After a short delay, mainly because Droa’va had to grab her reserve stock of pills, Tepo, Yerive, Droa’va, and Varei, gathered at the golden bridge.
“Everyone ready?”
Tepo’s question was met with determined faces. Everyone knew they would enter a war zone, but no one shrank back.
Tepo felt some gratification as he registered his group with the Hub City Alliance.
Soon, they joined a large group and let a golden armored soldier lead them through the dungeon towards the World of Nurturing Stone.
The passage still wasn’t easy, forcing the group to rest once, before finally arriving at the other side.
Arriving in the Star Valley Hub City, situated under the bright light shining from one of the holes in the overworld, Yerive couldn’t help but ask:
“So, how do we reach the other Hub City? Do we use our ships?”
“I guess this is plan B. First, I wanted to try joining a caravan again.”
“Just lead the way, Tepo.”, agreed Droa’va.
With everyone following Tepo’s lead they quickly left the city, arriving at the Blue Alliance Camp outside. Going through the annoying procedure of registering Varei and Droa’va they entered the guest area.
Tepo and Yerive already knew what to look out for, so they quickly headed towards the busy caravans.
But before arriving, Tepo suddenly stopped in place, staring at two men not far away.
A burly man with an imposing posture and a long black ponytail, as well as an even burlier man with arms like tree trunks, grinned at Tepo.
“Hahah! What? Don’t recognize us anymore?”
A loud laugh suddenly broke the silence.
His friends were confused as Tepo spoke with a smile on his face:
“Lao De? Lao Ru? Great to see you again! What are you doing here?”
Tepo hastily stepped forward, bowing quickly as a greeting before exchanging short hugs.
“Of course we came here to help you!”, exclaimed Lao De loudly, leaving Tepo surprised.
“What? How did you know?”
“Isn’t it obvious? As soon as we learned that war had broken out, we came here to wait for you.”
Lao Ru spoke in a matter-of-fact voice.
Suddenly a question came from behind Tepo.
“Tepo, are those friends of yours?”
“Oh of course. Sorry.
Lao De, Lao Ru, those are Yerive, Droa’va, Varei.”
“Nice to meet you, guys.”
“Hello, humans.”
“Are you really here to help us?”
Everyone was surprised after the introduction, marveling that Tepo knew people who voluntarily followed him into a war.
But for Lao De and Lao Ru this was only normal. Last time after helping Tepo they reported to the Web and received a lot of contribution points.
Now that a new opportunity presented itself, the brothers knew they couldn’t miss it.
For them this war wasn’t an unacceptable level of danger anyways, with the strongest known combatants being the crown princes with the power of domain lords.
As ascendants themselves as long as they weren’t surrounded, they were confident in preserving their lives.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Tepo could roughly guess these matters, but he was thankful nevertheless. As were his friends.
Thus, after a short introduction the group of six took the two brothers’ own stone train and traversed the World of Nurturing Stone.
***
Back in the City of Nine Suns. In a luxurious manor a mature woman was seated on an armchair, her eyes portraying sadness as she stared at the bed not far away.
A young man slept there with a pale complexion on his handsome face.
This was Corian Gold, who hadn’t awoken since the fight against Tepo.
Suddenly a door opened, an old man with straight back entering and respectfully stopping behind the woman.
“Speak.”
“Yes, madam. Important news.
The mark we left on that student has left the World of Nine Suns.”
The mature women abruptly turned her head, sharp eyes staring at the butler.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, madam.”
“Why are you only reporting now? Didn’t we agree to act as soon as he leaves the forum?”
“Madam, I don’t know how, but the student evaded our detection.”
“Useless! Kill all those useless idiots who were tasked with observation!”
“… yes, madam.”
“Do we have someone stationed in the World of Nurturing Stone?”
“Only some small teams.”
“Mobilize them all! What about mercenaries?”
“This might take too long.”
“Do it anyways! He has to return someday!”
“Yes, madam.”
“Good! Now leave, and don’t return without his head!”
Looking in his madam’s crazed eyes, the butler didn’t dear to hesitate, immediately following orders.
