Chapter 1354
Initiation into the Alliance
Invading other worlds alongside Orion ant securing territory and expanding his population base—absolute necessities for his future ascension to Arch Lord.
But Tangere hadn't expected Orion to leave so abruptly. The man hadn't offered a single piece of profound advice or a strategic roadmap. He just turned around and vanished.
He left completely, leaving a hollow pit in Tangere's stomach.
Is it because I'm too weak? Tangere thought, panic setting in.
Is my unit composition too one-dinsional?
Tangere spiraled into self-doubt, pacing the stone floor of his Mage Tower. He was lost in a labyrinth of second-guessing. He analyzed every interaction, dissecting his own inadequacies, desperate to figure out how to make himself useful enough for Orion to keep carrying him.
[Survivor's Platform: Champions Alliance Secure Channel]
The mont Orion's consciousness synced with the channel, he broadcast his decision to the group.
Hulk: "Alright everyone, I t with Tangere. He checks out. I've decided to bring him into the Champions Alliance."
Orion's visit to Tangere hadn't just been a social call; asking Tangere to evaluate his companions had been the final test.
The test seed simple on the surface, but Orion was probing Tangere's character.
To see through others while clearly understanding oneself is a rare trait. It requires sharp observation, social intuition, and the ability to read people, all while maintaining an open mind. Tangere had demonstrated these qualities in spades.
Leonidas: "About ti. I scouted the kid earlier. Not bad."
Leonidas: "He's at peak Legend rank. He can't punch above his weight class, but his kit is unique. High utility."
Leonidas was the first to jump in. He and the Deputy Commander had already pulled their Demigod Phantoms out of the Abyssal World and were currently busy conquering so Godforsaken Land. With the situation in the Erald Dream Realm and Silverwood Realm stabilizing, Leonidas had no interest in idling.
Tangere's admission was perfect timing; Leonidas could drag him over to the Erald Dream Realm to handle the grunt work.
Edward: "Let
know when he's in. I need to read him the riot act regarding our protocols."
The Deputy Commander had also observed Tangere, though his thods were far more covert. Tangere had never even seen his shadow.
Isabella: "Hulk, you screwed
over!"
Isabella finally chid in. The last ti she'd gone to 'evaluate' Tangere, she'd nearly been skewered by Orion's trident.
Hulk: "Isabella, Alexander is right here. Watch your phrasing—you make it sound like I knocked you up."
Kraken: "Wait, Isabella's pregnant? And it's Hulk's?"
Makareth: "Congrats! I'll start working on the baby shower gifts imdiately."
When it ca to new blood joining the Alliance, the mbers were always active, but Kraken and Makareth had a talent for derailing the conversation instantly.
Isabella: "Oh, go to hell... you bunch of assholes!"
Isabella: "You're the ones who are pregnant! Your whole families are pregnant! It's all Hulk's fault!"
Isabella's outburst only earned her a chorus of sleazy laughter from Leonidas, Kraken, and Makareth.
Alexander: "I've seen the rookie too. Honestly, he's better suited as a garrison commander."
Alexander: "His plague abilities are devastating in an invasion, but his personality is cautious. He prefers to hunker down."
Alexander: "Besides, being a defensive specialist doesn't an his plague can't be weaponized offensively when needed."
Alexander's assessnt made Orion's eyes light up.
He had previously pinned Tangere as having a slightly wretched, rchant-like cunning. During the resistance in the [Forest of Nature] and the subsequent southern invasion, Tangere hadn't done anything particularly flashy.
But the fact remained: Tangere survived. He survived without Orion babysitting him, and he ca out of it without a scratch.
That, in itself, was a serious skill.
Leonidas: "Alexander, you always have the most to say, and you usually say it best. Go prepare a gift. You're a Demigod—don't be cheap about it."
Alexander: "You say that like you aren't a Demigod yourself. Between the two of us, who's the one actually broke?"
Alexander's retort choked Leonidas into silence.
Leonidas had successfully hatched the [World Dragons], but it had cost him his entire fortune, and they continued to drain his resources like a bottomless pit. Among the Demigods of the Champions Alliance, he was easily the most destitute.
Orion ignored the bickering. He notified the Deputy Commander, then turned his attention back to Tangere.
"I want to introduce you to a few friends. You interested?"
Silverwood Realm, City of Mirelune
When Tangere received the ssage, he paused, confused.
He logged out of the Survivor's Platform and opened his eyes in the physical world, sitting up in his Mage Tower. He poured himself a glass of water, sipping it slowly to steady his nerves.
Orion had just left. Now he was sending cryptic ssages. Tangere was a smart man; he realized he might have just hit the jackpot.
Orion was a Demigod. His friends would be, at minimum, Arch Lords—likely other Demigods.
Either way, this was the kind of network Tangere had been desperate to access.
He was trembling with adrenaline, so he took a mont to compose himself before logging back in.
"Absolutely! Thank you for the opportunity, Big Boss!"
After draining his glass, Tangere closed his eyes and sent the reply.
"I'm going to pull you into a channel. Rember: follow the rules, listen more, talk less."
With that brief instruction, Orion sent the invite.
[System Alert: Hulk has invited you to join the Champions Alliance. Accept?]
Tangere didn't hesitate. He hit accept instantly.
The mont he entered the Champions Alliance public channel, a wall of welco ssages flooded his vision.
Hulk: "Welco, Tangere!"
Arthas: "Welco to the crew."
Edward: "Welco to the Champions Alliance."
Leonidas: "Fresh at! Get in here!"
Alexander: "Welco."
Kraken: "My brother! Welco! Drinks are on
next ti."
Isabella: "Welco to the team. This is a new chapter for you."
Makareth: "Welco! Welco! A warm welco!"
Aside from the slumbering Commander, everyone was present. Even Arthas, who rarely spoke, chid in once Tangere was officially on the roster.
"Pay close attention to the rules the Deputy Commander sends you. That's not a suggestion."
As his sponsor, Orion sent a private follow-up warning. He didn't want to be in a position where he had to hunt Tangere down personally. The thought alone was aggravating.
"Don't worry, Big Boss. I'll watch my step."
Satisfied with Tangere's response, Orion went silent.
Now, he needed to prepare a gift for the newcor, just as his friends had done for him when he first joined the Champions Alliance.
After a mont of consideration, Orion retrieved an idol sculpted from rare black gold. He initiated a trade with Tangere.
It was a statue of Orion himself, infused with a sliver of his Demigod Phantom. It was a super-weapon, a final trump card that could save Tangere's life in a catastrophe.
Coming after the gifts from the rest of the Alliance, this specific offering would carry a weight and significance all its own.
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