Bonded Summoner

Book 4. Chapter 33: Highlands Transformation

Storms raged across highlands, as the world changed forever. Tectonic activity lead to massive waves in the oceans as the world grew, the main continent rising higher above the turbulent waters.

With each beat of the world’s heart, the world danced to the conductor’s song. Pulses of auril energy traveled through rock, through water, and through air changing the world.

The Heart of the World did her best to make her changes to her body with the least impact to her inhabitants, but it was impossible to do something on such a grand scale gently. Hundreds of years of progress were made each day, each beat of the heart restoring her towards her former glory.

Volcanoes above and beneath the water erupted. Hurricanes raged above the ocean, and turbulent winds formed tornados.

New continents and islands formed rising above the water. The earth of Highlands rose, and the mountainous plateaus rose even further in an attempt to protect its beastkin inhabitants.

Massive deserts spanning hundreds of miles were created, salt flats void of all life appeared, and underwater reefs establishing deadly formations of turbulent water drawing the living to their doom developed.

Life was enhanced, but as was required, death flourished. Life and death became more, to continue the cycle of rebirth. Life with struggle and conflict lead to evolution, experiences leading to being reborn, either through parentage or the wheel of reincarnation.

The beastkin of Highlands suffered difficult weather, but even Tartarus had to halt its machinations while the storms raged. Families huddled together, protecting each other and weathering out the storm.

A wise man’s voice echoed in the void. “Ai, the world prospers defeating the ancient curse, but evil still lurks. A storm brews, and even this one cannot read the raging currents. On one side, opportunity and luck, on the other, calamity and doom. This world is more valuable than we thought. Both for us, and our great enemy. Brother Guan, we must find a way to tip the scales.”

Apparitions of three men and a Qilin floated over the world of Highlands, overlooking the changes. Two of the men were warriors, and the other that of a scholar with a feathered fan.

Guan Yu nodded. “Life and death, balance and harmony. A people’s life and will becomes one, and through conflict their resolve and weakness tested and eliminated. If evil and death conquers the life, it will release a formidable power. But if good conquers evil, it will be reborn, stronger than ever.”

Zhang Fei, the man in the red martial armor, laughed. “Just let me send my avatar, and I’ll cleave the enemy in two!”

Guan Yu shook his head. “You can’t be everywhere at once, brother. If we make our move, so, too, will the enemy. They would pay a hefty Price to overwhelm you and claim their prize.”

Zhuge Liang chuckled. “Our enemies lie in wait, hoping we’ll overextend ourselves. Swift battles with skill lead to swift victories, but patience to seize the moment avoids calamity.”

Guan Yu looked at the happenings in the world, and his gaze moved to that of the rest of the Sector. They had their victories, and they had failures. The struggle continued, with trillions of souls in the balance.

The three brothers had fought long and hard, suffered from enemies and allies alike. It was only thanks to their meeting of Skanda, the Hindu deity, and the Bodhisattvas, a sort of Buddhist demigod, that they found valuable allies they could count on.

Skanda joined Hestia’s Pantheon and after Guan Yu had found success in this Sector, relieved him of his duty to attempt to claim it for his own. While any of the gods could attempt to claim the Sector for themselves, their gain in power would be marginal when compared to a new ally rising up.

The Bodhisattvas refused joining Hestia’s Pantheon, and instead remained as friendly or allied figures. They instead chose to remain neutral, focused on their compassion and protection, alleviating the suffering of all beings.

Looking over to Earth, his former home, Guan Yu smiled. Only a little longer, and he’d be able to visit, all thanks to the void child. Its Trial would soon be completed, and Earth’s true initiation into the Framework would begin.

A Tier 0 world was not worth a lot, but it would be to him. The Framework should raise it to Tier 1 as a result of the Trial’s success, infusing the world with Mana.

He still venerated his first Lord, only joining the Great War at his behest. Guan Yu would visit his grave, his shrine.

Guan Yu made his decision, firming his resolve. “Hestia believes in her Champion, and so does Odin. We must trust in his family’s ability to achieve victory. Now, and when it matters the most. Let us prepare. We shall accept being their mentors.”

