RD 3 Ch 47 (Patreon)

Chapter 47

The first monster we encountered in the instance wasn't a high level. It was a level 70 A-rank monster, the same type of beast we had seen inside the vault. However, the fact that the monster now had a rank told me the system had taken over.

These weren't of huge concern to our main group, so the Mul Branova took the lead in clearing out the chaff.

"So, now that we have a minute, how about we talk, Bran?" Circe suggested, letting the lower ranks of our group gain more experience. 

I raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Careful now. It's not like I knew this was going to happen."

"That's possibly the most troubling part," Circe retorted, pursing her lips. "I'm surprised you didn't see it coming."

Merlin turned to Circe and scoffed. "What, you think he can see the future or perhaps you’ve set the bar lower and he’s supposed to be omniscient?" 

At those words, there was an awkward pause from the group as a whole, causing Merlin to look around. Her gaze turned to Simone incredulously. "He can't see the future, can he?" 

Simone grit her teeth and waffled her head back and forth. "He can't exactly see the future. Instead, he's from the future."

Merlin choked. "From the future?" 

I scratched my head. "From a future. This reality has already deviated considerably from the one I experienced. I never actually went into the vault in my past life. I was only able to put together the pieces of what it was and roughly what happened after Vincent invited me to remove the inscription."

Circe nodded. "Then who cleared it in your past life?" 

I pointed to her. "The Clans. They discovered what Vincent was hoarding at the end of the First Demon War. Then the Clans took it, violently. I can only assume that they went in and cleared it. Though with the strength that we saw inside, I wouldn't be shocked if that group from the clans didn't all die and become possessed. I know for a fact the Demon General inside this vault was active during the War for Supremacy at the very least some of them lost their lives."

Now Merlin was giving me even stranger looks. "Demon Wars? War for Supremacy?" 

I sighed heavily. "Well, now that I don't have to keep it a secret, I might as well tell you. In two weeks' time, a barrier that has protected Earth since its inception is going to disappear and demons are going to invade. Our planet is going to become a battlefield between demons and other powerful forces beyond our world."

"Aliens?" Merlin asked. 

"They are foreign creatures from another world, so it fits, though I wouldn't expect big green-headed men. You'll be sadly disappointed," I replied. 

Merlin smirked, hiding a smile behind tight lips. "So if you're from a future and you came in here. What was your purpose?" 

"To stop this round of demons from making this war worse. The First Demon War is going to be harsh. Our entire planet will be initiated all at once. Well, those who are old enough," I corrected myself. "It's going to be absolute chaos. At the same time, a number of hell gates are going to open up. Giant red beams are going to stretch all the way to the sky, and demonic monsters are going to surge forth as the shock troop to soften up our world."

Merlin was at least taking my words seriously, judging by the way she swallowed audibly. "Is there anything we can do to stop that? From the demons arriving here?" 

"Absolutely not. In fact, we want them to come," I said, noting Simone's expression but keeping mine neutral.

Merlin didn't miss the exchange. "I take it you don't agree, Simone?" she asked. 

"Agree to disagree," I replied. "If the demons don't come, if we don't let some survival of the fittest happen, then humanity is going to be too weak for what comes next. I don't like it, but it's the reality of the situation. If we shut down the Hell Gates to save everyone, then when the next group of demons comes, we'll be nothing but sitting ducks."

Not to mention humanity would likely eat itself alive if it wasn’t given a common enemy, but that was a conversation for the start of the War for Supremacy.

"Perhaps a small number of initiated could solve everything," Merlin suggested, trying to find the best of both worlds. 

I shrugged. "And in the process of future conflicts, watch as those too weak to do anything become merely collateral damage, or the next round of demons devours them up to create an army of possessed husks." I gestured around us. "Merlin, you've seen their goal for yourself. Humans that are unable to fight back will be nothing but resources."

I had already questioned my own logic, and I had settled on my stance. It was perhaps an overly harsh way to think about it, but it was the best answer considering all factors. "And there will be plenty of people who don't have enough levels to participate, but humanity needs to grow beyond its current confines. And the First Demon War, while tough, is going to be far better than the War for Supremacy or in the Second Demonic War for humanity to learn."

"Bran, let’s get back to you not predicting this issue," Circe interjected. "Now that Merlin is at least passably caught up, can we resume our conversation?" she sighed exasperatedly, as if updating Merlin had been painful. 

"Right," I agreed. "I don't know what changed. I didn't come in here the first time, and I could only infer information from my past. However, I would be shocked if it took this long the first time. It would have made far more noise within the community. And given what I later learned about the seeds of demonic souls..." I paused, realizing I was rambling. "The fact of the matter is we can’t change what’s happened. I'm going to have to prioritize. Circe, what's happened over this past year?"

Rather than make guesses it was time to start preparing.

"Let's see…where do I even start?" Circe mused. "Well, let's start where you left me high and dry.”

Clearly Circe was going to hold this grudge for a while.

"Alright, so I disappeared, and you were out too many people for your expansion into North America," I said, trying to speed her up. 

"Among other problems," she said. "So I had to utilize your parents and what you left behind of the Mul Branova, who, by the way, have expanded. Though many lack being initiated nor do they idolize you quite so much." 

