You can't be everywhere at once, and some things are beneath your attention. Take it from me—you want to outsource. You want to incentivize other people to do your work for you. In fact, you want other people to help you advance.
But, Mepheleon, you say, why would I ever want to incentivize someone else to grow stronger? Wouldn't that make them my rival? Wouldn't that give them opportunities to exploit and betray me?
Yes, but you're not understanding how this game works. For if I lived by your philosophy, my name would be the Dying Queen, and I would be regarded as a malignant, cowardly tumor on the face of the Fathoms, rather than a young strapping entrepreneurial lord of the Claimed Hells.
Yes, recruiting people into your fold puts you at risk of betrayal, and so on and so forth. This, however, is inevitable. The matter here is that if you're incapable of managing your own vulnerability, you were likely not long for this world anyway. Sorry, not sorry.
Herein lies one of the most critical skills you must learn if you are to have any success as classed or system host. The one resource—one resource more precious than all others—isn't your essence level. It's not your Aspect Advancements. It's not the number of skills you have.
It's time. It's time and efficiency. How much you can get done, and how you can compound your interests. Ensuring the safety of someone weaker than you often requires no exertion on your part at all. Your reputation and the threat of your power will ensure they get what they want.
In turn, living under you, they can further feed your system with, that's right, experience. Experience that you have overfilled on. Experience you struggle to gain. Because though you are, system, well over the ten-thousandth essence threshold level, they are fresh, nubile, and mostly unshaped.
Odds are, they will die, and quite horribly. But the ones who make it, the ones who last, and start earning for you—be it by slaying your foes, finding unique treasures, or just creating novel opportunities you wouldn't experience otherwise—those will be the ones that ensure you prosper forevermore.
Remember, the Fathoms are full of allies, enemies, and opportunities, and these things are always in flux. Fear not the betrayal of another. Fear only your own weakness to prevent it.
-Mepheleon the Harbinger
58
Delegation
Delegating lesser task proved a wise idea.
Frankly, it was something Wei should have considered far earlier, considering all the mileage she got out of the hive-kin. The Trial of Greed wouldn't have concluded so easily without them.
As things were, Wei was pleased with the progress of his companions. As he and Rafael returned to the Moongrave of Wrath, the others had made good time clearing all the remaining rifts.
Roggi and Agnesia had both hit Level 9 while Ellena lagged slightly behind. They managed to progress faster by all running the Essence Rift before parting to complete others challenges. Roggi had focused on handling as many Artifact Rifts as he could and accumulated a considerable haul of items. This said, the bulk of his rewards amounted to little more than self-sharpening blades, a pike that could shoot a beam of fire, a quiver that condensed moisture to create frozen arrows, and what appeared to be a turtle's shell crafted into body armor. He claimed lesser baubles as well, but they weren’t worth considering.
At least the Oathbearer obtained 150,000 Sins from his enterprising maneuvers.
Ellena and her daughter worked together to complete most of the other Rifts. The former dispatched her new soldiers to scout for threats and map out routes. Agnesia, meanwhile, had put the bone-blade gifted to her by Wei to good use. It was stained with patches of dark crimson, and together, mother and daughter finished their tasks in efficient time.
It was in the process of completing these rifts that they managed to sate one of Wei’s questions. Apparently, the Bastions were tied to these to a Rift of Demons, granting those who complete its challenges access to friendly spawnable demons. The Bastions, then, could be claimed thereafter should one pass its obsidian gates.
Additionally, they also entered a Communion Rift, in which they found no foes, but a contract left to them by the Circle of Wrath.
As Wei read the contract, he noticed Agnesia fuming at him via his Omniscience. Her shadowy wings flapped in indignation before she spoke. "It wasn't enough that you had to finish your Cass sSpecialization faster than me. Now you're a full Class Tier higher?" Her lip curled in faux disgust, while her eyes twinkled with genuine envy. "Shadows take you, Wei, but you just wait. I'll see you humbled yet.”