As the door closed again, Corian’s mother looked back at her son, murmuring quietly:
“Don’t worry darling, mother will take revenge for you! Your useless father is only making empty promises…
But I’m here for you! You just need to wake up…”
***
Suddenly multiple small ships left the Star Valley Hub City. Those were stone gliders, hovering close to the ground but at high speeds.
Tepo and his friends didn’t suspect anything as they traveled with the stone train, preparing plans for the World of Carrying Winds.
Lao De and Lao Ru with their experience provided a lot of help, especially the intelligent Lao Ru.
Meanwhile Varei stared out of a window, taking in all the new sceneries. The little spirit marveled at the large hole in the overworld above them.
Suddenly though he squinted his eyes, staring at something in the distance.
“I could’ve sworn something just moved behind the rocks over there...”
Tepo overheard Varei mumbling something.
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Wait.”
Not giving a concise answer, the spirit suddenly closed his eyes. A large amount of his force was moved, pushing his [God's Soul] to its limits.
An ever-increasing area fell in Varei’s vision.
“Ah!”
“What?”
“Guys, we are getting surrounded!”
“What?! Are you sure?”
“Who?”
“Really?”
Everyone reacted to Varei’s announcement with surprise. Although they were prepared for danger, no one expected it to come before reaching the World of Carrying Winds.
“Ok guys, no time to panic! We need to act!”
Tepo trusted Varei deeply, not questioning anything, but directly reminding the others.
“Tepo is right. Let’s not waste any time!”
As soon as Lao Ru spoke, he began to change directions.
“What’s the plan?”, asked Droa’va with a solemn face.
“Fight our way out of course!”
Lao De already had excitement in his eyes, ready to bash some heads in.
“Fight? We don’t even know who we’re dealing with.”
“Fight first, ask questions later. No matter how strong our enemies are, not acting is the worst we can do!”
“My brother is right. Let’s attack one side first. The others will be hindered by terrain.”
With the two veterans already coming to a decision, the other warriors stopped questioning.
A tension brewed within the stone train as it left its path and suddenly raced down a steep slope.
Trees were crushed and plants ripped out of the floor.
The sturdy vehicle created its own path, destroying the beautiful forest in its way.
Droa’va had a distressed look on her face, but she also knew that that this was necessary.
At the bottom of the hill a glider raced past the forest, not daring to behave like the stone train. It was light and fast, but also fragile.
Five men and women traveled withing the glider, clad in black leather armor and with cold expressions.
Their job was to pass the target, drive up the hill on a smaller path ahead and cut off the way.
Although they didn’t expect the target to find two strong allies, the warriors were still confident in their plan.
No word was spoken among the group. Thus, they soon heard a rumble drowning out the continuous sound of the wind.
A man sitting to the right furrowed his brows as he looked at the hillside. Instantly his eyes widened. He spotted plants and debris spewing in the air.
“Boss, there!”
“Hmm?”
The boss was deep in thought, preparing for the fight ahead, thus reacting slowly.
As he finally turned his head, his eyes showed deep disbelief.
“HOW?!”
“Everyone, get out!”
With the boss’s shout, the trained group simultaneously acted, jumping out of the fast-moving glider.
A moment later the boss also got out, putting away his vehicle, staring at the hill with sharp eyes.
He didn’t understand how they were discovered but his job didn’t change. He was determined to stop the stone train until the other teams arrived.
Thud! Thud!
Heavy steps sounded as the boss walked towards the side.
He stopped, wood splinters already crashing against his armor, announcing the stone train’s imminent approach.
The solemn man turned around, two swords appearing in his hand, his eyes focused on the hillside.
The devastation caused by the stone train got closer and closer.
Tall trees got ripped apart one after another.
Finally, a glimpse of a brown vehicle could be seen through the dense foliage.
Boom!
A moment later the stone train broke out of the forest.
“AHH!”
With a loud shout the boss gathered all his strength, encouraging himself.
White light enveloped the swords he held behind his back.
Suddenly he swung them forward, starting the fight with his strongest spell:
“Double Crescent!”