Jazmel, Bannerman, Baek and Mary moved through the crowds and simply moved around. The system hadn't initially offered any tasks or quests and so people were just mulling around, making friends, and trying to ally themselves.
Jazmel had already met two people he knew, the divine flame guild; the vice leader had tried to recruit him after the beast tide, but he had declined. The next person was Circe and the house of Artemis, a big guild that was well known for the fact they only accepted girls and women.
But other than that, Jazmel hadn't met anyone else. He was a little worried by that, but Baek and Mary shrugged telling him not to worry.
“You just started up your faction, nobody is going to know you yet. You need to focus on growing it and your reputation will work for itself.” Mary told him.
“You should focus on building a stable foundation, your faction will rise as you do.” Baek said and he simply listened to the words of both his mentors.
Bannerman simply followed him, diligently watching everyone around them. he was taking his guardianship seriously and in truth, Jazmel liked how serious he was.
The guild hall was a monolith, Jazmel couldn’t tell if he was outside or if they were in a building or a mountain. He couldn’t tell. All that he knew was that the consortium had been built and people seemed to frequent its halls for the growth of their groups and factions.
Jazmel was moving through the crowds, moved towards a section where he thought some stairs might be. He didn’t even get a chance before the system chimed. Aloud this time and for all to hear.
DING!
THE CONSORTIUM HAS GONE ON FOR A FEW HOURS!
…
ALLIANCES HAVE BEEN MADE!
FRIENDSHIPS FORMED!
NOW YOU MUST DELVE AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED!
…
GATES WILL OPEN ALL MUST ENTER, LEAD YOUR PEOPLE AND SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED!
THE REPUTATION YOU BUILD WILL BE THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH YOUR NAME RINGS!
The system explained all and Jazmel nodded, he wasn’t surprised or curious. A task seemed the most appropriate idea.
“I wonder what the system will ask us.” Jazmel said to Bannerman who simply rolled his shoulders and waited for their gate to appear and as if on cue the labyrinth appeared before them. the other waited for Jazmel to step through first and he did, he advanced.
He stepped through the portal and the gate did as it usually did, one step and he was in another world, another land.
DING!
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE BRADDON HILLS!
CREATURES HAVE OVVERUN THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE OF BRADDON!
…
YOU MUST HELP THEM DRIVE BACK THE BEASTS!
THE CREATURES HAVE TRIED TO CREATE A FOOTHOLD IN THE HILLS!
FIND IT AND DESTROY IT!
…
The system chimed into explanation, and he sighed, but then he turned to Mary and smiled.
“Do you have the flag on you?” he asked, and she nodded.
“Always, I always have it with me.” She told him and he smiled at her, call the retainers here. I will set a task for them all as soon as they get here.
She did and the system drew up energy from them and a pop-up notification showed for both he and Mary, he knew she gained one because she looked in the same way he did.
DING!
THE RALLYING FLAG HAS BEEN RAISED!
WILL YOU USE IT TO CALL ALL YOUR FACTION TO YOUR LOCATION?
Y/N?
BE WARNED THAT IT HAS A 350 HOUR COOLDOWN PERIOD!!
Jazmel was shocked, that was almost two weeks! That was a long time, but he wanted to complete this task very well. He cursed a little but accepted. Once he accepted, four gates appeared in front of them, and retainers began pouring through.
All the Seekers appeared, they looked around but once they saw Mary standing with the rallying flag in her arms, they quickly formed ranks. The next ones to come through were the Rankers, his friends and all of them seemed ready, their eyes curious about what was going on but when they saw Jazmel, Bannerman, Mary and Baek they simple focused and awaited words.
The gates closed and Jazmel almost grew sad that Sadé hadn't come, but a single gate opened and through it flew Paldane, he had grown! He was around the size of a house cat now, and he landed on Jazmel’s shoulders and curled himself around them, nuzzling his companion.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
You finally woke up? Jazmel sent to him and Paldane puffed warm smoke.
I brought the fox. Paldane said and before Jazmel could ask him what he meant; he noticed the gate hadn't closed. A big fox bounded through the gate, and it closed as two women sat on its back, one he knew very well and the other he was familiar with. Sadé and Corin had answered the call too. He couldn’t help his happiness, he smiled, and she smiled at him, and he felt his smile become a grin. Baek coughed, drawing him back and he coughed himself trying to hide his smile behind his hand.
She looked so good; she wore armour now. Lithe and elegant, elven for sure and her hair had been braided to stay out of her face and out of her way. He loved it, but he could never tell her that.
He focused, he willed his faction system screen up and gave them all the task, sharing his own quest and Mary leapt in charge as soon as the quest appeared for everyone.
“I know you all can read! Form up, ranks form, and prepare to move out, you know who you should be grouped with, I want groups together under group leaders and then I want group leaders ready and waiting for their captains!” she shouted, and the seeker tiers rushed around in their formation, she had drilled this into them, and they were rushing to remember and not be the one she picked out.
As the faction war commander, she was able to give titles of command under her and she had made captains out of Bannerman, who she made a scout for his wolf senses. His formation had been called the claw and they all waited for him. Bannerman moved over to stand before them and when they were ready he nodded at Mary, and she gave him the go ahead. He split off, him and his seekers who had trained to up their agility, dexterity, and perception. They were the scouts and the claw of the black wing faction.
