"It's been a few months since we last saw each other, Nesmop, how are you doing?" Tusk asked the still distressed gnome.

"Good!"

"Wife?"

"Nagging!"

"And the children?"

"Not mine!"

"Good good." Tusk supposed. Quite a few things changed in the last few months, but Tusk didn't pry into Nesmop's personal life.

*snickers*

Prazz of course, couldn't help but snicker standing next to Nesmop and drew an angry glare. Nesmop lifted his arm and gave him the middle finger, to Tusk's surprise. It seemed working with the goblin had rubbed some of his unruliness on the gnome as well.

"Enough! What is it with you two?" Tusk muttered. They've been at it from the start, ever since they started working together.

"He nags! He nags at me all the time!" The goblin interjected and voiced a complaint.

Tusk deeply exhaled, having a notion of where this was going. "Nesmop?"

"He stinks!" Nesmop briskly replied.

The two started bickering, tirelessly and Tusk pinched the bridge of his nose. He closed his eyes and tuned out for a minute. The bickering seemed like it could go on forever if he didn't intervene again.

This isn't what I came here for.

"Enough!" Tusk said in a cold tone and they both stopped and turned to him.

"Nesmop! Be more considerate of your colleague and Prazz…there's a limit to filthiness. You Will wash once a week!"

*gasp*

"Once a w-week?? But it burns! Water bad!" Prazz went down on his knees and despaired, but Tusk wanted none of it!

"I said enough! Stop making me repeat myself! I came down here to pick up the prototype."

Prazz sniffled but picked himself up and used his arm sleeve to remove the snot off his nose.

"Are you sure you're ready, Greens? Using the gauntlet will pack quite a punch." *kikiki*

Nesmop narrowed his eyes at Prazz but nodded in agreement. "He's right, your orchishness. The prototype is usable but it is just that, a prototype! We need more testing!"

"It will be fine. I'll make sure to give it a proper test. Lead me to the gauntlets and tell me, have you made any progress with the chaos dispenser?..."

The two scientists led Tusk through the spacious research facility, passing dozens of compartmens until they reached the storage area with a special case containing the gauntlets. Tusk approached and the defensive formation lit up and just as quickly dimmed, recognizing his mana signature. He opened the case and saw pristine white looking gauntlets with five velvet blue bracelets around it. While he picked and held them in admiration, Prazz standing next to him crossed his arms and provided an explanation.

"I took the liberty to make slight changes and improve the output of mana. Mithril is light material and considered among the best mana conduits, right next to silver, but make no mistake, using the gauntlets as is, could cost you an arm! I'd suggest waiting a bit until you advance to the third tier in your…brawler class was it? - before using them but I guess that's not an option?"

Tusk gave him a side glance and strongly expressed that waiting wasn't an option. His shaman class stagnated at level fifty-six and he took on a second, and even a third class to compensate for the lack of physical attributes of his shaman class, but even with all the wealth at his disposal, there was a limit to his leveling speed. Prazz shrugged and continued explaining what was done to the gauntlets and how to use them.

"As I said, this mithril gauntlet is a prototype of a gauntlet for commercial use. The one you wanted custom made and modified just for you will have to wait a bit more. Each bracelet you see is crafted by a gem cutter from mana crystals of highest quality and embedded into the gauntlet. The engraving lines you see link the five bracelets and guide the mana flow down to your hand. Flip the gauntlet." Prazz said.

The gauntlet had segments around the wrist area that would allow for limited hand movements and Tusk appreciated the thoughtful design. He turned the gauntlet over and saw thousands of small holes in the palm area no doubt made to allow the user to unleash the mana through the palm. The engraving lines however, continued along the gauntlet and ended at knuckles.

"This is good! No, not just good - this is an incredible job, you two!" Tusk turned and praised them both. He stayed a bit longer with the two and listened as Prazz explained different ways he thought of using the gauntlets. The time of the meeting was only an hour away and Tusk warned them not to fight so much before saying goodbye and leaving.

The Siren awaited him just outside the research facility and while he was showing off his new mithril gauntlets, she remembered there was another meeting scheduled for today.

"Peon, I just remembered that the delegation from Zulypso is supposed to come to the capital today."

"That was today? I don't have the time to go and meet them. If we don't head out now, we'll be late for the meeting."

Tusk shook his head and was about to start walking when The Siren added…

"Did I mention that your brother is coming? Dulin was it?"

Tusk turned to her and with a bit of surprise in his voice asked: "Nerissa, are you sure it's him?"

"Oh yes, my sirens learned not to touch what's yours! The ship should've safely arrived by now."

*grunts*

"Change of plans. We're going to the capital Grismore."

"What about the meeting of the Alliance?" The Siren cocked her head and asked.

"The meeting can wait. Besides, the main character always arrives late!"

After leaving the headquarters, Tusk approached the manacar parked up front and opened the door for The Siren before he, too, entered and drove off. Grismore was about ninety kilometers away and Tusk stepped on the gas pedal to the metal and sped off in the direction of the capital. Within thirty minutes, he was standing in front of the capitol building with other high ranking officials ready to receive the delegation.

Tusk wasn't easily swayed, but the thought of seeing his brother again made him nervous. He always felt small and inadequate whenever he met him or any other of his clansmen.

