Echoes of War, Ch 3: Gathering the Army (Patreon)

Sam looked across the ranks of the Silver Army that was saluting him and the Wild Spirits nearby. His senses scanned across the Ice Drake to make sure that the children were fine and then he nodded, a slight smile bringing light to his features.

His aura filled the area, spreading the strength of the Blessing of Silver Stars across the army, raising their attributes and abilities. He could also see a thin layer of flickering starlight gathering around the Silver Nagas, an effect that was very different from everyone else. That was the unique attack and defense ability that was part of his aura for his sworn followers. They would need some practice to learn how to use it.

“I’m sorry I was gone for so long,” his words reached Sleset and Alora, as well as the rest of the nagas and Alora’s family. “Let’s take care of this and then we’ll talk about the future.”

The eleven remaining ships from the Blood Hunter fleet were already regrouping. The destruction of Kaisa’s ship had stunned them, but their weapons were glowing again as they prepared to release an even larger wave of attacks. Sam shook his head as he looked at them. If they’d chosen to retreat, he might have let them go, but it seemed like they planned to continue their assault.

“Gather the starlight around you,” he said to the nagas as he sent a wave of instructions to them. “Focus it into your attacks.” There wasn’t time to teach them everything about the aura, but they would at least be able to draw on the power it provided.

A fierce desire for battle illuminated the Silver Army’s features, their crowns and the jagged lightning bolts on their cheeks radiating with power as they followed his instructions. The younger nagas tried to copy them, and a few sparkling threads of the aura surrounded them as well, highlighting those whose desire to follow Sam was the strongest. Sam glanced at the description of his class as he watched it happen, understanding it better now that he saw it in person. He’d been in the Dream for a long time and then he’d come directly here, so he’d never had a chance to see it in action

Lord of Silver Stars. Unique. Legendary:

• You have gathered allies and followers to your side and now your aura spreads across the Void like the flames of a thousand silver stars. This class requires a high degree of Charisma, the allegiance of a willing army, and a high level of dedication to protecting your lands and people, as well as the ability to manipulate your aura. The Lord of Silver Stars has the unique ability to infuse their aura into the world around them, enhancing their followers and personal creations.
• The class incorporates elements of crafting, battle, and leadership. Artifacts and golems crafted by your hand will be innately imbued with a version of your astral aura that will enhance their abilities. Allies will be blessed by your aura, receiving a bonus to their attributes and skills. If they fight alongside you, your presence will strengthen them. Those who swear loyalty to you will receive increased benefits over casual followers.

Blessing of Silver Stars (Legendary):

• Allies within your aura will receive 10% of your Charisma to all attributes, an upgrade of one tier to all skills with a maximum of Epic, and improved attack and defense.
• Followers sworn directly to you will receive 20% to all attributes, an upgrade of one tier to all skills with a maximum of Epic, and a unique ability to attack and defend as a group.
• Artifacts crafted by your hand will be innately imbued with your astral aura, granting them an astral blessing that suits their nature and improving their characteristics by a single tier or 20%, as long as your power is great enough to allow it.
• Innate Blessing: As the Lord of Silver Stars, you are the example to all who follow you. You receive a passive benefit from this blessing, granting you 50% of your Charisma to all other attributes.

He nodded as he studied the effect, sensing the difference between the Silver Nagas and the rest. The younger generation of nagas that hadn’t sworn directly to him had more of a gain than the Wild Spirits nearby. It seemed that their loyalty was directly affecting his aura, drawing more of it. The Wild Spirits had a 10% boost, and the Silver Nagas had 20%, but the younger nagas had something between those two.

He could also feel the gazes of those young nagas as they stared at him with wide eyes, their attention hanging on his words.

“For those who wish to follow me,” he added, unable to ignore the question they were all silently asking, “I will hold an Oath ceremony after the battle.”

Loud hisses of delight followed, even as the nagas spun forward, all of their attention returning to the Blood Hunters’ ships. They gripped their weapons with more confidence than before as wrath burned in their blood. These horned villains had attacked their home out of greed. Before, they’d lacked the ability to resist, but they had still fought. Now, a desire for vengeance roared through them.

The next attack from the ships was already heading toward them, only a moment away. Damen Asenya raised his shield, the rainbow barrier flaring to life again. This time, it was far denser than before and streaks of silver stars flashed across the surface.

“Since they will not give up on their objective,” Sam said simply as he passed judgment, “destroy them.”

