novelraw Chapter 570 - 569 - Fallout
Chapter 570 - 569 - Fallout
Marsh reviewed a report from a month ago once more and felt a trace of fear. While Soulmancers could die, it was only expected for the weaker of them to do so. Many rested on their laurels and did not train to grow stronger over the millenia once they achieved the peak of their world.
Yet, now they had lost 2 in 5 years to an unknown enemy, worse, an entire regiment had been lost!
No one could find them and the only person who might know something was barely alive! Helena had left a useless man behind her now failed attack.
She had gone somewhere into the Hinterlands yet she left no record or any indication of where she had decided to attempt to find their foe! She had wanted to benefit solely!
It had all backfired as the imperial family rampaged at the loss of essential soldiers. Karridan was much larger than the other empires but its forces were still a massive investment. To lose so many left the imperial family with no honor to hold!
The political fallout did not bother Marsh normally but it had now spread to the other 6 empires as they sensed weakness.
The result was a vicious swath of reclamations of souls without warning. Marsh knew it was going to likely blow up in their faces but there was nothing else they could do.
The foolish people believed they only had to overthrow the Soulmancers and all would be well, they did not understand the true threat.
Marsh was in a secret location that was not on any map nor known to any but a very few even in the Soulmancers.
He found a particularly large stone in a clearing and walked right at it before a single sigil blazed on his forehead and the stone. He did not even pause as he melted into the stone.
He walked down a spirling set of stairs for over a day before finally reaching a vast temple underground. It was oppressive for him to be there but he was used to it as he steadily walked across the structure at the heart of the open space.
It was made of fine towers and square walls but was not much larger than a mansion. He waited until a wizened old man opened the gate.
Marsh bowed low and followed the elder gentleman to a room that had 3 more Soulmancers inside.
He took his place as he glanced around. He was the most well muscled of the group but he was the weakest in a key aspect. His weaving ability was pathetic compared to the 3 monsters around him.
Marsh had only inherited his role when his predecessor was killed for trying to take over the other empires.
There had been 6 of the leaders at one time but currently only 4 remained and Marsh was 1 of 2 replacements made so far.
"You continue to disappoint me." The whisper from the man at the head of the gilded table made Marsh breakout in a sweat. He had been arrogant centuries ago when called to that table but he had learned harshly since then how weak he truly was.
"She acted on her own. I have repeatedly asked for her to be reprimanded but was told no." Marsh did not hide his own irritation as he truly had asked for Helena to be curtailed as she became more and more out of control.
"He is right, Linghu. He had asked to have that vile thing brought to heel." The man deeply in the shadows was admonished by a rather bland woman to his right. She seemed to barely register but Marsh never let his awareness slip.
He had learned the price for being lax too!
"Xing, you know each empire is left to their respective representatives." The vague outline did not even shift but an amused giggle followed his words.
"You expect too much from these charlatans. They are not like us." Marsh frowned but made no complaint as he glanced at the other woman near him. They had replaced 2 of the dead original members of the leading council.
She was a prodigy but rarely seemed to comment on any meeting.
"Char was sufficient but this one is useless." Marsh felt a flush of blood warm his face in embarrassment but again said nothing.
"Enough, we have a larger issue." Shi suddenly spoke up which made the other 3 stiffen as it meant they were actually being petty enough to provoke her.
"Agreed, the invader is clearly far more powerful than we first estimated. They easily eliminated a peak Sun Tier Soulmancer and all the forces with them. Further, they seem to have an ability to liberate souls." Linghu revealed something Marsh had not known.
The souls were missing from the checkpoint but he had assumed they had been consumed.
"A true weaver has come to us. Normally I would welcome them but it seems they object to our arrangement." Xing seemed unafraid of what her words entailed. Only LInghu and Xing had the original manuals to perfect the weaving ability.
Shi simply was monstrous in that she seemed born to be a weaver.
"That is not all. I have checked the Law Binding but there is no response anywhere with the latest battle." Deep frowns crossed all their faces at that fact. The last time there had been a spike of Qi to track their enemy but the latest incident made not a ripple.
