Chapter 22 - Split up
As I approach the swamp-like jungle. I notice Rider and Lancer standing near their wagon with weapons drawn against a mysterious group of individuals wearing hooded cloaks. The atmosphere is tense and rife with hostility as I try to figure out the situation.
The mysterious group are wearing green hooded cloaks of fine quality, which hides their identities. This probably means they aren’t bandits as I doubt bandits have such fine attire, but I can’t be sure.
“After the fight with a crazy bitch and now this happens. So what is going on here Rider?” –Dasas
“Hey chief, I dunno. These people ambushed us as the kid and me came here.” –Rider
“Stay your hand. We don't wish for a fight. We are only here for that elvan woman there.” -???
I realize one of the mysterious individuals is pointing his hand at Saber next to me as I start to frown.
“More greedy fools that want to sell my subordinate as a slave I take it.” –Dasas
All my NPCs draw their weapons as they get ready to pounce on this enemy group at my command.
“Don't think we are the same as those dirty lowly humans!!” -???
Two individuals from the group started to take off their hooded cloaks to reveal a couple of tall slender fair skinned humanoids with pointy long ears, and an ethereal beauty. One is a man with broad shoulders and long black hair wearing tight fitted green clothes. A very low cut on his shirt shows off his chest.
The other is a woman with reddish brown hair braided in ribbons wearing similar clothes as the man with parts of her breasts being shown. As a man I end up focusing on her chest area a bit but only for an instant, and I become emotional at what I witness before me.
“Oh snap!!! Real live elves!!! It's the real deal!! Truly fantasy!!” –Dasas
“Eh? Master?” –Saber
Saber, with her straight long blonde hair in a ponytail, standing next to me gives a confused and shocked appearance. I am reminded she also is an elf. Actually, it seems in my excitement at finally meeting real elves that aren’t game elves I made a fool of myself. Ah, it feels like my stock with my NPCs continue to plummet at this rate if I don’t control myself properly. I start to use [Scan] on these two elves.
Byron – Strongest warrior of Elfheim – Level 62
Calista – Servant of the Spirit Priestess – Level 56
These elves are the highest level of people we have met so far discounting the bitch goddess. I wonder if elves in this world are a stronger race compared to humans. Either way it is best to understand what they are after and if they are related to the bitch goddess.
“Ahem…so what is it you elves want with my companion Saber?” –Dasas
“We came on a mission to retrieve or destroy an entity having a large influence on the spirits. There was a huge surge of spirit power released in this direction. So we made haste and came upon your group just now. Seeing as there is one of our kind among your group then it is most likely her is the cause.” –Byron
“Yes just hand her over. We want no trouble with an ancient dragon who came from the land of Bannik. Even if you are an ancient dragon from stories of myth. We are not afraid to fight to the death.” -Calista
I notice Saber making an ugly expression on her face as she start to emit strong bloodlust directed at the group of elves.
“Hmph! Such insolence towards my master! Also I have no wish to go with you worms.” –Saber
“What?” –Calista
The elves seem to be shocked at what Saber has said. I wonder why? I think it is a normal reaction to be pissed if some strangers demand you to join them for no reason.
“Calm yourself Saber. Let me deal with this.” –Dasas
“Eh? But master those lowly insects…” –Saber
“This is the first time I ever seen you this agitated and lively. It’s a very interesting experience.” –Dasas
“I apologize for my rude behavior master.” –Saber
“No worries. Leave this to me as it's better to make friends than enemies. No?” –Dasas
“As you command master.” –Saber
“Good as expected of my most loyal knight.” –Dasas
“I only exist to serve my master.”–Saber
I look towards the two elves that are bewildered and confused at just what transpired between Saber and me.
“So elves there you have it. My subordinate doesn't want to go with you.” -Dasas
“Even if you are an ancient dragon. You have no right to make one of our kind a slave like those filthy humans!!” –Byron
“Elf that is where you are wrong. I am no ancient dragon.” –Dasas
“Preposterous!! We arrived here at full speed and saw it with our very own eyes! You transforming into an ancient dragon laying waste to that human city. Only ancient dragons like ones spoke of in stories are capable of such a feat.” –Byron
“Well to answer your question. I am the god Dasas!! Be sure to carve that name upon your very souls.” –Dasas
“Eh a god? Then should we just call you a dragon god then? I heard from stories ancient dragons are mighty and lofty creatures that act as if they are gods after all.” –Calista
“Ah yes. Dragon god it is then ancient dragon.” –Byron
“I’m really a god you know…” –Dasas
In this world the people keep giving me titles of their own accord without caring what I think. I should just go along with it for now as I need allies and hopefully these elves are easier to handle than the humans I have met so far. I motion with my hand for my companions to lower their weapons. I do not want to agitate these elves and let them know I wish to negotiate.
“Anyway we are getting off track so what you elves want with my subordinate anyway? You know I can’t very well hand her over to you just like that.” –Dasas
“We were ordered by our great Priestess to retrieve or destroy the entity that is making the spirits restless. We tracked it and were lead to your group. We elves are people who worship and are blessed by the spirits. We can borrow their powers to live. We believe the entity to be the elf woman belonging to your group as we elves are able to harness the power of the spirits.” –Byron
The elf male Byron gave us a long winded explanation of why he is after Saber. The arrogant look on his face annoys me greatly.
