“Are you sure your report is accurate?” Miranda asked as she flew alongside Kindroth and Lillian with their escort in tow. “While I wouldn’t classify this area as well-explored, I find it difficult to believe our scouts would have missed a hidden dungeon.”
“Yeah, tell me about it, I was also surprised,” Kindroth answered, shaking his head. “I was definitely baffled when I stumbled upon it. It was hidden in the valley due to a naturally formed formation creating illusions, which was definitely how everyone missed it. Also, while I haven’t entered the dungeon yet, from the name alone, I believe it’s also one filled with illusions.”
“Still,” Miranda insisted with a suspicious tone. “Dungeon entrances tend not to be that easily missed.”
“The entrance itself is just a tree right in the center of the valley,” Kindroth continued. “Again, I only noticed it because of the formation and the movement of mana. The tree was right there in the middle, and I just had to go inspect it. That’s when the system notification popped up.”
“Hm,” Miranda said, in thought for a moment. “Were there signs of others having entered it before?”
“I didn’t really look, but... wait, you’re thinking that...?”
“Yeah, it’s entirely possible someone has found it before and merely never disclosed it to anyone. That way, they could not only get the Pioneer title but didn’t have to share anything with anyone else. Perhaps they are even considering selling the information about the dungeon. That, or any party who has found it and entered simply never returned.”
“Does sound possible, even if the level requirement to enter is only 280,” the elf commented.
“If it’s anything like the Undergrowth with quite a wide level scale, coupled with illusion... certainly doesn’t sound like a pleasant place,” Lillian chimed in, getting nods from not only Miranda and Kindroth but a few of their escorts.
“It should be just up ahead,” Kindroth said after a little while. “If you feel for it carefully, you may even be able to detect the subtle mana of the natural formation from here.”Miranda looked to focus for a brief while before nodding. “True, I do feel some faint echoes of mana. Does have a signature similar to a concealment formation.”
“Right, makes sense,” Kindroth nodded. “I wouldn’t really be able to tell. Not an expert in formations and all that.”
“I’m well aware,” Miranda simply said, their group getting closer and closer until soon the deep valley Kindroth was leading them toward came into view.
As he said, there truly was just a single tree sitting in the middle of it, with only grass in all directions around it. Kindroth directed them down as Miranda and her entire escort group landed in front of the tree.
She went forth to inspect it, and that’s when Miranda frowned. “This is no dunge-“
Right then, pillars of light shot into the air from the mountains on all sides. A web of disruptive magic enveloped the entire valley, and Miranda looked taken aback as she stumbled away from everyone, only Lillian staying by her side.
The different elites from Haven also looked around as auras erupted from all around them. They were completely and utterly surrounded, the formation that had been activated even partly locking down space alongside most of Miranda’s magic getting severely weakened.
Right then, one of Miranda’s very own escorts even jumped away from all the other elites and made distance, his former comrades staring after him as he retreated toward the enemy forces who greeted him like an old friend coming home.
Right then, a singular aura more powerful than the others revealed itself as the enemy leader stepped forth. Someone Miranda instantly recognized as her eyes opened wide in surprise and horror.
“King Iludar.”
“Witch of Haven,” the man spoke with a confident smile. “I hope you like the place chosen to be your grave.”
When Jake felt that the summoned god possessed a Bloodline, his initial reaction was that the Holy Church had seriously fucked up. They had to know Jake wasn’t a fan of Ell’Hakan, in large part due to his Bloodline, so for them to send someone else with one focused on mental manipulation was just bonkers.
However, that wasn’t what happened. The Lodestar Matron’s Bloodline was well known in the multiverse and a large aspect of how she’d reached her current position. It wasn’t one about mental manipulation or even one that affected the minds of people at all. In fact, it did something a lot of people wanted to be done to them.
It was so much more valuable than merely mental manipulation as it had the absolutely outrageous passive effect of increasing all experience and even Records gained for all those who had bathed in her presence. No, it didn’t require them to stay within the presence, just the mere fact they had ever once in their lives been within her presence while also being aware it was her doing it, they would be affected by the Bloodline... with stipulations, of course.
It only worked for those who followed her. Not in that they had to be loyal to her but that they had to look up to her and view her as, at the very least, some kind of spiritual guide. Hence the name Lodestar. She was a guiding star, hanging in the sky above all those who had been blessed by her presence, shining down a faint light helping illuminate their Path.
