Summoning up enough Legendary figures to hold a grand council was easier said than done, but when initiated by a Mythic Tier Hunter, word spread quickly. Within hours of returning to Lolend, the city was on high alert as they reinforced their defenses and ensured that all possible sensory arrays were operating at their highest capacity.
The fastest Legends in the city were sent out to all corners of Quintessa. All the Guilds were to be informed, and representatives from each and every Tier three Guild and higher would arrive within a month, as would Scholars from each of the Cathedrals in the kingdom.
For many, this was a frantic surge of work in order to get ready for a veritable army of Legends that would be hosted in Lolend for the days that the council was held for.
Yet some figures were also unaffected, as they remained under watch and care in order to recover from the effects of the Rot. Along with the side effects of being exposed to an unfiltered aura from a Tier five Hunter.
“I’m fine,” Ezekiel said for what felt like the thousandth time that day. It had only been three days since he’d gotten back. “You’ve run all your tests and removed all those damned thorns. Even though they were all inert. So, with that in mind, can I please go and check up on my woman and my students?”
He received an unamused glare from the Legendary Glacial Mage that was healing him. The older woman was one of the few Legendary Mages that hadn’t joined the Church of ten upon losing her Spirit over a decade ago.
At first, he had thought she was one of the newly minted natural Legends, who had been stuck at Tier three for most of their life. That had led to an awkward conversation as old wounds were ripped open.
Needless to say, Ezekiel wanted out of there. The sooner the better.
“Given that your flesh has finished knitting back together, yes. You may leave. Speak with the front desk to find out where your friends are recovering.” The healer then turned and left the room without another word.
‘Check me over one more time. I wouldn’t put it past her to leave me injured enough to have something flare up just so she could tell me that she told me so.’
Shine, who had been forced into a temporary dagger shaped vessel, flew into Ezekiel’s outstretched arm. The sensation of their mana flowing through his body sent a shiver down his spine. But nothing seemed to stand out.
‘You’re good. Nothing foreign to your body remains. Plus, the flesh is properly knit together.’
Letting out a sigh of relief, Ezekiel jumped out of his bed, shedding the medical gown he was forced to wear and quickly removing his clothing from the Void Pouch stored in the bucket of his things on the shelf next to the bed.
Opening the door to leave, Ezekiel nearly ran headfirst into Wolken’s face. The older Hunter had been waiting for him to leave. From the look on his face, Ezekiel could tell that this was important.
“I guess we need to talk,” Ezekiel’s voice was solemn as he held the door open for Wolken to enter. Taking a seat on the bed, he readied himself for whatever the Mythic had to say to him.
“I’ll keep this simple. We need you gone.” Wolken removed a magnificent longsword, that was already sheathed from his Void Pouch, as he said this.
He handed it over to Ezekiel, who touched Shine’s dagger to the new vessel, which immediately turned opalescent. The blade was hooked onto Ezekiel’s belt a moment later.
Wolken’s tone left no room for negotiation. It nearly broke Ezekiel’s heart, after half a year of living here, but he was used to it by now. So long as the Cult had a Mythic Hunter, there was no way that even being in a city would be safe.
They had proven that they were willing to lay waste to protected places in Tarquessa, without any regard for civilians. Why wouldn’t they do that here as well?
“Do I get a head start at least?” Ezekiel tried to joke, but Wolken’s face didn’t change, though his Spirit did drop and shake its head.
“Obviously. But it won’t be as simple as you walking away. Your students can remain. They will be more or less protected in the Cathedral.” Wolken’s reassurance did put some of Ezekiel’s worries to rest. “The more important thing right now, is whether or not you’ve had time to learn about the Ancient Legacies.”
“The things left behind by the Ancient Spirits prior to their departure? I’ve seen one left by the Glacial Ancient in the Fjorya. Why?”
Such things were rare, and Ezekiel didn’t understand how the Relics unique to the Ancients were relevant in this situation. Whilst well known by most Scholars and Hunters of Legendary strength, they weren’t public knowledge. He hadn’t even known their official title until after he had left the Fjorya after his second dip in the Feathered Peak’s sacred pool.
“Good. Then you shouldn’t be surprised when I tell you that one such Legacy is located to the far north. Just beyond the Desolate Lands,” Wolken explained. “It’s something that is considered a top priority secret amongst the Church of Ten. Simply because we cannot allow the Cruor to learn of it.”
