Vlad was just about to contact Jorumguadnr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir to coordinate their next move on the battlefield when his communication gem vibrated in his space ring, emitting a faint glow. Frowning, he retrieved it and saw that the caller was none other than Aganon, the young scion of the Solaris Family.
Although Vlad’s eagerness to test his newfound strength burned hot within him, a brief conversation wouldn’t hurt. Lifting the gem, he spoke in a calm, asured tone.
"Yes? You were seeking ?"
Almost imdiately, Aganon’s voice crackled through the gem. "Brother Vlad, yes. I’ve been aning to talk to you. There is sothing very important we need to discuss, but I’m afraid doing it through this thod is a bit too risky. Could you co to my residence in the middle ring?"
A flash of curiosity stirred in Vlad’s eyes. Aganon was not typically one to be so secretive, which suggested that whatever he wanted to say must be urgent. After only a second’s pause, Vlad nodded to himself and replied, "I’m on my way."
He wasted no ti, exiting the inner ring of the military settlent and heading toward the middle ring. When he arrived at Aganon’s residence—a modest, compact structure slightly smaller than Vlad’s own—he wasn’t surprised. Accommodations here were assigned strictly according to military rank, and though Aganon had status through his lineage, it appeared he chose to stand on his own rits rather than reside in the luxurious Solaris estate within the inner ring.
Vlad knocked on the door, and it swung open almost imdiately to reveal Aganon, who wore a faintly anxious expression. "Good, you’re here. Please, co in," he said.
Nodding, Vlad stepped inside. The interior was sparse but well-kept, containing only the essentials. Aganon led him down a short corridor to a small study-like room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Aganon produced a strange device with intricate tal carvings and glowing sigils etched along its edges. With a quick press, he activated it. In response, the artifact generated a shimring forcefield that enveloped the entire room, making the walls flicker with faint arcs of energy.
Vlad narrowed his eyes in interest. Even without his A.I. Chip, he could sense the device’s function: it was designed to repel eavesdropping attempts, blocking any prying eyes or ears that might be using scouting spells or sophisticated technological ans. This only fueled his curiosity. No one would bother using such a high-level magic device for re small talk.
Aganon cleared his throat. "Sorry about the secrecy, but we can never be too cautious. This fortress is ho to many powerful individuals, including Legends and even so Sages with very unusual scouting abilities." He paused, letting the significance of that statent settle. "I’d rather avoid having the wrong parties overhear this conversation."
Vlad rely nodded in understanding. While he wasn’t fearful of such individuals, he recognized that secrecy could be valuable. Aganon continued, taking a deep breath as though preparing himself for a difficult topic. "Brother Vlad, are you familiar with the people who used to inhabit this world before it beca the Land of the Three Calamities?"
Vlad shook his head. He had heard scraps of history—that the Land of the Three Calamities had once gone by a different na, back when it was a thriving realm. Eventually, the Vorotallicae race descended upon it and, according to official Graecia Empire records, committed genocide, nearly wiping out the native inhabitants.
Then the Empire arrived and the war began, finishing off whatever remained of the original population in the ensuing chaos. Of course, the Vorotallicae might have their own records painting a different picture, possibly claiming they arrived second and that it was actually the Graecia Empire that perpetrated the annihilation.
’The real truth,’ Vlad mused, ’had probably gone to the grave with the original natives.’
Regardless, Vlad was not overly concerned about the question of who was at fault. Morality was a fleeting concept in a war-torn Doomsday World where survival was paramount. He had chosen to ally with the Graecia Empire’s forces out of necessity and self-interest, not because he believed them to be unequivocally righteous.
Aganon nodded at Vlad’s reaction. "The original inhabitants were, by all accounts, a very peculiar species. There’s so debate about their lineage; many believe they had draconic qualities, but in unusual ways that set them apart from typical dragonkin. What truly mattered was their level of sophistication. They built advanced cities and ford complex organizations. So suspect that if they had remained hidden for even a few more millennia, they might have risen to the strength of a super-civilization."
He said this in an unemotional tone, as though such a grand scenario was routine within the Empire. Vlad, however, understood that "super-civilization" status was not sothing thrown around lightly; it denoted a realm or empire capable of contending with the very strongest powers in existence.
Aganon exhaled, then continued: "The reason I’m bringing this up is that a few days ago, a scouting team discovered a hidden dinsion—sothing like a secret plane—believed to have once served as headquarters for one of those ingenious organizations. According to our preliminary information, it’s unstable due to the passage of ti and can’t withstand the radiation and energy signatures of Legends."
He paused aningfully. "That ans only Sages are allowed to enter without risking a complete collapse of the dinsion."
Vlad felt his heart quicken. The chance to explore an ancient hideout belonging to a civilization that was almost on the brink of super-civilization? Such a place would undoubtedly contain artifacts, wealth, and knowledge beyond asure. He could already imagine rare and powerful relics, or perhaps even advanced technology and runic items that might accelerate his own progress—or be sold for staggering sums. Resources were sothing he perpetually needed to further his own ambitions, whether forging new runes, strengthening his demon soul path, or nurturing his bloodline.
"Just how powerful was that organization?" Vlad asked, his gaze intense. The stronger they had been, the more valuable the spoils would be.
Aganon’s eyes glead with the sa fervor. "I can’t say for certain, but rumors suggest that their leaders had at least stepped into the realm of Legends—maybe multiple Legends. The fact that they established a hidden plane that endured thousands of years of cataclysm and infiltration attempts is proof enough of their capabilities."
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