"In what universe, do they think that I will ever help them after that assasination attempt?" Maxine asked.

"I know you are angry, Maxine, but they really need your help," Amanda replied, "General Cullens knew you would still be angry and offered to pay you one hundred thousand dollars to assist them." Only one hundred thousand? Cheap bastard. Right now I could probably take on an essence beast horde with just my Shadow Wolves, but beggars can't be choosers. Not to mention I can't be seen controling my Shadow Wolves or I may be viewed as a major threat by the government. Regardless, we really need that money to pay the bills. Let's see if I can get something else out of this.

"I will do it with an additional condition," Maxine stated, "They have to give me access to all of the new herbs that they have gathered and don't tell me they don't have any. I saw a lot of them in that storage room and I know that was only one of the storage rooms that they had." Maxine had actually been looking for essence empowered herbs, but hadn't had any luck so far. She had even given her Shadow Wolves orders to look for any herbs giving off very faint traces of essence to no effect. She had done all of that in hopes that Poison Emperor Guan would eventually teach her alchemy, but all she managed to acquire was a seventeen doses of Troll's Blood Sap and the three aphrodisiacs from the shadow world.

"I will relay that for you, Maxine," Amanda said, "I already told them that giving you money alone wasn't going to persuade you to help. So, why do you want those herbs anyways?"

"I know the medicinal effects of a lot of those herbs, but they are way better when you combine certain ones using a special method," Maxine answered.

"How do you do that?" Amanda asked.

"Damned if I know, but I know someone that does," Maxine answered.

"Oh, alright. Do you mind sharing their name?" Amanda asked.

"I do mind as a matter of fact," Maxine replied, "Is there anything else?"

"Just one thing," Amanda said, "How did you arrange for that meteorite to kill General Jones?"

"I didn't. It was a freak accident," Maxine responded, "And if you don't recall, I wasn't in any condition to arrange anything."

"That's not what the top brass think, but they don't have any real proof. It's just that the timing of his death was too coincidental and there was a fragment of that meteorite lodged into his spine with traces of essence on it," Amanda stated, "It wasn't yours, but it had the exact same essence wavelength as the entity that fought that dragon. I felt that there was something else they weren't telling me, but when I asked, they said it was top secret." I doubt they would. They don't want you to spread the truth on the off chance that you will tell everyone that he is the reason that Earth has essence in the first place.

"That's weird. I wonder why they were keeping it from you," Maxine said while playing dumb. She didn't think the public would react well if they found out that Guan was the person that is responsible for the fact that Earth has essence on it in the first place.

"I have no idea, but at least I have some good news," Amanda said.

"Really? What is it?" Maxine asked.

"Those asshat senators finally caved. They nearly soiled themselves when they saw the reports of those essence beast hordes and their estimated numbers," Amanda said, "Apparently they didn't think the next essence beast hordes wouldn't appear for a few years due to the losses they suffered during the last one."

"Essence beasts breed faster than rabbits, but you can't expect politicians to know that. Even the zoologists got it wrong since they based it off of what they know about normal animals," Maxine stated, "Although the essence beast populations should stabilize in a little less than two years if events play out in the same fashion as before. Assuming we last that long anyways." 

"Why do you say that? What are we going to face in the future?" Amanda asked.

"Towards the end of those two years, the last two essence beast hordes will have something stronger than an iron stage essence beast leading them," Maxine said as she shivered remembering those things. One was a strange looking Terror Bear that was twice the normal size and had silver colored claws. The other was what could only be described as a wingless green dragon. It took over fifty peak iron stage essence cultivators to take either one of them down and even then they had heavy losses. That was just in the area she had been in. She had no idea about what the other areas of the country had to deal with.

"Please tell me you are messing with me," Amanda said.

"I wish I was," Maxine said.

"Let's hope we will have more essence cultivators to face them by that point or at least a weapon capable of killing those things," Amanda said hopefully.

"Agreed," Maxine said and noticed Silky started to stir, "I need to go now unless there is something else you wanted to talk about."

"Nope," Amanda said, "Talk to you later."

"Later," Maxine said and she hung up.

Maxine gently brushed Silky's hair as Silky opened her six eyes and smiled. "Hey, mama."

"Don't 'hey mama' me. You did something really stupid earlier. You could have easily hurt yourself by overdrawing essence," Maxine reprimanded Silky.

