Bonded Summoner

Book 6. Chapter 27: Timone and Nessa - Challenge

Timone and his Ravenwolf Tribe flapped their wings, flying toward the Alliance HQ. Conquest was nearing 85 percent, and the Dungeon Raid was soon to be triggered. This was their final chance to turn in their contribution with their Conquest Points nearly even, and the enemy was likely to be waiting.

The winner of the battle would gain the ability to claim the Prime Instance, more or less deciding who would win ownership of the world: Hearthtribe, or a Subguild of the Obsidian Blades, one of their numerous enemies.

Looking over to his side, Dahlia’s smile was feral as she flapped her streamers with auril, her flight suit helping her keep up with the other flyers in the Battlegroup. Aisling’s eyes glowed white, and she hummed.

“Looks like trouble ahead, my Chief.”

Timone raised his brow. “How much trouble? Enough that we should wait for our…slower allies?”

While they primarily moved as the Ravenwolf Tribe for Conquest activities, there were many more on this world in various Battlegroups. In their several months of battle against the Rifts and their PvP enemies, Elysians and many new Hearthtribe recruits fought alongside them.

Aisling giggled. “Just the right amount! Our brethren are always ready for battle. If you prepare too much, I think the effect won’t be as good. Our dear Dahlia will enjoy the hunt much more if we continue as we are.”

Numerous times they had been attacked by additional monsters while facing a Rift challenge, but their people were strong and ready for any challenge. That both Timone and Dahlia could use Cyclic Resonance had saved their tails more than once, and Aisling’s predictions had become even more reliable after she became an Auril Hero.

Dahlia grinned, her song taking on the cadence of battle as they neared the city. “Hmm, so that means there’s a big fish in the city then? I hope it’s not just numbers again, that was just monotonous. Really, it just felt like I was bullying them.”

They had already won more than one PvP event, and several ambushes in the cities. Each time they stomped the enemy, and Dahlia was getting kind of bored.

They swooped down toward the Alliance HQ, Timone’s heart taking on the song of battle as well. His flock could feel his song shifting, the groups altering their formation and preparing their weapons. Javelins and bows were held and shields were hefted, the warriors getting ready for battle.

As they neared, they spotted their many enemies. Spells built with the light of mana usage, enemy Norse and Greek casters coalescing numerous spells to attack.

The beastkin were faster. Arrows and Javelins fell like colored rain, as Timone and his flock’s howls and screeches filled the sky. Timone formed his raven flock, his auril manifestation, as auril in the area built.

A large portion of the enemy had gathered in front of the HQ on the ground, dozens blocking off the PvP entrance. Others stood on roofs, their ranged weapons and staves ready to rain attacks down on Timone’s beastkin brethren.

Red hazes marked them in Timone’s view, indicating they were PvP enemies–not that he needed that to know this–the Greek and Norse equipment was plenty obvious.

Dahlia dove with her spear covered in bright light, her streamers flicking javelins right into archer’s throats. Manifestations of wolves bit into their necks, nearly separating their heads from their bodies.

With a laugh, her spear spun and twirled among the enemy as she danced, cleaving deep through their flesh, her auril infused blows shearing through their armor like it was nearly not there. A warrior attempted to guard with his shield, only for her streamer to latch on to his arm and yank it out of the way, and for her spear to pierce into their heart with a fierce thrust.

Timone’s ravens started slamming into numerous casters, the squishy enemies doing their best to counter with magical barriers and receiving protection from their allies. His ravens ate away at their flesh like a horrifying virus, taking just a few to weaken them significantly.

His other wives sniped through their defenses with their bows, and Timone joined Dahlia in her furious melee assault.

His brethren all sang the song of battle, auril being pumped into the surrounding area. Auril began to gather within Dahlia, as she began her Cyclic Resonance. Already, his people had wiped out nearly half of the enemies. While they were numerous, they were not a match for his experienced brethren–let alone his fierce huntress.

More allies of the enemies suddenly appeared on the tops and from the adjacent alleys, arrows and spells beginning to rain down upon the Ravenwolf Tribe. Much of it was focused on Timone and Dahlia, the center of their attack.

Timone activated his Anti-Magic Zone, drawing his brethren to defend against the attacks with his dome of black energy. Auril heroes all, his Ravenwolf Tribe began preparing their attacks in counter.

