The staring battle continued until neither side won or lost. It would go endlessly, so Lisa swallowed her pride, felt her decreased satisfaction, and turned her head away, pouting. “We move with my plans next. I want to see no argunts right now,” She ordered.
“Yep. Where?” Itrosh asked, scratching her jaw with a knife and figuring this action was nigh.
“Entrance Five. An hour from now, we move. There is a change of shifts and so business etings that David covered under his brief information gathering. They are stable because of leadership and companies, so I think they are worth trusting even if we co over. We will move like shadows, got it? If it doesn't work, we do sothing else.” Lisa said, giving only a couple of words to Itrosh and Bagus, while Murai kept glaring at her in wonder.
This plan sounded weak.
“So it is like that first?” Bagus sighed, figuring out that his ti was inevitably hard, but that was to be expected. Since he found out that Ip'ur Mountain was their location all those days ago, things turned weird in his head. At first, it was confusing, but then, he was unhappy, confused, and wondering if Lisa was joking. She wasn't, so he beca much more confused after knowing this world and his life.
What Mindarch planned. What did Levandis want from this? It was demanding, so could this team afford to lose him? Since David and Ultium were gone, Bagus realized a lot of weight was on his shoulders. Swallowing his ti and going until the very end seed like his only choice.
“Fine. I am over this,” Murai angled his beak, feeling his feet dangling in the air, and by a surprise to everyone, unleashed his Will and Robust Defense. He freed his head from Lisa, who jerked away in a surprise. Robust Defense clashed against her hand and won like a fire lting the snow.
Then, Murai aid his Will forward, striking Bagus, who felt it a couple of tis. Itrosh did not, so she cried in horror when she felt what she wanted for a long ti.
Murai forced persistent discomfort, pain, and consequences that shuddered their soul, though it wasn't intentionally pain-defining. Bagus took it much better than Itrosh, who caught her head and stopped screaming when she pressed her face to the ground in agony. It wouldn't stop going until Murai dared to stop. Bagus knew it and endured this sudden outburst that Lisa initiated.
Neither of them had much impressive ntality that would irritate Murai. Very few beings had so ability about souls or the ability to use their Will besides a way to see one's spiritual status. Will as an attribute wasn't as rare as one would guess. Using it as a tool was different, so most beings above Level 50 had a Will attribute, which allowed them to see their spirituality and feel its importance. It was also a great reminder to see others and feel what and who a being was.
Murai didn't know how right it was. His soul and Will took major precedence over his many beginnings and he knew how souls defined the universe.
In this world and life, he was clueless about the degree of his soul or so numbers, even if it was common knowledge that seeing spirituality was not advised, nor keen to force. Seeking it was a matter of growth, as a soul wasn't sothing simple like watching the body grow or change. It was considered rude to disregard souls for sothing weak.
That was where things like Appraisal took unprecedented control over many places. It was a literal link to the greater power and allowed one to see soone from a divine focus.
Murai would love to have sothing like that, but from his views and digging around, Appraisal was a luxury he couldn't seek out. So power or authority stemming from the Will of the Battleworld would give it so capacity or reputation. One might take Appraisal as a key to a vast space.
Murai wondered about so requirents, specifics, or wonders of the Will attribute. Could a few dozen points make up for so crazy talent, or were his Robust Spirit and seeming link between his body and the rest do sothing else? He wasn't sure, so he tested it and felt it on Lisa and others.
It was interesting to see Bagus and Itrosh react to his open Will, which followed a concept of his rare skill called Strike of the Will. It wasn't under his use very often, and it was supposed to be very weak. He let it out very little and never heard much about it through Boosts.
Bagus's level wasn't far from Ceila, who was easily like an enormous wall before him weeks ago. This pair felt weaker, while Lisa felt like a gigantic ocean that only wavered a little when his Robust Defense ended, leaving her arm flaring like an erratic current and letting Murai land on the ground.
“What was that for?!” Lisa shouted.
“You are annoying, so let give you my example and rule. I can't rely on your voice all the ti, can I? Got it?” Murai declared to Itrosh and Bagus, leaving Lisa grumping aside.
Itrosh growled, looking for a knife but she found none when each palm was over her face.
“Was this what you felt?” She asked Bagus, who huffed in an awkward chuckle and his face was no longer calm when facing his voice.
“Entrance Five is good. Shaded and dark. I agree with that direction, but Bagus is required, and far out to be shadowy like a fox. So let's do this instead...”
