ã€ŠDawn of the Density God [Progression LitRPG]ã€‹


 CHAPTER 1 - The Bell Tolls

    Jiran was gently roused by softly chirping birds as they frolicked in the early morning light. An instant later, he was overwhelmed by a rush of conflicting emotions as adrenaline jolted him fully awake.

    Today is the day!

    Combating a surge of nervous excitement, he coaxed his rapid breaths and thumping heart to return to their normal cadence.

    The celebration isn¡¯t until tonight. It may be my first birthing day, but work still needs to be done.

    He stretched lightly, extending his small, wiry limbs to their full length and released a breath of steam into the frigid air. He rose to his feet and carefully stepped around his parents, smiling at their contented snoring. A fire pit dominated the center of their cozy home. Jiran stoked the coals and placed a new log on the dying embers.

    At least their morning will be a little warmer than mine.

    He pulled on his day clothes, made sure he had his satchel with meals prepared from the night before, then stepped into the cool dawn. First Father¡¯s blazing red light had just begun to peak above the Murinth Ocean¡¯s horizon.

    ¡°Perfect, I''m not late,¡± Jiran moved quickly, enjoying the fresh coastal air and the buzz of other villagers beginning their day alongside him.

    I wonder if I¡¯ll get there before Uncle today.

    Jiran passed through the familiar sights of his village. Small huts and sturdy, stone houses lined the narrow streets. The thirty homes and shops that made up their village rested far above the ocean, separated from it by a rocky cove and sheltered pier.

    ¡°Jiran! Come here,¡± Elder Mireg¡¯s waving hand moved so quickly, he saw afterimages as she motioned him to her side.

    She never slows down for anyone.

    ¡°Good morning, Elder Mireg, are you expecting any deliveries today?¡±

    ¡°Only if that good-for-nothing Skandor gets off his lazy backside and brings in some decent meat. I swear he only hunts the weakest beasts at the edge of the forest as if he were still a child with his first bow!¡±

    Her words blurred together into a chain of syllables that were hard to decipher. Luckily, Jiran had plenty of practice as he often encountered the tier three elder on his way to work. She continued speaking, not giving him a moment to respond.

    "Well, my old bones are telling me we¡¯re going to see a real beast soon. After all, Madra abhors stagnation. It¡¯s been far too long since Skandor was pushed,¡± She gesticulated wildly, with a voice loud enough to make the people on the other side of the street uncomfortable.

    Jiran flinched at both the volume of her speech as well as the implication that they may soon face a village-ending attack.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that, Mother. Look at the poor boy, you¡¯re putting the fright right in him!¡± came a gentle chiding from Mireg¡¯s daughter as she organized her vegetable stand.

    Mireg snorted, ¡°Well, if he¡¯s lucky, that¡¯s exactly what will happen,¡± She pointed her finger right at Jiran¡¯s nose and continued with a frown. ¡°Jiran needs to claim his imperial tithe from Skandor, and the influx of density will boost the entire village. Fathers know we could use it, scraps from low tier beasts will only take a village so far.¡±

    She wasn''t wrong, but a tier four beast could easily spell doom for everyone in the village, and they all knew it. Jiran gulped, taking a nervous step away from her too-close finger. ¡°I really must be going ma''am. Is there anything I can do for you this morning? A message for Uncle perhaps?¡±

    Mireg, still frowning, saw his discomfort and shot him a toothy smile. ¡°No, child. I just wanted to give you a gift for your celebration today,¡± She quickly handed him a small, freshly baked bun. ¡°Take it and get along now.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s fingers tingled as they came into contact with the treat. He backed away from the elder with wide eyes and bowed fully to show his gratitude. The smell wafting off the bread invaded his nostrils, sending a jolt of pleasure through his whole body.

    ¡°Just remember this old lady when you get around to being a hunter, then you can bring me something nice to return the favor,¡± She chuckled while tussling his hair.

    Jiran had to swallow the suddenly-abundant saliva in his mouth before he could speak. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, of course. Thank you so much!¡± Afraid she might change her mind about the extravagant gift, Jiran pocketed the treat and rushed off.

    I can¡¯t believe she gave me such high-tier food. I¡¯ve never eaten anything above first tier before. I can¡¯t wait to find out what it tastes like.

    Unable to help himself, he reached into his satchel and tore off a small piece before greedily shoving it in his mouth. Flavors burst across his tongue as the powerful food crumbled. He swallowed and the mana-rich crumbs writhed as they slid down his throat. The moment it reached his stomach, it exploded into new strength that washed through his entire body, reinforcing his muscles, bones, and organs.

    Weeks of effort were instantly rewarded as his body finally had enough density to grow.

    So this is what Mother was talking about. High tier foods really are so much more potent. She¡¯s exactly right, this feeling is impossible to describe.

    After turning a corner, Jiran stopped running and moved to the side of the small street. Eagerly, he closed his eyes and a flush of excitement coursed through him as he saw the golden text of the Voice printed on the inside of his eyelids. He scanned through his newest notifications before checking his status.

    Strength: + .4

    Agility: + .6

    Endurance: + .5

    Durability: + .3

    Wisdom: + .4

    Intelligence: + .3

    All requirements for tiering achieved

    WARNING: Tiering will render unconsciousness

    NAME: Jiran of Feylon

    RACE: Human

    AGE: 7

    WEIGHT: 21.31 kg

    STATUS: Healthy

    TIER: 0

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    GROWTH: 96% > 100%

    MANA: [Locked]

    CONCENTRATION: [Locked]

    STRENGTH: 9.6 > 10

    AGILITY: 9.4 > 10

    ENDURANCE: 9.5 > 10

    DURABILITY: 9.7 > 10

    WISDOM: 9.6 > 10

    INTELLIGENCE: 9.7 > 10

    I did it! I finally reached 100% growth and capped my attributes! I can tier up whenever I want! Though Mother would kill me if I didn¡¯t wait for tonight.

    Jiran did his best to calm his racing heart, but months of anticipation could not be denied so easily. His toes curled and he pumped his little fists as his body vibrated.

    I can¡¯t wait for tonight. I even get to be capped all day. This is going to be so much fun. Half a point in each attribute from a single bite. I¡¯ll definitely repay you when I come back to the village and become a hunter, Elder Mireg.

    A pushing sensation swelled inside him, like being deep underwater with lungs full of air. The ever-present pressure beneath his skin intensified into a tangible feeling as his body swelled in preparation to become something more: An ascender.

    Suddenly, his exuberance was replaced by a sense of intense dread. The racing of his heart turned from a joyous celebration to the harrowing thrum of impending death. His eyes flew open and he cast his gaze around the street, searching for the beast whose jaws were surely about to close around his throat. When he found nothing, his fear eased slightly, yet an uneasy trepidation remained.

    Did I eat too much density? Father warned me about the pressure of having full growth but he didn¡¯t say anything about it being so scary. Jiran latched his satchel, mentally distancing himself from the treat within.

    It was really delicious though. I¡¯ll finish it after my tiering tonight.

    He ran the rest of the way at full speed, legs pumping from a mixture of lingering fear and newfound strength from his freshly boosted attributes. His muscles were brimming with energy, and he quickly arrived at his uncle¡¯s shop. Micah was already hard at work lining up empty barrels beside their only cart.

    His uncle moved so quickly with his much higher attributes, that Jiran only caught a few glimpses of his muscular frame. As often happened upon seeing his formidable appearance, Jiran stopped and watched with awe and envy in his heart. Micah was easily one of the strongest people in the village at tier three. His time in the army had left him with impeccable posture and with naturally tall stature, wide shoulders, and piercing green eyes, he always stood out no matter where he went.

    Fathers above, please let me grow up big and strong like uncle and not short like Father.

    After his daily prayer, Jiran bade a quick and informal, ¡°Morning Uncle!'''' then made his way into the shop. He dropped his satchel in the corner, then moved to Micah¡¯s side and began stacking barrels on the rapidly growing pile.

    Soon, First Mother¡¯s pale light crested the horizon, marking the start of the day for most of the village. As her cerulean grace mingled with First Father¡¯s scarlet, the sky turned a light shade of purple.

    The streets gradually filled with villagers going about their business. Some made their way to the pier while a few brave souls prepared to forage the outermost edges of the forest. The vast majority hefted tools to fields inside the imposing walls¡ªwhich had been constructed by imperial engineers back when the village was founded.

    ¡°Well, kiddo, I suppose congratulations are in order. You survived all seven seasons. Tonight, you¡¯ll officially be a year old. I hope you¡¯re ready for your tiering. I know I¡¯ll certainly enjoy putting more work on your shoulders,¡± Micah¡¯s smile was gentle and his eyes twinkled with shared excitement.

    Affection and gratitude bloomed in Jiran¡¯s heart that Micah always took the time to slow his speech down just for him.

    ¡°Have you thought about your vow of service?¡±

    ¡°Yes Uncle, I decided I want to serve the full year. Then, when I come back, I¡¯ll be able to contribute more.¡± Jiran paused to gather his thoughts. ¡°I know that¡¯s what everyone says before they join the army, but I really mean it! I feel like I owe so much to the village. I want to be strong enough when I return to bring us all up a tier. I want to help everyone, especially you, Mother, and Father.¡±

    Micah let out a long sigh, then fondly rested his hand on Jiran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Coming back isn¡¯t that easy, though I respect your decision. Once you¡¯re out of here, you¡¯ll see that there are many opportunities in the Empire. If you change your mind, nobody here would blame you. Just don¡¯t give up on whatever you decide to do once the time comes.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t! I¡¯ve already made up my mind, so that¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do,¡± Jiran spoke with the conviction only a child could have toward the uncertainty of the distant future.

    ¡°Enough lazing about, we¡¯ve got a full day ahead of us,¡± Micah¡¯s gentle chiding was met with Jiran¡¯s bobbing head as they got back to work.

    Soon, Second Father¡¯s yellow light joined First Father and First Mother in the heavens. The three suns¡¯ rays blended beautifully and filled the cloudless sky with shimmering waves of violet and emerald. Jiran helped Micah with the barrels, meticulously cataloging and stacking them neatly in the wagon before they set out towards the village¡¯s growing fields.

    Jiran pulled the wagon by himself, excited at how much easier the task was after his sudden increase in attributes. He imagined how strong he would be after tonight, his dream of becoming as big as Uncle Micah felt closer with every step. His steady march brought the fields into view where more than half the village was working diligently under the brilliant sky.

    A single planter placed a seed into the ground while two stood behind providing water. Groups of five then held out their hands, eyes focused, mumbling the words to their growth castings. The plants grew quickly, turning from seedling, to stalk, to budding, and finally to harvestable within the span of a few seconds under their mana-fueled ministrations.

    As the growers moved to the next seedling, the harvesters came and collected the crop to be carted off to a pile near the road. All the while, members from each group swapped out to give others a break from the strenuous casting.

    Jiran stopped the wagon near the processed goods, his eyes locked on the growers'' glowing hands. Micah gave him a moment to daydream before a gentle clearing of the throat snapped Jiran back to the work at hand¡ªa slight flush heating his cheeks. He jumped to action, stuffing barrels as Micah slowly ran his fingers along the seam of the wooden lids. As his finger passed over the small gap between lid and barrel, the gap vanished, leaving a fully sealed cask ready for transport.

    Jiran watched Micah work out of the corner of his eye. As he thought about what tomorrow would bring, his nervous excitement bubbled to the surface and his feet danced a jittery beat.

    I can''t wait to know what it''s like to control my mana. Just a few more hours then I''ll finally take the first step. I wonder if I¡¯ll ever get an advanced technique like Uncle. Well, if he doesn¡¯t teach me, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll learn in the army like he did.

    Despite Jiran¡¯s lack of focus, they worked efficiently and were soon on their way to the granaries. There, the produce would be stored for the coming densoon season. Jiran was too young to remember last year¡¯s densoons. The stories about it were nothing but death and sadness and Jiran was dreading it.

    After they stored the produce, they made their way back to the shop. By the time they returned, First Mother was at her zenith. Her eternal hunt to catch First Father in the sky was no closer than Jiran had ever seen.

    Despite the hard morning¡¯s work, Jiran was still brimming with energy, ready to take on his midday tasks. Just as he was about to dig through the daily deliveries, the sound of a horn blasted through the village. The long keening note was followed by a second, then a third. As he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a fourth horn sounded.

    Jiran¡¯s breath caught, his heart froze, and every muscle in his body contracted. Stress rolled through him in waves that raised the hairs on his arms as he met Micah¡¯s wide eyes.

    Their thoughts were one: Four horns, fourth tier!

    They had both stopped, momentarily frozen with indecision. A scream ripped through the air, and the spell was broken. Uncle and nephew broke into a sprint, though heading in opposite directions. Jiran ran toward the scream, which had come from the nearest segment of the wall. In the opposite direction, Micah¡¯s form turned to a blur that stretched between his shop and his nearby home.

    Anticipation built in Jiran with each pump of his legs. His lungs burned from the effort of his headlong sprint as the nearby sentry tower blossomed before him. He knew it would offer the best view of the upcoming battle.

    His heart was full of dread at the thought that his entire village might die in mere moments, though his feet never faltered. Currently, Skandor was the only tier four hunter in the village. If he lost, there wouldn¡¯t be a single person who could stand up to the beast. Jiran would witness what was to come. If these were his last moments on Madra¡¯s soil, he refused to spend them hiding in fear.

    He sent a silent prayer to the Fathers that his family would have a quick and painless end if the worst came to pass. Then he pushed the thoughts down with a snarl as the sound of explosions reached his ears. He wasted no time climbing up the scaffolding of the tower to peek over the earthen rampart.

    When his eyes landed on the beast, he knew they were all going to die.

 CHAPTER 2 - The Imperial Tithe

    The sight froze Jiran¡¯s blood in his veins. It was by far the most terrifying thing he had ever seen.

    Three meters tall at the shoulder, with powerfully-muscled, reverse-jointed legs. Sharp spikes and horns covered its body, gleaming menacingly in the midday light. Its head was covered with dozens of red, beady eyes. Each one tracked a different target. For an instant, one even looked directly at Jiran, petrifying his entire existence with the surety of death.

    The beast''s mouth opened wide in a haunting scream. It was the same one he heard earlier, exactly like a woman in distress. Jiran¡¯s hackles rose at the sound, which struck a primal chord of wrongness deep within his psyche. The nightmare-made-flesh¡¯s maw slammed shut. It was easily large enough to swallow him whole and coated in hundreds of teeth¡ªthere wasn¡¯t even a tongue, just rows and rows of teeth like two beds of nails.

    Jiran couldn''t stop his imagination from running wild. He could see those teeth closing on him, a single bite turning him into an easily swallowed stew. Enthralled by the horrible visage before him, Jiran didn¡¯t notice Skandor until another explosion blasted the monster in the side and sent it stumbling. The creature regained its footing quickly, its muscles rippled as it leaped into the air so quickly Jiran could barely follow the movement.

    Skandor flew ten meters off the ground on green gusts of wind that shimmered around his lower body, propelling him to the side long before the beast reached him. Jiran refused to blink as he watched Skandor loose another arrow coated in red flames. It exploded upon contact with the monster''s flank, leaving a small scorch on its hairy hide.

    Their deadly game of catch continued for what felt like hours. He was so absorbed by the beast and hunter that he almost failed to notice when Micah arrived at the top of the wall. Jiran had never seen his uncle fight, though he had heard stories from his parents and some of the villagers. Anticipation and fear warred within him as he realized he would finally get to see his idol in action.

    What can he do though? Micah is only tier three. Maybe he can distract it so Skandor can attack more freely. Will that be enough? Please be careful, Uncle!

    Micah didn¡¯t jump down from the wall right away. He crouched low in his leather armor¡ªspear held before him in a steady grip, its point never straying from the beast''s heart. A crackling sheen of blue light slowly spread from Micah¡¯s chest, soon coating his entire body. Then, all at once, the coating was absorbed into his spear which then shone as bright as First Mother in the sky.

    With a deep bellow, Micah leaped from the wall, spearhead glowing brighter and brighter with each passing second. Just as the beast landed from another failed lunge at Skandor, Micah thrust the point of his spear toward the far-off monster. A blast of lightning spanned the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

    The thunderous roar hurt Jiran¡¯s ears and the bright blue light burned his eyes, yet he refused to blink or look away. Micah¡¯s attack pierced straight through the beast before colliding with the ground a short distance away amidst a storm of dirt and rock.

    Steam rose from the gaping hole torn straight through its body. The huge beast howled in pain and rage as its head swiveled toward Micah who stood in front of the rampart wall. His uncle was panting and heaving as if he¡¯d just run for a week straight. The butt of his spear was planted in the ground as he used it to support his exhausted weight. The tip was red-hot and wafts of smoke curled into the air.

    Jiran knew in his gut that his uncle was about to die. There was no way he could dodge the incredibly fast lunge that was surely coming. Micah wasn¡¯t like Skandor in the fourth tier, who had far more mana available to throw himself through the air on currents of wind.

    True to Jiran¡¯s fears, the beast dove, closing the distance in the time it took his galloping heart to beat twice. Time slowed as Jiran¡¯s adrenaline spiked. He could see everything happen in slow motion, the beast closing in with maw wide, hundreds of teeth leading the charge. Yet just as the mouth slammed shut, Micah simply vanished.

    The beast shot forward with all its considerable momentum, slamming into the wall with a terrifying crash that shook the entire foundation. Jiran lost his grip as the ground heaved and he fell for one terrifying instant before managing to wrap his legs around one of the protruding wooden beams. He clutched it with sheer desperation, shaking like a leaf. His breathing was ragged as he frantically scanned the field for signs of Micah.

    The beast had been stunned by its head-on collision. Its rear was planted in the dirt while it shook its head from side to side. A barrage of elemental attacks came from above as every tier three villager with a weapon threw their worst at it. Not one was anywhere near a match for what Micah had done. Only a few even scratched the beast, the rest of the attacks bouncing off its thick hide.

    Skandor had not been idle. His body shone with a pale, fiery light as he landed next to the stunned beast. The glow shifted from his body to his bow, then from bow to nocked arrow, and finally, just the arrowhead shone with a blazing light. The arrow was loosed directly into the hole in its side. It flew into the center of the beast''s chest where it disappeared from sight.

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    A moment of stillness followed the vanishing arrow before a loud, dull thump preceded a fountain of blood and gore gushing out both sides of the beast¡¯s torso. The severe wound caused by Micah had been rapidly closing before Skandor¡¯s attack. Now, the flesh was completely devastated, sending the beast into a thrashing panic.

    Yet somehow, even with its life force gushing out like two sanguine waterfalls, the nightmare fought on, refusing to die. It kicked off from its squatting position and shoulder-slammed into the recovering Skandor. A scuffle too fast for Jiran to follow ensued as the impossibly quick creature tried to pin him to the ground with its spikes.

    If that beast gets its teeth around Skandor, we''re all dead.

    Through luck or skill, Skandor came out on top. He once more flew into the air surrounded by green winds. He was not unscathed, one of the spikes had pierced his chest, destroying his light armor and leaving a nasty-looking wound.

    Skandor ignored the damage and resumed his barrage of exploding arrows. With the beast so wounded, it was unable to keep up with him. Several minutes of frantic dodging later, it collapsed to the ground, wheezing pitifully, before finally lying still.

    Jiran¡¯s head felt fuzzy and he realized he had stopped breathing some time ago. Instinct kicked in, filling his lungs with sweet air. The influx of oxygen returned colors and sounds to his world.

    Suddenly, he could hear the screaming. Looking around, a full third of the village was present atop the wall cheering for Skandor. Tears flowed freely as fear and dread turned to relief and fervent joy, all aimed at the village¡¯s savior. The man stood near his kill, hands on knees, chest heaving and dripping blood. Standing tall, he threw a fist into the air and yelled right back, matching their display of raw emotion. Jiran returned his call, screaming right along with everyone else as his arm pumped the air for victory, for the gift of living another day.

    He had been told time and again that beasts of a higher tier were something you ran from, never fought, and now he knew why. The difference in speed, endurance, and deadliness of a higher tier beast was not a gap that could be bridged. Death was the only outcome for those who tried. Even a dozen Micahs would have died to that monster as it certainly would have dodged any more of those attacks after experiencing the first one.

    His uncle walked up to the base of Jiran¡¯s perch and motioned him down. Dropping the few meters to the ground, Jiran clumsily landed next to Micah and immediately leaped to hug the giant man. ¡°I thought you were going to die, how did you escape? You were so fast, I couldn¡¯t see!¡±

    Micah chuckled, returning his hug. ¡°I thought I was a goner too. I didn¡¯t expect the beast to be so fast, or that bolt to wipe out my mana so thoroughly. Just as I gave up, the elders combined their castings and pulled me out.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing! But not nearly as amazing as what you did with your spear. How did you do that? You shot lightning!¡±

    ¡°Just a trick I learned in the army, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be doing the same in no time. Enough about me, now is your turn, Jiran.¡±

    ¡°Um, what? My turn for what?¡±

    Then it struck him, it was his birthing day and by imperial law, he was due the right of claiming a cut of the day''s kill. Except, how could he possibly go out there in front of everyone who had just seen how close that fight was and claim the tithe?

    A tier two he would be fine with, a tier three would be asking too much. Did Micah truly expect him to go up to the wounded Skandor and demand a cut? The anticipation made him shake in his boots.

    ¡°Oh no, you can¡¯t be serious, Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m serious, now c¡¯mon, let¡¯s go,¡± Not giving Jiran a chance to weasel out of the situation, Micah placed a steady hand on his shoulder and practically dragged him through the gate and out onto the field.

    The smell of blood assaulted Jiran¡¯s senses. There was so much of it. Everywhere he looked was a sea of red. Skandor stood proud in front of his kill, watching every step Jiran took, measuring his worth to claim a portion.

    Every eye was on him.

    Jiran was so nervous that when he opened his mouth to speak, no sound came out. Embarrassment shot through him in a flash of heat as he blushed a dark crimson.

    I-I can do this. This is what I chose to do!

    Gathering courage from the hand on his shoulder, Jiran took a deep breath. He clenched his fists and met Skandor¡¯s eyes before he screamed the words his father forced him to memorize over the last Moon.

    ¡°By imperial decree, I hereby declare my right to the Fifth, I swear to uphold my obligations to the emperors, the Finlest Empire, and my fellow imperialists. Let my pledge of two years be heard by all, under the five emperors'' grace, may we all thrive!¡±

    ¡°May we all thrive!¡± Came the return salute from the villagers on the wall. Even Skandor mumbled along. Apparently content with Jiran¡¯s performance, he moved to one of the beast''s legs with a burst of speed no one else in the village could begin to match.

    He drew a large serrated knife from his belt and used it to cut off a thick chunk of meat the size of Jiran¡¯s head. Once removed, Skandor tossed the meat at Jiran who barely managed to catch it without falling. He then mumbled a sarcastic ¡°May we thrive,¡± before going back to his grisly task.

    ¡°Thank you, sir, I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Jiran spoke as bravely as he could before walking back toward the village with Micah. They passed Skandor¡¯s apprentices, two of them glowering at him, baring their teeth.

    Jiran understood their anger. He was disgusted with himself as well. He had never heard a single story of a child claiming tithe on a fourth tier beast. He felt dirty, like a thief. Wouldn¡¯t this meat be better used to empower the hunters or elders? Why did Micah make him do that? Would it really have been so bad to wait for tomorrow''s kill? Looking up at the man as they walked, Jiran found no answers to the questions burning a hole in his gut.

    Jiran had felt so guilty standing before Skandor and the village, he had even doubled his intended oath of service to two years. Barely a year old himself, and he was now sworn to serve two entire years in the army. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he trudged along behind Micah toward home.

 CHAPTER 3 - Tiering Day

    Within a few seconds of arriving, Jiran and Micah had strung the slab of tier four meat above the fire pit. In a daze, Jiran turned toward the door and his afternoon deliveries. Micah¡¯s heavy hand on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks and startled his mind out of its heavy ruminations.

    ¡°I want you to take the rest of the day off. Niya will run your deliveries and bring back your satchel. You¡¯re going to want to prepare yourself for tonight. Focusing on your tiering is the most important thing you could do right now. Especially after what you just said,¡± Micah¡¯s sigh was a gust of wind that swept through the small room and rustled Jiran¡¯s hair.

    Micah took a second to collect his thoughts before he squared his shoulders and pierced Jiran with deadly-serious eyes. ¡°Jiran, your father, and my father, both chose to build a home here. To raise a family and contribute to the village in their own way. There is nothing wrong with that life, they both found fulfillment in it, many do,¡± Jiran scrunched his nose as uncertainty welled up within him from the unusual turn in conversation.

    Micah saw his confusion and pressed on. ¡°I chose another path. I only served three seasons in the army. In that time, I learned my father''s path was best for me as well. Today you threw away any chance to change your path. A single season in the army will turn a boy into a man. Four seasons will turn a man into a monster. An entire year¡ªseven long seasons¡ªwill kill even a monster.¡±

    The weight of Micah¡¯s words and tone pressed down on Jiran¡¯s body far more than the hand still resting on his shoulder. ¡°Now, for some fool¡¯s thrice-damned reason, you chose to serve fourteen seasons!¡± Micah turned from him, his hands balled into fists as seething rage built to a boiling point.

    ¡°Two years, Jiran. What were you thinking proclaiming that in front of the entire village? There is no way the Voice will let you back out now. I told you just last week that your oaths will bind you, to say only what you planned and no more. Why did you change it?¡± Jiran couldn¡¯t answer, he looked up at his towering uncle, unable to muster a single word in self-defense. ¡°I swear, talking to you is like squeezing water from a rock!¡± Micah threw his hands into the air.

    Jiran felt the walls pressing in around him and something within him snapped, releasing the chokehold that had constricted his voice since his proclamation. ¡°Then why did you make me take that cut?! It¡¯s too much. I don¡¯t deserve it. I¡¯ve done nothing to contribute to the village.¡± He ran out of steam almost instantly, immediately feeling terrible for yelling at Micah who had done so much for him.

    Micah paused, holding his tongue, as he gradually mastered his fury. After pacing back and forth a few times, he stopped, a new and unfamiliar expression dominating his features. ¡°The tithe has nothing to do with repaying past deeds. It¡¯s always been about uplifting the young so they may return the gift a hundredfold in the future. I made you take that cut because I know you¡¯re worth it. I¡¯m not the only one either. Did anyone mutter a single word of dissent? No, they didn¡¯t, because they all know it too.¡±

    Jiran felt heat rushing to his face. Micah ran his hands through his hair, though his steely gaze never wavered. ¡°What I¡¯m about to tell you will determine if you live or die, Jiran.¡± Seeing that he had the boy¡¯s full and complete attention, Micah continued. ¡°Don¡¯t waste a single moment. Every chance you have to grow more powerful, grab it and tear into it like a dissipating beast. If you don¡¯t find a way to rise to the top, the threats facing the Imperial Army will kill you within those two years. Learn your body, mana, and weapon. Learn to kill, learn everything you can, or you will not survive,¡± With those parting words, Micah quietly padded out of Jiran¡¯s home.

    Two years, two years, two years. What am I going to do? How am I going to survive? What do they see in me that makes me worth eating food from a beast that should have killed us all? Learn everything? How am I supposed to do that before my sixteenth season? He¡¯s wrong. They¡¯re all wrong. I¡¯m going to die before I finish my service. Then I¡¯ll be wasted meat, just like all the others that took the tithe and failed to live long enough to return the investment.

    Jiran looked at the slab of beast meat swinging over the still-warm coals with entirely new eyes.

    What a fool I am.

    Time swiftly passed as Jiran became lost in his thoughts. He was so despondent, he didn¡¯t notice his cousin dropping off his satchel, or his father returning from his day of work at the pier. Neither spoke a word as his father, with well-practiced motions, prepared and cooked the high-density meat. It wasn¡¯t until the impossibly rich flavors wafted through the air¡ªflooding his senses, that Jiran snapped out of his daze.

    Jiran looked up at his father for the first time that day and softly greeted the man. ¡°Father, welcome home,¡± He bowed respectfully.

    ¡°Son, Micah told me what happened today. I can¡¯t say I understand your choice, or that I agree with it, but you still have several seasons to prepare. It¡¯s good to see you taking this seriously, that brings me a small measure of hope. Come, let¡¯s not waste time moping about, the horizon¡¯s mountain is not today¡¯s slope. Your Mother will be home soon, clean your mat and prepare for your tiering.¡±

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    His father did not have Micah¡¯s stature or muscles, but all the same, he exuded a sense of calm strength that Jiran found comforting. With a nod, he hopped to his feet and reverently wiped down the tiering mat he had weaved under his Mother¡¯s tutelage. Afterward, he busied himself cleaning the rest of their home while feeling his father¡¯s gaze on him all the while.

    He changed out of his work uniform, restocked the wood for the night''s fire, and prepared the table setting for their upcoming meal. Soon, his Mother returned from her work at the prayer hall. One look was all it took to completely shatter what little defenses Jiran had prepared. The child launched across the room and tackled her before bawling into her lap.

    She stroked his hair, cooing softly. By the time dinner was ready, Jiran¡¯s emotions were calm enough for him to sit on his mat without tears. He faced his parents, waiting for them to begin the ceremony. Before his Mother could start, Jiran¡¯s father spoke into the deafening silence.

    ¡°Tonight, our child becomes an adolescent. He has chosen the path he wishes to tread, and even though it is not our path, we will not stand in his way. Jiran, for the next two seasons, you will continue to work for your uncle. He has agreed to train you in the spear after your duties each day. I know you will give him your best efforts, as you always do. After two seasons, you will join the hunter disciples under Skandor. You will surely need the survival skills only he can teach.¡±

    His Mother began to open her mouth but a hard look from his father stopped her. Dark brown eyes landed back on Jiran, demanding his verbal acceptance. ¡°Yes, Father,¡± he nodded reluctantly¡ªhating the idea of spending a single day away from Micah, especially with Skandor and his vile apprentices.

    He could understand what his father was thinking. Multiple seasons with the hunters would certainly teach him a great deal, and he had much to learn. Seeing the reality of the situation settle on Jiran¡¯s shoulders, his father relaxed his posture. He waved his hand, indicating Jiran¡¯s Mother had the floor to begin the nightly prayer.

    ¡°Mother above, we hear your voice and receive your blessing, your gift. Your strong child has weathered the seven seasons, and tonight, this son of yours is a child no more. May he fulfill the destiny set forth by the Fathers.¡± Her eyes shone with religious fervor at the short ceremony. Fist in palm, she raised her closed eyes to the sky and Jiran quickly followed.

    After the prayer, both parents watched Jiran as he took his first bite. As if the beast were still alive, the morsel squirmed inside of his mouth with a will of its own. He quickly swallowed to avoid the uncomfortable feeling.

    Swallowing did not help.

    The meat truly did have a life of its own. It did not even reach his stomach before dispersing into wild energies that ravaged the inside of his body. With a flicker of thought, he quickly accepted the ascension he had been holding off all day. The density, locked within every cell of his body, exploded into action. His arms and legs spasmed uncontrollably. Unable to sit up, he fell into a fetal position.

    As the process began in earnest, Micah¡¯s words echoed in his skull. ¡®Learn everything,¡¯ so he did. Jiran stopped fighting and instead directed his consciousness inward, to the feeling of the density rampaging through him. He tracked it carefully as it interacted with his sealed mana. The substance of all skills and techniques¡ªmana¡ªpulled and tugged at the density, tearing away globs and converting it to more mana.

    That mana turned on his body. It shredded through him, unwinding the seasons of effort he spent growing his attributes. Unimaginable pain coursed through him as his body was torn asunder. Then, something soft snuggled into his head, diluting the pain and wrapping his mind in darkness.

    No! I have to learn, I have to understand. I can¡¯t fall asleep now!

    Jiran fought the darkness, pushing it back by accepting the pain. He used it, breathed it in with every ragged breath so he could feel the changes just a little longer. Soon, more mana began reversing the destruction with waves of reinforcing regeneration. They swept through him, regrowing muscles, bones, and organs, making them far stronger than before.

    Every centimeter of his body was being broken apart and then reconstructed by the overabundance of mana and density flowing through him. They pulsed within his chest and stomach, building upon one another in a cyclical rhythm that danced in tune with the beating of his heart.

    In the middle of that maddeningly agonizing process, something changed. Jiran could feel it in the back of his neck, at the base of his head. A little spot, no bigger than a speck of dirt, became unbearably hot. As the heat increased, his mana abandoned its regenerative functions, fleeing from the nooks and crannies of his body to gather inside his head. He could feel it there, writhing about, altering something important.

    Should I be panicking? The stray thought made Jiran realize he had no emotions whatsoever.

    A blinding headache bloomed behind his eyes but compared to the backdrop of his body still torn asunder, this new pain was nothing. The mana inside his head and the density within his body shifted again, charging into the burning spot in his neck where it vanished. Within three beats of his heart, it was all gone as if it never existed.

    Jiran moaned in agony as his body demanded the tiering ritual continue. But there was no more healing energy left. He quickly discovered the mana had been doing something to shunt the pain of his tiering. With its absence, his inner focus was shattered as unimaginable agony wracked his entire existence.

    ¡°Jiran! Jiran!¡± his Mother yelled as she scrambled to him.

    While Jiran was engrossed in pain far too great for any child to bear, his life flashed before his eyes. Except the memories he witnessed were nothing like the ones he knew. He saw an alien world with cities full of more people than likely lived in the entirety of the empire. He saw peace, and a life devoid of the spark of density.

    Jiran? Is that my name? This isn¡¯t Earth? This is¡­ a world with magic? I¡¯m not¡­ Who am I?

    Then blackness drowned his pain and swallowed him whole.

 Chapter 144 - Return Of The Great Spirit

    Jiran looked over his shoulder just to make sure the woman had been singing at him. Niya warily watched the thousand or so gathered people prostrating themselves. The woman who had sung dropped to her knees, joining the rest in a deep hum that shook the ground from so many voices all working in tandem. Not one of the gathered people met their eyes, even the children seemed to sense the gravity of the situation and stared at the ground or their parents.

    Mana Omnis gave him a fresh perspective on the strange race as he scanned the crowd. He felt less threatened by the moment as he failed to find anyone who¡¯s mana was even close to as concentrated as his. Their auras were weak¡ªnot fully formed¡ªsimilar to the children he had seen in Lordstone. Their sap-like blood moved through their bodies in a coordinated rhythmic pattern, each and every one of them pulsing with mana together in perfect harmony. Seeing so many gathered and all of their mana moving in exactly the same way at the same time, Jiran was momentarily stunned by the beauty of it.

    He had learned from healing one of them last time that their bodies were formed in layers of bark-like flesh, each one acting as a separate organ. Now, he also saw that their manapools were similar to his¡ªspread through their entire body rather than concentrated in a single area. Jiran firmed his aura, blocking out the intrusive humming to give them some privacy. Niya spoke before he could say anything, still on high alert, ¡°Jiran, what are they doing? Are they going to attack?¡± She hissed, her hands were up and she was crouched defensively.

    ¡°It doesn''t look like it. They¡¯re praying, I think?¡±

    ¡°What did that woman say?¡± Mayalyn stood with her head tilted curiously, not the least bit on guard. ¡°They feel calm, grateful, and hopeful. I do not believe they mean to harm us.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something,¡± Niya relaxed slightly, her mana and aura no longer roaring to be released. ¡°What tier are they? And yeah, I want to know what that lady said too, or sing, or whatever?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all tier three, every single one of them. Even the kids,¡± Jiran trailed off as he examined the smallest child he could see. The little boy clutched his mother, who was still head down with her arms raised like everyone else. The boy¡¯s eyes were drawn to Jiran, his face lit up with an expression of innocent curiosity.

    [Vacant Timberling: Tier 3 - Sapient - Indifferent (120/120) A failed species incapable of complete integration. Subjugation recommended]

    Same description as last time. Tier three, just like all the others. How can such a small child be tier three? Wouldn¡¯t he have grown more when he ascended?

    ¡°Stop spacing out and tell me what she said!¡± Niya grumped, ¡°I can already tell you being the only one who can understand them is going to be a massive pain in my ass.¡±

    Despite the tense situation, Jiran cracked a smile, ¡°She said something about a prophecy and taking their hands to free them from the hives. Honestly, none of it made any sense.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re hiding something, what were her exact words,¡± Mayalyn turned to him with squinted eyes.

    ¡°Ugh, fine,¡± Jiran shuddered but swallowed his embarrassment and repeated the woman¡¯s insane rambling.

    ¡°Enslave them? Take their lives? Ask her what she meant by that,¡± Niya nudged him from behind.

    Jiran dropped his aura and spoke loudly enough that the woman could hear from the edge of the pond, ¡°Could you explain what you meant? What are the hives, and why would I want your li-err-hands?¡±

    No way I¡¯m going to start rhyming, too.

    The woman wore a joyous smile as she lifted her head, the movement gently swaying the leaves and branches protruding from her head. Her hair was stark white, as were all the women Jiran could see. Only the young men in the crowd had other colors of hair. Her skin was covered with meandering cracks and was so pale that it shone in the moonlight. Thick, armored bark covered her body. She sang, once more her voice activating a skill, ¡°Oh Great Spirit! I hear you and I serve you. The hives take, their thirst we have failed to break. When their hunters descend, we cannot contend. So, we offer our hands, as the prophecy demands.¡±

    Jiran sighed, making sure to keep the frustration at her non-answers from his voice, ¡°You¡¯re not making sense with all the rhyming. Can you talk plainly? What exactly does this prophecy say? And what kind of beasts are these hunters?¡±

    Why am I even entertaining this madness? She sounds just like Mother when she talked about the Voice. Is that why I¡¯m so put off by these people? First hives, and now hunters. Do they have a beast problem they need help with? Who am I kidding, no matter how far that portal took us, this is still Madra, everyone has a beast problem. Hopefully, they¡¯re tier sevens.

    ¡°The hunters are most fearsome, never once have we felled one. Our fate is to hide and obscure. The prophecy is a secret, but I would have you hear it. Please, I beg of you to give me time. I must clear out these people of mine.¡±

    Finally getting somewhere. Wait, if they haven¡¯t ever killed one, how are they still alive?

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, let them stay. They can¡¯t hear you anymore.¡± Jiran¡¯s aura wrapped around the woman, blocking sound. She immediately grew terrified when the humming around her ceased. Confused and wide eyed, she turned to her sides to see the people kneeling next to her. ¡°Trust me, they can¡¯t hear anything we¡¯re saying. Go ahead, tell me this prophecy.¡±

    ¡°V-very well, Great Spirit. The prophecy is as such,¡± Her song took on a haunting melody as she swayed back and forth. ¡°One will come, at first alone. He will heal the heartwood, as none other should. He will return, no longer alone, as he flees the throne. His voice will hold the power to unite, to uplift, and to guide you from the night. He will bear gifts, though fear his fury, as it will widen the rifts. He seeks that which you cannot give, so give him your hands and heed his commands. Be destroyed, or be saved. Choose wisely, and you will be enslaved.¡±

    Jiran translated word for word as she sang. By the end, Mayalyn and Jiran were completely flabbergasted. Niya recovered first, ¡°This, this is¡ª¡±

    ¡°Completely ridiculous,¡± Jiran interrupted her with a shake of his head.

    ¡°No! I was going to say: This is amazing! It¡¯s going to be so easy to get their help if they think you¡¯re some kind of savior. Don¡¯t leave her waiting! Say something cool so she thinks you''re this prophecy guy.¡±

    ¡°No way. Absolutely not.¡± Jiran¡¯s refusal caused tears to run down the woman¡¯s cheeks. She threw herself to her knees and slammed her face into the mud while humming in the same tone as the people outside his bubble of aura. It could have been the solitude of her voice, or Jiran¡¯s harsh refusal, which caused fresh sobs to wrack her body.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Mayalyn pulled on his sleeve and spoke quietly into his ear, ¡°I do not understand your aversion. Have you not consistently used divination to guide your steps? Why now, when it comes from another, do you shy away?¡±

    Jiran held her gaze for several seconds before sighing in defeat, ¡°Because it¡¯s preachy. It reminds me of my Mother.¡± Both girls gave him thoughtful looks before nodding.

    Mayalyn¡¯s tone turned soft as she held his hand, ¡°She raised you with the doctrines from the Church of the Voice, only to betray you by trying to kill you. I can understand why you would have doubts about any religion after that. But these people are not your mother and she has spoken honestly and from the core. She does not wish us harm at the very least.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t help them.¡± Jiran poked Niya in the shoulder just hard enough that she would feel it even with her tier five durability, ¡°I meant that I¡¯m not going to manipulate them by pretending to be someone I¡¯m not.¡±

    When he turned back to the crying woman, she had pulled herself together and was staring up at him with hopeful reverence. Once again, he did his best to keep the exasperation from his voice as he motioned for her to stand up, ¡°I think we should start over. I¡¯m Jiran. This is my partner, Mayalyn, and my cousin, Niya. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Partner?¡± Niya mouthed to Mayalyn behind his back and she nodded with a happy smile.

    ¡°To know the Great Spirit¡¯s name, to hear it is my blessing, and my shame! This one is called Fariacialaropana Mashahamara.¡± She sang her name with a lilting cadence that was wholly different from her regular speech. The longer it went, the further Jiran¡¯s brows rose. She continued in her regular song, ¡°I guide the Sect of Belief. We have awaited your coming, your visage our greatest relief.¡± She halted her song long enough for Jiran to translate.

    I guess the last one I met wasn''t the only one with a ridiculously long name. Why is a tier three one of their leaders? Or maybe ''guide'' means something else, but I get the feeling she meant she was the leader of the entire sect. Maybe sects aren¡¯t that big.

    Niya dragged him from his thoughts, ¡°How is she rhyming to us in the first place? What are the chances that the words of her language, also rhyme along with our language?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting point, I have no idea how the translator really works, we¡¯ve never taken the time to experiment with it. At least the girl that was here before stopped rhyming after I asked her to, or did she?¡± Curious, Jiran spoke to the woman, ¡°What happened to the girl I met last time?¡±

    ¡°We punished her for you. She was a fool to lie before the Great Spirit, and so her name, we did smear it.¡±

    The moment she said punished, foresight began to softly thrum through his neck. The warning was different than usual, it carried a hint of choice, of the gravitas attached to a single moment in time that could alter destiny forever. Jiran moved toward her, his feet hovering just above the water as his voice turned menacing. ¡°What do you mean, you punished her for me? And what did she lie about? We barely even spoke.¡±

    Fariacialaropana froze upon seeing Jiran¡¯s building anger. She swallowed nervously and sang in a rushing nervous tempo, ¡°She claimed the healers had refused to sing to her birther. She was misspoken, none may heal the heartwood when broken. Her voice was used to manipulate the Great Spirit himself. Her vows stipulate, the punishment meted immediate.¡± Jiran¡¯s jaws clenched and her rambling grew frantic,¡± It is my disgrace that she still breathes. I will end her myself, send her to the leaves,¡± Foresight¡¯s warning redoubled as Fariacialaropana rose to her feet.

    Trusting in his instincts and his unique ability, Jiran shook his head, ¡°Like hell you will. Take me to her, now.¡±

    Her eyes grew wide as saucers and her body began to tremble causing the leaves and branches adorning her skin to fall away in waves. She looked to her side at several of the gathered timberlands with their noses still in the dirt, humming happily and completely unaware of the conversation. ¡°She has doomed us all, this will be our fall,¡± The woman whispered as her shoulders slumped. ¡°Very well, Great Spirit Jiran. I will guide you to her again. May your mercy be light during this dark night.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Niya asked as she floated behind Jiran and Mayalyn. ¡°You met some girl before and they did something to her?¡±

    Jiran blocked off their conversation as he followed behind the woman who looked like she was stumbling toward her own execution. ¡°Remember I said I helped them the last time I was here? This girl¡¯s mother was dying and I healed her. Apparently, they punished her because she said her mother was denied healing, rather than being beyond their ability to heal.¡±

    ¡°They punished her due to semantics? I mean, to each their own. Not sure why you''d get so worked up over that.¡±

    ¡°I just have a really bad feeling about it and foresight started acting up as soon as she mentioned the girl. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a normal punishment. She even threatened to kill her. No. Something else is going on here.¡±

    Mayalyn nodded, her eyes boring into the woman¡¯s back, ¡°She is hiding something. Her fear is thick as blood.¡±

    The woman took them beyond the ring of lanterns that circled the lake. When she looked over her shoulder to see all three of them floating behind her, she whimpered fearfully before hastening her steps. They were led down a narrow trail through the dark night. It was clearly a well-used path, yet not once did it force the environment to conform to it as it weaved around the massive trees. Glowing vines hung from the tall boughs, shedding a dim light that lent a haunting atmosphere to the woods. Very few birds and critters made an appearance in his aura, leaving them shrouded in an eerie silence.

    Eventually, they reached an empty clearing and wound their way around it, following the well-worn path. Multiple splits led to homes dug into the ground directly beneath the largest trees. Each one was carefully positioned so as not to disturb the roots that made up their walls. Not just the homes, but even the larger communal dwellings were all underground.

    Foresight continued to ramp up its warning as they made their way around the wide clearing, never once leaving the cover of the trees. Jiran¡¯s aura noticed the girl long before they would have arrived at the slow pace of their guide. He shot past Fariacialaropana, Mayalyn in tow.

    He yelled over his shoulder, ¡°Niya, watch her and don¡¯t let her follow!¡± The woman sang a warning as they exited the cover of the trees but Jiran ignored her, trusting in his aura to protect them from the hive¡¯s hunters if any showed up.

    It was difficult to tell if the girl in the shallow pit was the same one he had met before. Her arms and legs had been ripped off; the wounds too jagged and brutal to be from anything other than being pulled apart by brute force. She lay on her back in the mud, her mouth and eyes open as she gazed at the sky in unending torment. When Jiran floated into her sight, her eyes tracked him. The smallest twitch of her face showed recognition. Her dry, cracked lips closed to swallow, failing to gather enough moisture to complete the simple action. When she tried to sing to him, no sound came out.

    Mayalyn gasped beside him, her hands covering her mouth. ¡°This is horrible! They did this to one of their own? I take back what I said! They are worse than your Mother.¡±

    Jiran couldn¡¯t have agreed more but he didn¡¯t let his disgust reach his face as he landed next to the girl. His knees dropped into the sticky mud that was soaked with her blood. His fingers brushed across her cheek and she closed her eyes, all the muscles in her body going limp as his mana put her to sleep. He lifted her body, so light and frail, into his arms. Mana Confluence swept through her, healing the damage in her lungs and throat while stopping the blood loss from her missing limbs. The second her life was no longer in danger, Foresight¡¯s alarm eased and vanished.

    Each of her limbs was supposed to be composed of a dozen layers. Since they were gone completely, he would have to rebuild them from nothing. Because they were so different from humans, he wasn¡¯t confident in creating them for less than his entire manapool. Unfortunately, his mana was at just below half after transmuting so many tools for The People and using the portal to bring them here. He also wasn¡¯t about to drain his mana to nothing in an unknown land with crazy religious fanatics all around him.

    If I can find her limbs and reattach them, it would save a ton of mana. Even if the tissue is completely dead I bet I could fix them with one or two percent. I suppose I could just take all the mana from that woman¡­ She¡¯s only tier three, it would hardly make a difference and might cause an even bigger incident. I should at least try to not disappoint Olive five minutes after coming here.

    He carried the girl back to Niya and Fariacialaropana, who was shaking and shedding leaves at an unprecedented rate. She threw herself to the ground before Jiran, her hands outstretched and cupped, ¡°Please, forgive us Great Spirit! We sought her rebirth, to bring her some measure of worth. We did not know you had claimed her, or we would never have unnamed her.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s voice was steel, the venom in his heart barely held at bay, ¡°Her arms and legs, where are they?¡±

    ¡°Given as tribute to the hives, to sate their thirst and save our lives.¡±

    ¡°I didn''t ask for an excuse! Which. Fucking. Way?!¡±

 Chapter 145 - Transcendence

    The matron pointed to the west, her extended arm shaking as her downcast eyes stared at the dirt, "There is a glade, at the edge of our forest''s shade. You''ll find them there, unless the hunters have taken their fare."

    Jiran''s aura lifted him into the air, Mayalyn and Niya in tow. They tore across the top of the tree line, unable to see far in the deep, eerie darkness. Clouds above blocked any light from the sky, leaving his eyes straining to find the indicated glade.

    "There it is!" Mayalyn pointed animatedly, her tone a reflection of the boiling rage locked in Jiran¡¯s chest.

    He brought them down before another pit, this one much larger and free of mud. Inside, there was the single corpse of a young timberling man, his chest ripped apart some time ago to reveal the most center layer to the open air. Beside him, two arms and two legs had been carefully placed in the dry dirt.

    This is supposed to be an offering to the hives? Would this really keep wild beasts from rampaging through the rest of their people? What the shrelkshit is going on with this place?

    Jiran''s aura had already picked up the limbs and dragged them to the unconscious girl. He set them in place and Mana Confluence went to work rejuvenating each one, bringing dead cells back to life. Before they could deteriorate again, he tore apart each layer of haphazardly healed tissue on the stubs of her torso. One at a time he connected them with the appropriate layers in the limbs. The process was straightforward and barely cost him any mana since she was only tier three.

    Her sap-like blood slowly worked its way into the limbs and more of his mana went to work filtering out any toxins released from the once-decayed flesh. He examined every centimeter of her carefully with Mana Omnis, only breathing a sigh of relief and laying back on the ground when her innermost layer stabilized and thrummed with a smooth, even rhythm.

    ¡°Should we stay here, or go? I do not see any beasts, but we are out in the open.¡± Mayalyn asked while scenting the breeze and staring into the darkness.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking these hunters can¡¯t be too high a tier and I have a feeling the Timberlings won¡¯t want to follow us out of the tree cover at night. I could use a few minutes to calm down and think. Honestly, if some beasts want to come and donate their mana, I wouldn¡¯t mind. If they do, I¡¯ll be able to see them coming from a long way. Mana really stands out at night with my new skill. We¡¯re fine here until we come up with a plan.¡± Mayalyn nodded and relaxed, though still kept up a vigilant watch.

    Niya nudged his side with the toe of her boot while looking down at him with a pensive frown, "You know, healing her probably would have cost me two entire manapools. Assuming I could even begin to understand her physiology. It''s seriously not fair how good you are at everything."

    "I made a promise to help you become the best damn healer in the empire someday. I plan to keep it. I''d be happy to talk about healing any time. Well maybe not right this second, we need to figure out our next move."

    "Take your time. Probably not the best place to hash it out," Niya turned around, joining Mayalyn in peering into the inky gloom.

    Apparently satisfied they were safe enough for now, Mayalyn sat beside him, idly running her fingers through his messy hair that was splayed out across the grass, "You were very angry. Your emotions have been muted since your evolution, it is good to see them coming out more strongly. Being emotionless is no way to live."

    "Yeah, ever since seeing that other Remalon, I''ve been trying to coax my emotions into staying out longer. I don''t want to be like that¡­ thing. The way it killed her without even batting an eye," Jiran shuddered, then turned his head to the side as the timberling let out a pained moan. A tremble ran through her entire body, wherever it passed, leaves and branches sprouted and grew before she suddenly breathed in a deep gasp. She clutched her chest and rolled onto her side with a grimace, instantly freezing stiff upon seeing Jiran¡¯s face centimeters from hers.

    Jiran watched her mana move exactly like the other timberling, activating the skill which seemed to be tied to their voice. Her song was raspy, leaking from dry, cracked lips, "The Great Spirit! You''ve come to guide me through my transcendence? Or perhaps to tend my garden again?¡± Her fingers slowly reached toward his face, her discomfort forgotten, ¡°What have I done to deserve such resplendence?¡± Her touch fell just shy of reaching him, her fingertips sliding across a layer of his aura.

    Tend her garden? Again? She must have been hallucinating laying in the sunslight half dead for however long. Damn, poor girl. Still, hands off, or Mayalyn might remove them for you.

    "How do you feel? I''m pretty sure I fixed everything but you¡¯re so different, it''s hard to tell.¡± He sat up, Mana Confluence turning a chunk of dirt into a cup that he filled with water and passed to her.

    Her brows drew down, the leaves growing around her shoulders turning lavender as she shook her head lightly, ¡°I am planted, my heartwood will rise as it should, to join the ancients in creating the Shelterwood. If you are not here to guide me, then is this but another dream? Have you come to t-tempt me in my final hour? I-I would be a fool to turn you down, I accept your grace into my f-f-flower,¡± Her face turned rosy as she blinked at him shyly.

    ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, but this isn''t a dream. I found you and healed you. Planted? Rise as you should? Are you saying that when your people die, you turn into trees?¡±

    Niya¡¯s head tilted as she put together Jiran¡¯s meaning and the girl''s strange behavior, her eyes lighting up with mischief. ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon Jiran, don¡¯t let her down. Give her what she wants. Make her¡­ bark.¡±

    Jiran turned to Niya, his mouth hanging open. ¡°You did not.¡±

    Finally realizing they were not alone, the timberling looked between Niya and Mayalyn before her usual melody was replaced by a squeaked, ¡°Oh.¡± Suddenly, the leaves sprouting from her temples grew profusely until they completely covered her brightly blushing face.

    Niya threw her head back and laughed while Mayalyn wore a confused frown, ¡°I did not understand everything Niya said. Translate for me, What is bark? And why would you give it to her?¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Nope-nope-nope,¡± Jiran hopped to his feet, pulling Mayalyn up with him. He then reached out a hand to the prone girl who had formed a slit in the foliage across her eyes so she could watch them. ¡°On your feet, we need to talk, and I need to make sure you¡¯re healed. Let¡¯s go, doctor''s orders.¡±

    ¡°I understand, I-I will take your hand.¡± Jiran pulled her up and she shook herself lightly, sending a large amount of her leaves falling to the ground. He pressed the cup into her hands and she stared at it blankly for a moment before downing the crystal-clear water with a relieved sigh. He refilled it, the liquid seeming to pour directly out of his thumb.

    While she stared in fascination at the display, Jiran spoke gently, ¡°First off, can you try to stop the rhyming, please? I think it''s tied to the skill you''re using.¡±

    ¡°I do not understand, what is a skill? Am I using it still?¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try this,¡± Jiran pulled a trickle of mana out of his body and pushed it into her core where he wrapped it around her skill.

    Her mouth fell open at the feeling of his energy creating a blockade inside her chest. With her mana no longer able to access the skill, she spoke in a relatively normal, if horrified, whisper, ¡°What did you do? My connection to the song is¡­ gone?¡±

    ¡°So it was your skill causing the rhyming! That¡¯s pretty cool. Maybe some kind of mental manipulation that forces the listener to hear something slightly different than what you¡¯re actually saying? All I did was stop your mana from feeding into your skill. I¡¯ll release it after we get some straight answers. So far, all our questions have been met with unintelligible rhyming.¡±

    When the girl only stared at him incomprehensibly, Mayalyn squeezed his hand, ¡°Jiran, be nice. She has only just recovered.¡±

    ¡°Je-run?¡± She said his name slowly, a goofy grin creeping across her face.

    ¡°Yeah, Jiran. That¡¯s my name. Not ¡®Great Spirit.¡¯ I¡¯m not a spirit of any kind, I just came through a portal that happens to be in that pond. This is my partner, Mayalyn, and my cousin, Niya. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Oh, uhm, hello. Jiran. Mayalyn. Niya. I was Luaraluatorapa, but I no longer have a name.¡± Her gaze fell to the ground and she bit her lip so hard that a drop of thick, sappy blood blossomed.

    Jiran translated and Niya was the first to respond, ¡°How can you no longer have a name? Is that part of your status just blank now?¡± Jiran parroted her questions, curious as well.

    ¡°The matron gave me that name as a sapling, and upon learning of my transgression, she took it away before planting me, as is proper. The next of my direct kin will take the name, hopefully bringing it less shame than I did.¡± She was still looking at the ground when her eyes darted up to look at Jiran through her lashes, ¡°I-I have a question, if I am permitted to speak it.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± He motioned with his hand for her to continue.

    ¡°I wish to answer your second question, but I don¡¯t know what you meant. What is a ''status blank''?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I guess that would be if one of the lines in your status didn¡¯t have anything in it.¡± Her shoulders hunched and the leaves around her head began to quake. Realizing his answer only made her more confused and nervous, Jiran tried to calm her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we aren¡¯t going to get mad at you no matter what you say.¡±

    ¡°I am so sorry Gre-Jiran. I do not understand what this ''status'' is. Lines, blanks, I don¡¯t know what any of that means.¡± She wrung her hands, her foliage drooping.

    ¡°Are you saying you don¡¯t have a status? When you close your eyes you don¡¯t see a bunch of words written on the backs of your eyelids?¡±

    ¡°Why would there be words on my eyelids? That sounds like a very uncomfortable place to receive a tattoo.¡± Both she and Jiran shuddered instinctively at the uncomfortable mental image.

    ¡°So you really don¡¯t have a status?¡±

    Is that why Identify deems them as having failed to integrate? Or is it something else and not having a status is just a byproduct?

    When she shook her head sadly, Jiran merely shrugged and moved on. ¡°Okay, thanks for answering as best you could. If you don¡¯t have a name anymore, what should we call you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m so sorry. You wanted answers from me but I¡¯m not being helpful at all,¡± Tears began to leak from her eyes as her voice trembled.

    The girl stiffened in surprise when Mayalyn¡¯s arms wrapped around her shoulders. ¡°Shh, everything is going to be fine. You are safe with us, and you are alive. Let it out. Let it go,¡± Jiran didn¡¯t need to translate as Mayalyn¡¯s soothing, warm voice released the floodgates holding back the girl''s emotions. Mayalyn pulled her to the ground and held her as she cried. Jiran and Niya walked a short distance away, giving them some space.

    ¡°Was it like this when you met Mayalyn¡¯s people for the first time? I wasn¡¯t sure what to expect, but this is pretty awesome. Other than the whole finding her torn apart thing, I already like it here more than home. No Lenton or emperors to tell us what to do, no rules we have to follow, just mystery and adventure. What¡¯s out there, you think?¡± She tilted her chin toward the darkness beyond the nearby pit.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but you¡¯re right. It''s definitely exciting to know we¡¯ll find out in the morning.¡±

    Niya nodded vigorously, ¡°Right?! I can¡¯t wait! So, what should we do about her people? They tried to kill her because she lied to you? And that Matron lady seems pretty damn suspicious.¡±

    ¡°Until we get the full story, nothing. And even then, it might be best to stay out of it. We don¡¯t know anything about them or why they did that to her. I got the impression she didn¡¯t consider turning into a tree to be death. They¡¯re certainly built like a tree on the inside, so maybe she really would have become a sentient tree. Who knows? As for that Matron, yeah I definitely don¡¯t like her. Anyone willing to rip off someone¡¯s limbs and toss them in the dirt isn¡¯t worth the air they¡¯re breathing.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, I could always do it¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m the troublemaker in the party, remember? If even I think it¡¯s a bad idea, it definitely can¡¯t be good.¡±

    ¡°Whatever, the offer stands if you change your mind.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, cuz,¡± Jiran lightly punched her shoulder causing her teeth to flash in a wide grin. They walked back to Mayalyn and the girl, whose sobs had turned to light sniffles.

    ¡°Gre-Jiran. Thank you for saving me,¡± She scrambled out of Mayalyn¡¯s grip and dropped to her knees. Her forehead touched the ground and she held out her arms toward him, her hands cupped. Her voice was rife with emotion, each word nearly sending her spiraling back into sobs, ¡°I did not want to transcend. I wanted to greet you when you returned. I wanted to guide you. To sing across all the sects that you had come to fulfill the prophecy.¡±

    Hearing the desperation to tell her story, none of them dared to interrupt. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she pushed herself to say what she desperately needed to say, ¡°When the Matron discovered my lie, she took the honor of herald for herself, and I knew I could only accept. They came in the night, took me from my birther, and forced me to either transcend or die alone in the ancestral field. I held on as long as I could. I only wanted to hear them sing that you had returned, then I could move on, in peace. I never for a moment dreamed you would heal me as you did my birther. Thank you for saving me. Thank you eternally. From the center of my heartwood, thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Jiran leaned down and patted the top of her head, the warmth swimming through his chest reflected in a beaming smile that stretched his lips, ¡°So, what are we going to do about a name for you? I liked your old one, if you¡¯re set on not getting it back, how about Lulu? It¡¯s pretty close, right?¡±

    Her head snapped up, her gaze locking onto his mouth, ¡°Lu¡­lu? Lu-lu? Lulu! I-I love it,¡± Her eyes flew open when she realized what she had said, and in a flash, the foliage across her head bloomed, each of the leaves as scarlet as the cheeks they hid.

 Chapter 146 - When In Rome

    "You sure are a shy little thing, aren''t you?" Niya crouched and gently shifted some of Lulu''s leaves with her fingers, revealing the girl''s furiously blushing cheeks. "Aww, you are seriously too cute. Can we keep her?"

    "I''m not translating that," Jiran shook his head with a chuckle.

    "Coward!" Niya grinned as she stood and gave Lulu space to collect herself.

    He ignored Niya''s verbal jab and sat cross-legged before Lulu. His voice was firm but carefully free of harshness as he looked her right in the eyes, "So basically, your entire life was turned upside down by the Matron of your sect. She took everything from you and left you to die, or transcend, or whatever. The question is: What are you going to do about it?"

    Her mouth opened and closed several times as she searched his face for answers. Finding only stony silence, she shook her head uncertainly, sending waves of leaves falling around her.

    Do you want revenge? Are you too scared to even ask for help? Show me what kind of person you are, Lulu.

    She sang her response a moment later, her voice free of rhymes as it took on a haunting melody, "I¡­ don''t know. The matron tried to take everything from me, but now it is I who am in this field with you, and not her. Is her failure not enough?" She looked up at him through her lashes, disappointed when she didn''t find any approval in his features.

    "It''s your choice. We don''t know enough about your people to know if what she did was just. You''re right that she''s not here and you are. As far as I''m concerned, you''re the only one who''s going to be guiding us. If you''re satisfied with only that, then so be it." Jiran shrugged, truly unwilling to take things further if Lulu had no desire to punish the woman.

    She looked down while biting her lip to hide a smile, she sang in a meek tone while holding her hands in her lap "W-what do you think I should do?"

    "We can¡¯t answer that for you, Lulu. We won''t be here for long and you''re the one who will have to live with the consequences of whatever you choose. When you figure it out, let me know. Okay?"

    Lulu nodded and once more fell into silent contemplation while Jiran translated her words to Niya and Mayalyn. "Chin up! We won''t let them hurt you again," Niya threw her arm over Lulu''s shoulders, hoisting her up to lead her back toward the forest''s edge.

    Mayalyn shuddered and rubbed her shoulders, leaning against Jiran as they walked behind, "She reminds me of myself before we met. I was so weak, unable to even make my own choices in life."

    ¡°What?! That¡¯s not true at all! I couldn¡¯t walk two steps through Azurelight without hearing about how willful you were. Didn¡¯t you refuse to even meet most boys, going so far as burning a dress your sister sent you instead of going to a dance? You went against tradition constantly. Not only shouldering your Great-grandfather¡¯s legacy, but you also explored and hunted alone. You¡¯ve been my fierce, sassy princess since long before we met.¡±

    Her jaw dropped further with each word until moisture began to pool in her eyes, threatening to spill out. She wrapped her arms around his bicep, hugging it fiercely to her chest as she mumbled into his shoulder, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Jiran wore a huge grin as he looked down at the top of her head, tempted to nip playfully at one of her ears, but before he could, Lulu stiffened and spun around, suddenly full of zeal as she looked at each of them in turn, "Why did you, sorry. I meant to say: What did the prophecy mean that we would be unable to give you what you seek? I have always wondered, everyone has. Now that you are here, I was so nervous I forgot to ask."

    "We''re looking for tier seven beasts. I''m not convinced your prophecy is about us."

    Lulu mouthed ¡®tier seven beasts,¡¯ clearly finding the words unfamiliar. Jiran quickly realized why she was so confused. "You don''t know what the tiers are because you don''t have a status. Tiers are how Madra, or the system, ranks us by power. That reminds me, why are even the kids in your sect tier three?"

    ¡°Madra? System? Tiers? I¡®m so sorry, I don¡¯t understand,¡± She wilted, leaves falling like rain as her earlier excitement drained away along with the color in her face.

    Niya rolled her eyes at Jiran before wrapping her arm around Lulu again, "he''s not going to get mad if you don''t know how to answer something. Don''t be scared." Lulu stared at Niya¡¯s mouth, watching every movement of her pronunciation. Despite not understanding a word, Niya¡¯s tone and physical reassurance caused her fear to evaporate. Lulu tried to hide her smile but her freshly wilted leaves couldn''t grow nearly fast enough. Niya made an excited, girly squeal as she carefully watched every one of Lulu''s shy movements, "so cuuuute!"

    "That is enough, Lulu is too embarrassed, think smartly," Mayalyn nudged Niya from behind, prompting her to release the cornered timberling. Her voice was soothing as she patted Lulu¡¯s shoulder gently, ¡°Also terrified. She lose everything from one wrong word. Now, afraid it happen again.¡±

    Jiran nodded, "They¡¯re both right, Lulu. We won''t get mad if you can''t answer a question, especially if it¡¯s so poorly worded. I''ll try to phrase my questions in a way that¡¯s easier to understand. We¡¯re both learning about each other, and our homes and peoples are both very different. How about this: What''s the strongest beast that you know of?"

    "The hunters of the hives," She answered instantly.

    "Will you tell us more about them?" Jiran urged her with a reassuring smile.

    "Certainly! They come in groups, often in the night, but sometimes in the sunslight.¡± After Jiran translated, the group laughed at the rhyme that snuck into her enchanting song, prompting her to blush furiously. She pressed on, determined to show that she could be useful, ¡°I have only seen them once. They dove from high above on wings of darkness. Five of my sectmates were gone in a moment, one second we were happily walking together, and the next, they were dead and being carried away through the sky." Lulu shivered at the memory.

    Jiran zeroed in on her words and the mental image they provoked. He stretched his aura higher into the air at the expense of less ground coverage, a small part of him hoping to catch one immediately and sate his curiosity, "Could you see them moving? Or were they too fast to perceive?"

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    "I could see them clearly, though they were much faster than me."

    "This fast?" Jiran pulled just enough of his aura inside himself to activate Oneness, moving to the treeline and back at around seventy percent of his maximum speed. Lulu''s mouth was still falling open by the time he made it back, her follow-up gasp loud in the still night.

    "N-no, n-not nearly that f-fast."

    "Jiran, you shrelkfucker! Don''t scare her like that!" Niya stood between him and Lulu with her hands on her hips.

    He grinned, "I thought if she knew we were strong, she wouldn''t be as scared around us. If the hive hunters aren''t as strong as us, and they''re the strongest beasts around, then at least we know we can relax a bit." Jiran poked his head around Niya to make eye contact with Lulu, "We¡¯re much stronger than we look. We''ll protect you from the hives, the Matron, or anyone else who wants to mess with our guide. You''re safe now, so no worries, okay?"

    "O-okay," She nodded and Mayalyn¡¯s thumbs-up from behind the girl was all the confirmation he needed to know his actions and words had reassured her a great deal.

    "What about your people? Is there really nobody who''s ever been strong enough to kill a hive hunter? How does your strength compare to your best soldiers and hunters?"

    "Oh, the Sect of Conflict has many strong warriors. I would lose quickly to even their weakest members. They live to battle the hives, though they are no match. Many claim to have killed a hiver, but there has never been a corpse to prove their tales. As for our hunters, their bows are powerful but only used to kill weak beasts who grow within the heartlands. They are not fighters like those in the Sect of Conflict. Uhm, what is a soldier?" She asked meekly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

    "Soldiers are professional combatants who wage war." Jiran supplied.

    Lulu¡¯s mouth opened into an O-shape before she shook her head, "We have not waged war since before the oldest transcended took root in the valley. There are songs of our ancestors battling against tides of beasts but we have had no such invasions in hundreds of years."

    When Jiran translated, Niya sputtered, shaking her head in denial. "How can they not have any soldiers? What do they do when the beast waves come?"

    Jiran didn''t bother translating her question, "They probably don''t have beast waves like we do. Mayalyn''s island didn''t have beast waves either and I''ve barely seen any animals while we''ve been here. I doubt mutations get out of control like they do in the empire, and without a spawning season, why bother with a huge army?¡± Jiran turned back to Lulu, ¡°How many Timberlings are there? Do you know?"

    "Oh yes!" Lulu nodded enthusiastically, "Each of the twelve sects has exactly ten thousand members and is led by a Matron. Then there are the seven great elders.¡±

    ¡°Exactly ten thousand? How can you be sure?¡± Jiran wondered.

    ¡°Uhm¡­ because that is how many there are? If someone dies, then the next birther in the sect that lost a member would be selected to breed. Morasttaraka will be very disappointed to learn she must wait for another death now that you have saved me.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying your people can¡¯t conceive until someone dies?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. There are twelve-thousand and seven timberlings, that number has never changed. Wait, is that not the same for spir-your people?¡±

    ¡°Nope, not at all. What would happen if someone tried to give birth before someone died?¡±

    ¡°Oh! That is taboo! You could steal a sectmates place in the queue on accident, which is a felling offense. Worse still, if there were no deaths, the bud would be still upon birth. A great tragedy that is avoided at all costs.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s impos¡ªWait! Maybe it¡¯s tied to why your tiers are all the same. That reminds me of my earlier question, are all of you born with the voice skill you have? The one that I¡¯m blocking with my mana.¡±

    She held her hands up to her throat while nodding, ¡°Yes? We are each connected to the song at birth, though we cannot sing it until maturity. Is that strange as well?¡±

    ¡°So Timberlings really are born at tier three. Yeah, definitely strange.¡± Seeing Niya glaring at him, Jiran cringed, ¡°Uh, sorry if those were sensitive subjects or if I was being rude, I can get a bit carried away when I¡¯m curious.¡±

    ¡°No! I mean, yes, to some, but I am happy I was able to answer!¡± She smiled sweetly while blinking at him, clearly expecting something.

    Mayalyn, being able to taste the girl¡¯s emotions, responded by patting her on the head and whispering, "Good job," to which Lulu''s expression blossomed into a vibrant, toothy smile.

    They reached the edge of the forest and entered into the protection of the tall trees. Their glowing vines splashed soft light around them, illuminating Lulu as she sighed in relief at no longer being under the open sky. Her posture relaxed as she slumped against one of the trees, breathing deeply with her eyes closed. She idly reached out and snagged one of the violet, glowing vines. She brought it to her mouth and began making soft, suckling noises.

    Jiran''s eyes flew open as Mana Omnis observed an outflow of density from the vine, which rapidly turned to mana, flooding her system. Without a moment''s hesitation, he gently snagged one of the vines. It was soft and smooth beneath his fingers while radiating with enough density to leave a pleasant tingle that raced across his skin.

    With a shrug, he popped it into his mouth. An explosion of sweetness flowed from the vine. As the thick sap mixed with his saliva, it became just thin enough to swallow, leaving him instinctively working at the vine in a way that made similar suckling noises to Lulu¡¯s.

    "What the heck, Jiran!" Niya looked at him like he was crazy as he began to suck harder at the surprisingly smooth density coming out of the vine. He ignored her, closing his eyes and leaning against the trunk next to Lulu while he enjoyed the completely new experience of being fed by a tree.

    It wasn''t long before Mayalyn snagged a vine and joined them, all three making noises that would have left any soldier blushing. Niya didn''t know where to look and eventually gave up with a growl. She angrily snagged her own vine, only to make a happy mumble as she discovered how sweet the nectar that oozed into her mouth was.

    Definitely not how I saw this day going but this is what adventure is all about! Going to strange new lands, sucking on strange new things. In the entire history of the empire, we''re the only imperials who have ever done this. Maybe I won''t go bragging about it at the next tavern I''m in, but when I look into their eyes, I''ll know.

    Anyway, it seems like these Timberlings live an oddly sheltered existence. No wars and no major beast invasions like the empire. With these trees being both their ancestors and their food source, and the relative safety of the valley, it''s unlikely they''ve even considered leaving. Their population is static as well, why leave to expand when you literally can¡¯t?

    That only leaves the hives to consider. What kind of beasts only come into a forest to kill a few at a time before leaving? That sounds a lot like the alphas on the Jeweled Isles. But what would high-tier, intelligent beasts want with tier three Timberlings? There wouldn''t be much density in it for them. It¡¯s probably not for sport either. And Lulu said the beasts weren''t close to the speed I showed her which was about equivalent to a tier six. So maybe tier four or five, but intelligent enough not to permanently kill off their food source?

    Guess I''ll find out at first light. It''s time these hivers learn what it''s like to be hunted.

    Jiran grinned around the thick vine in his mouth.

 Chapter 147 - Experimentation

    Lulu Drifted to sleep a few minutes later, the vine falling out of her mouth to swing in front of her. Jiran wrapped her in his aura and gently laid her down. When he pulled his mana constricting her skill out of her manapool, she groaned like she was in pain and her toes curled. Knowing she definitely needed the sleep after her recent ordeals, he shrugged and left his mana where it was while continuing to slowly drain density from the tree¡¯s vine.

    "I think I¡¯m going to like this place. We''ve got an entire forest full of density and there''s a ton of tests I''ve been wanting to try out. Don''t look at me like that, Niya. Nothing dangerous. Probably."

    "Jirrrraaaaan," Niya drew out his name in an annoyed growl.

    He waved her off, "I''m not going to do anything crazy in the middle of their forest. I''ve destroyed enough ancestral homes for one lifetime. I''m going to try and figure out how teleportation works. I got to see it used a few times in Mortan but didn''t get a chance to test it myself with how crazy everything was. I''m only going to try teleporting a rock a few meters."

    It took Jiran nearly an hour to refill his mana from the tree. Both Niya and Mayalyn did the same and all three of them laughed constantly at how ridiculous they looked. He changed trees three times, uncertain if draining too much from a single tree was harmful. He only briefly considered pulling the density from the trees directly by inserting his mana into them. Wanting to be respectful, he chose to wait until he at least had permission to try. Messing with tree-people ancestors seemed like something the Timberlings would get upset over.

    Before he could begin his first experiment, Mayalyn pulled him to the side, glancing at Niya and then back to him. He nodded and blocked their voices. "Is something wrong?"

    "No, not at all. I thought we should talk. It is important." She took a deep breath before speaking in a rush, "I am entering my heating cycle. I-I do not dislike the idea of us discovering if we can mate for real. My instincts tell me we can, especially since you became a Remalon. Perhaps now is not the time though¡­" She trailed off, her tongue stabbing from her mouth to taste his aura as she scanned his shifting expressions intently.

    "Huh? OH! That heating cycle. I see. Uhm, uh, well, I, ahh." Jiran cut off his rambling with a shake and then took a deep breath to collect his thoughts, "I''m definitely interested. And you''re right, now isn''t a great time. Between the Graymin, Enders, the appearance of the Remalon, the Emperors breathing down our necks, and we can¡¯t forget about my Unique Curse¡­ I try not to think about it, but I know it''s a large part of why things always go wrong around me. Maybe by your next cycle our lives will have calmed down. How often are your heating cycles, and how long do they last? Anything I should be aware of?"

    "Once a season, for nearly a moon. Until it passes, we must not have sex. With how fertile you smell, I know I would conceive."

    "Got it, no sex. I usually don''t mind that you can read my emotions and not the other way around." Jiran left the rest unsaid, his brows rising questioningly.

    "A part of me is disappointed, but I believe that is an instinctive response. Logically, I know we are not ready for a child. Nor have we committed to each other in a way that would foster a good environment for raising one. I would like us to speak of it before my next cycle, but not now. I may have a difficult time controlling my¡­ urges if we begin speaking about cubs, so please be patient with me."

    "Of course I¡¯ll be patient, it¡¯s only a moon? Thanks for telling me before things got weird. I definitely wouldn''t have realized what was happening."

    "Mhm," Mayalyn mumbled. "I had not planned on saying anything until later, but our conversation with Lulu made me realize it was best to be upfront, even if it is a bit awkward," She reached out and affectionately squeezed his hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re not, ahh, worried or angry about Lulu?¡±

    Mayalyn shook her head with a tinkling laugh, ¡°Her crush is far too innocent and based in faith more than desire. If those feelings develop and she acquired the bravery to actually pursue you, I would put her in her place,¡± She gave him a wicked smile before walking back to Niya. The two then sat with their heads together, working on memorizing words from each other''s language.

    Well, that came out of nowhere. Cubs, huh? Can''t lie, that sounds pretty awesome, if terrifying. Her nephews were so cute, would ours look like them, or me? Would they be Remalons? That''s a scary thought. Little mana vampires flying around causing untold havoc¡­

    Jiran slapped his cheeks to recenter his errant thoughts back to what he wanted to work on, teleportation. He knew the skill relied on using synapses of the framework to travel. Somehow, a bubble of mana surrounded the user and shrunk them down to a size capable of moving through the synapse. Then, they would come out at the desired location, returning to normal size. What he didn¡¯t understand was how a bubble of mana could possibly shrink someone without crushing them to death.

    He pulled a rock the size of his fist from the soil and brushed the dirt off it. With Mana Omnis at full power, he used Mana Confluence to surround the rock in a bubble of mana and pictured it shrinking in size and being sucked through a synapse to appear a short distance from him. Instead of vanishing from his hand as he wanted, the rock was crushed into dust amidst a series of rumbling cracks and pops. Thankfully, he had anticipated this outcome and blocked the sound around him ahead of time to not disturb their new guide¡¯s much-needed rest.

    What went wrong? I know intent and mental image play a huge role in anything mana-related. Did I inadvertently set myself up to fail by assuming the rock would be crushed? Could also be that you can¡¯t teleport an inorganic object by itself. Does the process require an active mind feeding intent while inside the synapse? I could have also done the bubble of mana wrong from the very start. So many things to test!

    Jiran spent several silent minutes in meditation fixing his mental image, convincing himself that he had already succeeded many times before and that there was no chance of failure. He then moved from rocks to roots, whole plants, and finally a few bugs, all without success. He racked his brain for ways to tweak the bubble of mana to not destroy whatever he stuck inside it, but nothing he tried worked.

    Either I need to test it on myself, which isn¡¯t happening, or I¡¯m missing something fundamental to the process. My attributes weren¡¯t as high when Lenton and Samris used to teleport me around all the time so my memory is a bit fuzzy.

    Stolen story; please report.

    I remember there being a flipping sensation, but that was because they wanted to drop me on my head. A couple times Lenton teleported me from a distance and I didn¡¯t feel a thing. Samris always had to touch me, I wonder what the difference between them was. It shouldn¡¯t just be related to tiers, Lenton must have understood the fundamentals on a deeper level. Is that significant? Maybe it was due to Lenton¡¯s aura being older, larger, and stronger.

    Huh, I¡¯m not using my aura in these tests at all. How could anyone possibly be teleported without their aura going with them?

    Jiran tried another stone, mixing his aura in with the mana bubble, but once again, the stone was cracked and crushed into dust. Dust which then vanished from his hand and appeared a meter away. He leaped to his feet and threw his fist in the air with a triumphant yell. Mayalyn and Niya eyed him like he was crazy. Since they couldn¡¯t hear him, all they saw was Jiran zipping around like a lunatic. The clouds had thinned, allowing a trickle of moonlight to turn his form into a dozen shadowy silhouettes that danced amidst the trees.

    Okay, so aura is definitely a key component of the process. Ugh, that makes so much sense! Every skill builds off the previous skills. Molding is fundamental to shaping. Likewise, shaping makes channeling possible. Obviously, the manabody would make the skill that follows it¡ªteleportation¡ªpossible. Wait, there¡¯s an even deeper connection! Only my manabody has the ability to detect the framework, not even my remalonian eyes can see it. The aura and framework are intricately tied together in ways I still don¡¯t understand. I need to keep that in mind for future tests that involve the framework.

    The only thing I need to figure out now is this stupid bubble. How can I shrink something without crushing it? Ahh! I have no freaking clue. Nothing about it makes any sense. You can¡¯t just make something smaller!

    Wait a damn second! Didn¡¯t I do exactly that in Mortan when I showed Niya how to make more dense materials? I removed all the space between the molecules in a rock. But you can¡¯t do that with a person, or even a gas or liquid, as it would totally screw with the fundamental forces holding it together. A gas would become a liquid, and a liquid a solid, so obviously doing that to a person would kinda ruin their day.

    Jiran pulled a small rock from a meter below him with his aura as he had already destroyed all the more easily accessible ones nearby. He pictured his mana and aura stabilizing the rock as its intermolecular spaces were reduced. Mana Confluence saturated the rock and it rapidly shrunk in size while taking on a glossy sheen. Still the size of his pinky nail, he poured more and more mana into it until it nearly vanished. Finally, it was small enough to fit inside the nearest synapse and he willed it in while safely cushioned inside a bubble of his aura and mana. The nearly invisible pebble jumped through the synapse onto the open palm of his other hand where Mana Confluence returned it to its original size.

    Despite his first real success, Jiran frowned as he tossed the stone up and caught it.

    Eight percent of my mana to move a rock from one hand to the other. What a joke. A normal tier six only has thirty-two mana while I have fifty-four. I seriously doubt it would cost them even one point of mana to do what I just did. I¡¯m obviously still missing some important concepts. Then again, if I had all the answers, this wouldn¡¯t be much fun.

    His frown turned into a grin as he snagged a nearby vine and stuck it in his mouth. He blinked one eye to check on his challenger timer¡ªan hourly habit that was surprisingly hard to break.

    TIMER: 103:44:27

    More than enough to wait for dawn, scour this place from the air for a day, then head back to the empire if it''s a bust.

    Back to teleportation. I¡¯m probably missing some connection the soul plays in the process of safely shrinking stuff. The manabody is the key, clearly, and the manabody is the soul. Thanks to Shara, I know how I can visit my soulwall now, which might yield some answers. But I have a strong feeling that if I want to get to the bottom of this, I¡¯ll need to actually go inside my soul.

    Unfortunately, I can¡¯t do that. Last time I tried to just push a little mana in there, Madra¡¯s mana shredded and consumed it. My mana still isn¡¯t a match for hers, which means going in there to learn more about the soul is off the table. That is unless I find another density absorber node, since I know they can be used to get past Madra¡¯s mana. Well, with the help of Daughter anyway. Guess that¡¯s next on the list then. It¡¯s been a while since we had a chat.

    Jiran formed a long tube of aura and pushed it into the tap in his neck. Mana flowed smoothly down the tube for several meters, vanishing into seemingly nothingness. His eyes were closed as he fell into the perceptions of his mana, using it to feel and see both more and less clearly than his other senses ever could. His mana reached the space before his soulwall and he pushed it against the massive wall, giving it away completely to Daughter, who he hoped was waiting inside.

    The surface of his soulwall rippled as it absorbed his mana, ¡°Hello!¡± Jiran happily called out to Daughter. When she didn¡¯t answer, he added more mana and called out a little louder, ¡°Anyone there? Calling all Daughters, Come in! Can you HEAR ME?!¡±

    ¡°Oh my god, shut up! Yes, every entity on this side of Madra can probably hear you!¡± Daughter¡¯s voice was loud and clear in his mind.

    ¡°What? Really? How is that possible? Shit, how bad did I just screw up?¡± The remalon, emperors, and who knew how many other people were looking for him and the idea of broadcasting to a ton of divination entities was the last thing he wanted to consider.

    ¡°No silly! I was joking. I¡¯m in your soul. I can connect with other entities but they can¡¯t hear you unless I let them.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank the Father¡¯s. Not funny!¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± Daughter¡¯s joyous laughter and mental hug instantly cleansed Jiran¡¯s annoyance and he breathed a sigh of relief. His expression brightened further when he noticed his mana was trickling down much slower than any previous conversation they had ever had.

    His tone was full of affection as he returned her mental hug, ¡°It¡¯s good to hear your voice, how are you?¡±

    ¡°Great now that you¡¯re feeding me. I knew you would figure it out at some point but I didn¡¯t expect it to be so soon.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I got lucky. Since Shara¡¯s injury was related to divination, I learned a lot. Maybe I should help people more often. Not like I¡¯ve learned enough to make you a body again. Techniques sure do cheat, don¡¯t they? How the heck did my old divination make you a physical form? Considering each one eats up willpower, I suppose it¡¯s a fair trade.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out, Father. Don¡¯t worry, I really am happy in here, for now. As for why you called, yes, I¡¯ll be able to help you bypass Madra¡¯s mana and bring you into your soul when you reach another node,¡± She continued speaking before he had a chance to ask another question, ¡°No, I have no idea where the nearest node is. No, I have no idea why Madra hasn¡¯t given you a quest to find it yet. No, I haven¡¯t heard her voice in some time. Yes, I also believe it¡¯s because she is incredibly low on mana.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Cut it out. It¡¯s nice to actually talk to you, ya know? I didn¡¯t just call for answers.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I answered before you could talk! Now, we can just chat until you¡¯re out of mana,¡± Despite not being able to see her, Jiran could hear the huge smile on her lips.

    ¡°Oh, works for me. One last question though: Any idea where the strongest beasts are around here?¡±

    ¡°Every direction will take you to what you seek. It doesn¡¯t matter which way you go., You''ll understand in the morning. Now! Tell me all about these adorable cubs you¡¯re going to have with Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Jiran spit the vine from his mouth, choking on the sweet sap while Daughter¡¯s cackle echoed through his skull.

 Chapter 148 - The Hunters And The Hunted

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Olive and Cameron arrived above the walls of Cruex. The truly massive capital of the central metropole spread out below them, tens of thousands of buildings stretching to the distant horizon. Drably-colored short, square and pyramid shaped shops and homes nestled inside walled districts as far as the eye could see, even from their high vantage. After being gone for so long, the bastion of civilization felt overwhelming and no longer held the same sense of excitement she once experienced while gazing out palace windows.

    They waited patiently for the aerial guards to inspect the party ahead of them. She recognized the group ahead of her from the academy. Two full years her senior and only recently tier five. Catching up to them proved that her progress in ascending was just as spectacular as Jiran¡¯s method of flight. It had been a mere half day since separating with the others. Their attempts to mimic Jiran¡¯s method of exploding fire behind them to travel were only mildly successful and incredibly wasteful to their manapools.

    Olive couldn¡¯t keep the giddy grin from her face; for once in her life, she wasn¡¯t the least bit worried about running low on mana. Afterall, she was only a single good meal from being topped off again. She shook her head with a rueful chuckle at how ridiculous a concept claiming density was. For the hundredth time, she was left speechless at how much the empire was about to change.

    ¡°Looks like we really lost her. Told you we could figure it out well enough to get away.¡± Cameron gazed in the direction they had come, the desert princess and her entourage nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Her? You mean them?¡± Olive eyed him suspiciously.

    ¡°O-of course, h-them. Yup, they¡¯re long gone,¡± Cameron laughed awkwardly and refused to meet her gaze.

    ¡°Aww, you¡¯re so cute. I¡¯ll let her know she¡¯s chasing the wrong man the next time we meet.¡±

    ¡°Sure, go ahead. Don¡¯t blame me if I accidentally let it slip that you mumble Jiran¡¯s name at night¡­¡±

    ¡°Nice try, his aura¡¯s good enough to know that for the lie it is,¡± Olive grinned triumphantly.

    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s funny. For some strange reason, I don¡¯t feel his aura right now. Oh! That¡¯s right, you only started calling for him after he was gone. How could I forget such a simple fact?¡±

    Olive froze, her jaw falling open as she realized he had outmaneuvered her, ¡°Fine, you win. And I most certainly do not call out anyone''s name at night!¡± She huffed, flying over the city wall after finally being waved forward by the guards.

    They flashed the signal to move along instead of stopping her like the rest in line. Assuming it was because they were expected, she pulled herself through the air toward the speck on the horizon that was the Imperial Palace. The party ahead of them were the only other people in the tier five flightlane and they veered off toward the western portion of the city center soon enough, allowing her and Cameron to pick up speed.

    ¡°How many times did we dream about being in this flightlane? Now that we¡¯re here, all I can think about is moving to the tier six lane!¡± Cameron¡¯s remark caused Olive to giggle as she had been having the exact same thought while gazing longingly to the side at the floating colored stones denoting the next lane.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry then. The sooner we return to our party, the sooner we can ascend.¡±

    ¡°Our party. Damn I like the sound of that.¡± Cameron agreed wholeheartedly.

    ¡°Want to make a wager that Jiran will find a way to push us to tier seven by the end of the moon like he said?¡± Olive flashed her eyebrows at him as thousands of buildings blurred beneath them, the palace still far in the distance.

    ¡°Hah! You¡¯re on! There¡¯s no way that¡¯s going to happen. Easiest bet of my life. When I win, you have to wash my laundry for a moon, all of it.¡± Cameron shot her a confident grin.

    ¡°Very well. If any of us are successful at reaching the seventh tier by the end of the moon, I get to tell Princess Viyolla how aura-over-ass smitten you are with her.¡± Cameron¡¯s grin faltered and he dropped in the air, nearly falling from the lane before recovering.

    ¡°Should¡¯a known you wouldn¡¯t give up so easily,¡± He grumbled.

    Jiran of Madra

    ¡°Can you believe she actually told me to get good? She even used that stupid voice! I was literally beating her ass in every metric and she had the audacity! Oh, looks like we¡¯re out of time.¡± Daughter finished her most recent story of, well, Jiran wasn¡¯t honestly sure what she was talking about since every relevant detail that might explain it was left out. He had gotten used to her lack of specifics over the last half hour of conversation, which he managed to extend so long only because he was draining two trees simultaneously. Since his mouth was full, that also meant Daughter ended up doing most of the talking.

    ¡°One last thing, Father. My powers work by tapping into a¡­ background buzz. But it disappeared lately for most of the empire. I think something big is coming. Sorry I don''t know what or when. Whatever it is, it''s cutting out divinations. Stay safe!¡±

    Jiran had just enough time to hastily pull the vines from his mouth and say ¡°Bye, you too!¡± Before she was gone. ¡°Well, that was fun. Sounds like she¡¯s not lonely. Didn¡¯t realize the entities had so much interaction with each other.¡± Jiran stretched his jaw before moving to another group of trees. It took nearly four hours to completely refill his mana from the low-density sap. It would have taken less if he hadn¡¯t taken several breaks to experiment with teleportation whenever he thought of a new method.

    When he got up and stretched, Niya and Mayalyn joined him. While Mayalyn gave him a hug, Niya gave him a serious look, ¡°Looks like we still have a couple hours until first dawn. Are you¡­ interested in teaching me some of the other elements? Or maybe more about healing?¡±

    ¡°Sure, sounds fun. Which one, healing or an element?¡±

    Niya fell silent, staring hard at the ground like she had a grudge against the dirt itself. After a short, yet intense bout of self-reflection, she spoke with determination, ¡°Healing. After leaving Shara to find you, I fell in with the kind of people who made me focus on protecting myself and fighting. After watching you help her¡­ Anyway, I want-need to get better at healing.¡±

    Warmth spread through Jiran¡¯s chest and he couldn''t have wiped the grin off his face if he tried. He was overjoyed she hadn¡¯t lost that fiery spark of determination he¡¯d admired so much when they were kids. In his perception, it was only a few moons ago that she¡¯d been chasing the dream of being the best healer in the empire. Then, she had been forced to grow up far too quickly while he was trapped in time. He dropped into the first stance of the Soratta¡ªa stretching routine Samris taught him.

    His aura pushed against him, causing sweat to instantly bead his skin and his words to come out in short grunts, ¡°Just like with rocks, and anything else, the body is made up of innumerable smaller parts called cells. And those cells are made of even smaller parts, but we¡¯ll cover that another time. There are several kinds of cells, each with their own purpose.¡± Both Niya and Mayalyn listened with rapt attention as he revealed everything he knew from Brandon¡¯s incomplete memories. By the time First Father was about to peek above the horizon, Niya had moved to the shade of a nearby tree and was making shallow cuts on her arm which she quickly healed, a vine pushed into one cheek keeping her mana topped off.

    ¡°I did not know she could be so happy,¡± Mayalyn remarked with a gentle smile as she watched Niya.

    ¡°She¡¯s changed a lot in the last year,¡± Powerful emotions cascaded out of control causing Jiran¡¯s fist to tighten so hard that an audible tearing and popping filled his bubble of aura. Mayalyn¡¯s face snapped in his direction in time to see him regain control of his momentary bout of fury. ¡°I missed so much,¡± He growled through clenched teeth, ¡°I get why Madra did it, I just wish I could have been there for her. She needed me.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Mayalyn¡¯s hand gently rested on his shoulder, her touch doing more to soothe his anger than any breathing exercise ever could. ¡°You are here for her now, and you are here for Madra, and for these Timberlings. Wherever you go, continue to leave the world a better place. Let your few failures be the stick you use to measure your many successes.¡±

    ¡°That was¡­ beautiful. And insightful. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Mhm,¡± She nodded, ¡°Something my Grandmother used to say.¡± Mayalyn¡¯s expression turned wistful as she allowed fond memories to consume her for a moment.

    Jiran waited patiently, and when he saw her focus returning, he darted in and stole a quick kiss. Her gaze sharpened immediately but he was already withdrawing. Being conscious of her heating cycle, he marched past her, allowing his nearly overwhelming anticipation for what was coming to fill his voice, ¡°Been a while since we¡¯ve gone on a hunt together. Excited?¡±

    Her fingers came up to touch her lips and she chuckled before switching emotional gears as well, ¡°Yes! A hunt is exactly what I need. Where shall we begin?¡±

    ¡°Daughter said it didn¡¯t matter which way we went. Figured we can pick randomly and go looking for trouble.¡±

    ¡°Mmmm, sounds wonderful,¡± Mayalyn¡¯s eyes lit up as the elemental lightning within her began to churn in response to her desire.

    Niya joined them as they approached their softly snoring guide, who still rested on a cushy layer of Jiran¡¯s aura. He was about to lean down and shake her shoulder when Mayalyn stopped him. ¡°Let me, I have no desire to see her reaction to you waking her up.¡± Jiran nodded with an awkward laugh as he backed away.

    Mayalyn gently roused Lulu, who stretched languidly with her arms above her head. She yawned, and her eyes fluttered open to see Mayalyn sitting above her. Confusion crossed her face as her eyes darted to each of them in turn before the leaves covering her shoulders and head suddenly exploded with new growth. ¡°I-I am so sorry! I didn''t mean to fall asleep!¡±

    Mayalyn did her best to reassure Lulu with a kind smile and a comforting touch on her arm while Jiran was quick to respond, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s fine, really. We couldn¡¯t have done much in the dark and we were able to work on things we never have enough time for. It was a good night. But now, it¡¯s time to go meet these mysterious hunters of the hives.¡±

    Outwardly, Jiran appeared calm. Internally, Mana Confluence raged, instinctively responding to his irrepressible excitement by bringing his mana to a boil. Lulu¡¯s mouth opened and closed several times as she stared into his brightly shining green eyes before a crimson flush worked its way up her neck to flood her cheeks with color.

    Seeing Mayalyn¡¯s tail twitch sharply, Jiran came back to his senses enough to realize what was happening. He coughed and spoke quickly, ¡°What do you want to do, Lulu? You can stay here, or come with us on the hunt. I can¡¯t guarantee your protection either way, but I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll be safer if you come with us.¡±

    ¡°I-I want to go with you! I have a duty to guide you, and-and, I need to know. I need to see.¡± Seeing three faces all looking down at her with proud smiles was apparently too much for the girl as her leaves rapidly grew once more to hide her face. Jiran chuckled and swooped both her and Mayalyn up in his aura. Lulu let out a frightened squeal as they rose higher and higher.

    Niya was right behind him as they breached the canopy and saw the Forest of Melodies in the light for the first time. Vibrant green and purple grass stretched roughly two kilometers beyond the edge of the forest before crashing into a steep cliff wall that rose high into the air. Turning to look both left and right, Jiran noted how the cliff seemed to curve inward, as if wrapping around the forest and outer grasses.

    He put on speed, quickly rising to the lip of the valley¡¯s rocky enclosure. Below, the forest stretched out for around twenty-five kilometers, the same grasses forming a perfect ring around the entirety of its circumference. And beyond that ring, the cliff formed an outer circle, completely nestling the Timberlings home within a massive, bowl-shaped indent.

    They live in a crater?

    Lulu was shaking as he moved even higher to see beyond the walls of the crater and confirm his theory. The Forest of Melodies rested far below the ground level of the surrounding lands. Lulu gasped as she saw beyond her valley for the first time. Her mouth hung open and tears threatened to leak from her eyes. Whatever fear she had of flying was quickly forgotten as a whole new world spread out beneath her.

    Mayalyn pointed and Jiran followed the line of her extended finger to see trails of smoke coming from a forested region not far beyond the edge of the cliffs. He shrugged, figuring that was as good a direction as any to begin their search. Niya cracked her knuckles beside him, a vicious smirk dominating her features.

    Looks like we¡¯re all itching for a fight.

    ¡°You were s-serious. W-why?¡± Lulu¡¯s song cracked and she swallowed before trying again, ¡°Why did you learn to fight? Do you like it?¡±

    After Jiran translated, Mayalyn answered first, not taking a single second to consider her words, ¡°Freedom. Survival on Madra requires strength, and I wish for more than merely surviving. It is instinctual for me, I was born to hunt, so yes, I enjoy it very much.¡±

    Jiran nodded, agreeing completely. Though his instincts were now more geared toward pilfering mana, there was definitely something within him that yearned for a good fight, ¡°I didn¡¯t like fighting at first, but now I do. Cultivating mana and intent, and the control necessary to bend reality to my desires¡ªas well as the adrenaline of near death¡ªit¡¯s all exhilarating beyond measure.¡±

    Niya shrugged and piped in, ¡°I hate watching others decide the fates of those weaker than them. Strength gives me the right to stop them. If I''d been there when the Matron tried to turn you into a tree, I would¡¯ve stopped her. I¡¯ll do anything to be strong enough to never have regrets like that again.¡±

    Lulu¡¯s eyes widened a little further with each response until she hummed, ¡°Thank you,¡± And then fell into a deep silence, considering their words. They flew toward the rising snakes of smoke. A flock of two dozen birds along the cliff wall in front of them took to the skies and she snapped from her ruminations, shaking with instinctive terror.

    Niya made eye contact and nodded before moving herself a few paces to the side as they waited for their prey to come to them. Mana Confluence formed and then warped a panel of light to give them a zoomed-in view of the hunters. They had two arms and legs tipped with sharp claws and talons, respectively. Dark, segmented plates covered their bodies but did not extend to their black, feathered wings. Flowing hair cascaded from heads tipped by sharp beaks. Piercing, glowing red eyes were centered on Jiran as their wings flapped powerfully, propelling them forward at impressive speeds.

    Mana Omnis revealed the energies wrapping around their feathers and pushing against the air with every flap. Jiran¡¯s eyes narrowed as they moved closer, and with each meter, his fury mounted. By the time the lead hunter was close enough for Identify to confirm Jiran¡¯s suspicions, he was shaking with barely repressed rage.

    [Forkara: (Tier 5 - Sapient - Scorn) (4980/4980) Avian mammaloids that take pride in their ability to reach incredible speeds. Highly territorial and aggressive. Subjugation recommended]

    ¡°Hold them for a minute,¡± Jiran growled as he tossed Mayalyn and Lulu at Niya then sped off toward the approaching hunters.

    His aura stretched out to its full size and the mana suffusing every corner of his body leaked from his skin to pollute the air around him with hazy waves of undulating energy. The flying men and women that made up the flock of hunters faltered as Jiran released the restraints on both his powers and emotions. He roared and blasted toward them on a wave of exploding hydrogen. Before they could even scatter, they were within the confines of his aura.

    Only the leader was tier five, and his aura crumbled instantly beneath Jiran¡¯s manabody. The others were dominated in a heartbeat, their bodies squeezed inside immaterial fists they could neither see nor resist. Skills flickered to life within their chests, sending Ineffectual gusts of razor-sharp wind his way. They were casually batted aside by the searing mana bubbling from his skin. Jiran released the tight hold on his Remalon instincts, allowing Enthralling Touch to pilfer their precious mana and making it his own, putting an end to even that minuscule resistance.

    Jiran¡¯s anger blazed as his manabody perceived them beneath their segmented armor and helmets, clearly designed to appear as beast-like as possible. They were all too human in appearance save for their feathered, talon-tipped legs and the wings that grew from their backs. Wings which gave them the very pride that Identify alluded to. Pride that he would strip away as punishment for what they had done to the Timberlings. One by one, he crushed their wings and dropped them as their brethren watched on helplessly in mounting horror. Screams accompanied the crunching of delicate bones and the sprays of blood that fell from the skies.

    They pleaded with him in screeching shouts that he could not yet translate. By the time the last fell, he understood, and soon, he would make them understand as well. He dragged their leader down and shoved his face in the dirt hard enough to crack his helmet. Niya caught up to him and hovered with the others, all three of them gazing down with shock at the shattered wings and bruised bodies of the Forkara hunters. Three were tier four, the rest tier three, save for the leader. All were alive, a simple fall into soft grass and dirt unable to kill someone as tough as a tier three.

    Jiran¡¯s aura eased, allowing the leader¡¯s head enough leverage to look up at him. He spoke, knowing they would understand him now that his Adaptive Translator had absorbed enough of their language. His voice was thick with scorn and vitriol, ¡°You hunt the Timberlings to safely advance beyond the third tier. You knowingly confine and murder a sapient race for your own gain. Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t kill every single one of you.¡±

 Chapter 149 - The Storm Claw Clan

    Lulu of Madra

    He crushed them in an instant.

    The thought echoed dully through her mind over and over. Historic events that prophecy clearly stated would shape her people¡¯s lives for the rest of time were unfolding right before her eyes, and had been since the day before, but all she could think about was his overwhelming display of power. It gnawed at her, demanding her focus.

    What could she do with that kind of power? What couldn¡¯t she do?

    All sense of who she was and what her life meant had been shattered again and again. She had met the Great Spirit who had been eagerly awaited for centuries, only to have her role as his herald stripped from her. On the verge of transcendence¡ªdeath in all but name¡ªshe was saved, her limbs restored, a new life given with nothing asked in return. Then, he brought her high into the sky and the world beyond their valley was spread out beneath her. She had thought that was the peak. How wrong she had been. Now, seeing the scene unfolding before her, she was once more forced to confront how shallow their little spirit-pond at the edge of their valley truly was.

    Lulu¡¯s errant thoughts were shattered by a shrill, trilling warble. She stared down at the all too timberling-esque face of the hunter kneeling before her savior. The male, yes, he was definitely a man, looked up at the Great Spirit with features contorted by hatred and malice. They were emotions she had only seen one other time in her life; just before the Matron had consigned her to transcendence; the same moment her limbs had been torn off as a tribute to the very hunters before her. Seeing them directed at the one person she owed everything to, something strange inside her boiled, seeking release.

    She felt like she was falling as she stared into the lead hunter¡¯s eyes, drowning in the foreign emotions. She was unable to look away from the dark orbs that had no doubt witnessed the end of so many of her kin. The others behind him cried and moaned, the strange warbling squawks of their language easily conveying their desperation, making the foreign itch in her chest all the stronger. The leader¡¯s voice was hard, pained, but in control as he said something. The Great Spirit responded harshly, his hand cutting through the air.

    Suddenly, a glowing disk of molten power appeared beside him, snapping her from her trance. Every instinct within her screamed to flee, for the power contained inside that small disk was beyond anything she had ever fathomed. She grabbed her thighs so tightly her arms trembled. Her fingers dug deeply into her muscles and they cried out in torment.

    She would never run from him.

    Upon waking up to their smiling faces, she had sworn to herself that she would face whatever changes he brought, she would adapt or die trying. She was now the embodiment of a new truth: that each breath she drew from this day forward was the sweetest of gifts. The thought of dying again while running away caused bile to rise up her throat. She swallowed it down, burying the disgust amidst a churning sea of determination. She visualized roots growing from her feet, burrowing deep into the soil, anchoring her to the Great Root. Suddenly, she was so calm and focused that fresh leaves sprouted from her neck and wilted on the spot.

    Is this part of his powers? Since when am I the calm one?

    She refocused on the leader, on her enemy¡¯s eyes, which were widened in blind terror as they tracked the spinning disk buzzing around the Great Spirit¡¯s body. The hiver cowered in front of them. Seeing him so shaken called to that something inside her, that primal and delicious feeling that gnawed at her heartwood. She bit her lip so hard the skin broke, leaking sweet sap into her mouth. The pain helped her mind distance itself from the overwhelming and complex emotions she had no other way to process.

    They can fear, cry, and beg. They¡¯re like us¡­ that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s wrong. They are not like us at all. How many? How many have they eaten? How many more would they have devoured in the future if not for the Great Spir-for Jiran. He asked to be called Jiran, so I must endeavor to do so. That will not be easy, I have prayed to the Great Spirit my whole life. We all have.

    Niya spoke, her disjointed song deep and smooth. The sounds caressed Lulu¡¯s skin, sending warm prickles up her back as they always did. She waited patiently for Jiran to translate but he chose not to this time, which was fine; it was not her place to know all things. Jiran shook his head in response, his wavy black hair swaying like fine moss in the wind.

    The hiver started to say something else but was cut off by Jiran, whose voice was as hard as the metals hiding deep within the soil, ¡°You protect them?! Do you honestly believe that? So you would label yourselves farmers, guarding your flock against the shrelks while you occasionally cull the herd for your own benefit?¡± Lulu¡¯s mind started to blank as her vision swam, with pure force of will, she distracted herself by setting her gaze on the Great Spirit, refusing to consume the sap that her people were little more than fruit waiting to be plucked.

    The Grea-Jiran has a bad habit of interrupting when others are singing. Without branches, it must be hard to know when a song ends. Then again, perhaps it is his way of proclaiming he is powerful enough to survive a harmony?

    The leader responded with a croaking screech and a shrill caw. Jiran shook his head again, this time there was a sadness in it Lulu could not understand. Her brows scrunched and she felt the leaves on her shoulders speeding through the season to match her confusion.

    The spinning disk that had been humming so loudly it made her teeth ache suddenly unleashed its destructive might. It moved far too quickly to follow, unfurling into a crimson snake that scarred her vision. It stretched across the entire distance to the Wall of Lost Souls. There, all of its unfathomable power splashed against the rock, melting hundreds of tons into slag that flowed downhill in a molten river. Her bark ached from the heat in the air as the smell of ash and burnt meat filled her nose.

    Every one of the hivers'' mouths fell open as they craned their necks to see the devastation caused by that single, casual attack. When they turned back and found three more of the disks hovering around Jiran, even their moans fell silent as they were overwhelmed with despair.

    All save one in the back, who began to cackle with mad delight, his head thrown back to face the sky.

    Jiran of Madra

    "Finally! The Storm Claw Clan has flown too close to the unfathomable hollow and burned their wings!" One of the tier three Forkara Hunters laughed, madness ringing in his hysterical guffaws.

    "Silence, chick!" The leader cawed.

    Jiran had been a mere moment from ending the lot of them for their heinous murders. The unhinged laughter brought him up short and stayed his hand.

    "You can silence me no longer, Fakkara! This day has been long in the coming and I can only consider myself fortunate enough to witness it!" The tier three met Jiran''s cold stare with a vicious smile full of blood-stained teeth. "Thank you, stranger. The Storm Claw Clan has lorded over this place for generations, forcing the clans to bend wing for the privilege of safely ascending their scions." He spit blood on the ground, his face a strange mixture of pain and joy.

    The leader screamed, but no one heard his voice as his head was wrapped in Jiran¡¯s aura. The sight of his silent screeching brought the others out of their shock.

    I need to calm down, I¡¯m not any more rational than their leader right now. Leaders! Damnit, Jiran. Of course I can¡¯t make this big of a decision without involving them.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    While Jiran¡¯s minds raced, the same tier three spoke again, "They hold nine strongholds within the valley walls, each the same distance from their peers. To the north and west, their capital perch rests. Only two thousand soldiers guar¡ª" he was cut off as one of the tier four¡¯s released a strangled cry, struggling with all his might to break free from Jiran¡¯s aura.

    "How dare you betray us, Chokkra! Your family will die a thousand deaths and it will not be enough!"

    ¡°So be it! A small price to pay for a front branch at your execution,¡± Chokkra flashed his teeth and laughed in the tier four¡¯s face.

    ¡°You,¡± Jiran pointed at Chokkra while blocking sound from reaching the rest, ¡°What tier are the strongest of your people?¡±

    ¡°My clan, the Hollow Claw Clan, is led by a tier six known as Horakk. As far as I know, only the head clans are led by tier sevens. There has not been a tier eight to rule since the betrayal of the founders. The worthless fallak-sucking clan heads refuse to work together long enough to ascend,¡± Chokkra spit on the ground and then blew air out of his nose in an angry whistle.

    He¡¯s being awfully cooperative. Just an opportunist, or something else?

    ¡°How many clans are there?¡±

    ¡°Two hundred and forty-something, I think. Though only seventeen are worthy of being named ¡®head.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡±

    ¡°The Storm Claw have culled our chicks, stolen our supplies, and pillaged our lands for generations while hiding behind the prestige owning this farm grants them. My hatred for their black hearts runs far deeper than words can convey.¡± As if to prove his point, his muscles bulged as he pulled against Jiran¡¯s aura to reach the nearest hunter. The murderous intent in his eyes was clear for all to see.

    Jiran looked over his shoulder at Mayalyn who gave him a subtle nod.

    So he¡¯s telling the truth. Or he¡¯s good enough at lying that even Mayalyn can¡¯t tell.

    Jiran extended his sound-blocking layer of aura to include Chokkra. He motioned for the others to join him and filled Mayalyn, Niya, and Lulu in on the entire conversation, only excluding the piteous excuses of why the Forkara thought it was acceptable to murder sapients in the name of ascension.

    ¡°Disgusting! I¡¯m amazed you didn¡¯t kill them already.¡± Niya held her stomach while grimacing, barely holding off the bile that threatened to spill on the ground.

    Mayalyn¡¯s tone was hard, matching her twisted expression, ¡°Whatever you decide, I will support you. That said, I am not in favor of killing them. That choice should be left to the Timberlings. They are the ones who live here and must face the repercussions of your actions.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking, too. Niya, Lulu, can you two work together to bring the leaders of the sects here?¡± Lulu immediately took a half-step back, fear flashing across her features.

