Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty - 320

Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty - 320

The Manaship had not landed atop the Waystone, but it was so close as to make little difference. Darius Reed glared at the craft, wishing he could simply send a windblade at it and finish this task once and for all. His ward was likely in dire danger while he dealt with frustration after frustration a thousand leagues away. The urge to let loose his Strength and the tempest within him was strong, curtailed only by the inevitable fallout his actions would cause. They Redcloaks hadn't landed atop just any roof, but the roof of the Governor's manor. As the Duke of Pax'Vrell's Chosen Hand, attacking it in any capacity would be the same as an attack by the Duke himself, and Reed refused to ruin his Duke's reputation on a whim.

Reed scrubbed his hand over his face, clamping his Willpower over the urge to scream. At anyone. Everyone. He remained quiet, however, still and contained. To do less was to be unworthy of his position.

"Four Redcloaks have exited the Governor's manor, sir," one of the Haarguard answered. "Southern exit."

"Two more have exited to the west," said another. "North exit reports another two."

"Stay here. I'll handle the south," Reed ordered. "Keep watch. We let none of them leave that manor."

"Aye, sir. And the west and north?"

Reed loosened his massive sword in its sheath, and grunted in approval. "Kelgan has the west, and the north will have to sweep around to the east to reach the Waystone anyway. Send the remainder of men to the Waystone, now."

Authority Recognized, Inheritor!

For Defeating A Local Threat, Seven Territorial Threats, And Raising A Legendary Ranked Spirit Tree

You May Lay Claim To The Lost Territory Of Nagast!

Do You Wish To Establish Your Authority?

Y/N

Felix stared at the notification in a combination of disbelief and outright frustration. He shouted up into the dark ceiling. "Now? You're dumping all this on me now?"

The System didn't answer, and he didn't feel the soft bundle of threads that he'd poked at while in the Path. For all Felix knew, getting a direct response from the System was never going to happen again. Mana vapor was condensing and steaming all around him, pulled into the silver sigils in a way that was compacting it into a silver layer that grew more lustrous as he watched. The air hummed and the array gleamed, glowing steadily now.The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

"Karys?"

It is an exceptional offer. And considering you already hold Authority over Naevis, I do not suspect you will have any issues with accepting this as well. Just...

"Just what?"

This is far more than just a city, Felix. It is a Territory. And different than any you've encountered.

Felix had noticed that. But wasn't that the same as Cal's Authority, then? "I've seen Territorial Authority on offer before. What makes this different?"

It is a Lost Territory. You are reestablishing lines that have faded with time and Ruin itself. I cannot predict how it will go.

He had a point there. So, ignoring the window asking about Authority, Felix focused on what he could see and sense. The array around him was complicated to the point of being nonsensical. Similar in how the Eidolon's arrays were above and beyond any he'd seen on a Golem, these were the same amount of advancement beyond even that. It almost hurt to look at, and they covered all of the floor, walls, and ceiling and even extended out into other rooms beyond that one. Pit was still poking around at it, though he hadn't strayed far, and he chirruped curiously.

Felix. Found something.

Wincing at the flare of pain from his Bastion, Felix strode forward to his Companion's side and saw him pawing at a series of carvings circling the central portion of the chamber. They were words, not sigils, in a tongue Felix could somehow read as easily as English. "Enter If You've The Will, Claim It If You've The Right."

The ancient challenge. A rite as old as the Ages.

At the center of the arraysome thirty feet awayamong the swirling lines inlaid with brightening silver, was an empty space. Right where a central, controlling glyph would go in a normal array, there was only bare stone. It was typically the linchpin or keystone of an array, the thing that provided an overarching meaning to the rest of it.

Felix could hear it call, a link between his hooked sword and the array. Between him and the array.

Felix, I think

"Yeah, me too." Felix swallowed nervously. "I think I have to go in there."

"Diurnal Reach!"

"Shatterstrike!" Kelgan hissed in response, his spear glowing briefly before intercepting and bursting apart a volley of light Mana bolts. He spun it defensively, deflecting two arrows that sought his kidneys, and brought the blunt end down hard upon the nearest Redcloak.