That would make sense. Ezekiel was aware that there were many secrets that he wasn’t aware of. The Church of Ten kept many secrets close to their chest. The location of an Ancient Legacy wasn’t strange.
“What does it do?” Ezekiel spread his senses outward, to confirm that they had privacy.
The wall of solid air was quite assuring, so Ezekiel’s concerns were laid to rest as Wolken continued.
“This particular Legacy isn’t a Relic. Instead... well, it’s something you will better understand once you get there.” Wolken handed over a sealed tube.
Ezekiel recognized it as one of the containers for Hunters when entering the Desolate Lands. It made sure to keep things perfectly preserved in the toxic environment created by the Rot.
“In that case, what’s the plan now?” Sliding the container into his Void Pouch, Ezekiel focused once more on what else Wolken had planned.
In the back of his mind, he could hear Shine sighing in exasperation. A feeling he shared.
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It wasn’t until the next day that Ezekiel finally got to see Riley and check on his students. The former had to undergo a similar, if less invasive, procedure as Ezekiel.
Having the ability to purge her body od foreign impurities with her fire was something that Ezekiel couldn’t do. Though her legs took just as long to recover from.
His students took a much longer time to fix up, however, and were still sleeping when he went to visit them with Riley. Their physical condition was fine. It was more their Spiritual condition that was in a sorry state.
“So, do we have any news regarding when they’ll wake up?” Riley sat next to Ezekiel, who was leaning back on a bench outside the medical center. Exactly where Wolken had told him to sit at this time.
“Not at the moment. Injuries to the soul are difficult to measure, as you know.”
It turned out that the pressure placed on them by the Mythic cultist was nearly enough to church their souls entirely. The Spirits even more so, since they were only a few weeks old.
If it wasn’t for Ezekiel’s quick reaction, it was estimated that the new Void Hunters wouldn’t be waking up at all. Of course, things would’ve been different if not for the fact that the cultist’s intentions were purposefully harmful.
For Ezekiel, who had already comprehended three [Understandings], it was something he hadn’t even noticed.
“The only good thing is that none of their souls have actually shattered. So, as long as they’re cared for, and their recovery isn’t interrupted, they’ll be significantly stronger for it. If traumatized by the experience.”
Although he tried to keep his spirits high, Ezekiel still clenched his hand hard enough to bleed as he thought about the cultist who had done this. While he had only known them for a few months, Ezekiel had grown to care for his students.
They were proof that he didn’t need to be alone as the sole Void Hunter in the world.
“Then we’ll be able to leave them behind without worries.” Riley leaned into Ezekiel’s side. “We can’t afford to be distracted with where we’re going. If what Wolken told you is true, then our next objective will be just as dangerous as going into the Desolate Lands.”
As much as he hated it, Ezekiel knew that Riley was right. He needed to focus. From what he understood, their destination was no safer than Morncrest. With their destination being just as rewarding, for both of them, if they managed to get there safely.
“Have you gotten everything you need?”
“Yep. I got food, weapons, medical aids, and some specially made Artifacts. All commissioned by the Church of Ten. On your tab, by the way.”
Ezekiel let out a chuckle as Riley giggled. Technically, the Church of Ten had given Ezekiel a massive amount of credit that he could use to acquire Artifacts from the Church. So long as they were in general use. Custom ones that were made for order were a different matter.
Taking a moment to sit in silence, Ezekiel spread his senses outwards, mixing his mana with Shine’s. His expression didn’t change, but he became distinctly aware of the different people that were focusing on him and Riley.
“We still don’t have to leave for a month or so. Given that our safety is apparently paramount, Wolken will probably want us around until the grand council, at least. Let’s go over things with the Grand Scholar a few more times too. If we delay it a bit, those three will hopefully have woken up to say goodbye as well.”
Keeping her face neutral, Riley turned to look at Ezekiel. A hint of understanding flickered in her eyes. She knew enough about Ezekiel to play along at this point.
“If you say so. I doubt that bitch will be recovered by then anyways. How long did Wolken say she’d have to take to purge herself of the matriarch’s spores?”
“Three weeks at least. So, we’ve got at least two more.”
Ezekiel sensed one of the figures leave his range. A smile formed on his face.
“Of course, given how weak she was compared to Wolken, odds are she’ll take longer. We’ve probably got a month or so. Just enough time for a custom Artifact to be commissioned from the Church.”
A second figure left the area. Just as he had hoped. Now, he just had to go through with the rest of Wolken’s plan. Hopefully, the next few steps would be simple enough to follow through with.