The cascade of glowing golden spheres slammed into Damen’s shield to punctuate his orders, followed instantly by the maddened hisses of the nagas and the shouts of the Wild Spirits as they surged forward.

Sam disappeared from where he was standing, reappearing a moment later beside the closest ship. A crackling silver light of Shatter Aura surrounded his hand as he slammed his fist into a central node of the ship’s enchantments. He was twice as tall as the ship and his fist was as large as a battering ram. When it landed, the entire ship shuddered like it was struck by a mountain.

It had no chance to resist.

He actually had to diffuse the blow so he only targeted the enchantments on the hull. Otherwise, he would have torn through the entire structure. With his Battle Aura active and the full force of his essence empowering his strength, it was over 25,000. It was a blow at the absolute peak of the Fourth Evolution, as strong as a Level 499 Warrior with a pure Heroic class.

The ship’s enchantments buckled and the central node shattered as the mana flowing through it exploded away in colorful rays, followed an instant later by the hull going dark. The sails and the offensive enchantments on the figurehead died out as the ship’s forward momentum shuddered to a halt.

A moment later, a secondary enchantment activated, keeping the ship from falling out of the sky, but Sam didn’t spend the time to watch it. He teleported as he reappeared next to another ship, targeting its enchantments as he struck out, his fist slamming into a node. Then he disappeared again.

Eleven blows for eleven ships. His progress through the fleet was a flicker of silver flames punctuated by his appearance and his height that was taller than the ships. Each time he appeared, another ship broke. It took him some effort to do it so quickly, and his essence felt the strain of dealing that many full-power blows one after the other, but he wasn’t willing to allow the ships to continue attacking his people.

Within moments, the entire fleet was dark, hanging in the air as the quiet but strained hum of secondary enchantments kept them from falling. Sam stood in the sky above them as he waited.

Ahead of the ships, the army surged forward. They had a vendetta to repay for this attack and now that Sam had arrived, they finally had an opportunity to respond. Sam’s attention was on the Fourth Evolution Blood Hunters who were still alive, and here and there, he lent a hand, blocking a blow or separating combatants to ensure his army wasn’t overwhelmed, but for the most part, he only observed.

His people had been oppressed by this enemy and would have died here. This was their moment to take revenge, and they made the most of it. The naga and Wild Spirits’ attacks were savage as they released all the pent up frustrations they’d endured under the Blood Hunters’ attacks, not just in this battle, but in all the years leading up to it. These villains had threatened them for a century and now they’d invaded their world.

They naturally had some anger to release.

Waves of attacks flowed through the sky as, one by one, the ships and the attackers were overwhelmed. Without the support of the vessels’ enchantments, they were easy prey for the furious Silver Nagas and the group of defenders. Even the Fourth Evolution opponents were unable to resist once they were divided up from the rest and torn apart by an angry horde.

A short while later, all the ships were on the ground, the few survivors who had surrendered kneeling in front of Sam. Alora, Sleset, Damen, and Nares stood beside him. He looked down at the Blood Hunters with his arms folded.

Behind him, the ranks of Wild Spirits and nagas filled the field, their postures radiating with pride since their lord had returned. In their minds, there was no more glorious return than one that came with victory over an enemy. They also felt like they’d been able to show off their developments over the past century, and their children had all conducted themselves with honor and courage.

“You’ve done well,” Sam said to Sleset after he looked over the nagas. “It must have been difficult for you over the last century.”

“Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the lord return and defend his land,” Sleset said with a self-satisfied grin. “Being abandoned is the worst punishment for our clan, and although I never doubted you for a moment, my lord, it is greatly satisfying that you have come back to us. The last century has been tedious without you to lead us. Simply tell me what you wish us to do, and we will see it done.”

It was obvious that Sleset was already ignoring the remaining Blood Hunters as a trivial issue. Now that they were defeated, his eyes were on the future.

“We’ll be traveling to my homeland, where more battles await,” Sam said as he created a barrier of silver flames that blocked his words from reaching the Blood Hunters. “Once the oath ceremony is completed, your clan should prepare for a long journey.”

He actually had some ideas for how to make the trip home easier, but that would come soon enough. With a nod, he turned to look at Alora and Damen.

“The decision of how to deal with these invaders is yours,” he said as he waved his hand at the prisoners. “But I recommend that you send them home in rags, with the memory of this on their lips. It will be a reminder not to try again.”

"You'll die in pain when the rest of the clan arrives!" A shout came from one of the remaining Blood Hunters whose level was barely over 300. He couldn't hear what they were saying through Sam's barrier, but it was obvious they were discussing his fate. "You think we were the only ones interested in your node? How could weaklings like you inherit something so good and keep it for yourselves!"

