“So, uniting the outposts?” Old Quan asked.
“That was his idea. Most of this is his idea. We have been supporting him from the shadows. Pretty impressive, really,” Evernight said.
“What do you want with the Beast Mountain Range?” Old Quan’s casual attitude was gone.
“Not much, really. We need a way to operate in the First Realm without being seen, and for a long time now, we have been. We recruited people from the First Realm, from Vermire, and throughout the Beast Mountain Range and beyond. We want good people who are loyal. Think of us like a big mercenary group. We want to entice people to join us.”
“And what do you do with them?”
“We give them a place to expand their horizons and provide opportunities they never even thought about.” Evernight released a seal. Aditya could feel her power swelling, reaching higher and higher.
Old Quan seemed shaken. “You’re more than four times stronger than me, at least.”
“I swear on the Ten Realms with my life that the power I work for only wants to give the people who we recruit an opportunity to join us and increase their power and abilities,” Evernight said. The power of the Ten Realms descended upon her. Nothing happened as it faded away.
“Bit extreme,” Aditya said, as he started to calm down.
Evernight rolled her eyes, and Aditya snorted.
Old Quan stared at them both, at a loss.
“I have to borrow Old Quan for a few days. Will that be okay?” Evernight said.
“What for?”
“Well, if he’s going to run the consortium, he should know what he is teaching people and see some proof, no?” Evernight said.
“I haven’t seen these schools or people, other than the fighters and healers from the power behind you, but he gets to see it by just signing a contract?” Aditya complained.
“Don’t worry. When the rulers come back from their adventure, they will want to meet with you.” Evernight smiled and then glanced over to Old Quan.
He seemed to have recovered a little bit.
“No wonder you were able to raise yourself up so quickly. While you had greater resources, you’re still the man I have come to know, and I can see how much trust you’re putting in me. All right, let’s take a look at this power of yours, miss.”
“I like him—up for an adventure.” Evernight smiled and moved to a bookcase. A formation activated and the bookcase opened, revealing a ladder below.
“See you soon,” Aditya said.
They disappeared and the bookcase closed.
Aditya opened his door. “Have Pan Kun come and see me, please,” he told his guards.
“Yes, my lord.” They bowed, and one ran off.
Pan Kun arrived shortly afterward, taking a seat opposite Aditya. After his training, he was less rowdy and seemed to have channeled his energy, creating a hyper-focused fighter.
“I saw your report on banditry and the beasts in the area. What is happening with that?” Aditya asked.
“The bandits come from various groups. Some are people who had ran from the outposts. Others are groups with plots on Vermire. More are just criminals who came to the Beast Mountain Range to hide in the mountains and forests.”
“I heard that you personally led an attack yesterday?” Aditya asked.
“We have been following a group of bandits who have been attacking different caravans. Using trackers, we were able to find their base. We took down the camp. Those who survived were pulled back in chains to be workers or put to death, depending upon their crimes.”
“What about the victims?”
“None of the groups under our protection were attacked, but ten percent of the value of materials recovered will be passed to the victims of the group and paid to people who were able to give us information about the bandits,” Pan Kun said.
“Kill those who have to be killed, and bind the ones who become our laborers with oaths. I do not want to give them any chance to escape. They will be an example to others: Bandits are seeking their own downfall in the Beast Mountain Range, though we will not question one’s background if they want to join a group of mercenaries. Clearing the Beast Mountain Range is good, honest work,” Aditya said.
“I have made sure that the message is passed along. I am sure our masters have pushed out the information themselves.”
“What do you think of these new beasts appearing?” Aditya asked.
“They’re tougher. Not hard for the army to deal with, but they’ll challenge the mercenaries. The materials and resources one can get from them are impressive. New danger zones have been created as there are different animals moving around. Was it on the part of our masters?”
“Evernight had said that they put out some items that would increase the growth rate of the beasts. With the low population over the last few years and with so much space, the beasts are making a comeback. I think their new average power will be higher than previously.” Aditya shrugged.
“What if we were to tame some of them?”
“Tame some of them?” Aditya said.
“If we have some beasts to move through the forests, we can deploy the army faster, have better supply lines, and they can even assist us in battle,” Pan Kun said.
“Not even the powerful armies surrounding us are able to field their own legions with beasts,” Aditya said.
“Their biggest issue is supplies. There are elite troops that have beasts under their command, but housing and feeding them costs a lot. They are in cities and towns; we are in the Beast Mountain Range. We can buy supplies for beasts a lot cheaper or gather them easily enough. Finding and raising the beasts and then taming them is the hardest part.”
“When is your next handoff?” Aditya said.
“We are sending the next batch of advanced trainees in a week.” Pan Kun smiled.
“Don’t look so damn eager.”
Pan Kun’s scowl turned into a grin, his serious air dissipating somewhat. “We’re all in the same boat. You know, I think you’ve offended the right people.”
Aditya rolled his eyes and groaned, and Pan Kun chuckled.
“Well, Evernight should be back before then. I’ll ask her about it. Giving me more work to do!”
