Nutty Friends

Nutty Friends

Year 171

It was strange to see and feel through Lumoof once more.

Your eyes are glowing. Edna said.

Thats because Aeon is here.

Ah. Edna laughed. So do your eyes glow every time he is there?

I think so?

The way it works is that theres two states to the Avatar. In the off-state, I can only feel, hear and see through him, but I cannot control him. In the on-state, he became the vessel of my power, and it was like my entire presence was there.

To have humanoid sensations again was really rather awkward. These feelings were so familiar. This very act meant Lumoof could speak to me mentally, and I had access to his mind, should he choose to reveal it to me.

All in, it was strange.

I consider this progress. Lumoof said. Consider how useless I was during the battle with the demon king. This means I can be of some use! Sorry, I mean, Aeon can be of some use! Lumoof laughed as he joked about it. Though he looked younger, his jokes were still very... old.

Edna merely shrugged. Good point.

The avatar, combined with my existing Court of the Deitree essentially meant I could participate in any battle relatively risk free. In short, Lumoofs decision to elect himself as my subdomain pretty much solved one of the key problems I faced.

Projecting force at a distance. In fact, Id be keen to test whether this avatar even works across worlds. My view is, it should. It goes through the system. The system is this ever present thing that transcends all.

-

Through the avatar, there were many things that I saw for the first time. The insides of my dungeons. How Freshka looked through the eyes of a local. The random unnamed spaces where I did not place my [eyes]. How noisy it was in the cities.

Because it took some time for me to rectify the drained dungeons, both Edna and Lumoof could stop their dungeon diving. It also didnt make sense for both of them to be present and slow down the growth of the other level 125-130 Valthorns like Roon, Johann etc.

Lumoof and Edna had a lot of practicing to do, in that their domains leaked a presence that pressed on those around them. Those in the higher levels, such as the Valthorns are less affected by it, but when they walked in the streets, it often caused unintentional faintings, and some crazed mumblings. There are also cases of hysteria and inexplicable yellings, cured by a big dose of calming tea concentrate.

So this happens all the time? Lumoof asked, surprised by how easily those weaker than him seemed to suffer from just being around him.

Yes? I always thought it was my [Haunted Forest] skills, but I suppose the domain itself has a kind of authority presence. It worked a lot less to those of a higher levels.

Edna was a lot better at controlling her own domain energies, but thats also partly because her domain is her own and she got hers a few years earlier. Lumoofs domain is linked to mine, so to some extent, it feels a little foreign. With two demi-gods on my side, I felt quite good.

-

Alvin returned to the northern isles with little fanfare. The northern temples wisely chose to keep the entire incident quiet. Once he returned, he swiftly crushed the locust nests with his restored power. That was the end of the locusts.

-

Lausanne, Kei and Stella continued their experiments with the daemolite and void mana. Stella was approaching level 70s as a [void mage], spurred on by her recent exploits with daemolite and the astral paths.

I have a few speculations. One, void mana may not be the only way to travel through space and time. The gods must have used something else to send the heroes here, and I do not think they use void mana, since star mana and void mana reacted violently with each other.

Even with the daemolite as the battery, she was only able to open a small hole, and she saw nothing but a bright light.

Still, she was able to maintain her connection for a bit longer than before, even if its a tiny bit. Some paths were easier than the others, and the one that brightest to me, was the easiest.

-

> You seek our knowledge of the void? <

Vallasira finally returned, and he magically appeared in a pond in the Valley of the Unrotten. He seemed to have some kind of ability to just teleport to any sufficiently large body of water.

> The starways are but one way to travel through the stars. <

Alright, point noted.

> ...if she is worthy. Bring her here. <

Stella came and saw the giant zaratan for the first time. To her, the Zaratan was a massive being, the size of a small building, with a head the size of a truck. She walked closer to the zaratan, and briefly, Stellas hand touched the legs of the massive zaratan.

I sensed some kind of magic at that moment, yet I do not recognise it.

The two shared a look.

> It seems she is. I shall take her away for a while. <

> Years if needed. The art of the void is vast, and I will need to seek counsel and guidance. <

The Demon King Durthal was slain is Year 167. So, effectively, on a 10 year cycle, the demon king should descend in year 177. The rifts will appear 2 years before that.

Our attention shifts to the South, and also to the West. Central, North and East had their demon king events recently, so if there is some kind of rotation going on, it should head to the untouched continents.

Of course, thats just me. The data indicates that theres no such rotation happening, nor does the demon king complete a full circuit of all continents. Its not unusual for it to hit the same continent twice or even three times in a span of 50-60 years.

The other temples and continents maintain a policy of non-engagement, and generally refuse to deal with me publicly... except for the church of Aiva. The Aivan church one again secretly sent an envoy.

