The closer I got to Arago, the more my dislike for them intensified. I felt no inclination to engage in conversation with these people. They are a prideful type of people who have a loathing for all types of deities. They lack faith and are disheartened, not worthy of my consideration. Nevertheless, as I am a part of these stages, I am forced to communicate with them, and that has a negative effect on my attitude. Keeping this in mind, I cannot appear at Arago in my original form. I’ll have to switch over to my mortal disguise.
With a slight movement of my finger, I arrived back to my second appearance and saw the end of the gorge. To my right, the thunderous sound of a waterfall filled the air as it descended from the top of a cliff and fell into a riverbank. The flock of majestic birds, measuring half a meter in length, gracefully drank from the river. Their feathers, a stunning sand-color, moved in the breeze as the birds drank the fresh water, their tongues moving like tiny pink mice. Although their beaks were short and thick, they had no trouble puncturing through the bark of trees. Demons typically keep their distance from them, as they do not wish for their armor to be damaged by these wicked birds. If memory serves me right, they are called piercuns.
Beyond the waterfall was a creek that entered the vast Wandering Woodlands. Ancient trees of an almond-brown hue, as high as citadels, stood above, protecting me from the vehement orb of fire. The smell of feces and filth was overwhelming, yet a faint aroma of flowers and moist moss provided some comfort. The rustling of branches and leaves, together with the far-off cries of beasts and creatures, filled my ears. As I looked further into the Wandering Woodlands, the more enticing the prospect of entering the vast darkness became. Beneath the droppings and dirt was a scent I was all too accustomed to. The scent of blood and death permeated the area, and I felt the strong presence of creatures that sent shivers down my spine. Not out of dread, but out of elation.
“As much as I would love to consume you all, it’ll have to wait. I must accomplish my other goal.”
I peered back into the pit and inspected the area. The piercuns were now bathing in the water, slowly drifting along the riverbed without a care in the world. As I glanced around the area, I finally found what I was looking for. Nestled in the rock face was a large opening, big enough for a group of people to enter.
“That hole there should lead directly to Arago. Those fools should cover their tracks if they don’t want their secret passageways to be seen.”
Dropping into the pit wasn’t a problem. I made my descent by using the steps that jutted out on the sides. Since I was naturally agile, I reached the end in under 30 seconds. Once my foot touched the ground, the piercuns that were happily playing in the water all craned their necks in my direction. One honked at me, a sound reminiscent of an alarm, and another followed suit. Soon, a flock of them was causing a racket as they all unfurled their gigantic wings and darted at me.
“What a noisy bunch…”
I gestured with an open palm towards the chattering birds before clenching my hand into a fist. In immediate succession, a spluttering sound replaced the sirens, and the sky was transformed to a ruby-red. The formerly pristine azure water was gone, and it had become a color of crimson. It was as if someone had doused gallons of paint onto a small puddle. One by one, the airborne creatures all collapsed into the riverbed, their shriveled husks lying still. I lowered my arm and sighed. Stretching my neck, I made my way around the river, my feet sinking into the moist dirt as I arrived at the hole. It was dark but bearable with [Night Vision]. The corridor inclined upward, and there were even some stone steps that you could follow. The people of Arago must’ve spent a long time constructing this place.
“Ah, before I forget…”
I turned around at the carnage and snapped my fingers. The blood within the water swirled and rose from the river. A large pool of blood levitated slightly. With just a single thought, the liquid surged forward and entered through my outstretched arm. Once all the blood was devoured, I lowered my arm and whipped back at the entrance.
“Status.”
Name: Xalan
Rank: 1st
Points: 4268
Strength: 62 Agility: 62
Durability: 61 Mana: 97
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Masteries: Blood Manipulation Lvl 7 Blood Absorption Lvl 4 Mana Barrier Lvl 2 Mana Field Lvl 4 Soul Snatch Lvl 1 Night Vision Lvl 5
“Only one point in strength gained? As to be expected. Although there were many piercuns to take in, the mana within their blood was not appetizing. I need to absorb the more powerful creatures to make some headway. Since I cannot earn points by killing creatures, I’ll need to conserve the currency and use it at the most opportune moment.”
Feeling unsatisfied, I began my trek through the secret passageway. As I was strolling through the artificial cave, I became engrossed in my own thoughts.
