Yeah, fuck no, I don’t.
While Jake certainly believed that the Holy Church would use Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline efficiently, he didn’t trust that they would only use it “for good.”
Because in the eyes of the Holy Church, anything that helped their faction was for the greater good. Were they going to use the Bloodline to try and create super therapists? Probably. Were they also going to use them to manipulate World Leaders and convince people to join them through emotional fuckery?
Most certainly. In fact, there was even a chance they ended up being worse than Ell’Hakan had ever been. Not to mention the slight chance they failed to fully control the ones with the Bloodlines, or what if someone had a mutated version stronger than expected? There were so many ways things could go wrong.
If Jake said yes, he would be like one of those scientists in movies agreeing to experiment on that one super dangerous alien pathogen just discovered, his decision ultimately leading to an absolute disaster. Jake didn’t want to be that kind of character.
That’s why Jake ended up shaking his head. “I see the sincerity behind your offer, but I can’t agree to any agreement that does not involve the return of Ell’Hakan’s Truesoul to the system where it belongs. His Bloodline should die with him, end of story.”
His words instantly worsened the mood in the room as Jake refused to move even when a god directly proposed a deal. From the looks of it, everyone – besides probably Jacob and Bertram, who were auditioning for an Oscar – fully expected Jake to ultimately end up agreeing. Why wouldn’t they? In their minds, it was ludicrous to disrespect gods in any way, and Jake not accepting a god’s offer would definitely qualify as disrespectful in their minds.
“Are you truly certain of your decision?” the Lodestar Matron asked, disappointment in her voice.
“I don’t easily change my mind,” Jake simply responded.
“Am I to assume this is also the opinion of your Patron?” “No idea, but I’m fairly confident he wouldn’t disagree with whatever choice I make today. Contrary to you guys, he respects when something is not his choice to make,” Jake spoke, taking a not-so-subtle dig at not just the god but the entire Holy Church.
“You are aware that we also can’t simply give up the Truesoul, correct? We already invested far too much to walk away with nothing,” the Lodestar Matron tried, seemingly unable to comprehend why Jake was being so stubborn.
“I’m pretty sure that’s called the sunk cost fallacy. It’s a fallacy for a reason. Sometimes, you need to know when to cut your losses. This is one such time,” Jake said in a calm voice.
He continued to not want to start a fight if he could avoid it. By now, Jake had accepted it could very well happen, but he still believed the Church had the chance to make the right choice. He at least wanted to give them the chance to.
“I fail to understand the source of your stubbornness. Are there guarantees you remain unsatisfied with? Is there truly nothing that could make you compromise? The value of the Truesoul is high, yes, but only to us. There must be something you value that we can offer,” the Lodestar Matron said, sounding more confused than before.
Evidently, she also desperately wanted to avoid a fight. The Holy Church had to know it wouldn’t end well for them, right?
“There really isn’t anything you can offer, no,” Jake shook his head and sighed. “My mind is set. However, I don’t think this meeting is a waste of time, even with that being the case. One thing you said I do fully agree with is that it would be nice for us to leave on good terms today. To leave without unnecessary bloodshed.”
The god stared down at him, Jake continuing.
“The Milky Way Galaxy is rapidly coming under my control, and at some point, a final clash is bound to happen between our factions. There is a lot of bad blood between the Holy Church and many of the people in my budding alliance, but I do have the power to allow the Holy Church a peaceful ending in this conflict. I can promise safe passage for all members of the Holy Church out of the Milky Way Galaxy once the universe fully opens back up, and until then, you will be left alone on the planets you currently control. Perhaps we can even discuss the Holy Church being allowed some continued, although minor, presence in the galaxy.”
One thing that Jake believed the Holy Church had gotten entirely wrong from the get-go of these negotiations was that they were happening between equal parties. That most certainly wasn’t the case.
The Church was a defeated combatant who’d backed the wrong leader in a war. They were the final holdout of the Milky Way Galaxy, and Jake barely viewed them as a real threat. At least not before the universe was opened up and the Church had the opportunity to funnel in reinforcements, but even then, Jake was confident the foundation he and his allies would have in the galaxy would be strong enough to resist.
