Sixth Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  Stun spells hit others as sword users that had been hiding in the shadows appeared, their blades stabbing out into the remaining Willful Institute members.

  Before they fell to the ground Roska waved a storage ring; corpses, unlike living items, could be stored in storage rings.

  Not even a drop of blood hit the ground leaving several shadows that resolved themselves into the members of Special Team Two.

  Each of them were holding weapons forged by the Willful Institute.

  They quickly split up and headed in different directions.

  We have less than twenty four hours to carry out the next part.

  ***

  At the same time it was mid morning in Vuzgal. High Elder Cai Bo had finished her reports and sent them back to the sect head Foster. She included her speculations that the Vuzgal and the Adventurer's Guild were in close association, possibly even an alliance.

  The fact that the Adventurer's Guild was the same one that the Meokar Branch had offended.

  She looked out of her room and looked at the grand buildings of Vuzgal.

  The Ten Realms is not a merciful place. To get to my position I have had to silence and deal with others without a trace. I have always felt that I am in control. Now, I feel like the very ground I am standing on is unsteady. There are guilds and sects from across the Ten Realms that we have suppressed to keep our position. They are not that strong apart, but working together, they could take a chunk out of the WIllful Institute. Then if we are weakened, will not other large sects think about taking more?

  There was a knock at her door.

  "Come in."

  "High Elder Cai Bo," Low Elder Kostic said.

  "Has your grand niece Mercy remembered anything more about Domonos?"

  "I do not have great hope for it, but she is looking into her past and searching for information. I hope she can find something of use for us."

  "If we can find out anything about Vuzgal, then we will have an advantage over the others. For a place with so many mysteries, those secrets must be their weakness."

  "As you say High Elder."

  "Do you have the reports from Meokar?"

  "Yes, the battle started three days ago. The Adventurer's Guild is there, supposedly their vice guild leader is leading them, a man by the name of Jasper. Based on the scouts observations, it looks like the guild, just like the other sects took a token force."

  "Good, if they aren't devoted to the cause then there is room for negotiation. If they are, then it will be nearly impossible to deal with them."

  "Why is that High Elder?"

  Cai Bo's brows pinched together.

  "There are two groups of people that survive in the Ten Realms. There are groups that are so strong that others don't want to compete with them because it will cause more losses than it will give gains. The second are mad dogs. Groups that if they are slighted or if there is a small issue, they will go all in to get retribution. They rarely last long. But the ones that do last become massive powers. No one wants to fight them; after a point there is no going back since they will devote everything to protect and get retribution for their people."

  "What kind of sects could possibly live like that? Even we have lost people here and there from some kind of challenge. Sometimes we must give slight concessions to advance later."

  Cai Bo's eyes shifted to a grand circle of buildings.

  "The associations are those mad dogs. That is the true reason no one would want to deal with them. Think of what happened to the powers that were involved with the Tareng and Vuzgal battles? The Blood Demon Sect fell apart and was absorbed by other sects that have close ties to the associations. Other sects were given concessions, but they didn't try to fight. Why? Because the associations were really behind everything."

  "I have heard of the associations backing down in the past though," Low Elder Kostic said.

  "It is rare, nearly never seen here in the lower realms. In the Seventh and higher realms the associations are more neutral. There are powers that can make them even think twice about taking action. While the associations might back down from some things, if you attack someone from the associations, they will do everything in their power to grind you down. If you attack a city they are in and make sure to not harm their people. Then everything is fine. Do you understand?"

  "They're mad dogs if you attack them directly, but others, even friendly sects, it is rare for them to step out and protect. Even they have limits," Low Elder Kostic said.

  "Correct, now with so few people at Reynir, the Adventurer's Guild doesn't put Meokar that high in their eyes. It must be a minor incident, but they have to show at least a token force to appease their people and their interests. Taking the resources from Meokar is about the limit of what they can do unless they want to declare war on the entire Institute." Cai Bo's words hung in the air before she turned around.

  "It has been too long since I last left the Willful Institute. There are so many new powers that have risen. Our Institute has only got seven places in the top one hundred of this competition."

  "We will take the top ten spots!" Lower Elder Kostic said.

  "Yes, our people have finer heritages and combat skills. Though what was a small guild last year, dominating the top one hundred, becoming a famous black sheep; this year, still has sixteen members that are in the top one hundred."

  "They aren't as strong as our people on a one on one basis."

  "In a fight is it ever a one on one?" Cai Bo's eyes shone as she looked into space, seeing something only known to her. "Guilds fight as groups, protecting merchants, and carrying out different missions. Fighting by themselves is disadvantageous to them. In our Willful Institute, one has to rely on their own power to advance. It is how we have been able to make a large group of experts. Those that can't be the best, take spots in the guards or fighting forces. There they can hone their fighting skills and strength gaining contribution points to make a comeback and get greater backing of the Institute."

  "We have raised many fine warriors, even powerhouses in the Seventh Realm. Our power in the Fourth Realm has only grown."