A man strode forward from a nearby alley, and his group’s aura was far above many Timone had run into. Something pushed against Timone’s auril control, the enemy party’s magics encroaching his field.

“I am Baron Cassius, a direct descendant of the Divine Ares. It’s time for you to give up and leave here, Hearthtribe. You’ve given us a hard time for long enough, and this world will soon be ours.”

Timone laughed. “A child of a Divine? I’m afraid your hard times are just beginning, young one. Unless your daddy himself shows up, you’re not sending us home. We’ll go on to kick all your trash out of all the first Tier Contested worlds.”

Cassius growled as his team used their spells, their shimmering plate being covered in a bright light. Cassius used a shield and Greek xiphos sword, the man barreling toward Timone.

But Dahlia met Cassius instead, the speed of her leap as she blazed across the battlefield in a single stride shocking. He only barely raised his shield up in time to block her incoming spear, the surprise on his face evident. Her streamers extended, spun and twirled with her attack, whipping and striking into the nearby members of his retinue and knocking them back.

Javelins and arrows flew from Timone and his mates to attack the enemy party, and he took to the sky as he built up his flock of ravens for his eventual attack. As his auril heart pulsed, more and more ravens manifested for the attack.

Spells and arrows rained down on Timone and his mates as well, but their armor’s streamers and auril ravens whipped around and blocked them, preventing themselves from taking significant damage.

Aisling swooped down with her spear, piercing into the leader’s cleric as she covered him with whipping talon manifestations using her streamers. Despite covering himself with a glimmering barrier, her flurry of attacks shattered it in quick order, and his allies moved to defend him.

“Your healers are a little weak, child of Ares. You will not find any of ours unable to defend themselves.” She leaped away from their reprisal attacks, arrows from their mates piercing into the cleric instead.

Timone focused on taking down the reinforcements as his wife took on the baron. He could feel her thrill of the hunt through her song of battle, streams of auril joining her throughout the cycles of her heartbeats.

Every auril hero was a beacon for more auril energy, the area being flooded with Highland’s will. As the battle went on, it was as though they were standing on Highlands itself.

The baron’s shield work was impressive, able to keep up with Timone’s powerful, skilled wife. Cassius’s xiphos bit heavily into her auril-infused streamers, Dahlia was only barely able to deflect his fierce attacks as she sought an opening with her spear. Her wolves of light attempted to bite into him, but they were met with well-timed shields of light.

Timone sent his raven manifestations attacking archers and casters, as he dove and cleaved through them. His men and women followed his song, bobbing and weaving through the air and pouncing on the squishy targets.

Despite being outnumbered, Timone’s beastkin brethren were skilled and fierce. Their equipment allowed them to both defend and attack using their auril, the auril manifestations enabling special utility.

Auril Heroes all, they fought with amazing coordination and with powerful attacks. They quickly downed their enemies, seeking vitals and having strong defense. Even when taking a wound, auril healing from themselves and other auril heroes kept them fighting.

Timone’s people showed their capabilities in the mixed environment. The enemy wasn’t all human, but most of them could not fly like his flock. The beastkin could reach the second and third stories of the buildings, but the enemies on the ground could not easily reinforce their allies.

When the beastkin took to the air, the soldiers on the ground couldn’t join the fight. The beastkin were then able to rain attacks down from the sky, picking them off–very few of the Greek or Nordic warriors had useful counters.

Baron Cassius’s face was a mask of fury as Timone’s mates finished off two of his party, the cleric and some kind of toga wearing mage who flung javelins that turned into lightning bolts. Suddenly, Cassius and the two remaining warriors shouted and grew to be double the size.

Timone swooped down and protected his snow owl wife with his Shield of Faith and spear, while she countered a blow of the second which targeted her, manifestations of talons blocking the attack.

Dahlia howled as her spear grew in both size and length, not even slowing her assault as her own bright light blazed around her, taking on the enlarged baron.

“I’ll admit your warriors are strong, but they are not my match.” Cassius began shining white, the man activating some kind of ability. “Holy Vengeance!” He shouted, before energy rose from his fallen comrades, and the man was empowered by his losing battle.

Timone growled in annoyance. The corrupt man using anything with the word holy in the name was a horrible travesty. Filling his spear with his will, Timone leapt with a powerful flap of his wings, causing him to blaze across the battlefield.

His raven flock gathered along his spear, as he pierced deeply into one of Cassius’s allies, Timone’s hawk parentage wife finishing him off with a fierce swooping followup with her spear.

