Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 83 - Against the unknown - Part One
Spending ti with Lash and discussing the Inheritances allowed to reconsider a number of my original assumptions. As per usual, a certain degree of my thinking had been subconsciously restricted by proximity. I had focused too much on those who were nearby or otherwise frequented my thoughts, ignoring those who were further afield.
Once I stopped to consider the matter properly I found it difficult to stop. There were potentially dozens of Inheritances that could be discovered and bestowed upon willing subjects. So, like Wisp, the Valkyrja’ and perhaps the Dryads, could be added to the list imdiately. Already possessing the ans to see and track mana with intense detail.
Reviewing the growing store of Technique manuals, I found a simple diagnosis Technique. Intended as a ans for physicians to locate and diagnose irregularities in a Cultivator’s body, the Quivering Palm Diagnosis Technique used a thod descriptively similar to sonar to provide the user with internal imagery of the target in real ti.
Assuming the Technique functioned as advertised, it might prove a viable substitute for those without detailed mana-sight.
Returning to the testing grounds with Lash and Eg in tow, I was just in ti to witness an Oba elder obtain a complete Inheritance from Sebet.
Much to my surprise, the elderly Cultivator had gained a pair of ram-like horns, a whip-like tail, sharp fangs and pitch-black sclera in both eyes. The complete Inheritance had changed him, just as it had done to Zhu Min.
Before I had the opportunity to investigate, another elder underwent the sa complete transformation in less than a second. The disintegrating Contract floating in front of him was enough evidence to assu Sebet was continuing with her experints.
Once I was certain I had Oba Kei’s attention, I motioned for him to approach.
“How may I serve, my Tyrant?” Oba Kei bowed respectfully and then repeated the gesture for Lash and Eg.
“There is a Technique that may prove valuable in our Inheritance experints,” I explained. “The Quivering Palm Diagnosis Technique. Have you heard of it?”
Oba Kei nodded and pointed toward one of the gathered Oba elders attending Sebet. “Elder Shinji is our clan’s foremost expert in esoteric Techniques. Shall I send for him?”
“Please,” I nodded.
Oba Kei looked toward Shinji and beckoned with two crooked fingers.
Despite his diverted attention, elder Shinji hurriedly excused himself and rushed to attend Oba Kei. “Grand elder, how may I be of assistance?”
“The Tyrant has need of your expertise,” Kei replied in a hushed tone, directing his attention toward instead.
“My Tyrant, it is an honour,” Shinji bowed respectfully. “How may I serve?”
“I was told you are an expert in the Quivering Palm Diagnosis Technique,” I explained patiently while motioning for silence. So mbers of the Oba clan had the habit of interrupting when they felt they were given undue praise and I didn't want to repeat myself. “Assuming you had a dedicated student, how long do you believe it would take for them to gain a firm grasp of the Technique?”
The wrinkles on Shinji’s face grew deeper as he considered the question with deathly sincerity. “Assuming the student is willing, my Tyrant? I believe it would take a week at most. If they are willing and gifted, it would not be unreasonable to expect proficiency within one to two days of serious training. This is assuming the students have access to an Energy Gathering Array or Elixirs, to accelerate their Chi recovery.”
“I would like to borrow elder Kei for a few monts, if I may?” Sebet had made her approach shortly after elder Shinji had left.
“You’re testing another Contract?” I asked, nodding toward the MP-infused scroll in her left hand.
Sebet grinned. “Just so, my Tyrant.” She shifted her attention toward Kei. “With your permission, we would like to test your theory regarding contamination.”
“Contamination?” I asked, not imdiately following what she ant. Then I noticed Kei’s eyes and I rembered my concerns regarding the Contracts. “With his consent, you may proceed.”
“For the good of the clan and the Realm, I am willing to do anything that is asked of ,” Kei stated humbly. “If I may ask? What will this experint prove?”
“The Contracts are a power unique to Sebet’s Species,” I explained, nodding at the Contract. “We want to determine if Inheritances, besides the Fiend, delivered through a Contract are ‘contaminated’ or negated outright.”
“Ah,” Kei nodded approvingly.
“This is also a test to determine if Inheritances can be improved, or ‘upgraded’,” Sebet continued, sparing a mont to point her clawed fingers at Kei’s unnaturally bright green eyes. “You possess a partial Inheritance already, making you a pri candidate for our next round of tests.”
