Chapter 569: The Showdown with Yuinafal

(Cognosticon here with news. Some of you may recall that I've signed a big six-figure deal for Depthless Hunger audio rights. This has been progressing in the background, but the relevant thing is that one of the terms requires me to take down and relaunch the current ebook. I've tried to ask questions and negotiate the following:

1) Anyone who purchased the book should not lose their copy.

2) I don't think it will be retained in Kindle Unlimited, sorry.

3) The earlier chapters will eventually need to be removed from here. This shouldn't affect those who have been reading up to this point.

Giving everyone a heads-up as early as possible so there's minimum confusion. The book will be down for a period of time before it eventually comes back, and it should not get more expensive. I don't know if reviews will migrate, so if you were kind enough to buy and review the book, please consider copying your review to repost on the new one. There will obviously be more information about this over coming months.)

Kai was nervous, even though waiting on elites had become mundane to him.

He supposed that fact should have astonished him on its own: the Frontier elites, the pinnacles of the continent who he had idealized since childhood, were serving as transportation. Thanks to Gunjin, they were as prompt as possible given their work, and few others could summon them like that.

This time he was waiting for Handelrey, however, and that was different. She wasn't the first elite he'd seen, but she had been one of those who teleported himself and Zae Zin Nim away from the abyss, saving their lives. Not only had she witnessed the gods over the Frontier, she had been one of the only ones to consider their strength as comprehensible, even if she had been as outclassed as everyone else. All of that led to Kai feeling a strange sort of connection despite the fact that they'd spoken very little.

And now, in order to deal with the Yuinafal problem, he was going to risk burning that connection.

Soon she arrived, stepping through a stone portal archway, and Kai turned to her with a nod. She was the same woman he remembered, in fact it didn't look like she'd aged a day since the last incursion. Based on all his experience now, he guessed that was due to biological immortality, her body simply not running down. Her wild hair, which extended in all directions under her control, was something he still couldn't explain.

"I understand that you have a serious issue to discuss," she said without greeting.

"I'm just concerned about elites potentially working against one another," Kai said. "To survive the incursion, it's essential that we all work tog-"

"I know the speech. This is about your issue with Yuinafal, isn't it?"

Kai was taken aback to hear it put that way and, even though it was generally accurate, he took a mental step back and reconsidered Handelrey. He didn't seriously think that she would attack him, and his best guess was that he'd be stronger, but now he considered the possibility that she was on Yuinafal's side. Had he really turned that many elites against them that even the old guard was skeptical?

"You just keep trying to pierce my shroud," Handelrey said with a rueful smile. "Fine, I'll let you see. Happy?"

<

Name: Handelrey Orgoron

Total Power: 886

Earthborn: Twiceshaken (299)

Waterborn: Twicedrowned (299)

Physique: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 9 (81)

Hybrid Essence: Living Jungle (+100)

>

His glimpse of her soul was about what he expected: 886 Power in the range of the other top elites. The most shocking thing was that she somehow had both Earthborn and Waterborn powers, which he'd never seen before, and thought should have been impossible. Omilaena would want to know, but he might have bigger problems.

"I'm impressed by those shrouds," he said to buy time. "Is that something they teach at the Frontier?"

"Yes, but it's far lower priority than phases." Handelrey shook her head slowly. "Your strength is downright absurd, so it's nice to know we still have an edge in a few ways. Phases, shrouds, and spiritual sight, at least."

Given Omilaena's discoveries, that last one might not be true anymore, but Kai wasn't trying to compete, so he took a different approach: "It's strange, but they barely even bother with many of those skills on other continents. For example, on Cloudspire a lot of people seem to just gauge cultivation stage."

"So others have observed. We aren't sure if they just don't need to bother with the details, or if the more energy-rich environment makes it harder to distinguish clearly. Most shrouds on Rosemount are less advanced because their energy mixes together, for example."

"I hope we don't come off as trying to throw our strength around." Kai smiled ruefully. "And I realize this might make us seem arrogant, but I was hoping we might help the elites. It's almost impossible to reach D-rank Physique on Deadwaste, but my wife has gotten very adept at helping people over the edge. That could be a significant boost for everyone."

Handelrey folded her arms across her chest. "Kai Clanless, are you trying to bribe me?"

"What?" Kai had been considering a lot of factors, but not that, and was thrown for a moment. "Do you mean against Yuinafal? Would you really make a decision based on who could benefit you more?"

"Everything is ultimately based on what will help us survive."

"Well, I wasn't offering it contingent on anything except you thinking it was a good idea. All of this has been-"

"I know." Handelrey dropped her flat stare and smiled wearily. "Not everyone agrees, but I, for one, believe in your sincerity. The problem is that sincere mistakes can still cost people's lives, and given your strength, it's easier for you to make mistakes."

"Then, about Yuinafal..."

"You both have our support, and this rivalry is getting to be a hindrance. Come with me and let's just have this out." She turned and stepped toward the archway, which lit up in a swirl of mana again. Handelrey didn't hesitate at all, so she was already gone to places unknown.

Kai paused a moment, considering the potential for an ambush, but this was his best opportunity. He braced himself and stepped through, trying to be ready for anything.

Somehow, he wasn't ready for a mostly empty plain and the rings of metal ahead. He'd stepped out of an alcove on the elite structures near the arena for the mortal phase trials - it was empty now, and the rings were still, but he remembered that mysterious dark metal.

