Chương 196: Interlude 27

Divine Seraphim Glorious Light My thoughts turned towards Intrepid Spirit. I often thought of my fallen comrades in the Great War. So, few of us were left and there was still so much time. She had been quite capable against the forces of darkness and the minions of the Great Evil. As my thoughts turned in memory, so too did my gaze. I could see why those thoughts came to mind. Someone was disturbing Intrepid Spirit's final resting place. A human, they were relentless in their expansion.

A gnome, one of the minions of the Great Evil. They had been skilled in avoiding the purge of their people. I casually traced the gnome's existence backwards and there was a void. Just like the gnomes I had observed in the past. I looked at the human and the same thing. There was a void in his timeline. The human had tamed a monster. A clever use of the one of the monsters of the depths. But ultimately an insignificant one. What was concerning was the desecration.

There were so few Seraphim tombs left and Intrepid Spirit had been a close friend. We had fought side by side. I remember when she was struck down. A strike to her celestial form by the Great Evil itself. Looking back, I could see that moment over and over again. I had been unable to change the outcome. She took that the blow to create an opening and fell because of it. Altering the course of all events that required alteration, all because she trusted me.

My soul wept for her sacrifice, but my mind knew that without that sacrifice we would have lost the Great War. I slowly lifted a finger to smite those trespassers. A single thought from me would evaporate them from existence itself. They had neither the strength or skills to defend themselves. I had let many things go since the Great War. Content to let time cement our eventual victory. But Intrepid Spirit held a special place in my heart. To desecrate her tomb and her corpse was foul beyond belief.

My power gathered, but then I felt a whisper in the wind as it blew past me. The tombs were a monument, but they were not meant to remain forever. They were a reminder and Intrepid Spirit always did have a kind heart. I had not sung in a long time. I let the power in my finger go, spinning it into a poem of remembrance to be carried away by the winds of fate itself. In honor of her memory, I would not intervene and punish these interlopers.

In the garden of valor, where roses of courage bloom, Thorns of sacrifice guard the heart's sacred tomb. Each petal, a warrior, fierce in the dawn's golden light, Stood tall against the shadow, that endless, devouring night. The great evil, a tempest, with claws of despair, Swept o'er the meadows, poisoning sweet summer air. Its roots choked the rivers, its breath scorched the skies, Yet heroes, like lilies, arose with unyielding cries.

Their swords were as sunbeams, their shields woven stars, They carved through the darkness, unbowed by its scars. But oh, how the cost, each bloom torn from the vine, Their laughter, their warmth, now but shades in the shrine. The oak of remembrance stands steadfast and tall, Its branches enwreathe where the brave chose to fall. Each leaf whispers sorrow, yet sings of their might, A tapestry woven with valor's fierce light.

The poppy of grief, with its crimson lament, Marks furrows of battle where life's joy was spent. Yet still in its heart lies a seed of rebirth, A promise that honor shall rise from the earth. O winds of forever, bear soft their sweet names, Through fields where the fire of their spirit still flames. Though loss cuts like winter, though hearts bear the frost, In memory's garden, no soul is e'er lost. Whiteclaw"Entry, for you and these orphans?" The leader of the Cat Clan sneered at me.

"Yes. We are survivors of the Fox Clan," I said. Elder Keeneyes had given her life to help us escape. Even so, a third of the orphans had frozen on the journey. We were out of food and had nowhere to go.

"We should kill you and take what you possess," the leader sneered at me.

"You could try. But I am Whiteclaw, last of the White Fox Clan. Test me if you dare. My claws are sharp and I will kill at least one of you," I declared boldly. The other beastkin listening in felt the pressure I emitted. It was instantly crushed by the leader of the Cat Clan.

"A dead clan. A weak beastkin. But I suppose there are benefits to welcoming lost brethren who are capable. You will teach a beastkin of my choosing your legacy," he said. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Very well," I agreed through gritted teeth.

"That is not all. Payment, half of everything you have in your spatial pouch. Half of everything. The value will be decided based on fists of food," the leader said.

"I will pay 10, 000 orange Mana cores. That should suffice as tribute to accept me and these orphans," I declared.

"So, you have more," the leader said while staring intently at me.

"Of course. But I am not some slave. I have survived demons, a trek through mountains during the dark season, and have brought these orphans here. You might be stronger than me, but I am no weakling to bend over. If you won't accept, then I will depart and make my home elsewhere," I declared.

"You would die outside our walls."

"Then so be it. It is better to die on one's feet than to die as a slave. We endure."

"We endure. So be it. The terms and tribute are accepted. I will have someone report to you to learn as your apprentice one month from now. And don't hide anything. I know the legacy of the White Fox Clan."

