"So…. Violet?"

"Oh, E.O.N, please. Really? Now of all times?" Apostolos groaned, palming his forehead as the two walked down one of the pathways winding through Ehkorrus.

"Well, you know, just curious," Rory said.

"You're annoying is what you are." Apostolos groaned, much like a teenager responding to their parent. "But to answer your question… No, it's not what you think. It was just a dance."

"A dance," Rory responded, deadpan.

"Yes, a dance. I'm not looking for something there. She's too young, twenty-one, twenty-two, maybe? Hell, I knew her when she first arrived!"

"She's too young," Rory repeated, catching onto something unsaid. "So… In a few years?"

"Not what I meant." Apostolos nearly growled.

"Uh huh," Rory said, not sounding convinced.

"Alright, well, what about you and Viviann? When did that happen?"

"Different thing altogether," Rory said with a shrug. "Consider we're both past our early adult years. Just a bit of fun between two consenting adults who aren't starry-eyed with youth."

It was perhaps a tad hypocritical of Rory, given he'd only been in his mid-twenties when the old universe had died. Sure, he was now well past his early forties, but he wasn't really a man in his forties or fifties, at least not from the old universe measure of life experiences.

It was all a tad strange, and Rory kept that part to himself.

"Uh huh," Apostolos muttered, annoyed that he hadn't gotten more of a rise from his former master. "So, did you two-"

Rory, in response, merely raised his eyebrows at Apostolos before shooting him a shit-eating grin.

"Gah, forget I asked," Apostolos muttered. A man in his late twenties, Apostolos might be. Still, with the slowed aging of Ascensions and little interaction with peers his own age for the longest time, he sometimes behaved more like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old.

Rounding a corner, the two slowed as they neared their destination, a pavilion made of midnight black stone with a single gateway inside it.

Standing outside was a trio, their leader leaning against the pavilion with her arms crossed.

"Violet," Rory nodded to the young woman. In her early twenties, she looked barely a day over eighteen or nineteen years old. Outside of himself, Apostolos, and Eia, she was the highest tier in Ehkorrus, on the cusp of A6. The other two with her, Manda and Marcie, had more noticeably aged than she had, given they'd gone from mid-teens to barely twenty. Manda had chosen to grow some facial hair, a triangular-looking goatee that Rory thought looked silly but kept to himself.

Marcie had let her hair grow out, a ponytail down to her hips with chrome-looking orbs the size of golf balls tied into her hair like a living whip or cudgel. Only early to mid-tier five, they flanked Violet with somewhat opposing expressions. Marcie seemed excited, whereas Manda had a rather severe look on his face.

As for Violet, she glanced once at Apostolos in a way that Rory knew was her attempt to not seem obvious about it before she cleared her throat.

"Founder Rory." Violet nodded to Rory, who bit back a groan.

God, I hate that title.

It started as a joke from Apostolos until everyone had begun to call him that. Only the first two waves of settlers - Violet's and the older folks of Viviann's- still referred to him as just Rory or Mr. Rory.

For Violet to have called him as such…

She's either messing with me or treating this with a sense of seriousness that I didn't expect.

"What brings you three here?" Rory questioned after a moment, glancing around and looking for someone.

"A send-off. While you three are off, it will be our job as the next three strongest to protect Ehkorrus in your place."

"Appreciated, but not sure if it will be needed," Rory said with a frown, looking around again.

Seriously, where is she?

Who Rory was looking for finally appeared several seconds later, a fairly massive viper slithering over the cobble pathways as if giant snakes slithering around were everyday occurrences.

"Took you long enough, you bum," Rory said with a grin as Eia coiled herself around one of the pavilion columns.

In response, her tail swung out, smacking him across the forehead.

"Ow. Rude. Wake up with a hangover?" Rory said teasingly, mocking the giant serpent. He'd been told that there had been eyewitness reports of the snake sucking down alcohol like a lonely single father the night before.

"Good, you're all here," Violet sighed as the exchange played out.

When she said nothing else, several awkward seconds passed before something clicked in Rory's mind.

Oh. Ohhhhhh.

They weren't actually here to send them off.