“It will be my honour!” Kei announced with pride. “I need only mark the Contract with my blood, correct?” He asked, raising his right thumb to his mouth and exposing his teeth.
“Just so!” Sebet agreed, pressing the Contract forward with anticipation.
Although he was keeping his distance, Gric was watching the proceedings with a keen eye as well.
“You may want to cover Eg’s eyes and ears,” I whispered to Lash in warning, while motioning for a delay.
Once Eg was suitably prepared I motioned for Kei and Sebet to continue.
“Just so you understand, this Contract has been tailored to your exact specifications,” Sebet explained while motioning to dical diagrams scattered throughout the contents of the Contract. “It is another part of the experint. We want to determine if and how much quality is lost when a Contract signatory receives a more generalised package. You may proceed when you are ready,” a predatory grin split her lips and cast her in an altogether deliberately predatory light.
Without a shred of fear, Kei bit his thumb and then swiped the bloody digit on the bottom of the Contract.
With a flash of MP, the blood disappeared and the sigils of Contract sward to life. A torrent of MP swept out of the Contract and into Kei’s body.
In just under a minute, Kei’s aged body underwent a rigorous reconstruction. While it did not return him to the pri of his youth, the grand elder looked at least twenty to thirty years younger. Of course, he now had a trio of horns protruding from his forehead, claws on the end of all his toes and fingers, and serpentine eyes, but he didn’t appear to mind.
“Zero contamination!” Sebet declared excitedly. “And the inferior Inheritance was overwritten!” She pumped her fists excitedly and did a short sprint on the spot, failing or otherwise unwilling to contain her excitent.
“Oh! Oh by the heavens! I can’t rember the last ti I could do this!” With his hands firmly planted on the back of his hips, the grand elder was leaning backwards at the waist.
“It wasn’t overly painful or distressing?” I asked, curious to see how the Contract may differ from the manual approach.
Coming to his senses, Kei coughed into his sleeve in embarrassnt and then bowed respectfully. “Apologies, my Tyrant! There is a small degree of pain and discomfort, but it is nothing compared to decades of training and Cultivation. I am perhaps not the person best suited to answer such questions.”
He had a point. Presumably, all of the elders were veterans of who knew how many conflicts. The titles were not awarded for age. They were earned through deeds and milestones of Cultivation. Individual clans held different standards on who could beco an elder, but tier six, roughly Rank one hundred and twenty of the Eternal Tao Racial Ability, was the minimum universally accepted Chi requirent. Without extre talent to accelerate the internalising of raw energy into Chi, the majority of elders would naturally be quite old before they t the minimum standards.
The tiers were also heavily related to the progressions of certain Techniques, but the Chi requirent was a secondary identifier.
“You have been made aware of the test you will need to pass before returning to your regular duties?” I asked.
Kei nodded soberly. “I was inford as much, and now that I have undergone the change, I appreciate why it is needed. Drawing upon ambient energy has always taken effort. To have the universe turn upon its head so suddenly...I can appreciate the danger I might pose to younger practitioners.”
“I’m glad you understand.” I smiled approvingly and felt a considerable degree of relief. It felt good when more experienced experts agreed with precautionary asures and didn’t have imdiate recomndations for improvent. “Zhu Min is eager to learn more about martial arts and she has experience with controlling the energy drawing effect. So I hope you will both take the opportunity to learn from one another.”
“My Tyrant is wise. I will do as you say,” Kei agreed happily.
Gric and Sebet’s tests continued for another couple of hours while Lash and I watched from a distance and discussed the results.
“What about Eg?” I asked, sparing a glance at the small Half-Ogre. “You wanted an Inheritance for her, but I don’t think she is old enough to decide for herself. Hell, we have barely uncovered a handful of them as it is. A better-suited inheritance may be identified a week from now.”
“This is true,” Lash agreed reservedly. “Being different, only watching, is also bad,” she countered while gently stroking Eg’s scalp.
“True,” I agreed with a sigh. “I just don’t want to force a decision on her and find out later that I ruined her life...”
Lash snorted and shook her head, grinning incredulously. “Worrier, this is what the Humans say. You fight tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow in the mind,” she tapped the side of her head. “Prepare, plan, build...” Lash smiled and squeezed my hand supportively. “Make our ho, protect us...” A playful light began dancing in her eyes. “All of this!” Lash exclaid with a grin. “Yet not perfect makes you afraid?” She snickered playfully. “Perfect is good. Not perfect? Is also good,” Lash insisted. “Choosing now, gives ti to grow, to join others.”