There was one other person present: Yuinafal stood beside the arena, arms folded sourly. As soon as he sensed Kai, he dropped into a combat-ready position, so startled that for a moment Kai wondered if he had been ambushed. Handelrey calmly walked in between them and Kai realized that she must have intercepted requests from both of them and arranged this. Ambushed them both, effectively.

"Guess there's no choice," Yuinafal said, rolling his shoulders, revealing muscles underneath his robes. "Hello again, Kai."

"I feel like we've barely been introduced." Kai walked out to stand opposite him, cracking his neck in both directions. "But somehow we keep getting in each other's way."

They stood in silence, staring at one another. The dark metal arena gleamed beside them.

"No more feuding." Handelrey walked up beside them, her hair tightening down into a single column at her back. "It's fine for elites to disagree, even to work in opposite directions, but there has to be a limit or we'll sabotage one another. The two of you are creating factions, so that has to end."

"Then we'll end it," Yuinafal said.

"How does this work?" Kai gestured toward the motionless rings. "Can this be operated by just a few people?"

"What?" The stare down was broken by a truly baffled look from Yuinafal, followed by incredulity. "Did you seriously think that we'd solve our problems by beating each other up? This isn't Cloudspire."

"Hey, you're the one who attacked me before, and you seemed pretty eager then."

"Enough!" Handelrey drew their attention and then shook her head sharply. "We're not here to rehash past issues, about phase trials or Irun. What matters is the next incursion, which I apparently need to remind you is imminent. Kai Clanless: what are you attempting to do in Krysal?"

Still a little embarrassed about his false assumption, Kai gestured vaguely. "I just want Krysal to avoid destroying itself. There are a lot of radical factions undermining them... I'm hoping to find a way for the Krysali to deal with it themselves, instead of forcing things again."

"As well you should," Yuinafal snapped. "Elites are supposed to be neutral. Organizing cooperation between so many factions across the continent requires it. But you overthrew the crystallier system and now you're unquestionably meddling, making winners and losers in Krysal."

"I freely admit that, but how can you say that when you were manipulating the riot?"

"I was trying to find the cause!" Yuinafal's voice rose slightly and he took a deep breath before continuing with greater control. "There's a powerful nativist faction that's trying to turn Krysal against its allies. Before today, I wasn't sure if you were unaware of them, or maybe even supporting them."

"Of course not." Kai sighed and tried to take a step back. "Alright, I'll take you at your word and say I made an assumption. Did you make some about me in Krysal, or do you still hate everything I've been doing after seeing it up close?"

Yuinafal didn't answer, going very still. Kai's instincts warned him and he almost moved, but he forced himself to remain still - he just focused on maintaining a speed phase if it became necessary. The two men locked gazes for several long seconds, then Yuinafal groaned.

"I admit," he said, "even if I dislike your methods, you seem sincere. You honestly beat me in Irun, and I don't just mean in power."

"We didn't mean to throw out your methods," Kai offered as an olive branch, but Yuinafal waved it aside.

"That idea of doing everything via metallic pools was perfect for Irun. After you won, I made a chakra pool, or at least I tried. They're still going to use it for some warriors, but the comparison just made it clear that your methods are better."

"If you believe we were working for the good of Irun... then can you believe the same about Krysal?"

"I believe in your sincerity, not your efficacy." Yuinafal returned to a more familiar glare, though it had lost some of its edge. "I still think the way you're acting is wildly reckless. Handelrey didn't know everything about this operation you plan, but what I heard sounds like an absurd overreach, and one that's likely to blow back on us."

Handelrey herself had been silent up to this point, but now spoke. "Kai, why don't you tell us a little more about what you had in mind?"

And so, after only a brief consideration of double-crosses, Kai explained what they had in mind, from how they would lure in both radical factions to the treasures they would offer Krysal. The other two listened carefully, not immediately opposed, and he began to hope this might turn out better than he expected. Once he was done, Yuinafal shook his head again.

"You've planned out so many details, but it still strikes me as a bad plan. No matter how many people the nativists or reactionaries send, you'll only eliminate a fraction of them."

"They aren't a faction that can be eliminated," Kai argued, "because they have many partial supporters, and others who are sympathetic. But if we can implicate their leaders in trying to steal from Krysal, it will strike a blow to their reputations. We need the people of Krysal to believe in unity."

"Unity enforced by your manipulations."

"We're not wiping them out on their own. We're giving Krainuun a gift of resources and advising him about potential threats. This has his approval, and once it's done, I believe the majority of Krysali will approve as well."

"Provided that it works." Yuinafal still looked irritable, but he stepped back and looked aside. "Handelrey?"

"We might request some changes," she said, "but we'll let the plan move forward. However, you absolutely can't take action yourself - you really are too directly involved in Krysal. Whether or not this works, and whether or not it actually stabilize politics in Krysal, will be a major part of how we decide what role you should have going forward."

"Deal," Kai said, grinning with more confidence than he felt.

So they turned away from the arena, which sat silent and unused. Yuinafal walked with him - he was clearly far from a friend, yet Kai believed in his honesty, so they were truly on the same side. Depending on how all of this went, they might even work together.

Except that the operation wouldn't be based on his own strength, it would depend on everything that he had set into motion. Kai glanced at the arena over his shoulder, thinking that it would have been a lot easier to just fight it out.