On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Five Hundred And Thirty-One

“It’s too late to grow a conscience now, Khumo. You know the way the world works. You’re strong, but despite that, you can’t protect you and your wife alone! Strength in numbers is needed! Besides…” Dino’s grin was fierce, as he glanced at the giant lizard creature that was powering down the slope, claws sinking into the ground like scythes. “…if you had any confidence, you’d have handled this alone. You needed our help!”

My Split Thoughts were accelerating, allowing me to assess the situation calmly. It seemed bad at first glance, but honestly, while I hadn’t expected there to be trouble, I had planned for it, so little went without problems nowadays that preparing for unanticipated disasters was second nature. Plus of course there’s the Foresight constantly eating away at me. It hasn’t picked up in intensity or dropped, so I’m assuming it’s not about this mess…

Having Hinata, Kazumi-san and Christina here wasn’t ideal, but also it wasn’t a problem. With my Chirurgery, Aether Manipulation and them not resisting me, I could easily draw them dry in a moment, sending them back to the Material, where my other half was waiting, and it would be far easier to defend them there. As for being outnumbered…

My Eye shone, and the giant lizard was identified as Agadzagadza’s Spawn [Wyrm] and it seemed to be some sort of Dragon-like creature, despite being a lizard. It seemed more powerful than the two Wyrms I had defeated before, though not overwhelmingly so, yet it would likely give a purely Statistic focused Chosen like Titan a hard time.

I exchanged a meaningful glance with Adelheid, and she spat a curse word in German, a satisfyingly guttural invective.

“Nobody has a right to say what we do is wrong!” Dino laughed as his forces moved into position, including a number of spiritual beings still hidden within the cracked walls of the canyon that he perhaps thought had gone unnoticed. “Our powers were given for battle, to take and take until only the strongest remain! I know you agree!”

As Titan skidded to a halt beside us, he breathed out a hasty apology, but I waved it aside. The dispute between Midas, Hermodike and Dino would decide the course of this battle, and in mere moments it would likely be another life-or-death struggle. While I was confident, I wasn’t arrogant, and was prepared for a hard fight.

“Yes, but…” Midas glanced at Hermodike, who was very clearly torn. “…in the end, we get to decide on our own conscience.” His face was hard. “I… loathe the Americans and others like them…”

Christina flinched at that, looking downcast, but also somehow thoughtful. She didn’t speak though, and Midas continued. “…I’ve fought for my beliefs, but… it seems we diverge here, Dino.” At his words, Hermodike finally breathed out a sigh of relief, looking at Midas with deep affection. “Our prior agreements are still in force, and we can certainly collaborate in the future, but…”

“Oh. In that case, we’ll be going then.” Dino turned away, before turning back, sneering. “Is that what you thought I would say? Do you have a hollow void between your ears like Nkosi does?” The lizard-like Wyrm had pulled to a halt now behind Dino’s forces, and I could see faint wisps of toxic smoke rising from its mouth as it fixed us with beady, yellow eyes. “Yes, we’ve worked well together. I thought you were a pragmatist. Ruthless. You’ve killed more men than me, Khumo!”

“I am so.” Midas agreed, and I could feel aether rising, as well as adherence. Faint traces of energy were leaking from him as metal surged within his being. “Yes, it’s true. Ajé-Shaluga has spoken, and to gather the Seeds would strengthen us immeasurably. But… only a child would stoop to stealing from a good man. A child or a villain. I see… it does not sit right with my wife.”

“You’re no true man at all.” Dino spat, laughing. “There’s no good and evil, only who’s right in the end! Power! I thought you understood that. Do those starving while the rich feast care about right and wrong? No, only that they can steal foods to eat! You let your wife’s tender heart dismay you…”

“Without us, you have no way of using the Seeds. They are treasures, which need to be handled with care!” Midas countered, and Dino shrugged, addressing his men.

“You’re right at last, Khumo. True. We do need… your wife! It doesn’t have to be this way.” His expression was sad but somehow mocking. “You’ve not lied. We’ve benefitted from each other’s help a number of times. It’s why we all have such a firm grip on the Ancestral Lands, and many of our enemies are dead or capitulated.” Again some of the followers of Dino looked angry at his words. “If you could use all the Seeds yourselves, likely you’d have done so, but you can’t. Think this over carefully…”

At his cold words Hermodike shrank back, not being much of a fighter, while Midas’ stone face grew ever flintier. “I simply think you have gone too far. Despite everything, he did restore my wife to good health. They broke fast with us, having kola nuts and honey and wine. They know about the Seeds, as much as we do, maybe more. We should all come together and rethink this… peacefully. There is room for a consensus.”

