Chapter 4 - Part 1 of 2 (Patreon)

Erik crossed his arms as he watched the close protection details marching to the totem. They were wearing civilian clothing, some were acting as guards for traders.

“Feels wrong,” Rugrat said, standing beside him.

“We’re used to being the people deployed, not the ones sitting back and watching it all going on,” Erik said.

The silence stretched.

“Fuck, I feel like a fucking, I don’t know, something useless!” Rugrat went to his desk and dropped down into his seat. His desk was covered in blueprints of his new railguns. A skull with faint lines appearing on it sat at one corner in a restrictive formation.

“It’s not some small village facing a horde of beasts anymore,” Erik turned from the window.

Rugrat raised a palm.

“I know, but we’re always at the rear of this shit, grates on me. We should be out with the special teams.”

“Alva grew up and we got strong. We’re the figure heads of this whole thing, the damn nukes being held back. If we show too much power too soon then everything could come the hell apart. Until we’re needed, just like the rest of the army that is being held back, we train. We get stronger so that if we’re needed we can destroy anything in our way,” Erik’s voice turned cold and grating.

Instead of shivering, Rugrat’s mouth lifted slightly and he nodded.

“Sure, but it feels like we’re always being held back. Erik, that isn’t us.”

Erik uncrossed his arms, shrugging.

“Well, what the hell do you want to do?”

“Hell if I know!” Rugrat smashed his hands into his desk, breaking it. “Mother fucker!” He barked and kicked away from the desk, standing up from his chair.

Erik didn’t say anything, waiting, he knew Rugrat was a powder keg right now.

“Fuck! There’s nothing to do but train more, make more weapons! Shit, I’m a marine, first and foremost.”

“And sometimes we have to do the shitty things, waiting for the right time to strike. It’s harder because we can see everything that’s going on.”

Rugrat grunted, it seemed that he had calmed down somewhat. He took in a deep breath, letting out his anger. “So more training.”

“More training,” Erik looked down at his arm, the cracked coal-like skin and silver mercury veins had spread into his hands now.

The spread moved through his entire body, only a necklace at the base of his neck was stopping the progression up to his head.

He looked up from his broken body. He could barely call forward forty percent of his strength.

I need to work faster to get through my metal tempering. I have no idea what the hell this bloodline tempering is either.

Erik took a quick glance at his body cultivation quests.

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Quest: Body Cultivation 4

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The path cultivating one’s body is not easy. To stand at the top, one must forge their own path forward.

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Requirements:

Unlock Body like Diamond

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Rewards:

+24 to Strength

+24 to Agility

+24 to Stamina

+40 to Stamina Regeneration

+100,000,000 EXP

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Quest: Body Cultivation 5

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The path cultivating one’s body is not easy. To stand at the top, one must forge their own path forward.

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Requirements:

Unlock your Bloodline

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Rewards:

+48 to Strength

+48 to Agility

+48 to Stamina

+80 to Stamina Regeneration

+100,000,000 EXP

==========

If Egbert was awake, then I could ask him. I have looked in the library but I didn’t find anything useful. Not many have made it to this high cultivation in the lower realms. There should be more information in the higher realms.

“How is your Mana cultivation? Erik asked as he looked at those quests as well.

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Quest: Mana Cultivation 2

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The path cultivating one’s mana is not easy. To stand at the top, one must forge their own path forward.

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Requirements:

Reach Vapor Mana Core

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Rewards:

+20 to Mana

+20 to Mana Regeneration

+50,000,000 EXP

==========

“I formed my mist core and I’m working towards my Liquid core.Once I can pull that together I can attack the solid core.”

“With a solid core then my domain’s power will increase dramatically. Right now with the Body Rebirth and opening our fifteenth mana gate our domain is like a seventh sense. It is a warning bell, not so much a tool. With the domain that comes with the solid core, we can control more mana directly creating a true domain. We control everything within it. With the Mana Heart then mana cultivation takes a change towards body cultivation and becoming closer to the Ten Realms. I’m not sure what that really means. But I know that we’ll be strong as hell.”

“We didn’t get much time in the last couple of months to increase our cultivation.Just think of this time like consolidating our gains.”

