Chapter 1: A Rough Landing

The ship flew through the vastness of space headed directly for a mountainous area. During the initial survey of the planet the coordinates we were program to land at was a rocky area with grasslands to the left and an ocean to the right. The area was so massive you could see it from space. Like a giant spot of grey next to the green and blue of the planet. That was no longer the case as vast mountains rose from the ground like swords piercing the heavens. My hand went to the necklace my mother gifted me with the bracelet given by Xaivon giving off a soft glow. The system had given me a ‘reward’ after the harrowing journey from the Catacombs. A gift to boost my knowledge on the items given to me by my parents.

Necklace: Aegis’s Shield.

Item Tier:

10.

Item Type:

Defensive, Linear.

Description:

This item was forged by Master Arlong Faraan and inscribed by his wife Master Ruinia Faraan and has been bound to Aegis Kan. Keala Kan has inscribed the spell |Star of Oblivion| within the necklace.

Effect:

Summon a shield construct able to fend off spells of a maximum tier of ten when host life is in danger while gradually restoring all physical and mental facilities. While equipped user cannot be affect by spells that poison, cause insanity, ethereal attacks, sleep, or curses.

Once a year can cast Reinforced 8th tier spell |Star of Oblivion|.

Bracelet of the Forever Hero.

Item Rank:

10.

Item Type:

Masterwork, Support, Growth.

Description:

This item originally was made for the Forever Hero a Magnus of humans and has gone generation to generation supporting and guiding the next. Those who hold the bracelet shall be titled the Forever Hero until passed onto the next.

Effect:

This is a growth item as such will respond to the prowess of its user. This item emits a calming field allowing the user to retain a clear emotional state no matter the influence of events. Fortifies the users spell casting allowing all spells to gain a 5% boost with each cast.

LOCKED???

LOCKED???

The gift was well received on my part, and it would allow me to find out any hidden effects on my items or anything I picked up. This was a feature that was supposed to be unlocked after I completed my mission.

Mission:

Activate the System Monolith

Details:

Place both hands upon the System Monolith to activate it and convert a minimum of 100 people into new aspect users.

I was hoping to complete this as soon as possible to see what I was truly missing out on.

As we entered the upper atmosphere of Prima I felt as if we passed some type of barrier and a heaviness settled itself on my body.

“Did you feel that?”

Amaya looked over to me in concern.

“That was the World Barrier. The reason why no one above a certain strength can enter a planet. Did you forget Rue’s and Lady Keala’s lessons?”

In truth I probably did as I was now in charge of so much. Documents would keep me busy for most of the day as I either approved or denied certain people from joining my army. I personally read about every single person I was bringing along just to verify things myself. A mistake as most names and history blurred together after a certain point. Things I did manage to remember included a few new individuals that joined my army coming from rich merchant families who were hoping to tie their families closer to me.

“I’m sorry things have been so hectic for me ever since I started taking charge. I truly see what you had to deal with when I was away.”

Amaya’s laughter rang out and I began to call out orders guiding our ship to a valley within the mountain range. The ground blurred by us in a scene of greenery until we began slowing. Looking for a clearing large enough for the ship yet call I could see was trees. We came to halt among a less populated region, and I began calling out orders. A company of 200 soldiers quickly emerged from the ship and scouted the area while the rest of my troops prepared for any sort of confrontation. I drilled these men and women time and time again. Doing my best to recall everything I could from earth. My skill [Perfect Recall] helped in a few moments but not enough by my standards.

Soon a blue flag was waved giving us all clear meaning no one sapient was spotted within 5 miles. Humans, elves, dwarfs, were all possibilities of this world as I read in Survival Guide for Dummies: Interstellar Conquering. It seemed either we were attracted to worlds with our races already preexisting upon them or some force in the galaxy pointed us in the right direction. Once everything was deemed safe, I stepped off the ship. I would be having a word with the system soon. Before Prima went wonky, she spoke up, and I needed to know what she knew. Clearly the world had changed in a drastic way. What was the image of another planet overlapping with this one before combining. So many questions so little time.

I began shouting orders. First, I wanted our perimeter expanded from five miles to twenty-five. Next, we would begin to clear these trees out in a five-hundred-meter radius around the ship. While using those resources to construct basic housing and a headquarters I could address the leaders of this expedition on. I was without a doubt the commander, but I had several factions include themselves upon my journey Princess Moriah and Makanui, my cousin just to name a few.

