Barking up the wrong tree?

Year 182

We looked back at the stars again now that the demon king was defeated. We noticed the path that the demon king used turned extremely dim. It just seems like these ‘paths’ are all taking turns, each getting stronger over time. Once they reach a certain strength, the demons would then open a path.

I also don’t understand how the demon king actually moves across worlds. Like, if Stella took so much energy just to send Lumoof to a nearby world, it must take a few magnitudes more to send a demon king that far. Unless, like Stella herself, the demon king is able to create a portal on its own.

So I looked back at the Tainted Demon Core with far more interest. Is it possible that the demon core isn’t actually a core of some kind, but actually a ‘mobile-void-generator’ of some kind?

“Doesn’t that explain the explosions? If the demon king kept the void energy within itself, a crack in that shielding caused the void energy to react explosively with its surroundings. Especially if star mana was used extensively to defeat it.” That was how Alka somehow succinctly explained a problem. “It also posits that, if we were able to defeat the demon king entirely without the use of star mana, it may be possible to avoid the explosion at the end and preserve a pure demon core for our research.”

“That’s a horribly difficult thing to do.”

Stella was rather fascinated by the idea and looked at my tainted demon core with great interest. She tested it and attempted to use void mana with it, and it did have some reaction. But again it was complicated by the hybrid mana it required. “I think your demon core’s just broken and distorted by whatever it experienced.”

“You’re saying this thing that I have is a dud.”

“I’m saying it is broken. It’s like a... ermm.. Paint that’s meant to be white, but now it’s mixed with some other color and can never be white again. It’s like trying to repair a broken mirror, really.”

...fuck. Unless I break it up and try to rebuild it again. “Are you sure it’s broken?”

“I think so. When I channel my void mana into it, I can feel it trying to do something but its just not working properly.”

“Can you fix it?”

“I wouldn’t try. Void mana is inherently dangerous and this thing looks like it can blow up really, really hard.”

Defeating a demon king without heroes. If that’s what it takes to get a functional portal generator and get access to the demon’s interdimensional technology...

But even so, maybe I could use it differently. Could something that powerful be configured to corrupt the pathways? What are these pathways? Are they just markers through some space? What is this ‘path’, if not a magical data packet through space? Could I build a massive firewall around the planet and filter out all these things? That these daemolites are nothing but trojan backdoors?

“Do you think it’s possible to hide the world, Stella?”

“I don’t know. But I suppose I can try to see whether I can interrupt or disrupt it? Move the rift around?”

“That’s a good idea. If you could redirect the demons to the moons and let them stay there and float around harmlessly. Or crush them in the depths of the oceans. If it were me, I’d try to see whether I could tweak and control the rifts, if I can’t block it out entirely.”

Stella nodded. ”I suppose I’ll try. The zaratans hoped to never have to face hostile demons ever again.”

“When you were there... did you see other demon kings too? And other heroes?”

“I don’t know, actually. The zaratans made sure to leave the moment the demon kings were about to arrive. I think there are other heroes there, but I have not met them...”

No. More importantly, if there are other heroes, is it possible to gain fragments from them? Or is the system intelligent enough to differentiate me and those heroes? That I am a summoned person from Earth to this world, not that world, so I am not entitled to the fragments of that world?

What else was duplicated? No, if anything I’d like to meet other spirits. There must be others, from those worlds. If we could gather a collection of like-minded spirits, we’d have a force that could stand toe to toe with the demon king and obtain that demon king’s core.

No. What if we’re thinking this the wrong way? If I had a core like that, I could find a world that’s not yet touched or seen by the demons. Colonise that world, and gradually move the inhabitants of this world over there. Eventually, that world could grow into a powerhouse that could reinforce these worlds that faced periodic demon kings.

Or, I could use the portals to find a world rich in magic, and create powerful dungeons where great heroes can be forged out of mere mortals. Surely the level of natural magic and ley lines in each world is different.

I shared these ideas with my confidantes again. Stella merely wondered. “It sounds like you truly intend to create a multi-planetary empire to compete with the demons.”

“Well, yes. If I cannot hide or avoid fighting them, then I must have the firepower to push them back so decisively that they can do no harm. And once I can do it for one world, I will expand it so that I can do it for multiple worlds.”

“Sounds like the true beginnings of a multiplanetary god.” Stella quipped. “I mean, no offense, but yeah. It’s kinda scary.”

“Scary?”

“Yeah. Being so close to a being that's a borderline god is scary. I mean, some days I don’t realise it so it feels normal, but some days, it just dawns on me that you could kill tens of thousands without batting an eye.”

“The heroes could do that too. Any high level individual could.”

She was silent for a long while. “That’s a good point. The whole level dynamic really changes the whole equality thing. There’s no equality when there’s at least a magnitude of power difference between people of different levels.”

“The system is merely facilitating such differences, but there are other ways such differences can play out. Even in your world, money and political positions do make some more powerful than others.”