Brother Zhuge chuckled, fanning himself with a mischievous smile. “But you haven’t met them yet, have you? So faithful and trusting of the words of those you hold high. Which will you take? The void child and the dragon can benefit much from me. The blimps, pills, and other advancements have been quite impressive, the spirit of innovation among them–”

Brother Zhang interrupted, “I’ll take Echidna’s girls! They’re the biggest, and they’ll be the strongest. I’ll make sure of it!”

Guan Yu nodded. “That leaves the Valkyrie and the Ravenwolf for me. We shall meet them soon, but training cannot begin until they complete the world’s Trial. We’ll have to push hard, so we can give them the attention required.”

Brother Zhuge let out a breath. “Even Heimdall cannot read these stars. Still, are you going to take on the Valkyrie as your first Champion? If she were to fall…”

Brother Zhang chuckled. “Without risk, there can’t be great reward! Their family will draw in many threats, but they will just have to crush them to ascend. Things may be different, but in the end, they are the same.”

Guan Yu shook his head. “Even we barely pulled out a victory when teaming up with other Champions. When five Champions are together, the difficulty can be insurmountable. Don't underestimate it.” He looked to Brother Zhuge. “She is young, but her loyalty and devotion are strong enough that I can feel it, even from here and so limited. She lacks Valor, but there are other means.”

He took out an ancient vessel. An almost metallic urn-like container, it was filled with mysterious scripts and designs. Asura statues and symbols of both Buddhist and Hindu origins graced the odd item, their visages vengeful.

Brother Zhuge chuckled, as he fanned himself in satisfaction. “One might say it is wasted on someone of her Tier, but she will play an important role if she accepts. After this world rises in Tier, it will be eligible for the [War Trial]. When the winds of change blow, some build walls. You would build a windmill, Brother Guan. I approve.”

Guan Yu smiled, and asked his warrior brother, “What do you think, brother? Will the people of Highlands join the Trial? It is not only up to their Planetary Lord.”

Zhang Fei looked at Guan Yu like he was stupid, before shouting, “Of course! The beastkin are true warriors. If Cernunnos and Hestia hadn’t claimed them, I’d have sent all of mine. I predict they won’t only join: they’ll bet it all.”

Zhuge Liang chuckled fondly at his predictable brother. “Though enemies may predict the straight path, the noble soul embraces it as an honorable challenge, for in steadfastness lies true strength and virtue. But knowing evil preys on predictability, the wise veil their narrow path. We should walk with subtlety and prudence, shielding our noble intentions from malevolent eyes.”

Zhang Fei gave Zhuge Liang a blank stare. “Whatever. Brother Guan need only point to where I shall swing my glaive, and I will fight through the depths of hell.”

The three watched the happenings on the world below, both in concern and excitement. They could not interfere, but they could plan ahead. Their ways they could influence the war without tipping their hand to the enemy were small things. Influencing rewards, classes, and skills was one way they could guide their people to achieve what they wanted, by being what they needed to be.

Another was creating friendships. A small Tier 1 Guild would barely tip the scales, let alone their intentions. But allies forged in the heat of battle would end up like brothers, standing resolutely against the enemy and becoming true heroes. With the conflicts to come, the Alliance needed as many of those as it could get.

***

Tara raced through the mud on her triceratops friend Winnow, as she was chased by a dozen tainted. Arrows flew by her, as Winnow bobbed and weaved through the landscape. Rain and wind drenched her, only the summer heat keeping her from being chilled to the bone.

Her village had accepted the Alliance Node just days ago, taking on the warning of the Ravenwolf Tribe. A call to action was made, and many integrated into the Framework to join in the fight.

Several had immediately taken it upon themselves to rally the smaller clans in the surrounding area, including herself. That was when calamity struck.

When she returned from rallying a nearby clan to join in defense and protection, her village was under attack. The reptile beastkin had teamed up with the undead, and were laying waste to her people. Many had died, their village burned down–their Node destroyed.

She now rode to the nearest village to warn them, but a storm raged as the betrayers caught up to her. The earth shook beneath her, the ground all but parting beneath her feet.

Tara was too far from safety now, and she thought it would take a miracle to save her. She had recently awakened as a result of what the Node brought, but she knew she couldn’t stand against the betrayers.

