Word blocks and trenches

Word blocks and trenches

Year 214

Lumoofs mana practice continued, while my other domainholders made regular trips to the parasite-world to set up the stage for an invasion.

He had managed, over a period of two to three years, to increase his mana tolerance by about twice of what it was, but lately his progress has plateaued. It still wasnt good enough, but Lumoof said he would just gain more levels, and hopefully those higher levels gave him extra stats and new skills that helped with his mana tolerance.

I agreed, I did not want to subject him through pain, if there was not much progress.

Since we had a roadblock in this particular direction, Lumoof went to the parasiteworld, to see what he could do there.

My attempts to drain the pit of the demon king went quite successfully, and the amount of water was then redirected to make actual lakes and ponds in the areas we controlled.

Ive reached about 3/4th to the core of the parasiteworld, and now, the walls of the pit are filled with vines and crawler-type plants. Down here, there were few demons, but nothing much of a threat.

The demons continued to attack us throughout the world, but so far, we managed to hold on. They mounted multiple assaults to flush us out and fully retake the area around the pit, with champions and all that, but with Edna, Roon or Johann around to provide additional support and offset my distance-penalty, it wasnt hard.

A champion was no king, and if they could not field kings, my domain holders had nothing to fear. Hytreerion, my converted walker, served as my champion and fortified the area around the pit.

Despite all this, there was no sign or signal that suggested this world was attempting to grow another demon king. Not yet, anyway.

The magical energy of this world was still low, despite all the recovery in the past few years. The path in the stars appeared to be faint.

I wondered what kind of world it would invade, but for now we kept digging. It would be another year or two before we reached the core.

***

Fancy seeing you here. Kei said as she walked up one of Branchholds highest trees, where there was an observation tower that looked out. Stella nodded at the crystal-golem when she walked in.

I was told its a gorgeous view of the vast demonlands, still not reclaimed by the heroes. The two heroes, Adrian and Kelly did use their powers to retake some of the demon lands, but they didnt seem particularly enthused.

Id say the same for you. Stella responded as she worked with her tools. Over the decades, she had made some tools and equipment to help her with her task of observing the skies, and the Mountainworlds skies were filled with entirely new stars and worlds. Did Aeon send you here to give me a hand?

Nothing like that. I just asked for permission to visit another world, and got it. I just have to be escorted outside Branchhold.

Ah that does sound like something you would do. See anything you like, so far?

Not yet. The rangers told me the food choices are quite interesting, but my taste buds arent exactly the best.

Stella smirked at the golem. Taste-buds.

Yeah. Eat. As if I needed that. Kei shrugged, and then perched herself at the balcony. She took a moment to take in the view. But this place does have a really good view. This city doesnt sprawl, not like Freshka.

Not yet.

Eh blasphemy! Kei teased. Aeon already has an anti-sprawl plan!

Stella didnt reply, and continued to work. She collected readings of various magical energy signatures, and she continued her work on her theory. She thought that each different worlds magical key that identified that world, so, if she could figure out what the alphabets were, she could then figure out how to match the alphabets to the rift gates, and then, use it to call places that we currently have no access to.

Magic was a lot of hard work.

How many void mages did you bring with you? Kei asked.

Stella paused. Two of them are helping me with the research.

Do you find portals different here?

Not really. About the same. The only worlds where I felt my portals were nigh-unusable were that cometworld and the anti-magic world.

That was a waste. Aeon shouldve kept that world. Kei said. Now our supply of anti-magic sand is cut off.

Stella just smiled.

Wait. Whats that look?

We have the magical coordinates for that world. With a sufficiently high-powered amount of void mana, and if we can replicate a smaller version of that core-mana-void mana tunnel...

Bones. I could learn of its last memories from its bones, but I would do so after I got the zaratans views, if they allowed me to do so.

But lets wait, and let me see what else I can learn through magic.

I recalled these zaratans loved water, and I wasnt sure if digging up zaratan bones from the ocean was potentially an offensive thing. If they loved water so much, an oceanic burial could be what theyve always wanted.

Stella shrugged. Im sadly unaware of their funeral rites or customs, despite being their apprentice. As far as I know, they dont have such customs, even though they do feel the loss of their fellow zaratans very, very strongly.

In that case, let us just do magical research for now, and wait for the zaratans to emerge.

As it turned out, we didnt need to wait long, as a thick mist soon emerged in the area, and two massive zaratans emerged, and one younger one that Ive met before. Their presence was thick and rippled outwards, their presence was comparable to any domainholder.

> The trees compatriots have gained much strength. < The largest of the zaratans spoke.

Everyone just looked at Lumoof, and he entered avatar mode. I spoke through him then.

The younger zaratans still-massive turtle head nodded. > Indeed, Aeon. Your actions have rippled through the worlds. We thank you, for the safety youve provided us. <

> Indeed. Vallasira, as you have met them, you can host them in your shell. <

At that moment, one of Vallasiras shell-hexagons opened up to reveal a small box. > Hop on. We will dive to the depths together, and see our departed brother. <

Stella was the first to go, a portal opened between her and the box in Vallasiras shell. The rest of us followed, and all in, about twenty of us dived into the depths of the ocean.

I had to admit, as a tree, I felt really, really uncomfortable being so deep underwater, and it took a lot of my willpower not to scream or shake. It was so bad that Lumoof had to use his calming powers on me.

Yet, the depths of the ocean was wonderful, as Vallasiras shell was incredibly magical. It was like a flexible screen that could turn transparent, and allowed us to see the ocean outside. It was like we were in a glass box in the depths of the ocean.

The dive into the depths took just a moment, as all three zaratan landed around the giant bones.

> Our fallen brother. Another one for the demons. <

The other giant zaratan touched the scars in the shell with its nose, and seemed to sniff. > Its been five centuries. <

> Long it has been, but no longer. < The giant zaratan blew all the sand again, and this time, it swirled around the shell. The giant zaratan then bit at the skull of the dead zaratan, and at that moment, the giant zaratan seemed to glow.

The other giant zaratan and Vallasira also bit the bones of the zaratan, and I felt a sudden surge in magic around us. And then just as quickly, it was gone.

> Do as you please with the bones. We have done what must be done. For providing this information, Vallasira shall provide the reward < The giant said, and then, just as quickly, the two giant zaratans swam away, and then... vanished.

> You may take the bones. < Vallasira said.

The small box we were in was then separated into two compartments, one with only Lumoof, and another with everyone else. Stella then opened a portal in front of Lumoof, and water immediately rushed in through the portal.

But he was encased in an armor of wood, and he breathed through a vine. My roots surged outwards and through the portal, and then my roots wrapped around the bones of the ancient zaratan.

Then, I moved everything to another part of my [secret hideout], where my preservation abilities would keep it safe for our later studies.

> It is safer for our bones to be in your hands, than anyone else. <

> All of us could see and feel your energies rippling through the multiverse. We hope our bones can push you a bit closer to your goal. But beware, they can sense it too. Theyve begun to suspect somethings gone wrong in this part of the world, and they would not react well to a nascent god. A new puppeteer will only earn their ire. <

> They cant tell the difference. < Vallasira said.

Spaizzer

Please check out FREE LANCES. I think it's a word play on freelancers, but I'm not sure actually. Or maybe it started the other way round. Anyway- Yeah. Check out Free lances. Avitue's a fellow SEA-an like me. (yes I speak multiple languages poorly at the same time).

*Through boons and woes, anger and joy,

By feats of wit, tactics and ploys,

No lord to serve, forever free,

The life of a /series/466382/free-lances/

Please have a look, it's good shit, since he's gained a lot of EXP since his earlier stuff.