Recognizing poisonous plants was easy enough. Specifically, ones that would be dangerous if you brushed up against them. Alva had no intention to attempt to consu anything from the Garden. Those juicy berries full of natural energy might provide a boost to cultivation or they might explode inside her, shattering her from the inside. Everheart could even have plants like here that werent traps but had a purpose- like feeding them to others. Or training so forbidden technique.
Slightly more difficult was recognizing which plants were mobile or aggressive in so way. Plants that were full of large pools of tempting water were fairly obvious, as were the wide open leaves with scythelike blades around the edge- made to snap closed on anyone who stepped within. The trailing vines on the ground that were made to grab ankles were a bit more subtle when strewn in among the others that didnt act in the sa way, but discerning the way the energy flowed through and around them let her pick so out. And others Vari walked into.
that wasnt Alvas fault. Vari had declared that since she was the one suited for lee, she should walk ahead. Alva directed her around anything she noticed. But sotis there were trees whose leaves had dustings of deadly powder that shook off with the slightest disturbance.
Vari hacked and coughed as she breathed in a lungful of sothing awful. Are you- so blood ca up with the next coughing fit, -Are you alright, lady Alva?
Alva snatched the strand of energy that ca towards her and tucked it away. She wasnt sure whether she should make use of it. It wasnt clear if it was ethical or safe- and she needed it to at least be the latter. Im alright, Alva said. Perhaps you should move out of the area?
I need to- this ti she hacked up black gunk, which quivered like gelatin on the ground, -learn to overco this.
You know youre supposed to start with small doses, right? Alva asked. Anyway, were heading thataway, she gestured. Her declaration that she was going to move also directed Vari away from the floating dust and spores. That was the one thing the womans barriers werent great against.
They were excellent against claws though. There were so lizards that seed to balance on just two legs, though they used the claws on all of their legs to attack. So were only about the size of a person, and those ca in packs. Their scales were as hard as well, diamonds werent relevant to Life Transformation cultivators, let alone her. They were hard though. Maybe she could get soone to make armor out of them.
Incoming, Alva said blandly as a dozen raptors leapt to attack them. Only eight or nine could reasonably fit around Vari, so the rest ca for Alva. She took them out first, calmly shooting arrows into their open mouths or into their nostrils. She could move, running about to give herself distance, but she had so decent power to rely on.
Vari actually did very well when sward by attacks. Her barrier was tough, but if she simply sat there taking hits it would be torn through in a second or two. With a sweep of her leg, Vari knocked over several of them, grabbing one claw that was coming straight for her and swinging it into another. Fighting unard left her with little in the way of reach and finishing power, but she could disrupt enemies wondrously.
After taking the enemies threatening herself, Alva moved on to the ones around Vari. Killing distracted enemies was another step easier, though they didnt always point the sa weak spots towards her.
Soon enough, they all lay dead. Vari pulled out an enchanted knife and began dismantling the creatures to collect what the two perceived as the most valuable parts. The at was awful, though not poisonous, and the bones didnt seem worth much but teeth, claws, and scales could certainly be used as materials.
So, Alva asked casually, Is there a saint of grappling?
No, Vari shook her head sadly. Ive been hoping to join up as an auxiliary mber of one of the other spires, but none have been interested. Im strong enough though! I dont understand it.
I wouldnt know, Alva shrugged. So is there a saint of archery?
Of course, I already spoke of Saint Tassaiades, the Bow Saint. Did you forget?
... of course not. I just wanted to see if you rembered. How could she forget if she hadnt been listening in the first place. So what are they like?
Vari closed her eyes, breathing deeply as she tried to recall sothing. It made Alva uncomfortable the way her breath was ragged, her lungs still damaged from the earlier poison. That was not a safe way to live. Vari nodded to herself. It is said that she is a great beauty, young and powerful. She can slay a man from a hundred kiloters away with her bow.
A hundred, huh? Alva frowned. Thats pretty
Amazing, isnt it? Vari said with her face beaming.
... standard, Alva finished.
What? Vari tilted her head. But thats you cant even shoot that far, can you? And your archery is amazing!
Well, sure, but range isnt my specialty. Its mounted combat.
Why dont you have a mount then? Vari asked. Then she shrunk away as Alva glared at her. So about the range even if you can eventually match it, is one hundred kiloters not amazing?
My grandfather has been able to do that forever, Alva said. And his master.
Amazing! Varis jaw dropped. Is it possible to et your esteed grandfather?
No, Alva said flatly. They could probably never et again so even if he was still alive, it still hurt.
Oh Vari lowered her head. Im sorry. What about his master?
Well, yeah. I guess she ascended. I dont know if shell be able to et up here or not. But eventually, maybe. Except Vari wouldnt be coming with her.
That would be excellent, Varis face lit up.
Uh huh. Now were going this- Alva stopped her gesture halfway. That way! as she pointed sowhere else.
May I inquire why we are not going the first direction, Lady Alva? I assu you sensed so dangers?
Theres wolves there, Alva said. I dont want to fight wolves.
