《Pantheon Online》


 Chapter 1 - New Game

    Colt stared at the others seated around the table. ''Are they really doing this?'' He wondered as the sound of the howling rain outside battered against the windows of the conference room. His eyes narrowed on those he had thought to be hisrades.


    Each of them could not bring themselves to look him in the eyes. Instead, they fixed their own sights on the ss table they were seated at. Well, almost all of them. Robert Hall, his Vice Captain, was sneering at him in delight. ''Ah, I see how it is now.'' Colt thought as a seething hatred for the man took root within his heart.


    "As I was saying, Colt, the board has decided that you are no longer fit to be the team''s captain. Your recent failure to secure victory in Mayhem''s championship is only the final nail in the coffin, so to speak." The executive, William Gould, at the opposite end of the table said in a stern voice. He leaned back in his chair as he proceeded to sp his fingers together.


    Colt stared at the man with a deadpan look. ''God damn it, Will you''re still angry I reced your golden boy! Aren''t you?'' At this point in his career, Colt had gotten used to all of the backstabbing and politics that went on behind the scenes.


    "So what? You''re just going to throw me out? And do what? Rece me with him?" Colt replied in a cold and calm voice as he gestured towards Robert with his hand. "Do you honestly believe that he is ready? That he could have done better?"


    "I think you''re forgetting something here, Colt. First and foremost, we are running a business here. Right now, with the way things are, you are simply bad stock." William spread his hands out wide and sighed as though he genuinely regretted that it hade to this. "We took many aspects into consideration when reaching our decision. Robert here simply provided a detailed report on what he would have done differently if he were ced in your shoes. After examining the report, our experts have concluded that the team would have had a far better chance at seeding under his leadership."


    William shook his head, managing to look dejected about the entire affair. At this point, Robert let out a soft chuckle as he stared directly into Colt''s eyes. It was the kind of gloating look that would make you want to p the attitude straight out of someone.


    To Colt, there was no point in arguing about this anymore. It would only make him appear petty. With an affronted expression, he reflected on his past with the team. It had been full of hardships and striving to prove himself. The stress had been enormous, but he had loved every second of it.


    ''I''m too old for any other team to consider taking me on. Even if I wasn''t, no team captain would want a former one serving beside them. It would be a constant threat to their hold over the team.'' Colt sighed heavily as he closed his eyes. ''Is this the end for me? Four years on the Pro scene down the drain?''


    William smiled as he watched Colt from across the table. This was going far smoother than he had thought it would. ''It would be good if he would just ept this. He would save us a lot of hassle in the long run.'' William grinned as he continued to consider the future. He still had many ns for Camelot, and Colt was not a part of these ns.


    Colt slowly opened his eyes and fixed William with a cold stare. ''What should I do? Should I just ept it?'' Colt was reluctant to do this. He had given most of his career to this team. However, right now, there was not much that he could do about it.


    "Will I bepensated?" Colt asked, having epted that there was no way out of this.


    "Of course!" William stated, rather hurriedly. "After all, you''ve done so much for the team."


    William was delighted that Colt was so epting of the situation. It would save him a massive headacheter on. The glee on his face was evident for all to see. The other team members even looked disgusted, though not a single one of them would speak up for Colt.


    Realising his fate was sealed, Colt stood up to leave. As he dragged his feet towards the door, a feeling of helplessness washed over him. Colt nced over his shoulder at his old team members. Then without so much as a farewell, he opened the door to the conference room. Stepping out into the hall, he was met with the sight of one of the security guards. The guard was holding a box, and Colt recognised his personal possessions within.


    ''Goddamn them! They''re not even giving me time to process this. I can''t believe they''ve already cleared out my stuff!'' Colt was furious, but it did not show on his face. He took the box from the guard, who had an apologetic expression on his face. Colt gave him a slight smile. Even though it was awkward, it showed that he had no ill will towards him.


    Colt carried his belongings through the offices towards the elevator. With each step, he could hear the cking of keyboards as people were busy going about their jobs. ''I''m really going to miss this.'' He sighed dejectedly.


    ''What''s this?'' Colt had just noticed an envelope poking out from the box. He was rather curious about it as he could not remember thest time he received a letter addressed to him at Camelot''s headquarters.


    He had just reached the elevators at this point and would have to wait for it to arrive on this floor. Setting the box down on the floor, he carefully removed the envelope. He took his time opening it, afraid that it may contain hate mail from someone who used to be a fan.


    With a deep breath, he slowly unfolded the letter that was within. As he scanned the first couple of lines, he remembered what this was. ''Maybe, I''m not done yet.'' He smiled as he thought about the possibilities this letter could give him. Once again, he read the first couple of lines.


    ''Dear Mr Anderson, we would like to invite you to participate in the beta test for our newest game. Pantheon Onlineˇ­''

 Chapter 2 - Information Blackout

    Colt slowly open the door to his home. Stepping inside, he shook the rain from his hair. A puddle was slowly gathering around his feet. With a heavy sigh, he ced his box of belongings on the floor. He removed his thick ck coat and put it on the hook by the door. He was unconcerned with the water dripping from it. It was not like he lived with anyone that would care.


    He walked down the short entrance hall to the door that led to the living room. His shoes tapped against theminate flooring, reminding him to remove them before going any further. He quickly kicked his shoes off and to the side. He had been a bit too forceful about it as he heard them bang against the wall.


    The noise made him look at them, and from the corner of his eye, he spotted his box of belongings. The fact that he had been fired had obviously not sunken in yet, and as such, he had forgotten about it soon as he put it down.


    His face contorted into a dejected look as he backtracked to retrieve the box. As he picked it up, he noticed a photograph of better times. It was a team photo of when they had first won the championship together. That was before Robert had joined the team. The memory brought a warm smile to his face. He only wished the good times like that hadsted longer. His eyes then lingered on the invitation envelope.


    Being invited to a beta test was quite a big deal. Colt could use the knowledge gained from it to earn a living for a while. This would require knowing the right people to sell that information to. At least he had that going for him. In his time as a pro gamer, he had met plenty of people. He was sure at least a few of them would y this game eventually.


    Thepany behind this new game was the same one that created Mayhem. So as soon as they began marketing it, he was sure that it would gather a lot of attention. It would just be a question of whether or not it would have any staying power. Especially since it would bepeting against the current top game. The letter itself did not have many details about it, which made him wonder what kind of game it was.


    He was sure it would be some kind of RPG. Since this was the type of games that thepany specialised in. He wondered if he would find out any details online if he were to search for it. It could not hurt to at least have a look. It would make a world of difference if he was at least a little prepared. It would allow him to make the most of the opportunity.


    Passing by the couch and the television, he made a beeline straight from hisputer desk. He sat the box down off to the side and removed the envelope. He retrieved the letter from within and searched through the contents to find the web address to register for the testing phase. Having seen the information he was after he pressed the button to power on hisputer.


    The ck half-sphere resting on the desk suddenly glowed with blue light as a screen''s hologram took form in front of his eyes. This reminded him that it was an older model. Since he rarely spent any time at home, he did not really bother to upgrade it.


    Not that he would be able to afford to for some time now anyway. He should really consider himself lucky since most people were still using solid hardwareputers.


    The system booted up instantly. Colt clicked the icon for the search engine that was disyed with his finger on the hologram. He suddenly chuckled to himself as he remembered his fatherining aboutputer systems these days.


    His father had grown up during a time when people still used keyboards and a mouse to navigate through theputer software. He never missed an opportunity toin about it since he could not get the hang of the new technology.


    He tapped on the search bar with his finger, and a hologram of a keyboard appeared on the desk in front of him. He clicked his tongue at the sight of this. Colt had forgotten about this feature since all of theputers at Camelot''s headquarters were state of the art.


    They used Thought Integration Technology, allowing the user to project their thoughts onto the hologram. It was rather convenient, and once you get used to it, far faster than anything that hade before it.


    He reluctantly ced his hands on the keyboard and began typing. As soon as he entered the web address and pressed enter, he was directed straight to a secure site. It immediately asked for his security key code to gain ess. He wondered if this was really necessary just for a game. He entered the credentials printed on the letter that he had received, and the next moment a contract suddenly appeared on the screen.


    He had thought it was just going to be the usual terms and conditions that everyone would usually just ept without reading them. However, that was far from the truth. A full-blown contract stated that anything he discovered about the game must be kept confidential until the game was released. As he read on, it stated the number of penalties for revealing any of the information.


    Even Mayhem had not been this secure during its beta test period. There was plenty of information going around, and it was even encouraged by thepany as a form of marketing. ''It''s not like they can be hiding some big secret, right?'' Colt thought as he read through the remainder of the contract.


    Without a second thought about it, he quickly epted the terms and was redirected to the central hub of the developer''s website for Pantheon Online. As he promptly looked at the tabs'' names on the screen, he felt a bit of dismay sinking in. Not a single one seemed like they would hold any relevant information about anything in the game.


    He quickly clicked on the tab to register and filled out all of his information. He promptly got a response back that told him the software will download to his personal rig in seven days to coincide with the beta test release. ''I guess all I can do now is waitˇ­''

 Chapter 3 - Game Start

    Several hours before Pantheon Online Beta Testunchˇ­


    Standing on the highest mountain, a solitary figure could be seen. He looked out over the world before him, smiling as he watched the NPC''s go about their daily business. He was incredibly proud of what they had managed to create here, and he could not wait to share it with the world. ''I can''t wait to see this worlde alive.'' He thought.


    The cold wind swept at his clothing, making him shiver. He still could not get used to how real this world felt. It was simply exhrating. His vision zoomed in to give him a clear view of the nearest NPC vige. He was patiently waiting for thest NPC to reach its designated position within its programming.


    For the past year, every one of them had followed a strict set of instructions to build up the world. From an NPC''s point of view, millenniums had passed in this world. That was all about to change in just a few minutes.


    "System. Activate Memory Imntation Procedure." The man quietly said to absolutely nobody.


    "Processplete." Replied a woman''s voice from the sky.


    The man nodded in satisfaction. Basically, this procedure would upload videos of everything each model had done to act as their own independent memories. His eyes narrowed, and he began to count down as thest model was almost in ce.


    "System. Activate AI Personality Procedure. Followed by Living World Program."


    "This process can not be stopped once implemented. Do you wish to proceed?" The woman''s voice replied.


    "Yes." The man smiled, knowing that this was the moment his masterpiece would finally unleash its full potential. Like a proud parent, he watched to capture the exact moment that it happened.


    "Procedureplete in 5ˇ­4ˇ­3ˇ­2ˇ­1ˇ­"


    There it was! The man gave a little jump in excitement. He had expressly set his sights on the NPC set to receive their personality first before the system would roll it out to all the others simultaneously.


    The man''s footsteps suddenly came to a halt as he looked around in confusion. It was as if a profound change had just happened to this NPC, but he had no idea what it was.


    A fraction of a secondter, a simr sight could be seen happening to every NPC within the game world. The man on the mountain suddenly got goosebumps as he witnessed the NPC''s beginning to act naturally. If he did not know any better, he could have easily mistaken them for actual human beings.


    "It''s aliveˇ­" He whispered to the wind before disappearing in a burst of golden light.


    In the snow-covered, rugged terrain of the Northern Continent, a particr NPC came to life. Her name was Ania Eraldsen. At this point in time, she was a young sixteen-year-old girl. Her hair was long and silver in colour. Blue streaks ran through it from her roots to the tips. Her eyes were a breathtaking shade of blue, simr to the colour of a sapphire.


    She turned her head left and right in puzzlement. Just like everyone else, she had felt a sudden change without knowing exactly what it was. The biting cold winds of the Northshed her exposed skin. With a slight shiver, she drew her warm fur coat tighter around her body. She looked at the wooden bucket in her other hand. A hint of resentment shed across her features.


    ''Why am I always the one that has to fetch the water?'' Ania began to question herself. ''Wait. Why am I only thinking about this just now?'' As far as she could remember, she had always done this daily chore without a word ofint to her parents. She quickly brushed off this rebellious thought and shrugged her shoulders.


    ''I don''t remember feeling so cold either.'' There were a lot of new questions running through her brain right now. Most of all, the one that yed on her mind was the matter surrounding her uing marriage to Harald. ''Do I really have no choice but to marry him?''


    Her mind conjured the image of a six-foot-tall, bulky man with long brown hair. In all of her memories of him, he appeared to be cold and distant. In fact, she could not remember ever having spoken to the man. This then led to the question of how they had be engaged in the first ce. She quickly found a way to rationalise the fact. ''It must be an agreement between my parents and his.''


    She continued to think about her soon to be husband as her feet kept sinking into the surrounding snow as she ploughed onwards. There was no risk of her getting lost as she had literally walked this path every day of her life since she was old enough. ''Maybe it won''t be so bad? Right? He makes good money from the raids he goes on, and he''s a fine warrior.''


    The more she thought about it, the more she began to ept the idea. ''In any case, if it turns out to be worse than I fear it could. Wellˇ­ There''s a good chance he''ll die young on one of the raids.'' This thought brought a smile to her face, making her feel warm inside.


    ''That''s right. Marriage isn''t forever. It''s just until one of us dies. Let''s face it, what danger will I ever be in? This vige is in the middle of nowhere. The scariest thing around here is the wildlife.'' She was silently ted at the secure thought of definitely being able to outlive Harald. She could always find a more appropriate partner after his funeral.


    Unknown to Ania, three men silently followed her in the woods to the left of the path. She had no reason to be vignt, so why would she check to see if she were being followed?


    "When are we going to do this, Harald?" One of the men whispered to the exact same Harald that Ania was daydreaming about.


    "Soon, it will take her another ten minutes to reach the river. By then, she will definitely be out of earshot of the others in the vige." Harald chuckled sinisterly in response.


    "How much do you think we''ll get for her?" The third man asked in excitement.


    "She''s quite the beauty." Harald rubbed his beard in deep thought. "If we sell her in Korden, we''ll at least get fifteen gold, I reckon."

 Chapter 4 - No Expectations

    "Ah," Colt yelped as he burned his top lip on the coffee he was sipping. "Damn, that''s hot."


    He ced the mug down on his desk as he continued to watch the countdown on his hologram monitor. There were only twenty minutes left on the timer. His gaming rig was currently downloading the passkey and software needed to connect to Pantheon Online. It was as though the developers had timed it so that it would be finished with only a minute or two left tillunch.


    Leaning back in his chair, he took a look around the room. The red carpet was old, and the walls were covered in king wallpaper. It was inplete contradiction to hisputer, television and furniture. The house had once belonged to his grandparents. Since he inherited it, he could not bring himself to entirely remove everything rted to them.


    It helped to make him feel at home here but at the same time reminded him of the loss. Several years had already passed, but the pain was always fresh in his mind. It was why he loved getting lost in the games he yed so much. It gave him time to escape from reality. At the same time, he made enough money from it to pay the upkeep for the house. The thing he was most scared of was being forced into a situation where he had to give it up, along with all of those dear memories.


    Just then, he was startled out of his deep thoughts as his rig in the other room gave off an rm. It was the sound he had set to alert him when the download wasplete. ''It can''t be done already!'' With panicked thoughts, he looked at his monitor again. Sure enough, the timer only had two minutes left on it. ''Damn it!''


    He silently cursed himself for getting lost in his thoughts as he quickly chugged down the now cool coffee. mming the empty mug down on the desk, he leapt from his seat and rushed to his rig. It was simr to a single bed, except it was curved instead of t and had a lid that would close over the top. He began pulling at his clothes, stripping down to the skin-tight gaming suit that he wore underneath. Its design was reminiscent of a wetsuit, which waspletely practical for what would happen.


    Hey own inside the rig and gotfortable before flicking the switch to power it on. A rush of air escaped from the machine as the lid slowly closed, sealing him inside. A breathing mask appeared as a panel slid open. He took it in his hand and strapped it over his face. Next, a helmet appeared for him to ce his head in. This was responsible for reading his brainwaves so that he could performplex actions in-game.


    Feeling ready and settled, he flicked the second switch and closed his eyes. He smiled as he felt the familiar feeling of the bio-gel rushing into the cabin. Wrapping his entire body in its embrace. It was cold against his skin but not enough to be ufortable. It was always a strange feeling. Apparently, it was designed like this to mimic the conditions unborn babies were in. This was found to be the most naturally calming thing that a human could experience.


    He heard the usual buzz as the machine came to life, and a ck space was projected into his mind. In his own perspective, he was hovering in this space in his own body. A few secondster and extensive holograms began to appear around him. This was the selection menu for the gaming system. Each hologram disyed the cover art and title of a different game. He sighed internally as the evidence of how much time he spent gaming was disyed before him.


    ''It has been worth every second.'' He smiled as he began to look around for thetest download. This was always the most frustrating part. He would have to search his library of games for any new ones that he had recently added. Once he found it, he would pin it to one of the ten favourite slots that appeared first.


    It took him a few minutes, but he eventually discovered it, hidden away behind several other titles. ''Hmm? What''s this?'' He thought as he noticed that its hologram only disyed the game title. ''Don''t they already have a cover art for it?'' This situation had never happened before, so he found the whole thing sort of suspicious.


    "System. Report Error. Missing Art Content." Colt said that aloud, if he was going to beta test this game, then he would be serious about it. A lot ofpanies these days would pay rewards if you reported an unknown bug.


    "Error Reported." A female voice replied to him almost immediately. "Error Report has been met with an automated response. Would you like me to y the recording?"


    "Yes." Colt crossed his arms as he considered what it could be about. ''Did they do this deliberately?''


    "Message will now y." The system responded.


    "Hello there! Thank you for taking the time to report what you have suspected to be a bug in the software. We are grateful for your diligence. In this case, the error that you have gged has been deemed as a non-error. The key words ''Art Content'' and ''Title Screen'' in the report has brought to our attention that you are possibly referring to the missing cover art. This is a deliberate act on our part until general release. We want the best response possible from the Beta test, and so we have deliberately withheld anything that may give you an idea of what to expect. Happy gaming." A pleasant-sounding man''s voice yed throughout the area.


    ''Hmm, makes sense. I guess?'' Colt thought it was highly unusual, but there was no point in thinking about the matter any further. ''There goes that sweet reward I was hoping for.'' He sighed as he ced his hand on the hologram titled ''Pantheon Online''ˇ­

 Chapter 5 - Nine Realms

    Bright lights flew past Colt as his avatar loaded into the game. In the same fashion as most role-ying games, he appeared in his own body, with the exact same features as he had in real life. This was nothing new to him. If he was some rookie, he would probably be screaming about his identity being exposed in-game. He knew differently though, although he could use his own appearance, there was bound to be a part where he could create his in-game avatar.


    In the next moment, a bright sunny sky spread out before him. He found himself to be standing on top of one of the many clouds. Looking around, he noticed bursts of golden lights appearing on other clouds as more beta testers loaded into the game. ''Hmm, seems like quite a lot of people epted the invitation.'' His eyebrow suddenly raised as he noticed part of his cloud rising to form some kind of map.


    There was arge circle in the centre on the map with a wavy line that ran down its centre. Each half had writing on it that Colt was unable to understand. ''Is this some kind of in-gamenguage? They certainly went all out.'' Colt was intrigued by the level of detail the developer''s seemed to be going to. Surrounding thisrge circle were seven smaller ones. Each of them had a single word written on them, but he was unable to understand it yet again.


    There was one thing that was different about the smaller onespared to therger ones. Not including the dividing line and therger one had had a separate word on each half. That was the fact that each of the smaller ones glowed with a golden light, while therge one had dull grey colour to it. Colt felt a sudden urge to put his hand on the grey circle. When he did so, he was met with a system prompt swimming in front of his eyes.


    [You do not have the necessary Authority to ess this realm. Please select one of the highlighted realms.]


    ''Realms, huh? So, they''re probably different servers then. Let''s take a look.'' Colt closed the prompt and ced his hand on one of the golden circles. His vision was suddenly filled with a golden hologram containing a lot of information. However, most of it was in the samenguage that he could not understand.


    [Skill: Basic ****** Language Unlocked]


    ''Why the hell is the name of thenguage censored?'' Colt wondered as he closed thetest prompt to view the new information. There was not much of thenguage that had been tranted, but it gave him a general idea of what he was looking at. He scrolled through the remaining realms to confirm his thoughts. ''Sure enough, it''s a race selection screen.''


    From what he could see, there were seven yable races. Minus the two that were greyed out in the central circle. ''I wonder if the yers who join during the public release will have ess to those?'' At this point, he was wondering if either of those two races may hold an advantage over the others. ''Well, the Beta Test onlysts two weeks. I can always restart if either of them looks to be decent enough.''


    His mind turned back to his current options as he began to consider which one he would choose for now. The standard ''Human'' Race was there, which was typical of all games. However, he did not understand why it stated the racial benefit as being the most numerous Race. On the other hand, the second part about being a versatile race made sense to him.


    Then there were the standard fantasy races that followed. Elves were gifted in natural environments and magic. Dwarves gained benefits on mountain and rugged terrains while also being naturally gifted in the forging profession. Dark Elves, gifted in stealth and assassinations. Orcs, known for brute strength and being talented warriors.


    The following two confused him a little, though. Warbeasts, beast/human hybrids that excelled in different areas depending on bloodlines. Colt could only assume that they were another versatile race like humans. Most games these days had some kind of beast race, so it was not overly surprising. It was thest one that caught his attention.


    Elden, the first mortal Race to walk the realms. Gifted in primal magic and known for their strong bodies. ''Hmm, a race unique to the game then? So what''s the difference between magic and primal magic?'' Just now, he had no reference to go on. So he was unsure what would be the best way to begin building his character.


    ''Well, for now, I should probably choose something versatile. It will give me the chance to try a bunch of different things and find the right fit. However, I can''t really take myself seriously if I end up running around with a pair of cat ears and a tailˇ­'' That thought settled it as he scrolled back to the Race he had set his mind on.


    [Are you sure you wish to choose the ''Human'' Race? Warning, this choice is irreversible.]


    "Yes," Colt replied in a confident voice. He prepared himself to be teleported into the new world.


    [Race has been set to ''Human''. Please select Sub-race.]


    "What the fuck!" Colt swore out loud. His brow creased in confusion. He had nevere across a game where they implemented subspecies of the various races. ''Oh wait, is this what it meant when it listed versatile as a racial benefit?'' The more he thought about it, the more confident he became that this deduction was most likely correct.


    His eyes turned to the new list that appeared in front of him. Each subspecies of the Human Race seemed to have different specialities and aesthetics. Each of them resembled a different point of ancient history to real humans. ''Eh, there''s even a samurai type?'' He was really impressed by the developers now. This kind of option would seriously open up different possibilities for the yers.


    His eyes finally met a choice that brought a smile to his face.'' Thisˇ­ Just got interesting.'' He thought as he eyed the preview model in front of him. These people''s name was ''Skardian'', but anyone from Earth would recognise them by another name.


    ''I always wanted to be a Vikingˇ­''

 Chapter 6 - Deity And Questions

    [Please choose a name.]


    ''Hm,'' Colt knew that this point woulde eventually. He had spent a lot of time thinking about it while waiting for the Beta test. Colt''s old name, when he was part of Camelot, was Excalibur. He wanted his new name to reflect that, as well as the injustice he felt from being banished from his team. He smiled as he entered his new name, ''Exile''.


    [Your name has been set to ''Exile''. Is this correct?]


    "Yes," He replied, as he began to notice bursts of golden light as the other yers finished their registration. As soon as he said this, he felt a warm feeling coursing throughout his body. Soon, his vision was filled with a golden light. "Let''s see what you''ve got!"


    When the light dissipated, his vision was filled with a massive white nket. A cold wind blew against his face, making him shiver. He would have liked to have imed the shiver was from excitement, but it really was just because he was cold. ''Damn! Look at all this snow!''


    Snow was a rare sight in the real world these days. Most people would live their entire lives without ever seeing or experiencing the real thing. ''Wait! I''m actually cold? In a game?'' Having just realised the significance of this fact, Colt''s eyes bulged as he tried to figure out how it was possible.


    So far, no game had achieved this level of immersion. The gaming industry, as a whole, had only managed to replicate realistic sights and sounds. yer''s would feel a tiny bit of pain whenever they got hit, but it was just at a level to let them know that had happened. While his mind was already thrown into disarray over this, a crisp, fresh smell of pines and winter entered his nostrils. Stimting his thoughts to find something else to be surprised about.


    ''Have they actually managed to replicate all five senses? If they have, then that''s amazing! No wonder they don''t want word to leak before the public release.'' Colt looked around to get his bearings. ''There should be a starting vige around here somewhereˇ­''


    He looked dead ahead, only to see a forest full of pine trees. To his left, there was a sharp cliff that dropped down further than he could see. On his right, there was a rocky, snow-covered wastnd. With a deep sigh, he turned around. It could only be behind them.


    ''ARE you kidding me!'' Colt was utterly dumbfounded. As it so happened, there was absolutely nothing but more wastnd behind him. ''What the fuck am I meant to do, huh?!''


    Colt felt the warning signs of an iing headache. Clearly, he had not had enough coffee to be dealing with this today. It took him a few minutes to gather his thoughts, then he felt a stinging pain as he pped his face with the palm of his hand. ''God damn! That actually hurt!'' It was clear that it would take some time for him to get used to this new level of immersion.


    What surprised him even more, was that he could somehow sense that his own strike had actually done some damage to him. ''Oh, right! I can just check if there''s a map in the system.'' Colt had been so caught up in the new experience that he hadpleted forgotten that this was a game. He could not believe that he had made such a rookie mistake, but that was just how exciting this new experience was for him.


    ''Status,'' Colt said within the confines of his own mind. This was the standardmand for every VRMMORPG when yers wanted to check their in-game stats, skills, equipment and quests. He prepared himself to be overloaded with a bunch of overlyplicated details, ''Hmm? What''s this?''


    [Name: Exile]


    [Race: Wandering Deity (Human)]


    [Title: None]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 1]


    [HP: 10/10]


    [DP: 0/0]


    [Strength: 1]


    [Endurance: 1]


    [Speed: 1]


    [Authority: 1]


    Colt was surprised to find that his stats were not overly convoluted as he had expected. However, after getting over the initial shock. He noticed the elephant in the room. ''What the fuck is this! Why is my race set to be a deity? Doesn''t that mean I''m a god?''


    This was certainly not what he had been expecting. Usually, in these types of games, yers would take the role of adventurers or something along the same lines. ''This is madness!''


    Colt thought that he had to have misread the information, but no matter how much he stared at it, the words never changed. ''Ok, say the developers are actually mad enough to allow yers to be gods. Then what''s the aim of the game? ''Colt''s eyes narrowed on his information screen. ''It can''t be a simtion or casual game. They wouldn''t make any money from that.''


    He strained his mind as he tried to figure out the motive behind it. He thought it must be safe to assume that every yer would be a God. The real question was, what would Godspete in? Well, that must be obvious. Clearly, it would be believers and influence, but then. Where would these ''resources''e from? The pool of NPC''s, maybe? That would make sense.


    However, the fact that he had a health bar and somewhat regr stats hinted that they should be able to fight with each other or some kind of mobs. ''So is DP something to do with believers? I''ve never seen that as a stat before. It doesn''t seem like it will be as simple as that. Authority. I wonder what that rtes to? Magic maybe? Since there is no Intelligence or Wisdom stat?''


    Colt was struggling to make heads or tails of what he was looking at. One thing he knew for sure, he would have to discover as much knowledge about this as soon as possible. He had a feeling that understanding these stats would make all the difference to his survival in this game. More so than stats in other games.'' Tch, can''t believe they''re actually leaving us to figure this shit out ourselves. Some kind of in-game guide would have been niceˇ­''

 Chapter 7 - Clairvoyance

    Colt trudged through the snow towards the forest as the cold winds howled around him. It only took him a few moments before he began to wish that the game was not so realistic. The cold felt like it was biting at him, and he was starting to feel highly ufortable. ''Come on! There has to be something! Where''s the beginner quest? Do they really expect us to wander around in rags in these conditions?''


    Colt was bing irritated as he came closer to the forest with each step. He thought that if he began to move and explore, then maybe he would be issued with a quest that could point him in the right direction. However, that idea seemed to be a bust. Being stranded in the snow with no idea of what he should be doing was not his idea of a fun game.


    His skin was slowly turning blue under the frigid temperatures by the time he reached the tree line. He felt a little relieved as the hulking trunks in the forest blocked out most of the wind he had been subjected to. Frozen branches snapped beneath his feet as he continued to push on. ''If I''m a God, then why do I even feel cold in the first ce? What kind of logic is that?''


    He continued toin as he began to feel disheartened. It indeed seemed like he had beenpletely abandoned here. There was no sign of wildlife, NPC''s or other yers at all! The whole experience so far went against the traditional methods employed in these kinds of games. Although that could be refreshing at times, Colt felt that the developers had botched it this time.


    He wandered aimlessly between the trees for around half an hour before he gave up. He copsed in the snow with a frown on his face as he considered quitting the game and starting over. He had begun to wonder if it was something like a lucky dip. Perhaps the yers were thrown to random ces in the territory that they chose.


    So some might get lucky and start directly in a town or vige. While others like himself were thrown to the wilds. The more Colt thought about it, the more he became convinced that this was probably what happened. ''Should I just quit and start over? That''d probably be faster than continuing to search randomly.''


    As someone with plenty of experience in RPG''s this was the logical conclusion that he came to. However, he felt like it would be a waste since he would lose the time he had already spent here. ''Ugh! Just a little longer then! If I don''t find anything soon, I''ll just restart.''


    As he got to his feet, he heard the sound of soft footsteps on the snow nearby. Colt''s heart rate suddenly spiked as his thoughts immediately went to determine if it was caused by something dangerous! Colt quickly pulled up the system and began to search for any starter weapons.


    "Damn it! Seriously? What the hell?" Colt muttered in frustration when he realised that he had no items in the system inventory except the rags he was already wearing! The noise grew closer, and Colt instinctively knew that it was from an animal. He leaned his back against the tree next to him in an attempt to hide.


    Yet the noise still came closer. Suddenly, a fierce-looking wolf poked its head around the tree and stared directly at Colt''s body! His heart skipped a beat in that tense moment as he froze up. He could smell and feel the wolf''s hot breath which made him forget that it was only a game. The wolf blinked a few times before moving on. As if it never even saw him!


    Colt let out a gasp as the wolf disappeared from his sights. He had not even realised that he had inadvertently held his breath the moment the wolf looked at him! He gasped for air as he tried to figure out why the wolf did not attack him. Did he merely not look good enough to eat?


    ''Forget it! There''s no point wasting time thinking about an animal''s behaviour!'' Colt scolded himself for freezing up just now. He should have at leastshed out in an attempt to defend himself the moment that he was spotted!


    The whole forest suddenly seemed to slightly darken. As if the sun had begun to set or a cloud was passing over it. However, it felt unnatural to Colt for some reason, even though he could not pinpoint why. There was a sudden buzz like static echoing in his ears at that moment. It made Colt wince as if it were painful.


    "What''s going on now? Is my rig acting up? Or is it a bug?" The static grew louder in his ears, and no matter how he tried to block it out with his hands, it continued to persist. At that moment, a notification popped up in his vision.


    [A mortal soul is trying to connect with the gods. Would you like to ept their prayer?]


    ''What the? Yes! If it stops the static, then yes!'' Colt immediately felt relieved as the static slowly faded and was instead reced with the voice of a young woman.


    "Pleaseˇ­ If anyone is listeningˇ­ If the gods really existˇ­ Please help me!" The voice sounded emotional and between sobs as she pleaded.


    [Quest: A Cry For Help]


    [Find the woman and help her ovee her problem. Rewards: Follower +1]


    [irvoyance Unlocked]


    [irvoyance]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Gain insight into your quest objective.]


    Colt frowned as he read the quest notification and what seemed to be a skill description as well. ''This seems a little shady. I''ve no idea what the situation is in this world yet. How do I know that helping her is actually the right thing to do? Though, it might help me find out where I can find a settlement or something.''


    He only hesitated for a moment before he activated irvoyance. His vision began to swim in front of his eyes before showing a series of iplete imagesˇ­

 Chapter 8 - Pursuit

    The shing images took him through the forest for some time until it reached a trail. Colt frowned internally as he watched a horse-drawn carriage with three men onboard make its way along the forest trail. ''Where''s the woman? Did the skill bug out?''


    However, Colt received a shock when the sack on the back of the carriage between the two began to move. A girlish squeal came from the sack as one of the men gave it a swift kick.


    "Quit moving around unless you want another one!" Harald growled as he stroked his left cheek, where fresh blood stained scratches were evident. "You''ve already caused us enough trouble as it is!"


    The images were interrupted at that point, and Colt''s vision returned to his position in the frozen forest. ''This doesn''t look good.'' Colt frowned as he reviewed what he had seen. Those scratches on the guy''s face looked like the woman caused them in self-defence. It''s clear they''re up to no good since it took three men to capture her.''


    Colt sighed as he considered the matter. ''I don''t even have any weapons, so how I am supposed to help her? Maybe I should use irvoyance again and see if I can get any more useful information.'' Colt felt like this was a good n and activated the skill again.


    [irvoyance failed! You have already used this skill on this Quest!]


    Colt''s eyes went wide, and he began cursing silently. This message made it apparent that irvoyance could only be used once per Quest. So he would have to be more careful of when he would use it in the future.


    Colt quickly set off in the direction that the images had shown him. He could not afford to wait around and procrastinate in case he lost track of his objective. The cold winds swirled around him as Colt ran between the trees. He felt a sense of urgency in his heart since his target would be able to move faster than himself using the cart.


    ''Hm? I''m already feeling tired?'' Colt quickly realised that his exertion was causing drawbacks on his body. ''Do I need to increase my Endurance?''


    He was honestly stumped by this experience. Usually, yers were given a stamina bar, and as it depleted, they would not be able to perform specific actions. However, this was a first for him where his body felt physically tired instead.


    ''What kind of God gets tired!'' Colt cursed as he continued to push on. Each second that he spent in this game made it more evident that he could not underestimate it. Eventually, the trail from his vision came into view.


    The snow that hadnded on it looked like it had been disturbed recently, which gave Colt some confidence. His eyes darted left and right as he recalled the vision, and finally, he pinpointed which direction the cart had been travelling in.


    Colt followed the trail for half a day and was already growing frustrated with the Quest. ''This is ridiculous! Why would the developer make something like this? I get that they''re going for realism, but this is too much! Any gamer could tell them that their yers would be bored if they have to spend so much time travelling!''


    The sky was already growing dark by the time Colt decided to give up. He kicked a nearby tree in frustration before sitting down on a nearby mound of snow. ''This game is useless! How are you meant to get anything done?'' Colt began to wonder if the other beta testers were currently experiencing simr issues.


    ''Maybe I should just forget about this. If this is anything to go by then, I doubt the game will be a hit when itnds on the market.'' Colt frowned as he reviewed his experience so far. He had to admit that the realistic feeling was groundbreaking, but the overallck of direction would probably only appeal to casual role yers.


    Colt called up the interface and hovered his finger over the log out button when something drew his attention in the darkness. Between the trees, he could make out a flickering light that seemed toe from a fire.


    Colt''s lips curled up into a grin at that sight, and he forgot all about his earlierints as he closed the interface. ''Of course! If they''re aiming for realism, then even my target should have to rest for the night! This is my chance!''


    Colt moved away from the trail and opted to approach the fire using the trees for cover. Colt had no idea what he nned to do, but he could figure that out once he got a look at the situation. As he crept closer through the snow, he noticed a shadow moving between the trees.


    ''Damn! Looks like at least one of them is keeping watch. Where are the others?'' Colt shifted away from the direction of the shadow to see if he could pinpoint where the other two men he had seen in his vision were.


    His heart began to pound frantically within his chest as he edged closer to their camp. Eventually, he spotted two sleeping figures bundled underneath a bunch of furs close to the fire. The sack that held the woman was next to Harald, who had his arm wrapped around it tightly as he slept.


    Colt cursed in his mind. He had been hoping that he would be able to sneak in and set the woman free while they slept. However, the situation now required something different from him. ''I''ll have to take out their lookout and see if he has a weapon on him. With a bit of luck, I can take the other two out before they wake up.''


    Colt did his best to calm his ragged breathing as he began to creep towards the bulky man standing guard over his sleepingrades. Colt''s heart began to beat faster as he expected the man to turn around at any moment and catch him in the act!


    When he was only a few steps away, it finally happened! The man suddenly spun around, grasping a sword in his hand to face Colt''s position!


    "Who''s there!" The man bellowed loudly, stirring hispanions from their sleep.


    Colt cursed as he sprang through the air with outstretched arms to try and tackle the man to the groundˇ­

 Chapter 9 - Oracle

    As Coltnded face first in the snow, he turned to sure at the man in bewilderment! ''What the hell just happened!'' Colt reyed his tackle in his mind to understand what had just gone wrong. Meanwhile, the man who had been on guard looked around the area as if he had not seen Colt at all!


    When Colt had tried to tackle him, he had passed straight through the man to crash in the snow on the other side the moment their bodies collided. He had thought the man had used some kind of skill, but that was obviously not the case. The other two men that his shout had awoken also looked around with confused expressions.


    However, none of them seemed to be able to see Colt at all! Even though he was lying sprawled in the snow right in front of them.


    "Aegir! What are you shouting for!" Harald eximed with some anger in his tone. "You woke me up for nothing!"


    "I swear I sensed something! There''s something out there!" Aegir replied as he tightened his grip on his sword.


    "Quit talking nonsense! The only thing out here is a few wild animals and us!" Harald scowled at hispanion. "If you start spouting Old Bjorn''s nonsense about spirits and the gods again, I''ll beat the stupidity out of you!"


    Harald and the other man pulled their furs tighter around their bodies before turning over to ignore Aegir. Colt was at a loss for words as he watched them bickering. He could not help himself as he mbered to his feet and moved to stand right in front of Aegir. The man shivered under his gaze but otherwise had no reaction to his presence!


    Colt tried to touch Aegir, but his hand passed straight through the man''s chest. Aegir''s eyes went wide as he quickly moved to the side and stared at his previous position.


    "This is so weird. It''s like they can sense me but can''t understand that I''m actually among them." Colt chuckled as he wondered if this was really how a God would feel. A momentter, his expression became dark as he stared at the sack that contained his target.


    "If I can''t interact with anything, then what am I meant to do about you?" Colt moved towards the sack and crouched down next to it. ''I wonder ifˇ­''


    Colt pressed his face against the sack to sate his curiosity, and it passed right through it. He gasped slightly as he spotted the woman within. She looked to still be a teenager, but it was her silver-coloured hair with blue streaks that took his breath away.


    A few moments had to pass before he came out of his daze and notice the bruises upon her face. She was clearly sleeping, but Colt could see her warm breath in the air and how her body would tremble from time to time. Seeing such a pitiful sight made Colt furious for how she had been treated.


    Forgetting that he could not interact with the world around him, Colt reached out a hand to try andfort her. As his handnded on her face, a sudden alert sound entered his mind before a notification popped up.


    [You have discovered Ania Eraldsen, a woman who prayed to the Gods for help. Do you wish to Bless Ania and bind her as your Oracle? Y/N?]


    Colt frowned at the notification. He had not experienced much of the game so far, so he had no idea what the consequences would be if he epted it. However, it seemed like this was rted to his only Quest, and he was afraid that denying it would mean failing.


    "Yes," Colt replied to the notification through gritted teeth.


    [Blessing In Progressˇ­]


    A golden light suddenly emanated from behind Ania''s eyes, making Colt yelp lightly. It had taken him by surprise, but the golden light was slightly mesmerising. Five secondster, the light began to fade, and a new notification popped up.


    [Congrattions! Ania Eraldsen is now your Oracle! Ania''s stats have been upgraded due to your Blessing. Divinity Points (DP) +1]


    [Skill Received: Oracle]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Use this skill tomunicate with your chosen Oracle.]


    [Skill Received: Minor Miracle]


    [Cost: 1 - 10 DP depending on Miracle]


    [Description: The lowest grade Miracle that allows Gods to interact with the Mortal Realm in Minor Ways.]


    Colt inhaled sharply as he read the description of his new skills. ''Why does it seem like I''m a supporting character!'' Colt chuckled lightly after he thought about it. It actually made sense that there had to be limitations on a God so he could appreciate the developer''s way of doing things. ''I wonder what I could do here once I get stronger?''


    That thought suddenly gave Colt an intense drive to discover just how much Power Gods could wield in this game. It would certainly be interesting to find out at least!


    ''The question now is how do I go about setting Ania free? I shouldmunicate with her first, right? So that she can prepare herself?'' Colt pondered over what he should say to convince her that he was a God who heard her prayer. After all, if Colt were in her position and a random voice started to talk to him, then Colt would assume that he was going crazy!


    Colt kept his face inside the sack to gauge her reaction before he activated Oracle. A strange sensation rose up from his stomach before spreading throughout his body. It was an indescribable feeling of being connected to Ania.


    "Aniaˇ­" Colt whispered as he tried to rouse her from her sleep without rming her. "Aniaˇ­"


    Ania''s brows turned into a frown as her lips and cheeks moved to form an irritated expression as her eyes slowly flickered open. "Mm, what is it?"


    As she mumbled in her half-awake state, her eyes suddenly went wide as she stared at Colt''s face floating inside the sack! Well, in her eyes, what she actually saw was a dim golden, featureless face that appeared to be looking right at her!

 Chapter 10 - Miracle

    Ania could not exin why but the golden face did not scare her at all. For some reason, she even safe and warm in its presence. Her hand instinctively rose up inside the sack to try and caress that face, but an indescribable sensation forced her to stop partway.


    "Are youˇ­ a God?" Ania whispered with a hint of reverence. Everyone had heard the stories of how the Gods once wandered the mortal nes. However, it had been a long time in human history since anyone had imed to have ever seen a God. Leaving them to be something of a myth or legend rather than real.


    Colt hesitated when he saw the look in Ania''s eyes. He knew she was an NPC, but it was all just so lifelike that it made him feel ufortable. ''It''s just a game. I just need toplete this quest and figure out what to do next.'' Colt quietly told himself. ''Ugh, this is going to be so cringe-worthy.''


    "I am Exile. I have heard your prayer ande to your aid. If you wish to be free, then you must follow my instructions." Colt tried his best to sound authoritative and mighty while trying not to be embarrassed by his own performance.


    "Of course! Whatever Your Almighty asks of me, I shall do my best to make it happen!" Ania sounded somewhat fanatical as she praised Colt to the heavens.


    "Good, this pleases me. I shall let you know when to escape. Be prepared." Colt decided to take advantage of her unreasonable belief in him to move the situation forward as quickly as possible. Mainly because he could not bear to put up that act any longer.


    ''I wonder if I was too over the top.'' Colt practically gagged as he thought about his acting skills as he pulled his face out of the sack. He nced around and noticed that the one called Aegir had sat down on a frozen rock at the far end of the camp from them.


    Harald had released Ania from his grasp when he had rolled over to go back to sleep. So as far as Colt could see, this might very well be Ania''s best chance to escape. ''Let''s see what Minor Miracle can do.''


    Colt activated the skill, and a pulse of golden light erupted from his body, washing over the entire camp. None of the NPC''s seemed to notice anything as a series of notifications popped up on Colt''s interface.


    [Filtering potential Miracles to match the surroundingsˇ­ Filteringpleteˇ­ Please choose from the following optionsˇ­]


    [Snowstorm: Requires 5 DP and 3 Authority]


    [Summon Wolves: Requires 1 DP and 1 Authority]


    [Sudden Death: Requires 10 DP and 5 Authority]


    Colt clicked his tongue as he read over his options. The first two were pretty self-exnatory, but the third one had him slightly worried. ''Not that it really matters since I can only choose Summon Wolves anyway.'' He was somewhat ticked off that while Minor Miracle said it required no DP, nothing had been mentioned of the actual Miracles themselves as needing it.


    Colt promptly chose the Summon Wolves option after only a slight moment of hesitation. He was actually feeling quite eager to see what a God could do for himself. Even if it did appear to be the weakest Miracle. As soon as he confirmed his choice, he felt as if some kind of energy had gone down in his body while the wind howling around him suddenly changed direction.


    [A local wolf pack has suddenly picked up the scent of nearby humans. These wolves are grateful to you for providing food to sate their hunger. Any mortals carrying your divine scent will be safe from them.]


    Colt frowned as he read the notification. It was kind of cool that the winds had changed to send Harald and his goon''s scents to the wolves, but what was his divine scent? Was that the Blessing he had bestowed on Ania? It was kind of weird for the developers to refer to it like that.


    Colt waited silently for a few minutes before the heart chilling sound of howling wolves echoed throughout the frozen forest. ''So it takes some time for the Miracles to happen. Though it could be to do with whatever I choose.'' Colt was lost in his thoughts when he suddenly remembered that he had to warn Ania of what was happening.


    The howling had caused Aegir to be rmed. As his expression turned into a mask of fear, Harald and the other one struggled to get up on their feet. Soon, the howling came from all directions as Colt used Oracle to warn Ania that she would be fine.


    ''Even though Lord Exile says, so it''s hard to imagine that they won''t tear me apart as well.'' Ania shivered within the sack as the sound of men yelling filled the air while wolves growled and yelped.


    Colt was actually struggling to watch the scene that he had caused. The developers had gone all out with the realism as Harald lost an army to a hungry wolf. Strips of flesh now dangled from the stump left behind as blood fell freely, dyeing the snow a crimson red.


    The wolves howled excited as human blood was spilt, and Aegir''s corpse was dragged into woods with half of his throat ripped out. So far, it had cost the wolves three of their pack to bring down two of the hateful humans who used steel to bite back at them.


    Harald''splexion had paled significantly as he swung his sword wildly to try and deter the pack from attacking him again. His expression was grim as his eyes scanned his surroundings for anything that he could use.


    His eyes brightened when he noticed that Ania''s sack had not been touched. ''If I can just reach her, I can use her as bait to escape!'' Harald slowly edged his way towards the sack while inflicting several cuts on a few different, brave wolves that tried for an early kill.


    Harald swung his de and tore through the sack''s material to expose Ania to the open air and hungry stares that surrounded them. "Prove yourself useful and survive long enough!"


    Harald chuckled darkly as he nted his boot in her ribs, sending her sprawling in front of thergest, pure ck-furred wolf who had been watching him for a while. Harald could almost smell the scent of his house again at that moment as Ania''s eyes widened in fear.


    The alpha of the pack sniffed the air casually before baring its teeth in a vicious snarl! Harald chortled as he turned to flee into the forest, only to hear a loud thump from behind him. Before he could even turn his head to see what the sound was, he was thrown to the ground by a heavyweightnding on his back.


    Ania was frozen in shock, with tears running down her face as she watched the alpha pounce over her tond on Harald. The ck-furred menace let out a long howl, and the rest of the pack rushed in to tear Harald to pieces as he screamed in pain and terror!

 Chapter 11 - Worship!

    [Congrattions! Quest: A Cry For Help has beenpleted! Rewarding +1 Follower. You have been awarded +1 Stat Point for reaching the milestone of having one follower. Milestone Progress 1/10]


    Colt frowned as he read the notification. ''There''s no mention of experience. So how do I level up?'' Colt''s frown deepened as he pondered over how the game system actually worked. ''Let''s see if I can get any information from the Stat screen now.''


    Colt called up his interface, intending to spend his Stat Point right away. He found that when he highlighted his stats, a vague description apanied each of the four stats.


    [Strength: Increases your divine might, allowing you to cause more damage in meleebat.]


    [Endurance: Protects you against the divine might of your opponents. +5 HP.]


    [Speed: Increases your divine speed. Allowing you to reach your destination faster and react more quickly inbat.]


    [Authority: Increases your Authority over the world. Increases strength of divine spells. Allows you to wield sacred items.]


    Colt felt as though the descriptions were not great, but it was all he had to work with for now. However, he was now struggling to decide on what stat should invest in. ''The only one that I''ve really seen a use for so far is Authority. But that doesn''t mean that it''s the right choice. Still, it would be cool to manipte the world more.''


    Colt sighed before he bit the bullet and selected Authority and confirmed his choice. Golden light burst from his body as a warm feeling enveloped him. Colt instinctively smiled at that sensation before his mind was brought back to reality by a system prompt.


    [Authority increase detectedˇ­ Awarding +1 DPˇ­ Please select one of the following Divine Spellsˇ­]


    [Minor Grace: Grants a divine protective barrier for 20% of target''s health. Cost: 1 DP]


    [Minor Divine Arrow: Fast-moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [Minor Blessing: Heals target for 20% of maximum health. Cost: 1 DP]


    Colt felt a headacheing on as he nced over the spells. He had no idea how useful any of them would prove to be in the long run. Not only that, but the only option that would allow him to deal damage also had a cap on its power.


    ''The other two basically do the same thing just in different ways.'' As colt thought that, he then began to wonder if these spells could be used on mortals. If that was true, then the healing ability would be a better choice as Minor Grace was morebat-oriented. ''Guess I have my answer then.''


    Colt chose Minor Blessing and felt a rush of power enter his body. ''I seeˇ­'' That rush of energy gave him the knowledge that he needed to activate the spell. His eyes fell on Ania, who was still sitting in the snow shivering as she watched the wolf pack drag away their spoils.


    ''She''s obviously been injured during her captivity, so this would be an excellent chance to try it outˇ­'' Colt started to approach the young woman, who seemed to sense his presence.


    Ania''s head swivelled to stare wide-eyed at the approaching golden man. Even though she knew he was her savour, she still felt weird looking at a face without any features. The golden light emanating from him also appeared slightly brighter than before, and her worries seemed to disappear as that light washed over her body.


    Colt noticed a change in Ania''s expression as he came within a metre of her. She almost looked to be at peace. ''Is that my doing?'' Colt wondered as he studied the effects his presence had on this NPC. ''Maybe it''s not a good idea to let them stay close for long periods.''


    Ania did not ask any questions as she bathed in Colt''s aura. This gave him a perfect chance to test his spell without having to exin himself. Colt reached out towards her and noticed her body shiver as a beaming smile crossed Ania''s face. Colt sighed as he decided it would be better to get it over with quickly.


    As his palmnded on Ania''s shoulder, he activated Minor Blessing. A soft golden glow wrapped around Ania''s body as her visible injuries faded away, leaving behind clear and healthy pink skin.


    [Congrattions! Follower Ania Eraldsen has be a Fanatic!]


    Colt gaped in shock at that notification! He had not expected his divine spell to have side effects if used on NPC''s!


    "Lord Exile!" Ania gasped as Colt removed his hand. "Please allow me to build a shrine in your name once I return to my vige! I''ll be sure to convince my n of your greatness!"


    Ania''s eyes sparkled as she stared at the God before her. She could not exin why but she felt a need to devote everything she had to spread Exile''s name in the Mortal Realms. Colt considered her request for a moment before a new system alert hit him.


    [Quest: Worship!]


    [Description: Ania Eraldsen wishes to build a shrine in your name, officially founding your religion in the process. Apany Ania home and Bless the shrine upon itspletion.]


    [Rewards: +1 Stat Point, Evolution from Wandering Deity to Local Deity.]


    ''Oh?'' Colt studied the Quest before epting it. A change came over Ania as if she had sensed his intentions to allow her to take up this task.


    "Lord Exile, will you apany me to my vige? It isn''t far." Ania beamed while twitching nervously.


    ''She must be worried about her safety out here in the wilds alone. I have to go there anywayˇ­'' Colt smiled at her, and even though she could not see it, she could sense that Exile was disying a warm expression towards her.


    Ania jumped to her feet excitedly and reached out to take Colt''s arm in hers. "Lord Exile, you won''t regret this! My family will never believe that Gods are real! I can''t wait for them to see you!"

 Chapter 12 - Homecoming

    As they drew close to Ania''s vige, Colt could not help but frown. ''It took hours for us to get here, but my DP still hasn''t regenerated.'' This perplexed Colt to no end. He had assumed that DP worked like mana in other games and would regenerate over time. However, that did not seem to be the case.


    ''Is there some kind of specific action that I need to perform?'' Colt felt like this might be the answer, but he had no idea what he was supposed to do. He could only hope that he would stumble across the answer soon.


    Ania felt the uneasiness in Colt''s mind and misinterpreted it as him being displeased with her vige. Her heart began to race as her lungs forced her to breathe more quickly.


    "L-Lord Exile, I know it isn''t much, but I wee you to Eraldsfen." Ania''s tone was hesitant as she yed with her hair. Her eyes remained fixed on the ground as if there was something profoundly interesting about it.


    "Eraldsfen?" Colt cocked an eyebrow at her. "Like the name of your family?"


    Ania shivered when she heard that question. Her legs began to tremble beneath Colt''s gaze. "I''m sorry that my family was so presumptuous as to name a piece of this realm after ourselves! We shall change the name right away and name it after you! Please, don''t hurt the vigers! Take it out on me!"


    Colt coughed a couple of times as she gazed at him with pleading eyes. ''Dammit! I keep forgetting I can''t expect to have a normal conversation with the NPC''s. What should I say?'' Ania looked as though she was about to throw herself to the ground and grovel at his feet when he hesitated. Naturally, she thought he was considering wiping out her vige!


    "Don''t worry. Eraldsfen is a good name. I like it." Colt put his poor acting skills to use once again as he nced at Ania to make sure she did not see through him.


    Ania heaved a sigh of relief. She was d that her people had not identally offended a God. Her smile became brighter as they passed by the first few houses. Soon, a woman shouted as she rushed towards Ania with her arms stretched out wide.


    "Ania! You''re ok! Thank the heavens!" Sarri Eraldsen, Ania''s mother, screamed.


    Ania soon felt as if she was being smothered as Sarri swept her off her feet into a tight embrace. She appeared a bit helpless as she remembered that her parents must have been worried about her disappearance. She had been so swept up by Colt''s presence shepletely forgot about the consequences of her kidnapping.


    "Mom! Put me down. I''m fine!" Aniained, feeling embarrassed that her mother would treat her like this in front of a God.


    "Nonsense dear! Let me have a look at you! Where did they hit you? We found blood by the river. It was those ve traders again, wasn''t it! How''d you escape?" Sarri was frantic as she looked over Ania from head to toe, unable to see any apparent wounds. "Oh, Gods! Don''t tell me! They didn''t, did they?"


    Sarri jumped to an obvious conclusion that most mothers would make if their young daughter was taken away by force. What else would she think when a group of men were likely involved, and blood was found at the scene, but no apparent wounds were on her body? A few of the nearby vigers looked on with sympathetic expressions.


    "Gods no! Mom, stop it!" Aniained. This was definitely not something she wanted to discuss in public. Especially since it did not happen.


    "Fine, fine. Then tell me how you got away? Can you describe the men so we can send some warriors out to hunt them down? I think Harald''s already gone looking for you. He''ll be so happy to find out you''re ok." Sarri beamed as she mentioned Harald. After all, he was the first one to notice that she had gone missing!


    Ania''s expression, on the other hand, turned ugly at the mention of his name. A few of the vigers noticed her expression and began to think of her as being ungrateful. Her betrothed had rushed out to rescue her, or worst-case scenario, avenge her the moment he noticed she had gone missing.


    "It was Harald, Aegir and Gorm that abducted me. They nned to sell me off in Korden." Ania practically whispered. However, her words fell like a hammer on all those who heard her. Suddenly, they began to recall how Harald or one of the other two were always the ones to discover when a young woman went missing first.


    It all made sense, but they had never noticed before. However, what Ania said was a serious usation and insulted the honour of three warriors. Even if it did appear to be the truth, they could not simply ept it. Sarri''s expression, on the other hand, turned livid as she thought about how they had almost given Ania away to a ve trader.


    "Just you wait until your father hears about this! He''ll hunt them down and make an example of them! What kind of Skardian sells one of their own nsmen off as a ve!" Sarri was rightfully fuming as her face turned red from outrage.


    "He''s dead. They all are." Ania whispered again. She had hoped to avoid talking about6 this any further. After all, they should be weing the God that apanied her! ''Wait! Why aren''t they saying anything about Lord Exile?''


    Ania''s head turned just in time to see a farmer walk straight through Colt without any reaction. Ania felt as though Colt was showing a sad smile towards her. It was then that she realised that she was the only one who could see the God among them. As Ania''s expression froze at that realisation, a rough voice sounded among the crowd as a burly man with a long braided grey beard barged through the crowd.


    "What do you mean my son is dead!"

 Chapter 13 - Simple Shrine

    Erik Fjord, Harald''s father, growled at Ania as he stormed his way towards her. "Did you kill him? Then make up this nonsense about him trying to sell you off to hide your crime? Everyone here knows of my son''s valour! Yet he was never enough for you, was he?"


    Sarri pushed Ania behind her back and nted herself in the way of Erik''s mountainous figure. Erik red at Sarri as if daring her to try something. He was not about to allow some wench to put a stain on his son''s honour without evidence.


    "You heard what she said, Erik! I suggest you back off until her fatheres back. Then we can settle this ording to ourws!" Sarri''s gaze was like fire as she held Erik''s line of sight. Neither of them was backing down at all.


    "Laws! Laws, you say? Fine! Then I invoke the right to Trial by Combat! May the Gods strike me down if Harald is guilty of what she says!" Erik turned his head to spit on the ground in front of Ania. Sarri was so shocked by Erik''s challenge that she failed to react.


    Like a dark cloud, Erik forced his way back through the crowd and soon disappeared from view. The vigers dispersed after that. Looks of pity were evident upon their faces whenever they stole a nce at Ania. Even Sarri did not know what to say. After all, a Trial of Combat was usually carried out until one of thebatants died or the victor spared their opponent.


    However, it was apparent that Erik would never spare Ania for what she had said. Even though most folks did not believe the Gods were real anymore, they still believed in the validity of the Trial. At one time in their history, this was how all criminal trials were held. At that time, they thought the Gods watched over the fight and ensured that the guilty party lost.


    It was an old custom, and nobody alive in Eraldsfen had ever witnessed one. However, it was still a legal custom, so nobody could deny Erik of his challenge. Sarri was beside herself with worry. It was most likely that these would be thest twenty-four hours that she would ever spend with her daughter.


    However, when she nced at her daughter, she saw no trace of fear on her face. Sarri immediately became even more concerned. Perhaps the shock had been too much for Ania. Little did she know that Ania felt like she had no reason to be afraid. After all, she actually had a God on her side!


    Colt stood a little bit behind Ania with a solemn expression on his face. He was feeling pissed that someone was trying to kill his only follower after he had just got her! Did Erik have a death wish? Or at least, that was what Colt was thinking. However, he had no way to intervene right now. His DP was empty, and he had no clue how to regenerate it!


    Colt was cursing Erik within his mind as he tried to figure out if there was anything that he could do. It was useless, though, as he was unable to influence the mortal realm with his body. As a dark mood imed Colt''s mind, he helplessly followed Ania as her mother dragged her off home.


    There he learned that Ania''s father, Mikel Eraldsen, was currently away on a raid. Sarri bombarded Ania with memories that she held dear over a simple meal of rabbit stew and old bread. Colt was in no mood to appreciate the old stone house. There were only two rooms, the living room/kitchen and a single bedroom.


    Colt sat by the open fire and stared into the mes as he waited to see if a new Quest would trigger. He was convinced that a quest might be his only hope for saving Ania. Colt was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice that the fire had already be mere embers, and darkness had taken over the Eraldsen home.


    ''Hm, when did it get so dark?'' Colt''s thoughts were disturbed when soft snoring entered his ears. As he nced around, he noticed that neither Sarri nor Ania were present. ''How long have I been sitting here?''


    Colt frowned as he pulled up the interface to check the time in real life. It was no surprise to gamers like him that time usually passed faster in games than reality these days. His eyes wandered to a corner of the screen. Colt let out a surprised gasp as he doubled checked the time.


    Having spent half a day in-game, he was surprised to find that only half abhor had passed in reality. It did not take a math genius to figure out that he could spend a week in-game for seven hours of sleep each night. Two weeks if he pushed himself to stay emerged for fourteen hours straight each day as he was used to.


    "Lord Exileˇ­" Ania''s soft voice whispered from the gap in the wall that led to the bedroom. "I''m sorry it''s not the wee that I promised."


    Colt''s eyes moved to examine Ania''s trembling lips and the redness around her eyes. ''She probably thinks I''m angry about it. Though I guess, that''s a valid fear when you''re dealing with a God.'' Colt let out a long sigh as he thought about how to reassure her.


    On the other hand, Ania took Colt''s sigh to mean that he was growing tired of sticking around here. After all, why would a God stay with mortals if they were not receiving benefits?


    "It''s not much, but I''ve made a small shrine to you. I promise I''ll make something better once I can convince the other vigers to believe in you!" Ania''s tone sounded desperate as she bit her lower lip. Colt, on the other hand, had just be intrigued by her statement.


    "Show me!" Colt excitedly got up onto his feet and followed a hesitant Ania into the bedroom.


    His eyes fell on three small rocks piled on top of each other with Skardian runes written down them. His mind could notprehend their meaning, but he assumed that it was Gamertag written in theirnguage. A stick of incense burned in front of the rocks, releasing a pleasant smell of pine trees in the room.


    [Simple Shrine to Exile detectedˇ­ Do you wish to bless this shrine? Y/N]


    ''Yes!'' Colt eximed in his mind. ''Perhaps there''s hope after all if I can increase my Authority again with the Quest Reward!''


    [Founding Your Religionˇ­ Please Stand Byˇ­]

 Chapter 14 - Religion

    [Congrattions! Your religion has been founded! Please select one benefit for your followersˇ­]


    [God of the Harvest: Followers have an easier time bringing crops to term in adverse conditions.]


    [God of the Hearth: Followers are less affected by cold environments. Open fires will allow followers to heal and remove fatigue faster.]


    [God of the Hunt: Followers will be able to produce less waste from their kills when hunting. Resulting in more meat and better quality furs/skins.]


    Colt raised an eyebrow as he read over the list. They seemed to specifically target the area he was in. He could not help but wonder if other yers would get different options based on where they were. ''They all seem pretty decent, but I think God of the Hearth is more flexible.'' Colt made his choice and confirmed it with a smile on his face.


    [Congrattions! Quest: Worship! has beenpleted. Awarding +1 Stat Point. Race: Wandering Deity has evolved to Local Deity. Title Unlocked! God of the Hearth: Permanent +1 to Endurance.]


    ''Oh? That''s pretty sweet. A free Stat increase, I wonder if the other choices would have increased something else? Anyway, let''s just throw my stat point from my reward into Authority again.'' As Colt did so, he was pleased to see his max DP increase. He nced over his Stats with a smile.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 1]


    [HP: 15/15]


    [DP: 1/3]


    [Strength: 1]


    [Endurance: 2]


    [Speed: 1]


    [Authority: 3]


    ''It seems that the free Endurance point increased my max HP. That''s pretty decent.'' Colt''s lips twitched, making his smile grow broader as he quit the interface.


    [Authority increase detectedˇ­ Please select one of the following Divine Spellsˇ­]


    [(Divine) Minor Grace: Grants a divine protective barrier for 20% of target''s health. Cost: 1 DP]


    [(Divine) Minor Divine Arrow: Fast-moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [(Hearth) Campfire: Creates a Divine Campfire that radiates a healing aura over 10m. Heals followers/party members for 1 HP per second for 5 seconds. Cost: 2 DP]


    ''Hm? That''s new.'' Colt nced at the new bracketed information before the spell names. He caressed his chin as he thought about it. ''It seems that those marked with Divine should be general spells that any yer can learn. That means the one marked Hearth would be something like a speciality spell.''


    Colt frowned deeply as he began to contemte how things might turn out. After all, this meant that a person''s abilities would most likely depend on what kind of God they chose to be. Much like how sses worked in other games. However, this gave him the feeling that there would potentially be an unlimited amount ofbinations.


    ''I''m a Local Deity just now. That makes it seem like my race can be further upgraded, so that should mean that there''s some kind of progression tree for what kind of God you are as well.'' Colt sighed as he thought about it. There was just not enough solid evidence or information for him to say he was totally right. However, he felt like he had hit the nail on the head.


    ''I know I''ve already got Minor Blessing, but Campfire seems more cost-effective for groups. Technically it''s the most valuable spell that''s being offered.'' Colt suddenly frowned as he had another thought. ''Why do I feel like I''m falling into the role of a healer?''


    Even though being a healer was not what he wanted, he still ended up choosing Campfire because of its valuepared to the other two. Colt grumbled to himself as he finished off everything that the system had currently thrown at him.


    When his eyes fell on the Shrine that Ania had made, he felt a strange power emanating from it. Ania, who was standing beside him through all of this, was steadily growing concerned by the God''s silence. Her expression became slightly curious as Colt suddenly reached out and touched the Shrine.


    [This Simple Shrine currently holds 1/3 Prayers. Would you like to ept your Prayers?]


    ''What''s this all about?'' Colt was slightly shocked. ''It shouldn''t be anything harmful, right? Yes.''


    [Prayers absorbed. +1DP regenerated.]


    [Quest: Ania''s Prayer]


    [Description: Ania has prayed that you will oversee her duel against Erik and help here out victorious.]


    [Rewards: +9 Followers, Random Offering]


    Colt was ted when he read the new prompts. He had finally discovered how to regenerate his DP! ''So that''s how it works! When you think about it, it actually makes sense. My Divine Spells are actually powered by the prayers that the NPC''s make to me! I wonder if anyone else has found this out yet?''


    Ania, who stood beside him, suddenly gasped. Although Colt was still emanating golden light from his body, it had be slightly brighter. Somewhere in her mind, she sensed that Exile had gone through some kind of change that made him seem even more holy. If that was even possible for a God.


    As she stared at him with wide eyes, Colt suddenly turned to look at her. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he considered what he should say. "Ania Eraldsen, I have heard your prayer. Do not be afraid of your duel tomorrow. I shall ensure that youe out victorious."


    Hot tears began to leak out from Ania''s eyes as she gazed at Colt''s featureless face in wonder. She could not help but sink down onto her knees due to Exile''s show of mercy. In truth, she had wondered if she was asking too much of the God who had already helped her.


    "Thank you, Lord Exileˇ­ You''ve already done so muchˇ­" Ania huped as she spoke, but Colt ignored that and ced a hand on her head. Ania''s expression rapidly changed to one of ecstasy under his touch.


    Sarri, who was only pretending to be asleep, narrowed her eyes as she watched her daughter''s strange performance. After all, she could not see this Lord Exile at allˇ­

 Chapter 15 - Duel

    Colt spent the night wandering around Eraldsfen while Ania slept. It was a quaint vige that looked like it housed just over one hundred people. The houses, which looked more like huts to Colt, mainly were made from wood with thatch roofs. There were only three houses that had stone walls, one of which being the Eraldsen household.


    If Colt had not heard Sarri and Ania talking about Ania''s father being away on a raid, Colt would have believed that it was a quiet and peaceful ce. Besides the houses, there was a cksmith that also seemed to deal with tanning animal skins to make leather and what looked to be a general store.


    Colt spent the rest of the night listening to the sounds of wild animals, it was oddly soothing, and he discovered that he probably would not mind living in a ce like Eraldsfen. However, the sun soon rose, and the vigers began to light their hearths while preparing for the new day.


    Ania panicked when she woke up and failed to see Colt''s glowing figure in the bedroom. She even found herself wondering if it had all been some kind of dream. Those thoughts onlysted until she got dressed and moved into the living area where Colt was seated on a handcrafted wooden chair by the fire.


    "Ania, you need to prepare yourself for this afternoon, so forget about your chores," Sarri said in a warm yet soft voice as Ania reached out to grab a bucket.


    "What can I even do?" Ania sighed. It was not like she had any training inbat or even a weapon to use!


    "It''s not much, but you''ll have to make do with the axe for chopping firewood and your father''s weighted shield he uses for training." Sarri shook her head solemnly.


    ''Can I even lift that?'' Ania had her doubts about the shield. It would be suicide to turn up to the Trial without one. However, was it not just as stupid to turn up with one you could not even use?


    Colt raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he watched Ania move towards a thickly wooded round shield that rested against the wall by the door. He could see the doubt on her face as she looked at it. However, Colt was reasonably confident it should not be too much of a problem for her.


    After all, he had blessed her when they first met, and the system had notified him that her stats had been increased as a result. Although he was curious about just how much of an improvement it actually provided. Ania carefully slid her hand and forearm into the leather steps used as a grip. She took a deep breath, then attempted to lift it!


    The shield easily lifted off the floor, throwing Ania off bnce. Her expression changed into a mask of confusion as she examined the shield on her arm. Its weight did not feel ufortable or excessively heavy at all! ''Was father just pretending he was tired every time he used this?''


    Sarri dropped the cup she was holding in surprise as she watched Ania waving the shield around with ease! She knew just how heavy that thing was since her husband would usually just dump it wherever for her to put it away.


    Ania noticed theplicated expression on her mother''s face. She was about to say something when Colt interrupted her.


    "Don''t worry. You''ve received my blessing, so your physical prowess is not as low as it used to be." Colt chuckled while watching her. "You should use this time to get used to it before the duel."


    Sarri''s eyes darted from her daughter to the chair she had suddenly decided to look at for no reason. Ania''s expression had changed from being confused to one of someone who had just been enlightened. As Ania exined that she was going to practice and left the house, Sarri''s eyes turned to the chair.


    "Is somebody there?" Sarri waited, but no answer came. ''I swear, if Ania makes it through this, I''ll pray to that little shrine of hers!''


    Colt watched Ania as she practised for hours with the axe she retrieved and the shield without breaking a sweat. asionally he would give her pointers based on his own experience with wielding simr items in other games. Those hours did not make her an expert, but it did increase her chances of surviving somewhat.


    Eventually, the time arrived for her to face Erik. Ania felt somewhat nervous as she walked to a clearing at the edge of the vige. There was already a crowd gathering, so it was not difficult to discover where the Trial would ur. A few of the vigers wished her luck with sympathetic expressions. It made her feel like they were thinking of it as a funeral rather than a fair fight.


    "Come, girl! Let''s make this quick!" Erik roared as the crowd closed in around them to form a circr area. "By the oldws, I call on Kjund to watch over me!"


    "By the oldws, I call on Exile to watch over me!" Ania hesitantly shouted in response. Causing the vigers to frown at her deration due to the name of an unfamiliar God.


    Colt felt something strange within him. It was a kind of force that was trying to pull him towards the fight. ''Oh? This is interestingˇ­'' Colt was wandering how supposed mortals couldpel a God to take notice of them with their deration. He nced around, half expecting this Kjund fellow to appear.


    However, the sound of Erik''s sword mming on Ania''s shield drew his eyes back to the fight. The vigers gasped in surprise when Ania managed to hold her ground against Erik''s towering figure! Their weapons shed on each other''s shields while they aimed for a quick victory. Erik''s experience proved to be vast as Ania failed to even nick him with her axe.


    On the other hand, Erik began to inflict some damage on Ania as he began aiming to break her guard long enough to cut her whenever she became exposed. The crowd did not dare to say anything. The fight had turned out to be far more intense than they had expected!


    Colt cursed when he saw that Ania was slowly losing. It was only a matter of time before she fell beneath Erik''s de. Colt grit his teeth and made the decision to activate Minor Miracle!


    [Filtering potential Miracles to match the surroundingsˇ­ Filteringpleteˇ­ Please choose from the following optionsˇ­]


    [Judgement: You are currently witnessing a Trial by Combat. Choosing this option uses all avable DP to im victory for your Champion. Warning: If the opposing God casts Judgement at a higher cost than yourself, then your Champion will lose. Cost 2 DP]


    ''It doesn''t seem like there''s any other God here, so this should be fine!'' Colt confirmed his choice to use Judgement just as Ania was swept off her feet!


    "Say, goodbye girl!" Erik roared as he stepped forward and swung his sword downwards!


    A gasp escaped from the crowd as Erik lost his footing due to the snow beneath his feet! Erik''s eyes went wide as his arm struck the ground in a way that turned his sword towards his face! There was a loud squelching noise as the crowd witnessed Erik''s own de being driven through his eyeball and into his brain! Killing him on the spot!


    The crowd turned in disbelief to stare at Ania, who did not seem to believe that she was still alive just as much as them!

 Chapter 16 - Offering

    [Quest: Ania''s Prayer Completed! Rewarding +9 Followers, A Random Offering will be presented to your Shrine!


    [Congrattions! New Milestone Reached! 10/10 Followersˇ­ Rewarding +1 Stat Pointˇ­ Next Milestone in 10/25 Followers]


    Colt smiled when he saw the notificationsing in confirming thepletion of his Quest. ''I wonder what the offering will be? Will it be something I can use?'' He was pretty curious as to what he could gain from it. As he was thinking about that, Colt''s eyebrows suddenly furrowed into a frown as he heard a few NPC''s in the crowd whispering his name.


    "Exileˇ­"


    "She called on Exile, right? Have the Gods returned?"


    "I''ll definitely be praying to Exile nowˇ­"


    Ania stared at Erik''s corpse in disbelief. She never imagined that Exile would directly intervene in her fight in such a way. Needless to say, she was extremely touched by the lengths that this God was willing to go to for her. Every story she had heard about Gods pegged them as fickle and self-serving.


    Sarri rushed forward out of the crowd to embrace her daughter! Hot tears streamed down her reddened face as she studied Ania''s wounds through blurry eyes. "Thank Exile, you''re alright! Come, we have to see to your injuries before an infection sets in!"


    Colt shuddered when he heard that, but he was all out of DP, so he could not heal Ania. She would have to get through it on her own until he received some new prayers from the Shrine. Colt let out a warm smile as Ania kept ncing over her shoulder towards him as her mother led her away.


    ''She''s still holding onto that axe and shield.'' Colt chuckled lightly before following after them.


    Little did he know that whispers of the duel were spreading amongst the vigers as people discussed the possibility that Gods were real. One person, in particr, perked up when someone came to inform him of what had happened and to ask his advice.


    "What do you think, Bjorn? Is Exile a real God? Should I pray to him?"


    "Hm, you say Ania Eraldsen called on this ''God''?" Bjorn stroked his long grey beard as he stared into the fire in front of him that was filling the room with smoke.


    "Yes! It has to be a God, right? There''s no way Erik would lose his footing like that! The girl had no chance to survive the Trial!"


    "Don''t do anything for now. I''ll pay a visit to the Eraldsen home to get the truth of the matter. If she''s faking it, I''ll certainly find out!" Bjorn''s gaze was fierce as he dismissed the farmer from his home.


    Bjorn stood up and strolled over to a book that sat on the nearby table. He ran his hand across the leather cover. This book contained the history of their people in the form of stories that sounded like myths. ''As the vige Lorekeeper, it will be up to me to write this into the book if it turns out to be true.''


    Bjorn sighed as he flicked open the cover to stare at the runes written on the human skin used for the pageˇ­


    Meanwhile, Sarri was frowning as she looked at Ania''s wounds by the hearth. The bleeding had stopped, and the cuts already showed signs of healing. Needless to say, Sarri was feeling a little strange. ''Is this Exile''s doing?''


    "Is something wrong?" Ania asked with a trembling voice when she saw theplicated look on Sarri''s face.


    "No, nothing dear. In fact, everything looks great!" Sarri seemed to ponder for a moment before she finally decided to ask a question. "Ania, this Exile that you called on during the Trialˇ­ What''s he the God of?"


    Ania let out a surprised gasp. She did not expect her mother to question her about Exile at all. However, it was only then that she realised that she knew nothing of the God apart from his name!


    "I''m the God of the Hearth." Colt chuckled when he saw the look on Ania''s face. He exined the benefits that his followers would receive, like healing quicker when beside an open fire.


    Ania was a bit hesitant to say all of that to her mother in case she thought that Ania was crazy. After all, how could she possibly know so much about a God that nobody had heard of in her vige?


    Sarri seemed to understand something when Ania finally told her that Exile was the God of the Hearth. Her eyes moved to the firece and lingered there for a moment. ''If Exile is real, then every home would fall within his domain. Maybe he''s speeding up her recovery since we''re so close to the warmth of the fire?''


    "Ania, don''t you think you should offer something to Exile to show your gratitude for his protection?" Sarri almost looked like she was scolding her daughter, which she was. Mainly because she did not want to risk earning a God''s ire because her daughter appeared ungrateful for his help!


    "Oh! Butˇ­ I don''t have anything worth giving to him!" Ania became flustered when she realised that she had been taking advantage of a God''s generosity.


    Colt, on the other hand, was unsure how to react to this scene. The NPC''s in front of him were acting like real people who were talking about him as if he was not even there. It still felt weird to be described as a God, but Colt was starting to appreciate the uniqueness of this game.


    "I think it would be appropriate to offer him the axe and shield you used. As a Skardian God, he would certainly appreciate the tools you used to achieve your victory!" Sarri stated matter of factly. "Give me a moment, and I''ll prepare an offering as well."


    Colt grew a little excited as he watched the women prepare their items. Soon, he found himself standing behind them as they kneeled on the floor in front of the Shrine that Ania had made. The axe and shieldy together in front of Ania, while Sarri had prepared a long fur coat, a shirt, leather trousers and a pair of thick fur boots from her husband''s belongings.


    Colt smiled as the pair began to pray to him and offered up these items. However, they soon gasped in surprise as a golden light surrounded these items before they disappeared into motes of light!


    [New items detected in your Shrines Inventoryˇ­ Do you wish to receive them?]

 Chapter 17 - Interrogation

    ''Yes!'' Colt quickly confirmed that he wanted to receive his offerings. The shrine became engulfed in the usual golden light that seemed to apany most things that he did. Colt felt as though a weight was suddenly pressing down on his mind. When he focused on it, he could somehow sense that the items were now avable to him.


    When he thought about the clothes and trying them on, his basic starter gear was suddenly reced by them! Colt felt warm with the fur-lined coat wrapped around him and some decent clothes. As he thought about them, he could tell that they were subtly modifying his stats while wearing them. Giving him a +1 boost to Endurance.


    ''Oh, it seems to be a Common set of equipment.'' Colt was not surprised by this at all. After all, he had barely started ying the game. Although he did wonder what terms would be used for the higher-level equipment.


    Next, he tried the same thing out with the shield and axe. The shield added +1 Endurance, and the axe gave him +1 Strength. When he focused on a single item, some more detailed information would appear.


    [Common Skardian Clothing Set]


    [+1 Endurance]


    [Description: A luxurious set of everyday clothing in some parts of Skardia. This was offered up by Sarri Eraldsen]


    [Common Skardian Training Shield]


    [+1 Endurance]


    [Description: Common item. Do not delude yourself into thinking it is just as good as a proper shield!]


    [Common Skardian Firewood Axe]


    [+1 Strength]


    [Description: Barely passable as a weapon.]


    Colt raised an eyebrow at the sarcastic sounding descriptions. ''What the hell is up with that?'' Just as he was about to start questioning the developers'' sense of humour, there was a loud knock on the Eraldsens'' door.


    "Sarri, are you in there? It''s Bjorn." Bjorn''s rough sounding voice followed the knocking.


    Sarri shared a confused nce with Ania, "What does he want?"


    It took her a moment to answer the door and let the old man in. Bjorn ran a hand over his bald head as his eyesnded on Ania. She shivered beneath his gaze. There was just something unsettling about it that made her feel like he was judging her.


    "It''s rare for you toe out, Bjorn. Is there something I can do for you?" Sarri sounded friendly, but there was a hint of sternest to her tone.


    "Ah, I''m sorry about this, Sarri, but I''d like to ask Ania a few questions." Bjorn mimicked Sarri''s way of talking to him to let her know that he would not take no for an answer.


    Sarri wanted to say something more, but she decided that it was not a good idea. Instead, she invited Bjorn to join them around the fire. Sarri was not an ungracious host and soon handed Bjorn a mug of warm ale before taking a seat beside her daughter.


    "Don''t be rmed. As I said before, I just want to ask you some questions." Bjorn stared directly into Ania''s eyes as he nursed his mug between his hands. "I''m hoping that you can tell me everything about this God called Exile that you called out to during your Trial."


    Ania was just about to answer when Sarri cut her off. "Bjorn! Are you testing my daughter! If you are, then I willingly vouch for her! I have already seen the evidence of the Gods walking among us once more!"


    Bjorn''s expression said that he was somewhat interested in what they had to say. He did not expect toe here today and not only deal with ims of a God but an apparent eye witness as well.


    "Very well, Sarri. Have it your way. Where you can, I''d like you to give me your input where it''s appropriate." Bjorn studied Sarri''s reaction to his words, but she seemed to be resolute in her decision. He nodded in satisfaction and then began his interrogation.


    Bjorn began by asking when Ania first became aware of Exile''s existence before working his way up to their current situation. There were some parts where Ania subtly turned her head to nce at Colt for an answer. Bjorn did not fail to notice this slight action of Ania''s. However, he also noticed that Sarri never once took her eyes away from him.


    Bjorn leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Neither Ania nor Sarri dared to disturb him as he contemted their answers. ''Hm, Ania seems to believe that she is telling the truth. Just like some of those who had delirium and thought they saw the Gods. However, she keeps looking at the chair next to me. As if someone is sitting there.''


    ''Most people don''t do that. There''s no need to since it''s all in their head. Sarri, on the other hand, doesn''t seem to be able to see whatever it is that Ania sees. Ania seems convinced that Exile saved her from being sold off as a ve and that he protected her again during her Trial.''


    ''I don''t have any answers for their offerings disappearing into thin air even if I could brush off the other strange events. If it was just Ania iming that, I could argue that maybe she had hidden the items to sell or something. But, Sarri is adamant that it really happened as well.''


    Bjorn began to stroke his beard under the womens'' watchful gazes. Ania''s descriptions matched some of the older stories in the book he guarded. Nobody in the vige but him knew of those details, like when the Gods first appeared that they just seemed like golden figures. It was only with time that their chosen ones could see past that divine light.


    Bjorn grumbled as his brow furrowed into a frown. He did not want to admit it, but Ania Eraldsen might have been telling the truth. That made Bjorn feel somewhat sour since he had wholeheartedly believed in the existence of the Gods since he was a child. He could not understand why a God would choose this little girl instead of him!

 Chapter 18 - Temple

    "Hm, would you mind if I offered something to Exile?" Bjorn finally said as he opened his eyes to stare at the women.


    "Of course not!"Ania happily chirped. After all, if Bjorn witnessed what they did, it would mean a new believer for Exile. If he was to confirm Exile''s existence, then there was a good chance more people in the vige would turn to Exile.


    Sarri walked behind them as Ania showed Bjorn to the small shrine she had made. Bjorn''s expression becameplicated as he stared at her attempt. There was nothing grand about it at all. ''If this works, I''ll convince others to help me erect a proper shrine for Exile.''


    Bjorn had note prepared for this, so he did not have anything on him that he felt was truly worthy of giving to a God. It was just a test anyway, right? Bjorn settled on cing a single gold coin by the shrine before getting on his knees to pray.


    "Tch, stingyˇ­" Coltined as he looked at the coin, making Ania giggle.


    Bjorn did not pray for anything except for Exile to ept his gift. His eyes opened just in time to witness the coin disappearing in golden motes of light. Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he momentarily froze before wet streaks ran down his cheek.


    [You have received 1 Gold]


    ''Damn! I didn''t even have to retrieve that!'' Colt grumbled as he stared at the notification. If he could receive coins from his believers, that meant there was definitely a currency system for the yers. So he could feel sure that yers would try and amass as much wealth as soon as possible.


    ''Is it too soon to demand Gold from them?'' Colt sighed as he nced at the trio standing before his shrine. ''Probably is. I should just be grateful for what I get right now.''


    Bjorn chose that moment to finally stand back up. "Ania, I hereby confirm that the God of the Hearth, Exile is a true God. I shall petition the vige to adopt him as our guardian deity and to build a proper shrine or temple in his name."


    "And you shall be his High Priestess. This is only right since you are the only one that can seemingly converse with him freely. Sarri, I cannot stress enough how blessed you are to have a daughter that canmunicate with the Gods! We must do all that we can to please Lord Exile!" Bjorn sounded rather excited as he spoke, and it gave Colt the creeps.


    [+1 Fanatical Follower Received]


    Colt cursed as the system confirmed that he was stuck with having Bjorn as one of his followers! ''Could he at least tone it down a bit!''


    "We have a lot of work to do!" Bjorn stated solemnly before marching off as if he was a man with a purpose.


    Over the next few days, Colt spent his time collecting prayers at the Small Shrine and performing Miracles to help Bjorn convince the vigers of his existence. So far, he had caused a wolf to die from being pecked to death, a young girl''s e to be cleared up, cured another person''s toothache and various other things.


    All in all, things were going rather well for Colt. Even if it was a bit boring at times. The vigers had set aside a piece ofnd to construct a temple. Which would essentially be his house and where Ania would be expected to live as his High Priestess.


    Of course, not everyone in the vige was excited about the recent developments. They were usually the ones who did not want to believe that there was a higher power who could judge them for all the wrongs they had ever done.


    However, one young man was currently kneeling in the forest in prayer. This man had coveted Ania for himself, but he never dared to make a move while she was betrothed to Harald. However, she was a free woman now, and he believed that as long as he got a God of his own, it would only be natural for them to be together!


    The sound of snow crunching beneath a pair of boots suddenly entered his ears. The young man turned in excitement, expecting for a God to have heard him and hade to answer his prayers!


    Thest thing he saw was the glint of metal as an axe embedded itself in his brow, killing him on the spotˇ­


    "Was it really necessary?" The middle-aged man asked in the silence of the woods as he retrieved his axe.


    "I seeˇ­" The man continued to have a one-sided conversation with himself as only he knew what answers he received.


    "What about the Oracle he mentioned?"


    "Should I be worried?"


    "Hm, if this is really what you desire, then I will do all that I can to make it happen."


    "I''m not worth your praise Lady Silkyhair."


    The middle-aged man bowed to an empty space beside him before turning to stare in the direction of Eraldsfen. The winds howled around him as he set off toplete his task.


    "Lord Exile! What do you think?" Ania asked excitedly as they stood inside the husk of the building that would serve as the vige temple.


    "It''sˇ­ greatˇ­." Colt nced around at the stone and wood that had been used to build a longhouse.


    "Over here is where we will put a throne for you to sit on. Then, right here, we''ll set up an altar for sacrifices! You''re going to love it!" Ania ran around excitedly, pointing to various empty spots on the floor as she described how it would be decorated.


    Colt was of a mind to tell them to forget about the part that involved sacrifices. It was pretty challenging toe to terms with as a modern man, even if it was in a game. Just as he was about to voice his own opinions, he felt a strange connection with something that wasing closer by the second!

 Chapter 19 - PKer

    ''What the hell is thˇ­.'' Colt began to think before a look of panic crossed his face. ''Shit!''


    Colt''s shield appeared on his left arm as he swivelled to face the doorway to the temple. A golden arrow sped through the air and mmed against his shield! Colt''s feet slid across the floor as he held his ground.


    ''Another yer?'' Colt''s eyes went wide as he analysed what had just happened. ''This is a PK attempt! Damn it! I''ve been ambushed!''


    "What was that?" Ania squealed as the arrow embedded in the shield disappeared into motes of light.


    "You saw that?" Colt asked in surprise.


    "Of course! It was a golden arrow! Who could have missedˇ­ Ohˇ­ Is it another God?" Ania''s voice went from angry to scared.


    At first, she thought that someone in the vige had attempted to attack Exile, but then she realised the problem with that. She was the only one that could see him and the arrow held the same golden glow as Colt!


    "Ania, stay behind me and keep an eye out. This God seems to want to kill me, but they might try something else. Their Oracle could be around and aiming for your head so pay attention!" Colt frowned as he considered what his opponent''s next move might be.


    ''Since they used a Divine Spell, they definitely have at least one follower. But what''s the point of starting a fight at this point in the game? That spell should have been Minor Divine Arrow. That''s right, its damage and cost were equal to the amount of DP the caster had avable!'' Colt grinned when he realised his opponent had banked everything on their first attack!


    Colt eased himself towards the doorway, keeping his shield raised as his axe appeared in his right hand. Before he could properly look outside and try and pinpoint the assant, another arrow entered his view!


    ''Damn it!'' The arrow let out a heavy thud as it struck the shield. Vibrations ran up Colt''s arm making it feel slightly numb.


    As he nted his back against the wall by the doorframe, he cursed internally. ''They tricked me! I can''t tell if that''s actually a spell now!'' Colt was stuck wondering if there was more than one enemy due to the cost of using Minor Divine Arrow, or were they just regr arrows fired from a bow that had been offered to the God assaulting him?


    ''I need to assume the worst-case scenario and think of them as being something the enemy won''t run out of.'' Colt frowned as he tried to figure out what he should do.


    Meanwhile, the vigers of Eraldsfen were beginning to point towards the sky as dark clouds started to gather overhead. Bjorn studied the cloudsing from all directions. ''It''s not naturalˇ­ The Gods are angry! Where''s Ania?''


    "Ania! Stay behind cover! If someone you don''t recognisees in, pray to me!" Colt yelled before he rushed outside with his shield raised!


    Colt peered over the rim of his shield as he roared, hoping to prove his opponent into firing another arrow! Which they did, except this one struck Colt in the leg! As soon as it did, Colt felt as if he had gotten weaker as some information shed in his mind!


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Speed 3. Endurance of area struck 3. Divine Power Tied. -1 HP]


    Colt frowned as he read the information in his mind to understand howbat damage worked in this game. ''They''ve really made this simple! Ok, so damage doesn''t depend on your gear at all. Ites from your stats. Whereas equipment can modify your stats to increase damage.''


    ''By the looks of it, Strength, Speed or Authority can be used to decide the damage, but they either have to tie or be higher than your opponent''s Endurance. It''ll probably take 1 HP off for each point of difference, starting with a tie. But I shouldn''t blind myself into believing that''s all there is to it. If I had to guess, then there''s probably attacks that require Authority or something else to defend against it instead of Endurance.''


    However, Colt frowned when he realised something else! ''It never gave me the enemy''s name! Is that a stealth-like skill, or is it just normal? If it''s normal, then PK''ers will have a field day in this game!''


    Colt pushed on towards the direction where thetest arrow hade from. However, another arrow struck his other thigh.


    [-1 HP]


    ''They''re on the move! Damn it! They''re trying to kite me!'' Colt adjusted his trajectory to try and cut off his opponent''s path. Before he even moved another ten metres, another arrow struck his leg.


    [-1 HP]


    Colt gritted his teeth through the stinging sensation in his legs and kept moving. Of course, another arrow soonnded on him.


    [-1 HP]


    Colt grinned at this point. ''Minor Blessing!''


    [You have healed for +4 HP]


    The stinging sensation disappeared, as did the arrows that were poking out from his legs. The two extra points of Endurance from his equipment worked well with that spell since it brought his total HP up to twenty. ''I can use it two more times which means I can negate another eight points of damage before it they can even threaten my HP properly!''


    "You''re quite the tough one, aren''t you!" At that point, a lithe woman appeared from between the trees.


    Colt studied her figure and noticed that she was still wearing the starter clothing. Besides that, she had a short wooden bow in her hands, but the quiver on her back appeared to be empty. The woman dropped the bow and drew the hunting dagger at her waist.


    "It seems like you''ve found a rather good follower. The vige behind you looks pretty nice too. I hope you don''t mind if I take it for myself!" The yer called Silkyhair shouted as she sprang towards Colt!


    "Take it if you think you can!" Colt snarled as thunder rumbled throughout the dark clouds overhead!

 Chapter 20 - Ascension!

    Silkyhair swung her dagger, striking Colt''s shield. When the blownded, she frowned as no damage notification came up. Colt reacted quickly and attacked her with his axe. ''Yes!'' Colt grew excited because his strike had managed to deal damage!


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Endurance 1. Your Strength 2. Your Divine Power is superior. You have dealt -2 HP.]


    This meant that he could harm his opponent, while as long Silkyhair struck his shield, he waspletely safe! Of course, as soon as he had that thought, Silkyhair managed to slip around his guard and stab his arm!


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Speed 3. Endurance of area struck 3. Divine Power Tied. -1 HP]


    Colt frowned when he received the notification. It made it clear that damage started at one for a tie, and he would deal one extra point of damage for every stat point that he overwhelmed his opponent by during the check. This made him feel a lot more confident during this fight!


    Theyshed out against each other, and Colt discovered that if Silkyhair blocked his axe with her de, he would not deal any damage to her. This was because her Speed was greater than her Strength. This single battle was proving to be enlightening for Colt as a broad grin swept across his face.


    [-1 HP]


    [-1 HP]


    [You have dealt -2 HP]


    [-1 HP]


    [-1 HP]


    ''Minor Blessing!'' Colt activated his skill as Silkyhair''stest blow got lodged in-between his ribs.


    [You have healed for +4 HP]


    Colt grinned as Silkyhair looked into his eyes with a panicked expression on her face! Her position made it difficult for him to strike her with his sword, so he did what felt natural. His left arm swung around and mmed the rim of his shield into the bridge of Silkyhair''s nose!


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Endurance 1. Your Endurance 4. Your Divine Power is superior. You have dealt -4 HP.]


    Silkyhair''s head exploded into golden motes of light at the moment of impact! Colt was shocked by how violently she had died as her body slumped to the ground before the same specks of light imed it as well.


    [Congrattions! You have in Silkyhair, Goddess of the Hunt! Calcting Divinity. Generating Divine Orb.]


    As soon as Colt read the notification, a golden orb appeared on the spot where Silkyhair had died as well as the bow she had used earlier. Colt touched the bow first, and it disappeared into his inventory. He focused on it to see what its stats were.


    [Common Hunting Shortbow]


    [Requires: Arrows]


    [Current Ammo: 0/10]


    [Description: Common ranged weapon. Can be equipped to Secondary Weapon slot.]


    Colt ignored it for now as he did not see the point of equipping the bow before he had any ammo for it. His eyes then turned to the golden Orb as he raised his eyebrow curiously. When he touched the Divine Orb, a series of notifications entered his mind.


    [This Orb contains 50% of Silkyhair''s Divinity. Do you wish to absorb it for yourself?]


    Colt grinned as he confirmed the action. A golden stream erupted from the Orb and struck his chest. The stream connected him to the item for around thirty seconds before the Orb vanished from Colt''s sight.


    [You have absorbed Silkyhair''s Divinity! You have permanently received +2 Speed, +1 Endurance.]


    Colt''s eyes went wide when he read the notification! ''When other''s find out about this, they''ll realise the fastest way to get stronger is to wipe out other yers! Damn, the developers are so vicious!''


    [Congrattions! 10 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Level 2!]


    [Please prepare yourself for Ascension! 10ˇ­ 9ˇ­ 8ˇ­]


    ''Wait! What? Fuck!'' Colt panicked as he had no idea what was going on.


    [7ˇ­ 6ˇ­ 5ˇ­ 4ˇ­]


    ''Damn! Do you really have to rush me! Wait. Why do I feel like I have forgotten something?''


    [3ˇ­ 2ˇ­ 1ˇ­]


    [Ascension Activated!]


    A golden beam of light suddenly burst through the dark clouds overhead tond on Colt''s figure. Colt suddenly felt as if his body was being stretched as he was suddenly pulled away from the ground by the light to who knew whereˇ­


    Ania swung her fist at the man who had slipped inside of the temple to try and kill her. She had no idea why but he had suddenly hesitated as if he had sensed something wrong, so she would definitely exploit it!


    Blood erupted from the man''s mouth as Ania knocked a few of his teeth loose. He groaned loudly as he retaliated by shing Ania with his hunting dagger. A deep cut opened along Ania''s upper arm as she winced in pain.


    Their fight had been going on for some time now, and Ania was beginning to feel tired. She took a moment to study the several cuts that the man had inflicted on her. ''I have to stall for timeˇ­.''


    "Why are you doing this?" Ania demanded as she attempted to get the man to talk.


    "The Goddess demands it." Ania''s opponent spat out a mouthful of blood as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "You''re just like me. You understand, right? We have to make sure everyone understands how great the Gods are!"


    Ania sneered at his fanatical expression. There was something off with the way he was acting. Why did they not just return to the man''s vige? It should not have been hard for them to do the same as what Exile and herself had aplished in Eraldsfen.


    The man stalked toward her in a low posture with his arms close to his body. She shivered when his expression became menacing. Ania took two wary steps back as she kept her eyes fixed on her assant.


    Whoosh!


    "Aghh! Fuˇ­" Gurgling noises erupted from the man''s throat as he tried to grab at the arrowhead that had suddenly burst through his skin!


    "Ania! Are you ok?" Bjorn rushed in from the doorway with a bow in his hands.


    "I''m fineˇ­." Ania stared at the man who had attempted to kill her with a cold look in her eyes.


    The man bled to death right at their feet. Bjorn had shot him in the gut first with one arrow and finished him off with a second through his throat.


    [Pantheon Online System Logˇ­]


    [Silkyhair, Goddess of the Hunt, has no active followers leftˇ­]


    [Revoking yer Silkyhair''s Divinityˇ­]


    [yer Silkyhair has forcefully been ejected from the gameˇ­]


    [yer Silkyhair has been permanently banned from Pantheon Onlineˇ­]

 Chapter 21 - Divine Realms

    Colt felt disorientated as bright lights seemed to sh past him!


    [Wee to the Divine Realms!]


    [Starting Territoryˇ­ Valheim Cityˇ­]


    [Congrattions! You have received a new Divine Spell]


    [Skill Received: (Divine) Avatar]


    [Cost: 3 DP per Hour]


    [Description: Create a solid construct of yourself in the Mortal Realms to interact with the world. Your construct can descend in any Shrine or Temple that worships you. Please use it in a safe location as your main body in the Divine Realms can still be harmed.]


    [Your HP and DP has been fully regenerated!]


    Colt did not even get the chance to fully digest the notifications that bombarded him before he felt his feet connect with solid ground! The lights that were blinding him gradually faded away to reveal that he was standing on a white stone circle with marble columns around its circumference at regr intervals.


    Colt nced around in wonder as he realised that the structure was situated in the centre of a city square. The buildings were gorgeous to look at as if they were something straight out of ancient mythology. Marble seemed to be the primary material used to create this city, but the architecture was lined with solid gold bricks to really make the corners and hard lines pop.


    As Colt stood there in wonder, he realised that something was off. ''Where are the people?''


    Valheim was entirely silent. No yers were walking around, or at least as far as he could see, neither did it look like there were any NPC''s here. Colt''s eyebrows took a dip into a frown as he nced around more warily this time.


    However, there were no sounds at all. Which is why Colt jumped in surprise at what happened next!


    Ding!


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is attempting to connect with you. Do you want to activate Oracle?]


    ''Damn! With everything that was happening, Ipletely forgot about her!'' Colt pped his own face in embarrassment before agreeing to the notification.


    [Lord Exile! Where are you? Are you ok?]


    "I''m fine, Ania, don''t worry." Colt quickly tried to calm her down. Her voice sounded distressed through the mental link that the Oracle skill created. ''How do I exin what''s happened?''


    Colt paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. He had to tell her something but would it sound believable? Colt cleared his throat as he thought about a usible exnation before putting on his best God sounding voice.


    "The time I could spend in the Mortal Realms ran out, and I had to return to the heavens." Colt naturally cringed inside, but it was worth it if it put Ania at ease.


    [Ohˇ­ When will you being back?]


    "I don''t know. I have some business to attend to here for a while, but I''ll certainly be sure to keep an eye on you." Colt lied through his teeth. Although Gods were meant to be able to see everything, he doubted that it would be a feature hidden in the game somewhere.


    [I''ll be sure to have the temple ready for you by thenˇ­ Thank youˇ­]


    Before Colt could reply, the connection was cut off on Ania''s side. He got the distinct feeling that he could forcefully connect with her, but he saw no point in doing so right now. It would only make the conversation even more awkward than it already had been.


    ''She seemed worried by my absence. Hopefully, she doesn''t do anything stupid until I can figure things out.'' Colt sighed as he shook his head and nced around at the buildings again. ''I may as well explore a little and see what the deal is.''


    Colt walked up to the first building he noticed that had a door. When he tried to open it, the door would not budge even an inch.


    [This building is currently unowned. Purchase price: 50,000 Gold. Insufficient funds detected.]


    ''Hm? So you can own property in this game. That''s interesting but hardly a new idea.'' Colt tried a few more doors but got roughly the same answer every time.


    [This building is currently unowned. Purchase price: 70,000 Gold. Insufficient funds detected.]


    [This building is currently unowned. Purchase price: 50,000 Gold. Insufficient funds detected.]


    [This building is currently unowned. Purchase price: 140,000 Gold. Insufficient funds detected.]


    ''Is there even anything to do here?'' Colt could not help but wonder as he was rejected once again. The city of Valheim was massive. It would take him at least half an hour to walk to the walls that he could see in the distance. However, at the moment, he could not see any means of travelling quickly through the streets.


    ''Screw it. I''ll just need to take my chances outside. This ce makes me feel like it''s supposed to be run by yers, so I doubt there''s any NPC''s around. With that thought in mind, he began the long journey to Valheim''s walls.


    After around ten minutes of running, one golden beam after anothernded on the city square at regr intervals. However, Colt was so focused on the walls in front of him that he failed to notice the phenomenon happening behind him.


    "Yo! Beans! How you doing? You got invited to?" A yer known as DonnaThaGreat called out.


    "Hey, Donna! You know it!" BeansNtoasT replied with an excited shout as she swept her short brown hair back. "What do you think of the game so far?"


    "What''s there to say? It''s kind of cool, but it took so long to find the NPC''s!" Donnained as she recalled the journey she had been through. "It''s not very yer-friendly either. There''s a distinctck of direction. Oh, right. Do you know what this Authority stat is for yet?"


    "No clue, I focused on Strength and Endurance. You know my style." Beans replied as they both burst out intoughter. The square was starting to get lively as small groups started gathering to work together.


    "I hear you! Speed and Endurance for me. Going for that evasive tank style, you know? Hey, you want to party up? It''s getting crowded around here, and there doesn''t seem like there''s anything to do."


    "Sure! It''ll be just like old times! God, I can''t wait till they let us stream this game. My channel has been dyingtely! There haven''t been any good game releases for a while." BeansNtoasT nced around before she spotted the walls in the distance. "Since we''ve got here so early, what do you think of getting a look outside of the city before anyone else?"

 Chapter 22 - First Mob!

    Colt stared at the impressive marble gates of Valheim as he passed through them. They certainly gave off the feeling of belonging to the heavens with the grooves that had been carved into them. Although, he did feel like the ce was more than a little eerie. However, that was due to theck of people.


    There were no guards at the gates, and theyy wide open. There was nothing stopping anyone or anything from just wandering into the city whenever they felt like it. ''Is the city a safe area, or can fights happen inside?''


    That was Colt''s biggest question right now. It was a vital piece of information that could prove to be helpful in the future. However, he would not gain the answer to that question until more yers arrived in the city and somebody decided to start something.


    The area beyond the gates was full of soft rolling hills covered in a white nket of snow with a looming mountainousndscape in the background. Colt was pleased to see giant wolveszily lounging around in the snow. His gamer instincts kicked in as he had finally spotted some mobs to grind exp!


    He began to run towards them before he suddenly slid to a stop. ''Wait. There''s no experience bar.'' Colt had just remembered this fact as he stared at the mobs with evident confusion. ''So what''s the point of having mobs then? Materials? Drops?''


    Colt stared at the wolves warily as he tried to figure out what their purpose was. ''I can only test the waters for now. Hopefully, I can get something good out of it.''


    Colt eyed the nearest pack and found one of them lying at a reasonable distance from the rest. If he was lucky enough, it might turn out to be outside of the aggro range of the others. Colt moved around the pack to ce himself closer to the isted one. He was relieved to see that none of them appeared to react to his presence.


    Colt steadily approached his target from its rear, but it soon noticed him. Itsrge head nced up from between its front legs as it shifted its position to stare at him curiously. Colt froze for a moment as he realised the wolf would stand at the same height as himself once it stood up. He had been tricked into thinking that they were smaller due to the distance and their body positions.


    ''Damn it. That thing is massive!'' Colt stared at the wolf as he calmed his mind. ''I can''t sneak up on it, so I''ll just have to go for it!''


    Colt sprinted forward, and the wolf growled once he came within what it considered to be its area. The wolf did not wait for him to attack. Instead, it rose from its position and leapt towards him instead!


    Colt grit his teeth as the wolf flew towards him and widened his stance to absorb the blow. His shield appeared on his left arm while his hand gripped the handle of his axe when it manifested. Colt was pushed back by a few steps as the wolf collided with his shield. His mind quickly digested the system notifications that followed.


    [You have been attacked by Divine Wolf Pup (Runt)]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Speed 5. Endurance of area struck 5. Divine Power is tied. -1 HP]


    Colt''s eyes went wide when he realised the creature in front of him was only a pup! Not only that but it was considered the runt of the group! So how big would the adults be then? Unfortunately, the wolf had knocked him back enough to remain out of reach of a possible counter-strike.


    The pair began to circle each other as they searched for an opening. Colt noticed that the other five wolves nearby seemed to watch their fight with some interest. However, they did not seem to have any intentions of interfering. ''Is it because it''s the runt? Or because we''re out of range to triggerbat?''


    Colt wanted to understand the mechanics of the game as soon as possible. However, for now, he was grateful that he could test himself in a one on one. The wolf noticed his moment of distraction and charged in once again!


    However, Colt was ready for it this time and stepped outside of its attack range before shing at the wolf''s nk as it passed by. Colt frowned as no notification popped up, and the wolf appeared unharmed.


    A simr situation had happened before. That was when the yer Silkyhair had shot his shield with an arrow. As he thought about that, he realised that he never received a notification if his defence outssed his opponent''s offence. So it would make sense if it worked the other way around as well, right?


    Going on that logic, he deduced that the wolf''s Endurance had to be at three at least. Since if it was two, then they would tie, and it would still take damage. That knowledge left Colt feeling rather grim. He frowned as he thought about how to go about winning the fight.


    The wolf lunged again, and this time when Colt avoided it, he mmed the rim of his shield on the side of the wolf''s snout. Making it yelp painfully in the process!


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Endurance 3. Your Endurance 5. Your Divine Power is superior. You have dealt -3 HP.]


    Colt smiled briefly now that he had confirmed that he could injure the wolf. ''I can''t see a health bar, but if its Endurance works the same way as a yer''s, then it should have 12/15 HP left.''


    ''Ok, I just need to pull that off four more times to end this. Should be easy enough.'' Colt waited for the wolf to attack again, but it seemed like it had be warier of him. Colt remained patient as they stared each other down. Eventually, the wolf could not take it anymore and pounced towards Colt once again.


    Colt performed his evasive manoeuvre again only to curse mid-way through. He could have sworn the wolf was smiling at him as itnded just in front of him instead of passing him by. Colt was off-bnce as he stared at a vast furry paw swiping at him!

 Chapter 23 - First Drop!

    The pawnded on Colt''s shield, doing no damage but opening him up for the wolf''s next attack. As Colt tried to recover his bnce, the wolf charged at him striking his body on the way past.


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Speed 5. Endurance of area struck 4. Your Divine Power is Inferior. -2 HP]


    Colt groaned as he finally regained his bnce and turned to face the wolf, who seemed to be mocking him with its gaze. ''Ok, looks like the mobs are pretty intelligent. I can''t take them lightly.'' Colt''s eyes narrowed as he began to think of how to maximise his damage output with each exchange.


    Colt braced himself and began to edge towards the beast, which caught it unawares. The wolf sniffed at the air as if trying to sense what he was up to but to no avail. The closer that Colt got to it, the louder it growled. Colt could even smell the stretch of raw meat on its breath as he reached a distance that would allow him tounch an attack.


    Colt leapt forward suddenly and smashed the wolf''s snout with his shield, causing it to lower its head slightly. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Colt delivered a blow towards the wolf''s eye with his axe!


    [You have dealt -3 HP]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Your Strength 2. Enemy Endurance of area struck 1. You have dealt -2 HP]


    Colt grinned as the information was fed into his mind. He had estimated the wolf to have 12/15 HP after the first time he had damaged it. So now it should only have 7/15 HP left. He was especially pleased to see that his guess about mobs having weak spots was correct as well. Which led him to attack the wolf''s eye.


    ''So fur, scales, and the like probably have the highest Endurance rating on a mob. As if it were their armour. The key to a good DPS will be discovering their weak points and exploiting them.'' Colt nodded. This might sound likemon sense, but very few games actually implemented it. So no matter where you hit the mobs, you would do the same damage. It was only if the mobs had a weakness to a specific type of damage that you could increase your DPS in most games.


    Colt felt much more positive after confirming that. The beast attempted to raise its head to snarl at Colt, but he delivered another shield bash to its snout, which seemed to stun it.


    [You have dealt -3 HP]


    Colt grinned savagely and swiftly delivered two more blows to the wolf with his shield keeping it in a stun lock in the process. The wolf died rather pitifully under that abuse. Its enormous body fell to the ground before disappearing in motes of light.


    [New Milestone Unlocked]


    [Wolf yer: 1/10]


    ''Hmm? A new milestone?'' Colt pondered for a moment, then had a thought. ''When my follower count met new milestones, I received a stat point! So is this how we''re supposed to level up then?'' Colt felt that there was a good chance that he was right. Meaning that yers would have to explore and find new ways to level up. After all, these Milestones most likely had caps to them.


    Colt thought it was a rather clever idea. It would stop higher levelled yers grinding in the more essible areas for levels. Meaning that the lower levels would not have topete for scraps. His attention was soon dragged away from these thoughts by two soft lights that briefly appeared in the snow.


    Colt grinned as two itemsy on the snow in its ce. One looked like a piece of folded up fur, and the other looked like one of the wolf''s fangs. Before he moved to retrieve them, he warily eyed the remaining five wolves who watched himzily. ''Seems like I''m still safe.'' Colt thought as he cocked an eyebrow. Colt touched the wolf fang first, and a notification popped up.


    [Item: Wolf Fang]


    [Type: Common]


    [Base Strength Requirement to Collect: 1]


    The wolf fang disappeared into Colt''s inventory as he read through the information. However, he was now troubled by the piece of information that there were limits set on collecting his loot! Colt quickly checked his stat page and sighed dejectedly.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 2]


    [HP: 22/25]


    [DP: 3/3]


    [Strength: 1 (+1)]


    [Endurance: 3 (+2)]


    [Speed: 3]


    [Authority: 3]


    His base Strength was only valued at 1. Which meant he would have a hard time collecting any decent materials he came across. ''Luckily, I''m still in what seems to be a low-level area.'' Colt moved his hand over the fur to collect it as well.


    [Item: Wolf Fur]


    [Type: Common]


    [Base Strength Requirement to Collect: 3]


    Colt cursed loudly when he saw he did not meet the requirements to collect this item. He had a feeling that these items gained from the wolf could possibly be used as crafting materials. When Colt exited the information of the Wolf Fur without collecting it, the object disappeared. As though it understood that nobody could collect it.


    ''I guess I need to start putting some points into Strength.'' Colt eyed the other wolves again and smiled. At least there''s plenty of wolves, and nobody else is here yet. Colt started to walk towards the other five nearby with a broad grin on his face. However, as he got closer, all five of them lifted their heads and snarled at him.


    ''Ok, so these ones will probably fight together. With their Speed, I won''t be able to outrun them if things start to look bad. I should pick out the ones who have been isted frothier packs.'' Colt''s gaze swept the snow-covered hills and spotted several that fit the bill. However, he would have to carefully avoid a few packs that were close together.


    ''I guess it''s time to start grinding thenˇ­.''

 Chapter 24 - Butting In!

    Colt steadily decimated any isted wolves that he could find. As he got used to how the wolves could react, he eventually reached the point where it became rare that they managed to injure him. He had used Minor Blessing on himself at one point and had only received two points of damage since then. Colt delivered the final blow to the battered Divine Wolf Pup (Runt) in front of him.


    [Milestone Reachedˇ­ Milestone Updated]


    [Wolf yer: 10/20]


    [You have received +1 Stat Point]


    Colt grinned at the notification as he collected the Wolf Fang drop as the Wolf Fur disappeared yet again. So far, he had collected six Wolf Fangs, including this one. The drops were not guaranteed, and two wolves had not dropped anything at all.


    Colt opened the interface to look at his stat allocations. Without any hesitation, he sunk his free point into Strength. Colt suddenly felt as if his body had be stronger, but he knew that it was just how the game was programmed to be.


    ''Do I keep grinding? Or should I head back to Valheim?'' Colt was growing concerned because he had noticed that neither his HP nor DP regenerated over time, even here in the Divine Realm. That was bound to be a problemter on, so he hoped that the city had to be hiding a method to recover.


    Finding that method as soon as possible would be important. However, Valheim was ridiculouslyrge, and it would take him too long to find it on his own. ''Forget it.'' Colt sighed as he nced around. ''It would be a shame to waste my head start looking for something that might not exist.''


    Just as he was eyeing up the wolf packs to find his next victim, he heard the sound of voices. Colt grinned because he knew what this meant due to the distinctck of NPC''s. ''yers!''


    Colt decided to take a break from his solo hunt and check out how these other yers were doing. From the sound of their voices, they were just over one of the nearby hills.


    Colt jogged over while carefully avoiding the aggro range of any packs that were in his way. Once the new yers came into view, Colt''s jaw went ck in shock.


    Five yers were fighting it out against each other while defending against two different wolf packs. Colt took a moment to watch the fight and try to understand what was going on. These yers should have arrived just recently, so how did they manage to get into a fight already?


    "Beans! Behind you!" The yer called DonnaThaGreat shouted as she blocked a punch aimed for her face!


    BeansNtoasT spun on her heel to deliver a kick to the side of a wolf''s jaw as it pounced at her. The situation on the hill slope was chaotic. Nine wolves were remaining while a group of three ganged up on a party of two.


    "Just die already!" The man who had tried to punch Donna shouted as he attempted to grab her.


    "Go to hell!" Donna retaliated angrily as she drove her fist into the man''s gut.


    As he was pushed back by the blow, his teammate threw a knife at Donna while she was distracted. It was clear to Colt that the attack had dealt damage from Donna''s reaction, but he still could not understand anything from this short exchange.


    "Why don''t you guys just go fight somewhere else?" Beans shouted as she prevented another wolf from attacking Donna.


    "Hah! Why would we? By the time we kill you that pack, your fighting will be weakened enough to be easy pickings! Plus, don''t you know that you can absorb the stats of other yers when they die? This is the perfect chance to grab some free points!" The woman in the back of the group of three shouted.


    Colt''s eyes narrowed when he heard this. None of the five had spotted him yet, but he was really pissed that this group of three were already trying to PK in the game. He had already experienced what it was like to get ambushed in this game, and he disapproved of it while the game was still in its Beta Test.


    He was a firm believer in initially working together to get they of thend whenever a new game was released. PK''ing was fine if you used it for your streaming channel to keep your viewers entertained. But that was not possible during the Beta.


    Before Colt knew what he was doing, his feet had already begun to move on their own. BeansNtoasT had just recovered from punching a wolf when another tried to take a bite of her. She cursed under her breath as she prepared herself to take some damage!


    At that point, Colt had arrived on the field of battle without any of the yers noticing. He drove forward and uppercut the wolf who was about to bite Beans, forcing its jaws shut prematurely!


    Colt sun his axe overhead to strike the wolf in its eye, dealing the final points of damage to its HP. Beans was stunned as she stared at Colt''s avatar. For one thing, he was the only yer that she had seen that appeared to be fully kitted out. Everyone else that she had seen in Valheim was still wearing the starter rags and maybe one or two pieces of something different.


    She had no idea who this guy was, but she would notin about him helping them. The expressions of the other group became dark when they realised an unknown yer had gotten himself involved with their fight. However, seeing his equipment made them drool with greed.


    "Help your friend! I''ll keep these guys busy!" Colt shouted as he blocked one wolf with his shield and shed at another.


    Beans nodded her head in awe. Colt''s movements appeared fluid as if he were used to fighting in games. Beans doubted that she would have been able to stop that joint attack if it were her. ''I better invite him to the Partyˇ­.''

 Chapter 25 - First Party

    [yer BeansNtoasT has invited you to a Party. Do you ept?]


    Colt raised an eyebrow at what the woman had chosen for her gamer tag, but who was he to judge? ''Yes.''


    There was a strange feeling as Colt was suddenly able to roughly sense how much HP BeansNtoasT and DonnaThaGreat had left. Even though he was not given the exact numbers, he could feel that both women had already lost half of their HP bars. ''The other guys should be in better condition.'' Colt frowned as he exchanged a flurry of rapid blows with three wolves.


    [-2 HP]


    [-2 HP]


    {You have dealtˇ­]


    Two of the wolves died during the exchange. Their bodies faded away to leave some loot behind, but this was not the time to check it. The women in the Party seemed to have stabilised the situation, but they were still losing HP. If this situation carried on much longer, it was almost inevitable that he would be left alone to deal with the other Party and the remaining wolves.


    Colt decided to bite the bullet and use up his remaining DP. Colt activated his Campfire spell for the first time!


    A warm golden fire suddenly appeared floating in the air between Colt and his Party members. The sudden appearance of the warm, ming orb caught the other yers off guard as they paused their fights to nce at it warily. However, Beans and Donna soon burst out smiling when they realised that the fire carried a healing effect!


    Colt turned his attention back to the remaining two wolves on their side of the battle. These wolves seemed to be wary of the fire burning behind Colt, which surprised him. However, this did not stop him from taking advantage of the situation.


    Colt took two steps forward and put his weight into his shield as he bashed one wolf on the snout to temporarily stun it. While it was shaken, he quickly set about exchanging attacks with the other one. The wolf howled as Colt smashed the side of its head several times using his axe and shield rotation.


    Just as the wolf let out a pitiful death howl, Colt''s Campfire spell wore off. Still, it had proven to be effective in healing the whole Party. The members of the other group had ugly expressions on their faces now. Colt was moments away from killing hisst wolf. Which would leave him free to join the others.


    At the same time, their Party still had four wolves left. The woman who was restraining the wolves was struggling to do any damage. They had nned to quickly kill Donna and Beans before working together to steal their kills.


    Needless to say, they were beginning to consider making a run for it. But the wolves that had them surrounded would never let them get away. They could only grit their teeth and fight harder in the hopes they could kill the women before Colt managed to join them.


    However, it was not meant to be as they heard the dreaded sound of a wolf dying. The men cursed as they nced in Colt''s direction, and sure enough, he was already racing towards them. Donna and Beans were d for the backup as they heaved sighs of relief.


    Colt joining the battle soon turned it in their favour. As the woman in the back saw that her Party was going to lose, she decided to try and make a run for it. Her partners'' expressions sank for a moment at her abandoning them, but they soon gloated as the remaining wolves chased her down.


    Colt exchanged blows with the man using knives while the women worked together to fight the other one. The man grimaced as he struck Colt''s shield and failed to do any damage. Colt hacked at the man''s arm with his axe before slipping the man with his shield.


    Colt''s opponent groaned as he tried to retaliate with a lunge, but Colt trapped his arm between his shield and the side of his body. The man looked like he wanted to say something, but Colt head-butted him before burying his axe in the yer''s head.


    The yer had a defiant look in his eyes as his body turned into motes of light. At the same time, the women finished off their opponent. As the bodies faded away, Colt stared at the Divine Orb in front of him. He did not wait for the others to say anything and immediately chose to absorb the yer''s Divinity for himself.


    [You have permanently received +2 Authority, +1 Strength, +2 Endurance]


    [Authority Increase Detectedˇ­ Awarding +2 DP]


    [Please choose two spellsˇ­]


    [(Divine) Minor Grace: Grants a divine protective barrier for 20% of target''s health. Cost: 1 DP]


    [(Divine) Minor Divine Arrow: Fast-moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [(Hearth) Bonfire: Creates a Divine Bonfire that radiates a healing aura over 15m. Heals followers/party members for 3 HP per second for 5 seconds. Cost: 4 DP]


    Colt frowned as he read the notification. It was evident that the Bonfire spell was a much better version of Campfire. Not only that, but it was the only spell that was rted to his divine speciality. Colt groaned slightly as he knew that the healing magic would be appreciated a lot more in a Party. Especially if they managed to find something like a dungeon in the game.


    Colt grit his teeth and chose the Bonfire Spell first. Followed by Minor Grace. He would have liked to have gained an offensive type spell, but the Minor Divine Arrow spell would drain all of his DP no matter when he used it.


    "Hey! Thanks for your help!" Beans shouted as she started to walk towards Colt. It seemed like she wanted to have a proper conversation with him while Donna absorbed the Divine Orb that had dropped from their opponent.


    Colt was about to reply, but something caught his eye a few hills away. Colt grinned savagely as he sprang into action, racing off without saying anything in response to Beansˇ­

 Chapter 26 - Compensation

    Colt had already crossed half the distance between himself and the woman who escaped before she realised that she had a new problem. The wolves had been hounding her during the entire time she had been running from the battlefield. She had thought that she would get away in time.


    Colt roared as he reached the nearest wolf and pped its jaws aside as it tried to take a chunk out of him. The woman looked ecstatic as the wolves turned their attention on Colt instead! She turned to make a sprint for it. There was no way that he would be able to catch her while he was dealing with the pack!


    A shiver ran down her spine for a moment, forcing her to nce back. ''Damn!'' She ducked just in time as Colt''s axe passed where her neck had been. The sudden ducking movement threw her off bnce as she turned it into a roll instead.


    Colt smiled smugly as he shield bashed another wolf while viciously kicking out at her. The woman grunted as his foot connected with her abdomen. However, the blow dealt no damage and just gave her a shock from the suddenness of it.


    "Wait! We don''t need to fight! I just went along with those guys. There''s no need for any grief between us!" The woman yelled frantically as she kept ncing behind Colt.


    ''Usually, I''d agree, but she definitely seemed to get along well with those other two. If I leave her alone, then the three of them may ambush meter. It''s better to weaken her now.'' Colt had also picked up on the fact she kept looking behind him. Which meant that Beans and Donna were most likely on their way over to them.


    Colt activated Minor Grace to give himself a health shield worth 7 HP. It would have been a waste to heal himself since he was not far off of having a full health bar anyway. Colt dove forward and shed with his axe in an obvious manner. Which the woman dodged easily, but she had fallen for his feint. Colt''s shield met her gut as she was focused on the axe, causing her to double over.


    [You have dealt -2 HP]


    Colt raised an eyebrow as he digested thebat information. From the damage number, he could figure out that the woman had an Endurance rating of 4 at least. Colt chuckled to himself lightly as he proceeded to bash her again. She was doing her best to avoid his axe, but Colt now knew that he would not be able to deal any damage to her with it.


    The woman was so panicked that she probably was not thinking clearly, which led to one mistake after another. Her head exploded into motes of light as Colt dealt the finishing blow. At the same time, he heard fighting going on behind him. The sounds of wolves dying one after the other entered his ears as the yer''s Divine Orb appeared.


    "Hey, Beans! She''s dead! He actually managed to do it!" Donna chuckled as she walked up behind Colt. "Isn''t that great? Now you get one too!"


    "Serves them right!" beans chuckled as she followed a short distance behind her friend. "I can''t wait to absorbˇ­ What!"


    The two women looked on in shock as Colt absorbed the Orb first without saying anything. He eagerly waited to see what he would gain from it.


    [You have permanently received +2 Strength, +3 Endurance]


    [Congrattions! More than 20 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Level 3!]


    "Hey! What''s the deal? Why didn''t you leave that Orb for Beans?" Donna stormed towards Colt with an angry expression on her face.


    "What''s there to say? Did you help to kill her? Would you have killed her if I didn''t involve myself?" Colt replied with a carefree tone and a shrug. "Take it as mypensation for turning those yers into enemies. I doubt they''ll let me off the hook if they see me again."


    Donna frowned at his reply. It made a lot of sense, but well, it would have been better for them if Beans absorbed it. That way, they would have an easier time grinding for levels. After all, it was not like Colt was likely to hang around and help them.


    "Donna, it''s fine." Beans interrupted her before she said anything else. She knew what Donna''s personality was like. "Thanks for your help. I''m BeansNtoasT. Beans is fine. This is my friend and fellow streamer, DonnaThaGreat."


    Colt studied Beans'' expression for a moment and realised that she really was not angry. Her short brown hair contrasted with her bright blue eyes as she stared at him. She was one of those regr girls that seemed to have a friendly personality. Which made her appear more attractive than she really was.


    Colt''s eyes then fell on Donna. Her ck hair fell down to her waist and framed her tanned face quite nicely. Her waistline was slightly slim for Colt''s liking, but she made up for it in the chest area. It was just a shame that Colt was not much of a chest person either.


    "I''m Exile," Colt replied after a brief pause. "Are there any other yers here already?"


    He was definitely curious as to how the situation in Valheim had progressed. Since he had quickly run into five yers, that told him that quite a few people must have ascended not long after him.


    "There''s a few. Maybe around sixty?" Beans tapped her chin as she tried to figure out the exact number while Donna red at Colt. "But you should already know that, right?"


    "No. There was nobody else in the city when I arrived." Colt sighed, and the two women gasped.


    "Doesn''t that mean you were the first yer to ascend? Wait! You absorbed two Orbs, right? So, aren''t you already level 3?" Donna suddenly cut in excitedly.


    Colt raised an eyebrow at the question before nodding to confirm it. Donna seemed to have something in mind as she stared at him with a glint in her eyesˇ­

 Chapter 27 - Noobs!

    "Ok, how about this. You stick with us, and we''ll give you thergest share of kills and drops." Donna began with a smirk. "In return, you have to sell our items for us and buy us new equipment. Sounds good, right?"


    "And who am I meant to sell our items to? If you haven''t noticed, there''s no NPC''s in the city." Colt frowned as he nced at the two women.


    "You don''t know?" Donna''s surprise was evident on her face. "I thought you would have found them since you were the first one to arrive here."


    "What she means is a lot of yers worked together to explore the city''s area close to the arrival point. Most were buildings that could be bought, but one of the groups found a store. The problem is that you can''t open the door without being Level 3." Beans cut in to exin the situation.


    Colt raised an eyebrow at this piece of information. ''Does that mean there are NPC''s hidden in the city?'' This information seemed to contradict everything that he had observed about the Divine Realm so far, but it intrigued him. ''Still, setting a level limit on entering the store? It seems like another thing meant to push people towards killing each other to level up quickly.''


    Colt thought he began to see the bigger picture of this game. Everything so far seemed designed to incite conflict among the yers. For one thing, at some point, they would have to fight over followers. There was bound to be only a limited amount of NPC''s. Then, there was the fact that it was easier to gain stat points by taking them from someone else.


    The only problem with that was that you did not get to choose where to invest them. Which meant that taking this route could leave you with a build unsuitable to your style. ''It''s not some casual RPG game that anyone can enjoy.'' Colt frowned as he considered the implications of that.


    After all, he intended to gather information to sell to thepanies and yers who would enter the game during its public release. However, most of the yers who were willing to spend money on the game usually did not have much skill. They just liked the attention that they gained from possessing the best that the game had to offer.


    However, the deal that the two women offered him just now was a good one for him. "That''s fine. But I need to recover my Health and DP first."


    Colt told a half-lie here. His HP was fine for now, but he felt a little ufortable with his DP running low. He was hoping that since the women knew about a store, maybe they knew how to regenerate these things. He had a feeling that if he asked for the information that Donna would try to exploit him.


    "That''s fine. We''re a little low as well. Why don''t we all head to the temple together?" Beans immediately replied while Donna frowned.


    Colt smiled as he agreed with her. Along the way, they killed quite a few wolves by working together. They held up their end of the deal and allowed Colt to strike the finishing blow on most of them. They had made this offer in the first ce because only the person who dealt thest strike would gain a point into the Milestone. Colt guessed that this was to prevent people from boosting low-level yers.


    [Milestone Reachedˇ­ Awarding +1 Stat Point]


    [Wolf yer: 20/40]


    ''It looks like the Milestone goals double each time youplete it.'' Colt frowned as he began to understand how difficult it would be to gain stat pointster on. ''Anyway, I''ll just increase my Authority again.''


    [Authority Increase Detectedˇ­ Awarding +1 DP]


    [Please choose one spellˇ­]


    [(Divine) Minor Luck: Grants a 10% chance of gaining an extra item from all scenarios for 10 mins. Cost: 2 DP]


    [(Divine) Minor Divine Arrow: Fast-moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [(Hearth) Hearthfire: Manifest your Divinity to create a 10m area around you. Allies in this zone benefit from a stat boost to Endurance equal to 25% of your Authority (Rounded Down to the nearest whole number). Duration: 5 mins Cost: 2 DP]


    Colt groaned when he read over the spells offered. Minor Luck looked like it was very situational and would be useless most of the time. There was no need to even consider Minor Divine Arrow. ''Hearthfire it is.'' Colt swore as he picked the spell.


    He felt like he was going down the path of a support/healer yer. Which was not his style at all. However, there was nothing that he could do about it. It was just the choices presented to him. ''Maybe I should search some information on God''s of the Hearth. It might shed some light on what to expect.''


    "Yo! What you spacing out for?" Donna asked as she finished collecting the loot of thetest wolves.


    "Hm? Ah, nothing, I just gained a new spell." Colt hummed as he considered how useful it might be.


    "A spell? How''d you get that?" Beans asked with an innocent face.


    Colt''s jaw dropped in shock! How could they not know? The interface had the information on each stat and what it does. Besides, even though they were streamers, they should make money from gaming. Otherwise, they would not be here.


    "How do you not know that? Anyone who''s yed an rpm would be able to work it out?" Colt blurted out.


    "Oh, that exins it then." Donna smiled as she jumped in. "This is our first RPG. We usually y shooters."


    Colt almost fainted when he heard their answer. ''Oh god, I''m stuck with total noobs!'' Shooter games these days were highly realistic and relied on a yer''s actual skill with no way to artificially increase what you are capable of through stats or anything. ''I guess I better fill them inˇ­.''

 Chapter 28 - Jarxos

    Colt filled them in on the basic mechanics as they wandered towards and into Valheim. He did not share everything that he had learned but enough for the girls to understand the importance of Authority. The girls were quite happy with the information.


    Which, of course, was natural. Since they had lied about not ying RPG''s. It was just that they usually yed warriors or other physical sses. They just wanted to understand if Authority might be helpful to them. The best way to get some information was usually to pretend to be a noob. Especially if you were a girl.


    "Oh, this way." Beans chuckled as Colt was about to walk past the street that they had to turn in to.


    Colt chuckled and shrugged it off as being too caught up in their conversation. Which the girls seemed to ept. After a few minutes of walking, a small temple building came into sight. ''I guess this is where we can regenerate our bars.'' Colt raised an eyebrow as hemitted it to memory.


    "Hey! Did you hear that Kalion''s team was ambushed and wiped out while hunting wolves?"


    Colt listened to the random discussions of those who were leaving the temple. It seemed like word had already spread of what had happened, but the other side had twisted the narrative to suit themselves. ''Hopefully, it doesn''t be a big deal.'' Colt frowned as they entered the temple.


    There were five pedestals spread out around the room inside. Three of them were empty, while another two had statues that resembled the yer standing in front of them. Beans and Donna immediately moved to an empty pedestal, and a figure of each of them rose from their pedestals. Colt followed their example and found himself face to face with a miniature marble version of himself.


    [Connecting with Prayers in the Mortal Realm. You currently have 15 stored prayers. Please adjust how many you would like to absorb.]


    [HP = 0/1]


    [DP = 0/4]


    ''Ok, it''s just like the shrine in Eraldsfen. I have to spend the prayers that people made to recover. I guess this ce allows a yer to ess every shrine''s prayers and gather them in one ce. Butˇ­ This mechanic is going to make things difficult. The further you travel from the city, the harder it will be to recover and survive. yers will have to n out how much HP and DP they need to reserve for a safe journey back.''


    Colt frowned at these thoughts as he spent 5 Prayers to fully recover. Bringing his HP and DP back up to full.


    [No Quests detectedˇ­ Exiting Shrine Interfaceˇ­]


    The girls seemed to be finished too, but their expressions were not all that great. Colt sensed that neither of them had fully recovered, which probably meant thatchy did not have enough prayers. ''To be fair, if I had taken more damage, I wouldn''t have been able to fully recover either.''


    Colt sighed. To make their grinding more effectiveter on, he was sure that he would have to spend his DP to help them recover. ''Maybe my spells aren''t that bad after allˇ­'' Colt''s mind wandered to how many Prayers he could save by exchanging his DP for HP. Bringing the overall cost down significantly.


    "Shall we head the store now?" Beans asked when she saw that Colt was finished.


    "Sure, I''m done here," Colt replied while noticing the other two yers in the temple looking at them with strange expressions.


    Colt casually checked behind them a few times as they navigated the streets under Donna''s lead. Sure enough, one of the yers from the temple was following closely behind them. He was not even bothering to hide the fact that he was tailing them.


    "This is it." Donna suddenly said as she stopped in front of a small, unassuming building with golden doors. There was a sign above them that had a word that he could not read on it. But the word Store was clear beneath it.


    "Where''re the items you want me to sell?" Colt asked with a raised eyebrow.


    [yer DonnaThaGreat has initiated a Trade with you. Do you ept?]


    Colt epted the request and a window appeared in his mind. He quickly checked the contents and epted the trade. 15 Wolf Furs and 18 Wolf Fangs entered his Inventory. He had to make sure and not make a mistake when it came to splitting the moneyter. Colt stepped forward and touched the doors of the store.


    [yer check initiatedˇ­ yer Level 3ˇ­ Wee!]


    The door slowly swung open, but there was a green translucent barrier in its ce. ''I guess this to prevent anyone else from sneaking in while it''s open.'' Colt hesitantly stepped through the barrier. There was a green orb floating close to the ceiling, lighting up the store''s interior. Marble shelves had disy cases lined up on them. However, they were all empty.


    A staircase stood to his right with another green barrier blocking it. This one appeared more solid, and Colt guessed that it was meant for higher levels. ''I should focus on finding out how this ce works.''


    Colt walked towards the counter up ahead, but he could not see anyone. ''What the hell is going on here?'' Colt wondered as he continued to nce around. Suddenly, an old man wearing a toga appeared behind the counter. However, he was made entirely of translucent golden light. Making him appear ethereal.


    "Oh, a customer? It''s been such a long time. Wee! How can I help you?" The man asked as he eyed Colt.


    "Can you tell me who you are? What do you sell here?" Colt asked in the hopes of gaining some information.


    "I''m Jarxos. And this, wellˇ­ Was my store. I''m nothing more than a will left behind after the Fall." Jarxos showed a sad smile.


    Colt frowned as he realised from the exnation that he was not dealing with a fully thinking NPC. This one was more like a recording that could only respond to certain things. "What''s the Fall?"

 Chapter 29 - Rival

    "I''m afraid I don''t have that information," Jarxos replied with a sly smile.


    Colt felt like the recording of what he assumed to be an old God knew more than he was letting on. However, there would be no point in pressing him for the information if he was not willing to share it.


    "Ok, so what are you selling? Your shelves look empty." Colt took his time in looking around to emphasise his point.


    "Well, it dependsˇ­ Do you have anything to sell?" Jarxos shed a cunning grin.


    ''Oh, his stockes from the yers? Wait. Does this rece the usual Auction Houses in some way?'' If that was correct, then he had discovered a new major piece of information. Auction Houses were a good way of getting your items out to be viewed by many people quickly and overcharge for them. Did this mean the developers wanted to curb this behaviour? Or was there more to it?


    ''With all the buildings for sale, I think it''s safe to assume you can have a store. Since we''re Gods, is it to give craft types a chance to disy their Power? Forcing people to travel to their store?'' Colt frowned and initiated a trade with Jarxos. Putting all of the Wolf items in on his end.


    "Hm, these are very basic items." Jarxos sighed as if he were disappointed. "They''re worth 3 Gold in total."


    Donna and Bean''s share was worth 2 Gold while his was worth 1 Gold. That either meant that the materials were close to worthless, or Gold would be hard to earn. He epted the Trade for now since there was nothing he could do to change the price.


    "Alright, thank you for your custom." A Wolf Fang and a piece of Wolf Fur appeared in different cases on the shelf behind Jarxos. "Since you''re my first customer in centuries. I wonder if you would be willing to make a deal?"


    Colt immediately became wary. Most people would be excited if they uncovered a hidden bonus or first person benefit. However, Colt knew that these things could end up bringing nothing but grief down on a yer due to the jealously that usually apanied it.


    "What kind of deal are we talking about?" Colt raised an eyebrow.


    "I have here a map that leads to the final resting ce of one of my old friends. How about you recover anything that she left behind and sell it to me so I can get some decent stuff on my shelves?" Jarxos seemed pretty confident that he could find some decent things in that location.


    Colt thought about it for a moment. It did not seem like a bad deal, nor could he see how it could cause problems. ''He basically just wants to get his store up and running again. It''ll actually benefit other yers.''


    "Sure, I''ll do it," Colt replied after some consideration.


    "Great! Here, take this!" Jarxos held out an old piece of parchment which Colt epted.


    [New Quest!: Tomb of Allevia]


    [Description: Explore the Tomb of Allevia, Goddess of the First me, and retrieve her Legacy!]


    [Rewards: +5 Stat Points for all Party members, Hidden Reward]


    Colt''s eyes narrowed like a hawk''s as he read the quest description. The hidden reward did not say it was avable to everyone in the Party, which probably meant only one person could im it. However, he was intrigued by the idea of retrieving a God''s Legacy. ''It should be something good, right?''


    Since Jarxos seemed to have nothing else to say right now, Colt decided to take his leave. Out of curiosity, he decided to touch the barrier protecting the staircase on the way past.


    [You must be Level 5 to enter this areaˇ­]


    Colt smiled as he confirmed his earlier hypothesis. ''I wonder if there''s some kind of bonus for each floor?'' As he opened the door and stepped out onto the street, Colt''s expression froze. The two men from the temple were with a woman he had never seen before. However, they were blocking the exit while keeping an eye on Beans and Donna.


    "So, you''re the first yer to enter the store, are you?" The woman in the group stepped forward. "I''m Aeri."


    Colt''s eyes narrowed when he heard her introduce herself by her Gamertag. It just so happened to be one that he was familiar with. "Aeri? As in the team Captain of Kaleidoscope?"


    "Oh? You know me?" Aeri seemed surprised. She did not recognise the avatar in front of her.


    "Sure, your team beat Camelot to take Mayhem''s championship titlest season." Colt brushed it off by exining it off as if he had watched it. When in reality, her team''s victory cost him his job. "What are you doing in Pantheon, though?"


    "Well, since you know who I represent, it should be obvious, right? We''re checking the game out to see if it''s worth investing our time in it." Aeri smiled as she stared at him curiously. "Now, let''s get real for a moment. I''d like you to tell us what''s in the store. Oh, and sell us whatever bonus you got for entering it first."


    Aeri''s smile appeared sweet, but Colt felt sick seeing it. She seemed confident that he had gained a bonus which made him think that her team had already uncovered something simr.


    "There''s nothing in the store. It just sells whatever the yers sell to it." Colt shrugged his shoulders as if it were no big secret.


    "And the bonus?" Aeri''s eyes narrowed when Colt did not respond to that part.


    Colt just smiled as if he had no clue what she was talking about. Aeri studied him for a few moments before showing a slight smile as her cheek twitched. "I guess you have nothing else to offer then? Oh well. Thanks for the information then anyway."


    Beans waited until Aeri, and the two men disappeared before turning to Colt. "Why were you acting so weird with her?"


    "Becauseˇ­ She''s going to try and kill us to see what we got."

 Chapter 30 - Old Tricks

    "Yeah, we did. However, I don''t know how difficult it will be. We might need a full party, or us three could be enough." Colt exined as he led the two women towards the gates. "The problem is, I don''t really know anyone else here well enough to invite them to join us. What about you guys?"


    "I know a few other streamers, butˇ­." Beans hesitated to continue with her reply.


    "I might know one or two. However, I haven''t seen them here. I just knew they were joining the game, but they might have chosen a different race." Donna gave her own reply with a frustrated expression.


    Colt nodded his head as he knew that this could be a problem. ''I''m guessing Aeri probably told the team to choose the Human race if there was a race selection so that they could all be together. They wouldn''t have been able to n out something else without knowing what was avable.''


    He had to admit that Aeri had been smart about it. Colt did not doubt that there was probably a few people who were tempted to choose something else. But when you were part of a team. You had to go with what was best for the team as well as thepany supporting it. That was about theint he had about his old job.


    Colt led them to an empty snowy hill before taking out the parchment he had received from Jarxos. Donna and Beans had curious expressions on their faces as he unrolled it to see what information it held.


    It turned out to be a very basic looking map. It showed a path over the hills to the mountains ahead. Colt looked up from the map to try and judge the distance. They would have to avoid anybat on the way there to be fully prepared for whatever they may find. However, this area only seemed to have the wolf packs, which ignored the yers if they kept a distance.


    Colt grinned as he realised that this should be easy. The only problem with the journey should be whether or not Aeri decided to attack them before they reached the tomb or on the way back. ''She''ll probably have someone follow us to find out where we''re going. And if I were her, I''d ambush them on the return journey when they''re at their weakest.''


    "Let''s go take a look." Colt smiled as he led the way over the snowy hills while avoiding the wolves.


    It took them half a day to clear the snowy hill area and reach the base of the mountains. They stopped for a moment to recheck the map before starting the climb. The scenery was peaceful, which was making the three of them somewhat nervous. RPG''s rarely had safe areas outside of the cities. If a ce was quiet, it usually meant that there was an unknown danger.


    Colt nced towards Valheim in the distance as they climbed further up. It looked golden with the sun shining off of all the marble. It was a fantastic sight to see, especially when its surroundings looked pristine due to the snow.


    "We should be close. Spread out and look for anything unusual." Colt called out as he started searching around.


    Donna and Beans shrugged their shoulders and did as he said. They knew that he had gained something in the store, but he had refused to tell them what it was so far.


    "You know, it''d help if we knew what we were looking for," Donnained as she brushed her ck hair behind her shoulders.


    "Just look for anything that might be an entrance or lead to one," Colt replied calmly.


    They had not seen any other yers the entire way here. Which meant that they did not have to rush for now. ''Does it even get dark here?'' Colt wondered after a few hours went by while finding nothing.


    "Exile! I found something over here!" Donna shouted excitedly from a spot further up from him. Colt made his way up to meet her as Beans came down from a location even higher up.


    "Look! Doesn''t this seem like it used to be stairs or a path?" Donna pointed as some smooth rock sticking out from the dirt on the ground.


    "This could be it. Have a look around and see if we can find any more. We have to find out where it leads to." Colt replied with a serious face as he took a look at it.


    "Oh. There''s a whole section of it up there. I didn''t think much of it because it didn''t seem to lead anywhere." Beans cut in with a red face from embarrassment.


    "You should''ve said something!" Donna admonished her friend, saving Colt from the hassle.


    "Forget it, let''s just go." Colt waved a hand as if it were no big deal.


    Beans led them up to the spot that she had found earlier. Sure enough, they found more smooth patches that could have been a buried staircase along the way. Colt raised an eyebrow as he saw the smooth disc-like tform with some rubble on it. ''It''s definitely not natural.''


    He became excited as he ran his hands over the surface. After years of ying Mayhem, which was made by the same developers, he knew what he was looking at. That game had something simr, and it seemed like they had reused it here. He had to move several pieces of rubble before he found what he was looking for.


    "Guys, get ready." Colt grinned as he slid his finger inside of a hole. There was a button not far inside of it, and Colt did not hesitate to press it.


    The sound of stone grinding on stone entered their ears, making them wince in difort. The tform slowly opened up towards the sky as if it were a pair of doors, revealing a marble staircase spiralling downwards. Colt nced into the empty space that went all the way to the bottom in the centre. However, it was too dark to see how far the staircase went down.


    "Let''s goˇ­."

 Chapter 31 - Lost Souls

    As soon as Colt set foot on the first step, the stairs began to glow with blue lines. The soft light illuminated the path for them as they steadily descended into the earth. Once all three of them were partway down the staircase, the doors above them slowly ground to a close. Creating a loud bang as they did so.


    Colt frowned because he knew that loud noises like that one were usually meant to provide an atmosphere for the rest of wherever a yer was exploring. ''This doesn''t look good. It reminds me of dungeons in other games. I thought this was meant to be a simple quest that just had a few extra mobs?''


    "Hey Exile, you still sure we''re enough for this?" Donna asked with a smirk as she noticed the look on his face.


    "Maybe. Once we see what we''re up against, we can make a decision." Colt quickly replied to stop her from saying anything else. He did not want them to get cold feet or lower their own morale.


    It took them at least ten minutes to get halfway down, and from there, they could see a pair of giant blue stone doors that should lead deeper inside. Colt paused as he judged their height and decided that this Quest was most likely a bad idea right now. It was giving him the vibe of needing aplete party.


    "Yeah, screw this. I know it''s worth five stat points for everyone, but this doesn''t look good." Donna decided to say her own thoughts first just to make it clear where she stood.


    "I''d like to have a look, but I have to agree with Donna. I''m not as strong as you two, so I''ll probably die in there." Beans refused to take her eyes off of the doors as if she were afraid that they would open up at any minute.


    The pair did not even wait for Colt to say anything, choosing to turn back on their own. The moment that they took the first step back to the surface, Colt pounced into action.


    "Run!" Colt yelled as he mmed his shield into a boney arm that suddenly shot out of the dirt wall to try and grab Donna!


    [You have attacked Lost Soul (Weakened)]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Endurance 2. Your Endurance 10. Your Divine Power is superior. You have dealt -8 HP.]


    [New Milestone: Lost Soul (Weakened): 1/100]


    The hand burst into ck dust as he struck it. However, the walls hade alive with wriggling boney limbs as they tried to pull their bodies from the dirt.


    "They''re weak! Just force your way through!" Colt shouted, thinking that this would be easy as he smashed two more with his axe. A scream interrupted his thoughts from up ahead as he sensed Beans'' HP take a sharp dip!


    "Don''t let them w you! Their attacks are based on Authority, and it''s rated at 10!" Beans shouted down to Donna and Colt as Lost Souls started to fill the staircase ahead of them like a wall.


    Colt studied how they looked. They were ckened skeletons wearing degradedmoner-like clothing. Not a single one had a weapon or armour. ''If their Authority is at 10, then they can''t hurt me as long as I block with the shield. But if they swarm me, they can do a steady stream of minor damage until they wear me down.''


    Colt felt like something was not right as he cleared a path towards Beans. He made use of the empty space at the end of the stairs by forcing several of these Lost Souls off at once. Unfortunately, it did not count towards his new Milestone. When he nced over the edge, he noticed that they were still moving.


    ''I guess they don''t take fall damage.'' As he nced towards the top, he noticed more and more of these mobs filling the stairs. It almost felt like an impossible task for the three of them to return to the surface.


    Donna yelled as she grabbed one of the Lost Souls and pummelled it with her fist while Beans screamed like a woman possessed, and Sparta kicked the closest mob off the edge. Colt focused on blocking any attacks aimed at them to preserve the team''s health as much as possible. The weight of the crowd above them pushed down as they wed at them, dealing damage.


    ''We can''tst like this. Even if I use Bonfire.'' Colt cursed as his Lost Soul (Weakened) Milestone updated to 17/100. ''Wait. This is supposed to be impossible!''


    Colt nced back down the staircase and noticed the crowd was significantly smaller in that direction. Most of them appeared to be the Lost Souls that their group had thrown off the edge!


    "Guys! We need to go down! Trying to get out of here is the trap!" Colt shouted to make the women shift their offensive to the other direction.


    "Are you mad! What will we do if they all crowd in behind us?" Donna shouted over her shoulder.


    "And what will you do if we get to the top, but the doors don''t open? Look at the situation! It seems like they''re trying to prevent us from escaping, but I think that''s to distract us from the real answer!" Colt shouted back as he broke away from them to force his way downstairs.


    "Damn! Beans, let''s go after Exile! We can''t make it through these mobs without him anyway!" Donna growled as she became pissed off with Colt for leaving them behind.


    Colt swung his axe from side to side as he ducked between a pair of groping hands, sending two more Lost Souls to oblivion in the process. Colt started to ignore many of the attacks and focused more on clearing the path as quickly as possible.


    [Lost Souls (Weakened): 23/100]


    [29/100]


    [37/100]


    Colt panted as he finally set foot on the ground in front of the blue doors. ''Almost there!''

 Chapter 32 - No Way Back

    [Do you wish to enter the Tomb of Allevia? Rmended Level: 3]


    Colt read the notification in his mind as quickly as possible as soon as he touched the doors. He ground his teeth and epted to enter since they had no other real choices right now. The doors suddenly became transparent instead of opening, causing Colt to stumble as he was pressing against it.


    He slid through the blue barrier and turned to see Donna and Beans rushing after him, closely pursued by the Lost Souls. Colt braced himself to intercept the mobs if they followed the women beyond the barrier. His muscles tensed up as Donna and Beans crossed the threshold!


    The Lost Souls mmed on the barrier! Unable to continue the chase. Colt sighed in relief as the women copsed to the ground to catch a breather. The mobs growled at them from the other side as if they were furious that their prey had escaped them. Colt shook his head as he walked away from them, and the barrier turned solid again.


    He paused to look at the area they had entered, which featured smooth white walls, ceiling and floor. Blue orbs of light ran along the ceiling allowing the group to see clearly. ''This should be a safe zone.'' Colt nced around before activating his Bonfire spell.


    His ming orb that appeared gave the trio a feeling of warmth as their HP regenerated. Colt recovered to full health, which was to be expected since he had taken very little damage. However, the women barely touched on 75%, ording to his senses. To be fair, they had not fully recovered earlier in Valheim, so this was a good result.


    "Ugh, I really need to start investing in Authority!" Beansined as she appreciated her healthy-looking HP bar. "I wonder what spells I can get?"


    Colt nced at her for a moment. If he were to be truthful, he really wanted to know what Divinity''s they held. However, he felt it would be rude to ask. Beans seemed to realise this as she smiled at him.


    "I''m the Goddess of Fishing." Beans said as if she were ashamed. "Donna''s is better. She''s the Goddess of the Harvest."


    Beanspleted thest part over the shouts of Donna, who was trying to get her to shut up. Although they were working together, she did not want Colt to know too much about them. After all, they might end up as enemies in the future. Seeing her difort, Colt decided to tell them that he was the God of the Hearth. Which he had left out during his exnation on Authority and Divine Spells.


    "Yours seems pretty handy, though. It can be used for healing all the way out here." Beans excitedly said with a glint in her eyes. "Do you think ours will do the same?"


    "How should I know?" Colt chuckled as he looked at the two of them. They seemed to be pondering over what kind of spells they could gain. "Let''s move on. We can''t wait here forever."


    Their group slowly proceeded through the long hallway with Colt in the lead. However, a few minutes passed before they ran into a dead end. ''What the hell?'' Colt ran his hand over the wall blocking the way forward. ''What''s up with this?''


    Beans and Donna seemed just as confused as he was. They looked around and even walked back up the hallway, searching for anything they might have missed. But it was just one straight hallway with a dead end and the blue barrier.


    "Did we find an area that isn''t open during the Beta?" Donna asked as they returned to the door.


    "I wouldn''t have thought so. They usually wouldn''t put Quests into the game that can lead to those ces during a Beta Test." Colt felt frustrated, but they had agreed to quit their exploration. Maybe they needed something else to press forward or to meet a hidden requirement.


    The trio prepped themselves to fight through the Lost Souls that should still be waiting on the other side. However, when the barrier turned translucent, they were met with the sight of a new hallway that branched off in three different directions.


    "Where''s the way back!" Beans suddenly shouted in a panic.


    "I don''t think there is a way back. Only forward." Colt sighed. He hated it when developers yed mind games. The answer was in front of them the whole time. The corridor was just a way to make them waste their time.


    "So what way do we go then?" Donna asked as she looked at each branching tunnel in turn.


    Colt frowned while trying to decide. Truth be told, he was unsure. There might only be one answer, all of them might be right, or maybe they were supposed to separate. ''I''d rather stick together.''


    "Let''s try the centre path first." Colt walked off as soon as he gave his decision.


    However, just like before, they met a dead end. They wasted time checking the other two branches first, but they were just the same. The trio sighed as they walked back to the door. ying this trick once was fine. But twice? That was too much. When they ced their hands on the door, nothing happened.


    "Damn it!" Colt cursed as he red at the blue door. "We have to separate. One for each path."


    "Oh, hell no!" Donna replied. "What are we going to do if we run into mobs? We barely survived those Lost Souls from before. You might be fine, but we definitely won''t be! Or is that your n? So you can steal our stats?"


    Colt looked taken aback by her words, even if they did make some kind of twisted sense. "You really think I like this? We have no idea what we''ll be facing further inside. And besides, we don''t exactly have any other options."


    "Donna, I don''t want to do this either, but Exile is right! We have to do this. There''s no way back." Beans cut in before giving a slight smile.

 Chapter 33 - Devout Souls

    Donna looked helpless when even her friend was against her. "Fine! If you''re right, it''s not like we have any other option except to stay here and rot anyway."


    "So, we''re all agreed then?" Colt asked as he nced at the two women.


    Both of them nodded, although Donna was still somewhat reluctant. Colt chose to take the centre path while the girls took one of the side ones each. When Colt reached the end of his, he could see a blue, glowing rune that he did not understand glowing on the wall of the dead end.


    ''It really is designed to split us up.'' He sighed as he looked around onest time to make sure that he was not missing anything else. ''So what? Do I just touch it?''


    Colt reached out to ce his hand on the rune while gripping his shield tightly. At the moment of contact, he was engulfed by blue light. Colt found himself standing on a stone tform suspended over a canyon with a single bridge leading to a door when he opened his eyes. ''Teleportation? Or some kind of illusion?''


    Colt wanted to try and understand as much as possible about the tomb in case they failed. That way, he could return at ater date while being more prepared. ''It looks like there''s only one way forward.'' Colt thought as he nced at the canyon walls in case there was a secret path hidden in them.


    Colt steadily approached the bridge, and a bright blue apparition appeared before he could reach it. The phantom was of a gorgeous woman with supple curves. However, her expression was lifeless, and there was no telling what colour her clothing, skin or hair was supposed to be. Everything was just the colour of the bright blue glow emanating from her.


    "Wee, challenger." The apparition said in a t tone. "I am thest will of Allevia. If you are listening to this message, then I have fallen during the assault, and you have found my final resting ce."


    ''So this is Allevia? Why does this one seem to be so lifelesspared to Jarxos?'' Colt wondered as he waited for her to continue.


    "If you wish to continue, be warned. You will be tested by my Devout Souls, who survived the Fall. Defeat them, and I will acknowledge you of being worthy of inheriting the final piece of the First me that my body still carries."


    [HP and DP fully recovered]


    Colt raised an eyebrow as blue light streamed into him while a notification arrived at the same time. ''Final piece of the First me? So that means that there are other pieces out there somewhere.'' Colt frowned as he realised that this would either turn into a Quest chain or finding clues to each piece might be down to your own personal luck.


    The apparition of Allevia faded away and left Colt standing alone at the edge of the bridge. ''Since she healed me, I can assume that the bridge itself is probably going to be the stage for the test. Maybe it''s just the first test in a series, or it''s the only one. She said Devout Souls, so I should expect a variation of the Lost Souls we fought outside.''


    Sure enough, when Colt ced a foot on the bridge, the door at the opposite side opened up. However, he did not like what he saw. Golden humans marched out wearing full armour and wielding spears with round shields. They marched across the bridge like a well-trained army that stuck close together.


    ''How am I meant to beat that?'' The squad of Devout Souls marched in a square of four by four. Which was the perfect amount to take up the width of the bridge. This prevented Colt from trying to kite them or rush past them.


    ''Maybe they''lle onto the tform? There''s more space here.'' Colt''s frown deepened. ''No. Letting that happen will be suicide. They''ll be able to surround me.''


    Colt saw no other way around it but to face them head-on. He could only hope that they were weaker than they appeared. Colt charged towards one edge of the formation. As soon as he came within striking distance, the Devout Souls lunged with their spears. Most of them hit his shield and caused a rebound effect for those wielding them. However, a few managed to strike his left side.


    [You have been attacked by Devout Soul (Weakened)]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Your Endurance 9. Enemy Authority 11. Your Divine Power is inferior. You have been dealt -3 HP.]


    [-3 HP]


    [-3 HP]


    Colt''s shield mmed into the front line at that point and knocked several Devout Souls off bnce. Four of them stumbled and fell into the canyon, causing Colt to grin broadly as a quarter of the enemy numbers were taken out in one blow.


    ''41/50 HP left. The trade-off was worth it.'' Colt quickly retreated out of reach of the spears as they attempted to strike at him again. The Devout Souls in the rear line moved to fill the gaps. Turning the square formation into a rectangle. ''Twelve enemies left. Maybe this won''t be so hard.''


    [-3 HP]


    [-3 HP]


    Another four Devout Souls fell into the canyon as Colt utilised the same strategy again. Now that their numbers were cut in half, he used Minor Blessing. Recovering 10 HP in the process. ''45/50 HP left now.''


    Colt frowned as he wondered if the girls had received the same challenge. If they had, then there was no way that he could think of for them to survive it. After all, neither of them had any spells at all, let alone ones for healing. ''Hopefully, they can surprise me and make it through. It seems like it is supposed to be a party quest, but so far, there hasn''t really been anything that someone could not have done on their own.''


    Colt charged at the remaining Devout Souls with a calm and collected expression after he had that thought. The sounds of their battle echoed throughout the canyon as they exchanged blowsˇ­

 Chapter 34 - Helpless

    Colt sighed as he used Minor Blessing to bring himself back up to close to full health. He had struggled to finish off thest few remnants of the Devout Souls as they became wise to his strategy. It also helped the Devout Souls that the more he got rid of, the more space they had to manoeuvre.


    He had almost fallen off the edge himself when they first dodged his charge. Luckily, one of the others smashed him with their shield, which stopped him in time. Colt was unsure whether it was done on purpose or not, but it no longer mattered.


    Colt nced towards the open door at the end of the bridge. ''Let''s see what you guys were protecting.'' He kept his axe and shield at the ready. Just in case there was a surprise waiting for him. As soon as he crossed the threshold of the doorway and left the abyss behind him, the doors ground to a close.


    New, blue lights lit up the new area for Colt to catch a glimpse of what was waiting for him. There was another bridge spanning another canyon. A circr tform took up the centre of it. However, three Devout Souls were standing there waiting for him.


    One was holding the standard spear and shield he had dealt with in thest area. The second held two one-handed axes, while thest one had a sizeable two-handed hammer. ''Why does it look like it should be easier?'' Colt was apprehensive about the new situation. Just because it looked like it would be easier did not mean that it would be.


    In fact, there was a good chance that it would mean the opposite. Colt started to move towards them, and the Devout Souls readied their weapons but did not move. It was as if they were waiting for him in the small circr arena. Colt eyed them carefully as he tried to imagine how a fight with them would go.


    The only problem was that he only had the other Devout Souls to base the strength of these three on. He frowned as he noticed the Devout Souls twitch as he was about to take another step. ''I guess this is the line. They''ll probably attack the moment I cross this space.''


    Colt prepped his shield to receive the first blow as he rushed forward. The Soul who had the shield and spear came forward to meet him. It swung the spear in a wide arc instead of thrusting it. Which caught Colt off guard. It was a very yer-like thing to do, which made these mobs feel more natural.


    As Colt blocked the spear, he was nked by the other two. A pair of axes hit his shield with such force that splinters actually broke off from it! Just as he was surprised by that, he felt a dull pain in the right side as the Devout Soul with hammer struck.


    [-5 HP]


    Colt gaped at the damage he had just been dealt. It was the highest amount of damage he had ever taken in a single strike! ''They''re a lot stronger than the others. It doesn''t help that they actually work together!''


    Coltshed out towards the hammer-wielding one only for it to block his strike using the handle of its weapon. Colt coughed as the shield-bearer mmed into him, winding him in the process. A sharp pain assaulted the back of his neck, and more damage was done!


    [-4 HP]


    Colt immediately activated Minor Blessing again at this point to restore his health to full. However, he felt uneasy with how quickly they had forced his hand when he had not hurt any of them yet!


    He caught sight of the hammer swinging towards his head and chose to duck below it. Colt hacked at the Devout Soul''s leg with his axe, but no damage was done! As he came up behind the mob, he struck with his shield!


    ''Dammit! Nothing?'' Colt had to move quickly to block the spear that thrust towards his throat! Using both his weapon and shield to parry the blowsunched at him, Colt was forced into a passive battle. None of his attacks could hurt any of the three, which annoyed him greatly.


    ''How the hell are you meant to get through this?'' His first thought was to toss them off the edge. But none of them took the bait. They were cautious with their footing, and the other two would always prevent him from singling one of them out. Colt was beginning to believe that the challenge was unwindable at his current level.


    Still, he refused to go down without a fight! The dual axe wielder hooked his axes over the edge of Colt''s shield before pulling on it. Preventing him from urately deflecting the attacks of the other two,


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    Colt was losing his cool as he activated Minor Blessing again. Just as he recovered, he felt a solid kicknd in the crease behind his left knee. His leg buckled beneath him, forcing onto one knee as he blocked an overhead hammer swing. Colt grunted as he absorbed blow after blow as they rained down on his shield.


    ''There''s nothing I can do.'' Colt sighed reluctantly as he struggled back onto his feet. Four more blows made it past his shield in quick session.


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    For the third time and the fourth during this fight, he was forced to use Minor Blessing. These two uses meant that his DP had run dry, and he could only rely on himself for now. Colt put up a good fight until he was kicked to the ground by the dual axe wielder. As the Devout Soul swung his axe downwards, he was suddenly struck by the hammed wielder by ident!


    Colt noticed that the Devout Soul seemed to be in pain from the blow. His eyes went wide as he stared at that reaction! ''It''s not a test of brute force, but of your technique!'' Finally, Colt had an idea of what was expected of himˇ­

 Chapter 35 - Trap?

    Having no DP left meant Colt only had one chance to make this work. However, his timing would have to be perfect. The three Devout Souls moved to nk him yet again. Except for this time, that was precisely what he wanted! Colt waited to see which of them would make the first move with a frown upon his face.


    Eventually, the one wielding the spear thrust towards him as the hammer wielder stepped in from the side. Colt grinned as he sidestepped towards the dual axe-wielding Devout Soul, who did not move. As the tip of the spear passed by him, Colt hit its side with his shield, forcing it to change its trajectory!


    The spear''s longer-range allowed it to force the hammer wielder to a stop as it pierced his shoulder. However, Colt ignored this knowing that the dual axe wielder should make a move now. Colt heard the footsteps behind him, which told him the other opponent was attempting to take him by surprise.


    There was a brief pause in those steps when they got pretty close, and that told Colt that the mob had steadied its stance to take a swing at him. Colt spun towards the left side as he moved backwards, intending to ce himself behind the mob. At the same time, he bashed with his shield the moment he caught sight of the Devout Soul, pushing it towards the spear wielder.


    There was a slight crunch as the axes hacked at the arm holding the spear. Colt reacted on instinct and shed at the axe wielders back. In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten that he was unable to harm them, but something surprising happened.


    As soon as his axe struck, all three of them shimmered slightly before they withdrew their weapons from their allies. The three of them turned to face Colt, who backed off and prepared himself for the next attack. However, the Devout Souls just stood there for a few moments before dissolving into motes of light!


    Colt almost dropped his weapon from the shock. He quickly scanned the entire tform as if he were expecting something else to appear. However, nothing did. At the far end of the bridge where it met the canyon''s wall, the rocky surface faded away to reveal a pathway forwards.


    ''Is that really it?'' Colt felt somewhat deted to discover it was that easy to pass the test. If he had worked it out sooner, he could have saved his DP! However, when he thought about it, he wondered how many yers would be able to figure it out in the heat of the moment.


    Colt took a few deep breaths to calm his mind for whatever the tomb would throw at him next before making his way towards the opening. However, when he passed through, there was arge, open cavern. Several treasure chests were scattered around the room while arge marble box stood in the centre.


    ''Why does that look like it could be a coffin standing up instead ofid out t?'' Colt shivered as he felt an imposing presence emanating from it. The whole room felt rather morbid and was sending warning signals to his brain. Making him feel like this was somewhere he just was not meant to be!


    ''It''s just a game. But this feels so creepy. Even in other games, they don''t manage to make you feel this way when you''re in a tomb.'' Colt wondered if he should try the chests, but he was worried that it might be a trap of some sort.


    Which was a perfectly reasonable assumption. The only problem was that Colt had no idea how to check for such things in this game yet! He could only look around for anything unusual but considering this was the first treasure room he had seen in the game, he had no idea what he should have expected anyway.


    His eyebrows took a dip into a frown as he realised his predicament. ''What should I start with then? The treasure or the creepy coffin?'' Colt sighed as he decided to inspect the marble structure.


    His boots created scuffing sounds against the uneven rocky ground as he slowly walked forward. However, a soft blue glow came from it when he was a mere ten steps away. Allevia''s ghostly apparition made her appearance by walking out of the marble surface that was facing Colt.


    "Congrattions on making it here," Allevia said in a t tone as if she did not mean it. "As stated, you can take every treasure in this room."


    Colt''s expression became dumbfounded as he stared at the phantom. "That can''t be it! Is this a trick?"


    "There''s no trick. You are qualified to receive thesest few treasures of mine."


    "But, wasn''t the test too easy?" Colt felt helpless when faced with this situation. He was sure that this should have been a lot harder than what it was. Or at least, that was what his gamer''s intuition was telling him.


    Allevia stared at him for a while before speaking slowly. "Upon my death, there was not a lot of Divine Power left. This tomb should be the best that I could manage at that time."


    Colt raised an eyebrow as he mulled over those words. ''Is this just something of a taster? To get the yers used to the tombs of dead Gods?'' Colt felt like that was what could be going on. As if this were a training mission for the real things that were likely scattered all over the game world.


    "Now, are you ready to receive myst remaining piece of the First me? You seem to be the God of the Hearth. You are lucky that your Divinity is a good match for it." Allevia''s phantasm nodded slightly as she looked Colt straight in the eyes.


    "What would have happened if my Divinity was not a match for it?" Colt could not help but ask this question. Call it his personal curiosity, if you must.


    "That''s simpleˇ­ I would never have offered it to you in the first ce."

 Chapter 36 - Revelations!

    Colt hummed as he thought about Allevia''s response. ''Does that mean if Ie across tombs that aren''tpatible with me, I can''t im their best items?'' It was a disappointing revtion, but it was also a unique idea. It would make thepetition far harsher between those who could im the Legacies left behind.


    ''Well, hopefully, I''ve got a head start on this one, and nobody else has imed any pieces of the First me.'' The only thing that bothered Colt was where the other pieces may be. This would clearly take a long time toplete if he wanted to find every piece. ''Wait. She never said how many pieces there are.''


    "Are you ready to ept my Legacy?" Allevia asked in her usual emotionless voice.


    Colt was startled out of his thoughts before he hastily replied. "Yes!"


    Allevia raised a hand towards Colt, and a small golden me hovered in the air for a moment. Colt''s eyes were dazzled by it. It gave off a sense offort and extreme danger at the same time. The me slowly floated through the air towards Colt, who reached out to take it. However, the me dodged his grasp and sped into his chest!


    A soothing sensation swept throughout his body. Making Colt feel highlyfortable. It was almost an addictive feeling that took a few minutes to fade away.


    [Congrattions! You have obtained a piece of the First me!]


    [Milestone First me: 1/5]


    [First me Fragment 1/5]


    [Description: Reduce the cost of all Fire based Divine Spells by 1 DP (To a minimum cost of 1 DP). Collect all pieces to refine your element into a higher state.]


    [New Divine Spell Received!]


    [(Divine) Cleansing me]


    [Cost: 1 DP per second]


    [Description: A stream of divine mes can be shot from your weapon. The Fire will cause damage equal to your Authority per second. The Fire will remove any negative status from yourself upon activation and allies upon touch, as long as your Authority is greater than the caster''s.]


    Colt''s left eyebrow arched as he read the notifications. At least now he knew how many pieces there were in the game world of the First me, but what did it mean about refining his element? ''The new spell is pretty nice, though. It fits in with my current set of abilities and finally gives me an offensive option.''


    "It seems the bonding went well. Now, for the second part of my Legacy. Knowledge." Allevia did not give Colt time to think before a beam of blue light shot from her hand to strike him in the forehead!


    Colt''s vision went blurry for a moment before he came to his senses. He felt enlightened by what Allevia had shared with him. That was because despite how short it was, it answered so many questions!


    ''There are four main elements that every Divinity is based on, Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Then there are two divine elements. Light and Darkness.'' Colt hummed as he digested the information.


    A yers element would be decided by the Divinity that they chose. In his case, he decided to be the God of the Hearth. Which is linked to fire. That much was easy to understand. However, it seemed that each yer would also have one of the two divine elements, which depended on their alignment as perceived by their followers.


    So if a yer only asked their followers to do things that were generally considered evil acts, they would be a dark god. The yer''s spells would then be tainted by the Darkness element. If the yer was helpful and performed good deeds, then their spells would carry the Light element.


    However, Allevia did not share what the pros and cons of each of these two elements were. Instead, the information went on into a brief description about a yer''s tiers!


    At Tier 0 like he was now, Colt was considered a Household God. One that had Authority over an everyday thing for most NPC''s. At Tier 1, he would be an Elemental God. Which meant that he could gain spells associated with his element. Cleansing me did not count since that was granted by the First me fragment.


    At Tier 2, he could gain another, more advanced Authority. Apparently, by this stage, he would be considered a National God. Or the other name for it was a True God. Since below this Tier, a yer''s influence would be minimal.


    At Tier 3, he would be a Dual Elemental God. This meant that he could choose one of the other three main elements to be a part of his foundation. The next part was where things would be tricky. Because after Tier 3, a yer would be considered as a Higher God.


    At Tier 4, yers would take control of an Authority that could significantly affect the Mortal Realms. The information was vague on what these Authorities might be, but it would certainly be connected to one or both elements that a yer had chosen.


    At Tier 5, yers would be a Cmity, God. Which meant that they would have even greater power in both the Divine and Mortal Realms. Apparently, the power they would wield would be so great that they would be able to wipe out entire cities or regions in the Mortal Realms. Of course, each cmity that could be chosen was linked to either one or both elements belonging to a yer.


    Finally, at Tier 6, they would be a Law God. Meaning that they would have jurisdiction over a fundamentalw of the game world. The benefits of such a thing in the game were unfathomable.


    Colt was excited by this information. Who would not be? But there was a catch! There was a limited amount of Authorities avable at each Tier!


    ''So say there were three hundred different ones at Tier 0. There might only be two hundred at Tier 1, and it''ll just get smaller the higher you go.'' Colt frowned deeply as he reviewed that information. ''Meaning a yer can get stuck at a lower Tier because there''s no Authority left to choose that will let them advance!''


    This had Colt worried, which was understandable. It was just another factor in the game that fueled the fires of conflict between yers. However, it was the next part that really got him sweatingˇ­

 Chapter 37 - Even Gods Die

    The game system had supplemented the next piece of information that he had received. Allevia had shared details on how Gods could die. At first, he did not think much of it until the game''s notification came in. When one of the following things happened, a yer''s ount would be permanently banned from the game!


    So, first off was the obvious. When a God lost all of its believers, they would die. But, there was a quicker way than to hunt down every believer. That was to just wipe out all of their Oracles!


    The reasoning was simple, without an Oracle, there was no way to make their will known to their believers! With each Tier that a yer obtained, they would gain an extra Oracle slot. Making for seven in total if a yer made it all the way to Tier 6.


    If an Oracle died of natural causes, then the yer could name a new Oracle to take their ce. But, if they died in battle or were assassinated, then it would take three months in real-time before they could name a new Oracle!


    So, no matter how powerful a yer became, they would always have a weak spot! So it meant that the yers really had to pay attention to the NPCs. Just when he thought that was the end of it, he had been hit with another method.


    When a yer''s stats could no longer support their Divinity, then they would die! So say a Tier 3 God lost enough stats to beparable to a Tier 2 God. Well, then their stats no longer supported their Divinity, and they would be eliminated!


    Essentially, this meant that every yer was at their most vulnerable when they had just ascended to a new Tier! A Tier 2 God close to reaching the next Tier might take three or four deaths for them to actually die and be banned. But a brand new Tier 3 God would be eliminated from receiving even one death!


    Colt felt a headache brewing when he realised how difficult this game would actually be. It was almost impossible to survive as a solo yer. ''The format is definitely for professionals. Casual yers won''t stand a chance in this game.'' Colt''s eyes briefly glittered when he thought about how huge this would be!


    This game would be a streaming sensation for sure. There would be no telling for the audience when their favourite yers might get eliminated. It gave a sense of tension that they could not find anywhere else!


    ''The developers have been smart with this. The game obviously has a lifespan. It could be pretty short or quite long depending on how many people they invite to it at general release.'' Colt began to second guess his n to make money selling information on the game.


    It was apparent he could make more if he took it seriously instead. The problem was that he had no team behind him for support anymore. ''Hm? Wait, she didn''t mention anything about guilds!''


    Colt swore when he realised a piece of vital information was missing. It would definitely be what most teams would focus on. However, the question that they would all want to be answered was whether there was a limit on how many members they could have. If Colt had to guess, then he would say that there was.


    ''It''s almost like an open tournament in a strange way. Which means that there must be prizes involved.'' Colt had been in the circuit for years, and games designed forpetitions always had rewards avable.


    Colt began to realise that he stumbled on a veritable treasure trove. Knowing this information even slightly earlier than thepetition would give him a considerable edge. A few yers had already fallen victim to thinking that they could revive infinitely and started with PK right away. ''That yer who attacked me in the Mortal Realms is probably banned then. I wonder how many others have already be victims of this system?''


    "Now, you have received everything that I have to offer. You may take your time collecting the items in the chests but be warned. The Lost Souls outside of this tomb will throw everything they have at you to try and seize the First me fragment." Allevia said with an uncaring voice.


    "What about the other two I came in with?" Colt asked as he sensed that their conversation was almost over.


    "They have been rewarded for their performance. Once you leave this room through the way you entered, you will find yourself back at the entrance to the tomb. I wish you luck, young God. May the Heavens be forever in your favour." As Allevia finished that sentence, her phantom faded away. Leaving Colt alone in the silent room.


    He sighed as he nced around the room before choosing the first chest to open. Inside he found 8 Gold coins. He felt a little underwhelmed by that as he stored them in his Inventory. The next chest held several weapons, but the system marked them as Quest items that he had to hand over to Jarxos.


    The same thing happened with the next couple of chests which annoyed him. However, when he opened thest chest, he discovered a round shield inside. The shield was made of wood, with a silver rim around its edge and a protruding spike in the centre.


    [Common Skardian Shield]


    [+2 Endurance]


    [Description: Common item once wielded by weak Skardian Gods.]


    Colt frowned when he read the description that came with it. It was almost as if the text was meant to piss him off by deliberately inferring that he was weak! ''Tell me something I don''t know!'' Colt sighed.


    Indeed, he was weak when he considered the various powers that yers could gain as they advanced through the Tiers. The only question that lingered in his mind now wasˇ­ How far could he go?


    Colt equipped the new shield as he bowed to the marble monument that now stood silent. The room definitely felt like a grave now. Colt then steeled himself for the fight that was toe. After all, he still had to make it out aliveˇ­

 Chapter 38 - Suspicions

    As Colt exited the room, he found himself staring at the blue doors they had first passed through. A loud sigh came from his left side, where Beans and Donna had been waiting for him. Colt cast his eyes over the pair of women and noticed that they, too, had some new equipment.


    Donna wore armour in the style of old Roman centurions, minus the helmet. While Beans had gained a longsword designed to make the de look like a bird''s wing with intricate feathers detailed in the metal.


    "What took you so long? Neither of us could even make it past the first test, but we still got rewards. You can''t have been fighting them for all of that time! What did you do? Go sightseeing?" Donnained as she eyed up Colt''s new shield.


    "Something like that." Colt shrugged his shoulders as he brushed off her questioning.


    Since they might end up as enemies at some point, it was prudent to keep the information he had gained to himself. Colt quickly pulled up his interface to double-check his current stats.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 3]


    [HP: 50/50]


    [DP: 6/6]


    [Strength: 5 (+1)]


    [Endurance: 8 (+3)]


    [Speed: 3]


    [Authority: 6]


    ''I have a total of twenty-two base stat points right now. With the five for the Quest once we return to Jarxos, then I''ll only need three more to hit level four.'' Colt hummed as he thought about it. ''I wonder at what point you can reach Tier 1?''


    Naturally, this was what gripped Colt''s interest right now. ''Everything in the game has been rather simple so farpared to everything else. So maybe level ten?'' Colt hoped that his guess was correct, but it could prove to be wishful thinking.


    "So, did you heal as well?" Beans asked with a hesitant voice as she studied Colt''s face.


    "Hm? Yeah, looks like it. But I''ve no idea when that happened." Colt thought about it and wondered if art happened during his exchange with Allevia and he had just missed the notificationˇ­ If there ever was one anyway.


    "Did you get what we need for the Quest?" Donna pressed when she noticed that Colt seemed to be reluctant to talk too much. She had the vague feeling that he hadpleted the tomb where they had failed at the first step.


    However, apart from the shield, she could not see any other new equipment on him. So what was the reward for actuallypleting the ce? Colt noticed the suspicious look on Donna''s face and decided to move things along before she overthought things.


    "Let''s go. I''m sure you want to get this Quest over with as much as I do." Colt smiled before heading towards the door.


    "Exile!" Donna yelled when she realised that he was going to leave them behind if they did not move. "Damn it! You''d think you were trying to hide something from us!"


    "I''m sure he wouldn''t!" Beans retorted even though she had her own doubts. But she preferred not to sour their rtionship with Exile so soon. After all, everything in the game was still so new to them, and they had a lot to figure out. "Come on, we''d better hurry before he really does leave us behind!"


    Beans jogged up to Colt''s side just as he was cing his hand on the blue doors. Donna soon joined them, but her grumbling never stopped. Colt nced at her out of the corner of his eye and became wary of her. She had started to suspect him far too soon. Was it just a gut feeling? Or had the girls discovered some information themselves?


    As the doors began to turn transparent, their expressions turned grim. A wall of Lost Souls was standing there waiting for them!


    ''Shit! The mobs didn''t reset!'' Colt cursed as he nced at the tidal wave waiting to tear them apart. "Get behind me!"


    The girls frowned before doing what he said. Colt pulled his shield up to protect his front and aimed the spike at the Lost Soul right in front of him. Before the door entirely faded away, Colt activated his Hearthfire spell. This gave the two women an extra point of Endurance each as long as they stayed within 10m of him, which should not be hard.


    Colt grinned as soon as the barrier dissipated. Heshed out savagely with his shield and destroyed the poor soul in a single strike!


    [Lost Soul (Weakened): 37/100]


    When Colt saw the notification, he wondered if he couldplete the Milestone before they reached the surface. However, that might prove challenging to do while making sure the girls survived.


    Beans shed at the Souls, who tried to move around Colt''s side. Colt paid attention to the fact that she could now kill them in a single strike as well. Beans was the weakest member of the group and had needed at least two strikes on the way down here before dispatching one of them.


    ''That weapon seems to be pretty good.'' Colt remarked as Donna tanked a strike on her end. In Colt''s perception, Donna''s health only decreased by one point. ''They both really benefitted from this.''


    Colt could only sigh and shake his head at that sight. It would have been ideal if they only received the stat point reward at the Quest''s end. He did not like the idea of strengthening the other members of this temporary alliance, especially with the knowledge that he now had.


    Colt drove forward, destroying one soul after another as the girls covered his nks. The real struggle came when they reached the foot of the staircase because now they werepletely surrounded. Beans'' health kept dipping as she exchanged blows with the mobs. This forced Colt to use Campfire twice! Bringing his DP down to 3/6 just to keep her alive!


    Luckily, by that point, Beans'' health stabilised at 50% since all of the enemies behind the group had been taken care of. All that remained were the ones blocking their path forward, but they could not get around Colt''s defence at all!


    [Lost Soul (Weakened): 40/100]


    [45/100]


    [56/100]


    [70/100]


    [99/100]

 Chapter 39 - Speculations

    [Milestone Reachedˇ­ Milestone Updated]


    [Lost Soul (Weakened): 100/200]


    [You have received +1 Stat Point]


    Colt heaved a sigh of relief as he finally reached the top of the staircase. A few of the Lost Souls had fallen over the edge, but he had been careful enough to make sure that enough remained to reach the Milestone goal. ''Another stat point, what should I dump it into?''


    Colt decided to wait until they at least got out of here first before he gave any of his stats an upgrade. There was no telling if any more mobs were hiding in the dirt walls of the staircase after all.


    "So what now? How do we get this thing to open?" Donna asked as she eyed Colt sceptically.


    Beans wore a concerned expression on her face as she nced over the edge of the stairs. She could see the Lost Souls that had fallen making their way back up. At this rate, it would not take long for them to arrive at their position.


    "Don''t worry about it," Colt smirked as he looked at this side of the horizontal doors.


    Eventually, he found what he was looking for. It was the hole that he had inserted his finger into when they were on the other side. It would have taken longer to find if Colt did not have prior knowledge about this trick of the developers. The hole was situated next to the dirt wall. Colt quickly moved over beside it and ran his hand over the rough, gritty dirt. ''There you are!''


    He felt a small smooth area in the dirt. This was the button that unlocked the doors, so Colt made sure to hide what he was doing from the women behind him. The pair frowned at his back before they heard a clicking noise, which was soon followed by the grinding that came with stone rubbing on stone.


    Beans bounced on the tips of her toes as if the doors could not open fast enough. The second that sunlight streamed in and the gap in the gates wererge enough, Beans jumped up onto the ground outside. Donna shook her head at her friend''s antics. She was overreacting to the mobs and was evidently afraid that they might kill her.


    It was one thing to have to fight your way out, but if you had a choice to make it out with your gains safely, most gamers would take that option. Lest they lose more than they bargained for because they were too confident or greedy.


    Colt and Donna quickly joined her as the Lost Souls howled in outrage. Looking down into the pit with the Lost Souls rushing up from its depths made it feel like they were looking at a staircase to hell.


    The three of them could not be happier to see the doors closing behind them. Just as they mmed shut, several hands had attempted to reach through the gap to grab them. Needless to say, these ckened limbs nowy severed on top of the sealed tomb. Only Donna did not flinch at the sight before the limbs faded into motes of light.


    Beans sighed in relief now that the threat was gone. Momentster, she broke into a wide grin! "Woohoo! I can''t believe we did it! Do you think we''re the first to raid a tomb?"


    Colt chuckled when he heard her. "It''s hard to say. Maybe we''re the first around here, but I doubt we''re the first in the whole game."


    "What makes you say that?" Donna honestly looked surprised as she raised an eyebrow at hisment.


    "There are just too many unknowns. Like for example, we have no idea exactly who amongst the famous gamers are ying the Beta. There''s a few I can think of that specialise in speedrunning as much in the early days as they can. In all honesty, I expect that if even one of them is in the game that they may already be level five." Colt''s mind wandered to a few of the other people he hadpeted against in the pro circuit.


    "Then there''s the pro and amateur teams. You can''t underestimate how quickly they can unearth secrets as well due to the amount of manpower they havepared to us." Colt continued after pausing for a moment. "To top it off, we don''t know what the situation is like for the other races that we could have chosen. All I''ve seen are fellow Human yers so far."


    Donna tilted her head as she thought about it before realising that he was right. "Does that mean that each race has their own starting area in the Divine Realms too?"


    "Of course, don''t you remember the map when we first entered the game? I doubt we''ll be seeing anyone from the other races for a while. Especially since we don''t know where exactly in the Human Divine Realm that Valheim is located." Colt hummed as he thought about something else. "What sub-race did you two choose?"


    "Skardianˇ­" They both replied in unison, causing Colt to frown.


    "It seems like we might even be divided by sub-race." Colt''s eyes narrowed as he realised what that actually meant. ''Damn! Everyone here is our biggestpetitors to build a foundation for our Divinity! It should be easier to convince the Skardians to believe in us since we''re one of them!''


    Colt quickly turned his attention towards Valheim in the distance. ''It seems like we might need to buy some information from those who explored the city. There''s a good chance it has other functions that we don''t know of yet.''


    "By the wayˇ­." Colt began as he nced at the two women. "Do either of you know anything about registering a guild in this game?"


    "Why? You trying to recruit us or something?" Donna asked suspiciously with a frown on her face.


    "I don''t think that''s a bad idea." Beans replied to Donna''sment as she absentmindedly stroked her chin. "But, noˇ­ We haven''t found anything rted to that."

 Chapter 40 - Interception

    Colt sighed again. He had not foreseen a positive answer anyhow, but it did not hurt to ask. "Forget it, we should go back to Valheim for now. We have to turn in the Quest, then we can think about what we''ll do from there."


    As they started their descent, Colt pulled up his stat page and tried to decide where to put his new stat point. ''Hm, my Speed is falling behind. So maybe I should go with that?'' Colt hesitated for a moment. If he were being honest with himself, he would prefer to stick it in Authority. But he knew too well how badly things would go if someone had a severe imbnce in their stats.


    After deliberating on it for a good few minutes, he increased his Speed. His pace increased as he felt like his body had be lighter. The women noticed he was catching up to them, and Donna narrowed her eyes. ''I''m sure we lowered our pace enough to match his. Don''t tell me he got another stat point!''


    Donna groaned to herself when she realised Exile had widened the gap between them again. As far as they were aware, Exile was the highest level yer in Valheim right now. She hoped to keep him around, to use his strength to allow her and Beans to advance faster. Then when they caught up, they could split from Exile and overtake him.


    ''He''d be worth ambushing if I could convince Beans to help. But she''s too kind. I wonder how many points we could gain if we seized his Orb?'' Donna thought, as she eyed Exile. ''Forget it. Who knows how many times he can heal before he runs dry. Then there''s the question of if we can even harm him. His Endurance seems to be his strongest stat.''


    When the trio were about halfway down the mountain, Colt stopped and stared at the forest. Beans nced back with a look of confusion upon her face before tapping Donna''s shoulder to get her attention. Beans pointed to Exile, who was standing still with a grave expression on his face.


    "Exile? What''s wrong?" Beans asked in a concerned tone.


    "Kaleidoscopeˇ­" Colt replied in a grim tone as he continued trying to count the figures he would spot from time to time between the trees. "There''s at least seven of them. Aeri is amongst them too."


    The women froze when they heard that and scanned the forest for themselves. But Exile''s warning was on point. There was indeed a group of yers headed in their direction.


    "Do we fight them?" Donna asked, even though she had her own misgivings. From what they had seen so far, this was not the type of game where a lead of a level or two would allow a yer to suppress entire armies. Each increase in strength was only marginal.


    "No." Colt shook his head as he began searching for other, safer routes. "There''s too many of them. We don''t know how they''ve distributed their stats or what spells they might have. And you two don''t have anybat spells at all since you haven''t upgraded your Authority."


    ''Hm, he''s calm and collected. Most guys be all hot headed and brash when someone challenges them like this.'' Exile''s image had just went up a notch in Donna''s mind as she waited for him to decide what they should do.


    "We''ll go this way." Colt pointed towards a rocky area in the forest. "The uneven ground will help to break their line of sight with us. However, we''re exposed here right now so they''ll notice that we''ve changed direction."


    With that said, Colt started sprinting towards the area he had pointed at. The pair of women followed behind and all three of them noticed Kaleidoscope''s team change direction shortly after. ''They''re definitely trying to intercept us.'' Colt frowned as he tried to n out their next move.


    ''With my Speed level being what it is, I can''t outrun them. My only choices for now is to hide and proceed cautiously or to fight. But fighting would be suicide unless we can ambush one or two of them at a time.'' The more that Colt thought about it, the more convinced he became they would have to use guerri warfare to facilitate their escape.


    He was not willing to sacrifice his hard-earned gains just to save some face! That was just the height of stupidity! It was far better to understand your limits and n for them. That was how someone got stronger. That still held true in video games. Throwing away your hard work for pride would cost you days, or even weeks, to recover from.


    You would never reach the higher levels as quickly as you could have by doing such a thing. That''s why he hated Captains like Aeri. She did not hesitate to throw her team members'' lives away just to gain more benefits for herself.


    There was one incident in particr in the game Mayhem that had rubbed Colt the wrong way. His team had discovered a hidden boss in the game world but after testing it out, he concluded that at least 70% of his team would have wiped to kill it. It would have taken these yers around two months to recover from a death, so he decided it was not worth it at all. They could always return once they got stronger.


    However, Kaleidoscope had a spy on Colt''s team. Aeri set out for the boss''s location as soon as she received word about it with 100 members of her own team. This included the Pros, Ams and even those used as simple fodder. When Colt heard about it, he returned to the site in time to see the boss die.


    However, despite what they had received for killing the boss, the losses were just too great in Colt''s eyes. Only Aeri and three others survived the encounter. What made the whole thing worse was that every item they received only benefitted Aeri''s ss.


    ''And now it looks like she''s willing to do the same right now.'' Colt''s eyes moved to the team that was tracking them. ''She doesn''t care how many of her team die as long as she can im our treasures.''

 Chapter 41 - Escape!

    Colt sprinted through the forest with an icy glint in his eyes as he red at Donna. "You just had to! Didn''t you?"


    "Of course! I couldn''t help myself. They were shouting about looking for a pair of ugly girls with a guy. My tongue just slipped!" Donna moaned as her brows lowered into a frown, as her cheeks reddened.


    "Stop arguing, you two!" Beans coughed as she cut in to their argument while attempting to catch her breath. "We still have to lose them!"


    "I don''t think there''s much hope of that happening now." Colt said, as he fixed his re on Donna again.


    The trio surged onwards with heavy feet as the members of Kaleidoscope attempted to catch up to them. Their rasping voices yelled at Colt''s group for them to stop and face them, but Colt just snorted in reply. ''You want me to stand still and wait for death? Dream on!''


    A tree to their right side threw splinters everywhere as the enemy struck it with a spell. Colt cursed under his breath as his eyes darted to the hole that was created as they passed by. Colt inhaled sharply as he wondered how much damage that spell could have done if it had hit one of them.


    Colt stomped the ground and came to a halt as he raised his shield. In the next moment, a golden arrow mmed into it. The force behind the projectile made his arm feel numb, but something else caught his attention.


    [-4 HP]


    The women heard air being inhaled sharply as Colt spun on his heels to chase after them. Donna frowned when she saw the grim expression upon Exile''s face. It told her everything that she needed to know about their pursuers. After all, he had shrugged off tens of attacks from the Lost Souls as if they were nothing.


    For Exile to appear concerned about receiving a single attack, well, that meant that they were in deep water. Donna''s face cramped as she pushed herself to run at her full speed. Since it hade to this, it was definitely better to leave Exile behind and escape with Beans.


    "Come on!" Donna made a point of staring in Beans'' direction as she dealt with the lump in her throat.


    Beans bit her lower lip as she nced between Exile and Donna. Her moment of hesitation caused Colt to clench his fists as he waited for her decision.


    "I''m sorryˇ­" Beans'' lips trembled before she ran off to catch up with Donna.


    Colt gritted his teeth as his eyes squinted at their departing backs. They had left him behind to face Kaleidoscope on his own. Colt clenched his shield tightly as he nced around for anything that could help him. However, to his dismay, there was nothing that looked promising.


    Colt turned red in the face as he slowly epted that there was no way out of this situation for him. The best he could do was attempt to take as many of them with him as he could. However, he failed to notice that he had just misced his footing! His boot connected with a rock and sent him tumbling to the ground. Colt groaned as he hit his head, then felt a stinging pain on his arm.


    Frustrated voices entered his hearing from somewhere above and his heart felt like it was beating nonstop. His palms were sweaty as he tried to get his bearings. It appeared as though he had fallen down a hidden slope because of the way theyout of thend was.


    Colt''s eyes bulged out of his head as he realised it had given him the best chance that he was ever going to get! He panted heavily as he crawled through the dirt to conceal himself between severalrge boulders. If luck was on his side, then Kaleidoscope would pass right by without knowing what had happened.


    "Over here! Wait! Where did he go?"


    "You didn''t lose him, did you?"


    "Damn it! Go after the girls! He might have used a spell to catch up with them!"


    A sharp sensation of pain rushed through Colt''s palm from clenching the rock in front of him too tightly. He finally allowed himself to heave a sigh of relief as the muffled shouting quickly moved away from his position. ''I guess they''re the girls'' problem now.''


    Colt felt his veins popping out on his face as he thought about them. ''They better hope I don''t run into them again. I swear I''ll hack them to pieces!'' He waited for a few minutes just to be safe before he hobbled out into the open. Colt mbered up the slope, using the rocks jutting out of the ground for support.


    He nced around at the now empty forest surrounding him. ''Valheim should be in that direction.'' Colt had found out the direction by reviewing the path they had taken andparing it with his memories of his view from on the mountain. He felt like he was on cloud nine when he realised that there should no longer be any obstacles between him and his goal.


    ''There''s just one more thing to take care ofˇ­'' Colt called up the Party interface in his mind. With a broad grin on his face, he selected the option to leave the Party. After confirming his selection, he set off at top speed through the forest.


    ''I wish I could be there to see the look on their faces when Kaleidoscope catches up to them.'' Colt snorted beforeughing merrily. ''They should be able to keep them busy for a while. I''ll need to lie low once I turn this quest in. But where would I go?''


    Colt''s mind wandered to several issues that he would have to take care of. For example, finding reliable Party members and a safe ce to rest. A frown crossed his face as he wondered if he should check in with Ania. Maybe he could ask her to offer some useful items. That was what followers were for, right?

 Chapter 42 - Fit For A God!

    The first thing Colt did when he returned to Valheim was head over to the Temple. He felt uneasy with his DP not being full, so this was the first thing that he had to take care of. When he reached the street where the Temple was situated, he noticed a crowd gathered in a line to enter.


    There were only around twenty yers, but it was still more than he had seen earlier around the city. He joined the rear of the line quietly and tried to keep a low profile. However, there were three groups standing across the road eyeing those waiting to enter the Temple.


    From time to time, one yer from each group would shout out a recruitment notice. Each group was trying to form a party. One group was recruiting people to hunt wolves. Thepetition for those mobs had drastically increased since people had left the city. With PK''s happening all over the ce, it was better to be in arge group now.


    The second group wanted to go further and explore the mountains where Colt had juste from. So he already knew that they would not find much unless they went further afield. Of course, there could have been something worth hunting up there that he simply had note across.


    The third group remained silent about what they were up to. However, they required level 3 yers. Colt observed the group as he attempted to listen in on their conversation. ''Are all five of them level 3?'' Colt frowned as he realised the gap between himself and others was notrge at all.


    Of course, that would make sense if these guys had killed other yers for their Divinity. But how many did they have to kill to reach this level? Colt even wondered if it was a scam. It wasmon in some games where a group would hire one outsider, and then kill them when they were out of sight of other yers for their valuables.


    Colt sighed as she shifted forward. The line was dwindling, as most yers hadpleted their tasks. As Colt entered the Temple, he felt as though a few pairs of eyes were staring at his back. He pretended not to notice as he headed for one of the empty pedestals and a statue of himself appeared on it.


    [Connecting with Prayers in the Mortal Realm. You currently have 18 stored prayers. Please adjust how many you would like to absorb.]


    [HP = 0/4]


    [DP = 0/3]


    Colt groaned as he spent 7 prayers on fully recovering. However, the interface gave him a pleasant surprise next.


    [20 Gold coins are stored in your shrines. Do you wish to ept them?]


    Naturally, Colt agreed and felt somewhat happier to see his wealth inte to 30 Gold. However, there were no quests stored in his shrine so he exited the interface and left the Temple. Once he was outside, he slowly made his way to Jarxos'' store. Now and then, he would pause as though he were interested in the building next to him.


    This was so that he could watch for anyone tailing him, as they would most likely stop as well. Nothing seemed out of ce as he reached the shop, and even the street was empty, which made him feel better. Colt quickly slipped inside before anyone could spot him to discover Jarxos'' apparition standing behind the counter, waiting for him.


    "You''ve finally returned! Good!" Jarxos grinned broadly as he stared at Colt.


    "Here''s what you asked for." Colt frowned as he headed to the counter and started the trade.


    "Excellent! Though, I thought there would be more than this." Jarxos'' eyes were bulging out of his head as he studied the items.


    "It''s all that I could get from the tomb. There were others with me, but I don''t know what they received. They might drop by to sell a few thingster on." Colt shrugged, as if it were no big deal.


    "I see." Jarxos had a glint in his eyes as he stared at Colt, but he did not press any further on the matter. "Here''s your reward then."


    The Tomb of Allevia quest highlighted itself as beingpleted and Colt received five new stat points. This would go a long way towards reaching level 4, but he would wait until he finished his business with Jarxos before allocating them.


    "Since you went to great lengths to get these items for me, I think it''s only appropriate if you choose one for yourself." Jarxos nodded his head with a slight smirk as he ced three items on the counter. "Choose whichever one you like."


    Colt rubbed his hands together as he cast a critical eye over them. The first item was a fresh pair of boots. ''Hm, does that mean if I equip them, then the rest of me will be naked? My current boots are part of a set. It''s not like I can separate them.'' Colt frowned as he wondered about the viability of this choice.


    Of course, he could always store them until he had enough clothing. But that could take a while. It was better if he aimed for more immediate effects. The second item was a ring with no special effects attached. However, it seemed to have some value. Colt guessed that this was a choice for those who wanted to make extra money.


    And finally, there was a brand new axe. It came with a +2 to Authority and it would base even its attack damage off of that stat instead of Strength. The handle had golden runes running along its shaft, but apart from that, it looked quite ordinary. Colt did not even hesitate to choose the axe. Compared to the other two items, it was clearly a better fit for him right now.


    [You have received Common Divine Skardian Axe]


    [Common Divine Skardian Axe]


    [+2 Authority]


    [Description: An axe forged by Divinity. An excellent weapon for a new God who relies on their Authority even in melee battles.]

 Chapter 43 - New Friends?

    Colt immediately equipped his new axe and sunk two of his points into Speed, one into Endurance and the remaining two into Authority. He could not help but grin broadly as he looked at his stats.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 3]


    [HP: 60/60 (45+15)]


    [DP: 10/10 (8+2)]


    [Strength: 5]


    [Endurance: 12 (9+3)]


    [Speed: 6]


    [Authority: 10 (8+2)]


    The two points of Authority on his new axe also artificially increased his max DP! Colt''s face lit up when he saw the overall effects. He now had two different stats that were essentially in the double digits! Plus, he was now only two stat points away from reaching level 4!


    [Authority increase detectedˇ­ Please choose two of the following spells.]


    Colt had a glint in his eyes as he waited for the next notification. He wondered how many other yers had figured out how important the Authority stat was.


    [(Divine) Minor Sunder: Strike your target with a ranged beam of concentrated Divinity for 40% of target''s health. Requires a higher Authority level than your target. Cost: 5 DP]


    [(Divine) Minor Divine Arrow: Fast moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [(Hearth) Raging Hearth: Creates a Divine Fire that radiates a healing aura over 20m. Heals followers/party members for 5 HP per second for 4 seconds. Enemies will suffer from a 20% suppression to all stats within this zone. Cost: 4 DP]


    Colt''s eyes sparkled as he read the descriptions. Minor Divine Arrow was nothing new to him by this point, but the other two were far more appealing. Minor Sunder was a gamble, since its damage would depend on the opponent''s health. However, it had a fixed cost was far better than Minor Divine Arrow in Colt''s eyes.


    By choosing Minor Sunder, Colt felt much happier knowing that he would have another offensive option. So far he had felt like a meat shield that was only superb at taking damage.


    Raging Hearth was another good spell. Although it was another defensive orientated spell it, at least came with a debuff against any opponents. Colt felt as though his character was finallying into its own. ''At Tier 1 I should gain more offensive options because of my element. If I had to guess then Earth should be a defensive element. Fire should be an assault type. While Air and Water are probably hybrids.''


    Colt nodded as he thought about that. He felt that his analysis made sense based on what he knew from other games. With that, he ignored the Minor Divine Arrow once again and chose the remaining two spells. He felt the usual knowledge of how to activate these spells enter his mind.


    With a broad grin, he turned to Jarxos. Now that he had merged his gains, it was time to sell his old equipment. Colt frowned as he felt Jarxos was being stingy. He only gained 2 Gold for his shield and 3 Gold for his old axe. Still, he could notin since he had nothing else topare Jarxos'' prices to.


    "Come back soon. I''ll sort through these items and put them on disy. You never know what you might find." Jarxos shed a cocky smile at Colt as he watched thetter leave his store.


    There were no nasty surprises waiting for him this time when he left the shop. However, now he had no ns for what to do next. ''Hm, should I search the city for a ce to rest? Or maybe I can find somewhere outside of the walls.''


    Colt frowned as he struggled with his decision. Valheim was massive after all and it would take a considerable amount of time to find anything in it. ''Forget it. I''m better off hunting wolves while looking for a safe ce.'' Colt set off for the city gates once again.


    Valheim had be slightly lively in this area because of the yersing and going to the wolf fields. Colt eyed them warily as he wondered how many of them might feel the temptation to kill him. However, as far as he knew, nobody had tried anything in the city yet. This made him feel somewhat safe as he moved along the various streets.


    ''Hm, I got here faster than before.'' Colt thought as he stared at the giant gates before him. ''I guess I''ll have to invest in Speed more if I want to do a lot of exploring.''


    That seemed like a certainty as he thought about having to track down the other First me fragments. He had a suspicious feeling that they might not even be in his subrace''s sphere of influence. It would make far more sense for them to be scattered throughout the entire Human Divine Realm.


    "You were at the Temple earlier." Some man''s rough sounding voice called out to Colt from the side as he passed through the gates. "You seem strong. Why didn''t you reply to our recruitment?"


    Colt''s head swivelled to size up the owner of the voice. The man sported a hairstyle that was down to the skin at the sides, while he had pulled the top portion back into a braided ponytail. Strangely enough, his avatar was clean shaven. Usually when gamers went for this kind of style they always had some kind of beard.


    "Why would I?" Colt shrugged as he eyed the group from the Temple earlier. "There were no details to judge whether there was anything beneficial to me. Besides, what makes you think I even meet your standards?"


    The man chuckled as he looked at Colt. "Oh, you meet the standards, alright. My Divinity tells me you''re level 3. As for the details, well, it wasn''t something that we could just shout out without drawing some unwanted attention. I''m sure you understand what I mean."


    Colt nodded silently as he stared at the group. None of their bodynguages dered they had any malicious intentions, which made him raise an eyebrow. "So, what do you want with me, then?"


    "Ah, let us head somewhere quiet in the city to have a chat about it." The man grinned as he gestured towards Valheim.

 Chapter 44 - The Raiders Horn

    Colt kept silent as he followed the group back into Valheim. He kept a slight distance from them, so that he could watch for any unusual movements.


    "I''m y. Short for ymore." The man who had approached him nced over his shoulder at Colt.


    "Exile." Colt wore a nk expression as he met y''s gaze.


    "Exile, huh?" y''s eyes narrowed as he hummed. "Don''t think I''ve heard of you before. No matter. We''re bound to meet new people, right?"


    The group chuckled as they monitored the yers that they passed. They did not appear to be on edge, but it seemed to Colt that they were watching for something or someone.


    Soon, y turned down a nearby alley. Colt had never been here before, so he nced at the doors that they passed with a raised eyebrow. They barely crossed twenty metres before y stopped. He raised a meaty fist and banged on the wooden door next to him.


    There was a creaking noise as the door parted with its frame, leaving a gap that was just wide enough for them to pass through. Colt''s eyes widened as he looked at the interior. ''It''s a bar!''


    "Wee to The Raider''s Horn." y nced at Colt. "Jorgan runs this ce. ims he used to be the God of Revelry or something like that."


    "How did you even find this ce?" Colt''s cheek twitched as he looked at y in a new light.


    "Funny thing that. Just stumbled on in as I was looking around." y scratched his cheek as his face turned red. "Anyway, here''s the kicker, and why we need you. Jorgan gave me a quest that requires a party. If weplete it, this ce will open to the public."


    Colt frowned as he listened to that. It sounded somewhat familiar to what he had gone through with Jarxos. ''He probably has a hidden reward then.'' Colt squinted at y, which made thetterugh.


    "Yeah, I know. Sounds suspicious, right? Well, I''ve got nothing to hide. We''ll each gain +5 stat points and I get a special horn that can give a buff to my allies." y''s grin was broad as he looked at Colt''s dumbfounded expression. "What? Did you think I would hide it?"


    "Of course." Colt nodded as he nced at the others. "You seem to be aware of the game''s situation. So revealing a rare item like that to everyone puts you in danger."


    "What? These guys?" y waved his hand at the others. "We''ve yed together for years. Recently, one of our group quit just before we joined this game. It''s a real shame. He would have loved this."


    There was a resounding sigh as everyone but Colt hung their heads. "So that''s why you need me? Or to be more exact, it''s why you need a new party member."


    "Don''t say it like that! You''re definitely the one we need." y eyed Colt before he continued. "You''re the guy that Kaleidoscope is after, right? Rumour has it they think you discovered a tomb. But if you''re hereˇ­ That means there''s a chance you seeded and escaped their ambush."


    Colt realised where this was going. y had obviously heard about him entering the shop and his subsequent fall out with Kaleidoscope. It did not take a genius to figure out that he might have some valuable information or item. Especially when you took into consideration Kaleidoscope mobilising their team to hunt him down.


    "So, you''re thinking that your quest might lead you to something that I may have already dealt with?" Colt remained vague about his answer. Making sure that he did not confirm or deny anything.


    "Right you are! The information that you may have could prove more useful than anything that you have on you. All we''re asking is for you to join us as a temporary party member. If it is somewhere simr to anything that you have been to, and you provide useful information. We''ll give you a split of everything the rest of us get besides the Horn."


    Colt thought about y''s offer and felt that it was a good one. There was still some risk involved in his end. But the stat points he could gain were worth it. He made a show of pretending to consider it for longer than what he had. The cheeks of y and the other guys twitched as their smiles became strained.


    "You''ve got a deal." Colt stared at y while acting as if it was a hard bargain. "However, as long as I''m with you guys then you have to help if we have any trouble with Kaleidoscope."


    "That''s not a problem." y waved his hand as though he were shooing away something trivial. "None of us like Kaleidoscope any way. So it''s no skin off our noses."


    Colt smiled when he heard that. ''It seems like these guys could be reliable.'' Colt nodded to himself as he nced around at this group. "When do we leave?"


    y chuckled as he pped the table next to him. "Oh, you''re eager alright! Good. We''re ready to go but it''s best if we leave in two groups of three. That way we won''t draw too much attention. If everything works out and you decide to stick around with us, well, maybe we can form an official guild!"


    "You mean Pantheon boss!" One of the other guys chuckled as he corrected y.


    "Sorry, we can form a Pantheon!" y shrugged his shoulders as he noticed Colt''s wide eyes. "I''m still getting used to this game''s terminology."


    "You guys know how to form a guild?" Colt stared at y''s red face in disbelief. "How?"


    "Hm? Don''t you know? I thought everybody did. It was one of the first things discovered by the first batch to arrive hereˇ­"

 Chapter 45 - Bad Neighbour

    A slight breeze ran through the bar as Colt listened to y''s exnation. He struggled to believe the easiness of forming a Guild in the game. ording to y, there was a tablet towards the rear of the Temple. This item held the interface to register an official Guild that the game system would recognise.


    ''Pantheons, huh?'' Colt''s eyebrows dipped into a frown at how easily y had shared the information. ''Either the girls did not know, or they kept it from me.''


    ''But what''s the point of trying to hide this from me? Since it''smon knowledge, anyway.'' Colt fidgeted as he stared at y. ''I doubt he''s lying. If it were important information, he could have charged me something for it.''


    "Exile? Hey, Exile! Snap out of it." y said before chuckling and fixing him with a strange look.


    "Sorry. You just caught me by surprise." Colt''s eyes narrowed as he realised everyone was looking at him.


    "No worries. Anyway, this fellow with the bald head is MoistBurrito. Everyone calls him Burri. The nasty looking one is Old Un. But Un is fine. This is Desa andst but not least, I Am Legend. He prefers to be called Leggy." y said as he pointed a thumb towards a wiry guy with a short crew cut at the end of his speech.


    "No, I do not!" Leggy snarled. "Call me Legend!"


    Raucousughter resounded in the bar as a bunch of toothy grins aimed themselves at Leggy. Colt understood it was an inside joke that he should y along with. Although this only held true if he wanted a good rtionship with this group.


    "Don''t worry Leggy. I understand." Colt walked over and ced a hand on Leggy''s shoulder as he closed his eyes and nodded.


    Leggy''s face turned bright red as he clenched his fists, but the others burst out in a fresh wave ofughter. Colt grinned broadly at Leggy, who looked confused. It seemed like theughter had defused the situation as Leggy epted his fate.


    "Ok, since we agree, let''s party up and head out." y sent a party request to Colt, which thetter epted. "Exile, you''re with me and Desa. Burri, Leggy and Un. You guys know what to do."


    There was a chorus of agreement before y headed to the door. Colt nodded to the three who would remain behind for a few minutes before following y and Desa. None of them said anything to each other as they made their way towards Valheim''s gate.


    A few yers spared them a nce in passing, but nobody seemed interested in what they were up to. Colt kept at a steady pace as he walked slightly behind y. He did not feel anxious at all, since if they were going to another tomb he knew what to expect.