Tara crested the ridge, and Winnow panicked and tripped before Tara could see what she did. Tara tumbled over the grass and into the mud, sliding alongside but further than her friend. She came to a stop a few dozen feet in front of dozens of figures, that she couldn’t make out.

She looked up after wiping the mud and rain out of her eyes, and she blanched–undead were standing in front of her, along with a reptile beastkin man. Her heart shuddered in fear, but grew calm in just a moment. What was going on?

A gentle voice came from a veiled woman. “Oh my, are you alright, child? It is not good weather to be traveling. We had to take shelter ourselves.”

A large armored man on a horse made of bone floated in front of the veiled woman, drawing his wicked polearm. “Evil lurks–the enemy nears. Prepare your spells. None must escape.”

The many robed figures began chanting, and the horse galloped into the air, seemingly approaching Winnow.

The turtle beastkin man approached Tara. She was already resigned to her fate: with Winnow hurt, there was no escape for her against the undead in front of her, let alone the tainted reptile beastkin chasing behind her.

Strangely, Winnow didn’t appear to be worried, her and Tara’s hearts beating calmly.

An amused smile was on the turtle beastkin man. “I see you’re confused, but you do not need to fear us. You are safe now. Be at ease, for I am Grayson, Elder of Cascadia. Come, let our allies take care of the enemies.”

The man’s song washed over her, and tears came to her eyes. His song was gentle like a small brook, his words ringing true. She stood up and hurried behind the amused Elder, as she saw the bone horse pass Winnow, leaving her alone.

The betrayers crested the ridge now, their bows at the ready. Shield users stood in front of the undead casters, blocking the arrows fired by the mounted archers.

The undead casters then released their spell, dozens of icicles being shot at the reptile beastkin, a wave of ice blasting out in a nova near their legs.

The icicles struck the mount’s legs, the ice spreading and locking down them down to the ground. The riders dismounted or were flung from their mounts, and several tried to flee, seeing that they were outmatched. However, a second ring of casters finished a powerful magic.

Energy surged, and a barrier sprouted between them and their path back down the ridge. Their only choice was to fight through, or pass in front of Tara’s new allies. Arrows were shot from the undead and into the various beastkin, the eight of them no match for the dozens of archers.

Winnow tried to stand, but her leg had twisted and broke from the fall. Her auril passed through, trying to heal it, but it would take some time to repair the leg.

The veiled woman spoke again.“You poor thing, broke your leg? You’re in luck.” She raised her staff, glowing black. “[Mend Bone].”

A black energy rushed from her staff, and entered Winnow’s leg. After a moment, the triceratops stood up, her bone clearly healed. Winnow hurried over to Tara as the fighting continued.

The man on the bone horse quickly cut into the legs of several of the reptile beastkin men, frost spreading on their bodies and keeping them from fleeing further. Many were now bound to the ground, their tainted auril railing against their bindings.

“Oh, what is this? You brought us quite the gift, young one.”

“I’m not young!” Tara grumbled. She had come of age already!

The veiled woman chuckled. “I’m afraid there are only a few on this world that I would not consider young, please do not be offended. But we now stand in the presence of Betrayers. Sinners of the highest order, it would be a travesty for them to die without penitence.”

Grayson spoke up, “These men and women are filled with taint, yet it feels weaker, less malicious now. Something has changed, Morwen.”

Morwen nodded. “It is related to what Chief Jake has done, no doubt. It’s likely the taint, the curse, will be much weaker or slower to spread. The life of the world increases, but so, too, must death. The undead will flock to the areas with high death, but will have a harder time invading the life. Bedwyr, bring this one to me,” she pointed, then turned to the robed casters. “Begin.”

The many casters began their chants, a few of them continuing to lock down the auril beast mounts with ice. They railed against their bindings.

“Release me! You will never escape the wrath of our god. Greed will consume everything, all will suffer at his hand!”josei

Bedwyr gestured with his armored fist, which seemed to cover the man with more frost, his breath coming out in puffs of fog. He screamed as Bedwyr picked him up, and tossed him in front of Morwen.