“Consensus? Janco is dead. Now, it’s his own fault for losing, but… that’s one Seed wasted.” Dino scoffed. “And though I wasn’t fond of him, he was my man. I don’t let people take what’s mine, I take from others. As for them breaking fast… yes, I know where your home is, Khumo. You can run back and try and stop those I’ve sent there, but… if you won’t aid me, your wife will. Rest assured, I’ll not mistreat her, so long as she transfers us all the Seeds. After all her face has only just been fixed, and I’m not a man to poach other’s wives. Though I do believe a man should chastise his wife so she learns to do as she’s bidden without backchat!”

Dino then turned to us. “One thing I agree on is we don’t have to kill you. I should, because of Janco, but so long as I get what I want, I’m an easy man to like.” He swaggered annoyingly. “Maybe you’ll change your mind soon anyway. We’re not all here. This is the time to act. I’ll capture those rich folks you travelled with, and also wipe out Nkosi and his idiot followers. With money, the Seeds, no rivals and you doing my bidding, Khumo, Lola, South Africa is mine in its entirety, the whole Ancestral Land my playground. And that’s just the start…”

Damn, he talks too much. Though… I could see the flows of aether and elemental energies with my Eye, it seemed that he was stalling, as several powerful attacks were being prepared. If only Hermodike withdrew her permission for them to be here, it wouldn’t boot them out, but it would seriously hamper them… Of course, we weren’t idle as well. Adelheid was sweating, but she was drawing on her abilities, ready to unleash them at my signal.

“Hey, you know, you bark awfully loud for such a little poodle.” Christina tilted her head, breaking the mood. “I mean, here you are threatening two Double Vermillion, two of the top, at that, when we in the US classify you as what, a mere Violet at best? You should at least have an appropriate sense of scale.”

The sudden tense mood, which was mere seconds from outright battle, froze over. Until Dino laughed, a bitter, yet amused sound, his fists clenching. “Very funny, bitch. You’ll not be laughing in a few minutes. Nobody kill her, when we seize her I’m going to take my time with her. American women seem to have no respect for men.”

“I’m so terrified, Mr Violet.” Christina smirked, but she did step closer to me, her face rather pale.

“Last chance, Khumo, Lola. It didn’t have to be this way. We’ve worked well together for now…”

There was something off about the whole situation. Something was niggling at me. Now, how we got here made enough sense. Just as I was using information cheats to look for treasure, in this case, the Seeds, Hermodike and Midas had chanced upon the Seeds early and had put them to use, and now wanted to increase their stock, using Hermodike’s own specialised treasure seeking Favour. This, coupled with their dealing with the more powerful Chosen warlords of South Africa and Botswana, had led to this situation, where they planned to extort my seeds from me. Yeah, I’m not prepared to take Seeds from my other Norse Chosen, but it’s a logical plan…

It was there things started breaking down. Hermodike seemed rather soft-hearted, and clearly didn’t want to go through with things, and Midas was hardly an evil man, from what I’d observed, though there was a chance I was wrong, certainly. Dino… now he seemed fairly trashy, but there was no need for a fight here. In fact, there was little need for Janco to act at all to start our rivalry… huh. Could it be?

“I think we should all pause and rethink things, before we regret this.” Hermodike managed to speak. “It seems you are already here so… why not come in, and my husband and I will serve you…”

“Too late.” Dino growled. “You knew this day would come, Khumo.” Dino lowered his raised hand, and all hell broke loose, the imminent attack, which had hung frozen for this brief conversation, springing into life. “That idiot Nkosi is right. There’s no room for two lions in Africa. He’ll be getting his comeuppance about now, don’t worry!”

There. I see it. I thought it was merely a grudge targeting Miss Zozibini, but… My Eye blazed with aether, focussing carefully, and yes, there they were. I’m covered in tiny threads of adherence. As is Dino and Midas. I see…

Anansi’s Threads Of Fate - These manifestations of Fortune, Foresight and Fate connect together shared destinies, in a way that allows the bearer to understand and avoid cunning tricks and traps, and weave their own schemes to fool and outsmart opponents, claiming victory and the greater the unfair scheme overcome, the greater the rewards, and the greater the fall her opponent suffers.