    Colt guessed that the others probably felt some hesitation. But he did not want to put them at ease just yet. It was far better for him if they remained on alert. That way, Kaleidoscope would have a hard time monitoring him if they had returned to the city.


    As Colt was wondering how far they would have to travel, he received a system prompt that made him raise an eyebrow. ''Why is she calling now?''


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is trying to connect with you. Do you ept?]


    Colt epted the request and waited for the static sound to fill his mind.


    [Lord Exile?]


    ''Yes, Ania. Why are you contacting me?'' Colt''s frown deepened as he paid attention to her words. The Oracle connection made it difficult to hear Ania''s tone, so he could not tell if anything was wrong.


    [I apologise for interrupting you. It''s just thatˇ­ I think we may need you.]


    Hesitation appeared in Colt''s footsteps as he missed a beat. This drew Desa''s attention to him, but he said nothing when he noticed Colt''s expression.


    ''Tell me what''s going on.'' Colt did his best to conceal any anxiety in his tone as he spoke through the mind link.


    [Some warriors came over from Korden asking some questions. They''re insisting that the people of Eraldsfen should start worshipping a Goddess called DonnaThaGreat.]


    Colt''s eyes widened when he heard that. ''That woman started so close to me? Is this on purpose or is it her followers taking initiative?'' Colt was full of questions as he wondered how he could discover the information that he needed.


    ''Is their oracle with them?'' Colt asked, as he refocused on the mind link.


    [Huh? You mean DonnaThaGreat is an actual Goddess?]


    Colt cursed under his breath as he remembered his followers only experienced brief contact with one other god so far. There was no telling how they would react to one that was supported by arger settlement.


    ''She is. However, we are not on good terms. Has anyone given my name to these visitors?''


    [Yes. Bjorn called them a few choice profanities before we could calm him down.]


    ''So, they''ve already left and will soon report this to the people of Korden.'' Colt let out a sigh as he realised he was going to have to settle things with Donna pretty soon. She was too much of a threat if her foundation in the Mortal Realms was right next door to his own.


    [No. They''re still here. I invited them to have dinner with us as an apology for Bjorn''s behaviour. They''re going to receive shelter here for the night and return to Korden in the morning.]


    ''Hm, good. Try to stall them as long as possible. I''lle down to deal with it as soon as I can.'' Colt clenched his fists as he wondered what he could even do. The best scenario he could think of was performing a Minor Miracle that killed the group of outsiders without implicating Ania or Eraldsfen.


    [Sorry to trouble you. I''ll await your arrival.]


    Colt heaved a sigh as Ania cut off their connection. ''Hopefully, we can get through this quest quickly. Donna should be no match for me personally, but it''s a different matter if she sends her followers to deal with mine.''

 Chapter 46 - Sacrifice

    "What did he say?" Bjorn looked at Ania with a fervent gaze.


    Ania turned away from the altar dedicated to Exile and cast her eyes over his believers. "It seems these people from Korden are problematic. Their Goddess is a thorn in Exile''s side."


    There was a chorus of grumbling amongst Exile''s followers who gathered in the Temple. They discussed the meaning of these words amongst themselves while ncing at Ania from time to time. The atmosphere became solemn as they wondered what they should do.


    "Lord Exile has asked us to stall them for as long as possible. He''s taking care of things in the Heavens right now, but he has dered that he will descend to take care of it soon." Ania heaved a sigh as she worried about the impression that they were making on their God.


    "No!" Bjorn''s face turned red as he clenched the back of a chair. "How can we trouble Exile with mere mortals? Are we not capable of dealing with this ourselves?"


    Some mutters of agreement followed Bjorn''s statement, as many eyes fell on him. The other vigers felt he had a point. It was disgraceful if they always ran to Exile to have him deal with their issues. Should they not be spreading his name like those from Korden were doing?


    "Lord Exile has already dered his intentions. If he feels this is urgent enough to descend the moment he is avable, then he will kill them. The Gods are unfathomable! They have far too much to be concerned about already." Bjorn took a deep breath as he nced at his fellow believers. "Let us prove ourselves worthy of Exile''s blessings. I say we kill these guests before Exile has to intervene!"


    "Yeah!" Many followers let out in unison.


    "Grab your axes! Sharpen your wits! Exile has spoken and we shall not disappoint him!" Bjorn''s eyes were wide as grabbed his axe from his waist and hoisted it overhead.


    Yelling sounded in the Temple as the people rushed out to fetch their weapons. Bjorn let out a broad grin before he felt a hand upon his shoulder.


    "What are you doing?" Ania bit her lower lip as she trembled. "Lord Exile said that he would take care of this!"


    "Ania, dear girl. You''re still young and ignorant of the way of the Gods." Bjorn shook his head as he met Ania''s gaze. "How much of the book have you read now?"


    "I''ve read about Allevia stealing the First me from the Elden and gifting fire to King Hasgard." Ania''s brows dipped into a frown as she wondered where this was going.


    "Right! Skardia was a much colder ce back then. Many of us died in the frigid ice strewnnds. If it were not for the Goddess Allevia robbing the Elden of their treasure. Our people may not have lived on til this day." Bjorn patted Ania''s shoulders as he met her gaze with a glint in his eyes. "After the Elden discovered what Allevia had done, theyunched a war against all humans. Allevia did what she had to for us! I''m certain Lord Exile will do the same. So we have to be prepared to do what we must for him."


    "Even if it leads to war?" Ania hung her head as she thought about the people of Eraldsfen. If they went through with this, how many of them would see the next harvest?


    "Ania, there is always war. With or without the Gods watching over us. At least this way we''re serving their will. Don''t dwell on it too much. Besides, don''t you think it will please Exile to discover he has one less thing to take care of?"


    Ania was hesitant as she nodded her head to Bjorn''s wisdom. ''I can''t question him. He knows the Gods better than anyone else in the vige. And father still has not returned from the raids.'' Ania heaved a sigh of relief to have such a reliable advisor.


    "For Exileˇ­" Ania said in a low voice as she walked towards the Temple''s entrance.


    Bjorn had a warm smile on his face as he followed behind her. ''That''s right Ania. This is the Skardian way. Of course our gods would approve of this. One day, you may have to lead armies on behalf of Exile. It''s best if you learn these things sooner rather thanter.''


    As the pair walked down the paths of Eraldsfen towards the guest house, vigers exited their homes with weapons in hand. There was no need for so many of them. Only six men hade from Korden. But none of them would leave alive.


    The crowd was silent as they approached the building, their torchlight flickered off their naked steel. Ania could see an iciness in the eyes of Exile''s followers as Bjorn opened the door. There was a brief creak from the wood, which startled one man inside.


    "Who''s there?" The man''s eyes went wide as he saw the murderous mobing through the doorway, one by one.


    Bjorn pounced towards the man while swinging his axe! There was a brief scream before Bjorn buried the weapon in the man''s skull. Ania could hear mouring from the rooms that led off from the entrance. ''This man was a guard. They don''t trust us.''


    Realising that the enemies had discovered their intentions, the followers of Exile roared as they brazenly spread throughout the building. Ania could hear screams and the nging of metal for a short time before the guest house became silent.


    She had remained in the entrance hall while Bjorn led the assault. Thetter appeared from one doorway, covered in blood.


    "Lord Exile is the God of the Hearth. Lets us burn their bodies and offer their souls to him as a sacrifice. I am confident that this will please him." Bjorn wore a solemn look, but there was a sparkle to his eyes that unnerved Aniaˇ­

 Chapter 47 - Not The Same

    Exile stared at the cave''s entrance with a frown. So far, this ce had no resemnce to Allevia''s tomb. y was staring at him with an expectant expression. But Exile had nothing to say. How could he, when they had not even confirmed if they would face simr enemies yet?


    "Right, lets have a look, shall we?" y rubbed his hands together before drawing his broadsword. "Un, you go first."


    Old Un nodded in response before creeping forward. He gripped his bow tightly as he took the lead. Exile waited outside with the others for a few minutes before they followed him inside.


    Exile could hear water dripping as his boots scuffed across the ground. The sounds echoed off the walls, making it appear as if the cave went on forever. Exile was paying close attention to the rocky walls packed with dirt. His experience at Allevia''s tomb made him wary of an ambush.


    The group pushed further into the cave, but nothing happened. They had still not caught sight of Un yet, which was a good sign, ording to y. As the darkness of the cave stole their sight from them, Exile picked up on a soft indigo glow further ahead.


    ''Seems like we''re about to reach the true start.'' Exile did not feel the need to say anything just yet. It was better not to confirm that he already had experience with this sort of thing, even if the others already believed that he did.


    "There''s Un. Why''s he just standing there?" y raised an eyebrow as he spotted hisrade crouched against the wall of the cave, while looking around a bend.


    When Un heard them approaching, he raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for them to be quiet. Exile gripped his shield and tightly as his right hand hovered over the shaft of his sheathed axe. The entire party lowered into crouches of their own as they shuffled up next to Un.


    "What is that?" y''s voice was hard to hear as they all studied the sight before them.


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he recognised the sea of mobs. They were definitely Lost Souls! However, there was a difference. Each one of them was wearing armour and wielded a weapon. They stood in organised ranks before a giant indigo door.


    "They''re Lost Souls." Exile decided it was time to share something. "Their attacks base their damage on Authority. Or at least, they did."


    "What do you mean?" y''s eyes narrowed as he looked to Exile.


    "I''vee across them before. But they had no equipment. So I can''t say for sure they''re still Authority based mobs." Exile shrugged his shoulders to show that he had nothing else to offer.


    "Boss, if they''re authority based neither me nor Desa willst long if they attack us." Burri nced at the mobs dubiously.


    y hummed as he considered their options. Turning back without giving the tomb a go was out of the question. Bombarding the enemies from a distance would be the best n. However, y raised an eyebrow as he nced at Exile.


    "What would you suggest?"


    The sudden question took Exile by surprise, and the rest of the party frowned at y in response to his question. Exile rubbed his chin as he considered the scenario.


    "When I came across them before, it was impossible to retreat. The only way to survive was to push forward. However, there were only two other people with me."


    "This time, there''s six of us. But our opponents'' strength is unknown. Comparing them to what I''ve been through could lead to vital mistakes."


    The party nodded at his exnation and felt reassured that he did not just advise them to rush in head first. However, it still left y with a problem. Exile''s description of what he went through poked a hole in his n.


    If the scenarios were simr enough, then just sitting back and attacking from range would eventually get them killed. However, if they were different, then rushing for the door could lead to that fate instead.


    Ten minutester, y had finally reached a decision. "We''ll form a square formation and move forward. Un and Desa will be in the centre. You two can focus on ranged attacks until we confirm their damage type. Exile and I will take the front facing corners. Burri and Leggy, you guys have the rear. Lets go."


    There was some apprehension in the air as they took their designated positions. Burri was the most disgruntled since he felt that he should have been in the centre instead of Un. However, y had put Un in that position instead because he was capable of ranged attacks. Whereas Burri had none.


    It would have been unfair to the other members to allow Burri to take cover and not provide any help. Although he would face more danger this way, it would spread the burden more evenly amongst everyone.


    They moved forward as one, and the rear lines of the Lost Souls reacted to their presence. Their heads turned to face the intruders before they turned mechanically and stamped their feet at the same time. They gave Exile the impression of being a well-trained army that was on parade.


    ''This doesn''t look good.'' Exile''s palms were sweaty as his eyes shifted from one mob to another in rapid session. He could have sworn that he could hear the others'' hearts pounding as they struggled to control their breathing.


    No sudden charge urred. The Lost Souls marched in unison to cover the distance between them. The dy was agonising as the gap between them lessened at a slow pace. Exile felt the need to charge forward recklessly. But that would leave the others undefended at his end.


    They were so close now. Close enough to see the whites of their eyes. If they had any. Exile unsheathed his axe. When it was firmly in his grip, the golden runes on its shaft lit up. He banged the de against his shield. As if challenging the Lost Soulsˇ­

 Chapter 48 - Unleash Everything

    ng! Exile grimaced as a spear bounced off of his shield. A system notification had distracted him, and the attack almost slipped past his defence.


    [Milestone: Followers 25/25 reached]


    [You have received +1 stat point]


    [New Milestone: Followers 32/50]


    ''What the hell is going on in Eraldsfen?'' Of course it ted Exile to gain an extra stat point. However, his followers had not increased since his ascension. ''Something must have happened.''


    Exile threw the strange urrence to the back of his mind for now. He retaliated against the offending Lost Soul with a shield bash, followed by a swift hack of his axe.


    [You have dealt -4 damage]


    [You have dealt -1 damage]


    Exile frowned as the damage report came in. ''Lost Warrior (Weakened), eh?'' Exile''s mind raced to make sense of the information. ''So they''re a subtype of the Lost Souls.''


    It took several more exchanges with the mob before Exile could finally dispatch it. He heaved a sigh of relief before blocking a sword that came swinging towards his head! Exile groaned, but not from the blow he had just deflected. The cause was a spear that was aimed at his ribs as he raised his shield.


    [-3 HP]


    The spear that had struck had run a speed check against him. The mob''s speed was higher than his own, which resulted in him taking damage. ''Damn, they''re totally different. Their weapons target different stats. I can only rely on my Endurance if I block with the shield.''


    When Exile nced at the rest of the party, he saw expressions of dismay as they struggled to deal with the mounting pressure. ''This isn''t going well.'' Some of the Lost Warriors bore shields which they used to prevent the party from brute forcing their way through.


    Exile grit his teeth before using Hearthfire and Raging Hearth together. y turned to stare at him with wide eyes as the auras washed over the party.


    "Kill them! We have little time!" Exile raised his voice so that everyone could hear him.


    Everyone''s expressions became solemn when they realised Exile was giving them a warning. In the four seconds that Raging Hearthsted for, everyone recovered to full health and cut down at least two mobs each. This achievement would have been impossible without the zone debuff. Since it indirectly increased the damage that they could deal out.


    Luckily, Hearthfire was still providing everyone with +2 points to their endurance. The slight boost to their maximum health and being able to shrug off some blows that they could not before made them appreciate Exile''s presence.


    y activated one of his spells, which increased everyone''s speed by +2. This seemed to be some kind of signal, as everyone else unleashed one spell after another. Although Exile did not know about their effects, he could see the damage that they wrought for himself.


    ''Screw it. If this ce is like the other tomb, then we''ll recover once we clear this area.'' Exile grit his teeth as he pointed his axe at the crowd before him.


    A st of heat washed over the party as golden mes erupted from Exile''s axe in a never-ending stream. He had activated Cleansing me, turning himself into a mobile methrower. y stared at him with wide eyes as he gulped. ''How?''


    Colt forced his way through the crowd. Every mob that came into contact with the mes turned into motes of light within five seconds, only if their Authority was less than Exile''s.


    [Lost Soul (Weakened): 134/200]


    These Lost Warriors counted towards the same Milestone as the Lost Souls. In that one attack that drained his DP to zero, Exile annihted thirty enemies. ''Damn. this might have been better to use from the start.''


    Exile grinned like a madman as he heard the others moving to fill the gap that he had created. The mobs that had be isted due to surviving the mes got cut down in short order. The othersunched a few more divine spells and specialty ones until they also ran their DP dry.


    It was then that the damage they received piled up. Exile frowned as his HP hit 32/60. Out of everyone in the group, he was certain that he possessed the highest max HP. He focused on sensing the others and inhaled sharply.


    y was hovering around 30%, while Burri only had roughly 5% of his HP left. The others were at various points between the pair. Even Un and Desa in the centre had fallen prey to enemy arrows that soared over the heads of those defending them.


    The mobs soon created a wall of bodies around their formation again. Slowing their pace to a crawl. Within moments of the fresh surge of pressure, the first casualty appeared. Burri disappeared between motes of light as his health bottomed out.


    "No! Burri!" Leggy''s face turned red as he hacked wildly at the mobs who had killed his friend.


    Leggy even resorted to kicking them, to force their bodies back a few steps. Then he saw it. Burri''s Divine Orb sat still at his feet. Leggy scooped it up before retreating to his ce in the formation. Desa filled the empty spot. Leaving Un alone in the centre.


    Exile frowned as he nced at Leggy. Burri''s orb vanished from his hand. But not in the usual motes of light after being absorbed. ''So, I can store Divine Orbs forter use? That''s good to know. I guess this means you have a chance of recovering your lost stats if a friend picks your orb up.''


    This meant that guild wars in the game would be great opportunities for rapid development. However, even one guild war held the potential to ruin the loser forever. Exile wondered how such an event would look like in Pantheon. He could already picture it being chaotic beyond belief.


    ng! A sword bounced off of Exile''s shield as he cut the mob down with his axe. ''What the? When did we reach the door?''

 Chapter 49 - In The Walls!

    "Un! Get the door! Everyone else, cover him!" y''s voice carried over the sounds of their battle.


    Exile cursed as he spun to meet the mobs, pressing their group from the rear. Everyone closed in to prevent any blind spots as they deflected any attacks aimed at Old Un. As the indigo door turned transparent, there was a shout to Exile''s left.


    When he nced over in that direction, he witnessed Desa disappearing amongst motes of light. ''That''s two down already.'' Exile grit his teeth as two hammers struck his shield. ''This is not looking good. There''s only four of us left and we have not even set foot inside the tomb yet.''


    He did not see who picked up Desa''s orb. But he was certain that someone would have. They carefully backed up until they passed through the now transparent, indigo barrier. Exile stared at the Lost Souls to see if they could follow them.


    Luckily, that did not appear to be the case. They pounded on the barrier with heavy blows. All to no avail. y heaved a sigh of relief from somewhere behind Exile when he saw that they were safe.


    "Damn! Burri and Desa... if only theysted a little longer." y kicked the wall of the passage as his fist trembled. His eyes rounded on Exile, who was still staring at the mobs. "So, you''ve definitely been inside a tomb then?"


    Exile sighed as he heard the question. "You could say that, but it was totally different. I have no idea what this tomb has in store for us. We should be prepared for anything. Don''t just rely on my past experiences."


    "Care to share them with us? So we at least have an idea of what to expect?" y raised an eyebrow as he stared at Exile.


    Exile thought about it for a moment. He rubbed his chin as he considered how much he should tell them. ''I should just tell them what they need to know for now. y probably already knows that I gained a special reward. But just because he was willing to share what he will get, that does not mean that I have to do the same.''


    Exile took his time and exined the trials that he had experienced before. The others wore dubious expressions as they listened to his story. It took exile roughly thirty minutes to go through it from start to finish. Naturally, he excluded the information he gained from Allevia.


    "So, what you''re saying is. We''re screwed?" y shook his head as he wondered if he had let his greed get the better of him.


    "Not necessarily. The trials from here on out should return us to peak condition once weplete them." Exile nced along the path that led away from the indigo door that had now solidified.


    "If that''s the case then we may still have a chance." y scratched his cheek as he considered the risk. "Ah! We''re here now so we may as well continue. Alright, everyone. You heard what Exile said. Be on your guard and if wee across simr areas we''ll do what he suggested."


    Everyone agreed with y''s assessment. There was a bit of shuffling as the party prepared to set off. Needless to say, they were feeling quite anxious. Not even Exile held out much hope that they would face the same trials.


    Soon after they set off, they came across a split in the passageway. Exile groaned. This meant they would have to face separate trials just like before. ''What will they have in store for us this time?'' Exile raised an eyebrow as he nced at each passageway.


    ''There''s only four of them. Hass the tomb adjusted to the amount of yers that have survived?'' Exile felt that they had discovered some important information. If the Tombs adjusted to how many yers were left inside, then would that not mean that they would be more difficult therger the party?


    He could be wrong of course. There may be challenges with better rewards if more people survived until the end. The group split up while taking one passageway each, Exile took this opportunity to spend his spare stat point in endurance. With a determined expression, he raced down the passageway. Attempting to reach the end as quickly as possible.


    ''What the hell!'' Exile suddenly jumped to the side as a de swung at him from out of the wall beside him. The sudden attack had taken him by surprise. As he nced towards the wall he noticed the arm of a lost soul had broken out of it. At the same time, he heard the sounds of the walls around him beginning to crumble.


    Exile gritted his teeth as he realised that he had been surrounded. He was d that he followed his own advice, and was prepared for the unexpected. Loud groans filled the passageway as the Lost Souls pulled themselves out of the walls. Excel quickly counted his mind. ''one... five... nine...'' All in all, he counted fifteen Lost Souls, and more wereing by the second!


    Exile cursed under his breath, his eyes darted from enemy to enemy as he tried to form a n. ''There''s no way I can fight all of them. I''m going to have to try and force my way through. I hope the others can make it past this.


    Exile jumped forward while bashing with his shield. The sound of bones cracking beneath the blow made him smile. He swung his axe wildly from side to side, as he kicked the enemy in front of him.


    His health took a dip as damage started to pile up. Exile grimaced as he used his shoulder to bash against the enemy in front of him. The Lost Soul tumbled over, taking a few others with it to the ground. Exile leapt over the bodies and sprinted past the new enemies that were still mouring to escape from the walls.


    His heart was racing as he nced over his shoulder. The mobs were quickly recovering and were about to give chase. Adrenaline coursed through Exile''s body as he noticed a soft indigo glowing from somewhere up ahead.

 Chapter 50 - Lost Warrior Captain

    Exile grit his teeth as he hoped the glow came from a rune that would take him to the next trial. The sounds of hurried steps came from his rear, alerting him that the mobs were closing in. ''Damn. They might catch up before I can make it!''


    A hammer blow to his backunched Exile forwards! One mob had been faster than the others and now stood poised to strike a second blow! Exile rolled over as he struck the ground. He twisted his body so that his shield faced the hammer.


    Thud! Exile''s arms vibrated as he absorbed the shock. He red at the Lost Warrior that had taken him by surprise. ''I need to get away!'' Exileshed out with a kick. A satisfying crack sound in the air. Exile grinned as the mob fell face first to the ground. He had snapped its right leg in two.


    Exile mmed his shield on the mob''s head as he got to his feet. Although it did not kill it, he got some satisfaction out of the action. By this point, the crowd was almost upon him once again.


    Exile cursed under his breath. He spun on his heels and raced off. There was no way that he would wait around for them! The glow became brighter while Exile''s heart pounded in his chest. An arrow flew over his shoulder, making him gasp.


    Up ahead, he caught sight of the indigo rune. He was mere moments away from moving on to the next trial! ''What will it throw at me next?''


    [-5 HP]


    Exile groaned as an arrow lodged itself in his shoulder. He frowned as he gauged the distance until he would reach the rune. ''I can make it!''


    [-5 HP]


    Another arrow struck,nding on the back of his thigh and making stumble. Exile nced back and instantly ducked. Whoosh! A spear tip passed through the empty air he left behind! The mobs were doing all that they could to stop him from reaching the rune!


    However, Exile pushed on. He grit his teeth as he watched his health plummet. The rune was almost within his reach as his health dropped to 12/65! ''Just a little more!''


    [-5 HP]


    [-4 HP]


    Soft indigo light wrapped around Exile as his finger touched the rune! As his vision went white, he could have sworn that he heard an arrow striking the wall. ''That was too close!'' Exile heaved a sigh of relief as his eyes adjusted to the new area.


    [You have fully recoveredˇ­]


    That was exactly the notification he had been hoping to see! Now that he was free of any danger for the time being, Eile took this chance to look around. However, he did not like what he saw. In Allevia''s tomb, he had faced the toon on the bridge at this point.


    However, this time, there was a single enemy in the room with him. There were no ledges or anything to exploit for an easy win. Just Exile and this mob in a in, empty marble room with indigo wisps floating around for light.


    With a curious gaze, Exile studied the sole enemy. ''It''s different from the othersˇ­'' This one was roughly two-and-a-half metres tall and wielded a heavy two handed battleaxe while Exile''s height reached 195cm.


    There was a tremendous difference between them that concerned Exile. The armour that the mob was wearing also looked to be extremely heavy. He doubted that with the difference between their height and weight, that he could gain much of an advantage.


    Exile readied his shield as he held his axe out to his side. He had to prepare himself to counterattack the moment that it gave him an opportunity. As soon as he stepped forward, the giant rushed towards him without warning.


    ''Damn it!'' Exile cursed as he braced his shield. The mob was far faster than it looked. Swoosh! Its axe sliced through the air and collided with Exile''s shield. A heavy thud sounded and Exile felt his feet slide across the ground as the blow pushed him back.


    [-7 HP]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he stared at the damage report. He had never received so much damage when blocking with his shield! The check had run the mob''s strength stat against his endurance. ''Lost Warrior Captain (Weakened)?''


    A deep frown crossed Exile''s face as he stared at the mob. A bead of sweat ran down his brow. ''Its strength is at 19 to do that kind of damage. So what are the rest sitting at?''


    Exile wondered if the tomb had put him against something that he could not ovee at his current level. His eyes narrowed as he rushed in, ducking beneath the next attack that the mob threw at him.


    Exile mmed the edge of his shield against the enemy''s thigh while shing at the other leg with his axe. However, no damage reports revealed themselves. The Lost Warrior Captain grinned sadistically as it kicked him full on his chest!


    [-7 HP]


    Exile slid back once again and grit his teeth. His health had dropped to 51/65 in two exchanges. ''Should I heal? Noˇ­ Even if I heal, I can''t damage it. So, I need to try attacking with Authority!''


    Exile pointed his axe towards the mob. ''Cleansing me is my only hope. I can only use Minor Sunder twice with my DP. So that wouldn''t kill it.'' The edge of his axe glowed bright red as heat built up in it.


    A wave of hot air filled the surroundings as a stream of fire escaped from the axe''s edge. The Lost Warrior Captain disappeared from sight in the wave of mes.


    [Your Authority is greater than your enemy''s.]


    Exile grinned as the notification confirmed that he was definitely dealing damage to the Lost Warrior Captain. ''Ten seconds! In ten seconds that''s 100 points of damage! Please! Let it be enough!''


    The inferno continued uninterrupted for the entire duration. Exile''s eyes constantly scanned the mes for any signs of his opponent. Eventually, the spell ended. Exile held his breath as he waited to see what it would reveal when the mes vanishedˇ­

 Chapter 51 - Fighting Spirit

    Exile''s eyes went wide as arge figure burst through the remaining mes towards him! His expression sank when he saw that. ''Damn!'' Exile knew in his heart that there was nothing more that he could do. He could only hold out for as long as possible now that it had reached this point.


    The Lost Warrior Captain shed with his mighty axe! A dull thud followed the blow as it struck Exile''s shield!


    [-7 HP]


    Exile watched as his health reached 44/65. ''It''s only a matter of time now.'' Exile sighed heavily and squinted at his enemy. A surge of adrenaline coursed through his body as his hands trembled. He began a violent slugfest with the mob.


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    His health had now dropped below 50%, but he did not care. Exile kept bashing with his shield and cutting with his axe. All to no avail. As time went on, the damage he sustained umted while he got used to the Captain''s fighting style.


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    Although he blocked most attacks sessfully, it made no difference to his plummeting health points. Exile''s breathing had be ragged as he red at the Captain with a hate-filled expression. He only had 9 HP left, so he knew their fight was almost over.


    The Captain stuck out a hand towards Exile and beckoned him toe. Exile''s face turned red at the naked taunt. The Captain knew that there was nothing Exile could do to him.


    Exile bellowed a roar of defiance as he rushed in! He dodged the kick that the Captain aimed at him and mmed his shield on the enemy''s knee! A heavy sensation struck his back at the same time.


    [-7 HP]


    The Captain sent Exile sliding across the floor, face down. Before he could turn over to defend himself, the enemy leapt towards him! Exile groaned as the Captain''s kneended on his back, locking him in ce. No matter how he struggled, he could not break free.


    Then, it happenedˇ­


    [HP: 0/65]


    Exile''s vision turned white as the Captain dealt the finishing blowˇ­


    [You have died! Generating Divine Orbˇ­ Endurance -7, Authority -4, Speed -2, Strength -1ˇ­]


    Exile''s mind went nk as it instantly halved his total stats. Exile''s expression turned grim as he stood amongst a never-ending white mist. He reviewed the fight in his mind, but there was nothing he could have done that would have led to a better oue.


    ''I should have turned this quest downˇ­'' Exile sighed as a look of helplessness crossed his face. ''I wonder how the others are doing.''


    Just then, his vision went nk again as he disappeared from inside the mist. When he opened his eyes, he was standing in a white marble square room. Indigo coloured wisps floated around, allowing him to see the contents of the room.


    There was a solitary chest a mere three steps in front of him. ''Hm? Is this a constion prize? Like how Donna and Beans still received a reward when they failed?'' Exile was finding it hard to be excited. He doubted the tomb could give him anything to make up for his lost stats.


    With a frown on his face, he stepped forward to open the chest. There were a few things inside, but one of them made his eyes go wide!


    [Exile''s Divine Orb]


    He did not know whether tough or cry at this sight. However, that did not stop him from absorbing it before he paid any attention to the other things. A sense of warmth spread throughout his body as it restored his stats.


    ''Let''s try to avoid dieing from now on!'' Exile heaved a sigh of relief as his eyes watered up. ''Hmˇ­ Do you always receive your Orb if you die in a tomb?''


    Exile considered the matter briefly, but decided he would have to talk to the others to gather more information. The next item he inspected was a bag with 50 Gold in it. ''It''s better than nothing I guessˇ­''


    Thest item inside the chest was a parcel. Exile frowned as he reached out to grab it. However, a notification interrupted his action.


    [Lost Warrior Captain (Weakened) had less than 10% health left. Generating bonus reward based on your performanceˇ­]


    [Common Raider Armour Set]


    [+1 Endurance, +1 Speed]


    [Description: Show them you mean business with this armour set.]


    Exile''s eyebrow twitched as he read the description. He was certain that the developers were treating these pieces of text as a joke. The armour appeared in his inventory, and he wore it right away.


    Exile''s new armour consisted of thick leather, with some apanying metal parts around the shoulders and waist. The cor had been made of fur, just like the heavy boots. While the gauntlets had fur in the interior, but metal on the back of the hands and up the forearms.


    ''Hm, it would have been better if the speed stat boost was authority instead.'' Exile sighed as he studied his new outfit. ''Still, it looks a lot better than before.''


    Now that the chest was empty, a section of the wall behind him slid open. Exile raised an eyebrow before deciding that it should be safe. The short passageway that was revealed led him directly to the indigo door at the start of the tomb.


    Exile nced around at the figures waiting there. It surprised him to see that they did not look any better off for their experience in the tomb!


    "What! Why''d you get new gear?" Leggyined as he eyed Exile with a sour expression.


    "Don''t mind himˇ­ He''s a little on edge." Old Un cut in before Exile could say anything. "He died before reaching the rune at the end of his passage. Now he''s lost 50% of his stats."


    Exile''s eyes went wide before he looked at Leggy with some sympathy. ''I guess that answers my question about always receiving your Orb.'' He sighed before ncing around once again. ''Wait? Where''s y?''

 Chapter 52 - Great Expectations

    "He''s still in thereˇ­" Old Un said when he noticed the look on Exile''s face.


    Exile raised an eyebrow at Old Un''s statement. He could not hide the look of surprise that crossed his face, which made Old Unugh.


    "Don''t underestimate y. He''s stronger than you think." Leggy said with a boastful voice and a look that said their group was amazing.


    ''That or his trial is better suited to himˇ­'' Exile hummed as he considered the likelihood of that being true. ''Maybe these tombs are designed to bepleted by people with specific elements.''


    Exile felt histest theory was probably a stretch too far. Although, it would not surprise him if the legacy item could only be imed by someone with a matching element. Besides that, it should be possible to im the rest of the items. Seeing how everyone else had resigned themselves to wait it out, Exile took a seat on the floor nearby.


    When another half hour had passed, the group became irritated. Waiting was one thing, but not knowing the situation was worse. What would they do if y had be trapped with no way out? Although they doubted the possibility of it actually happening, they could not stop worrying about it.


    ''If I knew how long y would still be in there, I could use Avatar to find out what''s going on in Eraldsfen.'' Exile sighed as he nced at hispanions. ''But I''d be defenceless if y exits while my consciousness is in the Mortal Realms. There''s no telling if they would honour our deal at that point.''


    He was not keen on wasting time, but it looked like he had no other choice. Exile had to stick with the party until they returned to Valheim at least. Unless he wanted to leave himself open to an ambush from Kaleidoscope. ''I just hope they stand and fight if Kaleidoscope really tries something.''


    Exile waited patiently while browsing his thoughts on the game so far. There were plenty of new ideas that he had never seen before. In all honesty, he felt that the game would go far. ''It just remains to be seen what approach they''ll take during general release.'' Exile struggled to see what game the developers were ying with Pantheon.


    It was groundbreaking in many areas. However, if yers were to be banned from the game then who would be willing to pay for it? ''Not many, I bet.'' He was certain they would have a n on how to deal with financing the game. Luckily, he was not forced to wait around much longer, as a sh of light appeared next to them.


    y took several moments to digest what had happened before he broke into a wide grin. "We did it, boys!"


    A chorus of cheers went up from the group, well from everyone except Exile. He squinted at y as he tried to figure out what he had gained from the trials. Besides the horn, of course. But y did not appear to have any new equipment.


    y shed a smirk in Exile''s direction when he saw that he was being studied. "I''m not hiding anything. I chose an amulet for myself."


    Exile raised an eyebrow at how casually y had shared that information. ''Well, so far he hasn''t tried anything, and everyone is being pretty transparent. Maybe they''re not so bad?''


    Even though he thought that, he still would prefer to seek his ownrades and build his own Pantheon. If he were to join these guys, then y would definitely end up as the leader. Which would mean that he would have to trust him not to get his ount ruined by bad decisions.


    ''I''d rather make the decisions myselfˇ­ At least then I only have myself to me if it goes wrong.'' Exile sighed as he looked over the joyous expressions on their faces. It reminded him of better times with a team that were genuinely excited to just y games.


    "Since we''re all here, we may as well head back to Valheim." y announced as before turning his attention to the indigo barrier.


    "Waitˇ­" Exile frowned as he nced at the group as they stood up. "We still need to deal with the Lost Warriors on the other side."


    y raised an eyebrow as he studied Exile''s expression. "What do you mean? Don''t they disappear once weplete the tomb?"


    Needless to say, the others stared at Exile with confused expressions. It was an established fact in other games that the enemies would disappear whenever a dungeon waspleted. They would obviously question this piece of information.


    "I''m not saying that they haven''t. But be prepared to fight your way out. It''s better to be prepared and we''re still two men down." Exile shared a knowing look with y.


    They considered the weight of his words as they remembered what they had left behind when they had entered the tomb. None of them felt hopeful about being able to pull off another miracle.


    "Uh, y. I lost half of my stats. There''s no way I can survive for long if they are waiting for us." Leggy hung his head as he spoke. Everyone nced at him with a grim expression.


    "So, we really only have three effective team members?" y rubbed his face as he thought about what they could do if Exile was correct. "Ok, here''s what we''ll do. No matter whatˇ­ Exile must survive."


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he stared at y with his mouth wide open. ''What did he just say?''


    "Exileˇ­ You probably have the highest survivability out of all of us. With your Endurance and healing spells you have the best chance of surviving." y sighed while he nced at everyone. "Justˇ­ try to secure our Orbs if we die."


    y and the others stared at Exile with expectant expressions. But Exile was unsure how to feel about the sudden disy of trust. What really made him realise they were being serious was when he was handed the Orbs of those who had already died during the questˇ­

 Chapter 53 - Too Far

    The group stood before the barrier with grim expressions stered on their faces. y and Exile stood at the front. Ready to take on the first wave. Just as y was about to touch the barrier and start their escape. Something happened that made Exile Exile grin.


    "Wait!" Exile''s eyes went to the notification that had just appeared in his mind.


    [Milestone Reached: Followers 52/50ˇ­ Awarding +1 Stat Pointˇ­ New Milestone: Followers 52/100]


    y raised an eyebrow at hispanions as he wondered what was going on. But Exile did not borate. He merely gestured to wait a moment. ''It''s obvious what I should pick.'' With that thought, he sunk the new point into endurance.


    [Congrattions! You have reached Level 4!]


    With that notification, Exile grinned. He had taken the next step, which was always a good feeling no matter what game he yed. ''To think I almost lost half my progress!'' Exile shook his head as he pulled up his status.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 4]


    [HP: 70/70 (55+15)]


    [DP: 10/10 (8+2)]


    [Strength: 5]


    [Endurance: 14 (11+3)]


    [Speed: 7 (6+1)]


    [Authority: 10 (8+2)]


    Exile nodded with satisfaction before ncing towards y. "You can start now."


    y rolled his eyes as he wondered who was really in charge. Exile had given him that order so naturally. ''Forget it, it''s probably just a slip of the tongue.'' y turned his attention back on the barrier as dispelled his doubts.


    When his palm touched upon the barrier, it slowly became translucent. Revealing that Exile''s warning was true. Although y had taken precautions and listened to Exile''s advice, he had still hoped that thetter was wrong.


    Rows of Lost Warriors were waiting on the other side. As Exile cast his gaze over them, he realised that this time would be differentpared to the time in Allevia''s tomb. The Lost Souls over there had been pressed against the barrier in a frenzied mob. But the Lost Warriors were waiting in organised formations. Calmly waiting for them to step out from the protective area.


    Exile frowned as he looked over at them. ''The formations are more densely packed in a straight line from the barrier to the exit. But if we try to go through the edges where''s there''s less of them they''ll have time to reorganise and block our escape.'' Exile did not like the level of intelligence that these mobs were disying.


    It was as if they were trying to give them some hope, only to crush their morale when they attempted to exploit them. However, he had to admit. It was a fresh feeling to be put to the test like this. ''Come to think of itˇ­ What''s with these guys? Why can''t they enter the tomb? When we first arrived, it did not look like they were guarding it. Instead, they looked like an army trying to break inˇ­''


    It was just a random thought of his, but Exile thought it may be relevant to the lore of the game world. ''Could it be that they''re actually the remnants of an invading army? Or the survivors of the force that killed the God?'' Maybe he was just leaping to conclusions. It was also possible that the developers just thought that they would make a good enemy at this stage of the game.


    "They''ve got holes in their formation around the edgesˇ­ That''s our ticket out of here!" y''s eyes lit up as he studied the mobs.


    The others in the group nodded with his assessment. Except for Exile, who raised an eyebrow at y''s statement. He felt like pping himself in the face after hearing that, but he restrained himself.


    "No, take a look at theiryout. Those holes are positioned so that they can be filled. That will buy this army enough time to seal off our escape." Exile pointed out the holes and their proximity to the areas where there were more mobs gathered. "The actual weak point of this is to go straight through them."


    y raised an eyebrow as everyone turned to look at Exile as if he were crazy. "What makes you say that?"


    "If we go straight through, they don''t have enough room to manoeuvre. This''ll prevent many of them from being able to use their weapons." Exile shrugged his shoulders. "They''re trying to trick us into going through the formation in the areas that they can deal more harm. This lot in front of us is nothing but an intimidation tactic. They want to scare us off from using this route."


    A couple of gasps apanied his exnation, but y was not convinced. "Why would that matter? They don''t have to worry about hitting their own team. It''s not like they''ll do any damage."


    Exile considered y''s argument before shaking his head. He finally realised something that had been nagging at his mind for some time now. "Have any of you hit each other while in a party?"


    The others looked confused by Exile''s question. However, y''s eyes went wide as he thought he understood what point Exile was attempting to make. "Of course we haven''t. That would just cancel attack."


    "Right, and most gamers would never make that mistake for that reason. But have you ever seen a mob in this game identally hit another?" Exile''s mind raced to piece everything together.


    "Noˇ­" y raised his eyebrows as Exile''s argument was bing increasingly convincing.


    "Wellˇ­ I have." Exile''s mind wandered to the trial where he had to make the mobs hit each other to advance. ''I think that trial was trying to make me aware that this game is different.''


    Exile''s expression sank as he put everything together in his mind. ''The developers are really going too far with the realism.'' He shook his head as he realised the degree of difficulty that would apany team fights that were known to be messy. ''Everything in the game can probablymit friendly fireˇ­''

 Chapter 54 - Not A Typical Game

    They discussed Exile''s theory for a bit, before deciding that they should at least attempt to exploit it. If he was right, then it would make escaping the tomb much easier. If he was wrong, they could always retreat behind the barrier and attempt a fresh approach. Their expressions became sharp with determination as they prepared themselves to face the horde.


    y took a deep breath before he let out a shout! That was the signal for all hell to break loose. Old Un started the fight with a spell that fired three golden bolts into the enemies before detonating. ''What spell was that?'' Exile wondered as he raised an eyebrow. He was certain that the system had never offered him it.


    Still, he had no time to examine its effects as y dashed forward and struck at the nearest mobs. Leggy glowed with a golden aura as he dashed to y''s right, which meant Exile had the left side to deal with. Meanwhile, Old Un kept himself close to y''s back. He was using him as a shield to fire off his spells.


    Exile broke into a grin as he shed with the Lost Warriors. His theory turned out to be correct. They were reluctant to attack for fear of striking their allies. Even though the mobs were densely packed in front of him, he only had to deal with two or three attacks at a time. The whole affair became much easier on them once they realised that they really could exploit this feature.


    By the time Old Un ran out of DP, they had forced their way into the crowd by several feet. Now, the Lost Souls were attempting to go around them to attack from the rear. However, Old Un was now free to cover that space. The party slowly formed a tight square formation to watch each other''s backs. Exile checked his health while wearing a frown. ''61/70ˇ­ Not badˇ­ How are the others doing?''


    His mind turned its attention to the rest of the party. y''s health had dropped to 78%, Old Un''s health was at 95% but Leggy''s health was the worst case with only 58% left. Exile''s frown deepened as he ducked behind his shield, narrowly avoiding the axe aimed at his neck. With a brief nce over his shoulder, he spotted Leggy wildly swinging his weapon without caring for defence at all.


    ''That exins itˇ­'' Exile heaved a sigh. He knew that he would have to be prepared to grab Leggy''s orb soon. Either that or he could risk using his healing now. It was a tough choice to make. If he healed the party, they could maintain the maximum damage per second for longer. However, it meant that he would be unable to use Cleansing me to its greatest potential if he had to make a break for it.


    As he shed at another Last Warrior, finishing it off, he waited a while longer before making his decision. It would be a waste to use Raging Hearth right now as they would not gain the maximum effects from it. He would have to lose another eleven HP and Old Un would probably need to drop to around 80% of his health for it to truly be effective.


    [-3 HP]


    Exile cursed under his breath, he was caught up in his thoughts and failed to react to a spear that struck his right side. ''It''s only the weapons that use Speed or Authority for their damage that can hurt meˇ­'' He had taken more than a few attacks before he reached this conclusion. His endurance had already reached a level where the mobs that used strength could no longer harm him.


    However, there was no way for him to pinpoint what stat each weapon used. For example, one spear had used speed, but another had used strength. He even suspected that there were weapons out there that could use endurance for its offensive. ''The game doesn''t allow you to neglect any statˇ­'' Exile hummed as he blocked a hammer blow.


    ''Strength to pick up certain items, endurance for health, speed for faster travel, and authority to ess powerful abilities. But all of them can be factors in your offensive damage or what you''re capable of defendingˇ­'' Even though he was in the heat of battle, he never stopped analysing the game. ''The traditional idea of a tank or dps build has been thrown right out the window.''


    There was no solid strategy for building a character based on any of these anymore. It was rtive to what stats your opponent had dumped their points into. ''I guess it will reallye down to your spells then if you want to focus on somethingˇ­'' Aplicated expression crossed Exile''s face as he considered his own spells. They pointed toward him being a healer/support build.


    Which was a far cry from the usual dps build he normally yed. ''I can only hope that moving up the tiers will give me ess to more offensive options.'' Exile sighed yet again as he bashed an enemy aside before shing at its exposed back. By this point, they had crossed through the halfway mark. It took a brief moment for Exile to check everyone''s health again, and his eyes went wide.


    Their health had dropped drastically while he had been thinking over the game''s mechanics! ''Damn!'' Exile nced around him before he decided it was worthwhile to try and keep everyone alive. He immediately cast Raging Hearth and over the next four seconds everyone regained a valuable chunk of health. The brief suppression on their opponents'' stats allowed the party to cut down the closest mobs that had been hounding them.


    y subtly nced at Exile''s back with a raised eyebrow. ''He''s more reliable than I thoughtˇ­ I was sure he would save his DP to let himself escapeˇ­'' Although he was willing to trust that Exile would recover their orbs if they died, he did not expect him to decide to reduce the casualty rate as much as possible. A small, yet sad smile yed on y''s lips as he parried a sword that was aimed for his heartˇ­

 Chapter 55 - No One Left Behind

    Under y''s leadership, while following Exile''s n, the group made steady progress. Most of the time they forced the mobs aside rather than exchange blows until they killed them. And now, they were only a few feet from breaking out of the encirclement!


    Since they were almost free, everyone turned their attention to the front. They abandoned the other sides as they focused on breaking through the remaining mobs. The group began to umte damage under those conditions. But it was not life-threatening enough to force Exile to heal the group a second time.


    The group burst through the crowd and made a mad dash for the cave that led back outside. Arrows rained down on them from behind as they attempted to put as much distance between themselves and the Lost Warriors as possible!


    Exile shrugged the arrows off as his health dropped to 36/70. Leggy cried out before his body hit the ground and turned into particles of light that drifted off. Exile cursed under his breath as he raised his shield and dashed back to grab the orb that was left behind. The damage was too severe and came too quickly for him to save Leggy''s life.


    The mobs were frantic as they tried to close the distance when they saw Exile turn back to retrieve Leggy''s orb. The archers amongst the Lost Warriors stopped aiming for the group and focused fire on Exile. Most of them struck the ground, missing him by a narrow margin. While the rest created dull thuds as they embedded themselves in his shield.


    When Exile''s hand touched Leggy''s orb, he stored it in his inventory. He spared a quick glimpse over the rim of his shield to see the Lost Warriors getting closer by the second. Exile cursed as he realised they would catch up before he could rejoin the others. ''Damn! I should have left it!'' Exile cursed as he raced back towards the remaining two.


    "Run! They''re right behind you!" y''s warning rang in Exile''s ears as his feet pounded against the ground.


    [-7 HP]


    Exile swore as he spun to sh at the mob who had just stabbed him with a short sword, but the Lost Warrior was nimble enough to escape that strike. However, that brief respite gave him the chance to make another break for it. He ran as if his life depended on it, but the mobs were not ready to give up yet. Their weapons and armour made a lot of noise as they continued the chase. Meanwhile, y and Old Un had disappeared into the cave ahead.


    Just as Exile was about to curse them out for abandoning him, y''s head suddenly poked out from the cave. When he saw the situation that Exile was in, he did not hesitate to rush to his aid. Exile could only frown as he saw that. Although he was ecstatic about the sudden help, he did not expect that y was serious when he said that he had to survive even if it cost the others their lives.


    Just as Exile was stilling to grips with y''s decision, Old Un made his own reappearance to join the fray. Exile felt the mounting pressure ease up a little as the pair passed him to hold off the mobs. He did not know for how much longer he could have endured the bombardment while trying to escape. So he was grateful for the assist.


    Once he was clear of the melee, he used Raging Hearth again to prevent the others from dying as they disengaged from the enemies. Before long they had already caught him to him and were voicing their thanks towards him.


    ''I was rightˇ­'' y thought as he studied the serious expression on Exile''s face. ''He''d make an outstanding leader. If we wanted to bring him in permanently, I''d have to step aside.''


    y shook his head with a sad smile. He had the same thought earlier, but it had be more solidified now. If they did not recruit him into their group, there was a good chance that they would be enemies down the line. Especially when he considered the nature of the game. ''If we can at least part as friends or allies that would be good tooˇ­''


    The trio entered the mouth of the tunnel, and only after a few minutes of running did they notice they could no longer hear the sound of their pursuers. They slowed to a stop and listened carefully. But it really seemed as if the mobs had given up. They exchanged confused expressions before Exile made a guess as to what was going on.


    "Maybe they can''t leave that roomˇ­" Exile frowned as he thought of the only exnation that made any sense.


    "Maybeˇ­" y cocked an eyebrow at the tunnel behind them. "Still, I can''t believe we made it out of there!"


    Old Un shook his head before a burst of softughter escaped his mouth, which became increasingly louder. Soon, all three of them were leaning on the wall andughing at their sess. They had raided the tomb and the only thing they had to do now was im their rewards!


    "It was a hell of an experienceˇ­" y chuckled, as a glint appeared in his eyes. "Plus, we didn''t leave anyone behind. So the results aren''t half bad. There''s just the matter of Leggy losing half of his stats during the trials."


    y sighed as he realised they came out better than when they went in. The rewards would solve a decent chunk of Leggy''s problem and it should not take long to get him back up to full strength. His sights fell on Exile as he wondered if this would be a good chance to broach the subject of future cooperation. However, Exile''s mind was already thinking of something else.


    ''The beta won''tst much longer and there''s still a lot to do. It''d be good if I can found a Pantheon and check in on Ania soon. There''s no telling what will happen if the developers patch the game during the time between the beta''s end and general releaseˇ­.''

 Chapter 56 - Twilight Of The Old Gods

    Ania walked around Eraldsfen before heading towards the temple. Along the way, she noticed that more and more of the vigers were looking at her with respectful gazes and bowing their heads at her passing. The Temple had found a sudden surge of worshippers visiting it once they settled the ordeal with the men from Korden.


    She was pleased more of her people had foundfort in the warm embrace of Exile''s protection. But she knew it could notst. The people from Korden would eventually notice that something had gone wrong. With Eraldsfen being the closest vige, they would definitely fall under their suspicion.


    ''I wonder how we can deal with this...'' Ania sighed as she smiled towards a group of vige girls. ''How will the Goddess of Korden respond to what we did? I hope we did not make things worse for Lord Exile...''


    The sunlight made the blue streaks in Ania''s hair appear quite vivid. It was a beautiful sight to see. Especially as it was quite rare for people to be born with hair like hers. In the whole of Eraldsfen, no one else had even a single streak in their hair. Ania heaved a helpless sigh as she thought about the stories her father used to tell her.


    Those with multiple colours of hair were supposedly gifted in magic, ording to those stories. It would be great if it were true, as it would mean that she would be more capable of spreading Exile''s name for him throughout Skardia. However, Ania had never even felt slightly magical. Since she had lived in Eraldsfen her entire life, she had never even seen someone who could use magic.


    But her father would often describe battles against sorcerers and witches that would take ce during his raids. However, a part of her suspected it was just nonsense that he made up to make the stories more enjoyable. She had to admit that it was entertaining to hear about. ''Maybe I should ask Lord Exile about it... He is a god after all.''


    ''Or would that be too rude of me?'' Ania frowned as she wondered if it were appropriate to ask the gods such nonsensical questions. That was when her ears picked up the sound of Bjorn talking to the worshippers in the temple. He was in the middle of some long-winded story about the gods of old. Ania shook her head as she entered the doors and stood in the back. So as not to disturb his speech.


    "That was when he blew his mighty horn to signal the attack! The Fallen trembled beneath the sound as the Skardian gods led the offensive!" Bjorn''s eyes were wide as he made theatrical gestures with his hands. "That''s right! It wasn''t the elves known for their wisdom. Nor the Warbeasts who love fighting the most! Neither was it the other gods of the human realms! It was Skardia! And our gods that marched alone to stop their invasion!"


    Ania smiled as she remembered being told this story when she was young. It was one of her favourites and instilled a sense of pride in her for being a Skardian. However, as she grew up, and the gods failed to answer her prayers. She came to believe that they were only stories. Just like everyone else. However, this story now had an additional question behind it.


    ''Was the War of the Fall the reason the gods had disappeared?'' Ania frowned as she recalled it was one of thest stories in the history of the gods. If the war really happened, then was it possible that the Skardian gods had all died in battle? Assuming that was true, then another god could kill even Exile.


    Ania chewed on her lip as she considered the implication of that heretical thought and how it corresponded with the people from Korden. She had only just found a god that had taken care of her and now another one was possibly trying to kill him off! She could not pretend that she understood the ways of the gods, but a deep hatred took root in her heart for DonnaThaGreat at that thought.


    ''Is this why he''s caught up in the heavens? Is he already fighting a war and trying to keep us out of it?'' Ania could not help but mull over the things Bjorn had been saying recently. Maybe it really was their duty to remove Exile''s enemies in the humannds. Ania''s attention was drawn back to Bjorn''s story as it was reaching its climax.


    "The battle was bloody, and many gods fell that day! Some would return to the fields of battle, while theyy others to rest eternally." Bjorn shook his head as a single tear ran down his cheek. Even a blind person could see how much love he had for the gods! "Despite their great strength, they could not hold the line. The gods from farawaynds who were supposed to be their allies never came. Without reinforcements, the Fallen pushed the Skardian gods back! They did not fear war, but neither would they stay to fight a losing battle... The mighty horn was sounded once more, signalling the retreat."


    Bjorn waved his hands helplessly, as if it were a crushing defeat. "However, Allevia stayed behind. She had always been a kind goddess that sought to improve our lives. When she saw the mountains of corpses, herrades who would never grace the world again and thought of how the Fallen would treat us... A fury erupted from within, the likes of which she had never shown before!"


    "It is said that no god witnessed what she actually did. Her fury was like an unbridled storm thatsted for a brief second... The heavenly skies darkened beneath the nket of ck clouds... Then! A blinding sh of light appeared before the scent of burning flesh could be smelled by everyone who was present! She killed hundreds of Fallen in that one mighty blow."


    The worshippers leaned forward, perched on the edge of their seats as they listened. Bjorn''s performance was enthralling, and many of them had never heard the story in its entirety.


    "However!" Bjorn''s voice became loud as he held a finger up to the sky. "That was also her downfall. They already weakened her from the battle, and she spent thest of her strength to deliver that crushing blow. Since she had stayed behind, she was swiftly surrounded and torn limb from limb in a mad frenzy. Although she returned by the grace of the gods, that fury was never seen again..."

 Chapter 57 - Heavenly Troubles

    Ania waited until the vigers offered their prayers and vacated the temple before showing a soft smile to Bjorn. Thetter returned it in kind before making his way towards her. He stopped but a few steps in front of her and performed a polite bow. Ania''s face turned a bright shade of scarlet at Bjorn''s behaviour. But she kept her mouth shut so as not to appear rude.


    "Lady Eraldsen, Oracle to our Divine Lord, it''s a pleasure to see you again so soon." Bjorn kept his head bowed a moment longer before raising his gaze to meet hers.


    "Ehm, thank you?" Ania stammered, as her mind was still spinning from the elder, showing her the deepest of respect that was usually saved for a king.


    "You''re wee... May I ask? Has Exilemunicated with you recently? I wish to know if our sacrifices appeased any anger that he may have had for us not dealing with the problem sooner." Bjorn frowned with concern as he searched her eyes for the answer he so desperately craved.


    "I''m afraid not..." Ania sighed dejectedly, making Bjorn''s heart skip a beat. "However, I was just about to try contacting him. Would you like to wait for his response?"


    "You''re too kind, Lady Eraldsen... Since you have offered it would honour me to ept." Bjorn performed another deep bow as he waited for Ania to approach the altar.


    Bjorn''s eyes shed with excitement as he watched Ania sp her hands and ce her forehead on the stone structure. This was the traditional Skardian pose for asking for anything from the gods. He nodded in approval as he waited for the slight golden glow that had shimmered from her body thest time.


    ''Exile, hear my prayer...'' Ania waited. It had taken several minutes thest time for Exile to respond.


    However, time passed and there was no answer. A frown appeared on Ania''s face as she began to wonder if something had happened. ''He is a God... I can''t expect him to answer every time, right?'' She let out a soft sigh and was about to give up when she suddenly heard the familiar static in her mind. A slight smile appeared on her face before disappearing!


    [I''m going to kill you Donna!]


    A confused expression flickered across Ania''s face as she heard the hostility in Exile''s tone. ''Lord Exile?'' Ania questioned while wondering about the affairs of the Gods.


    [Hm? Ah? Ania? What''s the matter? Is Eraldsfen under attack?]


    ''No, everything is fine here...'' Ania''s face darkened as she heard the urgency in Exile''s voice. It was clear she had caught him at a bad time, but his early words and then his question of Eraldsfen''s wellbeing put her on edge. ''Is there something we should be preparing for?''


    [Hm? Oh... No, no... I''ll take care of it here... You don''t have to worry... You''re sure everything is fi... y! Damn you, Aeri!]


    Ania''s mind began to spin as she heard the names of what she assumed to be more Gods casually being thrown around. From the sounds of it, Exile was caught up in a godly battle. His concern for the one called y told her that at the very least it was a two on two fight. With Exile and y on one side. Donna and Aeri on the other. But from what she heard, Exile may be all alone now and outnumbered! Ania tried to think of a way to help.


    However, she was only a human and unable to influence the affairs of the Gods. Bjorn stood to the side with a concerned expression. ''I hope that doesn''t mean he did not like our offerings...'' Bjorn shook his head sadly. Since he was out of the loop with their conversation, he assumed that they were talking about the sacrifices.


    [Ania, I''ve got to go...]


    With thosest words, the connection was interrupted, and Ania could no longer hear Exile''s voice. A grim expression appeared on her face as she digested what she had heard. ''Lord Exile is being cornered by Donna... What can we do?'' She did not like being stuck here, unable to help.


    "What''s the matter?" Bjorn asked with a frown upon his face. He was concerned that their sacrifice had displeased their God. If that were true, then he would have created a serious problem for Ania. Most likely he could expect for Exile to smite him at any time.


    "It seems that the Goddess of Korden is targeting Lord Exile... From what I heard, he was caught in a battle that involved at least four Gods including himself." Ania shook her head as a tear appeared from the corner of her eye.


    Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he stared at Ania. Apparently, he had been worrying for nothing! But this brought a fresh set of problems. ''We can''t let those cowards from Korden get away with this!'' Bjorn''s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. ''There aren''t many warriors left in Eraldsfen... But there should be enough for us to hit back if we''re careful.''


    "Ania! You take care of Eraldsfen. I''m going to gather some people and go over to Korden. I''ll definitely do something about this!" Bjorn''s face turned scarlet as he marched out of the temple, leaving a bewildered Ania behind.


    "How''s he going to talk them out of attacking Lord Exile? Besides, can he even make it in time?" Ania felt a wave of loneliness wash over her as she stood before the altar.


    Although Bjorn clearly cared for Exile, she doubted that he felt the same way that she did. Losing the God who had given some meaning to her life other than to be a simple wife... Well, she did not want to think about what would be of her.


    Meanwhile...


    Exile dove into a roll as he scooped up y''s orb, while avoiding the spell that had been fired at him from between the trees. As he came back to his feet, he red over his shoulder at Donna, who was chasing after him...

 Chapter 58 - Unfinished Business!

    ''Damn it!'' Exile grit his teeth as he dodged around a tree to use it as cover. A golden shock wave suddenly blew apart part of the tree. It was the same spell that took y out of the fight. He thought he had dodged it only for it to explode and catch him with the aftermath. There was shouting going on all around them. Kaleidoscope had attacked during their trip back to Valheim.


    However, where they attacked was the problem. Other yers were in the area exploring, looking for new mobs. Unfortunately for those groups, they got caught up in the fight. y and the others had held up their end of the deal and stood by him. But Kaleidoscope outnumbered them, and now Exile was the only one left alive. Barely...


    [HP: 21/70 (55+15)]


    [DP: 0/10 (8+2)]


    ''How am I going to get out of this one?'' Exile cursed as he checked his current HP and DP. ''If it carries on like this, I''m screwed...''


    Exile dashed between the trees, hoping that his enemies would hesitate to attack for fear of wasting more DP. ''If I could reach Valheim...'' His mind raced to think of a solution. The area around the city would be full of yers, which should make Kaleidoscope warier of continuing their assault. Even they could not afford to offend too many other yers this early in the game.


    There was only one problem with that n. He would have to cross the open fields full of Divine Wolves. Not only would he be an easier target, but one wrong move could cause him to aggro the mobs calling that area home. Though, the same applied to Kaleidoscope. Exile grit his teeth as he decided that it was the best n for now. If he stayed in the forest, they would eventually corner him.


    Donna screamed from somewhere behind him as a disgruntled yer decided to target her. Exile grinned at her misfortune. But that''s exactly what would happen if you got other people caught up in your own problems. The sounds of battle carried throughout the forest as splinters flew through the air. Many trees became unfortunate victims of the carnage unfolding around them.


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he spotted the edge of the treeline, meaning he was about to rush out into the open! ''Here goes nothing!'' As he left the forest behind and entered the hills, he noticed around twenty other yers grinding the wolves there. ''Good! I can use them for cover!'' he was careful enough to skirt around the edges of their battles to show that he had no intention of kill stealing.


    As such, these yers paid him no mind. It was only when Aeri and a couple of others burst out from the forest and pointed at him angrily that these yers realised that something was wrong. Aeri fired a spell that missed Exile by a wide margin, striking a nearby mob instead. The yers who were fighting the pack it was a part of were instantly infuriated. They thought Aeri was attempting to kill steal!


    The other groups in the area who saw this became wary of Aeri''s group. Sending one yer each to the edges of their own battles to warn them away. Exile grinned when he saw this, as they did not stop him. After all, he was just passing through. Whereas Kaleidoscope were potential poachers. Exile could hear Aeri swearing at him from somewhere behind him. Probably because she was now being forced to take a longer way around.


    ''I can make it!'' Exile raced around the mobs and avoided the yers while keeping his eyes on the walls of Valheim up ahead. That was when he heard numerous yers shouting in outrage! When he nced over his shoulder, Donna was barrelling her way through the yers, who tried to warn her away. She was not even trying to protect herself from the spells that were fired in her direction!


    ''Damn! What''s she thinking?'' Exile''s eyes went wide as he realised that she would be able to catch up to him. He cursed under his breath as he nced to the side to see how Aeri''s group was doing. ''If Donna holds me up long enough Aeri will be able to corner me...'' Exile frowned as he realised a dark cloud now hung over his hopes of escaping the pursuit.


    ''If I''m going down... I''m taking you with me!'' Exile cleared thest pack of wolves and spun to prepare himself for battle. Donna had managed to close most of the distance by this point, and there was a glint in her eyes when she saw Exile had stopped. ''She''s probably put most of her points in endurance and speed.'' Exile frowned while raising his shield and gripping his axe.


    Donnaughed as she pulled a spear from her inventory and cleared thest pack of mobs as well. Exile stared at the weapon in her hands. She never had it before, which meant that Kaleidoscope had probably given it to her. His eyes met hers, and the tension between them rose.


    "You''re going to pay for not dying back there! If you had just fought them, they wouldn''t have cornered us! It was you they wanted anyway!" Donna yelled as she inched towards Exile.


    It was then that Exile realised something. ''Where''s Beans?'' Exile sighed as he guessed what had happened. Kaleidoscope had probably killed Beans, and Donna had offered some intelligence in exchange for her life. Now, she was ming him for her friend''s death. ''Well, you guys abandoned me first. So don''t expect me to feel sorry for you!''


    Exile roared as he pounced towards Donna while swinging his axe! Thetter snorted as she easily dodged the blow and thrust her spear towards his exposed side! Exile was prepared for it and swung his shield in a way that made the rim deflect the spear before it couldnd. ''Her reach is longer than mine... This won''t be easy!''

 Chapter 59 - Level 5!

    Exile grunted as he checked his health after Donna''s recent blow! ''15/70!'' His lips curled into a snarl as he turned to face her. She was using her superior range to keep out of his reach and deal damage wherever she could! ''Her weapon targets my speed so my endurance is worthless here!''


    Donna smiled as she continued to dance, just out of reach. Not long ago, she had thought it would be impossible to take him down on her own. ''This wouldn''t be possible without this spear Aeri gave me! Once I kill you, I''ll be a member of Kaleidoscope!'' Donna licked her lips at the thought of the stat points she would gain from Exile''s orb when he dropped it.


    Exile red at her as he tried to keep his cool. He had no DP left to cast any divine spells, so he had to rely on his physical capabilities. Any attack of Donna''s that slipped past his shield would deal damage which was making him feel pressured. Exile ignored her weapon and kept his eyes trained on her shoulders and legs. Since these body parts would give away her next movement earlier than anything else.


    Donna was growing impatient. If the fight carried on much longer, then Aeri''s team would join in. Meaning that she would no longer have the sole im over Exile''s orb. That was when she made a mistake. Her impatience got the better of her as she pounced with a quick thrust! Exile reacted to the bend in her legs and pounced forward at almost the same time!


    Donna''s eyes went wide as her spear slid along Exile''s shield before he punched out. mming its rim into her face. As she flinched from the attack, he quickly followed up with a blow from his axe! Since Donna had not invested in Authority, his axe dealt a straight ten points of damage to her while his shield had dealt five. In total, his one attack drained fifteen points of her remaining health!


    Donna spun with a furious expression on her face! But Exile was one step ahead! Her eyes went wide as Exile tackled her to the ground. Pinning her beneath his shield! She wanted to scream at him, but he hacked at the side of her head with his axe! Her eyes went wide in horror as she felt her HP draining at a rapid pace!


    She was about to beg him to stop when her expression froze! The axe wasing at her head again! Before she could say anything, Exile struck savagely with a mad glint in his eyes! Donna sighed as her health bottomed out. Exile dropped to the ground now that her body turned into motes of light and no longer supported him.


    He could not help butugh when he rolled over. A golden orby on the snow-covered ground beside him! ''I''ll be having that for all the trouble you caused!'' As he reached out to absorb it he suddenly felt a sense of danger! ''Oh, shi...'' Exile rolled over and grabbed the orb before storing it in his inventory!


    Momentster, a spell exploded where he had been. Throwing snow into the air, blinding his vision. ''Aeri!'' Exile growled as he took damage from the explosion. A critical warning shed in his mind that told him his HP had dropped to 7/15! ''One more hit of that and I''m done for!'' Exile sighed as he realised that there was no way out for him now. He was certain to die in the next few minutes.


    "Just give me what I want and I''ll let you go..." Aeri chuckled as the snow settled.


    "What would that be?" Exile cocked an eyebrow at her while showing a confused expression.


    "You can''t fool me. Your little friend already said she was certain that you gained something important in the tomb you guys explored." Aeri covered her mouth with her hand as she chuckled. "Truth be told, I already figured you would gain something for being the first to enter that shop! Now hand it over like a good little boy, it''ll do more good in Kaleidoscope''s hands than yours!"


    "Don''t know what you''re talking about." Exile shrugged his shoulders. ''Plus, there''s no confirmation that she can get it from killing me. It''s better to take the death and hope I keep the First me Fragment.''


    "Don''t me me then. I gave you a way out. If it doesn''t drop after one death, I''ll just keep killing you until I get what I want!" Aeri snarled as her hands began to glow.


    Exile stared at that light and knew his time was up. He heaved a sigh as he prepared his shield in ast act of defiance! He was definitely not fast enough to outrun the explosion that would follow the spell. ''I hope I don''t lose the other guy''s orbs. y and his team were actually decent guys...''


    Exile grit his teeth as Aeri pointed her palms towards him. The golden light shot forth as a bolt aimed directly at Exile''s chest! Exile closed his eyes as he waited for the death notification. However, several moments passed and nothing happened. In fact, there was nothing but silence to hear when he should be at least hearing the other yers fighting the mobs.


    His eyes flickered open to see the bolt of light inches from his face! ''What the?'' His eyes darted around and noticed that everything in the game hade to a standstill. It was then that he realised that he could not move his body! ''What''s going on?'' Aeri, who was across from him had a simr look of confusion on her face as she was stuck in the same pose. But they soon got their answer...


    [Server Announcement! A yer has reached Level 5!]


    [Pantheon Online Closed Beta Test will now end.]


    [Pantheon Online servers will now shut down.]


    [Game will enter Open Beta in three days.]


    [Developers will make an announcement regarding the game on its official page in one hour.]


    Exile raised his eyebrows at the series of notifications! Right before he was forcefully ejected from the game...

 Chapter 60 - Attack On Korden

    Bjorn peered between the trees at the walls of Korden. A deep frown appeared on his face as he nced at the people who hade along with him. ''This is all for Lord Exile! We can''t let him down!'' The old warrior motioned for the group to follow him as he led them back into the forest. Once they were far enough away from the town, he chose a rock to sit on before looking at everyone''s determined expressions.


    "Remember... We are only here to deal a blow to DonnaThaGreat''s followers. We will not attack innocent civilians!" Bjorn red at them to make his point clear. "This is not a typical raid. We are here to further the glorious name of Exile and strike a blow to his enemies!"


    "What if the civilians attack us first?" Someone in the group asked, while the others agreed with Bjorn.


    "Then that would make them an enemy of Exile! So what do you think?" Bjorn growled in response as the man wore an enlightened expression. "Did everyone bring their ropes?"


    The crowd checked their belts for the ropes they had turned into grappling hooks, using therge spear hooks for hunting tundra whales. When everyone confirmed they were ready, Bjorn led them around the town''s walls. He was searching for a good point of entry. ''We have to locate their temple quickly. It''ll be enough of a message if we kill their oracle!''


    They had almostpletely circled the town by the time Bjorn found an area he was happy with. There was a building on the other side of the wall that was almostpletely pressed up against it! It would provide excellent cover for their infiltration! The group spread out and began to swing their grappling hooks by their side. When they built up enough momentum, they released them!


    The metal nked as they struck the opposite side of the wall, but no rms were raised. Bjorn nodded his head with satisfaction as they began their brief climb. Some of them held their breath, worried that someone would discover them at any moment. But everything went smoothly as they regrouped on the other side.


    Bjorn gestured to two young women who were aplished hunters back in Eraldsfen. They immediately understood that he wanted them to scout out Korden and discover the temple''s location. As they disappeared between the buildings, Bjorn sat down and signalled for the others to do the same. As long as they stayed quiet, it was unlikely that they would be discovered.


    A patrol would have to deliberately leave the main streets and search behind this building to find them. However, before they could getfortable, the women returned. Bjorn frowned as he looked at them. ''Did they run into trouble?''


    One of them came close before saying what they had found in a low voice. "The temple is quite small. It''s just across the road..."


    ''Lucky! Exile''s surely smiling down on us!'' A light appeared in Bjorn''s eyes as a wicked smile appeared on his face. He excitedly motioned for the group to follow him as he got up and led the way between the buildings. Sure enough, there was a small building just across the road that appeared unloved. They made the whole thing of logs, with gaps between them. They had taken no care in its creation at all!


    ''Do they have no respect for the Gods at all?'' Despite DonnaThaGreat being their enemy, the sight infuriated Bjorn. He even began to wonder if she really had many followers in Korden. ''Could it be that they felt the need to look for followers elsewhere because hardly anyone here believes in her?''


    Bjorn felt like he had hit the proverbial nail on the head as he looked at the ramshackle temple. ''Still, that doesn''t excuse her for starting a war with Exile!'' Bjorn''s expression turned stone cold as he nced up and down the street. There was nobody out at this time of night, which made their job easier. The group kept low as they dashed across the dirt road, eager to get this over with before the entirety of Korden could react.


    Bjorn mmed his shoulder against the wooden door, which failed to resist his effort. The door copsed from its hinges and fell inside of the temple as the group stormed in. They gripped their weapons tightly as they prepared for any resistance. However, they frowned as several people on the floor turned to look at them with a hunger in their eyes.


    "Beggars!" Someone gasped as he nced at these frail figures.


    None of them looked like they had eaten a decent meal in months. They actually looked too weak to defend themselves. The group appeared hesitant when they realised that the warriors that had visited Eraldsfen were definitely within the minority of this Goddess''s believers.


    "Kill them!" Bjorn growled as his expression remained cold.


    His order startled the group. Many of them pitied these poor people. The will to fight had slowly fled from them as they digested the situation. Bjorn snarled as a few in the group pushed their way to the front. These men and women nodded before walking off to put the beggars out of their misery.


    "Even if they are pitiable..." Bjorn paused as he nced at those who failed to act. "They are still the source that empowers the Goddess who wants to remove Exile from our lives! Don''t be deceived, they are still our enemies."


    Bjorn stormed through the short hall as the beggars screamed for their lives. A voice was silenced with every few footsteps that he took. His eyes were focused on the pathetic door that separated the hall from another room. ''That must be where the oracle lives!'' Bjorn sneered, as he pushed the door open. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the slightly darker room.


    His eyes fell on a dirty figure sitting on a pile of hay against the wall. Tears streamed down his face as he hugged his knees to his chest. Though the figure was too scared to say anything. Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he shook his head. ''He still has several winters until he reaches Ania''s age.'' Bjorn sighed as he stroked his axe between his thumb and forefinger. ''me your Goddess for this!''


    A small scream escaped from the back room of the temple, which sent a chill down the spines of the others. Even the most hardened amongst them understood what they heard and trembled slightly...


    [Pantheon Online System Logˇ­]


    [DonnaThaGreat, Goddess of the Harvest has no active Oracles leftˇ­]


    [Revoking yer DonnaThaGreat''s Divinityˇ­]


    [yer DonnaThaGreat has been forcefully ejected from the gameˇ­]


    [yer DonnaThaGreat has been permanently banned from Pantheon Onlineˇ­]

 Chapter 61 - Shocking The World!

    ''That was too close!'' Colt gasped for air as the fluid in his pod drained away. As the lid opened up, he climbed out and moved around a bit to get his body used to real life again. His legs felt like they were made of jelly as they wobbled with every step that he took. ''Someone''s already made it to Level 5...'' Colt frowned as he headed for the shower.


    He was not egotistical enough to believe that he was the highest level yer in the game. He was sure that others had to be ahead of him. However, he did not think that they could already be an entire level away! ''The gap will probably only get wider...'' Colt sighed as the hot water washed away the residue left behind by his gaming pod.


    His mind wandered to thinking about the announcements before the servers shut down. He was eager to see what the developers had to say about the game. He was sure that they would cover important topics that had gued his thoughts. He threw on a pair of shorts and a grey hoodie before making some toast and scrambled eggs to wolf down while he waited for the appointed time. When he was finished, he dropped the dishes in the sink and prepared a hot cup of coffee to enjoy while sitting at theputer.


    He navigated the developer''s main page before he found the Livestream link. When he clicked on it,ments flooded the chat as everyone was specting on various topics while waiting for the announcement. There were plenty ofments from people who had heard about the new game but were not invited to the closed beta. They were trying to pump those who had taken part for information but they were shot down when it was revealed that they had all signed NDA''s (Non-Disclosure Agreements).


    ''Once they open the game, I can finally sell the information I''ve gathered...'' Colt heaved a sigh of relief. Opening the game to the public would make his NDA obsolete due to the use in it that stated he could not disclose anything until the game hit general release. Since he was ahead of most yers, his information would still be valuable. But he would have to maintain his lead to keep up this way of making money.


    The chat suddenly went quiet as the small screen on the page flickered to life. Colt''s eyes narrowed as he recognised the middle-aged man on the screen as the lead developer behind Mayhem. ''Well, that exins why a few things were simr...''


    "Wee! I''m David Warsaw, the lead developer of Pantheon online." The man let out a soft smile as he paused. "I''ll keep this announcement short as an official trailer, and an announcement will be sent to various news outlets soon. So the entire world will learn of this pretty quickly."


    Colt frowned as he listened to David go over a few technical things which most people were uninterested in. It took him ten minutes until he reached the part that really affected the gamers like Colt.


    "First off... Pantheon Online will be apletely free to y game. Anyone can join but I''m sure at least a few among you watching this have learned of the limitations." David let out a little smile as he stared into his camera.


    The chat was suddenly flooded with messages!


    [What limitations?]


    [Anyone know what he''s talking about?]


    [If anyone knows they would be stupid to answer your question!]


    Colt smiled as he read these messages. He already knew what David was hinting at. If these new yers were not fast, they would be stuck as wandering deities for the entire game!


    "Now, as for how the game will earn money..." David started, as Colt''s ears perked up. "Every yer will have to agree to their experience being filmed and streamed online if they want to continue ying. Thepany will set up unique streams for each yer within our own streaming channel for the public to watch you or your group. But don''t worry! Your day of gaming will not be broadcast until the next day."


    "You can set up an individual channel or a ''Pantheon'' channel. Our editors on this end will cut the footage to turn your experience into something of a television show. If sponsors contact us to support you, we''ll take a 10% cut and add their products intomercials that will show on your channel. Many of you should have realised by now that this game will notst forever. There will be Pantheon and solo tournaments that will have no adverse effect on you if you die to establish world rankings. Which is basically free advertising for your channels and you''ll also earn prizes from us."


    "This is a battle royale! There can only be one solo yer or Pantheon who will win. Trust me when I say that the end victor''s prize will be worth it!" A new smile crept across David''s face that almost touched his eyes, figuratively of course. "Oh, and I hope none of you made any real enemies so far. Those who have been banned from the game up until now will be allowed to restart, so start watching your backs out there."


    Colt felt his stomach lurch when he heard that. He understood the developer''s intention on how to make money and it was a solid n. It was almost like this old show where several main characters fought to take control of a kingdom. Except the viewers would be able to watch any character that they wanted for the entire show!


    ''So that PK''er in Eraldsfen wille back.'' Colt shook his head. He was unaware that Donna had also been banned. He had to admit that the developer''s n for the game sounded exciting. There was nothing more enticing than knowing that something would definitely reach a conclusion. Half of the excitement of starting something new, whether it was a book or a show, was finding out how it would all end.


    "Now that I''ve said all of that, there''s just one more thing. Here''s a link to the current top 100 yers in the game. Have a good game guys." David winked before cutting off the stream.


    Comments still flooded the chat as Colt clicked the link that had appeared. The chart started from rank 100 and worked its way down to the number 1. At rank 86 he found his name, Exile. With his level off to the side. He frantically scanned the list to see if he recognised anyone else. However, his blood froze and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of his desk the further he went.


    ''Camelot''s entire team is on here...'' His eyes narrowed as he nced at the top 20.


    Rank 7: Morgana Level 4


    Rank 4: Mordread Level 4


    Rank 3: Merlin Level 4


    Rank 2: Arthur Level 4


    *Morgana is Camelot''s new Vice-Captain


    *Mordread is Robert Hall, the man who reced Colt as Camelot''s team Captain.


    *Merlin and Arthur were the first Captain and Vice-Captain of Camelot who had retired.

 Chapter 62 - A New Team

    Colt''s mind reeled as he thought about it. ''Is this why they were eager to kick me out? To prepare for the new game?'' Colt''s frown grew deeper as he considered that possibility. ''Arthur hase out of retirement...''


    He had mixed feelings about seeing their names on the list. ''They''re the only reason I can think of for the team''s growth during the game.'' Colt knew that Arthur was a monster. After all, he was the first generation team captain that he had reced. Although he hated to admit it, he was unsure whether he would be Arthur''s match. Merlin was even more concerning. He had retired before Colt had joined Camelot. He yed the part of Arthur''s strategist.


    He had never met Merlin, but the stories that Arthur had told him of how Merlin''s strategies had overturned certain defeats into resounding victories had left a deep impression on him. ''Why are they getting involved with Pantheon?'' Colt guessed that the executives had asked them for help. The team''s reputation was on the line after he failed to secure Mayhem''sst championship.


    Not only that, but they were pioneering a new game. They were probably acting as Mordread''s advisors. After all, sending a newly promoted team captain into a brand new game was never a good move. However, Arthur and Merlin''sbined experience as leaders wouldpensate for Mordread''s shorings.


    ''Things just got moreplicated...'' Colt let out a long sigh as he wondered if he woulde across them in-game. At this point, hisputer beeped. A new icon was added to the bar of Pantheon''s official site. ''Hm?'' It seemed that the developer''s had added a function for offline messaging. As long as you knew someone''s gamertag you could send them a message.


    Colt raised his eyebrow when he saw the senders of two different messages. One was from y, while the other was from Aeri. Naturally, Aeri''s message was full of threats and how he had better prepare for death as soon as they came back online. Colt could only shake his head at this message. It was already a given that Aeri''s spell would kill him as soon as he rejoined the game.


    His attention then turned to y''s message.


    [Hey! Congrats on making the top 100! The boys and I were surprised to see it! Listen, we''ve had a little chat. Honestly, we''d like for you to join our team. Let''s face it, solo yers won''t do well in this environment. We''ve been thinking of expanding our team anyway. Us small groups won''t be much better off than solo yers anyway. We can talk about the specifics once the game restarts. See you in a couple of days!]


    Colt leaned back in his chair as he thought about y''s offer. ''I''m going to need a team anyway. Maybe it''s not a bad idea. They didn''t hesitate to fight Kaleidoscope during the ambush...'' Colt hummed to himself as he figured that he may have found a reliable team already. Plus, creating a Pantheon channel would most likely be more profitable than a solo channel.


    ''But will they be fine with fighting it out with Camelot?'' Colt''s eyes narrowed as he reread the message. Someone was bound to find out who he was eventually. There was no way he could hide it forever. ''If these guys followed Mayhem''s pro scene at all they''re bound to recognise my real name and face...''


    Mayhem''s championships had been held via livestream from an arena where every yer had assembled. Anyone who had watched them would recognise him easily. Especially since it had been the most watched game tournament for years now. ''If I''m going to do this, it''s better to be honest with them from the start. Otherwise I''ll be dragging them into my own problems and that could cause friction between us.''


    Colt tried to guess how it would go if he revealed himself to these guys. ''Maybe I should get an NDA drafted for them beforehand... Though, they might not appreciate that...'' Colt chuckled to himself as he thought about that. These days a legally binding NDA could be done online within minutes for a small fee. It was the best thing he could think of to protect himself for now.


    Otherwise, if they rejected him once they found out who he was, they could sell the information on to the teams that would be interested in targeting him. Colt quickly navigated the web to get what he was looking for. He input his own parameters such as not revealing that his real name was associated with his new gamertag. Once that was done he sent a message back to y.


    [y, if you''re serious about this we need to talk before the gamees back online. Here''s a link to a conference call if you and the guys can join it. Just a heads up... There''s an NDA that you all have to sign before you get connected.]


    Colt sighed he waited on the video call. None of them would get through if even one person did not sign the contract. Nobody would take such a contract lightly these days. Breaking an NDA in this day and age basically got you cklisted from many things. Especially beta tests of games. Colt began to wonder if they would join when nearly half an hour had passed.


    ''Maybe the NDA scared them off...'' Colt sighed as he prepared to shut down the video chat. That was when his screen split into six parts. One of them reflected his own image while the other five were ck. The word ''Connecting...'' could be read on each one of them. Colt took a deep breath and leaned back. ''They all epted it...''


    The five other screens flickered to life and revealed five guys with serious expressions on their faces. Their gamertags appeared in the top left of their own screens so that they could identify each other. One by one, the faces of y and the others froze in shock. Until Leggy pointed at his screen with wide eyes...

 Chapter 63 - Team Captain

    "Holy shit!" Leggy''s mouth dropped open as he gaped at Colt. "It''s fucking Colt Anderson!"


    Leggy let out a small squeal like he was some kind of fangirl which made Colt frown. Embarrassed chuckles came from the others as they eyed Colt carefully. That was when Colt spotted posters in the background of Leggy''s room. One of them had him standing in the foreground, holding the first trophy he won as Camelot''s Captain. His avatar, when he was known as Excalibur, stood proudly behind his real-life image.


    Colt gave an awkward smile when he realised the reason for Leggy''s reaction. ''He''s a fan...'' Colt sighed when he thought about the damage that it might do to Leggy, when he remembered the way he acted towards him. y cleared his throat to get everyone''s attention off of Colt for a minute.


    "I have to say, you sure surprised us with this." y let out a small smile before it turned into a frown. "But now I understand the NDA. I guess this means you won''t be joining us. Camelot needs their Captain after all."


    The eyes of the others darted to y''s image on their screens before they let out disappointed expressions. Even y looked dejected. Their team had thought that Colt would be a good addition. Each of them felt that Pantheon was going to be the next big thing that millions of people would tune in to watch.


    "That''s not the case at all..." Colt let out a sad smile as he looked at the group. "I''m no longer Camelot''s captain."


    Leggy''s eyes were the first to go wide at this news. He could not help but wonder why he had not heard about this yet! He always paid close attention to Camelot!


    "The reason I wanted to talk before the game restarts is this. If we form a team, then at some point Camelot will find out who I am and will most likely target you guys. Plus, if Kaleidoscope gets this news they''lle at us harder than they already are." Colt''s expression became grim. Although he did not go into details, the others realised that he came with a lot of baggage.


    "Like that matters! I mean, we''ll have Colt Fucking Anderson on our side!" Leggy''s fangirling seemed to have no end as stars practically appeared in his eyes. It was a major change to how he had been speaking to Colt in the game.


    The others showedplicated expressions, and Leggy realised that something was wrong. Why were they not as excited about this as he was?


    "Colt..." y began with a frown. "Be honest with me. How bad will the bacsh be when your new gamertag is discovered?"


    Colt raised an eyebrow at the question. He had not expected for y to fully understand what problems they would face. "The good news is that my fanbase will watch our channel. So the amount of moneying in should not be small. On the other hand, there''ll be plenty of teams that will want to take me down just for the bragging rights."


    y nodded his head. This was what he was afraid of. It was not the teams that Colt knew he would have problems with, but basically any yer that had heard of him. They could easily make a name for themselves by taking him out even once. Which meant that their group would be under constant threat. y let out a long sigh while the others waited for his decision.


    "Let''s do this..." y showed a daring smile towards his camera, which was mimicked by the others.


    Colt was taken by surprise. He had expected for them to think about it for a few days. He was not ready for an immediate answer! ''Are they really that crazy?'' A softugh drew his attention back to y.


    "Why are you so surprised? The problems won''te until someone connects Exile with the name Colt Anderson, right? So we just need to keep that from happening for a while." y shrugged his shoulders, as if it was the obvious answer. "We don''t need the boost in fanbase just now. We have our own to keep us going. It''s more prudent to develop ourselves before dropping this bomb on the world."


    The others burst outughing when they heard that. They were looking at Colt like an investment. Not just for the potential money flow down the line, but they could learn from him. He was bound to be able to point them in the right direction to develop themselves!


    "Well, Mr Anderson. I''d say that settles the matter." y grinned while Colt was trying to digest what had happened. "Wee to the team! As for your position... Well, I guess I''ll have to move aside for someone more qualified."


    "Wait!" This shocked Colt so much that he had to question this decision. "This is your team! Why would you give it up like that?"


    "That should be obvious. It''s what''s best for the team as a whole. You''re used to the tricks that the professionals will use in this high pressure environment. Our best chance of surviving is you." y smiled like a shark that had just won a bet.


    Colt groaned before he epted the situation. He was going to have to find a way to train these guys in the game to work as a real team. There was a difference between a loose group of friends working together and professional team. For one thing, he doubted that y had ever been ready to make necessary sacrifices. Which was shown when he trusted Colt to collect their orbs. There would definitely be times that it would be best to do damage control rather than try to put out the fires.


    "Well, Captain..." Leggy smiled as he looked like he could barely contain his excitement. "You best think of a good name for our Pantheon. With you onboard, our team needs to change its image anyway."


    Colt''s eyes shed as something came straight to mind. "I think I already have something..."

 Chapter 64 - Aura Of The Gods

    "Why haven''t you been able to contact Exile!" Bjorn frantically ran his hands over his bald head as he paced up and down in front of Ania. "Don''t tell me we were toote!"


    "No... I can still feel his presence. It''s like something is stopping my prayers from reaching him..." Ania frowned as a bead of sweat ran down her forehead.


    "It''s been nearly three weeks already! Is he angry with us?" Bjorn became breathless from his shouting. He was struggling to understand the meaning of Exile bing silent.


    "I don''t know..." Ania felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was certain that Exile was still alive, but she could not make sense of the situation either. She would give anything to travel to the heavens and find out what was going on.


    ''The followers are bing tense. They''re worried that they''ve been abandoned.'' Ania sighed as she looked around the crowded temple. Everyone in Eraldsfen was seeking an answer, but she had none to give. They could only wait until Exile contacted them instead. Another two days passed with Ania walking around the vige, feeling like a lost sheep. She had no sense of purpose, as she often found herself daydreaming. That was, until...


    Static! Static suddenly filled Ania''s mind! A broad smile crept across her face as she instantly reached out with her prayers to connect to the presence...


    [Ania?]


    ''Yes Lord Exile!'' Ania''s excitement reached new levels as she recognised the voice. Exile had finally contacted her! Warm tears ran down her face as she dropped to her knees in the snow. A few of the nearby vigers spotted her odd behaviour and rushed to her side with excited expressions of their own.


    [Gather everyone in the temple. I have something important to announce.]


    Ania was stunned for a moment as she digested those words. ''Lord Exile... You''reing here?''


    [Hm... Yes. I''ll exin everything when I arrive...]


    Ania''s eyes flew wide open as the connection was instantly cut off. Even if he was descending to punish them it was worth it to know that she would see him again! Her smile almost reached her eyes as she nced around at the vigers.


    "Everyone, we have to get ready..."


    Meanwhile...


    Exile heaved a sigh of relief as he sprinted through the streets of Valheim. ''Haha! Aeri must be pissed right now!'' With the start of the open beta every yer who logged in found themselves in the strange marble circle in Valheim where they first arrived after their ascension. ''It''s probably to even the field with banned yers being allowed to return. It basically stopped anyone from dying prematurely as soon as the open beta started.''


    Exile could hardly believe his luck as he ducked into the side street that led towards the bar. This was where he had agreed to meet up with everyone. One, toplete their quest. Two, to return their orbs. As Exile banged on the door, it swung open to let him inside. It seemed that y had been ahead of him and found his way here first.


    When the others filed in one by one and everyone had arrived, y nodded before turning in their quest. Exile''s mind flickered to the notification that he had just received.


    [Congrattions! Quest: Tomb of Jorgan has beenpleted. You have been awarded +5 Stat Points.]


    Colt decided to shore up some of his weaknesses this time around. He dropped one point into strength for the sake of being able to pick up items that had a strength requirement. He put another point into endurance since it was his strongest stat so far anyway. Thest three points he dropped into speed. After the recent events, he felt that he should be better at running just in case. He nced over his new stats happily.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Title: God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 4]


    [HP: 75/75 (60+15)]


    [DP: 10/10 (8+2)]


    [Strength: 6]


    [Endurance: 15 (12+3)]


    [Speed: 10 (9+1)]


    [Authority: 10 (8+2)]


    ''Strength is the only one not in double figures now...'' Colt sighed. His character was starting to look more well rounded now. ''5 points left until I hit Level 5.'' A glint appeared in his eyes as he searched his inventory. He had already handed over everyone''s orbs... But he still had Donna''s to absorb, and the effect should not be small.


    [Do you wish to absorb DonnaThaGreat''s Divine Orb?]


    ''Yes...''


    [You have permanently received +4 Strength, +6 Endurance, +4 Speed]


    Exile felt a surge of power run through his body as the others turned to look at him with strange looks on their faces. There was a feeling of dangering from Exile right now that seemed to be sending warnings to their brains.


    [Congrattions! More than 40 points of Divinity detected! You have reached Level 5!]


    [Unlocking Aura of the Gods]


    [Aura of the Gods (Tier 0): Your Divinity has reached a level where those below Level 5 will feel threatened in your presence. No effect on higher levels.]


    Exile raised an eyebrow at the unexpected ability. It meant that those who harboured ill intentions towards him but were lower levelled would be less likely to act. ''That windfall puts me one point away from Level 6.'' Exile grinned as he thought about how high in the rankings he would have shot up. ''As long as nothing''s changed for the others, I should be number one or two now!''


    y coughed as he wore an awkward expression while looking towards Exile. He was seeking an exnation for the sudden feeling that they all had. Exile chuckled lightly as he waved his hand in the air.


    "Sorry, that''s my fault. It doesn''t look like I can turn it off." Exile smiled apologetically at the others, who rolled their eyes in response.


    "What exactly is it?" y asked with a curious tone.


    "Just a little gift from the game for reaching Level 5..."

 Chapter 65 - Taking Care Of Business

    "Level 5!" The group eximed as they stared at Exile in shock.


    ''Wasn''t he like rank 86 on the listings?'' this was the thought that ran through the minds of y and the others as they gaped at Exile. The sudden increase from what they knew shattered their illusions of him. Of course, each of them slowly came to the conclusion that he must have stolen the power using an orb. It was the only exnation that they could think of.


    "Well..." y coughed a couple of times as an envious look entered his eyes. "Congrattions... Captain."


    The others took a moment to adjust to the new reality before voicing their own sincere congrattions. Then they realised that this was the new team captain that they were talking about! The stronger that he was, the better it would be for them as a whole! The group suddenly had a fire in their eyes. As if they could not wait to catch up to him.


    Exileughed when he saw their expressions. It was refreshing to see yers express themselves so openly! In Camelot, he would often be met with fake smiles that tried to hide the jealousy of others. But this group was sincerely happy for him! ''You know... I think I forgot what this felt like...'' Exile sighed as he reviewed his past. Gaming had be a job. Performing some incredible feat was just meeting expectations. It had been a long time since anyone had been excited at him gaining a single level.


    "What now?" y asked as he nced at Exile with a smirk.


    "Now?" Exile chuckled as he nced at his newrades. "We register our Pantheon of course!"


    The bar became boisterous the moment that was said. Questions filled the room.


    "What will we be called? How do we split the channel''s profits? Will we recruit more members?"


    Exile reluctantly held up his hands to calm them all down. With a smile, he asked them to wait before leading them out of The Raiders Horn and towards the Temple. Exile wore a broad smile as he led the group to the tablet in the back. It waspletely unassuming, so it was no wonder that he did not discover this on his own.


    With a deep breath, he ced his palm on the tablet. Golden runes appeared on its nk surface before Exile was enveloped in a golden light.


    [Do you wish to register a Pantheon?]


    ''Yes!''


    [Minimum party of six detected. Please select the ruling member.]


    Exile frowned as an image of each of them appeared on the tablet. Naturally, he tapped on his own image since they had all agreed. However, the images remained with only his own greyed out.


    [Please select the second in line to the Pantheon''s throne...]


    Exile raised an eyebrow at this. At first, he thought the developers had just chosen strange wording for the guild leader. But now he understood. The guild leader would essentially be the king or queen of their Pantheon. The second in line to the throne would be like a prince or princess. Well, that was the best way he could think of to describe it, anyway. With a smile on his face, he chose y''s image.


    [Thank you... Please enter the name of your Pantheon...]


    Exile grinned as he entered the name. The name itself suited their starting point and his own intention to win this game. He chuckled as he thought about how the others would react once they saw what he chose. It was basically an open provocation to every other yer! Not that it really mattered, since everyone would be out to win, anyway.


    [Please design your Pantheon emblem...]


    The interface that appeared was connected to his thoughts. So Exile only had to imagine what he wanted. Of course, there was a search engine for him to look up some images for inspiration connected to it. He had to think long and hard, back to his history lessons, to find something that would suit their name. He also had to consider whether their viewers would wear any merchandise with their emblem on it. ''Finished...''


    [Thank you... Would you like to register your Pantheon for a team channel or individual ones?]


    ''Team channel.'' Exile grinned when he thought about it. Naturally, there would be more content on a team channel than a solo one. Since it would merge everyone''s in-game experiences.


    [Congrattions! Registrationplete... Your first episode will air in 26 hours.]


    As Exile finished up the formalities, the light enveloping him faded away. A broad grin crept across his face as he nced at the others. "Well guys... It''s official!"


    In the next moment, a sh of golden light appeared over the hearts of each of them. It was sudden and disappeared before they could pay much attention to it. In its ce was left behind a circr silver badge depicting the Pantheon''s emblem. y raised an eyebrow as he studied the image.


    The edges of the circle were patterned in some kind of nordic tribal to create the circle. In its centre was a huge wolf''s head, with its jaws wide open. It''s perked up ears and open lower jaw split the tribal circle into three parts that ran behind the wolf. In the wolf''s mouth sat a crescent moon with a sun in the gap to create a full circle effect. ''A wolf devouring the sun and the moon?'' y frowned as he looked at it.


    "It''s my pleasure, to wee all of you. To Ragnarok!" Exile''s grin swept across his face to almost reach his eyes as he nced at the others. It took them a moment to remember their own history lessons or things they had read on the inte. Soon, they were all smiling like madmen as they understood the message behind their Pantheon''s name.


    [Congrattions! The Ragnarok Pantheon has been sessfully formed. Awarding Passive effect. King of the Gods!]


    [King of the Gods: Receive +1 Authority bonus for each God/Goddess in your Pantheon (Including Yourself).]


    [The Ragnarok Pantheon (Tier 0): 6/24]

 Chapter 66 - A Knife In The Dark

    "Die!" A yer with a wild look in her eyes screamed as she shot forward, leading her Pantheon to take down the idiots who dared to ambush them!


    "Hmph, pathetic." The runes on Merlin''s staff lit up before a golden light shot forward.


    The light split into seven different beams. Each one striking a different yer charging at them. The yers gaped in shock as golden chains appeared around their legs and anchored them to the ground, preventing them from going anywhere!


    "They''re all yours, Arthur." Merlin smiled as he nced sideways at his old friend.


    "You know, William..." Arthur turned his deep blue eyes on Merlin. "You should adjust that attitude of yours. They''re just trying their best and we should respect that."


    Arthur shook his head sadly as he thought about how much his friend''s personality had changed since Camelot had grown. In the old days, William had made gaming fun for him. Now, he always seemed to be chasing a profit. ''How did ite to this? Colt, where are you now?''


    "For Camelot!" Arthur roared as he raised his sword into the sky before dashing towards the immobilised enemies before them. Camelot''s team echoed his cry before chasing after him!


    "Not you two... Stay here and watch..." Merlin set his sights on Mordread and Morgana, who were about to follow Arthur as well.


    Once the others were out of earshot, they turned towards Merlin. Each of them wore a heavy frown as they stared at the figure.


    "Father... How are we meant to improve if don''t take part in these fights!" Mordread growled as he stared at Merlin.


    "I warned you! Neither of you will call me that while there''s any risk of someone hearing you! How much money and effort do you think it took to conceal you two from the world!" Merlin growled as he nced at his disobedient children. "Don''t forget that I''m still pissed you named yourself ''Mordread'' as if it somehow makes you seem ''cooler''! His name was Mordred for God''s sake!"


    "Ahem, Merlin..." Morgana drew the name out to show her own displeasure at the scenario. "Don''t you think it was too on the nose to have us take the names of those who betrayed and eventually killed King Arthur in the legends?"


    "Hah! Do you really think Arthur would make the connection? He knows we''ve used up most of the good names. With your positions in the team, it was more suitable for you to have more famous names from the legends. Even if he didn''t like that, they weren''t strictly on the round table''s side he can''t argue with it." Merlin stared at Arthur''s back in the distance as he cut through the enemies. Divine orbsy on the ground wherever he passed.


    "So when?" Mordread growled as he stared at the supposed father in front of him.


    "When what?" Merlin raised an eyebrow as he looked at his son.


    "When will we do this? We''re sick of living in the shadows. We''re sick of mom crying her eyes out because you guys live apart all for the sake of your big n!" Mordread''s face turned scarlet as he struggled to keep his voice down.


    "You keep quiet!" Merlin hissed as he red at his children. "Your mother understands that this is all for you! Camelot should have been mine! I got Arthur into video games. I figured out the build that was best for him! I trained him to make use of his potential!"


    "Yeah, like we haven''t heard this a thousand times! How you slowly put the team together. How you waited for so long to suggest that you make your own professional team. But Arthur beat you to it! How he stole the team that you put together. How he stole the major shareholder position of the team because he founded it." Morgana wore a sneer on her face as she stared at her father. "The great strategist was beaten to the punch!"


    Merlin red at her. His anger was seething as he tried to calm down. If this conversation carried on, then they were likely to be discovered. "Just shut up. Mordread, pay attention to how Arthur is fighting. You''re a hybrid so learning his style of closebat will benefit you."


    "Yeah, as if it helped Excalibur." Mordread rolled his eyes as he thought about Colt.


    "You are an idiot sometimes! You really think that was Mr Anderson''s full potential! That moron idolised Arthur so much that he wanted to be just like him! Never realising that Arthur''s style never suited him!" Merlin growled as he shook his head at his son''s stupidity. "Either way, he had to go. He would''ve supported Arthur to the end."


    "That''s why you had me submit that report to the board? Not to make me the Captain, but to get rid of a threat?" Mordread''s anger returned in full fury.


    When his father hade to him with a strategic report already written out after Mayhem''sst tournament and told him to submit it, he was ecstatic. He thought his father had finally recognised his skills. That he had be worthy of leading the team! Yet now it seemed that the great Merlin, Mr William Gould, was just as cunning and cold-hearted as ever!


    "What''s going on?" Arthur chuckled as he nced at the trio. The fight had alreadye to an end when he spotted a heated talk happening between the three of them.


    "The usual..." Merlin sighed as he put on his best act. "They''re just angry that I''m pointing out their shorings and how they can learn much more from watching you."


    "You know, you should listen to him..." Arthur smiled at Mordread and Morgana. "I wouldn''t be where I am today without his guidance. If there''s anyone you can trust to point you in the right direction, it''s him."


    The corners of Merlin''s smile twitched as he struggled to maintain his mask. ''You''re damn right you wouldn''t be here without me! Just wait! You won''t even know what hit you!''

 Chapter 67 - Descent!

    Ania and Bjorn stood before the altar as the vigers jabbered excitedly behind them. ''What''s taking him so long!'' Ania could barely contain her excitement as they patiently awaited the arrival of their god. Her wide eyes stared at the wooden throne that the vigers had created just beyond the altar.


    Bjorn was busy taking deep breaths. He was hoping that Exile was happy with his more recent actions. If they pleased the God that was all that mattered to him. To know that his actions had helped a higher purpose. The crowd was growing restless, each of them hoped that they would finally be able to witness Exile as Ania did.


    Sarri wrung her hands out of nervousness as she stared at her daughter''s back. ''She''s be so important! Her father will be so proud!'' Suddenly a golden light appeared on the opposite side of the altar. Stealing everyone''s attention as silence descended in the temple.


    Bjorn frowned as he felt a sense of pressure emanating from that light. When he nced over his shoulder, he noticed that it seemed as if every viger present could see it. A golden, featureless man walked out of that light, making the temple gasp as one. However, the frown on Bjorn''s face deepened as Ania squinted at the figure!


    The God who had descended said nothing as he walked to one side of the room. His movements were closely followed by every eye in the room. Momentster, another golden figure appeared. Followed by another, then another. Gasps came from the vigers as they stared at five golden figures.


    ''What''s going on?'' Ania chewed on her lower lip as she stared at them. None of them had the familiar feeling that she got when she had previously been around Exile. They all felt like strangers! The golden light that they had alle from suddenly turned brighter! A heavier pressure descended in the temple, forcing everyone except Bjorn and Ania to bow their heads!


    A warm feeling washed over Ania as she stared at the figure before her. Although there was golden light emanating from him, she could not help but gasp! ''I can see him!'' Her eyes nced over the armour that Exile wore, before settling on his face. His dirty blonde hair was styled in a traditional Skardian manner. Where it had been pulled back away from his face into a wolf tail. His hair had been shaved at one side while a few braids dangled on the other. His neat, short beard gave a sense of ruggedness to his features as his blue eyes scanned the room.


    ''It seems I was right to have the others go first...'' Exile heaved a sigh of relief as he took in the shocked expressions. He nced around the room and noticed the throne behind him. ''I guess I shouldn''t leave them with any doubt.''


    Ania stared as Exile marched towards the throne as if he owned the ce, before taking his seat as the other Gods lined up on either side of him. She could not help but notice that two on either side of him stood at a bit of a distance. However, one figure stood close by to the right side of the throne.


    Exile wore a serious expression as he stared at the crowd inside of his temple. It took a moment before he let his eyes settle on Ania and Bjorn. His expression softened slightly as he met Ania''s gaze and gave her a subtle nod. Startling her into action!


    "Lord Exile! We are blessed to be in your presence! What can we mortals do for you?" Ania bowed her head as she recited the etiquette that had been written in the book that Bjorn guarded.


    ''Why''s she so stiff sounding?'' Exile frowned as he listened to the words that came out of Ania''s mouth. Exile coughed to clear his throat before he nced at the broad smiles on the faces of hispanions.


    "I am here today to give you notice. I am no longer merely Exile, God of the Hearth. I am Exile, King of The Ragnarok Pantheon of Gods!" His voice boomed throughout the temple, causing everyone present to inhale deeply as they grasped the meaning behind the other figures!


    Ania''s eyes went wide as one by one the veil was lifted on the other figures! Their light dimmed enough for Ania and Bjorn to grasp what they looked like as their eyes shot from one to another. However, Exile did not give them time to adjust to this statement of his!


    "From now on, I proim that this temple shall worship each of the Gods beside me! First, ymore!" Exile raised his hand and y stepped forward. "God of Strength!"


    "Next we have Old Un, God of Lost Travellers!"


    "Third we have Moist Burrito!" Exile coughed as he called out this name with some embarrassment. "God of Wild nts!"


    "Next we have Desa, God of Lakes!"


    "And finally, IAmLegend! God of Winter Winds!"


    The temple went silent as they digested Exile''s speech. Some were more excited than others. Depending on whether these new Gods could have any benefit to their daily lives. Most of these Gods solely benefitted warriors, hunters and travellers. So the majority of the vigers in the temple still preferred Exile over any of the others. Especially since every home had a hearth!


    "Ania!" Exile turned his gaze back on the first NPC to acknowledge him. "You will erect altars for each of them within this temple."


    "If that is what you desire..." Ania hesitated as she worried that others may deem some of the new Gods as being more important than Exile.


    Bjorn, on the other hand, was ecstatic! To have more Gods descend from the heavens to watch over them was like a dreame true! ''I''ll have to find a way to please them all!''


    "Oh, and Ania?" Exile smiled warmly at her as she lifted her gaze to meet his. "I hereby proim you to be the head Oracle of The Ragnarok Pantheon!"

 Chapter 68 - Invasion

    After dealing with their business in Eraldsfen, they went around every location linked to one of them. There were obviously some disgruntled Oracles when they discovered that there was a God that sat above their own. But what made it worse was discovering that there was now a head Oracle above them! Still, theyplied with their God''s wishes and set new altars out.


    However, Exile rified that each of their temples would be the head one to their own God. His own altar should be the first to the right of the main one. This significantly brightened their moods, but Exile felt exhausted by the end of it. When they returned to their bodies in The Raiders Horn, the others burst outughing at the high and mighty performance he had been forced to perform!


    "What the hell was that?" y finally managed to say through hisughter.


    "Well, we''re supposed to be gods, aren''t we? They expect us to act like we''re above them!" Exile''s face turned slightly red as he shook his head.


    "Dude! They''re NPC''s! They don''t care how we act! They''ll go along with it anyway!" Desa barely managed to say in response. "Don''t think so much about it."


    Exile sighed while he waited for theughter to die down. ''Somehow, I don''t think it''s as simple as that...'' He had his own misgivings in treating them like that, but with the level of realism in the game, he felt like something bad would happen if they did not live up to expectations. ''Oh, right... Bjorn mentioned something about sacrifices before we left.''


    Exile rubbed his chin as he thought about it. So far, he had not noticed anything different that could have urred due to it. Theughter finally came to an end. The others looked towards Exile with watery eyes and sheepish smiles.


    "So, what now?" y asked with a raised eyebrow.


    Exile frowned as he realised what he had been forgetting. Things had been happening so quicklytely that he had forgotten that gaining new quests seemed to be a rare urrence! At least, as far as he had seen so far.


    "Do you guys have any more upleted quests?" Exile asked, without much hope.


    His answer came in the form of shaking heads, causing him to sigh as he considered their options. ''We could grind the wolves, but it''s too close to Valheim. Kaleidoscope are still hunting us so that''s a no go. We could try searching the city for any unfound quests but who knows how long that will take. So... Our only option is to explore further afield.''


    "Ok, we''ll stop by the temple and gather any offerings. Then we''ll head out and do some exploring. Now that we have a Pantheon we have to start saving gold. There''s bound to be something simr to Guild Halls." As Exile spoke, the others voiced their agreement with his words.


    When they left The Raiders Horn, they felt as if Valheim was eerily silent. Even though there were few yers in the city usually, it still felt more empty than before. ''What''s going on?'' Exile squinted up and down the alley, as he felt that something was off.


    "Everyone''s probably outside doing there best to kill each other." y stated matter-of-factly. "Think about it, people are more likely to watch a channel that has a ton ofbat and killing. They''re probably after content and orbs to level up fast."


    Exile heaved a sigh of relief. After all, y''s observation was a good one. It made sense, considering everyone would be panicking around about now. There was sure to be an influx of new yers ascending soon. At that point, the city would be much more lively andpetition would be fierce.


    ''If everyone wants to fight it out close to Valheim, that''s good news for us. We just have to keep our distance and grind to make steady growth.'' Exile chuckled lightly as he led the group to the temple. For once, there was nobody queuing up outside. In fact, there was nobody nearby at all.


    "Huh? This doesn''t feel right..." Leggy whispered as they approached the temple''s entrance. "If everyone is fighting, then shouldn''t people be respawning here?"


    Leggy''s words caught them off-guard. Now they understood why something felt off, despite y''s reasoning making sense! ''He''s right! yer''s should be dying anding back. We should be hearing them swearing and racing back to the battlefield!


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is trying to reach you...]


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as the notification entered his mind. He wasted no time in epting it! ''What the hell happened in the short time since we left!'' The others noticed that he had paused and waited patiently while ncing around them.


    [Lord Exile?]


    ''What is it Ania? Has something happened already?'' Exile frowned as he tried to think about what could have gone wrong.


    [Not exactly... Some strangers have appeared in the vige iming to be Oracles of the Gods...]


    Exile''s mind froze. He quickly thought about it and realised that they had wasted quite a bit of time going around introducing the Pantheon to their various viges. During that time, it was possible for new yers to find themselves an Oracle and head to a nearby vige. After all, word must have spread amongst the NPC''s by now that the Gods were returning. So surely there would be more opportunities to find someone praying!


    Exile''s expression turned into a grim frown. ''This is why there''s nobody here! Their areas in the Mortal Realms are already being invaded by the new yers!'' Exile took a deep breath before sending his next mental message to Ania.


    ''How many of them are there?''


    [There''s around ten... Bjorn has gathered them in one area. He''s pretending to be your Oracle so that nobody targets me...]


    Exile heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed like Bjorn had some brains, after all. ''Can you see any Gods?''


    [Yes... There are thirteen of them...]

 Chapter 69 - A New Problem

    Exile cut off the mental link with Ania after gaining some more intelligence. ''Thirteen gods but ten oracles... So at least three of them are in Eraldsfen hoping to find an oracle of their own.'' Exile hummed as he looked at it from another angle. ''So what''s holding everyone up? When we were new deities, our health and stats were so low that we could crush our old selves right now.''


    ''There''s something else going on here...'' Exile nced around at the expectant faces before heaving a long sigh.


    "Change of n, guys. Grab your offerings and head back to The Raiders Horn. We need to visit our oracles. It seems that the new yers who just joined are possibly trying to poach our followers. We have to take care of this threat before we do anything else."


    Everyone''s expression became dark when they heard that. They even wondered why their own oracles had not tried to contact them and let them know about what was going on! None of them paid any attention to what they received as they quickly entered the temple and retrieved their offerings. Right now, it did not matter. They had a greater priority to deal with!


    As they gathered around one of the tables in the bar, they solemnly nodded to each other before activating their Avatar spells. Exile felt his body freeze, unable to move, as his consciousness was transferred to a copy of himself. The selection scre4en appeared in his mind that asked where he wanted to descend.


    Since they were a Pantheon, he could freely descend in any temple belonging to any one of them. However, it was his ce to deal with Eraldsfen. The others could let him know if they ran into trouble once they returned...


    Ania gasped as she felt a sudden pressure descend on Eraldsfen from the direction of the temple. The vigers around her felt suffocated as the oracles that Bjorn had gathered appeared to be forced to their knees. Ania''s eyebrow rose in a sharp arch as she noticed the golden figures nearby take a few steps back before stopping.


    ''Lord Exile has arrived!'' She was secretly ted to see these new gods backing off after being bathed in his aura. Whether they knew it or not, it showed that they were afraid of him. ''Exile is the only one fit to rule the gods...'' Ania let out a proud smile as she thought back to that golden face that appeared inside of the sack when she was held captive. Her cheeks blushed as silence descended all around them.


    "Hey, maybe this was a bad idea?" MidasTouch, one of the new yers, whispered to the gamer beside him.


    "Don''t worry! He can''t do anything to us..." WintersEmbrace whispered back as she stared at Exile''s figure walking towards them.


    Midas and the others who were gathered there gulped as they felt a sense of fear washing over them. They could tell that this should be a game mechanic to warn them of powerful opponents. Still, they held their ground and waited for this yer to reach them.


    "Lord Exile..." Bjorn bowed his head as Exile walked straight past Ania.


    "Good job, Bjorn." Exile ced a hand on Bjorn''s shoulder, which made thetter feel weak at the knees. ''Since he went to the effort of shifting their attention away from Ania, it''s best if I y along with it.''


    His eyes swept over the new yers in the crowd, wearing nothing but the basic starting gear. ''Logically, they should be looking for somewhere that doesn''t already have a yer''s presence. What''s really going on here?'' His eyebrows rose as he noticed these yers gathering up together.


    "Why are all of you in my domain?" Exile raised his voice to boom out towards the new yers.


    However, nobody dared to speak. That was until someone in the crowd pushed MidasTouch out in front. He nced back in shock before realising he had been nominated to speak for them. A long sigh escaped from his mouth as he ran his trembling hands through his short, silver hair.


    "We''re just here to look for more followers... This just happened to be the first vige we came across..." Midas kept his eyes low, afraid to look Exile in the eyes.


    "Is that so?" Exile hummed as he nced at the crowd. "Then you would be better off trying your luck at Korden. It''s arger settlement than this one so there should be plenty to go around..."


    ''For this many of them to appear here... How many new yers joined the game?'' Exile frowned as he stared at Midas. ''They have no reason to reject my advice.'' Indeed, Midas was on the brink of nodding in agreement when someone in the crowd suddenly shouted out.


    "You can''t force us to leave! We should take as many followers from here before leaving!"


    Exile''s head snapped up to find the source of thatment. Although it was a woman''s voice, there were four of them in the crowd. There was no way he could pin the me on one of them.


    "Tell me... What makes you think I can''t force you to leave?" Exile growled as he waited to see which of the women would respond. However, a sheepish cough drew his attention back to Midas.


    "That''s because we have divine protection... New yers can''t be harmed by established yers for a set time..." Midas''s eyes shifted nervously to the side as he spoke.


    Bjorn and Ania frowned as they listened to the conversation. Anytime the word yer was mentioned it turned into the word God or Goddess for them. However, they both seemed to understand that these new gods were being protected by some divine power higher than Exile right now.


    "If that''s the case... I can just have my Pantheon descend here and kill you all as soon as your protection runs out..." Exile growled as he stared at the now silent crowd...

 Chapter 70 - All For Yourself

    "Are you willing to waste that kind of time though?" WintersEmbrace fired back as she stepped out from the crowd. "We can easily grab some followers and leave before you can do anything about it!"


    The rest of the crowd nodded in agreement with her argument, giving Exile pause to his threat. ''I see. This must be why Valheim is so quiet. They''re struggling to find an answer to this problem.'' Exile secretly tried to activate Minor Miracle while targeting Winter''s oracle, who stood beside her. However, even he seemed to be protected. ''I guess that solution is out of the window...''


    ''Even if Bjorn attacks them, I doubt Ania and he have any protection from their miracles...'' Exile''s eyes reduced themselves to slits as he red at the yers. ''It would be a massacre if I tried to target them that way...''


    Exile felt a headacheing on as he realised the gravity of the situation. ''The others must be facing something simr...'' Eventually, he let his expression soften as he focused on Winter. He had a rough feeling that she was the cause of the yers banding together like this.


    "Let''s talk openly then... What will it take for you to leave? Just remember... I can always hunt you downter..." Exile was in no mood to let them think that they entirely had the upper hand in this negotiation.


    There was a slight pause in the crowd as a few of them stared at the ground. Nobody wanted to offend someone who was already higher level than them. Especially with the penalty involved for losing their oracle or dying too many times.


    "You said that you have a Pantheon?" A cunning smile crept across Winter''s face as she eyed Exile up. "Then I think we have a solution..."


    Exile frowned as he heard this. He had a feeling that he knew where this was going. "What do you suggest?"


    "Simple! Let us all join! It''ll be a win-win for all of us. You get more yers on your team, we get experienced yers to help us survive. What do you think?" Winter''s smile almost reached her eyes.


    However, Exile''s frown grew deeper. He felt like the group had been angling for something like this from the start. ''It makes sense... They''ll be easy prey once they reach Valheim. They need to rely on someone stronger. This was never about followers!''


    Exile stroked his beard as he considered the proposal. Although he was unhappy at being manipted this way, it was an excellent opportunity for them to quickly fill the Pantheon''s ranks. ''If there''s thirteen of them here, how many at the other temples?'' This was one of the issues that held Exile back from agreeing right away.


    After all, they only had eighteen spots left in the Pantheon. He had a suspicion that the number would grow as the Pantheon''s tier increased. However, they did not know how to do that yet. They could be stuck with this first batch of yers for months before they found a clue. There was no way they could stop some kind of conflict if this was the same scenario ying out at the other temples.


    ''Plus, we don''t know these people. We''ll be outnumbered by the new teammates. It''ll be hard to keep them in check...'' Exile sighed as he considered the pros and cons. That was when a thought struck him. ''Maybe... I can y them off against each other...''


    "Indeed... Your suggestion sounds like a good one. However, we can''t just take anybody..." Exile let out a savage grin that froze the smile on Winter''s face. "We have limited slots avable and your group is not the only one trying to join us."


    The crowd before Exile suddenly started toin. They had thought that this would be a done deal. However, they had not expected the yer in control of this area to already be in a Pantheon. They had originally thought to threaten him and form a new Pantheon altogether, using the experienced yer for their Pantheon Leader.


    "Since you want to join The Ragnarok Pantheon, I will set a test. Not only do you have to outperform those around you, but also those in the other areas. Nothing is guaranteed." Exile cast his gaze over the yers one by one. He had to stifle augh as he saw the ugly expression on Winter''s face.


    "Go to Korden, those who prove themselves by gaining followers and improving their levels will have a spot in Ragnarok!" Exile dered loudly, leaving them no time to think about it!


    Immediately, several yers broke off from the pack with their oracles and sprinted in the direction that Exile was pointing! Winter looked around helplessly as her n of a united front fell apart! This had now just be apetition where everyone was out for themselves!


    Winter shot a hate-filled re at Exile before turning on her heels and racing off! There was no way she could afford to miss out on this opportunity! Those who got left behind after this would most likely not amount to much in the game. Ania and Bjorn stared at the crowd rushing towards Korden in shock.


    Exile could not help butugh as he thought about the disaster that he had just sent Donna''s way. ''Oh, she''s really going to hate me now! I''ll need to get in touch with the others and have them set up something simr...''


    "Lord Exile..." Bjorn began as he stared at the gleeful expression on Exile''s face. "If you wanted to take control of Korden, I would have happily set up a temple for you there...."


    "Forget it, Bjorn... That ce is DonnaThaGreat''s territory. It''s better to attack her with gods who can''t be traced back to us..." Exile smiled warmly as he nced at his side.


    "Hm? But she has no power there since I killed her oracle? Did she find a new one? Or did I get the wrong person?" Bjorn grumbled in a low voice that Exile failed to hear.

 Chapter 71 - Token

    Exile took his time in leaving orders for Ania to keep an eye on the situation. He was concerned that one or two of the yers may still try to poach people from Eraldsfen before making a run for it. ''I wonder how many other people will think of something simr?'' He wondered as his consciousness returned to The Raiders Horn.


    ''If we can move quickly on this we can get out of Valheim and do some grinding before anyone can react. I bet even Kaleidoscope will have their hands full with this.'' Exile began to wonder how many teams had already registered themselves as Pantheons. ''It might be worthwhile seeking out other teams to ally ourselves with. There''s bound to be some worried about therger groups.''


    A n began to form in his mind as he thought about creating a group of allies to help each other survive. Now that the floodgates had been opened they were bound to see a rise in PK''ers and teams who did not get an invitation to the closed beta. It would most likely only get worse once the first episodes for each channel were released.


    ''There''s got to be some yers waiting to see some information before jumping in...'' Exile sighed as this could not be helped. However, their team was rtively unknown. So it should only be y and the other''s fans who watch their channel for a while. Unless his name appearing on the list attracted some attention. But most people would likely tune in to the top 10 yers.


    ''I wonder how often they''ll update that list...'' Exile stared into space for a bit before shaking his head. There was no point in worrying about it too much for now. He had bigger fish to fry! He quickly activated his Avatar spell again, but this time he descended into y''s temple.


    y seemed to be having a tough time trying to deal with the unfolding situation. It seemed many of his followers were angry that he bowed to another god, which had them seriously considering switching to one of the ones who had appeared here. However, Exile''s aura soon quenched those rebellious thoughts when he arrived.


    They could all sense that none of these new gods could hold a candle to such a power. y was relieved to see him, but Exile cut to the chase and delivered his ultimatum to the new yers. Stay and die once their protection wore off. Or head to the next settlement and prove themselves worthy of joining Ragnarok. The result was pretty much the same as what happened in Eraldsfen. Once they sensed Exile''s aura, they knew it was not a good idea to piss him off while they were as weak as they were.


    y was relieved that the situation was resolved so quickly and followed Exile on his tour around the other temples. Each time, he delivered his speech and ultimatum, which did not fail to give the results that they wanted. Before long, they had all gathered together again in The Raiders Horn,ughing their asses off.


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    "How did you even get that idea? I was ready for pulling my hair out!" y chuckled as he nced at Exile in admiration.


    "I''m afraid I can''t really take the credit for that one. One of the yers I had to deal with demanded to join our team. Which led to the idea of this littlepetition..." Exile smiled awkwardly as he nced around the room.


    "I guess the team is about to get a lot bigger..." Leggy sighed as he became absent-minded.


    "True, we can''t afford to ck off unless they think of recing us." Burri frowned as he nced at the others with a stern expression. "If you think about it, we really don''t have too much of a lead on them."


    A grim atmosphere descended in the bar as Exile shook his head. "That may be so, but think of the opportunities we''ve already seized. It''s not like they''re going to find amazing quests that''ll give them a quick boost as we did. Most of them will have to grind without stopping just to catch up. It won''t be that easy."


    The atmosphere in the bar lifted a bit when they thought about that. Still, they knew that they had to get stronger before any of the neers joined them. They still felt like they had to make whoever their new teammates would be, realise that they would always be above them.


    "Now is as good a time as any. Sort through your offerings before we head out..." Exile smiled as he navigated through his inventory.


    ''Hm, some gold. A few useless things but I guess I can sell them.'' All in all he was unimpressed. It was clear that they would have to drastically increase their followers if they wanted to make enough gold to buy one of the buildings in Valheim. ''Hm? What''s this?''


    Exile focused on one of the strange tokens that were in his inventory. The item was a white coin when it appeared in the palm of his hand. One side held a human face while the other had a big x on it. There were a few others in his inventory, so he pulled them all out to see if they were any different.


    As he studied each coin one by one, he noticed that each one had a different face on it. When he really focused on the tokens, a system description popped up in his mind.


    [Soul Token (Human): Can be used to purchase divine abilities or create your divine realm. (Created from human sacrifices)]


    Exile''s expression froze as his eyes narrowed on the tokens in front of him. It had never urred to him that there could be alternate forms of currency depending on what a yer wanted to buy. The part that really caught his attention was the description of creating his own divine realm! His breathing became ragged as the others turned curious gazes on him...

 Chapter 72 - Milestone Complete

    "What are those?" y asked curiously as he stared at the tokens.


    "Hm, they''re some sort of currency..." Exile sighed as he exined the item description to the group.


    "Human sacrifices..."y hummed in a low voice as a dark look crossed his face. "That can''t be good. If you did something like that in other games you would definitely be considered evil..."


    "I''m not sure it''s that simple..." Exile stroked his beard as he nced around. "Good and evil is a matter of perspective. They made these sacrifices to me, but I didn''t demand them. Which means the Skardian''s have a culture where sacrifices are eptable..."


    "Logically speaking, that means they don''t see sacrificing humans to the gods as an evil act..." Exile continued, while the others frowned. "I think we have to be prepared to ept the culture of our NPCs, no matter what it brings."


    "If what you are saying is true... Then what are The Fallen?" y''s frown deepened as he thought about what he had learned in the tomb. "I was under the impression that they were possibly evil gods..."


    Exile heaved a long sigh as he shook his head. "I''m not sure. Personally, I thought the same..."


    The bar became silent as Exile mused over his thoughts. ''With what we''ve seen so far, there seem to be both invaders and defenders of the tombs. The ones outside are trying to get in while the others are testing us to see if we deserve the legacies left behind.'' Exile hummed as he tried to put together the bigger picture. ''There should be a way to be considered as an evil god... Maybe going against your NPCs established beliefs?''


    Exile felt the start of a slight headacheing on as he struggled to understand. However, he was now sure that the idea of good and evil was not so ck and white in Pantheon Online. ''It''s not something I can get a grasp on just by thinking about it. I''ll need to wait for the situation to be more clear...''


    Since it appeared to have no adverse effect on him for the time being, he did not intend to stop the sacrifices. He hoped that as long as he did not explicitly condone it openly, he could reap the rewards for the time being. ''I think we''ve wasted enough time...''


    "Forget about it for now. Let''s face it, we still don''t know much about the game yet. We can revisit this at ater time. For now, let''s get out of here..." Exile nodded at the others to show that they should prepare themselves.


    It only took a few minutes for the party to sort out their gains before they gathered by the door. Exile silently hoped that nothing else would crop up while they left Valheim. Luckily, the streets appeared just as empty as before. ''Surely not everyone is stuck trying to deal with the new yers?'' Exile frowned as they quietly made their way through the streets.


    However, Valheim remained deathly silent. Even when they reached the gates and looked out onto the snow-covered hills, there was not a single yer in sight. ''If anyone else has already solved their problem, then maybe they had the same idea.'' Exile figured that there had to be at least a couple of other active parties in the area. However, they were probably searching for new hunting grounds just like them. ''Let''s see...''


    Exile picked out a random direction that led away from the wolves. It would all be up to luck when they found something new anyway. However, as they travelled across the hills, they would randomly attract the attention of wolves who should be too far away for them to cause aggro.


    [Wolf yer: 27/40]


    [32/40]


    [39/40]


    "Damn!" Exile shouted in frustration as he nced at his milestones. "One short..."


    "Is that really what you should be thinking about?" y gasped for air as he looked around. "Why are they attacking us? We''re definitely outside of their zones!"


    Exile frowned as he turned his attention to the question. "Maybe... Things have changed along with the Open Beta?"


    The group fell silent at Exile''s statement. It made a sort of sense, but there was no way to confirm it. After all, they had not interacted much with anything besides Divine Wolves and Lost Souls. Exile nced at their concerned expressions before shaking his head. ''There''s no point worrying about something you can''t change. But maybe, we should take advantage of these wolves while we can...''


    The team had not taken any damage due to their levels, but it was still tiring to time their attacks properly. Exile grinned as he spotted another pack rushing towards them. Looks like I didn''t have to wait long!'' Exile licked his lips as he let out a roar!


    The others shook their heads as they split up to take care of a wolf each. After all, none of them wanted to miss out on free kills! Naturally, it was a bloodbath. The wolves seemed to be throwing themselves into the jaws of death for no reason. Not that Exile wasining...


    [Wolf yer: 40/40]


    [Awarding +1 Stat Point]


    [Wolf yer: Completed]


    ''What the fu...!'' Exile cursed as his good mood was shattered. With the Wolf yer milestonepleted, that meant there was no way for him to farm levels from these mobs anymore. The only benefit they had now were the few drops that they could gain. ''I see, this is how they''ll stop powerful yers from farming low-level zones. Forcing us further away from safe zones in search of levels.


    Exile sighed as he remembered the yers he had seen farming here before. ''Maybe it''s not that they wanted to look elsewhere, but they had to...'' He suddenly had the distinct feeling that his team had actually fallen behind instead of being far in the lead. Exile sighed as he pulled up his stats.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 5]


    [HP: 105/105 (90+15)]


    [DP: 16/16 (8+8)]


    [Strength: 10]


    [Endurance: 21 (18+3)]


    [Speed: 14 (13+1)]


    [Authority: 16 (8+8)]


    ''Now... What should I put you in so I can reach Level 6?'' A glint appeared in Exile''s eyes as he tried to make up his mind...

 Chapter 73 - Too Soon

    Exile grinned as he looked at his stats. To him, it was an obvious choice. ''Let''s go with Authority, it''s now my lowest stat when looking at the base values...'' He hummed as he increased its value.


    [Congrattions! 50 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Level 6!]


    [Authority increase detectedˇ­ Please select one of the following Divine Spellsˇ­]


    [(Divine) Minor Force: Creates a shock wave with the user as the centre. Knocks back nearby enemies. Cost: 2 DP]


    [(Divine) Minor Divine Arrow: Fast moving golden arrow. Damage and cost equal to user''s Authority up to 10 Maximum.]


    [(Hearth) Soothing Hearth: Creates a fiery aura that suppresses enemy stats by 20% in a 20-metre radius. Lasts for 1 minute. Cost: 3 DP]


    Exile''s eyes immediately narrowed in on the new Hearth spell. Its effects and time frame were basically an upgraded version of part of Raging Hearth''s effects. Except Raging Hearth came with a healing factor and only a ten-metre radius. ''Hm, it seems having multiple effects in a spell drastically decreases how long theyst for and increases cost. Raging Hearth should be something meant to be used to turn the tides in a group fight. Whereas Soothing Hearth is for all situations...''


    Naturally, Exile chose Soothing Hearth to add to his expanding arsenal. Minor Divine Arrow never entered his consideration and Minor Force seemed to be a situational spell without much use as of right now. Of course, it would be worth consideringter when he was more likely to find himself swarmed by yers and more powerful mobs.


    "It doesn''t look like any more areing our way..." y sighed as he looked around at a few packszing around in the snow.


    "Have any of you killed forty wolves yet?" Exile raised an eyebrow as he looked at the team.


    However, everyone shook their heads to show that they had not. ''It''d be better if they get this Milestone over with as soon as possible.'' Now that he knew the Milestones had an end, it was better to squeeze every benefit that they could from it while they had the area to themselves.


    "Ok, guys... Go kill some wolves until you reach forty of them. We''ll move on once you''ve done that." Exile nodded his head with a stern expression, causing the others to nce at him curiously. However, nobodyined. They were all up for gaining some easy kills while they could.


    As Exile stood to the side and studied their moves, a strange notification appeared.


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    ''Huh? Must be a glitch...'' Exile frowned as he turned his attention back to his team. He wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how the others fought so that he coulde up with some strategies. For example, he noticed that Leggy was better at blocking than anyone else, yet y always led the charge.


    ''It would be better to have Leggy block and y take advantage of the openings he creates. That way, y won''t lose as much health...'' Exile stroked his chin as he continued to analyse the group. This was the perfect time to do so, since the wolves were incapable of harming them anyway.


    The team had to go through several packs before they finallypleted their own Milestones. y had be excited, as he was only a single stat point away from Level 5 now. The rest had cleared the halfway mark. Exile nodded his head as they all gathered again. It was time to move on and see what else this world had to offer them.


    Their group moved off through the snow, taking a roundabout path to circle around Valheim''s walls to see what was on the other side. It took them a couple of hours, for that was just howrge Valheim was. But once they had reached the halfway point, they felt an icy wind blow against them.


    When they reached the far side they were cursing due to the cold. ''This weather would be harder to deal with for anyone who isn''t a Skardian God. I wonder if this is a warning that further out this way is too high level for us?'' A glint appeared in Exile''s eyes as snow lingered in his hair and beard. Being the first to explore in this direction could possibly bring them some rich rewards!


    Exile waved his hand to show that they would continue onwards. It was too cold to say anything so the group had to make do with hand signals. Before long, they found their pace slowing to a crawl. The snowdrift reached their thighs as they struggled against it. ''What the heck is this all about? It''s really starting to feel like the game doesn''t want us to go this way!'' The winds started to pick up all around them. Creating a snowstorm that was almost blinding!


    "Exile! I don''t think we should go this way!" y shouted from somewhere in the snow behind Exile.


    Exile nced over his shoulder at his team before turning his attention forward again. ''I''m sure I saw something just now between the snow!'' The team had paused as they waited for exile to make a decision. But his eyes were glued to a single point ahead of them. Then, it happened. A gap in the storm revealed a heavily buried marble pir protruding from the snow! ''I knew it!''


    "Guys! There''s something up ahead! Let''s check it out before we turn back and try a different direction!" Exile roared above the howling winds.


    The others began toin loudly. In this storm and with how fast they were moving, how long would it take them to reach whatever Exile had seen? Not only that, but they would have to suffer through the storm again to return! A few of them felt that the risk was not worth it. However, Exile had not led them astray so far...


    *Please Read The Authors Thoughts*

 Chapter 74 - Buried In The Snow

    *Just before we start I''d just like to say thanks for your support guys! Please read the Author''s Thoughts as it''s quite important!*


    Exile shivered as he stared at the almostpletely submerged marble column in the snow. The top of it had clearly broken off, but this was only the first of several. Theyid out a path through the snow, but where they led to, Exile could not see.


    "Exile... I have a bad feeling about this..." y rubbed his arms to warm up as his eyes shifted to their surroundings. "It doesn''t feel like we should even be out here at our level."


    "You''re right... I don''t think we are..." Exile''s eyes narrowed on the trail of columns. "But that just means there''s a good chance this is an opportunity for us."


    The others cast dubious gazes over the ruins as they tried to gauge if Exile was right. However, none of them could see what made him think that there was anything to gain from being here. To them, it looked more like a random ruin to add some vour to the game, so they could not help but raise their eyebrows at him.


    "Trust me..." Exile coughed as he nced around at the team. "There''s bound to be something interesting."


    ''The developers put something in every area of Mayhem when they developed it. There were no locations that were solely for decoration. I guess these guys are unaware of that...'' Exile hummed as he led the group through the snow. At times, they would lose sight of the columns. But when they continued onwards, new ones would appear.


    "See! There''s nothing here!" Burriined as they reached the end of the path.


    Exile nced around with a frown. ''Don''t tell me they expect us to excavate the ruins?'' He could not help but sigh when he considered this possibility. It would be a mammoth task. One that they could notplete in a short time with their current numbers. ''Maybe I should just take a note of it ande back at ater time?''


    It felt like he had wasted their time, but he was still certain that there had to be something worth finding in the area. ''Where should we go for now, then? It''ll take some time to head back in the other direction...'' Just as he thought that Burri prepared himself to make anotherint... But he was suddenly interrupted!


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    The group screamed as they plunged downwards! The carpet of snow beneath their feet gave way as the unseen ice supporting it broke! The group was thrown downwards into a dark chasm, the columns around them rushed past as they fell!


    "Damn! How far does this go!" y yelled above the rushing wind in his ears as he tried to peer into the darkness.


    The sound of waterfalls soon entered their ears. Just as Exile was about to warn the others to brace themselves, they were plunged into ice-cold waters! Exile choked as he felt the frigid water rush down his throat. An oxygen bar appeared in his mind and it was depleting at a fast rate! He immediately gained his bearings and swam upwards. Luckily, he had not been thrown too far underwater and broke the surface within moments.


    "Is everyone alright?" Exile yelled as he nced around at where they had arrived.


    A chorus of yells replied as one by one, the group surfaced. ''Damn, where are we?'' Exile''s eyes could not see much. This ce was unlike the tombs which had lit up when they arrived. There was nothing but long, sharp, icy rock walls that disappeared into the darkness and the marble columns.


    "Yo! I think I''ve found a bridge!" Leggy''s voice came from somewhere off to Exile''s right.


    The group swam towards where his voice hade from, but because of the darkness, they could not see more than a few feet in front of themselves. Eventually, Exile''s handnded on a smooth piece of stone. Leggy came into view as he helped Exile haul himself out of the water.


    "Pretty stupid right?" Leggy grinned as Exile sat on the firm ground, creating a puddle around himself.


    "What is?" Exile grumbled as he peered past Leggy to spot the others.


    "Drowning. I mean, that Gods can drown..." Leggy startedughing, but Exile was in no mood tough about their situation right now.


    ''It''s definitely not a natural bridge...'' Exile''s eyes scanned the smooth surface and realised that Leggy had been right. What he was sitting on was indeed a bridge that stretched into the darkness on either side. However, there was something about it that was throwing him off.


    ''The columns...'' His eyes swiftly moved to the hole that had been created where they fell through the snow far above them. Sunlight streamed in past the snowstorm outside to highlight the upper halves of several columns. ''The marble columns and this stone bridge don''t match...''


    The more he looked at it, the more he felt like the marble columns had been added at a muchter date. Their style was consistent with Valheim''s architecture but the stone bridge was made of a different material with no embellishments! This one subtle detail piqued Exile''s curiosity. ''What did we stumble into?''


    "Hey, Exile! What way should we go?" y shouted as he strode over while peering into the darkness. "I don''t want to stick around here. It''s giving me the creeps."


    "I know what you mean... Well, at least we only have two options. That way leads towards Valheim. But the other leads deeper into the snowstorm..." Exile hummed as the rest of the group gathered around him.


    "That doesn''t really answer my question..." y hummed as a frown appeared on his face.


    "Well, we''re in unchartered territory. We don''t know if there are mobs down here. Or what they are capable of if there are any. On top of that... I''m fairly certain that any loot to be found will be in the opposite direction of Valheim."


    "Do you think it will be worth taking the risk?" Old Un asked as he nced towards the end of the bridge that led away from Valheim.


    "Hm, the rewards should be good. Whether we can survive is another question. For all we know, it might also be the only path out of here." Exile nced at each of them in turn. "Let''s take a vote on it."


    There were a few grumbles as they discussed the possible pros and cons of each choice before they took the vote. In the end, the majority agreed to take the risk of heading away from Valheim. Their footsteps sounded oppressive as they echoed around the chasm that surrounded them. Old Un kept his eyes focused on the dark waters on either side of the bridge. This was just in case there was a threat hidden in them that had yet to reveal itself.


    Time passed slowly for the group as they wandered further and further away from the sunlight that was now far behind them. Their visibility reduced a little bit more, but it would be enough to react to any sudden movement close by. Exile quickly calcted how long they had been walking for, only to realise that it had been a few hours at least.


    As more time passed, he began to doubt whether they had made the right choice. However, Burri, who had been walking ahead of them, came back with some news.


    "It looks like we''ve found the end of the bridge..." Burri spoke softly, as if the surrounding darkness had ears.


    "What''s the details?" Exile asked as he raised an eyebrow.


    "The rock on either side of uses together to form a wall up ahead. But there''s a tunnel through it. It looks like someone has fashioned it into a doorway. It''s made of the same smooth rock we''re standing on. But it seems to have some kind of design. It''s got differentyers of smooth squared rock as an outline..."


    Exile hummed as he heard this. ''Something was definitely living down here then... But what? Or is it an old structure that''s been buried with time? A fortress or something of the Old Gods?'' His mind raced as it became more and more likely that they would find some good stuff down here. Or at the very least a sort of secret passage between two areas.


    "Let''s go, and everyone keep your eyes and ears sharp. If there are any mobs they''re bound to be beyond that point..." Exilemanded solemnly as he felt his body tremble. ''Let''s see what you''re hiding...''


    *How do you feel about this chapter length? I''m debating making this the new normal after I finish getting the priv chaps out and the mass release is done.*

 Chapter 75 - Den

    As they passed the gateway, they could not help but eye the area warily. It felt like they were inside of a building now rather than underground. The walls were smooth, with some architectural ir that involved a lot of straight lines and sharp edges. Unlike the pleasing curved patterns that were embedded in the marble columns that they had been following.


    A chill breeze flowed through the passage, causing Exile to narrow his eyes in the darkness. ''If there''s a breeze then there should be an exit.'' The group continued on in silence. They were worried that their voices would carry in this strange ce and alert anything dangerous to their presence.


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he held up a hand. "Stop!"


    The group paused as they eyed him with curiosity. The only sound they could hear in the passage was their own footsteps. They could not see too far, but they were fairly certain that there was nothing there.


    "What''s up, Exile?" y asked in a hushed voice as he stared in the direction that Exile was looking in.


    "There! Can''t you see it?" Exile hissed as he refused to turn his head away from what had caught his eye.


    "No... What are you... Oh!" y hissed as he finally realised what was wrong. He drew his weapon slowly and gestured to the others to do the same. "Is it alone?"


    "I don''t know... But this confirms there are mobs down here... Damn! I can''t even tell what it is!" Exile watched the darkness for it to return. He had seen a sudden glint of light. Three in fact. However, he realised that this was wrong.


    There were no light sources down here. So something that was moving was creating these glints of light. But when he thought about it, he thought it looked like they could be eyes that were mildly interested in them. Either way, there was definitely something down there with them, and it was on the move!


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    They waited with bated breath. Their muscles were tense as they prepared for a sudden assault. However, nothing happened. Even after roughly ten minutes went by. ''Something isn''t right... why didn''t it attack us?'' Exile frowned as he pondered the reasoning behind the strange behaviour. After all, the whole point of mobs was to make the game world difficult to explore. Was it possible that this one was friendly?


    ''Doubt it...'' Exile scoffed at his own thought as he edged closer towards where he had seen the glints of light. However, he only discovered a smooth piece of wall that looked like a sort of doorframe. The space on the other side of it would have beenrge enough to hide the body of a person as they peered around it.


    ''Was it just a scout then?'' Exile clicked his tongue as he wondered how long it would take whatever it was to find others of its kind. ''Things are starting to look dicey...'' The others were on edge as Exile called them over, but were soon relieved to see that nothing was there anymore.


    "Don''t get the wrong impression. If anything, this makes our situation worse. Whatever it was knows its way around down here and there''s likely more of them. Just be ready for anything..." Exile wore a solemn expression as he led his team through the doorway and further down the tunnel.


    Before long, they saw the tunnel was getting wider, which made them feel wary. It could give any enemies enough room to surround their small group or approach them unseen. Exile cursed under his breath as a luminous glow came from somewhere up ahead. He urged the others to keep as quiet as possible as they moved towards the light.


    However, the source had been hidden by a sharp, squared corner. It was only when they looked around it that they gasped. Their breath had been taken away by what they saw!


    "It''s a city!" Leggy almost squealed with excitement.


    As the others were looking around at the marvellous ruins where giant gems were used as street lights due to the glow they gave off, Exile fixated on a statue. It was humanoid in shape, except its proportions seemed off for its size. The carved statue wore resplendent armour adorned with real gems. It waved a giant hammer overhead with a single hand while the other held a giant tower shield that could cover its entire body.


    What caught Exile''s attention most of all was the carved beard. It did not take him long to ce what the statue was depicting. "This is a dwarven ruin!"


    "Whaaat?" y asked in shock as he turned towards Exile. "How can this be a dwarven ruin? Isn''t this area supposed to belong to human deities?"


    "There''s no mistake. Look at that statue. Doesn''t the length of its legs and arms seem off? It''s definitely supposed to be a dwarf. The question is... Why is something like this so close to Valheim?" Exile hummed as he nced at the rest of the city from their vantage point. "That at least exins the difference in architecture but... The patterns on the pirs didn''t match Valheim''s style either..."


    Exile''s looked over the city once more but could find no traces of the other architectural style. ''There''s definitely another race involved with this ce. On the surface at least, and the bridge. Would we have found another city if we went the other way?'' Just as he was considering who the other race may be, he spotted shadows moving through the city below. ''Looks like they are finally ready to y... Let''s see what you are!''

 Chapter 76 - Lost Travellers

    [-7 HP]


    Exile cursed as he swung his shield to block the next blow. The creatures were fast, but they were not anything that he had been expecting. ''Where the hell are these things even from?'' They were certainly not dwarves, and they did not look capable of the intricate architecture he had seen on the columns. Which meant that these things were the cause for this ce being abandoned. Or they had moved in when the original inhabitants had left.


    Every time he almost caught a glimpse of them, they seemed to elude his eyesight. It was as if he were incapable of registering their true form! Exileshed out with his axe and a high-pitched scream followed the wild attack.


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Authority 8. Your Authority 17. Your Divine Power is superior. You have dealt -9 HP to Deep Stalker (Infant)]


    Exile''s eyes went wide when he received the damage report. Now he knew what his enemy was called, and he had confirmed that they could hurt it! However, the ''Infant'' part worried him. That suggested there was something stronger than these down here.


    "Their Authority score is low! Strength seems to be their strong point!" Exile shouted over the din of battle as the group moved through the ruins.


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    A number ofints rang out from the group as they heard that. Only Exile among them had put such arge amount of points into that stat! y grit his teeth as he made a decision. An intricately decorated bone horn appeared in his hand. This was his quest reward for sessfully raiding the tomb.


    "Everyone! Get ready!" y shouted as he ced the thin end to his lips.


    In the next moment, a loud ring noise rang out from the instrument. It was a deep sound that seemed to call them to battle! A golden halo spread out with the sound wave, and as it washed over Exile, he received a notification.


    [You have been targeted by the Raider''s Horn. Judgement in progress... Judgement Result... Ally... +5 Authority for 20 minutes...]


    Exile''s eyes went wide at such a powerful buff! It directly rose his Authority to twenty-two points! A mad grin spread across his face before he realised that something else had changed. ''I can see them!'' Exile chuckled as he stared at the horrible creatures.


    They were slightly shorter than an average person with smokey grey skin. They wrapped filthy cloth around their waists and upper legs, while all six of their humanoid arms ended in long, sharp nails. Their heads and bodies werepletely hairless, but their ears came to a point. It was not as pronounced as what you would expect from the likes of elves, but it was definitely there. Each one of these creatures had three eyes that were set in a triangr formation.


    Two where you would expect human eyes to be and one on the forehead. These eyes were all cloudy, as if they were blind. But Exile was sure that they were not. There were no lips to be seen on their faces. It was just a singr, cracked line. However, when they opened their mouth, he could see eight sharp fangs nesting inside.


    Exile cursed when he saw why these creatures had six arms as he noticed several of them using them to scale the ruined walls. Apart from this change, Exile also noticed that he could see a bit further into the darkness. So some details had be much clearer to him. ''I see, there are creatures where your Authority will have to be high enough to even detect them. It''s like Authority allows you to connect with the game world on a deeper level...''


    Exile hummed as he mulled over this revtion. It was a strategic piece of information, and they had been lucky enough to discover it so soon. ''Well, it at least confirms that we''re too low level for this ce. We need to abandon this ce.'' Exile sighed as he thought about the treasure that could be hidden within.


    He started to keep an eye on the others, barking out warnings whenever one of the creatures was about to strike. This allowed them to defend themselves better as they slowly backed off, searching for a way out of the situation. It was clear that the others wanted to know how he knew where the enemies were, but this was not the time to divulge this information. Surviving came first!


    [You have dealt -19 HP]


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he drew his axe back after chopping one of the Deep Stalkers. ''Oh? That horn doesn''t just buff us... It debuffs the enemy by the same amount!'' Exile''s eyes shed with excitement as he thought about what a rare item it was. It was a good thing that it belonged in the hands of someone in their Pantheon!


    ''It''ll be a big help in group battles, but for now I need to focus on finding a way out!'' Exile grimaced as he thought about what would happen once the effects of the horn wore off. ''There has to be a way out!''


    Of course, he was now kicking himself for leading the group down into the ruins instead of running when they spotted the mobs. They had been overconfident in their abilities and had not expected to run into trouble like this. However, that route was now cut off. So they were stuck fighting a protracted battle as they explored the ruins at the same time.


    "Exile! Something''s telling me we should go that way!" Old Un shouted as he pointed in the direction that held the dwarven statue.


    Exile was about to question him about it when remembered something. ''God of Lost Travellers...''

 Chapter 77 - Guarding The Path

    "Un! Lead the way! Everyone, follow him! I''ll guard the rear!" Exile roared as he rushed to intercept a Deep Stalker that was targeting Old Un.


    The others did not hesitate and immediately chased after Old Un who had run off. They were not going to argue with Exile, since he was the one who had the best chance of holding off the mobs anyway. The only thing that they could do was not get too far ahead of him.


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    ''Damn! There''s too many of them!'' Exile groaned as he looked around. Even though he could see them, they were beginning to coordinate with each other to try to overwhelm him. He spared a nce towards hisrades and decided it was time to make a run for it, even as he ducked under the outstretched hand of one of the mobs.


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    [-7 HP]


    They surrounded him again pretty quickly and cut off his retreat. What annoyed him the most was that he could never hit the same one more than a couple of times. These creatures seemed to be quite intelligent. Whenever he injured them enough, they fell back to the rear of the crowd. Preventing him from gaining a kill.


    ''If we even want to properly explore this ce, we''ll need to have enough power to overwhelm them quickly...'' Exile grimaced as sharp nails scraped across his cheek, leaving bloody marks behind. He quickly tucked himself down and rolled away from the next blow, saving himself from sustaining more damage.


    [-7 HP]


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    Exile briefly checked his health pool to discover that he was dangerously close to the half health mark. ''56/105... It''s not looking too good!'' The brief respite from their attacks allowed him to identify a slight gap in their encirclement. With a grim expression, he raised his shield and rammed his way through!


    An angry screech came from the mobs he left behind, as they began to scurry along the broken walls like spiders chasing their prey. ''That''s just creepy...'' Exile pulled an ugly expression when he saw how quickly they were moving. ''They''ll catch up again soon! Damn, I didn''t want to do this so soon...''


    Exile slid to a halt as he spun to face the enemies. He raised his axe to point at the tide of mobs closing in on him. The edge of his axe began to glow red hot as he activated his spell. ''Cleansing me!'' A wave of fire burst forth from his axe as he heard the Deep Stalkers screech in fear and pain. It was the most potent offensive that he could muster. Its only drawback was the cost!


    [You have dealt -19 HP]


    That notification appeared a number of times in his mind over the next seven seconds before he cut the spell off. He did not even wait to see what damage he had wrought on his opponents. His mind was fully focused on catching up to the others. Notifications continued to appear, but he paid them no mind.


    [You have killed Deep Stalker (Infant)]


    [New Milestone: Deep Stalker: 8/100]


    This was the only notification that actually caught his eye, causing him to click his tongue in annoyance. ''I thought I''d take out more than that!'' The ones who fell to his spell must have been the ones who had already been injured. He took sce in the fact that he must have heavily injured arge number of them. With their careful nature, it was likely that they would fall back and wait for fresh mobs to lead the charge.


    "Hurry up!" y''s voice came from up ahead. Exile squinted as he realised they hade to a stop right in front of the dwarven statue.


    When he had almost reached them, Old Un ced a hand behind the bottom of the tower shield and a loud click followed. The smooth ground in front of the statue started to separate, revealing a staircase that led deeper underground. exile groaned when he saw this. ''We need to go up! Not deeper into the depths of this ce!''


    One by one, the group disappeared down into the hole. Exile sighed as he quickly followed. He could hear the sounds of the Deep Stalkers swiftly chasing after him. ''Guess I didn''t give them enough of a scare...'' As soon as he disappeared down the staircase, the ground rumbled to a close behind him. Sealing them off from their pursuers.


    Exile heaved in a deep breath, as he could finally rest a bit. The ordeal had made him tense without realising it. "Where to... now?"


    Old Un frowned as he stared downwards. It was the only path that they could take, anyway. However, he wondered why he had been directed this way when he thought about seriously getting out of this ce and back to Valheim.


    The group wore exhausted expressions as they picked themselves up off the stairs and began the journey. Old Un took the lead in case his abilities revealed something. However, the stairway just kept going and going. Deeper and deeper. Ever onwards, as if they were descending into the very depths of the divine realms themselves.


    They easily spent more than a day following this path. It never diverged. Not a single turn. No split passageways. Just as they were considering returning the way they hade, they heard the sound of stone sliding against stone. ''Maybe I could see what it is if y uses that horn again...'' Exile sighed as he remembered the feeling of having that extra power. Unfortunately, it had worn off long ago by this point and it would just be a waste to use it again now...

 Chapter 78 - Treasure Of The Deep

    When the group finally reached the end of the staircase, they found a wide-open room. There were statues that were identical to the one that guarded the entrance to the stairs dotted along the walls. All of them were staring at what stood in the centre.


    "What is that?" y asked as he looked at the strange sphere that was held above a gaping hold in the ground.


    "No idea..." Exile hummed as he moved towards it.


    However, after a few steps, a piece of the metal that made up the sphere parted. Showing that there were a dozen seats inside. This caused Exile to frown as he nced around the room for what could have triggered the change. However, nothing caught his eye.


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves! DON''T make me drop this novel!


    -Antihero]


    Seeing that nothing else seemed to be reacting to their presence, he took the opportunity to move closer to inspect it better. ''Hmm, it seems to be two different spheres. One on the outside while the interior one has room for people to sit inside... Is it some kind of transportation?'' Exile nced into the abyss of the hole that was beneath the sphere.


    ''It could probably gain a lot of speed if it was dropped down this... But where would it lead to?'' He was feeling troubled that this could potentially be what Old Un''s power pointed to be their way out. They had no idea where it would take them. With their current HP and DP, there was no way that they could survive a long journey across the wilds either.


    ''There are a lot of questions about these ruins. But I don''t think we''re capable of unearthing its secrets quite yet...'' Exile let out a sigh. At least they knew what to expect if they were to return here. ''It''s not all bad. We learned about an important mechanism of the game and we can be certain there is treasure to be found down here. We''lle back once we''re strong enough...''


    "Ok, everyone. Let''s get in. Looks like this is our ticket out of here and we don''t have any other options..." Exile sighed as he shook his head.


    "You''re kidding, right? I''m not good with rollercoasters, never mind whatever that is!" Leggy yelped as he realised that Exile was serious.


    "No, unless you want to go back up there and definitely lose some stats fighting those mobs? You know there''s no way we''ll be able to recover any of our orbs with them around. It''s a miracle we even made it here without suffering a loss." Exile shrugged his shoulders as he stared at Leggy. "It''s time to cut our losses and get out... Who agrees?"


    There was no discussion as everyone but Leggy nodded in agreement. He shed a look at the others that basically used them of being traitors, but he did not want to be left behind. It was with a reluctant expression that he allowed the others to help him climb inside the sphere. As soon as everyone had sat down, they looked at each other with awkward expressions.


    "Does anyone know how to use this thing?" Burri chuckled at the awkward air between them.


    Exile shed a look at Old Un. After all, he was the one who led them to the device. So if anyone would have an idea, it would most likely be him. Old Un sighed as everyone turned to look at him. He activated one of his spells, and a frown crossed his face.


    "I''m just getting a vague feeling that it should be working already..." Old Un''s frown deepened as he struggled to understand what was wrong.


    "Great... It''s a dud. Looks like we''ll just have..." Leggy''s delight was cut off as he yelped. The metal suddenly slid back into ce and sealed them inside.


    [You have been granted the Quest: Autosphere]


    [Quest: Autosphere]


    [Description: The Autosphere is a marvel left behind by the Dwarven Gods during the War with the Fallen. Discover its secrets and bring the entirework back online. (Current Progress: 2/100)]


    [Rewards: Unknown]


    Exile frowned when he read through the Quest description. ''We have to find 100 different locations? This is clearly something that can''t be done in a short time...'' Exile sighed, but became ted a momentter. ''Wait... This means we have a monopoly over a fast travel system! If we can keep this hidden...''


    Exileughed out loud when he realised how useful thiswork would be. It would allow a Pantheon to quickly reinforce its territories if there was an Autosphere station nearby. ''We have to keep this secret, no matter what! This is the real treasure down here!''


    Momentster, a map appeared like a kind of hologram in the space between their chairs. There were two dots on the map. One white and one green. When Exile studied it, he realised the green dot should be somewhere in Valheim. While the white one must be the current location. ''It''s a shame it does not have red dots or something to indicate where the other locations are. But why is there an active one in Valheim?''


    A sickening thought crossed his mind at that moment. ''Has someone else found an Autosphere in the city? But they couldn''t use it because no other location had been found yet!'' A deep frown crossed his face as he wondered if this was a sort of social Quest that waspleted by the yer base as a whole. ''That''ll make it harder to keep this ce on lockdown... We''ll have to find a way to guard this location... maybe charge people for using this station or something... I''m sure the other Pantheons who find one will have the same idea.''


    It made sense since it had the potential to be a massive moneymaker in the game. However, before he could discuss his thoughts with the others, y reached out and tapped on the green dot! A girlish squeal filled the sphere as everyone felt that they had suddenly been dropped down the hole! However, there was only one person that everyone was looking at. Leggy! He was the source of the squeal and his face turned bright red under their gazes!

 Chapter 79 - Failed Raids

    "Harik Eraldsen! What is the meaning of this?" King Balmir demanded as he stared at his vassal.


    "I can''t, Your Majesty. The raids were going as nned. The sand eaters ran at the first sign of our ships as always." Harik frowned as he shook his long, dark hair from his face. Making the scars of many battles visible. "However, recently they finally grew a spine. They started intercepting our warriors and met us in battle."


    "That''s not what I''m talking about! How have you lost so many men!" King Balmir roared in displeasure as he mmed his mug made from bone on the arm of his crude wooden throne.


    Harik''s frown deepened as he nced around at the others in the tent. They were all Captains or Jarls in the King''s army that had been gathered for the raids this season. However, all of them wore grim expressions. Harik was aware that many of them had encountered the same problems as he had.


    "They fought with greater passion than we thought they were capable of," Harik replied, while he reyed the memories of the recent battles in his mind. "It was like they were possessed."


    Silence descended in the tent at Harik''s poor exnation. However, he was reluctant to go into detail about the things he had seen. Seasoned men had fallen on their own weapons. His own sword had suddenly swerved, failing to take the life of an enemymander. The fish in the rivers avoided theirs, making supplies run low. These were all ill omens for the oue of these raids.


    They had barely gained anything when the problems starteding. Damaging the morale of the army. At this rate, they would be returning home empty-handed. Harik frowned when he thought about his daughter, Ania, back home. She was due to be wed on his return. With his position in the vige, he would be expected to hand over quite arge bounty to her husband.


    He grit his teeth when he thought about how this failure would affect his family. Many men and women from Eraldsfen hade on this raid. However, barely half of them remained. It would severely affect his image when he returned.


    "Can anyone give me an exnation!" King Balmir growled through gritted teeth, making many of those gathered feel nervous.


    "Gods..." Someone blurted out from the side and immediately regretted it.


    "There are no gods!" King Balmir roared as he threw his mug at her. There was a dull thud as it mmed into her forehead and left a cut behind. "They must be using some kind of trick!"


    "Or magic!" Someone else suddenly said in a low voice, causing the King to stare at him.


    "Hm... Or magic..." King Balmir said in a low voice as he leaned back in his throne with a frown. He was more willing to believe that it was magic than gods. After all, that was something they had seen before. "The natives must be using magic to unnerve us! They''ve never used it before so we weren''t prepared... But their tricks won''t work anymore. We just have to find the witches and sorcerers responsible..."


    There was a sigh of relief in the tent as the Captains and Jarls released their collectively held breath. They felt much more at ease with this exnation. After all, a magic-user was made of flesh and bone. But a God? What could they do to fight against such an existence?


    Amongst the gathering, only Harik and two others had frowns remaining on their faces. They had fought witches and other things on other raids. But this did not seem to fit the bill to them. These things were happening in the heat ofbat. There were none of the usual signs of a spell caster. Like a single person being heavily guarded away from the battlefield.


    ''Besides, they kept mumbling about their gods as we killed them...'' Harik was already concerned when he first heard one of his enemies mention the gods. No man or woman would idly invoke that term. Even if there was a powerful spell caster, they would never im them to be a god.


    "Get some rest. Tomorrow... Weunch onest raid! We''ll strike the city at the heart of the river before returning home. We need the proper people tounch further raids now." King Balmirmanded as he sighed. The thought of how much gold he would have to pay to the few spell casters willing to join raids made his heart sink.


    As they filed out of the tent, Harik watched the others walk away in a jovial mood. Obviously nning to share the King''s thoughts with their men and throw some celebrations. ''It''s not a bad idea. They need to lift their spirits before tomorrow.'' Harik sighed as he wondered how many lives they would lose this time.


    He could not shake the doubt that had settled in his heart. ''Have the gods returned? Are they punishing us for invading thesends? Why do these sand eaters get to have gods on their side! Where are our gods!'' Harik felt anger burning in his heart as he stomped through the camp to join his own people.


    There was silence amongst his people when he exined the King''s ns. Unlike the other groups, Harik''s people were of the same mind as him and did not believe it was something as simple as magic users. The tension was suddenly cut by one of the women.


    "Maybe we should pray to the Gods? We''re probably going to die tomorrow, anyway. What harm can it do?"


    Harik frowned at her before everyone burst out intoughter. Sure, they were considering the idea that gods may be involved. But praying? That would mean epting that it was definitely true!


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves!


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 80 - Crowded

    The Autosphere took many twists and turns as it plummeted into the depths of the earth before suddenly taking a sharp turn upwards! Exile and the others could not help butugh as if they were on some kind of extreme roller coaster! Only Leggy had a paleplexion andined the entire ride.


    This went on for roughly twenty minutes before they felt the sphere''s momentum slowing down. The group''s excited expressions turned solemn, as they did not know what to expect once the sphere opened up. Eventually, the sphere came to a sudden halt, and the atmosphere among them became tense as the metal slid open.


    "It''s empty..." Exile hummed as he nced around the room outside of the sphere.


    The group wore confused expressions as they looked around for any signs as to who had activated Valheim''s station. ''There really is nobody...'' Exile thought as he leapt out of the sphere, followed by the others. They had been expecting a battle to take ce as soon as they arrived. So this turned out to be a pleasant surprise.


    Unfortunately, there were no windows for Exile to discover their exact location in the city. Only a hallway that led to a staircase that rose upwards. ''Maybe we''re still below ground?'' Exile hummed as he waved at the others to follow him.


    The ascension up the stairs did not take long. Although the style was simr to the dwarven ruins, about halfway up it changed to match Valheim''s architectural style. The group ended up with a lot of questions about the Autospherework. They had confirmed it was built by the Dwarves for the war. But did that mean the dwarves originally owned this territory? Or was it a coborative project between various races?


    ''At the very least there have to be a number of stations in the dwarven territories...'' Exile hummed as they reached the entrance to the station. He cocked an eyebrow when he looked at the wooden door in front of him. ''Hopefully, we''re not somewhere with a lot of people around...''


    He was nervous that just by exiting the building that they would give a huge secret away. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes as he slowly opened the door enough to peek outside. ''Damn!'' Exile''s eyes went wide at what he saw!


    "Guys, we''re close to the circle we arrived in when we ascended..." Exile groaned as the others hissed. "It gets worse... There are an awful lot of yers out there!"


    "Let me see!" y moved forward to have a look, unwilling to believe that they were so unlucky! "Why are there so many of them?"


    y felt despair when he looked outside. Exile had not lied. Valheim was busier than they had ever seen it! Exile stroked his chin for a moment as he considered the possible reasons.


    "It''s either people who failed to ascend before it became the Open Beta... Or a lot of new yers managed to grow rapidly... How long were we down there, anyway?" Exile frowned as he thought about it. He wondered if he had actually lost track of time while they were in the depths.


    When he thought about how long it had taken them to travel into the snowstorm, follow the columns, and find the Autosphere. He guessed it could be possible for those with a lucky start to have already made it here. ''Or... They killed other yers to advance quickly...'' An ugly expression crossed his face when he realised a lot of their early progress was negated because of this mechanic.


    When he told the others his thoughts, they too let out a low groan. There were so few yers when they started that they could not take advantage of that mechanic, so it had taken them far longer to level up. However, a sudden influx of all new yers was a perfect chance to abuse it! They all had one thought on the matter... ''Lucky!''


    ''Is this the developer''s way of bncing the scales?'' Exile frowned as he considered that possibility. A heavy sigh escaped his mouth as he continued to watch the flow of traffic outside.


    "It''s best if we leave one by one and try to blend into the crowd so nobody notices." Exile stated as he turned to the others. "Wait for the right moment and slip out behind a group that passes by. We''ll meet up in the bar."


    Everyone nodded to show they understood as Exile prepared himself. With Kaleidoscope still on the hunt for him, he was the most likely to draw attention. So it was best if he went first to draw anyone on the lookout away from the doorway. ''Now!''


    He quickly slipped out of the door as a group walked past. If he were to judge them on their equipment alone, then they had to be new yers. As he tried to blend in, he casually observed his surroundings for anyone that may have noticed. However, it seemed like he had gotten lucky. ''I hope the others can do the same.'' Exile slowly shook his head as a frown appeared.


    ''I need to go to the Temple first!'' Exile cursed as he remembered that everyone would need to heal up. ''Ugh, they''ll definitely realise that... right?'' He was so used to having a team that would not think twice about it he never considered telling the guys to sort themselves out before they headed over to the bar. ''Well, it''s unlikely anyone will start anything in the city.''


    Exile could not shake the feelings that big things were about to happen in Pantheon Online. Which would only be natural with all of the newbies flocking to the game. ''Things are going to get chaotic...'' A sly smile appeared on his face as he took the turn towards the Temple.


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 81 - Prayer For Help

    Exile finally slipped into the Temple after queuing up outside. He had been stuck in it for so long that he managed to spot the others joining the queue, one at a time. He was relieved to see that they had at least thought about it as he walked over to one of the pedestals. So far, only some newer yers had paid any attention to him, but that was most likely because of his gear.


    Since nobody could see his Gamertag unless he interacted with them in some way, or if there was some spell to do so, he was certain it was not because he was on the rankings list. He waited for the little statue to form with expectant eyes. When he interacted with it, he immediately spent some prayers on bringing himself back up to full HP and DP.


    The next thing he did was empty it of the items that had been offered to him. Which amounted to a few gold and everyday items. He let out a sigh as he looked over them. It was certainly more than what he got when he was only worshipped by the people in Eraldsfen. But he knew he had to further extend his influence. However, when he attempted to exit the interface, he suddenly got a notification!


    [New Prayer Quest Detected!]


    [Quest: The Doomed Raid!]


    [Description: Harik Eraldsen, the father of your Oracle, has found himself in a dire situation. He has offered up a prayer for help, but due to his connection with you through his daughter, his prayer has found its way here. Descend to the mortal realms and ensure his survival and that of as many of the warriors of Eraldsfen caught up in a doomed raid. Warning! This is a time sensitive Quest!]


    [Rewards: Unknown]


    Exile froze as he read the notification. ''Harik Eraldsen?'' He was too dumbstruck to fully register the information. He had, of course, heard Ania speak about him. But he never expected for the man to suddenly reach out when he had no knowledge of the situation in Eraldsfen since his arrival. Of course, he had not directly reached out to him by name. But it was still amazing that the system redirected it to him instead of allowing a God in the area to pick it up!


    ''So, as long as they have a connection to me through family or possibly where they live, they will be redirected to me?'' Exile hummed at this piece of good news. However, he could not dwell on it too much for the moment. The Quest clearly stated that it was a time sensitive issue. ''Hm, I can''t ignore this. Even if it is just for Ania''s sake, I should try to help him. But I don''t even know where he is or how to get to him!''


    Exile felt a headacheing on as he epted the Quest and left the Temple. As he nced down the queue, he spotted y. ''I should let him know what''s going on. I''ll have to let him know to watch over my main body and be ready to descend at any time.'' Exile casually walked down the queue and spoke quietly with thetter.


    y''s eyes went wide when he heard the situation. He was naturally concerned that they too may receive quests, but if they could help, they definitely would. Exile nodded in thanks before hurrying to the bar and quietly slipping inside. He could not help but wonder if other people had ess to this ce yet, but it was the best location he had ess to for now.


    Exile took a seat at the table they had usedst time before confirming that he was ready. ''I can only hope Avatar works!'' Exile grit his teeth and activated the spell. Just as he was expecting to hit a dead end, he discovered a new location that he could select to spawn at. ''This must be it!''


    Exile was thrilled to discover that he could directly go to the location. The only problem he could encounter was the possibility of other Gods being involved in some way. As he made his selection, he felt his consciousness being pulled from his body. Bright lights filled his vision as a sense of being dropped from an insane height without a parachute washed over him.


    Needless to say, it was an unpleasant experience to use the Avatar spell. But a few brief momentster, he opened his eyes. The sense of falling had disappeared and been reced with the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet. An unpleasant, warm breeze washed over his skin as he raised his hand to block out the sun.


    He squinted as he nced around, noticing a small pile of stones at his feet, with runes engraved in them. ''Is that supposed to be a shrine?'' Exile''s eyebrow twitched as he looked at the pathetic pile. There were empty tents arranged in a circle around the ''shrine'' with the remains of a campfire.


    To his left was a shallow looking river that disappeared into the horizon on both ends. But on the shore of this river was arge number of shallow hulled ships with ornate decorations for the figureheads and shields hanging on their sides. For the first time since he had joined the game, he truly got the feeling of being amongst a people known for raiding.


    ''But... Where is everyone?'' Exile frowned as he nced at the rest of the camp. There was nobody to be seen. No guards or anything! It was only when he looked away from the river that he could see tracks that led across the desert. It was obvious that arge army had gone that way, but he was perplexed why they would do so and abandon their ships. Just as he was contemting following them to try and find Harik, he heard a familiar voice from behind him.


    "Exile? What are you doing here!?"


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 82 - Fishing For Information

    Exile immediately jumped backwards, drawing his axe and shield in the process. His eyes narrowed on the woman before him with suspicion as he prepared himself for a fight.


    "I could ask you the same thing..." Exile growled as he stared her dead in the eyes. "Beans..."


    Beans frowned at the hostility in Exile''s voice as she looked at him. They had not seen each other since Donna and she had fled from Kaleidoscope, leaving Exile behind to buy themselves time. She let out a sigh as she realised that he was angry about it. She could understand that he felt betrayed by their actions.


    "Listen... About leaving you behind... I felt terrible doing it. But Donna was my friend. And I didn''t want to die. Not after everything we worked for...." Beans sighed as she hung her head in shame. "Not that it mattered. Kaleidoscope caught us and killed me anyway."


    "Yeah, right." Exile scoffed. "And what''s your excuse for you guys joining Kaleidoscope to hunt me down! Donna almost got me killed!"


    Beans''s expression became one of shock as she looked up at Exile. Even a blind man could see that this was news to her! When Exile thought about it, he realised that he had not seen Beans with Donna during that scenario. Exile frowned at her reaction as he waited for her to say something about it.


    "I had nothing to do with that! I didn''t know she joined them! When I revived in the Temple she had left the party. I haven''t been able to find her and she didn''t answer my message offline!" Beans looked distressed as she tried to exin what had happened on her end after they had split up. "I''ve been stuck ying the game on my own since then while avoiding Kaleidoscope."


    Exile stared at her as he digested what she was saying. After what had happened, he was reluctant to let the past go. But Beans had been far easier to deal with than Donna, and so far the grievance he had with her was abandoning him. ''Not that I can really me her for that. She wasn''t the one who suggested it and merely chose her friend over someone she barely knew...''


    Exile let out a long sigh as he sheathed his weapon and shield. "Ok, let''s put that aside for now. What are you doing here?"


    Beans appeared more rxed after the threat of a fight breaking out seemed to disappear. A low sigh escaped from her lips as she met his gaze. "One of the soldiers made a prayer to catch fish. He''s from my Oracle''s vige so it got directed to me, but..."


    "But what?" Exile frowned as he remembered that she was the Goddess of Fishing.


    "Something wasn''t right as I tried to use Miracle. Sometimes it failed depending on what I chose." Beans replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice.


    Exile rubbed his chin as he thought about it. ''The influence of another God maybe?'' He felt that this was probably right. But it probably meant the other party had a higher Authority score than Beans. ''So, we''ll have to deal with other yers...'' Exile frowned as the situation became clearer.


    "Wait... If you were with them, then why are you here alone now?" Exile cocked an eyebrow at her as he nced at the camp once again.


    "They''re away to raid a city nearby. This river curves up ahead and leads straight into it. But they have defences built along the shore further up. They decided this was the best ce tond and cut across the desert. I''m waiting in case they need my help on the way back." Beans shrugged her shoulders as she nced at the sea of sand.


    "Hm, I''m guessing you also want to avoid getting into any conflicts right now..." Exile hummed as he thought about the stats she would have lost after dying from Kaleidoscope''s attack. "Makes sense. If you''re struggling to beat their power in Miracles, you won''t have much of a chance on the battlefield."


    "You can already tell there are yers on the other side?" Beans frowned before making a helpless expression.


    "How many are there? And what about our side?" Exile asked casually when he realised that she was of little threat and less use right now.


    "I don''t know about their side. It''s not like they showed themselves. But, for us, there are three other yers apart from myself." Beans lightly tapped her chin as she thought about it.


    "Three? That''s a little low..." Exile grimaced as he heard this number.


    ''It wouldn''t be hard to outnumber us then... No wonder the Quest is called The Doomed Raid. We should be focusing on damage control then, there''s no point fighting this battle...'' Exile let out a sigh as he wondered how far it was to the city.


    "Yeah, but there are no Oracles here. So nobody could tell these guys to give up. We''re stuck babysitting them as much as possible. I''m not even sure if anyone will make it back to the ships..." Beans shook her head slowly as she stared at him. "So, what will you do?"


    "I''m going to take a look. I have my own Quest to save some people." Exile rolled his eyes at the difficulty of it. "Try to keep this ce clear of any enemies. They''ll probably have to make a quick escape. If I was on the other side, I''d want to cut off their path of retreat."


    Beans frowned as Exile took off towards the desert after those words. ''Since when do I take orders from you?'' Naturally, she was annoyed. But she had to admit that it seemed like a sound judgement. ''Guess I''m a guard dog for now...''


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves!


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 83 - Parthus

    Exile came to a stop at the top of a sand dune and nced at the chaos in front of him. There was a city with marvellous golden painted sandstone walls sprawling across both sides of the river. However, the noiseing from that area painted a much uglier scene than the grandeur of the walls and the city''s location.


    Men, women and children were shouting and screaming amongst the sounds of steel shing on steel and the thrumming of bowstrings. Exile took a deep breath as he analysed the scene. It looked like the Skardian army had not given up on the city yet, as they continued to pound on the gates with a battering ram.


    ''This is a disaster. They''re totally outnumbered...'' The sand outside of the walls was dyed red with Skardian blood. But Exile''s eyes focused on the people with golden halos surrounding their bodies. There were three amongst the Skardian army, but a quick count revealed nine on the city walls alone.


    ''There could be more out of sight... They need to retreat now.'' Exile let out a sigh as he checked his DP. ''14/17... We need to do something quickly...''


    With Avatar having a price of 3 DP an hour, he knew that it would run dry quickly. Especially if he had to intervene with Miracles. ''Which one is Harik?'' Exile frowned before activating irvoyance.''


    His vision changed as his consciousness flew through the air and over the battle, as if it were a bird. Before it shot down to hover around a man barking orders near the ram. Exile groaned as he returned to his body. Harik Eraldsen was right in the thick of the battle. Getting him out of there safely would be a tall order!


    The good news was that it would be fairly simple to get there. Exile took off at a sprint, heading directly for the ram. He grit his teeth as the sea of warriors spread out before him. Without missing a beat, he ran straight through their packed together bodies. Although he did not see it, several of the people he passed through frowned at that moment. As if they had sensed his presence.


    The eyes of the yer on top of the wall turned to focus on him as he sped through the crowd. The yer snarled as he raised his hands to point towards Exile. A golden orb appeared between his two palms and began to rotate violently. In the next moment, it released one smaller orb after another!


    Ten orbs were sent flying at set intervals towards Exile. His eyes widened at the spelling towards him. He raised his shield to intercept them as he continued running. His arms trembled as each one mmed into the shield. The force behind the spell was greater than anything he had experienced so far!


    [You have been attacked by yer: Parthus]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Authority 21. Authority of area struck 17. Divine Power Inferior. -5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    Exile''s expression turned grim as a total of seven of the orbs struck him. The total damage dealt was -35 HP! ''What the hell kind of spell is that!'' Exile''s mind was racing, as he had never seen an option for such a powerful spell if he discounted Cleansing me. However, the system soon sent him another shock!


    [Aggressive action has been taken against you by Parthus, King of the Mirage Pantheon. Do you wish to dere a Holy War?]


    Exile''s mind went nk as he read the notification. As he came back to his senses, he narrowed his eyes as he stared at the figure on the wall. It was only then when he realised where he had seen the name Parthus before. ''He was on the list the developers put out. He was somewhere in the lower twenties of the rankings!''


    Although he originally thought that he must have jumped up the rankings quite a bit, this short exchange told him otherwise. His attention shifted to the Holy War notification. ''What will happen if I say yes?'' Exile frowned as he tried to figure out if it would bring any benefits or more problems. However, when he saw Parthus firing up another orb, just like before, he quickly replied yes to the notification!


    [Local System Announcement! A Holy War has been initiated between Ragnarok Pantheon of Skardia and Mirage Pantheon of Sommerdan! Please choose a side to Ally with if you are not a member of either Pantheon!]


    Exile froze as the few clouds in the sky suddenly parted! The sun seemed to be brighter as the sound of horns and war drums sounded from the sky! Golden lines formed above the battlefield until it took the shape of a behemoth gate. As the yers stopped what they were doing to stare at the phenomenon, the NPC''s continued the war around them as if nothing was happening!


    Exile frowned as the gates swung open. Five golden beams of light shot down tond beside him, while another threended on the other side of the city walls. He let out a slight smile as figures started to emerge from the golden pirs... y and the others had arrived! Just as he was about to call out to them. Another notification made its way into his mind.


    [Select One Temporary Holy War bonus from the following:]


    [Fanatical: All followers and non-believers on your side be fanatical in defeating their enemies. Non-believers sense your presence on the field of battle and be aware of your glorious name!]


    [Heaven Sent: All yers on your side receive a random +5 bonus to any stat!]


    [Unyielding: All NPC''s on your side are strengthened. Pushing them beyond their physical limits!]


    Exile hissed as he read through the choices. There was only one among them that he had to have right now!


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 84 - Holy War!

    Golden light enveloped almost every Skardian on the battlefield as the effects of Fanatical took hold. There was a sudden lull in the fight as the eyes of the Skardians zed over momentarily before a great roar escaped from every one of them! In a single move, the Skardians became more ferocious and fearless in attempting to breach the city.


    Whispers escaped from the fanatical Skardians. Whispers of a single name that almost became a shout of its own, with so many giving voice to the same name. "Exile..."


    [Milestone Completed! Followers...]


    [Milestone Completed! Followers...]


    [Milestone Completed! Followers: 183/200]


    [You have been awarded +2 Stat Points]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he gained enough permanent new followers to smash through two levels of the Followers Milestone! ''It stopped just short of a third...'' he frowned as he looked at the numbers, but he could not help but feel he was being a bit greedy. Of course, the number of new followers did not match the total number of people that had been affected by Fanatical.


    These were just the ones that wholeheartedly epted him right now and would continue to believe in him after the effects wore off. However, at least now the seed of belief had been nted in the others. With time, they might alsoe around. As y and the others looked around in confusion, they spotted Exile and made their way over. Before they could reach him, Exile quickly sunk his two new stat points into Authority.


    [Authority of 11 detected. Please select one of the following Spells. Warning! There will be no new subsequent spells offered for Authority Levels over 10 at Tier 0.]


    [(Divine) Orosphere: Create a Divine Orb that can mirror your total Authority for a total of ten attacks in the form of orbs. Cost: 5 DP]


    [(Divine) Sanctuary: For a radius of 50m with you as the centre, create a Divine dome that will shield all within from Spells and Miracles below your Authority level. Cost: 5 DP]


    [(Hearth) Heart of the Hearth: For a radius of 50m with you as the centre, kindle the feeling of home in the hearts of those around you. yers and NPCs heal 5 HP every 5 seconds for 2 minutes.]


    Exile frowned as he quickly scanned through the options. ''Last spell before Tier 1?'' Unfortunately, this was not the time to take this decision slowly. ''Orosphere is likely what Parthus used. Sanctuary is no use if Parthus and maybe others here have a higher Authority. So, Heart of the Hearth is my best chance atpleting this Quest and it''s pretty decent anyway.''


    With that thought in mind, Exile made his choice. The information on how to activate Heart of the Hearth rushed into his mind as y and the others finally reached him. Exile nced at them before studying the reaction of the yers on the walls. Parthus was ring back at him, but otherwise did not look concerned about the situation.


    "Exile... What''s going on here?" y asked as he stared at the fanatical expressions of the NPCs.


    "We''re having a Holy War with these guys..." Exile pointed his axe towards Parthus, causing the others to look at him. "But I''ll be honest. Our side is definitely outnumbered, even with you guys arriving here. Our first priority is not to win. But to get as many Skardians to return home safely as possible."


    "How are we going to do that? They don''t exactly look like they''re willing to give up on this ce." Leggy mumbled as the sound of the ram striking the gate became more intense.


    "Why are they just staring at us instead of attacking?" Old Un cut in with a confused expression.


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he nced at the yers on the walls. None of them were showing any signs of making a move. "They''re probably analysing the situation like us. Plus, they were all here before me. Depending on what they''ve done before I arrived they might be low on DP. As for getting these guys to retreat... We''ll have to wait them out. Keep them alive long enough for them to realise it''s a lost cause."


    "What if it''s not? A lost cause, I mean." y hummed as he stared at the cracks appearing in the city gates. "What if we can win?"


    Exile frowned as the group turned silent. His gaze turned on the gates, then the faces of the Skardians as they roared. Eventually, settling on the yers defending the city. ''y might be on to something... We''re outnumbered but we have more fresh yers on the scene than they do.'' Exile counted three new yers appearing on the walls, which led him to believe the enemy had not hidden anyone else inside the city.


    The only thing holding him back from going all in was the title and contents of his Quest. As if the oue of the battle had already been decided before he arrived. ''But how could it be?'' Exile''s frown deepened as he tried to figure out what could already be in motion to spell the defeat of their side.


    That was when an obvious answer came to mind. ''They have reinforcementsing!'' It was the only thing that made sense. If the city defenders were to receive outside help, then at their level there was not much they could do to turn the tide of this war. ''If I were them, the first thing I would do is destroy the ships! Then attack us from the rear, catching us in a pincer move.''


    Exile grimaced as he wondered if he were just overthinking things. But everything seemed to point in that direction. Even if he were wrong, then he was still sure something else would being. ''We have to get out of here fast...''


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 85 - Formidable Opponent

    Exile exined his thoughts to the others before they split up to support different areas of the battlefield. Burri was put in charge of contacting the other yers on their side to let them know what Exile thought wasing so that they could be prepared.


    As they set off in their separate directions, Exile noticed that some of the NPCs would suddenly look at him in awe. ''It''s like what happened in Eraldsfen... Is this the effect of Fanatical?'' He figured this should be the case and the ones that actually noticed him were the ones who had fully be his followers.


    ''This should make things easier if I can talk with them...'' Exile nodded as he kept his eyes peeled for any spells that may be aimed at him. However, Parthus and the others seemed content to provide minimal support to their own side. Exile cocked an eyebrow at Parthus as he reached the ram, where Harik Eraldsen was encouraging the troops.


    Just as he was about to try speaking with Harik, who had his back to him, Exile felt that something was off. At that moment, a hail of arrows was fired from behind the walls of the city. They were clearly aimed far behind him but one of them suddenly fell from the formation and was now aimed at Harik!


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he realised what had happened. He could clearly see Parthus staring at them with malicious intent! ''Minor Miracle!'' Exile screamed in his mind as he activated the divine spell. Swiftly choosing Harik as the target and the option to avoid his fate that appeared for a total of 7 DP!


    As the arrow fell, Harik suddenly felt the urge to step to the side and shout at one of the men manning the ram! As he did so, he felt a swift breeze as an arrow barely missed his head and imnted itself in the sand near his feet! Harik froze momentarily as he stared at the shaft of the projectile as it waved back and forth from the force.


    His eyes scanned over the walls momentarily before he looked behind himself to see the curtain of arrows still high in the sky. However, what caught his attention was the golden human-shaped figure standing close by, holding what appeared to be an axe and shield as its face stared at the arrow near his feet. Although he could not see Exile''s true figure and had never seen anything like this before. A single name escaped from his lips in the form of a whisper.


    "Exile..." Harik''s eyes went wide as he considered the fate he hade close to.


    ''Damn! He waited to see who my target was and now he''s trying to drain my DP!'' Exile cursed silently as he red at his opponent. With this turn of events, his presence on the battlefield would be considerably shortened. Especially if he had to intercept another Miracle.


    ''7/17 DP... I''ll lose another three to stay here for another hour. So I only have four left to y with...'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as they met Parthus''s re. He felt as if he had met a formidable opponent on this battlefield, but his main concern was how much DP his opponent could have left. He had to assume that Parthus was almost empty as well, considering how long he had already been here, the attack he hadunched, and thistest Miracle.


    ''Worst case scenario, he''s been here less than an hour as well... So that should be three points of DP. Another five for that Orosphere spell and at most six for his Miracle since it cost me seven to counter it...'' Exile''s frown deepened as he did the math. ''Thates to 14 DP, since his Authority is at 21 that leaves him with seven left... Just like me...''


    Exile''s mind raced as he tried to guess if Parthus had actually already used a second hour''s worth of Avatar. Which would make him less of a threat. But, if he had not and decided to use the possible seven DP left for another Miracle then there was no way he could afford to counter it.


    "Exile... Is that... Really you?" Harik whispered as he stared at the golden figure.


    "Yes..." Exile hummed as his attention was drawn back to the man before him. "Listen closely... I can''t stay here for long... If you want to see your wife and Ania again, this is what you must do..."


    Harik''s eyes went wide at the mention of his daughter. However, Exile did not allow him to ask questions, as he warned him of what was likely to happen. Harik nodded in understanding. The only difficulty would be in convincing the others to abandon the field of battle. This could lead to them being dered to be cowards and traitors.


    Just as they were wrapping up their brief conversation, Exile felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. His eyes darted to the walls in time to see Parthus'' Avatar bing motes of light. A sinking feeling appeared in Exile''s gut as he waited for whatever Parthus had decided to throw at them.


    At first, nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Then, he noticed a warm breeze was bing stronger from the direction of the desert. Exile''s head turned slowly to stare out across the sand dunes. Only to see a wall of sand rushing towards them in the distance!


    "Sandstorm!" Exile shouted for anyone that could hear his voice to warn them!


    The sound of sudden panic from the Skardian side was drowned out by the cheersing from within the city...


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 86 - Last Efforts

    Exile grimaced as he heard the cheers from within the city. This most likely meant that they were prepared for this kind of scenario. ''The sand will disorient our forces, making them easy pickings if they''re used to this kind of thing...'' Exile felt he knew what game Parthus was up to with this move.


    "Harik! Get your men and stay close to me! I''ll guide you through this storm!" Exilemanded as he turned to meet the eyes of his ownrades.


    Each of them nodded back to signal that they had found different people they couldmunicate with. The main concern that he now harboured was whether the enemies in the city would chase them or be content with driving them away. He was more inclined to believe the former would turn out to be true.


    As one, a tidal wave of bodies surged in the emptiness of the desert as the Skardians split, trying to make a run for it. Arrows continued to rain down, striking them in their exposed backs as they tried to outrun theing cmity.


    Meanwhile, Exile had to slow his pace for the NPCs to keep up. Harik''s group was near the rear of the retreat so they were exposed to the most danger. However, under Exile''s guidance, they had slung their shields over their backs to protect themselves against the arrows as much as possible.


    "Move!" Exile roared as the dull thuds of the shields being struck reached his ears.


    Several cries of agony rang out as arrows managed to find their target''s legs and arms. Harik''s left forearm was pierced as he grit his teeth and continued to run through the pain. Exile frowned as he looked at the injuries and theing sandstorm. A horn blew from within the city behind them, and the cracked gates slid open.


    ''Damn! They''re going to chase us already?'' Exile''s eyes widened as the yers on the walls jumped off to join the NPCs charging out of the gates. Arrows fired wildly as the enemy was unable to properly aim as they ran after them. A few more of them found their marks before Exile sighed.


    ''I have to do something. Otherwise, they''ll be worn down and unable to escape.'' Exile grit his teeth as he nced at the oing sandstorm. He knew he could not beat it with a Miracle of his own so that left him with his other Spells. ''Only Heart of the Hearth will keep them healed for as long as possible. But that will only buy them two minutes and I won''t have enough DP to stay another hour.''


    Exile cursed as he thought about the hard decision he had to make. At that moment, he locked eyes with Old Un, who was ahead of him with his own group. With a solemn nod of his head, Exile activated Heart of the Hearth.


    Harik frowned as he suddenly felt a longing for home well up inside of himself. Memories of sitting around the fire together with his family surfaced in his mind. As he was confused as to why these memories and feelings would surface at this particr time, he felt a strange sensation in his arm.


    His eyes went wide as the arrow in his forearm was started to slide all the way through. He could feel the sting of other injuries healing rapidly. Over the next thirty seconds or so of running, the arrow dropped to the sand without leaving a mark behind. It was almost as if he had never been injured at all!


    Harik nced at those around him and noticed that they were in a simr position. Their wounds were gone, and they wore determined expressions as they picked up the pace. Harik''s gaze became fervent as he stared at Exile''s back. This was their saviour. The God who was doing all that he could to get them out of there alive. At that moment, Harik swore that he would spread Exile''s name when he returned to Eraldsfen.


    "Harik... My time is running short... Keep going and lead your people to safety. Don''t lose sight of that group." Exile pointed ahead to Old Un. "If you follow them you won''t get lost. I''ll find you when you return to Skardia."


    Harik frowned as the memories of his family faded from the forefront of his mind. The effects of Heart of the Hearth had worn off but saved many of them from certain death. Exile suddenly pointed at Harik with his axe, and thetter noticed a golden light appear on his own body.


    Exile nodded as the effects of Minor Grace took hold. Providing Harik with a Divine Barrier equal to 20% of his health. He nodded in satisfaction to see that it worked as intended. ''My time is nearly up...'' Exile wanted to boost their chances as much as possible, but unfortunately, no suitable option appeared when he used Minor Miracle. All the choices cost more than the 1 DP he now had left.


    Exile groaned as he settled for bestowing Minor Grace on the man next to Harik. Now he could only wait for Avatar to wear off. ''I wonder if this will bring any changes in the Divine Realms...'' Exile let out a soft grin. A wave of joy was spreading within himself as he remembered what it felt like to be pressured. To no longer stand at the top of a game. Most importantly, the feeling of actually enjoying ying a game and pitting himself against others.


    His eyes darted to hisrades amongst the Skardians. ''And I can''t forget the feeling of having reliable friends to enjoy it all with...'' Exile let out a sigh as the time limit on Avatar ran out...


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 87 - Needs Of The Gods

    "What now?" Bjorn growled at the men and women who had stormed into the temple.


    "We ask that you let Lord Exile know that Gods of Korden are ready to ept his judgement. The fight for followers is over. Currently, Lady WintersEmbrace stands at the top followed by Lord MidasTouch. There are three other Gods present still but their presence is minimal." The messenger stated as he and his bodyguards kneeled before Bjorn.


    Bjorn frowned as he nced to the side, where Ania was standing with a surprised look on her face. He had been staying in the Temple as well, in case a situation like this urred. After all, the new Gods that had appeared were still unaware that Ania was actually the Oracle of this Temple.


    "Hm... I have heard your request and I will contact Lord Exile regarding this matter. You may return to Korden and let your Gods know to await Exile''s judgement." Bjorn replied with a menacing tone as the messenger shivered.


    This disy was to intimidate the followers of these Gods so that they would be more likely to worship Exile over their chosen God or Goddess if they were epted into the Pantheon. Bjorn''s mind was racing as he tried to figure out the best method to grab as many gains as possible for Exile through all of this.


    As the visitors filed out of Eraldsfen''s temple, Bjorn let out a weary sigh as Ania came up next to him. To her, he seemed lost in thought. As if he were staring into the future itself and all the secrets that it held. Secretly, she was concerned. She was worried what the impact would be on Eraldsfen if many new Gods joined the Ragnarok Pantheon.


    She knew it would be difficult to hold true believers as the followers would have more options avable to them. There were bound to be some people who prefer Gods who ruled over something that had more of an impact on their lives. This had already be evident due to the vigers who had already begun to worship one of the other five Gods instead of Exile.


    "I know what you''re thinking Ania... Don''t worry so much." Bjorn cocked an eyebrow as he turned his head to look at her. "Although we have lost followers here for Lord Exile, I''m sure he has gained more than that in other ces. We have not failed him. It was his decision to follow this road. Who are we to question his Divine wisdom?"


    Ania frowned as she considered Bjorn''s words. Her body trembled slightly as she lowered her head. "You''re right Bjorn. I am lucky to have you as my mentor on the ways of the Gods..."


    Bjorn nodded with a warm smile when he saw that she understood. "This is your purpose, Ania. You serve as the conduit between the divine and us mortals. You must learn to interpret the will of the Gods on your own."


    "Of course..." Ania met his gaze with a smile on her lips. "Whatever it takes to be of use to Lord Exile."


    "That''s as it should be. How have your studies been going? Tell me what you have learned." Bjorn''s gaze turned curious as he watched her.


    "Hm, thetest pages I have read talk about the needs of the gods." Ania hesitated for a moment before Bjorn nodded for her to continue. "The Gods require Wealth, Prayers and Souls. Wealth can take the form of gold, jewels, materials and anything that we can offer. What they do with it is unknown but past Lorekeepers assumed that it may be used to trade with other Gods or as a disy of Power."


    "That''s correct." Bjorn nodded. "However, I have my own thoughts on the matter that I will tell you when you are ready. What of the other two?"


    "Prayers are believed to be what keeps them sustained. What stops them from disappearing. It''s also a way for us to make requests of them." Ania frowned as she watched Bjorn continue to nod in agreement. "As for Souls... It''s believed that devout souls who perish will get to serve their God in the Divine Realms for eternity. But it''s reported that the Goddess Allevia demanded the sacrifice of those who worshipped her enemies."


    Bjorn stopped nodding when he saw that Ania could not continue further than this. "You''re correct again. But you''ve missed some important information. Allevia bestowed the knowledge upon us that our souls and those sacrificed to her could be used as the building blocks for her own foundation. What that means exactly... Nobody knows. But, since it came from Allevia herself, we must consider this path for Exile''s glory."


    Bjorn could see the hesitation in Ania''s eyes at this suggestion. Although sacrifices were amon thing in their history, not everybody agreed with it. The reason Bjorn had made the sacrifices to Exile before was to see his God''s reaction to it. However, it did not seem to be a problem. This only convinced him that it was most helpful to Lord Exile.


    "We can forget about it for now. The real issue we face is what wealth we can offer Exile. Eraldsfen is far from being rich. We''ll have to convince your father to believe in the Gods upon his return and see if he will make an offering from the spoils of the raids." Bjorn''s expression turned back into a frown as he considered the future. "For the sake of Exile, we have to look outside of our home. We need morend and people. Tell me... Do you think Harik would like to be a Jarl?"


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 88 - Paving The Road

    Exile sighed as his consciousness returned to his body in the bar. Seated around the table were the others. Their eyes had turned cloudy. Exile let out a small smile as he hoped that they would be able to finish the Quest without him. However, he was certain that Old Un would be able to lead them through the sandstorm. For now, all he could do was wait for the results.


    His mind turned to Parthus as aplicated expression crossed his face. He was unsure if dering a Holy War would lead him to fight Parthus again. However, he knew that he had to be stronger before they met again.


    This Quest had knocked his growing ego down a few pegs again. Just as he thought he was climbing the ranks, he came across someone who was still stronger than himself. ''I have to assume that I haven''t moved up a single rank. But this at least showed me that the gaps between ranks may not be as big as I thought.''


    Exile drummed his fingers on the wooden table as he thought about the encounter. ''Fully specialising in one stat is a bad idea. It''ll leave me open to being exploited with the waybat works here. But I do need to start focusing on one more than the others...''


    He opened his stats to take a look. Currently, his endurance had the highest base amount, followed by speed. Overall, his authority was actually in second ce, but this was due to his bonuses. ''The problem with authority is the cost of spells and how much DP I have. It isn''t sustainable over longer battles. But it''s the only way to counter the authority and Miracles of other Gods.''


    Knowing that Camelot was in the game just made his decision harder. He was almost certain that Arthur would favour Speed and Endurance due to his y style. At the same time, he could pretty much guess that Merlin would focus on Authority. Although Mordread had been his vice-captain, he was unsure what path he would take in Pantheon Online.


    The only thing he was certain of was that they were sure to sh at some point. Which was something he was happy to see happen, but only when he was ready. ''Camelot, Kaleidoscope and now Mirage... The list is growing...'' These three Pantheons were now his top concern. But Kaleidoscope had to be his priority.


    It was the only one he shared territory with for now. So they were the proverbial wolves at his door. ''I have to find out where their territory is in Skardia. If we target them... We''re more likely to seed if we attack on two fronts. Gueri warfare here and let the NPCs shed blood and pressure them in the Mortal Realms.


    Exile nodded at his ns for the immediate future. The goal was to bring down Kaleidoscope before they could raise the Tier of their Pantheon. Thereby allowing them to bring more of their yers into the fold and increasing Aeri''s strength in the game in the process.


    ''We have to act fast... We have to let the Oracles know to listen out for Aeri''s name so we can pinpoint their location.'' Exile''s expression turned into a savage grin. ''I''m done with taking things slow. I need to have a talk with Ania... Bjorn as well. If Harik and the others manage to return, it will be the best time to strike.''


    [Quest: The Doomed Raid! Completed...]


    [Rewards: +100 Gold, +10 Stat Points]


    Exile''s eyes went wide at thevish rewards. ''10 Stat Points? That''s a full level!'' Before he could get two excited about it, another notification entered his mind.


    [Quest: The Man Who Would Be King]


    [Description: Due to your actions and events in the Mortal Realm, Harik Eraldsen no longer agrees with King Balmir''s policy of banning worship to the Gods. The seed of rebellion has sprouted in his heart, but it begins with a single step. Help Harik Eraldsen be the Jarl of Yugrund.]


    [Rewards: +10 Stat Points, Inhabitants of the territory of Yugrund will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he examined the new Quest. ''This opportunity probably would not have appeared if Harik died on that raid.'' Exile hummed as he considered how timely this Quest was. ''It''s a good step in preparing to deal with Kaleidoscope...''


    Naturally, he was not going to let this chance slip through his fingers. In his own mind, this Quest may even be a prerequisite to having his Pantheon take the majority of the control for the whole of Skardia. ''But that means it''s likely other yers can get a simr Quest. The race is on...''


    His attention turned to his stats and the ten new points he had just received. His mind had finally settled on the path he was going to take. He ced seven points directly into Authority. Bringing its base amount up to the same as his Endurance. A single point was allocated to his Speed while the remaining two were ced into Strength as it was the lowest of his stats.


    [Congrattions! More than 60 points of Divinity detected! You have reached Level 7!]


    A smile crossed Exile''s face as he reviewed his stats. ''I wonder what will happen when I reach Level 10?''


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 7]


    [HP: 105/105 (90+15)]


    [DP: 26/26 (18+8)]


    [Strength: 12]


    [Endurance: 21 (18+3)]


    [Speed: 15 (14+1)]


    [Authority: 26 (18+8)]


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen is trying to contact you...]


    Don''t take part in Piracy! Don''t earn money for thieves!


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    -Antihero]

 Chapter 89 - Good News

    Exile sighed as he cut off the connection with Ania. ''The situation in Korden has developed faster than I thought it would... At least levelling up restored my HP and DP to full. Saves me a trip to the Temple.'' Exile frowned as he wondered why the others had not returned yet. ording to his Quest, Harik and the others should be out of harm''s way.


    ''They wouldn''t put off returning unless something important has happened... Hopefully, I can deal with this before they get back.'' Exile once again activated Avatar, choosing the Temple in Eraldsfen as his location to appear.


    Ania nervously waited in front of the altar, with her hands sped in front of her. She always felt as if butterflies were fluttering around in her stomach whenever she knew she was about to see Exile. Bjorn smiled by her side as he watched her fidget while trying to appear dignified.


    ''It shouldn''t be long until she reaches the chapters about unions between the Gods and mortals. With the way she''s acting now, it should not be hard to convince her to attempt to seduce Lord Exile! I can imagine it now... A demigod in Eraldsfen! What an honour that would be!'' Bjorn chuckled to himself as he continued to make ns on how to further establish a deeper rtionship with the Gods.


    ''The only problem is whether she meets Exile''s standards or not...'' Bjorn frowned as he tried recalling the stories in the book. However, there did not seem to be a general type for the Gods. Some preferred their men or women to be as beautiful as possible by mortal standards. Others preferred their partners to be skilled inbat or other areas.


    ''Maybe I should try broaching the subject with Exile himself. He might even just be happy to have offspring who will do his bidding down here for him.'' Bjorn wondered how that conversation might go as a sudden pressure appeared in the Temple. A slight gasp escaped from both his and Ania''s mouth as Exile took form in front of them.


    Bjorn was utterly speechless. The golden veil that always hid Exile''s true appearance from him had faded enough for him to see what Exile looked like. Although there was still a golden glow emanating from him. The sight moved Bjorn to tears as he suddenly averted his gaze to the floor.


    It was one thing to look at the image of a God in his mind but an entirely different matter to be blessed to see their true appearance. Exile frowned at Bjorn''s strange behaviour as his eyes met Ania''s beaming smile. Her smile was so contagious that he feltpelled to return the gentle gesture.


    "You have done fine work, Ania..." Exile paused as he nced back to Bjorn before clearing his throat. "You as well, Bjorn."


    Ania felt her heart beat wildly in her chest at the simple praise from Exile. Her face became flushed as she nervously nced at the ground. "It is our honour Lord Exile to aid you in any way that we can."


    "You should prepare for more Gods to join the Pantheon. I''ll let you knowter who to allow worship to." Exile frowned for a moment before fixing Ania with his gaze. "You should probably prepare to have a celebration."


    "For the Gods?" Bjorn''s eyes lit up as he found the courage to look upon Exile again.


    "No... For Harik Eraldsen. Your father is returning home, Ania..." Exile smiled at the shocked expression on the pair as he gave them the good news.


    They were so shocked by it they failed to register the breeze as Exile took off as fast as he could for Korden. His movement was so fast that their eyes only registered an afterimage left behind after he was already gone. ''Mother is going to be so happy!'' Ania wiped the tears that had appeared on her face as she turned towards the open door of the temple. ''Thank you...''


    With his Speed, Exile made the journey far faster than what the NPCs were capable of. It almost made himugh to think how much had changed already. Especially when he thought about how long it had taken him to get anywhere when he first arrived in the game. ''I can''t ept all of them right now... Not until we confirm how the other yers did in the other territories...''


    Exile frowned as he recalled the faces of the two yers who had caused this problem in his territory in the first ce. ''But seriously... Why did it have to be them that won thispetition?'' He almost felt as if a cruel joke was being yed on him. But at least by splitting up the new recruits, he should have avoided any risk of an early rebellion.


    ''Eighteen spots left in the Pantheon... We can''t afford to let the wrong ones in, but... If these guys are the best out of this batch, I can''t afford to turn them away either...'' He realised how easy he had it when he had been part of Camelot. There were members of staff who actively searched for team members and decided if they were suitable. ''Maybe I should do something simr. I don''t want to get bogged down in the politics and having to make every decision.''


    As the gateway into Korden appeared, Exile glimpsed five yers waiting in front of it. Two standing several feet in front of the others. ''They''re prepared and obviously seem confident.'' Exile frowned at the smug look on WintersEmbrace''s face. ''It''s almost like she was never concerned at all.''


    He let out a sigh as he realised that she still managed to get what she wanted, despite the challenge he had thrown at her. ''At least she''s resourceful.'' The yers bowed as he came to a stop in front of them. Fixing them with a cold gaze. After several moments of silence had passed, he finally spoke to them.


    "Ie with good news..."

 Chapter 90 - Growing Numbers

    "WintersEmbrace... MidasTouch..." Exile paused as he nced from one to the other. "You two will my join my Pantheon. As for the rest of you, there''s still a chance. Once I have the full results if you qualify I wille to find you here."


    The other three yers shot hateful res at the two he had singled out. Which Exile took note of. Winter and Midas looked up with bright smiles on their faces as they thanked him. However, Exile held up a hand to silence them.


    "Before we wrap things up. Tell me, what are you the Gods of?" Exile cocked an eyebrow out of curiosity. Wondering if it would shed some light on how they won against all of the others.


    Midas was the first to step forward, and with a rather embarrassed expression looked Exile in the eyes. "I am the God of Fortune."


    Exile let out a soft chuckle as he heard that. It seemed that this yer was true to the name he had given himself. ''I see... There should be no shortage of people who would pray for that. Hopefully, he can help us with our money problems. Exile nodded as he turned his attention to WintersEmbrace.


    "I am the Goddess of Dreams..." Winter smiled smugly as Exile frowned. "You''re probably wondering how that helped me? It''s easy to nt my name in the dreams of NPCs and discredit others."


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the pair. ''I see... One took ahold of the greed in the hearts of men while the other wormed her way into their minds.'' Exile suppressed a shiver as he realised how dangerous this particr pair was. ''It''s a good thing they''re on our side now.''


    "Ok, since the introductions are out of the way, there''s only one thing left for you two to do. You''ll have to raise your level and Ascend. Once you''re there, we''ll go through the process of registering you to Ragnarok." Exile smiled as he exined the situation. ''Plus, that should buy me some time to warn the others. Especially about Winter.''


    "Oh, we''re ready to go now..." Winter grinned as several orbs appeared in her hands at once. At the same time, Midas made his own collection appear in front of Exile.


    Exile swallowed a lump of saliva as a dark thought crossed his mind. ''So it wasn''t that the others gave up. These guys... eliminated thepetition.''


    "As thanks for taking us in, we want to give some of these to you." Midas bowed his head as he held out four orbs.


    Exile was taken aback by the gesture, but before he could respond, Winter did the same thing. Offering five orbs on her part. The suddenness of itpletely caught him off guard as he wondered if it was right for him to take them. After considering it for several seconds, he decided to take them. ''They shouldn''t be worth much in the way of stats, anyway.''


    "I''ll meet you in Valheim then. Just wait in the area where you arrive." Exile nodded as he stored the orbs and cancelled his Avatar.


    "Looks like you were right, Winter. The orbs have probably bought us some goodwill." Midas mused as he smiled.


    "Of course I was right. With the nature of this game, how could he refuse? Plus, with the impression we first gave him, we had to do something to fix it." Winter returned the smile. "But he''s quite crafty. I never thought that he would give us a challenge to reverse the situation we put him in."


    "Does it matter? We managed to join a Pantheon. This is better than what we had nned. We don''t have to rely on just a single stronger yer now." Midas studied the frown that had appeared on Winter''s face. "Now we just have to prove how valuable we are."


    "You''re right. Shall we then?" Winter smiled as she held up her remaining orbs.


    "Sure..." Midas grinned slyly as they activated their orbs.


    Exile sighed as he returned to The Raider''s Horn yet again. As his vision cleared, Burri was sitting there staring at him.


    "Finally! Took you long enough!" Burri groaned as he stretched. "Everyone''s already been to the Temple, but it seems like there have been some changes in their own temples. I guess it was the same for you?"


    "You could say that..." Exile grinned as they both started tough.


    "Well, you don''t need to worry. The Skardians are on their way home." Burri drummed his fingers on the table. "I just stayed behind to let you know what was going on. Before I go, y said to let you know there''s a new recruit waiting at the temple."


    Exile frowned, but before he could question Burri any further on it, thetter activated their Avatar spell. As Burri''s eyes zed over, Exile shook his head. ''I''ll pick up Winter and Midas first. That way I can deal with all three at once.''


    It did not take him long to meet up with Winter and Midas, who were being harassed by other yers to join their own Pantheons. However, the pair turned down every offer, including one from the recruiter for Kaleidoscope. Naturally the re4cruiter recognised and Exile and swiftly sent word to Aeri as they walked away from him.


    "I take it you don''t get along with them?" Midasughed as the recruiter disappeared from view.


    "We. You mean we. We don''t get along with them. Make sure to avoid Kaleidoscope if you can. Once we get inside the temple, we''re meeting with one more person. Then we''ll get you registered and we can talk about what we''ll do going forward with the others." Exile sighed as they walked inside the unusually quiet temple.


    It took Exile a few moments to spot the yer Burri had mentioned, causing his eyes to go wide. ''Ugh, y what have you done?'' Exile groaned as he met the young woman''s gaze. Beans nervously waved to him when she saw that he did not seem too excited to see her.

 Chapter 91 - Council Of Gods

    Exile sighed as he led Midas and Winter over to Beans. "Let me guess... You''re the yer y recruited?"


    Beans nced at the floor nervously. "I didn''t know it was your Pantheon."


    Exile rolled his eyes as he cursed y under his breath. ''There has to be a reason he thought she would be a good addition. Something must have happened after I returned.'' He eyed Beans curiously, but considering their history he was not exactly thrilled with y''s decision to bring her into Ragnarok.


    ''I can''t just reject her without letting y know why.'' Exile felt a headache brewing over the matter. "Forget it... You know I can''t just trust you, right?"


