“If you knew this, why did you send us?” Nane asked.
“I wanted to test their reaction, but I also wanted you to confirm it if you could. We’ll show that Vuzgal has the ability to maintain this siege indefinitely. Then the Associations could be tempted to mediate the situation.”
“Mediate?”
“Vuzgal creates a lot of profit, items that the Associations want, and training. The Associations may try to cut a deal. They’ll get more from Vuzgal to lift the siege. Then they pay off the Sects, get an agreement in place, and things will return to how they were before.”
“Will the Sects go with it?”
“Yes, they will get concessions from the associations. Something to make up for their losses and more. They won’t be looking over their shoulders for counterattack, either.”
“Though Vuzgal would still lose something,” Nane said.
“Of course. Vuzgal is the lonely island with little in the way of support to call upon. They might be able to get the Blue Lotus and the Alchemist Association to lessen their terms, but they’ll want something. It is best for them as well because the Sects will not be able to attack them in the future.” Klaus sighed.
“What do you think will happen, Branch Head?” Nane asked.
“That remains to be seen.” Klaus crossed his arms. “The Willful Institute needs a win here to turn the tides in the lower realms. Vuzgal needs to show their strength to secure their position.”
“I think they might have done that with the last attack.”
“Ten thousand dead, seven thousand wounded, only one thousand made it out, somehow, without losing a limb.” Klaus felt the sun on his back, but inside he was as cold as the rain clouds that hung in front of Vuzgal. The association had learned much about their hosts and the sects that fought them.
40
Moving Pieces
“To think that all this was built in a single night. It is impressive what our sects are able to do together!” the bejeweled Sect Elder whose name Elder Kostic had not spent the time to learn, said.
“It is a grand achievement. Now the enemy cowers behind their walls and in their boxes.”
“Walls! Hah, they have but those odd metal things. Their walls are barely five meters tall!”
The larger sect elder got the laughter of the others as they perused the food that had been laid out for them. They looked at the updated maps which dotted the room and peered through viewing glasses at the waiting city.
Groups of sect elders floated around the room, introducing different leaders and fighters they had brought with them, tightening sect ties. And showing others why they shouldn’t think about attacking them, Kostic thought wryly.
Marco found Kostic as he bowed to the group of sect elders that had engaged him.
“I am sorry, but we must talk on sect-related matters,” Low Elder Kostic said as he indicated to Marco to lead.
He bowed his head to the elders in the room, who returned the gesture, before leading Kostic down the corridor to a guarded room.
The door closed as Kostic’s smile dampened. “The Head is eager to hear how things have progressed here. Several groups wish to ally with us.”
“Vuzgal will be tough. I cannot guarantee anything right now. I will need greater support if we want to get to their walls.”
Marco told Kostic about the defenses.
“I think it would be best to rope people into alliances now, before they realize it could take months to take the city or even years if we do not get support from the powers in the higher realms.”
“Years?”
“Vuzgal had a population of nearly eight hundred thousand. There are seven thousand soldiers, maybe fifty thousand people inside Vuzgal right now. They have massive stores of supplies, the ability to grow food, and have crafters to make weapons. The crafter dungeon alone will keep them well stocked.”
“You think that seven thousand can hold us back?” He sounded amused.
“Yes. I think that if we were to go face-to-face with them, there would be no contest. But the fight here will not be on the ground, it will be in the air. Whoever gains air superiority wins. A rush on the ground will leave dead and dying in such numbers that the other sects won’t stomach the losses.”
“Press them for mounted aerial forces and spell scrolls.”
“That would be for the best. If the aerial forces can harass the city, that will open a gap in their defenses. If the Vuzgalians are beaten back on their front lines so they can’t attack, we can advance our fighters into the enemy lands.”
Kostic needed to gather more forces from the other sects to support Marco. Else, this campaign would fall apart. All Oskar Elsi had achieved was to get his people within the city imprisoned. And guide us down paths for the Vuzgalians to attack us.
“Elder Kostic,” Oskar Elsi greeted as he entered the office. A compound had been turned over to the Willful Institute, to act as their headquarters closer to Vuzgal.
“Elder Elsi.” Kostic indicated to the couches, giving the man behind Oskar a questioning glance.
“This is Commander Lovak of the mortal realm’s armies.”
“Elder Kostic.” The commander bowed deeply, coming up slowly.
“Oh.” Elder Kostic drew out the word as he sat; Oskar followed a moment later. Commander Lovak stood behind them, a silent statue.
“So, what is it that you wish to talk about?” Kostic pulled his eyes from Lovak.
“I am sorry that I was not a greater help at the beginning of the campaign. The Vuzgalians have kept much a secret from all of us.”
Kostic waved his hands. “You provided passage through the totem and the mountains. It was no small deed.”