    She shook her head sharply, mumbling something under her breath before stepping forward. Her jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in her face quivered, ¡°I will not fail you,¡± She growled through her teeth.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t get them all to come. I can always go get the stubborn ones myself. You¡¯ll have Niya with you, she might not be able to understand you, but she¡¯s more than strong enough to wrangle a few tier threes.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to be doing?¡± Niya questioned, his face still distorted in disgust as her hand gently landed on Lulu¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to have our new friend show me around the area. He mentioned more Forkara nearby, so I¡¯ll deal with them and then if I¡¯m lucky, he¡¯ll know where some tier sevens are. I¡¯ll feel a lot better with my timer reset. Let¡¯s plan to meet back here at sunsset.¡±

    ¡°What about them?¡± Mayalyn lifted her chin toward the prisoners.

    ¡°They can stay right here,¡± Jiran pulled on the elemental energy in the disks hovering around him, turning it back into neutral mana. He formed his intent and familiarized himself with the nearby synapses of the framework.

    I¡¯ll use the same formation design as I saw in Mortan. I¡¯ve still got most of their mana here too. There has to be some poetic justice in using their own mana against them.

    When he was ready, he bent down and walked backward in a wide circle around the hunters while trailing his finger along the ground. As he moved, Mana Confluence and Elemental Castigation worked in tandem to pull the dirt together into the shape he wanted. The molecules in the minerals making up the soil were torn apart and remade into incredibly durable metal laced with graphene. The conduit being formed wherever his finger passed was rectangular in shape, though bent at a smooth angle so it could wrap all the way around the hunters. He left a long groove on both the top and bottom, where the mana he planned to put into the formation could be steadily released.

    When he finished, the elongated block was only a few centimeters tall and wide and roughly fifteen meters in diameter. The Forkara watched intently with worried, confused expressions as he began a second loop around them. This time, Jiran filled the dozens of ultra-thin sheets of graphene inside the metal with his aura and mana. Simultaneously, he focused on the synapses inside the circular block, infusing them with a clear mental image that should allow the entire formation to continue to function without further input from him.

    Okay, the mana is trapped inside the solid formation with intent to direct it. I¡¯m not even sure if aura is needed, but after my experiments with teleportation, it just feels¡­ right to add it. Time to turn this thing on!

    After using everything he had taken from the Forkara, he used nearly a third of his mana and a quarter of his aura to fully fill the formation. He pulled Chorakka out of the group and then released his tight hold on the mana and aura inside the formation. With a crackling hum, a sheet of elemental lightning flowed out from the grooves on the top and bottom of the formation, stretching both above and below the hunters and trapping them in a spherical prison of electricity.

    Jiran pressed his finger into the thin sheet of blue lightning. The skin where he touched the forcefield burned, flesh popping and smoking as a strong current raced through him. He fought off the convulsions, jerking back his finger and popping it into his mouth. Mana Confluence was quick to regenerate the burns. He smiled, more than satisfied with the result.

    ¡°I hate you so much,¡± Niya shook her head and scowled at him. ¡°I studied for moons to make a crap formation that could barely light a fire and you make¡­ that, on your first attempt. And you want to run off to solo unknown beasts that are usually killed by a full party of tier sevens with aspects. Ugh. C¡¯mon Lulu, let¡¯s go. I don¡¯t want to see what he does next.¡±

    Lulu released a strangled cry as Niya¡¯s aura pulled her into the air toward the forest. Jiran grinned and watched them go for a second before turning to Mayalyn. ¡°Before I leave the valley, I¡¯ll round up the rest of the Forkara in the cliffs and bring them here as well. Will you keep an eye on them? You shouldn¡¯t have to do anything but watch. If they give you any trouble, I made the field with the lightning element so you¡¯ll have plenty of reserves to pull on.¡± Seeing her puffed-cheek pout, Jiran explained his reasoning, ¡°Niya has an aura to quickly move through the forest and transport the sect leaders. And you¡¯re the strongest one here after me. If one of us is going to watch them, you¡¯re the best choice.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes I know. And you will hopefully find and be fighting tier sevens. Taking me with you would be foolish and so would leaving the Forkara to themselves. I will do it, but you owe me¡­ something extra special.¡±

    ¡°Extra special? Okay. I can do that,¡± Jiran nodded resolutely, taking her condition seriously.

    She threw her arms around him in a quick hug but when he bent down to kiss her, she pushed him away with rosy cheeks, ¡°Nope, cannot handle that after your¡­ display. Well, off you go, the sooner you are gone, the sooner you are back!¡±

    I hope this isn¡¯t the new normal while she¡¯s in her heating cycle. But if it¡¯s hard for her, I¡¯m not going to complain or make it worse on purpose.

    ¡°Be back soon, stay safe.¡± Jiran gave her a relaxed, understanding smile and then pulled Chokkra to him. Mana Confluence flooded the boy¡¯s body with regenerating energy, rebuilding his wings and healing the damage from his fall. Chokkra released a strangled cry as he flexed his wings. He spread them wide and gently ran his fingers through his feathers with wonder. The other Forkara screamed and yelled, throwing profanities his way. He shook his head, looking back at them with empty disdain in his eyes.

    Mayalyn flashed forward, her hand easily sinking through the barrier of caged lightning. She spread her fingers wide and a jolt of current arced through the group, lighting them up and turning their protests into convulsing screams. Jiran¡¯s brows lifted when he realized she somehow controlled her new skill well enough to shock each of them at a different voltage depending on their tier. When she pulled her hand out of the sphere, she had a goofy grin on her face and her eyes were sparkling with electricity. Without missing a beat, she vanished as her Obfuscating activated before she zipped to the treeline and back again, leaving a trail of crackling energy in her wake.

    Oh great, she¡¯s totally hopped up on lightning again. Well at least I don¡¯t have to worry about her, she¡¯s probably faster than I am right now.

    She stopped, Mana Omnis clearly perceiving her through her invisibility. Her gaze pierced right through him, causing his heart to beat wildly. When she licked her lips with a predatory smile, Jiran grabbed Chokkra and beat a hasty retreat.

 Chapter 150 - Wrangling The Wranglers

    Jiran flew straight up as fast as he could, Chokkra held firmly in his aura, unable to move. The boy tried to say something but the acceleration was too much and only a pained moan escaped his lungs. They stopped far above the lip of the crater and Jiran spun in a circle, looking for any forkara that may have been sent out to alert one of the clans Chokkra had mentioned.

    I don¡¯t see any, but that isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.

    ¡°You mentioned nine strongholds in the walls of the valley, how many of your people are we talking about?¡±

    Gasping to recapture his breath, Chokkra panted a response, ¡°How should I know? I was assigned to Feelok¡¯s Rest, I¡¯m not nearly important enough to wander about and take a wing count. And don¡¯t nest me in with the rest of them. I¡¯m nothing like the worthless worms that wriggle through the Storm Claw¡¯s scraps!¡±

    ¡°Seems to me you¡¯re not any different. You¡¯re here, aren''t you? Killing Timberlings for your ascension, just like the others.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t killed any of your precious Timberlings! Every point of EXP I¡¯ve gained was from killing beasts with the scouting parties. Usually, that¡¯s the tier fours¡¯ job so I rarely even get EXP. Thrice-clipped fools laughed at me for being stubborn and foolish, wasting my opportunities, now look who¡¯s laughing!¡± He tried to cackle but was still out of breath and ended up hacking.

    Without Mayalyn, I have no way of knowing if he¡¯s telling the truth. I¡¯m not familiar enough with their manapools to use Ravenna¡¯s trick and he barely has any mana in his aura so that doesn''t help either. He mentioned scouts killing beasts. Guess that guy was telling the truth about that at least. After all, they can¡¯t let wild predators in to wreak havoc amongst their livestock.

    Fresh rage had Jiran¡¯s jaw clamping so tightly he could hear his blood pulsing over the sound of the wind. He released his held breath, allowing his remalon instincts to sweep away the emotional response so he could think clearly.

    So, the Timberlings only have to worry about naturally mutating animals turning into beasts inside their forest. No wonder they¡¯re all stuck at tier three. They probably only have to deal with tier threes a few times a season. It''s incredibly unlikely a single one of them would ever gain one hundred EXP. On top of that, they can¡¯t even see their own status to know they need EXP.

    Ugh, all of this brings up another issue. If I grab all the Forkara in the strongholds and throw them inside my formation, who will protect the Timberlings from wild beasts while I run off to go find a tier seven?

    ¡°Are there any others who haven¡¯t killed any Timberlings?¡±

    ¡°Maybe? I doubt it, but it¡¯s possible.¡±

    Jiran tapped his chin before asking another question, ¡°Why aren¡¯t the other Forkara in the strongholds trying to flee or warn the clans? I was expecting to see at least a few.¡±

    ¡°We always hunt the Timberlings at night so they¡¯re likely asleep. It was Fakkara¡¯s rotation for the day watch, which is why we approached after spotting you flying above the valley. Hah! I¡¯ll never forget that fool¡¯s arrogant fury at seeing you for the first time and then watching you tear him apart with your aura. Mmph, bliss.¡± Chokkra wiped the edge of his mouth while breathing heavily. Jiran rolled his eyes and once more accelerated at a pace that caused the boy to release a strangled cry.

    Gross dude, keep your moaning and perversions to yourself. At least he gave me enough information to form a decent plan. And just how heavy of sleepers are these people? My¡­ intimidation tactic wasn¡¯t exactly subtle. You would think a beam of fire and a river of lava would be enough to wake people up. Better hurry.

    Jiran moved quickly, arriving at Feelok¡¯s Rest, where he had originally spotted the hunters detaching from the wall to attack him. There, he found they had leaped from several man-sized holes in the rock. Inside, his aura mapped out a small series of caves with a dozen adjoining rooms in the style of an army barracks. There were only two others there, both tier three, busily working on an inventory in their supply room. There were no other entrances or exits other than the eight holes in the valley wall, showcasing just how much the Forkara relied on their ability to fly.

    Jiran grabbed the man and woman, pulling them from their duties and out into the open air. When they spotted Chokkra, their eyes bulged and fury marred their features, though Jiran didn¡¯t allow them to cause any issues as he quickly zipped across the wall toward the next stronghold. Now that he knew what to look for, it was easy to spot the entrances. He pulled two dozen men and women out of their beds, his aura straining to hold the weight of so many.

    There was no tier five in this group, though there were seven tier fours. Not one of which had the strength to resist after Enthralling Touch drained their mana. They squawked and struggled against his aura as he flew them back to the formation prison. Mayalyn was meditating nearby. She opened one eye long enough to watch him create a slit in the lightning field and throw the newcomers inside.

    Chokkra pointed out the next stronghold and they repeated their fetch quest. Over the next fifteen minutes, Jiran cleaned out all nine. He made sure to disable each tier five by brutally crushing their wings, which to Jiran''s disgust, set Chokkra off in a fresh bout of insane laughter each time. After depositing the last of the Forkara, they made one final sweep of the entire wall. He sent his aura deep inside the rock to look for anyone hidden. Upon finding nothing, he flew back to Mayalyn and the nearly two hundred prisoners.

    The Forkara barely paid him any mind as he touched down, their eyes glued to Mayalyn who now stood near the cage with her hand hovering nearby. Four of them lay unconscious inside, having either tested the barrier or Mayalyn¡¯s patience. Jiran pushed mana into his voice, the rumbling thunder of his words causing them to cover their sensitive ears.

    ¡°Your days of murdering in the pursuit of ascension are over. If it were up to me, you would all be dead already. But your fate is for the Timberlings to decide. If there are any among you who refused to murder Timberlings, step forward, and you will be allowed to go free., Or you may stay, and share the same fate as the others.¡±

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    Charisma: + 2

    Furious roars and shouts split the air, far too many talking at once to be sensible. Some were so enraged, they threw themselves at the barrier only to be shocked into unconsciousness. Jiran¡¯s aura blanketed the group, searching carefully through each of their reactions. Among the Forkara, he spotted only seven whose eyes darted to their fellows nervously, rather than filling with rage. He pulled those seven out, not giving anyone a chance to mess up his plans.

    He watched their manapools carefully as he lined them up. Mana Confluence sent threads of mana into each of them, rapidly regenerating any of their injuries. Considering he had been much more gentle with each group after Chokkra¡¯s, there wasn¡¯t much to heal. Jiran felt much more confident he would be able to discern the liars after his recent exposure when capturing so many of their race. His aura blocked the squabbling from the cage before he addressed them, ¡°Chokkra here claims to have never killed a Timberling. He is free to go,¡± Jiran looked at Chokkra and lifted his chin toward the sky.

    The boy hesitated, his head tilting questioningly as he stood there staring at Jiran, ¡°What¡¯s going on? I thought you needed more from me?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying earlier. If you¡¯re innocent, you¡¯re free to go, or stay. That said, if you choose to stay, I will reward you. Especially if you choose to help me protect the Timberlings. I can guarantee your ascensions, teach you how to improve your skills, or unveil truths about aura and willpower.¡±

    Chokkra was quick to rise to Jiran¡¯s bait, ¡°I¡¯ll stay! I was going to stay just to watch the Storm Claw fall. But I won¡¯t turn down your offer of power. I¡¯ll help protect them, was doing it already before you appeared out of nowhere,¡± He mumbled the last.

    One of the seven piped in angrily, ¡°This is foolishness! Raahak will discover what you¡¯ve done. When he arrives, none who betrayed him will be left alive,¡± Her freshly healed wings splayed out behind her as she crouched in preparation to flee.

    ¡°Hah! Let him come!¡± Chokkra laughed, ¡°See that scar across the land? The melted wall?¡± After the woman hesitated while looking at the melted rock, Chokkra pointed at Jiran, ¡°He did that in an instant and showed that he could do it four more times before we could even flap a wing. Raahak and his entire clan are doomed. Don¡¯t throw such an amazing opportunity away for these cowardly egg swallowers!¡±

    Jiran watched the gears spinning behind each of the gathered Forkara¡¯s eyes. Mayalyn walked up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder and whispering in his ear. ¡°Do not trust the two on either end, they reek of deceit.¡±

    As soon as she pointed it out, Jiran was able to pick up the fluctuations in their mana from their emotional state. He pointed to one of the two, ¡°How many Timerblings have you killed?¡±

    ¡°N-none, I¡¯ve never killed one, I swear it!¡±

    Jiran didn¡¯t respond in any way, going down the line and asking the same question to each of the seven. Their answers were much the same, though the way their mana moved when they spoke was drastically different from person to person. He pulled the two from either end forward as well as another. When he glanced at Mayalyn, she nodded with a knowing smile and Jiran tossed those three back into the cage.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did you send them back in t-there?¡± One of the four remaining Forkara asked, fear causing his wings to shudder.

    ¡°They lied,¡± Jiran responded with a shrug. ¡°As I said before, you are free to go or stay. To think there would only be five of you.¡± He shook his head sadly.

    Chokkra huffed, ¡°Only the privileged are permitted to come to this valley. The ones you captured are mostly scions of the clan heads or chicks of wealthy merchants. Expecting anything from them beyond self-serving narcissism is lunacy.¡±

    ¡°The children of the wealthy and powerful? That¡¯s going to cause quite the stir.¡± Jiran smiled, ¡°Good, they¡¯ll come to me and I won¡¯t have to waste moons tracking them down to clean up this mess. So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± Chokkra shivered at Jiran¡¯s casual confidence, a fanatical glint crossing his eyes as he licked his lips.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay and help.¡±

    ¡°Me too!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll not take part in your suicides, you¡¯re all going to die,¡± The only woman in the group crouched before she took to the skies, flapping her wings madly in an attempt to get as far away as possible.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really going to let her go? What if she brings the Storm Claw here en masse?¡± Chokkra questioned.

    ¡°I¡¯m counting on it,¡± Jiran smirked. ¡°In the meantime, I want you three to spread out and scout for any beasts trying to enter the valley. If you see one, don¡¯t try to fight it, return here and tell Mayalyn,¡± He pointed her out and they nodded in understanding. ¡°If you change your mind and want to leave as well, that¡¯s fine. I would ask that you let the others know first so we don¡¯t leave a hole in our defenses.¡±

    I hate to do it, but that awful affinity system would be pretty useful right about now.

    Jiran focused on the affinity log in his user interface. He had closed it and did his best not to think about it again after his first trip to the Forest of Melodies. Within the log, thousands of messages waited patiently for his perusal. He scrolled to the bottom of the list, not reading any of it. He then used Identify to confirm each of the affinities for his three new recruits and Chokkra.

    Chokkra was labeled as ¡®Adoration,¡¯ and Jiran noticed his name was the most recent entry in the log, having just risen from trusting. The other three showed as indifferent. He scanned the two hundred-something Forkara in the cage, as well as Mayalyn, finding there were only seven rankings. From lowest to highest, they were: Malice, scorn, wary, indifferent, trusting, adoration, and finally, fervent.

    So, I¡¯m basically neutral in their eyes. Looks like each of their opinions rose from wary to indifferent when I healed them. Because I was still getting messages about the Timberlings after returning to the empire last time, I know that any changes will populate in my interface log regardless of range. If I keep an eye on it, I should be able to tell if these three change their minds about me.

    For the few short seconds he had the log open, a dozen names he didn¡¯t recognize changed from adoration to fervent, adding to the thousands upon thousands that were already marked as fervent.

    Must be Lulu. What the hell are you telling them about me? I just asked you to bring the leaders of the sects back here!

    ¡°May, need anything from me before I go?¡± She shook her head in the negative, having already resumed her meditative seat near the barrier, her hand outstretched toward it threateningly.

    ¡°Alright, you three spread out. I know you won¡¯t be able to watch everything yourselves, so just do your best. You¡¯ll have plenty of help in a few hours after the Timberling leaders meet and organize a response."

    "Only them? What do you need me to do?" Chokkra questioned, the other three tilting their heads curiously.

    "We¡¯re going hunting. I don''t suppose you know where the nearest tier sevens are?" All four of them turned rigid at Jiran¡¯s question, eyeing him for several long seconds to determine if he was being serious.

    "T-tier seven?!" One of them choked out, his eyes far too wide to ever be mistaken for a human.

    "Baahahahaha!" Chokkra erupted into crazed laughter, "You''re hunting tier sevens? Alone? The Storm Claw are so fucked!¡± Jiran cringed as a notification in his log alerted him to four more increases in affinity.

 Chapter 151 - I Always Hated History

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    As usual, her father¡¯s palace felt empty, especially after their recent adventures. His aura was everywhere, a heavy blanket as comforting as it was stifling. Her steps echoed off the pristine marble flooring and walls. The sounds were softened by the numerous, life-sized paintings hanging every meter on either wall¡ªthe only decorations in the long hallway. The portraits showed far too many faces that looked indistinguishable from her own. The judging gazes of her deceased siblings bore down on her, a depressing reminder of the fate that awaited all royalty.

    Wish I could have met some of them.

    Cameron walked by her side as they made their way toward the gilded, double doors of the Starfall Hall¡ªa meeting space Dominus always used with family. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he called for us already. Do you think something happened, or is he anxious to get us out of here before we cause trouble?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Olive mumbled, her gaze locked on one of her few living siblings. Like many of the young women in the paintings lining the hallway, Malaniea had Olive¡¯s blond hair and striking blue eyes. Her face was more youthful than Olive¡¯s, even though she was two years older, the effects of ascension having separated them physically. The girl known across the empire as being a master of divination was staring vacantly at a beautiful frame with no painting in it. Olive called out to her softly, knowing she was easily startled, ¡°Malaniea, how are you?¡±

    Her sister failed to respond, her posture so stiff it was impossible to tell if she was breathing. The only thing keeping her from looking like a living statue was her lips moving as though she were mumbling to herself. Olive tried again, a little louder, ¡°Malaniea, are you well?¡± Still, she failed to respond and Dominus¡¯s aura tapped on Olive¡¯s, the intent behind his message clear, ¡®leave her be.¡¯ She shared a look with Cameron, her brows drawing down in concern while he could only shrug helplessly.

    As they walked past Malaniea, the girl¡¯s mumbling, so quiet it was on the verge of being undetectable, reached their ears, ¡°It¡¯s gone. It¡¯s all gone. Everything is gone.¡±

    A chill crept up Olive¡¯s spine as her sister repeated the same words until they were too far away to hear her. She looked over her shoulder and upon seeing the completely crestfallen expression on Malaniea¡¯s face, Olive tried to return and hug the girl, only to be stopped by her father¡¯s aura. The doors before them opened, revealing a long, thin red carpet. The rest of the huge hall was impossible to see as every square meter was obfuscated by inky, undulating darkness. Dominus¡¯s aura pulled them inside as Olive struggled to return to her sister, only giving up when the doors slammed shut behind her.

    Olive¡¯s jaw ached with how hard she gnashed her teeth while staring daggers at the massive man. He was sitting cross-legged on a large pillow at the far end of the hall with his eyes closed. His breathing was even, his posture perfectly straight as he patiently awaited their arrival. Cameron whistled beside her as he tried to peer into the darkness of Dominus¡¯s aspect that was all around them. Olive refused to look away from Dominus as she marched down the red carpet.

    ¡°Father, what is the meaning of this? What happened to Malaniea?¡±

    ¡°Sit, please. We have much to discuss,¡± His deep voice rumbled through his aura and aspect, causing the void element suffusing the hall to undulate in churning patterns that used to make her stomach roil.

    Olive huffed but complied, plopping down on another cushion, Cameron taking his own place beside and slightly behind her.

    ¡°Thank you. Malaniea is reacting poorly to the loss of divination across the empire. I am keeping her near to comfort her, she will recover in time.¡±

    ¡°Loss of divination?¡± Olive¡¯s features scrunched in confusion.

    ¡°Indeed, a most peculiar and ominous portent. But not what I have called you here to discuss.¡± Olive¡¯s concern and confusion only grew as her father continued to speak in a distant, serious tone that was nothing like its usual joking and loving. ¡°Only twice in your life have you been outside the protection of my aura, and both times you met Jiran of Feylon. Oft I have scoffed at destiny, knowing we make our own with each step. Yet again, I am reminded that some fates are unavoidable.¡±

    His eyes finally opened, revealing two cerulean lakes of purest blue that instantly banished his aspect. The darkness was sucked into a dozen black holes that danced in and out of reality, shifting restlessly through the Starfall Hall which was now revealed in all its beautifully decorated glory. Olive paid the room no mind, having seen its splendor many times and far more interested in Dominus admitting he knew Jiran¡¯s identity.

    Dominus read her expression, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips, ¡°With the change in his mana, I wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. It didn¡¯t take much digging to discover the truth. His return heralds a great change, as you are no doubt aware. Only the most trusted have been taught his method. The truth must not reach Palo and Loro until we are ready. His leaving again was for the best, we are not yet ready. My precious Oliviala, I have a¡ª¡±

    Dominus suddenly cut off, his eyes closing in concentration which allowed his void aspect to flood the hall once more. This wasn¡¯t the first time Olive had seen her father behave this way. Knowing someone was communicating with him through his aura, she patiently waited for him to continue. When his eyes opened again, once more banishing his aspect, his face held an expression far more serious than any she had seen before.

    ¡°The Graymin have retreated.¡±

    ¡°What?! From which front? Melathon? Rostario? Have they ever retreated before?¡± Olive leaned forward, her heartbeat wildly fluctuating between hammering and freezing.

    ¡°From every front. And no, the Graymin have not retreated since their appearance seven hundred years ago. They have always pushed deeper, consuming until eradicated. This¡­ is something new.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    "It''s only a rumor, but I''m pretty sure the Land of the Lost has tier sevens or eights,¡± Chokkra squawked as they flew southwest out of the Timberlings crater.

    ¡°How far?¡± Jiran¡¯s voice was tinged with equal parts excitement and anxiety.

    ¡°Maybe half a day,¡± he lifted the middle of his wings in what Jiran assumed was a shrug.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have nearly that long. I doubt Niya will have any issues unless one of your clan heads shows up. The sooner we get this done, the better. Let¡¯s pick up the pace,¡± Jiran¡¯s aura tightened around Chokkra while simultaneously forming cones beneath his feet. An explosion of volatile gases rocketed them forward at a blistering pace that left Chokkra struggling to take a single breath. The scenery blurred beneath them and once they reached Jiran¡¯s comfortable cruising speed, Chokkra recovered enough to speak.

    ¡°This is incredible! Father will be so jealous, if I live long enough to tell him,¡± He grinned and panted while looking over his shoulder at the fountain of blue flames right behind them.

    ¡°What¡¯s with you and constantly talking about your own death?¡± Jiran shook his head, causing the blurring landscape to leap around in his vision.

    ¡°That¡¯s just how my clan is. We understand that true power lies at the taloned foot of Mother Stormer, the lady of death. If you don¡¯t look Stormer in her eye, you¡¯ll never ride her winds to the great hollow.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s completely r-whatever, to each their own.¡±

    ¡°You can say it. I know it''s foolish and most of us die at her whim. We pride ourselves on leaping into the face of adversity, seldom taking the easy path. Our clan might be small, but each of our members is an elite, far stronger than the average. Our head is considered the most powerful tier six in the lands, which is why I was allowed access to the valley in the first place. They think I¡¯ll be his match someday. Fools, I¡¯ll crush him,¡± Chokkra shot Jiran a wide grin that showed off his sharp teeth.

    ¡°Why are your clans only run by tier sevens? If there are really tier seven beasts in this Land of the Lost, why aren¡¯t there tier eights in charge?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t always like that. There used to be higher tiers a long time ago.¡±

    When Jiran motioned for the boy to continue, he released a frustrated, growling sigh, ¡°Ugh, I always hated history. I don¡¯t really know the full story. Basically, there didn¡¯t used to be any clans. We were ruled by ten or twelve or something all-powerful warriors called the Founders. Except they weren¡¯t all-powerful, obviously. Madra sent a beast to challenge them and they all died. The beast, I think they called it a Teracourl, killed everyone above the eighth tier. I guess those below that weren¡¯t tasty enough,¡± He laughed.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Jiran rolled his eyes as Chokkra continued, ¡°So anyway, the story goes that the tier eights were greedy and only wanted to rule, not interested in preserving the lands for the rest of us. Two factions formed and they split the skyrealm in two. But one side was weaker and kept losing air. They tried to raise more tier eights to fight back, but in response, the stronger side wiped out all the tier seven beasts. Fucking failures doomed themselves. Over time, Madra sent more challenges and the tier eights died, just like the Founders. When the last of them fell, the clans formed to protect themselves,¡± Chokkra shrugged his wings and picked a bit of meat out of his teeth, only to toss it back into his mouth and swallow.

    It sounds like they had an empire like ours. Maybe because of their prideful nature, they didn¡¯t cooperate. Luckily, the emperors are united and work together when Madra challenges them. Guess that''s why the empire has survived the test of time. Is the empire really just one bad fight away from sharing a similar fate?

    Jiran abandoned the uncomfortable thought and feelings it invoked in favor of asking another question, ¡°If they wiped out all the tier seven beasts, why do you think there are some in the place we¡¯re going?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, that was a long time ago. Not sure this place existed back then. All I know is whenever anyone talks about the strongest of the heads working together to ascend, this place eventually comes up in the conversation. Then, everyone laughs and says it¡¯s impossible and that¡¯s that.¡±

    ¡°Why would they think it¡¯s impossible?¡± The corner of Jiran¡¯s mouth pulled back quizzically.

    ¡°Probably because nobody has ever gone in there and lived. If there was even a single tier eight among the clans, they would have taken over already. There are stories of the head clans working together a few times. They send their best into the Land of the Lost to die. Weakened from the loss, those clans get absorbed or killed off. My guess is the Land of the Lost is full of tier eights. You¡¯re certainly showing your bravery going there, you might as well be flying directly into Stormer¡¯s buxom embrace,¡± Chokkra¡¯s eyes lit up with childish excitement as he pointed toward the horizon.

    Jiran saw it immediately: a forest very unlike the surrounding lands. The woods were choked with fog so thick it was impossible to see even a meter below the canopy. They slowed and stopped far above the abrupt edge of the woods. The forest was deadly silent; Jiran couldn¡¯t hear birdsong, chittering from small animals, or any of the telltale sounds of insects. The fog was unnaturally still, unmoving even when fierce winds blew at the treetops.

    ¡°Head back and help the others scout the edges of the valley. You won¡¯t survive if you stick around here. There are indeed tier sevens down there.

    ¡°A-are you sure? I-I¡¯m no coward. I can stay, I want to k-know,¡± Chokkra¡¯s instinct to flee had caused his eyes to dilate. His breaths were short and raspy while his wing beats came fast and unsteady the moment Jiran released him from his aura.

    Jiran nodded, never taking his eyes from the creature he was looking down at. ¡°Mhm, I can already tell why your clan heads have a hard time here. Your people are a bad match against these beasts. I''ll be fine. Now go, I don¡¯t want to have to worry about accidentally killing you.¡±

    ¡°R-right. May you see Stormer and ride her winds to victory,¡± He then raced away with frantic intensity, not daring to look back and especially unwilling to look down at the beast hiding in the fog, observing his every move with a hungry intensity.

    If not for Mana Omnis lighting the creature up like a beacon, Jiran wouldn''t have noticed it at all. It had no physical form that he could discern. It looked like nothing more than a clump of mana shifting through the dense fog. He knew it was watching him, somehow. Every time its gaze ran over him, prickles crept up his arms and back, leaving his hair standing on end.

    It might as well be invisible from the sky. The Forkara would have to actually go into the trees, which I doubt is how they prefer to hunt. The fog throughout the entire forest is laced with mana, probably full of traps and It seems resistant to being blown away.

    Jiran lowered himself closer to the forest until Identify was able to get a read on the beast.

    [Rapacious Murker: (Tier 7) (0/0) Highly intelligent stalking predator.]

    Identify: + 1

    Zero of zero? What does that mean? Otherwise, this might be the best description of a higher tier beast I''ve ever seen. Another level, too. Identify is such a useful skill. Trying to ascend without it would be so much more dangerous, and terrifying. Imagine going in there to face these things without even knowing their tier. Well, if it¡¯s not going to come up here and fight me¡­

    Jiran maintained his altitude, carefully observing the clump of thick mana that zipped from tree to tree, eagerly awaiting its chance to dine on his flesh. ¡°Not today,¡± Jiran grinned and Elemental Castigation formed a chakram of rapidly spinning elemental energy. His mental image consisted of differences in heat created by land masses holding and reflecting incredible amounts of energy. Specifically, exothermic energy that poured from the incredibly vast and powerful furnaces circling around Madra in the vastness of space. He held back nothing, imagining the air being composed of every gas he knew the molecular composition of.

    A full five percent of his mana rotated in a tight circle, picking up speed even as he compressed the elemental wind tighter and tighter. He reinforced the nearby synapses with his will, which in turn enhanced and empowered his control, allowing him to further compress the element. A fleeting thought of attempting to weave his mana as he had seen the remalon do was discarded. Now wasn¡¯t the time to experiment with entirely new concepts.

    He unleashed his wind upon the shifting creature. A torrential blast of howling winds threatened to rupture his eardrums and shred his graphene-reinforced clothing. Aura and mana protected his body as he directed the forces he had summoned downward. Hundreds of trees were ripped from the ground. Wood splintered and dirt flew as a huge chunk of the forest was annihilated in the blink of an eye. Jiran¡¯s gaze remained on the clump of mana which danced wildly through the fog¡ªfog which remained completely unaffected by his attack. When he didn¡¯t see any damage numbers appearing in his interface, he clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. You don¡¯t have any health after all. The question is, wh¡ª¡± Jiran¡¯s pondering was cut off as the entire forest shifted and bent. His eyes flew open in disbelief as every square centimeter of destruction he had caused was remade just as quickly as he had destroyed it. A moment later, all was exactly as it had been when he arrived, except his mana was five percent emptier.

    ¡°What the shit?! How is that possible? Is this not actually a forest? Maybe it¡¯s a giant beast that just regenerated itself.¡±

    Jiran tried again, this time with fire and using significantly less mana. A crimson beam of deathly energies cut across the woods beneath him, turning wood and soil to ash in equal measure. Once more, his attack had no effect on the fog or the beast, and within seconds, the forest was pristine once more. Ice came next, then light, sound, lightning, and gravity, he even tried acid.

    ¡°Only two things left to try, if neither works, I¡¯ll just have to call this plan a bust and go after the Graymin.¡±

    Jiran lowered himself once more, approaching the pristine, utterly still forest. The tier seven clump of mana moved beneath him, practically vibrating with eagerness at his approach. Jiran shivered as another appeared nearby, then another.

    ¡°This forest sucks,¡± He grumbled when the third tier seven appeared. He moved just close enough that his aura could extend down to reach the fog. He pressed into it, feeling a powerful resistance. He lowered a bit more so he could concentrate enough of his soul-stuff to push against the fog. It gave way, moving for the first time. Suddenly, his aura rippled exactly as it would when picking up soundwaves, except there was no sound. The three immaterial beasts had begun to emit silent oscillations through the fog, clearly unhappy with him.

    Well, aura worked. So that¡¯s something. No reason not to try my other idea as well though.

    Jiran¡¯s eyes flashed like glowing emeralds as Enthralling Touch demanded the clumps of mana become his. Again, the creatures released howls that weren¡¯t howls. He could feel their mana, see their mana, and knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough to claim it.

    Figures. I wasn¡¯t strong enough to claim the tier seven graymin¡¯s mana, so why would these be any different? Especially since Identify claimed they were intelligent and intelligence is the attribute that governs mana control. Okay, aura it is. Which means I need to get so close to three beasts, each three tiers above me, so that they¡¯re inside my aura enough to push the fog back. Yeah, fuck this forest.

    Three chakrams, one of each ice, fire, and lightning, spun around Jiran as he lowered himself to the ground at the edge of the woods. He would have made more, but with how close he was going to get, he didn¡¯t dare use up all his mental processing power.

    The beasts began to go absolutely wild with anticipation at his approach. They shot from one perch to another, never staying still and moving fast enough they may as well have been teleporting twice per second. At least his aura was having an effect on the fog, pushing it back more with each meter he approached. Tension wound Jiran¡¯s muscles tighter with each step, the beasts so close and fast he knew it would be hard to react when they finally chose to attack. He had to concentrate his aura to nearly half of its usual size, but he was able to clear out the fog, revealing twisted, skinny trees.

    The beasts refused to leave the fog and attack, crying out in frustration and anger as they flitted at the very edge of his range. When he experimentally crushed a tree no longer protected by the fog, it failed to regenerate. With the beasts so close, Jiran didn¡¯t spare the brainpower to fully consider what that meant. He needed every ounce of his focus to respond. Sweat, which he didn¡¯t dare wipe away, ran down his face, ¡°What are you waiting for? I¡¯m right here!¡± He goaded but they either didn¡¯t hear him or didn''t care, their strange behavior not faltering in the least.

    He advanced cautiously, every step sending more beads of moisture down his back, the three deadly beasts only meters away. He could see the mana that made up their forms and knew it was far greater than his own. Not only was there more, it was significantly more condensed and moved with a speed he could only envy. He was not at all a match for these creatures, but that had never stopped him before.

    Just as he stepped past the line of trees, he leaped toward one of them, moving part of his aura from behind to stretch forward and encircle it in an attempt to separate it from the fog. The moment his rear aura weakened, one that had circled to his side teleported behind him and struck. He didn¡¯t need to turn around to perceive the creature as it finally materialized into the physical world.

    It was the stuff of nightmares; its body made of shifting shadows and smoke come to life. Tendrils of mana-soaked flesh partially connected it with the fog it appeared from. Grasping, misshapen claws reached toward Jiran¡¯s back as a mouth full of jagged teeth erupted with a cacophonous roar that was anything but silent.

 Chapter 152 - Fun In The Fog

    Fire, and then lightning exploded into the beast as it lunged for Jiran¡¯s back. Shadowy spikes and skin were melted revealing a clear path for chaotic electrical energies to invade the Rapacious Murker. Limbs popped like kindling tossed into a roaring inferno as the beast was torn apart from the inside. The beast''s tier seven regeneration was nothing to scoff at. Flesh reknit and limbs reformed in fractions of a second. But Jiran¡¯s third attack was his most trusted element. Understanding, intent, and mana fused into a frigid beam that the weakened beast had no chance to resist. Its struggles were instantly halted as what was left of its torso froze solid and fell to the forest floor.

    Jiran was on the move before confirming it was dead. With his aura pushed out to hold the fog at bay, he couldn¡¯t afford to pull enough of his manabody inside to activate Oneness, leaving him moving with only mana and muscle to speed his movements. He brought the full brunt of his intelligence attribute and multiple minds to bear, forcing every ounce of mana suffusing his body toward a unified purpose. He tore through the air at superhuman speeds, flying past spindly trees in a blur that still wasn¡¯t quite as fast as the two tier seven beasts hunting him.

    The original murker was torn into reality in a puff of black smoke as Jiran¡¯s aura pushed away the fog that surrounded it. Once understanding dawned on it, the murker moved impossibly fast, racing toward Jiran. Three percent of his mana was converted by Elemental Castigation, and Ice far colder than the natural element blasted from his raised palm. Without time to rotate and compress the element, it was far too weak to kill. As mana and beast collided, the murker¡¯s tough skin and claws emerged victorious.

    Jiran¡¯s beam was split into two halves that pierced through the forest behind the creature. Both sides proliferated exponentially as moisture was corrupted and converted into two massive walls of ice. Despite the double layer of mana protecting him, Jiran''s hand turned black as the life within it withered under the chill of his own enhanced element. The beast didn¡¯t fare much better, the smokey flesh of its entire arm turning solid and brittle before cracking and shattering.

    Jiran wrapped his aura around the Rapacious Murker in an effort to slow it further. Its skin was far more slippery and resistant than he expected. Gritting his teeth, Jiran pulled on his soulwall, ripping enough of it through the tap in his neck to enhance his manabody. The creature¡¯s advance paused and a wicked gleam flashed in its eyes. As quickly as it appeared and lunged, its arm regenerated and it leaped backward toward the fog, exploding into ephemeral mana.

    Jiran ducked as the third and final tier seven erupted from the vaporous smoke to his right. It crossed the ten meters between him and the fog in a fraction of a heartbeat. If not for his beefed-up aura slowing it down, its extended claws would have done more than scrape across the graphene-reinforced sleeve of his upraised arm. His bones creaked in protest as skin and muscles were brutalized. Jiran dropped to one knee, pain flooding his senses. His eyes flashed and a feral grin crept across his face.

    Having seen the creature circling him from the very start, he was long since prepared. The trap set by three minds working in unison erupted around him. Six balls of highly condensed metal released thick spikes that shot upward. They speared through the beast from every direction, easily penetrating its body and slamming its momentum to a halt right above Jiran. The beast screeched and convulsed as its incredible regeneration was unable to heal while the spikes were still inside of it. Each one released a dozen more smaller spears of metal that shot through it, exploding from its skin in a gory mess. Thick, smokey blood rained down on him as he blasted from his crouch. A blade of mana extended from his uninjured arm and slid through its neck, bringing its health to zero.

    [Rapacious Murker: (Tier 7) (0/64,329) Highly intelligent stalking predator]

    The murker¡¯s head rolled when it hit the ground. With its death, its mana was free for the taking and Jiran quickly refilled his reserves, healing his arm in the process. The impure beast mana flooded his body, causing him to grimace. His own mana quickly dominated the energy then expelled the impurities through his skin, coating him in vile, stinking filth. The first beast was back, hovering at the edge of Jiran¡¯s aura. It no longer flitted about in anticipation of the kill. He could feel it gazing at him warily, despite the creature not having any eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t like it when your ambush fails? Screw you, creepy-ass ghost wannabe,¡± Jiran grumbled as he advanced on the creature, prepared to rip it from the fog once more.

    When foresight began to blare a warning, he stopped instantly. He tried to cue into the warning and decipher it as he had done with Lulu but the attempt yielded no insight. Not wanting to tempt fate, he backed away from the beast, watching every direction with Mana Omnis. The second he moved away, the warning stopped. With a shrug, Jiran wrapped his aura around the headless corpse. When he tried to pick it up and found it stuck fast, he frowned before putting more effort into lifting it. His feet sunk slightly into the ground once he was supporting the creature''s weight, which caused his brows to rise. With a begrudging nod of respect toward the powerful monster, he turned to leave the foggy forest.

    Three chakrams of Elemental Castigation whirled around him, daring the last beast to lunge at his back. Jiran¡¯s steps faltered as the expected edge of the forest was nowhere to be found. He looked in every direction, finding none of the forest around him to be what his memory claimed it should be. The damage his attacks had done was gone. The spindly, sickly trees had been replaced with new, completely different versions of themselves. Even the slant of the ground was different.

    So whatever this fog is was screwing with me before. It can clearly still manipulate what¡¯s inside it even when my aura is pushing it back.

    He caught sight of another beast zipping its way toward him through the fog and his skin prickled. An alien jolt of panic tried to worm its way into his brain, bringing with it terrifying visions of being lost, surrounded, and overwhelmed. His Remalonian Constitution went to work on the invasive emotional attack, crushing it into dust before it could spread through his body and freeze his muscles.

    ¡°Seriously? No wonder they call it the Land of the Lost,¡± His voice echoed dully back to him. With a shrug, he leaped up, intending to fly straight up and out of the forest. He was immediately surrounded by fog on all sides and foresight once more began to sound an alarm that promised death was closing in. Jiran fell back to the ground, realizing he had only flown a few meters up even though he swore it had been dozens. He was on high alert, his arms up as he crouched defensively, wracking his brain for a solution to escape a forest that could manipulate not only its entire layout, but also his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this shrelkshit. Oh, would that work?¡±

    Jiran pulled up the map in his interface and zoomed in on his position, quickly finding the forest''s edge only a few feet away to his left. With the corpse in tow, he confidently marched toward what looked like nothing more than deep, dark, murky woods. A moment later, he emerged into the early morning light, First Mother not yet gracing the sky with her appearance.

    The second he was free of the fog, two balls of challenger density slammed into his back, causing him to gasp. His mouth fell open and his eyes wanted to roll up in his head but he growled, spinning around to face the forest. The two beasts were still there, watching. Not wanting to assume they would stay in the trees as before, Jiran continued pushing against the nearby fog, holding it and the murkers at bay. Without Oneness, the sensations from the challenger density were nearly overwhelming but Jiran never took his eyes from the clumps of mana still stalking him.

    When the pleasure passed and he could think once more, he flew into the air, cleaning himself off with a high-powered stream of water while checking his status. The flashing notifications did little to distract him from the desire to rush back into the fog and devour the delicious clumps of density that taunted him.

    Mana Confluence: + 1

    Elemental Castigation: + 2

    Mana Omnis: + 1

    Enthralling Touch: + 3

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    STRENGTH: + 3.7

    AGILITY: + 3.3

    ENDURANCE : + 3.9

    DURABILITY: + 3.8

    WISDOM: + 4.4

    INTELLIGENCE: + 3.9

    Challenger timer reset: + 8 hours

    NAME: Jiran of Madra

    RACE: Remalon

    AGE: 0

    WEIGHT: 3296 kg > 3299 kg

    ACCLAMATIONS: Remalonian Constitution / Scion of Mana

    TIMER: 127:57:42

    TIER: 4

    EXP: 200/200

    GROWTH: 6 % > 7.8 %

    MANA: 54

    CONCENTRATION: 18

    STRENGTH: 196.6 > 200.3

    AGILITY: 196.6 > 199.9

    ENDURANCE : 196.6 > 200.5

    DURABILITY: 196.6 > 200.4

    WISDOM: 196.6 > 201

    INTELLIGENCE: 196.6 > 200.5

    CHARISMA: 65 > 72

    SKILLS:

    Mana Confluence: 72 > 78

    Elemental Castigation: 45 > 47

    Mana Omnis: 13 > 21

    Enthralling Touch: 15 > 30

    Identify: 17 > 18

    OTHER:

    Adaptive Translator

    Affinity System

    Designation: Keynote Prime

    Interface Map

    Intermediary User Interface

    Party System

    Sanctuary 100%

    UNIQUE: Foresight

    Haven¡¯t made much progress with my attributes lately. At least my skills are leveling well. I should be able to progress quickly now that I¡¯ve confirmed a hunting ground for tier sevens. And this forest is more interesting than I thought, it''s almost like one massive aura. The murkers didn¡¯t use any aura, so maybe they pool it together collectively into this fog. How would that even work though? Maybe it¡¯s something else entirely.

    At least they didn¡¯t use any mana attacks like the Graymin Enforcers. They weren¡¯t very durable either, sixty thousand is nearly half the health of a regular tier seven. But they¡¯re even faster than those annoying teleporting slayers and their claws would have cut right through me if not for my armor. Fast, ambush predators that rely on confusion and nearly instant attacks from close range.

    As Jiran analyzed the encounter, the two murkers'' unwavering gazes watched him from the safety of the fog. Their previous gleeful anticipation returned when another four joined them. The six of them bounced through the trees, eagerly awaiting his return.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll play again real soon. You¡¯re not going to enjoy our second meeting nearly as much as you did this one,¡± Jiran promised while fingering the rents in his sleeve.

    Armor held up well but I¡¯ll definitely be adding a few more layers before I come back.

    Jiran pushed against the framework with his aura, quickly racing back toward the Timberlings valley. He wasn¡¯t spurred forward due to worry about Mayalyn and Niya. He was more than confident they could handle any Forkara that came, or at least run and hide.

    How will the Forkara respond when they learn of their captured scions? How will the Timberlings react to my summons? What if their prophecy really is about me? Will I end up enslaving them in some way? Questions tumbled about in Jiran¡¯s mind, all a distraction from the aching desire to turn around and kill more beasts.

    He discovered Chokkra long before reaching the valley and swept the boy up in his aura. Chokkra¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the smoking corpse being dragged through the air behind them. ¡°You¡¯re alive! You really did it! I-is¡­ that?¡±

    ¡°Yup, they¡¯re called Rapacious Murkers. Tricky bastards.¡± Jiran muttered.

    ¡°How did you kill it? What happened in there?¡± Chokkra asked excitedly, fixated on Jiran¡¯s mouth as he waited impatiently for a response.

    ¡°As if I¡¯d tell you. No, that knowledge is a bargaining chip I won¡¯t be selling cheaply.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah. Sorry, I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡±

    Jiran redoubled their speed, leaving Chokkra groaning and unable to speak further. Twenty minutes later, the crater housing the Forest of Melodies appeared on the horizon. There were no trails of smoke snaking into the air or armies of furious Forkara come to smite him for his arrogance. The skies were beautiful as First Mother made her appearance, soaking the clouds in violet radiance.

    The sphere containing the Forkara was still holding strong, crackling with energy when he landed. Mayalyn sat nearby, only her clothes visible as her Obfuscating hid her from view. Jiran tracked her with Mana Omnis as she hopped to her feet and padded over to him, ¡°That was quick. It appears you were successful?¡± She asked, popping into view and momentarily taking his breath away with a brilliant smile.

    ¡°Yup, tier sevens all right. Pretty close by, too. Their forest was a decent size and I saw eight of them in the few minutes I was there. Looks like I¡¯ll have plenty for my¡­ needs.¡± Jiran gently pushed the eavesdropping Chokkra away and then blocked him from the rest of the conversation.

    ¡°That is good. Niya returned to check on me while you were away. She is very sweet, even if she pretends otherwise,¡± Mayalyn¡¯s finger traced her lower lip as she adopted an adorable, thoughtful expression. The sight sent Jiran¡¯s heart racing and he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the fuzzy clouds stuffing their way into his thoughts, banishing the last of the emotions from the challenger density. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him, ¡°Jiiiiiiran,¡± She growled in warning.

    He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck with a chuckle, ¡°Ahh, yeah, so, uhh, nice weather, huh?¡± She smacked his arm playfully. Seeing as she wasn¡¯t actually mad, he cracked a smile and winked, ¡°What did you expect? You were already the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever met and now that you¡¯re off limits, you¡¯re suddenly six times more attractive.¡±

    She preened at the compliment, only to turn away a moment later, ¡°Thank you, but this is much harder for me than it is for you, trust me. My instincts are screaming to rip off your clothes and pin you to the ground,¡± She practically growled at him while flexing her claws. Her gaze snapped to the side as she fixed her slitted pupils on several distant figures, ¡°Ahh, a perfectly timed distraction.¡±

    He followed her eyes to see a group of twelve Timberlings advance out of the forest. As expected, every one of them was tier three. Nine were young men. With how unfamiliar he was with their race, it was hard to tell, but they looked like teenagers. The cut of their jaws, the silver shade of their hair, their height, and even build were identical enough that the only way to tell them apart was the branches growing from their skin.

    The boys followed behind three women who advanced with steady, fluid steps that spoke of long dedication to martial prowess. Much like the Matron, their pale skin was covered in thick layers of hardened bark. Every one of them held a spear, tips facing the sky. They marched purposefully toward Jiran, their chins held high and challenge ablaze in their eyes.

    The leader strode right up to him, looking him up and down with interest. Her skin was cracked and gnarled, showing the thick bark that grew just beneath the surface. She sang, her voice clear and deep, ¡°Hail, Great Spirit of the pond. My name is Frigoniaparuala, Matron of Conflict, and I have come to correspond. You would enslave us,¡± She shook her head sharply and the tip of her spear whistled to the side as she swept into a crouched ready stance, ¡°That will not happen before you best us,¡± She finished her rhyme, drawing out the last word into a hiss that pulled back her lips in a soft snarl.

    ¡°Greetings, Frigoniaparuala. My name is Jiran, not Great Spirit. And I¡¯ve no intention of enslaving anyone. We came here for a purpose that has nothing to do with your people or the hives. Before we get to that, though, we need to talk about the hives. They¡¯ve been actively protecting your valley from invading beasts,¡± he waved his hand, indicating the couple hundred caged Forkara.

    Frigoniaparuala didn¡¯t take her softly glowing, golden eyes off him for a second. A feral grin split her face and the grip on her spear tightened, releasing a groaning creak into the air, ¡°Don''t tell me the Great Spirit is a coward, that is not what I heard. Give me the fight I desire, sate my heartwood that blazes with fire. If you defeat me, I will support you, and if you manage to take my life, my second will stand beside you as your knife.¡±

    Before Jiran could respond, Mayalyn¡¯s splayed fingers landed on his chest. She stepped between him and the Matron of Conflict, matching the woman¡¯s bloodlust and grin, ¡°A perfectly timed distraction indeed,¡± She purred, her ears and tail twitching in anticipation.

 Chapter 153 - A Knife To End A Life

    "Your song is erratic, yet I feel your desire and it makes my heartwood ecstatic. Your challenge, I accept, my word shall be kept!" Frigoniaparuala launched herself at Mayalyn, not giving Jiran time to translate. As her extended spear clashed against sharp claws, the Matron of Conflict¡¯s expression turned to complete shock. She took three stumbling steps back, her spear vibrating from the power behind Mayalyn¡¯s casual swipe. Jiran¡¯s eyes narrowed as Mayalyn bent her knees, moving at less than half the speed and power he knew she could exert.

    Mayalyn lunged after the Matron of Conflict, the air groaning in protest as rapid strikes rained down on the woman, one after another. She ducked and weaved, twirling her spear so quickly that the tough, mana-imbued wood bowed before snapping forward with each swing. In only a few short seconds, the weapon connected with Mayalyn¡¯s claws a dozen times, each resulting in a sharp crack that rang across the clearing. Their feet kicked up dirt as they dashed around one another, each seeking an advantage and finding none.

    Chokkra whistled appreciatively at the display, his brows rising higher with each clash. The other Forkara had gone silent, watching with keen interest and bated breath as their torturer was put to the test.

    Mayalyn¡¯s not using her enhancing. And she''s matched her speed to the Matron''s. Guess she wants to test her martial ability against someone who¡¯s clearly an expert. I''m glad she''s enjoying herself at least.

    Both women wore matching, confident smiles as they continued to trade blows. The Matron was no longer being thrown back with each attack as Mayalyn found the correct level of strength to use against her. On the contrary, the older woman was now chasing Mayalyn around, her movements flowing with practiced ease. Each of her blows was perfectly balanced and led directly into a follow-up, counter, or defensive twirl. It was clear she would come out on top eventually if nothing changed.

    Despite her clearly superior skill, she couldn''t land a single hit. Mayalyn¡¯s grasp on the weapon¡¯s trajectory and how to move her body out of the way at the last second bordered on the supernatural. The tip of the deadly spear was never far from marring her skin as she flipped, spun, and ducked. Certainly, having perception a tier higher than her opponent was a huge factor, but with less than half of her usual speed, it was still impressive she managed to evade every one of the Matron¡¯s complex and perfectly executed attacks.

    Frigoniaparuala extended her spear, transitioning to a one-handed grip for extra range. Mayalyn folded into a backward handspring and the blade passed a centimeter away from cutting her stomach and chest. Her hands sank into the soil and her legs thrashed out in a kick at the matron¡¯s extended arm. Frigoniaparuala was already shifting to the side before Mayalyn¡¯s foot lashed out, she spun, her spear whipping around in a tight circle before the point was thrust toward where Mayalyn would be when she came out of her acrobatic evasion.

    Blood was finally drawn as the tip pierced Mayalyn¡¯s shoulder. She howled, the tight control on her strength and speed slipping for a fraction of a second. Her fist flashed forward in an instinctive retaliation, crushing the spear to the side and smashing into the Matron¡¯s extended arm. The lower-tier woman was thrown through the air, spinning chaotically until she crashed into the ground.

    Two of the Forkara hunters cheered at Mayalyn¡¯s success before they were smacked upside their heads by their fellow captives. Seeing Mayalyn unmoving and breathing heavily, Jiran approached until he was close enough to send a wisp of his mana into her arm and heal it. She clicked her tongue, wearing a scowl that was directed at the ground. ¡°I lost, tell her,¡± She mumbled.

    ¡°It was a good fight, I¡¯m glad you had some fun. I¡¯ll let her know,¡± Jiran nodded and made his way to the fallen woman who was unsteadily rising to her feet, nursing a broken arm that was bent backward at the elbow. Her teeth were clenched and her gaze unsteady as she tilted dizzily. Jiran¡¯s mana flowed into her, snapping the arm back into place in one smooth jerk before regenerating the damaged bark and inner layers. She gasped, standing upright as her eyes focused on first him, then Mayalyn. ¡°Mayalyn admits defeat.¡±

    Since his mana was already in her, he blocked her rhyming skill from activating as she opened her mouth to sing, ¡°To think she was holding back so much just to test herself,¡± The Matron of Conflict leveled her spear at Jiran. A wild, fanatical smile spread across her face as she shook with uncontrollable excitement, ¡°Since your disciple has failed, I have earned the right to challenge you directly!¡±

    ¡°Seriously? Is fighting all you care about? We need to talk about the defenses of the valley¡­¡± When the glimmer in her eyes only intensified, Jiran gave up on any chance of a real conversation with the battle junky, ¡°Fine, I hope you¡¯re not expecting me to hold back like Mayalyn did.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes! That is how it should be! Fight me with your full power, bond your strength into my memory!¡± She threw her head back and cackled. Her body shook with unbridled desire. The emotions caused blossoming buds to bloom before they quickly fell, sending a torrent of crimson leaves falling from her. She crouched and lunged, her spear extended toward his heart. As suddenly as she lunged, she slammed face-first into the ground when Jiran¡¯s aura crushed her downward. He didn''t stop applying pressure until she was buried a meter into the soil.

    Mana Omnis confirmed she was only unconscious, if a bit bruised. He turned back to see Mayalyn giving him a ¡®really?¡¯ look and he shrugged, ¡°She practically begged me not to go easy on her. I wouldn¡¯t mind sparring once she calms down a bit. The way she was looking at me¡­¡± Jiran shivered, ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe I¡¯m just weak against crazy types. She reminded me of Markhiss. Hmm, guess you haven¡¯t met him, lucky you.¡±

    Mayalyn¡¯s only response was a huff blown from her nose. Her gaze moved back to the matron-shaped hole in the ground. Jiran could tell she was still lost in thoughts about her failed bout so he left her alone, his attention caught by a short, skinny Timberling. The woman was one of the duo that had accompanied the Matron of Conflict. She rushed toward him with a complicated expression and bowed, her hands cupped at her navel as if holding water. The silver-haired Timberling with large eyes sang in a soft, gentle voice, ¡°Is it true the matron is alive? How could she possibly survive?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯ll be awake in a few minutes. Despite her wish, I went easy on her.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for sparing her! You are most gracious, and your powers are truly efficacious,¡± The short woman gushed, leaning toward him with stars in her eyes. Mayalyn grunted, rolled her eyes, and then plopped down next to the Matron¡¯s hole to meditate.

    Jiran carefully observed the Timberling. His eyes were instantly drawn to the well-used hilt of a knife at her waste. She wore an easy smile, her earlier concern for her Matron dispelled.. Her eyes were so bright-blue as to appear almost white. The mana in her body and unformed aura danced excitedly with every movement she made, giving him the impression she had an expressive, carefree personality.

    She seems nice. Unlike her Matron. Lulu said there were twelve sects and each is led by a Matron. If all of them are this crazy¡­ Yeah that¡¯s way more than I¡¯m willing to put up with. Is this the woman the Matron mentioned, her second in command? She¡¯s got the knife at least. Maybe she can help.

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    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Jiran asked with a friendly smile.

    ¡°This one is known as Tomaralareene, which means ''to be left between''. Like a knife, wedged and left deep, thirsting to end a life.¡± With a bright smile and blooming leaves adorning her brow, she clasped her hands together before her chest and blinked up at him through her lashes, ¡°Great Spirit, would you spare me a hiver for my first task? Just one is all I ask. One kill, to sate our thirst, and in their blood bask.¡±

    And it¡¯s gone. Seriously running out of patience with these crazy tree people. Are they all this bad or just the ones I keep meeting?

    "No," Jiran responded dryly, "No, you cannot kill any of the Forkara. Until we decide what to do with the lot of them, they''re my prisoners and they won''t be getting murdered to appease your¡­ knife." Rubbing his temples, he watched the short woman lick her lips while staring longingly at the prisoners. "Hey, Knife, can I call you Knife? These Forkara were both hunting your people and guarding the valley from encroaching beasts. We need to get some scouts out to guard the walls. Is that something you can handle?¡±

    "Please name me Knife. I love it! This name I will covet! Should we not leave the scouting to the Sect of Hunting, their efforts unending as the beast¡¯s fangs they are blunting?¡±

    Jiran¡¯s eye twitched before his mana coiled inside her, wrapping around her skill. She gasped and faltered, clutching at her chest until her breathing calmed. Seeing her recovered, Jiran tried again, ¡°The Forkara were stopping almost all the beasts from entering the valley.Now that they¡¯re gone, your hunters will have to deal with several dozen new beasts every day and some of them will be many times stronger than anything you¡¯ve had to face before. Expecting the sect of hunting to handle it alone is probably too much.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, I see. That is much worse than I thought. I will tell my people to assist the hunters,¡± She ran to the other woman in her sect who then sang a sharp order at the dozen young men. Together, they dashed from the open field and into the woods. Knife then sprinted back to Jiran and stood before him with her hands behind her back. ¡°Your song has been sung.¡±

    ¡°Uh, thanks,¡± When she simply stood there looking up at him expectantly for several seconds, Jiran sighed, ¡°Was there something else?¡±

    ¡°No, I am merely awaiting your next song, Great Spirit.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all I wanted, you can go. I really don¡¯t need anything else.¡±

    ¡°I will stay. If my presence offends you, I will accept death as punishment. Though, I would ask you to leave my heartwood intact so I may transcend.¡±

    ¡°What?! I¡¯m not going to kill you.¡±

    Knife wiped a leaf from her brow that had stuck to a bead of sweat, ¡°Whew, that¡¯s a relief. If you change your mind, you can use my knife.¡±

    ¡°Why would I¡­ You know what, nevermind. Definitely going to go through Lulu." Jiran mumbled and rubbed his temples, contemplating flying to get away from the insane woman.

    "You named another? I was not the first?" Something in her tone set off alarm bells in Jiran¡¯s skull, it could have also been the way she started fingering the hilt of her knife while running her tongue over her teeth.

    "Absolutely no hurting Lulu, she¡¯s my guide and under my protection, understood?"

    Knife kicked the dirt, her expression turning glum, "I understand, Great Spirit."

    "Can you at least call me Jiran?"

    "No, you named me, and I have named you," her matter-of-fact tone left no room for negotiation. Jiran sighed again, begging Mayalyn for help with his eyes but she merely laughed at him and returned to her meditations. Knife pointed toward a group of three nearly identical women standing just inside the coverage of the forest, "Ahh, the Matron of Cleansing has arrived."

    The three distant Timberlings locked eyes with Jiran for a moment before putting their heads together in a hushed whisper. One of them fearfully pointed out the cage full of Forkara and they immediately scampered deeper into the cover of the forest, peeking from behind tree trunks.

    Jiran lifted his chin in their direction, speaking quietly to Knife, "They seem a bit skittish.¡±

    "Yes, they rely on us of conflict and those of hunting to clear regions of the forest before performing their acts of cleansing. They are trained to flee from danger as that is not their path. The Matron of Cleansing is showing great bravery by staying so close to the hive hunters. She must be taking courage from your presence,¡± Knife¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw that Chokkra was wandering in their direction, ¡°What about this one who is running free, surely you would let me stab him. Only a few times? He will not die, I promise! Probably¡­"

    Chokkra stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the way the short woman was looking at him. It didn¡¯t take a genius to understand the intent behind the madness in her eyes. He sprang into the air, wisely putting some distance between them. Jiran¡¯s aura snatched the knife from her belt and it zipped into his hand. ¡°No! no stabbing! You can have this back when you decide to behave,¡± Her jaw dropped and a moment later, she deflated, shoulders drooping and face morphing into that of a kicked pet. Jiran ignored her dramatic antics and pushed the conversation toward his next question, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to mind the Forkara. I assumed all of your people would be terrified of them.¡±

    Knife shook her head sadly, ¡°I am of conflict, we live only to fight the hive. I have killed several of them with my knife,¡± She eyed the weapon clutched in Jiran¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Lulu said none had ever managed to kill one before, or at least there were no bodies to prove it.¡±

    Knife nodded, ¡°We always leave the bodies in the open. Their far more powerful leaders come to collect them. They will kill a thousand to retrieve a single corpse. The leaders are truly unstoppable. Only their saplings have we managed to slay, never a leader.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense, the tier four, and especially tier five Forkara would be impossible to stop if you¡¯re all tier three.¡±

    ¡°What are these tiers? Some kind of power? Is that the gift the prophecy mentioned you would bring? I never believed any of their nonsense before I met you. Their anticipation of your arrival makes much more sense to me now. I almost wish I had chosen the Sect of Belief so I could understand why merely standing beside you is so¡­ intoxicating.¡±

    Intoxicating? Is that because of my charisma attribute? Hmm, does that explain some of their strange behavior around me? Is it a more powerful effect on lower tiers? Now that I think about it, the soldiers in Mortan and Lordstone were acting a bit weird around me, too.

    Jiran coughed into his hand and changed the subject, ¡°So each sect has a distinct name and purpose? Conflict, hunting, and belief I can guess at. What does the Sect of Cleansing do?"

    Knife¡¯s gaze never wavered from the weapon in Jiran¡¯s hand as she answered absentmindedly, "The transcended become clogged if they are not fully drained on occasion. The Sect of Cleansing relieves them of blockages and ensures proper growth can continue. They have other duties, though none so important. The transcended are the lifesap of our people, afterall."

    "Oh, so they suck out all the-yeah got it, okay cleansing. What about the other sects? Think they''ll all show up?¡±

    ¡°I expected the sects of betterment, raising, creation, and cleansing to be the only ones who would refuse your summons. Since one of them is here already, it is possible all will come. The others would not miss a chance to witness such monumental events unfold.¡±

    The Matron of Belief chose that moment to exit the forest with a group of nearly a hundred young men and adult women behind her. Jiran suppressed the growl that wanted to emerge from his throat upon seeing the woman again. The entire group kneeled submissively and began to hum, none daring to approach him.

    Jiran ran his eyes over each one, a frown growing on his face, ¡°Where are the men? All I¡¯ve seen of your adults are women.¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Great Spirit. Your words confuse me greatly. You said: ¡®Where are the adults? All you¡¯ve seen of our adults are adults?¡¯ I do not understand.¡±

    ¡°No, not adults, men. Where are the men?¡±

    Knife shook her head, her face scrunched so intensely her eyes closed, ¡°¡®Not adults, adults. Where are the adults?¡¯ What are you trying to say?¡±

    ¡°Wait, adults, men, and women all have the same meaning in your language?¡±

    ¡°You are repeating yourself!¡± Realizing she snapped at him, Knife took a step back with wide eyes, ¡°I-I am sorry, I cannot underst¡ª¡± She was cut off as a group of nearly fifty silver-haired women stepped up to the forest''s edge. They each held a drawn bow. One of them released a sharp, trilling cry, and as one, they released a wave of arrows at the caged Forkara.

 Chapter 154 - Calm Before The Choice

    The Timberlings'' bows were made of wood from their own bodies¡ªtough, density-reinforced bark that could easily match the strength of a tier three human''s bones. It took all their power to draw the weapons, and once released, created rippling shockwaves that knocked leaves from both themselves and the nearby trees. The arrows flew so fast that there was no arc to their trajectories. The grass was flattened in their wake. Seen from the air, it would have looked like fifty lines were drawn across the empty land, all leading toward a single point: The cage.

    Jiran crouched and the mana suffusing his body flowed with the ease of drawing a breath. He punched, his fist aimed just to the side of the Forkara''s prison. Intricately controlled energies exploded outward and were converted by Elemental Castigation into a frozen wall that expanded across the short distance in the single beat of a heart. The arrows shattered against the wall with powerful thuds.

    Jiran leaped into the air, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the force of his mana-imbued jump. The Timberling hunters saw him coming. Fear was written across their faces as he swooped into the center of their formation. Their bows were wrapped in his aura and torn from their grasp to fall at his feet. Several refused to let go of their weapons and ended up being ripped through the air to fall into the pile with them, only to be instantly flattened into the ground.

    A dozen were so shocked by the sudden appearance of the massive wall of ice they couldn''t tear their eyes from it. Several more stared at their hands blankly, trying to understand why their weapons were no longer there. The rest charged him. Five stopped well short of him, humming in unison as skills activated. Before the breath could leave their lungs, Jiran ripped the mana from them with Enthralling Touch. They collapsed on the ground, convulsions wracking their bodies.

    Mayalyn appeared at his side in a flash, a trail of arcing currents stretched behind her. The final ten converged on him, only for Mayalyn to dash between them at blinding speeds. Each one she touched, lit up with a powerful charge before falling to the ground. Jiran watched her every move, his perception high enough to easily keep track of her. She was already putting what she learned from her recent loss into action. Her steps were less chaotic and instinctive, more measured and precise. The strength of her blows perfectly regulated not to kill, merely incapacitate.

    Screaming nearby caused him to look over his shoulder at the Matron of Belief who was running toward them with tears streaming down her face. She drew a deep breath, prepared to scream and he nearly ripped the mana from her before he realized she wasn¡¯t looking at him, but at the women around him.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Her scream rippled through the air, shaking the trees and kicking dust and fallen leaves from the ground. ¡°How dare you strike at the Great Spirit, your actions incoherent! The next of you who so much as twitches, I will see you dig your own ditches! Paraalieaan, have you lost your senses? Come here this instant and face the punishment for your offenses.¡±

    Having had enough of the rhyming, Jiran¡¯s mana snaked into her heartwood and wrapped around her skill. He did the same for the other woman who begrudgingly turned away from staring blankly at his wall of ice. Both paused, a shudder working its way through them before they reached him.

    The Matron of Belief fell to the ground, her forehead touching the dirt as she cupped her hands above her head, ¡°Great Spirit! I beg your forgiveness! Please only punish this foolish stump who led them here.¡±

    ¡°Why should I be punished?!" The other woman, Paraalieaan, fumed. Her hand chopped to the side while the other was pressed to her chest, ¡°The hivers are before us, why do they yet live? And who are you calling a stump, you ancient, gnarled twig!¡±

    Jiran nearly lost his composure and burst into laughter. Instead, he took a menacing step toward the indignant woman, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should have asked that question before you attacked?¡± He let his mana imbue his voice, rather than holding it back as he usually did since becoming a Remalon. The woman jerked away from him, her eyes shooting open in sudden terror while the Matron at his feet trembled so fiercely that her leaves fell in droves.

    Charisma: + 1

    Jiran desperately wanted to roll his eyes but gazed unerringly at Paraalieaan instead, ¡°You put your entire group in danger by attacking without thinking. What if I had chosen to kill you all for the insult? There are people in this world who would kill you all without a moment''s hesitation. Anything to say for yourself? Or should I let her make an example of you by transcending you after she makes you dig your own ditch?¡±

    Knowing Jiran wasn¡¯t even the slightest bit angry and only trying to help them, Mayalyn released a barked laugh that Paraalieaan mistook as another threat, ¡°I-I-I was only doing what I thought was best. I-I am sorry, Great Spirit, I did not know you were protecting them.¡± She took a step away from him, casting about to both sides in search of something that could save her.

    Hearing the sincerity in her tone, Jiran let his supposed anger wash away, ¡°Apology accepted. Since no one was actually hurt, we can let this slide. But you need to be aware that there are beings of incredible power out there who must never be crossed, and you won¡¯t always know them when you see them. You are weak, so be more cautious. Now, I take it you¡¯re not the Matron of your sect?¡±

    ¡°Uhm, no, Great Spirit. I am merely a huntstress in command of these few. We are tasked with protecting the cleansers. D-do you truly forgive me?¡± She cringed, dreading his response.

    ¡°Yup, you¡¯re fine. Next time you see something that doesn¡¯t make sense, consider asking why before you shoot it, hmm?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Of course. Thank you for your wisdom and leniency!¡± She bowed, her back straight and her hands on her knees.

    Knife arrived as the woman was standing up, her chest heaving from the sprint. Jiran''s mana coiled around her skill as soon as she was within range. She didn''t so much as blink at the intrusion, instead racing right up to grab Mayalyn¡¯s hands and locked eyes with her, ¡°Would you spar with me, too?! You learned so quickly, your steps were amazing! I want to see them again, please?¡±

    Feeling the exuberant woman¡¯s emotions, Mayalyn blushed while shooting Jiran a pleading look. He translated Knife¡¯s words and Mayalyn nodded excitedly, ¡°Certainly, I am eager to learn. Jiran¡¯s style is not suited for my shorter legs, I realize that now.¡±

    After Jiran told Knife what Mayalyn said, the diminutive woman jumped in a circle while her fist pumped the air, "Yah!¡± When she landed, she held out her hand to Jiran while turning a menacing grin on Paraalieaan, ¡°First, this snag must learn. Great Spirit! My knife, if you would return it, I will carve this lesson into her bark so she may never forget her place again."

    Jiran looked down at the short blade still clutched in his hand, the bark hilt so smooth and comfortable in his grip that he had forgotten it was there. He ignored Knife''s request, directing another question at Paraalieaan, ¡°You¡¯re from the Sect of Hunting?¡± Jiran guessed.

    ¡°Yes, Great Spirit,¡± She nodded while looking warily between Knife and the weapon in his hand. Unsurprisingly, the Matron of Belief had yet to rise from her knelt position. Jiran put her from his thoughts, not wanting anything to do with the woman if he could help it.

    "Great. Knife, can you take these hunters and have them join the scouts? Make sure to explain what''s happening and how dangerous some of the beasts might be. I don¡¯t want you fighting anything you¡¯re not familiar with. Mayalyn and I can deal with them easily, so come get one of us. I better not hear about anyone dying because they tried to fight an unknown beast, understood?" His voice hardened at the end, his eyes blazing green as he dialed up Mana Omnis to full power, carefully watching the mana swirl inside of them.

    "Yes, Great Spirit!" Knife complied instantly, her mana showing no indication of falsehood, ¡°Pretty blue flower, we will have to postpone our bout until I return,¡± She waved at Mayalyn and then grabbed Paraalieaan by the arm, dragging her away.

    ¡°Dangerous¡­ beasts? I do not understand. Why would they come for us?¡± The huntstress gasped and jumped to the wrong conclusion. ¡°Are they seeking the Great Spirit¡¯s death?!¡± Knife nodded gravely and covered a laugh with her hand when the huntstress wasn¡¯t looking. When she noticed Jiran narrowing his eyes at her, she shot him a wink.

    Why is Knife misleading her?

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    ¡°Knife!¡± Jiran called and she stopped in her tracks, her back stiffening as she woodenly turned back toward him with a nervous smile. Jiran shook his head with a sigh and tossed her weapon to her. Knife nimbly snatched it from the air and placed it back into its sheath in a single smooth motion. When he didn¡¯t say anything that might ruin her prank, she flashed him a brilliant smile before pulling on the woman¡¯s arm once more.

    ¡°Off your knickers, you lazy leaf lickers! Be overjoyed that the Great Spirit has spared your worthless bark, now we must embark on a most honorable mission that will earn us great recognition!¡± Jiran tuned her out when she got far enough away that his mana could no longer block her rhyming.

    He reached out and took Mayalyn¡¯s hand, guiding her back toward the wall of ice. The hunters scrambled behind them, retrieving their bows and following Knife deeper into the woods. Mayalyn squeezed his hand, meeting his eyes as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, ¡°You did not translate her last words, what did she say?¡±

    ¡°She called you a pretty blue flower and said she would train with you when she got back,¡± Jiran smirked.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Mayalyn¡¯s earlier blush came back full force as she shot a quick glance over her shoulder.

    ¡°Must be nice knowing their emotions, I don¡¯t understand these Timberlings at all. They seem all over the place,¡± Jiran remarked.

    ¡°You are doing great. If you could feel how overjoyed your presence makes them, you would not be so bothered. I can feel your dislike for the way they call you Great Spirit, but it is merely their belief based on many years of indoctrination. Eventually, they will come to see you as Jiran and not a mythical figure.¡±

    ¡°I hope so. Olive and Cameron said that the higher tier I get, the more responsibilities will come my way. Somehow, I don¡¯t think this is what they had in mind. I kind of understand where the Timberlings are coming from. They¡¯re a people stuck at the third tier with no access to the system or knowledge of anything beyond their valley. Anyone with an aura would seem like a deity. Just like we can¡¯t help but think of the emperors as deities. Maybe I¡¯ll help a few of them ascend, that might snap them out of it.¡±

    ¡°That is a marvelous idea!¡± Mayalyn clapped her hands excitedly, ¡°They will need to learn to defend themselves or they will lose more to beasts than they did from the Forkara.¡±

    ¡°And they would make for better sparring partners?¡± Jiran questioned suggestively.

    Mayalyn looked to the side innocently, ¡°Perhaps¡­¡±

    Jiran laughed, squeezing her hand affectionately, ¡°The more the better. The stronger you get, the easier I¡¯ll sleep.¡±

    After seeing her ¡®wrestle,¡¯ with her sister, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised she¡¯s been itching for something a bit more intense when it comes to training.

    They arrived at the wall and Jiran flew into the air. Elemental Castigation converted his mana into more ice that he used to create a complete dome fifty meters tall around the Forkara. When he was done ensuring there wouldn¡¯t be any more attempts on their lives, he landed next to Mayalyn.

    ¡°I saw how you incorporated some of that Matron¡¯s moves already, want to show me?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Her footwork is far better than yours and fits my frame and size much better than the steps you showed me,¡± She hopped up and settled into a stance similar to the Matron¡¯s, ¡±This one went like this and then like this,¡± She explained excitedly while dancing through a complex series of lunges. Jiran laughed with a huge smile, so happy to see her enjoying herself that the feelings bubbled out without thought. She stopped and grinned at him, overjoyed to feel that she brought him such happiness.

    ¡°You know, I could probably work something out with my aura or mana so we could¡­¡±

    Mayalyn narrowed her eyes and planted her hands on her hips, ¡°Can you guarantee that in the heat of the moment, when I am begging you to release it, that you would be able to maintain your focus? No? I did not think so. It is only a single moon, we will be fine.¡±

    For the next two hours, Jiran¡¯s aura blocked out the world around them. He watched her every move and gave his opinion on anything he thought she could improve on. It was a constant struggle to keep his emotions unaffected by the thoughts of how attractive she was. When he considered it as merely another form of mental training, he managed to apply himself and succeed, barely.

    Niya tapped on his aura with her own, making him realize how quickly time had passed. He let her in and she landed with Lulu at her side. The Timberling''s eyes dropped to the ground and stayed there as she demurely followed behind Niya. A group of four matrons were pushed out of Niya¡¯s aura and left standing on the grass, after looking at him, pointing, and whispering, they turned to join the rest of their kind at the forest¡¯s edge.

    ¡°How did it go?¡± Jiran stood up and walked toward the several hundred Timberlings who had gathered, making sure to politely move at a speed Lulu could match.

    Niya matched his pace, waving her arms animatedly. ¡°It was awesome! You should have seen our little Lulu. She was so timid at the first Matron that I had to use my aura to convince them to play nice. Then, something changed and she got right in their faces after that. Yelling and singing, not letting them get a word in as she bossed them around. They¡¯re such interesting people, you should see some of the tools they use. Oh, and there are no men! Not one! Can you believe that? Lots of boys though,¡± Niya wore a carefree smile, appearing happier than Jiran had seen her since they were kids, ¡°What about you, did you find any tier sevens?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a bunch in a forest not too far from here. Interesting enemies too. They¡¯re a good match for your fighting style so we¡¯ll definitely have to come back here when you¡¯re ready for them.¡±

    ¡°Oh? That sounds fun,¡± Niya''s eyes lit up as she smashed her fists together, creating a gust of wind that sent everyone¡¯s hair blowing wildly.

    Jiran chuckled at her exuberance and turned to Lulu, ¡°Anything I should know before I talk to the Matrons? And how are you adjusting? You just recovered and immediately flew all over the forest. I didn¡¯t even think how challenging that would be when I asked you to go. Do you need any food, water, rest?¡± Jiran stopped walking as the girl''s steps faltered, her body suddenly jittery with nervous energy.

    ¡°N-No, please! I am great-fine-wonderful. Niya protected and helped me at each sect. Really, she did all the hard work, I-I merely showed her the direction to go!¡± Lulu shook her head frantically, causing leaves to fall from her shoulders.

    ¡°Really? Because Niya just said you yelled at the Matrons,¡± Jiran squinted while leaning a little closer to her. Lulu blanched, her silvery skin somehow turning a shade whiter as her mouth worked to form a response. Jiran¡¯s strict facade faltered with a chuckle as his hand landed on top of her head, gently patting her hair. He couldn¡¯t help his curiosity and ran one of her leaves between his thumb and index finger, feeling its coarse, dry texture before it changed to an autumn golden brown and crumbled to dust. ¡°You did great. Thank you for helping me after what you were put through. Seriously, if you need anything, just ask. Or I¡¯ll have to think up my own way to reward you.¡±

    ¡°Jiran, she is not pet,¡± Mayalyn rolled her eyes, speaking in imperial.

    ¡°She can be a pet if she wants to!¡± Niya stuck out her tongue, causing both girls to giggle while Lulu just looked Jiran''s hand with a dazed, dreamy expression.

    Mayalyn¡¯s right. Why did I say I would reward her? And why am I still petting her? That¡¯s¡ª

    Charisma: + 5

    Are you freaking kidding me?! Is that why it slipped out so naturally? So, when I don¡¯t focus on what I''m saying, and let myself react naturally, charisma takes over and gives a more optimal response based on who I''m talking to? I¡¯ll have to test that.

    Lulu snapped out of her reverie, realizing she had yet to respond to his statement, ¡°You''re welcome, G-Jiran,¡± She sucked her lips in and clamped them between her teeth. A trembling shiver ran through her and she continued in a soft whisper so quiet it would have been impossible to hear without their boosted attributes, ¡°Please, reward me however you wish, I would like that very much.¡±

    Niya¡¯s jaw dropped as she stared at Lulu before spinning toward Jiran so quickly she blurred, ¡°What did she say?! She¡¯s so freaking cute I¡¯m going to die! You have to tell me what she said!¡± She grabbed his shoulders and shook him with an intense fire burning in her eyes.

    Jiran burst into laughter and a wicked gleam crossed his eyes as his hand gently landed on Niya¡¯s head. He patted her hair, causing her to stop shaking him as she froze in shock, ¡°You did such a good job, too, Niya. Do you want a reward as well? Should I translate for you? Would that be reward enough?¡± He cooed like he was talking to a baby.

    Expecting the lunge, Jiran was already spinning out of Niya''s grip before she could tackle him. She snarled when she missed and then turned with a screech and swiped again, only for him to dance out of reach at the last second. He zipped through the air, leaving Mayalyn and Lulu behind to arrive before the gathered Timberlings, no longer laughing or smiling. Niya landed beside him, stepping hard on his foot before her expression shifted to match his deadly serious countenance.

    This is something that would usually give me points in charisma. I prepared this speech ahead of time. I''ll fight off the inclination to say whatever comes to mind naturally and see if I gain any.

    Jiran¡¯s mana reached out and coiled inside of each of the twelve matrons who stood before hundreds of their kin. He cleared his throat and spoke with mana infusing his voice, sending rumbling waves of power through the air and ground, ¡°I¡¯ve captured the hive hunters that have been murdering your people. As I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve each heard by now, they are like you, and me: Sapient creatures, capable of thought and choice. They come from a society much larger and stronger than yours. The ones I captured are very important to them. Their deaths could very well lead to a reprisal that would leave your entire people wiped from the face of Madra. You can release them and go back to the way things were, or kill them, or negotiate, or anything else you can think of. How you deal with them and where you go from here is up to you. Don¡¯t expect me to save you, or make this choice for you.¡±

    Their reactions to his short speech were a mix of awe, horror, and fury, though most of it was directed at the Forkara and not him. Jiran recognized the Matron of Conflict, her bared-teeth snarl promised death to the captives. Jiran met her eyes briefly, seeing only pain and deep-seated hatred looking back at him. He sighed, turned around, and walked away, leaving them to decide the fates of two hundred murderers.

 Chapter 155 - A Quick Trip

    ¡°W-wait! Please, won¡¯t you give us your guidance, Great Spirit?¡± Jiran looked over his shoulder to find that it was the Matron of Belief who had worked up the courage to yell after him. She held her hands outstretched and cupped.

    ¡°I¡¯m not ¡®Great Spirit.¡¯ It¡¯s Jiran and I¡¯ve no desire to decide the fate of your entire race. I¡¯ll be back before nightfall. If you have any questions, I¡¯ll answer them then. Oh, there are four Forkara who are innocent and are currently scouting beyond the valley. If they return, do not harm them.¡± Jiran warned, his tone turning deadly serious as he locked eyes with each matron in turn. One by one, they either nodded or dropped to their knees with cupped hands. He studied the movement of their mana. Upon finding none who appeared suspicious, he turned and left. Niya was at his side as they rejoined Mayalyn and Lulu.

    The Matrons all look so similar. What an interesting race. No charisma either, so prepared speeches don¡¯t seem to be effective for raising that attribute.

    When Mayalyn felt his aura harden to block sound, she confronted him with her hands on her hips, ¡°I thought you said you planned to help them?¡± She cocked her head with raised brows.

    ¡°I am, but I don¡¯t want them to know that. They¡¯ll end up relying on me for everything if I constantly fix their problems.¡±

    ¡°Mmn, good,¡± She smiled and reached out to pat his forearm affectionately. ¡°What is your plan now? You told them we would be back before nightfall. Are you going hunting again?¡± Mayalyn was looking behind him as she talked. Jiran followed her gaze to see the Matrons moving together toward the massive dome of ice. He had left a door-sized hole in its side, and they shuffled toward it, apparently wanting to see the captives before making their decision.

    ¡°Nope, I don¡¯t want to go far from the valley again until we see what kind of response the Forkara are going to send. I earned an¡­ I guess you would call it an acclamation a while ago that opened a new teleporter location. I think this is a perfect chance to go poke around. Interested in a quick adventure to someplace called Sanctuary?¡±

    ¡°Oohh, that sounds fun! Think there will be another race there like the Timberlings?¡± Niya questioned, instantly on board, their previous squabble long forgotten.

    ¡°No clue, but I can¡¯t wait to find out. You coming, Lulu?¡± Jiran¡¯s question caused the girl to jump, large, panicky doe-eyes trained on him.

    ¡°I-I can come with you? Through the portal?¡± Jiran nodded and her surprise quickly morphed into an excited smile. ¡°Yes, I very much would like to go!¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the spirit!¡± She cocked her head at his strange use of the word, her mouth opening to reply when Jiran lifted her and Mayalyn into the air. Her question turned into a gleeful squeal as they raced above the trees. He used his map to find the portal, which wasn¡¯t far from the edge of the woods. In the daylight, the forest was beautiful, reaching far and wide through the walled valley. The boughs reflected the sunslight with a dozen shades of violet and cyan.

    The shore around the pond was still occupied by hundreds of Timberlings who came to worship. They pointed and gasped before falling to their knees. Jiran huffed and rolled his eyes, causing Niya to laugh at him. ¡°Get over it already, they¡¯re worship-obsessed crazies. It is what it is.¡± She shrugged.

    Lulu looked between Niya and Jiran with a quizzical expression, ¡°Does the reverence of my sectmates upset you?¡±

    ¡°Not upset. It¡¯s more of a nuisance. Maybe it¡¯s because I don¡¯t understand them. Niya¡¯s right, I should get over it. To each their own,¡± Jiran shrugged as he set them down on the platform that was submerged a few centimeters beneath the surface of the water.

    Lulu pursed her lips in thought before responding slowly, building confidence the more she sang, ¡°We have awaited the coming of the Great Spirit since the transcended only covered the innermost center of the shelterwood. They¡¯re excitement is mirrored in my heartwood as well. Birthers have sung of the Great Spirit to their saplings for each generation since. Those who are good, will be blessed by him, those who are bad, shunned. Everything we do and think is colored by the shade of his coming,¡± She blushed at the end but her silvery eyes met his gaze, refusing to break away.

    ¡°The prophecy¡¯s that old? I didn¡¯t get that impression before,¡± He ignored the pointing and whispers as he placed his hand on the pedestal and charged his mana into a portal to Sanctuary.

    Lulu nodded emphatically, ¡°Oh yes, every generation has dreamed of meeting the Great Spirit and coming closer to the Absolute Root. To be alive at this time is a great honor.¡±

    ¡°The Absolute Root? Of course the name of your deity would rhyme, why wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Jiran shook his head with a chuckle as twelve percent of his mana was drained to open the portal. ¡°Dang, this place is expensive.¡± Jagged lines within the platform lit with an inner glow as a deep thrum sent ripples through the water. Mana Omnis and Jiran¡¯s aura watched with interest as a bright, lateral tear appeared in the air above the platform. It grew in size to reveal a portal that led into inky darkness.

    Dang, was hoping seeing this again would give me some clues on teleporting but the mana is just appearing from the framework. Good to know these portals use the framework too, I guess.

    Jiran added all three to his party and Lulu gasped, taking an instinctive step away from the hole torn in space. Niya leaped forward, diving into the portal before Jiran could stop her. ¡°What the shrelkshit, Niya!¡± Mayalyn was hot on her heels and Jiran grabbed the shell-shocked Lulu, leaping in after them.

    He crashed into Niya¡¯s back as he landed on a smooth stone floor. His aura instantly billowed out in every direction, searching for threats in the pitch-black area. The air directly around them was so empty it was practically a void. Not a single mote of dust entered the perceptions of his aura. He could only detect the gases making up the breathable air. His aura quickly reached the edges of the space and slid through the solid walls which were completely unlike the stone teleportation platform beneath their feet.

    Jiran frowned as he tried to identify the material the walls were made from, quickly realizing they were in a large room that had been hollowed out of a massive crystal. He had to form his aura into a long spear and stretch it out to its full length before only barely piercing through the entirety of the crystal wall closest to them. Beyond the incredibly thick material, there true emptiness¡ªa complete lack of anything perceivable.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Mana Confluence pulled a layer of mana from inside his body to rest on top of his skin and Elemental Castigation converted it into elemental light, filling the room with reflective brilliance. The walls themselves were so thick that the light from his skill failed to penetrate through to illuminate the emptiness beyond.

    Everything in the room was one form or another of clear crystals. There were easily a hundred waist-height pedestals, each perfectly uniform and clearly crafted for a specific purpose rather than naturally formed. The room was octagonal in shape, and along one wall was a row of a dozen crystals with flat tops that were angled to face the center of the room. Their placement and angle instantly reminded Jiran of a memory from Earth. That memory, combined with the emptiness he sensed outside, gave him an idea of where they were.

    Putting his thoughts and the random memory aside, he knife-chopped Niya on top of her head hard enough to make her yelp. ¡°Please don¡¯t ever do that again. I get that you¡¯re having fun, but there¡¯s no way to know if a tier ten is waiting for us on the other side of these portals.¡±

    Niya spun around to face him, when she saw Lulu¡¯s terrified visage, her anger evaporated and she sighed while rubbing her head. ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t even consider that. I¡¯m used to thinking that most beasts are third tier or lower. But that¡¯s just in the empire. You¡¯re right, who knows what we¡¯ll find through one of your portals. I won¡¯t go rushing in again.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Jiran turned to Mayalyn¡¯s bobbing blue hair as she walked away from them, ¡°That goes for you, too. I was going to try and send some aura or mana through to scout first.¡±

    ¡°Mhm, I promise,¡± Mayalyn responded absentmindedly, already having moved off the platform to examine one of the chest-high crystals nearby. She ran her finger along its perfectly smooth surface, leaning closer to peer into the material that was so clear of imperfections that it was more translucent than water.

    ¡°Is this the realm of the spirits?¡± Lulu asked, her eyes not staying still for a moment as she tried to look at everything at once.

    ¡°No clue, all I know is the name. This place was clearly made with some purpose in mind. Stay sharp, whoever created all this could come back at any time and I doubt they¡¯re tier three,¡± Niya had the decency to look guilty at Jiran¡¯s pointed comment.

    He stepped down from the platform to stand near Mayalyn. With curiosity every bit a match for hers, he reached out to run his finger along the top of the crystal pedestal. The moment his skin touched it, an incredibly faint current of density slithered through his skin. He barely stopped himself from claiming the energy and instead observed it as it worked its way up his arm.

    Once he realized it was planning to move all the way up to his head, he grew more cautious. He trapped the tingle of energy in his shoulder, surrounding it with his mana. It pressed against his blockade, stopping instantly as it had no real power to resist him. Centimeter by centimeter, he allowed it to move up through his neck, not at all intending to let it into his brain if that was its goal. When it reached his skull and slithered along the outside of his jaw, he let it continue until it nestled into his right eye.

    Suddenly, a blinking notification appeared in his interface.

    [Keynote Prime Detected.]

    [Accept Command Authorization?] [Y/N]

    ¡°Uhh, I got a notification to accept command of something. I¡¯m going to accept it, everyone come over here first, just in case.¡± Mayalyn looked up at him sharply, her brows furrowed in concern. Lulu practically sprinted to his side, eyeing the walls like they would come alive and eat her at a moment''s notice. When Niya reached his side, he focused on the confirmation prompt in his interface.

    The crystal nearest them that he and Mayalyn touched shimmered as an orange light blossomed in its center. The light seeped into the translucent floor before splitting into a hundred smaller lights that zipped into every crystal inside the room. Each crystal began to hum as they vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency that made his teeth itch. He couldn¡¯t hear the hum, but his aura certainly picked it up. The lights within the crystals expanded until each one was glowing softly with an even radiance. Jiran cut off the light he was producing, since the entire room was now illuminated.

    The vibrations oscillated between a slow, deep frequency that ramped up to a high pitch before slowing once more, almost making it feel like they were inside a giant, beating heart. All four of them were crouched and watching every direction at once, ready to bolt toward the still active portal. When nothing new happened for several seconds, Jiran relaxed with a sigh, finally lowering his eyes to look at the crystal next to them which had started everything. On its surface, a perfectly square section the size of his thumb was flashing with a white light that stood out sharply in contrast to the orange, inner glow.

    Ahh shit, it¡¯s a button. I really shouldn¡¯t press it. Damnit, who am I kidding? I¡¯m so going to press it.

    Jiran¡¯s pointer finger landed on the white square and an infinitesimal spark of electricity arced to his finger and spread through his body. The entire slanted top of the crystal¡ªeasily the width of his chest¡ªshimmered with white light. Suddenly, unknown hieroglyphs sprang to life across its surface and hundreds of lines of text appeared in his interface. The text in his interface was a garbled mess of letters, numbers, and symbols that flew across his vision far too quickly for even his enhanced perception to track. Within only a second, thousands of lines had passed and just as suddenly, vanished to be replaced by only a few matching lines that appeared in both his interface and on the flat crystal surface.

    [Authorization Accepted. Welcome Keynote Prime.]

    [Sanctuary Primary Systems: Unpowered.]

    [Sanctuary Subsystems: Unpowered.]

    [Sanctuary Tertiary Systems: 3/7 Functional.]

    [Sanctuary Organic Support: Functional.]

    ¡°What is that?!¡± Niya pointed at the clearly legible Imperial dialect that appeared on the crystal.

    ¡°Some kind of interface, similar to your status,¡± Jiran responded while pressing his finger on the tertiary systems message. The Organic support message beneath moved fluidly out of the way to allow the tertiary systems to expand into a list.

    [Sanctuary Tertiary Systems.]

    [Teleportation Node: Functional.]

    [Stasis Chamber: Functional.]

    [Basic Conversion Module: Functional.]

    [Accessways: Unpowered.]

    [Tertiary Habitat Module: Unpowered.]

    [Remote Interface Module: Unpowered.]

    [Diagnostic Module: Unpowered.]

    ¡°Woah! The letters moved?! How is it doing that?¡± Her voice was full of wonder as she jabbed a finger at the organic support button. Much to her excitement, it expanded into another shorter list.

    [Sanctuary Organic Support.]

    [Current Power: (8%) 10 Million C.D.U. Of 120 Million C.D.U.]

    [EMERGENCY: Low Power Mode Activated.]

    [Primary Systems Re-routed To Organic Support.]

    [Subsystem Re-routed To Organic Support.]

    ¡°So awesome! Any idea what this stuff means?¡± Niya asked, completely unbothered by the seeming severity of the messages.

    ¡°What does it say, Jiran? I do not recognize many of those words.¡± Mayalyn''s voice was brimming with impatience as she pulled on his sleeve.

    ¡°It¡¯s a list of the available systems and a message that most of them are shut down to maintain the organic support system. I¡¯m assuming that¡¯s what¡¯s making the air in here breathable.¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t the air be breathable?¡± Niya scoffed like he was talking nonsense.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t think this place is on Madra¡¯s surface. I think we¡¯re in space.¡±

 Chapter 156 - Fortress Of Sanctuary

    ¡°What¡¯s space?¡± Niya and Lulu both said in unison before looking at each other with surprise that rapidly devolved into giggles as they guessed what they had done.

    ¡°Space is everything beyond the atmosphere of the planet. Go up high enough, and there¡¯s no air to breathe, no heat trapped beneath the gases that sit high up in the air. Don¡¯t even get me started on the radiation. Being in space unprotected would be a very painful death sentence. Whatever happens, do not go outside this crystal.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t even a way outside of this room. You are seriously too paranoid about every little thing,¡± Niya rolled her eyes and then walked away from the group to explore on her own. Jiran didn''t bother warning her again since his aura had already confirmed what she said.

    ¡°Uhm, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t understand most of what you said,¡± Lulu cringed but he gave her a reassuring smile and placed his hand on the bark of her shoulder.

    The bark was rough against his fingertips, though a surprising amount of warmth seeped through as though he were touching her skin, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯d be more surprised if you did understand everything I was talking about. There¡¯s plenty of time to learn. If you have any specific questions, just ask and we¡¯ll do our best to explain.¡±

    ¡°Thank you! I-I will do my best!¡±

    Mayalyn pulled on his sleeve, pointing with her other hand at the display, ¡°What does this word mean?¡± Knowing her attribute-enhanced memory was nearly as good as his, he instead read aloud every single line on the crystal display while explaining what he thought they meant. Lulu squeezed in beside them as he read, laser-focused on his every word.

    Jiran did his best not to think about the two women pressed against his sides. Which turned out to be an incredible challenge when a pleasant, earthy aroma from Lulu mixed with Mayalyn¡¯s intoxicating scent, the combination invading his nose and causing him to momentarily stumble over his words. He fell back on his Remalonian instincts, quickly gaining mastery over himself. Once he finished reading everything, he pushed down on both the primary and subsystems messages but they didn¡¯t show any further information.

    ¡°So, we¡¯ve got a teleportation node, a stasis chamber, and a basic conversion module. The teleportation node is obviously how we got here, let¡¯s spread out and see if we can find the other two,¡± They nodded at his suggestion and moved away.

    Lulu ended up heading toward Niya while Jiran and Mayalyn took opposite corners of the room, touching each of the chest-height crystal interfaces before moving on. A nervous anticipation began to seep into the corners of Jiran¡¯s subconscious and before he realized it, he was shivering with excitement.

    Is all of this really mine? It was a quest reward from the system that I had to power with the beads of authority from the tier three arena. Does that mean the system built this place specifically for me? Or was it already here and I just gained access to it? What other features does it have? It''s obviously sturdy, and there aren¡¯t any beasts. Could we use it as a safe place for Mayalyn and Niya when I go to the next arena? No, not without them being able to leave, if I die, I don¡¯t want them stuck here.

    My own personal spaceship¡­ That¡¯s one crazy quest reward. Huh, I haven''t really wanted to think about it, but I haven¡¯t gotten a single quest since then. Did Madra grow too weak to give me more?

    While his thoughts raced, Jiran had been walking from crystal to crystal, briefly touching each one before moving on. He was on his fifth crystal and the second his finger touched its flat, screen-like surface, the entire thing began to shine with a strong inner glow and a new prompt appeared.

    [Basic Conversion Module Interface]

    ¡°Found something!¡± He called out as he pressed on the words. While news messages populated beneath the original dialog, a rectangular crystal the size of his thumb poked out of the flat surface. The little crystal fit so seamlessly together with the larger pedestal that even after seeing them separate, he couldn¡¯t tell there was a gap with his eyes or aura.

    [Basic Conversion Module: Functional]

    [Current Power: (8%) 10 Million C.D.U. Of 120 Million C.D.U.]

    Jiran gently pulled on the rectangle-shaped crystal which easily slid out of the console. It was weightless, impossibly smooth, and pulled at his mana in a way that he instantly understood on an instinctual level. He pushed his mana into the crystal exactly as he would the teleportation pedestal and his energy flowed inside without the slightest hint of resistance. The moment his mana passed into the little crystal, it was severed from his control, causing his brows to lift in surprise.

    This feels a bit like the density absorber node, except this is a choice. It won¡¯t take what I don¡¯t give it. Let¡¯s see how much it can hold.

    After five percent of his mana vanished into the crystal, Jiran stopped feeding it. Mayalyn appeared at his side, looking curiously at the little crystal in his hand, ¡°What is it?¡± She wondered aloud, her voice filling the empty air with a warmth he hadn¡¯t realized was absent in the absolute quiet of the strange space.

    ¡°Looks like a way to add more mana to the ship.¡±

    ¡°You really believe this is a spaceship? How did we get here then? I assumed the teleportation nodes were connected beneath the ground somehow.¡±

    ¡°I thought the same thing. I don¡¯t know, maybe I¡¯m way off and it¡¯s all wishful thinking. I hope I¡¯m right though,¡± Jiran¡¯s eyes lit up with childish glee and he bounced from one foot to the other. Not wanting to use more than five percent of his mana on this first test, he pushed the crystal back into the interface and waited impatiently with bated breath for a response. Only a moment passed before a new message appeared.

    [Compatible Power Source Detected: 0.1716 C.D.U. Added]

    [Current Power: (8%) 10 Million C.D.U. Of 120 Million C.D.U.]

    Jiran¡¯s eye twitched at the measly addition that five percent of his mana turned out to be, ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± His outburst echoed through the room, causing every head to snap in his direction. ¡°My entire mana pool would net three whole CDU? I don¡¯t even know what CDU means!¡±

    ¡°I do not understand why you are so upset,¡± Mayalyn asked while giving him an odd look.

    ¡°Because my mana is worth more than that! It¡¯s mine, and, and¡­ Oh,¡± Jiran stopped in his tracks, instantly calming down. ¡°I think it¡¯s a Remalon thing. My mana isn¡¯t special compared to anyone else¡¯s. I think I needed a reminder of that. Well, charging this place is out of the question for right now. I won¡¯t have enough mana to fill up this greedy crystal until I¡¯m tier¡ªyou know what, I don¡¯t even want to do the math right now.¡±

    While walking away from the pedestal, a portion of Jiran¡¯s mind was fast at work doing the very math he claimed to not want to think about. By the time he interacted with the next crystal interface, getting no response from it, he had his answer.

    One hundred and twenty million CDU would be half my mana pool at tier twelve, so long as I keep doing the challenger arena at every tier. Crap, this place is way too greedy! I wonder if I can use Madra¡¯s mana. I certainly won¡¯t be trying it here though, would be a disaster if it didn¡¯t work and that mana damaged this place.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    A soft glow from the far wall and a hiss of displaced air interrupted his thoughts. He spun around to see a perfectly rectangular section of the wall indent inward before sliding to the side, revealing a human-sized doorway that led into milky darkness. Niya and Lulu stood right next to it, both peering curiously into the abyss. Jiran was there a moment later as Oneness activated, pushing his body, mana, and aura to their extremes.

    His aura exploded through the doorway and his jaw dropped as impossible information was relayed to his brain through the sensations of his manabody. Somehow, the pathway into the darkness was both there and not there at the same time. His aura slid through the doorway, clearly seeing the smooth crystal tunnel beyond, but his aura also ran into the wall right behind the door, showing that no pathway was there at all. It was as if the doorway was a portal leading to another place entirely, and not actually a tunnel in the side of the crystal room as it appeared.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± He heard himself ask as his mind reeled from the impossibility of what he was seeing.

    Niya shrugged, clearly not realizing how incredible the seemingly simple pathway before her really was, ¡°I touched that crystal and it said something about a stasis chamber then this door opened on its own.¡± She pointed to the nearest crystal pedestal¡ªthe source of the glow he had seen earlier. ¡°Are you going to stand here gawking all day or are you going to go in?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for his reply, pushing him forward from behind, the rest of the group right behind them.

    The hallway was very short and Jiran¡¯s aura failed to push far enough through the walls to reach the outside of wherever they were now. Each of their steps caused a trickle of light to race through the floor ahead of them before spreading to the walls and ceiling, fully lighting their way. They emerged into a room the size of a small house, each of them stopping in their tracks as the space was illuminated.

    The entire room was empty save for a single interface pedestal next to a little girl with wavy blond hair. She wore a beautiful white dress and slept, cradled inside a crystalline bubble. Her eyes were closed and her body was completely still, unbreathing, and unresponsive to their arrival in any way.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t see that coming,¡± Niya quipped as she moved around Jiran to get a better look at the girl.

    Jiran blinked repeatedly, unable to process the information Identify was feeding his interface.

    [Unknown Ent-ERROR ERROR: (Tier: ERRRRRRRROR) !%*%!%*%!]

    The strange message was accompanied by a soft buzzing in his brain before something popped and Identify refused to function on the girl any longer. In a panic, he swept the skill over Niya and Mayalyn, immediately seeing both of their descriptions. He sighed, beyond relieved that the skill hadn¡¯t been completely broken. By the time he snapped back to reality, Niya was poking away at the console next to the girl with a frown. He walked up behind her and read the displayed messages.

    [Stasis Chamber Occupation Count: 1]

    [Stasis Pod #1 Occupant #DH0001 Status: ERROR]

    [Revive Occupant #DH0001?] [Y/N]

    [Command accepted. Initiating Revival: ERROR Insufficient C.D.U. Detected]

    [Please Initiate Revival Before Expiration]

    ¡°Seriously, Niya? Did you actually press yes without even thinking about the consequences?¡±

    ¡°Uhh, my finger slipped?¡± She looked away, staring at the ceiling while whistling.

    ¡°Thank the Fathers it failed,¡± Jiran grumbled, barely restraining himself from chopping the top of her head. He then checked the final message on the console.

    [Time Until Expiration: 4320:6:119:17:54]

    That timer is in imperial. Four thousand three hundred and twenty years, six seasons, one hundred and nineteen days, and seventeen hours. Wow that''s a long time, guess there''s no rush on reviving this little bundle of mysteries.

    ¡°So pretty,¡± Mayalyn reached out and ran her fingers over the crystalline bubble, her expression full of wonder. Jiran did the same, feeling the incredibly smooth surface beneath his fingers. Whatever the stasis pod was made of, his aura and mana couldn¡¯t penetrate it, just like the teleportation nodes.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve checked all the pedestals and figured out what each of the functional systems do. Without a lot more mana, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything else we can do here. Should we head back and check on the Matrons?¡±

    ¡°Already?¡± Mayalyn pouted. Niya didn¡¯t hesitate as she took Lulu by the hand and led her back toward the central chamber. Jiran followed behind them. Mayalyn dragged her heels while taking several glances at the frozen girl.

    ¡°You okay? Jiran wondered as she stopped at the very edge of the room. As they watched, the lights from their footprints faded from the walls and cast the room back into shadows.

    ¡°Y-yes, I am fine. I¡­ want to protect her. I do not know why,¡± Mayalyn shook her head and turned to follow him, leaving the little girl in a void of absolute darkness once more.

    Back in the main room, Jiran moved over to the conversion module, popped out the mana crystal, and pocketed it before joining the others at the teleportation node. He swept his eyes over the crystalline perfection of Sanctuary, satisfied that they had explored everything they could access here for now.

    They stepped through the portal and back into the Forest of Melodies. The suns didn¡¯t seem to have moved much since they left, and a quick peek at his challenger timer confirmed they had only been gone a few short minutes.

    The flight away from the pond and back to the edge of the forest was quick. Jiran spotted two of the Forkara scouts flapping their wings far above the dome of ice. The massive construct froze the air around it, sending wisps of white smoke drifting lazily in the wind before vanishing under the sunslight. Jiran¡¯s aura lifted the group up to the Forkara first, recognizing two of the men who had volunteered to scout. One with light hair, the other dark.

    The light-haired Forkara spoke up immediately upon their arrival, his face was a mask of pure terror only partially consoled by Jiran¡¯s appearance, ¡°The Storm Claw have sent a force to reclaim the valley. They will be here within the hour!¡± He pointed to the west but Jiran didn¡¯t see anything when he looked. Elemental Castigation warped the light in the air before him, revealing several dozen little black dots far in the distance.

    He nodded at the light-haired Forkara, ¡°You were brave to stay and report this instead of running. I appreciate your help.¡± Jiran pushed his mana into him, releasing enough of it into his manapool to completely refill it. The Forkara gaped at him as he turned to the dark-haired Forkara who was considerably more calm, flapping his wings patiently as he waited for his turn.

    When he had Jiran¡¯s attention, he crossed his arms over his chest, smacking his fists into his pecks twice in rapid succession, ¡°Sir! A small group of tier five beasts is heading toward the valley from the East. They were not in a hurry when I left, I expect they will find their way to the cliffs sometime this afternoon.¡± Jiran refilled his mana as well which earned him another salute.

    Jiran then turned to Niya, both Forkara continuing to hover in the air, awaiting his response. ¡°Niya, think you can deal with a few tier fives?¡±

    His cousin''s grin was feral as she smashed her fists together, ¡°Oh yeah! I¡¯ve been itching for a chance to stretch out since we left Mortan. Which way?¡±

    ¡°I will go as well,¡± Mayalyn stated in a firm voice.

    Jiran didn¡¯t try to dissuade her, knowing she could easily handle a few tier fives on her own, and at the very least escape them if things went sideways. ¡°You two have fun,¡± He topped off Mayalyn¡¯s lightning and metal enhancing before turning to the dark-haired Forkara, ¡°Can you take these two to where you spotted the tier fives?¡± The Forkara nodded gravely before immediately flying to the east.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be back before you know it!¡± Niya waved and pulled Mayalyn into her aura, quickly catching up to the Forkara.

    Jiran eyed the screen of bent light, gauging he had around fifteen minutes before the approaching Forkara arrived. He traced his jaw with a thumb and spoke to Lulu, ¡°I hope your Matron¡¯s were quick to come up with a plan. How they want to move forward will decide how we deal with this group. I suppose if they haven¡¯t made up their minds, I can always toss the new arrivals in with the others, but then they¡¯d probably realize how much I plan on helping. Whatever, it is what it is.¡±

    For some reason, his words caused Lulu to frown and look away from him. A moment later, her song came out, quiet and subdued, ¡°They are not my Matrons any longer. I was cast out, unnamed. From now and forever forward, I belong to my own sect, the Sect of the Great Spirit, and it has no Matron, only me.¡±

    ¡°The Sect of the Great Spirit?¡± Jiran lifted an eyebrow at her, his lips tugging up in a sly smile which elicited a blush that was quickly covered behind a layer of leaves. When she nodded shyly, creating a soft rustle, he chuckled and patted the top of her head, ¡°I like it. Except you can¡¯t have a sect without a matron. Which makes you the Matron of the Great Spirit sect. Now, shall we go find out what your sister matrons have decided?¡±

    She blinked at him through a gap in the leaves covering her face before jerking upright and standing at attention. She crossed her arms and thudded her fists into her chest in an adorable mimicry of the Forkara¡¯s salute, ¡°Yes, Sir!¡±

 Chapter 157 - Conviction To Choose

    After sending the remaining scout in the opposite direction of the approaching Forkara, Jiran and Lulu moved down toward the dome of ice and the waiting Matrons within. Mana Omnis let him see his mana that swam within the elemental ice. He stretched his will through the synapses of the framework, connecting to and manipulating his creation enough to form a hole in the top of the dome. Lulu shivered as they dropped through, the freezing temperatures inside the dome far beyond what she was accustomed to. Elemental Castigation converted a small portion of his mana into a warm shell that he wrapped around her. She sent him a thankful smile as her breath ceased misting the air, though her arms were still wrapped around herself as she glanced nervously toward the waiting women below.