“Sure. Try to get two digits behind your level first,” Wei replied, shooting a mocking grin at the girl as her mother shot her a chastising look. Agnesia sneered, and Wei found her expression most pleasing.
There was just something sublime about pestering her.
Examining the contract the mother and daughter found, he found it slightly similar to that which the Knight of Pride bequeathed him. This one, however, didn't have any Ciphers sealing its contents and the pages could be flipped through freely.
Skimming the details. Wei realized what she obtained was a free offer of aid: a single-use summon of a Level.10 demon gifted by the Circle of Wrath to all potential aspirant Sinners. The effect would trigger upon the tearing of the contract, but also mark the Sinner that performed the action so that they could be more easily found by a Knight of Wrath so long as they remained within the tower.
"Even free meals aren't free," Wei said, smirking at the contents. Boons always came with a price.
"So, you got another Knight, then?" Roggi asked. His fetid wings dripped with caustic venom and chunks of trash. Part of Wei pitied the altered Oathbreaker, but perhaps this was for the better. The titan had taken to these changes quite well, at least on the surface.
“I did. Though…” The young master hesitated before he told them about the orc. He left out certain details. Like their willing suicide, and the contract he had.
“Bloody vicious little shit, are you,” Roggi snorted. “At the pace you’re killing, you won’t be needing us at all.”
Wei just rolled his eyes. “What’s a patriarch without a sect to govern?”
“A free man?” Roggi replied.
“Yes. And alone. Without influence.”
“And you want us?” Roggi asked. “Me? Literal trash-bird.”
The young master was about to respond again before he fell silent. The Oathbearer was always slightly self-deprecating, but Wei’s Aspect of Enlightenment made him notice something he didn’t earlier. There was an unhappiness to Roggi’s reactions. His words went well past mockery and inched toward loathing.
Enlightenment Advanced > 16
>[3/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
They had been so focused on fighting—gone from trial to trial, battle to battle with scarcely any times to process their problems. Wei was beyond trauma. It could not assail him. He was unbreakable.
Yes, his System agreed. This is a true statement. You are more mentally stable than you have ever been.
But the others… they were not like him. They all bore certain wounds, and he was, in a way, proud of their resilience. And with this in mind, they definitely needed a moment’s respite. He would see them rewarded properly—as a true senior cultivator would his lesser fellows.
The same, however, couldn't be said about the Faebloods. They weren't a trine like the ones accompanying Roggi's brothers. Rather, these Faebloods called themselves “elves” as the ork had, and responded with terror and confusion upon first encountering Roggi, terrified of his form.
Apparently, there were many races of Faebloods, and they could be found across countless realms in the Fathoms. These ones were simply not of the “highest” variant, according to Roggi. Whatever that mean.
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Of the three, only one proved to be of any use. Goa was her name, and she had been the only one to put up any kind of fight against the orc or Wei himself. An impotent effort in the end, but still an effort nonetheless. Even so, she clearly had no love for combat, and the softness of her hands, the wild way her hair flapped as she moved, the general awkwardness of her demeanor, told Wei that she was merely a survivor and not a warrior.
Which was more than what he could say about her two comrades, Ithic and Mara.
Ithic was shorter than Goa by nearly half a head. Somehow, he was even thinner, and Wei already thought her anorexic. Worse, his constant hyperventilating and the rapid beats of his heart made Wei loathe standing anywhere near him. This one feared death more than he wanted to live.
And finally, Mara. Mara was the most muscular among the elves, and thank the heavens for that, because Wei couldn't separate any of them based on facial features at all. They all had enlarged eyes, glowing irises of porcelain white, sharp angular faces, and golden hair.
Of the three, Mara claimed to be a craftsman, while Ithic was a scribe, and Goa a trainee huntress. All of them had fled across a portal when their village was invaded—-something else happened, but Wei had lost interest in the stories, leaving Rafael to hear it in his stead. Instead, he was considering another thing as they arrived back in the Moongrave of Wrath: he gave them a test.
