Rugrat felt an immense pressure coming from them with their newfound strength, but it subsided quickly. Rugrat focused ahead. He pulled out his rifle and scanned where the dungeon had sensed people.
Rugrat saw a group of a hundred or so people charging down the road from the east. “I want to find out just who they are. If they’re hostile, we’ll fight. You ready for that?” he asked Fred and the others.
“We are,” Fred said.
Rugrat gave him a look of thanks and focused on the oncoming forces.
George and the mounted undead tilted downward, diving toward the oncoming forces.
The Mana in the air was stirred up as the undead mages on the flying mounts gathered their spells, ready to cast them at a moments notice.
Rugrat pulled out two M32s and checked that they were loaded and prepped, holding them ready by his sides.
***
“Aerial beasts!” someone called out.
Xue Lin and the others looked up into the skies. Coming from the sun, they could barely see a group shooting toward the ground.
“There are people walking through the sky!” another called out.
“Be ready to fight but don’t attack first!” Olivia called.
“On my order.” Xue Lin looked to the people from the Crafter’s Association.
“On your word,” they said.
The oncoming flying beasts and people walking through the skies dropped in altitude sharply, racing toward Xue Lin and her group.
Xue Lin saw a wolf approaching. It had wings that looked as if they were on fire as it cut through the sky. Its wings let out powerful beats as the other flying beasts banked around Xue Lin and her group, who had to slow down.
“Are those undead?” One of the crafter’s voice shook, looking at the mounted beasts and their riders. They looked like people from a distance, but when they got close they noticed their powerful auras and the lack of any life in them. They were undead, hundreds of them wearing Jourenyman level armor andusing Journeyman level weapons. were nothing but bones; they circled the group, spells readied in their hands.
A man sat on the flying wolf that had a red and orange mist around it as it naturally drew in the Fire-attribute Mana in the area.
The five people who had been walking in the sky were behind the man on the beast, on either side of him.
The man held two odd-looking devices in his hands, pointing them up at the sky. Behind them was the former capital city. Its walls reached up into the skies. Movement could be seen on the walls even from this far away.
They really did take over the capital.
Xue Lin made a gesture to calm the guards, who were all ready to fight.
“I am. Xue Lin.” Xue Lin nudged her mount forward a bit. “Mister West told me to say pickles,” Xue Lin said, confused by the foreign word.
Rugrat put his weapons away and patted George, calming him. The mounted undead stopped gathering Mana and turned back toward the capital.
Rugrat moved towards Xue Lin.
He got off of his mount and cupped his fists awkwardly, it wasn’t natural for him.
“Head Xue Lin, my name is Rugrat, City Lord here. I am glad that you have made it. May I know where Head Daniel’s is so that I might pay my respects?”
If he wanted then he could be arrogant, instead he has lowered himself, showing himself to be subordinate to us. Xue Lin felt a bitter taste in the back of her mouth, thinking about how the guards of Tareng had been forced to stay with the people of Tareng.
They were bitter about having to stand guard when a group that they had only met days ago was defending their rear.
They has used this indignation to remove the poison in their bodies as quickly as possible, the concoction turned into a tonic as the healers and alchemists believed and their strength had increased.
Unable to find fault with their protectors and wanting to take action, they were eager to fight, to prove their abilities alongside those from Vuzgal.
“He is here,” Daniels said, walking over with his personal guards. He clasped his hands in greeting and lowered his head slightly, a sign of subordination, “I am sorry for the trouble that we have brought you.”
The people of Tareng heard his words and dropped their heads in shame.
Xue Lin read Rugrat’s approval as he relaxed slightly.
“We have only helped a token amount, I hope that our people can stand together on the walls of Vuzgal and make the Blood Demon Sect Army pay for their actions,” Rugrat said as he seemed to realize something.