“But that’s indirect power, through their ability to mobilise others. Here, the level system meant every single person could gain levels and cause a whole load of pain. There’s no equality at all when the power levels are so different. It’s like asking humans to grant equality to ants. It’s never going to be equal, at best, is fair.”

Stella just laughed after she finished that sentence

“Anyway, I’m not really trying to debate such weighty stuff. I just wanted to say you’re scary. No. People in this world are scary. You guys are like superheroes with superpowers. I mean, this entire levelling system makes superheroes out of normal people. It’s a wonder this world didn’t destroy itself.”

“With your own levels, you’re not very far away either. You are powerful in your own way, archmage. So it’s rich coming from someone who can walk to another world.”

“Uh... Yeah I guess that’s true. By the way, do you.. . uh... ever talk about it?” By now, the news that I had the memories of another world spread to almost everyone in the senior Valthorns, and that included Stella.

“About?”

“Your life before this. Before... tree?”

“What is there to talk about?”

“I mean... you don’t miss home too?”

“...no? Perhaps some of the tastes and pleasures, yes, but I had few friends, and some family. We were alright and maybe they will be sad, but I believe they will be fine.”

“You sound... confident.”

“There’s nothing I can do, is there? At least, for the first two centuries, the idea that it’s even possible to get back did not ever occur to me. This seemed to be a one way street.”

Stella frowned and looked a little sad. The years had taken their toll, especially those 40 years in the other worlds, even if her levels somehow granted her vitality. If she wants to live longer, she’ll need to reach the higher level 100s. “Yeah. I suspect it’s really like that. But I’ll still try.”

“Well, what level are you?”

“I’m capped at Level 95 cumulatively, most of my levels are in [Void Archmage] and some of my earlier [Artist] class...” She exploited the trick with void magic’s destruction of the soul spring to free up her levels. Simply because when the ‘level bricks’ are destroyed, you lose levels.

“Hmm, you have a higher natural cap.”

“I do?”

“Level 95 is 10 level higher than normal.”

“The heroes don’t have a cap.”

“They don’t but they are heroes. They get special rights.”

“Maybe it’s my [Late Bloomer] skill.”

“No. Skills rarely change your level caps.” It’s strange. Possible that Void-related class and skills just use ‘less space’ in the soul spring, that’s why she could level more? “In any case, I’ll need to train you up to the higher tiers.”

I gave her the soul-strengthening seed the next day, and had her continue researching the Tainted Demon Core. I wanted to be sure, like, very sure, of what it is, and that it is ‘star mana’ that ‘corrupted’ it. I needed to be sure, because I would have to form a strategy on this conjecture.

There was strange news coming from the temples. The temples somehow claimed that the gods summoned 9 heroes to fight the demon king, and five perished in their battle. There was no mention of the missing hero, nor do they acknowledge it’s presence.

I had wondered before how the temples know about the heroes. I believe they get notified, perhaps those closest to their gods get informed by way of a ping, just like I did. Or perhaps they have some artifacts that allow them to receive such notice.

My senior priests clearly did not get the notification, so, how did the other priests know about the heroes?

“Can we find out how the temples know of the hero’s arrival?” I asked the leadership team. One of the Lords quickly responded.

“Some say the gods themselves bestow the leaders with a message.”

“It is a saying. I want to know for certain.”

The diplomats and the Valthorns would activate their intelligence network to gather the data. Perhaps some of the priests will talk and reveal their secrets.

Year 183

The demons were eradicated, and the four heroes were ‘free’.

“I’m coming back.” Kei said. “And the four heroes are coming with me. They want to see the journals.”

They arrived by ship at our southernmost city. There was no fanfare for them, I forbid it. In fact, they arrived so quietly very few knew they were heroes.

“Well, you’re on the Central Continent.” Kei nodded. “So, next we’ll need to get the four of you to Freshka, where the journals are kept.”

Chung, the hero archer, immediately asked. “Are we walking? Or magic?”

Colette, the archmage shrugged. “I could use teleport, but what’s the fun in that? We have all the time in the world now.”

“It’s more efficient.”

“Usually taking the long way means we gain more levels and get to earn some extra skills. Who knows what we'll discover?”

“I’m more worried if this is a trap.”

Kei shook her head. “It’s not.”

“I trust you enough, Kei. But you cannot say for sure it’s not a trap.” The archer responded. “Your patron may have other plans. I’ve seen enough of this world to suspect Ken may be right after all.”

Ken. The missing hero. Kei didn’t press it. “I don’t think Aeon will do that. It’s certainly not in Aeon’s interest to make enemies out of 4 heroes.”

Chung didn’t reply. “Let’s just go, but we’ll keep our guard.” My trees subtly detected the presence of magical shieldings. They were on guard, even with Kei. “And please, no communication with your patron without us present. It’s just... suspicious.”

