Chapter 184: Loaded Dice


    Montis sat with his usual stoic poise as he attended another political function. With the Empire at peace but the rest of the world drowning in conflict, maintaining the Averlonian Empire''s unity was a priority. Hence, the frequent social events in the capital allowed all the various groups within the Empire to mix and mingle. Distance creates distrust, differences create distrust, thus why these events took ce.


    These events celebrate the differences between the various races. Montis shifted his gaze from his te back to the performance on the wide space in front of his table. This event was a dinner party with all the higher members of the state. It wasnt the usual interss function where a wide variety of citizens were invited. This was an event for the leaders that held the real power in the Empire.


    The tables wereid out in a circr pattern, with all of them facing the inner circle. There performers were made to perform, each group showcased the beauty of thier respective cultures. Even a delegation from the Elven Forest had attended, and out of the corner of his eye he could see them watching with interest. The Elves may be old, but the separation and the fall of the Firstborn were even older. The Elves have almost lost their own ancient tongue thanks to the ravages of time, case and point their old name was known as the Alvs, not Elves.


    Right now, a group of Mugummans were performing what was known as a Water Dance. The Mugumman women spun in beautiful arcs, their long translucent sleeves flowing like water. It was a beautiful dance, that Montis would readily admit. ncing at the Empress he could tell she was enjoying it very much as well.


    It seems the Empress is enjoying herself. Ordias said from his right.


    It seems so, not that surprising, the Elysian Phoenix Dance bears many simrities, Montis replied.


    Funny how a dance of water and a dance of fire can bear simrities. Ordias stated with a smirk.


    Fire and Water are more alike than you think. They both flow elegantly, just not in exactly the same way. Montismented, and Ordias nodded in response.


    Indeed, there is always a beautiful symmetry in this world. Ordias replied, his age leaking through slightly.


    I never thought you would be one to wax poetic. Montis said as a small tease.


    Ah, did you know, Grand General, one can glean many things from their foe''s art and culture? Ordias replied, and that gave Montis some pause. Personally, Montis was always the type to examine legal transcripts, history books and old records of past battles. Art never really interested him, but then again, Montis himself was closer to an infant in age than he was to Ordias. So perhaps he simply took the most efficient route to excellence, or at least rtive excellence.


    Montis still frequently lost in games of strategy against his closest peer Ordias Derenge. Still, someone who valued order as much as Ordias liking art was a strange contrast in of itself.


    Do tell. Montis said, always eager to pick the mind of as experienced a general as Ordias. After all, his reputation precedes him, and he needs no introduction. His name alone inspired visions of masterful manoeuvres, cunning traps and ruthless encirclements. He only lost due to the sheer brute force the Ancients could bring to bear.


    You couldnt outmanoeuvre a burrowing hive.


    You couldnt trap a foe that had absolute control of the air.


    Most of all, you couldnt encircle a Firstborn, that was just offering a buffet, not a disy of strategic excellence.


    What is art, to me is the cultures hopes, their ambitions, the principles they follow and most of all, the ideals they often fail to live up to. When you know what they aspire to be, you know how they will act.


    Say for your own people, the Volerians love discipline and cavalry. You love manoeuvre warfare, you despise the slow static wars of attrition won through a shield wall. So what do I do? Iy a trap, and I offer you the perfect charge into our back line that is mined with magical bombs.


    Or perhaps I sneak into your camp and ply your water with stimnts. Not anything to make you less aware, just something to make you more enthusiastic. Yourmanders will feel more confident seeing the high morale of your soldiers. Then I will use nothing but probing attacks, I probe, and then I retreat. I do this over and over and over again. Eventually, at some point, your pretty ordered formation gives way when one hot-bloodedmander orders one of those charges you love so much or perhaps you pursue a bit too far, leaving yourselves open.


    You all love the valour ofbat, I need only tempt you with it or deny it to you. Temptation and frustration are useful tools for a military as rigid as yours. Ordias replied, and Montis nodded in understanding. Traliss army was lost due to thete princes lust for honour, glory and the desire for Empress herself.


    Everyone knows how that turned out, considering where Montis himself was sitting at the moment.