From what Jake knew, the effect of the Bloodline was only marginal for regular people, with the true effects coming to those who directly followed her Path or had her as their Patron. Still, any kind of effect making progress faster was humongous. Even just a 1% increase in people managing to reach C-grade, because they had once in their life experienced her presence, would result in a fuckload more C-grades for the Holy Church.
For support-type Bloodlines, the Lodestar Bloodline, which Jake assumed it was called, was definitely toward the very top.
Now, what did all this mean for Jake? Well, to put it bluntly, fuck-all. The Bloodline had no effect on Jake as he didn’t meet the requirements to be affected by it. He didn’t view the Lodestar Matron as some superior being at all, and he most certainly didn’t follow her Path.
Knowing that she was actually a significant figure in the Holy Church did bring up a lot of questions, though. Ones he quite frankly didn’t even bother asking, but her presence did at least mean the Holy Church was serious when it came to reaching a peaceful compromise.
That, or they were trying to use a god to intimidate Jake and make him back down. The following few minutes would let him know which was which.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lodestar Matron,” Jake said with a nod. “I’ve heard much about you.”
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The god was silent for a few moments as she smiled, the movements of her face pretty damn hard to really tell due to the low-quality projection that was used.
“Truly peculiar. You’re entirely untouched by my Bloodline; I cannot even feel you’re in its presence. Do allow me to clarify, while my Bloodline does not allow me any insight into those touched by it, I am at the very least able to distinguish those it affects and those it doesn’t. For you to remain untouched even after knowing who I am... either your faith in the Malefic One has entirely warped your view of gods, or you innately simply cannot view yourself as lesser to one. I presume the latter,” the Lodestar Matron spoke quite frankly and honestly, which did surprise Jake a bit.
He chose not to confirm or deny either of her theories as he instead focused on the topic at hand.
“I have been told I’m quite an oddball more than once,” Jake said with a shrug. “And I will admit I’m surprised you have come to speak with me directly. As things stand, I have a hard time seeing what your presence will change. Unless you are here to authorize them to give me that which is rightfully mine, what do we have to discuss?”
Jake’s demeanor once more earned him a lot of angry glares from behind. While those around him had begun to accept his attitude toward gods by now, these members of the Holy Church sure weren’t very accepting.
Surprisingly, the goddess didn’t seem to care much as she spoke.
“A Bloodline is a tool. You and I are both fully aware of that. Yet you appear to only view the Usurper’s as a weapon. You only see the negative aspects of it and the dangers. I will not argue against its danger, you and many others of your galaxy have experienced it first-hand at the hands of Ell’Hakan. Because of that, I understand your apprehension to allow its continued existence,” the Lodestar Matron spoke, and from the sounds of it, her plan wasn’t to intimidate but actually convince Jake.
“Instead of thinking of the dangers it poses, I want you to imagine the boons it can bring. To understand and affect the emotions of others could bring far more good than you can even imagine. People can be raised out of despair, find hope and new meaning even when life appears pointless, or get confidence when they have the skill but not the mindset. It can help make people their best selves. Healing magic can heal both the body and even the soul to some extent... but there is no skill that can heal the heart. This Bloodline can.”
What she was saying reminded Jake a bit about when the Viper had theorized Ell’Hakan ending up with the Dao Sect. Jake didn’t argue that the Bloodline potentially, theoretically, could do a lot of good, but his problem was that he seriously doubted it would be used for the betterment of the multiverse.
At most it would be used for the betterment of the Holy Church, and Jake wasn’t sure that was something he wanted.
“Never once did I argue it couldn’t do any good. However, from all I’ve seen until now, it’s a goddamn disaster in the wrong hands,” Jake said, crossing his arms. “Besides, it’s a moot point in the first place. This isn’t about whether Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline is good or bad but about you involving yourself directly in my hunt to steal the Truesoul without permission.”
“We are both aware this has far more to do with your dislike for his Bloodline than merely your desire to make your hunt complete. You already fully won. Ell’Hakan is dead, the Celestial Child no more. All that remains is mere remnants that will never be a threat to you, and neither will what can be brought back from his Truesoul. Not to you or anyone. We can make sure of that.”
“I do despise his Bloodline; you are right on that, but that still doesn’t change the fundamental facts of what happened,” Jake kept insisting.
“You’re right. The Truesoul is rightfully yours. That’s why we are even having this discussion in the first place. We at the Holy Church do want to make you whole, but for that to happen, there needs to be room for negotiation. Suppose you refuse to budge even the slightest in every aspect, then you are right that this is pointless, but allow me to give you an offer at least,” the Lodestar Matron spoke, her entire demeanor continuing to surprise Jake simply by how reasonable she was being despite Jake clearly not being the most receptive.