Murai began offering his point of view, forcing Lisa to listen and agree with so points, but she didn't like his approach. She had her plans already, so when she heard his comnts that were near and distant, she forced her tranquility and listened. So understanding was sufficient when she got involved with him and his ideas.
For a helpless pair aside, this ant another pain.
***
An hour later.
Ozeki and Razmund were yet to arrive at Sector 44, let alone advance to Sector 45. According to so expectations, Lisa hoped to learn or hear so glimpses, reports, or rumors about him in this Province. Gangs or not, it would make sense for so places to have so linked informant networks, and this was Ip'ur Mountain of all things! She would dare to bet on so news.
There were so, but not very good or cleverly put together because of Mindarch's touch. Many companies were keen on their own information, so getting the truth out should co from so trustworthy subjects. Which was doubtful and sothing Lisa didn't want to do in this city.
So when she contacted David again, it went without success. He couldn't even refute her because their constructs were no longer working in this city.
By all rights, Ozeki was a public figure, known, and seen as an ongoing concern for many gangs. He was quite eye-catching and lofty for helping out Razmund of all abhorrent humans. They might have been clashing and battling with so people or gangs, away from Sector 45, closer, or unable to go too deep.
Lisa had no way to get ahead. The flow of information was not in her favor, much to the potential struggles and calculation of foes and companies. Then, there was Razmund himself, who had been an enigma since he entered this Gate.
He never beca too crazy for Murai. His unnatural and forceful disposition should made so choices clearer. So when he didn't do much to them since his entrance, whether it was because of Lost Brothers or not, Lisa doubted that man's actions. Even when Ozeki ca into the equation, that shitty pair were finding her plans, or they were wary of sothing else.
Like a cage or a big slithering web, that pair might be bidding their ti for so reason. Razmund's act of taming Ozeki and resting were answers to her worries. That was it. Hardly anything changed or happened through Mindarch, which Lisa found strange. No rumors about fights or battles were close either.
Once again, sothing bugged her, and she didn't like how she had no concept or clear vision. That left them alone, away from the Encounter for so days yet still pending for a way out. They were closer to the Hunt and possible issues of military and companies, or Rataratan. His forces that ran this place were plentiful and under every alley, yet none were moving against them again, or said a word.
Everything remained calm. Suspiciously calm.
No rcenary or company made their move when Murai and Lisa disappeared from the streets, and even Itrosh and Bagus seed to find so peace and silence. That went on for hours after one street turned into a battlefield, and no one was sure what would happen next.
Entrance Five was a huge shadowy cavern that was part of the Ip'ur Mountain. Like a wound cut into more than a kiloter-tall mountain, this entrance looked like a deep grotto with massive boulders overhead, creating shadows and many corners that were big and hard to reach. Still, there were buildings on the ground, and inside this grotto was one of the few big and ancient entrances to the underground areas.
It was perhaps too shadowy, opposite to the sunlight above the mountain. At so parts, it was almost pitch black, with big dark shadows lurching everywhere thanks to the torches made of Ultra Gems in limited places, as this entrance was still hundreds of ters tall, wide, and deep. Villages would fit inside of it.
Ultra Gems and constructs made from them were weird creations, much to Murai's eyes, lacking hands, and eyes that seed to like wondrous things. So of them looked to be alive, looking like small gems, yet from far away, they had an aura of swirling flas or notable glitter like a fake little sun.
Laws empowered them, with mana being part of so of them, or not at all. What about fuel? Lisa said that Ultra Gems were like batteries and one could recharge them. If it were easy, Murai would doubt his soul more, yet Lisa didn't show it again, so Murai could only observe those Gems and feel apprehensive.
Torches and bonfires were in many parts before this entrance, acting as street decor or noteworthy assets or as a token of face value. After all, entrances were important, and the territory of mining companies and rules. Most companies had large headquarters close to them, and so entrances were bigger or more important than others. Entrance Five was the biggest and most significant.
That was why this place thrived and where miners didn't fear anything. They were there, doing business, and didn't care for the gloom of the streets.
After hours of calm before the storm, Bagus walked onto a large plaza before a huge entrance, asking around to see a Miner Association, which was one of the larger companies that always sought out unaffiliated miners. They always existed, and refusing a Level 70 and above potential miners was silly, as Murai would expect. It wasn't entirely Murai's idea to force Bagus into this path, though he was particularly responsible for Bagus's internal unhappiness, current sad disposition, and loneliness.
