Marsh was shaking.
He had lived for nearly 100,000 years and had seen many catastrophes and near deaths in his ti, but whatever happened just then terrified him!
He felt like Heaven had looked at him and found him wanting!
Suzen's seal had narrowed the area to search but many Moon and Sun Tier beasts had carved out areas for themselves.
It was taking ti to eliminate them from his choices but then sothing made the whole empire shiver in terror.
He looked at the seal but unlike before it did not respond!
It was still connected but the Law Binding was focusing on sothing else so he could not use its functions.
What could affect the legacy of an Immortal so much?!
Sothing dangerous was out there and it could threaten the order they had lived under for a million years!
He wanted to wash his hands of it but he knew Linghu and Xing would turn him into materials if he did.
"Lord Marsh?"
He snapped his hooded head over to the man ignorant of what just happened.
Only a few enforcers from Soulmancers shared his concern but Marsh stayed strong.
"Forgive , sothing drew my attention for a mont."
He was proud of how calm his voice was.
"As you requested, we have pulled from the mbers of the Shadows to watch for any strange activity but the areas of the Hinterland are far beyond our purview."
The sickly looking functionary made Marsh frown.
Orwellia Empire was a bit difficult compared to others.
They were obsessed with the Imperial Raven family being unquestioned and without fault.
Reality was a subjective thing in that empire but Marsh did not care at the mont.
"What would you be able to give , then?
The Council has sent ."
The ntion of the leading mbers of the Soulmancers even made the whip of a man shiver in fear.
While Orwellia claid many things true that were false or distorted, they never touched the authority of the Soulmancers.
At least, they had not until the recent troubles.
A few minor stories had begun to circulate but then the nobles involved had beco raw materials for Soulmancers.
"Dar has a few death squads they could spare."
Marsh frowned.
Using slaves was not effective and also he now feared taking anything bound by soul rings near their enemy.
No soldier had returned from the latest assault.
It had taken 3 years to nearly gather what he needed but he wanted the Shadows of Orwellia.
They were perfect for scouting.
"You seem to be under a misapprehension.
I am not here to ask for support, I am taking it."
Sigils floated around Marsh as the envoy paled more than he already was.
The wailing of poor souls was real, not affectation.
Marsh felt his unease vented as he made the mundane squirm.
"I am only telling you that they are not really trained to scout the Hinterland.
They are experts in the cities but not in the wilds!"
Trembling in the voice told Marsh he was not lying to him.
Death squads were useless and Dar would only give things up unwillingly.
His anger must have made the envoy break as he finally slid a jade slip across the pale stone table they sat around.
They were in a closed room but the table gave dim light for all to see.
Marsh examined the information and glanced in curiosity at the envoy.
He shrugged his shoulders as if the information was not a large matter.
"They will obey my commands?"
The envoy bowed but Marsh reserved judgnt.
His doubt was clear so the envoy raised his hand and the stone doors suddenly had 2 people separate from the shadows!
Marsh had felt nothing!
"Bring them in."
The cloaked individuals bowed to the envoy and March but then lted back into the shadows.
No door opened and no disruption in spatial tears was felt.
His eyes narrowed at the only race able to use shadows like that.
They were not supposed to be outside Dar but there had been rumors.
He noted such issues for later.
It showed the Empires were testing the rules of the Soulmancers more and more.
The door suddenly let light into the room as several hooded individuals ca in.
They wore light gray robes but had no markings.
Marsh was not impressed until he realized sothing.
Aside from seeing them with his eyes, there was no other hint of the people that entered!
No sound, no Qi aura, nothing!
If he was not certain of where they ca from, he would have questioned if they were simply gifted mortals.
Such masterful control was impressive but Marsh then saw a rather large man walk in after them.
He was breathing heavily and seed to be eating the hind leg of so beast sloppily.
Both the envoy and Marsh frowned but neither said anything.
The fine silks he wore were glaring colors that did not complent each other.
It was as if the man had gone out of his way to contrast the first group.
Marsh was about to complain when he realized he could no longer see them!
He was not even sure how many ca in!
Where did they go?
"Grier, you never fail to make an impression."
The slim envoy did not look pleased but also not concerned.
"Ha!
You are too repressed my friend!
Life should be seized at all tis!
Death is around every corner, it simply is a matter of when Fate lets it fall on our heads!"
The fat man roared and his voice bood but Marsh was busy trying to sense the first group once more.
He was carefully using soul rings yet once more nothing was found!
He actually felt fear but knew that the eting was known to Linghu and Xing.
They were far more powerful than him and all knew it.
"Our guest is not one to be trifled with.
I would ask you to restrain yourself."
Grier glanced at Marsh but unlike anyone the Soulmancer had t, there was no fear.
Marsh could not bla him but he had had enough.
The room beca ice cold and both n paled as they felt the threat of death close in on them.
While the elites of the empires did not have to directly fear Soulmancers as much as others, they had beco more lax with the latest confirmation of resistance in the Hinterlands.
Karridan could not hide the loss of its soldiers so it was seething but only let leaks form that a Soulmancer took their forces and never returned.
The mont Marsh moved his eyes beca disturbing as he slowly turned to find a dagger stopped just by his head.
The arm shivered as the muscles tried to force it forward and Marsh slowly turned to the now pale Grier.
"Speak, quickly."
Marsh let the man speak by removing one sigil.
"I-It is training!
I am the controller and they sensed a threat!
It was not an attack!"
Marsh narrowed his eyes but none could see his face in his black hood.
He slowly looked around and saw that there were only 4 of them yet even holding their souls, he barely sensed them.
What had been done to these people?
"Tell them to back off, now."
Grier nodded but tried to move his left arm.
The large toad face glanced at Marsh and another sigil vanished.
The arm then touched a bracelet on his right.
The muscles instantly stopped vibrating and Marsh allowed them to retract their weapons.
He felt it the mont the bracelet was touched.
The souls he controlled vibrated yet the only reaction was for the bodies to stop trying to kill him!
He knew what they were!
"Soulless?
I could kill you where you sit for even having these creatures."
All the fear in Marsh was now gone.
He knew what he was facing and they could not harm him any longer.
Grier looked pale but quickly shook his head.
"They still have souls, just not all of them!
We were right careful about that!"
Marsh narrowed his eyes but did barely feel a faint flicker in each body.
He also felt their pain and terror.
It made him smile.
Sigils flared and Grier suddenly began to convulse yet none of the gray robed people moved.
The Orwellian envoy swallowed his terror as Grier began to bleed from all his orifices before simply falling over dead!
"No one touches souls but us."
Marsh then examined the bracelet and saw it was tied to an artifact on the chest of each person.
As a Soulmancer, it was easy to take over the bond without even refining the artifact personally.
"Lead
to your origin."
The 4 turned without making a sound but just as they were about to leave, he stopped them.
"Kill any demon in this Empire before you leave."
The envoy tried to dive out the door but his hood was ripped back to reveal his lavender skin.
Rage flared on his face before the 4 people tore him apart!
Shadows rippled but only to have bodies fall out of them!
Marsh had already taken their souls.
"Filthy things but I will put it all to use in the coming battle."
Marsh humd as chaos was unleashed in the complex.
It only took an incense stick worth of ti for the humans to realize demons were the target.
Comrades turned on each other and a nightmarish amount of blood was left covering the halls of the headquarters before Marsh ever set foot outside of it.
He then followed the 4 back to Dar and to collect any other foolish lives that crossed his path.
The Soulmancers had been too lenient it seed so reminders were needed about why all should obey.
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