I called them babies since they were children only two feet tall at best. They were wearing white shirts and white pants in an oriental style, where the shirts were long, which made them stand out visually. Their faces were snarling, I noticed blood shot red eyes, their high Body stat, and precise movements.

These were no amateurs to the art of combat. But trained combatants. The Astrologer wasn’t lying, he really wasn’t lying. Apparently, his letter had provoked a reaction. If I wasn’t here, then they would go right to Esperanza and then onto Purgatory from there.

It would reveal how little defense and detection our side of the boarder actually had. I had to win this fight there was no alternative. Well, there were alternatives, but none of them good. I counted the number of demonic babies, and the count was at twenty.

Even with the swamp water they clearly hand some kind of special clothing, since their white clothes remained clean. I wanted that enchantment.

“Over here!” I called out loudly and they quickly rushed in my direction, quickly smashing any tree monsters in their way. Air Burst. I prepped the skill. They spread out in arc. They weren’t mindless beasts, but capable of thought.

“Want to speak?” I called out, but no response. They moved as a single coordinated unit. Three from the front, three from each flank, and the remaining eleven spreading out and circling around. “Acid Shot,” x6. My new upgrade was already coming in handy as a wave of acid spread out at each group of three.

I had waited fairly late and managed to catch four of them. They screamed and screamed in that high pitch tone only a young child can. I couldn’t afford sympathy. Air Burst. I quickly repositioned myself. “Acid Shot.” I took out another demonic baby that had been behind me. Now the count was 15 to 1. The remainder spread out and circled me at a distance.

Air Burst. I prepped another use as I slowly turned around. No skills. Just pure melee combat. Suddenly one of the children began to shake. The swamp water coming up to their chest rippled outwards. I felt a vague sense of fear.

The demonic baby looked up at me with glowing red eyes that seemed to pulse every second. “Lìng yì zhī gǒu zài wǒ miàn qián,” The voice was high pitched in the tone of a child. But there was no changing the cadence or the foreign language.

“Sorry, I don’t speak Mandarin,” I said as I kept my senses alert. The child gave me a look up and down and then shook before the eyes went dim. Rude, I thought I was about to have a conversation with the Divine Empress. The demonic babies quickly ran back towards the West, leaping in and out of the swamp water.

I let them go. No need to push things and it would be hard to catch up with them. That had was certainly something. I waited for a bit, but nothing happened. “I know you are there, waiting is pointless,” I calmly said, but no one came out. “Really, still hiding?”

Still, no one came out. I let out a sigh of relief. The demonic babies were real. I went over to the partially melted corpses and picked up a stick. I gently pocked them checking their features. Clearly Asian features, the red eyes had gone back to normal in their death.

No abnormal features I could see. I let out a sigh and looked up at the sky that was growing dark. If I wanted to this, I needed to hurry. I crouched down and plunged my hands into the guts of the first baby. I began pulling out organs and prying the corpse apart to check for anything abnormal.

Once I was done with the first corpse I quickly went onto the second and then the third. At that point it was too dark to really continue. I washed my hands off in the swamp water. While the body had nothing unnatural about it. In each of their brains was what could only be described as a tumor growing at the base of their skulls where their brain connected to the spines.

I would need Doctor Katz out here, but the answer was obvious. Somehow the Divine Empress, had a proxy skill. Not a tether or anything like that. Unless she was nearby, which didn’t make sense. The shaking and the glowing eyes were more akin to possession than constant control.

If I had to guess, I would say resonance with her own energy across great distances. Also, the way the children communicated with each other silently meant there was clearly mental shenanigans happening. The hope was that the babies never had a true consciousness, but I didn’t know enough to make a determination.

Why hadn’t the Astrologer told me about her proxy power? Well, if I had to guess, he might not even know. If she knew when the demonic babies were killed, then she would sense that she had suddenly lost five. Then she checked in person, saw me, complained in some foreign language, and then left.

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It was a bit scary to be looked down on that much. Now that was a mega flex. Just completely dismissing me to go back to whatever she was doing. This was probably meant to draw the Astrologer out or his proxy in some way.

So, when it was stopped by another person, there was no point anymore. I wasn’t a threat in her eyes. That was why this all made sense. She probably wanted to have words with the Astrologer for the letter I sent back by way of the Envoy.

I let out a long sigh. Well, the demonic babies would have been dangerous if I hadn’t just gotten multi-cast. There Body stat had to be around 1,500 each. Very high, but their small size, and lack of skills meant they weren’t a match.

