AN: So, we've now rolled back to the original site, but now it's as slow as old balls. I don't even know how bad it is on the mobile phone, yet.

In any case, bit of an info dump for this one and next chapter and always folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

Oh look! The preview button is back! :D

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With my arm retrieved from the willing body of Gahn, I glared down upon what looked to be a great host of armoured individuals milling about the plains separating the forest we now occupied, and the city of Freeport. It seemed this land mobilised their forces in order to investigate what had happened to the city, however it appears to be far too many of them. "Perhaps they are scavengers, My Lord God," spoke Brutus, of whom had witnessed my contemplated look about my facial features.

"Adventurers," chimed an emerald eyed Dragonock, of whom was now pointing towards a large tent near the centre of the plains, "I recognise that one, Lord. It's the Iron Claw Clan. They're a mercenary company which only employs adventurers and their slaves."

"This one is 'Howl At The Moon'," whispered one of the dark-eyed assassins, as its clawed forefinger pointed toward a small cluster of wolf beastfolk which milled about near a large copse of trees.

"Scavenger indeed," my voice rumbled softly, as I continued to watch the earth covered dolls mill about with their own tasks and work. "These are not the land's guardians?" Upon my query, many of the draconic folk simply shook their heads slowly, of which caused my person to delve deep within my mind for a time.

During this time, Brutus seemed to have taken the initiative in setting up a perimeter around us, as well as tasking his own servants in the creation of wooden stakes upon its outskirts. When asked why he did this, his only response was, "We are soon to march towards war." This caused nearly all to shiver with varying degrees of excitement, even as they witnessed the rest of my Undying being directed to help in the preparations.

Whereas, within my own mind, I simply searched for answers pertaining to one of my own questions. Which was, 'Are they ready for a war?' The answer to this was a decisive "NO", as they are far too green for this sort of venture, and I would need them to further my own goals in the turns to come.

'What to do, then? As these "Adventurers" will become a thorn in my side no matter my decision.' Next to my mental self was Shoriin, of whom stared upon my person with great curiosity. No. I did not realise it was there until it chirped once, of which caused my self to absentmindedly lift its small body into my arms and stroke its backside slowly. 'To kill or not to kill. That is the question. What do you think, Shoriin?'

The basilisk turned towards my eyes, and I noticed a small pang of hunger within its own. To which I simply chuckled, which was echoed by my physical self as I returned to the natural world.

"Ah," I sighed, watching as my Lich continued to order the Undying in preparation of the battle to come. It seemed to my person that he knew what was going to occur before I had even come to a conclusion. To this end, I simply continued with my chuckling, as more portals erupted around my person, summoning the bulk of my servants and Dolls which had been created in the worlds we had left behind.

"Let us begin this song and dance once more," my voice rumbled throughout the forest, causing it to quake as a choir of devils echoed my words. All around my person, gleaming weapons of various shapes and sizes flashed with a deadly shine, as their wielders grinned and laughed at the prospect of another fight. Whereas those of draconic features stared with open fear as these beings brushed passed them without a glance.

"When do we begin, Lord?" Asked a small, brown furred creature with a phosphorus horn glowing from the centre of its forehead. This creature was once known as a 'Horned Rabbit', if you needed a picture of such a creature, until it found its way into my clawed hands. Through various experiments, and multiple generations later, it gained the ability to speak and said its race was now an 'Irradiated Horned Rabbit'.

"Once the day-star has fallen below the horizon," I replied to the creature, as they gathered around the ever changing map Gahn had created moments before, "Each of you will pick out which targets you desire. As for myself, I care nothing beyond whomever the main leader of this 'army' is. They have disrupted my plans for this world, and I shall be needing to look over them after this is over and done with."

Upon my speech, those of whom were not Dolls began to disperse and speak amongst themselves whilst glancing at the map below.

*****

"What do you mean 'dead'?" Shouted a burly black-furred wolf beastman who wore plain, brown leather armour with a sash of purple dyed silk attached to his left shoulder and right hip. This marked the creature as someone of great import within the capitol, and one who had the authority to do much. However, only the reigning monarch was able to supersede his authority, but this rarely happened these days. For you see, the reigning monarch, a lion beastman, had grown complacent in the last few decca-cycles. What with the air of peace and mild tranquility which floated about their heads since the last war ended when he was, but a babe still suckling on his mother's milk.

Now, however, came the news of their city of Freeport which had been attacked, its residents slaughtered, and the perpetrators nowhere to be found. This sent the capitol, and its people, into a frenzy. Of which marshaled its only source of fighters, the "Adventurers". Of whom continue to fight against those of the populaces' worst nightmares. This was simply to keep them safe, as the dangers outside their walls were simply too great for the common folk to handle.

Those of whom have gained the title of "Adventurer" were able to stem the tide of monsters most foul. With it came prestige and wealth beyond measure, but it always came at the cost of their own lives. However, although the chance of death was high, many simply did not fear such a fate, or did not care. For the idea of obtaining great wealth clouded their thoughts from such things.

