TS5: Chapter 16 (Patreon)

“Where are you people from?"

Stello’s question hung in the air as he looked back and forth between the various members of the group. It was hard enough to accept one strangely powerful individual with next to no knowledge about the endless worlds, but now it appeared that there were more of them.

"Ah, yeah, about that," Thorn said, glancing at Velin. "Well, we are coming from a world called Verdant, the one I told you about before, that I said you should come visit. And, uh, let's just say we only arrived there a short while ago."

Eyes narrowing, Stello looked at Thorn and then at the others. It was clear that his mind was working as if he was trying to grasp onto an elusive idea and after a moment, he got it.

"Wait, are you all ascenders?"

"Maybe," Thorn said with a shrug. "Maybe not. Why?"

"Because your tiers are way too high to be ascenders," Stello said. "Even if you are exceptionally powerful in your own world, most ascenders take decades to rise into even the mid-tiers. Yet, you all look incredibly young, and you're already edging close to the 10th tier."

"I can see why you would find that weird," Velin said. “Just out of idle curiosity, what would happen if there happened to be a few more of us?”

“People like you, you mean? Ascenders with unnatural growth speed?"

"Yes, but bear in mind that I'm not saying there are, or admitting that that's what we are," Velin said, waving her hand. "I'm just asking, purely theoretically, if there were more of us, how do you feel you would react?"

It was hard not to be suspicious at the way Velin asked the question and after swallowing, Stello glanced between Thorn and her and Velin.

"When you say a few more—"

"I didn't say a few more, I said more. Assume a lot more."

"That would be…" Stello let out a breath and sat down. "That would be dangerous."

"Dangerous how?" Velin asked, a notebook appearing in her hands.

Thorn sat down next to her, using his mana to reinforce the creaking sofa and prevent it from being crushed under his weight as she flipped to an empty page and started to write.

"I mean, it's not so bad if you've hit the peak of your growth," Stello said. "But the power balance in this world assumes that most people are not going to make it to the 10th tier. I mean, most major challenger clans don't even have more than a few dozen 10th tier warriors. And those are the big ones. The 10 great clans may have a few hundred each."

"That few?" Velin asked, her hand moving swiftly across the page as she wrote her notes, "and they maintain control with only a few hundred?"

"Maybe you don't understand how strong someone in the 10th tier is," Stello said, "but believe me when I say it's a whole different world. I'm sure we'll get to meet individuals whose power is getting exceptionally close. We might even have to face down some 10th tier opponents in this mission. And if that's the case, the best outcome we can hope for is not dying. They're that strong."

"I see. This might be a problem."

"Problem? Why would it be a problem?" Thorn asked.

"Let's assume that each of the primary challenger clans has three hundred 10th tier warriors," Velin said. "Well, we'd be looking at three thousand total people spread across the ten main clans. Thorn, how many people are in the Iron Wolf Army? Just the first battalion."

Realizing what Velin was saying, Thorn grimaced.

"Ten thousand. I see what you’re getting at. What's the average tier?"

"Last time I checked, six," Velin said. "But given another five years, it wouldn't be surprising if at least half of them have grown to the seventh or eighth. Remember, that's one force in Cloudstone City. Also, there are more people arriving every day, some of them incredibly talented, who are shooting up the tier rankings incredibly quickly."

"We're going to have to talk to Athena about this, aren't we?"

"Yes, we absolutely will," Velin said, "especially once they start running teams through the tower. As I've heard, that accelerates growth considerably."

Completely lost, Stello kept looking between Velin and Thorn, trying to figure out what it was they were talking about. Before he could ask, there was a polite knock on the door and when Mina opened it, they saw that Steward Selor had returned. With him was a priest dressed in the robes of the temple, who bowed deeply when he saw Thorn.

"Ascendant Thorn, welcome to the Temple of Man."

"Thank you," Thorn said, glancing at Steward Selor.

"Please allow me to introduce Priest Larner Quilla," Steward Selor said. "He has information regarding a topic you are interested in."

"You said Quilla," Thorn asked, leaning back. "Any relation to Ascendant Quilla?"