The bad news was that the Divine Empress had seen me. If I showed up again, she would know it was me. There would be no way to play off a mistaken encounter. She would instantly consider me a hostile force, since I was where the Astrologer was and doing what he should have been doing.

I thought of talking to Clarissa to deploy her special consumption guards out here. But I realized it wouldn’t be worthwhile. Better to not make a counter move and leave the Divine Empress guessing as long as possible, so she would have to make a move herself.

If I could handle her Envoy, then only the Divine Empress could defeat. I had no doubt she could easily crush me. Someone like this, wouldn’t let a subordinate have more than half their stats. Along with her meta-point it would be an instant loss.

Their white clothing had melted and none of it was salvageable. What little there was to begin with. Well, that was another thing confirmed that the Astrologer had said. Demonic babies. I shook my head.

I set off for Esperanza. I would hide out in the city for the night and then continue my dungeon sweep tomorrow. The dungeon to the Southwest of Esperanza, then I would hit the one directly South that Esperanza was using and get the skill point before any team they sent.

The one to the Southeast of Esperanza would be up in the air, but I was hoping I could nab that one as well. Then I could go directly to Neo Brasilia for a cart and supplies for a long grinding session to the South of that city.

I exited the swamp and quickly raced to the East, racing past the monsters I came across. Killing anything below a level 4 that wasn’t for a skill point was a waste of time. I kept up my pace and reached the wall of Esperanza. I leapt into the air. Air Burst. Air Burst. Air Burst. I landed on top of the wall and then quickly jumped down into the city.

I had memorized the locations Clarissa had given me for safe houses in each of the cities where her agents were hiding out. I had to go all the way through the city towards the East gate, but it didn’t take that long.

I kept out of sight of the people at the gate. Left from the gate, then left, right, and then left. The building here. This wouldn’t be possible once they purchased a City Map and the required upgrade, but for now people could hide in these other cities.

I entered the building. “The light shines from Purgatory,” I said out loud. It was cheesy but easy to remember.

“The night is eternal,” someone said as they came down from the second floor. “What instructions are to be given?”

It was an older man, but the fact he was one of Clarissa’s minions was comforting to know. “Priority message. You need paper or will you remember?” I asked.

“I will remember. How urgent? A courier is coming in two days’ time and I only have two other people here Champion Michael?” The man knew me, well that was good. Clarissa probably had all her people learn to recognize me and be able to greet me.

“High priority. I countered an attack on Esperanza today from the West. You know of the Divine Empress?” I asked.

“I have received the briefing.” I nodded at that.

“She sent a squad of twenty demonic babies. I killed five, the Divine Empress possessed one. Not a hybrid or a summon but possessed probably through resonance. I don’t know what language but she said this. Ling he gi go zau he men ze. I know I am probably butchering it,” I said.

“Say it again, try to recall the exact inflections and tonal sounds,” the old man said. I repeated what I said earlier.

“If I had to guess, it was something like, ‘Another dog comes before me’. But I can’t be sure,” the man said and bowed his head.

“That would make sense in the context it was used. If another attack comes, the demonic babies have around 1,000 in their Body stat and are smart in combat. They will keep their distance and coordinate perfectly without speaking,” I explained.

“I will make the arrangements to send word to Clarissa once my people return. What else do you require Champion Michael?” Clarissa did a really good job training these people.

“I the dungeon to the South and Southeast, when are they taken?” I asked.

“The day after tomorrow. So, there is time if you plan to take them yourself tomorrow, but you must leave before nightfall, otherwise you will be found. They head out there tomorrow and get the skill points in the morning.” That was very good to know.

“Can you and your team fight 1,000 stat Body users?” I asked.

“With time to prep then yes, since I am a summoner. One on one, my people could force a draw or escape, but winning would be difficult. If more than 5 came and I didn’t prepare, we could not win. If 20 came and I did prepare, it would be a great struggle,” the man explained.

“What were Clarissa’s orders if there was an attack from the West?” I asked.

“To survive and gather information before retreating. To use my summons while escaping.” I nodded at that. It would be smart if an army suddenly started marching our way.

“I suspect the Divine Empress will make a move herself eventually. You must keep watch for her. She will have an insanely high body stat and likely be dressed in black and white. She will be able to spot your tethers. If you see her, cut them immediately and run. Understand?” I asked.

“Yes, Champion Michael. I will update our procedures. Is there anything else?”

“A bed and some food. A shower?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, no shower, we can purchase water if you want?”

“Please, if it isn’t too much hassle?” I asked.

“It can be easily arranged. Come sit, I will prepare everything for you Champion Michael.”