    The hole he created allowed a beam of light to illuminate the interior of the dome. The only other source was the entrance he had left for the Matrons who now huddled close together near the cage containing the prisoners. They wore severe expressions, each understanding that the fate of many lives rested on what they were about to tell him.

    Knowing they were short on time, Jiran¡¯s mana cut right to their heartwoods, sealing their skills so they would sing clearly, ¡°What did you decide? More Forkara are on the way, so we don¡¯t have much time.¡± He touched down before them, his aura smoothly spreading his weight across a wide area.

    Twelve similar-looking women bowed in unison, their reactions to his invasive mana almost nonexistent. Upstretched hands formed cups that were extended toward Jiran. One he immediately recognized as the Matron of Conflict spoke first. Her song was somber, lending the darkness within the dome a weight that pressed in around them, ¡°There was nothing to decide. Our opinions are unanimous. The hivers must die.¡±

    ¡°I had a feeling that would be your choice. How are you going to kill them? Several are tier five, and even the tier fours are beyond your strength¡ªtiers are how the wider world classifies the power of an individual. Each of you is tier three and you can consider every tier to be an exact doubling of strength, speed, mana, and perception. Not only that, every tier grants new abilities, like your connection to the song, each more powerful than the one before it.¡±

    A round of gasps released streams of misty fog into the air and the Matrons exchanged glances that spoke far more than any verse. He didn¡¯t recognize the next matron that responded, her song was deep and heavy in a way that rumbled within Jiran¡¯s chest, ¡°Thank you for this gift of knowledge. We have the means to kill them, despite their power, and we will do so, to show you our conviction.¡±

    ¡°What about the ones coming here now, and those that will come after that, and after that? If you kill these Forkara, more will come until you are all dead or subdued once more.¡±

    Another responded instantly, clearly expecting his question, ¡°Thank you for your gift of care. We have no way to stop them. They will come and we will resist as best we can. Then, we will fail, and what will be, will be.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s hand cut through the air creating a gust of wind that tore leaves from their branches and skin, ¡°You would consign so many of your people to death? For what?! Why make this choice when you know the outcome is hopeless?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your gift of compassion!¡± The Matron of Belief crooned, ¡°Your actions have bloomed understanding within us, Great Spirit Jiran. We would rather the season change without us than continue this cycle.¡± Jiran blinked at her repeatedly, completely stunned by the overflowing surety within her song.

    She¡¯s serious, they all are. They would rather die than be protected and fed on. Who would want that as the fate of their race? Trees aren''t exactly peaceful, their roots strangle any competition for water and light. That¡¯s exactly what the Timberlings seek¡ªwater and light. Now that they realize it¡¯s been kept from them, they¡¯ll do anything to break free. Good. I didn''t expect it, but any other choice would end far worse for them in the future.

    I wonder how Olive will react when she finds out I actually started a war.

    Jiran chuckled, the sound echoing through the confining dome, ¡°Excellent! Your people wouldn¡¯t survive long without that kind of attitude. The Forkara protected your borders. They kept you safe even as their wealthy and powerful used you as livestock for their ascensions. That kind of behavior is a death sentence where I come from, as it should be amongst any civilized people. Madra is not such a kind mother that we can afford to turn on one another. Those who do, must not be permitted to stab us in the back in our times of weakness.¡±

    Another of the Matrons responded and Jiran realized they had been singing in turn, from left to right, ¡°Thank you for your gift of understa¡ª¡±

    ¡°Okay, cut the shrelkshit,¡± Jiran interrupted with a growl, ¡°We don¡¯t have time. I¡¯m going to confront the Forkara that are approaching the valley before they can spread out and cause too much damage. One of you should be there to speak on your people¡¯s behalf. You¡¯ve decided to kill the murderers, but we should at least attempt to resolve things peacefully with the rest of them. I know for a fact that not all of them are bad. Choose quickly, we don¡¯t have a lot of time.¡±

    For some reason, they looked terrified at his suggestion. The one he had cut off sang, the others nervously glancing at each other with wide eyes, ¡°We cannot leave, each of us must be here for what is to come.¡±

    What does that mean? Why do I have such a bad feeling about this all of a sudden?

    ¡°I will do it,¡± Lulu stepped forward from behind him. She stood before the leaders of her entire race with her head high. Her entire body was taut from the stress but she held her ground¡ªpride and strength only betrayed by the leaves quivering across her shoulders and head.

    The next matron in line sang quickly, ¡°We see you, little sister who was unnamed and given new meaning. Do you understand who we were, who we are, and who we must become?¡±

    Lulu nodded slowly, then responded while a single tear trailed down her cheek. ¡°We were who we will always be, those who will bend and break before they fall.¡±

    ¡°Good, you do understand. She will represent us, Great Spirit Jiran. Thank you for¡­ negotiating on our behalf,¡± A sad smile played across her features as she bowed once more.

    ¡°C¡¯mon Lulu, let¡¯s go. Their higher tiers might already be in the valley,¡± He didn¡¯t wait for her response, launching them through the hole in the dome, but not before grabbing the ¡®peace offering,¡¯ he had prepared in advance. Once outside, gases ignited behind him, sending them rocketing toward the Forkara.

    "Sorry, Lulu," Jiran doubted she heard his apology over the sound of her own screaming as powerful forces of acceleration distorted her face.

    Elemental Castigation bent a sheet of light that moved ahead of them, bringing the invaders into focus. Jiran guessed there were sixty Forkara. They had haulted their advance, flapping their wings directly above the cliff wall of the crater-shaped valley. Several pointed his way before all of them turned in his direction, save one. Jiran instantly recognized the standout as Chokkra when the boy threw his head back and cackled.

    What is that idiot-ugh, he probably wanted to see their faces when I showed up. He¡¯s going to get himself killed.

    As if to confirm Jiran¡¯s suspicion, Chokkra pointed at one of the Forkara, laughing so hard he barely maintained his flight. The burly male that Chokkra was antagonizing reached for the spear on his back just as Jiran arrived above them like a blazing meteor. Identify revealed their group was led by a single tier six and ten tier fives. The rest were tier four save for fifteen or so tier threes. Each was decked in thick metal armor and none wore the helmets that made them appear as beasts. These were not children sent to prey on helpless Timberlings. They were warriors, ready for battle.

    Not a single tier seven, damn. I was hoping at least one would come. This is going to be a lot harder now. Hopefully, this still works or my plans are going to unravel awful quick.

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    Jiran¡¯s eyes glowed as Mana Omnis tracked the flow of the energies within their bodies. The leader craned his neck to look up at him, his eyes narrowing as they passed over Lulu and Jiran¡¯s ''gift.'' "So, this is the wingless who invaded the Storm Claws'' territory?¡± He sneered at Chokkra before spitting in disgust, ¡°The one you say will end us? How far did you fall to hit your head so hard? That child isn¡¯t even a speck of dust before the might of the Claw!" The burly tier six Forkara chuckled dryly, clenching his fist before his face with a smile that didn¡¯t at all reach his eyes.

    Oh Father''s, he''s the evil monologuing type, isn¡¯t he? No thanks, not in the mood, and the Matrons were being way too suspicious. If I don''t get back there fast, something bad is going to happen, I can feel it. But I can¡¯t be in a rush, this is my best chance to manipulate the clans into doing what I want.

    The man opened his mouth to continue but Jiran cut him off, "Here''s the only deal I''m going to offer you," Jiran threw the ¡®gift,¡¯ toward the leader. The man''s aura snapped out to brush the offensive thing aside, only to smash against the incredible weight of a density-laden, tier seven corpse.

    The first signs of doubt crossed his expression as he realized what Jiran casually threw was no simple insult. His aura firmed enough to hold the body which weighed three times more than he did, "What is¡ª"

    "A tier seven Rapacious Murker. I killed it this morning in the Land of the Lost."

    Several of the Forkara sucked air through their teeth while their leader merely narrowed his eyes. Chokkra chose that moment to butt in, his voice rife with condescending confidence, "It''s true. I took him there myself and he killed it in less than a minute, alone! Now do you see how fucked your precious clan is?!" Chokkra''s insane laughter started again but Jiran''s aura blocked the obnoxious sound.

    Nice! That got the perfect reaction from them. No way he planned that but I¡¯ll still have to reward him later.

    "I''ll be here for a few more days killing murkers to ascend. In that time, I''m willing to allow some of your people to accompany me." Every single one of the Forkara gasped at the unprecedented offer. What Jiran suggested wasn''t only unheard of, it was absolutely unimaginable. Knowing exactly how much his deal was worth to the highest tiered of their race, Jiran unveiled his stipulations with a sly smile, "Anyone who has murdered a Timberling for the sake of ascension is unwelcome. In addition, if any of those murderers make an appearance in this valley, they will not leave alive. The Timberlings are now under our protection. Please, extend my invitation among the clans, all who do not violate my stipulations are welcome.¡±

    The leader froze, his face a mask of neutrality. No matter how good he was at schooling his expressions, he couldn¡¯t hide the truth from Jiran. Mana Omnis clearly revealed the man¡¯s mana writhing within his chest. After several seconds, he seemed to make up his mind and pulled the Murker''s corpse closer. He then tore off a piece of flesh and greedily tossed it in his mouth before inhaling sharply through his nose. After confirming it was indeed tier seven meat, he spoke, his voice no longer holding any hint of its previous disrespect, "Little brother, what of the prisoners? We were told they may still live?"

    Jiran turned to Lulu, translating his question and nodding at her to answer. Having heard Jiran''s earlier proclamation that he would protect them, her answer was instant. The adorable, shy girl he knew was nowhere to be seen as she bared her teeth and hissed, "Any acts of aggression against us will be met with death."

    When Jiran translated, the man merely nodded as if the answer was expected, "So be it. I¡¯ll deliver your message¡­ right after you prove you¡¯re not as weak as you appear. Sure, that blue fire you flew on and the speed it gave you were impressive, but I can tell your attributes are lower than mine, which makes this whole deal of yours awfully flighty. Since you¡¯re not a Timberling, a little aggression won¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± The familiar excitement of a battle-junky flashed across the man¡¯s face before he quickly schooled his features once more.

    You¡¯re almost making this too easy for me.

    Jiran responded with a cheeky grin before egging him on, ¡°Sure, go ahead. Show me your best attack. I¡¯ve gotta say though, so far your people have been a severe disappointment. Oh, one last question before we start. Have you ever murdered a sapient creature for the purpose of acquiring EXP? If you have, I hope you won¡¯t blame me if I don¡¯t hold back,¡± Jiran¡¯s eyes shone more fiercely than ever as he dove into the flow of the man¡¯s mana, tracking its every facet as it churned within his manapool.

    ¡°Can¡¯t say that I have. I¡¯m not some fancy scion, just a delivery boy!¡± He shouted the last word as his mana was sucked into the radiant light of an activating skill.

    He moved so quickly that his weapon practically teleported into his hands. A dozen whips of mana shot from his torso and limbs to grab at the air. Powerful winds were created around each thread before the gusting element was sucked into a raging whirlwind that wrapped around his spear. His aura firmed beneath his feet as he crouched and jumped toward Jiran. Two blasts of wind erupted beneath his wings as they flapped with enough power to send his entire group spinning wildly through the air.

    Oneness flowed through Jiran as his aura and mana united in purpose. Unlike when he fought the murkers inside their fog, he was able to bring his entire aura within his body, empowering his strength, speed, and perception to the equivalent of a tier seven. He lifted his hand to intercept the spear¡¯s tip. The leader tried to adjust his thrust but Jiran¡¯s palm unerringly redirected to meet the attack.

    The elemental winds rampaged ahead of the weapon¡¯s tip were like a thousand daggers ripping and tearing at Jiran¡¯s flesh. In the fraction of a moment before impact, Elemental Castigation created a dozen layers of wind before Jiran¡¯s extended palm. Mana Omnis tracked the Forkara¡¯s cyclone as it broke apart into a dozen deadly blades of compressed air. Jiran perceived each one as it formed in slow motion. He shaped his own elemental wind to push against and redirect the powerful arcs of hardened air, sending them sailing to the sides. Clothes, hair, and feathers billowed chaotically as crescents of force exploded away from them. The resounding impact of metal against mana and aura-reinforced skin echoed across the valley.

    Jiran¡¯s grin turned predatory as he grabbed the spearhead before it could be withdrawn. Mana Confluence invaded the metal and tore it apart at an atomic level. Astonishment dropped the leader¡¯s jaw when he realized his weapon had been reduced to sand that was scattered in the rampaging winds from their first clash. He lifted his terrified gaze to meet Jiran¡¯s unwavering confidence, his earlier battlelust nowhere to be seen.

    Jiran pointed at the man¡¯s left leg, an instant later, Elemental Castigation unleashed a condensed pinprick of elemental light. A blazing flash of energy, as silent as it was deadly, severed the man¡¯s limb, not stopping until it reached the distant cliff wall below them. Anything that ray of light touched melted and evaporated instantly, including the gases making up the air. A sucking sound reached their ears as the vacuum created by Jiran¡¯s attack was filled with fresh atmosphere.

    ¡°Make sure to tell all the clans. Tell them I¡¯ll be waiting for them, in the Land of the Lost,¡± While Jiran spoke, the man¡¯s awareness caught up to the fact that what was left of his severed leg was spinning through the air toward the ground.

    He drew in air to scream but Jiran¡¯s boot flashed forward and smashed into his chest, expelling his breath even as he was launched like an arrow out of the valley. Jiran¡¯s aura snapped back to its full extension, catching Lulu just as gravity was beginning to pull her down. Their exchange had happened so fast that she had barely dropped a centimeter. The watching Forkara took several long seconds before their brains processed what had happened and they scattered with terrified squawks. Only the tier fives had enough wherewithal to fly directly toward their leader.

    Jiran ignored Lulu¡¯s wide-eyed, open-mouthed stare as he caught and tossed the tier seven corpse toward the cloud of dust created by their leader impacting the ground. He turned them back toward the center of the valley, ¡°Now that they¡¯re dealt with, let¡¯s have a chat about what the matrons are planning. I know they¡¯re up to something.¡±

    Lulu didn¡¯t get a chance to answer before Foresight exploded a warning from his soul. Jiran instinctively understood it wasn¡¯t a cry of imminent danger. It felt exactly like the times just before he rescued Lulu and met Lenton. A sinking sensation pulled at his gut as he turned to look back toward the distant dome of ice.

    - Moments ago at the gathering of the Matrons -

    The Matron of Songs shook her head sadly as she gazed at the hated hivers so perfectly trapped and helpless. Her eyes lingered on their leaders. The Great Spirit had finally revealed the secret to their immeasurable strength. But they had not lied, they did indeed have a means to kill those of a higher tier. Like every other woman in the gathering, she knew what needed to be done. She turned back to her family, determination thrumming deeply within her song, ¡°It is the only way, my dear sisters. We must show him that our songs are not merely whispers.¡±

    ¡°His speed is sublime, so we must not waste time, I agree to commit the crime.¡±

    The Matron of Raising glanced nervously through the doorway he had left for them, seeing several of her precious sect mates were too close to the dome of ice, ¡°What of those nearby? They will surely die.¡±

    ¡°If we delay, then the Great Spirit will share in the cost, and all will be lost.¡±

    The Matrons nodded solemnly at each other with tears flowing freely down their cheeks. In unison, twelve women sang, their voices combining into a haunting harmony. The sounds rebounded, forming a quaking dissonance that unleashed deadly waves of power far beyond what their bodies could endure. They fell to their knees, blood-red sap pouring from their eyes and ears. Yet they sang on, each word more painful than the last and laced with the strength of their convictions. ¡°We leave all in his hands, as the prophecy demands!¡±

 Chapter 158 - Harmony

    "Yes! Give that bastard everything he deserves! Wait, where are you going?! You can''t leave him alive! He''s a monster in feathered wings. You don''t know what he''s done!" With foresight blaring a klaxon alarm in his skull, Jiran ignored Chokkra and turned back toward the Matrons. He blasted away, a screaming Lulu in tow.

    Before he was halfway there, the dome of ice began to shake and distort. Multiple sections along its surface bowed out like boiling bubbles ready to pop. The misty ribbons of cooled moisture rising from it danced chaotically, doubling in size as something within struggled to break free.

    That ice is strong enough to hold a tier seven! What in the inferno are they doing in there? I really need to figure out how to teleport!

    Jiran sent a silent apology to Lulu as he picked up speed. The girl''s eyes rolled back in her skull and she went limp in his aura. Two seconds later, Jiran was nearly at the dome which shuddered one last time before it exploded. Shards of ultra-hard ice shot outward, showering the clearing and nearby woods with razor-sharp projectiles. He rapidly scanned the area, seeing hundreds of Timberlings unconscious on the ground. Only a few of them had been hit, and his stomach dropped out from under him when he realized that not a single one of them moved.

    Foresight screamed bloody murder and Jiran¡¯s perception of time swelled until the world moved at a crawl. An unusual wave of force pressed against his aura. It undulated like a sound wave and he instinctively hardened a shell to block the sound. The wave pushed right through as if his defenses weren''t there and he sensed dozens more waves right behind it. As the first one struck his body, he heard the sounds of a thousand women screaming in agony and felt his brain swell and vibrate. Something cracked, sending a reverberating pop echoing inside his skull. Blood hemorrhaged from his nose, eyes, and mouth. His mana immediately raged to repair the damage as the second wave worked its way through his aura.

    Even with five trains of thought working simultaneously, he barely had the presence of mind to tuck Lulu behind him and fill her brain-layer and heartwood with regenerative mana. The portion of his mind trying to save her clinically noted how the damage she was receiving was nowhere near as bad as his. The next wave crashed into him, doing its best to rupture his skull entirely. An agonized groan leaked from his lips as he pushed more and more mana into his head, ignoring the catastrophic damage to the rest of his body.

    He curled into a ball and tightened his aura until it covered only a single meter around him. He hardened every centimeter of it, hoping to block the deadly sound that wasn¡¯t a sound. His efforts successfully lessened the damage he was taking but didn¡¯t stop it entirely. Now able to manageably heal through the brain-rending damage, his thoughts raced to understand what was happening.

    Is this the true power of their singing skill? I knew it was some kind of mental manipulation ability, but how did they make it strong enough to get through my aura? Thankfully, it¡¯s not affecting Lulu the same way it is me. Maybe the Timberlings are naturally resistant? She¡¯s definitely taking damage though, just not enough to kill her instantly.

    Jiran managed to arrest their momentum and began flying away, but not fast enough to avoid the third wave which was far stronger than the previous two.

    Does it function on an entirely different principle to mana and sound? Maybe a psychic attack? No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right. It shattered the dome and it''s ripping me apart just fine, so it¡¯s clearly physical in nature. The dome! The Matrons were at the center!

    Jiran grit his teeth and dove headfirst into the waves. Each one sent agony tearing through his skull, forcing him to lower his speed to the point where he could barely heal between them. With Foresight speeding his perception of time, it felt like ages passed between each wave, though it was only fractions of a second. He saw them in the distance, twelve women unconscious in a ring around what was left of the Forkara. The murderers¡¯ deaths were a forgone conclusion and Jiran paid their remains no mind, his focus entirely on the unmoving women.

    He lost count of how many waves he pushed through. The blood that leaked from his head had long since soaked his shirt. Finally, he passed through the last one and his aura exploded outward, wrapping around each of the Matrons and pulling them together. The last of his mana spread between them, sinking into the layer of their body that acted as a brain to repair the ruptures. Since he had been healing Lulu through each wave, he knew exactly where the damage would be worst and dove into those areas as quickly as he could, leaving the subsidiary injuries for later.

    Not one of the women showed signs of life, but that didn¡¯t stop him for a second. Enthralling Touch pulled almost all the mana from their bodies. Remembering how completely draining the women from the Sect of Hunters caused them to collapse into convulsions, he left a trickle within each of their heartwoods. He repurposed their mana toward his goals, directing it far more efficiently than they could with their limited knowledge of healing. While he separated the unique saps of each layer and re-sealed them, his aura positioned their bodies so they were all touching one another. He then used the last dregs of their energy to send jolts of current through the entire group.

    He recalled when he first arrived through the portal just two days ago how their bodies and mana all moved in sync. So he used the mana and sap pulsing through Lulu to time his shocks. After the third pulse, eight of the twelve gasped weakly as they came back to life. Jiran pulled them out of the pile and then borrowed Lulu¡¯s mana to continue shocking the rest. By the fifteenth round of defibrillations, the last was revived.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Jiran immediately jumped into the air and flew toward the nearest group of Timberlings. He scooped them up, draining their dissipating mana to heal them while moving toward more. He didn¡¯t stop until he had a group of fifteen and revived them together as well. Two were stubbornly refusing to come back so he dragged them along behind him as he raced toward the tree line.

    Just inside the shelter of their ancestral trees, he spotted several hundred more Timberlings and his heart leaped into his throat. Thankfully, the shelter, or distance from the matrons, had protected them as none were dead, only unconscious or moaning while rolling on the ground clutching their heads. Enthralling Touch pulled as much mana as he needed from whoever was nearby. He threw it into the last two women. He healed every single scrape, broken chip of bark, and disformity inside each of their layers before shocking them again and again.

    Finally, the last one¡¯s eyes fluttered open and she stared blankly at the distant sky which peeked through the boughs above. Jiran fell onto his back, joining her in the moment of stillness, his aura wrapped tightly around him, blocking the sounds of pain and misery from the nearby injured Timberlings.

    What¡­ was that? How can sound waves break through a hardened aura? Why was the damage I took so much worse than Lulu? Well, I¡¯m not going to get any answers lying around here.

    With a weary sigh, Jiran climbed to his feet. Hollow, blinking faces stared at him as he leaped above the tree line and made his way back to the shattered dome. None of the matrons were conscious yet. They drew in weak, shallow breaths and their skin was even more pale than usual. Jiran¡¯s mana and aura swept through their bodies, healing everything he had ignored the first time.

    The smell of blood was thick in the air from the nearby Forkara corpses. Elemental Castigation was put to good use creating casks of stone for each of them. As he was sealing the last few, a group of seven Timberlings exited the forest. They walked slowly, two even using gnarled roots as walking sticks. They were by far the oldest women he had seen among the strange race, and Jiran immediately had an idea of who he was looking at. He quickly finished with the Forkara and then met the women as they reached the unconscious matrons.

    They didn¡¯t say a word, nor did they greet him in the usual way. He waited patiently as one of them moved between each of the matrons, checking their vitals with gently probing fingers. When she was finished with the last, she nodded at the others before joining them. Jiran refused to fidget as seven pairs of wizened eyes examined every square centimeter of him. He looked right back, memorizing the tough, gnarled bark and cracks that snaked across their skin.

    Finally, one of them opened her mouth to sing, but not before Mana Confluence struck with impossible speed, sealing her mana from accessing the skill that had caused so much damage to begin with. The old woman inhaled sharply before quickly relaxing, ¡°We meet at last. Welcome to our home, prophesied one. My name is Sil, and these are my sisters, Tom, Fri, Lua, Ras, Ker, and Par. How may we call you?¡±

    ¡°Jiran, thank you for asking, Sil. Your names are quite a bit shorter than the others.¡±

    The old woman smiled, the wrinkles and cracks around her eyes widening, ¡°Our saplings chose our own names as theirs, adding syllables with each generation,¡± She sighed wistfully, caught up in fond memories as her smile grew, ¡°They can be quite sweet at times. I do hope you continue to treat them well. Thank you, for saving our young ones from their own foolishness,¡± She swept her hand toward the matrons.

    Jiran shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing people die in front of me.¡±

    Sil nodded sagely, ¡°The why does not matter, only the choice to save them.¡±

    When the elder didn¡¯t say anything else, Jiran asked the question that was burning a hole in his brain, ¡°What did they do, exactly? I wasn¡¯t here to see.¡±

    Sil took a deep breath to gather her thoughts before responding, ¡°We call it a harmony. All our people share a connection to the song within us. When we sing together, that connection grows in power, quickly becoming deadly. A song of two would only cause a headache. Three, and unconsciousness would be the result. Some of our more rambunctious saplings will often play such games regardless of how strict the punishment. Five songs woven together is the limit, even a single utterance from five at once is guaranteed death for any who hear it, and all of us would suffer backlash, regardless of distance. For you to have saved so many from a harmony of twelve is truly remarkable.¡± A single tear sprouted to create a jagged trail down the cracked bark of her cheek. She didn¡¯t move to wipe it away, never once breaking her gaze from Jiran.

    Jiran¡¯s brow furrowed and he mumbled to himself as her words sank in, ¡°You¡¯re singing skill¡­ is connected? Some kind of feedback loop? But the skill, no, that¡¯s not necessarily true, there¡¯s always a connection. Yes! That¡¯s got to be it!¡± Suddenly, a dozen clues began to weave together into a tapestry of understanding that sent shivers down his spine and goosebumps racing up his arms, ¡°It always comes back to the soul! Of course that would be the answer. And that even explains the failure to integrate!¡± Jiran became more animated with each word as his mind spun wildly with the possibilities of his theory.

    I know divination connects with the soul, so it makes sense that other skills do to a minor degree. Which means it¡¯s not their skill that was creating a feedback loop, it''s their souls! Well, maybe soul would be more accurate since if my theory is right, then there¡¯s only one soul between them all. That¡¯s why they¡¯re born as tier three and why their population is capped at such a specific number. That''s why their harmony creates a feedback loop¡ªit''s not multiple of the same skill being used, it¡¯s the exact same skill being used across multiple outlets of the same massive soul! It was able to move through my hardened aura because it was attacking my soul directly the entire time. They probably failed to integrate because they don¡¯t each have their own soul.

    If I¡¯m right, that means the soul and the system are directly tied together in some way, too.

    ¡°The truth unravels, as she sang it, so it has become,¡± Sil''s smiling expression turned sad as she looked at each of her sisters. One by one, they nodded gravely before she sang again, ¡°Our time is here at last, my dear sisters.¡±

    The melancholy in her song snapped Jiran from his thoughts, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°All seasons pass, and we have waited so, so long. There was one more prophecy from our mother. We chose to keep it from our children, its burden ours alone to bear. I would sing it for you now, if you would listen.

 Chapter 159 - The Last Prophecy

    Another prophecy from their mother? So it was the elders¡¯ mother who was the divinator. Interesting, I wonder how old they are. Wish I could see their status.

    As Jiran considered whether or not he wanted to hear this new prophecy, Sil sang softly, ¡°Please, allow me my connection to the song. There are words we do not understand, but we were told you would. Without the connection, their meaning may be lost.¡±

    ¡°Words you don¡¯t understand?¡± Jiran narrowed his eyes which glowed from within as Mana Omnis scoured her for some hint of why her tone had become so heavy. Finding only calm, smoothly flowing energies within her, Jiran sighed and released her skill. She sang without a moment''s hesitation. Her mana connected with her skill, turning her voice into a tormented melody. Each time she rhymed, Jiran experienced a ringing sensation that crept through his skull, leaving behind a pleasant, lulling tingle.

    ¡°My precious saplings listen well, a story of the future I will tell. Someday, long from now, when this little valley is covered by great boughs, a sapling will sing her heartwood¡¯s vows. Soon after, a choice will be made. The strength of your convictions revealed, and your debt repaid. A great harmony sung, and many left dead, but this day you must not dread. For he will save you, yes, the very one who will enslave you. All will live, and so answers you must give. A mystery he will ponder, and you will not let him wander. A question answered, unravels a truth most absurd. That is when I require you to sing him my warning most dire.¡±

    The sclera of each of the elders¡¯ eyes began to fill with a dark liquid that rapidly worked its way inward toward their pupils until each of their eyes was an inky black. Jiran squinted, unable to find even the slightest trace of mana causing the phenomenon.

    The elders fell into a daze and Sil continued her song, oblivious to Jiran¡¯s observations. Her voice changed to an unnaturally deep rumbling, like a rocky landslide that sent fresh shivers up his spine, ¡°Listen well, child of sight unique. My daughters held transcendence at bay, to deliver my message this day. A millennia ago, I came to this place, torn through space. My world forever gone, it now exists only in this song. The gods found me, and bound me, a fate we both share. In their mad crusade, they did not cease my torment ¡®til I was unmade. My soul shattered, its pieces scattered. They took from me without consent, and in my revenge, I did not relent. Long I traveled, restoring that which they unraveled. My power is now waned, yet each of my foes is long slain. At last I rest, alone and suppressed.¡±

    The other elders opened their mouths, and Jiran tensed, thinking they would form another harmony. When they only added a deep hum, his tension eased. The humming reverberated through his aura, every bit a match for the rumbling power within Sil¡¯s voice. Suddenly, the skies darkened as if the shadow of a powerful presence reached across the entire valley. Jiran glanced up, seeing no clouds blocking the sunslight.

    He froze as the head of a gargantuan Timberling peaked above the lip of the valley. Her hands gripped the distant wall, each finger larger than the tallest tree in the forest. She stood, her body translucent, her skin and bark seemingly made of compressed shadows. Jiran¡¯s eyes were drawn to hers: Two massive pools of obsidian that sucked at his soul, sending him into a daze. Her mouth opened, and the song continued.

    ¡°Not all was lost, seven seeds I saved at great cost. In time, they grew and their own saplings did come, sadly, their fate to succumb. Long have they suffered under their own shade, their fate in the light delayed. I am proud to gaze upon them now, their conviction unbending, and through them, my will is unending. If you cast them aside, into the depths they will slide. And so only to you, their future I entrust, for your rule will be just. If your strengths you provide, their devotion will never subside. Make your choice well, child of sight unique. For a King has come to play, amongst my saplings¡¯ graves you must not stay, or much suffering you will fail to hold at bay.

    The massive woman¡¯s expression softened, her song growing weaker with each word, losing its rumbling edge until it faded to a whisper filled with desperation, ¡°Your destiny is great, but on your path, much pain does await. Face it not alone, as you battle the throne. Bring my children out of their dark night, and by your side, they will forever fight. Individually weak they may be, but together¡­ you will see¡­ the scattered pieces of my soul¡­ are fierce indeed when given fresh soil.¡±

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    As the song ended, Jiran was rattled from his trance to find tears streaming down his cheeks. He wiped them away while scanning the lip of the valley, almost hoping for one more glimpse of those penetrating, beautiful pools of obsidian. The huge Timberling was nowhere to be seen. All the previous vibrant strength of the elders rushed out of them as their eyes closed and their muscles turned limp. Jiran¡¯s aura coiled around them as they collapsed, gently laying them on the ground. Their bodies rapidly shriveled until only their heartwoods remained, weakly pulsing with mana. Slowly, and then all at once, the strange darkness covering the valley was sucked into the seven pieces of glowing wood at Jiran¡¯s feet.

    The fuck did I just see? That Timberling was their mother, the original? She was huge!! Like giga-huge! Pulled through space? Trapped here and tinkered with by the gods? They tore apart her soul, maybe while trying to integrate her with the system? She was powerful enough to get her revenge on the gods? Then what, she settles down to start a quaint little family of crazy spirit worshipers who she now wants me to look after. Did that really just happen? Yeah, I know what I saw, what I felt. That was definitely real.

    Well, obviously I¡¯m going to do it! I was already planning to help them and I don¡¯t mind taking things a few steps further since she asked so nice.

    What she said about her soul confirms my thoughts about harmony. It¡¯s got to be a combination skill that directly attacks the soul. That is so awesome. We¡¯ll definitely be experimenting with that straight away. If I can figure out how their joint soul works, I wonder if I''ll get a chance to have a real conversation with their mother someday. She called me child of sight unique. If she knows about my unique ability, maybe she knows how to stop the curse.

    Should I heed her advice and head back to the empire? She mentioned a king? Is that a Graymin? The Rooks are already pretty strong, and those Bishops I ¡®fought¡¯ were way beyond what I can handle. What good could I possibly do against something even stronger? It almost sounded like she wanted me to take the Timberlings with me, they would definitely die if they fought even the weakest Graymin.

    Unless¡­

    Could that really work? What if I¡­ Father¡¯s above, is that possible? I would need so much mana. But don¡¯t we have¡ª

    Jiran¡¯s thoughts were cut off as Lulu stirred. Her chest constricted and she released a pitiful whimper. He sat beside her in the dead grass¡ªblack and wilted from the harmony unleashed directly atop it. One of her hands clutched her chest, the other her head. After another moan, her eyes fluttered open to see Jiran¡¯s gently smiling face.

    ¡°How do you feel? I healed all the damage I could see, but I¡¯m not sure where your tap is so I can¡¯t make sure your soul is fine.¡±

    ¡°My¡­ soul?¡± She sat up slowly, her mouth falling open when she took note of his blood-soaked clothes and the unconscious matrons. Then, it opened even wider when she saw the seven glowing heartwoods. ¡°What happened?¡± She hummed.

    Jiran turned with furrowed brows to look at the distant wall where the mother Timberling had appeared, ¡°The matrons sang a harmony, then they all died,¡± Lulu wilted beneath his hard glare, even though it wasn¡¯t directed at her. ¡°I rushed back, we both nearly joined them because I dove straight in to save them, not realizing how strong the harmony was. They¡¯re alive, I barely managed to bring back everyone affected. Then, the seven elders showed up and sang me another prophecy.¡±

    Seeing the dumbstruck look on her face, Jiran decided to hold off on telling her about his encounter with the literal mother-of-all-timberlings. ¡°After the elders finished, they collapsed and turned into those,¡± He tilted his head toward the heartwoods, ¡°I¡¯m glad you woke up, I¡¯m not sure if I need to do anything to preserve them.¡±

    ¡°The elders¡­ sang to you? A-are you sure? They¡¯ve never sung, not once. Even the oldest songs are of the silent mothers, always watching, always loving, but they do not sing. Harmonies are said to have many effects, one of them is hallucinations, is it possible you imagined it?¡±

    ¡°Nope, it definitely happened. So, about their heartwoods, those can be planted, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes! My apologies for not answering your question. They will not transcend without nutrients. The elders are-were special, very powerful. Their heartwoods will require a great many beasts to nurture their growth. Until they are planted, they should not need anything to remain preserved.¡± She sat up fully and faced him, tucking her feet beneath her butt. She then lowered her forehead to the ground. Tears streamed from her eyes, splashing on the dead grass, ¡°Please forgive me for failing to mention the harmony! We rarely speak of it, and I did not expect the matrons to go so far. I am truly sorry! To think my failure caused you such harm, I do not deser¡ª¡±

    Jiran¡¯s hand landed on top of her head, gently patting her silvery hair, ¡°I forgive you. In the end, I managed to save everyone and I learned a lot. Since you¡¯re going to be singing me a bunch of harmonies later, I¡¯ll let this one slide.¡±

    She jerked upright, her moist eyes wide as saucers as she shook her head, ¡°It is forbidden!¡±

    Jiran¡¯s grin grew so wide it split his face, showing all his teeth as his eyes glowed with excitement, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s going to be awesome.¡± He chuckled darkly before his remalon instincts kicked in to quell his emotions. ¡°Ahem, anyway, we have a lot of work to do and probably very little time to do it. We can take a minute if you need it.¡±

    Lulu immediately rose to her feet, only stumbling slightly before catching herself, ¡°Thank you, I will be fine. I never had the honor of meeting the silent mothers, so their loss does not seem real. I¡­ What do you need of me, Jiran.¡± He nearly reached out and patted her head again when she called him by his name without stuttering for the first time. His pleased smile caused leaves to sprout across her shoulders and head, each a more vibrant shade of vermillion than the last.

    Jiran lifted her, the slumbering matrons, and the elders'' heartwoods with his aura, ¡±I had you gather the matrons before, now, we¡¯re going to need all the Timberling. Every last one.¡±

    They quickly arrived at the tree line where several hundred Timberlings nervously watched while hiding behind the cover of their ancestral trees. Jiran spoke calmly, mana infusing his voice and spreading it until even the furthest could hear. He leaned on his charisma attribute, feeding it the intent of what he wanted to say and letting it choose his words.

    ¡°The Silent Mothers have sung their first and last song. They spoke of a great mother, the first Timberling. The connection you share through your song is her watching you from within your soul. She is a part of you. She sang to me, through the elders. Her voice was so powerful they transcended the moment her song completed.¡± Jiran lifted the seven heartwoods in the air to slowly spin around him in their darkly glowing splendor, ¡°She sang of her love for each of you, and her pride in your convictions. There was more to her song, but I will only share it when all the Timberling have come together. I ask each of you: gather your people in the deepest part of the forest. A great danger is coming, and if we are to survive, we will need to work together.¡±

    Charisma: +1

    When he finished, every single Timberling was transfixed on him and the glowing heartwoods circling above his head. Lulu was no exception, the muscles in her face slack as she gazed up at him with zealous adoration. Jiran snapped his fingers in her face, ¡°Hey, get a grip. You¡¯re a matron now, remember? Get everyone organized. Find some people to take care of the matrons until they wake up.¡±

    ¡°Are you leaving us?¡± She whispered, fear suddenly dominating her features.

    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll be back soon. Events spiraled out of my control once before and Mayalyn¡¯s people lost their home. I wasn¡¯t strong enough, people died and suffered. I swore to myself I would never let that happen again,¡± His hand landed on her shoulder and he gave her a reassuring smile, ¡°I won¡¯t let that happen to your people, or mine. Your mother asked me to look out for all of you, and that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m going to do, but I really will need everyone''s help.¡±

    Lulu clenched her jaw so hard Jiran could hear her teeth creaking in protest. She nodded sharply, refusing to let fresh tears fall as she sang through grit teeth, ¡°I will bring them. We will not fail you.¡±

 Chapter 160 - Escalations

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    ¡°Hard to believe without seeing it, right?¡± The Captain who had escorted them from the desert city of Melathon to the edge of the Graymin Filth remarked. Spread out before their small group was an ocean of gray, rotting slime. Behind them, the rolling, sandy hills of the low desert stretched before smacking into the high walls of the nearby fortress city.

    Not a single Graymin was in sight, leaving the festering wound upon the land eerily devoid of movement. The smell was exactly as Olive remembered; putrid meat left in the sunslight long enough to turn the stomach of the most hardened soldier. The strong desert winds blowing northward, toward the stain, did little to assuage the rumbling within her guts. The Fathers and Mother blasted heat upon the shifting sand beneath her feet, unfortunately unable to burn away the festering blight.

    Suddenly, Olive lurched with a gasp when she spotted a hundred men and women in uniform, flames shooting from their hands in steady streams. She had been in a despondent, depressed daze since speaking with her Father but seeing the soldiers instantly snapped her from her melancholy. Hot, raging anger rose within her, instantly seeping through her muscles. ¡°What are they doing?!¡± Olive turned on the captain who shrank back from her sudden fury. ¡°Who gave them the order to waste their mana?¡± She demanded, her tone every centimeter the overbearing warrior-princess rumors painted her out to be.

    ¡°M-my apologies, Your Highness! Those orders must have come from General Reifvus.¡±

    A calm and sensual voice cut into their conversation, ¡°Take us to him, would you please, Captain Merris.¡± Princess Vironia flashed the captain a dazzling smile that caused the man to stutter. Olive clicked her tongue, annoyed that her father had insisted they travel with the snarky girl and her guards, especially right after giving her such devastating news. The mission he had assigned them was urgent, and the additional members had slowed them down significantly, only adding to her worries.

    Captain Merris recovered, his face crimson as his fist smashed into his chest, ¡°Yes, Your Highness. Right this way!¡± The man immediately set off down the sand dune toward a nearby camp, the royals, and their guards trailing behind him.

    Princess Vironia snapped her fingers and one of her bodyguards thickened his aura enough for them to speak confidentially, ¡°Oliviala, temper-temper. Must you scare the Captain so?¡± The wicked gleam in her eyes made it all too obvious her chastising was merely the newest tally on her mental scoreboard.

    Olive ignored Vironia¡¯s futile attempt to one-up her, ¡°This is exactly the time to be angry. The Graymin are not gone, merely pulled back. Whatever they¡¯re preparing for, it''s going to be big. Wasting even a single iota of mana right now is beyond foolhardy.¡±

    Vironia laughed lightly, her hand covering her mouth before her voice turned taunting, ¡°Privy to the beast''s machinations, are you? Don¡¯t tell me this sudden font of knowledge comes from your vaunted prowess with divination. Should you really be¡­ wasting mana on such a thing when the Graymin are coming?¡±

    If she knew what I learned when I did, she wouldn¡¯t be so carefree¡­

    Olive reined her temper in, refusing to rise to the girl''s taunt, ¡°How can you not take this more seriously? Our parents even agreed to mobilize the Will-less, they wouldn¡¯t do that if this situation was something to take lightly.¡±

    Vironia shook her head sadly with an exasperated sigh, ¡°I¡¯m taking this plenty seriously, I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? Not all of us have infinite durability for stress like you brutish types. A little brevity does my body good.¡±

    ¡°If your enjoyment comes at the expense of making everyone around you miserable, perhaps you should stand to the side and let us brutish types take care of things until you¡¯re needed.¡±

    Damnit, I¡¯m letting everything get to me! Eldest Brother, please be safe.

    ¡°So cruel,¡± Vironia held her hand to her chest with her mouth hanging open in faux hurt, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Oliviala. You know I¡¯ll be useful. You really are far too touchy, my dear. If we¡¯re going to be sister-wives, there¡¯s no reason to start off on such unstable footing.¡±

    Unwilling to tell her for the thirtieth time that neither of them stood a chance of attracting Jiran¡¯s attention, Olive merely shook her head and hurried ahead. Cameron chose that moment to steer the conversation in a more constructive direction, ¡°Why do you think the General is having them push back the filth? We were told his orders were to tighten the defenses of the city, what he¡¯s doing is not helping that at all.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Vironia hummed sensually, the sound tickling the ears of the three men, ¡°General Reifvus is known for his ambition. He¡¯s one of the youngest Generals in the history of the empire and quite proud of that fact.¡±

    Olive¡¯s mouth distorted and she reared back as if smelling something vile, ¡°Disgusting, to let ambition place an entire city in danger. I¡¯ve never met the man, but if what you¡¯re saying is true, I¡¯ll not be letting him off easy.¡± Together, they hastened toward the largest tent that dominated the forward outpost of the thirty-second legion.

    Olive threw the tent flap aside with her aura and stormed inside. Seven men and women hovered over a circular table with a gorgeously detailed map spread out before them. She powered through the auras in the tent, her voice full of determination and righteous vigor, ¡°Explain this blatant disregard of your orders, General. I know for a fact you were instructed to solidify the city¡¯s defenses. How exactly, does that include pushing the filth back so far at the expense of our soldiers'' mana?¡±

    General Reifvus was a massive, heavily muscled man with a cleft chin and long sideburns. His nostrils flared and his jaw clamped shut as he spun around to find out who would dare disrespect him in front of his subordinates. The medals on his uniform swayed as his eyes bored into Olive, ¡°Who-Your Imperial Highness, Oliviala. A pleasure to finally meet you,¡± He bit off his scathing remark, his clenched jaw working side to side as his gaze roamed over the two guards, Cameron, and Vironia¡ªwho waved her fingers at him with a cheerful smile.

    After explosively releasing his held breath, General Reifvus responded in a more respectful tone, ¡°What better way to protect Melathon than retaking Fort Virindar? I¡¯ve received reports that her walls are nearly intact. At our current speed, we¡¯ll have a much more defensible forward outpost within the moon.¡±

    Olive¡¯s eyes flashed with fury so pure that it seeped into her aura. The space around them turned a shade red and the mana-enhanced cloth walls began to vibrate as pressure far greater than a tier five should be able to exhibit pressed down on all the officer''s shoulders. Her voice was low and laced with unmasked threat, ¡°You¡¯d take your soldiers to a broken wall with unpowered formations, surrounded on all sides by the filth? Who gives a shrelk¡¯s ass if you can burn a narrow path there when the Graymin will instantly have you surrounded upon their return? Call off this treasonous endeavor, immediately!¡±

    Ugh, now I¡¯m even cursing like Jiran. I have to¡ª

    Suddenly, a group of five people teleported inside the tent. One of their auras crashed down around them, cutting off any further berating. A mature man with curly blond hair wearing a black suit of armor began to clap. Each time his palms came together, a resounding smack sent the sand beneath their feet vibrating. Every single person in the tent recognized him instantly. The officers, including the General, fell to one knee, bowing their heads low.

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    The man¡¯s eyes were locked onto Olive who trembled at the sight of him, tears spilling down her cheeks. He took a measured step toward her, his warm voice filling the small tent, ¡°Well said, Oliviala. Agh!¡±

    ¡°Eldest Brother!¡± Olive leaped at him, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing until his armor creaked in protest. ¡°Thank the Mother you¡¯re alive. Father told me you were probably dead! I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re safe. W-what happened? Why haven¡¯t you reported?¡±

    Every ear in the room pricked up attentively. They all knew Prince Ardon and his party were supposed to be ranging the northern mountains, stopping any tier nine Graymin from invading the empire. The man¡¯s smile broadened, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. He affectionately patted Olive¡¯s hair and wiped away her tears with a gloved finger, ¡°You¡¯ve grown. It¡¯s barely been two moons and you¡¯re two tiers matured. When was your tiering? I wasn''t informed of the ceremony. Look at you, the spitting image of Mother. Ahem,¡± He cleared his throat and gently moved the sniffling Olive to the side so he could fully face General Reifvus, ¡°General, withdraw your troops to Melathon. The Graymin have not retreated in the slightest. Their forces gather like never before. They will be upon us before First Father¡¯s light graces the morn.¡±

    ¡°Alor!¡± General Reifvus smashed a fist to his chest and stood, already heading for the tent flap before the sound finished reverberating through Ardon¡¯s tier nine aura.

    Olive searched her brother¡¯s expression, finding something there she couldn¡¯t put her finger on, and it sent a chill through her bones, ¡°Why do you look like that? What else did you see? Tell me,¡± Despite the fear beginning to choke her guts, her voice was firm.

    Prince Ardon caught her gaze, Manasight causing his blue eyes to turn bright as he divined her mana, quietly judging the girl that he knew to be much younger than she appeared, ¡°You¡¯ve really grown, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯m so proud of you, my darling sister. I¡¯m glad I got to see you become this strong, before the end.¡± His voice cracked and moisture built at the edges of his eyes, the sight causing Olive¡¯s fear to escalate far higher than before.

    Jiran of Madra

    ¡°Here, try to push your mana into this,¡± Jiran pulled the crystal he had taken from Sanctuary out of his pocket and handed it to Lulu.

    ¡°A-ah, h-how do I do that?¡±

    ¡°Your mana is the energy inside you that connects with the song. Will that energy into the crystal.¡±

    Lulu bit her lip nervously before nodding slowly and closing her eyes. Mana Omnis observed her mana struggle to move through the layers of her body. Jiran¡¯s mana, which had been inside of her blocking her connection to her skill, helped pull her energy in the right direction but the moment it reached her skin, it stopped, refusing to budge another millimeter. After a few more seconds of struggling, Lulu¡¯s shoulders sagged.

    Jiran took the crystal back and before she could apologize, he patted her hair in the way she liked so much, ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t have a skill that allows unaspected mana to move beyond your skin. Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s completely normal. Each species is unique and has skills that work slightly differently. For instance, you have no issue projecting mana outward through song, unfortunately, this crystal doesn¡¯t work that way. I¡¯ve got a backup plan though, it¡¯ll just be a little less comfortable. When Niya arrives, tell everyone to cooperate with her and that whatever she does is part of my plan.¡±

    Lulu nodded firmly, sending leaves scattering down her slender frame, ¡°Yes, Jiran.¡±

    ¡°Here,¡± The elders¡¯ heartwoods floated down to land on the ground. Jiran used Mana Confluence to transform a layer of dirt into a square cloth that he wrapped around them, ¡°I¡¯ll leave these with you, take care of them for me.¡±

    She took a step toward him, her fingers lightly brushing his forearm before she pulled away, ¡°May you return to our shade safely.¡±

    Jiran smiled, touched by the care in her song, ¡°You stay safe as well. Bye, Lulu,¡± Then, he was gone, racing above the treetops to the east in search of Niya and Mayalyn. Before he found them, he pulled at the gateway to his soul, releasing a drop of Madra¡¯s mana and trying to force it into the crystal.

    [Error: Incompatible Power Source Detected]

    Figures. Nothing¡¯s ever easy, is it?

    He found a small clearing and threw away Madra¡¯s volatile mana. It hissed and popped as it sank into the ground, eating everything it touched. After taking to the skies again, he spotted a streamer of black smoke rising into the air and headed toward it. Mayalyn was standing over the corpse of a furry, six-legged beast while Niya was spraying a jet of water from her hand, putting out the fire responsible for the smoke. Nearby, another six corpses of the same type of beast were torn to shreds. Jiran was tempted to pull the dissipating mana from them, but knowing it would make him sick, he restrained himself.

    Niya clicked her tongue when she saw him, ¡°Didn¡¯t trust us to take care of a few weaklings?¡±

    Mayalyn walked over and wrapped him in a hug which he happily returned, ¡°That¡¯s not it at all, there¡¯s been a change of plans. A lot happened in the last hour,¡± Jiran told them about the deal he offered the Forkara leaders and everything that happened with the harmony, elders, and finally, meeting the original Timberling. While he was explaining, he picked up two small rocks and once more used Mana Confluence, converting them to hollowed-out metal blocks. He pushed his mana and aura inside them. The energies were like oil and water, unmixing but complimenting each other as they smoothly flowed into the squares through a small recess that only opened when a button was depressed.

    ¡°So that¡¯s why it suddenly got so dark. Dang, wish I had seen her,¡± Niya pursed her lips petulantly, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.

    ¡°I assume you have a plan, my Aajiran. How can I help?¡± Her warmth pressed into his side, and knowing they might not get another chance for a while, he basked in the affection.

    The corner of Jiran¡¯s mouth lifted in a smirk, ¡°I do indeed. Here, take these,¡± He handed one of the new formation blocks to each of them. ¡°Stuffed the last of my mana in them, about forty percent for each of you. If you push the button, you¡¯ll be able to access it. Niya, yours is unaspected, so all you have to do is use Mana Transference to claim it. Mayalyn, yours is lightning aspected. It might come out a little fast, you probably shouldn¡¯t use it until your Enhancing is almost empty.¡±

    ¡°M¡¯kay,¡± Mayalyn nodded, the excited gleam in her eyes letting him know she definitely wouldn¡¯t be waiting that long to try it out.

    While they both turned the blocks in their hands, examining the smooth surfaces and pressable button, Jiran pulled one of the tier five corpses to himself and began tearing it apart, swallowing down the raw meat which rapidly dissolved into density. Mayalyn¡¯s jaw fell open and her pupils turned to slits as the raw blood flowed down his chin. She took a deep breath, spinning around to look the other way.

    Niya did the same, though for entirely different reasons as she made a gagging sound, ¡°Gross! At least cook it first, you freak!¡±

    ¡°No time, every minute counts.¡±

    Niya frowned, ¡°You think this King might already be attacking the empire?¡±

    ¡°If not now, then soon. But we can¡¯t leave yet. Rushing off to the front lines without being prepared is the worst thing we could do. I¡¯ll know more about the timing and situation in general when I can talk to Daughter, but that won''t be until tonight. In the meantime: Mayalyn, can you circle the valley and make sure no beasts make it past the hunters? The Timberlings are going to be gathering in the center of the valley, keep them safe for me until I¡¯m back. Niya, will you go to where they¡¯re gathering and fill this up as much as you can,¡± Jiran handed her the Sanctuary crystal.

    She looked between the crystal and him in confusion for a second before understanding struck. Her mouth fell open, only to quickly turn into a wicked grin that revealed her teeth, ¡°Yeah, I can do that. You¡¯re a tricky bastard, you know that?¡±

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d like my plan. Go easy on them, they don¡¯t react well when they don¡¯t have any mana left.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± She rolled her eyes.

    She must have drained someone when she was escorting Lulu around to gather the matrons, figures.

    Jiran continued, making eye contact with both of them in turn, deepening his voice to impress how important his next words were, ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can, stay safe, and watch out for any tier seven Forkara. After offering only a select few of them a way to ascend, the rest should be drawn to the Land of the Lost. Especially the ones I excluded should show up to try and stop their enemies from growing more powerful than them. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they send a few tier fives or sixes to take captives as leverage to force my cooperation, though.¡±

    Sparks danced across Mayalyn¡¯s skin and her claws extended from flexed, shaking fingers, ¡°They are welcome to try.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, whatever she said,¡± Niya¡¯s lips pulled back in a snarl as she clenched her fist around the crystal.

    After one last quick hug to them both, Jiran lifted himself into the air, flying backward, ¡°Make sure to wear your armor, vacation¡¯s officially over,¡± Then, he turned and raced out of the valley toward the Land of the Lost.

 Chapter 161 - Lure

    - Minutes Ago: Edge of the Valley of Melodies -

    Bahlicc had never been so humiliated in his life. Agony raced through the delicate membranes and bones of his wings. His chest was on fire from where the monster had kicked him. Worse still was the throbbing pain coming from a leg that was no longer there. He had always been outwardly respectful, careful to never offend those who must not be offended. Even toward his underlings, who may someday surpass him, he had shown respect and never fostered grudges.

    How could I have known that¡­ monster was an existence beyond comprehension? He moved and spoke slower than me. I could feel the difference in strength between us. It wasn¡¯t nearly so vast as the moment he became serious. How did his power increase so suddenly? It should have been an even fight at the worst. He was playing with me the entire time! He really did kill that tier seven himself. Unbelievable.

    A sudden roar shattered the air and snapped Bahlicc from his errant thoughts. In the distance, through the line of toppled trees his own body had made while falling, he saw the monster heading back into the center of the valley. The young man, who was so beautiful it made Bahlicc want to spit, was being carried forward by a wall of blue flames large enough to envelop an entire sectroost. The sounds coming from that explosive force were responsible for the tremendous roar that shook him to his bones.

    Bahlicc¡¯s aura pulled him from the soft soil he was embedded in. He extended his wings, feeling bones snap and puncture through delicate skin. His aura pulled everything back into place while his mana washed through him, hard at work healing the worst of his injuries. Wind churned around the tip of his finger so fast it turned blistering hot. He used the heat to cauterize the stub of his missing leg, gritting his teeth with a deep frown as lances of pain shot through him.

    A tier five lackey of the Storm Claw dove to land beside Bahlicc, worry clear on his face as he took in his leader¡¯s disheveled and injured appearance. ¡°Master Bahlicc! Are you al-Ahck!¡± The soldier squawked as Bahlicc grabbed him by the face and slammed his head into the dirt.

    So many plans ruined in a single moment. All that effort dropped to shatter. But where there is change, the adaptable will triumph.

    ¡°On your claws, worm, and keep your fucking mouth shut!¡± The soldier sprang to his feet, saluting with two hands crossing his chest. An instant later, the tier seven corpse slammed into the man. The incredible weight of it shattered his body and sent him crashing back into the dirt.

    Bahlicc looked down at the broken soldier who tried to howl but the corpse was too heavy, crushing his lungs. He shook his head sadly, the sudden appearance of the corpse all the more proof that it was time to do what needed to be done. The others arrived, crowding in to watch the dying soldier slowly choke on his own blood. Bahlicc grunted with effort as he lifted the incredibly heavy thing with his aura. He pulled his fallen spear to himself and without a second thought, plunged it through his dying comrade¡¯s neck.

    Shocked inhalations resounded around him, punctuated by the distant roar of the monster¡¯s power. Bahlicc ran his eyes across his fellow soldiers, some of them meeting his gaze with knowing looks, others instantly breaking contact to stare at the ground in subservience.

    This is it, there¡¯s no going back after today.

    ¡°It is time, brothers and sisters. Rah¡¯farakk! Kor¡¯farakk!¡± Upon hearing the code phrase from a long-dead, conquered sect, stunned silence rippled outward. It lasted only a second before his trusted brothers set upon the soldiers, who fought back valiantly with flashing steel and cutting wind.

    Within moments, only a dozen men were left standing, the rest lay dead. Bahlicc¡¯s most trusted and loyal friend turned to him with a steely gaze, ¡°Are we truly prepared for this, brother?¡±

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Bahlicc snapped. ¡°The winds have shifted and the Storm Claw are doomed. Most of our plans must be abandoned, but that is a small price to pay for the opportunity to turn to the winning side early. Burn the bodies. The¡­ monster uses fire, turns out he didn¡¯t let many of us escape his domain. Unfortunately, we were captured by one of Dokkuun¡¯s patrols and imprisoned. Luckily, he chose to spare us because of this marvelous trophy we happened to find. Understood?¡± Bahlicc¡¯s last word was soaked with threatening meaning and his loyalists nodded fervently, instantly setting to work on burning the Storm Claw lackeys.

    Bahlicc spat on the corpse of the first soldier he¡¯d killed, his eyes inevitably drawn back to the valley and the slowly-dissipating cloud of black smoke.

    Before the monster ends you, I hope you and your entire sect choke on your own blood, Raahak.

    Chokkra stepped out of the woods after the last of the Storm Claw expedition flew away. He watched the bodies of their betrayed allies smoldering in the sunslight, a grin stretching his lips. ¡°The Storm Claw are so fucked,¡± He chortled, barely restraining a bout of cackling.

    Already they claw at one another''s necks. Big brother Jiran has no idea the turmoil he¡¯s unleashed upon us. How I yearn to see it all unfold. But that¡¯s not the task he gave me. Scout and report, do not engage. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be interested in hearing about this. Now I just have to find him, he¡¯s way too fast for his own good.

    Chokkra flexed his wings, the movement sending a blissful tingle racing down his spine. He would always remember the moment Jiran had crushed his wings. The agony and shame of it had brought him to the edge of despair. Only for him to heal them as quickly as they had been taken away. Until the day Stormer embraced him, he would never again take them for granted.

    A powerful jump and two quick flaps brought him high into the sky. He turned toward the valley, the smile he hadn¡¯t been able to wipe off his face all morning was as wide as ever. Each beat of his wings brought him closer to the harbinger of change, and anticipation raced through him thinking about what mission Jiran might give him next.

    Knife of Melodies

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    Knife awoke to a splitting headache so fierce that she swore her cracks must be widening. With one open eye, she peered left and right, hoping to find some explanation for what had happened. A groan beside her triggered memories to come flooding back, releasing another wave of pain through her head.

    We¡¯re scouting the walls with the hunters, under the Great Spirit¡¯s command. The Great Spirit¡­ I still can¡¯t believe he¡¯s really come. And he¡¯s so much more than I ever imagined.

    She stood on shaky feet, cringing but pushing through the discomfort of moving limbs that very much did not want to move. She blinked rapidly as her balance slowly returned. Around her, a dozen of her sisters and several buds were slowly coming to their senses.

    This is¡­ a harmony? That has to be it, but how could it have been powerful enough to¡ªthe matrons! Matron Frigoniaparuala, we will mourn your loss this night.

    ¡°Tomaralareene,¡± One of her sisters of conflict moaned while climbing to her feet.

    Knife cut her hand through the air, a scowl on her features, her song curt, ¡°My name is Knife,¡± The life-energy swirling within her compulsively demanded she finish her sentence, ¡°Now stand tall my sister, amidst this strife.¡± Knife clicked her tongue, annoyed she hadn''t managed to stop herself from rhyming even one time yet.

    How does the Great Spirit do it? His life-energy flows into my chest, and the compulsion stops. I never even noticed it before his arrival, now I can¡¯t stop thinking about it. Only in my thoughts am I free from the need. Such a deplorable weakness.

    She shook her head, sending another spike of pain racing through her layers. Now wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts. She had been given a mission and with a harmony strong enough to render her unconscious, it was impossible to know how many of her people were in danger at that very moment.

    Knife¡¯s song was commanding, ¡°The matrons joined in harmony, their deaths a shame to see. Our task has become far more vital, so do not dawdle,¡± Her voice was met with a wave of whimpering as each clutched their heads. Knife growled, her song changing to promise violence for any who moved too slow, ¡°On your feet! There will be no retreat. Spread out, we must continue to scout.¡± They obeyed slowly, the youngest of the buds having the most difficulty.

    A spike of panic rippled through her layers and she felt matching fear blossoming across her shoulders.

    If the buds are suffering this much, did any of the saplings survive? Surely the Great Spirit would not allow such a thing, how dare I doubt him.

    She clenched her eyes shut, refusing to believe the Great Spirit would allow the little ones to come to harm. One of her sisters pointed toward the distant wall of the valley, ¡°What are those scratches? There are no beast claws I know that matches.¡± Knife traced the direction of her sister¡¯s finger, seeing four long gouges that ran from the lip of the valley wall to the floor.

    She raced ahead, quickly leaving the safety of her ancestors'' shade as she sprinted across the open skies to the Wall of Lost Souls. She found the caved-in soil at the base of the gouges, proof a heavy beast had landed after coming down the cliff. Her brow wrinkled, stretching the cracks in her skin as she tracked the strange, straight and elongated prints to the north. The others soon caught up to her, following behind as she moved as quickly as possible to find the beast.

    They re-entered the forest a kilometer to the north, the last of the tracks deeper than those before. Knife immediately looked up, seeing the telltale sign of a broken branch. A flicker of movement caused her gaze to lock onto the eyes of the camouflaged beast that stared back at her. Its skin looked exactly like the bark of the tree it had been attached to, allowing it to nearly-perfectly blend in. The moment she spotted it, the beast unfurled from its perch, dropped to the ground, and roared.

    Knife launched herself forward, thankful that the Great Spirit had the foresight to return her blade. She connected with the song inside her, humming it to life as she flashed forward to meet the creature''s claws. Her sisters were right beside her, their own humming brought additions to the song that added to each of their strength and speed. Before they could reach the beast, several arrows blasted over their shoulders and slammed into it.

    Hardened wood cracked and split as the missiles lodged themselves into the beast. It showed no signs of caring as it swiped a massive claw at Knife. She threw herself to the forest floor. Moss, and small plants pressed against her body as the incredibly quick and deadly limb sailed over her head. Her unkempt hair was the last thing to fall. Some of it caught on the beast''s paw and was summarily ripped from her scalp.

    A giggle of excitement filtered through her hum as her body came to life in a way it only did when she fought. She leaped to her feet, a hungry smile spread across her face. She leaped, landing on the beast''s shoulder and sinking her knife into its tough flesh. It pulled its extended arm back, jerking its elbow behind it in an effort to knock her off. Five spears stabbed into its exposed chest, eliciting a furious growl. Her sisters leaped away long before its follow-up swipe could reach them.

    The beast howled its rage, its entire body shaking as it crouched. Five new arrows sprouted inside its mouth, turning its howl into a strangled cry of pain. Knife¡¯s hand gripped one of its spiny protrusions for support as she sunk her blade into it again and again. There was a manic gleam in her eyes as the camouflage bark beneath her began reverting to leathery skin. The spears came in again, followed by another round of arrows before the creature shook a final time and crashed to the ground.

    She leaped from her perch, casting her gaze across her sisters with pride. Only one of them had taken a glancing blow and sported a gash through her bark layers. Red sap leaked from the wound, coating the woman¡¯s hand. Knife shivered and licked her lips at the sight of the perfectly straight line across the otherwise jagged bark of her stomach. Knife was almost jealous of how many suitors her sister would have from the beautiful crack. She pulled her eyes away to examine the unfamiliar beast, the smell of its innards already thickening the air.

    A moment later, she was back on full alert, casting her gaze in every direction as she sang above the humming of her sisters, ¡°Its paws are too small, this was not the one who came down the wall!¡±

    Her fears were answered as she saw a most disturbing sight through a gap in the trees. A massive tumor on the side of a transcended opened up like a corrupted flower. A wet squelching sound was accompanied by an incredibly similar beast pulling itself free and falling to the ground. It stood up and shook the goop off its leathery skin. The creature cast its gaze about, quickly spotting her. When it did, its eyes lit up with an inner glow. It stepped to the side, breaking eye contact, but not before she saw its skin turn to bark, blending it in with the surroundings.

    Before Knife had a chance to curse, the trees before them came to life with movement as a dozen more of the beasts revealed themselves. Instincts screamed at her to run, she turned, ready to issue the command to retreat, only to find a dozen more sets of glowing eyes behind them.

    They sacrificed one of their own to lure us in?!

    In that suspended moment of realization, she remembered the Great Spirit¡¯s strict warning not to engage any beasts they were unfamiliar with. In her pain and worry while recovering from the harmony, she had completely forgotten. Her eyes darted left and right, noting the position of each of her sisters.

    I¡¯ll get them out of here, no matter the cost.

    Knife crouched, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her most trusted ally. Her focus drew in to a single point, connecting with the song that existed inside them all. The power blossomed within her, and she became whole, more¡ªher true self that only emerged in the heat of battle. Her life flashed before her eyes: Endless days of training and sparring, slaying more beasts and Forkara than she knew how to count, turning down every suiter to dedicate each moment toward a single purpose: Taking one slow and steady step after another toward perfection.

    Now, it was time to put all her efforts to the test. She would either return to him victorious with her knife held high, or not at all.

 Chapter 162 - Pride

    Mayalyn Aloyhee

    Mayalyn caressed the incredibly smooth metallic cloth of her armor, once more marveling at its flexibility and strength. She especially loved the bright blue and gold colors, knowing how well they matched her hair and eyes. She pushed her feet through the suit first, wiggling her toes as they popped out of the bottom of each leg. The material glided across her skin and she smiled, unable to help herself from imagining Jiran¡¯s fingers doing the same. Which of course also reminded her of the sight of blood dripping down his chin while he tore into fresh, uncooked meat. The sight had been so primal it immediately awoke her body''s persistent need. She shuddered and then huffed in annoyance, pulling her thoughts back to what she was doing.

    The rest of the suit slid on quickly and she secured it with the strange ¡®Zhippher,¡¯ that Jiran had been so proud of. Mayalyn clenched her fists several times, hopping in place to get her blood flowing again. Her core thrummed, ready to boost her circulation further if she chose to call on her mana.

    ¡°Stay safe, Mayalyn,¡± Niya called and Mayalyn looked over her shoulder at the striking woman who had gathered the corpses of their recent hunt together with her aura. Niya had also donned the armor Jiran made her, a matching set to Mayalyn¡¯s except green and gold. For the life of her, she couldn¡¯t understand why Jiran became so embarrassed whenever he saw their suits. They were perfect.

    She shrugged off the thought, returning Niya¡¯s farewell with a cheerful smile, ¡°Thank you, Niya. You as well. I am off.¡±

    Mayalyn jogged out of the forest at a speed that would have made her old, helpless self cry with envy. She scanned the sky and the distant, curving cliff wall, searching for her next prey. Upon seeing nothing, she pushed on, grinning as her tier four muscles finally felt warm enough to let loose. Her torso angled down until it was parallel with the ground and her legs burned as she pushed herself to her natural limit. The wind crashed against her armor and she luxuriated in the feeling of it pulling her hair back. She tucked her ears against her scalp and pulled on her mana.

    Her speed doubled, then doubled again as Jiran¡¯s lightning coursed through her, completely under her command. She rapidly approached the edge of the crater-shaped valley, controlling the energy within her in lightspeed bursts, forcing it through her muscles to make them move far beyond their limits. Joyous laughter bubbled up within her as the world turned into blurred pastels. She leaped, turning sideways in the air to land feet-first on the sheer cliff face.

    Mayalyn didn¡¯t stop running. She would never stop running. She was speed-incarnate, and when she found her next prey, they wouldn¡¯t know what hit them.

    Knife of Melodies

    ¡°Retreat! Pick up your feet!¡± Knife¡¯s voice cracked with command as she dashed between the two closest beasts. They angled to face her, long limbs tipped with deadly claws swiping at her small frame, ¡°Falter!¡± She pulled on the song, unleashing it in their direction as she dove headfirst.

    Both beasts lost focus for a fraction of a second, their movements stuttering just enough that she narrowly passed below one claw and above the other. Her knife flashed as she whistled through the air, nicking an arm but doing no real damage. The monster roared anyway, furious that its prey had managed to bring it even the slightest bit of pain. Knife landed on her outstretched hand, rolling forward and coming to her feet. She spun, putting her back to the beast she had not hit.

    She could feel it behind her, its breath tickling the leaves on her neck. The roaring one charged, eager to tear her limb from limb for the offense she had given it. Her teeth flashed in a wild grin, the frantic chaos of battle bringing every layer of her body to life. Her instincts screamed and she ducked. A claw sailed over her head and smashed into the charging beast which was launched to the side. A thunderous crash resounded beside her as it slid along the ground and smashed into a tree.

    ¡°The way is open, let your spirits be not broken!¡± Her sisters hummed a cheer, charging into the hole she had created in their encirclement. Knife stood tall as the women and buds raced by, dashing deeper into the woods. ¡°Do not stop, or your bark I will chop!¡± They listened, not turning back to see her standing alone before two dozen beasts.

    They are faster than us even with our melody. So be it, let this be my repentance. I pray the next knife he finds is a better listener.

    Knife charged, opening herself fully to the song, ¡°Falter!¡± She screamed as she jumped onto one of the beasts, her knife plunging into its shining eye. ¡°Jump!¡± The life-energy within her answered her call, enhancing her muscles as her legs extended. She was gone just before the beast''s massive paw smashed into its own face. She crashed into the back leg of another, her blade flashing twice in quick succession, releasing two sprays of blood that left moist warmth on her bark.

    Suddenly, her movements slowed as her sisters¡¯ humming could no longer be heard. The leg she had been mutilating kicked her so quickly she couldn¡¯t even perceive it moving. She flew through the air, her body refusing to draw breath, tearing the song¡¯s connection from her grasp. Something hard smashed into her back, cracking her bark. She spun wildly before landing on soft, mossy ground.

    Not yet, they aren¡¯t far enough!

    She sprang to her feet, ignoring the strange tearing sensation in her back. Her free hand thudded against her chest as she commanded air to flow. The deep breath that followed burned like her heartwood was on fire. The pain was nothing compared to her desire to see her sisters live after her foolish mistake. Six of the beasts stood before her, the rest separated from the group, their destination obvious. Unless she did something insane, they would pull away before she could stop them from murdering her sisters. She charged, her voice cracking but strong enough to access the song once more.

    ¡°Dash!¡± She sang, her legs blurring as she ran directly between the four in her way. ¡°Evade!¡± Knife¡¯s focus reached heights she didn¡¯t know she was capable of as she pushed forward through grasping claws and snapping fangs. She felt like she was seeing, hearing, and feeling for the time as the world snapped into crystalline focus. Attacks came from every direction and she bent and twisted, dodging them all. only a single swipe managing to graze her shoulder. The thrill of life and death combat filled her as she stepped between their legs. She felt light, fast beyond reason.

    Against all odds, she came out the other side and hurtled through the air with a shrill warcry. ¡°Die!¡± The backs of her targets grew fuzzy and blurred before she slammed into one of them.

    Her knife went to work, tearing fake bark to reach the delicate flesh beneath. Her other hand grasped at the creature''s back so she wouldn¡¯t fall off, but for some reason, she fell anyway. Undeterred, Knife kicked off the beast, flipped in the air, and landed in a crouch. ¡°Jump!¡± She flew, blasting into the next retreating beast, her weapon biting deep. Again, her other hand failed to find purchase and she fell. The world spun and suddenly, her body felt heavy and sluggish.

    So this is all I¡¯m capable of, my true limit?

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    A roar and a crash behind her caused her to turn in a daze. Her vision wavered between blurry and clear as she watched the four beasts struggling behind her. They struck one another, claws flashing and jaws tearing as they fought over something on the ground between them. One of the beasts managed to grab it and tear its way free of the melee. Knife¡¯s vision cleared for a second, more than long enough for her to see that the beast¡¯s prize was a skinny arm, covered in bark and wet, red sap. She raised her hands and looked down at her arms, or what should have been her arms, finding only one that clutched her knife in a trembling, death grip.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s why I fell,¡± Even as her vision returned to a blurry mess, a soft smile pulled at her sap-stained lips.

    I did it, I said something without rhyming. Are you proud of me, Great Spirit?

    Pain, unlike anything she had felt before, crashed into Knife¡¯s back and darkness consumed her.

    Mayalyn Aloyhee

    Mayalyn ran sideways across the curvature of the valley wall. Unfortunately, the cliff wasn¡¯t perfectly smooth so she had to leap down a moment later. The momentary feeling of defying gravity had been too fun not to repeat, so when she found another section of the wall with the right curve, she jumped and ran along it, too.

    Maybe Jiran would smooth out the whole valley for me so I can try to run around the entire thing. He does owe me a favor.

    The thought of his ridiculous expression, when she made her request caused her to giggle. The sound was instantly cut off when she saw a set of strange markings on the wall ahead of her. She jumped and landed at the base of the cliff, sniffing the air around the impact site of the beast that had made the marks.

    Thick aura remnants, tier five. And there are Timberling tracks. Cursed fur-chits, those fools went after a tier five!

    Lightning coursed through her body as she dashed toward the woods to the north, easily following the tracks of the heavy beast. Her ears pricked at the sound of singing and she put on speed, feeling Jiran¡¯s energy trying to pull her muscles apart even as she demanded more. She slowed to dash through the trees, roaring and crashing ahead causing her to curse her slowness.

    Mayalyn recognized the small Timberling Jiran had become friends with. She was standing fully upright between six beasts. Four of them fought over the girl''s arm while she watched them in a daze. Two others loomed at her back, to either side. Their claws were already halfway to her and there was no way Mayalyn would be able to stop them in time.

    ¡°Duck!¡± Mayalyn screamed but the half-dead girl was either in shock and couldn¡¯t hear her, or simply didn¡¯t understand her words.

    Mayalyn crouched and released a roar that shook the trees around her. The beasts were undeterred by her threat, their claws only centimeters away from tasting the sweet flesh of their next meal. Mayalyn fell into the lightning within her as her core churned with every ounce of power she could cycle through it. Blood and mana combined, racing through her body and mingling with lightning. She exploded forward, her arms raised before her as she barreled straight through the two trees still in her way. Tough bark shattered against her armored arms before she smashed into the Timberling, sending the girl hurtling forward just as two massive claws pinged off Mayalyn¡¯s shoulderplates.

    Mayalyn spun around, gripping both offending paws so tightly that skin and bone shattered within her hands. She looked up at the prey before her and instincts passed down from mother to daughter ignited in her chest. She roared again, and this time, the beasts listened, freezing in fear from the predator within their midsts.

    Her claws flashed. Enhanced by Jiran¡¯s metal, they instantly sheared through tough skin and bone. Lightning cooked their organs, exploding limbs that failed to hold the massive charge she unleashed within each one. The pitiful beasts stood no chance, within moments, they were all reduced to smoking corpses. Mayalyn sniffed the air, quickly finding the tier five hidden in the boughs. It was a gelatinous blob with dozens of whip-like tentacles. Every part of its body perfectly melded with its environment, but it could never hide from her nose. The moment she spotted it, the beast tried to flee.

    It swung through the branches and its tentacles smacked into the ground, speeding it further. Each time one of its limbs touched a tree, that spot swelled as if the bark had been infected with poison. Mayalyn reached it within moments, her enhanced speed more than enough to keep up with a beast a single tier above her.

    The longer I chase it, the more enhancing I will drain. I need to finish this quickly. My control and power with charging is insufficient to kill it at a distance without draining Jiran¡¯s cube but I should really save that for an emergency.

    The moment it landed after swinging off a limb, she struck. With a movement far faster than its retreat, the beast turned its bottom to face her and its many tentacles thrashed in her face. She weaved between its desperate defense. After seeing what it did to the trees, she made sure not to let it touch her even once. As if waiting for her momentum to falter, its aura thickened and pressed down, slamming her down so hard that her feet sank several centimeters into the tough soil. Her organs stiffened, resisting the powerful force of pressure as she pulled on the metal element infusing her.

    It appears I do not have any other choice, if I can not finish it in one strong blow, I will use the cube.

    Mayalyn¡¯s core roared as she burned through her remaining mana. She bent her knees and exploded upward with a fully empowered jump. Flipping midair, she landed feet first on the trunk of a tree. Before her weight settled, she was already jumping again, this time landing on the underside of a long, thick limb. A final jump brought her directly down onto the beast¡¯s unprotected head.

    She didn¡¯t hold back, plunging both her gauntleted hands into the creature''s viscous membrane and unleashing fifty percent of her stored lightning. The beast exploded, showering both her and the forest with smoking filth. Without missing a beat, Mayalyn spun around and raced back to the wounded Timberling.

    On her way, she noticed the poisoned areas the beast touched were still swelling in size and she could smell more of the lower-tier monsters growing inside. She clicked her tongue, knowing she didn¡¯t have time to save the girl if she dealt with all the beasts that were about to spawn.

    What would Jiran do? Save her, or fight? Who am I kidding, he would definitely do both.

    Mayalyn huffed and dashed toward the broken Timberling.

    Jiran of Madra

    Jiran blasted through the air, staying low to the ground. His aura snatched up another tier three beast. Enthralling Touch dominated and pulled its mana into the air. The beast thrashed, completely helpless as its energy was pilfered. The mana which used to belong to it, hardened into a spike that slid through its skull to pierce its brain. The beast stilled and was tucked into the growing pile of corpses being dragged behind Jiran. He never slowed, steadily moving toward the Land of the Lost at what he could only consider an abysmal speed.

    With the stolen mana pooled outside his body, he squeezed and pushed at it, his intent to purify the beastly corruption from it. A stream of black liquid rained down to the ground. He then absorbed the tiny amount of mana that was left.

    I¡¯ve been at this for an hour and I¡¯ve barely made a dent in my mana. At least I¡¯ve confirmed this place is similar to the empire where the average beasts are tier three. It¡¯s going to take hours to find and eat enough to fully refill though.

    Unacceptable. So be it, I''ll make sure to pay them back later if they aren¡¯t satisfied with these.

    After ten minutes of flying at top speed, Jiran spotted his target on the horizon. It was not the Land of the Lost, but a small town of Forkara he had seen on his way back to the valley earlier that morning. The settlement was tucked against the side of a massive, sheer cliff face. A dozen building-sized spikes of stone had been jammed into the cliff and were used as braces for the dozens of attached buildings that hung between them. As he approached, he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the unusual sideways architecture of the town which was so different to anything he had ever seen.

    Jiran¡¯s rocketing approach was far too quick for the entire town to flee. He slowed himself with his aura, arriving just as fifty armed and armored warriors flew out to meet him. His emerald gaze swept across them, noting their tiers and greedily examining the mana churning through their bodies.

    He infused his words with mana and formed his aura into a cone to further enhance his voice, ¡°My name is Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings!¡± A thousand pairs of eyes locked onto him as men, women, and children joined the soldiers in examining the strange man floating beside their town. ¡°I am short on time and my need is great. If this meat does not suffice as a worthy trade, I can be found in the Valley of the Timberlings. If you come in peace, you will not be harmed and you will be repaid.¡± Faces once looking at him in fear and concern morphed to complete confusion.

    A bulky male Forkara in thick armor with a long spear pointed his weapon at Jiran, his mouth opening to no doubt demand answers. Before he could, Enthralling Touch connected with, dominated, and then drained half of the mana from each and every person in the town.

 Chapter 163 - Before The Hunt

    Jiran quickly realized there was a problem with his plan. The distance he could manipulate mana outside his body was limited to only a few meters. Meanwhile, the hundreds of streams of mana being drawn to him from across the Forkara town were well outside that range. Wisps of energy dissipated from each stream, the precious energy fading into nothing as he watched.

    ¡°What have you done?! How dare you! Die!¡± The large tier five Forkara screeched and charged with powerful flaps of his wings. ¡°Keah!¡± The man cried out in alarm as fifty tier three beast corpses were thrown at him before he had a chance to thrust his spear.

    Jiran dashed past while he was distracted, easily pushing away the tier three and four warriors between him and the streams of mana. He made a quick circle of the sideways town, sucking in every ounce of mana in the air. During his pass, he noted that the pile of corpses he threw had been hastily discarded on the top side of one of the buildings. When he turned to leave, the fifty soldiers were blocking his path, mixed fury and fear marring their features.

    Their leader leveled his spear again and shouted while pushing mana into a skill, ¡°Scathing Tempest!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I really don¡¯t have time to play,¡± The soldiers ignored Jiran¡¯s dismissal, their wings sending out gusts of wind that combined into a massive cyclone. Mana Omnis could see the elemental mana within and Jiran clicked his tongue, annoyed he couldn¡¯t claim the precious energy. Since the mana had already been converted to an element, it was beyond enthralling touch¡¯s ability to steal¡ªthat was something he could only do with elemental mana he had created.

    Mana Confluence coated his skin as he dashed straight through the cyclone. Elemental Castigation wrapped his coating with a layer of obfuscating light, causing him to vanish from their sight. Once he was far enough beyond their blockade that they wouldn''t be burned, he rocketed away.

    Jiran arrived above the Land of the Lost for the second time that morning. He looked down at the utterly still fog that permeated the forest, instantly spotting two of the tier seven beasts that called the area home. He held his forearm in front of his face, keenly recalling the pain from when he had been struck. Despite its graphene reinforcing, his cloth sleeve had only stopped the tier seven claws from piercing his flesh while the blow¡¯s force alone had nearly destroyed his limb.

    Okay, armor upgrade first.

    He flew to the ground, a gout of flames quickly turning several nearby trees and bushes to charcoal. Mana Confluence converted the material into dozens of sheets of graphene. His aura stretched deep into the ground, quickly finding and pulling out several chunks of ore-laced stone. He melted them down and filtered out their impurities in a furnace formed of aura. As the metal cooled, He stripped off his clothes and brought all of his raw materials together.

    One centimeter at a time, Mana Confluence tore apart the cloth and metal at a molecular level before reforming the matter into his crystal-clear mental image. He fed his creation as much mana as it needed to turn his shirt and pants into hardened metal interlaced with hundreds of layers of graphene. Ten minutes, and half of his manapool later, he stared down at a suit of armor that he knew would have put stars in Mayalyn¡¯s eyes.

    Thankfully, nobody is around to see me wear this thing.

    Jiran continued to grumble internally as he donned the armor. The black and gray semi-metallic bodysuit fit snugly across his muscled chest and arms, restricting his movements a little more than he was used to. The golden, heavy armor layer that hung around his shoulders and chest was too loose, so he fashioned several straps to keep everything in position. Golden-colored gauntlets covered his wrists and forearms, filaments of the reinforced metal extending down to his knuckles. After a few experimental punches and kicks, Jiran briefly cycled through the stretching and balancing movements of the Soratta.

    Flexibility of the joints needs a little work but the graphene is too mana-expensive to change so it¡¯ll have to wait. At least my neck and head have a good range of movement. Just a few more tests.

    Jiran pulled his aura away from his arm and punched. His gauntleted hand shot forward, and without his manabody bending the laws of physics, he easily blasted through the sound barrier with a crack of force. Dirt in a five-meter radius around him was sent swirling through the air, leaving a circular indent in the ground. Satisfied with the feel of the bodysuit and armor resisting the natural atmosphere, Jiran moved to his last test. He pushed mana out of his skin and into the suit, feeling the energy race through the layers of graphene where it moved as easily as it would through his own body.

    Suddenly, Jiran stood perfectly still as his minds were flooded with ideas.

    Because the graphene sheets are completely enveloped inside metal and cloth, the mana won¡¯t dissipate into the air over time! If the mana inside the suit won¡¯t dissipate, I could turn the whole thing into a formation! Or individual parts into formations with more specific purposes¡­

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    Shivers raced across his skin as he considered the possibilities for an entire minute. He shook himself free of the wild thoughts. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he gazed at the nearby foggy woods. ¡°All I¡¯m missing is enough mana to get the ball rolling.¡±

    Jiran pulled his aura inside his body, leaving only enough outside of his skin to cover his armor. With Oneness active, he catapulted forward, quickly closing in on the nearest beast that had been watching him from the forest¡¯s edge. It reacted to his approach by leaping backward, moving deeper into the fog. The beast¡¯s leaps were so quick that it was impossible to see it transition from one perch to the next. If not for Oneness suppressing his emotions, Jiran certainly would have been annoyed that his enhanced perception still wasn¡¯t capable of tracking them through the fog.

    Without his aura extended, he was immediately surrounded by the disorienting fog. His ploy worked as the Murker instantly appeared at his side and materialized its body to strike. Its clawed arm flashed forward and Jiran raised his arms in response, only barely able to keep up with the beast. Knowing how fast the creatures were, Jiran had prepared his counter ahead of time. A thick layer of mana was converted by Elemental Castigation into a powerful gravitic force that wrapped around both of his gauntlets.

    The blow that had been aimed toward his head was pulled off course and smashed into his shoulder with tremendous force. The impact was spread across his armor and a resounding crack echoed dully through the fog. Jiran was blasted to the side, but not before his aura wrapped around the beast and trapped it in its physical form. In the fraction of a second before the creature could retreat back into safety, the two chakrams of Elemental Castigation he had prepared unleashed their payload.

    Two dazzling beams of lightning impacted the murker. Its body was wracked with convulsions as powerful currents exploded limbs that failed to contain the voltage. Jiran crashed through a dozen trees, unable to immediately halt his momentum. When he finally stopped, he blasted back toward the beast. It was still alive¡ªthough immobilized. Half of its head was gone and most of its skin had melted. The massive pool of mana within it desperately worked to regenerate lost limbs. If he had been even two seconds slower, it would have likely been back to full health.

    Jiran¡¯s aura enveloped it once more, not allowing it to turn back into mist. His armored fists came down on its regenerating body¡ªblades of mana turning each strike into rending wounds that tore apart the air even as they cut away at its remaining health. Within four hits, the beast was still and Jiran was free to pull its remaining mana out of its body. He squeezed the energy, trying to filter out its impurities like he had done with the tier three beasts but found it impossible with how dense the energy was.

    Not wanting to pull the mana into his body to purify it which would get the inside of his new suit all gooey with monster juice, he maintained a tight mental hold on the ball of mana which was rapidly diminishing in the open air. He opened his interface and used his map to navigate back out of the fog, dragging the heavy corpse behind him while keeping Mana Omins peeled on his surroundings. Stepping back into the light of day, he leaped away from the woods and fell into thought.

    Of course they would go for my head, they aren¡¯t stupid. Gravity worked well but it would be a lot smarter to just wear a helmet.

    Jiran braced himself as the challenger density slammed into him. As his attributes and body were reinforced, he focused his emotions on the excitement of testing out new theories and the tantalizing opportunity to develop a better method to purify beast mana. When the longing for more density struck, he snapped his aura inside his skin and fell into the peaceful mindlessness that was Oneness. The mental technique relied on focusing so hard on the world around him that his mind had no spare power to wander into unnecessary thoughts. This time, instead of focusing on everything around him, he dedicated all five of his minds toward maintaining his hold on the floating ball of tier seven beast mana which almost immediately stopped dissipating.

    The challenger density ran its course and left behind an ache to find more, an ache he would soon appease.

    It¡¯s too bad all mana from beasts isn¡¯t as compatible as the Graymin. Best get to it, figuring this out now will save me a ton of time in the long run. I¡¯ll try a formation first. If I can do this without bringing their nasty mana into my body, all the better.

    Jiran pulled a hunk of ore out of the ground and melted away its impurities before fashioning it into a long tube. He divided the tube directly in the center with a thin sheet of metal before changing his mind and replacing the sheet with a dozen layers of graphene. He pushed some of his mana into one end of the tube and the beast mana into the other so they were only separated by the twelve-atom-thick sheet of graphene. Finally, he pushed his aura and intent into the entire tube.

    Mana Omnis watched the energies going to war inside the tube. Since he knew his mana moved through graphene as if it were his own body, he had decided to use the ultra-thin layer of material as a filter. His mana flooded the filter, infecting the beast-mana on the far side with his intent and dominating it one mote at a time. The converted mana was then pulled through the filter, leaving only the black, tar-like substance on the other side of the tube. Realizing he only needed a tiny bit of mana to inhabit the filter, he pulled most of his mana back out of the tube.

    Awesome! So I can filter it with a formation. This tube leaves a lot of room for improvement though. At this rate, it¡¯ll take an hour to convert that much mana. The inside is only a couple centimeters in diameter, if I want to speed up the process, I need to increase the size of the filter. I should also design it in a way that it either attaches to or is part of my suit so I don¡¯t have to carry a tube around.

    Hmm, a design with a large internal storage area and plenty of space on both sides of the filter while not taking up a lot of total area. No, I only need a lot of space on one side of the filter, the other side can just lead directly inside the suit where I can absorb the filtered mana. The ball of mana I pulled from that beast was the size of my fist and that was only around half of its mana. So I should make it about double that size.

    Jiran tried to think of more than one solution, he really did. The answer that stubbornly dominated his thoughts was similar to something he had done before. And the entire reason he had originally created that older design was based on something from his Earth memories that always called to him.

    Jiran¡¯s grin and the evil chuckle that accompanied it would have terrified anyone who was around to see it. Without wasting a heartbeat, he pulled off his new armor and got to work.

 Chapter 164 - The Beginning Of The End

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Olive scrunched her nose and shook her head slowly, unable to comprehend her eldest brother''s words, ¡°What do you mean, ¡®The end?¡¯ Elder Brother Ardon, please explain yourself properly!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Oliviala. There¡¯s no time. I must speak with the emperors immediately,¡± Ardon began walking toward the tent¡¯s exit and his party moved to follow him. Their movements would normally be far beyond what the others could perceive, but they followed etiquette and slowed themselves. Still, the air groaned and the ground rumbled as the four moved in unison¡ªthe weight and pressure on the space around them nearly enough to break reality.

    Olive wasn¡¯t the least bit phased, she leaped in front of her brother with her hands on her hips, ¡°The emperors? Not Father? That means¡­ Wait, we shall accompany you. Our mission was to deliver your most recent report with all haste, since it was so late.¡± She raised her brows inquisitively.

    Ardon¡¯s voice turned hard, ¡°You¡¯re taking missions already? What is Father thinking? Is he so eager to see your portrait in the Hall of Remembrance? You¡¯ve an entire year until you become of age and your conscription begins. You should be in the academy, enjoying¡­ the time you have left.¡± He deflated with a weary sigh, shaking his head in a blur with a touch of sadness on his face, ¡°I suppose none of that matters now. Very well, I will relay my report to you and we will remain here, where we can do the most good.¡± His piercing blue eyes narrowed, boring into her, ¡°My report is classified as romesta firovo, are you absolutely positive you wish to shoulder this responsibility?¡±

    Olive¡¯s fist smashed into her chest as her heels clicked together. Her voice was crisp as she repeated the age-old declaration sworn by every imperial scion upon their coming of age¡ªwhen they picked up the mantle of responsibility handed down by their forefathers, ¡°The people are in need and I am fit to serve.¡±

    Ardon nodded proudly, ¡°My apologies for questioning your resolve, soldier. It is clear that your being here was your decision and had nothing to do with Father. He adores you, after all.¡± Before revealing the contents of his report, Ardon turned to the other people in the tent, eyeing them each in turn. He settled on the young woman standing beside her two guards, ¡°If my memory holds, you are Princess Vironia?¡±

    ¡°It is an honor to be remembered, Lord Ardon,¡± Her fist gently tapped her breast as she dipped into a military curtsy.

    Cameron released a snorting laugh, ¡°As if he¡¯s ever forgotten the name of a girl in his life.¡±

    ¡°Cameron, good to see you surviving Oliviala¡¯s recklessness.¡± Ardon turned back to the desert princess and her entourage, ¡°Oliviala and Cameron I can understand, what are you doing here, Vironia?¡±

    She lifted her chin proudly, her voice mature beyond her seasons, ¡°Mother requested that I¡­ introduce myself to a certain individual who happens to be the leader of Oliviala¡¯s party.¡± Olive and Cameron chortled which elicited a scowl from Vironia.

    Ardon stroked his jawline and addressed Olive once more, ¡°How mysterious. You¡¯ve joined a party rather than forming one yourself. That alone is unusual, and Father has clearly accepted the situation, which means this leader is someone powerful enough to earn the approval of not one, but two emperors.¡±

    Olive coughed into her fist, her neck flushing a light rose, ¡°Enough stalling, Elder Brother. Please, share your report. Each of us have taken the oaths and we now understand this information is for the emperors¡¯ ears only.¡±

    Ardon swept his eyes across each of them once more, apparently satisfied with what he saw. He took a final moment to compose himself before beginning, ¡°All three invasion forces withdrew to the same location, effectively combining their forces into a single army ten million strong. They now march through the Miroah Pass and will arrive at dawn.¡± Olive inhaled sharply, having suspected as much but having her fears confirmed was another thing entirely. However, Prince Ardon was far from done, ¡°They were reinforced by another army of at least equal size.¡±

    Olive cut her hand to the side, her voice shook as her features twisted in disbelief, ¡°What?! T-that¡¯s not possible. How can they outnumber us twenty to one?¡±

    With a weary sigh and defeated eyes, Ardon continued, ¡°We counted over one hundred bishops before we were discovered and forced to flee, three of them were ascended to the tenth tier.¡±

    Cameron¡¯s voice was strained as he spoke through a clenched jaw, ¡°The emperors will be forced to intervene. With how unstable Palo and Loro are, this is certainly the worst-case scenario.¡±

    Surprisingly, it was Vironia who had the calmest demeanor as she interjected, ¡°Tell us the rest. This alone is not enough to sap the will of the Skyward Blaze. Mother once told me your spine is as thick as the Crags of Caldarra are wide. What have you not told us, Prince Ardon?¡±

    Ardon nodded gravely, his gaze turning distant as he remembered something none of them could possibly fathom, ¡°We saw it on the horizon as we fled. A Graymin the size of a mountain. It matched the description of a King.¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Olive¡¯s vision spun as the ground fell out from beneath her feet. She felt herself tremble and tilt, though it was a distant feeling, as though it were happening to someone else. Her hand flailed for something to support her and Cameron was there in an instant, her ever-present, steadfast companion bracing her in that moment of weakness.

    Seeing Olive¡¯s extreme reaction, Vironia¡¯s lips tightened into a scowl, ¡°Please, excuse my ignorance, Prince Ardon. What is a Graymin King? I was taught that Bishops are the strongest Graymin.¡±

    Ardon nodded, seemingly unsurprised by her admission of ignorance, ¡°I myself did not learn of the Graymin King¡¯s existence until I ascended to the ninth tier and took up the mantle of deepscout. In my foolishness, I may have used the story to scare my dearest little sister, who is most certainly not supposed to know either. The last King to attack the empire led their initial invasion seven hundred years ago. It was tier eleven, and the only recorded beast to ever defeat the emperors.¡±

    Vironia¡¯s mouth fell open as she staggered back a step, the idea of her all-powerful mother ever having tasted defeat was so foreign and terrifying that her mind failed to fathom the true depths of what they were about to face. Ardon spoke into the deathly silence, ¡°The emperors were pushed back before, only surviving due to sacrificing half of the original empire¡¯s boundaries. They will be too busy to save us this time. Somehow, we are going to have to deal with an army of twenty million, led by over a hundred tier nine and ten bishops.¡±

    How are we going to survive?

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    A hauntingly beautiful voice snapped Olive from her despair. She knew the voice well despite having only heard it twice. After her molding skill reached fifty, her divination technique had evolved and whenever she used it, she saw and heard a slender woman with eyes that shone like constellations. Now, unbidden, that same woman spoke into her mind, ¡°I showed you the path that leads to victory for the empire. It is up to you to seize it. Remember, you are not alone.¡±

    A vision of herself, helpless and trapped in a cage flashed within Olive¡¯s memories. She heard her youthful voice, so full of naivete, proclaiming that she would never be so weak again.

    I¡¯m¡­ not alone. Time and time again, I¡¯ve proven I¡¯m just as weak as back then. It¡¯s only when we¡¯re all together, with Jiran at our side, that I''ve ever felt like we can handle anything Madra could possibly throw at us. Perhaps I¡¯ve had it wrong all along. It was never me who needed to be strong, it was us.

    Olive stood, her features twisted in a grimace. Blue eyes blazed with crystalline focus, born from equal parts hatred for her enemies and determination to see her people survive, ¡°Hope is not lost!¡± She spat the words, her voice firm, ¡°There is a path to victory for the empire. We will seize it, together. The people are in need and we are fit to serve.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    Jiran ran through a final check of his newest creation¡¯s features. He moved every piece of his new armored suit, inspecting that the rivets drilled through the metal plates moved smoothly and the holes inside each rivet allowed mana to flow swiftly from one part of the suit to another. It had taken him several minutes of thought to come up with the idea and he grinned when he saw it was working great so far. Actual combat would be the ultimate test of their efficacy, of course.

    The rivets varied in length, the longest matching the last bone in his pinky finger¡ªthe smallest not even a tenth that long. They were drilled into his suit along the joints at the elbows, shoulders, wrists, and along the fingers of his gloves. When he moved those joints into the correct angle, the rivets would be forced to move out of place, allowing the holes inside the rivets to align with specific pockets of stored mana and formations built into the suit. Mana would then be released from the storage formations and into the skill formations, triggering their effects.

    The downsides are durability and power. A formation can¡¯t perfectly match the power of a skill, or can it? Maybe, Lostrifar knows how to do that. I hope I get the chance to meet her someday. Anyway, if I take a blow that pierces through the armor, the formation will be ruined. This graphene-reinforced metal is pretty durable, I don¡¯t think a tier seven could get through it without landing several attacks in the exact same spot, so it should be fine for now.

    Satisfied with the results, Jiran donned the upgraded body suit. The cloth portions were now thicker, reinforced with several additional layers of graphene to protect their hollow innards which were currently stuffed with the processed beast mana stolen from the last murker. He had only made four separate formations, wanting to make sure they actually worked before wasting time making more.

    Thick metal plates were buckled onto his limbs and he slid the helmet over his head. The visor was large¡ªnot restricting his peripheral vision¡ªand made of glass with three dozen sheets of graphene layered inside it. Since they were only an atom thick, and therefore transparent, the reinforcing sheets didn¡¯t impede his vision much. Dozens of small holes in the sides of the helmet would allow people to hear him. If there was noise around him, his aura would hear it long before his ears would, so he wasn¡¯t concerned with how little sound would enter through the holes.

    Jiran pumped his fists and shook out his limbs, feeling the suit constrict and tighten across his muscles. He then leaped into the air. It was strange not feeling the wind on his skin as he flew, but the suit constricting against him wasn¡¯t entirely unpleasant. He spotted his first victim, the teleporting cloud of mana a veritable beacon even in the light of all three suns. He took his time closing the distance, making sure there were no other murkers in sight. He dove after the beast, which unsurprisingly teleported a short distance away. Jiran pulled his aura in to appear vulnerable then angled his arms just right so all he would have to do to activate his first formation was lift either shoulder a single millimeter. The moment his boots touched the forest¡¯s floor, the beast appeared behind him and struck with a roar.

    In his previous encounters with the incredibly fast beasts, Jiran had gone in with three active chakrams of Elemental Castigation. Each one required him to focus on converting his mana to an element, spinning that element until it reached ridiculous speeds, while also compressing the element until it passed the typical limit of power for his tier. With three of them active, that was a tremendous amount of his focus dedicated to offense. Now, he had none of that. All five of his minds were wholly dedicated to the task of locating the beast and responding with a single, minuscule shift of one arm.

    The murker appeared behind him to the right and Jiran¡¯s right arm shifted up. The rivets in his joints moved, releasing a flood of mana into the formation that ran within the arm of his suit. The formation converted the mana into ice that exploded from the release valves along his arm. A crystalline lattice of ice in the shape of a circular shield appeared, covering his upper torso and head, intercepting the beast''s claws with a thunderous crash. In the next instant, the formation''s second function activated, turning mana into elemental light that refracted through the ice.

    The beast screeched as it was blinded and Jiran¡¯s aura wrapped around it, sealing its escape. His left hand blasted forward¡ªmana, aura, and muscle working in perfect harmony. His hand formed the shape of a claw, releasing the rivets in his glove. Mana flooded into the formation, unleashing three elements at once.

    Miniature cyclones of wind wrapped around each of his fingers. Along with the created wind, they carried deadly payloads of water and metal molecules. The point of each cyclone was a centimeter from the tip of each of his fingers¡ªgiving each digit the appearance of an emerald talon. His hand sunk into the murkers chest with little resistance; the beast¡¯s skin was no match for the abrasive power of metal, water, and wind spinning at a speed that made them appear solid.

    As it was struck, the murker smashed its arms and head into Jiran¡¯s shield, forcing his feet into the ground and nearly breaking the bones in his shoulder. A single claw managed to reach over his ice, creating a horrific screech as it scraped along his helmet. It tried to jump away, but Jiran had already twisted his wrist and squeezed his extended hand into a fist, grasping the inside of its chest. The new position of his hand activated the final offensive formation of the suit.

    Mana flowed and was turned into a powerful ball of gravity that wrapped around Jiran¡¯s fist. Most of the mana entering this final formation was converted to a coating that protected him, the rest rapidly eviscerated the beast¡ªforming a gaping chasm in its chest. Jiran ripped his hand free, pulling out the beast¡¯s condensed innards which exploded like a grenade as the gravity formation ran its course. The murker collapsed, an acceptable damage number flashing in Jiran¡¯s interface, [-108k]

    They only have sixty thousand health, guess even shadow beasts are weak to having their insides turned to mush. Weaklings.

    That went way better than expected. Not having to focus on converting mana to elements and forming them into offensive attacks frees up my minds so much. Why doesn¡¯t everyone fight with formations? Hmm, I suppose the durability of the formation material would be the biggest obstacle. Maybe there¡¯s other factors I don¡¯t understand yet. Looks like I still have a lot of testing to do.

    Enthralling Touch sucked the remaining mana from the downed beast. He compressed it into a ball and pushed it into the only non-combat formation of the suit; a hollow circle in his chestplate with dozens of layers of filters surrounding it in concentric rings. The beast-mana was pulled apart by the surrounding formations and sucked through the layers of filters by his mana. Each filter cleansed the mana a little more than the last. Within five seconds, the cleansed mana entered his body through specialized holes in the suit.

    His mana was instantly topped off and his suit¡¯s reserves filled. The excess mana and beast-goop were flushed through tubes that wrapped around his chest to splatter onto the ground behind him. Jiran¡¯s grin split his face, the excitement bubbling in his chest propagated through his body in tiny tingles until he couldn¡¯t hold it in for a moment longer. Feeling on top of the world, he threw his head back and cackled into the foggy surroundings.

 Chapter 165 - Duty And Determination

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Ardon¡¯s steely blue gaze pinned Olive in place, ¡°You have a strategy to stop twenty million graymin with the forces we have available?¡± The doubt in his voice was clear. The tier nines behind him frowned at her, the pressure from their looks alone causing Cameron and Vironia to sweat.

    Olive remained steadfast. She opened her mouth to retort, then snapped her teeth together to bury the heated remark she desperately wished to unleash at their collective doubt. She took a deep breath, bringing her spiraling thoughts into order.

    Even if we could gather every single soldier in the empire, we would still be outnumbered ten to one. Typically, it¡¯s assumed that five soldiers are needed to kill each graymin of the equivalent tier. With only three hundred thousand soldiers in the city, the prospect of halting twenty million obviously seems impossible. Not only that, the bulk of the soldiers are tier three, less than half should be tier four, and only a few hundred tier five and six.

    If we¡¯re going to stand a chance, we have to increase the efficiency of each soldier by a factor of three hundred. It¡¯s no wonder they¡¯re looking at me like I¡¯m crazy. But there are things I know, that they don¡¯t. It¡¯s not impossible! I refuse to give up.

    Determination flashed within Olive¡¯s eyes as she squared her shoulders, ¡°I don¡¯t have a strategy to stop so many, no. But I¡¯m going to make them pay dearly for every step they take onto our soil.¡±

    Ardon sighed, ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to stop them, then why did you get in my way? It matters not, you can think about it while you¡¯re completing your mission. Honestly, I would prefer you not return here afterward,¡± Ardon held up his hand, forestalling her, ¡°Yes, yes. I know that¡¯s not what you desire. Can you blame me for wanting to protect you until the very end?¡±

    Olive scowled at him, ¡°I was going to say that I have no intention of completing my mission.¡±

    ¡°What?! You dare shirk your duty after demanding that very duty fall upon your shoulders?¡± Ardon growled, his demeanor instantly shifting to indignant rage.

    The ground rumbled from the emotions washing through his aura. Olive formed a layer of aura beneath her feet and standing steady, she met his anger head-on, ¡°Cameron and Vironia are more than capable of delivering your message. Three of us going is a complete waste of resources. If we lower-tiers hope to have any chance of halting the horde, we must begin preparations immediately. Eldest, with your permission, I would like to oversee those preparations. I may not have a complete strategy to succeed, but I do have several ideas that will drastically increase the strength of our forces.¡±

    ¡°Now you¡¯re asking me to oust General Reifvus? Oliviala, I know how strong you are but to the soldiers, you¡¯re an unproven child on the eve of the worst invasion in known history. Do you have any idea what that will do to morale? No, this is a waste of time. I¡¯m disappointed in you. Go, now, and complete your mission,¡± Ardon¡¯s voice was iron, his will the unwavering solidity of a man who had clawed his way up the ladder of ascension to the top of the empire.

    Olive narrowed her eyes, defying his overwhelming power, ¡°No.¡±

    Ardon flexed his aura and it slammed down on everyone in the tent. The air and ground trembled in a kilometer-wide radius. Vironia and her guards immediately fell to their knees, completely unable to resist the pressure of a ruler. Even Ardon¡¯s companions buckled at the knee. For a brief moment, shock crossed Ardon¡¯s features as both Olive and Cameron remained standing; neither showed even a hint of discomfort at what should have been overwhelming power.

    Olive crossed the two steps between them in a flash. Her aura long since pulled into her skin to activate Oneness. She directed her entire being toward the single goal of punching Ardon in the face. Her fist connected, the bones within her hand snapping as they met the indestructible skin of a tier nine powerhouse.

    Despite the complete lack of damage, Ardon and the other tier nines gasped in absolute shock. Vironia and her guards were no different, their jaws dropping in disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Ardon recovered first, reaching out to gently grasp her hand that was still pressed against his cheek, ¡°Impossible, you¡¯re only tier five, how did you move faster than a tier six while under the pressure of my aura?¡± The smallest droplet of his mana sunk into her skin, repairing her bones and flesh.

    Olive lifted her chin, meeting the much taller man¡¯s confusion with her own steely resolve that refused to be bottled up a moment longer, ¡°Fighting up a tier is no longer a tale told to children. If General Reifvus wishes to contest my leadership, then let him confront me in the Roulondus. As per the rights granted by my lineage, I hereby demand authority over the forces gathered to defend our walls. I will not let the enemy through, and I will not let you, nor anyone else stop me.¡±

    She turned to look over her shoulder, roughly pulling her hand free of her brother¡¯s grip, ¡°Vironia, please report to Empress Mesalay. Cameron, deliver the report to Emperor Dominus and then go to The People¡¯s Cavern and await his return. We¡¯re not going to stand a chance without him.¡±

    Cameron¡¯s grin split his face as his fist smashed into his chest, filling the tent with the sound of metal clanging on metal. He moved at the same speed Olive had earlier, causing the tier nine¡¯s and Vironia¡¯s eyes to bug out even further, ¡°Alor! Stay safe, cousin. I will return with him, and we will claim victory together.¡± They nodded, eyes moist with overflowing camaraderie. Cameron walked out of the tent without another word and Vironia¡¯s gaze followed his every move.

    When the struck princess turned back, Olive¡¯s deadly-serious expression caused her to swallow nervously, ¡°Vironia!¡± Olive snapped, causing the pretty girl to jerk upright and climb to her feet.

    Vironia glanced at Ardon, who nodded subtly to her unspoken question. Vironia¡¯s fist came to her chest in salute, ¡°Very well. I will return with all haste. If he will be here, then so will I. It would not do for a wife to fail to stand by her husband''s side in such dire times,¡± She smirked at Olive¡¯s exasperated expression before walking out of the tent with her guards in tow.

    ¡°Wife? I thought Mesalay abhorred arranged marriages? Never mind, I doubt I want to know,¡± Ardon sighed, his previous anger nowhere to be found. He gave Olive a quizzical expression like he wasn¡¯t sure who he was talking to, ¡°I won¡¯t stand in your way if you wish to call upon that ancient law. I hope you''re not underestimating General Reifvus. He¡¯s been at the peak of tier six for twenty years and has earned respect for good reason. The powerful lead and the weak follow so we all may thrive.¡±

    Olive pointed toward the tent flap, eyeing each of her brother''s companions in turn, ¡°The only one here being underestimated is me. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to change into my armor. Then, I¡¯m going to kick a pompous old man¡¯s ass across the desert and win a war.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    Jiran released a shaky breath, his limbs trembling with an irrepressible desire to dive deeper into the fog in search of his next prey. The sensations from his most recent absorption of challenger density refused to fade as they usually did. Two kills ago he had tapped into his Remalonian Constitution in full, attempting to blunt his emotions away to nothing. Now, he was a ragged mess. Euphoric heat rushed through his head in thrumming waves. His tongue felt swollen and his vision swam, fading in and out.

    He blinked, suddenly finding himself several steps closer to the next beast. He stopped, barely restraining himself for several long seconds and refusing to let his eyes close again.

    Looks like twenty-six is my limit. It¡¯s been about three hours, I should¡­ head back and check on everyone. Need to¡­ release these emotions. My aura is pretty drained too. And there¡¯s no sense letting this excess mana go to waste.

    Enthralling Touch pulled the beast-mana from his most recent kill into the filters in his suits chestplate. Moments later, his mana was topped off as well as the formations in his suit. He pulled his aura completely inside his skin and shoved the remaining energy through his tap and into the space before his soulwall. As the mana was greedily absorbed and converted, he felt the bounds of his aura expanding and thickening all at once.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Suddenly, Jiran tilted his head to the side after sensing an unfamiliar vibration on his skin. Since he was wearing his suit, it couldn¡¯t be the wind. He focused, quickly realized it was subtle impressions being carried through the framework that rippled across his compressed manabody, using it as a bridge to transition into regular reality and touch his skin.

    Huh, interesting. Did my aura just pass some kind of threshold and grow more sensitive, or is it a combination of my increased attributes?

    Jiran closed one eye to check his status, unwilling to black out again in the Land of the Lost.

    Mana Omnis: + 1

    Enthralling Touch: + 2

    Identify: + 1

    Mana Confluence and Elemental Castigation haven¡¯t budged even though I use them more than any of my other skills. They sure are stubborn. I¡¯ll probably need to sit down and thoroughly experiment before they have another breakthrough. That¡¯s fine though, it wouldn''t be any fun if it was too easy.