Hearing Murai's Will was one thing. Another was giving this so justice. This mining business was a farce that would trouble him and Bagus didn't like to play with others, himself, or for others. With great pain stemming from his past, Bagus confessed to Murai and his past less than an hour ago, telling how he used to be a slave beast when he was little Griffin.
Those were rather hefty and luxurious species that had shaky foundations in this entire temple because their reputation was among the best beasts that had so connections to actual Dragons. They were around every continent, though Hells had less of them because they liked big open places like most Dragons.
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Bagus was old, nearing a century living in this world as a native, and no Blessed or Gifted. He always refused so contemptuous lavish Gods. His history and mories weren't weak in the slightest. He often refused to talk about himself because of his slave trauma.
As a young beast, he was a loner because he had no tribe, or family, let alone parents. He was that kind of beast that was taken advantage of as a prized possession. His Will was weak. His heart was soft. Bagus was what one would describe as a horse of a Griffins because he was broken and owned like a toy and asset.
Thanks to their beaks and disposition to speed and weight or nurous great Laws, Griffins were fairly good miners, mounts, and workers. Bagus had done that for decades like a chained beast, living in Hell and this temple under so Overlords and companies. Now, forcing him to touch that history was like pouring acid over old wounds, or cutting into it with a knife. Murai caused that anyway, wishing and probing further when he listened to his story and still pushed his Will around like a hazy mountain.
It was David who got Bagus out of that life, which then changed further until Bagus turned into a free-spirited beast who had no qualms to give. Grifhart was no longer a Griffin because of an Influence Item stemming from great beasts that helped him forget. Bagus changed and grew into sothing else. He matured, felt a change, and pulled his past back.
He grew ntally as well, thanks to his rich Bloodline. His power stagnated a little because of his chained past, yet he would never allow himself to beco weak.
Because of so links in his history, Bagus chose to follow Murai's plan. In that talk, Itrosh remained silent, and even Lisa remained listening and took his history for nothing surprising. Very few knew about it. Itrosh knew much more, as she heard rumors and had known him for many years. For her, it was common not to look for so distant terrible mories. Everyone had sothing like that. Be it worse, or like a nightmare, few traumas were flowery and nice.
Slavery was common in the Scorching Light, or this Gate in general. Beasts were subject to slavery in a much more brazen manner than humans, or nurous demonic races. Those were still nurous, but at least they had so regulations, coming with contracts, or so loose ends. So stupid beasts that were close to being animals were fine tools. For most lofty demonic races, it was like looking for pets and slaves.
They were best regarded as an easy life force and workers. Few would care about them unless there were so powerful Bloodlines, or they were so experinters or interest from so trials and history.
Bagus would scoff at every little or big company. He didn't like them, yet he still walked into the Miner Association and got himself a temporary job as a miner because no one would deny it.
As a legitimate denizen of this temple who carried so Laws, his badge was great, while his status as a Hunted wasn't seen as sinful, but brazen, and his lonely walking self was haughty for miners and most companies. His position was as far from slavery as he felt. He was free! Free...
A bunch of devils under so military banners viewed him with questionable gazes and contempt, thinking of taking him for their prized possession, or like a simple walking bag worth many Hell Points.
Bagus was alone in this manner, not with Lisa or Itrosh, let alone with Murai on top of his head. His aim in the Miner Association t uproar of problems in terms of miners and the military. It happened at last. Rumors were no more.
He was expected by the military, though not alone. No one dared to take him lightly, for they knew what happened in that street. Instead, a lot of hostility ca from mining companies, yet with the military presence, who couldn't do much about it, no fight happened in this place, nor did soone stop his mining business. Not yet.
No one denied him his steps. As a powerful beast, it was a matter of rules. He was quite good at mining, and since he agreed to strict rules of keeping everything mined and found underground going through the Miner Association, they let him do it if he went down.
Mining required very powerful individuals in all matters of physical or skillful forms. Either miners needed good equipnt, or they needed great personal dispositions. Having both was adequate. Beasts worked well for a much simpler purpose, as they didn't require equipnt, or very deep attention from companies, so they used miners and beasts at the sa ti.
Free miners were considerably better, for they were usually too busy to care about contracts, and whether they died or not wasn't a problem for most companies. It was worse for the true wealth and worth that Levandis sought. There were thousands of miners in this city alone. Free, contracted, or seen like slaves who worked for companies, there were profits and worthy endeavors in everything.