“You always seem to survive.”
“I heard you’re seeing a lady?” Aditya asked.
“News travels fast around here. I had her looked into.”
“Come on—and you didn’t tell me?” Aditya hit the man’s shoulder.
“Well, you know, it’s early days,” Pan Kun said.
“If you went and got her checked out, you’re hoping it goes longer,” Aditya said.
Pan Kun coughed. He didn’t look like the stern commander who had walked into Aditya’s office.
“I was right! Come on, tell me about her.”
“Well, she’s a healer. She was one of the people who had helped me with my eye.”
“A healer? From way back? You are playing the long game there, my friend!”
“Well, she was busy, and I was busy. Then one night, I saw her, and I asked her if she would like to get a meal. She agreed, and we went out. We talked for hours, and then, well, we kept seeing each other.” Pan Kun shrugged.
Aditya laughed and pushed his friend’s shoulder again.
“Well, I hope it all goes well. Don’t mess up!” Aditya said.
“Thanks, man,” Pan Kun said dryly as Aditya gave him a wide smile.
“Fuck this place, fuck these realms, fuck these people, and fuck this goddamn swamp!” Campbell waved his hands to get the stinking swamp mud off him.
“Come on, Doc. We need to keep moving,” Kanoa, a heavyset, dark man said, his eyes moving across the forest.
A bird whistle came from behind the group. Kanoa felt a spike of adrenaline and left the others to assist Campbell out of the swamp. He checked his crossbow and knelt, looking to the other vets and half-trained fighters he’d gathered.
They spread out, moving into the tree line. Kanoa
kneeled in a ditch, ignoring the water freezing his knees. The Ten Realms might suck balls, but at least I was able to heal my knees.
He let out a series of musical whistles once they were set.
It wasn’t long until he heard pounding feet on the ground.
Sung, a tired-looking man, rode down the road on a horse. He looked like a bag of shit and his horse looked drained, but there was determination in his eyes.
He brought his horse to a halt, and Kanoa got out of the ditch to greet him.
“Looks like the mercenaries are coming. We need to get moving.”
“How long do we have?” Kanoa checked behind them.
“A day or two, maybe?”
“If we can get to the outposts at the Beast Mountain Range, we can use the traders there to move around, confuse them. There are people coming in from all across the First Realm—be hard to track us in that,” Badowska said.
Kanoa stared at his group, fifty-four people in total. They had wandered the First Realm, finding other people from Earth. They’d banded together, common allies.
Queen Ikku had found out about their group, strange clothes, and spells, and she had sent her people to capture them. She wanted to own them, get them to tell her everything, so she could use what they knew to grow her power. They were nothing but tools here, too low level to do anything but run.
He had sixteen veterans from various branches and militaries; some of them had been currently serving. The civvies were all skilled in one area or another—they had teachers, doctors, and construction workers. Thirty-eight more of them. If they joined another empire or group, they would be used by them, little more than slaves. Kanoa and the others wanted to get away from the system, make something akin to what they had back on Earth. Kanoa had started running two years ago, and he hadn’t stopped. He had reached level eleven using a crossbow and his sword, killing people and beasts, but it wasn’t enough to push him any higher.
2
Sixth Realm Position
Delilah arrived in the Third Realm. The special team guided her through the press of people.
They diverged like a river meeting a rock around Captain Khasar, and people looked over in awe, seeing the carriage bearing the seal of the division leader.
Delilah’s group headed over. All of them wore hoods and had different techniques and spells that altered their appearances. Delilah thought that Gong Jin was being paranoid, but she gave in to the man. He had been the second-in-command of Special Team Two, but with the influx of trained special team members, he now controlled his own special team. He had matured quickly. Even though he was the same age as her, she felt that he was like a deep ocean: calm on the outside but with hidden deadly currents just below the surface. It was hard for anyone to become a special team member and stay there.
“Isn’t that Captain Khasar? Isn’t he in charge of protecting the division head? Just who is the VIP to get him to come down to the totem?” people whispered.
Delilah’s group reached Captain Khasar. He bowed deeply to her and opened a carriage door. The group got into the carriage. He followed Gong Jin and Delilah into the second carriage.
“Who are they to get this kind of treatment?” someone asked as the door closed behind Captain Khasar.
“Good to see you again, Captain.” Delilah pulled down her hood and smiled.
“And you, too, Miss Ryan,” Khasar said. He smiled and glanced over to Gong Jin.
“Gong Jin, leader of her protection detail,” he said bluntly.
“You have very capable protectors.” Khasar looked over Gong Jin. “I am Captain Khasar, in charge of Master Alchemist Hei Zen. I know I speak for him and myself when I ask you to keep Miss Ryan safe.”
“Don’t worry, nothing will happen to her while I am alive.” Gong Jin gave him a thin smile that wasn’t really a smile, grasping Khasar’s hand and shaking it.
“Old Hei is finally heading to the higher realms?” Delilah asked.
“Yes, he got the news not long ago. You know how he is. He doesn’t want to make a big thing of it. He will quietly leave and let his replacement take his position.”
