Leveling up the World

Chapter 594: Choice of Sides

MAJOR WOUND

Your health has been reduced by 50%

Another hit went through Dallions defenses, despite his instances, piercing his left shoulder. A few strikes ago the damage was low enough for Lux to compensate, though that had quickly changed. With every second the trial echo was improving, targeting multiple spots simultaneously. Dallion had faced an all-out attacker, focusing on the body trait. Compared to his current challenge, that seemed like kids play. Sadly, that wasnt the enemys greatest advantage.

Youre getting slow, trial-Gleam said, changing form. The spikepreviously one of the shardflys wingsthat had punctured his shoulder grew thorns extending in his body, causing additional pain. In the real world, Id have pierced your heart.

Dallion split into instances, attempting to break the illusion. However, for each instance he created, the shardfly created one as well. This is what fighting an equally powerful enemy felt like. In the past Dallion had faced stronger enemies with less skill, or vastly more skilled enemies that were defeated with one hit. There was always an option to focus on their weaknesses. Against the current state of Gleam, the only way to win was to outmatch her, and that proved impossible.

Spark! Dallion said, striking at his shoulder. His hope was that with Gleam being of the wilderness, hed be able to affect her as well.

Before he could manage, the shardfly had pulled out the crystal spike, reverting it back to a wing.

Youre still not there, she said, fluttering around. Best surrender.

Undoubtedly, she had a point. In his current condition, there was no way he could win. Everything learned so far, all the training, the skill scrolls, and the experience in the wilderness wasnt enough to succeed in this trial. When evenly matched against an enemy, he remained one step behind.

Not just yet. Dallion let go of his harpsisword. The weapon fell to the ground, then disappeared, as it was unsummoned. Is that what youre like when you reach your desired level?

Thats what you think I am.

But is it true?

What do you expect me to say? Im part of your trial.

But theres always a chance that theres something from the Moons as well.

In that case, no. When I reach my level, Im a lot stronger. Not as strong as a dragon, but enough to take on anything else we saw in the south.

That impressive, eh? Dallion smiled. I surrender.

You failed to defeat your fears!

You wont be able to shape your destiny for another 24:00 hours.

The blue rectangle appeared in front of him. The moment Dallion waved it away, he was back in the wilderness, half a weeks walk from Nerosal. A sensation of hunger went through him, though was quickly suppressed.

You shouldnt push yourself, dear boy, Nil said. Give it pause before you reach the city.

This was the third attempt at passing the trial and it still had ended in failure. Without question Dallion was improvinghe had managed to survive for a full two minutes this time. Even so, his progress seemed painfully slow. And there were ten other levels after this one.

How are the nobles I faced so weak? Dallion looked up at the sky. Three of the moons were shining bright with the rest visible as pale circles in the night. With the level difference, I shouldnt have had a chance.

The arrogance of the otherworlders, the echo laughed bitterly. Reminds me of someone I used to know a long time ago. He was so skilled in what he didnt he couldnt imagine that the others werent.

I couldnt be this good on traits alone. All trials are the same. If an awakened has passed them that means they are strong enough to do so.

True, but also not. Dont get me wrong. In an official awakened duel, youd lose in a heartbeat. And Im not talking about technical disqualification. There are nobles who think so many moves ahead that all your knowledge would be considered pitiful. The problem is imagination. Hunters and awakened present something new. And as sheltered, when facing something new they dont know how to react. Tell me, the nobles youve faced, would you face them again?

Dallion smiled. His victories could be described as flukes at worst and as extreme luck at best. As people learned more about his way of fighting, things were going to get more and more difficult. Maybe thats why the gorgon siblings had been sent to keep an eye on him. It was entirely possible that they had an echo on them, observing his actions. As usual, the only solution was to get better and fast.

Gleam, Lux, Dallion said, as he went to his backpack and took out a thick blanket. Keep watch. Ill get some sleep.

You still need to eat, dear boy. Surviving on a rabbit alone isnt healthy with the amount of fighting youre doing.

Ill be fine, Dallion said. Night, Nil.

His sleep was short and dreamless. Dallion hoped hed get another chance to talk with Jiroh about matters of concern: her sister, her hunter teacher, the phoenix hunt he had gotten himself involved in. That never happened, nor were there any new cryptic messages from the Green Moon.

The next thing Dallion knew, he was back in the wilderness, warm, but still hungry. A whip blade and a dartbow continued circling the area around him for a few moments longer, before floating to him. There definitely were advantages of having familiars. Ruby had also joined in. Lately, the shardfly was going through a complicated period. Dallion could feel conflicting emotions emanating from it. It was trying to act like the familiars, while it couldnt match their strength. Sadly, that didnt have any prospect of changing, though not through lack of trying. As powerful as ruby shardflies were, they werent awakened.