Next up was Patton and Gilmore, who shared the captaincy they functioned as scouts too but for strategy they led their troop in the wake of Bannerman’s and tried to form an understanding of the landscape and also the best place to set up base.
After them was Gelth, he led a troop of strength. They were all powerful and aiming for strength, they had become known as the mountain breakers and focused on strength and their abilities surrounding it. this was the vanguard of the faction, the main group of attack. They began to head in the same direction a relentless and unhidden march, showing the force of the faction and all its might.
Those who maintained magic and Mana as their focus were grouped with Elai and Wendy. They were long range attackers and healers mostly. Since the attack on the faction outpost, they had decided to create such a group, and this would be to stall and stop casualties. Jazmel had agreed to it and both the girls, Wendy and Elai had prepared this themselves.
With the main groups moving off, Jazmel found himself with Baek, Katie, Sadé and Corin.
“Well lets go and slay some beasts!” Katie said, her chains whirling and wrapped around her. She preferred to move alone and free, she had chosen to not take a captain position and Jazmel respected her for it, she had told him. She would give her all for the faction and that was enough for him.
Those few had begun to follow after the faction, heading towards the hills of Braddon.
“Hello.” He heard quietly and turning to the sounds of the voice, that he knew so well. He saw Sadé and she smiled at him, her face so cute.
“How are you?” he asked, and she shrugged, and he understood how she felt too.
“Just awaiting the coronation.” She said explained and he nodded, remembering that he had promised to attend.
“and the Black Wing Faction will be there.” He promised and she smiled, thanking him with her eyes.
Corin and Baek had made themselves busy with the journey and they moved at their own pace, comfortable wherever they went. Jazmel had been keeping a keen sight of things, his eyes allowed him to see Mana around him and just that sight alone allowed him to keep an eye on all things around him. It kept him in tune and safe, in these places.
DING!
THE BRADDON HILLS HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY MONSTERS!
THEY ARE AWARE OF YOUR APPROACH; THEY HAVE COME TO STOP YOU!
Jazmel watched the screen as it floated before him, and he flicked it away from his sight.
“We got company coming!” he bid them, and his friends prepared.
“I hope they brought their best.” Katie said, whirling her chains about her.
At first there was a din in the air, a tension built and Jazmel couldn’t pinpoint what it was and yet it built still, in the air as heavy as feeling of doom. But then the sounds caught up and Jazmel could hear the rushing of creatures and monsters.
the Braddon hills were hundreds, some were as tall as hills and some were simply small mounds around them all. Jazmel and his friends currently stood on one, but they were not overrun yet. All the monsters rushed forward, and he could see Gelth, and his vanguard were already embroiled in battle.
The first monster reached the hill that they had made it to and Jazmel met him with a swing of his sword.
Raven’s cleaving descent!
Jazmel cut down the monster and it fell bloodily and in pieces.
DING!
TIER II BLOODY KNOLL KILLED!
Jazmel cut through the group that rushed him and his friends. He didn’t even use skills, simply the sharpness of his blade and the might of his arms. When he was done, corpses laid around them and some even began to tumble down the hill, he didn’t even bother to pick through the corpses. They had all been tier II, he had long since passed the need for such loot and drops.
“Let’s move on, before he steals all the stats and exp!” Katie mocked and whirling her chain, she wrapped it around her chest and forearms. Sadé leapt onto the back of Kazumi and then Katie joined her, they bounded ahead, to support Gelth and the vanguard. Corin flew up into the sky, following her mistress and ensuring she was protected from above.
Jazmel found himself standing on the hillock with Paldane wrapped around his shoulders and sleeping soundly. With Baek standing beside him and waiting patiently.
He descended the hillock and the roar and squeal he heard, drew his attention. Charging at him were five boars, they were much bigger than any he had ever seen before. They were monsters of the system and had been twisted and evolved to fit the needs of quests and tasks. He cut down the first two and the other three rushed passed him, before wheeling round to take another charge at him.
Great rumbling dragon!
Raven’s cleaving descent!
He stunned them with the dragon made out of Mana, it seemed to pull fear out of creatures and men alike. He then cut through them with his new skill, the merging of cleave and fall of the black raven had created a mighty swing skill. He could almost make out the wing of a raven flaring from his sword as he struck, and Mana forced his sword through the boars. There was some resistance and he realised that their bodies were quite hardy. After they died he accepted the tusks, they were made of keratin and full of Mana. He wondered if armour could be imbued or enchanted with it.
X10 TIER II BRUTE BOAR TUSKS GAINED!
He followed the din of battle and the trail of monster bodies. His faction was clearing the way and after the boars and knolls he had killed himself. No other creatures made it to him, he decided to see where he could find any civilisation any proof of people. he raced up a hill, rushing to find a vantage point.
Reaching the top of the hill, he could see all around him, the hills were not covered by trees. So almost everything was covered, but he noticed in the distance a fort. Its walls were blackened and smudged from attacks. Though it boasted high walls, he could see that the defenders that lined the ridges were few and far between.
He raced down from his hill and ran towards the fort, running past his faction and not stopping to see or explain. The fort’s doors were open, and he needed to know just how badly they were doing.