Kei nodded. The archer’s quite tense, like he was going to shoot arrows at any time. The other three seemed quite relaxed though. Kei walked to the port’s Valthorn office and spoke to one of those present, with the heroes nearby. “Alright it seems it’s already ready.”

They walked to a building that’s arranged similar to a large bus interchange, where multiple convoys of beetles were parked. There were different platforms, each headed for a different destination. At the end were the ‘express’ and ‘charter’ services.

Given the relative safety of the central continent, my beetles took on more utility and support roles. That meant they functioned as the blood of the transportation network, the engine that kept people and goods moving.

Colette laughed. “This is so Ghibli. Beetles as an express bus. Seriously.”

Kei somehow laughed with her. “I actually never thought of that.”

“What’s Ghibli?” Prabu asked.

“Never mind.”

The beetle convoy had 8 large carrier-beetles. They were each the size of a truck, and they had a fully furnished cabin on their backs. The smaller, regular sized beetles act as escorts and protectors, but very few bandits ever attempt a raid on the beetle convoys due to the retaliation from my constantly watching artificial minds. There are multiple artificial minds dedicated to just managing the logistic networks of beetles.

Kei just repeated the itinerary to the 4 heroes. “Freshka’s quite far from here, so it’ll take about four days from all the way in the south. These beetles will need one stop, just to restock, but you can just chill out and wait.”

The four heroes mostly played various games found in the cabins. The cabins each had four beds, and a living area for the passengers to relax. There was some food, mostly preserved foods, stored in little magical containers to keep them fresh for the journey. Sadly these preservation spells don’t last very long so there’s a need for a restocking station.

Colette, the female archmage, was extremely interested and kept asking Kei about everything. “So these things are magical fridges.”

Kei nodded. “Magic solves a lot of things. Those gems emit a constant ‘cold’ and ‘freeze’. They just need to be recharged before every trip. Food’s prepared offsite at dedicated kitchens and just loaded onto trays.”

“It’s like airplane food.” Colette was very amused. “It’s so cool.”

The other archmage-hero, Prabu ate it happily. “It’s a little jarring, from the levels of poverty throughout the southern continents, to this.”

Kei sighed. “It’s not as widespread as our world. You guys are getting the best treatment, by the way. These cabins are reserved for the wealthy and nobility.”

“It starts that way, right?” Colette smiled. She was really young, I think she looked like she’s only 20. That meant she was... 16 when she was summoned?

Prabu on the other hand was just munching down all the snacks in the cabin. “Oh god junk food. How I missed junk food.” One of Kei and Stella’s great contributions to the economy of the Central Continent. Junk food and snacks. That meant sealed packs of dried deep fried fish skins, or potato chips, or snacks. “Seriously this is good.”

We had to use magic to get some of the effects, and we are not able to truly mass produce them the way our industrial factories were able to, but every few months, our smiths and inventors made steps that took us closer to that eventuality. Our contraptions were getting more sophisticated, our machinery more robust and complex.

Chung was always tense throughout the four days, even though he did partake in the games and the snacks. “It’s way too peaceful. I... I’m not used to it.”

Kei shrugged. “It’s not a perfect place, but I imagine this to be life under a robot overlord.”

“That’s not exactly a glowing review.” Chung responded.

Kei merely smiled. The four days passed by quickly, and they were then closing in on Freshka.

Now that they were closer, I saw their features a lot better. They still nursed scars from the battle, their healing was well done, but incomplete. A lot of the subtle magical fluctuations I could not fully see through my other trees were now obvious to me.

Their presence and auras also pressed against mine, and mine held.

“It feels kind of... stifling.” Chung said, he clearly felt my presence, and I too could see through a lot of the energies that were clashing. Some kind of [Damage Aura] and a type of unknown wind-like energy.

Kei nodded. “Ah. Yes. Uhm, I suggest you retract your auras if you have them.”

Prabu nodded. “I don’t see a need. Mine feels like it just coexisted with the presence.”

The beetles went over the outer hills of the valley and the entirety of Freshka was now in view. A large expanse of green, with a few towers, representing the city, the School of Treeology, the Academy, and the Treetiary College. There were smaller areas, the newly setup Void school, and the expanded merchant areas. Gigantic trees were everywhere and they towered over various areas of the city.

Freshka was now home to almost 2 million people, and it sprawled throughout the Freshkan valley. There were sectors, each meant to support the academic institutions.

“Wow.” Prabu, Colette and Hafiz all went gaga for a moment. “This is like the biggest city I’ve seen.”

Kei laughed. “It’s not the biggest. Some of the northern capitals are larger in terms of population. But it is the most impressive because of the massive trees everywhere. And it’s not where you all are going.”

“Huh?”

“We’re headed to the real valley. The one that’s hidden. You may choose to visit the city later. After your goal.”

The tree that held the journals waited for the next set of logs.