She had a point. Several really.
“So, what would you choose?” I asked, shifting topics slightly. I was curious to learn where her preferences lay and why. “Assuming the other Inheritances are an option,” I added, including a dozen more hypothetical Inheritances that accounted for Ochram, Hana, Wisp, the Valkyrja, and a whole host of other monsters.
Lash didn’t even hesitate for a mont. “Earth and stone,” she declared with absolute confidence. Given her origins, it made sense. While she tolerated her ti above ground for the sake of our relationship and our children’s happiness, Lash was never truly at ease while above ground during the daylight hours.
I nodded to show my approval and then looked pointedly at Eg. “What about her?” I asked, hoping Lash would have so sort of insight that would make the choice easier.
“Flowers...” Eg mumbled quietly, anxiously wringing her fingers while avoiding eye contact.
Lash smiled affectionately and gave Eg a one-ard hug. “Her answer,” she announced proudly.
“So, an Inheritance from Hana or Momoko then.” I was glad that I had asked. Sothing related to the Wood Affinity wouldn’t have been my first guess and probably wouldn’t have been amongst my final selection if the choice had been left up to .
With their desired Inheritances currently unavailable, I returned Lash and Eg to the Oba clan training grounds.
While Lash and Gric continued their experints, I set about actively compiling a list of potential sources of additional Inheritances. While doing so, I discovered several of the Viking Cultivators, including their forr Monarch, possessed an Inheritance already. Or rather, they had recently obtained an Inheritance.
Einheri’s Spirit
The Inheritance functioned differently to the others I had investigated thus far. Instead of amplifying the connection to a particular Affinity, manipulating energy, or otherwise accelerating developnt, the Einheri’s Spirit Inheritance covered an entirely different niche. Specifically, the effects of compatible Techniques would be amplified. The caveat being that the amplification was directly linked to how close the bearer of the Inheritance was to their death.
Despite the morbid nature of the Inheritance, I refused to dismiss it out of hand. Intuition granted by my authority told that the Titan’s Body reinforcent Technique was compatible with the Inheritance. In fact, almost every Technique related to developing and strengthening the body was compatible. While I didn’t have any weapon-based Techniques, my intuition told that they were compatible as well.
While the easy power promised by the Fiend and Daemon Inheritances was tempting, the Einheri Inheritance offered sothing approximating insurance. With the mories of how badly I was beaten while fighting the beetlen still fresh in my mind, the prospect of growing stronger when otherwise outmatched was not sothing I could pass up.
More than that, I had a mounting sense of certainty that the other Inheritances were mutually exclusive by their very nature. If I chose any one of them, I would be incapable of taking on other Inheritances in the future. With the Einheri’s Spirit, I felt those sa restrictions but also a vague impression that there were other Inheritances that shared at least partial compatibility.
However, the more I reflected upon the source of the Inheritance, the more misgivings I felt at the prospect of taking on compatible Inheritances.
With only one way to be certain regarding the nature of the potentially compatible Inheritances, I Summoned a projection of Wisp and commanded him and his ward, Marco, to return to the Realm.
Otherwise occupied with thinning the ranks of the undead leaving the Mournbrent Labyrinth and containing the remainder within the city, Wisp’s primary duty was serving as Marco’s keeper. A parole officer of sorts.
Traumatised by years of debauchery and butchery committed while Enslaved to the Vampyrs, Tobi’s older brother had not been in a fit state to remain within Sanctuary.
Or rather, I had not trusted him to remain.
Reflecting upon my choices and motivations, I felt disappointed in myself. Sending Marco away had been an emotionally charged decision based too much on my personal feelings of revulsion and anger. It was a punishnt in all but na. Penance for sins Marco bore little if any degree of responsibility.
It was a wrong I needed to make right.
If I could set aside an isolated territory for a Demon Lord, I could make at least the sa effort for a tortured soul to find a asure of peace.
The animated mass of vines, Briarheart, remained in Mournbrent. With Wisp’s prolonged absence, his cabal of Warlocks would need additional support to maintain their combat efficiency.
Upon sensing Wisp and Marco’s return, I sent Marco to the territory I had set aside for him and teleported Wisp to my side.
After explaining what Sebet and Gric were doing I wasn’t surprised when Wisp promptly excused himself to investigate their experints for himself.
Soon enough, Wisp was experinting on horned rabbits, and later, Tad Vrabbits. Confirming that, he too, could provide an Inheritance.