    Then what do you know of the Mugummans? Montis asked as a particrly pretty Mugumman Maiden, flourished right past him. Her long eyshes batted in his direction as she spun past in a graceful whirl of limbs and cloth.


    Not much, unfortunately. The Mugummans have always been recluse by nature. Their old master, the Deep Shaper was one of the more reclusive Firstborn, or so I hear. I am not old enough to fully know the Age of the Firstborn firsthand, but I do know the rumours. Ordias said as he took a sip of blood from his ss.


    And what are those rumours? Montis asked curiously. At those words, Ordias cupped his chin as if considering what order to tell them in.


    Well, I suppose the most interesting would be the shared origins of the Naga and the Mugummans. Ordias said.


    Shared origins? Montis asked, confusion colouring his voice.


    Yes, are you familiar with the Crowfather? An ally and confidante to The de and, most of all, a dearest of friends to the old boar. Ordias asked.


    I grew up on those legends, but how much of it is exaggerated, I wonder? Montis mused.


    I doubt the exaggerations can do him justice. I can still feel The des hand around my throat. Ordias replied as he gently touched his neck.


    The Crowfather is a Ravenborn no? Montis pressed.


    Indeed, an ancient dead race, most would think that the Mugummans were their progeny. Especially considering both have an Avian nature. But how did the Ravenborn be the Mugummans? Ordias asked.


    Devolution. Montis replied.


    Close but not really, simply put they cut a deal with the Deep Shaper. The Ravenborn were dying out, the only way to survive was to improve their breeding rate but I am sure you are familiar with what happens when the poption dips too low. Ordias said.


    Inbreeding. Montis stated.


    Exactly, so the Ravenborn made a bargain. They bargained their souls for the future of their people. The Deeper Shaper was a capable flesh crafter, not the best, mind you. That title goes to the Eternal Mother. But the Deep Shaper was definitely one of the better ones.


    So the Deep Shaper wanted test subjects and new servants. Thus the deal was made, half of the Ravenborn would be servants and the other half would be free and safe. Ordias said and Montis narrowed his eyes at those words.


    Free? But the Mugummans and the Naga both serve the great serpent Serchax. Montis stated.


    No one said the Deep Shaper would y fair Ordias replied with a chuckle.


    <i>The Firstborn are not to be trusted with any agreement or deal</i>


    <i>Bargain with the old gods at your peril</i>


    ,`....`,


    So you want to bargain? I asked as I stared down at the so called war chief in front of me. He like most wrath demons had blood red skin and curved ck horns. Honsetly he didnt look like much. He just looked like a slightly stronger demon, I guess he was abit bigger but either way anyone from my crew could stomp him into the floor.


    Even Rosa the caster could probably snap him in two like she was breaking a twig. The demons just were not as impressive as I thought. Or perhaps I have simply grown too strong then again I have been drinking out of the Primordial Font like it was an oversized cup of wine. Yes it wasnt exactly pure. The primordial happy juice has been processed, but so is wine so it''s working pretty well.


    I nced over at the nearby patch of ckened corpses that were the unlucky shit heads that tried to jump me. I didnt do anything to them Azatharine just stepped in, and now there were just demon-shaped charcoal statues.


    I shifted my gaze to Rosa, who was slurping up the blood of a iling demon so quickly it looked like she was inhaling it. Maha was just staring wearily at her as she turned the full-bodied demon into an emancipated corpse in seconds.


    As for Serchax she was just standing calmly next to me, clearly disinterested in everything around her. Maybe wrath demons just were not her type?


    Speaking of Demons, there was this two-meter-tall gremlin here.


    And what could you possibly have to offer. I could just kill you all and head on through. I stated, and I sensed the ever-so-obvious flicker of fear course through his body.


    You will need a guide, and I am a Warchief, my words carry weight. So I have this proposition, I will serve you, and in exchange you grant me your favour. the demon said, and I couldnt help but snort in disgust.


    This one reeked of cowardice.


    Here, I thought the Wrath Demons were natural warriors. I came here expecting a War Chief, and what do I find? A coward. I growled as I loomed over him, baring every long fang I had.