“Thank you, Elder Kostic; you honor me. You see, I have always admired the Willful Institute. Your ability with mana gathering cultivation is impressive in the extreme. We body cultivators are many in the lower realms, but it is hard for us to progress further. I share these problems with the rest of the Stone Fist Sect.”
Kostic glanced at Lovak, again deciphering Oskar’s words. It was true that mana gathering cultivation was a faster way to gain strength in the Earth Realms. In the Mortal Realms, there were few resources, so hurting oneself to temper their body was easier. But Oskar was speaking of the Stone Fist Sect, not just his clan, and he had brought someone from outside who must be closely aligned with the sect or else he would quickly lose his power.
“The lower realms are indeed a headache these days,” Kostic ventured.
“Surely, as friends, we could help one another?”
Support in the lower realms? Kostic’s mind turned it over, and he extended his senses toward Lovak.
Body Like Iron in the mortal realms. There was a strong earth presence about him as well. He hadn’t reached Body Like Sky Iron yet. He was the commander, but Body Like Stone must be common and there would be plenty of leaders with Body Like Iron.
Kostic turned to Oskar. “You have an offer?”
“Friends helping one another. The Stone Fist Sect will support your cities in the lower realms. We have a great number of friends that would be honored to assist the Willful Institute in clearing out these pretenders in the lower realms and take a chunk of their flesh as well. We just hope that the fine Willful Institute will take some of our talented youth and teach them mana gathering.” Oskar sat back comfortably in his chair. “I hear that cultivation in body and in mana is highly sought after. Our heritage and knowledge has extended to the Body Like Diamond level.”
“While we hold the enemy at our gates, would it not hurt them more to hit their cities?” Kostic put forward.
“Indeed, Elder Kostic has a brilliant mind!”
Maybe Oskar wasn’t as useless as he thought. They could gain access to their body cultivation heritages, and the support of their armies in the lower realms as well.
Kostic pulled out a tea set. “Elder Elsi, please have some of my personal Fuchen mind-calming tea. It comes directly from the Sixth Realm and
is a great elixir for assisting in their cultivation and rejuvenating the mind and body!”
“Elder Kostic, you are too gracious!”
Ringing and lights filled Erik’s pod. He opened his eyes, letting his mana settle. The density around him dwindled, breaking his concentration.
Something must have happened.
He studied his elemental core. It had become denser since he got in the pod. His mana core had achieved the vapor stage.
He checked the litany of notifications.
==========
Quest Completed: Mana Cultivation 2
==========
The path to cultivating one’s mana is not easy. To stand at the top, one must forge their own path forward.
==========
Requirements:
Reach Vapor Mana Core
==========
Rewards:
+20 to Mana
+20 to Mana Regeneration
+50,000,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest: Mana Cultivation 3
==========
The path to cultivating one’s mana is not easy. To stand at the top, one must forge their own path forward.
==========
Requirements:
Reach Liquid Mana Core
==========
Rewards:
+40 to Mana
+40 to Mana Regeneration
+500,000,000 EXP
==========
==========
Skill: Alchemy
Level: 95 (Expert)
==========
Able to identify 1 effect of the ingredient.
Ingredients are 5% more potent.
When creating concoctions, mana regeneration increases by 20%
==========
==========
You have reached Level 67.
When you sleep next, you will be able to increase your attributes by: 5 points.
==========
==========
254,487,951/ 547,100,000 EXP till you reach Level 68
==========
==========
Name: Erik West
==========
Level: 67
Race: Human-?
==========
Titles:
From the Grave II
Blessed By Mana
Dungeon Master V
Reverse Alchemist
Poison Body
Fire Body
City Lord III
Earth Soul
Mana Reborn
Wandering Hero
Metal Mind, Metal Body
Earth Grade Bloodline
==========
Strength: (Base 90) +53
1501
==========
Agility: (Base 83) +80
937
==========
Stamina: (Base 93) +35
2016
==========
Mana: (Base 37) +94
1336
==========
Mana Regeneration (Base 60) +61
76.02
==========
Stamina Regeneration: (Base 162) +59
47.46
==========
Erik opened his eyes. The medics and Storbon stood outside the pod. He grabbed the handholds, and the pod rotated upward and opened.
“Report.” Erik looked at Storbon over the medics who moved to check him.
“The enemy sects used teleportation formations to set up nine camps in front of Vuzgal. They have attacked five times. Each attack has ended in failure. They appear to be feints. Elan has information that they are seeking out support from the different sects in the way of aerial forces and spell scrolls.”
“Attack from the sky.”
“Yes.”
“How long have they been under siege?”
“One week.”
“Reserves?”
“I sent all of the First Division and the newly graduated soldiers out. Another two divisions are being trained currently.
“Otherwise?”
“The kingdoms have started to move in the First Realm. The Willful Institute has not appeared, but civilians are fleeing the Beast Mountain Range.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing major.”