The true problem I was facing is that I was lacking senior leadership and only me and Amaya could serve as the functioning general for my army the problem was Amaya wanted to integrate her nobles into my army to fill this role. Honestly, it would work and relieve a huge amount of stress from myself, but I wouldn’t do anything until I had a Geas for everyone involved in the System. I hoped to induct everyone into it by tonight.

Right now, I had my army formed into squads of twenty led by a senior commander or someone who had or was about to have the strength of a tier three. The human armies had the strongest as their commander for several reasons but the main one was that they served has the sharpest point on a sword. Any formation was built around that point and with my army of 3500 troops with 500 of them trained in the Path of the Mind I had around 175 squad commanders. A company was usually led by the senior squad leader with my permission, but I could easily see how that could get interrupted if I was incapacitated or unavailable for whatever reason. In truth I was hoping for some hidden gems to appear with the granting of aspects.

*

I looked from face to face as I entered the wooden building little more than a giant hall.

Makanui with I’m guessing two of his attendants or commanders was the first to notice me. Princess Moriah was a close second. Judd Lance and Bella Nightingale gave me a bow as I passed, and I held my tongue as the eight other great families of the Kan dukedom finally reared their heads bowing to me as well. Amaya rose from her seat with everyone once again sitting the moment I did.

I turned to look at the two uninvited guest. As I expected the important noble families to be showing their heads soon.

Ryna Rohan gazed squarely back eyes firm with determination and Bruna Chonza looked with a youthful playful light within her eyes.

My mind slowed as I activated my full strength allowing me to think things quickly. Moriah eyes flicked towards me for a second before returning to the report she was reading and Makanui gave a lazy smile. Blue flames licked the clothing I was wearing. A hand slapped at my own upon the table and I watched in slow motion as it neared. Before looking to see Amaya giving me a stern look, I could dodge if I wanted as Amaya let go of cultivating the Path of Body to focus on the Path of the Mind. What I had done was rude, but I truly need to contemplate on whether I wanted to fight this now.

I decided against it. Soon I would be kicking everyone out of the ship while I had by 5000 people commoners, and all use the geas and activate the monolith granting them access to the system. The fight would not go over well and by giving them this leeway I hopped to receive some in turn once I began.

I nodded to both Ryna, and Bruna as Amaya hand came down upon my own as my powers deactivated.

Murnia began to pour us tea and I began to speak.

“I’m sure you’re all curious as to what happen as most of you were present on the bridge of the ship. I can tell you with assurance that we’ve landed on Prima. What I can’t say is what exactly that anomaly we saw was.”

“Interstellar travel was and has always been dangerous. We all know the risk of coming along on this journey. No one to take care of us but ourselves,” a deep calm voice said.

I turned to Judd and gave him a nod.

“Right now, I have my troops scouting out in a radius of twenty-five miles around my ship. Amaya if you will.”

“We’ve already categorized the wood in this area as a tier one material and we have the head of the mining operations looking to head towards the nearest mountain by tomorrow. Right now, what we need is to find a small town or village to gather the information on the local population and head of state.”

“The Hukku would like to volunteer for this job as our people are some of the best at influencing and infiltrating.”

“Along with myself, around 150 junior Watchers came. I believe this task is best suited for us.”

I looked over in surprise at Moriah. The Watchers were basically the hidden not so hidden spy force of the Empire. Each member was extensively trained and could go on life mission infiltrating an area until their death. From the information I knew of them. They also served as hunters of highly dangerous individuals. Hounds.

“I shall let you handle the task then Moriah,” I gave her a smile that never reached my eyes. Watch dogs present and what I was doing was under surveillance. I did not need my secrets being exposed. I would have to change my plans a little. The conversation continuing as I thought things through.

Over the course of several days, I would rotate people to the ship. Having them arrive at the place the monoliths were stored. I wanted to do everything all at once but… fuck. Oh, well this would give me control groups and I could watch how they changed as time progressed.

***

Ivy glanced around in nervousness as her squad of water mages were called into the ship with several other squads coming along. Mainly the ones led by the members of the Slight Hands. In fact, they were all here. Ivy, Alex, Rouge, Ronwick, Murnia and Nick. Along with their respective squads they led. They were all tier 3 and Alex and Murnia were on the verge of becoming tier four. Ivy returned the smile Nick gave when he spotted her.