Given the precautions being taken, Ezekiel had no reason to believe that things would go wrong. He just didn’t like it when other people were used as bait in his place.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Getting up from the bench, Ezekiel and Riley walked hand-in-hand toward the Cathedral. Waving to the Hunters from the Prime Guild that were watching over his students as they recovered at the Guild’s dedicated clinic.
A mixture of anticipation and apprehension filled his mind.
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Lolend was usually a quiet city, where most of the noise that could be heard originated from the various Hunters that were constantly training to better themselves for the inevitable battles against the Rot. It was also heavily reinforced, and filled to the brim with craftsmen who made the tolls that were the basis of the many enchanted Artifacts that were provided by the Church.
Fire, Life, and Death Hunters were the most common Mages here. Same with Spirits that could be found in the wilds nearby.
But today, there was no noise to be heard. No earth-shattering attacks, nor screams and echoes of steel on steel. The lack of combat was startling to the comparatively few civilians that lived there.
Only those that understood the reason for this quiet were able to fully comprehend the situation that the city found itself in. A situation where the possibility of war being declared was high.
“So, that’s where we stand for the moment.” Wolken finished his explanation. In front of him was an auditorium filled to the brim with Legendary Hunters, and Scholars from the Lelend Cathedral.
It had been a month since he and his expedition had fled from their partial failure to harm the cult forces on this side of the Desolate Lands.
The fact that a Mythical Hunter was forced to retreat thanks to another Hunter was shocking enough, but to hear that the Rotting Matriarch hadn’t pressed to attack Wolken’s weakened state was disturbing. It meant that she was planning something bigger, but to what extent was unknown to them.
As well as whether or not the other Broods were involved.
“What do you propose we do, Exalt Wolken?” one of the Grand Scholars of Lolend asked. “We have nowhere near enough evidence to declare a true wartime preparation. Even with the number of Legends gathered here, this grand council is not what it could be. Not if you think that things are as bad as you are implying.”
The representatives from the other major cities in Quintessa nodded in agreement. While the news was certainly bad, there wasn’t enough to require a full mobilization of their forces. It would be a loss of life they could ill afford if things went wrong.
“I understand that, Grand Scholar. My hope is to receive aid regarding two things. First, an expedition dedicated to the infiltration of the core regions of the Desolate Lands. To see if any evidence can be found that would imply a greater level of cooperation between Broods.”
There was a grumbling among the Local Hunters who had seen the matriarch’s actions. This was a sensible lead up to their eventual declaration, if evidence was found.
“The second, is to commit to a true and proper purge of the Cult of Light within Quintessa. A hunt that is supported directly by the Church of Ten, and all the Guilds. No one will be exempt from this investigation, and any people tied to the Cult of Light will need to be executed for treason against humanity.”
Wolken’s voice turned grim, and he was nearly growling as he finished.
A moment of silence passed. The assembled Hunters seemed to have difficulty comprehending the Exalt’s words. They were so extreme that it wasn’t something they thought was real.
Several seconds later, the Legendary figures in the room broke out into discussion between one another. Many cried out for support regarding Wolken’s plan against the Cult of Light. Others decried Wolken as being too bloodthirsty, and that they needed to quietly investigate things, else they ostracize the other worldly factions due to their witch hunt.
Throughout it all, Wolken didn’t say anything in defense of his words. Neither did the Church Scholars, much to the shock of many Hunters. The men of women of higher learning were most well-known for disparaging the bloodier means of solving problems.
As more and more people noticed that the Church seemed to silently agree with Wolken, those that were against it were beginning to have second thoughts.
“My reasoning for this is simple. If this Cult has Mythical Hunters, why haven’t they taken up defense of the borders within a worldly faction?” Wolken’s question silenced the few Hunters that were still talking. “As you know, when the Age of Despair ended, the first of the Mythic Hunters took defense against the Cruor by openly settling on the borders of the Desolate Lands. Why hasn’t this cult? Why have they hidden their forces, when it’s possible they could’ve aided humanity in strengthening our position against the Cruor?”
The Hunters were sharing worried looks, as the picture that Wolken was painting was not a good one. None of the Hunters in this room were members of the cult, but none had thought too harshly of their actions, since they were still humans, and therefore enemies of the Cruor.
