Altura

I smiled as I looked at the two of them, awaiting their judgment.

“I will still take the Seed of Loyalty, your grace. The other Seed suits my sister better, she is one of the Gorge’s foremost experts on energy manipulation.” Qiaria said, pride apparent in her voice.

“Qiaria! But what about-” the blonde began before she was interrupted.

“I can handle myself, sis, no need to worry.” Qiaria answered as she took the Seed from me.

The blonde sighed as she too took the Energy seed from me and went away. I simply stayed there, thinking, and planning. System, please show notifications.

Qi gained!

Early-Spirit Tree x 1= 30, 000,000 Qi

Late-Grand Tree x 3= 3 x 2,100,000= 6,300,000 Qi

Mid-Grand Tree x 5= 5 x 1,050,000= 5,250,000 Qi

Early-Grand Tree x 1= 600,000 Qi

Total Qi gained= 42,150,000 Qi

Well, that was a lot of Qi. I did not expect that much. Not really. But it was more than welcome. I also needed to hunt some more, but that could be done after my companions woke up. Though it took a while, they did eventually wake up from their trance. Now with a renewed cultivation.

“I hope you are satisfied with your seeds.” I said.

“Yes, your grace. I take it that you want to go hunt those people?” the brunette asked.

“Yes. What cultivation level are you?” I asked.

“The Sapling stage. I doubt we will be of any use in the coming battles. The area is not conducive to low cultivations. I would recommend that you leave us here, your grace. The place is fortified, and we are hidden beneath layers of rock.” she said.

“I am loath to leave you so, especially after the events of yesterday, but I also don’t see what I can do.” I answered. I wasn’t lying, I really didn’t want to leave them here, especially since they were already weak.

“I would recommend hunting your grace, the others will only get more powerful as time passes. At the moment, you can kill them, but what later on? The race for power and life is on, your grace, and we must all take risks.” her sister said. And it was true.

“I don’t suppose you have any idea where any of the others are?” I asked.

“Quarnessa had been sighted near the cliff. The one on the other side of the zone if you are not aware. As far as I know, Grand Elder Itacia’s force was on the hunt for her.” she said.

Quarnessa was the leader of my Grand Elder’s forces and the second-highest bounty. Well, I had my job, now to actually do it. I teleported away from the area, towards the other side, looking for Quarnessa.

The benefit of being a Spirit Tree was that I could see a long distance away. And my senses extended even further. I found Quarnessa standing over a cliff, looking like she was about to jump. But it didn’t take me too long to figure out that Quarnessa was not, in fact, about to jump. No, she was throwing bodies off the cliff.

I could sympathize, body disposal was not an easy art by any means. I teleported next to her, saying, “Hello Quarnessa. I do hope you remember me.”

Grand Elder Artica

Artica walked into her war room with all the poise that she could muster.

“Is the war map ready?” she asked her General, Elder Norton. The war room was currently occupied by her nine allied Elders, all loyal, all Late-Spirit Trees. The Arctics were the smallest among the nine Grand alliances, but that did not mean it was weak. Not remotely.

“Yes, Grand Elder. I have compiled a list of the current capabilities of our opponents. I shall read it if you will permit me.” Elder Nortin replied.

“Please do so.” she said.

“The largest force is Grand Elder Betaca, with over fifty-seven Spirit Trees, two of them Late. The next is Grand Elder Itacia with fifty-five Spirit Trees, three of them Late.” The two of them governed about half of the world together and were in constant conflict. And their alliances were also weak, fragile in both loyalty and power.

“Norton, correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know over thirty of Grand Elder Betaca’s Spirit Trees are Early ones, most of them breakthroughs that never progressed further.” Artica asked.

“Yes, Grand Elder. The same applies to Grand Elder Itacia. As far as I can tell, it is unlikely that these Elders will heed any war call. The reason they joined was for protection in the Tourney. I suspect they can be swayed if it comes to it.” Norton answered.

“Now for the others. The three enemies together have fifteen Spirit Trees, all early. I suggest killing them all now before they act.” Norton said.

“Do it. No, wait. I will head out after this meeting and kill them all, especially those three.” Did they really think they could get away with attacking my family?”Artica might have failed at killing them as a Grand Elder, but she would not stop now. The ones that had been behind the massacre of her family would die.

“What of the others?” she asked.

“The First Warrior’s two Grand Trees, Narris and Lorvet are both mysterious. The two of them boasted thirty Spirit Trees each during this Tourney, but I suspect they have more behind them.”

“Grand Elder Antasia has expressed that she and her cohort of thirty-seven Spirit Trees, five of them Late, will ally with us. I suspect she wishes for an end to the First Warrior’s reign over her homeland.” Norton finished.

“Thank you, Norton. Tell Grand Elder Antasia that while it is unlikely that war will break out. After all, we are a peaceful force that will not be making the first move. But if she were to show support during such trying times as war, I would be glad to give return the rule of her homeland to her, even if it is the traditional seat of the First Warrior. I only ask that the System Tree remain under my jurisdiction.” Artica said.

The only thing worth enough to not take Antasia’s alliance was the System Tree. But Antasia wanted the people, not the tree, something Artica was very willing to give.

“What of our allies? Is there anyone beside Antasia we can count on? Can a few Spirit Trees be poached from Grand Elder Betaca?” she asked.

“Yes, I doubt that will be hard, I have already received inquiries. And we may have the support of the Gorge Elder and Elder Mauriss to count on. On that part, I would like to discuss Elder Mauriss, Grand Elder. The fact that he holds an extensive armory is well known. Would it not be possible to get some of it?” Elder Nortan asked.

