As I looked down on my new vassals a notification came up to award me for my kills.
455 rank points gained across targets slain.
Blood and Souls (Repeatable): Kill 20,480 monsters or humanoids. Current Progress 4,100 out of 20,480. When you complete this quest, you will gain 4096 Rank Points, and the next quest will require double the amount to be completed but will award double the rank points.
Quest Updated, Whip and Chains: 256 rank points gained.
Whip and Chains (Repeatable): Conquer 2,560 monsters or humanoids by bringing them under your Dominion. Current Progress 517 out of 2560. When you complete this quest, you will gain 512 Rank Points and the next quest will require double the amount to be completed but will award double the rank points.
With how many kills I was getting from gifted humanoids I was quickly regaining the rank points I had lost when the system punished me for artificially creating my own ability. I was a few thousand short of the number I had lost but was getting closer. The problem was I couldn’t spend the points yet. If I wanted to enter the Dragon Tourney, I had to be the same rank as the prince, which meant I couldn’t go up in rank and risk being locked out.
That was one of the main reasons I wanted to complete the quest and get my full armor set. Not only would I have a full set of artifact armor but also a new title which promised me even more power. Titles and equipment weren’t really something you could regulate and was the only advantage I could farm right now.
“Rise,” I commanded my new soldiers and knights. “Report to Lord Jeriah, he we will give you your new instructions.”
Turning my back on them, I shoved open the palace gates. A wooden beam shattered as I snapped it in two. Servants screamed but I ignored them as I walked past. Following my nose, I descended down into the palace following the itching scent of magic. Workbenches and tables had been abandoned but I could see a set of double iron doors, their surface inscribed with enchants.
That looks like a pain to get through, Karnen said. You think you could break the enchantments?
“No,” I admitted. “Those enchantments are to complicated to break without just exploding them, the force would be cataclysmic when those doors shattered, I wouldn’t even survive the attempt.”
So, what do you need to open it up? Voidra asked.
“A key,” I said reaching the enchantments. “Looks like it’s some sort of blood lock. I guess it’s this world’s magical equivalent of biolock. That must have been why they needed that princess Jeriah mentioned.”
So, we need to track her down? Karnen asked with an internal groan.
“Not necessarily,” I said. “With a bit of fenagling I might be able to alter this lock and switch who it needs blood from. I can’t break it open, but it doesn’t mean I can’t pick the lock.”
I will remind you that you did just say “cataclysmic” when referring to what would happen if you got this wrong, Voidra said. Maybe it’s worth looking for the princess briefly.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll ask Jeriah and Tobias if they’ve heard anything about her location. We might check out the location of this Lion Clan as well.”
--
I found Jeriah in the throne room seated in a chair before the throne as he gave out orders. Sitting down I watched him and waited for those present to leave. Eventually it was just me, him, and Tobias.
“What do you need Mordred?” he asked.
“The location of the princess,” I said. “I need her blood to open up the vault. Do you have any reports on where she is.”
Jeriah looked about as if we might have people listening in on us. “There are rumors,” he said, his voice low. “That she was taken by a mysterious group called the Order of the Magi. They’re a group…”
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved him off. “I know all about them, so your saying they’re walking around up here now?”
“Up here?” Jeriah asked.
“Long story,” I said. “So, you don’t have any actual idea of her current location.”
“Not as of yet,” Jeriah said. “Though we haven’t been focused on tracking her down.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “Well, we can’t get into the vault just yet, tell me about this Lion Clan.”
“They are nomadic group of warrior herders on the moors to the east,” Jeriah said. “They act as an independent nation trading pelts and fine leather in exchange for grain, metal and other products.”
“Have we made contact with them yet?” I asked.
“I sent an emissary to them a few months ago but haven’t heard back from her yet,” Jeriah said.
“Her?” I asked.
“I sent Syvia,” he said. “she’s a fast scout and myrmidon so I thought she was the best choice.”
“You are aware that they view the Lion Clan as traitors to their goddess since they gave up raiding in pursuit of peace?” I asked.
“Well…no,” Jeriah admitted.
I sighed. Even I, a stranger to this world, could tell that the emissary we had sent was likely one of the worst choices we could have made. Juruk would have been better, and he was a fucking goblin.
“Nothing to be done about it now,” I said. “I’ll have to visit them myself.”
Tobias shoved open the throne room doors. “We have a monster attack at the front gates!” he said.
“Then deal with it,” Jeriah said irritably.
“You don’t understand,” Tobias said. “it’s an army of them and their leader is hero ranked.”
--
Moments later I teleported onto the outer wall having ran and teleported the entire way. I looked out over a group of monsters. They were like centaurs but they each had antlers like gazelle and their eyes were coals, their hooves burning with and scorching the ground as they stamped and trampled the grass underneath them.
A raid has been created to test and challenge you as you step onto the path of ascension. Since you have conquered a capital city of a nation expanding the borders of your Kingdom you will receive more frequent spawn rates around you to test you and see if you are worthy.