“Another Expert-level alchemist has appeared in the Third Realm?”
“They are sending someone down from higher. They want them to get more experience, and Old Hei’s contributions and ability means that he’ll be welcomed with open arms into the Sixth Realm academies,” Khasar said.
“You will go with him?”
“That is my job. I’ll have to increase my Strength if I want to keep protecting him past that. We are taking on new guards who are much stronger than my people. Honestly, we all are going to get an immense amount of resources and help from the Alchemist Association, though we will need to pass their test to make sure that we can remain his guards.”
“You ready for it?”
“Yes. Old Hei said that he will support us and has been making all kinds of pills to help us increase our Mana and Body Cultivation. If we can’t make it to the standard the Alchemist Association requires with the help of a Master Alchemist, well, then, it is not meant to be,” Khasar said.
They made idle chit-chat before they reached the headquarters. Khasar and his people led the way, and the special team scanned the area. They wore masks, and their black cloaks hid their identity.
Delilah left them at the door to Old Hei’s personal quarters.
She walked in, seeing Old Hei working with Feng Fen, his assistant. They were going over papers and talking in low tones.
Feng Fen looked up and quickly dismissed himself, closing the door behind him.
“You think that you can get away without saying goodbye?” Delilah pouted.
“It is the Sixth Realm. I am sure that I will see you there if you decide to go,” Old Hei said.
Looks like he saw through my levels a long time ago, Delilah thought.
Old Hei continued, “I will need to stop in the Fifth Realm for some resources, increase my cultivation, and confirm my personnel before I head to the Sixth Realm. Once there, I will become a professor, teaching micro-Alchemy and focusing on the small things that an alchemist should take into account when they are refining their concoctions.” Old Hei’s face nearly split in two with his smile and the fire in his eyes.
“Congratulations.” Delilah clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
“Is there a need to do that anymore between us?” Old Hei stood and came around the table to lift her back up.
“You are my grand teacher, and you’ve helped raise me to the level of Expert. You have cared for me and spared no cost. I owe you so much. This is the least I can do. You won’t accept any gifts from me!” she half-complained.
Old Hei closed his mouth, the corners still pulled up in a smile as the creases of his eyes pinched together in joy.
“Teaching you and Erik has been one of my greatest pleasures. I only hope that I can teach more people and see how far they will reach.”
He took out two pill bottles and passed them to Delilah. “Take these. The first pills are Mana Condensing. They will allow you to increase your Mana Cultivation rapidly. The second are the Soul Revival pills. The power will seep into your bones. If you are attacked and gravely wounded, they will allow you to reach a new peak in power to escape and hold your wounds together. You will still need to heal, but it will give you time to get away—about four days—though your wounds will be worse at the end of that period. One for you, one for Erik.”
Delilah looked at the Master-level pills with apprehension. She didn’t want to take advantage of Old Hei but there was no way he would let her refuse these.
“Thank you, Old Hei,” Delilah said, moved by his generosity.
“Here is the information of where you can find me in the Sixth Realm.”
She smiled and took the slip of paper and pill bottles.
“Good! Now, do you have some of that food?” Old Hei grinned.
She laughed and pulled out a small plate of food. She had personally requested all o
f Old Hei’s favorites from Kanesh Academy’s Expert-level cooks.
Old Hei took a deep breath of the piping-hot buns. “Truly, the cooks have us alchemists beat!” He laughed, and they moved to his favorite spot on the balcony.
Delilah pulled out more plates of food before serving tea and sitting down.
“I wish Erik were here. He’s been gone for, what, seven months now?”
“Nearly that long. I hope he’s back soon,” Delilah said. If something happened…
“Erik and Rugrat are tough rocks. Be hard for them to crack and fall,” Old Hei said. It seemed he had seen right through her anxieties.
“I do wonder what they’re up to.” Old Hei sipped his tea and looked out over the Division Headquarters, as if his eyes could pierce through the stars and reach the Sixth Realm.
3
Across Dungeon Lands
Storbon and his people stopped off to the side of the road that led into the outpost.
“Up ahead is Knugrith. It is one of the smallest outposts. There is not much of value here other than the green-gold tree, a type of tree that can be harvested to make paper that’s great material to create mana scrolls with. We have brought you this far; where you go from here is your decision. You have looted items from the tower. It should be enough to start you off.”
Their faces were filled with thanks. Most of them looked as if they were ready to collapse right there.
“Thank you, thank you for everything,” a man, Arthur, said as he held onto his boy. The pair bowed their heads.
“I don’t know if the people who captured you will be looking for you now that the orcs have disappeared. I would suggest that you start a new life, one away from where you were kidnapped. With your loot, you can get up to the academies, take a totem down to the lower realms, and establish yourselves,” Storbon said.
“Can we come with you?” Aidan, Arthur’s boy, asked.
“We can’t help you any more than this.”
Storbon could see Aidan’s desire to follow them.
Sixth Realm Part 2: A litRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 7) Page 2