Chapter 3 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

Branko Stassov and several other Captains of the Black Phoenix Clan stood around a table, upon it was a rough map, showing the Violet Sky Realm.

Commander Novak stood opposite the captains.

"The area is supposed to have a high density of Ilisa Fruits, each of which can be turned into a pill to temper's one body with the Earth Element. They are rare in the ten realms and if possible we could add them to our gardens to help future generations." He tapped his pointer on a structure sticking out of the forests.

"This is called the treasure hall by many, but it is a land of death. Around the hall hundreds of creatures not normally seen in the ten realms lay asleep. If one uses mana then they will wake up and attack without regard for their injuries, each of them is as strong as someone that has tempered their body with the Metal element and each of their spells causes elemental poisoning which will corrupt your body and make your mana run wild. Many have tried to enter this treasure hall, but have failed."

"What about ship emissions?" One Captain asked.

"They will sense them and attack, they do not possess flight or mana as we can tell, they are just beasts with corrupted elements, but they use the elements with ease and can twist the air to their will and enter warships. Do not pass within two kilometers of this location unless you want to lose your ship."

"Can we not draw them away?" Another asked.

"Once they go a certain distance away from the treasure hall they will turn back and return. Their numbers do not increase, but they are stronger each year."

Where did such creatures come from? Stassov held her tongue, she had barely made it into this meeting, having brought the scourge of Alvans upon their heads.

Novak looked around.

"We must destroy or severly weaken the Sha forces that go to the Violet Sky Realm, our very position is at risk. We need a win. If we can weaken them enough and gain enough prizes then we can divert attention towards the Sha and make other clans and sects think twice about attacking us. If we do not then we will look weak and be open to attacks. In a week the Violet Sky Realm will open, make sure all of your crews are ready."

He nodded and stepped away from the table, the Captains all bowed as he left the room.

Stassov turned and left the lecture hall, her guards headed up by Ranko fell in around her as she left.

Ranko was her only surviving sub-commander that she had gone to Vuzgal with, losing Bela in that cursed place with Gregor her strongest falling in the heart of the newly formed Alva Empire. Gregor's brother Goran had taken Bela's place while Natalya Novak, one of Commander Novak's nieces had defeated all comerst to gain the postion of dungeon hunter aboard the Eternus. Leaving Stassov wary that she was only one step below herself.

Placing her aboard my ship, is she a spy for the commander, or there to take my position in a moment of chaos?

"Will they be there?" Ranko asked.

"We do not know if the Sha has invited them, we will see when everyone assembles at the transition point."

"If you let me."

"I have lost two sub-commanders to the Alvans, I do not need to lose a third from his idiotic actions," She hissed, turning her eyes on him as the weight of her domain smashed him to his knees.

"Listen to me Sobol, we are related by blood so I have given you leeway and freedoms. We are fighting for the existence of our clan, if you cannot do as you are ordered then I have no use for you and you best return to the clan so I can find a new subcommander that will help me in defeating the Sha clans." Her guards had moved around them to create a screen from passerbys.

"I was hasty in my words Captain."

She increased the pressure more before removing it.

"Gather yourself, once we enter the Violet Sky Realm then we go to war with the Sha once again and the commander doesn't want the Marshal coming out alive."

She turned around and marched onwards, seeing him quickly pick himself up and hurry after the group.

The Black Phoenix Clan were on the ropes, they had angered the Alvans, a group that had risen to take control over the Mortal realms and extended their reach into the Earth Realms. While only controlling a mountain range in the first realm and the surrounding area, their alliance's powers pulled sect, clans, traders, fighters and more together. Their schools and recruiting offices were packed with people trying to join. They had taken people from the first realm, turning them into power houses of the Sky Realms, Expert smiths and alchemists, artisans of the cloth and food. Formation masters that created weapons powerful enough to destroy cities and barriers strong enough to rebuff her own Phoenix Breath Cannons.

Their military appeared and disappeared just as quickly, in their path they created sweeping changes.