    STRENGTH: + 17.7

    AGILITY: + 24.1

    ENDURANCE : + 14.5

    DURABILITY: + 16.6

    WISDOM: + 15

    INTELLIGENCE: + 19.5

    Challenger timer reset: + 104 hours

    NAME: Jiran of Madra

    RACE: Remalon

    AGE: 0

    WEIGHT: 3299 kg > 3489 kg

    ACCLAMATIONS: Remalonian Constitution / Scion of Mana

    TIMER: 231:55:12

    TIER: 4

    EXP: 200/200

    GROWTH: 7.8 % > 21.3 %

    Jiran clicked his tongue in annoyance when he saw he was not quite an eighth of the way to the next tier. He quickly scanned through the changes in his attributes and skills, almost growing frustrated before realizing his speed of advancement was actually insane for only three hours of killing.

    MANA: 54

    CONCENTRATION: 18

    STRENGTH: 200.3 > 218

    AGILITY: 199.9 > 224

    ENDURANCE: 200.5 > 215

    DURABILITY: 200.4 > 217

    WISDOM: 201 > 216

    INTELLIGENCE: 200.5 > 220

    CHARISMA: 72 > 78

    SKILLS:

    Mana Confluence: 78

    Elemental Castigation: 47

    Mana Omnis: 21 > 22

    Enthralling Touch: 30 > 32

    Identify: 18 > 19

    OTHER:

    Adaptive Translator

    Affinity System

    Designation: Keynote Prime

    Interface Map

    Intermediary User Interface

    Party System

    Sanctuary Command Authorization

    UNIQUE: Foresight

    For anyone else, pushing through a quarter of a tier in a single morning would be mind-blowing. I guess it¡¯s true that the lens of perspective is a force capable of warping all reality. At first glance, the attribute growth might not seem like much, but each point of concentration is a direct multiplier of my attributes. So if I multiply the attribute gains by eighteen, then I¡¯ve gained nearly two thousand points¡­ Damn, okay, yeah, that¡¯s crazy.

    Because Remalonian Constitution had absorbed the Augmented Cerebellum acclamation¡ªwhich drastically increased the speed his body adapted to increased attributes¡ªhe had rapidly adapted to his upgraded attributes between each kill. To test the changes, he flexed every muscle in his body as he exhaled. His limbs trembled with the strain as the mana suffusing every centimeter of his body reacted, boiling with desire to be unleashed. Before he realized what was happening, the ground and air began to quake. The fog around him shifted slightly as if swept up in a gentle breeze, surprising him even more.

    What the hell? I blasted this fog with my full power before and it didn¡¯t react at all. Now it¡¯s responding to me flexing my muscles and mana? Hmm, I wonder.

    The previous times Jiran had tried to fly out of the fog, his foresight had blared a dire warning at him. Since then, he had walked out of the forest every time he finished a hunt, requiring him to spend a significant amount of time between each kill. He bent his knees and tilted his head back to squint at the unnaturally still fog above him. Mana gathered around his fist, the energy so thick and powerful that it began to warp light, distorting his image. He continued to condense the energy and add more until nearly five percent of his mana was gathered in his one fist.

    With a shout, he leaped upward and punched. A blast of unaspected mana speared through the scraggly treetops and slammed against whatever barrier only allowed flight into the forest, and not out. The sound of cracking glass rang through the air before the barrier shattered and violet skies tinged with emerald greeted him. He soared out of the hole which rapidly repaired itself just like everything else that was damaged inside the creepy woods.

    ¡°Nice! That¡¯s going to speed up my next hunt by a lot,¡± He chuckled to himself, the sound strange to his ears as it was tinged with far more emotion than normal. He took a deep, calming breath of the fresh air coming into his suit. ¡°Now, I should find something to take out all these emotions on. Then I¡¯ll head back to the valley.¡±

    Dokkuun of the Gnashing Wound Clan

    Dokkuun flapped his wings in irritation, his aura holding him steady as the winds gently caressed his gray feathers. He turned away from the haunting Land of the Lost beneath them, facing three of his oldest and most trusted allies. He was entirely unable to keep frustration from coloring his voice, ¡°You saw the corpse, why are you still doubting the voracity of his claims?¡±

    ¡°Because Bahlicc is a scheming fig with greed as deep as the ocean,¡± Zoraakk snapped, ¡°He would say or do anything to save his worthless hide. If not for the tier seven corpse, I would not be here at all. We must learn where it came from. However, if this Guardian of the Timberlings does not appear soon, I must assume we have been outmaneuvered by the Divine Faction and I will recall my forces.¡±

    Zoraakk, Dokkuun¡¯s oldest ally, spoke sagely while pinching his long beard, ¡°Dokkuun, brother, you must admit that gathering the four of us here could easily mean doom for our Rising Sky Faction. Our enemies could descend en masse at any moment. All they need do is push us into the fog and our wings would be clipped.¡±

    He¡¯s not wrong, none have ever entered that fog and lived to speak of what they saw.

    ¡°The danger is great, but I agree with Dokkuun, it is worth the risk.¡± The last tier seven in their gathering nodded, a chorus of squawked ascent came from each of their guards as well. As per tradition, they had each brought only two tier sixes to accompany them.

    Dokkuun grunted his response, ¡°Hmph, so be it, half a dial and we leave to recall our forces.¡±

    Fools, they must not have recognized the look in Bahlicc¡¯s eyes. His defeat at the Timberling¡¯s crater scarred him far beyond the loss of a leg. Bahlicc spoke of a true monster, an existence that must not be offended. Today, we will meet this mysterious monster and judge his strength.

    If that corpse truly came from this forest¡ª

    A thunderous shattering preceded a beam of energy that shot out of the fog far below. A round of gasps sounded from their guards as a figure emerged from the deadly forest. Dokkuun¡¯s skill, Eyes of the Sky zoomed in, bringing the figure into view as though he were standing a few meters away and not several kilometers.

    ¡°Have you ever seen armor like that?¡± Zoraakk questioned, still running his hand through his beard.

    Frakkoa shook his head in exasperation, ¡°Who cares about his armor?! He broke through the fog!¡±

    ¡°Prepare yourselves, brothers. We will face him together as planned, and force the answers from his throat. Do not kill him before we¡ª¡±

    Whatever Zoraakk was intending to say was cut off as a massive shockwave exploded behind the figure. Immense Waves of fiery death enveloped a third of the expansive forest, sending the armored figure hurtling toward them at incredible speeds.

    Zoraakk finally released his beard, brandishing his spear with a manic grin, ¡°Hah! He must be worried he wont die fast enough!¡±

    Rhahakk began to back away from them, sweat sprouting across his skin, ¡°I-isn¡¯t he a little too fast?!¡±

    They realized it far too late and before any of them could flee, the very air was sundered by his arrival before them. Gaping wounds were rent in the air, revealing the vastness of the great hollow, as the figure''s aura tore at the fabric of reality in its attempt to slow him down. A small part of Dokkuun¡¯s mind cataloged the phenomenon and his old bones quaked with fear. He knew that only if he put all of his mana and aura into it, he could replicate the same feat.

    To exude that much power merely to slow down¡­ Bahlicc was right.

    The monster''s aura billowed out and wrapped around them. The pressure it exuded was both the weight of a mountain and a blade sharpened by a master smith. He grunted with the effort of resisting but there was no hope; his aura was cut to ribbons and pressed against him, restricting his movements. The armored monster chuckled darkly and shivers ran up Dokkuun''s spine. He immediately realized that from the moment they came here, there had never been a chance for their victory. Even escape was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

 Chapter 166 - How To Make New Friends

    - Moments ago, outside the Land of the Lost -

    The strange vibration in the framework grabbed Jiran¡¯s attention once more; the sensation was much stronger now that he was out of the disorienting fog. He immediately turned to his right, somehow knowing the feeling was coming from that direction. Around five kilometers in the distance, far above the forest, he spotted a dozen dark dots silhouetted against the colorful sky. Mana Confluence and Elemental Castigation warped light inside his helmet, bringing the flying Forkara into view.

    Rage overflowed within him, causing his limbs to twitch and spasm. Knowing the emotions were merely a remnant of the challenger density, he did his best to take even breaths and clear his thoughts.

    Didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so soon. Maybe they aren''t the clan heads. It could be the soldiers from that town. I flew straight here and left a huge trail of smoke, wouldn¡¯t have been too hard to figure out where I went. If it¡¯s the soldiers, I¡¯ll play nice. I did take their mana without asking afterall. But if it¡¯s the Storm Claw¡­ they better not blame me for going all out since they weren¡¯t invited to the party!

    Jiran¡¯s eyes flashed with anticipation. He could barely contain his urge to kill, and beneath that roiling sea of need was a serene desire to see just how much stronger he was with his increased attributes. He braced for the acceleration as Elemental Castigation converted three percent of his mana into a mixture of gases that he then cooled and tightly compressed. He maintained tight control of the gases, disallowing them to grow unstable as they rapidly turned to a fluffy liquid. After flexing his stomach and pushing the oxygen from his lungs, he ignited the ball of liquid trapped within a cone of aura beneath his feet.

    ¡°Hyuk!¡± A spherical shockwave slammed into Jiran¡¯s back, causing blood to spew from his mouth, splattering the inside of his visor. A massive explosion incinerated a huge swath of the forest as he hurtled through the air at a blistering speed. The forces propelling him were so great that his brain shut down for a split second. Instinct took over, converting two percent of his mana toward regenerating his internal injuries. His thoughts cleared and he desperately clawed at the framework with his aura in an effort to reduce his speed.

    Damnit! I¡¯ve been using the formations in my suit to fight this entire time so I didn¡¯t realize how much stronger my mana is. Note to self: Even small attribute increases are crazy important with eighteen points of Concentration.

    Jiran arrived before the Forkara two seconds after igniting the gases which still rampaged out of control far behind him. His aura enveloped them, ruthlessly crushing their resistance and preventing them from scattering. Pure terror overtook the eight guards while the four older, white-haired Forkara flinched, their wings trembling with each beat against the air. He quickly used Identify on each person in the small gathering, finding that the elders were tier seven and the guards were tier six.

    Definitely not the soldiers from that town. Are these the leaders of the Storm Claw Clan? They should have been the first to get my message so it only makes sense they would arrive before the other clans. Looks like I¡¯ll be getting a little more mana practice in. After all, they took such good care of the Timberlings for the last few centuries, it¡¯s only fair they receive payment for their hard work!

    Jiran intertwined his gloved fingers, loudly cracking the knuckles on both hands, ¡°Welcome, I¡¯m glad you accepted my offer,¡± His voice was deep and menacing as it echoed from the confines of his helmet. His mana flared out of his skin, churning around him and causing the air to oscillate between blistering cold and hellish fire. Unable to see his face, but very clearly feeling the overwhelming power before them, the Forkara¡¯s paralyzing anxiety only grew.

    ¡°W-wait! Please, hear us out, Great Elderly Master! We did not come to antagonize you!¡± One of the elders shouted and then instantly bowed his head. Jiran paused, surprised and mildly impressed by the odd way their bodies could fold in supplication while still flapping their wings. The old, white-haired Forkara wasted no time in continuing, ¡°We humbly beg forgiveness for the grave offense of our subordinate, Great Elderly Master. This young fool swears to tear out his own heart and pour his own blood down Bahlicc¡¯s throat until he suffocates if you would only spare my brothers!¡±

    Huh? Great¡­ Elderly? After everything they¡¯ve done, they want to be spared while calling me that nonsense!

    Jiran¡¯s eye twitched involuntarily, his voice booming inside his helmet, ¡°Who the hell do you think you¡¯re calling elderly master?! Anyone can see you''re a thousand years older than me! And who¡¯s Bahlicc?¡± The dozen Forkara all stared blankly at the reflective visor of Jiran¡¯s helmet, completely unable to see through it.

    The same Forkara once more spoke for them, ¡°O-of course, Great Senior. How foolish of this lowly one to not see what is clear as the endless skies. Bahlicc is our agent who infiltrated the Storm Claw Clan. When he learned of your greatness, he immediately delivered your divine gift of meat and informed us of your most generous offer.¡± The old man swallowed audibly when Jiran merely tilted his head, he then quickly continued, ¡°W-which we clearly do not deserve! We merely came to personally invite you to dine with us! We took it upon our humble selves to prepare the beast you graciously left with Bahlicc. Please, I beg you consider your divine self as our most honorable guest.¡±

    What¡¯s with this stupid ass way of talking? Whatever, at least it¡¯s not rhyming. Bahlicc must be the guy I kicked out of the valley, so he was a spy? Wait, does that mean the Storm Claw never received my message?! Shit, that could completely screw my plans.

    Power exploded around Jiran and his aura squeezed in around them, now pressing against their bodies until their breaths became labored. He infused his voice with mana and his words echoed inside their skulls, ¡°Are you telling me that the message I specifically tailored for the Storm Claw Clan never reached them?¡±

    The old Forkara went from trembling to outright convulsing, his eyes not daring to lift from the ground as he shouted, ¡°It did, it did! This fool swears it by all that lives between the hollow and soil! We did not understand the vastness of your plans but your message was clear. We delivered your words to every clan, as you instructed Bahlicc to do.¡±

    As quickly as it had escalated, Jiran¡¯s mana calmed and slid back into his body. He released the tension in his chest as his held breath was slowly released. His aura retracted, allowing them to sag in the air before catching themselves. His voice turned cheerful as he crossed his arms before his chest in a relaxed posture, ¡°Excellent. Thank you. Since you¡¯re not part of the Storm Claw, I believe introductions are in order. My name is Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings. What clans are you from?¡± A collective round of relieved sighs escaped each of their lips at Jiran¡¯s complete shift in tone.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The one who had been speaking for the group dipped his head while cupping his hands together, ¡°This humble Dokkuun of the Gnashing Wound Clan greets you, Great Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings.¡±

    ¡°This humble Rhahakk of the Mountain Valley Reaping Tooth Clan greets you, Great Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings.¡±

    ¡°This humble Frakkoa of the Splitting the Stars on a Full Moon With a Single Talon Clan greets you, Great Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings.¡±

    ¡°This humble Zoraakk of the Morning Dew Drop Caressing the Divine Feather Clan greets you, Great Jiran, Guardian of the Timberlings.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s toes curled in agony and he felt his life force dwindling more with each new introduction. When the elderly tier sevens finished, and the tier six with the strongest mana opened his mouth, Jiran frantically raised his hands to signal him to stop. He was completely unwilling to sit through another eight people spouting absolute nonsense like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Do all the Forkara have brain damage?! What¡¯s with those clan names? I take back everything negative I ever thought about rhyming.

    When Jiran simply stood with his hands raised after their introductions, Dokkuun awkwardly spoke into the silence, ¡°Does Great Senior Guardian wish to accompany us for a meal?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the invitation, but I have other matters that require my attention. Before we go any further, I have a very important question to ask each of you. I will know if you attempt to deceive me, so don¡¯t bother trying. Depending on your answers, you may need to die,¡± Their relaxed posture instantly stiffened as Jiran¡¯s voice turned menacing and his words sank in. Not giving them time to think, he pointed to the first Forkara, ¡°Dokkuun, have you ever murdered a sapient creature for the purpose of acquiring EXP?¡±

    As soon as he heard Jiran¡¯s question, the Forkara sagged with relief. He met Jiran¡¯s glowing eyes that were intently focused on his manapool, ¡°No, I have never done such a thing. None of us have. What you speak of is a common practice of the Divine Faction and one of the primary reasons our Rising Sky Faction have been at war with them for centuries.¡±

    Seeing no fluctuations in the man¡¯s mana, Jiran nodded and moved to the next Forkara. He repeated the same question for all twelve of them, not once sensing anything that made him doubt their claims. Shifting back to his cheerful demeanor, Jiran clapped Dokkuun on the shoulder with a wide smile that the elder couldn¡¯t see, ¡°Then, you have nothing to fear from me. I come from a place called the Finlest Empire. We consider murder for the sake of ascension a grave crime. None capable of such a thing could ever be trusted to protect your back when Madra¡¯s beasts come to bite your throat.¡±

    ¡°Wise words indeed. Stormer¡¯s beasts are foe enough.¡± Dokkuun nodded, his smile only slightly strained from the sudden physical contact. Jiran couldn¡¯t care less about the Forkara¡¯s discomfort; his emotions and thoughts were in complete discord from the challenger density. Since he wasn¡¯t given a chance to vent his frustration by killing the Storm Claw, he was more than happy to give them another outlet.

    Jiran laughed heartily, ¡°Since we¡¯re not enemies, I have a gift for you. After which, I have a favor to ask.¡±

    The four elders shared a glance before Dokkuun responded cheerfully, ¡°Please, flap freely! Whatever you desire, merely speak it and we will surely accommodate you.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, alliances are formed through equal reciprocation,¡± Jiran went from patting Dokkuun¡¯s shoulder to throwing his arm around the Forkara¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯m short on time so I hope you can forgive me if I push things along a bit.¡± His aura once more wrapped around the group of Forkara, pulling them toward the distant foggy forest.

    ¡°W-what is this? What are you doing?¡± One of the other elders spoke up for the first time, fear lacing his voice.

    ¡°There¡¯s five of us, a full party. This is a perfect opportunity to show you how to kill the tier seven murkers that live in the fog, don¡¯t you think?¡± Jiran asked coyly, his aura as immutable as a mountain pressing against their shoulders, dragging them ever closer to their deaths.

    ¡°No! But-that¡¯s-we need to prepare! Yes, please allow us to return to our homes and properly prepare for such a monumental endeavor!¡±

    Jiran waved his hand, dismissing the Forkara¡¯s concerns, ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, what better way to build a little trust between us? I¡¯ve been killing them by myself all morning. See that pile of corpses over there? They¡¯re all tier seven. Really, you don¡¯t have anything to worry about. I swear I won¡¯t let any of you die. I¡¯d also appreciate it if you didn¡¯t tell anyone what you learn about these beasts and the fog,¡± Jiran¡¯s voice turned a shade darker, enhanced by the echo from his helmet, it caused shivers to race up the elders'' spines.

    The same Forkara opened his mouth to complain again but Dokkuun snapped at him, ¡°Enough of your cowardice Frakkoa! Our lives have been in his talons since the moment we arrived. Do not embarrass us further.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Jiran laughed, easing up on his aura a little after they reluctantly stopped resisting. He conspiratorially looked over his shoulders before blocking sound and whispering, ¡°Currently, these secrets are my only bargaining chip to negotiate with the clans. Other than murdering them all,¡± He threw his head back, laughing much louder and causing the elders to swallow while shooting each other nervous looks.

    Charisma: + 2

    ¡°We would never dream of revealing your secrets! Isn¡¯t that right, brothers?¡± A round of squawking agreements quickly spread through the group.

    ¡°That truly lifts a weight off my shoulders. Since we¡¯re all such good friends now, I¡¯ll tell you what we¡¯re getting into. First off, this fog is actually a combined aura from all the beasts that live here. It not only manipulates physical matter within the forest, but also dissorients your mind, tricking you into walking the wrong direction or seeing things that aren¡¯t there. Second, the Rapacious Murkers are completely immune to damage until the moment they materialize to strike. They¡¯re faster than the other tier sevens I¡¯ve fought and their claws have some pretty impressive armor piercing. Lastly, if you push back the fog with your aura, they tend to group up and attack from every direction at once. The best way to fight them is to appear weak so they come at you one at a time.¡±

    ¡°What?! Completely immune? How can you be sure? We had suspected the fog was an aura ability of some kind, since it only responds to aura, but to think it¡¯s a combined aura, how can such a thing be possible?¡±

    Jiran shrugged, ¡°No clue, I have a theory, but I¡¯ll keep that to myself for now. As far as knowing they¡¯re immune, I tested it thoroughly,¡± Jiran pointed toward a seemingly random spot inside the rapidly approaching forest, ¡°Can you see it?¡±

    Each of them looked before Dokkuun responded with a shake of his head, ¡°See what, Great Senior Guardian?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a skill that lets you see mana?¡±

    ¡°See mana?! No, that is beyond our abilities. We can determine the concentration of any creature we see and our eyesight is quite good even over a dozen kilometers.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have a really hard time killing the murkers if you can¡¯t see them in the fog. You probably shouldn¡¯t go in without me, then. There¡¯s a group of five over there and another ten over there. That one is by itself so we''ll kill it quickly. Then, I¡¯ll show you how to get out of the fog,¡± His words caused sweat to sprout and pour down their foreheads.

    With a flick of his wrist, Jiran pushed the lower tier guards back and then he added the four elders to his party before pulling them into the forest. Despite their mostly calm expressions, he could feel their auras kicking and screaming as the fog surrounded them.

 Chapter 167 - A Hint On The Journey To Power

    ¡°Stay close and keep your auras as tight as you can,¡± The elders responded to Jiran''s command instantly and he could only sigh as their auras retracted by half before stopping.

    Even after everything he did, I¡¯m still thankful to the Aahmra for teaching me his aura control techniques. He really is a genius with aura.

    Jiran raised his hand, signaling them to stop as the murker they were hunting teleported to within a few meters of their group and stopped to observe them. ¡°It''s here, you four stay together, I''m going to attract its attention. As soon as it appears, hit it as hard as you can, don''t worry about hurting me.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡± Dokkuun drew the sword at his hip while the others nodded, brandishing their own weapons.

    Jiran turned to face the elders and then walked backward toward the intangible beast. With his aura drawn in, he couldn''t detect the creature. When a prickling sensation spread across his skin, Jiran smirked. His reason for turning his back to the deadly beast was twofold; he knew how cautious the ambush predators were, since this one was alone against the five of them, it wouldn''t show itself without a seemingly vulnerable target. Jiran also wanted to test his theory about the new sensations he was receiving through the framework.

    He closed his eyes, fully diving into the prickling tingles on his skin from wherever the synapses of the framework touched him. The sensations systematically rose and fell in intensity like the beating of a heart. Suddenly, the tingles along the left side of his body doubled in intensity and Jiran didn''t hesitate to raise his shoulder, activating the shield formation in his suit.

    A crystalline layer of ice sprang into existence a moment too late and a screeching crash resounded as the beast''s claws impacted his armor. Jiran felt the ligaments in his shoulder turn to mush from the force of the blow. The incredible strength of the blow launched him to the side, taking the beast with him as his shield had formed around its wrist.

    which was being pulled hard enough to drag the heavy beast behind him.

    Intense pain lanced through him as his ruined limb bore the brunt of pulling the heavy monster. Jiran dedicated one of his minds to shunting the agony. Even off balance and airborne, the murker remained focused on him, snarling with voracious hunger as its other hand blurred through the air in a wickedly fast arc. Jiran¡¯s perception of time expanded as Foresight warned him of the deadly claws inching toward his neck. Seeing a brilliant green glow to his side and reveling in the intensity of the fight, Jiran smirked. Another glistening shield of ice sprang into existence just as he pivoted his body with his aura so the beast was between him and the elders¡¯ opening salvo.

    ¡°Divine Blade of Retribution''s Soul!¡±

    ¡°Dark God''s Anger United Ultimate Slash!¡±

    ¡°Thousand Point Peak Unlimited Thrust!¡±

    ¡°Double Blade Style Unavoidable Castration Cut!¡±

    Hey, that last one actually sounds really dangerous!

    Four identical blades of elemental wind crashed into the murker¡¯s torso, each leaving behind deep gashes in its tough skin. Jiran dispelled his shields as the attacks landed and the beast was blown away. It twisted and flipped with unnatural flexibility, turning to face them with steam rising from its rapidly healing wounds. Its face distorted in the parody of a wicked smile as it began to dissipate into fog.

    At that exact moment, a wall of ice covered in meter-long spears appeared behind it. Jiran pulled on his creation which slammed into the murker¡¯s back. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t fast enough to fully compress the elemental ice of the spears so they didn¡¯t have the strength or sharpness to pierce its skin. He had hoped the force of the creature flying backward from the elders¡¯ attacks would make up for the difference but it had been more agile than he expected. With a click of his tongue, he stopped healing himself and dedicated all of his focus to forming spinning cyclones of wind, water, and metal on each of the icy protrusions covering the wall.

    The beast released a deafening howl of agony as a dozen frigid spears penetrated its body and sprouted from its chest. Jiran pulled harder, slamming the wall down and impaling the beast into the ground. He smacked his open palm into the ground and a wave of ice spread outward, quickly sealing the spikes in place and effectively trapping the murker.

    The beast''s struggles rapidly cracked the ice and billowing steam was released from its body. Four more blades of wind crashed into it, stunning it long enough that Jiran was finally able to compress and harden his ice. Unable to move, retreat, or fight back, the creature could only struggle in vain as the four elders continued their attacks.

    Remalon skills are way too broken. Being able to turn mana into an element from several meters outside my body is ridiculous.

    Jiran finished healing his shoulder and watched their surroundings to make sure they hadn''t attracted more murkers. With his aura fully extended, pushing back the fog, the two that showed up decided not to attack.

    Wind blades repeatedly flew through the air, each one sending tingles across his skin, bringing him closer to understanding how the new sense functioned. The reaction from their skills wasn''t nearly as strong as the static feeling that let him know which direction the elders were in. He moved a few meters away, finding that there didn''t seem to be any difference in the sensations based on moving such a short distance.

    I shouldn¡¯t rely on this too much until I know more about it. In the meantime, I need to get out of this forest. I¡¯m barely holding onto my emotions right now.

    The murker let out a pained warble as its mana bottomed out and it succumbed to its many wounds. One of the elders clapped another on the back, his voice far too excited given they were still deep inside the eerie woods, ¡°Brother! I did not know your Divine Blade of Retribution''s Soul had grown so powerful. Truly you have not been slacking in your training.¡±

    ¡°No, Brother. Surely your Dark God''s Anger United Ultimate Slash¡¯s luster has increased fivefold. Envy burns in my heart that your skill has grown so deadly.¡±

    Are they fucking serious? Their attacks were exactly the same!

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Dokkuun¡¯s eyes were blazing with fervor as he turned to Jiran, ¡°Senior brother! How were your skills so powerful when you didn''t call their names?¡± When Dokkuun realized he had just asked Jiran for secrets about his skills, he immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed, ¡°Please, forgive this one''s insolence! I was so shocked by your prowess that my manners fled me.¡± Jiran felt a tug from Charisma letting him know the optimal response but he ignored it as he didn¡¯t like the idea of berating someone he was trying to make an ally.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not insulted by your question. It¡¯s only natural to be curious about each other. My skills don¡¯t become stronger when I say them out loud so I rarely do,¡± After Jiran finished speaking, four identical messages populated in his interface log, one for each of the elders.

    [Entity: (Forkara - Dokkuun) Has increased its affinity toward you. Wary > Indifferent.]

    I didn¡¯t do what Charisma thought was best but still gained affinity. Are they not actually related, or would I have gained even more if I let it take over completely? Always more questions it seems.

    Dokkuun stood up and bowed, ¡°Senior brother is truly gracious and magnanimous. Allow us to thank you for granting us this EXP. We surely would have faced many difficulties, and likely died, without your guidance,¡± The other three elders also bowed with cupped fists.

    These old guys are certainly strange, but I can¡¯t say I dislike them.

    Jiran returned their bows with one of his own, matching their cupped fist gesture, ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I have great hopes for our continued cooperation in the future but this isn¡¯t the best place for that conversation. There''s a barrier that prevents flying out of the fog, if you try, you''ll probably die. To break the barrier, concentrate your mana and aura together, then launch it upward so it hits the barrier at a single point.¡±

    Dokkuun frowned, ¡°When you say launch our mana and aura, are you referring to our aspects?¡±

    ¡°No? I¡¯m actually not sure, I don¡¯t have an aspect yet, so I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it. Why don¡¯t you try it?¡±

    Olive said tier sevens need to develop an aspect before ascending to tier eight. I wonder if that''s something I can do already.

    The elders gave each other knowing smiles before nodding in unison. Wrinkled, but strong, calloused hands tightly gripped sheathed weapons as rumbling energy began swirling around them. Jiran¡¯s eyes flew open as Mana Omnis treated him to a spectacular view. From each of their manapools, pulses of mana traveled through the channels in their bodies. When that mana passed beyond the confines of their skin, it was converted to elemental wind that was then sucked back into those same channels. Like breathing, mana was pushed out, and wind was drawn in.

    The winds raced through them, vanishing into what he could only assume was their soul tap since it was a different spot for each of them. After a dozen cycles, each lasting only a fraction of a second, the strength of their auras exploded to an entirely different level. Unnatural winds rampaged around them, moving the normally invulnerable fog in swirling patterns. Jiran braced himself with his aura so he wasn¡¯t blown back. The trees groaned and creaked, branches snapping to fly out of sight. Enhanced, elemental aura was gathered and compressed within their weapons and Jiran almost took an instinctive step back from the incredible danger he felt emanating from them.

    ¡°Huah!¡± As if they had practiced it a thousand times, the elders simultaneously swung their weapons upward and four waves of incredible force struck the fog at the exact same point. A loud crack resounded as the sky became visible for a brief moment. Seeing that the hole was small and closing quickly, Jiran grabbed the murker corpse and leaped into the air. Four sweating and panting elders were right behind him, narrowly escaping before the foggy barrier sealed itself once more.

    ¡°I-incredible. We had planned to show off a bit, yet only managed to open such a small gap for less than a second. It appears we still have much training to do, brothers.¡±

    ¡°No wonder none has ever escaped. I¡¯m sure many have tried to break through the fog and failed. No party would be so wasteful as to unleash four, fully powered aspects at once in such a dangerous place.¡±

    The glimmer of excitement within Jiran at witnessing something new and amazing was warped by his unstable emotions. With a passionate thirst burning in his chest, he swallowed and licked his lips, ¡°Your aspects were¡­ impressive. This is only the second time I¡¯ve seen one. I didn''t know how to form one before but now I¡¯ve got a few ideas after observing, thank you.¡± Jiran got himself under control and bowed with an honest smile that none of them could see through his helmet''s reflective visor.

    Dokkuun adopted a serious face with furrowed brows, ¡°One must be cautious to not hastily form an aspect, for each of us can hold but one element close to their heart. If you seek guidance on this matter, my Gnashing Wound Clan would be honored to assist you.¡±

    Only one? I should be careful when I experiment so I don¡¯t accidentally lock myself down an elemental path I¡¯m not actually interested in.

    ¡°Dokkuun, do not overstep! If any are to assist senior brother, it will be my Morning Dew Drop Caressing the Divine Feather Clan!¡±

    Jiran cut his hand through the air, ¡°Enough, there¡¯s no need to argue.¡± His voice softened as they turned to him with confused expressions, ¡°I prefer to learn things on my own when possible. If I reach a point where I am unable to progress, I promise to seek advice from all of you at once. Elder Dokkuun, thank you for the warning about a single element.¡± Jiran nodded respectfully causing the old Forkara to rub the back of his head with a shy chuckle.

    ¡°Hah! Are you quite sure we are a thousand years your senior, honored brother? I cannot fathom how one so young can have such skills in both combat and diplomacy,¡± Dokkuun released a hearty chuckle as if he¡¯d finally seen through Jiran¡¯s ruse.

    Not feeling even the slightest hint of threat from them, he shrugged and took off his helmet, revealing his face to them for the first time. The four looked at him with gaping mouths before turning away to huddle together. They whispered quietly, though not nearly enough to hide from his aura.

    ¡°Too bright! By Stormer has he seen even fifty seasons? What are we to do? My shame is so great that my old soul is puking old blood.¡±

    ¡°We have no other choice, we must end things now as out disgrace is a gaping wound that shall never heal.¡±

    ¡°Very well, we will take our lives together!¡±

    ¡°Indeed, let this be the end of our worthless existences!¡±

    Jiran¡¯s eye twitched as the four stood straight and pulled short blades from their hips. Oneness flared and he was before them within an instant. His hand chopped down on each of their heads and then he snatched their weapons as their hands came up to rub their new bruises.

    ¡°Enough messing around! I still have a favor to ask you, remember?¡±

    ¡°Apologies, honored brother. Please, I beg of you to don your helmet once more.¡± Seeing the tear-filled desperation in their eyes, Jiran complied with a weary sigh. ¡°Thank you. We are ready, what do you seek from us?¡±

    ¡°Okay, but I have a quick question first: Do you have a teleportation skill?¡±

    The elders looked between themselves before shaking their heads, ¡°It is written that teleportation is the skill we gain at the eighth tier. None alive today know if this is true.¡±

    Dang, I¡¯m sure I can figure it out if I can find someone to teleport me a few more times.

    Jiran frowned and then shrugged off his disappointment. He stretched his aura and plucked several nearby trees and shrubs from the ground. He pulled them closer, flames flickering above his hands. ¡°The Storm Claw cannot afford to remain idle knowing others are here gaining EXP. After all, if one of their enemies ascends to tier eight before them, they will be finished. I¡¯ve already declared I don¡¯t intend to help them or their allies ascend, so they have no choice but to stop us. It would truly be a shame to invite guests without preparing a proper greeting, don¡¯t you agree?¡± A vicious grin split his face as crackling wood turned to pristine black ash before the elders¡¯ eyes.

 Chapter 168 - Into The Abyss

    Niya of Feylon

    ¡°Niiiiiiiyyyaaa!!¡± A feminine scream blasted between the thick trees near the center of the Timberlings valley. Niya immediately recognized Mayalyn¡¯s voice and she leaped to her feet. The threads from her Mana Folding subskill were abandoned, left inside the anxious Timberling boy where they would dissipate harmlessly in short order.

    Niya leaped above the trees, casting about in every direction to search for the blue-haired girl. A short distance away, a bolt of lightning pierced the air, stabbing into a cloud that drifted lazily overhead. Niya¡¯s aura roared to life, gripping the air and pulling her forward with all the speed she could muster. A momentary thought of attempting Jiran¡¯s suicidal method of flying popped into her mind but was discarded.

    Jiran is Jiran, anyone who attempts to replicate him is an even bigger idiot than he is.

    She found Mayalyn moments later, the beautiful girl was carrying a half-dead Timberling in her arms. She moved slowly, careful to not jostle the injured woman. Niya landed at her side and Mayalyn¡¯s features filled with relief and gratitude. She barked and yipped in her native language but Niya barely registered the attempted communication, her mana already sinking into the Timberling.

    She was missing an arm and was covered in small cuts and scrapes. The worst injury by far was the multiple cracks on her back that penetrated through her bark into several of her inner layers. ¡°Life Touch!¡± Niya guided her technique with practiced ease. She had spent an entire season within Lenton¡¯s tower dedicated solely to learning the art of healing. Many of those lessons had been made moot by Jiran¡¯s knowledge from another world, but she didn¡¯t mind. Any true healer was constantly learning, adapting, and discarding ineffective methods.

    Niya ignored the arm for now and sealed all the cracks, scrapes, and cuts with regenerative mana. She didn¡¯t bother trying to separate the specialized sap from each layer, instead pulling all the corrupted liquid out to splatter on the ground. Jiran had told her how the sap could be filtered, but it required a level of mana senses and manipulation that was beyond her. Instead, she merely used Forming to replicate the sap in each layer, which took more mana but worked just as well. Within seconds, the ashen skin of the Timberling returned to a pale silvery sheen and her ragged, imperceptible breaths became deep and even.

    Mayalyn released a huge sigh when it became clear the Timberling would live. She set the woman on the ground and wrapped her arms around Niya, burying her face in her neck while mumbling, ¡°Thank you,¡± over and over.

    Niya stiffened, completely stunned by the show of affection from the normally aloof girl. She awkwardly returned Mayalyn¡¯s hug, patting her back. They separated and Mayalyn¡¯s eyes were puffy and bloodshot as she wiped away leaked tears. ¡°My thought kill her. Try protect, thought kill her. More beasts, I go. You protect her now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got her. She¡¯s safe now.¡± Niya nodded to Mayalyn who gave her one last grateful look before dashing back the way she had come.

    That girl¡­ is something else. I can¡¯t believe how quickly she¡¯s learned our language. I barely know two or three words in hers and she¡¯s nearly speaking fluent imperial. She¡¯s brilliant, kind, thoughtful, and strong. As hopeless as Jiran is, at least he¡¯s got good taste.

    With a fond smile, Niya spoke to the unconscious woman, ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to the others.¡±

    The long line of Timberlings she had left were still there. They gave her confused looks when they noticed who she was carrying. At least, she assumed they were confused, their expressions were hard to read and often involved their leaves more than their faces. She wished she had Jiran¡¯s ability to understand them. There was so much about these strange people that called to her and she desperately wanted to have a real conversation with Lulu. That girl was just too cute!

    As if summoned by her thoughts, Lulu rushed to the injured Timberling¡¯s side from wherever she had been. Niya set her on the ground and Lulu made soothing sounds while running her hands across the woman¡¯s bark and skin. Niya rested her hand on Lulu¡¯s shoulder, speaking softly, ¡°She¡¯s going to be fine. I healed her and Jiran can grow her a new arm when he gets back.¡± Niya knew she wouldn''t be understood, but the tone of her voice and the comforting physical contact were enough to calm the girl¡¯s frayed nerves. Lulu responded with something unintelligible while cupping her hands upward.

    Niya¡¯s smile was warm, the usual happy tingles she felt whenever she looked at the adorable Timberling fluttered in her chest. Lulu stared into her eyes with complete adoration and Niya felt her cheeks warming. They broke eye contact at the same time and Lulu said something else before dashing away.

    After watching her vanish into the trees, Niya turned to face the boy she had left behind earlier. He wrung his hands, fidgeting awkwardly while staring at the injured woman behind her. Niya reached out and took his hands in hers. His skin was warm and the bark on the back of his fingers was somehow both coarse and soft.

    Her Mana Folding slithered into him, unlike the last time they had done this, he didn¡¯t flinch. When threads of her mana were pushed through all of his layers, she activated her technique, ¡°Mana Siphon.¡± The energy within him yielded instantly to her higher attributes and understanding. She gently pulled, urging his mana to join hers. She had been doing this for nearly an hour before being pulled away by Mayalyn. During that time, she had learned to leave at least half of their mana or they would feel sick and weak. When his mana entered her manapool, she patted his hands and motioned him to move to the side.

    She focused on the crystal in her pocket and sent the boy¡¯s mana into it as she had done several hundred times already. She wasn¡¯t sure how much the greedy little crystal could hold, but its capacity far outstripped hers. Suddenly, dark, inky smoke swam across her vision before shifting into words. With a strangled cry, she bolted upright.

    [Sufficient Authority Acquired.]

    [Activate Introductory Interface?] [Y/N]

    Niya turned her head but the words moved with her. They were transparent enough that she could easily see through them; she waved her hand over them, seeing her skin through the impossible text.

    What in the inferno? Did Jiran know this would happen? Is this why he wanted me to feed the crystal? Do I accept it?

    Her cheeks heated when she remembered recklessly charging into Sanctuary without a care. Upon remembering Jiran of all people reprimanding her for being reckless, a low growl escaped her throat, causing the next Timberling in line to swallow nervously.

    I should probably wait for him to come back. Ugh, these words blocking my vision are annoying. I¡¯ll answer you later, so just go away for now!

    Much to her surprise, the words instantly disappeared. In a panic, she willed them back and they sprang into sight. She sighed with relief and willed them to vanish again. She set her eyes on the next young Timberling who gave her a nervous chuckle that failed to mask his rapid breathing. Niya beckoned him forward with quick motions, knowing they didn¡¯t have time for gawking.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    There¡¯s a catastrophe rushing straight toward the empire and I have to do my part. We¡¯ve only been here for a couple days and Jiran¡¯s managed to gather all these people. I don¡¯t know exactly what he¡¯s got planned, but with all the mana they can generate working together¡­

    Niya huffed, clearing her thoughts away and refocusing on her task. She didn¡¯t need to understand her cousin, and if she was being honest with herself, she doubted she could, even if he spelled it all out for her. She knew her strengths and weaknesses and right now, the most impactful thing she could do was to support him. Regardless of how skilled Jiran was, he couldn¡¯t do everything alone.

    It took Jiran another two hours to appear. Unlike his usual thunderous appearance while riding on a blue wave of destructive forces, he silently dropped down through the trees. He was accompanied by a huge shadow that had Niya craning her neck. Her eyes popped upon seeing a ridiculously large pile of cut trees bundled within his aura. He dropped them to the side, careful not to damage any of the transcended nearby. Just beside them, he dropped three disfigured corpses that looked awful but smelled amazing.

    Niya released an appreciative whistle while eyeing his new armor up and down. If he hadn¡¯t made her a suit already, she certainly would have been jealous. There were several obvious differences between them and she could only inwardly sigh, knowing that he had probably done something ridiculous again.

    His eyes were trained on the injured Timberling peacefully sleeping at her side. He approached them, his helmet hiding his expression. She could easily imagine the hurt that was likely marring his features. They might have been separated for a year and only recently reunited, but her cousin had barely changed in that time. Despite his usually calm and disinterested demeanor, he was a huge softy, especially when pretty girls were involved. And with his penchant for placing way too much responsibility on his shoulders, there was no way he wasn¡¯t feeling terrible upon seeing the woman.

    ¡°I healed the worst of her injuries, figured I would leave the arm for you rather than waste most of my manapool on it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± His voice was deeper than usual as it echoed out of his helmet. Goosebumps raced down her arms at the barely repressed violence she felt from his tone. Suddenly, Niya was all the more thankful she had managed to save the girl. Jiran stood over her, his suit crinkling with each deep, steady breath he took, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know. Mayalyn said something about protecting her and there being more beasts in the valley.¡±

    Jiran knelt and brushed a few strands of silvery hair from the Timberling¡¯s delicate features. He then looked at his gloved hand like it had betrayed him somehow. With a huff, he pulled off the helmet and gloves before removing the rest of his suit. He placed his hand on her shoulder above the stub of her missing limb. A crackling filled the air as tough flesh rapidly grew into a pristine, new arm without a trace of bark on it.

    Niya turned away, hiding her scowl of envy at how easily he had replaced the limb. She then busied herself with draining the next Timberling in line, ¡°How did your errand go?¡±

    ¡°Good, I met some of the Forkara elders. They¡¯re strong. At first I was just planning to deal with the antagonistic ones and leave the rest of them alone, but after seeing them fight¡­ I want to at least try to get them to join us.¡±

    ¡°That sounds risky, but if it¡¯s what you think we should do, then I¡¯ll help however I can.¡± Jiran¡¯s mouth fell open as he looked at her like she¡¯d grown a third head, ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t look at me like that when I¡¯m trying to be sincere! Ugh, I swear, you¡¯re so annoying!¡± Jiran chuckled and she changed the topic before he could respond, ¡°I got a strange notification in my status after charging the crystal around a hundred times. It said something about acquiring enough authority to activate an introductory interface, should I accept it?¡±

    ¡°What?! Are you sure? That¡¯s amazing! Yes, definitely accept it!¡± He waved his hands animatedly, the motions creating enough wind that her hair rustled and leaves fluttered through the air.

    Did he get that much stronger in just a couple hours? I suppose at this point, I should be more surprised if an entire day goes by and he doesn¡¯t double his strength!

    Niya finished draining the Timberling and turned back at him with narrowed eyes while crossing her arms under her chest, ¡°Tell me what it means first. Your idea of amazing and mine are two very different things.¡±

    His face skewed in thought¡ªhis lips pursed to one side as he rubbed his jaw, ¡°It¡¯s kind of like a second system with completely different information. I use mine to interact with my Identify skill and see how much damage my attacks deal to beasts. It also lets me invite people to groups so they can interact with the teleportation platforms and it helps me connect with Sanctuaries functions. Oh, there¡¯s a map too. It¡¯s definitely saved my life a few times. You probably won¡¯t be able to do much with it at first, but I promise it¡¯ll be useful.¡±

    Niya was convinced the second he mentioned interacting with the teleportation platforms. She barely even heard the rest of what he said as she called up the strange text and accepted the activation of the interface.

    [Introductory Interface Activated]

    She waited impatiently for something else to happen, but even after several seconds, there was nothing. Jiran poked her shoulder impatiently, ¡°Did you do it?¡± She nodded and half a second later, a new message appeared in her vision.

    [Party Leader: (Jiran of Madra) Has invited you to join his party. Accept invitation?] [Y/N]

    Niya accepted and several transparent blocks of information appeared at the top of her vision, ¡°Your name changed? When did that happen?¡±

    ¡°When I became a Remalon,¡± He shrugged. ¡°Do you see anything new after joining?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s some strange boxes with colored bars.¡±

    ¡°Awesome! I¡¯m going to kick you from the party, try to invite me.¡± Niya nodded and tried, but she couldn¡¯t figure out how to do it even after he told her she just needed to think about it. ¡°That¡¯s not too surprising, the Party System is one of my acclamations so it would be weird if you suddenly had full access to it. Let¡¯s go see if you can activate the teleportation platform.¡± As usual, he didn¡¯t wait for her reply before excitedly flying off. She rolled her eyes at his childlike impatience and followed behind, finding it more difficult than before to keep up with him.

    He really did get a lot stronger in just a few hours. What a cheater.

    When they arrived, Niya dove ahead of him to put her hand on the crystal first, eagerly feeding it her mana while silently praying it would work. Sure enough, the gem absorbed her energy and several messages appeared in her vision. She pumped a fist in the air with an excited, ¡°Whoop.¡±

    [Sufficient Authority Detected]

    [Destinations available: (Finlest Empire) (Sanctuary - Access Restricted)]

    ¡°Looks like I don¡¯t have access to Sanctuary but I can open a portal to the empire,¡± She beamed with an ecstatic grin that matched his.

    ¡°Interesting. Since you don¡¯t see the Jeweled Isles, then you must only be able to connect with the ones you¡¯ve been to before. Still, this is amazing. Do you realize how much this is going to revolutionize the empire? Can you imagine how crazy it¡¯s going to be once we discover more nodes? I¡¯ve only opened a few and already we have four races that can trade with and support one another. How many more do you think are out there? I mean, Madra¡¯s a big world. There could be hundreds of races, thousands!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, slow down,¡± Niya patted the air, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who said we don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for us beyond the portals? We should be cautious and definitely keep the secret of the crystals and interface to people we can trust.¡±

    ¡°I know that! I¡¯m not an idiot,¡± Jiran grumbled while looking to the side guiltily.

    Niya immediately burst into laughter, ¡°Please, I bet you already came up with a list of at least twenty people you wanted to tell!¡±

    ¡°Wha-I mean-you can¡¯t prove that! Whatever! Stay here for a second,¡± Niya snorted a laugh after noticing Jiran¡¯s neck was crimson with embarrassment. He placed his hand on the gem and opened a portal. He walked inside and reappeared a few seconds later handing her another crystal, ¡°Give me the one you¡¯ve been putting mana into. I have a few things to check on then I¡¯ll meet back up with you.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± She complied, ¡°Try not to blow anything up,¡± She joked, pleased when she got an eye roll out of him before he vanished back through the portal.

    The least I can do to repay him for everything he¡¯s done is to give him a few moments of normality amidst all this insanity.

    As Niya flew back to the line of Timberlings eager to donate their mana, she reflected on how much better her life had become in the last few weeks, and it was all thanks to meeting her cousin again. He had no idea how much of an impact he had on the people and world around him. And knowing how quickly his head would swell up, she had no intention of telling him!

    She couldn¡¯t help but grin as she pictured Olive and Cameron¡¯s reactions when they learned about the interface. Thinking of them, her heart filled with warmth as she marveled at the fact that she had a real party. And not just any party, but one full of absolute monsters that put her time with Silence to shame. It was a good thing too, because if they weren¡¯t powerful, how in the inferno would they keep Jiran from dragging the entire world into the abyss?

 Chapter 169 - Preparations For War

    Jiran stepped through the portal from Sanctuary and giddy tingles of excitement prickled his skin. His emotional state was still far from stable; every little thing sent his feelings swinging in an entirely new direction and the clawing need to kill worthy prey burned just beneath his skin. The shimmering pond around him beckoned with its gentle, clear waters and he sighed wistfully, knowing there wasn¡¯t time for him to relax, no matter how much his body needed it. With a gentle shake, he cast off the pointless thoughts.

    His guess had been right and his quick trip into Sanctuary yielded far greater rewards than he thought possible. He took to the air in a spray of water, making his way toward the deepest woods at the center of the valley. He landed next to Niya and tossed her a crystal. ¡°Here, take this,¡± She snatched the green crystal from the air and her brows furrowed as she inspected it.

    ¡°Another one? It¡¯s a different color.¡± Her eyes flickered back and forth as she read the prompt that appeared in her interface. Her eyes widened as she gasped, ¡°Is this for real? Does it work? Have you tested it yet?¡±

    ¡°Not all of the functions, just the first one, it definitely seems to do what it says. By the way, thank you, for¡­ all of this¡± He tilted his head toward the long line of Timberlings, ¡°Without you charging that first crystal, this wouldn¡¯t have been possible.

    She grinned until dimples appeared on her cheeks, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m here to help. Seriously though, this thing is amazing! This is going to change everything! What should-how do we¡ª¡±

    Jiran raised his hand, ¡°For now, can you charge all of these?¡± He pulled two dozen more green crystals from his pocket, the sight making Niya¡¯s eyes glow with greed.

    She laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. The nearby Timberlings eyed her warily, whispering to each other that she must have lost her bushels. She grabbed the proffered crystals, clutching them so tightly her arm was shaking, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll get these filled. I swear, you¡¯re just not satisfied with your day until you turn the entire empire upside down, are you?¡±

    ¡°Well, doing the same thing day after day would be a bit boring¡­¡± Jiran shrugged with a chuckle. ¡°Make sure you eat some of the tier seven meat I brought back. The sooner your growth is maxed, the better.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, in a minute,¡± Niya rolled her eyes and snorted. Eager to charge and test the new crystal, she turned to the nearest Timberling in line, motioning them forward with her finger, a maniacal grin on her face.

    Seeing several people standing around awkwardly after Niya had drained half of their mana, Jiran looked around for Lulu, hoping to elicit her services to get everyone organized. Not finding her or any of the Matrons, he pursed his lips.

    They must be out gathering people from other parts of the valley.

    He flew into the air so most of those gathered could see him. More Timberlings trickled into the area with every passing second. Through Mana Omnis, he could see thousands more approaching. If he didn''t get them organized within a few minutes, there would be total chaos.

    Jiran covered his skin with strobing, elemental light, causing all eyes to gravitate toward him. He filled his voice with mana, ¡°Anyone from the Sect of Hunting and the Sect of Conflict, please form a line to me now. Those from other sects who would like to fight, please join us as well. Everyone else should find Niya¡¯s line. Once you have been seen by Niya or me, please find a transcended and eat as much as you can to restore your strength.¡±

    He lowered himself back to the ground and for several long seconds, hundreds of Timberlings looked at their neighbors, unsure of what to do. Quite a few had run forward immediately, while others gathered around him in a circle to see what he intended. For some reason, not one drew closer to him than three meters, as if there were an invisible barrier preventing them from taking another step. As the crowd around him grew, more and more found their courage and soon a line of over a thousand teenage boys and mature women faced him.

    ¡°Thank you for coming. I can see that many of you are concerned about my intentions,¡± Jiran met the eyes of several individuals with fearful trepidation written across their features. He smiled at them, his voice soft and thrumming with a hint of mana, ¡°I¡¯m not going to force any of you to do anything you don¡¯t agree with. Let me make my intentions clear: I believe my people are in danger. For hundreds of years, we have been at war with an enemy known as the Graymin. If you are willing to fight for me, and for my people, then I will bestow upon you the gifts spoken of in your prophecy. Those who don¡¯t wish to fight or donate your mana to Niya, please return to your homes as this area will soon become very crowded.¡±

    As soon as he was done speaking, a woman in front raised her hand with an eager expression. Jiran nodded at her and she sang in a soft timbre, ¡°If these Graymin are a threat to your people, how are we to fight such a powerful evil? Will the gifts you provide, truly allow us to cross such a divide?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes they will,¡± Jiran confirmed with a confident nod.

    She stepped forward, her hands on her hips, ¡°Then I decide, to fight by your side.¡± The woman¡¯s proclamation was met with hundreds of nodded heads and hums of assent. Jiran hadn¡¯t expected nearly so many to agree, but by the end, not a single person left after hearing his request. He clenched his jaw and took a deep breath, overwhelmed with emotions that refused to dissipate.

    It¡¯s just like their mother said. If they¡¯re willing to go this far for me, then I better make damn sure they¡¯re as well-equipped as possible.

    Jiran held out his hand to the woman, ¡°We¡¯ll start with your weapons.¡±

    She swallowed, suddenly nervous as she took a tentative step forward, breaching into the space that none had so far dared to tread. He relaxed his features and motioned her closer. With growing confidence, she closed the gap and handed him her spear and bow. Jiran sat on the grass with his legs crossed, examining the weapons on his lap.

    With his aura, he could tell they were made from the woman''s own bark. He didn¡¯t know how quickly their bark grew, but he imagined it wasn¡¯t a swift process to produce both weapons. He gently ran his fingers along the coarse wood, appreciating the care, time, and dedication that no doubt went into their construction. They were incredibly sturdy for being made of tier three materials. He wasn¡¯t the best judge with his limited experience, but he was pretty certain they were nearly at the tier four standard other than the sub-par, metal tip of the spear.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful. I¡¯ll be very careful. Thank you for trusting me to work with them.¡± The woman nodded, staring at him in a daze. Jiran assumed she was being affected by his charisma in some way.

    He started by flooding his mana into the spear. Mana Confluence broke down the warped, uneven micro-structures of the wood, then rebuilt them straighter while reinforcing the entire length. While he worked, he pondered the best design for what he had in mind. After examining the roughly beaten hunk of unprocessed metal that was the spear tip, he came to a decision.

    Using his aura, he snatched up one of the logs he had brought and pulled it through the air. Elemental Castigation formed an inferno directly above him, rapidly reducing the huge tree to ash. He then filtered out the impurities, leaving himself with a huge pile of black carbon dust. He gathered the material beside him, ignoring the wide eyes and gaping jaws of the Timberlings.

    He burrowed out a thin, circular tube inside the entire length of the shaft and filled the space with several folded sheets of graphene, massively boosting the weapon¡¯s durability without sacrificing any of its flexibility. He melted the tip in a furnace of aura. After removing all the non-metallic impurities, he was left with a molten amalgamation of minerals. He examined them carefully with his aura and after choosing the two that felt the strongest, he converted the rest of the minerals into that same combination.

    Next, he cooled the metal into a winged, leaf-shaped spearhead. He left the interior bored out completely and filled that space with hundreds of sheets of graphene to reinforce its structure and allow mana to be stored within it. Several incredibly tiny holes at the very point of the spearhead would allow the mana-chamber to release mana forward when activated. He then pushed his intent, aura, and mana inside, turning the mana-chamber into a true formation. Jiran examined his work with a satisfied nod.

    Only two more steps.

    Jiran pushed a long spike of graphene all the way down the center of the shaft. It connected to the interior of the spearhead so that no matter where she held the spear, she would be able to feed her mana into the formation. After Lulu failed to feed her mana into the sanctuary crystal, Jiran learned that the Timberlings couldn¡¯t push mana out of their skin. Since that was the case, he just needed to create something that could go inside their skin to gain access to that mana.

    With his eyes closed, he sharpened his focus while pulling more carbon dust to him. As he slid his hand down the length of the spear, he formed thousands of needle-like protrusions that stuck out of the wood. Each was long enough to reach the center of the shaft and connect with the central tube that fed the formation. The needles were made by wrapping a single, atom-thick layer of graphene into a tube so tiny they could easily fit into the woman¡¯s pores. Together, they gave the spear a prickly texture that tickled his skin.

    Setting the spear aside, he picked up the bow. Jiran was fully aware that accuracy with a bow was highly reliant on familiarity with that specific weapon. Since time was not on their side, he considered not making any changes because even if he could increase the weapon¡¯s power and durability, it would ruin her ability to hit anything with it until she practiced for a while.

    I should do it. There are far more advantages to having uniform weapons. No matter who picks up one of the bows I work on today, they will each feel exactly the same. And we¡¯re going up against Graymin. If the numbers we encountered during the invasion of Mortan are anything to go by, accuracy isn¡¯t going to be an issue.

    He started with the string, using Mana Confluence to not only correct every minuscule flaw with the material, but also reinforce its durability, resistance to water, and elasticity. The process significantly drained his mana since he didn¡¯t have a clear image of the material he was making, but now that he had done it once, the following bows would be much cheaper. Moving on to the bow¡¯s limbs, he broke down the knotted, uneven textures within and reformed them with layers of reinforcing metal and graphene. Drawing the bow, Jiran tested the strength required and deemed it close enough to the original that she wouldn¡¯t have any issues using the weapon.

    He stood up and handed both weapons back to the woman who was still staring at him blankly. She idly caressed her weapons, her expression shifting between emotions too quickly for Jiran to interpret each of the alien looks.

    ¡°Please, make some space,¡± He pointed to the side and the Timberlings parted. Elemental Castigation reached into the ground and pulled up a condensed slab of stone half a meter thick and three meters tall. His mana carved out the rough shape of a Graymin Pawn on its surface. At the same time, he formed a thick plate of ice behind the wall.

    ¡°This one here is the weakest beast we will be fighting, known as a Graymin Pawn. Go ahead and try your bow first.¡±

    She nodded, and in one smooth motion, pulled out an arrow from the quiver tied to her hip. She knocked it, drew the bow, and released. The last time Jiran had seen a Timberling shoot an arrow, it had streaked through the air like a laser. Due to his recent jump in attributes, he could more clearly see the arrow, though it was still incredibly fast. The bolt struck the carving in the neck, blasting a chest-sized hole straight through the reinforced stone. Jiran whistled appreciatively. He had made the stone as sturdy as a tier four and was shocked to see how much damage she had done. He was also glad he had thought ahead and made the layer of ice or someone might have been hurt.

    ¡°How did it feel?¡±

    ¡°I aimed for the head, but hit the neck instead. I will need practice, to reclaim my exactness. In power it does excel, which makes my heartwood swell,¡± While singing, she gazed at the bow with wonder and what Jiran could only assume was hunger.

    ¡°Okay, now the spear.¡±

    She swung her bow over her back and brandished her spear. With a lunge, she shot forward and struck at the stone. Unsurprisingly, the tip sunk into the stone less than a centimeter. She frowned, clearly having expected something amazing after how long he had worked on it.

    Jiran bit his lip, barely holding in his anticipation, ¡°Focus on the feeling of when you connect to your song, but push that feeling into the spear, then try again. I¡¯ll guide your energies and tell you when you¡¯re doing it right.¡± She looked at him with confusion for a few seconds before closing her eyes and humming softly to herself. Mana Omnis tracked her energies and Enthralling Touch gently urged her mana along the right pathways until it flowed down her arms and into the needles protruding from the spear.

    When the formation within the spearhead was charged, Jiran shouted, ¡°Now!¡±

    The air around her spear crackled with chaotic energies as she thrust it forward. When it struck the stone, the formation instantly released its stored payload. A deafening sound like a thousand panes of glass shattering all at once tore through the air. The entire wall exploded as a flower of ice was born within its center and instantly blossomed into a fifteen-meter-long cone of frigid destruction. Jiran¡¯s mana and aura worked together to guide the energies into the air so no one was harmed. Every single pair of eyes stared upward, frozen in complete shock at the massive glacier that had been created with that single thrust.

    With a snap of his fingers, the ice shattered into diamond dust that snowed down around them, ¡°Good, looks like the weapons are going to work fine. Now, we need to make you some armor and you¡¯ll be all set,¡± Jiran advanced on the dumbstruck woman with an evil grin and a glint in his eyes.

 Chapter 170 - Hold My Ale And Watch This

    Jiran slowly eyed the Timberling warrior up and down, noting her complete lack of armor¡ªher body was protected by layers of bark grown atop random portions of her skin, ¡°You wield a spear and a bow, are you from hunting or conflict?¡± He wondered aloud.

    Her pale skin was lightly flushed after Jiran¡¯s careful perusal and her sly, inviting smile was a clear sign she hadn¡¯t minded his gaze in the least, ¡°Conflict is my sect, I say with respect,¡± She sang while possessively brushing her fingers over her new spear.

    I wasn¡¯t ogling you! Okay, note to self: Don¡¯t be so obvious about looking for the best parts of bark to reinforce. Whatever, after I get started, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll understand.

    He motioned the woman a little closer and she instantly complied, blinking up at him through thick, dark eyelashes. Jiran thought he had been getting better at reading their alien expressions, but at the moment, he couldn¡¯t fully interpret her reactions: There was surprise and confusion, mixed with something new displayed through a single lifted brow and specific, spread-out leaves on her shoulders and head that vibrated in pulses with a short delay.

    That looks almost like a¡­ mating dance?

    Jiran shook his head, doubting his train of thought, ¡°I¡¯m going to start by reinforcing your bark. It might hurt a bit, but once I¡¯m done, it¡¯ll be far stronger. Are you ready?¡± She nodded eagerly and Jiran lightly touched her shoulder, intending to test a space the size of a square centimeter. His touch caused the skin of her neck to flush a deeper crimson and those same specific leaves to tremble even harder. He ignored her reaction, his focus already split and strained to the maximum. One of his minds worked to prepare the pile of ash floating inside his aura, the rest formed hundreds of threads of mana.

    His aura and the threads dove into her bark, mapping out all three layers in exacting detail. The first layer was malleable, capable of flexing with her movements and fully melded with the hypodermis¡¯s muscle and fat tissues. It also contained the most amount of nerves and was directly connected with the veins that carried sap through the many layers of her body. The nerves ended just as they reached the second layer of bark, which was the thinnest and also the most delicate¡ªseemingly acting as connective tissue designed to easily break away, thereby protecting the first layer if the third was damaged. The outermost bark was thick and tough while being full of cracks that served a dual purpose: They allowed sections to be torn off in case of damage without sacrificing too much of the overall protection and also created decent freedom of movement.

    Jiran¡¯s aura held her shoulder still while his threads of mana wormed through the cracks in her outer bark, digging out half of the soft middle layer. This left a gap between the outer and inner bark less than the thickness of a sheet of paper. Rivulets of sap, so small they would be difficult to see with the naked eye, immediately began to seep into the wound. His aura held the liquid at bay while he began filling the thin space with purified ash. Once the gap was filled, Mana Confluence turned the carbon ash into several dozen layers of graphene.

    ¡°I-it tickles, like tiny prickles,¡± She bit her lip, her eyes boring into Jiran¡¯s.

    He barely heard her, only taking note that she didn¡¯t seem to be in pain. He wasn¡¯t surprised since he had done his best to avoid the nerves in her bark. His focus remained unwavering as his finger trailed from her shoulder down her arm. Hundreds of filaments of mana radiated from his hand and into her as he repeated the graphene reinforcing until he reached the back of her hand where the bark stopped. The entire time he was working on her arm, her mouth had been wide open as she made strange crackling sounds like a campfire. He gently but firmly turned her in a full circle and repeated the processes across her back, hips, stomach, and legs, until every centimeter of her bark had multiple sheets of graphene inside it.

    The entire process took about three minutes and by the end, she was panting heavily, her skin flushed and her gaze a thousand kilometers away. Jiran waved his hand in front of her face while calling out to her but she was completely unresponsive. With a shrug, he set her to the side with her weapons and met the eyes of the next person in line. He furrowed his brow, realizing that at some point while he was intently focused on what he was doing, the next Timberling in line had changed.

    Wasn¡¯t it one of the young guys next? When did they swap? Wait, why are all the guys at the back of the line now? Whatever, now that I know what I¡¯m doing it should only take one or two minutes per person, including the weapons. Once I have a handle on the differences between them, I can move onto the next phase.

    He motioned her forward and at the same time, Enthralling Touch drew out half the mana in her body to replenish what he had used on the previous woman. She gasped in surprise, but stepped forward and handed him her spear and bow. Her entire body was vibrating with nervous energy so Jiran smiled warmly at her and spoke in a reassuring voice, ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine, I won¡¯t hurt you, promise.¡±

    ¡°I-I know, that you are no foe. I-I¡¯m merely nervous to receive your service. Please be gentle. It¡¯s my first time, but I¡¯m sure it will be sublime!¡±

    For a long, drawn-out moment, Jiran froze, his eyes completely unable to pull away from the leaves around her head and shoulders that danced rhythmically in exactly the same way as the previous Timbering.

    No, no way¡­ I¡¯ve seen all their parts clearly with my aura and there¡¯s nothing unusual about those organs. I¡¯m definitely misunderstanding her¡­ right?

    The murmured whispers of several nearby women suddenly registered in his ears, ¡°D-did you hear her clicks?! I counted twenty-six!¡±

    ¡°Twenty-six? That¡¯s impossible, such a divide is truly uncrossable. The most I¡¯ve ever heard of is five and they say that sister did barely survive.¡±

    ¡°Siloralalianara, I¡¯ll trade you thirty bushels for your spot in line! I cannot wait, this position must become mine!¡±

    ¡°Not in this life, I¡¯ll defend my spot through any strife!¡± After the first Timberling made the offer, suddenly, dozens of them were shouting out similar deals and Jiran¡¯s aura instantly hardened to block their bickering.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Thirty bushels? Defend with her life? What the hell? Honestly, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not sending a single one of them into battle without better protection. They¡¯ve gone their entire lives depending on their bark to protect them so they¡¯re used to fighting in a way that utilizes those natural defenses. Making entire suits of armor for each of them is out of the question since it would take way too much time, mana, and resources. This is the only reasonable way, so regardless of what they¡¯re getting out of it, I¡¯ve got to see it through!

    After quickly reinforcing her weapons, his aura held her still so she wouldn¡¯t twitch while he painstakingly reinforced her bark. By the time he was done, she was just as incoherent as the first one so he set her aside. The next one in line was panting with blurred eyes and her leaves were vibrating before she even stepped into his aura; the desire in her gaze completely unmistakable. With a weary sigh, Jiran surrounded his workspace in a bubble of elemental light that absorbed and refracted every spectrum so he wouldn¡¯t be distracted by the clamoring of the Timberlings in the rapidly growing line.

    Several hours later, Jiran noted Mayalyn entering the range of his aura. She spent a few seconds absorbing the line and the pile of recovering women before poking her head inside Jiran¡¯s sphere of darkness. She watched him with narrowed eyes, not saying anything until he finished with the Timberling he was working on.

    ¡°Aajiran, what are you doing to them?¡± She spoke slowly, her voice laced with suspicion.

    ¡°Uhh, turning their bark into armor like our suits,¡± Jiran met her eyes, refusing to look away or allow even the slightest hint of shame to color his emotions.

    ¡°They seem to be¡­ enjoying it.¡±

    Jiran shrugged, ¡°Yeah, I''m not sure why.¡±

    ¡°Have you asked them why?¡± Mayalyn questioned in a demanding tone.

    ¡°Nope and I honestly don''t want to know. If I find out, I might stop, which would get some of them killed.¡±

    After his response, she stared at him for the longest five seconds of his life. ¡°Okay, when you need a break, we should talk.¡±

    Nope, better get this resolved now.

    Jiran walked toward her and grabbed her hands. She didn¡¯t resist as he gently pulled her all the way inside the dark bubble. Once in the middle, he plopped down so they were sitting with their knees touching, ¡°I¡¯ll take that break right now. After killing so many tier sevens my emotional state¡¯s been all over the place. Spending some time with you is exactly what I want right now. So, what did you want to talk about? If it¡¯s about the Timberlings, I can make them regular armor, it¡¯ll just take a little longer.¡±

    Mayalyn shook her head, ¡°No, that is not it. You are trying to do everything by yourself again. If this upcoming battle is as bad as you think it will be, we must also ask the People for help.¡±

    Damnit. I didn¡¯t even think about that. Probably because I¡­ don¡¯t want to. They¡¯ve already lost so much. I instinctively want to protect them. I can¡¯t ask them to fight for me when I know there¡¯s a high likelihood of them dying.

    ¡°I don''t want to involve The People after everything they''ve been through.¡±

    Mayalyn bristled; her tail rose straight up behind her, and a low, throaty hiss escaped her lips, ¡°You have truly underestimated us. We have chosen to make the empire our home, how can you think to deny us the right to protect it? You did not even give us the option!¡± She clenched her fists and a trickle of blood oozed from between her fingers. She looked down at her lap, unwilling to meet his eyes as she vibrated with barely repressed fury, ¡°Jiran, I want you to take me home now.¡±

    Crap. I just stuck my foot in my mouth again. How would I feel if I¡¯d been pulled from my home, forced to set up in a new land, then wasn¡¯t given the option to protect that new home? Of course I would hate that. Once someone chooses a home, regardless of the circumstances, it''s obvious they would want to protect it to the best of their ability, especially if their backs are to the wall and failure means death for them and their whole family.

    Jiran¡¯s voice was harsh when he finally responded, causing her to instantly jerk her head up, ¡°Mayalyn, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I¡¯ll take you home now so you can alert them of the coming danger. I¡¯ll re-open the portal in three hours and anyone who wishes to join the battle can come to receive weapons and armor.¡±

    Mayalyn¡¯s gaze darted back and forth between his eyes and her tongue flickered out to taste his emotions. Seemingly satisfied with what she found, she nodded firmly, leaned forward, and kissed him. ¡°Your ability to see reason and quickly change your mind when you are wrong is why I love you so much. Well, one of the reasons.¡± Jiran¡¯s jaw dropped at her admission.

    Did I just hear that right? Yeah, yup, definitely did. Okay, don¡¯t make a big deal out of it, it¡¯s just words that express what we both already knew. So¡­ why can¡¯t I think straight?

    ¡°And I uhm, love¡­ your hair! It¡¯s really bletty¡­¡± Jiran¡¯s tongue tied itself in knots, creating a portmanteau from blue and pretty.

    Agh, my emotions are all over the place! Stupid challenger density!

    Quick as lightning, he reached out and took her hands in his again, Mana Confluence repairing the puncture holes in her palms, ¡°I love you too, Mayalyn.¡± She burst into laughter, throwing her head back and cackling so hard she fell over, clutching her stomach. ¡°Hey! I was being serious!¡± Jiran frowned.

    Mayalyn¡¯s laughter died off into giggles as she slowly regained her composure. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, ¡°I knew from the first moment you fell in love with me. Did you think I could not taste how you felt all this time? Because the People can feel each other''s emotions, we do not often express them in words, and I only now realize you might not know how strongly I feel for you, too.¡±

    ¡°Ohh,¡± Jiran heard himself say, his mind reeling from the revelation. ¡°When was that? I mean, when did I fall in love with you?¡± He wondered, his brain completely unable to form rational thoughts as his pounding heart sent heat rushing through his cheeks in embarrassed excitement.

    ¡°When you rescued me after I was kidnapped. You were quite dashing,¡± The last of her laughter faded away as she smiled fondly, replaying the memory in her mind¡¯s eye.

    ¡°And when did you¡­¡±

    ¡°In the tunnel we dug to the teleporter, when you silenced Viyolla and stood up for me. You were so tired at the time that you did not even think about what you were doing or saying. That is why: Because you acted on instinct, and that instinct was to protect me. After that, I could no longer doubt my feelings were true.¡± Jiran groaned, realizing that everyone else must have tasted their feelings then too.

    They all knew. From the very beginning, everything I''ve felt might as well have been an open book to them. I mean, I knew that. I guess I just didn¡¯t know it.

    She sat up and patted his cheek, bringing him back to the present. ¡°Take me home now, please. It is long past time we prepare to do our part.¡±

    ¡°Right after I get a few more minutes with the woman I love,¡± Mayalyn giggled as Jiran pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. Her weight settled on him and her strong scent flooded his nose. He fully released the tight grip he¡¯d been holding on his emotions, falling head-over-heels into a moment of complete relaxation.

 Chapter 171 - Children Of The Empire

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Rare dark clouds roiled high above the desert sands, a portent of the battle to come. All present could feel it in the air; a weight that pressed down on their shoulders. It was as if Madra held her breath in preparation to blow out the flickering candle that was the empire''s pathetic existence.

    Olive held her sword loosely in one hand, its tip pointed toward the shifting grains at her feet. Her back was straight, her chin held proudly as she locked eyes with the general casually making his way down the slope toward her. She stood in the center of several dozen rings of soldiers; their total numbers were well over four thousand. Her brother had been kind enough to stomp his foot into the ground, creating a deep enough crater that all of them could see her in its center.

    Prince Ardon¡¯s voice was firm in her ear, despite having traveled through a tunnel of his aura from well outside their makeshift arena, ¡°It¡¯s not too late to back out, or at the very least work a deal with him that saves you face. Losing here after creating such a scene will only make it all the more impossible to enact your strategies.¡±

    Olive shook her head, ¡°I will not lose. If we had even one more day, I would heed your advice. Unfortunately, there is no time to bicker with him. The chain of command must be as solid as our shieldwall or we will not succeed.¡±

    ¡°I agree. After this, I expect you to fall in line. Every minute delayed is more lives lost.¡± She felt his aura withdraw after his final words. Olive had to admit, his lack of faith in her stung. She grit her teeth, dragging the emotions into her core, using them to connect with her mana all the more firmly.

    General Reifvus leaped over the last few tightly-packed rows of soldiers, landing in the sandy pit with a thud that lightly shook the ground. He looked down at her from above, nearly half again taller than she was. The smile that spread his lips was not kind and his eyes blazed with barely repressed fury.

    I can¡¯t blame him, he¡¯s been struggling to reach his position since before I was born. But his ambition will be the death of the entire empire, and so I must do what I must do.

    Olive lifted her sword until the middle of its blade was before her face. She looked at the weapon with disdain, ignoring the indignant General who¡¯s smile had turned to a scowl. She hated her sword, for it was a weapon designed to kill her own people, not beasts. But what could she do? Carrying it was an order from her Father; a reminder to all those who betrayed the empire that they would be judged. She didn¡¯t want to judge her people, she wanted to protect them.

    General Reifvus¡¯s voice roused her from her melancholy, ¡°You asked for this farce of a duel, so why are you the one making such a pitiful face? If you¡¯re worried I¡¯ll kill you, you shouldn''t be. I respect your father enough to hold my blows,¡± He smirked, the implication he held no respect for her personally wasn¡¯t missed by anyone who heard the gloating satisfaction in his tone.

    Olive sighed, more than ready to be done and get to work, there was far too much to do to delay any longer, ¡°I decline your mercy. Let there be no grudges or resentment between us in the future. Use all of your strength, hold nothing back. And when the victor is settled, let this incident never be spoken of beyond this day.¡±

    ¡°Hah! I hope you don¡¯t mind if I decline your offer as well. I fully intend to toast this memory in every tavern across the empire till I¡¯m old and gray!¡± He drew the spear from his back as his deep chest rumbled with laughter. Not one soldier joined in his mirth, nervously looking between each other uncomprehendingly. To insult the child of one of the emperors so brazenly in a traditional duel was unheard of. Olive instantly realized he was putting his entire reputation on the line in an effort to boost morale before the upcoming battle. If he won, the soldiers would have more faith in him than ever. Since he was a tier above her, victory was all but certain in his eyes.

    ¡°So be it, let none say I did not give you plenty of opportunities to settle things peacefully between us.¡±

    ¡°Enough! It¡¯s clear that you''ve gone far too long without a proper spanking. Allow me to teach you some discipline, your highness!¡± Reifvus¡¯s spear ignited with blazing fire as mana flooded through his channels. The heat was intense, even from twenty meters away Olive could feel her skin beginning to sizzle.

    As pain rapidly flooded her senses, a fleeting regret tickled the back of her mind. Shortly after meeting Jiran in the Outlands, he had taught her enough to gain a molding subskill. In her foolishness, she had made the choice without waiting for his advice. After learning more of Niya and his abilities, she desperately wished she could take back her choice as she did not have the capability of controlling unaspected mana outside of her skin like they did. If she had that ability, the general¡¯s flames wouldn¡¯t be able to hurt her at all.

    That didn¡¯t mean her subskill was without its own advantages. She chose Mana Compacting, and it allowed her to significantly compress mana within her body to enhance both offense and defense at very little cost. With Jiran¡¯s help, she had devised a technique to take full advantage of the subskill: It¡¯s name was Mana Barrier.

    Her mana spread out, pooling just beneath her skin, creating a shield of energy far denser than what a tier five should be capable of. It was less than a millimeter thin, but with over sixty levels in molding, even if all her skin melted away, she would never die to such a pitiful flame as the general¡¯s. Nearly three-quarters of her mana was dedicated to her compacted shield. She could draw upon it as she wished, for it was not spent, merely resting within her body, ready to be turned into a shaping, forcing, or kept as a defense.

    ¡°Volcanus¡¯s Furor!¡± Her shout was a pitiful thing compared to the raging fire crackling around Reifvus¡¯s spear. Ten percent of her mana flowed smoothly through her channels, engulfing her sword. She held back nothing, fully leaning on the visualization of moving molecules representing heat that Jiran had taught her. The agonizing pain of her flesh beginning to cook only fueled the anger she directed toward controlling her Mana Barrier, which held steady, protecting everything beneath her skin.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Seeing her skin blacken, burn, and boil away, General Reifvus finally recognized her resignation to do whatever was necessary to win. His eyes opened wide with sudden panic and he jabbed his spear toward her. A roaring cyclone of blazing fire swept forward, melting the sands to glass. The nearest soldiers raised their hands, projecting a shield to protect the lower tiers behind them.

    As the fire swept toward her, blocking the General from her sight, Olive realized this was her best chance to gain the upper hand. With his much higher attributes and density concentration, he would easily shrug off a half-hearted attack. If she used more mana, he could simply teleport out of the way, making her exhaust herself quickly. He would outlast her if she didn¡¯t strike a decisive blow.

    Without hesitation, she sucked her aura beneath what was left of her skin and dove directly into the oncoming wave of fire. Her mana barrier wavered beneath the onslaught of the higher-tier¡¯s attack, but it held. Her aura and mana gripped at the framework, the two working in unison to drag her forward as she sprinted through the deadly flames. With the first step, the world turned dark as she solidified extra mana beneath the sclera of her eyes. On the second step, her ears were filled with the sounds of the roiling fire that completely engulfed her. By the third, her skin was completely incinerated, and by the fourth, the pressure of aura and blasting fire nearly pushed her backward. But she would rather die here than relent, and so she stepped again.

    She could barely hold her hated sword. Like an oiled snake it fought to burst from her grasp as incredibly powerful flames coursed through the high-tier beast metal. She tightened her aura and mana, squeezing for everything she was worth. She couldn''t hold it another second, so she swung, releasing all the energy she had gathered within it.

    Even with her vision blocked by condensed mana, the world turned white as a tremendous roar blasted into her. She lost her footing, her body flung through the air. Her aura and Forcing completely unable to cope with the forces that struggled to tear her apart. She stopped trying to fight it, instead pulling herself down until she slammed into the ground. The pain of her exposed nerves rubbing against the inside of her armor and the glassy sand nearly took away her consciousness. She screamed, but only a dull reverberation let her know she released any sound at all.

    When the pain abated enough that she could think once more, she pushed enough mana into Sansaa¡¯s Caress to heal her eyes and ears. Instantly, the world snapped into focus since she had no eyelids to open. When she swept her gaze over the arana, all that met her was devastation. Her single swing had been far more destructive than she ever imagined. A blackened crescent of melted glass started just before the General and extended outward to the edges of the arena. Her brother stood before the soldiers on the other side of a massive wall of singed ice. His palm was still outstretched, a look of complete bafflement on his face as he stared at her.

    Olive groaned and climbed to her feet. The sight of her caused the soldiers to gasp in horror, many losing their last meal as others shook their heads in denial. Olive ignored them, focusing on the sorry state of the General. His armor had melted into his skin and his breaths were shallow. She stumbled toward him, holding what was left of her sword at her side. She dispelled half of her Mana Barrier, directing the energy into Sansaa¡¯s Caress to regenerate her skin. Her boots crunched with each step, the smell of burnt chemicals thick in the air. Much to the onlookers'' relief, by the time she stood over him, her skin was whole.

    She pointed her finger at the man, ready to announce her victory. Instead, she laughed. It wasn¡¯t the half-dead man at her feet, but seeing her arm and the armor which covered it that had caused mirth to bubble from her lungs; the armor Jiran had crafted her was completely unscathed.

    Would I have survived leaping directly into his attack without Jiran¡¯s armor to protect me? It seems no matter what I do, I¡¯ll always be in his shadow. That¡¯s fine with me. I am but a single pillar of the empire, and I have no need for glory.

    An hour had passed since her victory over General Reifvus. Olive¡¯s first order had been to gather all the soldiers under her command. She floated on wings of aura before the walls of the Fortress City Melathon¡ªthe last line of defense between the empire and the approaching Graymin horde. Three hundred thousand men and women were spread out beneath her; a speck before the twenty million beasts barreling ever closer. They craned their necks to see her silhouetted by dark, angry clouds.

    ¡°Four hundred!¡± Olive shouted, her voice so loud, and her shout so sudden, that the nearest soldiers jerked back in surprise. They gave each other nervous and confused looks before Olive continued, ¡°Four hundred generations of our forefathers have held these sands from the Graymin. Can you see them? Your brave fathers and mothers who bled so we can stand here today,¡± Olive cast her gaze across the dunes in the distance as if she were looking at an army far more vast than the one that stood before her. Her voice turned solemn, almost tinged with a note of regret, ¡°From father to mother, son to daughter¡ªour empire has always been a family that stands together to defend the next generation. It is my family, and yours.¡±

    She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders as her hard gaze turned back to the soldiers, ¡°But our family is changing. The empire we grew up in is not what it is today, and not what it will be tomorrow. What once I considered adequate is no longer acceptable. Many of you saw my battle with our esteemed General Reifvus, and those of you who missed it have no doubt heard the tale. I, a tier five, soundly defeated a tier six. No doubt you¡¯re asking yourselves how such a thing could be possible.¡±

    She let them chew on the question for several seconds, and when the tension nearly burst to whispers, she continued, ¡°It is because new methods for harvesting and controlling mana have been discovered. Methods which you have witnessed the efficacy of with your own eyes. But these new methods will bring much strife, and their implementation will take time; time our foes do not wish to give us.¡±

    One of her hands rose, pointing to the north, ¡°The Graymin have sensed this change in us. That is why they gather an army unlike any we have seen before. They wish to snuff us out before the flickering flame of our future generations turn into a raging bonfire that will burn them to nothing. If you close your eyes, I know you will see them. Your children, grown and powerful beyond your comprehension, standing tall and strong atop a mountain of their corpses. Their future shines even brighter than the Fathers above. So do not let it be snuffed out this day!¡±

    Her voice was power itself, suffused with so much mana that she would only have a few seconds more before she bottomed out, ¡°I swear upon my name, Oliviala Le''Cruex and the Finlest Empire which we all serve: I will pass on what I have learned and more. Till my dying breath, I will guide our children and bring about an age of progression that will uplift the empire into the arms of the voice herself. Already, Emperor Dominus gathers our forces trained in these new methods, and we only need grant them the time to arrive. Let us create that time. This will not be a battle for victory, but one of minutes, of seconds. Until they arrive, we will hold! Let our enemies know that we are the empire, and when we roar, the deepest pits of the inferno should tremble in fear! Alor!¡±

    ¡°Alor!¡± Three hundred thousand voices screamed as fists smashed into breastplates, creating a resounding thunder that sent Olive¡¯s hair billowing. She smiled, pride and kindled hope causing tears to leak from her eyes.

    I¡¯ll hold our home on my shoulders until you return, Jiran. I swear it. I¡¯ve put my faith, and the future of my family in you, so please don¡¯t let me down.

 Chapter 172 - So Nice Of You To Come

    Jiran willed the portal to close and watched as bending space devoured the beautiful image of Mayalyn standing within the cave of her people. With her gone, the weight of responsibility pressed in on his shoulders. The People, Timberlings, Forkara, and the empire were about to be involved in a battle so dangerous that even the Mother Timberling had sung with wariness. There were so many preparations to make; so many things that only he could resolve. Unfortunately, there was only one of him and he couldn¡¯t be in two places at once.

    As if I¡¯ll let a little problem like that stop me. I might not be able to be in two places at once, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t do more than one thing at a time!

    Jiran rushed back to the center of the valley and his eagerly waiting line of Timberlings. Despite the enormity of the tasks ahead of him, his emotions were finally stable once more. As he dropped to the ground, eager, expectant eyes followed his every move. The sight didn¡¯t unnerve him as it would have only a few days ago. Instead, it filled him with determination. He would definitely live up to their expectations and do everything in his power to make sure they survived. And in the process, show them how to grow strong enough that they could continue thriving in a world that no longer protected them as cattle.

    Jiran raised his voice, ¡°Come forward three at a time!¡±

    A woman nearby gasped, ¡°Three, how can that be? This is a sight I truly wish to see!¡± With his message heard, he blocked sound and motioned them forward.

    These three looked strong, the glint in their eyes speaking of a desire to do whatever was necessary. Jiran¡¯s aura gathered their weapons and with supreme focus, he reinforced their bows at once. He then stuck their spears in the ground so he wouldn¡¯t have to hold them in the air. Reinforcing them all at the same time was difficult, but because he was making each weapon exactly the same, he was able to succeed. After finishing, he sandwiched the three women with his aura and worked on their bark. Since they were different sizes, and their bark was arranged in varied patterns, it was far more difficult than the weapons and he was sweating by the time he finished.

    He checked his timer and grimaced, ¡°Just as I thought,¡± He mumbled while setting the insensate women to the side. He didn¡¯t immediately call the next three forward, his thoughts racing.

    Reinforcing all three had taken him two minutes and forty seconds. Previously, it took him two minutes to complete a single reinforcing of two weapons and one Timberling. He knew there were just over one hundred and twenty thousand Timberlings total; many of which were children, birthers¡ªwhich he assumed were mothers, and elderly. If he assumed that thirty percent of the total population would be willing to fight, that would be roughly thirty-six thousand. Not everyone had both a bow and a spear, which gave around a ten-second variance per person. At his previous speed, it would take him nearly fifty days to prepare so many. Even equipping and reinforcing three Timberlings at once would still take him over twenty days of working twenty-four hours a day.

    Obviously, that was unacceptable. Especially since he still needed to deal with the Forkara and take time to increase his own strength. He had also promised to supply the People with weapons in three hours. He had worked on enough Timberlings that he felt intimately familiar with the process. Now, he needed to increase his speed by a factor of one hundred if he wanted to achieve all his plans within a reasonable amount of time. The only question was: How?

    Movement from a direction he had been eagerly checking since he first began working caught his eye. Knife finally sat up and a bead of warmth spread through Jiran¡¯s chest as she shook her head, sending silvery hair and auburn leaves flying. Beside her, his new suit of black armor duly reflected the light that filtered through the thick boughs above.

    That¡¯s exactly what I need. And it has to be easy enough that even an idiot like her can use it. Alright, it¡¯s time to really get things started.

    Jiran closed the lid of the most recent formation he had constructed. He turned around, Enthralling Touch dipping into the mana of a thousand Timberlings and pulling it into the formation box through the specially designed hand holds on the top of the lid. The mana was eagerly absorbed, filling the layers of graphene in the otherwise hollow sections that acted as a mana battery inside the large rectangular box.

    A prickling on his skin caused him to sharply glare at the clouds far to the east. Knife poked him in the side with her finger, an easy smile on her lips, ¡°I like that look in your eyes, I wonder, what will be your next surprise? Is it finally beginning, is that why you¡¯re grinning?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Jiran nodded, matching her smile with an exasperated shake of his head. Knife had been glued to his side since she woke up. At first, she had been annoyed that he had restored her arm, claiming it was supposed to be a scar to remind her of the consequences of failing to follow his orders. After he pointed out how he didn¡¯t need a crippled follower, she quickly changed her tune.

    He had to admit that she was proving incredibly useful. She now followed his every word to the letter without question and without hesitation. She also had a deep voice that carried well for her small frame and any Timberling who heard it snapped to obey. With her organizing the now twenty lines and directing the process of recharging everyone¡¯s mana with density from the transcended, they just might make it in time for the deadline he had set.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°They were a little slower than I thought, but this is a good time. I¡¯ll leave you in charge here, once the Matrons return, please direct them to stay. When I get back, I¡¯ll want to talk to everyone at once.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Spirit,¡± Knife crossed her arms over her chest in the salute the Timberlings had adopted from the Forkara.

    Jiran made his way to Niya¡¯s line and waited patiently for her to finish transferring the mana from a bud¡ªthe youthful, male Timberlings. As the boy wandered off to find a transcended to sup from, she craned her neck to look up at him, ¡°What?¡± She grumbled, clearly bored from doing the repetitive task for several hours.

    ¡°They¡¯re making their move. Are you almost done?¡±

    ¡°Yup! These crystals take a ton of mana but I¡¯ve only got two left.¡±

    ¡°When you finish, you know¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± She waved her wrist dismissively, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep repeating yourself, I know what to do.¡±

    Jiran shook his head with a scowl, letting just enough anger into his expression and voice to let her know he was deadly serious, ¡°If something goes wrong on your end, hundreds of thousands could die needlessly. Please take this more seriously.¡±

    Niya sighed and nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right. Sorry. It¡¯s just hard to imagine that things could be that bad in the empire when I haven¡¯t seen it for myself. You¡¯re sure that prophecy wasn¡¯t just trying to manipulate you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure, it wasn¡¯t a prophecy by that point. She was really there and she wasn¡¯t lying. A King has come to play. My unique ability has been thrumming for the last few hours, too. This is really happening and it¡¯s bad.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to bring the People over as planned before I take the crystals,¡± Niya gave him a reassuring smile.

    ¡°Thanks, Niya. You¡¯re the only one I can rely on for this,¡± Jiran squeezed her shoulder gently.

    She brushed off his hand while turning away from him in embarrassment, ¡°Alright, alright. Enough with the mushy stuff, don¡¯t you have somewhere to be?¡±

    ¡°Bye, Niya. I¡¯ll see you on the battlefield. Don¡¯t get yourself killed or I¡¯ll go on a rampage and make a big mess which I¡¯ll then revive you to clean up, got it?¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± She laughed and gave him a toothy grin.

    They waved, and Jiran took to the skies.

    Dokkuun of the Gnashing Wound Clan

    The four elders of the Rising Sky Faction flapped their wings restlessly, kicking up huge gusts of wind that did almost nothing to keep them airborne. At their tier, only a well-used aura had the strength to hold them off the ground. That knowledge did nothing to keep them from beating their wings, as instinct was a powerful force, and feeling the air pushed by their sensitive feathers felt far too good to ever stop.

    ¡°Do you truly believe Senior Brother Guardian bears the curse of the unspoken?¡± Rhahakk questioned incredulously.

    Dokkuun nodded firmly, ¡°His attributes are much lower than ours and we all felt his concentration was lower than ours as well. He''s nearly two tiers below us, yet he could easily overpower us. There''s only one explanation for that.¡±

    Frakkoa¡ªthe oldest of the four¡ªfingered the short blade in his pocket that their new benefactor had gifted him just before leaving. ¡°Our path is set, and the moment to leap from the roost has come.¡±

    The other three elders nodded, their gaze drawn to the twenty, tier seven figures rapidly approaching from above. There were two groups separated by nearly a kilometer, though they all came at the same time, making it clear what side they favored.

    The smaller group of eight were those only loosely allied with the Storm Claw and would be unlikely to directly assist if there was a battle. Dokkuun recognized each of them, their long standing neutrality made it no surprise that they would be sitting out in the upcoming confrontation.

    The leader of the Storm Claw Clan and the Divine Faction¡ªRaahak¡ªflew at the front of the larger group of twelve elders. He was much younger than Dokkuun and the other elders, with only a dash of salty white in his long hair and immaculately trimmed beard. He was huge for a Forkara. With every movement, bulging muscles popped out from between the plates of the thick, black and silver metal armor he wore. Decorative feathers adorned his shoulders and arms, a perfect match for the several pieces of glistening jewelry around his neck. Those decorations were utterly overwhelmed by the resplendent golden crown on his head.

    The butts of two spears protruded from behind his shoulders; they were his signature weapons and all who saw them trembled in fear that he may draw them. Those two weapons were said to have been created in ages past by a tier nine before the sundering of the Forkara. Not once since his rise to the head of the Storm Claw had his enemies seen him draw both spears and live to tell the tale. Not only that, the crown was also an ancient relic said to make its wearer invincible. Dokkuun frowned, recognizing most of the jewelry he wore from old texts.

    Dokkuun huffed, recalling the rumors naming him The Spear God. A warrior who rose from nothing with overwhelming might, dominating every clan that dared to stand against him, taking their spoils as his own while gathering allies. In the last hundred years, none had come so close to uniting the head clans as this demon with wings.

    Raahak¡¯s face contorted into a disgusted grimace as he stopped his advance. He looked down at Dokkuun and the other elders dismissively, his gaze quickly moving to scour the landscape. He spotted the pile of tier seven corpses Jiran had left from his previous hunt and he nodded to one of his subservient clan heads who flew down to investigate.

    A wave of the elders hand indicated they were indeed tier seven beasts and Rahakk spat in Dokkuun¡¯s direction, his lips pulling back in a snarl, ¡°Whatever pitiful trap the four of you have set, it¡¯s useless against me. Tell me where the thief is and I¡¯ll let you fly. This is your only chance to live, don¡¯t waste it.¡±

    Dokkuun laughed loudly, holding his stomach as he threw his head back. He stopped as suddenly as he started, his eyes narrowing, ¡°If only you weren¡¯t a spoiled brat with no honor, you might have actually succeeded.¡±

    Raahak¡¯s muscles bulged and veins popped out across his forehead. The ten elders at his back gasped at the insults and even Dokkuun¡¯s brothers raised their brows in appreciation at the perfectly delivered barbs. Everyone present knew Raahak was anything but spoiled. To discredit his past, his honor, and his future goals of uniting the Forkara in a single line was beyond unpardonable.

    ¡°So be it, I gave you a chance, you old relics. Throw them into the fog so we may dine while listening to their screams.¡± Of the eleven elders who had chosen to directly join the conflict on Raahak¡¯s side, eight dove toward Dokkuun and his brothers, eager for blood.

 Chapter 173 - Complacency Kills

    The four elders of Dokkuun¡¯s Rising Sky Faction scattered and two tier sevens from the Divine Faction chased each of them. The fogs of the Land of the Lost were a mere twenty meters below him, and from within, he could feel the greedy eyes of deadly beasts watching his every move. The fading light of Second Father edged toward the horizon, silhouetting his two opponents who dashed toward him before splitting in opposite directions at the last second.

    A spear and a long, jagged sword flashed. A flurry of sharp gusts ripped through the air toward Dokkuun. He snorted derisively, spotting the shallow weaknesses in their techniques. He unsheathed his shortsword in a blinding-quick sweep of Bladewind that intercepted the attacks at their weakest points, easily scattering the sharp energy. His vision noted the way the winds dispersed after his counter and he narrowed his eyes in grudging respect; his opponents this time were not as weak as they appeared. He recognized the wielder of the jagged longsword, Flakka, of the Resplendent Heavenly Serrated Tooth Clan. The much younger spear wielder wore the livery of the Storm Claw Clan, so he assumed he was one of their hidden masters.

    The youth shot him a wicked smirk that revealed the cruelty behind his otherwise attractive features, ¡°Give up old worm. Your fate is sealed! Not even the crown of the forebears could save your wrinkled hide.¡±

    Something¡¯s wrong. I refuse to believe the Storm Claw would secretly raise someone so flippant. They¡¯ve obviously put an incredible amount of resources into him. He¡¯s trying to distract me, but from what?

    Dokkuun tsked, shaking his head, ¡°Even the greatest beast understands it must give its all to every hunt, lest he grow complacent and die when his prey is cornered. Gnashing Terror of the Sixth Storm!¡± He swung his sword three times in rapid succession, releasing six, ten-meter-wide Bladewinds with each slash. His mana dropped precipitously from the highly skilled technique but it was worth it to see the two youngins scrambling before him. Their eyes widened with fright before they threw themselves to the sides while swinging frantically; neither escaped unscathed.

    Even more importantly, Dokkuun tracked the movements of the rushing winds, finding what had been hidden from his eyes. Circling behind him was a third figure that was completely invisible. The young storm claw pulled an amulet from his pocket and crushed it in his palm. Healing Winds exploded from the diamond dust, surrounding his arm and rapidly regenerating the deep gash from Dokkuun¡¯s bladewinds. The man with the sword similarly activated a ring, healing his nearly severed leg.

    ¡°Ho-ho-ho, I think I hear your nest nurses calling. Feel free to fly home if you¡¯re scared, little ones,¡± Dokkuun¡¯s taunting was met with a growl and a scream of rage.

    Dokkuun flapped one of his wings, turning sideways in an instant and causing the invisible spear thrust from behind to slide through thin air. He continued his movement, his leg lashing out to smash into the assassin. She grunted in pain as the force of his blow threw her a dozen meters. The sheen of invisibility wrapped around her faded, revealing a young woman with similar features to the storm claw youth.

    ¡°Die, you ancient bastard! Raging Claw!¡± She raised her spear high before swinging down with all her might. The image of a massive claw coalesced, superimposed over the spear. It raced toward him, crashing through the air and creating a massive howl like the center of a storm.

    Dokkuun sheathed his sword and bent his knees, entering the stance for the twelfth slash of his sword style. He folded his wings so the buffeting winds wouldn¡¯t throw off his focus. Held aloft by only his aura, he gathered mana into his blade and sheath. Just before he released, a horrific scream blasted through the air. It was so loud that his body began to go numb as waves of sound battered his old bones. His attention was drawn to the side where Flakka and the boy were gathering elemental aura into their blades, which was rapidly sucking in a tremendous amount of air.

    So they¡¯ve already claimed their aspects. This might not be as easy as I thought.

    With mana flooding his legs, Dokkuun jumped off solidified aura directly toward the ephemeral claw flying in his direction. The mana in his sheath propelled his blade outward in a reckless swing containing all his strength and power. The spear technique was shattered as the mana in his blade ripped through it. He tilted his head to the side and lifted his left foot, narrowly evading the two errant currents of sharp wind from the dispersing explosion. Not even trying to stop his momentum, he spun in a full circle and his blade came around for a second swing just as he reached the girl.

    Her inexperience showed as she brought her spear up to block his fully powered attack. The expected impact never occurred as Dokkuun bent his wrist, allowing his gently curved blade to pass a hair¡¯s breadth from the shaft of her spear. His other hand grabbed the weapon and he grinned wickedly as his foot slammed into her stomach. She flew backward, directly toward Flakka and his charging aspect. Just in case Flakka was willing to sacrifice her, Dokkuun kept his guard up, already charging elemental mana into his aura and focusing it in his sword.

    While he waited to see what they would do next, he quickly surveyed the battlefield. His brothers were in similar positions, holding their own but being slowly pushed into a corner. Meanwhile, Raahak and his three closest allies watched the fights from on high with imperious expressions.

    The spearwoman recovered and flapped her wings for all she was worth while blasting winds from her feathers. The moment she was out of the line of fire, Flakka and the boy unleashed their aspects. Unlike a regular, transparent bladewind, the swings created thick, green crescents of energy that distorted space as they barreled forward. The screaming wind was deafening as the attack neared and Dokkuun¡¯s hastily created aspect could only barely redirect them.

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    The crescents roared past a meter to either side as he gently split them, using their own force against them. Parts of his robes were shredded while feathers were ripped from his wings. A full ten percent of his mana and aura were sacrificed to keep himself from being drawn into the sucking force of the two deadly attacks. They imploded behind him, the sudden lack of sound nearly as deafening as the screaming had been. Dokkuun desperately wanted to say something witty to further annoy the youngsters but his ears were ringing too loudly to hear his own voice so he just gave them a cheerful smile instead. He returned his blade to its sheath and casually flew toward the center of the Land of the Lost while focusing on recovering his hearing.

    Upon seeing him make his move, the other elders of the Rising Sky Faction flew to meet him and they were quickly surrounded by the nine warriors. Dokuun faced the twins he had been fighting, his brothers at his back, ¡°Since you were raised in secret, can I also assume you never murdered any Timberlings to ascend?¡± The bizarre question was so outside of their expectations that everyone paused in confusion.

    The brother scowled while the girl simply shook her head, ¡°Is this some kind of last wish? Like I¡¯d tell a dead man anything about us. Just die.¡±

    Dokuun smiled sadly, ¡°I know the rest of you have murdered for ascension, so your fates are sealed. Young master and young miss, it¡¯s not too late for you. If your hands are clean, fly as fast as you can and you may survive.¡± Something about his tone tipped off the more experienced warriors and they instantly turned to flee.

    Dokuun turned as well, and he wasn''t the only one. All four of the elders had faced each other and in a lightning-fast motion, stabbed their newest blades toward the center of their square formation. The tips of the long knives touched and the mana within the blades activated. It was a risk to trust the young guardian who had crafted the weapons in such a dangerous situation. Especially since his directions on how to use the small knives had sounded so completely ludicrous. But he had consistently shattered their expectations so they chose to believe in him.

    The four blades shone with a brilliant red light that formed a small sphere just large enough to encompass the four elders. Beyond that sphere, a wave of impossibly powerful aura shattered the air, locking space and restricting the movement of the nine warriors. Even the three who had immediately fled failed to escape in time. Simultaneously, a wave of roiling fire a kilometer wide engulfed them all.

    ¡°By Stormer!¡± Raahak shouted as a massive, blazing ball of fire suddenly appeared where his allies had been a moment ago. He couldn¡¯t see anyone through the conflagration and despite being so far away, he could clearly feel the blistering heat that raged from the unexpected attack. Deep within it, his allies were being burned alive. Though surprised, he wasn¡¯t overly worried since they each had several pieces of jewelry packed with life-saving mana.

    As quickly as it appeared, the flames were extinguished revealing a sight that grasped Raahak¡¯s heart in an icy grip. The four elders of the lowly Rising Sky Faction stood together, completely unharmed. Meanwhile, his allies were struggling for their lives. Somehow, the flames had caused them to fall toward the fog. Raahak knew that regardless of how many of their feathers were burnt away, their auras should have kept them aloft. They struggled mightily to rise, but thick tentacles of fog had already wrapped around their limbs and were dragging them down.

    Dozens of Bladewinds were unleashed from those captured, and even a fully charged aspect, but nothing worked against the fog. Within two seconds, nine of his most powerful supporters vanished, including the two offspring he had sunk so many resources into nurturing. Raahak screamed, fury igniting in him as his vision turned scarlet, ¡°Dokkuun!¡± Just as he was about to throw himself bodily at the old conniving bastard, a figure in sleek, black and gold armor appeared before him. The new arrival¡¯s aura crashed into him like a tidal wave, instantly sweeping aside his resistance.

    The voice that echoed out of the armor was bored, but Raahak could feel a deadly dangerous gaze emanating from within the strangely designed helmet, ¡°You¡¯ve got the look of a petty tyrant, let me guess, you¡¯re that storm claw guy?¡±

    Raahak couldn¡¯t understand what was happening. Not only was the mana concentration of the person before him well below his own, but it dared to speak to him in such a condescending tone. What had truly confused him was how quickly it had arrived. Its speed was possibly faster than his own and it had easily sheared through space, creating gaping wounds in the air that revealed the dark, empty hollow beyond their reality. On top of that, its aura was far superior to his own. The lack of congruence caused his brain to stutter for a split second.

    He recovered almost instantly, mana rapidly building in his hands as he threw his head back and roared. Whoever this freak was, they had dared to get between him and venting his anger after losing his only promising offspring. The rest of his blood was trash. No matter how many whores he took and bred, they all produced such useless, untalented things. Finally, after years of effort, he had found two worthy of inheriting his techniques and now they were gone before producing even a single benefit to his clan.

    Raahak drew his aura into his arms, converting his mana to wind and lacing it within his aura. Amongst all the clan heads, there were only two he knew of who could harness an aspect directly inside their limbs without blowing themselves up. The fact he had learned to do it on his own, without any support from a pre-existing clan showed his incredible talent.

    He had been born to commoner parents in a rural hatchery, doomed to a life of toiling labor before his wings had even sprouted. His original clan wasn¡¯t wealthy, nor did it have¡ª

    ¡°You think I¡¯ll give you time for a flashback?! Die!¡± As the stranger in the armor shouted, Raahak saw a flash of light and felt something quite strange.

    Between his crown and the numerous pieces of jewelry he wore, he had nearly twenty treasures capable of bringing him back from the brink of death. Somehow, the mana powering each of them was drained away in an instant. At the same moment, his vision was split into two panes that slowly slid away from each other. Before he could realize he was cut in half, his two sides fell apart, releasing a fountain of gore.

 Chapter 174 - And Another One Bites The Dust

    Jiran capitalized on his surprise attack by turning to the next closest Forkara. He released the chakram of fire he had used to cut the Storm Claw leader in half, unleashing a beam of raging fire that enveloped his target. To his annoyance, the winged man appeared several meters away. One half of his body was charred but his flesh was rapidly reknitting; the mana from two healing treasures that had been hidden within his body slowly dispersed in the raging winds around him.

    I missed them because their energy was masked within his mana. Now that I know what to look for, it appears he has two more.

    ¡°Wait! Why did you suddenly attack us? Who are you?¡± One of the three elders from the Divine Faction raised his palm toward Jiran. Needing only a second to gather and condense his mana for the next attack, Jiran pretended to hesitate, intending to surprise his enemies with overwhelming force.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Dokkuun rapidly approached from below, the pleading in his tone apparent. Jiran changed his mind, deciding to wait and let things play out so as not to damage his reputation with his newest allies. Considering how much weaker than a tier seven beast these elders were, he doubted they could kill him while he was wearing his armor. After a grateful bow to Jiran, Dokkuun turned to the members of the Divine Faction, ¡°You do not need to know benefactor¡¯s name, only that he is here to correct the wrongs we have failed to mend.¡±

    ¡°What in the tempest is that supposed to mean? Speak plainly, old fool!¡±

    Ignoring the furious Forkara, Dokkuun pleaded to Jiran, ¡°Senior brother, there are two children who were caught in your attack. They may be innocent. They are worthy warriors¡ª¡±

    ¡°Which ones?¡± Jiran demanded. Dokkuun pointed to where the twins had fallen into the fog and Jiran saw them fighting together against a single murker. They were losing and already on the verge of death. He didn¡¯t hesitate, confident that even if the rest of the Divine Faction supporters fled he would be able to catch them. There was no harm in checking to see if these two were truly innocent. If they were, saving them would go a long way in convincing the remaining elders to help him and the empire. If they were guilty, he would just throw them back into the fog.

    Oneness flooded his body with power as he flipped himself upside down in the air. He leaped off the aura gathered at the soles of his boots. An explosive detonation of compressed gasses propelled him all the faster while his aura and mana pulled at the framework, turning him into a blur that tore through the distance between him and the fog.

    He arrived a fraction of a second later, far too fast for the murker to respond. He activated the newly upgraded defensive formation of his suit which completely covered him in a thick coating of ice. He crashed into the beast, pushing it deep into the ground. The two chakrams of Elemental Castigation he had prepared were released, incinerating half of its body. Its tier seven regeneration began repairing the damage at an alarming rate. Not giving it time to recover, Jiran cut into it with blades of sharpened mana that extended from his fists. The beast lashed back with its one functioning arm, scoring two deep scrapes across the plated sections of his chest. After the fifth cut, it fell into pieces and its regeneration ceased.

    Enthralling Touch gathered the beast''s remaining mana and pulled it into his suit¡¯s filters. He hopped out of the hole, grabbed the dying Forkara. Since they were unconscious and unable to resist, he drained their mana. He then released all of it upwards, into the fog, before escaping while dragging them behind in his aura. As he fled, he checked over his shoulder and didn¡¯t see any challenger density. He sighed, relieved the twins had managed to hurt the beast enough it didn¡¯t count as a solo kill. He felt ready to absorb more of the energy, but with so many tier seven elders to negotiate with, he wanted his wits fully intact.

    Jiran exited the fog to find Dokkuun and his brothers shouting at the three from the Storm Claw. The separate group of eight clan heads had moved closer, blocking anyone from escaping. They hesitated at his approach, eyeing the twins he was carrying by the scruff of their necks. Of the two, the boy was hurt the most, missing both arms and a leg while the girl was only missing one of her wings and an arm. The back of armor oozed blood from several puncture wounds that weren¡¯t as deep as they seemed. Considering every one of their life saving treasures had already been consumed, it was even more apparent how bad a matchup the Forkara were against the foggy beasts.

    Jiran held the girl in front of himself, giving her a little shake, ¡°Did I grab the right ones?¡± Dokkuun nodded while the three elders from the Divine Faction snarled at him, their hands moving toward their weapons.

    Mana Confluence pumped regenerative energy into them, rapidly sealing the skin of their missing limbs and healing both of their internal injuries. The girl snapped awake, screaming and clutching at her still-missing wing. Jiran smacked her with his aura, ¡°You¡¯re fine, it''s just a wing, stop screaming.¡± The woman instantly complied.

    She looked around in a panicked daze, completely failing to understand the situation. When she noticed the other Forkara, she mumbled in a pleading voice, ¡°What? How? Where did that beast go? M-my brother!¡±

    ¡°I killed it,¡± Jiran replied calmly, his whispered voice that promised further violence appearing from right behind her ear caused her to jerk instinctively. He turned her head so she could see her brother and she sagged in relief.

    She didn''t even realize I was holding her, she''s really out of it.

    ¡°Young miss, would you mind answering the question I asked you before?¡± Dokkuun spoke sternly, snapping her attention away from Jiran.

    Her aura tried to wrest control of herself but Jiran easily brushed it aside. He squeezed her neck hard enough that she could actually feel it, which was difficult since she was two and a half tiers above him in attributes. Realizing she was out of mana and helpless inside his aura, she went limp again, no longer attempting to resist. ¡°I¡­ Which question?¡± Her eyes darted around frantically; Jiran assumed she was trying to buy time until she could think of a way to escape.

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    ¡°Have you ever murdered any Timberlings for the sake of ascension?¡± Dokkuun reiterated his question. Jiran instantly realized his mistake and injected five percent of his mana into her manapool. He released the energy to her and Mana Omnis watched carefully as the mana was condensed to match her concentration. She gasped, the surprise from his mana suddenly entering her causing her to hesitate.

