The temptation to make use of the skills altar was great and in the end Dallion proved incapable of resisting. There was a small amount of concern that it might end up being a trap, but both Vihrogon and Adzorg were adamant that the Moons wouldn’t allow meddling at such a level. Dallion had also asked Harp for her opinion, but the nymph seemed somewhat designated, merely saying that she’d back him up if needed.

SHRINE AWAKENING

A green rectangle emerged. The realm was different from what Dallion imagined it to be. Instead of a hundred archways, there were only twelve. All but three were bricked up, allowing Dallion to advance only to the maximum level.

“Pretty standard so far,” Dallion said, going towards the archway marked HERBOLOGY. “Right, Harp?”

The nymph didn’t reply.

Nothing has been standard so far, dear boy, Adzorg said. Ignoring that the Order of the Sun has kept a remarkable artifact secret for over five centuries, there’s been no mention of it in any work before that.

It definitely didn’t exist during my time, Vihrogon added.

Summoning his aura sword, Dallion stepped through the arch. A vast field opened before him. The smell of fresh grass filled the air. After a few seconds, Dallion found that the smell wasn’t coming from the field.

SHRINE GUARDIAN

Species: SHRUBBERPILLAR

Class: FLORA

Health: 100%

Traits:

- BODY: 60

- MIND: 60

- REACTION: 50

- PERCEPTION: 50

- EMPATHY: 20

Skills

- ATTACK

- GUARD

- ENTANGLE (Species Unique)

- LEAF RAIN (Species Unique)

- POISON (Species Unique)

Weakness: NONE

While seeing an unprotected white rectangle felt reassuring, this was the first time Dallion had seen a creature of this sort. Not waiting to find out, he immediately attacked with a series of line slashes.

COMBAT INITIATED

TERMINAL STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 1000%

You have broken through HERBOLOGY’s seventy-third barrier

Your HERBOLOGY SKILL has increased to 73

“That’s new,” Dallion said.

That was overkill, Vihrogon said. You didn’t need to go all out on a caterpillar.

“Its traits weren’t that low.”

You’re a domain ruler, kid. Everything beneath eighty is low.

As the shrine guardian disappeared in a cloud of glowing dust, a new archway appeared behind him. It also had the word HERBOLOGY written on it, only this time there was a number as well: seventy-four.

Doesn’t sound too difficult, Dallion went forward.

As it turned out, he was absolutely right. In the next sixteen fights, it took longer for him to reach the next archway than defeat the guardians themselves. Ignoring Vihrogon’s complaints, Dallion slashed all of them from a distance in the most efficient way possible. On multiple occasions, he had tried to convince them to surrender, but apparently that wasn’t an option in this shrine. Even when guardians acknowledged his superiority, they attempted to fight, regardless of the outcome.

After almost half an hour, Dallion was back in the main section of the realm, only this time all but two archways were blocked up. Two skills remained: spellcraft and zoology. Having a pretty good idea what to expect, Dallion decided to maximize his zoology skills first.

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The more wins he stacked up, the more he understood the Order of the Twelve Sun’s focus on combat. The altar was a massively overpowered cheat in more ways than one. For one thing, it allowed mastery of skills though combat alone. Technically, there always was a possibility that a non-combat skill would be increased upon improving an item or area, but special effort had to be put in. Here, it was just fight, fight, and fight. All that one needed to have was the appropriate trait, and Dallion had all of them.

You have broken through SPELLCRAFT’s hundredth barrier

Your SPELLCRAFT SKILL has increased to 100.

The coveted rectangle appeared, marking the final level of the final skill Dallion had. A few moments later, the rectangles acknowledged it as well.

SMALL CAP

(+1 Body, +1 Mind, +1 Reaction, +1 Perception, +1 Empathy, +1 Magic)

You’ve maxed out all your skills. Some might call it cheating, but a win’s a win. Just keep in mind, you won’t get the same reward for maxing your traits.

Dallion kept on staring at the achievement, uncertain what to think. It would have been ironic if the emperor had provided him with the opportunity to get strong enough to take him on. Would have, because from what Dallion remembered, the emperor’s skills were at a hundred and twenty. Number differences aside, that wasn’t supposed to be possible and served as another reminder that he had to up his game, and fast.

Taking one final look at the bricked-out arches, Dallion returned to the real world.

“Feels different, doesn’t it?” Pierce asked, remaining a distance away from the altar. “I remember my first time there. Spent weeks inside.”

“Yeah. I’ll have to do it again sometime,” Dallion lied.

“It still doesn’t compare to the real thing,” Astra said, a note of regret in her voice.

Judging by the emanation coming from Pierce, he shared the sentiment.

“Who made this?” Dallion asked.

“That’s the big question, isn’t it?” Pierce laughed. “Who knows? It’s been here since the Order of the Twelve Suns was established. Possibly it’s a remnant from a former age.”

Remnant of a former age… Which one, though? It didn’t look like a copyette creation and Harp would have mentioned if it were nymph, even if she had been acting strangely lately.

“Thanks for the boost.” Dallion left the illusionary gazebo. “See you around.”