"The Wild Tree's node has always been open to allies." Alora's response was angry as she stepped through Sam's barrier and glared at the defeated enemy. "Do you want to talk about thieves with no right to speak? Take a close look at yourselves and tell me if there is anything else to you than that! For two hundred years, you've stared at our homeland with greed, and now you finally come and try to seize it, planning to take it all for yourselves! You don't even understand that it would never work for you! The ancestor would not allow it!"

The Blood Hunter tried to shout something else back, but Damen reached out with a swift hand and slapped him down, pressing his face into the dirt. His expression held tightly controlled rage as he glared at the rest of the attackers and dared them to say anything else. When they didn't, he turned to Sam and spoke up for the first time.

“I was also thinking of sending them home as a warning," he said slowly. "It should sow doubt among the rest, but my worry is what will happen if they bring more back with them to try again.”

He’d never had much opportunity to talk with Sam before, but he’d heard a great deal about him from his daughter. Now that he’d come to aid them, he felt comfortable treating him as a friend and he spoke easily. He didn’t say it, but it was obvious that he was thinking of Sam’s departure and wondering how they would defend themselves if he left with the nagas. He just felt embarrassed to ask for anything more than he’d already received. After all, the defense of his world was his responsibility, not Sam’s, and the fact that he hadn’t been able to manage it was a deep worry for him.

“This region of the Chaos Wild is more dangerous than it was a hundred years ago, and it will grow worse soon,” Sam said. “At the same time, the Wild Tree cannot be moved so easily. It is the foundation of your people. I see no way for you to retreat from here. However, I do have an idea.”

“Please, whatever idea you have would be a great help,” Alora said fervently. They hadn’t had time to catch up yet, but her clear eyes even in these difficult times said that she had matured a great deal since the last time they’d met. Her easy attitude with the nagas and her position next to Sleset also didn’t escape Sam’s notice. She must have done her best for them while he was gone.

Moving to a safer region was one solution for her people, but since that wasn’t possible, Sam had another plan, one that had just occurred to him as he saw the remaining eleven warships. He’d broken their enchantments, but only in one node. It wouldn’t take him too long to repair them.

“I will alter the enchantments on these warships and link them to the aura of the Wild Tree,” he said as he looked over his shoulder toward the massive tree that stretched into the sky in the distance. “The power flowing through the tree radiates through this world, and as long as the ships are nearby, their enchantments will not fail. The tree will act as their power source, continually restoring them. It will give you a fleet of defensive ships to protect your world that can be flown even by those at the Second Evolution. Just remember that you will not be able to fly too far away with them, no more than a hundred miles from the edge of the world. It will be similar to having eleven Fourth Evolution protectors, and they will help to shield your warriors in battle.”

“How is that possible?!” Nares’s eyes widened as he looked between Sam and the tree. He had been silent until now, but he spoke from the shock. “Will it harm the tree?”

“The Wild Tree gathers the elements from the Void,” Sam said without hesitating. “It is possible to borrow some of that elemental power without harming it. The ships will be linked to it like leaves and the amount they use will be barely noticeable to it. When they expend the energy, it will still be gathered by the tree in the end.”

Linking the enchantments like that was a matter of aura weaving, matching the resonance of the enchantments to that of the tree and using a runic structure to tie them together. As long as the ships were close to the tree, they could absorb some of its ambient energy without doing it any harm. The amount of energy in the tree was as massive as a sun. A few ships would make no difference to it.

Altering the enchantments on the warships would also let him experiment with some ideas in his mind. His hands itched to get back to crafting after all of the time in the Dream. That experience had only filled him with even more things to try out. Eventually, the presence of the prisoners in front of the ships pulled his attention back to the present and he looked at them with grim eyes.

“I’ll leave these Blood Hunters to you,” he said decisively. “Remember, even with ships to help you protect this world, you need to raise your strength as much as possible. A new war is on the horizon. The beasts of the Chaos Wild can feel it in the air. Even people like this Blood Hunters will find themselves stirred to fight for reasons they don’t understand. You have to be able to defend yourself in the future.”

With a fleet of warships linked to the tree, the Wild Spirits would have a dozen Level 450 defenders with inexhaustible enchantments. That and their own strength should be enough to protect their world unless a Fifth Evolution opponent or higher appeared. That was why they needed to get stronger.