“I am sorry for being so rude, welcome to Vuzgal. It’s a work in progress but we’ve made a lot of headway. Your people left through the totem three days ago—haven’t got any word from them or movement from the totem.”
“Only when they are cleared by the people of the Blue Lotus will they return with reinforcements,” Xue Lin said.
“Well, let’s hope that testing doesn’t take very long! We can talk and ride on our way into the city.” Rugrat turned to the others behind him. “You can return now if you want.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” One of the women stepped forward and pouted.
Xue Lin looked at her, alarmed by the woman’s eyes. They were captivating. She had vertical slatted eyes, like a snake. A conscious body alteration, special constitution—or is she a demi-human?
“You can come if you want,” Rugrat offered.
The woman with animal eyes flew through the air and landed on the fire wolf, wrapping her arms around Rugrat, who coughed awkwardly. She had a pleased look on her face.
“Take this as an advanced payment for taking so long to ask me out on a date.”
Rugrat turned bright red at her words.
“Manners, Racquel,” a man wearing a crown and robes said. He was easy to overlook as there were no Mana fluctuations from him. It was as if he blended in with the Mana makeup of the Ten Realms perfectly.
Xue Lin became wary as she looked at him and the others with him.
He was incredibly handsome, enough to make even Xue Lin’s heart beat faster. There was another person hidden in a magical cloak, and a man and woman, blue and brown coloration to their skin.
Just who are these people?
“Elizabeth and William do it all the time,” Racquel pouted.
“Behind closed doors, because of complaints,” Elizabeth replied.
Rugrat gave Fred a pleading look. Fred didn’t seem to see the look
As he stepped into the sky.
“Come on.”
The others followed, crossing tens of meters with each step.
They were wearing a selection of Expert-level items. But to be able to walk in the sky—it means that they have formed their Mana Heart at the least.
Instead of getting more answers, she found that Rugrat and Erik were only creating more questions.
They continued their journey toward the city, Xue Lin and the others with Rugrat.
“We have cleared out a section of the inner city for your people to rest in and barracks for your guard forces to assist our forces on the walls.”
“Do you intend to use necromantic magic on the fallen too?” someone asked from the Crafter’s Association.
“Didn’t plan on it,” Rugrat said, confused by the hostility in the man’s words.
“We cannot work with someone from the dark guilds,” another said.
“Dark guilds?” Rugrat said. “I think you have something wrong, when we took over the city, we took over the undead that have been fighting in the capital for centuries. There ain’t no necromancer. But, they’re under my control. If you can’t stand that, you can wait outside because I’m not getting rid of them inside the city. We’ve offered to help you. I really didn’t want to let you know about this city, which is why everyone who enters this city will need to make an oath: to confirm that they will not attack anyone and that they will recognize Erik and my commands as the city leaders.”
The crafters were riled up as their expressions
turned indignant. They were the ones who gave others orders. This rough-looking man who looked as if he hadn’t showered in days was nothing but a fighter.
“Who do you think you are?! We are from the Crafter’s Association!” one of the Crafter’s Association called out in a cold voice.
“I’m the guy with the city, the walls, and the fighting force,” Rugrat said simply.
“And we are the leaders of Tareng’s Crafter’s Association,” the leader of the clothier’s workshop said.
Daniel’s coughed, the normally quiet man’s power leaked out as everyone felt a pressure wash over them.
The man who had been speaking shut his mouth and bowed deeply, claspiong his hands towards Head Daniels.
“I am sorry for their outburst, tensions have been high,” Daniel’s said.
“Understandable,” Rugrat said, smiling, Xue Lin noticed that he hadn’t even flinched with the power that Daniels had applied.
How is his level so high? Erik’s level was only around level fifty, but Rugrat feels as though he is closer to level sixty. And he’s clearly enhanced his Mana system.
“I still need to make some preparations, but please come to the castle tonight, we can discuss our plan to defeat the Blood Demon Sect over some tea. I am sorry that our accomodations are not in the best repair,” Rugrat said awkardly.