With as little as a wave, he left the inner sanctum, then the Zodiac building altogether. Peeking beneath the curtain had gained him a bit of insight, but that still wasn’t the big picture. Despite his determination to consider himself a player on the world scene, he was still being used. Joining the Order of the Twelve Suns was just another move made by the archbishop, though the purpose remained unclear.

You’re still using me more than I’m using you, Dallion thought.

Adzorg, any news on your release? He asked.

Yes, though not what I expected, the old mage sighed. Apparently, I’m just being moved to another section of the palace. Things tend to move very slowly when the emperor isn’t personally involved. By the loops of things it might be a few weeks before I’m officially placed in your care.

Good.

Good? Personal issues aside, didn’t you need to stabilize things in your settlements?

Yes, but there’s something I need more.

Dallion didn’t return to his mansion, nor did he venture to the imperial palace. Instead, he flew up, leaving the capital as quickly as possible. Half a dozen bladerers flew up alongside him, more as a reminder than anything else. Keeping their distance, they followed him for ten seconds, after which they broke off, returning to their usual spots. Dallion paid them no notice. Mentally, he was preparing himself for the conversation to come. For what he needed, he had to return to his home village, and he didn’t want that, not with the things he had learned so far. The grandfather he had liked so much as a child—and even more after it had become obvious that he was an otherworlder—turned out to be everything Dallion despised. At some point, he knew that he’d have to have a conversation with the old man, but the more he thought about it, the more he wished to delay it.

Casting an invisibility illusion on himself, Dallion increased his speed, heading straight for Dherma. As he moved further away from the capital, the density of cloud forts sharply decreased. Lately, most of them were sent straight to the western front, with only a handful remaining in proximity to the imperial capital. All other provinces were left to the care of their respective archdukes.

The borders are getting wider, Vihrogon said. That leaves a greater field for wilderness beasts to form.

“The Order will fill in the gap,” Dallion replied. “The Order of the Seven Moons,” he quickly clarified.

I doubt it. With you taking in all the hunters, things are going to be rough for the smaller settlements.

Dallion said nothing

Something to keep in mind, the dryad guardian added.

Stale heat filled the air as Dallion reached Dherma. The town had grown even more since the last time he had been here. The original area of the settlement was now no more than the central plaza, surrounded by impressive buildings that would be at home in most cities. Only two things remained as they were before: the well-fountain that Dallion had found Nox in, and the village chief’s mansion.

Thanks to his new powers, Dallion was able to see the full area of the domain, like a sphere containing the settlement and its surrounding area. He could also see another presence—the Order of the Seven Moons. Shrines had crept up in the town itself, each linked to a far greater power. Unlike all other areas within the Tamin Empire, they weren’t part of it, defying its authority with a strength of their own.

There were far fewer clusters of magic threads within the mansion, as if the place had been largely deserted.

That’s unusual, Dallion said to himself, and flew through the domain’s barrier. Who’s inside? He asked the mansion’s area guardian.

Master Luor, came the reply.

Full master? Interesting to hear. Where?

The guardian hesitated—an indication that Veil had earned the building’s respect.

You know we’re old friends. Dallion used his music skill to add calm and acceptance in his voice. I’m just here to check on him.

He’s in the great hall.

Dallion flew into the courtyard, where he stopped an inch from the ground. There were no guards present, only plants and guardians. Yet, there was something more—the smell of alcohol, made hundreds of times stronger thanks to Dallion’s perception. Moments later, the door to the hall creaked open.

“Long time,” a figure walked out. On the outside, it had the appearance of the Veil Luor, only slightly older. However, there was little in common with the person Dallion used to know. His level had increased to the mid-forties, even if the number of skills hadn’t. Above all, there was a strong bouquet of cold anger, regret, and hopelessness emanating from him. “I knew sooner or later you’d come here, baron.”

“It’s count now,” Dallion floated closer. “How have you been, Veil?”

“As if you can’t tell.” The other snorted, then turned around, walking back into the hall.

Dallion followed.

The room was almost as he remembered it, everything in the same place as the first time he’d set foot there. The only difference was that it wasn’t the same room. The item guardians were different, most of them coming into being less than a year ago.

“You made the old version of your house,” Dallion noted.

“Yeah. Brings back memories of the good old times.”

“Are times bad now?” There was no indication the war had reached here, although news of it certainly had. “I’ll talk with the Order to—”

“They’re not the problem,” Veil interrupted. “And you’re not either, if that’s what’s worrying you.” He grabbed a half full mug on the table and took a gulp.

That didn’t sound good.

“Where’s the rest of the family?”

“Here and there. Some got married, some went to live in more prominent parts of town. Yeah, I can say that now,” he let out a bitter laugh. “More prominent parts.” He took another gulp of his drink. “Want some? I’d offer a fresh glass, but…”

“It’s fine,” Dallion said, floating up to Veil. “I think you’ve had enough, though.” He grabbed hold of the mug.

ITEM AWAKENING

Reality shifted, taking him to a vast wooden room that reeked of alcohol. Given the nature of the realm, that was to be expected.

“Now, tell me what’s really going on,” Dallion turned to Veil.

“I know,” the other replied. He didn’t raise his voice, not a single note of emotion was added, yet there wasn’t any need. “I know I’m Star touched.”