The likelihood of being attacked by anything over Level 500 was rare, but if it did happen, it was more likely to be a Void beast than an intelligent race. People at that level were usually already lords of their own worlds or kingdoms and couldn’t leave easily. They had their own territory to defend.

“Nagas, come with me.” Sam waved at Sleset and the nagas as he turned away, heading for the distance. "This enemy is defeated for now."

“Yes, my lord!” Sleset’s shout carried across the area and a moment later, nearly five hundred nagas were following Sam as closely as they dared. The children from the Ice Drake had joined their parents and older siblings, making for a rare sight of an entire clan on the move.

Sam led them for over an hour until he found a secluded valley at the base of the mountains and then he sat down on a rock, studying them.

“How have you been?” he asked in a quieter voice as he studied the original Silver Nagas and the ranks of their descendants behind them. His eyes crinkled with delight as he saw the children beaming at him. “Did the Wild Spirits treat you well?”

“Yes, my lord!” Sleset answered for them all as he bowed his head. The silver crown glinted in the clear mountain light. “It took us a few years to find our footing, but it worked out in time. We started acting as guards for the merchant district in the main city, where visitors from off-world come to buy and sell. There were many small fights and places to guard, which helped us to learn more about our abilities. That wasn’t too exciting after a while and there wasn’t much else to do here, so Alora suggested we move to the world closest to the sun, the one with many powerful beasts and resources to gather.

“That world was much more to our liking and we established our nests there. Fighting against the beasts helped us to hone our abilities. Sometimes, we took the Ice Drake to neighboring systems on merchant trips, trading for resources and looking for a challenge. Many beasts and enemies opposed us, but none were strong enough to stop our advance. The scars marked our scales with pride. On the way, we also eliminated any bandit groups who dared to attack us.” There was a wicked grin on Sleset's features as he reminisced over their past challenges. "Always to honor your memory, my lord."

“I see,” Sam said with a chuckle. The nagas probably would have caused more trouble if left to their own devices, but it sounded like they'd focused on his return and mostly stayed out of trouble. “Were there any other battles here with the Blood Hunters?”

“Only small ones, my lord,” Sleset shook his head. “Nothing that could be called a true battle. Their guards often caused trouble and they always made threats about conquering this world, enough that we detested the very sight of them, but they didn’t come in force until now.”

Sleset continued to explain more about their time on Verdant, including some events that he described with a bland manner that probably had raised Alora’s hair on end, like how they had once dropped off a live Void beast in Alora’s yard, thinking that it would be great training for the Wild Spirits’ children. They did the same for theirs and didn’t understand why she hadn’t wanted it.

Sam shook his head as he held back a laugh, but he didn't try to explain. The nagas had their own way of doing things and meant well. Eventually, however, he felt that time was running short and he turned his attention to the most pressing issue. His attention settled on the crowd of Emerald Nagas. They were all waiting expectantly and he couldn’t ignore the obvious question they wanted to ask.

“Do you all wish to follow me? To change your scales and be Silver Nagas? To fight by my side for as many years of eternity as we are allowed? To follow the call of the Void and know no home or nest except one another and what we forge together?”

“YES, MY LORD!” The eager roar of the nagas rolled forward like a violent wave, making the slope of the mountain shudder as the pent-up desire in their voices echoed from stone to stone. “WE SWEAR TO FOLLOW YOU TO THE END OF THE VOID!”

“Then let’s begin,” Sam said as he stood up. “Sleset, let them come one at a time. Each of you, prepare yourself.”

Sleset nodded immediately as he worked with the three captains to arrange all of the younger nagas except the children. The ones who were not fully grown were settled in a group off to the side. Today, they would only watch. If they wanted to make this choice when they were older, they could choose then.

One by one, the nagas came up and Sam cut his palm, letting a droplet of blood fall onto the honor mark on their heads. They roared as their bodies changed, their scales warping and growing denser. Their height increased and their muscles expanded as the emerald colors of their bodies burned away like smoke to reveal a gleaming silver. The random markings on their cheeks changed to fierce lightning bolts and the honor marks on their head turned into majestic silver half-crowns.

After a while, there were another four hundred Silver Nagas standing beside their parents. Each of them was surrounded by the dense glow of elemental magics and new abilities, and their delight at the changes was clear to see. Their eyes tracked him like maniacs, waiting for his every word. Wherever he asked them to go, they would follow.