I see. I overlooked that, but it makes sense now, everything that’s happened here. I moved instantly, drawing aether from Hinata and Kazumi-san. They were here to get experience, learn how I conducted myself in the Boundary, but risking their safety wasn’t something I relished. I also reached out for Christina, but she resisted as best she could, shaking her head frantically, so I relinquished my grip on her.

At the same moment, Hermodike declared “None of you are welcome here. Leave the Ancestral Land and come as guests to our home!” I immediately felt the pressure of the hostile Territory oppress me, my efforts suddenly more difficult. Fortunately it seemed that Dino’s group was affected too.

“Fuck you, Lola! You’ll regret this!” Dino roared, as boiling elemental energies, twisting jade and amber, flared around him. “Storms take you, fools!”

“Jealous Judgement!” Adelheid’s own ability was unleashed, rushing over the surrounding Chosen and spiritual beings like a wave. The effort of targeting so many clearly fatigued her, but her angry blue eyes showed little fear, only anger, and hr internal aether was rising.

“This is war, Dino!” Midas yelled, and our strange three-way battle was in full swing. Motes of golden dust filled the air, targeted towards Dino and his cronies, but Midas made little effort to prevent us from being in the line of fire. “I’ll call in my forces!” he shouted to his wife, who was regarding us with worry, gnawing on her lips as she made to retreat.

“Be quick, the barrier is under attack… huh… beneath us?”

“I have to stay…” Christina was saying while this all happened at once. “Even if I die… where else can I experience what it truly means to be here in this other world? Besides… my life is in your hands anyway.”

Stupid woman. But… Protecting Hinata and Kazumi-san was non-negotiable, but if Christina wanted to risk her life, that was on her. I them conjured my own winds, blowing away the tiny glittering particles of deadly gold, as well as slamming into the gale of winds and water called on by Dino, the storm fronts colliding with a boom like thunder. That was then joined by a number more different explosive noises, as two more Agadzagadza’s Spawn had been lying in wait below, and now chewed their way through the rock below, bursting into the canyon…

Back in the Material, Hinata and Kazumi-san opened their eyes. I quickly asked her to call Mayumi-san, despite the late hour, some of the threats Dino had made were worrying me. Hinata didn’t hesitate, while Kazumi-san pulled out her hidden weapons, a pair of long metal batons, which doubled as both tasers and wind cutters.

“What’s the situation? Are we okay?” Kazumi-san asked, clearly nervous but resolute.

Extending my senses with aether as Hinata dialled, I shrugged. “There’s several dozen people coming. I can’t imagine all, or even most of them are Chosen, so I should be able to protect us just fine, but…”

“I know it’s late!” Hinata was snapping as Mayumi-san answered on the other end. “If this turns out to be nothing, then I’ll apologise, but… we’ve got a credible threat that a kidnapping attempt is out for you and Kira-sama! Yes, I know you have Chosen guards. Yes, yes, I know! Japan will never let it slide, but… oh, just put Aliyah or Treyvon on, please!” Hinata seemed exasperated by Mayumi-san’s protests.

“…Midas and Hermodike are here somewhere too. I’d imagine they aren’t careless enough to just be diving into the Boundary from their bedrooms with us here, but… even a vault might be breached with enough time.”

“…yes, that sounds good. Akio says you don’t have to show mercy, in fact, better you don’t! Kidnapping uninvolved members of the nobility means war. There are smarter ways to earn money…” Hinata was agreeing with whichever of Trey and Aliyah she was speaking to.

“So, what do we do?” Kazumi-san asked. “If Midas and his wife are dealt with, won’t that make things easier?”

“Yes, but…” I wasn’t sure, but there was a better way. Glancing at the near-invisible threads of adherence tangling me, that I was convinced only I had noticed, I frowned. “…the best way is if I just beat everyone down, and worry about things when we’re the last ones standing…”

In the Boundary, I was putting those words into practice. As the winds clashed and exploded, I pushed through, heading for Dino, but one of his Chosen stepped into my path. I could have avoided him, but I was furious, so spared a moment to attack. Storming Moonlight flashed, and the powerful wooden armour that had covered his skin, giving him a tree-like appearance, was no defence and his arm was severed, silver and ruby blood gushing everywhere. The wound started closing at a visible speed to the naked eye, though it paled compared to Daiyu’s or Eleanor’s regeneration.