Or, not all of them off. It was apparent now that Violet was here to see Apostolos. It was why Manda looked so severe; Rory had figured out that the young man had developed a crush on Violet. Meanwhile, Marcie was probably the only one here genuinely excited to see them off to battle. She was a bit of a battle nut based on the reports he'd received. The only reason she wasn't further into A5 than she currently was was that the girl had chosen to put more attribute density toward growth than was expected from a combat type. It was risky considering her fighting style, up close and personal, but being part of a team like she was made it feasible.

Returning to the moment, Rory did his best to pretend he couldn't see the hopeful look in Violet's eyes nor the uncomfortable expression in Apostolos's, who was clearly unsure how to react.

Had it not been for Viviann putting some things into perspective earlier that morning, Rory himself would have felt more uncomfortable. Still, knowing he wouldn't be around for much longer anyway, he had finally forced himself to reckon with the reality that he couldn't helicopter parent over Violet or Apostolos.

Apostolos isn't an idiot; I trust he won't do anything stupid.

Finally taking the initiative, Violet stepped closer to Apostolos, likely going for a hug, only to be stopped by an extended hand put forward as Apostolos held his hand out.

Oh, good lord.

Violet glanced down at his hand, her eyebrows turning downward in a quick scowl before it was smoothed away. She put her hand out, and the two gave the most awkward handshake Rory thought was possible.

Oh, good god and lord above, please. I'd rather the Architect Bane tear my face off than force me to keep watching this.

"Well," Rough coughed purposefully, drawing attention toward him. "We appreciate the sentiment, and as, uh-" Rory paused, holding back a cringe before continuing. "-Founder of Ehkorrus, I entrust its safety to you three."

Marcie instantly saluted, Manda copying her after a quick sideway glance at the overly enthused girl. The only one not to react was Violet, who finally sighed and gave her half-hearted salute, but not before frowning once more at Apostolos.

"We will do our best to meet your expectations," Violet said before turning to the other two. "C'mon, let's do a check on safety measures."

Leading Marcie and Manda away, Rory could only watch as the trio disappeared.

Opening his mouth to speak, he was cut off as Apostolos held out a hand.

"Please. Just… Not a word."

Snorting, Rory shut his trap as he gestured toward the Null Window within the dark stone pavilion.

"Lead the way."

Passing through the Null Window, they had been standing one moment within Ehkorrus; the next, they found themselves upon the temple-like building that marked the center of the Khan of Blue Lightning's territory.

And instantly, Rory was on edge, his spear-tipped battle standard held ready as he glanced about.

"Something is very wrong," Rory muttered as Apostolos agreed with a silent nod.

Cautious for several seconds, they waited until the liquid surrounding the temple began to bubble. Slowly and rather painfully, a massive serpent appeared. Staring at it, Rory mentally winced.

Well, that's a lousy goddamn sign.

The Khan of Blue Lightning was in bad shape. Massive wounds had been torn through its body, singular slashes as if from a single enormous talon, its flesh festering and bubbling in spots.

As a low tier-six, Rory could have understood the damage it had accrued.

Except, it had been a low tier six over a decade ago.

The Koi that would Be- Empyrion Serpent*

Level: 72**

The heavens do not simply bless those who try a thousand times to succeed; they instead bless those who succeed after trying a thousand times. A serpent that has defied its environment and sworn a new path to challenge the very existence it has known. Coursing with heavenly lightning and purifying power, no corrosive existence shall be abided.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"What happened?" Rory finally questioned as the Khan of Blue Lightning affixed them with its gaze -singular as it was down to a single eye.

"A Tresspaser most foul." The Khan of Blue Lighting all but growled.

"How is that even possible?" Apostolos questioned, asking the same thing Rory was wondering.

"Power unrivaled by even the other Khans and enemies of the depths."

Rory and Apostolos shared a look before Rory turned back to the Khan.

"Did this… 'Trespasser' happen to look like a weird black monster?"

"Indeed. Do thy have knowledge of said abomination?"

"I believe we do," Rory said with a sigh. "But first, what exactly happened?"

"The Trespasser of the Dark appeared, seemingly intent upon claiming my Seal for itself, a method by which it could more easily travel through the bounds of space. A being capable of warping space itself, it would allow it direct travel."