“What are we doing?”
“Glosil has ordered the special teams to King’s Hill. Niemm will remain with the Adventurer’s Guild. You have battlefield command. If needed, you can turn over to Colonel Yui, who will be ready to deploy his regiment within eight hours.”
The needles came out of Erik’s arm. The holes left by them pushed out drops of blood as they healed completely.
Clean.
A wave of mana ran over Erik’s body, refreshing him.
“How long have I been out?”
“Ten days.”
“Okay, the blood?”
“All good. You supplied so much that the alchemists were working on everything but the revival potions.”
“Good. There are other things we need like the buffing potions as well. Do we have numbers on the kingdoms?”
“Each army is about fifteen to twenty thousand strong with core troops, with around five thousand mercenaries. At least two people to support each fighter.”
“Armies of twenty-five thousand with fifty thousand camp followers and a massive supply route back to their lands. I love supply routes instead of people just bringing all their shit in a storage ring,” Erik said as he started to get dressed. “Anything else?”
“Hearing noise with the Stone Fist Sect. A bunch have joined the Willful Institute to fight Vuzgal. There are rumors that even if they don’t take the city, they will get a share of the city’s holdings. The Blue Lotus and Alchemist Association have sent you a message.”
Storbon held out a scroll.
“Read it.” Erik buttoned up his shirt.
“They offer to lead the negotiations against the sects. They do not want to take anything, just continue the relationship. They will do all they can to get rid of the sects.”
“Rugrat’s response?”
“He hasn’t made any. He wanted to leave it to you. Said you knew them better.”
Erik paused. If they took the deal, they would lose some of their power. And they will figure out our secrets soon enough, so it won’t matter. Everyone will come for us.
“Who is it from?”
“Elder Lu Ru.”
A good man in a bad situation. Erik already knew that Old Hei was behind the Alchemist Association’s message. He sent them a silent thanks. Even before they were using their status as honorable elders to save as many of them as possible, they were part of something much larger. Their hands were tied. The Willful Institute had greater reach, more locations. Vuzgal was just one place. Of course, they would side with them. But we have the opportunity to prove we can hold what we have, which allows the Associations the power to step in and leverage between the two groups.
“We cannot agree to anything other than them leaving. Those are our conditions. We will not attack the other sects if they retreat. But we will make no such agreement with the Willful Institute. That is it,” Erik decided.
Yao Meng jotted down notes.
“Check with Commander Glosil to see if he would like Rugrat to write the message in such a way as to piss the sects off.”
Yao Meng paused.
“Based on the defensive plans I saw and the fact they’re trying to pull aerial forces together, they’ll come out worse on the other side. We piss them off, draw them into a fight and hammer the shit out of them.”
Yao Meng kept writing.
“So, King’s Hill?” Storbon asked.
“Yes, I think it’s about time I met with these outpost leaders and took things in hand. If Colonel Yui is free, get him to join us.”
Flames appeared as wisps around Erik, twisting into beasts curling around his hands and arms, happy to be close to their master. They moved around his clothes without burning
them. Mana blades flew around his other arm without cutting a hair.
“Good.” He dismissed the spells and tied his boots. “Let’s get going. No time like the present. How long till the kingdoms reach the outposts?”
“A week.”
“Plenty of time. Make sure Aditya knows to expect us.”
Erik pulled out his vest and threw it on. then pulled up its front flap, securing the undone side and slapping it back down.
Tian Cui opened the door for him as he looked out at the cultivation pod rooms.
The other special team members, seeing Erik armor up, were pulling out their vests, tightening their gloves, and clipping on their helmets.
Erik kept walking, testing out the new limits to his body. He had finally consolidated Diamond Body. There was None of that weird disconnect where he felt like there was more power just out of reach. It was slowly coming back. He wondered if he could make use of the parts in his title yet, beast transformation and such.
Erik pushed the thought away. He didn’t have time to fuck with new things; It was best to use tried, tested and true.
Erik’s sound transmission device shook. He quickly read it.
“Change of plans. Off to the Dungeon Headquarters. The Council has called a meeting.”
Delilah took her seat at the head of the council table. Blaze was still off fighting the Willful Institute in the other realms; same with the Silaz brothers and Rugrat. Elise had just come back from across the realms. Jia Feng looked tired. Her student population had just switched into soldiers. The teaching staff had poured as much information into their heads as possible in a short period.
She studied Erik, who sat at her side, looking for any signs of harm.
Teacher, you are too much! Turning yourself into an alchemy cauldron to make more revival potions out of your blood! You could have hurt yourself.
Some of her thoughts must’ve leaked through her eyes as Erik winced and ducked his head.
She turned to glare at Rugrat, who grinned, making her blush and look away.
Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8) Page 46