    Beans nodded slowly as she met Exile''s gaze while Winter and Midas wore confused expressions. "I know. But I want to try to make it up to you for abandoning you. Please, let me help..."


    Exile sighed as he studied her expression. She seemed sincere, but there was something else there. ''She''s afraid. What''s she afraid of?'' It only took him a few moments to realise the issue. ''She said she''s lost contact with Donna. Kaleidoscope is after her as well. She''s alone. She doesn''t just want to make it up to me. She wants to feel safe.''


    He let out a long sigh as he considered the situation. "Ok... But you answer to y. There are no more chances."


    Beans nodded slowly with a worried smile on her face as Exile brushed past her to lead them to the tablet where he registered the Pantheon. After navigating the information that appeared, he was met with a notification.


    [Are you sure you want to invite these yers to Ragnarok?]


    As soon as he agreed, Beans, Midas, and Winter quickly epted the invitation they received. Very quickly a golden light appeared on their chests before leaving behind the badge depicting the Pantheon''s emblem.


    [King of the Gods activated: +3 Authority]


    Exile let out a sly smile as the others celebrated their sess in joining a Pantheon. Beans seemed especially happy, but Exile was only interested in the bonus Authority he gained from inviting her, at least, until she proved that she was someone who could be trusted. As he was about to talk to the others, the sound of bells rang all throughout Valheim.


    yers all throughout the city paused what they were doing as they looked around in confusion. Confused and excited chattering began as people spected on what it meant. Some believed that a major event was about to begin or someone had achieved something amazing. However, a select group of yers received a notification.


    [You have been invited to the Council of Gods. Please head to the Tower at the centre of Valheim with the other Pantheon Rulers.]


    ''What the hell is this?'' Exile frowned as he paid attention to the notification. It was clear that the others with him had not received a simr message since they were still looking around for the source of the bells. ''Something big is definitely happening...''


    "You guys head to The Raider''s Horn, I have something to take care of." Exilemanded as he gave out directions. Hopefully, someone had returned by now to deal with them.


    He quickly left them behind as he moved outside of the Temple. Amongst the yers looking confused, he spotted several others heading towards the centre of Valheim. His palms felt sweaty as he had no idea what this was about, and it was likely that he would run into Aeri herself if he went along with this.


    ''I can''t just ignore this though...'' Exile sighed as he bit the bullet and joined the others. The yers who were not in a Pantheon or part of the ruling ss of one stared at them as they whispered. It was clear that something was going on, but nobody had clicked on to the fact that everyone who was heading to the centre of the city were leaders of different Pantheons.


    Eventually, the herd mentality of the yers took hold as they joined the march. Eager to gain any information that they could. Exile''s eyes narrowed as the tallest building he had ever seen in the city came into view. The white tower was gilded with gold and columns running down its exterior at regr intervals. It gave off a sense of grandeur far greater than anything else he had seen so far.


    "Hey, any idea what this is about?" The man walking beside him asked curiously, as they followed the crowd.


    "No idea..." Exile hesitantly replied as he eyed the stranger.


    "That''s what everyone keeps saying." The guy sighed as he nced around at the crowd. "But someone has to know something, right? Oh, I''m Beartooth, King of the Icefang Pantheon... What about you?"


    Exile nced at the hand that Beartooth extended towards him before shaking it. "Exile, King of the Ragnarok Pantheon."


    "Exile?" Beartooth frowned as he searched his memories. "Oh, you''re on the rankings, right? Man, I was far too slow in getting to grips with this game. Really threw me, you know?"


    "I think everyone in the first batch struggled... You must have done something right since you''re still here." Exile chuckled at the friendly attitude of Beartooth.


    "Yeah, I wouldn''t say I did anything right... More like I got lucky. Or unlucky, I guess." Beartooth frowned as he nced at Exile. "What do you think of this game?"


    Exile frowned at the strange question as the person in the lead reached the doors. But before he could say anything, the doors to the tower slid open, as if inviting them in.


    "Ok, forget the game..." Beartooth continued when Exile hesitated. "Let me tell you what I think about this event. It''s called the Council of Gods, right? And all of us who lead Pantheons have been called here. So, I''m thinking this is where a lot of alliances and enemies are going to be made. I mean, how often do you think we''ll really talk to each other with the way the game is set up? This must be what bnces all thepetition against each other..."

 Chapter 92 - Valheims Purpose

    Beartooth disappeared into the crowd as they entered the tower. But Exile could not shake his words from his mind. ''Alliances...'' Exile hummed as he considered the matter. Would it really be worthwhile pursuing them? At some point, they would have to turn on each other anyway. ''No, this must be something more than that...''


    The crowd walked up the solitary spiral staircase once they were inside. There was nothing special to see so far, which had them concerned. They had begun to talk amongst themselves, and many of them seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Beartooth. Exile could hear the terms of loose alliances being hashed out right there and then.


    However, apart from Beartooth, nobody else approached him. They left him to his own thoughts as they continued their ascension up the tower for the next few minutes. Eventually, the staircase came to an end as it led into a circr room withrge windows that overlooked the city. As each yer entered the room, a throne would appear, creating circr rows facing towards the centre.


    Exile frowned as he took his seat near the back. The chatter died down as everyone gotfortable and waited to find out what the notification was all about. Once everyone was seated, arge green crystal appeared in the centre of the room. The yers who were present all cocked an eyebrow curiously at it.


    "Greetings, leaders of the Skardian Gods. I am Valheim..." A deep voice spoke from the crystal itself. "I am an artifact left behind by the old rulers. My purpose is simple... To monitor events and act as an unbiased mediator during votes and disputes."


    Exile''s frown deepened as a bunch of yers started to shout at the crystal. With the freedom they had enjoyed in this game so far, it infuriated them to discover that the developers had included a system like this. ''They''re missing the point... Why aren''t they picking up on the part about votes?''


    To be honest, that part had Exile more worried than anything else. What were they supposed to vote on? Were all votes equal or was it linked to the strength of a Pantheon? There were too many questions, and he did not want to miss a single word that the crystal would say. Although, it did freak him out a bit to discover that the entire city was essentially a character as well.


    "First, I would like to thank you all for responding to the summons. Now, let''s get down to business." Valheim ignored the raucousints and turned up its own volume so as to be heard. "I will now send you all the information required to proceed."


    [Council of Gods: Valheim]


    [The council isprised of every King or Queen of a Skardian Pantheon. The council will be called to vote on a number of Domestic and Foreign Agendas. Each ruler will be given a number of votes per issue depending on the Tier of their Pantheon. (For example: Tier 0 = 1 Vote per issue, Tier 1 = 2 Votes per issue etc).


    Each issue raised on the Agenda will have two options that you can vote for. Some special cases may even require you to select a target. Each issuees about through the logging ofints or events that happen in all of the realms.


    Vote wisely, as the course of events between Council sessions will be decided by your own choices.]


    Exile frowned as he sped his hands under his chin as he studied the message. ''It''s fairly simple... The higher your Pantheon''s Tier the more likely you are to swing a vote in favour of what you want. Domestic and foreign affairs are self-exnatory but I''m guessing every city or main city for each of the races is the same. But this says it logsints and events from all realms... Does that include the Mortal realm then?''


    From what he could see, Beartooth appeared to be right. This mechanism could likely keep them in check to some degree. It was looking more appealing now to form a few alliances, as he re-read the notification. ''How much will these votes affect the game between sessions? I guess we''ll have to wait and see on that one but we''ll have to be wary of the consequences...''


    "Let us deal with the first Domestic issue..." Valheim stated as he pushed out a new notification.


    [1. Domestic Resources]


    [Many Gods areining about theck of Divine Beasts and Creatures near Valheim. What should be done about this?]


    [Option A: Reduce Valheim''s Divine interference, allowing these beasts and creatures to enjoy greater fertility. Resulting in a poption boom.]


    [Option B: Do nothing.]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he read the first issue they had to vote on. ''This is insane!'' He quickly nced around to see simr stunned expressions on those around him. This was the equivalent of the developers allowing their yers to decide how many mobs would be in the area! ''Are they really nning on leaving these decisions to us?''


    "You have one minute to cast your vote..." Valheim''s voice boomed out, startling everyone present!


    Exile cursed under his breath as he quickly tried to weigh the pros and cons. If he chose Option B then nothing would change and there would be fiercepetition for the mobs as more yers ascended. However, Option A did not give any indication as to how much the number of mobs would increase. ''What if it''s not just a little, but a lot? But more mobs will give everyone a chance to level up quickly with the Milestones.''


    Exile felt the pressure building up as he quickly cast his vote just before time ran out. ''I hope I didn''t make the wrong choice...'' He sighed as he leaned back on his throne and closed his eyes. However, before he could feel too relieved, a new notification appeared. Exile''s eyes went wide as he quickly scanned its contents...

 Chapter 93 - War Is Coming

    [2. Domestic: Civil War]


    [A number of Skardians are no longer happy under the rule of their current King for their areas. A civil war is brewing, and it is time for the Pantheons to decide what side they stand on. This vote will determine temporary allies and enemies.]


    [Option A: Join the side of the current rulers of Skardia.]


    [Option B: Join the rebel factions and help to overthrow the current rulers. (Warning! There is a corresponding Quest detected. If you choose Option A, you will abandon the Quest.)]


    Exile did not have to think twice about this issue as he cast his vote. What had surprised him was the fact that he would now automatically gain allies in this fight. Well, that also depended on who else voted the same as him. ''These sessions really will hold a lot of weight in the future... I''ll have to see what I can find out about raising my Pantheon''s Tier.'' Exile hummed as he waited for the next notification.


    [3. Foreign: Enemy]


    [A Holy War has been dered by a Skardian Pantheon against a Sommerdan Pantheon. Does the council vote to elevate this war to a Divine War? (A Divine War will turn Skardia and Sommerdan into National enemies in the Mortal Realms. The gateway between the separate Divine Realms will be opened allowing the war to also take ce in the Divine Realms.)]


    [Option A: Elevate the Holy War to a Divine War (As the instigator of this issue your vote has been automatically ced for this option.)]


    [Option B: Abstain from elevating the War status.]


    Exile nced around nervously as he wondered how many of the yers present knew that he was responsible for this issue. To be fair, at the time he had no idea that it would be brought up in a setting like this. Where it could alter everything for the entirety of Skardia as well as the yers.


    "All issues have now been voted on. I will now send the results that will reflect how the votes affect you." Valheim almost sounded smug as a push notification made its way into Exile''s mind.


    [1. Domestic Resources]


    [Result: Option A]


    [Note: Beasts, creatures and monsters will now be more numerous in the Skardian Divine Realm.]


    [2. Domestic: Civil War]


    [Result: Option B]


    [Note: You and members of your Pantheon will be unable to harm anyone in the Rebel factions. Your followers will be more friendly to fellow rebels.]


    [3. Foreign: Enemy]


    [Result: Option B]


    [Note: The Skardian Council of Gods has refrained from elevating the war status. Warning! This has had an effect on the Sommerdan Council''s options.]


    Exile felt his heartbeat rising rapidly as he read through the results. He had voted for Option A on the first issue so he was d to see it get passed. He did not really have a choice on the second issue due to his Quest and he was d to see that the others voted no to elevating the war. Which was the right move as far as he could see. Especially as they would be dealing with a civil war as well.


    However, those around him wore the same concerned expressions that he did. Everyone was caught up on the warning that their vote affected Sommerdan''s options. Exile swallowed a lump of saliva as he thought about Parthus. ''How influential can he be? He''ll probably want to elevate it on their end. Then there''s the fact the Skardian NPCs have been raiding their Mortal country.


    "The votes are now in for the other Councils. I will now send you the results of all and any votes that affect Skardia." Valheim suddenly stated, startling the yers present.


    [Sommerdan has dered a Divine War on Skardia. The pathway between the Divine Realms has been opened. The Avatar spell will no longer have a cost if used to join the war in the Mortal Realms. Defeat in the Mortal Realms will prevent the use of Avatar for one natural day.]


    Cries of outrage echoed around the chamber. Their contents were much the same as they cursed whoever had started a war with Sommerdan. Exile kept a straight face as he listened, determined not to give anything away, while a cold sweat broke out on his back.


    Surprisingly, nobody pointed the finger at him. ''Was nobody there in a Pantheon? Or was there just no other leaders? I''ll have to be careful for a while.'' Exile sighed as he nced from one angry face to another. ''This is going to cause problems with the Civil War...''


    "This Council Session is now over. You may now exit the Tower." Valheim''s voice sounded onest time as the various yers began to file out.


    The shock of the event was still fresh in their minds. Many were busy making their own ns as they tried to figure out how they could take advantage of this mechanic in the future. As Exile was busy with his own thoughts, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He frowned as he turned to face its owner, only for his eyes to narrow in disgust.


    "Don''t think for a moment that I''ve forgotten about you..." Aeri smiled sweetly as she stared directly into his eyes. "I hope we''re on different sides in this Civil War, because I''m going to bury your pathetic Pantheon."


    "Sure... If we don''t bury you first." Exile sneered as he brushed her hand away.


    "Exile!" Aeri shouted in rage as she stared at his back. "There''s no version of this where you win. Surrender now and join Kaleidoscope!"


    Exile turned around with a confused expression. For the life of him, he could not figure out why she would invite him to her own Pantheon. "Sorry, but why would I surrender to a third rate yer like you!"


    Aeri''s expression turned to shock at the venomous words. Much like those around them that had heard Exile''s bold words. Some leaders secretly praised Exile while others swore to avoid him at all costs in case they drew the ire of Kaleidoscope.

 Chapter 94 - Sinister Plan

    Exile stormed directly out of the Tower. Anyone who saw his expression quickly looked away. The crowd that had been waiting outside were whispering furiously as they tried to figure out what had happened, but they did not have to wait long. Exile frowned as a red glow appeared around arge number of yers who were standing in the area around the Tower.


    [A Civil War is now in effect. Those with a red aura are designated as enemies. Those with a blue aura are your allies. Anyone without an aura is neutral and can be harmed by either side. Valheim is a safe area where you can not be harmed.]


    Exile''s expression darkened as he red at the sparse amount of blue that he could see. ''Damn! Most of them voted to stick with the current human rulers!'' He could not fathom why the majority had voted so, but maybe their situation was different depending on where in Skardia their Oracles were based.


    [Notifications are no longer on hold...]


    [Milestone: The Ragnarok Pantheon (Tier 0): 24/24]


    [You have received +15 Authority]


    [New Quest Detected]


    [Quest: Pantheon Ascension!]


    [Description: Your Pantheon is ready to step up to Tier 1. Toplete the Ascension meet the following requirements and interact with the Pantheon Registration tablet in the Temple.]


    [Requirements: 6 members must reach Tier 1 (0/6), 100 Soul Tokens (5/100)]


    [Rewards: +10 Stat Points for all members. Gain a personal Realm for your Pantheon]


    Exile''s eyes widened in shock at the sudden notifications. To make sure it was not some twisted joke or a glitch, he quickly checked his stats. ''Authority... 44...'' The sudden jump in stats made him feel strange. It ced his Authority at roughly double of what Parthus had when they had shed.


    A deep frown appeared on his face as he wondered how strong Parthus would be if he got a full Pantheon behind him. ''This is only borrowed strength, though. If anyone leaves or gets banned, then my Authority will reflect that.'' Exile brooded over the matter as the crowd started to surround the leaders who had exited the Tower, demanding answers.


    ''I should make use of this while I can...'' A sly smile appeared on his face as he pushed his way through the crowd, under the watchful eyes of Aeri. Upon his return to the Raider''s Horn, he was suddenly bombarded with questions from y and the others who knew him well as soon as he set foot inside.


    Exile looked around at the now crowded bar as he motioned for everyone to calm down. There were plenty of new faces that he did not recognise, but he guessed these were the yers the others had recruited. It took him a while to exin everything that happened inside the Tower and how it affected them.


    "Exile... This is madness..." y sighed as all eyes in the room turned towards him. "From what you''re saying we''re basically enemies with the majority of the yers in Valheim now."


    Many of those present nodded in agreement with concerned expressions clearly written on their faces. Others started to wonder if they should quit Ragnarok already to avoid being caught up in all the hassles. However, Exile smiled strangely as he met y''s gaze.


    "Don''t worry about that. There''s too much going on for everyone to focus on us. Sommerdan is likely tounch an assault, there''s also the increase of mobs around here but we need to find out how bad it is. Beyond that... I have a n..." Exile''s grin turned savage as he exined what he had in mind. Much to the delight of the others, who suddenly became excited.


    Roughly an hourter, when they had settled on the details, the members of Ragnarok filed out of the bar together. Exile wore a stern expression as he led the group who threw taunts at any red yer they passed on their way to the city gate. Their disy drew a lot of interest at a time when everyone was afraid to be the first to step outside of the safe area.


    Nobody wanted to be targets after all. However, the curious onlookers and the affronted yers followed the group to see if they really did have the guts to take that step. Exile nced around to see how many blue yers were following them. ''It''s as I guessed. We really are outnumbered...''


    Exile shook his head slowly. This was just a disy to make the yers following them think he had misjudged the situation. In reality, he was thrilled. By the time they had reached the gates, the crowd had grown exponentially. Many of them were furious with the way his Pantheon members had been acting. So full of themselves as they continued to throw out insults and taunts.


    "Hahaha! Look at this! I didn''t think you would be so eager to die!" Aeri shouted joyously over the crowd as she pushed her way to the front with everyone from Kaleidoscope. "Should I thank you for the early birthday present?"


    The crowd jeered at Exile and his Pantheon, thinking that they were idiots. However, Exile smiled back as if she was of no concern to him, which really got Aeri irritated.


    "Sorry, I don''t speak idiot. Come back when you find a trantor." Exile grinned as he insulted Aeri straight to her face.


    Aeri''s face flushed red as she glowered at him in return. She just could not understand why Exile was being so foolish! However, she quickly calmed down when she thought about the orbs they would be able to collect if they really did leave the city.


    "I promised to bury your Pantheon... Why don''t you step outside so we can settle this?" Aeri''s forced smile twitched as she addressed Exile in front of the crowd.


    "And I promised to bury you first! Let''s see if your spine is as strong as your making it out to be!"


    Loud gasps escaped from the crowd as Exile quickly ran out of the gates!

 Chapter 95 - Taking Advantage

    Aeri grinned madly at Exile''s foolishness as she quickly chased after them. The entirety of the Ragnarok Pantheon had stepped out of the safe zone! Many yers screamed in delight as it became a mad dash to get out of the gates to try to im their victims. However, Exile and the others were all smiling. This was what they were waiting for!


    "Now!" Exile roared, as he quickly turned and braced himself.


    Their enemies wore dazed expressions as they collided with Ragnarok, whose members had formed a circr wall that prevented too many enemies from getting out of Valheim. Aeri cursed as she drew a two-handed battleaxe from her inventory and struck Exile''s shield! Thetter tilted his shield arm, so the weapon slid along the face of his shield and struck the ground.


    Exileughed as he punched out with the rim of his shield and mmed it into Aeri''s nose as she was off bnce. She groaned as she tried to step back, but the throng of yers behind her prevented her from going too far. Her eyes went wide as she looked around at the situation. Most of Ragnarok was losing ground due to being new to the Divine Realm, but she had a distinct feeling that something was wrong!


    ''Let''s do this!'' Exile roared savagely as he raised his axe to point at the crowd before him. Several others seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Aeri, but were unable to cast their spells. This was because of their allies in front of them. Their spells would not hurt them but at the same time, they blocked the path of the spells to any members of Ragnarok! Only those on the front line could attack them!


    The head of Exile''s axe glowed red with heat as he activated Cleansing me! Unlike the Divine Spells of his enemies, Cleansing me excelled in dealing with crowds. It was not a solid projectile type and instead washed over and around the frontline yers to strike those behind them as well!


    [You have dealt -5 HP]


    [-23 HP]


    [-34 HP]


    [-9 HP]


    [- 26 HP]


    "Retreat!" Aeri screamed frantically from within the mes, but the surrounding yers had already reacted.


    Under the cover of Exile''s mes and the retreating enemies, the other members of Ragnarok quickly gathered any orbs that fell from Exile''s onught. He pursued the crowd as they rushed into the gap that the yers still within Valheim created for them as they shrunk back from the mes. Most of the yers who had chased them fell to the surprise attack and became bright motes of light.


    The ones who survived either managed to enter Valheim in time or were Pantheon leaders with a decent amount of members. Aeri''s body trembled in outrage at being embarrassed like that! As she turned to scream at Exile, she found him standing right in front of her! She flinched before she realised that both of them were now within the city limits again. But that just added more insult to injury!


    Exile smirked as he nced at the red yers around them. ''Their numbers really did work against them...'' During the chaos all of the members of Ragnarok managed to slip back in to safety while grinning madly. Each of them knew they had scored big with the amount of orbs they had managed to grab, but it would still be up to Exile how these would be divided.


    "What''s wrong Aeri? I thought you were going to bury us?" Exile raised an eyebrow as he spoke in a mocking tone. "All I saw was you running with your tail between your legs!"


    y and the others burst outughing as Aeri''s face turned beet red in embarrassment. However, nobody on her side could me her. They were not expecting such a move, and the spell that Exile had used was ludicrously devastating to them. Some of them began to find their voices and started to im he was a cheater. But Aeri and the other Pantheon leaders knew better.


    Most of them had hidden the details of their passive ability for being a King or Queen of a Pantheon from their members. The only thing that did not make sense to most of them was the fact that Exile had clearly used an elemental spell. Which was something they had never seen before. Aeri ground her teeth in frustration. This was the reason that she had wanted ess to the shop and began this grudge with Exile in the first ce.


    The members of Kaleidoscope had found information about a powerful item and where they could find the Quest to get it. But by the time they turned up to the store, Exile had already been inside! Aeri cursed her bad luck as she imagined what she could do with such a spell. But that was now just a pipe dream.


    Under the watchful eyes of those they had just taken advantage of, the members of Ragnarok boldly strode through the crowd whileughing. Needless to say, they had definitely made a lot of new enemies with their little stunt. But with the Civil War they were already enemies anyway. As far as they were concerned, they had made huge gains and lost nothing in the process.


    The atmosphere was lively as they were eager to return to The Raider''s Horn and divide the spoils. The new members let out sad smiles, as they were certain the majority of it would go to the original members. Exile chuckled as he saw their faces when he nced over his shoulder.


    "Don''t look so glum." The corners of his mouth raised into a smirk as he addressed their new recruits. "Most of the orbs will be used to increase your stats over ours. You guys are the foundation of our Pantheon''s strength. If you fall behind, then we won''t have the support we need. Remember, Pantheon Online isn''t like those other games you''re used to. One person can''t defeat entire armies of yers here..."

 Chapter 96 - Strong Foundation

    Exile grinned at everyone as their haul was ced on the table in front of him. The Raider''s Horn was full of excited chatter as Ragnarok''s members looked on with eager expression. y and the other original members were busy gathering everyone''s details. Such as how many stat points they already had. This way they could fairly distribute the orbs to raise the overall strength of the Pantheon.


    Of course, Exile still nned to make sure that he, y, Burri, Un, Leggy and Desa remained a level or two above everyone else. This was solely to maintain order in the Pantheon and prevent anyone from getting any funny ideas. Once the information was collected, y called the weakest yer up to the table, where Exile handed him an orb.


    Upon using it, he reported his new stats to y, who told him to take a seat. It turned out the orb had belonged to a rtively strong yer. Turning this member from their weakest to the second strongest new recruit. This process continued where they always called up the new weakest member. If one orb was not enough, they received another.


    Once every yer had reached level 5, it was y and the others turn. These five quickly reached level 7. What surprised everyone was the fact that they still had more than half of the pile left to go through, despite reaching this point. Before the next round began, y insisted that Exile raise his level to 8 first. Arguing that Exile deserved to be a level ahead of them because it was his n and spell that made this possible.


    Although he disagreed with this, the new members took y''s side. They argued that they would feel more secure with a strong leader to back them up when they needed it. Exile let out a long sigh before picking up the closest orb. Once he absorbed it, he waited to see what he would gain. However, his eyes went wide in shock!


    [You have permanently received +9 Strength, +7 Endurance, +5 Speed, +2 Authority]


    [Congrattions! More than 70 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Level 8!]


    [Congrattions! More than 80 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Level 9!]


    He quickly realised that this orb had belonged to a yer who was level 5. Hence the huge increase in stats. They had already seen something simr with the orb that Midas had received, but they assumed it was likely the only one. Most of the orbs had belonged to yers around levels 2 to 4, so it was quite a shock for him to jump two levels because of this!


    The bar erupted in cheers as he told the others the results he received. But before long, they settled down to continue distributing the spoils. In the end, y also advanced to level 9 just barely. Desa, Un, Leggy and Burri settled in the upper end of level 8. Beans and Midas managed to break through to the lower end of Level 8 as well, much to the jealously of theirrades. Winter ended up a few points short, but she was satisfied with being the strongest amongst the rest. Overall, their weakest member ended up only a few points into Level 7.


    Exile nodded happily at the results. Barely an hour ago their weakest member was only level 3, so this had been an amazing haul. ''Our foundation is strong now, and I''m close to Level 10. I wonder what will happen.'' Exile let out a sigh as the members began to discuss their new spells. ''It''s a shame Aeri won''t fall for this a second time and everyone will be cautious to keep their distance from now on.''


    He had to admit that it was a risk to expose Cleansing me to so many enemies at once. Its range was only suitable for close to mid-range, so as long as they avoided stepping inside that zone, his strongest spell would be useless against other yers. ''Still, it was worth it. We''ve given them a scare and they''ll be unlikely to try anything soon. Hopefully, most of these orbs belonged to Kaleidoscope. That should set them back and give us time to prepare.''


    As he was thinking about how his enemies would react to this move, a nagging sensation appeared in his mind. A deep frown appeared on his face for several minutes as he tried to figure out what the cause was.


    "What''s that look for?" yughed as he pped Exile on the back. "Look at what we''ve achieved! We''re probably the strongest Pantheon in Valheim now! How can you not be happy?"


    "I just feel like I''m missing something..." Exile let out a soft smile as he gazed around at the crowded bar. "Something important..."


    His eyes fell on Beans, who smiled nervously at him before she turned back to her conversation with Midas. What the two were talking about was anyone''s guess, but that sight jogged something in Exile''s memory.


    "That''s what it is!" Exile eximed in a low voice full of shock as his eyes remained fixed on Beans.


    "What are you talking about?" y hummed as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.


    "Donna! DonnaThaGreat!" Exile groaned as he realised what was bugging him. He felt stupid for not realising it sooner, but he had been caught up in trying to deal with everything quickly. Causing him to overlook this matter for too long. "Neither Midas nor Winter mentioned her! Even though I sent them to her territory for their challenge! There''s no way she just sat back and let all these new yers steal her followers!"


    y frowned as he wondered why it was so important to Exile that their members had not been challenged by Donna. However, he could sense that Exile was extremely troubled by this matter. Before he could question Exile on the matter, a system announcement interrupted them. Causing everyone to be silent as they listened to it in shock...

 Chapter 97 - End Of Beta

    [A yer has reached Tier 1! Everyone will now be logged out for one natural day. An announcement will soon be made on the Game portal.]


    Colt cursed under his breath as he was forcefully ejected from the game,ing to in his game capsule. His thoughts were a mess as the notification still rang in his ears as he mbered out and dried off the remains of the liquid. ''Who the hell reached Tier 1!''


    He did not even bother to get changed as he rushed to hisputer and booted it up. The holo screen appeared rather quickly as he began clicking frantically as he navigated his way to the rankings page. A deep frown crossed his face as he quickly discovered his own name.


    Rank 99: Exile


    ''What the hell!'' His eyes dashed frantically across the surrounding names, but he did not recognise any of them. ''How did I fall down in the rankings?''


    Of course, he knew how, but he could not understand it. As far as he was concerned, his growth had been rapid. If anything, he had been expecting to go up quite a bit. It meant that ny-seven other yers were closer to Tier 1 than he was while one yer had sessfully crossed that boundary already.


    Colt frowned as he scrolled to the top ten yers. ''I should have known...'' He let out a long groan as he read the name of the number one yer.


    Rank 1: Arthur Tier 1 Level: *


    Colt mmed a fist on the table as he red at the name. ''Why did you have toe back? If Camelot didn''t have you, this would be so much easier!'' His eyes flickered to the other names on the list.


    Rank 10: Morgana Level 9


    Rank 9: Parthus Level 9


    Rank 8: Redbeard Level 9


    Rank 7: Mordread Level 9


    Rank 6: Aeri Level 9


    Rank 5: Vas Level 9


    Rank 4: Noslin Level 9


    Rank 3: Merlin Level 9


    Rank 2: Warw Level 9


    Colt struck the desk several more times as he read the list. Camelot was dominating the top ten, but that was not his only concern! ''How the hell did Aeri manage to get ahead of me!'' Of course, the only exnation was that she had absorbed an orb or two. However, were these orbs that she had stashed away, or had something happened after they had left the gates?


    He could only curse at how fast she had reacted to the results of her Pantheon''s defeat. Now, he could only hope that the rest of her Pantheon had not recovered, and she had taken this step to protect herself from him. The next part that annoyed him was seeing that Parthus had slipped into the top ten as well.


    He was beginning to feel a headache starting as one by one his enemies leapt further ahead of him. Although he did feel some satisfaction to see that both Mordread and Morgana had also slipped down the rankings.


    ''Everyone in the top ten is Level 9... So it''s safe to assume that Level 10 is the threshold to advancing...'' Colt tried to calm down as he read the list again. ''So why are they hiding Arthur''s Level?''


    That detail was bugging him to no end. Logically speaking, there was no reason for them to do something like that. ''They''re definitely hiding something about Tier 1!'' The only issue was what they were hiding. He did not like being in the dark, and Arthur''s advancement would give the whole of Camelot an edge if there were prerequisites to meet.


    ''Forget it... It''s not like I can do anything about it.'' Colt let out a long sigh as he leaned back in his chair. ''I have to focus on what we''ll do now... Everyone has to get stronger but there are still so many problems. The Civil War, The war with Sommerdan and I still haven''t been able to confirm how the mobs have reacted to the decision made during the Council...''


    ''I wonder if Harik will be able to return home during this time... If he can, I''ll need to focus on that Quest.'' Colt''s eyes shed as he realised another important matter. ''Damn it! I didn''t get the chance to warn Ania that I''d be gone again! At least it''s only a day this time... It''s not like anything can happen with that amount of time, right?''


    He let out a sigh as the screen shed to notify him that the developers had made an announcement. As he clicked on it to see what they had to say, David Warsaw''s familiar face appeared on the screen. Colt listened carefully to David''s polite introduction, hoping to hear a hidden hint as to what was going on. But David was on point and did not borate in any way as to how Arthur had reached Tier 1.


    "I know you all must be eager to jump straight back into the game. But I have onest thing to announce." David smiled at the camera yfully as he cleared his throat. "Now that Tier 1 has been reached we have gathered enough data concerning the skill level of every yer currently in the game. So I can now announce that the Open Beta is officially over!"


    Colt''s eyes went wide asments flooded in underneath the video. But David seemed set on ignoring them. Most people just wanted to know how it would affect them. Naturally, Colt was one of these people.


    "These Beta versions were strict to discover the level that all of you pros y at before releasing the game to the public. However, this does not mean that just anyone can join. For you amongst the general public who have been angry that we have locked this game to the pros, I say this... Here''s your chance!" David grinned sadistically before he continued. "You can now ess the game from your capsule but there''s a condition. You won''t enter the game properly unless you can beat the skill challenge we have set..."

 Chapter 98 - All Things Have A Price

    Ania sat on a crude chair with Bjorn by her side in the temple. Her eyes were focused on Winter and Midas'' Oracles, who hade to pay her a visit with some of their followers. While Exile was in the Council meeting, y had informed them that Ania was the head Oracle of the Pantheon and that they should get in touch with her.


    Mikel, who was Midas'' Oracle, was busy exining his n to increase trade and bring more profit to the Temples. As a merchant driven by his newfound love of religion, he had appointed himself as being in charge of their financial affairs. Bjorn nodded with a satisfied smile as he listened to the ns.


    Mikel''s n involved sending more goods from Korden to Eraldsfen to help the vige grow. In his mind, it was unsuitable for the head temple of their gods to remain in such a small ce. His long-term ns saw Eraldsfen growing to be a bustling trade city that would be unmatched in all of Skardia.


    Naturally, a lot of the profits from the enterprises of their followers would be offered to the gods. While some would be used to fund new businesses, the growth of Eraldsfen and Korden as well as to afford the construction of bigger and grander temples.


    "As I was saying... It''s all about wealth. Not only can it be used to build worthy monuments, but it''s a great motivator for men. Think about it. It would definitely be a grand disy of the power of our gods!" Mikelughed as he finishedying out his ns.


    "I agree. The gods will certainly be happy if we can offer them more. But to do that we need also need to be wealthy. You have a keen insight, Lord Mikel. I understand now why Exile felt that MidasTouch was worthy of joining him." Bjorn chuckled as he pped Mikel on the shoulder, truly d to count him as one of their own.


    "Ah, I''m d that you recognise Lord Midas. To be honest, I was worried that I would lose my life when Lord Exile dered his challenge. If it weren''t for Lady Gr here, I would have certainly have met my end at the more brutish Oracles." Mikel nodded as he waved a hand towards Winter''s Oracle. "Her methods are subtle, but she is certainly invaluable. We have built a small joint Temple in Korden already. Naturally, Lord Exile''s altar has pride of ce."


    "Splendid!" Bjorn beamed as he turned to face Ania. "What do you think?"


    "I think his ideas have merit. Everything he has said will definitely benefit the gods." Ania nodded slowly as a frown crossed her face. "However, what do you both think about the King''s ban on worship? Surely you must be aware that what we are doing is illegal? How do you n to handle it when the King and his Jarls return?"


    This was a subject that Bjorn and she had agreed to raise beforehand. They had to understand if these Oracles would help with their n to make Harik the Jarl of the area once he returned. Which would, of course, give rise to a battle between their followers and the Jarl''s warriors if he refused to fight a duel for the right to rule the area.


    "That..." Mikel paused for a moment as he searched for the right words. "Is tricky. Naturally, we would never abandon the gods to save our own skin. It would be best if the King has died while on his raids. But that would only lead to one of the other rulers of Skardiaunching an invasion."


    Mikel sighed as he looked Ania in the eyes. "Even if we could deal with the Jarl, the King would never let it slide. It would lead to war... and war is costly. Both in gold and lives."


    "Those are wise words. However, you''ve avoided answering Lady Ania''s question." Bjorn sighed as he raised an eyebrow.


    "I will fight if the gods will it." Gr stated to make her stance clear before anyone even questioned her.


    Mikel shook his head slowly as he thought about how things would unfold if the King truly returned. The atmosphere grew tense as Bjorn''s eyes narrowed. Meanwhile, Ania nervously chewed on her lip. The odds of their sess depended on what Mikel would say.


    "If Midas condones it, then I will naturally do my part. But I''m not a fighter so you''ll have to excuse me from that. I''ll help with supplies and weapons as much as I can. But we have to supnt the Jarl as soon as possible. We can''t let him send word to the King otherwise we''ll lose any chance of surprising him." Mikel said slowly, as he weighed his words carefully.


    "Well said!" Bjorn burst outughing as he pped Mikel on the back. "Don''t worry, I''m sure the gods will be on our side. After all, who is the King to put himself above the gods! You should return to Korden and prepare your people. Start gathering weapons and supplies. We heard it from Exile himself. Our warriors are already on their way home! So you''ll get your chance to prove yourself to the gods soon enough!"


    Mikel cursed under his breath when he heard that. He had assumed that the King and Jarls would not return for many months yet. If they were already on their way home, then the raids must have been a disaster. Mikel quickly tried to calcte how much time he had and what he could arrange before they were needed.


    "If that''s true, then we really should leave right away. There''s much to do and we''ll have to contact Lord Midas and Lady Winter. We''ll send word once we receive their blessing for this endeavour." Mikel sighed as he nced at Bjorn and Ania. "I hope you know what you''re doing. And please... Pray to Exile for his help. I have a feeling we''re going to need it..."

 Chapter 99 - The World Turns

    On a blood-soaked field heavily armoured knights on different sides rained blows down on one another! Getrund who wielded a mace, savagely beat and dented his opponent''s armour as he drove him to the ground. He breathed heavily as his opponent struggled to lift his sword to defend himself anymore.


    "Your King is a fool! He should have epted our King''s offer to merge our countries into one!" Getrundughed as nothing but groans came from the man at his feet. "Don''t worry! Rejoice! The great God Arthur will smile upon yournds soon enough!"


    Getrund swung his mace overhead and delivered the final blow. Putting his opponent out of his misery. His eyes scanned the battlefield to see that they were winning. He could hear the names of the Camelot Pantheon being shouted all over the ce. A satisfied grin spread across his face as he gave thanks to the gods for allowing him to defeat his enemies.


    ''With Arthur watching over us, we will surely rule all of thesends soon.'' Getrund thought about the possible future where themoners would never have to fear war ever again. ''The other rulers are being too stubborn. They cling to power at the cost of their people.'' Getrund let out a long sigh as his eyes swept over the piles of bodies...


    Meanwhile, in a special room somewhere unknown...


    "We have to report to the king at once!" Thovok announced as he nced at the glowing gems in the room.


    Then, he remembered that he was the only one there. ''Ugh, I forgot... It''s been centuries since anyone else came in here.'' Thovok''s eyes seemed to look into the distant past as he stroked his long grey beard down to his round belly. His eyes wandered over the gems set in the ck painted ceiling of the room. Resembling something like a bright starry sky.


    ''Hm... The gods have returned. We can finally continue our research!'' Thovok nodded happily as he walked under the gems, looking at a certain batch in particr. This lot seems to be close if I take the tunnels into Skardia. I have to convince the King to let us make contact.


    The issue with that was the fact that his race had kept themselves hidden deep underground for all of this time. After the gods vanished, the other races were desperate to pige their strongholds and steal the wealth that they hoarded. ''It should be fine if it''s the Skardians...'' Thovok hummed as he remembered fighting by their side centuries ago.


    ''We had a good rtionship with them and they never turned on us...'' He shook his head slowly as he turned to leave the room. Stepping outside, he looked over the edge of the suspended bridge that led here. The city below was bustling with Dwarves mining the rock to expand the city and going about their daily business.


    "We''ll finally step foot outside of the mountains once again..." A glimmer of light appeared in his eyes as he watched his kinsmen unknowingly go about their daily routines.


    Meanwhile, in a dark forest far away...


    Amredeshed out with her dagger and only just managed to deflect the sharp ws aimed towards her. The small amount of sunlight that broke the canopy reflected off her dark grey skin and white hair as she spun to face her assant.


    "Surrender!" A low growl escaped from her enemy. "You Dark Elves are all the same! The moment the gods returned you went back to your old ways!"


    "And what about you? We knew that you Warbeasts would do the same!" Amrede stared silently at the heavily armoured panther type Warbeast as he walked towards her on two legs. His green feline eyes studied her every movement.


    "We are merely preparing! This was not for you but to deal with the other tribes and make them understand our gods are the ones they should worship!"


    Amrede snorted as she prepared herself to flee. She did not buy his story in the slightest. Before the Warbeast could get any closer, she used the spell she had at the ready. Allowing her body to meld into the shadows of the forest. The Warbeast roared in outrage as he sniffed at the air, trying to catch her scent...


    Meanwhile, in a rocky outcrop near the edge of a waterfall...


    Khargra, a warchief of the Red Orcs, kneeled before what looked to be arge boulder. He grunted in low tones several times, as if he were bing impatient. Suddenly, the boulder began to move. The front of it was actually four rocky arms wrapped around the creature''s legs as it was curled up to sit there. It stood up on two legs at a towering height of seven and a half feet.


    Khargra looked up into the ancient rocky eyes that stared down at him and swallowed. "Great Elden! The gods have returned! We orcs remember what most do not. Join us! And we will reim your lostnds!"


    The Elden stared long and hard at Khargra before nodding its head slowly. A humming noise echoed from its body as it turned towards the waterfall. Several minutes passed before the Elden waved its hands through the air like a conductor of an orchestra. The flowing water moved away from the rock and turned horizontal as it led far away into thends below.


    Khargra grinned as he stroked his broken tusk. ''Thesends have kept us prisoner for long enough!''


    At the same time that these events were happening in other ces...


    Horns blew on the docks of a Skardian coastal city. The people chattered excitedly as they rushed to see the ships that had been spotted. Most of them were excited to see what treasures they would carry. While others were concerned about what would happen to them with the return of their king...


    The whole world was on the move. What changes it would bring in the future was anyone''s guess. There were still five game days left until the yers would return. But what new problems and exciting opportunities would be waiting for them?

 Chapter 100 - Real Life Problems

    Colt watched the timer carefully, as it was almost time to reconnect to the game. His eyes scanned the forums for any new information, but it was just full of people''s theories about Tier 1. ''There''s no mention of being able to wield your element at Tier 1...'' Colt hummed as he read the different theories. ''It means that everyone who knows that isn''t sharing the information.''


    He agreed with this approach. If someone spilt the beans, then it would be harder to catch people off guard when he reached that stage. He knew that it was a race against time now. If Aeri reached Tier 1 before he did, then he was certain that she would make his Pantheon pay for their stunt.


    He navigated to their Pantheon page where the first video had been uploaded. Above the video yer was his Pantheon''s emblem, with Ragnarok written in runic symbols below. He had watched it himself and he had to admit that the editors did a great job. Nothing that they wanted to keep secret had been added to the footage.


    Of course, Colt had received the answer to his worries concerning Donna when he watched their own video. Surprisingly, the footage also contained scenes from their followers. ''I still can''t believe Bjorn killed her Oracle...'' However, this just gave him something new to worry about. Although Donna had been banned, she would be among those who could return to the game. ''What if shees back under a different name? How could I deal with that?'' His eyes moved to the view counter as he considered that problem.


    Surprisingly, the video had already gained a lot of views as people shared it all over the inte. This was due to how they had used their enemies'' numbers against them to quickly kill a lot of them. It got tongues wagging as people started discussing different ideas to try something simr.


    He could only sigh at thements section. ''It seems I''ve started something. We might need to be more careful in the future so we don''t fall prey to these ns.'' Colt shook his head slowly as he looked at the requests to join his Pantheon from different yers. He took his time to send out a mass email to the majority of them that stated that they were not epting members at this time.


    While those that piqued his interest received one that stated they would be the first to be considered during their next recruitment. Naturally, he had no idea when that would be. He would have to increase the Pantheon''s Tier first to find out what effects it would have. Out of curiosity, he navigated to Camelot''s page. He had refrained from doing this so far but he wanted to see for himself how they were dealing with the game. When he clicked on the video, he received a surprising message.


    [You are a current member of a different Pantheon. This video is currently unavable to you.]


    Colt frowned as he read the message. ''Damn! They never mentioned this!'' He cursed under his breath as he thought of how he could gain information. But even if someone else told him, it would be second-hand information. There was the risk that they would miss key details or not understand just how amazing or poor some of their actions would be.


    ''I guess this is just another method to help protect us from each other...'' Colt sighed as he admired the developers'' wisdom on this matter. The edited footage would keep their secrets, the dy would make it impossible to use the videos to target other Pantheons and hearing information second hand was unlikely to tell them what they really needed.


    The minutes slowly ticked by as he absentmindedly scrolled through the forums yet again. Apparently, a number of people had already passed the test that the developers put in ce for the masses to have a chance to join in the game. ''Thepetition is bound to heat up with so many new pros and unknowns joining. Hopefully, I won''t have to deal with another batch like Winter and Midas.


    This was his main concern for now. As he would no longer have a way to deal with them outside of using force. To be honest, he doubted anyone would be stupid enough to challenge him now if they stumbled upon Korden or Eraldsfen. The risk of angering his Pantheon as new yers were just too great.


    Even if they had Divine protection, there was no way they could expect tost long once they ascended. Colt continued to make his ns for when he rejoined the game. ''The first step is to warn Ania about the possibility of more gods appearing. Then I need to focus on helping Harik for my Quest and support the others in grinding for mobs.''


    A deep frown crossed his face as he considered the other, more long-term things he had to take care of. ''I haven''t been back to the shop in a while... I definitely need to check out the next floor. Maybe there''ll be a clue to the next piece of The First me.'' Colt paused for a moment, as the timer only had a few minutes left. As he headed towards his capsule and got changed into the gaming suit, another thing crossed his mind.


    ''Then there''s the Autosphere... With our numbers and levels now, maybe we can further explore those ruins...'' He felt like the idea had some merit as hey down and waited for the capsule to start up. ''Either way... Things are bound to be chaotic. Maybe I''ll have y lead the others out grinding while I take care of Harik''s Quest. Hopefully, he''s already returned.'' Colt let out a long sigh as the machine booted up to correspond with the timer.


    Either way, he could not wait to get stuck back in. ''Hopefully, we can find some sponsors soon. I can''t keep doing this unless I earn something from it.'' In all of his excitement, he had forgotten about his real-life problems. ''We''ll just have to do something amazing to attract them to our videos...''


    THE END... OF VOLUME 1: BETA TEST


    SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER FOR VOLUME 2: ADVENT OF THE NEW GODS

 Chapter 101 - Restocked

    Exile sighed as he finished making the arrangements with y and the others to lead separate teams. They would take the new members out to grind and collect information on how the Council''s decision affected the mobs in the area. He made sure that they knew that each team was to stick close to the others in case they had to provide backup at any moment.


    He let out a long sigh as he watched them leave the bar. Leaving him all alone. ''I guess I should check out the shop first. If it holds any hints to the First me, I can''t let anyone else get their hands on it.''


    Exile made his way through the streets of Valheim towards Jarxos'' store under the furious gaze of many yers. However, he only shed them a smirk in response to piss them off. ''It''s been so long since I wasst here... I should havee back sooner. Someone''s bound to have already taken a peak.'' He regretted forgetting about this ce with everything that had been going on. After all, yers only had to be level 5 to head up to the next level.


    As he opened the door, the familiar green barrier greeted him, causing him to smile warmly as he stepped through. However, he received a shock when the view of the store appeared. The once bare shelves were now full of disys of various materials and even some weapons and armour!


    ''It seems the yers have been busy!'' He whistled as he had a quick nosey around. ''I guess most of this stuff was offered by their followers.''


    "Ah! Exile! Wonderful to see you again!" Jarxos beamed as he took form beside him. "You''ve been gone for some time. Come! These disys are not suitable for one of your power."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as Jarxos motioned for him to follow after him as he headed for the stairs. Jarxos seemed to be in a pleasant mood as he spoke enthusiastically about all of the goods he had received recently. Bringing his store to life. When they reached the next level Exile could not help but gape at the full disys here too.


    However, Jarxos chuckled as he led the way towards another barrier blocking a second staircase! Exile quickly regained his senses as he hurried after the eager NPC. When he touched the barrier to pass through, he discovered that it was locked behind level 9! He could only grin at that discovery as he passed through easily.


    ''Seems I have a good chance of being one of the first toe up this far. I only hope Aeri didn''t beat me to it.'' Exile''s eyes wandered over the mostly empty disys on this floor. A disappointed expression crossed his face, but he still spotted a handful of materials and equipment.


    "This is where you should spend your gold. I admit... There''s not much right now. But these items are definitely more suited to you as you are now." Jarxos beamed as he waved his hand towards the disys with a bright smile.


    Exile humoured the NPC as he wandered around, taking a quick look. After all, this was not the reason he hade here. However, the more he looked, the more he took a fancy to several items. He soon understood that Jarxos was right. As he nced at each item, he got to see what effects they had. The boosts they gave to stats were much better than his current equipment. Meaning his gear was seriously outdated.


    ''The others will have to keep themselves updated as well. So far equipment has been rather rare, so I didn''t think much of it...'' Obviously, he could no longer afford to neglect this aspect. It was almost a certainty that other yers would soon start upgrading their gear, which would help them to gain an advantage.


    As he realised this, he noticed a w in what he had done by quickly levelling up the new members of Ragnarok. ''Damn! They won''t have enough gold to keep up with their level!'' He cursed himself for this oversight as he wondered how they could correct it. ''We might need to loan them some money or something. I''ll speak to Midas about it. I''m sure he cane up with something...''


    He pushed the matter to the back of his mind as he continued browsing. "Jarxos, how much is this?"


    The NPC beamed as he walked over to take a look at what had caught Exile''s attention. His eyes went wide as he nodded. "An excellent choice. This half cloak costs a mere 60 Gold."


    Exile felt the blood rush out of his face as he stared at the ck cloak with a white fur cor. It was a piece of equipment that would not interfere with what he was already wearing. Meaning that he did not have to give up current bonuses to grab a few more. However, so far he had only saved up 189 gold, meaning that it would cost him a third of his wealth!


    "Fine..." Exile grit his teeth as he made a pouch of gold appear from his inventory. "I''ll take it."


    Jarxos smiled warmly as he epted the pouch. With a snap of his fingers, the cloak disappeared from the disy. "Thank you, please let me know if anything else interests you."


    Exile grumbled under his breath at the merchant''s smug expression. His attention shifted to the notification he had just received.


    [Congrattions! You have received Divine Wolf Half Cloak.]


    [Divine Wolf Half Cloak]


    [+7 Endurance, +2 Authority]


    [Description: This cloak is made from the pelts and fur of adult Divine Wolves. A fine item to make a fashion statement.]


    Exile chuckled as he read the remarks in the description before he equipped it. The cloak appeared around his shoulders and only reached down to his waist. Still, he was more than pleased with the bonuses that came with it. His eyes gained a bright light as he began to study the other items more seriously. ''Let''s see if there''s anything else...''

 Chapter 102 - Ahead Of The Game

    Exile grinned as he looked around, picking out an armour set and a new shield in the process. Jarxos was practically jumping for joy as theypleted the transaction. In the end, the armour cost him a total of 70 gold and the shield cost another 50 gold. Exile''s heart bled as he handed over his remaining wealth. Leaving him with a paltry sum of 9 Gold to his name.


    [Congrattions! You have received Raider''s Armour Set]


    [Raider''s Armour Set]


    [+4 Endurance, +5 Speed]


    [Description: A raider must be fast and tough. This will certainly make you look the part!]


    [Congrattions! You have received Divine Oak Shield]


    [Divine Oak Shield]


    [+4 Endurance, +5 Authority]


    [Description: A shield made of Divine Oak that enhances your Divine Power. There''s not much else to say really.]


    Exile chuckled at the usual vour text that apanied the items before he looked around for a mirror. Jarxos seemed to realise what he was looking for as one appeared before him with a snap of Jarxos'' fingers. ''Not bad...'' Exile thought as he studied himself. The brown leather armour flowed down to his knees with a metal belt and red sash. It was apanied by te metal that covered his upper arms and a part of his chest and back. Leaving the area around his elbows open to allow for a better range of movement.


    Fur and metal gauntlets covered his hands and forearms, but yet again his palms and fingers were left exposed. Thick fur boots stretched up to his knees over a pair of in dark grey trousers. The fur cor of his cloak felt soft and warm against his neck and cheeks as he nced at his new shield.


    There was nothing special about it. It looked like a normal round shield with a metal rim and circr te in the centre. Its only defining feature was the golden wood it was made of. All in all, he was happy with his purchases. It was just a shame that he could not afford to upgrade his weapon as well. A slight sigh escaped from his mouth as he brought up his stats.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of the Hearth]


    [Race: Local Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 0]


    [Level: 9]


    [HP: 200/200 (125+75)]


    [DP: 53/53 (20+33)]


    [Strength: 21]


    [Endurance: 40 (25+15)]


    [Speed: 24 (19+5)]


    [Authority: 53 (20+33)]


    ''It''s a big difference...'' Exile hummed as he studied how much his stats had improved due to everything. He was feeling rather good about his chances of surviving unexpected situations now. He had deliberately tried to focus on equipment to raise his Endurance and Authority. Since that was the path he had decided to take.


    ''I''m turning out to be something of a heavily armoured cannon...'' Exile chuckled as he thought about the hrity of it. After all, in most games, those who focused on magic type abilities tended to be rather squishy. He was certain that the next fight he had would definitely shock some people.


    "Will that be all, sir?" Jarxos grinned, revealing his teeth through his parted lips.


    "Yeah, that should..." Exile paused with wide eyes as he cursed under his breath. ''Damn! I forgot to ask if he had any clues! If it costs anything I''m screwed!''


    Exile studied Jarxos'' expression and got the feeling the NPC had deliberately led him to spend all of his gold. While there was nothing wrong with that since he ran a store, it was unsettling that he led him straight to equipment that could tempt him without waiting to hear what he wanted first.


    "Actually... Jarxos." Exile hesitated as he noticed the merchant''s smile get broader. "I don''t suppose you have any hints about the remaining fragments of the First me? Or Allevia for that matter?"


    He felt it was a good idea to ask about Allevia since initially he was sent on a Quest to her tomb. Jarxos replied with a sly smile, as he let the question linger between them for several moments.


    "You know... Now that you mention it..." Jarxos tapped his chin as if he were deep in thought. "There just so happens to be something I could use your help with. Funnily enough, it''s connected to Allevia. You see, Allevia helped the dwarves at one time with a massive project that was supposed to help with the war. However, it was neverpleted. All I know is that it was supposed to be somewhere close to Valheim. If you can find what she was working on, I''m sure you''ll find some treasures. Just make sure to give me a fair share..."


    Exile''s eyes went wide in shock! Mainly because from Jarxos'' description he had already stumbled upon Allevia''s secret. ''So... There''s a chance there''s another fragment down there then...''


    "Jarxos... Have you told anyone else about this?" Exile''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the NPC.


    "Hm? Oh yes. Several in fact. They came with questions some time ago, so I''m afraid you''re a bit slow off the mark."


    "Oh, I wouldn''t say that..." Exile grinned as he bade farewell to Jarxos and nced at another barrier that had appeared to lead up to yet another higher level. His mind lingered on the fact that someone had activated the Autosphere station inside of Valheim. ''They likely gained some clues from it but hopefully, they haven''t returned and discovered it can be used to go to those ruins.''


    ''Looks like I''ll have to call the others back already. This is more important and who knows what we''ll face down there. There was still a lot to explore, and those mobs were nearly endless.'' Exile entered a state of deep thought as he considered some possible formations to aid their exploration. ''I guess it''s a good chance to work on our teamwork and get to know each other a bit more. With a bit of luck the others can grab some equipment from down there which would help a lot...''

 Chapter 103 - Consequences

    Exile received a shock as he reached the snowden hills where the wolf packs hadzily rested before. It now resembled a battlefield with many yers grinding the furious wolves whose numbers had grown by several times. It was also apparent that new variations had appeared. As many of them were muchrger than before.


    ''I guess those must be adults then...'' Exile sighed as he nced at several yers fleeing for their lives. There were no wolves in sight who were beingzy. Instead, they actively patrolled the hills and joined fights that were much further away than their previous aggro range.


    Exile groaned when he realised the gravity of the Council''s vote. It was clear that these mobs were too strong for newly ascended yers. Although it would not affect his Pantheon much, thanks to their rapid growth, it was still a major concern. ''The vote was to affect all mobs in Valheim''s sphere of influence. So what''s waiting for us down below now?''


    He had to consider the possibility that something new and stronger would have appeared there as well. The only constion was that it would help to slow down anyone who was ahead of them. Exile scanned the crowd of red and blue yers before him. They resembled a wall that was trying to stop the wolves from getting closer to the city.


    Every now and then he would spot a yerunching a sneak attack on someone from the opposite faction in the Civil War. However, their own allies would often scold them for it since they were already struggling to keep the wolves at bay.


    Off to the side, he spotted Aeri with the entirety of Kaleidoscope, holding off ten wolves. But their situation did not look great either, despite Aeri being level 9 like himself. ''I guess I can''t expect this to be easy then...'' Exile frowned as he finally found y and everyone else doing what they could to push back the wolves in their own area.


    He quickly sprinted towards them, rming some weaker yers in the back as he rushed past. However, nobody seemed to want to try their luck with him, as they swiftly made a path for him to reach his team.


    "y! Dodge!" Exiled roared as he dove forwards with his shield raised.


    To y''s credit, he reacted quickly to Exile''s warning and jumped to the side. Just in time for a wolf''s jaws to snap shut where he had been standing. The wolf red at him angrily, but in the next moment, it was sent tumbling through the snow as Exile''s shield collided with the side of itsrge body.


    [You have attacked Divine Wolf (Adult). Divine Power Check in progress...]


    [Enemy Endurance 21... Your Endurance 40... Your Divine Power is superior...]


    [You have dealt -20 HP to Divine Wolf (Adult)]


    Exile frowned as he analysed the report that came in. He could understand why they were struggling with so many of them, as they were definitely stronger than before. However, it should not be enough to overwhelm so many yers like this.


    "Exile! Don''t let them w you!" y screamed as a different wolf lunged at Exile.


    However, Old Un shot it with an arrow as it was mid air. Interrupting its attack in the process. As it slid through the snow close to Exile, he quickly bashed it with his shield and followed up with an attack from his axe.


    [You have dealt -20 HP]


    [You have dealt -30 HP]


    ''It seems like I should be able to deal with them pretty quickly...'' Exile frowned before he remembered that this species excelled in Speed. The memory came toote as another wolf leapt over itsrades, who were struggling to get to their feet. Unfortunately, he was unable to get his shield up in time as a heavy paw wed at the side of his face!


    The blow sent Exile sprawling until he mmed into Leggy, who quickly stabilised him. A deep frown crossed Exile''s face as he focused on the damage report that he had just received.


    [You have received -22 HP]


    Exile cursed as he realised why all of the yers were being so wary. The report indicated that the wolf had a Speed of 45 in total. It was bound to cause insane damage to anyone who had not been raising all of their stats or focused on Speed.


    "Exile! Do you have anything that can deal with this?" y roared as he swung a battleaxe down on a wolf''s head.


    Exile quickly nced at the number of wolves and how they were spread out before shaking his head. "They''re too far apart for Cleansing me to be effective. Even if I take out a few, they''ll just fill the gaps back up!"


    His reply caused looks of despair to appear on all of their faces. ''If we can''t even handle these, then how can we take the risk of going back to the ruins?'' Exile sighed as he tried to figure out a n of action. However, there was nothing they could do in this situation. It would be best for them to retreat and discuss the matter. Either way, he would have to put searching for the second fragment on hold until the Pantheon could stand their ground against these enemies.


    Otherwise, the exploration was likely to turn into a massacre. He spotted other yers slowly sneaking away, obviously deciding that the threat of the wolves was too great for them to deal with. In the distance, he even spotted Kaleidoscope performing a rehearsed retreat in a formation to protect their weaker members.


    "Everyone! Fall back to Valheim!" Exile shouted as he blocked another wolf but failed tond a counter strike. "Protect yourself as best as you can, but don''t chase after them! Just get back to the city!"


    y nodded at Exile''s judgement call with a serious expression, while the new members looked relieved. Even Beans was amongst them despite what she had faced before alongside Exile. The only one who looked unhappy was Winter, but she could only follow the crowd unless she wanted to be a light snack...

 Chapter 104 - Options

    After a trip to the Temple to recover, the team ended up back in The Raiser''s Horn. Most of them wore looks of desperation and frustration. How were they supposed to get stronger if leaving Valheim was next to impossible? Exile could only shake his head slowly as he looked around. ''The consequences of the vote are more severe than I imagined...''


    "What do we do now? We can''t stay like this..." y whispered as he leaned in towards Exile.


    "The only thing you guys can do is buy equipment at Jarxos'' ce. The bonus stats would help everyone stand against those enemies. However, until we can handle them basically every yer is trapped inside Valheim. Nerves will wear thin rather quickly..."


    "The new guys basically have no money... You know we can''t do that. It''s not like we have enough to loan anything out either." y replied to Exile''s evaluation in a heavy tone. "Is there nothing else we can do?"


    "There are two options..." Exile sighed as he sped his hands in front of his face. "Jarxos has asked me to further explore the ruins where we found the Autosphere. But we all know how that turned outst time and the enemies are sure to be stronger like the wolves."


    y and the others who were listening in revealed ugly expressions at that option. Nobody thought it was a good idea. The Pantheon was sure to suffer many casualties affecting their overall power if they went down that road.


    "What''s the other option?" Burri asked with a helpless expression.


    "The other option will be a lot slower but definitely safer." Exile cast his gaze around the table. "We have everyone focus on growing their follower count for everyone in the Pantheon. At the same time we''ll have to press our NPCs to offer up gold and do what we can for the Civil War."


    A silence descended amongst them, which drew the attention of the other members who were further away. They were aware that their leaders were discussing the situation, and they were hoping to hear some good news.


    "I understand growing our followers... Eventually we''llplete Milestones for stats but..." y stared thoughtfully at Exile as he chose his next words. "It''s too slow... I saw the rankings. Aeri is ahead of you despite what we did and that Arthur fellow is already Tier 1. If you take this path, there''s a chance you''ll fall off the rankings altogether in the short term."


    Exile knew where y was going with this. Their group needed sponsors for this game and those on the rankings would have the best chance of gaining their interest. However, he was the only one on the list, and he was already dangerously close to falling out of the top 100.


    "Why don''t we ambush some red yers?" Leggy frowned as a dangerous idea formed. "If we grab their orbs and give them to Exile, we could try to push him to Tier 1."


    Everyone turned to face him with a deep frown, which made him feel rather nervous. However, Old Un was the one to break the tension.


    "His idea isn''t half bad if you think about it. If Exile reaches Tier 1 then he might have the strength to support us as we fight the wolves. Besides... Asking our NPCs for gold... I don''t know about you guys, but mine are poor as hell. I''d probably risk angering them and it could cause them to abandon the belief in me."


    Exile scratched his chin as he considered what Old Un had said. ''I never thought about how the NPCs would react. I just assumed they would be happy to do it.'' Exile''s mind shed back to how realistic Ania''s reactions had been to everything so far. ''He''s right. They''re not mindless bots. We have to assume that they''re capable of abandoning us if we ask for too much.''


    "What do you think?" y asked with a solemn tone. "Do we try it?"


    Exile''s gaze wandered past hispanions to the other members, who looked tense. They had no idea what the leaders of the Pantheon were discussing, but Exile could see the hope in their eyes. "Let''s put all of the options to a vote. Everyone should have a say in this..."


    More than an hour passed as they exined the situation and various ns to the rest of their Pantheon. Including the pros and cons of each option. A debate soon broke out as their opinions differed from each other. They desperately tried to convince each other of what they should vote for. Eventually, Exile held up a hand to silence the room and nodded towards y.


    "Each of you will approach the table one at a time and tell us your vote..."


    Time passed slowly as each yer reached their decision and made their way up to cast their vote. Tensions were high, but they were d that could make their choice anonymously and not be singled out by those who disagreed. Eventually all of the votes had been cast, and Exile''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the room. To keep things fair, he had not given a vote, so there was no chance of a draw happening.


    "The votes have been counted..." y announced as he nced towards Exile. "We will now enact the n to make Exile Tier 1!"


    Exile felt awkward as cheers erupted in the bar. Even those who had not voted for that option pped politely with a smile. ''I can''t believe they really went for that option...'' Exile let out a sigh as he thought about their impatience. The slow road would have helped them to build a stronger foundation, even if it was not as exciting. However, the mentality of the yers saw them wanting to get stronger as fast as possible. Even if they had to rely on one person to make it happen.


    Even though he did not agree with their choice, he had to admit that he was feeling excited. His eyes shed as a single thought went round and round in his head. ''Tier 1!''

 Chapter 105 - Biting Back

    y roared as he activated a spell to increase his strength dramatically as he mmed his axe down on the shoulder of a member of Kaleidoscope. The woman''s eyes went wide as her body turned into motes of light, and y swiftly retrieved her orb. He nced around at the carnage that was happening as yers from other Pantheons cast surprised looks in their direction.


    ''Exile was right...'' y sighed as he studied how the battle was going. They had waited a long time for Kaleidoscope to make another attempt at the wolves. They had waited until they had been fighting for some time so Kaleidoscope''s members would be weakened. With them joining the battle, they had put Aeri''s team in a tough situation.


    They were now caught between strong mobs and yers, intent on wiping them out. Forcing them to fight on two fronts. After Exile''sst stunt, a lot of Kaleidoscope''s members were weaker than they appeared. Making this the perfect execution ground. y nodded happily when he noticed that nobody wasing to help Kaleidoscope fend them off.


    Aeri had clearly pissed off a lot of people before the recent events, and now it wasing back to bite her in the ass. ''I can''t believe he predicted how this would go...'' y''s eyes were full of awe as they wandered to Exile in the distance.


    "I''m going to kill you!" Aeri screamed furiously as she leapt towards Exile, brandishing her short sword.


    A series of dull thuds broke out as the pair exchanged rapid blows. Aeri was unable to pierce Exile''s defence, but thetter was not fast enough tond a counterstrike either. Although their fight looked deadly, it was anything but. They had essentiallye to a stalemate and were holding each other off while their Pantheons fought it out.


    "Tell me you didn''t see thising..." Exile smirked at her furious expression. "You''ve been chasing after me for a long time. Always trying to take me out. Did you honestly think I wouldn''t dare to bite back?"


    Aeri''s expression turned ugly at Exile''s words as she saw his axe beginning to glow. She swiftly retreated out of the range of what she knew woulde next. A bright sh bathed the snow in hues of red and orange for merely a second before Exile cancelled his spell.


    ''She''s too vignt. I just can''t get her with Cleansing me...'' Exile let out a sigh as the pair stood at a distance from each other. ''It would be a bonus if we could kill her here,'' but she''ll likely escape if too many of her Pantheon dies.'' Aplicated expression crossed Exile''s face at that thought. There was no way he would be able to chase her down, and he was certain that she would have no problems breaking through their encirclement with her power.


    ''Still, it will be a good result. We''ll still have weakened her Pantheon again, which will take them longer to recover. She''ll likely lie low after this.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as he gauged the distance between them. It was far enough that he could prepare for a surprise attack, but too far for him to make the next move.


    ''I definitely need to get my hands on some ranged offensive spells...'' At that moment, he noticed an ugly expression appear on Aeri''s face. It made him tempted to nce back and see how the battle was going, but he did not want to show his opponent an opening. Aeri cursed under her breath as she noticed a few of Ragnarok''s members making their way over to help others on their side.


    It was already clear that they had lost this fight. "Do you always resort to petty tricks!"


    "Petty tricks? There''s no such thing. Only taking advantage of a situation to ensure victory!" Exile grinned savagely as he noticed that she had slowly started to increase the distance between them. ''Damn! She''s going to run!''


    Sure enough, she did not disappoint his expectations. She quickly made her decision when she realised there was no way to turn the situation around. Unfortunately, Exile could not keep up as she made a path through his team. Knocking away his own members and saving as many of her own as she could along the way.


    Naturally, nobody in Ragnarok except him could stand against her alone. They would have to surround her and wear her down, but they were all spread out. Exile groaned as Kaleidoscope fled the field of battle. He had hoped for arger score, but he could tell that they had also lost a few members.


    "Make sure those that died get to recover their stats first. I''ll only use any leftovers after that..." Exile stated as y came within earshot.


    "Understood..." y raised an eyebrow as he nced at the onlookers. "Should we get out of here before they get any ideas? There''s a lot of red yers and we don''t have any tricks to deal with them this time."


    Exile followed y''s gaze and stared hard at those who were obviously harbouring ill intentions. "Yeah, you and I will bring up the rear. They''ll be wary of my Cleansing mes and a few of them seem particrly interested in you."


    The pairughed as the Pantheon gathered around them. Exile noticed that Beans was trembling while Winter continued to look around with a hungry expression. Midas just looked happy for it to be over, but most of the others looked generally happy at their victory.


    Exile kept checking behind them as they headed back to the city. There were a few yers tailing them closely, but they looked conflicted. ''This might drive Aeri to make a bargain with other Pantheons to deal with us...'' Exile sighed as he considered the consequences of what they had done.


    However, a frown appeared on his face as he turned to look at Valheim''s gates. Beartooth was standing there, apparently waiting for them. A blue glow covered his body...

 Chapter 106 - Offer

    "Not bad..." Beartooth pped loudly as Ragnarok reached the safety of Valheim. "I''m sure this will make a lot of people happy."


    Exile studied the smug grin on Beartooth''s face as he wondered what he was after. "More like pissed off. What do you want?"


    Beartooth let out a sigh as he rubbed his beard absentmindedly. "I want to see if you''re interested in discussing an alliance?"


    Exile frowned as the others looked on curiously. "With you? What benefits would that bring?"


    Beartooth chuckled as a sly smile crept across his face. "Not just me. While you''ve been creating problems, I''ve been tracking down all of the leaders who voted to join the rebel faction. If that didn''t make it clear, then let me spell it out for you. Everyone else has already agreed to work together. Your Pantheon is the only one still left out in the cold."


    Gasps of surprise and murmuring filled Ragnarok''s ranks as all eyes turned on Exile. Naturally, they would be happy to have confirmed allies with shared benefits. It meant that they would no longer have to rely on only themselves. However, Exile had other thoughts on the matter.


    "Who''s going to lead this alliance? You?" Exile''s pointed question caused a lot of doubts to appear in everyone''s minds. Although Exile seemed to know this yer, none of them knew the first thing about him. How could they put their trust in someone like that?


    "Haha, no, you think too highly of me. However, the rest of us have already agreed on a leader. If you''re happy to discuss terms of cooperation, it''s her you''ll be talking to." Beartooth shed a knowing look towards Exile and the others. "Trust me. It''s in your best interests. We''re going to use Jarxos'' shop as a meeting ce in a few hours. You can bring two yers with you to join the discussion."


    Beartooth turned to leave as Exile wondered who could get so many leaders to work together. However, after a few steps, he paused and nced back. "You''re not the strongest in Valheim. Even Aeri doesn''t have that honour..."


    Beartooth''sst parting words left Exile in a daze. Even though Aeri was higher in stats than he was right now, his Cleansing me spell technically raised his potential beyond hers. A dark look spread across Exile''s face that was mimicked by y and the original members. They knew that joining an alliance would help them greatly, but it also meant that it would be difficult to seize anything for themselves if somebody else was in charge.


    "Exile..." y whispered grimly. "I think you had better use all the orbs. The stronger you are the harder it will be for this ''leader'' to suppress us if we join."


    Exile nced around. Those who had heard y were nodding their heads in solemn agreement. Thendscape of power in Valheim had shifted without them noticing. They had been so focused on their enemies that made public disys that they never considered someone was gathering strength in secret.


    "Let''s get to the Temple first... We''ll discuss this alliance once I''ve levelled up." Truth be told, there was something that Beartooth had said that troubled Exile. ''Why would they use Jarxos'' store?''


    Naturally, he was curious as to who this yer was. But there was no way that he would allow them to dictate what his Pantheon had to do to gain the Alliance''s benefits. He went over possible scenarios of what they may discuss as they headed to the Temple and then back to The Raider''s Horn. Everyone''s expression was stern. Beartooth''s offer and words had darkened the celebratory mood of their victory.


    A total of seven orbs were ced in front of Exile. He shook his head slowly as he nced at them. There was more than enough for him to break through to the next level, but it depended on the yers'' stats that they hade from on how many he would have to use. He picked up the first orb and confirmed that he wanted to absorb the Divine Power it stored. The tension in the air rose as everyone waited to see the oue.


    [You have received +1 Strength, +3 Speed]


    Exile sighed as he shook his head. Letting everyone know that it was not enough. ''One point short. It must have belonged to a level 3 yer or someone we weakened a lot...'' As he picked up another orb, tensions began to rise again. Everyone had reached the same conclusion, that Exile would be Tier 1 after absorbing this one. How could they not be excited to see a Tier 1 yer for themselves? The orb vanished, and they waited with bated breath.


    [You have received +2 Endurance, +4 Strength]


    [Congrattions! More than 90 points of Divinity have been detected!]


    [You have reached... Level 10!]


    Exile''s expression froze as he waited for any further announcements. But nothing came! He mmed a fist on the table as everyone shot concerned looks towards him.


    "What''s wrong?" y asked hurriedly, fearing that there was some Quest that Exile had toplete.


    "It''s not enough... Level 10 isn''t the threshold for Tier 1." Exile let out a frustrated sigh as everyone in the room let that news sink in.


    Soon everyone understood the issue. If level 10 was not it then what level did they have to be? Was there enough power in the orbs for Exile to reach it? Or would they be better used to allow those who died to reim some lost stats.


    "Keep going!" Midas yelled, dispelling the yers'' doubts. "We all voted for this. If we stop now, then the vote will have meant nothing. Just keep going!"


    The room burst out in lowughter as other voices began to join him. Exile chuckled as he shook his head slowly. ''Fools... All of them...'' With a gentle smile, he reached for the third orb. He took a deep breath as he confirmed that he wanted to absorb its power...

 Chapter 107 - Tier 1!

    [You have received +2 Authority, +4 Speed]


    [Congrattions! More than 100 points of Divinity detected!]


    [You will now go through qualitative changes...]


    Exile''s eyes went wide in shock as he read the message. However, before he could share the news with everyone, his body was wrapped in a golden cocoon. Sealing him off from everyone else. An ufortable heat began to spread throughout his body. Causing him to break out in a severe sweat.


    [Elevating existence... Race changed to: Elemental Royal Deity (Human)]


    [External Influence detected... Fragment of the First me...]


    [Please choose from the following options...]


    [1. Link the First me to your Authority.]


    [Description: Linking the First me to your Authority over the Hearth will provide the following modifications once the process of elevating your existence is over. Followers will bepletely immune to cold environments. Hearth Spells will receive either a 50% increase in power or a reduction of 1 DP in cost (Cost can not go below 1).]


    [2. Link the First me to your Element.]


    [Description: Linking the First me to your Element of Fire will provide the following modifications once the process of elevating your existence is over. Divine spells will be modified to carry your element. Authority will be modified. Title: God of the Hearth will be removed. You will gain Title: God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3), (Warning! Hearth spells will be removed. Your Element will be modified to Lightning)]


    Exile did not know whether to curse or be excited by this discovery. ''It seems like I''ve discovered a hidden element... Or maybe it would be better to say a purer form of fire.'' While the first option was guaranteed to increase his overall currentbat capability, he felt it was worth sacrificing his hearth spells for the chance to have a more aggressive offensive power. Plus, he liked the sound of being the God of Lightning more than being the God of the Hearth.


    The only thing that concerned him was the iplete status that came with it. His first thought was that it was linked to how many fragments of the First me he held, but the max was below the total number of fragments still out there. ''Maybe it''s hinting that there''s yet another purer form after lightning...'' Exile hummed as he made his choice.


    [Title changed to God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3)! Element modified from Fire to Lightning!]


    Exile grinned as he read the message. He was excited to see what else would happen. He waspletely unaware of themotion going on outside of his cocoon as his Pantheon members became concerned about what was happening.


    [God of Lightning: The sky is your altar. Followers can now send their prayers to you by praying beneath the open sky. Followers believe in your might, bing more aggressive inbat and fearing lightning storms as a disy of your anger.])


    [Congrattions! You have reached Tier 1!]


    [Aura of the Gods now affects everyone below Tier 1]


    [Undergoing Base Stat modification...]


    Exile wondered what modifications would happen to his stats as he patiently suppressed the difort from the heat he was feeling.


    [Congrattions! You have reached... Level 1!]


    Exile frowned as he read thetest message, but the game system did not give him a chance to digest it.


    [All Base stats reset to 1]


    [Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Human) detected...]


    [Royal: +4 to All Stats... Human: +5 to All Stats]


    [Element: Lightning detected...]


    [+10 Speed, +10 Authority]


    [All Hearth spells removed...]


    [Divine Spells... Modified...]


    [Please choose 3 of the following spells...]


    It shocked Exile as he read the messages. He wanted to curse at what the promotion had done to his stats, but there was no going back now. His eyes scanned the list that appeared as a pensive expression crossed his face...


    "Come on! Why''s it taking so long?" y cursed as he paced around the golden cocoon. Everyone could feel a dangerous aura emanating from it.


    "Do you think something happened to him?" Beans asked, as her hands trembled.


    Everyone had gathered around the strange phenomenon with a mixture of concern and excitement. They were witnessing what they could expect to happen if they reached that stage. Most of them wanted to hear from Exile what he was going through so that they could prepare themselves.


    Suddenly, the cocoon''s colour changed from gold to blue. Sparks of lightning began to dance over it as they stared on in shock.


    "Is that... Supposed to happen?" Leggy asked nervously as he backed away from it.


    y shot a dangerous look in his direction, but he had to admit that he was getting more worried the longer the process took. ''Come on Exile! If this is some kind of joke, we''re notughing!'' y cursed internally as a stern expression crossed his face. As time continued to pass with no more changes, y became impatient and concerned that something was seriously wrong.


    A lot of people raised their eyebrows as he drew his two-handed axe from his back. "Everyone! Step back! I''m going to try to break it!"


    Meanwhile, Exile sighed in relief as he chose the spells that he wanted. ''That was a hard choice. Just when I had settled on focusing on Endurance and Authority, the game threw me a curveball...''


    He eyed his stats as he waited for the system to finish up the procedure...


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3)]


    [Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 1]


    [Level: 1]


    [HP: 125/125 (50+75)]


    [DP: 53/53 (20+33)]


    [Strength: 10]


    [Endurance: 25 (10+15)]


    [Speed: 25 (20+5)]


    [Authority: 53 (20+33)]


    ''My overall strength has dropped...'' Exile shook his head slowly. It pained him to lose almost half of the Stat points he had gathered so far. ''Luckily, nobody else should know about this drawback... The developers have been really sneaky with this...''


    As far as he could see, anyone who advanced a Tier would essentially be a lot weaker. However, at the same time, their overall foundation would be stronger. Meaning that they would surpass the previous limits as they grew through the new Tier. ''This will stop everyone who advances from trying to bully lower level yers...''


    [Elevation Complete!]

 Chapter 108 - Modifications

    As y swung his axe down, cracks appeared upon the surface of the cocoon that enveloped Exile. He barely managed to stop his attack before it connected, as his eyes went wide. Everyone in the room could feel an indescribable pressure. All of them had been subjected to Exile''s Aura of the Gods before, so they immediately understood this was the feeling of being in the presence of a higher level yer.


    As y stepped back, silence descended in the bar as eager expressions flickered across everyone''s faces. The cocoon suddenly shattered to reveal Exile Exile standing there with his eyes closed. Everyone present collectively held their breath as they studied his figure. However, nothing seemed to have changed about his looks.


    "Exile?" y asked with a concerned expression. "How''d it go?"


    Exile''s eyes flickered open, and for a brief moment, a shining blue light appeared in them before disappearing. A smirk appeared on his face as he nced around the room. "It went well."


    The room immediately burst into cheers at the excitement of having a Tier 1 yer on their side. They threw questions at him from all sides as they asked him questions. He answered the majority of them while holding back the information about his stats being reworked. Instead, he deflected it by saying that their new strength would depend on things like race and their element.


    This revtion made many of them ponder about their choices so far. A heated discussion followed as Exileid out his thoughts about it. "I would say that it''s like a purification process. For reaching Tier 1 at least it''s like the game reacted to my choices so far and my element to push my stats in the right direction to make the most of my Authority."


    Some yers groaned at what he said. Although this did not really apply to the members who had used orbs to level up quickly, as they had not had a choice in their stat cement. However, y and the others looked rather thoughtful about the matter.


    "So, you''re saying we should make our choices based on the ystyle we would like to achieve?" Burri hummed as he thought about what changes he might experience.


    Exile nodded to show that it was exactly what he had been thinking. His own elevation to Tier 1 hadpletely changed how he would y the game going forward. He could no longer rely on his Endurance to tank damage or his Hearth spells to provide buffs and healing. As the conversation shifted amongst the members, Exile opened his stat screen to study the changes to his spells. After all, it was important that he familiarised himself with them as soon as possible.


    [Skill Received: (Divine) Oracle]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Use this skill tomunicate with your chosen Oracle.]


    [(Divine) irvoyance]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Gain insight into your quest objective.]


    [Skill Received: (Divine) Lesser Miracle]


    [Cost: 5 - 15 DP depending on Miracle]


    [Description: The second-lowest grade of Miracle that allows Gods to interact with the Mortal Realm in a variety of ways. (Elemental Miracles are now possible).]


    [Skill Received: (Divine) Avatar]


    [Cost: 3 DP per Hour]


    [Description: Create a solid construct of yourself in the Mortal Realms to interact with the world. Your construct can descend in any Shrine or Temple that worships you. As the God of Lightning, you may descend anywhere within a 10m radius of Fanatical Followers where lightning can strike from the sky. Please use in a safe location as your main body in the Divine Realms can still be harmed.]


    [(Divine) Lesser Blessing: Increase your Speed by 10 for 30 seconds. Cost: 5 DP]


    [(Divine) Lesser Grace: Grant yourself an offensive Lightning Aura that deals damage equal to your Authority every 3 seconds for 15 seconds Cost: 5 DP]


    [(Divine) Lesser Sunder: Strike your target with a concentrated bolt of Lightning for 50% of target''s health and drain 10 DP from them. Requires a higher Authority level than your target. Cost: 20 DP]


    [(Divine) Cleansing Lightning]


    [Cost: 5 DP per second]


    [Description: A stream of divine lightning can be shot from your weapon, affecting one target at a time. The lightning will cause damage equal to your Authority per second and drain the enemy''s DP by 3 per second. Range: 10m]


    [(Element) Lightning Bolt]


    [Cost: 5 DP]


    [Description: Fire a Lightning Bolt from your weapon that deals damage equal to your Authority and stuns the target for 3 seconds.]


    [(Element) Electrosphere]


    [Cost: 7 DP]


    [Description: Fire a ball of lightning in a straight trajectory for a distance of 50m. Enemies within 10m of the Electrosphere at any time will be targeted by a lightning bolt that deals damage equal to your Authority.]


    [(Element) Piercing Lightning]


    [Cost: 7 DP]


    [Description: Fire a bolt of Lightning that strikes the target''s divinity. Drains target''s DP by 12 on contact. No Authority check. Will disperse on contact with objects.]


    [First me Fragment 1/5]


    [Description: Reduce the cost of all Fire/Lightning based Divine Spells by 1 DP (To a minimum cost of 1 DP). Collect all pieces to refine your element into a higher state.]


    Exile let out a sigh as he read through them. Most of his Divine spells had been upgraded in some way. However, they were a far cry from what they had been. The only annoyance was the extravagant cost to all of his spells now. However, it surprised him to discover that the First me fragment had also been modified to reduce the cost of his Lightning.


    ''It''s even more important now that I find the other fragments. I need to bring the costs down, but I wonder if it''s also to do with the fact that my Authority over Lightning is iplete...'' Exile slowly shook his head as he realised that everyone had gone quiet as they stared at him.


    "Exile, you won''t be able to hide this once you step outside. Everyone will feel the pressure." y sighed as he looked at him. "Do you think it will be enough for this meeting?"


    Exile frowned with concern as he pondered the question. ''It would be best if they just get scared at my level... But if a fight breaks out...''

 Chapter 109 - Leaders Gathering

    "It shouldn''t be a problem..." Exile grinned to set their minds at ease. It was important that they did not have any doubts. After all, they do say to fool your enemies, you must first fool your friends. As long as they were confident in him, then nobody should want to test his new power.


    "What about the other orbs?" Winter suddenly asked, interrupting the atmosphere. "Shouldn''t you absorb them as well to further increase your strength?"


    Exile frowned as he nced towards her. "I''m already Tier 1. It would be better for those who died to use them now."


    Another discussion broke out, but this time the majority sided with Exile''s im. They had already reached their goal so it would obviously be better to fix the slight damage that had been caused by the battle with Kaleidoscope.


    As the orbs were handed out to those who had died, Old Un decided to ask a question. "Who''ll be going with you to this meeting? y is an obvious choice, but who else?"


    Exile scanned the faces of those seated at his table before attention shifted out to the room in general. "Midas. He''lle with us..."


    Several deep frowns appeared, but before they could say anything, Exile held up a hand. "This meeting will probably involve negotiations. With his Authority being what it is, I''m hoping he can get us favourable terms. Do you think you''re up to it?"


    Midas seemed hesitant as he considered it. Sure, he enjoyed ying a merchant type ss in most games and was even rather good at it. However, it was a lot of pressure to be put under. "If I can use my spells... It won''t be an issue..."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at that remark. He had basically suggested that his spells were notbat orientated, but he could not help but wonder how they would be useful. "If they''re not offensive spells, then they should work. I don''t think the Civil War will restrict them being used on our ''allies''."


    Midas nodded at Exile''s judgement. He had assumed the same thing, but then again, there was still a lot he was unsure of. "Count me in then."


    "Good, it''s settled. Everyone make whatever preparations you need to. I don''t know how this meeting will go, but we should assume we may need to act right away. Take care of any business with your Oracles in case we be unavable for a while." Exilemanded as he nced around the room. "y, Midas... Let''s go meet our new friends..."


    The atmosphere inside Jarxos'' store was tense as twelve Pantheon leaders were gathered with theirpanions. Jarxos was busy trying to convince them to look at his wares, but they just ignored him.


    "Beartooth... Do you think they wille?" A woman with waist-length red hair and green eyes asked as she cast a frown towards him.


    "I''m certain they will... They can''t win this war if they cut themselves off from both sides." Beartooth chuckled in response as he looked at the gathering of leaders.


    "I say to hell with them... They''ve already caused a lot of trouble. Working with them will just make things harder on the rest of us." An older man with grey streaks through his hair grumbled. "I don''t get why she wants them to join us as well. Are we not enough? Everyone but Ragnarok on our side of this war has already joined this alliance."


    "You''re missing the point. We''repletely outnumbered..." Beartooth sighed as he met the man''s stern gaze. "Even if all of our Pantheons were full on this side, we still wouldn''t match up to half of our enemy''s numbers. Exile has already shown us that they are divided and confident in winning the war. We have to work together to take advantage of that..."


    Before the man could respond with a few choice impolite words about what he thought of Exile, a suffocating pressure descended on them as a group passed through the barrier of the store''s entrance. Subtle gasps escaped from everyone as they studied the neers in shock. ''How?'' Beartooth trembled as he stared at Exile with wide eyes.


    ''So, these guys are the Alliance.'' Exile frowned as he turned his gaze from one to the other. ''Where''s this leader that Beartooth mentioned?''


    He could not help but feel that none of them present were capable of controlling the others. Not a single one of them stood out more than the others, which left Exile feeling confused as he led y and Midas to join the gathering.


    "Is this everyone?" Exile asked curiously as he nced around. He knew that the game was quickly filling up with yers and the number of leaders present only confirmed how fierce thepetition would be. However, it shocked him to discover how few of these leaders were on their side in the Civil War.


    "Ah..." Beartooth coughed as he came out of his stupor. "We''re still waiting for someone. She''ll join us shortly."


    Exile could sense the wonder emanating from the others as they stared at him. ''It seems they don''t have any information on Tier 1.'' He let out a long sigh of relief. ''That''s good. The less they know, the better.''


    "So, do you want to fill me in on how this alliance can benefit my Pantheon? If you haven''t noticed, we''ve been doing fine on our own so far." Exile frowned as he nced at the group in an intimidating manner. He did not want to give them a chance to study him too much or to get any ideas. ''It would be best if I keep them on the back foot. Don''t give the chance to think too much.''


    "Yes, of course... I''m sure that would be fine to pass the time." Beartooth nervously smiled as he nced at the other leaders. "But... I don''t suppose you''d be willing to tell us about your... condition first?"


    Eager heads nodded at Beartooth''s counter-question. However, before Exile could rebuke them, a sudden change happened. Everyone in the room froze except for him. With a slow movement of his head, he nced towards the barrier that led upstairs as a figure descended.


    "Tier 1..." y whispered in shock as he wondered how Exile would handle this development...

 Chapter 110 - Noslin And Midas

    "Well... I have to say, this is a surprise..." The woman who appeared smiled as she reached out her hand towards Exile. "I''m Noslin, there''s no need to introduce yourself..."


    Exile studied her closely as she let out a softugh. Her avatar''s face was delicate, with pale skin and long violet hair styled in ringlets. Her eye colour matched that of her hair and her outfit was light fur amour that hugged her figure tightly while hanging at her waist was a longsword. ''This... is Noslin?'' Exile frowned as he recalled the name. ??


    ''She''s the number 4 ranked yer! How''d she stay hidden in Valheim?'' Exile did not even recall seeing her at the council. But if she was here, then he should have seen her. Her avatar was especially eye catching, so he struggled to understand how she had remained unnoticed.


    Exile immediately felt uneasy. Since Noslin was also Tier 1, he would not be able to trick them into believing he was more powerful after his promotion. As they shook hands, Exile tried to get a read on her through her expressions. But she genuinely seemed pleased to see him.


    "Since everyone is here... Let us get down to business. We have a few things to discuss first before we agree on the terms for your Pantheon to officially join our alliance." Noslin immediately said, taking control of the direction of their conversation.


    "What things?" Exile asked cautiously.


    "First, the benefits..." Noslin smiled as she kept his gaze fixed on her. "What benefit is there in allowing your Pantheon to join, other than gaining another Tier 1 yer?"


    Exile was taken aback by the question. He hade here to discover what benefits he could gain... Not give away! "Is that not enough? Besides, we all know our side iscking in numbers. Can you really afford to turn down a full Pantheon?"


    "No... It''s not enough." Noslin sighed as she maintained an innocent expression. "From what I gather, your Pantheon is pretty strong, average level wise. So yes, that would be helpful. However, with the n we''ve already conceived, we should be able to obtain victory, even without your help. So let me ask you this. Can YOU really afford to not be part of this alliance?"


    Exile was unsure how to respond. It seemed that Noslin had a counter to everything they had prepared for this meeting. Noslin herself offset his Tier 1 status. This apparent n of theirs was a counter to the number of the yers he could bring to the table. She even made it seem like she was doing him a favour by giving them a chance to join up with them!


    "What benefits would be eptable?" Midas asked as he stepped forward.


    Noslin raised an eyebrow at his interruption as her gaze turned on him. "And who are you?"


    "Forgive me, but I''m Midas. You can think of me as something akin to a trade or financial officer for the Pantheon. So these matters are better directed to me." Midas performed a bow.


    Noslin seemed amused by his introduction. "Can your leader not speak for himself? Is he not in charge of Ragnarok? Or is he merely a puppet? A figurehead?"


    "I would argue that Exile is a rather wise leader who can acknowledge his own shorings. After all, he had the foresight to acknowledge that I was the best choice within Ragnarok for this role and brought me along to this meeting. The final say will, of course, be his, but we will be the ones to decide the terms and then I will advise him on it." Midas let a savage grin appear on his face, which startled Noslin.


    "It seems you have some capable people..." Noslin frowned as she shifted her gaze back to Exile for a moment. "Ok, since you seemed prepared to negotiate, let us talk terms."


    The other leaders gathered around to listen closely. They had all made their own separate deals with Noslin. Some had received a better bargain than others, but they were all interested to see how this would go.


    "Please, begin." Midas stated as Exile secretly sighed in relief.


    "First, you will have to respond to any request for help from any of the member Pantheons. This is non-negotiable and everyone has agreed. It works both ways. If your Pantheon needs help, then those that can aid you will respond as well." Noslin''s expression turned stern as she stared at Midas.


    "This is not an issue. Ragnarok will agree to this." Midas responded with confidence without even checking with Exile.


    "Very well. The next issue is war funds. As you''ll be aware, this war will be fought on two fronts. Here and in the mortal realms. Your Pantheon will be required to provide funds, orbs, weapons and materials, just like every member. The leaders will discuss where these resources are needed most to have the greatest impact.


    "I notice that you did not state an exact amount to be contributed," Midas smirked as a frown appeared on Noslin''s face. "Obviously, we can not just keep the amountpletely open like that, so I have a counteroffer. Ragnarok will contribute 40% of its gains from the war to the alliance after recovering the cost of any losses imposed by each battle."


    The other leaders frowned when they heard that. They had all agreed to this term, so they were outraged that Ragnarok would try to reduce their own contribution in any way.


    "Listen, we''ve all already agreed to pool our collective resources. We even signed legally binding contracts over this. Don''t be stubborn!" Beartooth growled from the side.


    "Then you''re all fools!" Midas snorted as he barely spared him a nce. "If you put all your wealth in one ce, then what will you do if the leaders decide it should go to someone else? What if you''re outvoted and can''t recover your costs? Your Pantheon''s power will dwindle and cease to exist if it''s decided you''re not valuable enough! I am merely ensuring that Ragnarok survives this alliance! It''s a shame that is already toote for you guys though."


    Noslin''s eyes went wide at Midas'' statement. She had been vague on this point deliberately to gather everyone''s wealth. That way, as the war pushed on, she could also steer things to reduce the number of Pantheon''s that would survive. Including the ones on her side. ''He actually saw through it!'' Noslin coughed gently as she narrowed her eyes.


    "You''re correct. I''m ashamed to say that I never even considered that possibility. Speaking on behalf of the alliance, we agree to your counteroffer. If anyone wishes to renegotiate their current contract, then feel free to state as much now."


    Midas expected everyone to back out, but he was caught by surprise. The other leaders hung their heads in shame as they thought deeply about the matter. Midas frowned at that development. ''She must have included something to stop them from backing out so easily. I need to pay attention to every word.''


    "No? Ok then. Since we''re all happy, let us continue to the next issue. As mentioned before, we have a n. For this n to work, we must retrieve certain items and find specific locations. When we raid these ces, Ragnarok must contribute all of its yers to the effort. All of us have already made this pledge." Noslin continued in a solemn tone.


    Midas frowned as he digested those words. ''This is speaking to joint operations. But she''s left out key information again...''


    "I would like to say that Ragnarok can agree to this..." Noslin visibly perked up as Midas spoke slowly and carefully. "However, how will the spoils be divided in such an undertaking? Is it finders keepers? Or do we bid on every item that we find? Perhaps you n to distribute the items based on their worth and each Pantheon''s contribution?"


    Noslin''s expression became visibly annoyed by how Midas had picked apart another issue. All of his suggestions visibly pointed to a fair distribution. Giving everyone the chance to see what was obtained and a way to im it. However, she had hoped to ce everything under the alliance''s name, and over time funnel the most valuable assets to her own Pantheon. Which would have been easier if she were the only Tier 1 and her team did the most dangerous parts.


    However, with Midas raising this issue now, all eyes were on her. The other leaders had made their own assumptions based on their own experiences. None of them had picked holes in her terms before because she always made it sound like they were in everything equally. She cursed Midas under her breath for putting her on the spot like this.


    On the other hand, Exile and y stared at Midas'' back with approving expressions. They could not help but feel grateful that they had picked up someone so capable. Even Exile had to admit that there was a chance he would have been fooled by the nice words without looking too closely at the minor details. ''You''ve got this!'' Exile grinned as he noticed Noslin squirming a little...

 Chapter 111 - Alliance Formed!

    The negotiations between the two became heated as Noslin attempted to preserve the terms she wanted everyone to be under. But Midas picked apart everything that she tried. Forcing her to agree to more beneficial terms for Ragnarok than the others had received. However, with things like how the loot would be distributed during joint exploration and raids, the other pantheons got to benefit from Midas'' agreements as well.


    They went through terms like informationworking, who would explore in specific directions, and many other issues. By the time Midas was done, Noslin''s eyebrow was visibly twitching as she tried to maintain her cool and trustworthy expression. ??


    "There''s just onest thing we haven''t discussed..." Midas grinned as Noslin shot him a cold look. "I''m assuming that everyone here voted for you to be the leadmander of the alliance due to your rank or level? Correct?"


    Noslin nodded slowly as a frown appeared on her face. She could already tell that she was losing the confidence of the other leaders with everything Midas had brought up.


    "Well... That''s not really going to work now, is it? After all, Exile himself is a Tier 1 as well." Midas grinned as he prepared to go for the throat.


    "You want to take my position as well? Who do you think you are!" Noslin growled as her hands trembled.


    "Of course not! I''m just saying there''s a better method for organising the alliance now since we have two powerhouses." Midas quickly gauged the reactions of the other leaders and nodded. "How about we split the alliance in half? Each part is under a different Tier 1. The same would go for joint operations. It''s basically just like having two generals in the same army. We''re still working together under all these terms. But it saves you from shouldering the burden alone."


    Noslin was taken aback, but she could already hear the other leaders discussing it. ''Damn it! This was what he was after from the get-go!'' Midas had systematically gone after everything she had set up so far. Finding ways to fairly disperse her umted power in the alliance. ''If I get the chance after this war is over, I have to kill this man!''


    "Noslin, this is a good idea. We''ll get more done if we split themand in two. You''ll be able to participate in the fighting more if you don''t have to worry about everyone." Beartooth advised from the side, which was backed up by the other leaders.


    Noslin ground her teeth as she nced around. She knew that she had been defeated in this battle of minds with Midas. "Fine... But you''ll decide among yourselves who goes with Exile and who stays with me. Remember to limit it to half of our forces on each team..."


    Midas nodded as Noslin let out a long sigh. ''Finally! I practically used all my DP to see through her tricks!''


    With a weary expression, Midas turned to look at Exile, who wore a smug smile on his face. "You''ve heard the terms. Do you agree with everything?"


    "Sure, you''ve done a fine job, Midas." Exile pped him on the shoulder as he moved forward. "Now that our terms are in ce, tell me about this n."


    Noslin red at him but quickly regained her cool. "We''ve already agreed on the first part of the n. When I''m done exining that you might understand the whole picture."


    "Some time ago, we discovered a device that seems to be used for transportation. We know that it''s linked to many ces, but we need to go to each one to link them to thework somehow. This will be our key for getting our Pantheons outside of Valheim without being targeted by the red yers or mobs waiting outside the city."


    ''The Autosphere?'' Exile frowned as he listened to that. ''So it was Noslin''s team that activated the one in the city... But they don''t know we''ve taken care of the first station underground.''


    "After asking around, we discovered that Jarxos here had a Quest for us to retrieve something belonging to an old goddess called Allevia. Naturally, we think the two are linked. It''s likely we''ll receive a powerful legacy item while also increasing our mobility if we canplete these tasks."


    "Our goal is to get the necessary infrastructure in ce to win this war before we engage in any major battles. We have to be faster than our enemies, we have to be better prepared."


    Exile nodded as he understood. ''The Autospherework would be the key to us winning. We''ll be able to get reinforcements out to other ces faster than our enemies. But... They have no idea that these stations aren''t in safe locations.'' Exile frowned, as he had a clearer understanding of the situation than those present. ''Then there''s the legacy item. I''m certain it''s another piece of the First me, so I have to obtain it.''


    ''By the sounds of it, they''re after other items like my Raider''s Horn...'' y thought as he absentmindedly checked to make sure it was still on his belt. ''It has amazing effects, but if there are other items, then it would certainly go a long way to helping us close the gap in overall power...''


    "Ok... it seems like Ragnarok can already contribute to this part of the n..." Exile grinned as a look of shock appeared on the faces of the other leaders. "However, we need something from the alliance in return."


    Noslin frowned as she wondered how Ragnarok could contribute already despite just finding out about these issues. "What do you need?"


    "You see, we''re rather short on gold... and my people need better equipment for what we''ll face. I''m assuming that you guys have likely found other stores." Exile grinned savagely as he noticed two or three of the leaders shift around nervously. "There have to be dedicated cksmith stores or something in this city. I highly doubt Jarxos owns the only ce that sells these things..."


    y and Midas frowned as they listened to Exile. They had no clue where he was going with this. At first, he seemed to want gold, but then he mentioned stores? What was up with that?


    "I see... You want the location of these stores and the means to buy equipment for your Pantheon. That''s a big ask already. Is what you have really worth it?" Noslin narrowed her eyes as she studied him. But Exile smirked in response.


    "How about everyone takes a vote whether to give us the funds and information after you hear this. I know the exact location of the two things you''re looking for. Of course, we came across these before joining the alliance. So you''ll have to pay for this information. Plus, helping us to arm ourselves will help in obtaining them. Because... we''ll need everyone, we have to seed..."


    The tone that Exile used sent shivers down the other leaders'' spines. They could tell that he was warning them that what they were after was going toe at a cost. Noslin frowned at Exile''s ims. She could not argue about this matter because as Exile had said, they had gained this knowledge outwith the alliance.


    "Let us take a vote, then. This information will save us a lot of time and probably reduce the casualties that we would have suffered in finding it ourselves." Noslin stated solemnly in a way that made sure the other leaders understood how important this was.


    Naturally, the vote was a resounding sess for Exile, who nodded happily as he received the location of a smithy and general store. Surprisingly, the other leaders thought the information he held was also worth a total of 500 gold. ''The result was better than expected. They''ve already been pooling their resources.''


    "Now, hold up your end of the deal..." Noslin frowned as she handed over the gold.


    "What you''re looking for is in ruins underground in the blizzard region outside of Valheim. Deep underground. An army of mobs guards the ruins, but we discovered it before the council meeting..." Exile paused as the other leaders gasped. They already understood what he was meaning to say. The location was likely far more dangerous than even he knew now.


    "Hm... This is troubling news." Noslin stroked her chin as she nced around. "It will be difficult to mobilise everyone to go out there without drawing attention."


    "Oh, I wouldn''t worry about that..." Exile grinned savagely as he prepared to reveal his con. "We''ve already connected the Autosphere station to Valheim. We can use it to directly reach the ruins..."


    The other leaders revealed looks of shock on their faces when they heard this. In other words, they had just paid 500 gold to learn about something they could already use!


    "Think of this as the alliance rewarding us forpleting a dangerous task without you guys having to risk anything." Exile smirked before anyints could be made. "But it will take all of us to safely explore those ruins..."

 Chapter 112 - Witch Of Eraldsfen

    "Don''t let them touch Ania! For the glory of Exile!" Bjorn roared viciously as he sunk his axe into the neck of a warrior.


    A resounding cheer erupted from the crowd, who appeared bloodthirsty as they dove on the Jarl''s men. Bjorn was beyond reason as he hacked away at the group of warriors who had travelled to Eraldsfen. ''I won''t let them execute Harik or our warriors! Lord Exile has need of them!'' ??


    Ania stood in the back, her knuckles turned white as she gripped a spear that Bjorn had made for her. A dark look spread across her face as she eyed the sudden bloodbath. These warriors had been sent ahead to summon the families of the warriors who had gone on the raids. They were to witness their execution as punishment for spreading the names of gods amongst the warriors, despite the King''sws.


    Both Ania and Bjorn had realised that Harik must have had contact with Exile somehow since he knew his name. Which meant that Exile must have ns for her father. The entirety of Eraldsfen now devoted themselves to Exile and, in fact, saw this as a provocation against their god and Pantheon.


    Bjorn nced around with a savage gleam in his eye. ''We were already nning to supnt the Jarl, but I hoped to have Harik here to lead the charge! This has just turned into a rescue mission!'' A warrior charged him with a spear in hand, which only made Bjornugh.


    "Come!" He yelled as he waited for the right moment.


    Sidestepping the charge, he grabbed the shaft of the spear and yanked it to the side. The warrior behind it was thrown off bnce and fell to the ground. Before he could cry out, Bjorn delivered a strike between his eyes. Putting an end to his life.


    "What''s with these people!" The captain shouted as a viger dove on his sword and dragged it to the ground with her, leaving him wide open.


    However, he never got an answer, as five more piled on him and dragged him to the ground. The vigers tore at his skin and eyes as they beat him to death. Ania watched on from the rear as several skilled hunters watched over her with their bows. If anyone looked to be targeting her or Bjorn, they swiftly shot them down as soon as they had a clear line of sight.


    ''These people... Have no idea what Exile has done for us!'' She felt an uncontroble rage building in her heart. Not too long ago, she had felt as if something had changed within her. As soon as the fight began, she felt the need to strike at these men with her own hands. However, she knew that she had to maintain her ce. Bjorn would never let her hear the end of it if she put herself in danger.


    However, as she felt the anger surging inside of herself, she reached out towards one of the Jarl''s men who was about to strike down a viger. She screamed in rage, and suddenly the air around her felt strange to the hunters. A crackling sound could be heard momentarily before a bright sh urred. Before anyone could register what had happened, the man her palm had been pointed towards fell down dead. A ck scorch mark was visible on his temple as smoke rose from the scorched skin.


    "Witch!" One of the Jarl''s men screamed in fear as he nced from the dead man to Ania.


    With the man being distracted, he never noticed Bjorn''s axe as it dove into the back of his skull. By this point, the battle was almost over. Bjorn could not help but stare at Ania with a solemn expression. ''Hm... That was lightning...'' Bjorn could not help but feel concerned at that sight. He had always had his suspicions that Ania would be able to use magic if she received training due to her unusual hair. ''That wasn''t magic...''


    He was an old warrior. He had travelled far and wide on raids in his younger days. He had seen witches and warlocks, as well as other strange sights. But he knew that these people spent decades learning to wield their power. ''This...'' Bjorn''s eyes narrowed as he gained a new suspicion. ''But... It''s too soon...''


    He threw it to the back of his mind as he turned to help mop up the battlefield. Although the battle was short, it was also extremely bloody. The vigers had crazed looks in their eyes as they stared at the Jarl''s defeated men. ''He''ll hold the execution in Korden. He has no idea it''s already under our control. If we move fast, we can be prepared for his arrival.''


    Ania, on the other hand, was staring at her own hand with a mixture of fear and shock. ''What was that? For a moment there I could have sworn that I felt Lord Exile''s presence...'' She was visibly shaken as she had no idea what had just happened to her. Although the presence felt the same there was something off about it.


    It no longer felt warm and weing. Instead, she felt anger, cold and destructive feelings from it. ''Something has happened... Lord Exile, what have you done?'' A tear ran down her cheek as her emotions got the better of her. For a distinct moment, she had felt as if Exile had somehow be more distant from her. That was the only way she could describe it despite being able to sense that they still had a connection.


    Her eyes suddenly turned towards the sky as she shivered. ''I can feel him...'' The sight of the cold and vast sky somehow made her feel like it was a link between the two of them. ''Please, help me save my father!'' Her eyes wandered over the darkening clouds, but there was no sign of Exile.


    "Ania..." Bjorn ced a heavy hand on her shoulder. "We have to save Harik..."

 Chapter 113 - Gathering Storm

    "It''s an ill omen..." Bjorn frowned as he pulled the hood of his cloak to further cover his face from the howling rain.


    A storm had rolled in during their journey to Korden. The sky had turned dark even though it was midday. He slowly shook his head as he nced at the dark clouds before checking to make sure everyone was in ce. After the events of yesterday, he was certain that the Jarl would soon appear. ''He won''t have been too far behind his men. He''ll definitelye straight here.''??


    Little did the Jarl know, his home town had already been turned into a trap meant for his own execution. ''The key to this is making sure that Harik survives. Plus... We have her...'' Bjorn''s stern gaze turned to look through the open shutters of the shabby building behind him. His eyesnded on Ania, who was sitting on a chair with her head hung low. Her hand gripped a spear while a shield rested against her leg.


    ''There''s no telling what she''ll do once the battle starts...'' Bjorn sighed as he tried to figure out how best to ensure her survival. ''This will turn into a messy melee. I need to be in the front to lead the attack and archers won''t be enough to protect her.''


    He turned to continue studying the sky. He was hoping the weather would break before the Jarl arrived. After all, the Jarl would have seasoned warriors on his side while they had a rabble of vigers. Fighting in the middle of a storm would only make it difficult for those without much experience. He knew from experience that a cold rain could make it difficult to keep ahold of your weapon and to keep your footing as the ground would turn to mud and slush.


    A distant rumble of thunder sounded in the sky, sending a shiver down his spine. That sound gave him the feeling that Exile was angry, but he had no idea why it made him feel that way. A deep frown appeared on his face as he pondered the matter.


    "He''s watching... He''s angry..." Ania''s soft voice sounded in Bjorn''s ear, startling him.


    ''When did she sneak up on me?'' It surprised him because he was always alert to his surroundings. He knew Ania well enough to say that she was not capable of such a feat. However, that was when his shock turned to confusion.


    "What do you mean, Ania?" Bjorn could not help but ask.


    "Can''t you feel it?" Ania asked as she stared at him with lifeless eyes. "Exile''s warmth has left our hearths."


    Bjorn''s eyes went wide. Now that Ania mentioned it, he had to admit that he no longer felt reassured when sitting in front of a fire to keep himself warm. ''That should be impossible!'' His mind raced to find a solution. Of course, he knew that the gods would evolve as they grew in power. But an event like that should still be a long way off. If anything, they should have felt his presence more clearly from their hearths first.


    ''What has happened...'' He felt confused as there was nothing in his book that he could use as a reference. He turned a questioning gaze on Ania. It seemed like she had a deeper understanding of what might be happening than he did.


    "The sky... You''ve probably already sensed it." Ania''s voice was solemn as she gave voice to an answer.


    Bjorn turned his gaze back to the sky as understanding dawned on him. ''How? Lord Exile should be a fire god... So why do I feel his presence in the sky?'' He now understood why he felt like the storm was an ill omen and why the thunder had him worried. But he could not fathom how a fire god was able to change his very nature like that. ''Some big changes areing...'' Bjorn sighed.


    "The Jarl''s men are approaching!" The lookout suddenly shouted as they blew the horns to wee the Jarl home.


    Bjorn''s gaze turned fierce as he nced towards the gate as people came out of their homes to cheer at the Jarl''s return. Of course, these people were, in fact, the followers of Exile and his Pantheon. They had taken over the homes that lined the route that the Jarl would take. Until all of the warriors were in the middle of their trap, they had to make it seem like nothing was amiss.


    "Bjorn..." Ania''s tone sounded cold. "Make sure to take some prisoners."


    Bjorn frowned at Ania''s unusual demand. "Why?"


    "For Lord Exile, of course. Let these fools see what happens when they go against the gods..." Ania''s eyes turned stone cold as she almost whispered those words. Sending a tremor through Bjorn''s heart.


    ''She finally understands!'' Bjorn felt ecstatic to see Ania''s sudden change. He felt as if he was watching the birth of an Oracle worthy of the gods before his very own eyes. "As you wish... Lady Ania."


    Bjorn summoned one of the nearby men and had them pass the message along. ''Forget a few prisoners. Let us offer as many of them as we can to Lord Exile!'' The orders he sent were to aim to maim their enemies but keep as many alive as possible to appease Exile''s wrath. For that was what he felt when he saw the first sparks of lightning break the sky in the distance.


    "Bjorn... I don''t know if Lord Exile will help us with this. It may very well be a test he has ced upon us. No matter what, we must seed." Ania spoke with a grim determination as she turned to hide inside of the house. "Oh, and Bjorn. I forbid you to die... I have a feeling Exile will have need of you in the days toe."


    Bjorn closed his eyes as he bowed his head. His body trembled at Ania''s words. He would not shake them from his mind lightly. He knew that oracles could sometimes feel the intentions of their god without speaking to them. ''Don''t worry... I will give my all to Exile...''

 Chapter 114 - Just In Time

    Harik stared at the muddy ground as his feet carried him forward. His hands were bound tightly and tied to the next prisoner behind him. Every warrior from Eraldsfen that had survived the raids was there. ''Why can''t they just ept that the gods have returned! It''s foolish to oppose them!'' Harik''s body trembled in rage as the freezing rainshed at his skin.


    There was no way to escape as they trundled through Korden''s gate to the sound of the citizens cheering. The Jarl''s warriors around him cheered in response as they waved. Harik''s eyes drifted up to nce at the faces by the side of the road. But his expression froze. His eyes hadnded on a man in a thick cloak walking towards them, holding out a drinking horn full of mead towards the warrior closest to him.??


    ''Bjorn! What are you doing?'' Harik nced around as the warrior reached out to take the horn from Bjorn. However, before his hand could take hold of it, Bjorn dropped it and grabbed his wrist instead! in one swift movement, he jerked him forward as he drove a concealed dagger into the warrior''s armpit, severing a major artery in the process.


    "Now!" Bjorn roared as the cheering crowd suddenly revealed weapons and rushed the Jarl''s men from all sides.


    Archers appeared on the rooftops and aimed for those closest to the prisoners first. Dividing the battlefield in the process. With Harik and the other prisoners being in the centre of the group, this forced the Jarl''s men to be forced into two halves as soon as they were surrounded. Leaving each group unable to support the other.


    "Hold them off until the prisoners are free! Quick, bring the weapons!" Bjorn barked as he sliced at the ropes binding Harik.


    "Bjorn! It''s good to see you! But what''s going on here?" Harik asked with a stern expression as someone passed him a sword and shield.


    "This is Lord Exile''s will. I''ll exin when this is over, but if I were you I''d watch out for his oracle." Bjorn chuckled as the sounds of battle rang out around them.


    "Lady Ania!" A voice called out nearby, causing both men to nce in that direction.


    Ania had pounced into the heart of the battle and thrust her spear through the heart of a warrior about to strike a deadly blow on one of Exile''s followers. She roared at those around her to push on as she pulled her weapon back and blocked an axe with her shield. Her eyes were focused on the Jarl near the centre of the front group.


    "Bjorn! What the hell is my daughter doing on the battlefield!" Harik growled as he grabbed the smaller man by the front of his leather coat and lifted him into the air.


    "Meet Exile''s oracle." Bjorn sighed as he patted Harik''s wrist.


    Harik could not help but let out a low groan when he heard that. He was a follower of Exile and should feel honoured that his daughter was chosen as his oracle. However, he could not help but fear for her safety and the responsibility that she would have to carry on her shoulders. ''I''ll have to give her some training to better protect herself. She''s full of openings.''


    As he was thinking that, he watched in horror as an axe descended towards her exposed nk. ''No!'' But that was when he received a shock. Ania moved faster than he thought possible as she slipped away from the deadly blow. ''How?''


    "Harik... She has been blessed by Lord Exile. You can''t judge her by our standards. Still, she would benefit from some proper training." Bjorn shook his head before grabbing a warrior by his cor and dragging him to the ground.


    The streets of Korden ran with rivers of blood that day as the vicious battle continued. Ania haunted the group containing the Jarl as she danced in and out of reach while dispatching warriors with every blow. Bjorn led the other side in defeating the leaderless second group, while Harik forced his way through the crowd in an attempt to reach the Jarl before anyone else.


    Soon, the Jarl''s men began to surrender. Naturally, under Bjorn''s orders, these warriors were taken away to be sacrificedter. ''We''ve lost quite a few, but it''s almost over now.'' Bjorn sighed as he nced towards the main fight. Ania was close to breaking through to the Jarl. However, before she could, Harik''s voice rang out.


    "Jarl Balgrund! I, Harik Eraldsen, challenge you for the right to rule Korden as Jarl!"


    It took a few moments for the battlefield to turn silent as all eyes turned to the Jarl. Harik was no longer a prisoner. He was a free man that had the right to make the challenge even if he was a criminal. If the Jarl refused, then he would be branded a coward and nobody would follow him.


    "I ept!" Jarl Balgrund pushed his way forward as his men started to create a circle for the two to fight.


    Jarl Balgrund and Harik were close in age. Both were at the peak of their physical prowess. However, Jarl Balgrund stood a head taller than Harik, who was already arge man by Skardian standards. Harik moved into the circle as the men and women from Eraldsfen cheered. Bjorn wore a grim look on his face as the two circled each other. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Ania tightly gripping her spear, her face covered in blood.


    ''She''s going to dive in if things look bad!'' Bjorn panicked as he tried to force his way towards her as the two men shed to the shouting of the crowd. Each blow seemed perfectly timed to the sound of thunder and shes of lightning in the middle of the storm. Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he spotted Ania preparing to make her move!


    Crack! The whole crowd became silent as Bjorn''s eyes turned to see Harikying on the muddy ground. Jarl Balgrund was on his knees, his head smoking and his skin charred ck. While Bjorn had been focusing on Ania, a lightning bolt had suddenly struck the Jarl dead as he was about to win.


    ''Made it... Just in time...'' Exile sighed from far off to the side of the battle as he cast a weary eye over the scene...

 Chapter 115 - The First Move

    [Quest: The Man Who Would Be King (Part 1: Complete)]


    [Rewards: +10 Stat Points, Inhabitants of the territory of Yugrund will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]??


    [Quest: The Man Who Would Be King (Part 2)]


    [Description: Due to your actions and events in the Mortal Realm, Harik Eraldsen no longer agrees with King Balmir''s policy of banning worship to the Gods. The seed of rebellion has sprouted in his heart. Now that he has be the Jarl of Yugrund, it is time to take the fight to King Balmir. Help Jarl Eraldsen be King of Stormcrown. Bing one of the Nine Kings of Skardia.]


    [Rewards: +20 Stat Points, Inhabitants of the territory of Stormcrown will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]


    Exile sighed as he read the notifications with the sound of cheering and cries of anguish in the background. ''The first step has beenpleted... But there''s still the other Jarls and the King to contend with.''


    Exile pulled up his stats and immediately sunk 5 points each into Endurance and Speed. ''I can''t let my health stay so low.'' Exile frowned as his HP raised to 150. This was more of a preparation for when the alliance raided the ruins they had found. He had to make sure that he survived until the end.


    In the distance, he spotted Ania turning to stare in his direction. ''Oh, she can sense me from the distance? Or was the lightning bolt a giveaway?'' Exile chuckled as he slowly made his way towards the cheering crowd. However, as he drew closer, those who worshipped him also began to feel his presence. Even if they could not see him.


    Bjorn was busy helping Harik to his feet when he felt Exile''s presence envelop him. ''We need to use this!''


    "By the great will of Exile! King of the Ragnarok Pantheon! I dere Harik Eraldsen as the rightful Jarl of Yugrund!" Bjorn roared to a chorus of cheers and confused gazes.


    Harik gracefully epted the victory, despite not winning it with his own hand. He quickly ordered a celebration and for the old Jarl''s men to be locked up until their fate was decided by him. Naturally, he had sensed Exile''s presence as well, and was eager to express his gratitude.


    As they tried to make their way to him, Exile shook his head as he motioned for Ania toe to his side. Bjorn frowned as he watched Exile disappear inside a house followed by Ania. He had a distinct feeling that Exile wanted to avoid making a scene before too many believers noticed him. ''Something big must be going on.''


    "What do you think they''re talking about?" Harik asked as he stared at the house.


    "Whatever it is, Harik. If it''s something Exile wants us to know, you can be sure that Ania will tell us. But since he wants to talk to her alone, I have to assume he has words for her and her only." Bjorn sighed as he shook his head. "You realise this is only the beginning. King Balmir won''t allow you to hold this territory without a fight."


    "I know..." Harik stroked his beard as the rain continued to pound down on them. "But we don''t have the manpower to take over the throne."


    "Sadly, your evaluation is spot on." Bjorn grumbled. "I had hoped to make you Jarl when you returned to keep information from reaching the King about Exile and the gods. That way, we would have time to spread his name. But now... How did you even get captured?"


    "Hm, things went bad on the raids. Real bad. Eventually, we were caught in a position that would have wiped us out if Exile had note to save us. But during that time, people started to praise his name and other gods as they fought and fled from that disaster." Harik''s eyes had an angry look to them as he recounted the details. "Once we were safely away from our enemies, the entire army stopped on Jor''s Isle to rest. That was when King Balmir has his loyal warriors surround every ship that was believed to carry anyone who believed in the gods."


    "So... You weren''t the only ones then?" Bjorn frowned as he listened to the details.


    "No..." Harik sighed. "But it''s not like we can help anyone else now, either. "If they haven''t been executed already, they will be before we could attempt to save them."


    ''Shame, we could have used them.'' Bjorn became pensive as he wondered if there was anything they could do in their current situation. ''Stormcrown is a huge territory. It will take months to reach King Balmir''s personal territory. We can''t get there with an army unnoticed.''


    As the two stood there in silence, they suddenly noticed an ethereal lightning bolt shoot towards the sky through the roof of the house as Ania appeared in the doorway. She wore a solemn expression on her face as she waved at them to join her. It felt weird to Harik to answer to his daughter''smands, but with her position as oracle, he would have toe to terms with it quickly.


    As the two entered the house, things were in motion in every territory of Skardia. For King Balmir, a series of ambushes freed the majority of criminals that had been captured on Jor''s Isle. Throwing him into a rage as news reached him about the closest attacks. He roared at his servants in the tent to get out with such fury that they dared not linger.


    Once he was certain that they were gone, he took a small statue out from inside his coat. "That useless goddess! She promised that if I listened to her, she would make me the High King of Skardia! But now I''m facing a god damn civil war in my own territory! I never should have listened to a damn god! Aeri, you useless piece of trash! Get down here and exin yourself!"

 Chapter 116 - Secrets

    "Took you long enough..." Noslin frowned as she nced towards Exile and his Pantheon.


    "Have the others already gone ahead?" Exile replied with a rather cheerful tone.??


    "Yes, so far, what you said seems to be true. There is indeed a safe zone on the other side." Noslin let out a sigh as her gaze moved to Midas.


    Midas simply waved back with an amused smile on his face. Causing Noslin''s expression to turn dark. Although the other leaders were unable to break their contracts due to the cost just now, she was certain they would try to find a way to renegotiate before much damage could be done to them.


    "But anywhere beyond that is going to be difficult. Remember, this time we''re looking for a viable route to get our people out of the ruins. Only then can we get our Pantheons outside of Valheim without anyone noticing." Exile absentmindedly stated. "We''re not here to hunt for treasures. It will take time to explore the ruins and find where we need to go."


    "Do you take me for an idiot?" Noslin snorted in response.


    "No, I take you for someone who wants to seize as many benefits as possible. That''s far worse." Exile red at her before walking on towards the sphere. "We''ll take turns to get everyone down there."


    By the time everyone had gathered at the Autosphere station in the ruins, several teams had already been sent out to inspect the situation. The Pantheon leaders were busy arguing because none of these scout teams had returned yet. Exile shook his head slowly.


    "It''s exactly what I said it would be. Those teams you sent out have likely already been wiped out. I did say it would take all of us to explore this ce safely." Exile red at the other leaders as he said this.


    "How could we just take your word for it? After all, you recently tricked us into paying for information about the Autosphere that you had already connected to here." Noslin growled as she red back at him.


    "Well, do you believe me now?" Exile smirked in response.


    "Let''s stop this petty arguing. The others are bound to notice that we''re all missing from Valheim with time. We have to work together on this. Exile, since your Pantheon already has experience down here, what do you think we should do?" Beartooth asked while silencing the quarrel.


    "Hm, we split into two teams... As agreed before. But we''ll be working together. Noslin, your team should focus on defending everyone while mine will be responsible for attacking." Exile nced around at the frowns that appeared on everyone''s faces. "It''s a matter of using our DP effectively. If you have to attack and defend yourself, we''ll get nowhere. We have to be as efficient as possible with this."


    "That won''t work, Exile. I already know a lot about you. Your spells are clearly suited to defence. So why don''t you take that role?" Noslin smirked as she thought she had just caught him trying to gain an advantage somehow.


    "Because... I''m no longer suited to that role." Exile shot a look towards her that made her frown.


    "That''s impossible! You can''t just change like that unless..." Noslin''s expression froze momentarily before turning grim. "What do you have?"


    The other leaders looked confused as their eyes darted from one to the other. However, Exile was the one who looked the most confused. ''For her to ask me that... Does she have something as well? If she also has a piece of the First me how am I meant to take it from her?''


    "I''ll show you mine if you show me yours..." Exile frowned as he tried to bait her.


    The atmosphere grew tense suddenly as everyone waited to see what woulde of this strange development. Eventually, Noslin let out a sigh. "Nevermind, I''ll see for myself once the fighting begins. If you really think you can handle the offense during this mission, then so be it."


    Exile''s frown deepened as he wondered what game she was up to. ''Why would she back off like that? It''s not like we can hurt each other. Or does she want to keep her own abilities a secret?'' No matter what, he had to find out what Noslin''s spells were based on now. It was bad enough that they werepetitors at the Tier 1 stage, but if they were going to fight over the First me as well, then the alliance would neverst...


    Meanwhile, Ania, Bjorn and Harik sat around a table set aside from the festivities. Bjorn wore a grim expression as he digested what Ania told them. ''This... The gods are at war, so they can only help when they have time. But we have to do our best to put Harik on the throne of Stormcrown? Damn, the Eraldsen family is truly loved by Lord Exile!''


    "So, we''ll have allies as we fight against the King after all. But we have to stop them from iming the crown?" Harik mumbled as he stared at his daughter. "This is truly Exile''s will? For me to be a King of Skardia?"


    "Yes. He says that it will help them greatly to settle things in the heavens. He also said that there are a lot of gods supporting the King''s faction even though he ouws any form of worship." Ania stared hard at the mug between her hands.


    "The gods would never lend aid to a non-believer. So the King and his Jarl''s must be worshipping them." Bjorn growled. "But why would the King do this then? Or is to suppress the other gods who have returned?"


    "Exile believes that it was probably a n for the King to consolidate his power. He''s probably made a deal with a god for him to keep us from worshipping anyone else until they can spread their own influence. Then they would use their power to help the King im all of Skardia." Ania whispered as she recalled what Exile told her.


    "So, he was nning on taking control of the country using his god in secret? Then nobody could oppose his rule..." Harik frowned as he listened. "Such a cowardly way to do it! How can he call himself a Skardian!"


    Harik''s mug shattered as he threw it against a wall. The trio around the table became grim as they thought about the bloodshed toe.


    "What else did he say? Did he mention what''s different about him?" Bjorn finally asked the question that had been troubling him.


    "It seems that Lord Exile has be stronger. We have to let everyone know that he''s no longer the God of the Hearth..." Ania sighed as she recalled that part of their conversation. "He''s now the God of Lightning..."


    Harik shot a questioning gaze towards Bjorn who revealed a shocked expression. Thetter took a moment to calm down as he collected his own thoughts. ''That makes sense with the miracles he sent our way and what we''ve been feeling. But Lightning? Does that mean he has some connection with Allevia?''


    "What is it Bjorn? It seems like you know something that you''re not sharing with us." Ania finally asked. She had her own concerns of what this meant and what would happen in the future.


    "Ahem, Lightning was once Allevia''s power when she was a young goddess." Bjorn cleared his throat before indulging them with an answer.


    "That''s impossible!" Harikughed. "We all know Allevia was not the Goddess of Lightning..."


    "No, she wasn''t. Not in most of our stories anyway. As the gods gain power in the heavens, it''s possible for what they rule over to change. However, the stories that I guard say that Allevia once ruled Lightning not long after stealing the First me for mankind." Bjorn shook his head slowly. "However, there are not many details from that period of her history. Most of the stories we know are only about her theft from the Elden Gods and what she did with that power during the Fall."


    "So you''re saying that Exile could be following in Allevia''s footsteps?" Harik asked as he leaned back in his chair. "That''s good isn''t it? She was one of the most powerful gods in our history. If Exile is to be the same as her then that''s good for us right?"


    "Not necessarily. Lord Exile may choose a different path from Allevia. Not everything is set in stone. But we should be prepared for him to go through many changes in the future. Still, it exins a lot for now. But who knows how everyone will react to this news. Most of them follow him because his presence could be felt inside their homes. Now his presence is overbearing. Washing over us from the sky itself. While I believe it is a good thing for him to be more powerful, I''m not sure this was the right time..."


    "So... How do we handle it?" Ania asked with a curious gaze...

 Chapter 117 - Showcase

    "Target the right nk! Relieve the pressure on Noslin''s team!" Exile roared with a grim expression.


    The moment they stepped out of the safe zone, they immediately heard screeching. Before long, they had backed up into a group of ruined buildings and were currently using them as a defensive position. Naturally, the Deep Stalkers had arrived soon after and tried to flood in, but Noslin''s team held the entrances while Exile''s team stopped them from flooding in on the upper levels.??


    Whenever there was a break in the assault, Exile ordered his team to fire off spells at the enemies below. ''So, these are the adult Deep Stalkers.'' he grimaced as he stared at them. They wererger, with eight arms instead of six. Apart from that, their features were exactly the same.


    "y! Take seven yers with you and reinforce the left side! The Deep Stalkers are jumping over from the nearby building!" Exile shouted above the noise.


    "Got it!" y waved as he started grabbing nearby yers to help him out.


    Exile hacked at the head of a Deep Stalker as it poked its way in through a hole in the wall. The creature screeched before retreating. ''Only did -7 HP.'' Exile frowned as he nced at the surrounding horde. ''We might not survive this. I knew their numbers would berger but not by this much.''


    As far as he could see, there was no way to explore the ruins, even with all of these Pantheons working together. From time to time, he would hear the grunts wondering why neither of the Tier 1 yers was helping them. Exile shook his head slowly. If he were to take action, he would expose his element to Noslin and vice versa.


    Even at that, he was unsure if they could turn the tides by much. ''We''ll have to do it to save as many people as we can. Still, how effective will we be?'' Exile grimaced as he decided to put his pride aside and approach Noslin. The short journey down the stairs saw at least five Deep Stalkers trying to breach the building from various directions.


    "What are you doing here?" Noslin growled as she continued barking orders to maintain the defence. "Why isn''t your team attacking? Get out there and push them back!"


    "Yeah right... You know that''s a death sentence. Then without us holding the upper levels, you''ll be overrun. Don''t be stupid." Exile rolled his eyes at her as he noticed the grim expressions of her team. "Are you guys already running out of DP?"


    Noslin frowned before dragging him off to the side. "Of course they''re almost out! Do you have any idea how hard the fighting is down here! These things are overpowering them if they don''t keep buffs up!"


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at her, it was the first time that she was actually showing concern for everyone else. But maybe it was just concern for herself. ''Let''s see if she actually has a heart.


    "Noslin, you and I have to go out there. We have to lead the charge and see if we can break these mobs or make a run for it." Exile sighed as he finally decided to confront her with his idea. "But we have to work together. Can you handle defence?"


    Noslin frowned as she considered what he was saying. She ran a hand through her violet ringlets for a moment before nodding her head. "If we do this, then the others might realise we''re not as strong as they think..."


    "Does it matter if the alternative is getting wiped out? Besides, our spells are probably strong enough to give them a false impression anyway." Exile sighed as he shook his head. "They won''t be able to say for certain."


    "Ok, but don''t you dare try to ditch me out there!" Noslin eventually relented as she nced around. "Everyone! Be ready to move on our signal!"


    A few yers looked back in confusion to see the pair of them standing together. Exile red at them momentarily before giving voice to his own order. "Make way! We''re going out! Be ready to follow us!"


    Excited chatter soon followed. All of them wanted to see what a Tier 1 could do! Especially the other leaders. They personally wanted to witness what power would be given to those that reached that level.


    "Are you ready?" Exile smirked as he nced at Noslin next to him at the yers prepared to leave a gap in the doorway.


    "I should be asking you that." Noslin wore a grim expression on her face. "Well, since you wanted to lead the offensive team, do you want the honours?"


    "As long as you don''t back out!" Exile grinned savagely as he prepared his shield and axe. "Clear the door!"


    ''Lesser Blessing! Lesser Grace!'' Exile roared in his mind as his Speed stat increased by 10 points and a sharp aura of lightning became visible around him. Shocking all of those present in the process. With a single push from his back foot, he dove straight into the Deep Stalker that tried to hurry through the gap. The creature screeched as Exile''s shield mmed into it and forced a trail through the crowd as he shoved them aside.


    "Is that really Exile?" Beartooth asked y with wide eyes. "I thought he used fire!"


    y struggled to keep a straight face as his eyes wandered to the battlefield below. While Exile was still pushing forward, Noslin had stepped outside and waved her hands in either direction. Two walls of ice appeared that kept that trail clear of enemies. ''It seems she was hiding something as well...''


    y kept his attention focused on Noslin as per Exile''s earlier orders. Now he understood why Exile wanted to make sure that someone witnessed what she was capable of. ''Ice must be an upgraded version of water.'' y''s eyes narrowed as he figured that Noslin had definitely gone through simr changes as Exile.


    Meanwhile, Beartooth was focusing on Exile as a ball of lightning had just forward from him. ''That looks like trouble...'' He watched on as it shot bolts of lightning in all directions, urately striking the nearby Deep Stalkers in its path. However, Beartooth became stunned as he watched the Deep Stalkers near Exile start to die due to his aura, that had a simr effect.


    ''It seems like Tier 1 is something we can''t fight right now. Both of them are monsters...'' Beartooth grimaced as a stream of lightning was released by Exile, finishing off the Deep Stalkers his Electrosphere had weakened. The creatures seemed wary of his presence amongst them but it was even worse on Noslin''s side.


    Ice walls would appear to block any attempt at a coordinated strike while a cold wind blew around her. y''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the creatures affected by this wind became a lot slower in their movements. ''Exile''s change has turned him into an offensive powerhouse, while Noslin seems suited for defence and debuffing speed. It''s anyone''s guess who would actually win if they fought against each other...''


    "Noslin would win..." Beartooth stated as he nced at y''s expression. "Your leader seems to be a lot faster, but that means nothing if Noslin can cancel it. Then he''d just waste his DP on her defences. Plus, she has a wider range with her abilities."


    The pair turned to see a single lightning bolt be fired from Exile''s axe. y clenched his jaw to keep from spouting out the secret that Exile had told him. That his abilities could target his enemies'' reserves of DP. ''Any one of them could win. If Exile could drain her DP enough...''


    Despite the analysis the two were making of their abilities, they had to admit the two leaders were working well together. Exile was forcing a clear path that Noslin secured with her abilities. However, Noslin soon decided to showcase her true potential. Shards of ice began to pepper the mobs near her, showing that her power was an all-rounder. Making her far more versatile than Exile.


    "Told you..." Beartooth sighed as he shook his head. "Noslin will use this showcase to make the other leaders more wary of her than Exile. This way, she will gain their support and cut off Exile''s ns during our meetings. Your Pantheon Leader has bit off more than he can chew this time!"


    y became hesitant as he nced from one to the other. It really did look like Exile would struggle against her. ''Looks like we''ll have to try harder to make sure we can support him then!'' y grimaced as he turned and started to bark out orders. Beartooth merely watched on in amusement. ''Exile, you should have just epted Noslin as the ruler of this alliance. She''ll definitely find a way to crush you now that she knows you won''t be a threat in the future!''


    Meanwhile, Exile turned his head to frown in a certain direction. He had heard a strange sound that nobody else seemed to notice yet. ''Just now... That sound came from something big...''

 Chapter 118 - Failure

    A stream of lightning fired from Exile''s axe as he forced his way forwards. ''Whatever that sound came from, we have to get out of here before it arrives!'' Exile frowned as he mmed his shield into the wrist of a Deep Stalker that was aiming for him. Before the creature could retaliate, a shard of ice pierced its head. Exile nced over his shoulder to nod at Noslin for her assistance as the creature died.


    "We have to move faster!" Exile shouted as he let off another Electrosphere. "Something big ising!"??


    Noslin frowned as she heard his warning. So far, nothing seemed amiss to her. However, she also knew that Exile would not choose a time like this to y a prank. Luckily, the other leaders were already leading their Pantheons out of the ruins and along the walled-off route she had created. ''Hm... The others might not have realised it, but he probably has...''


    Exile hacked away as he continued to umte damage. ''My health has already dropped to 82/150... And Noslin must be running out of DP. Such big spells must have an extreme cost.'' Exile''s mind was fixed on figuring out their chances of getting out of here alive. I''m assuming the creature I heard must be a boss monster. If it gets here, then we''re definitely doomed.''


    As he nced around at their progress, he began to think about Noslin''s power. ''She would win if she could contain the fight to a short battle. But if it became a prolonged one, I would win. She only appears stronger on the surface.'' He was d to discover that they were more or less equal in status when it came to battle prowess.


    Eventually, Noslin stopped deploying her abilities as freely as before. This led to the other yers having to work for their survival as they deployed whatever means they had left to hold out against the horde. ''It should be about time...''


    Exile spun to face the crowd of yers as he fired a lightning bolt into the air above his head. Noslin frowned when she saw that. ''Why would he waste DP like that!'' However, momentster, a horn sounded in those ruins.


    ''Good job, y!'' Exile grinned. The lightning bolt was a predetermined move that acted as a re if they lost sight of each other. The yers nced around in shock as they all received a +5 bonus to Speed from The Raider''s Horn that y carried. Some of the other leaders even tried to see who had used such a miraculous item with greed in their eyes.


    The extra boost allowed them to move faster. Many of them even wondered why they had moved away from the statue in the first ce. However, Noslin shook her head when she heard theseints. The statue that his the Autosphere station was in an open area. Meaning they would have been surrounded more easily.


    ''We had to move away to really put this ce to the test...'' Noslin grimaced as she realised this exploration was aplete failure. They made no gains, no route was discovered to the surface and yers had been killed, causing a drop in overall strength. ''It''s going to take much more than what we have now to get through here. At least half of us would have to reach Tier 1...''


    However, Exile was not as optimistic about their chances. ''We probably could have managed this area if the council hadn''t made that vote. But this... It feels like the whole area has be a ce that only Tier 1''s really have a chance of surviving. I doubt it was designed to be explored by so many yers at once. It''s only because of our numbers that we''ve survived this long...''


    Exile shook his head as he prepared himself to deal with several Deep Stalkers that were preparing to jump on him. He let out a low grunt as three of them connected with his shield at once and forced him back. ''Damn! I can''t hold them!'' While he was locked in a struggle with them, another tore at his exposed back, causing him to grunt with pain.


    ''We have to get clear somehow. Noslin and I don''t have the strength to deal with this.'' Just as he was stuck with the dilemma, a hail of divine spells rained down on the surrounding mobs. Giving him room to breathe. y rushed forward to ce his hand on Exile''s shoulder. He had dragged the members of Ragnarok forward to reach him in time.


    "You know... If we leave the others, we might just make it..." Winter suddenly stated as she looked around with a grim expression. "They''ll be arger group and of more interest to these mobs. We could definitely escape with them as bait."


    y shot a dark look in her direction. "If they get killed, it will put us all in a bad spot when dealing with the Pantheons on the other team. We have to get as many out safely as possible!"


    Winter sneered at y''s words and was fully prepared to start a riot. She was certain that there would be other yers willing to make a run for it as long as she took the lead. However, that would mean she had wasted her time joining this Pantheon, as she would likely get booted out if she went through with it.


    "Just calm down... If it really looks hopeless, then nobody will me us for making a run for it. But now is not the time with so many still fighting." Midas said as he nudged Winter in her ribs.


    "So, what''s the n, then?" Beans asked as she nervously looked around. "We''re isted again from the rest..."


    The rest frowned as the Pantheon surrounded their group to hold off the Deep Walkers. Nobody had any good ideas in that sitiuation.


    "It doesn''t matter now anyway..." Exile said grimly. "We''re out of time..."

 Chapter 119 - Boss Battle

    y and the others nced at him with confused expressions on their faces. However, that was when they heard it. A screech like no other sounded in the area. Warning them of the arrival of something far greater than what they had been facing for all of this time. y and the others gasped at the sight of it as the horde started to retreat. They scurried away with shrill screeches of their own as the boss finally made its appearance.


    Exile wore a grim expression as he studied the creature. It was twelve feet tall and looked like the Deep Stalkers. Except it had ten arms that looked far longer and stronger than its weaker counterparts. ''This doesn''t look good...'' ??


    The sudden withdrawal of the adult Deep Stalkers allowed the rest of the alliance to catch up with them with rtive ease. However, nobody thought for a moment that this was a good development. Noslin''s eyes were wide as she studied the creature. The worst part of it was that it was already between them and the statue that hid their escape route.


    "Why has this thing shown up now?" Noslin groaned at their hopeless situation.


    "I think the horde is the key to it." Exile grimaced. "We probably had to deal enough damage for this thing to appear. Like different stages of a boss battle."


    The other leaders revealed ugly expressions at his analysis. They could agree that it made sense, but this was too much in their eyes for this point in the game. They could only watch as the creature seemed to study them in return.


    "So, what do we do?" Beartooth clenched his jaw as he prepared to bark orders at his Pantheon.


    "We make a run for it... Everyone scatters and hopefully, we can make it out." Noslin decisivelymanded.


    "No!" Exile shook his head at her. "That will only make everyone easier prey, and it may work out where we want to go. We need a distraction."


    "And who''s going to take that role? Nobody here will sacrifice their Pantheon just so the others can make it out." One of the leaders scowled as he ran a hand over his bald head.


    Everyone hesitated as they listened to the conversation. Exile was right, but so was the other leader. It would be foolish to give the others an advantage like that.


    "We''ll do it..." Exile whispered, causing looks of shock to appear on those around him.


    "Exile... we can''t!" y growled as Exile shot a confused look at him.


    "When I said we... I meant Noslin and I." Exile chuckled as he nced towards her. "We''re the strongest here, so we can survive the longest. Plus, as joint leaders, we have to take responsibility for this failure... But I doubt we can buy you much time, so get out as fast as you can."


    The other leaders slowly began to nod as they digested that. Their evaluation of Exile went higher as they realised he was the type of leader who put himself in danger if it was needed. Their gazes turned to Noslin to see if she agreed with the n. She slowly nodded in response while clenching her jaw. It was not like she could decline now that Exile had made that statement in front of everyone.


    The other leaders looked relieved, but a tinge of worry crossed their features. If their two strongest yers were to suffer a defeat here, they would lose a fair bit of power. Of course, they had no idea what it meant to be Tier 1 yet, but they suspected that it would be a heavy blow.


    "y, you take the offensive team around the left side of that creature to the statue. Beartooth should lead the defensive team around its right. If any of you die, I won''t be happy." Exile smirked as he gestured to Noslin.


    The pair of them walked side by side towards the boss of the Deep Stalkers as the others scattered. The boss seemed confused about whom to target, but it could sense that the yers approaching it were the biggest threats out of all of them. An ear-piercing screech came out of it as itunched itself into the air.


    Exile wasted no time in redeploying his Lesser Blessing spell to give himself more speed as he sped out of the boss''snding zone. Meanwhile, Noslin turned a patch of the ground into ice and used it to slide to safety. The ice cracked as the bossnded on it while taking a swing at Exile.


    ''It''s best not to block it...'' Exile ground his teeth as he forced himself to duck fast enough to stop himself from being swatted like a fly. Noslin took that opportunity to surround the boss with her cold winds, slowly sapping at its speed and reaction times. Exile nodded his head towards her when he saw that. Their goal was to buy time for everyone else before they made their own escape.


    ''If we''re buying time, it''s best if I harass it and dodge as much as possible. Noslin should focus on slowing it down and support...'' Exile roared as he used his new speed to rush towards the creature''s legs. He swung his axe viciously towards it but the boss managed to avoid that blow.


    Exile frowned in surprise at that sight. ''Damn! It''s still so fast despite Noslin''s debuff?'' He felt like nothing more than a fly to the creature as it tried to strike him again. However, its longer limbs caused it to telegraph its attacks, which allowed Exile to dodge them fairly easily. Exile nced towards the sides and noticed that the others had not yet crossed the halfway mark to the statue.


    ''This is going to be tough...'' Exile growled as he made another pass at trying tond a blow. But the boss was ready for him and used that moment to make a well-timed attack instead...

 Chapter 120 - NarKozz The Devourer

    Exile groaned as the boss'' ws raked against his body and sent him flying. As his body crashed against a wall, he became livid with himself. ''Damn! I was careless!''


    [You have been attacked by Nar''Kozz.]??


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Authority 85. Your Authority 53. Your Divine Power is Inferior. -33 HP]


    Exile''s mind wandered to check his remaining his HP and DP. ''49/150 for health, but... only 4/53 for DP.'' A grim expression crossed his face as he realised there were no more tricks he could use. ''My lowest cost spell takes 5 DP, I''m as good as out of this fight...'' That was the moment that his Lesser Blessing wore off. Exile sighed as he felt his speed decrease.


    Noslin barely avoided the blow aimed at her, but afterwards she shook her head. Exile could tell from that gesture that she had most likely run out of DP as well, or was about to. A quick nce told him that the other leaders were still a distance away from the statue. ''We have to stall it for a while longer.''


    Exile made a gesture towards Noslin to let her know he was going to try attacking again. However, she signalled that it was a bad idea. She clearly knew that he was not in good shape either. But that just left them with a serious problem. If they tried to make a run for it now, then Nar''Kozz would likely annihte the entire alliance.


    Both of them came to the same conclusion. It was likely that they would not make it out of this alive. Noslin''s expression turned grim as she used thest of her DP to slow Nar''Kozz down again. At the same time, Exile raced in towards the creature to draw its attention. ''I have to make it waste its time...'' The goal this time was not tond a blow, but to keep Nar''Kozz''s attention on them.


    A grunt escaped from Nar''Kozz as the beast used all of its hands on Exile''s side to suddenly surround him. Exile grimaced as he saw that he had no way out of that situation. He slid to a halt as he turned to face the hand that would reach him first. With a swing of his axe, his eyes went wide as no damage notification came up and Nar''Kozz seeded in grabbing ahold of him.


    ''Crap! What can I do?'' Exile struggled to nce over the long fingers that held him tightly. Noslin was racing towards him to help him get out of that situation, but another wed hand shed at her, causing her to scream. Exile grimaced as more hands wrapped around his body and began to squeeze.


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    [-5 HP]


    His health was slowly being sapped by that action as Nar''Kozz dragged him along while chasing Noslin. Noslin was at her wit''s end. Nar''Kozz was faster and stronger than her. With Exile trapped in the creature''s grasp, she did not even have any support to rely on. She struggled internally with thoughts of abandoning him and trying to save herself.


    Eventually, she grit her teeth as her expression became defiant. She turned to face the massive Nar''Kozz as it leapt towards her!


    "Get out of there!" Exile groaned through the pain of being crushed to death.


    However, Noslin ignored him as she barely avoided being crushed by Nar''Kozz''s massive frame. At the moment she avoided the leap, she lost sight of a few of the boss'' arms. So she was unaware of the danger approaching her from behind. Nar''Kozz had proved to be a cunning boss as its ws stabbed through Noslin''s chest from the rear.


    Noslin groaned in pain as Nar''Kozz used that moment to trap her in its clutches as well. The creature screeched in triumph as its head turned towards the fleeing yers. Those extra moments it had taken to trap Exile and Noslin had bought them enough time to reach the hidden entrance to the Autosphere station.


    Exile grinned, even as his health continued to slip away. ''At least the others will get away now. Even if Nar''Kozz gives chase at this point, most of them will escape any harm. Exile could hear y roaring in the distance, Burri and Beans were desperately trying to drag him down the staircase.


    Exile could only shake his head as Nar''Kozz dragged the pair as it tried to stop them from leaving its domain. But it was toote. The other leaders swiftly made sure an orderly retreat happened and by the time Nar''Kozz got close, Exile could see a devastated expression on the faces of y and the others as they were dragged inside.


    Exile chuckled as the boss screeched in rage at its prey escaping. They had seeded in preserving as much of the Alliance''s strength as they could. Noslin nodded at Exile through the pain she was feeling. The two leaders hade to develop a tinge of respect for each other through this battle.


    ''Not long now...'' Exile sighed as his health dropped to 14/150. He could not help but hope for a miracle to save them. Which was ironic since he was meant to be one of those that delivered miracles in this game. Nar''Kozz turned its attention back to the two pieces of prey it had captured. Its face twisted as if in disdain.


    "Well... It was a good fight." Noslin chuckled. "Shame we didn''t gain anything from it."


    "We can always try again..." Exile attempted to shrug, but Nar''Kozz''s grip prevented that from happening. "See you on th...."


    Noslin flinched as Nar''Kozz bit down on Exile''s head. It had been so fast that neither of them saw iting. Noslin could only sigh when she saw Exile''s body turn in to motes of light and disappear in those dark ruins. A single golden orb fell to the ground from the gap that had been created in Nar''Kozz''s grip.


    "It''s going to be hell trying to recover these..." Noslin shook her head as she prepared for her own demise.


    As Noslin''s body turned to specks of light and disappeared, Nar''Kozz let out a screech to announce its victory over the intruders. The adult Deep Stalkers seemed to respond to that call as they crawled out of their hiding ces. Soon they began to screech in response. Nar''Kozz waited until those sounds quieted down. A hungry expression appeared on its face as its attention moved to the two golden orbs on the floor.


    Nar''Kozz swept the orbs up carefully in its hands. Drool thered down its maw as its full attention seemed to be drawn to them. Eventually, the creature tilted its head back and opened its maw wide. Two golden orbs shed briefly in the darkness before disappearing into Nar''Kozz''s mouth...


    Exile groaned loudly as feeling returned to his body. The sensation of being cut off from all of his senses for a while had been a horrible experience. As some rity returned to his mind, he groaned. ''How much damage did that do?'' His body felt far weaker than before. He dreaded taking a look at his stats, but he knew that he had to.


    It took him a few moments to gather the courage to do it. Before he could, another figure took shape in a blinding light that appeared next to him. Exile nodded at Noslin as she awakened.


    "The temple in Valheim?" A frown appeared on her face momentarily before she remembered that she had been killed. "Damn it!"


    Exile waited for her to calm down a little as she cursed madly. It was understandable. Both of them had reached Tier 1, but Nar''Kozz could handle them with ease. It was a frustrating situation to deal with. With Nar''Kozz guarding the ruins, it would be difficult to put their n in motion. Meaning that they would likely have to abandon that part for now.


    Noslin shot an angry gaze towards Exile, but it was not meant for him. She was just furious with the situation. Both of them knew that there was nothing more that they could have done.


    "So... How bad is it?" Exile eventually asked with a grim expression. Reminding Noslin about the cost they would have paid to save everyone.


    A loud groan escaped from her at those words and Exile became sure that she was checking her own stats. With a deep sigh he did the same. His expression turning even more grim as he studied the results...


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3)]


    [Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Tier: 1]


    [Level: 1]


    [HP: 110/110 (35+75)]


    [DP: 43/43 (20+33)]


    [Strength: 5]


    [Endurance: 22 (7+15)]


    [Speed: 18 (13+5)]


    [Authority: 43 (10+33)]


    Unknown to them, a series of system messages were running in the game''s main code...


    [Nar''Kozz has devoured 50% of yer: Exile''s Divinity. Increasing Nar''Kozz''s stats...]


    [Nar''Kozz has devoured 50% of yer: Noslin''s Divinity. Increasing Nar''Kozz''s stats...]

 Chapter 121 - Change In Tactics

    Exile sighed as he nced around at the gathered leaders. With their failure in the ruins and Noslin and his sacrifice, everyone felt a little closer. They had shared that experience, fought side by side, and these two had sacrificed themselves to save as many as possible. The alliance happily voted to turn over a share of stored orbs to help these two recover.


    Exile let out a soft smile as he grabbed one of the orbs that had been offered to him. ''At least they have the decency topensate us. Exile quickly agreed to absorb the Divinity held in the orb, but something unexpected happened that caused him to frown.??


    [The Divinity held in this orb is of a lower purity to your own. Refining Divine power. You have received +2 Strength, +5 Speed.]


    [Divinity absorbed from yers below Tier 1 will cost half of the held stats to refine. You have absorbed 25% of Kalus''s Divinity...]


    Exile struggled to keep a straight face as he read the messages. A quick nce towards Noslin told him that she was as surprised as he was. ''Damn! Orbs from lower-tiered yers won''t be as effective for us!'' He wanted to groan at that revtion. In a way, it made sense. It would force higher-tiered yers to go after those on their own level.


    ''They''ve really thought this through. There''s no way to exploit this system as a higher levelled yer.'' He had initially wondered if it would be possible to ughter yers and quickly boost his stats with his superior power. But that was obviously not the case. It was going to cost the two of them twice as many orbs now to get simr results as before.


    The other leaders frowned when they saw the two of them going through more orbs than they predicted. Naturally, this scene baffled them. The only reason that came to mind was that they had lost a huge chunk of power for their deaths. Eventually, Exile let out a sigh as he absorbed thest orb he needed to fully recover and even be slightly stronger than before.


    ''I gained another 7 Strength, 12 Endurance, 10 Speed and 13 Authority...'' These stats weren''t much above his original standard before his death. He did not want the other leaders to feel like he was going overboard as orbs kept disappearing from the stockpile.


    [Congrattions! More than 80 points of Divine Power detected.]


    [You have reached Tier 1 Level 2]


    Exile nodded happily at the message, but he still felt weaker overall from when he was at the pinnacle of Tier 0. ''we need a new game n...'' Exile let out a sigh when he realised just how far away they were from being able to truly survive in the game. ''We may be at the top when ites to yers but we''re still at the lower levels overall...''


    Exile now had the impression that it would be some time before they could really, truly explore thesends. Especially with stronger mobs hanging around right now. His mind could not help but wander to what he knew of the journey ahead. ''Is this what they meant by being considered a true god at Tier 2...''


    Exile had the thought that Tier 2 was probably the minimum requirement needed to begin any exploration into the areas beyond Valheim. ''I see... It will take time for the others to realise this. We need to focus on the Mortal Realms...'' Exile gained a glint in his eyes. A n formed in his mind, and he knew he had to take advantage of it as soon as possible. ''I''ll have to tell the other leaders. The faster we move on this, the quicker we can gain the upper hand.''


    Noslin and the others frowned as they listened to Exile exin his thoughts. Many of them disagreed and thought that they had to find as many treasures as possible before Valheim became overpopted with yers. But Noslin seemed to take it to heart. A deep frown crossed her face as she nodded at him.


    "I think Exile is right..." Noslin said slowly. "We''ve already seen how hard it is for the other side to make any progress against the wolves. They''re all desperate to search for anything of use. But how many deaths are they suffering just to hold the line against those mobs? While they''re wasting time and energy against them, we should use this opportunity to push the NPC''s battlefront."


    A few of the leaders understood where they wereing from, but most of them were reluctant to give up on any benefits they could gain outside of Valheim. The conversation went back and forth as Noslin and Exile worked together to convince them that they doubted anyone could gain anything with the way things were right now.


    "So, you want to try and push them out of Skardia while they''re too focused on trying to power themselves up here?" Beartooth grinned as he thought about it.


    "Right... I think we''ve been underestimating where the real power is for us right now. The NPC''s give us offerings that we can use here. We also gain power as our influence spreads amongst them." Exile sighed. All of them had been blinded by trying to y the game since they ascended. They took the ascension as the start of the real game. But Exile was now switching their focus. Making them realise this was something like a trapid by the developers.


    ''This is probably how Camelot is managing to stay ahead. Between Arthur and what I know of Merlin they probably figured it out long ago...'' Exile let out a long sigh at how blind he had been. It took his failure with Nar''Kozz to realise how weak they actually were in the realm of gods. ''We have to look at the game as a whole and not at our current positionpared to each other.''


    Exile silently cursed the developers. By now he should have realised that this game was far different from anything else he had yed so far. Most games would have areas that fitted the different levels that a yer reached for them to grind. However, Exile was now realising this game would not be so gentle on them.


    He guessed there were still regions that fitted certain levels, but they would likely hide things simr to Nar''Kozz. Things that would need a greater power to ovee. Every zone would likely hold challenges suited to any level they could reach. ''It''s like a real world. Everything will be spread out and we can''t lower our guard anywhere.''


    "Ok, we all know what to do now. Alert your oracles. It''s time we were more active with the NPC''s. We have to give them a reason to spread our influence as quickly as possible. Make them feel like we are watching over them. Hopefully, we can blitz our enemies'' side down there before they realise what we are up to." Noslin announced as the various leaders nodded their heads. It was time to use their followers to build a greater war chest.


    Exile nodded to her as the different leaders began to file out with their own people. Exile was no different. He had already lefty orders for Ania with hisst visit, so things should already be moving on their end. ''I wonder if we can make all of our oraclese together to form a proper army.'' He was, of course, thinking about the oracles that supported Ragnarok and not the alliance as a whole. Doing something like this would allow them to consolidate their power instead of it being spread out.


    ''It will take some effort on our side to push them together... It would make taking Stormcrown a lot easier.'' Exile frowned as y and the others walked silently behind him. They could see that he was lost in thought. Midas was the most thrilled with this development. After all, his authority was especially useful when dealing with NPC''s.


    Exile chose that moment to nce over his shoulder and his eyesnded on Winter. A grin slowly spread across his face as he thought of something. "Winter, you mentioned before that you basically caused nightmares to destabilise your enemies in Korden, right? Do you think you can do it on arger scale?"


    A savage grin spread across Winter''s face with that question. "What do you have in mind exactly?"


    "I want you to invade the dreams of our enemies'' NPC''s and make them see images of their deaths if they oppose us. Of their godsying broken and defeated at our feet. With some luck, they may be superstitious enough to believe that it is a warning of the future toe. Making them be the source of iting true." Exile could not help but let out a loudugh at his own n. ''That''s right... The NPC''s are our greatest strength... But they''re also our greatest weakness...''

 Chapter 122 - Influence

    Ania sat on a fallen tree at the edge of the camp as she shielded herself from the rain with her cloak. The rain mixed with the biting winds made for a deadly mixture, but the Skardians were made of sturdy stuff. Ania sighed as she nced towards the fires and the warriors they had gathered. Everything had happened, as Bjorn feared. Many of the Pantheon''s followers switched focus away from Exile, however, the change that had urred to him attracted more warriors to believe in him.


    In the end, the numbers were hardly any different. But Ania knew that Exile would suffer when his believers started to die in the uing battles for Stormcrown. She could not help but feel concerned as she wondered how many of those gathered would survive. ??


    "Why are you sitting away out here?" Harik asked as walked through the trees to her position. "It would help morale if the warriors could talk with Exile''s oracle, you know."


    "I know... But..." Ania shook her head sadly.


    "I get it. You thought he would always be that warm god that was right by your side. But, he''s a god Ania. Our lives are fleeting things to them." Harik chuckled as he sat down next to her. "If you want a god to pay attention to you, you have to do great things to make them notice you. Well, that''s how it goes for the rest of us. Maybe I should find another man for you. That''ll take your mind off of it."


    "Shut up!" Ania chuckled as she yfully punched Harik on the shoulder.


    Harik grimaced at the blow as he rubbed the spot she struck. He would never say it, but it actually hurt. It was at that moment that he realised how much she had changed after receiving Exile''s blessing. ''She''s already beyond most men with that strength. I doubt many guys would casually attempt anything with her now.''


    As a father, he was concerned. He wanted to see his bloodline grow, but with Ania the way she was now and with her status, who could even be her match? ''I wonder if Lord Exile would take her if I offered...'' Harik let out a strange smile at that thought. Demigods were a major focus in historical achievements. It would really be something to add one to the family.


    Ania cocked an eyebrow at the expression her father was making. She did not know what he was thinking, but she decided to leave him to his own thoughts. Naturally, she thought he was just concerned about the uing battles like herself and not thinking about any of her potential offspring and who their father would be.


    It was then that Bjorn finally came over to join them. "We''re still a few days away from the next vige. We''ll have to hit it hard and fast."


    "Of course, if we give them time to arm themselves, we''ll just suffer more casualties." Harik sighed as he snapped out of his daydream. "It would be better if the gods could actually help us out with this."


    "Don''t say such things!" Bjorn hissed as Harik frowned. "Do you want to bring Exile''s anger down on us?"


    Bjorn scanned the dark skies above for any sign of lightning heading their way. Several moments had to pass before he heaved a sigh of relief. Ania chuckled at Bjorn''s reaction. She did not believe that Exile would strike them down for wishing for his aid. Although, she had to admit that she would be reassured if he were present as well.


    The night wore on as the warriors turned in for the night. There were no revelries as they had to make their suppliesst as long as possible. Before long, Ania found herself alone, in her tent, snuggled under thick fur nkets. ''Lord Exile, please help us when we need it...''


    As she drifted off to sleep, a silent figure passed through their camp. Nobody noticed the figure''s presence, even as it passed before the eyes of those who were still awake. Winter smirked as she slipped inside the tents and used her spells to stimte dreams of earning glory on the battlefields. Exile had not asked her to do it, but she thought she may as well. If it helped to make the warriors fight harder and keep his oracle safe, then it was a good thing.


    Winter shook her head at how helpless the NPC''s seemed to be in this game. They were like sheep, following themands of their shepherds. ''Would they even do anything if they were left to their own devices.'' A short pause ensued in her thoughts before she reached a conclusion. ''Probably, but they would take too long to get it done. If I take off now, I should be able to start messing with their targets for a few nights.''


    Winter chuckled as she thought about the mess she was allowed to cause for those poor, unfortunate souls. But she had to admit that she loved her authority. As she ran through the forests and snow, she began to think of all the cruel nightmares she could conjure. ''Perhaps I''ll make them dream of Exile hanging them on a tree for the birds to eat away at them. Or maybe show them scenes of their families being dragged away and thrown into fires.''


    It was a tough choice as she had to make sure she got the most impact from her actions. She could not afford to waste her DP by choosing something that would have minimal effects. ''Maybe I should hang around and try to discover what they fear first...'' However, Winter dismissed that idea pretty quickly. She just did not have the time to y that time of game with them.


    ''Ok, I guess I can just go full horror then. We''ll get the best reactions from fear in this scenario.'' Winterughed as she picked up the pace.


    Meanwhile, Exile had also descended into the near-abandoned Eraldsfen. His eyes wandered over the forest in front of him. Something seemed to be pulling his attention in that direction. ''I thought I felt itst time I was here, but it''s stronger now...'' A low hum escaped from his throat as he wondered what the source of it was. However, there was only one way to find out.


    Exile took off at a sprint as he tried to figure out what way the strange sensation was trying to lead him. Every now and then, he would track of it and have to double back on himself. His curiosity had definitely gotten the better of him. His instincts seemed to tell him that it was something extremely worthwhile. ''But what could even be down here that would attract a god?''


    Eventually, he had to slow down as he realised his target appeared to be moving. This confused him, but he was sure that he recognised the area he was standing in. ''Wait... Isn''t this close to where I first met Ania?'' He could not understand why he had been led here. But soon, he heard a low warning growl from the forest. It was quickly followed by others until it seemed as though he were surrounded.


    ''What is actually going on?'' As Exile nced around, he noticed a pack of wolves stalking towards him. However, their eyes seemed to look straight past him or not at him at all. Their noses sniffed at the air as more growls escaped from their throats. ''They can''t hurt me anyway, so what are they up to?''


    Exile could not help but frown at the situation. The sensation he had been feeling was getting stronger. His eyes suddenly met those of the alpha of the pack. ''This one... Can it see me?'' A deep frown crossed his face as the alpha padded towards him. ''Wait, isn''t this the wolf that I called with a Miracle to save Ania?''


    As he studied the beast, he became sure of it. ''Is it because it was affected by my miracle that it can see or sense me?'' He was extremely curious about that even as he waited for the wolf toe close. Eventually, the alpha halted right in front of him and let out a long howl. The pack joined their leader as Exile''s eyes filled with wonder at that sight.


    The alpha whimpered as it pushed its snout forward to press on Exile''s palm. ''What the...?'' Exile''s mind drew a nk as he could feel the creature! This was the first time he was able to make a solid connection with anything in the mortal realm. As he was trying to make sense of the situation, a system notification appeared in his mind.


    [This wolf has been tainted by your Divine Power. You now have the opportunity to help it evolve. Will you bless this creature? Or curse it? Warning! This action costs 20 DP...]


    Exile let out a soft chuckle as he stroked the wolf''s fur. ''Well, this is unexpected...''

 Chapter 123 - Skovi

    Exile chose to bless the wolf. He had the feeling that cursing it would potentially affect his alignment. Making him appear evil to his followers. ''It should be simr to those old stories, where the gods would curse someone and they would turn into a monster...'' Exile waited patiently as he felt his Divine Power flow into the wolf.


    The wolf howled softly as its body began to undergo some changes. The wolf grew in height until its head reached Exile''s chest. Its fur turned snow white as its eyes turned a golden colour. ''Have I just created a Divine Wolf in the Mortal Realms?'' Exile frowned as he studied the beast.??


    As the transformation ended, the wolf threw its head back and howled at the sky. Its pack soon joined in and Exile let out a slight smile. However, the wolf stared into his eyes as if expecting something.


    [You have created a new mythological creature (Divine Wolf Variant). Please select three from the following options for the gifts it will receive.]


    [1. Hound of the Gods: The Divine Wolf will establish a link with you, allowing you to summon it to the Divine Realms. The link will allow you tomunicate with it while it is in the Mortal Realms at 0 Cost.]


    [2. Elemental Hound: Share your element with this creature, allowing it to wield lightning. The creature will be seen as an omen from you among the mortals.]


    [3. Protective Hound: This creature will appear to aid your most pious followers in their times of need.]


    [4. Hunter Hound: Mark a mortal with a brand that allows this creature to track them down wherever they go. (Those with the brand will be seen as an enemy by this creature.)]


    [5. Divine Hound: This creature bes capable of healing gods and mortals alike with Divine Breath.]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he studied the options. ''Oh, this is good!'' A broad smile swept across his face as he nced down the list. ''I''m definitely taking Hound of the Gods. Not only can it then help me in the Divine Realms, but it can be used as a scout to gather information down here as well.'' Exile swiftly locked it in as his first choice.


    ''I should definitely take Divine Hound, that will offset my loss of healing abilities since my change...'' Exile hummed as his second choice was locked in. ''Hunter Hound doesn''t seem too good of a match for me, so that just leaves Elemental Hound or Protective Hound.'' Exile frowned as he considered the choice. ''Protective Hound would turn it into a sort of lifesaving skill for the likes of Ania, Bjorn and Harik....''


    ''But Elemental Hound will make it more versatile in battles...'' It was a tough call, but in the end, he chose Protective Hound. With the way things were going, it couldn''t hurt to give a little more protection to those that followed him. The wolf howled as a golden light connected the two, and new spells appeared in Exile''s mind.


    [(Divine) Summon Familiar]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Summon your Divine Familiar from the Mortal Realms to apany you.]


    [(Divine) Contact Familiar]


    [Cost: 0 DP]


    [Description: Establish a link with your familiar allowing you tomunicate.]


    "Thank you, Lord Exile..." A guttural growl escaped from the wolf as it bowed its head, taking Exile by surprise. "My name is Skovi, I shall serve you as best as I can for the rest of my life."


    Exile was so surprised by this development that his jaw almost dropped open. But he managed to keep hisposure as he let out a slight cough. "Your wee, Skovi. This is my gift to you for answering my call when my oracle needed help."


    "Hm... The man flesh was an enticing feast. What wolf would not answer that call?" Skovi replied with something that sounded like augh. "What can this one do for you now?"


    Exile frowned as he listened to Skovi''s question. The wolf was clearly seeking a purpose from him. "Do you remember my oracle?"


    "I remember her smell... There are still traces of it on the wind." Skovi nced in the direction that Harik and the others had gone in after leaving Korden.


    "Then I charge you with this task. Follow my oracle, but try to remain unseen by the army around her. Soon... She will go into battle, I would have you and your pack aid them." Exile tried to sound as authoritative as possible as he gave hismand.


    "By your will... Master..." Skovi unleashed a blood-curdling howl as the pack joined him before disappearing into the forest.


    Exile let out a smug smile as he was left standing in the snow strewn forest alone. ''This should cause a bit of a surprise when I first call him to the Divine Realms. My connection with him will make it easier for me to be aware of events happening down here. That way I won''t have to pretend like I know what Ania is talking about.''


    Exileughed as he thought about the charade he had to keep up with in front of the NPCs. Skovi would solve a lot of those issues as long as he witnessed them. ''With Skovi protecting them, I don''t need to worry too much about some ident happening to those three.'' Exile felt slightly relieved at this development. It was always a worry that something would happen to Ania and end his journey in the game prematurely.


    With the strange sensation that had drawn him to Skovi gone, Exile decided to return to the Divine Realms and find out how everything was going. A sh of lightning going in the wrong direction appeared in the night sky. Causing a shiver to run down the spines of those who saw it. The name Exile appeared in their minds as the scene was apanied by the howling of wolves.


    ''They are slow...'' Skovi snorted as he realised how much had changed from his transformation. His body was practically brimming with power. He could sense that he could go even faster, but then his pack would lose track of him. ''We should eat... We haven''t had anything for some time...''


    Skovi sniffed at the air and discovered traces of a Divine scent. However, his senses alerted him that this presence was against Exile. A low growl escaped his throat as he sentmands to the pack. ''An enemy dares to tread upon thesends? For my master''s sake, they can not be left alone...''


    Skovi and his pack ran for almost a day straight. Eventually, the scent drew them to a camp on the edge of a forest. Skovi peered through the darkness to see that all of the people were armed. ''They are ready for war...'' Skovi led the pack to prowl the perimeter while keeping themselves hidden. Eventually, he spotted a figure giving off a Divine aura.


    The aura was definitely of another god. Except it made Skovi feel disgusted. It was different from Exile''s and clearly made him feel as if this god was a threat. The wolves around him began to pad forward softly, but Skovi released a warning growl. His eyes scanned the area around the god and he noticed that a mortal appeared to be talking with him.


    ''Is that his oracle?'' Savage thoughts spread clearly through Skovi''s mind. He released a growl to give orders to the pack. They were to distract the warriors while a small group targeted the oracle. He would personally hold off the god.


    Skovi waited until a cloud covered the moon before making his move. The pack moved with him as they silently infiltrated the camp. Throats were torn as their owners were unaware of the danger moving between their tents. Silencing them before they could get a warning out.


    They hade close to the centre without being spotted, but they could go no further without revealing themselves. Skovi was aware of man''s fear for his kind, so he let out a howl that warned them that wolves were already among them!


    The camp was thrown into turmoil as fear struck at the hearts of the humans there. They reached for their weapons as they tried to find out where the howl hade from. But the wolves did not give them the time to properly prepare. Skovi''s pack pounced on the nearest humans, sending the rest into further disarray.


    Skovi''s eyes narrowed as he felt Divine Power gathering around the god. A menacing growl escaped from his throat as he revealed himself as he shot towards the god. The yer''s eyes went wide as the giant wolf collided with him unexpectedly. A series of curses escaped from his mouth as he looked at the Skovi from his back.


    "How? You shouldn''t be able to touch me!" The yer squealed in fear as he checked the damage he had received. It was higher than what he had received from the Divine Wolves outside of Valheim recently.


    "This is my master''s territory..." Skovi growled in response, causing the yer''s eyes to bulge. "Beg forgiveness from him when I return you to the heavens!"

 Chapter 124 - Ambush

    Bjorn let out a groan as he quickly grabbed the spear shaft before it could go too far into his chest. His feet slipped backwards in the snow as bodies fell to the ground around him. With a heavy grunt, he tugged at the weapon to remove it before lunging forward with his axe! The enemy raised his hands to cover his face as he yelled, but Bjorn sliced straight through his wrist and buried the de in his skull.


    ''Damn!'' Bjorn groaned as he sunk to his knees and attempted to hold his wound closed with his free hand. Warm blood flowed over his fingers as he stared at it with blurry eyes. He gazed around at the battlefield with a determined expression. It was the fourth time they had been ambushed so far on their way to the next settlement. ??


    Troops kept appearing from seemingly nowhere, which led him to lead a vanguard for the main army. ''Harik should have heard the fighting by now... We just need to hold on until he surrounds them.'' Bjorn felt his arms getting weak as a crimson puddle appeared in the snow. He tried to stand up, but his legs would not listen to him. Instead, he fell backwards into the cold embrace of the snow.


    The boots of the warriors around him gradually moved away as the fighting forced a change in their position. A cough escaped from his pale lips as thoughts of the afterlife started to surface in his mind. As his mind began to shut down, thest thing his blurry vision saw was the silhouette of something massive and furry.


    Nobody on the battlefield noticed the giant wolf dragging Bjorn into the forest by the leg of his pants. A deep groove was left in the snow as the only sign that something had moved that way. As Harik led his force around the edges of the battlefield, he studied the strange marks in the snow when he came across them.


    ''Damn wolves are starting to get bold. Dragging off bodies before the battles are even over now!'' Naturally, he did not know that Bjorn was the one who had just been dragged away. ''This beast is a monster! The size of those prints is muchrger than they should be!''


    He could not help but make a mental note to hunt down such a dangerous beast once the fighting was done. There was no telling if it would make its way towards Eraldsfen if it were left alone. Harik shook his head as he waved his sword to signal the warriors to keep moving. In the cover of the forest, Harik''s rebels slowlypleted their encirclement and were poised to spring their own ambush on these enemies.


    The sound of des shing was intense as their encirclement slowly closed in. Once Harik was certain that the enemies could not escape, he blew on the horn he was carrying to signal the attack! Cheers erupted from the warriors in the vanguard as their reinforcements appeared. Meanwhile, their enemies cried out in anger at having been surrounded like that.


    Fresh snow fell as Harik parried a sword before forcing the tip of his own through his assant''s throat. He did not waste time on finishing him off. Instead, he withdrew the de and left the man to drown in his own blood while choking. A roar escaped from Harik as he drove his shoulder into the next warrior to turn and face him. His de shed down as he hacked at the man''s shoulder and severed the arm it was attached to.


    Harik was not in the mood to be careful about this, he only wanted the battle to end as quickly as possible. For the sole reason of preserving as many of his warriors'' lives as possible. Meanwhile, Ania forced her way to the front of the vanguard. She was on the side of the encirclement that was meant to relieve them and take over the fighting.


    Her eyes dashed back and forth as she tried to locate Bjorn, but he was nowhere to be seen. A tinge of worry appeared in her mind as she called for the vanguard''s retreat as her fresh warriors took their ces. The effect it had became apparent immediately as the enemy warriors began to lose ground. Except, they had no way out, with Harik''s men behind them and other warriors pushing in from the sides of their formation.


    Ania had be a terrifying force on the battlefield during their journey. It was not that she was skilled with the spear. After all, she just had to poke her enemies with the pointy end. It was her increased strength, speed and reflexes that made her appear like a war maiden of old tales. The enemy even doubted that she was a human woman at all, with her delicate frame containing so much power.


    Whoever she faced always underestimated her at first. If they survived the first few exchanges, they took her seriously. But mostly their first mistake was theirst. A wall of bodies began to pile in front of her section of the front line. Her shield was taking so many blows that it was splintering. But her spear never stopped.


    Eventually, a warrior noticed how lethal she was if she were left unchecked. He stood head and shoulders above her as he forced his way to her position. The two-handed hammer he held in his hands gave away that he relied on his pure physical strength to beat his enemies to death. Ania noticed the warrioring her way. A small smile appeared on her face as she moved along the line to meet him sooner.


    She felt that she had to do this, as anyone on her side who got close would soon find their brains out in the open. Even those who tried to block his hammer with a shield or weapon could not stop him. It was as if everything gave way to his strength. The warriors on both sides began to back away when they realised these two were aiming for each other. But they did not stop to watch the show.


    They merely paid attention to their positioning so they would not get caught up in their fight. With a clear space formed, Ania slowly circled the giant brute of a man. Her eyes studied his scarred face and bulging muscles as he easily held the massive hammer with a single hand. Although she was aware that she was stronger than most, she had to admit that she doubted that even she could stop one of his blows.


    ''Is he an oracle too?'' Ania wondered, thinking that it would exin his strength. However, unknown to her, he was just a normal man that was gifted with an extraordinary body. Sparks seemed to fly between the two as they held their own positions, waiting to see what the other would do.


    Harik continued to y his enemies as the back lines shrunk against their offensive. He had obtained several new cuts, but nothing serious as far as he could tell. He groaned as he finally caught sight of the battle between Ania and the giant of a warrior. A groan escaped from his throat as he saw her shield shatter beneath the blow of the mighty hammer.


    Ania appeared to escape unharmed from that exchange, but it became evident that her shield arm had either be numb or broken. She began to use her speed to keep herself out of reach as she tried to use the length of her spear to her advantage. But the man was a seasoned warrior who easily deflected theseme assaults. It seemed to have be a contest of endurance, but Harik did not like the look of that either.


    Ania was having to move around a lot more than her opponent. Meaning that she should tire out a lot quicker than him. If that trend continued, then she could very well be defeated! Harik roared at the warriors to put an end to the rest of the fighting as quickly as possible. The duel would not continue if the man found himself overwhelmingly surrounded.


    Just now, he did not have to worry about his back because he hadrades there. At the same time, nobody on Ania''s side could interfere because of how much she had to move around. If they jumped in now, there was a chance they would get her killed. The sounds of battle grew more frenzied as Harik''s army tried to put an end to the battle even faster than before.


    Dark clouds gathered in the sky as the distant sound of thunder could be heard. This sound drove Harik''s force into a frenzy. The warriors believing that Exile was watching over them. None of them wanted to anger their god. Each of them was driven to prove their worth! A sh of lightning appeared in the sky as the hammer swung for Ania. The sh blinded Harik for a moment, leaving him worrying about what had happened in that instant...

 Chapter 125 - Bjorn And The Wolves

    Bjorn''s eyes flickered open to discover that he was inside of a cave. The mouth of which was nearby, allowing him to see the snow and trees of the forest outside. But that did not reassure him. For he also saw furry masses curled up against his body. The heat they gave off staved off the cold of the winds from outside, but Bjorn could not help but gulp.


    He came to the conclusion that he was to be their next meal. It was likely they were keeping him alive so that his meat would be fresh when it was time to eat. Bjorn let out a soft groan as he tried to move, but the flicker of a nearby wolf''s ears made him hesitate. It was then that he realised that he felt no pain from his wound.??


    Slowly, he looked down at his blood-stained leather armour. His hand gently slid across it until he could poke at the hole with his fingers. His eyes went wide as his mind became nk with confusion. His wound was gone! ''That''s right... I should have died!'' Bjorn frowned as hey there, breathing softly. Trying not to disturb the surrounding wolves.


    "I can smell your fear..." A growl mixed with human words came from somewhere in the dark of the cave. "Sit up, human. So that we may speak properly..."


    Bjorn held his breath. The voice was eerie and did not sound human at all. He began to imagine the old monsters and such in the book. ''If the gods have returned, then why wouldn''t they?'' Bjorn groaned as he realised there was no point in trying to deceive the owner of that voice.


    He slowly raised his upper body into a sitting position as his eyes peered into the darkness. Suddenly, he found tworge golden eyes staring back at him. But that was all that he saw. He could not make out any other features of what those eyes belonged to.


    "What... are you?" Bjorn hesitantly asked thoserge eyes with a grim expression.


    "What I am, does not matter." The voice growled as the eyes remained fixed on Bjorn. "I have healed your wounds, human. You should return to your own kind now. You will be needed out there. I would hurry if I were you..."


    "Why would you do that?" Bjorn stammered, struggling to understand why a monster would save him from death only to set him free. "And why do I need to hurry?"


    The sound of thunder rumbled outside as a sh of lightning illuminated the wolves around him. But the owner of those eyes remained in darkness. "Because... My master sounds angry... Now go!"


    Bjorn jumped upright at the menacing tone in the voice. ''Perhaps now isn''t the time to argue with a monster...'' The wolves around him stirred at the sudden movement as they opened a clear path to the entrance to the cave. They sat upright as they sniffed the air and stared at Bjorn as he carefully walked amongst them. Afraid that the monster now behind them would give them the order to attack at any moment.


    However, the wolves watched him silently as he crossed the threshold and sped off into the darkness. ''Such frail creatures...'' Another rumble of thunder sounded, making the wolves shrink back against the sudden burst of light. ''I should report this to Master.'' Skovi nced at the wolves before issuing the order for them to follow Bjorn and make sure he arrived safely to his own kind without noticing their presence. The wolves howled in response before Skovi connected to Exile through their link.


    ''Master...'' Skovi hummed as the link went through.


    [What is it? Has something happened already?]


    ''One of the humans who reeks of your aura almost died. I was forced to save him...''


    Silence resounded in Skovi''s mind as he waited for Exile''s response. There was no telling what his Master was thinking with that piece of news.


    [Tell me everything that happened...]


    Skovi took his time to exin about the armies of humans who kepting from all directions to ambush Harik''s force. He and his wolves had taken care of several of them. Usually, they scattered once they saw their leaders in a gory mess in the snow. Which relieved a lot of the pressure that Harik would have had to face otherwise. However, they could not intercept them all. There were too many of them and the intervals between ambushes were bing shorter the further they travelled.


    Skovi was almost certain that he could hear a sigh on the other end. But that was likely only his imagination ying tricks on him. After a pause, Skovi dropped the bombshell that there were gods actively taking part in mortal affairs. Skovi scoffed at their strength. So far none of them had managed to put up what he would consider a fight.


    But that was because of his healing powers. His pack never had to worry with him around and any injuries he sustained he could fix almost instantly. Plus, it helped that they always managed tounch a surprise attack, catching them unawares.


    [How bad is it? Do I need to dispatch several gods to ease the burden?]


    Skovi hummed in his mind as he considered that question. If several gods were to descend, then Harik''s journey and subsequent battles would go a lot easier. So far, he had only sensed a couple of auras that were linked to Exile. But they did not appear to be taking part in the battles. They always sped off to somewhere on the horizon.


    ''I would advise you to take this action, Master. I can not promise to protect all of them who smell strongly of your divinity with all of the chaos in these battles. Sooner orter, i will be forced to reveal my presence more openly.'' Skovi eventually conceded, knowing that Exile wanted him to remain a secret for now.


    [Thank you, Skovi. I''ll send some people to take care of it. Help them if you can. It''s alright for you to reveal yourself to them. These are gods that I trust.]


    ''Will you not be taking care of this yourself?'' Skovi asked with mild surprise. His tail swished in the darkness.


    [No... I have a lot to take care of up here. I can''t descend for every little thing. And soon, you may be needed up here as well. I''ll let you know beforehand so you can get your pack to a safe ce.]


    ''Understood, Master.'' Skovi shut his eyes as the link between them cut off. His eyes reopened to stare into the darkness of the cave and the world outside. ''Hm... Master is worried. I could feel it in his voice.'' A low growl escaped from the wolf''s throat as if to warn the world. His massive frame stood up in the darkness, before racing out into the nket of night.


    Meanwhile, Bjorn wheezed as he tried to catch his breath. He was following a now shallow trail in the snow that led through the forest. He assumed it was the mark left by whatever the monster was the brought him to the cave. ''If I follow this, I should find Harik and Ania...''


    He had already run pretty far, but he could not shake the feeling that something was out there, watching him. That constant fear kept him from thinking clearly. If he stopped to regain his cool for a moment, he would have realised that the monster had given him a clue as to who he served and that he was actually in no danger at all. But humans are funny like that. Fear clouds their judgement and makes small events seem much worse than they actually were.


    Like the creak of wood when you were alone at home. Surrounded by darkness. A reflection in a window seems distorted, like something is creeping up behind you. This was the state of mind of Bjorn at this moment. He saw a monster in every tree branch and every mound of snow. Eventually, he came to see the orange glow of fire between the trees and the sounds of his fellow humans.


    Though relief did not quitee to his mind yet, it would not until he was safe among their number. As he saw the first silhouette of another human, his mind started to go over what he had experienced. The fear warped his memory and made everything appear twisted in his mind. He knew it would be hard to convince the others of the great beast that was so very close to them.


    ''This will have to be entered into the book!'' That was all that he could think. The story of the wolves in the dark who carried off fallen warriors. And if there was some use for them still, how the guardian of the cave would return their souls to their body and cast them back out to the battlefield...

 Chapter 126 - The Minds Of Men

    Jarl Jorsson, a famed warrior across Skardia and even something of a thinking man, sat with a scowl across his face. He had been sending out batches of troops in all directions to reinforce his neighbours at the king''s orders after the rebellion broke out. However, he had no word back from the territory of Yugrund.


    He was feeling uneasy with that development. Even when the other ones were sent, if they ran into rebel forces, they always sent back news. Mainly because the way the troops were sent out at staggered intervals caused the rebel forces to copse from exhaustion of being constantly harassed by fresh warriors. ??


    But Yugrund was silent as a grave. Which led him to fear the worst. ''Yugrund has likely be a rebel territory now. I should divert more troops to that region. This would be where they would attack first.'' Jarl Jorsson sat forward in his high-backed chair and sped his meaty hands together under his bearded chin.


    ''Then there''s all of this unrest... Gods? Hah! As if they exist! Bunch of superstitious nonsense. And these nightmares thate in like a gue. Everyone and their goat have had them. It''s poisoning their minds.'' Jarl Jorsson stared into the nearby fire as shadows danced across his face. It would not do for these damned nightmares to continue, but all the remedies did not seem to work.


    ''Is it an outside attack by the elves during all of this?'' Everyone knew that elves brought nightmares. It was their thing. They looked all pretty to draw you in with your guard down before draining the life from your body. But the nightmares were the worst thing. They hovered over you in the darkest of nights, all invisible. The only tell-tale sign that it was an elf that did it was the weight you felt sitting on your chest when you woke up. ''But nobody has reported that feeling. It''s just the damned nightmares...''


    Some of his advisors had dared to say it was a god or goddess of dreams and such that must have done it. As punishment for not believing in the gods. That they would be cast down in front of a mighty king of the gods and devoured by his wrath. That had gotten the normal civilians riled up, but naturally, those saying these things now had a great view of the town. With their heads being on spikes, atop the town walls, of course.


    It was a warning message that he had to send. Before things got out of control real fast and nobody would be able to stop it. He had seen hysteria before on raids, and he was certainly not a fan of it. As he stared into the fire, he got the feeling that someone was standing behind him. His head sharply twisted to peer into the darkness. But nothing was there except the long, dark shadows cast by the mes.


    Jarl Jorsson let out a long sigh as the mes flickered in a breeze that had entered his home. There were warriors standing at regr intervals and sitting at the tables in his home. With the way things were, he did not dare to be caught unprepared security-wise. He even wondered if rebel spies had snuck into his town and were nting all of these things in the minds of his people. But there was no way to determine if that was true or not. Not without searching every home for anyone that nobody could really identify.


    His warriors had already been to the inns, but there was nobody there from out of town. Just those that could not afford to buy themselves a proper home. His mind was trapped in deep thought, trying to figure out what would happen next. If this were a deliberate attack, what was their aim? What was their goal? To those questions, he coulde up with several answers.


    The first being that his life would be a target and failing that have someone ready to open the gates if an attack wasunched. That was what he would do. But he was a cautious man and even considered if they would have an alternative goal. Maybe they wanted to dy his sending out of troops? Perhaps they wanted to cause a riot in his town so their main force could walk straight past while he was too busy dealing with his own people.


    He felt as though his neck was resting on the sharp end of the axe of fate. One wrong move and his life and everything his family had built would be forfeited. ''Maybe I''m just letting it get to me too much. For now, I''ll increase the warriors sent to Yugrund. Send them in smaller batches at more regr intervals to keep the pressure up. Perhaps I should have them send messages back every day. Then I''ll be able to tell how far away the rebels are when the messages stoping...''


    He had used this method before while raiding. The enemies at that time belonged to and full of bogs, swamps and an eerie fog that never seemed to go away. They would be attacked from nowhere and could never pinpoint the enemy camps. Until he used this method. When the messages stoppeding, he knew exactly how many days that group had been going in that direction for. Making it easy to pinpoint where they were roughly hiding.


    When they found the devils in the fog, they turned out to be men wearing deer skulls and other odd things to make themselves appear more frightening when their shadows were spotted in the fog. They only managed to raid three settlements before the natives became nomads, which was the only counter to his method.


    It had been pure bloodshed after that. Random parties of warriors would die and disappear. The natives would let a couple of groups pass them, only to strike the next one. But when they targeted that area, they were already gone. Since then, they had never returned to that cursednd. The gains never made up for the losses.


    ''Who thought that fighting them would give me an edge now...'' Jarl Jorsson grimly thought as the sensation of being watched struck the back of his mind again. He could not help but turn to stare into the darkness again. ''Maybe it''s my mind ying tricks on me... But then again...''


    "You!" Jarl Jorsson growled at a warrior sitting at the table nearest to him. "Go check the back rooms. I think I heard something."


    The man frowned before letting out a grunt of acknowledgement. He drew his sword and, without hesitation, disappeared into the darkness. That was the Skardian way. For a warrior to show fear was almost a crime in itself. Jarl Jorsson mumbled to himself as he listened for the footsteps to signal the man''s return. ''It''s been too long...''


    He immediately ordered three more men to find out what had happened to the first man. This time, they were more cautious. Even they knew that theirrade had taken too long. The mes flickered as the other warriors stared silently at the darkness behind him. There were no sounds of fighting. No warning cries. Nothing but the darkness.


    Jarl Jorsson eventually stood up and drew his own de. Like a statue, he stood poised and ready to face those shadows and whatever they were hiding. The mes flickered as his warriors lined up beside and behind them. The orange glow of the fire shining off of their bright steel.


    He turned to face the man on his right, ready to order him forward. He had grown tired of waiting, but his expression froze. His eyes met two empty sockets in a skull with a beard, wearing the armour of one of his warriors. His eyes moved to the next man and saw the same thing. Again and again. He was surrounded by dead men walking, staring into the darkness ahead of him.


    ''What the hell is going on?'' He mumbled to himself as he stepped forward and twisted to face the dead. The darkness, now behind him again. But they did not move, not an inch as their darkened eyes sockets stared forward. He was about to cry out, summoning the guards who should be standing at their post outside, but his voice caught in his throat. ''Maybe that isn''t a good idea...''


    In that silence, he decided to walk past the macabre scene and get outside into the town. There had to be someone out there, after all. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what had happened to his men as he flung the doors open to stare at the snow-covered town. Darkness and silence reigned there. Even the snow seemed less white than it should be. A lump caught in his throat as he turned to nce at the men who should have been keeping watch. But he only found two more dead men on their feet staring silently into the night. As shiver ran down his spine as he felt something grab his ankles.


    Before he could cry out, he was pulled from his feet, his head mmed against the ground. A confused and terrified scream rang out as he was dragged into the darkness of his home once again. The mes now extinguished. The doors mmed shut as he disappeared into the dark and a smiling figure appeared next to the skeletal guards with decaying flesh.


    "It took a while, but eventually all minds fall to me..." Winter chuckled before she disappeared into the shadows of the nightmare she had spun...

 Chapter 127 - Deep Magic

    Exile sighed as reports came in about the situation in the mortal realms. The Raider''s Horn was currently being used as the headquarters for the alliance. Mainly for the fact that it was morefortable than standing around in a store. Paper and writing materials had been procured from Jarxos and there were currently severalrge piles of them sprawled across the table in front of him between several horns of ale.


    ''The situation is quite different from what I imagined...'' Exile hummed as he scanned the documents. Every leader had provided the numbers of their members, what they were good at, their Pantheons'' funds, location, and inventory. Along with battle reports of where their followers were currently fighting so that the leaders could get an overall grasp of the situation. ??


    ''We''re mostly spread out all over the ce. It''ll be difficult to bring us all together so the best we can do is guide our followers into creating smaller unified armies.'' Exile red at the report as if it were hiding the secret to winning the civil war somewhere within its contents. But s, the answer eluded him.


    He could only groan and massage his temples as he nced around the busy bar. Things had happened quickly once they decided to take this route. Noslin had recognised that the old contracts she had tried to fool everyone with were working against them now. So she had dissolved them and created new ones. Now, everyone was working together to find the best solutions for everyone equally.


    Midas was now the official head financial officer of the alliance. His job was to find the best way for the alliance as a whole to make the funds they needed and oversee trades between member Pantheons to ensure it was fair. Winter was part of their covert ops yers who were working behind enemy lines. However, she had fallen short of someone else for the position ofmander.


    y was one of the seven generals that had been chosen to lead the yers in battles, involving them as gods in the mortal realms, to which he seemed quite happy to do. While Exile himself and the other leaders were mostly taking care of the nning and administration behind the scenes. Only if things looked really bad would one of them descend.


    Exile nodded his head as he read a different report from Beans. She was one of the yers assigned to logistics. Which meant the yers that could provide food, water and other items to their followers to help the war go a little easier. All in all, Exile was quite proud of the setup they hade up with so quickly. ''We''ve adjusted well but for the most part, we''re supporting the NPCs... We can''t physically get involved too much unless we draw attention to what we''re doing...''


    Of course, they also had yers going out of the city to fight mobs to give their Pantheons a bit of presence, so nobody would be too suspicious. A far off look entered his eyes as he stared at the mess of papers. Across from him, Noslin appeared ready to tear her own hair out. While Beartooth seemed to struggle to pay attention to the writing in front of him. ''Hopefully, Skovi can keep everything in check in my absence...''


    Meanwhile, deep in the mountains to the west of Eraldsfen, the deep earth beneath them heard singing for the first time in centuries. Thovok wore a beaming smile beneath his beard, which you could only tell was there by the way his beard line sat higher on his face than before. ''Now that''s what I''m talking about!'' Thovok chuckled to himself as he nced around at the two hundred dwarves that the king had loaned to him.


    They were currently busy singing amongst themselves as they chipped away at the rocks that had caved in and sealed the tunnel ahead of them with the passage of time. It was one of the old tunnels the dwarves had used to retreat from Skardia when they grew tired of the world of man. ''Hm, I wonder who''s king there now?'' This was the problem that he was now facing. For his n to continue their research into the gods, they had to convince the Skardian ruler that they meant no harm.


    However, there was no telling how the humans would take it for a bunch of dwarves to crop up after so long. Maybe they would still be friendly and weing. Or perhaps they had forgotten about them and they would appear to be demons from the depths of the earth. Either way, they had to try. Thovok was willing to trade almost anything to study the gods. Luckily, the king of his n agreed that the secrets they could learn would be worth it.


    Although, the condition had been attached that if he got the chance, he had to try to recover some dwarven treasures that had been left behind during their exodus. Thovok could only sigh at that. He remembered how humans think. They thought that all of the dirt, muck and rocks beneath their countries belonged to them. So it might be a bit tricky to convince them that just because the ruins were under theirnds, that did not mean they had the right to their treasures.


    It would be tough going, but he would do what he had to. Even if it meant digging long, secret tunnels in the dark to reach the ruins without being seen. Thovok sniffed the air before taking a metal half face mask off his belt and cing it over his mouth. ''Mine gas...'' He hummed. He knew this could be bad if they set off a spark, but all of the dwarves with him recognised that smell immediately and stopped digging.


    There were two ways they could deal with this. Deliberately set it off to get rid of it. Or they could use the Deep Magic to continue the digging. Naturally, he selected the second option. They were in too much of a rush to risk a cave in, even if the first option would technically be better. If they cleared it, then they would not have to worry about it on the way back after all. But the chance of a cave in was extremely high.


    He waved his hands to perform mine signs to his fellow kinsmen to let them know what had to be done. Momentster, a deep humming filled the tunnel, and the walls began to slide back ever so slowly. Hours passed as they hummed their mystical tune, singing the tunnel into the shape that they required. Dwarves were known for their patience and their endurance. In fact, they could be so still at times, it was easy to think they were actually a part of the earth around them.


    Thovok eventually nodded as he walked carefully through the pocket of gas. The tunnel stretched on for a while, with that smell invading his nostrils. At its thickest point, he could even see the air being distorted by it. He held up hisntern embedded with a glow gem. With a critical eye, he studied the pirs they had formed with their magic to make sure it would hold.


    Seeing that there were no structural problems with the operation, he continued on until he found the opposite end of the gas. Once he was clear of it, he called for the others to join him. Cheery voices filled the tunnels yet again as they removed their masks and got back to work with clearing the path ahead. Deep Magic was exhausting, otherwise, they could have just used it instead of returning to swinging their tools.


    Thovok sighed as he wondered how much longer it would take to find the clear part of the tunnel on the other side of the rocks. He simply could not wait to see a real god again! ''Thest one was so stingy... Just because they could not solve a simple puzzle I created.'' Thovok grunted as he wondered what challenges he could put to these gods in this era. ''There''s bound to be something...'' A toothy grin appeared on his face as he imagined how those conversations would go.


    His master, who passed away two centuries ago, now had proven that the gods were not omnipotent. They did not know everything, and they did not see everything. This had led their n to abandon true religion, but they were still interested in what gods could do. Mainly how they were able to live such long lives. Were they really immortal? Or just made up of mortal thoughts that gained substance somehow? Could they develop something simr for their own bodies? Those were the questions they wanted answers to.


    The sound of boulders tumbling down the hall reached his ears as the dwarves broke through the wall of rock. The ruins on the other side became visible, and he knew they had finally cleared the old tunnels into Skardia...

 Chapter 128 - Forsaken

    Harik had a deep frown on his face as he stared at the town that was Jarl Jorsson''s seat of power. The hill they were currently camped on had a great view of the town and its walls. It was so clear that they could see the decayed heads mounted on spikes. ''I don''t like it... It''s just too quiet...'' Harik red at the sky above it where smoke from the daily fires should be. But there was nothing there.


    "Don''t you think it was too easy?" Ania hummed from beside him with her spear firmly in her grasp. ??


    "Yes... Ever since Bjorn returned with his crazy story, we encountered less resistance on the way here. They were disorganised and it should have gotten worse for us." Harik replied with a deep tone. "Something isn''t right."


    "Bjorn''s story is definitely crazy... but I have a feeling that it''s true. The followers of Exile all seem to have taken it to heart as well." Ania murmured. "Perhaps it was a miracle sent by Exile... Maybe, this is his doing as well."


    Ania pointed at the silent town with her spear as she spoke thest part. Causing Harik''s frown to turn into a look of concern. As far as he was concerned, that was dangerous thinking. Ania''s faith blinded her to the possibility that it could be a trap. Perhaps Jarl Jorsson was attempting to draw them in before surrounding them with all the warriors he had held back.


    ''Well, we can''t stay out here forever anyway. Eventually, we''ll have to make an attempt to take the town.'' Harik let out a long sigh before turning to his captains.


    "Let us take this nice and slow. I don''t want everyone to rush in at once and sweep through every building. Don''t overlook anything." Harikmanded as he waited for them to gather their warriors and move out. He would enterst with the main army.


    He watched each section split off one by one and make for the gates. Leaving plenty of time between each other. His eyes narrowed as he waited for something... anything to happen before they could reach them. But the town remained silent. He held his breath as he watched the main gates open freely to his warriors as they pushed on them. ''They haven''t even barricaded the gates?'' Harik''s concern grew with that development.


    His eyes skimmed over the walls, but there was still no movement even as his warriors invaded the town. Then, more of his warriors entered the gates and from his vantage point, he could see the first batch moving unobstructed through the nearest paths between the buildings. That was when he noticed the small figure of a man running out of the gates and straight towards him.


    ''Have they found something?'' Harik''s gaze became fixated on the figure as it slowly grewrger. Eventually, a warrior with grey streaks through his dark brown beard came to a halt in front of him. The warrior bent over to catch his breath with heavy wheezing sounds escaping his mouth, but he finally found his voice.


    "My Jarl... You have toe and see this!" The warrior had a panicked look in his eyes.


    "What is it?" Harik growled as caution bubbled in his mind.


    "I can''t... I just can''t describe it. You have to see it for yourself." The warrior shook his head with a helpless look on his face.


    Harik stared at him for a long time, but there was still no sign of a fight breaking out in the town. ''Perhaps it''s abandoned. Or maybe some message was left behind for us.'' Harik''s concern turned to curiosity as his gaze turned to the town behind the warrior.


    "Father... I think we should go." Ania cut in with a steely look in her eyes. She used that tone of voice that Harik hade to know as the one she used when she spoke seriously about the gods.


    "Ok, have everyone enter ahead of us and help with checking the buildings. Show me what''s got you so rattled." Harikmanded as he stared at the warrior.


    The man had a nervous look in his eyes as he nodded slowly and led the way for the Eraldsen''s. Snow crunched beneath their feet as the town grewrger in their sights. Harik''s mind was racing as it considered a lot of different theories as to what he would see. But nothing could prepare him for it as he passed through the gates.


    Huddled against the walls on the inside of the town were the dead bodies of warriors. They looked fresh, maybe by a day or two, but it could be longer because of the cold. There were small groups like this as far as he could see. Always huddled by the walls with used torchesying by their feet. ''What the hell happened here?''


    His first thoughts went to some kind of outbreak. Some illness had possibly swept through the town, but even then, there should be survivors. He knew well enough that it was highly unlikely for an entire settlement to be killed by something like that. ''Besides, Jarl Jorsson is no fool.'' It left him feeling uneasy as he continued to follow the warrior after that slight pause.


    Ania stared a bit longer at those bodies. ''There are dark circles around their eyes...'' She had seen something simr before on her mother. When she struggled to sleep whenever her father went off on the raids. ''But why would they all have them?'' Of course, her mind was already connecting the dots. She knew all the gods of the Ragnarok Pantheon and what they ruled over.


    ''Did Exile send WintersEmbrace to curse this ce?'' Still, she was unsure if that was what had really happened. It was only a slight suspicion in her mind, but she felt like she could feel the presence of a god lingering in the air here.


    "Ania! Come here!" Harik roared from the interior of a nearby building.


    A shiver ran down her spine with the tone he used. It was one of worry. It conveyed that he had no idea what he was looking at. Her feet moved of their own ord. Carrying her to the little shabby home. Her eyes went wide as she stepped into the dim room. There, huddled around the charred remains of the logs that had once been lit in their hearth, was a family.


    They were still alive, but their eyes were fixed on the darkest corners of the room with terror. Ania clearly noticed the dark circles around their eyes as they whispered incoherent words. The only thing they said that made any sort of sense were the words, ''Exile, protect us...''


    Ania''s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She noticed the grim expression on Harik''s face as he stared at her. It was clear he wanted to say something about this, but the words escaped him. Either out of fear for what would happen once they were said, or fear of finding out the truth of the matter.


    Harik shook his head with pity in his eyes as he ordered his warriors to take them and get them warmed up and fed. Preferably with a fire to chase the darkness away in the hopes that it would ease their minds somewhat. Harik''s grim expression prevailed as they found others in a simr state. Sometimes in was orphaned children with their parents dead next to them. Other times it was warriors who seemed broken in the mind.


    All of them were gathered by Harik''s forces and treated with care. It was clear in Harik''s mind what had happened here. It had to have been a godmanded by Exile to spread this terror. It was a horrifying fate for their enemies. No chance to fight for their lives or die with a weapon in their hands. Harik could not help but think it was a clear disy of the cruelty of the gods if they were displeased.


    ''Things were simpler before they came back...'' Harik sighed as he slowly made his way to the elevated longhouse in the centre of the town. The whole ce had been built on a rocky hill, and the Jarl''s longhouse stood there like a silent sentinel watching over the citizens. Harik felt dread rising in his heart as he slowly mbered up the meandering path.


    The longhouse was as silent as the grave when it should be the building most full of life. His eyes barely paid attention to the sorry sight of two guards, dead on their feet, standing on either side of the doors. Their eyes were wide open and frost was visible on their eyelids and beards. With a deep breath, he pushed open the doors.


    Ania loudly wretched behind him. Harik did not reproach her for it. How could he me her? The smell that escaped was horrific. Laying there in the darkness of the hall were at least a dozen bodies. Arranged in a circle with a dead fire between them. It looked as if they were standing guard over the fire as they faced away from it with their weapons drawn.


    ''Everyone here was afraid of the dark... As if something was watching them from the shadows...'' Harik sighed as he peered into those dark corners for himself. But there was nothing there. ''This ce has been forsaken by the gods.'' Harik shook his head sadly. He knew Jarl Jorsson. He was a fine warrior and Jarl. He cared for his people as long as they did not break thew. He had silently hoped to bring him over to their side.


    "Find the Jarl!" Harik bellowed as the warriors who had apanied them scurried off into the dark rear rooms of the longhouse...

 Chapter 129 - [Bonus ] Troubled Waters

    Beans let out a happy sigh from her position in the small fishing boat. Her eyes wandered to the small vige where she had started her journey in the game. She had been so confused then about what to do. But now this small vige was thriving with the amount of fish they caught. ''We still need more. I have to send off a ton of carts towards the front lines.


    She hummed absent mindedly as the fishermen in the boat cheered at anotherrge haul. Of course, she was responsible for it with her miracles. It was needless to say that she much loved in this small vige where it used to be hard to catch fish. Now there was more than they could ever eat.


    A small chunk of ice floated past, carried by the tide. That was the thing about the sea in this area of Skardia. There were plenty of icebergs of the coast and the small chunks that washed ashore were used to help preserve the fishermen''s catch in wooden crates. It was a perfectly natural setup for her to thrive with her authority.


    However, she could not help but feel that the sea beneath the boat felt tense. Which was a strange way to describe it. After all, how could a body of water feel tense? It was like it was talking to her in its ownnguage that she did not fully understand yet. A frown settled on her delicate face as she turned to face out towards the sea.


    Here, on these waters, she felt like something dangerous was approaching. Though she did not know what it was. She should have a natural advantage on the sea if it was some other god, but it felt like something else. She tilted her head as she thought she heard a whisper. A whisper in the voice of tinkling ss.


    "Ships... Invaders... Death..." The strange voice whispered as its voice was carried away by the wind.


    Beans'' eyebrows arched up, as her eyes went wide. She was certain that she was not just hearing things. ''It''s a warning! A warning from the sea itself!'' She knew that she had to take everything seriously with this game and not just dismiss things. So that sparked her next action. Her mind called out to her oracle on the shore and sent a simple message.


    "Gather the vigers. Prepare to flea with all of the supplies. Light a fire to warn the fishing boats. Invaders areing!" Beans delivered the message as quickly as possible and was pleased to see smoke rising from the shore soon after.


    Her expression turned grim as she stared at the icy horizon as the fisherman rowed towards the shore with worried voices. None of them could see their goddess standing there with them. If they could, then they would feel much better about the warning signal. When Beans safely stepped ashore, her eyes never left the sea.


    Her oracle rushed over and began questioning her, but Beans just ordered her to continue with the evacuation. The oracle frowned but recognised the stern look on her goddess''s face as one that was truly worried about what wasing. The vige was alive with people rushing to load up their valuables and the frozen fish. The boats were dragged ashore and covered withs and snow. Anything at hand to try to conceal them so they would remain intact when they returned.


    Children wailed while adults fetched long-unused weaponry from hidden areas in their homes. The noise they were making mostly drowned out the quiet whispers of the sea. Beans had to concentrate to even catch a few words. Her mind struggled to piece together what each almost silent word said.


    ''Ships... Fifty... Sea of Men... Desert... Fast... Half a day...'' Beans thought as she pieced them together. However, part of her wished she had not. ''The sea is speaking to me. There are fifty ships from the desert carrying a sea of men quickly to these shores. They''re about half a day away...''


    A determined expression swept across her face as she stared at the icebergs. Any moment now and their sails should visible. Those icebergs are around half a day out as well. ''Or are they using them to approach unseen?'' A soft growl escaped from Beans as she wondered whether she should stay behind and hold off the invaders. ''Do I buy them time or do I let Exile know about this?''


    ''Wait... I can do both! If I tell Exile maybe he''ll send others here, to help me hold them off! This ce is important for our war supplies!'' With her mind made up, she cancelled her Avatar spell and reconnected with her slumped body in The Raider''s Horn.


    "We have a problem!" She yelled, making the busy bar fall silent all at once.


    "Tell me..." Exile replied from across the room with a deep,manding voice.


    Yse, Beans'' oracle, raced around the small vige searching for her goddess. After all, Beans had spent a lot of time with them recently, which made her feel secure. She did not know what spooked Beans so much, after all, the sea was calm today and there was not a cloud in sight! It was the perfect day for fishing! So why were they now hurrying to abandon their homes?


    Those questions in her mind did notst long. For around the edge of the nearest iceberg, arge sail appeared. Then another, and another. Yse''s breathing became ragged as she stared at what were most definitely not Skardian ships! ''This is what it''s about!'' Dread and panic overtook her mind as she screamed the warning at the top of her lungs.


    The sighting of these ships sent the vigers into a frenzy. They did not have long if they wanted to get away without leaving much of a trail for these invaders to follow. As the carts began to roll out, pulled by horses, dark thunderclouds gathered over the nearby mountains and headed towards their vige. Everyone collectively held their breath as a suffocating presence washed over them...

 Chapter 130 - [Bonus ] New Recruit

    "Get up!" Jor growled as he kicked the figurezing around by the river. "You''re still new, right? What are you doing here? Get in line with the other Tier 0''s!"


    The figure stirred as shezily rolled over to look up at Jor before her eyes went wide. She immediately recognised him, even though they had never interacted before. Jor was massive, standing at six foot eight inches tall. The Dwarven tower shield slung across his back gleamed in the sunlight as her eyes fell on the sword at his waist. Its intricate design showed that it was of dwarven origin as well.


    "Well! Get moving! We''re in Elden territory!" Jor growled louder as the figure quickly made her apologies and ran off.


    ''Damn! How could I make such a bad impression in front of Jor! Jor! For crying out loud! He''s only the Pantheon leader, of all things! He''s bound to kick me out after this!'' She sprinted across the flowing ins popted by colourful vegetation. It was a far better scene than what she hade to know around Valheim.


    ''It''s always snowing there! And the blizzards! But I just had to lie down in the sun and enjoy the warm breeze! Didn''t I?'' She scoffed at her own stupidity as she nced at the others huddled in their own groups preparing for battle. ''What are we even doing out here, anyway? We''re nowhere near the Elden capital or any of the Elden Pantheons'' realms.''


    She could not help but frown as she eased in beside the other new recruits that had joined up at the same as her. There was one in particr that stood out, but that was just theirmander. ''They even left a Tier 4 yer to take charge of us.'' She snorted as she nced at the man''s warm smile and the strange toga he wore. He waspletely out of ce amongst the Skardian gods.


    "Allevia? That''s your name, right?" Jarxos said, as his eyes met hers. "You really should stop wandering off. If you''re spotted by the enemy, then you''ll give us away. You know that Jor is not a very forgiving man, and this mission is important for the entire Pantheon."