His voice was filled with recrimination. “Tartarus is the greatest evil we’ve ever known, and you stand against your brethren joining it. For each of your people you slay, you aid it in killing countless more. You have committed the heaviest sin, and for that there must be repentance. To find absolution, you must serve.”

“We will never serve you! We only serve our God–”

Morwen smiled underneath her veil. “Your desires are not required. You served the enemy in life, so now your body and soul shall serve the Alliance in death. When you find absolution for your sins, you may ascend to Annwyn.”

Tara’s breath caught in her throat, and something within her heart stirred at the mention of this place. Even the struggling beasts and reptile beastkin stilled. Their hearts longed for this Annwyn, yet Tara had no idea what it was.

Something ingrained in their very being understood what Annwyn was, and knew that it was the greatest reward.

Morwen knelt in front of the beastkin man that was bound to the ground, as a large circle of light was drawn in magical symbols Tara couldn’t begin to understand. It wrapped around the trapped reptile beastkin, and they appeared to break out of their stupor and start attempting to escape once more.

“Now, the mind is a fragile thing. I’d hate to lose what you know as your body and soul transition into their service. Be still.” She placed her staff against his head, and a glow was emitted, the man becoming dazed.

“Lord Arawn, your servant calls for your aid. Judge these tainted beastkin, and bind them into your service if their sins require penitence, their hearts seeking Annwyn.”

An apparition with chains and a golden scale rose from the ground, as if from the underworld. It was a man covered in a billowing black cloak exuding frost, with the skull of a deer placed over his head. The man gave off an aura of wisdom and righteousness, but also frost and death. On the scale in the center was a golden hound.

The eight reptile beastkin’s chests were then wrapped in the chains, and the scale in his hand tilted to one side.

Deathly energy was pumped into the eight beastkin through the chains, and their auril was overwhelmed quickly, their bodies injured as they were.

Their bodies converted to unliving flesh, their souls wrapped in chains, as the golden light of the Framework appeared to layer itself over them.

The ice bindings were released, the now undead beastkin joining their ranks. Morwen now directed the beastkin, and questioned them a bit away from where Tara was standing in a stupor, while giving them all a sort of necklace. She blanched at the implications, turning to Grayson.

“They…can turn beastkin into slaves? What is going on?”

Bedwyr chuckled from atop his bone horse, answering instead of Grayson. “Do not worry. Lord Arawn has properly judged them. There were many requirements necessary for us to make them into our undead servants. To become a permanent servant down to even their soul, they must be betrayers to their own people. On some level they felt guilt, felt remorse for their actions to seek absolution. Their soul absent their memories longed for Annwyn.”

Tara thought she understood what he was saying. She, too, desired this Annwyn, to the point where her heart and soul stirred. Perhaps since the reptile beastkin felt the same thing, their soul desired this Penitence.

Bedwyr continued, “Otherwise, we can only raise their bodies as undead, something that while useful, isn’t the same thing. Those seeking penitence are capable of individual thought, and advancement using their own powers. We can empower undead, but it requires much more resources than it is worth, and often there is not much difference between humanoid corpses. Now, these beastkin can use deathly auril.”

Tara was shocked. Very few creatures in their history had been able to use this special auril, only living in special areas where deathly auril thrived. There was a desert a few days trek away from where they were currently located, which had odd buzzards, scorpions and more. Few would hardly ever reach the first Tier.

Grayson stroked his chin as he spoke to Tara. “I wonder how this world will change, after the storms. Now tell me, how did you come about this situation? To be fleeing during a storm, with betrayers chasing after you. Just what happened?”

Tara told Grayson about the threat. It was too late for her village, she was sure of this. But perhaps, they could prevent more of her people from being slaughtered? These people were strong, but they were few.

Grayson shook his head. “The rest of our people are at a nearby village. Our forces got split up from the storm. The blimps cannot handle the heavy winds. They had to be stowed away.”

That they had more than the few dozen people made Tara sigh with relief. The Framework seemed to supply her with what a blimp was in order to translate, but she didn’t fully understand what a slow flying device was. “Blimps. Your people…flew?”

Grayson laughed, his smile wide to his eyes. “That’s right! The people are changing as well as the world. Even after Tartarus is defeated, Highlands will never be the same. We will be reborn anew!”