"A very distant cousin, Ascendant. He is two generations below me, but our lineage is traced from the same family. The Quilla family is considerable in size, and there are many of us who work for the Temple of Man."

"Oh, I see. Well, it's nice to meet you, Priest Quilla."

"It is my pleasure, Ascendant. Steward Selor was informing me that you had some questions about the upcoming challenge. If you would have it, I will do my best to assist you with what I know."

"Thank you, that's great," Thorn said. "Can you give me an overview? We'd love to hear about how the challenge will work and what criteria will be used to pick the five individuals who can head to the puzzle when it opens."

"The process is relatively simple, Ascendant. Apart from a single spot, which is reserved for the top-ranked Ascendant, currently held by Ascendant Kain, of the Kain family, any Ascendant can compete for the remaining four spaces. The competition will undoubtedly be fierce, as it is every time that the puzzle appears, but it's also straightforward. There will be a simple combat test, where Ascendants will be allowed to challenge others for position on one of four platforms. The challenge will last for a single day, and when it is finished, the four Ascendants remaining on the platforms will be included in the team that enters the puzzle."

"Is it true that I can bring my retainers with me when I enter the puzzle?" Thorn asked, causing both Steward Selor and Priest Quilla to give him curious looks. "I mean, assuming I managed to get through the challenge and take one of the top four spots."

"Ah, yes, I believe so, Ascendant. If my memory serves me correctly, you will be able to take nine others with you. Anyone more will be blocked from entering."

"When will this challenge take place?" Velin asked, looking up from her notebook.

"The challenge will take place in four days, madam. In the center of the temple."

"Got it. So we have four days to look around the temple," Thorn said. "Thank you very much for your information. Anything else that I should be aware of?"

Thinking for a moment, Priest Quilla gave Thorn a long, measuring look.

“Ascendant, do you mind if I ask an impertinent question?”

Thorn’s eyebrows rose, but he waved his hand.

“Go ahead.”

Bowing his head, Priest Quilla shot a glance at Stello and Velin before speaking to Thorn.

“Thank you. I wish to know how confident you are in being able to grasp one of the four spots.”

Flashing an amused smile at the priest, Thorn relaxed in his seat, placing his arm along the back of the couch.

“There isn’t anyone under the tenth tier that I have to worry about. If I join the competition for the five spots, one of them will be mine.”

“I see. In that case, allow me to share a bit more with you,” Priest Quilla said, his gaze meeting Thorn’s squarely. “The council of elders includes a number of families who are trying to gain a position for themselves, and there are also a significant number of forces who are not members of a great family. I’ve collected all of the details in this memory shard. I hope it will help you as you strive for one of the five positions.”

Taking the crystal Priest Quilla held out, Thorn felt Eve scan it, absorbing the information it contained and sorting it into her databases.

“Thank you, Priest Quilla. This will be incredibly helpful,” Thorn said, handing the crystal to Velin.

"Of course, Ascendant. It is my honor."

With another bow, Priest Quilla left, escorted by Steward Selor and Thorn stood up, cracked his knuckles, and gestured for Stello to follow him.

"Do you hear that, folks? We only have four days until it's time to fight. Let’s get to training."

“I thought we were going to go sightseeing,” Mina said, gesturing to the window. “I want to see what sort of markets this place has.”

“We’ll have time for that,” Thorn replied, “but I want to make sure that we’re all in top shape and have a good understanding of each other.”

Steward Selor had shown Thorn where the training rooms were, and it was here that Thorn led Stello and the others. They entered the massive stone room that looked like an arena, and Thorn jumped down into the combat area, gesturing for Stello to follow him.

"Come on. I've just made a new weapon and I'd love to test my armor out. Plus, I want you to double-check my elemental blade. I've had to make some changes because I'm using a halberd so I want to make sure that I'm not walking down the wrong path."

Thorn noticed Stello glancing behind them at the rest of the group who were following along and paused.

"Are you okay if everyone else watches?" he asked. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable if you don't want other people to see you practicing your martial arts."