Oh, fuck.

Instantly, Rory realized what the Architect's Bane had attempted. Having reached the peak of A6 for some time, Rory had been eligible to be attacked for the third and final time in tier six. Having realized the folly in laying a siege upon his settlement before, the Architect Bane had built its own power base, daring Rory to come to it.

Except he hadn't, he'd taken his sweet damn time. Growing impatient, chances were the Architect's Bane had devised a better way to attack him. Instead of laying siege, it would appear directly within Ehkorrus, which prevented monsters from freely teleporting in for reasons Rory chalked up to Eon's shenanigans.

But how could it attack directly when blocked by the anti-monster field settlements naturally had? The answer was deviously simple: augmenting its own spatial prowess with the teleportation capabilities of the Khan of Blue Lighting's temple.

"When it appeared… Was it tier eight?"

"If by tier eight, thy refer to the eighth realm of the heavens, then thy would be correct."

Well fuck me once again. It attacked the Khan with basically its full power.

"How did you withstand it?" Rory questioned. As a Territory Alpha, the Khan of Blue Lightning could be likened in power to a monster two rungs up the ladder, a high-tier-seven.

Impressive? Sure, but high-tier-seven still fell short of the Architect's Bane fully realized tier-eight power.

"Thy saved me."

"Excuse me?" Rory questioned, taken aback.

"The Conduits of the Suns provided the key. Within them was stored my power and the influence of the cosmic spheres. Using those reserves, in conjunction with the authority of my Seal, I managed to stall the Black Beast for long enough that it chose to retreat rather than continue our clash."

"Huh, did it now?" Rory raised an eyebrow at that. The Conduits of the Sun, or the Aural Conduits by their common name, were Aura Conduits Rory had begun delivering over the last few years that could resonate with the power of the suns and the Khan of Blue Lighting's own affinity, allowing for a synergized confluence of power that would passively push back the noxious energies of the land the Khan of Blue Lightning had claimed for itself. Apparently, in a pinch, they also proved capable of being used much like Ehkorrus's Pneuma reserves.

"While thoust has provided aid, I should warn against retaliating in my defense." The Khan of Blue Lightning rumbled, blinking once.

"I appreciate the sentiment," Rory said, not bothering to correct the giant snake that if they attacked the Architect's Bane, it had nothing to do with avenging the 'wrong' that the Khan had suffered. "But I cannot say no to an ally who has been assaulted as you have. But, worry not, for we come prepared with means to drag it down to our level and drive it out from these hallowed halls."

Was Rory laying it on thick? Sure, but a bit of ass-kissing never hurt.

"As one who has called thyself an ally, albeit a distant one, for years now, I must apologize for the lack of consideration I have given those of such valor and honor. You honor my station, and as such, I shall honor yours. If you should drive away the beast of Black from these halls, you will be an ally and partner of body and soul to the Khan of Blue Lightning, and my home shall be a home to you as it is to me."

Suddenly, an interface popped into existence before Rory, drawing his attention.

A Pledge of Kinship

Sub-event: Defeat the Architect's Bane within the depths of the Third Floor of the Maw

Reward: The Plains of Blue Lightning and the settlement of Ehkorrus shall be linked as sister-lands.

Well, ain't that interesting. Rory thought to himself as he took in the sub-event.

Not understanding that Rory had inadvertently hardened the defenses of the Khan of Blue Lightning, the Architect Bane had just handed them a golden opportunity to increase their standing with the Khan of Blue Lightning. Such a partnership would have likely taken years, if not decades, to progress naturally, and they'd been offered a free skip.

Now, what exactly was the benefit? Rory wasn't sure, but it surely couldn't hurt.

Probably.

"We shall not allow such a transgression to go unpunished," Rory said, still playing up the role of valiant hero rather than the truth of a simple opportunist. "Is there anything we should be aware of?" Rory added after a moment.

The giant snake seemed to pause, considering for several seconds before lowering itself, its tongue flicking out and briefly touching Eia, who had been unnaturally still the entire time.

"It carries potent energies of corrosion and space. Born to be resistant to corrosion, little one, I gift you a spark of further energies to protect those beside you."

