The cave was quite small taking into consideration the size of the monster guarding it. In just a few minutes of relatively slow walk Rex had reached a sort of a room at the end of the tunnel. There, in the middle of it was some sort of an altar, that Rex saw was the center point of energy pathways, that lined all the walls of the room. His ability to see all such energy related things gave him an unparalelled ability to dig deeper and percieve much more of the true nature of things. Throught the way the pathways were deployed, their size, some remnant energy that still sometimes sparked, he could more or less estimate the process of a treasure forming. Hewas well aware that there must be still the system to all theenergy fluctuations and other patterns that are at play in the formation of such treasures, but it did give him some ideas regarding possible spell structures and new applications that could be made.
What laid on the altar was a some sort of sword shaped object. It was glowing white, its for msometimes fluctuacting slightly, as if it wasnt sure what form to take. With his special eyes Rex could see another peculiarity- there were some sort of energy pulsing from teh object. And for whatever reason he knew exactly what it was doing and why. This pulse was looking for a sentient and intelegent life form to take ownership of it, and as such the pulse was there to resonate with that beings prefferences. Taking shape in a weapon of its subconscious desire. And one the weapon resonated with Rex, it changed shape again. This time however,it didnt remain in its translucent and shining form. The weapon morphed in a shape of a greatsword.Almost two meters long, the handle could be held with both hands, if Rex so felt like, but he felt there would be no problem in weilding it as a single handed blade, like he did the champion sword, should not be a problem.
There were no grand decorations, no dragons wrapping around the handle or any such extravagant details. Long, steel like blade with a barely noticable hint or red. Simple hilt, wrapped in some sort of an old cloth, worn out by the looks of it, but still sturdy. A decently sized armguard, and small but sturdy looking pommel. All in all the sword looked worn out but well preserved, its owner would have shoved it quite a bit of love with all the action it has seen.
As expected, Rex was quite pleased with the simple and relatively plain look, and he didnt spend much time, as soon as he knew it was safe, to take the new sword with his right hand, griping it firmly, and feeling the sword almost humming with power. It was as though the sword itself had accepted a new master, and was contently enjoying his presence.
"So simple in design, and yet so beautifull." Rex spoke as he gently slid his hand over its scabbard . There was quite the joy in his eyes. "I suppose such a treasure needs its own name." he added "If only I were good with names. I could give you one that reflects my full scope of apreciation." Rex could sense that the sword had no upper limit in the power it coould exude, since rex could use it as a conduit for mana and cut through almost anything, as long as he had mana to feed the blade. Its ability not taking away from the sharpness it had even without any mana infusions. Rex effortlesly cut apart one of the vyverns scales as a test.
""Limitless. I guess that will be your name. He spoke looking at the blade "Since the only limits that you have are those of your wielder." he smiled at his own naming sense. It wsant great, but he liked this one. Playing around with the feeling of the blade for a few more minutes, Rex turned around and left the cave. he still needed that golden meat and now he also had to get used to the Limitless, and so once outside of the cave, he dived into the hunting adn developing a proper feel for the blade.
Now Rex was descending even faster that before, his new weapon multiplying his speed in dispatching the more defense based chimeras he encountered. For the quick ones and more agressive ones were dealt with using his chains, and so he was once again quite the murdering machine traveling down the mountain. He wanted to reach the valley sooner. It looked like a certified tropical forest down there with countless rivers weaving through the valley between these two mountain chains.
Rex was particularily happy when he finaly encountered non chimera beasts further down the mountain. Beasts that looked like yaks, just twice their size started to appear in groups, and Rex was quite happy when after checking the meat it was red color. but it was lighter red than the meat he farmed in floor thirty. He didnt hesitate much, and got to stuffing his meat rings with just that. Once again his chains proved their versatility and usefulness as he used them to solve it in a much faster rate.
Rex even got lucky when he encountered an oddly colored deer the size of an elephant, with some goldlike fur. Rex had to chase it for more than fifteen minutes at full speed untill he managed to finally catch it and kill it. His reward was quite the beauty as well- his firts ever gold rated meat. He was even slightly temped to cook some here and now, but then remembering his skill in cooking, he decided not to waste the rare ingredients.
Rex kept going on, his mind deep in to the grind, looking for a return tori, using his ability to read energy flows, easing his search. he could somewhat feel a general dirrection they should be found, or some other natural energy siphoning location. His inner compass would basicly bring him to a path home, or to a place where he could try and get killled. Luckaly and not at the same time, he was guided to a return tori as expected. However, it took a few weeks untill he finally found one. Of course he had quite the effective session and a decent power up through drain during that time, moreover he had murdered a few more golden deer. With the elephant sized gold tier beasts meat he could stash quite the sizable stash, he would be enjoying at home.