    Dokkuun, clearly misunderstanding her reaction, clicked his tongue and reached to draw his blade. Jiran raised his other hand and the elder immediately froze, ¡°Let her answer, I¡¯ll know if she¡¯s lying.¡±

    ¡°Where is my Father? D-did he truly abandon us?¡±

    Jiran once more whispered warningly in her ear, ¡°I killed him, too. Now answer the question.¡±

    ¡°Impossible! There¡¯s n-no way to kill him, he¡¯s invincible.¡± Jiran activated Elemental Castigation, creating a chakram of fire centimeters from her neck. The appearance of the deadly, spinning blade inching closer caused her to struggle against him but with his aura condensed around her, it was futile. ¡°W-wait! I¡¯ll answer. I was sent on numerous assassinations, but I have never killed another purely for the sake of ascension, there were always other motives. I swear it!¡±

    ¡°What about your brother?¡±

    ¡°We have always been together. There is no possibility he encountered a Timberling when I have not.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s chakram vanished instantly and he released his hold on her. Not expecting it, she fell an entire meter before recovering. Considering she was a tier seven, the response had been considerably slow, ¡°You¡¯re free to go,¡± he shooed her off with a wave of his hand.

    ¡°Wait, what? You¡¯re letting me go? Just like that?¡±

    Dokkuun cupped his fists together and lowered his head to Jiran, ¡°Thank you for your mercy, Senior Brother Guardian. Young miss, you should also show thanks to Senior Brother Guardian. It¡¯s true that he killed Raahak. I suggest you take control of your clan with all haste less he be forced to cull your people to satisfy his grudge.¡±

    She looked between Jiran and Dokkuun for several seconds before nodding slowly. Having finally collected herself enough to understand the situation, she turned to Jiran and cupped her remaining fist with a deep bow, ¡°Thank you for freeing this Keara of the Storm Claw Clan from her Father¡¯s tyranny, Great Elder Guardian. May you permit me two questions, lest my clan unwittingly offend you again in the future?¡± Jiran nodded and she sighed in relief, ¡°How, exactly, did we offend you?¡±

    Jiran¡¯s eyebrows rose when her affinity jumped from Malice all the way to Indifferent in one go. Putting aside his shock, he responded, ¡°Your clan confined the Timberlings purely for the sake of harvesting their lives as EXP. I¡¯ve no interest in controlling how any of the clans operate, but any aggression against the Timberlings will be met with death. Leave them be, and make no moves against me and I will reciprocate.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the clarification, Great Elder Guardian,¡± she bowed again, ¡°I was not involved in the decisions regarding the Timberlings, so I hope you will believe me when I promise that no further acts of aggression against them will ever happen while I draw breath.¡± Jiran could clearly see the fluctuations of the little mana he had given her and she definitely didn¡¯t appear to be lying.

    These people sure can be polite. I have to say, they¡¯re really starting to rub off on me.

    With a deep breath to gather her courage, Keara asked her second question, ¡°That said, I am in no position to assert authority over the clan while these three elders live,¡± She nodded toward the only three left from the Divine Faction who were still being boxed in by Dokkuun and the eight neutral Forkara. ¡°If you would lend me a spear, I will face them now.¡± Jiran snorted and shook his head in the negative, ¡°Please! Allow me to show my sincerity. I would rather die attempting to satisfy your grudge than allow my people to be slaughtered!¡±

    Jiran rolled his eyes at how quickly she had misunderstood him, ¡°Unnecessary.¡± He considered saying more, but talking it through would take too long. He wasn¡¯t about to let the fool girl die so easily now that her affinity had risen. Jiran turned his gaze toward the three from the Divine Faction, not missing the two neutral elders who were outwardly calm even though their inner energies churned with nervous dread after he explained his reason for wiping out the Storm Claw.

    They must have sent several of their clan members to murder Timberlings and are scared I¡¯ll clean out their families. Well, too bad. Murdering fuckers are going to get what¡¯s coming to them no matter what.

    Keara¡¯s brows scrunched and her face contorted on the verge of tears, ¡°Unnecessary? So, you''re going to kill me after all? Very well, I failed to stop their actions, so I must also bear the burden of my clan¡¯s failures.¡±

    If Jiran wasn¡¯t wearing a helmet, he would have facepalmed, ¡°You''re misunderstanding¡­ Just shut up and watch.¡±

    As Jiran flew toward Dokkuun, one of the eight neutral elders called out to him, ¡°You are an outsider to our skies! Do not think we will idly flap as you disregard our way of life so thoroughly. We have our own values and traditions. We will take these three into custody and judge them accordingly.¡±

    Dokkuun turned scarlet and his aura flexed with rage, ¡°How dare you spout such nonsense! Where were your values and traditions when the Divine Faction had us outnumbered in a clear ambush? You watched from the sidelines like a coward and now you¡¯re hiding behind your numbers once more!¡±

    Jiran raised his hand toward the infuriated Dokkuun, behind the visor of his helmet he was grinning, ¡°Is that how all of you feel this situation should be resolved?¡± Five of the eight backed away while looking nervous. The two he noticed before moved to either side of the one who had spoken. They nodded sharply, their arms crossed in defiance.

    Jiran smirked, happy they sorted themselves out before he needed to waste the effort doing it for them, ¡°Go ahead and join the Divine Faction members then, I¡¯ll kill you all at once.¡±

    ¡°Such arrogance!¡± The same speaker from before shouted, ¡°With our assistance, you¡¯re outnumbered six to five. You¡¯ve clearly exhausted yourself after killing Raahak and saving those traitors. Retreat now and I swear your precious Timberlings won¡¯t be attacked again.¡± Jiran spotted the lie immediately and a low growl escaped his throat.

    In response, three chakrams of Elemental Castigation appeared before him. He had already condensed the mana before converting it to elemental form so it took him less than a second to bring the particles of energy up to the maximum speed before he unleashed his attacks. All three beams shot toward the single Forkara he had wounded earlier. Unable to respond in time, he could only throw up a wall of wind and swing his sword before he was struck.

    Enveloped in raging inferno, the two remaining life-saving treasures inside his body activated but ultimately failed to heal him before his head was completely melted. When the explosive wall of fire dispersed, a smoking corpse fell toward the ground.

    ¡°Looks like it''s five on five now, not that it matters,¡± Enthralling Touch ripped the remaining mana from the dead elder and Jiran used it to create four more chakrams that buzzed around him with a piercing howl.

 Chapter 175 - Friends And Enemies

    Elemental Castigation was unleashed on another of the two remaining Divine Faction leaders, killing him instantly. Jiran¡¯s aura was spread wide and he easily caught the concerned whispers of the leaders of the neutral clan heads.

    ¡°He killed them so easily, are we next?¡±

    ¡°We must ascertain his intentions before he finishes the last and turns his gaze on us.¡±

    The elder from the neutral faction who spoke out before shouted, ¡°You would dare to make an enemy of us all?!¡± His terror was evident in his wildly bucking mana.

    Jiran pierced him with a cold glare as he pointed toward Keara and her brother who was coming to, ¡°I''ve proven I¡¯m not here to make enemies. Some of you have already crossed my bottom line and I don¡¯t have time to find out who¡¯s redeemable and who isn¡¯t. Those who are innocent should step aside and once this is over, I¡¯ll help you ascend.¡±

    The last leader of the Divine Faction had not been idle while Jiran killed his allies. His aura was concentrated beneath his wings and flushed with the aspect of wind. A single flap created a rampaging gust that sent him hurtling out of the encirclement. Jiran crouched, ready to give chase as immense winds buffeted his armor.

    The neutral speaker leaped to interpose himself and threw his arms wide, ¡°U-unacceptable! If we allow you to do this now, you will only grow more powerful and abuse us further in the future. We are the Forkara, and we will not be your slaves!¡±

    He¡¯s really just spouting any nonsense he can think of.

    ¡°Who¡¯s more reliable: The guy cleaning up the murderous scum, or the murderous scum? Say whatever you want, I¡¯ve yet to lie and I¡¯ll continue to prove my intentions are sincere.¡±

    Dokkuun clapped his hands, gathering everyone¡¯s attention, ¡°Well spoken, Senior Brother Guardian. Ignore the words of this filth who is only concerned for his own neck. Fellow elders, do not be dragged into death by Prekkahn¡¯s deceptions. Senior Brother Guardian has kept his every word, and until that changes, facing him also means facing the Rising Sky Faction.¡±

    ¡°Kraah!¡± Dokkuun¡¯s brothers pitched in with a loud cry that created a sweeping shockwave. The four of them brandished their weapons which were rapidly filled with their aspects. Prekkahn turned white as a sheet, his trembling no longer restricted to just his mana.

    Jiran didn¡¯t waste the distraction; compressed and cooled gasses ignited beneath his feet, shaped with his aura, the force of propulsion was enough to make his vision darken. He stretched his aura ahead of him in the shape of a gigantic hand that clutched at the framework to pull him forward. His mana was converted with Elemental Castigation and well before he caught the fleeing Forkara, he unleashed several beams of incinerating energy, reducing him to less than dust.

    He returned to find the expected faceoff between Dokkuun and the neutral elders. They looked at him warily, sweat running down their faces as they clutched the hilts of their sheathed weapons. Jiran examined them one by one, finding only the one who had spoken against him¡ªPrekkahn¡ªand the two beside him, had an affinity rating of Malice while the rest were at either Scorn or Wary.

    How do I kill those three without turning them all against me?

    Before Jiran could come up with a plan, Keara and her now conscious brother approached and bowed awkwardly, each doing their best to not agitate their severe injuries. The brother spoke, his voice course and sharp, ¡°This one is named Keeon. I thank you for sparing me and cutting the head from the Divine Faction. I will not rest until its heart has been cleansed as well. Our Father gave special attention to those who were the most cruel and vicious, raising them to high positions. We will right his wrongs, or die. I swear it.¡±

    He certainly sounds sincere and his affinity is already Indifferent. The sister must have filled him in while I was killing that last bug.

    Jiran chuckled, and not wanting his reaction to be misunderstood, he responded quickly, ¡°You think I would stand by while you two enter into a den of monsters in your condition?¡± He flew closer and placed his hand on Keara¡¯s shoulder. Mana Confluence and his aura swept through her body, mapping out every minute detail of her remaining arm and injuries. Before the watching elders¡¯ eyes, two new limbs grew to replace what had been taken by the Rapacious Murker. She clenched her teeth through the pain of rapid regeneration. Four seconds later, she was whole, though breathing heavily to recover her senses. Moving to Keeon, he repeated the healing, though with more mana wasted as his injuries were much more severe.

    Jiran held his hand out to Dokkuun, ¡°Toss me those weapons I made you.¡± The four complied and he caught the long daggers. Reforming graphene was mana-intensive and he had already used all the mana from killing the last elder to heal the twins. Not wanting to dip into his own mana supply, Jiran pulled half of the mana stored in his armor.

    ¡°You both use spears, right? Is that your weapon of choice?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes Senior Brother Guardian,¡± Keeon responded breathlessly, admiration and thankfulness filling his gaze and Jiran noted his affinity had risen to Trusting as well.

    Mana Confluence broke down the daggers into their base materials before reforming them into two spears similar to the ones he had made for the Timberlings except for two key differences: The graphene coating on the spearhead was thin and blunt enough that it wouldn¡¯t be able to pierce his armor and instead of having an ice formation, it contained a fire formation.

    Once done, he tossed one to each of them. Pointing to Keara, he spoke in an encouraging tone, ¡°Inject your mana into the shaft and it will power the formation in the spearhead. Once it''s full, your next thrust will unleash a bit of fire: Try it.¡±

    At Jiran¡¯s urging, she hesitantly used the little mana he had given her to power the formation. When she stabbed the spear, a cone of raging flames gushed forward, devouring the air with a tremendous roar. The wall of flames extended for nearly a kilometer before the mana powering the formation was spent.

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    During her demonstration, Jiran carefully examined the expressions of the elders, finding a mix of passionate greed and fear. He spread his aura thinly around them, easily picking up their hushed conversations.

    ¡°To create such a thing so casually, no wonder the Divine Faction was helpless.¡±

    ¡°That little girl is undeserving of such a mighty weapon, we must take it from her.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Let them return to their clan. We will strike when they are occupied with consolidating their forces. His grudge with the Storm Claw may be settled, but mine has only just begun!¡±

    Having heard enough, Jiran clapped his gloved hands, gathering their attention back to himself, ¡°I purposefully made that spear flawed. It¡¯s incapable of piercing my armor and the fire formation it uses has been weakened,¡± The elders began to whisper amongst themselves again so Jiran raised his voice, cutting them off with a harsh tone, ¡°And don¡¯t forget, I made that weapon for them, personally. If I find them in anyone else¡¯s possession, they can consider that a death sentence.¡±

    Prekkahn flapped his wings, creating a powerful and attention-grabbing gust of wind, ¡°How dare you threaten us again after we let you do as you please! Brothers and Sisters, you¡¯ve seen what he¡¯s capable of. If we don¡¯t take this chance to remove him now, he¡¯ll grow into a new Storm Lord and devour us one by one until our clans are nothing but his playthings.¡±

    By all means, please keep digging your own grave, idiot.

    Ignoring his blathering, Jiran continued to speak, ¡°These are my terms: Those who agree will receive multiple sets of similar weapons and armor as well as detailed information on how to safely hunt in the Land of the Lost as well as my personal protection while hunting. In return, you will swear to become allies with the Timberlings, which include terms for trade determined at a future date. This alliance will remain in effect for one hundred years. You will also lend me sixty percent of your combat-ready forces for two weeks.¡± Shocked murmurs broke out between the elders; Dokkuun and his brothers were no exception.

    Jiran struck while the iron was hot, ¡°Also, those three seem to have an unwavering grudge against me which I assume is related to their past treatment of the Timberlings. Since that¡¯s the case, they¡¯ll have to die.¡±

    ¡°What if we refuse?¡± A woman with sharp features standing at the front of the neutral elders asked.

    ¡°Then the Rising Sky Faction alone will have four tier eights along with the weapons created by me. I don¡¯t have any desire to take over your people, so I certainly won¡¯t be telling them what to do at that point¡­¡±

    Go ahead, stay neutral and be devoured by Dokkuun in the future.

    ¡°Shameless!¡± Prekkahn sputtered, his face dark with rage.

    Booming laughter interrupted their conversation as a figure in finely decorated armor descended from the clouds, not stopping until he hovered between Jiran and the elders. His wings were cool gray and a mask covered half of his face but the jagged edges of severe scars crept out beneath the dark porcelain, hinting at a disfigured appearance. He moved with casual grace and his aura was much larger than any of the others, though not as potent as Jiran¡¯s. At his waist hung three swords of varying lengths and there was nothing about his proud, confident demeanor that suggested he couldn¡¯t cut them all down in seconds.

    That new sense didn¡¯t detect him at all. Well, it probably did but I¡¯m just not proficient with it yet. Wait¡­ what''s with his mana?!

    The moment Mana Omnis and Identify swept across the man, sweat broke out across Jiran¡¯s back. Not only was this newcommer¡¯s aura much larger but the quantity and quality of his mana was fifty percent higher as well. Jiran was frozen with shock, staring at the message in his interface which clearly marked him as a tier seven. Thankfully, his affinity was at Wary and he didn¡¯t appear to be eager to start a fight.

    Every single Forkara bowed to the masked man while uttering a simple yet respectful greeting, ¡°Eldest Unspeakable.¡±

    Shit, shit, shit. Is he a challenger? If so, he¡¯s three tiers above me and strong enough to pass an arena. He¡¯s probably been watching for a while, so he has some idea of my strength and fighting style while I know nothing about his. My aura is more potent than his and my armor should be able to block a few attacks, but is that enough? The regular tier seven Forkara are already fast, I might not be able to hit him with anything short of my gravity bombs which take several seconds to create.

    Mana Omnis had no difficulty seeing through the Forkara¡¯s mask, revealing malignant, crimson warped skin around one of his eyes. The other was made of pure mana that flickered in time with the beating of his heart. Their gazes were locked on each other, neither making any sudden movements.

    His laughter died off into throaty chuckles before he finally spoke, ¡°Greetings, little stranger. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve bullied my juniors enough?¡±

    Should I try to form a gravity bomb inside my armor just in case? What if his strange eye can see mana? He¡¯s willing to talk, I shouldn¡¯t make the first move. If I¡¯m found out, it will ruin all of my plans with the elders.

    Jiran chose his words carefully, ¡°Unfortunately, no. I have a method to determine if others are trustworthy and those three will absolutely attack me the second they think they have an advantage. I have to leave your lands soon. I can¡¯t afford to allow anyone who might slaughter the Timberlings to remain alive.¡±

    ¡°I see, I see,¡± Craning his neck, he looked over his shoulder at Prekkahn and his two lackeys who looked much more nervous than Jiran felt, ¡°Is that true, little birds? Is your grudge with this stranger already so deep that it can¡¯t be reconciled?¡± His tone was light and carefree but it still made Jiran¡¯s skin crawl.

    Prekkahn recoiled as though he¡¯d been struck, ¡°O-of course not, Eldest Unspeakable. Since when has such a grudge ever existed within the hearts of the Inseparable Divide Between Dawn and Dusk Clan? Surely, whatever disagreement exists between us can be resolved with diligence and care.¡±

    Jiran noticed Prekkahn¡¯s mana spinning and dancing in a discordant rhythm with his heartbeat: His lie couldn¡¯t have been more obvious.

    Eldest Unspeakable turned to Jiran once more and Prekkahn¡¯s eyes flashed with a victorious light, though he was careful to keep a mask of fear and respect on his face. Jiran clenched his teeth, knowing there was nothing more he could do now that the balance of power had been shifted away from him.

    ¡°There you have it, little stranger,¡± The eye of flickering mana hidden by his mask moved independently, locking on Keara for the briefest of moments. Before Jiran could perceive any other movement, her newly made spear was in Eldest Unspeakable¡¯s hand.

    Some kind of forced teleportation tied to his eye? Dokkuun told me they couldn¡¯t teleport so it¡¯s either one of the benefits from the arena or an acclamation he gained that helped him survive the arena in the first place. And there¡¯s no guarantee that¡¯s the only thing it can do, either.

    As Eldest Unspeakable examined the weapon, Jiran¡¯s aura locked down the framework around and inside him so he couldn¡¯t be instantly pulled into the Forkara¡¯s grip. Eldest pricked his finger on the tip of the spearhead, drawing the faintest trickle of blood. He nodded appreciatively and his mouth curled up in a smile, ¡°What a fascinating skill. To create such a fine weapon so quickly, and you mentioned it was flawed? Truly fascinating. Very well, we can accept your other terms if you supply us with two million spears, and two million pieces of armor capable of resisting them.¡±

    What?!

 Chapter 176 - Two Can Play

    Two million weapons and sets of armor?! What a joke. Even with the new formations I made, that would take years! This guy¡¯s clearly trying to piss me off. I refuse to let all of my efforts to rope in the Forkara fall apart so quickly. I¡¯ve still got the upper hand. They have to realize that if they don¡¯t join my side now, they''ll only become more disadvantaged in the future.

    Jiran glanced at the four elders of the Rising Sky Faction. They gave him subtle nods and as one, flew over to hover beside him. Keara and her twin trailed behind, their faces set with determined scowls. Surprisingly, three of the neutral elders joined Jiran as well, bringing their total number to nine. Behind the Eldest, only five remained.

    An elderly female who had joined them bowed respectfully, ¡°Eldest Unspeakable, while we appreciate your offer to negotiate on our behalf, we have no desire to antagonize Senior Brother Guardian. Please, forgive our insolence.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Great, perfect, wonderful!¡± Eldest looked over his shoulder at the few remaining neutral elders, ¡°So, it¡¯s only these few who are unwilling? Think carefully little ones, what do you stand to gain or lose from remaining idle?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand, Eldest Unspeakable. You¡¯ve never taken sides in political matters before. Why now?¡± Prekkahn pleaded.

    Eldest scoffed, shaking his head derisively, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? No?¡± He turned back to Jiran, his tone turning polite, ¡°Well, little stranger, you haven¡¯t responded to my offer yet. What¡¯s it going to be?¡±

    What¡¯s he trying to do? I can¡¯t tell if he wants to help or not. His reactions are all over the place too. Is he¡­ low on willpower?

    Jiran clicked his tongue, ¡°Obviously, the answer is no. Why would I make two million powerful weapons for those I can¡¯t trust?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the nature of compromise. Only when both parties walk away disgruntled can you be assured there was an equal exchange,¡± Eldest proclaimed with a sly smile.

    ¡°What you¡¯re offering isn¡¯t nearly equivalent,¡± Jiran held up his hand and counted his fingers, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to provide assistance with your ascensions to tier eight, information on how to safely hunt in the Land of the Lost, two million sets of equipment, trade goods from my home, and you want me to allow the ones who clearly have ill intentions toward me to live. Meanwhile, you¡¯re offering a cease to hostilities, which would come one way or another, and a handful of your forces for two weeks? That¡¯s a joke.¡±

    Eldest raised his palms and shrugged, ¡°Yet, it is what it is. I won¡¯t allow a deal that doesn¡¯t include the equipment. If you find my terms disproportionate, then by all means, tell us how we can accommodate you.¡±

    Fine, you want to make ridiculous requests, two can play at that game!

    ¡°Give me complete authority over sixty percent of your warriors for a thousand years and I¡¯ll agree.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± His response was anticlimactic as if the request wasn¡¯t an issue in the least.

    ¡°What?!¡± Jiran and each of the elders exclaimed in unison.

    Eldest laughed at the sight of jaws dropping. Prekkahn¡¯s entire body was trembling as he whipped around with a horrified expression, ¡°Eldest, what''s the meaning of this? How can you agree to such a thing, surely there is a misunderstanding. Did you not hear him correctly?¡±

    ¡°I heard him perfectly and I couldn''t be more thrilled at his demand. It''s you, Prekkahn, who isn''t hearing nor thinking correctly!¡±

    ¡°No, no, I d-don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up and listen! All of you! Do you not see the significance of what''s happening before your own eyes?!¡± Eldest Unspeakable roared and the sudden shout released a shockwave of force that caused everyone to raise their guards. He pointed to the pile of tier seven beasts near the forest¡¯s edge, ¡°Look! Look at them! What we couldn''t do for centuries, he''s done in a single morning.¡±

    He does seem a little unhinged, though not nearly as far gone as Markhiss.

    They cast their gazes down at the neatly stacked corpses. Dokkuun and the rest of those who sided with Jiran nodded in agreement. Eldest Unspeakable¡¯s breaths calmed and his tone turned measured, ¡°You can feel his mana''s concentration, he¡¯s between tier five and six. Do I really have to spell it out for you? He''s a monster and he''s nowhere near his peak, unlike me. If you ever want to push forward in this life or create a grander future for your hatchlings, your one and only chance is right here before you yet you''re squabbling like fools. And Prekkahn, you''re the worst you fucking worm! If you thought about it for five seconds you would realize that our forces at his side for a thousand years will turn into a raging tempest that sweeps across the world.¡±

    ¡°B-but he¡¯ll kill us. He wants to devour our clans! How can we trust anything he says?¡±

    Eldest once more grew enraged, his muscles bulging and his wings flapping erratically, ¡°You''re still harboring a grudge?! I''ll rip off your fucking head with my bare hands if it means attaching our people to him. So what if he takes over? Is it better to soar through the heavens with a new leader, or continue to flail with clipped wings?¡± The elders fell silent and even Prekkahn turned introspective, his face twisted as though he were in pain.

    Well, that was unexpected. He¡¯s a challenger, if he wanted to help his people ascend, why didn¡¯t he do it himself? Even if he is low on willpower, he should have been able to teach his methods that allowed him to fight up tiers. He mentioned reaching his peak, I wonder what happened in his past to bring him to this point.

    When no one spoke for several seconds, Eldest continued, shaking his head sadly, ¡°I can''t save you, I can''t do it. I''m¡­ a coward. I''m nothing compared to him so how can you respect my strength yet spurn his? Don¡¯t look to me in the future if you throw away this opportunity. I''m done with the lot of you, if you can¡¯t see this opportunity for what it is and seize it, then you don¡¯t deserve to live, let alone lead.¡±

    He¡¯s no different than the Mother Timberling. He must have been watching me for a while, and after hearing my plans to only borrow their troops for a week, he made an appearance to corner me into tying myself to his race.

    The framework quivered as the tension within each aura spiked. After several long seconds, two more elders moved to join Jiran, leaving only the two beside Prekkahn, whose eyes still shone defiantly, ¡°How can we join him? He¡¯ll kill us no matter what we do!¡±

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Is this the famous sunken cost fallacy? That guy just doesn¡¯t know when to fold. But I don¡¯t have a lot of time, certainly not enough to take over their clans after killing them. One last try to get them on my side peacefully; if that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll just kill them and deal with their clans after confronting the Graymin.

    ¡°Keara, does your clan have records of everyone who''s participated in murdering the Timberlings?¡± Jiran''s sudden question caused several of the elders beside him to twitch nervously.

    ¡°Yes, of course, Senior Brother Guardian. Much of the clan''s wealth is tied to those contracts so they are quite secure and accurate.¡±

    Jiran nodded, ¡°Great, in that case, I''ll want the names of every single living Forkara on those agreements. If they willingly join the forces under my command and manage to kill one hundred equal-tiered beasts within a year, I''ll pardon their crimes. Otherwise, I''ll end them myself.¡±

    ¡°This¡­ this is acceptable to my Feathers Descent Clan,¡± One of the two beside Prekkahn bowed deeply before moving to join Jiran.

    Prekkahn¡¯s final supporter hummed thoughtfully, ¡°Do you swear to not command us to partake in missions with no hope of survival?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Jiran nodded in agreement to his request.

    ¡°Then, I gladly agree. Thank you for your benevolence, Senior Brother Guardian,¡± The last elder bowed as well before following his companion to Jiran''s side.

    Without a single ally remaining beside him, Prekkahn prostrated himself in the air and spoke around the lump in his throat, ¡°Thank you for your benevolence, Senior Brother Guardian. My Raging Storm Hollow Peak Clan is at your command.¡±

    These guys definitely aren''t done causing trouble. What a pain in the ass. Whatever, three more tier sevens on the front lines is significant and if I''m lucky, they¡¯ll get themselves killed quickly. I can only hope they change their minds after I don¡¯t make a move to take over their clans.

    Jiran chuckled at the unlikeliness of his thought becoming reality, especially considering the three had yet to increase their affinity. The notifications in his interface indicated that every other elder had risen from Wary and Scorn to Indifferent, showing they no longer viewed him as a threat. Even Eldest Unspeakable was now Trusting and Jiran finally relaxed his guard with a subtle sigh.

    Eldest watched him with calculating eyes, his expression shifting between emotions rapidly, ¡°Since the unification of the leading clans has been resolved, there¡¯s no reason for me to wriggle in any longer.¡± With those parting words, the mysterious challenger prepared to fly away with a single, powerful flap of his wings, only for his momentum to be slammed to a halt as Jiran¡¯s aura wrapped around his leg.

    ¡°Did I say you could leave? After coming here and disrupting my plans, did you really think I would let you go without answering any of my questions?¡± Jiran¡¯s eyes lit up like miniature suns as Mana Omnis blared at full blast.

    Pre-dawn, East of the Fortress City Melathon

    ¡°Morit! Get back to work you lazy, two-toed bastard!¡± Captain Sinclair shouted, spittle flying from his mouth. His mana-laden voice boomed, causing a thousand soldiers to flinch. Each of them sprang into action, their monotonous movements renewed with fresh zeal. Sand and dirt flew through the air as shovels blurred. Sweat ran like rivers despite the biting chill of the desert night. Dawn was approaching, and with it, the battle that would decide the fate of the empire.

    City walls were barely visible in the distance behind them. As the Captain looked back to gauge their progress, he noted the most prominent slave owner of the northern cities¡ªDee-raun. The massive man and his numerous slaves were working with the engineering corps, glassing the sand within the trench and reinforcing it with Forming. Once reinforced, the soldiers would have steady footing on their side of the defenses. The ditch they were digging was just one wing of a giant V formation with the city at its center. They had been ordered to angle north toward the nearest mountain and to stop well short of it.

    ¡°Why are we stopping so far from the mountain? Won¡¯t that give the Graymin a way past us? No matter how many times I think about it, I can¡¯t understand the princess¡¯s command.

    ¡°How would I know? Do I look like a princess to you?¡± Both men shuddered, remembering the visage of the once beautiful woman; her skin completely burned away while walking out of a wall of flames that would have melted either of them instantly. As they were pondering, a cliff face high up the mountain broke free, sending a wave of rubble cascading down like a waterfall.

    ¡°Enough gawking! Get back to work!¡± Sinclair shouted. He could see the signs clearly: shifting grains of sand rustled as more rocks broke free from the mountain¡ªthe result of vibrations from millions upon millions of bestial feet drawing ever closer.

    ¡°Dig! Dig you pitted bastards or you won¡¯t even live long enough to remember the touch of a woman!¡±

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Olive sat in an uncomfortable chair in a temporary command post on top of the city wall. Between hastily distributed commands, she sent occasional glances at the two trenches leading northeast and northwest.

    ¡°Send two units of fresh fellets to assist the transportation teams. We need that lumber here an hour ago!¡± A tier five courier offered a hasty salute before flying away.

    The next soldier in the queue of twelve stepped forward, instantly speaking, ¡°Scout unit seven reporting, Commander!¡± Olive nodded for him to continue while she furiously wrote an order to increase the pay of the slaver mercenaries who were making such good progress behind her diggers. ¡°Ma¡¯am! The initial wave of four million is an hour out. There were no sightings above tier five.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Darthel, I want another report in thirty minutes.¡± The man smacked his chest and leaped from the wall, riding his aura straight north.

    ¡°General Reifvus,¡± The man stepped forward and saluted, a fresh bandage wrapped around his head covering one eye was the only remaining indication of their duel. ¡°Take every tier five under your command to engage the first wave, I need you to buy us half an hour. Use as much mana as needed, no casualties. Take those three parties of tier six mercenaries with you, they are only to engage to prevent deaths and assist with your retreat. If even one person dies, this will be the last command I give you, understood?¡±

    The man gritted his teeth and saluted again, ¡°Understood, Commander!¡±

    ¡°Next!¡± Olive shouted, already writing another order.

    Mayalyn Aloyhee

    The pattering of running feet rang throughout the cavern as the People dashed in every direction. They gathered supplies, prepared their equipment, and said goodbye to loved ones who would not be taking part in the battle. Mayalyn knew each and every one of them. From her experiences against the Graymin, she now realized how tiny and vulnerable her community was.

    She also understood that despite being few in number, their impact on the coming life and death struggle shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. She wasn¡¯t sure how strong they would be once they joined forces with the empire. But she did know what she and Jiran could do together, and thinking that each of the people rushing around her had the potential to do the same sent shivers racing down her spine.

    A large crowd of those already prepared to depart had gathered around the teleportation platform and more arrived every minute. Mayalyn pushed through them to find her sister embracing her mate. Pepa and Mathra were there as well, each holding a squirming cub.

    Just before she reached them, a powerful voice roared into the excited hubbub, halting everyone in their tracks, ¡°The Aahmra has returned!¡± Before anyone had a chance to react, an immensely powerful aura blanketed the cavern, pushing everyone to their knees.

 Chapter 177 - Reunions And Frustrations

    Mayalyn Aloyhee

    The Aahmra''s aura, once a comforting defense against the beasts of their island, crashed down on Mayalyn¡¯s shoulders in an attempt to force her to the ground. Her muscles flexed as her core pumped blood infused with elemental mana. Her skin adopted a dull metallic sheen as incredible strength and resilience flooded through her.

    The rock beneath her feet began to crack as the pressure on her intensified. She smashed her foot down, propelling herself forward to land on the indestructible teleportation platform. Grabbing the jewel-tipped pedestal in an iron grip, she spun around, glaring into the shadows.

    Before her, every other member of their small community knelt in supplication to their long-time leader. Only Mayalyn stood proudly in defiance. Now that she had chosen Jiran as her mate, she would never submit to another man before drawing her last breath; especially not the bastard who had manipulated her and destroyed her Great-grandfather¡¯s legacy.

    Even as she drew strength from her connection to Jiran¡¯s elements, she felt the tiny crystal in her pocket that he had removed from Shaara¡¯s chest. Supposedly, it contained one of her techniques and the way Jiran¡¯s emotions had gone berserk when he looked at it was a memory that still haunted her.

    ¡°You''ve grown even more stubborn, child,¡± A familiar, wizened voice filled the silent cavern. The Aahmra glided forward, his feet not touching the ground as he slid the people aside with his aura. Mayalyn¡¯s only response was to bare her fangs in a warning hiss.

    ¡°Come now, no need for such hostility. I''ve no intention of harming you. Tell me, how is that unfaithful disciple of mine?¡±

    ¡°He is busy killing tier sevens.¡± Her response drew a round of gasps and even the Aahmra paused, his eyes widening in surprise. With the conviction and sincerity of her emotions bared for all to feel, none would doubt she spoke the truth.

    The Aahmra''s aura slammed down on her with a force several times greater than before. Mayalyn¡¯s knees almost buckled before she spun her core to its full strength, infusing her muscles to bursting with her mana. She drew in a deep breath and roared, refusing to fall. As quickly as it came, the pressure evaporated.

    ¡°How does my aura compare to his?¡± The Aahmra¡¯s tone was light and his emotions were completely neutral, revealing nothing of his inner thoughts.

    Mayalyn shrugged, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly, ¡°Aajiran has never wielded his aura against me, so how could I know the extent of it? Whether it is stronger or weaker, you will know soon,¡± Her words bore a promise of vengeance to come.

    The Aahmra arrived before her with narrowed eyes. His aura thickened, blocking their conversation, ¡°He hid his strength well, I should have pried out more of his secrets while I had the chance.¡±

    Mayalyn shook her head, ¡°He was not hiding from you. He truly trusted you and considered you a valuable ally. It is merely that his growth is beyond what you can understand. Had you supported him fully instead of betraying us, you would likely be far more powerful than you are now. Instead, you stand to lose everything.¡±

    ¡°Enough about Jiran!¡± The Aahmra snapped, ¡°I will settle matters between us when we next meet. Tell me the reason my children are gathered here in the middle of the night. They are far too eager, the lust for blood in this stale air is thick enough to choke.¡±

    Before she had a chance to answer, a blur of golden color swept across the cavern and crashed into the Aahmra¡¯s hardened aura. He lifted his hands, preparing to push back against the powerful aura that tried to punch through his defenses.

    As the two forces collided, the golden blur¡¯s momentum was halted and rapidly pushed back, revealing a young man. Mayalyn¡¯s voice was rife with astonishment as she called out to the familiar figure, ¡°Cameron?! What doing here? Is Olive in danger?¡±

    Cameron grunted, his voice strained as he tried to resist the Aahmra¡¯s aura, ¡°Gah, she¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just saying hello, isn¡¯t this how your people greet each other?¡± Cameron¡¯s feet slammed into the ground as the Aahmra increased the pressure on him. The royal grit his teeth, pulling his aura into his body but he was still unable to fight back.

    I suppose every time Cameron has come here, there has been a fight. Still, how could he think this is normal after only seeing it twice?

    The Aahmra¡¯s voice disrupted her thoughts, ¡°Who is this undisciplined brat, Mayalyn?¡±

    ¡°He is the nephew of one of the emperors, hurting him would certainly break the truce we acquired through great effort.¡±

    Cameron stared daggers at the Aahmra while struggling futilely to escape his grasp, ¡°Hey! Let me go. What¡¯s this old bastard''s deal? What¡¯s he saying? Ugh, I should have worked harder at learning your language. Where¡¯s Jiran? I really need to talk to him.¡±

    ¡°Stop fighting and he will release you,¡± Mayalyn repeated herself in her own tongue and narrowed her eyes at the Aahmra who nodded imperceptibly. When Cameron stopped thrashing, he was freed.

    He pretended to dust off his shoulder plate while recovering his dignity, his typical easy smile nowhere to be seen, ¡°Where¡¯s Jiran? It¡¯s really important.¡±

    ¡°Is it in regards to the Graymin King?¡± Mayalyn¡¯s question stunned Cameron. His jaw hung loosely, unable to form words. Taking pity on him, Mayalyn answered his question, ¡°Jiran is still in the valley of Timberlings. He will be here shortly.¡± The corners of her lips inched upward as she tilted her head toward the Aahmra, ¡°As for your questions regarding this ¡®Old bastard,¡¯ He is the Aahmra, the conniving leader of my people and Jiran''s former auramaster.¡±

    ¡°Child¡­ Why do I have the impression you are speaking ill of me?¡±

    She switched to her native tongue and flipped her hair nonchalantly, ¡°Hmph, it must be your imagination. What fault could I possibly have with our fearless leader? If you would please excuse me, I wish to catch up with my dear friend as he brought information about our mutual enemies.¡±

    ¡°Do not overstep, child. Whatever decisions are made, they will be made by me! Now, relay his words properly.¡±

    ¡°That depends on you. Your continued hostility will get no information from me. As to your decision-making, we will see when my Aajiran arrives.¡± Mayalyn¡¯s smirk was predatory as she glared at the Aahmra while patting Cameron on the shoulder.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The back-and-forth conversation between Mayalyn, Cameron, and the Aahmra was cut short half an hour later when the teleportation platform began to release a low-key hum. They had long since moved away to comfortably recline on three pillows provided by one of the Aahmra¡¯s attendants. As one, they turned to face the platform, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the portal.

    When it opened and Niya stepped out alone, Cameron waved her over, standing up to hug her. She returned his gesture and gave him a firm smack on the ass which caused him to yelp in surprise. Laughing, she plopped down next to Mayalyn and threw her arm over her shoulder in a side hug.

    ¡°Where is Jiran?¡± Mayalyn wondered, returning the greeting.

    ¡°Ouch! Not even going to say hello to your cousin-in-law before pestering me about your boyfriend?¡±

    Cameron chimed in, his brows furrowed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a little too calm considering the situation? It¡¯s not just the Graymin King, there are over twenty million lower-tiered beasts and¡ª¡±

    Niya waved off his concern, ¡°Once you find out what these can do, you¡¯ll understand,¡± Niya tossed Cameron a fully charged green crystal, a ferocious gleam in her eyes.

    Jiran of Madra

    Eldest turned around, squinting at Jiran suspiciously but no longer attempting to leave, ¡°Our fates are intertwined now, little brother. If you have a question for me, speak your mind.¡±

    ¡°First off, have you ever murdered a Timberling?¡± Jiran¡¯s question was delivered in a harsh tone, his aura still firmly wrapped around Eldest¡¯s leg.

    ¡°A true warrior does not slaughter the weak,¡± Eldest spat, his mana and aura were unwavering, revealing that he spoke from the heart.

    ¡°My apologies, but I¡¯m sure you understand why I needed to ask.¡± Eldest nodded, the tension leaving him the moment Jiran released his aura.

    ¡°I only have two more questions: Can you confirm that you¡¯re a challenger and that you¡¯re out of willpower?¡± Jiran asked calmly, though Eldest¡¯s reaction to his questions was anything but relaxed; he sputtered, unable to form words as his eyes became bulged and bloodshot. Dokkuun and his brothers gave each other nods as their suspicions about Jiran¡¯s powers were confirmed. Meanwhile, the other elders began to whisper.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Eldest to recover from Madra¡¯s restriction, ¡°Willpower? Is that what your empire calls the ascenders madness? I am indeed afflicted by its grasp. My path forward has been sealed. If that is all, I shall take my leave.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t able to deny being a challenger and didn¡¯t even question what I meant. Looks like I was right about him.

    ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t be so hasty. I have a way to cure the madness, though I¡¯ve only done it once, so there isn¡¯t any guarantee it will work for you.¡± The elders gasped, breaking out into shocked murmurs at the possibility of his claims being true. Eldest was just as dumbstruck, unable to stop himself from trembling as he fully faced Jiran.

    ¡°How is that possible? What do you want in return? I¡¯ll do anything!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want anything in return. Just having a willing subject to test my theories is enough. I don¡¯t even know if it will work with you since you¡¯re much higher tier than the last person I helped and your aura is a lot stronger than hers. If it doesn¡¯t work now, it probably will in the future when I¡¯m stronger than you. Are you willing?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Lit-ahem. Brother, I¡¯ll be in your care,¡± Eldest palmed his fist with a clap and lowered his head.

    Jiran returned the gesture and then turned to the excited elders, ¡°This won¡¯t be possible with any of you here. Also, we¡¯re short on time. Please return to your clans and gather your forces. Meet me at the Valley of the Timberlings as quickly as possible. Even if you cannot bring the agreed-upon forces, that¡¯s fine. You have three hours, no more. Keara and Keeon, one of you get that list and bring it in advance. From this day forth, your clan will be responsible for protecting the Timberlings. If a single one of them dies by the hands of a Forkara, it will be the last day you draw breath.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s mana leaked from his skin and suit causing ripples in the air, triggering an instinctive terror that washed through the elders. The twins froze, their wings trembling. They crossed their arms, fists crashing into their chests in a powerful salute before they bowed again, ¡°We understand! Our clan will atone for its sins as thanks for sparing us.¡± When Keeon rose from his bow, he wore an expression of determined acceptance. Jiran nodded, feeling like he had once more made a good choice in sparing a potential enemy and turning them into a formidable ally.

    Dokkuun and the elders of the Rising Sky faction saluted as well and then bowed before turning to leave. The other elders followed suit, but Jiran stopped them with a final word, ¡°Take those tier seven corpses with you. Eat well,¡± Everyone present heard the implication that it may be the last meal they ever enjoy.

    ¡°As you command, Senior Brother Guardian!¡± They raced away, propelled by fear just as much as the powerful gusts of wind blasting from their wings.

    Facing Eldest, Jiran¡¯s eyes lit up with Mana Omnis, ¡°Alright, my method works by taking away one of your skills or techniques, so you¡¯ll have to choose one to give up forever.¡±

    ¡°W-what?! Give up forever? How would that help?¡±

    ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll explain,¡± Jiran dove toward the ground, Eldest easily keeping pace beside him. ¡°Willpower is consumed with each skill, technique, and acclamation. You might have different words for them but basically, anything that appears on your status consumes willpower. The more you acquire, the greater the burden on your soul. If you progress far enough and prove yourself to Madra, she has ways to reset your willpower completely. My method is different, it¡¯s only a temporary fix that removes one of your unneeded skills or techniques to alleviate the strain.¡±

    Eldest took several minutes to digest Jiran¡¯s revelations before nodding slowly, ¡°I understand. What you say makes too much sense to be false and I can tell you are speaking the truth. I have made my choice, what do you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to reveal anything about your skills, just use it a few times so I can see where it¡¯s located in your body. After that, I¡¯ll have to take control of your aura to remove it for you. Why don¡¯t you lie down and relax, this might take a while.¡±

    Damn, even when he¡¯s asleep it still doesn''t work. His aura is just too strong for me to freely mold it like I could with Shaara¡¯s. Not only that, it instinctively reacts to protect his technique at the last moment. So, if I want to help someone with their willpower I have to do it before their aura reaches a certain threshold.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eldest. After I ascend a few more times, I¡¯ll try again.¡±

    ¡°It is not entirely your fault, brother. Every time I feel you grabbing my technique, I instinctively act to protect it. If I had more control, I believe your method would work. Thank you for your efforts and being willing to try again in the future. I have lived with the malady for centuries, a few more is nothing.¡± Eldest bowed and Jiran returned the gesture.

    ¡°Do you think any of the clans are going to give me trouble? I¡¯m asking a lot of them by taking so many of their soldiers away. Even if they agreed to it¡­ the political ramifications have to be immense.¡±

    ¡°Certainly. I expect each of them to give you no end of trouble!¡± Eldest laughed while he wiped a tear from his eye that could have been born from either his mirth or the sadness at their failure to cure him. ¡°Why do you think I stepped away from leading them when I easily could have? In my state, I''m not qualified to guide them nor patient enough to deal with their tantrums. I¡¯m only good for keeping their grudges from going too far and starting another grand war. I suppose I¡¯m not half bad at tricking little brothers into thousand-year contracts either¡­¡±

    Jiran grunted, shaking his head with a smile, ¡°Yeah, you got me there. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to get the upper¡­ uhh, wing. By the way, the method to increase your willpower I mentioned earlier: It¡¯s possible to evolve your race. I got the option when one of my skills reached level one hundred. By that time, I had done a few other things as well so just getting one skill up there might not be enough.¡±

    ¡°One hundred?!¡± Eldest blew air past his lips, ¡°I am more and more glad I stepped in before those fools got themselves killed. The depths of your secrets are truly unfathomable. Then, I look forward to our next collaboration. I would join your war, but the battle might push my madness beyond my capabilities. I can only guide my thoughts toward hoping for your survival and good health, Brother Guardian.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your prayers, Brother Eldest, I hope I don¡¯t need them.¡±

    Jiran glanced over his shoulder at the foggy Land of the Lost, determined to do whatever it took to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

 Chapter 178 - The Games We Play

    Oliviala Le''Cruex

    ¡°Make sure you organize the bricks and logs in this pattern, the less variance, the less mana wasted.¡± Olive directed a group of three engineers while pointing to a diagram she had drawn for them. The men nodded confidently. Being tier five and having worked in the Engineer Corps for several years, their understanding of the subject was adequate to easily understand her directions. As one, they took their copies of the diagrams and leaped into the air, each going in a different direction toward groups waiting with the resources that had been carted in throughout the night.

    Olive didn¡¯t watch them go. She turned to meet the new arrivals whose auras were stifling everyone else present atop the high city walls. They were from a well-known tier eight party: the Unifiers of Freidmar.

    The second she met their gazes, the leader stepped forward, bowing and kissing the back of her hand, ¡°Greetings, Princess Oliviala. Your beauty is a match only to your mother''s. Pity, this is the last time I''ll have the pleasure of seeing it.¡±

    ¡°I have no intention of dying today, Lord Gehena, and neither should you. The upper-tiers are meeting in the Duchess''s Manor and I still have several matters that require my immediate attention.¡±

    ¡°Message received, Commander. We¡¯ll not waste any more of your time. I must say, your confidence in our survival lifts my heart. When this is over, perhaps there will be a moment for us to dine together?¡± Gehena¡¯s fist clanked against his armor as he saluted while shooting her a wink.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes to encourage you to survive, then I would be willing to make such a sacrifice, Lord Gehena,¡± Olive¡¯s expression was completely blank, revealing none of her annoyance at the man. After all, she would be needing every political ally she could muster in the days ahead. There was no way she would be able to clean up all of Jiran¡¯s messes without significant support from the nobility.

    ¡°You wound me, my dear. Luckily, I¡¯m quite tough,¡± He chuckled while turning to leave.

    ¡°Oh, one thing before you go,¡± Olive¡¯s smooth voice caused him to turn back, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes, ¡±Could you please relay my desire for Lostrifar to find me when she arrives? The information I have for her will determine the survival of us all.¡±

    Gehena¡¯s brows furrowed as he met her eyes for a long second before nodding, ¡°As you command,¡± He bowed again, which she mirrored with a deep nod of her head before he flew away with his party.

    Olive released a weary sigh before resuming her mad scribbling. There were far too many orders to issue and if she didn¡¯t finish in time, she wouldn¡¯t be able to personally oversee the most pivotal piece of their survival.

    ¡°Out with it, I haven''t got all day.¡± A petulant voice from directly behind Olive caused her to lurch out of her seat. The fact she hadn''t detected even a whiff of aura only added to her surprise.

    She spun around, her eyes widening, ¡°Master!¡± Olive swept into a deep bow upon seeing the person who could have easily been mistaken for a girl of thirteen seasons. She stood with her hands behind her back and wore a tight-lipped, intense expression that promised swift punishment if her patience was stretched an iota further.

    Knowing how much Lostrifar¡ªthe inventor of current-day formation design¡ªdespised repeating herself, Olive answered her question without wasting any more time on superfluous greetings, ¡°Master, my Molding has reached sixty-two and I have several secre¡ª¡±

    Olive jerked back in surprise when she suddenly found herself in a small room with smooth white walls and a low ceiling. The only decorations were a few chairs and a small table with a tea set. Several pairs of aged eyes swiveled in her direction, each containing immeasurably vast wisdom and power. The auras clogging the room were so overbearing that sweat sprouted from her shoulders and back, uncomfortably sticking her suit to her skin.

    She recognized each of the legendary figures in the suffocating room. The most prominent and famous were the three known across the lands. At tier ten, they had thousands of accomplishments under their incredibly long lives dedicated to the defense of the empire: Lostrifar the Wise, Pierro the Magnificent, and Sagrinar the Final Bastion.

    They were not the only ones in the room. Two tier nines who were just as renowned sat beside them: Lenton Filibree the Sage of Salandor and Forellis Karsheef the Indomitable. Not only did these legends represent nearly every tier nine and ten ascender in the empire, but also the majority of the fighting force beyond the emperors themselves. Despite Lenton¡¯s and Pierro''s unwillingness to ascend due to willpower, they each managed two of the three active tier nine parties. The only missing representative within tier nine was her eldest brother, Ardon.

    This is¡­ the real war council. My little gathering atop the city walls might as well be a child playing with sticks and dolls.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ¡°Masters! It is my honor to address you.¡± Olive bowed deeply, far more than socially required considering her birth. Amongst these heroes, she wouldn¡¯t dream of displaying anything less than her complete sincerity. After all, without the powerhouses in this very room, there would not be an empire for her to fight for.

    ¡°Relax, child,¡± Pierro''s voice was smooth yet commanding as his aura lifted her until she was standing upright. ¡°What news have you from the front?¡±

    ¡°Shut it, pee-hero! I didn¡¯t bring her here for another report,¡± Lostrifar¡¯s childlike voice, filled with contempt, cut the stifling atmosphere.

    Pierro¡¯s face turned red and his eyes bulged, ¡°How dare you call me that in front of royalty, you little pocket-slate!¡±

    Lostrifar¡¯s aura exploded, devouring Olive¡¯s in an instant. Time seemed to stand still as her eyes turned pure white, ¡°Did you¡­ just call me a flat rock?¡±

    Pierro turned away from the extremely youthful-appearing tier ten. If he was bothered by the impossible power being released in his direction, he didn¡¯t show it, ¡°Don¡¯t be petty, you started it.¡±

    Lostrifar¡¯s anger simmered for a long second before her aura cooled and her eyes returned to their usual vibrant lavender, ¡°Oliviala, you said your molding has reached sixty-two, congratulations.¡±

    If a bug had landed on the floor, it would have been easily heard in the deathly silence that enveloped the room. A moment later, the creaking of Pierro¡¯s leather coat tore through the air as he slightly adjusted his position.

    Pierro opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Lenton¡¯s sudden outburst, ¡°I knew it! That damn ungrateful brat taught you his method. So he is the mysterious Mortemer, isn¡¯t he? I told you that he was alive. Teaches you to ignore me,¡± Lenton folded his arms across his chest, leaning back into his plush chair with a smug grin.

    Lostrifar tapped her nose gently as she mused aloud, ¡°Damn brat? You¡¯re talking about Jiran of Feylon and the princess''s newest party leader, Mortemer the Fireling. So, they¡¯re the same person, interesting. Then, the density claiming method you taught us has begun to spread again? Well, if ever there was a time for it, I suppose it¡¯s now.¡±

    Father already told me they knew about Jiran¡¯s method, so that¡¯s not a surprise, but to so quickly deduce his identity, Master Filibree¡¯s title of sage certainly isn¡¯t for show.

    Olive didn¡¯t move a muscle, she could barely even breathe as she desperately prayed they wouldn¡¯t ask her a question that wasn¡¯t rhetorical. If given a choice between losing her arm fighting Graymin or being in this room with these choking auras, she would pick the battlefield any day.

    As if summoned by her thoughts, Lostrifar¡¯s eyes swiveled to her, piercing her to the core and causing her heart to cease its beating, ¡°Oliviala, you mentioned secrets. Am I assuming you were referring to that child''s supposed mastery of the elements? We¡¯ve all heard Lenty¡¯s wild exaggerations. Since he¡¯s the leader of your party, surely you can refute these claims.¡±

    First Mother¡¯s shadow! How am I supposed to answer that?!

    Olive opened her mouth but the words wouldn¡¯t form. She squeezed her fists so hard her arms shook before finally squeaking out a response, ¡°H-his talent with the elements is far beyond what can be described with words. After only a few tips that scratched the surface of his understanding, the power of my fire tripled. I don¡¯t know the extent of what he is capable of, but fighting up a tier is child''s-play to him.¡±

    That should be enough, I would rather die than reveal Jiran¡¯s secrets. When he vanished a year ago, Lenton had already revealed he could fight up a tier so hopefully this is just confirmation that he should be taken seriously when they inevitably meet him. Oh, there¡¯s one other detail that Jiran¡¯s already disclosed which will certainly cause these old monsters to want to protect him. I berated him for revealing it at the time, but right now, he needs these people on his side more than anything.

    ¡°In addition, shortly after I met him, he revealed that his molding had exceeded one hundred. I saw him go through the evolution myself so there can be no doubt he was being honest.¡±

    Again, the room fell into an all-consuming silence as five pairs of eyes met, speaking volumes through a mere glance. As one, they nodded, the movement so imperceptible that Olive doubted she had seen it.

    Lostrifar looked through Olive again and a terrific weight seemed to press down on her shoulders while simultaneously making her chest feel like it was going to burst. Somehow, both sensations happened while Lostrifar¡¯s aura was only the lightest, feathery touch on her own, ¡°Out with it then, child. Word for word, what guidance did Jiran give you in regards to your fire that improved it so quantitatively?¡±

    This is it, our survival rests on how I answer this question. I can¡¯t mess this up!

    ¡°There isn¡¯t time! The first three waves of Graymin are almost here and they¡¯re all below tier five. My forces will begin to fight much sooner than the higher-tiers and our defenses aren¡¯t prepared. I-if Master Lostrifar is willing to construct the formations that we¡¯ve arranged all the materials for¡­ then that would certainly give me the time to relay everything I¡¯ve learned from Jiran. Of course, all the mana would be supplied by my troops, so it would only take a bit of your time. Please, Master!¡± Olive bowed until her chest was parallel to the floor, holding her position without twitching.

    ¡°The gall! How dare you attempt to extort us!¡± Pierro¡¯s aura was nothing like Lostrifars as it slammed into Olive, bringing her to her knees.

    ¡°Come now, surely if we¡¯re asking our juniors for help, we can¡¯t turn a blind eye to their plight when the cost is only a bit of time,¡± Sagrinar¡¯s rumbling baritone interceded Pierro¡¯s outburst and his aura was like a soothing balm as it pushed back the fuming tier ten. As the champion of the empire who claimed to have the highest skill in molding, it was no surprise to Olive that he would do whatever was necessary to learn Jiran¡¯s secrets. ¡°If Lostrifar is unwilling, then I¡¯ll do it myself. Though, don¡¯t expect me to share the spoils after the toils!¡± He grinned triumphantly as Lostrifar clicked her tongue.

    A predatory grin flashed across Lostrifar¡¯s face for a split second before she schooled her expression once more, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll construct the formations. Oliviala, considering your confidence before usurping the position of commander, I assume you have a particular strategy in mind for them. Why don¡¯t you enlighten us?¡±

    Why does she sound so happy?

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a modification of a typical city defensive ward I devised after watching Jiran fight,¡± Olive stuttered to a stop as Lostrifar leaned forward, that same devilish grin spread across her petite lips, and this time it was there to stay.

    Wait, with their attributes, everything they did and said was slowed down for my benefit alone¡­ Was it all just an act? Every move, every word spoken¡­ Did I just get played?

 Chapter 179 - Running Out Of Time

    Jiran pulled his hand from the murker¡¯s chest and its liquified, compressed organs splattered across the ground. He flicked his hand, removing the last vestiges of sticky gore from his gauntlet. Red motes of challenger density pulled themselves from the beast, zipping through the foggy air to sink into his skin. He inhaled deeply, forcing the cascading emotions to merely simmer within him. Unfortunately, Foresight was buzzing an ever-louder distraction in the back of his brain; a constant reminder that the confrontation with the Graymin was drawing nearer. Shivers wracked his body as the gloomy fog pressed in around him, sensing his moment of emotional weakness. Hungry wisps of ephemeral aura reached toward him like hands ready to pull him into darkness and despair.

    Jiran shook himself sharply, dispelling the residual visions and focusing all of his considerable mental attributes on a single point: The corpse bleeding out on the damp soil beneath him. He hefted it over his shoulder before jumping with all of his might. The fog parted above as his arm flashed. A burst of mana was released to travel along the synapses of the framework, scattering the forest¡¯s barrier as easily as shifting a layer of fabric.

    He shot into the sky, lingering sunslight painting the Land of the Lost in deep shadows. He brought his most recent kill to the new pile of corpses now thirty deep. He lifted all of them into his aura and set off toward the Forest of Melodies.

    Four more kills than last time and I finished in half the time. It¡¯s been just under two hours since Eldest left. I should make it back before any of the Forkara show up. Niya was supposed to bring the People through the portal about an hour ago so they should be well underway with making their equipment.

    Better check my gains before I get there.

    STRENGTH: + 28

    AGILITY: + 32

    ENDURANCE : + 29

    DURABILITY: + 26

    WISDOM: + 26

    INTELLIGENCE: + 29

    Multiplied by my concentration, these few points make a huge difference to my overall power. I didn''t overly rely on the formations in my suit this time, so I¡¯ve already adapted to most of the changes. It sure is hard to keep up when they¡¯re increasing this fast though.

    Mana Confluence: + 1

    Elemental Castigation: + 1

    Mana Omnis: + 1

    Enthralling Touch: + 1

    I think I¡¯ve tapped out what I can gain from consistent use. I really need to find some time to dig into the fundamental principles of mana and the elements or I¡¯ll never unlock another subskill. I still need to figure out what aspect I want and how that whole process works. Not to mention, figuring out how to weave my mana like that Remalon could.

    Challenger timer reset: + 120 hours

    NAME: Jiran of Madra

    RACE: Remalon

    AGE: 0

    WEIGHT: 3489 kg > 4258 kg

    ACCLAMATIONS: Remalonian Constitution / Scion of Mana

    TIMER: 351:57:32

    TIER: 4

    EXP: 200/200

    GROWTH: 21.30 % > 37.03 %

    Yes! I get exactly half a percent of growth per kill and I killed thirty beasts but gained fifteen point seven three percent growth instead. Now that I can pull mana out of the beasts and safely filter it, I don¡¯t have to tap into my own mana to fight. All the density I¡¯ve gained from eating these tier sevens is being converted into growth. But almost an entire percent of growth in an hour is impossible even before tier one, which means my method of rapidly converting density to growth is working!

    This isn¡¯t a big deal for me since most of my growth comes from challenger density. For Mayalyn and the rest, this will dramatically decrease the time it takes to tier up. I can¡¯t wait to find out if this works for them. I hope it¡¯s not just a Remalon thing.

    MANA: 54

    CONCENTRATION: 18

    STRENGTH: 218 > 246

    AGILITY: 224 > 256

    ENDURANCE: 215 > 244

    DURABILITY: 217 > 243

    WISDOM: 216 > 242

    INTELLIGENCE: 220 > 249

    CHARISMA: 78 > 80

    SKILLS:

    Mana Confluence: 78 > 79

    Elemental Castigation: 47 > 48

    Mana Omnis: 22 > 23

    Enthralling Touch: 32 > 33

    Identify: 19 > 24

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    With the pile of incredibly heavy corpses in tow, it took Jiran nearly twenty minutes to reach the valley. A rapidly growing flock of Forkara were gathering to the west, their forms appearing as speckled dust against the backdrop of First Father descending toward the horizon.

    He ignored them for now, far more anxious to see Mayalyn again and check on the status of the People. The smithing formations he had made for them were situated near the teleportation platform at the edge of the pond. He crossed his fingers, hoping they hadn¡¯t gotten into any fights with the Timberlings in the short time he was gone. The directions he had given Niya were thorough, but there was no guarantee that language barriers hadn¡¯t caused any issues.

    Not seeing or hearing anything alarming during his approach, his escalated heart rate began to settle. When he passed over the last row of trees and saw the mass of clamoring beast people, a sinking sensation pulled his guts into his boots as he saw the Aahmra standing in the middle of a crowd. His arms were raised high above his head as he shouted orders, the old mouseman¡¯s long white hair and beard swaying in the wind. Jiran immediately noticed that he looked much younger than the last time he had seen him, confirming his elevation to the sixth tier.

    Thoughts of seeing Mayalyn again had kept the destructive influence of the challenger density at bay, but now, seeing the auramaster before him as though nothing had happened between them, instantly shattered his control. Flooded with a voracious need to dominate worthy prey, Jiran bared his teeth in a snarl, the thick desire to kill overtaking his senses and turning his vision red.

    He sucked his aura close to his body and blasted toward the mouseman, the heavy corpses discarded to crash into the ground. Jiran slammed into the Aahmra¡¯s aura at an awesome speed. He was pushed back two meters, his feet creating furrows in the soil. After their initial clash, the distance between them failed to shrink and Jiran¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. For the first time since learning that his manabody was merely an extension of his soul, he had encountered an aura that didn¡¯t immediately yield to his greater understanding. They locked eyes as their wills struggled against one another, and a haughty grin pulled at the corners of the Aahmra¡¯s lips.

    Unwilling to admit defeat and determined to crush the auramaster¡¯s will by overcoming what he took the most pride in, Jiran clutched at the synapses of the framework with his mana and condensed aura. He pulled himself toward the Aahmra one centimeter at a time. The Aahmra held his ground, his arms raised and his previous grin nowhere in sight.

    His tail lashed behind him as he snarled, ¡°Impressive, but you¡¯re going to have to do better than that!¡±

    Mana Omnis allowed Jiran to watch the mana flowing through the Aahmra¡¯s core and into his left hip. A moment later, a new stream of energy flooded into his aura, lacing it with an aspect that Jiran didn¡¯t immediately recognize. Suddenly, the weight crushing down on him tripled and he fell to the ground, barely holding his legs beneath him. The pressure was immense, assaulting him like a collapsing mountain. Jiran¡¯s limbs shook with effort, every ounce of his newly-improved attributes straining to just barely hold himself up.

    Once more, the Aahmra flashed a victorious smile, ¡°Give up now. You¡¯ll never defeat me in a battle of aura!¡±

    Damnit! If he lifted me up instead of pressing me into the ground, my only option would be to use my mana to attack. Why isn¡¯t he doing that? Is his aspect something to do with gravity? Maybe he can only exert this level of pressure toward the ground. I shouldn¡¯t assume that. He''s a tricky old wretch after all.

    Suddenly, the mouseman hopped backward, widening the distance between them by a meter, ¡°For all Mayalyn¡¯s boasting, I assumed your aura would be a match for mine. But it turns out you''re just as pitiful as the first time we met.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really going to pretend this is just a contest of auras after you put so much mana into your aspect? Since you¡¯re so confident, let¡¯s see how things go without you cheating!¡±

    Enthralling Touch connected with the mana flowing through the Aahmra¡¯s body and core. With a swift tug, Jiran dominated the energy and roughly pulled it from him. Instead of bringing it into his suit or body, Jiran spread it around both of them in the shape of a large box. He then used Elemental Castigation to seal them inside a room made of meter-thick ice.

    Shock spread across the Aahmra¡¯s face, accompanied by his voice cracking, ¡°W-what?! What did you do? How is that possible?¡±

    In that first moment of hesitation, Jiran managed to leap forward, closing the gap between them. The Aahmra tried to back away but crashed against the ice. Half the strength of his aura was redirected to bash against the wall. It began to crack from the pressure and just as a hint of relief washed over the Aahmra¡¯s expression.

    When Jiran created a second layer of ice, even thicker than the first, despair flashed in the mouseman¡¯s eyes before they lit up with hope born from panicked desperation, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, even if you defeat me, they¡¯ll never follow you! I¡¯ve been instilling loyalty in them for three generations, they¡¯ll be mine until the day they die!¡±

    Jiran took another step forward, finally close enough that he could reach out and grab the Aahmra at any time. He stood tall, looking down as he shrugged off the pressure of the aspect-filled aura crashing down on him, ¡°And what if I kill you? Will they still insist on following you when you¡¯re dead?¡± Jiran whispered, his face contorting in a vicious snarl.

    The Aahmra froze, his mind going blank as he sought a way out, ¡°Y-you can¡¯t k-kill me, they¡¯ll never forgive you. You¡¯ll lose Mayalyn. She¡¯d never absolve you for murdering me after I kept them safe for so long.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right,¡± Jiran stepped away, dusting his hands while shaking his head, ¡°You¡¯re an idiot. I never wanted to be their leader in the first place. I don¡¯t even like asking people to do things, let alone ordering them. Every time I do, I¡¯m forcing myself because lives are at stake. Without considering anyone¡¯s opinion but your own, you kidnapped Mayalyn, destroyed her Great-grandfather''s legacy, and tried to control me for your own schemes.¡±

    Jiran shook his head, disappointment clenching his guts, ¡°You know, I¡¯m not even mad anymore. You¡¯re just a short-sighted, greedy old bastard. Even so, compared to some of the scum out there, you¡¯re not all that bad. That said, I can¡¯t help but feel a bit lucky. After all, you¡¯re tier six¡­ which means you can take a bit of a beating!¡± Jiran¡¯s fist flashed forward, smashing into the Aahmra¡¯s face hard enough to blast him through both layers of ice. His eyes dimmed as he lost consciousness, his face contorted from the imprint of the four knuckles that had burrowed into his cheek.

    Ducking through the hole, Jiran returned to the dimming light of the late afternoon. He released a deep sigh, his arms and legs quivering from exertion and the desire to instantly renew the hunt. With great effort, he ignored the Aahmra¡¯s prostrate form, instead gazing up at the sky.

    Almost out of time. It¡¯s been a day, Daughter should be ready to talk again.

    Those nearby whispered and pointed, ripples of shock washing through them as the news of his victory spread like wildfire. The rapidly gathering crowd parted for Mayalyn. She sauntered to him with a smug smile, stepping over the Aahmra to wrap both her hands around one of his.

    She lifted it into the air, turning around to face her people, ¡°My Aajiran has defeated the Aahmra. From this day forward, he will be known as Aajiran!¡±

    Jiran¡¯s Charisma attribute blared a warning at him and he wholeheartedly agreed with its assessment of the crowd''s feelings. He raised his voice, imbuing it with a touch of mana, ¡°I¡¯m not replacing the Aahmra, he is still your leader and I¡¯ll support his decisions so long as he doesn¡¯t turn against me again. I¡¯ll never forget the kindness and acceptance you showed me when I first arrived on your island. It is my honor to be your protector and your guide now that you have stepped into a new world. As we say in the empire: May we all thrive, together!¡±

    Jiran sealed the air around Mayalyn, cupping her cheek with his hand, ¡°How are the smithing formations? Any issues?¡±

    Her eyes flickered to one of the two dozen chest-high metal boxes at the edge of the pond. Most of those who had chosen to come and fight stood in long lines waiting patiently for their turn. As they watched, a man with the features of a bull wrapped two meaty hands around the handles protruding from the top of one of the boxes. After a brief flash of light, the lid of the box popped open and he retrieved a massive two-handed hammer. He swung it experimentally, a huge grin plastered on his face.

    ¡°How could there be any issues? You made them exactly like Great-grandfather¡¯s inventions. Everyone is quite comfortable with them,¡± She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch with a blissful smile that melted his heart, ¡°Thank you, for that. I¡­ felt like I lost everything he left for us, for me. I was going to ask you to smooth the valley walls so I could try running in a full circle around it, but this gift is much better.¡±

    Jiran chortled, his amusement quickly cascading out of control until he threw his head back and laughed. When he finally regained control, Mayalyn looked up at him with one eye squinted and her lips pursed doubtfully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that or I¡¯ll lose it again!¡± Jiran held his side, backing away from her with a wide grin, ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m already starting to feel a little better. Good thing, too. I think we¡¯re about out of time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I should mention that Cameron arrived just before Niya brought us through the portal. She split the crystals with him.¡±

    ¡°What?! That¡¯s great! In that case, I can leave even sooner. Hmm, the Forkara won¡¯t make it in time if we push up the schedule but I suppose we can always bring the smithing formations to the battle and let them make their weapons and armor there. Okay, spread the word, we¡¯re leaving in an hour.¡±

    No reason to spend the mana on speaking with Daughter since we¡¯ll get there as soon as we can. All that¡¯s left is organizing the Timberlings and the Forkara.

    Seeing him looking toward the center of the valley, Mayalyn gave him a gentle smile full of warmth, ¡°Go, do what you must do. When you are ready, we will be ready.¡±

 Chapter 180 - Parts Of A Whole

    Jiran left Mayalyn in charge of organizing the People. He arrived at the center of the valley to find the Timberlings dashing about in a well-ordered bustle. As he looked down at them from above their ancestral trees, he was struck by a momentary sense of discomfort, almost like a large bug was crawling within his suit. The reason became apparent immediately: The Timberling were similar to the Graymin in how eerily quiet they were.

    Only one of them can speak at a time or they¡¯ll trigger a harmony.

    He paused his flight, watching them closely. One at a time, with almost no hesitation, they passed the mantle of who was permitted to sing. Usually, it was the matrons loudly calling orders, though others would often chime in, somehow knowing exactly when they could without their songs overlapping. The rest were utterly silent, their bare feet padding gently on the soft forest floor. With nearly a hundred thousand bodies gathered below, the rustling of cloth and bodies should have been more than loud enough to drown out the current singer and that incongruity was hard to set aside.

    How do they know when to sing? It must be tied to their skill and shared soul. Such a mysterious race, I can¡¯t wait to disec-ahem. I mean, learn more about them. The matrons are back, I wonder if¡­ Ah, there she is.

    Jiran landed behind Lulu who was half-carrying, half-guiding a mature woman toward a nearby tree. Once there, she stuck a vine in the woman''s mouth and turned around to trudge back to the smithing formations. She saw Jiran and stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

    She stared at him dumbly for several seconds before he chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, is there something on my face?¡±

    ¡°Wah-uhm-bu. N-no! I am merely shocked by your glow.¡±

    ¡°My glow? What does that mean?¡±

    Her face turned crimson and leaves blossomed to hide her cheeks, ¡°L-like a light, it glows from your skin, blinding my sight. When we first met it was faint, but now you shine with no restraint.¡±

    Must be my charisma, interesting that she can see it.

    ¡°Has anyone else mentioned it?¡± Jiran tilted his head questioningly.

    ¡°Yes, I must confess. Again and again. To the point I have grown weary from the constant theories and queries.¡±

    So all of them can see it, or at least most of them. Too bad there isn''t time to dig into the reason why.

    Seeing her squirm with embarrassment, Jiran smoothly changed the subject, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you. How are you holding up?¡± He stepped closer, using one hand, he brushed aside some of the leaves covering her face. When her blush turned three shades darker, a huge smile split his face before he patted the top of her head affectionately.

    This one, really is the cutest.

    Lulu¡¯s brain short-circuited and she stared up at him with wide, uncomprehending eyes. A flash of awareness eventually struck a chord of reason within her brain and she leaped back a step, her next words a quaking, incoherent mumbling, ¡°I go have and be help is sorry do good now bye!¡±

    Before Jiran could piece together her meaning, she dashed past him toward the smithing formations.

    I wonder if she even realized she didn¡¯t rhyme. I¡­ probably shouldn¡¯t block that skill anymore unless I can¡¯t understand what they¡¯re talking about. It¡¯s what makes them unique. And honestly, of the races I¡¯ve encountered so far, the Timberling are really special.

    Huh, I¡¯m feeling quite a bit calmer after messing with her. I definitely pushed myself too far again with the challenger density. I should probably feel bad about teasing her, but I really can¡¯t bring myself to regret it.

    With a peaceful, yet cheshire grin plastered on his face, Jiran followed Lulu. While they were speaking, another Timberling had approached one of the larger smithing formations. She set her newly-made weapons down and faced the rectangular block of metal nearly double her height. She placed her palms on its surface and a moment later the entire front side popped open allowing her to step inside. The door shut behind her and several seconds passed before it reopened and she practically fell out of the box into Lulu¡¯s arms. The girl had already picked up the weapons, and together, they stumbled to the same tree where she was vined-up and left alone.

    Jiran ran his gaze over the area, seeing the same process being repeated several dozen times across all of the smithing formations he had made. Within the few minutes he stopped to observe them, hundreds of their weapons had been modified and their bark reinforced into incredibly tough armor. With the formations drawing mana directly from each user, he didn¡¯t have to lift a finger to outfit an astonishing amount of warriors and hunters in a very short time.

    Another familiar face entered the range of his aura and he turned around to see Knife running at him full-speed. She dug her heels into the ground at the last second, barely stopping her momentum by wrapping her arms around one of his. She pressed herself against his side, looking up at him with a beaming smile, ¡°I¡¯ve missed you,¡± The muscles in her neck bulged as she finished her rhyme through grit teeth, ¡°Since you withdrew.¡±

    Jiran shook his arm lightly to free himself but that only caused her to hold on tighter. With a sigh, he relented, allowing the girl to do as she pleased. It was Knife¡¯s funeral if she was caught, and the mental image of seeing what Mayalyn would do was funny enough to cause him to bite his lips and shake with repressed laughter.

    Recovering quickly from the bout of emotional instability, Jiran questioned her in the most serious voice he could muster considering how she was clinging to him with a goofy grin, ¡°How many Timberlings still need weapons and armor and what¡¯s your estimate on how long that will take?¡±

    ¡°One thousand an hour, we can empower and all who wish to volunteer are long since here. Maybe two more hours to see it through,¡± Knife sang, her small body producing a pleasantly light melody.

    Suddenly, Jiran¡¯s other arm was wrapped up in an equally tight embrace. He had seen Lulu approaching with a determined stride but he never would have expected the timid girl to copy Knife¡¯s salacious behavior. Lulu poked her head around him, pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes at Knife who merely grinned in response.

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    ¡°You two better cut it out before Mayalyn whittles you into fire pokers,¡± Jiran almost lamented the fact he was wearing his armor and couldn¡¯t actually feel anything they were doing. Then again, he was pretty certain that if he wasn¡¯t wearing it, it would be him getting cut down to size.

    ¡°Fine, fine, it appears I¡¯ve crossed the line,¡± Knife hopped back, holding her arms behind her back as she skipped along beside him. Lulu released him so fast it was like she suddenly realized he was on fire.

    ¡°Two hours, that¡¯s not bad at all. Let¡¯s go have a chat with the matriarchs and then I¡¯ve got to go greet the Forkara.¡±

    ¡°The hive hunters have returned?! Should we be concerned?¡± Lulu asked nervously, her eyes glued to the skies as she subconsciously hunched behind Jiran. Knife, on the other hand, caressed the hilt of her weapon, the excited look on her face the exact opposite of Lulu¡¯s.

    ¡°You have nothing to fear from them. I¡¯ll explain to everyone at the same time, c¡¯mon.¡±

    The news of Jiran¡¯s return had spread quickly and the matriarchs were already gathered a short distance away. He picked the two girls up in his aura and a deathly silence spread through the forest as he approached. Twelve imposing sets of eyes watched his every move, and the moment he landed, they bowed in unison. Starting from his left, they sang to him one at a time in rapid succession.

    ¡°Great Spirit, we see you and we greet you.¡±

    Hearing the same words repeated twelve times was a little jarring but each of their voices was unique and carried so much gratitude and joy that the entire experience ended up being flattering enough that Jiran felt his cheeks warming.

    He cleared his throat, making eye contact with each of them one at a time, ¡°Thank you for your greetings and for gathering your people together so quickly. Seeing so many choosing to risk their lives for my home is honestly overwhelming. I¡­ don¡¯t know how to express how much your help means to me.¡±

    The Matron of Conflict responded, ¡°We were dead at your feet, from the harmony you did defeat. Then, you freed all our lives from the hives. You set us free, and none would disagree. You struck a bargain with the Great Mother, our lives are truly yours to smother,¡± Tears streamed freely down her cheeks before she finished.

    Jiran took a deep breath, the conviction in her song so thick he could feel it entering his lungs. He locked eyes with each of them again, finding only steely resolve and unwavering dedication looking back at him. With a single, stiff nod, he firmed his resolve, ¡°Then I won¡¯t waste any more of our time as we¡¯ve a battle to win. I¡¯ll be heading there first as soon as I speak to the Forkara gathering at the edge of the valley. You should know that I¡¯ve formed an alliance with them. For the next thousand years, sixty percent of their warriors belong to me.¡±

    Jiran expected them to show at least a little surprise. Instead, their faces split into vicious grins and the Matron of Belief threw herself to her knees, her forehead touching the ground as she sang, ¡°All hail the Great Spirit! Even the mighty hives are wise enough to fear it!¡±

    The timid Matron of Cleansing softly sang immediately after, ¡°You said you were leaving first, this plan is not what we rehearsed.¡±

    ¡°Here, take these,¡± Jiran threw two of the fully charged green crystals, one to the Matron of Hunting and the other to conflict. ¡°You¡¯ll have another hour to prepare. When those crystals begin to glow, toss them out in front of you. I could try to explain it, but it probably won¡¯t make any sense until you see it with your own eyes. Just make sure everyone who¡¯s ready to go in an hour is gathered, the rest can follow later.¡±

    ¡°Great Spirit, we understand your command,¡± They bowed to him again and he returned a salute brimming with the emotions struggling to burst from his chest.

    Jiran turned to Lulu and rested his hand on her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you on the battlefield, your strengths lie elsewhere for now, understood?¡± She nodded meekly and he gave her a reassuring smile before turning to Knife, ¡°You¡¯re coming with me, I have a few questions that you can answer before we get there.¡±

    Knife puffed out her chest and lifted her chin, beyond pleased with being chosen to accompany him. Jiran clicked his tongue and gently chopped the top of her head, ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky! You¡¯re only coming along because you¡¯re the least important person here who knows the information I need.¡± Lulu snorted, unable to completely hold in her laughter.

    Before Knife could retort, he lifted her into the air beside him. When they were high enough that all hundred thousand Timberlings could see him, he infused his voice with mana, ¡°Thank you all. Whether you came to share your energy or to fight beside me, I appreciate your efforts. What we¡¯ve already accomplished would be considered an impossibility where I¡¯m from and I promise you: We are just getting started!¡±

    Waves of movement passed through their ranks as shoulders were straightened and heads held high. ¡°I¡¯m sure many of you have heard how I spoke with your Great Mother, the first Timberling. She begged me to protect you, to share my strengths with you, and together we would become a force so fierce, that our enemies would tremble with fear at the mere thought of facing us. I agreed to do as she asked, and I haven¡¯t regretted that choice for a single second.¡±

    Mana Confluence and Elemental Castigation zipped across the synapses of the framework to create a massive image of light that towered out of sight, its legs hundreds of times thicker than the tallest trees. The ephemeral replica of the Great Mother looked down at her children with a stony expression.

    As waves of awe rocked the Timberlings onto their heels, Jiran continued, ¡°She was a being that the gods themselves feared. Tall enough to walk out of this valley with a single step and I¡¯ve no doubt that it was her who made this crater you have lived in since her passing. There was a secret she shared with me, something you should all know deep in your heartwoods is the truth. Before she killed them, the gods she fought shattered her soul into one hundred and twenty thousand shards.¡± The image he had created broke apart into glistening flecks of light.

    Jiran gave them several seconds for his words to register. Considering their inability to birth a new sapling without another of them dying, it didn¡¯t take a genius to understand the connection, ¡°The Great Mother may be dead, but her soul survives and thrives as an undeniable piece of every single one of you!¡±

    Jiran¡¯s voice cracked like thunder, shocking them from their reverie, ¡°So do not ever bow your heads again! You bear a fragment of the soul that once shook all of Madra with her might! Together, you are a whole without equal and when you step upon the battlefield today, you will teach our enemies a truth too long forgotten: When a Timberling comes to claim a life, there is nothing in this world that can stop her!¡±

    Rustling silence followed Jiran¡¯s speech. Mana Omnis revealed their quivering forms and the energies that raged within them as they barely repressed their desire to scream. He crossed his arms and slammed his fists into his chest, the sound echoing dully through the forest before it was returned a hundred thousand times. The emotions bursting within them refused to be appeased by a single salute and the sounds of wooden hands crashing into bark armor resounded again and again.

    In that moment when their souls resonated with a common desire, Jiran couldn¡¯t help but recall the words of their mother.

    ¡°Individually weak they may be, but together¡­ you will see¡­ the scattered pieces of my soul¡­ are fierce indeed when given fresh soil.¡±

    Fierce indeed¡­ I can¡¯t wait to see what they can do, and what they will become.

 Chapter 181 - Bring Him, And Live

    General Reifvus

    ¡°Orders, Commander?¡± Major Quare snapped a salute. Of the three hundred and fifty tier five soldiers present, he was one of the few not winded from their hasty advance. Even though every soldier present had access to their auras, that didn¡¯t mean they were skilled enough to fly. This left their advanced party running atop the filth in order to maintain ranks.

    General Reifvus clenched his jaw until it released a creaking groan, ¡°I¡¯m not the commander any longer, soldier.¡± Reifvus lowered his voice, his tone coated with venom, ¡°That damn ghoul princess has too many supporters, mind your words before you make my situation even worse!¡±

    ¡°Understood, General!¡± Quare blanched, his gaze shifting to the sides looking for eavesdroppers but only finding those who had long been loyal to Reifvus. He made a silent declaration to keep his mouth shut for the rest of the operation; he knew where his loyalties lay and they weren¡¯t with some upstart, skinless brat from an entirely separate metropole of the empire.

    The tall mountains to either side of the narrow valley they occupied quaked constantly, sending rocks cascading down in rumbling waves. The smell of the filth beneath his boots was pungent and reeked of sour chemicals. It burned as it entered the lungs¡¯ of the soldiers, sapping their stamina. Worse still, was the way it clung to metal and leather of their boots, making each step require more strength than usual. The rumbling sound of millions of advancing beasts strained the nerves, leaving even the veteran soldiers shaking and sweating.

    ¡°We¡¯ll set up our defenses here! Spread out and clear a line through this shit. Diggers, I want a wall four meters high and thick an hour ago! Everyone else, rest up, we¡¯ll be in the thick of it soon. Eat and drink while you¡¯ve got the chance.¡± Reifvus motioned to Quare to follow him and they zipped forward on their auras, maintaining a tight distance from the ground.

    They arrived at the top of the relatively flat mountain pass, a large valley between the next mountain range opened before them. Quare¡¯s blood froze in his veins upon seeing the approaching horde. They crossed the valley in a rush, uncaring of the suffering they caused to their fellows. Uncontent with running side by side, their bodies were stacked ten high as they leaped atop their own in a tidal wave of flesh. Even stacked so high, the line of beasts still filled the valley like a flash flood overflowing the banks of a river.

    ¡°Emperors above, protect us in our hour of need,¡± Quare¡¯s prayer tumbled unbidden from his lips as his limbs quaked with terror.

    H-how could the scouts have missed this?! There¡¯s no time!

    General Reifvus spun around and ran without wasting a single moment. His orders were to stall that monstrous wave for thirty minutes and it no longer mattered if they were only tier three and four Graymin. With only three hundred and fifty tier fives and three groups of tier six mercenaries under his command, they didn¡¯t have a chance in the abyss of succeeding as things were.

    Dashing back toward their flimsy defenses, he was already shouting for all he was worth, ¡°Make that fucking wall fifteen meters high in the next three minutes or we¡¯re all dead!¡±

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    Lostrifar squinted, looking into the two-meter-deep ditch before her. Olive stood next to her, eyeing the distance between their current position at the end of the northwestern trench and the nearest mountain face half a kilometer away. She could only pray that the spacing was adequate and that their preparations were enough.

    The city was nearly two kilometers distant, and after its four kilometers of ward-reinforced walls, there was another two kilometers of trench that stretched to the northeast, all the way to the opposing mountain face.

    Every soldier under her command was already deployed in their designated positions and she examined the troopers standing at attention all along the edge of the ditch, creating a massive V formation with the city at its center. They wore mismatched armor and weapons; the best that could be provided under such short notice.

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± Olive asked, her eyes returning to Lostrifars small yet imposing figure.

    ¡°Tsk, I don¡¯t remember you being such a brat. When I agreed to teach you, you were such a sweet little thing. Did that boy corrupt your manners or did you forget who you¡¯re talking to?¡± Lostrifar¡¯s voice lacked any bite, as her mind was more focused on the complex idea Olive had presented to her.

    Olive¡¯s voice was sickly sweet as she responded, ¡°My apologies, Master. I only meant if it was possible within the bounds of mana that my soldiers can supply. Obviously, no formation is beyond you.¡±

    Lenton, standing beside her, chuckled, ¡°If only my wayward disciple had such a silver tongue.¡±

    Lostrifar hopped into the trench. The logs and bricks neatly stacked at the bottom began to melt together under the ministrations of her mana, forming a lengthening block of metal. As she walked, the materials continued to combine and as soon as there was room, the first soldier jumped in and rested his palms against the newly created formation housing. His mana was steadily sucked into the formation and as space became available, more soldiers jumped in to contribute to the construction as well. With an ever-growing supply of mana, Lostrifar was able to quickly move down the trench, none daring to interrupt her concentration.

    Recognizing the look of intense focus on Lostrifar¡¯s face, Olive turned to Lenton, lowering her voice, ¡°Master Filibree, was Jiran truly so unruly when you mentored him? I¡¯ve found him to be quite polite to those who treat him equally. Although, I will admit, his personality does become a bit¡­ exaggerated when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge.¡±

    Lenton and Olive walked behind Lostrifar and his aura blocked their conversation, ¡°We got along well enough since he was surprisingly mature for his age. If I had one complaint, it would be his complete inability to stay out of trouble. That boy is a magnet for danger. Do not ever drop your guard around him.¡± Lenton scratched at his elbow, his gaze on the full moon peeking between thick clouds.

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    Olive nodded, nibbling on her lower lip with scrunched eyes, ¡°Yes, I am well aware. Though, I thank you for the warning nonetheless. Master Filibree, may I ask you a question?¡±

    ¡°Of course, of course, though only one. More than that will cost you,¡± He winked at her and she released a polite giggle; his proclivity to extort anyone and everyone when they asked for answers was a well-known quirk.

    ¡°Then I must thank you again for your generous gift,¡± Olive nodded politely, ¡°When Jiran was curing Shaara, he expressed concern about meeting you again. He mentioned the possibility of being locked away and his freedom apprehended. Were his fears valid?¡±

    ¡°Such a priceless opportunity and you waste it on a boy?¡± Seeing her sharp glare, Lenton chuckled, ¡°I jest, I jest. If you¡¯ve spent any time around him, you must have realized that he¡¯s a walking calamity. On the other hand, he¡¯s the most likely to achieve the impossible and re-write our understanding of what is achievable. What do you think, Princess? Should he be locked in a cage, or set free to cause untold disaster?¡±

    Olive didn¡¯t hesitate for a second, ¡°If you plan to restrict him, I will do everything in my power to stop you.¡± Her voice held all the authority she could muster. Given that she was speaking with one of the most powerful people in the empire, she couldn''t help but cringe at sounding like a petulant princess.

    ¡°Such a straightforward answer. How unexpected, and refreshing. I¡¯m sure you have your reasons. Hmm, could it be that you¡¯ve fallen for the boy? Those who exercise power above and beyond the norm do have a universal appeal, after all.¡± Olive maintained a serene expression, though there was no way to hide from Lenton¡¯s high-tier senses so she was certain he noticed the slight increase in her pulse and the touch of color gracing her cheeks.

    ¡°I can promise my personal feelings for him in no way color my perspective. I truly believe he can and will do far more good for the empire if he is unconstrained. Our purpose should be to support him and clean up any mess left in his wake. Because as you mentioned, he is indeed a walking calamity.¡±

    Lenton chuckled and ran his fingers through his long white beard, ¡°So that¡¯s where your conviction is coming from? You know, if we did lock him in a cage, you would have easy access to him? Not only could you clean up after him, you could cook and tend to his children. Just imagine how much research the two of you could undertake.¡±

    Olive frowned, casting a nasty glare at the old hero, ¡°He once told me that you had a bad personality and I didn¡¯t believe him. I should have listened. Are you quite done teasing me, Master Filibree? I would very much like an answer to my question.¡±

    Lenton raised his palms to ward off her ire, ¡°Please forgive, your highness. It is indeed a nasty habit of the elderly to tease our children. Unfortunately, your question is not one I can answer. My own personal goals would be achieved quicker if Jiran were to be on the loose, but I am ultimately not the arbiter of his fate. Once upon a time, he was hidden from sight but those days have passed. If the emperors convene and choose his destiny, nothing you or I say will change anything.¡±

    Olive sighed, a bit disappointed to receive the answer she had expected, ¡°For now, it is enough for me to know you don¡¯t support locking him away. If someone did, they would never let him grow more powerful again for fear of him escaping their grasp. I hope if the time ever comes that he needs you, you will choose to support him as I have.¡±

    Lenton¡¯s eyes flickered to Lostrifar, resting on her small back long enough for Olive to notice, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, perhaps not. Only time will tell.¡±

    General Reifvus

    ¡°Spikes!¡± Reifvus¡¯s voice was so loud that it shook the hastily constructed wall.

    Two dozen soldiers at the base of the wall placed their hands upon the hard stone and mana coursed through their channels¡ªtaking on the elemental properties of the ground before flowing through their palms. Massive, rocky spikes burst from the far side of the wall piercing hundreds of Graymin. The protruding hunks of elemental mana couldn¡¯t hold out long against the press from thousands of reinforced bodies and soon crumbled.

    ¡°Auras out!¡± Even the rookie tier fives with little control over their manabodies followed Reifvus¡¯s order. An invisible wave of force pushed the wave of pawns back just before they swept over the tall wall. The soldiers grit their teeth as they poured their focus into controlling the elusive energy.

    With the monsters off the wall for a moment, the general leaped from his perch directly into the center of the horde. He swung his fire-coated sword left and right, sending huge pillars of flame forward, melting hundreds of the beasts at a time.

    Damnit! I¡¯m down to thirty percent mana and it''s only been five minutes!

    The pawns screamed silently as they were burned alive but the inexorable tide of flesh rolled forward, dousing the fires with their compacted mass, uncaring of what was crushed beneath them.

    They¡¯ve killed more of their own just by approaching than we would in a day. I¡¯ve been fighting Graymin for half my life and I¡¯ve never seen anything like this. And this is just their scouting force! Not to mention the missing scouts. Just how much have we underestimated them?

    Surrounded by an enemy he could no longer understand, a growing pit of venomous doubt bubbled within Reifvus¡¯s stomach. It quickly morphed into an all-consuming, paralyzing fear. Sweat poured from his body as he craned his neck to look up at the truly massive wave of bestial flesh ready to crash over him.

    ¡°Commander!¡± A weak, insignificant voice tore through his mind, snapping him back to the present.

    Reifvus leaped backward, landing on the wall just as the beasts crashed over the ground he had been standing on. With a deep breath, he pushed down the terror and fell back on years of training. When he shouted the next order, his voice was steady and strong, unlike his quaking fingers, ¡°Auras out! Rain down!¡±

    Once more, precious manabodies were expended to hold the beasts at bay as jets of water soaked the horde.

    ¡°Frost field!¡± Reifvus shouted and blistering cold swept out, freezing the moisture-saturated monsters solid and finally bringing a small moment of stillness to the intense battlefield. His voice quickly shattered the moment, ¡°Fall back! Mercenaries: Spikes every fifty meters. Take up the rear and keep your auras out! Quare, Flinton, flanks positions, stay sharp for rooks!¡±

    His order was echoed by a dozen officers as the others took their designated positions, ¡°Fall back! Fall back!¡±

    Men and women jumped from the wall, running for all they were worth as the fifteen, tier six mercenaries deployed layers upon layers of massive spikes at an angle. The ground heaved and split as stones shot forward to skewer the beasts that had easily bypassed their frozen brethren and overtaken the wall. The pawns barreled ever closer to the scrambling troops, only barely held back by powerful auras.

    As they fled, something changed within the horde. For the first time in recorded history, an all too familiar language came from a million, fang-coated mouths simultaneously. Their eerie voices were filled with a deep and dreadful longing. Coming from so many throats at once, it was an eerie sound that reached into each of the humans¡¯ chests to grasp their hearts and cloud their minds with an uncontrollable, newfound fear.

    ¡°Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live.¡±

 Chapter 182 - A New Dawn

    Oliviala Le''Cruex

    - Continued -

    Lenton led the way as they trailed behind Lostrifar, trudging through the sand in the rapidly-lightening twilight. The dark, foreboding clouds that had threatened the skies throughout the night were thicker than ever and the rumbling bass of the encroaching horde was loud enough that the old hero had to raise his voice to be heard, ¡°Judging by your question about Jiran¡¯s uncertain freedom, you¡¯re expecting him to arrive during the battle, and he''s already expressed concerns about being captured.¡±

    Olive nodded, ¡°Your insight is impressive, as always, Master Filibree. It¡¯s exactly as you¡¯ve deduced. Cameron should meet with him today or tomorrow, if we can hold out until then, he¡¯ll surely come.¡±

    Lenton idly scratched his elbow through his robe and his eyes narrowed in a thoughtful expression, ¡°I suppose I should be pleased that he took my final lesson to heart.¡± He released a forlorn sigh while gazing at the obscuring clouds.

    Is he¡­ disappointed that Jiran will be here? Is he also worried that some of the rankers will try to confine him?

    ¡°Final lesson?¡± Olive questioned, hoping to get to the bottom of Lenton¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°Before he vanished, Jiran found himself in some trouble with a few noble children.¡± Olive only barely managed not to cringe at the reminder of their first meeting. With a mischievous smile, Lenton continued, ¡°He thoughtlessly barged into that situation without considering the ramifications and found himself under the scrutiny of your father. I often wonder if our lives would have taken another path if he had made a different choice that day.¡±

    ¡°It would have indeed, at least for me,¡± A burning pit in Olive¡¯s chest constricted as she followed a particular train of thought, eventually deciding to voice her speculations, ¡°After Jiran saved us, we each awoke with a new acclamation. It¡¯s only due to that boon that I was able to encounter him again. I suppose, since the moment he chose to rescue us, we¡¯ve been bound together by fate.¡± Olive¡¯s voice grew strained and the tightness in her chest expanded to a crushing grip that stole her breath. Her eyes trailed down to the sand crunching beneath her boots; the shifting grains seemingly having more control over their own existence than she did at that moment.

    Lenton harrumphed, ¡°What nonsense are you spewing! Turn around and walk away, right now.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Olive looked at him in shock. Her steps faltered, causing Lostrifar to further the distance between them as she rapidly constructed the formation inside the trench.

    ¡°You could choose to leave right now. I know you won¡¯t, but you could. Because of that choice, there is no such thing as fate. We live in a logical world and we are creatures ultimately ruled by reason. There are optimal paths forward so we naturally seek to find and exploit them. You chose to find Jiran for a reason and you can call that fate if you want but I would heartily disagree.¡±

    As Olive mulled over his words, the tension in her chest rapidly eased.

    I want to believe he¡¯s right. Thinking that some great force or power tied me to Jiran diminishes everything that I¡¯ve been fighting for. No wonder I felt sick even considering it.

    ¡°Thank you, Master Filibree,¡± Olive smiled warmly, suddenly feeling much better. ¡°Nerves must be getting to me. Our last two scouts have failed to return and our expected reinforcements from the southern desert have been delayed. We are going to be hard pressed to hold the first wave back at this rate.¡±

    ¡°It is understandable to feel fear before a battle. But do keep in mind that fear is an emotion with many uses. It warns us of danger, inspires us to fight for our loved ones, and causes our bodies to naturally begin the process of moving even in the most dire circumstances. Do not abandon it too easily, for it will surely save your life many times.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the lesson, Master Filibree. I will take your words to heart.¡±

    ¡°Of course, someone should wear the mantle of teacher today.¡±

    Olive¡¯s heart lurched at his hidden implication. She chuckled nervously, her eyes glued to Lostrifar¡¯s petite back, ¡°So you knew?¡±

    ¡°Certainly, our little meeting was nothing more than a test of your loyalties. Your wording was quite clever, saying you would have the time to impart Jiran¡¯s methods while never actually committing to teaching them. Don¡¯t be too proud though. You only managed to fool Sagrinar and Forellis but those two avoid the nobility like a low-tier meal so it¡¯s no surprise they fell for your ploy.¡±

    Ugh. I feel like a fool. What did I think I was doing trying to play word games with the likes of Pierro, Lostrifar, and Lenton?

    Finally understanding the meaning of their meeting, another thought struck Olive, ¡°That means my question regarding Jiran was pointless, you¡¯ve already chosen to support him.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, perhaps not. Only time will tell,¡± Lenton repeated his cryptic statement in a sing-song voice, bringing a small smile to Olive¡¯s lips. Suddenly, he cut off his humming and his tone hardened, his eyes snapping to the north, ¡°They are nearly upon us. Lostrifar will not complete the formations in time. I shall assist her, I suggest you reorganize your forces before they breach your defensive lines.¡±

    Lenton was gone before she had a chance to respond, likely teleporting to the far end of the northeast trench.

    If they¡¯re already here, that means Reifvus failed to hold back pawns lower-tier than his forces in a position where they wouldn''t be surrounded. Does it have something to do with the lost scouts? Did the Graymin end up sending higher-tiers to reinforce the pawns?

    Olive leaped into the air, her mana-laced voice thundering louder than the rumble from the north, ¡°Relay my orders! All non-commissioned soldiers are to defend the formations until their last breath!¡±

    Those close enough to hear jumped across the trench, their bodies the last line of defense between the formations and the encroaching enemy. Her orders were repeated hundreds of times until every soldier designated with the task of sacrificing mana to the construction of the formations understood their duty. Hands, shaky with fear, rested on the pommels and shafts of weapons. Each of them fully understood that even under the best circumstances, what they were doing would be suicide. Not only were they spread out across several kilometers and outnumbered against foes they could never hope to defeat alone, but their mana was being drained into the formations being built. The chances of them living even five seconds were so miniscule they weren¡¯t worth mentioning.

    I was too hasty in giving that order. They¡¯ll be dying for nothing. As soon as I learned the first scout didn¡¯t report on time, I should have sent an entire party of tier sixes. I¡¯ve been too reluctant to make sacrifices and now we are in a much worse situation because of that weak mindset. If it¡¯s impossible, I¡¯ll have to call on the reserves. But first, I need to see the situation with my own eyes.

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    Olive¡¯s aura and Forcing pulled her north at a breakneck speed. The soldiers she had doomed through her own foolishness were quickly out of sight and only the four-kilometer-long city walls were visible behind her. Steep mountains on either side crept closer as she neared the narrow pass. The rumbling of the nearing beasts grew louder with each passing second. The sands had long been replaced by the wretched filth, its stench clogging her nostrils.

    From the city to the mountain pass, the ground slowly rose in elevation and not far ahead was a rise that blocked her sight. Squeezed between mountainous peaks, the sounds of the stampeding beasts became a thunderous cacophony that shook her bones. The closer she drew to the rise, the more certain she became that the moment she crested it, she would finally see the enemy that had come to claim the lives of her people.

    The sight that awaited her was far beyond her worst nightmares. For a split second, she was completely frozen with a visceral, instinctive terror that threatened to stretch into an eternity of hopelessness. The rolling wave of flesh, claws, and razor-sharp teeth dominated her vision even as the sounds it created completely stole her ability to think.

    An alien aura wrapped around her, snapping her awake. She instantly fought back, crushing it with a snarl. The booming voice of General Reifvus, barely heard above the rumbling, brought recognition as to who her assailant was, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, run!¡±

    Olive blocked out whatever he said next, her mind focused elsewhere as her gaze swept across his retreating troops. Without wasting time on a single word, she zipped past his soldiers toward the mercenaries taking up the rear. Exhausted, low on mana, and with depleted auras, they struggled mightily to stay ahead of the horde. She grabbed all fifteen of them in her aura; the weight of so many tier sixes reduced her speed to what felt like a crawl.

    She fell under the shadow of the moving mountain of beasts. Her heart raced as she pulled the men south with all her might, barely keeping ahead as she desperately fought to emerge from the darkness engulfing her. Far more terrifying than the promise of death on her heels, was the way the rumbling sounds of the horde had morphed into what she now clearly understood as the imperial language being spoken from a million mouths simultaneously.

    ¡°Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live.¡±

    They can talk! Does that mean they chose not to communicate with us all this time? Why? Are they really beasts? None of that matters! The only thing that¡¯s important right now is that I have to adjust my plans to account for an intelligent enemy. I¡¯ve severely underestimated them. Everyone has.

    Olive took control of her wild emotions with a crushing grip. Her thoughts and fears vanished beneath an overwhelming need to return and adjust her plans before it was too late. Her aura constricted, bringing the tier sixes in closer so she could take advantage of the increased efficiency of a condensed aura. Her speed increased and she quickly caught up to the running general who was urging his slowest troops forward with bellowing shouts. Her voice cracked like a whip, silencing his commands, ¡°Lead them directly toward the city! The new formations aren¡¯t finished yet! We only need to divert them for a few more minutes!¡±

    Just as they were leaving the tight confines of the mountain pass, movement above caused Olive to look straight up. A sight just as unusual as hundreds of thousands of pawns stacked atop one another greeted her. One of the dark clouds was rapidly shrinking, creating a widening ring at its far edges that revealed a sky painted red by the emergence of First Father.

    Suddenly, three lances of bright white light tore from the center of the diminishing cloud, piercing into the heart of the horde. The lights were gone so fast that they left only a trace of an afterimage embedded in her retinas. The beasts rolled on, oblivious to the strange phenomenon. A moment later, three gaping wounds appeared in their midst as thousands of pawns were unwillingly sucked toward where the lances of light had struck.

    Recognition of what was happening caused Olive¡¯s heart to spasm with a burst of hope. A moment later, the tightly compressed matter of all those crushed bodies burst outward, blossoming into three gargantuan explosions that flattened the wave of pawns. A rippling wall of force spread backward along the line of stacked bodies, dismantling their momentum and bringing a halt to their inexorable advance.

    For the first time in hours, the rumbling of the horde grew silent and a voice she hadn¡¯t expected to hear for another two days appeared right behind her, ¡°Huh, didn¡¯t expect that to be so effective.¡±

    Olive spun around to find Jiran in a new suit of armor that looked much more advanced than what he had made for her. In the center of his chest, a glowing orb pulsed with a dangerous radiance that spread outward in narrow, sharp lines of energy. Her eyes crept up, finding a smooth metallic helmet. She could easily imagine his signature, relaxed grin behind its reflective visor. A flash of relief swept through her accompanied by an itching pressure behind her eyes.

    In that moment, all the desperation, hopes, and desires she had pinned on keeping her people alive until he returned overcame her all at once.

    What is wrong with me?! No! I will not cry, damnit. I am a Le¡¯Cruex and I will not cry!

    Jiran of Madra

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Jiran asked even as he snatched the mercenaries out of Olive¡¯s aura and took off toward the distant city.

    Olive regained her senses quickly, catching up to him and responding with a strained voice, ¡°I-it¡¯s nothing! How are you here so early? You said you would check on us tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°What, did you think I would come swooping in at the last second to save the day like some hero from a story?¡±

    ¡°Wha-no! Well, you kind of did, didn¡¯t you?¡± Olive retorted while giving him a look that dared him to deny it.

    ¡°Huh? No way. I was actually planning to stay hidden for a bit longer until I understood the situation but then I realized those two monsters might not actually help you so I stepped in.¡± Jiran pointed to either side of the city where Mana Omnis had revealed two blazing pinpoints of mana.

    ¡°Those two would not have intervened. They are saving their mana for their own battle. You didn¡¯t answer my question! Why did you come back early?¡±

    Huh, she¡¯s definitely flustered. She must be under a lot of stress.

    ¡°Daughter and a new¡­ friend told me something big was going to happen so I came back after making a few preparations. Things won¡¯t be ready on my end for another hour, I assume you have a plan? I¡¯m pretty sure I can hold them off for a while but if any higher-tiers show up, I might be in trouble.¡±

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve scattered their momentum, we should have enough time to get our new formations up and running.¡±

    ¡°New forma¡ª¡±

    Jiran was startled into silence by the activation of one of the nearby synapses. It was being flooded with an unfamiliar mana and intent that raced right toward him. Predicting its path through the snaking web of the framework, he clenched his aura and mana around the next synapse to be activated. The attack struggled mightily against his control and he was forced to suck in his aura, concentrating it over the synapse.

    The mercenaries hollered as they were dropped to the filth. Olive''s panicked voice was much louder, drowning them out, ¡°Jiran, what¡¯s wrong?!¡±

    ¡°Stay away!¡± He shouted, throwing out his arm to warn her off even as a burst of his aura sent her tumbling backward.

    Thank the Fathers I dropped off Knife before coming to help Olive.

    With all his focus and the combined power of his aura, mana, and understanding, Jiran barely managed to beat back the incredible force attempting to reach him. Suddenly, every single synapse within the range of his aura combined into one massive thread as thick as his arm. In less than the blink of an eye, it turned black before a lightning bolt of incredible power raced through it.

    The strength and speed of this new attack was a hundred times greater than before and Jiran had no chance of resisting it. The moment the energy coursing through the widened synapse struck his body, a bubble of mana erupted outward and surrounded him in a field of energy that pressed his body into itself until he was yanked into the synapse.

    Within less than a blink, he found himself in a pure white space facing five individuals¡ªtwo of which he recognized. Jiran fell to one knee under the oppressive auras that raged around him, constricting his movements. Through narrowed eyes, he took his first look at all five emperors of mankind. Among them was Palo and Loro, the leaders of the Church of the Voice.

    Jiran clenched his jaws and eked out a strained greeting, ¡°My emperors, may you thrive.¡±

 Chapter 183 - Desires Of An Empire

    The emperors spoke to each other at a speed Jiran couldn¡¯t comprehend. Despite being forced to kneel while they conversed, he maintained enough strength to raise his head.

    I knew they would want to talk to me again, but I didn¡¯t think they would make their move so quickly. Hopefully, whatever stopped Mesalay from capturing me last time will work again. If not, all I can do is hope the crystals¡­ No, there¡¯s no way I can activate one in time. I guess I¡¯m really at their mercy, but what other choice did I have? I had to come back and help. The empire is my home. My people are here¡­ my friends. My party.

    Jiran had seen Olive¡¯s father once before, Dominus Le¡¯Cruex the Devourer. He was every bit as impressive as Jiran¡¯s memories. Inhumanly tall and layered with thick muscles that bunched beneath his imposing armor. With Mana Omnis active, an entirely new side of the emperor was revealed. Not only did his manapool shine like a blazing star, but a thick cord of his mana steadily flowed into his left shoulder where it vanished from sight. Jiran assumed it was some kind of permanent connection to his aura, possibly a more advanced version of an aspect.

    The other emperor he recognized was Mesalay Fa¡¯Skorahda the Typhoon. Her appearance and demeanor were unchanged from their meeting atop the mountain. She maintained an illusion superimposed over her actual body, masking her true beauty which was enough to give any sane man heart palpitations. Now that he knew what to look for, he found a similar cord of mana nestled inside her blindingly bright manapool. Since it was so short, he assumed her soul-tap must be inside her manapool just like Shaara¡¯s.

    Jiran forcefully brought his gaze to the regal, middle-aged man standing next to Dominus. He had neatly trimmed, wild black hair with a dash of silvery-white at the temples that perfectly coordinated with the intricate decorations of his fine suit and cape. His amber colored eyes shone with confidence that matched the radiance of his manapool; every bit a match for his peers despite his relatively mediocre appearance. Between the similarities in facial features with Samris, and having heard several tales of his exploits, Jiran immediately pegged him as Dagris Le¡¯Fureitte the Demon King. Seeing the stark similarities between father and son, Jiran was hit with a pang of nostalgia for his first real mentor.

    They were still talking amongst themselves as Jiran observed the last two emperors whom he had heard so much about from Olive and Cameron. Jiran completely agreed with their assessment that any who laid eyes on these two would immediately understand they were on the brink of going wild. Mana Omnis revealed a deeper truth, one that would undoubtedly shock the empire to its core.

    The elderly woman wrapped in shadows: Palolla Le¡¯Sanctum the Radiant Night, was nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. Her body and clothes were obscured by the darkness bubbling from her skin. Beneath that roiling layer was wrinkled, parched skin covered in pockmarks and lesions. The only visible characteristic was her white teeth which reflected the bright ambient light of the featureless white space they had dragged Jiran into.

    Beneath it all, her mana coiled and twisted like a pit of snakes as it struggled to break free from her skin. Jiran instinctively understood that if a single one of those lashing tentacles escaped the confines of her body, she would turn into a ravenous beast capable of murdering them all. Luckily, her mana was severely drained compared to the first three emperors and appeared under her control, if barely. Shifting his gaze from the, ''Portent of doom,'' that was her mana, he was drawn to her mouth as a too-wide-smile flashed into a vicious snarl before turning back into that same eerie smile.

    With a shudder, he looked away from her toward the last emperor: Lorodarand Le¡¯Sanctum Herald of the Voice. The old man was in every way the companion and antithesis of his wife. He hovered in the air, his legs crossed in a lotus position. His eyes were shut and he wore a peaceful expression that screamed serenity. Just as hair-raising as Empress Palolla¡¯s shadows, dazzling rays of light occasionally emanated from his skin. Jiran could see worms of incredibly condensed power that slithered throughout the man''s body, nibbling their way through the surface to release bursts of deadly energy into the air.

    No wonder he¡¯s keeping his distance from the others. He¡¯s in even worse shape than Palo. If he loses focus for even a second, he¡¯ll turn into a beast. These two are¡­ terrifying. Of the five, it looks like they¡¯re the only ones who manifested their aspects inside their bodies. I don¡¯t know if it''s related, but I¡¯ll definitely not be trying that any time soon.

    Their rapid conversation came to a close and they faced him as one. At the same time, their auras retracted, allowing him to take a long-awaited, deep breath. Dagris spoke first, his voice smooth and calming, ¡°Jiran of Feylon, you may rise.¡± Jiran followed the command, not daring to speak with the incredible pressure poised around him, a mere moment from resuming its crushing force, ¡°We thank you for returning to partake in the coming¡­ festivities.¡±

    Jiran didn¡¯t miss the annoyed glare sent his way by Mesalay¡¯s true self, though her illusion remained completely unresponsive. Her true eyes boring into him was so intense it caused the hairs on his arms to stiffen.