Most of the underlying factors were Rataratan's forces, but quite a big chunk of the military was involved in maintaining mining, or they even mined themselves. Hence, slaves who worked for others were seen as expenditures. Mining Ultra Materium was a fascinating and amazing fortune, and with a ti-consuming process and easy rules to follow, it was perilous work in many layers.
Mining stood up as a culture. Many miners didn't want any trouble coming to their paradise. Be it in failure or success, or potential thieves, battles among the miners, or various other politics that went underground, they might never leave one glad or calm. In words, bodies, and stories, Bagus knew how this place worked.
Everything about mining required endurance and power. Both if one wanted to stay afloat and carry one's desires like a dream. The pri source of that idea was Bagus, regardless of his Hunted status or part of an Encounter, which wasn't as prevailing because it was a rather separate issue.
On his own, his Hunted status was much more prevalent. Not many denizens saw him as a Helper. He didn't betray anyone, unlike Ozeki. Bagus got an offer that he hated and accepted it anyway.
Miner Association asked about the rest of his companions, but after giving so excuses that Murai told him about, he succeeded in diverting all suspicions, telling them he was here alone for his own benefit. That was a good mark for confusion to linger.
So suspicions remained, and when this work would get out, many rumors might spread. Murai bet on that and forced Bagus to essentially betray him and cut him from their group. The mont he agreed to it, his mining endeavor started by gaining access to most public mines.
The next step happened soon after Bagus reached out to Entrance Five's plaza, right before the change in shifts and where so businesses and miners comnced so profits. It was about the payout. Miners would get their share, and the whole plaza was flat and surrounded by buildings, right before the opening that were shaded like entrances to the Void. At least there was no fog around or dreadful nothing followed by emptiness, or extrely profound pressure.
The whole plaza was either full of miners horny for their worth or completely empty in other sections. The entrance was always open, as one couldn't close an opening to the earth the size of a hill. Miners were nowhere to be seen there, with only so guards lurking around, protecting the entrance and looking at the payout ti. It was the perfect choice to make a move.
Bagus walked among the miners, not looking for a paynt, but trouble. Many miners seed afraid of him, and recognized him by his simple stature and head, while most thought he was insane to get this far and wide. in He was asking for trouble in an open plaza. As a big Grifhart, he was one of a kind in this place.
He saw a lot of slaves, ranging from humans and demons of lesser standing and weak power to free miners or company groups who were laughing, and hoping for a good haul.
There were many kinds of miners. Those honest and hopeful were nearing half of the beings in this plaza who welcod thousands. The rest were bland, indifferent, or nervous in so ways.
The kind who hoped for wealth and change were the ones that Bagus respected and looked out for most. The future wouldn't disappear unless one gave up for the future.
It was a quote about self-respect. Those willing to take that chance, Bagus respected, since he was like them in the past.
Now, he blad no one. He gave up in the past. Not anymore. A future dream was never-ending. He wanted to pursue it and everything, yet here he was, in a place reminding him of his past mistakes and mories.
At the entrance, just as the payouts arrived, a group of sturdy Orcun miners moved with piles of heavy bags. They bumped into Bagus, or Bagus bumped into them intentionally. It didn't matter which was likely or wrong, since Bagus had to act along no matter what, for Murai made his words very clear
Furiously stomping the ground, Bagus stretched his wings far and wide, causing dozens of surrounding miners to stagger around when he beca furious. Orcuns were hefty demons that looked like Orcs. They were as heavy, if not heavier than Bagus himself, though they had no distribution and rits of a great beast like Bagus.
Clutter and cries, followed by a surge of wind traveled around, alerting the guards and most who considered Bagus as prey.
“Who the fuck do you want? Learn to walk next ti.” Bagus said loudly, sounding arrogant and pointing his beak to Orcuns who fearlessly looked at the powerful Grifhart. “Huh? You sure have so problems with bumping into , a bunch of bags. Don't pretend you don't fuck with . I will fucking show you!”
Once again, Bagus lifted his frontal legs, striking the ground alongside a swipe of his wide wings. Chaos ensured, with Orcuns shouting and securing their bags lest they beco rags or lost. A pair of Orcuns charged at Bagus, but one was flung away with a slap of a wing. The other stumbled and ended up before a large paw, almost stomped and bloodied.