The Sanctified Soul.
The Inheritance provided immunity to the entropic qualities of the Death Affinity and allowed the Death Affinity to suppress hostile undead. Although quite niche in its application, the first effect was a powerful form of self-defence. Having witnessed the effects of the Death Affinity first-hand, the prospect of becoming immune to it was incredibly tempting.
Summoning projections of Sigrun, Kara and Skuld, I repeated the explanation I had provided to Wisp under the expectation that they might be interested in joining the experints as well. However, they showed little interest in the experints. Instead, they appeared far more interested in .
“You are chosen,” the Valkyrja triplets croaked in unison, spectral wings burning with silver with light.
Sensing their Divinity entering my spirit, I realised my earlier concerns no longer mattered. The choice was no longer mine to make.
“Death bringer, avatar of carnage, army of one. For these deeds, we na thee, Einheri!” In a sudden flash, the trio of projections expended their collective mana and disappeared.
Unsettled by the qualifications the Vakyrja had attributed to my na, I did my best to push them from my mind and focus instead on my new Inheritance. The Einheri’s Spirit.
While I had been heavily leaning toward choosing the Einheri’s Spirit Inheritance, a part of still resented that the choice had been taken from . To regain a sense of control, I approached Wisp and told him to try and bestow the Sanctified Soul.
“It may carry certain risks...” Wisp warned quietly, his voice like dry crackling leaves. “Power, no matter how slight, always has its price...”
Taking a mont to leverage my authority against the hypothetical, it only increased my confidence. “Do it,” I commanded.
The hood of Wisp’s robes bowed in acquiescence and a pale emaciated hand extended from his right sleeve. “May your soul shun corruption and deny the presence of the corrupted...” Wisp traced his fingers through the air to form a symbol I wasn’t familiar with but felt comparable to the Catholic Signum Crucis.
A burning feeling swept through my senses and brought to my knees. Unable to push back against the mounting pain, I grit my teeth and bore with it. Determined to outlast the source of the pain, I forced myself to ditate and use the pain to deepen my understanding of myself.
As the pain guttered and died I opened my eyes and found a considerable amount of ti had passed. What had been the early afternoon was now the early morning. Rather than feeling disoriented, I found I was able to account for the ti that had passed by recalling snippets of whispered comnts made by the Oba clan’s elders.
All of the elders, save for Kei, had been returned to their city a few hours before I ended my ditation. But Kei continued in conversation throughout. Unable to identify the owner of the voice through the pain, I was surprised to find Marco standing in the early morning sun alongside grand elder Kei.
Deathly pale, Marco wore simple trousers and a tunic beneath a battered breastplate. While there was sadness in his eyes, I found no traces of the suicidal hysteria that had all but defined him during our last eting. In its place was a calm resolve that I could only hope ca from a newfound purpose.
It took a while to realise that Marco remained unhard despite standing in direct sunlight. A feat I had been told was impossible for anyone who changed into a Vampyr. Investigating his Status, I found my answer.
Just the sa as Wisp, Marco had been Purified. Still an undead and physically unaltered, Divinity had driven the ‘corruption’ from what constituted his soul. Removing the predatory drives that had stripped bare his humanity and left him acting on primal impulses. Allowing reason to prevail so long as he had the will to act.
I wasn’t exactly sure how that corruption was responsible for spontaneously combusting in direct sunlight. But I supposed it didn’t particularly matter either. So long as Marco was in full control of his ntal faculties, I wouldn’t treat him much differently than anyone else.
“You look better,” I comnted, interrupting their conversation.
Defiance flashed in Marco’s eyes. Unlike the majority of my subjects, Marco was technically still my Slave.
With a dismissive wave of my hand, I cancelled Marco’s Enslavent and banished the collar from around his neck.
“I acted in anger. I shouldn’t have done that to you, I’m sorry,” I apologise and ant every word.
Stripping people of their free will and forcing them to act as I wanted them to was always the easier option. The shortcut that guaranteed compliance and allowed no room for evil. However, it left no allowance for good either. Forced to action under Enslavent, good n and won would be stripped of their humanity and perform heinous acts, just to stop the pain.
“You...” Marco’s clawed fingers twitched and his lips parted to reveal predatory canines. Then, he stopped, closed his eyes and counted to ten. Opening his eyes again, all signs of his earlier anger had vanished. “You could have killed ,” Marco comnted neutrally. “Should have killed ...” He added after a mont's hesitation. “I...I am glad you did not...” Marco briefly balled his hands into fists but unclenched them again. “I was afraid, terrified, of the thought of my family seeing what I have beco...the terror and disgust on their faces...I could not bear the thought of it...”
