Their first exit was at a region about halfway between the western Fort and the enemy's camp. It was a point where the Arkadae/Monster race forces would not dare cross unless they wished to resu the ongoing war with subsequent battles.
"Alright. Do your thing," Evian said.
Astrid eyed him,
"Look at you giving orders," she said and then chuckled before calmly looking forward, "The Sensors are about 50 ters away by the way. My senses tingle whenever I get close and further probing will only alert the enemy.
For a makeshift security asure, the sensors are very sensitive. The work of a capable Arcanist, no doubt."
"Just one?" Evian asked.
"As far as I can tell, yes. No two people can be truly in tune with each other barring so special circumstances. If two people had been involved in casting the sensory spell, I would have been able to pick apart their distinct signatures by studying fluctuations in the Spiritual energy field."
Astrid's voice went lower as she mused and then she looked to the side and with how her brows furrowed, it was clear that she had stretched her sight and extra senses far off and it was so far that it was beyond a level Evian could follow. Not that he even tried.
"I can't feel any fluctuations for miles," Astrid mused, "If it is indeed the work of one person, then just 'capable' is not at all enough to describe their prowess."
Evian watched her eyes cloud over in musings and then he bent and touched his hand to the ground,
"50 miles, huh? I can afford to overshoot that for safety.
Astrid, let's go," he called out.
Astrid's eyes rolled until they landed on him. The Golden Child stared at him for a few seconds before she then smiled,
"We're almost there," she started gently, "It's about ti you tell what you stand to gain."
Evian held her gaze and then let out a breath,
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked before getting back to his feet, "I want to hunt."
"Ah of course. As is the way of your kind…" Astrid started but Evian interrupted to get right into his plan. It was about ti he revealed it anyway,
"When I heard we had been called to war, I was excited. It was a chance to consu souls en masse. When I learned that the enemy had employed the support of Monster races, I was even more excited because what better way to let loose than a chaotic situation where any weirdness or energy inconsistency could be blad on the enemy?
Everything seed perfect until it dawned on that the chaos of war might not be for the best. I will be lumped together with other Knights without regard for my current level of Strength and if I unluckily clash against an enemy at the peak of the Fifth Order or even beyond that, I will be done in before I even get to snack on a lower leveled soul.
Because war is so chaotic, I also won't be able to fully rely on my allies, among which, Zayda is the only one truly capable but she is now a Captain and will be more focused on leading the Squad she has been assigned while also receiving orders from a Lieutenant.
I realized that, if I wanted to amass the Massive Soul Points I desired, I needed to control the narrative and that is why I jumped on this chance with an idea I ca up with in the mont while Zayda filled in on the War eting."
"I'm here to help you hunt," Astrid realized.
"It's only fair," Evian said with a smile, "We- I an, you WILL confront the Enemy commander still. We'll just make a few detours on the way and I'll eat a hundred Souls before the confrontation takes place.
I lure the enemy, you keep them occupied and I co in for the easy kill."
The more she understood Evian's plan, the wider Astrid's smile beca,
"Quite the elaborate plan you've cooked up. As expected, it ends with you having more to gain. However, let just ask you this, what were you going to do if the person you ca along with did not cooperate?"
"Zayda would have cooperated," Evian said.
"But Zayda isn't here. I am. What would you do if I said no to your sches? Will you turn back now or will you forge forward and threaten with leaving stranded in the enemy's camp?"
"You think too badly of . What good would it do to threaten you? From the start, I was going to prey on your sensibility.
Whoever the commander is, you and only you can contend with them, however, for the others, you can always rely on to get you out of trouble. As long as I am strong enough, that is.
The stronger I am, the more effective my Phasing will be," Evian explained and technically, he did not lie. He could always upgrade Wraithic Phasing and it would never not co in handy.
He continued,
"The enemy doesn't know who we are or what we are capable of. They probably don't even think we are bold enough to enter their camp. We can pick them apart and have eat my fill before you confront the Commander.
Every word I have said about this plan being for the good of the Combined Forces and the very reason you agreed to it, is still very much true. This will just be a matter we tend to before that gets underway."
"So you plan on using ," Astrid said.
"As much as you plan on using ," Evian answered coolly, "We can turn back now if you want but I don't think the great Astrid Renan is that much of a coward."
"Trying to rile up?" Astrid asked with a smirk, "You overestimate your way with words.
But, I do like the premise. It's the first ti I'll get to see a Wraith in its Decadent elent, so it might be entertaining. However, do not think for one second that you control the initiative!"
*Ching!!!*
The sound chid loudly in the night as a taphysical chain appeared, with one end wrapping around Evian's heart while the other wrapped around Astrid's right arm.
"Hngh!" Evian groaned at the sharp pain in his chest before it subsided.
The taphysical chain vanished but the bind remained. Evian could feel it.
"With that, you won't be able to get too far away from . I'd like to believe you are aware thar I'm agreeing to your idea and your selfish interests because I think it will be entertaining and not out of worry or duress."
"I am aware," Evian said calmly.
"Good, then let's go."
The two joined hands and in a second, they vanished away with their point of exit undoubtedly being within the jaws of the enemy.
•••
-Arkadae's War Camp-
There were multiple monster races that resided in the World Evian had found himself upon becoming a Wraith but it would be ignorant to believe that term only referred to hulking monsters like Orgres or Trolls because although they existed and were very must present in this CAMP, there were other, more lithe creatures who were terd monsters only because of their ferality.
These lithe monsters whose forms are more human-like deserve a ntion because they possess the best ability to converse with the humans of the Arkadae Kingdom and they were the ones who rally the more rowdy monsters and kept them in line.
One of those 'lithe' Monster races were Dogons; Human-like creatures who could assu their Dogon form in which they beca covered with scales that boosted their defense while also becoming imbued with greater agility. The strength of a Dogon is the sa as that of a human in the sa Order but their defense makes them particularly difficult to deal with.
A predicant many Knights of the Verlice Kingdom had faced during previous battles.
The other 'lithe' monster race currently allied with the Arkadae forces were Goblins; Creatures almost as social as humans and possessing classes ranging from Goblin warriors (large hulking goblins) to Goblin rangers (smaller in size and make use of ranged physical weapons) to Goblin mages (Arcanist equivalents who are the smallest of their kind but possess the most acute minds.)
The representatives of the Dogon and Goblin races were granted the right to sit in etings with their human allies and plan their assault on their shared enemy; The Verlice Kingdom. Alas, unknown to them, a good number of their less intelligent comrades were already being done in by mysterious assailants.
The enemy knew best who to go after.
They ignored the Dogons and Goblins and lured the more simple-minded Ogres and Trolls away to et their grave ends.
The most recent kills were five Ogres standing together at the outskirts of the Camp as the lookout. Their large and muscular bellies were jousting out and almost as one, they all scratched only to then catch a whiff of pure and enticing Spiritual energy that pulled them away.
All five possessed physical capabilities at least at the Fourth Order but were unable to resist the enticent or the green vines that pulled and kept them in place. As they realized the danger they were in, the Five made to let out roars to alert their comrades but their sounds were quickly muffled by chains composed entirely of Eldritch energy.
Their assailants then showed themselves and the last thing any of the five saw was an incredibly handso (by human standards) grey-eyed and haired man who wielded a Spear, pierced their heads, and freed their Souls.
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