"If they can learn, they can learn. If they cannot, it is no fault of my own," I declared.

"I will be watching. All who live here work. There is my rule and no one else's. The orphans will be placed in our orphanages."

"I was hoping to start a food growing business and use them as my assistants," I said.

"And start up an enterprise with a loyal cadre inviting factionalism and dissent. No. You can start your business. More food is always desired and you can hire other beastkin of this settlement. But the orphans will be given to my orphanages and schools where their purpose will be decided." I gritted my teeth, but had no choice but to accept. This wasn't an argument I could win.

"I understand."

"It is good that you do. I can tell you are thinking about betrayal, schemes, and other such foolishness. Let it go. The Cat Clan is not like the other clans and whatever factionalism they engage in. We are united in purpose under a single leader. Me. If you wish to replace me, you merely need to challenge me. A fight to the death."

"No, I understand. I will behave," I declared, letting go of my frustration.

"You are dismissed." Emperor Darren Burnstock"Hold the line!" I roared on the small cliff overlooking the beach. My voiced echoed across the battlefield. The waves were colored red with blood. The Great Ocean Empire was invading my territory, and I had been forced to relocate my army to counter their invasion. The dwarven battle carriages fired another barrage, as explosions rippled across the sand, melting the coarse substance to glass and incinerating the fishmen. The Legends were fighting on the flanks.

One of my Legends was struck, and was forced to retreat. We had no more reserves. If we lost this position, the fishmen would sink more of the land. We couldn't allow that to happen.

"Fight! Fight for humanity!" I roared over the screams of the dying and dammed. I kicked off the ground, hurrying to the right flank before the fishmen could force a rout with their superior number of legends. I hated direct combat, but I still had some tricks up my sleeve. And if I didn't fight, I would lose control over the Legends still under my command. The legend fishman I was facing was wielding a Tier 4 trident that shot out Water Beams. A classic weapon of the fishmen race. A Water Beam shot at me.

I raised a hand and twisted the Mana in front of me. The Water Beam struck and broke apart into three separate beams, two of them struck other fishmen fighting other legends on this part of the battlefield. My opponent rushed forward with a roar. They were quick, but out of water, they didn't have the necessary skills. I was rusty in my old age. I was too old for fighting nonsense. I opened my mouth.

I spoke a simple yet profound sentence, when I was sure no one else was close enough to overhear it or see what I was doing. The legend swung at me, using several skills that were impressive, but he couldn't block his ears or his heart. Mana surged in both our bodies as my ultimate skill created a resonance. My heart began to beat in time with his. After ten seconds the legend froze as my ultimate skill struck. He had lost against me. I still reigned supreme.

The legend's chest exploded apart, partially bisecting him as his heart erupted like a bomb inside of his body. There was a momentary lull across the battlefield as everyone looked over in shock. Legends were skilled enough to keep an eye on their surroundings while fighting. They had too much experience to fully get caught up in the heat of battle. They had seen that I had come to reinforce them after one of their comrades had been injured.

To kill an opponent of this caliber so quickly, through such esoteric means, was highly shocking. Unfortunately, I had no other way of ending the fight quickly. If this dragged on, we would fall into a huge disadvantage." FOR THE REFORGED ELDARIN EMPIRE!" I roared out. I only applied a small touch of Mana to my shout, but it echoed across the battlefield. The humans and dwarves on my side swelled with courage and determination, while the fishmen grew fearful. They began to retreat.

No more legends fell, but their regular forces had been decimated. They would be licking their wounds and reconsidering their actions. I would have loved to pursue them, but we needed proper equipment and skills for underwater battles. Back during the Eldarin Empire, it had been a source of frustration. Now with the dwarves, the world would soon be within my grasp.

"Ack! Ack!" I coughed heavily in to my hand. There were flecks of blood. My body was collapsing. My soul was too much for something that was not truly mine. The fate of all strong individuals. It was something that I wanted to warn my son about. One of the things I would have liked to give him before I died. But he had gone missing in the dungeon. While I could have sent someone to find him, he had to succeed or fail on his own. If he died, he wasn't worthy of my legacy. I would let it perish with me.

But if he was worthy he would return. While Elena's parenting methods were questionable for a child, for a successor, they were correct. I would not allow someone weak or incapable of inheriting my legacy. I could only hope my son hurried up and returned. I had so many things I wanted to tell him. Things I should have told him. But I had left the College too soon and conveying things by letter wasn't the best method. I wanted to see his reactions and gauge his acceptance of harsh truths that only I knew.

Using that Tier 6 skill had been risky. It could kill anything that could think and listen. But the pressure it put on me was immense. Each time I used it was a gamble of life and death between myself and my opponent.