Oba Kei supportively patted Marco’s right shoulder and gave him an understated yet reassuring smile.
Taking comfort in the gesture, Marco smiled in return, even if it was sowhat pained in comparison. “I have had ti to think, to reflect on what I have done...I can’t make things right. I can’t return the lives I took...But I can try to make the world better! So long as I am alive, I can fight to protect people who can’t protect themselves! And maybe...maybe one day I can look in my parent's eyes and not see a monster staring back at ...”
I kept the grim reality of his situation to myself. Being reminded that he was, in fact, literally a monster, would be cruel and accomplish nothing productive.
“Have you considered writing a letter?” I asked, recalling how distraught his parents had been during their brief stay within Sanctuary. They had already believed him dead and that their younger son, Tobi, would likely join him any day. Tobi’s miraculous recovery, thanks to the Angels, had spared them mourning a second child, but Marco’s survival, even in his monstrous state, was potentially life-changing news.
Marco flinched. “I...” He looked down at his boots in sha. “I want to...” He admitted quietly. “But I can’t bring myself to do it...What if they demand to see ? What if...” Marco lost his voice and shook his head. “They saw ...In the city...In Mournbrent...Saw what I did...”
“They saw what the Vampyrs made you do,” I corrected, emphasising the difference. “I rember what you told , you know. That you tried to keep them safe, taking others in their place.”
Marco hung his head in sha.
“What they made you do was abominable, and I think, if you gave your parents a chance, they would surprise you,” I insisted.
Back on Earth, so parents had lost their children to cults and addiction. Despite all their children put them through, and the harm they brought to others, their parents were willing to look past it all and give their child another chance. I didn’t know Marco and Tobi’s parents well enough to make that judgent, but I wanted to believe they would.
“Maybe...” Marco conceded but didn’t sound like he believed it.
“Tobi has made close to a full recovery, and he knows you're alive.” It was a white lie, a half-truth at worst. Tobi had never truly believed his brother had died. Only that he had gone missing. “If you don’t feel ready to contact your parents, you could at least write to your brother.” Tobi wasn’t aware of what Marco had done unless their parents had told him, which I doubted was the case. So there was less pressure.
“I...I’ll think about it...” Marco agreed, this ti with a semblance of commitnt.
I actually hadn’t spoken with Tobi since before the Liche’s ambush on Sanctuary. Which seed like an eternity ago despite being so vividly burned into my mory.
“You’re free to stay where you will in the anti,” I reassured him. “Your life is your own.”
Marco looked up at with a confused look on his face. “Just like that?” He asked hesitantly.
“You have sworn to obey my laws,” I replied evenly. “Twenty-four-hour observation or house arrest is likely to do more harm than good at this point. But if you don’t want to face the world just yet, I could make arrangents on your behalf.
“I...Thank you...” Marco replied softly. “I didn’t think anyone would ever truly trust again...Even with the Oaths...Thank you.”
I left Marco and Oba Kei to continue their previous conversation in private. Leaving food and water behind, in case I forgot to pass along instructions to Zhu Min regarding Oba Kei’s required training.
Speaking with Marco had reminded of Fesk, and by association, Nadine, and what was almost certainly the imminent hatching of their first child. It was difficult to be certain, given each Species carried their egg, or eggs, for different lengths of ti. However, the hatching itself was entirely dependent on there being sufficient mana in the vicinity. Which Sanctuary had in abundance.
It wasn’t far off to assu that since the egg had not yet hatched, then Nadine was due to...give birth? Lay her egg...Very soon, and for her child to hatch shortly after.
Returning to Sanctuary, the darkness cast by the walls of towering trees surrounding The Grove served as a reminder of just how early it was in the morning. However, the small gathering of pale-skinned and white-haired n and won gathered beneath the tree that served as Fesk and Nadine’s ho, led to believe that my earlier assumption was likely far more accurate than I had expected.
A long drawn-out groan of pain echoed from beyond the curtain leading to Fesk and Nadine’s bedroom.
“How long has this been going on?”I demanded, singling out one of the assembled Thralls at random.
“Not long...” The male Thrall replied hesitantly, earning a shove and irritated huff from the female at his side and judgntal stares from several others.