Rory glanced at Eia, who seemed to bow her head. As large as Eia had grown, she was still dwarfed by the even larger Khan of Blue Lightning, who was now large enough to be mistaken for the trunk of a redwood tree.

Heightening his vision with his Eyes of the Architect skill, Rory examined Eia. Instantly, he noted that there seemed to be some trace of energy interweaving through her body, brushing against the Living Rune that had become a part of her and integrating itself with the Living Rune.

Going to have to study whatever that was, but later.

"We appreciate the boon," Rory took his turn to bow his head to the giant serpent, who blinked once, its eye slowly closing and opening.

"A Boon to aid your battle. Go now, for I must rest. Drawing upon the forces I did to resist the Beast in Black has worn me incredibly and will likely force me to recover for at least a decade or two. I shall stay active for another year while I prepare for my rest. During that time, for you and your own, feel free to visit if you should please. I believe I will prepare an attendant for the time I rest."

Joining Rory and Eia in bowing his head, Apostolos silently lowered his head, the three of them holding the position for several seconds before Rory raised his head again.

"When you speak of an attendant…?"

"Another such as the young one beside you. Stronger now than when thy first approached myself, it should be little trouble if those of your own could perhaps provide a few resources that I have little access to within these Halls."

Rory nodded, already intending to offload that fetch quest onto team MVM.

"With that, I shall wish you the best. I will take a short slumber, perhaps a month. If you should send someone in that time, I will provide a list of necessities."

Rory withheld the temptation to salute as he nodded in what he imagined was a very stately fashion.

"Then we shall be off."

"So, you're not at least a little worried?" Apostolos questioned as they gradually left behind the Khan of Blue Lightning's temple.

"Not particularly," Rory answered. "Eon isn't about to task us with beating a tier-eight monster as tier-sixes. No, I figure the Banes have particular circumstances where they can attack with their full might. In this case, against a tier-seven Territory Alpha, it was probably allowed to draw from nearly its maximum potential. When it couldn't put down the Khan with the strength it initially brought to bear, it was probably forced to retreat, unable to draw any further power without crossing whatever boundary set by Eon."

As much as Rory wanted to believe his Aural Conduits had been the thing to give the Khan the strength to entirely repel the Architect Bane at max power, simple logic said otherwise. If at full strength, it was akin to a high-tier-eight monster, even buffed, a low-tier-seven Alpha Territory shouldn't have been capable of bridging five thresholds of strength. At best, it should have maxed out at the level of a low-tier-eight.

"You mean we aren't going to be instantly killed. Glad to hear." Apostolos muttered.

"Oh, come on, you knew that." Rory gave him a thump on his shoulder as he spoke, grinning.

"Master, I've said it before; I'll probably say it again. You're way too nonchalant about everything." Apostolos sighed.

"Bah, you've gotten so serious as you've gotten older." Rory countered, still grinning at Apostolos's expense.

"Responsibilities, master. It was one thing when it was just us two; you were my guardian and protector. Now, I'm expected to be that same guardian and protector. I'm damn proud to be your disciple, to have learned and lived under you, and so I want to safeguard what you, what we've built. Perhaps it doesn't feel as impactful as the one who built much of this. You can start again, but for the rest of us who lack that same sort of skill? Your foundations are our roots."

Rory stopped midstep, considering Apostolos's words. It had become far too easy to become detached from the rest of the world as of late. Perhaps it was part of why he was chosen as one of the original founders, a kernel of mentality that made him different from most others when it sprouted. Even so, it was helpful to have Apostolos recenter him at times.

"You're right," Rory said with a sigh. "I apologize. I should take things a little more seriously. It's easy to separate sentimentality from the importance of my actions. A project to safeguard Ehkorrus is important because it's a project, not because of the people involved, or so I too easily let myself slip into acting like."

"Honestly, It's fine." Apostolos waved off the apology. "I know I say you're too nonchalant, but it's that nonchalance that allows many of the newer settlers to put you on a pedestal that makes your aloofness with most of the city more understandable. In fact, it probably helps to believe that the one responsible for everything is also above it all and not just a moron."

"Did you just call me a moron?"