“Instead, the Cult of Light has dedicated numerous resources to destabilizing one of the largest factions in the world and has made no efforts to aid humanity. Only taking actions that will further their own agenda, whatever that may be, beyond their desire to spread their faith. Worse yet, they are using a Mythical Hunter to try and kill a Legendary Hunter. The only Legendary Void Hunter in the world.”
Some of the Hunters began muttering in disgust at Wolken’s words. While none of them were against higher Tiers killing lower Tiers, since that was simply a matter of survival of the fittest, there were much better uses for a Mythical being. They had responsibilities that Legenda simply couldn’t fulfill.
Never, in the history of the Age of Conflict, had there been a Mythical Hunter that acted against humanity in such a way. Fight had broken out, sure, but there had never been a Mythical Hunter that had died, or lost their Spirit, that hadn’t fallen in battle with the Cruor.
Specifically in battle against a Broodlord.
Though, some of the gathered Legends did notice the lack of said Void Hunter’s presence. Some wondered if he had been injured in the confrontation with the cult’s Mythic, but none brought it up.
“The Church of Ten supports both of Exalt Wolken’s suggestions. We shall directly begin preparations of Artifacts and Relics for this expedition.” The Grand Scholar declared. His two partners that had accompanied him nodded in agreement. “In addition, we shall support all investigations and actions taken against the Cult of Ten, on the condition that proper methods are used for questioning, to ensure that no innocents are harmed. At least not in unrecoverable ways.”
Even the other Grand Scholars, from the different cities, began to show their agreement.
Now that the Church of Ten had taken a side, it was apparent that many of the Hunters in this assembly were prepared to join in. If only to avoid harsher scrutiny during the investigation.
“Let’s take a vote,” Wolken declared. “All in favor, please--”
The Exalt’s eyes widened, and he cut his words short as something tickled the edge of his senses. Something that everyone noticed, and all of them went on alert.
A moment later, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the city. Beneath their feet the ground began to shake, and Wolken disappeared from the auditorium.
Hunters and Scholars all fled the building, only to find that massive, tower-sized, roots and branches were ripping up the city. With localized pillars of twisting winds ripping up the roots as carefully as possible.
All around the city glowing lights filled the streets, and numerous enchanted arrays protected the infrastructure as best they could. There was also a stark lack of civilians running around. Instead, it was as if the city was nearly empty beyond the presence of those that would be fighting.
“Where is he! Where is the Anathema!” a rage filled cacophony of screams came from numerous mouths that had formed on the attacking constructs.
The Legendary figures broke off in different directions, doing what they could to protect the city, but given that it was a Mythical being that was attacking, there was little that they would be able to do.
By now, each one wondered where the so-called Anathema was.
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As the wind ripped up the roads and tore apart the vines, roots, and branches formed by the wooden giants created by the cultist, Wolken observed the small army of cultists that followed behind their leader. Legendaries and Adepts combined flooded the city with elemental attacks.
“This will not end well for them,” Wolken declared as he avoided a fist from the giant that was covering the Mythic cultist’s body. “You’ll destroy any and all credibility that you had gained due to your actions in the Empire and Tarquessa. So, why didn’t you just wait until he was elsewhere? Why attack the city itself? You already struck once in the Desolate Lands. I have no doubt your spies would allow you to find another opening sooner or later.”
Wood flew through the sky and was turned to mulch when Wolken’s spells tore into the branches that reached toward him. By this point, a tenth of the city was destroyed, but Wolken’s actions had mostly contained the damage.
“A faithless cur who knows nothing of the Ancients wouldn’t understand. It was bad enough that he was allowed to live when his abilities were first revealed.” The cultist finally deigned to speak with Wolken. But her focus didn’t waver, and her movements continued toward the Cathedral. “Now that the [End of All] is capable of spreading to others, we cannot afford to risk his existence for any longer.”
Wolken looked disappointed in his opponent. He had thought that she might’ve had an intelligent reason for attacking this city while he was still in it. But it was clear to him that it was nothing more than fear that drove her forward.
“You’re scared. How sad.” The cultist paused and turned to Wolken, who grinned wolfishly as a mocking glint appeared in his eyes. “The power of your so-called Lord must be quite pathetic, if he fears the power of a mere Legend this much.”
The world stilled for a moment, and Wolken took advantage of the Mythic cultist’s shock. Two of the giants she had created were destroyed, and she shook off her mental stutter with a rage that filled the world. Her scream reverberated through the gaping maws that grew from the bloody red trees and roses that were grown her mana.
“How dare you!”