"To think even after all this time…"

"Peon'tzar? Brother, is that you?" A voice startled Tusk away from his thoughts and he looked ahead at the gigantic figure of an orc.

"Greetings brother Dulin'tzar! It's been a while." Tusk slightly nodded and greeted his brother, then proceeded giving him a strong and heartfelt shake.

*grins* "About thirteen years if I'm not mistaken. When are you going to come and visit home?" Dulin asked.

Tusk remained quiet, not sure how to reply, before Dulin spoke again. "Well, even if you don't want to, you have no choice but to visit. The chieftain asked for you!"

"The chieftain did? What for? Is everything alright?"

"Mmm well yes, everything is alright I suppose. Nothing of importance happened. Our chieftain asked because the leader of all clans, the Great Warrior Gruul'tzar, has called for you! Brother, what in the world does the leader want with you?" Dulin asked, both with great interest and a hint of fear.

There are nine orc clans on the continent of Zulypso and the one to unite them all is the Great Warrior Gruul'tzar. The Tusk clan is just one of the nine clans and for the Great Warrior to directly ask for a single orc caused an uproar and a lot of confusion among the clansmen.

*grunts*

"Nothing to be concerned about brother! I will visit by the end of the year!"

Dulin didn't push for further explanation. He nodded and changed the topic. "Have you been working out little brother? You seem bigger, more refined since the last I saw you! Though, you still have ways to go before you can compare to your big brother!"

For the sake of properly wielding the mithril armor in the future, Tusk had forsaken his shaman class and took on physically oriented classes.

"There's no comparing us! You're already a third tier warrior! I still have long ways to go but I'll get there! I will clear the shame I brought upon our clan!" Tusk said with conviction. Dulin exhaled and donned a saddened expression hearing Peon speak like that.

"You have taken up a warrior class. I can tell just by looking at your refined body but Peon, brother, we never considered you becoming a shaman as something to be ashamed of. On the contrary, we were and still are, proud to have a shaman among our ranks! It was your narrow minded views and obsession with warrior's honor that made you leave us…"

Tusk remained silent again. He heard this speech more than once and it's not like he didn't understand. He did, but couldn't help himself with how he felt. Being a magic user in the clan that prided itself as a clan of warriors was a shame, but he no longer needed to feel that way! Now that he was a Brawler and an Enforcer, it was only a matter of time before he could proudly stand next to his clansmen as a warrior. Well, as a variant warrior type, combining magic and physical.

Tusk also knew his endeavor in taking upon three classes pretty much made any chance of ascendancy null. He knew his limits but more than that, he knew his capabilities better than anyone and there was never a chance to reach a level that high to begin with. So, rather than settling for anything less than the top and immediately after realizing his limits, he forsake the shaman class and devised a new plan that will make him the strongest version of himself without relying on the system.

Before he got to that point, to make his future plans viable at all, he needed to reinforce his body. Using the wealth he amassed and the technology he developed over the years, he would progress further. The battle suit made of mithril would serve to boost his battle prowess and allow him to take on the mightiest of foes. Meaning, the ascendants.

"Brother Dulin'tzar, I have matters to attend to that cannot wait. How long will you be staying this time?"

"The ship leaves for Zulypso in three days."

"Then, I'll come find you tomorrow and we'll talk!"

Dulin nodded and said how good it was to see his little brother again. Tusk looked like he wanted to say more but instead, said his goodbye and left, heading back to the HQ of Yelsa co.

On their way back, Tusk asked Nerissa if she was watching them. She nodded and he asked her what she thought about his brother.

"He is strong, if that's what you meant?"

Tusk nodded and asked if he would have a chance to win against him. Nerissa thought for a bit, then shook her head.

"As you are now? No chance. Your brother is level eighty-one and much more physically capable. At least that's the feeling I got from him. Now if you were to use those gauntlets and if they worked the way you described they do…then yes, you'd have a chance."

Tusk nodded and frowned. "That's not good enough. He needs to be stronger. They all do!"

"I envy that part of you, you know?" Nerissa said while looking at Tusk, then looked ahead and continued.

"The Sirens, we live in groups but we're not a tribe, clan or a family. We hunt in groups but not for the benefit of the group, but because it's safer and easier to hunt. I feel no sense of kinship toward my kind. You're the only one Tusk…"

*grunts*

Immediately upon their return, the two headed back to Tusk's office and through the secret entrance into the corridor that led to the private teleportation platform. It was a cheap imitation of the mass teleportation, limited to only two people but a functional one! Each use cost a small fortune in high quality mana stones but Tusk didn't lack wealth. He prepared everything in advance and once he and The Siren stepped on the teleportation circle, the platform lit up. The glow intensified until a portal, similar to a dungeon portal, manifested in front of them and gently hummed.

With a movement of the hand, Tusk motioned for Nerissa to head in first, then followed right behind. Teleportation in the current era was limited. The knowledge of runes and formation required to make a teleportation circle was lost to time to all but a few, and they weren't easily convinced to share that knowledge. Tusk acquired his by excavating one of the many ruins in search for lost technologies in the Desolate Lands. The teleportation portal led to the platform with the same teleportation circle linked through the System. How and why it worked the way it did, unknown. After the portal was established, the teleportation was instantaneous and the two appeared on the top floor of the magic institute in the Empire of Prusha.