Only the leader of a raid will award you rank points but will drop a Loot chest to reward you upon defeating them. The fewer participants in the battle the greater your reward will be.
It wasn’t even a question for me.
“Stay here, I’ll handle this on my own.” I said to Jeriah.
A crash landed on the wall beside me, and I looked up to see Exar’kun looking down on the demon centaurs hungrily. “I would greatly appreciate being allowed to participate; it is rare to find worthy prey. I have not had a single fight against an opponent of my own rank since I ascended to Hero.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
My first instinct was to deny him, but I thought about it. Exar’kun was not my vassal he was an ally bound to me by choice, I would need to treat him with the same respect I would Guinevere. Besides which, making my means of fast travel and aerial bombardment was always going to be a good thing.
“Very well, but just you,” I said.
Dropping down to the ground the centaurs stopped battering at the barely repaired gate. Pawing at the ground they encircled me. Their leader strode forward. His head was fifteen feet off the ground and he carried what appeared like a scythe of some sort, its blade made of blood red crystal.
“Are you the Warlord?” he asked.
Skorias, Leader of the Burning Horde, Gifted- monster/infernal-centaur (raid boss), Hero, Rank: 750
“I am,” I said my voice distorted again by my helmet I had put back on. “I’m surprised that you can speak. Do you know what you are and why you were created.”
“I was created to destroy you,” Skorias growled charging forwards and slashing at me with his scythe.
“No,” I corrected him as I bent under and around his strike extending Clarent and slashing at his back legs. “You were created to be food.”
Skorias managed to intercept and block my attack with his scythe. I couldn’t just focus on him as the rest of the burning horde charged me. A deep growl shook the land as Exar’kun landed on the ground sending a shockwave from his impact. There had to be at least a thousand centaurs in the herd, each armored in dark armor from head to hoof.
Infernal Shock Trooper, Raid Creature- monster/infernal-centaur, Veteran, Power Level: 345
A massive maul swung down at me, and I turned incorporeal letting it pass through. My spectral sword slashed at six centaurs within reach their screams a cross between that of a man and a horses. Turning corporeal again, I teleported onto the back of a centaur driving Clarent down in a two-handed grip into its spine riding its corpse to the ground.
Turning aside a spear I cut off its head. Gripping the tip of the spear with my telekinesis I threw it piercing through the neck of its wielder. Green flames ripped through the herd adjacent to me and I turned my back to their anguished screams as I focused on their approaching leader.
A ring of fire appeared around Skorias, and he jumped through it disappearing into thin air. Like Guinevere I couldn’t sense Skorias with my Foresight, but I had trained to fight without it for over a year. Skorias reappeared and I blocked his scythe as it came down on my neck. Twisting to the side I turned and threw off the weapon pressing down on me. My hand shouted out and crimson lightning blasted from my fingertips. Skorias roared in pain but was far too powerful to take lethal damage from a mere lighting strike.
He began to move faster and faster around me, his speed increasing with every strike he made against me. After forty seconds he was going faster than my perception could track with ease. He moved around me in a blur, his scythe and hoof striking at me in sporadic patterns I couldn’t predict. Forced to activate my speed boost on my boots when I first got them that would have put the battle on a timer but now the speed boost was an hour long and the battle would be over long before than one way or another.
Even with my speed doubled the centaur raid boss continued to gain speed going even faster than me. I spun to the side, but it wasn’t enough, and a hoof struck me in the chest and I heard my ribs crack and break under the force.
He was over me before I even finished rolling across the ground. I had to throw myself to the side to keep his hooves from finishing the job and caving in my chest.
“Is this all the strength the Warlord can bring?” Skorias laughed.
A dragon tail whipped through the air and the half-man-half-horse went flying.
“If you want strength,” I growled. “I’ll show you strength. Hell’s Talons.”
I threw Clarent into the air gripping his hilt with Telekinesis and spinning him around me in a scarlet whirlwind as I charged into the remaining horde. I slashed out with my claws not to kill but simply to deal as many wounds as possible. My skin already covered in black mist began to produce it like a waterfall as instances of Black Rage stacked up. If my opponent could increase their Speed in battle, I would have to do the same with my Might.
Skorias was dancing around Exar’kun the dragon unable to move fast enough to get another hit on him. The scythe was able to break through scales inflicting only minor wounds here or there but at such speed they would quickly overwhelm even the dragon. The remaining horde numbered around six-hundred and converged on me to keep me from going to Exar’kun’s aid.
Unleashing Helheim’s Scream I sent the horde reeling. Some resisted and continued to charge me while others fled or attacked their allies or just froze in panic. I cut through those in-between me and their leader as I raced forward. Jumping up I began dancing along their backs Clarent stabbing and cutting as I murdered my way forwards. Dropping to the ground a hundred feet away I called
“Hey! You ready for round two or you still in refractory?”
Skorias was by my side in an eyeblink, his scythe going for my neck once again. Clarent intercepted the attack, and I threw him back the force of my riposte sending the raid boss reeling. Teleporting under him I slashed upwards, I only managed to deal a shallow wound but the lightning from Clarent raced across the centaur’s body. Stunned in place for only a half second, it was long enough for Exar’kun to bite down on the centaur’s back.