The Chosen screamed some words in a native language, woody face twisted into an expression of hatred, and roots burst from the canyon floor. Titan went flying past me, one of the Spawn having swatted him, but despite coughing blood, he had endured the hit.

Time to be quick. I sprayed the golden dust I had gathered up from Midas at the Spawn, and it breathed that in, coughing and hacking, bloody foam quickly sprinkling from its massive jaws. My sword danced, and the roots were severed, along with the legs of my opponent. “Don’t do anything foolish…” I warned as his last arm flew off. “…limbs can be regrown, want to try your head?”

My cold glare halted him, just as one of Dino’s Chosen conjured a strange wooden bow that shone with aether and adherence from thin air. Christina, clearly terrified by the battle raging around us, and also exultant at seeming such an impossible mess, let out a noise of appreciation, but for me it was a problem. It’s aimed at Hermodike…

“Die, bitch!” Adelheid had pressured the enemy Chosen, their speeds had dropped significantly, the weight of their karma heavy on them, so one let out a bitter growl and forced through the blasting storm winds and chaos. Muscles bulged, and a whistling blow hammered down. Adelheid grimaced, dodging aside, but even slowed, this Chosen was quick and powerful.

Yeah, the Chosen here seem a cut above the Japanese average. Perhaps because they’ve been battling each other regularly? It’s the Kodoku in action…

Adelheid was tossed to the side, grimacing and spitting blood as the punch slammed her in the flank. Moments later the rebound staggered the brute as Avenging Judgement triggered, and his own ribs shattered, piercing his lung. Bloody froth foamed from his lips and Adelheid leapt up, heedless of her injuries, small fists breaking his nose and cheek, her fury rising, fortifying her. I scanned her quickly, seeing that while she was hurt she’d live, and turned my attention to the arrow. Midas was moving too, and with a roar a spike of golden metal the length of a finger was shot like a bullet, piercing the archer. With his other hand he tried to form a wall of metal, but the archer, grimacing despite being punctured, grinned and his arrow turned, avoiding it, before swinging back towards Hermodike.

“You bastard…” Midas growled, and the laughing archer suddenly looked horrified as veins of gold were spreading from his injury, and moments later he collapsed, dead, his body necrotising with gold encompassing his internal organs.

“Boom!” The arrow exploded at my word, as light element struck the arrow, and Hermodike blinked, seemingly surprised.

“Midas!” I grated, rather unhappy at how this had all played out. “I just came for the Seeds. I had no intention of hurting you…”

“A hand here, man?” Titan was also spitting blood as he fought one of the Spawn, gashes bloody in his flesh, the edges blackening, as the claws of the Wyrms were tainted with filth. The canyon was a battleground, spiritual beings clashing with Midas’ newly arrived army, and up above the metal needles were shattering, Hermodike’s Buildings being destroyed, though it was coming at heavy cost, as Dino’s forces were significantly weakened, and some Defensive Emplacements in the distance had opened up, brilliant bolts sniping them.

“Sorry, one second!” I deflected a massive spray of fang-like projectiles from one of the Chosen wearing armour made of bones, a few bouncing off my flesh, leaving faint scratches which began to smoke and burn, venom itching before my Ether Healing countered it. Grabbing Adelheid, I pulled her off the Chosen she had beaten to the ground and left a bloody mess. Her face was ghoulish, splattered with her own and her opponent’s blood, but as I poured aether in to Heal her, reason returned. She then flailed her small legs, asking to be put down.

“Sure. Just keep Judging. And keep any eye on Christina too…” The mad scientist was staring around, her mind short-circuited by the chaos, and one cheek was bleeding red and silver but she hadn’t even noticed.  With that said I leapt beside Titan, and grasped one massive reptilian paw that swung down. The impact drove my feet into the ground below, but with aether surging, heightening my Might to its maximum, I twisted, and the ten-metre long lizard flipped, slamming down, exposing its vulnerable neck and underbelly. Then Foehn roared, and the lizard thrashed and screamed, tail smashing rocks from the walls and also moving down a number of attacking spiritual beings. Moments later the lizard died, and amber letters flared across my vision.