I shrugged. "That's to be expected when we aren't around to lead them. How will they become loyal to people they've never met before?”

Circe continued. “Your mother and father pitched in considerably, and then I kept giving them jobs. I needed them away because the Borrson clan has been snooping around Vein City. Your exploits in the Heroes clan have leaked out by now." Circe told me.

I nodded, that having been part of my previous plan. I wanted to go after the Borrson clan members who had tried to kill my mother. That project was likely going to be a long, extensive one. Only everything had changed and I wasn't there to work on it. 

"So I've kept your mother and father away from Vein City. I ended up bringing some of my own people and running the Odyssey clan a little looser as I expanded heavily with the next two recruitments. Except, oh wait, none of them have activated bloodlines," Circe said, glaring at me.

The could have initiated them all with the golden rams, but without their bloodlines they wouldn’t be quite up to the Heros Clan standards.

"So it's been more difficult, but you've managed. When we get out of here, I think one of the first things I need to do is go to any reasonable cluster of Heros clan members and awaken their bloodlines.” I reassured her.

“If you can escape from Zeus and Hercules," Circe smirked. 

"Hopefully, I don't have to run from them for long. Otherwise, that's gonna make everything harder than it needs to be," I shot back. "So, the Borrson clan has been bothering you?" 

"They've ruined a few chairs," Circe said, a sour look on her face. "But we have now notified all of the other clans of the oncoming demons. Even if some of them didn't take us seriously, they were doing enough to at least be considered some level of precaution." 

The clans had been around for a long time. All of them had similar prophesies passed down, but over time people forgot. Meanwhile the dangers snuck up.

"Did any of them give you trouble in particular?" I asked.

Circe shook her head. "No but, during the trouble with the Borrsons, I may have..." She hesitated, "let it slip that you have a golden titan bloodline just to make my peer over there a little upset." 

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "Really, Circe?" 

She only gave me a helpless shrug. "He was being a dick and ruined a chair. I had to needle him at least a little. Besides, I may have been a little pissed at you and your disappearing act." 

Her mischievousness had definitely gone a little too far with that information. Knowledge of my bloodline would create some actual trouble for me in the future. Although, the Borrsons were likely coming for me anyway. The only thing she really changed was how direct they might be in their approach.

Merlin cleared her throat. "Not to interrupt, but Bran, you had alluded to having some way to alter these fruits when we got out." Merlin held one up.

This time, when I inspected it, it showed its true colors.

[Wretched Apple of Insight - Consume for +100 Intelligence, a 30% debuff to your spirit. Multiple within a short duration will damage your spirit permanently.]

Merlin glanced at the fruit, no doubt inspecting it as well. Now she could see the debuff that it would give, as well as the warning that consuming multiple might do permanent damage to one's spirit. 

"Actually, when we set up to rest, that's something I can work on.” Tapping my chin as I thought it over. “I'd rather do as many as I can at once.” I added.

“I'm not sure if that's the best idea." Circe gestured over at the Mul Branova who were waiting diligently for me, but giving me a bit of space. "If they have more of these fruits, doing it now might make all of this faster anyway."

She had a point. There were plenty of stats to go around. That and who knew what we might encounter, perhaps it would be best to put these to use as soon as possible.

"Simone," I turned to her. "Pull the Mul Branova back. We're going to take out all of our fruits and work on them now.”

Gloria had trailed behind Simone and her eyes lit up like two shining stars. "Really? Then we can eat them?" She asked excitedly.

"And it'll work for non-fruits too, right?" Nyx turned her hand over and mounds of pies started appearing.

I inspected them as did Circe and Merlin. Circe must have been impressed because her jaw nearly hit the ground. 

"You're going to give me a few of those as compensation for all of the work I've been doing, right?" Circe pulled her chin back up and smiled softly at me. All the hostility from her completely vanished into a friendly professional manner.

"Really? I thought you were upset with me," I huffed playfully and crossed my arms. "Are you telling me a few pies are going to change all of that?" 

"Well, you're still going to have a little trouble with Hercules and Zeus and perhaps a few pies would make a wonderful bribe," Circe gave me a brilliant smile that was at least partially genuine.

I believed she would help me with Hercules and Zeus for a bribe. I just wasn't sure if I could afford to give them to her. But I knew that I would likely need her help in the battles to come. Worst case, I’d give her some of my cut.

"That's fine Circe. We have plenty. Everyone, start emptying out. Merlin, if you would, could you make a large flat dish? Preferably one that I can rotate." 

Merlin waved her staff. A giant plate made of ice, with about a two-foot high lip, appeared in front of us. 

"Perfect," I grinned, tipping out the fruits in my own storage ring. They came tumbling out by the dozen. Gloria and Simone joined in before everyone started emptying out their spatial rings, filling the massive icy plate.

Circe began drooling, looking at them while gold coins flashed in her red eyes. 

"Think about how much system gold these are worth. Especially to someone who's already spent a fair amount on your stats," I chuckled at Circe. 

She wiped at her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about," she pulled herself back together. "However, I think you certainly have enough to spare at least a thousand stats for me." She pursed her lips.

Quite frankly, that wasn't even a tenth of what Nyx had in her own storage ring. For that price, I would happily buy Circe's help.