“Each of you should have received a boost to your attributes, an elemental manipulation ability that is suitable to you, increased resistance to damage, and an increase to your regeneration,” Sam said as he looked over the army. Their delight made him smile in turn, even as he wondered how they would handle the return to Aster Fall. “Make sure to practice with your new abilities. Ask your elders for advice. They’ve had a century to perfect their skills.”

“YES, MY LORD!” The answering roar from the army was immediate. All of them looked eager for battle, as if they had waited their entire lives for this moment. Behind them, the children looked on with eager eyes as well.

That struck Sam with a poignant sadness, even though he knew he couldn’t apply the same standards to the nagas as he did to human children. It was a confounding sight, one that made him wish they could be a more peaceful race, but he could only push the desire aside. Even their children looked forward to battle. To them that was the finest way to grow up, all of their being focused on a single razor’s edge of purpose.

As for him as their lord, all he could do was his best to ensure they lived through the challenges ahead. Even if he left and told them to live peacefully, it wouldn’t be better for them. Without the order he offered, they would create chaos wherever they went, just like the bandits they’d been when he found them. For them, peace was being the strongest army around. They needed the structure and purpose of a cause. At the very least, he would make sure that their descendants had the stability they needed to grow and raise their children.

“Go now and train,” he said simply as gave Sleset some instructions to keep him busy with the new nagas. “In a few days, we’ll leave this world.”

The nagas roared again, raising their weapons into the air as they hissed with delight. The new lightning bolts on their cheeks gave them a fierce nobility as they hissed in expectation. All they wanted in the world was a good battle in front of them, and they knew they would find it following him.

As soon as he sent the nagas away, Sam turned his attention to the results of the battle with the Blood Hunters. There had been two Fourth Evolution invaders on that ship, as well as a large group of Third Evolutions. Some of the experience from that had gone to the nagas and Wild Spirits, but most of it came to him. The Titan Star announced the results in his mind.

Congratulations, Lord of the Silver Stars. You have reached Level 322.

You gain +120 Strength, +120 Constitution, +60 Agility, +60 Wisdom, +600 Intelligence, +600 Aura, and +240 Charisma. You have 24 free attribute points to assign.

The battle was worth 12 twelve levels. Without needing to think about it, he added the free attribute points to Charisma, since it gave 50% to all of his other attributes. Instead of the 150 attributes he had as a base for each level, he really got 210. The 2 free points for each general level were worth another one in every other attribute, for a total of 218.

The bonus from the Blessing of Silver Stars was no joke. It was a 43% increase to his improvement each level. In time, that advantage would add up to an overwhelming force.

After he finished examining the results, he disappeared from where he was standing and headed back to the Wild Grove. The Blood Hunter ships needed to be repaired, and that would take up most of his time until they left.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to study the Wild Tree in more depth, as well as the ancient prison that had once held the Outsiders. He’d learned a lot of things in the Dream of the Void and possibilities filled his mind like a bubbling river of knowledge that he wanted to test out. There was nothing like real practice. Asenya’s work here was incredible and he was going to research it for everything he was worth.

Once he reached the grove, he summoned a large slab of stone out of the earth to use as a worktable. On the surface, he returned to his old habits as he began etching out a pattern in chalk. He needed to plan out the enchantment to connect the ships to the Wild Tree. As he worked, however, his thoughts turned to the future.

Dealing with the Blood Hunters was an important but minor interlude, a way of helping out his old allies and thanking them for watching over his people. Even if he hadn’t helped, he was sure that Asenya had added some protections of her own into the Wild Tree. It wouldn’t have been a one-sided battle once those started up.

The Blood Hunters were strong, but overall they were insignificant in the face of his real enemies. That honor was reserved for the Outsiders who were attacking the Seal, as well as those who were helping them. Once he got back to Aster Fall, he would have to look into the Cabal and their efforts to break the World Seal from the inside. That meant dealing with his grandparents, the Hasterns, who had abandoned his family so long ago. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but there was a thread of vengeance at the back of his mind that said he wouldn’t mind showing them how wrong they had been.

Beyond that, he needed to be careful about the Vos’Rekan that might be lying in wait somewhere near Aster Fall. He wasn’t strong enough to face one of them yet, not unless it was as young he was. That would be the true test of his strength as a Titan. There might even be other things there, since Aster Fall was much deeper into the Chaos Wild than this borderland. Its region was part of the true dark, the wild reaches where no one traveled.

Thoughts and plans drifted through his mind, morphing into runes and flowing away again as his thoughts filled the stone in front of him. Soon...soon he would be home. Then he would face all of the difficulties that were waiting for him there. Hopefully his family was still safe in the relic.