Chapter 323 - That’s a Dragon

Nate stared at the growing darkness that ate away at Reality. Behind him the sirens of the Golden Tide continued to scream. The Greater Divine that had responded to Nate’s own portal seemed at a loss for what to do and Nate couldn’t blame him. The sphere of darkness gave off a heavy sense of Destruction and Nate was almost certain he knew what, or should he say who, was coming through. He just hadn’t expected such a quick response to his message.

Around him everyone except for Kiri and Frick seemed unsure of if they should stay or run. Kiri was quickly reassuring Gwen, while Fili listened in. On the other hand, Frick was taunting Wulfgar and Jak. Nate was pretty sure he heard the little goblin telling them to run lest they face Death’s Shadow.

Nate turned to reassure the Greater Divine when he felt two individuals fast approaching. In a burst of dirt, Grand Marshal Grommir appeared, fully armoured up with a titanic shield in place and a sword that was longer and wider than Nate. The other individual appeared in a flash behind them. A thin orc that gave off a sense of threads, not unlike the assassin back on the planet of Serpent’s Wing who had effectively functioned as a conductor for the rest of the kill squad. The difference was that this thin and unassuming orc emanated the power of a True Divine in Nate’s senses.

“Should we be worried?” asked Grommir, his question directed at Nate.

The sword and shield of the half-ogre never wavered, remaining as a bulwark against the growing dark maw which had now reached tall enough to dwarf the three-storey building that Nate had apparently been gifted.

“Probably not. Just umm… don’t insult him. That would not go down well.”

Grommir nodded as though it was the sanest suggestion in the world.

“Dismissed Marshal Terri’mon,” stated Grommir.

The Greater Divine saluted twice.

“As you command, Grand Marshal. Grand Strategist.”

The second was delivered to the thin Orc who inclined his head. Then it was just Nate’s crew and the two True Divines of the Golden Tide left in the courtyard.

The portal seemed to finally reach the tipping point and Nate looked up expecting to see Ankh’aris’s massive snout exiting the portal. Which was why he was surprised when there was a flash of bright white and then he was bowled over.

“Nate! Nate! Nate! Where have you been?! Tell me everything!”

Restraining his urge to defend himself Nate stared up from the ground, barriers still intact, at the face of a golden and white dragon about the size of a pony.

“Good to see you too, Luci,” said Nate before laughing.

“That’s not a wyvern,” stated the Grand Strategist clearly, the thin Orc looking on in confusion. “Though, I thought it would be bigger based on your estimates, Grommir.”

“That’s not the one,” replied Grommir, eyes glued to the still opened portal.

“Indeed, it is not,” came a voice from the darkness. Then Ankh’aris’s head emerged. Nate wasn’t sure why but the ancient dragon had reduced his size slightly. His head was only as big as a small truck rather than a bus.

The change in size had absolutely no impact on his aura of destruction though, which washed out over the area. Nate did note how Luci was spared it as the pony-sized dragon vanished in a flash of light, tackling Kiri.

“I missed you too, Kiri! Have you been having adventures? Dad says I can come on them now that I have my Vessel! When do we start?!”

Nate took a second to appreciate how Ankh’s aura was affecting everyone else.

*************

Wulfgar had known that Nate and Kiri’s master was a dragon. They’d explained it when they spoke about Vessels. But the gap between knowing that their master was a dragon and standing in its presence might as well have been an ocean. He could feel himself dying just by being near the black-scaled monstrosity as it towered over them all. One breath. Wulfgar knew that’s all it would take. If the dragon breathed a single breath he’d snuff them all out.

Wulfgar tried very hard not to be a coward. It was important that a warrior of his prestige set an example for others. But, if he was being honest with himself, the only reason he wasn’t already running was because he didn’t want to draw the dragon's attention. That seemed like a good way to die real fast.

He tried not to breathe, not to think, and prayed that Nate and Kiri knew what the fuck they were doing. Because standing in the presence of their master, Wulfgar felt very much like a bug waiting to be stepped on.

*************

Grommir didn’t lower his shield or sword, but he already knew it was pointless to hold them in place. Crastor was in his head, the Grand Strategist conveying information with all the sensory capabilities that the other True Divine of the Golden Tide had available. That information told a story that could scarcely be believed.