    We are warriors, but we live for the fight, and we fight only for ourselves. Only a fooll dies for some higher cause. the demon replied.


    Big words for someone who reeks of fear, if I attacked, all you would do is run. I said, and I saw his vitals jump as if he was caught in a lie.


    A warrior fights. the soon to be dead demon lied.


    That could have been alot more convincing. I replied with a growl.


    Ah whatever.


    Kill them. I ordered, and immediately the rest of my hive popped out of the ground and started ughtering the demons.


    Honestly, thus far Hell has been rather disappointing. For all the talk of demon princes, things were quite boring


    <i>Warning, significant threat iing</i>


    <i>Prepare forbat</i>


    Well, thats new, havent heard that voice in my head for awhile. I felt the chill crawl up my spine. I instantly engaged my decoy and darted away. Whatnded on my decoy hit hard enough to create a shockwave powerful enough to knock me back slightly.


    My gaze instantly locked onto the target, and saw the target had more power than Maha. But I could tell this onecked the raw talent and skill forbat that Maha possessed. His movement, although practiced,cks the efficiency and instinctual lightness that Maha could maintain.


    This humanoid had a matted head of shaggy brown hair that looked almost like wool. Judging by the burning curved horns on his head and his cloven feet, I would assume this was some kind of goat like humanoid species.


    Tobias. Maha said warily as she stepped in front of me, the slightly carefree attitude she had previously was now gone. Now what stood in front of me was Maha the Swift, the Draconian whose reputation struck fear into her enemies.


    Hey kid. the one called Tobias said as he hefted this oversized great axe onto his shoulder. I scanned the ck metal, and I noticed something. It was made of the same material that a particr sword and axe was in Mahas collection. On the axe, a simple word was engraved.


    <i>Bane</i>


    What do you want? Maha asked as she readied her swords.


    To see if this thing is worth backing. Tobias said as he levelled his de at me.


    Are you serious? You are going to fight him now? Maha spat back.


    While they were talking I had left a decoy behind and was slowly sneaking behind him. My invisibility was so good even Maha couldnt detect me when I really wanted to hide. Granted I had to run in a low ether emissions mode that made me slower but I was still able to sneak around effectively enough.


    Honestly, I had no interest in doing a dramatic battle with this guy. From what I was hearing from this little argument this whole thing was just a giant flight of fancy. This Tobias fellow wanted some kind of silly proof that I was worth supporting. Well if you could tell all that just from a duel, you were either some kind of weirdbat-based seer or an idiot. At this point, I was leaning more towards thetter. So although he was in the way of the gate, all I needed to really do was get him out of the way.


    You want a fight? Maha challenged.


    Before Tobias could respond I was already spinning in ce intent of swatting him with my tail. My tail hit him in the back with full force and it let out a thunderous crack. The strike swatted him into the sky, far into the distance. He didnt even see iting


    Too busy arguing over nothing.


    Thanks for the distraction. I said as saw the dumbfounded look on Mahas face.


    Well thats one way to resolve that. Azatharine mused as she squinted her eyes in the direction Iunched that idiot.


    Hell be fine probably I replied with a shrug. Then I felt a ze of heat next to me and I turned to look at the smiling face of stor staring at me.


    Well that was unexpected, I could have sworn you would have at least tried to fight him. stor said with a grin.


    You going to ask me to turn back? I asked and I saw a moment of uncertainty course across his vitals.


    Well, this wasnt the n. stor said casually.


    What you thought I was just going trust you to have everything in order? I replied with a grin as I loomed over him.


    Oh no, I want insurance and if I have cull all of Limbo to do it then so be it. Afterall no one is going to miss them. I said with a feral grin.


    That will put some hitches in my n. stor began but I justughed.


    Good, I want to see how well you can adapt. If your n goes tits up the moment someone does something different, its a shit n. I said and stor raised his hands in surrender.


    Agreed stor said with his best attempt a winning smile. He wanted to say something else I could tell, for his sake it better be good.


    <b><i>Seeing as there is a change of ns</i></b>


    <b><i>Do you want a guide?</i></b>