    Allevia red at him. Everyone knew his story. Jarxos, the Betrayer. Sold out his own followers, all except his oracle, as long as he could switch sides to Skardia and be worshipped there. Jor had taken the deal and dealt a heavy blow along the Mediria coast with the raids he had ordered. Making off with arge amount of wealth that helped him to suppress his rivals among the Skardian Pantheons.


    But the rumour was that Jarxos had brought something far more valuable with him when he switched sides. Information! Something that Jor did not know, but was eager to get his hands on. ''The Elden Gods have been fine with us so far. They''ve been good allies so honestly. Why are we here sneaking around?''


    Allevia felt a headacheing on as she nced around at the other faces. They all knew something was wrong. That they just should not be here. But nobody was questioning it aloud. Soon, the Pantheon began to move. Her eyes studied the beautiful scenery as it passed by. In the distance, she could see a lone mountain amongst the sea of greenery.


    It took some time for them to get close to it. Especially since they kept changing course instead of going in a straight line. But everyone could tell that Jor and his officers grew tenser the closer they got. Allevia could hear the othersining. All around her were other Tier 0''s who were just wandering Deities. Although they had all ascended, none of them had an Authority over anything because they had all been taken.


    If a fight were to happen, then they could only rely on Divine Spells. She felt that it was unfair. If they came up against anyone with an Authority then they would not have a chance. They were merely cannon fodder for the Pantheon. It really annoyed her that she had met the stats needed to advance to Tier 1 but she could not. Because she did not have an Authority over anything, she also did not have her own element yet.


    ''Hopefully, a few on our side will get wiped out so I can grab something. I don''t want to be stuck at this level forever.'' She let out a long sigh as Jor held up a fist to stop their march. Something... Many somethings were moving on the mountain. Allevia''s ears picked up on the word that Jarxos mumbled at the front of their section. ''Eldens...''


    Fear gripped Allevia''s heart at that words. Eldens had their own Authorities but at the same time their Divine Magic was different to their own. They could use it to connect with Primal Magic giving them something simr to having ess to a False Element. It would not be as strong as a True Elemental God''s spells but it would give them plenty of options.


    "We''re lucky..." Jarxos said from the front as many of the new recruits raised their eyebrows at thatment. "There''s not a lot of them. That''s the downside to the Elden race folks. There aren''t many of them in the mortal realms. Their low numbers are the tradeoff for the power they can wield. Any other race can outnumber them easily."


    Allevia started to get the picture with that exnation. It meant thatpared to the human gods, very few Eldens ones would be able to ascend because of how hard it would be to gain followers. Especially if they were all spread out.


    "Jor! How dare you invade ournds! Have you gone mad? What is the meaning of this!" A deep rocky voice called down from somewhere on the face of the mountain.


    All eyes turned expectantly to Jor as he raised a hand above his head. "I KNOW what you''re hiding here! I will have it at all costs!"


    As his voice thundered with that deration, the wind grew cold as the grass around the army froze over. The ice spread quickly in the surrounding area and up the mountain. Turning it into andscape that would anyone feel that they were back in Skardia! Screams rose from the mountain as motes of light vanished into the air.


    Silence fell as Allevia stared at Jors back. ''So that''s what Tier 5 is capable of?''


    "CHARGE!" Jor roared over the howling frozen winds...

 Chapter 131 - Clash On The Shore

    The vigers nced over their shoulders in fear at the dark clouds now gathered above their abandoned homes as the invading ships closed in. Bright shes appeared amongst the clouds as the viger''s eyes went on the small hut used as their temple. They could feel that something was there as Beans stepped out of it. Followed by y, Burri, Leggy, Old Un, Desa and others from the Ragnarok Pantheon. The only ones missing were Winter and Midas.


    The group walked towards the shoreline with grim expressions stered on their faces. Yse''s eyes went wide as she stared at the group of golden figures gathered beneath the dark clouds. She could feel the density of theirbined divinity spreading through the air. Another sh appeared in the clouds as a lightning bolt struck the shore in front of the group, leaving a sole figure standing in its wake.


    The pressure Yse felt multiplied with the appearance of this God. His own presence was greater than all of the othersbined. ''Exile...'' Yse whispered in her mind as her cart carried her further up the path. She watched on in fascination as Exile raised a hand overhead and lowered it towards the ships. Thunder sounded in the sky, like the beating of a great war drum.


    Another sh followed as a thick lightning bolt descended on the nearest ship and a great cracking noise filled the air. The sails and deck caught fire as splinters shot out of the ruined mast. ''Fire... from the sky...'' Yse thought as her eyes burned that image into her memory before the vigers disappeared into the forest.


    Exile nodded to his left and right as the Pantheonunched other Miracles and Divine spells to target the ships and yers onboard. ''He''s there... Somewhere on those ships...'' Exile frowned as he studied the movement onboard. ''We can''t stop them but we can deal as much damage as possible so their NPC''s have to rest and recover.''


    It was nothing more than a stalling tactic to allow Beans'' followers to escape. What were the odds that the Sommerdans would choose tond in Beans'' vige? He had thought if they did invade that they would attack arger town or something on the coast first to gain supplies. ''We''ll have to move our forces away from this coastline. Leave them to attack the ruling faction on one side while we hit the other.''


    Exile had a feeling that this was not the entire invasion force. It was too small for what was considered a Divine War. There were bound to be other ships. Probably all headed for different areas of Skardia. Divine spells fired from the decks of the ships, being ravaged by rain, lightning, and waves. Someone cast a Divine Barrier on Exile to give him a shield to absorb the damage.


    He nced over his shoulder and took note of that yer. They would have to be rewarded for thinking of the others instead of just themself. The soldiers on the ships had no idea what was happening. All of a sudden it seemed as if Skardia itself was against them, setting foot on it. However, those who were devout enough could see the battle amongst the gods.


    They shivered to see such a sight. It was something that mere humans were not capable of. Twisting the world to their whim as they tried to strike each other down. However, the real fear came when their eyes rested on Exile. They could feel his pressure even from where they were. It was also evident that he was responsible for the lightning falling from the sky to strike at their ships.


    If they lost their ships, they would be doomed. Falling in the frozen seas around Skardia would be a death sentence in minutes. However, all they could do was try to steer the ships safely to shore amongst the storm raging around them. A lightning bolt struck down, only to be blocked by a golden disk that appeared above the ship. Sparks rained down as the lightning was stopped before it could cause any destruction this time.


    ''So... that''s where he is.'' Exile frowned as he studied the strange disc that managed to block his spell. ''Is that a divine spell or something connected to his authority?''


    Exile was unsure of that, but he remembered clearly thest time they had a contest. ''Parthus was focused on Authority before... and it feels like there''s a Tier 1 among them...'' He quickly concluded that Parthus had stepped into the same Tier as himself. Which meant that at this distance, he was at a disadvantage.


    ''It''s best to switch targets then... I''ll need to deal with Parthus once I can get him in melee range...'' Exile let out a sigh. Using his lightning would have given away that there had been some changes in his abilities to Parthus, but he had no other choice. It was too important to sink as many of the ships as possible right now.


    Meanwhile, on board the ship beneath the golden disc, Parthus frowned. ''He''s stronger sincest time. Well... not stronger than just that, he''s also reached Tier 1... And this lightning. How did he change his element? Parthus stared at the shoreline as another lightning bolt struck a ship off to his left.


    ''Hm... He doesn''t want to target me right now. He''s focusing on killing as many followers as he can. He''s smarter than I gave him credit for. But you started this! If you''d stayed away from Sommerdan I wouldn''t havee looking for you!'' A vicious grin spread across Parthus'' face as he stared at Exile. ''Prepare yourself to face the wrath of Mirage!''


    Parthus raised his hands and brought them together slowly. Making an ever so faint sound of a p. Air rushed forward, slicing through the frozen winds and icy rain. mming into Exile and his Pantheon and sending them sprawling backwards in the dirt...

 Chapter 132 - Exchanging Blows

    "Damn! What was that!" Exile groaned as he scrambled to his feet and looked around in a daze.


    The st from Parthus'' spell had disorientated the members of Ragnarok. As they tried to regain their footing, cursing escaped from them as they tried to make sense of what had hit them. Exile''s eyes turned towards the ships as they narrowed. ''That spell... It was more than just wind.'' As he thought about it, he wondered if Parthus was a wind god. But it was too soon to reach that conclusion just yet.


    "Exile... Some of the weaker members have taken quite a lot of damage from that attack." y whispered as he approached.


    Exile frowned as he checked his own stats. But he had not taken any damage at all. ''So, it targets weaker yers while only applying a knock back and disorientating effect to those of a higher level.'' His eyes turned back to the ships as he summoned another lightning bolt, thoroughly wrecking an already damaged ship.


    That was the signal for their attack to resume as Ragnarok continued their offensive. Exile turned towards y after watching the scene for a while with a grim expression.


    "Have anyone whose health drops to twenty-five percent retreat once they''ve used all of their DP. They''ll just die for no reason once this turns into a melee. In fact, tell everyone to immediately cancel their Avatar once their health reaches that stage when these guys makendfall. Let us not give them the satisfaction of iming even a single orb." Exile seemed to ponder something for a bit. "Oh, and tell them to prioritise grabbing any orbs that drop. We won''t give them anything but they have to pay a price foring here."


    y nodded to the order before rushing off to ry the message. Most of the lower levelled seemed relieved about it. It was clear that Exile was not just going to treat them as expendable and make them throw away their lives. Their morale grew alongside their respect for their Pantheon ruler.


    Exile''s mind raced as he watched the continuation of the ranged battle with keen interest. Parthus did not release a second blow, but more golden discs appeared to protect the ships. Each onested roughly thirty seconds, so Exile began barking out orders.


    One person would bait Parthus to use that spell, then count down the seconds until it was due to disappear before the others concentrated their spells on the now defenceless ship. This tactic proved effective, and eventually, Parthus stopped trying to counter it. It was just a waste of DP after all.


    ''Hmm... since he''s stopped, maybe it''s time I hit him with something big.'' Exile grinned as he nced at the clouds and activated Lesser Miracle. Immediately choosing to spend the maximum of 15 DP on the strongest one he could conjure.


    Because of the ongoing storm of spells being fired and countered, Parthus and his army failed to notice the dangerous shes of subdued light in the clouds overhead. A great rumble of thunder suddenly roared over the ships, but before anyone could nce up, ten thick bolts dropped on different ships at the same time!


    The size and severity of the attack was something that they had not been expecting, and so they were caught unprepared. As the lightning struck, it split the masts in two before driving straight through the deck and hull and causing the ships to break in half.


    Cheers erupted from the shore at that sight. With Exile''s disy, it brought the total wrecked ships up to twenty-one. Which was almost half of what the enemy had started with. But that would be thest big move from either side as the storm of spells started to calm down as the yers ran out of DP one by one.


    The atmosphere on the shore grew tense as Ragnarok split up into teams for the melee that was soon to begin. The first ship reached just off of the shoreline as the warriors on board dropped down into the shallow waters and waded their way to dry ground. These warriors ran straight through Ragnarok to eagerly search the homes behind them.


    Meanwhile, Exile and hisrades red at the three yers still standing on the ship. It was clear that they felt uneasy about being the first to arrive. They would certainly be ughtered by how outnumbered they were. One of them nervously nced over his shoulder to check how far behind the next ship was.


    "Watch out!" The yers standing next to him yelled at the same time.


    But it was toote. Exile had used that opportunity to boost his speed andunch the first strike! The yer grunted as Exile''s axe carved into his shoulder, as the rim of Exile''s shield struck hispanion, knocking him to the ground. Before the third could react, y and several othersnded on the deck and charged at him while roaring madly.


    The yers on the other ships watched this scene unfold with grim expressions. They had quickly overwhelmed three of them, which made the rest of the ships slow down to arrive at the same time. Exile nodded happily at that sight. It bought more time for the vigers since they were unwilling to rush in any more.


    His eyes sought out the ship he was certain that Parthus was on, but he noticed that it had fallen back to the rear. ''He won''t face me in closebat unless I''m weakened...'' Exile let out a long sigh. His opponent was wise and seemed to be aware of his limits. Facing someone that could keep a cool head and analyse the situation was a difficult thing to do. Most petty tricks and taunts would not work on them.


    "Everyone! Back to the shore! Check your health and arrange your teams ordingly! And remember! Cancel your Avatar as soon as your HP gets too low! I won''t stand for any deaths today! Do you hear me!" Exile roared above the din of the storm raging around them...

 Chapter 133 - Invasion

    The atmosphere grew tense as Exile red at the yers jumping off their ships at the same time. However, Parthus remained on his with several other yers. ''I see. There are at least two Pantheons here.'' A quick headcount revealed this fact. Especially considering they had already dispatched three yers plus the ones still swimming to shore that survived their ships being wrecked.


    ''The only victory we can im is weakening them and allowing the vigers to escape. We''re not here to stop this invasion.'' Exile revealed a grim expression as the enemies slowly marched through the shallow waters as their NPCs scoured the vige.


    "Attack!" Exile roared as he sprinted towards them, followed by the others.


    The invaders attempted to get out of the water before Ragnarok could close in on them, but they were not fast enough. The two sides shed in a vicious battle in the shallows as they shouted and did their best to bash each other''s skulls in. Exile found three yers ganging up on him. Although he could hold them, he was struggling to deal any damage.


    Exile cursed as the drawbacks of advancing to Tier 1 became apparent. ''They must be close to advancing, which puts all their stats above mine...'' He could not help but grimace at that. Without his Divine spells, he was essentially a lot weaker than these yers. The only good side was that his Authority was higher thanks to his boosts from being a Pantheon ruler.


    But even that did not give him a massive advantage. Each of the yers he was facing had at least forty points in Authority. But judging by their other stats, it looked to be boosted from their equipment. ''It''s like they''re geared to fight Authority based yers... Or... To target pantheon Leaders!''


    Exile cursed as he realised why Parthus was hiding on the ships. It was because he had already prepared a team to face him or other leaders in advance! Exile could only focus on defending against attacks from three sides and asionally strike back. He realised that the enemy had the numerical advantage and would soon overrun his Pantheon.


    Though, he was pleased to hear the enemy cursing as their opponents would vanish suddenly. A smile spread across his face at the thought of how frustrated the enemy would be with not gaining anything for all of this effort. However, a look of concern crossed his face momentster.


    The cursing was bing louder, which meant that his Pantheon was falling faster to the attack than he had anticipated. A quick nce over his shoulder revealed that more than half of Ragnarok had already retreated. While the enemy numbers had barely been affected.


    He could understand that defeat woulde fast without numerical supremacy, but it still should not being that fast! He nced around as he avoided another set of blows to try to understand what was going on. That was when he saw it. The enemies had manoeuvred themselves in a way that they could look for openings in other group fights!


    He watched on as an enemy group suddenly turned away from their opponent and struck one of his members all at once in their exposed back! That yer quickly reacted and cancelled their Avatar after that. ''Damn! Something like that is eventually going to cause deaths!'' Exile was furious that Parthus was cunning enough to have organised something like this.


    "Ragnarok! Retreat if your health drops below fifty percent!" Exile quickly roared over the din of battle. Causing confused nces from his team to be shot at him while the enemy cursed his name.


    The warning came just in time as another chunk of his team quickly disabled their spell and returned to the Divine Realms. A chorus of angry voices called out from the invaders. It was clear that they had been on the brink of causing a number of deaths. Exile''s order had just snatched that opportunity away from them.


    As he deflected another blow, he noticed that the enemies quickly started to formrger groups now that most of Ragnarok were gone. Another five yers were eagerly rushing to reinforce the three yers that he himself was facing off against. ''There''s no point... It''s already over...'' Exile let out a sigh. He could only hope that they had dyed the enemies long enough for the vigers.


    "Everyone! Retreat now!" Exile roared before anyone who was left could suffer a deadly blow.


    Grim expressions appeared on the faces of the Ragnarok members as, one by one, they cancelled their Avatar spells. Leaving Exile all alone on the shore. He cast a dark look towards Parthus'' ship before following his own order. As his consciousness fled the Mortal Realms, Parthus stared at the shoreline with an uncaring expression.


    "Sir! It seems that the enemies have fled! What should we do now?" One of Mirage''s members acting as Parthus'' guard called out.


    "Of course they fled." Parthus snorted matter-of-factly before turning his gaze towards the forest beyond the vige. "Have a group give chase to those vigers. Don''t kill them, just follow them so we can find our next target. If they think they can get away that easy they''re sorely mistaken."


    Savage smiles appeared on the nearby yers who heard that statement as they ryed the order to those on the shore. They had sessfully beaten back an enemy Pantheon and set foot on Skardian soil. The morale of their NPCs was high now that they were on the other side of raiding their enemies. They had grown tired of only being able to prepare for the Skardian raids, and now they could not wait to return the favour.


    Parthus, on the other hand, seemed more interested in studying the terrain. He paid attention to the nearby mountains, cliffs, and frozen forests. His mind silently calcting what supplies they would have to prioritise for an extended campaign in that environment.


    "Collect any firewood and warm clothing left behind. Then... Burn this ce to the ground..."

 Chapter 134 - Exodus

    Exile cursed as he nced around at the other leaders in The Raider''s Horn. Everyone wore solemn expressions, having already heard how things were going from those who retreated earlier. ''They came too fast! I thought it would take time before we saw anything from that war!'' Exile was livid that Parthus had chosen to attack when he did.


    They were already trying to keep a low profile while dealing with the Civil War, but now Sommerdan invaders were threatening their shores as well. ''Parthus... who the hell are you?'' Exile wracked his memories, but could find no information about a yer who used that name. ''He''s definitely someone worth knowing about. It has to be an alias.


    "How do we deal with this? We''re already hearing some talk on the streets that other ces have been attacked as well." Noslin cocked an eyebrow at Exile while letting out a sigh.


    "I don''t know..." Exile shook his head as he mmed a fist on the table, making it creak. "I thought we could use them to trap the ruling faction between us and them. But if they''reing from differentnding points, that will be almost impossible. Our NPCs will want to deal with them before they can ruin their homes."


    The other leaders contemted the matter for some time and offered a few suggestions, but all of them were weak or had obvious ws. Unfortunately, the Sommerdan invasion had juste at the wrong time. ''Maybe we need to work with the ruling faction for now... Obtain a temporary truce or something...''


    It was the only thing that Exile could think of for the moment. Weakening the other Pantheons in the face of a mass invasion was not a smart move, as they would need everyone they could get. ''How do we go about it, though? I don''t think the other side is working together so it would take time to convince them to work together.''


    "We''re going to have to split into two groups. One to deal with the civil war and one to deal with this invasion." The leader of Greenhouse Pantheon dered as she nced around the table. "Most of you are probably thinking we should unite with the ruling faction, but they could use that to stab us in the back. Exile, you were right in thinking of using them against each other. You just didn''t consider that to make it work. We have to shrink our own area of interest to something we can defend. Then let the Sommerdans and ruling faction weaken each other."


    Exile frowned as he studied her. Her bright green bob hairstyle was vivid against her dark skin. "If we give up on those territories now, we''ll be putting a lot of strain on our remaining ones. They''ll have to produce enough to sustain so many refugees. Not only that, but who here will willingly ask their NPCs to relocate?"


    The leaders began to nce nervously at each other upon hearing what Exile had to say. It was clear that none of them wanted to bring that news to their followers. After all, they would have to travel across treacherous regions full of wildlife and enemies to reach those ces decided as safe zones.


    "Why don''t we get a map and find out where everyone is exactly. The territories that are the closest together will be used by the alliance and anyone outside of it will have to migrate. I think that should be fair, right?" Noslin suggested.


    There were a fewints, but it was the best course of action they coulde up with for now. Midas soon scurried over with arge map of Skardia, that marked where everyone''s territories were and a problem soon appeared.


    ''There are nine kingdoms in Skardia.'' Exile frowned as he studied the map. ''Even my own members are spread all over the ce. I can''t ask them to travel that far to bring everyone together.''


    It would take months in the game to bring everyone into the areas most densely popted by their Pantheons. ncing over it, Exile spotted that Eraldsfen, Korden, y and Burri''s territories all fell within that area. But everyone else was scattered outside of it. Exile let out a deep sigh as he stared at the map.


    "Ok, we can all see that nobody in particr benefits from gathering in the kingdoms of Stormcrown, Harlcarf and Ulvog. Most of our Pantheons have a good presence in these three, while the other six clearly hold more people from the ruling factions anyway. Once we gather, we''ll cleanse these kingdoms and turn them into allies that border each other. Think of it as one giant fortress in the Mortal Realms." Exile dered as Noslin nodded to show her support despite her own people being outside of these kingdoms.


    "Once we''re all gathered, we should have arge enough force to patrol the borders. This will be easier since we won''t have to worry about our friendly neighbours, minimising the area we need to protect." Noslin added as she traced the borders to show one big circle that ignored the areas where the three kingdoms met each other. She hesitated for a bit as her finger reached arge mountain chain in the west of Stormcrown.


    "We can ignore that. It''s a natural barrier against whatever is on the other side. Those settled in Stormcrown can send extra troops to Harlcarf and Ulvog to shore up their defences." Exile stated as he saw her hesitation.


    "Ok, so that''s the n..." Noslin nodded as a serious expression set on her face. "Head to whatever of these kingdoms is closest to you. Try to meet up with each other for added protection during the journey. Maybe those in these territories can send troops out to meet you as well. You''ll have to n the supplies you''ll need, especially if you''re far away. You can ask us if you need help, like supplies to meet your people along the road. We''ll do everything we can to make this happen and protect your followers."


    "Bring your members up here to study the map and exin the situation. Those who are within the kingdoms should have their followers start to build settlements or extend their current viges and towns for a poption boom. Try to find out how many more people your viges and such can realistically sustain as well. We''ll probably have to split them up and spread them out a fair bit so we don''t cause the territories to copse from overconsumption of resources." Exile added in a grim tone.


    "Make no mistake. This is a huge undertaking and will definitely cause a lot of interest. Just by doing this, the ruling faction Pantheons are certain to find out we''re on the move. They''ll try to target you on the road if they''re not too busy dealing with Sommerdan." Noslin sighed as she nced at the grim expressions of those who would face the most danger. "They''re bound to figure out that we''re all working together and that we are actively coordinating to increase our chances. Unfortunately, this is the hand that we''ve been dealt. It''s not ideal to reveal our alliance at this point, but there''s no other choice."


    "Ok, get moving!" Exilemanded before anyone could raise any objections.


    In a group like that one that was full of leaders, a stern voice was needed to make them listen. Otherwise, it would have dissolved into chaos with everyone arguing points to hold their own current territories instead. Exile moved away from the table to allow the other leaders to get their members in and exin the n.


    As expected, there was some discontent among the normal members, but everyone seemed level-headed enough to understand their grim situation. This was for their very survival. Exile and y spoke to the Ragnarok members and clearly exined why it was necessary before waiting for a gap to show their affected members which routes they should take.


    Naturally, it was decided to gather the entire Pantheon in Stormcrown and turn it into a massive stronghold for their Pantheon''s followers. The other leaders did not object to this, as it would open more space in the other two kingdoms so they could gather their own followers to one area as well. There was no point inpeting for followers against each other when they had to rely on each other''s strength as it was.


    Exile''s eyes narrowed on the map as the ns wereid out for their exodus when a thought struck him. ''Beans'' vigers will have toe through this path in the mountains to reach Stormcrown... If Parthus doesn''t catch up, he might follow them right to us!'' a frown appeared on Exile''s face as he looked at theyout of the mountain path. ''Maybe we''ll get the opportunity to deal a heavy blow to his invasion if he doesn''t let them go...''


    Exile''s eyes fixated on a specific part of the mountain road before a grin appeared on his face...

 Chapter 135 - Odds And Ends

    "Refugees?" Bjorn frowned as he nced at Ania. "Why have we to prepare for refugees? We''re in the middle of a war here!"


    Ania shook her head as she looked at him. "That''s what Exile said. He said that all of Ragnarok''s followers would be headed this way. As well as allies that can help us. But we have to help secure their path. He seemed confident that if they join us, then taking Stormcrown will be a lot easier."


    Harik frowned as he sat between the two and listened to the conversation. He was more concerned about how they would feed and clothe so many new people. "We should ept them. I''m sure the gods have a n to deal with it. Besides, we have need of able-bodied warriors."


    Neither Ania nor Bjorn could argue with that statement. Although Harik was thinking about the situation that had just been put on them, both Ania and Bjorn were wondering about the reason behind such a massive resettlement. They did not believe for a moment that it was simply to bring all of the followers together.


    "It will take months for all of them to gather here. They''reing from all over Skardia." Ania sighed as she nced around the camp. "If we''re to deal with this, we need to stop our march and turn back to Eraldsfen to prepare."


    "Hm, we should expand Eraldsfen." Bjorn chimed in as he considered it. "We need to turn it into a ce worthy of holding the main temple. Besides, if you were to be king Harik, I''m sure you won''t want to leave the ce."


    "I guess we need to build a proper fortress or something." Harik sighed as he thought about a few suitable locations for a massive new building. "But I doubt we could build something like that quickly. We don''t really have anyone who has the experience of working with stone or mining."


    "That''s true, but maybe there will be people among these refugees. If I had to guess, then we had better be prepared for something massive. The gods would not take such drastic actions without reason." Bjorn replied with a grim expression stered on his face.


    Ania zoned out of the rest of the conversation as her attention shifted in the direction of the next town that they had been on the way to. ''I hope we don''t regret turning back now. Everything was going so well...'' Unknown to her, a pair of massive eyes in the distance were watching her carefully.


    Skovi''s fur colour allowed him to blend in with the snow unseen as he chewed on the bone of a man from the group his pack had devoured the previous night. He was studying how the humans reacted to Exile''s orders. This was so that his master could understand their mindset. ''Why does he even bother, they''re humans. They should happily serve him as I do. If they don''t, he just needs to give the word and I''ll tear their throats out.''


    Skovi released a low growl from his throat. He could smell the doubting from the humans. He could sense that they were not as devoted to his master as himself. His instincts screamed at him to keep a close eye on them, even if Exile had not already ordered it. He watched on for a few more hours until he was satisfied that they would retreat.


    A low grunt escaped from him. Disappointment filled him that he would not be able to report their failure toply to Exile. He slowly stood up with thest remains of his bone and padded off in the snow to find his pack.


    Meanwhile, Colt sighed softly as he rolled out of bed. He had delivered his orders to his followers before disconnecting from the game and getting some proper sleep. Although the capsule allowed the yers to enter a sleep state so they could rest while ying, it was still important to take regr proper breaks.


    Most pros could spend five or six days at a time in the capsule before it became too much. After all, the capsule was not miraculous enough topletely eradicate the need for an actual rest period. ''Besides, I''ll need to order more fluids, otherwise, my body won''t take in enough nutrients to sustain itself.''


    Colt sighed as he thought about the cost of such things. But that was the price everyone had to pay if they wanted to im as much of their lives for themselves. Ordinary people would work during the day for unreasonable hours, causing them to begrudge having to work as their lives were taken over by just work and sleep. Then the capsules came along and people were able to im their usual sleep time back for recreation most nights.


    Colt shook his head when he thought about it. Most people would not get to spend as much time in games as he got to enjoy. Plus, because it ran on a sort ofbined dream state, it affected the perception of the passage of time. Different games had different ratios. Such as a day in-game was the same as a day in real life. Both Mayhem and Pantheon ran on a one to seven ratio. One day in real life was equal to seven in-game.


    Colt gingerly fixed himself some breakfast and coffee before settling down to hisputer. Today was for ordering everything he needed to keep his capsule running and to chase any leads on sponsors for the Pantheon. He opened a secondary window that he set to ys the Gamecast site. Which was a news site specifically aimed at news for the gaming industry.


    As he navigated the pages to find good deals on what he needed, his ears only slightly listened to the background noise of the hosts talking away. A slight frown appeared on his face as he listened to a conversation that involved one of the yers of Pantheon, who had been banned recently.


    "And what are your thoughts exactly on this new game that seems to be gathering a lot of attention?" The host asked in an interested tone.


    "My thoughts? The game is fantastic, make no mistakes there. But I just don''t understand why they insist on keeping us from rejoining the game! It really ticks me off! I''ve loved the world and the time I invested in it, and sure, I understand it''s a big battle royale for an undetermined prize. But I think it would be better off as apetitive rpg just like Mayhem!" The yer, half full of praise and half admonishing, responded to the question.


    "Hm, ording to our investigations though, this type of game is gathering a mass following. Both in yers and people eager to watch how everything unfolds. Especially with the high stakes everyone is ying for. After all, nobody wants to get banned from the game. Just recently the big three announced that they will be sending out sponsorship requests to the developer to help support this project."


    "Sure! It all looks good on paper right now, but have they really thought it through? Eventually, the poption of yers will fall as more are eliminated. That trend will continue until only one person or team wins, but what then? What happens to the game? How long until it reaches that stage? Its overall shelf life will not be long at all. I think it would be a miracle for it tost three years at most with the developer''s current n."


    "So, what you''re saying is that overall it seems like a bad investment on the developer''s and the yer''s parts?"


    "You could say as such. Only one person or team will make it to the end of the game. The rest of us will have wasted our time. Frankly, I''m d I''ve been put out so early before I get too invested in it. The game must have taken a substantial amount of capital to develop as well. I just don''t see them making enough of a profit to cover the costs and treating it as a disposable world. To keep making money, they''ll still have to rely on Mayhem or create another game to take Pantheon''s ce."


    "I see. There have been a few other people voicing simr concerns over this game. But, there is one question from our viewers who have not been lucky enough to y it. Would you mind answering it for us?"


    "Sure, I''m happy to answer whatever it is if I can..."


    "So, our viewer, called Lucy, has been watching the streams. She''s studying game development herself, but something has been nagging at her. In your own words, can you describe how you feel about the AI in the game? In the streams she''s watched they make them appear incredibly intelligent and lifelike, as if they were real people. What she wants to know is if they are really like that or it''s some trick of the developer''s editors to make the streams seem more like a drama show..."

 Chapter 136 - A Players Surprise

    Colt barely listened to the conversation after that point. The ex-yer went on to describe how the AI was really incredibly lifelike and that you could easily forget that they were not real. This sparked a bit of a debate as to whether they could really be called game objects any longer if they really reacted and lived like real people.


    Naturally, some people became concerned about the ethics and morality of ying such a game after that. This just led to more confusion as people tried to define whether the AI was actually alive or whether it was fine because they had been created for the entertainment of others.


    Colt switched off the news, as that argument kept going on and probably would for hours yet. As far as he was concerned, it was just a game and people should stop overthinking things. But he was certain it would be a hot topic in the gamingmunity over time.


    ''Come to think about it...'' Colt frowned after cing his order for the fluids that he needed and moved over to the game''s official forums. Although he was not interested in the real-life argument around the AI''s, a spark of interest had formed about what other yers had tried to do with the AI''s so far. ''Just how real did the developers make them?''


    He searched through a number of topics until he found a few with interesting titles. He decided to take them one at a time to get a better idea of what the NPCs may react to. The first one he clicked on was titled: I''m an evil GOD!


    When he read through the contents, it seemed that yer who posted it was an Orc god. They had demanded for some of the followers to sacrifice themselves! This caused his followers to have a shift in how they viewed him. Seeing him as an evil entity that could grant their worldly desires as long as they performed evil actions. Such as kidnapping innocent people, holding them prisoner, sacrificing them or themselves, and the list went on and on.


    It was an interesting read, especially the part where the yer in question believed that his authority was linked to being believed to be evil. He believed that it was something a god could not get if they were seen as good, although he did not go into details about it.


    The drawbacks turned out to be that the followers of ''good'' gods would hunt his own followers down if they were discovered. Not to mention it was difficult to grow his follower base, since they would sacrifice each other from time to time. However, on the plus side, he gained a lot of valuables. Basically, everything that belonged to a sacrificial victim became his property. On top of that, he had gained a significant amount of Soul Tokens though he had no idea what to do with them.


    The poster then went on to say that he was recruiting like-minded yers to start an evil Pantheon. Colt shook his head at thatst part. It was simr to being an evil or dark guild in other games. They would be the bane of other Pantheons and would likely be hunted a lot. He was surprised that yers were willing to put themselves in this position in Pantheon.


    He scrolled to the next topic, which mimicked the same arguments that he had heard on the news. He gave it a quick nce to see if there was anything of interest, but it did not seem to be the case.


    Another topic discussed how some yers had created monsters by cursing mortal wildlife. These creatures went on a rampage and became something that they or other gods could no longer affect! Leaving them as a problem for the NPCs to deal with. Apparently, one of the monsters had been killed by a yer''s follower and had been elevated to a Hero. What this meant exactly, they did not know.


    But they hypothesized that Heroes would have an easier time fighting monsters. Like some sort of guardian for their followers to call on for help when facing difficult times. Colt took a keen interest in this subject, but there were no posts about anyone else blessing a mortal creature and being able to summon it. He decided that others had done the same as him but had not shared the information yet.


    ''Still, it''s like a way to attack your enemies'' followers. Curse a creature in their regions and it''ll do a lot of damage. But there''s risk involved in that you may generate a hero for your enemy if they kill it...'' Colt wondered if he could do something simr for his own people. Deliberately create monsters for them to vanquish and give him heroes he could use as pawns in the mortal realm.


    As he continued looking through the various discussions, he could not help butugh at some of the things he saw. Some yers hadmanded their followers to never wear clothes. Others had convinced the NPCs that the world was just a grape on a vine. Some had told them that it was just a bad dream and when they died, they would wake up in a utopia.


    Surprisingly, there were quite a lot of things that the NPCs took seriously if mentioned by their god. It was basically giving the yers to create their own faith from scratch. They could make the NPCs believe whatever they wanted them to about the creation of the world and how they should be acting as people. It was quite the powerful system that could strengthen or weaken how much new potential followers would want to believe in you if they liked what they heard.


    Still, the topics went on and on until he hardly found anything new and some things that he questioned whether the poster was telling the truth about. However, onest post drew his attention as soon as he read the title: Demigods are real!


    Colt immediately clicked on it and took his time as he read the information. The poster had remained anonymous but felt that he could not keep this revtion a secret.


    Essentially, the yer in question was feeling rather infatuated by how one of his followers looked. He decided to try something out but suggesting to her that they have a rtionship. However, he was caught off guard when she agreed rather enthusiastically. After going into great detail about how he spent the night with her, he got a shock a couple of dayster when his oracle contacted him to discuss an issue that had arrived.


    The yer''s followers wanted to burn a woman alive for lying about carrying the child of their god. Naturally, the yer doubted this as well but decided to take a look for himself, since it involved the woman he had spent the night with.


    When he descended and got close to her, a system notification had appeared to tell him that she really was pregnant with his child! The child would randomly gain some powers based off of the yer''s authority as well as excel inbat. Naturally being gifted with extreme strength, be faster than normal or having an extremely tough body.


    With one of thesebined with a weakened version of the yer''s authority abilities chosen at random, the child would be a powerhouse in the world of man. Being born as a Demigod Hero. The poster then went on to say that the system had notified him that if his child performed great heroic feats and his name resounded through thend, there would be a chance for him to ascend to the divine realms.


    Naturally, the yer was shocked about this and was seeking advice on what he should do. In Colt''s mind, he was overthinking things when he started to say that he was not ready to settle down and be a father. Otherments seemed to mimic that thought as they just suggested that he let the child grow in the care of its mother until he could use it.


    Other yers wondered how the birth of Demigods would shape the game in the future and whether it was something actually worth considering. They had a feeling that this inclusion in the game had toe with bad points that either the poster or the system was hiding. Otherwise, it would be an OP feature and basically, every yer would do what they had to if they wanted to gain an army of them.


    Colt found himself among those who thought that there had to be a downside. It was something worth thinking about, but he would prefer to know more about the subject before acting on it. ''Maybe I should test it out? I could keep it a secret? Maybe tell the mother to never reveal it?'' Colt''s mind raced as he considered the option. After all, there was no telling how the child would react once they discovered the truth...

 Chapter 137 - How To Gain More Exposure?

    Colt ended up signing back into the game for only a short while to find out what had been going on. After rying what he had discovered so far, he set up a rotation with the other leaders for who would be online and when, so they could all get some rest. It was decided that each of them would have three days off a week to deal with real-life issues.


    Since he had already taken a day off, it was decided he would be in the first batch, giving him another two days to y around with. When he signed off again, he felt at a loss. Those he had called friends were all on his old team. With what had happened between him and Camelot and them remaining silent about it, he did not feel inclined to contact any of them.


    ''Maybe I should check up on my brother...'' Colt hummed as he eyed his contact list on hisputer. They had not spoken much since he rejected Colt''s offer to join Camelot when he was still the Captain. Instead, he had chosen to join a team that had only recently been created and yed an entirely different game altogether.


    Thest he heard, his younger brother was doing quite well for himself. cing in the top ten global yers of that game. ''He probably won''t be interested in Pantheon...'' Colt let out a sigh. After all, if they did talk, he would have to deal with the questions of what he would do for money now that he was kicked off of the pro team.


    He was not ready to answer those questions yet. Not until he found a decent sponsor for Ragnarok. With that thought in mind, he navigated to the team''s streaming site on Pantheon''s official page. Another three streams had been uploaded by the editors since then, showing off their adventures so far. However, since most of it was something that the editors realised they wanted to keep secret, it was mostly full of screen time for Bjorn, Harik and Ania.


    As well as the Oracles and followers that were closer to the other members. He scanned through thements left on the streams and discovered that the people who were watching them seemed to be fawning over Ania whenever she appeared. And it was not just men who were leaving lewdments either!


    Colt chuckled at some of them as he read them, but others he chose to ban frommenting since they were just too graphic. Colt let out another sigh as he checked the inbox to see if there were any updates.


    He was surprised to discover that there were actually a few sponsorship offers. But they were all from smallpanies who wanted to advertise their products and give them discounts in return. There was nothing offering them any money or real support. He felt slightly disheartened at that, but he always knew it would take time to reach any of the big fish, since they would be paying attention to the professional teams.


    Colt leaned back in his chair as he sipped on the lukewarm coffee while staring at the screen. He was sure that they had made a decent ssh in Pantheon already. ''Maybe...'' He decided to scroll through the pages of other teams and he was discouraged to find that plenty of them had already received paid sponsorships. The problem was that they were most non-human races.


    It seemed that the average viewer was more interested in these races or finding videos with something that they had not seen so far. ''If we want to grab attention, I''ll need to reach out to the editors. Maybe I should ask them to include Skovi...''


    However, he quickly stopped this line of thinking. It was ridiculous to reveal this card now, just to try to draw more attention. Skovi could be a vital factor in saving his life one day if the enemy was caught unaware. But that did not really leave him with any options. Revealing the Autosphere and the battle that took ce there, and the Alliance were both no goes as well. Which was pretty much all they had up their sleeves for now.


    Colt wracked his brain for an answer. The only other things he could think of was to either reveal his new gamertag and associate it with his real name, or to try the whole demigod thing. That would be sure to bring in viewers who would be interested in it. ''Or... I can create a monster and make sure my followers fight it...'' It was worth considering since it would certainly bring some drama to their streams.


    He was beginning to realise that they desperately needed exciting content. Something that would draw viewers back time and again. ''Is this how those television producers feel?'' Colt thought as he rubbed his temples. ''I need some inspiration...''


    He navigated through the web to find old myths and legends that involved heroes and monsters. As he read through them, he tried to figure out what made them sopelling to people who enjoyed them. Once he was done with a few of them, he watched some indie web series that covered the same topics. Whether they were meant as dramas or as information.


    It took him some time to start piecing everything together. He would have to orchestrate a whole story revolving around whatever he did. Like, create a monster that would kill the unsuspecting NPC''s parents or loved ones before making his own appearance to give them gifts or something to help them defeat it.


    He was unsure whether the developers had this in mind when they developed the game. For it to be one big drama that anyone could enjoy and support their favourite characters. For that was what the gamers would be. Actors of a sort instead of professional gamers. ''Hm... Maybe we should properly roley all the time instead of just for the NPCs...''


    He had noticed a trend that seemed to favour the teams that were going along these lines. Although he could not watch the content, just some of thements that he was not restricted from revealed this fact. These teams had even set up donation pages.


    Colt let out a sigh when he saw that. Would his Pantheon even go for the idea? But then again, donations could keep them going for a while. Even if they had to pretend to be someone, they were not for the time being. But most of the time pro yers did not pay attention to things like this. They focused on stats and being logical in how to beat the game.


    He was stuck with a bit of a dilemma because of it. Personally, he felt ufortable role-ying a god constantly for the amusement of whoever would be watching. ''I''ll put it to a vote and if the others agree, I suppose I can swallow my pride for the sake of the team...''


    Colt shook his head as he thought about it. He decided to prepare himself a bit just in case it did go through by searching for the supposed personalities of gods in human history. If he was going to have to do it, then he would do it right. He mainly focused on the likes of those who had ruled their own Pantheons, such as Zeus and Odin.


    Then he went through every story he could find of these gods and discovered that they could be kind but were usually full of wrath. He even paid attention to the stories that imed certain heroes as being their children and how the gods helped them in their own quests. It made him think that real-life history and myths had yed a huge role in how the developers had designed the game.


    ''Ok, maybe I really should have a child in the game... But not with Ania.'' Colt frowned as he thought about it. Even though she was an AI, he would feel really weird with their supposed age gap. ''Maybe in a few years in game time.''


    However, his mind was set on making these few things happen. The first thing he would have to do was discover a suitable NPC to be the mother of his child. Then he would have to create a monster and the subsequent hero to defeat it. After that, it would be up to the other members whether they threw some roley into the mix.


    All in all, he felt like he had a solid n to increase their viewer levels and build up a strong fan base. ''I should probably ask some of the yers to act like they''re against me in the Pantheon or something. Maybe have them create problems for the NPCs while I fix them. Make it seem like there are two factions or drama happening internally...''


    ''Then again... I wonder if I could dere a Queen for the Pantheon? Then have them act jealous when I create a demigod and send trials against my child?'' That wasn''t such a bad idea now that he thought about it...

 Chapter 138 - [Bonus ] Allevias Luck

    Allevia cursed as she constantly positioned herself behind others as they charged up the mountain. Divine Spells flew everywhere and many of those around her were killed pretty quickly. ''Damn Jor! This isn''t a fight we should be involved in!''


    She was angry when she realised that they were not really good for anything other than cannon fodder to make the enemies waste their DP in killing them. Her eyes narrowed as she saw another barrage of spells flying her way. She quickly dove behind a boulderrge enough to shield her as screams echoed on the mountain.


    The surrounding air shimmered with all the motes of light from those who fell. Jarxos was somewhere ahead, shouting for them to keep up and keep moving. She shook her head slowly at his yells. If she continued to go forward, she was sure she would die. But if anyone spotted her hiding, she would likely be kicked out of the Pantheon and left in Elden territory to die anyway.


    Once again, she cursed at the situation she found herself in. Right before jumping out of her hiding ce and dashing forward to catch up again. She clenched her jaw as her hands trembled. Her shield and spear kept striking against her legs as she ran.


    Meanwhile, the mountain suddenly felt as if it were trembling beneath her feet. From higher up the mountain, massive gods made of rock with four arms had begun to charge down to meet them. Her eyes went wide when she counted them. There was moreing towards them than there were human gods behind her. But that was not the worst part. More Elden gods appeared higher up on the mountain!


    Those who were ahead of her seemed to hesitate briefly at that sight before letting out loud war cries. Their efforts renewed as they put everything they had into running faster to meet the Eldens sooner. Allevia released a few Divine Spells at the iing wall on legs, but no damage was done.


    When she saw that her Authority, which was her highest stat, could not hurt them, she quickly sprinted to catch Jarxos by the shoulder. Stopping him in his tracks. When he turned to look at her, there was an angry expression on his face.


    "What are you doing Allevia! The enemy is almost upon us!" Jarxos yelled while turning red in the face.


    "Jarxos! They''re beyond our level! I''m sure of it! We''ll be wiped out in minutes if we sh with that!" Allevia shouted back while pointing her spear at the Eldens. "We need people from the higher Tiers over here to deal with it!"


    Jarxos'' eyes narrowed as he nced from her to the enemies ahead. Then his attention turned to the other teams that had been formed of different Tiers and their positions.


    "It seems like that is Lord Jor''s n, Allevia! Look around! We were supposed to draw them to us because we''ll be quick to deal with. While Lord Jor is on the other side of this mess! If the Eldens start from our position, then their frontline will have to go through every one of us as they sweep across the mountain to reach Jor!" Jarxos sighed as he red at her. "Jor must have a n tounch the attack. The best thing you can do for the Pantheon is fulfilling your role in this battle!"


    Jarxos turned after those parting words and sprinted on to meet his troops, who had already begun to sh with the enemy. Allevia stared with her mouth agape at the carnage unfolding. The Eldens wereughing as they crushed the Skardians who hade to meet them. These frontline warriors of the Eldens bore huge shields that required two of their hands to hold while carrying a weapon in each of their two free hands.


    It was obvious that any human would be at a disadvantage when fighting them! ''This isn''t worth it! Screw this!'' Allevia nced around to find a way out of that situation. She had decided to abandon the Pantheon. After all, was it worth staying in a team that would treat her like she was disposable?


    She spared onest nce at those fighting up ahead before sprinting towards her left. Away from the fight and away from the others stilling up from behind. She faintly heard Jarxos yelling from somewhere behind her, but she paid no attention to whatever he was saying.


    A determined expression crossed her face as she picked up the pace. A giant boulder stood in her path, but she did not want to go around it. As she neared it, she prepared herself before jumping into the air. A broad smile swept across her face as she cleared the top of it. But it did notst long.


    The boulder hid a wide, dark hold that seemed to plummet into the depths of the mountain. But there was nothing she could do to save herself at this point. She let out a long scream as she fell into the pit''s cavernous mouth. Her voice echoed off of its walls as she plunged into darkness.


    ''Is this it? Am I just going to die anyway?'' She wondered as the darkness rushed past. Just as she began to lose hope, she saw a flicker of light from somewhere below her. Apanied by the sound of running water. ''Oh, please let that water be somewhere beneath me!''


    She closed her eyes as she waited for either the cold of the water to wash over her or for death to take her. She suddenly gasped as she plunged into freezing waters. It rushed down her throat before she could realise her mistake as she sunk into its depths. She tried to cough it out as she frantically swum towards the surface, where she could see the flickering orange glow from before illuminating which way was up.


    ''Typical! This is just my rotten luck!'' She thought as she broke the surface of the water and gasped for air...

 Chapter 139 - [Bonus ] Elden Treasure

    Allevia gasped for air as she dragged herself through the currents to reach the rockynd that ran next to the underground river. Water gushed out of her mouth as she choked up the contents of her stomach and lungs. She rolled over onto her back and took deep breaths of air as she considered what she should do next.


    ''I''m still behind enemy lines and this cave is probably part of some underground structure the Eldens built to defend this mountain...'' Her situation was not looking good at all as she nced around at the jagged walls and roof of the tunnel. The orange glow cast deep and strange shadows all over the ce.


    ''What the hell is so important about this mountain anyway?'' It was a question that she could not help but ask herself. Jor was willing to throw his whole Pantheon into a war with the Elden over it and the other side seemed desperate to protect this ce. ''There has to be something that''s worth all of this.'' Her eyes narrowed as she nced down the winding tunnel that led towards the glow.


    ''Maybe I should try to sneak it out on my own. At least then it would make deserting worth it. If it''s something I can''t use, I could always use it as a bargaining chip to join another Pantheon.'' Allevia sighed as she slowly climbed to her feet and drew her shield and spear. ''There may be some Eldens down here. I doubt I can win if I run into trouble, but I may as well be prepared to put up a fight.''


    Allevia proceeded towards the glow cautiously. Tilting her head from side to side to listen out for any sounds. Her shield was raised to protect her body and her spear was pointing forward. Allevia gulped as she thought she heard movement. ''Is it just my mind ying tricks on me?'' She wondered as nothing seemed to follow it.


    The warm glow was getting brighter as she continued onwards. She recognised it asing from a fire, but that only made her concerned. Usually, a fire would be an indicator that there were enemies nearby. Otherwise, who would have lit it? That was when she could clearly hear the fire crackling. The sound made it clear to her that it was just around the corner.


    She held her breath as she watched for any shadows of someone moving in front of it to be cast on the bend, blocking her view. Out of cautiousness, she waited for a good half hour, but nothing changed. Eventually, she gained the courage to take a peak. However, what she saw left her feeling breathless.


    The room around the bend was arge open space with a solitary stone plinth standing in the center. However, it was what was on top of the plinth at chest level that took her breath away. Sitting there was a bright, fiery orb that looked like a miniature sun. Except its surface flowed with orange, red, blue and white mes, depending on how you looked at it.


    From time to time sparks of electricity danced across its surface and she was almost certain that she could see a small ck me and a golden one spinning around each other at the core of the strange sun. ''Is this what everyone is fighting over?'' A frown appeared on her face as she bit her lower lip. There was no other entrance to the room, so she felt sure that she was safe there for the moment.


    She stored her weapon and shield as she approached the plinth. There was strange writing that she could not read written on it. ''What the hell is it? Can I even take it?'' She frowned as she wondered if it was even safe to touch. For all she knew, it could kill her. ''But if Jor is really after this, then there must be a way to im it.


    She eyed the multicoloured sun nervously as she wondered if it needed a special container or something. ''Screw it! I''m not leaving here without anything!'' Her hand trembled as she slowly reached out with her bare hand. However, before she could touch it, a re urred on its surface! The re shot out to touch her fingertip, and she felt a burning sensation spread throughout her entire body!


    Allevia copsed to the ground and writhed in pain. Shrill screams escaped her throat as the surface beneath her skin seemed to glow with an inner fire. The re had followed her as copsed. Staying connected to her finger. Allevia was unaware of how long she endured that pain. In the moments when the blinding pain seemed to clear, she managed to see that the sun was growing smaller the longer it was connected to her!


    ''I can do this!'' She yelled in her own mind as the blinding pain returned again. She decided the pain she was enduring was some kind of trial she had to pass to im that sun. There were moments when she thought she would pass out. But whenever they came, she would bite down on her tongue to remind herself not to give in to it.


    What seemed like weeks to her mind passed in the solitude of that strange room as the glow dimmed. Allevia''s mind struggled to remain sane under the constant torturous pain that she endured. However, despite her efforts, she felt her consciousness begin to fade. A sigh escaped amongst her screaming as she realised she could not deal with it any longer. ''I''ve failed...''


    As her mind turned nk and her vision darkened, she failed to notice thest embers flow into her body. Throwing that seemingly ancient room into pure darkness. The white-hot glow beneath her skin faded as smoke rose from her still figure...


    In the numerous lines of code belonging to Pantheon Online, a singr line at that moment was marked as important.


    [yer: Allevia has imed The First me...]

 Chapter 140 - Blockades

    Exile sighed as he signed back into the game. Noslin looked bored as she stared at him while tapping the map. ''What''s up with her?'' Exile raised an eyebrow as he met her gaze.


    "Did you enjoy your three weeks off?" Noslin sounded as if she wanted toin about it.


    "Pfft, it''s only three days in the real world. You know that. Now, fill me in on what I''ve missed so you can get out of here." Exile chuckled as he nced at the little stone markers sitting on top of the map.


    Noslin let out a sigh as she pointed to a group of markers. "These people were wiped out by the ruling faction. We lost seven yers when their Oracles were killed in the attack."


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he studied the location of the attack. It was far away from Stormcrown and the territories the alliance had decided to settle in. As he looked at it, he noticed that it was the quickest path for this group to join them. So if someone found out what direction they were headed in, it would have been easy to assume that they would take that route.


    "Then there''s this." Noslin pointed to another group of markers. "This lot was wiped out by the Sommerdans. Another twelve yers were lost because of it."


    Exile felt a sinking feeling appear in his stomach. The number of lost yers had almost reached a full Pantheon''s worth already. All because they had to relocate. He shook his head slowly as he waited for more bad news.


    "Kaleidoscope has been gathering armies near some of the routes our people have to pass through. I think they''ve caught wind of what we''re up to." Noslin sighed as she pointed to several groups of markers.


    "It could just be them preparing to deal with the Sommerdan invasion." Exile hummed as he stared at them. They were all facing the coastal areas where markers had been ced for thest known location of Sommerdan troops that hadnded in Skardia.


    "I don''t think so..." Noslin shook her head as she pointed at other known locations of troops belonging to the ruling faction. "As you can see, they seem to be covering each other and blocking the routes between the neighbouring territories. It''s obvious that they''re trying to stop people from leaving these territories."


    Exile could only nod when he studied the map as a whole. Noslin was right. It was as if all the rulers of Skardia had ced a lockdown at the same time. It would be difficult for anyone to get through in these conditions.


    "What about the mountain paths? They''re bound to be slower, but it doesn''t look like they''re being guarded." Exile asked as he nced over the various mountain chains.


    "They''re NPCs, Exile. They''re families. Children and the elderly are in these groups. They won''t survive something like that." Noslin seemed exasperated by the situation as she pointed out the other groups of their followers that were trapped in different locations. "I don''t know what you''ll do to solve this, but it isn''t my problem for the next three days. Well, three weeks for you! Good luck..."


    Exile sighed as he nced around The Raider''s Horn. yers were busy pouring over their own information at various tables. Everyone seemed to be looking for answers to their own problems. The only one that sounded like they were doing well was the special operations that Winter was a part of. Logistics was struggling with finding a suitable route to get supplies to the stranded groups, while the generals were unsure if they could create holes in the enemy''s blockades.


    Things were not looking so good, but Exile had an idea. ''The first issue is to break the blockade on the borders of Stormcrown so those closest to us can get in. Seems like those few days off may havee in handy.''


    "Everyone! I''m going to the Mortal Realms for a bit. If anything happens or you have suggestions, leave a report for me when I get back." Exile looked around the room to see a sea of solemn faces nodding back to him.


    Seeing that nobody had anything to say to him right now, he activated his Avatar spell and felt his consciousness darken. Momentster, he was standing in the Temple in Eraldsfen. ''Hmm? It seems bigger than before.'' There were obvious signs that it had been extended recently, but what really caught his eyes was the huge block of stone behind him.


    ''They''re trying to carve a statue of me?'' Exile smirked as he studied it. Whoever was working on it had only done so far as his head, neck, and shoulders. It was not an exact alikeness, but that was to be expected, considering what they had to work with. The sounds from outside were loud, with a lot of yelling. From what he could hear, it sounded as if the whole vige was busy.


    He slowly walked out of the temple and his eyes went wide as he nced around. The forest around Eraldsfen was in the middle of being cleared for arge expansion. At the same time, some vigers were digging pits or outlining areas in the ground that seemed to be the footprint for future housing.


    ''It seems like Harik is going all out to prepare for the new arrivals.'' Exile sighed as he watched the NPCs work. ''It would be a shame if all of this effort went to waste.''


    Without waiting to see if anyone had spotted or felt his presence, Exile took off in the direction of the border. He wanted to see these blockades for himself. As he ran at his full speed, a white blur appeared next to him while releasing soft growls. But they were friendly growls that almost sounded excited.


    Exile grinned as he turned to face therge wolf running beside him. "Skovi... Tell me what''s been going on down here for the past few weeks..."

 Chapter 141 - Cursed

    Exile listened to Skovi''s point of view regarding everything that had been going on during his recent absence. Skovi and his pack had taken care of scouts sent in from neighbouring regions, but the situation was getting worse. The war map that Exile had looked at did not reflect the troop movements near the borders of Yugrund that Skovi told him about.


    ''There''s bound to be a lot of oversights like this. Everyone''s looking at the big picture and getting the other Pantheons'' followers into these regions. So they''re not looking for enemy armies or troops probing our current situation.'' Exile let out a long sigh. That was something they would have to fix. They needed people to patrol the edges of their current borders to stop the enemy from gathering any intelligence.


    ''We''re almost there...'' Exile sighed after running at full speed for two hours. Even from this distance, he could feel the presence of a yer on the road up ahead. ''Seems like they really want to know what we''re up to.''


    He was certain that the enemy yer must have noticed him, too. But he doubted they would do anything if he left them alone. The yer''s aura marked him as being below Tier 1 so they should be inclined to avoid him if they can.


    "Skovi, hide in the woods over there. I don''t want any of the enemy gods to know about you just yet." Exile frowned as he looked at the wolf.


    "I''ll stay close, Master. If you need me, just let me know." Skovi partially growled before taking off into the woods and blending in with the white scenery.


    Exile slowed down as he felt he was drawing close. A mound of snow on the road blocked his view from where he was, but it only took him a few seconds to mber on top of it. There, below his elevated position, was arge camp of enemy warriors. A crude wooden fort of a sort had been erected across the road to prevent any waggons from using it without going through their inspection.


    Exile could clearly see the yer he had felt standing in the middle of it by the side of the road. Her face was turned towards him with a grim expression. ''Seems like I was right. She''s not thrilled by my presence here, but does not dare to try to chase me away.''


    Exilemitted theyout of that encampment to memory as he tried to guess at how many warriors were within. ''It''ll take a bit of effort to clear it. Honestly, I''m surprised only one yer is here. Maybe we should send five or six of our own with the NPCs in case they send reinforcements now that I''ve paid a visit.''


    That was one option, but not the first thing he wanted to try. He wanted to cause problems for the enemy right away. While standing there with a grin on his face, he used Lesser Miracle and targeted one of the warriors patrolling the exterior of the encampment on his side. As the options appeared, he let out a shortugh before making his selection.


    ''If Skovi is anything to go by, then this should be the first step to creating a monster to harass them.'' Exile stood there smiling at the now nervous looking yer while waiting for his spell to take effect. Soon, the camp went into an uproar as a ck bear rushed out of the forest while growling.


    The man that Exile had targeted turned to see a huge paw aiming directly for his face! Just like that, the warrior crumpled to the ground, dead. He did not even have the time to react to the sudden attack as the bear continued to maul the body before retreating into the woods before the others could reach it.


    Exile let out a smirk as he saw the furious expression on the female yer''s face before he disappeared into the forest himself. The sounds of angry warriors came from the encampment as Exile felt a pulling sensation in his mind. Simr to when he was drawn to Skovi, when he was just a simple wolf.


    ''Let''s hope this works!'' Exile chuckled to himself as he followed his senses. The bear had not gone too far, at least, not for Exile. His speed allowed him to catch up rather quickly, but it would take the warriors a bit of time to find them. The bear froze as Exile rushed in front of it. It seemed that it could sense his presence.


    The great beasty down in the snow and looked towards him with an almost pleading expression. As if it could sense that Exile did not have good intentions for it. Exile shook his head as he moved towards it. His hand reached out and patted the bear''s head. ''I''m sorry, but I have to find out how useful this ability might be for myself.''


    The same system messages that had appeared when he created Skovi popped up in his mind. However, he could not help but hesitate when it came to choosing whether to bless or curse the creature. He had to take a deep breath and steady his nerves before choosing the option to curse it.


    [You have created a new mythological creature (Cursed Divine Bear Variant). Please select three from the following options for the gifts it will receive.]


    [1. Mankiller: This cursed creature is more powerful when facing humans.]


    [2. Ironhide: This cursed creature''s fur bes as strong as iron. Making it extremely difficult to wound.]


    [3. Regeneration: This cursed creature will be able to regenerate its wounds fairly quickly. Making it difficult to y.]


    [4. Toxic: This cursed creature''s ws will produce a deadly venom. Even the slightest scratch will spell death for any mortal within a few hours.]


    [5. Frenzy: This cursed creature will enter a frenzied state when attacked. It will be unable to retreat until everyone who caused it harmys dead around it.]

 Chapter 142 - Skourj

    Exile hesitated as he nced over the options. ''It needs to be powerful enough to kill those troops but not so strong that my own followers can''t take care of it.'' Exile hummed as he immediately decided that he would not choose Toxic. ''All of these choices are nasty in their own way...''


    That left him with Mankiller, Ironhide, Regeneration and Frenzy. ''Ironhide and Regeneration together would be a nightmare. It would be better if those NPCs can weaken it for my people to reduce the casualties. So that means it has to be Mankiller, Ironhide and Frenzy for the final choices.''


    Exile sighed as he thought about how nasty even those powers sounded. The bear would be more powerful against humans. Its fur would be the equivalent of wearing armour all over its body. Plus, it would not stop until everyone who injured it would be dead. He made his final choices and waited for the effects to happen.


    The bear let out a heart-piercing cry as its figure was covered in a deep purple glow. The creature stood up on its hind legs and Exile watched it grow. By the time it was finished, it stood at roughly twelve feet tall. As the glow dissipated, Exile shook his head at what it had be. Its fur had taken on a metallic sheen to its ck colour. The whites of its eyes had turned crimson, and it salivated at the mouth.


    [Please name this Mythological cursed beast...]


    "I created it to be a scourge on those enemies. I''m not great with names... So let us just go with Skourj." Exile chuckled to himself. He imagined it being pronounced as Scourge, but he figured that the NPCs would warp it somehow when they said it.


    [You have created the Mythological beast Skourj...]


    Exile waited with a patient expression to see what the creature would do. He was especially interested to see if it would talk, just like Skovi. However, Skourj let out a deafening roar before taking off in the direction of the warriors, who were giving chase to the bear. Completely unaware that they were about to face something far worse than what they intended.


    Exile decided to follow after his new creation to see how it would deal with the situation. That way, he could give advice to whomever he wanted to kill it. ''It''s fast...'' Exile frowned when he noticed that Skourj was managing to keep pace with himself. ''It seems like it has gained some power that equals mine. Simr to Skovi. I guess thates from the fact I created it. But that could be a problem on its own.''


    The voices of the warriors could be heard clearly at that point, and Skourj adjusted its course to intercept them. Exile''s eyes narrowed as he spotted the first warrior through the trees, but the man disappeared in a fine red mist as Skourj mmed into him at high speed. Utter chaos ensued after that event.


    The warriors were confused by what they had just seen. One moment theirrade was there searching with them, and the next he was turned into a pulp as a hulking ck metallic beast stood in his ce. One of the others who came to his senses faster than the others let out a cry as he charged forward with his axe.


    The others who saw this snapped back to reality. Their faces bore a grim look about them as they let out shouts of their own and charged at Skourj. The great bear roared as it rose onto its hind legs, making those warriors feel incredibly insignificant against its disy. The first axe struck at Skourj''s leg, and a metallic sound rang out. The warrior appeared confused as his weapon rebounded without leaving a scratch on the bear.


    Some of the other warriors noticed that strange scene and paused. Just in time to see Skourj snort before swiping at the warrior who attacked it. The swipe held so much power that the man''s torso went flying while he blinked a few times. The legs that were left behind fell into the snow and dyed it a deep red.


    ''This is going to be a massacre...'' Exile sighed as he stood at a distance and watched Skourj rampage amongst the enemies. ''He''s too strong for them... This doesn''t look good.'' Exile began to wonder if he should have removed both Regeneration and Ironhide from the equation. At least if he had chosen Toxic instead, there would still be a chance to kill the beast.


    Exile shook his head sadly as bodies began to pile up in different states of dismemberment. Anyone who tried to flee drew Skourj''s attention to themselves. Skourj seemed adamant that nobody would get away from it. This left the warriors feeling helpless as all of their attacks bounced off of the metallic fur.


    ''I''ve created a real monster here... Maybe this was not a good idea after all. How am I supposed to create a hero with this?'' The warriors'' numbers were dwindling now. To Exile''s eyes, it appeared that more than half of the encampment hade after this bear. ''At least it should be weak enough now for Harik''s troops to clear it.''


    Exile decided he had seen enough of the ughter. It was clear that nobody would survive. The best he could do now was advise Harik to avoid this area with Skourj roaming thends. However, that was when he noticed something strange. Skourj had dropped to all fours and was mid charge when a warrior tried to pierce it with his spear. The tip was aimed at Skourj''s left eye, but the bear turned its head at thest second and a screeching sound echoed through the forest as the tip ran across the bear''s fur.


    ''That''s right! The eyes are soft and not protected by its fur!'' Exile let out a grin, but he knew it would still be difficult. It seemed that Skourj was aware of its own weakness and made the effort to avoid taking any damage where there was no fur. Like its mouth, nose, eyes, and inside its ears.


    ''It''ll take a miracle to kill it.'' Exile chuckled. ''But that''s something I can provide...''


    Now that he knew how to defeat the horror that he had released on thend, Exile turned and left the area. His mind raced as he thought about suitable candidates to turn into his own hero in the mortal realms. ''I shouldn''t ce all my eggs in the same basket... So that takes Ania out of the equation. Which leaves Harik and Bjorn...''


    ''Harik will eventually have to rule, meaning that he''ll be stuck dealing with a lot of issues most of the time...'' A smile swept across Exile''s face as he was left with only one option that he was happy to give this opportunity to. ''Bjorn''s a bit crazy, but that should help him with this. He''s probably the only one mad enough to even try to take it down.''


    ''Hm, should I tell him it''s a trial to prove his worth? That''s bound to get him excited.'' exile shook his head as he considered ways to manipte Bjorn into doing what he wanted. ''There''ll have to be witnesses as well. What''s a hero without someone to spread the word of his deeds?''


    ''Plus, it''ll make for a good scene during the streams. It should get some exposure for us. I didn''t see anyments mentioning any parts where another hero had appeared... But it''s not like I could go through everything.'' Exile frowned slightly as he considered another issue. ''How do I exin the beast to Bjorn? He''s bound to ask how it was created. Actually, scrap that. He seems to know a fair bit about the gods of this world. So he might even realise it''s been cursed by me. I need a good story for it...''


    Exile hummed as he thought about a number of options to exin it. But he needed something that the Skardians as a people could ept. ''It has to be in line with their beliefs. They seem to be focused on things like honour and glory for warriors.''


    A savage smile crept across his face as he hit on a suitable reason. One that he was sure that Bjorn could ept and would seem like he had done something reasonable by cursing it. ''That''s right, I can outright exin that I created it and it''s now his trial to defeat it. By doing so, he''ll prove himself worthy of my blessing.''


    Exile spent the rest of his journey back to Eraldsfen in quiet contemtion as he fine-tuned the details in his mind. Suddenly, he realised that he seemed to be forgetting something. That was when he heard an annoyed snorte from behind him. ncing over his shoulder, he spotted Skovi trailing after him. Just a short distance behind.


    An apologetic smile crossed Exile''s face as Eraldsfen came into view. ''Let''s get this show on the road...

 Chapter 143 - Heroic Task

    As Exile entered Eraldsfen, an annoyed looking Ania appeared in his vision as she walked towards him. ''Seems like she''s pissed I didn''t look for her when I arrived...'' Exile let out a sigh. However, no matter how upset she was, he was her god. He could not be seen to apologise to her or even slightly acknowledging he had done something wrong just to keep her happy.


    His expression turned solemn as he stared at her. Startling her slightly. ''Sometimes I think she forgets I''m a god...'' Exile sighed as they approached each other.


    "Lord Exile..." Ania let out a tense smile as she bowed slightly, catching the attention of the vigers nearby. "What can I do for you?"


    Seeing Ania talking to empty air caused a bit of a ruckus as the vigers stopped their work toe over and listen to what she had to say. None of them was devout enough to be able to see or hear Exile. But it was moments like this that helped to solidify their faith in the gods being real.


    "Ania, bring me to Harik and Bjorn. You should hold a meeting that involves everyone in Eraldsfen. I''ll need you to ry my words to those who can not hear me." Exile replied with a grim tone, making Ania concerned about what was going on.


    "As you wish, Lord Exile." Ania nodded while staring at his seemingly cold figure. ''He seems so far away from us now...''


    "People of Eraldsfen! All of you muste with me. Lord Exile has words to impart on everyone." Ania was clear as she loudly made the statement. Leaving no room for anyone to argue with her.


    As she turned to head towards the area that had been marked out for the new Eraldsen home, or rather, a fortress. She could hear the excited whispering amongst the vigers as they sent people to gather everyone. After all, it was not every day that a god would take the time to talk to them. From what they knew about gods, they were supposed to be aloof and hardly interact with anyone that was not counted amongst their most devout of followers.


    Meanwhile, Harik turned to face Eraldsfen as he oversaw theyout for the footprint of the fortress that was to be his home in the future. He had just sensed Exile''s presence when he suddenly saw a huge crowd headed his way.


    "It seems like something big is happening..." Harik hummed as he noticed that every viger seemed to be headed his way.


    "It would appear so..." Bjorn frowned from beside him. ''Maybe Lord Exile can tell them I''m not crazy. That it''s not just a story that I made up...''


    The pair watched the steady approach of the crowd, with Ania at the forefront. Slightly behind her, they could see the figure of Exile. Although they were already aware of his presence, the sight of him caused them to hold their breath in anticipation.


    They could see the solemn expression on his face. Bjorn''s first thought was that they had done something to anger him, but Harik had a different idea. ''Something is wrong with the war and the refugees.''


    Harik sighed as he took a seat on one of the nearby frost ridden boulders. Bjorn shot a curious look towards him before doing the same. They could tell that whatever Exile was here to say would take a while.


    Eventually, Ania nodded as she took a seat beside them and the vigers spread out in a circle looking towards the centre. The atmosphere became tense as those who could see Exile stared at him. Waiting to find out what he wanted to tell them.


    "You should be aware of the blockades around Yugrund. These have been put in ce to stop the refugees from reaching us. This is entirely uneptable!" Exile''s tone was full of anger and power as he delivered the first part of the speech he prepared. "I descended to take a look at the mortals who dare to stop my followers from gathering together. However, what I witnessed instead angered me."


    Excited chatter broke out as the vigers wondered if Exile had chosen to smite their enemies on the spot. Many of the vigers had to nce towards Ania as she ryed the words for those who could not hear Exile themselves. The nodding heads of those around them who were devoted to Exile only helped to solidify that what she was saying was the truth.


    "Even though they are our enemies, they are still warriors. A warrior deserves a glorious end for their courage in fighting for what they believe in and what they want." Exile continued to a few subdued cheers. "One of our enemies was suddenly killed. By a bear that gave him no opportunity to defend himself. His end... Was pitiful for a warrior. Entirely undeserving of such a brave soul."


    Exile shook his head slowly as he gave his theatrical performance. Holding up a hand to silence the surrounding crowd. ''Good, they''repping it up. Nothing seems to get to them more than the fear of being killed without being able to do anything about it.'' Exile chuckled to himself while maintaining his solemn mask for the crowd. ''They''re even feeling sympathetic towards their enemy...''


    "The bear ran in fear of the other warriors after making its kill. This... I could not abide. So I gave chase to the animal. Through the frozen forest and cornered it! For its transgression of killing a warrior without him having the chance to earn glory in his own death, I cursed the beast!"


    Shocked cries responded as the crowd''s eyes went wide. Even Ania seemed troubled by this development, but Bjorn was hanging on every word. ''This will have to be entered in the book! It''s the story of a creature being cursed by a God! And we''re hearing it directly from Exile himself!''


    "This beast''s name is now Skourj! A bear with fur as dark as midnight and crazed eyes! I have cursed him to never know peace! For running from the other warriors who tried to avenge theirrade, Skourj can never run from those who harm him!"


    Many shouts of approval came from the crowd as they listened with rapt attention. Completely enthralled by the tale that Exile was spinning for them.


    "But! That is not all. Skourj must be eliminated so that the souls he has taken may rest, having been avenged. So! I say this! Whoever ys this beast shall be a Hero! Know this! Skourj''s fur is as tough as iron! The strength of a man is nothingpared to his might! He will not rest until either of you dies! Who among you has the courage to take on this heroic task?"


    The crowd held their breath as they nced at each other. This was the chance of a lifetime! A heroic task had been put to them by a god! If they seeded in it, then their name was bound to be remembered for eternity! They could imagine it now! Every Skardian would know of their great deed and their name would be spoken in the heavens by the gods themselves!


    A few brave warriors quickly digested this information and began to raise their hands. But, someone beat them to it! Bjorn''s hand rose into the air as he stood up. A determined expression was steady upon his face. ''This is my chance! I can be closer to the gods if I seed! Perhaps this is why the beast in the cave saved me! Maybe, this is my fate!''


    "So be it! I hereby put this task to Bjorn! He shall have no help with this challenge from anyone else! However, several of you must apany him and witness his efforts!"


    Several old warriors who knew Bjorn well threw up their hands, followed by some of the younger generations. Everyone wanted to witness the birth of a hero! Exile picked out a mixed group from the volunteers. That way, nobody could im that Bjorn''s victory was false or fabricated by his friends. After all, not everyone could hear Exile, so for all they knew Bjorn, Harik and Ania could just make up a suitable story.


    "Good! You should all go prepare! Bjorn,e with me. We should talk before you set off." Exile nodded before he turned and moved away from the crowd. He passed through them as if they were not even there, but the crowd parted as Bjorn walked towards them.


    Ania''s face scrunched up in a look of jealously. She felt like Exile was hardly paying any attention to her these days. It onlysted for a moment before she wiped away that selfish thought.


    As they reached a safe distance from the crowd, Exile turned to Bjorn, who bowed his head to receive Exile''s wisdom. "Bjorn, you are a brave soul. I thank you for taking on this task... I can not directly interfere with something like this. It is a trial for you mortals to ovee on your own. Proving your worth to us gods. However, I can give you some advice. Aim for the eyes and may you strike true..."

 Chapter 144 - A Legend Is Born

    In the marketing department of Rebel Energy, Jay Deacon lets out a sigh as he slumps into his chair behind his desk to start his work for the day. He runs a hand through his messy, short brown hair as he turns the holo screen on. A deadpan look appears on his face as he feels like the bags under his eyes have be heavy.


    ''I have to find something today! Emily is constantly on my back because I can''t find a team for us to support for this damn new game!'' Jay felt like banging his head on the desk as he considered the problem. ''All the big teams are signing up with ourpetitors or otherpanies. Which means I have to look for a new team that might have a promising future...''


    This was easier said than done, Jay reminded himself as he navigated to Pantheon''s mainnding page. New teams usually would not take the advice of their sponsors, focusing more on the game than their image. He had lost track of how many teams he had to cut loose because the image they created for themselves was damaging for thepany.


    They needed professionals that could adapt to thepany''s needs. After all, they would be the ones paying the team''s bills. So they needed them to draw attention to theirpany to generate more profits than they spent on the team. Otherwise, what was the point?


    ''I should check the featured section first...'' He scrolled down to find what he was looking for. It was the section where the developers posted the most viewed videos in the past twenty-four hours. However, Jay frowned when he looked at the third video on the list. ''Ragnarok? Never heard of them...''


    When he clicked on the link, it brought him to Ragnarok''s home page. Their newest video posted by the developers was titled A Legend is Born. Jay''s curiosity took over as he nced at the views it had received. More than twelve million people globally had already watched the hour-long video. The counter for thements section kept rising as he nced at it. People were obviously being drawn to what it had to offer.


    ''The views on their other videos are minusculepared to this one... Have they found something that works for them?'' Jay dubiously clicked y, hoping that it would not be just a one-hit wonder so he could finally get his boss off of his back. Well, that was if they made an offer to Ragnarok and they epted it.


    The video started by showing various skirmishes throughout Skardia. It was superbly edited in a way to make the viewers sympathise with the rebel NPCs who were being hunted down by the ruling faction as they tried to migrate. However, it was unclear where they were trying to go. Then came sections where yers from Ragnarok would appear to try to protect them from the influence of enemy yers who were on the scene.


    The whole video up to this point was heart-wrenching. It made the viewer want the rebels to seed. Then the video transitioned to Exile standing looking down on an encampment, alone. Although there was an enemy yer present, they did not seem inclined to want to go against him. That sparked a deeper curiosity within Jay. ''Is this Exile well known or something?''


    He watched on curiously as the shocking scene involving the bear mauling a warrior unfolded. It waspletely unexpected! ''Why''s he chasing it!'' Jay was glued to the video as Exile gave chase to the beast and its transformation unfolded! Jay even gasped slightly as the monster was created. The way the camera was angled on it made it feel more dramatic than it probably was.


    He did not even realise how much time had passed as he watched the creature assault the other warriors who chased after it. ''Why did he do it? Is it the shock value of this video that''s brought people to it?''


    Of course, that section ended with the bear roaring in triumph in the frozen forest with bodies all around it. However, it was not over yet. It switched scenes to Exile giving his speech to the people of Eraldsfen, and Jay felt anticipation rising within himself as Bjorn was selected to y the creature that his own god had created!


    The video ended with Bjorn marching through the woods with ten others in tow. A chilling wolf howl sounded from somewhere unseen and at thest moment, Exile was spotted far in the background, as if watching over Bjorn''s journey.


    "Wait! That can''t be it!" Jay shouted rather loudly as the video ended.


    He wanted to know what happened to Bjorn. Was the creature defeated? His mind raced as he tried to figure out where the story would go from there before he remembered something important. It was a stream from the game! Which meant it had no set storyline, so there was no point in trying to guess! Because anything could happen! However, the video, its editing and how Exile had portrayed the events with his words easily made him forget that he was not watching an actual show!


    ''This is it! If the rest of their streams follow something like this... Making it feel more like watching a drama than a game, then the views will go through the roof! Not everyone is interested in watching games and the yer''s skill. No matter how big the industry has be. But this! It''s practically essible for anyone to enjoy! Game enthusiasts will appreciate the way they y the game while others will be gripped by whatever story Ragnarok has decided to tell!''


    Jay felt breathless as he immediatelyposed an internal email to Emily while including a link to the video itself. A broad smile swept across his face as he read the final lines before clicking send.


    It read, I believe I have found the new face of thispany. It is my highest rmendation that we partner with Ragnarok for our Pantheon Online Campaign. I''m sure you can agree with this after watching this video.


    Jay leaned back in his chair, feeling rather pleased with himself. ''I should check out their other streams so I can get a feel for the team...'' Jay hummed as he scrolled through Ragnarok''s page. He went back to the start and watched them order. Though, he was not overly impressed until he saw the video of Exile roasting Kaleidoscope in front of Valheim before Ragnarok made off with a pile of orbs.


    After that, he paid more attention to any hint of a n in the videos. He got the feeling there was arger scheme in mind behind the scenes of Ragnarok''s videos, but the editors were doing a great job of keeping the viewers in the dark. ''Who is Exile?'' Jay frowned as he closely studied every video. Something seemed familiar about the yer, but he could not ce his finger on what it was exactly.


    However, the more he watched, the more he became convinced that Exile was at the very least a seasoned veteran in the industry. ''Let''s take a look at something...'' Jay frowned as he performed a search for any news regarding well-known yers being cut from their teams or retiring. As he nced through the list, there was nothing that really stood out to him. That was until he saw ament gged as the most replied toment on the page.


    Why is Colt Anderson, aka Excalibur, not mentioned on this list?


    Wait... Why would he be on this list? He''s Camelot''s Captain, isn''t he?


    I don''t think so. He hasn''t appeared in any of their Pantheon streams so far. Some people I know have run into Camelot in the game, but nobody has seen him. Then there was all that trouble with failing the Mayhem Championship and the old heavy hitters Arthur and Merlin have returned. I just feel like Camelot has tried to quietly sweep him under the rug.


    Damn! I just went back and checked thements on their streams and you''re right! Nobody even mentions him! Where did he go? How did they even keep this quiet!


    I don''t know... But I doubt he would leave for good! My gut tells me he''s out there somewhere. I feel like we haven''t seen thest of him!


    I hope you''re right! He was absolutely fire before thatst championship. But it seemed like his Vice Captain wasn''t giving his all. I still feel like Camelot could have taken the win if the others put more effort into it.


    I know what you mean! Let''s pray for Excalibur''s swift return! I want to see how he would deal with Pantheon!


    Jay frowned as he read morements. Some were saying good riddance Excalibur was gone. That he was trash and so on. But most seemed to genuinely support him and put the me on Camelot''s other members. Out of curiosity, Jay yed old footage of Excalibur during the Mayhem championships side by side with Exile from Ragnarok. An ecstaticugh escaped his throat as he watched their fighting styles together like that.


    ''We''ve struck gold!''

 Chapter 145 - Tracking A Monster

    "This seems like the ce..." Bjorn murmured as his breath rose in front of his face in the frigid air.


    The other warriors had already spread out and were searching the site of the massacre for clues as to where Skourj had gone. Bjorn nced around at the frozen, lifeless bodies with a grim expression. ''The creature is as powerful as Lord Exile warned.'' His eyes scanned over the broken shields and weapons.


    "Bjorn! It went that way!" An old warrior that had grown up alongside Bjorn shouted as he pointed to the North.


    "That should be where the enemy encampment is that Lord Exile mentioned..." Bjorn frowned as he nced in that direction. ''Was it searching for more food? No, there''s still plenty of meat on the bones of these warriors. So is it the curse driving it to seek out more people?''


    "Ok, everyone, spread out and watch for any sign that the creature changed its course. Let''s go!" Bjorn roared as he stomped through the snow, pulling his fur cloak tighter around his body.


    They marched on in silence through the frozen forest. They could hear only the sound of the winter winds howling through the trees. From time to time, a blotch of red-stained snow would appear, showing that they were still on the correct path. ''Is that its own blood? Or did it drag some poor soul with it?"


    Bjorn was full of questions as he tried to imagine exactly was he was up against. ''Aim for the eyes, he said... Is its fur really that hard?'' Bjorn had doubts about being able to strike such a small target when faced with something asrge as a bear. Eventually, the time for procrastination was over. The encampment slowly came into view, along with the horrific sight of whaty inside.


    "Another massacre..." Bjorn sighed as he stared at the crimson slush that covered the ground inside of the wooden walls. "The creature has been here! Split up and circle this ce to see if any tracks lead away from here. If not, I''ll go in alone and you can witness the fight from here!"


    The others nodded solemnly before taking turns to shake Bjorn''s hand and wish him luck. Bjorn''s eyes narrowed as he watched them separate and move around the perimeter of the encampment. Every passing minute increased the tension that Bjorn was feeling in his chest. He half expected for them to signal that they had found something, but s, they did not.


    Bjorn sighed as his knuckles turned white as he gripped his spear. With slow and deliberate steps, he made his way down the frozen hill overlooking the encampment. His eyes scanned the interior for any sign of movement. They had confirmed that Skourj was in there somewhere, but there appeared to be no reaction to their presence.


    Bjorn struggled to slow his breathing as his heart pounded in his chest. ''Almost there!'' He walked past the opening in the wall and entered the camp. There were a few small huts spread around. Most likely ces for the warriors to get out of the cold. However, there were also tworger buildings.


    ''One of them should be a barracks for everyone to sleep in... But the other...'' Bjorn''s eyes went to the other one, where a gaping hole reced the doorway. ''That should be where they gather to eat and talk.''


    From the looks of things, Skourj was inside. Bjorn struggled to decide what he should do in that situation. Fighting inside would restrict them both. The bear would have less room to use its massive frame and would be unable to really charge at him. But if he lured it outside, he would have more room to manoeuvre, reducing the likelihood of the bearnding a lucky blow.


    Bjorn hesitated before deciding to confront it in the confines of the building. With a bit of luck, Skourj would be sleeping peacefully within. With every step that he took, he felt as if his heart would jump into his throat. The slight crunch of the slushy snow from all of the blood sounded like a hammer striking steel to his ears. He was certain that Skourj must have heard his approach with every step.


    Surprisingly, the beast never charged out of its temporaryir. Bjorn held his breath as he stepped inside of the building. The gloom of the early morning sun did not reach the interior. A darkness hung over the room he entered, causing him to squint to make out the shapes of the broken furniture and bodies.


    Laying there, near the back wall, was the hulking mass of Skourj. Breathing deeply in its sleep. Bjorn silently cursed to himself when he realised that Skourj had used the bodies to create a sort of nest to surround its body. It was nigh impossible for him to approach the beast without kicking something that could alert it to his presence!


    He took a few careful steps towards the ck mass, testing each bit of the wooden floor for any possible creaks before transferring his weight from one foot to the other. It was slow going, especially since it was difficult to see what exactly was near his feet. Thest thing he needed was to identally kick a mug or something.


    Bjorn felt like things were going too well, as he carefully navigated that macabre obstacle course. He headed for the smaller side of Skourj''s body, where its head should be. However, he froze in ce when he noticed Skourj''s ears twitch slightly. A deep frown set on his face as he slowly raised his spear, expecting the beast to make a sudden attack.


    But nothing happened. Bjorn did not dare to let out the breath that he was holding in. He had to seed in delivering his surprise attack, as it was most likely the best chance he would get to y the beast. Skourj''s face came into view as it continued it slumber. Bjorn steeled his nerves and raised his spear. With a fast lunge, he struck out towards Skourj''s left eye...

 Chapter 146 - Doubting Authority

    "Why did you do it?" Ania asked quietly as her soft lips quivered.


    Exile raised an eyebrow at this question. She had asked to speak with him before he returned to the Divine Realms. "Do what?"


    "You know..." A solitary tear ran down her cheek. "Why did you really abandon the warmth that you used to give off for this coldness? A lot of people have switched to other gods in the Pantheon because they don''t see any real benefit from worshipping you now."


    ''Ah, so that''s it....'' Exile thought about this question for a while. "I needed more power..."


    Ania shot a sideways, surprised nce at him. As she studied his face, she realised that he seemed more human than she realised. "How does it give you more power?"


    "Ania, my recent change is more suitable for the times we are facing. There''s a civil war going on in Skardia and the Sommerdans have invaded." Exile gave her a gentle look as they walked through the snow on the outskirts of Eraldsfen. "The hearth, with its power, was a great starting point as a god. But it did not offer the kind of offensive power I need to strike down the other gods whoe against me. I have to be the spear that breaks our enemies."


    Ania''s head dropped as she stared at her feet. "But, isn''t the shield just as important as the spear? When you were the God of the Hearth, everyone could feel your presence in their home. They all felt as if you were right there, watching over them. Do you understand thefort that brought them?"


    Exile revealed a surprised expression as he took in her words. ''So... It''s not just about the benefits I can give them but how they can feel connected to me...'' It gave him some food for thought. It seemed to him that it was far moreplicated than he initially realised.


    "How do you feel about it?" Exile asked with a curious expression. Seeking to understand the situation better from the point of view of the NPCs.


    "How do I feel? I''m not really sure it''s my ce to say anything..." Ania quickly nced away as her face flushed with a crimson colour.


    "I mean, how do you feel about my presence. My authority over lightning." Exile sighed as he realised she had only heard part of what he said.


    "Oh... Um..." Ania''s bright eyes turned pensive as she stopped in her tracks. The wind caught her long hair and made it flow out behind her figure. Creating a spectacle that would leave most men stunned at her beauty. "Right now... I mean, it''s fire from the sky, right? But it''s cold. As if it''s meant to destroy. Sure, fire can be harmful and kill people. But it''s also warm and helps to give life. It''s almost like you''ve gone from one extreme to the other. But if I had to choose one, I''d say that it would be better if you returned to the warmth that fire brings."


    Exile frowned as he listened to her own thoughts. ''I see... She''s right.'' Exile sighed as he pondered the matter. He had chosen lightning because it gave him a chance to return to his usual style of fighting. He had never been a tank, healer or support ss before. Although there were no sses in Pantheon, that was what the power of the Hearth felt like to him.


    "I mean... Isn''t it better to be seen as a creator and a god who values life than a destroyer who only knows how to create suffering?" Ania mumbled under her breath, but Exile managed to catch it.


    ''Maybe I took the easy way out...'' Exile sighed as he shook his head and they continued on their walk. ''I''ve relied on that style for my entire career. Ever since I learnt from Arthur... But, I could never beat him with it and we''ll eventually face off against each other. If I don''t stumble at this point anyway. Maybe it''s time I look for my own path...''


    He had to admit that he felt a sense of aplishment when he was the God of the Hearth. He felt good when his teammates survived because of the support he gave them. Not only that, but he was not useless in a fight, either. ''Have I been blind all of this time? Can I reach a greater height if I change my style?''


    These were doubts and questions that he had always had, but this interaction with Ania brought them out of his subconsciousness. ''It''ll take a lot of effort to polish something like that. Is this really the best game to try something new?''


    One mistake could lead to his demise in this game. If he was going to do it, then he had to be prepared to ept the responsibility if he failed. ''I can''t do anything about my element now... If I remember what Allevia said correctly, the next tier would allow him to have a second Authority and Tier 3 would allow him to choose a second element.


    ''So, my only chance of changing away from lightning will most likely be to im more of the First me fragments, since that fueled the evolution from fire to lightning in the first ce.'' Exile let out a long sigh. He was convinced that the ruins near Valheim probably held a fragment because they were rted to Allevia. But he still had to find a way to defeat the boss so that they could explore that ce properly.


    Exile came to a halt as he suddenly heard singinging from the forest beside them. Ania noticed his curious gaze before she too heard it. However, there was nothing but mountains on the other side of that forest, so nobody should be travelling to Eraldsfen from that direction.


    "See! It works just like I told you it would! Aren''t you d we waited for this moment before we came down!" Thovok roared to the group of dwarves behind him as he studied a strange contraption with a clear gem in its centre that he held. The gem showed two dots directly in front of them. One was blue while the other was golden...

 Chapter 147 - Heretics

    "What the?" Ania began as the group of dwarves came into view. She had never seen one before, but she had heard the stories like most Skardians. However, they had not been seen and centuries and it was partially believed that they were just myths.


    "Ah, you there! My apologies, it''s been a long time since we came to Skardia. We don''t mean any harm, we just want to talk with the god beside you." Thovok called out as he marched towards her.


    Ania nced at Exile, who was wearing a confused expression as he stared at Thovok. ''He can''t see me, but he knows I''m here? And what are Dwarves doing here? Is there a dwarven kingdom in those mountains? Then why doesn''t anyone seem to know about it?''


    Thovok marched confidently towards them while the other dwarves stood still. Ania was unsure what to do, but as she nced at Exile, she noticed that he was grinning. He appeared excited to discover the dwarves.


    "Good Lady, I am Thovok... A humble Dwarf in the service of King Duraeg. Wee here to seek an audience with the gods that have been appearing." Thovok bowed respectfully.


    "Ania, ask them why would they do that? Did their Dwarven god ask them toe here?" Exile was thinking ahead. If the dwarven yers were making contact with Skardia then this could be a chance to make an alliance.


    With the dwarves on their side, fighting against the ruling faction and the Sommerdans would not be such a tall order. Exile waited as Ania ryed his question for him.


    "No... We have no gods where I''m from. Our situation is a little different from other dwarven kingdoms..." Thovok chuckled as the dwarves behind himughed.


    "Lord Exile wants to know what makes you different. Why are there no gods in your homnd?" Ania looked at them more nervously now as she ryed Exile''s next question.


    "Ah, you see... We are considered as heretics amongst our own people." Thovok revealed an embarrassed smile before he continued. "We believe that gods are not immortal or all-powerful. We think for ourselves. But, that doesn''t mean we don''t recognise the benefits to both parties for working with a god..."


    Ania let out a low hiss as she stepped away from them while covering her ears. She could not believe that these dwarves dared to say something so provoking right in front of Exile! Any moment now, lightning was sure to strike and wipe them off the map.


    "Ania, ask them what kind of cooperation they have in mind..." Exile smiled as he looked at her, making her tremble.


    ''It can''t be! Are they right? Is that why he does nothing? Or does he want to use them for a while?'' Ania''s mind spun as she imagined all sorts of things. She was inplete turmoil at the thought that this could be true! However, she regained herposure enough to ask Exile''s question for him.


    "Hm, well, I only speak on behalf of the King. But here are the terms. We will provide weapons, armour, craftsmen and dwarven warriors as you need them. You will be recognised as the sole god of our kingdom and everyone will worship you..." Thovok eyed the empty space beside Ania. "However, you must be willing to share all that you know of the heavens. And let us study you from time to time to try to understand you."


    Exile frowned as he listened to the demands. ''Why do they seem to be in my favour by quite a bit? How many dwarves are in one of their kingdoms? All of those followers in one go? And dwarves have advantages in rough terrain and are natural forgers. However, their ideology is a little dangerous...''


    "I have something to add to this... Ania, tell them that I agree as long as they don''t spread their thoughts on the gods outside of their kingdom." Exile studied Thovok''s face carefully as Ania revealed his demand. If they had nefarious intentions, then they would never agree to this.


    "Done!" Without any hesitation, Thovok agreed and the dwarves behind him cheered. "Ok, everyone! Pray to Exile now so he can ept us as followers of his faith."


    Exile was stunned as the dwarves got down on their knees and immediately began praying towards him. He had no time to react to how quickly that situation unfolded when a system notification appeared in his mind.


    [The Dwarf Thovok is calling out to you. Praying that you will ept him and his people under your protection. Do you wish to ept?]


    Exile grit his teeth as he looked at the dwarves in the snow. ''Damn! I don''t have time to think about it and it seems like a good deal... Yes!''


    [Congrattions! Milestone: Followers 400/400pleted...]


    [New Milestone: Followers 483/800]


    [Awarding +1 Stat Point]


    Exile frowned as he stared at that message. That particr milestone challenge had been going poorlytely, but that was probably due to what Ania had said. People were moving away from believing in him for yers in the Pantheon who suited their needs better. So it was nice to see it get a boost.


    [Congrattions! You have brought a new race to your side! Your Tier allows you to appoint Thovok as your Dwarven Oracle... Do you ept?]


    Exile was taken aback by that message. He quickly searched his memory and remembered that something had been mentioned about gaining an oracle at each tier. But he did not know that they had to be from different races! ''Yes!''


    [Thovok has now been empowered and be your second Oracle.]


    Exile sighed as the dwarves began to stand up and look towards him. However, before he could say anything, or they couldy eyes on him, another system message appeared.


    [You will now undergo a race change to meet the expectations of your followers. Current races detected: Human... Dwarves..., Race change will now be put in to effect...]

 Chapter 148 - Custom Race

    A golden cocoon suddenly enveloped Exile''s avatar. At the same time, his body in the Divine Realms experienced the same thing, causing some panic in The Raider''s Horn.


    A golden cocoon suddenly enveloped Exile''s avatar. At the same time, his body in the Divine Realms experienced the same thing, causing some panic in The Raider''s Horn. ''What''s going on?'' Exile cursed as he felt his body changing inside the golden cocoon.


    [Applying Dwarven Traits...]


    Exile suddenly felt his beard growing longer until it reached his chest. A stinging pain appeared in his ears as they became pointed, but not longer. His muscles grew thicker, and he lost a few inches of height. His game avatar now stood at five foot nine inches. Golden bands appeared in his beard as a few braids appeared in it.


    [Modifying stats to fit racial changes...]


    [-10 Speed]


    [+5 Strength]


    [+5 Endurance]


    ''My stats? These changes are bringing them closer to what I was before!'' Exile grinned as he quickly spent his new free stat point on Endurance as well before the transformation could end.


    [Congrattions! Your racial change is nowplete... Race set to: Elemental Royal Deity (Custom Race)]


    [Select three from the following as your Race''s Traits...]


    [(Human) Versatile: When killing a yer, the Divine Orb they generate will focus on taking half of the yer''s Strength, Endurance and Speed Stats. (Adjusted ording to Tier restrictions)]


    [(Dwarf) Rocksteady: When killing a yer, the Divine Orb they generate will focus on taking more points from the yer''s Strength and Endurance Stats. (Adjusted ording to Tier restrictions)]


    [(Human) Faithful: +5 Authority]


    [(Dwarf) Unyielding: +5 Endurance]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he read these new messages. ''Racial Traits? Custom Race? Does that mean I''m neither human nor dwarf now?'' Exile hummed as he thought about it. ''Is this what happens if your influence spreads to other races? Will I go through this again if I gain more Oracles from the other races?''


    He could not help but feel that perhaps he had gotten lucky this time. After all, how many other yers would havee across something like this so far? ''It can''t be many and if so they would try to keep it quiet... Wait... If it had been the Sommerdans then would I have stayed human and just gained some stats?''


    There were many questions floating in his mind about that procedure. ''Perhaps I need to consider what races I want to bring under my protection if they can affect me like this... I would have to avoid anything that could weaken the stats I want to use...''


    ''Faithful and Unyielding are a given, since only the other two seem to go against each other. But it seems like this is where I need to really think about the future. Choosing Rocksteady will set me on a future path simr to what I went for when I ruled the Hearth Authority. It''s good if I want to be the shield, as Ania put it for my Pantheon. While Versatile will keep me more bnced at the cost of specialising in anything.''


    Exile hesitated for a long moment before letting out a sigh. ''It''s now or never...''


    [Congrattions! You have chosen Rocksteady, Faithful and Unyielding! These traits will now be permanently applied to your character stats.]


    At that moment, the golden cocoon shattered. Revealing his new look to Ania and the Dwarves. Ania''s eyes went wide as he appeared more distinguished, wise and powerful with the changes, while Thovok nodded his head. Happy to see that Exile was somewhat passable as a dwarven god.


    [Congrattions! More than 90 points of Divinity have been detected! You have reached Tier 1 Level 3!]


    Thovok appeared excited as he looked over Exile''s figure, but what really surprised Exile was that all of the Dwarves present appeared able to see him. ''Don''t tell me they''re all fanatics right away? What the hell is up with that?'' They seemed to be patiently waiting for him to say something, but Exile let out a sigh instead.


    ''Seems like the Authority increase from the Race change won''t bring me any new spells... Let''s take a look at how my stats look now that it''s over.'' Exile focused on his stats while leaving the NPCs to bathe in his aura.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3)]


    [Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Custom Race)]


    [Tier: 1]


    [Level: 3]


    [HP: 225/225 (150+75)]


    [DP: 61/61 (28+33)]


    [Strength: 19]


    [Endurance: 45 (30+15)]


    [Speed: 23 (18+5)]


    [Authority: 61 (28+33)]


    "Lord Exile?" Ania stuttered, still unbelieving of how much he had changed in those moments. "Is it really you?"


    "Yes, Ania..." Exile chuckled as he looked at her. His voice sounded like it bore the steadiness of a mountain. Deep and unfathomable. "Hm, it seems like I really have to thank you, Thovok. You''ve brought me a great gift this time for our first meeting without realising it."


    "Ah, not quite Lord Exile. we already knew you would go through something like this if no other Dwarves worshipped you. We have stories, writings and even a few old folks that have seen it before." Thovok chuckled as he unashamedly walked around Exile and studied his clothing. "Hm, you look the part of a dwarf god physically except your height. You''re still a bit tall, but it will do, I guess. But this armour..."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he nced at the other dwarves, who seemed to be nodding their heads while scrutinising him. Exile suddenly heard Thovok tutting away to himself as he tapped on the leather and steel, which surprised Exile. There had only been a few people so far that he could physically touch, but this dwarf did not seem to doubt that he could make physical contact at all!


    "What have the Skardians being doing for all these years! This armour is pathetic! Just as well, the group I brought with me are all craftsmen this time! We''ll have to rectify this! Tharin! Report to the King! We''ve reached an agreement with the god called Exile! Tell him to send the warriors and set up the Temple..."

 Chapter 149 - Welcome Allies

    One of the dwarves suddenly broke away from the group, leaving Exile feeling speechless. Everything had happened so fast and he had not even had the chance yet to speak to them!


    "Thovok, don''t you think you''re being too hasty? I know you said you provide warriors and so on, but I haven''t even told you if I need them yet." Exile frowned as he looked at the small dwarf, whoughed in return.


    "Of course you need them! You''re originally a Skardian god, right? Skardians are always fighting and I doubt that''s changed much in these centuries. Whether it''s raiding or fighting among themselves. There''s always fighting to be had in Skardia." Thovok gave him a knowing smile, as if he had already seen through the situation that Exile and Eraldsfen were in. "Besides, it was clear with all of those warriors returning that there''s definitely trouble nearby. Hell, they didn''t even notice when one of my guys here took a look around."


    Ania let out a surprised gasp at that bold statement. ''A dwarf walked around Eraldsfen unnoticed? How?''


    Thovok grinned as he noticed the look on her face. "You humans only see what you want to see. A small figure wearing a shabby cloak with their hood up in the snow? You probably just thought he was a child running an errand or something."


    Ania seemed to freeze at those words. ''That''s right... Nobody would be on the lookout for a dwarf. We''ve heard stories but never seen one. So most people would think they''re just myths or living very far away from here! Then what about Elves? And Warbeasts? I''ll have to tell father to look out for everything that we take for granted!''


    "Hm, it seems like you''ve given Ania some food for thought Thovok. Let us go to Eraldsfen so we can talk more openly about how we intend to work together." Exile frowned as he looked at the expression that Ania was making. He was concerned that she may be overthinking things.


    "One question first!" Thovok held up a finger as his expression and that of the dwarves behind him turned solemn.


    "What is it?" Exile''s own expression turned grim when he realised that it must be something serious.


    "Is there good Skardian Ale down there? If not, then I''ll need to send someone right away to start bringing some kegs of Dwarven liquor. We drank all we had on the way here..."


    Exile burst out intoughter at the strange question with them wearing such serious expressions. "I''m sure that Jarl Eraldsen has ale and maybe some other things. Maybe just not enough by your standards. Feel free to send someone to get more while you enjoy the hospitality of Eraldsfen."


    The dwarves nodded happily at this as another one of them broke off from the group and headed to the mountain. ''It seems like they really do live there... Well, if they set up a temple, then I can take a look for myself. Besides, maybe they know something about those ruins near Valheim if the old dwarven gods talked about it.''


    Exile reviewed the recent events with the dwarves in his mind as he walked in front of the group with Ania on his right and Thovok on his left. ''They must have something else in mind. They openly admitted that they''re considered as heretics amongst other dwarves, but they readily agreed to be my followers. They did not even ask what I''m the god of. That''s too strange. It''s almost as if they don''t care as long as they can make a connection with any god.''


    Exile had his doubts about the group, but he could not deny that he had benefitted from their rashness. He just could not figure out their angle. ''We shouldn''t have to worry about their warriors. They admitted that they''ve been watching Eraldsfen for a while, so if they wanted to attack, they could have stayed hidden until their troops arrived. It makes no sense to expose themselves if that were their aim.''


    ''And Eraldsfen is far from rich, so there''s no wealth to get their hands on. There are two wars going on, so there are only downsides for them toe to our side.'' Exile frowned as amotion started in Eraldsfen when they spotted the group led by Ania heading in their direction. At first, the people thought she had found an army of lost children, but as they got closer and they spotted the beards on their faces, they no longer knew what to think!


    Harik rushed to the gate when he heard the news. He thought his eyes were ying tricks on him! ''Dwarves! Can it really be? Does Exilemand even them?'' Harik felt as if his world view was shattered at that moment. He could not help but wonder if Exile had called them back because he knew they were going to receive reinforcements. At the same time, he could not help but think that their arrival was not coincidental. They arrived right when they need craftsmen who could work wonders with stone!


    ''Lord Exile is so cunning! To think he was so prepared! Bjorn is going to love this when he returns! The stories we were told as children are true!'' Harik let out a wide grin as he walked out of the gate with open arms, eager to wee these much needed new allies.


    Meanwhile...


    Bjorn cursed as blood flowed from his cheek where Skourj had grazed him with his ws. Although he thought of it as a graze, it was sure to leave deep scars when it healed. ''Damn bear! I didn''t think its eyelids would deflect that blow!''


    He tossed the shattered remains of his shield aside as he stared at the ck mass before him like a hungry predator. Skourj roared at him as it climbed to its feet and watched Bjorn back away slowly. Bjorn roared back and suddenly sprinted towards that creature, both hands steady on the shaft of his spear...

 Chapter 150 - A New Nightmare

    Exile sighed as his consciousness returned to The Raider''s Horn. He spent quite a lot of time talking with Thovok, Harik and Ania away from everyone else. ''I see... They just want the chance to study gods because they believe that they can find a way for themselves to ascend as well. For that, they''re willing to pay any price. No wonder they''re all fanatics when ites to gods... but I doubt it will go anywhere.''


    "Exile! What happened to you!" Leggy suddenly shouted as the golden cocoon shattered.


    While Exile remained in his Avatar, the transformation of his real body had remained concealed inside its own cocoon until he returned. Exile nced around and then let out a broad grin at the confused looks on everyone''s faces.


    "Nothing much... I just found us some new allies that will be a big boost to our war efforts." Exile shrugged as if it were no big deal, but he did not want to go into the details. After all, Thovok had been clear that their kingdom would only worship him and not even any of the other gods from his Pantheon.


    ''The dwarves will be my ace in the hole. I doubt they''ll easily change to someone else. Though, I doubt they can in the first ce. At the very least, Thovok is stuck as my oracle now. So I need to keep quiet about that. He''s like an extra life to me in this game if something happens to Ania.''


    "Even if you found allies, why did your appearance change! You don''t even look human anymore!" Leggy pointed a finger at him as if using him of something.


    "You''re being overdramatic, Leggy!" Beans shouted as she stood up from her seat. "Who cares if he''s had a few changes! He''s still Exile! Plus, the changes aren''t too great! He still looks human, just with a bigger beard and slightly pointed ears..."


    Silence took over the room when Beans made that statement. Sure, now that she mentioned it, he did look as if he had only gotten a little older. So why was it they felt like he did not look human? It was the damn ears! But they did not really register that until Beans mentioned it! The beard with its several braids and jewellery had distracted them!


    "You''re an elf!" Leggy screamed. "How could you betray us like that!"


    Shouts of outrage soon erupted as everyone started to throw usations at him.


    "Enough!" Exile roared, his voice like a mountain dropping on them. "I haven''t betrayed anyone, so just calm down. These changes are a benefit brought by our new friends. But you''ll find out about them when the time is right. All you need to know is that things will get easier soon."


    He spotted a few dubious looks being thrown his way, but nobody seemed to want to escte the matter further. After all, they were still in the middle of dealing with the suppression from the ruling faction. However, a few of them decided to bring the matter up with the other leaders when they returned from their breaks and own missions.


    "Ok, now that I''m back, are these all the reports I need to see right now?" Exile mmed his palm down on the bundle of papers that had appeared while he was in the Mortal Realms. "If not, then get them to me right away! I need to understand the overall situation as quickly as possible. We''re going to start a counterattack soon to break these blockades for good! Starting in the Stormcrown region!"


    Whispered emerged as people became curious as to why he was so confident all of a sudden. Were these new friends that Exile had made powerful enough to cause this kind of reaction? Sure, they knew that manpower was their biggest weakness, but so was their quality of weapons and armour. Plus the struggle of getting supplies across the unforgiving terrain of Skardia.


    "Ah, Exile... There''s something you need to know." Old Un stepped up to the table with a stern expression.


    "What is is Un? Which report is yours?" Exile cocked an eyebrow as he began shuffling the papers, looking for Un''s name.


    "It''s not in a report. This a personal matter for our Pantheon but it''s something you need to deal with." Un''s voice dropped to a whisper so that nobody else could hear him. "It''s WintersEmbrace... There are concerns about her methods. I picked up a few new followers the other day who had be lost after fleeing their town. They spoke of nightmares that were driving people insane and to murder each other."


    "Hm? That''s what she set out to do though... So what''s the issue? As long as she''s targeting the enemy, there are no problems."


    "You don''t get it... The moment I mentioned her name and promised that it would not happen to them again because she''s part of our Pantheon... well they, you know..."


    Exile frowned as Un drew a finger across his throat. He understood why Un was concerned now. ''I see... If word spreads, then anyone would usuallye to our side if their god or cities fall won''t want anything to do with us. They''re afraid that we''ll just toy with them in other ways.''


    ''But Winters'' authority is powerful, and a great asset in this war. We can''t just shelf her because of this. Maybe I need to speak to her about what she''s fully capable of. See if there''s a way to better use her. If she can provide pleasant dreams to the citizens of the life they would have under us and nightmares for the Jarls and their warriors, that would be better.''


    "Ok, I understand your concern, Un. Speak to whoever is in charge of her operations and ask them to send her here for an urgent meeting with me. We can''t let it go on in case it ruins the entire reputation of Ragnarok amongst the Skardians not under our umbre...."

 Chapter 151 - Impending Disaster

    "No! Why!" Jarl Kagran screamed as chains made from bones bound him to the wall.


    "Now, Jarl Kagran, you know why." Winter appeared from the ck fog that clouded the room. "You denounce the gods. You say we aren''t real. You say that Lord Exile must be such a weak god since he won''t protect the travellers you kill..."


    "You! You''re no god! You''re a demon!" Jarl Kagran screamed as he stared at her. His eyes went bloodshot from the effort.


    "Pathetic! You should know the truth by now, but you still want to deny it... You''re just another lost cause..." Winter smirked savagely as a spear made of bone appeared in her hand.


    "No! What are you going to do, Demon?" Jarl Kagran flinched at the sight of the weapon.


    "Have some fun, of course..." Winter began tough as she lunged with the spear.


    Hours passed in the nightmare before Winter let out a sigh. ''They always break too easily...'' She waved her hand, and the nightmare dispelled, leaving her standing with her hand on the Jarl''s forehead. ''He''s already dead... Seems the pain and shock from the nightmare made his heart give in...''


    Winter tutted as she turned and walked away from the dead Jarl. Over the past week, she had also caused the demise of the Jarl''s children in such a manner. ''Hm, this should stop orders flowing to the barricades in this region. With some luck, the warriors will leave their posts and those migrating can make some progress again.''


    ''But it''s still not enough... They might turn into bandits just to feed themselves. I should report this to headquarters and see if there''s something more I can do. We need to make a bigger impact on arger scale.'' Winter nodded to herself as she suddenly paused.


    A light breeze fluttered by, carrying the voice of the head of special operations. "Winter, you are required to report to Lord Exile. It is urgent."


    "Oh? He wants to see me? That''s good, since I wanted to talk to him anyway. Please tell him I''m on my way." Winter nced at the dead body of the Jarl with a smile on her face before releasing her Avatar spell.


    As her conscious moved back to the Divine Realms, she found herself in the dark backroom of an abandoned store. The Pantheon who had received the building forpleting a quest, had no idea what to do with it for now as it was not set up for anything. It was just an empty shell. However, it came in handy for the Special Operations group, as they would not be disturbed by anyone else here.


    After all, their missions were vital, so only the leaders knew what they were up to. This was to prevent any intelligence leaks from the Alliance. Winter sighed as she looked around at the others in the room. Everyone operated solo under the discretion of the chief of Special Operations.


    ''I guess I should head over to The Raider''s Horn then...'' Winter exited the building through a side door that led into an alley. The noise of the hustle and bustle of Valheim assaulted her ears as she grimaced. As soon as she set foot into the main street, plenty of red yers began to eye her up.


    ''Hmph, dream on! I''m not leaving the city, so you won''t gain anything from me!'' Winter snorted as she ignored the nces from the male yers. Some were full of malice, while others had a passionate look about them. ''Even though it''s just my avatar, all guys are the same. As long as something looks pretty, they''ll flock to it like bees to a flower.''


    This behaviour disgusted her, but she had be used to it long ago. Most guys who asked her out in games were only interested in what they saw and not the real person behind it. She had learned the hard way that she could not just blindly jump into online rtionships. Mainly because she became attached to the other person, but they had no intentions of dating in real life.


    Winter quickly dodged into a side alley and slid up against a nearby groove in the wall. Momentster, a group of yers ran past, trying to catch up to her. ''Idiots!'' It was all too easy to give these people the slip. ''Maybe I should start using a different alley after this? They''ll eventually notice that I''m not outrunning them...''


    Winter shook her head as she slipped back on to the main street and headed for the bar. However, groups of yers started to run past her, apparently headed for the main gate.


    "Hurry up! The leader said if we don''t Valheim could be in danger!"


    "I know! This isn''t the time for fighting with each other! We have to stop this before it gets out of control!"


    Winter''s gaze turned on the yers curiously as they sped past. She soon noticed that yers from the alliance were also headed in the same direction, with grim expressions on their faces. ''What''s going on? Should I follow them?'' winter became confused as the groups suddenly turned into a tidal wave of yers all rushing to get to the main gate.


    "Winter! There you are!" Midas suddenly called out as he spotted her through the crowd.


    "What''s going on, Midas?"


    "Ah, it''s best if you head to the main gate. All of the leaders are there as well! We''ve had to call everyone back for this!"


    "That''s not an answer, Midas!" Winter screamed as she chased after him. "Tell me what the hell is going on!"


    "Ugh! It''s the wolf packs! They''ve be too strong!"


    "What? How''s that possible!"


    "There are rumours that they''ve been eating the Divine Orbs that yers drop when they get killed! It seems like we''re not the only ones who can level up!"


    A shiver ran down Winter''s spine when she heard that. ''The mobs can get stronger from killing us? Surely they can''t enter the city though!''

 Chapter 152 - Ironhide

    Bjorn heaved a deep breath as he fell to his knees. Blood pooled around him from the hole in his gut. ''At least I killed the beast!'' Skourjy dead beside him with Bjorn''s spear pierced through its eyeball and deep into its brain. ''It''s a shame I won''t get to enjoy the glory, but I''m d I could be of service to Lord Exile...''


    Bjorn copsed onto his side as he began to feel cold. His eyelids fluttered as a smile crept across his face. ''Still, I''m sure I''ll be remembered for this... I hope they remember to take the body back. The beast''s fur would make an excellent armoured coat...''


    The light patter of paws sounded on the floor behind his head. Causing Bjorn''s eyes to go wide! ''Don''t tell me there''s more than one!'' If that were the case, then his victory would seem hollow as the surviving one could still deal a lot of damage and pose a significant threat!


    "Hm, you did well, Bjorn..." A familiar voice full of growls sounded in Bjorn''s ear as warm air was breathed on him. "You shall not die today... It seems Exile was right to choose you..."


    Bjorn suddenly felt aforting warmth spread through his body, starting from the hole in his stomach. "You... You''re the beast from the cave..."


    Bjorn barely managed to say with his weak voice. Skovi eyed him carefully, unwilling to outright admit or deny it. However, Skovi was busy focusing on healing Bjorn''s wounds. Although he was supposed to protect those close to Exile, he had heard his master dere that Bjorn was to have no help in ying Skourj.


    However, now that the beast was dead, as far as he was concerned, he was not breaking any of his master''s rules by saving Bjorn now. ''He shows great courage... For a human...'' Skovi reevaluated his thoughts on humans after witnessing Bjorn''s desperate battle.


    Seeing that Bjorn was no longer in danger of losing his life, the wolf turned to leave. Bjorn desperately struggled to turn over and get a look at his saviour. He was certain it was the same creature as before, but he had not seen what it looked like in the darkness of the cave.


    "Wait! What is your name? Please! Tell me that! I must thank Lord Exile for sending you!" Bjorn''s memory snapped to what the creature had said in the cave when the lightning storm struck and just now, with it mentioning Exile outright.


    "Silly human... This was your trial... My master did not send me this time." Skovi paused for a moment before ncing back. Bjorn had failed to turn and get a look at him. "But for your service and bravery today, I will grace you with my name..."


    Bjorn took a deep breath as he strained to make sure he did not miss it.


    "I, am Skovi... And you... I give you the name of Bjorn Ironhide for your achievement of ying Skourj. I feel it will be more appropriate once you receive Lord Exile''s blessing..." With those words, Skovi vanished into the cold air outside.


    ''Bjorn... Ironhide... huh? That''s a good name... Worthy of a legend...'' Bjorn passed out after thinking that. Even though his wounds were almostpletely gone, he had still used a lot of energy in the fight. With the tension now gone, the umted fatigue took over him.


    "Quick! The sounds of fighting are over!"


    "We have to check if Bjorn survived!"


    "Hurry now! Didn''t you see that shadow that rushed out! What if he survived, and it finished him off!"


    The warriors who hade to witness the deed had felt disappointed when the battle took ce out of view. However, they had heard the nging of metal and the beast''s mighty roars from outside. But it had been quiet for a while now. Sensing that the battle was over, they had to confirm the oue.


    However, they did not expect what they saw. Bjorn,y alive on the ground with hardly any wounds. Yet the massive beary dead beside him in its own blood. The warriors froze as they nced at each other. None of them could find the words to describe that creature. Its metallic fur and imposing mass would terrify even the most courageous of warriors!


    "Did he... Really fight that thing?" One of them gulped nervously as he walked around Skourj''s body and felt its fur. Letting out a yelp as his finger was pricked by the metallic fur.


    "It would appear so..."


    "No wonder Lord Exile said whoever slew it would be a hero. Have you ever seen anything like it?"


    "I guess that''s what happens when the malice of the gods is turned on you..."


    "We should be grateful Lord Exile told us about it and sent Bjorn on this quest. Imagine the damage it would''ve done if it reached Eraldsfen..."


    The warriors grew quiet at that statement. None of them wanted to think about the tragedy that would have unfolded. They nervously nced from Bjorn to the bear.


    "Should we take it back with us as proof?"


    "Definitely... This creature''s body is Bjorn''s prize after all. He may have ns for it besides using it as proof..."


    "I think I''ll pray to Exile when we get back..."


    The others nodded their heads in understanding when they heard that. It definitely seemed like they should probably pay more attention to the gods after this. They could only hope that in the future they would get the chance to earn such glory and their ce in history.


    "Quick! Create two sledges for us to carry Bjorn and the carcass back! He needs some proper rest and a good celebration! Everyone will soon know Bjorn''s name for this achievement!"


    At that moment, they all froze as they heard the howl of a wolf in the frigid air. But they shivered at what they thought they heard within even that.


    "Am I crazy.... Or did that howl sound like it was saying Bjorn Ironhide?"

 Chapter 153 - Contributions

    Exile cursed as he mmed his shield against the snout of a Divine Wolf that lunged at him. ''These damn mobs! They''reing from all over the ce! Do they all n to break into the city?'' Exile nced around at every yer working together, no matter what side they were on in the civil war.


    Usually, he would have left this problem for the ruling faction to deal with. That way, it could further weaken his enemies. However, when the news came that the mobs had actually set foot within Valheim, he knew he had to act fast. Even now, the developers were still managing to surprise them!


    ''If they get inside the city, it will be a nightmare to hunt them down. With their speed, it will be too easy for them to corner lone yers and make short work of their hunts.'' Exile nced to his left where his Pantheon had charged in to fill a gap in Kaleidoscope''s defensive. Aeri frowned at that sight, but nodded her thanks towards him.


    After all, this was a crisis that could affect all of them. ''If these wolves can eat our orbs to get stronger, then did Nar''Kozz eat Noslin''s and my orb after killing us? If so... It was a good thing we got everyone out of there.'' Exile''s frown deepened as he hacked down with his axe, finishing off a weakened wolf.


    All sorts of spells flew through the air, striking at the wolf packs that had be one giant mass as they charged the line of yers. ''Noslin is still offline right now, along with a number of our heavy hitters. I''ve already had someone log off and send her a message, but with the time difference, who knows if she''ll see it in time toe back. So it''s up to me to hold the alliance together.''


    "Midas!" Exile roared as he turned to nce over his shoulder, allowing a few Ragnarok members to take his ce on the front line.


    "Yes?" Midas quickly broke away from his own fight and jogged over to Exile while analysing the situation with a grim look on his face.


    "You know the Alliance''s finances, so I''ve got a job for you. Figure out a suitable reward for our yers if they kill a certain amount of these wolves and make sure they know about it. They need an incentive to do better. You can see some of them shrinking back from their chances to counterattack from the fear of getting killed."


    "Hm... In that case... How about offering something like contribution points?" Midas stroked his chin as he thought about it.


    "Contribution points? How will that work?" Exile frowned as red at Midas.


    "Instead of kills, we''ll offer points for every so many bundles of fur, ws etc that the wolves drop. These can then be exchanged for weapons, armour and orbs from the alliance''s treasury. But as you know, not every wolf will drop something. So they''ll have to kill more to seize these benefits. Then we can trade the goods they give us for gold. It will help to offset the cost of what the yers buy with their points."


    Exile''s eyes went wide at that bold statement. It was a clever n. Although they would still have to deal with the burden of some of the cost. It was not as bad as outright giving the yers rewards for only kills in return.


    "Get it done!" Exile chuckled as he rejoined the front line and left Midas to his devices.


    Soon, a roar went up from the alliance yers as if they had found a second wind. The wolves attacking them began to get pushed back, causing the ruling faction yers to look at them in wonder. It looked as though they had entered a frenzy as they deliberately threw themselves into dangerous situations to finish their enemies off.


    Exile spotted Winter amongst the yers on the front line, but she appeared to be struggling. ''Her authority really isn''t suitable for an upfront battle like this, but we need everyone we can get.'' Exile shook his head slowly as the alliance members began to help out the other Pantheons more.


    But really, they were just interested in gaining more points. Exile chuckled at the various yers from the opposing side who sent their thanks to him. ''It''s not over yet.'' His eyes turned to therger wolves that had gathered at the rear. There were five of them, and their fur had turned golden.


    ''I''d say they are probably the ones spurring the packs to attack. They won''t be simple adult wolves either, judging by the look of them.'' Exile frowned as he tried to understand the power that those wolves may have. But it was difficult to say.


    Exile swung his shield to knock a wolf aside into a group of yers. They did not miss the chance to gang up on the unsuspecting wolf, grateful that Exile had separated it from the rest for them. ''Hm... We should start rotating people out so they can head to the temple to recover. If we keep on like this, people will start dieing and they won''t have anything left to fight those bosses.''


    Exile barked out the order to implement the rotation of yers on the front line. The chaotic melee soon started to change shape into orderly lines, but the drive to kill the enemy was still there. The other Pantheons who saw this started to copy the alliance''s approach. Quickly realising that Exile was thinking about the sustainability of that fight.


    Aeri''s attention seemed to be focused on the wolves in the back, just like Exile. ''I''m Tier 1... Exile is too... How many others?'' Her mind wandered as she tried to detect any other auras at their level. She found another two, but that might not be enough. She had a sinking feeling that those wolves were the equivalent of a Tier 1 mob....

 Chapter 154 - Impromptu Party

    Exile groaned as their advance slowed down. The yers were not pacing themselves anymore, as they were too eager to earn points. However, as soon as they depleted their DP, they would try to leave to replenish it. This meant that gaps were starting to appear, allowing the wolves to push back.


    Exile called Un and Leggy over and had them deliver a message to the other leaders to control how many yers left at a time. If they used up their DP, they had to keep fighting until someone could take their ce. This seemed to fix the issue for now, but Exile could see the bigger wolves in the rear starting to pace around. ''They''re getting impatient... Those creatures will probably join the fight soon.''


    "Exile! I''m a messenger from Aeri. She says to let you know that all Tier 1 yers should focus on those wolves as soon as they make their move. She''s certain that they will move together and that it will take all of you to defeat them." A yer suddenly shouted as she came to a halt nearby, her pink hair fluttering around her.


    Exile frowned as he turned his attention towards Aeri in the distance. ''She has a point, but will they turn on me as soon as we defeat them? I''m the only Tier 1 present from the Alliance right now.'' He made a mental note to pay attention to their actions towards the end of the fight. After all, he could not really refuse, otherwise, it could cause a worse situation to unfold.


    "Tell Aeri I''ll help. But tell her to prepare, they look like they''ll move soon." Exile growled as he hacked at another wolf.


    ''So far, these wolves have been unable to hurt me. It seems like I''m now at a stage where I could have safely explored beyond the walls again. As long as I pay attention anyway. Thest thing I need is for them tond a strike. My Speed will be nothingpared to theirs...''


    Exile knew that he would have to take a somewhat defensive role in the battle when the golden wolves struck. But at least he would have the means tounch a strong offensive at the same time. He slowly backed away from the front line to keep a better eye on his next opponents and preserve his strength.


    Here and there, he saw the motes of light rising into the air where yers were falling victim to that assault. However, the number of casualties in the alliance''s forces was minimal. All in all, the battle was going favourably for the yers as they culled those mobs. ''Will the attack fall apart if we defeat the leaders?''


    Exile hoped that would be the case. He had enough on his te without dealing with this as well. That was when he saw it. The pack of golden wolves finally made their move, but they were headed for an area a bit far from where he was. ''Damn!'' Exile cursed as he barked out the orders for Leggy, Un and Midas to take charge.


    Exile rushed towards the area the wolves were headed to. Ahead of him, Aeri had also broken away from her Pantheon. ''Seems like she''s not willing to take a chance to settle things just now.'' He half expected her to bring members of her Pantheon along but since that was not the case he could only believe that she intended to fully cooperate against the current threat.


    As soon as the golden wolves reached the yers, the battlefield became pure chaos. yers were taken down in short order by the group of wolves as they bit deep into the defensive line.


    ''Why does it look like they''ve hit a weak spot? Don''t tell me they were actually watching how we reacted to them so they could find the easiest point to break through!'' It was a dangerous thought, but it certainly seemed to be the case. Every time they started to getfortable with something, they discovered that there was something more to it.


    Exile grit his teeth as he activated Lesser Blessing, giving him a ten point boost to his Speed. The sudden burst of eleration allowed him to keep up with Aeri so that he was not left behind. Sparks of lightning trailed behind him as he rushed to the new battlefield. Catching the eyes of many present.


    The golden wolves continued to bring catastrophe to the area they assaulted as the Tier 1 yers finally reached the scene. The others all stared at Exile, who was the only yer from the Rebel faction amongst them.


    "So, you actually had the guts toe?" A male yer with a red mohawk sneered as he red at Exile.


    "That''s enough, Severance! We need all the help we can get and this affects all of us. There are five of those things so we''re outnumbered and don''t know what they are capable of." Aeri growled as she turned to look at the massacre.


    "So what do we do, Aeri? We have to work with each other to seed. So who is going to take on each role?" The female yer called Daynah asked as she nced at Aeri.


    "Well, severance and I focus on offensive styles. You''re good on support... But..." Aeri''s gaze turned towards Exile. He was something of an anomaly and she was unsure what he excelled at now.


    "I''ll be the tank in this fight. I''ll hold the defence so if you''re getting pushed back, lure them towards me." Exile dered resolutely. "But remember, this isn''t like other games. We don''t actually have sses to go off of. So I can''t guarantee they''ll focus on me. It''s best if you give it your all from the start."


    Aeri cocked an eyebrow at that statement. For a moment, she had forgotten that the mobs may not react to their impromptu party the way they wanted them to. "Ok, just do your best and try to cover each other... If we fail here we may need to abandon Valheim...."

 Chapter 155 - Dwarven Influence

    Harik scratched his head as he watched the dwarves bossing people around in Eraldsfen. The work became far more orderly since their arrival, which was a good thing. But they were also going through the viges stores of alcohol rather quickly. ''Still, these ns...''


    Harik raised an eyebrow as he looked at the footprint of the fortress that they had been working on. The dwarves had practically thrown a fit when they saw it. Thovok, in particr, had deemed it a disaster. Raising questions like, ''Why aren''t the foundations deeper? Why will there be a wall here and not there? Where will the secret doors be? How do you n to defend this blind spot?''


    He was relentless with his questions, and Harik could only hand over the project to them. After all, the dwarven race was known for their stonework. Well, in the tales he had been told anyway as he had never seen them for himself. They had even set up a workshop next to the site and had people cutting down a vast amount of trees.


    When he asked what all the wood was for, he was told rails. He had no idea what rails were, but Thovok said they were something that would allow them to transport mined stone from the mountain more easily and faster. Harik could only shrug and ept that oue. He was hardly going to argue about the neers when they were eager to pull their weight and use their expertise.


    While Thovok was busy overseeing that construction project, a group of the dwarves had taken over the only cksmith store in town. Apparently, a fight had broken out as they imed the Jorn was butchering the metal and had no sense as a craftsman. Harik did not see what their problem was. Jorn''s iron had always served him well in battle.


    However, he was gobsmacked when the first dwarven weapon was ced in his hand after it came out of there. It was lighter and stronger. The metal cut far better than the stuff Jorn had produced. Harik felt it was a sad thing that he had to agree with the dwarves now. ''Indeed... Jorn''s craft looks terrible next to this... But it''s pretty much the same all over Skardia. We would never have known unless they came here.''


    Harik immediately ordered an expansion of the cksmith and set a group of vigers to run any errands that those dwarves need. Their creations would provide Harik''s warriors with an edge on the battlefield. Which was something that they sorely needed. ''I also have to consider the integration of the dwarven troops into our warrior units. Maybe it would be better to keep them as their own unit... Which reminds me... Thovok never mentioned how many warriors would be sent from the mountain...''


    Harik''s gaze turned in the direction of the mountain as he pondered the matter. He figured it would be a token amount of a few hundred. Which would be a huge boost to his forces if they came fully armed with dwarven armour and weapons. ''Lord Exile may have changed to look a bit like them... But it''s not a bad thing. Not if they can help to improve our situation. Plus, everything they build in Eraldsfen will probably stand the test of time. We won''t need to worry about the upkeep of these structures for a while.''


    Harik limited himself to wander around the vige and get an idea of how the expansion would affect the vigers when it waspleted. But everywhere he looked, he spotted Skardians eagerly listening to the teachings of the dwarves. He could not help but eavesdrop on a dwarf who was helping with the construction of new housing for the refugees.


    "Bah! What are you thinking!" The dwarf grumbled as he jumped into the hole that had been made for the foundation. "Dig deeper! You want the main room and sleeping area to be underground! That way, the earth itself will act to keep out the howling winds, so it will be warmer. Think about it. Your log buildings above the ground are always so drafty! The wind easily gets in through the gaps. As long as we create a hole to get the smoke out from the fire, this will be much better!"


    Harik frowned when he heard that. His own house had a hidden cer that was rather small. But it was where they stored things to keep them cool in boxes they shovelled snow into. He never thought about it before, but the dwarf was right. Generally speaking, he did not have to put up with the chill of the wind-down there. Just the coldness from the dirt.


    But if they walled it up with stone or even wood and lit fires... ''Yes, that would be far morefortable.'' Harik could only sigh. Why had no Skardian thought of that? They had lived on the frozennds for ages. ''I can''t me them too much... The dwarves would obviously understand the benefits of living underground better than any human could.''


    ''So much is going to change... It seems like they want to demolish the old homes and start everything from scratch with wider paths for the people to walk down.'' Even the wooden wall being built around the perimeter was not spared as the dwarves marked out arger area for it to cover.


    ''Either way, everyone is being kept busy and their attention is away from other matters right now. We''ll eventually have to go out of Eraldsfen and meet the king''s warriors in battle if we are to overthrow him.'' Harik gazed absentmindedly towards the forest on the northern side of town. However, he squinted when he noticed something.


    A group of Skardian warriors had appeared, dragging two crude sledges.. One seemed to carry a wounded man, while the other was piled with some kind of strange, ck metal that shone in the sunlight. ''Wait! It''s Bjorn''s group!''

 Chapter 156 - Elites

    Exile groaned as he shouldered the brunt of the golden wolf''s attack. With luck, he had managed to angle his shield to take it and the damage check confirmed that his Endurance prevented any damage. ''If it strikes me while I''m unprotected though, I''ll definitely take a good chunk of damage because it will check against my Speed.''


    Exile frowned as he increased his vignce. He had intercepted two of the beasts. This was to make sure the others could fight one on one and increase their chances ofing out victorious. As long as one person seeded, then the pressure on him would be lifted.


    yers and wolves alike had cleared arge area for them to fight. But they stayed to watch the battle instead of going around. The yers were more concerned that if these powerhouses failed to stop this offensive, and they had moved away from the area, then the wolves would break through to Valheim immediately.


    So it was not that they were cking off and enjoying the show. No, they were still doing their part by acting as ast line of defence if Exile and the others failed. A loud collective hiss came from the yers as Severance was sent sprawling in the snow by a feint from his wolf. Aeri''s speed seemed to be enough to keep up with her opponent, meaning neither could gain the upper hand.


    Daynah''s fight seemed to be going well. But the more experienced yers knew she was buffing herself. Sooner orter, her DP would run out and she would receive a ticket to the temple for revival. However, many of the yers who used shields themselves were admiring Exile''s battle. With the realisticbat of Pantheon, it was clear to see that he was paying attention to his surroundings at all times.


    If the two wolves he faced tried to nk him, he would steadily back up to keep them both within his field of vision. When they tried to charge him, he sent an Electrosphere towards one, bringing its attack to a halt while meeting the other head-on with his shield. He was putting up a splendid defensive battle, but he was in the same position as Daynah. As soon as his DP ran out, he would not be able to hold both of them off with that tactic.


    "Hey! He''s not using a spell!" One of the yers in the crowd shouted as the two wolves charged at Exile again.


    The crowd gasped as they wondered if he had run out of DP. It was possible that he had used most of it up before rushing over there after all. But the crowd gasped again as he narrowly jumped to the side of the wolf on his left and mmed the rim of his shield into its jaw! The creature iled in anger and ended up striking itspanion.


    The second wolf howled at its injury as it turned its angry gaze on itspanion. But it did not devolve into them fighting amongst themselves. Both wolves turned wary gazes on Exile after thatst exchange.


    "Damn! He used one to damage the other!"


    "It''s more impressive he could do that without receiving an injury or wasting DP!"


    "Hey! Maybe he will be able to hold them off until one of the others beats their wolf..."


    "You''re dreaming! Look at them! If anything, a victory will be a close shave. They''ll be in no state to continue fighting. It''ll be up to us once these guys weaken the wolves!"


    Exile groaned as he listened to thements. It allowed him to keep track of how the other fights were going. ''This isn''t working. But even if we close ranks, the five wolves together will overwhelm me easily. No, this is definitely the best we can do in this situation. That guy is right, we may need to sacrifice ourselves to give them the chance ofnding the killing blows.''


    Just as he was about to shout that to the others, he froze. A problem sprung to mind if they did that. ''Damn! Won''t they just eat our orbs and get stronger if that happens though? As long as they keep killing, there will be no end to it. They could surpass the yer''s limits so they can''t be hurt! No! They have to be stopped here by us!''


    A quick nce around him told him Aeri, Severance and Daynah hade to the same conclusion. Except they had no way to make it happen. ''If Noslin were here, it wouldn''t look so bad... We need someone else...'' However, his own thoughts mocked him by saying they would have had a good chance, even in this situation, if he still had ess to the healing spells of the Hearth.


    ''Damn! I wanted power too much. I''m too used to there being sses and healers in plenty of supply. But this game is different. Healing and support are probably rarer in this game!'' It was the first time that he truly regretted his choice. But this situation just showed him how vital his old abilities could have been to resolve it.


    ''If I get the chance, I''ll definitely try to switch away from pure offensive. I have to put the Pantheon before myself!'' Eventually, one of the wolves managed to find an opening and its ws raked against Exile''s side.


    [You have been attacked by Divine Wolf (Elite)]


    [Divine Power Damage Checkˇ­ Enemy Speed 40. Your Speed is 23. Your Divine Power is inferior. -18 HP]*


    Exile cursed at the damage as he spun away from the second wolf, trying to take advantage of the situation. It was his first slip up and barely qualified as a scratch against his HP pool. ''It would take twelve more of those to kill me... And my DP is still looking good. Barely used anything. But the situation was not looking as good for Severance and Daynah.


    ''If one of them fall... We''ve as good as lost...'' Exile sighed as he realised he only had one way to salvage the situation....

 Chapter 157 - Hound Of The Gods

    Exile grit his teeth as he epted the situation. Although it was supposed to be a hidden trump card, the situation called for it. He activated his spell Hound of the Gods, summoning Skovi from the Mortal Realms.


    A sh of golden light appeared next to Exile as soon as he activated it. When the light vanished and was reced with a massive, snow white wolf, the onlooking yers shouted in dismay! They believed that a third wolf had appeared out of thin air to attack Exile! A few brave yers prepared themselves to enter that fight. No matter what, they could not let Exile fall so soon!


    However, they froze when the wolf let out a howl before lunging forward and biting into the neck of one of the golden wolves. The new wolf snarled as it paced protectively between Exile and the elite wolf it had just attacked.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Why''s that wolf helping him?"


    "Who cares! As long as it''s helping, what''s the issue?"


    "Hey! You don''t think that''s a pet, do you?"


    Thestment seemed to grab everyone''s attention as they nced at the yer who said it. Their attention shifted to the white wolf and how it was defending Exile. As realisation dawned on them, a wave ofints echoed out from the yers. Even Aeri, Severance and Daynah appeared stunned by that development!


    ''Exile! You have another trick up your sleeve!'' Aeri cursed as she watched the viciousness of Skovi''s attacks. ''I''ll need to remember this. As long as he has that beast, it will be difficult to beat him one on one. Luckily, it''s just the same as the Divine Wolves...''


    Aeri''s thoughts were cut off as Exile took another blow. Skovi swiftly retreated and blew a golden cloud on Exile, who seemed relieved when it touched him. ''What! It''s not just a normal wolf! What the hell did that ability do?''


    The other yers were asking themselves the same question as Exile became more reckless. He appeared more confident now that the wolf had appeared to aid him in his fight. Secretly, the other Pantheon leaders who saw this development began to send people to ask what ability it was that allowed Exile to summon a pet. Their greed had surfaced as they thought about how they could put that ability to their advantage.


    ''Good job, Skovi... I''m going to focus on this wolf. Whenever you get the chance, deal some extra damage to it for me. The quicker we y it, the quicker we can bring this fight to an end!''


    [Yes, Master!]


    The pair limited themselves to talking using their link. Skovi had sensed that Exile did not want the others to know that Skovi could speak theirnguage. Damage began to umte on one of the wolves they faced under theirbined offensive. Exile had decided to go all out and used his spells freely to bring an end to the beast as quickly as possible.


    The poor wolf found itself the target of Exile''s Minor Grace, which covered him in a lightning aura that caused damage over time. But that was not all. Exile decided to use Cleansing Lightning as well. Five secondster, thebined offensive of these spells brought an end to that wolf.


    The crowd gasped at how ruthless the offensive had been. Where the others were struggling, Exile had overwhelmed one of his wolves already! However, he did not stop there. He turned his Cleansing Lightning spell on the second wolf, but it onlysted for three seconds before he no longer had enough DP to fuel it.


    Despite that, the spell still caused an insane amount of damage. But even with the injuries it already had, it was not enough to finish it off. This was why Exile had summoned Skovi. He knew if he wanted to turn the tables, he would have to go all out and deplete his DP. Leaving him in a situation that forced him into a melee battle.


    That would take a long time to bring to an end, but with Skovi and his healing by his side, he could afford to be more reckless. The grim situation they were in quickly changed with Skovi''s arrival. Exile had sessfully defeated one wolf and brought his second to the brink of death. Once he finished it off, then he would be free to help one of the others and his wolf could even help a second yer.


    Severance and Daynah felt relieved with that development. Exile had delivered them from the jaws of defeat! However, Aeri was naturally unhappy about it. She had a deep grudge with Exile and she was certain he had something to do with the problems she was having when dealing with King Balmir.


    She had hoped to use this opportunity to study his strength. To better n for their next sh. But it all seemed so pointless to her right now. ''I need to find out the secret behind that pet! If I want Kaleidoscope to stand at the top of Valheim, then I need one of my own!''


    As she was thinking that, thebined efforts of Exile and Skovi brought the second wolf elite down. Exile could not help but grin as he quickly swept up the materials that both of the elites had dropped.


    A loud cheer erupted from the onlookers. As far as they could see, the biggest threat of this sudden assault from the mobs had just been dealt with. Exile had crippled the major power of that elite group, so even if things went wrong now, it would not be so bad.


    "He should retreat! We should cover him and give him the chance to run to the temple and recover his DP!" Someone in the crowd shouted, causing an ugly expression to appear on the faces of the still fighting Tier 1''s.


    Most of the crowd seemed to agree with that statement and prepared to open a path for exile to pass through. However, he turned his back on them and charged towards Daynah while Skovi rushed to Severance''s side!

 Chapter 158 - [Bonus ] Goddess Of The First Flame

    Allevia gasped as she regained consciousness. The cold stone surrounding her was now void of any light. ''I didn''t die?'' She nced around in confusion, but a sudden system notification appeared in her mind.


    [You have absorbed the First me. New Authority has be avable.]


    [Please choose from the following options:]


    [Goddess of the Hearth: Followers are less affected by cold environments. Open fires will allow followers to heal and remove fatigue faster.]


    [Goddess of Lightning: The sky is your altar. Followers can now send their prayers to you by praying beneath the open sky. Followers believe in your might, bing more aggressive inbat and fearing lightning storms as a disy of your anger.]


    [Goddess of the First me: Followers can now sense your presence from all sources of fire. Followers can send their prayers to you by praying to any source of fire. Fire brings increased warmth and healing to your followers. While also dealing increased damage to their enemies. (You gain ess to different powers of the Fire element as you advance through the Tiers.)]


    Allevia gasped as she read through the notification! ''Authorities! There''s actually Authorities avable! I won''t be stuck at Tier 0 anymore!'' She burst out intoughter as she reread the notification. ''Hmph! Does it think I''m stupid or something? It''s obvious I should take the Goddess of the First me!''


    She made her choice and waited for the effects to take ce. She smiled as new divine spells appeared like Cleansing me and a few others that were marked with the (Hearth) prefix. This left her somewhat confused. ''But I didn''t choose Hearth? Is it a bug?''


    [Congrattions! Title changed to: Goddess of the First me]


    [Congrattions! Authority of the First me and Divinity conditions met for advancement! You will now advance to Tier 1!]


    ''Wait!'' Allevia''s mind was thrown into a spin. She did not get the chance to fullyprehend what was going on. But the notifications kept flooding her vision as a golden cocoon wrapped around her. Her stats were being modified before her eyes as she nced in confusion at them being reset to one first.


    [Please select six of the following spells toplete the foundation of your Tier 1 Status:]


    Allevia''s eyes went wide as she scrolled through the spells that were made avable. There was a mixture of them prefixed with (Hearth) and (Lightning) respectively. To her surprise, she could even choose to mix them. Taking some from each. ''It would be great if I could have all of them...'' Allevia sighed as she made her choices.


    [Elevation Complete...]


    The golden cocoon shattered as sparks danced over Allevia''s skin while there appeared to be miniature suns inside her eyes. As the phenomenon faded, Allevia took a deep breath. She felt more powerful than before, even if her stats had taken a hit. ''It''s no surprise that Jor wanted to seize this. He probably had someone in mind to take control of it...''


    Allevia hesitated as she thought about that. ''He''s going to kill me when he finds out... I''ll have to leave Valheim...'' As Allevia peered into the dark, a sudden rumbling filled the room. A section of the wall crumbled to reveal a new passage. However, it was not empty.


    An Elden hurried into the room only to freeze in shock. Its eyes focused on the empty plinth and the woman standing next to it.


    "You! What have you done!" The Elden roared in its gravelly voice as it raised its shield and a two-handed hammer.


    Allevia frowned at the sight. She could tell from the yer''s aura that he was a Tier 1 like her. But it seemed that he had not passed the halfway mark yet, otherwise she would have felt the pressure intended to warn her. ''This is a good chance to test my new powers...''


    The open passageway allowed light into the room as the Elden charged towards her. Allevia smile as she activated Soothing Hearth, creating a 20m fiery aura around herself that suppressed the Elden''s stats by 20%. The yer appeared shocked when they felt the suppression kicking in, but it was toote to stop now.


    However, Allevia was ready for him. She pointed her spear at the charging figure andunched her Lightning Bolt from its tip! The yer was unprepared for such a move. With the suppression in effect, Allevia''s Authority ranked higher than his own! He took a small chunk of damage, but the spell also caused a stunning effect. Making him unable to react to the sudden attack of Allevia.


    She pounced forward and rapidly thrust her spear at the Elden''s exposed side several times. A smile appeared on her face as the damage notifications popped up, revealing that this particr Elden already had a low-speed stat and her suppression just made it that much worse. ''I have to defeat him quickly to get out of here...''


    As the Elden was released from the stun effect, the pair appeared to perform aplicated dance full of dodges, parries and feints as they tested each other''s skill. Allevia made sure to keep Soothing Hearth in effect whenever it was due to run out. Preventing the Elden from recovering to his full strength.


    Eventually, the Elden grew tired of those games and began to use his own divine spells. Spears of Earth appeared whenever Allevia tried to avoid one of his blows. Causing cuts and damage to finally appear. She sighed as she stared at the Elden in the eyes. He was wearing a savage smile on his rocky features, figuring that he had regained the upper hand.


    However, Allevia let out augh as she activated Heart of the Hearth. Providing herself with constant healing every 5 seconds for the next 2 minutes! The Elden''s expression turned ugly at that point. He could tell this battle had just be far more difficult than he expected it to be.


    "Shall we continue? Or do you want to run away now?" Allevia asked with a sweet smile as she tilted her head to the side....

 Chapter 159 - Prestige

    Exile grit his teeth as he mmed into the wolf, trying to charge at Daynah. The wolf let out a whimper as it was sent sprawling through the snow. Exile eyed the beast cautiously as he ced himself between it and Daynah.


    Exile heard a relieved sigh from behind him. Clearly, she had been close to the end of her rope before his arrival. So he was unsure how much help she could still be in that fight. He shot a questioning nce over his shoulder, which she understood immediately.


    "I can still go on for a bit. I''m not much use in a melee, but I''ll support you with my spells as best as I can." Daynah smiled nervously as she put more distance between them.


    Exile nodded before turning his attention back to the Elite mob. "Just do what you can and get out of here."


    The wolf paced around in front of him, but exile matched its movements. Not allowing it to get a clear line to Daynah. As he was blocking the wolf, he heard a few curses being let out behind him.


    "Sorry! I can''t buff you! It keeps saying you''re an enemy! All I can do is debuff the wolf!" Daynah suddenly shouted, causing Exile to frown.


    "That''s fine! Just do it!" He roared in response as he started to close the distance with the elite.


    The wolf seemed to hesitate at that development. It got the feeling that it had just be the prey in that situation. However, before it could process what to do next, several debuffsnded on it. Making it feel incredibly weak.


    "Get it now!" Daynah shouted, and Exile sprang into action.


    The wolf did not know what to do in that situation. Exile hacked at its snout with his axe while bashing it on its temple with the rim of his shield. The assault was sudden and violent. Aiming to confuse and disorientate the wolf as he attempted to drive it to the ground to make it even more helpless.


    The damage that he dealt was not insignificant either, thanks to the stacked debuffs that Daynah had inflicted on it. But that seemed to be the limit of her aid. Exile nced over his shoulder to see her fleeing the battlefield.


    Meanwhile, Severance and Skovi''s fight seemed to be going well. It appeared that Skovi''s healing did not have the same restrictions as Daynah''s support spells. With Skovi''s aid, Severance was able to go toe to toe against his elite.


    ''I wonder if Skovi has limits to his abilities? Does he have something like DP as well? I should assume so otherwise that would just be broken...'' Exile felt like he had the time to make such internalments as his own elite whimpered pathetically under his beating.


    Aeri appeared frustrated with the situation. She was the only one dealing with her Elite on her own now. She did not count Exile in that as he had received help from Daynah before she disappeared. She quickly avoided her wolf''s next attack as she performed her Wind de spell. A shallow cut appeared on the side of the wolf''s head, causing it to yelp in pain.


    In truth, she was not a good match for these opponents. Both of them focused on Speed more than anything else. Meaning that any damage dealt to either party was minimal at best. At the same time, her Authority stat had suffered because she was focused on Speed so it left her with hardly any choices in how to proceed.


    As she trembled in anger, she suddenly heard a wolf howling from behind her. A white blur passed her by and lunged at the golden wolf. A deep frown appeared on Aeri''s face as she recognised Exile''s wolf. A sense of helplessness washed over her as she nced back to see that Severance had defeated his wolf and was on his way to help her too.


    ''Damn! Do they think so little of me! Why aren''t they rushing to help Exile?'' She was about to scream at Severance when something caught her eye. Off to the side were motes of light floating into the sky, and Exile was calmly collecting materials left on the ground!


    Aeri felt like screaming in frustration! Exile''s prestige among the yers was sure to skyrocket after that event! If it were not for his presence, then the three of them most likely would have lost that battle! The yers were sure to realise this. She could already hear the mocking voices iming that they would have been helpless without him!


    However, she could only grit her teeth in frustration as she turned to help Skovi deal with the golden wolf. The battle did notst long after that. Between Skovi, Aeri and Severance they encircled the beast and gave it no room to breathe as they never stopped their offensive.


    Exile took the chance to slip away into the crowd while Aeri was distracted. The crowd cheered at his achievements and congratted him in passing. Even though everyone in that section of the battlefield supported the ruling faction, they recognised his skill and luck in handling the situation. They knew that they would have been the ones to pay the price if the Tier 1 yers failed in that task.


    As he passed freely through the crowd, he heard a sudden ecstatic cheer erupt behind him. ''I guess they finally finished it off.'' Exile let out a long sigh of relief. His eyes focused on the members of his Pantheon up ahead as the wolves started to retreat from that fight. ''Seems like we barely avoided disaster this time...''


    Exile frowned as he thought about the terror waiting in the deep. ''But what do we do if that thing devours more orbs and decides toe to the surface?'' Exile groaned when he thought about that possibility. ''We''ll have to strengthen the alliance quickly so we can stop that from happening....''

 Chapter 160: Power of Dreams

    "By the Gods! What happened to Bjorn!" Harik roared as the group approached the vige.


    "He killed the beast, my Jarl. But we''re unsure of his condition. It appears that he was wounded, but there''s no sign of any on his body. Yet he still won''t wake up." One of the warriors replied as he stood aside to let Harik through.


    Harik cast a concerned nce over Bjorn. However, he was relieved to see that his friend was still breathing. ''You really did it, my friend.'' Harik''s eyes wandered to the dead body of Skourj on the other sledge. The sheer size of the creature was enough to make anyone fearful. ''We should contact Lord Exile.''


    "Get him inside! Take him to the temple! I''ll have Ania talk with the Gods about his condition! Hurry now!" Harik barked his orders as he stormed off to find his daughter.


    More and more she had taken to wandering through the forests alone. It concerned him whenever she did that. After all, the enemy could be anywhere and they could not afford to lose her. Even though Thovok was also an oracle of Exile, the Skardians would still prefer to go through one of their own instead of relying on the dwarves for that.


    Harik cursed as he searched the temple, and other ces first before grabbing ahold of a passing hunter.


    "Track down my daughter and tell her to hurry to the temple!" Harik growled as the startled hunter nodded before running off.


    He could barely contain his anger at that point. Her presence was sorely needed at that moment, but she was nowhere to be found. ''st it! I''ll have to fetch the damn dwarf!'' Harikined as he stormed off to the construction site of the fortress.


    It did not take long for him to pinpoint Thovok''s location there. The dwarf was happily yelling out orders as others grumbled while digging the area for the foundations. Thovok nodded happily as he watched them work. It was clear that if they kept up the current pace, the foundation area would berge enough in another week or so.


    "Thovok! I need you toe to the Temple! I can''t find Ania and we need to seek guidance from Exile!" Harik yelled once the dwarf was within earshot.


    Thovok''s small figure turned, and Harik clearly saw a spark of excitement in the dwarf''s eyes. Harik could only sigh when he heard Thovok barking some quick orders before rushing to meet up with him. The dwarf did not even slow down and quickly barreled past him. Leaving Harik stunned.


    "Well? What are you waiting for!" Thovok snorted as he shouted over his shoulder. Snapping Harik back to reality.


    The pair stormed through the vige, attracting the attention of everyone that they passed. Soon, there was a crowd following after them as they reached the temple. As Thovok went inside, Harik paused by the door and turned to the crowd.


    "Nobody is to enter! Bjorn has returned, and we must seek guidance from the gods. I will announce what has happened once we know the full details! For now, you should go back to work!"


    The crowd grumbled as they let out theirints. Many of them wanted to be present on the chance that Exile would descend. However, they could tell from Harik''s tone that somet6hing may have gone wrong with Bjorn''s quest. Although they were curious, they were not willing to anger their Jarl over it.


    The crowd soon dispersed, but Harik spotted a few figures who had clearly been left behind to inform the others if there were any changes. ''Hmph, I guess that''s fine...'' Harik red at them for a moment before slipping inside.


    The warriors who had apanied Bjorn hadid his sledge in front of the altar to Exile. Skourj''s massive frame rested to the side, as they had no idea what else to do with it.


    "Thovok, contact Lord Exile now. I want to know if Bjorn is any danger..."


    The dwarf ced his hands on the altar and showed a solemn expression as he closed his eyes. Harik began to tap his foot as he tried to remain patient. He had seen something simr enough with Ania, but that did not relieve his worries. Eventually, Thovok sighed as he turned to Harik and shook his head.


    "What did he say?" Harik asked with a grim expression.


    "Lord Exile wishes for me to convey this. Bjorn is fine. He just needs a good rest. We should contact him again once Bjorn wakes up. Until then, he should be celebrated as a hero." Thovok replied while ncing at the unconscious Bjorn. "Lord Exile will reward him personally once he is fit again."


    Harik let out a sigh of relief as he studied his old friend. Bjorn was even older than he was, but this achievement would make sure that he was remembered amongst their people. It made Harik wonder what tales would be told of him once he was gone, if any. After all, apart from the raids, he had no great victories to his name. ''Maybe it''s time I start thinking about how I want to be remembered. With everything that''s going on, there''s no telling when I could die.''


    Meanwhile, Exile let out a broad grin as the hustle and bustle of the Alliance went on in The Raider''s Horn. ''It seems like I''ll have a new asset soon. It should be simr to the requirements to turn an animal into a monster. Let us just hope I''m right. I''m interested to see what a hero can do.''


    Exile chuckled softly to himself, causing Winter to frown. She was sitting across from him and they were in the middle of a discussion when he suddenly told her to wait a moment. So far, all she had gathered was that she was in trouble. But she could not fathom why. After all, she had achieved her missions sessfully and taken care of their enemies.


    She let out a long sigh of her own, which attracted Exile''s attention back to her. She froze like a deer caught in headlights when his gazended back on her. His expression turned from one of joy to a stern one as he refocused on her.


    "Sorry about that... I just got some good news. Now, where were we? Ah, that''s right." Exile coughed a few times to clear his throat as he stared at her. "Your achievements so far are remarkable and nobody is doubting the contributions you have made to the alliance. I hope that is clear?"


    Winter frowned as she slowly nodded. Her hand trembled beneath the table as she waited for the other shoe to drop.


    "However..." Exile continued as he lifted Un''s report from the table. "It seems your actions are negatively affecting the Pantheon..."


    "Wait!" Winter suddenly blurted out as she pped her palms on the table. "How can that be? I''ve done nothing wrong!"


    "Just sit down and let me exin..." Exile sighed as he motioned for her to take her seat. "It''s like this. Your methods are so heavy-handed that anyone who survives or escapes bes terrified of Ragnarok. Now we can''t have this mindset spreading amongst the NPCs. It damages our future recruitment of followers. Very few will want to follow us if they think we only know how to torture them."


    Exile''s expression softened as he watched Winter''s reaction to the news. She appeared genuinely surprised and lost in thought.


    "I can see that this was not intentional. So there is obviously no punishment for it. But you have to be more careful from now on. Be more strategic with your authority. Don''t brute force your way into a victory over them. Maybe try tempting people close to your targets into killing them for you and rewarding them for it. Or give them good dreams that will make them more inclined to support us."


    Winter sighed as she nced at him. She had already been wondering about other ways to use her powers, but they were not all that simple. Her divine spells that worked on mortals required her imagination to work. Projecting whatever she thought of into their dreams and nightmares. That was its greatest strength and weakness at the same time.


    It could only be used on someone who was sleeping. If she could not clearly imagine something, then the spell would shatter with no effect. She had even taken time to watch more horror movies than she normally would just to strengthen this ability.


    She let out a helpless sigh. "Exile, projecting horrors is easier. I have no idea what someone would ss as a blissful dream. It''s not so easy to understand someone''s desires."


    "You''re right, of course. Your path is not an easy one, Winter. But I have faith in you. Truth be told, I think your Authority could be one of the strongest ones in the game if nurtured properly. I suggest you take time off with the next batch and explore the possibilities. Read some books. Check out some paintings. Watch movies. Whatever helps. But I hope to see favourable results...

 Chapter 161: [Bonus Chapter] A Long Journey

    Allevia collected the orb that the Elden dropped and made a dash for the tunnel he had entered by. ''This should lead to the surface. With a bit of luck, I can get away before anyone else notices the treasure is gone.'' She rushed through the winding tunnel that branched off in different directions.


    It was obvious which path led to the surface because of the air currents. So she did not need to worry about getting lost. From time to time, she would hear the sound of people running down the adjoining tunnels. Forcing her to duck into another to hide from view. Her heart raced in her chest whenever that happened, but she managed to remain level-headed.


    Eventually, she spotted the exit. The sounds of fighting were intense as the noise carried down into those tunnels. However, as she rushed out into the open air, she quickly nced around to take stock of the situation.


    ''Jor''s busy fighting what looks to be the Elden leader. '' It seemed that luck was on her side as nobody seemed to notice her presence in that strange location. Without thinking about it too much, she picked the direction that had the least amount of yers in it.


    ''I have to be more careful this time... No more jumping over boulders blindly!'' Allevia sighed as she raced around the edges of the battlefield. The odd spell was thrown her way, but everyone was too busy dealing with their opponents to try to intercept her. ''I''m actually going to make it!''


    She burst outughing as she continued to race away from the battlefield. She had done it! She had stolen the treasure for herself and now she was putting distance between herself and those who wanted to seize it. She could just imagine how furious Jor would be when he discovered that he had wasted all of these lives for nothing.


    ''I need to be careful how I use this in the future. I can''t let him realise I took what he was after until I''m strong enough to defend myself against him.'' She frowned as she began to leave the noise far behind. There was a lot for her to consider going forward. The most important thing would be which Pantheon she should turn to.


    She would still need help to grow, but she wanted to avoid the bigger ones, since they were always fighting with Jor. The chances she would be discovered only escted if she sided with any of them. She wasughably weak whenpared to those powerful yers. The upper echelons of most of those Pantheons were in Tier 5 or close to it.


    She was nothing more than a small fish in the oceanpared to them. Still, she knew she had to do something. ''Maybe I should turn to the Dwarves? What''s that kingdom again that loves to study the gods? They should be willing to help me out.'' She had to consider the fact that Jor was likely to absorb her Skardian followers and kill her Oracle for her desertion. But he probably would not chase her down when she survived, as long as he did not know she had the First me.


    ''It''s such a strange thing... It''s like it is a key to building a solid hybrid build.'' She considered how it had given her the option to pick both Lightning and Hearth spells. Something she had never heard of before. That was the problem with most authorities. They tended to prefer one stat over the others and their spells usually focused on something thatplimented that fact.


    But, with the First me, she could build a stable selection of spells that could make her a well-developed all-rounder. Or focus on a variety of offensive spells to give more breadth to that style. The same also went for the healing and support spells. It gave her a level of freedom in her build that the majority would not get to enjoy.


    ''I can''t wait to see what elsees from it. It said it would unlock more fire-rted abilities as my Tier advances.'' She chuckled to herself as she finally cleared the snow-covered ground from Jor''s spell and set foot back on the luscious grasnds.


    It took her weeks to exit the Eldennds. She had grown tired of finding ces to safely login and out of the game. ''The battle''s bound to be long over. I wonder what Jor will do now? Hopefully, he won''t return straight to Valheim if he won. I need time to set up my second Oracle first.''


    She sighed as she sifted through her memories of themon knowledge about Tier 1. She felt pleased with her decision to contact the dwarves. But they were still a long way away. Who knew if she really had the time to put her fate in their hands. ''I wonder if the passage to the Orc''s divine realm is open here. It would probably be safer cutting through there.''


    There were a lot of unknowns to her journey. Just now, she was on the edge of the Elven Divine Realm that bordered the Elden territories. Elves were famous for looking down on the human yers, so she was not keen to run into them.


    Still, she could only do her best to avoid them. Her journey continued as she hid from powerful mobs and kept her eyes out for yers who were exploring far afield from their cities. It made for slow progress, something that seriously made her frustrated. There were a few times she thought she had been spotted. But nobody made a move on her location.


    The greatest excitement she experienced as she crossed those Elven Realms was using the giant mushrooms in one of the zones to quickly bounce from one to the other. Vastly improving her travelling speed in that region. Or at least, she wished that was the most excitement she got.


    Unfortunately for her, she was pitted against a number of packs of Divine Beasts. Several of them she barely escaped from with her life. While the others were weak enough for her to deal with them without wasting DP. She knew she had to be careful with its use as it was the only thing she had to hand that could heal her for now.


    ''Maybe I should''ve tried to sneak onto Jor''s ships and steal a portable shrine or two... At least then I''d have ess to my prayers so I wouldn''t be stuck in this condition.'' she had evene to wonder if she would make it to the Dwarven Realms before she ran out of DP. Still, at least she could count on the fact that the Skardian Gods and the dwarven yers were allies after thest vote. So she could freely enter their cities without fear.


    She began toment the journey at some point, despite the many wonders of the Elvennds that she had never witnessed before. Such as trees with colourful leaves twisting their branches around each other to create arches over the pathways through the forests. Or the crystal clearkes that felt refreshing to drink from.


    She partially wished she could just take her time and enjoy those sights, but she knew time was of the essence. If Jor had set off straight for Valheim then he should be returning within a few days. At this point, she could only hope the battle had taken longer toe to a conclusion and that he wasted time thoroughly searching those tunnels.


    ''Of course, it would be even better if the attack failed. They would have respawned at the shrines on the ships and he might have wasted more time attempting a second assault.'' But that was just wishful thinking. She had to n for the worst and hope for the best.


    Over a month of in-game time passed by as she began to feel desperate. She never realised just how much area those divine realms actually covered before. But that was because her level had barely allowed her to explore much outside of Valheim. Just as she was about to throw in the towel, she noticed that the terrain up ahead made drastic changes.


    It went from lusciousnds full of colour to barren and rocky. ''Don''t tell me! Does this actually directly connect to the Dwarven realms?'' She sighed with relief at the sole thought of possibly having reached her destination without having to go through othernds. However, there was still an issue that might appear. It all depended on whether the way between those two realms was actually open or not.


    Otherwise, she may have to waste more time searching for a way in. Unable to contain herself any longer, she sprinted at full speed towards the border. Hoping against hope that she would not fail so close to her goal. She held her breath in desperation as the dividing line between those terrains approached...

 Chapter 162: Looking To The Future

    Ania sighed as she wiped Bjorn''s brow. She had only gone for a walk, but missed being here for Bjorn when he needed her. Thankfully, there was nothing seriously wrong with him. But it frustrated her that she felt relieved for Thovok''s presence. If it had been something serious, Bjorn could have been saved by Thovok''s ability to contact Exile.


    However, it weighed heavily on her mind that she was no longer the only one with a direct connection to Exile. It made her position feel less... Special. She could not help but feel as if she were not needed as much with Thovok around. ''He''ll have to return to his home in the mountains at some point. Things will return to normal then.''


    She tried to convince herself in any way that she could that everything would be fine. But more concerns appeared in their ce. It was likely that the numbers of Oracles bound to Exile would grow over time. Even if she were the chief among them, they would all technically be equals. Her mind and emotions wandered to considering how to have a deeper connection with him. One that went beyond just Oracle and God.


    Her face flushed at the thought as her hand trembled. She tried to put that image to the back of her mind, but found it difficult to do so. ''Besides... Would he even be interested in me that way?'' She let out a long sigh before suddenly yelping!


    Bjorn had suddenly grabbed her hand as his eyes opened. "Ania! This is... Eraldsfen?"


    "Yes..." Ania smiled gently once she got over the shock. "The others brought you back after you passed out. You did it Bjorn! You slew the beast and Lord Exile will reward you. I should let him know that you have recovered."


    "No! Not yet. Let me get cleaned up first." Bjorn sighed with a raspy voice. "I should be presentable when meeting Lord Exile."


    Ania nodded as she left to arrange things with the vigers to allow Bjorn to get washed and have a clean set of clothing. Word was sent to her father and Thovok that it would soon be time to summon Exile among them. Harik got to work arranging a grand celebration. The vige became abuzz with the news and everyone was eager to find out what rewards Exile would shower on Bjorn forpleting the task set to him.


    Jay Deacon was on the edge of his seat as he watched thetest stream y out. He was keeping up to date with what was happening with Ragnarok as he waited to hear back from the email sent to the yer called Exile regarding a sponsorship. ''These streams are getting more dramatic. The editors have obviously clicked on to the appeal that Ragnarok has created by making it seem like a show or movie. The camera angles are more cinematic now.''


    Jay nodded in approval as he waited to find out what happened next. He had to admit that these streams had be something of a guilty pleasure for himself. ''If only more teams did something like this, it would be easy to find good investments.'' He sighed as he watched the descent of Exile and, inevitably, the process of Bjorn bing a hero.


    Exile ced his hand on Bjorn''s head as thetter kneeled before him in the temple. In a loud voice, he dered Bjorn to be a Hero of the Ragnarok Pantheon, and as such, received gifts from the gods. As everyone waited to see what these gifts were, nothing appeared. But suddenly, Bjorn remarked that his body felt different.


    Exile dered that he had gifted him with skin as hard as iron when attacked. Allowing Bjorn to be both the hammer and shield of the Pantheon among the mortals. Jay nodded at this gift. It was suitable and seemed to fall in with the plot that Exile had crafted regarding Skourj''s own abilities. Soon after, Exile dered that he would now be known as Bjorn Ironhide. Causing amotion among the vigers.


    The following celebration was a warm scene as the camera panned over thendscape of Eraldsfen and showed the progress of its development. It was clear where the dwarves had an influence. That brought an end to that stream, and Jay sighed contentedly.


    ''So, Exile''s appearance changed just after meeting the dwarves. But the editors cut out the change itself and some of their conversations by the looks of it.'' Jay frowned as he nced at his phone to see that there were no new notifications. ''The battle against the wolves for Valheim was an amazing scene as well. That wolf of Exile''s has certainly kicked up a storm. I don''t think he noticed the curious looks he got from Aeri either over his physical changes...''


    Jay hummed as he mulled over the entirety of the stream. Exile had really given them a show, this time with the things he revealed. Not to mention that Winter''s antics had earned her a ce in a lot of the male viewer''s hearts. It seemed that her good looks,bined with her twisted methods, appealed to them in high numbers.


    All in all, Ragnarok seemed to be a cauldron of talents that could really win over the viewers. ''All we need is for Exile to confirm that he really is Colt Anderson... Then the publicity will rocket Ragnarok into the limelight.'' Jay chuckled as he thought about it. His boss had even said that if exile agreed to the sponsorship, then it would be Jay''s sole duty to liaise with them and make the most of it since he discovered them.


    Jay smiled at the thought of getting rid of the rest of his work that was constantly piling up. If he could get Exile to agree, then it would be aunch pad for his career in thepany. ''Maybe we should consider bringing in professional writers to craft seasons or something for the streams as a show? Exile could tell them what he has nned for the near future and they could craft the story around those goals to make it more interesting and increase their supporters...''


    That idea sounded good, but it would never go to n. With so many yers involved doing their own things, they could never n for what they would do. Especially the NPCs since it would be impossible to make them understand what they needed and why. ''Perhaps we should just have them give Exile a list of ideas for things he could try implementing when the opportunity arises...''


    That seemed much more likely to seed. It was just a question of whether Exile would be receptive to their ideas. If they had creative differences, then the sponsorship would never work in the first ce. ''Hm, that''s right. I should get on to marketing to create a mock-up design for a vour caller Ragnarok to include in the pitch to Exile. Perhaps we could do a few naming the core members as well. Ahem, well, the ones with names we can work with anyway. I doubt anyone will buy a vour called BeansNtoasT or Moist Burrito...''


    ''But Exile and ymore will be good names. Perhaps Winter if we cut out the Embrace? Or maybe Winters Embrace, but it''s a winterberry vour? These are really the main members of Ragnarok that people are focusing on... Oh wait, there''s MidasTouch as well... I''ll float Midas as the name for his vour.''


    Jay''s mind was racing as he considered a number of ways to cash in on a potential coboration between them. He was almost certain that Exile would agree. After all, they were a brand new team with little or no funding behind them. Their greatest asset right now was Colt''s fame as a Pro so they should be using it.


    ''I''ll need to reach out to the developers as well. I doubt this will be all to it. Knowing them, they should have prepared for global tournaments in some format separate from the main game. I''m guessing they would only include yers who are still active in the game though, and not just anyone.'' Jay nodded as he sped his hands as he tried to imagine the future of Pantheon.


    ''The game will onlye to a head once yers start reaching that sixth tier. Things will definitely be messier then. But what''s the aim? Would they really throw this world away once someone emerges victorious? It''s a lot of effort they''ve spent to do something like that. There has to be more to it and I want to know what.''


    There was no denying that Pantheon could generate sales for theirpany as long as it was an active game. But if there were no future ns for it, then what was the point in investing in teams who had be specialised in its format? Jay''s eyes narrowed as heposed an email to the developers, seeking an exnation to these thoughts.

 Chapter 163: Preparations

    Exile heaved a sigh as he sat at the table, looking over a number of reports. ''It''s nearly time for Noslin to return. The dwarves should be close to arriving as well...'' Exile hummed as he studied a particr report that showed the progression of Beans'' followers. ''They''ll soon arrive at the mountain pass into Yugrund.''


    ''Bjorn has recovered, and I''ve sessfully turned him into a hero. I guess it''s about time to face Parthus again.'' Exile nodded solemnly. ''I wonder if Thovok''s people have prepared what I asked of them...''


    Exile was growing impatient. They were mostly stuck doing the administration for the war efforts, meaning that very few in the alliance had gained any levels. Like many others, he just wanted to get this situation under control so that they could afford to focus on their own power. ''It should be about time for me to visit Eraldsfen. Plus, I''ve already revealed Skovi so I can actively send him along for this fight.''


    "I know that look..." Beans whispered in Exile''s ear, startling him as she ced another report down in front of him. "You''re going to the Mortal Realms again, aren''t you?"


    "Yeah, but it''s to do with saving your people this time. We''ll have some time off after weplete the handover to Noslin and the others. You''ll need the rest before the fight." Exile stated grimly as he nced over the new report that depicted the number of supplies for the NPCs.


    "Do you think we can stop them this time?" Beans asked as her hand trembled.


    "Hm, with what I have nned, we should be able to stop them this time. But these reports show that they''re making progress all over Skardia." Exile replied as he handed a report to her.


    "Is this real?" Beans asked as her eyes went wide.


    "Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it."


    "But it says that Aeri led Kaleidoscope in a cooperative strike with another Pantheon against the Sommerdan invasion..."


    "And failed... Yes." Exile shook his head as he remembered the contents. Aeri had been killed... twice in that battle. It seemed that the Civil War was having a much stronger effect on this Holy War than he thought it would have. He expected the Ruling faction Pantheons to slow the Sommerdans down. "It''s because they are united while we are fractured, Beans. If this goes on, there won''t be a Skardia left for us to fight over."


    "Can we even do anything about it though?" Beans chewed on her lower lip as she nced over the casualty count.


    "I think we''ll have to call a truce and work with the Ruling faction to stop this invasion first. But they''ll only listen to us if we can grasp a win here in the Silverfang Mountains." Exile pointed to the mountain pass on the map. "It''ll be the first real victory any Skardian Pantheon has won. So they''ll have to give weight to what I say."


    "Do you think it will be enough?"


    "Oh, I''m sure they''ll be interested once the details of the fighte out. Anyway, help to take care of the ce while I''m gone." Before Beans couldin about it, Exile activated his Avatar spell.


    Exile felt the familiar sensation of descending appear as a lightning bolt struck the temple in Eraldsfen. The scene attracted the attention of everyone in the vige, but nobody dared to rush to the temple when they felt Exile''s presence wash over them. Ania, Thovok, Bjorn and Harik were the only ones who felt relief at that event.


    The four came together from different parts of the vige and walked together to the temple. Nobody stopped them to ask what was going on. They just knew that something big had to being for Exile to descend again so soon after thest time. The four of them crossed the threshold together, only to see Exile seated on the stone throne that had been ced there for him. His head rested on the palm of his hand as his elbow rested on the arm of the throne.


    As the four came close, each of them kneeled in front of Exile, keeping their heads bowed in respect. They were both excited and worried about what news he had possiblye to give them this time.


    "Stand... I bring important tidings and orders for all of you..." Exile''s voice sounded ancient, like a mountain in their ears as they steadily rose to their feet and gazed upon him. "The time is nigh to confront the invaders from Sommerdan. Harik! You will lead your forces to the Silverfang Mountains and prepare to meet them in battle there."


    "Excuse me, Lord Exile..." Harik hesitantly replied. "But that would leave Eraldsfen defenceless. And from what you''ve said of the invaders, I don''t believe I have enough warriors to stop their march into Yugrund."


    "Hm, Thovok..." Exile turned his piercing gaze on the dwarf. "How long until the warriors of your kingdom arrive?"


    "They should be here the day after tomorrow..."


    "Will there be enough to make a significant impact on arge scale battle in the mountains?" Exile asked with a heavy tone.


    "Lord Exile, with all respect, we are dwarves... Even a few of us could win an outnumbered fight if it is in the mountains..." Thovok chuckled.


    "You heard him, Harik. You will set out in two days when Thovok''s people arrive. Pick a small group of warriors to remain behind for Eraldsfen''s protection. Ania, you will also apany them. Yours and Bjorn''s power will be needed to tip the scales even further in our favour."


    Ania bowed her head as Exile turned to look at her. "I will be honoured if it helps to spread your greatness."


    "Hm... Good. Since you are agreeable, I will be sending someone special along to help protect you."


    The four of them frowned as they nced at Exile. Who could he be talking about? Were they not the four with the closest connection to him amongst mortals?


    "Skovi... Come." As Exile spoke, a swift breeze stirred in the temple. The four NPCs turned to nce at a dark corner behind the throne, where that wind seemed to settle.


    Tworge eyes red back at them from the darkness. The beast behind those eyes was massive, with snow coloured fur. The faint patter of paws on the stone floor could be heard as the creature walked out of the shadows to sit at Exile''s side.


    "Those eyes!" Bjorn eximed. "It''s the beast from the cave!"


    Ania and Harik turned to Bjorn in shock as Thovok looked on with confusion. However, a warning growl escaped from Skovi''s throat when he wasbelled as a simple beast.


    "Foolish human! I am no mere beast!" Wolfish snarls mixed with the human words as Skovi red at Bjorn. "I am a servant of Lord Exile! You would do well to remember that!"


    All but Bjorn was taken aback by Skovi when he spoke. However, the way that Exile ran a hand through the wolf''s fur told them that he was of no threat to them.


    "Bjorn... Did you forget that Skovi saved your life after your fight with Skourj? I suggest you treat him with respect if you don''t want to be his next meal." Exile chuckled as the four of them looked at him with nk expressions.


    However, Exile did not miss the eager expression on Thovok''s face when he looked at Skovi. It was almost a certainty that the dwarf wanted to study the wolf to further understand the gods.


    "Ania..." Exile looked her in the eyes as he softened his expression. "Skovi will mostly protect you on the battlefield. No matter what, I don''t want to see you get killed. Though, if your father or Bjorn is in a life-threatening situation, Skovi will abandon you to save them. So don''t be reckless."


    "I... understand, Lord Exile. Thank you for your concern." Ania blushed as her eyes found the floor.


    "You are important to me... So this much is only natural." Exile nodded as he turned his attention towards Thovok.


    From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Ania''s face had turned scarlet after hisst statement and even a hopeful and encouraging look had appeared on Harik''s face. Exile sighed as he studied the dwarf again. It was time to find out if what he wanted was ready.


    "Thovok... Do you remember what we spoke about when I wasst here?"


    "Of course, Lord Exile." Thovok nodded with a serious expression that caused the other three to be confused.


    "And?" Exile cocked an eyebrow as he waited for the response.


    "Hm, the King''s armour and sword are ready for Harik. Bjorn''s hammer and shield will be finished tomorrow. Lady Ania''s spear and armour are also ready."


    Exile nodded his head happily at the progress. He had kept his request secret from the others, after all, so he was happy that they would be ready for the battle.


    "Oh, and Bjorn''s gift for you is almost ready as well..."

 Chapter 164: Unmasked

    Colt sighed as he exited his gaming cabin. The handover to Noslin had been tense, considering that he had not managed to make any headway into their problems yet. However, she was surprised to discover that he had a n. She just had to wait for his big reveal like everyone else. Although they had originally gotten off on the wrong foot, she decided to trust him with this, as she had no ideas of her own.


    However, his Pantheonined when they discovered that when he returned to the game along with the others getting a break this time that nobody in Ragnarok would be allowed to log off. He had made it clear that Ragnarok would beunching a massive operation and all hands would be needed for it to seed.


    Naturally, only a handful knew what he was nning to do in the Silverfang Mountains, so the rest had started chatting excitedly as they tried to figure out what was going to happen. Colt shook his head as he headed for the shower to get cleaned up. ''We can only wait and see if the preparations are enough to see us through it.''


    ''If it''s not, then Parthus will probably wipe out all of my followers and it''ll be game over...'' Colt sighed again as he dried himself off and got dressed. ''There''s nothing else I can do on that front for now... I guess I should check how our streams are doing...''


    He sat down at his desk as he booted up theputer. A few moments passed as it came to life and he navigated to the game''s main page. He eyed the featured articles about the game that were disyed there, with the most prominent one being peopleining that the developers were exploiting ''living'' AI for entertainment.


    He quickly lost interest in that article as he turned his attention to Ragnarok''s page. His eyes went wide as quickly nced over the numbers of views of the recent streams. ''Damn! When did we be so popr?'' As he scrolled backwards, he found the stream where they really began to generate interest.


    ''I see, it seems these viewers really like the roleying that makes it seem like they are watching a movie instead of a game.'' Colt hummed as he studied thements. Sure enough, thements stated that they wished more of the game''s streams were like this one. Like it was one bigplicated tv show and they could root for whoever they wanted to seed in the overall story.


    Colt chuckled to himself as he read that. ''There''s no real story behind the game as far as I can tell. They are just thinking of it as a story because so many people are trying to conquer the game. I guess the realistic NPCs really help to make the world feel alive to them.''


    Colt frowned as he made a mental note to tell the members of Ragnarok to act like it was real life when they were in the game to help boost their views. They might feel awkward doing it, but if it helped the Pantheon as whole, then could they reallyin? They needed money after all.


    Colt was lost in his thoughts as he checked the messages that had been sent to him as the administrator of Ragnarok. Luckily, onlypanies approved by the game developers could use this feature to reach out to the teams taking part in the game. It really helped to filter out the useless stuff that would usually slip through.


    After browsing through the offers of a few smallpanies that brought no real benefits, he stumbled on one that caught his interest. ''Rebel Energy?'' Colt frowned as he looked at the sender. ''They''ve been going downhill in the gaming scene for some time now. Are they getting so desperate that they''re willing to bet on some unknown team?''


    Colt tapped his desk with his finger as he considered whether he should open it or not. ''They''re still a bigpany, so a sponsorship probably won''t mean much to them. They''ll definitely be able to afford to give us cash...'' However, he was concerned that such a big name, no matter how much they had gone downhill, were willing to approach a team with no renown.


    ''It can''t hurt to see what they are offering...'' Colt opened the email and carefully scanned it word for word to make sure he did not miss anything.


    Hello, I assume this email will have reached Exile. If he is not the one reading this, please allow him to do so first before you go any further.


    My name is Jay Deacon. I am a marketing representative for Rebel Energy. I am sure that you understand by now that we are excited to offer your team a chance to work together as partners. I know that you are new team, and therefore most likely short on funds to pay members of your team to y full time.


    As part of our offer for sponsorship, we are willing to foot the bill for the cost of your yer''s sries for the first year. If you are not currently paying them anything, then we discuss apetitive amount for you to pay them as you stabilise your position.


    Now that I have most likely dealt with your biggest need, let me exin what a sponsorship from us would involve...


    Colt felt a smile crossing his face as he read through the list of benefits that Rebel Energy was willing to give to them. It was a dreame true type of sponsorship for a new team. Something that should theoretically be impossible as it discussed merchandise and what percentage they would receive. Colt particrly liked the idea of energy drinks being named after members of his team, as it would help to get their names out there.


    However, he was caught by surprise as Jay went on to describe how they wanted to start producing nutrients for gaming cabins as well. Of course, this would be branded after their team as well. Colt could not help but frown when he read that. It was an expensive undertaking by Rebel Energy to try to break into that market. However, if they seeded, then Ragnarok could look forwards to monthly supplies of it.


    Meaning that the team''s biggest cost would disappear, leaving them with more funds for other things. Colt began to have doubts as the offers grew in scale and generosity. It was too good to be true considering their current position. Even though their streams were generating interest, it was not an earth-shattering amount of followers either.


    ''These terms... This should be simr to a sponsorship to arge, well-known team like Camelot or Kaleidoscope. A team with an outstanding track record in the pro scene. This is too much...'' Colt began to have cold feet despite his initial excitement over the offer. ''This Jay guy is definitelyying it on too thick. It reeks of desperation!''


    He decided it was better to distance the team from Rebel Energy. If they were that desperate to convince an unknown team, then their situation must be far worse than he knew of. However, that was when he reached the end of the email and discovered an attachment marked, For Exile Only.


    Colt frowned as he downloaded the attachment. There was no harm in looking, after all. Truth be told, he was curious what more they would want to say to him, and only him. As he opened the attachment and began to read what it said, a shiver ran down his spine.


    Dear Exile, or should I say... Colt Anderson.


    I hope you have found our offer to be sincere considering your reputation. I am guessing that it would probably have seemed too good to you until now. However, I hope that you realise that I had to put everything on the table if it means the chance of working with someone as well known as you. I look forward to hearing from you, and hopefully, we can meet in person soon.


    Sincerely,


    Jay Deacon


    Marketing Manager


    Colt sucked in a deep breath of air as he tried to digest the contents. ''What gave me away?'' Colt frowned as he read through the entire offer and the attachment again. ''If some random marketing manager in Rebel Energy can figure out who I am... Then it won''t be long until someone else does.''


    Colt groaned as he thought about the implications of this. ''If it was someone else, they may not have reached out with an olive branch. I should consider myself lucky that Rebel Energy wants to work with me instead of outing me.'' Colt red at the email with an intensity that he barely ever used. ''This almost feels like ckmail now, but I can understand why they seemed so desperate with their offer now. Sadly, it makes sense. They must want to use my name to catapult the team''s name into the spotlight.''


    Colt sighed again as heposed his reply to Jay...

 Chapter 165: Silverfang Mountains

    Ania shivered against the cold as the snow whipped around her. Her father marched between herself and Bjorn. Thovok had separated from the group near Eraldsfen to meet up with the dwarf warriors and redirect them towards the intended battlefield.


    She nced up at the high peaks surrounding them as they marched up the mountain path on the territory of Yugrund''s side. The warriors from Eraldsfenined slightly against the biting cold, wondering why they had to fight in the mountains.


    Harik could only calm them by saying it was all a part of Exile''s n. Although thisforted many, others were still discontented. Preferring it if they could fight in the forests near the vige. Harik could only sigh when they said things like that.


    ''They don''t understand... If the invaders get through here, we can''t pick our battlefield anymore. They couldpletely avoid Eraldsfen.'' Harik turned a concerned gaze towards his daughter, who swiftly turned to look at the mountains again. ''She shouldn''t be part of this... She''s too young.''


    Harik sighed as he caught sight of Skovi racing through the snow ahead of them. The giant wolf had clearly been waiting for them to catch up before running off ahead again. From time to time, they would find the carcasses of a few deer or snow rabbits on their path. It was clear that the wolf had brought them down and left them for Ania and the others.


    A chorus of howls rang through the mountains at that point, putting Harik and the others on alert. Momentster, Skovi returned. Sending snow flying in his wake.


    "Lady Ania," the great beast growled. "That was a signal from my pack. They have already reached the peak and spotted the enemy forces."


    "How much time do we have?" Ania asked, as her lip quivered.


    "Enough to reach the peak. The enemy has barely started the climb on their side." Skovi growled yet again.


    "Thank you, Skovi. Please tell your pack to keep an eye on their progress for us." Ania smiled as she ran a gloved hand through Skovi''s fur.


    Skovi bowed his head before letting out a loud howl to send his orders to his pack. Afterwards, he disappeared into the snow ahead of the warriors yet again. Harik smiled as he watched the wolf run off. ''Amazing... We don''t even need to bother with scouts with them around. And we can get word about enemy movements far faster without it beingpromised.''


    Harik''s expression turned serious as he started barking out orders for the warriors to recall the scouts that had been sent out. There was no point in them wasting their energy anymore. Plus, it would be hard on their morale and cause unnecessary tension if they stayed out there alone.


    Ania frowned as she thought about the battle toe. She became determined to see this through, no matter what she had to do to make sure they won. The small army picked up its pace to get to their destination ahead of time. After all, they still had to set up camp and make preparations for the battle itself.


    It took them the best part of two days to climb the mountain under those conditions. A few sledges carrying the supplies broke, meaning that warriors had to start carrying heavier loads, slowing their progress. Every few hours, Skovi would return with news from his pack. At the rate they were going, they would not have much time to arrange anything before the invaders reached the peak.


    It was a race against time, and everyone could feel the tension. If they failed to beat the enemy to the summit, then their casualties would end up far higher for fewer returns. Everyone felt as if they had been pushed to the limit, but they dug deep within themselves to force their bodies through thest part of the climb.


    Breathless curses filled the air, as they reached a circr clear area at the peak of the path. Bjorn chuckled to himself, as he barely felt the climb at all. It seemed that his recent transformation into a hero had done more than make his skin tougher.


    "What do you think, Harik?" Bjorn frowned as he peered down the other side through the snow.


    Harik cocked an eyebrow as he moved up beside him. Numerous torches shone through the snow. "Damn! That''s far more than I thought it would be. We won''t be able to hold out against them for long."


    Harik sighed in despair as he noticed that sea of enemies would reach their location in half a day. He could not see anyway to snatch a victory against those numbers. If they charged all at once, his warriors would eventually crumble under the onught. ''where are those damn dwarves!''


    Bjorn''s eyes narrowed as he pointed to ridge next to the marching enemies. The ridge sat on higher ground, overlooking that force. "Is it just me... Or is something moving over there?"


    Harik frowned as his eyes moved to look at where Bjorn was pointing. "What are you talking about, man? There''s nothing... Wait! I see it!"


    For a brief moment, he caught sight of the glimmer of metal amongst the rocks and snow. A horn sounded, and half of the ridge copsed on the enemy army before they could react! Harik and Bjorn shouted in joy at that sight as they both had the same thought.


    ''Dwarven mountain warfare!'' They had yet to catch sight of how many dwarves Thovok had brought. But either way, they were d for this development. They kept their eyes on the developing situation. Only to hear angry dwarven war cries amongst the howling winds of the mountain.


    A sea of silver and gold rushed down the broken ridge and met the invaders inbat. Like a spear, the dwarves cut through the enemy formations and managed to separate arge chunk of those warriors from the main army. A sea of red appeared amongst that pure snow, as the Sommerdans fell beneath the sudden attack. Just as Harik was screaming for them to push their advantage, the dwarves began to withdraw after finishing of the warriors they had cut away from the main force.


    For small figures, they could move across that rugged terrain rapidly. Harik could almost not believe his eyes as that shining sea of saviours disappeared amongst the jagged terrain of the mountain. ''They came and went like ghosts!''


    "Harik?" Bjorn frowned as he turned to his old friend. "Did you happen to see how many of them were there?"


    "Eh? No... No. I was too caught up in the moment." Harik grumbled in embarrassment.


    "I counted roughly a thousand, judging by the size of their formation." Bjorn went silent after dropping that news on Harik.


    "A thousand? No, you must have been seeing things." Harikughed nervously. "There should only be a few hundred, right?"


    The two Skardian warriors nced at each other with aplicated expression. For an untold number of years. Arge dwarven force had been so close to their homes. It made the pair gulp as they considered the implications of offending them now. Harik immediately began to consider what gifts he should send to Thovok''s king. Even if they both worshipped the same god and were acting under his orders. It could only be good to foster the rtionship between their races better in the future.


    Bjorn, on the other hand, was wondering if there were more of them than what they had seen. ''This could just be the tip of the iceberg. If Lord Exile knew about this, then why would he send us? These dwarves could hold this mountain on their own.'' Bjorn frowned as he considered the thoughts of the gods. ''Is it so that we buildaraderie? Fighting together against amon enemy to strengthen our rtionship?''


    He could not help but wonder what kind of force they could be if armed with dwarven steel. They could sweep across Skardia, uniting it and bringing it under Eraldsen rule. With the blessing of Exile of course. Bjorn''s mind turned to the glory he would earn fighting on the front lines of such a battle. The songs that would be sung of Bjorn Ironhide in the halls of every Jarl. The maidens who would swoon at the sight of him.


    Naturally, he was caught up in such thoughts while Harik was thinking along simr lines. Though, he was afraid of how many dwarves could march into Skardia unseen in the future if they ever pissed them or Exile off. He could not help but feel as if it was part of arge and cunning n on Exile''s side. To ensure that he maintained a grip over thosends no matter what happened in the future...


    Ania smiled as she thought about how they would be able to protect everyone in Skardia with allies like the dwarves. In her mind, they had proven their worth to Exile with this disy of their power.

 Chapter 166: [Bonus Chapter] Secrets in the Mountains

    Allevia gasped as she passed the border without difficulty. She felt likeughing at her incredible luck, but she knew she had to continue. There was no time to celebrate. ''I shouldn''t waste time... I need to find a safe ce to use Avatar. Maybe I can get an Oracle before meeting with the Dwarven gods who rule here...''


    She felt like this was her best chance to secure her continued existence in the game. Jor could kill her Oracle in Skardia at any moment now. ''I don''t understand why I can''t reach out to my Oracle from here though to warn them...'' Allevia sighed as she thought about it.


    She had many guesses. But each sounded more oundish than thest. She had never heard of something like this happening. It was as if something was interfering with it whenever she attempted to make the connection. She nced around at the barrenndscape as she tried to locate somewhere safe.


    It was a longshot to go looking for a second Oracle among the dwarves, but she had no other options. It took her the best part of a day to find something she deemed suitable. There was a cave in that barrenndscape that went underground. However, it branched off in different directions every so often.


    Even if someone stumbled across it, it would take a long time to search those different paths. This made her feel a little more secure as she located a dead end as deep as she was willing to go after a few turns. Allevia settled in and prepared herself. With a deep breath, she cast her Avatar spell.


    The familiar sensation of falling washed over her as sheined in her mind. ''Wait! Why couldn''t I pick my location?'' Her eyes flew open as shended on a barren mountain in the dwarven kingdoms in the mortal realms. ''Something is wrong... Skardia and the Dwarves are allies. I should have been able to choose to spawn in a dwarven temple of our allies...''


    There were many questions floating in her mind at this turn of events. She had no idea why she would be dropped at a random location instead of Skardia if she could not descend in a dwarven temple. She nced around at the mountain and the ins at its foot. Trying to figure out if she knew where she had been brought to.


    The wind carried the faint trace of voices to her ears. She shot a confused look in their direction. ''That''s definitely dwarf voices... But...''


    Allevia felt a strange need to hide from those mortals and began to back away towards arge arge rock. A deep frown crossed her face as their voices became clearer.


    "I''m telling you Mrok, we definitely grounded a god this time! The King will be pleased if we can capture them for future study!"


    "Hah! That''s what you said the past ten times with that thing of yours! There''s never been anything here! I don''t get it... What is the King thinking supporting dwarves like you? Mark my words! One day, the great god Vors will visit his wrath upon us when he discovers your schemes!"


    "Hmph, he hasn''t so far and we''ve been right under his nose! I''m telling you, the gods are not omnipotent! They don''t know everything! My master says that the devices he set up around the kingdom stops the gods from being able toe and go as they please! They are not something to be afraid of anymore!"


    Allevia''s eyes narrowed as she listened to the traitorous conversation of these dwarves. ''They mentioned Vors... He''s a close ally to Skardia. he doesn''t get involved with our internal affairs but alwayses to our aid during invasions. These should be his followers, yet they seem to be plotting against him.''


    Allevia felt deeply confused, but there was one thing they had said that stuck in her mind. ''Have the dwarves really created something that stopped me from descending in their cities? Is it the same reason I can''t reach my oracle in Skardia?''


    Allevia could not help but sigh at the implications of that. It meant reaching out to the dwarves in this area may not be safe. If they could aplish these things, who knew what else they were capable of? Allevia immediately attempted to cancel her Avatar spell... However, nothing happened. ''What the?''


    A crystal clear ringing sound came from the direction of the nearby dwarves. Causing Allevia to curse and hold her breath. ''What am I doing? It''s likely they can''t hear or see me anyway. So why am I so afraid?''


    "There''s a god over there! See! I told you it works! Quick! Get it ready so we can capture it!"


    Allevia cursed loudly as she began to sprint in the opposite direction. She had no idea how they located her, but she did not like how confident the dwarf had sounded when he spoke of capturing her. ''This is a damn nightmare! Are the mortals really starting to rebel against us? I have to survive this. I have to get the word out! We can''t let them continue studying whatever these things are that lets them confront us!''


    Even as she ran across the barren mountain, she could hear the dwarves cursing and yelling from somewhere behind her. It did not take her long to realise that she seemed to be under some kind of suppression. Normally, she would have outrun them long ago. The crystal pinging noise came again from somewhere behind her, and she clearly heard the dwarves changing course to follow the same direction as her.


    ''They''re definitely tracking me! It''s not just a lucky guess!'' Allevia nced around frantically as she realised there was no way she could keep this up. She silently swore as she activated Lesser Miracle and targeted her pursuers. The chase continued for a while longer. As Allevia under a cliff edge on the mountain, she heard a slight rumbling from it.


    A smile crossed her face as she decided to stop once she reached the other side. The dwarves soon came into view as they began shouting ecstatically as a red orb with golden bands around it began to ping continuously. ''So, that''s what they are using? What even is it?''


    As the dwarves reached the halfway point of the cliff wall to their left, pebbles began to fall from it. The dwarves slid to a halt as they looked up and their eyes widened in horror! Cracks raced across the face of that cliff as they struggled to decide whether to run forward or back the way they hade.


    Just as they sprinted towards Allevia again, the cliff gave way. That solid wall fell on top of those dwarves, burying them beneath its weight. Dust and dirt flew into the air as Allevia kept her eyes focused on that scene. She wanted to wait and see if they had somehow survived. Not only that, but she wanted to make sure that strange orb had stopped pinging.


    She waited silently by the side of that disaster. However, no signs of life or that strange orb appeared. Allevia let out a sigh of relief before realising the bigger problem at hand. She tried to cancel her Avatar again, yet she remained exactly where she was. ''Damn! That thing isn''t what''s stopping me! It must be something else. Something in their tunnels that reaches arge area.''


    Allevia felt like mming her head against the ground. She was low on time as it was. Nevermind having to sneak through a dwarven kingdom to destroy something she knew nothing about. She could easily destroy the wrong thing and give away her presence. ''If they don''t find me first with more of those orbs.''


    Her situation felt helpless at this point. There was no telling how far she would have to travel to escape the area that whatever the dwarves had created could reach. Whether she liked it or not, she had to take a risk and descend into those dark ces. She let out a heavy sigh as she began scouting the environment for any telltale signs of dwarves living beneath it.


    ''There has to be something! They must have been living nearby, in a surface building that guards an entrance. Otherwise, they could not have responded so quickly!'' This was the frustrating thing about the skill of the dwarves. If they built secret entrances or something that was meant to be hidden, well, you could be sure that they would do an incredible job of it.


    Allevia cursed as she helplessly spun in a circle. Not knowing which direction to search in next when she was sure she had probably missed it. She began to have second thoughts about trying to run out of the range of the interference when something came through.


    [A Mortal is praying for help somewhere nearby. Do you wish to ept their prayer?]

 Chapter 167: Dwarven Gifts

    "Hah! What do you think, Jarl Harik? We dealt a great blow to those invaders!" Thovok suddenly yelled as he walked out from behind a boulder.


    The sudden yelling startled them. There had been no warning of his approach. Even Skovi stared at the dwarf in surprise. Thovok revealed a gleeful expression as he nced at them.


    "What do you expect? I''m a dwarf in the mountains! Of course, I know how to move about undetected!" Thovok burst out intoughter.


    However, before Harik could say anything about it, Thovok moved closer as more dwarves in shining armour marched in among them. Harik''s eyes went wide. There were only fifty of them, but the fact they hade so close without anyone noticing sent a chill down his spine. ''How many times have we been in the mountains? And how many of those times could a dwarf have been this close to us without our noticing?''


    It gave Harik a headache to think about it. But Ania stepped forward and gracefully thanked the dwarves for their aid. This seemed to please the dwarven warriors who hade with Thovok. Harik could only frown at that sight. He would never have openly made it clear that they needed them. This was to preserve Skardian honour. However, his daughter had thrown away all pretences when dealing with that situation and seemed to win their ally''s approval.


    "No need to humble yourself too much, Lady Ania. You are Exile''s head oracle, after all. We understand the greatness of your position, but we thank you nheless." Thovok nodded with embarrassment. "Now, should we discuss the defence of this mountain?"


    Harik nodded as he called the warriors who would be the Captains to a meeting. It seemed like the new dwarves served a simr role in their army. Food and alcohol were served to them as they took their seats in a circle, on rocks or anything else nearby. The rest of the Skardian force began to pile rocks and such on the path to make a loose makeshift wall.


    "Hm, first, we should understand what numbers we have to work with. We have seven hundred warriors. Gathered from Eraldsfen, Korden, and a few surrounding viges that have epted me as their new Jarl of Yugrund. Unfortunately, the war has taken a toll on the number of Skardians in my territory that are fit for war." Harik decided toy everything on the table. Being open and honest with the dwarves was for the best, so they fully understood the situation.


    Thovok clicked his tongue as he stroked his beard. "Seven hundred you say?"


    Harik felt his heart sink when he heard the tone of Thovok''s voice. It was as if the dwarf was disappointed. "It was the best we could manage. If this problem had note for a few more months, we could have gathered more."


    "Ah, no. I''m not disappointed in how many men you brought, Jarl Harik. I know your situation quite well. We are here to do Exile''s work, so what you can contribute does not matter as long as you have done the best you can." Thovok paused as he turned and nodded to one of the dwarven Captains who disappeared into the mountains. "I''m just disappointed that much of our dwarven steel will go to waste."


    Harik cocked an eyebrow in confusion, but Thovok held up a hand to keep him silent. The group waited, and eventually, they heard the bleating of goats. This caused more confusion until the captain returned with a herd of goats and more dwarves. Between them, they were carrying tforms stacked with dwarven weaponry!


    "This is a gift from my king. Dwarven swords, spears, axes, hammers, and shields. Enough to arm two thousand Skardians. I guess the rest will have to wait until you can establish arger force, Jarl Harik." Thovok grinned madly as the Skardians halted their work to gather excitedly around the gleaming gifts.


    "Thovok... I gratefully ept these gifts." Harik bowed his head after examing the weaponry. The craftsmanship of them went beyond anything they had ever seen.


    "It is nothing." Thovok smiled. "Just a mere token of our sincerity towards our alliance in the name of Exile."


    Harik grimaced as he heard that. ''A mere token he says... We could never match something like this and call it a token lightly. This is extravagance. No Jarl or even king could arm their warriors in such finery without bleeding their treasuries dry and it would still not be enough.''


    "One more thing. You left Eraldsfen before everything was ready. But I sent someone to pick it up." Thovok snapped his fingers and four wrapped bundles were taken from a goat. A dwarf quickly handed one of these to Harik before stepping back beside Thovok.


    "What is this?" Harik frowned.


    "I mentioned it when Exile was among us. This is the King''s armour and sword. Crafted for you alone." Thovok nodded with a gleam in his eye.


    "But, I''m not a king."


    "Yet. But we will help to make it so. It is Exile''s wish for you to rule Skardia, and our king agrees. It will only make our alliance stronger if Skardia is united." Thovok chuckled.


    Harik did not know what to say as he unwrapped the package to reveal what was inside. A golden scalemail shirt, trousers, boots, and gauntletsy within. A fine fur coat, cloak and decorative items apanied them. It was clearly made in the Skardian style, and the furs and leathers that would go over the armour would dull the amount of gold that could be seen. It gave an air of authority and grandeur.


    That was when he saw the helmet. Golden, with fur in-lining. A golden ridge ran down the outer centre of it, engraved with Skardian designs. At the rear, the ridge connected to a white wolf tail that had been added as a decorative item. While the area that would sit over his brow depicted the emblem of the Ragnarok Pantheon that Exile wore on his chest.


    Harik almost did not want to wear it. He could only imagine how much it would cost to ask for such a personal piece crafted by the dwarves. There was also a golden round shield with silver embellishments and a long sword sheathed in fine leather with golden metal designs. He held his breath as he drew the de. It was simple steel. Or so he thought at first nce. But when he turned it in certain ways, there was also gold to be seen.


    "What is this made of?" He could not help but ask.


    "Royal steel. I can''t say more than that. Dwarven secrets and all. But I guarantee it''s stronger than anything that humans can make." Thovok chuckled at the look in Harik''s eyes.


    "And what of those?" Harik pointed at the other packages with his de.


    "Ah, now these..." Thovok snapped his fingers again, and the dwarf handed one to Bjorn and another to Ania. Before stepping back while holding thest package.


    Harik turned a curious look towards Bjorn as he opened his package first. A ck coat was the first item that could be seen. But it was not just a coat. It had squares of ck metal attached to the outside to act as armour. As he held it up, the length of it reached down to his knees. Beneath that was a pair of ck fur boots, housing the same ck metal to protect the top of the foot and shin.


    Bjorn burst outughing when he discovered the helmet that had been crafted for him. It was a full helmet, but the faceguard had been crafted to look like a bear growling. He understood that the dwarves had taken inspiration from Skourj when crafting it. A two-handed war hammer was also counted among his gifts. The shaft depicted images of a man fighting with a great bear. While the t parts of the hammer''s head that would be used to strike, his enemies had been shaped into giant bear paws,plete with ws.


    "Considering the gifts that Exile gave you for defeating Skourj, we thought a shield would be wasted on you now. But it doesn''t hurt to have a bit more armour." Thovok chuckled when he saw how delighted Bjorn was.


    All eyes turned to Ania at that point. Her armour was of silver scalemail. The shirt reached to the knees and was slim fitting. An embroidered leather belt would be used to tighten it to her waist. Scale trousers, boots and gauntletspleted the set with white furs and leather to be worn over the top. Her own helmet matched the same colour scheme, but hers came with metal wings on either side of her head.


    She smiled at the design, even if she would have preferred a wolf one as well. The silver round shield crafted for her was engraved with Skardian designs and even had wingsing from its centre to protrude from the sides. ''They''re sharp, I can use them to sh at my opponent.''


    However, it was the spear that caught her attention. White and silver metals wrapped around each other to form the shaft. All the way up to the tip, which the dwarves had fashioned into a sharp feather to add some grandeur to it. Ania could not help but shoot a questioning look towards Thovok, seeking an exnation for the design choice of her armour.


    The dwarfughed as a gleam appeared in his eyes. He knew exactly what she was asking with that look. "The kingdoms of the gods are in the heavens, right? So, only winged creatures can get the closest to the gods here in our world. I think it''s very fitting for you. Don''t you?"

 Chapter 168: Battle of Silverfang Pass (1)

    Harik sighed as he shifted around while wearing his new armour. The dwarven assault had slowed the progress of the Sommerdan army, giving them time to finish preparing the loose makeshift wall of rocks. Night had fallen, and a sea of me wound its way up the mountain, getting ever closer to them at the peak.


    ''Those sted torches of theirs just make our situation seem worse.'' Harik frowned as he nced to either side to see his warriors lined up, their bows at the ready. ''Thovok never did say exactly how many dwarves he brought. But he seemed confident of our victory.''


    Harik did not dare to underestimate them anymore. Not after the number of weapons they had brought to arm his warriors. He could only hope that was an indicator of how many dwarves hade to aid this battle.''


    "They''re being cautious..." Bjorn growled as he opened the jaws of his helmet to reveal his face.


    "Wouldn''t you be?" Harik snorted as he watched the Sommerdans slowly advance up the mountain path. "They''ll be thinking that an attack cane from any direction at any time."


    "Hm, well they did buy us time with that stunt, but we''ve lost the element of surprise of having the dwarves on our side." Bjorn''s expression turned concerned. "To be honest, I''m worried about why they haven''t abandoned this approach after that. It reeks of confidence for them to continue."


    Harik nodded slowly as the steam from his breath drifted in front of his face. "Still, they''re fools to fight us here. We Skardians are built to endure this frozen wastnd and the dwarves take to mountains like fish do the sea. They''re desert folk that only know warm sands. There''s no way they can keep up an invasion for long."


    "There''s truth in what you say, Harik. But they''re not idiots either. They must have something up their sleeves since theyunched an all out invasion of Skardia." Bjorn frowned as he watched the torches march round a bend that marked a checkpoint for them. Telling them that the Sommerdans were less than an hour away.


    Ania appeared on the wall at that point beside them. Her armour shone with the fires that had been lit on their side to stave off the cold.


    "The shrines are ready. The gods will descend once the battle gets underway. Exile wants to make sure that the Sommerdan Pantheons don''t get scared off." Ania''s expression turned determined as she studied the fiery snake crawling towards them.


    "Did he like my gift?" Bjorn cocked an eyebrow at her when she did not mention it.


    "What do you think?" Ania smiled softly. "He sends his thanks."


    Bjorn nodded happily as a grin spread across his face. The three of them spent some time studying each other in silence. Eventually, Harik chose to break that silence.


    "Both of you... Be careful. This army and Exile''s ns for Skardia require that the three of us survive..."


    "Four!" A throaty growl came from the darkness as Skovi silently padded into view.


    Harik nodded to show that he epted the correction before continuing. "No matter what, if youe under too much pressure, you must retreat. Now, take your positions and wait for my signal. They''ll be within range soon."


    Harik took a deep breath as the others departed. His eyes focused on the enemies below as tension filled the surrounding air. The Sommerdan army passed the marker that let him know they were within the range of their bows. Harik raised a torch to signal the warriors to prepare to fire.


    The sound of bowstrings tensing filled the air. Harik waited for them toe a little closer before his expression turned grim. He waved the torch down through the air, and the bows hummed as the arrows were released.


    They seemed to disappear with the night sky as their backdrop. A few moments passed before panicked screams came from the path below. Harik nodded his head as he gave the order to prepare another volley. This time, every fifth archer lit their arrow on fire to allow Harik to judge if they had to adjust their trajectory for the best result.


    "Now!" He yelled, and the bows thrummed in the night air again.


    Fiery trails crossed the sky. Warning the enemy of another iing volley. Shields rose to protect against that deadly rain, but inevitably, some of them still found their mark. Harik nodded as he caught sight of where theynded. He quickly barked out for the archers to lower their angle of fire to cover more of the enemy formation.


    "Split into two firing teams!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. "The first team will continue to use fire arrows. Team two will not. Team two will fire ten heartbeats after team one!"


    The warriors rushed to fulfil his orders as another volley carrying fire arrows rained down on the enemy. The dull thuds of when they struck shields sounded like a heavy rain falling upon a roof. When the noise stopped, the Sommerdans lowered their shields to rush further up the path. But that was a mistake!


    That was when the second volley arrived, unannounced. Many cries of anguish filled the path as Sommerdan warriors fell dead or wounded. Yells of anger, regret, and not understanding the situation filled their ranks.


    Their eyes wandered to the sky again as more ming trails filled the sky. Shields were raised in a hurry, and this time they kept them there as they waited for the second round. But nothing came. Slowly, they lowered their shields and began to charge, screaming in anger. However, they only took a few steps before the expected volley finally arrived!


    A cacophony of agony rose into the air yet again as they were caught off guard a second time. The Sommerdan warriors began to falter under that uncertain assault.


    "Keep going! Don''t stop moving!" A Sommerdanmander yelled as he pulled an ugly expression. "They are staggering the second volley! Don''t try to predict it! Keep your shields overhead and march forward!"


    Harik frowned as the next two volleys were released. This time, the second volley brought what sounded like a mere whimperpared to the other times. ''They''ve already adjusted for it? Someone down there has a brain, it seems.'' Harik snarled as he ordered the continuation of the staggered volleys.


    A messenger ran along the wall to his side, before pausing to catch his breath.


    "My Jarl! Bjorn Ironhide requests permission to join the battle in melee to slow their advance!"


    "Denied!" Harik replied rather sharply as his eyes went to the mountain ridges on either side of the path. "Remind him that we have allies far better suited to this. He will remain here to defend the wall in case any of them break through!"


    The messenger quickly nodded before disappearing back to Bjorn''s side of the wall. Bjorn frowned as he heard Harik''s reply from the lips of the messenger he had sent. ''We should be showing the dwarves that we are not afraid to get bloodied! Even if you aim to save as many Skardian lives with this Harik, we''ll lose our chance to show what we are made of!''


    Bjorn cursed under his breath as he mmed the pommel of his warhammer on a rock at his feet. His eyes narrowed as he studied the torches that had fallen to the ground, giving some light to the enemy numbers. ''Where are those damn dwarves, anyway? If you''re going to take my glory, then hurry up and take it!''


    Harik carefully had the archers adjust their angle to consistently target the front lines of the enemy army. It was impossible to tell how many Sommerdans had already lost their lives in this charge before getting the chance to fight back. ''Just a little more!'' Finally, the torches crossed the marker where the wall would be within range of the enemy archers!


    "Raise shields!" Harik''s voice boomed out!


    The warriors dropped their bows and unslung their shields just in time. Arrows fell from the sky as the Skardians behind those shieldsughed. Very few casualties happened during that initial return volley. Harik had prepared perfectly and only the reactions of his warriors were to me if they got injured.