"I am sorry, mama. I just wanted to look more like you," Silky said and Maxine's expression softened.

"I know, Silky, but you shouldn't risk hurting yourself like that," Maxine said.

"Alright, mama. I will be more careful from now on," Silky said.

"Good," Maxine said, "Can you move anything other than your head?"

"I think so," Silky said as she sat up, and tried to stand. However as soon as Silky put weight onto her feet, it became clear that she was having a great deal of trouble maintaining her balance and quickly widened her stance. She ever so slowly took one step at a time while trying not to fall over while Maxine observed her. Maxine was prepared to move quickly in case Silky started to fall since this was technically the first time she ever walked with just two legs. However her fears were unwarranted as Silky's movements got smoother. It seems Silky's freakish learning speed applies to this as well.

Just as Silky reveals a big smile, Maxine praised her, "Good job, Silky. Now let's go get some lunch."

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Maxine stood up and walked to the kitchen to make a few sandwiches as she kept an ear out to make certain that Silky didn't fall down. However while she was making them, Hellen sent her a message with spiritual sense, "Maxine, I don't think helping out the military this time will be a good idea."

"Why not?" Maxine responded with her own spiritual sense.

"You know perfectly well why not," Hellen said, "What do you think will happen if you use that armor your father got you while the essence cultivators from other worlds are watching? It would be the same as announcing you have a powerful backer and that could only be Guan. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch for them to come to the conclusion that you are his daughter." 

"Oh, shit. I never thought about that," Maxine answered, "Couldn't I just make it look like my normal essence armor?"

"That would probably work, but it would be better if you didn't use it," Hellen said.

"Alright, but how do I keep my essence armor and the Shadow's Embrace armor separate?" Maxine asked in disbelief. 

"Just focus on keeping that armor inside of your body. Only use it if you have no other choice," Hellen advised.

"Alright, I should be able to survive without it," Maxine said confidently.

"I am not as confident as you are," Hellen stated, "Improving your blade skills would make me feel better about it. They are barely at the beginner level and focus too heavily on attack. Fortunately I know a couple blade techniques that you can use. Just relax your mind and I will transmit them to you."

"Alright," Maxine replied as she finished up making the last of the sandwiches and did as Hellen asked. Her mind was filled with two techniques using a bladed weapon. Flowing Blade was the first technique to be transmitted. It was a very basic technique meant to lay a foundation for future techniques. Fortunately it was easy to learn. The second technique was called Yin Yang Blades. It was a dual weilding technique and it had just as many attack moves as defensive ones. However this one required her to master the Flowing Blade before it could be used. Regardless the Flowing Blade technique made her own self-taught blade skills look like garbage.

With a thought, Maxine had her shadow clone train in the Flowing Blade. She wanted it to get the basic movements down before she trained it herself to ingrain it into muscle memory. Afterwards, she quickly brought the sandwiches to the dining table and ate lunch with Silky. After they were done, Maxine recieved another call from Amanda.

"So, what did General Cullen say?" Maxine asked as soon as she answered her phone.

"He said he can't give you access to the herbs in storage," Amanda said, "However he can offer you essence cores." 

"You should know better than anyone that I can get those myself," Maxine responded.

"I am well aware," Amanda said, "And I know you are still going to help. You are too kind hearted not to." 

 "You're right," Maxine said.

"Patrick and the others are going," Amanda said, "By the way, did you know Maxwell's sister is an essence cultivator?" WHAT?! 

"Alice is an essence cultivator?!" Maxine asked in disbelief, "How strong is she?" Didn't Patrick tell Maxwell what happened to Alice in the previous timeline?! Or maybe he did and that is why Maxwell taught her how to cultivate. But why would my other self be so stupid as to allow her to go into a battlefield? Does he want her to die?! Maxine felt tears well up in her eyes as the memory of Alice's death came to the surface of her mind. Alice had gone out with her companions for a simple herb harvesting task and they had been attacked by another group. By the time Maxine's group had found Alice, it was too late. Alice's arms and legs had been cut off and she had been raped repeatedly. The only mercy that had been given to her was that she had been killed afterwards. That one event is why Maxine felt the urge to murder rapists on sight. It was a way to avenge her sister.

"Yes, she is and is at copper rank seven," Amanda said, "How did you know her name?"