You have gained in strength. Your Level has increased from One Hundred And Forty-eight to One Hundred And Forty-nine. Your…

“You think this is how it ends?” Dino roared. His storm winds that had been diminished by Hermodike’s Territory suddenly surged up, and I felt a pulsing in my wrist, a resonance. “No, once I win this battle, and Nkosi’s head is mine… I’ll reign supreme! Shango’s Divine Fury!”

Now lightning was joining the gusting winds and driving bullets of freezing rain, and Midas and me were the two main targets. Midas called upon metal, several long twisted rods rising from the ground, and it drew in the forked bolts, the air stinking of ozone. The storm that flared towards me suddenly twisted, and a ring of light and darkness behind me drew it in like a star orbiting a black hole. Brilliance flared, and I grinned maliciously. “Prominence Dusk!”

“Shit. You were holding back on me…” Adelheid muttered, her small foot smashing the skull of an attacking snake-like spiritual being, showing no mercy. Yeah, this is a war. On small a scale, but mercy isn’t free… She then tugged Christina back. Now half her face was starting to show burns and abrasions, and her clothing was full of bloody holes, the backlash from the rain of watery bullets enough to cause injury. “Fucking idiot, you think this is a stroll in the park? Well here we have the damn salad, don’t we?”

“I not speak German…” Christina managed a halting reply in that tongue, unable to tear her eyes off the spectacle, her injuries seemingly nothing to her. The two remaining Spawn were rampaging, and there were bodies falling down the canyon to smash on the ground around us as the two armies clashed overhead. Dino’s storm, which certainly didn’t seem like a Violet level of ability, was raging, bullets of rain, wind that sheared like blades and booming lightning all descending like the wrath of God, was the backdrop, and the air was full of glittering metal particles that were causing huge damage to anyone who came into contact with them.

Chosen abilities were being thrown with reckless abandon, and at the centre of it all, Hermodike cowered, standing over the remains of the Norse Chosen, blood on her face and clothes, even her Territory unable to protect her. And all around us were nigh-invisible strands of adherence, like we were trapped in a web, her at the centre.

“I hate dancing to other’s tunes.” I grumbled, releasing the trapped energies within Prominence Dusk. One Spawn was immediately disintegrated by flickering flashes of dark lightning, and the battlefield fell silent, sound vanishing, before a massive thunderclap echoed, and the rock wall exploded, tons of rubble sealing that end of the canyon, and burying an unlucky Chosen who had fallen back a moment to recover his strength, the sound of bones shattering revealing his final fate.

For a moment, everyone looked at me, wide-eyed, which bought me a moment to act. Light flashed, beams surging at Dino’s legs and arms, aiming to cripple him, but his storm refracted the bolts. He was winged, and two of his fingers were blasted free, which made him curse. Fortunately another of his Chosen wasn’t so lucky, and the one spamming the poisonous bone fangs toppled, his arms and legs a mass of smoking holes.

“They are flooding in!” Hermodike shouted, pained. “We can’t hold against such numbers!”

“You think I’m a fool…” Dino grinned, sucking at his bloody stumps to stop the bleeding. “…maybe I am. I thought we’d easily have the forces here to crush you all if you decided to double cross me, Khumo. But… I’m a strategist. I don’t use brute force like our idiot lion friend.” He glanced at me then. “You can fix injuries like this, it seems. How about I don’t take out my anger on your fiancée, and you put my fingers back before I strip you of your Seeds and your powers. I’m a kind man, I’ll leave you your life, if you piss off back to…” He dodged as light flashed. “…now, now. Don’t be like…” He screamed as the ground exploded underneath him, and a single bullet of rock ripped into his thigh. He was solid, and protected by an armour of gusting wind, which prevented him from losing his leg, but I wasn’t done.

“Burst!” The rock bullet, which I had created beneath my feet and moved through the ground to strike him as he threatened Hinata, detonated, and Foehn which had been trapped inside gushed out. His screams as his leg was engulfed in the burning yellow napalm was music to my ears.

Christina clapped as if watching an exciting play, and I once more wondered at her sanity. Midas took that moment to create a long sword forged from gold, and he stuck it through the chest of one of Dino’s hapless Chosen, who quickly perished, blood and gold frothing from his mouth. Titan wasn’t idle either, proving why he was a premiere American Chosen despite a plain ability, as he grabbed a fallen boulder, hefting it above him, and with a grunt, hurled it, ploughing through a number of attackers.