    Bjornughed as an arrow struck his throat. The eyes of his men turned to stare at him as the arrow fell harmlessly to the ground. ''Such pathetic things can''t harm me anymore!''


    "Sommerdans! Come if you are brave enough!" Bjorn yelled as he stood in full view on top of the wall! His arms outstretched as more arrows bounced harmlessly off of him! Hisughter filled the air and raised the morale of the warriors at that end of the wall. Slowly, a battle made madness overtook the surrounding warriors. They began to tap their weapons against their shields, increasing the power with every strike to create an intimidating noise.


    That was when a horn sounded in the mountains...

 Chapter 169: Battle of Silverfang Pass (2)

    The Sommerdan army froze at that noise as their eyes went warily to the sides of the path. However, those at the front had realised the sound hade from behind them! War cries filled the air as dwarves rushed into the pass from both sides. Splitting the Sommerdan army into two halves. A shining sea of short figures rapidly poured into the gap created by the vanguard, creating a thick line between both parts of the Sommerdan army.


    Thovok chuckled as he blocked a Skardian de with his tower shield. ''Let''s see how you deal with two thousand dwarves!'' He let out a throaty growl as his axe sliced through the warrior''s thigh. As the man fell to the ground screaming, Thovok mmed the bottom rim of his shield into the man''s eyes. Blinding him, but not finishing him off.


    The Sommerdans struggled to adjust to fighting warriors of much smaller stature than themselves. It felt unnatural to adjust their aim to be so low, and much of the power in their strikes was lost because of this. This aggravated the number of Sommerdan casualties as they shed with the dwarven army.


    More screams came from the force trapped between the dwarven line and the Skardian wall as another volley of arrowsnded in their midst. The will of the warriors in that part of the Sommerdan army began to break. Many turned to try to break through the dwarven line, while others attempted to rush the Skardian wall. All thoughts of a united front broke down as orders failed to restore order.


    Thovok nodded when he noticed the dire situation that they were in. ''It seems Harik''s n has proven to be effective. We just have to stall the second half and prevent them from forcing a way through to reinforce the group we''ve separated from them.'' As the section that had been cut off dwindled in numbers, Thovok ordered a defensive retreat towards the wall.


    This was to help finish off the warriors still alive in that area, as well as to join the Dwarven and Skardian forces together. Hours passed as lives were lost. Snow began to fall in the darkness of that night as wailing filled the air. Thovok took a deep breath as he cut down another Sommerdan warrior.


    "We''re almost to the wall!" He shouted, and the dwarves cheered.


    Skardian bows continued to thrum, now sending their deadly projectiles over the dwarven army to strike at the rear group of the Sommerdan force. Harik nodded silently from atop the wall as thest hundred or so enemies between him and the dwarves were in.


    A victorious yell rose from his warriors at that sight as the dwarves formed neat rows in front of the makeshift wall and faced the remaining Sommerdans. ''Their gods haven''t shown themselves...'' Harik frowned as he studied the bloody rivers flowing down that pass. The enemy had lost over half of their numbers just to reach this point, while the dwarves had only lost around three hundred.


    It was an overwhelming result. With his warriorsbined with Thovok''s dwarves, they now held the numerical advantage. ''It''s time to start the counterattack!'' He quickly called two messengers to his side as he peered at them from under his helmet.


    "Send word to Bjorn and Ania. On my signal, charge!" Harik growled as they scurried off to ry his message.


    Harik waited to see the signal torches being raised from either side of the wall to show that they had received his orders. As both of them lit up the darkness, the Skardians began to beat their weapons against their shields. Thovok grinned at that sound as he sent his own orders to make room for the Skardians amongst their lines.


    The Sommerdans had stopped their advance as they waited to see what would happen next. The volleys of arrows had stopped, but the dining from their enemies was disheartening. Theirmander frowned for a moment as the snow began to fall more heavily. Now hiding the enemy wall from view.


    "Warriors! Brace yourselves! Archers! At the ready!" He roared violently as he had a premonition of what was about toe.


    Wolves howled on all sides as a sh of metal could suddenly be seen through that white curtain of snowfall! Dwarves and Skardians alike fell upon the front lines like a tide of vengeance. A bloodbath ensued as shields were ripped from hands and savage attacks took ce. Harik stood in the front line of the centre, with Thovok fighting by his side.


    Bjornughed cruelly as he forced his way through the enemies on his side of the battlefield. His war hammer reduced limbs and heads to pulp with each swing. The warriors following him appeared as crazy as he was. Uncaring of any injuries they suffered, as they broke through the Sommerdan ranks.


    On the other side of the sh, Ania drove her spear through a warrior''s throat. As he gurgled on his own blood, she discharged a blot of lighting from the tip! The deadly bolt pierced through shields and flesh, meeting no resistance as tens of warriors died in an instant. The dwarves and Skardians around her looked at her as if she were a goddess of war.


    Her spear shone as she danced out of reach of the weapons swung at her. Before urately piercing those who wielded them. Her eyes shone with bright determination as she swung her spear in an arc. Sweeping several warriors off their feet.


    Skovi''s growls filled the air as he rushed out and tore at their throats. His wolf pack close behind as they jumped on the Sommerdan warriors, forcing them to the ground!


    "Witch!" Screamed a panicked voice, as the enemies close to Ania began to back off. "She wields magic and beasts! Run!"


    Lives were lost on both sides as the darkness slowly gave way to the first rays of dawn. Bjorn''s armour had more of a crimson colour to it now, as did Harik''s. Ania''s was spotless of blood, but the same could not be said for her spear. Thovok chuckled as he sat on a dead Sommerdan warrior as the front line moved past him.


    ''Not a bad night of fighting.'' His brow knitted into a frown as he studied the surrounding dead. ''Hm, out of two thousand dwarves, only eleven hundred have survived. Our battle wits have been blunted after centuries of peace...''


    Harik was studying the same scene as thest sounds of battle slowly began to grow quiet. ''Just over four hundred warriors lost...'' Harik sighed as he shook his head. The night had taken a heavy toll on the number of warriors at hismand. ''But why did their gods not make an appearance?'' His eyes wandered to the sun as it reared its head on the horizon.


    The snow continued to fall, sending a chill down his spine. ''Still, it''s a strong victory in Exile''s name.'' Harik let out a relieved sigh as he watched the survivors search the dead for any well-earned loot. ''This should give us peace of mind... For a while at least.'' However, his expression sank when he noticed a mark on the neck of one of the dead Sommerdan warriors. He quickly searched others nearby, only to find the same mark...


    Skovi filled the air with a mournful howl as he nudged the bodies of his pack. Only two of them had survived that fateful night. However, many dwarves and Skardians came to him to express their thanks and respects to the dead. During the darkness of the night, these brave wolves had saved many lives.


    Ania ran a hand through his fur as he continued to howl. Tears ran freely down her cheeks as she removed her helmet. She buried her face in Skovi''s fur and wrapped her arms around his neck.


    "Skovi... This is no time to mourn the dead... You should be ready. I have a feeling that Lord Exile will need you soon." Her eyes wandered to the impassable mountains to the east.


    An eagle flew overhead, staring down at that scene before flying to the east. As it flew over those barren mountains, it witnessed many fires being put out. It dove from on high toward thergest fire in the centre, where itnded on the outstretched arm of a man in extravagant clothing. The man smiled at the bird as he removed the message attached to its leg.


    He handed the eagle off to a warrior beside him as he stroked his neatly trimmed ck beard. He scanned the writing with a thoughtful expression before revealing a broad grin.


    "What does it say?" A monotonous voice as dry as the desert itself asked.


    "Lord Parthus, it bears news from the detached force you sent to the western pass in the Silverfang mountains. It has been wiped out. Let me be the first to congratte your foresight. With this, the enemy will have suffered significant losses while failing to hurt our main force." The man bowed as his eyes moved to the vigers chained up amongst the army. ''If we had not caught up with them, we could have suffered terribly.''


    "Hm, it was nothing. ves should be used to protect the interests of their masters, after all." Parthus chuckled as his eyes turned back to the hardly noticeable path through the mountains they were travelling on. ''It helps that these vigers we failed to seize on the coast knew of this route they''ve kept secret for generations...''

 Chapter 170: Top Ranker

    Colt sighed as he put his groceries away in his silent house. ''I don''t get it. We won the battle at Silverfang Pass, but it seems wrong.'' His brows knitted into a frown as he thought about it. ''Parthus didn''t make an appearance, nor any other yers. Why? Did they think they were certain to win? Or did something else distract them?''


    He could not shake the feeling that something horrible was about toe their way. ''Then there''s Rebel Energy to deal with. Hopefully, the next stream will feature the battle, so we''re in a stronger position to negotiate with them. Not that we really need it with everything they''re throwing at us...''


    He wandered through the house, lost in his thoughts, until he threw himself down on the couch. The rain outside battered at the windows, creating a strangely soothing sound. A few moments passed before he ran his hand over the ck disc on the table beside him. Turning on the holographic television.


    "In other news... The debate surrounding the use of AI in the gaming industry has taken a heated turn online..." The announcer stated before images appeared showing various chat rooms and the arguments going on.


    Colt groaned as he rolled over and chose to ignore it. Although he left it on that channel as mere background noise. ''Some things are happening too fast, like the state of these wars. While our own progression of strength is stagnating because we have to focus on these issues. Maybe we should think of recruiting people to take care of admin duties for the Pantheon in the future.''


    The only problem he had with that thought was they would take up valuable space in the Pantheon. They still had no idea of what would happen once they levelled the Pantheon''s Tier up. The news channel grew louder as they invited experts on to discuss the significance of Pantheon''s AI. But Colt felt it was pointless for them to get so emotional over it.


    Sure, he had his favourites like Ania, Bjorn, Harik, and Skovi. He also had to admit that he barely thought of the warriors that theymanded, as they were just background characters to him. Numbers that helped to make up a portion of his strength. Where one of these experts on the news was arguing that every one of their lives held meaning.


    Eventually, he had enough of listening to the debate and changed the channel. A movie yed that he had never seen before, but it was clearly done by an indie film studio. There was not much that interested him after he discovered VR games. Their worlds were so vibrant and he could be anyone that he wanted to be. Living apletely different life.


    As he started to nod off, a loud knock came at his door. He sat up, startled by the sudden sound. His eyes turned to the hall leading to the front door as a frown crossed his face. ''Who''de to visit me?'' A few moments of silence passed before the knocking happened again.


    Colt slowly made his way door, but the knocking would happen every few seconds. As if the person was growing impatient. When he reached the door, he pressed an eye up to the peephole and let out a long sigh. ''Why now?''


    He undid the locks and opened the door to stare at the young man standing in the rain. His messy brown hair and blue eyes stared back from underneath his hood. The two stared at each other for a while before the man outside shook his head.


    "Well? Are you going to invite me in or not? Seems like we have a lot to talk about." The man asked in a lighthearted tone as he chuckled.


    "Why are you here?" Colt asked as he cocked an eyebrowzily.


    "What? I can''t visit my own brother?"


    Colt shook his head as he stepped aside to let his younger brother, Mike Anderson, inside. The two made their way into the living room before Colt headed to the kitchen.


    "You still take your coffee the same way?" Colt shouted through as Mike made himself at home on the couch. Removing his soaked ck hoodie as he stared at the wet patches on his jeans.


    "You know it! Hurry up, I want to catch up with you. Don''t think you can dy it. I''ve seen the rumours flying around that Camelot let you go!" Mike chuckled.


    Colt groaned as he poured milk into the two steaming mugs and headed through to take a seat beside his brother. The two stared at each other silently for a while as they sipped on their coffee. The silence was awkward as Colt did not know what to say.


    "Juste out with it. I want to know what happened. You''ve definitely been let go. Your silence gives that away. If you''re stuck, you cane join my team. Though it''s not looking so good with that new game, Pantheon on the market. Most of the pros have fled Crest faster than rats fleeing a sinking ship!" Mikeughed as he gave Colt a knowing look.


    Colt almost choked on his coffee when he heard that. ''So, he''s here not just because he thinks I''m in a tough spot. But because he thinks he''ll be in the same situation soon.'' Colt was beginning to get the picture of why his brother had reallye to visit. He cleared his throat before starting at the beginning. Exining how he had been let go, but he had already started building a new team in Pantheon.


    Mike nodded approvingly as he searched Rangnarok''s page while listening to the problems Colt was having in the game and with the sponsorship problems. Every now and then, deep frown lines appeared under Mike''s fringe as he watched the uploaded streams. When Colt reached the present point, exining how something did not feel right, Mike shook his head with a grim expression.


    "Bro, no wonder you''re having problems. This guy here..." Mike showed the screen of his phone to Colt. On it, the video had been paused at an angle that showed Parthus.


    "What about him?" Colt asked, with an annoyed expression.


    "Ugh, you really don''t know, do you? I swear, if it''s not the top rankers of the games you y, you just don''t care." Mike shook his head sadly. "Parthus is one of the top three rankers of Crest. I''ve never dealt with him personally, but he has a nasty reputation. You know that Crest is a strategy kingdom building game, right? With yers making up everything in the game. No NPCs. Just mobs and yers."


    Colt nodded slowly as he remembered their brief conversations in the past when Mike refused to join Mayhem. That was when he realised why he was so troubled by Parthus in the game. And why it bugged him that such a leader was unknown to him.


    "Parthus literally led Mirage to the top five guilds in Crest after two years of joining the game. Do you understand how crazy that is? He''s on a different level to you, bro. You''re too used to individual strength, meaning everything and cooperation in small teams. Crest focuses on strategy and management to im as muchnd as you can. He''s used to leading massive armies, making alliances and doing whatever he needs to win." Mike heaved a sigh as he leaned back in the couch and stared at his brother.


    "What are you saying, Mike? That I can''t beat him?" Colt growled as he stared at his younger brother.


    "In a one-on-one duel? Maybe. You''re definitely notcking there. But in this type of game, whererge-scale wars are bound to happen more and more often... No, you can''t."


    "That''s harsh... Why are you so certain?" Colt''s expression turned thoughtful as he leaned back and stared at the ceiling.


    "Because you''re no strategist, Colt. We both know that. Your ce in this game should be a figurehead and leading your team on the front lines. There''s no shame in admitting your weaknesses. Find someone who is suited to this part. You''ll have an easier time, but you need someone with experience. Or Parthus will roll right over them." Mike''s tone was concerned as he stared at Colt.


    Thetter closed his eyes and let his mind digest what Mike had said. ''So, Parthus is out of my league. Mike seems sure about that. If Parthus is from his game, then he would know better. Plus, he''s known me for his whole life. I should ept his advice.''


    "Do you have any other advice, Mike?" Colt''s eyes shot open as he nced sideways.


    "You said that he didn''t appear in thest fight, right? How certain are you that there are no other paths through those mountains? Something that has been long forgotten maybe. To me, it sounds like he sent a detached force to keep you distracted to make the journey through something like that easier..."

 Chapter 171: Grand Strategy!

    Exile chuckled as he finished logging back into the game, causing everyone in The Raider''s Horn to turn and stare at him. Noslin cocked an eyebrow as she studied him curiously.


    "What are you doing here? It''s your turn for a rest."


    Exile raised a hand before ncing around with a smile on his face. "Beans? Have you been able to reach your oracle?"


    "Eh? Yes... But her group has been separated from the other vigers." Beans tilted her head to the side as she observed him carefully.


    "Ask her if she knows of a different path through the mountains." Exile closed his eyes and drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for the reply.


    Minutes of silence passed as everyone waited to find out why Exile had returned as Beans spoke with her Oracle. Everyone could see the troubled expression that appeared on her face as her shoulders slouched. It was clear that she had just received bad news.


    "She says there is another path, Exile. It''s slim and would be slow going, so it isn''t marked on any maps..." Groans escaped from the members of Ragnarok as they heard that.


    ''Mike was right on the money... It wouldn''t be too bad if I could convince him toe to Ragnarok...'' Exile nodded his head as he thought about that possibility. ''Luckily, we have a n now. I can''t believe he came up with a counter once I exined what was happening all over Skardia.''


    Exile quickly grabbed some nk parchment and began writing. Noslin watched on quietly as the members of the Alliance chatted away heatedly about what this meant. When Exile was finished, he had four letters in his hand, which he sealed with wax.


    "y. I need you to deliver these. It has to be you to show my sincerity." Exile chuckled as he handed the letters over.


    y''s eyes went wide as he saw the names on each letter. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Yes. It''s the only way."


    y closed his eyes for a moment before nodding. "I''ll make sure they enter their hands personally."


    As y rushed out of the bar, Exile turned his attention to everyone else in the room. "I want the positions of all of our troops marked on this map. There will be no breaks for anyone until everything is in ce. This is where the real fight for Skardia begins!"


    As everyone rushed to find out their people''s exact locations, Noslin ced markers on the map. About half of their forces were near the borders of the Royal Faction Pantheon territories. Still attempting to break through the barricades. The other half were in areas that could be defended against the Sommerdan invasion that was still encroaching on Skardiannds.


    Exileughed when he saw the overall picture taking shape. It was not far off of what Mike had pictured despite never seeing the situation on a war map for himself. A wide grin appeared on Exile''s face As he told everyone to pay attention. He began to move the markers to different locations. Giving the yers in charge of those NPCs their orders.


    However, when he was finished, loudints filled the air. All of the markers had been moved to points close to the Sommerdan invasion. Ignoring the threat of the Civil War.


    "Listen! we all know that our Alliance alone can''t handle this threat. That''s why we tried to rig it to force the ruling faction and Sommerdan into a confrontation to weaken both sides. But that failed! They''ve set up blockades to keep more than half of our alliance between them and Sommerdan." Exile took a deep breath as he swept his hand over the top of the war map. "So we shall take a risk. We will bet everything on countering the invasion!"


    "But won''t the Ruling Faction use this chance to wipe us out!"


    "You can''t be serious!"


    "No! Trust me. They will recognise that we are betting everything on a fight with Sommerdan. It will also give them the best chance of repelling this invasion. It''s in their interests for us all to work together and throw them out of Skardia. After all, they already know they outnumber us. So we''ll be easier to handle in the long run." Exileughed when he saw the confusion on the faces of the others. "I know you think that puts us in a bad spot. But... I have something in mind for that part."


    "What would that be? You have to share this information so we know whether this is a good n or not..." Noslin shed a stern expression in his direction as Exile stroked his beard.


    "We''re going to lure the Ruling Faction out, and deal with them in one blow." Exile grinned savagely as he exined what he had in mind.


    Gasps and looks of shock appeared on everyone''s faces when they heard it. They could hardly believe how daring it was! A shiver ran down Noslin''s spine when she thought of having Exile as an enemy. Little did they know that it was all part of Mike Anderson''s n. His roadmap to conquering Skardia!


    A fervour took over them as they thought about it. It made sense and was entirely achievable. There were a lot of things that could go wrong, but Exile seemed to have ns in ce for anything that they could think of. The leaders who were present suddenly felt that Exile was far more dangerous than they had originally believed. Many began to ask themselves the question of who he really was. He could not be some no-name gamer. Not with everything he had achieved in Pantheon so far. And this n of his just solidified that thought.


    The yers began to activate their Avatar spells. Leaving their main bodies limp in The Raider''s Horn. Noslin was thest to go, but she took a moment to look at Exile with an appraising gaze. ''He''s not too bad... A capable man that knows how to reach for his goals...'' She blushed slightly as she activated her Avatar spell.


    As Exile watched Noslin''s body turn limp, he nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. ''It''s a good thing I didn''t tell them everything. Aeri will definitely respond to the letters I sent out. That should be the catalyst for every Pantheon in the Ruling Faction to join us in the defence of Skardia.''


    He drummed his fingers on the table as he appeared to peer into the future. ''They''ll see it as an opportunity to wipe us out in one go as soon as Sommerdan is defeated. But... I''ll have already invaded their territories behind their backs. I guess it''s time to meet with Thovok''s king and have him march his armies into Stormcrown while they think we have all our warriors on the front lines.''


    ''I just need to remember what Mike said. Don''t kill their Oracles.'' Exileughed as he pictured the scene that Mike had painted for him during their conversation. ''The first nation to lose too many Pantheons will be the first to fall to a foreign invasion, eh? I have to hand it to Mike. He really sees the bigger picture.''


    Exile began to study the map to identify a strong position to keep the Oracles imprisoned that the dwarves would capture. ording to Mike, if the number of yers dwindle in Skardia, then the nation would be weakened as a whole. Although the victors would be stronger, it would not rece the overall strength that would be avable with more Pantheons.


    So it was only logical to capture their lifeline and force them to work for Ragnarok''s benefit. However, this n was only viable, while the others had yet to nt a new oracle in another race. So time was of the essence. He had gotten lucky with the dwarves. But there may be other dwarven kingdoms near Skardia that someone else could get a link to.


    There was also the possibility that Skardian yers could create an oracle amongst the invading Sommerdans. Mike assumed that even sub-races amongst an overall race were fair game. So it was not like they had to havepletely different races. However, his brother had left him with another nugget to think about.


    Technically speaking, the Skardians were geared towards naval, coastal, and winter battles as their strengths. The dwarves fit the bill of mountains and underground. So in the future, he had to consider the cultural differences that led to different strengths in warfare. Ideally, he would have to convert a race fit for magical battles, strong at cavalry, jungle warfare, and if possible, aerial warfare.


    When considering the final one, only one thought came to mind. ''Warbeasts... I wonder if they have a race that has wings?'' Exile chuckled as he thought about it. ''If they do, it will be like having my own Valkyries.'' Even if that turned out to be true, he would have to find them first...

 Chapter 172: Not Over

    Shock filled Ania''s mind as Exile''s aura spread through the surrounding forest, as a lightning bolt struck the earth nearby. They were already returning to Eraldsfen, and they had won the battle. So why would Exile being to them now? Those who sensed his presence paused, as their eyes focused on the direction of where the lightning bolt hadnded.


    Ania felt breathless when she spotted Exile. Who was now wearing the dwarven made armour and Bjorn''s gift. The mix scalemail and full te armour that he wore were golden, with silver embellishments. The leather tunic that he wore over the armour was silver coloured with golden embroidery to contrast against his armour.


    However, over the top of that, was a ck fur coat. Made from the hide of Skourj. It was sleeveless to make room for the pauldrons of his armour. The front of it pped open to show the silvery tunic beneath. The coat reached down to just below Exile''s calves, a gold and silver belt wrapped around his waist to hold it tight against his body.


    His helmet shone in the early morning sun. Featuring the same colours as his armour. It was golden, with silvery designs running all over it, culminating in intricately detailed wings on its side that reached up towards the sky at their peak. Around the helmet, covering the brow, moving between the wings and circling all the way the back of his head. Was a silver banded, golden crown.


    He made for a breathtaking sight, as he walked slowly through the snow. His beard was unmoving in the morning breeze. Over his shoulders, attached to his back, the tip of the dwarven spear and tower shield could be seen. When Thovok saw that he nodded happily.


    The armour was a work of art, but he was particrly proud of the shield his kinsmen had crafted. Its main metal was a ck colour, which made up the background when it was faced towards an enemy. Golden bands in a mix of Skardian and dwarven styles made up its rim. In the centre of that shield was the Pantheon emblem in bright silver.


    The spear they had crafted had a ck shaft. Silver designs wrapped around it ending in a long, golden tip. At the base of the tip on either side was a wolf''s head with wings on either side of it made of silver. Thovok secretly smirked when he saw the expressions on Harik, Bjorn, and Ania''s faces. Exile''s gear had been designed by his people to include features from the armour and weaponry of these three.


    This way, they would feel closer to Exile. As if their own gifts were a part of Exile''s whole. That they themselves represented some part of the God that they worshipped. ''Now... He looks like the king he is...'' Thovok chuckled to himself at the imposing aura that seemed toe from the sight of Exile.


    Ania''s mind raced as she spotted the simrities between her own gear and Exile''s. The wings on the helmet, the silver colourings and the spear caused her to feel indescribably closer to him. She stepped forward, away from the army, and knelt down on one knee before him as he approached. Thovok joined her but limited himself to bow with a fist over his heart.


    Harik ordered a halt to the march as he and Bjorn joined that gathering as well. All four of them were curious as to what would bring him here. Skovi''s howls resounded in the woods before the great wolf was spotted rushing to Exile''s side. Ania heard Exile''sughter in her ears as he stopped in front of them and ran his hand through Skovi''s fur.


    "You may stand, we have some things to discuss." Exile''s tone was warm, but there was something else in it that made the four of them frown.


    "Lord Exile, is there something else you need from us?" Harik asked straightforwardly. Getting to the root of the gut feeling he had.


    "Hm..." Exile nodded, holding them in suspense. "I need you to march East. Keep an eye on the mountains as you go. The Sommerdans have not been defeated. You merely fought against a small part of their overall force."


    "Lord Exile, if we march East we''ll end up leaving Stormcrown. The King''s forces are still out there. This is not a wise decision." Harik frowned as he pointed out the issues he had with this order.


    "Don''t worry about that. All of Skardia ising together to stop this invasion. There will be no more bloodshed amongst us until we throw the Sommerdans out."


    "Is the threat they pose really that great?" Bjorn asked as he stroked his beard.


    "Yes, for Skardia to survive, this must be done. Do you understand?"


    The four of them nodded as Skovi whimpered when Exile stopped petting him. He nced at all of them carefully, judging their mindsets.


    "When this is all over, I will reward each of you. You may ask for anything you want, as long as it is reasonable, I shall grant it." Exile immediately deactivated his Avatar spell with those parting words.


    The four of them remained in ce, speechless. Each of them began to consider what they would ask for as a reward. Harik''s mind went to what his people needed to thrive. Gold, food and rare supplies to build asting kingdom in the future. Bjorn merely wanted to know more stories of the Gods. Especially any that could be given about the new Gods that had arrived in Skardia.


    Thovok immediately started thinking about what experiments he could ask Exile to take part in. Although he had already agreed to let them study him, there were a few things he was sure that Exile would deny. But if he asked for it as a reward... A glint appeared in his eyes as he stroked his beard and chuckled.


    Ania''s face turned red. She knew what she wanted to ask for, but was unsure if it was reasonable. ''Will he marry a mortal? Or is that too much? Perhaps I should ask him to spend time with me down here.'' She shook her head in embarrassment as she tried to process these thoughts. However, she was determined to ask for something that would give her a chance to win him over.


    The others smiled knowingly when they caught a glimpse of the expression she was making. Naturally, Harik and Bjorn silently cheered her on in their minds. They were all for that sort of development to ur. Even Thovok seemed to take an interest, as he guessed what she was thinking. But his interest was of a different nature.


    ''A demigod, eh? That would be worth studying if we can''t make progress on full godhood...'' Thovok nodded approvingly. Having decided on a back-up n for the future.


    Meanwhile, Skovi was lost in his own thoughts. His pack was decimated in thest battle and the few survivors were unlikely to survive another one. ''If I could have a reward... I would want apanion. Another of my kind to help me make master''s dreamse true...''


    Eventually, Harik let out a long sigh as he turned to the others. "We should get moving. Warn everyone that they may not see home for some time..."


    Harik''s eyes turned to the mountain peaks that they had left behind them. ''How many of us will end up buried in those mountains...'' He shook his head as he thought about those snow-covered mountains turning red with blood.


    Meanwhile, Thovok frowned as he felt Exile connecting with his mind. ''Lord Exile... You have something you need from me?'' Thovok''s thoughts were full of confusion. This could only mean that there was something that he did not want the others to know.


    [Thovok. How long will it be until the Temple is built by your King?]


    ''Hm? It''s about that, eh?'' Thovok stroked his beard in silent contemtion for a moment. ''It''s hard to say. The King will have made sure that is something fitting of a God. Our craftsmen will be taking great care in its construction.''


    [I understand.]


    ''Lord Exile, I assume you want to speak with His Majesty. Do you intend to bring my people further into this war?''


    [Yes. We have an opportunity to seize a kingdom for Harik while everyone is focused on the Sommerdan invasion.]


    ''I see. Why did you not say as much for Harik and the others?'' Thovok''s frown deepened as he struggled to understand Exile''s reasoning for this approach.


    [Hm, to sessfully fool your enemies, you must first fool your allies. Make sure your dwarves are seen among the army. I want our enemies to believe that we havemitted everything to this battle. They must not even suspect that we have anything else hidden.]


    A wide smile appeared on Thovok''s face. It was clear from this short interaction that there was more to Exile than he originally thought. As the connection went silent, Thovok thought about the future. ''Hm, has something changed about him?''

 Chapter 173: Potential!

    Exile chuckled as he sat in The Raider''s Horn, stroking his beard. ''I think I see why Mike prefers strategy games now. There is so much that can change at a moment''s notice. Nothing remains constant.'' His eyes narrowed as he studied the map. ''I''ll have to thank him for his advice this time and the books he ordered for me. Though, it will take some time to properly understand them.''


    ''Parthus'' one weakness is that he should be used tomanding NPC''s without personalities. He''ll be focused on the numbers and whether he can beat his enemies based on that. However, I should consider my followers as being as real as myself. The same goes for the warriors that Parthusmands. The best path to victory is to crush their will to fight. Then, no matter how much he orders them to attack us, their heart won''t be in it. They''ll be likely to rebel and less willing to follow him.''


    Exile nodded as he remembered thest pieces of advice that Mike had given him. ''When Winter returns, I''ll change her orders. It''s about time that we learn about our enemies...'' Exile tapped the map as he pictured how it would change over the course of the campaign against Parthus.


    ''Both Parthus, and the Royal faction, will believe we have everythingmitted to the front line. This will draw the royal fraction into throwing everything into the fight as well in the hopes of seizing a chance to crush us when it''s over.'' Exile ced a handful of markers on the mountain range where Thovok''s people lived.


    He then made this group of markers march through Stormcrown, capturing all of the important cities that would be lightly defended at that point. A broad smile crept across his face as those markers then marched up behind the royal faction and trapped them between Exile and the Dwarf King''s forces. ''The key is for this to happen before the fighting ends. If needed, we may have to dy the end of the Holy War to secure a solid victory in the Civil one.''


    Mike had given him the overall strategy, but it was up to him to figure out the tactics needed to bring it to fruition. There were two major parts to this strategy. The first was to throw the Sommerdan invasion out of Skardia. While the second was to seize Stormcrown for Harik as bloodlessly as possible. Theck of bloodshed would earn him the favour of the citizens. While the loss of their homes to the enemy would weaken the Royal Factions warriors'' resolve to fight against the rebels.


    If he were to consider that they would react like real people, then that was the reason for limiting the bloodshed. If their families were killed when the cities were seized, it would give them vengeance as a powerful reason to keep fighting. However, ensuring the civilians'' safety and having them treated well would earn him the respect and good graces of those same warriors.


    ''Win the war, even before any fighting takes ce...'' Exile nodded. He approved of this n. War did not have to be about who could spill the most blood. ''The goal of war is not to kill your enemies, but to win with the fewest losses and to crush your enemies'' will to fight.''


    He knew he would have to study this type of game more. He was sorelycking in the key areas that this game focused on. Strategy and tactics in all areas of the game. Not just in war. In Mayhem, he only had to worry about small scale fights and overall strength was based entirely on numbers. yers followed the strong.


    However, Pantheon required a much different mindset. A different set of skills was required to win. While individual strength would still have its own value, it truly tested the qualities required by a real leader. Not in the terms of a team captain, but someone capable of leading the hearts of entire nations into aplishing their dream.


    ''I can only try to fix this w of mine going forward. It''s no wonder that I always felt like I still lost, even when I won in this game so far. I was too narrow-minded in what this game required of me. I thought because it was made by the same developers as Mayhem that I could do much of the same to seed here.'' Exile shook his head as he realised how blind he had been.


    Sure, when it came to actual fighting on the battlefield, he hade away with victories. Using tricks he had picked up in Mayhem to secure them. But when it came to the big picture, he was constantly losing ground. ''I need to broaden my mind and be mindful of everything. I can''t be blinded by just what I want to do or achieve. I have to n for the many things that can change at any given moment.''


    ''This isn''t Mayhem. I won''t always find the same mobs at the same levels in the same zones with each visit. NPCs will not stay where I found them. Treasuries likely won''t regenerate either, so it''s firste, first serve. I have to seize every opportunity before it turns to dust.'' His eyes shone with determination as he felt like he had unlocked a part of himself he never knew existed.


    Like he had just discovered another piece of a jigsaw when he thought it was alreadyplete. He startedughing as he thought about that. ''I thought I had reached my limits as a gamer... But it seems like I can still grow!'' Of course, he was not just thinking about his y style. But how he could still challenge himself to do better mentally. To secure victory before even stepping on the field of battle.


    As he nced at the map yet again, he felt a rush of excitement. There were new doorways opening up to him at that moment. New paths as a gamer that he had never considered. For a brief moment, he even wondered if his skill in fighting on the front lines might turn out to be the weakest part of his potential.


    His eyes scanned the map for the next opportunity that could be seized immediately after his victory in Stormcrown. ''The next move should not be to chase the Sommerdans if any survive and flee. Instead, we should build on our momentum and seize other nearby kingdoms as the Ruling Faction give chase. Finally, allowing us to stabilise the power base we wanted from the start.


    ''From there, any survivors from these regions will be more likely to defect to us. Plus, Thovok''s people will be seizing Oracles and forcing some Ruling Faction Pantheons to either be neutral or join us. This is a war after all, so I''ll be surprised if there isn''t a way to switch sides...''


    His eyes narrowed as he thought about how he could weaken the Pantheons that would still be outside of their sphere of influence. ''They''ll suffer a mental blow when we seed. The time will be ripe to enter negotiations to put an end to the Civil War. Then, the fight to seize Skardia as a whole can begin. But we won''t fight that war with weapons and at the cost of lives. Looks like I need a long discussion with Midas to find out what benefits we can seize that the others would want.''


    It was clear now that there was much work to be done. He had been naive about the game until Mike opened his eyes. He would have to look up different offices usually used in governments to help keep them running. He would have to establish something simr within his own Pantheon. Although they had a semnce of that in the Alliance, it still did not cover every area that could affect them. It would take a lot of nning and finding the right people for the right roles.


    ''This is definitely why Camelot has been seeding. Arthur has the charisma and skill in battle to make people want to follow him. Merlin was known as a demon for the tricks he could pull off out of nowhere when you were least expecting them. Both of them are excellent, but even they can''t cover all of this between just them.''


    ''I have to be more than Arthur. I have to be more than Merlin. I need to be the best at both in one person. With skilled people around me, that can ensure the nse to fruition. I need generals who can hold the war front. And skilled administrators to work behind the scene. If either of them iscking, everything is doomed to fail.''


    He tilted his head back andughed loudly. He felt like he had seeded in seeing through another trap that the developers had set in the game. ''This is what will separate the wheat from the chaff... I wonder how many will realise it?''

 Chapter 174: Seeds of Defeat

    "Now, to make preparations..." Exile whispered to himself as other yers returned from rying their orders to the NPCs.


    He pulled a stack of nk parchment towards himself and began writing orders for specific people. The first was for Winter. She was toy waste to the Royal factions'' Jarls mentality who would remain behind. She was to invade their dreams and sow discontent for their gods and kings in their minds. This would attack their will to fight against the dwarves when they arrived.


    The second was for y. He would take Burri, Old Un and Leggy with their troops through the Silverfang Pass to the far side of the mountains. From there, they were to discover the path used by Parthus before retreating a distance back towards the Silverfang Pass. Enough so that Parthus could not discern how many troops were there blocking the way. This way, any who survived would be reluctant to go in that direction and face another battle.


    This would force them to retreat back towards the territories they had already imed. Exile nodded as he thought about it. ''This way, we won''t have to worry about him making another sneak attack into Stormcrown. And it will drive his tired army towards the Ruling Factions in that direction.''


    For his n to work, he felt the need to write instructions for the other leaders. Under no circumstances were they to cut off Parthus'' retreat back into the mountain path he was using. As a whole, they would surround him, but leave him a way out. If he retreated, they would chase and harass him. But not openly engage him. Just enough to keep his army tired and irritated.


    He wrote another set of orders for the leader of the special operations. They were to find NPCs close to the ships that the Sommerdans had used to invade Skardia. He reasoned that their supplies for the war must be nearby, if not still on the ships. They were to seize half of these supplies for their own forces to relieve their own supply demands.


    ''That should be enough to make them reconsider the invasion. Soldiers can''t fight on empty stomachs and they still have to consider the supplies needed for the voyage home.'' He drummed his fingers on the table as a smile spread across his face. ''If we destroyed all of their supplies, it would make them desperate. Desperate enough to sack a city for fear of starvation.''


    ''That can''t happen. We have to leave them a way out to gain a victory without extending the costs of the war. Whether in lives, property or maintenance of our own equipment.'' Exile sighed slightly as he thought more about what actually went into waging war. In Mayhem, it was everyone for themselves. Seizing whatever equipment they could and they were not to me if their teammates fell behind.


    However, here in Pantheon, he had to consider everything. Anything that could affect their overall power. He thought he understood that before but was realising he had not. Exile carefully considered everything that would be needed and where it had to be to make his strategy work. He carefullybed over every detail he could think of as he wrote out more orders.


    When he was finished, he ced the orders in the hands of those who were to receive them personally. Many were confused, as they had specific allocations of where they were to have their NPCs set up their camps on arrival. However, when those who were really confused tried to question him, he only replied with silence.


    Since they had no idea why they were ced there, they had no reason toin about it. They could only trust that it was for a reason. It would take time for everyone to gather near the mountain range anyway. Some were bound to arrive before others, and it was almost certain that Parthus would clear the mountains before everyone could gather.


    However, Exile had already nned for that. Which was why he staggered where they were to set up their camps. It was to deceive Parthus into believing that he was surrounded. While at the same time appearing weak. So he would not be surprised when they fell back towards another camp as the noose tightened around Parthus'' neck from all directions.


    Once everyone was gathered, that would be when they would engage him fully. Only when victory was certain. Exile chuckled to himself as he thought about how his proposal of a united front against the invasion would draw the Ruling Faction warriors away from their homes and fortresses. Leaving them open for him to seize.


    Meanwhile, y tracked down Aeri''s Pantheon and stood waiting for her toe to meet him. It was clear on the yers'' faces that they did not want him there. However, Aeri had not sent him away. It took some time before she finally showed herself and cocked an eyebrow at him.


    "You told my people you have a message for me from Exile? So? What does he want?"


    y carefully handed over the sealed parchment and stood back. Waiting to see her reaction. At first, she seemed amused by what she read. However, her expression gradually turned solemn and then grim. Exile had chosen to disclose that they had seized a victory against the invasion in the Silverfang Mountains. However, he did not disclose the details.


    He used that as the starting point to alert Aeri and the other rulers he had sent letters to about therge army that was about to breach further into Skardia. He went on to outline the benefits of setting aside their differences to take care of the external threat first. ''I thought the same thing...'' Aeri was confused as to why he would be the first one to suggest it though.


    ''This war helps to ensure that the rebels survive longer since we have to deal with something worse. The sooner ites to an end, the sooner we can deal with them...'' She stayed silent for a few minutes as she considered the situation it would create. ''If I send messages to the others, we can be prepared to wipe out the Rebel NPC armies as soon as we win.''


    ''Exile states that he is going to throw everything he has at the invaders. As it''s the only way to make sure we win. So this will be the best chance to take care of him before he does anything else to mess up my ns.'' She eyed y carefully before making her decision. ''The opportunity is too good to miss. We have to seize it and wipe away all of these Rebel Faction yers.''


    "You can tell Exile that Kaleidoscope shall cooperate. We agree that the Sommerdan invasion is a greater threat." Aeri nodded as y bowed and removed himself from her presence.


    She tapped her foot several times as she went over the outline that Exile had sent for the defence. It seemed like he wanted to show he was acting in good faith by giving difficult positions to his own alliance. Not only that, but the Rebel Alliance would end up taking the brunt of the first wave to slow down the Sommerdans enough for everyone else to gather.


    "You!" Aeri nced at one of the female yers nearby. "Go to the other leaders and let them know that we''ll be going along will Exile''s n. However, make sure they know that once the battle is over, we will all unite and wipe out the rebels."


    As the yer rushed off, Aeri began to gloat. ''You''ve made a grave mistake this time. This will be the end of you in Pantheon if I have anything to say about it!'' She let out a darkugh as she barked orders to her Pantheon''s Officers. Setting the wheels in motion for the showdown with the Sommerdans.


    y felt relieved as he visited each of the specificmanders that Exile had told him to. None of them seemed to have a problem with teaming up to take care of the threat. Which meant the alliance would not be in it alone. However, he did notice the same woman approaching each of them just as he left. ''I''m sure she''s a member of Kaleidoscope... Wasn''t she there when I handed the message to Aeri?''


    He had a bad feeling about it but decided to leave it to Exile. It was his n, after all, so maybe he was already expecting something to happen. As he began to head back to The Raider''s Horn, he heard loud yellinging from behind him. The woman who had been going in after him was thrown out of the building,nding on her back in the street. The Pantheon leader he had just spoken to stormed out after her, ring in her direction.


    "You better tell her that if she dares suggest this to me again, I''ll kill her myself!"

 Chapter 175: Seeds of Distrust

    "Hm, I figured this would happen." Exileughed as y reported on what had happened. "Don''t worry about it. The Ruling Faction will join the attack, but Aeri will attempt to betray us. However, she won''t find many allies willing to do the same."


    "Why? It makes sense for them to attack us, doesn''t it?" y revealed a puzzled expression for a moment, but Exile just shook his head slowly.


    "Yes and no. They will be tired after the fight with Sommerdan, and we gained favour with some of the leaders when we rushed to aid in the fight with the wolves." Exile smiled as a glint appeared in his eyes. "So they feel indebted for our previous aid, which prevented them from dying and their own people being weakened further."


    "I see... Do you think they''ll hold themselves to that debt though? They have a lot to gain from joining Aeri."


    "Depends on their character. But we will be ready for it. Now, I want you to take the lower levels out to farm the mobs near the city. They need more power for theing fight. The temporary truce gives us the opportunity we need to let them fight the mobs without worry."


    y smiled as he pped his hand on Exile''s shoulder. "I''ll take care of it."


    Momentster, he began picking out the weaker members from each Pantheon and took them out for training. The bar became much quieter after that. ''The spies are sent towards both enemies in the Mortal Realms. We''ll soon have a clear view of everything. Especially where they n to keep their Oracles.''


    This was the crucial part of everything. If they brought their oracles to the war as he nned to do, it would be more difficult to capture them. However, if they left them behind, there was no guarantee they would remain in their homes. As they may seek somewhere safer to wait out the war.


    ''At this stage of the game, Oracles are our greatest treasure. They have to be defended at all costs. So it makes more sense for them to leave them behind in this situation. Somewhere far from the fighting. But that''s why we''ll bring ours. If we keep them safe in different areas of our army, then they''ll be well protected with all of us present.''


    ''Beans should make sure we have enough supplies for the campaign. Without having to send more supplies from our viges and towns. So that issue is dealt with. So all that is left is to get in touch with the dwarves and have them agree to move on the Ruling Faction while we fight Sommerdan.''


    Exile had taken to checking his Avatar spell regrly as he waited for the new temple to bepleted. With Thovok in the field, he had no other way of discovering exactly when it woulde online as a ce for him to descend. However, there was no luck yet again. He could only sigh when that happened as he leaned back in his chair. Everything else was in ce. So this had to be taken care of soon.


    Meanwhile, Winter chuckled as she read the orders that had been sent to her. ''This is different. He doesn''t want me to nt dreams of defeat at our hands, but defeat at their own because of their leaders.'' Winter smiled as she read the orders again. ''It''s deceptive and simr to sticking a dagger in their backs. I like it!''


    She activated her Avatar spell and quickly began to travel across Skardia''sndscape. Leaving Korden behind quickly. ''I should focus on the leaders inside of Stormcrown. If this kingdom is to be our base, then I have to weaken it as much as possible.''


    She thought of the Jarls that she knew were in the vicinity before picking the closest one. ''You''ll be the first victim. Let''s make sure you don''t trust anyone by the time I''m done!''


    Hours passed before she reached the town she had chosen to target. ''At least this will be easier with only one target instead of causing nightmares for everyone.'' She twirled her hair with her fingers as her eyes narrowed. There were no signs of other yers in the vicinity. Everything seemed to be in ce for her to get away with her ns.


    As she waited outside the town, in case a yer decided to descend, she thought about the various movies she had watched when she got her own break from the game. She tried to get a clear mental picture of what she wanted to unfold in the Jarl''s dreams so that her spell would not fail when she attempted it. In this manner, she passed the time until the nket of night crossed the bright sky.


    ''It''s time...'' She quickly set out from her position and rushed through the empty streets. It was easy to locate the Jarl''s home as it stood out from the other buildings. It was muchrger because of the need to hold meetings inside of it. She passed by a few patrols, but they were nothing special in her eyes.


    However, she did not dare to take her time, in case she was discovered. There was no telling if there were any oracles or fanatics in that town that may be able to detect her presence. She slipped through the building, checking to see if the Jarl had a family. She came across two children, both sons. The oldest of them looked to be in his early twenties.


    Once she was certain she could recall his features, she sought out the Jarl himself. Finding him in bed next to his wife. ''Ok, this should be good!'' She activated her spell Dreamscape and the events of his dreams began to y in her own mind. ''I see. He''s happy just spending time with his family and ruling this small ce. Too bad I need to destroy that.''


    The Jarl frowned as he nced up from the banquet. His wife wasughing by his side as his men joked with each other. There was plenty of mead and food. But something suddenly felt strange to him. ''That''s so strange...'' He kept looking around amongst the noise, trying to figure out what was troubling him.


    ''Where''s my son?'' He suddenly thought as he failed to see the youth among them. A sudden fear gripped his heart without exnation. He felt the need to search for him. His mind telling him something horrible had happened.


    His wife grabbed him by the wrist as he stood. "Dear, where are you going? We have guests. They will miss your presence. Stay with us."


    He felt unsure as he heard the tone in her voice. It was almost pleading with him, rather than trying to convince him.


    "I''ll be back as soon as I can." He whispered as he leaned in, and kissed her forehead. "I just have to find someone first."


    He smiled as he turned his back on her. Deliberately not telling her it was their son he wanted to find. ''There''s no reason to make her worry. I''m probably just being paranoid, but my heart won''t settle until I see him safe and sound.''


    He quietly walked through the throng of bodies, busy with their merrymaking. Making vague excuses as to why he could not linger among them for now. Many curious gazes seemed to fix on him, or so it seemed. Each new person that stopped him seemed more desperate than thest to keep him there.


    Naturally, this only served to make him more concerned. When he asked why they were so eager, they had no answer to give. He began to suspect that something foul was at y.


    His concern for his son''s safety grew as he searched their home. Unable to find any trace of him. ''Surely he has not gone outside? Or has some maiden stolen him away?'' He chuckled at that thought. Finding it more reasonable than the dread trying to worm its way into his heart and mind.


    However, he could not bring himself to just ept that reasoning. He forced his way back through the main hall to the doors, stepping out into the freezing winds that Skardia was known for.


    A feeling of relief washed over him as he heard his son''s voiceing from around the corner. Followed by several others. However, that relief was short-lived as he heard their conversation.


    "Tonight... my father dies. My mother and the others are on board with this decision. Once I am Jarl, you will rewarded for supporting me!"


    Laughter and thanks followed that bold statement. Filling the Jarl with distrust. He stepped back inside, finding it hard to believe, but he heard it with his own ears. ''I must kill my son... before it''s toote!''


    Tears streamed down his face as Winter watched from the shadows. ''My work here is done...'' Sheughed to herself as she cancelled her control over that dream.

 Chapter 176: Seeds of Victory

    "Finally!" Exile eximed loudly, startling the surrounding yers. He quickly waved to show that they should get back to work as he focused on the image in his mind. ''The dwarves havepleted the Temple!''


    As he was about to confirm that he wanted to descend there, he realised a problem. ''With Thovok in the mountains, will I even be able tomunicate with them?'' He frowned slightly as he wondered about that technicality. ''Mind you, Thovok was able to detect me. So maybe they have something that will help facilitatemunication? Thovok didn''t seem worried about it, so there should be something in ce.''


    He only hesitated for another moment before confirming his selection. Causing his main body to go limp. Beans cocked an eyebrow at that sight before letting out a long sigh. ''I swear! He''s away more than any of the other leaders! He better have a good reason for it when hees back!'' Those who saw the expression on her face quickly looked away. It was that kind of expression a mother or older sister would give when they were annoyed.


    Exile''s consciousness fell through the heavens, plummeting towards the mountain range near Eraldsfen. A lightning bolt tore through the sky, marking his passage. Striking the peak of the tallest mountain in the near vicinity. For the first time, Exile felt some resistance appear during the procedure. It was as if something was causing slight friction against his mind.


    ''That''s strange...'' He thought as he finally felt his boy materialising. However, he felt somewhat weaker when it did. ''What''s going on?''


    As he nced around, he noticed he was in a huge hexagonal shaped room. The ceiling of which became a golden dome standing around forty feet above his head. Stone arched pirs supported that structure, each one was intricately carved in the dwarven style. A grand altar had been ced towards the rear of the room, with a golden throne sporting iid jewels.


    It was a breathtaking sight. However, he soon noticed that a blue gem supported by a silver stand was radiating bright light from the altar. Causing the many dwarves to gather there and begin chattering excitedly. Soon, one of their number rushed off. Causing Exile to cock an eyebrow at him as he dashed past.


    ''Hm, maybe that gem lets them know when a yer is among them? It''s basically a different version of that thing that Thovok used to track me down. The dwarves studied the jewel intently before their eyes started to turn in his direction. ''Looks like I was right...''


    However, it did not appear as if they could actually see him. ''Seems like I might need to wait a bit.'' Exile wandered around the dwarven temple, studying its architecture curiously. The whole room was a work of art as far as he was concerned. The only problem was that every time he moved, the dwarves'' eyes moved with him. It was a strange feeling. Because they were looking through him, not at him. He could not help but wonder what they thought about that strange situation.


    To know he was there but unable to see, touch or speak with him. Some time passed in that manner before excited talking could be heard from beyond the exit. A group of well-armed dwarven soldiers entered the Temple with their weapons at the ready. ''I guess it''s showtime.'' Exile grinned as he walked slowly towards the golden throne and sat on it.


    For all he knew, the throne was for the dwarf king to sit on and show his authority when speaking to him. However, Exile knew he had to make sure that the dwarves knew that he was above them. So of course he would assume the throne was for himself. The temple was built for him after all. As he sat on the throne, he noticed that the eyes of the dwarves by the altar had gone wide as they stared at his location on the gem.


    When the soldiers spotted the others staring at the throne they began to spread out in a fan shape to stare at it. Exile watched with curiosity, wondering what it was that they nned to do. However, a tapping sound from the entrance caused the soldiers to stand at attention as a new figure strode towards him. ''I guess this is the king...''


    The dwarf king wore a golden crown over his long grey hair. His beard was richly decorated with jewellery, as were his fingers. His purple tunic that wore spoke of extravagance as well. However, Exile could not help but wonder where they got the materials for some of these things. As they would usuallye from the surface. The soldiers made a clear space for him to stand before the throne as they awaited his orders.


    As he stared at what appeared to be an empty throne, he carefully stroked his beard with thick fingers. His beady eyes hiding beneath bushy eyebrows darted to those gathered around the gem. "Are you certain he is sitting on the throne?"


    They quickly nodded as one stood out from the rest. "Yes, Your Highness. It can only be the God King Exile. We made certain to attune the gems to the presence detected from the dwarf who came to request the building of this temple."


    As the king nodded with a solemn expression, Exile could not help but feel confused by their discussion. ''Attuned to my presence? What does that mean?'' Exile suddenly felt a little insecure as he looked down on the dwarves from his seat. Although they were allies, and this was necessary, he knew they seemed to have a strange understanding of the yers. However, at this moment he was now beginning to wonder just what they could do with it.


    "King Exile!" The old dwarf king suddenly eximed as he turned to look at the throne, yet again. "I am King Bargrux. It is my greatest pleasure, and honour to wee you to my kingdom. I am going to ce something on the arm of the throne. If you ce your hand on it, it will allow us tomunicate."


    Exile studied Bargrux''s actions carefully as he walked towards him and took another small device with a purple gem from his pockets. The gem had been fashioned into a disc-shaped device with rich metals making up the shell. As Bargrux backed away slowly, Exile carefully ced his hand on it. Ready to pull back if anything seemed amiss.


    However, as soon as he touched it, the weakness he felt disappeared. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. At the same time, the gem on the altar began to glow with a golden colour. When that happened, all of the dwarves nced towards the throne expectantly. He realised they were waiting for him to say something. ''I guess it''s best to start with a greeting.''


    "Thank you, for your hospitality, King Bargrux. The aid you have given me so far has been immeasurable. You deserve a reward for these efforts before I ask any more of you." Exile stated, with a firm voice. Hoping to sound authoritative when facing an actual king.


    King Bargrux burst outughing as he turned to the other dwarves with a joyful expression. "It works! Well done! Each of you will have a thousand pounds of gold and five thousand pounds of silver!"


    Those dwarves wore ecstatic expressions as they said their thanks before focusing fully on the gem. King Bargrux turned back towards where Exile was seated with a warm expression.


    "King Exile, I have no need of a reward for these services. Your presence here in this temple is more of a reward than anything you could physically give me! If anything, I would ask that you spend as much time here as you can whenever you are free to do so. I would like to talk to you about the heavens and what it means to be a god!" Bargrux''s tone was full of emotion. So much so that Exile could tell that he was being sincere.


    "This I can grant. However, time is different for us. So you should not ce high expectations on how frequently I can be here." Exile replied while trying to be as clear as possible. He did not want a misunderstanding to cause their partnership to break down.


    "That is agreeable!" Bargrux chuckled as he stared at the empty space. "Now, you mentioned something about asking more from us? Whatever it is, we dwarves will staunchly support it!"


    Exile smiled at that reassurance even before he exined what he needed from them. However, he was concerned by how much support they were willing to give in return for mere talks with him regarding the Divine Realms. ''It''s almost as if they are fanatical. Not about the gods themselves, but about reaching those realms in some way. Can that even be done?''

 Chapter 177: Funding

    Colt shifted slightly in his seat as he eyed the woman from Rebel Energy that had shown him to the conference room. She appeared excited by his presence, especially when she confirmed who he was. It was finally time to meet with Jay Deacon before he became too wrapped up in the war. The woman was pleasant enough, as she made sure he had whatever he wanted to drink and made sure he felt calm.


    Colt was not particrly put off by the experience, as he had been through it before. He mostly wanted to know how Jay had discovered he was Exile and confirm whether they wanted to put his name out there as Exile. ''It makes sense from a business point of view. It will generate more interest in us and their product.''


    He shook his head slowly as he thought about it. ''Though, if my name gets out there now, it will bait Aeri further into taking care of me.'' Colt chuckled to himself as he thought about it. There were some benefits to doing this soon, especially with what he was about to do. The only problem was that it would Camelot on guard or make them seek him out in the game.


    ''I''m nowhere near ready to face them yet, and neither is my team. But it''s a risk we have to take. Who knows how long it will be before we actually find each others'' territory anyway.'' Colt resigned himself to agree to put his name out there if it secured funding for Ragnarok. It was in everyone''s best interests if it let them afford to keep ying the game without worries.


    Eventually, the ss door opened and Jay walked in. Wearing a grey suit and looking rather tired. The pair looked at each other for a moment before Jay smiled and asked the woman to leave.


    "My Anderson, it''s a pleasure to have you here!" Jay enthusiastically said as he strode over to shake hands with Colt before taking a seat next to him. "You have no idea how excited we were with your initial agreement to ept our proposal! Obviously, I have the contract right here, ready to sign. Everything is as I promised, plus I managed to swing a little extra for you."


    Colt smiled as he took the paperwork from him and studied it carefully. Everything seemed to be in ce, but he could not stop his eyes from going wide at the projected ie from their coboration.


    "Are these numbers real?" Colt asked in a wary tone. The numbers were just that shocking. Especially when he looked at how much Ragnarok stood to earn from it.


    "Yes, the numbers won''t be far off either way, ording to our experts. I think you''re underestimating how much you personally are worth. There''s a lot of buzz surrounding you and your absence from Camelot. On top of that, you''re beginning to get noticed by the public for your performance as Exile." Jay smiled warmly as he pointed to specific figures on the page.


    "What are these?" Colt asked as he looked Jay in the eyes.


    "These numbers, would not even be half the amount if it was not you behind Exile. I just want to make sure you understand how much we here at Rebel Energy value you." Jay sped his hands on the desk as he fixed Colt with a serious expression. "I''ve watched all of your team''s streams to date. I have to say, although your first streams were good from a technical standpoint as a gamer. More recently, your streams appeal to the general masses as well. Are you aware that you''re basically crafting a sort of drama?"


    "Hm... Yes, I thought it might be a good idea." Colt nodded slowly while keeping a nk expression. He had no intention of admitting that he was winging it as he went along. That would put him in a disadvantageous position, and Jay did not need to know that.


    "Well, you have remarkable foresight, Colt. Can I call you Colt? Mr Anderson is a bit formal." Jay chuckled as he leaned back in his chair casually.


    "Colt is fine if I can call you Jay." Heughed as he replied. Thetter nodded in approval.


    "Well, Colt. It was a good move on your part, but it still needs some work. I suggest getting writers in to craft a good story for when the excitement in the game calms down. After all, if you''re not fighting a war, you''ll need a story to grip your viewers as you explore and interact with the NPCs."


    "Hm... I thought of several things to try, but I''m no expert. Are you suggesting that Rebel Energy can help us with that as well?" Colt asked curiously, as he studied Jay''s reaction.


    "Oh, we have friends in many industries. We can certainly contract some writers on your behalf. Then you can implement whichever stories you want to use when the time feels right. I think it will really help to boost your numbers. Especially if we get your name back out there. It will be like setting a fire in favourable conditions." Jay chuckled as he thought about how the media would handle it.


    "Ok, that sounds reasonable. But I have another issue. For my team to bond properly, we''ll also need a proper facility. You must know that almost all pro teams tend to live and y together to build some bonds. Is there anything you can do on that front? Or shall we focus on that ourselves?" Colt had to keep a level tone as he asked this question. It was a huge request, but he had to make sure it did not sound like one.


    Jay''s expression turned serious as he cocked an eyebrow. He stared at the ceiling for a few moments before calling the woman in from outside the door. He quickly wrote something on a spare piece of paper and handed it off to her with a thank you.


    "I can''t say yes to this right now. The upper management will have to consider it carefully as it would be a massive investment. You should probably prepare to be rejected on this front. Or perhaps they''ll seek something in return. It''s not unusual to swap shares in each other''s business in situations like this to tie each other together." Jay''s tone was heavy as he spoke nothing but the truth. He did not want to scare Colt off with nice words that would note true.


    "Thank you, I''ll definitely consider whatever you can offer and what you ask in return" Colt smiled casually even as he began to swat buckets inside. ''I didn''t even think of that! We registered for the game, but if we''re going to ept corporate sponsorship and such, we''ll need to register as a legitimate business! I''ll have to take care of that as soon as I leave here.''


    Jay was surprisingly impressed by how calm and agreeable Colt was in person. Most pro yers had a stick up their ass. Believing themselves to be entitled to everything without having to give much in return. It made a nice change of pace, he thought as he continued to study Colt.


    "Is there anything else you would like some rification on? I''m pretty sure I covered everything, including our future ns for merchandising using your gamer handles and your team name. Of course, you''ll have to make some of our yers avable for press meetings and fan things. Though, you''re probably used to that and know the drill by now." Jay chuckled again as he felt his concerns about the meeting slipping away.


    "Everything seems to be in order, Jay. I''m happy to say that you can tell your bosses I intend to sign from what I''ve seen and how you''ve treated me. However, as a formality, I''ll still need to have awyer look the contract over." Colt watched him carefully. This was hisst test to see if Jay and rebel Energy was worth working with or not. If he flinched at the mention of awyer, or pushed for a signature right away, then there was likely something hidden in the contract.


    "Of course! We have absolutely no issues with you taking your time to make sure everything is agreeable on your end! We''re confident that we''ve definitely presented you with an amazing offer." Jay chuckled as he stood up. Understanding that their brief meeting was already over. Although, it seemed to be on good terms. "Can I just say, I for one, am looking forward to working with you. And the bright future we can hopefully bring for each other!"


    Colt was unsure what to say. There seemed to be no hidden intentions and Rebel Energy, or Jay at least, genuinely wanted to back his team. Coltughed as he thanked him and shook his hand once again. Taking his leave while feeling like he had already conquered a major issue for his team. Well, depending on what thewyer said when he found one...

 Chapter 178: Man on the Mountain

    "The scent of campfires carries on the wind." Skovi growled as he eyed the mountain range.


    Ania''s eyebrows shot up in curiosity. ''We must be getting close to where they''ll exit the mountains. If they haven''t already.'' She turned her eyes to those tall peaks as she tried to catch sight of any columns of smoke. However, with all the snow falling over them, it was difficult to make out anything.


    "Skovi, do you mind scouting for any hidden paths that an army could use? We have to find out the exact location they will descend from." Ania asked as she petted the giant wolf. Over the course of their journey, she had felt as if they had be quite close.


    Skovi growled before setting off. The other survivors of his pack joined him along the way. Ania turned towards the centre of their camp and made her way through the resting warriors towards her father. He was deep in conversation with Bjorn and Thovok, concerning the battle toe. They wore concerned expressions as they stared into the fire between them.


    "What is it, Ania?" Harik asked with aplicated expression when he noticed her approaching them.


    "Skovi is scouting the mountains. He may have discovered traces of our enemy." Ania watched how the three of them would react to that news.


    Harik''s expression turned grim, while Bjornughed. However, she could not read Thovok at all. Harik let out a long sigh as he nced at all of them.


    "Let the men rest until Skovi discovers where we should expect to meet the enemy. It will be better for us if the enemy arrives exhausted while we are well-rested. We might need to employ hit and run tactics until the others that Exile mentioned arrive." Harik stated as he made sure everyone understood what he was saying.


    In other words, this would not be a head-on battle as they were used to. They had to be smart about this one to keep the enemy in a disadvantageous position. They could not afford for the Sommerdan army to find their footing, or entrench themselves on this side of the mountain. It would even be better if they could make them concerned enough to stay in the mountain range where there was little food or safe shelter for them to camp.


    Thovok nodded in agreement. However, he felt it would be better for his dwarven troops to start harassing the enemy as soon as they were found. But Harik denied this. It would make the enemy wary of staying in the mountains. Forcing them toe out because of desperation. An army with no safe space behind them could be a nightmare to deal with.


    Thovok slowly relented as he saw the truth of the matter. But that did not stop him fromining. If the situation were different, he would prefer top attempt to force the Sommerdans to retreat right away. But he knew that the other pieces of the n were not in ce yet. They needed the Sommerdans to pose a threat so that Exile''s n to take Stormcrown coulde to fruition.


    Thovok made a mental note of how Exile was nning to aplish this in case it could be of use to his King if the gods ever left again. ''I guess this can only be done as quickly due to the nature of the gods... We would have to set up outposts to ry the messages quickly.'' He noticed Bjorn staring at him intently even while making light of the war that was about to begin...


    Meanwhile, Skovi sprinted through the snow quickly. Sniffing at the air to pinpoint where the scent of the enemy campfires wasing from. His attention constantly shifted from one area to another. ''They are spread out.''


    His senses told him there were many fires burning in the mountain range. However, it was clear to him that they were not all bundled together. Meaning there would be weak points. He made a mental note to ry this information to Ania.


    ''Perhaps the humans can do something with it...'' He knew that humans could be tricky, so he would leave it to them.


    He growled at hispanions and had them split up to search for possible paths. Telling them to make sure they were wide enough to host many humans and not something they themselves would use. Before they left, he made sure to warn them not to hunt or get too close to any humans that they found.


    This was so that they did not leave any signs of their passing that could put the Sommerdans on alert.


    As they split up and went their separate ways, he sensed powerful auras descending from the heavens. ''Master was right... Their gods have arrived. They must be close!''


    He grew concerned as he felt more of those auras arriving. There seemed to be no end to it, even if they wereing slightly spaced out. He started to move more quickly, eager to discover the enemy''s intentions as soon as possible. He did not want to linger, as he did not know if they would sense his connection with Exile. After all, anything was possible when it came to the gods!


    Skovi carefully nned how he would advance. He studied the position of those auras he could feel, to see if any of them moved in his direction. ''It seems like they haven''t noticed...'' Skovi thought as his sharp eyes pierced the blinding snow. A loud howl came from his left, it was a signal that a path had been found.


    Soon, he heard the other remnants of his pack answering the call. He refrained from calling out himself. He did not want to draw too much attention to them. Skovi was like a ghost as he dashed through the snow, reaching the wolf, who had alerted them before the others. As the others joined them, Skovi red at the grey-coloured wolf.


    She whined as she pointed towards the mountain range with her snout. Skovi peered in that direction and eventually saw what she was pointing at. There was a cave partway up the mountain. The ground was not too rough between them and that cave. ''Hm? Does it have another exit then?''


    Short growls came out of his throat as his meagre pack gathered around him. They moved together as they approached the mouth of it. Slipping into the darkness within. The air was crisp and clean in their nostrils. But it wasing from deeper within. ''The airflow, there is definitely another entrance!''


    He quickly growled to tell the grey-coloured she-wolf that she had done a good job spotting it before taking the lead. The cave was long, tall, and wide. More than enough for an army to pass through in decent numbers at a time. There were no branching paths, so it was impossible to get lost. Skovi sniffed at the air, but there was nothing unusual.


    ''Seems like no humans have found it yet. But they should not be far off.'' The pack hurried on when he confirmed theck of enemy presence. Even with their speed, it took them half a day until the exit came into view. From there, the smell of food cooking on open fires was extremely strong.


    The path beyond the exit was hidden by high ridges on either side and was only slightly slimmer than the tunnel they had juste through. It was clear that the path would not pose much of a hindrance. Meaning the enemy army would not have to endure much hardship as they crossed thest leg of their journey.


    Skovi let out a low growl, ordering one of the older wolves among them to sneak forward and take a look around the bend. He wanted to know just how close the enemy was. The wolf obediently crept forward. Making only the slightest of sounds that only the sharpest of ears would be able to hear.


    Skovi kept his eyes fixed on hispanion, as the wolf hesitated before sticking its head around the corner. Whoosh! Blood and the wolf''s severed head went flying through the air as Skovi barked for them to retreat! Arge man, carrying a long curved sword, came around the corner whileughing.


    "Well, what do we have here?" He asked as he stroked his neatly trimmed beard. His tanned skin in stark contrast to the white of the snow flowing around him. "Seems like we have a few rats... Are you looking for scraps, little pups?"


    Skovi snarled at the man as the others fled back into the tunnel. ''He reeks of divinity. How did I not notice him?'' Skovi had a strange feeling that it would be dangerous to turn his back on this man. He was definitely a human, but he gave him the same kind of vibe as he got whenever he was around Bjorn. That alone made him concerned. It was important information that he had to make sure the others found out about... At any cost.

 Chapter 179: Sacrifices

    Skovi growled as the man paused a few feet from him. He stared at the wolf with a curious gaze for a few moments. His head tilted to the side as he stroked his curved de.


    "You''re not running?" The man hummed as his gaze seemed to sharpen. "You''re an unusual one, aren''t you?"


    Skovi growled more deeply, but remained calm enough not to reveal that he could speak. His eyes focused on the man''s every movement. However, his opponent did not miss that.


    "You aren''t revealing any openings. You''re a clever one, aren''t you? If you''re that clever, then you wouldn''t havee here for scraps... No... You''re here for something else." A sh appeared in the man''s eyes as he remained focused on Skovi. "I have this feeling that killing you is going to cost me. But, I have another feeling that disaster wille if you get away."


    Skovi growled louder as he backed away towards the tunnel while not taking his eyes from the man. ''This is dangerous. Just watching how I react has almost revealed that I''m no ordinary wolf. If he discovers my connection to Master, then the enemies may escape before the n can be used!''


    In that moment, Skovi made a choice. He quickly turned his back on the man and sprinted for the tunnel!


    Skovi snapped at the air in front of him as the man suddenly appeared in his path! Tearing a piece of his clothing with his powerful jaws. The man leapt back with a look of surprise on his face.


    "Was that instinct just now, little wolf? You shouldn''t be able to react to my speed, yet you did." The man chuckled as he shouldered the blunt edge of his curved de. "Sorry, but you won''t be leaving here alive!"


    Skovi dove to the side as the man rushed forward and sliced down towards his head! The de sliced at his ribs due to his attempt to dodge the blow, causing him to whine. ''It''s no good, I can''t hide it now. Trying to hide it will only get me killed.'' Skovi released his healing breath, making the fresh wound regenerate quickly.


    The man stared in surprise when that happened, but then heughed. "I see, you are some monster created by some god! Were you put here to cause casualties? Or is it just a coincidence? Maybe your creator doesn''t even know we are here, and has some would-be heroing to kill you!"


    ''He thinks I''m like Skourj? Well, that''s good. It means even if he survives, our ns won''t be revealed.'' Skovi began growling in a more threatening manner than before as he started to circle the man. His eyes caught a sudden twitch, and instantly, both of them revealed their full speed!


    A flurry of sword blows rained down as Skovi dodged and retaliated with his powerful fangs and ws. The pair performed a deadly dance, with thin red lines appearing over Skovi''s body with each exchange. They soon disappeared whenever they retreated from each other, but the man appeared happy about that.


    Skovi got the sickening feeling that he was being used as a training partner. ''His sword has too much reach! I can''t get close enough!'' He was beginning to feel the pressure from the onught. Especially as damage built up and he was forced to heal it. However, he could see no end to the battle or a path to escape.


    ''I need to contact Master and warn him about this man!'' Skovi yelped as the man''s de traced a line over his eye, leaving a nasty mark. However, he could not find an opening to do so. The man applied enough pressure to keep his attention fully focused on him.


    After they went through several more high speed exchanges, Skovi heard familiar howlinging from the tunnel! Despair filled his mind as thest remains of his pack returned. Howling and snarling at the man.


    The noises they made were a clear message to Skovi. They were sacrificing their lives to give him the time to escape and warn Exile! Skovi reacted instantly. Taking advantage of the man''s brief shock to race past hisrades.


    Grief filled his mind as Momentster he heard their dieing yelps. But it was enough. In those moments, he managed to make a connection with Exile...


    "Where did that wolf go?" The man heaved as he raced through the tunnel. Unable to find Skovi anywhere. "Ah! I''ll definitely be in trouble for this!"


    The man stopped his pursuit as he had no idea how far Skovi had ran. There was no guarantee he could catch up now. ''Those wolves will make a fine nket in this damned weather though. Maybe if I offer them as a gift my punishment won''t be too bad."


    Meanwhile...


    Skovi blinked as he appeared in The Raider''s Horn. Exile had realised the danger the wolf was in the moment their connection was made. He reacted quickly and summoned him to the Divine Realms.


    With a concerned expression at the state Skovi was in, he asked what had happened.


    Skovi took a few moments topose his thoughts, pushing the grief from his mind to quickly ry the information that Exile needed right now. It was too important that the information of Heroes being among the enemy army reach Harik''s army.


    A deep scowl appeared on Exile''s face as he listened to what Skovi had discovered. ''The enemy is closer than we thought. Harik will have to hurry before we miss the opportunity.''


    "Skovi, I''m sorry for your loss. They were brave wolves. And loyalpanions. Their sacrifice will not be in vain!" Exile dered deeply as a few yers around him hung their heads in a moment of silence.


    Skovi nodded before curling up to get some rest. Exile sighed deeply before ncing at the wolf. ''This is just the first wave of losses. There''s going to be so many more once the battle starts...''

 Chapter 180: Bearserker

    Harik took a deep breath as he watched his warriors take up their positions. They looked scattered and low in numberspared to the Sommerdan army, which was making its way onto the open fields at the foot of the mountains. It was now clear to Harik just how outnumbered they were.


    ''We should start seeing the arrival of other armies soon... If everything has gone to Exile''s ns.'' Harik frowned deeply as he nced at the stern expressions of his warriors. Everyone knew the start of the battle would bring the highest losses. This was to be expected, as they had to hold the Sommerdan army in this area until everyone could arrive.


    It would be up to them to hold back the tide long enough, as it was almost certain that the Sommerdan army would rush them to break through quickly. Harik began barking orders to adjust the formations of the warriors who were with him while ncing nervously in Ania''s direction. ''I hope she''s up to the task...''


    Meanwhile, Ania stood with the warriors who had been assigned to her. They were the furthest group from the invaders and she had the feeling her father had arranged it as so on purpose. She was not concerned about the battle toe, as she had faith that Exile would make sure that they won. Skovi had stuck close to her when he returned from the Divine Realms, feeling that she would be the most likely to fall to the Sommerdan hero if he targeted her.


    This was simply because of herck of experience on the battlefield. Her eyes turned skyward, where the clouds were turning dark and drifting low across the mountain peaks. Ania could somehow feel it, it was almost time for the battle to begin. Horns suddenly red at the foot of the mountain. Great drums began to beat like that of a thunderous storm as the Sommerdan army finally began to move!


    Harik groaned when he saw the movement from the enemy camp. ''It''s too soon! We need more time...''


    He watched on as the Sommerdan army split into four groups. One for each of them and another was held back in reserve. His expression darkened when he saw that the group headed for Ania''s position was thergest. ''They intend to break through her first then have their warriors attack my nk. Meaning we will be heavily outnumbered.'' Harik grit his teeth as he nced to his right where Bjorn was.


    It was clear that he could not rely on Bjorn''s help any time soon either. There were enough troops heading in that direction to keep him busy for some time. ''It''s almost like they knew that Ania''s group is our weak link...'' Harik cursed as he turned to take in the expressions of his men. For now, all he could do was try to hold his own position.


    The air began to thrum with Sommerdan war cries, the force behind them grew stronger with each chant. Harik raised his heavy shield, and peered at the enemy before him over its rim. ''Any moment now and they will charge...'' He squinted, as a sh of bright light lit up the battlefield. That was when a smile crept across his face.


    The morale of the warriors suddenly lifted, as they answered the Sommerdans with their own roars as they beckoned them onwards. The fear of the battle in their hearts had been lifted at the first sign of lightning in the darkened skies.


    Ania''s smile was broader than that of her father''s. For she could feel the familiar presence of their Gods approaching from the direction of Eraldsfen. ''They''ll be here soon... Which means...'' A thunderous bang sounded from the clouds as a bolt of lightning struck the snow a few feet in front of Ania. A curtain of blinding snow was thrown into the air, as those devout enough spotted the figure of Exile standing in the midst of it.


    Exile''s sharp eyes studied the charging warriors from Sommerdan as a smirk appeared on his face. ''So, Parthus is over there is he?'' A quick nce told him that the rest of Ragnarok would catch up before any real damage could be done. It was only because of the mental link with Skovi that he decided to descend now.


    Parthus had smashed his expectations yet again. He was seeking to end the battle quickly when Exile needed for them to be held here until the other Skardian Gods could arrive with their people. As such, his hand had been forced. The only way to hold the lines long enough now was if Ragnarok could provide enough Miracles.


    Bjorn''s eyes lit up as he nced at Exile''s imposing figure. This was his chance to fight on the battlefield beside his God! The only one he deemed worthy of ruling over the mortal realms. He let out a shout of his own, and charged towards the enemy! The warriors behind him quickly followed, drowning in their own blood lust.


    The Sommerdanmander on that side of the battlefield had not expected for Bjorn tounch an attack. Causing him to hesitate for a moment. Even though it was only a moment, that brief hesitation on his part caused the stench of fear to spread among his troops. Bjorn, in his armour, looked like an unsurmountable beast charging straight towards them.


    Themander gulped as he felt hisher regions warming up and bing damp. He stuttered as he screamed at his troops to form a line in front of him to intercept Bjorn! Metal nged as their small round shields pped against each other to form a wall. Their minds felt pressured by Bjorn''s presence as thetter hefted his great hammer onto his shoulder in preparation of a mighty swing.


    Bjorn roared as he slid to a halt in the snow and swung his arms using all of his strength. Swords rushed to meet him, hoping to y this monster before he could do anything to them. But it was not meant to be be. The Sommerdan steel deflected or broke uselessly on Bjorn''s coat. Leaving them to stare wide-eyed in horror as the great hammer smashed through several jaws in a spray of blood beforepleting its swing.


    Bjorn could be heardughing as he kicked the man directly in front of him in the chest, knocking him and those behind him over onto their backs. Their brains rattled in their skulls, and when they regained rity in their eyes they wished it had nevere. Bjorn had swung his hammer over head, and directly down into the skull of the man he had kicked.


    He was uncaring of the warriors'' frantic attempts to stab, sh or pierce him as he methodically crushed those around him one by one. Bjorn''s warriors had now caught up, and were screaming ted at the sight of Bjorn, unflinchingly dispatching their enemies with ease. The enemies front line on that part of the battlefield had already fallen apart. Skardians tore through them, uncaring of any injuries they sustained. As long as they killed more men than lives they had to give, then it was worth it.


    This brutal sight was etched into the minds of themanders who were about to face Harik''s and Ania''s groups. Their eyes became wary as they pinpointed their armour which stood out from the other warriors. Much like Bjorn''s did. They felt uneasy as they stared at them, before they realised that something was off about the whole affair. Why were Skardians wearing such fine armour? And why did the ordinary warriors look much better equipped than they should be?


    Whatever the reason was, there was no turning back now! Themanders screamed at their men to drive forward. Even if the enemy rushed towards them! Harik let out a sigh of relief when he saw how Bjorn had handled the charge directed towards his group, and Exile was now by Ania''s side so he no longer felt concerned for her safety. His mind could now fully focus on his own battle! As the enemy drew near, Harik raised his de towards the sky.


    The Skardians beside him on the front line fell back, and were reced by Thovok and his dwarves. The sudden change of the enemies they would be facing caused mass confusion among the leading Sommerdan warriors. It took them a moment to realise what it was they were really up against...

 Chapter 181: Changing Situations

    The dwarves halted the advance of the Sommerdan force as their superior weapons shed through the enemy. As the bodies began to pile before them, the dwarves and skardians began their advance, pushing the enemy back. They trampled the dead unceremoniously into the bloodied snow as pained cries for help rang out beneath their boots.


    Shields shattered and weapons snapped as the fighting grew more intense. Harik heaved great lungfuls of air as his gaze whipped to the sides of his formation. ''They''re trying to nk us!'' He quickly scanned the nearby warriors, searching for Thovok. Eventually finding him as he buried his axe into a man''s thigh before smashing the bridge of his opponent''s nose with his helmet.


    "Thovok! Take some men and reinforce the right nk! I''ll be heading to the left! If they get around us, it''s all over!" Harik bellowed as he drove the point of his sword through the shoulder of another enemy from behind.


    Thovok ripped his axe from his enemy''s flesh as he nodded towards Harik. Assuring him that he would get it done. The dwarf quickly lumbered off, grabbing the attention of his kinsmen as he went. Harik''s concerned gaze turned towards the left nk as he wondered how many warriors he would have to take. If he took too many the the centre of their line would eventually break.


    With a groan, he pushed his way towards the rear lines before pointing at several captains. "You lot, bring your warriors... We''re going to reinforce the left nk!"


    The captains cheered at their Jarls request and enthusiastically encouraged their men to follow them. Moving from the rear lines made the journey easier on them than forcing their way through the ranks. However, when they arrived, the situation was worse than they imagined. The left nk was already on the brink of copse, and the Sommerdan warriors stood cheering at one of theirrades...


    "Ania... This scent... The hero from the mountain is engaging Jarl Harik!" Skovi growled as he finished tearing the throat out of a man who attempted to impale Ania on his spear.


    Ania grunted as she released a lightning bolt, frying several men in their armour. "My father will be fine! Focus on this battle Skovi!"


    Even though that was what she said, she still felt her heart sink a little. She had faith in her father''s abilities, but this was a hero they were talking about. Harik was just an ordinary man and skilled warrior. But Bjorn had proven that those things meant little against someone like him. So it was only natural for her to worry about her father.


    Meanwhile, Exile''s eyes scanned the warriors still in reserve. He could clearly feel the presence of Parthus and others over there. However, none of them were making a move. It would be stupid of him to use up his DP dealing with normal attacks. At least, it would be until the others arrived. ''What are you waiting for? Are you really nning on letting the NPCs fight this battle for you? Or are you waiting for me to make a move first?''


    Exile furiously tried to figure out Parthus'' intentions. But he could not help but second guess every thing he thought of. Parthus was unlike anyone he had ever faced. This game seemed to favour his enemy''s skillset over his own. ''There''s nothing else he can do but break through us. There''s no other tricks he can pull. There are no other paths that another army could be taking to surprise us.''


    Exile nodded as he felt secure in those evaluations. Even if more Sommerdans passed the mountain chain further down the line they could never make it in time. Besides, they would likely run in to an armying to reinforce his own side. Exile nodded at he put the uneasiness in his heart to rest. ''No, this is definitely it. He''s only got this force to work with.''


    Exile turned his back on the reserves and headed through the crowded battlefield to Ania''s side. He gave her a gentle smile, even as she pierced the throat of a man charging at her blindly. A slight smirk appeared on Exile''s face as he watched the limp body copse at her feet.


    ''She''s changed so much from that timid girl in the sack...'' It was beginning to dawn on him how quickly things could change for the NPCs. Although he spent most of his time in the game, he still thought of it in the context of time in the real world. A few days at a time. But for theNPCs those few days were weeks at a time. It really made him realise that one thing caused a divide between the yers and NPCs that could never be fully ovee.


    ''Did the developers do this on purpose as well?'' Exile frowned at the possibility. After all, it fit with the myths and movies of time being different for the Godspared to mortals. But this was not the time to think about these things. His smile softened as he ced a hand on Ania''s shoulder.


    "Lord Exile!" Ania beamed as she pulled his spear out from the guts of another enemy. But she was silenced by the look on his face.


    "Ania, you will have to listen to me carefully during this fight. It is likely that Skovi will soon leave your side." Exile turned his gaze towards Harik''s group. "We have to win this battle and move to support your father as soon as possible..."


    Ania nodded with a serious expression on her face as she raised her shield and spear. "Tell me what to do..."


    Harik wheezed as he barely avoided having his throat slit by the Sommerdan warrior before him. ''He''s fast! And that sword... Its reach is incredible!'' Harik cursed his luck as he guessed this was the enemy that had forced even Skovi to retreat. ''Bjorn would have been the best opponent for him...''


    Harik shifted his weight and suddenly felt like he was falling! ''Damn! My foot!'' One of the bodies he had been standing on had chosen that moment to roll over, taking his foot with it. A nasty grin appeared in his vision, as a long curved de sliced at his throat! ''Oh...''


    The man chuckled as he stood over Harik''s body, thest of his life force fleeing from it. "I''ll give you this, you had good instincts. But you were so focused on me you no longer paid attention to what was going on around you. That''s why you died..."


    Before he could finish, he felt a sensation of danger tingling at the back of his mind. Forcing him to leap backwards in time to see arge pair of jaws snapping closed where his head had been. His eyes narrowed as he recognised the wolf from the pass.


    "You!" The manughed hysterically as he took in the sight of Skovi. "Now where did youe from I wonder? Hm, no matter. This time I''ll be taking your fur back with me for sure!"


    The warrior raised his de expecting Skovi to pounce again, but was horrified to see a different scene unfold...

 Chapter 182: Randa Yulzek

    Skovi''s breath flowed towards Harik, healing the cut across his throat and saving him from certain death. The Sommerdan Hero stared at them with hatred in his eyes. ''That''s right, this wolf can heal itself. but I never expected it could heal others...'' The Hero frowned as he considered the position he was in. ''So, the wolf isn''t some monster created to be in. It''s some kind of pet.''


    "I am Randa Yulzek. A Hero in service to the God Parthus. What are your names?" The Sommerdan Hero dered loudly as his eyes darted from Harik to Skovi.


    Harik frowned as he got to his feet, still spitting out blood that had gathered in his throat. ''Asking for names now?'' Harik cursed as he decided to y along. Every moment wasted talking bought them time anyway, so there was no reason to decline to answer.


    "I am Jarl Harik Eraldsen! And this is Skovi! The great wolf who serves the God Exile!" Harik bellowed with as much force as he could muster.


    Harik quickly rose his shield out of instinct as Randa''s long, curved de scraped against it. ''Damn! He has no intention of continuing to talk!'' Randa quickly disappeared from sight as Skovi flew through the air in front of Harik with a menacing growl. Thetter quickly searched his surroundings for where his opponent had disappeared to. Only to find him several feet away to his left, casually tapping his de against his shoulder.


    "Well, this might be tougher than I thought." Randaughed heartily as his eyes narrowed on Skovi. "You''ll have to go first!"


    Meanwhile, Ania danced out of reach of the weapons that aimed to take her life. Sweat glistened on her brow as she tried to keep track of all the enemies trying to surround her. A spear thrust towards her from the front, and she used her shield to trap it against the ground as she aimed her own thrust towards the warrior''s heart.


    "Ania! Dodge left now!" Exile shouted as she reacted without hesitation.


    Another spear that aimed to impale her from behind found only air as its tip shot forward to strike Ania''s first opponent in the chest. As the second assant''s eyes went wide in disbelief, Ania spun on her heels to m the t of her shield against the side of his head. Knocking him to the ground as he released his grip on his weapon.


    Ania quickly finished him off with a quick thrust of her spear before spinning on the spot to check her surroundings. ''There are still ten left...'' A quick sh appeared from the tip of her spear, felling another three of them with a single bolt of lightning.


    Exile nodded as he studied the remaining enemies around her. "Well done, but it''s not over yet. They''re hesitating for the moment, but sooner orter one of them will gather their courage."


    ''Yes, Lord Exile!'' Ania eximed internally as she shifted her left foot backwards to give herself the footing needed to retreat or advance at a moments notice.


    "Strike the one to the left of the warrior in front of you!" Exilemanded as she darted forward stunning the enemy.


    The Sommerdan warrior failed to react as Ania''s spear drove through his right thigh, causing him to fall to the ground as she tore it back out. She quickly retreated, kicking up snow as she did, before the man''spanions could strike back at her.


    "Someone help! My leg!" The man screamed in agony as the snow around him turned crimson. One of the other warriors looked from Ania towards the fallen warrior before edging towards hisrade.


    "Don''t!" Themander of this small squad yelled when he spotted the movement. "It''s what she wants! If you carry him back to safety we lose two warriors instead of one! Just finish him off so his screams don''t distract us!"


    Silence descended on that part of the battlefield as a shocked look spread across Ania''s face. The injured man tried to curse at themander, but one of hisrades sliced his throat with their curved de before he could get a word out. Ania began to tremble at the viciousness of that act. ''Don''t they value each others lives at all?''


    "Don''t think about it." Exile growled as he fixed his gaze on themander. Speaking up like that had given his position amongst these troops away. "It was both a wise and foolishmand. He was right in thinking they would lose more manpower in helping him. But ordering his execution will have dropped the morale of the others. Focus on him next and the rest may yet break."


    Ania spun to face themander before lunging towards him. At that same moment, the warrior she had just turned her back towards leapt after her! A look of savage glee spread across the Sommerdanmander''s face as he saw that. There was no doubt in his mind that this witch would be struck down before she could reach him.


    However, the heavens released a bright sh and the man moving against Ania was struck down by a lightning bolt directly from the sky! It was over so quickly that he did not even have a moment to scream. Smoke escaped from his charred flesh as he crumpled like an empty sack to the ground. Themander let out a brief gasp before Ania''s spear found his eyeball. His confidence in the warrior reaching Ania first was the source of his downfall.


    The other men yelped before scattering, screaming nonsense as they fled in all directions. Their minds had immediately told them that this was an enemy they could not defeat when even the weather was on her side. Ania stood silently amongst that chaos as she stared down at the lifeless face of the Sommerdanmander. Her cheeks wet from her own tears.


    Exile sighed as he ced a hand on her shoulder. "Ania, you can grieve once the battle is over. There are others who need your help."


    She silently nodded as she lifted her gaze to the battle that was still raging around her. Somewhere, at the edge of her vision she caught a sh of ck darting across the battlefield towards her father''s position. ''Isn''t that....''


    Skovi yelped as Randa''s de left a nasty gash from the shoulder of his right foreleg all the way to his nk. His legs gave way beneath him as the de sliced through his muscles on that side of his body. Harik roared as his own de shed at Randa, attempting to drive him away from the injured Skovi.


    "Are you still with me, Skovi?" Harik wheezed as exhaustion was quickly overtaking his body.


    A slight growl came in reply, making him feel slightly more at ease. "Good, if you go down I won''t be long in following you to the afterlife."


    Harik''s dark gaze tried to study Randa, in an attempt to guess his next move. Every exchange that they had, Harik felt that he only survived it by a thread. Randa was simply too fast, and it was only the warrior''s intuition that he had honed through many battles and Skovi''s healing that was keeping him from knocking on death''s door.


    A slight blur appeared and Harik yelled as he twisted his body and raised his shield. A loud ng sounded as Randa''s de struck it. The Sommerdan hero smirked as he dashed for Harik''s other, now exposed side. However, Harik raised his shield to cover the gap between his armour and helm. Forcing Randa to strike at a more heavily armoured area.


    The blow felt like striking a wall to Randa as his de bounced off the dwarven made steel. A grimace appeared on his face as the armour that Harik wore saved his life yet again. ''That damn armour! If he wasn''t wearing it he would dead by now! I''ll definitely have it melted down and made into something that suits me! Once I drag his dead body from it!''


    Randa suddenly felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. With a quick movement he raced to the side as he heard a heavy bang where he had been standing! A quick nce in that direction showed him something that looked like a small, ck bear wielding arge hammer! ''No, that''s not a bear! It''s armour!'' His eyes narrowed as something in his mind warned him that this was no ordinary foe intruding in his battle.


    "Who are you!" Randa screamed in frustration.


    The great hammer lifted from the ground, and was palced across the broad shoulders of the man inside the strange armour. A deepugh echoed out from within. Causing a shiver to run down Randa''s spine.


    "I''m Bjorn! Bjorn Ironhide! Hero of the God Exile!"


    "Bjorn? And you''re a hero too, huh? Well that exins this feeling! I''m..." Randa tried to sound confident but was suddenly cut off!


    "There''s no need for me to know the names of those who are soon to die!" Bjornughed as he charged Randa''s position without fear...

 Chapter 183: Ragnarok Gathers

    Bjorn''s great hammer sung as it swung through the air. Aiming to smash Randa''s body to a pulp. However, Randa lightly stepped back. Allowing the hammer to pass inches from his face! Bjorn grunted to slow his momentum as Randa moved in for the kill. His de lunged forward, aiming for a gap in Bjorn''s armour. A slight grin appeared on his face as he felt his de slide through the softer material.


    But his de came to a sudden halt! Confusion shed across his face as Bjorn stepped forward and head butted him. Stunning Randa momentarily as he brought his hammer back for another swing. Randa barely recovered in time to avoid another fatal blow, a deep frown settled on his brow as he studied the tip of his de. Only the slightest bit of blood could be seen on it.


    ''What happened? There should be a hole in him!'' Randa''s gaze fell on where he had struck Bjorn, but there was no sign of any blood flowing from the area. Bjornughed as he caught sight of Randa''s confused expression. Sending chills down Randa''s spine.


    ''What gift did he receive from his God? Whatever it is, it is not perfect. He can still bleed! I just need to cut him more!'' Randa''s expression turned grim as he made his move. Bjorn''s hammer swung through the air in front of him, but Randa was aiming for his rear! His de let out a metallic sound as he cursed. The small, ck squares of metal on Bjorn''s coat deflected the blow. Leaving him unscathed.


    Randa grit his teeth as he retreated from Bjorn who could be heardughing. ''That''s why he swung in front of himself! He''s confident I can''t hurt him any other way...'' Beads of sweat appeared on Randa''s face as he considered the task before him. How many cuts would it take to bring this skardian hero down? How many times would he have to avoid that deadly hammer? And how many times did his opponent have to get lucky enough to hit him?


    Randa did not like the look of those odds. Especially not with Skovi keeping an eye on the battle. Screams, angry shouts and the din of metal striking metal rang out around them as the battle wore on. Bjorn stood there full of confidence. Ready to swing his hammer the moment he lost sight of Randa.


    "Well? What are you waiting for?" Bjorn chuckled as he started to walk towards him.


    Randa''s body shook when he heard the taunt. He struggled to slow his breathing and smother his pride. "Maybe next time!"


    With those final words, Randa disappeared as he fled towards the rear lines. Bjorn''s eyes went wide before he started cursing loudly. "Damn coward!"


    Harik let out a sigh of relief. The whole time he had been sat in the snow watching the nerve wracking fight. Too exhausted to even stand. "Bjorn... What happened with your group?"


    "Hm? Oh, they''re fine without me for now. As soon as I broke their front line our warriors were able to cause chaos. You can see them fighting from here." Bjorn scratched at the side of his helm absentmindedly. "But never mind that. You need to fall back and rest a bit. We''ll hold out until you return."


    Harik nodded at Bjorn''s advice as he helped him to his feet. He slung an army over Skovi as the wolf helped him to a safe area where the injured were gathering. ''This can''t go on for much longer. Reinforcements need to arrive soon!''


    As Hariky on the ground among the injured. several warriors came to guard him. His exhaustion finally got the better of him as he fell asleep.


    ''Master... Jarl Harik is out of the fight for now.'' Skovi reported through his mind link once he was certain Harik was fast asleep.


    [Is he hurt?]


    ''No master. Just exhausted from fighting a hero.''


    [Hm, keep an eye on him for now. Once the others get here you must rejoin Ania.]


    ''Understood...''


    As the connection between them cut off, Skovi curled into a ball beside Harik. Saving his strength for when he would be needed again. Thovok tookmand of Harik''s group in his stead as Bjorn returned to his own men. Bodies piled up as the fighting continued long into the day. With Thovok in charge, not an inch of ground was lost on Harik''s part of the battlefield. While Bjorn thoroughly crushed wave after wave that came against him.


    With the help of Exile''s miracles when needed, a charred mound had slowly appeared around Ania. Finally, the sun began to set and the warriors separated as they moved to prepare their camps for the night. Exile sighed as he stood alone on the ground between the two sides. ''Even when I used my Miracles there was no reaction from them. What is Parthus thinking?''


    He stroked his beard as he peered across that blood stainednd towards the Sommerdan camp. If Parthus had set out with the other Gods there then he would have certainly have lost. ''It can''t just be some mistake on his part. There''s definitely something more to it.'' However, he could not imagine what was forcing Parthus to hold back.


    ''Hm?''


    Exile turned his gaze to beyond where the skardian army was camped. He could feel several auras approaching and a smile appeared on his face. ''Took them long enough!'' y, leading the others from Ragnarok soon appeared. A lot of head shaking could be seen when they saw the piles of bodies being prepared for burial or cremation.


    "This doesn''t look so good..." y sighed as they approached Exile''s position.


    "No, they had it rough. But luckily the enemy didn''t make any big moves yet." Exile cocked an eyebrow as he nced at y. "And why did it take you so long to get here?"


    "The journey was longer than we thought. Plus, we didn''t want to seperate so we could only move as fast as the slowest in the group." y shrugged as a few stares were aimed at Midas who looked slightly embarrassed.


    "I see... Did you see any reinforcements on your way here. Harik''s group won''t be able to hold this battlefield for long on their own."


    "Sorry..." y sighed, telling Exile all he needed to know.


    "So, it''s unlikely we''ll see reinforcements through the night. Which means it''s likely the earliest we''ll see anyone now is midday tomorrow." Exile squinted as he stared at the stars through the dark clouds above. "Everyone will need to spread out. Use Miracles only when you have to. We don''t know exactly how long we will need to hold this ce. y, take our old group and Beans to give support to Bjorn''s group."


    "Winter, Midas, Josa, Neapolm and Harlot''s group are with me. The rest of you will shore up the center section where Harik is inmand. No matter what, we can not lose here!"


    A chorus of cheers sounded as the yers felt anticipation for the battle they would be joining. Little did they know, their gathering had attracted the gazes of the faithful amongst Harik''s army. Those who could not see them, gazed at their position. Certain of their presence. While those whose faith ran deep enough to allow them toy eyes on the Gods saw a bright, golden glow where they all stood.


    The sight washed away their fears and concerns for what the future held. The warriors began to offer their prayers to their preferred God in that moment. Asking for victory and to return home safely. Of course, there was no telling if the Gods would actually listen. Ania, sat before her fire marvelling at the scene of the gathered Gods. ''Tomorrow is sure to be a good day...'' A sad smile swept across her face as she thought about those they had lost.


    Meanwhile, Harik was cursing in his tent with Bjorn, Skovi, Thovok, and various captains around him. He could not forgive himself for sleeping through the majority of the battle!


    "Forget it Harik! There''s no point fretting about it. It''s only natural to be exhausted after fighting a hard battle where your life was on the line with every move you made." Bjorn shrugged as he downed a horn full of ale.


    Voices of agreement soon followed, as everyone attempted to console Harik. They understood the pressure he was under. As well as the fact many had noticed his absence for much of the battle. Of course, they had done their best to hide that he was merely exhausted. Spreading news that he had survived a battle with an enemy hero.


    "Hm, forget it then. But we need to discuss what we will do tomorrow. With our casualties we need to reorganise our groups. They will definitely hit us much harder in the morning than they did today!"


    "Let''s not forget that their hero is still alive... and all of those troops they kept in reserve. They''ll be nice and fresh in the morningpared to our lot..." Bjorn stated as a dark look crossed the faces of the others...

 Chapter 184: A Brutal Struggle

    With the passing of an uneventful night, the two armies took up their positions. Surprisingly, Bjorn''smand had taken the least casualties. This was likely due to the shock effect of them quickly breaking through the enemymands frontline on their part of the battlefield. Harik''s section saw the greatest losses. As such, he had to pull some warriors from Bjorn and Ania''smand to shore up the centre of the army.


    Thovok and his dwarven kinsmen stood on the front line of Harik''smand. Ready to hold the enemy charge in its ce. As the sun crested over the mountains, the drums of the Sommerdan army began to beat. Sounding the start of the second day of battle. This time they marched slowly towards the gathered Skardian army. Seemingly wary of any tricks they may pull.


    Exile''s eyes scanned their opponents as he made note of how many enemy yers were among them. Unlike the first day, it seemed like the Sommerdan yers had decided to join the battle.


    ''They''re still holding back...'' Exile hummed as he focused on the auras staying in the rear with the reserves. ''Parthus will likely use them to push us back once he believes we are exhausted enough.''


    "Is there something wrong?" Midas asked with a strained tone as he nced sideways at Exile.


    "Not really... We''re just in for a tough time by the looks of it. Today will be more about which of us cane out on top rather than the NPCs." Exile chuckled as he focused his attention on the task at hand. "Remember guys, this will be unlike any battle we''ve fought before. We''re not just fighting for ourselves, but we have to maintain the numbers of our people as well."


    "Right!"


    With everyone confirming that they understood, he let out a wide smile. ''Finally, now this is more my speed.'' Exile dashed forward with a roar, followed by the others in his group. At the same time a simr sight could be seen at the other sections of the Skardian army. A horn sounded from Exile''s right as he felt buffsing into effect. ''Looks like y has made his move...''


    At the same time, the Sommerdan yers charged forth to meet them. Midas broke away from the group to intercept a yer attempting to go around them. The enemy yer spoke a word in the Sommerdannguage that Midas could not understand. But as the word was spoke, it appeared in golden letters before him. Midas frowned at the sight, right before mes gushed forth from the floating letters.


    ''Damn!'' As the spell struck him, it was revealed by thebat log that his opponent''s Authority was higher by a fair amount. ''So, his name is Kebhal?''


    Midas cursed internally as he realised that he had likely chosen a poor opponent for himself. ''Looks like I''ll have to spend a little... Wealth is power!''


    [Please state how much Gold you would like to spend...]


    "20 Gold!" Midas screamed as the amount disappeared from his inventory.


    Suddenly, 10 points were added to his Authority score. Driving it up to match his enemy''s. ''Now, Golden Arms!''


    [Please state how much Gold you would like to spend...]


    Midas grit his teeth and cursed before uttering his decision. "14 Gold!"


    When the words left his mouth, the amount disappeared from his possessions as 7 points were added to his Strength. As another word was spoken by his opponent, new golden words appeared as ice shards shot forth from it. Midas grunted as he charged headlong into the spell and only took a single point of damage to his HP.


    "You''re mine!" Midas roared as he swung his longsword...


    "Looks like he''s got a handle on his opponent. Didn''t think he would be able to keep pace in this kind of fight." Exile smirked as he blocked his own opponent using his shield before pushing him back. "How''s everyone else doing?"


    y roared as he swung his two headed sword at the enemy before him. His opponent was creating walls made of rock using his spells to protect himself. Every so often, stone shards would explode from them. However, this was what y wanted. As his HP dropped, a smirk appeared on his face. ''Glorious Counter!''


    His de struck the next spell aimed at him, and sent it back at his opponent. Carrying the power of all the damage he had taken so far. His opponent yelped as his own spell struck him, sending him bouncing across the battlefield with a massive chunk of his health missing.


    Meanwhile, the two NPC armies had finally met. Their weapons shed as the roared ferociously at each other. Aiming to take their enemies lives as if it were all that mattered to them. Bjorn drove into the enemy lines yet again. Leaving them feeling just as helpless as the day before. However, Randa was nowhere to be seen. ''Hmph! Pathetic!''


    His hammer crushed a man''s skull with a single swing as enemies began jumping on him. Attempting to drag him to the ground. Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he was dragged down into the snow. Spears and swords prodded at him between the gaps in his armour, but none of them were able to break his skin. Curses escaped from his mouth at the thought of how humiliating the situation was.


    The warriors under hismand became violent beyond understanding at the sight. No care was given to their own safety as they drove a path through the enemy lines to reach him. Blood and body parts flew as the enraged warriors did all that they could to savagely annihte the enemies before them.


    "Now!" Harik roared and the dwarves holding the frontline of hismand began to rhythmically shout as they began to push against the enemy. Skardian warriors thrust their spears over the heads of their dwarven allies to pierce the enemy. As they went down, the dwarves trampled over them.


    The battle appeared to be off to a better start than the day before. However, there was no telling what the day would bring. Winterughed as she toyed with her opponent. The enemy yer seemed to refuse to show any signs of what his Authority was. But Winter could not care less. The man always shouted enthusiastically as he struck Winter''s figure. But yelled in frustration as it faded away like some long forgotten dream. Revealing her to be in another location and still at full health.


    Exile chuckled when he saw the hard time his Pantheon was giving the enemy. He himself also felt the need to hold back as Parthus had not shown his hand yet. But due to his years in Mayhem, closebat was where he shined. His own opponent became more flustered with each exchange. Feeling that Exile could read his every intention. Sometimes, he could swear that Exile was moving before he had even started his attack.


    However, there were those who were finding it hard to hold their own on that battlefield. Beans was taking damage faster than she ever had before. Her opponent seemed to have spells connected to singing. Or music in general. However, she could not figure out her enemy''s rhythm. Each note the enemy sung seemed to cause a different effect but dispel the effect of thest one. One moment her own speed would drop and the next her opponent would be faster.


    ''She''spletely controlling the tempo of our battle! This is bad! If it keeps up I won''tst long!'' Her eyes darted around as she tried to scan for anyone avable to give her a hand. But everyone already had their hands full. ''In that case, I need to drag her into two on two battle. But who would be best to team up with?''


    Ania freely let her lightning loose on the enemy. Frying them before they could reach her position in her group. Although the enemy reached the right and left they could apply no pressure to the centre of her formation with her there.


    "Lady Ania is amazing! Who knew she could do all of this?" The warriors around her whispered enthusiastically.


    "Stop daydreaming and help those at either nk. We need to push those ends back to stop the centre bing surrounded!" She screamed when she saw the warriors behind her standing by idly in amazement.


    "Yes, My Lady!" The warriors yelled in embarrassment before rushing off in fear that she may turn her lightning on them. Everyone could feel the tension in the air. As if there were some great burden resting on the shoulders of those holding the frontlines of the battle.


    At the same time, in the enemy reserves camp...


    Parthus chuckled as he watched the disy. Everything seemed to be going the way he predicted so far. ''It should be about time. I think we should end this now.''


    "Randa! Take all of the reserve troops and smash their Hero!"

 Chapter 185: What Humans Have Forgotten...

    A sword swung through the air, only to bounce off Exile''s tower shield as he thrust his spear forward. The yer groaned as the system performed the check against the yer''s Authority level.


    [You have dealt 30 points of damage against Ioja...]


    Ioja looked shocked at the massive damage from a single blow as she quickly retreated from Exile''s reach. Exile smirked at her confusion. ''I have to give it to the Dwarves. This equipment is amazing!'' He quickly checked his stats to remind himself of what they were sitting at now.


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3)]


    [Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Custom Race)]


    [Tier: 1]


    [Level: 3]


    [HP: 275/275 (150+125)]


    [DP: 50/70 (28+42)]


    [Strength: 19]


    [Endurance: 55 (30+25)]


    [Speed: 25 (18+7)]


    [Authority: 70 (28+42)]


    Equipment:


    [Dwarven Royal Armour Set]


    [+8 Endurance, +7 Speed]


    [Skourj Greatcoat]


    [+10 Endurance, +4 Authority]


    [Dwarven Royal Spear]


    [+7 Authority]


    [Dwarven Tower Shield]


    [+7 Endurance, +7 Authority]


    ''It''s a shame I couldn''t use my half-cloak with the Skourj Greatcoat.'' Exile sighed. But he was still happy with the stats that came with his new equipment. His Strength and Speed were falling behind now, but the Rocksteady Trait of his custom race would help fix his Strength problem as he killed yers.


    Ioja seemed to be hesitating as she nced around. Clearly trying to decide if she would receive any help. To her dismay, her allies appeared to be pinned down by their own opponents. With no end in sight to their battles. A resigned look crossed her face as her eyes turned back to Exile. She was no fool and knew that this fight would lead to a death for her. But she could at least by time for her allies!


    She dashed forward, casting wind based divine spells as she went. These were just to boost her Speed as she knew direct attacks would fail with her lower Authority score. Exile''s eyebrows rose as he recognised the threat she now posed. His own Speed was quite low, so there was a chance she could deal some serious damage.


    ''Lesser Blessing!'' Exile''s Speed rose by 10 points the moment he activated his Divine Spell. ''It''s not enough to match her, but it''ll take some of the bite out of her attacks!''


    He dashed forward with his shield raised, causing Ioja to curse. She noticed that his Speed had increased as well and now she was being forced into closebat with him. Their weapons flourished at high speed as they did all they cold to avoid taking a direct blow from each other.


    [-15 HP]


    [-15 HP]


    Exile sneered as Iojanded two quick blows against him. It was barely a scratchpared to his health pool, but every point of HP mattered in a war like this. As she stepped in close to slide around his Tower Shield to strike his exposed nk, she noticed a grin appearing on Exile''s face.


    ''Lesser Grace!'' Exile''s grin widened as his Divine spell activated the offensive lightning aura around his body!


    Ioja yelped as a thin bolt of lightning leapt from Exile''s body to strike her. Dealing another 30 points of damage. Her expression turned grim as she flicked her pink ponytail away from her in looking face. The sudden spell had caused her attack to miss as Exile''s shield mmed into her and knocked her away.


    Her eyes went wide in horror as she spotted the damage she had received from that blow. ''35? How?'' It took her a moment to notice that there had been an Endurance check when he struck her. But that only caused her to tremble as she climbed back to her feet. ''He''s a monster...''


    She wanted to scream in frustration, but Exile did not give her a chance to recover. He chased after her the moment he knocked her away. All she saw was a bright sh as another lightning bolt leapt from his aura and struck her. Regret filled her mind as her body turned to motes of light and her orb dropped to the ground. Exile wasted no time in scooping it up and absorbing its power right there.


    [You have absorbed Ioja''s Divinity! You have permanently received +7 Strength and +4 Endurance.]


    [Congrattions! More than 100 points of Divinity detected! You have reached Tier 1 Level 4!]


    Exile nodded happily at the system message. This war with the Mirage Pantheon was his best chance to level up right now. ''Everyone seems to have a handle on things...'' He hummed as he nced at the other battles happening nearby. However, his attention was drawn to a change on the enemy side.


    The enemy reserve formation was marching on Bjorn''s position! Exile cursed as he hoped that y and those over there could do something about it. ''Wait! Where''s Parthus?'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as he noticed several auras still standing where the reserves had been. ''Why?''


    But the answer soon came. Horns sounded from their location, and were answered by others in the mountains. Exile felt his blood turn cold at that sound. ''They still had more troops hidden up there! If they join the battle...''


    He shook his head as he nced towards the horizon behind him. There was still no sign of any of the alliance or royal faction''s yers with their forces. ''Can we even hold them until they arrive?''


    Meanwhile, in the mountains near Eraldsfen...


    "Your Majesty! Our scouts have reported that the Skardian armies have left their strongholds nearby. They appear to be headed in the direction of Lord Exile''s battlefield against the Sommerdan invasion!" A young Dwarf hastily reported as he bowed before King Bargrux.


    The old Dwarf King stroked his long, grey beard as his golden armour shone in the sun. ''It seems that Exile''s n is working.''


    "How long ago was this?" King Bargrux demanded as he stared at the pale light of the sun hiding behind the clouds.


    "A few days ago. With their current speed, they should reach the battlefield by nightfall tonight!"


    "Hm, ready the army! We march within the hour. Remember to capture as many humans alive as possible. We must discover who their Oracles are!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" The young Dwarf replied enthusiastically as he scurried off. Leaving his King alone.


    Bargrux''s gaze was drawn to his shield and one-handed hammer. In Dwarvish, his shield was known as The Face of the Mountain. While his hammer was known as Gods Bane. They were relics left behind by his father, who led a rebellion against their God during his lifetime. Bargrux shook his head as he stared at them.


    "My father was a fool... I won''t make the same mistakes he did..." Bargrux spoke aloud to himself as he paced towards them. Within moments he had strapped the shield to his left arm, and the hammer hung from his belt.


    Loud cheering suddenly erupted from nearby, causing him to smile. ''It''s been a long time since a true Dwarven army was seen above ground. I bet the humans have all but almost forgotten about us by now. Let''s see if twenty thousand Dwarves marching through Skardia is enough to make them remember!''

 Chapter 186: Blood and Glory

    y heaved a sigh as he appraised the approaching reserves of the enemy. ''This doesn''t look promisingˇ­'' His eyes turned towards Bjorn, who was finishing off another group of warriors. A smile crept across y''s face as he chuckled. ''Actually, it might not be such a bad thing for them toe hereˇ­'' He quickly gauged how long his group had until the enemy could join up.


    "y? What should we do?" Beans asked with a frown. Her eyes drawing a line to the enemy reinforcements.


    "Gather on the left nk. Draw the enemy yers over to that side. I''ll deal with making sure the NPCs can break the enemy lines."


    y watched as Beans headed off to inform the rest. ''They just need to buy time. As long as they keep the enemy too busy to realise what is happening until it is toote. Then we have this in the bag.''


    He waited until the other side reacted to their cements. The enemy yers all moved to intercept Beans, believing they intended to mount a powerful offensive on that nk. y''s eyes quickly flickered to Bjorn before rushing to his side. Bjorn hesitated for a moment as y reached him. But before he could say anything, y reached out and ced his hand on Bjorn''s shoulder.


    ''Blood and Glory!''


    y chuckled as his Divine Spell took effect. He observed the confused look on Bjorn''s face as thetter studied his own body.


    "What did you do?" Bjorn asked in a low voice.


    "You''ll see. Push back against the enemy''s right nk. Leave the other side to us. We''re relying on you to break the enemy."


    y darted off to join Beans and the others in their melee against the enemy yers. Bjorn shook his head in confusion before turning towards the right nk of their battle. As soon as he tried to rush there, he had to stop. He had left a fine red mist in his wake. ''What the?'' Those who had just witnessed the spectacle shared y''s confusion. He had moved so fast that the mist he left behind was all that remained of the warriors who had been on his path.


    This caused a brief lull in the surrounding battle. Before a Sommerdan warrior realised that some of his closest friends had just died! The warrior let out an agonising yell as he rushed at Bjorn. The warrior''s curved de cut through the air. Directly aiming for Bjorn''s chest!


    Thetter snapped out of his confusion andshed out at the man with his fist. The sound of bones snapping echoed from the warrior''s body where Bjorn''s fistnded. Right before the blow whollyunched him through the air. Angry and confused yells filled the air. The unlucky warrior''s body sent hisrades in his path, tumbling to the ground from his passing.


    ''I seeˇ­ The god ymore has empowered my body!'' It was all so clear to him now what had just happened. Bjorn startedughing like a madman. The enemy, who had been wary of his prowess before, was now mortified. Momentster, a whirlwind of death appeared on Bjorn''s battlefield as he abused his new power.


    Meanwhile, Exile nodded with satisfaction. From his position, he could see the Sommerdan reinforcements faltering under Bjorn''s assault. ''Looks like y has taken care of it. Now, the only question is how many troops have they been hiding?'' Exile refocused his attention on the mountains. Waiting for the first signs of those who sounded the horns to appear.


    ''Hm?'' Exile caught a glint of sunlight reflecting off of something from between a crack between the rocks. More of the shes soon appeared, as the first of the new Sommerdan warriors appeared from the mountain path. This new group already appeared to berger than what they had been facing. ''Soˇ­ This entire battle so far has only been against their vanguard forces. No wonder Parthus didn''t involve himself!''


    Exile cursed under his breath as he signalled for Winter toe to him. It did not take her long to notice the new arrivals as she approached him. A deep scowl appeared on her face as she took her ce on his right-hand side.


    "We don''t have enough warriors to deal with thatˇ­" Winter said as she surveyed the entire battlefield. "As soon as they join the battle we have lost."


    "Yesˇ­ Put out the word that I want our forces to retreat. We''ll have to use gueri tactics from here on out until our own allies appear."


    "Bossˇ­ Do you think our ''allies'' are taking their time so the Sommerdans soften us up?" Winter asked as she nced towards the sky with an aloof expression.


    "Possiblyˇ­ But it won''t matter. By the time we''ve dealt with these invaders, Skardia will already be within our graspˇ­"


    Winter cocked an eyebrow at this response. "Whatever you say, boss."


    With thosest words, Winter rushed off to deliver the news. Capturing the gazes of any men who could see her along the way. Exile chuckled lightly as he cast his own gaze towards the sun. ''It''s almost midday. It shouldn''t be much longer until the first groups arrive. The Dwarf King should have already made his moveˇ­ We just need to prevent ourselves from being overrun for now.''


    Exile quickly cast several miracles to help the Skardians on his battlefield. ''The sooner we can disengage, the better.'' he felt that cost was worth it for now. Once the chance for a breather would appear, he nned to use it to recover his DP. ''Being able to descend anywhere under the sky really has its benefits. I''ll have to arrange shifts so the others can replenish themselves as well.''


    He squinted towards the area that he suspected Parthus to be standing in. ''At some point, I''ll definitely have to deal with you. Let''s see what other tricks you have up your sleeves!'' Exile''s eyebrows rose as he heard Skardian warriorsining about the order to retreat. ''It''s good that they are still hungry for battle. Don''t worry, you''ll definitely have your fill!''

 Chapter 187 Investment

    187 Investment


    "Lord Parthus, what should we do?"


    Parthus'' raised an eyebrow in response to the general as he studied the battlefield. The general lowered his eyes from his God''s as he waited for him to give his orders.


    "Do not pursue them." Parthus said in a steady tone as he observed how the Skardians deployed themselves in their retreat.


    "Why? We have them on the run!"


    "Don''t be a fool!" Parthus replied in a low, menacing tone. "They are baiting usˇ­"


    "Bait? You mean, they don''t intend to fight?"


    "Hm, no. They intend to. They just mean to do it when the situation favours them." Parthus'' tone returned to its usual calmness. "Have the soldiers regroup. Our opponent is likely expecting reinforcements. Did our scout unit break off from the battle?"


    "Yes, they broke away during the melee and slipped into the forests."


    "Good. We can wait for them to return with what they find. In the meantime, set the soldiers to work, creating defences right here. Once the Skardians realise we aren''t chasing them, they may try a night attack."


    "As you wish. I''ll have a group scout the path back into the mountains as well."


    "Oh, you''re finally learning? That''s good. Yes, make sure we keep our path of retreat clear."


    The general bowed his head before walking away to ry his orders. Parthus inhaled sharply as the icy winds blew down from the mountains, washing over him. ''We''re moving away from the coastline, but we''re still at a higher altitude. It would be best if the soldiers can adapt to the thinner air of this region for a few days before another fight breaks out.''


    Parthus'' eyes focused on Exile as he led the rear troops in their retreat. ''As for youˇ­ either you''re learning fast, or someone has given you splendid advice. I know what one I would put my money on. You''re not at this level yet.''


    His hand came up to scratch at his neatly trimmed beard as he considered his next move. ''His appearance has changed, and dwarves are fighting alongside the Skardians. Hmm, seems like he''s discovered something interesting. I''ll need to remember that.''


    "Randa." Parthus said into the empty air before a light breeze blew.


    "What is yourmand?" Randa''s rough voice sounded as he bowed to Parthus.


    "The hero you fought out thereˇ­ What did you think of him?"


    "Stubbornˇ­ It felt like I was fighting a mountain." Randa sighed as he thought about Bjorn. "I doubt I could kill him."


    "In that case, the next time wee across him, we must try to seal him somewhere. We have to take him out of the equation without wasting time trying to kill him."


    "Yes, Lord Parthus." Randa hesitated a moment before giving voice to what was on his mind. "If the chance presents itself, allow me to deal with that witch and the wolf."


    Parthus cocked an eyebrow as stared back at Parthus. "Very well. But you must focus on the woman. She''s likely to be an Oracle. kill her in a single blow. Even that wolf shouldn''t be able to do anything about that."


    "Thank you." Randa replied before disappearing faster than a human eye could see.


    Parthus'' attention drifted as he thought about the overall picture of the invasion. ''I''ve set the board. Now let us see how you respond.'' A slight chuckle escaped from his throat as he disengaged his avatar spell.


    Meanwhile, Exile frowned from behind a tree. His eyes focused on the Sommerdan army. ''They''re not taking the bait. I hate to admit it, but my brother was right about him. Guess it''s time for the next phase.''


    "Winter." Exile said as he turned his gaze sideways to look at her. "The enemy will have deployed scouts during the fighting. They''ll be searching for our reinforcements. Go to them, make sure they believe our allies are further away than what they really are."


    "Oh? Now that''s interesting. But do you even know how far away they are?" Winter shed a deceptively sweet smile in Exile''s direction.


    "No, but I''m sure you can find out." Exile chuckled as he turned away from the Sommerdan encampment. "Everyone, we''ve dyed the enemy. Make sure and get some rest. Once our reinforcements arrive, we''ll move to wipe them out!"


    The Ragnarok yersughed among themselves before some of them took their leave to replenish their DP. Exile smiled as he watched them go. ''That''s your downfall, Parthus. You''re too worried about every detail. You can''t leave anything to chance. If you spend too long worrying about something that may or not be there, then all you''re doing is paralysing your army.''


    "How long do you think they will wait for?" y asked with a tired tone as he shuffled up next to Exile.


    "A couple of days, at least. It will take their scouts that long to be sure of the surroundings past this point."


    "Do you really think so?" y''s eyes went wide as he nced at the Sommerdans.


    "I know it. By the time they want to move again, they''ll have false information about our numbers. We''ll have the numerical advantage. This fight is as good as won." Exile looked at Harik. ''As long as Parthus does exactly what my brother expects him to do.''


    "Midas. You did well out there." Exile grinned and patted him on the shoulder.


    "Hmph. It cost me more than I was willing to spend." Midas frowned beforeughing. "But I guess we can call it an investment."


    "Yeah. I guess we can. We''ve still got a long way to go. It''s going to get real costly. I''ll be counting on you."


    Exile walked away from him with a smile on his face. A smile that did not really seem to belong. ''Things are about to get really rough. The goal is not to defeat Sommerdan just now. It is to unite Skardia under Ragnarok and Harik. It''s so close I can almost taste itˇ­''

 Chapter 188 Vjern (Part 1)

    188 Vjern (Part 1)


    "Sire!" A dwarf with a grey beard said as he approached King Bargrux. "This city is called Vjern. It seems to be under the rule of a Jarl loyal to Lord Exile''s enemies. Our scouts have confirmed a newly built temple near the castle. What are your orders?"


    "Hmph," Bargrux grunted as he gazed upon his mighty army. "What else? We attack! Sound the horns!"


    A few minutes passed before the sound of the dwarven war horns filled the mountains and forest. ''This should be entertaining.'' Bargrux thought as he patted the head of his Vledrin Mountain Goat steed. The beast was asrge as a pony and outfitted in the finest dwarven armour. ''Let''s go, Bdrum!''


    Bargrux led the charge of the goat cavalry as the infantry surged like a raging tidal wave from the treelines. The Skardian soldiers on the walls of the city flew into a panic at the sudden appearance of an army right on their doorstep! mes erupted from the watchtowers along the walls as they sent the warning of an imminent attack.


    "Calm down! Archers! Prepare to fire! We have nothing to fear! They have no siege weapons!" The Captain on duty roared as he stared at the strange army. ''Where did theye from?''


    It was only when the dwarven army drew closer that he realised it was no human armyying siege to his beloved home. His mind raced as he ced their appearance to old folk tales. An incredulous expression swept his face like a stiff breeze in winter as he mouthed the word ''impossible''!


    The dwarven host let out a great roar as the ground trembled beneath their feet. Arrows flew overhead as the dwarves tilted their shields and helms to absorb the impacts. The Skardians could only look on in disbelief as the arrows bounced off the dwarven metal helplessly.


    ''They''re moving as many troops as they can to defend the gate.'' Bargrux thought as he watched the men on the walls. ''They clearly know nothing of dwarven warfare!'' A soft chuckle escaped his throat as he altered the course of the cavalry and aimed for the wall to the left of the gate!


    The sudden change in the dwarven army''s direction sent the captain on the wall into a panic. Although he had faith in the walls of the city, he had no experience or knowledge of how dwarves fight! That alone made him fearful of what they could be capable of.


    Bargrux sighed as he watched his infantry form ranks before the wall without suffering a single injury. ''You can hardly call this a war.'' He grumbled to himself as he watched the humans iling around like lost children. ''It seems they really have sent their best warriors to the war with Sommerdan.''


    The dwarves chanted their war cries to unsettle their enemies as King Bargrux charged through the formation until he was right next to the great stone wall. ''This should do.'' He thought as he nodded his head. With a mighty swing, he struck it with his hammer!


    The soldiers atop the wall fell over as the entire structure shook. Cries of outrage and shock filled the air as they struggled back to their feet. Meanwhile, Bargrux was studying the deep cracks in the wall from his blow. ''One more should do it!'' Another mighty blow of his hammer shook the wall as he urged his mount to run back to the infantry formations.


    "What the hell is he doing?" The Captain in charge of the defence of Vjern shouted as stared with wide eyes at the dwarven king.


    "Sir!" a soldier said as he pointed to the section of wall where Bargrux had attacked. "There''re cracks appearing under our men''s footing! We should evacuate that area!"


    "What? That''s impossible!"


    12:16


    However, the soldier had spoken the truth. Cracks spread across the stonework like the roots of a mighty tree. ''No! It''s going to fall!''


    "Quick! Have our men evacuate!" The Captain roared, but it was too little toote.


    He could only watch in horror as the wall copsed in on itself. His men were crushed as they fell to their deaths amid screams of fear and agony. A great cheer rose from the dwarven army as the fortified wall copsed into ruins. Which left them with a clear path to invade the city!


    "Onwards!" Bargrux cried as the dwarven cavalry surged forth.


    Arrows rained down on them as their nimble goats leapt up the pile of debris without difficulty. After all, they had bred the Vledrin mountain goats as war steeds for mountainous terrain. A bit of rubble was nowhere near enough to prevent their charge.


    A panicked cry came from a Skardian soldier who had been on the other side of the wall at the moment it copsed. He was only a young man who had never seen an actual battle. However, he mustered the courage to draw his de and dash toward King Bargrux as his steednded on the soft ground inside the city walls!


    Bargrux let out a snort as he stared at the man with disdain. He jerked the reins of his steed, making it swing its head and impale the man with its horns! The goat tossed its head from side to side until the corpse flew through the air and smashed helplessly against the wall of a house.


    Momentster, the rest of the dwarven cavalry joined him. Bargrux barked orders to make them fan out and secure their footing inside the city. Arrows continued to rain down on them, but there were no weaknesses in the dwarven armour for them to exploit. Instead, the ground looked like something akin to a pincushion at that point.


    Soon, Bargrux heard the sounds of battle ahead as he awaited his infantry. ''It seems the cavalry has engaged with the soldiers. There will be no problems. These humans are nothing to be afraid of. We have the numerical advantage.'' His gaze went to the sky above them as he searched for the sun''s position.


    ''At this rate, the city will be in our hands in less than an hour.'' Bargrux frowned as he thought about that. ''Now, where''s my damn infantry?''

 Chapter 189 Vjern (Part 2)

    189 Vjern (Part 2)


    "Hold!" Bargrux roared as the Skardian soldiers collided with the front line of his infantry. "Hold!"


    The soldiers had regrouped and were now flooding into Vjern from the walls. They had realised there was no point in trying to defend the city from up there and had moved the battle into the streets. Bargrux gazed over the heads of his warriors and down the central road leading away from the gate.


    "Knurr, take the cavalry between the buildings and strike them on the left nk!" Bargrux ordered one of the mounted dwarves next to him.


    Knurr nodded as he turned his steed about and called for the cavalry to follow him. The gap created from their departure was filled momentster by more infantry. The sea of shields stood firm as the Skardian forces crashed against them.


    "Push, now!" Bargrux roared, and the dwarves began to chant.


    They mmed their shields against the defenders as they pushed forward. Their boots trampled over their enemies as they fell to the ground beneath the sudden assault. The humans did not know what to do. Although the dwarven army was shorter in stature, their strength and endurance far exceeded their own.


    Armour was wrought asunder by the dwarven weaponry as swords, spears, axes, and hammers collided. The din of battle spread far and wide. Which infected the poption of Vjern with fear. Never in living memory had Vjern evere under attack. Nevermind by such a ferocious army.


    The humans cried out in desperation as the dwarven army moved like an unstoppable war machine. Hope was nowhere to be found in that battle as they watched their friends and family fall. The Captain in charge finally made it down from the wall at that moment. However, the ughter before him left him helpless.


    ''Why? Why are they attacking?'' Tears streamed down his face as he stared with hollow eyes at the massacre. ''What did we do to deserve this? Have our gods forsaken us?''


    However, no answer to his question arrived. Perhaps, if he had prayed in the temple, then the story would have been different. But that was not the case. At that moment, the tip of a dwarven spear narrowly missed his throat!


    That event dragged the Captain back to the reality of that battle. His sord swung upwards and shed with the spear''s shaft, pushing it to the side. He swung furiously at the dwarf responsible, but he misjudged his swing because of the difference in height between them!


    A metal ng rang out as his de skimmed the top of the dwarven helm. ''Shit!'' He grit his teeth as he attempted to pull away from the dwarf grinning under his full helm! However, the dwarf struck his sternum with the tip of his shield as he drew his spear back to stab at him again!


    Luckily for the Captain, one soldier next to him intervened. They used their own shield to divert the attack. However, this left them open to their own opponent. The Captain''s saviour cried out as a dwarven axe severed his shield arm at the elbow, right before his head was removed from his shoulders!


    ''Demons! They''re demons!'' The Captain thought as a couple of soldiers dragged him to the safety of the rear lines.


    "Captain! You have to warn the Jarl! Go! We''ll hold them off here!"


    The Captain stared into the resigned expressions of his men who nodded at him. Most of those who served in the town garrison had great respect for him. He was firm but fair. Not only that, but he 12:18


    always rmended those for promotion based on their ability and not who their family was.


    It was rare to find such amander. Especially since he always joined in on any dangerous missions issued by the Jarl! His men urged him on as they shoved him toward the road. For a man such as their captain, they were prepared to give their lives.


    Bargrux grunted as he saw the enemymander fleeing from the battle. ''Run all you want. We''ll get you once we''re done here!'' At that moment, the dwarven cavalry fell upon the enemy''s left nk! The human''s ranks fell into disarray as Bargrux gave the order to push on that side of the battle.


    Meanwhile, as more of the dwarven soldiers filed into the city, they used the back streets cleared by the cavalry to drive deep towards the heart of Vjern. They barely met any resistance as the soldiers focused on the main army under King Bargrux, fighting for the central road.


    It surprised most of the civilians to discover the dwarves paid them no mind as they marched past. Not a single nonbatant was harmed as they used the distraction to approach the temple. ''Once we clear out this rabble, Vjern should have little left to offer any resistance.''


    Bargrux scratched at his beard as he observed the fighting. ''If they have anything left, they''ll have to throw it at us soonˇ­ Unlessˇ­'' His eyes narrowed as he nced towards the walls in the distance, barely visible over the buildings. ''Hmmˇ­ It''s possible, I suppose. But would a Jarl really abandon his people?''


    The nagging feeling in the back of his mind screamed louder for attention the more he thought about it. ''We can''t allow anyone to escape and warn the other cities! The gods should be preupied with the Sommerdan war. So there''s little risk in them intervening unless they sense their Oracle''s lives are at risk.''


    ''Hmˇ­ Better not leave anything to chance.''


    "Commander!" Bargrux yelled as he turned to the infantry unit at attention behind him. "Send word to the rear. I want them to encircle the city and check for any signs of anyone escaping! If they find anything to indicate that has happened, have them track them down and bring them back alive!"


    "At once, your highness!" The dwarf grunted as he passed the message along the lines with a dubious expression stered on his face. Though, nobody could tell since his beard hid it from view.


    At that moment, the enemy''s left nkpletely copsed under the dwarven two-pronged attack. The rest of the formation fell into ruin as gaping holes appeared, allowing the dwarves to push through and encircle the remaining soldiers. ''The battle of Vjern is practically over. I was too generous in saying it would take an hour.'' Bargrux sighed as he drove his steed through the enemy lines.

 Chapter 190 Faith Breaker (Part 1)

    Chapter 190 Faith Breaker (Part 1)


    Bargrux hummed a merry tune amongst the ughter as his goat trotted along the main road. Civilians peered from their windows at his passing, watching the mighty dwarven sea of steel as it passed by. ''As I thought, it seems like they have nothing left to throw at us. We should be able to reach the next city before night falls.''


    Bargrux nodded to himself, pleased with the dwarven show of power. However, that was when he heard it. A great cry echoed out from the area near the temple. Then the sounds of battle followed it.


    ''Hm? What''s going on over there?'' He stroked his beard before urging his steed onward.


    The army behind him broke into a sprint to catch up. Many dwarven captains called for him to slow down, fearing the enemy would catch him in a trap. However, Bargrux''s blood boiled at the thought of a worthy battle. So he paid them no mind. The road was long, so it took him a few minutes to reach the site of themotion.


    He watched over the heads of his men as a small group of Skardians prevented their entrance to the temple! No matter how hard the dwarven soldiers pushed, the enemy never faltered. A moment passed, and Bargrux bore witness to a goat and its rider being thrown into the ranks of his soldiers.


    ''Hoho! What do we have here?'' Bargrux wondered as he watched the group from a distance. Then, he turned his sights on the temple. Where he could see a group of Skardians taking refuge behind the warriors.


    ''Hm. Are they heroes? Or oracles?'' He found it difficult to tell the difference. Although, he assumed the warriors barring his army were most likely heroes. Who were probably defending the Oracles of their chosen gods. ''It''s already begun. It won''t be long until a new Age of the Gods truly descends upon us.''


    Bargrux frowned as he stared at his own hammer. ''I''ll need to put an end to this before they cause too much damage!''


    "Hrah!" Bargrux roared as he spurred his steed forward. His war cry alerted his men to his presence as they cleared a path for their king.


    The Skardian warriors at the front did not miss his arrival. One of the women amongst the group stepped forward and swung her arm in the air. However, Bargrux only frowned at the gesture when nothing happened. A secondter, his whole body jolted as he was thrown from his saddle!


    Bargrux groaned as hended heavily on the ground. The wind was knocked from his lungs as he struggled to catch his breath. The nearby dwarves rushed to protect him while he got back to his feet. A little shaken, but otherwise fine. ''What was that?''


    Through blurry eyes, he turned to catch sight of his loyal steed. Only to discover small roots had erupted from the ground and now bound its legs! ''So, that''s what happened, eh? That one''s an oracle then!''


    Bargrux roared as he shoved his soldiers aside and charged at the Skardian warriors! He raised his shield in front of him as the woman from before swung her axe. Her aim was true, and the blow struck it square on. A loud metallic sound rang out as a tremor raced down her arm!


    Her eyes went wide as the shield pushed her axe aside and opened her up for a counter strike! The woman''s eyes almost popped out of her skull as Bargrux struck her full force in the sternum. However, he did not stop there! The next thing she saw was his shield swinging towards her face!


    She was doubled over from hisst blow, and had no time to react. A confused expression shed across her face as she attempted to conjure roots. However, nothing happened! Bargruxughed as his shield bashed her face, stunning her.


    As she staggered backwards, Bargrux struck her thigh. Which caused the woman to copse into a kneeling position! The dwarves behind him roared merrily as they redoubled their efforts to lock down the other warriors so they could not interfere. The woman nced at Bargrux with fear in her eyes and a pleading expression on her face. However, before she could beg him for mercy, a solid blow struck her jaw, which rendered her unconscious!


    "Tie that one up and keep her under guard! She''s one of our targets!" Bargrux roared at the surrounding dwarves, who were quick to respond.


    This seemed to enrage the woman''srades as they attempted to break their respective encirclements and rescue her. However, the dwarves put up a stalwart resistance as they cooperated to prevent them from aiding each other.


    "Take them all alive! Don''t kill them!" Bargrux warned his men as he studied their opponents. The others did not show any obvious sign of being oracles. They just seemed to be stronger or faster than normal humans should be capable of.


    ''These three should be heroes, then. She was probably the only warrior oracle amongst them. Still, we can''t be having any idents.'' Bargrux''s eyes red at the remaining warriors one after the other as he decided who to challenge next.


    Eventually, he settled for the man who had tossed a goat and rider earlier. His strength was forcing the dwarves to mostly focus on him. To prevent him from charging through their lines to the aid of the others.


    The dwarves cheered again as their king rushed through their ranks to deal with the most troublesome enemy. Meanwhile, the people watching from the temple had horror stered on their faces!


    "Sigur clearly tried to use her powers! Why didn''t they work?" One man said to another with a tremor in his voice.


    "I don''t know, but we have to give the heroes some support! What do you think will happen to us if they fall?" The man replied as sweat poured down his brow.


    At that exact moment, Bargrux reached the man with inhuman strength. A mad glint appeared in his eye as he raised his shield to intercept the two-handed hammer that was aiming for his skull!

 Chapter 191 Faith Breaker (Part 2)

    Chapter 191 Faith Breaker (Part 2)


    The Skardian flinched as his war hammer made contact with King Bargrux''s shield. He cursed as he felt like he had just struck a mountain instead of a dwarf carrying a shield! However, he did not get a chance to analyse that situation before Bargrux shattered his hip with a mighty blow!


    The warrior groaned as he attempted to swing his weapon during his fall. However, it was now too heavy for him to lift! It reminded him of the time before he had be a hero. Although he was tall, there was very little muscle in his body. He had often suffered abusive insults because of it. He could not help but wonder what had happened, just before Bargrux rendered him unconscious with his follow-up strike!


    "Two down!" Bargrux chuckled as he turned to face the remaining two.


    They had already witnessed his might and were eagerly doing their best to reach each other. King Bargrux analysed the pair with a frown. The woman wielded a shabby spear while the man had a sword in his hand. ''She''ll be harder to deal with. The man it is then!''


    King Bargrux stomped through the battle lines as he urged his men to step aside. However, he could see the remaining two were already faltering now that the pressure on them had grown. Shallow cuts appeared on their skin as ribbons of blood decorated the surrounding air. ''They''ll fall soon enough.'' Bargrux sighed as he debated whether there was a need for him to continue aiding his army.


    However, his battle lust was not to be tamed so easily. He surged onwards until he broke from the crowd to challenge the Skardian male. The warrior looked left and right with the expression of a wild beast trapped in a corner. ''Hm, this one could be dangerous.''


    When a warrior could control their emotions, they would show patterns in how they fought. However, someone without experience or who was not thinking clearly could be highly unpredictable. Though, Bargrux had full faith in his armour made by the finest dwarven metalsmiths. So he was not too worried about that.


    He roared his challenge as he charged at the man, who, contrary to expectations, sidestepped him and chopped at his back with his de! Bargrux grit his teeth as he felt the blow. However, it was little more than a shock as his armour deflected it. The warrior and his weapon were mediocre at best. Which was not enough to challenge dwarven craftsmanship.


    The king quickly pivoted on his rear foot in an attempt to smash his shield into the man''s ribs. However, he had already put a little distance between them, which cause Bargrux to miss entirely. Of The real problem in facing her came when the dwarves had to enter the doorway. There was only enough room for one of them at a time. Whenever they attempted to counterattack, she used that course, the warrior was so focused on the king and how to escape that he came too close to the other dwarves.


    Spear tips erupted from his chest as cruel des bit deep into his body! Bargrux''s eyes went wide at that sight as he cursed under his breath!


    "Alive! Take him alive you fools!" He roared before ordering the dwarves responsible to get the man some medical attention. He swore they would pay for it if the human died.


    At that point, he turned his attention to the final warrior. She stood in the doorframe of the temple as she used her superior reach to keep the dwarves at bay. Her spear was just a blur to Bargrux''s sight as he marvelled at her skill.


    ''This one is definitely used to wielding a weapon. She even has some awareness of the battlefield as she''s positioned herself splendidly!'' Bargruxplimented her in his mind. However, the dwarves had formed a shield wall in front of her and were using it to slowly close the gap!


    The real problem in facing her came when the dwarves had to enter the doorway. There was only enough room for one of them at a time. Whenever they attempted to counterattack, she used that moment to drive her spear through the gaps in their helms for their eyes!


    A small pile of dwarven corpses began to pile up, threatening to cause a blockage. Bargrux cursed at the sight while he stroked his beard. ''As soon as the doorway is blocked, she can use our corpses as a wall to strike at us safely from behind it!'' He silently cursed her ingenuity as he nced at the temple''s walls.


    ''I may have to take down a wall to deal with her now.'' Bargrux shook his head at the thought. He had hoped to keep the temple intact so that shrines could be built to the Ragnarok pantheon! That way, Exile could easily keep track of both battlefronts by sending an emissary.


    However, if they took down a wall, they would have to rebuild it first. After all, Bargrux''s pride would never allow him to greet a god in a ruin. ''What am I wasting time for?'' Bargrux sighed in exasperation. ''It''s not like it will be a problem for us!''


    So he told himself, but the dwarven race was notorious for performing extensive renovations if they ever got to doing repairs. Bargrux roared as he struck the temple wall with his hammer! In a single mighty swing, a great hole opened up leading to the building''s interior! The civilians cried out in panic as the woman defending them cursed.


    "Throw down your weapon! There''s no need to keep fighting now!" Bargruxmanded as he strode into that holy ce.


    The woman momentarily eyed the wall of corpses and then the dwarven infantry streaming inside. She let out a weary sigh as the dwarves pointed their weapons at the people gathered there. She had to admit that there was nothing left that she could do.


    She found it useless to resist any further. Especially since she had witnessed the dwarves taking the others alive. Which meant they were unlikely to kill her. Bargrux nodded when she dropped her spear with a tter and raised her hands in surrender.


    Bargrux rapidly gave out orders to detain every Skardian in the temple, but to make sure they were treated well. The dwarves cheered, knowing that they hadpleted their main objective for the invasion of Vjern. However, the female warrior had a question to ask of Bargrux as she was led past him.


    "How did you do it?" She asked with a defeated expression writhing on her face.


    Of course, Bargrux realised she was asking how he had prevented the warrior oracle''s ability from activating. A soft chuckle escaped his throat before he met her gaze with a serious expression.


    "It''s a secretˇ­" He whispered, making her eyebrows shoot up while he stroked the head of his now sheathed hammer, God''s Bane.

 Chapter 192 The Great Skardian Army (Part 1)

    Chapter 192 The Great Skardian Army (Part 1)


    "There''s nothing here," The Sommerdan Captain in charge of the scouts said as his soldiers gathered around the campfire. "We''ll rest here for a while and head back to the army. Themanders will be d to know there''s no ambush or reserve troops."


    "Captain, does that mean tomorrow we''ll throw everything we have at the Skardians?"


    "Probably. Who knows what themanders are really thinking? But it would be a waste to let this opportunity go. If we don''t destroy this army here and now, they''ll join up with another er."


    The soldiers around the fire nodded in agreement with their Captain as they shivered in the chilly night air. Their breath could be seen floating in front of them as each of them thought about the warm sands they called home.


    Meanwhile, a short distance from the group of Sommerdan scouts. Two figures watched them with smiles on their faces.


    "That''s really handy," Aeri grumbled as the yers and NPCs of Kaleidoscope marched behind them.


    "Exile thought it prudent for me to make sure the enemy receives false intelligence. He hopes you will take your army around our nk and wait for the Sommerdans to attack us before you ambush them." Winter replied with a radiant smile that sent a shiver down Aeri''s spine.


    "Of course, I''ll spread the word to the other Pantheons."


    Aeri studied Winter for a moment before taking her leave. However, Winter was busy trying to figure Aeri out while she controlled her spell that hid the army from the scouts. ''She''s strong, but I think I could take her.'' Winter nodded to herself with silent confidence. I just hope Exile knows what he''s doing.


    She watched on as Kaleidoscope passed by, soon followed by other Pantheons. They wereter to arrive than Exile had predicted. However, that made Winter uneasy. Despite all their talks, Winter wondered if Exile could really take control of the situation once the Sommerdans were defeated.


    It was a legitimate concern since their alliance in the Civil War was much smaller than the Royal faction. If Exile made one wrong move, then many of their allies would suffer more than a few deaths. It would not surprise her if the Royal faction yers took it a step further and killed yers enough to have them banned from the game!


    Winter shook her head at the thought of their situation. However, Exile had always pulled through so far. No matter how dire the situation had appeared. Though this would be thergest battle they had ever taken part in. It would definitely reveal if Exile had any faults that could be exploited.


    "If things look bad, I may have to consider switching sides. I''m not going to flush away my chance at ying this game just to be loyal." Winter sighed as she watched the scouts put out their fire. "Let''s hope it doesn''te to that."


    Winter stuck with the scouts as they broke camp to join back up with their main army. She had to make sure they did not turn back and identally discover the Skardian army. Winter could not help but think about how easily the NPCs could be manipted with their powers as gods.


    If something like this happened in the real world, then it would definitely be a crime. However, this was a game, and they had to do anything they could to win. Of course, she had seen the news reports about people questioning how ethical Pantheon was. But in the end, the NPCs were exactly that. NPCs. So why should they question how they treated them when they never had to consider it with other games?


    She was so lost in her thoughts she almost lost track of the scouts. However, she realised her blunder before it was toote. The Sommerdan soldiers felt their skin prickling as if danger was near. However, when they looked at their surroundings, there was nothing there.


    "Must be my imagination." The Captain said as he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders.


    Meanwhile, Exile nced at those gathered around him. A deep frown was on his face as he studied the Sommerdan formation. ''It looks like they''ve emptied the mountain pass of all their soldiers.'' Exile scratched his beard as he attempted to figure out their exact numbers. However, Harik cleared his throat to get his attention.


    "Lord Exile, we can''t possibly hold back this army. We need to retreat before the enemy decides to use their advantage."


    "He''s right, Exile." y said as a long sigh escaped his mouth. "If they throw all of that at us, we won''tst long. It''s suicide to stay here now. We can''t afford to wait."


    Exile looked at the pair, then closed his eyes. A momentter, he nodded his head before ncing toward the Sommerdan army.


    "No. We''vee this far and we''re close to iming victory." Exile hummed as he took note of the concerned expressions. "The next battle is where we will im our victory. We''ll just have to clean up after it and give chase to the enemy, so they retreat. Don''t worry. I''m sure we''ll see our reinforcements before the next battle can begin."


    The mortal NPCs gathered there wore dubious expressions except for Thovok, who knew more about what was going on. Ania''s doubt onlysted for a split second before her unwavering faith in Exile took over. Which soothed any doubts taking root in her mind.


    "Harik, deploy the troops and set up the formations. The Sommerdans are sure to attack the moment they believe victory is in their hands. We can''t be caught unprepared. Bjorn, you will take a group of your strongest warriors and hold back in the rear."


    Bjorn grumbled as he voiced his question in reply to Exile''smand. "Lord Exile, why would you keep me from the battle? I can''t be of any use being held in reserve. Surely you can see that!"


    "Of course I can, Bjorn." Exile chuckled. "I want you to be prepared to intercept the enemy hero at a moment''s notice. You''re the only one who can do this. After your fight with him, I believe he will attempt to go after someone else and avoid your section. So we need to remove you from it and have you ready for when he makes his move."


    Bjorn nodded as he scratched his cheek. Then he took a swig of mead from his horn before bursting out inughter. "You can leave it to me, Lord Exile! I won''t let him get away again!"


    Exile smiled at Bjorn''s enthusiasm. However, his thoughts were different. ''That hero is bound to flee if he''s forced to fight Bjorn again. It''s not like Bjorn has a way to trap him there. So putting an end to that threat is unlikely. Unless we get a chance to box him in.'' Exile sighed internally as his eyes turned to the sky.


    ''The weather isn''t looking good either. But that should be in our favour. How long do we have to wait for these reinforcements? Even if they werete in setting off, they should be here by now.'' Exile frowned as he nced toward the enemy yers in the enemy lines. ''The real question is whether Parthus will take part in the next attack.''

 193 The Great Skardian Army (Part 2)

    193 The Great Skardian Army (Part 2)


    Exile smiled as snow fell from the dark clouds overhead. ''Just in time!'' The temperature continued to plummet as Exile considered the difort the Sommerdans had to be feeling. ''This should help a lot.'' He thought as a wide grin spread across his face. ''It seems the royal faction has finally arrived, and with them, the rest of our own faction!''


    He chuckled as he thought about what that meant for this battle. ''They''ve taken down their barricades so they could get as many troops here as possible. Sure. They''ve likely left some behind to stall the other invasion points. But with the barriers gone, we can finally unite all our people in one area!''


    ''There was always the possibility of that happening. However, I thought they would realise the danger of letting them through. Hm, maybe they just feel the Sommerdans are a bigger threat than what we can pose to them.'' Exile stroked his beard as he studied the enemy army''s reaction to the weather.


    ''I have to assume this change in weather is Noslin''s doing. She''s probably using the snow to mask the approach of the army she''s with.'' Exile hummed to himself as Thovok had the dwarves begin a war chant to intimidate the enemy. ''I just hope they don''t mess up this chance.''


    A deep frown appeared on Exile''s face as the Skardians prepared themselves for the battle. Bjorn wore a reluctant expression on his face as a small group of warriors gathered around him in the rear. However, he understood he had an important role to y. As the two sides finished their preparations, the yers took their ces at the front of their respective armies.


    "Everyone! Be mindful of your surroundings! If you can, try to force the enemy into two-on-one fights. Conserve your DP as much as possible!" Exile bellowed to the members of Ragnarok.


    "y! As soon as this battle ends, take your group and join the Skardians we sent through the Silverfang Pass. Make sure the enemy retreats to their ships instead of trying to go around us."


    "You''ve got it." y chuckled as he nodded at Exile. He understood how important a win here would be for their Pantheon. "You going to be ok dealing with the Royal faction without me?"


    "We''ll be fine." Exile grinned as he kept his doubts to himself. ''If Bargrux has achieved what I asked of him.''


    Exile''s gaze wandered toward the Stormcrown region. Everything was in ce, and all that remained in the way of naming Harik as a Skardian King was the control over that region. However, if Bargrux seeded, that obstacle would be removed. ''I just hope he had enough time.''


    He was aware that he had asked a lot of the dwarven king. There were a number of cities he would have to seize in the space of the few days it took the Royal faction yers to arrive at the battlefield with their armies. Exile sighed internally at the thought of the workload that would be waiting for him in the event they came out victorious.


    ''The news and the stream will draw a lot of eyes to our Pantheon. It will be the perfect time to announce our partnership with Rebel Energy and who I really am.'' At that moment, war horns began to sound out through the fresh snow as the Sommerdan army marched towards the Skardian lines.


    However, Exile''s eyes narrowed as the enemy yers moved as well. ''Seems like they really are throwing everything at us. They''re not leaving anyone behind this time. Which means... Parthus is joining the fight!'' Exile grinned as the flutter of snow turned into a storm. A wall of pure white blinded everyone as the tension in the air rose.


    "Ania, take care of yourself out there. Our reinforcements are here, but I can''t guarantee your safety." Exile shot her a soft smile as he kept his voice low. "I''ll have to deal with the enemy gods, so do not rely on my protection."


    Ania gulped as she nodded at his solemn words. Her ears perked up as she heard the tter of metal closing in through the storm. ''They''re almost upon us!'' She nced at the great wolf by her side forfort before the first speck of colour broke the monotonous white of the curtain surrounding her.


    "Charge!" Ania bellowed, over the roaring winds that threw the snow around.


    Yells filled the battlefield on all sides as the Skardians charged forward to meet the invaders. The ground quickly turned a startling shade of red as blood was drawn. The din of war carried on the air from all sides as the two armies shed with a ferocity that had never been seen during that age.


    Exile deflected an enemy de with his tower shield as he lunged with his spear! The enemy yer cried out as the tip of Exile''s weapon struck his shoulder. The yer cursed as he sidestepped the follow-up lunge and shed towards Exile''s head! However, Exile tilted his face so the de struck the ornamental wing on his left side.


    The enemy yer wheezed as Exile used that chance to bash him with his shield. Which made his opponent''s eyes go wide at the damage inflicted on him! A flurry of blows was exchanged as Exile took control of their fight. His enemy cursed under his breath as he considered using his Authority. However, the battle had barely begun and he would be looked down on for resorting to that so soon.


    Exile understood what was going through his opponent''s mind as he continued to chip away at his health. From what he could tell, his opponent''s spells were likely to useless against his higher Authority. So there was no reason for him to fret as he pushed his advantage. Eventually, his opponent yelled out as he activated a divine spell.


    Exile''s mind felt clouded as a drunken stupor overtook his reasoning. ''Well, this is interesting.'' He mused as he struggled to strike his enemy who shed at his back. However, his enemy grimaced as Exile''s superior stats prevented him from receiving any damage!


    Exile grinned savagely as he swung his spear in wide arcs, which forced his opponent to back away. The pair stared at each other as NPCs from both sides died all around them. Exile tried to keep sight of his opponent. However, he seemed to have decided there was no point in that fight as he fled from Exile''s vision!


    A loud curse escaped from Exile''s throat as he nced around him at the brutality that was unfolding. ''I guess I can call that a win, but I didn''t gain anything from it!'' He sighed as he wandered through the snowstorm in search of his next opponent. Luckily, it did not take much as he came across another yer who seemed to have narrowly escaped death at the hands of one of Ragnarok''s yers.


    The enemy yer barely registered his presence as Exile lunged at her throat! She let out a soft yelp Personally, he hoped it was thetter. A solemn expression crossed his face as he realised he had 09:30


    already lost sight of Ania. ''I hope she''ll be ok.''


    before the weapon struck, turning her into bright motes of light. ''Well, that''s one down at least.'' Exile grinned as he swept up her orb and the dagger she dropped. The snow made it difficult for him to pinpoint the enemy''s position, even if he could sense their presence there.


    As the drunken effects from his previous opponent''s spell passed, a smile danced on his lips. ''That was a bit short. Either his spell was just that weak or someone killed him and it removed its effects.'' Personally, he hoped it was thetter. A solemn expression crossed his face as he realised he had already lost sight of Ania. ''I hope she''ll be ok.''


    -10 HP


    Exile cursed as he swivelled to face his left side where a man holding a bow was situated. ''This one''s strong!'' He quickly checked the log to discover the new opponent''s name. ''Kreepin?'' His eyebrow shot up as he eyed the yer. ''Seriously, how do peoplee up with these names?'' He sighed as he deflected the next arrow with his shield.


    However, the moment he advanced on Kreepin''s position, he disappeared into the blinding snow. ''Damn! He must be attempting to interfere with the battles and gain some easy kills!'' Exile cursed as he made a mental note to keep an eye out for that yer.


    Meanwhile, Bjorn cursed under his breath. ''I can''t see a damn thing in this snow! How am I meant to find that sted hero of theirs!'' A vein bulged on his forehead beneath his helm as listened to the sounds of battle. A momentter, the howl of a wolf pierced through all of the other noises! ''Skovi!'' Bjorn growled as he realised the wolf had to be calling for help.


    ''He should be with Ania. If she''s in trouble then it should be that hero!''


    "With me!" Bjorn bellowed as he led his warriors into the fray.


    He shoved the Skardians in his way to the side as his hammer cracked open a few skulls. The contents of which spilt across the ground, making the footing where he passed extremely treacherous. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as Skovi howled again. This time it sounded more desperate than before!


    "Damn it! How far into the enemy lines did that girl go!" Bjorn swore as he appeared to reach a clearing in the enemy formation.


    At that moment, the snowstorm suddenly stopped. As the air cleared Bjorn cursed louder than he ever had in his life! ''We''re surrounded!'' Enemies eyed him warily from all sides. However, it was what was in their hands that made Bjorn cautious. The enemy hade prepared withs and rope to entrap him! An enemy yer watched Bjorn with glee as he pursed his lips and whistled. However, the sound that came out of his mouth was not human. Instead, it mimicked the sound of a howling wolf.


    At a different ce on the battlefield, a wide grin spread on Harik''s face as the curtain of snow fell away. Although they were in a bad position, hope red in his heart as thousands of Skardian warriors charged at the Sommerdan army''s nks! ''The reinforcements have arrived!''


    Hey guys, with my return to Webnovel and Pantheon Online continuing I''ve released another novel for this year''s Spirity Awards! The Dreamwalker! I hope to see you all over there, and please show it some support. Thank you all very much, and I hope you enjoy it as much as this one.


    Antihero

 Chapter 194 Unpredictable Situations (Part 1)

    Chapter 194 Unpredictable Situations (Part 1)


    Noslin cursed as the snow fell away and revealed the state of Exile''s forces. The Sommerdan army yelped when they realised two new armies had appeared on their nks, which left only the path back to the mountains free of enemies. However, theirmanders were quick to take control of the situation. They bellowed out the order to prepare to meet the new opponents inbat.


    Beartooth snorted when he saw that as he gave the order to charge. The yers and NPC armies of the Alliance quickly fell upon the Sommerdan right nk as the Royal faction led by Aeri rushed the left!


    Meanwhile, near the centre of the Sommerdan army, Parthus let out an amused smile as he nced at the neers. ''Masterfully done! I wonder how they got these armies past the scouts?'' Parthus mused as a glint appeared in his eyes. ''If Exile nned this then he has definitely grown since the streams I saw.''


    Parthus clicked his tongue as a frown appeared on his face. ''No, this is too borate to master in such a short time. He''s had help.'' Parthus'' fingers drummed against the pommel of his de as he analysed the situation. ''Whoever is behind this is a master ofrge-scale conflicts. I look forward to finding out who they are!''


    He turned to bark orders at the yers around him as a cruel smile danced on his face. ''Let''s see how you respond to this!''


    Exile frowned as he defeated the fourth yer to attack him and scooped up their orb. The Sommerdan army was starting to move, revealing a path straight to their centre! ''That''s got to be a trap, right?'' Exile scowled at the obvious move. ''If we were to charge in there then we would be the ones surrounded. What the hell is Parthus thinking?''


    Exile took a second look at what was happening and cursed. The NPCs that Parthus had pulled from the centre were shoring up the nks and slowing down the reinforcements. ''So, he''s weakened this side because there''s fewer of us here. The amount of troops facing us is still enough to hold us off. Meanwhile, he seeds in slowing down our allies andys a trap in one simple move!''


    He could only shake his head in response to that as he dodged a de aimed at his neck. Exile rapidly bashed the foolish opponent with his shield before stabbing her with his spear. The yer cried out for help just before he smashed the rim of his tower shield into her throat, killing her on the spot!


    As he collected her orb he noticed a group of Harik''s warriors attempt to use the cleared path to reach the enemymanders. Only for them to be surrounded and killed once they were too deep to retreat. ''It''s like marching into the open jaws of a hungry beast! There''s no way we can use it to our advantage!'' Exile cursed as he headed in Harik''s direction to warn him to keep his warriors from trying that again.


    Meanwhile, Bjorn roared defiantly as thest of the warriors apanying him was in by the Sommerdan forces surrounding him! Severals had been thrown over him as the enemy soldiers pulled on the ropes attached to them to limit his movements. A momentter, his legs became too entangled to move as his arms and weapon were pulled tight against his body.


    He cursed out loud as the soldiers pulled, toppling him over! He grunted as his body hit the ground and fresh snow invaded his mouth and nostrils. At that moment, a sinisterugh sounded amongst his would-be captors. A sharp kick struck his ribs, rolling him over to face the owner of theugh. ''Shit!''


    Randa looked down on Bjorn with a joyous expression on his face. "Well, what do we have here?"


    "Hurry up and get it over with! At least I know I''ll dine with my gods in heaven tonight!" Bjorn growled as he peered through the rough ropes of thes.


    "Oh no! You''ve got it all wrong! We''re not going to kill you!" Randa chuckled. "Take him to the rear. I''m sure we can arrange some entertainment using him once the battle is over! Just make sure he doesn''t get free. I''m going to deal with the witch."


    Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he cursed Randa as a coward. ''If anything happens to Ania I''ll never be able to live with letting Lord Exile down!'' Bjorn struggled against thes as Randa faded from view.


    He cursed as the soldiers dragged him through the snow, leaving a trail behind. ''Someone! Help Ania!''


    Skovi growled as a familiar scent reached him while Ania fended off her attackers. She became startled when Skovi suddenly jumped in front of her as a deep red line appeared in his fur! Ania nced around as she heard a gutting sound close to her right side. Only to discover Randa cleaning the blood from his de by flicking it in the air.


    Ania froze in shock as Skovi healed his wound before padding in front of her protectively. The great wolf growled menacingly as it kept its eyes on the Sommerdan hero. As Ania snapped back to reality, she realised the soldiers surrounding her were backing away.


    "Skardians! Fall back! He''s too much for you. Give us some room and nobody interfere!" Ania shouted as she eyed Randa warily. She raised her shield and rested the shaft of her spear on top of it as she fixed her footing for the sh toe.


    "Well, little witch, let''s see how good you are!" Randa chuckled before vanishing from her sight!


    Ania cursed as she swivelled on the spot, searching for Randa. However, she was unable to perceive his presence at all. Hopelessness bore down on her mind as she scanned her surroundings. ''The snow!'' She suddenly spotted small disturbances in the snow as it fluttered into the air slightly. ''That has to be caused whenever he passes by!''


    A slight glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes, just before she heard Skovi howl from behind her...

 Chapter 195 Unpredictable Situations (Part 2)

    Chapter 195 Unpredictable Situations (Part 2)


    Ania spun on her heels to look at Skovi. The great wolfy in the snow with a nasty gash that ran from the base of his neck to his hindquarters. The snow quickly a deep red around him as Randa prepared to sever his head!


    "No!" Ania screamed as a bolt of lightning shot forth from the tip of her spear.


    Randa cursed as he was forced to avoid the deadly lightning. He scowled at Ania before ncing at the wolf. Skovi''s wound ran deep and it was not something that he could fix with his breath in a short amount of time. A cruel grin spread across Randa''s face as he focused his gaze back on Ania.


    Ania cursed as he disappeared from view and a heavy blow struck her back! Luckily, the dwarven armour protected her. However, the blow still stung. She stumbled forward as another blow struck her back, and anothernded on the arm she held her spear with. Vibrations ran up to her shoulder which made it difficult for her to keep her grip on the weapon. A momentter, the spear was knocked from her hand as Randa drove the pommel of his de into her gut!


    She gasped for breath as she doubled over, but Randa''s fist struck her jaw. She toppled over in the snow as Randaughed.


    "Is that it, witch?" Randa sneered as he raised his de to finish her off.


    "No, it''s not!" Ania chuckled as she pointed the palm of her right hand toward him.


    A thick bolt of lightning leapt forth and sted Randa on the chest! He had been too close to her to avoid it that time, which was what Ania had been waiting for. Randa''s long, curved de fell to the snow as he was thrown backwards into the surrounding crowd. Ania''s vision became blurry as he disappeared. ''I don''t...'' Ania never finished her thought as she cked out. The Skardians cheered as they moved to protect her delicate figure on the ground.


    Meanwhile, Thovok cursed as he hacked at the knees of his opponent. One of the Skardians who had been fighting near him had witnessed what had happened to Bjorn and warned him the enemies were getting away. As he killed the Sommerdan warrior he turned to the Skardian and asked which way they went. As soon as the Skardian pointed the direction out, Thovok turned his gaze on the dwarven warriors at his side.


    "To me! To me, my kin! We march with the fury of the mountains!" Thovok bellowed as he pulled a throwing axe from his belt and lobbed it into the neck of another Sommerdan.


    "Harr vok Bmal-dun! Harr vok Dur!" The dwarves roared back as they assaulted the Sommerdan army with renewed vigour.


    The dwarves led by Thovok carved a bloody path through the Sommerdan ranks as they gave chase to Bjorn''s captors. A dark expression flickered on Thovok''s face as the dwarves continued the chant. ''For the Mountain! For the King!'' Thovok thought as he stomped on the foot of an enemy.


    As those events unfolded on separate areas of the battlefield, Exile rose his eyebrow in confusion. Six yers were making their way toward him from the centre of the Sommerdan army. However, other members of Ragnarok had also noticed that strange urrence and were making their way to his side.


    "Harik, clear an area over there," Exile said as he killed another yer who stood in his path and collected their orb.


    Harik frowned at the sudden order but performed it anyway. Before long, arge clearing on the battlefield appeared as no mortal dared to set foot in that area. The NPCs could feel the Divine auras of a number of gods encroaching in that space. For some, it was too much. They directly fainted or spewed their guts out from the overwhelming feeling washing over their bodies.


    Exile nodded at y, Midas, Winter, Old Un and Burri as they gathered in that location to intercept the yers from the Sommerdan forces. However, their opponents appeared to look down on them when they arrived and showed no intentions of fighting. A woman on the enemy side stepped forth, the slit on the side of her fine green silk dress revealed the dark skin of her legs up to her hip as she walked.


    Winter scoffed when she caught Burri drooling at that sight, which dragged him back to reality as he shrugged unashamedly at his behaviour. Winter clicked her tongue as she scowled at the enemy yer. She had a feeling she was trying to distract the men on purpose with her actions.


    However, the woman returned Winter''s scowl with a sweet smile before she spoke. "Please, fetch Exile of Ragnarok. We would like to discuss terms to end this bloodshed in a peaceful manner."


    Before Exile could say anything, Midas stepped forward with a confident expression on his face. "There''s no need to bother Exile with this. I can speak on behalf of the Pantheon when ites to negotiations."


    "Really?" The woman cocked an eyebrow as she studied Midas'' figure before nodding in satisfaction. "Very well then. Before we begin, I''m Summer Sands, Vice Leader of Mirage. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"


    "Midas Touch, Commerce and Rtions officer of Ragnarok." Midas replied with all the confidence he could muster. Of course, the rtions officer part was a total bluff. However, he needed Summer Sands to take him seriously. ''No offence Exile, but I''m sure you''ll forgive me. I doubt you can handle something like this, that''s why you had me deal with Noslin before, right?''


    When Summer Sands saw that nobody on the Ragnarok side refuted Midas'' im she decided he was worthy of holding those negotiations as Ragnarok''s representative. After all, there would be no point if he did not have the authority to act on anything they agreed to. The tension between the two groups rose as Summer began to talk.


    "These are our terms... For your total surrender..."

 Chapter 196 Summer Sands (Part 1)

    Chapter 196 Summer Sands (Part 1)


    The expressions of the Ragnarok yers turned ugly at Summer Sands'' statement. However, they felt the need to hear her out first. If they had any luck, they could gain some insight into why she was so confident.


    "First, you will cease all hostilities against our army. Then, you will have your NPCsy down their arms and armour. Once that is over, the leaders of the Skardian Pantheons and the NPC leaders will gather here to swear their loyalty to Parthus."


    When Summer Sands stopped speaking and wore a confident smile on her face. Exile and the others could not help butugh. Summer Sands frowned as theughter permeated the air while NPCs were still dying around them.


    "Please, forgive us. But how is this a negotiation for the end of this war?" Midas chuckled as he shot an amused expression at Summer and herpanions. "Take a look around. We are winning. Even if you retreat now, the casualties you will suffer will put an end to this invasion. You''ve already lost. You should be making offers to us, so we allow you to leave with what warriors you have left."


    "I see." Summer smiled as she nodded her head. "You believe this is the final battle, and the war is already yours."


    Summer''s casual reply sent a chill down Midas'' spine as Exile narrowed his eyes. However, before Midas could say anything, Summer continued speaking.


    "You are foolish to think this battle will end this war. What I''m offering you will put an end to this Holy War. However, turn it down now, and there won''t be a second offer."


    Midas frowned upon hearing that. ''She''s already hinted they have more troops. Also, they''re willing to use them in the fight against Skardia.'' Midas rubbed his neck as he thought about the situation. This negotiation was nothing like what he had expected. ''This is above me. I can''t make this decision. It would be different if I were trying to gain plenty of benefits from a defeated enemy.''


    "I refuse your deal." Exile hissed as he stepped forward to stand beside Midas.


    "And who are you to refuse this?" Summer Sands asked as she cocked an eyebrow toward him. However, Exile saw through her facade.


    "You''ve known who I was since you decided toe here to demand our surrender." Exile red at her as the clouds overhead turned dark.


    "My, my. What a temper you have. Forgive my rudeness. It''s a pleasure to speak to you face to face."


    "Enough! Set forth proper terms for your surrender or fight. That is the choice I am giving to you!"


    Summer flinched beneath the pressure radiating from Exile. She was still a Tier 1 God, so she felt unnerved by standing so close to Exile. However, she had chosen to do this to prove her worth to Parthus. So she would not back down now.


    "Exile, you should calm down. You have achieved great things for your Pantheon. But do you think you''re capable of leading them to the top? Surely you can see the benefits of working under Parthus?"


    Exile noted how Summer''s eyes sparkled at the mention of Parthus. ''She''s probably been with him since he yed Crest.'' Exile sighed before fixing his gaze on her.


    "No, I don''t."


    A shocked expression appeared on Summer''s face. However, before she could think of how to reply, a stream of lightning struck her!


    The time for talking was over. Exile rushed forth to smash his shield into the yer next to Summer while focusing his lightning on her. It took Exile''spanions a moment to realise what was happening, especially as his actions surprised them just as much as their enemies!


    Despite that, Midas was the first to jump into the battle. He had been prepared for it when he realised the Sommerdan yers had no intention of backing down. Momentster, a brutal fight emerged on that part of the battlefield. Exile had stolen the initiative with his assault, which put the Mirage yers on the back foot.


    Summer''s eyes widened when she realised Exile chose her as his opponent. A nce revealed her allies were too busy dealing with their opponents and could not lend her any aid. She cursed under her breath as she activated a few spells while Exile closed in on her position.


    Exile sneered when a stone shield andnce appeared in the air between himself and his prey. ''Lesser Blessing! Lightning Bolt!'' Exile''s speed rose as he pointed his spear toward Summer''s stone shield!


    When the two spells collided, arge explosion urred. Pieces of stone were scattered in the air as a figure shot through the cloud of smoke toward Summer. She shivered under the gaze of Exile as sparks suddenly danced on the surface of his armour.


    She waved her right arm to direct hernce to intercept him. However, Exile''s shield diverted the stone construct toward the ground. Summer''s face turned scarlet when she saw her spells had not slowed him down at all. Her eyes bulged as she activated another spell while retreating to put distance between them.


    However, Exile was faster than her. A secondter, Summer fell within the range of his lightning aura. She could only swear unceremoniously at Exile as stone figures appeared around her. As they became fully formed, lightning bolts shot from Exile''s body to strike them. Exile could not help but raise an eyebrow at that sight.


    ''My spell recognises them as enemies. So they should be puppets that can act without orders.'' Exile frowned when he counted four of them. Two of them were in the shape of bears. While the remaining two were humanoid and dual-wielding stone, curved des.


    There were no facial features on their heads. Exile shook his head as it was difficult for him to tell where their focusy. Summer retreated behind the four constructs as the bears charged toward him. They used their massive bodies to block the lightning bolts from striking the humanoid ones behind them.


    Exile cursed when he saw the ck scorch marks on the bears. ''They can endure my spells! It may be harder than I thought to reach Summer.'' He did not doubt for a second that he would reach her. After all, there was only so much she could do against a yer on a higher tier. However, he had to admit he was interested in her Authority.


    He wondered what it was that allowed her to create such things. So far, he could only tell it came from the earth element. ''Maybe it''s a unique belief of the Sommerdans.'' Exile mused as he fired off another lightning bolt while dodging the massive paws of one bear.


    Either way, it was an impressive ability. However, Exile knew it had to be costly to cast. He was confident in his deduction since it could stand against his Tier 1 spells. Exile''s gaze went beyond those constructs to Summer Sands. Herplexion had paled. However, she had paused her retreat to watch the performance of her spell against a Tier 1 yer.


    Exile shook his head at that point. ''You shouldn''t have stopped. You might have gotten away.'' A wide grin appeared on his face as he lunged forward with his spear.

 Chapter 197 Summer Sands (Part 2)

    Chapter 197 Summer Sands (Part 2)


    Cracks appeared on the stone bear as Exile''s spear stabbed at its chest. Exile grinned at the ugly expression that appeared on Summer Sands'' face. After all, she had no idea his physical attacks took their damage from his Authority stat!


    ''She was hoping I would get cornered in closebat.'' Exile chuckled at that thought. He was sure weapons based on the Authority stat were rare at that point in the game. After all, if every yer had them, there would hardly be any need for the Strength stat.


    Exile stepped inside the bear''s range and smashed the face of his shield against it. The giant construct stumbled backwards as Exile dealt a flurry of blows using his spear against it. However, the other puppets reacted to his assault by surrounding him. That action only made Exile''s grin grow wider.


    Lightning bolts leapt from his figure to strike at all four puppets simultaneously. Deep cracks spread through their stone bodies as the sudden attack interrupted their actions. Exile used that moment to dash between the two puppets in front of him!


    Summer Sands sneered at Exile as he dashed towards her. However, she realised she had messed up by stopping in the first ce. Exile was honestly surprised when she did not continue to flee. Instead, a long whip appeared in her hands as a determined expression rested on her face.


    A surge of respect for his opponent appeared in Exile''s mind as he angled his shield toward his opponent. The whip cracked as it struck his shield, and Exile feltpelled to halt his charge. His eyebrows arched upwards beneath his helm as he stared at Summer Sands with a curious expression.


    ''She was able to match me with that attack.'' Exile hummed to himself as he thought about that development. He understood his base power in his tier was low. However, he was sure his items ced him above any lower-tier yer. ''She must be approaching the ascension to this tier. There''s something off with that weapon.''


    His gaze fell on the whip in her hand, only to notice fine brown and silver strands made its structure. ''It''s no use. I have no idea what those materials are or how she got ahold of it. I can only press on at this point.''


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he burst forward. He raised his shield to cover his charge as he zig-zagged to avoid the whip. However, a curse escaped his lips as the weapon reached around his shield and struck his exposed jaw!


    -18 HP


    When he nced at the log, he realised what was going on. Summer Sands'' strength stat was far above his own when she wielded the whip. ''I can''t let her keep hitting me with that.'' Exile frowned as he red at his opponent before charging at her again.


    This time Exile kept his gaze on the whip as he peered over the rim of his shield while preparing his spear. The whip cracked two more times. However, Exile was ready for it. It pped against his shield harmlessly as he diverted the force of the attack so as not to slow his advance.


    Summer Sands'' eyes widened as Exile lunged at her. She attempted to avoid the spear, but she was too slow. The pair exchanged blows as Summer Sands kept retreating. However, she could not lose Exile as he did not let her escape the range of his spear.


    Damage piled up on Summer Sands as Exile controlled the tempo of their battle. Every time she dodged his spear, she found his shield striking at her. She cursed as her health plummeted. However, Exile''s attention never left her and each of her movements.


    Exile saw the hesitation in her eyes and acted on it. He mmed his shield against her and pivoted on his left foot, swinging his spear in a wide arc. Summer Sands tried to jump out of the way. However, her bnce was off from the shield strike. A glimmer of anger appeared in her eyes as the spear shaft struck her.


    A solemn expression appeared on Exile''s face as he watched his defeated enemy turn into light. He took hold of her orb and stored it as he nced around the battlefield. However, a curse escaped his lips as he looked at the state of the other fights.


    Although Ragnarok imed victory in those battles, it came at the cost of only Midas and y surviving them. ''You can''t win them all, I guess.'' Exile sighed when he understood they still came out on top in terms of gains. The Sommerdan army had started its retreat while they were fighting. However, scores of NPCs were still dying in the bloody exchange.


    Exile was confident those losses would have an impact on the Sommerdan invasion. However, he could not stop thinking about what Summer Sands had said. ''If a second wave like this onends on our shores...'' Exile shook his head as he turned his gaze to the sky. ''I don''t see a way of stopping them.''


    ''We need a full-time strategist. Luckily, I know who to call. I have to hope he epts.'' Exile sighed as he watched the Sommerdan retreat.


    In another ce in Skardia, King Bargrux stared at the tall walls of Alessiam. ''So, this is the capital of Stormcrown.'' His ancient eyes studied the walls with a frown. ''This is the birthce of Alessia''s first oracle. What we seek is hidden here.''


    A determined expression set on his face as he ordered the attack. Eight cities had already fallen to his army, but they had only captured a few oracles who had refused to abandon their homes. However, they discovered that all the royal faction oracles had moved to Allessiam.


    ''Who''d have thought we''d have the perfect excuse to search the only city we had an interest in.'' Bargrux watched as arrows rained down on his army. Allessiam was not like the other cities they had conquered. A sizeable army defended its walls.


    Hours passed before the dwarves breached the walls. Bargrux watched with a glimmer of anticipation as the great gates opened to his army.


    "Onward! Push them back! Seize the keep and the temples!" Bargrux bellowed as he kicked the ribs of his goat.


    A few dwarves stuck close to him as personal guards on their mounts. They knew what their king was after with this attack, but they had to make sure nobody found out until the time was right. The sea of dwarves parted for their king and his entourage as they entered the Allessiam.


    "Where is it?" Bargrux demanded as he turned to an old dwarf wearing grey robes on his right.


    "The scriptures ce it near the old outer walls that have been demolished." The dwarf responded as he stroked his beard. "Judging by the old city ns and its currentyout, it should be in that direction."


    Bargrux eyes narrowed as he nced at a spot slightly to the right of the city center. "Then that is where we shall go!"


    The group of dwarves did not spare a single soul as they charged toward their destination. Bargrux even ordered the death of any civilians they passed. In doing so, nobody could tell the tale of their passing or where they headed.


    It took some time, but they persevered and struck down any group of warriors on their way. As they arrived at their destination, Bargrux grumbled as he stared at an ancient temple. A statue stood in front of it that depicted a woman surrounded by mes as an old man kneeled before her.


    ''At least they''ve kept it well.'' Bargrux thought as he stared at the statue of Allessia. He nodded towards the dwarves with him, and they immediately charged at the temple''s door. The old wooden door groaned as the goats headbutted it before it splintered inwards. Excitement rose in Bargrux''s chest as he entered behind them.


    "Destroy the altar." Hemanded after a quick nce around the room. He had understood when he first saw the altar that it had been made by dwarves. So it was only to be expected that it would take them some time to break through it.


    The sounds of battle from outside intensified as time passed while the dwarves hammered at the stone structure. Bargrux tapped his foot on the wooden floor as he wondered how long they had until the fighting reached that part of the city.


    That was when the altar broke apart as the dwarves around it wheezed. Bargrux grinned like a madman as his eyes wandered to the dark passage that had been hidden beneath it. ''Finally! After all this time!'' Bargrux chuckled as he rushed towards it. He stared into the darkness and the steps that led deep into the earth.


    "Prepare yourselves. Today, we recover a part of our history that has been missing since the time of Vors!" Bargrux announced as the other dwarves grinned. ''Today, I seize the greatest weapon of our kind.''

 Chapter 198 Ancient Power

    Chapter 198 Ancient Power


    Bargrux ordered the dwarves to stand guard in the temple as the elderly dwarf handed him a few devices. The king descended into the darkness for several minutes. However, that did not bother him. His eyes adjusted to the dark, allowing him to see the details carved on the wall.


    1


    ''This is our history.'' Bargrux sighed as he scanned the carvings with wonder. He came to a halt as a particr image entered his view. It was of a dwarf sitting on a stone throne with Vors cing a crown on his head.


    Bargrux caressed the stone face of the dwarf with affection in his eyes. Tears glistened in his eyes as he stared at the rugged face for a few minutes. ''You were the hope of our people, but nothing was ever enough for you.'' Bargrux tore his gaze away from the image as he continued his journey.


    The scenes changed to show a great war as dwarves stood side by side with skardians as they fought an army of humanoid beast people. Then it showed a great time of prosperity for his race before moving to a more sinister scene.


    Gods. Caged and imprisoned deep within the mountains. Dwarves prodded them with different devices as looks of cruelty were disyed on their faces. Bargrux shook his head as he knew what wasing next.


    Another war. Dwarves fighting dwarves in the great fortresses beneath the earth appeared on the walls. On one side stood the crowned dwarf from before. Behind the other army stood Vors and a skardian god. The female god stood tall and proud in dwarven armour. Her two feathered wings stretched out from her back as mes swirled around her.


    ''Alessia.'' Bargrux sighed as he gazed at that image. The goddess had revealed his n''s betrayal to Vors after she escaped an attempt to capture her. The final scene depicted the defeated dwarf king with the two gods standing over him.


    An ancient stone door barred his path just beyond it. The dwarven runes carved upon the face of the doors told of ancient curses that would befall anyone who forced their way through them. Bargrux revealed the golden key in the palm of his left hand as he studied the doors.


    "There it is." He mumbled as he pressed the tip of the key against the smooth stone door.


    The piece of stone disappeared inside the door at the key''s touch. Bargrux took a deep breath as he turned the key, and a slight click echoed in the area. The was no sound as they swung open. Even the passing centuries had been unable to affect the dwarven craftsmanship.


    Bargrux shuddered as an ominous feeling washed over him. The light of flickering mes appeared from inside the room he had unlocked. ''There''s no going back.'' He thought as he steeled his resolve.


    His fingers stroked the head of God''s Bane on his hip as he strode inside. Bargrux''s eyes darted to the walls, searching for hidden traps. However, none appeared to exist. ''They were confident in the curses on the door.'' Bargrux nodded to himself as he kept a steady pace.


    The shape of the mes appeared in his vision as he neared them. They formed a cage with a stone throne in the centre of them. Bargrux''s eye narrowed as he stared at that scene.


    "Hmph! It''s been too long. Tell me, how goes the war?" An ancient dwarf was covered in stone as golden chains bound him to the throne.


    Bargrux''s eyes went to the crown on the dwarf''s head momentarily before answering. "The war ended long ago, Your Majesty."


    "Did it now." The figure hummed as he attempted to open his eyes. However, the stone encasing them refused to budge. "What of my father? Did he survive?"


    Bargrux remained silent as he contemted what he should reveal to the ancient existence. After some hesitation, he decided to speak the truth. "Vors died in the war."


    The ancient king remained silent for some time. Bargrux could not tell what he was thinking as the stone prevented him from making any expressions. ''This can''t be easy. A demigod trapped in an eternal prison. How long has it been since hisst visitor?'' Bargrux grumbled in his mind.


    "So, I was right. The gods can die a permanent death." The stone figure said.


    Bargrux nodded, unsure of how the figure was able to speak. However, he presumed the old gods had made it that way so they could interrogate him.


    "What of my bloodline? What happened to my son?" The figure asked after several moments passed.


    "Your son passed away some time ago. He carried your teachings and beliefs with him til the end." Bargrux responded. "He left behind a son of his own who still lives."


    "Did he now." The imprisoned dwarf grumbled from inside his cage. "How did my son survive my fall?"


    Aplex expression appeared on Bargrux''s face as he heaved a sigh. "Allessia begged Vors to have mercy. Your people and your bloodline live on because of Allessia''s grace."


    Some time passed as the figure contemted all he had heard. "Why are you here?"


    "I am here for the weapon. You know what I speak of." Bargrux''s gaze turned cold as he stared at the ancient figure.


    "Hmph! Do you think I will give it freely? For a dwarf to be here, you must be ackey of the gods! Allessia would never allow you in here otherwise!"


    "I wasn''t asking. I was telling you, grandfather. I will uphold my oath to our people!"


    The stone figure fell silent after Bargrux''s response. Several minutes passed before a sigh escaped from him. "My own blood. The shame you bring upon me! Go ahead! Take it! Take this curse from me, and let me die in peace!"


    Bargrux nodded as he stepped into the mes. The fire did not burn him as he crossed them. ''The elders were right. Only those who worship a god of the first me can cross this defence.'' Bargrux sighed as he approached the throne. A silver box that had a ck needle protruding from it appeared in his right hand.


    The needle pierced the stone encasing the dwarf with ease. Bargrux felt it when it found the flesh of the dwarf. ''Time to see if this works.'' He pressed down on the side of the box with his thumb, and golden runes appeared on its surface.


    Bargrux stared at the device intensely as the silver turned a shade of green. ''It works!'' A wide grin spread across Bargrux''s face as the stone figure trembled. Eventually, the box stopped reacting, and Bargrux stored it in a pouch on his belt.


    ''Now, the final piece.'' Bargrux removed a golden disc from a separate pouch and ced it on his grandfather''s chest.


    "No!" The stone king mumbled weakly. "How do you know about that? Not even my son knew!"


    "There are some things, grandfather, that even you are unaware exist." Bargrux snorted as he gently stroked the disc.


    A humming noise filled the chamber as the disc released a white light. The stone figure screamed in agony as the stone encasing it crumbled and fell away. Bargrux''s eyes widened as he saw the greying flesh of his grandfather clinging to his skull.


    "You can''t! Leave it with me!"


    Bargrux shook his head as he red at the ancient dwarf. "This is the key to our salvation. I would never let it die with you."


    The flesh of his grandfather turned to dust before Bagrux''s eyes as what remained behind.


    Bargrux reached out and took the ck stone that shone with a he studied the disc. His grandfather''s chest was thest part of him to fall away. But when it did, Bargrux''s eyes shone as he stared at what remained behind.


    Bargrux reached out and took the ck stone that shone with a dark light in his palm. The golden disc fell apart at that point. However, Bargrux did not care about that. He always knew that the unique item only had a single use. ''We waited so long, and now I have both items I came here to collect.''


    Bargrux sighed as he stared in wonder at the ck stone. ''Such a small thing, yet so much power.'' His mind wandered to the now green box in his pouch. ''Grandfather''s divinity as a demigod is stored in there. But it''ll have to wait until we return to the mountain. The procedure will be painful.''


    ''Once I use it to turn myself into an artificial demigod, the rise of my people is all but assured.'' Bargrux chuckled as he rubbed the ck stone delicately. ''As for you... We''ll have to wait and see if someone worthy of your power appears.''


    Bargrux was not stupid. He knew it would be suicide to fuse with the ck stone for anyone who was not born with divinity running through their existence. He doubted that an artificial demigod could contain and use its power.


    1


    He stored the ck stone in an intricate gold and silver box before storing it in one of his pouches. ''I never thought it''d be possible. That I would hold a piece of the First Ore...''

 Chapter 199 Checkmate (Part 1)

    Chapter 199 Checkmate (Part 1)


    Exile stared at the departing Sommerdan army as it entered the mountain chain with the Skardian forces harassing them. ''Guess I should prepare for the next part.'' His gaze went on Aeri, and the Royal faction yers gathered around her.


    1


    The air grew tense as Ragnarok, and the rest of the rebel faction, gathered together to stare at their civil war opponents. Exile used that distraction to absorb the stats from the orbs he had collected during the battle.


    "Here," Midas whispered as he nudged Exile and handed him a share of the orbs from the other battles. "This could get messy, and we know our best chance is for you to get stronger."


    Midas winked as he stood aside to let Noslin take her ce next to Exile. The two powerhouses of the rebel faction wore stern expressions as Aeri approached them with a smirk on her face. However, Exile did not stop absorbing the orbs in that period.


    Soon, his aura exploded, and a surprised expression appeared on everyone''s face as they stared at Exile. Aeri''s expression turned ugly as she studied him as she continued her advance. However, she felt a trace of fear appear at that event. Exile failed to notice the reaction he had caused as he studied the notifications he received.


    [You have absorbed multiple Divinities!]


    [You have received +18 Strength, +18 Endurance, +5 Speed, and +5 Authority!]


    [You have gained more than 150 points of Divinity!]


    [Congrattions, you have reached Tier 1 Level 10]


    1


    [Aura of the Gods now affects any yer below Tier 1 Level 5!]


    [You have learned the Divine Spell: Wrath]


    [Wrath: Release your anger with this Divine Spell! Dark clouds gather overhead for a radius of 200m. Every 15 seconds, five lightning bolts will strike a maximum of five enemies within the spell''s radius with damage equal to your Authority. Duration: 5 minutes. Cost: Half of your remaining DP.]


    ''Five levels!'' Exile grinned like a madman at his gains. He knew a war had the best chance for him to level up quickly. However, what he had experienced went beyond his expectations. ''I have Parthus to thank for this. Most enemy yers were on the cusp of reaching the first tier! No wonder I could gain so many stat points!''


    The sudden advancement caused Exile to regain his lost health and DP from the battle. An intoxicating feeling of power spread through his body as his cold gazended on Aeri. He watched her lips move, although he heard nothing. He could only guess she was cursing this development.


    As she continued her advance under his hostile gaze, Exile turned his attention to his stats. If a fight were to break out, he had to understand his new limits before it happened.


    [Tier: 1]


    [Level: 10]


    [HP: 385/385 (260+125)]


    [DP: 77/77 (35+42)]


    [Strength: 44]


    [Endurance: 77 (52+25)]


    [Speed: 30 (23+7)]


    [Authority: 77 (35+42)]


    Noslin could only shake her head as she stared at Exile. She understood from his aura that he had to have gained several levels. After all, even she suffered from the dangerous feeling he gave off. She immediately recognised that he most likely stood at the peak of the skardian powerhouses.


    Exile cocked an eyebrow in her direction as she took a step back. That action alerted everyone that Noslin no longer believed herself to be his equal. That meant the fate of the rebel alliance rested entirely on Exile''s shoulders and how he dealt with Aeri.


    Aeri showed a forced smile as she stood in front of him. At that point, Exile''s gaze went on the yers who had apanied her. ''They must be Pantheon leaders. The ones who survived the battle.'' Exile grinned as he studied their faces. He could tell they were uncertain about starting a battle now.


    After all, they could all sense that Exile had reached some milestone in the game. With that came the uncertainty of what he could do. Not only that, but nobody was in their peak condition, except for Exile. They were busy trying to evaluate his power, the losses and gains from experiencing another battle so soon.


    Heavy sighs escaped Aeri''s entourage as they decided they did not like that situation. Exile''s grin widened at that sight, and a cruel glint appeared in his eyes as he received another series of notifications. The time hade to deliver the final nail in the coffin of Aeri''s ns.


    "Before any of you try to threaten us. Or seekpensation foring to our aid. I have an announcement that everyone should hear."


    Deep frowns appeared on Exile''s enemies and allies alike when they heard that. After all, he had gone to extreme lengths to keep the details of his n from everyone. Only now did he receive the notifications he had been waiting on.


    [Congrattions! Milestone: Followers 800/800pleted.]


    [New Milestone: Followers 800/1600]


    [Awarding +1 Stat Point]


    The notifications continued along that line until it finally stopped.


    [Congrattions! Milestone: Followers 25,600/25,600pleted.]


    [New Milestone: Followers 48,972/51,200]


    [Awarding +1 Stat Point]


    In the end, he gained six free stat points and received King Bargrux''s message that the dwarves hadpleted their mission. It was the signal they had agreed upon beforehand. Every dwarf in Bargrux''s kingdom would worship him once they captured the Oracles and the territory of Stormcrown.


    "Any of you who have an Oracle in the territory of Stormcrown!" Exile bellowed as everyone''s attention fell on him. "You shall surrender to our rule. Or be eliminated from the game!"


    of their Oracle''s safety. However, the march and the battle with the Sommerdan forces required all of their attention. So none of them Chaos descended as the yers shouted abuse at him. Nobody would react well to such a threat, especially when they were sure of their Oracle''s safety. However, the march and the battle with the Sommerdan forces required all of their attention. So none of them had bothered to ept their Oracle''s attempts tomunicate with them.


    They had assumed it was frivolous reasons they could not be bothered with when they were about to face such a crisis. Nobody could me them for that. After all, as far as everyone was aware, all of their enemy''s forces were on that battlefield too. So there should not be any army capable of threatening their Oracles in a secure location!


    "I''ll give you a few minutes to confirm my words!" Exile roared over the crowd as he exuded arrogance and confidence in his announcement.


    A chill ran down the spines of the yers who would be affected by what Exile had said. Beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads as theirplexion paled when they made contact with their Oracles. Exile nodded when he saw them stare at him with horrified expressions.


    "For those who don''t have an Oracle in Stormcrown, let me exin the situation," Exile said when he saw the confused expressions of the Royal faction yers who had no idea what was happening.


    "The region of Stormcrown is under my control! My army has invaded it and captured all the Oracles stationed there!"


    Incredulous expressions stared at him before they looked to their allies to confirm if what he had said was true. However, those in their ranks only confirmed the situation before staring at the ground. The Pantheon leaders of the Royal faction could not believe they had been outmanoeuvred in such a way.


    Exile could tell they were attempting to figure out howrge the army had to be for him to have aplished that feat. ''They don''t get it. They have no way to win now.'' Exile sighed when he saw some of them contemting whether to sacrifice those Oracles and the yers to gain the upper hand.


    "So you know, you''re now trapped between us!" Exile roared as he waved a hand at the yers behind him. "And an army of twenty thousand dwarves ready to execute those Oracles and invade the surrounding territories!"


    Ugly expressions appeared on the yers when they heard that. Those yers would take many losses to deal with the rebel faction here and now. If they added to that the threat of a great dwarven army to face after them, then they knew they would lose far more than they would gain.


    Exile grinned when he saw their defeated expressions. Even Aeri could feel the tide turning against her. Her ns had been dashed by Exile before she could even put them into y. Aeri hung her head when she realised she had lost the support of the Royal faction in that situation.


    Exile nodded when he saw he had their full attention again. He knew they were expecting him to demand a ransom to return their Oracles. However, he had something else in mind.


    "The civil war ends here!" Exile eximed as he red at the enemy yers. "We will push the Sommerdan army from these shores together! After that, we will convene to dere a new High King of Skardia! Naturally, I expect those whose Oracles I have captured to vote in my candidate''s favour! Once the vote is over, I will return your Oracles unharmed! If this foreign invasion has shown us anything, it''s that Skardia can not remain divided!"


    Many heads nodded to his speech in agreement. The cold res from before had be tinged with respect and admiration. Once everyone agreed to those terms, they gave orders to chase down the Sommerdan army. yers departed from there in shes of light as they sought locations closer to the Sommerdan ships.


    Exile nodded to y to give him the signal to lead the force on the other side of the mountain chain. ''There''s still a lot to do. But this will definitely draw a crowd.'' Exile sighed in relief when he thought about the stream that was sure toe. ''Now I just need to finalise everything with Rebel Energy.''

 Chapter 200 Checkmate (Part 2)

    Chapter 200 Checkmate (Part 2)


    The following in-game days saw the Skardian joint offensive force the Sommerdan army back to their foothold in thatnd. y had led the offensive following Parthus while the othersunched devastating attacks throughout Skardia.


    1


    Beans seeded in her mission to raid their supply ships before the Sommerdan army could regroup, and several of Ragnarok''s yers had taken their first step into Tier 1. Although all these ns had gone well, Colt could not shake the dark cloud hanging over his head.


    "Colt?" Jay coughed to get his attention.


    That was when Colt remembered where he was. His gaze became focused as he picked up the pen and signed the contract with Rebel Energy. He had been busy outside of Pantheon Online as well. Colt finally had awyer look over the contract, and she gave it the green light.


    After that, Colt registered Ragnarok as a gaming team with shares. He was unsure how he would divide those shares for now. So he kept them all in his name and would give them out as rewards to the yers invested in the team.


    "Well, that''s just fantastic!" Jay beamed as Colt slid the contract across the table. "We already have advertising material ready for the products. So we''d like to announce our partnership to the public in the next few days."


    Colt nodded as he stared at the rain mming against the window. He had wasted no effort in his attempts to locate Bjorn. Thovok had failed to save the hero during the battle, and now his fate was unknown to them. Colt sighed as Jay cocked an eyebrow at him.


    "I think you''ll be d to know thepany is willing to deepen our rtionship." Jay grinned as Colt''s gazended on him. "The higher-ups have agreed to your request to help fund a team base. They are quite happy with your performance so far. So they''re willing to do this in exchange for 10% of Ragnarok''s shares. Of course, you won''t only get the building and training areas, but you will receive 5% of Rebel Energy''s shares. What do you say?"


    Colt drummed his fingers on the table for a few seconds as he mulled over the offer. ''We need the building so we can gather our yers in one spot. Their share offer is quite tempting too. Rebel Energy makes a lot of money, so even 5% of that is good.''


    Colt frowned for a moment before his eyes lit up. ''That 5% will allow us to pay sries for the first year. Plus, we should make a decent amount from the sponsorship contract.'' Each yer would sign their own deal with Rebel for anything they created that used their in-game names. So Colt could not see a downside to the offer. Who knew when they would have the funds to set up a proper team HQ if he did not ept this deal?


    "You have a deal, Jay." Colt nodded as Jay hurried to sign another contract he took from his briefcase.


    ''He came prepared.'' Colt chuckled as Jay passed the papers to him. A quick nce through them revealed there was nothingplicated about the contract. It stated that Rebel Energy would provide the building for Ragnarok''s HQ along with its furnishings. Which included dormitories, a gym, a conference room, kitchens, bathrooms, and gaming capsules. Rebel Energy would also take care of the running costs for the first year!


    ''Well, that''s a surprise.'' Colt grinned when he saw that Rebel Energy would pay the sries for the first year as well to the yers. That part alone would allow him to create a solid foundation for the team over the next twelve months. Since that technically meant the team had no expenditures to worry over.


    Colt saw no reason not to sign since the terms were clear enough for him to understand without involving awyer. He had a feeling the contract had been written up in that way so he could be sure that Rebel Energy did not want to trick him.


    Jay beamed once again when the papers were signed. He nodded as he told Colt about the media events that Rebel Energy had already set up. There were several interviews and such, as well as theunch of the energy drinks and nutrients for the gaming capsules. Colt saw no problems with them either and gave his approval.


    Once Rebel Energy filed the contracts with Pantheon Online, they would gain ess to the yers'' contact details. So Colt only had to warn them about that beforehand. However, he did not imagine any of them turning down the chance to earn by ying games.


    Events were moving quickly, and the day set for the final battle with the Sommerdan invaders was quickly approaching. However, Colt still had a small matter to deal with before he could focus on that.


    As he arrived home, he headed straight for the holoputer on his desk and turned it on. He navigated through his contacts and clicked on the video call function. A few seconds of unnerving silence filled the room as Colt stared at the screen.


    Eventually, the call was answered. Mike Anderson''s face appeared on the screen while wearing a surprised expression.


    "Colt!" Mike chuckled. "To what do I owe the pleasure? You know, I don''t think you''ve called me since that New Years you were arrested. You know, when you passed out drunk in the street with your jeans around your ankles?"


    Colt grimaced at the memory. It was a dark time for him. He had let the fame and the money go to his head. Which led him to make a lot of bad choices in the early days of his career.


    "I remember." Colt sighed as he red at his brother. "But that''s not why I''m calling."


    "Oh?" Mike''s curious gaze studied his brother for a while before he let out a sigh of his own. "Let me guess. You''ve signed a contract. Your team is going to be making money soon. Enough to pay people. Let''s see... You know Crest is going downhill, and with it, my career will too. Let''s not forget that you''re in over your head with a lot of things in Pantheon Online... So that can only mean one thing..."


    Colt remained silent as Mike revealed a knowing smile.


    "You want to take me out to dinner to celebrate my retirement!"


    BANG!


    Colt almost fell out of his chair when he heard that. He had forgotten his brother liked to make inappropriate jokes during serious conversations. But he guessed that was the reason a lot of people found him likeable.


    1


    "No!" Coltined as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You know exactly why I''m calling!"


    "True... But I want to hear you say it." Mike teased as he watched his Colt''s expression turn ugly.


    Mike knew that Colt hated asking for help. More specifically he hated asking him for help. It had been that way ever since they were kids. Mike guessed it was because Colt was the older brother. So he felt like he had to be the one there to support everyone else.


    Colt swallowed a lump of saliva as he opened his mouth a few times. A deep sigh escaped his throat as he mustered the willpower to say what he needed to say. However, as soon as his expression became determined, Mike beat him to the punch.


    "Ok, I''m in." Mike chuckled as Colt''s face turned scarlet.


    "Bloody hell! Why''d you put me through that if you were going to ept before I could even get the words out!" Colt screamed as he banged his fist on his desk.


    "To watch you sweat. Besides, I wanted to see how serious you were. The fact that you were actually going to ask was enough to clear my doubts." Mike shrugged as he sipped coffee from his mug. "You know, we haven''t yed a game together since before you got signed. You sure you can handle being second best in the family again?"


    "That was one game! One game that you were better than me at!" Colt rolled his eyes as a tinge of regret appeared in his mind. ''Do I really need him that badly?'' Colt thought as he studied his younger brother. But the answer he received only made him sigh. ''He can be an insufferable prick, but there''s nobody else I''d rather have on my side.''


    1


    The two brothers exchanged a few memories and curses for a while as Colt brought Mike up to date. Colt told him what race to choose so he could join Ragnarok and gave him some information so he could track them down in the game.


    "You know," Mike pursed his lips as he seemed to stare at some random spot behind Colt. "You really do have terrible taste in decoration. You''re kind of simr to a ny-year-old granny in that respect. Anyway, see ya!"


    Mike chuckled and waved as he ended the call while Colt threw a fit over the barb he had hit him with. ''Granny my pale ass! When I get a hold of you!''


    Theputer let out a chiming noise, which alerted Colt he had a new message. His eyes widened when he saw it was through Pantheon Online! A frown appeared on his face as he navigated to his inbox and opened the message. His eyes narrowed as he read it.


    [We should talk before the battle. Meet me between our armies when you arrive. No fighting will ur until we settle our talks. Bring my hero, and I''ll bring yours. -Parthus]

 Chapter 201 Face-to-Face

    Chapter 201 Face-to-Face


    Exile hummed as he stared at the entirety of the Sommerdan army gathered in front of their ships. His eyes scanned the wooden spiked fences set up as rough defences and the expressions of the warriors behind them. ''They''re worried about another battle.'' Exile frowned when he understood that.


    1


    When he thought about it, it made sense. Their invasion had already failed, and a defeat here could see many of them dying, with the remnants bing ves. Exile could see that Parthus had arranged the army''s formation to ce many warriors near the ships.


    ''Why bother? Unless he expects to save his army.'' Exile became sure that was what Parthus was thinking. However, Exile did not like what that implied. After all, it meant that Parthus was confident in his ability to escape the situation they had put him in.


    Eventually, a figure emerged from the enemy forces. Exile''s eyes narrowed as he studied the man walking toward him. ''That must be Parthus.'' Exile sighed as he nced at the luxurious golden robes and attire fit for the desert. Parthus'' dark skin, short dark hair, and neatly trimmed beard gave him a striking appearance.


    Nobody apanied him as he stared at the skardian forces with a confident expression. When he reached the middle ground between the two armies, he halted. Exile''s eyes narrowed as Parthus raised his left hand in the air.


    A disturbance swept the army behind him as they made a path. Five burly men carried a bound figure on their shoulders. When Exile saw the bear-shaped helm on the man, he knew it was Bjorn. ''Why didn''t they im his armour or weapon?'' Exile pondered as he nodded to y beside him.


    1


    y gave the order to one of his followers to bring Randa forward. Exile had chosen not to leave the enemy hero among Harik''s men. He wanted to keep the hero alive and well, with the hope of using someone to interrogate him so he could understand Parthus better.


    However, he had too much to deal with in the past few days, and now it seemed the opportunity had passed him by. Once Randa was paraded in front of the Skardian army, Exile set forth to meet his opponent. The tension rose among those who could see the Gods. They had no idea what to expect, but they were curious about the meeting.


    "You must be Exile." Parthus smiled warmly and held out his hand.


    "That''s me." Exile nodded as he shook the hand before cocking an eyebrow at the man who had been his opponent. "So, what do you want to talk about? It can''t just be about our heroes."


    "Of course not." Parthus scoffed before smiling again while studying him. "I think there are a few things we can discuss that will benefit us both."


    Exile revealed a curious expression as he waited for Parthus to continue. However, Parthus surprised him by making a table and two chairs appear from a ring on his finger. Exile''s curiosity burned at that sight as he studied the piece of elegant jewellery. No matter how much he stared at it, he could not understand what type of item it was.


    "Interesting little thing, isn''t it?" Parthus grinned as he rubbed it with his thumb. "Please take a seat."


    Exile sat down as Parthus made a jug of wine, and two cups appeared from the same ring. He poured some wine for Exile before sitting down and enjoying the wine''s aroma with a pensive expression.


    "Tell me about your connection with the dwarves." Parthus said casually as he studied Exile''s appearance.


    Exile frowned at that question as he sniffed at his cup. He had to admit the sweet aroma it gave off was intoxicating. He took a slow sip while he studied the calm expression on Parthus'' face.


    "Don''t be coy. I can already surmise that you must have taken a second oracle." Parthus sighed as he drummed his fingers on the wooden table. "You''ve achieved something I''ve struggled with for some time. However, your appearance has me wondering if I''ve been going about it wrong this whole time."


    "Well," Exile coughed. "How about we discuss other things first before touching on those subjects? Like the exchange of our heroes and how you and your army will be leaving Skardia."


    Parthus frowned as he saw Exile smiling at him. "Very well then. If we''re talking about our heroes, I think a straight trade is fair. As far as I''m concerned, they equal value as resources."


    Exile nodded at that statement to show he agreed. The pair took a sip from their cups before eyeing each other again.


    "As for our departure from Skardia." Parthus frowned as he considered the matter. "We can either have a bloodbath now, or you can freely let us go."


    Exile shook his head as he spread his arms out wide. "I''m afraid I can''t let you just leave. You''ve raided many regions only to lose to us. Would you let someone go without receivingpensation?"


    Parthus remained silent for several minutes. However, Exile could see his thoughts churning in his eyes.


    "What do you want?" Parthus asked as he stared into his wine.


    "Everything." Exile grinned. "Everything you''ve taken as spoils and any wealth you have stored on those ships. Oh, and let''s set a non-violence pact between our people."


    Parthus grimaced at those terms. However, he did not dismiss them right away.


    "I''ll return your wealth, but I won''t give you everything. My NPCs still need to be paid, but I think we can spare a quarter of the wealth we brought along. This is my only offer on this matter."


    Exile studied his opponent, but Parthus showed no signs of backing down in that situation. ''I guess it will have to do. If it leads to saving the NPCs then it''s worth it.'' Exile hade to appreciate the value of NPCs as they were needed in almost every aspect of Pantheon Online. The repercussions of losing too many of them could be devastating. Besides, they had already paid enough in lives for the war.


    "You have a deal," Exile said as he swirled the wine in his cup before downing the rest.


    "Excellent. That deals with our departure and the heroes." Parthus smiled. "But, I don''t know about sealing peace between our people. I may have underestimated Skardia and you this time, but that won''t happen again. So why would peace be more beneficial than returning with a better-prepared army?"


    "Because Skardia is united now." Exile grinned as he saw a glimmer of confusion appear in Parthus'' eyes. "When youunched your invasion, we were fighting a civil war. Skardia and the Pantheons were divided, unlike your country. If you had a hard time with us divided, what do you think will happen when you face a unified Skardia?"


    Parthus hummed as he considered Exile''s words. A dark look crossed his face as he calcted the costs of another assault. However, Exile could see that Parthus was not wholly convinced. So he decided to strike while the iron was hot.


    "Of course, we can open trade between our countries. Imports and exports can bring a lot of wealth to help develop ournds. Your people would no longer have to worry about Skardian raids. You would gain an ally for future wars, and the best part is you can have your oracle twist it to sound like these favourable conditions are a direct result of worshipping you. Surely you''ll want to solidify your rule?"


    Parthus scoffed at Exile''s speech, but he had to admit the offer had weight. There were plenty of pros and virtually no cons.


    "Who''s your strategist? No offence, but I know this doesn''te from you." Parthus cocked an eyebrow as he asked his question.


    "Afraid I can''t say right now." Exile grinned. He saw no point in denying that someone else was behind the strategies that defeated Parthus. However, he wanted to keep him guessing until it became public knowledge.


    "Ok." Parthus sighed. "You have a deal. Let us consider the holy war over."


    The two yers shook hands to seal the deal. ''It could have been worse.'' Exile thought as he considered the two wars in their entirety. It had been a rough period that caused the yers'' power to stagnate while dealing with the issues in the mortal realms. However, the end of those wars would see explosive growth for the Pantheons now that they could focus on other things.


    ''After the meeting to decide the High King, I''ll have Harik build coastal defences and a dedicated navy. We can''t get caught off-guard and unprepared like this again. Maybe Bargrux and the dwarves can help with that.'' Exile sighed as he thought about the time he would have to spend in the dwarven kindom as a reward for helping to win the war.


    "Now, about my first question." Parthus said as his eyes narrowed. "Is it as simple as taking a member of another race as an oracle? What I mean is, is that the only requirement?"


    Exile shrugged at that question. Although they were allies now, he still did not want to hand the key to more power over to Parthus so easily.


    "I got lucky. The dwarves came looking for me. So I can''t say for certain that there are no other requirements."


    Parthus sighed at that response. It was not the answer he had been hoping for.


    "Well, I can''t say it''s been a pleasure, Exile. But I look forward to everything toe." Parthus smiled. "I''ll release your hero as soon as I return to my people."


    Exile nodded as he stood up and watched Parthus store the furniture back in his ring. As his opponent started to walk away, Exile coughed to get his attention.


    "About that ring..."


    Parthus grinned when he understood Exile''s curiosity about that item. The winds blew across the coast as Parthus exined what it was...

 Chapter 202 The Man Who Would Be King... 13

    Chapter 202 The Man Who Would Be King...


    13


    Exile smiled from behind the throne in the newlypleted Eraldsen home. The fortress expressed both Skardian and Dwarven styles while being richly decorated with gifts sent from King Bargrux. The people of Korden, Eraldsfen, and other settlements had gathered to witness the crowning of the new king.


    1


    The entirety of the Ragnarok Pantheon had gathered to witness the event alongside special guests like Noslin and Beartooth. Ania, Thovok, King Bargrux and many oracles stood in front of the throne in the ce of honour. Meanwhile, Bjorn stood silently on the right side of the throne, waiting to officiate the ceremony.


    1


    Eventually, horns sounded from the back of the hall as Harik made his entrance. Although it was supposed to be a solemn event, loud cheers erupted at the sight of him. Exile grinned as Harik made the walk between the crowd to reach the throne. The expression on his face told everyone he was exhausted. However, he also had the look of someone brimming with energy.


    Their battles against Parthus, and Exile''s dealings with the other Gods had paved the way for him to officially be king of Stormcrown, making him one of the nine pirs of Skardia. Harik could scarcely believe where his life had led him as he reached the ornate stone throne iid with gold. The symbol of the Ragnarok Pantheon was etched high into its back so that it would be visible over his head.


    Harik sighed as he allowed himself a small smile before turning to face the crowd. At that moment, Bjorn stepped forward to address everyone gathered for the grand event.


    "Jarls and people of Stormcrown. Today we are gathered to witness the crowning of King Harik Eraldsen. Blessed by Exile and by the will of the gods, may he rule over us for many years toe!"


    The crowd cheered as Harik sat on the throne and allowed Bjorn to ce a simple golden circlet with arge emerald upon his head. Harik straightened his back as he nced at the ecstatic expressions looking back at him. However, that was when he felt the weight of a ruler descending on him.


    2


    "Jarls!" Bjorn continued. "You may step forward and dere your loyalty to your King!"