"Did you hear something, Eia?" Apostolos feigned ignorance, turning to look down at the serpent slithering beside them.

Perhaps it was from years spent around Eia that Rory was certain that the serpent had shrugged some non-existent shoulders, playing along with Apostolos.

"Screw both of you," Rory finally huffed.

Continuing their journey, hours began to pass as they trekked through the inner portions of the Plain of Blue Lightning, the name the Khan had given its home. Outside the immediate inner area, it had quickly devolved into a hellscape of acid, bone trees, and lesser serpents that avoided them. Little in the way of lightning -or really anything blue- the name was more a promise of what was to come rather than what was.

Eventually, the trio settled to camp out for the 'night,' hunting down some lesser serpents and cooking them up. Against what many would assume, Eia had absolutely no qualms with eating other snakes.

Pretty sure many snakes were cannibals anyway. Rory had thought to himself as he tore into a slab of roasted snake.

The next day, they set out once more, trekking further out. Soon, days passed before they finally reached the edge of the Khan's territory, Apostolos guiding the way the entire time.

The acid and bone hellscape finally bleeding away, they soon found themselves looking into a tunnel of mossy rock and an abundance of tier-one three-headed turtles that passively swam about in an algae-green colored stream of unknown liquid.

"So, how far does this tunnel extend?"

"Takes roughly a day of travel to pass through it," Apostolos answered. "Then we'll find ourselves in a savannah of blade grass. It wasn't much of a problem for me, given the Spiritual Body and all, and Eia should be fine with her scales. As for you…."

"Don't run through the field with my hands out, got it," Rory said, half joking. "Anything interesting aside from the blade grass?"

"A rather territorial badger."

"The literal kind, or the person kind?"

"Person kind?"

"Some badger-looking aliens existed in our universe, so I was cracking a joke. I just forgot you wouldn't remember what they looked like. What tier is the badger?"

"Low-tier-seven. It's not special outside of that, so we could probably take it when working together. Still, I doubt we want to waste precious time, energy, and resources on dealing with an overgrown badger when we've got a showdown with the Architect Bane not long after."

"About that, how much traveling to reach its home base or whatever?"

"Another four or five days after the savannah. It takes about eight to ten days from start to finish, depending on any holdups. When I tracked them the first time, I ran into issues that…delayed me, so it took me three weeks to make it there and back."

"Gotcha," Rory said with a nod. "How are you feeling, Eia?"

The snake stared up at Rory, her tongue flicking out with a rather bored expression.

"The confidence of a high-tier-six monster. We are blessed to have the Guardian Beast of Ehkorrus with us." Rory said, rolling his eyes the entire time. Eia seemed to puff up, the serpent a sucker for compliments and praises. It was especially true when they came from the citizens of Ehkorrus, who were viewed like hatchings to the serpent, given how comparatively weak they were.

"Oh, by the way-" Apostolos suddenly spoke up, drawing Rory's attention. "As we draw nearer, you'll probably need to lay low. I'd bet that it has a natural sense for your location."

"Way ahead of you," Rory answered, flashing his hand upward. Upon it were several rings and bangles. "Made enough suppression rings and bangles to keep my aura unnoticeable for several days straight. That good enough for you?"

"Hopefully," Apostolos said with a shrug. "Eia, being a monster, you will also draw attention. Anything for her?" Apostolos finished by looking once more at Rory.

"You ask this when we're already down here?" Rory said with forced exasperation. "You're lucky I'm so forward-thinking that I considered this months ago."

Unslinging a satchel filled with goodies from his back, Rory shuffled around before pulling out what anyone from Earth would swear was a sombrero.

"Is that a hat?" Apostolos questioned, looking at the hat with confusion.

"Indeed. Eia doesn't have fingers, so I made something to dissipate her signature, like heat exhaust."

"Rightttt. So, why does it look like that?"

Rory paused, chewing on his lip.

What am I supposed to say? That the image of a snake wearing a sombrero was too funny to pass?

"I thought a snake wearing a sombrero would be funny," Rory said with a shrug, earning a deadpan stare from Apostolos and Eia, even the snake finding his sense of humor stupid.

Everyone is always a damn critic.

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