"No, that's not it," Stello said. "My master would be delighted if I showed more people the elemental blade. No, I just can't get over how strong you all are considering that most of you aren't challengers yet, especially him." Stello jerked a thumb at Alph. "I can't get a read on his strength."

"Ah, well, Alph is a special case. He's a bit of an outlier."

"Coming from you, that must mean he's really unique," Stello said, chuckling. "But enough talk. Show me what you've been practicing."

Walking over to the other side of the arena floor, Thorn stretched out his hand, summoning his halberd from his dimensional ring. Gripping it tightly with his right hand, he spun it around his head, catching the butt end of the handle with his left hand and bringing it down across his body to point at Stello, who had unsheathed his longsword.

"What a scary-looking weapon," Stello said, "but it looks too dull to be finished."

Though Thorn had sharpened the edge of the halberd, Stello wasn't wrong. It was considerably duller than anyone would expect a halberd to be, but Thorn just laughed and activated the void-edge runes that covered the blade. Seeing the fine purple line spring up around the end of the halberd, Stello sucked in a breath.

"Is that an enchantment version of the spell that you use?" He asked.

When Thorn nodded, he let out a sigh and unsheathed his longsword.

"Well, that's only a little bit terrifying," he said, getting into his stance. "Let's begin."

Nodding, Thorn took a deep breath and made the first move, charging forward as his halberd slashed out with explosive force. After learning the basics of the elemental blade from Stello, Thorn had been doing his best to adapt it into a halberd art, and then to adapt each of the basic moves that he had learned into their elemental versions. His first strike felt like a raging fire bearing down on Stello, but with an entirely calm expression, Stello responded, taking two quick steps forward and stabbing out with his longsword. At the last moment, the angle of his blade changed, and the tip of his sword bypassed the edge of the halberd, stabbing into it from the side and knocking it off-target.

With an eruption of energy, Stello launched an attack of his own, but Thorn was already fading back, creating distance as his halberd made a short, sharp hack toward Stello's legs. Spinning away from the attack, Stello reversed direction with unbelievable speed, his sword ripping through the air where Thorn's head had been a moment earlier. The two fought fiercely, neither pulling their punches as they tested their technique against one another.

Though Thorn had the advantage in both pure strength and length of weapon, Stello's masterful use of his longsword and skill with the elemental blade was enough to allow the elven swordsman to take the initiative, forcing Thorn onto the back foot. There was enough of a physical difference that Thorn could bully his way forward using his weight to force Stello back, but it was clear that he was outmatched when it came to the flame oriented elemental blade, and after a few dozen exchanges, the Titan jumped back, his stance suddenly shifting.

With a laugh, Stello chased after him, chopping down with a heavy strike that appeared to shift unpredictably from side to side as it fell towards Thorn's shoulder. Letting out his breath Thorn lowered his center of gravity slightly and blocked, knocking the blade off course. Undeterred, Stello attacked fiercely, his blade flashing with crimson light as it ripped towards Thorn from a dozen different angles. A rapid-fire sound filled the space as Thorn warded off each attack using the bare minimum movement of his halberd, before suddenly letting out a shout and taking a hard step forward, his halberd stabbing out towards Stello's chest. From almost complete stillness to a heavy attack that carried a suffocating momentum, Thorn’s halberd generated a huge wave of pressure that shook the ground as it advanced. With a laugh, Stello retreated, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.

"Is that the Earth's stance?" he asked.

"Yes," Thorn said, pulling his halberd back. "Focused on stability and unstoppable power. I'm trying to emulate a mountain and avalanche.”

"Impressive, and you figured all that out on your own?"

"I did, but that's not all. I have a couple others, if you want to try them on for size."

"You never cease to amaze me, Thorn," Stello said. "You still have a considerable way to go regarding the stylization of your blade, but it's clear you have the basics of the style down."

"Thank you," Thorn said, bowing. "Would you be willing to give me some insight over the next few days? I'd love to learn as much as possible."

"Of course," Stello said, waving his hand and looking around at the rest of the group. "I'd be more than happy to, but now I'm curious about everyone else. Are the rest of you as monstrous as Thorn?"