Chapter 5 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

Erik watched the two men leaf through the information, making their own notes.

Over the last couple of years Glosil had gained a gravitas of a leader and a capable one. His office was utilitarian, tucked into the back of Alva’s command center. The decisisons and position had weighed on him heavily, leaving him with early wrinkles.

Beside him was Elan Silaz, Alva’s spymaster, though some called him the Director of the Intelligence Department. He had eyes and ears everywhere and in most places he shouldn’t.

The two men worked through the information quickly while Erik sat across from them.

Rugrat was at a board in the back of the room, highlighting key points about mana cultivation to George.

Delilah knocked and opened the door, Glosil and Elan looked up and went back to reading.

Erik waved to her, she nodded and walked over to Rugrat, grasping hands as she listened in on his lecture, adding in her tips to George as well.

Erik took the time to check his stat sheet.

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Name: Erik West

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Level: 104

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Race: Human-?

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Titles:

From the Grave III

Blessed By Mana

Dungeon Master V

Reverse Alchemist

Poison Body

Fire Body

Earth Soul

Mana Reborn V

Wandering Hero

Metal Mind, Metal Body

Sky Grade Bloodline

Strength of Water

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Strength: (Base 162) +88

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2750

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Agility: (Base 155) +120

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1650

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Stamina: (Base 165) +105

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4455

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Mana: (Base 647) +134

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8132

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Mana Regeneration (Base 670) +71

475.24/s

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Stamina Regeneration: (Base 302) +99

90.32/s

==========

==========

591,087,147,250,338/1,168,160,000,000,000,000,000 EXP till you reach Level 105

==========

Glosil finished with the last of his papers, picking them up and stacking them, he placed it back into the folder.

Elan finished around the same time.

Delilah walked over and sat in the chair beside Erik’s.

“So?” Erik asked.

“Fucking thing looks more like some academics essay than a battle plan,” Glosil growled and leaned back in his chair.

He rubbed his eyes and pinched his brow, speaking his collected thoughts.

“Mission is to go to the ninth realm, Alvans are going to be used in whatever the Imperium feels fit. They have the right to claim our warships if they think we are not up for the task. Then it gets worse.” He opened his eyes.

“Transition to a totem on one of those teleportation hub islands and basically, attack anything and everything that comes from the Shattered realms.”

“Okay,” Erik said, unsure of the problem with that.

“That’s not a plan, it’s an overall objective, but not a plan. A plan would be, go in, hit the tears with enough mana to destabilize them, clear through the realm in sections, keep hammering the tears so they can’t pull in reinforcements. From there, have the seventh realm forces clear out the remaining shattered in the lower realms, assist with Devourers and then go for the tenth. This is just, the enemy is there and we’re gonna kill them. In flowery fucking language.” He punctuated the last three points with his finger into his armrest.

“There’s not even a plan of how many people are going, what order they will be deploying in, little break down of objectives.” Glosil let out heavy breath, “It’s a fucking mess, sir.”

“Not our plan,” Erik shrugged and looked at Elan.

Elan checked his notes and looked up. “Meeting point is in Cronen, it looks like whoever made up this plan was trying to hide a lot in the details. I find it interesting that there are no clear objectives. Also the wording around the tears and their destruction is selective.”

“So?”

“So, it means that they have not specifically committed to closing all of the tears.”

“Well they have to right?” Delilah asked.

“That is not what my people are saying,” Elan said. “The Imperium head needs to make a name for himself, he needs to make sure the lower realms don’t think he or the Imperium is weak. What is better to show your power than a war?”

“So what? Leave the tears open so that they can fight in the seventh realm with an audience.” Delilah said.

“Yeah.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Imperium is an old organization and they have been away from the public light for a long time. They are from the lower realms, they want those accolades and it makes sense, if they can show how strong they are, then they can get more people to join them and want to go to the higher realms. We all know that the number of people that go past the eighth realm are low and not just because of the trial.” Elan said.

“They’re using it to recruit,” Erik slumped back in their chair.

“And we’re the best target to help them.”

“Target?”

“They have been spreading lies about us to try and reinforce their position. I have reason to believe that they are going to use this offensive to try and take our equipment and throw our people into the places we can’t go. We’re one of the larger forces that can fight in the ninth.”

“Glosil, what are you thinking?” Erik asked.

“That this plan is a pile of crap, too many unknowns and with our allies conspiring against us and we’ve got such a small portion of our forces we can deploy,” Glosil shook his head.

“That good huh?”

“Oh it’s a flaming turd wrapped in a bow.”

“Your recommendation?” Delilah asked.

“We head to the seventh, support the cities that are under siege, take out tears, have the cities stand on their own feet, or head back to key cities to gather strength and push later. Clear out the Shattered region by region. We can deploy most of our forces to the seventh, be a great way for them to increase their overall experience. Then we have a force that can go into the ninth realm and be effective, instead of just scraping out everyone that made it past the trial.” Glosil said.

“And what are the implications, I hear that the associations are moving against some of the smaller sects and clans?” Delilah pointed her question at Elan.

“They have done so but only in extreme cases, they have declared that anyone supporting the defense of the ten realms will be protected, they have had to make several examples. Treated it as if an association location had been attacked.”

“You think that they could do that to us?” Erik asked.

“I don’t think that they would be that bold, but we should start to watch the association locations that we deal with frequently with a closer eye. We are the Imperium head’s favorite bully boy.”

Delilah cleared her throat, breaking the silence.

“Alvans want to do more than sit on the sidelines, I have had several key figures voice such opinions. With the rumors flying around, they want us out on the front and showing people just what we can do.”

Emotions shouldn’t dictate battle,” Glosil shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“I know, but I am a representative of the people, I must follow what they say. I will not put our soldiers lives at risk unless we have clear goals, a clear mission and a way to carry it out and this,” She gestured at the files. “Is not that, so, how can we help, can we support the efforts in the seventh realm?”

“I think it is the best option, we have preliminary plans, but we would need to update them for your approval.”

“What is the expected fallout for telling the Imperium to piss up a tree?” Delilah said.

Rugrat snorted. “She got that one from me.” He had walked up between Erik and Delilah’s chair, and leaned on the back of their chairs with his hands.

“They could create a mess with trade relations with the association. We have backups with our allies. Could mess with our allies and slander campaign against us,” Elan said.

“If we are fighting in the seventh realm then people can see that we’re taking actions and it will mean that the Imperium will look like a child if they throw a fit. Or we will make it look like they are. Elan, I think it would be good to make sure the information we have on the new Imperium targeting us, was to reach our allies ears.” Delilah said.

“You think that is best?” Erik asked.

“We need to get the information in front of them, the facts need to be out before the slander so it falls dead.”

“It could weaken the Imperium’s position and they are defending the tenth, they’re the only force that can.”

“I have to look out for Alva and our people first. If we have traders on the road and then they are attacked because Alvans are traitors to the realms, it is on my head. They want to play with lies, we give the truth. They aren’t going to thank us for taking their hits. The new head made this a power game, straight forward and simple, we will treat them just like any other powerful group in the realms.”

Erik felt into an uneasy silence and shrugged. “I leave the politicking to you all, just give me a mission that isn’t a load of crap.”