The tree giant shifted forms. Roots and vines retracted, and Wolken’s wind no longer took hold of her constructs. A newly formed giant, nearly a hundred feet tall, took shape. Covered in wooden armor that had the tree boughs stretching from the back of its now feminine figure.
Petals from a rose, and leaves from an oak tree, fell to the ground like rain. Blowing every which way that Wolken could make them. Doing his best to ensure that they didn’t land on the ground, or worse, land on somebody.
But this spell was much less obvious than the massive tendrils that the cultist had used to tear up the city. Each leaf and petal that hit the ground sprouted into a smaller figure that began running through the streets. Taking root in the bodies of the humans and Spirits that they encountered along the way.
“You bitch! Those are innocents!” Wolken’s words didn’t match his expression.
Which was fair, since his words were lies. Lolend had long since gotten their civilians into the shelters built into the city’s foundation. They had much better protection than even the Cathedral.
Instead, rather than horror, Wolken’s grin was still just as wide, and a moment later, he donned his helmet. The choice to hold back and keep the city safe was no longer the right one.
The longer this cultist survived, the less of the city that would remain. That was if any of it did.
“What’s your name, oh wretched demon of a false savior!” Wolken continued to mock his opponent as he formed a serpentine giant formed from twisting winds.
“I am Endaria! The Life of Radiance! Now die you old bastard!” Endaria’s improved giant swung a massive fist toward Wolken’s form. The boughs from her back reached around and forward to run him through. But not quite reaching as a shield of spinning air and a sword of biting winds met her blow for blow.
“You think this battle will matter? My fellow Followers will destroy your Cathedral and ensure that the Anathema and its monstrous trash are destroyed!”
Wolken just smiled even wider beneath his helmet. Even as the walls of the Cathedral finally crumbled under the weight of a small tsunami. The group of a dozen or so Legendary Hunters began laying waste to the Cathedral’s grounds.
A similar scene was happening at the branch of his Guild that was not far away.
Wolken almost wished that Strom was here, to show these cultists a real tsunami, but knew that the younger Mythic had his own duties, ones that Wolken was avoiding by being here.
None of this mattered, however, as Wolken knew something that none of these cultists did. Something that he and several people in the city had purposely spread false rumors contradicting.
Using body doubles and the fifth Void Hunter, who had formed his Void Spirit just a couple of days prior to their return after that first meeting with this insane Exalt from the cult, the Church of Ten and upper echelons of the Prime Guild had ensured that only the information that they permitted to be known was learned by the cult.
A part of Wolken wished to let the cultists know that Ezekiel wasn’t here. That neither he, nor Riley, nor a handful of Hunters he knew he could actually trust, were really here.
But he knew that doing so would ruin the plan they had painstakingly worked on. To the point where they had even cleared out parts of the city of real humans so as to keep up the ruse.
They had left the city three weeks ago. Barely a week after Ezekiel had woken up after that horrible ordeal in the Desolate Lands. His students were still here, as they were still recovering from soul-based injuries, but were under special guard and protection in a private residence that wasn’t tied to the Church of Prime Guild.
“May the Ancients bless your path. And thank you for the wonderful fight!”
Wolken’s words were hidden beneath the wind by his own command. His prayer was only heard by himself as he charged forward once more. This time he didn’t have to hold back to ensure that his people got out safely.
All that mattered now, was that his enemy was killed. Even if the sky was ripped asunder in the process.
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Meanwhile, nearly a thousand kilometers north of Lolend, Ezekiel and Riley led a team of eight other Legendaries from the Prime Guild. Each one was a master of a different element.
They were trudging through an icy tundra. Only flat lands filled with ice and snow surrounded them. No mountains of forest in sight. The last ones had long since been left behind. Stars shone in the sky, as being this far north had cast much of the world into darkness much more quickly than it would’ve further south.
“How far away are we?” One of the Hunters called out from the back.
Ezekiel reached into his Void Pouch, touching the container that held the map.
Rather than taking it out, however, he channeled his mana through it, and a mental image of the map formed in his mind. He compared the image with the stars in the sky. Given their position on the horizon, it was likely that they were only one or two days away.
“A day, maybe two if the weather turns bad.” Ezekiel’s words made most of the Hunters sigh in relief. Though there was still a sense of worry that settled over all of them.
Yes, plans had been made for them to all make it to the Legacy in the north, but that didn’t mean that these Hunters were happy with leaving their home to be attacked.
None complained, however, and the group continued forward. Each one hoping that the chance provided to them would be worth it.