“You… fucks. Think… this is… over? I… can’t believe…” I wasn’t going to give him the chance to respond, and a bolt of lightning pierced his head, his brain flaring to ash. Even then, he was smiling, and I had a bad feeling.

“…have to show my… real… ability…” His voice was dancing on the gales he had created, and as his body disintegrated, not into aether but a surging cloud of lightning, his laughter echoed on the winds. “Living Embodiment Of The Storm…”

Back in the Material, I attacked like the storm myself. The ordinary thugs, who were burly men armed with Russian and Chinese-make automatic rifles, were instantly taken down, their wrists and ankles broken, since I was in no mood for mercy. One Chosen was leading them, and he was one I had seen at the gala but who hadn’t spoken, and my Eye detected more of the strange spider-strands of adherence binding him.

 “You’re here? Huh?” He seemed confused to see me, especially as I had dispatched the intruders in mere moments.

“I’m wherever I need to be.” My fist slammed into him, and even with his enhanced stats he was helpless to resist. “That’s mine…” I didn’t have time to mess around making him safe, so I quickly wrenched out his Favour, repairing just enough damage to prevent his life being endangered, but without more Healing or urgent medical attention, he would be left with lasting injuries. As I dealt with him, I suddenly panicked, as I heard a shout.

“Akio-san, it’s…” Kazumi-san’s cry bellowed, and I moved only to see another Chosen had appeared, a small, non-descript dark-skinned man with shaven head and intricate black tattoos covering most of his exposed skin, even his face. Kazumi-san had attacked him with her batons, but now blood was gouting from her shattered arms, but despite that, she had wrapped her legs around him and was trying to bite out his throat, after crying out so I could hear.

My Eye didn’t spot him. Damn, I should remember my Eye is awesome but not infallible. It couldn’t tell the difference between Ginneka, Kinneka and the weaselkin maids originally, either. If this is a stealth-orientated Favour…

Hinata was staring at Kazumi-san in horror, but worse, the phone in her hand was squawking out noises of battle, and I could hear loud cursing in English over it. Fortunately even with my focus split between here and the Boundary I could think and act without a pause, so I vanished in a shower of indigo light and then Kazumi-san was in my arms. Behind her the man was blinking in surprise, as if wondering how I covered the intervening distance in an instant, as if teleporting. Then he was wondering just where his arms had gone, as he collapsed to the ground, the walls painted red.

“It’s fine. You did good.” I assured Kazumi-san as I began to repair her arms, but she stopped me.

“I tried, but against him I was just too slow. I’m… resolved.” She glanced at Hinata, who was shaking, unused to such violence, but trying to hold herself together, as she knew she’d need to be prepared for it to happen again in the future. “Hinata, Akio.” I noticed she dropped my honorific, perhaps due to the stress. “I don’t care about the means. I need power! I’ll give up anything for it. I never want to be so helpless again.”

Setting down Kazumi-san, I shook my head. “Later. For now…” I snatched the phone. “What’s the situation…?”

“Bad, fucking bad…” Aliyah groaned as though she was coughing up blood herself. Fortunately her phone was linked to wireless mic and earbuds so she could talk and fight. “Like we thought, those paper tigers were dogshit. We’re fucking lucky… that… they underestimated Trey and me. But… it’s still not looking good… I…” With that the phone cut off, following a loud crunching noise.

Listening to the sudden dead tone, Hinata looked at me, brown eyes wide with worry. “Akio… Mayumi… Kira-sama… will they… what if…”

“It should be fine.” I reassured her, taking a moment to give her a soothing hug, before I apologised out loud to Midas and Hermodike. “Sorry, I’ll pay for the damn repairs.” I punched a fist through the wall and tore out a ton of internal wiring, plaster and wood scattering everywhere, before releasing a surge of dark element into the mind of the armless Chosen, knocking him out, before binding his legs behind his back and tying them to his neck, so if he struggled he’d strangle himself.

“Anyway… Dino was talking about ransom. Worst case I’ll pay for their return. Hostages have to be treated well to have value. But…” I grimaced. “We need to get back there soon… shit, a worldwide Ring Gate network would be so handy… when I’m Astral Emperor, that’s the first law I’ll impose…”

Hinata forced a smile, pretending she was cheered by that, while back in the Boundary the situation was simultaneously calming and becoming more tense. Without Dino, and with Adelheid’s Jealous Judgement weighing them down, the Chosen and their forces were crumbling. Midas was infuriated, and spikes of golden metal had torn from the ground, piercing another Chosen, transmuting them to a gleaming, screaming statue.