While large Exar’kun wasn’t big enough to fly away with the giant monster, but he shook him like a dog. Skorias didn’t lose his head and began stabbing and slashing Exar’kun’s eyes with his scythe. Teleporting onto his head I barely kept my balance, I was finally grateful for the Ring of the Duelist as it helped me maintain my balance.
Tossing his body against the walls there was an audible crack as something vital broke. Skorias dragged himself forward, but his back half was paralyzed. I strode forwards and countered his frenzied assault. The remaining horde charged us, but Exar’kun turned to deal with them. The spines along his back shot out new one instantly regrowing to replace them as the projectiles acted like homing missiles. A steam of blight-fire evaporated the front ranks of the charging monsters.
Drawing in close I drove Clarent through the raid-bosses chest. The fire that lit his hooves and eyes died slowly and he went limp. Retracting Clarent’s blade I hooked him on my chest. Looking back, I found the army dead destroyed entirely by Exar’kun’s fire.
187 rank points gained.
Blood and Souls (Repeatable): Kill 20,480 monsters or humanoids. Current Progress 4,430 out of 20,480. When you complete this quest, you will gain 4096 Rank Points, and the next quest will require double the amount to be completed but will award double the rank points.
Ability Gained, Blood Renewal (Rank 1): From the blood of your enemies are your allies restored. For every gallon of blood spilled on the ground you can exert 1 mana to heal all allies within 100ft of you for a minor amount of damage taken.
Cost:
1 mana per gallon of blood.
Upgrade this ability to reduce the amount of blood required, the range and amount of healing it does. Each rank of this ability increases your Mind Attribute by 1.
That doesn’t seem like your kind of ability, Karnen said disappointed.
I disagree, Voidra said.
“Why’s that?” I asked distractedly.
Anyone can kill and destroy, Voidra explained. Real power comes when you can both give and take life from others.
---
Guinevere stood before the King and her father’s arms crossed over her chest.
“No,” she said coldly.
“You will do as your told and marry the Prince,” Merlin told her his voice holding no room for argument, or so he believed.
“Or what?” Guinevere asked.
“What?” he asked, taken aback.
Guinevere leaned forward suddenly reminded of Mordred when he talked to her party. “Or…what,” she said again pausing between every word.
“You will be punished,” he growled being only questioned by his daughter in front of his brother and nephew enraging him but he kept it bottled up inside.
“This is not a request,” King Arthur said. “Your father has some legal authority over you even if you are an adult and I am you king, you will obey.”
“No, I will not,” Guinevere said. “I originally made this pact with you to keep peace between you and my father. When I did so you made promises to me, promises that were written down.”
She pulled out a scroll of parchment and laid it out on the table. “The condition was that Arthur as my spouse and betrothed was to remain faithful to our marriage bed and would be allowed no other wives, concubines, and mistresses. He has already broken the first and fully intends to break the second.”
“That contract is no longer valid,” King Arthur said.
“It’s your seal on it,” Guinevere responded.
“Leave us,” King Arthur commanded his son and brother.
“Father….” Arthur began.
“Leave,” his father said again his voice turning as harsh as a blizzard.
When Merlin and Arthur were gone King Arthur stood up and removed his crown examining it. “Do you know why I am King?” he asked.
“Because your father…” Guinevere began.
“Wrong,” he snapped. “I am not king because of my father; my son will not be king because of me. I am King because men like your father say I am. You believe that your father wants my throne, you are right. What you fail to understand is that both he and I know he cannot take it because might is not what makes a king.”
Guinevere was silent as she listened.
“It is the barons and dukes who decide who is King, if they were to all decide today that I wasn’t than my own power would mean nothing,” King Arthur said pacing back and forth.
“And what would they say if they knew you broke your word so easily?” Guinevere asked.
Arthur looked at the parchment in her hands and snapped his finger. Ashes fell through her fingers as it disintegrated. “What I am trying to tell you is that you do not matter. You have no real power, only your relation to your father gives you any value.”
Guinevere stared daggers at him, a red-hot furry rising within her. “And if I were to leave?” she asked.
“And go where?” King Arthur asked. “If you abandon your duty here, I will name you a wolf’s head no kingdom will except you. That is not to mention the toll I will extract on your brother and sister.”
“You would threaten my family?” Guinevere asked her hand dropping to the hilt of her sword unconsciously. “My father’s children.”
“I would make your father do it himself, and he would,” King Arthur told her his voice mercilessly. “You are mistaken if you think my brother would do anything to jeopardize his power.”
“You will marry my son, you will be his queen, and do as you are told,” King Arthur said. “If you do not, I will cast you alone into the deepest darkest dungeon there is. You were born to serve your King and you will do as you are told.” As he said the words an oppressive weight came down on her shoulders and binding oaths she had sworn as a child dragged her to her knees.
“Yes, my King,” Guinevere said the words like acid in her throat.