Grommir had fought against Belori’khan’andur on two occasions. Every few decades the red dragon that harried the Golden Tide and their allies would test their defenses himself. And  every time it took a team of True Divines to push him back. Records showed that five was too few. So they had put together a team of eight which was enough to match the great red dragon.

Looking at the gargantuan black dragon before them, and with the information streaming in from Crastor, Grommir knew one thing with certainty. Eight wouldn’t have been enough to deal with this threat. If the dragon that was now staring down at Nate decided to attack, both Grommir and Crastor would die.

Rather than fear, it was hope that bloomed in Grommir’s heart. The being before them was more powerful than Grommir could have hoped and more dangerous than he had conceived. The sense of Destruction wafting off the dragon was enough to make it feel like Grommir was being peeled back layer by layer just by being near him. A warning that Grommir and Crastor both heeded, making no untoward moves, especially toward the smaller gold and white dragon that seemed intent on playing with the two Second Evolutions Divines from the Risen Sun Sect.

Crastor sent a single word mentally.

Patience.

Grommir didn’t nod his agreement. He didn’t move an inch. He just waited patiently and hoped his gamble paid off.

*************

“That’s a dragon,” whispered Fili, her words as much for herself as for Jak. The fool was grinning from ear to ear.

“Why are you smiling? We should be running!” she hissed.

Jak ignored her and knelt, lowering his head.

“This unworthy Outer Sect member greets the Patriarch,” stated Jak loudly, a stupid grin still on his face.

Fili reached to grab Jak when she felt the dragon turn its gaze on her. It felt like she stood in the shadow of death and that a single twitch was all it would take for her to cease to exist. She waited for it, expecting a blow that never came. The feeling passed and she glanced up as though she was peaking at something she shouldn’t. The dragon was no longer looking at them. His yellow-eyed gaze was firmly directed at Nate who was getting back to his feet.

“Nathaniel, what is the insect talking about?” asked the dragon in a deep voice as though preparing to scold a child.

Fili decided then and there that the world no longer made sense. Everything was crazy and trying to figure anything out, people, plans, the future? All pointless. She slumped down onto the ground next to the still kneeling Jak who nudged her.

“You should show our Patriarch the proper respect,” muttered Jak quietly.

Fili couldn’t muster the will to move. Their idiot leader had finally gotten them all killed and she’d let him do it. She lay back on the ground, stared up at the sky, and waited for the nightmare to be over.

*************

Nate climbed to his feet.

“We umm, might have started a Sect as part of participating in a World Reaping.”

Ankh looked down at him, “And I am this Sect’s, what? Patriarch?”

“Only if you want to be!” yelled Kiri as she wrestled with Luci. Every time she got a hold of the little dragon, Luci would turn into light and flash to a new position.

Ankh snorted in response, the puff of black smoke destroying a swath of benches but not harming anyone in the process.

“What did you name this Sect?”

“The Risen Sun Sect,” muttered Nate, glancing away surreptitiously only for Luci to appear in front of him, her snout almost at eye-level.

“You named it after me?! I’m a Risen Sun!! Was it after me?!”

“It was,” admitted Nate. “The flying ship as well.”

“Oooo. Oooo. What did you call it?” asked Luci hopping about.

“The Solaris!” yelled Frick. “And you better behave on board because I’m the Captain!”

Luci lowered her head and drew back her lips revealing incredibly sharp teeth.

“If I beat you then I’ll be the Captain!” yelled Luci before vanishing in a flash of light. A moment later a small horde of Frick’s was fighting off the small dragon who kept moving in streaks of light before unleashing burning beams of solar energy at the blue goblins.

Fili and Gwen had ducked for cover to avoid the brawl while Jak hadn’t moved from his kneeling position. Wulfgar had somehow slowly moved so that Grommir’s shield just so happened to be interposed between him and Ankh.

Ankh’aris watched Luci play-fighting Frick for a moment before turning back to Nate.

“I suppose if you have gone so far as to name the Sect after the daughter you gave to me… then I should at least test the individuals you have gathered under its aegis to determine if they are worthy,” muttered Ankh.

Then the dragon looked at Grommir and the Grand Strategist.

“Those two however are much further down The System’s Path. I doubt they’re members of this Sect of yours.”

Nate turned slightly so that he could see both Ankh and Grommir.