He also had to recognize that the Holy Church was the largest faction in the multiverse. Even if Jake didn’t want them to, chances are they would end up retaining some level of presence, if not on Earth, then somewhere else in the Milky Way. They were very much a melting pot, and he couldn’t possibly expect Miranda to weed out any member of the Church. That being the case, Jake preferred their presence to at least be out in the open rather than some hidden cult.
However, it seemed his offer wasn’t that well received.
“You wish for us to not only give you the Truesoul but admit total defeat and retreat from the galaxy under your supervision? Without you offering anything in return for such a major concession?” the Lodestar Matron asked, seemingly flabbergasted at Jake’s audacity for that to be his offer to a god.
“I am offering something in return. The lives of all those that will inevitably end up dying in a pointless conflict,” Jake said in a cold tone. “Let me be absolutely clear for there to be no confusion. This is now a negotiation for the terms of the Holy Church’s absolute surrender. You know as well as I that should the fighting begin, the winner is already determined. Be that the fight that could break out between me and the many fighters you have spread throughout the city, including the party of elites right in front of me, or if we’re talking about the armies under my alliance versus the remaining forces of the Holy Church.”
The god was silent despite Jake’s shift in tone, making him shake his head before sighing.
“Look, you backed the wrong horse in this race. Put too many eggs in the Ell’Hakan basket. Whatever idiom you wanna use, it’s a fact that you lost, and my side won. The only true choice you have left is if you want to lose with dignity or foolishly struggle until the end, countless people dying meaningless deaths in the process.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
It was easy to see that Jake had purposefully taken charge of the negotiations now, much to the displeasure of everyone in the room. Jake, having identified not only the army surrounding him but the party of elites in the room also clearly spooked them a bit, making Jake seriously question how little the Holy Church truly knew about him.
“The sunk cost fallacy, you called it,” the Lodestar Matron spoke after a while. “An accurate description beside the fallacy part. You continually fail to realize how much value this Bloodline holds to us. Even if the chance to retain it is small, we’ll have to take it. No matter the sacrifices, we have to, at the very least, try.”
“You’re seriously willing to let that many people die for a gamble you have no way of winning?” Jake asked, thinking that now the god in front of him was the one being wholly unreasonable.
“I return that question to you. Are you willing to kill anyone and everything standing in your way to get a Truesoul you have no use for? Simply to deny us having it?”
“Whatever happens is not on me,” Jake simply spoke, not going to get dragged into that logic. They had already established that the Holy Church was the one that had stolen the Truesoul in the first place. Jake wasn’t going to feel bad for whatever happened next.
“But it will be your doing,” the Lodestar Matron said before sighing. “Your choice has been made, and it appears that peace is not an option you are willing to explore. Very well... let us adopt a more heavy-handed approach. Apprehend the Chosen.”
With those words, the Lodestar Patron’s projection exploded without any warning as a wave of holy light washed over Jake. Once more, it became clear the Holy Church had fully expected things could go south as the explosion from the formation directly attacked Jake’s soul, making him stumble back.
Just then, the party of five who had been part of the escort went into action. Two people charged at Jake, two others began manifesting some kind of magic to directly attack him, and the final one pressed her hands together and offered a prayer as light fell upon her party members.
The attack seemingly arrived in an instant but to Jake...
Slow.
Jake easily dodged the two melee fighters and stepped forward as he grasped one of them by the face. He smashed the guy down into the solid stone floor head-first, forming a crater as cracks formed all throughout the building. They had likely expected him to be stunned by the soul attack, but Jake wasn’t that easily affected.
Massive spikes of holy light pierced through the ceiling right then, aiming straight for Jake. Raising a hand, Jake sent out a wave of arcane energy that blew apart the magic easily, and before the mage who had cast it had a chance to muster another response, Jake stepped down and teleported.
With a katar in hand, he was ready to strike, but a familiar warrior wielding a massive shield teleported in and blocked his blow. As he did, Jake very briefly made eye contact with Bertram, feeling a sense of approval from them.
The internal politics of the Holy Church really are well and truly fucked, Jake thought to himself as he Sparta kicked the guardian, sending him flying through a wall and out of the building.
With a quick Pulse, he also confirmed there was movement all around. Dozens of formations were being placed down at once everywhere, and elite parties stormed for the building placed smack in the middle of the city. In the sky, far above, a seal began to form as more than a hundred priests not too far away were channeling some manner of ritual.
