Leveling up the World

Chapter 866: The Echo Inside

Things didnt add up. There was no doubt in Dallions mind that the echo he had fought back at the Academy belonged to a domain ruler, but the person standing before him clearly wasnt. Also, he wasnt supposed to be a mage.

Adzorg, are you sure? Dallion asked.

I had the misfortune of conversing with an echo of his. Theres no doubt.

Could that have been a copyette? Hardly. Other than Pan, all echoes worked for the Order of the Seven Moons.

I thought youd got glassed, Dallion said, retaining his composure. Or were you just scared after hearing what I did to Argus?

You killed him? The man moved the shield blade about. Bloodthirst emanated from him, to the point he could barely contain himself. This might be a challenge after all.

Dallion kept on combat splitting, examining his surroundings with a dozen instances. Everything seemed quiet so far, and that was precisely what concerned him. He could understand the water islands stopping their attacks on him out of fear they might make it more difficult for Gryms bodyguard. Yet, why had they stopped all actions altogether? None were attempting to destroy his domain, none were even moving in that direction. Instead, they seemed to be picking all soldiers affected by Dallions music attack and retreating.

You dont need backup? Dallion arched his brow. Im not a novice anymore.

For a fraction of a second, Dallion expected a kind of response: insults, overconfident remarks, or anything. Then he rememberednot everyone fought using music skills.

The mans attack was quick and brutal. With speed rivaling Dallions own, the heavy blade plunged forward in an attempt to slice the aether armor and its occupant.

Dallion considered letting the enemy succeed in an instance, just to see the effects, but quickly decided against it. There was no telling what abilities the weapon had. Plus, he knew that somewhere in the Azure army, there was someone with the ability to control force splitting.

Flying backwards, Dallion thrust his aura sword forward in a point attack. To his surprise, the other didnt block, but evaded, continuing to mount the pressure.

This ones trained. Dallion added several invulnerability symbols to his sword, then parried a blow.

The force was impressiveenough to shatter blocks of granitethough not more than Dallion could take.

Youve gotten a lot weaker. Dallion used his music skill, filling his words with a combination of anger and sadness. After last time, I thought that youd slice me in two. Then again, last time I was a child.

Strands of music attached without issue. From here on, victory was supposed to be a foregone conclusion, yet the fighting continued.

Spinning in the air, the man pulled back his sword, managing to land a kick in Dallions chest. The top layer of his aether armor cracked. Clearly, the sword wasnt the only thing he was supposed to be worried about.

Thrusting forward, Dallion did an arc slash, while simultaneously summoning his Nox dagger. Dozens of spell circles formed in the wake of the slash, launching chains and aether projectiles at the shield blade.

Another kick flew Dallions way. It was met by a cushion of wind that had been quickly cast. There was more, though. The point of that final spell wasnt to shield Dallion from the attack, but rather to capture his opponent.

Got you! Dallion said, engaging in a multi attack with the Nox dagger. Dozens of strikes fell on the enemys shin, cracking the armor layer by layer.

Dallion didnt notice the precise moment when the deadly blade sliced through the bone, severing the Azures limb.

Caught in the heat of the moment, Dallion quickly changed target, focusing on the mans knee, but just as the strike was about to hit, the other pulled back, moving a safe distance away.

A bit anticlimactic, Dallion said, his heart thumping as euphoria filled his very being. After all that talk, I expected a lot more.

The man stared back. There was no trace of pain or fear on his face. He didnt seem to even have acknowledged the loss of his limb.

Passable, he said.

A thin layer of water ran over the blade of his weapon, covering it completely. Dallion hadnt noticed any spell casting, so his first thought was that the item had a nymph guardian. Moments later, it trickled down from the mans stump, forming a new foot.

What the heck? Dallions instances moved back. That was far from expected. Casting a quick spell, he summoned his bowblade and looked through the kaleidervisto. A single echo was visible in the mans domainan echo of a nymph in full water armor. The intricacy of the design along with an insignia on the neck guard suggested that he was of high rank, possibly a general.

Youre not human, Dallion said.

That explained why wounds and music attacks had so little effect. Theyd only affect the puppet. Or maybe not. Judging by the state of the human, there was every indication that whatever control the original owner of the body had, it was long gone, replaced by that of the symbiont echo. If so, did that mean that when fighting Phoil, Dallion had faced an echo of an echo?

Dal. Harp arrived at the scene. Despite the amount of strength she had, it was obvious that the guardian was exerting herself. Taking on a humanoid form in the real world was draining, even with Dallions help.

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Shards of water, as thin as stiletto blades, shot out from her, striking the enemys right arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

The tension became palpable. Dallion could feel the enemys desire to fight all the way through the human shell. He was burning to fight Harp, but had enough sense not to. Both Dallion and Harp presented an issue individually. Together, they would be more than enough.

Grym will be pleased I found you, the man said. Next time there wont be a stalemate.

I have no doubt. Dallion smirked. Next time well win.