    [Quest Completed: The Man Who Would Be King (Part 2)]


    [You have received: +20 Stat Points, Inhabitants of the territory of Stormcrown will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]


    [New Quest: The Man Who Would Be King (Part 3)]


    1


    [Description: King Balmir has lost his throne. Long live King Harik, Ruler of Stormcrown! So few rulers ever reach the status of High King. Now that he has be a King of Skardia, can you help him take the final step? Help King Harik Eraldsen be High King of Skardia.]


    [Rewards: +50 Stat Points, Inhabitants of Skardia will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]


    Exile grinned, he had previously dumped the six points he had gained from the burst of followers into his Speed stat. However, he divided these twenty points into Endurance and Authority, giving them ten points each. The notifications arrived, congratting him on reaching Level 13.


    He sighed as there was still no sign of reaching Tier 2. ''It probably happens at the end of Level 15 or 20.'' However, he had high hopes of reaching that soon. He had already set everything in motion to potentially elevate Harik to High King. Which would him another five levels.


    The rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch. Ania saw herself being crowned princess of Stormcrown. However, she would not take on any extra duties as she was busy as the head oracle of Ragnarok. Many Jarls approached her, seeking her hand in marriage after bing enamoured with her beauty.


    However, she politely declined every offer, stating that she could not focus on a family of her own while doing the work of the gods. Her reply brought a smile to Harik''s face and made Bjorn chuckle. The pair knew she only had room for one in her heart.


    The celebrations soon moved outside where music and a festival had been arranged. Exile considered leaving the party early since there was nothing for him to do. However, Harik silenced the crowd and briefly nced in his direction.


    "Thank you all for joining me on this asion." Harik bellowed with joy on his face. "But I wouldn''t be here if it weren''t for the Gods! Each of us has felt their presence in recent times. And I''m sure I speak for you all when I thank them for all they have done!"


    A loud cheer apanied Harik''s statement. Exile could see NPCs toasting to the name of their preferred God as they said their thanks. Harik raised his hands again to silence the crowd before a solemn expression appeared on his face.


    "However, our thanks are not enough! On behalf of all Stormcrown, I have arranged a proper offering to the Gods! May they ept this gift from us mortals!"


    The crowd grew silent as drums began to beat from the fortress. Warriors in full armour apanied scores of men and women wearing rags. Exile''s eyes narrowed at that sight. ''Sommerdan prisoners!'' He felt uneasy when he studied them, but also a little excited. If what he thought was going to happen came to pass, then Ragnarok was in for a nice little surprise!


    More than two hundred prisoners were forced to kneel before the great fire at the centre of the celebrations. The NPCs began to hum as Bjorn marked the prisoners'' foreheads with goat''s blood from a bowl he carried. Once he reached the end of the line, he threw the bowl into the fire.


    The humming became deeper as Bjorn strode to a small tform in front of the prisoners. He took his ce on it and stared at the crowd.


    "Exile! Hear us!" Bjorn bellowed. "These mortals dared to defy your divine will! As punishment, we gift you their eternal souls! May they appease your wrath and bring prosperity to Skardia!"


    Exile did not dare to look away, he could not afford to show weakness to the NPCs who had their own ideas of how he should be as a God. He watched on as the warriors stepped forward to stand behind a single prisoner each.


    Each of them raised an axe to the sky before chanting his name. As the axes fell, Exile heard the crunching of bones breaking as the warriors separated the prisoners'' ribcage from their spines. Screams and blood filled the area around those helpless prisoners as rough Skardian hands took hold of the bones and stretched them out. Exile blinked as the warriors grabbed the ropes binding each prisoner''s hands and pulled.


    1


    As the prisoners'' hands rose above their heads, Exile witnessed the stretched skin and broken bones resemble outstretched wings beneath their arms. The Skardians cheered as he noticed some of the yers reveal disgusted expressions. ''I don''t me them. But there''s more to this than our morals.'' Exile sighed as he watched the prisoners'' lives flee their shells.


    [Quest Alert: Pantheon Ascension!]


    [Description: Your Pantheon is ready to step up to Tier 1. Toplete the Ascension meet the following requirements and interact with the Pantheon Registration tablet in the Temple.]


    [Requirements: 6 members must reach Tier 1 (6/6), 100 Soul Tokens (100/100)]


    [Rewards: +10 Stat Points for all members. Gain a personal Realm for your Pantheon]


    Exile grinned when he read the alert. They were finally ready to bring Ragnarok to the next level! ''I wonder what having our realm will entail?'' Exile mused as he thought about it. He could only assume it would eventually be something like Valha, Olympus or Heaven. Of course, he could not be certain about that, but he was eager to find out!


    1


    "y, you stay here with the celebrations. Let Ania and Harik know that I''m pleased with their gift." Exile whispered.


    "What about you?" y asked as he cocked an eyebrow.


    "I have Pantheon business to attend to. Don''t let our yers insult the NPCs for this disy."


    y noted the expression on Exile''s face and nodded with a serious expression. He understood that Exile did not want to alienate their followers. Even if they did not agree with their methods.


    A sh appeared as Exile cancelled his Avatar spell and reappeared in The Raider''s Horn. The bar was silent, which waspletely different to how it had been until recently. He cast an eye around the tables and chairs that had served them well as a base of operations. ''Everything''s about to change again.''


    Exile smiled as he took another look at the bar before closing the old door behind him. The streets of Valheim were silent. However, that was to be expected as every Pantheon in Skardia held their breath. They knew a significant event was approaching.


    Word had spread far and wide to every yer who called that city home. The rebels had suppressed the royal faction, and everyone was waiting to see what Pantheon came out on top. Of course, many people already had their guesses and were betting on it.


    Nobody approached Exile as he made his way to the Temple. ''I wonder when we''ll get the notifications about the end of the wars?'' Exile wondered as he approached the Pantheon Tablet. ''Maybe there will be another Council held to announce it. It would be nice if we get some rewards. Even if it was never really mentioned.''


    Exile sighed as he activated the tablet toplete the Pantheon Ascension! Quest...

 Chapter 203 A New Home

    Chapter 203 A New Home


    [Quest Completed: Pantheon Ascension!]


    1


    [Rewards: +10 Stat Points for all members. Gain a personal Realm for your Pantheon]


    [New Quest: Pantheon Ascension!]


    [Description: Your Pantheon is on the path to Tier 2. Toplete the Ascension, meet the following requirements and interact with the Pantheon Registration tablet in the Temple.]


    [Requirements: 6 members must reach Tier 2 (0/6), 250 Soul Tokens (223/250)]


    [Rewards: +20 Stat Points for all members.]


    [Congrattions! Ragnarok has reached Tier 1!]


    [Opening Divine Realm Creator...]


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at the notification as a smile spread across his face. He could not help but be happy since he knew no other Skardian Pantheon had reached this stage. However, he had another reason to be excited. His final chat with Parthus had revealed something interesting.


    Exile was suddenly teleported high in the sky over Valheim. The entirety of the divine realm that governed Skardia appeared below him. Allowing him to see they of thend. ''It''s bigger than I thought.'' Exile sighed as he nced over thend.


    [Please select the territory for your divine realm.]


    Golden lines appeared on thend below, dividing it into many sections. Exile stroked his beard as he studied each one. ''We need somewhere that can be defended.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as he located several spots that suited his taste. ''That one!''


    Exile grinned as he chose arge mountain that had several t spots. A great river that became several waterfalls ran down its side that faced Valheim. Exile thought it was perfect as a defensive area but also had amazing views and plenty of room for buildings.


    [Thank you for your selection.]


    Exile was then teleported to therge t area at the tip of the mountain. The snow crunched beneath his feet as he peered through the clouds to Valheim in the distance. ''It looks even better from here.'' Exile sighed as he shook his head. ''We''ll need to be quiet about this for some time. Or maybe not. It''ll be quite hard to reach with all the beasts between here and Valheim. Not to mention the climb.''


    He was tempted to announce that his Pantheon had its own realm. But he decided against it. The news would spread once another Pantheon reached the same Tier anyway. Until then, it would be best if they built the best base they could to strike awe in the other Pantheons.


    [Removing 100 Soul Tokens to build the basic structures...]


    Exile frowned at that notification. ''I guess that''s why it was a requirement to obtain a minimum amount of them then.'' He sighed as golden lines appeared before fusing to create stone walls around the area with arge gate. A longhouse appeared that was built at the far bank of theke that served as the source of the great river. Meanwhile, several other buildings popped up, along with a few defensive towers.


    Finally, gs depicting Ragnarok''s emblem appeared on the walls and on either side of the entrance to the longhouse. Exile studied those buildings for a moment in silent contemtion. ''That looks like a temple. And that one looks like a workshop. The longhouse is probably meant for meetings.'' However, he had no idea what the other buildings were for.


    He took several minutes to inspect the buildings and discovered that each one had the minimum amount of decorations. Two of the other buildings turned out to be barracks. He assumed that was for the yers to lie down in when they used the Avatar spell.


    However, he was excited to see that he was right about the workshop. The tools did not look like they were of high quality, and he suspected the workshop would have to be upgraded as the Pantheon advanced in Tier. ''Still, there''s a furnace and smithing tables. An anvil and whatever else a beginner craftsman might need.''


    Exile grinned as he exited the building and searched the others. One of them seemed like it was meant for alchemy. There were plots outside of it that seemed ready for nting. Exile shrugged when he saw that. ''Hopefully, someone in the Pantheon can make use of this ce.''


    Thest building that he was unsure of turned out to be quite disappointing. Its walls were filled with empty bookshelves, and a table with golden etchings stood in the centre of the room. ''What''s this room for?'' Exile pondered as he nced around. However, nothing came to mind. Last but not least, he inspected the longhouse.


    A throne stood at the far end of the hall while several tables and chairs filled the room. ''It''s definitely meant to be for meetings and an operations room when fighting wars.'' Exile sighed at the thought of how useful it would have been if they had it before the wars.


    ''What''s that?'' Exile frowned as he noticed there was a room behind the throne. When he entered it he noticed a luxurious bed with furs spread over it. A desk and chair and some wardrobes. He startedughing when he realised the function of that room. ''It''s my own private room!''


    Upon closer inspection, Exile discovered several other private rooms that were not as luxurious. ''These''ll be for the officers.'' He smiled with satisfaction at gaining a proper base. He took a moment to himself to appreciate how far they hade, going as far as to sit on the empty throne. Exile gasped in surprise as a new menu appeared in his vision.


    [Purchase Buildings.]


    [Purchase Decor.]


    [Building styles.]


    ''I wonder what''s avable.'' Exile chuckled to himself as he scanned the options of the first two menus. ''I should leave these until everyone is here so we can decide together what we need. Exile hummed as he navigated into the Building Styles menu.


    However, his eyes went wide when a list of the buildings appeared and different styles avable for them based on the races that worshipped Ragnarok. Exile chuckled as he changed the walls to have dwarven architecture, then the buildings into hybrids between Dwarven and Skardian styles.


    He smiled to himself as the longhouse changed to having smooth stone floors and walls, while intricate Skardian runes appeared on the stone and woodwork. ''Now it resembles our Pantheon.'' Exile grinned as he left the throne to step outside.


    The buildings appeared sturdier with the dwarven stonework, and the walls and towers looked formidable. He had to admit that he was rather pleased with it. ''Wait til the others see this!'' His eyes moved to the temple that had undergone a transformation as well.


    The building held a few surprises that he was sure would get the others excited. ''That''s about it then.'' Exile sighed as he walked inside the temple to the altar. He gazed at the other features briefly before cing a palm on the altar.


    [Please select your destination.]


    [Valheim]


    There was only one option for now, but that got Exile excited. It meant in the future there would be other destinations they could travel to.


    [You are trying to teleport to Valheim. Teleportation failed. Please set a name for your Divine Realm.]


    Exile frowned for a moment. He had not been expecting that, but he figured it made sense. ''What should I call it?'' He struggled to think of a suitable name. He knew it had to sound grand, as it was likely to appear in Skardian lore once the NPCs found out. He wanted to take inspiration from something, but everything he thought of sounded too dark.


    Several minutes passed before he finally settled on a name. Once he entered it, a golden light enveloped his body and he found himself standing in Valheim''s temple. ''I wonder how the others will feel about the name.''


    Meanwhile, somewhere in the Divine Lands, a figure stood over more than ten orbs left behind by yers. The man showed a bored expression as he turned toward the man behind him.


    "Merlin, was this really necessary?"


    "Arthur, you know it was. With this, we''ve brought every Pantheon here under our control." Merlin chuckled as he watched the members of Camelot finish off the remaining yers who had refused their rule.


    Arthur wore a solemn expression as he watched that scene with his old friend. ''We''ve done nothing except force them to bend the knee.'' Arthur sighed as he watched yers plead to be left alone. ''This isn''t what I envisioned for Camelot.'' Arthur shook his head at that scene as he paid attention to Mordread''s and Morgana''s battles.


    ''They''re stillcking.'' Arthur turned his gaze to the horizon as he thought about Colt. ''You would never miss this. I know you''re out there somewhere.'' Arthur let out a soft smile as he recalled the fond memories of fighting side by side with Colt. ''It''ll be fun when we find each other.''


    Merlin suddenly cursed from behind him, which drew Arthur''s attention. "What''s wrong?"


    Merlin''s eyes bulged as his face turned scarlet. Arthur noticed Merlin''s knuckles turning white as he gripped his staff and cursed under his breath. He could only wait patiently for Merlin to exin himself. However, he soon realised there was a notification that he had not noticed while lost in his memories.


    Arthur''s eyes went wide, then he began to chuckle. ''Well, well, well. Looks like I won''t be too bored. A new challenger has appeared.'' Arthur scanned the notification again to make sure he was not imagining things.


    1


    [A yer has reached Tier 2. Pantheon Online will close down in 12 natural hours to undergo maintenance. Please log off before then.]


    4


    End of Volume 2: Advent of the New Gods

 Chapter 204 Preparations Take Time

    Chapter 204 Preparations Take Time


    Volume 3: Rise of the True Gods


    Exile frowned at the announcement as it arrived. ''Has Arthur already reached the next Tier?'' That thought frightened Exile. ''Hopefully, the threshold isn''t level 20. If it is, I''ve fallen way behind Arthur.''


    He could only guess it was Arthur that had reached Tier 2 since thest time he saw the rankings, Arthur was in the number one spot. ''The celebrations are still going on in Eraldsfen, but I''ll have to alert Ania and Thovok that I''ll be unavable while the maintenance is happening.''


    Exile sighed as he stepped outside of Valheim''s temple. He knew he would have to speak with Harik before he had to log off. However, he did not want to spoil their celebrations. ''Valheim''s getting busy.''


    He passed byrge crowds of people who had only just ascended ording to their chats with other yers. The streets had be busy since the announcement as everyone tried to find out who had reached Tier 2.


    "I swear! The developers are being so unfair! Those who joined the beta test are so far ahead! How are we meant to catch up?"


    "Don''t be an idiot. That''s what the skill test was for. To make sure you can survive in this game the test is based on the pros invited to the beta. They obviously had to get in first so the developers could make aparison."


    "Yeah, but don''t you think they should have reset them?"


    "They''ll have their reasons."


    Exile shook his head as he listened to several other conversations along those lines. He knew there was bound to be friction with the new waves of yers over that. ''Things are going to get busy. I''ll have to look through those applications to join the Pantheon. It''s time to increase our numbers again.''


    When Ragnarok became a Tier 1 Pantheon, the number of members it can hold increased from twenty-four to fifty. Of course, one of those spots was reserved for his brother. The extra manpower would put Ragnarok in a league of its own among the Skardian Pantheons.


    Eventually, Exile reached Jarxos'' store. ''It''s been a long time.'' He sighed. He opened the door and stepped through the barrier to discover a well-stocked store. ''The yers have been busy.'' He chuckled as he eyed the wares on the bottom floor.


    "Exile! It''s a pleasure to see you again!" The will of Jarxos announced as he manifested out of thin air. "I have to thank you for mytest wares. I trust Midas passed along my gratitude."


    Exile nodded as he spotted several pieces of Sommerdan armour and weaponry on disy. ''I hope he got a good deal on them. We''re going to need the funds.'' Exile made a mental note to question Midas about the state of the Pantheon''s finances.


    "Have you gained anything interestingtely?" Exile asked.


    "Hm, not really. Except for some information." Jarxos showed a predatory grin that made Exile roll his eyes.


    "What kind of information?"


    "There are two things that might interest you. One of them is about a prison that held an ancient power, and who breached it recently. The other is about a concerning development outside of Valheim. Are you interested?"


    "How much?"


    "80 Gold for both." Jarxos gave a sweet smile as Exile sighed.


    "Fine."


    "Pleasure doing business with you." Jarxos made the gold coins offered by Exile disappear as he hummed. "Well, the prison was invaded by a dwarf king. What''s interesting is the prison was concealed beneath the city of Alleviam in Stormcrown."


    Exile frowned when he heard that. ''There''s only one dwarven king this can be referring to. Is King Bargrux hiding something from me?'' Exile groaned at the thought. It could harm the Pantheon if they were to lose the support of the Dwarves because their interests did not align.


    ''I''ll have to approach this one carefully.'' Exile shook his head when he wondered how he should broach the subject with Bargrux.


    "What''s the other piece of information?" Exile asked once he digested the first.


    "Hm, Gods have been dying outside the walls of Valheim. But not by the hands of simple divine beasts."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he heard that. Jarxos chuckled when he saw the interest on Exile''s face.


    "Nar''Kozz the devourer and his brood have beening above ground. I suspect Valheim wille under siege soon."


    Exile''s eyes went wide at the memory of the boss monster that had killed him. ''We were only at the start of Tier 1 when west faced it. We''re stronger now, and if we put up a united front we should be able to deal with it.''


    ''I''ll have to use that chance to explore the tunnels.'' Exile had not forgotten that Jarxos had hinted a piece of the First me was likely somewhere in the boss''ir. He knew he had to im it before anyone else could find it.


    ''It seems I have even more work to do as soon as we can rejoin the game.'' Exile sighed as he thanked the will before browsing the rest of the store. However, there was nothing useful to him at his current level.


    everyone realised that it had not been him.


    "No. It wasn''t me. Which means we have to step up our game." Exile bellowed to the silent room. Exile said goodbye before heading back to the bar. He contacted Ania to let her know they would not be avable for some time and gave her a message for Harik. Naturally, she was upset about not being able to contact him, but she knew it had to be for a good reason.


    Before long, the members of Ragnarok started to appear in the bar. They were chatting with some excitement before they realised Exile was waiting for them. However, Exile did not know what to say when they all suddenly cheered!


    "Congrattions!" yughed as he nudged Exile''s shoulder. "You must have reached the second tier, right? We all got the stat points so we figured it had to be you!"


    Exile''s face turned slightly red as he shook his head. That gesture killed the enthusiasm in the air as everyone realised that it had not been him.


    "No. It wasn''t me. Which means we have to step up our game." Exile bellowed to the silent room. "There are a few things we have to discuss and set in motion before we log out. First off, we''ll be receiving new members soon. So Midas, I want you to prepare some funds to arm them."


    Midas nodded before Exile continued. "y, prepare some yers to act as Captains to take the new yers to level up."


    y nodded solemnly when he realised something serious was happening.


    "Winter, talk to the other leaders and have the other NPC leaders start building defences along Skardia''s coasts. They may not listen since the High King has not been chosen yet. But you must make them prepare."


    "Beans, work with Old Un to get some of our followers to focus on deep sea fishing. I want to start stockpiling food and other resources in case another war breaks out."


    "Do you really think that will happen?" Beans asked as she gasped.


    "We can''t say for certain, but we have no idea what the other races are doing. We''re bound to start meeting more of them soon. I don''t think the game will go through many peaceful periods."


    Everyone nodded in agreement with Exile''s evaluation. So far it always seemed the game had something to throw at them.


    "Then I need everyone to get the word out to prepare to defend Valheim. Some point soon we''re likely to see a boss monster attack the city."


    Loud gasps came from the yers as they asked what boss it was and how he knew that. Of course, he exined he purchased the information and revealed it was a boss most of them knew well. Loud curses filled the bar as the yers remembered the terror of those battles.


    "I don''t know the exact details or when it will happen. So let us use all the time we have to be prepared for it." Exile bellowed over the raised voices. "I suggest you all upgrade your equipment if you can and grind for levels. If you can''t afford it, speak with Midas. We''ll offer all the help we can but remember that the new yers will have priority. Otherwise, they won''t be of much help. Now, I suggest you all get to work!"


    The bar became a hive of activity after that speech. yers hustled to do what they felt needed to be done. Meanwhile, Exile suddenly received a notification.


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is trying to contact you...]


    Exile connected with her mind as he wondered what it was about. However, he received a pleasant surprise.


    [Lord Exile, there is an Oracle here saying his God needs to speak with you. I know it''s ridiculous, but he''s iming his God is your brother. How do you want us to handle it?]


    Exile could hear Ania scoff in her mind. However, that only made Exile chuckle which startled Ania.


    [I do have a brother, Ania. The question is if it''s really him. What''s the name of the God?]


    Exile doubted it was anyone else pretending just to speak with him. Though he was surprised his brother had made it so soon.


    [He says his God''s name is Mikari.]


    Exile could hear the hesitation in her voice as a wide grin appeared on his face. ''That''s definitely Mike.'' Exile recalled that his brother hade up with that name after mixing his own name with that of a legendary gamepany.


    [That''s him. Treat his Oracle well as a guest. I''ll be there soon.]

 Chapter 205 Exile Unmasked

    Chapter 205 Exile Unmasked


    "Ladies and gentlemen. Today we are gathered for a very exciting announcement regarding Rebel Energy''s partnership with a team in Pantheon Online." Jay smiled as he gave the opening of his speech. The members of the press fidgeted as they recorded every word he said. "Today, I would like to officially wee the Ragnarok Pantheon to the Rebel Energy family!"


    The crowd grew restless at that announcement. Each of them focused on reporting major gaming news, so they were all aware of Ragnarok and its achievements in the game so far.


    "Now, I would like to introduce Ragnarok''s team captain, Exile!" Jay boomed as he nced at their reaction.


    Colt sighed as he walked on stage to join Jay by the microphones. The crowd erupted in disbelief when they understood who they were looking at. Reporters started cing calls to their editors, hoping to be the first to break this story.


    "I''m sure Mr Anderson needs no introduction." Jay smiled as the crowd settled back into their seats. Colt here has assembled Ragnarok without using his fame. Proving that he was always meant for the pro scene. We''re extremely proud to be Ragnarok''s official sponsors."


    Colt studied the reporters as they geared up to bombard him with questions. However, Jay''s speech was not over yet.


    "Before we take any questions. I''d like to announce Ragnarok''s official training centre. The team will gather there to live and y together as they make their attempt to conquer the game. Now, any questions?"


    The room erupted with reporters trying to get Jay''s attention. Eventually, he cleared his throat before choosing a female reporter in the third row.


    "Colt, could you tell us about your departure from Camelot?"


    "There''s not much to say." Colt shrugged before straightening his shirt. "They decided to let me go."


    The reporters burst into an uproar as theyined about the short answer. Many wanted to know if there was tension between him and the other members or if some scandal had happened. However, Colt assured them that neither of those things happened. He went as far as to say that even he did not understand their reason.


    Jay looked through the crowd before choosing another journalist to ask their question.


    "Colt, what is your n to win this game?"


    huge news, and they were grateful to Rebel Energy for inviting them to be part of it!


    "Colt, this is your first time leading arge-scale team. Do you have any concerns about that?"


    "That''s a difficult question." Colt sighed, then shook his head. "Pantheon is unlike any game before it. There are so many variables. Some you can predict, while others you can''t. But, once the teames together, my officers and I will sit down and discuss with our strategist our ns to move ahead."


    "Colt, who is your strategist?"


    "I''m d you asked." Colt grinned as he nced at the room. "Our strategist is my brother, Mike Anderson."


    The room became chaotic again at that announcement. The journalists could not believe their ears. Not only had Colt Anderson started his own team after leaving Camelot. But Mike Anderson had quit Crest and was now serving as his brother''s strategist!


    Never before had the two brothers been in the same game, never mind the same team. This was huge news, and they were grateful to Rebel Energy for inviting them to be part of it!


    "Colt, this is your first time leading arge-scale team. Do you have any concerns about that?"


    "No, I have some great people around me that I trust. I''m positive that by working together we can ovee everything thates our way."


    The questions and answers continued for some time. Eventually, the event reached the stage where Rebel Energy revealed its teaser products. Colt cocked an eyebrow at the Ragnarok Game Capsule Nutrients. ''That''s what we''ll be using from now on.''


    However, his attention was drawn to the energy drinks. There were five vours nned, but it was who Rebel Energy chose that surprised him. ''Exile, ymore, Winter, Midas and Mikari.'' Colt could not help but sigh when he saw that.


    Jay must have rushed to do the Mikari one since Colt only told him about Mike the day before the event. ''I can''t wait to meet everyone.'' Colt chuckled as he wondered what it would be like for them all to live together. Then his thoughts wandered to how many people would eventually end up on the team if they managed to raise Ragnarok to the highest Tier.


    ''There could be hundreds of us by then.'' Colt sighed as he wondered if the training centre had enough space for that. ''It would be horrible if we have to move building not long after getting this one.''


    "Colt! I''d like to introduce you to someone." Jay beamed as he guided a burly man in his forties over to him. "This is Paul Rueben. We''ve taken the liberty of hiring him as your team''s trainer."


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you," Colt said as he shook Paul''s hand. ''Every team needs to keep their physical condition in check. I''m d Jay thought of this.''


    "Likewise. So what weapon do you prefer?" Paul replied with a deep voice.


    "Sorry, what do you mean?" Colt asked as a confused look appeared on his face.


    "Colt, Paul is a weapons expert. He''ll be teaching you all how to use your weapons properly as well as keeping you all physically fit." Jay chuckled as a glimmer of excitement appeared in his eyes.


    "Oh." Colt''s eyes went wide as he studied Paul with interest. "At the moment I''m using the spear."


    Paul nodded as he seemed to think about something. His green eyes peered at Colt''s figure. "Not a bad choice. I should warn you, what I''ll teach you is based on my experience. I used to be a pro yer in the game Coliseum."


    Colt''s eyes widened yet again. Coliseum was one of the first major deep dive games. yerspeted as diators using only melee weapons. To climb its rankings a yer had to be skilled with their weapon as well as add some showmanship to how they fought.


    Colt knew that most fighting styles that came from that game were designed to excite the audiences watching it. So they were not exactly realistic since the yers could rely on their stats to do things that could not be done in the real world.


    "Jay brought me on since you guys have to deal with an audience of your own. I''ve watched the streams, and the battles have been exciting but not memorable, in my opinion. We''ll soon change that. I look forward to sitting down with you anding up with a fighting style that will be exciting while adding spells." Paul chuckled as he ran a hand through his short, dark hair.


    "Oh, do you have experience with mixing melee and ranged attacks?" Colt asked with curiosity brimming in his voice.


    "No, but as long as I know how the spells work and look like, I''ll be able toe up with something that will get your viewers'' blood pumping."


    Colt smiled at that thought. He nodded to Jay subtlely to show that he approved of Paul. It could only be a good thing to bring in a trainer like this for the team. Not only would their fighting styles be unpredictable, but it would help set them apart from the other teams.


    "I look forward to working with you, Paul."


    "Yeah, I''ll let you get back to your guests. I''ll see you at seven tomorrow morning. Don''t bete!" Paul chuckled before walking away, leaving Colt speechless.


    "What did he mean by that?" Colt nced sideways at Jay as he watched Paul disappear into the crowd.


    "Ah, we''ve already set up your training centre. We were quite lucky. It was used by a medium-sized team until recently when they upgraded. So it already had the majority of things we needed. We''ve just modernised it, and rebranded it."


    Colt trembled with excitement as he heard that. "How long until the team gets here?"


    "Three days. You have five days left until you can log back into Pantheon. So I''d use this personal time with Paul well." Jay grinned mischievously.


    "Well, I intend to bring Mike and start living there tonight." Colt grinned in reply.


    "Very well, I''ll send a car to pick you up around eight from your home. I hope you''ll find it to your liking."


    "Jay, how many yers can it house?" Colt asked.


    "Well, we assumed the numbers would grow. It canfortably hold one hundred and fifty people. So you shouldn''t have any problems with that for a while."


    "Thank you." Colt nodded as Jay waved goodbye and walked away to mingle with the reporters and other guests.


    ''It seems like we''re finally bing a real professional team.'' Colt smiled as he wondered how the others would take the strict training. ''Mike is going to hate this.'' He chuckled as he thought about his brother who was used to sitting around giving orders and having to learn how to fight.


    ''Mike and I can discuss our ns before the others arrive. I''ll have to fill him in on the Bargrux situation. I really want to know what he looted and if it can be of use to us.'' Colt scratched at his chin, where some stubble had appeared. ''Then we need to figure out some good trades to make with Parthus. But I''m betting he will double-cross us at some point.''


    ''I wonder if anyone will challenge Harik for the throne of High King... If we can get that, then we''ll have a greater impact on Skardia. That has to happen before another Holy War isunched against us.''


    ''But Nar''Kozz has me worried.'' Colt sighed. ''I''m sure Mike can think of something.''

 Chapter 206 Might of the Colliseum

    Chapter 206 Might of the Colliseum


    Colt looked around his house to check he had not left anything behind. ''I won''t be back for a while.'' He thought as he touched the wall by the door. Colt bent down and picked up his heavy bags before opening the door.


    The rain hammered down as a wind that threatened to carry him away blew with all its might. ''Damn, it''s cold!'' Colt shivered as the driver sent by Rebel Energy took his bags from him. He locked the door and hurried to the ck car before slipping into the back seats.


    "Took you long enough." Mike chuckled as he punched Colt''s arm.


    Colt groaned before nudging his brother with his elbow. "I wish they''d told me they were picking you up first. If I''d known, I would have kept you waiting longer."


    Mike rolled his eyes as he peered out the car window. "This could have waited til morning, you know. What possessed you to do it tonight?"


    "Hm, you and I have a training session first thing in the morning. Moving in tonight lets us get unpacked and settled. There''s no way I could''ve done all that in the morning. Besides, aren''t you excited?"


    "I was until you mentioned training." Mike scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "But I guess you want to go over some things before the others arrive."


    Colt nodded as the car weaved in and out of thete-night traffic. The dull light from the street lights illuminated his face, allowing Mike to notice that his brother was contemting something.


    "C''mon Colt, What''s up?"


    Colt sighed and exined the situation with Bargrux and Nar''Kozz. Mike had not ascended in the game yet, so he had missed themotion before everyone logged off. Mike frowned as he listened, but he did not interrupt. Instead, he focused on every detail that Colt shared with him.


    "I see. Usually, that would be a tricky situation." Mike nodded as he smiled at his brother. Sure, the dwarves are allies. You''re aware they''re holding something that can gain the attention of Gods. So you''re thinking it''s a difficult thing to bring up. But you''re wrong."


    Colt''s eyes widened as Mike shrugged before continuing. "You''re there God now. Act like one. Demand to see it! If they ask how you know about it, just re at them. That should be enough to make them think you know because you''re a God. It''ll also stop them from trying anything in the future. Since they can''t be certain of what you do and don''t know. But be vague. Just demand to see the treasure they seized."


    Mikeughed at Colt''s incredulous expression. "Be more aware that you''re a God to the NPCs. Not a King. You can afford to be more arrogant with them. I wouldn''t be surprised if they took arrogance for confidence in your power over them."


    Colt nodded in agreement. ''Mike''s right. We have to start acting like real Gods.'' Colt sighed as they sat in silence for the rest of the journey.


    The car pulled into a private garage at the back of the building that would serve as Ragnarok''s base. In doing so, Mike and Colt failed to get a good look at the building from the outside. However, the weather would have prevented them from seeing much anyway. The driver told them to go ahead while he dealt with their bags.


    As soon as they set foot inside, Jay grinned at them. "Wee home, boys! Who is up for a tour?"


    "Thanks, Jay, that''d be great." Colt smiled as he looked at his brother. "Mike, this is Jay. He''s our contact with Rebel Energy."


    "Yeah, we spoke briefly when he wanted to use my game name for the products. It''s nice to meet you in person." Mike said as he shook Jay''s hand. "Now, about that tour..."


    The trioughed for a moment before Jay led them through the corridor, toward the main entrance. Colt smiled when he saw the main entrance. The main wall was full of ss panels, that would allow plenty of light in during the day. Arge semi-circr white desk stood between two modern staircases that led to the next floor.


    "As you can see there are plenty of chairs and couches for any guests to wait on before meeting with you. The wee desk isrge enough for three receptionists. We could only get one on short notice. He starts tomorrow along with the chef and Paul. Now, up the stairs."


    Jay showed them around the gym, the training room that was already full of training weapons, the recreation room, the dining hall, the game cabin room, the conference hall, and finally, the offices for the upper members of the team.


    It was a far cry from what he had at Camelot, but it was still impressive for a new team. ''It''s a good start. I thought it''d be at least a few months before we found anything. Jay hasn''t wasted any time.'' Colt nodded before spotting Mike also nodding approvingly.


    "Thanks, Jay. This ce is perfect for us right now."


    "No problem. Now the dorms are down the hall there and take a left. The best rooms are at the end. I suggest you get settled in before Paul arrives tomorrow."


    The brothers thanked him again and walked him out. Of course, they locked the doors since there was no security staff yet. Colt obviously chose the best room. It sat on the corner of the building, so two windowed walls looked out over the park adjacent to the building. However, the rain was too severe for Colt to be bothered going out on the balcony to enjoy it.


    After he unpacked, Colt enjoyed a long bath in his en-suite before settling into the king-size bed. Before he could think too much about anything, his eyes were opening to the sound of his rm!


    ''Damn! When did I fall asleep?'' Colt cursed as he jumped out of the bed to throw on some loose clothing. He barged out of his room to find Mike waiting for him.


    "You ready?" Mike chuckled as they headed for the training hall.


    "Yeah, it should be interesting." Colt smiled as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. "We should be able to learn something from Paul."


    Mike clicked his tongue as he stared straight ahead. "I''ve never been very good at this kind of thing."


    "Same, I''ve only ever trained inside of games. So this is new to me too." Colt shrugged as they entered the Training hall where Paul was already waiting for them.


    "You''rete," Paul said as he shook his head.


    Colt checked the clock on the wall behind Paul and a frown appeared on his face. "We''re ten minutes early."


    "Being ten minutes early is to be five minuteste. From now on you''ll be fifteen minuteste to do a warm-up before we start the training." Paul scoffed before beckoning them over to join him on the mats.


    "Forget the warm-up for today. If you suffer because of it maybe you''ll learn a lesson. Let''s start by testing your abilities. Grab whatever weapons you prefer."


    Colt immediately moved to pick up a weighted wooden spear that had a padded ball on the end instead of a tip. Against another wall were several wooden shields of different styles. When he chose the tower shield he found the weight of the weapon and shield were a bit too much for him to handle. However, he decided to stick with it.


    ''I need to get used to it since it''s what I use in the game.'' Colt thought as he returned to the mats while his brother browsed the range of training weapons.


    "Since you''re ready we''ll start with you while Mike figures out what weapon best suits him. Prepare yourself." Paul said as he picked up the dual short swords by his feet.


    Colt raised his shield and lifted the spear to point it at Paul. However, his arm trembled from the weight as his eyes narrowed to study his opponent.


    Paul shook his head before dashing forward and avoiding Colt''s spear. Paul spun on his right heel to strike with both swords at the edge of Colt''s shield. Colt stumbled as the shield was over to the right side of his body, interfering with his ability to wield the spear while exposing the left side of his body.


    Paul then struck four times with the t of his wooden swords against Colt''s ribs. A sharp pain spread through Colt which forced him to release his grip on the shield. Colt cursed as he tried to escape from his instructor''s onught, but Paul punished him every time he exposed himself even the slightest.


    Less than two minutes passed before Colt copsed on the mats with Paul pointing the tip of his swords at Colt''s throat. ''Damn, I didn''tnd a single blow. I couldn''t do anything!'' Colt frowned as he realised howcking he waspared to Paul. He had some confidence in his abilities before the fight, but Paul had torn that all apart.


    "Not bad. I''ve seen worse." Paul limited himself to saying that as he helped Colt to stand back on his feet. "If you want my opinion, you''re ill-suited to this style. You can pull it off in the game only because your stats are superior. But if youe across someone on your level, with greater skill in using their weapon. You won''t stand a chance. I suggest you seriously rethink what style you want to use going forward while I deal with your brother."


    Paul grinned sadistically as Mike chose his weapon...

 Chapter 207 A New Way of Thinking

    Chapter 207 A New Way of Thinking


    "Today, we''re going to try something new," Paul said as Colt and Mike sat on the mats. "I asked Jay to have thetest holographic training methods installed in this room. They''ve already been set to mimic your spells from Pantheon Online."


    "What?" Colt asked with a frown on his face. "Camelot never had anything like that!"


    "That''s because they had you use the training arenas built into Mayhem. That way you could use your stats to support your fighting methods. This just adds your spells to your arsenal for real-lifebat training. See this?" Paul pointed above his head as a health bar appeared. "Using this technology we can replicate the fighting environment of Pantheon Online while drilling everything into your muscle memory and your mind. That way it''ll be second nature and stop you from overthinking inside the game."


    "You need to face reality." Paul continued as he stared at the brothers. "Your real-life body will always be worse than your in-game one. So, if you''re capable of defeating enemies in your worst state possible, you''ll have less to worry about when ying."


    "Now, both of you will attack me at the same time. I assure you that this will be unlike anything you''ve ever experienced." Paul tossed a headband to each of them before putting one on himself.


    "What''s this for?" Mike asked as he studied it.


    "This connects to your mind just like the gaming capsules. It allows you to activate your spells with a thought. Put it on and let''s get to work."


    Mike nodded at Colt as they put them on and stood up. Colt wielded an axe and a round shield this time as he tried to find a more suitable weapon under Paul''s guidance. It brought back memories for him as a smile spread on his face.


    "I''ve set my stats to be Tier 1 Level 10. So Colt has the advantage while Mike is at a disadvantage. So think before you act."


    Colt frowned as he raised his shield and advanced on Paul. Mike skirted the edge of the mats to nk their opponent while an uncaring expression remained on Paul''s face. Coltunched a lightning bolt to test Paul''s defences. But what happened next left him reeling in shock.


    Paul snorted as he casually raised his left de right before the bolt struck him. Colt could only watch as the wooden sword cut the lightning bolt in two! One half missed Paul while the other was directed toward Mike!


    When it struck his brother a beeping noise sounded in the room, alerting them that Mike was already out of the fight!


    "What the hell! You can''t do that in the game!" Colt shouted.


    "Who says you can''t?" Paul shrugged as a sly smile appeared on his face.


    Colt wanted toin again, but he stopped himself. ''The game is still new. We don''t know everything about it. We''ve just gone with what we thought was the truth of the game.'' Colt frowned as something in Paul''s expression told him that his instructor knew more than he did.


    Sparks danced around Colt as he rushed forward. Even if Paul could cut spells apart, this was bound to be something that would allow him to do some damage. As soon as Paul was within range, lightning leapt from Colt to strike Paul. However, thetter cut it apart again before parrying Colt''s axe with his spare sword.


    Colt grinned as he punched out with his shield as another lightning bolt discharged from his body. Paul chuckled as he redirected Colt''s axe to divert the lightning bolt as he stuck the underside of the shield with his right elbow! Colt gasped as his shield went off target andpletely missed Paul. However, his opponent was not done.


    Colt wheezed as a knee struck his ribs and pushed him away. Which gave Paul enough time to deal with the next bolt that flew his way. Colt studied him at that time as he tried to understand what Paul was doing to cut the spell. However, he was unable to learn anything.


    ''I''ll just need to push him until I can understand it.'' Colt thought as he charged at Paul.


    Mike studied the situation from the sidelines. Paul never made a single mistake as he countered Colt''s attacks and spells. ''He isn''t doing anything special. It''s just a simple sh.'' Mike frowned as he reyed the streams he had seen of Pantheon before joining Ragnarok in his mind. He distinctly recalled seeing spells hit weapons and shields. But nothing like what Paul was doing had ever happened.


    ''Maybe it really is impossible in the game and Paul is just using this for training?'' Mike thought that was more likely. After all, Paul had never yed Pantheon and was not using any spells. It was likely just a way to even the field and see if Colt would get distracted by cut down his spells. ''It''s a fool''s errand. He''s drawn Colt in with that and now he can predict everything Colt will do. He knows what my an unknown ability. ''If that''s what Paul is aiming for then he''s seeded.''


    Mike sighed as he saw the determined expression on Colt''s face. His brother fixed his attention on Paul''s sword every time it moved to cut down his spells. ''It''s a fool''s errand. He''s drawn Colt in with that and now he can predict everything Colt will do. He knows what my brother is after which is making it easier to manipte him.''


    Mike shook his head as he made a mental note to scold Colt once the training was over. ''How did Arthur put up with training him?''


    Mike continued to watch, but after several minutes had passed, he noticed something even more shocking. ''Paul hasn''t moved more than a metre from his starting point!'' That left Mike speechless. Although Paul was moving around, he had limited it to a small radius from the centre of the mats!


    A grim expression appeared on Mike''s face as he wondered if they would run into other yers with the same level of skill. Colt was known for being a powerhouse in closebat, but Paul was toying with him as if he were a noob.


    ''This doesn''t make sense!'' Mike could understand it if it were simply because they were training in real life. However, with the addition of spells, he felt that Colt should have been able to put some pressure on Paul.


    Colt started to show signs of fatigue as his attacks became sloppy, and mistakes appeared in his form. A glimmer appeared in Paul''s eyes as Colt shed with his axe. A dull thud sounded as Paul slid his sword up its shaft and caught it below the de. The axe went flying off the mats as Paul struck Colt twice on the ribs with his other sword before striking him behind his knees.


    Colt groaned as his knee gave out. He copsed onto one knee as Paul struck him on the back. A beeping sound echoed in the hall, announcing the victor of the sparring session. Colt struggled to catch his breath as Paul helped him back onto his feet. ''I couldn''t understand it at all!'' Coltined. However, as he was about to thank Paul for the session his eyes went wide!


    He had been so focused on learning Paul''s strange technique that he had not even once checked his opponent''s health! Colt let out a long groan that made Paulugh. After all, the brothers had failed to deal even a single point of damage to him!


    It was clear to them that they had a long way to go. However, they were grateful to have Paul on their side. They did not want to consider what would happen if other teams started to hire personal trainers like him.


    Colt sipped on his water bottle as Mike joined him to sit on the mats in front of Paul. It was time to go over the mistakes they had made and ask any questions. Paul had an expectant expression on his face as he waited for the brothers to ask him the question he knew woulde.


    "You messed with settings, didn''t you," Mike said with a slight smile that made Colt raise an eyebrow.


    Paul returned Mike''s gaze with a slight smile. "No. Contrary to what you might think. Everything I did is possible in Pantheon Online."


    Mike''s jaw fell open in shock as Paul chuckled. "The software we are usinges directly from the game''s developers. You might not know this, but this style of training has been around since deep-dive games first came out. So everypany has real-life holographic training avable for their games. It''s just that nobody uses it anymore."


    "Why don''t they use it?" Colt asked with a hesitant expression.


    "It''s simple. The new versions of the gaming capsules rely solely on your thinking speed. Which removes the need to be physically capable of what you do in the game. It was supposed to even the field for those who don''t have much mobility in real life." Paul shrugged as he stared into the distance. "Plus, by training in the game, you can get your mind used to how your stats affect you. So this method became obsolete."


    "Why are we using it then?" Mike asked after contemting Paul''s response.


    "To give you a solid base to build your fighting style from. Although this has be obsolete, it goes a long way to bridging the gap between thinking about your next action and reacting by instinct. This has to be second nature to you guys. That is if you really want to reach the top."


    "So are you saying our real bodies affect ourpatibility with weapons and armour in the game?" Mike asked.


    "Of course! If you''re incapable of using the weapons in real life. Or moving well in heavy armour. Then your mind naturally rejects it in the game. Even with your stats helping you. So you''ll never reach your full potential unless you can bridge the gap between reality and virtual reality."


    Colt nodded for a moment as he considered Paul''s words. ''What he says makes sense. But why has this never been brought up before? I''d expect other teams to still use this method if it has such benefits.''


    "Because nobody wants to waste time on anything but basic fitness these days," Paul said as if he could read Colt''s mind. "Everyone is so focused on the games they y that they don''t want to spend longer than they have to in the real world."


    "So, how did you do it then?" Mike asked as he remembered what had brought them to that subject. "How can you counter the game''s spells with just your weapon?"


    "It''s actually pretty simple. Pantheon Online uses part of the code from Colisseum. Which is why Jay hired me as soon as he found out." Paul grinned. "Trust me when I say that I believe there''s a lot more to this game than you think."


    "So, about your technique?" Colt grinned as he caught on to what Paul was trying to do. ''There''s no way I''m letting him divert my attention now that he''s confirmed it''s possible in the game!''


    Paul shrugged as he raised his sword to point at Colt. "Hit me with your axe."


    Colt showed a confused expression to Mike before standing up and shing at Paul. Thetter deflected it with a twist of his de. The brothers stared at him with confused expressions as Paul wore an expression that said what he did exined his technique.


    "You don''t get it, do you?" Paul sighed. "What did I just do?"


    "You countered my sh by diverting its path," Colt said with a frown.


    "There''s your answer. Think of a spell as a solid weapon. They can be countered, diverted or blocked. Your lightning bolts act like spears for example. So I can either attack to split it down the middle or create a surface that will cause something like a ricochet."


    "But that''s not possible!" Mike blurted out as he exined about the streams he had watched.


    "Mindset is everything in these games," Mike said as he shrugged. "If you think something is impossible, then it is."

 Chapter 208 The Team Comes Together

    Chapter 208 The Team Comes Together


    ''This is crazy!'' Jason y thought as he looked at the Rebel Energy coach waiting for him in front of the airport.


    "Ah! Jason! It''s a pleasure to meet you in person!" Jay said as he shook Jason''s hand. "You''re thest to arrive. Everyone''s waiting for you."


    The driver stored Jason''s bags in the luggage area as he boarded the coach to the sound of people chattering excitedly. All eyes turned on him as the people cheered. Jason held up his hand andughed as he gave a slight wave to say hello.


    Jason sat in one of the empty seats at the front as Jay boarded with the driver. He nced around and nodded to Burri, Leggy, Un, and Desa.


    "Ok, everyone! You can all get to know each other during the drive." Jay announced as the driver started the engine. "In the meantime, those here at the front are Ragnarok''s officers. So I suggest you learn their faces."


    As Jay sat down, and the coach started the journey, Jason turned to talk to the others. "Let me guess, your Midas."


    The teenager that Jason spoke to nodded his head with a grin. He wore tight blue jeans and a white shirt. Jason guessed he was only around seventeen years old. From the way he acted in the game, Jason would never have guessed he was so young.


    "My name is Robert Chang." The teenager who yed as Midas replied. "This is Cammie Lein, you know her as Winter."


    Jason smiled at the woman next to Midas. She looked to be in her early twenties with long brown hair and green eyes. Cammie was wearing a tight ck t-shirt and a skirt over her tights. A grey zip-up hoodie hung loosely off her shoulders.


    "And this is Kimberly Green, you know her as Beans." Midas gestured to the girl sitting across from him.


    "Hi. You can call me Kim." Kimberly said as she gave a warm smile before hiding behind her book.


    Jason chuckled as he studied her. Her red hair, blue eyes, and freckles stood out against her pale skin. Kim wore a baggy blue hoodie and grey cargo trousers.


    The group settled in and talked about many things. However, Leggy did not take long to start fangirling over meeting Colt Anderson in real life. The group teased him as some of the normal members came forward to greet them.


    "Well Freddy, I guess you just got a taste of what it''s like to be Colt." Jason chuckled as he nced at his friend who yed as Leggy in the game.


    Thetter turned scarlet as he thought about it. It was just beginning to sink in that his own name would be known by now. Jason shook his head as he realised Freddy had spaced out. ''It really is amazing. I never thought I''d ever y at this level.'' Jason sighed as he remembered the missed opportunities over the years. ''Well, I''m here now. I had better make the most of it.''


    The drive went on for another few hours before Jay suddenly stood up. He coughed as he picked up the microphone that was connected to the coach''s speakers.


    "Ok, in just a moment you''ll catch a glimpse of your new home out of the windows on the left," Jay said as he chuckled. "You should all expect a warm wee!"


    Jason frowned as the coach turned a corner, revealing arge park out of the right side windows. Gasps erupted inside the coach as aplex became visible down the road. It was asrge as a five-storey building with huge panels of ss facing the road. A familiar emblem had been mounted above the doors where a crowd had gathered.


    Jason shook his head as private security kept the crowd behind barriers. He could hear his teammates talking excitedly about the Ragnarok emblem as others gaped at the crowd cheering their names as the coach came to a halt. Camera shes kept going off as Jay urged them not to speak with anyone and head directly inside.


    As he set foot on the pavement, Jason smiled and waved as he headed for the front door amid the crowd pleading for autographs. Even journalists were not allowed to go beyond the barriers as the security team kept a close eye on the situation.


    "Wait! Where''re the Anderson brothers?" Someone in the crowd yelled as they realised their absence.


    Jay quickly urged the team on as he turned around to deal with the crowd''s questions. Jason''s eyes went wide as he opened the ss doors to see two receptionists sitting behind a gorgeous white desk. ''Is this really happening?''


    His reaction was understandable as the others reacted the same way. Jason slowly led the way to the desk where the receptionists smiled at him.


    "Wee home." The woman said with a bright smile as she eyed the team. "Trisha here will show you to the dorms. Be sure to give her your names so she can show you to your assigned rooms."


    "Excuse me, but where''s Colt?" Jason asked as he nced around in admiration.


    "The Anderson brothers are currently in a training session. Would you like to speak to them?"


    "Yeah, I think it would be best if all the officers speak to them after ditching our things in our rooms."


    "Very well," The woman nodded to Trisha before turning back to Jason. "Trisha will take you to the training hall after your rooms."


    "Thanks," Jason said as Trisha stepped out from behind the desk.


    "Follow me please," Trisha said with a bright smile as the guys on the team stared at her with nk expressions.


    Luckily, she did not seem offended as she gracefully turned toward the stairs leading up to the next floor. It took some time to get everyone settled into their rooms before Jason and the others returned to Trisha in the hallway.


    "The rooms are amazing!" Cammie said as they followed Trisha through the building. "I wonder what else is in here."


    "Probably everything a pro team needs," Freddy said while pretending none of this was getting him excited.


    "You''re just trying to stay calm before meeting Colt." Robert chuckled as he saw through him.


    It took the group five minutes to reach the training hall from the dorms. As Trisha stopped in front of the doors she turned the group.


    "Be careful not to distract them when you go in. You might have to wait for their sparring session to end. And please, don''t hesitate to call down to reception if you need anything."


    Jason blushed as Trisha winked at him before walking off, leaving the group alone. ''God, I wonder if I should ask her out?'' Jason thought right before he felt his face turning red and the hearing the sound of giggling.


    "Don''t worry man. She''s definitely into you." Freddy said as he patted Jason''s shoulder.


    The girls sighed and shook their heads as they red at the men who felt embarrassed by their gazes.


    "Why does every guy think a girl must be into them just because they''re being nice?" Cammie said as she strode forward and opened the doors.


    Kim was quick to follow her while the guys shrugged with confused expressions before following them. However, when they entered the hall, an insane scene was ying out that left them speechless!


    Jason urged everyone to move along the wall to get a better look before staring intently at the battle taking ce. Colt swung a sword that cut a golden arrow in two as Mike parried Paul''s sh. Thetter quickly pivoted on his back foot, causing Mike to lose his bnce. However, Paul''s second sword was met by Colt''s as he defended his brother from their instructor''s attack!


    A lightning bolt leapt from Colt''s skin at the same time as he cast a separate one with his free hand! Jason and the others gasped as Paul twisted his body and cut both bolts into two halves with a single sh!


    ''What the hell is this?'' Jason wondered as he watched the spectacle. ''I''ve never seen anything like it!'' He could not help but gulp as he watched the battle, all the while wondering if this was what he could expect to face in the future. Part of him wondered if he would be able to keep up with a battle on that level.


    Colt grunted as Paulunched two more arrows with a grin on his face. One from each sword flew away from him to circle around behind Mike and Colt.


    "I''ve got this!" Mike said grimly as Colt nodded.


    Paul''s expression turned dark as Mike traced arge arc with his wooden staff that knocked both arrows away from them, while Colt fired four simultaneous lightning bolts. However, all four shot directly into the air above the mats before freezing in mid-air!


    "Well done!" Paul shouted as he readied his wooden swords. "But can you score a hit with them?"


    "What''s going on?" Cammie asked as she looked at Jason. She understood that the sparring session was mimicking things from Pantheon Online. However, what they were all witnessing made no sense to them.


    "I have no clue." Jason sighed as Paul dashed toward Colt!


    They could all see that Colt appeared unable to move as an intense expression of concentration appeared on his face. Two of the lightning bolts shot down to intercept Paul before he could reach Colt, while the other two moved to strike him from his blind spots.


    Paul chuckled as he dodged the bolts in front of him before turning and striking the remaining bolts with a single sword each. However, as hepleted his technique, he found Mike swinging his staff at his face!


    Paul ducked under it before shing Mike''s ribs and leaping forward in a powerful lunge,nding the tip of his de on Colt''s abdomen!


    Two loud beeps sounded in the hall as Mike copsed to the ground heaving for breath while Colt shook his head in frustration.


    "Don''t worry, both of you are improving." Paul chuckled as he patted Colt''s shoulder.


    "We can go again." Colt wheezed as he started to analyse theirst fight in his mind.


    "Maybe you can, but you shouldn''t." Paul sighed as he helped Mike to his feet.


    "Why not?" Both brothers replied as both of their faces revealed their determination.


    "Because your team has arrived." Paul chuckled as he pointed to the group by the wall.


    ''Damn! He was able to notice them despite our fight!'' Colt cursed in his mind when he realised they were still a long way away from actually posing a threat to Paul.


    "Hey, guys!" Colt shouted before coughing violently. "d to finally have you here!"

 Chapter 209 Clash! A King, A Wizard and the Greatest Knight (Part 1)

    Chapter 209 sh! A King, A Wizard and the Greatest Knight (Part 1)


    "Ah, Colt," Jay said with an apologetic expression as he exited the training room. "We have a... difficult... situation."


    "What is it?" Colt replied with a frown as the others filed out behind him.


    "It seems we have guests." Jay drew thest word out to show that the people were not really wee. "It requires your attention, as I assume they''re here to speak with you."


    Colt nodded for Jay to lead the way. However, he was surprised to see that everyone else joined them. ''I can''t me them for being interested. I am too.'' Colt sighed as Jay led them to the reception area. Colt''s eyes went wide when he spotted their so-called guests.


    "What are you doing here?" Colt growled at William Gould before he realised who was beside him.


    Colt''s mind raced to figure out Camelot''s executive''s motives considering he was the man who had fired him. However, only sadness appeared on his expression when the man next to him waved in a friendly manner. ''Even Arthur is here...''


    "Sorry, Colt. But we''re not here for you." William replied with an arrogant expression.


    William''s reply confused Colt as he began to wonder if they hade to poach one of his yers. ''That''s not Arthur''s style. He would never resort to something like that.'' That thought just made Colt even more confused as the receptionist ended her call.


    "Mr Rueben will see you now. I''ll show you to the training hall."


    "No need." Arthur smiled as he waved his hand. "Colt here can show us."


    Colt did not know what to say. He still respected Arthur, and he was certain he had nothing to do with his exit from Camelot. However, he was concerned about why these two wanted to speak with Paul. ''Are they here to make him an offer?'' Colt sighed, there was only one way to find out!


    "Follow me," Colt said as the others wore confused but intrigued expressions. None of them had realised they stood in front of two important members of Camelot.


    "So, how''s life treating you?" Arthur asked as he quickened his pace to walk next to Colt.


    "I''m doing well despite being fired." Colt sighed as he nced sideways.


    Arthur was just over six foot tall, with short brown hair and eyes. He nodded at Colt''s reply with a pensive expression on his face.


    "You know, I had no idea about that until it was already done." Arthur sighed as he shot Colt an apologetic expression. "Just say the word and I''ll do everything I can to bring you back on board."


    Colt''s expression betrayed his desire for that briefly before he suppressed it. "Thanks, but no. I have a new family now, and I n to do everything I can for them."


    Arthur smiled at that response and nodded happily. "Then I can only wish you all the best. Just be sure not to get buried under the pressure. Running a team and being its Captain are two totally different beasts. If you ever need anything, let me know."


    "Wouldn''t that piss Mr Gould off?" Colt chuckled.


    "Don''t be too hard on him. Merlin''s done and sacrificed a lot for the team over the years." Arthur said beforeughing at Colt''s expression. "Yes, William here is Merlin. So I''m sure you understand he''s no pushover and is just as ruthless in the game as he is in real life."


    Colt nced over his shoulder at the man wearing the stiff suit. He did not look like a gamer at all! ''I can''t believe I never knew that!'' Colt wondered what other secrets Camelot still had when they reached the training hall.


    "Colt, no matter what happens here, I want you to pay attention and not interfere." Arthur''s expression turned grim, and determination shed in his eyes as the group entered the hall. Paul stood in the centre of the mats, still wearing his training gear as he smiled at his guests.


    "It''s been a long time. How are you, Arthur?"


    "I''m fine, Paul," Arthur said with a sigh as William and himself advanced on the mats.


    Colt and the others lined up against the wall to watch whatever was about to happen between these three. Leggy could not hold it in anymore as he turned to Colt.


    "Who are those guys?" Leggy whispered. Colt and Arthur had been quiet enough that nobody had overheard them.


    "That''s Arthur. The founder of Camelot. The other guy is Merlin." Colt''s expression turned grim as he stared at the three figures.


    Gasps sounded among Ragnarok''s officers as they perked up. Intrigued by these two gaming legends and what business they had with Paul.


    "You know why we''re here Paul," William said with a carefree expression. "We can''t have you teaching your techniques to this team."


    Paul smiled warmly at William before asking a simple question. "Why not?"


    "Paul," Arthur said as he shook his head. "You signed a contract. You''re breaching it now."


    "No." Paul chuckled. "I''ve already had it checked, and I''m free and clear of any wrongdoing."


    "What do you mean?" William asked as his eyes narrowed. A sh of outrage appeared on his face as he studied Paul.


    "The contract stipted I could notpete against Camelot in any game. I''m not breaking that use. Although, I still have to thank you for the very generous severance you gave me William. Your timing was spot on too. You didn''t want the other members of Camelot to learn what I taught you, andter Arthur here."


    "You''repeting by training this team!" William growled as Arthur wore a reluctant expression.


    "Well, you should have stipted that I couldn''t act as a trainer." Paulughed as he saw the ugly expression on William''s face. "Take me to court if you want. But I guarantee you''ll fail."


    "Paul, if you knew you could get around the contract like that, why didn''t you do it sooner?" Arthur asked as he cocked an eyebrow.


    "I never really found an apprentice that I thought could master it. That was until you released your Excalibur from your service." Paul grinned. "So what shall it be boys? I''m willing to have a friendly bet."


    "What are the terms?" William asked as some hope appeared on his face.


    "Simple, we''ll have a spar using the rig here in this hall. If you two win, I won''t argue about any amendments you want to make to my contract." Paul shrugged as he wore an aloof expression.


    "What if you win?" Arthur asked before William could say anything.


    "Before you say anything, we won''t allow you to enter the game." William quickly said before Paul could state his answer.


    "You guys are no fun. It reminds me of the old days." Paul sighed. "Ok, then I want you to strike my name from Camelot''s roster. The guy you reced me with doesn''t deserve the name."


    Colt frowned on the sidelines as he listened to the exchange. ''Paul was a member of Camelot? Was it back in its early days before they became a pro team?''


    "You have a deal," William replied as he scanned the weaponry. "I''ll take a staff."


    Arthur moved to pick up a sword, and the pair from Camelot put on the headbands. Merlin moved to the console that controlled the rig and entered the stats and spells they had from Pantheon. Colt and the others grew excited when they realised the trio were going to fight.


    ''Arthur is bad news on his own. Now he has William''s support as Merlin. But he said he trained both of them and he looks so rxed.'' Colt''s mind raced as he tried to guess if Paul could overwhelm the twin powerhouses. ''But this isn''t in a game so Paul should have the advantage. And if he trained them, then he should know their moves.''


    A health bar appeared above Arthur''s head with his in-game name. Which was exactly the same as his real-life one.


    Apparently, nobody had told him it was bad to use it while ying games. The name Merlin and a health bar appeared above William''s head as the pair settled into fighting stances with grim expressions.


    Paulughed as his own health bar appeared. Along with hisst used name inside a game. Colt gasped when he read it and so did the others. Everyone recognised that legendary name from Camelot. ''But, it can''t be!'' Colt was too stunned as hepared Paul to the guy who used the name now. ''Paul''s right. He''s more deserving of the name than anyone else.''


    "Lancelot!" Leggy whispered with awe as everyone focused on the trio.


    The beep sounded to start the battle and Colt gasped! Paul moved faster than he had ever seen as he rushed towards William. Thetter fired off golden arrows while running in the direction of his teammate. Arthur performed a lunge that shot a golden beam to intercept Paul.


    ''This is nuts!'' Colt thought as Paul cut down three arrows with his left de and angled his right one to deflect Arthur''s lunge so that it would cut off William''s route to Arthur! Everyone from Ragnarok could not believe what they were witnessing as the three founding powerhouses of Camelot fought!


    ''This exins why Arthur always felt out of reach.'' Colt had a look of regret on his face as he realised his mentor had never taught him everything he knew. However, Colt''s determination to master those techniques surged when he realised he now had someone willing to teach him what had always been kept out of his reach!


    Loud gasps erupted as Williamunched fifteen more golden arrows as Arthur rushed at Paul. Thetter wore an ecstatic expression as he prepared to defend himself...

 Chapter 210 Clash! A King, A Wizard, and the Greatest Knight (Part 2)

    Chapter 210 sh! A King, A Wizard, and the Greatest Knight (Part 2)


    Colt''s eyes widened when Paul used a spell for the first time. Ten golden swords appeared and circled Paul''s body. Those swords shed William''s arrows while Paul used his dual wooden des to intercept Arthur''s attacks!


    Colt could barely believe what he was seeing. However, as the battle drew on, he realised Paul would often pivot in ways so he could see what William was doing. ''Those swords, Paul is controlling them with his mind even while fighting Arthur!'' He found it hard to imagine the level of concentration someone would need to apply that technique like Paul was.


    ''I''ve only just learnt this in the past few days. But it takes everything I have to manipte four bolts of lightning.'' Colt silently shook his head when he had that thought. However, watching Paul in action sparked his determination. If he could master even the early stages of Paul''s technique, hisbat potential would skyrocket.


    Arthur narrowly avoided a blow to the head as he ducked under Paul''s de. At that moment, Arthur revealed a grin as he shed towards Paul''s exposed hip. However, thetter spun on his left heel away from the de as his second sword deflected the blow.


    y gasped as William unleashed twenty arrows for his next assault. His hands waved through the air like an orchestra conductor as his spells reacted to those movements. y''s eyes narrowed when he saw that. ''He isn''t like Paul. He''s using his body to help with his control.''


    Mike had his own thoughts about that situation. ''He can only afford to do that because Arthur is covering for him. It seems like each of them only managed to master one part of Paul''s teachings. So both of them are iplete when taken separately.'' Mike was studying that battle with the intention of creating tactics they could deploy when the time came to face Camelot themselves.


    Cammie noticed that their methods of using their spells had something inmon with her Authority. She realised the way she used her spells resembled what the trio were doing. That made her wonder if her spells acted as some kind of training method for that technique.


    Paul drove Arthur back before raising an eyebrow when one of his golden swords was destroyed. A quick nce revealed that William had used three arrows to attack the spell directly from different directions. Which allowed him to ovee that troublesome ability.


    "It seems you''ve learned something in these years, William," Paul shouted with a tone full of praise. "But will it be enough?"


    Colt nodded on the sidelines as William''s expression turned cold. He knew that William''s DP had to be running out afterunching so many spells. ''Once Arthur goes down, or William is unable to support him, then Paul will win this fight.'' Colt could hardly believe that their instructor was capable of holding off both of them on his own.


    That was when something surprising happened. Arthur raised his sword overhead, and a golden orb flew from it to strike William in the chest! Thetter revealed a cruel grin when that happened and Mike cursed. Colt nced at his brother for an exnation.


    "William''s health didn''t go down, which means Arthur probably transferred some of his DP to him." Mike sighed as the others chatted among themselves about what that meant. They tried to figure out if they could do simr things with their own abilities orbine them to support each other.


    Although Colt was focused on the fight, he was d to hear his teammates learning something from it. ''I''m sure Mike wille up with something.'' Colt thought as he noticed the serious expression on his brother''s face.


    Arthur and Paul continued to exchange blows, but every few exchanges saw a chunk of Arthur''s health disappearing. Only two of Paul''s golden swords hung in the air now while William had seven arrows left. At that moment, both swords shattered as the final arrow raced to strike Paul unimpeded.


    Colt wanted to scream a warning, but a smile had appeared on Paul''s face. "You guys never learn."


    Paul deflected Arthur''s sword and hooked his own behind Arthur''s neck. A quick tug pulled Arthur off bnce and directly into the path of the arrow! William grunted as he managed to make it pull up at thest second, but that moment of distraction was all Paul needed. A loud beep sounded in the training hall, signalling the end of the battle for Arthur!


    Paul raced toward his remaining opponent as Arthur walked off the mats covered in sweat. Colt could see that Arthur was breathless as he joined them by the wall. Arthur shook his head at Colt''s gaze before turning to watch how William would handle Paul alone.


    Williamshed out with his wooden staff before twisting his body to avoid the sword aimed at his chest. Paul''s eyes went wide as three more arrows suddenly appeared and struck him before he had a chance to react! Colt gasped as it was the first time he had seen Paul take any damage!


    William used that chance to strike Paul with his staff. However, his joyous expression turned to ash when he noticed ten more swords surrounding Paul. Arthur shook his head when he saw that.


    "William should have realised he was holding something back." Arthur sighed as the ten desunched attacks from all directions.


    When William only had a slight bit of health left, Paul called off the swords before rushing William with an onught of shes and lunges. Colt grimaced as he watched that disy. It was clear to him that Paul wanted William to suffer physically, hence the reason for calling off his spells.


    The beeping noise sounded again as Paul finished William off with a double overhead sh that struck at each of his shoulders. William immediately dropped the staff and screamed. Everyone''s expressions turned pale at that sound as Arthur rushed to William''s side. As he inspected him he turned to Paul with an angry expression on his face.


    "What have you done?" Arthur asked with some panic in his voice.


    "Believe it or not, I''ve helped him," Paul said as he shrugged his shoulders. "He won''t be able to move those arms for a while. Don''t forget what you promised. I don''t want to see the name Lancelot being used again."


    Arthur wore an ugly expression as he helped William toward the doors. However, before the duo could leave, Paul had onest thing to say.


    "Oh, and you really shouldn''t have held back."


    Colt saw the grim expression on Arthur''s face before they disappeared into the hallway. His mind was still reeling from seeing Paul defeat the pair of them together. However, Paul''s parting words triggered a realisation. ''Arthur was holding back so we wouldn''t lose Paul. He wanted this result!''


    Colt sighed when he had that thought as everyone rushed to congratte Paul on his victory. However, Paul could not seem to manage a smile as he thanked those around him. Colt was lost in his own thoughts as he reyed the battle in his mind. He had been shown a glimpse of the next level ofbat and he did not want to forget a second of it.


    "Colt," Paul said when he noticed his expression. "Don''t get lost in your thoughts. Trying to imitate us won''t lead to your own style. You''ll have to discover that for yourself."


    "I thought your technique was theplete version though?" Colt replied as a confused expression appeared on his face.


    "No," Paul sighed as a sad smile appeared on his face. "I can only control that many spells because they were close to me. I always lose control when they get too far away."


    ''So William is actually better at controlling them than Paul is. But he can''t fight and use them at the same time unless it''s for a sudden attack that doesn''t require his concentration.'' Colt sighed when he realised that. ''Arthur, on the other hand, learned his closebat from Paul. He only showed his mental control when he sent his spell to William to replenish his DP.''


    Colt silently wondered how good Arthur''s control was since he had not really shown it during the battle. ''They''re going to be tougher to face than I thought. I never knew how strong they really were.''


    Colt silently made ns to train with Paul as much as possible before the game started up again. He felt like it would be the key to seeding against Nar''Kozz. ''I''ll need to push myself to reach Tier 2 as well. I want to know what secrets it holds.'' Colt''s expression turned grim when he realised he missed his chance to ask Arthur about it.


    However, neither Arthur nor Colt were aware that someone else had beaten them to the punch. In a different training hall belonging to another team, twenty people were busy sparring with the same methods Paul, Arthur and William had disyed.


    However, neen of them were facing off against one! The training hall was full of spells as golden ws ripped through the air to tear them apart! The woman responsible for fending off the neen attackers wore a calm expression on her face as she used twin fans to redirect the next nine spells that came her way. Each of them flew off to strike someone else and several beeps announced that they had run out of health.


    The area around the woman seemed to be a safe zone, as every spell that came within reach soon found itself flying away from the beauty at the centre. ''This is so boring.'' The woman thought as she stared at her father analysing her battle. ''Maybe he''ll back off if I defeat Arthur and Merlin.''


    An absent-minded expression appeared on her face as she effortlessly danced around the physical attacksunched at her. ''Then again, Exile wouldn''t be so bad either...''

 Chapter 211 Himinbj?rg

    Chapter 211 Himinbj?rg


    "Come on! Work harder!" Bjorn bellowed at the Skardians, who were carting the stone the dwarves needed.


    Harik had ordered the creation of a defensive city on the coast near the Silverfang Mountains. He wanted to ensure any invading foreign armies would have a hard time using the same mountain path that Parthus had. Bjorn squinted at the mountains whererge dwarven towers had appeared. Each of them was ced so that fires could be lit to send a warning along their line of enemy ships.


    However, it was the hugemanding statue of Exile that stood at the peak of the mountains that filled Bjorn with joy. It served as a memorial of the battle against Parthus, as well as a warning. The statue seemed to look down on the city and out to sea at the same time. It sent the message that Exile was always watching over them.


    ''It''s been five months...'' Bjorn sighed as he thought about how long the Gods had secluded themselves from them. ''Thest time did not take this long. Even Ania is growing restless. And the other Kings are pressuring Harik to hold the Kingsmoot for the High King.''


    Bjorn shook his head as a stiff salty breeze swept in from the sea. ''It''s obvious they want to decide before the gods can interfere.'' Bjorn sneered at their naivety. ''What''s the point of bing High King if it''s not ordained by the gods? Do they really think they would sit back if they were unhappy with their decision?''


    Bjorn walked along the paved streets until he reached the temple. A statue of Beans and one of Old Un stood on each side of the door. Harik had decided they would be the patron gods of the new city since its major export would be goods from the sea. Bjorn often found himself standing there where he could look upon the faces of his gods. ''It feels like the world has stopped moving without them.''


    Of course, he knew that was a stupid observation on his part. All they had aplished proved that the world still moved on. However, he almost felt like Skardia had been too peaceful. Like the calm before a storm.


    Meanwhile, Exile took a deep breath upon returning to Pantheon Online. ''We''re back.'' He could not help but be ted to return to the game despite it only being offline for five days. However, a lot happened during that time. ''I need to pay attention to how much time I spend here. I''ll need Paul''s guidance to keep advancing in his Domain technique.'' That was when he heard the others from Ragnarok gasping.


    "Where the hell are we?" y eximed as he looked around Ragnarok''s divine realm.


    "Wee, to Himinbj?rg!" Exile chuckled as the others showed confused expressions. Exile sighed before exining further. "In Norse mythology, Himinbj?rg was the home of Heimdallr. But I chose this name for its old norse meaning."


    "And? What does it mean?" y asked.


    "Roughly it means heaven''s castle or heaven mountain. Both of which fit this ce. Don''t you think?" Exile grinned as he noticed several of their yers rushing to get to the top of the walls to get a look at the scenery.


    "So we''re on top of a mountain then?" y replied as he nced at the sky with a curious expression.


    "Yeah, it should be hard for anyone to attack us here. I think I managed to grab us the best spot before any other Pantheons could reach Tier 1." Exile smiled as he looked toward the Temple. Bring all the officers to the Temple. You''re going to love this."


    Exile waited until y gathered the others before they headed into the temple. There was an altar for each officer and two smaller ones by the doors.


    "The ones by the door are for our normal yers to use. In other words, the lesser gods of our Pantheon." Exile said as he began his exnation. "The best function of this Pantheon Temple is the fact that we can now create religious symbols."


    Everyone''s eyes went wide at that remark as they questioned Exile about what that meant. He chuckled softly as he held up a hand to quiet them down.


    "When you interact with your altar, you''ll have the option to create jewellery with a rune depicting your name. We can use it to receive our prayers anywhere and replenish our DP in the field with a cooldown. Once you''ve set it, you''ll receive aplete piece for yourself and one for each of your Oracles. Your Oracles can then have them recreated in the mortal realms so your followers can pray to you anywhere. Basically, it acts as a mobile temple." Exile chuckled when he saw their reactions.


    "Have you already tested it?" y asked as everyone revealed eager expressions.


    "Not yet, I got this exnation when I explored the building before the game went offline." Exile shrugged. "So, what are we waiting for?"


    Exile strode to his altar that stood in the centre of the temple. When the rest saw Exile''s actions they rushed to their own. Exile took a deep breath before cing his palm on the smooth stone. He navigated to the religious symbol option and nced at the interface.


    ''It''s too easy for arms to be cut off in battle. So a bracelet or ring is out of the question. The same goes for pins. They''re too easy to lose. A ne can be tucked in, and if someone gets their head chopped off then they''re already dead. So they won''t be able to pray anyway. As for my symbol...'' Exile frowned as he looked at the avable materials. ''I should go with iron. It''s cheap enough and more durable than wood. If I go with silver or gold then only rich people would be able to afford one.''


    He immediately decided his woulde in the form of a ne made of leather strings with his symbol being made of iron. These choices made his religious artefact affordable to the masses in Skardia. Once he chose toplete his selection, he received three copies of it.


    He immediately recognised the one meant for himself. It was the only one with a gold symbol, and the leather was much smoother than the other two. As soon as he put it on he decided to test it out. He was pleased to discover that it came with all the same options he would get from using an altar. ''Well, at least the description was right.''


    When the others were done, he noticed his own rune was slightly different in its design. ''I wonder if it''s some kind of hybrid between the dwarven and skardian runes?'' Exile frowned as he nced at everyone else as they gathered to show them off.


    "Why did you choose gold?" Exile asked as he stared at Midas.


    "Well, I''m a god of wealth so it would be a bit strange if I didn''t choose gold." He replied with a sly smile.


    Exile nodded when he thought about it. ''Makes sense, I guess.''


    "Ok, everyone head to Valheim. y, you have the list of the yers who applied thest time, right?" Exile asked as y nodded in reply. "Ok, check them out and make sure their growth has kept up with our needs. You''re free to decline anyone that doesn''t meet our recruitment standards. The rest of you, get in touch with the other Pantheons. Let them know I want to settle the matter about the High King vote and share some information about a disaster heading to Valheim."


    Grim expressions appeared on their faces as they remembered his warning about Nar''Kozz. They understood how serious the matter would be. The only problem would be convincing the other leaders to help prepare Valheim for the attack. Of course, they knew they should start with the members of the rebel faction since they already knew about the boss. The problem would be those belonging to the royal faction. They would definitely be reluctant after the way Exile had outmanoeuvred them during the civil war.


    As Exile watched them leave he turned to his own thoughts. ''I''m guessing another Council of the Gods will be called once we settle the matter about the High King.'' Exile hummed as he mulled that over. ''Hopefully, nothing too severe will be thrown our way during it.''


    He still remembered the issue with the mobs after theirst decision. There was no telling how bad things could be if they did not think their options over with a clear mind. ''I guess I should check in with Ania and Harik.''


    Exile moved to his room in the longhouse beforeying down on the bed. ''I bet they''ll overreact again.'' He sighed as he closed his eyes and activated his Avatar spell.


    The clouds darkened over Eraldsfen, and the pressure they radiated awoke Ania from her sleep. Her hair was a dishevelled mess, and her face was red from crying herself to sleep. Her dreams had been haunted by the faces of those she had in, while her heart ached from Exile''s absence. She knew it was unhealthy, and she still had the responsibility of attracting people to worship Ragnarok. However, she had not been able to find the strength to get on with life after the first month of Exile''s absence.


    ''It can''t be.'' Ania sobbed as she rushed from the fort to stare at the clouds hanging over Eraldsfen. ''He''s returned!''


    Ania''s face lit up as the guards stared at her with a worried expressions. Which was only to be expected considering how she looked at that moment. That was when the clouds rumbled, and a thick lightning bolt struck the temple...

 Chapter 212 Fenrir

    Chapter 212 Fenrir


    Exile''s aura spread from the temple, making the nearby civilians shiver. He nced around only to notice the temple had been expanded since hisst visit. The dwarven craftsmanship was evident in its design as he roamed the empty building. His altar stood alone in the deepest part of the temple. The next room held the altars of the major gods, while the one attached to the entrance held the altars of the lesser ones.


    ''A lot has changed.'' Exile frowned as he took in those changes as he returned to the throne in his altar room. ''They shouldn''t have been able to do this in a few weeks. How much time has passed?''


    That thought unnerved him. It hinted that the time dtion would speed up during every update. ''It will be impossible to determine how much time will pass. What''ll happen if decades pass during a single maintenance update?''


    Exile frowned as he considered that eventual possibility. Still, he had other matters on his mind, and he could think about thatter. ''Ania is taking a while.'' Exile sighed. Usually, she was rather quick to appear whenever he descended. He even considered the possibility that she was not in Eraldsfen since he had not warned her beforehand.


    ''Even Bjorn hasn''t appeared. Maybe I should return and contact Ania.'' As Exile was considering that, two men and a woman entered the temple and headed directly for his altar room. ''They''re fanatics.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as they came into view. The trio respectfully kept their eyes pointed down, which was what gave them away as being able to see him.


    "Great Exile," the woman said as she removed her helm and kneeled before him. "Lady Ania will be with you momentarily. She was... caught up in some personal business."


    Exile grunted as he listened to the woman. He did not want to say anything that could reveal his ignorance of the changes in the mortal realms. However, the trio took his silence as displeasure at being kept waiting. Their expressions turned grim as the woman spoke again.


    "Can we do anything for you while you wait?"


    "No," Exile said as he shifted in his throne. "I will wait for Ania."


    The trio gulped as they felt his aura pressing down on them. It was suffocating and intoxicating at the same time. Exile''s eyes wandered over them, and he realised their equipment was uniform. It was better made than the stuff the dwarves had initially gifted to the Skardians. That led Exile to believe they were part of a special unit in the army.


    ''If they''re all fanatics then it should be a religious army. They should answer to Ania directly then.'' Exile frowned as the trio refused to move and remained kneeling. ''This could get messy in the future.''


    Exile considered the impact a religious force could have in Skardia. They could eventually disregard the orders of kings and act ording to their religious beliefs. However, Exile doubted that would be a problem for his own followers. Ania was the head Oracle of Ragnarok. That made her the closest human to the gods in the eyes of the other NPCs. Plus, her father was the King of Stormcrown. Which brought the two sides together since each was managed by a different person in the same family.


    However, he could see it bing a problem for other yers. The worst-case scenario would be Oracles leading the army to overthrow the hierarchy of a Pantheon if they believed their God deserved to lead it. Not that it would change anything among the yers unless someone deliberately revolted against their Pantheon.


    ''I''ll have Mike create ns in case some yers band together to try to seize control in the future.'' Exile thought. After all, it was better to be prepared, even if it did not seem likely. As he was considering other future problems that could arise, he felt Ania''s presence as she entered the temple with another trio following behind her.


    Exile smiled when he saw her. Her hair was wet as if she had just gotten cleaned up and dressed. ''So, she was busy bathing when I arrived.'' Exile chuckled to himself as a smile as radiant as the sun appeared on Ania''s face.


    "Lord Exile, it warms my heart toy my eyes on you again." Ania bowed her head while the new trio kneeled.


    "Hm, it is good to see you are well," Exile replied as he stroked his attend to, it is too easy to forget the passage of time."


    Ania showed a sad smile at his reply. She always knew they lived in beard. "A lot has changed since west spoke. I''m afraid I''ve spent too long with my eyes focused on the heavens."


    Ania nodded while the six behind her trembled under his voice. "These past five months have been trying times without your guidance."


    Exile suppressed his surprise from appearing on his face when he heard that. "Has it been that long? The days are like a speck of dust floating on the wind to us Gods. When we have our matters to attend to, it is too easy to forget the passage of time."


    Ania showed a sad smile at his reply. She always knew they lived in different worlds, and she would never understand how the gods viewed her world. However, she had hoped their time apart would have hd some effect on Exile as it had on her.


    "Come forward, Ania. I have a gift for you."


    Ania showed a surprised expression as she slowly walked toward Exile''s outstretched hand. When she ced her open palm below it, he ced a strange ne in her hand.


    "This is my symbol. It will allow me to hear your prayers no matter where you are." Exile smiled warmly. "You should make copies of it and sell them to raise funds for the temple. However, this one was made with my own hands in the heavens."


    Ania''s eyes went wide as she felt the power held in the ne. It was made in the divine realms so it was not as simple as the ones they could make. For one, Exile''s aura pulsed from it. That would allow her to feel as if he were next to her at all times. A tear appeared in the corner of her eye as she expressed her gratitude.


    "Where is Harik?" Exile said after leaving her to her own thoughts for a few moments.


    "My father," Ania gulped to clear her throat. "Is on his way to the Kingsmoot. The other Kings refused to wait any longer and threatened to not even consider him if he did not show up for it."


    Exile nodded when he heard that. ''We kept them waiting too long. Of course, they would want to settle this matter and unify Skardia under a single rule. With our absence, their own chances would improve if they coulde to a deal among themselves.'' Exile grinned as he thought about their motives. ''I''ll have to settle this. Thankfully, they''ve already gathered for us.''


    "Is there anything else I should know?" Exile asked with a raised eyebrow that implied he already knew everything.


    Ania felt it was a cheap test to see what she considered to be important for him to know. She closed her eyes to sort out the information of the past months in her mind. However, only two things came to mind.


    "The dwarves have been trading freely with us. Stormcrown has seen an influx of their goods and we''ve used it to establish strong trade rtions in the surrounding territories. Our people have seen their quality of life improve significantly."


    Exile nodded when he heard that. It was good to know the rtionship with Bargrux was still going strong in his absence. ''I still need to talk to him.'' Exile sighed in his mind as he nodded for Ania to continue.


    "Volunteers havee forward to be the sword and the shield of the will of the gods," Ania said hesitantly as she gestured to the warriors kneeling behind her.


    Exile understood what that meant. Since he had already guessed as much. "And who is your leader?"


    His question was directed at the woman who had spoken for the group before. She did not look up as she gave her reply. "We answer only to the High seats of Ragnarok. We trust Lady Ania and the Inner Oracles to convey your wills. While Lord Bjorn is ourmander in the field."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at that response. ''Why do I feel like Bjorn is responsible for this group appearing?'' He felt a headacheing on as he knew Bjorn''s personality. He even suspected that force would take orders directly from Bjorn even if they conflicted with what the Oracles said.


    "What name have you given this force?" Exile asked as he pretended to be deep in thought.


    "We have no name." The woman replied. "Lord Bjorn felt it was above our station as mortals to name a force that acts on behalf of the gods."


    Exile nodded as he studied their armour yet again. Each of them had the symbol of the Ragnarok Pantheon engraved on the pauldrons. A smile yed on Exile''s lips as a name came to mind.


    "Then, from this day on, you will be the Wolves of Ragnarok. I give each of you the title of Fenrir, to separate your importance from mortal titles." Exile grinned when he finished his announcement. The NPCs expressed their gratitude and undying devotion to him. "Spread the word then. Go now, I must speak with my Oracle, alone."


    The six of them left, not once looking at his figure. When the temple became silent of their footsteps, Exile stood up. He strode towards Ania, and embraced her! She trembled in his arms at the sudden action. However, Exile had another surprise for her.


    "How would you like to see my home?"

 Chapter 213 Legendary Feather

    Chapter 213 Legendary Feather


    Exile smiled as he returned to the longhouse. ''It''s time to put the temple''s other function to use.'' Himinbj?rg had be a hive of activity once the officers had set about their tasks. They had split up the lower yers into teams to make their tasks more efficient.


    As he entered the temple, he headed directly for his altar. A soft smile yed on his face as he activated one of the new functions. A golden light descended before him. He studied that phenomenon with curiosity. However, as it faded, Ania''s figure became visible!


    Her eyes sparkled as she nced around the divine temple. ''So it works like my Avatar spell, but in reverse.'' The function had brought Ania''s consciousness to the divine realm while her real body still remained in Skardia. ''I bet Bjorn would love this.'' Exile chuckled as he waited for Ania to satisfy her amazement.


    "What is this ce?" She asked.


    "This is Himinbj?rg, home of the Ragnarok Pantheon." Exile replied calmly as he watched the reverent expression cross her face. He knew the name of their divine realm would soon spread among their followers, and Ania was the perfect person to describe the realm of the gods to the NPCs. "Come, there is much for you to see, and we don''t have much time."


    "Why don''t we have a lot of time?" Ania asked as shock appeared on her face.


    "Well," Exile began as he pondered how to exin it without terms like having a time limit on this ability. "I''ve brought your soul to the heavens, but you''re still a mortal woman. Your soul can''t survive here for too long as it is unsuited to this environment."


    Ania nodded as if his exnation made sense, and Exile could not help but pat himself on the back foring up with that exnation. He offered his arm, which she took before he guided her outside of the temple. Ania gasped as she felt the environment of the divine realm. The aura of that realm made her feel as if she did not belong, but there was a vast power hidden in it.


    Exile led her to the top of the walls to take a stroll, where she could look out over the mountain and see Valheim in the distance. As he expected, her gazended on the divine city and stared at it in awe.


    "It''s beautiful!" Ania''s eyes went wide as she focused to remember every detail she could see.


    "That is Valheim. A neutral city where all the gods of Skardia gather." Exile hummed as he continued to lead her through Himinbj?rg. "I thought you should be the first to witness our realm. For all you have done for me."


    "You mean, you will bring others here?"


    Exile could hear the reluctance in her tone as he nodded. "Yes. There are those that deserve to witness this. Like Bjorn, and your father."


    Ania seemed disappointed in his reply. She could understand why, but that did not make it easier. ''Will there ever be anything that will just be between us?'' She thought as she let out a sigh. However, she was soon distracted as several yers rushed between the buildings.


    The sight filled her with wonder as she saw so many gods at once. There had been more during the battle with Sommerdan, but at that time she had been unable to appreciate was she was experiencing. ''There are more gods than I ever thought possible. How can we ever hope to make sure Exile is recognised as the one to rule them all?''


    "There will be many tests toe," Exile said as he realised she was lost in her own thoughts. "More wars wille. Here, and in your realm. Every god is rushing to seize more power. I''m sure you understand why."


    Ania nodded as she remembered Bjorn''s stories about the great wars in heaven. She could not imagine a war between those divine existences away from the mortal realms. She partially understood her people would never understand the vast powers of the gods.


    "You should prepare yourself. Not just for the battles toe, but I feel like my existence will change soon." Exile said as he calmly guided her back toward the temple.


    "What do you mean? Are you going to change again?" Ania asked as she thought about the transformation when he epted the dwarves.


    "Maybe. I was referring to my Authority. I feel like a change will happen sometime soon. Like it did when I became the god of lightning." Exile showed an aloof expression as he studied Ania''s reaction.


    "What will you be the god of?" Ania asked with a concerned expression.


    However, Exile only gave her a knowing smile. He could not tell her since he did not know what his options would be. Before Ania could question him further, they had arrived back in the temple.


    "I''ll see you again soon." Exile gave her a warm smile before cancelling the temple''s function.


    ''That should take care of Ania''s needs for a while. I even managed to prepare her for my future breakthrough to the next tier.'' Exile sighed. His eyes shed as he considered what his next move should be. ''I guess it''s about time to meet up with Harik.''


    Exile had gotten the name of the city where the Kingsmoot would be held from Ania before he brought her to Himinbj?rg. ''This should be thest thing to do before we can focus on the threat to Valheim.'' Exile closed his eyes as he activated the Avatar spell.


    Harik frowned as the shy overhead became thick with dark clouds. The kings were seated around a table out the back of Vjender''s fortress. The other kings noticed his expression and looked up.


    "It seems it''s about to rain. We should end this quickly." King Harold said as he studied the clouds dubiously. The other kings agreed as they studied each other. "So, who shall cast the first vote?"


    All eyes fell on Harik, they knew he was reluctant to vote during the gods'' absence. However, they noticed a grin spreading on his face.


    "My fellow kings. I believe you will want to hold on a moment longer." Harik chuckled as thunder rumbled overhead.


    A suffocating aura pressed down from the sky as a sh lit up the darkness. The kings almost choked when they felt the presence of a god unfolding next to Harik.


    "Lord Exile," Harik nodded with a solemn expression. "It ddens me that you have decided to honour us with your presence."


    "Thank you Harik," Exile replied with a grim expression. "What is the meaning of this gathering?"


    The other kings wore ugly expressions as they understood what was happening. The gods had decided to interfere with mortal matters. They knew their ns would be meaningless. A few minutes passed as Exile conversed with Harik, but soon several more auras spread from the city.


    The kings could only sigh and give up at that point. They would have to await the judgement of the gods.


    Meanwhile, in a mortal forest, dark elves fired arrows at the warbeasts who were defending their territory.


    "Get the cubs to safety!" M''Throk bellowed as his ears pinned back against his head. His fur was ck with dark spots on his feline body as he red into the trees.


    Arrows bounced off his green leathery armour as he fell on all fours before racing toward the treeline. He nimbly dodged the projectiles before leaping and digging his ws into the trunk of a thick tree. Panicked voices came from above as he raced up the tree to the branch where the nearest elves had been hiding!


    As soon as he arrived he stood on his rear legs and drew two ck w-like daggers from his belt. The nearest elf tried to fire another arrow. However, M''Throk used his powerful muscles to pounce faster than the elf could react.


    M''Throk''s daggers ripped the elf''s throat to shreds before he sank his fangs into the shoulder of the elf behind the one he had just killed. He tossed the corpse and injured elf off the branch before charging toward the next in line.


    As the elves fell to his onught, his instincts warned him a number of elves were targeting him. ''I should have bought my people some time.'' The old warrior sighed as he wondered how many he could kill before he fell.


    Loud screams echoed through the forest and M''Throk''s ears picked that up. ''It seems help has arrived!'' He chuckled as a storm of arrows fell from above the treeline, targeting the elves!


    M''Throk held out his hand to allow a single white feather tond in it. He gazed at the few patches of sky that he could see beyond the leaves with a reverent expression. ''It''s been years since even one of them has been seen. With the gods returning we thought we would see them before now.''


    M''Throk pondered that situation as he let out a roar to give orders to his pack. He was sending some of his best trackers to follow their saviours in the hopes of bringing them into his goddess'' fold. ''Their skills are legendary. I can''t let them follow anyone else!''


    He leapt from the branch while sheathing his daggers. The impact on the ground did not affect him as he straightened his posture while ncing at his people. ''I need to report to my Goddess that they have finally resurfaced! She''ll be delighted with this! Those filthy elves won''t know what hit them if they agree to join us!''

 Chapter 214 Divine Path

    Chapter 214 Divine Path


    "Let me be the first to congratte you, High King Harik." Exile grinned as he gazed at the other gods wearing ugly expressions.


    The matter had been easy to settle after his threats to kill the Oracles imprisoned by the dwarves and the threat of their army helping Harik. Those gods could only ept to name Harik as the High King under those circumstances. Of course, they could always plot something for further down the line when they had more power.


    [Quest Completed: The Man Who Would Be King (Part 3)]


    [Description: All hail High King Harik Eraldsen. Ruler of Skardia!]


    [Rewards: +50 Stat Points, Inhabitants of Skardia will be more likely to worship you and/or your Pantheon.]


    "You know what has to be done," Exile said as he focused his gaze on Harik. "Make sure it happens."


    Exile was referring to cing defensive cities around the entirety of Skardia''s coast. "The trades with the dwarves will see a boom across Skardia as we prepare for the next war: Exile thought as Harik nodded. As he saw that matter was over, he eagerly cancelled his avatar spell.


    ''I need to decide where to ce these stats. Exile mused as he headed for his room in the longhouse. ''Five levels is quite the jump. It''ll help to solidify my power among the other Pantheons! He sat at his desk as he considered his options.


    ''I should increase my Authority. With learning the Domain technique from Paul, it''ll be my major stat. But, how many points should I put in it?'' Exile frowned as he thought about it. ''I''ll use twenty points for now!


    [You have received +20 Authority]


    ?


    [Congrattions! More than 210 points of Divinity detected!]


    [You will now go through qualitative changes...]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he recognised the notification! ''It''s the same as when I became Tier 1!'' He chuckled as he made a mental note to tell the others the threshold to hit level sixteen was where they would ascend to the next tier.


    [Elevating existence... Race changed to: True Royal Deity (Human)]


    [Congrattions! You have reached Tier 2! Analysing stats for potential paths. Suitable paths detected. Please select your divine path...]


    [Path of the Warrior]


    [Path of the Tyrant]


    [Path of Truth]


    Exile frowned as he read his options. ''What''s this all about?'' All he remembered was that Tier 2 was supposed to turn him into a National God. Otherwise known as a True God. "This should be different from my Authority... I think.


    When his gazended on each option he felt like the true meaning behind them seeped into his mind. He could not exin it with words but he felt like it would be difficult to gain spells with the Path of the Warrior. ''Are these options going to force me to specialise? I feel like the Path of the Tyrant will send me down the path of a dark god!


    Exile frowned as he studied those options again. "The Path of Truth has a vague feeling to it. I feel like it makes me aware of deeper mechanics in the game! It was a strange feeling to Exile. However, he did not like how the other options made him feel. ''I bet there are more paths than these. If I had to guess my Endurance has triggered the warrior option. How I handled the wars probably triggered tyrant. And I guess my Authority has triggered truth. Or maybe it was the first me?''


    He wanted to understand it as much as possible to advise his Pantheon members when they reached that stage. That was the drawback of being ahead of hispetitors. He had no information to go on when making his decision. ''I can only choose for now and hope it doesn''t impact me too much.


    [You have chosen the Path of Truth...]


    [Generating new Authorities...]


    [Please choose your Secondary Authority...]


    [God of Runes: Learn to speak and write Runes of Power. Runes hold the true words to describe everything in existence. Which allows you to wield their true power when used to create spells, runestones, and divine magic.]


    [God of Magic: Learn to wield the power of magic. Will allow you to use other elements at half the power of your Authority. Sorcerors and witches will appear more frequently among your followers.] [God of Wisdom: Learn to see the truth of things even if they are unclear. Others will be unable to trick you while your Authority will prevent you from revealing meaningful information to enemies.]


    [God of Knowledge: Gain deep knowledge of many things in both the Divine and Mortal Realms. Followers will be able to learn new skills and trades much quicker.]


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he studied the list. ''It seems like they''re all from the same branch going from strongest to weakest. Exile mused as he nced over the options again. ''Since I''m the first Skardian god to reach this level, then God of Runes should be the most powerful Authority from this branch.


    Exile did not hesitate to make his choice as a broad grin spread on his face. ''It''s interesting that Runes and Magic are under different ssifications. That''s probably the Skardian and Dwarven parts interfering with the NPCs'' beliefs.


    [Title Gained: God of Runes]


    [Aura of the Gods now affects everyone below Tier 2]


    [Undergoing Base Stat modification...]


    [Congrattions! You have reached... Level 1!]


    [All Base stats reset to 1]


    [Race: True Royal Deity detected...]


    [Royal: +4 to All Stats... Human: +5 to All Stats... Dwarf: +10 Strength, +10 Endurance]


    [Element: Lightning detected...]


    [+10 Speed, +10 Authority]


    [Secondary Authority: Runes detected...]


    [+20 Authority]


    [Divine Talents:]


    [Create Runestone: Create a disposable runestone that holds the Power of your Authority]


    [Create Rune: Create a rune that holds a personal meaning. Can be inscribed on a runestone after creation.]


    [Knowledge of Runes: Understand the meaning behind the True Language. Each rune contains the true meaning of its word.]


    A wave of power exploded from Exile once the notifications stopped. The yers outside of the longhouse felt his imposing aura and shivered. Momentster, they let out broad grins. They did not know what had happened, but they suspected that Exile had done something incredible again.


    "This is the part I hate... Exile sighed as his power had dropped again due to his tier ascension. ''But I wonder what the limits of this new power is. It has to be incredible if I can figure out how to use it. Exile frowned as he tried to focus on the small changes he sensed in his mind.


    Suddenly, images of numerous runes and what they meant shed in his mind. He did his best to hold on, but a splitting headache made him stop! ''I guess I''ll have to focus on a specific rune I''m looking for: Exile hummed as he tried to understand his new power. ''This is going to take some time...


    Meanwhile, y red at a group of creatures attempting to attack the yers he was busy helping to level up. "This isn''t good. These guys won''t be able to handle this: y decided to sound the retreat. His group was made up of new recruits for the Pantheon, but he intended to raise their levels before letting them join.


    They were the special cases with interesting Authorities or a better mindset than the yers who had applied but were stronger than them. He had taken a risk in choosing them for their potential over those who could give an immediate power boost to the Pantheon. His sword shed through the air as he severed the arm of the nearest creature. Screams echoed throughout the forest beyond the walls of Valheim. ''They''ve spread out. Those screams should be from groups from other Pantheons. It won''t be long til they reach Valheim!''


    y cursed, he had thought Exile''s warning would give them more time before they had to worry about the assault. But it seemed the game did not want to give them a breather! ''We''re just back and a new disaster strikes right away! I have to tell Exile so we cane up with something!"


    He knew Exile had not had the chance to speak with the other leaders yet. But that was now more important than anything. After all, only the rebel faction had fought the boss. The other Pantheons may just think of those creatures as new mobs. However, y knew the disaster that would follow them.


    They had witnessed two Tier 1 yers being killed effortlessly by that boss, and he did not want to think about what would happen if it reached the city. ''Exile and Noslin were just newly ascended Tier I''s then. It should be different now. And with Mikari on our side, if we''re quick enough we should be able to slow them down at least!''


    y roared as he swung his sword again to cut down another three of those creatures as the new yers screamed at him to run. He shook his head and roared at them to get back to Valheim and warn anyone in the fields. He intended to stay behind and slow them down for as long as possible!


    Those yers wore reluctant expressions as they watched y rush between the creatures flooding out of the forest. Eventually, their fear got the better of them as they sprinted away from that clearing. y''s chest heaved to catch his breath before he activated his spell.


    ''Eternal de!''


    A shimmering silver sword rose formed from the ground before he activated the same spell three more times. y checked to make sure nobody would witness that event as he controlled the four swords to circle his body. "This is the closest I cane for now to copying Paul...

 Chapter 215 Knowledge is Power (Part 1)

    Chapter 215 Knowledge is Power (Part 1)


    Exile hummed as he navigated to his stat page to use up the remaining thirty stat points from his reward. ''What''s this?'' His eyes narrowed when he saw there was an extra four points. He had no idea where they hade from. He quickly checked the logs to see if he had missed something. ''I see!


    After the changes to Tier 2, he received four free stat points. ''Right now I have one hundred and six points of divinity in my stats. I''m guessing the game must bring the base up to the nearest ten. So my base points for this Tier should be one hundred and ten points! Exile stroked his beard as he nced out the window.


    ''If it weren''t for the dwarves my base would have been much lower. So any god that ascends to Tier 2 without another race will essentially have a weaker foundation. Exile shook his head at that thought. ''It seems we need to seek out other races. The officers at least should be custom races to increase our power!


    ''I''ll need to think carefully about what race I choose for my next Oracle. That will be difficult: Exile slowly made ns to have Harikunch trade ships to build friendly rtions. ''Maybe he knows where we can find a decent race!


    His attention turned back to his stats at that point. "Thirty-four points. Where will I put you! He eyed his stats carefully as he tried to figure out what his new ystyle would be. ''Paul said there were better versions of the Domain technique. From his fights with Arthur and Merlin, I can guess I have to perfect both my mind and body!


    Exile sighed as he realised what that meant. ''I have to be a hybrid build: Personally, he hated hybrid builds. They were unpredictable and had many variations. One wrong choice in stat points could ruin their potential.


    ?


    "There hasn''t been any weapons that strictly needed strength to even equip them yet! Exile''s eyes narrowed when he realised that. ''I doubt that will stay the same.


    Exile ced five points each in Strength and Speed. ''Now the base points of Strength, Endurance, and Speed are the same. Twenty-six points to go! He immediately chose to ce another eight points each in those three stats to solidify his foundation before cing the remaining two points in Authority.


    When he was done, he had gained another three levels, and a broad grin spread on his face. ''I haven''t lost too much now!


    [Name: Exile]


    [Pantheon: Ragnarok]


    [Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Iplete: 1/3), God of Runes]


    [Race: True Royal Deity (Custom Race)]


    [Tier: 2]


    [Level: 4]


    [HP: 285/285 (160+125)]


    [DP: 90/90 (46+44)]


    [Strength: 32]


    [Endurance: 57 (32+25)]


    [Speed: 39 (32+7)]


    [Authority: 90 (46+44)]


    Exile suddenly noticed that his Authority over Runes had an effect on his followers. "The choice never mentioned this! He chuckled at the pleasant surprise.


    [God of Runes: Any of your followers whose writtennguagees in the form of runes can now learn Rune Magic. These races believe that Runes are thenguage of the Gods and that nothing existed before a runic name for them was created. Your followers now believe you embody everything in existence.]


    ''It''s like I''ve be the God of Creation. That should make Ania and the others happy! He thought. ''At least I didn''t lose my spells or my Authority over Lightning! A glimmer appeared in his eyes as he left his room to head for the workshop.


    Exile had not stopped trying to understand his new power. In doing so, he finally learned how to go about experimenting with it. He headed directly for the stone table set against one of the walls. It was marked with runes, and thest time he was here he did not understand what it was for.


    ''So this is used for enchanting while the book on the stand over there is for creating personal spells. I wonder if this means at Tier 2 everyone will have to create their own spells from now on!'' Exile frowned as he ced his spear on the table. ''For now, I should see how my power works!


    However, nothing happened even after a few moments passed. ''Hmm, there must be a trick to it. I''m sure my Authority can work with this. He studied the runes carved on the table and he understood their meanings and what each one was for. ''I see, these two are for injecting my Divine Power!


    Exile ced a palm on each of the two runes. ''I should just have to imagine my power flowing into it! He focused on how he felt when he controlled his spells during his training with Paul. He imagined threadsing from his body and flowing into those runes. Suddenly, a menu appeared in front of his eyes!


    ''Hmm, Refine, Enchant, Remove Enchantment... Exile scanned his options before choosing the Enchant option.


    [Exchantments: 1/3]


    ?


    Exile''s eyes went wide when he saw the Authority boost was considered an enchantment. He licked his lips as he chose a slot for a new enchantment. ''Nothing is happening! He sighed when he noticed no menu of avable enchantments appeared. ''What do I need to do?''


    He tried to think of the word speed and so on to see if it would trigger anything. However, every approach he tried yielded no result. ''Maybe...


    Exile closed his eyes as he focused on his mind. This time, he focused on the Rune that meant Speed. An image of the rune appeared in his mind. ''What do I do now? Do I have to recreate it with my control?''


    Exile frowned as he imagined threads spreading from his palms to the spear''s shaft. This is harder than I thought... His concentration kept slipping as he tried to manipte the threads into the form of the rune. However, he felt like something was fighting against that process.


    Minutes passed, then hours. However, Exile was so focused that he did not realise the passing of time. ''Finally!'' One of the threads had turned golden and was now visible. He did notpletely understand how it had happened but he suspected the process would be easier the more he practised. ''It''s almost like a skill check! Exile chuckled as the other threads making up the rune turned golden one after the other.


    Sweat ran down his forehead when he felt released his concentration. He understood that he had seeded and no longer had to control the process.


    [Rune Enchantment: Speed]


    [Current Base Speed Stat: 32]


    [Please choose between 0 and 32 points of Speed to enchant this weapon with. Each point between 1 and 9 will cost 1 DP. 10 to 19 will cost 2 DP each. 20 to 29 will cost 3 DP each...]


    The exnation continued on until it covered up to one hundred stat points. "The cost umtes with every point: Exile grinned at the thought of his superior Authority stat. ''Let''s see how far I can take it!''


    Exile nodded in satisfaction when he noticed he could choose the maximum at the cost of 71 DP. ''I can replenish it quickly so it won''t be a waste. But this could be a good benefit. We could sell superior enchanted weapons within the Pantheon, and I could make weaker versions to sell to the other Pantheons!''


    Exile chuckled at the thought as hepleted the enchantment. He studied the weapon''s stats.


    [Dwarven Royal Spear]


    [+7 Authority, +32 Speed]


    ''It''s no wonder Tier 2 is seen as True Gods. If I upgrade all of my equipment, I''ll be far stronger than even the peak of Tier 1!'' Exileughed to himself in the silence of the workshop. As he finally calmed down, he understood the drawback of those weapons.


    ''I can''t becent about my base stats. Every increase will allow me to add additional benefits to my enchantments. Exile replenished his DP using his religious symbol. ''It''ll take an hour before I can use it again. Now that I know how to enchant equipment with runes, I should try something else!


    His eyes wandered to the book. ''I guess I can start attempting to create personal spells! He approached the book with a glimmer in his eyes. The cover was made of ancient brown leather with golden runes arranged in a strange way on it.


    As he opened the cover, he noticed the pages were nk. ''Well, after the enchantments I should have guessed this would not be easy! He had a hunch that he should fill it with his divine power.


    ?


    Exile used the same method as he did with the enchantments, making sure his hands never broke contact with the book.


    [Analysing Authority...]


    Exile frowned as he waited for the menu to appear.


    [Create Rune]


    [Create Spell]


    [Create Array]


    Exile''s eyes narrowed when he looked at his options. ''Create Rune should be unique to me. It''s either that or others have to learn runes on their own. Exile considered that possibility seriously. ''It might be possible. I can''t be sure. He sighed when he realised his authority over runes may just give him a head start since he already understood the runes. Only time would tell if it would require specific Authorities to be able to craft anything or if those Authorities just gave out superior results!


    Exile chose the create spell option. He wanted to understand the process of each aspect of his new power before getting serious about upgrading everything. ''Come to think of it, would a runestonee under enchanting then?'' A grin suddenly appeared across his face as the menu for spell creation appeared before his eyes. ''Now, this is interesting...

 Chapter 216 Knowledge is Power (Part 2)

    216 Knowledge is Power (Part 2)


    "Exile!" y bellowed as he barged into the workshop, causing Exile to curse as his concentration was broken.


    y frowned when the golden runes floating above the pages of the book shattered and disappeared. ''What was that?'' He noticed an annoyed expression on Exile''s face and understood he had interrupted something important. However, that was when his eyes went wide from the suppressive aura leaking from Exile''s figure.


    "What''s wrong, y?" Exile asked as he turned to re at him with a stern expression.


    "Sorry, I didn''t know..."


    "It doesn''t matter." Exile cut off his apology with a wave of his hand. "Just tell me what''s wrong."


    "It''s the Deep Stalkers. They''ll arrive at Valheim in a few hours." y revealed an ugly expression as he exined what had happened.


    "Ok," Exile sighed as he stroked his beard. "Have the new yers join the Pantheon. I trust your judgement so we can raise their levelter on. But we''ll need all the firepower we can get for this battle."


    "Check in with the others and send messages for all the Pantheons to gather to fight the threat. Hold them off until I arrive."


    y frowned as he listened to Exile. "You''ve reached Tier 2, right? Aren''t you at your weakest right now?"


    Exile chuckled when he heard the concern in y''s voice. "If you can buy me some time, I''ll have a few nice surprises to reveal."


    y''s frown deepened as a sinister smile spread across Exile''s face. ''He''s up to something again! y sighed when he realised he was helpless in that matter. All he could do was support Exile for now.


    As Exile watched y leave, a grim expression appeared on his face. ''I guess I have to do what I can for now!'' Exile sighed as he thought about the many experiments he wanted to do. A momentter, he activated his Oracle spell.


    [Lord Exile, it has been a long time. I trust you are doing well.]


    Exile smiled when he heard the old dwarf. ''Yes, Thovok. I need your people to offer me stones suitable for inscribing runes on. As many as possible as soon as you can! Silence followed Exile''s thought as he waited for the dwarf''s reply.


    [It''s an odd request, but it won''t be a problem. I''ll see to it that it''s done. We send some every hour until you say otherwise.]


    "Thank you, Thovok. I''ll personally thank King Bargrux when I finish my business here: Exile replied before cutting the connection.


    ''I''ll finish upgrading my equipment first before I make another attempt at spell creation. Exile mused as he walked back to the enchanting table. ''I just hope I have enough time!


    Meanwhile, Bjorn chuckled as he sat in the temple of the new city, and the children gathered around him to listen to his tales. He waited patiently until the children settled down. "There are more adults this time. That''s good! Bjorn cleared his throat to get their attention.


    "Now, what story should I tell today?" Bjorn said as he stared at the ceiling.


    "Jor and the Ice Giant!"


    "Allevia and the Hermit!"


    "The War of the Fall!"


    "I want to hear about Ragnarok!"


    Bjorn grinned as he heard the children calling for their favourite tales. He was pleased to hear the little girl call out for Ragnarok. Bjorn thought about the letter that Ania had sent via hawk. ''It gives me a chance to be the first to talk about these things. I hope to one day see it for myself!


    "Ragnarok it is!" Most of the children cheered, but a few of them groaned. However, that was only because they had grown up with the stories of the Old Gods. "Now, settle down and listen carefully."


    "The first story I will tell you is called The Heart of the Sea." Bjorn smiled as he saw the children perking up. "Not long ago, a fishing boat was damaged in a storm. The waves and winds had blown them away from the coast to where they could no longer find their way home."


    "Days passed, and soon the fishermen grew hungry. They prayed and prayed for a miracle. One day, their prayers were answered. Fish leapt from the sea into their boat! They did not struggle to get back into the water. They seemed content to be food for those poor souls."


    "One of the men, after eating his fill, started asking who the woman on the boat was who kept staring at them. However, the othersughed at him. There are no women on this boat! They would say, mocking him. That night, when the others were asleep, he approached the woman that only he could see."


    "She smiled warmly at him with pity in her eyes. Who are you? The man asked as the woman stared at the horizon. I am the Goddess of Fisherman. All that lives in the sea fall under my domain. She replied, and the man shivered. Please, great goddess, tell me your name. She smiled as she whispered softly in his ear. I am BeansNtoasT."


    "The man frowned at the strange name. However, he never forgot it. Goddess, can you help us back to shore? The man asked as he bowed his head and fell on his knees."


    "No. She replied and the man despaired. But do not fret. A friend of mine will soon arrive to guide your way. The man lifted his gaze to stare at her, but she was already gone!"


    The children gasped and Bjorn smiled when he saw them fidgeting in excitement.


    "Hours passed as the man waited for the Goddess'' friend. He never gave up hope, and eventually, he felt a shift in the winds. The man watched as the sail of the damaged boat turned on its own to catch the wind. However, when he looked at the sea, it did not seem affected by the same winds."


    "As he nced around he finally spotted a man, draped in a grey cloak. The man was blowing into the palm of his hand and the winds seemed toe from that gesture. The fisherman rushed to the figure and knelt before him. Please, tell me your name so I may offer gifts in your name."


    "The figure stared at him for a moment before saying, I am the whispers on the wind. The guide of forgotten paths. I am the God of Lost Travellers. I am, Old Un."


    "The fisherman raised his gaze to express his thanks but the figure was gone! However, the winds kept blowing. When the sun appeared on the horizon, the fisherman could see the coast of Skardia in the distance and wept in joy!"


    The children cheered in joy as they pointed out those were the Gods whose statues stood outside the temple they were in. They pressed Bjorn for another story as he chuckled at their enthusiasm. "This next story is called Dreaming of a Cure," Bjorn said as he took a sip of mead. "In Eraldsfen, there was a mother wrought with grief. Her son had fallen gravely ill, and everyone suspected he only had a few days to live. The mother, having lost all hope turned to the gods. She prayed for a full day and night to every altar before exhaustion forced her to sleep."


    "However, a strange dream urred. She found herself standing outside of Eraldsfen looking at the forest. A beautiful, ethereal woman strode out of the treeline with a sympathetic expression on her face. Without saying a word, she took the mother''s hands and led her into the forest."


    "Remember this path. When you awake,e here. The woman said as they halted in a bare clearing. Who are you? How can this help my son? The mother asked as tears streamed down her face."


    "I am the weaver of dreams. The wielder of nightmares. I am WintersEmbrace. You muste here if you wish to save your son."


    "The mother''s eyes opened, and she frantically raced to the outskirts of the vige. The path she had been shown was exactly as it was in her dreams. Hope red in her heart as she raced through the forest. However, when she reached the clearing it was not bare. It was full of weeds, and she could only watch as a man whispered to those nts. She stared with wide eyes as those weeds grew under his care at his very words!"


    "Who are you? Can you save my son? The woman asked as she approached the man. A smile yed on his lips as he neared her. He embraced her and whispered in her ear. I am the eternal gardener. The God of Wild nts, Moist Burrito. Take these weeds and boil them down. Have your son drink it, and all will be well."


    "The mother suddenly realised that there was no man, and she was embracing empty air. She wiped the tears from her eyes and gathered as many of the weeds as she could. She followed the man''s instructions and waited patiently. On the fourth morning after the encounters, she awoke to find her son missing from his sickbed. She searched the whole house in vain. Only to hear himughing as he yed outside."


    The children gasped as they questioned Bjorn. They wanted to know what the weeds were called. Others wanted to know if WintersEmbrace visited everyone in the world to give them dreams when they fell asleep. Some asked why she would give people nightmares.


    "Well, when ites to children, she only gives them nightmares when they misbehave." Bjorn chuckled when some of the kids nced at their parents nervously. "Now, the next one is called The Lake of Chilling Winds."


    "A hunter had prayed to the gods for a safe journey before leaving his town. He trekked for a few days, deep into the forest where he found a boar. This hunter thought he was extremely lucky as he took the animal down with a single arrow. However, he had been too excited to notice that a pack of wolves had been stalking the same prey!"


    "Half of the pack rushed to defend the kill while the other half chased after the hunter! The man ran through the forest with fear thick in his heart. The wolves howled and snapped as they chased after him. Quick! Run away! The hunter yelled when he saw a man up ahead."


    "IamLegend, God of Winter Winds. Go to theke! Only then will you be safe!"


    "As the hunter sped past the self-proimed god he felt the air reach freezing temperatures. The wolves suddenly yelped as the biting cold struck them. Those winds slowed the beasts down. However, he could see they were still intent on chasing him!"


    "Suddenly, a hiddenke came into his view. The man frowned as he ran when he saw another figure standing on its edge. He raced toward the man and watched as the figure raised his arm. The surface of theke became rough with waves and the water parted. Revealing a path that would allow the man to reach the other side!"


    "I am Desa, God of Lakes. The figure said as the hunter passed by him. The wolves were beginning to catch up now, and the hunter was growing tired. When he reached the far side of theke, the two walls of water suddenly crashed together. Drowning the wolves?that had chased him. When he nced at the opposite shore, he saw the two gods staring back at him. Thank you, the hunter whispered as the pair disappeared."


    Bjorn went on to tell the tale of The Hidden Treasure. Where the God of Wealth, MidasTouch led an orphaned boy to a buried casket of gold. After that, he told the story of Fjora and the Serpent. Fjora had used her bare hands to y a monstrous serpent, saving her vige in the process. She was rewarded with bing a hero with monstrous strength by the God of Strength, ymore.


    The children chatted excitedly when he was done. However, one girl looked at one of the altars in the temple before giving voice to a question.


    "Who is that god?"


    Bjorn followed her gaze before frowning. "That is Mikari, brother to the King of the Ragnarok Pantheon, Exile."


    "What''s he the God of?" She asked but Bjorn only replied with a shake of his head.


    "Let''s leave his story for another time." Bjorn nced around the temple at all the expectant expressions. "We have time for one more story. What would you like to hear?"


    Bjorn cocked an eyebrow when one of the men in the back raised his hand. ''I don''t think I''ve seen him before... Bjorn''s eyes narrowed as he studied the man.


    "Is there a story you would like to hear?" Bjorn asked as the man stood up.


    "I haven''t heard it for a long time. It''s a story my father used to tell me when I was a boy. I wonder if you know it? It''s called The Father of The Gods..."


    Bjorn inhaled sharply as his gaze turned cold. "Who are you?"

 Chapter 217 Knowledge is Power (Part 3)

    217 Knowledge is Power (Part 3)


    "Where''s Exile?" Noslin demanded as she entered the area y and the other Pantheon leaders had designated asmand HQ.


    "He''s currently unavable." y replied with a frown on his face. "He''ll be with us as soon as he can."


    Noslin grimaced when she heard that. She nced at the other leaders and noticed that even Aeri was there. Despite the grievances the two factions had in the past, nobody was willing to quarrel when Valheim was threatened. However, it was clear that those who had been on the winning side of the civil war had takenmand of the situation.


    "Alright, how long do we have?" Noslin asked as a sigh escaped her mouth.


    "The scouts have reported their vanguard will be visible within the next few minutes," Beartooth replied as he sent a runner to warn his Pantheon to be ready.


    "Minutes? What have we done to prepare for this?" Noslin asked with surprise.


    "We''ve manned Valheim''s walls, and we''re currently searching to see if there''s a mechanism to shut the gates we can use. If we can''t shut the gates, we''ll have to use yers as walls to funnel the Deep Stalker army into a kill zone." y replied matter of factly.


    Noslin mmed the table they were seated around before noticing the gazes her action drew. The leaders who had never faced the Deep Stalkers sensed something was wrong with the situation from that.


    "It won''t be enough!" Noslin hissed in a low voice.


    "Do you have a better idea?" y hissed.


    Noslin remained silent as she considered the situation. ''We don''t have enough time toe up with anything better.'' She sighed as she nced at the other leaders. ''And it''s not like Exile''s presence would add much to this fight. It''s not like this will be like before. We have all the yers of every Pantheon, and plenty of people have reached Tier 1 now.''


    Of course, she knew those who had recently ascended to Tier 1 would be weaker. However, she could still afford to hope. It all depended on how many Deep Stalkers there were. She was certain they had not seen all of them before. ''Nar''Kozz will be the problem.''


    "Sorry, I''mte." A cheerful voice called out as a yer walked into that area. He nced at the leaders and nodded his head. "Ok, I think I''ve got a grasp of the situation, so we need to make some adjustments."


    The leaders stared at the yer with incredulous expressions. They nced at each other seeking an answer as to how a Tier 0 yer had gotten into that area. It was clear he was newly ascended to Valheim due to his ragged clothes.


    "Who do you think you are?" Aeri snarled as she walked up to him. However, herplexion paled when y ced himself between them.


    "You won''t talk to a member of our Pantheon like that. Especially not our strategist!" y''s gaze became cold as he red at Aeri.


    "Strategist?" Noslin asked with confusion on her face.


    "Hm, this is Mikari. The man responsible for the n to defeat Sommerdan." y grinned when he saw Aeri''s expression turn ugly, and everyone else let out gasps of surprise.


    ''So this is Mike Anderson. Exile''s brother.'' Noslin thought as her eyes narrowed. She had seen Rebel Energy''s announcement and had kept up to date with all the developments. She studied his features tomit them to memory. ''Messy brown hair, blue eyes... He''s kinda hot.''


    "Split the Pantheons into three teams. All the heavy hitters will be in the two main teams, while the weaker Pantheons should form a reserve force. Teams one and two will rotate until they use their DP up. At that point, the reserves will take over. Their job will be to hold the line until the main teams can recover at the temple." Mikari said as he nced around the table. "Noslin, you can use ice, right?"


    "Yes," Noslin replied with a cough when she saw his ice-blue eyes looking into her own.


    "Good, I want you to use it to narrow the gap in the gateway. If anyone else has spells that can be used to make barriers, I want walls cutting off the exits into narrow streets from the main road. Any Deep Stalkers that get in should be kept on that road. If you have a way to get out yers onto the roofs using spells then do it. We should avoid closebat for as long as possible. No matter what, the enemy does not reach the temple. Is that understood?"


    Mikari had taken control of the situation before anyone could object. The leaders could only look at him with admiration. They had been so focused on the threat that nobody had taken the time to think of what they could do to even the battlefield with their spells.


    The leaders nodded in agreement as Mikari''s expression turned solemn. "I don''t want to see any deaths before their leader appears. It will be unavoidable when that happens. However, until then, there''s no excuse. Give the orders, and get into position. Leave some runners with me. The rest of you should be with your Pantheons."


    Some of the leaders revealed reluctant expressions. However, they also realised if they failed, then they could pin the me on Ragnarok.


    "I never liked this stuff anyway," Beartooth grunted with a grin. "I''d rather be in the thick of the fight."


    Mikari nodded to Beartooth, and a nce told him the other leaders would leave it to him. He caught Noslin staring at him as if she wanted to say something. However, she soon left with the other leaders.


    "Bring me a map of Valheim and something I can use to mark the positions of our forces and the enemies," Mikari said as he nced at one of the yers left behind. "You three, you''ll run to the battlefield in turns and bring me information on how everything is developing. Let''s get to work people!"


    "Do you think he can get us out of this mess?" Noslin asked y in a low voice as they walked to the gates.


    "Hm, he''s pulled off miracles before. Even if we didn''t know it was because of him." y rubbed his jaw as he nced sideways at her. "Exile trusts him, and that''s all I need to know."


    Noslin nodded as she reviewed her spells in her mind. ''I''ll have to act as a support to make the most of this n. So I can ignore my offensive spells.'' She sighed as she saw groups of yers chattinge into view. ''They have no idea how rough this is going to be.''


    "Enemy spotted!" A voice yelled from the top of the wall. The tension in the air immediately rose as the yers took out their weapons.


    Noslin spotted a few of the battle junkies grinning at the thought of fighting in a battle like that. She turned to the other leaders before things could get out of control. "Let''s move quickly and get these people to higher ground."


    Meanwhile, Exile frowned at the golden runes on the stone. ''It''s too weak.'' He sighed as he cancelled another creation that he dubbed as a failure. ''It only had the power of a Tier 0 spell. I need them to express Tier 1 power at least.''


    Creating Runestones had been more difficult than he had imagined. It required a different process where the strength of the spell depended on how much mental energy he could charge it with. ''The battle should be starting soon. I can''t waste any more time.''


    He decided to brute force it. Strands of his mental energy leaked into the runestone as he wielded them to create the Rune for fire. A second Rune appeared beneath it, then a third. He knew he was being ambitious with his creation, but he felt like it was something he needed in his arsenal.


    ''Damn it!'' He groaned as he sensed it was another failure. ''Is it impossible for me right now? Am I blinding myself?''


    He red at the stone for several seconds before heaving a sigh. ''I don''t have enough control. I''m using too much energy to create and hold the other runes.'' He pped the enchanting table before letting out a groan.


    ''I''ll have to enchant each stone with a separate rune and be careful of when I use them.'' Exile sighed as he made his decision. Combining the three runes would have saved him that effort as they would have worked together to limit the specific effects of the spell.


    A look of determination appeared on his face as he filled new threads with all the mental energy he could. The golden lines of the rune became thicker before condensing and etching themselves onto the stone. A grin appeared on Exile''s face as he sensed it reached a power equal to 70 points of Authority.


    ''Haha! I''ve done it!'' He grinned as he picked up the smooth stone. ''It''s a shame it''s disposable. But I guess that''s just a way to make it a fair ability.''


    The Rune would create a torrent of mes that would cover a wide area when he used it. ''Now, the next one.'' He focused on the new stone he ced on the table, and soon a new rune appeared. ''Hm, not bad.'' He thought as he scanned it. It was a healing rune that would regenerate five HP every three seconds for thirty seconds.


    However, so far, he had been unable to create anything that reached a power suitable for Tier 2. ''Damn! The rune only affects Tier 0 yers!'' He hade across that fault when he inspected the runestone. His eyes narrowed as he suspected there were hidden limits ced on the creation of Runestones if he wanted something more powerful.

 Chapter 218 Horde (Part 1)

    218 Horde (Part 1)


    y red at the Deep Stalkers from atop the wall as Noslin sealed the Main Gate. ''She''ll leave a gap for them to get through so we don''t have to deal with too many climbing the walls. Mikari really is a genius. If we didn''t leave them a way in, they would overrun the walls and be too spread out once they entered the city. It would''ve been difficult to round them up again.''


    He could see the concerned looks on the yers'' faces as he nced around him. Many of them came from the old royal faction that had never seen those creatures before. ''I don''t see the boss.'' y''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the shifting creatures. ''The absence of Nar''Kozz had him concerned.''


    "What are they waiting for?" A nearby yer whispered as he listened to the screeches of those creatures.


    "They''re waiting for a signal," y said, causing the yer to nce at him. "You''ll know it when you hear it."


    Minutes passed before the ear-piercing screech of Nar''Kozz filled the air. y''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest. However, he found no sign of the boss. ''What''s the damned thing up to?'' Suddenly the Deep Stalkers replied to screech before darting forward.


    "Prepare to fire!" y bellowed as the yers along the wall aimed their weapons and palms toward the iing tide. y watched them carefully, and once they had crossed half of the distance between them, he gripped the wall in front of him. "Fire at will!"


    The air above the fields in front of Valheim''s main gate lit up with golden lights and shes of different elements. y red at the explosions caused by the different effects as they rained down on the Deep Stalkers. Screeches filled the air as many of those creatures were blown apart. However, the lines behind them did not halt and sprinted into that zone of death without hesitation.


    y''s knuckles turned white as he watched their unrelenting charge. Spells never stopped flying, yet they seemed to have little effect. ''They''ll reach the walls in a few minutes.'' His expression turned grim as more Deep Stalkers charged out of the forest. ''How many of them are there?''


    The ughter continued until y drew his de. The first creatures had reached the gate and walls. He frowned as some of the charged through the hole that Noslin had left. However, more Deep Stalkers than they had anticipated leapt at the walls. Their ws dug into the smooth surface as they climbed.


    "Prepare for battle!" y roared as the sounds of weapons being unsheathed filled the air around him.


    Mikari grimaced as he stared at the map while he adjusted the tokens on it. ''They''re mindless brutes.'' He sighed as more reports were ryed to him. ''They haven''t taken the bait at all.'' He groaned when he realised only a minimal amount of the Deep Stalkers had charged through the gate into the kill zone.


    He drummed his fingers on the table as other yers added more tokens to the map. ''This is worse than all the reports led me to believe. It''s a proper horde. These creatures rely on their numbers, but I''m not sure we can counter it.'' He sighed as he eyed theyout of the streets behind the walls where the enemy had attacked.


    "You! Ry this message to themanders. All Tier 1 yers are to hold the walls. Tier 0 yers should now move to the streets. Prepare evacuation routes so safely surrender the walls on mymand!"


    The yer that Mikari had spoken to turned pale at thatmand. He gulped before racing off. ''Our morale has already taken a hit.'' His eyes darted along the lines on the map before he nodded. ''We''ll see how things y out for a while longer, then move to the next phase. It''s a lot earlier than I expected.'' A sigh escaped his mouth before he gave another list ofmands to another runner.


    "Kill them! Don''t lose our path of retreat!" y roared as Deep Stalkers pushed the yers back and cut them off from the stairs. ''Shit!''


    He shed at the head of one of the creatures as it peered over the wall in front of him. A nce along the line told him there were many spots where the yers were already being overwhelmed. y clenched his jaw as he made a decision. ''Exile didn''t want us to reveal this so soon.'' He sighed as he used his spells.


    Four shining des hovered around his body as he activated more spells to boost his stats. "Get back!"


    The yers fighting the creatures stared at him with confusion but quickly leapt out of his way as he raced toward them. They panicked and tried to stop him, believing he wasunching a suicidal attack. However, as he shed with the first three beasts on the wall, their jaws dropped open.


    The swords seemed to react on their own as they parried the wed hands. Since the Deep Stalkers had four arms, they usually caught the yers off-guard with their extra limbs. However, that advantage disappeared when y used his Domain.


    The silver des would often parry two or three attacks in one movement before counter-attacking. The yers behind y watched in awe as he drove into their lines, leaving devastation behind. By the time he had cleared the path to the stairs, the other yers had started attacking the new waves with renewed vigour.


    "Sir, how did you do that?" A yer asked with awe in his voice.


    "Do what?" y asked as the swords continued to hack at the beasts still climbing the wall.


    "The thing with your spell. I''ve never heard of something that acts like that, so there should be some trick to it."


    y red at the yer as he wondered how many others had realised he had not used a simple spell. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    y grunted before returning to the centre section. The yer who had questioned him stared at his back and studied the swords. A glimmer of curiosity appeared in his eyes.


    "Guess I''ll have to join Ragnarok." A wide grin appeared on the yer''s face as he turned to help fend off the attack.


    Meanwhile, Winter frowned when she noticed the silver swords on the wall. ''The situation must be dire. I guess we can take that as approval to use what we''ve learned.'' Of course, nobody had mastered the Domain technique. But everyone in Ragnarok knew that Exile and Mikari were the best with it.


    Winter knew it pissed y off that he did note in third, no matter how much he had thrown himself into the training. A grin spread on Winter''s face as she wondered which spells to use.


    Noslin nced at her with a concerned expression as she refilled the ice walls where they had be damaged. ''What''s she nning to do?'' Noslinined in her mind. She was worried that Winter may unleash something that would ruin her hard work.


    Winter raised her hands toward the sky as multiple purple wisps shot from them toward the sky. Noslin frowned as she counted more than ten of them as they began to circle high in the sky. ''What''s she doing?'' She stared at that scene with confusion. However, Winter brought her hands down, and those spells raced toward the Deep Stalkers in the street.


    The members of Ragnarok who had trained with Paul grinned when they saw the purple orbs. Winter had the greatest control over her spells and could use them overrger distances than anyone else in the Pantheon. However, shecked the finesse that Exile and Mikari had shown. Which was why she ranked third in the Domain technique.


    What she had done was the signal that they could use their Domain techniques. Even if they were unpolished, it would still raise theirbat potential significantly. Midas shook his head at the sight as he turned to look at the Deep Stalkers that were hit by Winters spells.


    Their movements became erratic as more wisps erupted from her body. ''I guess I should join her.'' He grimaced at the thought of spending gold to activate his spells. However, he would not hold back in that situation. ''Golden Tide!''


    A thousand gold coins erupted from Midas'' hands, and under his domain, he turned them into something resembling a stream. He waved his hands as he directed those coins to smash against the nearest beast. The creature was sent flying by the force of the attack, but Midas was already controlling it to strike at the next one.


    Noslin''s eyes went wide when she watched the two. She could not understand what they were doing but she knew something was wrong. ''Their spells aren''t following a set trajectory. What the fuck is that?'' She wondered if the pair were anomalies. However, that idea was soon shattered. The other officers of Ragnarok soon revealed simr abilities, which caused the Pantheon leaders nearby to pause and study them.


    Greed appeared in their eyes when they watched those scenes. However, nobody understood what was going on. Some of them silently made ns to purchase the information regarding that technique from Exile. Even if they knew it would cost them a hefty sum. They simply could not leave that power in the hands of a single Pantheon!


    "Noslin!" A yer yelled as he climbed onto the roof she stood on. "I have word from HQ."


    She frowned as she listened to the runner. ''The situation is already getting out of control then.'' She sighed as she turned and barked the orders to the yers. She nced at Ragnarok''s demonstration once again, and a nagging feeling tugged at her mind.


    Feel free to check out my Sci-Fi Fantasy, Rise of the ck Lotus, out now for Webnovel''s Fantasy Carnival Contest! Your support is much appreciated!


    Antihero

 Chapter 219 Horde (Part 2)

    219 Horde (Part 2)


    Mikari studied the tokens with a severe expression. All the Tier 1 yers had managed to hold the wall for another half hour against the horde. However, the Tier 0 yers had retreated quite a distance from the main gate. ''It''s time to abandon the walls. If we leave it much longer, our Tier 1''s will get cut off.''


    He gave the orders to the runners and continued to study the map. ''Once the Tier 1''s rejoin the others, we can slow them down again. It''s time to set up defensive blockades on the path to the temple.'' He turned to another runner that had been waiting for a while to execute that order. A simple nod of Mikari''s head told him it was time.


    As the yer darted off, Mikari let out a long sigh. "Pack it up. We''re moving HQ into the temple. Let themanders know."


    ''If only we had more yers, then we could try funnelling the horde into the main square. If we could surround them long enough to severely deplete their numbers then we would have a chance. We can only hold out as long as possible and hope they make a mistake we can exploit.''


    Mikari shook his head as he set off to oversee the creation of a new HQ where thest stand would take ce...


    Several minutes after y and the others received the order to retreat.


    "Damn it! Noslin! Seal the path!" y roared as he eyed the tidal wave of Deep Stalkers converging on them.


    The moment they abandoned their position, a change


    urred in the horde. Arge number of the creatures that had been fighting on the main road suddenly ignored the Tier 0 yers. y had realised those creatures were eager to kill them rather than push further into the city.


    ''Something isn''t right.'' y frowned as he brought up the rear with the other yers who preferred closebat. Most of those creatures were trying to go around them to attack the yers using long-range spells to aid their retreat. ''Are they trying to cut off our support? Or are they targeting the ones they think will be easier to kill?''


    That thought disturbed y as it meant those creatures were disyingplex thoughts. y cursed as more silver swords appeared and shed at the Deep Stalkers.


    "Noslin! Hurry up!" y screamed as more creatures flooded into the side street.


    The air turned cold as Noslinunched her spell. A sigh of relief escaped y''s throat as the creatures around him became trapped in arge ice wall as Noslin''s spell ran through the area. He chuckled when the creatures on the other side tried to climb the new obstacle, only to slide back down it. ''Serves you right.''


    However, as he turned to walk away, he grimaced when he saw the expression on Midas'' face. A nce over his shoulder revealed the Deep Stalkers climbing on top of each other. ''They''re stacking themselves to get over it!'' y cursed as he shouted at the others to run. They had to use that chance to put some distance between themselves and the horde.


    As the group raced through the side streets, they suddenly heard yers screaming. y looked in the scream''s direction only to realise they wereing from the main road. ''Mikari''s going to be pissed if people are already dying.'' He sighed as they took another turn. Winter screamed as a figure suddenly crashed on her from above!


    It took y a moment to realise what was happening at the front of the group. The Deep Stalkers had pushed deep into the main road and started spreading through the city. They had run into a group of those creatures that were using the rooftops to find isted yers trying to escape!


    Those figures rained down on their group as chaos ensued. The situation had devolved into a free-for-all as everyone did their best to survive the ambush. At that moment, Midas unleashed another tide of gold coins and rescued Winter. It took him but a moment to realise there would be some casualties if they did not escape that situation.


    One of the Deep Stalkers suddenly let out a long screech, and Midas felt his blood run cold. ''Is it alerting other groups that we are here?'' His eyes darted to the rooftops as he tried to think of a way out of that situation. But only one thing came to mind.


    "Winter... You should run." Midas'' expression turned grim as Winter nced at him with wide eyes.


    "Midas..." She started to say, but he cut her off with a shake of her head. She could see the determination in his eyes.


    Winter called out for everyone to run. She screamed at them to ignore their opponents and get the hell out of there. Naturally, this confused everyone. However, a golden light suddenly erupted from Midas.


    ''Divine Loan!'' Midas felt a rush as his spell spread in the area. Nobody was safe from that spell. Not even his allies. Divine Loan forced everything caught in the spell to lose some stat points. Those points would be part of Midas'' stats for a set time. However, the spell had an annoying drawback.


    y shook his head when he saw what was happening. Every officer of Ragnarok knew about that spell. They immediately understood Midas was giving them a chance to escape. They bolted in the direction of the temple as they shot curious nces over their shoulders. Midas'' skin turned golden as the buffs took effect. ''Three minutes...''


    Several of the creatures chasing the group exploded in a gruesome painting of red. Midas had moved so fast that nobody had even noticed his arrival. Golden threads shot from his fingertips to ensnare ten more Deep Stalkers as they charged toward him. y held his breath as he watched Midas control them like puppets as he used them as meat shields.


    He heard several of the leaders around him gulping when they caught sight of that battle. It was a one-sided ughter in favour of Midas.


    "We should use this chance to counter-attack!" Noslin shouted as she slid to a halt.


    However, y grabbed one of her arms while Winter took hold of the other. She wanted toin, but their grim expressions silenced her thoughts. She wondered what they had to be afraid of with Midas wielding such power. y caught her gaze and shook his head.


    "We don''t want to be around when he has to pay the cost of that spell. Trust me, it won''t be pretty."


    Curiosity appeared on Noslin''s face as they continued to drag her. However, she suppressed it and nodded for them to let her go.


    "Keep your eyes on the roofline! We can''t afford to get stalled by another group!"


    shes of golden light routinely shed from behind them as they heard the creatures screeching in agony. They could only imagine what horrors Midas was inflicting on those beasts.


    Noslin suddenly covered the entrance to an alley with an ice wall. "There''s more of them up ahead!"


    y''s expression turned ugly as he pushed his way through the group to reach the front. "Can you cut them off?"


    "No," Noslin shook her head as she revealed a helpless expression. "Thatst one used thest of my DP."


    Most of the yers nodded in agreement with her. The siege had taken its toll and they had not been given any chance to replenish their DP with how fast everything had progressed. y sighed as more Deep Stalkers rushed into their street as he caught sight of figures leaping across the gaps between the roofs.


    "Ragnarok! To the front!" y bellowed as he prepared for the sh.


    The other yers had no idea what was happening, but they would notin if Ragnarok''s yers wanted to sacrifice themselves to open a path. y activated his religious symbol to replenish his DP. He nodded to the other members as they grinned at that action. If they were going to go down, they would do it with a fight.


    The sh quickly turned bloody as ws ripped at the yers while Ragnarok acted as a wall to defend the yers behind them. y felt trapped despite the fact they were gaining ground. He could hear the screeches of more of those creatures heading in their direction. ''Midas won''tst much longer. We''ll soon be surrounded.''


    He sighed as he tried to calcte how far they could go with their current power. However, he did not like the answer. ''This is it. We''re all going to die here.'' y felt at peace when he realised that. ''It''s just one death. Once we resurrect in the temple we can rejoin the defence.''


    At that same moment, Midas heaved deep breaths as he scanned his surroundings. He had killed more than three hundred of those creatures in the span of a few minutes. However, there was no end to them. Hundreds more piled into the street and red at him with hungry eyes. ''Come on!''


    Midas took a step forward and faltered. He suddenly felt weak and groaned loudly. Divine Loan had chosen that moment to end. Which meant its side effect, Divine Interest, was about to take effect. ''I hope you got away.'' Midas sighed as his body exploded in golden light...


    Meanwhile, Exile grinned at the pile of Runestones he had stored in his inventory. ''I''ve updated my equipment, created some decent disposable weapons, and even managed to create some suitable spells.


    A soft chuckle escaped his throat as he evaluated his gains. ''I should hurry and help the others.'' As he stepped outside he activated one of his new spells. A golden rune appeared and floated in front of him. ''It''s not the best version of this, but it''s the best I can do for now.''

 Chapter 220 A Monster Among Gods (Part 1)

    220 A Monster Among Gods (Part 1)


    y nced around helplessly. The creatures that Midas had held off had caught up with them, and the situation turned into a ughter. ''Damn it!'' y cursed as he looked at those creatures empowered by Divine Interest.


    Tier 1 yers were falling under the onught. Their power meant nothing against the boost the Deep Stalkers had received. Only the Ragnarok yers survived a few exchanges since they had recovered using their religious artefacts. However, even that was not enough.


    Soon only Noslin, y, Winter, Old Un, Beartooth, and a few members from other Pantheons were left. y shook his head at the thought of those devastating losses. It would take a long time to recover those stat points since the Deep Stalkers had eaten the orbs. They had not been able to save a single one of them.


    y sighed as he prepared himself to struggle for as long as he could. The group of fewer than twenty experts shared a nod as their enemies prepared to pounce. They let out their war cries as the Deep Stalkers screeched. y watched as those beasts tensed their leg muscles and leapt toward them!


    Time seemed to slow down in the eyes of those experts. They focused on their opponents, but something strange was happening. Noslin''s eyes widened as she noticed grey stones with a t surface falling among their enemies. ''What are those?''


    y''s eyes narrowed as a grin spread on his face as he saw golden lines light up on those same stones. It reminded him of when he had interrupted Exile.


    "Brace for impact!" He screamed.


    The world before their eyes turned red with shades of orange and yellow. Heat spread among the Deep Stalkers'' rear lines as the yers shed with those in front of them. Pain-filled screeches filled the air as many of those creatures turned to ash. Those that survived saw their skin ckening and crumbling under the divine magical mes.


    Walls of intense fire soon cut off the empowered Stalkers from their prey while fiery explosions cleared a path toward the temple. y and the others quickly finished off the few beasts that had escaped that bombardment and watched the scene with awe.


    A sudden shadow darted over them, causing them to look toward the rooftops. However, there was no sign of their saviour. y cleared his throat as he nced at the others.


    "Don''t waste this chance. Let''s get to the temple!"


    "What was that?" Noslin asked as she grabbed his arm. "You know something about this, don''t you?"


    Noslin had her doubts since the other living Ragnarok members appeared clueless. However, that did not mean that their Vice-Leader was not privy to secrets concerning their Pantheon. y shrugged at her question before fixing her with an arrogant gaze.


    "If I had to guess, I''d say he''s finally joined the battle."


    Meanwhile, Mikari bellowed orders to the troops resurrecting in the temple. He swept the map with his gaze as he reorganised the avable forces where they were needed the most to limit the invasion of the Deep Stalkers.


    "Sir! The barricade at points E, K and O have been secured!" A runner yelled as he entered the temple.


    "How?" Mikari asked as shock ran through his expression. He nced at the map to make sure he was not mistaken. ''Those three points should be about to fall. I''ve already evacuated all but a small group of yers from each of them!''


    "Sir! Points A, C, D, and L have been secured!" Another runner yelled with joy in his tone.


    Mikari''s frown deepened as he studied the map. ''That''s impossible! We don''t have the forces needed for something like that!''


    "Sir! The enemies at points B, F, and G have been eradicated! Themanders are reporting that they will begin a counter-attack!"


    Mikari felt his legs go weak as he gripped the table so as not to fall over. ''What the hell is happening out there?'' He red at the map and noticed a pattern. ''Point H should be next!'' It was a checkpoint close to the temple that was dealing with Deep Stalkers that had sessfully breached deep into the city. Mikari rushed out of the temple and fixed his sight in that direction.


    At that moment, the yers struggling to hold checkpoint H felt a suffocating aura press down on them. The Stalkers that were attacking them suddenly whimpered and attempted to retreat. However, their movements were sluggish. As if something was attempting to force them to remain still. The yers felt like they were going to puke under that aura, but they soon noticed it did not restrict their movements like their opponents.


    "Who?" One of the yers asked as he pointed with his finger. As the others followed the direction he was pointing in, they spotted a figure standing on a golden rune in the air above them.


    Exile nodded when he saw their surprised expressions. He had chosen that approach to nt a memory in every yer who had witnessed his actions. The memory was supposed to make him seem unreachable to those yers. As if he were an existence far beyond them.


    ''Everyone will remember the first yer they witness flying in this game.'' Exile chuckled to himself as an arrogant smile appeared on his face. ''Though, I''ll have to find a way to do it that''s better than standing on this rune.'' Technically speaking, he had failed to create a real flight spell. Instead, he had to settle for a levitation one.


    The Stalkers beneath him whimpered again when they felt his gazending on them. ''I feel like I''m bullying them.'' Exile sighed as he red at those creatures. He had expected to feel joy when he unleashed devastation on them. However, it was as if a change hade over his mind. ''It almost feels like I''ve lost interest in matters beneath my level.'' He sighed again as he waved his hand in front of him.


    A silvery rune with sparks dancing on its lines appeared in front of him. He used his mental energy to make the rune turn horizontal and float just below him. He noticed the panic on the yer''s faces when they felt threatened by that rune. Exile smiled at them to reassure them before he activated the rune.


    Lightning bolts flew downward, striking at the nearest Stalkers. The yers flinched as those creatures exploded the moment those bolts touched them. Then those yers inhaled deeply as more silver runes appeared where each enemy had died. It became a bloodbath as those runes shot more bolts, and the same thing happened. A lightning storm was being generated as more runes appeared with the death of each enemy.


    Exile watched on with an aloof expression as he studied the effects of his custom spell. ''Hm, not bad.'' He thought as thest remnants of the Stalkers exploded. The runes seemed to detect the absence of enemies and slowly faded into nothing.


    Exile shook his head when he saw the awe on the yers'' faces. His left hand shot out as he scattered some runestones in the area. Walls of fire erupted to protect every approach to the checkpoint while golden halos pulsed among the yers. They stared at that phenomenon with shock as they witnessed their HP recovering!


    Exile ignored them at that point as his eyes moved to the walls of Valheim in the distance. He could see waves of those creatures still swarming them as they flooded into the city. His eyes narrowed as he made the rune beneath his feet move in that direction.


    Mikari chuckled when he watched his brother speed off into the distance. ''I should''ve known. I''ll need to get all the details from himter. It seems that fighting against Tier 2 yers will require unique tactics. For now, we should use this chance to retake the city.'' Mikari nced at the yers nearby who were cheering as new reports arrived.


    "What are you waiting for!" Mikari bellowed as he red at them. "Don''t stand there celebrating! Get out there and win this war!"


    The yers revealed embarrassed expressions before they cheered again. A stampede urred as they swarmed the streets, heading in the direction of the main gate. At some point, the crowd reached y''s group as they exited the side streets onto the main one.


    "What''s going on?" He asked as he grabbed a yer he recognised as being a member of Kaleidoscope.


    "We''re winning! That''s what''s happening! Come on, we''re going to retake the gate!" The womanughed joyously as she shrugged off his hand and continued her march.


    Noslin felt her sanity crumbling when she heard that. y''s earlier remark hinted that Exile had been the one to save them from a force that twenty Tier 1 yers could not ovee. Now, with the way these yers were acting it was as if a single yer had turned the tides of a hopeless battle.


    Her sanity could not imagine how that was possible. However, if it was true then she could be grateful that she had befriended him long ago.


    That thought slowly kindled her ambition again. After all, it was not that long ago that they had both been on the same level. Where they stood together at the peak of Skardia''s yers. A glimmer appeared in her eyes as she thought about his figure. ''I''ll catch up to you soon enough!''


    A loud cheer filled the air as scorching mes lit up the sky. Fireballs rained down from golden runes above Valheim''s walls. While the weaker yers cheered at that sight, the other Pantheon leader silently gulped. They understood that a monster now walked among them.


    Feel free to check out my Sci-Fi Fantasy, Rise of the ck Lotus, out now for Webnovel''s Fantasy Carnival Contest! Your support is much appreciated!


    Antihero

 Chapter 221 A Monster Among Gods (Part 2)

    221 A Monster Among Gods (Part 2)


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he stared down at the Deep Stalkers. They released loud screeches in his direction as they gathered into groups. ''What are they up to?'' Exile wondered as he watched that scene. Suddenly, the creatures in the middle of the groups started eating theirpanions!


    Exile''s eyes widened when he saw that as his curiosity rose. ''What do they gain by sacrificing themselves?'' He felt like it was a bad idea to let that happen. However, they were culling their own numbers on his behalf. His gaze intensified as he continued to watch the cannibalistic banquet.


    He wanted to know what would happen. Exile felt safe with his current power after upgrading his equipment to its fullest. He felt like he could afford to wait a little longer so he could understand the Stalkers better. His eyes darted to his right, where one of the feasting beasts let out a long screech!


    ''That''s interesting.'' Exile''s fingers twitched as he watched a purple diamond appear on the Stalker''s forehead. A third pair of arms erupted from its flesh, and bones snapped as the creature grew. Its skin grew too tight for its body as its muscles bulged. A powerful auranded on Exile when that creature screeched again.


    ''Hm, it seems like they''re empowering themselves by eating the others.'' Exile smiled softly as he analysed the situation. ''I''m sure this would be an amazing trump card in normal situations. But that aura tells me it''s risen to around the peak of Tier 1.''


    Exile could imagine how devastating that ability would be against weaker yers. He guessed it worked simr to Aura of the Gods. So anything below the creature''s level would feel afraid in its presence. That would lead the yers tomit mistakes during their battles. ''Unfortunately for you, this doesn''t work on me.''


    Exile sighed before conjuring four identical runes. With a wave of his hand, they sped off to different points along the wall. The Stalkers leapt at those runes in an attempt to destroy them. However, those spells could not be tampered with using only their physical abilities. Exile clicked his fingers, and the four runes unleashed blinding torrents of fire on the Stalkers.


    He targeted the other Stalkers going through the empowerment process first, making sure they died before they couldplete it. As his mes swept the battlement, the creatures let out panicked screeches before turning to dust. While Exile admired his work, a challenging roar echoed from deep in the forest beyond the walls.


    [-32 HP]


    Exile''s eyes narrowed when he read the log. The roar was an attack by Nar''Kozz that relied on the Strength stat. Concern swept Exile''s expression as he realised the boss had to be a Tier 2 creature now. ''It definitely wasn''t this strong before. If it had been, we all would''ve died down there without a chance to fight back!''


    Exile stroked his beard as he nced at the forest and then back to the walls. ''I see, so that''s why you haven''t shown yourself!'' His eyes narrowed as he red at the tree line. He made the connection between the Stalkers'' empowerment and Nar''Kozz''s absence from the battle.


    ''The Stalkers are eating the yers to get stronger. I guess those creatures then return to the boss who devours them to increase its own power.'' Exile sighed as he tried to calcte if he could win that fight. ''I can only try. We can''t let that monster continue to grow.''


    Exile nced at the Stalkers underneath that had avoided hisst assault. He could hear the cheering of the yers as they marched toward the gate. ''I can leave this lot to them.'' The rune beneath Exile''s feet elerated toward the forest. He scanned the area beneath him, searching for signs of the boss.


    ''The air smells a little different here.'' Exile''s nose wrinkled when a foul smell reached him. He wondered if that was a sign of those creatures being in that area. He did not have to wait long for his answer.


    More than one hundred snapping jaws exploded from the forest canopy as they flew toward him. Exile grimaced when he noticed these Stalkers were nothing like the ones he had fought before. Each one had a yellow diamond on its forehead and two pairs of insectoid wings buzzing on its back!


    Exile felt a threatening auraing from each of them as he wielded his spear and shield. ''Tier 2.'' He thought as he analysed those auras. Exile raised his shield in time to hear a metallic screech as the ws of one Stalker scraped its surface. The power behind the blow was enough to push him back, and he had to spend some of his concentration on making sure his rune stayed beneath him.


    [-10 HP]


    Exile cursed as he read the damage report. He was beginning to understand those creatures were technically above him in terms of level. However, his equipment would allow him to face those creatures. ''If I were a normal newly advanced Tier 2 yer these beasts would rip me apart!'' He could not help but wonder why the developers would have ced those creatures so close to Valheim in the first ce.


    A sickening thought invaded Exile''s mind as he performed evasive manoeuvres to avoid their attacks. ''Don''t tell me that we''re responsible for this mess!'' He wondered if those creatures had been hibernating in their caves when they first explored them. He had to admit that it was possible that when they first faced Nar''Kozz it was because they had awoken it from a long slumber.


    ''The boss is probably pissed itsir was invaded. If it ate Noslin''s and my orb, then that could be the reason behind this species surfacing!'' Exile grimaced as he put all the pieces of the puzzle together. There was a good chance those caves were meant to be explored once the yer base had increased their average level to Tier 1 or 2. As it was now, Tier 1''s were seen as elites among the yers since there were so few of them when he considered the overall number of yers.


    Exile used his rune to strafe the enemies now that they were flying at his same height. However, those creatures were built to fight in the air. They were far more agile than him and could performplex movements. The battle between them became messy as Exile stabbed them with his spear whileunching Runic Fire and Lightning spells.


    [-10 HP]


    [-10 HP]


    Exile kept an eye on his log as the damage reports came in. He had just in the fourteenth creature when his mind told him the swarm had a chance to kill him. ''Eighty-six of them to go. I''ve still got plenty of HP, but I''ve used more than half of my DP.'' Exile frowned as he controlled the lightning to form a shield at his back. ''There could be more of them further in.''


    Exile sighed as he suddenly disengaged from that battle and forced the rune to fly at the maximum speed he could manage. ''I can only return to Valheim for now. We need to secure the city and prepare for the next wave of attacks.'' He cast a worried nce over his shoulder when he heard the swarm shrieking. However, they stopped chasing him after a while.


    ''They must be guarding their boss. We''ll have to get through them to kill Nar''Kozz.'' Exile shook his head slowly as he considered how that could be achieved. ''Hopefully, Mikari cane up with something. If not, this siege couldst a long time. I have a feeling Nar''Kozz will be content to use its underlings to assault Valheim.''


    Meanwhile, y hacked at a seriously injured Stalker. Its skin was covered in burn marks and deep cuts where he struck it. ''The shes above the forest have been gone for some time now.'' y frowned as he parried two more beasts before ice shards pierced their skulls.


    He nodded at Noslin before helping some of the weaker members of Ragnarok with their fights. ''If Exile has killed their boss, then shouldn''t the invasion be over?'' He was unsure if those creatures would retreat when their boss died, but he felt like they would. After all, they were being ughtered and had nothing to gain by remaining there in such small numbers. y guessed that it was Nar''Kozz''s influence that forced those beasts to remain there fighting.


    "y! Some of them are escaping!" Beans shouted above the din of battle as a bubble came from her palm and exploded against a nearby Stalker throwing it off the walls.


    y nced at the field below and spotted a pack of those beasts rushing toward the forest. However, a grin appeared on his face when he saw a figure flying above the forest canopy. shes of fire exploded among those escaping beasts, turning them to ash as Exile flew overhead with an uncaring expression. y watched him scan the battle for a moment before taking a deep breath.


    "Everyone! Do not let a single one of them escape! We must annihte them all, here and now!" Exile bellowed and received cheers in return.


    However, his statement caused y to frown. Exile had to know they had no intention of letting the beasts escape. So why would he make a statement like that unless there was something more going on? His eyes caught Exile''s for a moment before thetterunched a spell to clear the area around y.


    Exile wore a solemn expression as hended next to him. "What''s the damage report?"


    y heaved a sigh as he removed his helm and ran a hand through his hair. His chest tightened at the thought of their losses.


    "Out of the fifty yers belonging to Ragnarok, we''ve lost seventeen of them permanently. Thirteen new recruits, and four newly ascended Tier 1''s." y revealed an ugly expression as he recounted those who had suffered enough during the battle to get banned from the game.


    Exile sighed as he shook his head. ''It''s a shame about the new recruits, but at least they''ve only just joined.'' Exile closed his eyes for a moment as he took several breaths to calm himself down. ''The four Tier 1 yers are a big hit to our foundation. That''s not something we can recover in a short space of time.''


    "Have Mikari and Midas set up a merit system for use inside the Pantheon to exchange for rewards. While they do that, you should make sure everyone gets plenty of rest. The war for Valheim is far from over."


    y inhaled sharply as he studied Exile''s eyes. "Do you mean you can''t beat Nar''Kozz?"


    Exile shook his head slowly as he returned y''s gaze. "I couldn''t even get close to it."

 Chapter 222 Domineering (Part 1)

    222 Domineering (Part 1)


    Exile heaved a sigh as hended in front of the temple. He had flown around Valheim for the past hour exterminating all the Stalkers left inside the walls. He was sure his brother had already started formting a n with the information he had given to y.


    A frown crossed his face when he sensed many Tier 1 auras inside the building. ''Hm, what''s this all about?'' He wore a confident expression as he crossed the threshold of the building to see roughly twenty Pantheon leaders gathered around a table with Mikari at the head.


    Exile shot a curious nce at his brother, but thetter sighed and shrugged. He studied the other leaders with mild curiosity as he passed them by. Some of them revealed unsightly expressions at his aura, while others showed only surprise.


    ''This has nothing to do with defending Valheim. Otherwise, every leader would be here. So, what''s their angle?'' Exile nodded to Mikari, who stood up to give Exile his seat. As soon as he sat down, Noslin gave a gentle cough before ncing at the others. Exile returned her gaze with an aloof expression as he waited to hear what the meeting was about.


    "Exile, our Pantheons have been friends for some time now. We''ve fought side by side through some difficult situations." Noslin began with a friendly expression on her face. "On behalf of my Pantheon, I hope to purchase some information from you."


    ''Oh, they probably want to know what Tier 2 entails so they can prepare for it.'' Exile heaved a sigh of relief in his mind as he nodded slowly. "The price will depend on the information."


    Noslin smiled when she heard that. "Then I would like the information regarding the skill your Pantheon seems to have learned. Such as what it''s capable of, and where my yers can learn it."


    Exile revealed a surprised expression as he nced at Mikari. His brother showed an apologetic expression as he leaned in to whisper to his brother about the leaders witnessing the Domain technique. Exile cursed as a deep frown wrinkled his forehead as he returned his gaze to a worried-looking Noslin.


    "Sorry, it seems there has been a misunderstanding. I expected you to ask about Tier 2." Exile held up his hands helplessly. "I''m afraid the information you are asking for is not for sale. It''s a core secret of my Pantheon. I hope you can understand."


    Noslin revealed aplicated expression as she leaned back in her chair. She remained quiet in that situation as she pondered Exile''s reply for a way to convince him. However, the other leaders refused to remain silent.


    "Exile, don''t be so arrogant!" Bynder, the leader of the Sunset Pantheon bellowed as he mmed a fist on the table. "Do you think your Pantheon can take us all on? If you''re unwilling to part with it, then we''ll just have to suppress you!"


    Several leaders agreed with the outburst before fearful expressions appeared on their faces. Crackling runes had flown out of Exile''s body to fill the temple as his gaze turned cold. Bynder scoffed at the disy before shaking his head.


    "What are you going to do? Valheim is a safe space! You can''t threaten us here! You can''t even attack us in the field since we can''t leave the city with those creatures out there!" Bynder revealed a triumphant expression as the other leaders slowly regained their confidence.


    However, Exile was in no mood to argue. The meeting was taking a dangerous turn. He could threaten to wipe out their believers, but that would be the start of another long campaign in the mortal realms that would cost an uncountable number of NPC lives. ''I have to nip this in the bud before it gets out of control.'' A cruel grin spread on Exile''s face as he disappeared from everyone''s vision.


    BANG!


    The noise startled the leaders as they turned toward Bynder. His face was nted firmly on the table with Exile''s palm on the back of his head. The attack dealt no damage to Bynder, but it was a clear disy of Exile''s superiority. A chill ran down the spines of those gathered there when Exile next spoke.


    "I may not be able to harm you inside the city. But shall we put it to the test as to whether I can drag you outside of it?" Exile growled as the runes crackled furiously.


    "You can''t do this to me!" Bynder replied furiously, as he struggled against the pressure applied to his head. "I''m a Pantheon leader! You have to show me some respect!"


    "Wrong answer..."


    The leaders gasped as Exile dragged Bynder from the temple by his neck. The infuriated leader screamed for his Pantheon members to help him. However, they did not have the strength to pry him from Exile''s grasp!


    "You''ll regret this! As soon as you step outside, my entire Pantheon will crush you! Do you really think the others will let this happen?" Bynder screamed as Exile paraded him through the main road, attracting the gazes of many bystanders.


    "Do I look like I give a shit?" Exile growled as the main gate came into view.


    Bynder struggled furiously when he realised Exile was not bluffing. His fear-filled eyes caught the gazes of the other leaders as they followed behind them. A spark of hope appeared in his mind when he saw the anger on their faces. Bynder could tell that Exile''s action was infuriating them. It showed tant disrespect for their positions, and if they allowed it to happen, then they could be next!


    "That''s enough, Exile," Aeri said as she gloated at the position he had put himself in. "Release him now, or it won''t just be his Pantheon you face outside."


    Bynder showed a triumphant grin when Exile paused his advance to nce around him. Three hundred yers from a mix of Panthoens eyed him coldly. Exile swiftly made some calctions before an uncaring expression appeared on his face.


    "Let me tell you how this is going to go," Exile stated loud enough for all those yers to hear. "First, I''m going to kill this guy here."


    Exile raised Bynder into the air for everyone to see by his throat. "Then, I''m going to seize his orb. After I''ve finished this little chore, we''ll all return to the temple and have a nice chat."


    Although Exile''s words sounded friendly, everyone present could sense the threat behind those words. The leaders red at him as they formed a wall between him and the gate.


    "That''s not going to happen. You''re going to release Bynder, then give us what we want." Aeri frowned as she nced at the other yers surrounding Exile. "Even if you are Tier 2, you can''t beat all of us. You''ve only advanced recently, and all of us know what that means."


    Aeri was confident in her reasoning. She figured he had to be at level 1 where a single death could have devastating consequences for her opponent. However, her confidence turned to doubt when Exile burst outughing.


    "You seem to have forgotten something." Exile grinned as a rune appeared in front of him, and he stepped onto it. "I don''t have to put myself in danger to kill him."


    Bynder let out a scream as the rune elerated into the sky above Valheim before heading toward the walls. Exile ignored him as he gazed at the yers chasing after them. ''They''re idiots. They don''t have spells that can reach me up here.''


    The rune came to a halt just outside the vicinity of the city. The leaders who had tried to threaten him could only re at him with unsightly expressions from far below.


    "Remember, you brought this on yourself." Exile snarled as he held Bynder at arm''s length.


    The leader cursed Exile as ming runes appeared in the air around him. However, his voice disappeared as those spells unleashed their mes. Exile felt the weight in his hand disappear as his other shot forward to catch the divine orb before it could fall to the ground.


    He quickly stored that item and the boots that Bynder dropped before studying thendscape beneath him. ''They''re smarter than they look.'' Exile chuckled when he noticed that not one of those yers had set foot outside of the city. They remembered him raining death down from above on the Stalkers. Exile shook his head as he controlled the rune to return back to the temple.


    As hended y pped on the back with a wide grin on his face. "That was something! They''ll think twice before threatening Ragnarok again!"


    The other officers had gathered when they heard the news of what was happening. They had been expecting a fight, but Exile had blown away their expectations with how he handled the matter. Exile soon noticed that Mikari was rubbing his temples with an annoyed expression while Midas shook his head.


    "What''s wrong?" Exile asked with an innocent expression.


    "You! That''s what is wrong!" Mikari groaned as he thought about the mess he would have to clean up. "We need their cooperation to defend Valheim! What will we do if they don''te back?"


    "Oh, they''lle back." Exile chuckled. "They have nowhere else to go. Right now, they need us more than we need them. If Valheim falls we have our own ce to retreat to. They don''t."


    Exile shrugged at Mikari''s incredulous expression. "What about you Midas?"


    Midas sighed as he looked Exile in the eyes. "I was hoping we could gain some trades from the meeting. We need to build up a stock of armour, weapons, gold and other items for the future. But you literally just burned that bridge!"


    Exile stroked his beard as he looked up at the sky with a pensive expression. "Don''t worry about that. I have something that can convince them to trade with us."


    Whoops! Sorry for dropping a second chapter today!


    Antihero

 Chapter 223 Domineering (Part 2)

    223 Domineering (Part 2)


    Exile wore a smile as the other leaders returned to the temple with grim expressions. Even Noslin and Beartooth looked unhappy with how things had developed. They studied Exile with wariness as they took their seats.


    "Exile," Noslin said as she let out a sigh. "What you just did was wrong. How can any of us trust you as an ally if that''s how you''re going to treat a fellow leader?"


    "And how can I trust you guys when you try to extort a precious resource from my Pantheon? Don''t forget, it was Bynder who threatened to use force first. If he didn''t want conflict, then he shouldn''t have suggested such an action. He can''t me me because he lost at his own game."


    Exile shrugged his shoulders as the other leaders grimaced. They recognised Bynder''s words for what they were. A negotiation tactic. However, Exile had taken them at face value and acted on the threat. That made dealing with Exile an ufortable thought. They would have to be more selective in the words they chose.


    "You have to see our point of view. Your Pantheon holds a power that none of us has. We''ve seen it in action, and we know it puts your members in another ss when ites tobat." Noslin shook her head with a regretful expression. "Add that to your own disy of power, and can you then me us for feeling threatened?"


    Exile drummed his fingers on the table as he studied the yers that had fought alongside him in the rebel faction. He could see the hesitation on their faces as they nodded along. ''I see. We''ve fought together, but they''re afraid of Ragnarok''s growth. They''re worried that if we''re left unchecked, we could grow to a point where we don''t need to be afraid of their joint forces.''


    "No, I don''t me you," Exile replied as he spread his hands on the table. "But none of you considered any alternatives to threatening us for that one piece of our power. Although I said I wouldn''t sell that information, that did not mean I don''t have something else to offer."


    Noslin gazed at him with a curious expression as others frowned. Exile could see them wondering if what he could offer could match the power of the Domain technique.


    "What are you offering?" Noslin asked.


    "These," Exile replied as he tossed a couple of the weaker runestones onto the table. "They are disposable items that contain spells. They won''t deplete your DP when you use them."


    Murmurs ran through the temple as the leaders passed the runestones around. Exile could see the mild interest on their faces, but he already knew they would not be enough.


    "Ragnarok will also takemissions to upgrade the stats on your equipment. Midas willplete a list of what we can offer and the cost." Exile said as he noticed that offer caught their attention. "This is a new procedure, so it will take time for us to develop this field. At the moment, we can only offer Tier 0 runestones and a small selection of Tier 1 versions. As for the equipment modifications, we can raise their stats to +16 points of whatever is already on them."


    A buzz of excitement ran through the temple at Exile''s words. However, they knew those services would not be cheap. Noslin was the first to make a connection between the enchanting procedure and Exile''s new status as a Tier 2 yer.


    "So, it''s safe to assume you learnt how to do this when you reached Tier 2." Noslin frowned as she considered how long it would take for her to reach that level. "What''s to stop us from waiting until we reach that level? Personally, I don''t think it would be worth purchasing these things inrge quantities when they don''t benefit us who are near the end of Tier 1."


    Exile grinned as he nced around the table before sping his hands in front of him. "It''s true that I can''t confirm if others can learn this. However, I believe my results will be higher than others considering my Authority is directly linked to this."


    Noslin''s and several other leaders'' eyes went wide at that statement. They could no longer consider Exile''s offer as something meagrepared to the Domain technique. After all, the services he was offering could bring immediate benefits to all of their yers. Beyond that, Exile had hinted there was a possibility that even if they learned how to do the enchantments their products would likely be of lower quality. In the worst-case scenario, they would be unable to recreate those effects.


    "I''ll leave you with Mikari and Midas to figure out the details. It''ll be firste, first serve as it will take time to produce any of these things. Keep in mind that you''ll have to supply the equipment you want to be modified." Exile smiled before standing up.


    "What about you?" Noslin asked as she saw his confused reaction. "shouldn''t you stay here in case there''s another attack?"


    "No," Exile replied with a shake of his head. "I have to get used to my new power and find a way to fight Nar''Kozz. That boss is still beyond my capabilities."


    The leaders sighed when they discovered they could not rely on Exile alone to defeat their enemy. They watched as Exile used the altar to teleport out of there. Noslin shot a questioning nce at Mikari when she saw that. After all, as far as those leaders were aware, there was no teleportation feature in the game!


    Even if there was, where the hell would Exile teleport to anyway? Mikari groaned when he realised his brother''s blunder. He had revealed that Ragnarok still held secrets they were unaware of. ''I''m going to kill you for this!'' Mikari thought as he cleared his throat and pretended not to notice the questioning nces.


    Meanwhile, Bjorn red at the stranger as he returned for another session of his stories. The man had refused to answer Bjorn with any meaningful information regarding himself. However, his constant requests for a story most Skardians had never heard of had caused many people to ask for it.


    He could not even deny knowing it since the shock on Bjorn''s face when the stranger first requested it told the people he knew the story. Bjorn sighed as the adults and children immediately requested the story. ''Hm, what should I do?'' He shot a hateful re at the stranger who had put him in that situation.


    "I give up!" Bjorn groaned. "I''ll tell the damn story!"


    The people cheered as the stranger nodded at him. "But I warn you! Nobody knows where this story came from. It could be an old children''s tale somebody made up. So don''t take it as the truth! Do you understand?"


    Bjorn nced around as he waited for them to nod.


    "Very well," Bjorn paused as he recalled the story in his mind. "In a time before the mortal races, realms, gods, sun and stars. There was only darkness."


    Bjorn pleasantly noted that several adults did not like the story already. As far as they knew everything was possible because of the gods. So the story was already posing questions outside of their beliefs.


    "In that darkness sat an old man with a great grey beard. He had slept for a long time. But something caused him to awaken. The story goes that the man was bored of being alone in existence. This man decided to change that. He used a power that nobody can describe to create the first gods. One for each element."


    "He gave them amand. They were to build a world where new creations could grow as they watched over them. The god of Fire created a giant ball of mes and made it hover in the darkness. His creation lit up the darkness so his siblings and himself could see. Then, the god of Earth summoned his element. He formed a bowl of rock and dirt as the container for our world. Mountains andnd rose from the empty bowl as the goddess of Water filled it."


    "The goddess of air created a lid for the bowl out of the air, and the gods marvelled at their creation. However, something was missing. Their creation was missing life itself. And so, for thousands of years, the gods roamed the world, tending to their garden. nts and animals soon appeared in abundance. Yet the gods still felt as if their work was iplete."


    "The god of darkness then proposed that they follow in their father''s footsteps and create lifeforms capable of thought like themselves. Each god approached the work separately. Only to fail for centuries. It was the goddess of water who proposed an idea to her siblings. The idea was tobine their elements."


    "The goddess of Light, who was the eldest among them, agreed. However, she decided that not all elements would be equal within each race. She bid her siblings to send portions of their elements to her as she mixed them together. Earth is the container of life. Water, the blood that would carry life throughout the container. Air, is the breath of life and the fuel for the container to live. And fire, the spark and warmth of life. When it came time to add darkness, light offended her brother and decided his element was unsuitable for the lives they would create."


    "It took years to find stability in their first mortal race. However, when they seeded, the first Elden was born. The gods became excited by this and decided the Elden would be the gardeners of their new world. The race who would guard and protect the bnce of the world."


    "As they began their work to create more races, darkness had a sinister idea..."

 Chapter 224 An Unusual Hunt

    224 An Unusual Hunt


    Skovi''s ears perked up when he caught the peculiar scent again. In the time the gods had abandoned the Mortal ne, he had taken to prowling the borders of Skardia beyond the Dwarven mountains. Even when he felt they had returned, he continued on his hunt since Exile did not call for him.


    For some time now, he had been following a strange scent. Whenever he came close to its location, it would abruptly crossrge distances to escape from him. He lowered his snout to sniff at a white feather on the ground with droplets of fresh blood on it.


    Skovi''s eyes narrowed as he red up into the tree, searching for any signs of a nest. ''There''s nothing there. What a peculiar bird this is. I can feel the power contained in its blood.'' Skovi sniffed at the air before turning hisrge head toward the southwest. ''It must be quiterge to produce feathers of this size.''


    Skovi''s tongue rolled out of his mouth o lick his muzzle in anticipation of his meal. He sprinted through the forest, following the faint lingering scent of his prey in the air. ''Strange. It hasn''t flown too far this time.'' His instincts told him the creature must be heavily injured and was growing weaker every time it tried to escape.


    The only thing that bugged him was how the bird knew he was stalking it. He always remained downwind, and he was sure he never came close enough for it to hear or sense his presence. A few hours passed as he pursued that elusive beast. However, he hesitated when he discovered traces of several other hunters on the trail of the bird.


    Skovi diverted his path slightly to ensure neither the bird nor its other hunters would be aware of his presence. ''Those hunters are the reason it keeps moving. It hasn''t detected me at all.'' If Skovi were still a normal wolf he would have abandoned the hunt at this point. However, as a divine beast, he had an advantage over both parties.


    He sped up as his eyes caught traces of w marks on the tree trunks. ''They''re agile. I''ll have to be careful they don''t use the trees to surround me.'' At that point, he picked up the shrill screech of a bird on the wind. He could tell the animal was in pain and venting its fury with that noise. ''The hunters have caught up to it.''


    Skovi slowed down at that point to approach the situation stealthily. He had to understand what was happening before he made his move. However, as the treeline broke up ahead, his eyes widened in surprise.


    His connection with Exile allowed him to identify the hunters, even though he had never seen one of their kind before. ''Warbeasts.'' Skovi groaned as he studied them. He had his doubts about trying to take advantage of that situation once he realised he was dealing with another mortal race.


    Another loud screech drew his attention to the bird he had been tracking. It stood on the edge of a cliff that the sea crashed against far below. Skovi scanned the pure white feathered eagle with his gaze. The bird stood at an impressive size of 9ft with a wingspan of slightly less than 22ft.


    The eagle''s feathers had blood on them, and when Skovi traced those trails to their origins, he discovered arrows poking out of its body. Skovi watched as the bird swatted away two warbeasts with its mighty wings before fixing its golden eyes on a particr member of the hunting group.


    "Why do you struggle? Come, lend your strength to my goddess!" M''Throk held out a feline hand to the eagle.


    "No!" The eagle''s voice sounded feminine as it spoke, and screeches mixed with that word. "My kind came to your aid, and this is how you repay us? Your actions speak loudly about the goddess you serve!"


    The eagle red at M''Throk as it backed away from his hand. She tilted her head as she felt the edge of the cliff beneath her feet. M''Throk growled when he sensed her intentions.


    "Don''t be a fool! You are too weak to fly away. You would only die if you try to escape over the sea!" M''Throk inched closer to the majestic bird. "You are a Warbeast, just like us! Don''t you care about your people? Why do you refuse to join us in the war against the dark elves?"


    The eagle hesitated for a moment before fixing her gaze on M''Throk. "We maye from the same species. However, our purpose is far different to yours!"


    The eagle screeched as M''Throk frowned. However, he remained silent as he sensed the eagle had more to say.


    "There is too much darkness in you. My people could never follow your goddess!" The eagle spread her wings as she looked down on M''Throk. "I sense her power in you. She threatens to disrupt the natural bnce if she continues on this path!"


    "So what?" M''Throk growled as he red back at her. "At least she cares for my people! Her power is what frees us from the suppression of the other tribes. She grants us the power to fight the hated elves! I''ll drag you back with me if I have to! We''ll break you eventually!"


    M''Throk released a feline hiss that announced the time for words was over. Hispanions prepared to pounce on the eagle again. However, one of them released a sharp cry when a great weightnded on her back. M''Throk turned to see what had happened, only to see Skovi ripping out the throat of hispanion!


    Skovi nimbly dodged the des, spears, and arrows aimed at him while cing himself between M''Throk and the eagle. The eagle showed a surprised expression as she nced down at what she considered to be a fragile wolf.


    "Little wolf, this is not your battle. Save yourself. Do not throw away your gift of life to protect me." She said as she nudged Skovi with her wing.


    However, her golden eyes widened when Skovi did not budge, even when she used her true strength. She studied him with curiosity as he continued to growl at M''Throk. Skovi eyed the warbeasts before him with determination. He understood the eagle''s species could be helpful to his master. So there was no harm in attempting to gain her favour.


    Skovi lunged to his left, and his jaws snapped shut on the arm of one of the assants who tried to take him by surprise. A shake of his head ripped off the part of the arm below the elbow and sent a trail of blood flowing through the air.


    The feline warbeasts hissed when they saw that. Their ears pinned back against their helms as they took Skovi more seriously. The eagle pped her wings, and a mighty burst of air sent several of them sprawling backwards in the dirt as Skovi snapped another of them.


    A bloody battle ensued between the two sides. However, the eagle kept part of her focus on Skovi. She had never heard of such a strong species of wolf and silently wondered if that type of wolf could be a natural ally for her people.


    As the fight went on, M''Throk slipped past Skovi''s guard to challenge the eagle behind him. The eagle red at the leader of the hunters as she nced at the wolf. He was too busy fending off the remaining warbeasts to help her.


    She wed at M''Throk with her talons and struck with her mighty beak. However, M''Throk was much smaller in stature and easily dodged her attacks. Cuts formed on her body as M''Throk shed with his dual daggers. The damage she sustained umted as their duel went on. She felt herself growing weaker and feared that her life would soon end.


    However, that was when both M''Throk and herself noted there were no more sounds of battle around them! M''Throk''s ears twitched as he felt a dangerous sensation. He sprang to his left as Skovi''s jaws snapped closed on his previous position.


    Skovi approached the exhausted eagle as he red at M''Throk. ''Her wounds run deep, and time is running out for her.'' His eyes moved to scan the forest as he made sure no witnesses would survive his use of his innate ability. When he decided the coast was clear, he let out some of his healing breath to stabilise the eagle''s condition.


    M''Throk''s eyes went wide as he watched his prey''s injuries healing at a visible rate. He cursed as he understood the situation had already be dire. ''That thing is a divine beast! What god dares to intervene?''


    He silently thought of the wolf n of Warbeasts since it would not be unusual for them to have a connection with that creature. However, he knew they had migrated further away since his tribe started expanding. ''I must warn the goddess that someone still wishes to oppose her!''


    M''Throk silently decided to flee in that situation. Skovi cursed as he sensed the difference in M''Throk''s mindset. He pounced at the warbeast and felt sure he had taken him by surprise. However, his jaws found nothing when they snapped shut! He nced around and sniffed the air to find traces of his opponent. But it was as if M''Throk had vanished into thin air!


    Skovi cursed when he realised there was no way to track that opponent. He could only hope that M''Throk would be unable to connect his existence to Exile. Skovi almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a feathered wing wrap around him as the eagle moved closer.


    "Now, little wolf, how can I repay you?" She chuckled as she gazed into his eyes. However, she received a fright of her own when she heard human wordsing out of Skovi''s mouth in reply.


    "I''ll finish healing you if you agree to meet my master..."

 Chapter 225 Allyce (Part 1)

    225 Allyce (Part 1)


    Exile hummed as he studied the weapons on the table. One of the buildings in Himinbj?rg acted as a vault for the Pantheon. So he was currently studying a few different items gathered by Ragnarok. ''We have many materials from the mortal realms, but it''s mostly materials dropped from wolves for our divine stuff.''


    He sighed as he picked up some fur and ws. ''It''ll do for the testing phase.'' Exile returned to the workshop after collecting several weapons. ''I need to understand how to push the power of my runes higher.'' Although his new spells and runestones worked quite well, none of them reached a prowess he was happy with.


    He even suspected that he could enchant his equipment with something other than stat boosts. As he reviewed the process of enchanting in his mind, he concluded that the process of creating equipment was responsible for the set stats and the number of enchanting slots avable.


    However, he was unable to test that theory since nobody had an authority they could use to find that out. Exile grimaced as he looked at the equipment meant for creating items. From cksmithing to leatherworking. Wood carving to sewing. He understood the Pantheon would need yers with those specialities in the future to make the most of their equipment.


    His eyes nced over the enchanting table as he searched for specific runes he had noticed before. ''There you are.'' He found the rune that meant ''material'' and ced the w on it. The enchanting table only had two of those runes. Which made Exile suspect the workshop and probably all of the buildings could be upgraded.


    Hours passed as he attempted to find a way to use the material together with the short staff he chose. However, every failure caused the w to turn to dust, and he was forced to rece it to continue. ''I feel like I''m missing something.'' Exile sighed as he stepped away from the table to review his experiments after his fourteenth failure.


    He had tried to use his mental technique to force the w tobine with several runes. ''Even the rune that means w doesn''t show any sign of using the power stored in the material.'' He stroked his beard as a deep-set frown invaded his expression. ''There should be a way to do this.''


    [You''re Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is trying to contact you...]


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as he went through the familiar process to talk with her. ''I wonder what this is about.''


    [Lord Exile?]


    ''Yes, Ania. For what reason are you contacting me?''


    [An unusual bird is flying toward Eraldsfen.]


    ''And?'' Exile asked as confusion filled his mind. He could not understand why Ania would contact him over something like that.


    [We can hear Skovi''s howls. We''re not sure if the bird is hunting him, or if he''s trying to warn us.]


    Exile was taken aback by that statement. He could hear the concern in her tone. However, he wondered how big the bird had to be to hunt Skovi. ''If he were in trouble he could just return to the divine realms.'' He scowled as he tried to figure out the meaning behind it. ''I should go down there in case something is wrong.''


    He quietly wondered if it were a problem that Skovi felt the people of Eraldsfen could handle on their own. ''Perhaps that''s why he hasn''t contacted me. He may believe this issue is below me.'' Exile massaged his temples before he remembered he was still connected to Ania.


    [I''m going to descend. Have the civilians take cover in case something is wrong and prepare the warriors. But nobody should act unless I say so.]


    He abruptly cut their connection before storming towards his room. ''It''s just one thing after another right now.'' He sighed as he wondered if he would get a period of peace to focus on his power without any worries.


    Meanwhile, in the sky above the forest outside Eraldsfen, the eagle studied the fortress and town on its outskirts. She could see that much of that ce had recently been rebuilt with stone. It looked far cleaner than other settlements they had flown over.


    "It seems your god has brought prosperity to these people," Allyce said as Skovi whimpered. She grimaced as she felt his ws dig into her back. "Can you please stop that? I''m not going to drop you!"


    She sighed when she realised Skovi was barely paying attention to her as he let out another howl of fear. Her eyes caught sight of the movement in the streets. People were rushing into the nearest buildings as warriors rushed from the fortress to the walls.


    As she saw that some doubts appeared in her mind. "I''m going to put you down outside the city. You can bring your god to me. If even one of those humans tries to approach me, I''ll leave and never return."


    Allyce tilted her wings as she began her descent. She could see the nervousness on the warriors as she glided in tond at some distance from the walls. Skovi''s legs felt shaky as he leapt from her back and rubbed his head on the solid ground. Ania stared from the walls with a surprised expression.


    However, before she could make sense of what was happening, dark clouds gathered overhead. A sh lit up the sky as an oppressing divine aura washed over the area. Some of the warriors directly puked when they felt that pressure, as Exile''s glorious figure appeared before the eagle.


    ''What the fuck?'' Exile thought, as surprise appeared on his face when he saw the eagle for the first time. ''He had not expected its size, nor how majestic it looked with its pure white feathers! His gaze went to Skovi who was dly rolling around in the dirt as if he were a puppy.


    ''Skovi seems fine. So, what''s the deal with the bird?'' Exile thought as his gaze returned to that creature.


    "You must be Exile," Allyce said as she performed something simr to a curtsey, startling Exile in the process. "Your servant here has told me much about you during our journey."


    Exile did not know what to say. For one, the eagle should not even be able to sense his presence. For another, he was staring at a bird talking with human words! ''Is it a divine beast belonging to another god?'' He wondered as he studied Allyce with a curious gaze.


    "Master, allow me to introduce Lady Allyce. A Guardian of the Eagle tribe of Warbeasts." Skovi managed to say as he finally recovered.


    Exile''s curious gaze became more intense as he studied Allyce again. ''A Warbeast?'' Many thoughts ran through Exile''s mind as he considered how he should act. After all, it would greatly improve his power if he could gain an Oracle among their tribe. ''Aerial warfare would be a possibility. I have to make a good impression!''


    "So predictable." Allyce sighed as her golden eyes studied Exile. "You reek of thoughts on how to exploit my kind."


    "My apologies. Lady Allyce." Exile replied as he bowed his head. "I''ve never heard of your tribe, and I momentarily lost myself. For what reason have you paid us a visit?"


    Exile noticed that Allyce''s mood seemed to improve when he apologised. ''I should set my thoughts aside for now and try to build a friendly rtionship with them.''


    "Curious..." Allyce said as her eyes narrowed. "Now you exude nothing but goodwill toward my kind. That is most unusual."


    Silence descended between them as Allyce continued to appraise Exile. Thetter decided not to say anything, as he felt certain that if she disapproved of him, he would lose any chance to get closer to that tribe. Suddenly, Allyce let out a shrill screech before pping her wings!


    "You. You wield a fragment of the first me!" Allyce screeched as she paced around Exile.


    Exile could sense her excitement as she ruffled her feathers and murmured to herself. ''How does she know?'' Exile wondered as his own gaze sharpened. He was feeling ufortable at the thought of being naked before her gaze. He was about to ask her how she could be certain of that when she surprised him yet again!


    Her body rapidly shrunk to just under 6ft. She morphed into a human-like appearance of a stunning woman with shapely curves in all the right ces as her feathers formed a dress. Long white hair that reached her waist flowed from her head as she draped her now smaller wings over her shoulders like a cloak.


    Her golden eyes opened to stare at him intently as she approached him. Her delicate hands shot up to caress his cheeks as she stared into his eyes!


    Exile did not know what to think in that situation. Too many things were happening too quickly, and he was still reeling from her sudden transformation. Before he could formte something to say. Allyce suddenly kissed him!


    All thoughts fled his mind at that interaction as she pulled away. The softness of her lips on his own made him forget he was in a game for a moment. However, Allyce started to speak as she still held his face.


    "I, Allyce Brightwing, do vow myself to the service of Exile. Candidate to the Secret me. I vow to watch and guide his journey. From now until the end of eternity."


    Warm mes burst from Allyce''s body, and Exile stepped back in surprise. It was only then he sensed that something was wrong. He could feel a pair of eyes boring into his back. As he nced toward the walls of Eraldsfen, the warriors pretended not to notice Ania''s distress.


    [You have received Allyce Brightwing as an Oracle. You will now undergo the race customisation process...]


    Feel free to check out my Sci-Fi Fantasy, Rise of the ck Lotus, out now for Webnovel''s Fantasy Carnival Contest! Your support is much appreciated!


    Antihero

 Chapter 226 Allyce (Part 2)

    226 Allyce (Part 2)


    A golden cocoon suddenly enveloped Exile as he cursed. He knew exactly what wasing.


    [Applying Warbeast (Pheonix Eagle) Traits...]


    Exile felt a stinging sensation in his eyes as they turned a golden colour. His muscles became denser and more toned instead of bulky. He felt a tingling sensation run through his body as he grew in height to six foot six inches. ''Thovok is going to be pissed.'' He thought as his facial features grew sharper.


    Finally, his back started to burn. The agony was hard to endure as the seconds passed. ''What the hell is this?'' Exile groaned as a fair of wings erupted from his back! The feathers were scarlet red with golden tips. Short bursts of mes appeared and disappeared on separate feathers with no specific pattern.


    [Modifying stats to fit racial changes...]


    [+5 Endurance]


    [+5 Authority]


    [Congrattions! Your racial change is nowplete.]


    [Select four from the following as your Race''s Traits... (Warning! Your choices will rece your current traits.)]


    [(Human) Versatile: When killing a yer, the Divine Orb they generate will focus on taking half of the yer''s Strength, Endurance and Speed Stats. (Adjusted ording to Tier restrictions)]


    [(Dwarf) Rocksteady: When killing a yer, the Divine Orb they generate will focus on taking more points from the yer''s Strength and Endurance Stats. (Adjusted ording to Tier restrictions)]


    [(Warbeast/Pheonix-Eagle) Eternal: When killing a yer, the Divine Orb they generate will focus on taking more points from the yer''s Endurance and Authority Stats. (Adjusted ording to Tier restrictions)]


    [(Human) Faithful: +5 Authority]


    [(Human) Devout: +10 Authority]


    [(Dwarf) Unyielding: +5 Endurance]


    [(Dwarf) Evesting: +10 Endurance]


    [(Warbeast/Pheonix-Eagle) Grace: +5 Authority]


    [(Warbeast/Pheonix-Eagle) Majestic: +10 Authority]


    Exile did not hesitate to choose Eternal, Devout, Evesting, and Majestic. Devout and Evesting were upgrades to his current traits, and Majestic was just better than the other choices. He knew from experience now that he would gain levels for the extra stat points. Exile also knew the traits would be part of his base power when he reached the next tier.


    [Congrattions! More than 170 points of Divinity were detected. You have reached Tier 2 Level 7!]


    As the cocoon faded away to reveal Exile''s new form, the mes surrounding Allyce did the same. Her feathers had turned red with white tips, while her hair had red streaks through it. However, Allyce ignored her changes to study Exile. A smile danced on her lips as she appraised his new form.


    "What do you think you''re doing!" Ania hissed as she ced herself between them and red at Allyce.


    Allyce cocked an eyebrow at the small, fiery woman before realising what Ania''s problem was. ''Humans, still so possessive.'' She thought as she bowed toward Ania.


    "I was simply sealing my pact with Lord Exile. The kiss served as nothing more than a conduit for my vow. You have nothing to worry about." Allyce grinned as she raised her head.


    Ania''s face flushed red as she red at Allyce for exposing her feelings like that. However, Exile ced a warm hand on her shoulder as his wings disappeared into his back.


    "Ania, I will not have my Oracles fighting amongst themselves. I admit Allyce could have waited for a better time to perform her ceremony." Exile shot a nce in Allyce''s direction before he continued. "I think you and I should have a private talk. Ania, I''ll be using the temple for a while. Make sure nobody enters."


    Exile beckoned for Allyce to follow him as he walked toward Eraldsfen. Oblivious to the fact that by not inviting Ania along he had caused her more distress. Allyce shot a sympathetic nce in Ania''s direction before following her god.


    Once they passed the main gate, a member of the Fenrir saddled a horse and set off to deliver the news to Bjorn. Exile noticed women scolding their husbands when they caught them stealing nces at Allyce''s enchanting figure. ''This could cause a lot of problems if every woman of Allyce''s tribe is this beautiful.'' Exile sighed as he led the way into the temple.


    However, as soon as he entered the building, more than eight people of different genders kneeled before him. They wore loose robes, and all of them had shaved heads. Their faces were painted white with ck circles around their eyes. ''Don''t tell me, these guys are meant to be akin to priests of our Pantheon?''


    He recognised several religious symbols belonging to his pantheon on their jewellery. Each priest only wore a single symbol, so he guessed they were responsible for guiding the followers of his different teammates. His eyes narrowed on the man who wore his symbol.


    "Bring me a table and a chair for my guest," Exilemanded as he walked past the priests toward the rear room.


    He sat on his throne and quietly waited for the priest to deliver what he had requested. His eyes passed over Allyce as he studied her changes and many thoughts ran through his mind. The priest eventually appeared with a few others as they ced the table before the throne and the chair on the opposite side. The priests bowed to him before exiting the room with solemn expressions.


    "Please, take a seat, Allyce," Exile said as he gestured toward the chair.


    Allyce performed a curtsey before obliging him. As she sat down, she cleared her throat before fixing her golden eyes on him.


    "You know, that woman from before, she holds deep feelings for you." Allyce smiled as she waited for him to react. However, Exile maintained an aloof expression.


    "She has a deep reverence for me. She was my first Oracle, and we have been through much together. It''s only natural."


    Allyce covered her mouth and chuckled. "No, I mean she is clearly in love with you. I believe she would do anything you asked of her."


    Exile frowned as Allyce gave him a knowing smile. Eventually, he let out a sigh as he ced his palms on the table. "I''m not so sure that would be a good idea. What if she birthed a demigod? She would hate me if her child died fighting my wars. I would rather spare her from such a fate."


    "Unlikely," Allyce scoffed as she gave him a look of disbelief. When she saw his confusion she frowned. "You really don''t know?"


    "Don''t know what?" Exile asked with a hint of frustration.


    "She''s practically barren. The odds of her ever having a child are extremely low." Allyce shook her head as a sad expression appeared. "You can tell by her hair. Those blue streaks mean she''s descended from a mortal that pledged themselves to a god of ice. If I had to guess, I''d say Jor, Allevia''s greatest rival. He also held one of the first elements. Anyway, it''s called the frozen womb curse."


    Exile looked at Allyce with disbelief as he wondered if she spoke the truth. However, Allyce only gave him a gentle smile in return.


    "Does she know?" Exile asked as some concern for the future of the Eraldsen family appeared in his mind.


    "I don''t think she does, but I wouldn''t be surprised if her parents know. That knowledge would usually be passed down. But they may have lost that knowledge if nobody with those streaks has appeared in a long time." Allyce shrugged as she idly studied the temple.


    "So, what do those red streaks mean for you then?" Exile asked when he thought about the changes Allyce had undergone.


    "These?" Allyce smiled as she toyed with her hair. "They mean I''ve pledged myself to you. I''ve inherited some of your power while also increasing my chances of carrying your child."


    Exile''s eyes widened as he stared at her. Allyce chuckled at his expression before waving her hand in the air.


    "However, if you stop existing, then so shall I. So I''ve bound myself to your fate. It''s in my best interest to guide you as best as I can to make the right decisions." Allyce gave him a flirtatious look before she continued. "Of course, I''d be happy to have a few featherlings if you feel so inclined."


    Exile groaned as he massaged his temples. He felt like he had been caught in a honey trap. He could not deny that Allyce was extremely attractive, and he would need to produce demigods to increase his power in the mortal realms. However, he could only see problems arising from that when it came to Ania. She was about to blow when Allyce only kissed him. He could not even begin to imagine how she would react if she learned of a demigod child between them.


    "Don''t worry," Allyce said as she gave him a look that said she knew what he was thinking. "There''s no need for romance between us. It can be seen as a business rtionship. I don''t even mind if you keep her as your main partner. But hear me on this, sooner orter, this world will enter an age where divine power will be needed in the mortal ne. You gods have restrictions you have to abide by. You''ll face something you have no power over, and only your children will be able to enact your will."


    Allyce gave him a firm look as she let him mull it over.


    "We can discuss thister when I return to my nest. I''ll contact you then. After all, you should start the candidate trials as soon as possible. The other nests will be interested to know I''ve found one of you. The queen will want to send out more scouts to find the others..."

 Chapter 227 And The World Keeps Turning...

    227 And The World Keeps Turning...


    Exile groaned as he watched Allyce leave the temple. She had given him a lot to think about. It was only now that he began to see a corrtion between the time skips during maintenance, and certain features of the game.


    ''It could be to give the demigods time to grow up.'' Exile thought as he wondered if the time skips would get longer. He silently worried that Ania could die of old age before they reached the end of the game. ''Maybe I should take Allyce up on her offer. Even if I''d prefer to create a demigod with Ania, with what Allyce said, it''s practically next to impossible.''


    Exile wondered if there was a god out there that could cure Ania''s condition. As far as he was concerned, it should not be impossible. The only problem he had with that approach was that there was no telling how much time would pass before he found a cure.


    Exile called for one of the priests. He decided to tell Ania about the condition she was born with. He could only hope that by being transparent with his intentions that she may ept them. As he waited for the priest to fetch Ania, he navigated his menu to check his stats.


    [Tier: 2]


    [Level: 7]


    [HP: 690/690 (210+480)]


    [DP: 208/208 (66+142)]


    [Strength: 128 (32+96)]


    [Endurance: 138 (42+96)]


    [Speed: 128 (32+96)]


    [Authority: 208 (66+142)]


    ''I''m stronger than ever. Yet the majority of my poweres from my equipment now.'' Exile sighed as he studied the difference in his base powerpared to the bonuses. ''I still have much to do. I need to reward everyone for their services. I should be able to create apanion for Skovi and a new hero now.'' His list of things to do seemed to keep growing as he cursed in his mind.


    "You wanted to see me?" Ania called out with a sorrowful tone.


    Meanwhile, in a hidden room of the dwarven kingdom, deep below the earth. Bargrux stared at the strange tools the wisest of his people had crafted.


    "Are you sure this will work?" He grumbled as he handed over the cube that held his grandfather''s divinity.


    "Most certainly, Your Majesty." The wizened old dwarf nodded as he ced the cube inside a piece of machinery. "The procedure will be painful and difficult to endure. However, if you prove worthy of this power, you''ll be as powerful as any demigod."


    King Bargrux nodded as he stripped himself of all his belongings. ''My people need this power. Our actionstely will have alerted the dwarven kingdoms to our location. It won''t be long until theye for us.''


    Bargrux frowned as the old dwarf bid him to lie down on the table. He clenched his jaw as he felt the dwarf strap him down before fires raged in the furnaces.


    "You should prepare yourself, Your Majesty. I shall begin the process now."


    The equipment hummed with magical energy as the old dwarf stuck needles into his skin. Bargrux felt a cold wave of energy flow into his body. He felt heavier as the sensation swept its way to his extremities where sharp pains began.


    Agonising screams filled the corridors of that dark area of the kingdom. Some dwarves working in the deep mines heard the echoes and immediately stopped their work, as they believed the spirits of the mountain were in pain.


    Bargrux lost track of time as nothing but pain filled his body. He spasmed on the table as the old dwarf watched over him. Patches of his skin fell away, revealing the muscles below before rebuilding themselves. Blood poured onto the floor throughout the entire procedure, forcing the old dwarf to clean it up before it could cause any idents.


    "This is taking longer than I thought," The dwarf said as he monitored the king''s condition with a worried expression. "We''re about to reach the final burst. There''s no turning back now."


    He flipped a switch as some doubts as to whether Bargrux could survive filled his mind. However, if he stopped the process now, then Bargrux would fall apart from the energy. Several of the straps holding Bargrux down snapped as a fresh wave of pain wracked his body. His body attempted to shut down to deal with it, but the old dwarf would not allow it.


    He assumed Bargrux would die if he lost consciousness. So he had to do everything he could to keep him awake. Bargrux''s eyes melted into his skull, fingernails, and toenails fell off and regrew. Two new eyes formed in the holes of his skull as the old dwarf grimaced at the gruesome scene.


    Bargrux''s body was rebuilding itself to be a fitting container for the divine energy. He had suspected something would happen to elevate his king''s natural body. But he had not expected it to go through such a radical method of improvement.


    He worriedly nced at the machine that held the cube. The runes on the side of it told him the process was almost over. ''Just a little more, Your Majesty! You''ve almost done it!''


    Another hour had to pass before the energy contained in the cube ran dry. Bargrux felt as though he had spent centuries enduring that torment as the pain receded from his mind. Before the dwarf could free Bargrux from his restraints, the straps snapped as the king sat up!


    A feeling of power like no other ran through Bargrux''s existence as he tried to understand the changes in his body. He clenched his fist several times as he felt as though he could crush a skull with nothing more than his grip.


    "The procedure was a sess, Your Majesty." The old dwarf beamed as he studied Bargrux more closely. "I suggest you take several days to adjust yourself to your new status. We can announce it after that."


    "No," Bargrux grinned as he slid off the table. "We''ll wait until the other kingdoms challenge us."


    In another region of the mortal realms, M''Throk recovered hisposure before entering his goddess'' temple. The temple was a hole, dug into the earth where the roots of a mighty tree hid its entrance. M''Throk had to descend onto all fours to fit through that tunnel.


    The tunnel twisted and turned until it opened into an underground cavern. M''Throk stared at the undergroundke as he kneeled before it.


    "Forgive me, but I seek your guidance," M''Throk said as he waited for a response.


    The waters surged as a throne emerged. However, the woman sitting on it was covered by arge pair of twin fans. M''Throk could only see the reptilian eyes and patches of ck scales on the crystal-clear skin of the woman''s face.


    "Tell me what has happened." The woman said with a voice that resembled the gentleness of rain in spring.


    The goddess listened to him recount the hunt. Her expression changed several times. However, M''Throk noted the excitement on her face when he described the female from the eagle n. He lowered his head when he described the events that led to his escape.


    He expected to be punished for his failure. However, the fans shrunk and snapped shut as the goddess'' eyes brimmed with enthusiasm. She swept her long, ck hair behind her pointed ears before revealing a ravishing grin.


    "A wolf that heals you say?" She chuckled as she reached down to trace a circle on the surface of the water. "It seems the Skardian god Exile is poking his nose where it doesn''t belong. If he has the eagle, then we need to bring him to the negotiation table. Prepare a diplomatic party and head for the other side of the mountains."


    M''Throk nodded as he stood up. "Who should I take?"


    The goddess chuckled for a moment as a scaled head broke the surface of the water. "Don''t worry about that. I''ll send Dretheir to make sure they understand the consequences if they don''t take me seriously."


    Meanwhile, y''s eyes narrowed as hundreds of Deep Stalkers rushed out of the forest! ''It''s not another wave. This should just be them testing us.'' y sighed as he sent a runner to inform Mikari there was no need for reinforcements.


    They were using mixed groups to monitor the situation for the next attack. Winter was even with a group attempting to scout out the interior of the forest. y sent a silver sword flying into the sky to give the signal to open fire.


    Spells rained down on those Deep Stalkers and tore them apart before they could evene close to Valheim''s walls. He watched the treeline for any movement as the retrieval team rushed out to collect the drops. However, no more of those creatures appeared.


    He could not help but wonder why they would send small teams just for them to be killed. At that moment, several shes in the sky around Valheim caught y''s attention. ''Damn! They''re looking for other ways in!''


    He realised the enemy army likely now entirely surrounded the city. The reason they held out before was that they could focus everything in one spot. However, if the Deep Stalkers assaulted the entire perimeter at the same time, he did not believe they would be able to hold them off.


    "You there!" y yelled as he turned to a yer further along the wall. "Send word to Mikari to summon Exile! Be quick about it!"


    y cursed as he barked orders for the yers to spread out more and report any changes in the forest. That was when the sound of low buzzing filled the area around the city...

 Chapter 228 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 1)

    228 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 1)


    Exile frowned as he stood on the wall next to y, listening to the buzzing sound. There was no sign of any enemies, and the messenger had interrupted his talk with Ania at the worst possible moment. The yer appeared just after he had exined the frozen womb curse.


    He knew Ania was bound to be devastated by the news. However, the information that Valheim could be experiencing an attack forced him to leave her alone with that news. Exile frowned as he studied the forest. The noise was not the same as the one he heard when he fought the flying Deep Stalkers. This was caused by something else entirely.


    A great swarm of insects rose from the forest into the sky, causing everyone to be worried. They were unsure as to what was going on, but they figured it could not be anything good. Exile noticed the bright sky turning dark, and a dull moon appearing from nowhere. ''What the hell are the developers throwing at us now?''


    Exile cursed as they were plunged into darkness with only the slightest bit of light to see. He realised many yers were beginning to panic as that phenomenon unfolded. However, the notification sound drew his attention to his log.


    [Wee to the Shrouded Moon Festival!]


    [For the next 24 hours, the veil between the Mortal Realm and the Spirit Realm will be thinner. Good, and Evil spirits now roam the Mortal Realms. Give your divine protection to your followers and defend them from these spirits. Close down the gateways to end their assault on the living. Collect Spirit Tokens to purchase rewards in thest hour of the event. Good Luck!]


    As the yers of Skardia cursed their luck, a glowing orange dome appeared as it covered Valheim. The yers stared at it in wonder, while trying to decide who of their Pantheon to leave behind to defend against the Deep Stalkers. Exile studied the dark orange runes on parts of the dome with a grin.


    "y, gather everyone and have them descend. We can ignore Valheim for now. This dome prevents anything from getting in or out." Exile chuckled.


    "Do we all gather in Eraldsfen?" y asked with a curious expression.


    "No, let them cover the areas where their own Oracles are. If we have time after dealing with our own areas, we''ll move on and help any members who are struggling." Exile said as he conjured his levitation rune and flew to the temple to return to Himinbj?rg.


    Meanwhile, Ania felt a shiver run down her spine as the sun disappeared behind the darkening sky. A full moon shrouded by dark clouds appeared as people began to scream on the streets. Warriors rushed back and forth, carrying weapons and arrows to the walls.


    ''It''s the Shrouded Moon!'' Ania gasped as she recognised the event from Bjorn''s stories. Thest Shrouded Moon had urred before she was born. So this was her first time dealing with it.


    "The spirits are rising! To arms!" Inga, the captain of the Fenrir, yelled.


    Ania rushed to the fortress to prepare herself as the first sounds of battle reached her ears. She cursed as the figure of a man rose from the ground. His body was made of ck smoke, while two red orbs glowed where his eyes should be.


    Ania yelped as she jumped back to avoid the wed hand that shed at her. She spun to the side andunched a kick, but her foot passed through the spirit harmlessly!


    Ania cursed again as she backed up to avoid the next blow. ''We can''t hurt them!'' She frowned as she pointed her finger toward it and discharged a lightning bolt.


    The smoke dispersed under the lightning and fled back into the ground. Ania stooped down to pick up the silver coin the spirit left behind. On one side, it had the image of a skull, while on the other there was a wisp.


    ''I don''t remember this part in Bjorn''s stories.'' Ania hummed to herself as a lightning bolt carrying a familiar auranded on the ground next to her.


    Exile nced around as he listened to the yells. His eyes fell on Ania staring at him while holding a silver coin. Exile''s eyes narrowed as he held out his hand toward her.


    "I''ll take that, Ania," Exile said as she gently ced it into his palm. "You should have everyone collect these and offer them to me at the temple."


    "But, Lord Exile, this one only appeared when I defeated a spirit. Physical attacks don''t work on them. I had to use your power to destroy it." Ania hurriedly said as the spirits flooded Eraldsfen.


    "Hm, let me take care of that." Exile closed his eyes as he used his Miracle spell. He scanned his options and chose to use the Hallowed Souls Miracle.


    Golden orbs erupted from Exile''s body and rushed off to fuse with every follower of Ragnarok in Eraldsfen. When they did, the people received some divine protection from the spirits'' attacks, and the spirits were no longer invulnerable to their weapons!


    "Get yourself ready and meet me at the walls. I''ll do what I can to further help the people." Exile said with a solemn expression as he walked away from Ania.


    ''This is a mess.'' Exile thought as he conjured a lightning miracle to attack several spirits cornering some children. ''These things can appear anywhere.''


    He sighed as he considered his options. At that moment, Skovi leapt from between two buildings to catch a spirit between his jaws. The spirit shattered as the great wolf applied some pressure to its body.


    Exile rushed forward to collect the token Skovi spat out as he rubbed the wolf behind his ears. ''It''s going to be a long twenty-four hours.'' He frowned as he nced toward the fortress. His eyes narrowed as an idea formted in his mind. ''That should do.''


    "Skovi, have everyone fall back to the fortress. I''ll set up some defences around it." Exile said before pausing for a moment. "Once you''ve guided everyone there, I want you to scout the surrounding area. Look for anything that could be a gateway allowing these spirits to cross."


    "Right away, master," Skovi growled before releasing a long howl into the night.


    Exile''s eyes widened as he heard other wolves returning the call. "You''ve built a new pack?"


    The great wolf smiled mischievously before taking off into the darkness. Exile chuckled to himself before returning to the fortress. Lightning bolts periodically struck Eraldsfen as he unleashed miracles on the unexpecting spirits. ''Skovi should definitely be able to find what I''m looking for. Now, the question is whether my Miracles and Runestones will be enough to protect the fortress.''


    Ania came rushing out of the gate as Exile approached. She looked spectacr in her armour. However, a confused expression appeared on her face when she saw Exile toying with several smooth stones in the palm of his hand.


    "What are they?" Ania asked as she drew close.


    "These are runestones." Exile smiled gently as he held one up to show her the rune carved on it.


    "Whatnguage is that?" Ania asked with a curious expression as she recognised some simrities with the Skardian runes, but it was not wholly the same.


    "This is thenguage of us gods," Exile replied with a grin as Ania''s eyes sparkled. "They hold the true meaning of what''s inscribed on them. I''m going to set them up around the fortress to protect the people. You should warn the warriors to be prepared to fight if the spirits break through. But hopefully, it will buy us enough time to end their attack."


    "Oh, and bring the members of Fenrir back with you. We''re going to need them." Exile said as Ania turned to deliver hismands.


    Exile sighed as he nced at the runestones in his hand. ''I hope these work.'' He had some doubts since they were divine items. Only his Miracles worked on the spirits, but he hoped the runestones would work since the spirits were not mortal.


    Exile quickly cast another Miracle, called Hallowed Ground. The description hinted that it would erect a barrier over an area that the spirits would be unable to cross. However, while Hallowed Souls wouldst until the end of the event, Hallowed Ground had a time limit of two hours.


    If the runestones failed, the people would need to rely on the warriors to protect them. Exile watched as a circle formed around the perimeter of the fortress, shining with divine light. He nodded his head in satisfaction as he tossed several runes to the ground between himself, and a group of spirits charging toward the Eraldsen home.


    ''Crap!'' Exile cursed as the runes failed to detonate when the spirits crossed over them. He used his domain technique to activate them, but the spells they unleashed held no effect against the enemies.


    Exile stroked his beard as the spirits floated past him to m on an invisible dome. ''At least that should hold them for a while.'' Exile sighed in disappointment as he analysed the situation. ''It seems I''ll have to pass the knowledge of runecraft on to Ania or Bjorn for them to use them in this realm.''


    He momentarily considered teaching Harik as well. However, he was now High King and likely would not have the time to put it to use. ''I can''t teach Thovok either until I confirm Bargrux''s intentions.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as a stream of civilians raced up the road in his direction, closely followed by a swarm of spirits.