Dallion finished the scraps of food he had left, then backed up and continued towards Nerosal. On the way, he asked whatever plants he happened to pass by about animals in the area. For the most part, he received information about small and practically inedible creatures. In the end, though, he was told about a burrow of wilderness rabbits. To non-awakened the creatures were as vicious as dogs. For a hunter, however, they were the perfect source of food.

Sensing Rubys urge, Dallion let the shardfly do the hunt. The effort was very much appreciated by the creature, which flew off as fast as its wings could hold him.

Youre risking starvation, Gleam said. Looking at him, he reminds me of Lux in the early days.

Aw, big sis! Lux let out a sad chirp. I was better than that.

A bit. Just a bit.

He still has to learn, Dallion said. Maybe one day Ill rely on him as I rely on you.

You really think so? Gleam mused. In that case, how about I join him?

Gleam

Not now. I think he could use seeing me as a shardfly as opposed to imagining me all the time. Besides, it will give me a chance to spread my wings in the real world.

Youre not spreading your wings.

The illusion works on me same as everyone else. I just need to focus a bit more.

There was no way Dallion could say no. Gleam yearned for her old self, back before she was captured and made the guardian of a hand mirror. That was the reason she wanted to level up so badlythe greater her illusion abilities became, the more she could pretend to be what she was in the real world as well as in the realms.

Gleam, have you ever come across aetherbirds? He asked.

No. Ive seen firebirds, some dragons, but nothing like youre hunting now. Must be rare and powerful. Something that powerful wont ever let itself be caught unless it wanted to.

And yet someone caught it, Dallion mused. Or came close.

Youre seen the feather. The creature is curious.

The hunter didnt have the empathy trait. And if the aetherbird was that curious, why havent more hunters seen it? No, theres something else going on. Dallion looked at the distance. Go keep an eye on Ruby. Dont jump in to help unless you have to.

The whip blade slid out of its scabbard and transformed into a crystal shardfly that flew off. After a quarter of an hour, Gleam returned, letting Dallion know they had caught enough food. Naturally, she didnt bother bringing it. As far as she was concerned, Dallion could go and cook it where it lay. Ultimately, Dallion did just that. Using his zoology and art skills, he skinned and butchered the animals almost simultaneously. The shardflies had managed to kill a total of six, which would be considered a healthy amount.

Splitting into instances, Dallion made a small fire to cook the food on. This was enough to attract the attention of pretty much anything in miles. Yet, it wasnt an animal or even a creature of the wilderness that approached. Instead, it was a pair of people Dallion had met before.

Have enough to share? The first of the gorgons approached. Id offer to share some drink, but I doubt youd accept.

Youd poison your target? Dallion asked, making a sign to the gorgon to join him.

The other smiled, but didnt respond. He was joined by the other gorgon. Unlike his brother, the second gorgon maintained a serious expression. No emotions came from either of the two. Still, Dallion could hear several of their weapon guardians whisper threats in his direction. It was slightly unusual, suggesting that the weapons had been with the gorgons for quite some time.

Didnt expect youd leave the province, the first gorgon said, half of the snakes focusing on the meet at the fire. Glad to see you back.

I wasnt going to run, if thats your fear.

The younger gorgon stifled a snort.

Good to know. I was afraid that someone might have killed you. That would have ended our contract.

Touching. Dallion narrowed his eyes.

You were a bit sloppy in Linatol. Also, whoever was hired wasnt local. We couldnt find any of them. Not even a trace. Almost as if they vanished.

Maybe they had, Dallion looked at the gorgon. Or maybe it was you. He took one of the sticks of meat and took a bite. It had a deep, almost bitter aftertaste. What do you really want?

Weve been told to give you a message. The powers that be seem to think that you have a chance of finding the phoenix. If you do, it might be a better idea to change clients.

That was unexpected. Dallion knew that in the games of nobles everything went, but he didnt think that the Archduke would offer to flip him, of all people. Of course, there was no way to be sure who had hired them. With both of them having blocking items, it was difficult to tell whether they were lying or not, and even if they werent, there was no guarantee they hadnt in turn been lied to.

Youll have more protection than Countess Priscord and better opportunities, so to speak. Hunters dont change sides.

Youre not used to this, so Ill help you out. Youll only get one chance to change sides. Once a rejection is made, its final and youll sink with your ship.

Only if my noble sinks.

Your noble doesnt care about you. Youre the sacrificial pawn. Our client gives you enough credit to consider it possible. Think about that.

And I must give you my answer now?

Nope. The gorgon stood up, moving away from the fire. You dont have to tell us anything. If you go back to Nerosal youd have chosen the countess. But if you go to Linatol, itll be clear youve decided to go against her. Pick one or the other, its all the same to us. We were just hired to convey the message.

A novel approach.

And if I pick neither?

Sooner or later youll have to pick a side. Until you enter any of those cities, youll be considered undecided. Just keep in mind, people have tried to kill you twice. Can you survive a third without protection?

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