“Just over an hour,” the female curtly corrected, directing the majority but not the entirety of her attitude toward the male.
“Wraithe is present?” I asked, already directing my senses toward the bedroom.
“And several more Surgeons,” the female Thrall confird more or less as my authority did the sa. “It shouldn’t take this long,” the Thrall pressed, “Sothing has gone wrong!”
I didn’t want to distract Wraithe during what might be an ergency Caesarean, so I opted for a more direct source.
“Ooooh? Huh? Oh! Fuck ! That feels so much better!” Nadine’s projection swore with visible relief.
“Do you know what’s happening up there?” I asked, injecting a thread of authority into my voice to try and focus Nadine’s projection toward the issue at hand.
“I...I’m laying an egg?” Nadine replied, looking at as if I was daft. Only for her expression to quickly change to profound concern. “It’s hard to rember...Wraithe gave sothing...for the pain...Oh! Oh no...I...I think it's stuck...And Wraithe and the other Surgeons were talking about cutting open?” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “I don’t want them to do that...”
“DON’T YOU FUCKING TOUCH !” Nadine howled from the confines of her bedroom.
“I uh...I think I have a knife?” Nadine’s projection admitted sheepishly but with no small asure of concern. “Or maybe a sword?... It’s difficult to rember...”
“Setting aside the relatively low risks of a Caesarean-” I raised my hand to forestall any potential argunt. “There is a much better way of going about this.”
A little annoyed at being dismissed, Nadine’s projection exaggeratedly raised an eyebrow while firmly crossing her arms across her chest.
“We call in an expert,” I replied to Nadine’s unspoken question.
“Wraithe’s supposed to be an expert,” Nadine countered dryly.
“A different kind of expert,” I replied, gathering my MP for another Summon. “Quite frankly I’m a little disappointed this is necessary...”
Appearing in her true form, Sebet made a show of beating her large leathery wings and lashing her tail.
“Her egg is stuck,” I stated bluntly. “Please see to unsticking it.”
“Of course!” Sebet replied enthusiastically.
“As noninvasively as possible,” I anded.
“I would not dream of doing otherwise!” Sebet agreed heartily, grinning all the while.
“And everything is to be returned to the way it was,” I added, unable to shake the suspicion that Sebet was up to sothing.
“Standard procedure!” Sebet concurred.
“And no weird sex stuff!” Nadine’s projection interjected heatedly, having overco her shock and now thoroughly concerned for a whole host of new possibilities.
It lasted only a fraction of a second, but I was certain I saw Sebet flinch.
After receiving several more explicit conditions, Sebet alighted to Nadine and Fesk’s bedroom with markedly less enthusiasm than she had demonstrated only a minute before.
“This kind of feels like I’m cheating...” Nadine comnted guiltily. “On myself, the other , I an...”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” the female Thrall interjected supportively, earning a chorus of similar sentints from the other female Thralls.
I could see where Nadine was coming from but decided it wasn’t best to discuss the matter in front of the current audience.
“The screaming stopped...” I observed, trying to make conversation. “So that’s a good sign.”
Earning a host of judgntal stares, I pretended not to notice and sat myself neck-deep in the lake. It was then that I noticed Ushu was doing laps in the depths.
After giving it so thought, I realised that it made a sort of sense. Fesk was Ushu’s Bonded partner and they shared a form of telepathic link. Ushu doing laps was sowhat equivalent to a family friend pacing in the delivery waiting room in the maternity ward.
This made wonder, given Clarice was in the bedroom, why Sebet had been excluded. After giving the question just a few seconds of thought, and referencing my most recent interaction with Sebet, the question more or less answered itself.
After a couple of minutes, a wave of muted cheers filtered down from the tree. I was going to take that as my cue to cancel Nadine’s projection, but noticed she was slowly making her way up the stairs toward her bedroom. Rather than overthink her motivations, I exercised my authority to relocate her to the landing just outside the doorway, saving her from having to make the trip. Earning a wave of gratitude once she got her bearings.
Toying with the idea of changing my form, I was surprised to find that my tattoo was gone. More than just a patch of magically discoloured skin. The tattoo was a binding Contract between myself and Sebet. Its abrupt disappearance was more than a little concerning.
Before I could Summon another projection of Sebet so I could investigate, my authority alerted to an intruder’s sudden appearance through the primary entry portal.
Kwan announced only monts later, transmitting an image of an obese man in brightly coloured clothes and a damningly extre amount of jewellery carrying a thick golden sceptre.