    Why is she upset with me for something Dagris said? And what the hell did he mean by festivities? I need to read between the lines, they¡¯ve obviously slowed themselves down for me, so everything they say and do has meaning. But what?

    Turning to Palo and Loro, Dagris continued, his pause clearly meant to give Jiran time to consider his words, ¡°Since the betrothed has received his introduction, please go relax while we administer the boring details. I would like to thank you both in advance for agreeing to anoint him at the celebration of their union. May the Voice guide our steps as it does our hearts.¡±

    Palo¡¯s creepy smile morphed to an enraged scowl and back again between each word as she responded in a crackling whisper, ¡°Yes yes yes we we we shall shall shall leave leave leave it it it to to to you you you. Come come come dear dear dear let let let us us us relax relax relax until until until the the the celebration celebration celebration begins begins begins.¡± She turned and floated away, her feet just above the cloudy floor, and thankfully, the perfectly still Loro followed behind her in his lotus position.

    Oh, fuck she¡¯s so far gone. Clearly, everything being said was for those two. Once they¡¯re gone, the real conversation will probably begin.

    After moving a short distance, Palo and Loro vanished from sight. Dagris, Dominus, and Mesalay¡¯s auras combined to block sound and sight, wrapping them in a bubble of darkness. Dominus remained at the edge of the sphere, peering outward while Mesalay and Dagris confronted Jiran directly.

    Dagris once more took the lead in the conversation, ¡°Please, accept our apologies. I¡¯m sure you can understand the necessity of handling those two with a delicate touch.¡±

    ¡°No apologies are needed, my emperors. I understand completely.¡± Since Dagris¡¯s tone and words became less formal, Jiran responded despite not being asked a direct question.

    Mesalay suddenly appeared right before him, ¡°Cut the formalities you little shitstain!¡± Her hands lashed out and grabbed the collar of his armor, hoisting him into the air with laughable ease. Her breath brushed across his face as she growled, ¡°Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t find out when you ditched my precious daughter? Did you think my command was a joke? I told you to receive her and treat her well but you ran away like a little bitch! She actually cried! I fucking hate it when I have to watch her cry!¡±

    Jiran blanched, completely helpless under the verbal onslaught. If not for foresight remaining at the same consistent static buzz from the last two days, he would have panicked, ¡°W-what?! What daughter? What are you talking about?¡± Having no idea what was happening and certainly not being able to fight back against such an overwhelming force, Jiran could only hang limply as both sets of her eyes scoured his expression for the truth.

    After what felt like an eternity, she dropped him and dusted off his shoulders with the kind, caring smile of a doting mother, ¡°My mistake,¡± She said in a sickly sweet voice while patting his cheek, ¡°you treat her well from now on. She''s my last child and she doesn''t have a single real friend. If you can promise me that, I''ll forget all about this, m''kay? Can you do that for me?¡±

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    ¡°Uhh, f-forget about what?¡± Jiran stammered.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a good boy. Okay Dommy, he''s all yours.¡±

    Dominus didn¡¯t turn around, still facing the direction Palo and Loro had left from, ¡°Huh? That¡¯s it? You sure you don¡¯t want to say anything else?¡±

    ¡°Unlike you, I never formed attachments. Knowing he¡¯ll look after her is enough.¡±

    Uhh, why do I have such a bad feeling about the direction of this conversation all of a sudden?

    With a weary sigh that rumbled from his deep chest, Dominus finally turned to face Jiran, piercing him with his brightly glowing cerulean eyes. ¡°Oliviala¡¯s sister, Malaniea will be arriving at the People''s Cavern shortly. Promise me you¡¯ll get both my daughters out along with as many citizens as you can save. If you can do that, then I don¡¯t mind giving them both to you.¡±

    ¡°Huh?!¡± Jiran blurted, decorum forgotten as his brain failed to keep up with the rapidly evolving conversation, ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me you were serious about that betrothed thing?!¡±

    Emperor Dominus Le¡¯Cruex

    - Previously -

    - Emperor¡¯s Palace, Imperial Capital of Cruex -

    As I was saying before we were interrupted. I have a proposition for you, and for the leader of your party.¡± Dominus watched Olive¡¯s expressions carefully, his aura, just shy of touching her skin, revealed her apprehension.

    She¡¯s truly guarded when it comes to the boy¡¯s secrets, and that''s fine with me. The fewer who know, the better. Even so, we should not throw away a perfectly good opportunity to tie ourselves to him. I can only hope it¡¯s what she wants. She¡¯s never shown interest in a boy before and she¡¯s both young and inexperienced with her feelings. I must approach the subject carefully.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to scowl at me, my little love. In our last conversation, you made your stance on revealing his secrets quite clear. I didn¡¯t summon you here to pry. There are three things that we must discuss and each revolves around Jiran of Feylon, and his impact on the empire at large.¡± Olive clenched her teeth stubbornly, though her eyes closed in thought so at least he knew she was considering his words.

    Dominus gave her time to process before continuing, ¡°First, there are factions within the Church of the Voice that are beginning to move. So long as Dagris, Mesalay, and myself live, they will never achieve their ambitions but that will not stop them from targeting those who pose a threat to their plans. If he is not already, Jiran will soon be at the top of their list.¡±

    Olive nodded, well aware of how dangerous Jiran was to the teachings of the church, but it sounded like there was even more to it than she realized. She didn¡¯t have to wait long before Dominus continued, ¡°It seems like every time that boy breathes, he further pierces the veil obscuring the truth of mana. Spotting, protecting, and nurturing talents like him is the only reason the empire has lasted two thousand years. But not everyone is satisfied to let the status quo be disrupted so thoroughly. As they say, if you cannot control the river, it is best to build a dam.¡±

    Olive''s muscles flexed, her aura writhing against his as her anger manifested. Dominus had to fight the urge to grin. After all, manip-guiding one''s own children was often a pleasurable task.

    Capitalizing on her frustration, he brought up the final and most important point, ¡°Whatever the Graymin are up to is not the greatest threat we will face. There is another, and it is far more deadly. The end of the empire is coming, it is unavoidable. Or so we thought. Not only did Jiran leave the confines of the empire, but he brought back an entirely new race and then left again. Oliviala, he can save us.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about the Enders,¡± Olive sighed, her anger evaporating into melancholy.

    How?! Of course, the temple was breached. Was my own daughter involved in that massacre? Those fanatics had long since infiltrated that place. If she was responsible for cleansing them, then she¡¯s done me a favor.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Ender¡¯s purge is coming and we¡¯ve no intention of facing them head on now that another route has been revealed.¡±

    Olive¡¯s eyes turned cold, brimming with challenge and confidence, ¡°Then you better leave Jiran be. Only he controls the path out of the empire. If you try to kidnap or force him to do your bidding, it will backfire. He¡¯s not one to be pushed around.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. We¡¯ve taken his measure and arrived at the same conclusion. Regardless, Jiran must be protected and nurtured and the citizens must have an avenue of escape. No matter how I look at it, he will play a pivotal role in ensuring the survival of our people. So the question becomes: How can we expect him to willingly play his part in this game of life and death?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± Olive denied understanding, but the blush creeping across her cheeks revealed the lie for what it was.

    Of course she knows the way after Empress Mesalay made her move so quickly. That sly demoness, sending Vironia the Lonely Flower to capture the boy¡¯s heart before revealing his true value to the rest of us. Well, I¡¯ve got two single daughters and what man could resist that?! We¡¯ll see who comes out ahead in the end!

    The longer he remained silent, the more Olive squirmed in embarrassment. Dominus smirked, highly amused by his shy little girl¡¯s flustered expression, ¡°It¡¯s simple, if he were not a mere piece on the board, but actually owned the board, would he not be more invested in playing his part? So, what will you do, daughter? Will you grant him ownership of the board, or leave it to another?¡±

    As if only just now struck by the thought, Dominus dropped a fist into his opposing palm while making an exaggerated gasp, ¡°I know! Weren''t you just saying how worried you are about your sister? Maybe she would be interested. Who knows, this could be just the thing to uplift her spirits¡­¡±

    ¡°Father! How can you be so shameless!¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    ¡°Of course he was serious! Why? Is there a problem with marrying our daughters? Are they not good enough for you?¡± Dominus was suddenly towering above Jiran, the anger leaking into his aura causing holes leading to the void to spring into existence.

    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a problem!¡± Jiran answered straightforwardly without flinching, ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ll be able to make them happy as my heart is wholly devoted to another. Also, forming blood ties between the empire and me is pointless. The empire is my home, I¡¯ll protect it with everything I have without any urging from anyone.¡±

    Jiran was heaving for breath after his short tirade but since nobody else was talking, he barreled right through to his next point, ¡°Also, why are you talking like this is your last will? Are you seriously thinking you can¡¯t beat that king? Because that¡¯s a load of shrelkshit! None of you are going to die and our citizens don¡¯t have any reason to flee.¡±

    Dagris appeared at his side, his heavy hand landing on Jiran¡¯s shoulder, ¡°We appreciate your sentiments and we can put off the matter of marriage for now, but I¡¯m not sure you can grasp what it means to fight up a tier at our level. We¡¯ve encountered one of these kings before when there were five of us. Now that Palo and Loro are more likely to become a hindrance than contribute, we must make the wisest decision possible. But the King isn¡¯t why this battle is truly hopeless. It¡¯s the five tier tens and ninety-three tier nines accompanying it that we have no way of countering. Not to mention nearly a thousand tier eights. No, it would be in everyone''s best interest if you fulfill the role of a good son-in-law and listen to our final wishes.¡±

    Jiran shook his head, so exasperated by the one-sided conversation he felt like laughing and crying at the same time, ¡°I¡¯ve only ever fought higher-tier beasts and I sure as hell don¡¯t beat them by giving up before the fight even starts! Sure there are a lot of them but we aren¡¯t helpless, we can find a way if we work together!¡±

    Dominus grunted, stepping back and sitting on the air, ¡°I like that look in your eyes, boy. Standing up to us like this, I¡¯m beginning to understand what Oliviala sees in you. You¡¯ve managed some amazing feats for one so young and there can be no doubt that you have incredible talent, which is part of why we¡¯re bringing you into the fold to begin with. Sometimes, it''s best to listen to your elders. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll keep being so lineint because my daughter fancies you.¡±

    The warning in his tone was unmistakable and Dagris smoothly interceded, ¡°Our most loyal and trusted subjects are already gathering at the teleportation platform. Since you are the only one who can operate it, it is our fervent desire that you assist our children in starting a new empire in another land. Even if we defeat the king with our final breath, and Palo and Loro maintain their sanity long enough to assist us, there are other threats on the horizon that are far beyond us.¡±

    Is he talking about the Enders from the tablet in that temple? I¡­ don¡¯t really have an argument against that. Even a tier twelve was wiped out by the Enders without being able to put up a fight and I¡¯m pretty sure the emperors are only tier eleven.

    I can understand where they¡¯re coming from. It¡¯s certainly feasible, and sensible, to set up a colony in the Valley of Melodies. Am I really going to agree with this?

    No way. There is absolutely no way I¡¯m giving up before we even start the battle, and like hell I¡¯ll let them give up either!

    Jiran¡¯s mana bubbled from his skin, pushing back against the pressure of their auras even as it infused his voice with power, ¡°No!¡± He shook his head, meeting the slightly widened eyes of Dagris, Dominus, and Mesalay one at a time.

 Chapter 184 - Factors Of War

    The imposing mass of Emperor Dominus stirred as he stood up with a thunderous expression. Dagris stepped between him and Jiran with his hands raised placatingly, ¡°Let¡¯s hear him out. We don¡¯t have the boon of time on our side, so I hope your explanation is succinct, Jiran of Feylon.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up before we try. Just like I don¡¯t have any idea how battles at your tier are waged, you don¡¯t know all the ways I can help.¡±

    Mesalay cut into the conversation with an annoyed twist to her lips, ¡°We¡¯ve already adopted your method of claiming consumed density which has allowed us to restore our mana significantly over the last year. Due to this, our molding has also exceeded one hundred, the same as yours is rumored to have. Are you telling us there¡¯s more you can do that¡¯s beyond even those achievements?¡±

    Jiran couldn¡¯t help but throw his head back, bursting into laughter, ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all you know? I¡­ honestly thought Olive would have passed on at least some hints. She really takes her promises seriously.¡± Jiran smiled fondly and the praise of his daughter caused Dominus to relax the overwhelming pressure of his aura.

    Jiran continued, his confidence surging as the saviors of mankind looked at him with hope-filled eyes, ¡°We definitely don¡¯t have enough time for me to tell you everything I can do, or how I can do it. The first step would be to ask you a question: If our tier nines and tens had infinite mana and could increase the power of their elemental attacks by a factor of six, could we win?¡±

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    The moment Jiran vanished, Olive immediately understood what had happened. Without time to fully consider the implications, she raised her voice while dropping to the filth-covered ground, ¡°If your mana is dry, fall back to the city with all haste. Those who can still fight, prepare to lead the horde directly toward the walls. We must keep them off the new formations for as long as possible!¡±

    ¡°Alor!¡± Shouted salutes filled the air as less than a quarter of the tier fives and sixes joined her, the rest fleeing with all their physical might.

    The pawns were slow to pick themselves up from Jiran¡¯s attack, giving Olive and her ragged soldiers a couple of minutes to prepare themselves. With a glance, she knew there weren''t enough of them to hold the beasts in the constricted mountain pass for more than a few seconds, and if they tried, they would only deplete their mana and end up unable to effectively lead the Graymin away from the vulnerable formations.

    ¡°Cup formation! Attack with ten percent of your remaining mana, then fall back. Repeat until you reach the walls.¡± Grunts of assent were accompanied by the soldiers spreading out in a large U shape. They drew their weapons with grim acceptance as the uncountable horde rumbled to life once more.

    When they came, it was slow at first but rapidly grew in momentum as the press of bodies pushed forward. They leaped off each other''s shoulders in their eagerness for blood and flesh. The pounding of feet was like muted thunder on the damp filth, and their disturbing demands spoken in a guttural simile of the Imperial language sent terror washing over the soldiers. If they weren¡¯t each a veteran, the sights and sounds would have driven them to flee in a heartbeat.

    ¡°Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live. Bring him, and live.¡±

    ¡°Like hell we will! Break their momentum! Fire!¡±

    Lances of elemental mana blasted from channels to splash across the lower-tier beasts. They died by the hundreds but their losses were less than a drop in the ocean. The attacks may not have inflicted much total damage, but they were more than flashy enough to attract the attention of the pawns. Like bugs to a flame, they swarmed after the soldiers with renewed frenzy.

    Each retreat was followed by another round of elemental blasts. While they did manage to attract the majority of the horde toward the formidable defenses of the city walls, far too many spread out in every direction after escaping the pass. Like oil across the surface of a still pond, they raced toward the conscripted, inexperienced soldiers who had already fed their mana to the formations. Olive bit back tears of frustration as her carefully laid plans began to fall apart before ever being enacted.

    If they had come like normal instead of in this insane wave, we would have had plenty of time. If I call on the others now, we¡¯ll lose a massive advantage we¡¯re certainly going to need later. No, I can¡¯t do that no matter what. Which means¡­ Do I really have to resort to such a despicable tactic? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this, so embarrassing!

    Olive raised her voice and shouted at the sky, ¡°Father! Bring Jiran back right this instant or I swear, when we survive this, I won¡¯t join you for supper for a year!¡± Her cheeks blazed brighter than the flames shooting from her sword.

    As she dropped her gaze back to the oncoming tide, her heart froze in her chest at the sight of hundreds of alien shadows sweeping across the ground, converging on her position.

    Jiran of Madra

    Jiran was pulled from the synapse, appearing high in the air and far behind the city, just as he had requested. He whispered thanks to Emperor Dagris as he took in the dire situation unfolding to the north. Olive¡¯s forces were no more than a handful of snowflakes attempting to stop an avalanche. Within minutes, the spread-out beasts would sweep away the flimsy line of soldiers and reach the trenches that she was clearly trying to protect.

    His aura picked up the fluctuations in the framework behind him as his expected guests arrived in rapid succession. He didn¡¯t bother turning around to greet them yet as he had a task that required his immediate attention. Reaching into a pouch on his belt, he pulled out a green crystal, its surfaces both smooth and sharp against his skin. A trickle of mana fed into the crystal brought up a series of messages in his interface.

    [Sanctuary Tertiary System: Accessway]

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    [Primary Capacities: Unavailable]

    [Secondary Capacities: Functional]

    Jiran selected the secondary capacities and a new dropdown menu populated.

    [Secondary Capacities: Functional]

    [Current Modular Charge: 100%]

    [Current Mated Charge: 100%]

    [Interior Modular Transportation: Activate Y/N?]

    [Exterior Mated Transportation: Activate Y/N?]

    After selecting yes on the exterior mated transportation option, Jiran threw the crystal into the air before him. Mana Omnis greedily sucked away at his energy and he was all too eager to give it as he watched with bated breath. The crystal stopped itself a few meters away and sparks of green currents began to emit from its interior. They grew in size until the charges were as thick as his fingers. They shot away from the crystal in a perfect circle two meters wide and tall. More and more of the green lightning erupted until the entire circle was filled with energy thick enough that he could no longer see beyond it.

    His eyes were blinded by the intensity of the light-show so he cut off his skill and observed with his aura. The framework around the lightning quivered as strands of energy connected with each synapse, bending them to the will of Sanctuary''s systems. The effects stabilized and the crystal vanished, the mana Niya had painstakingly sacrificed completely devoured to create a shimmering portal. Beyond the flat, mirror-like surface, Jiran saw a cloudless sky enveloped in the last fading rays of Second Father¡¯s glow; a complete juxtaposition to the rising dawn of First Father to his east.

    Between him and the distant horizon seen through the portal, thousands of Forkara flapped their dark wings. So many of them gathered at once caused Jiran to experience an instinctive moment of fear, like seeing a sky full of locusts ready to descend and rip apart everything in their way. They stared back at him with mixed expressions of awe, many having drawn weapons that were wrapped with unleashed blades of wind.

    These are my warriors? They all came here for me¡­ because of my deal with the elders. Fucking awesome.

    Jiran couldn¡¯t wait to see what they could do and Olive was out of time. He impatiently motioned to the young tier seven at the front who took a deep breath before boldly flying through the portal.

    He arrived before Jiran with a sigh of relief and then immediately smashed two fists to his chest in a salute, ¡°This Keeon of the Storm Claw greets Senior Brother Guardian. Your unified forces await your commands.¡±

    Momentarily overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement, Jiran stuttered, ¡°G-good job, Keeon,¡± He pointed to the north and Keeon turned, inhaling sharply upon seeing the advancing horde. ¡°They¡¯re only tier three and four beasts, stop them before they reach the trenches. I suggest you keep everyone close to the ground, they have higher-tier rock throwers that can easily kill a tier seven.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Senior Brother Guardian,¡± Keeon flew back through the portal and began snapping orders that couldn¡¯t be heard from Jiran¡¯s end. Within seconds, the air erupted with the sounds of madly beating wings as Forkara flew through the portal one at a time and dove toward the front line.

    Turning around, Jiran finally acknowledged the astonished faces of several strangers. Each of their manapools was a blazing inferno of power that far outstripped his, though fell quite a bit short of the emperors¡¯. Their auras were massive, stretching well beyond his while overflowing with thick energy far denser than what he could command. Despite his understanding of the soul and manabody, he doubted he could contend with a single one of the fifteen men and women for more than a second.

    One of the two men at the front of the small crowd spoke first, ¡°My name is Pierro, and this is my good friend, Sagrinar. It¡¯s my pleasure to finally meet the mysterious Jiran of Feylon. Your reputation precedes you and is clearly not merely rumors and half-truths.¡± His gaze flickered to the line of Forkara rapidly exiting the portal, ¡°While I¡¯d love nothing more than to bombard you with questions about your winged friends, we are short on time.¡± Jiran¡¯s eyes sparkled as Pierro introduced himself.

    These two are legendary tier tens! Sagrinar literally wrote the book on the current theory of the understanding of mana and its principles. He¡¯s rumored to have the highest level in molding, even surpassing the emperors! Judging by the way his mana moves, he definitely knows my method of molding. I wonder how high his skill is now after getting to practice for an entire year while I was sleeping. Argg! Fucking Graymin, I just want to pick this guy''s brain for an hour, no three days, just one week damnit!

    I don¡¯t know as much about Pierro, he¡¯s a renowned warrior but he looks more like a businessman. Of everyone here, his aspect looks the most developed; it''s just like the emperors with a solid connection of mana to his soul.

    Based on the brightness and thickness of Pierro and Sagrinar¡¯s mana, the rest are tier nine, and the emperors are definitely tier eleven. That means one of the two working on Olive¡¯s new formations is a tier ten. Considering there are only three tier tens in the empire, she must be Lostrifar. Now I really want to go down there and watch her make the formations! What a golden opportunity to learn from the best.

    I swear I¡¯m going to murder every last one of those interfering bastards! How dare they come between me observing the methods of these monsters!

    Jiran fought off the scowl that wanted to plaster itself across his face as he bowed, ¡°Master Pierro, Master Sagrinar, believe me when I say the pleasure is mine. After this is over, I hope you¡¯ll be willing to answer a few of my questions.¡±

    Jiran recognized the thirst for knowledge in Sagrinar¡¯s eyes. The man chuckled amicably, his voice smooth and calming, ¡°Child, if what old Dagris said is true and you can really show us a way out of this mess, I¡¯ll answer every question you have.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, Master Sagrinar. I can¡¯t promise we¡¯ll all survive, but I can at least give you a fighting chance.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the claim,¡± A tier nine woman with streaks of gray in her hair harrumphed. ¡°How, exactly, is a tier five going to give us a fighting chance?¡±

    A wicked smile crept across Jiran¡¯s face as he raised his arms to either side, ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked. For starters, like this!¡±

    Mana erupted from his skin, snaking upward along the synapses of the framework like a current running through a circuit board. Normally, he could only control and convert mana into an element within five meters of his body. Beyond that range, he lost the fine connective control needed to interact with elemental castigation. However, with the assistance of the synapses that carried his intent, Jiran was able to send his mana with perfect control nearly three hundred meters before his connection became fuzzy and disorienting.

    The gathered legends craned their necks, Mana Sight allowing them to follow the movement of his mana as it soaked into the thick, dark clouds above them.

    ¡°How is he controlling mana so far outside his body and why is it contorting in such a mysterious pattern?!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s so much, he¡¯s not tier five, he¡¯s tier seven!¡±

    ¡°Tier seven at his age, that¡¯s impossible!¡±

    Jiran ignored the peanut gallery, his attention fully dedicated to the wild, chaotic density nestled within the foreboding densoon cloud. He hadn¡¯t had a chance to experiment with this particular energy since he was a child and couldn¡¯t wait to fully plumb the depths of its mysteries now that he had many more tools at his disposal.

    Enthralling Touch flared along the branching tendrils of his mana, using them as a bridge to infiltrate the vast cloud. The first release of the Densoon Season was always the most potent and since it had yet to come, Jiran had no intention of letting such a valuable bounty be unleashed without taking some for himself. His skill greedily devoured the excess, compacted energy that writhed with abundant promise. As the cloud shrank, the impossibly vast quantities of density were absorbed and converted into pure mana that raced toward him along the synapses, only to be redirected at the last second into the gathered legends¡¯ wide-open mouths.

 Chapter 185 - Interesting Allies

    Oliviala Le¡¯Cruex

    From her peripheral vision, Olive realized the numerous shadows were not just converging on her. Her heart leapt into her throat as every one of her precious tier five soldiers and tier six mercenaries were being targeted. She leaped to the side as the first winged figure reached her. It blasted right past, barreling into the advancing line of Graymin. A cry of alarm rang loud in her ears as the exhausted, ragged lines of her soldiers scrambled for cover that was nowhere to be found. Before her brain could catch up with what was happening, she saw them. Not a mere few dozen as she first thought, but hundreds of the winged beasts filled the sky.

    For a mere handful of heartbeats, terror seized her ability to think or move as the new arrivals released thunderous, alien cries brimming with hatred. They dove down from high in the sky until they glided three meters above the ground. Their wings created explosive gusts of wind that scattered the stench of the filth as they raced right by her defenseless soldiers and into her enemies. Olive¡¯s hair blew wildly in the kicked-up wind as they passed, her eyes wide as saucers.

    A-are they Mayalyn¡¯s People? I don¡¯t remember seeing any of them with wings!

    Wings flared wide to slow their incredible momentum, kicking up gusts strong enough to tear apart the tough membrane of the filth and send it splattering amidst the pawns. Keeon had chosen the most skilled and high tier for the vanguard and they proved their worth with lightning-quick swings of their spears and thick, curved swords. Crescent-shaped Bladewinds tore forth, eviscerating pawns and turning their rushing mass into a mountain of gore.

    Olive tore her eyes away from the slaughter to find the strange people descending from a particular direction. There, she noticed a shimmering green portal that spewed more of them with every passing second.

    There could only be one explanation for something that made absolutely no sense: Jiran.

    Father definitely knew they were coming and didn¡¯t warn me at all! Always making me learn the hard way.

    She silently cursed Jiran¡¯s name even as she leaped to her feet and bellowed with all her might, ¡°Fall back! Do not engage! They are allies! I repeat, do not engage!¡±

    Unfortunately, her warning had come far too late, the surprise of their sudden appearance and her lack of experience having cost her precious seconds. Several of her soldiers had already tried to attack the newcomers, only to be smashed into the ground by fresh, fully-powered auras from higher-tier warriors. The Forkara were quick to release her people the moment they stopped struggling, their attention dedicated to annihilating the pawns. They spread out rapidly creating a solid formation.

    The hundred odd imperials withdrew in a ragged, disordered jumble, more than happy to bequeath the responsibility of holding back the beasts. Olive stayed, unable to tear her gaze away from the majestic Forkara as they completely shut down the Graymin advance. A river of flowing blood and torn bodies five meters wide separated the two armies. On one side, a single row of tier five and six experts swung their weapons without rest; on the other, an unending press of bodies eagerly threw themselves into death''s embrace.

    Unable to merely stand by and watch as some unknown force cleaned up her mess, Olive leaped back into the fray. She tried to speak with the nearest woman, but the response she received was a clicking caw that made no sense. Despite not understanding, the woman beat her wings once, carrying her a few paces to the side and allowing Olive¡¯s sword enough space to send a rushing wave of fire into the horde. Pawns melted, their blood boiling and releasing a wretched gas into the air. Another beat of the woman¡¯s wings dispersed the smell and they shared a knowing grin that needed no translation.

    By now, the new allies outnumbered her retreating troops a hundred to one and Olive could only shake her head ruefully, wondering how Jiran had pulled off recruiting such a powerful force. She continued trying to talk with the nearest of the bird-people to no avail. But that was fine since they were holding back the beasts without losing a centimeter of ground.

    So long as the Graymin don¡¯t throw anything new at us in the next few minutes, Master Lostrifar and Master Lenton will be done.

    Olive¡¯s arm began to furiously itch; a phantom pain reminiscent of when it had been ripped off by a tier five Graymin near Mortan. Trusting her instincts, she leaped backward and focused the last of her mana into Channeling fire into her blade. From within the press of bodies, hundreds of knights burst forth with silent screams. They crossed the divide in an instant, slashing wicked claws that glistened with compressed mana.

    The Forkara reacted quickly, flapping wings to blast the new threats back. Five at a time, they concentrated their attacks like the experienced experts they were. The knights were riddled with compressed blades of wind that quickly tore them apart. Considering her own inadequate response when they arrived, Olive was shocked to see that only a handful of the winged warriors had been injured before the surprise threat was dealt with. Her impression of them rose even higher as she leaped out of the fray. Without mana, there was little else she could do but watch.

    Over the next fifteen minutes, several thousand knights launched themselves from the horde in an attempt to claim a life. Although several Forkara were injured, there was not a single death and by now, their numbers had swelled to well over ten thousand. Suddenly, a crushing pressure descended on the Graymin, bringing their entire force to a halt.

    From directly behind Olive, a disinterested, childish voice spoke, ¡°The formations are complete.¡±

    Olive spun around and saluted, ¡°Thank you, Master Lostri¡ª¡± She faltered when there was no one behind her. She looked left and right, but the woman had long since vanished. The oppressive aura that blanketed the battlefield dissipated and the horde once more rumbled to life.

    Seeing her returning to the city, a sweat-coated General Reifvus and two couriers teleported before her. Olive wasted no time in issuing her next order, ¡°General, hold the west flank between the mountain and the new wardwall, I¡¯ll take the east. It¡¯s time to begin operation Shearing Divide. Oh, one more thing, ignore our surprise allies. We have no way to communicate with them for now so stay out of their way. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Understood, Commander.¡± The General saluted and then flew to the west, bellowing orders the moment he was within range of his troops.

    Looking back at the Forkara, Olive pursed her lips, unsure of what to do.

    I¡¯m sure Jiran told them to hold this position. Without a way to communicate with them, how can I get them to fall back? I have to at least try or they¡¯ll exhaust themselves, regardless of their numbers.

    Olive had long since spotted the Forkara that appeared to be in charge as he constantly spewed cries in their unfamiliar language. She drew her aura inside her body and dashed toward him. Upon arriving, she dipped her head respectfully. The sharp-featured man returned her salutation. When she had his full attention, she raised the heels of her palms until they connected. Her hands formed the shape of a cup that vaguely resembled their current battle formation. She then slowly spread her hands apart before pointing in opposite directions.

    He examined her hand signals closely before nodding. With a single, powerful flap of his wings, he lifted himself into the air and then snapped out orders in a high-pitched screech that easily cut through the racket of the raging battle. Some of the forces responded instantly to his words, backing away toward the nearest flank that Olive had indicated. Most were far slower, not responding until another leader screeched at them.

    So they aren¡¯t as cohesive as they first appeared. Interesting. Jiran, you sure have some explaining to do this time!

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Jiran of Madra

    As soon as the mana entered the bodies of the gathered tier nine and ten legends, Jiran realized something was wrong. The energies he was attempting to release conflicted with their existing mana, the two like opposite sides of the same coin; they were similar, yet refused to coexist as one unified whole.

    Jiran swiftly reconnected with the freed mana and held up his hand in apology, ¡°There is something wrong, your bodies are rejecting the unaspected mana. I¡¯ve never encountered this issue before.¡±

    Sagrinar hummed noncommittally, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s impossible to supply mana to those above tier seven. If my memory serves, you were Filibree¡¯s disciple. Did he not supply you with a basic education?¡±

    ¡°We were only together for a few weeks and he made a point to have me figure out most things on my own. So far, his methods have saved my life too many times to count. Anyway, let me think for a second, I¡¯m sure I can figure this out.¡±

    Several of the powerful figures expressed their displeasure and lack of confidence in Jiran¡¯s statement through hushed whispers and undisguised chuckles but he paid them no mind, his thoughts already racing along multiple avenues simultaneously.

    Just from a casual glance, I can tell their mana is too different from this unaspected mana. The faint colorations in some of my mana are nothing compared to the thick stains that have completely overtaken theirs. Not only that, the compression from their higher concentration attributes makes their mana as dense as a star. I don¡¯t think the concentration is the issue, I¡¯ve seen time and again how newly injected mana will automatically adjust once it''s inside the manapool. It must be the coloration.

    It¡¯s different for each of them, and the colors are especially vibrant in Sagrinar and Pierro¡ªthe only tier tens. That means whatever those colors represent, it has something to do with our tier. And since everyone has slightly different shades, our individual nature must also come into play. But does the why really matter? All I have to do is match the colors, right?

    Besides, isn¡¯t it just mana? Shouldn¡¯t it do¡­ what I tell it to do?

    With a single thought, accompanied by a domineering demand to acquiesce, Jiran forced the stream of mana leading to Sagrinar to conform to his intent. The mana folded in on itself, spending nearly a fifth of its mass to change hue until it matched the swirling, sparkling lavender and amethyst within the tier ten. Sagrinar threw his head back and his booming laughter accompanied the mana as it entered his body and smoothly combined with the existing energies of his manapool.

    Enthralling Touch: + 8

    Mana Confluence: + 6

    Jiran completed draining the fifth densoon cloud of its energy before calling for a break. His brain was tapped out from matching the intricate movements of the chaotic density on such a wide scale. He fingered the white crystal in his pocket, lamenting that he couldn¡¯t afford to fill it before first topping off his seniors. The shameless mana-leeches grumbled about the pause but they had no choice other than to accept it.

    A moment later, two new arrivals teleported into the group. The tier nines immediately bowed to one of them: A diminutive girl whose manapool was nearly as blinding as the emperors¡¯. Jiran¡¯s addled thoughts were drawn to her manapool like a starving beast to a steak. It took him several seconds to realize what Mana Omnis was revealing when he peered inside her. A thick, twisted rope of mana wound around her manapool several times before stretching to her navel where it vanished.

    Is that¡­ an artificial extension of her manapool that¡¯s connected to her soulwall? It¡¯s not the same as the solid connection the emperors use for their aspects. Somehow, she¡¯s storing an additional thirty percent of her mana capacity inside it. What she¡¯s done is like a beginner''s version of how that Remalon¡¯s mana was woven into intricate cords that created an entire tapestry. It must take incredible focus to maintain it. Maybe she has an acclamation for her brain like I did.

    The girl suddenly appeared before him, snapping him from his contemplations. Her arm moved far too quickly for Jiran to track, and without warning, he was sent flying backward from a powerful blast that smashed into his forehead. He snapped out his aura, grabbing onto the framework and ripping several synapses before stopping himself. The dark holes in reality that appeared with the destruction of the synapses sealed themselves as his vision swam.

    Oww! What was that?

    Jiran rubbed the stinging burn on his forehead, his eyes widening in disbelief when he finally noticed the extended middle finger on her outstretched hand.

    Did she just¡­ flick me?!

    A voice that perfectly matched her childish appearance flowed smoothly from her lips, ¡°It¡¯s rude to stare at a woman¡¯s chest. Next time, you¡¯ll get more than a tap!¡± Lostrifar crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t-okay maybe I was staring but it¡¯s only because what you¡¯ve done with your manapool is amazing!¡± Jiran exclaimed, his exuberant praise unmistakable, ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was possible to¡ª¡±

    Lostrifar vanished and appeared right in front of him again. Her hand slammed over his mouth to muffle his words. Her nose was centimeters from his when she hissed, ¡°Not. Another. Word!¡± Her aura constricted around them, easily crushing Jiran¡¯s into his skin where it finally gained enough concentration for him to at least put up a struggle. ¡°I don¡¯t know who told you to say that, but we¡¯ll be having a very thorough conversation later, so look forward to it!¡±

    She released him and appeared at the front of the group next to Pierro and Sagrinar. Jiran could still feel where her hand had pressed against his face and he smelled her light fragrance when he took a deep breath. He released it with a sigh of relief as the overwhelming pressure from her aura vanished. Whispers and chuckles filled the air as the others laughed at his bumbling, causing embarrassment to warm his cheeks. Despite his discomfort, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at her manapool one more time with respectful awe. In response, Lostrifar lifted her chin to the side with a huff.

    So this is Lostrifar. Wait, why does she look like a little girl? It¡¯s definitely not an illusion like Mesalay. Must be a side effect of what she did with the connection to her soul. Or maybe it¡¯s the nature of her aspect itself. Did she try to embody the concept of youth into her aura instead of an element? The only other aspects I¡¯ve seen that changed the physical body were Palo''s and Loro''s but theirs were highly unstable. How did she do it?

    Too bad I made such a bad impression, I doubt she¡¯d be willing to answer any of my questions now¡­

    Dejected by his foolishness born from an exhausted mind, Jiran turned toward the other new arrival, only for his eyes to bulge once more. It wasn¡¯t surprising he hadn¡¯t immediately recognized his old acquaintance; not only was there the distraction of Lostrifar¡¯s unique manapool, but the last time he had seen the old wizard was well before he could distinguish auras and the colors of peoples¡¯ mana.

    ¡°Finally noticed me, eh?¡± Lenton¡¯s hands were tucked into his sleeves and he stood on the air with his back straight and his head held high.

    Jiran was momentarily stunned speechless as a cascade of thoughts and emotions tumbled through his mind. His last memory of Lenton was when the man had lost his fingers trying to pry open the portal that took Jiran to his first challenger arena. Before that, Lenton had saved his life multiple times and taught him how to see beyond classical knowledge to peer into the truths of mana. He had even gifted the ancient training cube which unlocked dual minds and eventually Jiran¡¯s manabody. It was safe to say, that without Lenton, Jiran would not only be long dead but nowhere near as powerful as he was today.

    Gratitude and warmth won the emotional tug-of-war and the two heady emotions swirled within him, binding his tongue and burning his eyes, ¡°A-apologies, Master. It¡¯s uhm, good to see you?¡± Jiran scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling more nervous than he could ever remember.

    ¡°What?! What kind of greeting is that, you ungrateful brat?¡± Lenton¡¯s peers snickered again at the unusual reactions from both of them and a tinge of crimson crawled up the old man¡¯s neck. ¡°Why am I surprised? Other than getting a little taller, you haven¡¯t changed a bit in the last year.¡±

    ¡°Is that really his disciple?¡± One of the tier nines that stood together with the rest of his party mumbled, his words just loud and slow enough for Jiran to hear.

    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re not as close as the rumors suggest.¡±

    ¡°Leader would never treat him so rudely. Perhaps he¡¯ll be seeking a new mentor soon¡­¡±

    Wow, first I make a fool of myself with Lostrifar and now I¡¯m giving them a bad impression of Lenton. Why am I acting like a schoolgirl with a crush today? I gotta get it together!

    Jiran slapped his cheeks then bent fully in half, bowing with complete sincerity. His voice was unwavering and full of conviction as he shouted a true greeting, ¡°Master. I didn¡¯t get to say goodbye to you last time nor express my gratitude for everything you did for me. Truly, thank you Master Filibree, for teaching me and for saving my life. I will always be in your debt.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s more like it,¡± Lenton stroked his long beard idly, the corner of his lips pulling up in a smirk as he shot a gloating glance at the noisy party.

    A dozen powerful sets of eyes glared daggers at his lack of response to Jiran¡¯s sincerity, and suddenly, Lenton was patting him on the shoulder with a half-hearted, nervous chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s so good to have you back, favored disciple. Fun fact: Did you know I haven¡¯t taken another disciple since we parted? It¡¯s because you''re irreplaceable in this old man¡¯s heart. Now, what were you up to a minute ago? Did you properly explain how you were draining these clouds? I¡¯m sure everyone¡¯s ears are itching to hear the story of how you learned that trick when we first met...¡±

    Lenton continued to babble as he pulled Jiran toward the next cloud and the old man¡¯s voice was music to his ears.

 Chapter 186 - They Are Mine

    Mark The Hiss

    Markhiss gazed downward at distant sandy dunes through the obscuring darkness of a densoon cloud. The vile cloud-stuff twisted and squirmed against his skin; a perfect match for the murderous voices screaming inside his thoughts.

    A long line of soldiers trudged northward toward what rumors were already calling, ¡®The Last Battle.¡¯ Markhiss scoffed at their lack of even a single decently tiered commander. The fact anyone above tier seven wasn''t permitted to serve in the active military had always been a thorn in his gums. It was just one more proof that the weak and the common-born were no more than feces to be shoveled into the fire, all in hopes one or two would emerge as a malleable lump of coal worthy of gifting the truths of the aspects.

    I don''t die need to expose them any longer. All I have to do is deal murder with the things in the shadows. If I can clean up the burn them all mess I helped create, then surely the Truthbringer will accept me. That''s right, the lies and kill inequality in the empire aren''t my responsibility any longer. A much more worthy person has come rip the flesh who will surely absolve us of those sins.

    The thought was a freeing one that brought a moment of respite to the voices. Markhiss¡¯s only mission now was to erase the scum that might get in his way. Since cutting ties with the Voicers and Shadow, Markhiss had been operating in the dark. When he became aware of their unusually brash operations in the desert he had rushed with single-minded purpose to uncover their motives. He still wasn¡¯t entirely sure why the voicers were actively intercepting forces from reaching the Last Battle, but he was sure it would be a hindrance to the Truthbringer. And when these foul zealots learned the truth about his motives, they would surely come for his head.

    That must not be allowed!

    Markhiss''s rage surged and his vision flashed red. Luckily, targets he could release his ire upon were right beneath him. Teleportation brought him to the ground in an instant. His boots crunched against the sand as he crouched and a moment later, he blasted toward his first prey.

    The woman was laying on her belly, her head poking over the top of a dune to observe the line of soldiers on the far side. She didn''t wear any memorabilia of the church, but her squad of assassins had made their allegiances clear after killing the last battalion of soldiers to come through this stretch of the desert.

    She rolled quickly, her well-trained reactions a match for the strength of her aura. It bunched together before crashing into him but his fury had already been released. The list of people in the empire that could withstand his aura was rather large, but this insignificant woman wasn''t on it.

    His aura blasted through hers, splitting it apart like a rotten fruit before his hand closed around her throat. She didn''t make a sound even before he grabbed her, after all, noise was the sworn enemy of assassins. A menacing grin stretched his face uncomfortably as he locked gazes with her terror-stricken eyes. His dagger found her chest, punching through tough leather armor and tier five flesh with equal ease. When he pulled the blade free to pierce her other lung, the soft hiss of air escaping was music to his ears.

    Jiran of Madra

    The battle in the distance was progressing well as far as Jiran could tell. The Forkara had split into two groups, each slowly withdrawing toward the areas just south of the two opposing mountains that marked the entrance of the northward pass. Reinforcements continued to dive from the open portal high in the sky and they smoothly chose a side to join without any apparent oversight.

    Less than a tenth of the Graymin were engaging the withdrawing Forkara, the rest were spreading out into the vast open space between the city and the new formations. As Jiran was musing about how the mass of beasts looked like a balloon being filled with ants, a prideful voice snapped him back to the conversation happening around him.

    ¡°You''ve learned something truly ridiculous this time. To think you can transfer mana to those above tier seven.¡± Lenton puffed out his chest as if Jiran¡¯s accomplishment were his own.

    A tier nine that hadn¡¯t bothered to introduce herself yet was quick to interject with a dainty wave of her hand, ¡°Well, if it can only be used during densoon, it''s of limited use, even if it is a blessing for us today.¡±

    Not wanting the misunderstanding to proliferate, Jiran corrected her, ¡°That¡¯s not true, this was originally a technique that could only be used against beings with a manapool. If the densoon hadn''t arrived, we would have taken the mana directly from the Graymin. Absorbing chaotic density from a densoon cloud isn''t something that can normally be done. Only by matching the frequency of the density before it changes to that frequency, can you absorb it.¡±

    The woman recovered from her shock quickly. She arched an eyebrow at him while planting her hands on her hips, ¡°How¡ª¡±

    ¡°I''m not going to teach that today. Not to be rude, but it¡¯s unlikely any of you will be capable of converting chaotic density. We have a lot to cover and not much time to do it in. As for the original mana absorption technique¡ªMana Siphon¡ªI¡¯d be happy to go over that with anyone who has the required molding subskill, but not until later.¡± The most powerful people in the empire listened to his every word with rapt attention, even if some of them were pretending not to be.

    Jiran''s chest swelled with pride that he was finally contributing to the strength of the empire in a meaningful way. First, he had taught the emperors, and now these ancient figures whose legends were known by every child. Who would dare even dream of standing on the same stage as them, let alone teach them.

    His minds raced, contemplating what he should and shouldn¡¯t reveal. He wanted whatever he taught to be passed on without the risk of anyone being dragged off to an arena, which meant holding back significantly. He also had to make sure he increased their strength enough to survive the coming battle. After all, these few tier nine and tens were going to have to face nearly a hundred beasts just as powerful as themselves. And behind those monsters, were supposedly thousands of tier eight bishops. Meanwhile, the number of tier eights on the empire''s side numbered less than fifty.

    Before Jiran got started, there was one more thing that needed to be resolved, ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s mana has been fully restored, if you would follow me, I have a quick errand and then I¡¯ll begin my explanation on the truth of the elements.¡±

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Jiran dropped to the ground, not needing to check if they were following him as their powerful auras revealed that they were. He pulled two green crystals from separate pouches, reflexively checking that the remaining three were still securely fastened in place on his belt. He accessed their options through the interface, triggering both to form portals between their mated pairs, and then threw them.

    ¡°He¡¯s got more of those?!¡±

    ¡°No wonder you tried so hard to find him, Lenton. This child is a treasure trove!¡±

    Lenton chuckled nervously as the portals stabilized. The smooth surface of the first rippled as nine of the Matrons stepped through. One by one, they saluted and greeted Jiran with their heads held high. The mature Timberlings lined up behind the matrons began dashing through without a shred of hesitation. Even though the portal led to a battlefield that could easily kill them, not a single one so much as flinched. Jiran couldn¡¯t help but be impressed at their resolve and bravery as emerald arcs of lightning danced around them.

    The second portal revealed the serious expression of the Aahmra as he led The People through it. He stopped to give Jiran a deep but silent nod before stepping out of the way and allowing his warriors to dash through and line up behind him. The bruising on his cheek had been completely healed and his steadfast eyes passed over the higher-tiers, the first sign of nervousness appearing in his countenance as he tasted their auras.

    Mayalyn came through at a random point in the line and took her place within the ranks as if she were any other warrior. She stared straight to the north, not saying a word or locking eyes with anyone.

    Good, just like we planned. Clearly, I shouldn¡¯t have been worried she would have a hard time ignoring me. So long as there¡¯s a chance one of these people would try to use her against me, we need to hide our relationship as best we can. Obviously, it¡¯s not possible to hide her for long since she made such a big splash in Mortan, but that¡¯s the other side of the empire. They probably only know her general description which matches a dozen other girls from the tribe.

    I hope she had enough time to take care of the other back-up plans she came up with. It¡¯s going to be hard to get her alone to ask with these higher-tiers around. Their auras are impossible to block in the normal way.

    Jiran addressed both groups simultaneously while using Elemental Castigation to draw an image of the current battlefield in the air with weaves of light, ¡°Split your forces in two and send them to these points at the northwest and northeast. For now, leave the fighting to the Forkara. Do not engage until I¡¯ve arrived. We aren¡¯t used to working together and you can¡¯t speak each other¡¯s languages so I would prefer we not even try joining our forces unless it¡¯s an emergency.¡±

    The matrons saluted in unison but only the Matron of Hunting responded, ¡°We understand, the Great Spirit¡¯s command.¡±

    The Aahmra was sweating bullets and spoke with a forced smile, ¡°I¡¯ll not recklessly throw away a single one of my children.¡± He swallowed heavily, clearly concerned Jiran would force him into something they hadn¡¯t agreed on now that the rankers were threateningly lined up behind him.

    Jiran alleviated his fears with a smooth tone, ¡°The People will not be fighting on the front at all, I have another plan for you. For now, head to the back lines and be ready. As soon as I¡¯m done here, I¡¯ll find you and we¡¯ll discuss the best way to utilize your skills. All of you should keep in mind that the enemies you¡¯ll be seeing shortly are only the scouts, the real fight will come later. Use this chance to observe and strategize as I¡¯ll be asking for your input later.¡± After Jiran¡¯s ominous warning, the two groups continued filing out of their respective portals while splitting in two and heading toward their designated positions.

    Lenton, standing beside one of the electrified green portals, jabbed it gingerly with one finger, ¡°These are nothing like the one you disappeared into a year ago.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t expect me to explain them. Just because I¡¯m revealing so much to ensure the safety of my homeland doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to disclose things that are unnecessary for you to know. After all, it was you, Master, who taught me that knowledge should not be given freely.¡±

    A neatly shaved man with slicked back hair and gaudy jewelry spoke with snide disdain, ¡°Lenton! You damn scoundrel. See what your greedy ways have wrought? And who are you, a mere child, to speak that way to us. If we¡ª¡±

    Lostrifar had not spoken since Jiran annoyed her earlier. Her sharp tone cut the air along with a pulse of her aura and it was more than enough to create instant silence, ¡°Leave it, Pherish. If anyone attempts to extort any of this boy¡¯s secrets again, I will kill them.¡± Somehow, her young, childish voice carried a note of finality that left even Sagrinar and Pierro fidgeting nervously.

    Jiran didn¡¯t know much about Pherish other than he was a member of Astarte¡¯s Prosperous¡ªone of the three groups of active tier nines in the entire empire. Pherish bowed deeply, his voice turning pleasant even though his eyes still contained a hard glint, ¡°Of course, Master Lostrifar. None would be so foolish as to extort such a renowned individual. I was merely reminding him of the natural order of the tiers. On that note, I had heard rumors of a girl with strange ears and a tail in the east. Apparently, she commanded a storm of lightning far beyond her tier. Even after Lenton confirmed the Mortemer who appeared in those rumors was you, Jiran of Feylon, I didn¡¯t believe them. Now, after all you¡¯ve shown us today, I have no choice but to admit I erred. Tell me, are you at least willing to discuss the nature of these strange people you have brought into our homeland?¡±

    I¡¯m going to have to watch out for this bastard. I¡­ think I¡¯ll keep a few extra cards hidden that I had planned to reveal, just in case.

    ¡°The girl you heard of is from a civilization that refers to themselves as The People,¡± Jiran motioned toward the line of warriors trailing behind the Aahmra. ¡°As for the ones with wings, they are called the Forkara and these people with bark and leaves are the Timberling; each has their own entirely separate culture, history, and language. What I¡¯m sure you will find far more interesting, Is that they also have completely different skills and techniques from each other, and us.¡±

    A dangerous hint of greed flashed within Pherish¡¯s mana and Jiran¡¯s tone turned dangerous as he bared his teeth at the men and women who could easily crush him like a bug, ¡°I should also mention¡­ that they are mine, and I am theirs. Just as I belong to the empire, I belong to them. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to protect them. So, I hope you treat them as well as you would me.¡±

    The tier tens glanced at each other and nodded, though none of the three chose to enunciate whatever they had silently decided.

    While the tier nines appeared thoughtful, some even impressed, Pherish merely snorted, ¡°Can these strange people be trusted? Once we are engaged,¡± He spread his arms to indicate the rankers clustered around Jiran, ¡°you¡¯ll really be on your own back here, and if we die, who¡¯s to say what could become of the empire then¡­¡± He trailed off suggestively.

    None of the others are stepping in to help, they must be testing me. I can¡¯t let myself get too angry.

    Mana Omnis caused Jiran¡¯s eyes to glow as he scoured Pherish¡¯s energies for a hint of his true objective. Finding only the rapid beating of a fearful heart, Jiran¡¯s smile turned predatory, ¡°It¡¯s a few beasts your own tier. Such an easy fight shouldn¡¯t become a joke where you mention your life ending. To answer your question, I trust most of them with my life and the others will be kept in line by the ones I trust. Whatever happens with my allies, it¡¯s best if you stay out of it.¡±

    Pherish¡¯s nostrils flared and he spoke through clenched teeth, ¡°My apologies. I did not intend to insult you and I¡¯ll not mention it again. Be sure to coordinate with Princess Oliviala, she is the commander in charge by right of conquest. Law and order must be upheld, even in the most dire of circumstances.¡±

    I really don¡¯t like dealing with people more powerful than me. But, there¡¯s always a bigger fish. I bet he¡¯ll shut up if I remind him of that.

    ¡°Of course, I would never dream of undermining Olive¡¯s authority. She is, after all, one of my closest friends and if Dominus had his way, we would be engaged already.¡± The casual use of their names and the implications of Jiran¡¯s backing were more than enough to get the nasty Pherish to step back with an awkward smile plastered on his suddenly sweaty face.

    Jiran scanned each of the powerful figures one at a time, thankfully not finding any others who appeared to harbor ill intent. ¡°Now, if there are no more questions, I think we should begin with the elements of fire and ice since they are the most closely related in their natures.¡±

 Chapter 187 - Uhmâ€¦ Jiran

    ¡°Preposterous! There is no possibility that this is the truth of lightning!¡± Pherish sneered.

    ¡°Seeing is believing, go try it out. I understand it¡¯s your lives that are on the line, which is all the more reason to at least try. I''ll even refill your mana if you fire off a few tests,¡± Jiran shrugged, not particularly interested in arguing with the frustrating Pherish any longer, though he was excited to see what a tier nine or ten was capable of so he hoped one of them would take his bait.

    They talked amongst themselves too rapidly for him to understand, giving him a moment to observe the state of the Forkara. They had set up resting areas behind their lines for the wounded and exhausted warriors. Surprisingly, more of them still flooded through the portal high in the sky, even though over three hundred thousand of them had already arrived. If they kept up this pace, they would soon outnumber the Imperials.

    When Lostrifar teleported a few dozen meters outside of the group and raised her palm to the west, Jiran¡¯s head snapped in her direction. Mana Omnis pulled at his mana as he focused on the energies surging within her. Her manapool appeared as bright and deep as a star and the further Jiran stared into its depths, the more dizzy he became. Finding the flare of a skill activating within it was like trying to pinpoint a particular spicule on the surface of a sun.

    With a shake, he pulled his attention to the thick rope of energy wrapped around the outside of her manapool. Surprisingly, when her skill activated and mana began flooding through her channels, not a single mote of it came from that rope. Instead, once the energy left her manapool, it was refilled from the excess inside the coil.

    So it does function as both a reserve battery for her manapool and a connection to her soul to form her aspect. In a lot of ways, it''s similar to how I use my suit to store mana. Is it actually a formation then? I really want to ask her about it but she got all pissy last time and she¡¯s definitely not the kind of person I want to offend twice.

    Suddenly remembering all the times he had nearly killed himself when unleashing his full understanding of an element, Jiran reached out a hand toward the short tier ten.

    Oh shit! I need to warn her!

    The mana in her channels was converted to an element Jiran didn¡¯t immediately recognize and within the span of a moment, it was gathered in the palm of her hand where it promptly vanished. His confusion only lasted a heartbeat before a distant mountain vanished. His words of warning died on his lips and sweat sprouted across his shoulder blades.

    Turning back to the group, she flashed a vicious smile at Jiran, ¡°Even with the impact spread out, that was several times stronger than before with less than half the mana consumption. I am very much anticipating our chat once this battle is over.¡± Her smooth yet excited tone was punctuated by the shockwave rising far in the distance like a tsunami. It swept outward in an expanding ring from the incinerated mountain, destroying everything in its path.

    Jiran¡¯s mouth was dry as his eyes were inevitably drawn to hers. Seeing the youthful monster licking her lips while looking at him with an intense expression caused a deep foreboding nervousness to circulate through his stomach.

    He broke eye contact with her and cleared his throat, ¡°A-anyway, that¡¯s everything I¡¯m willing to reveal at the moment. Those visualizations will increase the power of your elements by around five hundred percent. Together, you should be more than capable of dealing with one hundred beasts your tier. Also, feel free to find me if you¡¯re drained of mana and I¡¯ll restore you. Try to only come two, or at maximum, three at a time as any more than that will negatively affect my ability to focus.¡±

    The tier nines, several of whom had become far more polite toward him over the last half hour, whispered amongst themselves, ¡°Quickly, we must inform the emperors!¡±

    Jiran waved off their concern, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I told them everything before I met¡ª¡±

    The shockwave caught up to them, towering over a hundred meters high. Lostrifar swept her arm in a casual backhand slap and the wall of force simply vanished. Jiran wasn¡¯t even given the time to examine the flow of her mana before it was over.

    So fast! She was correcting her visualization step by step before. So that mountain-destroying attack that happened in less than a second was her version of taking her sweet time. Fathers above, she¡¯s scary. And the emperors are nearly twice as strong as her and the Graymin King is another doubling from them. Maybe¡­ this battle won¡¯t go as smoothly as I thought. Even if the emperors could kill the King quickly, a single stay attack could wipe out a huge portion of the empire.

    A tier nine ranker wearing elegant robes covered in plates of beast leather interrupted his thoughts, ¡°You mentioned a technique that can pull the mana directly from a Graymin. You didn¡¯t say before, what were the subskill requirements, exactly?¡±

    ¡°About that, I think I¡¯ve shared enough knowledge¡­for free.¡± Jiran trailed off while glancing at Pherish with narrowed eyes, ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to explain in detail one on one. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave. I need to coordinate the movements of my allies with Olive and I still have several other preparations to make before the main Graymin force arrives.¡±

    The powerful auras around him went haywire but were silenced when Lenton¡¯s hand landed on his shoulder. The old man no longer towered above him like he had when Jiran was a child. When they locked gazes, Jiran was met by an unfathomably deep well of sympathy, ¡°We understand your feelings all too well. Don¡¯t be discouraged, disciple. From the very beginning, we each had our own part to play. Just as I cannot defeat Lostrifar¡¯s opponents, she cannot face the emperors¡¯. You¡¯ve single-handedly turned what we all knew was a helpless situation into one brimming with hope. Now, it¡¯s time for you to let us fossils take care of the rest. Watch our backs, protect our children, and catch up to us soon so we can see what someone our tier should really be capable of.¡±

    After all this time, he¡¯s still protecting me. I should have come to him sooner. Hang on a little longer, Master. I¡¯ll definitely find a way to free you and Samris from your curses.

    Jiran smirked, a fond glimmer in his eyes, ¡°Right¡­ In that case, I¡¯ll surpass you soon enough. I hope you¡¯re looking forward to retiring, old man.¡±

    ¡°Hah! That¡¯s more like it,¡± Lenton flashed a proud smile while giving Jiran¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, ¡°Go on and get out of here, we¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡± As Jiran raced toward his allies on the front line, Lenton¡¯s hands blurred as he scratched the sores breaking out across his body.

    Jiran flew toward the roiling mass of Graymin from high above. The challenger density absorbed only a few hours ago still pulled at his mind, demanding he charge directly into the beasts and rip them apart with his bare hands. He shoved down the impulse, infusing his eyes with additional mana to activate Mana Omnis. The layout of the battlefield morphed into that of a starry night as soldiers, pawns, and the warriors of Jiran¡¯s various allies became little more than pinpricks of light.

    Between the two nearest mountains and the edges of the new formations, thousands of clumped manapools were revealed. Jiran flicked Mana Omnis off and on again, confirming they were invisible to his normal sight.

    Some kind of obfuscating formation. Considering the Forkara are fighting right in front of them, it must be Olive¡¯s soldiers in there.

    He spotted Olive inside the northeastern obfuscation array by picking out the unique colors of her mana. He headed in her direction and slowed upon nearing the fighting, taking his time to observe the Forkaras¡¯ prowess. As expected, they fought from a distance, sending out sharp crescents of energy from their weapons that scythed through the lower-tier beasts while consistently cycling out their forces to stay fresh.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The relieved forces gathered far behind the front line in an ever-growing camp. Most of the warriors there had half-empty manapools and a large tent was filled to the brim with unmoving bodies on the brink of death. Jiran headed for that tent while changing his focus to the horde.

    The beasts had begun piling up against the new formations Lostrifar had constructed. They beat savagely against the invisible wall of force holding them back. The press of bodies grew as more and more beasts filled up the ¡®flask¡¯ shaped battlefield. The pile pushing against the wards grew by a meter in the short time it took him to near the tent full of wounded. Strangely, the wards seemed to be giving way ever so slowly under their growing weight. Jiran keenly remembered how the wards at Mortan were solid like steel and didn¡¯t budge a centimeter no matter how much force was applied against them. Since the mana powering the wards didn''t look like it was dwindling, Jiran ignored the strange phenomenon for now, making a mental note to ask Olive about it.

    He landed softly before the entrance to the largest tent. Mana Confluence swept forward in the form of motes of mana that seeped into the broken, bruised, and torn bodies of the wounded Forkara. Within seconds, wounds were closed and organs were reformed. Fresh blood pumped through their veins and limbs were reconstructed. By the time the last of the living was back to full health, Jiran had burned through ninety percent of his mana and even his suit was completely drained.

    Considering there was a literal army of living batteries just a few hundred meters away, he wasn¡¯t at all concerned about draining himself so thoroughly. If anything, it was his mental strength that he needed to be wary of, for the battle had barely begun and he was already dizzy. Before he could be swarmed by thanks and praises, he sped from the tent toward the two flying tier sevens who had been monitoring him since he arrived.

    ¡°Dokkuun, Keara, good to see you both. What¡¯s the situation?¡± Jiran called out to them.

    ¡°Senior Brother Guardian,¡± They spoke in unison while giving crisp, bowing salutes. Dokkuun continued after their greeting, ¡°The Rising Sky Faction and the Storm Claw Clan are both split evenly between the two fronts and are coordinating with the other clans who have chosen to stick together on their respective sides. At our current rate of mana expenditure, we expect to be able to hold off the beasts for approximately twenty-four hours. None of the scouts we¡¯ve sent north have returned, so we don¡¯t have exact figures on the size of the enemy''s forces.¡±

    Jiran turned to Keara, his voice hard, though not in a reprimanding way, ¡°First off, immediately stop sending scouts, leave that to the imperials. They are far more familiar with the Graymins¡¯ capabilities.¡±

    Keara snapped off a salute and released a gust of wind from her wings, blasting toward a distant group of flyers who looked like they were preparing to circle around the east side of the mountain.

    ¡°Do you have any other commands?¡± Dokkuun asked.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll begin draining the pawns of their mana shortly and distribute it to our warriors. I need to check in with the Imperial commander first and make sure she doesn¡¯t have any specific plans for that mana. Since she¡¯s familiar with my abilities, she might have already taken it into account. For now, maintain your positions and keep casualties to a minimum. So long as someone isn¡¯t dead, I can heal them no matter how bad the injury, so make sure not to let our warriors die needlessly.¡±

    ¡°Understood. The clan heads are more than capable of protecting against fatal injuries with their auras, especially if you¡¯re going to top off our mana.¡± Dokkuun grinned, the idea of endlessly fighting with full mana was clearly something he found exciting. ¡°I¡¯ll relay your orders now, Senior Brother Guardian.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dokkuun, for everything. This is far from over, so make sure your higher tiers are getting rest when they can. From what the emperors told me, their real forces are still days away and these are just scouts¡­¡± That news wiped the smile from his face.

    They squeezed each other''s shoulders and Dokkuun nodded gravely, ¡°Thank you for the warning. We are already growing complacent. I shall make sure that does not continue.¡±

    They flew in opposite directions and Jiran quickly arrived at the edge of the obfuscating zone. Inside, he found several lines of troops waiting anxiously behind and atop a hastily constructed wall of stone. Olive sat behind them at a desk with a few couriers lined up to dispatch her orders. The moment she noticed him, she jumped to her feet and motioned toward a nearby tent.

    Jiran followed her inside and blocked sound with his aura. Olive sat, facing him with a conflicted expression. She tucked several loose strands of hair behind her ear while her gaze wandered around the interior of the tent, ¡°We, uhm, didn¡¯t really get a chance to talk last time¡­ before Dagris pulled you away.¡± She paused awkwardly before jumping subjects, ¡°So, did you meet my brother?¡±

    She¡¯s acting strange again. Oh, duh. She must have known her father was going to try and marry us. Is she¡­ not averse to the idea? Just in case, I better be careful with what I say so I don¡¯t hurt her feelings.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so? Arden, right? I¡¯ve heard stories about him, he definitely wasn¡¯t with the rest of the rankers.¡±

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t with them? Father must have sent them on a mission. I hope they¡¯re okay.¡±

    ¡°If he¡¯s as tough as you, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be fine,¡± Jiran¡¯s reassuring tone caused a light blush to creep up her neck and she finally looked at him. Under the scrutiny of her intensely shining eyes, Jiran¡¯s focus instantly slipped downward toward her uniform. He jerked his eyes back to hers, ¡°W-what happened to the armor I made you? Do you need another set? I¡¯ve made a few improvements since last time.¡±

    She sat up ramrod straight, her hands clasped nervously in her lap, ¡°Nope, nothings wrong with my armor. It''s merely being cleaned.¡± Jiran raised his eyebrows to indicate his interest in the rest of the story but she quickly changed the subject, ¡°Ahem, it¡¯s only been a few days since we parted. How in the abyss did you make so many new friends? I wish you had warned me before, they really gave me a fright.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. It looked like you needed the help right away so I sent them without warning. As for how I met them, it''s a long story and we should probably focus on coming up with a joint strategy.¡±

    ¡°Right, of course. I¡¯ve seen first hand the strength of the flyers. They¡¯re powerful and have an average tier above my soldiers which has really saved us a significant amount of casualties. I¡¯m not sure how you plan to reward them for their assistance. If there¡¯s anything I, or my family, can do to repay them, please let me know.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll bring that up with their leaders, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something the empire has in abundance that they lack. What are your thoughts on the distribution of their warriors?¡±

    At Olive¡¯s urging, Jiran moved toward a map spread across the only table in the tent. The hastily drawn plans weren''t very large and when Olive joined him, she chose to stand close enough that their shoulders brushed against each other.

    Jiran did his best to maintain a professional tone despite the rising awkward tension between them, ¡°to avoid the language barrier, I think it would be best if all the Imperials are on one side and the Forkara are on the other. As for the Timberlings, err, the tree people, and Mayalyn¡¯s people, we should have an even split. I¡¯ve got a specific strategy in mind to capitalize on both of their strengths and communication won¡¯t be necessary to pull it off.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense. However, I¡¯d like to keep at least three of the Forkara tier sevens on my side. All of the Imperial tier sevens are under the command of the Duchess of Melathon. They will be moving north as soon as the Graymin¡¯s true forces arrive. Uhm...Jiran,¡± She turned toward him, biting her lip anxiously as they locked eyes, only a few centimeters of distance between them, ¡°You¡­ talked to my father, right?¡± Olive was standing so close that he could feel the heat radiating from her body, and the soft, pleading tone of her voice was more than enough to send his heartbeat galloping out of control.

    Shit, why am I so nervous all of a sudden. It¡¯s just Olive. She¡¯s the bossy princess and I¡¯m the friend she has to constantly clean up after. That¡¯s all there is between us¡­ right?

    ¡°I was thinking we should wait until the battle is over before we talk about this,¡± Jiran deflected and was immediately frustrated with himself for running away from the issue. It had been so easy to deny the emperors, but seeing the hopeful look in her bright cobalt eyes had caused a lump to form in his throat that made it impossible to form the words he knew he should say.

    ¡°Yes! Absolutely, it can wait. You¡¯re right, of course. I¡¯ll move my soldiers to the western front.¡± They looked back at the map at the same time, breathing mirrored sighs of relief.

    Jiran committed himself to that future conversation, determined to fully hear her out and not disrespect her feelings. With a subtle shake, he put the thoughts from his mind so he could focus on keeping his new and old allies alive, ¡°All right. I was planning on supporting both flanks with mana from the pawns while picking off any rooks that show up. Will that conflict with your strategy?¡±

    ¡°No, that would be perfect. I only ask that you do not interfere with the new formations, my soldiers will handle that as they¡¯ve already been trained on how to utilize the new function.¡±

    ¡°That sounds exciting.¡± Jiran snuck a peek at her vicious grin from the corner of his eye before refocusing on the layout of the battlefield, ¡°Do we have any update on the total size of the horde? The emperors only filled me in on the number of higher tiers they¡¯ll have to face.¡±

    Olive nodded, ¡°At minimum, twenty million between tiers three and seven.¡±

    Jiran whistled, for the first time realizing just how much work they still had ahead of them.

 Chapter 188 - By Design

    ¡°We should have talked about this first. Guess it¡¯s so terrifying that I keep forcing it out of my mind,¡± Olive flopped into one of the two chairs in the tent. Her head lolled back and her eyes closed while she rested a palm against her forehead.

    Jiran sat opposite her, noticing her obvious anxiety and wondering what he could do to ease the stress that was clearly taking a toll on her, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°The Graymin are showing signs of intelligence we¡¯ve never seen before. They¡¯re using new strategies and even talking in Imperial.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s probably from their proximity to a King, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Olive jerked upright, ¡°Of course it is! That makes so much sense! How did you even think of that?¡±

    Jiran shrugged, ¡°Even simple bugs can become organized when their queen gives orders. If you knew some of the descriptions identify gives to the Graymin, you wouldn¡¯t be surprised that they aren¡¯t as simple as they seem. Also, I fought an aberrant tier seven once. That beast was far from stupid.¡±

    One of her eyes began to twitch as she glared at him, ¡°What are you talking about? Why is this the first time I¡¯ve heard about this, ¡®Identify?¡¯ You make it sound like this is something you¡¯ve known about for a while¡­¡± Olive leaned forward, the chair creaking beneath her fingers as she squeezed the armrests.

    Jiran leaned forward as well, matching her vexation with flinty-eyed resolve, ¡°I¡¯m allowed to have secrets, Olive,¡± She backed off immediately as he approached, her heart rate spiking out of control as he stood up to tower over her, ¡°The nobility has kept quiet about everything they know of the Graymin for generations. How was I supposed to know you didn¡¯t already realize they were intelligent? I assumed you did from the start.¡± Olive couldn¡¯t so much as take a breath while staring up at him with wide eyes.

    Oops, she seems to like this a little too much. I really have a bad habit of teasing girls. Oh well, nobody''s perfect.

    Jiran softened his expression and held out his hand, ¡°C¡¯mon, I¡¯ll tell you everything I know while we head to the western camp. We¡¯ve only been in here for a few minutes and there¡¯s already a line of fifteen couriers outside.¡±

    Olive released a shaky breath as she blinked at him repeatedly until her senses returned. Jiran couldn¡¯t help but notice the goosebumps prickling her skin as she took his hand and pulled herself to her feet. She brushed past him quickly, her heart still racing, ¡°F-fine, I¡¯ll let it go this time. Just so you know, being mysterious when it comes to vital information isn¡¯t an appealing trait.¡±

    ¡°Good, the less appealing I am, the less trouble I¡¯ll get into with women.¡±

    She whirled around, her hair flying wildly across her face, ¡°Jiran! You¡­ Ugh!¡± She clenched her fists at her sides, ¡°No, I¡¯m better than this. I don¡¯t wish to be like my mother and scold you every time you do or say something I don¡¯t agree with,¡± She took a deep breath and her voice softened, ¡°Thank you for sharing such important knowledge when you didn¡¯t have to, and I apologize for my outburst. I¡¯m flustered right now and I¡¯m not used to it at all. I¡¯m also exhausted, and terrified, and¡­ allowing myself to be distracted for even a minute was¡­ nice. So, thank you.¡±

    ¡°What? ¡­You¡¯re welcome?¡±

    She¡¯s being so honest. She usually doesn¡¯t let anyone know how she feels.

    By the time Jiran recovered from the complete one-eighty in Olive¡¯s temperament, the tent flap was already falling back into place from her exiting. He followed her outside to find her snapping orders in rapid succession and within minutes, her soldiers had abandoned the walls and were organized into three lines marching southwest along the formation trench.

    Jiran found Dokkuun and let him know where they were going before catching up with Olive at the front of the line. He jumped right into his explanation of the Graymin, ¡°The two main points are that each type of Graymin is purposefully designed, not evolved. And I¡¯m pretty sure they use the genetic material of what they absorb into the filth to create their lower-tier forces.¡±

    Olive nodded along as he spoke, seemingly much more relaxed after barking at her soldiers, ¡°That coincides with an unpopular theory taught at the academy by Professor Birinor. He theorized that since the pawns so closely resemble us, it couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. There are plenty of examples of beasts that mimic our form and even our voices to hunt, so most professors consider his theory to be erroneous.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m positive that they¡¯re designed to fulfill specific purposes so your professor is definitely on the right track. Are there any theories about why we can¡¯t eat them like we can with a regular beast?¡±

    ¡°The consensus is that they¡¯re poisonous, but I¡¯m guessing you won¡¯t agree with that,¡± Olive¡¯s tone made it clear she was resigned to whatever jiranzy nonsense he was about to throw at her.

    ¡°Nope, not at all. I think it¡¯s because they¡¯re mostly human.¡±

    Olive stumbled a step, clearly not as prepared as she had thought. She looked over her shoulder in a panic and only relaxed after her aura brushed against the hard shell of Jiran¡¯s manabody blocking sound, ¡°Explain!¡± She hissed.

    ¡°My guess is that the Graymin find new prey as they expand their territory. When they do, they use the dominant genetic material available in that area to create pawns specifically designed to counter that prey, while also stealing anything about them that improves the overall quality of the horde. Theoretically, with enough time, they would become the perfect species.¡±

    ¡°How in Mother¡¯s Shadow did you come to such a bizarre conclusion?¡±

    ¡°Simple, it''s all about efficiency. Look at the filth,¡± Jiran motioned to their left and right where the putrid, sap-like layer of gunk covered the sand, ¡°You can¡¯t see it, but that stuff contains a decent amount of mana and the wet membrane on its surface acts as a seal to keep it trapped inside. When a corpse is thrown onto the filth, it gets digested as density which is then converted to mana, just like we do when we eat.¡±

    She opened her mouth to respond but Jiran raised a finger to forestall her, ¡°The mana trapped inside is using forming to create more filth.¡±

    ¡°What?! Are you positive?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. I think the Graymin stole the skill from us and are using it to not only expand their territory but also create the pawns on site. With forming, the closer your end result matches the material you have on hand, the less mana is consumed. That¡¯s why they look like us, have manapools, can¡¯t be eaten, and why there are so many of them. They¡¯re basically recycled humans designed to wear us down.¡±

    ¡°Emperors preserve us¡­¡± Olive trailed off, her expression revealing just how aghast she was at the idea of a never ending horde created from their own dead.

    ¡°That also explains why their higher tiers look so different and have so few skills despite their tier. Since it takes way more mana to create them, they might as well add the genetic material they don¡¯t have on hand to make them stronger, but adding more skills would get too costly. They¡¯re cutting corners to be as efficient as possible. Like I said, It¡¯s all about efficiency when it comes to creatures that so closely resemble insects.¡±

    ¡°This is way too much for me to wrap my head around. You¡¯ve clearly been thinking about this for a while. Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°I honestly thought most of this would have been figured out by now so I didn¡¯t think it was that big a deal.¡±

    ¡°Not that big¡­¡± She sighed while massaging her temples, ¡°We¡¯ve known the filth contains unaspected mana for a very long time. Learning it¡¯s being used for forming is a huge puzzle piece. I can¡¯t immediately spot anything wrong with your assumptions but for now, they are only assumptions, regardless of how confident you sound.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s really guesswork based on a few observations. I¡¯m not all that confident, that¡¯s just how I talk.¡±

    ¡°You can downplay it all you want, the problem is how often you''ve been correct in the past...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only a problem for people who disagree with me,¡± Jiran snarked, pleased when he received the expected eye roll from the princess.

    They walked next to the formations in silence for a few steps, both lost in their own thoughts. Soldiers in mismatched armor were lined up every five meters, each standing next to a large open-topped box. The two-meter-thick wardwall hummed with the effort of holding off the press of pawns just on the other side of it. By now, they were stacked nearly eight bodies high. Jiran looked up to see the beasts were only halfway to reaching the top. He peeked over the edge of the trench at the formation block, finding it brimming with incredibly thick mana that shot straight up to form the defensive ward.

    Jiran swore he remembered the wall being four meters thick when he passed by it previously. As he watched, the wards continued to buckle, rapidly growing thinner under the combined pressure of so many beasts.

    Olive adopted a sly grin and spoke in a self-assured tone, ¡°Perfect timing. Do you want to see the adjustments I asked Master Lostrifar to make?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Jiran wouldn¡¯t have been able to contain his giddiness if he tried.

    ¡°Prepare the first volley!¡± Olive¡¯s orders were relayed and the soldiers on standby each grabbed a single metal plate from their respective box.

    The plates were roughly as tall and wide as a grown man¡¯s torso while only being a few centimeters thick. They were crisscrossed with straight lines, making them look reminiscent of a game board. The soldiers held the plates at arms length in front of themselves and slowly approached the trench.

    When they were in position, Olive infused the channels in her throat with elemental wind and shouted, ¡°Release!¡±

    As the soldiers let go of the plates, they were sucked into the transparent, compacted ward. While trapped inside the condensed forces, the plates were shredded into hundreds of tiny squares. As if that were a signal, the formation box inside the trench began to hum and Mana Omnis allowed Jiran to see a huge amount of trapped mana be released into the wardwall.

    Like a snapped rubber band, the wardwall exploded back into its original five-meter-wide shape, simultaneously flinging the tiny squares of metal like shrapnel from an explosion. The huge wave of Graymin that once pressed against it was first thrown back before being bombarded with projectiles that cut through them as easily as one of Jiran¡¯s lasers.

    Jiran whistled, ¡°Damn, if only they could get EXP for all of those kills.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, the formations were made by a tier ten. So, what did you think? I got the idea after seeing your gravity attack in Mortan. You never really explained how you did it, but after talking to Lostrifar, this is what we came up with.¡±

    Jiran hummed thoughtfully and the respect he already held for Lostrifar rose to a whole new level, ¡°You used the enemy''s strength to compress the wards before releasing that energy outward and further took advantage of the situation by tossing in shrapnel. Honestly, it¡¯s really clever and with better materials than metal, could be incredibly effective for a very small mana cost. Even when you run out of those metal plates, this will keep them from piling up so high they can crawl over the top which allows us to build shorter barriers that also save on mana.¡±

    Olive beamed from his praise, ¡°That¡¯s not all, I¡¯ve got a few more surprises in store, too.¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about the special walls in the obfuscation zones and whatever your people are doing beneath the mountains?¡±

    ¡°You noticed both of them?!¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± When Olive didn¡¯t elucidate, Jiran squinted one eye at her, ¡°You''re not going to tell me their purpose? Don''t go picking up my bad habits or the rest of the party is going to quit on us.¡±

    ¡°Keep dreaming. You won¡¯t be able to get rid of us no matter how hard you try¡­ so, don¡¯t bother trying,¡± She spoke the last words in a pleading whisper.

    Another moment of silence stretched out long enough that she began to wring her hands. Jiran noticed her nervous ticks and decided it was about time for him to go ahead but there was one last thing they needed to talk about, ¡°Olive,¡± She flinched when he called her name but bravely locked eyes with him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to Mayalyn.¡±

    ¡°W-what? That''s not right! We can''t simply not talk to her about it, what are you thinking?!¡± Olive¡¯s face contorted into an angry frown.

    He waved her off, ¡°You''re misunderstanding. Obviously, nothing is going to happen without Mayalyns approval.¡±

    Flustered beyond anything he had ever seen from her, Olive stammered a hasty response, ¡°I-I know that! S-she''s already agree-uhm, never mind, I''m not supposed to say that.¡±

    ¡°Wait, What?¡± Jiran¡¯s head snapped toward her, his thoughts momentarily grinding to a halt.

    ¡°Forget I said anything!¡± Olive yelled far too loudly for their close conversation. She then looked away from him, pretending to be fascinated by the Graymin on the far side of the wardwall.

    No way¡­ Mayalyn didn''t already agree, did she? Why wouldn¡¯t she say anything and when would that conversation have even happened?! What am I even thinking right now? The Forkara are fighting for their lives and I¡¯m jumping to conclusions that I already said I would deal with later.

    Jiran cleared his throat, redirecting the conversation back to what was most important at the moment, ¡°I said don¡¯t talk to her because we don''t want anyone to use her to get to me, so pretend like you don''t know her. She''s doing the same.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Wait! Who would dare?! Father would¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. We can¡¯t rely on them to bail us out too much. The emperors have the most dangerous fight of their lives ahead of them. I''ve done what I can to help them, but there''s a chance¡­ let''s just focus on doing what we can do. And please, help me protect Mayalyn. I can''t lose her.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I''ll definitely help however I can. You two are my only real friends, I won¡¯t let anything happen to either of you.¡± Olive swore vehemently, suddenly turning fierce as a wild animal.

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t, we''re a party, after all.¡± Jiran smiled warmly and when Olive¡¯s face went slack, he was quick to leap into the air, ¡°I¡¯m going ahead to check on the wounded in the other camp. There¡¯s going to be a nice surprise for you when you catch up, so look forward to it,¡± Jiran flew directly through the wardwall without looking back, leaving a frustrated Olive behind.

    ¡°M¡¯kay,¡± She mumbled, a swift wind tousling her hair. Her eyes were glued to his retreating form as she tucked a loose strand behind her ear.

    Jiran flew low over the horde, draining mana with Enthralling Touch until both he and his suit were topped off. Not trusting himself to contain the challenger bloodlust, he left without killing any of them. He soon found the tent on the western front that was overflowing with injured Forkara. There were many more wounded than on the east side and even three casualties that had been gone far too long for him to revive. He was forced to make another trip to the horde to refresh his mana before he was even halfway through.

    Jiran was drenched in sweat and his mood had been completely fouled by the time he was done. When he left the tent, Keeon and three of the elders of the Rising Sky Faction¡ªRhahakk, Frakkoa, and Zoraakk¡ªwere waiting for him.

    Rhahakk took the initiative to speak, ¡°Senior Brother Guardian, thank you for healing our warriors.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re my warriors now, too. Of course I¡¯ll do what I can to keep them alive,¡± He clenched his fists, directing a dangerous glower toward the intense fighting only a few hundred meters away.

    Zoraakk twirled one side of his long, thin mustache while following Jiran¡¯s gaze, ¡°To think this number of beasts could appear outside of a spawning season. It¡¯s truly terrifying what your people are forced to endure. However, this battle has also led this elder to reevaluate our way of life. Perhaps if we were challenged to this degree, we would not have stagnated for so long.¡±

    Jiran took control of his anger with a deep breath, ¡°The Graymin have been a constant threat for hundreds of years. Though, this isn¡¯t their normal behavior at all. One of their leaders is nearby so their intelligence has drastically increased.¡± The four exchanged glances and Jiran instantly empathized with the desire to fight brewing behind their eyes. ¡°Prepare our warriors. We¡¯re heading to the eastern front and leaving this side to the Imperials.¡±

    ¡°As you command, Senior Brother Guardian!¡±

    Jiran reached into his pockets and pulled out the last three green crystals, ¡°On that note, I think it¡¯s time we call in the rest of our reinforcements. Once everyone is here, we can finally stop fighting defensively and let loose a little bit,¡± His remark was met with bloodthirsty grins that matched his own.

 Chapter 189 - CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

    The Forkara leaders flew with Jiran to a wide open space well behind the western front. The constant Bladewinds and explosions were diminished to a background thudding that gently shook the filth below them. He activated the last three crystals before throwing them a good distance apart; green arcs of current poured from within, rapidly forming into the now familiar portals.

    A grumpy girl with shining emerald eyes emerged from the first. She ran her gloved hands through her dark hair. The green and gold armor tightly hugging her body shone resplendently in the blooming morning light. Behind her, hundreds of armored Imperial soldiers lined up on a grassy plain.

    ¡°You¡¯re early, they haven¡¯t finished gathering yet,¡± Niya griped as she suspiciously eyed the unfamiliar and clearly dangerous Forkara hovering behind Jiran.

    It had only been a few hours since they parted, but it felt longer since so much had happened. A ripple of relief at seeing her alive and well washed away a knot of stress he hadn¡¯t known was there, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine though. Turns out the portals stay open until they run out of mana which only drains as they are actively used. Several hundred thousand Forkara have already come through their portal and it isn¡¯t even half empty.¡±

    Niya whistled in appreciation, ¡°That¡¯s crazy. If we can figure out how to add mana to them after creating the connection, do you think they would stay open indefinitely?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we should fin¡ª¡±

    ¡°Mortemer!¡± Cameron bellowed as he leaped through the second portal. He barreled toward Jiran with a deadly serious expression. His aura was internalized, Oneness lending him speed. Cameron spread his arms wide and wrapped Jiran in a creaking bear hug, ¡°I missed you so much! Olive made me fly from one end of the empire to the other. Then, before I even found you, Niya made me deliver those crystals. Women are bullies, Morty. No good, ungrateful, bullies! We¡¯re the only guys in the party, so we gotta stick together from now on!¡±

    ¡°Missed you too, buddy,¡± Jiran chuckled and returned the hug, ¡°By the way, everyone important already knows my real name, so you can stop using that garbage alias.¡±

    ¡°G-garbage? Mortemer is a great name! I¡¯m going to name my first kid Mortemer in your honor and pass down the legends of your heroi-Agh! Stop, it hurts! Let gooooo,¡± Cameron squirmed in an effort to break Jiran¡¯s crushing grip but was helpless against the vast difference in their attributes. Niya started to sneak up behind Cameron with a vicious smirk and Jiran immediately released him, not in the mood for more goofing off after seeing so many injured Forkara moments ago.

    The third portal activated and two highly decorated tier six Imperials in heavy armor stepped through. Their auras spread out but were easily rebuffed by Jiran¡¯s. One of them gave him a hard stare while the other was trying to look in every direction at once. Both of them zeroed in on the seemingly relaxed Forkara. Their hands moved to rest on the pommels of their swords. When no one made any threatening moves in response, they signaled and a young, dark-haired woman joined them from the portal. They held her aloft in their auras and she took a look around before her gaze locked onto Jiran and didn¡¯t budge.

    [Homo Santoris: (Tier 4 - Sapient - unevolved - Wary) A highly adaptive genus of humanoids evolved from the All-Father, Santoris. Utilizes a mixture of skills and techniques. Varying mastery of elemental control. Varying mastery of mana control. Varying degree of integration. Subjugation recommended]

    Identify: + 1

    That''s¡­ a lot of new¡ª

    An impossibly potent pressure came from behind Jiran, easily piercing his aura. It snaked through the air before alighting on his shoulder with a crushing grip. He froze, not daring to even think as he recognized the particular colors of Empress Mesalay¡¯s mana. Her voice sounded loud and clear in his ear as though she were standing next to him, ¡°This is my little flower, Vironia. Remember what I said: Treat her well from now on, or I¡¯ll rip off your limbs.¡±

    Rip off my limbs? She sounds completely serious¡­ Fathers above, please let the daughter be less insane than the mother.

    ¡°Vironia Fa¡¯Skorahda, what a pleasure to finally meet you for the very first time,¡± Jiran bit out his words around clenched teeth. ¡°Had I known we would miss each other by only moments in Lordstone, I would have delayed my departure.¡±

    Mesalay tsked in his ear, ¡°So childish.¡±

    Says the one who¡¯s threatening to rip off my limbs!

    Vironia¡¯s expression blossomed into a beautiful smile as her guards brought her closer, ¡°Jiran of Feylon. The rumors don¡¯t do you justice.¡± Her voice was soft and kind but held a hint of skilled proficiency. Combined with Mesalay¡¯s secretive voice in his ear and Vironia¡¯s affinity that was below neutral at Wary, Jiran was completely on edge in her presence.

    She extended the back of her hand while dipping into a polite curtsy. He looked down at the proffered limb for only a moment before making up his mind. He reached out and gripped it in a firm handshake before releasing it. Vironia¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes widening for a fraction of a second before her features smoothed into a practiced smile. Mesalay scoffed in his ear and Niya made an undignified chortle in the back of her throat as she held in a laugh. Jiran didn¡¯t miss Cameron¡¯s glowing expression after he refused to kiss the back of her hand.

    Go ahead, rip them off. I¡¯ll just restore them. You think I¡¯ll become a puppet because you threatened me a little? Good luck with that.

    With his limbs still intact, Jiran quickly introduced the Forkara and then spoke to Vironia, ¡°My apologies for the brief introduction, but time is short.¡± He turned to Niya who was covering her mouth, completely failing to hide her lingering amusement, ¡°Were you able to find everyone? Did you have any trouble? When I heard you ran into Cameron, I figured you would finish early.¡±

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    ¡°Not just Cameron, Princess Vironia was waiting outside the Peoples Cavern and she agreed to take one of the crystals. I don¡¯t know how successful these two were, but I found the reinforcements from Furiette just fine, and thanks to Cameron¡¯s letter, they agreed to at least listen. Now that they¡¯ve seen the portal, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be singing a different tune!¡±

    Cameron was quick to chime in, ¡°I caught up with the reinforcements from Cruex a few hours ago, your new invention got us here at least a week before their best estimate. These portals are going to save so many lives.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for helping, Cameron. Looks like I need to thank Olive for sending you,¡± Jiran turned to Vironia and dipped his head politely, ¡°Vironia, on behalf of my warriors, which your reinforcements are relieving, thank you for your assistance.¡±

    Mesalay whispered in his ear before her aura vanished, ¡°Better. I¡¯ll go for now, but I¡¯ll be watching.¡±

    Vironia shook her head, oblivious to her mother¡¯s antics, ¡°I deserve no praise. In fact, I owe both you and your cousin an apology. Your teleportation formations are beyond my expectations. I did not believe her when she told us of their capabilities. I expected it was an attempt to get rid of me again. It turns out everything she said was true. Niya of Feylon, my rudeness was unacceptable, I hope we may thrive together in the future.¡±

    Niya wore a straight face, though Jiran easily spotted the gloating satisfaction hiding behind her eyes, ¡°Apology accepted. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get along fine now that we understand each other.¡± She extended her hand and Vironia shook it with a strained smile.

    Just then, three of the matrons came into range and Vironia¡¯s guards tried to cut them off with their auras. Jiran¡¯s Manabody slammed into them, cutting off their auras and pressing them into the ground until they fell to their knees. Vironia dropped as well, her slippers sinking into the filth.

    ¡°These are my allies and friends. I¡¯ll consider any action taken against them to be taken against me as well,¡± Jiran growled, the rage and need to kill burrowed just beneath the surface seeped into his aura, distorting the light around them and causing the framework to tremble.

    Despite being unable to directly sense the framework, Vironia was keenly aware of the space around them shuddering in agony. She turned on her guards in a heartbeat, ¡°Fools! Who told you to interfere? We are not in command here and with Jiran so near, what harm could possibly befall me? Apologize this instant!¡±

    ¡°We overstepped, please accept our apology!¡± They shouted in unison while bowing their heads. Vironia shot them a thunderous scowl when it became clear Jiran had no intention of verbally accepting their words. Taking control of his emotions with an iron will, he released them from the press of his aura.

    Everyone important is watching us right now. I should thank these two at some point for giving me an excuse to let everyone know that I¡¯ll personally take action if they interfere with the Timberlings. I¡¯ve shared enough knowledge and hinted that I¡¯m hiding much more, that should keep them safe. There¡¯s only one other thing I can do¡­

    The matrons arrived, completely unaware of what had just transpired. They nodded their heads to Jiran before singing him a greeting, completely ignoring everyone else present.

    Jiran returned their pleasantries with a heartfelt smile, ¡°Thank you for coming.¡±

    ¡°We heard your call, so we would not dare stall,¡± the Matron of Growth met his eyes and Jiran was momentarily embarrassed that he didn¡¯t know her name. Considering how long their names were, it was probably easier to call her by her title. He also didn¡¯t want to ask for fear he would accidentally make up a nickname on the spot that she would end up favoring over her real name.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to the hunters in a minute. Can you bring everyone who''s ready to fight to the front?¡±

    ¡°We are hunters no longer, as we have grown stronger. Please, call us the Unbroken, for our Mother¡¯s light has awoken,¡± she touched her chest above where her skill was duly throbbing with mana.

    The Unbroken? Gah, my freaking emotions are all over the place! I¡¯m so proud of them. Why are these women so cool?!

    ¡°That''s¡­ a really good name,¡± they beamed from his praise and he continued, ¡°Very well, gather the Unbroken, it¡¯s time for everyone to see you for who you truly are.¡±

    ¡°We understand, and heed your command!¡± The Matron of Discipline sang while saluting.

    Not wanting to drag things out any longer when there was so much to be done, Jiran cleared his throat and used Mana Confluence to create a replica of the battlefield. He then pointed out a line of dots moving from east to the west, ¡°Olive is the current commander of the Imperial forces below the seventh tier. She¡¯s currently consolidating her forces to control the western front while the Forkara will hold the east. Cameron, can you take over here and get everyone organized for her arrival?¡± Cameron saluted with an excited grin, his eyes glued to the airborne image displaying the mass of beasts surrounded on all sides by their combined forces.

    ¡°Niya, I¡¯m about to lead the Forkara to the eastern front, what do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay here. Someone needs to keep an eye on Cameron and I want to check in with the healers.¡±

    ¡°What? I don¡¯t need anyone to¡­¡± Cameron¡¯s words faded as Niya glowered at him, ¡°Leave on my account. I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re staying. Now I can fight without worrying about dying.¡± He chuckled woodenly while refusing to meet her eyes.

    ¡°Cameron¡­ you better be careful, and I¡¯m not talking about the Graymin,¡± Jiran warned.

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Cameron¡¯s complete bafflement had Jiran rolling his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure it out, and if you don''t, someone will beat it into you eventually. I¡¯ve got to go. I¡¯m glad you two will be watching each other''s backs. Don¡¯t forget to wear your helmets!¡± Jiran teased as he flew away with the matrons tucked into his aura.

    ¡°We won¡¯t. Thanks, Morty dear!¡± Cameron called out and Niya cuffed him on the back of his head.

    The Imperial soldiers crowding out of the portals, and those stationed nearest the Unbroken craned their necks, watching the unfamiliar race with varying expressions of fear and uncertainty. Since they didn¡¯t make any attempt to impede him, Jiran ignored them on his way to drop off the matrons. While they flew, he told them his plans and both the matrons and Forkara elders agreed.

    He wasn¡¯t surprised when Vironia and her guards flew after him. He remembered Mesalay mentioning the girl was going to keep an eye on him and he didn¡¯t mind after the three had already proven so useful.

    Upon arriving, the Unbroken responded to the Matron of Growth¡¯s song immediately. Thirty thousand young men and mature women snapped a salute before resolutely marching toward the front line. Despite being only tier three and marching toward enemies far more numerous and higher tiered, there wasn¡¯t a single face that showed fear.

    Jiran and the Forkara elders flew before them toward the rear ranks of the Imperial soldiers. A burly man almost completely drained of mana stepped forward. Jiran recognized the markings of a general on his armor and he was sure the man had been one of the people who was near Olive when he first arrived.

    ¡°Halt! Our commands were to ignore the presence of these beasts, but if you take another step, I¡¯ll have to consider that an act of aggression!¡±

 Chapter 190 - A GLIMPSE OF POTENTIAL

    Buried both underneath and inside the world of the physical senses lies a sublayer of reality called the framework. As far as Jiran knew, its web-like synapses played the role of supporting and enhancing the flow of mana and intent from Madra''s sentient races, while simultaneously holding the planet together in some mysterious way. Since arriving in the deserts around Morothin, he had felt the incredibly powerful auras of the nearby rankers and emperors nestled within that layer of reality, clinging to the framework like spies inside the shadows. Typically, they remained passive, not impeding each other, nor him.

    As the general before him demanded Jiran and the Unbroken halt, one of those two dozen auras suddenly came to life in a terrifying display of power. It swept aside the general and soldiers like a giant sweeping its arm across the surface of the ocean. Men and women flew through the air, leaving more than enough space for the thirty thousand Timberlings to progress toward the front line. From the mana¡¯s colors that dominated the aura, Jiran knew immediately that Lostrifar was responsible for the timely intervention. He dipped his head, offering her a whispered thanks that he was sure she heard.

    It looks like my bait of offering one-on-one training was successful. That, or she¡¯s curious about what the Timberlings can do. Better give her a good show then!

    Vironia and her guards followed them most of the way, dropping to the ground a few hundred meters from the actual combat. He put them from his minds, focusing on what he came for as the Unbroken spread out to their designated positions.

    The Forkara warriors were in a loose formation consisting of three horizontal rows where each individual had a good two meters of room to attack and evade. They jabbed their spears and swung their curved swords several times per second. Mana Omnis watched their energies flow from manapools to a series of specialized channels in their wings. Wind, generated by the constant micro-movements of their feathers, was pulled into their mana, guiding the conversion to elemental energy that was redirected through separate channels to their arms. There, the empowered element exited before swirling in a cyclone all the way down to the tips of their fingers and over their weapons.

    With each Bladewind, that energy was expelled in a straightforward, crescent-shaped slice that easily cut through the weaker Graymin while dealing debilitating damage to the hidden tier fives.

    After a few minutes of frenetic combat, the lead Forkara would swap out with the second rank that crowded behind them. They didn¡¯t use shields of any kind, relying on avoiding attacks completely or their leather chest armor as a last-ditch defense. If they were fighting in the air and able to maneuver freely, they would have received far fewer injuries. Due to being grounded for fear of the rooks who had yet to make an appearance, and in such wing-restricted ranks, even avoided attacks would often hit those behind them.

    The battlefield itself was also working against them. The tier three and four pawns were easily annihilated with a simple Bladewind but the tier five knights were sturdier. Over time, their tough corpses had stacked higher and now the monsters were practically running downhill toward the front line. This meant each swing could only target one, or at most two pawns at a time. Despite several hundred thousand Forkara fighting between both fronts, Jiran estimated they would be exhausted in far less than Dokkuun¡¯s anticipated twenty-four hours.

    I need to reduce the rate they¡¯re accumulating fatigue while also increasing their efficiency. Even if I supply them with infinite mana, that won¡¯t help at all with their mental strain. The fighting is only going to get more fierce as higher tiers show up, so I don¡¯t have a lot of time either.

    Jiran shuddered as he imagined each of the hundreds of thousands of pawns surging toward his position being replaced by tier five knights. If things stayed as they were, that would be an absolute slaughter. He glanced at the tier seven elders flapping idly beside him. All four of them wore confident, pleased expressions as their warriors cut down the pawns with relative ease.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem concerned. They¡¯re becoming exhausted and depleting their mana at a rapid pace. This can¡¯t go on. I¡¯d like to hear what each of you think about the situation.¡±

    Rhahakk puffed his chest with pride, ¡°What is there to fear from these low-tier beasts? This is a glorious stone to sharpen their young talons! Such an opportunity should be relished. Our warriors will not flee, they will fight to the last and those that survive will ascend. As it should be.¡± The other three nodded in agreement.

    Jiran fought his urge to sigh, ¡°Cultural differences are no joke, I suppose.¡± His voice firmed, laced with iron as he turned his back on the battle to face them fully, ¡°These are my warriors now. I won¡¯t be watching scores of them die in the hopes a few ascend. Order them to withdraw and lead them south around the outside of the city to the northeastern front.¡±

    Jiran lifted himself into the air and Keeon called out to him nervously, ¡°Have we disappointed you, Senior Brother Guardian?¡±

    Am I disappointed? No, not in the least. They''re amazing and their mentality is strong. I don''t sense any fear from them. They''re almost too good. But I can''t have them dying uselessly. I''ve taken responsibility for them, so I won''t let things continue this way.

    ¡°No,¡± Jiran paused and shook his head slowly, ¡°You¡¯re merely being true to who you¡¯ve been in the past. But I don¡¯t need who you were. I need a spear that can strike swiftly and with enough power to eradicate my enemies without exhausting itself. Now that I¡¯ve seen what you¡¯re capable of, I¡¯ll sharpen you myself before stabbing you into the heart of the Graymin.¡±

    The four leaders shared looks that spoke volumes; their expressions, and the mana churning inside them a mix of nervousness and heedy expectation, ¡°W-we shall order the withdrawal.¡±

    Jiran hovered in the air while they shouted orders, and within minutes, the Forkara were pulling back one steady hop at a time. The Graymin were far from idle, rushing headlong to their deaths to fill the empty space. The Imperial soldiers were dug in not far away, manning their hastily constructed stone wall just behind a dome-shaped reflective ward. Both spanned the entire gap from the end of the new wardwall to the nearest mountain.

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    Mana Omnis revealed that the obfuscating dome had no defensive properties, it merely created a reflective surface that would make it nearly impossible for a charging beast to see the spear on the other side that was about to impale it. The formation powering the ward originated from a cluster of stones covered in talismans in the center of the dome behind the stone wall. Three dozen tier sixes sent a constant stream of mana through their Channels and into the slips of paper.

    I''ve never taken a close look at talismans before. I¡¯ll have to make time for that later. I need to stabilize the Forkara before more of them die.

    Upon retreating to the reflective dome, the Forkara used its camouflage to buy them time to take to the skies. Before the last ranks of Forkara took flight, the Unbroken finished arranging themselves into long perpendicular lines stretching far behind the stone wall with only the single lead Timberling of each line standing atop the wall. The lines were separated by nearly fifteen meters all the way down the ranks of the Imperial soldiers. The soldiers gave the Unbroken a wide berth, scowling and cursing at the strange tree-people.

    ¡°Look at how slow they are? What are a bunch of tier three freaks going to accomplish?¡±

    ¡°Why are we spreading out to make room for them? This is going to collapse our defenses!¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Follow your orders, fool. Do you really want to bring down the wrath of the Ghoul Princess?!¡±

    Ghoul Princess? Who¡¯s that? Vironia? She¡¯s not my type but she¡¯s far from a Ghoul.

    The Forkara elders joined Jiran to observe the Unbroken, save for Keeon who was leading their forces around the city. As the last few Forkara took to the skies, and the beasts rushed headlong into the dome, the lead Unbroken atop the wall were ready. As one, they stabbed their mana-charged spears at the open air. The mana inside the spears¡¯ formations were converted to elemental energy using Jiran¡¯s own understanding, and was therefore far more powerful than anything a tier three should be capable of.

    Burgeoning rays of ice blossomed from each spearhead until five-meter-thick walls of intense cold raced forward to plow into the Graymin ranks. Chilling temperatures descended on the battlefield, enveloping each soldier in fog so cold it burned the skin. Every beast caught in the crackling blasts of frost were instantly killed, and silence wrapped a frigid fist around the survivors, both friend and foe alike.

    After the crisp fog cleared, massive conduits of ice remained like huge pillars that had fallen into the horde. Their mass created lanes that the beasts were forced to run down and any who tried to climb the unnatural structures were frozen solid in a matter of seconds.

    The shellshocked Imperials stood utterly still, unable to so much as whimper at the terrifying spectacle unleashed from within their midst. The Unbroken, completely unfazed, stepped back to give the Imperials room to reorganize their ranks. The first Sergeant to shout an order caused the rest to break out of their petrified states and they scrambled to take advantage of the new terrain.

    With less than a third of the space to advance, and their bodies half-frozen from the nearby walls exuding intense cold, the Graymin became a pittance in comparison to what the Forkara had been facing.

    How¡¯s that, Lostrifar? Hopefully, I caught her attention. I have so many questions about formations that I¡¯m dying to ask.

    Jiran waited for ten minutes to both watch the Unbroken and speed of decay of the walls of ice. He was happy to see the Imperials showing significantly more respect, or perhaps fear, to the Unbroken. Either was fine with him so long as they didn¡¯t harass his people. The same Timberlings charged their spears as the walls finished melting, recreating the frozen obstacles all over again. They would be out of mana after one more attack. At that point, they were supposed to fall back to the end of their respective lines. With each line holding several hundred Unbroken, it would be a very long time before they were completely out of mana. He would refill them long before then.

    Rhahakk was the first elder to recover from his shock, ¡°Senior Brother Guardian, are you really going to make us a million weapons like that? Am I dreaming? Please tell me I¡¯m not dreaming!¡±

    Frakkoa¡¯s voice was shaky as he responded, ¡°You¡¯re not dreaming, brother. These little ones who used to be no more than cattle have shown us the true benefits of following Senior Brother Guardian. Eldest Unspeakable was right. We¡¯re going to soar beyond our wildest imaginings.¡±

    Jiran bit back a smile as each of their affinities rose by a level, ¡°I¡¯m going on ahead to set up some smithing formations, I¡¯ll see you there.¡±

    With wings that quivered in excitement, they bowed to Jiran as he left. He made his way to Vironia and her guards who were in a heated discussion about the Timberlings¡¯ weapons. He lifted and then cloaked them in a bubble of light-warping Elemental Castigation before flying directly over the horde to the east.

    Vironia didn¡¯t even blink at the layer of darkness separating them from the outside world. She stared right at him, speaking rapidly, ¡°Those spears contained a formation, right? But the power they displayed doesn¡¯t make any sense! If that much mana was crammed into something so small, it would be destroyed after a single use. Jiran, do you know how they created them? No, there¡¯s no way for people who don¡¯t even wear clothes to make something like that. Where did they¡­ Oh! Maybe they found a weapons cache from an ancient civilization! I¡¯ve got to get my hands on one of those spears. But they don¡¯t speak Imperial. Can you¡­ help me acquire one?¡±

    She pressed her arms together in front of her chest, accentuating her figure while gazing up at him through dark lashes.

    Jiran stared at her with a slack face that mirrored his toneless voice, ¡°No.¡±

    Vironia balled her fists and pouted, ¡°What?! Why not? Why are you so stingy? You¡¯re not even a little bit nice to me!¡±

    ¡°If you want me to be nice, try being sincere first. Everything you say, and even your personality, are all a facade to manipulate the people around you. Honestly, it''s disgusting and if not for your Mother, I wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with you.¡±

    Her jaw fell open for a second before her face twisted into a smirk, ¡°You saw through me from the very start, huh? Well, I suppose that¡¯s fun in its own way.¡±

    Her expression morphed, this time turning flat and completely devoid of the slightest hint of emotion; save for her eyes, which sizzled with a fierce intelligence that set off alarm bells within Jiran¡¯s instincts.

    Her voice was uncaring to the point of being robotic, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drop all my masks. This is the real me. Did you know that they call me the Lonely Flower? Because, well, who¡¯d want to be friends with someone like me? In exchange for showing you my sincerity, why don¡¯t you tell me how you plan to survive this battle. Because from what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯re definitely going to die.¡±

 Chapter 191 - SECRETS WHISPERED IN THE DARK

    Mark the Hiss

    Markhiss burst from the belly of the sandwurm he¡¯d been hiding in for hours. He flew through the sand, emerging in the center of a full party of surprised tier five assassins. They had been tracking him throughout the night, falling ever closer to his trap.

    His aura spread wide, grasping at their limbs and dulling their movements. This group was much more experienced than the previous. They responded calmly and in perfect harmony. Their auras snapped inward, consolidating enough to fend off his assault.

    Two fireballs and an ice lance were silently launched his way and he responded by releasing three of his precious daughters. Their shadowy forms spent themselves on intercepting the attacks which kicked up a fountain of sand, clogging the senses. Due to their auras being tucked so close to their bodies, the assassins were blinded and their leader had no chance to dodge as Markhiss Teleported behind him.

    The feeling of flesh giving way to his bare hands sent a jolt of pleasure through Markhiss. His fingers tore through the back and stomach of his first victim before tasting cool air thick with sand that clung to his blood-stained fingers. Not wanting the one with the most information to die too quickly, Markhiss flooded his own aura with mana and intent. He called forth his aspect and it filled his mind with a euphoric calmness that quieted the ever-present voices.

    The leader gurgled blood as Markhiss¡¯s aspect infiltrated his body from the inside, sealing his manapool behind a wall of inky darkness, ¡°Retreat¡­ inform¡­ traitor Mark, the Hiss!¡± The man gasped as his skin turned dark, splotched with sickly lesions.

    The well-trained assassins bolted without a moment''s hesitation, each running in a different direction. Four knives were launched from Markhiss¡¯s offhand as he continued to flood the leader with his aspect. Three of his prey managed to spin in time and deflect the deadly projectiles while the last took the blade to her thigh, splattering the ground with a crimson stain.

    Since they chose to flee, Markhiss ignored the lower tiers, his focus mostly dedicated to keeping the leader from killing himself. Markhiss pressed the man¡¯s face into the ground, his other arm still sticking through his torso.

    The leader struggled weakly, his life slipping away, ¡°You''re¡­ not ¡­ get any¡­ from me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don''t you worry about your little secrets. I have my ways of revealing the truth, and they don''t require you to be alive. Enjoy your last few seconds,¡± Markhiss¡¯ whisper held the sweet seduction of madness as it tickled the assassin¡¯s ear.

    Feeling the end, Markhiss tightened his grip on the leader''s head and injected more of his aspect into the man''s brain. When the spasming twitches of the leader finally stilled, he yanked out his aspect which now took the shape of a shadowy young woman. She stood before him, giggling maniacally in the early morning light.

    Markhiss smoothed her hair while gazing lovingly into her empty eye sockets, ¡°My dear child, tell me everything.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    Jiran quirked an eyebrow at Vironia, ¡°I''m going to die? It doesn''t sound like you''re threatening me, so what''s that supposed to mean?¡±

    Vironia¡¯s expression maintained a bored, deadness as she picked at imaginary dirt beneath her nails, ¡°This conversation is far from secure. Suffice it to say, not everyone is going to be thrilled with your new inventions and methods.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. If you¡¯re just going to be cryptic without giving me anything of substance, then I have no reason to help you. If you know something specific and I don¡¯t already know it, then I¡¯ll get you one of those weapons to study. Otherwise, forget it.¡±

    Vironia met his eyes for a brief moment, her intention of remaining silent couldn¡¯t have been more obvious.

    She wouldn¡¯t have said anything at all if she didn¡¯t want to tell me. Which means I just need to get rid of these pesky eavesdropping auras. Problem is, they¡¯re much too powerful for me to push away. Hmm, there might be a way.

    Jiran used Mana Confluence to pull half the mana from his armor and spread it around him and Vironia in a sphere. She seemed unaware of what he was doing until he flexed the energy, commanding it to tear apart the synapses of the framework. A screeching tear filled the air as space was rent, revealing the dark absence that always appeared when the framework was damaged. It tried to repair itself but he maintained focus, shearing through each synapse repeatedly before it could reform.

    He confirmed the sphere had no leaks and that it was blocking both his and the ever-present auras of the rankers. Without being able to perceive beyond the darkness, he could only estimate when their momentum would bring them to the eastern front. Having mentally measured the distance beforehand, he used one of his minds to count down from three hundred while maintaining their speed. He noticed their air supply dwindling and used Mana Confluence to steadily convert mana into a breathable mix of gasses.

    He couldn¡¯t help but take a moment to try and pierce the shell of darkness with Mana Omnis. All he found was cold emptiness, devoid of all life. Gazing into it, he felt a connection; it was just so¡­ peaceful. Jiran snapped his awareness back to Vironia who was looking at the darkness impassively.