“I fucking hate when you say consolidating our gains.”

“If we want to be the nukes held back, then we have to train for it.”

“We increased in levels, isn’t that enough?”

“You know it’s not. Levels were great when we were weak. Now the biggest changes come from cultivation and from our gear. Our levels increasing adds, certainly, but not as fast.”

“Maybe we can absorb enough mana to calm down that fricking drill.” Rugrat said.

“Way of the Ten Realms right? On one hand we’ll tap right into the Ten Realms, on the other it could turn the entire First Realm against us.”

“Dancing on the blade edge, exciting as hell, boring as hell, and fucking scary all the damn time.”

There was a knock at the door, it opened to reveal Gong Jin.

“Are you ready to head to King’s Hill?

“Time we accelerated things there,” Rugrat said, clearing his desk. “I’ll check in on the weapons development afterwards.”

“I’ve got an appointment with Bouchard about my metal tempering,” Erik grunted as he stood up. Now, just moving took a lot out of him.

“You good?” Rugrat asked.

“Never better. Let’s make sure the Beast Mountain Range is still standing.”

***

“What?” Old Quan yelled into the silence of the room, his eyes were bulging as he looked at the two unassuming men sitting on the opposite couch.

He seemed to remember where he was and his position as the head of the Beast Mountain Range Consortium as he closed his mouth and his face paled.

“Masters I didn’t mean…,” He bowed his head quickly, cold sweat appearing on his face. “I am sorry for my outburst!”

“Don’t worry, shits about to hit the fan. Though, you look capable, and from the reports you’re reliable. At the very least you’re wrapped in so many oaths to us that you’re not going to give anything away,” Rugrat said calmly with a wolf-smile.

Old Quan gulped he didn’t see the expression but he could feel it.

Lord Aditya had more exposure to the two men, but he knew their actual identities. Old Quan would have had a heart attack, if he knew he was talking to the leaders of Alva, not just two ‘trainers’.

“Hey you listening to me?” Elise said raising her hand in front of him as she kept reading through the information on the desk. Evernight was on her other side, passing her information and reports.

Aditya cleared his throat, quickly avoiding looking at the four people that were standing behind Erik and Rugrat sitting on the couch.

Elise pulled out a list from her jacket.

“Send riders and guards to the people on these lists, their children have enrolled in your consortium. Make sure that your people are seen and make sure that they’re strong. There might be people that want to make you look weak. Show the First Realm to not underestimate the Beast Mountain Military.”

Aditya took the list, he knew many of the names.If it was even a year ago he would have been much like Old Quan.

“I will see to it.” Aditya pulled out his sound transmission device, passing orders.

“Please rise,” Erik said. Old Quan looked across at them, still pale as death.

Erik repeated what Rugrat had said.

“You will be part of an accelerated program. You will be with several other trainees. In one month you will be trained to the standard of a soldier in the Fourth Realm. In the First Realm, that kind of power would allow you to rule any nation you wanted. Several teachers have been selected from your people. They will be raised up to the low journeyman level in skill. Alvan teachers will join them. If your teachers aren’t good enough, they will be replaced until they can reach an acceptable standard. Your teachers will be ready within one week.”

Old Quan was stunned.

“Elise, did you tell Aditya?” Erik asked.

Aditya looked up from the messages he was sending.

“Set up a training rota for people to visit Alva for training. Use them as a secret reserve force, if there is an emergency,” Elise said flipping through a new report. “Your income has tripled and you have a great amount of support it seems. I just hope it is enough to pull people in to be your allies.”

Elise turned to Erik and Rugrat.

“Can we give allies a beneficial rate to trade with us?”

“Vet them through Evernight first. if you think it will help, do it,” Erik stood. “Old Quan, you have an hour to make sure your affairs are in order.”

Things are moving quickly. Already there are reports of stronger beasts appearing. We are scrambling people to watch and keep the routes clear. The Range is in chaos. A new dungeon appearing. Aditya used his sound transmission device, it wasn’t his job to question, just to carry out his orders, grow the Beast Mountain Range’s power and cover for Alva.

Things were simpler when I was just some outpost lord. Less exciting, but simpler.