    Thunder crashed in the sky as Exile unleashed another Miracle. He summoned a lightning storm over Eraldsfen to protect the people fleeing to safety! ''We have to put an end to this unnatural invasion as soon as possible.''


    Happy Halloween! It''s October 31st now in Webnovel''s timezone.

 Chapter 229 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 2)

    229 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 2)


    Exile stared at Ania and the members of Fenrir with his back to the invisible dome. The lightning storm still raged overhead as more spirits crashed upon the barrier.


    "These spirits should not be in this mortal realm," Exile began as he nced at them with a solemn expression. "Although this is a problem for you mortals to solve. I have chosen to aid you in this, your time of need. I have sent Skovi to locate the gateway to the spirit world. You''ll have to close it to end this nightmare."


    "You should be prepared toy down your lives for this. My power can only keep the fortress safe for so long. You mustplete this task before the spirits breach my barrier. Otherwise, more innocent lives will be lost this night."


    Exile nodded in satisfaction as he saw the determination on their faces. At that moment, they all heard the haunting howl of Skovi from deep within the forest outside the walls. Exile nodded to Ania, who gave the order to move out. Snow started to fall as more than two hundred members of Fenrir, Ania, and Exile crossed the barrier.


    The journey was rtively easy while they were inside Eraldsfen. The lightning storm kept the worst of the spirit tide at bay. Which allowed the warriors of Fenrir to show the results of their arduous training. Exile took note of their formations and how well they worked together. Although, at times, he noticed a savagery in their attacks that he had rarely witnessed.


    ''They seem simr to Bjorn, just more level-headed.'' Exile thought as he renewed the lightning storm miracle before they exited Eraldsfen through the gate. They heard Skovi howl again as the wolf signalled the location of the gate. Ania steered their small force in that direction as a spirit shaped liked a skeletal horse charged toward them.


    Exile chose to preserve his DP and let the warriors deal with it. After all, he was unsure what they would face at the gateway and preferred to be ready for anything. A small group of Fenrir broke off to intercept the spirit. However, the skeletal turned into ck smoke and flew through their defensive formation to their rear.


    Two warriors screamed as the horse reformed and kicked them in the spines before letting out a ghastly neigh. Several warriors broke away from the main group to aid theirrades when they heard the snapping of their bones. The spirit horse had to kill six of them before it was finally taken down.


    "Collect the coin!" Ania shouted as she checked the two warriors who had taken the spirit''s first attack. She shook her said as she turned to look at Exile. "Their spines are broken. Can you save them?"


    Exile frowned as he studied Ania''s face. He was weighing the merits of saving two warriors against the need to preserve his DP. ''If I save them, they''ll expect me to save everyone when this happens again. They''ll be more reckless, and more injuries will happen.'' Exile sighed as he shook his head.


    Ania nodded with a sad smile. She was sure Exile could save their lives. However, she could only trust that he had his reasons for not doing so. One of the injured warriors nced at her expression and smiled.


    "Lady Ania, we knew the risks. All we can ask is that you sacrifice what life we have left to Exile. We''d only slow you down if you tried to take us with you, and I''d prefer not to give these spirits the before driving her spear through their backs to pierce their hearts. She allowed herself onest look 09:45


    at the pair before rejoining Exile as the group formed up again.


    satisfaction of finishing me off." The man said as the other one agreed with his statement.


    A tear formed in the corner of Ania''s eye as she gave a speech about their souls forever serving Exile before driving her spear through their backs to pierce their hearts. She allowed herself onest look at the pair before rejoining Exile as the group formed up again.


    "I know that wasn''t easy," Exile whispered to her as they entered the forest. "Even if it saddens you, you can only ept their choice and believe they are somewhere better now."


    "Are they?" Ania asked with a low voice. "Somewhere better I mean."


    She gazed into Exile''s eyes, searching for an answer. However, he only returned her searching gaze with a smile full of warmth. Their group suffered several more attacks as they honed in on Skovi''s signals. The loss of life weighed heavily on Exile''s mind as the number of deaths surpassed fifty.


    ''More than half of our original number has already been lost. Eraldsfen should be the best prepared for something like this. How many NPCs will die before this event is over?'' Exile held up a hand to halt the group as he spotted Skovi''s eyes watching them from between the trees up ahead.


    The great wolf softly padded toward them before licking the palm of Exile''s hand. Skovi let out a low whimper as he turned to face the direction from which he hade.


    "Master, there is a gateway made of ck stone in a clearing up ahead. It shimmers with a ck light inside its frame. I''m certain it is the gateway you are looking for." Skovi paused as he sniffed the air. "But master, there''s something wrong with the air around it. It smells like hundreds of rotting corpses are over there."


    Exile frowned as he listened to Skovi''s report. ''Hm, if Skovi is smelling corpses then I assume we should prepare for some kind of undead attack. Something more substantial than spirits anyway.'' Exile sighed as he guessed they would have to fight a zombie swarm.


    "You heard him," Exile said to the group atrge. "You should prepare yourselves for a harsh fight. I suspect the spirits will possess corpses buried here. You''ll have to defend yourselves."


    Ania''s expression turned grim as Exile walked in the direction Skovi had pointed out. Before long, arge clearing opened up before them as the stench of death invaded their nostrils.


    "What is this ce?" Ania asked as she choked on the smell. "All the nearby trees are rotting! Our hunters would have mentioned this. I don''t believe they''ve never crossed through this area!"


    "It''s likely it''s only be like this because of the Shrouded Moon. Something must have happened here long ago, which has attracted the spirits to this area." Exile frowned as he gave his vague exnation to sound like he knew the answer. His eyes wandered to the gateway in the centre of the clearing. ''How do we even close it?''


    He had hoped that by seeing it, the answer would be obvious. However, nothing came to mind as he stared at it. ''Could it be as simple as wiping out a wave of enemies that will appear when we approach it?'' He studied the clearing carefully to make sure he had not missed anything. ''There''s nothing else.'' He sighed dejectedly, as he gave the order for their group to enter the clearing.


    As soon as they all entered the clearing, a shining ck dome with swirling smoke created a barrier around the area. Exile cursed as he spun on the spot to study it. He could feel a divine power behind that event, which made his heart race in his chest!


    ''Is there something here that can threaten me?'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as blue foxfire mes lit up around the perimeter of the barrier.


    Loud groans erupted from the ground around them, as hands belonging to the undead burst through the ground. The warriors roared as they moved to cut off the hands before they could w their way out of their graves. Exile watched as their weapons pierced the body parts as they appeared. The more he watched, the more he became certain those weapons would have been useless without his miracle empowering their wielders.


    "Draugar!" Ania roared the head of one of the corpses became visible. Two deathly blue globes stared back at her from the corpse''s eye sockets as she shouted her warning.


    The warriors around Exile shouted to cut off their heads and to do the same to anyone who fell to the draugar horde. Exile caught enough of their warnings to each other to understand they believed that anyone killed by a draugr would be one of their kind. However, even during that moment, Exile''s eyes shone with greed.


    The warriors were getting fired up at the idea of treasure, as that type of undead usually guarded their wealth. Ania screamed at the warriors to stay focused as she deflected an axe wielded by the draugr she was facing. Exile quickly counted the draugar rising from their graves with a grimace on his face.


    He kept losing count as more hands kept rising through the dirt. ''They''ll outnumber us at this rate!'' Exile cursed as he studied the draugar''s equipment. ''It''s old but seems to be sturdy. These aren''t normal warriors who were buried here.''


    His mind raced as he concluded that the location had to be linked to some kind of hidden lore. Screams filled the air as the draugar started to overwhelm the living with their numbers. Ania fired off lightning bolts to clear the area around her while Skovi came to the rescue of many injured warriors. His healing breath saved a number of them, but Exile noticed ck lines appearing on their skin!


    ''Shit! They spread some kind of infection that Skovi can''t heal!'' Exile decided the situation was getting out of control and activated another lightning storm miracle in that area!


    "No!" Exile screamed in disbelief as the ck dome prevented his Miracle froming to the aid of everyone trapped inside...


    Guess you''ll have to wait til tomorrow for the conclusion of our Halloween special lol. Oh yeah, and a note for celebration. Haven''t missed a day since the start of October which marked my full return to writing!


    Antihero

 Chapter 230 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 3)

    230 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 3)


    Exile cursed as he looked around for a solution to their situation. He attempted to cast other miracles, but the dome suppressed his divine power!


    The warriors fought on, stumbling backwards to ce their backs to the dome so they could not be taken from behind. Exile felt useless in that situation as he watched even Ania struggle to hold off the onught. ''Is this it? Am I going to lose her?'' Exile''s rage red at the thought. However, he could only watch as more of the warriors fell to the attack.


    Something burned in the back of Exile''s mind. As if he had witnessed a key detail, but failed to fully register it. ''What is it? What did I miss?'' A few more minutes passed before he spotted one of the foxfires going out.


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he looked around to see there were only two of them left burning. ''It''s a goddamn survival trial!'' Exile cursed when he realised the nature of what they were dealing with. ''They just need to survive til thest two burn out!''


    "Skovi! Help them regroup to protect each other! No matter what, make sure Ania survives! They just need tost a few more minutes!" Exile roared as his heart raced.


    The warriors and Ania heard his outburst, and determination shed in their eyes. They gave the fight everything they had now that they knew it would be over soon. Exile could only clench his jaw and re at the fires in the hope that would make them burn out faster.


    ''Come on!'' Exile cursed as his eyes darted from the group to thest remaining foxfire. There were only thirty-seven members of Fenrir left. Skovi suddenly howled, drawing Exile''s attention in that direction. Two more warriors had fallen, and Ania now stood on the frontline.


    Exile closed his eyes when he saw a sword aiming for Ania''s exposed neck as she pierced as a draugr with her spear. Suddenly, all Exile could hear was silence. He slowly opened his eyelids to see the draugar turning to dust in the wind as the dome faded into nothingness. He heaved a sigh of relief as he felt his heart rate slow down. ''They made it.'' He thought as his gaze turned to the gateway.


    It still shone, which meant it was still active. Exile cursed at that sight as he debated what to do. ''I guess we have to go through it to shut it down.'' Exile grimaced as he wondered if they could survive that. There were so few of them left, and if they ran into another situation like the one they barely survived, it would be the end for everyone.


    Exile groaned as he decided to abandon the gateway. They had suffered too many losses, and he could not guarantee Ania''s life if they proceeded. Exile barked the order for the remaining warriors to search the graves for any treasure before Skovi quietly padded over to him.


    "Master, Lady Ania is infected," Skovi growled in a low tone. "I can smell it. One of the draugar must''ve got her when I wasn''t looking."


    Exile''s eyes widened as he clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. The warriors shivered as they felt the tension rising in the area. They quickly diverted their gazes from Exile''s face as he stormed toward Ania.


    "Let me see." Exile hissed as he red at Ania.


    She froze under that gaze for a moment before removing her helm. Exile''s eyes narrowed as he studied the ck lines running up the side of her neck and spreading onto her face.


    "Why didn''t you tell me?" Exile asked as his voice broke slightly.


    It was only then that Ania realised he was not angry at her but angry with himself. She had seen how his lightning had been unable toe to their aid, and she could only assume he was ming himself for her fate. ''I guess there are some things that even the gods can''t control or know.'' Ania sighed to herself as she saw Exile more as a man than a god.


    "I''m sorry." She whispered as she reached up to caress his face. "All I ever wanted was to be closer to you. You have no idea how much it hurt me to find out I could never carry your child. But I guess that doesn''t matter now."


    Exile went silent as he wrapped his arms around her slim frame and drew her close. He let her sob gently into his chest as he quietly attempted several Miracles to heal her. However, the infection seemed to attack those miracles and destroy them. ''This whole Shrouded Moon Festival stinks.'' Exile thought as he studied that event.


    ''They didn''t give us any warning as to how difficult this would be. The dome could block Miracles, and this infection goes beyond reason as well.'' Exile frowned as he went over the details in his mind. ''Day turned into night, and even Valheim turned dark. This whole thing reeks of being a test.''


    His eyes darted to the gateway once again. ''If this is a test, it''s probably been set up by an old god. Just like Allevia''s inheritance.'' Exile felt his view over the in-game event broadening when he thought that. ''Which means beyond the gate probably holds the cure! If I''m right, then this part was to test our followers. Beyond the gate should be a personal test!''


    "Hold that thought, Ania. There may be a way to save you yet." Exile whispered as he slowly released her and gazed into her eyes. "I swear I''ll do everything in my power to save you."


    He leaned in and kissed her softly on the forehead before turning toward the gate. "Skovi,e."


    "You three, watch over her. If she dies before I return, you''ll feel my wrath!" Exile growled at a group digging around in one of the holes as he passed.


    Ania sobbed as she watched Exile test the gateway by moving his hand through it. He felt a cold sensation on his fingertips as everything up to his right wrist disappeared. Exile nodded as he felt sure the gateway would prevent Ania from following him.


    ''I won''t let her die.'' Exile fixed a determined expression on his face as he stepped through the shining light.


    As Exile disappeared from view, Ania finally let go of the pain she was holding back. Her shield and spear ttered to the ground as her body began to spasm!


    Her eyes became blurry as a sharp pain ran through her head. When her vision cleared slightly, she was looking at the gateway from her ce on the ground. Blood trickled from the side of her head, where she mmed it against the ground without realising she had copsed.


    The three members of Fenrir that had received Exile''s threat rushed to her side. She panted heavily as sweat drenched her hair. The three warriors struggled to undo her armour as they emptied their water sks in turns onto her face to cool her down.


    The ck lines bulged and throbbed as they spread further across her body. A foul ck liquid trickled from her ears and nostrils as they watched on helplessly. They were at a loss as to what to do. This had not happened with the other victims before they turned into a draugr themselves.


    Exile became enveloped in darkness as he entered the other side of the gateway. His sense of direction disappeared as there was nothing around him to base his position on. ''What the hell is this ce?'' He wondered with concern that it actually could be a version of hell in the game.


    He seemed to float in that endless nothingness. There was no ground beneath his feet to walk forward on. He twisted his body to look in every direction, only to spot a purple star in the distance, far behind and above him. Exile snorted as he understood the nature of that trial. Of course, he would not bother wasting his DP now that he had another method at hand.


    Two majestic wings sprouted from his back as mes danced upon their feathers. ''There''s no better time than now to test these.'' It was a strange sensation to Exile whenever he tried to p them. It took a fair bit of concentration, but that was only to be expected since he was using something he was not born with.


    He had to imagine muscles he did not have and how they would contract and release to make the wings move. He lost track of time as he gradually moved through the void. He looked like a clumsy bird who had no idea what its wings were for. While being surprised it could fly at the same time.


    He gradually got the hang of it and even felt like his speed was increasing. The purple light of the star reflected in his eyes as he shot in its direction. ''How long has it been?'' Exile wondered as he realised he hadpletely lost track of time. He could have spent months in there for all he knew.


    At some point, he became too tired to continue to use the wings and changed to his levitation rune. He carried on for what felt like a few more weeks in that manner before switching back to his wings. As he continued his journey, he was eventually forced to use his symbol to recover his DP. Another period of time passed by before he could finally see that the star was no star at all. It was a miniature dark world, and Exile marvelled at what he saw beyond its sky.

 Chapter 231 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 4)

    231 Shrouded Moon Festival (Part 4)


    Exile''s gaze scanned over the many sights he would expect to see in the mortal realms. Then he nced at the things that were out of ce. ''Rivers of blood, dead forests, purple waterfalls, crystal mountains, ck mes... What the hell is this ce?''


    His gaze eventuallynded on the tallest structure in a ruined city. It was a t-topped pyramid with a steep staircase on each of its four sides. However, Exile''s eyes narrowed when he spotted five other yers sitting around a table and being waited on by several different types of undead.


    However, he recognised three of the figures. Parthus, Arthur, and Merlin were seated there with two yers he did not recognise. One of them was a beautiful woman with ck scales on her pale skin, and the other looked to be a man influenced by a culture simr to what was seen in ancient china.


    The woman nced in his direction with surprise on her face before she smiled at him as he hovered in the sky. The others nced in his direction when they saw her reaction. Parthus looked relieved, and Arthur seemed happy. However, Merlin sneered at him before ignoring his presencepletely.


    Exile controlled his rune to descend toward them, choosing tond next to Parthus. He had a loose alliance with Parthus after the events of the war, so he felt it was appropriate to show his stance in that meeting right from the get-go. Exile could not help but notice Arthur''s disappointment as he sat in the high-backed chair to Parthus'' left.


    A draugr brought a cup of mead to him while a mummy brought fine wine to Parthus. Exile sniffed at the cup, but Parthus drank his right away as he nodded to Exile. It was his way of telling Exile that alcohol was fine to drink. ''I guess they''ve already had a few before I arrived.''


    Exile shrugged as he took arge mouthful of the mead and immediately felt its benefits. He became less tense and seemed able to think faster than before. Parthus chuckled at his surprise before leaning in to whisper to him.


    "Be careful with what you say or do. You can''t fight here unless you want the undead to attack you." Parthus shot a nce at their macabre waiters. "There were two more of us, you can guess what happened."


    Exile slowly nodded to show he understood. However, he could not understand the meaning behind what he thought would be a trial. The undead suddenly bowed as a deep voice came from everywhere around them.


    "It seems we won''t have any more visitors." The disembodied voice sounded disappointed. "Let''s not waste any more time."


    ck smoke rose from the pyramid to form a dark-skinned man wearing an animal hide waistcoat over his bare chest and trousers. Various bones, flowers, and herbs hung from the waistcoat and his belt as he adjusted the face of a human skull that he wore as a mask over his own.


    "Wee to my festival! It''s been a long time since I had visitors!" The man said as he took a seat at the head of the table. He clicked his tongue when he noticed that nobody present seemed to know who he was. "Forgive me, where are my manners? I am Amari. The will left behind to manage this ce."


    Exile nced at those around the table to see if they had learned anything from the name. However, everyone looked just as confused as he was. Amari gave a long sigh when he realised his name held little value to those present.


    "Has it really been so long that my name is no longer known?" His eyes turned toward Exile. "You seem to have Skardian followers. Does my name mean nothing to you?"


    Amari groaned as Exile shook his head and turned toward Parthus. "Our people are practically neighbours! Your people must have tales about my greatness."


    "I''ve never heard of you." Parthus replied with a frown.


    "Bah! Shows what you young gods know!" Amari drummed his fingers on the table with displeasure. "Very well, let''s get on with it. Each of you is here to seize the inheritance I guard, correct?"


    Everyone nodded to Amari''s question. It seemed that everyone present had reached the same conclusion as Exile before entering that ce.


    "Then we shall begin with a simple test ofpatibility." Amari waved his hand a ck set of scales appeared before everyone. "It''s quite simple. These scales will determine if you''re worthy of receiving something from me. But, I can already tell that none among you are yet worthy of my greatest treasure."


    Exile suddenly felt his body freeze. He was unable to move at all as tendrils of ck smoke slithered through the air, originating from Amari''s body. Exile could see that nobody else seemed able to react in that situation as a tendril pierced each of them.


    Exile felt a tingling sensation as the tendril moved toward his heart. He felt hollow as it wrapped around something there before retreating from his body. The hollow feelingsted only a moment before it disappeared as Exile saw the tendril holding a dark red orb.


    A bright yellow orb came out of Parthus'' chest. Arthur''s was a bright brown. Melin''s was a dark yellow colour. ''Are these the colour of our elements?'' Exile wondered as a bright blue orb came out of the male yer and a dark blue from the woman.


    "Disappointing," Amari said as he studied those orbs. "You made it this far so you deserve something."


    A pouch full of the event''s tokens appeared before Parthus, Arthur, and the yer with the bright blue orb. The three of them and their pouches disappeared with a wave of Amari''s hand. Exile frowned as he noticed only those with bright colours were deemed unworthy with that test.


    The only possibility that Exile could think of was that Amari was testing theirpatibility with the darkness element. He remembered from his meeting with Allevia''s will that every god could be a dark or light one, depending on their actions. ''What have I done to turn mine a darker shade?''


    There were no solid guidelines apart from how they were viewed by their followers. As far as Exile was concerned, he had only done good things for his people. He suspected there had to be other factors in that decision since his own orb hade out a dark shade of red.


    "Now, we measure your souls." Amari grinned as he ced each orb on one side of the scales in front of their respective yer. Exile felt the restraints on his body vanished as he turned his head to watch his set of scales.


    "I would like to withdraw."


    Exile''s gaze shot up in surprise to stare at Merlin''s solemn expression. Questions raced through Exile''s mind as he stared at him. ''He doesn''t want it because it would expose his dark side to Arthur!'' Exile sneered at Merlin as a ck tome appeared in Merlin''s hands before he vanished.


    Exile cursed as ck walls appeared to separate him from the woman. It was clear Amari did that so they could not see the results of each other''s test, but Exile could still see Amari through the darkness.


    Two tendrils carrying an orb of half dark yellow, half dark brown, and ck core each came out of Amari''s chest. Exile watched as one of them ced its orb on the empty side of the scales before him. Exile watched as the scales tipped heavily toward Amari''s orb. However, it did not go so far as to touch the base of those scales.


    Exile was unsure as to what that meant regarding his result. But time suddenly seemed to stop flowing around him as Amari appeared next to him!


    Amari leaned in and examined the scales with a slight smile. He muttered to himself a few times before nodding enthusiastically.


    "Excellent," Amari said as he turned to grin at Exile. "Will you ept my gift?"


    Exile hesitated for a moment. "Will it allow me to cure the infection you gued my followers with?"


    Amari''s eyes went wide as a jovialugh escaped his throat. A mischievous grin spread on his face as he fixed Exile with his gaze. "You needn''t worry about that. When you leave this ce, the festival will end. As will my influence on the mortal realm."


    "If my followers will be cured then I''ve already achieved my goal." Exile sighed as he gazed back into Amari''s eyes.


    "I see," Amari hummed. "You are afraid of the darkness. There is a duality in your soul."


    "I see two paths before you. Darkness blinded by the light, and the light that shines brighter the deeper the darkness." Amari chuckled as his eyes shone with a bright blue light. "A red mountain stands over a sea of corpses. An army of statues stands ready for battle for all eternity. A white sun burns in the void as you rest on your throne, surrounded by the bones of your enemies. You need not fear the dark, for the dark shall always be your constantpanion."


    The light in Amari''s eyes dimmed as Exile tried to make sense of his ramblings.


    "I will now teach your body to feel the element of darkness. You need not fear that this will make you an evil god. The elements themselves are not inherently good, or evil. Only your choices can lead you down that path." Amari grinned as a ck tome and a pouch of tokens appeared in Exile''s hands. Amari ced a hand on Exile''s head when he saw thetter did not outright refuse his gift.


    Exile felt something heavy, like a dense liquid flowing through his body that originated from his heart. ''If I can learn how to sense the dark element from this, then I can use this to learn about the light.'' Exile smiled as he thought that.


    "Go, my child. And may your darkness smother the mistake of the light." Amari chuckled. "And do visit me again next year. Don''t disappoint me."

 Chapter 232 An Avoidable Loss

    Chapter 232 An Avoidable Loss


    Exile felt disorientated as he suddenly found himself exiting the gateway back into the mortal realms. Immediately he heard Ania screaming as she was surrounded by three warriors trying their best to help her.


    "Master!" Skovi said as he nuzzled against Exile''s leg with a whimper.


    "Where were you?"Exile asked as he nced at the wolf as he walked toward Ania''s writhing figure.


    "I was right here," Skovi said with confusion in his eyes. "I walked through the gate and came out the other side. You reappeared about a minuteter. Did it fail?"


    Exile nced at the great wolf with a frown. ''I''ve only been gone for a minute?'' His mind reeled in shock at that news. It felt like it had taken him months just to traverse the void on the other side of the gate. He became excited at the thought of what could be possible at the higher tiers.


    After all, Amari was just a will. A shadow of his former power. Yet he had full control over a separate world in the void where even thew of time bent to his power. By the time Exile reached Ania''s side, he saw the ck lines on her skin fading as her fits lessened.


    ''Amari wasn''t lying then.'' Exile thought as he ordered the warriors to ce her on Skovi''s back. ''I wish I could stay with her, but Amari said the event would end. Which means the event store will open soon.'' Exile sighed as he carefully brushed a strand of Ania''s hair from her face.


    "Take her back to Eraldsfen, and give any of those silver coins to me at my altar," Exilemanded as he nced at the remaining warriors. "Skovi, I''ll return to the heavens now. Watch over Ania until she recovers."


    Skovi bowed his head as Exile deactivated his avatar spell. Upon awakening in his room in the longhouse, Exile heard screaming from the main area. ''What the heck is going on?'' A frown appeared on his face as he listened in on what was being said. ''Damn!'' Exile cursed as he calmly got off the bed and walked into the main hall.


    Exile scanned the room before anyone noticed him. Ragnarok''s officers were trying to calm everyone down. ''It seems like the whole Pantheon is here.'' Exile grumbled before his eyes narrowed. ''Wait... Where''s Desa? Exile looked around the room again and noticed that not everyone was there.''


    The hall suddenly grew quiet as the yers began to notice Exile''s presence. They gazed at him as if expecting some kind of speech. Or, at the very least, for him to ease their worries.


    "Can I see the officers in my room?" Exile said as he nced toward y.


    Exile disappeared into the back of the longhouse again as the officers quietly asked everyone to wait until they spoke with Exile. They then gathered together and joined him in his private room where he stood by the window.


    "What''s happening?" Exile asked when they closed the door behind them.


    "Desa and several other yers have disappeared from the Pantheon register," Mikari said as he shook his head. "I assume their Oracles were killed during the event."


    "It''s not only that," Winter said in a grim tone as she fiddled with her hair. "I had to evacuate the town where my Oracle lived. We fled towards the nearest vige, but all the people living there were dead."


    "The other members are nervous. This event caught us by surprise. They want to know why we didn''t know about it and what actions we''ll take to prevent these kinds of losses in future events." Midas chimed in as he stared at Exile''s back.


    "We didn''t know, because we didn''t know." Exile sighed. "How were we supposed to know something like that would happen?"


    "Exile, it''s not that simple." Old Un said as he leaned against the wall. "Some of the yers are saying their followers knew of the event from their histories. They''re ming us for poor leadership and mismanagement."


    "To put it simply," Mikari began as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It could have been prevented if we researched the history, myths and legends of the Skardians. We could have had a warning about what to expect. We have to pay more attention to the mortal realms and the lore of the game. We can''t afford another mistake like this."


    Exile groaned as he rubbed his temples. ''Ania recognised the undead as draugar. So maybe they''re right. We need to pay more attention. This isn''t like a normal game. We''ve got to suspect that anything in their tales could be true and prepare for the worst.''


    "Mikari, I''ll leave it to you toe up with an administration system. Find out who among our yers enjoy digging into the lore of games and set them to task searching for anything that could be a clue to future events." Exile said as he turned to face y. "y, you and the other officers make arrangements to have each yer send a single Oracle to Eraldsfen. This is just a temporary fix since in the future we could all gather there to ensure the survival of the Oracles."


    "What do we do about Desa?" y asked with a solemn expression. "He''s an old friend of mine, and our group has stuck by you since we met. He just gave up his job to join us at theplex in real life."


    "Desa," Exile said as he paused for a moment. "I''ll handle Desa. I''ll look into whether there''s a good position and sry we can offer him within the teamplex. I''m not going to toss him aside because he can''t help us in the game anymore."


    y, Leggy, Burri, and Old Un nodded at his words and expressed their appreciation. Exile could tell they were concerned about what would happen to their fallenrade.


    "Let''s put these things in motion now. Don''t forget to collect any tokens offered to you. We have to be ready to make some decisions about what to buy from the event store." Exile gave a half-hearted smile. "Ideally we need to pick items that can benefit the Pantheon as a whole."


    "Do you know where the store will be?" Midas asked with a curious expression stered on his face.


    "I suspect it will be in Valheim. You should send some yers to search for rumours as to its location. It''d be a shame if we went through all this and missed the rewards." Exile replied as he shrugged his shoulders. "Once we''re done with this, I''ll talk with King Bargrux about letting his dwarves worship other yers in our Pantheon that want the benefits of that race. We can''t be negligent anymore, and each of you should find ways to increase your power in the mortal realms."


    "About that," Beans said as she red at Leggy while jabbing her thumb in his direction. "He''s already got three NPCs pregnant!"


    Exile could hear the scorn in her voice as everyone nced at Leggy with shocked expressions! Exile had no idea what to say. ''Do I congratte him on bing a father? Or pretend it doesn''t matter since this is a game?''


    "You promised you wouldn''t tell anyone!" Leggy hissed as he felt everyones'' gazending on him.


    "Yeah, right." Beans scoffed as she fixed him with a cold re. "There''ll be three demigods born to this Pantheon within a month of each other! Did you stop to consider the consequences at all?"


    "What bloody consequences!" Leggy shouted as his face turned red.


    "Haven''t any of you been paying attention to that yer who knocked up an NPC first? There have been assassination attempts on the mother, and it led to husbands iming their wives have been unfaithful. They''ve thrown them out of their homes and left them to starve and die in the cold! The yers of that Pantheon have been struggling with bing scapegoats for men who don''t want to admit to being the ones who got the women pregnant!"


    ''Damn! It seems there are a lot of issues surrounding demigods. It''s a good thing Beans told us about this.'' Exile thought as Leggy stared at the floor with a beet-red face.


    "We can discuss the matter of demigodster. Let''s deal with one problem at a time, yeah?" Exile said as he gestured for Beans to calm down. "If ites to it, we''ll talk about guidelines and rules for our yers regarding this subject. We can''t let it be abused."


    Beans shot another scathing re at Leggy before shaking her head. "We need to do it soon. At the very least, Leggy will have to announce he''s the father of those children so the women don''t get shunned. I think he needs to set an example that our Pantheon will always admit to their children. This way we can protect the innocent women who are being ndered and losing everything they have!"


    Exile nced at everyone else before letting out a long sigh. "Done. We''ll go with Beans'' suggestion until wee up with something more permanent. You can all leave. Except you, Mikari. I need you to do something for me."


    Mikari silently waited until the others left the room and he heard their footsteps fading into the distance. "What''s up? It has to be important for you to ask me to stay behind."


    Exile nodded slowly as he arranged the thoughts in his head. "When you have yers look into the myths and legends. Have them discretely look for any information on diseases and curses as well. Specifically The Frozen Womb Curse and if it has a cure."

 Chapter 233 Higher Knowledge

    Chapter 233 Higher Knowledge


    Exile sighed and sat in his chair by his desk as Mikari left the room. I should check out Amari''s tome while I wait for word about the store. The thick ck book that Amari had given appeared in his hands. The title was written in swirling handwriting with silver ink.


    ''An Idiot''s Guide to Godly Power by Amari, God of Chaos.'' Exile frowned as he read the title. As he opened the cover, he found the first few pages were dedicated to Amari recounting the many deeds he found worthy of being written down. Exile decided to skip that part and look it overter to prepare for his next meeting with that will.


    ''Fundamentals of a True God.'' Exile smiled as he read the title of the first chapter. ''This might answer some questions as to why I''m struggling to express real Tier 2 power in my runes and spells!'' Exile began to read the chapter''s content.


    ''So, you''ve be what we call a True God, have you? Congrattions on that! But take a moment to think. What you learned about being a god? Nothing. That''s what! I guarantee it! But don''t worry, since help is at hand! Let Papa Amari guide you through what you''ve been doing wrong all this time, eh?'' Exile grimaced at the first paragraph as he cursed Amari for his writing style.


    ''Ok, so until now, you''ve relied on divine spells that popped into your head out of nowhere. Right? Well, that was your first mistake! Because right about now, you''ll be wondering why you haven''t had an epiphany about any new ones for a while. That''s because you won''t just know them anymore! That''s right, you heard me! From here on out you''ll have toe up with them on your own!''


    ''Which you could have done the moment you came into existence. But, you took the easy way. The path that hinders your mindset and smothers your potential. Don''t worry, for we will rectify that! Oh, and if you''ve somehow created a spell, you can skip to page four.''


    Exile felt his jaw hurting from clenching it as he turned to page four. ''Ok, so now that you''ve created at least one spell, you''ll notice it feelscking. That''s because you''ve only used pure divine power to create it. Are you an idiot? Why didn''t you think to infuse it with the divine element in your body? Bah, whatever. Ok, so what you need to do first is this...''


    Exile carefully read the next two pages that described how to feel the element in his body. He had to learn to sense and circte it until it became second nature to him. ''This should be what Amari did to force me to feel the darkness element.'' Exile frowned as his attention went to his chest, where he could feel the presence of that element.


    ''Now, I need to do the same thing by myself for the fire element.'' Exile groaned as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He struggled to summon a strong enough image of a burning sphere where his heart should be. As time passed, and he continued to fail in feeling that element, he decided to change his approach.


    ''Amari already unlocked my ability to feel the dark element. Maybe by focusing on that, I can learn what I''m doing wrong.'' Exile then focused on the heavy dark liquid feeling in his chest. ''The book said I have to circte it as Amari did.''


    His focus went on imagining it flowing through his body like a stream. However, although he felt it budge, it barely moved. ''Maybe I should try a smaller amount.'' A tiny droplet of the darkness separated from the rest of it and ever so slowly moved down his left arm.


    ''This is strange. It feels heavy as if it wants to swallow my consciousness.'' A deep-set frown appeared on Exile''s face as he fought back against that influence. His mind darkened as he imagined the world without light and how much better it would be. ''Damn! It''s influencing my thoughts!'' Exile cursed as his thoughts felt cold and void of emotion.


    ''No!'' He remembered sitting around a fire when he was younger. The warmth it gave off as it fought off the chill of the night. How the embers would float against the darkness and illuminate their surroundings.


    A tiny spark appeared next to the dark liquid in his chest. It grew in intensity until it became a raging inferno of an orb! Exile felt the influence of the darkness easing as he lost himself in his memories. He carefully urged the droplet of darkness to rejoin the rest of it. As he removed his control over it, the ming orb split to surround the darkness.


    Exile took a few deep breaths to calm himself before he moved his attention to the fire element. ''I see. It feels light, and if it wants to consume something to burn.'' Exile feltplex emotions surrounding that element as he let out a sigh. ''It''s no wonder I couldn''t spark it myself without some kind of threat. Amari''s book wasn''t exactly clear.''


    Now that he could sense the fire element that had always been there, he felt a deep connection with it. He discovered it was easier to make it circte around his body than the darkness element. ''Well, this is a good start. I''ll need to practice until I do it without thinking.''


    He returned his attention to the book to discover the next step. ''You should practice using your element to create your spells now. A few words of warning. The greater the range of your spell, the higher the cost will be to use it. For now, you should focus on creating spells that activate when you touch your enemy to reduce the cost. Of course, you can choose to use more power to increase the damage it''s capable of.''


    Exile nodded as he read that. ''So I was missing something. To think this is the secret to unlocking more power at Tier 2. How long would it have taken to discover this on my own?'' Exile groaned at the thought before spotting an interesting passage title.


    ''The Thirty-Six Elements and You.'' Exile frowned as he read that. ''There''re only six elements. What''s he talking about?'' Exile was helpless as his curiosity was piqued. He feltpelled to read the passage.


    ''Oh, so you think you''re ready for this? Then you must have created quite a few true elemental spells by now. If you haven''t, then do not attempt this! You''re still here? Ok then, you should be aware of the six core elements. But did you know that bybining two of them in different ratios you can gain ess to a new one?''


    ''Let''s take me for example. My first element was Air. I unlocked ess to the dark when I became a true god. Now, I discovered that by mixing the two elements in my body and creating a spell from it I gained ess to the gue ssification of Divine Magic! Now, it must be said, my Air element took up sixty per cent of the base element for the spell with the darkness taking up the rest. It bes unstable after that and will likely hurt you.''


    ''Once I became a Cmity God, I was able to keep it stable to a fifty-fifty ratio. Guess what happened! That''s right! I became able to wield Chaos! Now, Chaos is a strange thing. The darkness causes a random reaction in the air element which contains traces of all the others. So I can never predict what elemental spell it will create! In my studies of this element, I discovered it could even generate the light element mixed with another element I had no ess to!''


    ''In the end, I discovered there are, in fact, thirty-six elements that can be achieved through various fusions. These higher elements disy properties impossible to achieve with pure elements. So I suggest you start this practice as soon as you arepetent in creating spells with a single element. It will unlock hidden Authorities of greater power as you continue your journey.''


    ''A note of interest is that most gods in the higher ranks disy the use of a maximum of three elements. Two Pure Elements and one Divine Element. (Pure Elements being Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. The divine being Light, and Dark.) However, there are exceptions. Such as myself where I can use every element but have no control over those outside of my three (Air, Earth, and Dark). And I have heard rumours of a god who can wield two pure elements and both divine ones.''


    ''I can not specte on how they achieved this as Light and Dark naturally reject each other. As your power increases so will your disposition toward one or the other. Eventually, one of them will make it impossible to use the other. Now, you should put this book away and practice. The rest of the pages will remain nk to you until you reach a higher stage. Good luck, and I hope this guide has helped to make you less of an idiot.''


    Exile sighed as he shook his head while checking the rest of the pages. Amari was true to his word, and they were all nk. ''At least he''s given me a starting point. These higher elements he spoke of sounds interesting. That should be why his dark world had such strange and conflicting sights.''


    A knock came at Exile''s door as Mikari''s familiar voice called out to him. ''The event store has appeared.''

 Chapter 234 The Coming Storm

    Chapter 234 The Coming Storm


    "This is it?" Exile asked as he looked at a rundown wooden shack in the space between two glorious buildings.


    "We''re certain it is. Some of our yers have explored this area before, and they said this building wasn''t here thest time." Mikari replied and Midas nodded.


    "Why''s nobody else here then?" Exile asked as he nced down the abandoned street.


    "Who knows? Either they haven''t found yet, or they''ve already been." Mikari replied with a shrug.


    Exile sighed as he pushed the rickety door open. There was only one room in the shack. It contained a table and a woman shrouded in dark robes sitting on a chair behind it. ''She should be the event vendor.''


    As Exile closed in on the table, the woman behind it took a crystal ball from one of her sleeves and ced it in front of her. Exile looked at the item with a curious expression. ''I guess I have to touch it to see the item list.''


    When he ced his palm on it, a list containing the rewards and how many tokens they cost appeared in his mind. ''There''s quite a lot of good stuff here.'' There were books that could grant spells of every element. Weapons, Armour, potions, materials, and at the end were manuals for crafting!


    Exile removed his hand and turned toward Midas. "Purchase everything you can about crafting. With anything left over, purchase the materials next, then whatever you think is best. Forget about the spell books."


    "Why should we ignore them?" Midas asked with a curious expression. "Won''t they help to increase our yers'' overall power?"


    "No," Exile replied as he shook his head. "They''ll lead our yers down the wrong path. I discovered something interesting during the event. Besides, the manuals on crafting confirm something. Everyone can make items regardless of their Authority if they know what they are doing. I''m guessing an Authority in these things acts as a support mechanism to help provide superior results. We need to focus on this aspect to build a stronger foundation for the future."


    "Exile, our people are already spread thin. We need a proper structure. Divisions within the Pantheon that focus on different aspects." Mikari said as he wore a thoughtful expression. "We need to rece the yers we lost as well."


    "Then I''ll leave it to you since you know what you are doing," Exile replied with a grin. "Once you have the structure written down, bring a report to me so we can look over it before making it official."


    "Oh, Midas," Exile continued. "Where are we at with a merit point system?"


    "I haven''t got very far with it with everything going on. But I can work it in toplement different positions in the Pantheon once Mikari sorts that out." Midas replied with a smug smile.


    Exile chuckled as he patted both of them on the shoulder. "What would I do without you two?"


    "Go bankrupt..." Midas replied with a shrug.


    "Already be banned from the game?" Mikari replied with a frown.


    Exile let out a longugh before nodding. "You''re right, both of you. So let''s keep working together to build the best Pantheon, eh? I''ll leave you two to it. I''m going to make the most of the protection Valheim still has. It shouldn''tst much longer, but there''s something I need to do before we sh with Nar''Kozz''s horde again."


    ''I guess the real rewardse from Amari.'' Exile thought as he exited the shack to spot a small group of yers heading there. He pretended to be deep in thought as he walked past them so they would not ask him any questions. ''I don''t recognise their emblem. They must be a small Pantheon.''


    ''Therger Pantheons will start swallowing the small ones as they reach the higher Pantheon Tiers.'' Exile frowned when he had that thought. ''They''re going to have it rough.''


    ''I''d better get back to Himinbj?rg. I need to create at least one Tier 2 spell before I rejoin the fight against the Deep Stalkers. Then I can visit Bargrux and settle some matters.''


    Meanwhile, M''Throk reached the coast where a ship made of green wood awaited him. The ship had no sails as it did not need them. Chains spread from it to the cors of two tame whales, ridden by humanoid figures with gills on their necks and webbed hands and feet. ''Merfolk...'' M''Throk sneered as he red at that species of Warbeast.


    Their bluish skin and green seaweed-like hair sent a shiver down his spine. ''Laskia is going all-out by sending them.'' He slowly shook his head as he waited for the rest of the party to arrive. M''Throk''s mind was abuzz with thoughts regarding the Heavenly Beast Pantheon.


    He was only a hero and the god who had made him one was considered the fifth strongest among the top ten of the Pantheon. However, as a hero, he always had to report to Laskia and treat her as his one true goddess. The merfolk were her first followers, but it was the second race of Warbeasts that called her their goddess that truly terrified him.


    ''He''s here.'' M''Throk''s eyes narrowed as a tidal surge broke the surface of the sea in the distance. A long, serpentine body rose from the surface into the sky. Its four wed feet walked on tforms of water that appeared beneath them as the sun reflected off of its pristine blue scales.


    M''Throk stared at the red mane of hair that surrounded the sea dragon''s face and ran down its spine. The dragon roared toward the sky before coiling around its own massive body before sprinting toward the coast. M''Throk trembled beneath the gaze of its serpent eyes as he kneeled before one of Laskia''s Oracles.


    "Lord Dretheir," M''Throk said as he struggled to stop his trembling. "Thank you for joining us."


    "Hm, I''m only here because Laskiamands it," Dretheir said with a voice that sounded like raging waves. "Skardians aren''t worth my time."


    M''Throk nodded in agreement as he wanted to stay on that ancient existence''s good side. He remembered the tales of the Dragon Wars his people had suffered through centuries before. Those mighty beings had brought much of their territory and some of the surrounding countries to ruin at the time.


    Dretheir turned his mighty head toward the east. To M''Throk it seemed like the dragon was lost in ancient memories. The sea became rough as Dretheir continued to re in that direction before his head snapped toward the southwest. The sky turned dark and gloomy as the rain began to fall.


    "Lord Dretheir!" M''Throk called out as the wind started to pick up. "Is something wrong?"


    Dretheir snorted as he shook the rage from his mind and allowed the weather to calm down again. "It''s nothing we can''t handle. Let us be off. I want to end this as soon as possible."


    "Forgive me, but I don''t think a god will back down so easily," M''Throk replied as he remained kneeling on the sand.


    "Then I''ll just devour him!" Dretheir bellowed with augh that sounded like thunder.


    A short distance from a hidden ind located to the southwest of Skardia, Allyce shivered as she sensed a cmity through the wind. Her instincts screamed at her to hide while another part of her reacted with hatred toward the strange feeling in the air. The feeling disappeared as quickly as it arrived as her sight allowed her to see through the magical barrier that hid the Isle of Vuertas. The home of her people.


    As she flew through the barrier, her eyes gazed upon the ind covered in cliffs with the many homes built into their sides. Young featherlings raced between the trees as they dipped their wingtips in the numerous waterfalls as they flew past. Allyce smiled to herself as she gazed upon that paradisic ind where she had grown up.


    Suddenly, she heard the warning cries of many eagles as many of them rose into the sky to defend their home. However, Allyce did not worry about that. Her species always had white feathers unless they pledged themselves to a god. It had been so long since any of the nests had done so that their first thought would have been that she was an invader.


    Of course, she could not me them since great trails of fire followed behind her. She was no longer a simple member of the Great Eagle tribe for she had be a legendary Pheonix Eagle with her transformation. ''Mother will be so surprised.'' Allyce chuckled to herself as she corrected her course to fly toward the pce at the centre of the ind.


    The eagles slowed down once they had a chance to study her. They let out joyous cries to alert the nests that there was nothing to fear when they realised who she was. Allyce listened to their cries as she soared overhead, hearing her people sing the song that signalled the beginning of the Trial of Feathers.


    She smirked as five great eagles rose into the sky from different positions around the pce. They were the leaders of the other five nests, and they red at her with grim expressions. ''That''s right. I was the first dear sisters.'' Allyce chuckled as she flew past them. ''Mother will reward me for this achievement!''


    Allyce groaned as a great weight suddenly struck her back and drove her to the ground! The blow was so powerful that she felt her consciousness slipping and some of her bones breaking. Before she cked out, she caught sight of the magnificent golden feathers of her mother, the Queen, as she shrieked with fury!

 Chapter 235 Old Monsters

    Chapter 235 Old Monsters


    Exile nodded as he listened to the report one of his Pantheon''s yers gave him from Mikari. ''The protective dome is gone from Valheim and the Deep Stalkers are initiating probing attacks.'' He sighed as he continued to make the fire element flow through his body.


    ''Mikari thinks it won''t be long until theyunch another all-out offensive.'' Exile cocked an eyebrow as he was finally able to make the element flow through his mental threads toward the spell he was creating.


    "Tell Mikari to prioritise the safety of the yers. There''s no point in saving Valheim if there''s nobody left to inhabit it." Exile said as he waited for the sound of the messenger leaving. "Is there something else?"


    "Yes, there have been reports of strange weather to the west of Skardia. It onlysted a brief time, but the NPCs seem concerned about it."


    "Hm, dispatch someone to look into it. I want to know if it''s the result of something we should be careful about. In the future tell Mikari to look into anything that seems out of the ordinary. He doesn''t need my permission to allocate people to it."


    Exile nodded in satisfaction as the yer left him alone. ''Now I can concentrate.'' However, as soon as he gave his spell his full attention he found it difficult to make any progress. ''Damn, what''s going on?''


    Exile cursed as he analysed the difference. ''I''m being too forceful. When I was distracted I wasn''t pushing as hard for it to ept the fire element.'' Once he realised that, he switched up his approach. He gently pushed it to move through the mental threads and found that it worked.


    ''Good, I might be able to create a few spells before I have to leave.'' he thought about the few he had already made and groaned. Although they had helped him before, they would be worthless once he created the new ones. ''I guess that''s part of learning from my mistakes.''


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as the thread turned golden with fire burning along them. They took the shape of a rune as Exile studied the power behind that spell. ''So I need the rune to provide the true meaning and the element from within myself to provide the fuel that can match the power.''


    [Congrattions, you have created the divine spell Firefly!]


    [(Rune) Firefly: Create ten fireflies that autonomously fly around your body. When an enemy or their spelles within 20m the fireflies will intercept them. Each firefly contains 10% of your total Authority and stacks to increase its power. They will always expend enough of their number to counter a spell or damage your enemy. (Note: Firefly will only intercept spells capable of harming you.) Cost: 30 DP]


    Exile nodded in satisfaction as he read the results of hisbour. ''I should be able to create lightning spells and mimic the effects of the hearth authority using these runes.'' Exile rubbed his chin as he wondered how to achieve that. ''I''ll need to see about creating a dark spell as well. ''I''ll need to be careful with the cost as well. Perhaps I should listen to Amari''s advice and create a spell that activates on touch.''


    Exile''s eyes narrowed as he started to n his next spell. ''This''ll increase my ability to fight longer while disying greater power.'' Mental threads spread before him as he began testing what form the rune would take.


    Meanwhile, Allyce spluttered as she came to in a feathered bed. Her vision swam for a few seconds as she was ovee by nausea. She groaned as her vision stabilised and she saw the figure sitting on a chair beside her bed.


    "Why?" Allyce asked as she tried to understand why her mother had given her the beating of a lifetime.


    "I''ll tell you why my foolish daughter." Queen Ciena said as she gracefully swept her golden hair behind her ears. "Because you''re an idiot!"


    Allyce watched as her mother ruffled her golden feathered wings draped over her shoulders. Allyce frowned as she noticed her mother''s anger hidden under her calm visage. ''What did I do wrong?''


    Ciena shook her head when she realised her daughter did not understand. "You''ve pledged yourself to a god. Tell me, how much time did you spend with him? Are you certain he will be a vessel for the light? What about other candidates for the secret fire? Did you find any? Were theyckingpared to the god you now serve?"


    "No," Allyce replied with shame in her voice.


    "I thought not." Ciena scoffed as she gazed out the window at the featherlings flying by. "You''ve doomed your nest to follow this god to the bitter end. Your sisters will eventually find their own candidates for the other elements. You know what will happen if your god turns to darkness, right?"


    "Yes, mother. I''ll be sure to guide him down the right path."


    "I should think so. I don''t want to see any of you banished from this ce. We can''t allow any of the first elements to be corrupted by the dark." Ciena sighed as a faraway look appeared in her eyes. "We don''t want a repeat of the War of the Fallen. I can already sense that the Dark Divine Beast, Nar''Kozz, is recovering his power in the heavens."


    "Nar''Kozz the Devourer?" Allyce asked with shock on her face. "I thought he was killed when Jor yed Lofine."


    "If it only it were that simple, Allyce." Ciena shook her head as she gazed at her daughter. "Nar''Kozz is a divine beast created by a Cmity level God. Twisted by the darkness in his master''s heart. He went into hiding as the war raged on. It seems like he''s been hibernating for all this time."


    "Will he return to the mortal realm?" Allyce asked as a shiver ran down her spine.


    "Maybe, if the gods fail to vanquish him." Ciena wore a deep frown as she considered the most likely oue. "Nar''Kozz has likely grown weak during his slumber. He''ll need to devour a huge amount of divinity to return to his previous peak. If the Skardian gods fail, he''s sure to bring destruction and devastation to our realm."


    "I have to warn Exile. He''s a Skardian god. Maybe he can do something about it." Allyce groaned as she attempted to slip out of bed.


    "Rest for now," Ciena said as she ced a hand on her daughter''s shoulder and pushed her back down. "I''ll have one of your sisters fetch the records about him. You can contact your god once you understand the extent of the threat that is Nar''Kozz."


    "Won''t you do anything to help, mother?" Allyce asked as she gazed into her mother''s golden eyes. She understood that her mother had no intention of taking part in aiding the new gods. "Why not? You can travel to the heavens using your own power! You could help them!"


    "Allyce, I''m a relic of the past. It''s time for the new generation to fight for the future." Ciena said as a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. "Besides, I suspect I''ll have to take care of an old friend of mine. Someone who shouldn''t be meddling in these affairs either."


    "Who?" Allyce asked as she clenched her jaw against the pain wracking her body.


    "Just an overgrown snake who seems to have forgotten his ce." Ciena chuckled as her gaze sharpened. "Now rest, I''ll be gone for a while."


    Allyce nodded as she watched her mother take her leave. ''What was thatst bit about?'' She wondered as she sensed a faint rage radiating in the air. ''Ugh, I hope she sends Killi for the information. I couldn''t stand it if she sends Jaenra. She''ll be all too happy to gloat at my pain!''


    Ciena strode through the rocky corridors of her pce with a solemn expression on her face. ''That foolish daughter of mine managed to do some good at least.'' Ciena groaned as she refused to admit that out loud. ''Dretheir couldn''t contain his bloodlust. He must''ve caught her scent. If she hadn''t gone to Skardia then would he have revealed himself?''


    Ciena shivered as she remembered the threatening sensation that had reached her across the sea. ''He''s more powerful than before. He must''ve subjected himself to one of the new gods and received some powers in exchange.''


    Ciena pushed the door open to her throne room where five gorgeous women that looked simr to each other quietly waited with their heads bowed. ''It''s toote to do anything about these developments. We can only react for now until we can gain the initiative.''


    "Jaenra, fetch all the information we have on Nar''Kozz the Devourer from the archives. be sure to deliver it to Allyce''s room as soon as possible!" Ciena silently smiled to herself. She knew that pair of her daughters had always beenpetitive toward each other. "The rest of you. Prepare your nests. War may being to our shores. We can no longer stay hidden from the affairs of the world. Search far and wide for suitable candidates."


    "Yes, mother!" The five women answered as they kneeled.


    "I''m going for a flight to clear my head. You are all forbidden from following me. I can take care of myself. I don''t need bodyguards." Ciena projected an authoritative voice as she red at her daughters. She could sense their hesitation at that order, but she knew once one of them agreed, the rest would follow.


    "As you wish, Your Majesty." Killi, her oldest daughter, eventually replied. Quickly followed by the others.

 Chapter 236 Deathtrap

    Chapter 236 Deathtrap


    Exile floated above the walls of Valheim as he stared out at the forest. Two days had passed since he created the Firefly spell. In that time, he created a few others and achieved the creation of a runestone. Exile nced at the yers far below him grouping up in battle formations.


    Mikari had set up a battle n that saw the Skardian Pantheons bringing the fight to Nar''Kozz. Exile nodded to himself as the first group exited Valheim''s gate and advanced toward the forest. ''I guess it''s my turn.'' He thought as he controlled his levitation rune to take him to a spot halfway between Valheim and the forest.


    ''ording to Mikari, the Deep Stalkers should attack when our people reach this area.'' Exile removed several of his new runestones from his inventory before nting them in arge square area on the ground.


    He caught sight of movement in the trees as his eyes narrowed. ''Scouts. It won''t be long til Mikari''s predictiones true.'' Exile turned his head toward Valheim to watch the divine army as it marched toward his location. ''I just hope the other team finds what we''re looking for.''


    Exile''s eyes went to the north, but he was unable to see anything. As he floated back into the sky, he heard the familiar screeching of the Dark Stalkers. ''Here theye.'' Exile showed a solemn expression as those hideous creatures flooded out of the forest while sounding ecstatic.


    The yers beneath him roared as the first wave of yers rushed to meet their enemies. Exile watched as they crossed the line of the rear end of the square he had set up. Suddenly, the Deep Stalkers crashed on a ck barrier that appeared, connected by the frontal runestones he had nted.


    ck tendrils came out of that barrier to entangle the Stalkers and force them to hold still. Then, the first wave of yers unleashed mighty spells on their helpless foes. Utter devastation was immediately unleashed on the battlefield as spells exploded everywhere.


    ''Mikari was smart to do this. All our heavy hitters with spells are using my runestones as a makeshift bunker to protect themselves in the field. Meanwhile, our closebat specialists are free to cross the barrier and ughter the trapped Stalkers.''


    ''I''d better set up the other points now.'' Exile flew off to the left and right to set up more of those Dark Bunkers for the next wave of yers. Once he was happy with them, he flew to the rear of the army and set up more points to be used if they had to retreat.


    ''Ok, now the funnels.'' As the battle raged on, Exile flew over the Stalker army dropping runestones that would create barriers to force the enemy into a funnel formation. This prevented them from using their superior numbers to surround the bunkers so the yers could freely focus on what was in front of them.


    ''Everything''s going to n so far.'' Exile hummed as he turned toward the area at the rear being used as a temporarymand post. He flew down to join Mikari, and the other leaders gathered there.


    "That''s quite impressive," Noslin said as she stared at the dark bunkers and barriers. "You''ve managed to turn apletely empty area into a fortress with little time."


    "Remember, this is only the first part," Mikari replied as he watched for the signals from the front lines that would alert him to changes in the enemy''s behaviour. "Noslin, you''re up now. You know the n."


    "Right," Noslin sighed as she nodded to the group of yers waiting next to themand centre. "We''ll be sure to cause hell."


    Exile smiled at her as he watched her cheerfully lead her group to the right side of their army. It took a few minutes for them to reach a spot where two barriers formed an arrow shape to funnel the enemy toward two separate dark bunkers. Momentster, a tower of ice rose from that spot carrying Noslin''s team into the air.


    "That''s the first sniper tower set up." Mikari nodded as he watched a small barrage of spells fly out from the tip of that tower. "Ok, let''s set up the ones."


    Mikari nodded to the other leaders in charge of setting up more defensive structures with their authorities. Exile could only wait while Mikari continued to bark out orders to control the flow of battle. His time woulde if the flying Stalkers made their appearance. Until then, he was best used to advance their position whenever they whittled down the enemy numbers.


    ''The reports are all positive. There have been no casualties because of these methods.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as earthen walls formed a twin tower fortress with bridges between them, connecting two of the dark barricades. Other structures slowly appeared as the yers used his dark bunkers to protect them while they prepared for them to eventually run out of power.


    By the time his dark barriers copsed, a fortress made of ice and stone stood on the field between Valheim and the forest. Mikari had given the leaders of each group in charge of its construction specific instructions. The whole thing was designed to be a death trap for any Stalkers that entered its area.


    Spells and arrows flew out of the many empty windows facing outward while the closebat yers met the Stalkers in battle in narrow corridors. ''This is where we''ll take some casualties now.'' Exile grimaced as he watched a yer misce their footing and fall from one of the towers.


    The Deep Stalkers far outnumbered the yers on the field, but Mikari was waiting for something. He suddenly fired a golden arrow into the air as he studied how many of the Stalkers were left outside of the fortress.


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as giant ramps appeared in various locations along the top of the fortress that led away from the forest. yers streamed down those ramps ced at the highest points as loud bangs sounded from within the structure.


    "That''s the internal walls forming to trap the Stalkers and dy them as our people retreat," Mikari said as he chuckled. "You''ll appreciate the next bit."


    Exile looked from his brother to that giant structure as the number of yers on the ramps dwindled. They reformed their groups inside the fallback squares he had set up earlier. ''What did you n, Mikari?'' The first Stalkers started to appear at the highest points as Mikari fired another golden arrow into the air.


    BOOM!


    Exile''s eyes went wide as familiar mes burst out of the holes all over that structure as the Stalkers trapped inside screeched in terror! ''Are those my failed runestones I gave Midas to sell?'' That was when he noticed several doors opening in the external walls at the base as another team of yers fled the deathtrap fortress.


    ''I see, it''s not just my runestones, but yers with high-damage spells as well. Mikari must have designed it to make the most out of using all those things together to inflict the most damage.'' Exile chuckled in awe at his brother''s n.


    The walls began to crumble and trap the Stalkers that managed to survive. Noslin''s team fired off precise powerful spells whenever one of those creatures reared their ugly head from the rubble. It seemed to Exile that Mikari intended for every Stalker that got caught in his trap to die.


    Exile looked beyond the devastation to the smaller groups of Stalkers that had remained outside of the structure. ''It seems like they''re hesitating.'' Exile frowned as he watched those beasts turn and retreat back into the forest.


    "Good, Phase One isplete. We can advance into the forest now and set up the next point. Do you remember where to nt your next runestones?" Mikari asked as he nced at his brother.


    "Yeah, but I still don''t get what they''ll achieve," Exile replied with a frown.


    "On their own? Nothing. It''s what they will create when the parts join them." Mikari replied with a shrug. "I''m d though. We didn''t have to trigger the fallback defences. We can use them if we''re forced to retreat once we find out what''s waiting for us in there."


    "Yeah, it''ll be a while til the army can reach the point the winged ones appeared. But I suspect there are thousands of the normal ones flooding the forest." Exile replied with a groan.


    "That''s what I think too," Mikari replied with a sigh as he gave the orders for themanders to march to the next checkpoint. "I''ve already given the order for the yers to keep an eye out for attacks from above. These Stalkers have proven to be efficient climbers, I''d be surprised if they didn''t try to drop down among the army from above."


    Exile nodded his head slowly as he wondered how far ahead Mikari had predicted for this operation. ''I''d never be able to control all of these things without being able to see the developments on the frontlines myself. I don''t know how he can trust that everything is ying out exactly as he imagines it would.''


    Exile tried to imagine what would happen if the two of them were in opposing Pantheons. ''I''d never win a war against him. But a one-on-one would be different.'' Exile chuckled slightly before he remembered Mikari had said something simr about his chances against Parthus.


    ''In the end, I never got to test if I could take him in a duel. But I''m sure a time wille for that in the future. For now, I need to focus on wiping out Nar''Kozz.''

 Chapter 237 Another Kind of War

    Chapter 237 Another Kind of War


    "Wee back, father," Ania said with a smile as Harik dismounted from his horse. "I''ve already had the servants prepare the water for you to have a bath."


    "There''s no need right now," Harik replied with a grim expression. "I''ll have er. We need to have a chat first."


    Harik groaned as he rubbed his buttocks before he walked toward the fortress. Ania quietly followed behind him as the warriors who had served as his guard dispersed. She politely greeted the people that worked as servants in the fortress as they passed them by. However, she was concerned about what her father wanted to talk about.


    Harik seemed lost in thought as he led the way to one of the smaller rooms meant for his family to rx in. It felt strange to share his home with so many people who came and went every day since it had be the centre of government for Stormcrown. ''It won''t be long til envoys and advisors from the other territories arrive.''


    Harik sighed as he copsed in afortable chair by the already lit fire. "Take a seat, Ania."


    Ania nodded and chose the seat closest to her father as she studied his expression. She wanted to understand what he was thinking before he said anything. However, despite how well she knew him, she could not understand what was on his mind.


    "During the meeting with the Kings and my journey home we came across a troubling issue." Harik began as he stared into the fire. "There are reports of elves in the northwest who have managed to spread their religion to some isted viges."


    "What?" Ania replied as her eyes went wide. "Elves haven''t been seen in Skardia for at least a hundred years! Why would they return now?"


    Harik groaned as he massaged his temples. "Let me remind you that dwarves hadn''t been seen in an even longer period of time. What''s changed recently that could trigger these two races to reveal themselves?"


    "The gods!" Ania gasped when she realised what her father was hinting at.


    "Right, the dwarves came to seek out a god to worship. The elves are probably trying to expand the influence of their god." Harik sighed as he nced sideways at his daughter. "Times are changing, Ania. We''ve dealt with a lot recently, and we have to assume that the same is happening everywhere. One of the kings mentioned he sent scouts over the western mountain chain. They reported a war between the dark elves and several warbeast ns."


    "So, the elves in Skardia are trying to recruit more followers to fight the warbeasts?" Ania asked as she digested the information.


    "No," Harik snorted as a servant entered the room and ced a jug of warm mead and bread on the table before leaving. "They''re Alder Elves. They generally hate violence, but they have deep ties with magic. They haven''t shown any hostile actions except preaching what their gods can do for our people."


    "So, it''s a silent invasion then?" Ania replied as she tapped her chin.


    "It''s better to call it a religious invasion," Harik replied with a groan. "Most of our people will call out for their execution for heresy against the Skardian Pantheons and our beliefs. But we can''t let that happen."


    "You think their people will use their deaths as an excuse to start a war?" Ania asked when she realised where Harik was headed with the conversation.


    "It''s most likely that''s exactly what will happen." Harik nodded before cursing as some of his mead dribbled into his beard. "We''re still recovering from the war with Sommerdan. The new cities to our South should nearly beplete to act as important trade hubs with Sommerdan. The dwarves are spreading their goods across Skardia through our territories. What do you think will happen if another war starts now?"


    "Commerce wille to a halt?"


    "Hm, yes, but warriors will be called from all over Skardia to fight. Winter is about to strike, so what will happen without enough young folk to cut firewood or tend the winter crops?" Harik shook his head with a grim expression. "It won''t only be those fighting that will die inrge numbers. Even if we win, we''ll be too weak to defend ourselves from another invasion or negotiate with other powers fairly."


    Harik and Ania devolved into silence as they considered what the best approach to that situation would be. ''The world seems smaller somehow.'' Harik thought as a long sigh escaped his lips. ''We thought the gods were here to help, but it seems like they''re only bringing more problems. I don''t pretend to know what goes on in their minds, or the matters in the heavens. But it feels like our lives are just a game to them.''


    Harik knew his thoughts could be considered sphemous. However, he was now the High King to the whole of Skardia and had to consider what was best for his people. ''Not that it matters. Exile is the reason I''m High King, and my daughter has a bright future ahead. It''s not like we can go against the gods, but I don''t think it''s wise to keep cing all our faith in them.''


    ''What do we do?'' Ania sighed to herself. ''We can''t let other Pantheons invade Skardia. Exile''s been benevolent enough to allow other Skardian-based gods to exist, but if other races bring their religions here it will be harder for Exile to truly shine.''


    Ania chewed on her bottom lip as she gazed into the fire. She allowed the warmth of it to trigger her early memories of Exile. ''We need to counter them. It would be best if we set up small temples in the viges closest to the border and have the priests give sermons about Ragnarok. We can only fight them using their own methods. This way, they can''tin if they fail to spread their own beliefs. Nobody will die either, which will prevent them from having an excuse to invade.''


    Ania further built on her idea in her mind. She considered sending pilgrims across the border to preach in the elvennds. ''It might work. It could force the elves to focus on their own domain. We just have to do it on arger scale than they are. If they''re approaching this like they would a war, then this should be them testing our defences!''


    Ania cleared her throat before exining her thoughts to her father. Harik seemed interested in the idea as it gave him a way out that would not lead to bloodshed. However, he soon let out a grunt that told Ania he had thought of something else to add to that strategy.


    "You shouldmune with the gods and see if any of them will be willing to go with the pilgrims. They''ll be more likely to convert to our religion if they actively see what our gods can do for them." Harik stated with a smile on his face. "If we''re going to do this, we have to do it right. Personally, I think Bjorn is an excellent fit to lead this. His knowledge of the gods is unfathomable when ites to the old ones. He can easily draw simrities between the new ones and what the old ones were capable of."


    Ania nodded in response before making a decision of her own. "Then I''ll lead the defensive group around the isted towns and viges. That way they can put a face to the Head Oracle of the Ragnarok religion. It''ll show our gods truly value them if the head of their religion personally shows her face."


    "Hah!" Harikughed loudly as he patted Ania''s forearm. "You''re starting to sound like a leader! It seems you''re trulying to terms with your position! But you''re right, Ania. That would be the most effective measure we can take. If you run into the elves, do nothing to them. Don''t allow them to bait you in any way. No matter what they may say. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, father. I understandpletely. The future of Skardia and our gods depend on me not making any mistakes." Ania replied with a determined expression set on her face.


    "Good, then you have my blessing. You should make this happen as soon as possible. I''ll send a messenger to the coast to recall Bjorn. He must be bored as all hell down there." Harik chuckled before cursing as an ember from the fire singed his beard. "Oh, there''s another thing you should know about if you don''t already."


    "What''s that?" Ania asked as she cocked an eyebrow in his direction.


    "Many Oracles from all over Skardia are preparing to travel and settle down here. Apparently, their gods havemanded it with Exile''s blessing." Harik sighed as he remembered he had to ask the dwarves to increase the size of Eraldsfen again. "Did you know about it?"


    "No! Why would Exile allow them to settle down here?" Ania asked as she groaned at the thought of sharing Eraldsfen with arge number of other Oracles.


    "Beats me, but I heard a number of Oracles died during the Shrouded Moon Festival. Maybe it''s because of that?" Harik let out another long sigh as he leaned back in the chair. "It seems like Eraldsfen is going to be something like a holy capital of Skardia. It''s not a bad idea, to be honest. It''ll mean you can keep an eye on the other Skardian Gods while everyone in Skardia will have to pay attention to us."


    Ania slowly sipped her own mead as she allowed that news to sink in. ''It''ll also be like inviting the wolves into the henhouse.'' Ania sighed as she carefully analysed the situation. ''But then again, it also means we can kill their Oracles more easily if they step out of line...''

 Chapter 238 Fool Me Once

    Chapter 238 Fool Me Once


    Exile sat on top of a tree in the centre of the area where he hadid the new runestone formation. He watched carefully as Noslin and other leaders created defensive structures like tforms in the treeline and bridges connecting them. ''I see.'' Exile thought as his eyes narrowed. Now that he could see the other parts he understood what role his runestones would y in that structure.


    ''Haha, Mikari really is a genius. This''ll make it difficult for the Stalkers to get near our yers.'' Exile chuckled to himself as he watched for any movement in the forest. ''Still, it''s strange they haven''t attacked yet. Even Mikari thought they would''ve attacked by now.''


    Exile hummed to himself as he continued to watch over the construction of their base in enemy territory. He could see Mikari giving orders to a number of differentmanders as he nced around with confusion. ''Seems like he doesn''t like this situation. I guess that means we can expect something worse than he originally predicted.''


    He had a bad feeling nagging at the back of his mind as he looked at theck of activity around them. ''Come on, where are you?'' Exile frowned as he watched thest part of their forward base bepleted. ''Seems like we worried for nothing.'' He shook his head as he caught Mikari''s gaze to signal that he saw nothing unusual.


    Mikari gestured for him toe down and join him. Exile shrugged as he summoned his levitation rune to carry him to the ground. ''There''s tension in the air, and I don''t hear any other animals.'' Mikari waited for him tond before lowering his voice.


    "It feels like we''re about to be ambushed," Mikari whispered as he nced around. "But it doesn''t make sense. Our scouts haven''t reported anything. They''ve checked the heights of every tree in case they were hiding behind them, but they found nothing."


    "Yeah, something doesn''t feel right," Exile replied while stroking his beard. "Do you think they''re worried about another trap?"


    "Even if they were, they''re just beasts, right? They shouldn''t be able to think ofplex notions." Mikari grunted as he eyed the surroundings nervously. "Their numbers are their greatest strength. They haven''t shown any fear about sacrificing arge number of their species for an attack."


    "Hm, maybe we''ve wiped out too many of them for them tounch another attack? Do you think they''re holding the remainder back to protect Nar''Kozz?"


    "No," Mikari sighed. "It would be easier if that were true. But we haven''t seen their flying members yet. Plenty of them escaped earlier, and I''m sure they''ve never deployed their full horde."


    "I''m sure you''ll figure it out before they can start whatever they''re nning." Exile chuckled as he pped his brother''s shoulder. "You''ve been spot on the whole time. Maybe it''s just nerves getting to us, eh?"


    "Exile!" Burri called out as he rushed toward them. "Something''s wrong!"


    "What is it?" Mikari asked as listened for signs of fighting.


    "Look, you know my authority is over wild nts, right?" Burri quickly said as he nced all around them. "Well, it''s strange. It''s like the weeds, moss, and mushrooms are talking to each other. Which is normal for me to hear it, but it''s what they''re saying that makes me think we should head back to Valheim."


    "What are they saying, Burri?" Exile asked as he held a hand up to silence his brother.


    "They''re saying the forest is sick. That the trees and the earth has been invaded by a darkness. They speak of danger all around us." Burri replied as he nced around nervously.


    "That doesn''t make any sense. " Mikari replied with a sigh. "I mean it''s not like... Oh!"


    "What is it?" Exile asked while drawing his shield and spear. He could tell from Mikari''s expression that he had realised something.


    "To arms!" Mikari suddenly bellowed as he pulled his staff from his back. "The enemy is inside the tree trunks! The enemy is beneath our feet! Prepare for battle!"


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he red at the ground while some nearby yersughed at Mikari''s outburst. However, the other leaders knew Mikari was not one to joke around in a situation like that and began screaming orders.


    "Exile! You have to get into the sky! Now!" Mikari growled as he watched the trees for any sign of movement.


    Exile did not hesitate and decided it was time to show off his wings. The forest lit up around them from crackling mes on his feathers as he shot into the air, just in time to hear an angry buzzing noise radiating from the trees! ''Shit! They''re inside our defences!''


    Exile groaned as Stalkers burst out of the bark inside of the defensive structure. ''My runestones won''t be able to help them!'' He cursed as he lunged with his spear directly at the head of a Stalker that leapt out of a nearby tree.


    ws scraped against his shield as several Stalkers grabbed onto his ankles and each other to weigh him down! ''Damn it! They don''t want me to gain the height advantage! They''re learning!'' Exile groaned as hundreds of winged Stalkers burst out of the top parts of the trees all around the yer''s army.


    ''We''re surrounded! They''ve bloody trapped us!'' Exile roared with rage as he activated his Firefly spell. He spun in mid-air to shake off the Stalkers holding on to him as the fireflies exploded in their faces. ''Shit!'' Exile cursed when he lost his bnce as he used his right wing to swat away a leaping Stalker.


    ''I can breathe a little now.'' Exile heaved a lungful of air as he red back at hundreds of hungry eyes staring at him from the nearby branches. ''If they all jump at once, they''ll drive me to the ground.'' At that moment, he heard screams from below as more Stalkers buried in the ground erupted among the panicking yers.


    ''This is too smart, even for a boss ss monster.'' Exile frowned as he let out a long sigh. He threw a handful of runestones into the air so they would scatter in the nearby areas on the ground. ''Sorry, but that''s all the help I can give you for now.''


    The runestones he scattered would provide temporary protective domes that could heal those inside. However, they only had a time limit of ten seconds. Exile hoped it would be enough for some of the yers to recover from the shock of the attack and arrange a counter-offensive.


    "Come on!" Exile roared as he dashed through the air toward a group of Stalkers waiting on branches.


    Lightning Arrows crackled as they formed around Exile before flying off under his control to punch a hole through the enemy formation. Exile grinned as they hit their targets and more lightning bolts leapt to nearby Stalkers. ''Stun Arrows seem to do pretty well.'' Exile thought as he studied their performance.


    It was another of his new Tier 2 spells. They did little to no damage but instead stunned his enemies while using them as a starting point to target other enemies within a 10m radius. It was a crowd-control spell meant forrge groups of enemies and the Stalkers were the perfect target for it.


    Hundreds of Stalkers fell from the branches as a web of ever-expanding lightning shot through the upperyer of the forest. Exile''s eyes narrowed when he saw the flying Stalkers suddenly fly outside of the effects of his spell before it could reach their location.


    He clicked his tongue when he realised those Stalkers were smarter than the normal ones. They had watched the effects of his spell and immediately acted before they could fall victim to it. Exile slowed down as he noticed the winged Stalkers reorganising to keep him trapped among them.


    ''They''re not going to let me go. I wonder if they''re worried about me bombing their ground troops from above.'' Exile studied those beasts with great interest as he tried to imagine how much intelligence they had. ''The ambush was practically perfect. They neutralised our defensive structure and even seized air superiority.''


    ''Are they really that intelligent? They didn''t seem this dangerous when we fought them underground.'' Exile hummed to himself as those beasts seemed content to keep him contained rather than attack him. ''Even Nar''Kozz seemed pretty mindless. So, what''s changed?''


    Exile silently wondered if those creatures became more intelligent by eating the orbs of the yers. It was the only thing he could think of even if it seemed unreasonable. ''Let''s test it out.''


    Ten stun arrows appeared around Exile''s figure as he watched for their reaction. Several of those beasts screeched, and Exile feltpared to nce down as they received further screeches in response. ''Damn! They''re summoning meatshields to take the hits while they expand the area they''ve trapped me in so the lightning won''t reach them.''


    Exile sighed as heunched the arrows directly at the Stalkers climbing the trees to reach his battlefield. Exile shook his head as he watched them spasm before falling back to the ground. A deep frown appeared on Exile''s face as he studied the situation some more. ''If I target them they''ll just fly away from each other to prevent the lightning from jumping. But if I try to overwhelm with the number of arrows they''ll likely drain my DP before I get out of the encirclement.''


    Exile sighed as he nced at the battle raging beneath him. ''Well, let''s see how much you care about your ground troops!''

 Chapter 239 Harvest

    Chapter 239 Harvest


    Exile fired stun arrows at the Stalkers fighting on the ground to try and bait the flying ones intoing close. However, they ignored his attempts which made Exile grumble in his mind. ''They can''t care so little for them, right?'' Exile frowned as he watched the yers gaining the upper hand thanks to his crowd control spell.


    ''They must realise our people will escape if we punch a hole through their ground troops. Which means trying to contain me would be useless if I can get out that way.'' Exile continued to study their reaction, but nothing seemed like it would change. ''Ok, I guess I can ramp it up a notch.''


    Exile spread his hands out wide as two ming runes appeared in front of his palms. A crackling hissing sound emanated from those runes as tworge ming serpents appeared in the air. Exile noticed that the Stalkers still refused to budge after he revealed that spell.


    "Burn them to ashes," Exile whispered as his eyes narrowed on the Stalkers who were recovering from his stun arrows.


    The twin ming serpents let out an angry hiss before slithering through the air at high speed. The temperature in the air rose by several degrees as the Stalkers looked up in their direction. Angry screeches resounded in the area as they leapt up to sh with the twin serpents.


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as his spells coiled around a Stalker each before sinking their fangs into the enemy''s skin. The two Stalkers let out agonising screeches as their skin turned red. That was when the serpents released them and threw them into the crowd of oing leaping Stalkers.


    The whole process of those serpents'' attacks had only taken a second, but as soon as their victims fell among the crowd, huge fiery explosions urred with a bang! Some yers on the ground paused at that sound and looked up only to see two bright spheres of fire melting away leaves, trees and Stalkers. They gasped as the two fiery serpents shot through those spheres to go after new victims!


    ''Burning Venom works quite well too.'' Exile thought as he studied the carnage. ''But it''s still not enough.''


    He sighed as he watched a few more explosions ur before his spells lost power. The yers on the ground were cheering since he had given them a much-needed respite from the battle. However, he spotted y kneeling with his palm on the ground.


    When y pointed his de at the broken earth, Exile understood there were still more of those creatures waiting to ambush them. In another area between the trees, Exile could see Mikari barking orders as he tried to guide a group of yers into punching a hole through the Stalkers'' formation.


    Parts of the defensive structure broke apart as the Stalkers who had been inside the tree trunks it was built around broke through the walls. ''I guess the yers who were inside haven''t been so lucky.'' Exile groaned as he realised they would all die soon if they could not escape that encirclement.


    He nced from the yers below him to the flying Stalkers preventing his escape by air. ''Screw it!'' He dived toward Mikari''s group before withdrawing his wings!


    "What the hell!" Mikari screamed as he watched a fiery barrier surround Exile turning him into a ming meteor!


    Dirt, debris and Stalker body parts flew everywhere as Exile crashed into the midst. Ashes floated on the wind as those beasts burned to nothing under the prolonged contact with his barrier! ''Ok, let''s push through!'' Exile pped his hands together, and a fiery fan exploded outwards, covering a 10m arc in front of him!


    A huge amount of Stalkers died in thatbo attack, leaving a huge hole in their formation. Of course, Exile did not manage to clear the path entirely but he had broken through more than half of the Stalkers gathered in that small area.


    "Go!" Exile roared as he heard angry buzzing diving through the air toward him.


    "You should run too!" Mikari replied as he nced behind him. "They''re as good as gone. We''d lose too much to save the others now."


    Exile looked for the rest of Ragnarok, but Mikari''s words were on point. Winter was ripped apart by several Stalkers, and y was surrounded by more than fifty of them. That''s what he saw in the brief moment he looked over the battlefield.


    Exile nodded as he stabbed his spear into the air above him. The flying Stalkers had finally begun their attack. Exile''s eyes narrowed as the Stalker he aimed for shot backwards in time to avoid being impaled. ''So they were content to avoid fighting unless we were going to escape.'' He cursed as he used his shield to block another of those beasts.


    He cursed as many of those creatures flew past him to grab the fleeing yers before carrying them into the air. Heshed out with his spear in several quick thrusts as he caught sight of Divine Orbs raining down from above. However, the flying beats caught every one of them before retreating with their bounty.


    ''They''re harvesting us!'' Exile wore a grim expression as the flying Stalkers continued to float just outside of his range. ''Damn it!''


    Exile fired off hundreds of Stun Arrows now that his opponents were too close to avoid them urately. He let the ones targeting the centre of the battleground fly freely while he took control of the ones headed for the wall of ground troops.


    "Keep running! Exile roared at the yers ahead of him as he turned to give escaping all he had.


    He carelessly tossed runestones behind him as he raced to catch up with his brother. Fiery explosions and ck barriers randomly appeared as the Stalkers triggered those runestones. However, there was no harmony in thatst-ditch effort so it only dyed them by several seconds.


    But that was enough for Exile''s stun arrows to reach the remainder of the encirclement in that area. A wall of racing lightning appeared as his arrows struck their targets. Blue bolts shed as they leapt from one to another going around the entire perimeter made of the Stalkers.


    Exile grinned as even a few of the flying ones fell victim to that since they were attempting to seize the fleeing yers. Mikari leapt onto the pile of thrashing bodies as they suffered from Exile''s attack and raced across them. His eyes scanned their surroundings to make sure there was nothing to worry about once they cleared that threat. It only took a few seconds for Exile to overtake most yers and catch up to those in the lead, including his brother.


    "What do we do once we get clear? It''s quite a distance to the next fallback position." Exile shouted above the rushing wind in his ears as he drew up next to his brother.


    "We can only split up and try to hide before making our way back to Valheim!" Mikari shouted in reply so all the yers in the small group could hear him. "They''ll probably catch up if you try to outrun them, so do your best to lose them!"


    Everyone nodded in response as Exile created many levitation runes. "Use these. I''ll carry everyone as far as I can to help you gain some distance."


    Those yers nodded gratefully as they leapt onto those runes that raced through the trees at a speed they had never experienced before. ''This has been an utter mess.'' Exile thought as he red at the enemies disappearing behind them. ''Mikari''s n was solid, but they somehow outwitted him. That''s just not normal.'' Exile sighed as he shook his head. ''It''s clear we still don''t know enough about them.''


    At that moment, a loud buzzing filled arge cavity in the earth somewhere in the forest. Divine Orbs fell from the sky into that hole as the winged Stalkers dropped their harvest into its depths. Those creatures continued to hover over it as they awaited their next orders.


    "Not... Enough..." A rough voice tainted with hunger echoed up from the hole. "Bring me more!"


    Long screeches filled the air as if the winged Stalkers were replying to that voice. Then, silence descended in the area. The winged Stalkers seemed agitated about that silence as they continued to hover and stare into the darkness.


    Suddenly, panicked screeches erupted among them as they tried to fly high into the sky! But it was toote. A huge pair of jaws burst into the sky as ten wed hands reached out to seize as many of those creatures as possible.


    The ground trembled as Nar''Kozznded before tossing his prey into his mouth and crunching on their carcasses. "If you fail to bring me what I need, then I will simply eat you. Now go, my children, and don''t fail me again! Not a single god should ever escape you! I want them all!"


    Nar''Kozz roared at the sky as he watched his children tremble. As they flew away he studied the many tunnels that had been dug through the earth like a giant hive. ''My children should be nearly done with their task.'' Nar''Kozz growled as he studied what he had been told. ''It seems there''s an exquisite specimen among these gods.''


    Nar''Kozz searched his memories to see if the god responsible for the yers'' escape from his trap had been among the invaders of hisir. ''Hm, it''s that one. He''s changed quite a bit. At least this time he''ll be more filling.'' Nar''Kozz chuckled as his long, ck tongue cracked in the air.

 Chapter 240 We Few Who Remain

    Chapter 240 We Few Who Remain


    Exile shivered as hended in the forest to let the survivors continue their escape by foot. He could not help but nce in the direction they hade from as a sense of danger filled his mind. ''They can''t have caught up already, can they?''


    "Ok, everyone spread out and make your way to the fallback point. The others should head there once they revive. It''s your best chance of surviving." Mikari shouted as he watched those yers bow before splitting up. "I hope you have some way to save us."


    Exile caught his brother''s gaze as he nced toward the sky. ''Flying is out of the question. It''ll just make us easier to find.'' He thought as he replenished his DP through his religious item. ''There are no witnesses now, so I guess I can use that spell.''


    "Stay close to me," Exile replied as he activated his Dark Shroud spell.


    A ck rune appeared on the palm of his left hand as an inky liquid surrounded Mikari and himself. "This''ll hide us from their sight and it destroys and smells we give off. It''s an emergency spell I created for situations where I couldn''t fight my way out."


    Exile sighed as Mikari studied the spell with interest. The pair marched through the forest in silence as Exile thought about what his arsenalcked. ''I never got a chance to use my closebat spells, and my long-range ones waste so much energy.'' Exile frowned as he manoeuvred around the trees being careful not to trip over any exposed roots.


    ''I need arge-scale spell with a lot of power. Something that will be difficult to avoid.'' Exile considered a number of options but decided that fire would be his best choice. ''Lightning is powerful, but it''s best used as a high-power spell with precision. At least by using fire, I can let it run wild.''


    Exile silently wished that his Authority over Runes would allow him to use other elements. However, the few times he tried it he discovered he could not activate them. ''It''s probably because I don''t have their true meanings in my divine power.''


    As he thought about it, he realised the same could be said for some of his other spells. ''Maybe there is a way around it but I''m not seeing it yet. My runes have been more versatile than making straightforward spells limited by my fire element.''


    Exile put a pin in that thought for ater date. There was no point in trying toe up with a solution right now. At that moment, both he and Mikari heard a loud buzzing spreading through the forest.


    "Stay still. I''m not sure how effective this spell is yet while moving." Exile hissed as he leaned his back against a tree and studied the direction of the sound.


    Mikari copied him and eventually pointed to a spot to their left where a group of ten flying Stalkers passed by. Exile held a finger to his mouth to remind Mikari to stay silent as arger group appeared and headed in their direction.


    Mikari felt his heart race as those creatures closed in and studied the area around them. One of those beasts even looked Mikari dead in the eyes but showed no response. The group screeched among themselves before heading further north.


    The duo remained still until the sounds faded. They breathed heavily as they anxiously checked their surroundings before continuing their journey. ''Well, it works.'' Exile chuckled to himself as he quickened his pace through the forest undergrowth.


    ''They''re definitely searching for us survivors. I''d hoped they would''ve given up on us.'' Exile groaned even though he had known that hope was only slightly possible. He motioned to Mikari to watch the ground as well. Exile did not want to be taken by surprise by any of those creatures that could be travelling beneath their feet.


    Hours passed before they heard the buzzing sound return. When Exile caught sight of those creatures, he balled his hands up into fists. ''Divine Orbs.'' Exile shook his head with an expression full of pity. Those creatures were returning from the north, where they had obviously caught up to at least four survivors.


    ''I wonder if any of the others will be able to make it out of this situation.'' Exile sighed as he motioned to Mikari to move again as those Stalkers disappeared into the treeline. He could already imagine y and Noslin gathering the yers at the fallback point while being hellbent on getting revenge.


    ''Even if we kill them, there''s still Nar''Kozz to deal with. I''m starting to think he''s highly intelligent and probably far more powerful now. Would I even stand a chance against him? Or do I need to create a spell with even more firepower?''


    Exile silently contemted that problem. The only method he knew of that could bring superior results to his spells was the method described in the tome. ''If I blend the dark and fire elements I shoulde out with something more useful. But the book also said I shouldn''t attempt it yet.''


    Exile started to have doubts about that. He knew there were potentially dangerous events that could ur if he did not handle the blending process correctly. However, there was no point ying it safe if Nar''Kozz and his army could overwhelm Valheim.


    ''It''s not like we can evacuate everyone to the mountain either. We''d have to travel through the forest to get everyone there.'' Exile massaged his temples as they continued their long march. He was certain they could defend Himinbj?rg more easily with its advantageous position and smaller footprint. They could focus far more yers on preventing the enemy from breaching those walls. However, he wondered if there was any other way to get every Skardian yer there.


    Exile eventually broke the silence by exining his thoughts to Mikari, who shrugged in response. "Even if we could get there, there''s not enough room inside its walls for everyone. You''d have to fight a pitched battle on the mountain paths."


    "So, it''s useless?" Exile asked with a low groan.


    "Not really, it''d still be easier to defend. You weren''t wrong when you considered a smaller footprint. Valheim is just toorge for the number of yers we have at our disposal." Mikari replied as he gazed into the distance. "You remember when you told me about the Autosphere? If Nar''Kozz''s minions are above ground, won''t the tunnels be empty just now?"


    "Wait, you''re not suggesting evacuating through those tunnels, are you?" Exile asked as a deep frown appeared on his face.


    "Why not? If Nar''Kozz pushes this victory with an all-out assault, Valheim will definitely fall. The tunnels could be a risk, but at worst, they''re probably still a breeding ground for weaker Stalkers." Mikari exined as he tapped his chin. "So they''d be infinitely less dangerous than travelling through the forest."


    Exile nodded slowly as he considered the n as a whole. "What do you think our chances are of oveing Nar''Kozz and the horde?"


    "Do you want me to be honest?" Mikari asked as his brother nodded his head. "Bad. I feel like Nar''Kozz has to go down to be sure of victory."


    Exile cocked his eyebrow as he nced at his brother. "Obviously he has to die, but the more casualties we inflict on his army will decrease his overall power, right?"


    "I don''t think so," Mikari replied with a sigh. "They care so little for the weaker specimens that it made me wonder. The only reason they could treat them as being so expendable is probably that their species has a high birth rate. I''m guessing Nar''Kozz is somehow responsible for that."


    "So, unless Nar''Kozz dies, we''ll constantly face a never-ending tide of these creatures?" Exile asked with a grim expression.


    "Yeah, that''s my guess anyway. It wouldn''t matter where we go because they''ll eventually spread through the entire heavenly realm. Once they find us, they''ll justunch endless waves til they finish us all off for good."


    "Do you think Nar''Kozz will nest inside Valheim? Or do you think he''lle looking for us?" Exile asked as several thoughts sped through his mind.


    "If I were him, I''d leave a sizeable army in Valheim in case we return and go looking for us. His species seem to have an innate drive to eat our orbs so he''s probably starving." Mikari groaned as he gave voice to his thoughts. "It''d be easier if we knew more about him. But we can''t even n for what abilities that boss might have."


    Exile nodded as he motioned for his brother to stand still again. A loud buzzing filled the area as several groups of the flying Stalkers converged near their position. Exile counted how many orbs they were carrying and shook his head with a solemn expression. ''We''re thest two left.''


    Exile sighed as he watched the Stalkers with orbs break off from that group before the rest of them scattered throughout the forest. ''We have to get back as fast as possible and put this n into motion. It''ll buy us time until Nar''Kozz can figure out where we all went. If we''re lucky, we might just gain enough time for others to reach Tier 2.''


    A determined look appeared on Exile''s face as he considered that their best option. There were bound to be divine animals near the mountain for the yers to grind. But first, they''d have to traverse those dark tunnels safely. ''And there''s still the piece of the first me hinted to be down there...''

 Chapter 241 HeKar Frindur! (Part 1)

    Chapter 241 He''Kar Frindur! (Part 1)


    "What do we do?" y asked as he looked at Noslin.


    "Nothing, for now." Noslin sighed as she replied. "We''ll activate the fallback defences if the Stalkers appear. Until then, we wait to see if anyone made it out. Exile and Mikari are still missing at the very least."


    "Hm, Exile should be able to make it. But I don''t see him abandoning Mikari. So it might take him longer if he''s trying to secure his life." y groaned as he nced at the agitated yers in their battle formations. "Morale is practically gone too."


    "You can''t me them. We just took the worst beating possible. Our whole expeditionary army was wiped out." Noslin shook her head as she studied the forest. "It doesn''t look good for us. Their numbers are even higher than we anticipated. Only Exile can reliably survive in this war. The rest of us are just cannon fodder."


    "What we need is time." Aeri suddenly said as she looked at the gathered leaders. "We need time to push more yers into Tier 2."


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this," Beartooth said as he groaned. "But I agree with Aeri. The problem is we don''t have anywhere else to go. Even if we did, when we die, we resurrect in the temple in Valheim."


    "Beartooth is right," Mikari replied as Exile cancelled his spell, causing the yers gathered there to flinch in surprise before congratting them.


    "Listen," Exile said as he held up his hands. "It''s obvious now we can''t face this threat while defending Valheim. Our only option is to evacuate for now."


    Loudints answered him as Exile rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I never said it would be easy. It means once we leave Valheim you''ll have to be careful not to die. So everyone will have to cover each other."


    "We''ll use the Autosphere to enter the tunnels where Nar''Kozz used to nest. If we''re lucky we''ll be able to use them to get outside of the Stalker encirclement. From there, we''ll make our way to a safe haven." Mikari continued when he saw Exile look at him.


    "What safe haven?" Noslin asked as the other leaders shot curious looks in their direction.


    "It''s called Himinbj?rg," Exile replied as he wore a solemn expression. "It''s Ragnarok''s divine realm."


    "You see that mountain over there?" Mikari pointed to the peak of a mountain in the distance. "Himinbj?rg is at the top. It will take Nar''Kozz time to track us down if we can escape there. The mountain will give us plenty of natural obstacles to use in defending ourselves. More importantly, we''ll have enough time to set up strong defences."


    Over the next hour, Exile exined how his Pantheon came into possession of their realm and its features. Including the n for how to defend Himinbj?rg and allow the yers to grow. The leaders set yers to keep watch for the Stalkers as they began the evacuation n.


    Several hours after his return to the army, Exile stood in the tunnels where they had first met Nar''Kozz. He watched as the yers gathered into their designated groups before he scouted the nearby tunnels.


    ''There''re no sounds, and it doesn''t feel like it used to.'' Exile thought as a frown appeared on his face. ''Is it because Nar''Kozz isn''t down here anymore?''


    Many thoughts ran through Exile''s mind as he considered where to set up choke points if they ran into any Stalkers down there. ''With Nar''Kozz and the more powerful ones being above ground now, with this army we should be able to handle the journey.''


    Exile nodded to himself as he found his way back to the ruins where Nar''Kozz had devoured Noslin and himself. ''We''vee a long way since then. But so has Nar''Kozz. Now we know there are threats in this game that can grow stronger as time passes.''


    He studied those ruins as he allowed himself to get lost in his memories. ''I''ll escort the army for a while before I find an excuse to search for the First me Fragment. It''d be best if I don''t let the other leaders catch on to what I want to do.'' Exile thought as he started his journey back to the Autosphere.


    ''Noslin should catch on that I''m searching for the treasure, but I think she''ll keep quiet about it. After all, it''ll only benefit us all if I can gather everything hidden down here.'' He chuckled to himself as he checked his inventory. ''Hopefully, I won''t run into too many problems.''


    Meanwhile, King Bargrux sat on his throne while studying the dwarven emissaries from the other Kingdoms who were ring at him. ''Hmph, fools. The lot of them. Things will only get messy if they try to suppress us now.''


    "Speak," Bargruxmanded in a dissatisfied tone.


    "King Bargrux! You''re in breach of the punishment handed down to your n!" The old grey-bearded dwarf in charge of that group announced as he stepped forward. "You took a non-dwarf god as the head of your religion. You''ve interfered with human matters! You revealed our people to the above-ground folks, and don''t think we don''t know about you breaching your grandfather''s prison!"


    "So what if I did?" Bargrux snorted as he red back at the dwarf. "Times are changing. New gods are popping up like weeds. My people deserve their own ce again. We surrendered our best mines to the other kingdoms. We''ve been in decline ever since! We''ve paid our dues, and those responsible are long since dead!"


    "Pfft! Only the other Kings can decide when your people have paid enough for their treachery!" The old dwarf shouted back as his fists trembled. "Not you! And there is no excuse for taking a Skardian god as your own! You''ve only shamed your people yet again!"


    "Silence, you old fool!" Bargruxmanded in a deadpan voice. "What choice did we have? I''m sure the other Kings have already warned any new dwarven gods to stay away from my people! Otherwise, we would have already seen one! If the new dwarven gods have already abandoned us, what''s wrong with turning to one who values us?"


    "You are the fool! King Bargrux!" The old dwarf''s face turned scarlet as he spat those words. "The Skardian god that you now serve only cares about dwarven craftsmanship! About using you to better Skardian lives! Tell me, has he given you anything in return?"


    The old dwarf grinned as the hall turned quiet. He knew he had the nail on the head. However, his triumphant grin turned to surprise when Bargrux startedughing. He looked to hispanions to see if they could exin why the King wasughing, but they shook their heads.


    "So what if he hasn''t given us anything in return?" Bargrux grinned as he stared at them. "He''s already made the promise to give me what I want. He even warned me time moves differently for them. As far as I see, it''s too soon to im he won''t follow up on his end."


    "But," Bargrux continued as he showed the emissaries a mocking smile. "I already know what will happen if I continued to allow the other Kings to dictate what happens in my Kingdom! Do they think I''m blind? They want my people to suffer and crumble so they can annex my Kingdom!"


    The dwarven soldiers around the perimeter of the hall started to m their shields rhythmically on the ground at that point. The emissaries showed startled expressions at that disy. For they knew it was the traditional way for their people to show their resolve to fight.


    The emissaries revealed ugly expressions as they red at Bargrux. They hade there thinking the fallen kingdom would be easy to manipte into falling in line. However, the situation appeared far worse than their rulers had imagined!


    "King Bargrux! In ordance with The Laws of the Mountain, we challenge you to He''Kar Frindur!" The old dwarf roared, and the rhythmic mming of the shields suddenly stopped!


    Bargrux cocked an eyebrow at the group of emissaries as silence reigned in his hall. The dwarven king stroked his beard as he studied the group with a glint in his eye.


    "Very well! I recognise the Laws of the Mountain as any true dwarf should!" Bargrux roared so every dwarf could hear him. "You shall put it in writing that you willingly challenged my right to rule! I won''t have the other Kings iming I murdered you."


    "Don''t be so insolent!" The old emissary replied with a loudugh. "Even if you are as great a warrior as yourte father was, you''ll be exhausted before you can kill us all!"


    "Hmph, what makes you think that?" Bargrux replied with augh of his own, as he drummed his fingers on the stone armrest of his throne. "We''ll do all the challenges at the same time! I''ll show you our power is far from gone!"


    The emissary frowned as he studied what he considered to be an arrogant dwarf. ''There''s no way he can take us all at the same time. He''s definitely bluffing!'' The old dwarf let a smile y on the edge of his mouth as he analysed Bargrux''s decree.


    "Very well. We ept Your Majesty''s terms for the challenge. I expect you to provide the details in writing. After all, we don''t want your people iming we cheated by ganging up on you." The emissary chuckled as he nced around the hall. "Shall we set the challenge for two days from now?"


    "No need. I can be ready as soon as I get my armour on. We''ll hold the challenge as soon as we''re done putting the terms onto paper." Bargrux replied with a malicious glint in his eyes.

 Chapter 242 HeKar Frindur (Part 2)

    Chapter 242 He''Kar Frindur (Part 2)


    "Are the papers in order?" Bargrux asked his advisor as they walked down the stone steps.


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    "Good, you can go now," Bargrux replied as he nodded his head. "This is a momentous asion for our people."


    Bargrux felt the temperature rising as his advisor left him. ''Seven emissaries. I haven''t had much of a chance to test my new status. It''s the perfect opportunity to understand my limits.'' A red glow appeared ahead of him as he fixed a solemn expression on his face.


    As he turned the corner, the stairway opened into a cavernous hall. The great dwarven forges were alight and producing tremendous heat as the craftspeople prepared weapons of war. Bargrux grinned as he saw the emissaries wearing concerned expressions as they studied the scene while waiting for him.


    "Hm, it''s a magnificent sight. Isn''t it?" Bargrux said as he approached them.


    "What''s the meaning of this, King Bargrux?" The old emissary asked as he stared at the cksmiths hammering away.


    "It''s exactly what it looks like. My kingdom is preparing for war." Bargruxughed as he fixed his eyes on his opponents. His fingers stroked the head of God''s Bane at his hip. "Now, enough talk. The challenge has been epted, and all these dwarves will be the witnesses."


    The emissaries revealed unsightly expressions as they caught sight of many dwarves ncing at them from time to time. They grunted before unsheathing their weapons and preparing their shields as they studied the dwarf king. ''This is how it should be.'' Bargrux nodded to himself as he drew his hammer and titled his own shield toward them.


    "Then let the challenge begin!" Bargrux roared as he dashed forward.


    The emissaries spread out to surround him once he shed with the old dwarf. However, a loud grunt escaped from Bargrux''s first opponent as God''s Bane fell on his shield.


    The dwarven-steel shield shattered as the old dwarf was thrown backwards. The bones in his arm that had held the shield snapped as he flew while the other dwarves stared in shock. Their gazes turned to Bargrux as horrified expressions appeared on their faces.


    However, Bargrux paid them no attention as he analysed what had happened. ''I used too much strength.'' He sighed as he tried to adjust the power behind his blows as he swung his hammer a few times. ''I can''t keep throwing them away, or this will take too long.'' Bargrux nced to his left, and the dwarf that met his gaze shivered.


    Before he knew it, Bargrux was in front of him swinging his hammer! The dwarf panicked and lowered his shield as he tried to step back, but that was a fatal mistake. God''s Bane collided with the dwarf''s skull and turned his head into a meat paste!


    The other dwarves realised how dangerous the situation had be when they saw that. They quickly nced at each other before steeling their determination. The five remaining dwarves rushed King Bargrux at once while screaming their war cries!


    Bargrux smiled as he watched them charge at him. They seemed slow in his eyes as he blocked an axe with his shield. ''So this is the power my grandfather wielded.'' He swung his hammer in an uppercut that knocked the dwarf''s head clean off before stamping his foot.


    A tremor ran through the stone floor, causing the other dwarves to stumble. Before they could fix their bnce, the floor turned into stone spears that pierced their thighs! The dwarves roared in pain as Bargrux mmed his hammer on the ground.


    Two stone walls appeared on either side of each of the dwarves as their eyes went wide in fear. Bargrux chuckled before ring at them.


    "Enjoy your tombs!" Bargrux shouted as he mmed his hammer again.


    The walls mmed together, crushing the dwarves as Bargrux straightened himself. ''Too easy. They didn''t put up enough of a fight to test my limits.'' Bargrux thought as he studied the aftermath.


    "What have you done?" The old dwarf shouted as he limped back to the battlefield. "This shouldn''t be possible! What heresy is this?"


    Bargrux cocked an eyebrow at the dwarf as he stroked his beard. "I don''t mind telling you since you''ll be joining them soon. I didn''t visit my grandfather to talk to him."


    The old dwarf stared at Bargrux with narrowed eyes. "You! What did you do? What evil is this!"


    "It''s no evil." Bargrux chuckled as he walked toward the old emissary. "It''s the final inheritance left by Vors. My grandfather was unworthy of his status. That''s why he''s nothing but dust now."


    "No. You didn''t! It''s impossible!" The old dwarf stammered as fear appeared in his eyes. "You dare taint the memory of Vors in this way?"


    "I''m not tainting it. I''m washing the stain of my grandfather from my family''s legacy!" Bargrux roared as he mmed his hammer on the ground.


    The old dwarf coughed as a giant spike rose from the ground, impaling him. He hung there, feeling his life fading as he stared at King Bargrux.


    Bargrux nodded as he watched the old dwarf bleed out before cheers erupted around the hall. A great feast would ur that night since he had prevailed against the challenge. However, until then, Bargrux would not let them rest.


    "Keep those forges going!" Bargrux roared triumphantly. "This is only the first step for the resurrection of our kingdom! We''ll arm the whole of Skardia if we have to!"


    The dwarven craftspeople cheered again before the sound of hammers on metal rang loudly throughout the hall. The dwarves attacked their craft with a fervour that the mountain had not seen in centuries.


    ''The mountain grows impatient.'' Bargrux sighed to himself as he studied the walls of the hall. His connection with the earth and stone of the world had grown beyond reason since he became a pseudo-demigod. ''It can feel the changes in the world. It knows it will be drenched in blood before the world calms down again.''


    Bargrux shook his head as he raised his eyes to the ceiling. ''The world can''t sustain so many new gods for too long. Everything is already in motion, and only the victors will remain.'' Bargrux frowned as he looked at his people. ''I hope Exile lives up to our expectations.''


    At that moment, Exile hovered in the air of arge chamber as the Skardian yers silently marched through it. He was studying what seemed to be a chrysalis made out of a type of green gem. ''The liquid is still fresh.'' Exile hummed to himself as he nced at the other huge gems clinging to the walls and ceiling.


    ''Is this a breeding ground?'' He wondered as he controlled his rune to move him on to one that was still intact. A ck shadow floated at the centre of that gemstone chrysalis. ''It looks like it could be a Stalker curled up.'' Exile thought as he studied it. ''The question is whether we should destroy these before they hatch. Or leave them.''


    He sighed while shaking his head. He turned his head to locate Mikari among the leaders before floating down toward him. He could see the group studying one of the opened ones close to the ground as themanders urged everyone to move as quietly as possible.


    "What do you think?" Beartooth asked in a low voice as he nced at the others.


    "We should leave them alone," Mikari whispered as he turned away from them. "If we interfere with them there''s a chance we could alert the ones on the surface to our presence here. It''s only a possibility, but we shouldn''t risk it."


    "What if they hatch?" Noslin asked as she stared at hundreds of those things embedded in the walls of the chamber.


    "We''ll fight. But we shouldn''t provoke the matter. The longer we can keep our escape concealed from Nar''Kozz''s horde, the better." Mikari replied as he shrugged his shoulders.


    "I agree with Mikari. Everything will be for nothing if our n fails here. Do your best to keep the noise to a minimum and make sure the yers understand there will be severe consequences if they endanger us." Exile stated as he joined them.


    "What kind of consequences?" Noslin asked, but Exile fixed her with a gaze that said nobody would be forgiven. She gulped as she stared at the severe expression on his face.


    "Mikari, find the best scouts and send them to investigate the nearby chambers. We have to understand how many of these things are down here." Exile whispered as he turned to his brother.


    "I was thinking the same thing. We can get a rough estimate of the minimum amount of these creatures we can expect to attack uster. But I doubt we''ll find every breeding ground. These tunnels are toorge to thoroughly scout them out now."


    "Just do what you can for now." Exile sighed as his eyes spotted a crack appearing on one of the nearby gemstones. "And try to hurry the pace up. It seems like this lot is due to hatch any moment now."


    The leaders gulped as they spotted the same crack as they watched Exile start to float up again. They saw his gaze move to a small opening high up in the chamber. His expression looked confused before a broad smile spread on it.


    "What is it?" Noslin asked before he could get too high in the air.


    "I''ve got something to do. I''ll catch up with youter. Try not to cause a mess in my absence." Exile replied before shooting off in the direction of the opening.


    "Yeah, right." Mikari scoffed. "We''re more likely to get into a mess with you around."

 Chapter 243 Another Time, Another Place (Part 1)

    Chapter 243 Another Time, Another ce (Part 1)


    ''It''s this way.'' Exile thought to himself as he flew through the small opening. He could feel a warmth tugging at his existence, driving him to explore that small tunnel. ''It''s got to be to the First me Fragment, right?''


    Exile was forced tond as the tunnel became narrower. ''The rocks are bing smooth. Is it another inheritance?'' Ten minutes passed as Exile followed the feeling whenever he met a crossroads. Eventually, it led him to a grand opening where another set of ruins stood.


    "What''s up with this ce?" Exile wondered as he stared at a giant jagged structure in the centre of those ruins.


    ''Why are there so many ruins beneath the surface?'' Exile wondered as he floated down to walk among the ruined buildings. ''They look like an older form of Skardian architecture.''


    A deep frown appeared on his face as he studied marks on the walls that indicated a huge battle had taken ce there at some point. ''What even is this ce?'' Exile felt a lingering trace of divinity hovering in the air as he felt pulled toward the jagged structure.


    However, after he took a few more steps, his vision began to swim. Sounds of battle invaded his ears as he regained some rity. ''What''s going on?'' A bright blue sky hovered overhead as many gods fought with what Exile recognised as Stalkers all around him.


    For a moment, he thought he was back in Valheim and he had only dreamed about their escape. Until he noticed he felt suppressed by the power of the many gods around him. Exile froze as he nced around at the bloody battle. Gods and Stalkers were dying in droves everywhere he looked.


    "For Valheim!" One of the gods roared as he mmed a hammer on the ground which caused great spikes to erupt from the ground and impale hundreds of Stalkers at once.


    Exile stared at the god with wide eyes. ''He''s a dwarf! And what did he mean by Valheim? This isn''t Valheim.'' Exile''s confusion knew no limits as a Stalker leapt toward him. However, the dwarven god leapt like a cannonball and mmed into its side.


    "Stop spacing out kid. You''ll die if you stand around like that." The dwarfughed as he pped Exile on the back. Exile''s knees buckled under the dwarf god''s strength as he cursed. "Hm, why do I sense dwarven, skardian and warbeast divinity on you?"


    Exile did not know what to say as he nced at the dwarf god in confusion. ''What''s even happening? What should I say?'' Exile gulped as he tried to think of a usible excuse.


    "Ah, who cares. These are strange times. What Pantheon are you from? Are you one of Jor''s? No? Maybe Allevia''s?" The dwarf asked as he helped Exile back to his feet.


    "Allevia''s," Exile replied while wheezing. "What''s going on?"


    "Allevia''s, huh? Seems I''ll need to have a word with her about her subordinates poaching followers from my race. I''m Vors by the way. How do you not know what''s going on?" Vors asked as a frown appeared on his face. "Did you hit your head or something? The Fallen are trying to take Valheim. I suggest you head to the inner circle. That''s where all the lower-tier folk are."


    A grim expression appeared on Exile''s face as he studied the dwarf before he raced off. ''Vors? The Fallen?'' An idea struck Exile about what was happening, and he did not like it. ''It''s got to be an inheritance that mimics an actual battle for its trial.'' Exile groaned as he nced toward the jagged structure.


    ''That means Nar''Kozz took part in this battle since his horde is here.'' Exile decided to take Vors'' advice and rushed toward the jagged structure. He watched as tides of sand mmed on flying Stalkers, forcing them to the ground while the heads of other Stalkers popped when they heard the music yed by another god.


    ''This is brutal.'' He thought as he dodged those powerful entities locked in battle. ''So this is what war will look like at the higher ranks.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as he tried to memorise that scene. Suddenly, giant spikes of ice appeared on the centre building while golden res burst in the sky over it.


    Those res turned out to be golden fireballs that rained down all over Valheim! Exile screamed as he dove to avoid one, but the mes caused him no damage. Instead, they radiated a healing aura that made the gods cheer. At the same time, that aura scorched the Stalkers caught up in it.


    Exile felt a connection with those mes as he stared at their golden radiance. ''Is this Allevia''s doing?'' Exile wondered as his gaze shot to the sky. Momentster, golden rays pierced the sky and mmed into the ground. Exile stumbled backwards as roots pierced the earth and melded together to be humanoid figures.


    Exile could not help but gasp at that sight as their hands twisted into a variety of weapons. However, whatever was going on was not over yet. Dark clouds gathered in the sky as an icy rain fell from on high. Whenever one of those raindrops touched a nt golem or a yer, armour made of ice spread over their body to give them protection!


    Exile stared at his own body as the same ice armour formed over his armour. ''This is so weird.'' He could feel that ice was far above his own power level. Secondster the shes in the sky resumed before Nar''Kozz''s body pierced the clouds to crash into several buildings!


    That sight snapped Exile out of his marvelling. ''That version of Nar''Kozz has twenty arms and is at least 80m tall.'' Exile cursed as he dashed as fast as he could. The entire sky over that version of Valheim turned an inky ck as two more figures pierced the clouds to m on the jagged structure.


    From Exile''s position, one of them looked like it was covered in golden mes while the other resembled an icyet. Exile screamed as he suddenly felt something burning on the back of his neck. ck rain fell from the sky that burned the gods and stalkers alike! ''Shit! It slipped between the cracks in my armour!''


    Exile dashed into a nearby building as he watched the ck rain burn holes through the buildings. ''What kind of spell is that?'' Exile thought with a frown as he red at the sky. However, someone else he never expected to see descended from above the clouds while standing on a ck one.


    ''Amari!'' Exile gasped internally as he watched the familiar figure in the sky wearing a carefree expression.


    "Gods of the Light. You should surrender!" Amari said in barely a whisper, but it reached the ears of everyone present. "You started this war, but we are willing to spare you."


    Exile recognised the figure of Allevia as she flew back into the sky her golden mes burned the inky rain trying to strike her. He watched silently from the safety of the building as he tried to understand what he had to do to pass that trial.


    "Amari of The Fallen! You are a dark god! One who brings only pain and misery to the mortal realms! We can''t allow gods like you to continue to corrupt them!" Allevia shouted back as she red at Amari.


    At that moment, a titan made of ice rose to 100m tall with a man standing on its shoulder. The man red at Amari as icicles flew around his body. ''That must be Jor.'' Exile thought as he studied the man. ''These two are meant to be the most powerful gods of Skardia in history. But Amari knocked them both back and doesn''t look troubled by them.''


    Exile had a bad feeling as he studied that scene. Jorunched his icicles toward Amari who clicked his fingers. The water in the air swirled to form a mirror that swallowed Jor''s spell before spitting it toward Allevia!


    Allevia waved her hands, and a burst of golden mes burned the spell to nothing as a grim expression appeared on her face. Exile wanted nothing more than to watch that fight y out. However, a second Titan made of metal and rocks appeared with a dwarfughing on its head.


    "Now Vors has joined in," Exile whispered as he studied the new titan. It stood at 120m in height and was twice as broad as Jor''s.


    Vor''s titan stamped its foot, causing an earthquake to shake the entire city as ores of metal shot out of the ground. The metal ores melted into a liquid that took the shape of a mighty two-handed hammer that the titan raised into the sky.


    Exile could only watch as Jor''s titan punched toward Amari, while Vor''s one brought its hammer crashing down! Just when it seemed that Amari had no way to counter the attack, a golden sphere covered him when he clicked his fingers.


    Exile noticed that Amari looked disappointed with that oue as the two titans failed to put a dent in the barrier. Vors revealed an ugly expression at that sight as he studied the barrier.


    "Allevia! Do it!" Vors roared as he swung his hammer again while Jor''s titan made an icy axe and shield appear in its hands.


    Allevia flew backwards away from the battle as she summoned a golden light that struck the ground beneath them. ''No way!'' Exile cursed as a third titan with six arms made of tree roots rose from the ground to stand at 100m in height. Armour made of golden light spread over its body as six swords made out of the same light appeared. One for each hand.


    ''What kind of battle is this?'' Exile thought as shock and awe spread through his mind.

 Chapter 244 Another Time, Another Place (Part 2)

    244 Another Time, Another ce (Part 2)


    Allevia''s titan shed at Amari as he retreated through the air whileughing. However, Jor and Vors took that chance to modify their own titans. A mirror-like substance formed as armour over Jor''s titan while a serpent made of clouds curled around its shoulders.


    Vors'' titan erupted with magma while the same golden mes Allevia controlled burst over the titan''s weapon! ''This is insane.'' Exile thought as he watched the battle at that level unfold. ''Is there a reason the three of them created titans though? It seems like they''d just be a bigger target.''


    Exile frowned as he watched Amari nimbly avoid all the weapons as Jor and Vors rejoined the battle. ''Is this what Amari meant by higher elements?'' Exile wondered as he looked at the tree like titan wrapped in golden armour. ''Nobody has ever mentioned Allevia controlling nts. I thought she was a goddess of fire?''


    Exile studied the situation with great interest. Even Jor and Vors had surprised him with multiple abilities. He wracked his brain trying to understand what he was witnessing. ''Is this their dual elements and higher elementsbined?'' He frowned as he wondered how close to the truth he was.


    He even went as far as to wonder whether he was witnessing something else. ''Allevia mentioned Tier 6 was when we''d be a Law God. Is it possible this is a manifestation of theirws?'' For a brief moment, he thought it made sense.


    ''Allevia could be thew of life I guess. While Vors'' titan looks like it represents a number of elements essential in the creation of weapons. But I can''t figure out what Jors would be then.'' Exile suddenly gasped as Amariunched several spells that were swallowed up by Jor''s mirror armour before being fired back from different areas.


    Amari was forced into another passive state as the three titans worked together in an attempt to corner him. Golden mes burst from Allevia''s titan swung all six swords at once. The mes washed over Amari and hid from view as the three gods watched to see the oue of that exchange.


    "Enough!" Amari''s voice came from within the mes as a fourth titan appeared in the area.


    The golden mes vanished as a titan made entirely of crystal appeared on the battlefield covered in an inky ck liquid that looked like armour. Twin swords appeared in its hands made up of ck mes and Exile watched the three gods step back with concerned expressions.


    ''They''re afraid. But of what part?'' Exile wondered as he felt a strange sensation drawing him toward the jagged structure again. Exile cursed as the sensation grew in his mind. It kept distracting him from the fight and eventually he gave in.


    The strange rain had stopped by that point as he raced out of the building. However, he found himself face-to-face with a pack of Stalkers that pounced at him!


    Exile swore loudly as he raised his shield and drew his spear. ''They hit hard!'' Exile groaned as he felt his feet slide on the ground as one of the Stalkers struck his shield. His arm trembled as a solemn expression appeared on his face. ''These guys should be Tier 2 as well!''


    Exile wondered how strong the ground troops of Nar''Kozz could be and felt thankful he had run into a group at his same level. He stomped his foot as a cloak of fire shrouded him, his shield, and his weapon. When he thrust his spear at the nearest Stalker its whole body took fire when the tip pierced its thigh.


    The creature roared in agony as it thrashed on the ground under the influence of that spell. The next Stalker got a face full of Exile''s shield as he pivoted to swing his spear in a wide arc to catch the third one. Both of those Stalkers met the same fate as the first one while Exile felt the sensation in his mind grow more severe.


    ''Damn, it feels like it''s warning me I''m running out of time.'' He frowned as he nced around. In the end, he decided to leave the Stalkers in pain and rushed off. ''I don''t have time to deal with the little guys. I need to know what this inheritance is all about!''


    The war continued to rage all around him as gods and golems fought off the Stalkers. ''Is it just Amari and Nar''Kozz dealing all this damage?'' Exile thought as he nced around. Unable to spot any other entities who could be on their side. ''Can those two really fight this size of an army?''


    Of course, he knew Nar''Kozz technically had its own army of minions. However, their quality did not match up to the gods fighting in that city. Only their numbers proved to be problematic but there were plenty of gods that they seemed unable to hurt.


    ''I feel like there''s something I''m not seeing. But what is it?'' At that moment, Exile caught sight of a God swinging his weapon in an empty alley as if he were fighting something. However, as far as Exile could see, there was nothing there.


    As he picked up the pace heading for the centre of the city, he noticed more and more Gods randomly fighting an unseen enemy. ''I wonder if it''s another God with a power simr to Winters''.'' It would make sense since only the victims would be able to see whatever the owner of that power wanted them to.


    The only issue he had with that was that he could not see another high levelled God on the battlefield. Exile quickly ducked as a Stalker leapt at him as he passed by the entrance to an alley. The beast flew over him and crashed into the wall of a building while Exile continued on without blinking.


    ''Something is going to happen soon. I can feel it.'' Exile frowned as he pressed on. As he turned a corner, he saw what seemed to be an entrance to the jagged structure. Several battles were raging in front of the building as Gods shouted at him for help as he raced past them. ''I can''t waste time on this!'' The feeling in his mind had further intensified at that moment.


    "No! You can''t go in there!" A goddess roared at him as he dodged around her and entered the structure.


    As soon as he entered the dark corridor, an overwhelming cold washed over his body. Even with his avatar body and level, he felt like he could really freeze to death in that environment within minutes. ''This isn''t natural.''


    Exile recognised powerful waves of divinity spreading out from deep within that structure. It forced him to slow down as he wondered if the trial was beyond his level. ''If I have to fight whatever is giving off that power, I''m screwed.'' He continued to walk at a slower pace now as he studied the corridor more closely.


    ''It looks like it''s made of tiny ice shards.'' Exile thought as he continued to walk. After a few minutes, he linked that structure to Jor''s power. ''Has he trapped something else in here? What am I meant to do here?''


    Several minutes passed as he carefully continued down the corridor keeping an eye on the walls and behind him. The sensation in his mind pulsed before disappearing as the entire structure shook as if an earthquake just hit. ''Did I miss it?'' Exile wondered in panic as he picked up the pace again.


    A light appeared in that dense darkness and Exile could make out a huge chamber in the distance. Allevia''s titan was on the ground in there as part of the structure''s ceiling fell in on top of her. ''Is this why I''m here?''


    His eyes adjusted to the light as he neared the end of the corridor. However, before he could enter it and approach Allevia''s titan, he hit an invisible wall. ''What?'' He ced his hands on it and searched for a way through. However, there was no gap in it.


    "Thank you." An ethereal female voice sounded in the chamber as Allevia''s titan exploded into pieces.


    Exile felt a shiver run down his spine when he heard that voice. It sounded calm and peaceful but full of rage and malice. That was when he realised he could no longer move his body. ''Shit!'' Exile cursed as he was forced to watch whatever was about to y out.


    "Lythara!" Allevia coughed as she appeared in the open. She had taken cover inside her titan when it was thrown into the structure. "Help us! Don''t make us seal you up again! You could be the best of us!"


    "No," Lythara''s voice replied from the shadows. "You had your chance. But you just wanted to use me! We were like sisters! But you stole the First me! You went on to create your own Pantheon! You left me behind to suffer!"


    "You know I didn''t do that on purpose! I was too weak to oppose Jor! Why didn''t you leave his Pantheon sooner ande to me?" Allevia called back as her whole body trembled.


    "You know why! You know he would never let me go!" Lythara screamed from still within the shadows. "I had to make deals! Deals with others who were willing to teach me! To hide me until I could grow into my power!"


    A wave of ck mes erupted from the darkness to attack Allevia who countered with golden ones. Allevia suddenly screamed as a stone spear struck her from the ground as a ck shadowy whip ensnared her.

 Chapter 245 Another Time, Another Place (Part 3)

    245 Another Time, Another ce (Part 3)


    Momentster, skeletal hands burst from the ground to further restrain Allevia. Exile could only watch as another burst of ck mes overpowered the golden ones and turned Allevia to ash. His eyes went wide as Lythara finally revealed herself.


    When she stepped out of the shadows, Exile could see that she wore a ck and white dress. There were ck marks around her eyes, and her long white hair reached her hips. Lythara had the features of a type of elf that mixed with a human with a deathly paleplexion.


    "This is it, dear sister," Lythara whispered as she approached Allevia''s orb. "This is power, and nobody can tell me what to do now!"


    Two ck wings sprouted from Lythara''s back as she took off through the hole in the ceiling. From Exile''s position, he could see the three remaining titans still fighting through the hole before everything vanished!


    He stood alone in the silent ruins with his thoughts as he looked at what remained of the jagged structure around him. ''What even happened after that?'' Exile wondered as he entered the chamber he had been barred entry to before.


    Allevia''s will suddenly appeared where she had died during the vision Exile had been shown. Exile''s eyes went wide as she looked directly at him with a slight frown on her face. ''She looks unhappy with me. Did I do something wrong?''


    A golden orb suddenly flew out of Exile''s chest tond in Allevia''s palm. She studied it in silence for a few minutes before shaking her head.


    "You haven''t turned out as I had hoped." Allevia sighed as she beckoned for him toe closer. "Don''t be afraid. I have no reason to harm you. Yet."


    Exile sighed when Allevia''s will said those words before he approached her. She gazed into his eyes for a while before revealing a slight smile.


    "It seems not all hope is lost for you. I can tell you''ve been tainted by the darkness already. Yet your existence still shows bnce." Allevia nodded as she walked around him. "I will only warn you this once, if you be corrupted by the dark element, then the next time we meet, it will be as enemies."


    Allevia shed a stern expression at Exile as he nodded. "As d as I am to see you understand, I won''t get my hopes up. Once you start using a divine element it''s hard to change your course."


    Allevia trembled slightly before she walked toward the rear of the chamber with Exile in tow. He had many questions he wanted to ask her, but he was not sure if she would. Exile wanted to know more about Lythara and the War after what he had witnessed. After all, it was a clue that could help to guide his future path.


    "Tell me, have you learned about my generation and the War?" Allevia suddenly asked as two thrones made of tree roots grew out of the ground, facing each other.


    "No," Exile said as he sat on one of the throne''s and Allevia sat on the other. "There are stories among the mortals, but I haven''t had enough time to listen to many of them."


    "That''s a shame," Allevia replied as mugs made from the roots of the thrones appeared with a sweet-smelling sap inside of them. "I had hoped you would have more knowledge by the time you found this ce. What''s been happening that could distract you?"


    "Nar''Kozz," Exile replied as Allevia frowned. "He''s currentlyying siege to Valheim, and we''ve had to evacuate it."


    "So, that old beast survived for all this time." Allevia groaned as she studied the changes that had urred in that area. "This was Valheim once. We had to evacuate too, after this battle."


    Allevia wore a regretful expression on her face as she sipped the sweet-smelling sap from her mug. Exile did the same and found the strange thick liquid to be surprisingly pleasant. It must have shown on his face since Allevia let out a short chuckle.


    "We had sealed Lythara here until Amari and Nar''Kozz caused her seal to break. Once she joined the battle, our forces were quickly overwhelmed. Jor managed to escape with Valheim''s core. Which allowed us to rebuild the city." Allevia said with a grim smile. "Of course, we could not do it right away, and we even rebuilt it as close to the old city as possible."


    Allevia paused for a moment as she seemed lost in her thoughts. "It seems like the world eventually buried the old city. It''s a shame, it was such a wonderful ce to make new friends."


    "But the new Valheim is much better than this," Exile replied with a frown. "It has high walls, and everything about it is superior. I see it as a win for you guys."


    "I guess you could say that," Allevia said with a nod of her head. "However, this city had a lot of value to us who called it home. I suppose most of the old realms are buried as well now."


    "Divine realms? As in, Pantheon realms?" Exile quickly asked with wide eyes.


    "What else would I mean?" Allevia chuckled as she took another sip of her drink. "Anyway, you''ve found the second part of my inheritance, and you''ve seen what I wanted you to. There are no treasures here, so I''ll allow you to ask me three questions before I gift another piece of the First me to you. Choose your questions wisely."


    "Is there a cure for the Frozen Womb Curse?" Exile blurted out without thinking. His face turned slightly red as Allevia studied him with surprise.


    "I see," Allevia hummed as she gave him a knowing look. "You must have intentions toward a Daughter of Jor. The answer to your question is yes."


    Exile waited patiently as Allevia went quiet. However, when she remained quiet for several seconds he clenched his jaw. "Well?"


    "Well, what? I answered your question." Allevia chuckled as a mischievous grin appeared on her face.


    ''Shit! I asked if there was a cure, not what the cure is!'' Exile groaned as he realised the mistake he had made. He remained quiet as he tried to weigh the importance of each question he wanted to ask. ''Mikari might eventually find it somewhere. But how long would that take? What if it''s lost knowledge and only a will can tell me the cure?''


    "Tell me what the cure for the Frozen Womb Curse is," Exile said as politely as possible as he sipped on more of the sap.


    "It''s simple. Just sleep with her." Allevia chuckled at Exile''s expression when she said that. "The cursees from Jor due to his first element. The First me is its counter. The process would be quicker if you had more pieces of the First me, but as you are now you''ll be very busy if you want to break the curse anytime soon."


    Exile''splexion paled as he stared into his mug. ''I can think about thatter. What should I use myst question on?'' Exile pondered over his own question as he studied his memories of the vision Allevia had shown him of the battle. ''I feel like she expects something to be asked about it. It''s probably something important that can help me now. But what?''


    ''Since Nar''Kozz survived the war, I doubt she knows a way to kill him easily. So what else can I ask? Do I ask her to do what Amari did but with the Light element? Or I could ask where her other Inheritances are. There''s also the matter of Divine Paths. I''d like to know what to expect in the future with it. Then again, there are also matters regarding the war. She wouldn''t have shown that battle unless there was something significant about it.''


    Exile rubbed the bridge of his nose as he groaned loudly. There were too many questions, and he only had one shot left. ''I should be able to work out the Light element myself.'' Exile sighed as he threw that question to the side. ''I may be able to find the Inheritances on my own, but after I collect this piece I only need one more to evolve beyond Lightning. That could help a lot in the battle with Nar''Kozz.''


    "You seem to be struggling to ask a question," Allevia said with a gentle smile. "It''s good that you''re taking so long. It means you understand there''s a lot you don''t know, and you''re no longer acting on impulse."


    Exile groaned again as he returned to his own thoughts. ''Her other Inheritances could be dangerous. Even if I ask for their location I may be unable toplete them or even reach them.'' A long sigh escaped Exile''s mouth as he finally tossed that idea aside. ''That leaves any knowledge about Divine Paths and whatever the vision was about. But I need to ask the right question.''


    Several more minutes passed as they sat in silence before Exile drummed his fingers on the throne. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at Allevia''s expression. She watched him with a curious gaze as she continued to drink her sap. Exile closed his eyes for a moment as an idea about what to ask appeared in his mind. ''This has to be the right answer.''


    "Allevia, I''ve decided on my final question," Exile said with a resolute expression on his face.


    "Ok, let''s hear it."


    "I want you to tell me what it is you hoped I would learn bying here."


    Allevia revealed a surprised expression before she let out a longugh. She wore a happy expression as she calmed down and stared into Exile''s eyes.


    "Ok, so be it." Allevia took a deep breath as she prepared to answer his question.

 Chapter 246 Lessons Learnt

    Chapter 246 Lessons Learnt


    "I wanted you to learn not to make the same mistakes I did." Allevia sighed. "Bonds are important. If I had gotten to Lythara sooner, I''m sure she wouldn''t have turned out this way."


    "That''s it?" Exile asked with an incredulous expression. "You expect me to believe all of this was just for that?"


    "No," Allevia chuckled. "There were many things you could learn from this. Of course, I''ll tell you them all since you asked the right question. But in my mind, bonds are the most important one."


    "Without bonds of friendship, you''ll be unable to ovee many challenges thaty ahead of you. If you mistreat one of them, you could end up creating your worst enemy." Allevia continued with a faraway expression. "Lythara and I were close. Even when we were apart we travelled on much of the same path. Until she let her emotions ovee her and she lost herself to the darkness."


    "Are you saying Lythara and yourself have the same elements except she uses darkness, and you use light?" Exile asked after he took a moment to think about her words.


    "That''s right. This leads me to another subject I wanted my heir to notice. Light and Dark are two sides of the same coin. Where Light grants healing and beneficial effects to its spells and other elements, Darkness enhances the destructive capabilities and weakens your enemies."


    ''I see,'' Exile thought as he stroked his beard. ''It makes sense, but that doesn''t necessarily make someone evil for using darkness.'' Exile''s frown deepened as Allevia started to speak again.


    "Once you reach a certain point in your journey, your potential choices for Authority will change to reflect the nature of your Divine Element. Your Divine Element will y a big role in whatever yourw turns out to be." Allevia sipped some more sap as a pensive expression appeared on her face. "Of course, there are other factors. I can vaguely guess what led to myw, but even if two people act the same way and make the same choices, they can end up at different endings."


    "Are all users of the Darkness element evil gods then?" Exile asked as he studied her expression.


    "No," Allevia replied while shaking her head. "There are some necessary evils. So there are paths that won''t lead to the corruption of your followers if they stick with you. However, they are few and far between. It''s almost impossible to predict how to find your way to them."


    "Though," Allevia continued as she looked up from her drink. "All but one path of Light is guaranteed to make you a good god."


    "All but one?" Exile asked as he cocked an eyebrow.


    "Hm," Allevia nodded her head. "There was one god who could wield both Light and Dark. They could''ve used their power for either side. But they chose to throw themself in with the Dark Gods, eventually bing the leader of the Fallen."


    Exile could tell from Allevia''s expression that the god she was referring to had caused a lot of damage. ''It seems dangerous to let anyone who can wield both at the higher tiers to live. I''ll have to keep an eye out for even the slightest of rumours. It''ll be hard to judge at this stage since everything points to being able to use both until you''re too far gone on one side.''


    "Another thing I wanted you to learn was the shape your power should take at the highest point of your power. Our Titans are the only way to express all of the elements under our control in one spell." Allevia smiled before she continued. "You''ve seen a battle at my level now. You should use that to determine what kind of spells you need to start working on now."


    Exile nodded as he remembered the fight. ''I feel like I didn''t get to see what those Titans were really capable of.'' He sighed as he took a sip from his own mug. ''But, I guess Allevia doesn''t want to hand everything to me on a silver tter.''


    "The final thing you had to learn, was that you can''t win a war alone." Allevia eventually said when she saw Exile''s interest dwindling. "It''s not quite the same as the importance of bonds. But it''s important all the same. If you try to do too much during a war yourself, those around you will bezy. They will expect you to take care of the difficult parts. That''ll make it easy for your enemies to lure you into traps."


    "Did that ever happen to you?" Exile asked as his curiosity piqued.


    "Yes," Allevia let out a long sigh as she stared at the ceiling. "As my power grew, I took it upon myself to take part in every battle. To use my methods to heal as many people as I could. However, a time came when I was unable to make it to the battlefield. My people had developed a reckless fighting style as they expected to be healed. It caused my Pantheon to be wiped out several times before they finally adjusted."


    ''The same could be said for me then.'' Exile sighed. ''The Skardian yers are relying on me to fight Nar''Kozz and save them from the horde. Maybe that''s part of the reason we were wiped out in the forest. We were too confident, but that came from their faith in me.'' Exile closed his eyes as he wondered what adjustments they could make going forward.


    "Do you want onest piece of advice?" Allevia suddenly asked, breaking Exile''s concentration.


    "Please, if you think it will help." Exile bowed his head to show his appreciation.


    "Don''t get too caught up in the matters of either realm. If your eyes are always on the mortals, you''ll miss the threats in the heavens. If you''re watching over your kingdom here instead, you risk neglecting the mortals that give you power." Allevia said slowly. "The greatest challenge about being a god is how to bnce these two aspects. It doesn''t take much to lose yourself in either one. Your Pantheon will only stand the test of time if all of you can master this."


    "Thank you, I''ll do my best. However, it always seems like there''s a major event in one or the other that ims my entire attention." Exile said with a groan.


    "One doesn''t stop because you''re focused on the other," Allevia replied with a soft smile. "Delegate the different responsibilities and give yourself time to deal with both. Even in the middle of a war here in the divine realm, you should miss some battles and spend time among the mortals. They''re quick to forget about a god that doesn''t appear often."


    Exile frowned as he found those words difficult to swallow. He could not imagine abandoning a battle with Nar''Kozz''s horde to go gvanting and granting miracles. ''I''m sure she''s right. After all, she''s probably speaking from experience. I can''t just ignore her advice.''


    "Thank you for your advice. I''ve learnt a lot from our talk, I just wish I could ask you about other things." Exile replied after several moments with a grateful expression.


    "I''m d I could help. I suppose you''re eager to receive your reward now." Allevia chuckled as she closed her eyes.


    A fiery ethereal orb exited Allevia''s chest and floated toward Exile. It paused in the air in front of him momentarily before disappearing inside his own chest. Exile smiled happily as he felt the warmth spreading throughout his body from the me. He studied the game log and confirmed the changes the second fragment gave him.


    ''The cost of fire-based spells has gone down again. I just need one more to trigger the next evolution up from Lightning.'' He nodded to himself as he nced up to find Allevia still watching him.


    "Is there something else?" Exile asked with a broad smile as an expectant look appeared in his eyes.


    "I was studying your existence just now when I noticed you haven''t made any changes to your Avatar spell," Allevia said in a surprised voice. "Most gods do that as soon as they can. How do you even move about the Mortal Realm without being harassed by your followers?"


    "How do I do that?" Exile asked as looked at her with shock. ''That would be a lot better. I wouldn''t have to deal with crowds, and bowing and so on!''


    "When you create a new spell, just add the Avatar spell by thinking about it. Then add the meanings for Disguise and Mortal. Then whatever race you want to appear as. Mind you, it only works if that race worships you since the meaning behind it is already within your existence." Allevia replied while shrugging her shoulders. "But it seems like there''s another important thing that you''ve missed. You have a Divine Beast and a hero, correct?"


    "Yes," Exile replied with a frown as he thought about Skovi and Bjorn.


    "Well, don''t forget to Bless them with your new power. Well, your Divine Beast anyway. You can have your hero y another monster you create to increase their power." Allevia said as she shook her head. "I don''t know if you''re just growing too fast, or ignoring your foundation. Either way, you need to slow down. Otherwise, your power will be easy to break by people on a lower tier eventually."


    ''I''m growing too fast? Since when has that ever been a problem? When you grow, you gain more power. Is she really saying there are mechanics I need to deal with gradually before going up the Tiers?'' Exile hated the sound of that, but he would not ignore the advice of a once tier 6 goddess.


    "Now, our time is up. I wish you all the best and I look forward to our next meeting." Allevia said with a smile as her will vanished and the throne''s with it.


    Exile yelped as his ass hit the rough ground, and he was left alone in that now silent structure. ''Now that I know what happened here, I feel like I''m sitting in an empty graveyard.'' He groaned as he stood up to look around one more time.


    ''I feel like with every step forward I take, I always end up with an enormous list of things to do.'' Exile sighed as he went over everything Allevia had said in his mind. ''How are we even meant to reach Tier 6 with everything the game keeps throwing at us?''


    ''Allevia basically hinted I''ll never make it to that Tier by rushing, but there''s also a limited number of Authorities at that level. If I''m too slow I could end up stuck at Tier 5 or something lower.'' Exile groaned as he tried to make sense of which approach would be better. ''Slow and steady gains over a fragile power it is then.''

 Chapter 247 NarKozzs Truth

    Chapter 247 Nar''Kozz''s Truth


    "Fjora! It''s good to see you!" Bjorn chuckled as he pped y''s hero on her back. "Still as solid as ever, I see."


    Fjora swept her golden braided ponytail over her shoulder before raising her hand to p Bjorn''s shoulder. However, she burst outughing when she saw Bjorn flinch at the gesture. Bjorn scowled in return when he realised she was just messing with him.


    "You can''t be worried about a little tap, right?" Fjora replied once her mirth died down. She looked down at Bjorn, who only came up to her chest area. "So, any idea what this is all about?"


    Bjorn gulped as Fjora''s muscles rippled when she removed her fur coat and revealed the sleeveless leather vest she wore underneath. Bjorn''s gaze went to therge two-handed dwarven-crafted steel club lying against the tree beside her. ''To think she wields that with one hand. Why wouldn''t I be worried about her giving me a tap.''


    "We''re headed North. Lady Ania''s group will join us along the way. King Harik hasmanded us to deal with an invasion." Bjorn replied while wearing a grim expression.


    "An invasion?" Fjora asked as she clenched her square jaw. "How big is the army?"


    "There''s no army," Bjorn said as he pulled his coat tighter over his armour. "They''re sending their priests in to convert Skardians to Elven religions."


    "You had me worried there!" Fjora burst outughing as she stretched her arms. "So we crush a few skulls, and that''ll be the end of it. What''s all the fuss about?"


    "We''re not allowed to kill them. That''s the problem." Bjorn sighed as he shot a sideways nce at her. "Ania''s group will deal with those on our side of the border. Our job is to go into enemy territory and do the same thing they are."


    Fjora frowned as she studied the displeased expression on Bjorn''s face. "Well, there''ll be no harm if we sacrifice a few elves to the gods. We just have to make sure we don''t get caught. So brighten up!"


    Bjorn wheezed as a heavy pressurended on his back, and he found himself swallowing a mouthful of snow. He groaned as pain spread from a spot between his shoulder des where Fjora had yfully pped him on his back. He suddenly felt light as Fjora picked him back up with her left hand and put him back on his feet with an embarrassed expression.


    "Sorry about that. I''m still getting used to my strength." Fjora mumbled as she gave him a look over to make sure he was ok. "How''s your armour?"


    Bjorn groaned as he felt some metal squares rubbing against his spine where they had been dented. "There are some dents, but it should be fine."


    Bjorn groaned again as he studied Fjora''s concerned expression. "I know I''m pretty tough, but that doesn''t apply to my insides. Every time you''ve ever hit me, I''ve always ended up coughing up blood for days. Just try to get a handle on it, yeah?"


    "Sorry about that. You''d think I''d have learned to be more careful by now. Especially after that time when I identally knocked you out and thought you''d passed out from the drinking." Fjora replied with an apologetic smile as Bjorn''s face turned scarlet.


    "It was definitely the mead!" Bjorn grumbled as he looked down at his feet. "I drank far too much that night!"


    "Pfft!" Fjora scoffed as she put her fur coat back on. "No, it was definitely my fist after you grabbed my arse! I even held back, but you just had tond on that table and pass out."


    Bjorn cursed under his breath as he nced at the mountain of a woman. He hoped beyond all reason that she would forget about that night. ''She''s a fine warrior and dedicated to the gods. If it weren''t for the fact she could identally kill me during the deed, I''d try my chances.''


    Fjora cocked an eyebrow when she saw Bjorn let out a long sigh. His warm breath hovered in the cold air for a moment before disappearing. She shrugged her shoulders as she grabbed her club with her right hand andid it across her broad shoulders.


    "We should get moving. It''ll be dark soon." Fjora said as she stared at the dull glow of the setting sun.


    Bjorn nodded as he walked toward his horse and jumped up into its saddle. ''I have a bad feeling about this. Something tells me we shouldn''t be leaving Skardia right now.'' Bjorn frowned as his gaze turned to the South. ''There was a foul smell on the winds before I left. An ill omen if ever I saw one.''


    Meanwhile, King Harik studied the reports on his desk as a warm fire chased off the chill of the onsetting night. He scratched his head as he read the piece of parchment in his hand. ''There''s so much to do. I feel like I''ll be in my grave before I get through it all!'' He groaned in frustration as he tossed it into the fire.


    A gentle knock sounded on the door to the room before Sarri entered with a concerned expression. She stared at the bags under her husband''s eyes while shaking her head.


    "Harik, don''t you think you should call it a night? It''s already been three nights since you came to bed." Sarri shivered as she held tightly to the fur nket around her shoulders.


    "I wish I could, dear," Harik grumbled as he picked up another sheet of parchment. "But these are reports from all over Skardia. The Kings are hoping forpensation since I ordered the construction of fortified cities on the coast and fleets of ships to be built."


    "If the gods havemanded it, why should you pay for it?" Sarri asked with a confused expression. "They''re Skardians too, and this is for everyone''s benefit. They all have to pitch in."


    Harik frowned as he listened to her words. ''By the gods! My wife is right! Why am I fretting over the costs and where we''ll find the money?'' Harik chuckled softly, as he searched through the various reports for those concerned with funding for those matters.


    The fire roared as it ate away at them when Harik tossed them into its mes with a wide smile. ''That eases my burden a bit.'' Harik chuckled as Sarri walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. Harik could not help but smile as he returned her embrace, only to find out that she wore no clothes beneath the nket.


    He immediately became aroused as he passionately kissed her. Sarri let out a soft moan as she felt his fingers run down her spine. However, at that moment, Harik suddenly froze. His eyes had caught sight of a letter with King Bagrux''s signature at the bottom of it!


    Before he knew it, he was reaching for the parchment. But Sarri grabbed his wrist and gave him a stern look. She allowed the nket to fall to the ground as she raised her free hand to caress Harik''s cheek.


    "Leave it till morning. You have more important duties to attend to now."


    At the same time, Allyce studied the records spread over her bed with a grim expression. ''This can''t be right!'' Allyce groaned as she adjusted her position to ease her pain. Her eyes raced across the scroll as her expression became more severe.


    ''Nar''Kozz devoured all life on an entire ind. The civilisation disappeared in a single night before the gods became aware of the deed.'' Allyce read as a bead of sweat appeared on her brow. ''When the gods moved to intervene, Nar''Kozz was in and his body ripped into pieces.''


    ''With the threat gone the gods chased after his creator. However, their search was unfruitful for many years. Soon after the War of the Fallen began, Nar''Kozz reappeared, more powerful than ever.''


    ''The gods surmised that Nar''Kozz had to be immortal, and only by killing his creator could the beast eventually be in. However, this was not the case. The Skardian God Jor slew Nar''Kozz''s master, andter was rumoured to have in Nar''Kozz outside the godly city of Valheim during ater battle.''


    ''Nar''Kozz eventually reemerged during the War''ster stages. Stories of Nar''Kozz being in by many gods appeared during this era. However, his name is linked to many key battles. At some point, Nar''Kozz fled from a critical battle. However, no reason could be found as to why this divine beast did so.''


    ''A historian of the time guessed that Nar''Kozz''s power had likely waned. With the loss of his creator, the historian assumed that Nar''Kozz could not replenish whatever he used to resurrect himself. However, I disagree. I myself fought Nar''Kozz many times. He indeed lost power with every death. However, after myst battle with him, I stored his corpse in a safe ce.''


    ''I kept watch over his body for the time of his resurrection. I wanted to understand if there was a way to end that threat for good. However, reports soon came in of Nar''Kozz''s resurrection. His corpse was still where I had stored it, and I reached a grim conclusion after piecing all of the stories together.''


    ''I believe that upon Nar''Kozz''s death, his consciousness and most of his power is transferred to one of his children. It is my conclusion that the divine beast retreated after losing too many of his brood. Therefore, I surmise the only way to kill Nar''Kozz the Devourer is to first wipe out all of his children. It is important to state that Nar''Kozz himself must be cornered before that. To prevent his escape and eventually replenishing his numbers.''


    Allyce sighed as she set the scroll aside after checking the author of that ount. ''My mother wrote this. I have to warn Lord Exile about what he''s dealing with...''

 Chapter 248 A Parting of Ways

    248 A Parting of Ways


    "What''s wrong?" y asked when he noticed Exile''s grim expression.


    Exile cursed as he nced at his brother somewhere behind him. He noticed that Noslin appeared to be unusually close to his brother as they talked. ''That could be trouble in the future.'' Exile sighed as he turned his attention back to y.


    "I just got some bad news from Allyce."


    "What kind of bad news? Is something happening down there?"


    "No, it''s bad news for us. There''re too many ears around just now. I''ll fill everyone in once we get settled in Himinbj?rg."


    Exile frowned as they exited the narrow tunnel and found themselves on a stone bridge. The bridge spanned a ckke that made y groan. Memories resurfaced as they both realised where they were. However, neither of them wanted to speak about it.


    "Have everyone wait here," Exile said as he nced up at the sunlight piercing through the hole in the ceiling. "I''m going up to take a look around. Personally, I hope it''s safe for us to resurface. We have no idea when we may find another way out."


    y nodded as Exile spread his wings and ascended through the gloom. ''I can see more than thest time. I guess that''s because of my new Tier.'' He thought as he nced at the iceden walls. Before long, he spotted the remains of the marble columns at the edges of the chasm as he soared into the open sky.


    Exile took a deep breath of the fresh air as he heard the sound of birds and other animals nearby. ''Good, it looks like Nar''Kozz''s influence doesn''t reach this area.'' He sighed with relief as he looked around for the mountain that Himinbj?rg was situated on.


    ''We have to go northeast.'' Exile thought as he spotted it. ''It should be safe to surface here and continue the journey above ground.''


    His gaze moved to the forest in the distance. All seemed quiet in that direction which made him grin. ''Nar''Kozz hasn''t attempted another assault on Valheim yet. That''ll buy us some more time.''


    Exile nodded in satisfaction as he flew back into the chasm. The various leaders had gathered on the bridge to await his assessment. He took his time to exin what he had seen, and how he thought it was best to resurface now before they ran into anyplications.


    Mikari wore a dubious expression on his face the entire time, but eventually relented and agreed. After all, they had no idea what to expect if they delved deeper into those tunnels. The worst-case scenario saw them running into a situation they could not handle.


    Hours passed as the leaders arranged the army and talked over which spells to use and when to ensure the army reached the surface. Exile''s spells would not be of any use, and he was running out of the runestones he had previously prepared. So he was left with nothing to do except stare into theke''s dark waters.


    "There''s a strange feeling about it," Noslin suddenly said as she approached him while curiously staring at the waters. "I feel connected to this ce somehow."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at her statement as he nced around. ''It''s a ruin. From what Allevia said, this could be the remains of a divine realm that used to belong to an old Pantheon.'' Exile sighed as he stared at her. ''She has a simr power to Jor, and I''m sure she probably has a fragment belonging to the water element.''


    ''I guess it''s possible Jor was its previous owner. If she feels connected to this ce, then I assume it belonged to his Pantheon.'' Exile frowned as he wondered if he should tell her about his guesses. If he was right, then there was no doubt in his mind that she would want to explore deeper into the tunnels.


    However, if she did that, there was a chance she coulde across trials. He wondered how smart it would be to give his hypothesis to her in their current situation. ''Then again, if she gains more power, it''ll help with the battles toe.''


    "Noslin, be honest with me here. Do you own one of the first elements?" Exile asked after he sighed heavily.


    "Eh? I thought you already knew I do?" Noslin replied as she chuckled. "I slipped up not long after we first met."


    "Yeah, but that could have been anything. I had a hunch, but there''s so much in this game that you could have been referring to something else." Exile said with a shrug of his shoulders. "It has to be water, right?"


    "You got it, just like you have to be hunting the parts belonging to fire." Noslin smiled yfully at him as she bent down and ran her fingers over the surface of the water. "Do you ever fear the other fragments falling into the hands of another yer?"


    "Of course I do," Exile replied with a shrug. "I think the best bet for reaching the top in this game involves collecting an entire set."


    Noslin shot a curious nce in his direction, which made him continue. "I''m not saying it''s the only way, just that I think it''s a major factor in reaching the highest potential power."


    "Hm," Noslin grumbled as a frown appeared on her face. "I think you''re right. It''s why I was so eager to take charge of the rebellion. I hoped to use everyone to find my other fragments and collect the other elements. Imagine, a Pantheon that wields all of the first elements."


    "Yeah, it would really be something." Exile chuckled as he nced toward the army. "But I doubt the area around Valheim holds them all. I mean, think about it. It doesn''t make sense to put that much power in the hands of one race."


    "I guess you''re right, but that doesn''t exin why both fire and water, as far as we know, are here," Noslin replied as she ran a hand through her hair.


    "No, but from what I''ve learned, the fire was originally in the hands of the Elden race," Exile said with a grim expression. "Allevia brought it here, but I''m starting to realise something."


    "What''s that?"


    "I don''t think she owned the entire me," Exile replied as he scratched the side of his head.


    "What makes you say that?" Noslin asked with surprise as she continued to y with the water.


    "It''s just a hunch. I think she tracked down three, maybe four of the pieces. But from what I''ve seen from her Inheritance, I think shecked the final product." Exile groaned as he studied Noslin. "There''s another issue that''s been bugging me for a while now. How did they end up in fragments inpletely different locations? There''s a lot I don''t understand yet, and it''s starting to get to me."


    "I see your point, but aren''t you thinking too much? It''s probably just a game mechanic. You know, so it isn''t too easy." Noslin shrugged her delicate shoulders as she nced at the army''s first spells.


    "No, I think this game has a reason for everything. Like it''s all a part of a real history that actually happened." Exile murmured as he stood up.


    "Pfft! Ok. Come on. You don''t really believe that, do you?" Noslin raised her eyebrows as she dried her hand. "I''ll admit the developers have done a great job with the lore, and how it ties into the game. But somewhere, there''s someone who knows where every valuable item is."


    Exile smiled softly as he nodded at her words. ''That''s what I want to believe. But recently, the game''s been feeling more real than ever.'' He studied Noslin again as he struggled to decide whether he should tell her his thoughts about that ruin.


    "Hey, Noslin," Exile called out when she stood up and started walking back to the army. "That connection you mentioned."


    "What about it?"


    "Don''t you think one of your fragments may be nearby?" Exile asked as he nced in the opposite direction. "I have reason to believe that this could have been Jor''s Pantheon''s home. So there''s a good chance there''s a fragment in that direction."


    Noslin frowned while she mulled over his words. Exile could see that she was struggling to decide what to do with his statement. ''She''s probably thinking through the same issues I did. Whatever. It''s her decision. I''d rather it ended up in her hands than someone else''s. There''s a good chance we''ll remain close allies till one of us falls.''


    "You better decide what you''re going to do soon. It seems like the army is about to move." Exile smiled apologetically as he walked past her. "I won''t me you if you decide to go for it. If you make it,e back here and make a way up to the surface. You''ll see the mountain to the northeast. We''ll be waiting for you."


    Exile smiled as he saw her expression crumble as she looked at the army. He knew at that moment what decision she had made.


    "Take care of my people until I return," Noslin said with a gentle smile ying on her lips. "I don''t think they''ll understand why I left without saying anything to them."


    "What''s there to understand?" Exile replied as he pped her shoulder. "It''s a big risk, and you don''t want them to take it with you. If there''s something nasty waiting in there, how could you forgive yourself for putting them through it? Don''t worry. I''ll make sure they''re safe. But you better hurry back to us. Good luck."

 Chapter 249 Storm on the Coast (Part 1)

    249 Storm on the Coast (Part 1)


    Exile sighed when he finally got Noslin''s officers to calm down after exining the situation to them. Many of them wanted to go after her, but Exile managed to convince them it was a bad idea and against Noslin''s wishes. He flew alongside the many spells that formed to create a stable structure that the yers could climb.


    Every now and then, he had to swoop down and catch someone who fell off of it. ''Another one.'' Exile groaned as he caught a yer by their cor and tossed them onto the tforms. ''This is so slow.'' He nced up to see that the head of the army had not even climbed up halfway yet.


    He was eager to return to Himinbj?rg as soon as possible. After all, he had a lot of work to do to prepare for the battle with Nar''Kozz. Hours passed as that tedious routine continued. Exile could feel the tension rising in the army.


    Of course, he understood why. There were the breeding grounds down there, and they could hatch at any moment. All it would take to ruin their escape was for a Stalker to spot them. It would not take long for the horde to track them down if they knew the area where they had surfaced.


    That, in turn, would destroy their hope of buying time. However, all of those concerns vanished as the first yers escaped the underground. A surge of energy filled the yers as they began a mad rush to get out into the open air.


    Exile cursed as order broke down. The chasm echoed with the noise of yers cursing each other as themanders tried to restore peace. During that time, Exile had his work cut out for him. yers constantly lost their footing, forcing him to catch them and summon levitation runes to carry them back.


    When roughly half of the army resurfaced, a chilling noise echoed from below. The yers suddenly went silent as they froze and nced down. Exile heard the noise more clearly as the seconds passed. ''Shit!'' He rapidly flew among the army warning them to hurry up but be as quiet as possible!


    The spells the army had used to climb to that point had already faded. But Exile did not underestimate the Stalkers climbing abilities. A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead as a foul taste permeated the air. ''We don''t have long!''


    Exile kept checking the army''s progress while he monitored the mouth of the tunnel that led to the bridge. He kept expecting to see a Stalker rear its ugly head from it at any moment. The screeching grew louder as it bounced off the walls. The yers struggled to remain calm even though there was only a small amount of them left inside the chasm.


    Exile felt his heartbeat rising as he silently made a prayer they would make it in time. ''Come on! Come on!'' He swallowed to wet his dry mouth as he finally caught sight of thest yer disappearing over the edge. ''Yes!'' He screamed in his mind as he forced his wings to carry him as fast as they could!


    Just before he joined the yers outside the chasm, he heard the scratching noise of many Stalkers racing through the tunnel! As he flew over the edge, he heaved a sigh of relief as he crashed to the ground. ''They didn''t see us.'' He chuckled to himself as he heard frustrated screeching echoing from the chasm.


    As he nced around, he noticed the tense expressions on the yers'' faces as they seemed frozen on the spot. The other leaders looked at him with questioning gazes, to which he replied by smiling. ''Once the noise fades, we can move on. We just have to hope they don''t think to climb up here.''


    ''They probably hatched due to the noise everyone made.'' Exile hummed to himself as hey in the snow. ''They''re aware there were trespassers down there. But they don''t know how many or where we went.''


    Exile suddenly drew a nk as he realised a problem. ''Shit! They''re going to head in Noslin''s direction!'' He cursed as he hoped she would be alright. ''Exile could only pray that she found a way out of that situation on her own.''


    A few minutes passed as they listened for the screeches to die down. ''I guess it''s time.'' Exile sighed as he crawled to peer over the edge. Everything appeared silent down below, and there was no movement in the gloom.


    "Ok," Exile said as he stood up. "It''s time to move out."


    There was no cheering at his statement. The yers silently spread out and resumed their march under the guidance of their leaders. ''They''re worried they could draw unwanted attention.'' Exile thought as he nodded in satisfaction. Just because they were above ground now, and had escaped the encirclement did not mean they could let their guard down.


    ''There''s still a long road ahead. But with our speed, we should reach the mountain within a few hours.'' Exile frowned as he nced in the direction of Valheim. ''They still haven''t made their move. What is Nar''Kozz waiting for?''


    Of course, Exile would notin if the Stalker horde wanted to give them more time. However, he could not understand why they had notunched their assault yet. His gaze then turned in the direction of Himinbj?rg. ''It won''t be long now. I just hope the yers will ept the situation when we get there.''


    Meanwhile, rm bells rang on the southern coast as a foreign ship was spotted on the horizon. A giant serpent twisted in the air overhead as it kept pace with the distant vessel. The captain of the guard stared at the scene with a grim expression.


    The city was still under construction, but he had faith in the dwarven walls'' ability to repel invaders. However, that did not apply to something capable of flight! ''Lord Bjorn chose a bad time to leave.'' The captain groaned as he turned and barked the orders to prepare forbat.


    The city bustled with activity as the armoury was emptied. The captain could only shake his head when he noticed his men arming civilians as young as thirteen for the perceived battle. ahead. ''I wish we didn''t have to do this. They''ve seen too few winters. But we can''t let this city fall. It''ll open a path to another full-scale invasion.''


    The captain''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the serpent appeared to be guarding the ship. ''It''s moving too fast! No ship should be capable of that speed!'' Hours passed as gleaming steel lined the city walls. Everyone could see the ship clearly now as it approached the coast.


    However, the captain could hear whispered voices that sounded terrified. The giant serpent scanned the walls with a cruel grin on its face. ''This definitely isn''t a friendly meeting.'' The captain groaned as a determined expression appeared on his face as Dretheir dashed through the air.


    ''A damned dragon!'' The captain cursed as he realised what kind of beast he was staring at. ''I thought they were all killed in the Age of Heroes!''


    "Summon Exile," Dretheir stated as he snorted. His eyes studied the terrified expressions of the men below him. "Now!"


    The captain gulped as he whispered an order. Two men abandoned the walls to ask the priests to pray for Exile''s intervention. However, the captain had little hope of that happening. Only the Oracles had a direct link with the gods, and there were none of them in that city.


    "I have done as you asked!" The captain roared while restraining his fear. "May I ask what your business is here?"


    "My business is with Exile," Dretheir stated as he fixed his serpentine eyes on the captain. "How long do I have to wait?"


    "I''m afraid it may be some time. The priests are trying to contact him now."


    "Priests?" Dretheir mumbled as his eyes narrowed. "So, there are no Oracles here? I don''t have time to waste on idle prayers."


    The captain gulped at those words as he heard the anger in that ancient voice. "I''m afraid it''s the best we can offer. Your people are more than wee to make camp on the coast while you wait."


    "That won''t be necessary," Dretheir replied as storm clouds gathered overhead. "We''ll move further ind until we find someone who can contact him directly."


    Tension mounted on the walls as the makeshift army held their breath. That city was built to prevent unauthorised foreign powers from making their way into the heart of the country. The dragon and those on the ship definitely met that condition. They silently hoped the captain would let them go. Or that the mighty beast would understand if the captain rejected them.


    "I''m afraid I have to ask you to wait here." The captain cursed in his mind as he spoke without thinking. "We''ll send riders out to try and amodate your request. If you intend to pass beyond this point. We will view it as a hostile act and respond ordingly!"


    The winds howled as Dretheir''s wrath rose. Grim expressions filled the walls as the Skardians made peace with that oue. Rain started to fall as Dretheir snorted at the humans below.


    "So be it," Dretheir responded. His voice sounded like a death sentence to the captain, who could only close his eyes when Dretheir suddenly lunged toward him.


    A great bang sounded in the air, like the rumble of thunder as sand and stone flew through the air. The captain trembled as he slowly opened his eyes. ''Oh...''

 Chapter 250 Storm on the Coast (Part 2)

    Chapter 250 Storm on the Coast (Part 2)


    The captain stared at Dretheir writhing in the sand as the mighty dragon red at a spot in the air with rage. As the captain nced up, a majestic golden eagle appeared in his view. The eagle shrieked at Drethier before hovering over the warriors on the wall.


    "Ciena!" Dretheir roared as he rose back into the sky. "You shouldn''t havee!"


    "And you were asked to wait!" Ciena replied as she kept her eyes focused on the dragon. "You will wait here or return to the depths! I won''t allow you toy waste to these humans before speaking with Exile."


    Dretheir snorted as he red at her. The captain nced between the two majestic beings as he gulped. ''Don''t get me wrong. I''m d the eagle is on our side. But if these two fight, there won''t be anything left to protect.''


    Dretheir suddenly roared and lunged to bite Ciena as she rose higher into the sky. The captain could only be thankful as those exchanges continued while Ciena led Dretheir back out to sea. He gave a worried nce toward the ship as it reached the coast. ''We can only hope they wait til those two monsters finish with each other.''


    Ciena nimbly dodged the torrent of water Dretheir spewed at her before pping her wings together. A beam of golden light struck Dretheir in the face, making him roar again. ''This old snake won''t back down easily.'' Ciena frowned as she continued to use her smaller stature to her advantage.


    Dretheir became aggravated by Ciena constantly using hisrge body to shield herself from his attacks. Ciena swooped and dived as she raked Dretheir''s scales with her talons. Large white lines appeared on the scales as Ciena clicked her tongue. ''He''s tougher than I remember.''


    A blinding halo emanated from her body as she recklessly charged against Dretheir. The pair bit, ripped, wed, and snarled as they exchanged a flurry of blows. However, all of Ciena''s injuries healed within moments of appearing due to her spell.


    Dretheir became further enraged as the sea below them formed several pirs in an attempt to ensnare Ciena. However, golden barriers appeared in their path whenever they came too close forfort. ''This is going tost a while.'' Ciena groaned as she studied her opponent.


    ''I have to get him to back off before the Warbeasts on the ship decide to attack the city.'' A second blinding halo appeared as Ciena''s speed sharply rose.


    Dretheir cursed as he lost sight of his adversary. A momentter, he roared in agony as Ciena pecked his right eye. The globe burst as Dretheir thrashed in the air. The rain became heavier as his wrath rose to unprecedented levels!


    "You asked for this!" Dretheir roared as he caught sight of a golden blur.


    The sea below became eerily calm, before wave after wave appeared. Ciena wore a grim expression as she spotted a tsunami on the horizon that targeted the Skardian city. She screeched as sheunched a relentless assault on the dragon while cursing his name. shes of solid golden light burst from her wings to trace crimson lines on Dretheir''s massive body.


    The dragon summoned a sphere of water to encase himself to add further protection against Cinea''s fury as she kept tabs on the tsunami. ''It''s going to hit before I bring him down!'' She cursed as she fired golden orbs from her wings thatnded along the coastline. ''Not yet! It''s not enough!''


    She groaned as blood dripped from feathers. Ciena realised that Dretheir had hidden an attack in the rain. He was using her concern for the city to distract her and was punishing her for it. The rain sliced her body as it fell and screams carried on the winds from the city.


    ''They can''t defend from an attack like this.'' Ciena grumbled as she decided to activate several of her golden orbs. They formed bright walls along the coastline as Ciena controlled them to move into the sky over the city. Her spells acted as an umbre that protected the warriors as they ran for cover.


    ''Hopefully, they can get to cover before the tsunami hits.'' Ciena eyed the approaching disaster with concern. A loudugh sounded all around her as Dretheir gloated at her predicament.


    "Little bird, little bird. What will you do now?" Dretheir chuckled as he eyed her with malice. "You shouldn''t have meddled in my business!"


    "You''re the one who is meddling!" Ciena shrieked as she fired more spells in an attempt to pierce the watery sphere protecting him. "Your kind should stick to your own domain!"


    "And your kind should just die already!" Dretheir snorted in response. "Your sisters died long ago. You are thest one who remains. Your daughters can''t match your might."


    Ciena revealed an ugly expression at Dretheir''s pointed words. She knew he was right, but she hoped her presence was enough to keep the rest of the dragons from resurfacing. However, it seemed like they already knew of the weakened condition of her kind.


    "Don''t you want to see them again? Why don''t you give up on this cursed life?" Dretheir chuckled as he studied her reaction. "Your god is long gone. You have no one to keep fighting for! Let me end your suffering."


    Ciena red at the dragon before deciding to bet everything on her next spell. Light burst forth from Ciena''s body that took a humanoid shape. If Exile were there, he would think he was seeing the Titan form of an old god.


    The light grew to 100m as the transcendent beauty of the female Titan red at the dragon. Four majestic golden wings burst from the Titan''s back as its four arms wielded different weapons. Dretheir roared in outrage as Cienamanded the titan to attack the dragon while she dealt with the iing tsunami.


    A hammer, axe, whip, and sword crashed on the watery sphere, flinging it and Dretheir into the depths of the ocean. The titan dived into those waters to chase its prey while Ciena cast more golden orbs. She trembled as pain wrought havoc in her body. Even though she had healed the wounds, the pain had remained behind.


    ''Come on!'' She cursed as she felt her strength dwindling. She knew she had used too much energy to summon the titan. However, it was the only y avable to her in that situation. Suddenly, she flew up into the sky to avoid the tsunami. She had run out of time to prepare, and now she could watch and see if she had done enough.


    Her orbs lit up as a golden wall that matched the size of the tsunami rose up from the coast. Ciena watched with bated breath as the disaster crashed against her spell. The wall seemed to hold under that pressure as the Skardians in the city stared at the scene. Praying it would hold.


    Crack!


    Ciena''s eyes narrowed as a web of cracks spread outward along her spell. ''It''s not going to hold!'' Ciena sighed as she closed her eyes. Offering her prayers for those who were about to die.


    The tsunami suddenly faltered. Its pressure eased up as the giant wave copsed back into the sea! Ciena heaved a sigh of relief as she turned her gaze to the surface of the sea. ''He had to release his spell to defend himself. The question now is whether he''ll run or keep trying to put up a fight.''


    Momentster, the giant figure of her titan was thrown out of the deep waters! The titan crashed against the shore, and Ciena could see three of its arms and a wing had been torn off. Dretheir slithered out of those dark waters, allowing everyone to see his battered state.


    The titan had ripped entire patches of his scales from his body as his blood flowed like a river from his injuries. Dretheir no longer wore an arrogant expression, nor did he seem in the mood to talk. Ciena felt like the air had be charged with energy as the dragon red at her and then at the city.


    The tension in the atmosphere rose as the pair stared each other down. Each one trying to decide how much energy the other still had. The pair imagined how the battle would go if they continued. However, neither of them could reach a satisfying conclusion.


    In Dretheir''s case, he would not have the energy to tten the city if he focused on Ciena. But if he made another attempt on the city now, he would expose himself to Ciena''s attacks.


    Queen Ciena had reached the same oues in her mind. Her only choice now was to wait and see what Dretheir decided to do. However, momentster she revealed a grim expression as she sensed Dretheir gathering the remainder of his energy.


    ''He''s decided to focus on me.'' She sighed as she realised she was unlikely to survive the next exchange. Battles on their level always used an ungodly amount of energy. But that usually meant they did notst long either.


    Ciena prepared the best defensive spell she could muster in that situation. Her breathing had be ragged as Dretheir seemed to brim with overwhelming power. Nine serpents made of water rose from the sea to bare their fangs at Ciena. A quick nce told her that spell would defeat her own as she took a deep breath and steadied her resolve.


    She released an ear-piercing screech as thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the sky. ''Let''s end this.'' She thought as Dretheirunched his spell...

 Chapter 251 Storm on the Coast (Part 3)

    Chapter 251 Storm on the Coast (Part 3)


    Snow fell on the yer army as Exile and the rest of Ragnarok led the way. ''We''re almost there.'' Exile sighed as they walked a path that ran behind a waterfall. ''The scouts haven''t returned yet. This means Nar''Kozz hasn''t sent any Stalkers here. We should be in the clear for now.''


    "y, lead them the rest of the way. I''m going on ahead." Exile said as he nced in the direction of Valheim. "Also, set up a lookout point here. Have them keep watch for any movement in the forest and Valheim."


    "Sure thing, boss. " y replied with a shrug. "But maybe let them rest first. You know, to release the tension we''ve all been feeling."


    Exile nodded at y''s words as he wondered how Noslin was doing. ''It''ll be almost impossible to escape Valheim if she dies down there.'' Exile shook his head as he told y to do as he saw fit before summoning his levitation rune.


    It only took a few minutes for Exile to fly to the peak of the mountain where Himinbj?rg sat. Relief washed over him as hended within its walls, and he headed directly for the temple. ''We''re going to need a stockpile of enchanted gear for the yers. I''ll have Midas draw up contracts for the other Pantheons to pay us back over time.''


    He hated the idea of giving over goods before they were paid for. However, considering their situation, he could not afford to be stingy right now. Exile knew he would be busy with that for a while, so he had to put his ns to create new spells on hold.


    ''Looks like I''ve slipped back into a supporting role.'' He chuckled as he took as he headed for the altar. ''For now, I should check in on my prayers. I''ve been letting it slide for too long.'' Exile sighed as he read through the recent ones. They consisted of people asking for his protection and so on.


    In truth, most of the prayers he received were generally tedious things. However, a deep frown appeared on his face as he found several prayers from the same person. As he was reading them, another one came in that caused Exile to reveal a grim expression.


    ''What the hell is this?'' Exile wondered as he quickly exited the temple and headed for his room. ''This is a disaster! I can''t believe something like this is happening now of all times!'' He groaned as he barged into his room and threw himself on the bed.


    ''Avatar!''


    Dretheir roared as a lightning bolt interrupted him before he couldunch his attack. Ciena gaped at the great dragon as several more lightning bolts struck him. A golden figure appeared next to Ciena in the sky as she realised what had happened.


    "Exin yourself!" Exile''s voice burst forth with the fury of thunder as he red at the dragon.


    Dretheir eyed Exile warily as he nced at the sky. Ciena could tell he was calcting his chances of surviving now that Exile had arrived. Dretheir''s eyes narrowed as he red at the pair above him.


    "You came," Dretheir growled as he wracked his brain. "I''ll speak to you once I get rid of this nuisance. You have no right to interfere with our battle!"


    Dretheir roared again as another lightning bolt struck him. A heavy pressure filled the air around him as he noticed Exile was trembling. Ciena wore a triumphant grin as she transformed into her humanoid form.


    Exile stared at her without revealing his emotions on his face as another bolt struck the dragon. Dretheir roared in agony and outrage as he shot a spiteful re at Ciena. A way out of that situation urred to Dretheir as he sneered.


    "I am but an envoy. Would you risk war by killing me?" Before Dretheir could chuckle after his statement, another bolt struck. "Wait! What are you doing?"


    "It seems to me you''ve already dered war. Who is your god?" Lightning danced in Exile''s eyes as he red at the dragon. "Tell me, now!"


    Dretheir cursed as he lowered his head. He was sure the situation would have been easy to handle if Ciena had not tired him out.


    "Let me rest first, then we can talk," Dretheir replied as he nced toward the ship.


    "He''s trying to stall for time. I advise against allowing him to regain his power before you settle matters." Ciena whispered to Exile. "I''ll support you as much as I can. It''s the least I can do to amend the damage my daughter has caused."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow at that statement. He had already guessed that Ciena was rted to Allyce, which was why he had not targeted her as well. ''Allyce is the cause behind this? How?'' Exile wondered as he moved his gaze to the ship.


    A dark cloud gathered over it as many sparks of lights lit it up. Dretheir swallowed his pride when he realised Exile was willing to destroy the ship if he did not start talking.


    "I am Dretheir! I am here on business for my Goddess. She requests that you turn over the traitorous warbeast that sought shelter in Skardia. If you do not turn the warbeast over, then she will have no choice but to view you as an enemy. Since you shelter a traitor."


    Exile let the cloud dissipate as he studied the dragon. ''Allyce is a warbeast traitor? From what I heard from Skovi and herself, that shouldn''t be the case.'' Exile frowned as he pondered what to do. He "This snake threatened to destroy a city full of your followers," Ciena said. "I hope you can forgive me for interfering."


    could not afford another war in the mortal realms while still dealing with the threat of Nar''Kozz.


    "My daughter is not a traitor!" Ciena hissed as she shot a malicious look at Dretheir. "Your goddess is forcing the different tribes to serve her purposes! She orders the death of cubs and younglings if anyone refuses! My daughters have done nothing except protect innocent warbeasts. Whether it''s from the dark elves or your goddess'' people!"


    Exile''s eyebrows shot up as he studied the dragon. Dretheir released a low growl as he turned his attention to the Eagle Queen.


    "Would you not call that being a traitor? My goddess is the rightful ruler of all warbeasts! Anyone who acts against her wishes is a traitor!" Dretheir snarled as he rose back into the air. "Your daughter needs to answer for her crimes!"


    "My daughter doesn''t recognise the authority of your goddess! None of them does! Your goddess is hungry for power. She wants to enve my race and make use of them in her wars!" Ciena scowled as she tried to calm herself down. "I will never allow even one of my children to fall under her control!"


    Exile could only curse at the situation he found himself in. He could not hand over Allyce without losing an Oracle. Nor did he want to get on the bad side of Allyce''s mother. At the same time, another war would exact a heavy toll on the Skardians who looked to him for protection.


    ''Wait. Ciena mentioned the dark elves and other wars. How can this goddess afford tounch another war? Surely she''ll be ovemitting herself.'' Exile frowned as he mulled things over in his mind. ''Unless this a gamble to make us feel threatened. Is she hoping I''ll cave knowing we can''t afford another war yet?''


    ''If it''s Allyce she wants, then from Ciena''s words, I can assume she wants to force Allyce to be her Oracle.'' Exile''s gaze went from Ciena to Dretheir. ''There are obviously others of their kind. However, from the sounds of it, none of them will serve this goddess. Why doesn''t she justunch a war on their people if she wants to capture them?''


    ''Unless she''s too scared to. Or doesn''t have the necessary forces. That further suggests she can''t afford tounch a war with me. She''s hoping I''ll give up a single rogue Eagle she thinks is far away from her mother''s protection.'' Exile''s eyes narrowed as he red at Dretheir.


    "What price is your goddess willing to pay for my Oracle?" Exile asked with a solemn expression. However, he was studying Dretheir''s reaction carefully. ''He trembled just now when I said Oracle.''


    "Oracle?" Dretheir mumbled as he nced at Ciena. "You have taken the traitor as an Oracle?"


    "That''s what I said." Exile nodded. "I''ll have you know that I feel obligated to protect her family, despite her being in my service only a short time."


    Dretheir flinched at those words as Ciena started to piece everything together. A sly smile appeared on her face as she fixed Dretheir with a hateful re.


    "And I shall give the order to protect Skardia if your goddessunches a war on these people. It''s only right, seeing as my daughter serves a Skardian god as well as being the cause behind it." Ciena stated matter-of-factly.


    Exile could see the gears turning in Dretheir''s mind as he considered his options. It was clear the dragon was looking for a way to win in that situation. However, if he backed down now, it would only prove his goddess could not afford a war with both of them either. But if he pushed on, and they did not have the forces, the result would be the same, an unwinnable war.


    ''He''s hesitating. That''s good. It seems like I was right.'' Exile nodded to himself as he kept his attention on the dragon.


    "I require a moment to contact my goddess. This decision is hers to make." Dretheir grumbled as Exile nodded.

 Chapter 252 Original Rune

    Chapter 252 Original Rune


    Bjorn and Fjora stared down at a small vige from a nearby hilltop. The sun was rising, and smoke rose from the homes where the inhabitants were already awake for the day''s work. Fjora wore a frown on her face as she studied the newest-looking building.


    "That''s definitely a temple, right?" She asked while studying its strange architecture.


    "Yeah, sted elves have alreadye this far," Bjorn murmured as he kept watch. "But there''s no sign of the pointy-eared bastards."


    "So what? You think they snuck past us and headed deeper in?"


    "Can''t say for sure," Bjorn grumbled as he looked around. "Do you know of any other viges nearby?"


    "Nah, the nearest settlement is a few days from here on foot," Fjora replied. "We passed by it on the way here."


    Bjorn hummed to himself as he studied the first people to show themselves. Each one of them went to the temple before going about their business. ''Where did they go?'' Bjorn wondered.


    "Should we report back to Lady Ania now? This vige is her job and we still have a long way til we cross the border."


    Bjorn stayed silent as he thought things through. ''Ania brought enough warriors to keep her protected without our help. She can handle herself well enough, so she should be fine. But something isn''t sitting right with me.''


    "You report back to Ania. I''m going down there to take a look."


    Fjora cocked an eyebrow, before shaking her head at his decision. "It''s your call. Just don''t go getting into trouble."


    Bjorn nodded as he watched Fjora leave. Her footsteps made a crisp crunching sound in the fresh snow as a bitter wind rolled in. ''Let''s hope I''m wrong about this ce.'' Bjorn sighed as he headed down the hill.


    Meanwhile, Exile studied Dretheir as the dragon used a mental link to talk to his goddess. ''So, he''s an oracle.'' Exile frowned as he imagined an army of those creatures descending on Skardia. ''Looks like I need to move my ns for the Mortal Realms up.''


    "My goddess would like to arrange a formal meeting in a few days." Dretheir suddenly said. "We will remain here until then. She hopes to negotiate with you on several matters."


    Ciena frowned as she nced at Exile for his reaction. ''Negotiations sound better than a war. However, in a few days, this dragon will recover. So what''s her n?'' Exile nced at the sky as he weighed the pros and cons. ''I wish I could ask Mikari for his opinion, but I can already guess what he would say.''


    "Very well. I''ll meet with your goddess here in two days. Until then, your people will stay on the ship." Exile said as he red at Dretheir. "I''m aware you have already turned down our hospitality when offered to wait on the shore. So this should be eptable to you."


    Dretheir looked reluctant to ept, but Exile had left him with no room to argue on that point. The dragon epted the terms and quietly returned to the sea to rest.


    "I''m sorry we couldn''t meet on better terms." Ciena sighed as she offered her hand to Exile. "I''ll stay here until the meeting and keep an eye on things. You and I can have a proper discussion when you visit my home."


    "Sounds fair, and thank you for saving my people," Exile replied as he shook Ciena''s hand. "I look forward to talking with you in a friendlier environment."


    Ciena smiled before flying down to the city and taking a ce next to the captain. ''Hopefully, I''ve made the right decision. We can''t afford another shit storm right now.'' Exile groaned as he released his Avatar spell.


    ''They''re not here yet.'' Exile sighed in relief as he made a list of things to do. ''First, I''ll need to create a disguise version of Avatar. Then, I need to look into upgrading Skovi, and Bjorn. After that, I''ll need to consider teaching rune magic to the Skardians.''


    ''I''ll also be busy with enchanting gear, but I can''t afford to let those things slide for much longer. I''m sure something else wille up soon enough.'' Exile groaned as he slid off the bed and headed for the workshop.


    Once there, he immediately started his work on understanding the Avatar spell. He remembered his conversation with Allevia and took her advice as he tried to recreate it using runes. ''Sooner orter other yers are going to start creating spells and likely enchantments too. I have to get ahead of mypetition as soon as possible.''


    ''But this isn''t easy. I can''t imagine how the others are even going to get started. I can help everyone in Ragnarok, but that''ll lead to another situation where the other Pantheons will threaten to suppress us again. By the time that happens, there''s bound to be other Tier 2 yers in Skardia.''


    Exile felt a headacheing on as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. ''It''s not just that. I need to make time to train with Paul. I think I''m starting to understand what Arthur meant when he said running a team ispletely different to being its captain.''


    He shook his head to chase away those distracting thoughts as he forced his mental energy into the shape of a rune that meant Avatar. However, the energy flickered a few times before vanishing!


    ''Damn it! There''s a deeper meaning to this spell.'' Exile groaned as he reviewed what he knew. ''It creates an ethereal body that can''t interact with the mortal ne or be seen unless the mortals are devout enough.'' Exile stroked his beard for a moment as he nced out the window. ''I''m trying to create something that can be seen by everyone, but hides my divine status.''


    ''I''ve been looking at it all wrong. I need to dissect the spell and find the meaning that allows my consciousness to descend. Only after I''ve identified that part can I start working on the other meanings it needs to hold.'' Exile thought as he studied the spell book.


    ''But, there''s another option. An advantage I have over other yers. Sure, I''ve been creating rune spells. But I haven''t attempted to create a rune of my own meaning yet.'' Exile chuckled to himself as he realised he could make the whole process easier if what he nned would work.


    He reactivated the book and chose the option to create his own rune. ''Now, the shape of the rune is what defines its meaning. Or so the game would have me believe. But what if the meaninges first, and the rune is just a container.'' Exile nodded his head as he reviewed the process for creating spells.


    ''I''ve always let the runes decide the oue. So how do I go about giving meaning to a rune that does not exist?'' That was the hard part of his thought process. He figured that somehow he had to imbue his mental energy with a meaning. However, he had no idea if there was a set way of doing it.


    Hours passed as Exile toiled to get the process right. Usually, it ended with a rune that just held divine power with no effects. He could only curse as he ran up against that wall in his attempts. ''There has to be a way. Am I just not imagining it clearly enough? Or is it limited by my understanding of the effects I want to happen?''


    Exile had a hunch that his original runes could seriously increase the power of his spells and supporting features. Not to mention being useful for bringing his runestones and enchantments to another level. ''This has got to be the path I''m meant to tread with this Authority. I just wish there were some kind of manual.''


    A deep groan escaped his throat as he stared at the nk page after deleting histest failure. ''Let''s try again, but this time I''ll imagine the whole sequence of the Avatar spell reying in my mind. With some luck, I''ll find a way to move forward.''


    Exile felt a deeper connection as he let his mental energy flow. He knew he had seeded in creating a version of it, but now he had to decide what kind of rune to use. ''I should keep it simple and just use the rune for Avatar. Once I check its effects against the original, then I can decide what I need to work on.''


    Exile bent the mental energy that held his image of the Avatar spell in shape. Sweat appeared on his forehead as he felt that energy fighting against him. ''Why''s it so difficult?'' Exile wondered as he heard clicking in his mind. A pounding headache appeared as he wrestled with the mental energy.


    ''What the hell is this?'' He wondered as a searing pain roared behind his eyeballs. ''It''s almost like the world doesn''t want me to seed!'' Exile cursed as he pushed on. Soon, he heard breaking in his mind as the energy stopped fighting him.


    A golden rune floated between his palms as he opened his eyes. The light it gave off was so bright that he had to squint to make out its shape. ''I can''t believe it. It worked!'' Exileughed loudly as studied the rune in amazement. ''Now, the question is how itpares to the original.''


    A deep frown appeared on Exile''s face as he studied the information the book gave him about that rune. The frown turned into shock as he felt like he was going to copse. ''That can''t be right, can it?''

 Chapter 253 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 1)

    Chapter 253 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 1)


    Bjorn grumbled after spending hours poking around the vige. The Skardians living there had turned out to be quite weing. Some even offered him a room for the day and to feed him. ''There''s nothing to find here. The elves have definitely left.''


    Bjorn stood in the elven temple, looking at the carved faces of their gods on the wall. A wave of disgust ran through his mind as he red at them. ''How can any Skardian ept these gods into their lives.'' He trembled at the thought.


    Voices yelled outside as Bjorn exited the temple. Ania and Fjora rode at the head of three hundred warriors belonging to Fenrir as they entered the vige. The vigers that were not out hunting gathered around and stared at the gleaming metal.


    "What''s the situation, Bjorn?" Ania asked as she jumped off her horse and removed her helm.


    "There are no elves here, Princess Ania," Bjorn stated, using her royal title to help the vigers understand the situation. "As you can see, these people worship elven gods. So they''ve been here at some point."


    Ania nced around at those gathered with a cold gaze. "Is there anyone here that can speak for the whole vige?"


    Eventually, an old woman stepped forward. Ania noticed the look in the eyes of the others and decided she did not like it. ''These people are ready to fight.'' Ania frowned as she looked at the determined gaze of the vige elder.


    "Where did the elves go?" Ania asked as she approached the elder.


    "Lafertia has gone home." The elder replied while gazing beyond Ania to the warriors. "She has done nothing wrong. Why do you hunt her?"


    "Lafertia?" Ania hummed. "This elf has turned good Skardians away from the gods they should believe in. Skardian gods, with Skardian interests in mind. Do you have any idea what''s been happening in the South? Of the Sommerdan invasion and the gods that stood beside us?"


    "Gods that stood beside you, you mean." The elder chuckled. "Lafertia and her gods were the ones who stood by us. They saved us from starvation! They are the gods who are really looking out for us!"


    "You are mistaken. Lord Exile watches over all of Skardia!" Ania rebuked as her face turned red.


    "I have heard of this god called Exile. What has he ever done for us? Do you know, this vige was gued by terrible visions? We know there''s a goddess that stands by Exile''s side that is capable of that." The elder red at Ania. "The elves saved us from that. Can you tell me that your god is not responsible for our suffering?"


    Ania went silent as her hand came up to her throat where Exile''s symbol hung. ''Exile would never do that to our people. It has to be the elves. But how do I make them see sense? Exile, please help me. I don''t want to have to kill a whole vige because they''ve been misguided.''


    Ania sighed as she tried to think of a way to make the vigers see reason. The atmosphere grew tense as she saw some of her warriors spreading out with their hands on the handles of their weapons.


    "Well, it seems I''ve stumbled into something here." An old man called out as he stepped out from the crowd wrapped in a grey cloak. His dirty grey hair and beard reached his chest as he lowered his hood.


    Ania noticed the vigers looking at him with suspicion and curiosity. It seemed to her, that none of them recognised the man.


    "Sir, if you''re just passing through here then I would ask you to stand behind my men. For your own safety." Ania called out, grateful that there was at least one life there she could spare.


    "Oh no, don''t mind me. It''s just, the way I see it, things are going to get messy here because of what the elder spoke about." The old man replied as he walked forward while grasping a walking staff in his left hand. "My name''s Skalr. I travel thesends healing the sick and finding the reason behind strange events. It seems to me if you find the elves or evidence of what caused the illusions then all of this can be resolved without bloodshed."


    Ania cocked her eyebrow at the old man. "If we could do that then we would. But Bjorn here says there''s no sign of the elves or anything else suspicious we can make use of."


    "Oh, but if gods or elven magic is at work, how would you find it?" Skalr replied with a slight chuckle.


    "Are you saying you know a way?" Bjorn asked as he stepped forward. He eyed the old man with curiosity.


    "The answer is quite simple. Use the old words." Skalr replied while nodding his head.


    "There''s no one alive who knows the old words." Bjorn sighed as he nced at Ania. "I''m afraid this old man may be touched in the head."


    "Oh, but Bjorn, the old words still exist. Just because you don''t know them, that doesn''t mean there aren''t those of us who have handed them down." Skalr chuckled as he turned his gaze to Ania. "I can help you, Princess. If you let me."


    Ania stood there quietly. When she nced at Bjorn she noticed some excitement in his eyes as he stared at Skalr.


    "Bjorn, what are your thoughts on this?" Ania asked.


    "If Skalr is capable of using the old words then we should let him. Especially if it proves these allegations against Exile to be false." Bjorn hurriedly said as he kept his eyes on Skalr. "If it proves to be a sess, then I''d like to learn from Skalr if he were willing to teach the old ways."


    "What say you, Skalr? Will you lend us your aid and teach Bjorn your ways?" Ania asked after hesitating for several moments.


    "I am happy to be of service." Skalr bowed his head as he nced at the vigers. "It would be my honour to help spread the old words again. Skardia has gone too long without this knowledge."


    "Very well," Ania replied as she whistled three of her warriors over. "These three will guard you to make sure nothing happens. Everyone here is invited to join our investigation. So you know the truth. Is that eptable?"


    The elder nodded as she met Ania''s gaze. Ania could only stare at Skalr and hope he spoke the truth. She did not know what the old words were, but she trusted Bjorn''s judgement.


    "Please, Skalr, let us begin. I''d appreciate it if you exined what you are doing as we go." Bjorn said with a grin as he stood next to Skalr.


    Skalr chuckled as he pulled several smooth stones from a pocket inside his cloak. He used a clean knife to score a symbol on the stone with a smile. He handed the stone to Bjorn and told him it was the old word for discovery. Skalr lowered his voice as he exined how to use it.


    Ania''s curiosity was piqued as Skalr led everyone inside the elven temple. When everyone was gathered, Skalr held up his hands for silence.


    "Usually I start in the most suspicious ce. This temple is unusual for two reasons. The first is that it doesn''t belong to Skardian gods." Skalr began as the vigers cried in outrage. "The second being that I can tell houses used to sit on thisnd."


    "Well, that''s nothing!" The vige elder cried out. "Exile had thisnd cursed! It''s where the visions started! We had to rip down the homes and build the temple here so the elven gods could suppress the curse!"


    "Is that so?" Skalr asked with a slight smile. "Bjorn, would you do the honours?"


    Bjorn nced at the small stone in his hand dubiously before ncing at Ania. It was clear to her that Bjorn seemed to want to convey his concerns that things could get ugly either way. Ania nodded to him as she prepared herself to give the order to attack if the vigers went out of control. No matter what might happen.


    Bjorn whispered a few words before cing the stone on the temple floor. Ania groaned as nothing happened. Several moments passed and everyone''s gaze turned to Skalr. Even Bjorn wore a disappointed expression as he stared at the elderly man. ''I knew it was too good to be true. The old words are lost forever. It would have been nice if he were telling the truth.''


    Suddenly, the stone lit up with a dull golden light. The stone pulsed and washed over the temple and the people inside of it. Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he stared at that strange event. ''It can''t be! Skalr was telling the truth!'' Bjorn''s mind raced as he tried to imagine the future of Skardia with the return of this knowledge. He looked at Skalr as if he were the greatest treasure in the world!


    A circr area of the floor suddenly disappeared, revealing a tunnel that ran underneath the temple. Shocked gasps sounded in the temple as everyone looked at Skalr in awe.


    "What kind of magic is this?" The vige elder asked as she chewed on her lower lip.


    "This is old magic. It''s called a runestone. We carve thenguage of the gods on these stones and miracles happen." Skalr chuckled as he picked up the stone now that its job was done. "I''m Skalr, thest Runelord."


    Bjorn''s eyes went wide as he stared at the old man in shock. Even Fjora revealed a deep frown as Ania just looked confused.


    "What, exactly, is a Runelord?" Ania asked while looking at Bjorn for an answer.

 Chapter 254 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 2)

    Chapter 254 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 2)


    "A Runelord," Bjorn began while wetting his lips. "Is something I thought to be lost forever."


    The temple grew silent as everyone nced from Bjorn to Skalr. Confusion and concern swept the room as Ania gazed at the hidden tunnel.


    "Runelords were blessed by the gods. They were the first Skardians to be taught the divinenguage. Or the old words if you prefer." Bjorn coughed as he eyed Skalr. "Their power matched that of demigods. The Runelords were responsible for keeping the peace and protecting Skardia. They were our greatest warriors."


    Bjorn nced at Skalr nervously as he wondered how powerful Skalr really was. ''If things went sideways, would I be able to stand against him?'' Bjorn frowned slightly. ''He''s past his prime, so I should stand a chance. Besides, there''s no telling if it''s a bluff. He could havee across a few useful words somewhere. Or maybe his family didn''t pass down their entire knowledge.''


    Bjorn''s eyes narrowed as he studied Skalr. He was looking for even the slightest trace of deception.


    "So, shall we find out where this goes?" Skalr asked as he gestured to the tunnel.


    "Bjorn, Fjora, Skalr, and I will check it out. What about you?" Ania asked as she nced at the elder.


    "Willer, Jom, Svern. You three apany them and let us know what you find." The elder said as three men stepped forward.


    "I''ll go first," Bjorn said with a grim expression. "Fjora, you follow behind me. Skalr cane next, with Princess Ania after him. The rest of you decide among yourselves."


    Bjorn descended into the dark and made room for the others. ''We''re never going to see anything down here.'' He grumbled as he felt the packed earthen walls. ''I don''t know how they dug this tunnel. It''s too smooth to have been done with normal methods.''


    Suddenly, three globes of light appeared somewhere behind him. As Bjorn nced over his shoulder, he saw Skalr passing runestones along the line. When Bjorn took the runestone from Fjora, he stared intently at the carving. ''I''ll have to remember this one.'' He sighed as he turned to look into the tunnel.


    "The tunnel is pretty deep. Everyone, be on your guard." Bjorn dered as he started walking.


    It did not take long for them to find a small chamber just off the main tunnel. When Bjorn entered it, a deep frown appeared on his face. Luminescent purple flowers bloomed all over the ce.


    "Hold your breath!" Skalr yelled when he joined Fjora and Bjorn.


    Skalr quickly marked another smooth stone before a golden shimmer surrounded the group. Bjorn nced at Skalr for an exnation as thetter tossed the runestone into the chamber''s centre.


    "It''s ok. You can breathe now." Skalr said as he bent down to study the flowers.


    "What was that all about?" Ania asked as she looked at the strange flowers.


    "These are El-Thaura flowers," Skalr exined when everyone finally joined them. "They''re native to the elven forests."


    "The elves must have nted them to suppress the curse," Svern said with a happy expression at finding proof of the elves'' goodwill.


    "I''m afraid you''re quite wrong," Skalr replied as he shook his head. "These flowers create powerful hallucinations when boiled down into a drink."


    "Well, that doesn''t mean anything. The elves never gave us anything to drink. Is it possible they''re just a way to defend the tunnel?" Svern asked as Skalr stood up and looked at him.


    "They could be," Skalr admitted with a deep frown on his face. "We won''t know until we find more evidence of what they''re using this tunnel for."


    "What do mean when you say using?" Ania asked as she red at Skalr. "Do you mean they''ve been here recently?"


    "That''s impossible," Svern replied, rejecting her idea. "They left weeks ago."


    "Princess Ania is right in her assumption," Skalr replied in a grim tone. "If you look there, you''ll see fresh footprints that lead back into the tunnel and further than we''ve explored."


    Bjorn, Fjora, and Ania drew their weapons when they heard that. Everyone present looked for what Skalr had described and found that he had spoken the truth.


    "This changes things," Bjorn grumbled as he nced at the three vigers. "You should return to the vige and let us handle this."


    "That''s not happening," Jom replied as he stepped forward. "How are we supposed to learn the truth if you kill the elves when you run into them?"


    The air between the vigers and Bjorn grew tense with anticipation. It seemed like the two groups woulde to blows at any moment.


    "Bjorn, stand down. They''ve made their choice. We''ll deal with it once we discover what''s really going on here." Ania sighed as she noticed Skalr''s approving gaze. "Skalr, is there any way to protect ourselves from these flowers moving on?"


    "I can create a few runestones like this one. If you keep them on you, they''ll protect you for a few hours." Skalr replied while bowing his head.


    "If you would then, Skalr," Ania replied.


    She watched the elderly man while he carved a stone for each of them and activated them. ''Skalr''s already proven to be of use, and these runestones could improve many lives. He''s a lucky find as long as he has nothing to do with what''s going on in this vige.''


    Ania could not exin why, but she felt like Skalr was hiding something. ''He came out of nowhere right when we needed him. We have to be careful he hasn''t been nted by the elves to lead us into a trap.''


    The group moved on and found the tunnel branched out all over the ce. Svern soon voiced his opinion that the tunnels and the chambers holding the flowers covered the entirety of the vige. Bjorn could only agree when he noticed the concern on the vigers'' faces.


    "Over here!" Skalr suddenly yelled as he ran a hand over one of the walls. "There''s something hidden here."


    A runestone appeared in his hand, and as he ced it against the wall, the dirt fell away to reveal a second, hidden tunnel. Bjorn quickly raced to his side and gently pushed him out of the way. He red into the darkness as he raised his stone that emanated light.


    "There''s elven markings on the walls!" Bjorn hissed in a low voice but loud enough for the group to hear him.


    "Why would they bother with that?" Ania asked as she approached them with concern on her face.


    "I don''t know, but it can''t be for anything good," Bjorn replied. "If they had good intentions, they wouldn''t need to hide it so well."


    The vigers could only agree at that point. With everything they had found so far, they had to admit it did not look good for their benefactors. Jom took it upon himself to return to the temple and ry their findings so far. He argued that it was best to let them know in case something happened to the group.


    Ania agreed with his reasoning and warned him to be careful. After all, there was no telling if they had missed some kind of trap. Once Jom left the group, Ania gave the order for the two heroes to lead the way.


    As the group travelled down the new tunnel, Ania could hear Skalr muttering to himself as he studied the carvings on the walls. She noticed he would curse every now and then before pausing to stare at certain marks.


    "What is it?" She asked in a whisper as she drew up alongside him.


    "Well," Skalr began as he scratched his beard. "I''m not well versed in the elven runes. But it seems to me these act as some kind of conduit for a spell."


    Ania frowned when she heard that. ''A conduit for a spell? What are the elves up to?'' She could not make heads or tails of the elven markings, so she could only rely on Skalr for that. However, she felt uneasy at the thought of trusting the strange man.


    "Here," Skalr whispered as he grabbed Ania''s arm. "See this rune here?"


    "Yes," Ania replied as she gazed at the swirling rune.


    "This rune means to store. To store magic or something else. I can''t be sure exactly. But right now, these runes are not active." Skalr whispered as he moved to the next section. "And this one should mean to disperse. But disperse what?"


    Ania shivered as she kept walking while studying for more of the runes Skalr had shown her. "If you had to guess, what do you think this spell does?"


    "I honestly wish I could tell you," Skalr replied with a grim expression. "It''s incrediblyplex. For all, I know it''s meant to keep the flowers from wilting. Or maybe it was used to spread their effects above ground. I could be wrong, and it''s actually meant for something far less harmful."


    Skalr let out a long groan as he traced one of the runes with his finger. ''I wish he could tell us more.'' Ania sighed as she turned her attention to the pair of heroes in the front. ''If he''s right about it being used for something bad, then there''s a chance we have a fight waiting for us at the end of this tunnel.''


    Ania chewed her lower lip as she tightened her grasp on her spear''s shaft. ''But this could be a disaster if Skalr is on the elves'' side and misleading us. He was the one who found both tunnels where nobody else noticed anything. Exile, please keep us safe.'' Ania prayed while rubbing her ne.


    A smile crept across Skalr''s face in the dark when Ania turned her attention away from him...

 Chapter 255 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 3)

    Chapter 255 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 3)


    The group walked the tunnel for hours. It led in a straight line until they were far beyond the vige limits. Eventually, a speck of light appeared in the distance. ''Seems like we''ve found the exit.'' Bjorn thought while gripping his weapon.


    "Skalr, extinguish the runestones. If there''s anyone waiting out there, I don''t want to warn them of our arrival." Ania said while ncing sideways.


    Skalr nodded, and the light around the group dimmed to nothing. The group shuffled along silently, listening for anything out of the ordinary. As they came closer to the exit, all they could hear were the normal sounds of a forest in winter.


    "Wait here," Bjorn whispered as he moved forward slowly.


    Ania chewed her lip at the thought of letting Bjorn go on alone. However, she knew he was the most likely to survive a trap or ambush due to his blessing from Exile. The tension rose in the tunnel as Bjorn disappeared for several minutes.


    "What do you think is out there?" Fjora asked as she fiddled with her club.


    Ania thought about it for several moments but could not guess. There could be nothing or a group of elven assassins. There was no way to know until Bjorn returned. Ania even considered turning the group around if Bjorn took too long. However, it was unnecessary when Bjorn poked his head into the tunnel.


    "It''s clear." He said in a disgruntled tone.


    The group sighed in relief as they filed out into the open. The tunnel exited into a serene clearing with a small pond. Ania nced at how close the trees grew together with a frown. ''What forest is this? The trees in Skardia usually grow further apart.''


    For a moment, she wondered if they had crossed the border. Then she realised that was impossible. They had not walked for long enough for that to be true. The group spread out to study the clearing and a short way into the woods. However, there was no sign of elven tracks or evidence of what they were doing in the tunnels.


    "Maybe it was an escape route." Fjora hummed while looking around. "In case someone like us came looking for them."


    Ania was inclined to agree. The flowers and different tunnels would slow down anyone chasing them. ''Perhaps those runes in the tunnels really are something to help the flowers grow.'' She sighed. Ania could already see their argument against the elven gods copsing. That meant it would be harder to get the vigers to give them up and follow Ragnarok instead.


    "There''s something in the water," Skalr said as he stared into the depths of the pond.


    As the others gathered around him, he pointed to an elven rune that was barely visible on a rock in the pond. Ania frowned as she looked for other runes, but the murky water made it difficult.


    "The elves aren''t here, and we can''t know what they were doing." Ania sighed as she nced at the remaining two vigers in the group. "I hope you''ll ept my apology in the absence of any evidence as to what gued your vige."


    "There''s still something we can do," Skalr suddenly said as he turned his gaze away from the pond. "I can use a Memory rune that will show us what happened here if anything."


    Ania frowned while looking from Skalr to the vigers. Personally, she wanted to tell him to go ahead. However, she wanted to know the vigers'' thoughts on the matter. Eventually, both of them nodded in agreement.


    Skalr went to work carving several stones and cing them at different points around the pond. As he prepared to ce the final one, he gestured for everyone to step back. Only when he was certain everyone was far enough away did hey it on the ground and activate it.


    Skalr quickly backed up as golden lines connected the runestones before they pulsed in unison. The group watched as golden motes burst from the runestones to cover the entire area. An ethereal glow started at the elven rune in the pond before following invisible lines to other runes that connected to the ones in the tunnel.


    "What did you do?" Ania hissed when she saw that. She pointed her spear at Skalr''s throat as Bjorn and Fjora wore grim expressions.


    "Don''t worry. The elven spell has not been activated, this is a memory of a time when it was." Skalr said as he pointed behind the group.


    Seven ethereal figures walked out of the cave with extreme grace. Their hoods covered their features, but everyone could guess they were elves. They spread out around the pond as they monitored the situation.


    "There are no problems. The spell is working as intended." One elf said to the others as she looked at the runes.


    "Hm, just like the other viges. We''ll let it work for a few weeks before we offer our help." Another replied.


    "So the elves were behind it!" Svern groaned as he watched the scene unfold.


    The image of the past ovepped with the present as a purple liquid flowed through the elven carvings into the pond. The water turned a shade of purple before returning to its normal colour.


    The group gasped as the water flew into the air before turning into snowkes. Then a sharp wind blew and carried the snow in the direction of the vige. Ania did not know what to say at that sight. It was clear they had found their evidence, but from the sounds of it, the elves had done the same thing at every vige they hade across.


    "We need to destroy this so the elves can''t use it again." Fjora hissed as she raised her club.


    She struck the hidden carvings with it, causing cracks so the magic could not be carried through them again. Skalr watched the group as they did whatever they could to destroy the remains the elves had left behind.


    When nobody was looking, Skalr tossed three runestones into the pond before pretending to search for more carvings. Thirty minutes had to pass before Ania was satisfied with the destruction they had wrought. However, she had an uneasy feeling that something was wrong.


    She scanned the forest again before she realised that Skalr was standing at a distance from everyone else. As far away from the pond as possible without raising any suspicion. ''What''s he up to?'' Skalr had his gaze fixed on Bjorn''s back as Ania saw a sword appear in Skalr''s hand that had been hidden in Skalr''s cloak!


    "Bjorn!" Ania roared when Skalr dashed toward him.


    Ania felt like the world slowed down as Skalr mmed a runestone on the sword''s de. Bright mes burned along its steel as Skalr shed, and blood sprayed through the air!


    Ania gasped as the air just behind Bjorn''s back shimmered as an elf became visible. A crimson line cut deep across the elf''s back as the elf gasped for breath. Skalr wasted no time and severed the elf''s head.


    "Get ready!" Skalr screamed as the three runestones he had tossed into the pond lit up.


    A golden burst of light lit the clearing and revealed three more elves standing among the group! Ania cursed in her mind as she lunged at the elf who was closing in on her!


    The elf ducked under her spear and shed her thigh. Luckily, the dwarven-steel protected her. However, a white line appeared on her armour. ''They can cut through our armour!'' Ania cursed as Fjora screamed out.


    An elf had slipped under her club and stabbed her twice in the ribcage. She gasped for breath as she swung again. However, the elf was too nimble for her to handle, but Bjorn roared as he jumped between them.


    Bjorn roared as he swung his hammer, and as the elf dodged it he let go of his weapon. The elf''s eyes went wide when his de barely cut into Bjorn''s skin. Bjorn gripped the elf with his now free hands before furiously headbutting his opponent.


    The first strike burst the elf''s nose, but the following four broke the other bones. The elf yelped in agony as his cheekbone pierced his left eye before Bjorn threw him on the ground. The elf tried to crawl away, but Fjora was waiting.


    Her club came crashing down, bursting the elf''s skull like a piece of fruit. When Ania spared a nce away from her opponent, she noticed that Svern had lost his hand and the other viger was already dead. ''Where the hell is Skalr?'' Ania cursed as she felt her opponent''s de bite into her left forearm.


    The sudden pain caused her to drop her shield as she backtracked. Her heart pounded in her chest as the elf closed in with a flurry of blows. However, the elf''s des never reached her as a ming de appeared out of thin air to pierce the elf''s throat from behind!


    ''What the hell?'' Ania cursed as the de vanished again. She nced around, but there was still no sign of Skalr. ''Where did he go?'' She knew that Skalr had saved her, but she struggled to understand what was happening.


    The ming de shed a few times in different locations, and before Ania knew it, the battle was over. Suddenly, Skalr stepped out of a crack that appeared in the air. His gaze wandered over the clearing as the mes on his de died down. Bjorn wore a grim expression as he stared at the supposed Runelord.


    "Why didn''t you warn us if they knew they were here?" Bjorn cursed as Skalr cocked an eyebrow.


    "They were with us since the vige. I couldn''t risk exposing their presence before everything became clear." Skalr sighed as he nced at Ania. "What now, princess?"

 Chapter 256 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 4)

    Chapter 256 The Lost Lords of Skardia (Part 4)


    "Bjorn, Fjora, can I speak to you for a moment?" Ania asked as she led them away from Skalr. "What do you two think?"


    "Honestly, I don''t know." Bjorn sighed as he nced at Skalr. "After everything we''ve seen, I''m inclined to believe he really is a Runelord. If you''re asking whether we can trust him, well, Runelords were notoriously devoted to Skardia''s best interests."


    "You''re talking about Runelords from legends." Fjora sighed. "That doesn''t mean Skalr is the same as them. What are you thinking, Princess?"


    "I''m thinking something doesn''t add up. Skalr turned up when we needed him. He found both secret tunnels. He showed us what happened here, and Skalr exposed the hidden elves." Ania groaned as she removed her helm. "Skalr said the elves have been among us since the vige. They could have attacked at any time. But they didn''t. Not until Skalr exposed them."


    "Are you saying what I think you are?" Bjorn asked with a frown as he removed his own helm. "Do you think Skalr framed them?"


    "I can''t be sure. Even if we go to the other viges, we may find the same thing." Ania sighed as her blue eyes studied Bjorn. "There''s a chance the elves really came to help these viges. They may have been hunting Skalr, knowing he was responsible."


    "Yet they med our gods to convert Skardians to their religion." Fjora sighed. "They took advantage of the situation."


    "It''s only a possibility," Ania replied. "I don''t want to trust him until we can prove he''s not behind this."


    "How would we do that?" Bjorn asked.


    "We''ll travel together to the other viges. With us and the Fenrir, I doubt he''ll try anything stupid. You''ll have to get Skalr to teach you about the runes he used." Ania stared into Bjorn''s eyes before she continued. "At the next vige, I want you to be the one to use the runes. Test them before we get there. Especially the Memory rune. If we remove Skalr''s participation, we can be certain of the results."


    "Sounds like a n," Bjorn sighed as he nced at Fjora. "But if he''s guilty and we tip him off, I''m not sure we can handle him. The elves were hard enough, yet they were no problem for him."


    "I have to agree with Bjorn here," Fjora grumbled as she kept pressure on her wounds. "The way he disappeared, and how he wielded his sword. Those moves were perfectly executed. He''s seen a lot ofbat."


    "Then we have to be careful. Either way, we need his knowledge for the sake of Skardia''s future." Ania replied while staring at Bjorn. "Are you up to it?"


    "Leave it to me, Princess." Bjorn chuckled as he returned her gaze.


    The trio returned to Skalr, who was still standing at the edge of the pond. Ania studied his carefree expression as she tried to guess what else he was capable of.


    "Skalr, I have to ask for your help." Ania sighed. "We have to check the other viges, and you''re the only one who can uncover the elves'' treachery. Skardia needs you. Will you answer her call to action?"


    "It would be my honour," Skalr replied while smiling before going down on one knee. "I, Skalr Firebrand, the Last Runelord, do pledge myself to Skardia and her people. To be her shield from the unseen threats and Her sword against all enemies. For this, I would freely give my life. By my blood, I so swear it."


    Skalr took a runestone that had already been carved from a hidden pocket before slicing his palm on his de. He clenched his fist and allowed the blood to drip on its rune before it glowed a crimson red.


    "May this blood oath bind me forever more," Skalr said in a solemn voice before offering the runestone to Ania. "Should I ever act in a way that harms Skardia, this stone shall shatter, and my status as a traitor to all Skardia revealed."


    Ania reluctantly took the runestone and stared at it with a curious expression. The light had dimmed from it, but it still glowed a subtle crimson colour.


    "What happens if you die?" Ania asked while staring at the stone.


    "Then the magic stored inside it will vanish. The stone will remain intact, but it will lose its colour." Skalr replied as he stood back up. "It was customary for every Runelord to present their oath to the High King of Skardia. The oaths would be passed on to the next one if a new one was elected. My people saw the High King as the representative of Skardia. So by giving the oath to them, they could monitor our order."