You Have Defeated An Unknown Initiate of the Inviolate Inquisition!

XP Earned!

Another flare of Mana followed his own, intercepting two more arrows with projectiles that shone green-gold. Karp fired arrow after arrow, his quiver almost empty, but each one knocked back the two hidden Initiate's shots. Until, with a single bright flash, one of his struck true and the top of the opposing building was abruptly festooned in tangling vines.

You Have Defeated An Unknown Initiate of the Inviolate Inquisition (x2)!

XP Earned!

"Got em, Kel," the archer grunted.

"Good. Meera and Watts. Go and collect our friends. Bring em back here," Kelgan gestured to his feet, where another Haarguard was tying up the Initiate he'd knocked out. It had been extra difficult fighting to subdue rather than outright kill, much as he wanted tohis orders were clear. "Don't rough em up too bad."

Meera and Watts saluted and hustled off, heading to one of the wooden stairways that lined the outside of almost every building in Setoria. Practically beggin' for thieves.

"What a Title," Felix said. "But that doesn't help right now. Except the 'increased Authority' bit, I guess."

Yes, that is a good thing. More Authority secures your position and ability to claim ever greater responsibilities.

He'd have to take Karys' word for it, as he felt nothing at the supposed gain. With stats, even a small boost, Felix would feel something. Even the metaphysical concept of significance was a heft in his core space. Authority was nothing.

Wait, what about my other Quest? Home Sweet Home?

Another thread floated toward him, urging him to connect to its frequency. Felix felt like he was starting to understand the smallest bit about the System. He grabbed at it, secured it with his Affinity and Intent as easily as catching a ball.

Quest Completed!

Home Sweet Home!

You have secured your ancestors' Temple from all threats, internal and external!

5 of 5 Threats Eliminated

Rewards:

+Title

+Home

+1 Gold Chest

Rewards Increased For Defeating Seven Legged Orit In Single Combat...

Rewards Increased For Defeating Incursion With Minimal Casualties...

Rewards Increased For Defeating Archon In Single Combat...

Rewards Increased Greatly For Defeating Unending Maw Completely...

Rewards Increased For Defeating Caged Urges (x6) Completely...

Title Upgraded!

Home Upgraded!

Chest Upgraded!

Rewards:

+Title

+Stronghold

+1 Platinum Chest

This time, it was like an explosion in his chest as the System sent a pulse of Harmonics into his core. They burst to spume, crashing against the rocks of Dissonance before blending together in a chaotic roil. More than that, however, as threads of terribly distant aquamarine thrummed in sympathetic pain. It stabbed at him, a knife of golden light hurtling through the green-bluea familiar power he'd come to despise. Felix flared his Affinity, focusing on those distant threads, on a connection he'd partially cleansed from his soul.

A giant of golden light, so similar to the Archon that it blinded him to the fact that it was being fought off by familiar faces. Kelgan and Karp and others among the Haarguard. Thangle! Hands of ochre hue lifted and wove darts of deepest blue that shot off into the giant, breaking panels of light that reformed in moments. Pain and exhaustion echoed through it all, thoughts sluggishly fighting against a hundred accumulated wounds and overtaxed resources.

Fast as lightning, a boulder-sized fist took him straight in the chest.

"Zara!"

He staggered, almost thrown from his feet despite his stats and significant weight. His footing shifted as the entire room rang, a bell the size of a mountain droning in his ears. He stepped.

The world lit up in silver and gold.

Authority Recognized, Inheritor!

For Defeating A Local Threat, Seven Territorial Threats, And Raising A Legendary Ranked Spirit Tree

You May Lay Claim To The Lost Territory Of Nagast!

Do You Wish To Establish Your Authority?

Y/N

Accept Felix! Something is happening! It is far away, but there is danger!

"It's Zara," he growled. "Everyone's in trouble, theythe Redcloaks." Felix growled through the madness in his chest, worse now than it had been in a long time. He fought it down, smothering the chaos with all the power he could muster. He had questions about the Chanter, about her intentions, but he'd not let them die if he could help it. "Yes! Give me the damn Authority!"