"Maxwell talked about her last time I saw him, but he didn't mention that she was an essence cultivator," Maxine lied while thinking of a way to keep Alice out of the battlefield or definite method to protect her amidst it, "I think I should call Maxwell to try and convince Alice not to go. I don't think she realizes how nasty an essence beast horde can be."

"Go ahead. That stubborn girl wouldn't listen to me at all," Amanda said.

"Will do," Maxine said, "Bye." 

"Goodbye," Amanda said as she ended the call.

Maxine sat at the dining table for several more moments while thinking of why Alice wanted to go in the first place. Since Maxine didn't know what was going on, she shook her head to herself and tried to recall her cellphone number from the previous timeline. I really should have asked him what it was last time I saw him. Fortunately she somehow still remembered it and called Maxwell.

"Hello. Who is this?" Maxwell asked over the phone.

"It's Maxine," Maxine replied and decided she would get some information from Maxwell first before talking to Alice, "Why the fuck is your sister participating in fighting off an essence beast horde? And why haven't you convinced her not to go in the first place?"

"She thinks she is invincible now that she is an essence cultivator," Maxwell explained in a panic before he could regain his wits, "Why the fuck do you care? She isn't your sister." 

"I care because if she dies, you will be in a world of pain and will be useless in a fight," Maxine stated, "Now put her on the damn phone." 

"Alright," Maxwell said, "She might listen to you more than me anyways. She only wanted to become an essence cultivator because she wanted to fight beside you. Alice someone wants to talk to you." 

"Hello?" Alice said. Maxine felt joy as soon as she heard Alice's voice. To her, it had almost been five years since she heard her sister's voice.

"Hello, Alice. This is Maxine," Maxine said calmly, "Why do you want to go fight against the essence beast horde? At your level, it's basically suicide."

"Maxine? As in Maxine Levings?!" Alice asked excitedly. Maxine got annoyed that Alice ignored her question.

"Yes, that's me," Maxine said while trying to remain calm, "Now answer my question."

"I want to be like you," Alice answered, "You fought and killed over a dozen of those rat things at your middle school, killed that overpowered bear and single handedly killed two more iron stage essence beasts." It seems someone is exaggerating my feats.

"First off, it was three rats not a dozen and I didn't battle them. I was running and hiding during the majority of that attack and only fought when I had no other choice. I had a nice high powered rifle and artillery support when I fought the Terror Bear," Maxine corrected Alice, "As for the two iron stage essence beasts, I had alot of help from your brother and my other friends to kill them and if you don't recall, I was hospitalized afterwards." Alice was stunned into silence from Maxine's admission. However she didn't stay silent for very long.

"I am still going," Alice stated, "You might need my help."

"I don't need help. Least of all from a girl with zero combat experience. If anything you will be a distraction for both me and your brother," Maxine told Alice, "Which could get one or both of us killed."

"But what if I...," Alice tried to say something. However Maxine cut her off, "No, regardless of what you do, You WILL BE in the way. Now call Amanda and tell her that you won't be participating. That way both me and your brother will be at ease."

"Fine," Alice said angrily with a hint of defiance before hanging up. I don't like how Alice sounded defiant. Please don't let Alice get into one of her stubborn moods. Maxine quickly called Amanda again when she realized that she didn't know when or where they were going to fight an essence beast horde. 

"Amanda, I am sorry to bother you again," Maxine stated over the phone.

"It's alright," Amanda answered, "What is it?"

"I was wondering when and where the essence beast horde that me and the others will be fighting," Maxine said. For the instant that Maxine waited for Amanda's reply, she had her shadow clone that was practicing the Phantasmal Steps of the Shadow Cat appear next to her Shadow Wolves through a portal in anticipation of having it lead the Shadow Wolves towards the battlefield. However she would have it combine with an iron stage Shadow Wolf to make it appear that it was a wolf girl rather than Maxine's shadow clone and have it arrive moments before the fighting starts. Unfortunately if it is too far away or is going to happen too soon, not all of her Shadow Wolves will be able to make it. Her bronze stage ones might have to stay behind.

"I think it's in Pennsylvania about 40 miles southwest of Pittsburg in a state park," Amanda said happily, "As for the time, we will be starting our attack around two in the afternoon." If my Shadow Wolves and my shadow clone leave right now, they should be able to make it with a few hours to spare. That will make it easier for me and the others to have an easier time fighting the essence beast horde. Now I should practice the Flowing Blade technique and I can show Silky my dragon while I am at it. Hopefully that blade technique won't be too hard to master.