  "I agree that our system is much better; we use our resources on those that prove themselves and aid the Institute. It is just while we concentrate our efforts on a few, guilds are fighting groups at their core. We can't be blind to others' systems and methods."

  "High Elder is wise. Our system is the best, but we should not discount others for their own strengths," Lower Elder Kostic seemed to have been caught by an inspiration and cupped his hands, bowing.

  "What about the relationships I had you look into?"

  "Blaze, the leader of the Adventurer's Guild is in a relationship with Elise, the leader of the Trader's Guild which acts as the manager of all traders in Vuzgal. While she is stated as independent and is neutral in all matters, it is clear she is someone from Vuzgal. Weapons and armor for the Adventurer's Guild is purchased from the Vuzgal Academy. So are their potions, their clothes. They have healers trained by the Vuzgal controlled healing houses. Other than the relationship with the trade guild leader, all of these things can be coincidental. They are after all headquartered here in Vuzgal, playing nice with the landlord makes sense. Though with everything," Low Elder Kostic held back his words.

  "What do you think?"

  "What if the Adventurer's Guild and Vuzgal are connected on a deeper level?"

  In the depths of Cai Bo's eyes something shook.

  "Then Vuzgal as we see it might only be the tip of the iceberg. It brings everything into question. Best case is that Vuzgal was settled by a group of mercenaries that called themselves the Alvan Guild and switched to be the Alvan Army to look good for the associations. They had the connections to be able to stabilize Vuzgal and they invited other guilds they knew to help them out. Starting to create a sect. Otherwise, I have no idea what it might be. If they have a backer, how strong must they be to do all of this and keep their hand hidden this long?"

  ***

&nb
sp; Roska watched the target moving through Serca in his carriage.

  He never leaves with less than a hundred guards. Seems that he has a high opinion of himself. I guess he should, being a high elder of the Willful Institute.

  She heard two clear clicking noises through her sound transmission device.

  Suddenly spells appeared around the carriage, green smoke spread out from the spell formations, covering the people in the convoy.

  People yelled out as civilians ran away.

  "Ambush!" A guard yelled out as people appeared on roofs, shooting arrows at the convoy, killing some and wounding others.

  Defensive formations covered the carriage protecting it.

  A man with a spell scroll stood up and activated it.

  A spear of fire emerged from the spell formations in front of the man before it shot out, several other spears appeared in other formations around him as the spell formation was drained away.

  The spear shot through the green smoke clouds that were making the defenders and their mounts cough. The spears ignited the smoke, burning everyone within before they struck the carriage. The mana barriers flared to life as the impacts tilted the carriage before it fell on its side.

  "Kill them!" The guards were still in disarray. But they charged out, firing their bows and jumping off their mounts, that had turned useless with the smoke and flames.

  Roska stood up and pulled out a spell scroll.

  It showed greens and browns and pure white. A spell formation appeared above the carriage. A pillar shot down like doomsday. Instead of piercing the carriage, it turned into threads of power that raced out to the surrounding area, entering the beasts.

  Their muscles bulged and their eyes turned red as they let out roars. Their primordial and brutal bloodlines seemed to be ignited as they charged one another, not caring about their riders any more as they attacked one another. The team pulling the carriage turned on the driver that was trapped under the carriage. They broke free of their harnesses and attacked the carriage and one another, turning into pandemonium. The guards had to kill their own mounts as they created a protective barrier around the carriage. The dead and dying were on the ground as the carriage laid broken on its side. Fire bolts shot through the air again, killing more guards and striking the carriage. The mana barrier collapsed and started to smoke.

  Up he sees me, come on down!

  An arrow shot past Roska as she turned and ran.

  "Catch her!" The guards behind her yelled.

  Roska ran ahead, arrows shot out at her, hitting random items in the crowded alleyway.

  "Arrow incoming," Imani said.

  Roska braced herself, taking a step behind some crates at an intersection in the alleyway.

  An 'arrow' shot out from behind the group of guards. They didn't notice where it came from, thinking it was one of theirs as it hit the attacker in the back.

  Roska went down with a blood curdling scream. Hidden by the crates she waved her storage ring, a body from the night before appeared with an arrow in the back, fresh blood flowed from the wound, as they looked lost.

  Roska looked at a rat that was in the alleyway with a beast crate on its back, she touched the crate and disappeared in a flash.

  The rat scampered away, entering a sewer grate with its payload safe.

  Moments later armed guards turned the corner, looking at their 'victim'.

  With a boot they flipped over the dead attacker.

  "Put the body in your storage ring. We'll figure out who they are later. There are more attackers we need to capture!"

  ***

  Glosil walked into the command center. Elan had become a permanent feature there while Yui and Kanoa seemed to rotate in and out.

  Kanoa was off to the side, coordinating an air lift for several ongoing missions. Yui was checking the incoming information.

  By the reports he is focusing on what is happening at Meokar. Though he is also reviewing anything to do with Willful Institute locations near water. Including their main Fourth Realm city Essona.