Meanwhile, Dahlia was all grins as the songs of their brethren sang their anthem, another cycle completing. Her body was covered in golden light, the auril of the seasons being drawn from their allies. Dahlia loved a thrilling hunt, and facing this powerful foe had filled her with excitement. Timone was sure this…excitement would turn to him in another form later that evening.

Cassius’s xiphos swung down powerfully toward his wife’s head, but with a roar, Dahlia’s spear became a beam of light which blasted away his sword, and crashed into his body and sent him into the air.

The Obsidian Blade leader’s armor cracked, but still landed on his feet. His body was covered in light, the two cycles had not been enough to bring him down. Still, Timone could see it was diminished. Dahlia’s cycle continued, likely only able to build up one more before the ability was cancelled. Timone began his Cyclic Resonance, drawing in auril to him as well.

Cassius charged Dahlia, and Timone started pelting his back with ravens. Death began spreading as the holy light fought it off, but the ravens kept on coming. He charged in with his spear, piercing Cassius in his shoulder from behind.

Dahlia had activated her skills as Lugh’s clergy, one which increased her strength and speed. Another was a fierce attack, that augmented her auril. It made it so each thrust was effectively two spears at once, the attacks difficult to block or deflect by Cassius.

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Wounds mounted on the man’s body, her spear piercing his armored protection, and Timone seeking his vitals. Cassius was strong and capable, but he could not match their coordinated hunt–only reduce the damage he took. He had some sort of self-healing, but it was not able to keep up with Timone’s ravens.

The damage began piling up, and Cassius roared as reality appeared to shift. His sword grew to become massive, and he held it over his head with two hands. The amount of energy contained within was massive, some power of divinity that Timone didn’t understand.

But he didn’t need to.

Dahlia’s auril and all in the surrounding area rushed toward her spear, and Timone leapt next to her as ravens swirled around his. Their cycles were not yet complete, but they worked together on a combined attack.

The two of them crouched together with their spears, preparing to counter the son of the divine’s attack. At that moment, Timone and Dahlia’s hearts beat in harmony, their songs combining as one.

As Cassius’s blade descended, Timone and Dahlia’s spears thrust out with all their might. Their auril coalesced, Lugh’s light of life and Cernunnos’s punishing death into a larger spear of golden light. Crashing into the giant’s sword, the blade was deflected, sending the man stumbling backward.

Dahlia and Timone leaped together with their own roars, Dahlia’s spear entering the man’s enlarged throat, and Timone’s piercing into his heart. The man dispelled into motes of light, leaving the impressive-looking xiphos to clatter on the ground.

Aisling picked it up, and began marveling at the magical runes or sigils covering it. It was clearly a Framework created item, likely obtained in a Dungeon Raid or similar. “Huh, we got loot! This is not bad. Their rank and file all has garbage, but these guys had the real deal.”

The other fallen enemies also dropped random items, which they were happy to sell on the market–after all, Hearthtribe-crafted items were simply superior for their personal usage.

Dahlia sighed in happiness. “That was a great hunt. Now it’s time for another Dungeon Raid.”

After healing up and rallying their brethren, they marched inside the HQ. They turned in their contribution to the fixture, a strange pedestal within a large room with a varied landscape meant for confrontations.

There were pillars and rocks, trees and even water. It was meant to not give any one type of fighter or mage an inherent advantage, and the room would shift and change over the course of several days.

Checking their contribution, Timone gave a fierce grin. “We won the battle, and our contribution now exceeds their alliance’s pool of contribution, enabling us to have free rein to select the Prime Instance. That son of Ares idiot sure gave us a lot more than we required, too.”

Dahlia asked Aisling, “What would have happened if we waited for reinforcements?”

Aisling hummed. “Not entirely sure, it seems he would have left. I think he only fought because he thought he could win. If Vesuvius and Nadessa had arrived, he’d have left with his tail between his legs.”

Timone chuckled. “He was not a bad warrior. It’s too bad he’s weak as a man. Good work, my mates. Now, it’s time for us to prepare. For after this Raid, we will enter the second Tier. We’ll pass on the torch to our younger brethren to continue the fight, and join a new one.”

After the Raid was complete, they would save their first world as Hearthtribe. Ariminum was not far behind, but soon they would be a force that couldn’t be ignored.