The demons of Arago, or the Marauders, are a force that rivals most troops led by a Warlord. To be specific, Arago is a heavily fortified fortress with walls almost impossible to scale. The reason for that is that it lies right next to the Wandering Woodlands, so they must protect themselves from the monsters. Also, a moat was constructed around Arago, which made it more difficult to breach. As of yet, Arago had not been conquered. Where others tried, many have failed. So, coupled with their iron-defenses and excellent troops, it is understandable that few are willing to breach the city. When I first heard that Arago fell long ago, I was appalled and quite interested in what caused a city of that stature to crumble. It was quite a surprise when I later found out a key component that led to their loss.
With the end of that, I quietly strolled up the steps. The area was still, apart from the sound of pebbles falling and the ground trembling because of a pair of tunnel diggers. It took me five minutes to reach the end of the man-made tunnel. Instead of an exit, I was presented with an enclosed space with only walls of rock and dirt. Although it appeared vacant, I was more knowledgeable about Arago than anyone else during this period. Surveying the walls carefully, I spotted a peculiar spot that had a long fissure. I reached out and stuffed my arm in and rummaged through the space. In there I felt a smooth but cold object. Clutching it, I pulled. It was a glass sphere with a runic symbol painted on top. Knowing full well that it did, I threw the orb at the chamber’s walls. White smoke poured out, snaking across the walls as it formed into an oval shape. The air shimmered, and an image had popped up, showcasing a wooden gate embedded within a wall.
“Here we are.”
Without hesitation, I walked through the gateway and my stomach sank as I experienced a full day's journey. Immediately after the uncomfortable feeling came to me, it dissipated, and I was no longer in the cave. The suffocating and claustrophobic space was no more, and I could now breathe in naturally as I inhaled fresh air. What filled my vision was a high stone wall that had many marks and gashes across its exterior, and so did the wooden gate. Hearing running water from behind, I turned and spotted the broad moat. It was at least 50 feet wide, and probably twice as deep. A flicker of a shadow underneath the water’s depths swam by.
“Okay, enough gawking. It’s time to scale the wall.”
While I mentioned the walls were unscalable, that did not apply to me. Using physical power and agility was enough. Since there are no footholds to take advantage of, I created my own. I dug all ten fingers deep within the daunting fortification, and I climbed the towering structure as if I had done this a million times. It took only three minutes to reach the top. Once there, I poked my head over and surveyed the area. The parapet were empty other than a few closed crates and armed personnel. Their backs were turned, staring down at their own city as they chatted amongst themselves. They were a bunch of fools for not properly carrying out their duties. Silently, I climbed over the wall and strolled calmly to the pair.
“How much you want to bet the Liberators will start their attack in two days?”
“I’ll do you one even better. I bet they ran with their tail tucked between them. They should know that Arago is an impenetrable fortr- Hmph!”
Both guards stopped their chatter when I placed a hand over their mouths. Immediately, their bodies went limp and collapsed onto the parapet. Spread out at odd angles, their eyes were rolled into the backs of their eyes, and their breathing had stopped. I used the mastery [Blood Manipulation] to quickly sap the brain of blood. When blood does not reach the brain, it will not receive the essential nutrients needed for it to function, resulting in its shutdown. To use this power, however, I need to physically touch the targets. Actually, a lot of my powers require physical touch…
“The guards on this side are dealt with. They won’t be found for a while, so I’ll make this quick.”
Turning around, I stuck out my leg and leaned over the parapet as I stared at the city of Arago, a ringed city that took on the shape of a hexagon. Living up to its name of an impenetrable fortress, it had many walls surrounding each area in six sections. The six sections consisting of brick and wooden dwellings, recreational structures, and marketplaces. The streets were paved with cobblestones, with each connecting to the other. At the end of those streets was a gate that led into the next area.
Most amazing of all, however, was a square palace that lied in the middle of it all. A majestic palace of black and red, with intimidating spires that commanded respect. An aesthetically pleasing green garden was situated in the front, a peaceful retreat of exotic flowers and delightful scents that would delight your nostrils. There were also two statues of a man near a sprouting fountain. His chest was puffed out and his chin elevated as he held a long spear. Whoever ruled Arago thought of himself as vastly superior to his peers.
“You may think you’re superior, but once you meet me, that notion will change. Be patient, Warlord Rex, as you’ll be groveling at my feet. I will savor the frightened expression you will show…”
Looking forward to meeting Warlord Rex, I quietly scaled down the walls.