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“Does that mean you wish to kill Saber?” –Dasas
“Do not lower us to the same level as those filthy humans! We no wish kill one of our kin without an extremely good reason. We only want to bring her back to the priestess and let her judge.” –Byron
“How about this? We all come along with you guys and meet this priestess of yours. Otherwise we will have to fight it out here. Believe me you will lose.” –Dasas
The elf Byron makes a complicated face as he thinks over what I said and then start to converse with his elven breathren. I wait until they figure out what they want to do and hopefully they agree as I do not want to kill them off.
I am in great need of allies and bodies for my army to go against the bitch goddess. Hopefully, I can make an alliance with these elves even if they do not become my worshippers. I dislike their arrogance but then elves are always like that in stories of magic lore I have read.
“I talked it over with my kin and we agree with part of your proposal.” –Byron
“What do you mean only a part?” –Dasas
“We can take you the dragon god, the elf woman, and the beastwoman along to our great forest Elfheim. However, the humans are forbidden to enter. Especially that demon woman as we despise their kind.” –Byron
“Hmmm” –Dasas
I look over my NPCs and start to think of what should I do about this. Then an idea came to me as I think this is a good opportunity for my NPCs to start learning how to operate alone away from me.
This is in preparation for the war game with the bitch goddess. I will need my NPCs to split and operate alone sometimes in order to win a battle.
The only problem is with Lancer as she is a weak human girl of this world and I have not train her enough. At the moment she raised her level to about twelve due to all the recent battles. She may be stronger than an average human soldier but it is not good enough for what is ahead.
“I don’t mind going along with what you want but I have to take along this little-one with me no matter what.” –Dasas
“That…” –Byron
“It's just a small human child. It should be okay to bring her into the great forest as long as she does not cause trouble Byron.” –Calista
“She is still a human! They can’t be trusted no matter what age.” –Byron
“You’re too stiff Byron. I say this arrangement is better than losing our lives to an ancient dragon and failing our mission.” –Calista
“I suppose Calista is right. Dragon god we agree to have that human child come along with you.” –Byron
“Good we will go with that plan then elves. I will need to talk with my companions first.” –Dasas
I gesture to my NPCs to move away a little from the group of elves as I need to talk with them privately. I let them know we will have to split apart for a while as to get things done in preparation with the war against the bitch goddess.
I decide to have Rider, Caster, and Assassin go back to my mountain mansion to stand by and prepare for the incoming war. Since Caster and Assassin will have certain needs I let them know they can capture humans as they see fit.
“Make sure the humans you all capture aren’t defenseless kids and young women. Otherwise anyone is fair game especially if they bare hostility towards you all.” –Dasas
“Gotcha chief.” –Rider
“Ku ku ku. The darkness tells me that what leader says is what goes.” –Caster
“……………(nods)” –Assassin
I notice Assassin nods reluctantly in agreement so she probably wanted to come along with my group to the elvan forest. Sadly, demons are not welcome as there is nothing I can do but abide with their wishes for now. I then start to take something out of my personal inventory as I need a way to keep in contact with my NPCs from a long distance.
I took out a silver ring band with magic runes in the Arlenian world language. This is a leader communication ring that can make duplicates of itself as to give other players a way to stay in contact. It works like a cellphone as anyone with the same ring can talk to one another if needed.
I bought a leader communication ring from a vendor NPC in-game in case I ever made my own guild or have a band of friends. Sadly, I never got to use the ring as it continue to rot inside my personal inventory due to me being a lonely solo player.
I have received duplicate rings from other players to stay in touch with a couple of friends for pick up parties in small fights though. I start to make duplicate rings from my leader communication ring and start handing them out to everyone in my group.
“So everyone take these communication rings. We can stay in touch and only use them if something comes up and if you are in need to contact me. You guys can also use them among yourselves if you happen to end up separated for any reason.” –Dasas
Everyone excitedly take a ring and place it on their fingers of their choosing. The communication rings are magic items from Arlenia and will magically fit onto any finger. I also gave a ring to Lancer in case. I regret not giving these rings out earlier. Another thing my loner personality has done to make me forget vital things. Better late than never I say.
My group start preparing to split up as Rider, Caster, and Assassin made way towards my mountain mansion the one I tend to call Mount Tai. They are taking the wagon of supplies and I notice Caster is dragging the body of the unconscious former village chief and throwing him onto the wagon.
I am reminded about how Caster turned into a vampire and she will probably create vampire servants in the future. The more she drinks then the more my army will grow. In a way I was lucky to take on the [Death] authority. I feel up my chest area as the pain from the incident still persists.
I will learn more about vampires later from Caster as I can contact her whenever with the communication rings. I can also instruct her about it too if need be, but mostly I will leave it up to her discretion. I want to know how things will proceed without me interfering.
An army of undead is pretty bad but their effectiveness in battle is undeniable as they can spread like a disease and is hard to stop. I am reminded of zombie movies as I think with this name Evil God the humans call me by will only be cemented.
I walk back to the group of elves as preparations for the separation and departure are done with. I wonder if I can make an alliance with the elves, for only time will tell. Wait for me bitch goddess.