***

Nessa swung her swords, sending blade-like waves of her frigid lake carving into the boss creature–a horrifying golem made of shadows and flesh. Her cultivator and Norse allies continued sending their attacks into the boss, as Astalder kited it across the arena.

It belched a terrible black ooze which contaminated her frozen lake, but her purifying scripture had already enhanced its cleansing capabilities.

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Where it would be impossible for people to cross without being burned by ooze, her lake was busy clearing the area and allowing her allies better movement across the field.

Thanks to her frost piling up on the boss and slowing it, Astalder laughed as he threw his axes periodically at the undead monster, recalling them to himself with a special ability.

Humans and large cultivating demonic beasts sent special attacks into the boss, an array of different magics that were surprising. Fiery swipes of claws or poison breath, dangerous talons of lightning and sonic roars periodically slammed into the boss, the cultivators assisting their tamed beasts with arrows and similarly focused magical attacks.

A clan of beast tamers had joined her in this Prime Instance, their intelligent beasts providing unique support. Her new allies were both strong and effective, and she couldn’t believe her luck in gaining their allegiance.

Being the daughter of Tyr, she was somewhat used to the Norse being relatively quick to come to her aid, or join her retinue. However, Tyr was far from the only Divine in the pantheon. She was seen as an important person that they wanted to earn favor for, but that was it.

When she arrived on Aetheris, it was like the red carpet was rolled out. Her bloodline and its purity, combined with a mixture of what her father passed onto her, was felt by the natives. Because of this, they were quick to bow down like a Divine themselves had arrived.

They didn’t just favor her, they were quick to want to become her servants or hand over various offerings and treasures to earn her favor. The whole idea was strange to her. If she were really so important, wouldn’t what they handed her equal trash for her? Yet they happily handed her their cultivation resources, which they really needed a lot more than she did.

Nessa had done her best to… re-appropriate the gifts she received among those that joined her cause.

The new members were weak at the middle of the first Tier at first due to their middling Tier 1 world, but strong-arming them into joining the Framework, they were quick to grow. It was because of this that she was even further venerated, and she was able to form this elite force of allies over the last year.

While the cultivator world wasn’t Contested in the same way as a normal Alliance world, their contribution across the Sector was tallied toward its ongoing protection. Normally, they would have to wait for a Battleground, but now that she had convinced so many of them to join, they were having a significant impact.

Joining in this Dungeon Raid would accomplish something similar to a Battleground win, keeping it from being consumed by Tartarus.

The boss’s health dipped below 20%, and entered the final phase as the creature sped up. It glowed a malevolent red, becoming larger at the same time.

Nessa established her mirrors, creating four on opposing ends of the flat arena. She then stirred her Frostheart Cauldron, the latest addition to her arsenal.

Soothing cold filled her body, her new scales shimmering with a blue haze as she stirred her bloodline. White scales were now interspersed along her body on her sides, starting from her neck. The scales continued along her shoulders and down the sides of her arms and legs, all the way down to her feet.

They completely avoided the front of her body, with only a few along her spine and lower back. Her hair was now blue, another side effect from improving her bloodline further. While she wasn’t sure how to feel about the look, she was confident in the strength she’d gained in the last year.

[They look beautiful, descendant of mine–and that’s coming from a connoisseur of scales. Your efforts of self-improvement have surely brought you closer to love and justice, just like your guild’s namesake.]

Nessa blushed at the teasing reminder of the silly guild name, but had a bit of pride in what the guild had accomplished. To rescue another world so rapidly was a tremendous achievement, and it wouldn’t just stop here. Her efforts would build into several more victories just like this one, whether she led the attack or not.

It was more than a little weird as Astalder picked up more girls for his harem, but she couldn’t argue with the results. He was now even further entrenched in her camp, his cultivator women quick to browbeat away any hope of dissension of his.

[Yes, your guild is doing well. I do think we are ready to form your core soon, now that we created the cauldron. The Raid Points from this Prime Instance should have all that we need.]

“Why were you so focused on making that, anyway? The effect is useful, but the glacial serpent’s heart could have been a core formation material, couldn’t it? The other objects to create the cauldron were worth a king’s ransom, too. That Source Energy treasure had looked quite appealing…”

[We have a few more opportunities for core formation materials, and Source Energy treasures. Let’s just say that when you realize its full worth, you’ll thank me from the bottom of your heart. Plus, don’t you like that I can have a much more direct impact on the fight this way? Surely, you can see how powerful it is even now?]