A fierce pitiful battle occurred and in half a minute, all redirecting guards ca to the rescue, surrounding Bagus as the sole troublemaker because he wiped the floor with Orcuns. None was above Level 70, though none was below 60 either.
Ten knights arrived in total, wearing light, yet surprisingly dense and neat armor. They had nice pay indeed, thanks to the wealth that showed where it belonged, coming through appearance and plates that were thin like paper. They were tallic and shiny through so Gems around the plaza. They weren't scales, but broad plates that moved alongside the flesh like fabric.
Each knight was at least two ters tall and hid their features under their armor. That was about it, apart from expectant weapons. Spears, large halberds, or swords aid at Bagus. Knights wore full-head helts, helping with protection and looking the sa because they were military under the sa banner. None of their skin was exposed, making it hard to perceive their species and weakness.
It was a general practice of the demonic armies to show face and look threatening, so for these to show off their valuable armor, Bagus perhaps knew how so things differed from true wars on the Surface. So skirmishes and other issues in Hells were different.
Out in the Surface, so people and Gods considered Mortal Wars as a form of art, while Holy Wars were pretty interesting and showed nurous great points. Divine Wars were rare and beyond the norm. For them to happen, sothing very precious and valuable had to be in line with nurous Gods and powerful mortal powers.
Bagus knew this was no such case. He took their armor as a side of wealth and reputation that everyone took with arrogance.
Against these protections, it was harder to fight against them because when they would break, they would die. It made them look similar to humans on the Surface and Bagus saw people. They looked identical in his eyes, which was ironic.
Perhaps this place's managent should never change. It was negligibly important because of the gravity of this situation.
“What the hell are you swiping those wings for, Grifhart? Are you mad or what? Did you catch rabies?” one of the guards shouted, pointing with a sharp spear forward. It was almost a halberd in nature, but bigger and with nurous angled curves that made many possible cutting angles. It could be even a big mace.
“Those fuckers bumped into . I won't take such nonsense lightly.” Bagus said, hurtful and filled with obnoxious pride. He repeated the exact sa words that Murai presented hours ago. It was impressive how quickly Bagus adapted and figured out how Murai must have looked into the future because everything was happening as he proclaid.
“You...” the guard gritted his teeth, yet it wasn't apparent. He turned and looked at Orcuns, who he feared bumped into the wrong beast. Then, he looked at Bagus closely, noticing the necklace below his neck, looking shiny, new, and wide open.
It was laughable, but working, similar to the badge he most likely possessed very close. The guard also saw it as an opportunity and a weakness, followed by a much more distinct influence because he wasn't the one who had seen that street before. But he knew a problem when he felt it. He knew this Grifhart owned a high-ranked badge. If he could steal it, he would grow much more powerful in no ti.
“Compensate him for the trouble.” the guard said to the Orcuns, who were all innocent, hurt, and clutching their bags as if they were their lives. In a sense, it was true. Many mining teams lived one payout to the other, lest so thieves would co, or they would imdiately improve their mining capabilities, or buy so shares in companies, or various businesses.
The other guards also made their moves, surrounding Orcuns, and one of them clutched one Orcun by his head and forced him high into the sky. Well, the far part was relative, as each Orcun was very tall and thick like a large boulder. But there was a difference between an appropriate military and a race that was good at mining, not great in warfare, and certainly not clever in most scenarios.
For the most part, their height and size were their major and desolate advantage.
Against Bagus or those knights, they were like commoners, even though they weren't fodder any longer. Almost no fodder was mining in this place in fear of thieves, killing, or feeling the mining and those depths below. Most nice and easy places weren't available all the ti.
“We didn't...” one of the Orcuns said, but a kick arrived at his chin, breaking his speech and bones.
“Didn't ask. Looking for trouble, are you? Don't you see his badge in the chest? Private VIP Miner? Giving him trouble because you are just barely able to mine? Give him a quarter of your payout and fuck off. Heard that?” the knight said, uttering those words with quite so killing intent, kicking Orcun again and pointing to Bagus's chest.
A small badge was there indeed, hiding in fur right beside his main necklace. It wasn't indicating his standing as a miner. For that, the knight was lying and didn't know what Bagus's standing was, though he guessed it should be at quite so degree because he had that kind of prospect.
And he certainly didn't need to care about any offer or this badge. Moving alongside Murai's plan proved to be very easy and effective.
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