“Having a roof over our heads will be a welcome change and I will come with Tareng’s military advisors tonight.”
“I look forward to it,” Rugrat gave a quick smile as Racquel wrapped her arms around his stomach. His mount stretched out his wings and flapped them, taking ot the skies and going ahead.
Xue Lin could only sigh and start to pass back word back to the rest of the convoy.
“He has only taken over an empty former capital and has demi-humans with him,” one said, spitting to the side.
“We are from the Crafter’s Association and Blue Lotus. What right does he have to look down on us?” another said.
Xue Lin understood their line of thinking only too well.
They were the leaders of the Crafter’s Association; in Tareng, no one could question their authority. This kind of power had made them arrogant, looking down on everyone who was not part of their group or others like it.
They had been forced to flee, already a stain on their records and their hearts. Now, as they looked to exert that control again, someone appeared. Instead of being honored and bowing to them, being servile, he dictated to them a set of rules causing the feelings of rage to be stoked once again.
“Anyone who goes against what he has said will become an enemy of my Blue Lotus,” Xue Lin said in a tired but firm voice.
Everyone looked at her in alarm.
“We would not be alive right now if not for Mister West, Rugrat and their people. We will follow their wishes.
“We will establish communication with the higher realms and we will do as Mister West and Rugrat tell us. If I see one person trying to make a play for power, or to undermine their orders, I will cut you down. This is not the time for politics; this is the time we band together to face an enemy that will not stop until they slaughter us, our families, and the people of Tareng who are under our protection.”
She looked at them, Daniels standing behind her. No one dared to cross her, she wielded the full power of Tareng.
Olivia’s actions, although they were against her orders, were understandable. They wielded such great power; few dared to act arrogant in front of them. Power equaled the ability to dictate the way that the Ten Realms moved.
Rugrat and Erik offered safety but the people of Tareng needed to lower their heads a bit.
The oath is reasonable but it will make sure that if there are any spies in our ranks that we will be able to find them, or they will be unable to help the Blood Demon Sect Army. On the surface it looks like they will gain the ire of Tareng, but the Blue Lotus and Crafter’s association have made their own agreements so really it makes the people of Tareng want to prove their loyalty and their strength, to work closer with the Blue Lotus and the Crafter’s association. In the end their loss will be very minimal but it raises everyone’s fightin spirit and protects our rear.
Xue Lin’s eyes lit up, since Olivia’s actions, the Tareng leadership had been bitter, herded around like children.
***
Elder Lu got messages relayed from Head Xue Lin. He had a contract drawn up, assuring the command of the capital stayed with Erik and Rugrat, but that the Blue Lotus and the Crafter’s Association would be allowed to stay and conduct business there.
It would add security to all sides involved, and turn the capital into a neutral trading city. It was a rare case, but it wasn’t the only time that it had happened.
Elder Lu looked at the maps of the area that had been sent over to him. They had records of Vuzgal, so they used a set of older map records and updated them with information coming in from Xue Lin.
“Is something the matter?” Lei Huo asked.
“Doesn’t this attack seem a little…stupid?” Elder Lu pondered.
Lei Huo frowned, motioning for Elder Lu to continue.
“The Blood Demon Sect is facing the Hang-Nim Alliance, which, in the ancient dialects of their two sects, means friendly alliance, made up of the Nezzar and Red Sword sects. Both of them are newer sects in the Fourth Realm but they are anything but friendly. They are sneaky, underhanded sects. The Blood Demon Sect is an older, well established sect. They have a great amount of wealth, which assures their position, but it also makes them a big target. We know that the Blood Demon Sect has added transformation concoctions to the water of cities that they have had to abandon before in the past. Turning the city behind them into a city of demons that will kill anything on sight and feel no pain until they die. We originally thought that this was a plague, but when the dust settled, how was the Blood Demon Sect thinking that they could keep an army of half a million people quiet? How would they hide the evidence of the concoction in the water?”