“Of course, I can see the cauldron is powerful. Speaking of which, you’re up, Nana.”

Her frostheart cauldron pulsed, its flaming contents surging upward. The cauldron was now empty, but pulses from the strange metaphysical relic started to refill the container.

Blue yin flames shot out of her spiritual temple, and she breathed the flame out of her mouth, also sending water serpents from her lake to meet the flame.

But the flame was not hot–it was a flame of cold. As her serpents froze, she lost control over them, the magical creatures she created to attack with swipes of her blades coming to a halt.

Nana then sent pulses of her lake serpent bloodline out, an aura of her ancestry that she did not yet fully understand. Like a strange limb that she hadn’t been born with, infusing her…Serpent Will was difficult for her. She had been making progress, especially as she had improved the bloodline and obtained her scales, but it was nowhere near what Nana could accomplish.

Her ancestor controlled the large frost serpent of frostflame and ice with what Nessa could only compare to timed pulses, something she could not do on her own at all.

The ice serpent roared as it breathed out flame into the boss, its powerful frostflame slowing and damaging its flesh and shadows despite its red gleam. An aura of shadow exploded throughout the arena, damaging those in a large area around it.

Avoiding the attack, Nessa entered her lake, her body disappearing as she built her next attacks into her blades.

The boss turned its attention to Nana’s ice serpent, which snaked and twirled through the air as it dodged the giant construct’s furious swings of its fists. The cultivators and Nords attacked the busy boss with renewed fervor at a distance, its health declining rapidly as they did their best to attack it from afar.

Their distance reduced how much damage they were taking from the shadow aura, but it continued to pile up. More belches of ooze were sprayed, the Battlegroup needing to move out of the way or be harmed even more significantly.

The beasts all roared in pain as the shadow aura damaged them, the Norse healers unable to keep up with the damage for much longer.

Closing her eyes, she stood in her Spiritual Temple. Her pure lake represented her Qi, the water cold, clean, and pure. A small temple stood on a small island, a home for her human form.

But her home, her lake, was being encroached. The black ooze had stained it, and while the frost within the lake moved in mysterious ways, scrubbing it away, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of rage for its encroachment.

Her lake was her home, and she used it to protect her allies and friends. It was her sanctuary, and she would not allow this encroachment to continue any further.

Her four mirrors faced a single point, her blades taking on a powerful gleam. Not needing to hide her assault, she burst from the water with a leap, slashing powerfully with two blades covered in frost. Enhanced by her will, her desire to protect her home, the watery ice bit deeply into the golem’s form.

And Nessa did not stop there. The shadow aura bore down on her, but the water formed a protective bubble as she spun and drew more water into her blade. The layer of water which her allies now tred shrunk, but she slashed two more times with fierce aggression as she pushed her dao, cleaving through the place she previously froze.

The golem now tumbled into her lake as it was cut in half, the boss finally defeated.

Cheers erupted from the Battlegroup, the cultivators receiving the victory prompt. The corruption disappeared into motes of light, the encounter coming to an end.

Nessa drew her lake in, her mirrors shattering as she withdrew her Qi from the field of battle.

She reviewed her victory prompt, finding plenty of Raid Points for a premium item were achieved. Nana looked over the items for her.

[Hm, looks like we lucked out! There’s a Tears of the Frost Phoenix, which is perfect for your core formation. We’ll even be able to afford the Source Energy treasure for the serpent venom, which will be an excellent addition to your Path, your Dao.]

Nessa grimaced. “Venom? That…how does that fit in with my lake? I’m…not so sure I like that as part of my path, venom is a… coward’s weapon. I thought my swords were a part of my path?”

Nana was quiet for a moment, but when she spoke, her voice was firm. [Claws, blades, spears, fangs, venom, these are but a few things humans and beasts can use to kill, but they are all tools used to protect their homes and loved ones. Like it or not, you are a serpent. And while you have taken to the blade, I don’t know that it resonates that well with you. In the end, it is just a tool that you use to slay the enemy. Is venom all that different? As a serpent of the frigid lake, your venom can be a powerful, versatile tool to protect your home. Just one more evolution of your bloodline, and you should have access to it.]