Thus, the ruling class of the country have come to rely on these individuals, as opposed to hiring their own for this or that. Yes. Instead of having to set a minimal wage for their hired hands, as it was set into law, they could simply pay whatever they wish to these so called "Adventurers" to complete the tasks set for others. Of which could be just about anything, and everything. From the most menial tasks of cleaning the sludge out of a clogged pipe, to the task of guarding a person or treasure from would be thieves or assassins. These people were hired for them all, and were paid with whatever they desired to give them.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

This was so since the beginning of the first who claimed such a title. Now? Now there are guilds set apart to monitor those of whom claim to be as such. These places monitor their charges well through the use of coloured cards made up of various materials. They do this by enchanting each card to show the condition and whereabouts of the holder. This way, they are able to send out rescue parties in the case of them being in trouble.

As well as protecting their charges, they have also begun to set about fair wage ranges for each of them. Such as restricting the holders of those who desire employees from giving out less coin for great works, and vice versa. They've also begun to implement a ranking system, but not everyone is pleased by such a thing. However, if one desires protection and the possibility of a rescue when going about their various tasks, then they had to go through a ranking system of some sort.

However, those of whom deviated from such "guilds" have formed what are known as "Clans". These clans contain like-minded people and adventurers who set their own wages, what they are allowed to accomplish, and will not deviate from such rules. Those of whom desire to join such clans must go through whatever their initiation tests must be in order to become a member. Whereas the guilds simply have a written and practical test to decide where they will fit amongst their number.

Now, it was these clans which were hired on to protect this individual with the purple sash, as well as to investigate the city of Freeport. Even though they each had to sign a contract for such a venture, and to not loot the city, there were still many of whom had done so regardless. If these individuals were caught doing such a thing, then their punishment would be death. 

However, much like the average "Adventurer", these clansmen and women did not seem at all bothered by such a prospect, as the lure of riches was too much for their minds to handle.

"It is as I said, Lord, no one is alive within the port city. Beyond the odd animal and scavenger, of course." This reply came from a female tiger-kin, of whom had the ears, tail, and eyes of such a creature. As well as orange shading to black stripes seemingly painted upon her tanned flesh and a mane of golden-orange hair which was fell to the small of her back. The garment she wore was simple, and yet provocative, but did not seem to bother her. For you see, upon her chest were tightly bound strips of white cloth which pushed her breasts down against her skin. There was also an odd, tattered leather cape hanging about her shoulders, with a leather strap which was tied to her right shoulder, and stretched itself across her torso to attach itself to the left side of her hip.

She did not wear any sort of pants or trousers, but instead something far stranger than what a normal female would wear. This odd garment is called a "thong", but seemed thicker than what is normal. For you see, the off scrap of cloth was nothing more than several scraps of tanned hide and cloth rolled and stretched out to wraps around her waist. Whilst another was tied to her front, running over that which was betwixt her legs, tightly between the cheeks of her rear, and tied off in the back. What is more, she seemed to have a thin scrap of tanned hide wrapped around her waist to barely conceal such an oddity.

Many could not understand why she would wear such a get-up, as it seemed to appear not at all comfortable, but still she persevered and did not seem bothered by it.

As to her footwear, she wore none. With the rest of her outfit, I should not have been at all surprised by this. What is more, she was not alone in her desire to wear the bare minimum, as the whole of her clan, which contained only females and feminine males, wore exactly the same. They called themselves the "Amazons", whereas all others simply called them "Barbarians" for wearing such things.

"How is this even possible?" Raged the male, of whom secretly lusted after the female before him.

The pair of them, by the by, were situated within a large tent near the east gate of the ruined city. In between the pair was a large, wooden table with a map of the area, whereas around them were large piles of pillows. Upon one of these piles was the beastman, of whom had been smoking from a long pipe of some sort. Whereas the other simply stood near the entrance where she could breath the clean air of the outside world.

"We do not know," responded the female, of whom took a breath of the outside air before continuing, "What we do know, however, is that whatever and whomever went through the city was a large army that seemed to only spare the Draconians and Dragonocks. As only a few of their bodies were found amongst the dead."

"What?!" Cried out the wolf beastman, which alerted the guards nearby enough to storm into the tent before being dismissed with an angry wave. He coughed a bit before brooding over a thought which passed through his mind.

Before he could voice such a thought, however, the day-star had begun its decent away from the world, and with it came many voices crying out in terror and pain. As beings of great terror erupted from the forests near the city, of which began to rampage through several unsuspecting clans and groups of adventurers before being confronted.

Quickly, the pair of them rushed outside just in time to witness such a spectacle as not seen upon their world of Azara. As the sky above which was clear, but a moment ago, darken almost instantaneously upon the first of the creatures appearing from the forest before them. There were many voices raised in terror, pain, and anger from this event, whereas many others pointed towards the clouded skies above.

For high above them was an endarkened figure riding upon a silvered dragon. Of whom wielded a staff of bone, and shouted something in an unknown language. Before anyone could respond to such unknown words, however, the forests erupted into life, as a great host of monstrous creatures from a person's worst nightmares descended upon them all.

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YAY! No more block paragraphs with the sentences cut in half!! :happy dance: