Everything was going smoothly, with just a few days left until they would successfully cross the border into space controlled by the Chaotic Conglomeration. So of course that was when they ran into a patrol.
It was really quite unfortunate, given that they weren’t planning to stop in another system along their route. However, they were already well into the system when the patrol came from behind the local star, their energies having been greatly muted by its power. It should have worked in return, which meant they basically stumbled upon the ship.
Velvet briefly considered immediately attempting to take them out. However, that came with too many risks. Risks of their ship getting destroyed, risks to the lives of Misi, Juli, Jyotsana, and Yuval. Even Chidi might be at risk, if the enemy concentrated on him first for some reason. Not that they likely would, as any Integration cultivator would assume they could easily take down someone who appeared to be a LIfe Transformation cultivator.
Durff would be fine though. He was far more durable than the twins, and there were no Augmentation cultivators among their enemies. Likewise, Velvet had no fear for her own life. She simply wasn’t a defender and couldn’t guarantee protecting the rest.
The ships were too spread out in their formation for her to be confident in swiftly taking them down, and they were already too close. Besides, they had planned for a possibility like this.
A strand of energy extended towards them, indicating the commander of the patrol. An older man, not that his personal details made any particular difference for how Velvet would react to the encounter.
“Unknown cultivators, state your business approaching restricted territory.”
Velvet responded swiftly. “We are planning to join the fight against the Chaotic Conglomeration. Our goal is the spoils of war.”
“Do you have military identity tokens?”
“We were planning to get them before heading to Taon.”
“You should have registered in the core systems. Prepare to be boarded for inspection.”
Well, that was to be expected. Unfortunately, they didn’t really have access to tokens from the western border through their current spy network. Technically, her excuse was reasonable but that didn’t prevent things like this.
Fortunately the ship was set up for various situations. It wasn’t a model entirely meant for stealth, but it would be rather wasteful if it stuck out like… well, a half-tech ship among more traditional models. Currently, it was in a form somewhat reminiscent of Numerological Compact design. They used very different aesthetics than a traditional sailing ship, and their propulsion was entirely formation based. It would feel similar enough to their ship, with some illusions included of course. Just enough to make things feel more right.
“We will comply,” Velvet said. Whether she meant it or not… well, it would be easier if they took out some people up close first. Potentially keeping them alive so people might not try to blow up the ship, though moving in for a quick assault seemed more appealing. The total number of opponents wasn’t terribly high, and all the ships got quite close.
But a patrol going missing might cause more trouble in the future, even if they were entirely successful. So subterfuge was where they were at.
“What a group you’ve got here…” the old man said after he boarded the ship. He was flanked by guards, of course. Velvet was hiding her cultivation, so it would seem safe enough for him. “Seems more like a group of bandits or outcasts.”
“Our positions within our various sects have not always been what we preferred,” Velvet said. “We joined together to seek opportunity.” Once again, she used as much truth as possible. Especially for the sake of those who were… less functional liars. “The young one and I are members of the Solar Wind Sect. This one was almost a member of the Void Blades before the… event.”
“Let them speak for themselves,” the man said. “You two, what is your sect?”
“We study the school of Esoteric Mystery,” Misi said. “Myself and my twin sister both.” Juli nodded in support.
“And this one? She is not part of your Solar sect?”
Jyotsana, no longer with the appearance of her proper age, shook her head. “I am a descendant of a branch of the Searing Phoenix Clan.” They had prepared at least basic identities before showing up… just in case.
The old man nodded. “And this one?”
Durff folded his arms across his chest. “I use a hammer.”
“What style do you follow?”
“It doesn’t have a name,” Durff grumbled.
“Indeed.” The old man looked around the group. “I am not convinced the lot of you aren’t intending to cause trouble, going against our cause.”
“Oh yeah?” Durff said, tilting his head. “And what if we were going to cause trouble?”
Durff was, according to Velvet’s experience, very bad at lying. So instead of coming up with a sect name, she gave him very simple instructions. And one of them was to be threatening if necessary. The way he shifted his hammer off his back to settle on the floor, handle leaning against his side, spoke of a clear willingness to fight.
That might seem like it would cause the very scenario Velvet had wanted to avoid, but the way Durff carried himself spoke of confidence. Earned confidence. And it was quite normal for cultivators to posture when they felt they weren’t being treated fairly.
“Then you would be fools, to fight against the might of the Exalted Quadrant.” The old man looked around. “An odd ship. Make sure to register properly before approaching the border itself.”
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Good. Now Velvet didn’t have to try a bribe. She could have probably swung the angle that they were smugglers or something, but obviously if anyone believed they were going to fight against the Exalted Quadrant, they couldn’t just let them.
Which is why this would probably be the last they heard of the old man, as he departed their ship. Unless he happened to be very brave when reports of a group strongly resembling them began to cause devastation on the battlefront.
Not that Velvet had any particular plans for that, but some of the others certainly did- and she might need to do a favor or two for Runa.
-----
The ship avoided getting anywhere near other systems until they were across the border, their energy signature dampened by the ship’s formations. Even after they were careful with their approach, uncertain of the exact state of the front. Most likely the first planets they came to would be contested. Velvet did have a proper token to get her in contact with the Spirit Slicing Sect, however.