“Maybe in their desperation, they didn’t think of it,” Lei Huo replied.
“Why would they attack Tareng? What would they gain?”
“Wealth? Maybe blame it on the alliance?”
“Although they are greedy, they already have fifty dungeons under their control. Just for wealth would be a waste. Again, they’re an old sect. They have a lot of wealth and they are playing the long game, not the short-term gain. Cui Chin, are we getting any kind of chatter from the Blood Demon Sect?”
“I am not getting anything about this attack. They might possibly have been able to keep this information to only a select few people,” Cui Chin said.
“Who would have the most to gain if the Blood Demon Sect were found to be attacking the Blue Lotus?” Elder Lu asked.
“The Hang-Nim Alliance,” Lei Huo answered.
“Look into the alliance more closely. I want to know what they’re saying behind closed doors and tell me the actions of the greater militaries on either side,” Elder Lu said.
“Yes, Elder,” Cui Chin and Lei Huo said.
“Someone bring Deputy Head Hiao Xen to me,” Elder Lu said after a minute.
An aide left the room and Hiao Xen appeared a few minutes later.
He bowed deeply to Elder Lu.
“Deputy Head Hiao Xen, I have a request to make of you but it will place you into danger,” Elder Lu said.
“Hiao Xen awaits his orders,” Hiao Xen said, without hesitation.
Elder Lu pulled out a medallion. “With this, you wield the authority of this headquarters. You will be able to command the Blue Lotus forces of any city within the Fourth Realm.” Elder Lu watched Hiao Xen closely. He saw Hiao Xen’s face pale and him hiding his shaking hands. He could tell it was out of fear and anxiety, instead of excitement. He was young by the Blue Lotus standards, but it showed that his judgement was good. Anyone who was excited to wield this item usually didn’t deserve to. The power that one gained was great, but the responsibility was
greater.
“You will go to the city Vuzgal, with a contract for Mister Rugrat and Mister West. You will take over the forces from Tareng’s Blue Lotus and work with these two men to speed things up and give them the full support of the Blue Lotus. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
“I do,” Hiao Xen said, his voice solemn.
“You might be exposed to the poison or concoction that the people of Tareng are affected by. You will not be allowed to leave the capital until you are confirmed to be clear of any plague.”
“I understand. I am still willing to go,” Hiao Xen said.
Elder Lu knew it was a lot of power, but Hiao Xen had wielded a lot of power in the past. He was also known to Erik and Rugrat. With the issues that had appeared and the friction between the people of Tareng and the two men, he needed to do something to smooth things over.
Hiao Xen was his best way to demonstrate his willingness to work together and get the people of the Blue Lotus in line.
“Very well. Don’t let down the Blue Lotus,” Elder Lu said.
Hiao Xen bowed and left the room.
“Send a message to the Alchemist Association with the information regarding Erik West, about his direct disciple status. Use them to apply pressure to the Crafter’s Association to fall in line. Also mention that we believe Rugrat is an Expert-level smith. Now is not the time for them to be fighting one another, but to be working together,” Elder Lu said.
People got to work as Cui Chin moved next to Elder Lu, activating a discreet sound-cancelling formation.
“You are betting on Erik and Rugrat?” he asked.
“Yes. It is a risky bet, but our other option is to try to take over the city. Do either men seem like the kind who wouldn’t have a backup plan?” Elder Lu asked.
“Latest intelligence from our people say that the undead are all around the mid-level forties, wearing Journeyman-level equipment. There is a group of possible demi-humans who may be stronger and who are equipped with Expert-level items. There are also human members all around level fifty and with a mixture of peak Journeyman and Expert-level items.”
“With a fighting force like that and the fighting forces of Tareng, they should be able to hold out for a long time,” Elder Lu said.
The Fourth Realm (The Ten Realms Book 4) Page 43