Nessa frowned, thinking on it. In the end, even with what Nana had said about the blade, she had a hard time picturing her lake…with swords. Perhaps, she should consider venom further…

Nana continued, [Now, do not let me force you into your path–your path is your own. I can just feel it, that the blade is not your true calling. That said, do not allow your imagination to limit your choice. Shards of ice within your lake can be a blade that resonates with your path, sharp blades that harm those that encroach on your home, or endanger your friends.

I believe what will resonate better with you, is for a venomous frost that purges the wicked, bringing justice to them even if you must be taken to the grave with them. For your eyes reveal the truth, and when you sink your fangs, your blades into your foe, they are deserving of your wrath. Your cause is righteous, and any that feel your venom should suffer, their fates coming to an end.]

Nessa still hesitated, but she felt that Nana was right. She was starting to build conviction in her path of Home, her lake being a place of purity and protection–her sanctuary. It was versatile, and she knew this could feed into numerous abilities, from a utilitarian perspective. Then, as Nana hinted at, it simply resonated well with her.

And this new thing, this venom…something about it did too.

Nana’s smile could be heard in her voice, [Good. Now, it appears Hearthtribe once again has placed some even more unique items for sale, including some more Bloodline enhancing concoctions. We’ll snatch those up, and once you’ve consumed these treasures, we’ll form your core.]

Nodding, she made her purchases. Resting in her lake, later, she received a prompt with the accounting tally for all the completed instances.

[Conquest Complete! Victory: Alliance.]

[Overall Conquest Rating for Shadow Haven: B]

[Personal Conquest Rating: A]

[Dungeon Raid Rating Prime Instance: A]

[Top Contribution: Love and Justice]

[Previous World Energy Rating: Tier 1.61]

[Ending World Energy Rating: Tier 2.03]

[Contribution from Cultivators has increased the Energy Rating of their world, 12.3 percent has been allocated to the Mystic Expanse.]

[Congratulations, Nessa Tyrsdottir! As the Designated Contribution Earner of your Guild with the highest Conquest Earnings, you are now the Planetary Ruler of Shadow Haven. Current Tax percentage on all Nodes worldwide: 20%]

Nessa beamed. A Tier 2 world was now hers! And each world her new cultivator brethren of the Mystic Expanse helped claim, would strengthen their world, too. This was a unique advantage, when combined with her Relays, perhaps before the end of a few years, they could make it.

She could see that Hearthtribe was doing phenomenally well, but she would soon be receiving some help. Xara from the Blizzardblade Clan and a man named Weiyan from the Righteous Flame Sect made their desires known to join her on the Mystic Expanse, along with a race of creatures called the Celestial Nekomatas.

Things were truly looking good for Nessa. In the past year, she had accomplished more than she ever imagined. Perhaps, love and justice truly could go well together.

***

Cassius groaned as he awoke from his resurrection, a frown crossing his features as he stepped out of the shrine in his Refuge. His servants scurried to bring him a drink, but he waved them away.

He withdrew one from his Storage Ring as he tried to get his rage under control. He even lost his sword!

“Your… Patron wishes to speak with you.”

Fuck…this was really not what he needed right now. He gave himself a few moments to clear his head before he walked toward his communication room.

On the display was a shadowed form, his patron. Or rather, the proxy in which his patron spoke. In frontier sectors like 87, the Divine were severely limited, unable to properly communicate their will. Every sentence requiring a purpose, and every word a cost.

Which was why one of the first things his Patron had done when this war began was discover a way to cheat.

“You lost. You lost in front of all your subordinates, in front of all the residents, and to a mere… Tier 1 Clergy Native with overwhelming numbers. Pathetic.”

Cassius grimaced. He was the son of a Divine, he should be comparable to a Champion at the same Tier. That he lost to a mere clergy class while lowering himself and outnumbering his enemy was not something he could easily justify.

Anything else he could offer were merely excuses, and his Patron would only get angrier at them. The Tier 1 Beastkin of Highlands were simply better trained, better equipped, and more powerful than the average recruit. Especially when their only choices for subordinates were from weaker natives.

Still, he realized he had to try. “The beastkin natives are far more capable than we imagined. That they won on over eighty percent of the conflicts so far proves this. They have unparalleled mobility, and even their magic technology could compete with worlds with a much richer history. The Celts have truly kept the wool over our eyes. They are the dark horse of this Sector.”

His patron growled. “And that’s not all. That whore had really maximized her Champion’s debut, earning a Homeworld that cannot be ignored. Having a Tier 2 world out of the gate means it is nearly impossible to starve him of resources. His party will be a thorn in our side in the War Trial, unless we take drastic measures.”