They were headed towards one of the cargo bays and she wondered if they were to go on some secret mission as the Young Lords longest supporters and the first to join his army. Their loyalty was unquestioned, and they were even allowed to pick their own squad members instead of being assigned one. Even then they were given the opportunity to equip their squad in a certain way.

She took a deep breath the girls and single boy of her squad were expecting her to lead and lead she would. They had trained for this.

Ivy stepped into a large warehouse with dim mage lights littered across the ceiling like stars. Her eyes went wide at the glowing structure before her. Massive amounts of energy were radiating from the object and Ivy could feel the waves of power buffeting against her yet outside of the warehouse she never felt a thing. The Young Lord stood next to the structure with his cousin next to him with a slightly troubled look on her face. The blacksmith twins next to him. Who were gazing in wonder at the monolith. The Murnia quickly beckon her forward as her squad had stopped and so traffic halted because of them. Her squad filed to the spot Murnia posted them at.

Once everyone was settled the Young Lord took out an object from the spatial bag laying on the floor next to him. A crimson heart that beat in time with the energy radiated from the monolith appeared and Ivy felt a small sense of terror before it went away. It wouldn’t make sense for the Young Lord to hurt his most supportive troops. A lot of the 150 original boys and girls he recruited was present. Her thoughts stopped spinning as the Young Lord began to speak.

“Soldiers of Kan my original troops and the ones that have been with me the longest. Today, today I bestow upon you a gift. One that I hope will bring you power in your darkest times and shed light to spark your ascension into heroes like Alexander Fross and my father Vasu Kan. It is my own personal source of strength. However, before I can grant you this new level of strength everyone present must first bind themselves to this Geas, The Forever Heart of Arrulion.”

Squad by squad Aegis beckon them forward and in turn each of them recited after him before a vein of red magic flew from the heart and through each person. Ivy imagined that it somehow connected your heart to the one beating in tandem with the radiating power.

Soon it was her squads turn. The Celestial Maidens. The name given to them by the rest of the army and eventually stuck around even with the addition of a male to their unit.

Ivy opened her mouth and repeated after the Young Lord. He already gave the common man a chance to be part of something great and Ivy had no doubt that he would take them to even further heights.

“I, Ivy Valentine, hereby bind myself too Forever. Never to speak of the events held within this room today. Never to reveal the secrets of my Lord. Never to break under any compulsion. Never to stagger under any threat. Never to faulter in the face of any adversary.”

A red vein shot from the heart and passed her robes and into her own. Ivy felt a weight settle over her almost pushing her to her knees before dispersing. She was the last squad to finish reciting. Everyone from Murnia to Ronwick went ahead. The only one she didn’t see perform any oath was Amaya as she stood next to the Young Lord the entire time.

“Brace yourself for what is to come.”

The Young Lord said before moving to the monolith and placing both hands upon it. Strange runic symbols projected themselves in a blue light and began to float around the room. There were hundreds of the symbols and Ivy watched in fascination as the symbols began to drift towards them individually. What sort of magic was this. Arcane? Divine? Primordial? An intense pain assaulted Ivy and screams rang out. Ivy looked around in panic only to release she was the one screaming along with everyone else. Only the Young Lord remained upright while clutching a screaming Amaya as his eyes surveyed around the room. Ivy could not tell whether his expression was a cold indifference or a subtle acceptance all she knew is that whatever was happen felt like it was tearing her very soul apart.

***

Mission Complete:

Activate the System Monolith

Details:

You have completed your mission and have converted more than one hundred people to the System

Rewards:

One Perk Upgrade Token. Unlocked new features [Bestiary], [Botanical Compendium], [Ore Compendium]. The Equipment Upgrade has been unlocked. The Quest Feature has been unlocked. The Reward Feature has been unlocked.

You are now able to ask System more questions pertaining to Aspects and how they further enhance your strength.

My body froze as I supported a groaning Amaya a green light emitted from the bracelet on my wrist. I told her what was to be expected as I activated the monolith. I remembered the pain of granting the System to Ryna and thus I wanted my closest family member to be prepared for it. The mission was finally complete, and I felt weight I didn’t know I was carrying removed from my shoulders. This notification appeared the moment the process was completed, and the screams began to appear. Yet I paid them no mind as I read through the notification.

I had so many questions and the moment I settle my troops and catalogued every aspect available to them would be the moment I would settle in the newly build mansion and have a good talk with the thing I played host to with my body and soul.