While Rex was having his fun in the dungeon, the rest of the world didnt stay still. His three associates in Blythe were busting their asses finalizing the details regarding the auction, earning favours, and moving pieces to ensure the event would become a rather important thing on a yearly basis to attend. They met regularily, discussing and planning, exchanging important information about the big players that have already send messages ahead of their arrival for the event. It wsa important to note, that they not only had to care about all the nobility that would arrive, but also quite a few famous adventurers and crafters too, who would auction off some of their better stuff.
Such event would not only be a golden opportunity to earn a premium, if you have some rare and precious items but also a way to mingle and interract with some of the most influential and famous people on this size of the world, since the ones from out of reach with the three month forewarning, could only prepeare and arrive for the one next year, since it had been noted that this was to be a yearly event.
Silvermist elves upper management were having quite frequent meeting between elders and the king as well, since they now had a rather notable problem to solve. They had dispatched an elder to try and salvage the sittuation, since they coud not afford to be on such a talanted blood mages black list. They had even spent quite the pretty penny to gain intell on anything the mage might be interested in. And they had recieved some knowledge that gave them a glimmer of hope. Merchant guild had provided information that Brogni- a slave trader from Blythe had inquired about some rare merchandise a while back. Beautifull women cooks was his request, and with the info on the dwarf, they immediatly asumed that blood mage must have ordered those, since Oronas had informed of only encountering women in the mages mansion, and the place where he was residing. He had taken residence in Blythe and was aquiring staff for it, adn since Oronas concluded the man was quite young, beauty was indeed something that could move such a man. So what better way to at least try and fix the debaucle the young ones had created. So an elder, who was not experienced enough to know when to bow, and who understood the importance of the person they are dealing with.
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Many other noble families also had prepeared some gifts in hopes of rousing teh mages interest, but none other anywhere near enough info in the mage to make even wild guesses regarding his tastes, so money was taken in great amounts, some of the younger generation also taken with them- who knows he might just take fancy to one. Even the ellusive mage guild had made a move, sending a few of their ranks to asess the quality and potential of the new mage. They had one of the most desired things for mages after all, and rarely were there an individual with the gift of magic who hold resist thetemptation of the wealth of knowledge that they posesssed. They even had one of their own very few blood mages in the envoy. What better way to asses the quality of a mage than another mage of their own discipline.
Even in the Eclisiarchy the news were making waves. In a city made mostly of white marbe, with statues of all sort of angels and saints of the nation on almost every corner, stood a grand cathedrall, adorned with gold and silver. It gave off a holy aura, and a light glow of holiness. The seat of power of Eclisiarchy. In one of the enourmous audience halls some twelve men clad in white robes, fingers adorned with expensive looking rings with huge gems on their fingers. Most of the men were moderately fat, showing their overly luxurious lifestyle. They all seemed mostly relaxed, as if yet another mundane meeting was called because some overly zealos fool had gone too far in some other land.
Some time later, the enourmos doors opened, and in came the thirteenth man. he was quite lean, stern expression on the mans face, some spark of insanity dancing deep withing his eyes.A man with a mission, one who would acomplish said mission no matter the means used. Once near the table, he kneeled and spoke
"Revered council members, this lowly servant has finished the cleansing of Frieden, and have answered the call with utmost haste. What are my orders?" Roy Rambert asked as he was kneeling. His god had given him dirrection adn reason to live, and nothing gave him more joy thancleansing the impure filth that failed their divine guardian and averted their gazes from him. And although the man was unreasonably fanatic in his beliefs, he always respected the pecking order, and followed orders to a letter. If he were sent to do something as a subordinate, he would follow that leaders orders perfectly, and his strenght was undeniable. He was a man on the cusp of S class.
"As you must have heard, Blythe has aquired a blood mage and is holding a grand auction. It is said that the mage has decided to offer his services to be bid on." Royce nodded his head in affirmation, to the question of one of the council.
"You will be deployed under Saintess Elena Vex. You job will be to assit her in aquiring the that particular mages unlimited support to our cause. She will be the leader of this taskforce. Fullfill her orders as those were the counclis." another elder spoke and the third added
"And if you happen to discreetly dispose of some Forsaken you happen to encounter there, all the better. All shall be cleansed in the purifying fire of our benevolent god."
Royce knelt now on both knees, took a deep bow, his forehead touching the cold marble floor "As your exelencies command." Deep reverance and insane joy flickered in his eyes. Another mission to further the plans of their god, and another chance to cleanse the filthy heretics. He was also quite elated at the chance to work with the renowned saintess Elena Vex. Those with acsess to mission logs of the agents of the inquisition would undoubtebly praise her. And while she didnt quite employ the same tactics adn methods as he did, she was much more subtle. A wisper here, a message there, the correct pawns moved at the right time and place, and she would achieve what she desired and what was needed of her by the church. Royce knew, that she would be the best candidate to use his tallents to their maximum capacity.