The puppet glared at him, then turned around and flew to his island. The other forces did the same, retreating back the way they arrived. Even the few remaining water golems lost corporeal integrity, splashing onto the valley ground.

You could have waited a bit more, Gleam complained, fluttering all the way to Dallion. Id have had him.

Dallion didnt doubt that, just as he didnt doubt that they had been extremely lucky. The insane gamble that he had made proved fruitful. Had the water islands continued with the attack, there was no doubt in his mind that hed lose. Not only that, but there was every chance that they took over Sandstorm as well. Hannah and the awakened there were no pushovers, but other than him, only Diroh was capable of non-natural magic and not an average level at best.

Lets go, Harp urged.

How did they come here? Dallion asked. That many cant have crossed the empire.

There are ways, she replied. Dont ask me to tell you.

I can free you from the harpsisword, Dallion insisted. Even if I lose it, itll be better having

I can never leave.

There it was againthe flash of fear emanating from the nymph. As someone skilled in magic, she was capable of hiding most of her emotions. Apparently, she wasnt able to conceal this.

They wont arrive right away. Harp changed the focus of the topic. Theres too much fighting in the west.

What are you keeping from me? Just tell me whats going on! Dallion had rarely, if ever, raised his tone to Harp. Internally, he felt shocked by his own actions. And for the first time, the guardian looked him straight in the eye and refused.

No, she said firmly, returning to his realm of her own accord.

Dallion immediately went back to his realm in order to continue the conversation, but when he did so, he found that all the openings to the harpsiswords tower were sealed off, turning it into a cylinder of water.

It didnt take long for Vihrogon to emerge there as well. Standing next to Dallion, he looked at the tower of water, perfectly silent.

Go ahead and say it, Dallion said. I really messed up.

No. The dryad tapped him on the back a few times. You only messed up fifty percent.

You know something, dont you?

I know that shes the strongest entity in your realm, Vihrogon replied. And that it would be a waste of all the awakening trials you completed here, if you were to bring chaos to your realm.

Thats not an answer.

Its an answer, just one you cant seem to accept.

Ive been betrayed too many times, Vih. If theres something I need to know.

You know what they say. The dryad took a step away. Those who have no friends never have to fear betrayal.

After a few more minutes of standing in his realm and doing nothing, Dallion finally returned to the real world. The issue with harp aside, there were a lot of urgent matters that needed attention. The first was figuring out what to do with his second domain. The brief skirmish had left a lot of devastation in the valley, yet left enough plants and water for the Azures to make use of it again.

For that reason, Dallion moved his domain within the mountain hole he had created with his ray spell. There it would serve as a perfect observation point; furthermore, it was a perfect place for furies. Food would still have to come from Sandstorm, at least in the short term, but in all other aspects the spot was perfect.

Thanks to Diroh, just below half of the furies were convinced to change settlements. Dallion took advantage of the fact and improved the settlement to a town. It was noticeable that the action no longer caused Dallions awakened level to increase. He had reached one of the barriers and simply creating settlements wasnt going to cut it. If he wanted to grow, hed have to take control of larger chunks of territory.

The sudden attack had sobered everyones expectations. Being far from the western front, they had forgotten the reality of the world. It was one thing to know that a war was taking place, and something completely different to take part of it.

Furies flew off in all directions with an open invitation to all hunters to join the settlement. Meanwhile, after some domain changes from Dallion, Hannah led the efforts to transform the groups of awakened into an actual army that could fend off serious attacks. Scary even while she was an innkeeper, her new role made it clear why she had been considered one of the legions best. March took on the role of trusted lieutenant while many of the icepickers got instant promotions based on their skills and experience improving items.

All that remained was for Dallion to return to the capital once more and inform the emperorand the Order in subtle waysof the events that had conspired.

And dont forget to get the captain this time! Hannah shouted at Dallion prepared to go. Its not a matter of choice!

I will. Dallion forced a smile. He had no idea how long hed have to stay in the imperial capital. Ideally, he could be back with Adzorg by nightfall. Something told him that was unlikely to be the case. Dont lose my towns while Im away.

Towns? Hannah scoffed. Yeah, right. Get out of here. Unlike you, we must work for a living.

The comment earned a chuckle.

PERSONAL AWAKENING

When Dallion left his domain a moment later, he was back in his imperial palace mansion. To his astonishment, the place was in perfect order. Not a single sleeping noble in sight, it looked as if it had just been cleaned.

Whats going on? Dallion asked the area guardian.

Master Dallion, the guardian replied, very much in Taems manner. The young duchess came and had a few words with your guests. It was rather fun.

Good to know. Not bothering to check the second floor, Dallion went straight for the door. Anything else interesting?

Count Pilih came once, but left immediately after seeing you werent here.

The count came in person? Curious, but better left for another time. It was of crucial importance that Dallion got an audience with the emperor, or at least someone with the authority to send a few cloud forts to the east. A few mages could also come in handy, although there were doubts regarding their loyalty.

Just as Dallon opened the door, he found Tors and an overseer standing there; or rather, it was the copyette pretending to be an overseer.

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