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Chapter 511 Infiltration
🕑 Added 2020-07-02 12:52:12 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hey all :). New chapter up and more hopefully on Saturday.
Quick info for August - If things with fuck-19 work out, I might go on vacation for two weeks starting August 14th. I'm not sure yet how work will go during that time and how the internet connection looks like. For now I'll just say that there won't be any chapters during those two weeks (I'll probably drop a few anyway but definitely reduced).
Author's note: Hello there :). New chapter and more hopefully on Saturday.
Thank you for another month of continued support!
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter Index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37813894
Chapter 511 Infiltration
Were not going to get far in Yinnahall if you kill everyone who mistreats their slaves, just saying, he said, keeping pace next to her.
They ran fast but not so much that it would turn heads.
Well see about that. We just need to stop the ritual, I doubt they can set it up super quickly anyway, there were thousands of runes carved into the halls, she said.
The slaves you freed might already be dead too. The fear and confusion you sowed with that spectacular intervention may cause a chaotic reaction, Hector said.
It may. Or they will live happily ever after, Ilea said.
Do you really plan to go check in on them? he asked. You really care?
Why not? Im pretty quick, she said. And yes, I do. Not everyone is as far gone as you are.
Thats true. Well have it your way, he said and finished his second mug of ale that he still had with him, the drink remaining inside the mugs likely thanks to his magic.
I will, she said.
Im gonna rob the nobles too by the way. No matter if theyre nice to their little pets or not, Hector said. And I might have to kill some people too. Do you have a problem with that?
Maybe I will. Depends on who youre killing and if Im close by, she said.
Hector groaned. Then lets focus on the ritual first so we have that out of your way. You can go hunt down the evil evildoers and I go make some bloody gold.
Sure, not like the fate of this city would be any better otherwise, she said. No kids.
No kids? he asked.
Dont kill any kids, she said.
I didnt plan to. Who do you think I am? he said.
Ilea glanced his way, slowing down on a dirt path between two fields, a few farms visible in the distance. The Destroyer? You know, the walking warcrime?
Said Lilith, the walking warcrime, he said and laughed.
Not exactly the same, is it? she said, smiling at his antics.
Eh, fair enough, he said.
Worlds between really. How many did you kill in your time? Ten thousand? A hundred thousand? she asked.
Hector didnt answer.
Suddenly not funny anymore? I probably killed a few hundred humans. A drop in your bucket, she said.
A drop in my ocean, he said seriously.
They walked a few minutes in silence.
Why are you working with me then? And with the Lily for that matter? You care a lot about the morality of war and killing. Im sure you know that each of us is a monster in their own right, he said.
Its not my job to police the world. What good would it do to fight you? And the Lily? Being a member I can maybe exert some good influence or at least further trade and the cooperation between Ravenhall and other nations. Fighting would just cause more of the same, she said and shrugged.
Youre implying you could actually take me, Hector said with a sly grin.
Not yet but you couldnt kill me either, Im pretty sure, Ilea said and stretched.
I already know your weakness. Just gather up everyone you care about and torture them to death, youd be broken instantly, he said.
Broken and angry, Ilea replied.
And angry. Yep, that would change things. You dont want any of the members angry, least of them us. Youre not quite in yet however. Three vetoes and you cant join, he said.
Shouldnt one veto be enough? Being a veto and all? she asked.
Hey I didnt make up the rules, Hector said. Im sure you have Helenas vote, mine too obviously, and probably Velamyrs after news of our efforts reach his ears.
Who would veto me then? she asked.
Hmm difficult to say. Definitely Elizabeth Pierce. Shes a noble from Nipha who really wants more influence in the remaining independent cities. You dont have to worry too much though, shes failed where you succeeded without even trying, Hector said and laughed.
How do you know I didnt try? Ilea said.
He shrugged. You just dont strike me as someone to focus fully on politics for longer than two minutes. Elizabeth is downright obsessed with it, so much so that her actual fighting prowess holds her back greatly. Barely at two eighty last I saw her.
Michael is even lower, Ilea said.
Yes, but there are reasons for that. Good ones. Hes not like Elizabeth at all. If he focused as much on influence as he does on his research, half the world would be in his grasp. Especially with his damn gold magic, Hector said.
Hes a creator? Ilea asked.
No at least I doubt it heavily. But hes always been rich. Nothing is ever too expensive for that man, no matter how much I tried to ridicule him in trade deals. He definitely has a way to get more and it has to do with his magic, Hector said.