“Drastic measures?”

“Yes. We must prevent their world from entering the third Tier. For now, withdraw your wars in the first Tier, at least until the grace period ends. Focus on raising your people to the second Tier, to focus on this time.”

“Back off from the first Tier! But the cost of canceling–”

The proxy narrowed his eyes, his voice a hiss of anger. “Yes, back off. Your people are only feeding them, a whetstone for their warriors to be sharpened, and hastening their contribution earnings. Thanks to your losses, you are only aiding their recruitment and empowering their individuals. Their advantages are prevalent at the first Tier, but will that be the case in the second?”

Cassius frowned, he didn’t like losing his war so quickly. There were enough Contested worlds in the first that he should be able to avoid Hearthtribe, and just focus on pushing for victory and bringing his people to the second Tier.

It was a shame. His feeder guilds were excellent at raising ruthless mercenaries, their reputations allowing for numerous ways to profit. Losing their freedoms in the first Tier would reduce his ability to recruit for quite some time.

The proxy’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Just do as we say, or else. Here is a list of the upcoming Contests.”

Cassius was more surprised that they would be abandoning the first Tier than he was over receiving a list that could only be obtained through one method: collaboration with Tartarus. By knowing which worlds were going to be Contested next, his men could weaken their defenses through various means, such as enslavement or sabotage, before the Contest even began.

“I see, then you want our activities to progress on these worlds then? Thanks to Tyr and his daughter, eyes are already on some of us. Are you sure we can afford to be so…blatant?”

“Let us worry about this. It should be easy enough to hide your activities on these worlds, they were chosen for this reason. You have plenty of time. Use disguises and proxies, just get it done. We must prevent Highlands from reaching the third Tier during the War Trial, or they can ruin everything.”

Cassius nodded. “So we’ll strangle the child in the crib then. Anything else?”

“Yes, as it should have been already! Fail in this task like you’ve already failed us, and you shall be used for empowerment of another. Are we clear?”

He grimaced. Being sacrificed to empower some Tartarus entity was the same as being sent to hell, forced to suffer for all eternity. Even the most cruel Divine’s afterlives were not so horrible, most only spending time with their memories and sins washing away as they paid for their wrongdoings–usually for a timespan comparable to their original lifetime.

Cassius swallowed. “Crystal.”

“Good. Now focus your overwhelming numbers on your small victories as you withdraw, until their grace period ends. You’ll have new instructions at that time.”

The proxy disappeared, Cassius sagging in his chair. Taking deep breaths, he reined in his anger. He opened his Menu, and started sending a flurry of messages. He targeted the worlds near the outer rim of the Sector, focusing his forces on the few wins they could earn quickly.

His subguilds had a few elites between them, so he just had to make sure they teamed up properly, and not their usual fighting for dominance. Cassius wanted results, and he needed them fast.

Then he focused on the worlds in the second Tier, and those which would be Contested in the next year. This was an important time. As soon as the grace period was done, Hearthtribe and its allies would have two main choices for progression.

The dungeon, or Tier 2 worlds. During the grace period, the dungeon would be the primary means. But the dungeon was full of vicious traps, the evil entity happily taking advantage of those that went too deep.

The rewards were enticing, but all too many found themselves stuck or worse. Many would not progress at all inside, their constant deaths setting them back further than what they gained. Tartarus had even more tools to cheat with within, and the death rate was extremely high. It was why so few worlds had been recovered from the entity in the first place, only the strongest of heroes able to claim such major victories.

But who was Cassius kidding? If Hearthtribe was full of elites like that raven…wolf man abomination and his wife, then perhaps they had much to gain while inside. This was all the more reason that Cassius and Avaron needed to make sure they got taken down a peg the moment they entered the second Tier.

Looking at another report, he frowned. This…Nessa Tyrsdottir was really proving to be a thorn in his side. Just how did she become so capable? Not only did she defeat Avaron, but now she had claimed two Prime Instance victories. She would need to move up in Tier, or else her presence would be a detriment, but her guild’s strength had skyrocketed beyond what anyone could expect.

She had allied with Hearthtribe, but it was the same for many others. Looking over the numbers, Cassius’s eyes took on a cruel glint. Perhaps, they would be even more aggressive with a certain Norse Divine’s daughter going forward.