    "I see, it was a failsafe to prevent your people from rebelling or bing drunk on their power," Bjorn replied as he stared at the stone in fascination.


    "Exactly," Skalr replied as he bowed his head. "If you wish to be a Runelord, you shall do the same once you''ve learned the basics. I doubt I have much time left to live, given my advanced years, so I''ll have to teach you the oath so you can raise a new generation."


    "But, Bjorn," Skalr continued after a slight pause. "It is also the duty of a Runelord to prevent Skardia''s people from suffering at the hands of the Kings and Jarls. One day, you may have to go against those you care about. Think on that."


    Bjorn nodded solemnly while ncing sideways at Ania. It seemed to him that Skalr''s recent action had raised more doubts in her mind. However, before he could think on it too much, Skalr pulled a small leather-bound book out from inside his cloak.


    "Good, then this is the manual that covers the basic runes. How to prepare stones for the process of carving and everything else you need to know. You don''t know how long I''ve been searching for an heir to the Runelord legacy." Skalr sighed as he ced the book in Bjorn''s hands. "If anything happens to me, this book hides the location of the rest of the knowledge you will need to restore the order. But you''ll only understand it if you can grasp every lesson in this book."


    Bjorn sincerely thanked Skalr as he tucked the book into a pouch on his belt. ''These aren''t the actions of a traitor. Unless he''s trying hard to misdirect us.'' Bjorn frowned while ncing at Ania, who was still studying Skalr. ''By giving me this book, he can pretend I have to learn its contents before teaching me somethingplicated like the Memory rune.''


    Unbeknownst to Bjorn, Ania was thinking along the same lines. She cursed to herself as she red at Skalr. ''He''s cut off my n to have Bjorn perform the runes at the next viges. There''s no telling if the runestone he gave me is a blood oath or something else. When I get the chance, I''ll have to ask Exile for help. Maybe the gods know more about this.''


    The group returned through the tunnels and made a gruesome discovery. They found Jom''s corpse with his throat slit. ''So the elves never intended to allow us to escape.'' Ania thought as she closed his eyelids. ''So why did they not ambush us earlier?'' Ania sighed as she ordered Fjora to carry his remains. Even with her wounds, the corpse barely affected her speed due to her strength.


    ''Someone is ying games with us. Either it''s Skalr or someone hiding in the shadows.'' Ania groaned at the thought. She had enough on her te trying to expel the elven Pantheon from Skardia.


    "We should rest in the vige tonight," Ania suddenly said. "We can set out at sunrise for the next one."


    The rest of the group agreed as they marched on. ''I''ll contact Exile when I''m alone tonight. Hopefully, he''ll shed some light on what''s going on.''


    Meanwhile, Eraldsfen was abuzz with activity as thousands of Skardian warriors poured in from all over Stormcrown. Harik grumbled as he looked out his window at the warriors gathering equipment from the royal armoury. ''They have to hurry up.'' He groaned as he downed a horn full of mead. ''It''s a long journey to the mountains.''


    He stared at the letter from King Bargrux in his hands as he cursed. ''We can''t lose the aid of the dwarves. To think there would be other dwarven kingdoms that want to attack our allies for helping us!'' Harik mmed his fist on the desk as he stared at his armour waiting for him.


    ''Bargrux, Thovok, and the rest of their people are the reason Skardia isn''t under enemy upation right now. I''ll be damned if I see them suffer the same fate they saved us from!'' Harik suddenly spun around when he heard the soft padding on the floor behind him.


    However, his eyes went wide when he came face-to-face with a giant wolf. The wolf growled as Harik lunged to grab his sword.


    "I wouldn''t do that, Harik," Skovi growled as he eyed the High King.


    "Skovi?" Harik asked in shock as he stared at the wolf. "What happened to you?"


    Skovi chuckled as he padded over to the fire to lie down. The great wolf curled up on the floor as he stared into the mes.


    "Lord Exile saw fit to grace me with two gifts." Skovi grinned as he cocked his head to the side.


    Suddenly, Harik''s attention was drawn to the open doorway and he gasped. A second giant wolf sniffed the air in the room before padding over to Skovi''s side and joining him on the floor.


    "This is my bride. Ska." Skovi chuckled as he licked the side of the she-wolf''s face.

 Chapter 257 Business As Usual

    Chapter 257 Business As Usual


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Ska," Harik said as he bowed his head to the she-wolf.


    "Likewise," Ska replied in a feminine tone as she rubbed her muzzle against Skovi''s fur.


    "So, what''s with the changes?" Harik asked with a curious gaze. "You''re a foot taller than before, your fur has ck streaks, and you have fucking fire running down your spine that covers your tail!"


    "Hm, Lord Exile has granted me more of his power. That''s why my bride and I look as we do now." Skovi hummed as he turned his crimson eyes away from the fire.


    Harik nced at Ska, who had ck fur with white streaks but the same fiery features. ''They look like something straight out of hell.'' Harik cursed as he rubbed his beard.


    "You''ve been gone for some time. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Skovi?" Harik asked as he poured more mead into his horn.


    "You''re heading for King Bargrux''s kingdom, correct?" Skovi asked rhetorically. "We''reing with you. Lord Exile has tasked us with something that requires us to go there."


    "What does Exile need you to do?" Harik asked as he cocked his eyebrow.


    "To convey a message to King Bargrux about when he will descend to give him his reward," Skovi replied.


    Harik frowned for a moment as he stared at the pair of wolves. ''There''s something else Skovi isn''t telling me.'' Harik''s eyes narrowed before he let out a long sigh.


    "Does Exile know what is happening?" Harik asked.


    20:50


    "Yes, he has spoken to Thovok about it. We will provide aid if "Does Exile know what is happening?" Harik asked.


    "Yes, he has spoken to Thovok about it. We will provide aid if anything happens. But we will also assess the situation in Lord Exile''s ce." Ska replied as she fixed Harik with a soft gaze.


    Harik sat on a chair by the fire and absentmindedly reached out to pet Skovi. The great wolf was content to allow him to do so as the trio enjoyed the warmth. Harik mulled over their conversation for several moments before he posed another question.


    "Why doesn''t Exile ry the message through Thovok? Or descend himself?"


    "Lord Exile''s ways are his own." Skovi sighed as he pricked up his ears. "It is not for mortals to question them or guess his reasons."


    Harik could only grunt in mild agreement as he allowed him to imagine what Exile was thinking. ''The events in the South, the issue with the elves in the North, and now the dwarven kingdom. Skardia has three different enemies in three separate locations.''


    ''What the hell is happening to the world?'' Harik groaned as he watched the dancing mes. ''Then there''s this mysterious giant eagle protecting one of my cities. The Queen of a warbeast tribe, so I''m told. What am I meant to do with that?''


    Meanwhile, Exile stared at the axe in his hands. ''Another sessful enchantment.'' He thought while nodding. He ced the axe on a pile of weapons at the side of the table. ''Things are progressing smoothly. Nar''Kozz hasn''t assaulted Valheim yet, so he''s still unaware of our absence. I''ve crossed Skovi off my list of things to deal with. Harik is heading for Bargrux''s kingdom, so I can deal with the dwarf king soon. Ania''s in the North looking into this elf problem, and the yers are levelling up fighting the mobs around here.''


    ''It should be nearly time for Dretheir''s goddess to appear. I''ll have to bring Midas to that meeting if she wants to negotiate terms for cooperation.'' Exile sighed while shaking his head. Himinbj?rg had be busy since the yer army arrived. Of course, things had be tense when they realised there was not enough room for everyone.


    Exile had painstakingly arranged for the Pantheons to rotate through using the different checkpoints they had created on the mountain and using Himinbj?rg itself. The other leaders had be envious of Ragnarok''s position once they saw Himinbj?rg. They often questioned Exile as to whether it had hidden functions.


    He had often wondered the same, but if it did, he had yet to find them. ''Noslin hasn''t returned yet.'' Exile frowned as he thought about her. ''Her Vice-Leader said she''s still on the register, so she''s still alive. But she''s taking too long. She must have run into trouble.''


    "You ok?" Mikari asked as he ced his hand on Exile''s shoulder. "You were spacing out."


    "Yeah, I''m fine. Just thinking about all the work we have to do. What''s up?" Exile replied as he turned to face his brother.


    "Hm, the yers have almost recovered the divinity they lost during the ambush. The leaders are asking when their equipment will be ready. Some fights are breaking out due to the current living arrangements. Most of Skardia seems to be silent, with nothing of note happening. I could go on if you want me to." Mikari chuckled as he eyed the pile of weaponry. "You''ve been busy."


    "Yeah, I''m trying to split my time to get everything done," Exile replied as he closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.


    "What about Skalr? Have you told Ania yet?" Mikari asked as he fixed his brother with a curious gaze.


    "Not yet. I''m waiting for the right time. They don''t trust him." Exile chuckled. "Thanks for those books on the Runelords. It really helped."


    "Well, after the events with Amari, I had our people ask their followers for written stories, myths, and legends to be given as gifts. But the Runelord books came from Jarxos'' store." Mikari replied with a frown. "Why are you going to such lengths to pass Rune magic on to your followers? They''d ept it if it came from you. Why use Skalr?"


    "Hm, I''d rather they believe it''s a power all of their own. Something that''s been recovered from history." Exile replied as he gazed at the window. "I don''t want the NPCs to link the Runelords to us gods. That way, if they turn on us, they''ll still have faith in the Runelords."


    "I see your point, but why would they turn on us?" Mikari asked in a concerned tone.


    "After reading through the books we''ve collected, I discovered an incident. It seems Bargrux''s grandfather led a rebellion against the old gods. He even seeded in killing a few." Exile groaned. "It seems like Bargrux recovered something hidden in Skardia during the war with Parthus. I''m concerned he may follow in his grandfather''s footsteps."


    Mikari remained quiet as he considered the possibility. He thought about what would happen in the mortal realms if the dwarves turned on them. Eventually, Mikari shrugged his shoulders.


    "You won''t know until you talk with him. Suspecting your allies of foul y without proof can lead to ruin. Treat him as you have been, as a friend." Mikari smiled as he patted Exile''s shoulder. "Ask him what he gained during the war. If it seems like a small thing, he''s probably lying. Either way, you need to keep the dwarves on our side. The Warbeasts and the Elves are knocking on our door. We need all the allies we can get."


    "Trust me when I say I hope Bargrux is still on our side," Exile replied with a smile. "He''s done a lot for us without asking for much in return. I''ve sent Skovi and Ska to join Harik in going to Bargrux''s aid. But they''ll be looking out for anything that could threaten a god."


    "I see," Mikari replied. "There''s wisdom in making sure you''re not blindly walking into a trap. But if Bargrux realises he''s lost some of your trust, that might lead him to act against the gods. After all, he might think you''re nning to do something against him."


    "That''s why I sent my wolves." Exile chuckled. "If I told Harik to do this, Bargrux or Thovok would see through him. He''s a great man and an honest one. That''s what makes him a poor choice for this."


    "Fair enough," Mikari replied with a sigh. "I''ll send someone to pick up these weapons. Should I assume you''ll remain in seclusion?"


    "Yeah, for now, I''ll keep working on increasing the reserves of our armoury. But I''ll split my time between the workshop and Skardia. Make sure the others are keeping in regr contact with the NPCs. They need their miracles to keep believing in us."


    "You got it, boss." Mikari chuckled. "Just remember to log off. You have some things to do in real life too. Jay''s even hinting at getting you a personal assistant and having them join the game to help you manage everything properly."


    "Great, that''s all I need." Exile groaned.


    "Personally, I don''t think it''s such a bad idea. It''ll allow you to be more efficient with your time." Mikari replied with a shrug. "Rebel Energy has a stake in this too, so it''s only natural they''d want someone on the inside."


    "I guess you''re right." Exile stroked his beard as he pondered the matter. "Just make sure it''s not a woman. I don''t want Ania to get the wrong idea if a Goddess suddenly apanies me everywhere."


    "Got it," Mikari chuckled. "She''s probably still mad about the thing with Allyce. But she won''t say it to your face. If you want to go down that route, I''ll look into a way for them to be something like a messenger of the gods."


    "Like Hermes?" Exile asked as he cocked his eyebrow with a hum. "That could work. See what you can do to get that in motion. I''ll spare some time for Jay once I clear everything that needs to be done right now."


    "No problem. But remember, Jay will keep you for some time. He wants you to shoot amercial for the new products." Mikari replied with a sly grin.

 Chapter 258 A Stormy Night (Part 1)

    258 A Stormy Night (Part 1)


    "Dammit!" Bjorn grunted as he trudged through the snow-covered forest with only the moonlight to see by. "Where did Skalr go?"


    Their group had set up camp on the edge of the forest for the night, but Bjorn had heard someone moving. When he investigated the sound, he discovered that Skalr had vanished. His tracks had led Bjorn into the forest before vanishing into thin air. "Ania''s going to kill me if I don''t find him!" Bjorn groaned as he wondered where the elderly Runelord had wandered off to.


    Meanwhile, in the Skardian region of Frostcrag, a pregnant woman sat at the edge of a river. She wept as she cradled her bump, praying for the gods to hear her. A trickle of blood ran between her legs as she furiously gripped the many religious items in her hand.


    "IAmLegend, here me. Your child dying! Save them! Please!" The woman wept. ''Please, anyone, help my child!''


    The woman turned her head at the sound of footsteps on the snow behind her. An old woman with a hunched back and wrapped in a grey cloak shed a sad smile at her.


    "Who are you?" The mother wept as she cradled her belly.


    "No need to be afraid child," The elderly woman rasped as she slowly approached the devastated mother. "I heard you just now. Let me see what''s wrong. Maybe I can help."


    The mother sobbed as she backed away from the old hag. However, she soon felt a wave of calm wash over her mind. The mother''s expression became serene as the old woman walked toward her with a smile. ''What do we have here?'' The old woman thought as she ran a hand over the mother''s belly.


    Her eyes shone with a golden light as she hummed to herself. ''If we waited any longer it would have been toote.'' The old woman sighed as her palm glowed with golden light. The light directed itself inside the mother''s stomach and went to work healing the damage.


    Soon, the bleeding stopped, and the old woman perceived that the unborn child was healthy. She gave the mother a few soothing words of reassurance before walking away from the bank of the river. She sighed as she nced at a nearby tree.


    "You cane out now," The old woman said as she shook her head.


    IAmLegend stepped out from behind the tree while shooting a concerned look in the mother''s direction. "Will she be ok?"


    "Yes, I''ve healed her. But, if I had to guess, I''d say you need to keep an eye on her. I think her body is rejecting the demigod growing inside her." The old woman replied as the air around her shimmered.


    Golden light burst forth in the darkness as the old woman transformed into Exile. He straightened his back with a groan as he nced at Leggy.


    "You have two other kids to worry about," Exile said as he shook his head. "It seems there''s a high degree of risk for the NPCs where demigods are concerned."


    "Will you help if it happens again?" Leggy asked as his lip trembled.


    "Of course, as long as I am able." Exile sighed while studying his friend. "These children of yours may be NPCs, but they''re still family to Ragnarok."


    Leggy nodded slowly as he stared silently at the woman carrying his child. ''He''s growing attached.'' Exile sighed to himself. ''He acts like it''s no big deal since it''s a game. But with the realism, it''s hard to stay disconnected from this world.''


    Exile patted Leggy on the back. "Miracles are notoriously unreliable. I know you tried before you came for me. Next time, don''t hesitate. Ok?"


    "Thanks," Leggy whispered. "I''d like to stay here for a while."


    "Take whatever time you need, and don''t worry. I won''t tell the others until you''re ready to." Exile smiled as he released his Avatar spell.


    When he found himself back in Himinbj?rg he flexed his fingers. ''My personal version of Avatar ising in handy. But its cost is too high.'' Exile groaned as he shivered. His improved version allowed him to change his appearance and suppress his divinity. Even fanatics were unable to tell it was him.


    ''I can feel everything with this spell.'' Exile frowned as he analysed its effectiveness. ''Still, I can''t believe it creates a mortal shell to hold my consciousness and power. I''m d I can finally interfere directly with the mortal realm. If anything like what happened during the Festival happens again, I can protect Ania.''


    Exile checked the time before focusing on creating more enchanted items. ''Two hours left till I meet Dretheir''s goddess. If ites to it, I can leave it in Midas'' hands after the initial talks. But it''s going to be tight on time.''


    [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is trying to contact you...]


    Exile groaned at the interruption before epting her request to talk with him. ''What''s wrong, Ania?'' Exile asked with a frown.


    [Forgive me, but I need your advice. It concerns an individual who has joined my group.]


    ''What advice do you need?'' Exile asked, but he had already guessed what it was about.


    [He ims to be a Runelord and uses runestones as you did against the spirits. I was hoping you could take a look at a runestone he gave me and tell me what it does.]


    Exile groaned as he cancelled the mental link. ''I thought it would take her longer to bother me with this.'' He sighed as he activated Avatar without bothering to go to his room.


    Ania yelped as Exile suddenly appeared in her tent! She gaped at Exile as he nced around with an amused smile.


    "Show me," Exile said while holding out his hand.


    "He said it was a blood oath that prevented him from betraying Skardia," Ania replied as she hurriedly handed over the smooth stone.


    Exile turned it over in his hand and studied the crimson glow of its rune. He appeared to be thinking deeply as he studied the magic contained inside of it.


    "It''s exactly as he says it is," Exile said while nodding his head. "You don''t have to worry about it."


    Ania revealed a surprised expression as she took the runestone back from Exile. She studied it in confusion before cing it back in her pouch. Then, her face turned scarlet as she realised her situation.


    She had not expected Exile toe straight away. So she had contacted him in the middle of the night. She yelped again as she hurriedly pulled on the fur nket to cover her almost exposed chest. ''I can''t believe Exile just saw me like this!''


    "My apologies for dropping in so suddenly," Exile said when he noticed her distress. "It sounded urgent. I''ll leave now."


    "Wait..." Ania murmured before Exile could cancel his Avatar spell. "Don''t go."


    Exile frowned as he nced at her. "Did you need something else?"


    Exile''s eyebrows shot up as Ania suddenly reached out to grab his hand. His eyes followed her figure as she stood up with the fur nket only covering from her chest to her thighs. ''Oh, don''t tell me.'' Exile gulped as Ania pressed her body against his.


    He watched as she tilted her face toward his own. Her eyes were shut, and her lips trembled as they nervously searched for his own. Exile felt his pulse rising as he held her in his arms. ''She''ll never forgive me if I don''t answer her advances.''


    Ania moaned as Exile allowed their lips to touch. He ran his hand through her hair while his other one applied a small amount of pressure to the small of her back. Ania''s hand ran over Exile''s armour until she caught his helm and removed it. Before Exile knew it, he lost himself in the pleasure of her embrace.


    Meanwhile, Ciena''s eyes narrowed as she spotted Dretheir flying out of the sea and releasing a roar. ''I guess his Goddess has finally arrived.'' Ciena ruffled her dress as she barked at a nearby warrior to fetch the Captain. ''We have to be ready in case this goes the wrong way.''


    Ciena transformed from a stunning woman to a great golden eagle within moments, startling the warriors who were keeping watch. Her sharp gaze scanned the sea and surrounding area for any sign of a divine presence. ''Whoever she is, she''s earlier than Dretheir said she would be.''


    "You, go to the temple and have prayers sent to Exile. Let him know the Warbeast Goddess has arrived." Ciena grunted as she tilted her head.


    Suddenly, a column of seawater rose into the air as Laskia made her appearance. She shone with a dull golden light that made Ciena curse. Her body trembled in rage as she stared at the Goddess. ''She''s in the process ofmitting to the dark element!''


    Ciena suddenly shrieked as she spread her wings. Sheunched golden feathers at the goddess who looked at her attack with an amused expression. Laski unfolded two giant fans and swept them in a graceful movement. Ciena''s expression turned grim as the fans took control of her attack and redirected it harmlessly into the sea.


    "Now, now, little bird. I''m a guest here. Would Exile appreciate you attacking one of his guests?" Laskia chuckled as she red mischievously at Queen Ciena. "No, he wouldn''t. So why don''t we have a little chat before our host turns up? What do you say?"


    "Not a chance!" Ciena roared as Dretheir rose into the air to protect his goddess. "You''ve already been corrupted!"

 Chapter 259 A Stormy Night (Part 2)

    259 A Stormy Night (Part 2)


    Exile''s eyes brimmed with rage when he arrived on the scene with a sh of lightning. He scanned the raging battle and realised that Dretheir and his goddess were only defending themselves from Ciena''s attacks. ''They''re notunching anything offensive against her.''


    His eyes went wide in surprise as his gazended on Laskia. ''She was at Amari''s gathering during the festival!'' Exile cursed his luck as thunder rumbled overhead. Seven runes shot from his left hand to intercept Ciena''stest barrage of attacks.


    Her attacks exploded as they came in contact with his spell. The trio who were fighting looked around in surprise until they saw Exile''s seething figure. "Enough!" Exilemanded as the sky rumbled and the wind carried his voice. "What is happening here?"


    "Yourpanion," Laskia said as she shot a look at Ciena. "Attacked me as soon as I arrived. In the interest of salvaging these negotiations, Imanded Dretheir only to act in defence."


    Exile shot a questioning nce in Ciena''s direction, but the great eagle trembled with rage. ''It seems like she''s telling the truth.'' He sighed, unsure of what to do next.


    "My apologies for Queen Ciena''s actions," Exile replied as he bowed his head. "Whatever her reason is, I forbid any further action while you are here. These negotiations should be held in good faith. For the sake of all races involved."


    Ciena scoffed as she red at Laskia. Exile could only shake his head at that sight. ''She better not ruin this before we even get a chance to talk.''


    "Well, I''ll start," Laskia said as she carefully sheathed her fans. "It''s a pleasure to see you again, Exile. I am Laskia, Queen of the Heavenly Beast Pantheon."


    "I remember you. We never got the chance to talk during thest time we met." Exile nodded while subtly hinting to keep Amari''s gathering quiet. "I would ask that we take this into the temple in the city. There''s another god who will be joining us momentarily."


    Laskia cocked an eyebrow at Exile''s request but bowed her head to show her agreement. Exile mentally sighed in relief as he flew down to the temple. Ciena and Drethir waited in the sky above the city as the two deities entered the building.


    The temple had long been prepared for the meeting. Two wooden thrones sat on one side of a table with a third on the side of the door. Exile offered the lonely throne to Laskia as he took his seat. Momentster, a golden light appeared in the temple as Midas joined them.


    "Queen Laskia, this is Midas. He''s our chief officer when ites to the matter of finances." Exile said as Midas took his seat and shook Laskia''s hand. "Now that he''s arrived, we can start the negotiations."


    "Ok, then I would like to begin," Laskia said as she eyed Exile. "I would like to form a military, trade, and religious pact with Ragnarok."


    "What does that entail?" Midas asked as he studied his opponent. "It''s rather simple. We will provide military aid to each other during wars, trade our goods for the benefit of our economies, and swear not to push our religions into each other''s territory." Laskia replied with a shrug.


    Midas hummed as he mulled over Laskia''s words for several seconds. "Let''s start with the military part. As far as we are aware, you''re already waging several wars. Not only that, but you appear to be on tense terms with one of the races that worship Exile. I''m afraid we can''tmit to your terms of sending military aid."


    Midas paused for a moment as he drummed his fingers on the table. "However, I feel it would be 13:45


    beneficial to seal a non-aggression pact. Ragnarok will not take military action against your Midas paused for a moment as he drummed his fingers on the table. "However, I feel it would be beneficial to seal a non-aggression pact. Ragnarok will not take military action against your Pantheon, as long as you don''t take action against us or our allies."


    Laskia cocked an eyebrow as she sat with Midas'' counteroffer for several minutes. "If we agree to that, would Ragnarok act if we are attacked by a Pantheon that is not your ally?"


    "I would like to say we would try to bring the other Pantheon to a mediation meeting first. If they continue to be aggressive, as your allies, it would be in our best interest to send military aid."


    "You''re pretty good at this," Laskia chuckled. "The Heavenly Beast Pantheon epts this proposal."


    "Excellent," Midas said with a smile as a piece of paper appeared with a golden glow from his hand. On the paper were the terms they had agreed to. "Would you be so kind as to sign this contract before we move on?"


    Laskia took the paper and looked it over. Her eyes went wide when she realised it reflected exactly what they had discussed with no loopholes.


    "Is this part of your Authority?" Laskia asked with awe.


    "Yes, it''s called Fair Deal. It won''t allow either party to take more than they offer. If either party breaks it, it will lock your ess to your divinity until a fee is paid. It works on me too, so you don''t have to worry about that." Midas replied with a solemn expression.


    "How do I sign?" Laskia asked with an amused expression.


    "Use a Miracle. The option to sign should appear."


    Midas and Exile watched as Laskia''s signature appeared on the contract. Midas smiled as he took it from her before it vanished.


    "This is a good start. If I may, I had my doubts about you wanting to negotiate in good faith." Midas said as he studied Laskia. "Especially after sending that dragon to Skardia."


    "Well, I''ve met Exile before, so I know he''s not a simple yer. Only someone special could have reached Amari''s Inheritance." Laskia shed a smile at Exile. "I believe it''s in my best interests to work alongside him."


    Midas nodded his head as he scratched his cheek. "Ok, shall we move on to the terms of trade between our people?"


    "My people need weapons and armour," Laskia replied. "Warbeasts don''t typically have great craftsmen. We know you have connections with the dwarves and would like to purchase from them."


    "I''m not sure that will be possible," Exile groaned before Midas could say anything. "The dwarves are proud. I''ll raise the subject with King Bargrux. But the final decision will be up to him. Unfortunately, I can''t make this promise before that."


    Laskia cocked an eyebrow as she stared into Exile''s eyes. "Do you not have full control over your followers?"


    Exile remained silent at Laskia''s probing questions. After all, he did not want to tip his hand where he could lose the dwarves'' support in the future.


    "Well, you heard Exile. I''m sure we can trade Skardian steel, and possibly crops. You should need food with all of these wars, right? So that should be just as important as weaponry. We can settle on amounts to be tradedter." Midas said as another contract appeared.


    "I want you to add a use that it will include Dwarven goods if King Bargrux agrees," Laskia replied.


    "Ok, done." Midas frowned as he handed over the contract. ''She wanted to make sure that we wouldn''t say Bargrux rejected it when he actually agreed.''


    "Ok, so all that''s left is the religious boundaries," Laskia said with a sweet smile. "I ask that Ragnarok does not push their religion into any territory controlled by my Pantheon."


    "That''s very simple, and we ask the same. This includes all future territories. However, neither of us can im a race as off-limits. Only the people inside the territory we already control." Midas replied as he gazed at Laskia for her approval.


    "That suits me just fine," Laskia chuckled as Midas handed over another contract with a frown. Laskia signed the contract before handing it over with a smile. "Well, this has been fantastic. I''m d to have made new allies. Of course, if you''re ever interested, we could deepen our rtionship."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow as curiosity shed in his eyes. "What do you have in mind?"


    "Well, we could be a public couple." Laskia tapped her chin as she studied Exile''s reaction.


    Midas did not know what to say as he nced sideways at Exile. He gulped as he waited to see how Exile would handle that.


    "Is that a joke?" Exile asked with wide eyes as he studied Laskia.


    "Not at all," Laskia chuckled. "Are you aware that two rulers can get married and the Pantheons will merge? There will be enough yer slots, so you don''t have to worry about losing any team members."


    Exile frowned when he realised she was serious. ''It''s not like we''d be together. It''s just using a game mechanic.'' Exile stroked his beard as he continued to study Laskia. ''It would be a good offer if we had a history of working well together. But, right now, I barely know her or what she''s after.''


    "I''ll give it some consideration for the future," Exile replied as he stared at Laskia. "But for now it''s a no."


    "I can respect that," Laskia replied while bowing her head. "Oh, and please remember to keep the Eagles out of my territory."


    "I''m afraid I don''t speak for Ciena. She isn''t one of my mine. But she is an ally. I''ll try to talk her into leaving your territory alone. That''s the best I can offer." Exile replied with a solemn tone.


    "That''s good enough. Thank you. " Laskia smiled as she gazed over her shoulder. "Would you look at that, it''s almost daylight. I wish you all the best, Exile."

 Chapter 260 God Meets Demigod (Part 1)

    260 God Meets Demigod (Part 1)


    Days passed in-game as Harik''s forces marched to the mountains. The journey had been uneventful and marked only by the biting winds. Snow fell in waves over the great mountain chain as the Skardians struggled to find a path.


    ''ording to King Bargrux''s letter, there should be a dwarven outpost up ahead.'' Harik groaned as his horse struggled through the deep snow. The army''s pace had considerably slowed down since they began their climb. Harik smiled when Skovi and Ska appeared, returning from scouting the path ahead. The two fiery wolves ran the length of the army while releasing mes to melt the snow. The Skardian warriors cheered as Exile''s wolves returned to the head of the column where Harik was waiting. "Thovok is waiting with an honour guard. We wouldn''t have noticed the outpost or the entrance without his presence." Skovi growled as he sniffed the air. "There''s something wrong. I can smell divinity in the air."


    "Divinity? Is there a God following us?" Harik asked with a frown.


    "No, it''sing from the cracks in the mountain. There''s a divine presence down there somewhere." Ska growled in reply. "I''ll alert Lord Exile. We may need him to intervene."


    Harik turned in his saddle to look toward the peak of the mountain. ''Have the other kingdoms already started their assault?'' Harik thought as he wondered if the divine presence was a dwarven god.


    He turned to one of his captains and gave the order for the army to pick up the pace. ''If a battle has already started, we need to get there soon. We can''t let our allies down after all they''ve done for us.'' "Skovi, Ska, can you two clear a path to the outpost? We have to reach Thovok as soon as possible." Harik asked in a solemn tone. "Bargrux''s people could be in trouble."


    "I''ll start right away," Skovi replied while nodding hisrge head. "Ska will join me as soon as she''s done talking with Lord Exile."


    Harik watched the great wolf run off to start clearing the path. His gaze wandered to Ska, who sat in the snow with a frown. The she-wolf caught his gaze momentarily before returning to her mental conversation. [You''re certain there''s a God down there?]


    ''No, but there''s definitely traces of the divine. We''re not sure what''s causing it.'' Ska replied.


    [Hm, don''t enter the mountain until I contact you.]


    ''As youmand, Master.'' Ska bowed her head as Exile cut their connection. ''Lord Exile seems concerned with this news. King Harik won''t like it if we reach Thovok before he confirms if we should enter.'' Ska sighed as she took off to join Skovi in his efforts.


    "We can''t be too quick about clearing the path," Ska whispered as she rubbed her muzzle against Skovi. "Lord Exile hasmanded that nobody should enter the mountain without his permission."


    "Harik won''t like that," Skovi hummed as his fur red, melting arge area around him. "It could be difficult to convince him to wait."


    "I agree, but we have to try." Ska nodded her head as both wolves stared at Harik.


    Meanwhile, Thovok sat waiting on his mount while eyeing where Harik''s forces should appear. ''Skovi seems to have changed a lot, and it seems like Lord Exile has given him a partner.'' Thovok hummed. ''Why didn''t he approach us?''


    He had asked himself that question several times since he had spotted the wolves. ''Still, this should mean Harik''s forces are nearby. I''m d he answered the king''s letter for aid.'' Suddenly, Thovok felt Exile''s presence as his god connected with his mind.


    ''Lord Exile, to what do I owe the pleasure?'' Thovok asked in surprise as he stroked his beard.


    [Thovok, is there a God in Bargrux''s kingdom?]


    Thovok raised his bushy eyebrows as he murmured to himself. ''No, we worship no god but yourself.'' Thovok replied honestly as he wondered what the reason for the question was.


    [There''s no enemy God there? Or anything else connected to the Divine?]


    Thovok groaned when he heard Exile ask that question. He paused for several moments, caught between his loyalty to his King and his God. ''There is something connected to the divine.'' Thovok paused for a moment. ''However, I believe you should speak with King Bargrux about it.''


    [Are you with King Bargrux?]


    ''No, I believe he''s waiting in the temple. Before he sent me to meet with King Harik, he gave instructions as to where he would be and to tell you if you asked.'' Thovok replied while frowning. He wondered what he had gotten caught up in. Of course, he knew about his King''s new condition. But, as far as he could see, that should be good news for Exile.


    [Tell me what Bargrux has that''s connected to the divine. I''ll only ask this once.]


    ''Honestly, King Bargrux can exin it better.'' Thovok sighed as he finally understood why the wolves had been cautious. ''All I can tell you is that King Bargrux is the host of divine power. A demigod of sorts.'' Thovok waited for several moments as Exile remained silent. He wondered if Exile was shocked at the news or if he already knew and was just testing him. ''Lord Exile?''


    [Why has this never been mentioned before?]


    ''King Bargrux wanted to be the one to tell you. I believe he has a gift for you.'' Thovok replied as he thought about previous conversations with his King.


    [What kind of gift?]


    ''I''m not sure. He hinted that it was something valuable for a God.'' Thovok replied as he scratched his cheek.


    [Hm, Harik will be with you shortly. Skovi and Ska are apanying him. I''ll descend momentarily to speak with Bargrux personally.]


    Thovok frowned as Exile cut off their connection. ''That was strange.'' Thovok hummed as he stroked ''Screw it. I''ve put off talking with Bargrux for too long. There are too many ifs and buts clouding my 13:46


    judgement. If Thovok is right and Bargrux holds something we can use, I have to have it.''


    the horns of his goat. ''I hope His Majesty hasn''t done something stupid to affront the gods.''


    Exile drummed his fingers on his desk in his private room. ''This could be bad. How the hell has Bargrux be a demigod?'' Exile groaned as he considered his next move. ''It could be a trap. What if it''s a divine weapon that can kill me instead of him being a demigod?''


    He dismissed that idea after a moment. ''No, he probably is a demigod. Thovok can''t hide the truth in his thoughts. So what would this gift be? All of this should be connected to Bargrux''s gain during the Sommerdan war.''


    Exile let out a long sigh as he tried to imagine what would happen if he descended. ''I can''t ignore him being a demigod. If he''s still on our side, he''ll be an amazing asset. It''ll be some time before new demigods grow up. So he''s unique for the time being.''


    ''That''s assuming there are no demigods still alive from the age of the old gods.'' Exile rubbed the bridge of his nose as he weighed his options. ''There''s too much to gain by keeping him on our side. But this dwarf war is going to drain Skardia. We got lucky with Laskia, but there''s still the elves to worry about.''


    ''Screw it. I''ve put off talking with Bargrux for too long. There are too many ifs and buts clouding my judgement. If Thovok is right and Bargrux holds something we can use, I have to have it.''


    Exile took a deep breath as he calmed his thoughts. ''Let''s see how this goes.'' He activated his Avatar spell, and his consciousness shot down to the mortal realm. A lightning bolt struck the mountain as Exile opened his eyes to see the familiar dwarven temple.


    He had made sure to arrive directly on the throne situated in the main area to leave Bargrux with no doubts as to who held the most power. However, King Bargrux only smiled when he saw Exile''s arrival.


    ''He looks genuinely happy to see me.'' Exile thought as he studied the dwarf king. ''Or not.'' Bargrux''s expression suddenly turned ugly as he noticed the changes Exile had gone through when he took Allyce as an Oracle.


    "Why''d you ruin your rugged good looks?" Bargrux cursed as he stormed toward the throne. "What the hell is this? Only a new oracle could do this!"


    Bargrux groaned as he studied Exile. "Dammit! What race is our new ally? Hm?"


    Exile chuckled in his mind for a moment. Bargrux was acting like an old friend and seemed to already ept Allyce''s people without knowing who they were. ''I guess I was worried all this time for nothing.'' However, that was when Exile felt the waves of divinity leaking from Bargrux''s figure. ''Seems Thovok really told the truth and wasn''t misled.''


    "My new Oracle is called Allyce. She belongs to the Great Eagle tribe of Warbeasts." Exile replied as he cocked an eyebrow at the dwarf king.


    "Well, I don''t care what you''ve promised her. But our agreement still stands! I won''t have a second less of your time just because you''ve gained some new followers." Bargrux hummed while shaking his head. "A bloody waste. At least you kept the beard."


    "Speaking of changes," Exile replied with a slight smile that made Bargrux freeze. "It seems I should congratte you. How did you do it?"


    "Well, about that." Bargrux chuckled with a glint in his eyes. "I owe you an apology. I used your war to gain ess to a rtive of mine."


    Bargrux stroked his beard as he studied Exile''s expression. "You wouldn''t know him since he''s been imprisoned for a long time. But he was a traitor to my family and my people. I took our vengeance and imed some things as rpense for his past actions."


    "Tell me, Exile, what do you know about the First Elements?" Bargrux said with a cocky grin.

 Chapter 261 God Meets Demigod (Part 2)

    261 God Meets Demigod (Part 2)


    Exile''s eyes narrowed at the question as he studied Bargrux. ''What''s he getting at with this?'' Exile hummed as he wondered how to respond. "If you''re asking if I know about them, then I do," Exile replied with an aloof expression. ''Don''t tell me he knows where I can find one! That''d make sense with what Thovok said!''


    Exile struggled to keep his excitement in check as he studied the dwarf king. Bargrux heartilyughed as he rubbed his rotund belly. Exile could only wait for his mirth to die down before fixing him with a curious gaze.


    "Forgive me. Of course, you know about them." Bargrux chuckled as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I was saving this for when you came to talk about th heavens. The greatest gift my people can offer."


    Bargrux took an intricate gold and silver box from a pouch on his belt. He cradled the box gently between his palms as he walked toward the throne and handed it to Exile.


    "Inside this box is the legacy of my great grandfather, the dwarven god Vors." Bargrux sighed. "It''s the reason my grandfather was so sessful in his war against the gods."


    Exile cocked an eyebrow in curiosity as he opened the lid. As soon as he did, he felt an immense amount of divine power wash over him. He studied the ck stone as it shone with a dark light. When he touched it with his right hand, a surprising message appeared.


    [Fragment of The First Ore: You are ipatible with this divine artefact. Requirements: Earth Element]


    Exile had suspected as much since he had only imed the Fragment of the First me due to his affinity with fire. ''What should I do with you?'' Exile frowned before he realised a problem. "This was hidden here in the mortalnds?" Exile asked as he carefully closed the lid of the box and stored it. "To be precise, my grandfather was in possession of it. His life was cut short upon its removal."


    ''I see. This is what he was after during the war. He''s taken his grandfather''s divinity for himself somehow and reimed a piece of The First Ore.'' Exile chuckled to himself. ''I''ve really been worrying too much.''


    "This is indeed a splendid gift, Bargrux," Exile replied as he nodded solemnly. "I can assure you that I appreciate it."


    "Thank you, Lord Exile," King Bargrux said while bowing as low as his belly would allow. "I felt it appropriate to gift it to the god who took my people in. Besides, we would never have recovered it or my grandfather''s divinity without you giving us ess to Skardia."


    "There are a few other matters I would like to discuss with you," Exile said as he sped his hands. "I havee in contact with another Pantheon. One that wishes to be my ally. However, the Queen of that Pantheon has requested the right to purchase dwarven goods. Specifically dwarven arms and armour."


    "Hm," Bargrux mumbled as he considered Exile''s words. "I don''t mind filling my coffers. However, I have two conditions."


    "Please, speak your mind."


    "First, we will sell directly to the Skardians. They will then sell them at an inted price. Half of the profits must go to King Harik. The other half must be donated to Ragnarok as a tribute on our behalf."


    "Very well," Exile replied with a smile on his face. "What''s your other condition?"


    "We will not sell them our best crafts. Anything of Royal Steel is off the table. Our best goods can only be used by those who directly worship Ragnarok." Bargrux replied in a tone that suggested he would not argue on the matter.


    Exile chuckled as he digested King Bargrux''s words. ''This is perfect. It means we''ll always have the superior military equipment while making money from lesser goods. Bargrux certainly knows what he is doing.''


    "I agree to these terms," Exile replied with a smile. "Now, I have a gift for you."


    Exile removed two small ck leather books from his inventory as he eyed Bargrux with a grin. He offered the books to the dwarven king, who gratefully epted them. Exile studied Bargrux''s expression as he scanned a few pages of the first book.


    "This, is it really?" Bargrux asked with wide eyes as he fanatically nced at Exile.


    "Yes, this is aplete record of my existence. Everything I''ve been through, both here and in the divine realm. I had Mikari organise this for you." Exile smiled as he looked at the ecstatic dwarf. "It''s the best I can do for now. I promised to share tales and talk with you when we first came to our agreement. Since I''ve been unable to give you my time, I thought this would make up for it."


    "Thank you, Lord Exile," Bargrux mumbled with tears in his eyes. "You have no idea what this means to my people."


    "Now, you should take a look at the other book," Exile said as he made a note of Bargrux''sst statement.


    Bargrux nodded as he closed the Book of Exile. When he opened the second one, a deep frown appeared on his face. Bargrux traced the pages with his fingers as he seemed lost in thought. Eventually, Exile coughed to get the dwarf king''s attention.


    "Well?" Exile asked with a low chuckle.


    "These are runes. There''s some dwarven influence in them, but also elven, human, and elden. What is thisnguage?" Bargrux asked in amazement.


    "These are Divine Runes. The firstnguage. There are some instructions on how to use them during your crafting process to produce greater results." Exile replied with a kind smile to Bargrux''s astonished expression.


    "Lord Exile, this is a treasure beyond anything that can be found in this mountain. You''ve given my people something that can never be reced. How can I repay you?" Bargrux stammered as he stared at the small book in awe.


    "I would like for you to allow the worship of other members of my Pantheon among your people," Exile replied with a slight smile. "There''s one god, in particr, I believe your people would like to get to know. MidasTouch, God of Fortune."


    "Hm, I promised that you would be the only god we would worship. Are you sure you want to give that up?" Bargrux grumbled, but Exile could see the greed in his eyes.


    "Yes, but we can keep the condition that every dwarf must also worship me," Exile replied with a nod. "Also, sometime soon I would like to discuss the forging of a new weapon for me. Once you master how to use runes during the initial stages."


    "Hm, I dly ept," Bargrux said as he nodded his head. "Perhaps we should rethink your armour. You''ll want it to represent the Eagles as well."


    "Aren''t the wings on my helm sufficient for that?" Exile asked with a frown.


    "Of course, they aren''t! That''s a Skardian design! No, I''ll need to get a good look at you when we''re ready to design something worthy." Bargrux clicked his tongue as he stared at the god sitting on the throne. "I''ve got a feeling you''re hiding something. Maybe a trait of this new race, eh?"


    ''Oh, my wings.'' Exile chuckled as a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "You''ll find out once you solve the runecrafting method. I''m afraid I''m running out of time. Harik and his army will be here soon to give you whatever aid you require. My wolves, Skovi and Ska will also join in the defence of your home. Goodbye, for now, Bargrux."


    "Thank you, Lord Exile. The Mountain always wees you." Exile cancelled his Avatar spell as soon as those words left Bargrux''s mouth. When he opened his eyes inside his room, Exile''s thoughts ran wild. ''What should I do with The First Ore?'' Exile hummed as he paced around his room.


    ''There are a few options. One would be to give it to Midas.'' Exile considered what oue that would lead to before considering his other options. ''Of course, I could always hold on to it.'' Exile suddenly thought with a frown. ''When I reach the next Tier I can choose another element. If I choose Earth...''


    ''But that doesn''t guarantee I''ll be able to use it since I already hold The First me.'' Exile sighed. ''Maybe I should hold a meeting with the officers to discuss this. After all, it affects the entire Pantheon. We need more power now to deal with Nar''Kozz when hees. If Noslin seeds and returns to us, then there''ll be three first element holders in our army.''


    He briefly recalled how Vors fought during Allevia''s Inheritance. Exile could only see benefits to nurturing someone to be like that. ''Maybe I should look for someone who''s interested in crafting with the potential to create divine weaponryter.''


    That seemed like a solid n to Exile. However, he would definitely run it by the officers first since none of them came to mind as a potential cksmith. ''Crap! I forgot about the time! I better hurry before Bjorn or Ania exposes Skalr!''


    Exile cursed loudly before throwing himself on the bed. A momentter, he felt his consciousness descending to the mortal realms yet again.


    Bjorn cursed loudly, as he stumbled through the forest. ''How can I lose that old goat in the middle of the day!'' He felt frustrated by Skalr, who would often disappear in the middle of the night. However, this was one of only two times he had vanished into the woods during their march. ''He''s got to be around here somewhere!''


    My apologies. I fell sick and became unable to do the Mass Release Marathon. On the bright side, that''s two months of stable releases since I returned! As always, thank you for your support. It means so much to me.


    Antihero

 Chapter 262 Master and Apprentice (Part 1)

    262 Master and Apprentice (Part 1)


    "Where do you keep running off to?" Bjorn grumbled as he sat down on a log next to Skalr. "So, you''ve been keeping an eye on me?" Skalr chuckled as he carved a new runestone. "Of course, I have," Bjorn sighed. "We can''t have you disappearing when we still need you. What if something happens to you?"


    "Then that is my fate," Skalr replied with a shrug as Bjorn groaned in frustration. "Have you been studying the runes?"


    "Yes, I''ve memorised the first few pages." Bjorn eventually replied while ring at Skalr''s surprised expression. "I''ve got a damn good memory."


    "Hm, is that so? Let''s put it to the test." Skalr handed Bjorn several smooth stones and a special carving knife. "You can keep that. Think of it as a gift from a master to their apprentice."


    Skalr chuckled as Bjorn''s eyes went wide. He studied the knife carefully before letting out a small gasp.


    "This was crafted by the dwarves! How did you get this?" Bjorn asked, surprised that he had never noticed before whenever he saw Skalr carving runes. "My peoplemissioned them from the dwarves long ago. Their steel can cut stone easily, making it far easier to engrave runestones." Skalr repliedzily, as he returned to his work. "They are perfect for this delicate work."


    Bjorn studied the old Runelord with curiosity as he turned the knife over in his hand. "I take it you want me to carve every rune I remember?"


    "That''s right. Take your time." Skalr replied with a carefree nod of his head. Bjorn frowned as he ced the pile of smooth stones in the snow at his feet. He carefully selected one before turning the slender de on it. Momentster, Bjorn cursed when he realised he had engraved his first line wrong. He nced sideways at Skalr, who let out a chuckle.


    "Take it slow I said. You''re new to this. In time, you''ll be able to carve faster." Skalr smiled without taking his eyes off his own stone. "Slow and deliberate is better than fast and reckless. They won''t work if you get it even slightly wrong. Now, try again."


    Bjorn cursed again as he ruined another stone within minutes. However, Skalr seemed unphased by his failure. The camp around them started to bustle with activity at that point as everyone started their morning routine. Bjorn soon found the noise could easily break his concentration as he failed twice more. He cursed silently as he watched his small pile dwindle further without any sess. Before Bjorn knew it, he became engrossed in getting it right. Another stone was thrown aside as he failed halfway through.


    By this point, Skalr had finished with his and was now watching Bjorn in silence with a smile on his face. Bjorn cursed loudly as he tossed another stone aside, having failed at thest line. He took several deep breaths before starting again on his final stone.


    Skalr nodded when he noticed the noise no longer bothered Bjorn. A grin spread across his face as Bjorn traced the final line of his first rune from the book. Sweat dripped down Bjorn''s brow as he studied theplete runestone in his palm.


    "Well done," Skalr said, breaking the silence. "May I?"


    Bjorn handed it over to Skalr reluctantly for his evaluation. He studied the old Runelord as Skalr inspected his work with a frown. Skalr would mumble when something caught his interest and nod when he seemed to approve of something. little too deep in these parts and too shallow here. But it''s a good effort. Why don''t you give it a try and see if it works."


    Bjorn nodded as he took the runestone. ''He''s right. Now that I really look at it again I''ve failed to keep all the lines at the same depth.'' Bjorn wondered for a moment what kind of effect it would have on the rune''s magic when he activated it. He took a deep breath when he felt Skalr''s gaze boring into him.


    A dim light glowed from the small stone as Bjorn wore a disappointed expression. ''It''s not as bright as the light stones Skalr gave us in the tunnels.'' He sighed as he nced at Skalr who was already handing him another pile of stones.


    "Well, it works. Be patient. You''ll get it right." Skalr said with a gentle smile as Bjorn took the stones.


    ''There''s seven of them again.'' Bjorn frowned for a moment. ''Wait, did he know how many it would take for me to create one that would work?'' Bjorn''s eyebrows arched as he studied the wrinkled face of Skalr. He felt a chill run down his spine as the Runelord turned his attention to carving another rune.


    ''That''s a terrifying thought.'' Bjorn grumbled. ''I should continue with the Light rune until I get it right. I have a feeling that''s what he expects me to do rather than start a new rune.'' As Bjorn started carving the same rune again, he noticed Skalr nodding approvingly in his peripheral vision.


    Bjorn quicklypleted another two copies of the Light rune but remained unsatisfied with the result. He picked out his failures on his own before asking Skalr for his opinion. When he tested them, he noticed that each one was slightly brighter than his first.


    ''They''re still a long way from Skalr''s.'' Bjorn sighed as he started work on another one. He slowed down as he paid more attention to the depth of his lines. Three more runestonester, he discovered that although he had seeded at carving all the lines at the same depth, the result was not much better.


    "What am I doing wrong?" Bjorn asked aloud as he studied histest rune.


    "This line here isn''t quite right." Skalr chuckled as he pointed to it with the tip of his knife. "The curve isn''t steep enough."


    "It seems right to me," Bjorn grumbled with a frown as he pulled the book from a pouch.


    When he opened it to the first page andpared the two runes he cursed. ''It''s barely any different! It''s only a slight bit off!'' Bjorn struggled to suppress his frustration as he red at the two runes. Most people would not notice the difference. That was how small the mistake he had made was.


    ''How did he notice it with just a nce?'' Bjorn wondered as he continued topare them. ''Is it his experience?'' Bjorn had no other exnation for it. He knew cksmiths that could tell if a de was not right, even if nothing appeared to be wrong. However, that thought just instilled in his mind that it was a craft worth learning. He quickly picked up a fresh stone and left the book open on hisp. Bjorn took his time carving the following stones, discarding them the moment he made even the slightest mistake. Before he knew it, he was on his final stone again.


    Bjorn could only shake his head when he carved his best Light rune yet on it. As far as he could see, he had not made even the tiniest of mistakes with it. He immediately activated it, and a bright light lit up the area around the strange pair despite it being daylight.


    "You''ve finally got it." Skalr chuckled. "Congrattions."


    Skalr slowly handed Bjorn another ten stones. "Now, make ten more just like it without wasting a single stone. If you fail once, you''ll start over again."


    Bjorn''s eyebrows shot up as he stared at Skalr. ''sted old coot!'' He thought as he took the stones. ''And where''s he getting all these stones from anyway?'' Bjorn frowned as he prepared to start carving again. ''He''s got to be running out!''


    "Lady Ania, should I tell them to pack up?" Fjora asked as she stared at Bjorn and Skalr from beside Ania''s tent.


    Ania watched the pair of them with a thoughtful expression for a moment. "No, tell everyone we''ll take a full day''s rest here before moving on. It seems Bjorn is making some progress with his studies. We can''t let it slip away."


    "Yes, Princess," Fjora replied as she bowed her head before moving off to let the captains know.


    Ania sighed as she stepped back inside her tent. ''Exile hasn''t visited since that night.'' Ania''s face turned red as she recalled what happened. ''I guess I should be grateful he epted my kiss. I can''t believe he left after that without doing anything else!''


    Ania did not know whether to be mad or grateful that nothing happened beyond the kiss. She had acted impatiently, spurred on by Allyce''s actions. ''Maybe it''s because I can''t give him a child. Or perhaps he''s just being considerate.'' Ania sighed as she tried to unravel the hidden meanings behind that night.


    ''Since he epted my advances, I ''m allowed to hope, right?'' Ania chewed on her lower lip as she rubbed the symbol at her neck. ''He wouldn''t have kissed me back if he wasn''t interested.'' She sighed at the thought of howplicated her rtionship with Exile had be. ''Should I just ask him what he wants?'' She groaned as she imagined him turning him down despite the recent events. ''What if he''s interested in Allyce?'' Ania clenched her fists as she remembered the stunning woman with the wings. ''No, I haven''t lost to her. I can make this work!'' Ania silently decided to be more forward with her feelings the next time she was alone with Exile.

 Chapter 263 Master and Apprentice (Part 2)

    263 Master and Apprentice (Part 2)


    "No elves this time," Fjora said as they regrouped outside the second vige. "Everything else was the same. The temple, tunnels, and the strange memory."


    "It''s too clean." Ania sighed as she nced at Bjorn and Skalr talking. "Everything we need to give us cause for flushing the elven religion out."


    "You think Skalr''s ying us?" Fjora asked.


    "I''m not sure. At the least, I can believe his oath was real."


    Ania chuckled when she saw the look of surprise on Fjora''s face."Exile confirmed it was real."


    "So what''s going on?"


    "Perhaps we''re just pawns in a game of gods." Ania sighed. "One thing I do know, we could still end up in a war with the elves."


    "How do you figure?"


    "Skalr swore an oath to protect Skardia. But what counts as a threat? If we run into peaceful elves, we can''t let him start something. Keep an eye on Bjorn. He''s getting too caught up in learning from Skalr."


    Meanwhile, Skalr studied the collection of runestones Bjorn had handed him. He wore an amused grin on his face when he handed them back.


    "You''re ready," Skalr said as he pped Bjorn''s shoulder. "It''s time to put you to the test inbat."


    "What?" Bjorn asked in confusion as he pocketed the stones. "We''re going to have a mock battle. First to draw blood wins." Skalr replied. "Let''s see how you use these runestones in a fight."


    Bjorn raised his eyebrows as Skalr beckoned for him to follow. He led him to the edge of their camp, where Skalr drew his de.


    "Draw your weapon," Skalr said with a calm expression. "Once you raise it, our battle will start. Don''t try to go easy on me. You''ll only lose if you do that."


    Bjorn chuckled as he pulled his great hammer from his back. ''This is more my speed.'' Bjorn eyed Skalr, who kept his de down by his side in his hand. ''He isn''t even on guard. This should be over quickly.''


    Bjorn raised his hammer and nodded to signal he was ready. However, Skalr did not react andzily watched Bjorn with a carefree expression on his face. ''Why isn''t he preparing at all?''


    Bjorn shrugged and charged forward with a roar. He kept his eyes on Skalr''s sword for any sign of him attempting to block or counter-attack. However, all he saw was Skalr releasing a sigh before he raised his left hand.


    ''What the fuck!'' Bjorn groaned as a bright sh of golden light blinded him for a moment. Bjorn yelped as he felt a sudden stinging sensation on his neck. As his eyes readjusted he realised Skalr was gone from in front of him.


    "You fail," Skalr said with a sigh as Bjorn turned to look behind him. "What?" Bjorn asked, too shocked to understand what Skalr meant. Skalrzily pointed to Bjorn''s neck, where a thin line of blood had appeared. ''When did he?'' That was when Bjorn realised the sh had been a distraction to allow Skalr to draw blood! ''How did he cut me?'' Bjorn nced at Skalr''s de. However, it looked like an ordinary iron de that his skin had deflected before.


    That was until Skalr turned it to reveal a runestone stuck in a slot on its handle. Bjorn''s eyebrows arched up as he tried to understand what exactly had happened. "This is how a Runelord fights," Skalr said as he handed his sword to Bjorn. "Your hammer is too unwieldy. It takes up both of your hands. If you had a free hand, you could have activated one of your runestones. That was the whole point of this fight. Don''t you remember?"


    Bjorn frowned as he recalled Skalr mentioning it was a fight to see how he would use his runes. However, Bjorn had seen no point wasting time on runes when he felt certain his body alone would allow him tond a blow before Skalr could do anything.


    "Your way of fighting is too narrow-minded for a Runelord," Skalr said while shaking his head. "You have to be adaptable to any situation. Either by using loose runestones in unexpected ways or bybining them with your weapon. I suggest you get yourself a weapon like mine soon."


    Bjorn frowned as he studied the handle of the sword. Now that he held it, he could see three slots in a shape that could hold a runestone. "Why three slots?" Bjorn asked curiously as he rubbed the blood from his neck.


    "Sometimes it''s best to load your sword in advance with different runes. You can activate them depending on the situation." Skalr smiled as he took his sword back. "Would you like to try again?"


    Bjorn nodded silently as he created some distance between himself and Skalr yet again. By this point, several warriors that included Fjora had gathered to watch their match. Many of them were interested in Skalr''s skill as a warrior since they had never seen him fight. Fjora chuckled when she saw the stern expression on Bjorn''s face as he dug around in his pocket. ''He''s getting serious. It seems Skalr is more dangerous than I thought.'' Fjora smirked as she overheard some warriors betting among themselves.


    "I''ll join this bet. Five gold on Skalr." Fjora grinned as the warriors shrugged.


    Skalr remained motionless as he waited for Bjorn to make the first move again. However, this time, Bjorn carefully checked his stash of runestones before raising his weapon. ''This should work.'' Bjorn nodded to himself as he kept three stones in his left hand.


    As soon as he nodded, Bjorn tossed his hammer at Skalr! Thetter''s eyes went wide as he ducked under it only for a runestone tond at his feet! A bright sh of light went off as Bjorn dashed forward and swung his fist!


    However, several golden threads burst out of the snow to restrain him! Skalr chuckled as his eyesight came back after the sh to see Bjorn caught in his trap.


    "Not bad," Skalr grinned while taking several steps forward. "But don''t think you can use my tricks against me. Although, throwing your hammer was a good distraction."


    Skalr used his sword to give Bjorn another nick before deactivating his hidden runestones. Bjorn grumbled as he rubbed his neck again as his body trembled.


    "You need to pay attention to your surroundings. Runestones can also be used to set up traps and turn a disadvantage into a chance to turn things around." Skalr exined loud enough for the gathered warriors to hear. "Eventually, you''re going to face magic shing with the elves. You have to even the field. Always be thinking a few moves ahead."


    "A battle involving magic isn''t about overpowering your opponent. It''s about out-thinking them." Skalr continued as he nced at the small crowd. "Even if you don''t have magic on your side, you should be wondering what your opponent may try to do. Don''t fall for provocations or follow their rhythm. You''ll end up exactly where they want you."


    "When did you set up the trap?" Bjorn asked as he reviewed theirst exchange. However, he did not recall Skalr making any moves to toss runestones around.


    "When you were blind during the first exchange," Skalr replied with a grin. "As I said, always be thinking ahead. Shall we go again?"


    Bjorn nodded silently as the pair prepared themselves. ''There has to be a way to beat him. Maybe I should use the next two exchanges to set up a win on the third.'' Bjorn sighed when he had that thought. ''That''s no use. Skalr is nning to win every battle. Not how to throw one just to win the next. What would he do in my position?''


    Meanwhile, Paul shrugged as Colt wheezed. Thetter was kneeling on the training mats with a weighted wooden de next to him. "It''s an interesting new style you have," Paul chuckled as he helped Colt to his feet. "But it doesn''t suit you. So, spears are out. Same with swords and axes."


    Paul scratched his jaw as he nced at the training equipment dotted around the room. "You need a free hand to get the most use out of your new powers. So that makes two-handed weapons useless. But most one-handed weapons don''t have the same range you''re used to now."


    "Please tell me you have an idea," Colt groaned as he returned the sword to its rack. "It needs to be something I can add runestones to. It''s the next step in maximising my Rune Authority''s potential."


    "Hybrid fighter, using might and magic. You want to focus on interchangeable enchantments and disposable tools instead of spells." Paul nced at the ceiling as he thought through what that style would look like. "It''s a smart move since other yers will reach Tier 2 soon. A battle with them would see your DP draining quickly. You want to hold the advantage against many opponents at once. So, maybe... Yeah, that could work!"


    Paul chuckled as he walked towards a rack at the rear of the training hall. Colt rubbed his ribs as he watched Paul eyeing several different weapons before picking one up. Colt''s eyes went wide as Paul walked back to him holding the weapon he had chosen for Colt.


    "You can''t be serious. Are you?" Colt asked as he took the weighted weapon from Paul.


    "Oh, I''m dead serious. I''m sure you''ll understand once I exin it to you. But before I do that, just trust me. You''ll have to learn the basics and I''ll help you develop a style that suits everything you want to use." Paul chuckled as a wide grin appeared on his face.

 Chapter 264 Master and Apprentice (Part 3)

    Chapter 264 Master and Apprentice (Part 3)


    "This is a Bo Staff," Paul said as Colt eyed the weapon. "It''s light, has decent range, and be used defensively or for offensive manoeuvres."


    "Doesn''t it require two hands, though?" Colt asked as he held it up.


    "You''re right, but it''s light enough that it won''t be unwieldy. You can easily hold it with one hand when using a runestone." Paul replied while nodding. "It''s long enough that if you have one made in-game, you can have plenty of sockets added to it. That''ll further increase your options and make you less predictable."


    Colt scratched his cheek as he nced from Paul to the staff in his hand. He felt dubious about Paul''s judgement and thought it lookedme. ''Who would even be afraid of this?'' Colt sighed. ''It''s going to ruin my image in the game. It''s not exciting to look at, so why would our viewers want to watch my fights?''


    "You look disappointed," Paul chuckled. "I admit, it''s not shy. But this is a training weapon. You can always have your in-game one made to look more borate with decorations."


    Colt sighed as he exined his other concerns to Paul. He could not see his followers understanding why he would use a staff. "I wouldn''t worry so much," Jay chuckled as he approached the pair.


    "How long have you been there?" Colt asked as Jay''s statement startled him.


    "He''s been there since the start of our fight. You were too focused on beating me to realise it." Paul smirked as he patted Colt''s shoulder.


    Thetter groaned as he shot a curious gaze toward Jay. "What do you mean I shouldn''t worry about it?"


    "Hm, this weapon could be a great choice," Jay said as he handed a holopad to Colt. "This is an overview our writers havee up with for your character moving forward. I suggest going with it if you want to draw popr support."


    Colt scanned the report on the holopad with a frown. ''What the hell? This can''t be right!'' Colt groaned as he nced sideways at Jay.


    "Is this right? Midas, Winter, and Mikari are the three most popr yers for Ragnarok?" Colt asked with a grim expression.


    "To be more urate, they''re the most popr neers. Your share is still higher, but that''s because of your existing fanbase." Jay shrugged. "If things keep going this way, they''ll overtake you." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Why are they gaining so many followers?" "Our analysts believe it''s because they''re showing umon strengths." Jay sighed. "Midas is an excellent negotiator. He''s been behind much of the now booming trade across Skardia and with the Dwarves. Winter is creating entertaining dreams and nightmares. She works behind the scenes, but her results are spectacr. As for Mikari, well, his strategies, intuition, and how his mind works have the viewers fascinated with him."


    "Whereas I''m allbat, and rune enchantments are boring to watch." Colt hummed as he rubbed his chin. "So, how does the staff improve my situation?"


    "As you can see, on page four, the writers want to rewrite your character. We have to change aspects of your behaviour in-game to make you appear like you have hidden depths." Jay''s grin split his face from ear to ear as a glint appeared in his eyes. "They want to create an air of mystery around your character. To make you appear wise, as a warrior, and a father figure to all of Skardia."


    "So the staff will make you appear wiser, like a wizard, as well as make your figure appear more weing." Jay chuckled. "After all, meeting with a god who has a spear and shield on him at all times can be intimidating. I''d have your new staff in-game engraved with mystic symbols and runes to help reinforce the wisdom aspect."


    Colt groaned as he realised where this was going. "At the same time, the Bo Staff is a good all-round weapon for closebat and doesn''t interfere with my runestones or spells. Basically, it''ll serve to make people lower their guard around me as they don''t perceive much of a threat."


    "Correct!" Jayughed. "In reality, you''ll be deadlier than ever. Even more so if you have runestones at your fingertips embedded in the staff. The only problem left to deal with is your choice of armour."


    "Wait! What''s wrong with my armour?" Colt asked as Paul chuckled.


    "Lighter armour would be better," Paul replied. "It''ll reinforce the unthreatening vibe the writers are going for as allow you to move more freely. Which will help when using the staff. It''ll be better to use it as a counter-attack. So deflect and follow up with an attack. When your opponents are at range, use your magic and runes. It''s definitely the way to go."


    "God damn it!" Colt groaned as he nced from Paul to Jay. "This is aplete change from what I''m used to! How am I meant to learn all this before I''m forced to use it?"


    "You''ll have to spend more time here with me." Paul sighed as he shrugged his shoulders. "I''ll drill it into you in no time. Well, the basics anyway. It''ll take us some time toe up with effectivebos using the staff and your spells. But we''ll get there. In my opinion, it sounds like a solid hybrid build. Which is what you need."


    "There was always going to be growing pains when you decided on this." Jay sighed. "Which is why it''s better to start on this path now. Plus, Paul''s an expert with weapons. You should trust his judgement."


    "I know, I know," Colt groaned. "It''s just so different to anything I''ve done before. It''s like saying I''ve wasted my potential all this time."


    "It happens," Paul said with a slight smile. "Most people will use the wrong weapon for them their entire lives. Simply because it looks cool. Or theyck guidance. This is the best thing for you, trust me on that."


    "Well, I''ll leave you, boys, to it. I''ll let Mike know you''ll be cutting down your time in-game for a few days. Oh, has Mike spoken to you about his concerns yet?" Jay asked with a frown.


    "What concerns?" Colt asked with surprise on his face.


    "Hm, he came to us to get the opinion of the writers. I guess he thought they could confirm if his opinion was usible. Anyway, he doesn''t think all these recent events are coincidence." Jay hummed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "He thinks someone was behind the elves invading, the dwarves discovering Harik''s actions, and whatever caused the hunt for the Eagle called Allyce."


    "Wait, my brother thinks someone is manipting all these events? Why?"


    "To destabilise Skardia before it solidifies its foundation with Ragnarok at its heart. Maybe you should talk to him about it. The writers thought it sounded too farfetched. Maybe the elves and dwarves are linked. But they thought the events surrounding Allyce were likely a coincidence. They couldn''t see any way that could have been controlled."


    "Thanks for letting me know," Colt replied as he nodded his head. ''Damn it, Mike, why didn''t you tell me this first?''


    "No problem. I''ll leave you, boys, to it." Jay waved as he walked away while Paul wore a pensive expression.


    "I hate to say it Colt, but maybe Mike is right." Paul suddenly said as he rubbed his chin. "It''s too much happening at the same time. It would make sense for it to be a coordinated attack on Skardia."


    "Even if it is, who''s behind it? They''re three different races. It would be hard to make them do what you want without controlling them all. I met Laskia, and I can''t see someone being behind her giving her orders."


    "So, if Mike''s right, she was manipted into moving that way. Though, I do agree there was little room for controlling the oue of Allyce''s events. So maybe that was a fluke. But you should look into the events concerning the dwarves and elves more. Otherwise, you might find yourself in hot water without knowing it."


    "I''ll let Mike know to go with his gut when I see him again. Even if everyone else thinks it''s unlikely. If he''s got a bad feeling about it, I''d rather trust his judgement than ignore it." Colt replied as he gripped th Bo Staff tightly. "Now, should we get on with training? I have no idea how to use this thing."


    Paul chuckled at Colt''s embarrassed smile before nodding his head. "Let me grab one for myself. That way you can follow along with my movements. The basics are easy enough, the hard partes when we develop a free-flowbat style."


    Colt nodded as Paul ran off to pick a training staff for himself. ''It feels different in the centre.'' Colt thought as he tested how it felt in his hands. He noticed the middle was thicker than its ends. "Ok," Paul said as he returned with a staff of his own. "The first thing you should know is that your staff''s ideal length depends on your height. So the one you''ll use here is smaller than the one you want to be made in Pantheon. You know, since your avatar is taller than you now."


    "You''ll want it to be slightly shorter than your height. Ok?" Paul said as he fixed a stern expression on his face. "Luckily, we''ve already warmed up. So we can move on to simple movements. The first thing we''ll go through is spinning. Now, these aren''t ideal for fighting. But they''ll build up strength in your wrists and start producing muscle memory. They''ll help when you want to confuse your enemy as a distraction of switch stances. Now, let''s begin."

 Chapter 265 Master and Apprentice (Part 4)

    Chapter 265 Master and Apprentice (Part 4)


    "Punch out with more force!" Paul shouted as Colt ran through the drills. "That''s it! Feel the heel of the staff snap back to rest against your elbow. Don''t worry about getting bruised. You''ll toughen up when you get used to it."


    Colt nodded as he alternated punching up with his left and right hands before punching down. When the staff came to rest horizontally in front of his chest, he admired how fast it moved. ''Punching up in this stance strikes an opponent on the temples. When I punch down, it hits their legs. But, if I do the punches fast enough, then all four can be done in the same time as a single sh and recovery with a sword.''


    "Ok, switch to Horse stance and do the overhead rib strikes!" Paul called out.


    Colt spread his legs as if he were riding a horse and raised his staff overhead. As he spun the staff in a fluid motion, he lowered into the horse stance. As the weapon snapped to a halt, he imagined its tip striking an opponent''s ribs. ''This attack uses the momentum of the spin, the downward motion, and the delivery muscles of both arms to create a powerful rib strike.''


    Colt continued to practice the move while alternating his dominant hand. This was to train both his left and right so he would not fall into a more easily understood pattern because he favoured one over the other. "Good, now give me nine forward lunges. Three to the sr plexus, three to the throat, and three to between your opponent''s eyes. Then, switch your dominant hand and give the same routine!" Paul called out.


    Colt frowned as he took a forward stance before performing the first three lunges. ''Striking the sr plexus causes my opponent''s diaphragm to spasm.'' Then, he moved on to lunging at an imaginary throat. ''Striking the throat will leave them unable to breathe.'' Then, it was time for the strikes to be between an opponent''s eyes. ''They will likely close their eyes and lose focus. Any strike to the head can potentially kill someone with enough force.''


    "Good form. But remember, uracy is key! What use are speed, strength, and power if you''re unable to hit what you are aiming at?" Paul said as he circled Colt. "Well done, now, move on to overhead strikes. Remember, half step forward and rest your staff on the shoulder. Complete the step forward and snap that staff down at an angle to strike the neck, shoulder or vicle of your opponent. Begin!"


    ''The Bo Staff is more dangerous than I thought.'' Colt frowned as he performed the exercise. ''It''s fast and carries a lot of power in its strikes. I hate to say it, but maybe Paul was right.'' He enjoyed the different spins with one and both hands, but they were mainly for getting used to how his staff felt in his hands. Paul had taught them to him so he could understand the bnce of his new weapon while building strength and flexibility in his muscles and joints. However, when Colt used the yback function of the training hall to analyse everything he had done, he could not help but feel it looked cool to watch. ''The spins aren''t much use in realbat. But in the game, they can distract my opponents and could still be useful for blocking projectiles and spells.'' Colt hummed as he thought to himself. ''I should definitely use them in-game to make it more entertaining to watch for the viewers. More importantly, they''ll serve best as a distraction for activating embedded runestones.'' Colt chuckled to himself as he finished the exercise.


    "Ok, take a break and let''s talk," Paul said as he tossed a bottle of water to Colt.


    Colt sighed in relief as he sipped the water before sitting cross-legged on the mats in front of Paul. When thetter sat down with a pensive expression on his face, Colt became curious as to what his instructor had to say.


    "Ok, I''ve done some thinking," Paul said as he scratched his jaw. "Essentially, we''re going for something simr to the Monk ss in other games."


    "I figured as much myself." Colt sighed as he thought about the ss. "They can be tough to deal with because of their buffs and versatile skills."


    "Yeah, but you''re in a unique position." Paul cocked an eyebrow as he studied Colt. "Usually, monks serve as frontlinebatants with support abilities. Like self-buffs, team heals, and so on. Now, with your enchanting abilities, your weapon and armour will act as your self-buffs."


    "Ok, but I can also use my runes and spells to cover healing," Colt replied with a frown.


    "True, but stay with me here. I think you should lean into the dark element." Paul said with a serious expression stered on his face.


    "Wait, why?" Colt asked as his eyes went wide. "I told you Allevia''s Will will see me as an enemy! Plus, that''ll take me down the Dark god route! If I do that, there''s no telling how my followers will react!"


    "Listen to me carefully," Paul replied with a sigh. "I''ve been going over the details of what you saw in Amari''s space. No matter how I look at it, all I see are natural urrences. Who decided that the dark element was evil? The old gods? Why?"


    "Because it leads to elements that are harmful, I guess," Colt replied hesitantly. However, Paul shook his head.


    "No, I think it was because they were afraid of the power. I think it can do more than just debuff and increase destructive power. Amari himself was proof of that." Paul said as he rubbed his chin. "By using chaos, he could bring about positive effects, as well as negative. I think it''s all a matter of perspective."


    Colt frowned as he recalled Amari''s battle in the Inheritance against three Light gods. Then, when he recalled Amari''s space, he realised it was filled with life.


    "Let''s take his undead as an example. Now, death is natural. Imagine dying with regrets. Wishing you could do more to protect the ones you love. Would you ept being turned into an undead if it meant you could do that?" Paul said with a slight smile. "Most people probably would. So in this case, the undead are seen as something horrible, but when used to protect the living they be eptable. It''s not the power itself that''s the problem, but how it''s used." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "So, you''re suggesting my followers will ept my power, no matter what it is, as long as it''s used to benefit them?" Colt asked with a frown.


    "Exactly!" Paul replied while nodding his head. "Explore the dark element more. Start experimenting withbining it with fire. Let''s face it. At some point, you''ll have to fight Arthur. I can guarantee he''ll follow the path of Light. For most of your career, you''ve been nothing but his shadow. It''s time to follow your own path."


    "There''s one problem," Colt said with a sigh. "How am I meant to be a healer following the dark element? It''s too good of an ability in this game to ignore it so easily."


    "I have faith the dark element can do something simr," Paul replied with a slight grin. "You must know in most games there are abilities that allow you to steal the health of others and use it to replenish your health bar. Well, I believe those abilities are hidden in the dark element. It''s unorthodox, and yers dislike it. That''s usually because their moralpass tells them it''s wrong to steal another''s power or health."


    "However, as an ability, it''s powerful. You weaken your opponent and strengthen yourself at the same time. Over time, it could turn the tide of any battle. Especially group ones, if you can find a way to transfer it to your team." Paul continued as he studied Colt for his reaction. "Think of it this way, just now you have to fight for followers. Because your Authority is not useful to everyone. But what does every mortal experience? Something that no one can escape?"


    "Death?" Colt replied after a brief pause.


    "Correct. If you''re a god that can grant them peace in death or torture them for eternity for not believing in you, what do you think will happen?"


    "No matter who they are, or what they do. They''ll worship me because death cane for anyone at any time." Colt murmured.


    "Exactly, so work towards promising them a better eternity after life rather than making their short lives easier. Salvation, reincarnation, and heaven. They''re all keystones of why popr religions have endured. Follow their example."


    Colt nodded as he realised Paul''s analysis made sense. ''Ok, now I know what element I have to choose when I reach Tier 3.'' Colt thought as he tried to imagine his path ahead. ''It''s going to be rough. Other yers won''t like it, and I risk sparking another War of the Fallen. But the point is to win the game. All I need in the end is for Ragnarok to stand behind me.''


    Paul smiled when he saw the look of eptance and determination on Colt''s face. ''It looks like he''s found his path. It was never about throwing away what you already know. But discovering what more there was to your path.'' Paul thought as he nodded silently. ''Your potential is amazing. I hope I get to see the day when you discover the limits of the Domain technique...''

 Chapter 266 Rebels Agenda

    Chapter 266 Rebel''s Agenda


    "Thanks for this Jay," Paul said as he took a unique training staff from him. "It''ll work with the system?"


    "Yeah, we had to contact the developers for it. They were happy toply." Jay shrugged as he eyed the staff. "Is it really necessary for his training?"


    "Definitely," Paul sighed. "His weapon is a big part of his strength. He needs to be able to train with the same powers out here."


    "If it works, it works," Jay chuckled as he handed a box to Paul. "These are the robes you requested for him to get used to moving in them. Mind if I stay to watch the show?"


    "Not at all," Paul chuckled. "You''ll have to wait until he''s ready."


    "Of course," Jay grinned as he looked around. "I''ll have someone bring me a seat."


    Jay chuckled as he called down to reception. Minutester, a chair, table, and holo recorder were brought in. As he thanked the man from the staff, Jay ced a small device on the table. When he activated the device, several holo screens appeared, showing several executives of Rebel Energy.


    "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules." Jay began with a smile. "You are all aware of our ongoing partnership with Ragnarok. Our profits are up, and there are a lot of eyes on us and Ragnarok right now. Mr Anderson is currently one of the leading yers in the game. However, through rigorous training, Mr Anderson is ready to shake off what everyone expects of him."


    "What does that mean?" One of the women on the screens asked. "Our whole marketing strategy just now revolves around Mr Anderson and his reputation. Making a change now could hurt us."


    "I''m d you asked," Jay nodded. "Just now, when people see Exile, they still see Excalibur. But without the high reputation of other team members. So, it''s still free marketing for Camelot. With his new style, I think you''ll agree there''s not a trace of Excalibur to be seen. People will see that Rebel Energy has helped to elevate Mr Anderson beyond what he was capable of. Which is exactly in line with our products. Higher performance and so on."


    "Ok," The same woman from before said while nodding. "Colour me intrigued. If this works out, it''ll be excellent promotional material. When can we see the results Mr Anderson has been working toward?" "In a few moments," Jay smirked. "Mr Anderson is currently preparing before a mock fight in Ragnarok''s training hall. You should keep in mind that everything you are about to see is in real life. Which means Mr Anderson''s top performance in-game will be higher."


    "And, who will be his opponents?" "Friends of the head instructor. They''ve recently been hired as secondary instructors to help bring the entire team up to speed. They''re all familiar with the setup, and I''m told they''re extremely capable."


    "Very well, we look forward to the demonstration."


    "Thank you, and it looks like Mr Anderson is ready now." Jay smiled as he turned the camera function toward the mats.


    Colt walked out from the changing rooms in loose-fitting ck robes pulled tight at the waist. ''These sleeves are going to be annoying.'' Colt sighed at how baggy they were, even though he knew they could be useful. He frowned as he stepped onto the mats where Paul was waiting to referee. With a smile, he handed Colt the custom-made Bo Staff. "You''ll have to set the runes for each slot at the screen over there before the fight begins. You can change them out to test different strategies. Hope you appreciate it."


    "Thanks, Paul." Colt chuckled as he felt its weight. "How good are these guys I''m going up against?"


    "They''re good but not as good as me. Facing these five will be easier than taking me on." Paul grinned.


    Fivebatants already in gear walked into the training hall. ''Three women and two men.'' Colt frowned as he studied their physiques. ''Paul wouldn''t tell me a thing about their styles. This is to simte five random attackers with various weapons and styles. This is going to be tough.''


    Colt slowly walked to the screen and navigated its updated software that allowed him to select his rune slots and their spells. ''I should try this. It''s still new but could be handy. I definitely need these two. Three slots left, but what do I pick? I need synergy between my attacks.''


    Colt hummed as he went through the new personal runes he had created the past few days. ''Ok, this one is a definite.'' Colt eyed his remaining choices before settling on his final two. ''This should be good.'' Colt nodded as six circr slots lit up in the middle of the staff.


    As Colt walked back to the mats, the five challengers spread out around him. ''Ok, one dual-wielding swords. Another has a two-handed axe. Are those gauntlets? Twin daggers and a... Wait, a Bo Staff?'' Colt felt stunned when he saw that. However, when he nced at Paul thetter grinned mischievously. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ''Damn it!'' Colt realised what was going on the moment he saw Paul''s expression. ''He wants me to prove my hybrid style can beat someone who''s already mastered the staff.'' Colt shook his head as Paul stepped into the centre. "Ok, I want a clean fight. You all know the rules, and I expect you to give Colt a solid beating." Paul chuckled as he raised his left hand. "Begin!"


    Everyone waited until Paul escaped the encirclement before they began. Colt saw the woman in front of him looking over his shoulder and activated his first rune. A golden turtle shell of barriers appeared behind him that gave feedback to his assants'' weapons. ''God, I love that the system even works with spells that can block physical attacks!''


    Colt spun in a way that the shell spell caused their weapons to slide off to his side, leaving the two fighters exposed. Colt quickly snapped his staff to strike the woman on the jaw and the man on his left leg before spinning his staff to deflect their counterattacks while his spell prevented the others from closing in on him.


    Jay nodded from the sidelines as he watched the fight unfold. ''He''s moving in a way that nobody could associate with Excalibur.'' He chuckled as he continued to watch. ''If he moved like this when he first joined Pantheon, I would''ve never guessed Exile was Colt Anderson.


    Colt quickly pushed two attacks from two separate directions away from him with his staff before he activated the Firefly rune. His challengers cursed as they shot golden arrows to use up Colt''s defensive spell, but that left them open to his next move.


    Colt thrust the heel of his staff into the diaphragm of the man who tried to take him from behind before snapping it forward in a lunge to hit another attacker. ''Now!'' Colt thought as he activated another Rune.


    ck tendrils burst out of his body to p at the three closest opponents. With each time they were hit, a stacking effect of damage over time appeared. His challengers cursed as health dropped from three of the fighters. "This is interesting." The woman who spoke on the holo screen before said. "This isn''t rigged?"


    "Not at all. This is Colt''s new fighting style developed with Paul''s guidance." Jay replied with a grin. "As you can see, it''spletely different and dangerous to deal with. He''s only going to show better results in-game. I''d say it''s worth marketing his improvements alongside the in-game story of his character we developed."


    "Point taken, Jay," The woman hummed as she continued to watch the fight. Suddenly a dinging noise sounded as one of thebatants lost thest of their health. "Let''s hope he can continue to perform this way. If he does, the results will be excellent."


    "I''m thinking of inviting some people to witness his progress. I''m hoping to get him a title in the near future." Jay said as he nodded.


    "A titled yer?" The woman hummed. "Do you think he''s ready for that?"


    "Honestly, I''m not sure. But we can''t be the judges of that. We can only arrange for the preliminaries to see if he''s eptable." Jay replied with a shrug as two more fighters were knocked out. "But I know what having a titled yer will do for our profits."


    "Well, we''ll let you run with it, for now, Jay." The woman replied as another ding went off. "I hope he''ll be as sessful as you think he will be. Tell Mr Anderson we wish him all the best. I think we''ve seen enough."


    Jay nodded as he turned off the device but continued to film the fight. ''We need to start thinking about a potential title. Something we can hint at and hope they go for it. I''ll call marketing in the morning and hope they cane up with something quickly.''


    Two morebatants were wiped out a minuteter as Jay frowned. ''There''s only the guy wielding the Bo Staff left to defeat.'' His gaze wandered to the bars above Colt and his opponent''s head. A wide grin spread on his face as he studied Colt''s DP bar. ''Not a single point spent. I guess we already know how this will y out.''


    Jay shook his head. ''The real test is going to be whates next. Let''s hope everything ys out the way we want it to.'' Jay rubbed his hands together as he prepared to make an important call. ''I wonder who they''ll send in the game to test him...''

 Chapter 267 The God of War (Part 1)

    Chapter 267 The God of War (Part 1)


    "Exile!" Mikari roared as he burst into the workshop. "We have a problem."


    "What is it?"


    "It''s Noslin. She''s back." Exile frowned as he turned to stare at his brother. "That''s great news. What''s the problem?"


    "It''s Nar''Kozz. He kept her alive to follow her to Himinbj?rg!"


    ''Fuck!'' Exile stared at Mikari for a moment before cancelling the spell he was working on. ''That''s why they haven''t assaulted Valheim.'' "Ok, bring Noslin to my private quarters. You and I will talk to her before we call a general meeting." Exile replied with a nod.


    As Mikari rushed out of the workshop, Exile hummed to himself. ''I''ve alreadypleted the enchantments on my new gear. Luckily, Bargrux was able to have the staff and small pieces of armour for under my robes ready in time.'' Of course, he had not revealed his new equipment yet. He was saving it for a moment that would have a high impact on the viewers. Exile sighed as he exited the workshop and headed for the longhouse. The sound of yers chattering about Noslin''s return died down when they saw him.


    ''Word has already spread, and they want to know what''s going to happen.'' Exile groaned internally while wearing a carefree expression on his face. ''I need to get Noslin''s story first. Especially whether she found a piece of her first element.''


    "Exile! You have no right to speak to Noslin privately! Have her tell us everything right here!" One of the Pantheon leaders shouted the moment Exile entered the building.


    "I''m afraid I can''t do that," Exile replied while cocking his eyebrow at the yer. "Noslin left because of a private matter that she shared with me. We need to talk about that before getting to the issue about Nar''Kozz."


    Exile held up a hand when he saw the yer was about to argue. "If you don''t like it, you can take your Pantheon and get the fuck off my mountain."


    Exile nodded when he saw the yer backing down. He cast his gaze around the room as the gathered leaders avoided his gaze. ''They knew Nar''Kozz woulde eventually. Did they think they could hide out here and hope Nar''Kozz headed for the divine realm of another race?'' Exile shook his head as he casually walked for the door that led to his room.


    "Exile!" Noslin said as she stood up from her seat.


    "It''s good to see you, Noslin. I hope you don''t mind Mikari joining us for this talk?" Exile said with a smile as he sat on the spare chair next to her.


    "No, it''s fine." She replied with a slight smile before her expression turned grim. "I''m sorry, I didn''t know what else to do."


    "Just stay calm and tell us what happened," Exile said as he kept a neutral expression on his face.


    "Not long after we separated, the Stalkers flooded the tunnels." Noslin began as she shook her head. "I couldn''t outrun them, so I had to hide."


    "Hm, that was our fault. The others became too loud and woke them up." Exile sighed. "I''m sorry you had to deal with that."


    "I thought something had gone wrong. I could only hope you all made it out in time."


    "We did, barely," Exile replied as he shrugged his shoulders. "What happened after that?"


    "You were right. There was Inheritance down there," Noslin genuinely smiled as she thought about it. "It took some time to find it without the Stalkers discovering me."


    "Anyway," Noslin continued. "I can''t tell you what I got from it, but it was worth it. When I came out, there were Stalkers everywhere. As if they had been waiting for me."


    Exile frowned as Mikari groaned. ''They must have killed her. I wonder how many lives she lost trying to get here.'' Exile sighed as he gestured for Noslin to continue.


    "It was strange. They just stared at me, doing nothing," Noslin shrugged as she saw their questioning gazes. "Since they didn''t attack, I didn''t want to provoke them. I tried to shake them off by running around the tunnels. But no matter where I went, there was always more of them waiting."


    "I tried to go back to the Autosphere, but they blocked its entrance. For the first time, they didn''t move aside. That''s when I realised what was going on."


    "They knew Valheim had been evacuated." Mikari groaned. "They were keeping you alive so you''d lead them to us."


    "Exactly," Noslin sighed. "I had no choice but to take the same exit as you. When I did, I headed in a random direction. However, no matter what I did, I couldn''t lose them."


    "What did you do?" Exile asked.


    "I thought I could lead them away. But once I got too far from Valheim they would cut me off. It''s like they knew you were still in the area." Noslin replied while shaking her head. "I couldn''t even grind for levels. They killed every mob without letting me get close to them."


    "So you continued like that for as long as you could." Mikari sighed. "Let me guess. You got worried about how far behind you would be if you kept doing that. So, you felt like you had no choice but to head here."


    Exile remained expressionless at Mikari''s statement as Noslin nodded. ''She bought us as much time as she could. I can''t me her for worrying about her growth.'' Exile sped his hands together as he bowed his head.


    "Where are the Stalkers now?" Mikari asked after a moment.


    "They left once we reached the base of the mountain." Noslin groaned as she nced at Exile. "I''m sorry for leading them here."


    "They would''ve found us eventually," Exile replied as he returned her gaze. "In fact, your actions probably bought us more time than we would have had without them. They wasted their time focusing on you. Nar''Kozz probably thought there was no point searching for us when they had a guide." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Exile chuckled as he stroked his beard. "Don''t get me wrong, it was a smart idea for a game boss. Nar''Kozz just didn''t realise what kind of person you are."


    "Exile, you know what this means, right?" Mikari asked.


    "Of course," Exile nodded. "They abandoned as soon as they were sure of our position. They''ll have used the time it took Noslin to climb the mountain to rush to Nar''Kozz. Which means war is on its way to Himinbj?rg."


    "How can you be so calm?" Noslin asked as she nced from one brother to the other. "There''s no telling how many Stalkers are on their way here! Let''s face it, Nar''Kozz will probably join them!"


    "Don''t worry," Exile chuckled as he patted Noslin on the shoulder. "We used the time you bought us well. Mikari, take Noslin to the armoury. Let her choose from Ragnarok''s personal pile. She deserves that."


    "I''ll give the order to recall the teams out in the fields," Mikari said as he urged Noslin to stand up. "I''ll put Himinbj?rg on war alert and open the armoury to the yers."


    "Good," Exile nodded. "Where are we at with our siege preparations?"


    "I believe we''re ready. The evacuation n in case things go wrong has been tested. It''ll work." Mikari replied with a sly grin. "But I doubt we''ll need it."


    "What about the army''s captains? Have they been chosen?"


    "Yes," Mikari nodded. "y reached Tier 2 yesterday, and a few made it today."


    "He never told me," Exile grumbled as he cocked an eyebrow at Mikari. "What''s his new Authority?"


    "Well," Mikari scratched his chin as Noslin stood there with her mouth wide open. "He''s not happy with it. He''s certain he failed to unlock the Authority with the best potential."


    "Come on, just tell me," Exile replied as he rolled his eyes.


    "He''s the God of War." Mikari shrugged as Exile shot him a questioning gaze.


    "That sounds pretty good to me. What could possibly be above it?" "I have no idea," Mikari sighed. "I thought I''d be the one to get it. But if y already has it, I just need to hope he''s right."


    "If he''s right, you better im it before anyone else," Exile replied with a frown. "I don''t want to think of something above War falling into the hands of another Pantheon."


    Mikari nodded as he led Noslin out of the room. Exile groaned as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. ''y''s our best to captain the first line of defence. We need the checkpoints to hold so we can crush their numbers.'' ''At least they can''t climb or fly over with our checkpoints above each other. They can give cover fire from above.'' Exile nodded as he recalled theyout of the checkpoints on the path. ''Mikari made sure there was no way they could do that. So they''ll have to throw bodies against us till we break. It''d be nice if they never make it to Himinbj?rg.'' Exile chuckled to himself as he heard amotion in the main hall.


    ''I guess Mikari has told them to prepare for war. They better notin after all the equipment I prepared.'' Exile sneered as he stared out the window. ''I hope Nar''Kozz holds back long enough for us to wipe out the Stalkers and close our trap. No matter what, this threat ends here.''


    Exile frowned as he considered what would happen if they failed to end Nar''Kozz now. ''It won''t be long til the horde arrives. I guess I should rally the troops.'' Exile cocked his eyebrow as he nced at the door. ''Let''s see what the God of War can do...''


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 268 The God of War (Part 2)

    Chapter 268 The God of War (Part 2)


    "Am I seeing this right?" LoBall said as he nced at Gaffa.


    "Yeah," Gaffa replied as he nced at the sea of Stalkers.


    "Damn it," LoBall said as he nced at the other yers. "Makes me wish we were assigned to the fifth checkpoint today. What captain are we getting? Think there''s any chance they''ll let us fall back?"


    "Doubt it. I hear we''re getting one of Ragnarok''s bigshots for this." "Exile?" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Pfft. You wish." Gaffa chuckled. "You think the king is going toe down from his mountain? Nah, it''ll be one of his officers."


    "Damn, there''s no way they''ll let us retreat then. Exile is sending them to make sure we y our part as cannon fodder." LoBall cursed as he eyed the nervous yers around them. "These guys won''t hold. We need higher levelled yers. Besides our so-called captain, we''re the top yers at this checkpoint. I don''t want to throw that away."


    "Where the hell is our captain anyway? These Stalkers won''t wait forever. Shit! Here theye!"


    "Prepare for battle!" LoBall screamed at the yers. "The captain will be here soon! We hold the line until we get our orders!"


    "Move aside!" A booming voice called out as a figure came crashing to the ground in front of the yer''s army.


    "Who the fuck is this?" LoBall whispered as he eyed the yer in front of him. "Did he just jump off the mountain to get here quicker?"


    Gaffa eyed the yer wearing borate golden, dwarven-made armour. The neer was shorter than every other yer there, with long dark hair and a braided beard. The yer unsheathed two one-handed hammers as he eyed the oing tide.


    "Stand down! The first wave is mine."


    LoBall gaped as he nced at Gaffa. Thetter shrugged as he noticed the other yers hesitating.


    "I assume you''re our captain?" Gaffa asked loud enough for everyone to hear. "And that is an official order?"


    "You''re right." The yer chuckled as he stroked his beard. "What is your name? We need it so we won''t be used of leaving you to die when our superiors question us."


    "ymore... Vice-Leader of Ragnarok, God of War." y chuckled as he mmed his hammers together.


    A thick stone wall rose from the ground with spikes facing outward. y turned toward the Stalkers and burst into a sprint. ''Let''s go all out!'' y activated a new spell as ten golden weapons circled his body.


    The moment y crashed against the first Stalker, the battlefield became a bloodbath. The weapons shed, bashed and hacked every Stalker that came close as y dashed through the enemy lines. His new hammers struck at the mountain path as he ran, causing fractures to appear in the ground.


    ''These Stalkers are pathetic now.'' y sighed as he ughtered hundreds more. ''I see what Exile meant now. Our equipment and advanced Authorities make this too easy. I can''t even enjoy this.'' y groaned as he activated his next spell. ''Terrain advantage!''


    The smooth path suddenly erupted in small hills and walls that featured spikes. ''That''ll prevent them from going over them. Now, I just need to wait.'' y chuckled. ''If they follow the paths I left open they''ll head directly to me. There''s no way out of this for them.''


    y cocked an eyebrow as he looked up at the checkpoints above him. A stone spike erupted from one of his hammers and shot into the air.


    Momentster, spells shot overhead at the Stalker army that had not been caught in y''s spell. ''That''ll cut them down some more.'' y shook his head as hundreds of Stalkers suddenly barged into the square area he had created around him. LoBall cursed as he stared out at the massacre from on top of y''s wall. "Gaffa! You''ve got to see this!"


    "I''ming." Gaffa groaned as he climbed the sheer wall. "What the hell is he thinking? Oh."


    Gaffa froze as he stared at the spells going off on the other side of the transformed battlefield. However, his gaze was fixed on y smashing Stalkers to pieces by the hundreds. ''Shit, Ragnarok''s yers are on another level.''


    "He''s got to be Tier 2, right?"


    "With that kind of power? What do you think?" Gaffa shook his head as he replied. "The question now is, how long can he keep it up for?"


    "Either way, I''m all for him thinning the herd for us. Maybe it won''t be so bad being here. We get front-row seats to this."


    Meanwhile, Mikari stared down from the peak of the mountain at the battle unfolding below. ''Excellent. yer morale has shot up.'' He nodded as he watched y in action. ''What better way to start a war than using the God of it.'' Mikari chuckled as he nced around at the Pantheon leaders.


    ''They seem happy with this result. They always thought we''d sell them down the river and keep our yers in the back. Well, this sends another message. That we care about every yer.'' Mikari nced over his shoulder toward the longhouse. ''We need to keep Exile out of this as long as possible. Everyone needs a moment to shine.'' Mikari cocked his eyebrow as he nced at Noslin. "Ok, start the next part. Have checkpoints four and seven fire into the treeline at the base of the mountain. Let''s smoke out where they''re hiding." Mikari said as he nodded at the leaders responsible for those checkpoints. "What do we do next?" Noslin asked as she nced at Mikari.


    "You''ll find out when it''s time. But this willst a while. Everyone needs to dig in and getfortable. This won''t be over in just a few days." Mikari chuckled.


    y frowned as he realised the tide was slowing down. ''They''re easing off. They''ve realised they won''t get anywhere doing this. So what will they send next?'' y nced around as sharp screeching sounded in the air.


    ''Guess Mikari was right.'' y frowned as he saw winged Stalkers flying overhead, ignoring him. ''Too bad they don''t realise I won''t leave them alone.''


    y mmed his dual hammers on the ground. The yers who had been brave enough to climb the wall gasped as the fractures y had previously caused copsed inward. Gaffa stared at the gaping holes all over the ce, then at the Stalkers flying toward them.


    "Shit! Everyone! Take cover!"


    Gaffa dragged LoBall over the wall to the safety of the army. A momentter, the shattered pieces of earth exploded out of the holes. To the yers, it sounded like hundreds of shotguns going off at once. Screeches filled the air as small pieces of stone ripped through the Stalkers'' wings. y shrugged as the Tier 2 Stalkers fell from the air to crash into the ground. ''I guess this wave is already finished. y sighed as he nced toward the mountain. ''It''s time for Mikari toy fire on this area.''


    y stomped his foot to cancel Terrain Advantage. As the obstacles disappeared, the Stalkers appeared confused. y casually walked toward his wall as the Stalkers wereing to terms with what had happened. Suddenly, hundreds of spells rained down in front of the wall. Devastation painted the mountain path as hundreds of Stalkers died in agony. ''Well, that was kind of fun.'' y thought as he leapt to the top of his wall. He shook his head when he saw the yers cowering behind it.


    "Well?" y asked as he looked at the hundreds of yers. "What are you waiting for? Start the prep for the next wave."


    Gaffa gulped as he looked up at the yer standing atop the wall. ''Shit, I need to join Ragnarok!'' LoBall shook his head as he was still trying to figure out what had happened.


    Mikari sighed as he turned away from the edge. ''It''s almost too easy. This is nothing like Valheim. They''ll be fine for a bit, I can deal with that other matter for now.'' Mikari frowned as he considered what he would say. ''I need to find a way to make it a win for their side too. He''ll realise it''s only a matter of time. Maybe Midas should join me.'' Mikari groaned as he double-checked to make sure nobody was following him. ''If these guys knew my brother is in the mortal realms during this they''d freak.''


    Mikari chuckled as he walked into Exile''s private quarters. He nced at his brotherying on the bed. ''I just hope you can do this right. If you get this wrong, we''re screwed.'' Mikari sighed as he looked around for any written orders.


    ''I guess we''re a go then.'' Mikari cocked his eyebrow as he read a piece of parchment addressed to him. ''Yeah, I''ll definitely need Midas for this.'' It took Mikari several minutes to track down Midas in the treasury. ''He''s evaluating the costs of this battle.''


    "Midas, I need you toe with me." Mikari suddenly said. "We''re going to see an old enemy..."

 Chapter 269 The God of War (Part 3)

    Chapter 269 The God of War (Part 3)


    "Unleash everything!" y roared as the second wave of Stalkers crashed against the wall.


    Spells rained down on the horde from all sides as the higher checkpoints joined the battle. Stalkers scurried to climb the wall, resulting in more than one bing impaled on its spikes! y was a fearsome sight as he charged along the wall, helping the yers to beat back the onught. With the help of his spells, y''s hammers morphed between different weapons. One moment they were dual hammers, the next they became a Spear and shield. After that, they changed into a two-handed axe!


    y grunted as he used Warpath. The spell allowed him to temporarily change the stats of his weapons and equipment to what he wanted them to be. ''Take five points from Strength and move them to Authority. Three points from Speed to Endurance.''


    y chuckled as he adjusted his strengths and weaknesses to better suit the battle. ''Crimson Tide!'' y roared in his mind as a giant divine circle epassed all the yers present. The spell raised all of the yers'' stats by five points as y hacked the head off of a Stalker!


    Gaffa shook his head as he watched y''s performance in awe. ''This guy is a force of nature!'' He thought as he hacked at the Stalker attacking him. ''What else is Ragnarok hiding?''


    y''s Crimson Tide gave the yers the much-needed advantage as wave upon wave of Stalkers died at their hands. y nced along the wall as he transformed his weapon back into a pair of one-handed hammers. ''They''re getting tired.'' y groaned as he smashed the knee joint of a Stalker before caving its skull in.


    He stomped his foot with a grunt as three rocky spikesunched into the air before exploding. ''Ten minutes. That''s all they need tost for.'' y grimaced as he shoulder-bashed another Stalker before a yer ran it through with a spear.


    Noslin''s eyes narrowed as she saw y''s signal. ''Shit! Already?'' She conjured a small bird made of ice before sending it to the second checkpoint. "Any movement in the forest yet?" Noslin shouted as she nced at the lookouts.


    "Nothing yet Ma''am! There''s no sign of the main army!"


    ''Fuck! What the hell is going on? Mikari was certain this is their Vanguard. There should be thousands of them still out there!'' Noslin frowned as she started to tap her foot. ''Something isn''t right. Why did he even choose this strategy? If we used all the Tier 2 yers, it would be easier. What is Exile hiding from me?''


    "Focus fire on the Stalkers we can see!" Noslinmanded as she paced around the edge of the peak. "We''re just wasting DP firing into the forest. It seems like we''ve already cleared out whatever was hiding there. It''s time to ease the burden on the first checkpoint!"


    ''Where did Mikari go? Why did he even leave us right now?'' Noslin grumbled as she looked at the other leaders wearing grim expressions. ''Ragnarok is up to something again.'' She sighed as she shook her head. ''All we can do is trust them. They won''t want to lose Himinbj?rg. The real question is where Nar''Kozz is.'' Noslin''s frown grew deeper as she scanned the battlefield, looking for an answer. ''Is he keeping the rest of his horde outside of our range? Is he just testing us?''


    Noslin felt uneasy as the battle continued to rage down below. ''I don''t like waiting here. There has to be something I can do, other than making sure Mikari''s n continues smoothly.'' Meanwhile, y warily eyed the next wave before reaching a decision. ''Entrenched!'' The ground in front of the wall split open in an borate maze designed to slow down the enemy. Spells and arrows flew over the wall, and from the mountain, aiming to kill as many Stalkers as possible.


    "Everyone! Retreat to the second checkpoint!" y roared as he helped clean up the few mobs still atop the wall. "That''s an order!"


    LoBall nced at y like he was crazy before he realised how exhausted he was. ''Shit! I''ve been so focused on the fight I didn''t realise!'' It took him a moment to conclude that y''s order was perfectly timed. At that moment, the tter of armour and weapons could be heard as the yers held in reserve at the second checkpoint arrived. ''I see.'' Gaffa thought as he looked at those yers. The second checkpoint can''t attack the Stalkers, so they''re fresh. We''ll rest at second and switch back when they get tired.''


    His gaze wandered to y who continued to beat back the Stalkers who had reached the wall. ''What''s he doing? Why isn''t he retreating?'' Gaffa frowned as he joined the crowd in their march. It was then that he realised that y had no intention of falling back.


    "God damn, that guy''s a monster!" Gaffa groaned as the recements took their spots on the wall. "You''d think he''d be out of DP by now," LoBall replied with a shrug as he nced over his shoulder at y''s figure. "Even if he was, the guy is unstoppable in closebat."


    "Say, what do you think will happen if we win this?" Gaffa suddenly asked with a solemn expression.


    "We''ll return to Valheim, right?" LoBall replied as he cocked his eyebrow.


    "No, I mean, most of the equipment we''re all usinges from Ragnarok''s armoury." Gaffa scratched his chin as he looked at his friend. "So, do you think the higher-ups will return it? I know they''ve purchased a lot, but they don''t own everything."


    "You''re thinking they''ll turn on Ragnarok rather than give up the equipment they''ve loaned to us? I guess that makes sense." LoBall frowned as he checked to make sure nobody was listening to them. "Ragnarok already has this base and insanely powerful yers. This equipment closes the gap a bit. But if we return it, there''s no way we could stand up to their power."


    "Right," Gaffa nodded. "But how would you feel going up against that guy, even with your equipment?"


    LoBall nced back at y and gulped. "Yeah, I''d rather not."


    "Exactly," Gaffa shook his head as he looked down. "Maybe we should prepare ourselves for shit to go sideways."


    "What do you mean?" "I think we need to have a talk with other strong yers in other Pantheons. If the leaders turn on Ragnarok, I think we should be ready to support them."


    "Hold on! You''re talking about betraying your team!" LoBall hissed. "It''s better than Ragnarok kicking us out of the game." Gaffa shrugged as the sounds of battle rang out from behind them. "If the captains want to sink their ships, then they can go down with them. But I''d rather have a lifeboat ready."


    Meanwhile, in a port city in Skardia, Mikari and Midas waited on the docks. A small ship had just anchored itself as an envoy walked down the boarding nk. "Where do I set it up?" Randa asked as he bowed to the two gods.


    "Outside the city," Mikari replied with a smile. "It''s best if the Skardians are unaware. For now, anyway."


    Randa chuckled as he eyed the two gods. "I still don''t understand why we didn''t do this before we left Skardia."


    "It''s because our people were on a witch hunt for any Sommerdans or traces of you. They feel secure now, so they''re unlikely to find it." Mikari snorted. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Did you bring the goods?" Midas asked as he watched the dock workers unload chests from the ship.


    "Naturally, it''s good to trade, so you don''t have to worry. Everything is of the finest quality. I''ll leave it in your esteemed hands." Randa replied with a bow.


    "Follow me then," Mikari sighed. "Midas, catch up with us when you''re done. Let''s go, Randa."


    Mikari motioned for the Sommerdan hero to follow him as he led him to the city gates. The guards wore apprehensive looks when a priest from the temple came to tell them the Sommerdan hero was allowed to exit the city. On one hand, they felt it threatened the security of the city. On the other, they worried about angering their gods.


    ''It''s always so difficult when they don''t believe.'' Mikari sighed when the guards finally relented. He led Randa down the road for a bit, before going off into the wilderness. They walked for half an hour until the ground became rocky.


    "Ok, Randa, set up your shrine here. Nobody should find it." Mikari said as he scanned the area.


    "Why are you going to these lengths to keep anyone from finding out?" Randa asked with a curious expression as he removed some silk cloth and metal symbols from his pack. "Exile already sealed a deal for an alliance. I don''t get why he requested for us to set up a shrine here in secret with the first trade."


    "It''s to makemunication between us gods easier." Mikari chuckled as he studied the hero. "The other Pantheons would never allow this, so we had to set it up in secret. Besides, there''s something I need to discuss with Parthus that could benefit both of our people."


    "I should''ve known," Randa clicked his tongue as he nced at Mikari with a disapproving expression. "You already want to leverage the alliance to gain something."


    "Of course I do," Mikari chuckled as he watched Randa ce thest pieces of the small shrine. "But, I guarantee you''ll gain something from it."


    "Hm, and what god are you anyway? I need to tell Parthus who wants to speak to him."


    "Tell him that it''s the God he really fought against during the invasion..."

 Chapter 270 Two Heads Are Better Than One (Part 1)

    Chapter 270 Two Heads Are Better Than One (Part 1)


    "What the fuck is this?" Bjorn groaned as he peered at a makeshift fortress in the distance.


    "Whatever it is, it doesn''t look good." Fjora sighed as she nced at Ania standing in front of them.


    Ania edged her horse forward a few steps before turning to look at both of them. ''I can''t send someone to check on it. This isn''t here by ident.'' Ania groaned before her eyesnded on Skalr. He gazed at the fortress with an aloof expression from atop his horse.


    ''If I didn''t know better, I''d say he''s trying to draw attention to himself.'' Ania sighed as she stared at the old Runelord off to the side of the army. ''We still don''t know anything about him.''


    "Skalr?" Ania said as she waved at him toe forward.


    "Yes, princess?"


    "Do you have a way to find out what''s going on?" Ania asked as she searched his expression.


    "Yes, I do," Skalr chuckled as he returned Ania''s gaze. Thetter''s eyes went wide as Skalr pulled a runestone from his cloak. "This is a farsight rune. When I activate it, we''ll be able to see what''s going on."


    "You always have something, don''t you?" Ania asked as she shook her head. "Let''s do it."


    Skalr nodded as he activated the magic contained within the runestone before cing it on the ground. A golden sphere that depicted the army appeared in the air over the runestone. Skalr took a deep breath as he ced his palms on the sphere.


    Bjorn cocked an eyebrow that showed his interest as he studied the glowing rune. Skalr ran his palms over the sphere, and the image moved to disy a wooden fortress. Cloaked figures watched from its walls as others patrolled the forest on either side. "What do you think? Bandits?" Fjora asked as a grim expression appeared on her face when she counted their numbers.


    "There are too many for that," Bjorn grumbled.


    "They''re elves." Skalr hummed as he manipted the image to get a look at a face hidden by a hood. "This is bad."


    "Damn right it is!" Ania cursed as Skalr zoomed out on the image before moving it to the forest. "Why''d you do that?"


    "Because this fortress is nothing more than a lookout post." Skalr sighed as he nced sideways at Ania. "It''s enough to protect a hundred or so elves until the main camp can get to them."


    "What do you mean?" Bjorn asked as his focus moved to the sphere. "How many of them are out there?"


    "That''s what I''m trying to find out. But it seems like we have a bigger problem." Skalr replied while shaking his head. "There are dark elves here too. Which means you have too different elven races invading Skardia."


    Ania frowned when she heard that. Until that moment, they had believed it was just a matter of a religious invasion. However, the fortress and significant presence of elves confirmed they were paving the way for a full-on invasion.


    ''What the hell is going on?'' Ania chewed on her lower lip as she considered her options. ''This is going to get ugly real fast. If there are too many of them, all I can do is retreat and gather arger army. But, if I do that, it gives them more time to prepare. What if we return and more of them have arrived?''


    "Princess, we need to put an end to this now," Bjorn grunted as he turned to face her. "They only have a small foothold. We can''t let them gain more ground. Not after the war with Sommerdan. We can''t always be on the defensive."


    "What would you have me do?" Ania asked as she returned Bjorn''s gaze.


    "I say we kill them all." Bjorn shrugged as he nced at Fjora. "We have to send a clear message that Skardia belongs to us."


    Ania sighed as she shook her head. "We were supposed to make this go away quietly. Not start a war. We can''t afford it right now."


    "I know, princess." Bjorn smiled as he ced his hand on her shoulder. "But we didn''t start this. They''ve invaded ournds, and turned our people against our gods. We can''t let it go on. Give the order."


    "Do you agree?" Ania asked as she looked at Fjora and then Skalr. Both of whom nodded.


    ''Damn it!'' Ania cursed as she nced at the members of Fenrir. ''A lot of us are going to die.''


    "Do it!" Ania grunted as she clenched her jaw before drawing her spear. Meanwhile, a golden light descended on the coast of Skardia. As the light faded, Parthus nced around with a frown on his face. His gaze settled on Mikari, who bowed his head.


    "I must say, I expected you to call on me at some point. But this is earlier than I anticipated." Parthus said as he cocked his eyebrow. "It''s a pleasure to finally meet you," Mikari replied with a smile. "I''ve admired you for a long time."


    "Really?" Parthus hummed as he studied Mikari. "After the war, I thought you had some kind of grudge against me. Once I found out who was the mastermind, I did some digging. We''ve never gone head-to-head before."


    "That''s true," Mikari chuckled. "I couldn''t pass up the opportunity. Especially when it meant helping my brother at the same time."


    "Well, it was masterfully done." Parthus replied as he held out his hand. "So, tell me, what am I doing here?"


    "Of course, but I have to ask that this remains between only us gods," Mikari replied as he nced at Randa.


    Parthus frowned as he looked at his hero. He let out a long sigh before gesturing to Randa to give them some privacy. Parthus stroked his neatly trimmed beard before he turned his gaze back on Mikari. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Ok, what''s this about?"


    "I''m here to propose deepening the rtionship between our people," Mikari said. "I want to open our borders to each other. Let our yers take on each other''s races."


    Parthus'' eyes went wide as he mulled over Mikari''s statement. "You''ll allow Sommerdan yers to be worshipped in Skardia?"


    "We will if you allow the same." "What''s this really about?" Parthus asked as his eyes narrowed. "Opening your monopoly to an outsidepetitor is a risky move. I know you''re not dumb, which means something bigger is going on here."


    "You''re right. We''re expecting a war with the elves soon." Mikari sighed as he nced at the sky. "Something is going on, and we don''t have the full picture yet. I know in my gut that something big ising, and I want to be ready for it. I figured you could understand that."


    "I see. We''re already allied for now. You want the rtionship to go deeper, so you don''t expose your rear whenever ites." Parthus nodded. "You must have more to offer. I wouldn''te to an old enemy that understands the situation with just this."


    "You''re right," Mikari grinned. "We''ve just sealed an alliance of sorts with a powerful Warbeast Pantheon. I was thinking of creating a single alliance between the three of us. We can take on other members down the line, but I think it would be good to have each other''s backs. When the wares, we want your people and the Warbeasts to have a stake in it."


    "That''s not a great deal for my people." Parthus sighed. "We have to cross the sea to get here. Even if we get a foothold on this continent, we can''t defend it."


    "That''s why I''m suggesting economic and resource support on your end. When we''re done, we''ll provide Sommerdan with resources from our territories at a reduced rate." "Tempting," Parthus chuckled. "But I need more to sell this. If we create this alliance, I''ll need your help to conquer morend on my continent."


    "Let me guess. Your neighbours are closely guarding their borders to prevent you from gaining to their races?"


    "Exactly. Everyone with half a brain knows the secret to getting ahead is bringing other races under their banner. But the best resultse from doing that before increasing your Tier."


    "But your neighbours won''t allow it since they already see you as a threat. I get it. I''m authorised to give you Ragnarok''s support, but we need to talk to Laskia to see if she''ll agree to these terms."


    "So, you brought this to me first since I''d be the hardest to get on board. You needed to know my price before you could bring it Laskia," Parthus chuckled as he studied Mikari. "You''re more devious than I thought. If you can get this Laskia on board, then I''m in. Everyone is stabilising what they already have. I need to go on the offensive before my neighbours decide to team up to pick me apart."


    "In other words, we need to get this done as soon as possible." Mikari sighed as he rubbed his hands together. "And wars are never quick. So I''m guessing you need our support at the same time we need yours?"


    "Yeah, that about sums it up. As I said, I need this to happen soon."


    "Ok, I''ll bring this up with Exile and arrange a sit down with Laskia. Midas will be here soon. It would help if you could talk to him and get exact numbers for resources down in a contract. I''d like to be armed when I meet with Laskia."


    "Well, let''s hope we all get what we want. I guarantee that if you''ve thought about this, so have others."


    "Like you, you mean. The only reason you''re agreeing is that you''ve already approached other Pantheons, and they turned you down." Mikari chuckled.


    "I like you," Parthus grinned. "We should do this more often. In the meantime, get the ball rolling. Sommerdan is ready to support you."

 Chapter 271 Two Heads Are Better Than One (Part Two)

    Chapter 271 Two Heads Are Better Than One (Part Two)


    "Two seconds, Princess," Skalr said with a smirk. "There''s no need to have them rush in yet. Let me take care of our opening move."


    Ania studied Skalr''s expression for a moment. Something about it felt familiar, almost reassuring. Then, it clicked. ''He feels simr to Exile in ways. Did Exile create another hero to help us? But why wouldn''t he tell us about it?''


    Skalr took several runestones in his hand before tossing them at the sphere. Bjorn watched with a curious expression as they crawled over the image, which had moved back to the barricade. He noticed the runes move to focus on a central individual of each group moving around inside the outpost.


    "What are you doing?" Bjorn asked with a deep frown. Eager to learn more about the uses of runestones. "Hm, I''m marking them." Skalr chuckled as another fistful of runestones appeared in his hand. "You should pay attention to what happens next."


    Skalr moved to ce one of each of the new runestones atop the marking ones. Suddenly, the air around Skalr felt thick, like trying to push through mud. Bjorn cocked an eyebrow at the phenomenon as Skalr quickly pped his hands together.


    The new runes burst with mana as they were activated by Skalr''s gesture. Small fiery arrows exploded from the new runestones and shot into the air, quickly expanding intonces. Ania and the others watched in awe as they traced an arc through the sky toe down behind the barricade. Their eyes snapped to the sphere, where several small magical circles appeared above the elves.


    Skalr cocked an eyebrow as half of his rune spells were blocked, but the rest found gaps in the protection and exploded on impact with the ground. A number of the elves were directly killed by the st, while others wed at their throats. The temperature had risen, scalding their throats as they breathed in.


    "Now would be a good time to attack," Skalr said as he continued to analyse the effectiveness of his spell.


    "R-right," Ania replied as she gathered her wits after watching Skalr''s disy of power. "Everyone, charge!"


    The ground rumbled as men, women and horses surged forward. A raucous warcry echoed through the air like thunder. Bjorn swiftly took the lead as he cracked the reins of his steed. His steely eyes studied the situation around him before focusing his gaze ahead. Something prickled at the back of his mind as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. ''Something''s wrong.'' Bjorn thought as he found himself gripping his reins tighter than he intended. He heard the screech of metal before a searing pain clouded his thoughts!


    "Bjorn!" Fjora screamed furiously as she watched him topple from his steed. She veered her mount toward him, but many arrows barred her way. She hissed through her teeth as she turned away from the deadly projectiles as the Skardian charge descended into chaos.


    "Fjora! Take the outpost!" Ania yelled above the neighing of horses and dying screams. "You lot, with me! We''ll rescue Bjorn and cut off their archers in the forest!"


    Skalr cursed as he crushed a runestone, and a golden dome covered Bjorn''s body. ''He isn''t moving.'' Skalr sighed as his rune spell fed him information. ''Someone shot him through the eye slits in his helm. Hm, it''s poisoned. His pulse is already weakening.''


    Skalr thought it was a stroke of luck that the arrow had be wedged in the slit, preventing it from doing any damage beyond Bjorn''s eye. The poison would be an issue, but it appeared to Skalr it at least had paralytic properties. He urged his horse to draw level with Ania''s as she led the charge.


    "Leave Bjorn to me. You deal with those archers." Skalr growled in a low voice as he activated another runestone. Before Ania could reply, sparks danced across Skalr''s horse''s mane and hooves. The air rumbled like a storm as Skalr suddenly shot forward faster than any horse should be able to move. Skalr reappeared beside Bjorn in the snow in the blink of an eye, leaving Ania in awe again.


    ''He better save him, damned old man!'' Ania thought as she gritted her teeth and pushed her horse harder. She lunged with her spear as lightning shot from its tip. It cracked and created a web as it shot between the projectiles, blowing them into splinters.


    Her eyes scanned the branches for their unseen enemies as the trees loomed overhead. The forest was thick around them, and the footing treacherous for their mounts. The charge slowed to a crawl as the trees prevented them from charging ahead.


    "Aghh!" Someone screamed from over Ania''s right shoulder as arrows flew.


    "Where the fuck are they?" Ania yelled as her eyes failed to find her target. Doubt filled her mind as she wondered whether they should retreat. She had led her warriors into terrain that favoured their opponents. ''Dammit!'' She hissed as an arrow bounced off her armour. ''If we stay here, they''ll take us out before we can find them!''


    "It''s toote for you." A voice whispered in Ania''s ear, startling her as she felt the cold bite of steel.


    Ania gasped as she felt the dagger slide between her ribs. ''How?'' Her elbow swung back but failed to find her assant. They were already gone.


    "Retreat!" Ania gasped, barely loud enough for those close to her to hear. "Retreat!"


    She struggled to turn her horse as the others ryed hermand. ''Thank Exile, they left the de.'' Ania groaned as pain wracked her body where her wound was. ''It''ll keep my blood from flowing out too quickly.''


    Ania gasped as her warriors moved to shield her from the arrows as they attempted to guide her out of the forest. However, something felt... wrong. ''My legs! I can''t feel them!'' Panic shot through her mind as she felt her bnce shift.


    "Princess!" A warrior called out as he caught her before she could fall. "What''s wrong?"


    "My legs. I can''t." She gasped as numbness spread across her face. Her muscles rxed as her skin drooped, slurring her speech. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Quick! Something''s wrong with the princess!"


    The warrior failed to notice the soft, golden glow beneath Ania''s armour as her pendant activated. Sending a message to the divine realm. [Your Oracle, Ania Eraldsen, is in critical condition.]


    Exile turned his gaze away from the Deep Stalkers assaulting the mountain. His expression seemed far away to those around him as he considered the notification. ''Hm, the situation is worse than I thought. I guess Skalr isn''t up to the task.'' Exile sighed.


    ''I can''t leave, and I can''t let Ania die. I''ve got no choice.'' Exile let out a mental groan as he took a runestone from his inventory. ''It''s a shame to use this so soon.''


    The rune released a golden light as Exile pumped it full of DP. There appeared to be no end to its thirst as it drank it up greedily. Exile grinned as it suddenly stopped and crumbled to dust. ''That''ll have to be enough.''


    Meanwhile, Skalr suddenly spasmed as golden light filled his veins. The dome protected Bjorn and Skalr while thetter struggled with the power flowing through him. ''Damn! Why now?'' Skalr groaned loudly as he focused on keeping his own runes active to save Bjorn''s life. Skalr received the message hidden in the divine power as the surge faded. ''Ania''s in trouble.'' Skalr sighed. ''That exins it.'' The whites of Skalr''s eyes had turned golden as he slowly stood up. His hands traced lines in the air, carving runes on the fabric of the world itself.


    The Skardians that were watching him gasped as they felt pressure and fear at what Skalr was doing. Part of them wanted to flee, while the other wanted to worship him. The air cracked like broken ss as golden light leaked from Skalr''s body. The air surrounding him turned blurry as his body appeared to split in two.


    "Wait. Do I see that right? That''s really happening?" A warrior asked hispanion as he blinked several times. "Yeah, I see it too." Thetter replied with a gulp. "This is wrong."


    Skalr blinked as he nced at his double standing next to him. "Save Ania. I''ll remain with Bjorn. When we''re done, we''ll wipe the elves from the face of Skardia."


    The doppelganger dipped its head slightly before several ethereal runes burst from its body. When Skalr blinked, his double was already gone. ''I''ll have to end this quickly.'' The old runelord sighed as he fed more mana to his rune to stabilise Bjorn. At the same time, his hands moved gracefully as rune after rune appeared in the air around him.


    Fjora yelled as she burst down the wall of the outpost with a mighty swing of her weapon. Her fury was unchained as she ignored the calls of the warriors behind her. An elf rushed at her with his sword swinging a graceful arc through the air.


    However, Fjora raised her club to block the blow as her left hand shot out and grabbed the elf by his face. A cruel chuckle escaped her mouth as fear shed in the elf''s eyes. Bones cracked as his skull caved under her monstrous strength!


    Before his body could hit the ground, Fjora swung her club at an awkward angle. Turning the area before her into a gory wastnd as the corpse sttered from the force. She cocked her head to the left as she regarded the elves gathering before her.


    "Who''s next?"

 Chapter 272 Truth Seeker (Part One)

    Chapter 272 Truth Seeker (Part One)


    "Any sign of Nar''Kozz yet?" Exile asked as he ced his hand on Noslin''s shoulder. The mountain had been silent for over an hour already.


    "No," Noslin replied with a shake of her head as she gazed over the forest. "There''s been no more Stalkers since the Vanguard failed. Our people are on edge. They''re tense and anxious. Should we give the order for them to stand down?"


    Exile rubbed his beard as he cocked an eyebrow in thought. ''Leaving them on standby will eat away at their concentration. However, standing them down may cause them to fail to react quickly to another attack.'' Exile sighed as he nodded slowly.


    "Let them rest. I''ll take over surveince for a while."


    Noslin smiled slightly as she passed the message on. Her mind wandered to Mikari as she studied Exile. ''Would it be rude to ask him about his brother? If things go wrong, this could be my only chance to start building a friendship with Mikari.'' Her mind swiftly went beyond friendship, causing her to cough to get her emotions in check.


    "Is something wrong?" Exile asked when he noticed her strange expression. "No, I''m fine, thanks." She spluttered as she regained her cool. "Will Mikari be back soon?"


    Noslin silently cheered when Exile failed to notice her question was more for personal reasons. Thetter appeared thoughtful as he worked out the timing of what Mikari had to do.


    "He should be back any minute now. I think." Exile replied with a smile. "I''ll be sure to tell him you asked for him."


    Noslin choked at the knowing look he gave her with a twisted grin. ''Damn it! He knows!'' Before she could think of what to say, Exile turned and strode away. Noslin was left alone with her emotions and thoughts on her duties to her team. Exile chuckled to himself as he shook his head. ''Who knew Mike was such adykiller. If they get together, I''ll have to remember this to use in the future. It''s fine as long as it doesn''t interfere with our team winning this thing.'' He shrugged slightly as he wondered why Nar''Kozz hadn''t revealed itself yet. Exile could not see any reason why the creature would hold back now. However, he was hardly an expert. ''I doubt Skovi could give us any further insight. Nar''Kozz is ancientpared to us. Its thought process probably takes into ount only experience can teach you.'' If that thought was true, then Nar''Kozz would be even more dangerous. As Exile reached a clear area, he prepared the runes necessary to scout the surrounding area. ''Hopefully Nar''Kozz sacrifices more of its minions before joining the battle, but we still need to know where it is.'' Meanwhile, in a farawaynd...


    ''It should be around here, somewhere.'' Merlin thought to himself as he wandered the dark forest known as Freyngarde. It had taken him some time to discover spell creation and create his own spell to upgrade Avatar. He sneered as he felt the restrictions of the game world shackle most of his power in this form. However, he thought it was a worthwhile trade to allow himself to interact with the mortal realm. ''I know it''s here. Those NPCs had no idea about the secrets hidden in that book. They thought it was just stories. But I know better.''


    Merlin grinned as a surge of magic severed the thorn wall before him. The fog crept over thend around him, swirling and retreating on some unknown air currents. Merlin''s gaze shot to the moss-covered face of a boulder to his left as his lips curled up in a smile.


    A quick spell removed the moss and dirt, revealing the carvings beneath hidden by time. Merlin''s hand traced the intricate lines of the long-lost symbol as he searched his memory for its meaning. ''I see. This is intriguing.'' He nodded as his gaze turned northward. ''This is the entrance. From here on out, anything goes.'' Spheres of charged mana surrounded Merlin as he cast several spells at once. There was no way he would allow himself to be caught unprepared as he pushed on toward his goal. A blinding sh of white light obscured his surroundings as a dome of air pushed its way outward with Merlin at its centre. ''Got you.'' A third spell exploded as blue arrows shot out in different directions!


    His feet moved one after the other as dampness clung to his body. A twig snapped somewhere to his right, causing him to curse as he peered into the thickening fog. Another crack sounded from behind as he used one of his spells to scan his surroundings.


    However, the results were different from what he expected. A deep frown settled on his face as he took several more steps, only to notice the spell''s results remained the same. ''I see.'' Merlin sighed as he activated two of his spheres. A blinding sh of white light obscured his surroundings as a dome of air pushed its way outward with Merlin at its centre. ''Got you.'' A third spell exploded as blue arrows shot out in different directions!


    Pitiful high-pitched screeches filled the air as the illusion shattered. Merlin took his time to confirm his surroundings. He was still next to the carved boulder. A grimace appeared on his face at the time he had wasted. ''sted Fae.'' Merlin sneered as he used a spell that covered him with a magical aura. It would alert him to any more attempts at warping his perception as he set off once again. The fog was nowhere near as thick as the Fae''s illusion had made it seem. This part of the forest was still much the same as what he had travelled through. Merlin sighed at the cawing of unseen crows as his aura alerted him to the spells cast at him. "Pitiful." Merlin groaned as he cast several wind des toward the crow sounds. He mused over the use of sound to deliver a spell as he disturbed the low fog with his pace. His staff waved before him to scatter it to prevent him from being caught by something veiled by it. ''It''s an interesting concept.'' Merlin grumbled as he kept tabs on his surroundings. ''The possibilities are great, but finding the bestbinations would take some testing.'' A half-hourter, he found a path leading underground, hidden by thin roots. ''Hmm.''


    He tapped the roots with his staff as he searched the entrance and surrounding area for any more symbols. However, finding none, he returned to stand before the opening. ''It''s a dud.'' Merlin groaned as he used analysis spells to check for hidden elements.


    ''This is a decoy. The actual entrance must be further in.'' His aura sent several warnings as he lost interest in the cave. However, they were traps that hadin dormant for quite some time. ''They''re supposed to increase my curiosity about the fake entrance.''


    Merlin shook off the effects with his aura before continuing on his northern path. ''The traps are subtle. It''s easy to see why NPCs have failed in this search. I doubt anyone except a yer could make it through here.''


    His aura red more frequently now. Merlin''s pulse quickened as he correctly assumed he had to be closing on the proper entrance. The fog ahead suddenly parted, revealing a pitch-ck pit that dropped out of sight deep into the earth.


    "That''s more like it." Merlin chuckled as he studied the darkness with a crazed expression. Spells flew non-stop from his fingertips as he cast every spell meant to reveal hidden secrets and analyse things in his arsenal. His expression grew frustrated as one after another, they failed to find anything. His spells faded from existence as thest one returned negative.


    It took some willpower to prevent himself from stomping his foot like a petnt child as he studied the pit with his own eyes. Perhaps anything worth finding was concealed in a more mundane way. Merlin nodded to himself aftering to that conclusion.


    After all, magical residue was easier to find than something made to look like it belonged. It would be the best way to hide a secret from those with magic at their disposal. With some luck, they would ignore the entrance altogether.


    Merlin frowned as he got down on his hands and knees to peer over the edge. An overwhelming sense of vertigo washed over him as he closed his eyes for several seconds. He slowed his breathing and calmly told himself there was nothing to fear. It was only a game.


    He swallowed the saliva building in his mouth as he forced his eyes open. At first, he scanned the areas near the top of the pit before slowly working his way further down the walls. Hours passed as silence reigned in the forest while Merlin''s concentration never faltered. ''Nothing.'' Merlin groaned as he raised himself to his feet. ''Any symbols must be hidden in the dark or at the bottom.''


    He sighed as he cast several balls of light and manipted them to light up the pit''s walls as they descended. Merlin was careful to study every inch as they floated down. All he saw was dirt and the odd root poking out of the packed dirt. ''Come on... Come on!'' He hissed to himself as his lights were almost too far for him to see anything. Suddenly, they all went out! As if they were swallowed by the darkness itself! Merlin cursed as he realised what that meant.


    ''This test won''t allow me to circumvent how it''s meant to be done.'' He groaned as he began casting and holding spells to be used as needed. ''I was hoping to avoid doing this part.''


    Merlin gazed deep into the darkness. Then, he swung his foot over the edge... and fell...


    N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 273 Truth Seeker (Part Two)

    Chapter 273 Truth Seeker (Part Two)


    A blue aura shimmered around Merlin as he fell. This slowed his speed so he could study the walls to ensure he had not missed anything. It felt awkward to him to turn his body in that state as he scanned the dirt and patches of rock.


    ''It really won''t be that easy.'' Merlin sighed as he steeled his determination and cast several light orbs deeper into the depths. ''How long does this go on?''


    Several minutester, the darkness swallowed the light from above as solid ground came into view. As Merlin touched the earth, his eyes lingered on the gold-veined stone bricks that formed an archway in the northern wall of the pit. His brows furrowed as he cast several spells to identify the material and any secrets it held. However, the results he received appeared fractured. Like they had only performed a portion of what they were supposed to. This led Merlin to believe that the material was either naturally or magically created to specifically resist magic at the very least.


    ''This could be tricky.'' Merlin clicked his tongue in annoyance as he prepared several offensive and defensive spells. ''It''ll be impossible to scan for illusory walls or hidden doors. If they went to these lengths to protect this ce, there''d likely be powerful magical traps.'' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With a keen gaze, Merlin swiftly discovered the arcane symbols carved into the side of the archway that faced the walls of his current room. He nodded in approval at this, as most people would expect to find them on the face of the archway or inside it as it led into the tunnel.


    "Let''s see here," Merlin grumbled as he illuminated the markings. "Here within lies Andrewn, Seeker of Truth in the Valley of..."


    Merlin grumbled as the final word had been carved out of existence. ''Someone defaced this.'' He tortured his chin with his free hand as he attempted to glean the meaning behind the act. ''If they had an issue with Andrewn, they would''ve carved out his name. Instead, they left it along with with his title. So they had no problems with either of those.'' Merlin''s eyes narrowed as he reached the natural conclusion of his train of thought. ''No, it''s this ce they had an issue with.''


    ''They want this ce to be forgotten but not the person.'' Merlin stood still for a few minutes as he thought things through further. ''So, something is hidden here. Some artefact or secret that isn''t linked to Andrewn. There would have to be writings out there that linked the name of this ce to its secret. That''s the only thing that makes sense.''


    His thoughts piqued his curiosity about Andrewn. Who had buried him here? Why choose this ce? These were secrets and mysteries all of their own. ''Hm, I''ll find out for myself. It''s an exciting find, but not what I''m looking for. It''s likely the secret they''ve tried to mask is exactly what I''m looking for.'' Merlin shrugged as he controlled the globes of light to fly ahead into the tunnel.


    The air felt dry in Merlin''s throat as he studied the bricks that made up the passageway. He silently wondered if there was a way to retrieve them for him to studyter. Maybe he would ask his followers toe to this ce and gather what he wanted.


    Merlin soon felt that the journey was taking too long. There was no sign of the passageing to an end or any branches he could explore. There had been no traps, nothing affecting his mind, and no more symbols. He found it hard to believe that a tomb and ce of a hidden secret would have no defences whatsoever. ''This isn''t right.'' Merlin frowned as his footsteps echoed off the walls. He stood still for several seconds but failed to notice anything unusual. However, an itch at the back of his mind kept telling him that something was wrong with the tunnel. Several spellster, he confirmed that nothing had slipped past his protections.


    Paranoia began to set in as he wondered if he could trust his own spells. Were their results being manipted by an outside factor? Years of ying Mayhem and other games had taught Merlin to trust his instincts if something felt off. It was usually something subtle that his subconscious had picked up on.


    ''Am I unprepared for this?'' Merlin silently wondered. ''No, I''m a God in this game. This should not be impossible for me. Besides, I''m not feeling a sense of threat.''


    Merlin frowned as he spun to face back the way he hade. Arcane symbols danced from his fingertips as a ball of fire took form and shot down the tunnel. Suddenly, after travelling around fifty feet, the fireball illuminated the room at the bottom of the pit, which caused Merlin to reveal a grim expression.


    ''I should be far away from that room by now! What the hell is going on here?'' Merlin''s face flushed red as his body trembled. He stormed off in the opposite direction for several minutes as he focused on his senses to understand what had happened.


    When he stopped and cast another fireball, the entrance was still at the same distance as before. However, Merlin had not sensed anything messing with his perception. Nor had his spells picked up on any magic interfering with his mind. ''Hm, there''s only one thing for it.'' Merlin activated a strand of his divinity. ''Follow the Thread!''


    Golden tendrils stretched out from his body, grasping at the ambient mana of the world. The world fought back, attempting to hide its secrets while targeting the divine magic that was not powerful enough yet to entirely interfere with the mortal realm.


    Merlin strained as the ambient mana attempted to slip away from the grasp of his spell. Insights into what was going on entered his mind as his divine magic seeped inside the world mana. ''I see. This is...plicated. There are rules here that must be followed if you can''t break the enchantment here.''


    ''Calling it a warp is wrong. Every ten feet, the path behind me reces the path forward. Like an invisible doorway that lets me step onto the path I''ve already travelled.'' Merlin furrowed his brows as he tried to understand the mechanism and if there was a way he could brute force his way through.


    Eventually, he let out a sigh as his spell gained another insight. ''This is a divine enchantment. A relic of the old gods.'' Most people would despair at this revtion. However, Merlin was not like most people. He became excited and even more determined than ever to uncover the mysteries of this ce. ''If a God has directly interfered here, then there is likely a legacy of some kind.'' Merlin smirked as he continued to read the mana. ''The answer is in here somewhere. I just need to find it.''


    As the minutes turned to hours and Merlin activated his spell for the tenth time, his tendrils finally understood there was a cloud of mana being protected by the rest. Merlin focused on the cloud so it would not escape his notice again.


    Several tendrils moved to cut off its path of retreat while three more cuts through the other mana to target it. It took a fair amount of fine control on Merlin''s side to avoid the useless mana that moved to get itself captured so he would fail in grasping the principle behind the tunnel''s defence.


    The cloud he was after was as slippery as an eel, but Merlin slowly closed the around it until it had nowhere to run. ''I''ve got you now!'' Merlin chuckled as he sessfully ensnared his prey. His divine power seeped inside and immediately sent information directly to Merlin.


    ''This... damn!'' Merlin cursed as his body suddenly became rigid, and his sight faded. When he blinked, he found himself standing in a vast library. The books flew from one shelf to another as quills autonomously wrote on nk parchment before they flew away to be a new page in one of the endless amount of books.


    ''What is this ce?'' Merlin wondered as he studied the living library with no end in sight. He quickly attempted to analyse his situation with his best spells, but they failed to activate!


    Merlin immediately raised his guard, fearing he had fallen for an ancient trap. As far as he could tell, he must''ve been teleported or warped away by a spell hidden in the mana he had attempted to crack open.


    However, only the scratching of quills on parchment and the stale air of the library reached his senses. Merlin carefully took a step forward, and nothing happened. He took several more steps while scanning his surroundings. Yet nothing attacked him.


    He rxed slightly while keeping a firm grasp on his staff. It had be the only thing he could rely on here if something went wrong. His eyes quickly scanned the titles on the spines of the nearby books. However, the majority of them were innguages he could not read. Several times he spotted books on higher shelves in familiarnguages, but he had no way to reach them. ''5th Era: The Fall, 3rd Era: The Trials of King Forisst, 5th Era: The Trials of Allevia, 4th Era: Andrewn and the One Truth.'' Merlin gaped at the final title he could read for a few moments. However, it quickly dawned on him that something was wrong with the titles.


    "Hm, it''s not a mistake." An ancient voice chuckled in Merlin''s ear, causing thetter to jump...


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 274 Truth Seeker (Part Three)

    Chapter 274 Truth Seeker (Part Three)


    Merlin spun to stare at the source of the ancient voice. However, the young woman with violet hair and baggy blue robes was not what he expected to see. Her voice matched that of an old crone, while her visage was that of youthful energy.


    "It''s been a long time since someone made it here." The woman said as she cast her gaze over her guest. "The method you used was most unusual."


    Merlin''s grip intensified on his staff as he prepared for the woman to turn hostile. She replied to his tension with a sad smile as she set off down one of the aisles of bookshelves. After several steps, she beckoned for Merlin to follow her.


    ''Do I have a choice?'' Merlin wondered as he considered his options. He could try running to find an exit or a way back. But the woman had appeared from thin air, so he doubted he could escape her. With his spells sealed, there was no chance he could win a confrontation. So that left him with relying on her mercy for now. He nodded his head slowly and trailed along behind her. She led him through the maze of towering bookshelves as books and pages flew overhead. Merlin could not help but let his curiosity wander as he studied their titles. ''This goes beyond our current knowledge of the game.''


    He silently considered the possibility that this library held every speck of knowledge about the game since its creation. From the titles, he could guess that there had been eras before the previous one with their own set of gods to rule over thends.


    ''You would think we would''ve heard something about that by now.'' Merlin frowned as he considered the implications. ''What happened for that knowledge to be lost? Did people just erase the writings orndmarks?''


    The woman in front of him chuckled as she guessed at the questions Merlin asked himself by his expression. However, she shook her head at his questioning her gaze. Merlin sighed as he realised he would not get any answers from her. However, that made him more determined to track down the traces of these lost eras.


    "Ah, this is what we''re looking for." The woman said as she stopped, waving her hand at the books to their right. A thick, red leather-bound book flew off a shelf several feet above them and gracefullynded in the woman''s hand. The book opened, and the pages turned at a blinding speed until they stopped on a specific page. The woman''s eyes widened as she nodded while ncing at Merlin.


    "Andrewn''s tomb. Otherwise known as the Valley of Hope. Better known as the Valley of Lies. A scar of the first Era." The woman sighed as she snapped the book closed. She tapped her chin lightly as she sent the book back to its ce while she regarded Merlin carefully. She pursed her lips while pondering the correct action in this scenario.


    "Is something wrong?" Merlin asked with a curious gaze. Her earlier ramble had allowed him to learn two possible names of the location he had found. So he was eager to discover more if it allowed him to seize whatever power it guarded.


    "You could say that," The librarian nodded as she pped her hands. Several books converged on their location from different sections of the library before opening to the pages she required. "You''ve brought yourself to this mental ne seeking answers. Your magic is of the 6th Era. However, the spell you attempted to break is from the 4th."


    Merlin frowned at her expression that said this exined everything. "What does that mean, and why would I end up here?"


    "Hm, essentially, your magic is notpatible with each other. One Era of a difference doesn''t affect much, but two... well, that''s like mming yourself against a wall without the tools to knock it down. "That''s what I''m here for."


    Merlin cocked an eyebrow as he hit on an idea about the nature of his host. ''It''s possible she''s an AI admin. ced here in this library to fix bugs.'' Merlin chuckled. ''If that''s true, then they''ve blended the function with the game world quite well. The Eras before our own were probably simtions of what could happen in this game. Tests for game bnce and how well areas fitted with what they wanted to achieve.''


    ''This librarian is basically admitting there are artefacts and spells left over from the testing phases. Who knows how they would interact with our version of the game!'' Merlin felt ecstatic to discover such a secret. He could only hope that he would be able to use these remnants to gain advantages over the other yers. "Hm, I''ll rewrite a conversion into the Valley''s story. This won''t take long." The librarian said as thousands of lines of golden letters flew from several pages and forced their way onto a single book!


    The process only took several seconds but was enough to leave Merlin in awe. Suddenly, his sight began to fade, and a quick blink returned him to his location in the tunnel. His mind was suddenly flooded with insights into thest piece of mana he had attempted to understand.


    ''I see. The conversion the librarian spoke of has made it possible to interact with this area now.'' He frowned as he analysed the insights. ''This ce is supposed to teach lessons. Only bypleting them can I seize the reward at the end.''


    ''This test seems easy enough. But if I hadn''t seized the mana, it would''ve taken some time to figure it out.'' Merlin chuckled as he understood his spell would allow him to cheat his way through. The answers were hidden in the ambient world mana, and he just had to glean that information to save himself a significant headache.


    "This is the enlightened path. You can safely navigate the future by looking at past travelled paths." Merlin understood this was supposed to teach people to learn from their past mistakes to prevent them from making the same ones in the future.


    The way the trial brought that lesson to life was by disabling the ''warp'' feature if a yer regrly illuminated the path behind them. Merlin steeled his determination as he put the answer into practice. Within ten minutes, he reached the end of the tunnel.


    As he entered the next room, he repeated the action of seizing the answer from the mana, and a smug grin appeared on his face. The second trial taught the importance of control over emotions, thoughts, speech and actions.


    The third sought to teach the importance of one''s self. Ego and ambition went hand in hand with personal power. But too much ego and self-confidence would lead to someone''s downfall.


    The fourth taught the importance of action and self-freedom. However, it warned about the chaos that could be born from it.


    The fifth taught personal growth and the natural order, while the sixth taught the importance of teamwork and justice. By the time Merlin finished the sixth, he had found himself panting and covered in a cold sweat. It was only now he realised these tests were supposed to take a long time toplete.


    However, he had blitzed them in less than a day inside the game. A smile crept across his face as the circle carved in the floor of the final room slid open, revealing a spiral staircase. ''This should lead to the treasury. I should rest a bit in case there''s a hidden guardian.''


    Merlin summoned several potions from his inventory with a crooked grin. Learning the secret of alchemical creations in the game had been an enormous boon to Camelot. Grinding had be more manageable, with less of a need to return to the city to heal up.


    However, their research into recovering DP in the field had stalled. But Merlin was confident Arthur and himself could ovee any challenge thrown at them. ''There''s still a lot for Mordread to learn before I can rece Arthur.'' Merlin sighed as he slowly descended the staircase after several minutes.


    ''We need to consider forcefully imnting the belief of our Pantheon into our neighbours now. The question is, who do we go after first? What races will bring the most benefits to our Pantheon?'' Merlin groaned as he pondered that question for the umpteenth time. Personally, if they could locate the Skardians, he would move to shut Colt down now before he could gain further momentum. It felt like a p to his face every time he learned of Colt''s progress. However,pared to himself, Colt was still wet behind the ears. So they had to take care of him before he gained too many talented people to surround himself with. Which would make up for his shorings.


    Merlin''s focus was broken as he reached the bottom of the stairs. A simple set of wooden nk doors waited for him with no signs of any traps. Just to be safe, he still cast his analysis spells and tapped into the world mana. ''It''s clear.'' Merlin''s brow twitched after a few minutes.


    With a deep breath, Merlin pushed on the doors. They were eerily silent as they swung open effortlessly. The room beyond them was no bigger than arge wardrobe where a single ck stone cube hovered over an altar. Merlin''s gaze wandered to the statue of a man behind it and the stone sarcophagus at its feet.


    ''Andrewn.'' Merlin sighed as heid eyes on the man''s resting ce. ''But what''s the item?''


    Merlin''s curiosity was piqued as he ced a hand on the cube and appraised it.


    [Truth Holding Cube]


    [Type: Lost Divine Artefact] n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [Tier 1]


    [Upgradeable]


    [Description: Store two spells in this cube. Spells cast from the Truth Holding Cube cost 50% less DP to activate.]


    [Enforce your Truth upon the world.]

 Chapter 275 A Dangerous Authority (Part 1)

    Chapter 275 A Dangerous Authority (Part 1)


    Exile cast his gaze over the orb generated by his runes. ''There''s movement in the surrounding forest. What is Nar''Kozz up to?'' His brows furrowed as Deep Stalkers rushed the mountain on the far end from the path.


    The orb zoomed in, allowing Exile to better understand what was happening. Exile cursed as he saw the Stalkers digging into the mountain. ''They''re going to dig tunnels up through the mountain!''


    "That was quicker than I expected," Mikari said as he ced his hand on his brother''s shoulder. "They should have pushed our defences harder before resorting to this."


    "I''m d you''re back." Exile chuckled as he zoomed out to give Mikari a better picture of the happenings around the mountain. "How did the negotiations go?"


    "They went as I expected. Parthus agreed to our terms. It''s the other one I''m worried about." "Hm, she could be a tough one. We don''t know enough about her to leverage her." "Look at you!" Mikari chuckled as he punched Exile''s shoulder. "There''s a brain in there, after all."


    "I resent that." Exile snorted. Though, he knew he had the books Mikari had bought for him to thank for broadening his view. "Well, as long as you''re learning. I won''t always be there to solve your problems." Mikari sighed and raised his hand at Exile''s worried expression. "The game is vast, and you''re the ruler of Ragnarok. We don''t know where I''ll be required to be in the future. You''ll need to be capable of holding the fort inrge-scale matters when I''m not around."


    Exile nodded slowly at Mikari''s words. His brother had always been better at considering therger picture. However, Exile himself excelled at bulldozing his way through his problems. "So, what do we do about that?" Exile jabbed a thumb at the image in the direction of the burrowing creatures.


    "It''ll take them time to create a path through the mountain," Mikari replied as his brows furrowed. "There''s no point in trying to seal them inside. We''ll have to attack them from behind once they get further in."


    Exile stroked his beard as he watched the Stalkers'' progress. ''Makes sense. Saturate them with attacks in a confined area, making it difficult for them to escape.'' He nodded his head as he nced sideways at Mikari.


    "Any idea on who we should send as the assault team?"


    "I have a few people in mind." Mikari grinned. "But I think I''ll lead the team myself. I need to stretch and get used to my powers."


    Exile chuckled as he shook his head. ''That''s true. Mikari hasn''t seen much action in the game yet. We''ve just power-levelled him with orbs. I really thought he would be the God of War rather than y. But his authority definitely suits him.''


    Exile let out a long sigh as he thought about all the cogs in motion. ''Everything is going to get moreplicated from here on out.''


    "Brother," Mikari said with a grim expression. "They''reing."


    Exile scanned the image in shock as thousands of holes appeared around the base of the mountain! ''So, that''s why we couldn''t find their main force!'' He grimaced as a dark sea of Stalkers surfaced and rushed the mountain from all directions!


    "That''s going to make it near impossible to stop their tunnelling! No ordinary yers could make it through that!" Exile groaned as he sent runners to order the preparation for battle.


    "It''s worse than that." Mikari shook his head as Exile frowned at him. "Why didn''t they just tunnel straight through the mountain without revealing themselves?"


    Exile''s eyes went wide as he pondered that question. The Stalkers would have had a greater advantage if they had done that. ''So why didn''t they?''


    "It''s because they already have." Mikari sighed as he balled his hands into fists. Exile''splexion paled at Mikari''s statement. "What do you mean?"


    "I was blind. They took so long because they''d already created tunnels in the mountain. Those Stalkers are creating an entrance for them to funnel reinforcements behind our lines. A lot of, if not our whole, defence ispromised! Exile, put every station on alert!"


    A few momentster, the Skardian yers all over the mountain felt the ground rumble beneath their feet. Panic swept over them as they struggled to understand what was happening. Weapons were drawn, and spells cast as the rumbling stopped.


    "What was that?" The yers whispered among themselves at the first checkpoint as they anxiously stared at y, who was studying the ground with a frightening intensity. "Prepare for battle!" y roared, startling the yers. "The enemy ising through the ground! Look to your friends to guard your backs! Give them hell!"


    As y''s voice carried in the air,rge pits opened behind the defensive wall! ''Stalkers charging the path. More behind our lines. This is a disaster!'' y gritted his teeth as he activated his Divine spell, Unyielding Bastion.


    The ground rumbled yet again as the path beneath the yers who hadn''t fallen into the pits rose up. Bridges formed between them along with battlements for their defence. y heaved deep breaths as the spell came topletion. A huge chunk of his DP was spent with that single spell. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Otherworldly screeches filled the air as the Stalkers burst from the pits as more mmed against the checkpoint wall. ''We''re an ind, attempting to survive the storm.'' y sighed as the yers snapped out of their surprise and bombarded their enemies.


    ''This is the best option now.'' y thought as his weapon transformed into a steel bow. ''Armoury!''


    A quiver, with exceptionally thick steel arrows, appeared on his back. With a fluid movement, he drew an arrow, nocked it, and let it loose. The projectile sang as it pierced the air before blowing holes through ten Stalkers!


    y nodded as he confirmed the power of his weapon before lining up his next shot. ''We could really use Mikari down here about now.''


    The situation was much grimmer at the other checkpoints. Only the peak of the mountain remained undisturbed by the enemy invasion. Mikari watched as Exile grimaced at the massive casualties from the formation of the pits.


    ''My brother is feeling these losses.'' Mikari sighed as he tore his gaze away from his older sibling. ''He has to put personal feelings aside to truly seed as amander.''


    Mikari''s eyes narrowed as he studied the image from Exile''s rune. ''y can hold the first checkpoint, but if the second or third falls, the enemies will snowball down on them. We can''t let them regroup. We have to treat each checkpoint as a separate battlefield now. So where are wecking talentedmanders?''


    Several ns rushed through Mikari''s mind at that moment. Each one was seemingly less usible than thest. ''There must be a path forward!'' Mikari''s knuckles popped as rage flowed through his mind. However, it was a calm fury. A fury born from being outdone by an NPC creature.


    "Mikari. What are our options?" Exile hissed as he watched the casualty list grow with each second.


    Mikari squinted at his brother for a moment. ''He won''t opt for an evacuation of our best yers.'' Mikari chuckled as he noticed the glint in Exile''s eyes. ''No. He wants a total victory.''


    "Send Noslin to this checkpoint," Mikari replied as he pointed halfway up the mountain. "Her job is to be a dam. To prevent the Stalkers from flowing up or down the path like a tidal wave of death. They can still use their tunnels. But that should slow them down."


    "What about me?"


    "You''ll stay here and provide support to any checkpoints in your range. Split up the other leaders and provide reinforcements to our weakest points. Then, fight as if your lives depend on it."


    "What will you do?" Exile asked as he conjured runes in the surrounding air.


    Mikari shrugged as he turned to walk away. "I''m going to do what I do best."


    A sharp grin appeared on his face as he nced over his shoulder. "Win."


    With those parting words, Mikari sprinted away. Exile froze for a moment before letting out a long chuckle. ''Damn. I almost feel bad for the Stalkers now.'' Exile paused for a moment as he considered Mikari''s authority. ''It''s no wonder he can say that with such confidence. It''s a rare power indeed, and I can''t think of anyone else more worthy of it.''


    Exile shook his head as his spells came topletion. Golden orbs erupted into the sky, before arching to fall in numerous locations on the path. Protective domes with healing properties appeared all over the mountain. Which made the rocky giant appear as if it were a strange flower in bloom from a distance. ''I don''t have to worry about Mikari. But I wonder what he''ll do. y shouldn''t need help for now. Noslin will take the midpoint, and I''ve got the peak. So what''s he up to?''


    Deep frown lines appeared on his forehead as he began casting a long-range bombardment spell. ''He wouldn''t. Right?'' Exile grew nervous as a thought sprung to his mind. The greatest thorn in their side from this attack was the tunnels. He suddenly grew fearful that Mikari was about to throw himself alone into that dangerous scenario to cut off the Stalkers'' movements.


    However, the fear soon fled his mind. ''If anyone can pull it off, it''s him.'' Exile firmly shook his head as he sent out targeting runes for his spell. ''Besides, my brother''s authority is special. Must be nice to be the God of Victory.''

 Chapter 276 A Dangerous Authority (Part Two)

    Chapter 276 A Dangerous Authority (Part Two)


    "Damn it!"Lowyra screamed as Stalkers swarmed over her, dragging her to the ground. ''It''s over.''


    As she prepared for her death, a blinding gold light enveloped the area around her. Lowyra closed her eyes and heard a thunderous p before the light disappeared. "What was that?" She whispered as she opened her eyes to discover the Stalkers were gone.


    Other yers nearby who had managed to survive looked around in confusion. Some cheered, while others worried it was some kind of trick. After all, there was no sign of their enemies. Nobody noticed the calm yer walking between them, heading for his next target.


    A few minutester, Beartooth called out orders. Exile''s domes were at full capacity at his checkpoint. However, hundreds of yers were still trapped outside, fighting the Stalkers. Beartooth cursed as he watched members of his Pantheon and others being ughtered before his eyes.


    ''I can''t do anything to help them.'' Beartooth snarled as more Stalkers crawled out of the pits and charged at the domes. ''How long can these barriers hold out for? We need a damn miracle to win this!''


    As screams filled the air, a blinding gold light appeared from beyond the sea of enemies! Beartooth squinted, refusing to close his eyes as a booming p sounded. His eyes shot wide as he tried to discern what had happened.


    The Stalkers were gone without a trace. However, for a brief moment, he could''ve sworn he had seen a giant finger. His eyes shot to the only yer still moving around. ''Isn''t that... Mikari?''


    Noslin arrived at the midpoint and immediately conjured an ice fort to protect the surviving yers. Her spells rained down on the Stalkers and cleared pathways for the survivors to enter the fort. ''Damn! This is worse than I thought.'' Her cold gaze pierced the enemies as she calmly evaluated the situation. ''Even if I throw everything I have at this, it won''t be enough. We''re going to need reinforcements.'' A sudden golden light at the checkpoint after hers caught her gaze. It wasn''t so blinding from that distance, but that only made her jaw drop as she saw what was hidden inside of it. She watched as ten pairs of golden hands pped before the light disappeared, and cheering could be heard.


    ''Mikari.'' Noslin almost choked on the thought. ''Why did I think of him when I saw that?'' Momentster, yers charged from the direction of the light and attacked the nk of the Stalkers. As Noslin grinned at the reinforcements, a lone figure caught her gaze. ''It really was him.'' She sighed.


    y hummed to himself as he beheaded two more Stalkers as fire rained down from the peak of the mountain. ''It''s been twenty minutes now, and Exile''s bombardment hasn''t slowed down.'' y was filled with admiration at Exile''s prowess.


    ''He''s bing a right monster.'' He chuckled as another sh of golden light, much closer this time, caught his attention. ''Hmm, he''ll be here in a few seconds. Guess I should wrap this up.'' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    y charged through the crowd of enemies around the base of the defences he had created for his team. His weapons shapeshifted from a sword to a spear, to twin axes as he cut down the Stalkers who dared to get in his way.


    As the enemy numbers thinned, he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he turned to re at the yer, his eyebrow rose.


    "Winter?"


    "Close your eyes." Winter chuckled as she closed her own tightly.


    y quickly understood and followed her lead. A golden light that shone through his eyelids appeared followed by the loudest p he had ever heard. His senses were momentarily stunned before he realised he could no longer hear the sounds of battle.


    y whistled as he opened his eyes to discover the missing enemies. His eyes quickly located Mikari who was walking toward him.


    "Damn, you really pack a punch." y chuckled.


    "Don''t worry. I was gentle with them. You''ll know it when I decide to throw a punch." Mikari grinned as he nced at Winter. "I need you toe with us, y. We''re going to disrupt the enemy''s ns."


    y thumbed his chin as he looked from Winter to Mikari. "Just us three?"


    "It''s all we need."


    "Lots of enemies?"


    "Yes."


    "Say no more. I''m in." y grinned enthusiastically as he turned his weapon into a giant warhammer. "Lead the way."


    Exile watched the trio through his spell as he continued to provide support to the battlefields on the mountain. ''Mikari cleared the way, but there''s more rushing up from inside the pits.''


    ''With y gone, the first checkpoint won''tst too long. It''s time to switch targets.'' He trembled as he switched the targeting runes to hover over every pit he could find. ''Time to cut off their path.''


    Rivers of fire exploded from the runes he cast in the air around him and flowed like giant serpents into the darkness of the mountain. Seeking out their prey that hid within their tunnels.


    Exile''s focus snapped back to the trio as Winter hid their presence from the Stalkers patrolling the mountain''s base. ''They''re going to have a rough battle once they reveal themselves. Maybe I should help them out a bit.''


    He quickly scanned the stabilising situation before firing long-range spells toward the groups of Stalkers ahead of the trio. Explosions sounded from all over the mountain and surrounding area as Exile unleashed the fury of a god upon the Stalkers.


    From a distance, the mighty stone sentinel looked like an erupting volcano as Exile spared no effort. The eyes of the flying Stalkers glowed red as they studied the state of the battle. After a few minutes, they felt a tugging in their mind as Nar''Kozz recalled them.


    Exile hesitated as he sensed a slight shift in the atmosphere. It felt heavier and full of malice. Like something was weighing down on him. ''It''s like I''m being watched by a predator.''


    He cursed as he realised what that feeling meant. ''It''s Nar''Kozz! And he''s strong enough to make me feel threatened!'' Exile snarled as he quickly attempted to locate the ancient creature with his spell. ''Where are you!''


    He knew the beast had to be somewhere close for him to feel its malice. ''Come on, show yourself!'' Exile was tense as he continued his search. He was so focused that the answer escaped him, even though it should have been obvious.


    "So, what''s the n?" y whispered as they approached the tunneling Stalkers. "There''s still hundreds of them out here."


    Winter nodded in agreement as her gaze moved over the scene before them. "I don''t see how the three of us can deal with this."


    Mikari remained silent as he calmly imagined how things would y out once he put things in motion. ''This will work. Nar''Kozz is inside the mountain. If we do this right, we''ll drive him to the surface and have a good chance of wiping out every Stalker.''


    "Winter, use your powers to alter the Stalkers'' perception. Drag as many out here to us as you can. y, you''ll need to seal up as many tunnels as you can. Divert any Stalkers still below to exit this way. Leave the rest to me."


    y grunted but agreed to the n while Winter studied the younger Anderson brother as if he were crazy. ''This is madness. He wants to draw the entire Stalker army toward us? How are we meant to suvive that?''


    "Winter?" Mikari said as he stared at her, his eyes full of determination. "Don''t worry. This will work. You can run if you feel you have to, but this''ll go a lot smoother with your powers."


    Winter gulped as she studied Mikari''s fierce gaze. "How am I meant to pass all those Stalkers?"


    Mikari grinned in response as he confidently strode forward. Winter nced helplessly at y who grinned sheepishly at her. "I guess it''s ytime?" y chuckled as he quickly followed after Mikari, leaving Winter behind.


    "Why are men such idiots!" Winter groaned as she scanned her surrounding. "Damn it! You''re leaving me with no choice!"


    She steeled her determination and ran after y. Before she could catch up, a golden light burst from Mikari''s body.


    Mikari''s focus sharpened as a twenty foot tall divine golden statue with twenty arms appeared in the air above his head. ''Victory is Divine!'' The hands shot out and pped the nearby Stalkers into ground, killing them in a single blow.


    The statue moved with Mikari''s thoughts, and unleashed hundreds of blows in less than a second. It was so fast that neither y nor Winter could follow its attacks. Mikari''s eyes shone gold as the flurry of devastation he unleashed sounded like a crowd pping for an encore to his ears.


    A savage grin spread on his face as the enemy numbers meant little in the face of his power. ''This is definitely fitting for the God of Victory.''

 Chapter 277 Fist of the First Star

    Chapter 277 Fist of the First Star


    Knights in full te armour lined up at the southern end of the Starblessed Valley. King Edwein cast his gaze over the far end as his horse trotted forward. ''There should be some resistance by now.'' With no sign of resistance from the hidden Valdic tribe, the King gave the order to march onward. ''Perhaps they really are legends. If people lived here we should have known about it.'' He shook his head in resignation. ''Our God has asked this of us, so I can''t disappoint him.''


    Edwein''s gaze flickered to the God in golden and silver armour to his left. However, Arthur only returned a gentle smile in his direction. Edwein felt encouraged by Arthur''s presence as he led his troops further into the valley.


    His eyes caught sight of what appeared to be the homes of an ancient civilisation carved into the rocks on either side of the valley. ''How is it possible for a ce like this to exist, but we have no records of it?'' "Your Majesty, there are movements among some of those buildings." A knight whispered to Edwein as he gestured to their left.


    "Deploy the archers to the left nk and have the cavalry ready to provide support," Edwein responded as he nced with little interest at the buildings. ''Our job is to make the locals and any gods focus on us while Arthur reaches his goal.''


    Momentster, barbarians rushed in from both sides. Arrows were loosed to the left as the cavalry turned to charge to the right. ''It seems Arthur was right. People are living here.'' Edwein groaned as he prepared for battle.


    "Mordread, Morgana, you two support the king and his troops. I''m going on ahead." Arthur grinned as he took off at a sprint, leaving the siblings behind with ugly expressions on their faces. ''They should be able to win.'' Arthur sighed as he bolted through the valley. A huge temple carved into the stone appeared in the distance. ''That should be the ce. I don''t know where you went, Merlin. Or what you''re up to. But I''ll be ready for it.''


    Arthur felt the presence of a god descending in front of the temple. ''Seems it won''t be as easy as I thought.'' He sighed as he slowed his pace and drew his sword. ''I don''t recognise this yer.''


    Arthur calmly studied his opponent who wore ragged furs and leather while carrying a thick wooden club. Despite his appearance, Arthur calmly evaluated the yer''s level to be close to his own.


    "I''m Arthur, King of the Camelot Pantheon. Who are you?"


    His opponent remained silent as he studied Arthur. The sun glinted off his ebony skin where it was exposed. ''Not the talkative type.'' Arthur groaned. He had hoped to solve this with dialogue, but the other party appeared unwilling.


    "I''m entering the temple. Please, don''t try to stop me."


    Arthur kept a friendly expression as he approached the unmoving yer. When he was within striking distance, the yer still did not move. ''Is he really going to allow me to enter?''


    However, as Arthur a step beyond the mysterious yer, a powerful force struck his gut, sending him flying backwards. Arthur''s eyes widened as he caught the yer slowly returning his club to its previous position!


    ''I couldn''t see a damn thing!'' Arthur grunted as he mmed and bounced off the ground. As he recovered, he realised the yer wasn''t pursuing him. ''Why?''


    It was the perfect opportunity for a follow-up. ''Is he more interested in protecting the temple?'' Arthur frowned as he realised the yer had no ambition to defeat him. Only to prevent him from gaining the power inside the temple.


    He quickly checked the battle log to get the yer''s name. [Unknown]


    ''What the fuck?'' Arthur''s mind drew a nk as he stared at the yer in the distance. ''Who is he?''


    Arthur took a deep breath to calm his mind before activating several spells at once. His speed, strength, and endurance greatly rose as he burst forward. He was sure the sudden burst should catch the yer off guard, but as he attempted to pass him again, he saw the club swinging. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Aaargh!" Arthur roared as he intercepted the club with his de.


    His feet slid backwards as the club applied pressure to his weapon. ''At least I wasn''t blown away this time!'' Arthur lunged with a feint, but the yer ignored it and drove a punch into Arthur''s jaw!


    Thetter''s head bounced off the ground before a swift kick caught his ribs, sending him some distance back again. ''What the hell is going on?'' He felt weakness seep into his body. Everything felt heavier than before.


    [Unknown has sealed Divine Spells Arm of Justice, Bulwark of Peace, Swift Judgement]


    Arthur''s eyes went wide as he attempted to cast those spells again, but they failed. ''A sealing ability? This guy can prevent others from using their spells?'' Arthur trembled at such an overwhelming ability.


    ''There must be limitations on it. His first strike didn''t do anything. So does it only work on active spells?'' Whatever the case was, it was clear he was facing a troublesome opponent. ''It doesn''t say anything about how long the sealsts for. Do I need to defeat him to lift it?''


    Arthurn''s expression settled into a stern one as he prepared a lunge brimming with divine energy. However, his sharp eyes caught the slight sigh that escaped his opponent''s mouth. ''Why does he seem disappointed?''


    A momentter, a beam of divine energy fired from his de. His opponent shook his head before punching the spell as if it were nothing.


    [Unknown has sealed Divine Lunge]


    Arthur''s expression turned dark as another ability became of no use to him. ''I feel like I''m missing something.'' His opponent had never gone on the offensive except to stop him from moving beyond his position. Although he had retaliated, he had only sealed Arthur''s abilities but showed no bloodlust. It almost seemed like the strange yer was waiting for something. Arthur slowly sheathed his sword and approached the man until he was standing in front of him.


    "What do I need to do to enter?"


    The tall man smiled at Arthur''s question. "You must defeat me in a duel. But no spells are allowed. You must agree to have one of my spells cast on you that will make our stats equal."


    Arthur frowned at this statement. ''A fair trial of skill?'' It was almost unbelievable, but then he considered the nature of the prize he sought. I see, so that''s what''s going on.


    "You''re a will, aren''t you? May I have the pleasure of learning your name?"


    "Hahaha, you figured that out rather quickly." The man replied as tusks grew from his bottom jaw and four more arms appeared. "I am Jin''da. God of the Ebony Orcs, Elden, and Sommerdanians. Fist of the First Star. Wielder of the Divine Scales."


    Jin''da''s eyes shed with amusement as Arthur appeared unaffected by the Will''s titles. ''This was thest wielder of the First Star. So I was right! One of its fragments is in there!''


    "I ept." Arthur dered confidently as his opponent tossed his club away. Jin''da''s six fists glowed with golden light as he performed six punches. Six golden chains exploded from his knuckles and slithered through the air to bind both Arthur and Jin''da. Arthur cocked an eyebrow in interest as he felt his stats rising.


    ''These stats... They''re far beyond my level. How could I have misjudged him so badly?'' He became certain that Jin''da had been holding back on his speed and strength before when he knocked Arthur back.


    Jin''da grinned as Arthur tried to take a step forward, but thetter''s eyes bulged when he ended up directly in front of Jin''da who pummelled him with three fists. "Why would you go at full speed when you have no idea how powerful the divinity I granted you is?" Jin''da chuckled at Arthur''s reckless move.


    ''I see. I''m not used to these stats, and they give a greater boost than I expected.'' Arthur groaned as he slid backwards before diving forward with an upwards sh. Jin''da frowned as Arthur''s judgement appeared spot on. The tip of his de narrowly missed Jin''da''s eyes as he tilted his head to the side.


    Jin''da''s eyes narrowed as he threw several punches, only for Arthur to urately react to and block them. A wide grin appeared on Jin''da''s face as he threw a flurry of blows. ''This guy... He''s really something!'' Jin''da chuckled as Arthur danced around his attacks while throwing out urate counterstrikes. ''His mind is calm. He emanates a sense of justice and fairness. He fights for the sake of others!''


    ''This is the heir I''ve been waiting for!'' Jin''da''s grin grew wider as he pressured Arthur with impossible attacks. Thetter started to evade more often and throw out lunges in response to the openings created by the attacks. As the duel wore on, Jin''da realised he was now on the back foot. Arthur was slowly driving him back. ''It''s monstrous how quickly he adjusted and made these stats his own.'' Jin''da sighed as felt a stabbing pain in his gut.


    Arthur had seeded innding a direct hit against the Will of the Old God! ''Excellent! Let''s see how far I can push you!'' Arthur frowned as Jin''daughed maniacally. He felt a burst of pressure weigh down on him before his opponent vanished!


    "What the?"


    BOOM! Six fists mmed into Arthur''s back before he understood what had happened!

 Chapter 278 Aerial Superiority (Part 1)

    Chapter 278 Aerial Superiority (Part 1)


    Winter exerted herself as she spread her influence throughout the tunnels. She could feel the countless minds of the Stalkers within as she fought for control of their perception. ''There''s something else in there fighting against me.'' Sweat dripped down her forehead as the tunnel rumbled.


    ''y''s sealing off more passages.'' It was difficult for her to concentrate with the earth trembling from Caly and Mikari''s actions. Thetter was still engaged with the Stalkers outside. There were far too many of them, in Winter''s opinion.


    ''This is going to be hard. I''ll have to focus on smaller groups at a time.'' She urged her spell to target the closer tunnels as the toll on her mind lessened. Soon, numerous screeches filled the air as a tide of Stalkers rushed toward her.


    Winter calmed her mind as she focused on making them believe she wasn''t there. Her body tensed up as their retched smell invaded her nostrils as they rushed past her. She struggled to keep her breathing steady with so many of those foul creatures surrounding her.


    ''Don''t slip up now.'' Winter told herself as the sound of battle intensified. ''Mikari can handle it. If he can''t, I should be able to cover y and I.'' Her hands trembled as she sent her spell further out in search of new prey.


    Meanwhile, in a gigantic cavern below the base of the mountain, Nar''Kozz peered into the darkness. Thousands of Stalkers still remained as the ancient creature sensed what was going on above it.


    Nar''Kozz chittered as it considered the energy in the air. ''These gods don''t have the power to stop me.'' The ancient beast thought. It had remained in hiding as it had been concerned a more powerful god would appear. However, that hadn''t happened. Not even when it invaded Valheim.


    ''The Old Gods are dead or gone. There''s nothing for me to worry about.'' The giant Stalker licked its lips at the thought of the feast awaiting it. ''It''s time to end this!'' Nar''Kozz opened its jaws wide and released a horrifying roar. The surrounding Stalkers took up their leader''s war cry, joining it with their screeches. Themands Nar''Kozz''s roar held were simple. Surface, Kill, and Return with Divine Orbs!


    At the same time, at the peak of the mountain, Exile sensed the shift in the atmosphere. ''Nar''Kozz ising!'' He scanned the battlefields for any sign of where the beast would surface from. However, the yers were still engaged with the Stalkers flooding out of the pits. The mountain trembled beneath his feet, and he knew the moment hade! Noslin''s ice fort shattered as a huge chunk of the mountain exploded. Exile''s expression turned ugly as he thought about the yers who would have been caught in it. ''Noslin better have survived!'' Exile gritted his teeth as a tremendous screech filled the air. Nar''Kozz''s giant frame wed its way out of the mountain despite the spells targeting it. Exile couldn''t exin it, but Nar''Kozz felt more dangerous and looked bigger than before.


    A deep frown appeared on Exile''s face as his wings exploded from his back. For a brief moment, Nar''Kozz met his gaze, and the world seemed to stand still. ''If we fail here, every Skardian yer is finished!'' Of course, there was a good chance that more than just Skardia would fall to this beast before it was killed. Exile powerfully pped his wings as he took off. ''It''s my job to dy it until we can its entire brood.'' It was a long shot, and Exile knew that.


    It was unfortunate that Nar''Kozz had created so many Stalkers. During his talks with Mikari and the other leaders, nobody had predicted the enemy force to be quite sorge. Exile roared his challenge at Nar''Kozz as he sped toward the lumbering giant. Divine runes carved themselves into the air around him as Exile tossed handfuls of runestones at his hated enemy.


    Explosions of fire burst all over that side of the mountain as Exile''s runestones released their magic. He quickly pped his wings to bring himself to a stop just outside of the mes Nar''Kozz had disappeared into. As he studied the raging inferno, a prickling sensation appeared at the back of his mind. ''Shit!'' Exile cursed as he quickly flew backwards. At that same moment, long ws raked the air where Exile had been a moment ago. Nar''Kozz''s giant maw burst from the fire to snap at Exile as thetter took evasive manoeuvres. Exile''s eyes narrowed as he punished the creature by firing several fireflies into the slits that were Nar''Kozz''s nostrils. Nar''Kozz screeched in annoyance as it tore at the air where Exile was,ing close to severing him half several times. Exile grunted as he moved at high speed in ways he was still unused to. The close calls came from hisck of practice at making sharp turns mid-air. ''I should create more distance and use my range to my advantage.'' As Exile started to put his n into action, hundreds of flying Stalkers swarmed out of the hole Nar''Kozz had made. Exile clicked his tongue as these fresh troops charged to intercept him. ''Damn! Why couldn''t it be that easy?'' His hands swept through the air as he activated several rune spells at once. The first shrouded his body with fiery armour. The second created sparks that danced on top of them. The others created a healing effect and bolstered his defences with more fireflies. At that moment, hundreds of yers looked to the sky only to see a living sun battling it out with hundreds of the winged Stalkers.


    They watched on as charred bodies rained down from the sky as Nar''Kozz roared in fury. These yers couldn''t help but feel as though they werepletely insignificantpared to these two forces. Of course, they would be wrong.


    Although Exile was powerful, he was not invincible. This was a fight he would not be able to win if he were alone. As proven by the need to gather every yer in Skardia tobat this threat. However, these yers were too caught up in the disy of power to really think straight. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Exile snarled as he created a rune barrier shield to intercept attacks from his blindspots as he threw more runestones. ''They''re weak. It''s only their numbers I need to watch out for.'' Exile squinted at a group of Stalkers preparing to charge at him.


    Unfortunately for them, Exile''s speed was on another level now with the enchantments on his equipment. Before they could react, Exile had already left a zing trail behind as he flew over them and tore their wings from their backs!


    As the creatures fell to their deaths, he incinerated the wings with a burst of fire from his fist. His gaze swept over the battle until he caught Nar''Kozz''s gaze. The titanic Stalker snarled back at him from its position on the mountain, causing Exile to chuckle at its helplessness. ''That''s right, you watch from there as your subordinates are torn apart with no way for you to help them!'' Exileughed maniacally as he continued to suppress the Stalkersing after him. ''No, you don''t!''


    Exile cursed as he fired a rune spell toward a group of yers. The barrier spell popped into existence just in time to stop Nar''Kozz''s fist from crushing the poor yers. The barrier trembled non-stop from the powerful blow as two of the yers within fainted. Nar''Kozz roared furiously toward Exile, who returned a mischievous grin. ''You think I''ll let you change your target to my people? Yeah, that''s not going to happen!'' Exile chuckled as he unleashed a wave of fire in all directions to roast a few dozen more Stalkers. ''I''m nearly done with these flies.'' Exile sighed as he continued to run interference on Nar''Kozz while taking care of the enemy air support. ''Once these guys fall, I can bombard the big lug.'' Although many battlefields on the mountain were falling under Stalker control, Exile felt ted. ''We can win this!'' However, Exile''s joy was short-lived. Nar''Kozz''s fury had reached breaking point as the creature bounded up the mountain before throwing itself through the air toward Exile!


    ''What the hell is it up to? I just need to fly out of its range!'' Exile scowled as he urged his wings to carry him to safety, and not a moment too soon. Exile cursed as Nar''Kozz managed to scratch at his leg before plummeting toward the ground.


    Exile snorted the beast''s stupidity. ''That was stupid!'' However, as he turned his attention back to the winged ones, an extremely loud buzzing sound filled the air. Exile''s eyes went wide as he looked in the direction of the sound. ''Oh,e on!'' Exile roared furiously in his mind.


    There, in the air below him, Nar''Kozz was rising rapidly toward him. Six wings buzzed behind its back where its skin had split to reveal them. Exile''s expression darkened as he studied Nar''Kozz''s true form. He instinctively knew he wouldn''t be able to buy as much time as he originally thought he could.


    ''Mikari, whatever you''re doing you had better hurry up!'' Exile cursed as he took off at high speed, swiftly followed by the horrendous giant. ''I need to think of a way to slow it down! We need more time. If I have to retreat, Nar''Kozz will rip the army apart!''


    Exile swallowed a lump of saliva as he struggled toe up with a solution. At that moment, things went from bad to worse. Thousands of winged Stalkers rushed out of the pits!

 Chapter 279 At The Turn Of The Tide (Part 1)

    Chapter 279 At The Turn Of The Tide (Part 1)


    Queen Ciena''s sharp eyes narrowed as she entered her throne room. It had not been long since she returned to the ind, but she never imagined that Allyce would''ve moved so fast. A grim expression appeared on the queen''s face as she sat on her throne. Her eyes scanned the members of Allyce''s nest that had joined her. ''They''ve all made the conversion through their bloodline.'' Ciena sighed as she red at her daughter.


    "What is the meaning of this, Allyce?"


    Allyce stood from her kneeling position and gave her reply while holding her mother''s gaze.


    "Your Majesty," Allyce said as Ciena''s eyebrows quivered. "I seek your help."


    "What problem requires my help, child?" Ciena replied as she smoothed her dress.


    "My candidate, Exile, is engaged in battle with Nar''Kozz the Devourer. The divine forces he has gathered for this battle may not be enough to put down this threat to both the divine and mortal realms."


    "I would ask for your help in sending my nest to the divine realms to aid in this battle. If Nar''Kozz seeds, too many innocent lives will be lost."


    Ciena hummed as a deep frown appeared on her face. Silence descended in the throne room as the queen sorted her thoughts on the matter. Allyce didn''t dare to say anything else while she waited for her mother''s verdict.


    Eventually, Queen Ciena let out a long sigh and stood up from her throne. Allyce bowed her head as Ciena approached her. As thetter stared at her daughter, a thin smile appeared on her face.


    "Your request is granted," Ciena said in a low voice as she ced a hand on her daughter''s shoulder. "Prepare your nest. Be in the courtyard in twenty minutes."


    Allyce showed a shocked expression as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thank you!"


    As the pair hugged, Killi watched on from the sidelines. Once Allyce and the nest members left the room, the eldest sibling looked to their mother.


    "I thought you wouldn''t take part? Why would you allow them to leave?" Killi asked as she nced at the now-closed doors.


    Ciena sighed before turning her attention to her eldest daughter. "Allyce has already sealed their fate. Her nest has made the conversion. If Exile falls here, much of our family will be lost."


    Killi scowled for a moment as she digested her mother''s reasoning. "Then I''ll rally my sisters. I won''t let Allyce face this alone."


    "No," Ciena said as she met Killi''s gaze. "I have another task for you."


    Killi frowned as she clenched her fists. "What could be more important than securing the lives of our family?"


    "You have much to learn, Killi. Out of all my children, you''re the most like me. That''s why this task can only fall to you." Ciena ruffled her feathers as a faraway look came over her. "You''ll proceed to the Starlit temple. A promising candidate has appeared."


    Killi shot an astonished look at her mother. "Someone has ovee the Fist of the First Star''s trial? How?"


    "Who knows what method they used. But that will would never allow someone with the slightest impurity in their heart to seize that treasure. Whoever they are, I approve of them as a candidate, and as your god. Pledge yourself to that god, and make the preparations to bring them here for the Trial of Feathers."


    Meanwhile, Exile was sent flying as Nar''Kozz pped the spherical barrier protecting him. Exile groaned as a huge crater appeared on the side of the mountain, as he crashed into it!


    ''Damn it! I can''t focus on Nar''Kozz because of the others!'' Thousands of winged Stalkers chased after him as Exile heard the screaming of nearby yers. ''There''s too many of them.''


    He averted his gaze as more winged Stalkers lifted yers into the air before dropping them to smash against the mountain. It wouldn''t surprise him if the mountain would be dyed red for eternity after this battle.


    ''No time to think about that now!'' He leapt from the crater as his fireflies intercepted the closest of the Stalkers. However, he couldn''t finish them off as Nar''Kozz was quickly approaching. Far below the aerial battle, Winter gasped from her wounds as she covered y with her ability. The pair were worn down and struggling to hide from the search of the ground troops. ''Damn it! Everything changed once Nar''Kozz appeared. We weren''t prepared. Mikari made a serious mistake!''


    She could still hear the sounds of Mikari holding back the worst of the wave thate for them. Winter knew that Mikari prided himself on his nning and preparations, so it had to be a serious blow to his ego. ''That''s more than once Nar''Kozz has thrown him for a loop. Even Parthus didn''t cause him this much trouble!''


    "Keep moving." y groaned, mentally exhausted. "We can''t go back. Mikari''s on his own now."


    Winter nodded solemnly as a greater sh of gold light appeared behind them. ''Looks like Mikari is getting serious, I hope he survives.''


    At that moment, Mikari''s cold gaze studied the Stalkers around him. ''Victorious!'' A blinding gold light covered him and the statue momentarily before fading. The statue now wore an evil grin instead of a serene one. Each of its hands held a different divine weapon.


    There was a bow, arrow, spear, sword, axe, etc. Mikari''s gaze swept his enemies again before he gave the mentalmand to attack. Devastation swept the area around him as the Stalkers were annihted. Not even dust remained as proof of their existence. More than three hundred Stalkers had lost their lives in the seconds after Mikari''smand.


    Mikari released a long sigh as he contemted the effectiveness of his power. ''My brother would have a hard time facing this power. How is it that he''s ended up with a magic build, despite preferring melee? While I''ve ended melee when I''d prefer magic?''


    He made a mental note to ask Paul about it when he returned to Ragnarok HQ. ''I feel like I''m missing something.'' His eyes turned toward the mountain where Exile circled it to keep Nar''Kozz out of reach. ''I need to help stabilise the situation. I hope everyone''s ok.''


    Exile groaned as he unleashed a burst of fire in front of him to create a hole in the buzzing wall trying to slow him down. ''This is neverending! I''m wasting so much DP on the small fries. If it keeps up like this, I''ll have nothing left in the tank to counter the big bad.''


    Exile''s frown deepened as he sent out more protective spells to aid the Skardian yers. He could''ve sworn he saw Noslin riding on the shoulder of an ice golem as it swatted Stalkers from the mountain path. However, it was clear the number of yers was rapidly declining. ''With Nar''Kozz here, those with enough stats to survive a death should be safe in Valheim. Maybe our losses won''t be so bad after all.''


    Exile cursed as Nar''Kozz almostnded another attack as he was distracted. ''Damn it! I''ve got to shake this bad habit of mine!''


    Meanwhile, at the temple in Valheim.


    yers screamed as Stalkers ripped them apart as they resurrected. The few who managed to escape the death trap groaned as they entered the streets. Valheim was still overrun with a separate force of Stalkers!


    On that fateful day, hundreds of Skardian yers were banned from Pantheon Online. As the yers fought till the bitter end, a ray of hope pierced their helplessness. Furious screeching filled the air above Valheim. The sound waspletely different to the one Stalkers made, and so the yers inside the temple shrank back.


    They wondered if a new version of the Stalkers had appeared at the worst possible time. However, none of them was prepared for what happened next.


    A raging inferno flooded the temple, dusting the Stalkers in one swift move! Although the mes had felt warm, they also felt like aforting nket as they washed over the yers who had been struggling for their lives. As the mes vanished, Beartooth stepped forward from the crowd of recently resurrected yers. ''What was that? Did Exile fly all the way out here?'' He wondered as he cautiously approached the exit.


    Just as he poked his head outside, a Stalker crashed to the ground with a winged man standing on its chest! The man stabbed his spear into the Stalker''s skull, before pping his red feathered wings furiously to rise back into the sky.


    Beartooth''s shock almost overwhelmed him as he nced toward the sky. A golden gate stood in the sky above Valheim as ming eagles and winged people flowed out from it! Beartooth was enraptured by the sight. ''It''s as if angels havee to help us! But, where did theye from? Are they the gods of another race? Has someonee to help us?'' Beartooth shivered as he considered the alternative. ''Or are they here to conquer us?''


    "Mydy!" The winged man from before shouted as he approached Allyce in her humanoid form. Her bow sang as she shot down every Stalker that entered her range.


    "What is it?" Allyce grunted as she spun horizontally in the air to shoot down three Stalkers leaping from the higher buildings at her.


    "I''ve located the Skardian gods! Perhaps one of them knows where Lord Exile is!"


    "Good work! Show me where they are right away!"


    As Allyce followed her guide to Valheim''s temple, Ciena crouched over the body of her daughter in the courtyard. Her magic enveloped the lifeless bodies of all she had sent to the divine realms. Golden chains linked each one of them to her chest. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The queen wept as she felt several chains shatter. There was no way to bring them back once their souls were destroyed in the divine realms. ''Come back safely, Allyce.''

 Chapter 280 Aerial Superiority (Part 2)

    Chapter 280 Aerial Superiority (Part 2)


    Exile groaned as his DP fell to less than a quarter as he activated Comet''s Flight. The spell cast a fiery inferno around him, originating from his wings and greatly enhanced his speed. Hundreds of Stalkers burnt up from his passing as he created some distance between Nar''Kozz and himself. ''I need to save the rest.'' Exile frowned as he pulled runestones from his inventory. The battle at ground level seemed dismal at best. But Exile didn''t want to give up. Until thest yer fell, he would hold out for as long as he could. Even if he couldn''t see a way for the yers to wipe out every Stalker.


    Exile''s expression turned grim as he unleashed the runestones he had saved up. Besides throwing them at his pursuers, he used many of them to carpet-bomb the mountain. The ce that was supposed to be a fortified sanctuary for the Skardian yers was now a raging inferno. ''If we make it through this, we have to reevaluate the defences.'' Exile scowled as he started his terrible habit again. Mikari often scolded him for thinking of far-off problems when dealing with a critical situation. Exile tilted his wingtips to throw him into a dive, just in time to avoid several Stalkers targeting him. He removed several runestones from his inventory and threw them behind him. Momentster, he heard them explode as they made contact with his pursuers.


    He nodded as he pulled out of his dive before crashing into the mountain, which caused several loud sts to reach his ears. However, Nar''Kozz had used Exile''s dive to get ahead of him and was now barreling toward thetter. Exile gritted his teeth as he searched his inventory for a runestone with enough power to divert the Devourer. ''It looks like my luck has run out.'' Exile sighed as he prepared tounch the final spell he had held in reserve.


    Exile summoned his divine power and concentrated on the treacherous element inside him. At that moment, the air suddenly trembled with furious screeches. His gaze was drawn away from his opponent and aimed toward Valheim in the distance. There, an unbelievable sight was unfolding!


    Skardian yers riding on the back of giant eagles as fire trailed behind them were riding back to the battlefield! A wide grin split Exile''s face as the yers fired spells at the dark clouds of Stalkers in the air.


    ''How?'' That was all Exile managed to think before Allyce connected to his mind.


    [Seems like we made it in time.]


    Exile could hear the relief in Allyce''s tone as he considered how to take advantage of the situation.


    ''I''m bringing the fight to you. Have your people ready to intercept.'' Exile replied as he detonated several runestones to force him off his collision course with Nar''Kozz. ''Focus on the small ones, then support the gods still fighting on the ground.''


    [As youmand.]


    Although he was still curious how Allyce and her nest could be there, Exile cut off the connection. It was a question that could wait until the end of the crisis. Nar''Kozz screeched in frustration as Exile sted past its outstretched arms, forcing the monster to waste time turning to chase him again. Exile''s wings pped furiously as he headed toward thergest Phoenix Eagle he could see. He felt connected with it, so he reasoned it had to be Allyce. The other eagles swarmed toward Allyce as they took up a flying V formation.


    It was a magnificent sight to see as they carved a bloody path through the Stalkers. Exile grinned as the formation scattered at his approach to avoid being caught by Nar''Kozz trailing in Exile''s wake.


    Exile immediately felt the pressure easing up as the eagles and yers riding on them shot down scores of Stalkers every second. ''We''re overwhelming them! I need to dy Nar''Kozz a while longer!''


    Exile turned again to scan the mountainside. Eventually, he caught sight of the two yers he needed right now. An ice wall had appeared on the mountain path as a giant golden statue swatted the Stalkers charging at it. ''That''ll save me some time if they''re already together.'' Exile sighed in relief as he sped up. He activated a re runestone and fired it toward the pair to grab their attention.


    Noslin scowled as she created a wave of ice to seal off a pit. ''How much longer does this have to go on?'' She jumped slightly as hundreds of Stalkers crashed to the ground around her. She had been so caught up in the enemies before her she had failed to notice the reinforcements!


    "What the hell are those?" Noslin stammered as Phoenix Eagles swooped low overhead. Their fire,bined with the yers'' spells, annihted all the Stalkers along their path. "That must be Allyce''s people!" Mikari shouted over his shoulder. "I didn''t expect this, but it''s a wee development!"


    Mikari suddenly went silent as a ball of fire appeared between them before detonating in a bright sh of light. His eyes immediately traced the direction the projectile hade from. Only to see his brother headed toward them, quickly followed by the Devourer. "Get ready, Noslin!" Mikari yelled as he pointed them out. "It''s time for the next phase!"


    Noslin cursed as she tore away from the Stalkers, still trying to get at them. She was left with no choice but to entrust her back to the yers who still remained at that checkpoint. "I hope this n of yours works, Mikari. If not, we''ll be the next ones to die!" Noslin shook her head at the mischievous grin from the younger Anderson brother. "If that happens, I''ll kill you till you stay dead!"


    Mikari burst outughing at her threat as he prepared himself for what they had to do. Their timing would be essential, it was unfortunate that the others Mikari wanted to use were either dead or somewhere else.


    "We''ll have to make it work with just the three of us!" Mikar yelled as he started counting down till impact.


    Exile inhaled the nauseating breath of Nar''Kozz hot on his heels as he kept himself focused on the two yers in front of him. ''5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and... Now!'' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Exile swiftly pulled up as he felt the air around him turn frigid. Nar''Kozz mmed into the ice wall that had suddenly appeared, but as it struggled to resume its chase, more iceyered itself over its giant body! Nar''Kozz screeched in defiance as the ice cracked and snapped while more piled itself on the beast.


    "Now, Mikari!" Noslin screamed as she quickly burned through her DP.


    Nar''Kozz''s head snapped to the side as several fists punched its jaw. Mikari''s Victorious Statueid into the giant, stunning it long enough for Exile tond on its back!


    Exile grinned savagely as he detonated tens of runestones at once. Nar''Kozz''s back blistered and cracked as its wings were burnt to nothing. ''We can do this!'' Exile chuckled as Nar''Kozz thrashed with all its might. "I''m running out of steam here!" Noslin suddenly yelled, but Exile only calmly waved back.


    "We''ve got it from here! Keep the small ones off us!" Mikari yelled as he directed his statue to seize Nar''Kozz''s wrists when its arms broke free.


    This n was only viable because of the size and power of Mikari''s greatest spell. The Victorious Statue wasrger than Nar''Kozz and had more arms to use inbat.


    The Devourer quickly found itself on the back foot as it wrestled with Mikari''s ability. Meanwhile, Exile poured an enormous amount of resources into chipping away at the beast''s health. Nar''Kozz bit through two of the arms holding onto it and tried to make a break for it. However, before Mikari could react, Nar''Kozz fell to its knees.


    "Did you miss us?" yughed as he jumped down from the ice wall. Swiftly followed by Winter as she fought for control of Nar''Kozz''s mind.


    "Shouldn''t you guys be out of DP by now?" Exile asked as he cocked an eyebrow, all while punching the helpless giant beneath him.


    "We followed Mikari up here while Winter kept us concealed. We had enough time to recharge with our symbols. Where do you want me?" y yelled as he shouldered the massive axe his weapon had taken the form of. "See if you can''t cut its legs off! We need to subdue it til we can hunt down the small ones!" Mikari shouted as he pummelled Nar''Kozz''s face into the dirt.


    y nodded and leapt toward Nar''Kozz''s legs and hacked at them. If he did any damage, he couldn''t tell. ''Damn, what''s this thing made of?'' y cursed as he activated several support spells to buff his stats.


    "How long can you keep this up for, Winter?" Exile called out.


    "Two or three minutes, max! This thing''s stats are insane!" Exile nodded as he set a mental countdown. "Keep it up! We''re almost there!"


    Meanwhile, Allyce, who had turned back to a humanoid form, swept over the mountain path with her elite guards. Her arrows and the assault of those with her quickly cleared Nar''Kozz''s ground forces from the mountain. Her gaze scanned the skies briefly, where her people were hunting thest of the winged Stalkers. The Phoenix Eagles simply outperformed and outmanoeuvred the Stalkers at every turn. Which made the enemy numbers entirely useless against them.


    Many yers would''ve puked if they realised how easily the Eagles were winning that fight. All because they were better suited to seizing aerial superiority. Just as Allyce allowed a thin smile to appear on her face, she sensed an ominous energy from somewhere nearby.

 Chapter 281 At The Turn Of The Tide (Part 2)

    Chapter 281 At The Turn Of The Tide (Part 2)


    Allyce shot off toward the energy she could feel building in the air. The closer she got, the more she felt like she was flying through tar. The energy disgusted her at a primal level as she feared the worst.


    ''What''s the Devourer up to? I have to reach Exile before it''s toote!''


    As the war on the mountain wasing to an end, the yers in the air and on the ground shivered. All warmth seemed to vanish from the air, and their movements became sluggish. This didn''t stop them from hunting down the remnants of the Stalkers. However, there wasn''t a single yer that didn''t feel fearful of the strange energy emanating from somewhere on the mountain.


    "What are you doing?" Mikari roared as he struggled against the disgusting energy leaking from Exile.


    "I''m ending this!" Exile roared back as the sludge of Dark element coursed around his body.


    Exile scowled as he struggled to make the element flow smoothly. ''Allevia may have threatened me if I feed this power. But I''ve got to use my greatest weapons to end this threat.'' A pitch-ck rune slowly formed on Exile''s palm as Mikari continued to hold the beast down.


    As the rune came topletion, Exile could sense it as Nar''Kozz''s attention focused on him, and the divine beast almost seemed content. However, Exile did not hesitate and mmed his palm onto Nar''Kozz''s back!


    ''Devouring Palm!'' Nar''Kozz roared as dark energy flooded its body. Mikari frowned as the Devourer seemed weaker by the second as he found it easier to keep it pinned. ''What did my brother do?'' He could feel the sickening sensation in the air moving toward the giant beast.


    ''This doesn''t feel right.'' However, there was nothing he could do. Mikari didn''t have ess to the same information that Exile did. So he couldn''t understand what was going on. At that moment, someone who did understand arrived on the scene.


    Allyce''s eyes went wide as she nced from Nar''Kozz to Exile. It only took her a few seconds to make sense of the situation.


    "Exile! You must stop!" Allyce screeched as she flew toward him. "Stop this madness, now!"


    ''But, it''s so good!'' Exile answered in his mind. Nar''Kozz''s stats were flooding into Exile''s body, overcharging him. However, Exile failed to notice the tainted energy of the beast flowing along with it. The euphoria of the sudden burst of power blinded him to what was happening.


    A sphere of dark energy exploded from Exile''s body, creating a barrier around himself and his prey. Allyce came to a stop in mid-air, and even Mikari reacted by jumping away from the changing situation.


    "What''s going on?" Noslin asked as she ran up to Mikari.


    "I don''t know." Mikari sighed as he slowly shook his head.


    "Lord Exile is using the dark element to take Nar''Kozz''s strength for himself." Allyce cut in as she red at Exile. "As the Devourer grows weaker, Exile bes empowered. This is a dark power, one that could corrupt him."


    "What does that mean?" Mikari asked as a grim mask descended on his face.


    "It would mean my nest, and I would be banished from our tribe. Terrible consequences would appear in the mortal realms through his followers, and Exile may bebelled as a dark god."


    Noslin frowned at Allyce''s statement. "What do you mean he could be corrupted?"


    Allyce shook her head as she observed Exile. "He may be addicted to the power of the dark element. If that happens, he''ll seek out ways to improve his control over it. Which will lead to stronger abilities designed to feed his addiction to growing stronger."


    Mikari felt helpless as he watched his brother''s eyes turn dark. "Is there any way to stop him?"


    Allyce considered the question as she studied the barrier. "You''d need to move through that barrier and break his contact with Nar''Kozz. But that barrier will likely feed on your stats and grant them to Exile. As he is now, I sense you would have difficulty in taking him against his will. We can only hope he cuts the connection himself before he''s too far gone."


    Meanwhile, Exile felt a presence within his mind. "You are worthy." The Devourer said as it took an ethereal form within Exile''s mind. "Worthy of what?" Exile asked as he focused on the internal dialogue.


    "To carry on the will of my master." Nar''Kozz grinned as he peered into Exile''s memories. I present you with a choice, young god. Take my power for your own, and use it to illuminate the darkness in the light."


    "What''s the other option?" Exile asked with mild curiosity. He could feel Nar''Kozz''s life force dwindling under his spell.


    "I could serve you. Stand by your side and guide you through the darkness. Together, we could return things to how they should be." Nar''Kozz snarled.


    Exile wavered for a moment as he studied the ethereal beast. ''Nar''Kozz would be the greatest asset we could have hoped for.'' He pondered what the future would hold with such a powerful beast at his disposal. However, there was one problem.


    With their thoughts linked like this, Exile could feel the boundless hunger that Nar''Kozz possessed. Images of the beast growing stronger while devouring Exile''s allies and enemies alike shed through thetter''s mind.


    However, two images truly made him feel disgusted with Nar''Kozz''s offers. Exile watched as in one he sacrificed his Pantheon to the beast to make Nar''Kozz grow stronger. In the second image, Exile massacred Ragnarok to steal their power for himself.


    Exile shrank away from those thoughts before his eyes narrowed. ''That''s not what I want.'' He rxed his mind as he reached out to truly feel what was happening with his spell. The dark element within him was steadily growing, and he could feel the connection as Nar''Kozz funnelled its consciousness into him through the link with the spell.


    ''If it keeps up like this, I could end up with a piece of Nar''Kozz in my thoughts. Constantly driving me down a dark path.'' However, there was something that surprised Exile. His control over the dark element grew easier the longer he maintained the connection.


    Exile clenched his jaw as he forced himself to memorise the feeling that allowed him to control the darkness. ''It''s not perfect, but I should be d I gained something from it.''


    "I choose the third option." Exile calmly said as he red at the ethereal beast.


    "There is no third option." Nar''Kozz snorted at Exile''s statement.


    "That''s where you''re wrong." Exile chuckled as he stared t the ancient horror. "I choose neither."


    At that moment, Exile cancelled his spell and withdrew his palm. He sighed as he reconciled himself with the power he wielded at that moment. ''This is a terrible power.'' Exile opened his eyes, which had returned to their golden colour. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mikari! How many Stalkers are left?" Exile called out from Nar''Kozz''s back as the barrier disappeared.


    Mikari sighed in relief as he noticed Allyce''s hopeful expression. ''Seems like he''s pulled himself back from the brink.''


    "I''m not sure, but there shouldn''t be many!" Mikari called back.


    Exile nodded slowly as continued to study the dark element he had absorbed from Nar''Kozz. ''Devouring Palm creates a resonating effect, allowing me to steal an element I have an affinity with.'' Exile''s eyes gleamed as Nar''Kozz whined beneath him.


    ''If it weren''t for this spell, I wouldn''t understand the real truth behind Nar''Kozz''s nature.'' Exile took a deep breath and released it slowly. ''His ability to revive by transferring to another Stalkeres from his nature rather than his breed.''


    ''The old gods failed to eradicate him because he likely keeps several hidden well away from the battlefields.'' Exile closed his eyes as he mulled over what he had learnt. ''Nar''Kozz is the devouring darkness. Even light only serves to fuel him. However, there''s one thing he can''t devour.''


    Exile opened his eyes and red down at the ancient beast. "Anyst words?"


    "Exile, wait! We have to kill the others first!" Allyce screamed from the ground as Mikari and Noslin leapt forward to stop him.


    "End it," Nar''Kozz replied in a guttural voice. ''End my hunger.''


    Exile nodded as dark energy coated his fist. He called forth all the darkness and new stats he had stolen before punching Nar''Kozz with all his might!


    The world turned dark, blinding Mikari. The younger Anderson brother froze, as the fear of failing to put an end to Nar''Kozz once and for all flooded his thoughts. Moments, seemed like hours before the curtain fell, and light returned to the world.


    Mikari fell to his knees as Exile alighted on the ground where Nar''Kozz had been. ''No, it''s not over yet!''


    "Allyce! Noslin! Send word not to let any Stalker escape! Scour the tunnels until everyst one is found!" ''We still have a chance. We need to kill them all before any of them can grow into Nar''Kozz''s power.'' Mikari rounded on his brother and grabbed him by his shoulders. "Why?"


    Mikari searched Exile''s eyes for an answer, but thetter clicked his tongue. "Why what?"


    "Why did you kill Nar''Kozz?" Mikari groaned as he shook Exile. "We almost did it!"


    "Almost? What are you talking about?" Exile cocked an eyebrow before he realised what the problem was. "Oh, don''t worry."


    Exile patted Mikari''s shoulder before freeing himself from his brother''s grip. "The war is over. Nar''Kozz won''t being back."


    Mikari''s eyes went wide as Exile''s wings exploded from his back. "Call everyone to the longhouse. I''ll exin it once everyone has gathered."

 Chapter 282 Time For A Change

    Chapter 282 Time For A Change


    Exile pondered the lessons he had learned as he rested in his room. ''I didn''t expect such a headache when using the dark element.'' Exile frowned as he stared up at the ceiling. ''It''s powerful, but there are clear drawbacks. I''ll have to spend time filtering those out.''


    He reyed the feeling of stealing Nar''Kozz''s stats in his mind as hepared it to the cost if he''d kept his spell active. ''Those stats would''ve be permanent if I fully drained the Devourer. But I would''ve lost a part of myself.''


    ''I wonder if that''s what led dark gods to bebelled evil. If they stole stats, did the voices of their victims drive them insane?'' Exile couldn''t imagine what living with Nar''Kozz in his head would''ve been like. ''It''s a lucky escape, and I learned how to manipte the dark element better.''


    ''If that was all I got, I would''ve counted it as a win. But...'' Exile''s attention shifted to therge, ck orb in his inventory. ''Nar''Kozz had to go and drop an orb.'' Exile sighed as he wondered what effects it would have. Since it was ck instead of golden, he was rightfully wary of it. He could assume there would be risks in absorbing it. ''What do I do with you?''


    Of course, he considered the possibility that he was overthinking things. The orb could be harmless. Its colour could simplye from Nar''Kozz''s divine alignment. ''I''ll think on itter. I need to think about what I''ll say to everyone.''


    There was a lot he would have to talk about. Exile would also have to make sure the other Pantheons returned the equipment on loan to them. ''We''re entering a period where we have to stabilise Skardia. Spend some time in the mortal realms and explore our borders.''


    ''While we''re working on that, I''ll need to keep updated about the elves and what''s happening with the dwarves.'' Exile groaned loudly as he turned on his side. ''There''s so much to do.''


    A loud knock came at his door as Mikari pushed it open. He threw a confused look at his brother, whoy on his bed before he spoke. "There''re no signs of any Stalkers. The yers all say they vanished around the time you killed Nar''Kozz."


    Mikari frowned as Exile simply waved at the statement as if it were nothing. "The leaders have gathered as you requested. They''re looking for answers, and so am I. What''s going to happen now?"


    Exile sighed as he swung his legs off the bed and stood up. "A lot is going to happen. I''m afraid we''re going to be busy. There''s a lot we''re going to change around here."


    He smiled as he patted Mikari on the shoulder before ncing out his window. "Tell everyone I''ll be there in a moment."


    Mikari nodded slowly as he gazed into his brother''s eyes. "Are you ok?"


    Exile hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, just tired."


    "If you need to talk, I''m here," Mikari replied before slipping out of the room when Exile remained silent. Mikari looked at the gathered leaders for a moment. The most prominent ones like Noslin and Beartooth sat at the head table below the throne. Important officers of various Pantheons sat closer to the walls. ''I hope he doesn''t say something too outrageous.'' Mikari stered a smile on his face.


    "Exile will join us in a few moments. I would ask everyone to remain seated and be patient. Thank you." Mikari bowed slightly before taking his ce next to Noslin and y.


    "Did Exile say anything?" Noslin whispered in Mikari''s ear, but thetter shook his head.


    "No, but it seems like he''s struggling with something." Mikari stared dead ahead as y cocked an eyebrow at their conversation.


    "What about the Stalkers? Is Nar''Kozz going toe back?" y asked.


    "From what my brother has said, that''s unlikely. But I don''t understand how he could know that. As far as we knew, we had to kill every Stalker before Nar''Kozz to prevent him from resurrecting." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Exile''s a bit strange, but he wouldn''t say that unless he were sure," Noslin replied as a content expression spread across her face. "That was my biggest concern."


    "True," y grumbled as he stared at the door behind the throne. "But what''s the n now? No offence, Noslin. But nothing is holding all these Pantheons together anymore. Are we going back to killing each other? Or is there another threat we need to stay united against?"


    Mikari frowned at y''s slip of the tongue as Noslin disyed a curious expression. Ragnarok had not shared the issue with the elves and dwarves with the other Pantheons yet. Only Exile and y knew of Mikari''s misgivings about the recent events.


    Before they could get any further with their conversation, the door to Exile''s room opened. The hall became silent as everyone looked toward it with expectant expressions. But what they saw took them by surprise. The yer was unmistakably Exile. However, he wore a dyed grey cotton shirt and trousers with open grey robes over the top of them. His in calf-length boots had been dyed grey as well, and a dark belt around his waist kept his ensemble close fitted.


    The staff he held was made of golden wood and engraved with runes along its length. Several silver bands wrapped the staff at regr intervals, but it was theck of armour and threatening weapons that drew the yers'' attention.


    Ragnarok''s officers disyed wry grins as Exile sat on his throne. The other leaders noted two rings on Exile''s left hand and the silver beads in his beard. Their eyes narrowed because even though he seemed more vulnerable than he''d ever been, he felt more dangerous than ever before to their senses!


    Mikari watched as Exile calmly analysed the mood in the hall. ''He''s pausing for effect. Whatever he says here will probably be a part of the streams for every team here.'' Mikari smirked as he understood Exile''s n.


    "Gods and goddesses of Skardia." Exile began with a solemn expression. "I sit here before you as the ruler of Ragnarok, here in our realm of Himinbj?rg. It is with great joy I now announce the crisis of Nar''Kozz the Devourer to be over!"


    The rulers of the small Pantheons that had survived and arge number of officers cheered at Exile''s announcement. However, the rulers of therger Pantheons remained silent. Although it was a cause for celebration, there were a lot of issues surrounding the end of their joint alliance.


    Exile held up his left hand to calm everyone down, waiting until silence descended before speaking again. "I would ask that everyone takes a minute of silence. In honour and remembrance of those we have lost."


    The atmosphere turned grim as the gathered yers thought of those who had been ejected from the game. Too many had been killed in the various battles, and even more, were ughtered when they respawned in Valheim. It was no exaggeration to say that many of Skardia''s Pantheons had met their demise.


    Once the minute passed, Exile looked around the hall. "I''m sure you''re all wondering what stepse now for all of us. I have pondered this question myself, and I have reached several unsettling conclusions."


    "First, our divine realm has been greatly weakened by this crisis. We no longer have the numbers to effectively defend against outside Pantheons. Two, some of you may be looking at this as an opportunity to overturn the current status quo. Three, there is the very real threat of another civil war between our Pantheons with such a power shift. Four, some of you may be considering defecting to another divine realm."


    Mikari frowned as he noticed a few leaders frown at thisst statement. ''I see. Exile wants to settle that issue now. Well yed, brother.'' Mikari made a note of the leaders he had noticed before turning his attention back to Exile.


    "Issues one through three can be solved in one stroke," Exile said as he held up a single finger. "Some of you may not like this.However, I firmly believe this is the best path forward."


    "We will not disband our alliance," Exile stated matter-of-factly. "We will create a domestic structure between our Pantheons to ensure the prosperity of every Skardian Pantheon. This will give us all time to grow, and stabilise while trading resources and information. Without any threat from your fellow Pantheons, we will be able to spend more time preparing for the next situation that assaults Skardia."


    "Issue four is a troublesome one." Exile continued as he focused on the head table. "I believe we have one or more traitors in our midst."


    The hall burst into an uproar as the main leaders remained silent, waiting for an exnation.


    "There have been issues of other races testing the borders of Skardia in the mortal realm. However, it''s too coincidental for more than one race to try this while we were preupied with Nar''Kozz. This has allowed the elves to make some progress in our domain."


    "I believe that a few leaders have already made contact with enemy Pantheons belonging to these races and are feeding them vital information. Therefore, I believe the first thing we should do is create a unified intelligence agency between our Pantheons to root out these traitors who threaten us all."


    "Beyond that, I will hold talks with the other rulers about the structure of a unified government. One that ensures fairness and the safety of every Pantheon. No matter how small orrge!"


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