SoK Chapter 213 (Patreon)

“Hey, TJ, I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but Gus here’s actually fucking insane.” Sarah‘s speech pulled TJ from looking at the prisoner from where he was momentarily surrounded by TJ‘s followers. They’d gone to the temple, since that was the best place they could think of to keep an eye on a prisoner for now, but they had no dungeon. Even if they did, anybody at Gus’s level would be able to easily rip through everything holding them back, and TJ weren’t willing to spend what few valuable materials the community had to create a prison.

“Yes, anybody can tell.” TJ replied. “The question is, why the hell did Sven break his follower? It doesn’t seem to me like there’s any reason to do it, so was it an accident and they haven’t been able to fix it? Or is it something to do with his path? On the other hand, it’s possible that Gus just lost his mind. I don’t have any damn answers, and to make things worse, Raya is obviously terrified of ‘the Heaven Devouring Serpent’. So, what little we’ve learned is that even his second in command thinks that Sven is unstable, and he’s apparently able to change people’s Classes. In short, it doesn’t bode well and, in terms of information, we’ve got very little to go off.”

“So you’re just gonna run away?” Sarah demanded, incredulous.

“Don’t question me.” TJ’s voice was deadly quiet, and the mere suggestion that his follower would question him brought up a fury he himself could barely believe. He fought to tamp it down to limited effect, continuing, “I’m saying that there are things we don’t understand going on here, and I want to understand them, not that I would retreat. Do you think I would abandon the seat of my power due to cowardice?”

“No.“ Sarah‘s voice was confident as she said it.

“Good.” TJ nodded, finally able to let most of the rage bleed away. “You are my Valkyrie. Where others may falter and give in to fear, you must persist stronger than ever. Where another may weep, you exult. Where another flees, you stand strong.”

Sarah smiled, seemingly forgetting her impertinence. After a moment's hesitation, TJ finally mastered himself and his stupidly prideful Bloodline to similarly discount what she had said. Instead of pointless pride, now was a time for unity, and beyond that, she’d always been loyal.

“We will not run, and we will not escape.” TJ began to address the entirety of his small community. “I will not submit. If you lack the spine to confront those who would make themselves our enemies, then find your spine in me, the Nascent Storm Serpent. If you wonder why it is that I stand and fight, remember the small oppressions that were brought up upon you for your unwillingness to accept small tyrannies. If you weren’t considered loyal enough, you were oppressed, your items stolen, your opportunities for growth strangled. Remember that that treatment will return, but in greater force, if we lose. Sven, a boy barely out of his teenage years, will make himself king and tyrant over you. 

“Some may consider me the same, but remember, I have offered myself not as your king or your petty ruler, but instead as a god who will walk among and before you, leading the way, and protecting you from monsters, Bosses, and now others who would subjugate you. You have chosen to follow me, and I have chosen and will continue to choose to protect you. Prepare yourselves, because we do not know the day that our enemies will decide to fall upon us. Follow me, and find victory!”

The faint nerves that had spread among his people were calmed somewhat at his words, and cheers of support rose among the dozens of people before him. TJ raised a hand, ready to address the elephant in the room.

“Sven has spread his influence among thousands now, and I can guarantee that he will leverage their numbers and power against us. When the time comes, I will require you all to fight for your lives and your survival. I will draw every last dreg from the temple to keep you alive, I will grant my Awakening to every individual possible, I will protect and guide and lead you. All I ask is dedication and a willingness to confront the dangers ahead of you.”

Varying levels of dedication flashed on the people’s faces, though those who’d been in his Tutorial were stoic and determined, even Tessie, whose face was twisted not in fear but in unhappiness. No fear flashed in their faces, instead a belief in his abilities that he was convinced he didn’t deserve. Not yet, at least. 

“For now, we’ll live the same as always, but there will be no people sent below. Any hunting that takes place will be among the weakest monsters we have access to, because we’ll need to make sure that we’re all at the peak of our abilities whenever it is that the fight begins. If you have any questions, direct them to me. If not, stay strong, and before long, we’ll show the world that the Nascent Storm Serpent is not to be trifled with.”

As soon as TJ said it, he nodded to his people, and though fear was obvious in multiple faces, resolution was also apparent. With his people as prepared as they could be for now, TJ stepped down from his temple, and nobody asked him immediate questions. A couple whispers went up, but now that everybody was Copper-tiered themselves, everybody around knew just how difficult it was to actually keep something secret while near others. Instead of mentioning any worries, they began planning what they would do.