Jake saw all this, and yet he took his time to look at the head priest, who had retreated a good distance away. “Are you really going to do this? Throw away your lives for a god who couldn’t give two shits if you all died?”
“I shall not be swayed by a blasphemer! We are to apprehend you, so if you surrender peacefully, we-“
“You made your choice,” Jake cut him off as he lifted his foot and stomped down. A wave of arcane mana erupted from him, the entire town hall building disintegrating as destructive mana washed over it. The shockwave also sent the people close to him scurrying back, giving Jake plenty of space.
The dust didn’t even have time to clear as a barrage of arrows flew into the air before splitting apart into a few dozen. All of them curved and flew around the city, with a good number of them targeted at the priests channeling the large ritual in the sky.
A few fighters tried to intercept the arrows aimed at their weaker comrades, but they were blasted away as over fifty explosions rocked the city. Most parties managed to get out of it mostly unharmed and prepared to keep moving, only for them to see hundreds more arrows now blanketing the sky.
With negotiations having fully broken down, Jake saw no reason to hold back anymore as he prepared to make it absolutely clear why they shouldn’t have been such fucking idiots but just done the smart thing and surrendered when they had the chance.
“I hope you like the place chosen to be your grave,” King Iludar said with confidence, Miranda staring back at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read. Not that he had any intentions of really delving into her emotions.
Without any further warning, not wanting to give her or anyone the chance to properly muster a response, he attacked. A staff appeared in his hand as a torrent of bright yellow flames exploded directly toward Miranda, who was currently having her magic suppressed.
She responded by lifting her hand, and... something moved in her sleeves. Before the flames made contact, a large wall appeared between her and King Iludar, much to his shock as his eyes opened wide. His shock only grew in the following moments.
“Tehee, that tickles!” a voice echoed in the minds of all those present as the wall spoke while slightly wiggling back and forth, making the ground shake.
Iludar didn’t even have to comprehend what was happening as he heard screams from one section of his elite forces. He briefly glanced over and, to his horror, saw body parts flying into the air, and in the middle, a figure in full metal armor stood as the faint gleam of thin strings of metal could be seen reflecting the sunlight where a bit of blood stuck to them. More than thirty people were killed instantly, but that was only the beginning.
Out of the giant monster, which Iludar recognized as the Chosen of the Boundless Hydra, a single figure appeared. One of those they had been unable to keep proper track of but had simply assumed would remain on the planets she had spent the last long period on.
Someone who’d stayed out of the conflict until now... and someone Iludar had truly wished wouldn’t appear.
True Royal.
He didn’t even need to think anymore about what to do as the moment she appeared, he knew it was over. While he called himself a king, he knew that in front of a True Royal, he was nothing. She also only displayed her talents, as right when she appeared, her Royal Guards appeared all around her, and alongside many other ectognamorph soldiers, an army flooded the skies.
Iludar didn’t hesitate anymore but gave the order in an instant. “Everyone, full focus on the witch! Kill her and retreat immediately!”
Despite the situation clearly not being good, not a single elite disobeyed. Thousands erupted with their full power in an instant as they charged forward, magic filling the skies as more elites from Haven also began to exit the giant space worm, with the many insectoid soldiers flying directly into the spells in the air to block them.
King Iludar himself also held nothing back as he fully activated his boosting skill. He infused his staff with far more mana than it could take as he used his best offensive skill above his usual capabilities as a swirling force of intense yellow flames enveloped the entire valley.
In the very next second, a pillar of flames descended upon the witch, but before it even hit, he saw her faintly smile as the environment around her warped and began to turn verdant.
Combined with the giant worm willingly flying up to block the blow, it failed to do much, but Iludar kept channeling the spell as he held his staff with one hand. He realized there was no way to take her down and decided to cut his losses.
Using his other hand, he took out his escape token. With him channeling his magic, his entire body was enveloped in flames, which would disguise as he channeled energy into the token for a few seconds and-
A beam of light pierced through the mass of flames, Iludar feeling a faint pain in his hand. His channeled magic began to dissolve from the shock as he looked down and saw all the fingers beside his thumb missing from the hand that had been holding the token.
At the end-point of the flash of light was an elf... Kindroth... putting out the flames on his clothes as he held the token in his one hand, a bloody dagger in the other one.