I see. They must be quite dangerous for us to be avoiding them, Vari nodded. Thank you for your guidance.
Perhaps Vari wouldnt be thanking her when she learned they were going into the middle of a horrible swamp. But Alva preferred that over the other option right now.
-----
Though things were going slowly with the negotiations, they were progressing at least. Most of the negotiations involved extending the lengths of ti over which reparations had to be made. This ultimately ca with a larger value that would be collected, but it was less punishing. Which was sort of the point of taking as many resources at once. On the other hand, since it was more likely to actually be followed through on to so extent instead of just leading to a larger more serious war, it was better to go along with it.
Ultimately the goal was to have everyone from the world cooperating instead of vying for power. A lofty and perhaps unattainable goal, but they had to at least try. Though Anton was of the opinion that much of the Exalted Archipelago was not of Ceretos. They just lived here before moving on to what they considered their true ho. It was the people acting upon the orders from the upper realms- direct or indirect- that were the problem. Though many of the problems were dead now.
-----
There is it, Catarina waved her hand, gesturing to the horizon in front of them. Just peeking above it was a roofline that slowly expanded outward to fill the entirety of their vision. At the current mont the two of them were on one of the few stretches of truly open and bare terrain. It had little in the way of formations, and barely any air to breathe. Catarina and Timothy found it wasnt completely necessary to have air, but it was still easier to have their bodies function normally.
Thats the Great Hall, huh Timothy said. Its possibly the biggest thing Ive ever seen. Larger than the greatest cities but its completely unpopulated.
Not completely, Catarina pointed out. There are monsters. And other cultivators like us.
Speaking of which, seems like we have so friends incoming, Timothy was in a relaxed posture, but he was ready to spring into action at any point. Imdiately, Catarina was wandering around, carving into the dirt. That didnt an they were going to fight, but if they did they would be ready. Is that the Harmonious Citadel? Timothy asked, just trying to confirm what he felt.
I do believe so, Catarina nodded. Where should we declare we are from?
Timothy pondered as he waited for the approaching sources of energy. I doubt theyll be dissuaded by telling them were part of the Silver Sea Coalition. Even if they cared, theyd just kill us and destroy the evidence anyway. Or rather, try to.
You dont know that, Catarina said as she began placing tiny stones that would be easily overlooked all around her. They might try to influence us to join their cult.
I feel like we arent the typical target for that. Were a bit too set in our ways. Not young and impressionable.
We are young, though, Catarina pointed out. By the standards here, early hundreds at our cultivation its still not bad.
Hmm, swords, Timothy comnted. Thats pretty homogenous. Didnt they have a bunch of saints or whatever?
Well have to ask Alva when she gets here.
The incoming group was led by a trio- one man, with a man and a woman on either side. There were six more following along behind them, but only the first three were Integration cultivators.
The leading male had a false smile on his face, his bare sword lazily resting upon his shoulder. Greetings, fellow explorers. Have any luck with the Tomb?
Catarina seed quite focused on sothing in her bag, so it seed to be Timothy who was going to have to respond. Just death traps and monsters. Standard fare, really. No luck with the rewards.
The trio was quite rudely searching over the two, and attempting to peer into their storage bags. Clearly, they thought they were in a dominant position. Maybe they were, in terms of cultivation. Catarina and Timothy were still at the very beginning of Integration but Timothy was still confident. In his own abilities, sure, but also Catarinas.
The man continued, Seems the two of you make use of swords as well. Weve actually got so good ones. Were open to trade, if you found sothing worthwhile. He gestured, and the six others with them- their cultivations ranging throughout Life Transformation- walked forward, swords held out on their palms.
The blades they offered seed better than the ones at their belts, which either ant their leaders were assholes, or it was a trap. Maybe both. Timothy still stepped forward, offering an interested glance at the blades, his hand wandering away from his sword. Interesting. They do look quite decent. He couldnt tell for sure without examining them more closely, since the materials were unfamiliar. But the enchantnts were strong, a level usually only felt in the upper realms. Though so weapons of significant power had been obtained during the invasion. The rapier is intriguing. Catarina?
Hmm? she looked up. Oh, yeah. It looks pretty good. She reached into her storage bag, How about for this halberd? There are spear users among the Harmonious Citadel, right?
Of course, the man said, he and the trio stepping slightly closer. We pride ourselves in making use of all manner of weaponry. May I see it?
Help yourself, Catarina handed it to him handle first.
He took it and twirled it around. Then with a sudden movent it ca crashing down towards her, but she didnt move. Timothy wasnt completely certain if she was trusting in her formation or him, but he was the one who blocked it. He didnt just negate the montum, of course. The weapon flew out of the mans hand and into one of the weaker six behind him.
We didnt want cursed weapons anyway, Catarina said.
The woman among the trio tilted her head in confusion, even as they were all swinging weapons. Theyre not cursed though?
Tell that again in five minutes, Catarina said, as the blades tore themselves out of the hands of the remaining five Life Transformation cultivators, while the trio found themselves wrestling with their weapons but keeping a grip on them.
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