Our god decreed that we should seek your forces training. Our god wishes for our temple to grow in strength. For our military to move up.

And?

We will switch sides and break from the other three churches. Our god has decreed it fine to split.

This... was not predicted. But should I cooperate with the churches, even if I worked against their gods?

I will need some time to deliberate this offer.

Was it a trap?

Edna, Lumoof, what do you think of this offer? I summoned all of my Valthorns with Level 100 or above, and also a selected group of other individuals and presented the envoys argument. The Aivan church offered a formal alliance and to cut off with the other three churches of Hawa, Gaya and Neira.

Alka, my field scientist responsible for my crystal bombs was the first to posit an argument. If we look at the records we have access to, the ancient cities worshipped different gods. That suggests that the gods themselves are perhaps transitory in nature, that their influence over the world rises, and also ebbs to some unknown cycle. If the Aivan church is fading, then this alliance is useless to us. As it is, the Aivan church offers us only trade, which is already happening secretly.

Formal recognition would pave the way for our spread on the other continents. One Valthorn suggested.

Which god needs other gods for recognition? Lumoof shot that down quickly. Each god stands on their own merit.

Alka nodded. Thus, the offer for alliance, and military training is lopsided. The Aivan church gets most of the benefits, and few drawbacks.

A point which I agreed to. The Aivan church has nothing to offer me.

One of the other Patreearchs, a Level 104 [Aeonic Faithweaver], one of Lumoofs juniors, argued differently. That may be true, but we should not see this as a cost-benefit analysis. Our role as a religion is to spread, and we often will incur losses to do so. Taking this deal allows us to claim that even the great Aivan church has been humbled. That our single faith is stronger than the other 3 gods. That is a great victory for that reason alone.

Also a point I agree to. Accepting this meant one of the churchs signalled to the rest of their followers that I am superior to the 3, and that will shake the faith of those who believe in the 3 other gods. Its a loss to us operationally, but morally and spiritually, a win.

There was a murmur of agreement among the Valthorns too.

Doesnt this also mean we also agree to deal with Aiva as equals? We are different from them, their gods nowhere to be seen, occasionally dispensing divine messages and blessings.

And they would take this as an opportunity to learn our abilities and strengths.

I am sure they already know some of our strengths anyway.

I dont see whats the problem if they know our strength. They should fear us, and know that we are superior.

We should only engage if this arrangement is one where we are seen as the superior one. That this is our kindness to the Aivan church.

Blood has been spilled in the past. Some kingdoms will see this as a weakening.

The crusades and the naval blockades ended three decades ago. We have generations of young that do not remember the blockades. We even have Arjan here, who was born after the blockades. Arjan was a relatively young centaur, only in his late 20s who reached Level 100 recently. His combat experience was mostly through the dungeons, but his stratospheric rise began when he was 10, when somehow, despite not having parents who were Valthorns, he himself acquired the [Blessing of the Soul Tree].

If we never let go of past feuds, we should slaughter every single kingdom on our continent. Every kingdom has gone to war with each other some time in the past.

That was also a valid point. Surely there must be a time for peace.

Are we missing the forest for the trees? Aeons goal is to break the cycle. Thats why all of us are here. Does this get us there? No, will allying with the Aivan church help this cause? We will go to war with the heroes, and the gods one day. If the Aivan church will be our enemy, then let it be so. We now speak from a position of strength. Let us not make friends, and later stab them in the back. If they are our enemy, it will be better on our consciousness, and the honor of our class as [Knights], to be clear of our position. That was a knights argument, and Edna nodded.

But is there truly no path for us? Must the cycle be broken through war? As I thought about it, it wasnt a question anyone present could answer. No, the only person that can answer, is perhaps their head priests. The triumvirs.

I summoned the envoy.

I wish to speak to your triumvirs and your god. All 3 of them, and they must come prepared with the means to communicate with your god.

The envoy quickly responded, That... thats too much.

If your god decreed that the Aivan church is to have a pact, then your god or those who speak for him should come and speak to me himself. Else, it certainly doesnt seem sincere, and your god clearly does not regard me as equals to send someone to do their own task. Send them here, or there is no chance for this to work.

The envoy gulped and nodded. He left quickly, on the fastest ships to return east.

-

Kei finally gave an answer to my request. I will go and fight with Alvin, and support him where I can. I would like to request for your strongest bombs, becauseI know that my place is not in direct conflict with the demon king. I will still go, but I will not risk myself unnecessarily. I think.

It wasnt a very good answer, clearly she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. But very well, I dont get many chances to have immortal friends and allies. I need a lot more than just Lumoof, Edna and Lilies. Then you will have it.