“You better have the strongest people getting Awakening every time.” Sarah said, falling in step beside him. “We don’t need the people who are just barely Copper getting the boost when people like Sam and Mimi, who’ve really pushed hard to get better, end up getting left behind. You’ll need to prioritize the highest levelled, most competent people.”

“I know.” TJ answered. “My focus will be on the people who will make the greatest difference in the fight. For now, I'm going to get you and a couple others hooked up through Ritualistic Transfer with Gus to the temple. Start draining his resources, putting all the excess into the temple, and I’ll be back soon.”

“We’re going to kill him? Seems pretty fuckin’ dark to start with ritual sacrifice before there’s officially any war happening.” Sarah said. She didn’t seem to hesitate over said darkness, but instead, she was just clarifying with a casual tone. TJ couldn’t help but note how some of his followers, those newest members of the community, perked up and listened for his response to that.

“No, we’re not going to kill anybody right now,” TJ corrected, “but instead we’re going to drain him down to where he’s not a threat and we can take his resources to use against people who will attack us. We don’t know his Skills, and I doubt he’s about to share them. Do not kill him.” TJ reemphasized.

“No death, got it.” Sarah noted as she walked alongside TJ. “Where are you going?”

“Well, we have an ally that’s been wanting to eat humans for a while. I wasn’t willing to let him get at any potential allies, but… if there’re people who are coming here to try to kill us, I figure he wouldn’t mind having a good rainy day to sate some of that hunger.” TJ answered.

Sarah smiled as she laughed. “Yeah, that’s not a bad idea. What if people focus on him before he shows up for the fight, though?”

“Then he was too stupid to keep himself hidden until a perfect opportunity. So, for now,” TJ shrugged, “I’ll go talk to him and see if the Ahuizotl is willing to work with us.”

“I wouldn’t bet against him working with us.”

“Me neither.” TJ agreed before he continued, “But it’s not like you have any money to pay anyways. What would you give, some of your equipment?” TJ scoffed.

“I don’t know, probably earlier access to Michelle. I’m pretty close to getting my turn for some equipment from her.“

TJ shrugged and finished the conversation before he went to Gus, who sat on the ground with his arms around his knees. He rocked back and forth, still muttering to himself, and TJ picked him up and carried him to the top of his temple. Sarah, as well as most of TJ‘s highest level followers, stepped into their ritual circles on the second tier, and TJ began casting Ritualistic Transfer.

As soon as he began, Gus went from nearly catatonic to a struggling madman, and TJ‘s stomach twisted as, with Gus’s terror, he was reminded of just how horrifying what he was about to do was. He couldn’t understand how he’d fallen so far for this, from a regular man to being willing to subject a man to torture, but he also couldn’t see any other option. They needed to weaken their enemy that was in their camp, they needed to strengthen themselves for his allies to come attack, and they needed to make sure that they didn’t all get slaughtered by a bloodthirsty competitor. So, despite his discomfort, TJ continued channeling the ritual. When it was finally complete, he mentally delegated the control of the Skill to Sarah, who hopped onto the top floor and held Gus down as she pressed her own force of will, as well as that of another dozen people, onto the madman.

Continuing to hear the struggles and terror, he resolutely turned his back and walked towards Tempe Town Lake. The freeway they lived on continued to expand, and TJ jogged forward, even this casual speed greater than anything even the fastest people could manage before the Integration. Before long, he found himself at the lakes shore. He pushed a faint thread of his MP into the water, a long ago decided signal to the massive monster that he was looking to speak with him.

TJ forced his MP to disseminate as far as he could, and after waiting 30 seconds, he did it again. There hadn’t been any established course of action to take beyond putting in the MP, so if Acalan decided to come faster because of his repetition, then that would be great, but if not, TJ would wait for however long he needed to. A couple quick minutes passed, and the water shifted in front of him. TJ took a couple quick steps back, just in case there was a stranger who’d managed to take over the lake, but before long, a familiar face made itself known.

Acalan’s face, a smooshed combination of a human's, a dog’s, and an opossum’s, pushed up through the water. His hands, knuckles gnarled and offputting, supported him as he crawled out of the water. He’d continued to grow over the past weeks, though not as rapidly as TJ’s coatl form had. The monster stood something like 9 feet tall and cocked his head as he looked down at TJ.

hello. good to see you. 

“Hey, Lannie. Good to see you! I have a quick question, are you still looking to… hunt new prey?”

The too-wide mouth spread in a grin, the strangely flat but still sharp teeth bared in a horrifying approximation of a smile.

always hungry. you have new prey?

“I guess you could say that. How’s your ability to control rain?”