  Glosil looked at Roska beside him. She was wearing her combat fatigues and war belt looking almost peaceful compared to when she was wearing her complete body armor and weapons.

  Yui and Elan looked up from what they were doing as they entered.

  Glosil waved to the conference room.

  They all entered, looking at Roska who hadn't even gotten a shower after coming back from the field.

  "Alright, let’s go through it," Glosil said.

  "We infiltrated the target city Leeto three days ago. We met up with the local intelligence agents. They gave us the itinerary of the target High Elder Dastan. We watched him the first day on his route through the city that he takes every two days. We took the information and planning from the intelligence agents, modified the plan. With a short time window we had to move quickly. I would have wished for more time to set up the attack, a week or two."

  "I understand, we have been rushing things to try and hit the Willful Institute as hard as possible," Glosil said.

  Roska nodded. "The night of the second day we found a group of people from an opposing faction of High Elder Dastan. With the help of the information network we were able to find the group, the ambush location, and set up the ambush in a short period of time. It was easily done with their aid. Honestly the Intelligence agents have been nothing but the best to work with. If not for them, this would have fallen apart. We've got a deep trust with them now," Roska looked to Elan who bowed his head in thanks.

  "We attacked the scapegoats, killing them from behind. This way, their wounds would match up with Dastan's guards 'killing' their attackers in the chase. We used weapons that we had received before the mission from a consignment of arms stolen by the Adventurer's Guild. There shouldn't be any flaws. Elan's people had letters, plans and information that we inserted into their storage rings. We matched people with the bodies and kept them stored, that way their blood was still fresh, without time to clot and their bodies were warm and they hadn't gone stiff." Roska coughed.

  "Water?" Yui asked.

  "Please," Yui grabbed a glass and filled it with water as Roska kept talking.

  "Once that was done, we had three ambush locations set up across the city to hit the convoy. They bypassed route Alpha and we moved to Bravo. Thanks," Yui passed her water and she drank it quickly.

  "At Bravo, we hit the convoy with Willful Institute spell scrolls and weapons; wore their cloaks as well. We struck with poison gas spells to limit visibility and it was an annoying eye irritant, make it harder for them to ID us and notice that the bodies weren't exactly like their attackers, also threw the mounts off as they wouldn't be able to follow our scent and they weren't in a condition to chase. Fire spears hit the carriage, flipping it. A scroll to send beasts into a rage added to the chaos and more flaming spear attacks hammered the carriage. We had people running at this point already. Once seen you were to run, keep yourself in the enemy's sight until your drop location. We had our own archers and disguised intelligence agents 'kill' us. We escaped using beast storage crates and small beasts under our control. My people performed impeccably. Moving between locations, dropping off our scapegoat bodies, then jumping into the crates and escaping through the sewers. The scapegoats were wearing casual clothes but it won't be hard for them to be found out as enforcers for different factions."

  She took another drink from her water.

  "Based on what my people are hearing, Dastan already knows who his attackers are. He's in a rage and he is going to the Willful Institute's head to seek an explanation. It should stir things up in their command and control," Elan said.

  "It was an incredibly complex mission and your team thought outside of the box and used all the resources at your disposal to carry it out flawlessly." Glosil pressed his finger into the table.

  "You and your team should get some rest."

  "Sir, I wanted to ask about what is happening in the other operations?"

  "Sorry,
it has been a little crazy," Glosil cleared his throat and organized his thoughts. "Operations in the Second Realm have hampered the Willful Institute to such a high degree that it is only a matter of time until the locations there start to fall. The Willful Institute is consolidating its power in the Third and Fourth Realm. The Third Realm is on a tipping point and the Willful Institute doesn't know it. The other sects that are against the Willful Institute are watching Reynir and Meokar closely. If we can pull of a win there, then it will have a domino effect and the other sects will pile in and work against the Willful Institute. Things in the Fourth Realm are trickier. The sects are all holding back. If the Willful Institute is cut off from traders and from the lower realms, then they are just dying a slow death, moving items in the higher realms costs more money, people are more expensive to hire and they are more turbulent. Our aim is to win at Meokar, and send the Willful Institute reeling. Once they are on their back foot, we’ll continue to put pressure on them in the Fourth Realm. They did lose a city in the Fourth Realm, but that is not unheard of. It is even recoverable and some groups come back stronger. So the other sects are waiting for a vicious counterattack or to see the Institute's decline. Then we have two options, have Vuzgal lead other sects to take down the Willful Institute cities, thus inciting others to attack before the Willful Institute's cities are all taken, or we commence operations in the Fifth Realm to remove any possibility of the Institute progressing, holding them down and pushing the other groups to destroy them from below," Glosil said.

  "Your mission will add to the instability of the faint alliance that the different factions within the Willful Institute have just started to form. It will lead to the Head Foster having to divert his attention to rooting out those that wanted to use this to gain a higher position, focusing on internal threats instead of external ones, allowing us greater breathing room," Elan added.