“This is Grand Marshal Grommir of the Golden Tide faction of the Heartlands. I don’t know the name of the other True Divine but I believe his rank is Grand Strategist. They umm, have been very helpful and accommodating so far, so if possible, don’t destroy them?” requested Nate.

Grommir bowed his head, though Nate could sense how the half-ogre tensed up at his words.

“Been helping my Disciples, have you?” asked Ankh’aris as the dragon took a step forward, finally allowing the void in Reality to close behind him.

“Within the bounds of Reciprocity, as much as we were able,” offered Grommir.

“Why?”

“I recognise Kiri’s Peak-grade Divine armour for what it was. The scales of a black dragon. I hoped that by showing them some kindness and offering assistance that we might in turn receive such. Though I do not presume to have earned anything. I would be happy if we were allowed to leave with our lives.”

Ankh leaned forward and though Nate saw a few people flinch in fear, he recognised the action for what it was. Ankh was curious.

“What would you need assistance with that you would take such a risk?” asked Ankh.

Nate was curious as well. He had of course noted the overtures and friendliness of the Golden Tide. He had wondered if the shoe would drop once they were in the World Reaping but when Captain Borin had come to their aid even with the odds appearing to be stacked against them he knew the Golden Tide were sincere. Nate was good to his friends, and he considered Grommir one of them, even if the half-ogre had ulterior motives for his overtures.

“Belori’khan’andur slowly pushes deeper and deeper into our territories,” replied Grommir.

Nate didn’t miss the signs that Ankh recognised the name.

“He is not a signatory on the Reaper’s Accord and so he is not bound by its rules for conquest. And with his access to regions inside the Wild Realms he is able to raise Divine Beasts far faster than we can raise our own Lesser, Greater and True Divines. We lose ground every year and his forces are beginning to encroach on our core worlds. I had hoped to make overtures and see if you would be willing to assist. We would of course pay.”

Kiri joined Nate as Ankh’aris’s head swung to look at him.

“What do you think, Nathaniel?”

“I get a say?” asked Nate curiously.

Ankh simply nodded and Nate saw Fili’s mouth was wide open at the dragons words, despite the small woman laying on her back and staring up at the sky as though she were pretending she was already dead.

Nate turned to Grommir.

“I need something from the vaults of the Eternal River Sect and the Empire of Seven Domains.”

“We will broker a deal as needed with both. I can guarantee you whatever it is you desire from the Eternal River Sect, as they are one of our allies. The Empire of Seven Domains will be harder. They are neither close by, nor friendly to the Golden Tide.”

Nate nodded. One was more than he had hoped for anyway. If the Empire of Seven Domains was unfriendly to the Golden Tide, Nate doubted he’d like them. And if he didn’t like them, he wouldn’t feel bad about stealing from them. So long as the items did not fall into Arikanvil’s hands Nate could be satisfied.

“I’m fine with helping them, Master,” replied Nate as he glanced up at Ankh’aris.

“So be it. Luci needs some practice anyway.”

At her name, Luci appeared.

“I get to fight?!” she asked excitedly.

“Yes. You will practice against those who are of a similar strength to you and show them our might,” huffed Ankh.

“The might of the Risen Sun Sect?!” screamed Luci happily as she hopped from foot to foot.

Ankh’aris sighed and shot a quick glare at Nate before snorting.

“Of dragons.”

“And of the Risen Sun Sect! Because that’s me! We’re going to be so fearsome and go on so many adventurers and get lots of shinies! Look what I made Fricky give me!”

A flash of light formed and a couple of Low-grade Divine artifacts appeared before her. Nate could recognise a small fraction of Frick’s stash. Luci however flared her wings, preening as she waited to be praised.

“Well done, little one. The trophies of battle are yours to keep.”

Ankh then looked to the side, staring off into space.

“Before I test these so-called pupils you have gathered, Nate, there is one last thing I need to do.”

Ankh’s tone was threatening and Nate immediately felt it as the Concept of Destruction roared to life and space around them began to collapse. Layer after layer was destroyed and Nate sense as his connection to anything beyond the area around them was cut off. Within those collapsing layers Nate finally caught a whiff of something odd. A gap where there shouldn’t be one.

“Come out come out, little insect,” roared Ankh in triumph as his claw flashed out and snatched the blotted out piece of fractured space.