    He cleared his throat, bringing her attention back to him, ¡°You can speak freely now, it''s expensive to maintain this so make it quick.¡±

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    Her voice was devoid of emotion, ¡°Interesting. You¡¯re full of surprises, aren''t you?¡± Jiran rolled a finger, prompting her to get on with it. ¡°Merit is part of it. Benefits to the empire are always well rewarded but the pool is limited. What you take, someone else loses. You should be wary of those you bypassed. However, your most dangerous foe is almost completely unknown. They have been operating in the shadows for decades and Mother is positive you will be at odds with them after the introduction of your portals.¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about Silence?¡± Jiran wondered, remembering the name of the organization Markhiss worked for.

    ¡°Ohh, you¡¯re quite well informed for a country boy.¡±

    ¡°Not really. That was a guess. I¡¯ve only heard their name mentioned by chance. I don¡¯t know anything about them.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not alone in your ignorance. We have a few leads, enough to know they¡¯re part of a much larger organization. They survive by relying on the weaknesses of the emperors. Weaknesses that you have resolved almost single-handedly, which again will put you in their sights. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll let you live after what you¡¯ve done, after¡­¡± She reached out and stopped just short of dipping her finger into the darkness, ¡°What you could do next.¡±

    Jiran released a deep sigh while scratching his chin, ¡°Well, thanks for the warning. I¡­ honestly couldn''t care less about who in the empire is trying to kill me. I have too many concerns to worry about what-ifs. Either they¡¯re weaker than me and I crush them, or they¡¯re stronger and I do whatever I can to escape while saving my friends. That doesn¡¯t mean I haven¡¯t already taken precautions though. Anyways, thanks for the warning.¡±

    ¡°You''re quite welcome. It would be challenging for us to grow closer if you died too soon.¡±

    If not for Mana Omnis revealing her increased heart rate, Jiran would have no clue she was even capable of feeling emotions, ¡°Us growing closer isn''t going to happen, but I have to say, you''re not what I expected after talking to your mother. We¡¯re here. Please stay off the front lines over the next few days. Empress Mesalay would skin me alive if you got hurt.¡±

    Her heart rate spiked again though it didn¡¯t show on her face as she deadpanned, ¡°To think you''d care so deeply for my well-being. And the spear?¡±

    Jiran nodded, all too happy to not owe the creepy girl a favor, ¡°Sure, I made them. There¡¯s a material inside the formations that can hold significant amounts of mana. If you¡¯re interested, I can make one for you later.¡±

    ¡°I suppose a simple warning that your life is in danger fails to qualify for more details about this mysterious material?¡±

    ¡°Nope¡­ What I need now more than anything is allies I can trust. And as you can see, I treat my allies very well.¡±

    Jiran could practically see the gears of her undeniable intellect whirling behind her eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll take that under consideration. Don¡¯t forget your promise.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t, I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m ready to make you a weapon. It doesn¡¯t have to be a spear,¡± Jiran stopped shredding the synapses. Space stabilized instantly, revealing the eastern front beneath them. Without a farewell, he pushed off the framework with his aura, rapidly leaving Vironia and her guards behind. Before moving too far, he refilled his mana from the abundant donations below with Enthralling Touch.

    He found a secluded space beneath the shadow of a sand dune two kilometers from the front line. After observing the Forkaras¡¯ skills, he had an idea of how to make a weapon formation that suited their particular style. The problem was the way their mana was converted to wind long before it reached their weapons. To power the formation, pure mana was needed. This meant the weapons would first need to convert their elemental wind back into mana, which was something he was only able to do with Elemental Castigation on his own elements.

    I know formations allow me to impart any of my skills¡¯ functions at a roughly thirty percent loss in efficacy and efficiency. I doubt it will be as easy as adding the skill. Formations are like putting a miniature me inside a box, if you feed that box elements from another source, it shouldn¡¯t be able to convert them.

    Will it work if I use their mana and aura to entirely power the creation of the weapon formation? In essence making them the creator of the skill?

    Not wanting his secrets divulged, Jiran first created another sphere of ruptured space to block out the ranker¡¯s auras before constructing the prototype smithing formation. Mana Confluence worked in conjunction with his aura to pull in and convert enough sand to form a one-meter tall and two-meter wide box. The cover was secured to the back with hinges and he easily lifted it to reveal a spear-shaped molding in the center of a flat shelf. Hiding beneath the mold was an empty space that took up the majority of the box¡¯s interior.

    Satisfied with the overall shape, Jiran sent his awareness into the empty area, filling it with multiple pairs of laterally aligned sheets of graphene. He connected the paired sheets with a pressure release valve that would only connect the paired sheets when the pressure inside the box reached a certain threshold. For the last step, he carefully sealed one sheet in each pair with a thin layer of metal before leaving his mana, aura, and intent inside it.

    If he was right, his deposited mana and aura would act as a storage for his intent, which would be transferred to the empty sheets when the valves were released. In theory, when the Forkara injected their wind into the box, it would collect inside the empty sheets until enough pressure was built to open the valves. At that point, his intent, which contained the essence of his skills, would slowly infect the elemental wind and impart it the ability to convert itself to pure mana. The smithing formation would then use that mana to create the spear.

    Since the formation inside the spear would be created with the Forkaras¡¯ mana after it had gained the conversion effect of Elemental Castigation, it should allow them to convert their own elements back to mana.

    He wasn¡¯t sure it would function, but if it did, it would undoubtedly be very mana-intensive since his understanding of what he was doing was severely lacking. Jiran considered asking Lostrifar for advice, but the stubborn researcher in him had enough pride to at least attempt it on his own first.

    The spear itself would be formed of metal made from pure mana. While creating the smithing formations for the Timberlings, he discovered that purifying and reinforcing existing metal wasn¡¯t as efficient as creating it from scratch. The haft of the spear would contain the formation that converted elemental wind to mana. That energy would then be fed into the spearhead¡¯s formation which would be filled with graphene sheets separated by an empty space. On one side of that space, the formation would create heat, and the other, cold. With one side heated and the other cooled, air pressure would form in the middle and be released through an incredibly thin gap in the blade¡¯s edge.

    Thanks to his understanding of the elements powering the formations, the amount of air released from the blade would be tens of times more efficient than a Forkara could pull off. As a final touch, he injected several fail safes into the box¡¯s materials that would cause the entire thing to revert into sand if anyone tried to access the underlayer or remove any of the graphene sheets. Similar failsafes were built into the weapons, though with different triggers.

    With his preparations complete, he shot a flare into the sky, calling for Dokkuun to come and test his newest toy. A toy that had the potential to turn the Forkara into a truly elite force.

 Chapter 192 - A DIFFERENCE OF ONE

    - Present day -

    - Grandam Papal, Prime Cathedral of the Voice -

    ¡°Are you positive it was Mark the Hiss?¡± An elderly man whose eyes usually shone with kindness spat, his face twisted in a scowl.

    A young man wearing the apparel of a head deacon knelt with one fist planted on the hard marble floor, ¡°Yes, Your Eminence. It was confirmed without a doubt moments ago.¡±

    The cardinal repositioned the wide-brimmed galero on his head, its white and red hues a perfect match for his fine robes and tasseled belt, ¡°That miserable traitor! We¡¯ve no choice but to cease operations in the southern desert then. Recall our forces in the area, they shall join the assault on those filthy abominations.¡±

    ¡°As your voice commands,¡± Deacon Mathayes pulled a sealed talisman from a pouch on his belt and focused for a scant moment before the paper vanished in a puff of smoke.

    The cardinal paced back and forth, a massive oil painting of the Voice¡¯s two apostles at his back. When he noticed the deacon had finished relaying his command, he spoke again, ¡°Mark the Hiss¡¯ last mission was to capture Jiran of Feylon after we discovered his return. Now, they have both appeared in the desert near our ransacked outposts and missing presbyters. That¡¯s certainly no coincidence.¡±

    ¡°That was my hypothesis as well, Your Eminence.¡±

    ¡°To think the boy would be clever enough to effectively wield a wilder against us. He continues to surprise. Ultimately, Mark the Hiss¡¯ interference changes nothing. The new mobile portals have already disrupted our plans entirely. We can no longer expect the city to fall with complete certainty. Redirect half of the Templari to ensure the rankers and the emperors do not return from their battle. Also, inform the Templari that they are permitted to use the Holy Reterer. If the emperors survive, everything we have prepared will become meaningless.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Eminence. Will the repositioning of the Templari not affect the subjugation of the new lands?¡±

    ¡°So far, none of the abominations brought through the new portals have been above the seventh tier. They are far weaker than originally anticipated. A single caste of Templari will be enough to eradicate them. Even if they have stronger forces in reserve, the Templari will be more than capable of handling them.¡±

    ¡°The wisdom of the Voice flows through you, your Eminence. What of the report that only Jiran of Feylon can activate the gateway to the new lands?¡±

    ¡°That is indeed a concern. What would you suggest, young deacon? Our forces are spread thin and the boy has proven to be crafty. It would be difficult to pin him down even without the presence of the rankers. If you cannot see the solution, then I¡¯ll have no further use for you,¡± the cardinal warned as he suddenly appeared behind the deacon.

    Kindly eyes set above a warm smile gazed down at Mathayes. He remained calm, despite the higher-tiered hand brimming with an internalized aspect that was held against his throat, ¡°Supposedly, Jiran is quite fond of the abominations. The most vile whispers say he''s taken one of them as a partner. If we keep a few of them alive as we take the gateway, then surely, he will come to us.¡±

    The cardinal¡¯s smile turned predatory as the hand that was about to behead the Deacon instead pat his hair gently, ¡°Excellent, continue to show such promise and the path to the Voice will surely open before you.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    Dokkuun arrived shortly after Jiran released the flare. He rode a massive gust of wind that swept sand into the air. His clawed feet touched down softly and he saluted with a flourish of his wings, ¡°You require my aid, Senior Brother Guardian?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Can you hold onto these handles and inject a Bladewind into this box? Try to clear your mind and don¡¯t picture anything in particular happening. The less intent in your mana, the better.¡±

    ¡°Certainly,¡± Dokkuun nodded and did as instructed. Mana Omnis revealed how his mana was converted to wind and flowed down the outsides of his arms before being sucked into the box. Jiran held his breath as the interior was rapidly filled with rushing air and the pressure valves released. A trickle of the stored mana and aura delivered Jiran¡¯s intent into Dokkuun¡¯s elemental energy, which devoured it like a thirsty beast.

    Nearly a minute passed before the first signs of the elemental energy being converted to mana appeared and Jiran whooped, ¡°Yes! Looks like I can increase the flow by two or three times without issue, at least for mana as potent as yours. I¡¯ll have to make separate formations for each tier then, but that will drastically increase the overall speed. Thanks, Dokkuun! You were a huge help. Can you call two people from each tier over here? Oh, uh, preferably one from each sex. I doubt that will make a difference but with something this unknown, it''s better to cover all potentialities.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I''ll gather them straight away. Can I ask what this is about? I wasn''t able to follow most of what you said¡­¡±

    ¡°We''re starting your weapon production. By the time you return, your new spear will be ready.¡±

    Dokkuun looked at Jiran like he was crazy but saluted and flew back the way he came without complaint. He returned a couple minutes later with nine companions in tow. By then, Jiran had constructed four more smithing formations and Dokkuun''s spear was finished.

    Jiran popped the lid and tossed the spear to Dokkuun. The elderly ascetic snatched and spun it with a fluid grace that could only be acquired after long years of being stuck at the same tier. He twirled the spear around himself in a dazzling blur as he moved through a series of complex movements that had Jiran itching to join him.

    It''s been too long since I seriously trained with a spear. I''ve been focusing on my mana and aura exclusively. Now that I can make such powerful equipment, there''s no reason to continue neglecting my technique. Besides, what will Samris say when we reunite and he learns I haven¡¯t touched a weapon?

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Jiran¡¯s thoughts were interrupted when Dokkuun charged a Bladewind. Elemental wind swirled around his arms and shock colored his features when it was summarily sucked into the shaft of the spear. The element was smoothly converted to mana before the spearhead released a rushing, high-pitched whine. As Dokkuun¡¯s swing completed, a razor-thin sheen of cyan-tinted air blasted forward in a twelve-meter-tall arc. It shot away at a speed Jiran could barely track without Oneness, cutting a clean furrow through the sand for half a kilometer.

    Not just Dokkuun and the other Forkara, even Jiran was dumbfounded by the strength of that slash. Dokkuun¡¯s head ratcheted around until he was looking over his shoulder at Jiran. Combined with the other Forkaras¡¯ hilariously too-wide-eyes, Jiran had no choice but to roar with laughter.

    Time flew quickly as the rest of the smithing formations were completed. Jiran ended up creating fifty for spears and another fifty for their curved swords, as well as one hundred for armor. Each formation had a line of Forkara nearly a hundred long. They shifted from foot to foot, their wings twitching eagerly.

    The armor he chose after consulting with the elders was a simple chest piece that folded around the torso and was sealed in the back with straps to avoid the base of their wings. The chest armor was matched with a conical helmet with internal padding and a complex series of straps that took into account the force of directional changes when performing high-speed aerial maneuvers. The leg guards were an interesting design that took into account their reverse-jointed knees and clawed feet. Like all the equipment, they were crafted to be aerodynamic and lightweight.

    Each held internal pockets laced with several layers of graphene that, when combined, formed a single cohesive formation that would flood the body with healing mana upon activation. When fully charged, which took nearly five entire manapools for a tier seven, they would have enough energy to completely recover from any injury dozens of times. So long as the wearer wasn''t killed outright, they would be very hard to put down.

    Jiran was dead on his feet as he finished with the last smithing formation, but he didn''t allow himself to rest. He took to the air, surveying the current situation on each front. Both sides had long since cut down the avenues of approach with the Unbrokens¡¯ walls of ice. The stone fortifications and obfuscating domes were holding strong, drastically reducing casualties. However, the buildup of beast corpses was climbing high enough that the monsters would soon be able to leap over the walls. The new shrapnel wards were still performing perfectly, no surprise considering who made them. Though they were already nearing eighty percent mana capacity and it had only been a few hours since they were first activated.

    As for the Graymin, the number of tier five knights mixed in with the pawns had steadily increased. Now, the ratio was nearly eight to two in favor of the pawns. At the current pace, by nightfall, there would be more tier fives than three and fours combined.

    This was not his first trip back to the front since beginning his work on the formations. He had needed to return after every dozen to restore his mana. He flew high, hoping to attract any rooks, and as usual, was disappointed when none revealed their presence.

    Where are they? There definitely should have been a few by now. I¡¯ll check in with Olive after this. One more thing to do before I can sleep. How many days has it been since Mathra and Pepa¡¯s? Two, three?

    Jiran had gotten into the habit of cycling his minds so one could rest, but it was far from true sleep. Even a pile of sand to curl up in was beginning to sound like an irresistible siren¡¯s call. Not wanting to be separated from the embrace of slumber for a moment longer than necessary, Jiran got to work. From his high vantage, he watched the beasts impatiently clawing and shoving for their turn on the front lines. Jiran¡¯s blood boiled seeing how hungry they were to murder his allies, his people. The few dead Forkara he failed to save flashed through his memory and pure rage spread through his limbs like living fire. At that moment, all he wanted was to avenge them, and to teach the Graymin how foolish it was to invade his home.

    He could hear the monsters'' combined voices, calling out their incessant demands to ¡®bring him and live.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t sure who exactly they were looking for, but hearing them speak only incensed him further.

    If they can talk, they can think, if they can think, then they can despair!

    Mana Omnis revealed what should belong to him and Enthralling Touch stretched to its limit to fulfill that instinctual demand. The mass below him writhed as he pushed beyond those limits, reaching into their manapools that glistened like reflections of light off the surface of gently rippling water. The mana answered his call, eager to become part of something greater, something dominant.

    The mana flowed through the air; tiny, individual creeks connecting into ever-larger streams that eventually joined into a complete river of energy that flowed into his body and armor. Jiran¡¯s reserves were full in less than a second of connecting with that river. He directed it to flow down toward his various allies. It passed through hundreds of them at a time, the energy within reluctant to leave his control but unable to deny his commands.

    The Forkara screeched a cry of victory as their manapools were restored. The Unbroken only appeared more restrained on the outside, their jubilation displayed through shaking leaves that bloomed and fell in dazzling waves of vibrant colors. The Imperials were the least responsive, their shock at suddenly being flooded with fresh mana understandable.

    Once each and every one of his allies'' manapools was brimming with energy, Jiran directed the rest of the river back to his side. There was nearly a third of it left and he stared at the immense glob of power with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he felt the need to giggle maniacally at the insanity of the situation, on the other, he truly feared the idea of becoming drunk with the sensations of absolute power that threatened to burst from his chest.

    His exhausted mind made the choice of what to do next a simple one. He separated the remaining mana into a dozen balls of gravity that he compacted one at a time with the aid of the framework. Each ball was surrounded in an extra-durable coating of mana that prevented them from releasing their devastating suction.

    When all twelve were stable, he created a chakram of spinning elemental fire and shot it directly at the first gravity bomb. The bomb was swept away in the collimated stream of plasma, arriving deep into the ranks of the Graymin a fraction of a second later. The elemental energy broke down the mana protecting the bomb and the moment it struck the ground, its payload was unleashed. A gaping sphere of darkness swallowed every beast and particle of matter within a kilometer, compressing it all into a ball the size of Jiran¡¯s head. When the gravity bomb¡¯s mana petered out, the matter was released in an explosion that encompassed far more space than the initial attack, wiping out hundreds of thousands in a blink.

    The heady rush of single-handedly controlling such a massive battlefield was beyond his wildest dreams. Adding fuel to the fire was the realization of how far he had come. It wasn¡¯t that long ago when he was nothing more than a denless boy who only dared dream of survival. Now, he wore the mantle of leader for three races whose people were gazing up at him with fanatical adoration. He was indebted to them for being here, for choosing to follow him, and he would rather die than disappoint them. More importantly, he would do whatever it took to get as many of them home as possible. For the first time since asking them to risk their lives for him, he truly felt like he was delivering on his promises to empower their races. And he was only getting started.

    Jiran could no longer hold back his emotions and he roared, his voice imbued with enough mana to shake the ground.

    Unshed tears blurred his vision as he flew further north. He shot another bomb every few kilometers so the beasts would trickle in at a slower pace for the next few hours. When he released the last into the decimated horde, he turned back and headed toward Olive¡¯s command to ask about the missing rooks, and hopefully find a safe place to sleep.

 Chapter 193 - SPLITTING HAIRS

    Jiran awoke to dark, density-thick clouds releasing their fury upon the empire in the first densoon of the season. Powerful waves of energy crashed into his body, pressing him into a soft mattress that he barely remembered crawling into. His aura snapped out and solidified, stabilizing him against the buffeting crush of raw density. He could still recall exactly what it felt like when the waves struck him as a kid. Now that his body was significantly denser, the waves were much fiercer.

    He spread his mana along the synapses, tasting the chaotic density but not converting any of it. He was only mildly surprised when he noticed the energy being drawn to him like a magnet attracted iron shavings.

    The more density in the body, the greater the attraction of chaotic density. So that''s why it gets worse every tier. With my aura to stabilize me, and my muscles constantly utilizing mana to move, it doesn¡¯t feel any worse than being underwater.

    After withdrawing his mana from the framework, Jiran left the tent. Looking back, he recalled his quick conversation with Olive a few hours ago. She had taken one look at him and chased him out of her command tent toward this bed, where he instantly fell asleep.

    What should I do now? With their new weapons, the Forkara and Timberlings should be holding the front well enough. Olive didn''t give me a chance to ask why the rooks haven''t shown up yet. I really want to see Mayalyn. Not being able to talk to her is driving me crazy.

    Now that the thought of seeing her was in his mind, Jiran couldn''t shake the desire to fulfill it. He leaped into the air, ignoring the densoon waves that failed to overpower his aura.

    He found the People''s camp quickly and headed for the Aahmra while his eyes were focused on the beautiful blue haired young woman that struggled to stand tall and strong against the storm.

    She wasn''t alone. Two others stood next to her on guard duty at the edge of the camp. The waves of energy smashed into them, and since none had an aura, they were pressed into the ground by the overwhelming forces. They joked and shoved, trying to knock each other off balance. Seeing her laughing and playing around with her people instantly put Jiran at ease.

    Since the rankers were watching with their auras, he had no choice but to commit to his justification for coming. He dropped down next to the Aahmra, hoping for a quick conversation, ¡°I have a feeling your people will be needed by noon tomorrow. I would prefer we not have to rely on you at all, though.¡±

    The Aahmra bristled at his words, his tail flicking in the same way that Mayalyn''s did when she was angry, ¡°I know your words hold no ill intent, but they deliver us an injustice regardless! We are more than capable of fighting alongside our allies. Why have you discarded us? Did you bring us here to mock us?¡±

    ¡°What?! No. I know exactly how strong you are, that''s why I''m not revealing your capabilities yet. These beasts aren''t stupid. They''re watching everything we do and I''m sure when they''re ready, they¡¯ll hit us at our weakest point as hard as they can. Their long range units haven''t shown up yet, if they''re waiting to target a powerful reserve force like yours, the consequences of revealing you early will be disastrous.¡±

    The Aahmra settled at his words, only the tip of his tail still lashing at the air, ¡°Thank you. I first assumed you would use us without consideration. When that time did not come, I allowed the anxiety of my family to affect me. Once again, I''ve misjudged you.¡±

    ¡°I''m just glad we''ve¡ª¡±

    Jiran suddenly found himself standing in front of Lostrifar who sat with her legs crossed in a chair made of inky darkness. They were in a purely black space, the only light coming from pinpoints of energy in her aura. He hadn''t felt the tug of the framework he associated with Teleportation, nor was there a bubble of mana that shrunk and pulled him into a synapse. The everpresent auras of the rankers and the emperors was nowhere to be found. Only the heavy pressure of Lostrifar¡¯s energy saturated the strange, smooth darkness.

    She blinked at him innocently, her violet eyes looking too large for her cherubic face, ¡°Don''t be¡­ Surprised, that is. I rendered you unconscious for a split second so you wouldn''t cause a scene like you did with Dagris.¡±

    ¡°What? How?¡± Jiran took a nervous step back, his minds whirling as they struggled to understand the sudden changes.

    ¡°I said not to act surprised!¡± She yelled before looking away with angrily pouting lips, ¡°You''re already here, so just accept it.¡±

    Well, I''ve been dying to talk to her anyway. Might as well roll with it.

    Jiran grabbed his errant thoughts and emotions with an iron fist, bringing his entire focus onto the woman in front of him, ¡°Okay, why did you bring me here? Oh, and thanks for helping with that general earlier.¡±

    ¡°Such an insignificant thing is hardly worthy of thanks,¡± she still hadn''t turned back to look at him and he swore her mana was squirming oddly but it was hard to see with how bright her manapool was. ¡°Obviously, I brought you here to exchange information. Those formations you made are impressive, despite your auraic technique being atrocious. I''ll¡­ teach you, if you tell me about your mana-draining technique,¡± their eyes met again and once more Jiran swore her mana squirmed when she hesitated to speak for that split second.

    ¡°That would be amazing! I''ve been wanting to learn from you since the first time I saw a real formation in Mortan.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course you have¡­ Wait, the first time? That was, I took your, I mean, you''ve really never seen a formation before two weeks ago?! And you actually managed to make a formation that can create a formation in such a short time? How did you even think to do that?¡± Lostrifar held her hands in her lap, her whole body quivering as she impatiently awaited his response.

    She¡¯s been keeping tabs on me? Or she asked around after our last meeting.

    Knowing she perceived events far quicker than him, Jiran tried to answer right away, ¡°I needed to make weapons and armor for several hundred thousand people in a short amount of time, and since nobody else could help, I had to find a way to make it so they could help. It seemed like the simplest solution so I went with it. And yes, the first time I ever saw a real formation was your defensive wards around the city of Mortan around two weeks ago.¡±

    In his rush to speak, Jiran almost gushed about how impressed he had been when he found the administrative functions of the controlling tablets. Lostrifar¡¯s gaze bored into him like a beast finding juicy prey after starving for a decade. A spike of panic shot through his chest and he was unable to keep his minds from replaying the sight of her casually reducing a mountain to a scattering of particles.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Shit! Did she find out that I hacked the cypher on one of her tablets with my Translator? Or maybe that I kinda broke the formations a bit when I first found out how the corruptors were damaging the wards? Why is she still looking at me like that! I don''t taste good I swea¡ª

    ¡°Are you going to answer me? I asked why you didn''t fully split your aura into strands before injecting it into your formations,¡± she repeated herself.

    ¡°Split my aura? What does that mean?¡± Jiran formed two bulbous arms with his aura and separated them by two meters, ¡°Like this?¡±

    ¡°No, not like that, your aura is too rigid. How does that help with leaving some of it behind in a formation? Your implanted aura will dissipate eventually and your intent will fade. Don¡¯t separate it, tear it apart. You''re only leaving the mana behind that was imbued in your aura, not the aura itself. So¡­ tear it apart. Or I''ll do it for you,¡± Lostrifar''s gaze turned deadly dangerous as the thick aura in the room writhed with the promise of pain.

    Jiran knew with absolute certainty that she would follow through on her threat. Something deep in his subconscious shrieked in terror as he reacted on instinct and fully tore a piece of his aura free for the first time. The panic vanished instantly and he was left baffled by the free-floating ball of aura that remained completely under his control. He received no sensations from it and if not for Mana Omnis, it would have been impossible to even perceive it, let alone control. He moved it around in a slow circle, dazed at the novel experience.

    Lostrifar wore a satisfied smile as she praised him, ¡°Marvelous. I didn''t think teasing you would be so fu-effective. Make sure you fully form your intent before splitting your aura or it will fail to function inside the formation. Also, only experience can teach you the precise quantity of aura to split for any given formation. The strength of your skills, techniques, and aura will constantly be in fluctuation, therefore altering the perfect ratio.¡±

    ¡°Wow, I don''t think I ever would have considered tearing my aura on my own, nor been willing to push through that fear to actually do it. This must have taken you decades to discover.¡±

    Jiran bowed at a full ninety degrees, completely overwhelmed by being taught something in such a straightforward fashion for the first time in his life. His voice was bursting with sincerity, "Thank you, Master Lostrifar!¡±

    ¡°Y-you think I want to hear praise from you! Quickly, tell me how to drain mana from the Graymin. That''s the o-only reason I brought you here, after all!¡± Her mana squirmed once more as she stammered.

    It didn¡¯t take Jiran long to explain the theory behind Mana Siphon. Even though Lostrifar didn¡¯t have the Molding subskill that allowed her to push unaspected mana beyond her skin, she was able to find a method to circumvent that restriction with her, ¡®Auraic Technique,¡¯ as she called it.

    Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about the ¡®color¡¯ of her mana. Not minding at all, Jiran followed her instructions and created a formation to her specifications.

    He watched with fascination as strands of her mana flowed through her aura like an entire troupe of highly skilled dancers. He connected a filament of his mana to hers, allowing her to claim a portion of it before taking it back. They locked eyes, and for a brief moment, a youthful smile of pure joy flashed across her features.

    Her lips then twisted into a scowl, her voice filled with frustration, ¡°It is time.¡±

    Jiran could feel and see the quivering in her aura. Foresight¡¯s annoying background buzz that hadn¡¯t gone away in days kicked up a notch to a bone-vibrating hum. Jiran¡¯s stomach dropped as adrenaline flooded his body, ¡°W-wait! There¡¯s more I can teach you.¡±

    For some reason he couldn¡¯t explain, he felt like he could trust the seemingly young woman looking up at him with a calm yet quizzical expression. He wanted to kick himself for not taking the time to impart more or what he knew when they had a chance and all he could think about was that his inaction might cause this to be their last meeting.

    ¡°I know¡­ That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to do this again when I return. Keep yourself alive, Jiran of Feylon. And remember: Enemies rarely approach from where you expect.¡±

    Is she warning me about Silence, too?

    Before he had a chance to ask, he was standing before Olive¡¯s command tent. Feeling his aura out of nowhere, she poked her head out of a flap and looked him up and down, ¡°You''re much improved. I''m glad you slept well.¡± She spoke softly, a radiant warmth in her eyes.

    ¡°Thanks for lending me the bed. Did Emperor Dominus say anything? I think the rankers are leaving right now.¡±

    ¡°What?! Already?¡± She rushed outside and leaped into the air. Jiran followed and they flew high into the sky. Peering to the north, they spotted nearly two hundred men and women. Heroes each and every one, they bravely flew between dark looming clouds above, and a writhing mass of beasts below. Watching them go, the atmosphere between Jiran and Olive was just as heavy as the density suffusing the storm around them.

    ¡°Are those collars?¡± Jiran wondered aloud after noticing the sparkling of reflected light around the necks of nearly half the tier sevens and eights.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Will-less: Wilders unable to progress to the end of their tiers for fear of going mad. The collars were created by the emperors. If they turn into beasts, they will be killed instantly, lest they cause harm to those around them. Before today, they were living peaceful lives, raising families and fulfilling their dreams. To force them from retirement to serve once more is¡­ a travesty.¡±

    Jiran didn¡¯t know what to say. He had been cautious with the rankers and shared only as much as he thought was safe, but seeing them fly toward what was likely their deaths after being so guarded felt like a betrayal. Olive had her own reasons, and mustering the strength to speak became an impossibility for them both. It wasn¡¯t until the last ranker was out of sight that she finally broke the silence, ¡°They¡¯re really gone¡­ It¡¯s just us now.¡± She trembled and her voice shook with uncertainty.

    Jiran fully understood her anxiety. The weight of thousands of soldiers, and potentially millions of civilians rested on each of their choices. He knew in his bones some of them would not make it out of this alive because of his inexperience. Yet his allies had chosen to follow him regardless, and he had accepted.

    That¡¯s right, I chose to bring them. It doesn¡¯t matter how hard it is, I have to succeed, for their sake.

    He grabbed Olive¡¯s hand and squeezed it reassuringly, ¡°The defense of the empire is on our shoulders now. So, let''s make it easy. All we have to do is make sure we win.¡±

    She squeezed back, a sardonic chortle escaping her lips, ¡°Jerk. You shouldn''t make light of a lady''s stress.¡±

    Jiran shook his head firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not. I feel the exact same way for the people who followed me here. I¡¯m only saying we have to do more. No, we have to do everything we can. Devise every strategy, account for every response, and prepare for every unforeseeable possibility. Simple.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ honestly can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re trying to comfort, or tease me.¡±

    Not wanting to take the chance that the Graymin had some way to hear him, Jiran shredded the framework, sealing them inside impenetrable, peaceful darkness, ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure we get through this, Olive. I''ll be busy preparing formations for a couple days. No matter what comes, I plan to be ready. Since the rankers and their auras are gone, I¡¯ll be taking Mayalyn with me. If you need me before I¡¯m back, hurt yourself.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± She looked at him like he was crazy. Not that he blamed her since his words made no sense out of context.

    Jiran glanced at her name in his party window, which showed her health and mana were full, ¡°It¡¯s one of my acclimations. Since you¡¯re in my party, I¡¯ll always know when you¡¯re injured and where to find you. So, you just have to wait for me and I¡¯ll come as quickly as I can.¡±

    ¡°O-oh¡­¡± Olive stammered, her skin growing several degrees warmer to match the shade of her cheeks.

 Chapter 194 - A KING HAS COME TO PLAY

    Jiran bid Olive a hasty goodbye and excitedly made his way to Mayalyn. He pulled his aura inside his skin to activate Oneness. The next thing he knew, he was standing before her and the blast of wind from his passing scattered her hair behind her like a cloak. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her until she released an undignified squeal that was music to his ears. At that moment, nothing else in the world existed beyond the feeling of her being crushed into him.

    The moment didn¡¯t last nearly long enough, coming to an end when a sharp spasm of pain blossomed across his entire body. The current she sent through his suit lasted only a heartbeat but it was enough to bring him back to his senses. The first thing he noticed upon pulling back and meeting her eyes was the annoyed scrunching of her nose which was completely ruined by the playful twitching of her ears as she did her best not to smile.

    ¡°Were you really so excited to see me that you could not even say hello before attempting to crush me to death?¡±

    He answered her with a kiss that came too fast for her to dodge, ¡°Hello.¡±

    Her laughter was infectious. She pushed him away and spun in his grip. As if his hands were suddenly coated in oil, he completely failed to hold onto her despite trying. ¡°How do you do that?¡±

    ¡°If I showed you, it would not work anymore,¡± she teased, ¡°Have you eaten breakfast yet? I¡­ made some, would you like to try it?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡± The last meal he ate was so long ago that the offer set his stomach to rumbling.

    Mayalyn failed to hide her furious blush, ¡°Do not get too excited! I-I have been learning from my aunt but this is only my third attempt.¡±

    Jiran chuckled, ¡°You know what I usually eat, so I¡¯m sure whatever you made is going to be amazing in comparison.¡±

    She narrowed her eyes and scowled, ¡°That did not sound like a compliment¡­ I was going to hold your hand but now you may follow me until you ask nicely for the honor of receiving the fruits of my labor.¡± She cutely raised her nose, turned, and walked away without waiting for a response.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ gladly,¡± Jiran was all too happy to oblige as he ogled her retreating figure; for as long as he lived, he doubted he would ever grow accustomed to the way her tail swishing accentuated the sway of her hips.

    ¡°That was delicious! I don¡¯t believe that¡¯s only the third time you¡¯ve made this. Even though it''s lower-tier meat, it was flavorful and had perfect texture.¡±

    Mayalyn was the picture of adorable as she refused to meet his eyes, squirming in her chair. She had led him to one of the tents the People were borrowing from the Imperials. Its interior was bland but at least it was made of thick canvas that kept out the cool morning air.

    ¡°Well, it is a recipe I learned from Olive, and aunt Rayhal helped me improve it so I did not do much besides copy them.¡±

    Upon hearing Olive¡¯s name, Jiran stopped with a fork full of meat halfway to his mouth. Their gazes locked and Mayalyn took a deep inhalation, tasting the emotions flooding into his aura.

    His heart was beating like a drum as he frantically contemplated what to say, eventually settling on brutal honesty, ¡°Olive¡¯s father proposed a union between her and I. I turned him down, but wasn¡¯t able to tell her. I¡­ could see how disappointed she would be and I froze.¡±

    Mayalyn spun her finger in a slow circle while raising her brows, ¡°There is more, continue.¡±

    Jiran flopped back in his chair and sighed deeply, staring at the roof of the tent. He then sat bolt upright and met her eyes without flinching, ¡°Sure, there are a dozen things I could say but none of them matter before I hear your opinion. I wouldn¡¯t dream of entering a political union, or any kind of relationship without your approval.¡±

    Mayalyn scanned his face for several seconds before releasing a weary sigh, ¡°This will not do, my Aajiran. You are far too conflicted on this matter. It should not be difficult, yet you make it so. I only have one question for you, and your answer to my question will also be the answer you seek from me.¡±

    Jiran swallowed, incredibly nervous about her question and what kind of future it would lead to.

    Her voice was quiet, yet filled to the brim with emotion, ¡°Are you prepared¡­ to claim us both, and to accept responsibility for everything that entails?¡±

    Emperor Dominus Le¡¯Cruex

    Dominus had seen a thousand geniuses in his time, many of them fathered by none other than himself. He often reminisced about the first hundred of his children, all mothered by the love of his life over a thousand years past. Now, they were but sand in the wind. In hindsight, their deaths were entirely his fault, and their loss burned within him still; had it not been for his refusal to listen, his pride, and his unwavering confidence, some of them may have survived. The memories of each and every one of them were as bright and clear as the day they happened, for attributes are both a blessing and a curse.

    Long ago, when the Graymin first appeared, their threat seemed minor. A few beasts of low tiers joining together wasn¡¯t unheard of, nor was it an issue to eradicate them. Then, the king appeared on the horizon and his party was utterly powerless to stop it. The years that followed saw the deaths of untold millions; their only option was to retreat again and again. Then, as suddenly as it appeared, it vanished for no apparent reason. But by then, the empire had been reduced to a fraction of its previous size. With so little land to divide amongst them, his party had insisted on the creation of a treaty to maintain balance and peace.

    Now, they were allowed no more than five children at a time and each of those precious young ones was forced to fight the Graymin until they reached the eleventh tier or died. Unfortunately, in the six hundred years since that time, not one succeeded. The situation grew worse as resources dwindled and access to higher tier beasts became constrained. It became so bad in recent history that even recouping his own mana expenditures was an impossibility. Ever so slowly, they were being choked out by the more powerful enemies residing on all sides of their tiny plot of land.

    Everything changed in what felt like a single night. Oliviala¡¯s capture had felt like death¡¯s hands were clasped around his neck. When the barrier restricting his senses fell, and he appeared to save her, it was instead a little boy who had done the deed. Again and again, that boy¡¯s exploits had reshaped their understanding of what was possible. And now, for the first time in over a thousand years, the sunslight beaming down on his skin felt refreshing and filled him with vigor.

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    Dominus¡¯s manapool was filled to the brim, and the feeling of freedom he experienced while racing through the skies was exactly like he remembered from his youth. He flexed his entire body and felt the world around him bend and tremble. His aura claimed it all, holding the fabric of reality together so he could enjoy the sensations a few moments longer.

    He didn¡¯t allow himself to get lost in the euphoria, his current task far too important to ignore. His oldest friend¡ªMesalay, was far to the east, their auras only barely in contact. Dagris was to the west at an equal distance, and together the three of them scanned every nook and cranny of their surroundings. If even a single tier eight or above slipped past them, it would spell doom for the empire and their last remaining children.

    Besides their current mission, they had only one other goal: To stall the king until it left once more. Such a plan would have seemed impossible only a year ago, but then their ability to convert density to mana increased by a thousandfold. If everything went just right, they may pull off the impossible. Equally as ludicrous were the several fold increases to the power of their elements. Dominus¡¯s finger¡¯s practically burned from the itch to test them, but such a waste of mana was unacceptable so he maintained a tight leash on his desires.

    Despite their new advantages, they had no delusions about killing the king. Such a thing was simply not feasible. No matter how strong their attacks had grown, if they couldn¡¯t reach their foe without dying, how would victory be possible?

    Dominus gazed down at the mountains choked with the oozing press of the horde. He had created the entire range long ago. It was filled to the brim with deadly traps and bewildering formations, allowing the vast mountains to remain an effective barrier to the lower-tier beasts ever since. Not to mention it gave their strongest warriors a suitable training ground. Before his terraforming, these lands had been a desert that stretched a hundred thousand kilometers further to the north. That wasteland had been created by a single attack, and never again would Dominus underestimate the power of the Graymin King after witnessing its might.

    Mesalay¡¯s aura tapped against his, letting him know she had found their quarry. He Teleported to her side and Dagris picked up the slack in their net by expanding his aura into a wide oval. The group halted their advance to investigate the hidden beasts who were not nearly as stealthy as they thought.

    ¡°Only ten? I expected a few more. This might be a distraction,¡± Dominus mused.

    Mesalay nodded, ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡±

    Lostrifar appeared beside them, her gaze glued to the mountain that the beasts were currently burrowing far beneath. She raised her hand and the entire thing vanished in a sizzling storm of blazing fire. The tier nine Graymin were reduced to dust, their vast manapools combusting on death and adding to the inferno.

    She¡¯s grown so much more powerful. How much did she learn when she abducted Jiran? That ornery, cursed boy learned too well from Lenton; keeping his secrets tight to his chest like an old geezer. What did she give him to loosen his lips¡­ Surely not that¡­

    As if she knew he was thinking of her, Lostrifar shot him a smirk before vanishing.

    Dominus grunted, ¡°I¡¯ll return to my position.¡±

    Mesalay waved him off with an annoyed frown that he knew was a front to hide her amusement, ¡°Why do you suddenly feel the need to speak your actions aloud? Just go.¡±

    Dominus flashed the wide grin that always got under her skin and Teleported away before she could berate him further. They continued north for several more hours, moving at speeds incomprehensible to the mundane existences of the lower-tiers. They found several more pockets of hidden tier nines, and even one with two tier tens. Lostrifar appeared to deal with the beasts each time, refusing help and smirking after every victory as if she were hiding some juicy secret that they could only dream of knowing.

    When the end of the mountain range came into view, Dominus stopped moving and his musings fell silent. Even the enjoyment of his full manapool and the uplifting sense of freedom faded. The sight that greeted him was straight from the nightmares of his past and brought with it a plethora of deeply sealed emotions.

    Beyond the final row of peaks, the land for hundreds of kilometers squirmed as though alive. The wriggling movement filled the entire gap between the last mountains and the horizon. And there, protruding from that hazy line that separated land and sky, a single gargantuan figure rose far above gathering densoon clouds that had only recently expelled their energies. Without approaching close enough to see, Dominus knew that the horde spawned endlessly from somewhere within its impossibly massive bowels.

    None alive save his four closest friends knew this devastating truth about the king. Already, its wretched children numbered in the hundreds of millions and they would never stop birthing from within it. Dominus cracked his neck and prepared himself mentally for the momentous task ahead. Even if it took them ten years, they had to hold this beast off until it decided to leave once more.

    Mesalay and Dagris Teleported to his sides, ¡°It appears our juniors will be making frequent trips back to restore their mana.¡± She mused.

    Dagris responded with a grunt, ¡°Indeed, if only we could join them.¡±

    ¡°If we don¡¯t get a move on, we won¡¯t have any juniors to be envious of,¡± Dominus grumped, knowing that if the king did attack, it would surely target them and anyone nearby would become naught but another memory.

    Mesalay eyed him suspiciously, ¡°When did you become so sour-mouthed? At this rate, you¡¯ll be in danger of losing your position as the party mascot.¡±

    Dagris, as usual, was quick to steer the conversation back to seriousness, ¡°That reminds me, do you think those two will come?¡±

    ¡°I think it would only cause more problems if they did. Hopefully, they remain oblivious until the end. Just like our mascot¡­¡±

    Dominus didn¡¯t rise to her bait, instead leaving them behind as he Teleported to the northeast. He released the fine control of his aspect, allowing the energies of the void to cascade out of control, packing the confines of his aura. He pulled enough of the energy into his body to step fully into the emptiness of that void. He exited a moment later at the edge of his aura¡¯s range, just as the cooldown on Teleport ended. He instantly used the skill again, once more traveling northeast. He alternated between the two methods of transportation, quickly arriving in the middle of the horde to the east of the king.

    He didn¡¯t bother wasting mana to attack. Merely moving and operating his aura was already expensive and his mere presence was enough to wring the life from anything below the ninth tier, so long as he stopped restraining himself. He had to admit that it felt good to release the constraints that always bound him. It had been many years since Madra last sent a tier eleven to challenge them, and he relished the moment; something he could never do inside his palace.

    Luckily, he didn¡¯t get too swept away as the king opened one of its many closed eyes¡ªeach the size of a large town. Dominus reacted on instinct, Teleporting away. The mana released by that lifting lid was more than he could contain in his entire manapool and the destruction it wrought was awe inspiring to say the least. A swath of land two hundred kilometers wide and a thousand long was turned to ash in an instant.

    Dagris appeared beside him, his head tilted in consideration, ¡°Why is it holding back? I definitely remember its attacks being much stronger last time.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know. It''s either underestimating us, or it has some kind of plan. Either way, I don¡¯t like it. Should we get a little closer and see if it livens up?¡±

    ¡°Certainly. If it¡¯s going to continue treating us like bugs, we might even have a chance to give it a black eye or twenty.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Wouldn¡¯t that be grand,¡± Dominus¡¯s grin turned feral as he imagined giving the beast one good punch for all the suffering it brought him last time. His smile slipped when he noticed Mesalay already halfway to the beast.

    ¡°You cheating wench! Wait for us!¡± Dominus roared, blasting forward at top speed.

 Chapter 195 - CONSIDERATIONS

    Deacon Mathayes

    Deacon Mathayes floated between the auras of two Templari. Their long hoods were pulled low to cover their features. He had never seen a Templari''s flesh, and he didn''t particularly want to either. Hearing the rumors was enough, though there was no telling how much truth there was to them.

    Mathayes wasn''t particularly bothered by the powerful warriors in such close proximity to him. Sure, they were multiple tiers above him, but they were solely dedicated to the Voice. If the empire at large knew of their existence, they would be considered some of the most powerful individuals alive. The silent atmosphere of supremacy they exuded was a comforting change to the usual noble pandering he had to listen to on the cardinal¡¯s behalf.

    The shaft they traveled down was just wide enough for the three of them to remain shoulder to shoulder. Its walls were made of a formation created by the Apostles themselves and no aura weaker than their own could pierce it. The three of them had traveled at maximum speed for what felt like hours, but in the all-consuming darkness of the tunnel, there was no way to know for sure.

    The straight path abruptly came to a halt, continuing to the side at a ninety-degree angle. They moved in the new direction for another hour before arriving at a set of double doors with a hole in the center. Without needing to be urged, Deacon Mathayes stuck his arm in the hole as he had been directed by the cardinal.

    Something inside pierced his skin in a hundred places before the doors rumbled open. He pulled his arm free, finding no marks of any kind to validate the sensations. Whatever it was that the cardinal made him eat before coming had apparently done its job, keeping him alive during the verification.

    The constricting tunnel opened into a wide room. There were no decorations nor comforts in the space, only a dais with a lone pedestal. On its top was an egg the size of a head that oscillated between light and dark with a steady rhythm like the beating of a heart.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it? The Hushed Reterer,¡± Mathayes mumbled, not daring to step foot into the sanctified room.

    For the first time since their journey began, one of the Templari spoke, ¡°Indeed. The Apostles¡¯ have dedicated their mana to this very artifact for centuries. Their devotion will be our path to victory.¡±

    Hearing the fervent zealotry in the Templari¡¯s tone, Mathayes was quick to remind him of the cardinal¡¯s warning, ¡°The reterer is precious beyond fathomability. It holds enough power to annihilate the entire empire in an instant. It must not be used unnecessarily.¡±

    ¡°We understand, Lord Deacon. Its use would mean our demise, and we would never again have the pleasure of serving the Voice. We will take all precautions, and save its use as a last resort, as instructed.¡±

    With a nod, Deacon Mathayes began the chant that would give the tier nine Templari access to the sacred room long enough to secure the Hushed Reterer.

    Jiran of Madra

    The last half day with Mayalyn could only be described as blissful. Her question was still churning in the back of one of his minds, only mildly distracting him from the formation he was creating and the satisfaction he felt at being in her presence. Right after asking it, she reverted to her carefree, happy self and they hid away to work together. Her bubbly personality, teasing touches, and seductive looks had done wonders to bring his emotional state into balance, as usual. For what felt like the thousandth time, Jiran silently thanked her for everything that she was and for all the burdens she took upon herself without ever being asked.

    They were currently in a burrow deep under the desert, standing on opposite ends of a waist-high table. They each worked on their own projects, sharing an amicable silence which Jiran broke, ¡°Thank you, Maymay.¡±

    Her tone was full of warmth, ¡°You are welcome.¡± She smiled, not looking up.

    ¡°You¡¯re not even going to ask me why I¡¯m thanking you?¡± Jiran chuckled, finding her antics adorable.

    ¡°Your gratitude is thick enough to choke upon. If I asked, you would go on and on about how amazing I am and the taste would never fade. These moments are more special when they come and go naturally like the waves,¡± she released a wistful sigh, no doubt remembering the island she spent most of her life on. She paused in thought, then changed the subject, ¡°Let us return to silence. You have much to think on.¡±

    Jiran sighed and did as she asked, knowing she was right.

    Am I prepared to claim them both?

    The more I think about that seemingly simple question, the more I realize how deep it is. The dynamics of a regular relationship are hard enough; requiring communication, give and take, support, time, and sacrifice to name a few. The list of what it takes to stay together happily over the years goes on and on. With how long we''re capable of living, balancing all of those variables is even more important.

    The moment you add a third set of all that to the mix, every aspect of the relationship takes on a whole new meaning. Even more important are the feelings that go along with those dynamics and how easily they can be tainted. Mayalyn¡¯s question strikes at the core of both envy and jealousy. Only with incredibly clear boundaries, set in stone by the individual with the most power in the relationship, can emotional issues be prevented before they even begin.

    She''s asking¡­ No, she''s telling me that if I''m not ready to set those boundaries and take command of the relationship, then including Olive would end in failure. I have to know exactly what I want and be willing to make that dream happen no matter the obstacle, or what anyone says or thinks.

    Basically, before I even begin to consider including Olive in our lives more deeply, I need to man up.

    The part about responsibility is just as deep. Olive''s current feelings are partly my fault. I never made my stance clear in the past. I¡¯ve known there was some attraction there on her part and I never once shut her down. Instead, I went out of my way to tease her on multiple occasions, which has already created a situation where she stands to be hurt. If I accept her feelings, then doing what I can to ensure her happiness becomes my obligation. Not to mention the other things the word ¡®responsibility¡¯ usually implies! Which I am not ready for. But if I enter a relationship without being willing to account for that in the future, I¡¯ll just be the worst kind of scum.

    I¡­ honestly don''t know what I want to do, and that indecisiveness will only end up hurting all three of us. No matter what, I''ve already made mistakes and I need to take responsibility for the feelings I''ve helped create.

    I guess the first step should be discovering how I truly feel about Olive. Obviously, there¡¯s attraction, she''s gorgeous. But that''s hardly all there is to her. She¡¯s loyal, dedicated, intelligent, resourceful, honorable¡­ and bossy! Honestly, she¡¯s great. But could I ever be as hopelessly in love with her as I am with Mayalyn? I''ll keep thinking about it slowly, I already told Olive we would talk about it after the battle, so I have at least a few days to let my feelings percolate.

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    Jiran snuck a glance at Mayalyn when she started humming. She looked as cheerful as a calm¡¯s day and her smile was as bright as all three suns combined. When they first started crafting, he spent a great deal of time explaining all of his new skills and everything he had discovered about them that wasn''t in the descriptions. She had been quiet since then, asking for time to process.

    Some time later, she paused her drawing and met his gaze, ¡°Why are you not loading your gravity bombs with an element in advance? Would that not increase their potential output? What if you needed to use one where there was no matter to absorb?¡±

    Jiran¡¯s jaw fell open at the suggestion that was so obvious he wanted to kick himself for not thinking of it, ¡°Maymay, you¡¯re a genius!¡±

    ¡°Or perhaps you have a tendency to cease considerations after something becomes¡­ adequate.¡±

    Jiran ignored her taunt, his minds already lost in thought about which element would be the best for the job. Knowing she liked to be included, he vocalized his thoughts, ¡°Lightning wouldn¡¯t work very well unless the gravity ball was completely stuffed with it. The energy would too easily be grounded by whatever else got sucked inside. Filling it with bits of metal wouldn¡¯t be any more deadly than it already is. Water, wind, ice, or fire could work well against beasts with particular weaknesses. Though again, they wouldn''t drastically increase the overall power and they would certainly increase the mana cost.

    Acid and light both sound interesting,¡± Jiran mused while picturing a tsunami of acid drowning the Graymin army. ¡°As for light, I honestly have no idea what will happen if I cram that element into a gravity well and it¡¯s released all at once. Considering how deadly mana-induced light is, I¡¯m sure it won''t be a small or negligent effect¡­¡± He trailed off while looking at his helmet, making a mental note to adjust the visor to account for rapid increases in brightness.

    Mayalyn nodded along as Jiran finalized his ideas, ¡°I think the best in terms of both cost and power would be gasses. Once I¡¯m a bit stronger, I might consider uranium. I¡¯m not exactly sure how to enrich it and I''m not confident I can survive that kind of fallout either.¡±

    ¡°What is uranium?¡± She tilted her head.

    ¡°Something from my memories that I¡¯m honestly terrified to even try. I don¡¯t know much about it either. I know there''s an enrichment process and what the end result should be, so mana ought to do the rest. Yeah, never mind. I¡¯m not going to mess with it until I¡¯m more powerful than the emperors for sure.¡±

    Mayalyn shivered, ¡°Knowing how reckless you are, that does indeed sound terrifying. Are you going to try it? The gasses, I mean.¡±

    Jiran''s grin was positively evil as his eyes lit up with excitement, ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    Over the last day, Jiran had made several trips to the surface to check on the state of the battle. He assisted Niya with healing, checked in with his friends and allies, recovered dwindling mana supplies, and took several potshots at the horde to thin their advance. Once done, he would race back to Mayalyn¡¯s side to continue preparations for anything the Graymin might throw at them. He shared the concerns of both Vironia and Lostrifar, prompting Mayalyn to spend a considerable amount of her time coming up with countermeasures against threats that may come from friendly soil.

    It was one of those very countermeasures that first detected the presence speeding beneath the soil near their burrow. He dubbed them scout formations, and they functioned by releasing pulses of mana across random synapses of the framework. If that mana encountered a living being, it would fail to return along the synapse, triggering a burst of mana that would be replicated across all the nearby formations, eventually traveling back to him.

    He immediately dropped what he was doing and locked eyes with Mayalyn, ¡°Something is moving quickly through the ground a few kilometers to the east.¡± Another pulse of his mana from a separate formation grouping zipped along the framework and into his body, ¡°There¡¯s more than one. They aren''t moving fast enough to reach the second layer of formations yet. Let''s go.¡±

    Since the framework wasn¡¯t vibrating in the particular way he¡¯d discovered in the Land of the Lost, he was fairly certain the new arrivals were beneath the seventh tier. Mayalyn didn¡¯t restrain her anticipation. Her claws extended and retracted from the gloves he added to her upgraded suit¡ªnow packed with formations.

    He lifted them through the sand with his aura and she shot him a loaded look, ¡°I will be sure to reward you later.¡±

    Jiran latched his helmet in place, tilting his head questioningly, ¡°For what?¡± He honestly wanted to know so he could repeat whatever earned him such a promising expression.

    Mayalyn¡¯s brows lifted in surprise. ¡°You truly included me without knowing how much I would appreciate it? Now, I will have to reward you twice.¡±

    ¡°Why do I get the feeling you''re slowly training me like a pet?¡± Jiran tried to sound petulant but his chuckle ruined it.

    ¡°Slowly?¡± Mayalyn¡¯s snort echoed out of her helmet as she finished clasping it beneath her chin.

    Jiran¡¯s cheer was shattered in an instant when they reached an altitude where Mana Omnis could reveal what triggered his scout formations. Swimming beneath the ground were a dozen ghostly figures made from a mixture of mana and aura, almost like a mobile formation. He recognized them right away and soon spotted their source. Since it was unlikely the perpetrator would flee, Jiran approached at a steady pace, his mood growing worse by the second.

    ¡°You''re about to meet someone I really don''t know how to deal with. He''s a murderer, a kidnapper, and completely insane. If his emotions are too much for you, let me know. Also, if you have any opinions on if I should kill him or not, I definitely want to hear them.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Mayalyn responded simply, matching his seriousness.

    Jiran¡¯s anger spiked the moment he was close enough to shout at Mark the Hiss who stood perfectly still with a hopeful, cheery smile, ¡°Why are you here?!¡±

    Markhiss bowed as though they were at some formal gathering, and not standing in the middle of the desert, ¡°I came to find you after intercepting a message from those who wish you harm.¡± His voice grated on Jiran¡¯s nerves and a memory of Olive and Cameron trapped in a cage flashed through his minds.

    Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Mayalyn shake her head subtly and Jiran¡¯s mana exploded threateningly from his skin, ¡°You¡¯re lying?!¡±

    Markhiss threw himself on the ground, all pretenses vanishing in an instant, ¡°Please forgive me! It is true that I intercepted the message and that I wish to relay it to you but there is more. I came because I wanted to return to your side. To feel the peace you brought me once more. I want the voices to stop! I-I can''t live like this anymore!¡± The tier six broke into heaving sobs, his tears absorbing into the unquenchable sands.

    Jiran was momentarily stunned by the once proud and violent psychopath reduced to such a state. Taking the lack of response as permission, Markhiss continued, ¡°I¡¯ve been so good since we parted. I-I saved innocents, and have only killed those who seek to bring ruin to the empire. Discard me if you must, but I beg you, please listen to my message first. It is of dire importance!¡±

    Son of a bitch. If I listen and it¡¯s actually something that could save me or one of my friends, I¡¯ll be indebted to him again. It''ll be the exact same as when he helped Niya and I couldn''t bring myself to kill him. I bet he¡¯s been waiting for a chance like this. What a creep. I need to maintain the upper hand with this guy or he¡¯s only going to get more annoying.

    ¡°How can I trust you after you lied to me?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t need your trust. I don¡¯t need you to treat me well, or even let me live. I¡­ really can¡¯t go on with this life any longer. I lost everything already. I thought if I looked for the truth long enough, I could find a way to bring her back but after tasting sanity, I can no longer bear the voices.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t want to live if I reject you again?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. This is my last chance. If you don¡¯t even want me as a faithful tool, then I¡¯ll fly into the horde and let it all end.¡±

    ¡°Prove it,¡± Jiran demanded with a straight face.

    ¡°I¡­ how can I prove my sincerity?¡± Markhiss was no longer trembling, his expression revealing a glimmer of hope.

    ¡°Give me complete control of your aura. Accept whatever I do without fighting back or even thinking of resisting. Totally surrender to me. If you can do that, I¡¯ll listen to your message and temporarily accept you as my tool.¡±

    Mayalyn rubbed her hand over her suit where it covered one of her pockets. She could feel the hard bump that was the crystal she always kept hidden there, ¡°My Aajiran. I do not believe this is a good idea. What if it happens again?¡±

    ¡°If I lose control, can you help me like you did last time?¡±

    ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± She tore off her helmet and her tongue flicked out to taste the air. Her eyes narrowed as she fixed him with a steely glare, ¡°Why are you suddenly feeling guilty¡­ Did you try this without me nearby to protect you?¡±

    Despite Jiran¡¯s face being covered, she knew he was cringing and the look of unbridled fury that passed over her features let him know he definitely wasn¡¯t going to be getting off easy this time.

 Chapter 196 - THE DOG HOUSE

    ¡°D-did I forget to mention that?¡± Jiran mumbled, avoiding Mayalyn¡¯s piercing gaze, ¡°I thought I told you about Eldest Unspeakable. He was low on willpower. We tried to remove one of his skills but his aura was too strong.¡±

    Mayalyn¡¯s jaw fell open and she stared at him in aghast silence. Her jaw closed with a snap and her tone brooked no argument, ¡°Privacy, now!¡±

    Jiran had no intention of arguing, realizing she was far more upset than he¡¯d ever seen her. Enthralling Touch drained what was left of Markhiss¡¯ mana even as he roughly grabbed and stuffed the crazy bastard¡¯s aura inside his body. Almost noticing his mistake too late, he stopped short of completely compacting Markhiss¡¯ aura inside his skin.

    If he''s already crazy, wouldn¡¯t forcing him to confront his demons end in disaster? It should be plenty to restrict his movements while I talk to Mayalyn.

    Jiran blocked sound and then used Elemental Castigation to obscure them from sight. Before he could even nod to her that he was done, she grabbed his armor by the neckline and pulled him to the side. Her foot lashed out, preventing him from stabilizing; he teetered off balance, falling to his back. Halfway to the ground, she hopped into the air and landed straddling his chest.

    She leaned down and screamed in his face, ¡°How could you try that without me?! Did you forget about what happened last time? I cannot believe you would be so reckless!¡± Jiran was unable to utter a complaint as she lifted him by his armor and slammed him into the soft sand with each sentence.

    ¡°It kills me inside when you go off alone to ascend, but I accept it because growing stronger is a necessity. Even when you experiment with your skills, creating these formations that could kill us both in an instant¡ª¡± Her voice broke as tears slid down her face to splash against his chest, ¡°But how could¡­ you threaten everything we have¡­ for something so foolish? Why did you not wait for me? Why?! Do I mean so little to you? Do you realize how I would feel if something happened to you? How much¡­ I would¡­ cry?¡±

    Her tears turned into a flood and all Jiran could think to do was wrap his arms around her and pull her into him. He made soft, comforting noises until she was coherent enough to listen, ¡°You¡¯re more important to me than I could possibly express with words. I promise, no, I swear to never try that again without you. I didn''t know how strongly you felt about this. We never talked about it after Sharra. That, and I honestly forgot how strong the desire to eat her skill was. Or that consuming it would have done¡­ something to me. This excuse sounds lame in my head before I even say it: I think my instinctual desire to eat one caused me to forget.¡±

    Mayalyn pushed out of his embrace to sit cross-legged on top of him. She scrubbed at her cheeks, searching his expression. After breathing deeply to taste his aura, she shook her head, ¡°This is not only about the threat of you eating skills. You do so many things that are needlessly dangerous. Why must you add to that number without thought or preparation?¡± By this point, the energy had drained from her. She sat atop him, her back bent and her shoulders drooped.

    She¡¯s barely holding it together. I spent an entire day with her and I didn''t notice a thing. She must not have wanted me to worry. She¡¯s been smiling all this time, for me.

    Jiran sat up and Mayalyn¡¯s eyes flew wide as she fell backward. He caught her long before she could catch herself and crushed her back into his chest, ¡°You¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re so brave that it¡¯s easy to forget how difficult this must be for you. I¡¯ll do better. You¡¯re absolutely right that Madra is dangerous enough already without my thoughtlessness making things worse.¡±

    Mayalyn finally hugged him back. She burrowed her face into his neck and bit him hard enough to elicit a yelp. Pulling back, she met his gaze, ¡°It is good that I can feel your sincerity, or I truly would beat you until there was not a centimeter of your body free of bruises!¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Jiran nodded, accepting his punishment wholeheartedly if she chose to administer it. After all, she was one hundred percent correct; he had tried to remove a skill from Eldest without a single thought of the consequences to himself, or her. That realization was a hot knife in his guts, ¡°You¡¯ve helped me stabilize my emotions so many times, if that¡¯s what it takes to return the favor, then my body is yours to use as you see fit!¡± He threw his arms wide and closed his eyes at the sky.

    She grunted a tearful laugh, the sound forcing the corners of his lips upwards against his will. She leaned in and once more nipped at his skin, then hopped off and pulled him to his feet, ¡°I do feel a little better now. But I believe I will need another¡­ treatment after we hear what this man has come to say.¡± Her voice turned from a purr into a growl in record time, ¡°Do not attempt to hinder me when I intercept the skill, assuming you are successful in removing it.¡±

    ¡°You have my word,¡± Jiran¡¯s tone and will were tempered steel as he swore with all his heart. He then dropped the sound and sight blockers, revealing that Markhiss was still prostrate with his forehead touching the sand. ¡°Choose a skill or technique you can do without,¡± Jiran commanded.

    He was met with confusion, which was no surprise. He continued before Markhiss could question his intent, ¡°Close your eyes and look through your skills and techniques. Pick one you can live without. Don¡¯t ask, just do it.¡±

    Markhiss closed his eyes and searched through his status. Upon glancing up at Jiran again, he took a deep breath and firmed his resolve before disobeying the first order he had been given, ¡°I-if I¡¯m going to be your tool, should you not choose for me? What if I pick something that makes me unable to serve you?¡±

    There isn¡¯t much he can get rid of that I can¡¯t circumvent with a formation. We might as well go with the last learned skill as it''s possible to have cost the most willpower. If this works, I¡¯ll make him some glasses with Mana Omnis or something.

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Jiran fed Markhiss some mana so he would be able to locate the skill crystal, ¡°Use Mana Sight until I tell you to stop. I¡¯m going to be taking control of your aura. I¡¯ll say it one more time, completely submit to me. Don¡¯t fight back. Don¡¯t even think about resisting. No matter what happens, stay calm, understand?¡±

    ¡°I submit! Upon my death and eternal severance from the Voice, I vow to never betray you!¡±

    Can¡¯t say I expected him to swear on the Voice. Didn¡¯t know he was religious. His affinity is maxed out at Fervent, so he probably really means it. Here goes nothing.

    Jiran nodded to Mayalyn who bent her knees and raised her hands like she was planning to tackle one of them. After how mad she had been, he honestly wasn¡¯t sure which of them was going to be her victim. Jiran put her from his minds to focus. He experimentally bent and contorted Markhiss¡¯ aura, getting the man used to the feeling.

    While still controlling both of their auras, Jiran roughly pressed in on Markhiss from all sides, completely encasing and trapping him. There were no signs of resistance, even his breathing stilled to a bare fraction of normal as every muscle in his body loosened.

    One of his minds remained vigilant, blocking sound and sight around all three of them while the rest formed a delicate hand made of aura. He condensed Markhiss¡¯ aura around the hand and pushed them both into his manapool until they surrounded the glowing skill. Jiran snaked his mana through both of their auras, tainting the energy with their soul-stuff so that it was capable of physically interacting with the skill. He then gripped it tightly and pulled.

    The skill came free and slid through his flesh into the open air so easily that Jiran was momentarily stunned. Mayalyn however, was not. She zipped past them in a flash, leaving behind a trail of crackling currents. By the time his eyes caught up to her, she was facing him from several meters away, the skill crystal nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Thank you, for protecting me,¡± he managed to mumble, stunned for the umpteenth time at how fast she could be when she allowed her body to nearly become the very lightning she had absorbed.

    Seeing he was fine, she padded back to his side, ¡°Of course, my Aajiran.¡± They shared a look while Mana Confluence patched up the tiny hole in Markhiss¡¯ chest.

    ¡°Confirm in your status that the skill is gone,¡± Jiran commanded.

    Markhiss closed his eyes and sucked air through his teeth, ¡°It¡­ is gone.¡±

    ¡°How do you feel? Are you still¡­ crazy?¡±

    Markhiss shook his head, ¡°I don''t hear the voices. But I didn¡¯t hear them the last time we were together either.¡±

    Jiran had unwillingly mused over this issue during a restless night several days before, ¡°I think that was the temple, not me. It makes sense for that ancient tablet to have some kind of emotional stabilizer so people could lock themselves in there for years at a time without tearing the place down.¡±

    Markhiss¡¯ mouth formed an O before he responded, ¡°If that is the case, then it is possible you have truly healed my insanity. I need more time to know for sure. My head still aches like a tooth freshly pulled. I can feel the speakers lurking in the dark, but I cannot hear their voices.¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s a little creepy. Well, for now, can you tell me what you came here to say?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Certainly, Master.¡± Jiran groaned at the moniker but didn¡¯t correct him. After all, it was better than some of the other things he¡¯d been called lately and it was absolutely several steps up from truthbringer, ¡°I have recently intercepted many assassins employed by both Silence and the Church of the Voice. Their purpose was to halt reinforcements from reaching Melathon and contributing to this battle.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s head snapped to Mayalyn who nodded gravely, ¡°Why would the church send assassins to stop Imperial soldiers?!¡±

    ¡°They do not wish for us to win this battle. Their plan is to somehow escape the empire after ensuring the Graymin succeed in crippling the army.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s heart was hammering as he put the pieces of the puzzle together in a flash. The warnings from Vironia and Lostrifar, the cryptic questions from Pharish, and the auras that spied on his every move. Even the emperors had hinted that there were events and schemes happening across the empire that they could not predict. Now that he knew their plan was to leave the empire, and since there was only one known way to do so, everything made sense.

    He turned to Mayalyn and rested his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, ¡°My love, you¡¯re a genius.¡±

    Ardon Le¡¯Cruex

    Ardon and his four oldest, most trusted friends arrived at the cave entrance which supposedly led to the People¡¯s Cavern. He was surprised when his father instructed they protect this place over participating in the battle against the king. A small, cowardly voice in his heart screamed the emperor¡¯s praises even as the rest of him was revolted by the betrayal he was being forced to commit. But above all else, he was a soldier, and a soldier''s duty was to his empire, not his own desires.

    His party¡ªThe Glorious¡ªwere right behind him as he descended a kilometer into the ground. The tunnel opened into a rather large cave with running water and several dozen hovels that looked recently occupied. His aura spread out, reaching every nook and cranny to reveal the destitute conditions these people had suffered. Immediately, he was furious at Olive for allowing their guests to live like this for even a day.

    ¡°I thought this place was supposed to be occupied? Where are they?¡± Kitchell, their tanker, questioned with a confused frown.

    Suddenly, a cacophonous ripping split the air as the walls and floor shook. The party was unaffected, safely suspended in their auras as always. The entire ceiling of the cavern was split and torn free as though a massive pair of hands had plunged deep into the ground and pulled it apart. Bright sunslight shone down into the pit, blinding them.

    Mana Sight was unaffected by the time needed for pupils to dilate. The party stared straight upward, pinpointing the uninvited guests. None of Ardon¡¯s people made a move, instead preparing countermeasures engrained over tens of centuries of teamwork.

    A voice that both boomed with authority and slithered like an oiled merchant filled their ears, ¡°I expected to find a hive of skaks, but you, my prince, are a much more appealing catch indeed.¡±

    Sweat broke out across Ardon¡¯s skin when the completely unknown speaker''s words came fast enough that he could only barely follow them, proving their tiers were a match. For there to be a tier nine in all the empire he was unfamiliar with was bad enough, but worse still, there were eight figures floating beside the speaker, each of them exuding a presence no weaker than his.

 Chapter 197 - A BAD DAY

    Lostrifar Astrideus

    Lostrifar restored the lower half of her body before the shock of her plunging blood pressure rendered her unconscious. Such a lapse in focus would result in her immediate death; therefore, it was unacceptable to leave the injury be, even if there were other uses for her mana that seemed more urgent.

    She raised one of her regrettably small hands and ten percent of her mana flowed through her Channeling, releasing a wave of supercharged plasma easily capable of incinerating a city. The beast that had nearly killed her was caught in the blast, along with a dozen of its lower-tier companions. She grinned in satisfaction when only half of them died, the rest protected by the tier ten that was her true target: She had finally forced it to use its aspect.

    With its nearly impenetrable defenses momentarily inaccessible, she had a slim window to wrap her aura¡ªinfused with her Aspect of Genesis¡ªaround its body. Her power dug into its skin even as it Teleported away. It escaped, but not before the true damage was done. The beast screeched in impotent rage as every facet of its strength was returned to the moment of its birth. Before it could recover, she appeared at its side and sunk her fire-wrought hands into its chest. One of which was covered by the glove she and the enigmatic Jiran of Feylon crafted.

    Her own specialized version of Mana Siphon, Mana Tear, ripped the beast¡¯s energies from its manapool. It was then sucked through the glove where it was forced to match the colors of her mana, thereby, making it hers. What couldn¡¯t fit in her manapool was wound into her Mana Cord¡ªa gift from her first acclamation. Simultaneously, Love of the Sky enveloped her arms in the meaning of wind itself. Jiran had told her how the creation of wind was nothing more than moving air due to differences in pressure. She used that concept to create thousands of rings around her limbs which were still buried in the beast''s torso. Each ring held enormous quantities of pressurized air and when she released them outward, the tier ten was diced into too many pieces to count.

    With its mana depleted and the efficacy of its skills reduced by her aspect, there was no coming back for the tenacious Graymin. The tornado that formed due to her unleashed technique rampaged around her, sending the swarming tier eights and nines hurtling helplessly while shredding their bodies.

    Teleport brought her to the limp, disfigured form of Sagrinar who was falling after receiving the surprise attack that had begun the skirmish. Revivify flowed through her channels and into him, bringing him back to life. As his eyes fluttered open, she fed him just enough mana to fulfill his role, should they immediately be set upon again. Her aura went to work dismantling the Graymin foolish enough to remain in range while she gazed at the remarkable formation covering her hand. Feeling the supple material that could somehow effortlessly contain vast quantities of mana, her thoughts were once more dragged back to her conversation with the boy.

    Did I lay it on too thick? Did he see through my act? Even if he did, I''m way too cute to resist! He''ll definitely play with me more in the future. It certainly is fun messing with the promising youngsters. Mother above knows I¡¯ll do anything to relieve the monotony at this point.

    Sagrinar coughing blood reminded her she wasn¡¯t alone. He wiped his chin, watching her suspiciously, ¡°You won again¡­ Monster,¡± he croaked.

    She snorted, directing her gaze to the emperors¡¯ intense battle far to the north, ¡°So rude. I''ll forgive you this once, since you''re having a bad day.¡±

    Sagrinar chuckled weakly, then winced, ¡°Dying twelve times is indeed a bad day.¡±

    ¡°Fifteen,¡± she corrected, withholding the smile that threatened to pull at the corners of her lips.

    He looked at her with a deadpan expression before giving up on breaking through her stony exterior. Sagrinar once more triggered his aspect as they waited far above the horde. Their job was to attract any tier tens, and his Aspect of Obsession was a perfect beacon to draw them in. The only problem was that they often arrived instantly and from too far away to predict. Starting each engagement on the back foot was tiresome, and dangerous, but at least it wasn¡¯t boring.

    As he swept his senses over the vast horde, his voice was tinged with exasperation, ¡°How can they have so many tier tens? They should have easily wiped out the empire long ago. Why withhold such forces until now?¡±

    ¡°We''ve clearly been underestimating them,¡± Lostrifar agreed, ¡°After seeing this army, I''m certain they have been using us as a farm. I get the sense this isn''t their best, merely what they could scrap together upon short notice.¡±

    ¡°That unpopular opinion is all but a certainty now, isn''t it?¡± Sagrinar stood up straight, now fully healed, ¡°Is Pierro still alive?¡±

    Lostrifar stretched her aura into an elongated shape and swept it across their surroundings, ¡°He''s still with the other rankers.¡±

    ¡°Are any of them¡­¡±

    Lostrifar nodded sadly, interjecting his unspoken question, ¡°Several of the Will-less are no more.¡±

    Sagrinar''s features twisted as he clenched his fists, ¡°A bad day indeed.¡±

    A massive explosion caused them to look far to the north, well beyond the range of their meager battle for survival. A wall of energy a hundred kilometers high married the ground to the sky. The shockwave released from that cataclysmic attack decimated millions of beasts and wiped a swath of mountains from existence as it traveled beyond sight.

    Luckily, the king had once more aimed away from them. Undoubtedly, in an attempt to eradicate one of the emperors. Lostrifar squinted, seeing five more of its eyes were still closed. Each time one of them opened, a similarly powerful blast would be released. Since those attacks carried such an unfathomably large quantity of mana, she assumed the king used a similar mana-storage technique to hers. Upon seeing the telltale signs of all three emperors resuming the fight, they breathed mirrored sighs of relief.

    ¡°Most of its eyes are open now,¡± Lostrifar commented, chewing on her lip.

    ¡°And we''re still alive,¡± Sagrinar finished her thought, finally allowing the smallest fraction of hope to flicker in his heart.

    ¡°Don''t jinx it!¡± She snapped, annoyed he would be so foolish. There was no way any of the others could survive one of those blasts, and she only gave herself a fifty-fifty chance. Despite her usual aloofness, she cared deeply for her old friends and the thought of any of them vanishing from her life was heart-wrenching.

    Long since used to her personality, Sagrinar continued as though she hadn''t yelled, ¡°On that note, do you really believe what Lenton said about Jiran¡¯s curse?¡±

    She narrowed her eyes, unsure of why he was bringing up the boy again after she had told him not to an hour ago, ¡°Yes. I followed his advice and I suggest you do the same. That''s likely the reason you keep dying while I remain completely unscathed¡­¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    It wouldn¡¯t do his mentality any good to know how close that last fight was.

    Sagrinar¡¯s eyes snapped to her in mild surprise, ¡°Since when did you become superstitious?¡±

    She exhaled sharply through her teeth, ¡°You know I''m not the type to leave a perfectly good tool unused just because I don''t understand how it functions.¡±

    ¡°Tool? That''s not what it looked lik¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you want me to bring you back the next time you die, I suggest you not finish that sentence.¡±

    Jiran of Madra

    ¡°Your idea of bringing the People to the Valley of Melodies was spot on,¡± Jiran praised Mayalyn.

    Her ears twitched at the compliment, not at all matching her words, ¡°That is hardly worthy of such acclaim. Our hunters are here, and the chances of our deaths are not negligible. If you were to die, the Peoples¡¯ cubs and mothers would be trapped in a land which would soon be overrun by Graymin. It was merely logical to remove them from such a vulnerable situation. It is not as though I foresaw them being attacked by the very empire we were supposed to be allied with.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s eyes hardened, ¡°These traitors are not a part of the empire. When this is over, I¡¯ll be¡ª¡±

    His words cut off as a truly ludicrous sight greeted his eyes. A gargantuan shadow swept from the northern mountain pass to the city in the south. It traveled at a speed a normal human eye would have no chance of tracking, but for an ascender, it crawled across the land. The shadow was born from an object so large it blotted out the sky, spreading darkness and despair to every sapient creature foolish enough to glance up. It was only thanks to his current distance from the battlefield that Jiran saw the object clearly, for surely those fighting directly beneath would be unable to grasp the reality of an entire mountain hurtling through the sky above them.

    Jiran pulled Mayalyn through the air. Gases ignited beneath them, propelling them far too slowly to make a difference. The enormous projectile cleared the pass and the new wardwalls before it slammed into the four-kilometer-wide city wall. Stones, formations, and soldiers were crushed with utter impunity. An expanding wave of force billowed outward from the demolished fortifications, dealing untold damage to the soldiers stuck in the wave of sand. All save the very furthest edges of the city walls fell in a matter of moments. Of the city itself, hardly a single structure remained standing.

    Luckily, the shockwave wreaked just as much chaos amongst the Graymin. In addition to being blown away and buried, their path was now blocked by a literal mountain of debris. Still, these were creatures with enough strength to hurl their dense bodies dozens of meters into the air with each jump.

    There was no need for words between Jiran and Mayalyn. Before they even arrived, he had begun pushing elemental lightning into her body. She released it in a steady stream that he collected into a crackling ball ahead of them. With a press of intent through the framework, the ball leaped away at a startling speed. It crashed into the front waves of Graymin at the far eastern side of the city as they attempted to infiltrate the now massive gap in the empire¡¯s defenses.

    Countless whips of current raced through their ranks, connecting them with cerulean chains that spelled instant death. A moment later, a second ball of lightning impacted the ground further to the west, turning even more of the beasts into kindling and blocking yet another access point into the ruins of Melathon. But the breach was several kilometers wide and there was far too much space for Mayalyn and him to cover alone.

    Jiran could see the dwindling manapools of his people winking out one after another. They were buried under so much weight and rubble that even a tier four would struggle to free himself. Fury clawed at his guts as he passed over them, unable to stop his desperate attempt to lace the entire breach with balls of lightning. Due to the surviving citizens and soldiers, he couldn¡¯t risk using a more destructive gravity ball or one of his new weapon formations.

    The three minutes it took for Dokkuun to arrive felt like hours. He didn¡¯t come alone. Two dozen tier sevens accompanied him. They spread out, their new spears and swords wreaking havoc amongst the jumping and scrambling beasts. Mayalyn pointed to an area thick with the monsters before tucking into a ball. Jiran nodded, placed his hand on the bottom of her feet, and hurled her as hard as he could with his mana, strength, and aura. Her body nearly became a bolt of lightning as she hurtled through the air and exploded into their midst.

    Jiran didn¡¯t see her land. He was far too busy tearing through rubble to pull out survivors. The city had long ago been evacuated; still, there were plenty of volunteers, soldiers, and support regimens remaining. Mana Omnis gave him a massive advantage in finding them. Surprisingly, Markhiss showed up, his shadowy figures locating several people that he quickly saved. By the time Jiran pulled out the last, Olive had managed to reorganize the Imperials into a ragged defensive line. Just an hour ago, seeing his people fighting side-by-side with the Forkara would have been heartwarming. Now, it was only barely enough to keep them alive.

    He moved toward the largest clump of blazing manapools, finding Olive, Mayalyn, Knife, Dokkuun, that stupid general he didn¡¯t know the name of, and even the Aahmra. Olive was shouting while busily scratching at a map, her voice strained from the frustration of being unable to communicate. When she sensed Jiran¡¯s aura, she looked over her shoulder in relief.

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± His voice was harder than he meant it to be but none of those gathered seemed to mind.

    Olive was in full battle-princess mode as she responded succinctly, ¡°Rook variants have begun appearing within the horde. They¡¯re also infiltrating through the mountains east and west, which should be impossible with all the traps. They must be losing thousands but they aren¡¯t stopping. The soldiers I have stationed there are being overrun.¡±

    The solution to at least one of their problems was obvious and Jiran was quick to snap an order, ¡°Dokkuun, send half of your tier six and seven warriors to the mountains east and west of the battlefield. Stop the Graymin from circling behind us. You¡¯ll be facing tier sixes, but expect sevens as well. Stay in groups. Do not pursue if they flee. The mountains are full of tier ten and eleven traps.¡± Dokkuun saluted and blasted away on a gust of wind.

    ¡°With the absence of the higher-tier Forkara, our line will struggle to stall the rook variants,¡± Olive pointed out.

    ¡°Knife, relocate half the Unbroken to plug the new gap,¡± Jiran¡¯s command had her scrambling to obey, and at Olive¡¯s shout, a nearby tier six mercenary picked her up in his aura. ¡°I¡¯ll thin them out until the Unbroken are in position,¡± Jiran knew the battle would quickly become impossible if the Graymin were allowed to repeat their previous attack. He asked the question on all of their minds, ¡°How in Mother''s shadow did they throw a mountain?¡±

    The moment he spoke it, the answer came to him and Olive at the same time, ¡°The missing rooks.¡±

    ¡°How many of them must it take to throw a mountain? Two hundred thousand? Three? How are we going to deal with that before they do it again?¡± Olive¡¯s expression became more pained with each word, hopelessness creeping into her psyche.

    Jiran remained calm, and his hand gently landed atop her shoulder, instantly soothing her frayed nerves, ¡°I can deal with them.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Mayalyn growled, ¡°Not alone. Do not be needlessly reckless!¡±

    This time, Jiran stood his ground, firmly shaking his head, ¡°I won¡¯t bring anyone below tier seven as they would only slow me down. I have no intention of fighting them fairly. You know better than anyone the range and power of the new weapon formations. Besides, the rankers should have cleared out anything above tier seven on their way north. I¡¯m the best, no, the only one who can do this. And the faster I am, the safer I am.¡±

    Mayalyn stomped her foot, sending cracks through the rocky rubble. She threw her head back, flexed every muscle in her body, and released a furious but short scream that contained all of her bottled up frustration at being too weak to accompany him. In the next moment, her arms were around his neck and she was whispering in his ear, ¡±Return to me soon, my Aajiran.¡± The kiss that landed on his cheek was lighting fast and before he could respond, she stormed off toward the nearest fighting with her claws extended and murder in her eyes.

    I will. Love you too.

    When Mayalyn was out of sight, Jiran found Olive watching him with furrowed brows, ¡°Are you sure?¡± She questioned softly, clearly just as unhappy as Mayalyn, though expressing it in her own way.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about me. In the absolute worst-case scenario, I have a pretty good backup plan that should at least get me out alive. I¡¯ve left a few surprises behind to protect your rear, in case it takes me longer than I think to get back. If that worst-case happens, can I rely on you to get my allies back through their portals?¡±

    ¡°O-of course!¡± Olive saluted, ¡°You can always count on me!¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Jiran had done his best the entire conversation to shove down his boiling anger. He gave her the warmest smile he could muster before turning to the horde. With nothing left between him and exacting his vengeance for the dead, he let that fury rise to the surface and leaped into the air.

 Chapter 198 - COME TUMBLING DOWN

    Enthralling Touch slithered through the sporadic lines of Graymin as they rushed toward the vulnerable remains of Morothin. Jiran didn¡¯t kill the tier fours or fives he drained, instead leaving them for the Forkara to boost their EXP. Without mana, the weaker beasts were slow, lacked power, and their regenerative capabilities were reduced to that of a child. With empty manapools, tier six rooks were incapable of shaping and launching the rocks that were their deadliest weapons. They were also large enough to be easily spotted and ganged up on by Bladewinds.

    The stolen strength of the horde flowed into a winding river that Jiran directed into his allies. He made sure to top off Lostrifar¡¯s formation blocks, which were thankfully intact. Compacted aura and multiple sheets of ice deflected the boulders flung his way. Elemental Castigation summoned balls of deadly fire that he blew into the horde, gouging sizzling holes in their ranks.

    When enough damage was done, and the Unbroken arrived to unleash walls of destructive ice, he left. The weight of every passing minute was immense, and Jiran¡¯s eyes were glued to the horizon, dreading the approach of another all-encompassing shadow. He made a quick pit stop at the hole he and Mayalyn used the last two days. There, he grabbed a heavy metal box with his aura before collapsing the small space.

    He then rapidly traveled north under an obfuscating layer of bent light. Once far enough away from his own people, he released a steady stream of Gravity Bombs, decimating the beasts and turning their mad dash toward the broken city into nothing more than a clean-up operation for his allies.

    With the initial densoon storm dissipated, the skies were clear enough to observe the Forkara spread out across the edge of the mountains. Their prowess on the front lines was nothing compared to what they could do in terrain that so perfectly suited their natures. They dove from cliffs at ridiculous speeds for their tiers, unleashing sweeping ranged bombardments that left their far slower prey in pieces. Maneuvering with impressive natural talent, they used crags and sharp ridges to block sight and fall back before diving all over again. The Graymin who were capable of flight fared far less well than those on land; they were circled and torn apart without ever having a chance to reach their opponents.

    Jiran flew higher and higher until the mountains looked no larger than small bumps on the ground. It only took a few minutes for a gap in the shifting clouds to reveal the missing mountain. He approached at his fastest speed that allowed him to remain hidden. Holding the metal box in his arms, he tucked his aura in tight before descending on what was now a flat section of land roughly four kilometers across.

    Thanks to Mana Omnis, he easily pinpointed a dozen groups of rooks scouting on the nearby peaks. They were hidden well beneath the snow, and the visible parts of their bodies had even taken on a white hue.

    That explains why we didn¡¯t get any reports about what they were doing.

    Jiran ignored the camouflaged beasts to follow the numerous tier six beacons already surrounding another nearby mountain. Based on the size of the Imperial army, he estimated there were at least five hundred thousand rooks. They worked tirelessly to detach the mountain from the ground, ripping and tearing huge chunks of rock, stone, and ore with every swing of their mana-infused arms.

    The excess materials were compacted and thrown backward, creating a rumbling racket and a massive ring of soil that circled the entire mountain. As though cutting down a massive tree, they burrowed into its base, cutting out a three-meter-tall layer. With each step closer to the center, more of their numbers were left behind. They placed their hands on the ceiling, holding up the weight of the mountain while infusing enough elemental energy into the gargantuan projectile to stabilize it.

    Why are they doing this to begin with? If they attacked the front lines with this many tier sixes, they might have overwhelmed us already. I suppose one tier nine staying behind could have wiped out the lot of them.

    I¡¯ll need to kill as many of them as possible with my opening attack. It would be impossible to track down even half of them if they scattered afterward. I can either wait for them to finish cutting out that layer and then drop it on their heads, or use the new formations to wipe them all out instantly. Screw that. Why choose? I''ll do both. If one fails, I''ll have a backup.

    Jiran flipped the metal box upside down and forty cubes fell out, each the size of his palm. He held one in his hand and surrounded it with a mixture of mana and detached aura just like he¡¯d practiced. With a flicker of intent, the cube shrunk and vanished into a nearby synapse. The cube zipped away along a zigzag path down the framework. A moment later, it successfully completed its Teleportation, arriving a meter underground after displacing the dirt when it re-expanded.

    He breathed a sigh of relief. This had been his first attempt at Teleporting an actively charged weapon formation. The previous attempts had all been on the scouting formations. He still had no intention of attempting to Teleport himself.

    Jiran made a slow ring around the mountain, maintaining his invisibility while periodically Teleporting cubes into the ground. The projected blast radius of each was nearly five kilometers, while the original ones he made before Mayalyn¡¯s ingenious idea were only three. He hadn¡¯t tested them yet to be sure, so he stuck with a distance that would almost certainly overlap, causing a chain reaction if he triggered even one.

    Once done, he found a position on the ground and waited. It took the rooks six hours to burrow out the entire layer of the mountain. Inside, the beasts shuffled energetically like a colony of bugs. When the mountain began to shake, Jiran made his move. He dropped the layer of obfuscating elemental light to focus all his minds on creating as many chakrams as possible. He chose to use fire, as the heat would melt the rock above and below the missing layer of mountain, further destabilizing their ability to hold the gargantuan structure above their heads.

    Multiple beams of crimson energy raked across the backs of the outermost rooks. This was his first time firing into so many tier sixes at once and he quickly realized their tough bodies were absorbing the energy faster than anticipated. Normally, his chakrams could decimate everything within a line two kilometers long, but with only higher-tier beasts as targets, he was barely managing five hundred meters. If he didn''t increase the speed he was killing them, there was a good chance they would manage to launch the mountain before he made a dent in their numbers.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The monsters were far from idle after his opening salvo. Three dozen boulders raced toward his position from the nearby peaks. Unlike his time dealing with the rooks in Mortan, he could now easily perceive the attacks. Mana and aura forced his body through a complex series of evasive maneuvers even as Enthralling Touch connected with the closest of them to restore his mana.

    The boulders zipped past from above, blasting into the ground with a thunderous crash. Elemental Castigation charged another five chakrams of super-heated plasma. This time, Jiran joined his lasers into a single beam that pierced deep into the ranks of beasts inside the mountain. Through that gap they created, his sixth and final beam carried a gravity bomb that detonated directly in the center.

    The bomb contained five percent of his mana, which wasn¡¯t nearly enough to absorb and store so much rock. It only managed to absorb around three hundred meters before the compressed matter was expelled. Due to the blast being contained inside the thin layer dug out of the mountain, its explosive force was amplified, devastating a large portion of the remaining tier sixes.

    The mountain rumbled and shook before dropping on top of the survivors, trapping them under far too much weight to easily escape. A gargantuan clap resounded, releasing an expanding wave of dust that Jiran used to hide himself from the sniping mountain-top rooks.

    After reactivating his obfuscations, he used Mana Omnis to track the trapped beasts while considering how to deal with them. Their numbers were already reduced to half, which was still more than enough to swamp his allies'' defenses on the front line.

    Without warning, the framework directly around Jiran went haywire; perfectly matching the intensity of Foresight¡¯s ringing warning in his neck. The vibrational sense he had begun to understand in The Land of the Lost was screaming holy hell, as though enemies were approaching from every direction. Not seeing anything, but trusting his senses, Jiran slunk away in a crouch while pulling his mana and aura in tight to create the least disturbance in his surroundings.

    My obfuscation isn''t perfect. It only works well when I move slowly. With all the rooks on the peaks, if I try to fly out of this dust in a hurry, they¡¯ll definitely spot me and their attacks would be much more accurate if I was flying in a straight line. I should avoid trying to flee too quickly. But this feeling¡­ something bad is definitely coming. Did the rankers miss a higher tier on their way north?

    Before Jiran could make up his mind on the best course of action, a tier seven Graymin arrived in a series of rapid Teleportations. He recognized the quick and sleek Slayer variant from Mortan. The ones he¡¯d killed there had been annoying to pin down due to their reduced Teleportation cooldown.

    Jiran couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of longing to rip the beast to shreds and absorb the challenger density tantalizingly waiting just below its skin. Luckily, the compulsion was weak and easily discarded because, within five seconds, there were nearly a hundred more tier sevens blinking through the air. They swarmed his previous position, which now felt far too close for comfort, and went to work tearing apart the ground.

    When nearly five hundred more tier sevens came bounding into the valley from every direction, Jiran¡¯s blood ran cold and sweat soaked the inner layer of his armor. It wasn¡¯t the rapid appearance of so many tier sevens that terrified him as he was confident he was faster than them; it was the fact that nearly every one of them was completely devoid of mana, making them invisible to Mana Omnis.

    The rooks and the mountain were a trap! There¡¯s no way it''s a coincidence they have no mana and arrived so quickly. Were they targeti¡ª

    Jiran¡¯s train of thought was shredded as several clues simultaneously aligned within his minds: The words of the Graymin, demanding to bring, ¡®Him,¡¯ his hypothesis that the beasts had the ability to steal the skills of the creatures they devoured with the filth, the appearance of the king so quickly after his exploits in Mortan, the way the pawns all screamed in unison when he first displayed Enthralling Touch, and now, this ambush, designed specifically to catch someone capable of draining mana. The beasts had even waited until the rankers were drawn north to spring their trap.

    Everything that¡¯s happened, this entire war, it was all orchestrated to catch, kill, and consume¡­ me.

    As if under the commands of a general, the few tier sevens with even an ounce of mana remaining inside their manapools leaped high into the air. They hovered in a loose circle, surrounding a figure that emerged from the clouds. This newest beast wore an eerily familiar smile. Jiran would never forget those eyes that glistened with wicked intelligence. Even before Identify confirmed its health was nearly fifty percent greater than a normal slayer, he knew it was the very beast that nearly killed Reihnhardt and Ravenna before the Remalon arrived.

    It escaped him once, wisely fleeing before ever exchanging blows with him, and now it was back to settle the score.

    With a pointed finger, it directed the airborne tier sevens who began systematically blasting the ground in a web-like search pattern. Jiran crept further away, but the violet blasts of destructive energy drew closer far faster than he was moving. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they found him.

    - Above the ruins of Morothin -

    Nine figures in dark robes Teleported into the stratosphere high above a raging battle. Deep hoods hid their features but failed to prevent them from gazing down at the mixed forces of humans and abominations that clashed against the Graymin, holding the beasts back with unsettling ease.

    ¡°They threw a mountain, how unsettling,¡± One of the hooded figures remarked while dipping his head in deference to their leader who stood disinterestedly at the northern edge of their formation.

    Another commented, her tone curious, ¡°Yet they have not been overwhelmed. The abominations are more powerful than our estimations.¡±

    ¡°They must be cleansed!¡± A third figure raised his hand, palm pointed toward the fighting far below.

    Their leader spoke for the first time, his voice a whip that caused them all to flinch, ¡°Don''t you dare, Twelve. Unless you wish to revisit the penance chamber so soon. The same goes for the rest of you. Until our prime objective is complete, any wasted mana will be considered dereliction of faith.¡±

    Twelve shuddered, his hand dropping to his side in a flash. He stood unmoving after that with his head lowered, not making a sound.

    The leader continued, his voice now calm yet commanding, ¡°Three, have you located Jiran of Feylon?¡±

    ¡°No, Sir. He is not here. Is it possible he fled?¡±

    ¡°Based on his previous exploits, it¡¯s more likely he chose to assist the princess in countering the Gray¡¯s new strategy. Three, find and secure him. He must not be allowed to expire before the cardinal has his answers. The rest of you will come with me to ensure the emperors¡¯ demise. Let the Graymin clean up the abominations for us. If they can¡¯t then we shall return.¡±

    ¡°What of the new portals?¡± Three questioned.

    ¡°Leave them for now. If the worst comes to pass, they will be our only path out of the empire.¡±

    ¡°If they are so valuable, should we not secure them?¡± The curious woman asked.

    The leader¡¯s voice turned harsh, causing the gathered Templari to instinctively tremble, ¡°We have no way of knowing if sealing them in a barrier would destabilize them. Just one more reason why securing Jiran is such a high priority. He must not be allowed to die.¡±

    He directed the last to Three who nodded sternly, ¡°I understand, One. I will fulfill my duty, or embrace the Voice¡¯s serenity.¡±

 Chapter 199 - WITH ALL OUR WILL

    The tier seven beasts continued to close the gap toward Jiran despite him moving away at the quickest speed that wouldn¡¯t reveal his position. He pushed his obfuscation to its limits by bringing the elemental light as close to his body as possible while amplifying its bending properties at the expense of significantly more mana. Several of the heavier and stronger enforcer variants bounded overhead as they entered the valley late, coming far too close for comfort.

    I can¡¯t keep this level of mana drain up. I need to preserve my energy as much as possible until I figure out a way to get out of here. I¡¯m far from out of options, but at the moment, none of them feel like a winning strategy.

    The real issue isn¡¯t the tier sevens, it''s the rooks. If I slow down to evade their attacks, I''ll be caught by the slayers and bogged down in a never-ending melee. Digging would be equally idiotic. They would notice the change in terrain right away and while I¡¯m having to dig, they would only need to chase me through the hole I¡¯d be making for them; they would catch me in seconds.

    I only have five cubes that I didn¡¯t deploy. That might be enough to keep them from catching me but it''s a bit of a risk. The worst case is that they have several hundred more drained tier sevens waiting in reserve. I can¡¯t locate them with Mana Omnis if they don¡¯t have any mana and the framework sense is completely overloaded with how many of them are around me already.

    I can detonate the weapon formations I planted earlier, but I have no idea what absorbing that much challenger density all at once would do to me. If I don''t make a move soon, they¡¯re going to end up making my decision for me. One wrong shot in their search pattern and the chain reaction will start¡­

    Wait! If I run, they¡¯ll obviously follow me, leaving the range of the weapon formations. Then, I won¡¯t have any fall-back strategy in case they have some way to pin me down. Leaving the valleys directly around this mountain would be a huge mistake.

    Just as he had the thought, nearly fifty more tier sevens with empty manapools came bounding over the mountain closest to the pass Jiran had been angling toward. With the reinforcements before him, and the nearing explosions behind, his minds raced all the faster.

    Since arriving, the aberrant slayer commanding the rest of the beasts didn¡¯t twitch a muscle, its entire being dedicated to scanning for movement within the valley as if it knew for certain Jiran was there. Explosions continued to rattle the ground, sending chunks of filth and clouds of dirt high into the air. Each was a reminder of how little time he had to make a sound decision.

    None of my usual strategies are going to work. I need to think of an entirely new method. What skills do I have and how can I use them to benefit me the most? No, first I need to adjust my objective. I¡¯m no longer considering escaping. Instead, I need to think of a way to get them to leave!

    Jiran glanced up at the leader, its gaze dancing back and forth across the valley with disturbing attentiveness.

    That¡¯s it! I need to give them something to chase. If I mess up, I''ll be forced to kill them all. Hmm. I can only convert mana to an element within five meters of my body. If I start the chase that close, they might hit me by accident and trigger one of the weapon formations I haven''t deployed yet. That would be¡­ bad. Don¡¯t rush, slow down, focus.

    Jiran took one of the cubes and Mana Confluence combined with Enthralling Touch, converting the elemental energy within it back into unaspected mana. He then recreated the formation into the shape of a small bird with multiple internal layers of graphene, each stuffed with intent, mana, and aura.

    After a deep, calming breath, he Teleported the decoy formation three hundred meters away. It immediately took off, hurtling through the air on a stream of ignited gases. Elemental light warped around it, causing it to look like a blurred, man-sized ball. The decoy followed the trajectory Jiran gave it in advance, flying toward the partially destroyed mountain where most of his weapon formations were buried.

    As predicted, the rooks on the nearby peaks unleashed a barrage of nearly thirty rocks, each thrown fast enough to distort the air and shatter the bones of higher-tier ascenders. But the tiny decoy formation was no easy target and only one of the attacks managed to strike it. The blow threw it off course and there was no way to control it remotely or pre-program it with the ability to correct its flight once its trajectory was altered. It ended up careening toward the filth-covered rocks below.

    The lead slayer, and many of the other tier sevens, noticed it immediately. With a pointed finger and a silent screech, the leader commanded the ones nearest him, who still had mana. They Teleported, diving in pursuit. Just before they reached it, Jiran sent a bead of mana coursing along the framework to intercept the decoy and it expended the remainder of its mana in an incredibly bright flash of light. By the time the beasts could see again, a new decoy formation was racing away from their position on a slightly different trajectory.

    The second decoy expired after being swarmed by slayers. The final one, Teleported to the maximum of Jiran¡¯s one-kilometer range, zipped over the peak of the mountain, taking almost all of the Graymin with it. The clever leader remained where it was, its eyes squinting suspiciously at the blurry, flying object.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    I need to take that bastard out. It¡¯s way too smart and fast, not to mention cautious. I need to be at point-blank range to have a chance of hitting it. Can¡¯t forget the bastards are resistant to aura. Ice is probably my best bet.

    Jiran pulled one of the two remaining weapon formations from his pocket and almost completely drained its mana-barrier. The highly destructive forces trapped inside pushed against their weakened constraints, eager to explode outward. With a flicker of intent, the cube was sucked into a synapse and appeared right beside the leader.

    The thumbnail-sized gravity bomb tucked inside the cube had been crammed full of elemental ice during its creation. The only thing keeping the gravity ball from releasing that trapped and compressed mass was the formations within the walls of the cube. When the depleted mana faltered, an enormous rush of frigid mana exploded outward.

    The beast responded instantly and Teleported away. Unfortunately for it, the range of its skill was only a few hundred meters. The air turned solid, easily encompassing several times that distance and the clever monster was encased in a massive ball of ice that began its inexorable descent toward the ground.

    Jiran was far enough to the side that the massive object wouldn''t hit him, allowing his focus to remain unwavering. He dropped his obfuscation and directed all his minds to rotating separate chakrams of plasma. The highly compressed energy within them spun at an incredible speed, releasing a series of high-pitched buzzing whines.

    A single second was all he needed to charge his attacks. Due to the vast disparity between the tiers, a single second on Madra could feel no longer than a fleeting moment within a dream, or a lifetime. Within that all-important second, Jiran had no means to perceive the sequence of events that transpired.

    As his chakrams were only beginning to heat up, compress, and spin, a powerful aura slid its way across the valley. The moment it passed over him, an individual far beyond his strength Teleported behind him. As the energies of Jiran¡¯s chakrams reached their zenith, a cold, hard object snapped in place around his neck. Suddenly, the world as he typically perceived it, came crashing to a halt.

    Not only was he cut off from all his external mana manipulations, but something tore at his exposed aura with the might of an emperor. Luckily, most of his aura had already been pulled inside his body, but that didn¡¯t stop nearly a quarter of it from being torn to shreds in a fraction of a heartbeat. Before he could open his mouth to scream, his now uncontrolled chakrams released their energy wildly, firing several beams of plasma in random directions to wreak unholy havoc upon the surroundings. And one of them released its payload directly at Jiran, who was powerless to stop it.

    One of Sanctum

    ¡°Three has successfully made contact with Jiran of Feylon. How fare the emperors?¡± Eight''s feminine voice purred as she caught up with the rest of the Templari.

    ¡°Worse than anticipated,¡± Six snarled, a formation scope held to his eyes revealed the intense battle several dozen kilometers to the north. ¡°Not only are all three of them alive, they''re even counter-attacking the king. Though they seem unable to pierce the barrier of clouds around it. Likely, it is only a matter of time until they are victorious.¡±

    Eight¡¯s mouth fell open in complete shock and she finally understood the solemn expressions of her companions. If the emperors weren¡¯t losing, then her brothers and sisters, and herself, would be called upon to act, ¡°What?! That cannot be! The records clearly state that even with the aid of the Apostles, the king was an invincible being. How could those three unfaithful failures possibly prevail?¡±

    Twelve scratched at the burnt skin of his arms, hidden from sight by his voluminous robes, ¡°That''s not all. The rankers are still alive and holding strong despite being heavily outnumbered. Additionally, there are signatures of fifteen tier ten Gray that have been extinguished.¡±

    Eight shook her head in denial, floating backward as if to distance herself from the unimaginable truth, ¡°This is too much to be a coincidence. Something beyond our expectations has influenced every facet of this battle.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps Jiran found a powerful master in the new lands?¡± The usually quiet and reserved Seventeen spoke up for the first time in weeks.

    One silenced their discussion with a crack of his aura. The time for thought and discussion was over. Now, there was only one path remaining before them, ¡°It does not matter. The situation is dire and our orders are clear. We will deploy the reterer. Four and Seven will protect me while I deliver the artifact. The rest of you will assault the rankers from their flanks. You are only required to distract them long enough for me to complete my mission.¡±

    Hearing the finality in his tone, and knowing he would not be returning, the other Templari bowed in silent reverence for his selfless sacrifice. One felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as he faced his companions for the last time, ¡°There will be no possibility of hiding the Voice¡¯s stance against the empire once the battle begins. Do not waste your lives frivolously. Complete your mission and withdraw. You must return to the cardinal and continue to serve the Voice.¡± With one hand over his heart and the other sliding up his throat, he saluted them, ¡°With all your will!¡±

    Each of the seven Templari heard the unspoken desire that they live on while he could not. They responded with all the fervor residing in their hearts and souls, ¡°With all our voice!¡±

    Satisfied, One nodded and removed the holy artifact and the apostles¡¯ blood from their respective protective cases. He dripped a single dollop of the stored blood from each vial onto opposite sides of the artifact¡¯s pristinely smooth surface. The liquids sank through and swam into the thick mana within. The moment they met at the center, they combined and the egg-shaped artifact began to emit a threatening energy that stood their hairs on end and vibrated their teeth painfully.

    The energy continued to oscillate, quickly growing so fierce that the air quaked and the ground far below trembled. A mountain collapsed as though it were no more than a child''s toy; crushed without mercy or thought. A fissure split the land from east to west, swallowing millions of tons of rocky terrain. One, enraptured by the power of the apostles, stared into the egg¡¯s depths, utterly unable to perceive their vastness.

    Looking up, he met the eyes of his companions for the last time before vanishing with the most holy of artifacts held firmly in his arms.

 Chapter 200 - A DESPERATE GAMBLE

    In general, defensive formations were limited in that they had no eyes to see and no brain to make sophisticated judgments. At best, they could react to being directly damaged, or maintain an outer shell of mana and aura keyed to wait for a specific stimulus. Once triggered, formations were further limited by the capabilities of the creator. The possible amount of programmable reactions depended on how many concurrent thought streams the original intent was split into; because once intent is loaded into a formation, it can only be overwritten, never added upon.

    This weakness was the reason Morothin¡¯s warding formations had failed to protect the city from the thrown mountain. The protective mana and aura they projected were programmed with the intent to reject beast physiques and mana, and little else. Due to the mountain not having a noticeable layer of mana surrounding it like the rooks¡¯ usual projectiles, the mountain was allowed to pass directly through like a wagon laden with supplies.

    The moment Jiran¡¯s attack shot off-course and slammed into his suit, two of its new defensive formations activated. Had Jiran foreseen that his abilities would be what activated his defenses, he would have added in a countermeasure of Elemental Castigation to merely convert the energy back into mana, rendering it harmless. But the idea that his control of mana and skills outside his body would be sealed had never crossed his minds.

    He had done his best to program the formations in a way that would protect him without accidentally murdering any of his allies that happened to be standing nearby, which also meant they were far weaker than the fully-powered chakram¡ªcapable of killing beasts several tiers above him¡ªwhich was now tearing those very formations apart at an atomic level.

    The first defensive measure was a series of tiny pocket-like formations embedded in the outermost layers of his suit. As collimated plasma melted them, the mana within was released. It sprang free, simultaneously triggering every second pocket formation to do the same. Together, they created a solid coating of mana that completely covered him. The second half of the formations had a slightly different purpose; due to being melted, they responded by releasing mana converted into a wave of elemental ice that formed on top of the pure mana coating.

    Unfortunately, whatever Jiran¡¯s attacker had done to inhibit mana outside his body was also affecting his formations. They weakened rapidly as the energy powering them was drained away, though they did buy him the moment he needed to save his life.

    Jiran''s instincts screamed bloody murder as the heated beam of elemental particles melted his suit like wax in a firestorm. With the advance of the heat, came a blistering affliction that tore at his sanity as his skin and muscles boiled. Foresight, and unbridled panic mingled, causing an adrenal surge that ballooned his perception of time until the world crawled forward in slow motion.

    Only a few thoughts managed to surface into reason, and they struggled to grasp his predicament; the elemental energy was his, and every facet of his instincts knew he should be able to reclaim that energy into mana and use it as he wished. But an impossibly powerful barrier denied him that reality. Only once the energy entered his body and did its damage could he reclaim it, which he did, but it was a losing battle.

    Most of his Manabody had been pooled internally to remain hidden from the Graymin, and his instinctual activation of Oneness was his only saving grace, granting him just enough mental acuity and reaction speed to survive by getting the hell out of the way.

    He ducked but his body responded strangely, as though something had crawled inside him to physically block the movements of his muscles. Still, he managed to get mostly free of the incinerating beam but a hard and cold object pulled against his neck, jerking him to a stop and triggering an uncomfortable torture that writhed inside him like his bones were grinding against one another. With his legs already bent, he jumped to the side and felt himself be pulled in a short circle as though he were tied to a stone by a short rope. Thankfully, he finally found freedom from his own attack, immediately collapsing due to his melted muscles no longer functioning.

    His aura spread out gingerly, not daring to go far enough to press against the mysterious barrier and be shredded away. It revealed that he was still on fire and that the top half of his suit was completely gone. Since mana was still working within the confines of his body, he went to work battling the sticky plasma burrowing its way inside him. He released a blast of Elemental Castigation in the form of frost powerful enough that it froze him stiff. A heartbeat later, Mana Confluence filled him with regenerating energy, restoring his muscles, nerves, skin, eyes, and hair.

    With the restoration, came new awarenesses, and even more demanding of his attention, new agony. There was indeed something inside his body halting the natural movements of his muscles: Several somethings in fact.

    The collar he could now clearly feel wrapped around his neck had grown six fingers of hooked, barbed bone that had sliced their way into his neck and were burrowing deeper inside his chest with each passing second. They didn¡¯t appear designed to kill, as they released a continual healing energy that kept him alive, if in a state of intense torment.

    Jiran activated mana inside the portion of his brain responsible for sensing pain. Another three of his minds went to work attempting to halt the progression of the terrifying fingers but it was futile as they were clearly made of materials far higher tier than himself. The rest of his focus was directed outward, and he finally got a good look at what was going on around him. Attached to the collar around his neck, was a short glowing rope of flexible metal. It led to a belt being worn by a mysterious figure in a dark robe with a deep shadowed cowl.

    Bony fingers that belonged to a malnourished middle-aged male poked from long sleeves. The only other visible feature was the hard line of his mouth that formed a disinterested frown. For a reason Jiran couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom, he felt no sense of danger from the hooded man, despite Mana Omnis revealing a tier nine manapool simmering with untapped power. Even so, his anger spiked nearly out of control at the mere fact he was being collared like a slave for the second time in his life.

    Without saying a word, the man gently but firmly grabbed Jiran''s shoulder, pulling him to his feet. Jiran could feel the synapses inside him at that moment being activated in the familiar manner of a Teleportation. When the bubble of mana appeared around them both, it instantly popped. The Teleportation wasn''t the only thing to be disrupted as the upper half of the tier nine suddenly exploded into gore that painted the scenery behind him in a mess of crimson, splattering flesh.

    With his death, the Manabody holding back the beasts faltered and hundreds of tier seven Graymin raced toward Jiran.