“No, Mauriss would never allow it. And classify Mauriss as a ‘must be ally’ while you are at it. I tried to sneak a look at that special place of his, but I could not. The place is so well guarded that even a Warrior Tree cannot get in, I doubt we have seen all that he can do. In fact, we know little of what he can do, he hasn’t moved in living memory.”

“Now, what about the Land of the Six Jewels, I know you have something to say” Artica stated.

“The continent will have to be surrendered, Grand Elder. Just look at its location! The bloody thing is right in the middle of Grand Elder Betaca’s territory, and runs in a single narrow line straight to the border. Grand Elder Betaca will never let it fall into our hands, it gives access to most of her territory.” Norton said.

“And here I thought we already had it. Or was I mistaken, and we didn’t pay a heavy price for it?” Artica asked.

“The deal might have held during peace time, Grand Elder, but now, I doubt it will be long before Grand Elder Betaca makes a move. I would suggest that you begin evacuations.” Elder Norton said.

“No, losing that territory would hurt my granddaughter’s cultivation deeply. I will protect it myself if I have to. In fact, it shall be my winter home. I am sure she will not begrudge me using her palace while she is away. And that is settled, I will be staying there from now on. Now, what else?” she asked.

“I would recommend a mass recruitment of physical casters. The First Warrior has an advantage there, and we have a lack.” Elder Norton suggested.

“Yes, but remember not to cause resentment among the casters. The strengths must also be fortified.” she answered. “And if that is all, then you can all go about your day. I have some Grand Elders to kill.”

Kerrin

“So, you think we should escape? Why?” Panni asked, “Are we sure that the other zones are better?”

“No, but we do know that there is one very powerful and bloodthirsty Spirit Tree here that we cannot beat.” Kerrin replied. “What do you prefer, the known death or the unknown with a chance of life?”

“Well, when you frame it that way, it all seems black and white. But we both know it isn’t. Do we even know where the boundary is? What are we going to do, teleport around until we find it?” Panni said.

“I was thinking that we could walk. Or in more accurate terms, given that we are Grand Trees, run at a thousand kilometers an hour until we reach the border.” he replied, smirking.

“And what do we do when someone sees us?” Panni asked.

“Run,” he answered. The answer was simple, just run until there was no one following.

“Ok, fine. But I am blaming you if something goes wrong.” Panni answered. Kerrin merely grinned as he took off, Panni following.

The two of them traveled at extreme speeds, crossing what must have been hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers over the next few hours. The trees blocked their path sometimes, but not enough to slow them down.

And neither did anyone they came across trouble them, they were powerful enough to not be troubled by every random stranger, but also not powerful enough to be troubled by any big shots nearby. The fact that the Eel matter had destroyed most of the more powerful groups helped.

In the end they passed through a large blue wall virtually undetected. On the other side they found themselves in front of a black wall, staring at the face of a rather large black beast.

“So, is it more tasty human morsels for me? Why you humans are too kind to this Emperor this summer.” the monster said as it disappeared from its position. Kerrin already knew what was happening. A Space element monster.

But Kerrin had been trained in the Arch duchy, and had traveled extensively. The monster wasn’t the only one that knew Space magic. Kerrin prepared to defend himself and Panni as the space around them twisted, curling around in weird, unnatural ways.

The space on his left was especially volatile as it spasmed in place. The monster was going to attack from there. Kerrin summoned his Qi, letting it seep into the space before him, asserting his control on it.

A few seconds passed as the spasms increased in rapidness. A few more. Finally, the space spasmed one final time as it spat out a bloody projectile. Kerrin blasted it with fire, controlling his blood to follow up as he fortified the space around him.

But he needn’t have bothered. The projectile did not resist at all. And he knew why as another appeared from the space. The ‘projectiles’ were pieces of the monster.

A flurry of giggles sounded out from behind him as Panni could no longer hold back her laughter.

“Did you forget, Kerrin of Alvere, that Space is my specialty? I am not a damsel in distress you know.” Panni said as the rest of the beast emerged from the curves in space. “Not at all”

SCENE CHANGE

Altura

I smiled as I approached Quarnessa. “I take it that they have been dealt with?” I asked.

Quarnessa turned to me, staring at me with a blank face as she threw another body off the cliff. “I would say that, yes” she said.

A woman of few words, wasn’t she? “I have set up shop at a cave on the other side of the zone. I suggest we stick together.” I said.

“Do you have anyone there? I have some in my place here.” she answered. Ah, she had a few people of her own huh.

“Yes, actually. But I would be more than willing to come here.” I replied. “I will have to ask my companions about it, however.”

Quarnessa’s face relaxed as she said, “Oh. So you did find some people. I admit, there were some that were worried that you had abandoned us.”

“But how did you know I was here? Is there some way to know which zone a person is in that I am unaware of?” I asked.

“Not quite. A group of people spread the news that you were here and were sacrificing your companions to escape.” Quarnessa said. “I do not wish to ask this, but were you-”

“No. I did not sacrifice anyone. The ‘group’ cornered us in a dead end at which stage they gave their lives to protect me so that I could run away. I have since broken through to the Spirit Tree stage and rescued them.” I replied.

“The Spirit Tree stage? What? I am sorry Archduchess, but weren’t you a Royalty seed? How did you manage to get so much Qi so fast…” Quarnessa asked, her eyes widening in shock.

“I suppose you can call it a fortunate encounter. Now come, we can talk later, this is not the most appropriate location for such a conversation.” I replied.