Once Royce had left the audience room, one of the councli members asked
"But is it trully the smartest choice to atempt to chain him as we have planned? What if thigs go wrong?"
"While he is valuable , remember, a nonbelkiever is still a nonbeliever. We shall not debase ourselves to such an extent purely because his skillset is desirable to further our divine cause!"
They went back and fort for a few more minutes. In the end asserting the need to break the mage as they had planned. Only the true believers deserved a to be treated with care and guided as they were meant to be.
Adventurers guild too had heard of the new mage, and they were interested in aquiring his services as well. They had some additional info from their dungeon guards regarding the mage entering and leaving with quite powerfull beings branded, and they also knew he was not an adventurer. Adn that irked them quite a bit. The man was in no way, shape or form under their sphere of influence, and they had to try the same methods of currying favor. Their guild was in a unique position where they could aquire quite insane varuiety of entities to be branded, as such they also had an enourmous need for the services blood mages provided. And the few that were under their banner were quite bussy already. Adventurer guild had even moved some of their higher officials for this event to try and entice the mage to join them.
And unlike the many different powers moving both visibly and with the help of the less savory types, Rex was quite relaxed. He had just left the dungeon, so he did the ussual rounds. First offloading the meat at his mansion, then visiting Eredar and Brogni, to delievr their share. A quick chat with the elf and dwarf, not forgetting this time to notify Brogni to keep his ears up for supper pretty kitsunes with tea making skills and some hot elven beauties on the market, Rex returned home once again.
Aina had gotten super lively once again, almost entirely forgetting her previous trauma. Rex could still feel, it had changed her, as such a thing would change anyone, but she was happy here. She had used this place and the people here as her new fammily, the anchor that kept her sane and stable. What had changed was that she now was not only cheerfull as she was before, but she had gotten quite physical with thegirls in the mansion, not shying away form hugging the girls when she was happy, the gentle elbow in the ribs when joking around and other things an adventurer or a guy would do. So it was no suprise to Rex, when he was tackled by the hyper elf as soon as he entered the main building. She hugged his waist for a moment, then sat on him in a cowgirl position, disregarding and not showing any shame of blush whatsoever, and pinched Rex cheeks.
"Two weeks. You were gone for two entire weeks. Have you any idea how much whining i had to listen to from Irina, Mel and Val? What did you do to them, that they are so into your nightly activities?" She was obviously pouting because she missed him too, but she woudlnt show it like the three girls did.
"Sorry, coudnt find a return tori on the thirty first any sooner, but i have something that should serve as an apology." Rex spoek adn tugged on his string for Aisha. The girls soon appeared, and was exited when she felf her masters call and now in front of him, she was smiling with a genuine and happy smile.
"Aisha, I have brought some even better meat than what we are used to. I want your greatest masterpiece today, we are having a celebration." He spoke as he gently carresed her hair, since the girl had kneeled next to Rex, enabling such an action.
"So, you will have to exuse me Aina, i need to go and exercise before our meal a bit. We will have a chat there later when everyone is gathered." he used his mana chains to rise himself to feet, holding Aina by her waist and placing her on the ground, once he was up. He ruffled her hair a bit, smiled at her and spoke
"I missed you too. I am home."
"Mmm" Aina responded, her smile never dissapearing. She liked her new life. And while she had innitially responded to Rex joke, about her thanking for all he did with some nightly services, with a joke of her own, that she would surely do that one of thes days, she had caught herself thinking of it more and more often, and not in a joking manner. Irinas constant complaints about not getting any for prolonged periods of time didnt help either. Those three would somethimes compare their experiences, to see how Rex's treatment differed. And they went in quite the details. Both Aina and Aisha had listened in on some of those and their imaginations wandered quite a bit after that.
Rex spent the next few hours slating the thirst of Irina, Val and Mel. And they joined for dinner once Lira called them. They had quite hapy meal with everyone praising the kithen staff with Aisha as their main cheff for the divine food theiy were having. Rex knew he had to gift a few killos of this stuff to Eredar for the crystal and infor on the grades, but the rest would be used quite conservatively. Maybee, just maybee he would use some for super special meetings, but mostly he would use the gold grade meat for celebration with his girls.
Less than ten days remained till the auction, and then Rex could relax with some more grinding, maybee trying his hand at some other dungeon, to catch himself some exotic monstergirl. After dinner, Rex had to continiue where he left of with the trio, since they were now hungry for more, and he was more than willing to provide.