She didn’t exchange much information with Runa because of the risk, but it seemed their branch had gotten what they needed from Kaon and moved on. To somewhere else with voidsteel ore, most likely. The whole border was contested, so there should have been plenty of options. Plus, with her father Emrik having reached Augmentation it gave them a special place within the Chaotic Conglomeration, who was severely lacking in that level of cultivator though not total population.
Velvet had the ship and the rest of the people wait away from a particular planet, investigating it herself. The Chaotic Conglomeration was too much on the backfoot for them to risk approaching, so she opted to go one layer deeper, returning to the ship with the others.
As they entered the next system, a sizable fleet with a few dozen ships curved around a gas giant.
“Okay, the first time I believe is coincidence,” Misi said. “But twice in a row?”
Velvet nodded. “No, they were waiting for us. Or at least, someone like us.” She could detect the strongest cultivations among them, and recognized the aura of the Prospect Shapers- manipulators of probability. She was already reaching out with her own energy, just in case they were planning to shoot first and ask questions later. They could likely avoid attacks from their current distance, but it was better not to have to deal with it at all. “I come as an ally of the Spirit Slicing Sect,” Velvet said, presenting her token for them to feel.
Energy brushed past hers, feeling the token. “It is old,” responded a woman’s voice.
“Only a couple centuries,” Velvet countered. She was slowly releasing her true cultivation signature, so as not to surprise anyone too harshly. “I fought alongside some of yours in the past.”
“Hmm. An Augmentation cultivator, as predicted.”
Obviously the woman’s voice wouldn’t have reached Velvet if she didn’t intend for it- Velvet hadn’t tried to push past the enemy ships’ barriers, after all.
“Indeed. Though it seems you were expecting a fight. I hope you didn’t bring only that many. It would be… risky.”
“Well, who knows? We have methods to make things go our way.” The woman paused, potentially conversing with her companions. “We will escort you until your identity can be properly confirmed.”
“That will be acceptable,” Velvet said. As if she could really refuse. She really didn’t want to fight the Prospect Shapers, and since they were supposed to be allies in a way that was even more true.
Fortunately, having such an escort made their progress rather smooth. They just had to match their interstellar speeds- Velvet made sure their ship didn’t go too fast, since they’d probably both leave behind the fleet and give away unnecessary information.
They didn’t stop by any other planet in the current system, instead moving to another system- where they were helpfully informed about Renov, a large terrestrial planet, as they approached it.
The planet seemed to be well within the control of the Chaotic Conglomeration, to the point that Velvet soon felt Runa, not being subtle about her location at all. Velvet stretched out her own energy… and very quickly her identity was confirmed. Though the ships still followed them until landing and Velvet seeing Runa face to face again.
Runa’s cultivation had grown significantly since they parted. With Velvet’s insights and her father’s example, she was now solidly in Augmentation- though Velvet would still consider it the early stage. She wasn’t sure if she herself was middle or late, as Domination was quite a mystery, but she seemed to be a bit further along by her own estimation. Though perhaps Runa was hiding something. It wouldn’t be that odd.
“It’s good to see you again,” Velvet said sincerely.
“And I you,” Runa nodded. “I hadn’t expected your presence, however. Or… friends.”
“I’m Durff,” the man said helpfully.
The others also introduced themselves.
“Friends and allies from the Scarlet Alliance,” Velvet said. “Some are here to gain experience, and will no doubt be useful to your cause. And others are here to pester you with questions. Well, you and everyone else,” Velvet gestured towards the twins.
Runa nodded, looking towards Chidi. “And is he one of those?”
Chidi shook his head, turning his head towards her. His eyelids were closed, as normal. “I am a combatant. And his older brother,” Chidi gestured towards Yuval.
Runa took him in for a few moments. “Ah. You are more than your cultivation appears, then.”
In some ways, Chidi really was a Life Transformation cultivator. Aside from the extra power his insights afforded him, he really could only bring to bear as much energy as a Life Transformation cultivator. A peak stage one, but still below the strength of Integration. However, Runa might have picked out the slight connection between him and her voidsteel weapon.
“My dagger broke,” Velvet said. “Wanna get me a new one?”
Runa rolled her eyes. “Maybe. If you promise to be responsible.” Then she shook her head. “Your timing isn’t great, though. Our production of voidsteel ore is down, and we’re not the only sect who wants it.”
“Need someone dead?” Velvet asked, drawing a finger across her throat. “I could do you a favor.”
“Always,” Runa said. “Unfortunately, it really isn’t going to be easy. The next batches are promised to other sects, otherwise I would just move you to the top of our personal list. I don’t think any of our members could complain, given…” Runa gestured to herself.
“Where is your father?” Velvet asked.
“Managing a different branch. We can’t just pile up Augmentation cultivators in one place. That might provoke the wrath of the Exalted Quadrant coming to wipe us out in a coordinated assault.”
“They should be weaker now. This guy cut off some of Zaur’s fingers,” Velvet gestured to Chidi.
“... That’s not the sort of thing you should drop when we’re just standing around talking. I heard he was injured but… seriously?” Runa narrowed her eyes.
“Want to test it?” Chidi asked.
Runa shivered, her sight dropping to his sword. “I don’t think that will be necessary. I can’t even tell what enchantments you have on that thing, but I can tell you know how to use it. Plus, I trust Velvet’s word on the matter.”
Chidi just smiled.
Velvet wondered why he was so proactive. Usually he preferred to fight sword cultivators. Then again, the Spirit Slicing Sect had particular stylistic themes that might help his study of Negation. That was one reason he was here, after all.