Adelheid had just finished beating down a number of snake-like spiritual beings, trampling them underfoot, and with a barrage of rock bullets I had filled with Foehn, the final Spawn had collapsed and was dying too. The battle on top of the canyon had ended as well, though Midas’ forces had been greatly diminished.

“Was this worth it?” I narrowed my eyes. “Worst case, you could have laid claim to the Seeds that you earned yourselves. I’d probably have walked away.” It would have pained me, but as long as I get the ones from America, those should be enough.

“Worth it?” One of the last standing Chosen under Dino scoffed. He was trying to appear calm, but I could see by the expression on his face he hadn’t expected things to go so disastrously. “You think we’ve lost?”

“Looks like losing to me.” Adelheid spat. “But what can beaten dogs do but yap?”

Christina giggled at that, though then she winced. Veins of gold were slowly creeping through her skin, despite my efforts, the chaotic melee had obviously spread Midas’ poisonous gold element past my defences. With a sigh, I cut into her flesh, using my Eye to guide me, and as blood tainted with gold and aether sprayed from her wounds, flesh mending, she nearly passed out from the pain.

“No kidding.” Titan agreed, taking a moment to catch his breath. “But this ain’t done, ya know.”

“It is. If you’re relying on the forces attacking the house, I’ve dealt with them. The stealthy, tattooed bastard really pissed me off. He’s very fortunate he isn’t dead. Now call Dino back here and get him to call off the kidnapping back in Cape Town. Otherwise I am going to annihilate you all, root and branch, international diplomacy be damned. I need to set an example that nobody profits from messing with those under my protection.”

“You think Dino cares what we think?” One of the bone-armoured Chosen muttered, from where he was lying broken and bloody against a pile of rocks. “We only joined him because it was that or death. Sure, his favoured bastards got these Seeds… but he’s always in it for himself. Just as now…” He nodded knowingly. “We’re all… warriors here. The rewards… for defeating an enemy here…”

A sudden look of horror passed over Hermodike’s features. A flash of distant lightning pierced the sky, and a pillar of storms connected the skies and the earth. Moments later the oppression of the Territory that I had been suppressing vanished, and Hermodike coughed blood, going limp and collapsing, As she did so Midas roared out in rage, howling the name “Dino!” to the sky in elongated fury.

Everyone seemed to be stunned, frozen, and then I vanished, sprays of vivid violet motes of light scattering, and I was atop the platform where the remains of the Norse Chosen were, and I caught the falling woman, Eye blazing. Blood then bloomed as a dozen golden spikes hammered into my body, and I could feel the contagious gold even eating away at the aether my body was using for Ether Healing. With a grimace I unleashed Foehn within me, searing away at that and my own flesh and blood. Amber letters blinked across my vision, but now wasn’t the time.

“Back the fuck off. I’m trying to help…” Her Divine Favour was being ripped from her, and I repaired the damage as best I could. But that wasn’t my entire aim. Aether flooded from me like a storm, adherence as well. With a curse, I drew out everything I had, and grasped the connecting threads that were tearing the Favour from her. The Favour started to deform, but I halted the transmission. The moment I did so, I could sense the one on the other end, Dino.

I see. It’s like that, is it? You’re one cold bastard, but… The spider-like threads of Adherence around me were vibrating, and even as my flesh burned, I grinned balefully. “…for now she’s stable, but Dino’s Conquering her. What about your Territory?”

Midas, who was about to charge me, ground to a halt. “It’s true, I’m under attack, but…”

“In that case, we have to wrap things up quickly.” I advised, my gaze turning back to Dino’s remaining forces. “Every second counts…”

Seeing the cold, glaring eyes of me, Midas, Adelheid and Titan, lacking their numbers and powerful Spawn, the remaining Chosen faltered… Yeah, dealing with the minions isn’t too hard, but… Dino’s far more powerful than we anticipated, so… With a grimace, feeling a little guilty, but taking it for my payment, I expanded the web of adherence and aether I was weaving, and plunged it down into the remains of the Norse Chosen. Immediately a huge rush of energy filled me, and as more letters scrolled across my vision, time froze once more…

You have gained in strength. Your Level has increased from One Hundred And Forty-Nine…