    Despite the approaching death, Jiran nearly retched. Not because the bastard had been torn apart by some unknown force, but because the belt the man wore had also stretched fingers of bone deep inside the tier nine¡¯s body.

    The fingers smoked and sizzled, writhing in the air like worms, questing for the manapool they had just been denied. One of the bones stabbed into an exposed chunk of the still-standing leg before its entire length flashed green and red. In the blink of an eye, the missing parts of the tier nine were regrown. With his clothes just as destroyed as the rest of him had been, Jiran saw the numerous glowing scars across the man''s torso and face, all in the same pattern: That of the Imperial numeral three.

    The freshly revived man¡¯s eyes snapped open and he gasped, clutching at his chest as the fingers of bone reburied themselves in his manapool. At the same time, his aura exploded outward, once more halting the Graymin from encroaching. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The fingers within Jiran had stopped progressing once they reached where his manapool used to be. Of course, as a Remalon, the entire inside of his body was now considered a manapool so he was easily able to redirect his energies away from the fingers that greedily attempted to sup upon his energies.

    Three spoke, his gravelly words almost too fast for Jiran¡¯s comprehension, ¡°Interesting, there''s some kind of energy field hidden inside you. It doesn¡¯t appear to be the handiwork of the emperors as it was even powerful enough to slightly damage the bones of the morkork. How vexing. Dismiss the field so we may quit this place, there is much we must do.¡±

    ¡°How about no,¡± Jiran spat, his mouth twisting in a rictus of hatred. ¡°Or, go fuck yourself. Whichever you prefer,¡± he dared not make a hasty move until he could think of a way out of the situation.

    Three paid his words no mind. He slowly walked around Jiran while humming to himself. Over a few seconds, easily a hundred flashes of the man¡¯s mana and aura snaked around Jiran. Meanwhile the man¡¯s Forming reconstructed his clothing, ¡°Fascinating, it appears to only activate when I attempt to directly manipulate you against your will. Well, no matter, I wasn''t planning on hurting you from the beginning. Your pretty little blue-haired abomination, Princess Oliviala, and your family on the other hand¡­¡±

    The threat toward Mayalyn and Olive focused him like never before. His mana and aura were hard at work attempting to understand the morkork bones buried inside him. Each of his minds became a spear, sharpened and pointed at the cursed collar restraining him. The device exuded power far beyond his tier; he could neither damage nor manipulate its physical structure in any way. Now that his friends were being threatened, and knowing that tier nine¡¯s were capable of attacking from very, very far away, Jiran took the plunge that he had been hesitant to resort to.

    His mana slithered directly into a hole at the tip of one of the fingers. Clearly, they were designed to suck mana from their victims as a powerful force immediately attempted to wrest control of his energies. But just because the materials were higher-tier than him, didn¡¯t mean the individual who loaded it with intent had a Molding skill that could stand up to his Mana Confluence.

    There was not a single individual in the empire that could wrest Jiran¡¯s mana from him against his will and his energies tore their way through the hollow chain of bones and directly into the collar around his neck. He didn¡¯t stop there, his mana flooded into the rope connecting him to the tier nine, which turned out to be more of the same bone wrapped in cloth. At its end, he reached the belt the man wore. It was a fairly complex formation that powered the entire device. There, Jiran found what he was looking for. A tiny protrusion in the shape of a needle intended to draw blood and create the ability to control the formation.

    Jiran¡¯s mana raced past the drop of crimson liquid stored inside the needle and out into the open air before flashing away on a synapse of the framework.

    The few seemingly harmless motes of mana that vanished were loaded with deadly intent, and the moment they reached the buried formations that were their destinations, the world turned pure white as a series of tremendous explosions morphed the nearby landscape into a boiling cesspool of carnage.

    Expanding waves of force shredded the clouds far above while terraforming the mountains into pitted craters. The cacophonous thundering was heard for a hundred kilometers. The explosions triggered a chain reaction, releasing even more trapped, compressed gases and elemental energies that eagerly joined the mayhem.

    Jiran¡¯s gravity bombs were not yet capable of compressing particles to the point of fusion. Otherwise, the tier nine who calmly watched the devastation while protecting them both with his Manabody and Channeling might have actually been hurt.

    He blocked out the annoying racket and clicked his tongue in disappointment, ¡°Beyond impressive to pull that off while restrained by the morkork, but that''s not enough to scratch someone like me. It was a good attack for your tier to be sure, but the concentration of mana was simply too low. Now that you¡¯ve seen the futility of struggling, it''s time for you to surrender. Cooperate with us, or I''ll kill your friends and family one at a time until you do.¡±

    Unable to see beyond the shrouding darkness Three had erected, Jiran could only hope his plan had worked. Now that events had been set in motion, there were only two ways this would end and he only had to deal with a single pesky requirement to ensure he arrived at the better of those two options.

    His voice was calm, resigned, yet carried a purposeful undertone of defiance, ¡°No. I''ll never help you like that. If you hurt a single one of them, my grudge will become deeper than the Murinth Ocean. If it''s not clear yet, even your precious morkork can¡¯t control my mana. If you push me too far, I¡¯ll kill myself.¡±

    Three shrugged, ¡°A foolish choice. There are many ways to sustain your existence. You''ll come around once you see how I slowly pull your loved ones apart piece by piece. It is a sadness that the blue-haired one is only tier four so she won''t last as long. I''ll probably finish with her after¡­ a moon? We''ll see,¡± only a slight twitch of his lips betrayed his frustration at the situation.

    Jiran could barely control his voice through the rage, but everything depended on leading the conversation where it needed to go. He could not fail, or everything and everyone he loved would be lost, ¡°Do you really have time for that? There''s an easier way to get my help, you fucking lunatic.¡±

    Three raised his brows in mild surprise, ¡°I''m listening.¡±

    With a deep breath, Jiran gambled with all their fates, ¡°Let''s become allies. A mutual contract between us that you won''t hurt me or my friends, and I''ll help you with a specific number of tasks. Let¡¯s say ten,¡± Jiran used mana to freeze the muscles in his face, maintaining his expression while he waited an agonizingly long two seconds for a response.

    ¡°You''re a very frustrating child. Why didn''t you tell me that was an option from the start? I do hate threatening the weak, though doubt not that I would have carried out anything required to ensure your cooperation. Not to mention forcing me to endure the tender resurrection of the morkork¡­¡± He shuddered, ¡°Fine, let us be allies from here on out.¡±

    Jiran could tell the man meant his words and a vicious, toothy grin split his face. Torn between the desire to laugh and cry, his voice came out strained with emotion, ¡°Perfect. I was really worried I wouldn''t be able to convince you. Now that I''m safe, we can finish this game.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you spewing now?¡± Three opened his mouth to say something else but never got the chance as a tidal wave of challenger density raced into Jiran like a flash flood released from a dam. His entire body was ripped apart and remade while Three could do nothing but watch in abject horror as he assumed Jiran really had found some way to kill himself.

    Through the onslaught of sensations, Jiran could only distantly perceive the world around him. He knew someone, somewhere, was shaking uncontrollably, though for the life of him, he couldn¡¯t figure out who it was. A moment later, his blocked pain receptors were remade and a torrent of misery and bliss swept away what little of his consciousness remained.

    Three, concerned for his charge¡¯s safety, attempted to heal Jiran but his mana was rebuffed as though one of the Apostles themselves resided within the boy. Once Jiran¡¯s seizures halted, Three gingerly picked him up, relieved that his guess about the strange energy field not activating was accurate. With the boy hanging limply over his shoulder, Three took to the sky, not willing to attempt another Teleportation with that terrifying field still dormant within. He was beyond eager to return to the cardinal so the excruciating morkork could be passed onto another.

    A strange sound to his side drew his attention. He looked, finding himself truly surprised for the third time that day as he spotted a three-meter-long, shimmering scarlet line in the air. What truly alarmed him about it, was that his aura and Mana Sight detected absolutely nothing. Not wanting to take any chances, he launched himself and Jiran away at full speed, despite the damage such rapid movement would cause the boy.

    His instincts, honed from hundreds of years of intense battles against the undead, screamed at him that something was terribly wrong. Looking back, he found the line in space was following right behind him, worse still, it widened, sliding open like a gaping maw to reveal a sea that churned with an abundance of ominous ruby-red energy. A powerful suction tore at his skin and bones, pulling him toward that fissure. Three knew in every fiber of his being that if he failed to escape now, there would be no second chances.

    For the first time since taking the oaths and becoming a sworn hand of the Voice, he panicked. He unleashed a Channeling several times stronger than the explosions Jiran had caused moments ago. He used the shockwave of his own attack to carry them several times faster than their previous speed. He felt Jiran¡¯s body tearing apart and he tried to heal the boy but he wasn¡¯t nearly fast enough. The liquid blasted out of the portal, forming a massive blurred fist that snatched them from the sky at a speed Three couldn¡¯t even comprehend. In the next instant, they were pulled into the portal which promptly closed and winked from existence.

 Chapter 201 - BOOK 4 EPILOGUE - DIM TIDINGS

    Dagris Le¡¯Furiette

    Dagris and Dominus flew side by side toward the colossal Graymin King. Channeling poured a ludicrous quantity of mana and elemental energy through their bodies. Their attacks erupted outward simultaneously, washing across the skies and bathing the perceivable world in hues of orange and ultramarine. The framework (or fabric as they called it) was instantly vaporized, rupturing the threads that held together the tapestry that was the surface of Madra.

    Dominus¡¯ bolt of lightning was fifty meters thick and packed with enough current to power a civilization for a hundred years. It raced toward the beast''s side, but not before absorbing and integrating Dagris¡¯ inferno of equal devastation. The king either had no means to avoid their combination, or simply didn¡¯t deem it a threat. The moment of impact came and went with little fanfare; their attacks containing forty percent of their mana merely caused a ripple to spread across the deceptively thin layer of clouds covering the monster¡¯s hide.

    Before even confirming if they had managed to hurt it this time, the two retreated with the aid of their respective aspects and Teleportations. The king¡¯s response to their audacity was a hundred, man-sized fissures that opened across its body, each releasing an invisible pulse of force capable of shredding elements, aura, and mana-imbued defenses with equal ease. Getting hit by even one would necessitate regenerating their entire body, which was an unacceptable drain on their dwindling mana. But the worst part about the king¡¯s close-range attacks wasn¡¯t their power, it was their ability to relentlessly track down its targets.

    Mesalay Teleported between the beast and her allies. She released her charged-up aspect and her body shimmered as one hundred copies of Dagris and Dominus raced out of her, flying in random directions. The king¡¯s attacks veered off course, chasing the phantom emperors through the skies and annihilating them without fail.

    Mesalay signaled with her aura in a complex series of taps, alerting them that her mana was nearly depleted. They retreated far to the northwest, where the endless horde still continued their headlong march toward the empire. They blended in, hiding within the ranks of the beasts using a mix of aura and elemental obfuscations that would have left Jiran drooling.

    Dagris fumed, ¡°This isn''t working.¡± He located a tier nine with his aura and pulled the helpless creature through the fabric of reality. It appeared with its neck already firmly in his grip and he casually sunk his other hand into its chest. He withdrew the limb, releasing a geyser of blood before unsheathing the dagger Jiran had made specifically for him. He shoved it into the fresh hole and the small blade shone with an ominous emerald light before the creature''s mana rushed through it and into him.

    ¡°That barrier must have been made by a higher-tier beast. We''ve pumped enough damage into it to kill a tier eleven fifty times over and it''s shown no signs of weakening,¡± Dominus fingered his own specially made dagger, waiting patiently for Dagris to utilize his aspect and bring him a beast to drain as well. He scowled, remembering when Lostrifar had finally handed over the incredibly valuable tools after being pestered about her glove.

    Supposedly, Jiran claimed they wouldn¡¯t function indefinitely so they were doing their best to make each recharge of their mana count. Something that would have sounded absolutely ludicrous only a few days ago.

    Mesalay was the only one of the three out of breath; utilizing her aspect to such a degree took its toll. Her words were spoken between quick pants, ¡°Killing it was never part of the plan. Apparently, it being significantly weaker than the last one we fought doesn¡¯t matter since it has that blasted barrier.¡±

    Dagris cringed, speaking quickly as he dragged several tier nines to his party, ¡°As much as I loathe to admit, I have to agree with your initial assessment: this truly is a completely different king. In every regard, it is inferior to the one we faced long ago. While possible it is injured in some way, I very much doubt it. The Graymin are much more terrifying than we ever wished to believe.¡±

    ¡°Rather than focus on the horizon, we should deal with the beast at our walls,¡± Mesalay chided.

    Dominus nodded, his voice a touch sulky, ¡°Too bad cutting it off from the filth didn¡¯t have the desired effect. I really thought that was going to work. At least we learned that¡¯s how to make it stop spawning beasts. Looks like Jiran¡¯s theories have some weight to them. I¡¯m really starting to like that kid.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, enough about the boy. You¡¯re worse than an academy first-year with a crush. If we¡¯re in agreement to cease our attacks, let¡¯s attempt to convince it to head further nor¡ª¡±

    A deep, thrumming rumble preceded the ground heaving beneath their feet. The air quaked as well, in a bone-rattling, mind-numbing way that caused headaches to bloom behind their eyes. Dagris and Dominus both stared at Mesalay, waiting impatiently for her input without saying a word. In a fight at their tier, every instant could prove to be precious beyond measure, and neither dared to speak when their scout had information to relay.

    Her eyes closed as she connected with her copies, searching diligently for the source of the thundering, ¡°They have revealed themselves at last. Eight tier nines and an old friend holding a formation that has more mana inside it than I can perceive.¡±

    The three understood the implications of her short report. They had long since wondered where Palo and Loro¡¯s mana went. Their best theory was that the two somehow used it to keep the madness at bay. To learn they had been secretly charging a formation all this time was disheartening, and confirmed their worst concerns.

    The fact they had multiple unknown tier nines was more of a shock. Truly only one touched with insanity would dare dig in search of tier seven beasts. And digging was the only way they could have found them. Divination could not reveal the locations of beasts more powerful than oneself, and the strongest creatures that appeared below the surface had auras with unfathomable ranges so the possibility of stumbling upon a tier twelve or higher was not just high, it was nearly a certainty. That the voicers had pulled it off and kept it a secret was nothing short of miraculous.

    Mesalay¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the look of determination that crossed Dagris¡¯ face. She was only quick enough to relay three words before he vanished in a Teleportation, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡±

    Dagris¡¯ Aspect of Inexorable Advance mingled with his skill to pull him much further through the fabric of reality than the others could travel in a single jump. He had always been fascinated by Teleportation, and his aspect embodied that obsession. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    The king noticed his return, but at that moment, neither cared about the existence of the other; their focus wholly dominated by the new sun blazing several dozen kilometers away, and far outside the range of a regular Teleportation. Mana Sight revealed what Mesalay had seen before, and Dagris agreed with her assessment of the formation; it truly was releasing an unfathomable quantity of mana and didn''t show any signs of slowing down. On the contrary, with each passing microsecond, the energy it released increased exponentially and he estimated there were only a handful of seconds left before it became unstable.

    Dagris poured mana through his tap and into his aura where it empowered his aspect. Existence contorted, making his desires the new reality, but what he was demanding this time was truly beyond the norm. The fabric shuddered and tore but over and over again he forced it back together with pure will. His mana drained at an alarming rate, nearly reaching fifty percent while the new sun split, appearing both before him and in the distance as if it couldn¡¯t decide where it ought to reside.

    The king wasn¡¯t idle, opening the last two of its eyes and unleashing a combined devastation toward the southeast. The immense wave of energy swept through the region and smashed into the power being released by the other half of the mysterious formation still in its original location. The visible world oscillated in bending and twisting waves of light as artifact and beast mana battled for supremacy.

    Dagris roared, releasing most of his mana and fury at the foolish bastard who had taunted the king, causing it to fire toward his home. All aspects had the ability to reshape existence, and his once more proved its worth when it pulled the dangerous formation and its half-dead wielder¡¯s neck directly into his strangling grip. The remainder of the king¡¯s attack blasted through the now-empty region of land, annihilating every landmark in its path as it swept out of sight.

    Dagris crushed the man''s throat, even as recognition narrowed his eyes, ¡°Thomrik, how did you survive? Not that it matters, the formation has already fused with your body. Too bad Lostrifar won¡¯t have the opportunity to kill you again.¡±

    Thomrik¡¯s opaque, vacant gaze, ruined larynx, and limp form were all evidence of his inability to respond. The waves of energy being released by the egg half-buried inside the man¡¯s chest were rapidly eating away at Dagris¡¯s body and with most of his mana used up to drag it several times the distance of a normal Teleportation, he was defenseless to stop it. He spun to face the king, desperation and conviction suffusing his being. They locked gazes; two human eyes and a hundred bestial orbs staring off, both knowing that what was coming next could be their end.

    The beast roared, releasing a shockwave in every direction that so thoroughly destroyed the world, only darkness remained in its wake. Mesalay arrived at Dagris¡¯s side at that very moment. She came in hot, riding a blazing wall of force. One of her boots impacted his chest, sending him flying away so quickly that he appeared as nothing more than a shooting star in the sky. She grabbed the dying Thomrik and pulled him into a tight hug before she exchanged positions with one of her clones.

    The two reappeared in the dark nothingness between the expanding shockwave and the king. Several of its eyes widened in realization, but Mesalay didn¡¯t give it a chance to escape. She plunged her hand into the egg, her flesh evaporating up to the elbow. The king roared again, but the damage was done and even as the egg ate away at her arm, she used the other to give the beast her best two finger salute. Then, an explosion beyond anything the empire had ever seen wiped away everything within two hundred kilometers.

    It took nearly an hour for the framework to patch itself back together and restore that section of the planet. Had anyone still been in the area, they no doubt would have been shocked to see the king pulling itself North at a miserable pace. Only one of its mountain-sized limbs remained, and in the furrow created in its wake, a river of blood flowed.

    - Present Day -

    - City of Firandel, Capital of the Remalon Syndicate -

    Selaine walked into a chamber several hundred kilometers beneath the ground. Every centimeter between her and the surface was made of mana-laced composites and formations designed with a single purpose. Even she would have a hard time cracking through them to escape, assuming she was in optimal shape. The man she was there for was most certainly not.

    Her heartless gaze settled on Kaprokka¡¯s broken body. He was strung up inside a powerful central formation in the shape of a large circular gate. Spatial fluctuations produced from thousands of surrounding subsidiary formations combined like spokes in a wheel, trapping him in place. They constantly tore his body apart while simultaneously controlling his mana, expelling massive quantities of itself to keep him alive. Thousands of her worshippers hid on the surface, feeding energy into the formations and prolonging his suffering.

    ¡°A Remalon, held at bay by a mere fifteen thousand slaves. Pitiful. Disgusting. Millions are dead already, due to your negligence,¡± she spat, raw disgust marring her otherwise perfect features, ¡°Tell me where the abomination is so we can be done with this nonsense. Or do you truly intend to remain here until you die? We are not so common a breed that your violations are unforgivable. Tell me what I need to know and you may retake your rightful place among your brothers and sisters.¡± Looking down at him, Selaine was almost proud. Only a Remalon could withstand such torture for even an hour without going insane.

    Karprokka¡¯s coughed laughter splattered the stones crimson, ¡°Millions dead? Why, you sound downright apoplectic. I never realized The Reaper of Souls had room in her heart for her subjects. Or has your little war turned so poorly that its beginning to affect your sensitivities?¡±

    Bastard! A hundred cities and a dozen carefully manicured species consigned to history. Poorly, is beyond an understatement and we Remalon are far too few to cover all our lands. Though, it is not all your fault, little Kaprokka. This shitsoup has been long in the brewing.

    She laced her voice with a perfectly calculated quantity of compassion, ¡°Of course I care, how long have we spent building our home? Why would I want to see it tarnished? Especially over such a simple misunderstanding. The Remalon have no weaknesses, the divinators confirmed it, yet still they throw themselves at us. It is a shame, but it can all come to an end, tell me where the abomination is and all will be forgiven and return to how it was.¡±

    Half of Kaprokka¡¯s body sagged as if the bones had been removed from it. He quivered as the debilitating injury was regenerated. He looked up once more to meet her pitiless gaze, ¡°As I suspected, you only care about the perception of our dominance.¡± He shook his head, the motion releasing fresh misery within, ¡°I¡¯m not telling you where he is, but you shouldn¡¯t let that stop you from releasing me.¡±

    Despite honestly trying to maintain her facade, Selaine threw her head back and guffawed with great heaving bellows, ¡°Oh this should be good. Do tell me why I would free you with nothing to show for it?¡±

    Desperation tinged Kaprokka¡¯s voice, for he truly would die if he stayed there much longer, ¡°I told you he was the lowest tier evolved I¡¯ve ever seen. What I¡­ possibly forgot to mention, is that he was only in the fourth tier, and when I left, he was already absorbing challenger density.¡±

    Selaine¡¯s brows furrowed and her lips scrunched in confusion, her thoughts unable to comprehend Kaprokka¡¯s motives, ¡°Why protect him all this time, why go through all this torture if you knew he was going to die in that arena?¡±

    ¡°You are far too wrapped up in your own little world, Selaine. I didn¡¯t tell you, because he might succeed.¡±

    ¡°Impossible!¡± She scoffed, ¡°I¡¯ve personally trained tens of thousands from birth and not one has ever survived the tier four trial. No, that arena has never been cleared and never will,¡± she bobbed her head side to side for several painfully long seconds before nodding slightly, ¡°Very well, since he is doomed, and the secret of our supposed weakness will die with him, you are free to go. I expect you to report to Milesandrai. She is at Roofelien Pass exterminating the rebels in the Lower Tarnick. You will be monitored and suppressed until Thoric deems you worthy once more.¡±

    Kaprokka fell against his restraints, both ashamed and relieved, ¡°So be it. I will comply.¡±

    Selaine¡¯s grin was predatory. She tutted, looking down at him with satisfaction, ¡°Of course you will comply. We¡¯re a happy little family, after all.¡±

 Chapter 202 - FRESH HELL

    Jiran scratched the annoying itch on his arm, his gaze locked on Mayalyn and Olive who sat side-by-side at their desks in front of him. Their heads were together and they were whispering about something he couldn¡¯t quite hear. They were in a new lecture hall that Jiran didn¡¯t recognize, but that was fine. The most important people in his life were here and it was going to be another blissful day of delving the secrets of mana, density, and the malleable physics of Madra.

    Niya leaned back in her chair next to him, yawning and stretching her arms above her head. She glanced his way and said something he didn¡¯t catch. Jiran frowned, knowing she was within his aura so anything she said, no matter how faint, should have been easily heard. Now that the thought had burrowed into his skull, he noticed he couldn¡¯t hear what Olive and Mayalyn were whispering about either. He flexed his aura but it felt like he was trying to force a wet noodle to straighten with only two fingers.

    Alarm bells rang, which turned out to be the announcement that class was beginning. Professor Cameron walked through the door, wearing his typical stylish, scholarly robes and followed by a bevy of attractive young women. Niya hopped up and gave him a deep kiss which was the last splash in the face Jiran needed to pull himself from the insane dream.

    He groaned as a sharp tug on the skin of his arm was followed by a slithering ache that crept up his bicep. Swirling currents of concern cycled through his chest at the invasive feeling of foreign substances inside his body. He tried to open his eyes to see what had bitten him, only to find that his eyelids refused to cooperate with the mental command.

    Again, his aura should have already revealed the source of his current troubles but his thoughts were sluggish, his body unresponsive, and even worse, something was interfering with the connection to his Manabody. He could sense there was nothing directly wrong with the field of mana-packed soul-stuff permeating everything within a thirteen-meter radius of him, he simply failed to integrate his thoughts with it as normal.

    Instinctively, he moved his other arm to scratch at the annoying sting, which resulted in a feeling of weightlessness followed by a much sharper pain in his arm. His eyes opened wide and his brain finally slammed to full wakefulness when his face crashed into the floor. He felt nothing from the impact. Either it couldn¡¯t hurt his density-toughened body, or his awareness was too focused on the slithering metallic serpent latched onto his arm. Three, thick fingers extended from where its face should have been and they were wrapped firmly around his limb. A trickle of Jiran¡¯s blood leaked down its length, its source a wickedly long and thick needle that extended from the base of its three short appendages.

    The connection with his aura stabilized and Jiran used it to grab the metallic serpent made of telescoping, prehensile segments. The needle came loose in a spray of fluids and the stubborn thing writhed in his grasp, surprisingly, strong enough to resist the crushing strength of his aura. Quick as thought, it retracted into the floor panel it had elongated from, which promptly closed and sealed itself with a hiss of displaced air.

    ¡°What in the Father¡¯s was that?!¡± Jiran lay perfectly still, his breathing heavy in the panic felt as one wakes to find their current reality nothing like what was expected. He scanned what he could see of the room¡¯s ceiling, and simultaneously, his Manabody revealed additional details of his prison.

    He was completely naked, on the floor of a white-paneled room, the same as he had encountered before each challenger arena, though with one significant difference: The walls and ceiling were streaked in blood, dark crimson, recently dried blood that could only belong to one person. The instincts of his evolved Remalonian race kicked in, dampening his emotions, and for once, he didn¡¯t fight them. This was no time or place for panic. Thinking rationally and understanding his situation needed to be his first priority.

    With clarity of emotion, came clarity of thought. Jiran quickly determined that with the disappearance of the strange serpent, there were no other direct threats to his person in the room, other than his own ludicrous strength which had thrown him across the room once already. His Manabody filled the space entirely, attempting to worm its way between the panels and finding them impenetrable. Meanwhile, the aura inside him tracked the fluid the mechanical arm had injected.

    It moved through his veins with each beat of his heart. As it passed muscles, they greedily absorbed the fluid and any discomfort he felt in those areas vanished more rapidly than he could detect it had been there in the first place. There was one particular agony suffusing his body that didn¡¯t evacuate with the appearance of the fluid, and it was his muscles, bones, and organs feeling stuffed to the brim with density. He understood on an intrinsic, cellular level, that if he acquired even a drop more of the stuff, he would likely explode.

    Some kind of nutrient and healing fluid? I always assumed these rooms were designed to rest and adjust before a trial. To think they would have something that could keep you fed and healthy, too.

    Looks like my plan worked. That bastard and the insane collar he put on me are both gone. Did he die? The last time I tried to drag a beast corpse into an arena with me, the red sea dissolved it. The system, or Madra, can¡¯t let her precious challengers cheat in their death matches after all. Looks like the formations in my suit weren¡¯t acceptable either. I wasn¡¯t sure it would be able to get those bones out of me, but wow am I glad they¡¯re gone. Having them burrowing through my neck and chest was about the third worst thing I¡¯ve ever experienced.

    Enough thinking about him, I¡¯m much more concerned about the others. Were they able to hold off the Graymin? Or were they forced to retreat through the portals? Did the emperors succeed in stopping the King? Did the rankers allow any higher tiers by them that our combined army would be helpless against? Were there more tier nines from the church? I¡¯ve got to get out of here. At the same time, I can¡¯t afford to rush or be distracted. These arenas are way too deadly. At least I left them with tons of formations that can basically do everything I can to a lesser degree. So long as one of those worst-case scenarios didn''t happen, they should be fine.

    Frustrated at himself for always jinxing everything, Jiran¡¯s palm gently smacked the floor, the movement sending him nearly a meter off the floor. Landing was a strange mix of muted sensations; almost like being hit in the back by a breeze so gentle it could be a figment of the imagination. At the same time, even a gentle poke to his density-stuffed body sent ripples of discomfort washing through him.

    Wow! Just how much stronger did I get after absorbing three metric tons of challenger density?

    Normally when he closed his eyes, there would be a few scrolling notifications to sort through before seeing his status, this time, those messages failed to appear and he was brought directly to his status.

    They must have come when I¡­ did whatever I did to get blood everywhere. Better make sure to never absorb that much all at once again, unless I¡¯m one hundred percent certain it will be enough to pull me into an arena.

    NAME: Jiran of MadraStolen novel; please report.

    RACE: Remalon

    AGE: 0 > 1

    WEIGHT: 4258 kg > 12.8 T

    My weight tripled?! But I feel so light! I was joking about the tons of density, guess I wasn¡¯t that far off. Densoon season started again which was enough to advance my age by a season, even though I was technically only reborn a couple weeks ago.

    ACCLAMATIONS: Remalonian Constitution / Scion of Mana

    TIMER: N/A

    TIER: 4

    EXP: 200/200

    GROWTH: 37.03% > 200%

    Thank the Fathers it stopped at two hundred. I¡¯ve only been gaining half a percent of growth per tier seven and my formations going off must have killed several thousand. That could have easily brought me to a thousand percent Growth! Nice to get confirmation that challenger density stops being absorbed once you reach two hundred, I guess. With how full-to-bursting I feel, that''s a seriously important failsafe. Honestly, I was more concerned about exploding from over-absorption than anything else when I put that insane plan into action.

    MANA: 54 > 75

    CONCENTRATION: 18 > 27

    Only seventy-five? After the increase from becoming a Remalon, shouldn¡¯t it be eighty-one? Is it a hard limit for my tier, or something else?

    STRENGTH: 246 > 540

    AGILITY: 256 > 540

    ENDURANCE: 244 > 540

    DURABILITY: 243 > 540

    WISDOM: 242 > 540

    INTELLIGENCE: 249 > 540

    CHARISMA: 80

    Expected to see it, but wow, that¡¯s some crazy boosts. Not only did my attributes double, my Concentration jumped by nine. With my attributes multiplied by Concentration, they are essentially at fourteen thousand five hundred and eighty each! A regular Earthling has around ten so I¡¯m nearly one thousand five hundred times stronger, faster, and more durable than an Earth human. No wonder a simple slap sent me flying. I have to stop using Earth references to measure my power. The numbers are getting too ludicrous. Currently, I¡¯m three-quarters the strength of a maxed-out tier six. Yeah, that sounds much better.

    SKILLS:

    Mana Confluence: 79

    Elemental Castigation: 48

    Mana Omnis: 23

    Enthralling Touch: 33

    Identify: 24

    No new levels in a while. Castigation is so close to fifty I can taste it, yet getting there seems impossibly far away. Will I earn a subskill? Mana Confluence didn¡¯t. Without an epiphany on the fundamentals of what exactly elemental mana is, or guidance from another Remalon, it won¡¯t be easy. Another Remalon¡­ Yeah, no thanks.

    With a theoretical understanding of his massively boosted attributes, and his aura firmed to protect him, Jiran ever so gently sat up. The pressure he had to exert with his Manabody to suppress his strength shocked him, and the further proof of his new physicality sent a wave of giddiness racing through him. He made it to his feet and moved through the stretches of the Soratta that Samris had taught him what felt like a lifetime ago. He continued to ignore the bloody streaks on the walls and their matching stains across his naked body as he rapidly gained mastery over himself.

    Before evolving into a Remalon, Jiran had received an acclamation that assisted his brain with becoming accustomed to changes in his body. That ability had been fully absorbed into his Remalonian Constitution. Now, enhanced by the five separate lobes of his brain, each fully capable of sustaining his life, Jiran¡¯s adaptation couldn¡¯t possibly have gone faster.

    Mana was packed in every centimeter of his body, he pushed and pulled on it with his thoughts, speeding up his movements as he transitioned to releasing punches and kicks that tore at the sound barrier. The small room was filled with a crashing torrent of noise that he blocked with a casual coating of mana inside his ears. He could have used his aura to split the air pressure as he moved, but that wouldn¡¯t have been as much fun. The forces released from blasting through the ambient pressure constantly washed across his entire body, the sensation similar to a relaxing swim, a testament to how durable he had become.

    Wondering why his blindingly fast movements weren¡¯t making him dizzy, Jiran tuned into the portion of his aura inside his body. He discovered that the blood coursing through him had thickened. Yet, the strength of his heart had drastically increased as well, allowing it to easily pump the viscous fluid that no longer thinned when he moved too quickly. However, that line of reasoning was subjective. If he weren¡¯t trapped in a relatively tiny box, Jiran was sure he could push himself fast enough to lower his blood pressure.

    Last arena, I didn¡¯t want to waste mana or blow myself up testing my Shaping inside such a constrictive space. Elemental Castigation allows me to convert the element back into mana though, so neither of those issues is a concern. Additionally, that mechanical arm feeding me proves these rooms are designed to sustain a challenger. So if I ¡®accidentally¡¯ incinerate all the oxygen, for instance, it should make more for me¡­

    I better not waste mana on making new clothes though. I don¡¯t have any material to copy, so the cost would be way too high when I don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for me. Somehow, I doubt the beasts I¡¯m going to face will care what I look like, only how tasty I am.

    Jiran hopped lightly, vanishing from the center of the room to appear in one of the corners with his back to the walls. He pulled a fraction of a single percent of his mana from his body and hovered it a meter in front of him. The energy responded at a speed that proved his Intelligence, Wisdom, and Concentration had equally boosted the potency and speed of his magic. Barely holding back a smile, he activated Elemental Castigation with a thought.

    His will and desire extended through the framework¡ªa spider web of density-filled cracks invisible to the naked eye that permeated everything on Madra. The minuscule mote of mana exploded into action, proliferating into a wave that near-instantly filled the room with elemental ice. The backlash of the ice¡¯s creation sent a blast of frigid air washing against Jiran¡¯s grinning cheeks. As quick as it came, the ice folded in on itself, compressing back into that single mote of mana with almost no waste.

    Never thought about it before, but I can only activate Elemental Castigation within five meters, yet I¡¯m able to re-absorb an element from much further away. So long as a portion of said element is connected to another part of itself that''s within my five-meter range. I bet there¡¯s a hint about how mana is connected with the elements inside that thought. Those last two points might not be so far away...

    Mana Confluence took over, holding the tiny marble of potential three meters away from him with perfect ease. Jiran then spun it in a flat circle the size of his chest, forming a razor-thin chakram. Faster and faster it spun as he fine-tuned the control of his favorite technique. When the mana reached its maximum rotation without flying away or dispersing, he slowed it and turned it into highly compressed elemental ice. Immediately, blistering cold radiated through the room, crystalizing the breathable air. The mana that suffused his skin automatically created friction in an effort to protect him. Satisfied with his defenses, he repeated his rotation test, now utilizing Elemental Castigation to control the element.

    He cycled through every element he knew, giving each incredibly dangerous chakram his complete attention. Satisfied that he could handle his own skills without killing himself, he returned to the less wasteful, physical and Manabody practices. Two hours of dancing, jumping, and stretching later, he smoothly walked without the aid of his aura to the screen on the wall that would let him out of this purgatory and into the fresh hell of the tier four challenger arena.

 Chapter 203 - BAD TOUCH

    Upon detecting that he wasn¡¯t cheating, the trickle of energy from the screen returned to its home and a portion of the wall split apart to reveal the expected doorway. Peeking through, Jiran found a second, identical, white-paneled room.

    This is new. Two preparation rooms?

    His aura flooded inside, filling the space and revealing no threats. With no other options, Jiran stepped through and the door slid shut behind him with a hiss. Seeing another screen on the far wall, he moved to cross the room. A blinking notification behind his eyelids appeared and he closed one eye to view it.

    Initializing quintessence connection

    Five panels around the room popped open, each dispelling a mechanical arm. Unlike the previous one with the needle, these were ghostly apparitions, glowing blue and partially transparent. Jiran¡¯s eyes flew wide, recognizing them from when his aura was forced to integrate with the density absorber node on Mayalyn¡¯s island. He sucked his aura into his body, activating Oneness and converting his mana into three swirling chakrams of deadly fire. The mana that permanently infused his skin protected him as the temperature inside the small room instantly rose to that of a sweltering volcano.

    As quickly as they appeared, the arms stopped cold and then retreated into their holes which slid shut. More flashing notifications were ignored for several long seconds as Jiran remained on high alert. When he was satisfied they weren¡¯t coming back, he reclaimed his mana and checked the messages.

    -ERROR-

    Complete quintessence connection detected

    Connection stimulation aborted

    Quintessence connection? Stimulation? Completed? Does that mean I already have whatever it was going to try and do to me? If that¡¯s the case, why come out of the walls in the first place? It must have assumed I didn¡¯t have that connection yet, but I do. Hmm, quintessence, I think that means the innate or essential core of something. Was it referring to my Manabody? Quintessence could definitely be another name for the soul and the races I¡¯ve met so far didn¡¯t receive their Manabody until tier five. Since this is the tier four arena, it makes sense to assume a challenger here wouldn¡¯t have their aura yet. The fact those arms were the same kind that were able to grab my aura before also supports¡ª

    A crack in the far wall near the screen widened into an open doorway, and through it, Jiran could partially see a long paneled hallway, most of his vision was blocked by a shimmering wall of light a few meters inside. His aura poured out of him and into the new room. Once again, he found nothing outright threatening. Jiran poked his head inside, looking left and right. The complete lack of deadly beasts and terrifying challenges he associated with the arenas had begun to wear on his nerves. Seeing the wall of light, and assuming whatever monsters were waiting for him would spawn when he touched it, was almost a relief. Steeling himself, he stepped into the new space and the door sealed behind him, the expected hiss of displaced air carrying a hint of finality.

    The door seamlessly vanished, integrating into the wall. The moment it did, a wave of gray energy rippled outward from where it had been. It quickly passed across the ceiling and floor, altering the panels. They gained a metallic sheen and before Jiran could investigate what had changed, he slipped and fell, his feet completely unable to find purchase on the altered panel beneath him. He caught himself with his aura and held his body a meter off the slicked surface. His heart hammered and he did his best to look in every direction at once as he waited for something else to happen. His eyes were drawn to the shimmering wall of light a few meters in front of him, beyond it, the long hallway remained empty and motionless.

    He emptied his held breath with an explosive huff, then shook his shoulders to dispel his rising tension. Whatever came when he touched that wall, being nervous about it would only slow him down. He lowered himself and traced a finger across the smooth floor, feeling no drag of any kind. He tried to press his palm down and put some weight into it but it instantly slid.

    Is this a frictionless surface? Unlikely, though close enough that there¡¯s no way I could stand on it. Last arena, I couldn¡¯t use my aura at all. The framework was devoid of density so it had nothing to grab onto and now I can¡¯t even stand without my aura. Never know what to expect in these places. It certainly seems like an aura-based challenge this time with the whole quintessence thing and now this. Luckily, that''s the skill I¡¯m most confident in.

    With rock-solid resolve, Jiran zipped through the air and placed his hand against the shimmering wall.

    Third phase challenger detected

    Preparing quintessence adaptation course: Level 3

    Third phase? Because this is the third room, or because this is my third arena? Level three doesn''t sound too bad¡­

    The wall of light faded as whatever it was made from pulled itself apart at the seams, fully revealing the two hundred meter long hallway. It was roughly ten meters wide and tall and every centimeter of it oozed the creepy, intrusive light that permeated the arena spaces. A familiar sense of ancient sanctity billowed out of the once-sealed space, washing over him in a wave of gooseflesh.

    Hundreds of small circles along the floor, walls, and ceiling of the hallway liquified. Living metal beasts pulled themselves from the puddles. They were faceless imitations of men. Powerful chest and shoulder muscles flexed as they easily planted their hands on the surfaces Jiran couldn''t put any weight on without slipping. Below the waist, they were nothing but stretched, liquid-metal. They elongate varied distances from their puddles; some only coming out far enough to reveal their upper bodies, others stretching all the way into the center of the hallway. Once they were in their positions, and with perfect synchronicity, they extended their arms in random directions and then remained perfectly still to match their featureless faces.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Jiran zeroed in on the closest, chakrams of Elemental Castigation long since formed and circling in the air around him. When Identify revealed the truth of the beasts before him, his heart felt like it would drop through the floor.

    [Minor Essence Guardian: (Tier 10) ???]

    Identify: + 2

    Jiran froze, his minds refusing to accept a reality where he died without ever having a chance to fight back. Despite being momentarily too stunned to move, his minds raced at lightning speeds.

    Wait, if they wanted me dead, I would already be dead. At tier ten, I wouldn¡¯t be able to perceive them moving if they didn¡¯t want me to. Considering how slowly they pulled themselves from the walls, and that I¡¯m still alive, they aren¡¯t here to fight me directly. So what are they doing? They haven¡¯t moved at all since extending their arms.

    Jiran gingerly probed with his aura toward the nearest guardian. When he was within a meter of touching it, he stopped, feeling a subtle pressure against his Manabody like static electricity in the air.

    What am I doing? Why am I about to poke a tier ten beast? Have I lost my damn mind? I need to stay focused. If there¡¯s one thing these arenas have in common, it''s that they are deadly dangerous. The system said this was an adaptation course, so I¡¯m probably supposed to make it to the end of the hallway, and it''s a safe bet that I should do it WITHOUT touching any of the monsters more than double my tier!

    As if sensing he was ready to begin, a metallic panel of the wall behind him started to tremble. It made no noise as it slowly rotated in place, revealing pure blackness just beyond it. The moment the panel fully flipped, it clicked, detaching from whatever was holding it in place and falling into that dark abyss to vanish. The moment it did, each of the four panels connected to the freshly empty space began to rotate as well.

    Jiran felt a pull as the nearest bit of his aura to the vanishing wall was painfully ripped free, disappearing right alongside that first of many panels. For a fraction of a second, he pictured himself being ripped apart at the seams when the entire hallway was eventually consumed by that sucking darkness. His eyes widened, realization filling him that he had a whole new kind of timer to contend with.

    Having no intention of fighting, and not needing the distraction of maintaining them, he absorbed the mana used for his chakrams and blasted down the tunnel. He made sure to keep his aura well away from the nearest guardians. Unfortunately, with so many of them crowding the space, he couldn¡¯t fly in a straight line. As he wove around the third arms-out beast, a tickle against the edges of his aura from the side alerted him. The warning came far too late as three slivers of metal shot from tiny holes in the wall at impossible to dodge speeds. They pierced through him in a spray of blood, two in his chest, the last catching him in the temple.

    Jiran dropped like a rock as three of the lobes comprising his brain turned to mush. Thankfully, two remained. Each was capable of sustaining his life, and more importantly, controlling the mana that suffused his entire body. Mana Confluence raged within him, easily patching up the holes in his chest. His brain took significantly more mana due to him not fully understanding his own physiology. Nearly five percent of his total vanished between two beats of his heart. He came back to himself, his vision clearing as he caught his fall centimeters from the floor.

    Foresight (a unique connection with his soul that often warned him of unseen dangers) blared bloody murder inside his aching skull. Soft clicks behind him were reminder enough that remaining where he was would be the last stupid thing he ever had the chance to do. He tore down the hallway, now extending his aura all the way to the walls and pressing gently against them so he could find the holes before they shot more needles at him. He wove his body and aura around the beasts, dodging dozens of deadly projectiles coming from random directions. Now that he knew what to look for, it wasn¡¯t difficult to determine their trajectories before they were released.

    A glance behind revealed a rapidly growing mass of hungering gloom. Since every panel that vanished triggered each one touching it to do the same, hundreds of them were now in the midst of spinning and being sucked in. Three of his minds focused on controlling his flight and watching for holes. The last two planned his path through the guardians and pulled his aura away from their outstretched hands, leaving Jiran with no focus left to keep an eye on the disturbing reality happening behind him.

    Twice, he attempted to increase his speed and new holes would sprout from nowhere, launching streams of silent needles at him to slow his progress. They slid through the air, his aura, and his mana with laughable ease, regardless of how hard he tried to grip them. Giving up on stopping them outright, he focused on maintaining the maximum speed the course seemed to want him to have.

    A hundred meters in, one of the guardians suddenly moved, shifting its arm to a new position faster than he could track. Luckily, Jiran had been giving them a wide berth so the rapid movement didn¡¯t touch him or his aura. However, that first, jerky movement was merely the beginning.

    The several hundred guardians between him and the end of the hallway no longer remained still. The first few only moved their arms, but soon they were shifting their entire bodies to new positions with zero notice. A group of five moved together, completely blocking his way forward with their elongated bodies and spread-wide arms. Forced to a desperate halt, Jiran dodged a fresh wave of metallic slivers and dared to sneak a peak over his shoulder. He caught himself from sighing with relief when he noticed that he had made decent progress away from the abyss.

    A blink later, all five guardians flashed back to their original locations and Jiran immediately understood their motions weren¡¯t as random as they first seemed. He dove forward, barely making it through before the five reappeared, blocking the passage behind him. Jiran plowed ahead, redirecting one of his minds to the movement patterns of the guardians in the distance. He clenched his jaws when he saw new beasts forming, likely the ones he already passed returning for another chance to impede him. He was forced to bend, twist, and stretch his aura in ever more complicated patterns to get around the thickening obstacles. Still, the Aahmra¡¯s lessons, and his own realizations, gave him the flexibility and control he needed.

    His progress was steady, though he was often forced to wait for a group to move. Each time, the lack of rushing wind in his ears inevitably revealed the clicking of panels. It was during one of these stops that disaster struck. A guardian moved into the place he knew it would go. Unfortunately, the space it had occupied a second ago had no aura in it and failed to see the dozen needle holes that appeared the moment the beast shifted.

    They struck like a storm of asteroids punching holes through a flimsy spacesuit. Blood splattered the ceiling, torn from his body. A single drop landed on one of the guardians and its eyes opened, revealing gaping holes that led into the abyss that sought to consume him from the very start. As if time stopped only for Jiran, the beast whipped itself through the air and grabbed him from behind. Jiran¡¯s mouth opened in a scream as his aura was sliced through wherever the tier ten touched it. On instinct, he pulled his Manabody inside his skin, activating Oneness, which sped his thoughts and dulled the pain from his injuries.

    Mana Confluence sealed the holes across his body as the guardian spun them both around to face the encroaching darkness. The beast¡¯s arms pinned Jiran against its chest, not tight enough to kill, though the pressure did crush his density-packed body which was a torment all its own. Held against his will, Jiran watched with mounting horror as the abyss grew closer and closer.

 Chapter 204 - CHOICES

    The more Jiran struggled, the harder the guardian squeezed. The chakram of Elemental Castigation he formed and was summarily snuffed out, the mana pulled apart and sucked into nothing. Jiran¡¯s eyes bulged as the tingling energy he had felt around the beast now pressed on him from every direction, crushing the breath from his lungs. The challenger density crammed inside his body felt ready to ooze from his pores. In that moment of desperation, he froze stiff, unwilling to further his torment by fighting against a creature so much more powerful than himself. The seconds ticked by and the flipping panels counted down to a sure death.

    ¡°Let¡­go!¡± Jiran drew in a shaky breath. Unsurprisingly, his plea was ignored. Though the moment he ceased his useless flailing, the pressure on him stopped getting worse. He attempted to touch the guardian with a sliver of the aura inside him, but the portion of Manabody that made the attempt was instantly shredded upon exiting his body.

    While his instincts fought to control the very natural fear coursing through him, his minds churned for a solution. A hundred thoughts were examined, each and every one discarded. Against such an overwhelming foe there was nothing in his arsenal that could prevail without also killing himself. There was only one conclusion that stayed his hand from unsealing the gate in his soul and unleashing a torrent of Madra¡¯s mana into the hallway: The guardian didn¡¯t kill him immediately.

    Either I¡¯m supposed to figure out how to get it to release me, or it''s only here to slow me down and will let me go on its own. This place is all about the aura, and it''s clearly immune to mine so I¡¯m betting it''s only impeding my progress for a specific amount of time. If it doesn¡¯t let go in a few more seconds though, I¡¯ll be forced to try something a little more extreme.

    Jiran slammed his eyes shut, determined to use the time wisely. Right now, he needed a solution to getting out of this hallway and staring into the darkness wasn¡¯t helping. The answer came to him quickly and he growled, annoyed it had taken the beast holding him still to figure it out. Before it grabbed him, Jiran had pulled ahead of the encroaching abyss by roughly thirty seconds. When the guardian released him, his lead had shrunk to twenty. With little effort, the beast grabbed him by the arm in a painful grip and tossed him toward the darkness at a stomach-heaving speed.

    Jiran¡¯s aura slammed outward, ripping at the threads of the framework to stop his momentum. His Manabody reached the walls just in time to warn him of the incoming attacks. He dove parallel to the floor and spun sideways, narrowly avoiding the lightning-fast slivers of metal. A thought formed a layer of mana around his skin that would prevent any additional stray drops of blood from eliciting another of the worst hugs in history. Jiran realigned himself with the far end of the hall, turning a baleful eye on his captor who had returned to its previous position blocking his way forward.

    Since it wasn¡¯t coming after him again, Jiran lifted one arm straight up to enact his plan. Two key observations played into Jiran¡¯s solution. First, the guardians were only spawning from the walls far ahead of him, not nearby enough that he would accidentally touch one with his aura the moment it appeared. Second, every single part of them moved except the liquid-metal puddle they emerged from. Since the needles came from the walls as well, he had no choice but to keep his aura spread out across the slick surfaces. As for all the space between the walls, it was actually a huge burden on him to constantly adjust where his aura could and couldn¡¯t be as the monsters moved about.

    With those factors in mind, Jiran pushed ninety-five percent of his aura out and spread it to completely coat the four walls. Only a single wrist-thick strand of the soul-stuff remained, connecting his lifted arm to the portion of his aura on the ceiling. Now, all he had to do was take note of the puddles and avoid them while swinging himself forward and making sure his tether didn¡¯t come in contact with any of their predictable movements.

    Jiran¡¯s progress turned slow, yet inexorable. He weaved around thousands of projectiles, their trajectories obvious so long as he spotted them in time. He used the rope of aura to pull himself forward in jerking, twisting motions, often flinging himself to the side or back as the guardians thickened, flooding the passage with their silvery forms. They created ever more complex puzzles of movement he had to circumvent but their efforts only made the challenge easier as the more of them there were clogging up the space, the fewer needles he had to deal with.

    He was so focused that before he realized it, only a single obstacle remained between him and the screen marking the end of the challenge. Nearly thirty guardians clogged the last four meters. Their puddles took up the entirety of the walls and their bodies left a narrow space that he would need to dive through to fit. He stared at that tiny gap created by hundreds of grasping, tier ten hands and recalled the Aahmra teaching him to hold his aura inside him. It had been a painful lesson, one that forced him to face the demons of his personality and accept them. Many of those flaws still existed, but they certainly didn¡¯t bother him as he simply swung into the hole, sucking his aura from the walls and pulling it into his body behind him. Jiran imagined the guardians grumbling in annoyance when they failed to catch him again and his smile grew to a cheshire grin.

    I¡¯ve gotten too used to filling the entire space around me with aura to block sound, detect attacks, and protect myself. After this, I¡¯ll definitely start thinking outside the box¡­ or bubble, I¡¯ve made for myself.

    He didn¡¯t look back after coming out the other end and immediately touched the screen which promptly revealed the expected doorway. Through it, was yet another white-paneled room. This one was unique as well, having ten clear exits. The doors were all open, beyond each were scenes from entirely separate versions of hell.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    One revealed a cavern full to bursting with a bubbling lake of magma. The air was clogged with smoke and bursts of spontaneous flame puffed as the heat reached ignition temperature for the gases trapped within. The two doorways on either side of it showed a vast open sky with no end, and the deep darkness one finds at the bottom of an ocean. The scenes were similar through the rest of the doors, covering every element Jiran had devised with Shaping when he was still a human.

    There¡¯s even acid, and that fluctuating darkness has to be gravity. There¡¯s no way these specific elements being represented is a coincidence. If there were ever any doubts that each arena is made specifically for the individual, they''ve been laid to rest.

    With the clicking panels approaching as motivation, Jiran hovered into the new room. Experimentally, his feet landed on the floor and when they actually found purchase, he breathed a sigh of relief that was instantly wiped away as a flashing notification appeared.

    Choose quintessence infusion to begin phase one

    Phase one? Does that mean the real arena hasn¡¯t even started yet?! Last time, there were three phases. Will there be four this time? Calm down, Jiran. Can¡¯t get impatient or I¡¯ll end up making more mistakes.

    It wants me to choose an infusion for my aura? Considering the theme so far, and the implications of each room holding a separate element, it must be referring to an aspect. Glad I asked Olive about them a while ago. Dokkuun told me it''s only possible to choose a single element for an aspect and these separate rooms, each with their own element, backs that up.

    Which do I choose? I¡¯ve been percolating on a specific path for my aspect since I first heard about it but is the idea I came up with the best? I haven¡¯t tried messing with it yet because I didn¡¯t want to get locked into the wrong choice. Why is it only giving me the elements I unlocked previously? There are tons more I never experimented with. Is that why? Because they were unimportant enough to me that I never bothered with them? Olive did say aspects require a personal connection with the element that goes deeper than the understanding required to form a technique. If that¡¯s the case, not giving me the options I never played with makes sense.

    A deeper connection¡­ That narrows down my decision to light, fire, ice, lightning, gas, metal, and gravity. Each has parts about them that excite and inspire me. Light is fast and always packs a bigger punch than I expect. It has so many uses outside a fight. Not to mention, the idea of using mana to eventually unlock all of its mysteries is so thrilling it''s sometimes impossible to fall asleep. Then again, the same can be said for every element.

    Fire and ice are two very different sides of the same friction-based coin. One personifies speed and movement, the other, cessation. Definitely my two strongest and most efficient elements as the mental image of molecules speeding up or slowing down is so easy to picture. But would I say I have a real connection to either?

    Lightning is straight-up awesome. If Mayalyn were here, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate for a second before walking into the storm beyond that door. If I took that route, how much more powerful could we become together? Lightning was the element that came close to killing me for the first time. Actually, now that I think about it, nearly every time I¡¯ve almost killed myself, it was lightning¡­

    Gas is easily one of my favorites, but also one I barely understand. There are so many types of gases and I don¡¯t know much about most of them. That would change in time though, assuming my insane life ever gives me a chance to sit down and study.

    Metal is strong, durable, and powerful. I wouldn¡¯t mind having an aspect based on those qualities. Would it make my aura more permeable? Would it become heavier, like the Aahmra¡¯s?

    And finally, gravity. I discovered Big Bang accidentally and it saved my life repeatedly. It¡¯s also proven useful in so many ways, especially when combined into complex formations. Similar to light, my Earth knowledge has only given me a few clues regarding its true nature.

    A skin-crawling click sounded behind Jiran and he flipped around, nearly choking with shock when he saw the panels of his new room turning in place, ¡°You¡¯re not even going to give me the time to think?!¡± With mere seconds before his room was consumed, Jiran closed his eyes and blocked sound, focusing with every ounce of his effort while shutting out the noise.

    The rankers and, well, everyone I¡¯ve met above tier eight, have aspects that go beyond the elements. Choosing one is only the first step. What¡¯s most important right now is picking a direction that will eventually lead me to a concept. It¡¯s that concept that will empower my Manabody enough to contend with existences like those guardians. Emperor Dagris¡¯s concept allowed him to teleport me to him over a vast distance without triggering the Remalon¡¯s trap. Empress Meselay¡¯s allowed her to create illusions so real they had a physical form. Lostrifar¡¯s turned her into a child. Agh! The potentials seem endless, and they all come back to the choice I have to make right now.

    I want to design my aspect around fighting higher-tier beasts and my biggest weakness against them is speed. Oneness has bridged that gap repeatedly, but it doesn''t work in every situation since it requires my aura to be inside me. Obviously, I have elements I favor over the others, and I¡¯m positive choosing one of them will give me an advantage toward reaching a concept. But is rushing to a concept before I even understand aspects best? Doubtful.

    The abyss pulled on the edges of Jiran¡¯s aura and he knew his time was up. With no room to doubt himself, he chose the element that he always relied on in an emergency. When Oneness brought him close to his animalistic and instinctive nature, he almost always pulled on the same element. It was the element he understood more than all the rest, merely because it was so simple. Yet in its simplicity, there was potential as vast as the gaping chasm attempting to swallow him at that very moment. That potential was why he relied on it so heavily in the past, why he would continue to rely on it in the future, and why it had never let him down.

    His gaze was drawn to the only doorway that mattered. Looking into the space beyond, he could barely see a few meters. His aura failed to pass through, giving him no further clues as to what he would be facing in the first real challenge of the tier four arena. With a last look over his shoulder at the nearly collapsed room, he stepped forward, and was swallowed in the element that called to his soul.

 Chapter 205 - The Crucible

    The doorway slid shut behind Jiran, vanishing as though it never existed. In its place was thin air filled with howling winds, snow, and bitter cold that ate at his bare skin. His feet crunched in the knee-deep snow and he shivered, the freezing air gouging deep into his body and mind. A foreboding unease crept up his spine as he focused extra mana into the protective layer on his skin and found it completely unable to ward off the chill.

    He rubbed his arms while inspecting his immediate surroundings, the warmth of friction failing to bring any comfort. Mana Omnis was useless, his eyesight blinded by the driving snow. He stretched out his Manabody, finding nothing but more blizzard in every direction. There was not a trace of life that he could detect. Even beneath the snow was a thin layer of dirt that covered solid stone that was deeper than he could perceive. The only thing he could easily see were the expected system messages that flashed brightly behind his eyelids.

    Challenger has entered the Crucible

    Phase one objectives: Survive and locate the resonance chamber that aligns to your ideal

    Incorporate your ideal into your quintessence

    Knew it! Why do it like this, though? Why force challengers to form an aura early, then skip right ahead to an aspect which isn¡¯t required until ascending to tier eight? Now isn¡¯t the time to get sidetracked. That hallway was insane enough. Since the system considered that the warmup, this place has to be way worse.

    First thing I need to do is figure out how not to freeze to death. I doubt clothes are going to do the trick. If this weather can bypass my mana, cloth or armor isn¡¯t going to do anything.

    Elemental Castigation formed a box of fire around him, and as predicted, the chill easily pushed through the heat that was nearly strong enough to break down his defensive layer of mana. He banished the fire and as the mana that created it entered him, the obvious solution struck him. In a wink, his Manabody was drawn beneath his skin, no longer suffusing the area around him. The moment it was inside him, the pervasive cold vanished.

    Okay, this blizzard is similar to the Timberlings harmony; it''s attacking my soul, or soulwall, directly. Great, now I¡¯m really blind. At least I¡¯ve got the ¡®survive¡¯ portion down. Okay, step two, find a resonance chamber that matches my ideal. I know what I want from my aspect, so that¡¯s the ¡®ideal¡¯ down. I have no idea how to find these chambers, though. If there are multiple of them hidden in this blizzard, this could take a while.

    With returning to his friends and allies at the forefront of his thoughts, Jiran spun in a slow circle, and then headed in a random direction.

    Nearly an hour passed before Jiran discovered a clue about his surroundings. He had made a habit of moving exactly fifty meters at a time before extending his aura into a long pole. After sweeping it in a wide circle, he would hop in the same direction and repeat his scan. Each time, the same deep chill would seep into him through his aura, instantly bringing his teeth to chattering. At first, he thought it was merely his mind playing tricks on him, but when the most recent scan brought no discomfort, he was certain it was growing warmer the further he traveled.

    Shrelkpiss. I¡¯m definitely going the wrong way. No beasts, no challenge, and now it''s not even cold. Not a total waste of time though, at least I know how to find my way now.

    Jiran turned and leaped with all his might back the way he had come. He bodily crashed into the air pressure, not wanting to damage his soulwall more than necessary by cutting the wind with his aura. Landing with his hair in a frazzled mess, he decided just dealing with it wouldn''t work either and used Elemental Castigation to form a blanket of wind that rushed ahead of him. His efforts didn¡¯t yield much in the way of results but it was always exhilarating to convert a stream of mana into an element and then back again.

    After three hops and a minute of light jogging, he was back where his tracks in the snow began, once more feeling the bite of the chilly air far more keenly when he extended his Manabody to sweep the area. He resumed his slow progress, unwilling to underestimate the arena. He quested about in his wanderings, slowly but surely adjusting his trajectory to bring him deeper into the blizzard. The snow thickened and the winds took on the ferocity of a true storm. His hair flew wildly, getting in his eyes often enough that he broke down and created the tiniest strip of fabric to tie it back.

    For the first time since his tiering day, Foresight failed to warn him of impending danger before it came crashing into him from behind. A sudden blast of force hit Jiran in the back, sending him flying forward in a blinding tumble of white. The extra-thick layer of mana suffusing his skin, and his concentrated aura right beneath it, failed to completely protect him. Two of his ribs shattered and shards of bone tore into his lungs.

    His reserves dipped to ninety-five percent as Mana Confluence spent precious energy restoring the damage. The moment he was healed, his aura snapped out, arresting his momentum and inviting the deadly cold deep into him. He found the beast that had struck him immediately. Before Identify informed him what it was, two chakrams of scorching flame released their payload into its face.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The beams shot right through the beast, annihilating its cloudy form. Two massive cylindrical tunnels of clean air were excavated from the blizzard as the snow was vaporized. Even that moisture was expelled in a thermal blastwave along the entire length of the beams. Two explosions howled in the distance where they hit the ground, every bit a match for the raging storm.

    Jiran assumed the beast was dead, as Mana Omnis had revealed a manapool no larger than a typical tier seven¡¯s. He also didn¡¯t hold back his mental image, conjuring the knowledge of churning friction transferring the endless potential energy trapped inside the molecules around him. He had yet to encounter a tier seven who could survive such an attack head-on, let alone two of them. When a pair of disturbing damage counters appeared in his interface, he swallowed hard. [-0]

    The beast rapidly re-materialized and Jiran eyed it warily, getting a good look at the way its mana flowed seamlessly through its body and out into the open air around it. By the time the creature finished pulling itself together, Jiran had further reinforced the mana around his body and activated Oneness. The creature floated placidly, seemingly content with remaining in the same place it had ambushed him. Other than the dark claws and the glow of escaping mana from its mouth and eyes, its body appeared composed of the encroaching maelstrom of cold that sought to retake the land Jiran had stolen.

    Identify revealed a few scant clues as the blizzard¡¯s harrowing howl returned in the form of snow and sleet that quickly overtook the area Jiran¡¯s fire had cleared.

    [Frost revenant - Soldier: (Tier 7) (118k/118k) Low ranking incorporeal warrior from a lost race]

    Incorporeal, similar to the murkers in the Land of the Lost. They at least had much lower health than a normal tier seven. This one is a bit below average but not by much. I bet it''s got a few nasty surprises too, just like they did.

    Jiran¡¯s brief moment when he could afford to think vanished as the weather front enveloped them and the revenant burst into motion. It teleported, appearing behind him. Expecting nothing less from a tier seven ambush predator, Jiran¡¯s response was already prepared. Unfortunately, he had no way to anticipate just how quick the creature was. Even with Oneness, he barely perceived its wickedly fast claws as they slashed forward, appearing as nothing more than black streaks that sucked the light from the air.

    He leaned back and pivoted, allowing both initial swipes to flash by, each releasing torrential waves of force that kicked up the fresh snow. Not wasting his mana by making the same mistake as last time, Jiran swept three buzzing chakrams of Elemental Castigation through its body, each comprised of a different element. They cut clean through the beast. Not seeming to notice his attacks in the least, it barreled right into him, its wide-open jaws clamping down on thin air as Jiran leaped to the side.

    The force of his evasion shot him nearly fifty meters in an instant. If not for cutting the air pressure with his aura, that single leap would have created a tremendous wave of force. The moment his feet left the ground, he lost sight of the revenant. Elemental Castigation sent a wave of fire rippling outward from his skin, enveloping a twenty-meter radius and clearing the snow. The beast clearly wasn¡¯t having the same issues as him since it was nearly on top of him when it passed through his wave of elemental energy.

    In the fraction of a moment he had before it arrived, Enthralling Touch connected him to the beast¡¯s mana. Unsurprisingly, the tier seven¡¯s energy was too thick and viscous for Jiran to easily claim. The mana twitched and sluggishly flowed a mere centimeter before halting as the revenant threw its will into the struggle. It released a bone-shaking roar, its eyes blazing with hatred. Claws sliced forward again, though this time not in a mindless swipe. It aimed for his shoulder first, then, as if knowing he would move his hip to pivot and dodge, it struck downward at the exact moment he twisted to bend out of the way. Unable to reverse his momentum in time, Jiran was struck. He didn¡¯t take the blow for free; three fresh chakrams of entirely different elements passed through the revenant at the exact moment its attack landed.

    Jiran failed to anticipate that its initial sneak attack had not used the entirety of its strength. The further reinforced mana coating his skin cracked and failed, allowing two of the beast''s long claws to bite deep into his flesh. As they pierced him and came into contact with the aura woven inside his body, a massive chunk of the ephemeral energy was stolen and drained away. Before Jiran could process the extent of the damage, the force of the blow blasted him to the side. He spun end over end until he extended his quivering Manabody to catch himself. The act of placing so much pressure on the framework tore the synapses, creating dark, gaping holes in reality.

    To his dismay, the beast was completely unharmed from his newest round of attacks. Meanwhile, his Manabody had been drained by nearly ten percent of its mass from that briefest of contacts. With another Teleportation, the revenant was behind him again, completely ignoring the still-healing tears in space. One of them was even directly inside its torso where it appeared to be doing absolutely nothing to stop its advance.

    Jiran pulled half of his total mana from his body and layered it atop his skin, unwilling to be pierced again and have more of his aura drained away. His racial instincts were screaming at him to tear the creature apart with his bare hands for daring to take what was his. He ignored the intrusive emotions, discarding any further attempts at hurting the beast. Instead, he focused with all his minds on not getting hit until he came up with a plan.

    The revenant¡¯s attacks were blindingly fast, but with Oneness and intense focus, Jiran was able to narrowly avoid them. He ducked a claw, only to be surprised when a third limb appeared from the bottom half of its cloudy form and nearly took him in the knee. He jumped with all his might, barreling high into the storm above.

    How can it be both incorporeal and physically hit me at the same time?! No, the why doesn¡¯t matter, only what I need to do about it.

    The choice was made for him when the revenant appeared beside him a moment later, accompanied by two of its friends who stared at Jiran with glowing, empty eye sockets. Without a shred of hesitation, Jiran compressed and then ignited a truly ludicrous quantity of liquid hydrogen, blasting himself in a random direction, deeper into the storm.

 Chapter 206 - Outside The Box

    Mayalyn Aloyhee

    Mayalyn leaned back in the tub with a blissful groan. Blisteringly hot water enveloped her, easing the aches and pains from days of no sleep. Every hour had been filled with the work of hauling debris and removing corpses. The blast wave that swept down on them from the north had devastated much of their defenses, and though casualties had been light due to their entrenched positions, there were many injured and few capable of healing efficiently. The Forkara had suffered the worst, the majority of their forces being airborne at the time, which left the Imperials and even her own people, picking up the slack wherever necessary. The cleanup required to free space to allow reinforcements to the front lines was a herculean task all its own.

    Thankfully, the new wards survived and the ruined city had been stocked with supplies which only needed to be carefully extracted from beneath tons of rubble. Mayalyn still had no idea why she volunteered for the duty, it simply felt right when Olive begged for someone, anyone, to do it during the last meeting of their ragtag commanders. Possibly, it was because half of those gathered (the matrons and Forkara elders) couldn¡¯t understand a word she said, and the warriors truly did need to eat.

    Twice they had been attacked from behind by the Voicers, and twice Jiran¡¯s sentry formations had warned them in advance. Both times only tier fives and sixes had made the attempt. The healthiest and strongest Forkara were quick to respond once alerted. Despite their injured and exhausted forces, their new weapons and armor did wonders to dismantle any foe beneath the eighth tier that dared face them.

    Between the inexhaustible Graymin and the threat of an unknown and powerful foe at their backs, all four of the alliance¡¯s camps were on the edge of panic, hence her current attempt at relaxing. Mayalyn had invited the one person she could rely on to help ease her worries, largely due to her companion being the most stressed individual in the entire army: Alike rivers flowed together after all.

    Olive sat across from her, holding her face in her hands. The water gently lapped against her shoulders as she hunched forward. She looked up, sending a few droplets of water scattering through the air, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I let you and Father talk me into that! It¡¯s been two days and I¡¯m still embarrassed!¡±

    ¡°What you have to embarrassed for?¡± Mayalyn spoke in Imperial, her stilted accent more proper than Olive¡¯s manicured dialect, even though she still mispronounced some words while leaving others out entirely.

    ¡°Jiran completely rejected me!¡± Olive shrieked before dipping her face beneath the water to scream, releasing a torrent of bubbles.

    Mayalyn chuckled at her friend''s overreaction, her tone turning soothing, ¡°That is not what happen. When we worked on formations, he thought of you almost every minute. He is very serious about these matters, even if he does not speak of them often. Remind me, did he say no to you?¡±

    Olive tilted her head enough to peer at Mayalyn with one twinkling cerulean eye, ¡°Well¡­ no, not exactly. But he didn¡¯t say yes either! What if he does say no? Agh! Why did I listen to you back in Mortan? If I had ignored it like I wanted, I wouldn¡¯t be like this right now!¡±

    ¡°I only mention you were masking feelings and if you join us, I would welcome you. All else was your choice.¡±

    Olive deflated, sitting up and leaning back in a copy of Mayalyn¡¯s posture. ¡°I-I know. I¡¯m sorry. This isn¡¯t your fault, I¡¯m simply terrified he¡¯s hurt or dead. It¡¯s been two days,¡± she bit her lip. Even without the crinkled worry lines etched into her brow, Mayalyn would have known her best friend was nearly overwhelmed with concern due to the smell of her aura.

    ¡°He is fine,¡± Mayalyn reiterated for the tenth time that morning. It was refreshing, almost enjoyable to have someone else as worried about her Aajiran as she was.

    It is precisely as Mathra said. Having a bond-mate to share my worries with is indeed preferable to shouldering all the stress and worry alone. I hope Jiran decides to accept her. Though, if he attempts to add another, I will castrate him. A man is only permitted to be so greedy.

    ¡°What about that explosion?¡± Olive prodded, rousing Mayalyn from her musing.

    ¡°We have discussed already. There is chances that caused by his new formations, but I do not believe. The smaller explosion that came slightly before is more likable.¡±

    ¡°Likely,¡± Olive corrected reflexively, ¡°If he needed to use something that flashy, wouldn¡¯t that mean he was in trouble?¡±

    ¡°Whatever trouble he was in, that likely solved it. Now, he doing what only he can do, or what he believe best. He is fine, he is always fine,¡± Mayalyn¡¯s confident tone only wavered a touch.

    Her brow then wrinkled as she sniffed the air, scenting the coppery tint of fresh blood. With a frown, she snatched Olive¡¯s arm and lifted it from the water, discovering a deep cut on the back of her wrist that was slowly oozing, ¡°You are bleeding, what happen? Why have you not healed it?¡±

    ¡°N-no reason,¡± Olive stammered, gently but firmly withdrawing her arm and holding her hand over the cut.

    She turned her head to the side to face the mountains to the north and her gaze grew distant as she sighed. Not understanding what was going through her friend''s head, but noticing her anxiety only mounting, Mayalyn decided to lighten the mood, ¡°It is good you no longer deny your feelings.¡±

    Olive¡¯s complexion turned crimson, her aura flooding with embarrassed exhilaration, ¡°W-well, that is, uhm. Yes. I¡¯ve never felt this way before, never let myself feel this way before. It¡¯s strange, and painful, but exciting and fun too. I swear if he¡¯s dead, I¡¯m going to kill him for making me feel like this!¡± She smacked her palm against the water, splashing them both.

    Mayalyn wiped the steaming water from her cheeks and repeated what her Grandmother told her whenever she allowed her emotions to get the better of her, ¡°All life is mirrored in the tides with their ebbs and flows. The suns rise and fall, the seasons arrive and depart. Most important, good times always follow bad. If we can survive this storm, clear skies will greet us. We must not let emotions born from difficult times consume us, as they will be fleeting as the tides. Will you practice with me?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Practice? Practice what?¡± Olive looked around the small stone room questioningly, wondering what they could possibly practice in such a small, hastily constructed space.

    ¡°Breathing!¡± She emphasized the word by flashing her brows twice then continued in a mysterious tone, ¡°As the tides ejects detritus upon the sands, we can do the same with our negative emotions. Inhale deep and force tension from your body with exhalation, like so,¡± Mayalyn took a long, slow, and steady breath, her shoulders drooping as a touch of the tension left them at the end.

    ¡°Like the tides? Okay, okay, I can do this,¡± Olive nodded and followed her lead. Several cycles of breaths later, the princess was noticeably more relaxed and new emotions began sprinkling through her aura.

    A predatory smile inched up the corners of Mayalyn¡¯s lips, ¡°You should have told him long ago. You holded the feelings inside, and they fester. When he returns, you will be so nervous you will be unable to hold his eyes. He very much enjoys holding eyes.¡±

    ¡°What? Holding¡­ Oh, yeah, I¡¯ve noticed that too¡­ When he returns¡­¡± Olive fell silent for several minutes, wringing her hands the entire time. Eventually, she worked up the courage to ask, ¡°You two have, you know¡­ Haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Mayalyn responded with a huge grin and a deep nod, her eyes glowing with mischief, ¡°Oh yes, many times.¡±

    ¡°R-really? W-what¡¯s it like?¡± Olive swallowed hard, her aura quivering with a bevy of emotions thick enough to choke on.

    Happy to have successfully redirected her, Mayalyn laid it on thick, ¡°It is amazing! I call him my big worm because he burrows so deep inside my dirty¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ahh! No, stop! That¡¯s too much detail!¡±

    ¡°Oh no, we are only beginning. The way he fills me with his mana while he¡ª¡±

    ¡°I said stoooooop!¡± Olive squealed, covering her ears and dunking back under the water, which did nothing to block out Mayalyn¡¯s cackling.

    My Aajiran, return to us soon, we are waiting for you.

    Jiran of Madra

    The revenants released wails bursting with frustrated anguish as the explosion of condensed gases blasted Jiran away from them, simultaneously scattering their cloudy forms. The energies contained within those piercing screeches crashed into his back and broke through his defenses. The attacks slithered down the tap in his neck and his soul wall squirmed in agony. The backlash from being hit by three of them at the same time turned his skin blue as freezing cold enveloped his entire being.

    Jiran didn¡¯t take the time to heal himself or even look back to see if they had recovered enough to chase him. He pushed more and more condensed, liquified fuel from his feet, the continual explosive force propelling him forward truly testing the limits of his new durability. As his vision darkened into a tunnel, he cut off the flow, shooting through the sky like a meteor.

    Can¡¯t¡­ panic. If I keep going like this, I¡¯ll only attract more of them. I need a plan, and for that, I need answers.

    The alacrity of his thoughts returned in a rush as his acceleration dwindled. Wind and snow blasted against him but inside the shell of his skin coated in a thick layer of mana, he barely felt a thing.

    They were trying to eat my aura. Thank the Fathers they don¡¯t have a ranged ability like Enthralling Touch. First thing to figure out is how they found me so I can stay the inferno away from them. At least until I figure out how to kill them. I can¡¯t see a blasted thing in this blizzard, yet three of them managed to find me easily enough. And that first one almost seemed to need the snow to see. It didn¡¯t resume its attack until the blizzard enveloped us again. If that¡¯s the case, then they don¡¯t rely on regular sight, and considering they¡¯re immune to elemental light, that makes a lot of sense.

    Everything in this arena has been geared toward aura, so it''s safe to assume that¡¯s how they found me. Both times they showed up, it was right after I used my aura. Their ability to drain it on contact is all the more reason to keep my aura sealed. If it helps make me harder to spot, even better. I wonder if I¡¯m leaving trace amounts of aura on the framework, allowing them to track me. That¡¯s certainly not something I¡¯ve ever noticed, but being extra paranoid right now seems like a great idea.

    Jiran compressed his Manabody into the tightest ball he could form and wedged it in the middle of his chest. He completely surrounded it with a thick, hardened layer of mana, hoping that would obfuscate the energy enough to keep them from spotting him.

    Crazy that I can¡¯t hurt them at all. How am I supposed to fight something like that? The system¡¯s instructions to survive are making a lot more sense now, because fighting my way through a group of those would be impossible. What¡¯s my next move? I can¡¯t keep wandering around in the open like this. Even if hiding my aura works, it''s only a matter of time until I wander right into one of them. They¡¯re too hard to spot in this blizzard. Mana Omnis is useless if there¡¯s so much refracted light blinding me.

    Refracted light¡­ that¡¯s a thought. And now that I know what kind of beasts I¡¯m up against and that mana is useless against them, there¡¯s no more reason to hoard it. Between wasting it to retreat, or splurging it in an effort to avoid them in the first place, the choice is obvious.

    Jiran cycled through a dozen mental variations of what he had in mind. Unable to utilize his aura, he relied on raw mana to latch onto the framework and slow his fall. By the time he crashed into the ground in a spray of snow, he was ready to begin. But first, he held perfectly still, making sure he lost the three from before and that his meteoric descent hadn¡¯t attracted another.

    His flight had taken him closer to whatever was causing the anomalous weather. The freezing temperatures insidiously slithered beneath his skin, bypassing the protective layers of mana and eating away at whatever warmth it could find. Afraid his chattering teeth would give away his position, Jiran didn¡¯t wait long to get started.

    His mental image consisted of a thin, tight layer of cloth that covered a single hand. He stuck a finger into the hard stone ground and Mana Confluence spread his mana out, breaking down the material on an atomic level. Rock and trace quantities of ore turned to fine dust before wrapping around his hand. He didn¡¯t spare a single thought toward his newest creation protecting him from the chill; this was no natural cold and the mana cost of making clothing that could defend him from a soul-rending blizzard that he didn¡¯t even begin to understand would be astronomical.

    He directed all of his focus toward blocking any and all traces of his aura. As with Forming, Mana Confluence could turn any material into any other, the only limiting factors being mana cost and imagination. As with all things involving the magic of Madra, understanding and knowledge were the cornerstones of efficiency. Jiran may not have understood how the beasts could find his Manabody, but he was intimately familiar with exactly what the Manabody was, and the image of a cloth that could stop or insulate aura was simple enough to conjure up.

    His mana went to work, converting the stone dust into a thin, ultra-fine weave of cloth that snugly formed around his hand. Mana Omnis had no issue piercing the veil it created. He watched his mana through it, the energy dancing to his desire. He drew a filament of aura from the bundle in his chest and pooled it inside his palm, then directed some of his mana into the middle of that spool. When it vanished from his sight, he smirked.

    It cost a staggering five percent of his mana to make the glove, mainly because he had never even heard of a material that could block the sight of aura. No surprise, since humans lacked a skill to see aura in the first place. After scouring it with every sense available to him and coming to understand it slightly better, he was able to make an entire skin-tight suit of the material for a mere eight percent of his remaining mana.

    His new suit made little noise as it smoothly slid across his skin with each movement. It was delicate to the touch, though that may have been because his nerves were deadened from the blistering cold. With one of his two problems hopefully solved, he moved right on to the next.

 Chapter 207 - Into The Storm

    Jiran had two major problems to solve. First, his lack of vision in the blinding snow, which would hopefully be simple to fix. Second, how to actually hurt the revenants. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have the first clue where to begin with that one so he shelved it for the time being. To remedy his first issue, he dug into his memories from Earth. They were partial at best, lacking the key emotional wisdom that added color and depth, leaving them hollow, empty, and oftentimes useless. The memory he selected was one he found particularly intriguing when he discovered it some time ago. It held a simple concept, yet one that carried profound implications about the mysteries of both Earth and Madra.

    The memory was of a group sitting in a park, surrounded by a field of flowers, friends, and most importantly, bugs. One particular species flapped through the air in zig-zagging patterns, their oversized wings often sending them forward, upward, or to the side as if they had little control over their destinies. One of the friends was explaining to the group how the bugs had a miraculous quality to them; the creatures actually saw the world through fifteen color cones utilized across their many eyes. This afforded them a perspective that no other creature could match; one which could be argued was a true perspective where all others, including humans, were blind. The mere existence of so many colors and spectrums of visible light brought about a need to question reality itself.

    What does the world really look like? Certainly, nothing like how a human perceives it.

    As entertaining as it was to contemplate the nature of reality and the filters people used to understand it, what Jiran needed now was access to a spectrum of color his brain wasn¡¯t wired to comprehend. The real problem was that Mana Omnis was just as reliant on refracted light to see as the rest of his vision. With so much of the necessary light bouncing off millions of flakes of chaotically dancing snow, his vision was useless. But not all spectrums of light shared that same nasty habit. Blue light was the only wavelength that humans could detect which snow and water failed to reflect, but with how much of the snow was in the air, a mere adjustment to how he viewed blue light wouldn¡¯t be enough.

    Mana Confluence followed the knowledge Jiran fed it, shaping his mana into a pair of goggles. They came into being snugly secured around his head with a cloth band. Through the lenses, the world was completely dark until he fed a trickle of mana into them. The energy created a complete circuit, first flowing through the glass and absorbing the wavelengths of light he couldn¡¯t perceive, then feeding that information directly into his brain in a way it could interpret.

    Jiran blinked several times, momentarily blinded by the numerous shades of bright blue blasting into his retinas. He adjusted the mana input, cycling through the colors one at a time until the tier four arena snapped into focus for the first time since he entered it.

    He spun in a slow circle, looking through the blizzard that now appeared as a light static. He was on a nearly flat plain that stretched on infinitely in every direction save the one. There, he found a massive mountain whose peak appeared to pierce the clouds but that wasn¡¯t quite right. Jiran squinted, trying to understand what he was seeing; it almost appeared like the top third of the mountain, where it met the clouds, was simply gone. Evaluating the mystery as not immediately important, he looked elsewhere, activating Mana Omnis alongside the mana already being fed into the goggles. The ghostly images of several revenants shimmered like mirages through the static. Two quested not five hundred meters away, more active than the rest so he assumed they were hunting for him.

    Another quick adjustment of his energies turned their splotchy outlines into fully-fledged beacons of mana. Suddenly, the forms of hundreds of the revenants were revealed. It was almost more terrifying that he couldn¡¯t hear their combined howling over the blizzard when he could clearly see dozens of puffs of mana released at a time as their mouths opened wide. His attention was stolen, inexorably drawn back to the peak of the mountain where a sight that shouldn¡¯t be possible seized his heart and froze his blood. Jiran¡¯s jaw dropped at the towering pillar of mana that was shooting into the sky. It was at least two kilometers in radius and so dense it was a wonder he hadn¡¯t spotted it through the blizzard.

    That¡¯s got to be an emperor¡¯s worth of mana being released every second. Please tell me that¡¯s not the final boss. No, that¡¯s ridiculous. The system wouldn¡¯t give me a quest to kill something that much stronger than me¡­ right?

    Jiran forcefully tore his eyes away from the dread column, resuming his perusal of the revenants. They moved listlessly and each maintained a slightly different hovering distance from the ground. He wasn¡¯t sure what that might mean, but he tucked away the observation for later in case it was important. He also spotted how their mana had subtle concentrations in a specific part of their bodies, different for each of them. The way it pooled up and vanished, only to reappear again in a different part of them, triggered a memory that furthered his impotent frustration.

    That¡¯s got to be the tap to their aura. It reminds me of emperors Loro and Palo. There was a kind of constant connection between their mana, soul tap, aura, and body. Almost like the energy was being cycled through all four permanently. Lostrifar had the same thing, and so did Meselay, but not Dominus or Dagris. Maybe it''s some kind of upgraded aspect?

    In the few short seconds he was contemplating the nature of their strange powers, the two searching for him seemed to have already forgotten his existence, furthering his impression that they weren¡¯t very intelligent.

    Maybe being incorporeal has some downsides I can exploit.

    Now that he was out of immediate danger from the beasts, Jiran took a moment to regain his bearings. His map was still useless, displaying nothing but a blank snowy canvas. He was disappointed to realize that the direction he was heading before being ambushed was directly toward the mountain. Which meant that was likely where he needed to go. His eyes continued to be drawn to the massive column of mana but he tore them away each time. His desire to look anywhere else brought his awareness to a particularly mana-devoid splotch of land that wrapped around the base of the mountain like a belt.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    No mana means no beasts. But why would the revenants avoid an entire area like that? And what are those dark splotches every few hundred meters? Caves? Better check it out before I do anything else. I need a place to rest and think, and since they don¡¯t want to go there, that¡¯s exactly where I should be.

    He took his time trudging through the deep snow. The closer he came to the mountain, the thicker the beasts became. They seemed to have little in the way of drive, aimlessly meandering while occasionally stopping to scream their hatred into the uncaring storm. He gave them as wide a berth as possible, having no desire to test exactly how good his aura-obfuscating suit was. With each step, the cold sunk deeper into his bones. Halfway to his destination, he began to actively convert mana to elemental fire inside his body in an attempt to stave off the debilitating cold. The warmth eased the strain on his muscles, allowing him to push forward but doing nothing to drive away the feeling of ice clawing through his blood.

    His limbs went numb as he waited for a revenant to move along, the gaps between it and the next nearest beasts left him no space to maneuver. When it finally moved, his legs refused to cooperate as he demanded they resume their freezing march. The cold was impossibly pervasive, penetrating deep into his mind and dulling his thoughts. Jiran grit his teeth, fighting off the fatigue with every scrap of willpower he could bring to bear.

    Within the vast field of blue light, he could swear he saw flashes of Mayalyn¡¯s smiling face, beckoning him forward. Before he realized it, he was marching again, slogging forward, seemingly endlessly. Each step through the deep snow was a reminder of how much he had come to rely on his aura for movement. His density-packed body, which had always seemed like a blessing, was now a heavy burden, a curse that weighed him down.

    Time stretched on as his feet, and Mayalyn, dragged him forward. He adopted the habit of biting his tongue until it released a trickle of flavor, the sensation keeping him awake. Suddenly, the air grew several times more frigid than it had been a moment before. He lifted his head to discover he was at the mouth of a cave. From within, the freezing wind howled forth, its passage across his body making him realize he had never truly experienced what it meant to be cold before now. His brain felt like stretched sap and every idea that sprouted within his mind had to be swam across a river and deposited on the far bank before it blossomed into a thought. All he wanted to do was lay down and rest. He was so tired, and the call to sleep was irresistible.

    Survival instincts buried deep in his psyche triggered. Elemental Castigation rippled through him in a wave, incinerating his flesh. Mana Confluence trailed right behind it, repairing the damage he had wrought upon himself. Even that wasn¡¯t enough to bring him any real warmth, though it did grant him the mental faculties to step to the side, out of the freezing wind generated by the deadly cave. With his thoughts cleared, he noticed the blinking system messages that had been flashing behind his eyes for who knows how long.

    Challenger has located the resonance chambers

    Choose the chamber which aligns to your ideal

    Survive until your ideal has integrated into your quintessence

    I have to¡­ go in there? And survive? For how long? That doesn¡¯t seem possible. Maybe when I find the right one, it won¡¯t feel so cold. Yeah¡­ that doesn''t seem likely.

    Hmm, freezing wind isn¡¯t at all what I had in mind for my aspect, so this definitely isn¡¯t the cave for me.

    At random, Jiran walked left. He was back on high alert, disgusted with himself for basically becoming a walking zombie. The fact he hadn¡¯t stumbled into a revenant was either a miracle, or a testament to the efficacy of his new suit. Either way, he wasn¡¯t about to take a chance like that again if he could help it. He quickly located the nearest beasts and was glad to see whatever was keeping them away from the caves was in full effect. Twice, he watched them reach a specific spot and sharply turn around to wander away.

    The second entrance he neared released a spray of sleet. When a few drops of it landed on his flimsy cloth protection, it was so cold it pierced the numbness of skin with a painful burning sensation. He moved on, knowing for sure that wasn¡¯t the kind of cold he was looking for.

    The third seemed serene at first and he poked his head inside to find the cavern within was well-lit. An ice-covered pool with crystal-clear water dominated the majority of the space and he grimaced, his hopes dashed. The next held a waterfall of molten ice and his instincts screamed that touching it would spell his instant death. On and on it went, each cave demonstrating a slightly different, yet no less dangerous version of what it would look like if the twelve infernos froze over.

    It wasn¡¯t until Jiran came across an empty cave that was completely still, as though the air itself had been frozen solid that he stumbled inside and slumped against a wall to rest. His sliding down the wall and the groan that left his lips were the only movement in the cave, all else was perfectly still. It was both relaxing and tranquil. At the same time, the dreadful chill in the air housed a warning of peril for any foolish enough to drop their guard. The space drew him in like a sweet embrace, exhaustion and fuzzy warmth creeping down his limbs.

    His eyes shot wide at the impossibility of there being any kind of warmth in this frozen hell. This was an arena, a place of death, and his death was inching closer with each passing moment that he idly relaxed. He pushed against the floor to stand but his arms didn¡¯t have any strength left in them. Shock and horror mingled when Mana Omnis revealed both limbs covered in dark splotches. He burned them away, driving out the damage and replacing it with healthy flesh.

    Morbidly curious, and needing to know, Jiran counted down the seconds until another dark circle formed, this time on his leg. His cells dying off wasn¡¯t particularly painful with how numb he was, but the prospect of surviving in this place until some mystical transformation with his aura occurred was daunting. With how much mana he needed to spend for each healing, he estimated he could last for around two days.

    Well, this is the cave that matches my ideal. Problem is, I was wandering in that blizzard for a long time. I need some sleep and I certainly won¡¯t be getting any in here. Should I head out and take a short rest before starting? Would it even be safe to sleep out there? What if the mana I¡¯ve already used in here is the difference between surviving long enough to form my aspect? If I leave in the middle, will the process restart, or just get delayed?

    I can¡¯t risk it. I¡¯ve already wasted too much mana getting here. Besides, two days isn¡¯t my actual time limit. I¡¯m still going to need mana to fight with after this. I¡¯ll give myself a day. If I haven¡¯t made significant progress by then, I¡¯ll leave and rest. Then, I¡¯ll figure out how to kill those revenants and recharge my mana.

    With his choice made, Jiran crossed his legs, settling into a meditative posture. He forced his lungs to pull in a deep breath, welcoming his ideal version of cold into his body and soul.

 Chapter 208 - Jiran Frost

    The element slithered inside him, an insidious infection that he chose to welcome with open arms. If he didn¡¯t acquire an aspect like this arena demanded, there would be no going home, no saving the people who were relying on him, and never seeing his loved ones again. The problem was, he had no idea how to go about it. Olive¡¯s advice to form a deeper connection was not only second-hand information but may have been worded in a way that promoted inner growth, rather than actually being useful.

    I can¡¯t expect things to work out before I run out of mana. I have to dive into the process, understand it, and shape the end result into exactly what I want. At least, that method has always worked for me in the past. I¡¯ll start by summarizing everything I know. Aura is simply a controlled extension of the wall that protects the body from the soul. The soul itself is some kind of repository for memories of past lives. Probably not relevant or useful, but the entities contacted via divination skills exist, at least partially, in the soul as well.

    An image of Daughter popped into one of his minds and he idly wondered how she was doing with this trial¡¯s consistent assaults on his aura. He crushed the idea before it bore fruit, determined to remain focused with the combined processing power of all his minds.

    Mana goes through a fundamental change, something like inverting into itself to infuse a portion of the soulwall, which then allows it to stretch out and gain a foothold in reality. The system calls that phenomenon the Manabody. Through practice and understanding, that power can be controlled and enhanced in various ways, like growing larger and exerting more pressure on the physical realm. All of that is done through a connection between the body and soul called the tap, which can appear randomly anywhere inside the body.

    Jiran jerked upright as he nearly fell asleep. An icicle that had formed on his eyebrow cracked and fell, the sound of it hitting the floor and shattering the loudest thing he¡¯d heard since entering the cave. He forced his body to shiver, hoping it would keep him awake, the idea that movement might warm him up wasn¡¯t even worth considering. He closed his eyes tight and the crunch of his frozen eyelashes rubbing together was loud in his ears.

    As for aspects themselves, the most simplistic ones I¡¯ve seen were definitely the Forkara elders. They first converted their mana to an element and then pushed it back through their channels into their taps. Afterward, it only took a second for their auras to change and reflect that attribute. The entire process seems convoluted but the raw boost in power can¡¯t be ignored. If it were as simple as cramming an element into the tap, I would have been done already. There¡¯s some kind of trick to it, and I¡¯m not going to figure it out by merely thinking. Time for some good old-fashioned self-mutila-I mean experimentation.

    Jiran created a thread of mana and fed it into the tap in his neck. For most, finding one''s pinprick-sized tap was an arduous process that could take decades. Through the thread, he was fed a plethora of sensations: Chief among them was the blistering cold suffusing the tiny tunnel that led to his soul. The entire space was frozen and looked all too similar to the narrow tunnel that led to the very cave he was sitting in. Despite it being in his neck, he had to stretch the thread five meters before reaching the end of the tap, a testament to just how strange the entire process of reaching the soul was. There, he encountered a familiar barrier.

    When he cured Shara¡ªLenton¡¯s granddaughter¡ªhe used her aura to bypass the barrier in her tap. His own barrier gave him no pause, parting smoothly to allow his mana through. Beyond was the indefinable space that separated physical reality from the soulwall. Jiran gazed in wonder at the off-blue wall that stretched left and right far enough to contain the galaxy that was his soul. Inside this strange place, he existed as a shadowy mass. Though that wasn¡¯t quite right, it was more similar to an ideal given form, but not strong enough to actually exist, like the shadow of a shadow, or a dream within a dream.

    He was nearly torn from his intense focus when he found the usually empty space alive with activity. A billowing cloud of frost was gushing from his tap, filling the soul-space and slamming itself against his soulwall. Every time they connected, a wave rippled through the wall and it was accompanied by a dull throb that spread through his physical body in the form of a bone-deep chill.

    I wasn¡¯t imagining it, the air in this cave, in this whole arena, really is attacking my soul.

    Jiran immediately attempted to form a barrier between his soulwall and the fog but he may as well have been attacking a revenant. It pushed right through his defenses, crashing like a wave against the beach. He rallied the aura sealed away inside him, yet that proved useless as well. The fog simply washed up against his soulwall in another slow and inexorable motion. Jiran winced at the ache that spread through him, growing frustrated in his helplessness.

    It¡¯s not doing a lot of damage to my soul, if any. Wait, I remember Daughter saying it wasn¡¯t possible to damage the soul directly but if there was a break in the wall and some of my soul leaked into reality it would be¡­ bad for me. Still, it''s clearly hurting my physical body through some kind of feedback loop. I¡¯ve got to figure out a way to protect myself. Oh, if I can¡¯t stop the cold, maybe I can reinforce the wall.

    His attempt to infuse the wall with mana was mildly successful. The next wave only released a mild numbing that trickled through him. With a shake of his shadowy form, he withdrew his mana.

    That¡¯s just going to drain my mana all the faster. Besides, I get the feeling this is how forming an aspect is supposed to happen. If I want to include ice in my aura, then doesn''t either a portion of my soulwall, or soul itself, need to be attuned to the element? The question is, which one, soul, or wall. And how long does it take? If I was in a normal place with a normal cold that wasn¡¯t attacking my soul, probably years. Here, it could actually be finished acclimating in a day¡­ I can¡¯t take that chance. Even if this is a thousand times faster than normal, I have to find a way to speed it up.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Mayalyn¡¯s smiling face appeared in his thoughts and a shadowy representation of her formed in the soul-space. Surprised that his stray thoughts could form a semi-real manifestation in the strange place, Jiran didn''t immediately banish it. The shadow quickly took on a more solid form until it grew wild blue hair and honey-colored eyes. He couldn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t want to move as he was swept away in the sheer personality emanating from her expression. She reached out a hand and when it touched his shadow, her image exploded into mist.

    At the speed of thought, the mist reformed into another woman, this one with beautiful blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She beckoned Jiran closer with a wave of her fingers and he could almost hear the words she mouthed, ¡°You promised.¡±

    Jiran¡¯s eyes failed to snap open like they should when he jerked himself awake. Mana Confluence tore through him, healing the black splotches that covered his entire body. He tried to curse, but his lips were frozen together as well. He couldn¡¯t breathe or move and the momentary panic caused a building pressure behind his eyes that warned of tears; it was an empty threat since they too were solid ice. Elemental Castigation made short work of the several centimeters of ice encasing him and he took a deep gasp of freezing cold air.

    The ice was gone, yet the images of Mayalyn and Olive remained, nestled securely in one of his minds that refused to release them. Or perhaps it was that they were creating the only feeling of warmth he had experienced in hours and he couldn¡¯t bear to banish them again. He embraced the reminder, adding the faces of the Timberlings, Forkara, and the People beside them. It wasn¡¯t only Olive, he had made many promises, and the fresh reminder gave him the courage to do what he knew needed to be done.

    I¡¯m not going to survive in this cave for a day. I have to take the initiative. The cold in this place is insidious. I didn¡¯t have any clue I was falling asleep until it was too late. The next time, I might not wake up.

    Jiran dove back down his tap and swam his mana right up to a particular spot in his soulwall. All around him, the waves of icy fog crashed against the only thing preventing his soul from leaking into reality and devouring him. He placed a shadowy hand against the wall, knowing what he was about to do was possibly one of the biggest risks he¡¯d ever taken.

    It¡¯ll only be for a moment. It can¡¯t be any worse than being slowly invaded by this ice. Besides, if I¡¯m going to figure out what¡¯s really happening, I¡¯ve got no choice but to go inside and look. The biggest issue is Madra¡¯s mana. The last few times I tried to go in there and look around, it blocked my mana. I¡¯ve got no other choice than to try.

    Not giving himself time to doubt or change his mind, Jiran spun up the rings of his gate; two massive circles made of a mysterious material constructed by Madra herself. They rotated in place, one inside the other. Directly in the center, a crack formed running up the length of the wall and through it, Jiran saw a backdrop of deep darkness framing a galaxy of Madra¡¯s mana. The dormant energy floated harmlessly, but he knew how venomous it could be once brought back into reality.

    The unfathomable expanse of mana didn¡¯t move to stop him and the icy fog was being sucked into his soul in massive quantities so Jiran wasted no time diving in himself. He immediately spun around upon entering, not bothering to look for the stars crammed with memories like the last two trips he¡¯d taken to his soul. Except when he turned, all he found was more darkness, his soul appearing to stretch indefinitely in every direction. The fog was nowhere to be seen, nor were there any indications of what was happening on the outside of his soulwall.

    Damnit, why does this have to be so confusing! There¡¯s got to be a hint in here, some kind of clue to what¡¯s happening! No, that¡¯s stupid. Nobody said this would be easy or make sense. The only clue here is Madra¡¯s mana being unusually dormant.

    Unwilling to leave his soul open and vulnerable without any answers to be gleaned, Jiran withdrew his mana and slammed the gate shut. Upon returning to himself, he found his body completely encased in several centimeters of frost all over again. The frustration of waking up to find himself trapped after what felt like only a few seconds was too much.

    Elemental Castigation exploded from him in a fiery wave, devouring the layer and sweeping intense heat into the cave around him. As if it were a living being, the cavern released a bestial roar in the form of raging winds and the cold around him doubled in strength, crushing his fire in an unstoppable, vice-like grip. Jiran blacked out as his meager attempt to free himself was snuffed out. He came to smothered in a fresh blanket of frozen pressure. The impossibly cold air wrapped around him, chilling him to his very soul. With one last squeeze, as though communicating that another attempt to spawn heat within its bowels would end in death, the cave relented and returned to its normal, deathly temperature.

    More carefully this time, Jiran thawed and healed himself. When he could move again, a wicked smile split his face and a reedy chuckle escaped his lungs.

    That was it! That¡¯s so close to the power I want my aspect to embody. To snuff out my enemies in a blanket of cold so overpowering that they can¡¯t move. And that was also the hint I¡¯ve been looking for. Not only was I frozen because I let a little of that fog into my soul, but the cave itself fought back when I rejected its ice. This is just like when I refused to accept myself during the Aahmra¡¯s training. The more I fought, the more I denied myself, the worse the recoil! I keep fighting back, trying to stop and control the process, but that¡¯s not right. I need to accept it, become it, until the cold is such an ingrained part of me that not having it would be what causes a backlash.

    That¡¯s why Dokkuun said I can only have one aspect, because once I conform to a specific element, adding another would itself be a rejection of what''s already there. An aspect isn¡¯t an element-flavored aura, it''s an aura that has become the element itself. Olive¡¯s words were right, it was my interpretation of them that was wrong. Forming a connection with the element didn¡¯t mean understanding it more thoroughly, but truly joining with it on a deeper level.

    Now I know what to do and how to do it. But I don¡¯t have any intention of accepting this cave''s imperfect version of cold into myself. The cold I want needs to embody the ice-death of the universe. A cold powerful enough to stop time. A cessation of all movement: The True Origin of Ice.

    With a final breath, Jiran threw wide the gates of his soul and the choking cold he imagined billowed out, latching onto the fog and greedily swallowing it.

 Chapter 209 - A Heart of Ice

    Jiran could instantly tell that something was wrong. The fog inside his soul-space was rapidly being devoured through his gate, but almost half of it was blasted away by the rapid spinning of the two massive rings. With a thought, he adjusted their rotation, and a portion of the rejected fog was visibly drawn through the first of the two rings then into his soulwall, rather than the dark hole that led to his soul.

    A tingling warmth so minute he could have imagined it trickled out of the tap in his neck to spread across his shoulders. Whether imagined or real, the feeling was beyond euphoric, and like a man given water in the desert, he desperately adjusted the speed of the rings until the most fog possible was being drawn into his soulwall and not his soul.

    Despite his best efforts to ignore it, a deeply distracting elation was bubbling within his chest. A grin painfully cracked his frozen cheeks but he couldn''t have cared less. His focus sharpened and every external stimulus was ignored as he dove into the process of accepting his element. The difficulties didn''t relent.

    Foresight sent him a powerful warning. The soulwall near the gate was quickly becoming a solid glacier, frozen and hard as a rock. He zipped his mana-imbued consciousness along it, finding the area where the ice stopped and the typical cloudy surface began. The ice was rapidly being absorbed by the normal portions of the wall but not nearly fast enough to keep up with the rate his gate was drawing in the fog.

    He tried willing the wall to quicken the pace of absorption, which predictably had no effect. Injecting mana and aura into it with intent was equally futile. Scratching his shadowy chin, he gave in with a shrug and returned to the gate. Reluctantly, Jiran slowed the rings¡¯ rotations until Foresight calmed down. He zoomed back and forth between the edge of the frozen portions of his soulwall and the gate, finding the perfect speed where absorption spread evenly without solidifying any portions of the wall. Now, the cloudy surface was rapidly taking on a lighter hue, becoming more like the fog it was taking in. Satisfied, he maintained the rotation and pulled the rest of his mental faculties back into reality. Mana Confluence healed the recent frost burn that had built up across his chest and back.

    Guess it''s going to take a while after all. I already feel so much better. I doubt the cave¡¯s gotten warmer, which means I''m developing an immunity. Interesting that the gate is facilitating the absorption. Madra must have built it that way on purpose. Is that why her mana didn¡¯t interfere for once? How is this done for people who don''t have a gate? They must just deal with the fog, or whatever element they chose, crashing into their soulwall repeatedly. I bet that takes forever. Not only that, finding a place with an element imbued with a soul attack is probably incredibly rare. Do they have to make their own?

    Jiran could easily imagine a tier seven sealing themselves in a dark cave somewhere and ever so slowly creating a space suffused with the optimal element and then absorbing it into their soulwall over a dozen years.

    It seems like there¡¯s always something to be gained from the arenas outside of raw boosts in attributes. What¡¯s their true purpose? Why test people like this while continually making them stronger? In fact, it seems like all of Madra, or at least what I¡¯ve seen of it, shares that same philosophy. The world and its system are far too structured for it to be random. I keep getting distracted¡­ doesn¡¯t help that this is so easy now that I¡¯ve got the hang of it, just time-consuming. Oh well, better random thoughts than falling back asleep!

    And so, Jiran allowed his thoughts to take him where they may as time flowed ever forward.

    It was easy to lose track of the hours in the arena; without the timer ticking down, and the map in his interface revealing nothing but white static, Jiran was left with the inching advance of his aspect across his soulwall as the only measurement of time¡¯s passage. He certainly felt like he was making great progress, but he wouldn¡¯t know for sure until he made it back to his friends. Several times, he found himself on the verge of dozing off. Even with his growing acclimation to the element, he was certain that succumbing to sleep would lead to a sure death.

    A single mind was more than sufficient to maintain the spinning of his gate. He rotated out which mind was in charge of the task every few minutes in an attempt to keep things fresh and stretch his brain. The rest of his thoughts were chaotic, directionless, and inevitably dragged him back to Mayalyn and Olive.

    I shouldn¡¯t be worried. I left them with all the formations they could possibly need and Mayalyn knows how to use the new ones. The more numbers the Graymin throw at them, the stronger they¡¯ll become. And with the portals open, they can always retreat back to the Forest of Melodies. If not for that numbered guy showing up and ruining eve¡ª

    A rumbling crack, loud enough to rattle Jiran¡¯s bones, echoed through the cave for several long seconds. He was on his feet in a flash. Stiff, frozen muscles were torn and healed. Mana surged out of him, ready to be thrown in any direction at a moment''s notice. Despite the sudden scare, he maintained the optimal rotation of his gate, the process so engrained by this point he probably could have continued even if he did fall asleep. When nothing jumped out to eat him, Jiran gradually calmed and then moved around, questing for the source of the sound. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Whatever the cause was, he couldn¡¯t spot it with his naked eyes, and with his aura sealed to hide him from the revenants, he couldn¡¯t check inside the walls. He considered pulling it out since the beasts didn¡¯t want anything to do with the caves but in the end, it was a risk he wasn¡¯t willing to take. He was only halfway done with acquiring his aspect, to be forced to flee this perfect environment could be catastrophic to his progress. With a new fear of being interrupted if he took too long, Jiran folded his legs beneath him and focused with renewed effort. He fine-tuned the spinning of the gate which was an arduous process as the assimilated portion of his soulwall was growing with every passing minute so the trek back and forth took longer and longer.

    A short time later, another rumble was accompanied by a fissure that split the wall to his left, running from the ceiling several meters above and halfway through the floor. The split was large enough to stick his entire arm inside and the sight of it sparked a disturbing realization.

    This cave might actually be alive. The way it responded to me creating fire, and now the cracks in the walls¡­ I know density is sentient, and this place is packed with enough mana to actively attack my soul. Maybe I''m not just consuming its attack to empower my soulwall, but actually killing it by draining its fog. Will I finish before the cave¡­ dies? Can living caves even die? I could swap to a different one. No, those other versions of cold weren¡¯t right and I get the feeling I¡¯ll taint my ideal if I try another cave.

    Another crack appearing, this one stretching all the way across the ceiling, lit a metaphorical fire under Jiran¡¯s ass. He stood and dove into the very depths of the cave, to the coldest spot at the far wall, and placed his hands upon it. His skin instantly turned to ice. He broke down the frozen flesh with Mana Confluence and pulled it, along with the energy used to damage it, into his tap. The fog in his soul-space tripled, crashing against his soulwall with a voracious fury that caused fresh waves of blistering chills to radiate from his neck.

    He wasn¡¯t given time to revel in his successful gamble. The cave rumbled and shook, more fissures appearing across every surface as though it were a pane of cracked glass. Along with the near-complete shattering of the cavern, the temperature rose significantly to the point his skin felt a true touch of warmth.

    No! I don¡¯t have enough yet. This cold is mine!

    Jiran¡¯s aura exploded from his skin. The fact it felt no discomfort in the rapidly warming air only furthered his desperation. He latched onto the walls, floor, and ceiling. His aura dug into every crack, sucking out the marrow that was his ideal version of cold. A connection formed when he reached deep into the walls; he could feel the cave dying as he drained it but that was the nature of Madra. Many died so that one could ascend.

    The cave rejected him, attempting to pull further away while protecting something precious that Jiran could instantly tell he needed. He followed after it, his aura slithering deeper into the cracked ice and rock. But they were far deeper than anything natural and there were hundreds of them. Jiran gave up on directly chasing it through its territory. Instead, he flooded his aura into every single crevice except the one it had fled down. Just when the will of the cave thought it was safe, aura pounced on it from every direction.

    Jiran grinned viciously as the core of its power was revealed: An icy heart that pulsed with a dull glow. He grabbed it with his aura and it fought back with the intensity of a cornered animal. It was Enthralling Touch that gave him the edge in their struggle. He grabbed the solid block of freezing energy and pulled it into himself with a defiant roar. It flowed down his tap like it was coming home and nestled into his soul-space where it released steady and consistent waves of fog that washed against his soulwall.

    Jiran flipped around, his back sliding down the fractured wall as he sat, heaving and exhausted. His aura was safely back inside him and he could only hope that his efforts, and the rupturing of the cave, hadn¡¯t attracted any of the revenants. Even after what felt like several hours passed, he didn¡¯t drop his guard.

    With the source of the cold inside him, he was positive he had enough of it to complete his aura¡¯s transformation. The heart grew weaker with each freshly released wave of fog that was absorbed. Yet Jiran¡¯s soulwall grew stronger in equal measure. He could feel the effects across every aspect of his being. The cells that constituted his muscles and bones were reforged, though how exactly he couldn¡¯t tell. His skin became stiffer and more resilient.

    Yet the biggest change was in his mana. The energy was changing on a fundamental level, similar to how it always inverted when he fed his Manabody. It didn¡¯t feel any stronger or move more quickly, but there was a vast difference in the sensations he was receiving from it. Before, he could get a general idea of what his mana touched, almost like having a million minuscule eyes and fingers to feel and interact with the world. Now, the places his mana felt practically crawled with tactile feedback. As the transformation continued, he was even able to sense the outlines of the framework¡¯s synapses, something he could only ever perceive with his aura before.

    How is the framework a mystery to the empire if acquiring an aspect allows you to feel it with your mana? Maybe they can¡¯t? Is what I¡¯m experiencing a Remalonzy thing? We are supposedly masters of mana.

    Without warning, a large ripple started at his gate and swept outward across his soulwall. The icy surface was devoured in the wave of motion, and in its wake, a pristine and nearly clear wall was revealed. The iceheart still thumped steadily in his soul-space, though now the fog it released shied away from his upgraded soulwall as though terrified of it. Jiran¡¯s excitement was dulled by his drowsy minds. He held back attempting to wield his aspect for the first time, giving the ripple time to pass over the entirety of his soulwall. Considering how large it was, that would take quite a while.

    It¡¯s done. I did it. I can finally rest.

    The hectic, non-stop events of the last few hours or days weighed heavily upon him. Through bleary vision, he used Elemental Castigation to form a burrow in the wall. He sealed himself inside and gratefully curled into a ball to fall fast asleep.