Rather than argue with Kwan, I relocated the intruder to a tiny subdivided and thoroughly isolated territory. If this was so form of trap, the small portion of territory would be added to the watery vanguard Kwan and a host of wild aquatic Beasts currently occupied.
Using my authority to draw Sebet and Gric to my location, I donned my armour and prepared to face the potential threat.
Only marginally more impressive on land, the obese garishly dressed noble was a quivering mass of dark flesh and soiled silk. “W-Wait! He squealed, raising the golden sceptre as if it was a shield. “I co bearing a ssage on behalf of the High Lords of the Dominion!” peeking past his pudgy eyelids, the ssenger appeared genuinely surprised to still be alive. “A-As a ssenger, I am not to be hard!” He insisted weakly. “In accordance with the rules of war-”
“The ssage!” Gric snapped irritably.
Gric explained.
Sebet interjected.
The ssenger’s six chins jiggled in fear as he whined pitiably. “Th-The H-High L-Lords want peace! Th-They offer th-this Artefact as c-compensation f-for p-past grievances!” He thrust the sceptre forward and made as if to let go.
A part of my subconscious had reaching for the sceptre before my conscious mind could act. However, Gric was faster.
Exercising his limited authority, Gric relocated the sceptre outside of my reach.
“That isn’t-” My conscious mind caught up to what had happened and my train of thought was montarily derailed by a sudden rush of anger. “That isn’t an Artefact!” I snarled.
The ssenger squealed in terror, pissing and defecating himself as he tripped and stumbled over his distended boots in an attempt to escape.
The sceptre reappeared in the ssenger’s hands and before he could react, he disappeared.
“A Beacon? Or so form of conditional Teleport Spell?” Sebet asked curiously.
“It is proving a favoured tactic!” Gric snarled. “We will need Anchors to deny their freedom of movent!”
“Empowered Anchors would be better,” Sebet interjected. “I suspect the obelisks contain a similar Spell. It would be wise to level the playing field.”
Through force of will, I cald myself down and reevaluated what had happened. Abandoning the tiny territory, I amalgamated it into Kwan’s domain.
Regrouping on our testing grounds, I crafted a stone stake and used my blood to cast an Empowered Anchor Spell. Purchasing the services of a Senovian volunteer, we revoked their citizenship and had them attempt to use a wand containing the Teleport Spell.
After several dozen attempts at varying distances, and failing to successfully teleport, the volunteer was compensated and had their citizenship restored.
An Empowered Anchor covered a trendous distance, but it also consud a substantial amount of mana to block teleportation attempts. For lack of a better idea, I settled on an upscaled casket loosely based on the Ark of the Covenant from the Indiana Jones movie.
The interior would be filled just shy of bursting with mana stones and the whole thing would be reinforced by the Empowered Shape Stone Spell. Four Ogres should be able to carry it about as necessary without much difficulty.
Following a similar design principle, I made several more caskets and keyed them to matching staves that would activate defensive and offensive Spells.
Issuing a formal mustering order, I had Gric and Sebet compile an official list of our prospective forces.
When approached, Baldr, High King of the Broken Isles, and forr Monarch, volunteered himself and a hundred of the best warriors his people had to offer. The presence of the three Valkyrja sisters had triggered a string of honour duels and the Vikings were only too eager to prove themselves in open battle.
Despite an intense desire to participate, the Oba clan was still too unstable, leaving only two elders to represent them in our forces.
Despite their numbers, the tigern were in the grips of a leadership crisis. All of their leaders had been killed by the Horangi as a ans of centing their dominance and crippling any attempts at rebellion. With seniority generally dictating strength amongst Cultivators, it was best just to leave them be.
True to our implicit understanding, Kang volunteered himself, and only himself, for military service. The massive monkey’s children were the next most powerful among his people, so I didn’t press the matter further. As a father, I could understand his reluctance to involve his children in the wars of his conquerors.
The Senovians and Asrusians both wanted to field armies in the tens of thousands. However, after receiving detailed first-hand accounts from Faine, Jayne and Randle regarding the devastating capabilities of the beetlen, they settled for sending only their most elite forces. Even those n and won would likely be relegated to a supporting role to avoid catastrophic casualties.
Zhu Min had wanted to join as well. However, the amplification of her Abilities after recently receiving a completed form of her Inheritance made her a potential liability. Until she reestablished control, she would need to remain sequestered for both her and everyone else's safety.
