassing, and utterly foreign night sky. Ahah! Jun snapped his fingers. Thats where I know you! I just knew I recognized you from somewhere. Clowns! I was thinking of clowns. And no wonder! After all, youre that brute I made a fool out of, ah, when was that again? Must have been a year ago. Yes, that sounds about right. The dog I saw fit to discipline a year ago now, though I can already tell the lesson I tried to instill somehow failed to catch. Such a shame. The Cthulles growl only deepened, reaching whole new levels of unspoken menace. Touching upon frequencies, so ominously low, that they were as much felt as they were heard. Meanwhile, the fingers loosely wrapped about his neck slowly constricted, an almost unconscious tightening of its grip.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Oh! Heavens. Dont tell me. You wouldnt happen to hold a grudge now would you? Terrible things, grudges. Hows the eye by the way? Is it still giving you trouble? The space around the scarred beast erupted into motion. Lashing tendrils of something, striking out randomly. Churning. Seething. Incensed beyond belief. And well beyond all reason, if you asked him. It was an aura, of that much he was certain, albeit one hed yet to come across thus far. A null space. A roiling emptiness. Although, for all intents and purposes, visually, if not spiritually, not much appeared to change. For all the effect it had on him, the aura itself was invisible. Intangible. It felt strange. Like slipping his hand into a bowl of water, so uncannily adjusted to his bodys temperature, that he might have been wearing a glove fashioned of nothing at all. A nothing that nevertheless held palpable weight. An undeniable presence. Only, in this instance, it wasnt his extremity so burdened by this inscrutable weight, but his very soul itself. Immediately, Jun felt a blank despondency come over him, smothering him beneath the musty damp of a burial shroud. A corpse like lassitude. Himself powerless to act. To do anything but watch, as all of his hopes, his dreams and desires, his pleasures and his pains, were swiftly drained away. Sapped of all their vibrancy. Their glowing vitality. Everything that made him him scoured mercilessly, drowned out by concentrated apathy, leaving naught but a blank slate in their wake. Until all that was left was that feeling of despondency, before that too faded into the background. To be replaced by only numbness. Insensibility. Void. *Ding!* Congratulations! You have formed a Single Aspected Mantra. Mantra: [Move. Move! MOVE you feckless halfwit moron! MOVE!] (1st Aspected) Grade: (Trash Quality) Note: Due to the advent of your Ascendant Level Boon, this Mantras default grade has been raised. [Move. Move! MOVE you feckless halfwit moron! MOVE!] (Poor Quality) +2 resonance. *Ding!* Congratulations! Your resonance pillar has ascended. Advanced from |Traveled Copper| [50 of 50] to |Bloodied Iron| [1 of 70]. Tempered by fire and baptized in blood, the path you choose leaves many dead in your wakelike unto stepping stones before your rapid ascension. The path spreads out before you, vast and inscrutable as always, yet its only now that you realize it is not a single road you contemplate, but many. Some call to you more than others, though whether you choose to heed their summons still remains to be seen. You make out shapes in the dark spots between the stars. You are unsurprised when something unknowable looks back. Clarity rushed back to the fore like a raging tsunami. Assaulting his mind in one massive, uncontrollable, and deeply traumatic instant. Like snapping wide awake, abruptly shaken from something akin to sleep, except far, far more final than that. More permanent by a great order of magnitude. His body was moving before his mind had fully caught up. He screamed, shoved, lashed out with all his might. His reaction instinctual, bestial, without thought, nor sanity, nor reason. Only raw emotion and the desperate need to get away. To never be subjected to that state of bland nothingness again. Sword Cyclone! Spearing Hand! Titans Fist! Blade Manipulation! Blades flew, ruby daggers spun, exploding forth by the tens, the hundreds, the thousands. Only to bounce off the scar faced Cthulle like a swarming host of gnats. He swung, struck. Pounding away at the hand that grasped him. Stabbing mercilessly at the joints of the arm that held him. Blood flew, splattered across his face, though pitifully little, all things told. Barely a second had passed since hed begun his rapid, one sided exchange, and he hadnt managed to deliver more than a few token scratches, each shallow and visibly sealing before his eyes. Red lines to mark its seemingly impenetrable hide. Cutting blades shattered against its skin just as fast as he could conjure them. His spearing hand pierced little, and titans fist couldnt do much without the requisite time to charge. If he were thinking clearly, he mightve used his bodys temple cutting evasion to make some space for himself, to possibly regroup. Though, if that were the case, he mightve done a great many things differently. For instance, if hed had the wherewithal to think clearly, he might have been surprised to find the world physically shudder as he continued his assault. Quake in response to the leveraging of his will. Give way to his mantras with far more alacrity than it had previously. To shy away where it had easily withstood his every effort mere seconds before. A little less real than he was now, this wasnt an unheard of reaction, all things told. To a sufficiently high resonance pillar, the rules that governed most lower pillar realities were minor suggestions at best. A cultivator of the bloodied iron pillar? Housed within a realm ill equipped to handle such a heightened presence? It was no wonder the very fabric of the realm seemed to fray and stretch at his touch. Unfortunately, being marginally more real than the Cthulle slowly choking the life from him, wasnt nearly enough to even the odds. So far, despite everything hed thrown at it, the beast had barely moved, hadnt even flinched. And neither had any of its siblings, now that he thought of it. For the second time that day, Jun came back to himself. The seriousness of his situation crashing down on him like a bucket of cold water. There was a jolt of recognition, of comprehension, then a grim anxiety. And just like that, his wits were about him once more. And with his sanity came strategy, industrious mind already hard at work. Bodys Temple | Cutting Evasion! Name: NOT APPLICABLE Race: Cthulle Bloodline: NOT APPLICABLE Titles: Denizen of the Void, Lofty Pedigree Body Mutation: Standard Brute[Toughened Hide, Enhanced Musculature, Reinforced Bones.] Resonance Pillar: Traveled Copper [0 of 50] Body: 10 Celestial Dew (10,400 Celestial Essence) Mind: 4 Celestial Dew (4900 Celestial Essence) Spirit: 5 Celestial Dew (5320 Celestial Essence) Insight: 1 Celestial Dew (1009 Celestial Essence) Martial Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Substantive Alignment: NOT APPLICABLE Conceptual Alignment: Concept of Null (3rd Aspect) Talents: Robust Frame (0 Stars), Curse of Myriad Tongues (0 Stars) Core Grade: Uncommon Core Capacity: 2 of 3 Mutation Points: 300 Mortal Potential: 375,500 Points Titles: Denizen of the Voidborn of the void, not only do you find yourself at home within its dark embrace, but you carry aspects of the void along with you, wherever you go. Allows for the weightless traversal, normally exclusive to void dwellers, to be used outside of the void. Lofty Pedigreebeing born the direct descendant of a risen ascendant comes with its unique set of advantages. +1000 Mutation Points, +1 Common Core (MAXED) Talents: Robust Frame(Passive Effect): Resiliency is worth more than is indicated. Curse of Myriad Tongues(Passive Effect): You speak with the voices of all those lost to silence. Techniques: Quick Step, Reverberating Strike. Mantras: Null AuraNothing takes shape; all things become null. Null SparkFar is close; nothing takes shapeall things become null.