Dropping them a few meters away from a trench to observe how they would handle a Collector. Goa stood her ground and, with some effort, knocked an arrow before firing it at the demon. Ithic froze as if he was some kind of newborn lamb, while Mara took a step back, tripped on the hilt of a sword, and promptly sliced his thigh open on its rusted edge.
The embarrassing moment was punctuated further as Goa's arrow struck the Collector’s skull at an angle and skipped off the helmet. The Collector promptly tried to vomit writhing fiery tendrils out at the Faebloods, but Wei cut it down before the travesty could continue.
The young master glared at the three for a full minute after, while Rafael made a thousand excuses for them. Wei felt cheated with them; he felt as if the orc did. It was as if he picked the sole three eunuchs from an auction of discounted concubines.
As he finally finished going over his allies’ spoils, the Faebloods simply stood by, their heads swinging between Wei and every crackle and pop that echoed from their surroundings. The young master grit his teeth and restrained himself from discovering if he could break the fear inside them using his System.
These ones needed more than just class levels. They needed discipline, a change in mindset—a change Wei didn't have time to instill.
"A recommendation, if I may," Rafael said.
The young master idled briefly before responding. "Speak."
"Not everyone is suited for battle," Rafael began.
Wei’s eyes narrowed. “Not everyone is suited to live.” Ithic sniffled. “Do not cry. If I hear whimpering, I will—”
“Ser Wei, please,” Ellena said, giving these “elves” a pitying look. “They did not ask to be here. None of us did.”
She…
Wasn’t wrong about that. But Wei still felt a bit cheated, taking them on.
“This should be seen as an opportunity, though,” Rafael continued. “They might lack power and skill and nerve and wisdom and smarts…” The lich chuckled as Wei stared flatly. “But they can be trained. See them as an investment. They can assist us with a great many tasks we can’t do alone.”
“Why are you trying so hard to keep them in my favor?” Wei asked.
Rafael froze. “I… It won’t be right to just abandon them. We can do the right thing here. You are strong enough to do the right thing, even if they do not please you.”
The young master’s frown lessened. The lich was a coward, but he and Ellena displayed a great deal of sense sometimes. Sense Wei missed seeking from his masters and elders. He missed Master Mou Zi. That old eccentric always knew what to do.
“We–we’ll improve,” Goa said, finally speaking up. She swallowed roughly as Wei turned to stare at her. “It’s… we’re… this place… we can get… uh… our skills… Classes… We can level.”
Wei’s Intent speared into her and he gauged her Mind value. 14.
“Wei! No! Wait! Wait!” Rafael said, horrified at the young master’s sudden action.
A moment later, Wei withdrew his Intent and shook his head. “Control yourself, skull. I would not break something so pitiful. I was just gauging to see if they were a mental invalid or a social one.”
“Wei,” Ellena said, softly chastising him.
He prepared to respond to her as well before her met her eyes. Green eyes. Green eyes he no longer had. The young master growled and shook his head.
Rafael sagged with relief before speaking again. “They have potential. Their Classes—thing of what they can provide. Think of having them gain Skills toward for their survival. Or…" the lich paused. "Your benefit. It would do you the most good if you let everyone proceed to their strengths."
Wei stared at the lich for a moment. “I cannot understand you. I think you a coward. But I’ve never seen a coward so desperate to care.”
Rafael fell silent as if slapped.
Looking at each of his companions and his newly recruited outer court disciples, the young master considered what he needed to do. He still had actual matters to attend. He had Concepts to explore and new Skills, Titles, and Demons to cultivate. The Knight of Lust was due another conversation as well. Pulling two Spatial Navigators from his inventory, he tossed one to Roggi. The Oathbearer reached out with a massive, hulking hand, but it went between his digits, bounced off the waste caked over his arm, and promptly hit the ground.
The young master let out a sigh. "Put some free points into your Speed."
"What? A flash of lightning blinded me," Roggi said, making up an excuse.
The blatant bald-faced lie provoked a reaction from Wei. “There is no lightning, you damned fool, I am standing here too.”