Further, something the enemy did wiped the trail of Helena as well!
Marsh at first thought she had hidden herself somehow but she would not bother with the soldiers she took with her. It would be too daunting on her reserves to do so.
"Shi, you are rather talkative, do you know something?" Xing was not teasing but Marsh felt sweat break out as the 2 looked at each other. He had no idea what happened but the 2 women did not like each other at all.
"I have analyzed all available data and found a disturbing trend. Our enemy had a monstrous comprehension ability. They have mastered their Qi and skills in less than 5 years that would take decades for others." Marsh could only agree.
His tracking showed wild wastes of Qi at first but quickly became refined and reduced in only a few months! Then they simply disappeared!
"This is no longer a simple issue we can use the mundane to find. They are useless as evidenced by their recent coup attempt." Linghu was full of contempt but the tenuous hold they had over the 6 empires was threatened.
An enemy that could resist them would give ideas to the stock they could defy the Soulmancers with impunity.
"What are your orders?" Marsh made no contribution as he knew his words would be ignored. He was only there to obey.
A disc of metal appeared on the table and the atmosphere changed. It was silver in color but glowed with Qi.
It had the feeling of a god to Marsh and he recognized the sigils engraved and anchored to the surface on both sides.
"Suzen's Seal will be issued. Find any discrepancy and destroy it. Rebrand any stock with our enemy and kill them without mercy. Do not delay any further." Linghu actually shocked Xing and Shi into silence.
Marsh carefully picked up the seal and felt much closer to the Law Binding. It was a control seal!
He knew such seals were severely limited and tightly controlled by Linghu and Xing. They were left behind by Suzen so others could use the Law Binding for its intended purpose.
Marsh bowed but frowned as a question formed in his mind.
"What if I don't find anything?" He felt the tension rise but Xing held up her pale hand. She leaned forward and Marsh had to fight the shiver as that bland face looked at him deeply.
"If that happens, then call me immediately. It means our enemy is beyond you." Marsh bowed swiftly and left.
He did not register much as he left but the seal vibrated as he passed a dark hall on his way out. He glanced over and felt odd.
It was as if the hall had not existed until the seal drew his attention to it. It was a desolate hall and felt incredibly deadly to Marsh. Still, he felt drawn to the black wooden doors at the end of the stone hall.
He resisted the feeling just barely and quickly left the structure.
He hoped to never return but knew either way he would. His body was covered in a cold sweat he quickly removed with his QI.
Marsh wondered what would have happened if Helena had not revealed the depth of their enemies capability in learning but tossed it away. He had to focus on his task or die if he made those 3 monster wait.
Marsh finally returned to the bright world of the surface and began to plan.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
Xing sipped at her tea as Linghu fell over to the side like a puppet with its strings cut. It was in a way, a puppet but Linghu was very much alive.
"You can take that dower look off your face, Shi." The lithe young woman glowered at her but it reduced slightly. Xing sighed but took the step to obey as good as it could be.
"Why have that fool act for you?" Shi had restraints glinting on her throat and wrists so it was clear she was restrained. The being that did it sat quietly sipping on her tea!
"You bore me most of the time, Shi, but even you must understand I cannot leave the Core Hall so easily. Certainly not with you trying to save your brother." A glance at the now revealed LInghu had a strong resemblance to Shi.
"As to your question, Marsh has his uses. Chief among them being he can still improve. The seal might help him but for now I just need him to obey." Shi did not understand. Xing had crushed resistance without a thought before, why suddenly hold back?
A thought crossed her mind but the collar shocked her sharply so her mind blanked.
"Sigh, rebellious child, do not test me." LInghu began to scream as his body twitched and Shi tried to scream but nothing came out. "Let this be a reminder that my choices are final and should never be questioned. I will come back in a month."
Sceams of Linghu filled the chamber while Shi could only watch.
Xing began to leave as she found their act tedious after centuries. She had a lot to do and one less distraction would help her focus. She pulled up the live display of the population and began to mark the ones to cull.
So many souls needed and so little quality. She frowned and marked off over 1000 people to make up for lost numbers and to remind the 6 empires who truly ruled the world.