The Ogres would serve as the core of our forces. Although they were lacking in Evolutionary potential and were relatively low level, they had the greatest benefit from my synergies.
My Bodyguards and champions would serve as my personal vanguard. The beetlen had made it clear that they were after specifically, so it made sense to keep my most competent and loyal warriors close at hand.
Since my return from Yi Gim’s Realm, I had left Mud to wander Sanctuary while I attended to other matters. He had spent most of that ti eating, sleeping, and training with Ophelia. Which had kept him far busier than I otherwise would have expected. Whether he had gained any aningful combat experience from the training, was yet to be seen.
I had originally intended to make a force composed of individuals that possessed both Systems. However, with the beetlen now acting through their human proxies, it was made clear that waiting any longer would co at the expense of surrendering the initiative in its entirety.
To assist in the defence of the Realm in my absence, Ushu, Dhizi and Cooper relocated to the oceanic vanguard. Anyone attempting to launch a sneak attack in my absence would face far greater resistance than they otherwise expected. However, that also ant that I needed to take Kwan with since he and Ushu did not get along.
As much as I wanted Ushu to co with us, he had refused to leave.
Sebet had bluntly vetoed Clarice’s participation outright. Which ca as a surprise, although it really shouldn’t have at this point. With Dhizi already committed to the ho guard’s vanguard, Clarice didn’t have much to offer in terms of fighting capabilities. The sa was true for Nadine and Fesk. To say nothing of the fact that they were probably exhausted and would soon have a newborn child to look after.
Further experints were put on hold, pending our return. However, Sebet was permitted to create an open Contract that would allow human Cultivators to take on the Fiend Inheritance. The Oba clan were restricting its use to those who had damaged Foundations, but Zhu Wen was allowing his people, including those recently annexed from the forr Demon of the Mist’s realm, to make their own decisions.
Interestingly, speculation regarding potential Inheritances that may be made available in the future resulted in relatively low rates of conversion amongst the general population. Those without an imdiate need seed willing to wait and see how things would pan out.
As our departure grew imminent and the Empowered Beacons were undergoing a final round of tests to guarantee our eventual return, I made a point of spending ti with my family. Both as a reminder of what I was fighting to protect and who I wanted to return to when it was over.
However, a persistent voice in the corner of my mind insisted it was because I might never see them again.
The sentints weren’t mutually exclusive, but I didn’t want to tempt fate by entertaining the possibility of failure.
Refusing to dismiss my paranoia outright, I continued directing Sebet and Gric to prepare against increasingly unlikely scenarios. The beetlen were alien and unknowable, making it nearly impossible to guess what they might attempt.
For all I knew, I was heading into a trap. Goaded and baited to a place of their choosing, a place they held dominion...
But I didn’t see a viable alternative.
A war of attrition favoured the side most willing to sacrifice their people, and I knew I didn’t have the heart for it. The thought of losing people to the fighting ahead was already difficult to bear.
If we didn’t take the fight to them, they would continue bringing the fight to us. Placing us in a war on two fronts.
The Supremacy Challenges were an ongoing source of concern and they wouldn’t be going away. The sense of security I had entertained after establishing my alliance with Yi Gim had been dashed apart after witnessing the betrayal he had suffered from within and without.
While the Oaths I extracted from my people eliminated the possibility of rebellion, it did not prevent a dedicated and motivated enemy from striking otherwise without warning.
Yi Gim had said that the top rankers of the Cultivators Supremacy Challenges possessed the ans to accomplish brute force entry to Realms of their choosing. It was only a matter of ti before my Realm beca a target...
There was always the danger of other Awakened to consider as well. Each and every one of them were potential Monarchs, future rivals set to war for the scraps of a world teetering on the brink of apocalypse.
It was sothing I had tried not to think about but was brought to the forefront of my mind after confronting, defeating and containing the Demon Lord.
Assuming Yi Gim’s retelling was accurate, delving too deeply into any of the hundreds of Labyrinths would trigger a planet-wide invasion. An invasion with the sole purpose of executing an extermination of all sentient life, humans and Variants alike.
While I refused to accept it. A part of , despite all evidence to the contrary, was afraid that when that day ca, those I counted amongst my most trustworthy and powerful agents and allies would be forcibly turned against us...And that sa part of hoped their Oaths would fail.
Better to Banish those I had raised as children, than to watch them die, knowing their blood would be on my hands...
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