“Maybe you should put some free points in Perception, then.” Roggi grinned.
Wei thought his Aspect of Enlightenment might be wrong. Maybe the Oathbearer wasn’t a sad clown. Maybe he was just quite the annoying bastard.
"Roggi gets the first Spatial Navigator," Wei said. "We will proceed to a sanctuary first, and Rafael will ensure its security this time.”
“Ensure is a strong word,” Rafael began.
“I will cripple his Mind if he fails us again,” Wei casually proclaimed.
“Ensure? Try promise. It will require no effort from me at all.” Rafael’s words came with strained laughter.
“We will rest in the meantime. I have much to explore and discover. I will require my seclusion. Take the time you need as well, but I recommend that you all continue seeing more Essence Rifts and face weaker demons. Reach Level 25 as soon as you can.”
Roggi paused at that. “Can I go wherever—”
“Yes. Bring your brothers back with you. The Trine too. It would be preferable to get some useful help.” Wei shot the elves a look of disdain. “And if you see Angelous, kill him. Or maybe give him one of these elves. They’ll be going with you anyway.”
“W-what?” Mara said.
“Welp,” Roggi said, looking the elves over. “You don’t look like much, but… well, you don’t look like much. Not gonna lie—I hope you’re all not afraid of dying.”
“So, what things will you be ‘exploring and discovering’ while we do all the actual work?” Agnesia asked blandly.
“Agnesia!” Her mother chided.
“I have a new Class Tier upgrade I wish to experience and master. It allows me to construct new Skills. You are welcome to join me, if you share a capability.” The girl folded her arms. “Ah. You are incapable. A shame. You should work harder. Perhaps someday, you’ll finally be someone half as capable as I.”
“You’re a right sunless bastard sometimes, Wei,” Agnesia sulked.
“Agnesia!” Her mother repeated.
The girl’s frustration alleviated his own. “But aside from that, you won’t be doing all the work. I have Knights to hunt—and interrogate. We are to embark on the Hearted Realms, and as we will be venturing into the insides of the Archdevils, I wish to know what we face instead of walking blind like so many times before. I also do not intent to arrive in the Claimed Hells beholden to another’s will.”
“Right,” Roggi nodded. “Don’t want to be just another slave after all this.”
“Yes. And there’s also the fact that we have very important people to kill.”
“We?” Agnesia said.
“Yes, ‘we.’ I have invested too much into you all to consider you temporary acquiesces. Your foes have become mine, and there are too many menial tasks for me to do alone. As the young master of the Drowned Sky Sect—and his sole survivor—I have decided to do you all the honor of bringing you in as inner court disciples. The elves will be outer court. If that.”
He looked over the others expecting awe or gratitude. Instead, he got mostly confusion.
‘Right,” Roggi said, nodding. “The fuck’s that mean, exactly.”
Wei clenched his teeth again. “It means you have my favor and I will instruct you on the ways of our arts. Protect you with power and provide you with many benefits.”
“Huh. Sounds nice. Never expected I’d be adopted by a child.” Roggi grunted a laugh.
“I’m not a child, I am your patriarch.” Wei growled. “And right now, we are going through this rift, into a sanctuary, and we are going to make the Harbinger, the Inheritors, the Dying Queen, and every other fool that dares to face us regret ever being born.”
Wei triggered his Heart of Calamity, and called lightning down over his head at that exact moment.
Ellena flinched.
Roggi just frowned. “What about them?” He pointed at the elves. “What’s outer court get?”
“My continued mercy, mostly. Do with them as you please. May my teachings trickle down through you.”
Roggi nodded. “Oh, wonderful. A slave-chain. Always wanted to be in the middle of one of those.”
And so it was that the Drowned Sky Sect was resurrected on the same day of its resurrection: it’s new members consisting a violently angry boy that wished to break the world, a lich of questionable courage but stalwart ethics, a disposed queen and princess, and an oversized dwarf turned literal pile of garbage.
There might have been some elves in the mix too.