“I understand that you have your Path, but we also have ours. You can have his Truesoul, but not now. I’m not asking for you to give it to us, but merely borrow it for a time. Allow us to resurrect what remains of the Usurper and have him fulfill his oath to us, after which he is yours to do with what you want once more. Or, if it’s easier for you, we can dispose of him in your stead,” the Lodestar Matron spoke in an emotionless voice.
“Your assessment that the Usurper’s use of the Bloodline was reckless and dangerous was entirely accurate. That’s why anyone with it needs direction from birth. Guidance. People who can understand it and control how it’s used. Chances also are that any offspring of the Bloodline Patriarch will be weaker than the Usurper, lessening the threat level. I am aware this will temporarily delay the full completion of your hunt, but the fate of Ell’Hakan will remain sealed, the circumstances of his final end still in your hands.”
Jake really had to do a double-take of what the Lodestar Matron had said to make sure he hadn’t heard wrong, but nope. Her offer was... fuck, it was cold as ice. She effectively offered to resurrect Ell’Hakan for only a brief period and have him “fulfill his oath” of making a few kids before the Church would happily ship off the expecting father straight to Jake for slaughter. Or, you know, just off him themselves at Jake’s behest. They effectively told him that they would lease Ell’Hakan from Jake for a while without contesting his life belonged to Jake.
It wasn’t even an option Jake had considered for a moment, and the mere fact she offered it really put things into perspective. The Holy Church was known as a “force for good” in the eyes of many, and it did have a general philosophy of maximizing the happiness of as many people as possible.
All it took was the sacrifice of the few. Individual mortals didn’t matter. They were just resources. The Holy Church was like a company, caring about optimizing cash flow and increasing profits while limiting losses, but they truthfully couldn’t and didn’t care about every cent leaving their accounts. Sometimes, there were simply expenses, and from the sounds of it, Ell’Hakan was a resource they would happily write off when he was done fulfilling his purpose.
Again, really fucking cold. Yet Jake couldn’t help but be interested in what more the Holy Church was offering.
“Let’s say I am in the slightest open to that idea; why would I possibly agree and take such a risk? What are you offering?” Jake questioned, once more just ignoring the glares burning into the back of his head from the Holy Church members present. They were probably mad that Jake wasn’t crying tears of joy because a god was actually negotiating with him.
“Firstly, the Holy Church will fully pull out of the Milky Way Galaxy under terms and conditions set by you. Secondly, we will naturally offer material goods to a level that will satisfy you while at the same time remaining reasonable. These materials can include resources exclusive to the Holy Church if you so desire. Thirdly, you will naturally have the gratitude of the Holy Church, and we can all walk away here today knowing that despite our differences, compromise can always be reached and a future without conflict is possible,” the Lodestar Matron said.
“I shall personally swear upon everything that has been offered today. I will even add that for the next ten thousand years, not a single descendant of the Usurper will be allowed outside of Holy Church territory.”
Jake had to admit, she was clearly serious in these negotiations. He also knew how hard it was for the Church to offer anything Jake would actually want. Giving him money was pointless, so what was offered was close to all they could offer. Materials usually exclusive to the Holy Church were also very valuable, primarily due to their exclusivity, and if Jake took this offer, the conflict in the Milky Way could end right there and now.
With a single nod of approval or just one word, Jake could put a stop to everything.
However... the price wasn’t small. Jake despised Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline and what it was capable of doing. He wanted it gone from the multiverse. Agreeing today would allow its continued existence. Sure, it would be under the control and supervision of the Holy Church, and Jake did trust that the Holy Church would have that shit on lock and could effectively control everyone with the Bloodline. That wasn’t the problem.
Truthfully, Jake had come to the Holy Church only with the intention of putting up the front of wanting to actually negotiate. He just wanted to at least have the Church be the aggressor, giving him just cause to start what was bound to be a slaughter.
The Church had obviously also expected this as a likely outcome based on the thousands of elites all around him in the empty military installation. They were fully ready to fight should negotiations break down, but with everything he’d seen so far, their ideal outcome was definitely one where no fighting had to happen.
In the end, the deciding factor for what his answer would be probably came down to one simple matter:
Could Jake really trust the Holy Church with Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline? Could he truly live with the knowledge it was still out there, even if Ell’Hakan was gone?
It wasn’t easy, but ultimately, after considering everything carefully, Jake knew his answer...