What does he usually buy from you? she asked.
Gathering information are we? Why I wonder? Do you really not plan to kill each of us? Take over all of the human plains? Youre not the first who tried, he said and laughed.
Ilea rolled her eyes. You really think Im fooling you? What about you? Maybe youre just playing a role too.
No. Neither of us is acting. Weve enjoyed the real joys of life, there is no need to pretend, Hector said.
Food?
I was more thinking about sex, Hector said.
She knew what he really meant. While sex is surely enjoyable, it pales compared to facing a terror of unimaginable power, ancient magical beasts in undiscovered depths of the world.
Were weird, she said.
Oh young one, still havent accepted your true nature? I pity thee, Hector said and shook his head.
They reached a fork in the road, a much broader one leading towards a hill in the distance.
Have you met any five marks? she asked.
Five marks? No. Not yet. I would hope they exist, he said.
Why?
Once I reach the point where four marks arent a challenge anymore, what else would stand in my way? Id live on forever, bored, and unchallenged. What a horrible fate that would be, he said.
I mean even if there are five marks, that will be your fate if you continue to get stronger, Ilea said. Maybe get some other hobbies too.
I have too many things already taking away my time. Otherwise a runt like you wouldve never reached my power. Let alone so quickly. Plus while Im optimistic, I doubt some of the beings out there are even killable, he said.
Yeah, with what I can already do , Ilea said, considering if she should share something about the Ascended. Maybe the man knew something she didnt.
She decided against it. Hector was only an ally through circumstance. The more she gave him, the more it would hurt once he became her enemy.
There are definitely creatures far above the normal four marks. The power differences are huge, he said.
Yeah, I noticed, she said. Speaking of which, have you met any humans with three marks?
He smiled and shook his head.
Theyre out there though, Im sure of it. Just hunting and fighting. Despite my efforts however, Ive not met any. The founders must be close, he said.
Founders? Ilea asked.
They dont like it when people talk about them. The whole thing where mentioning the Lily or asking about it gets you killed that initially came from them. Maybe Maureen would actually fight me for once if I talked openly about her heh, probably not, he said.
First time I hear that name, Ilea admitted.
I doubt many of the members even know them. But I doubt youll make trouble. Just be sure not to share it without a good fucking reason. Helena would be forced to act, he said.
Them? You said there was more than one, Ilea asked.
You wont get that out of me, Hector said and laughed. I already said too much.
Ill meet them eventually I suppose, Ilea said.
Not necessarily. Theyre not exactly involved, not anymore at least, Hector said.
Interesting. How did you come across them anyway? What makes a man like you join a secret organization with the goal of stability and human progress? If Helena didnt lie to me about that, she said.
Those are the goals, yes. Its more about preventing chaos and war than anything else really. As to how I joined I met my match. I lost, one of only very few humans that managed such. I was forced to cooperate and thus ended my conquest. Before that I thought a single ruler in control of everything would be for the best, no matter how much blood and death there was on the way.
I still believe that but my ambitions have changed to other ventures. Not only because of that experience. I was young then, hot headed and brash.
You still are, Ilea said and smiled.
There was a patrol of soldiers walking towards them, the two stopping their conversation for a little while. Hector greeted them in the native tongue and they continued on their way without being questioned.
She soon realized why. They werent the only soldiers going towards Yinnahall. As they approached the hill in the distance, Ilea realized that it was the city itself.
A massive town built onto and beyond the large outcrop of rock in the otherwise only slightly uneven territory. It reminded her of Tremor, just actually above ground.
She wordlessly healed a few of the injured, getting grateful looks as well as confusion in return. The people often talked but she had no way to understand them, some just closed their eyes and finally relaxed.
I couldve never cooperated with you back then, Hector said when they reached a stretch of empty road.
Many of the soldiers were camping out in the fields too, some of them building defensive structures or digging out trenches. Ilea saw whores, slaves, and cooks. All thanks to her improved eyesight. Most of the people she saw walked towards the city or were waiting near the distant gate.
Good thing you changed then, she said. Might not be as easy as you thought to get in.
Hector smiled. Are you kidding me? Theyre busy. Busy is even better than literally under siege. They wont look at us twice. And we can just teleport in. I doubt their enchantments work against Space magic. Just move us past.
Maybe youre right, Ilea said.
Of course I am, he smirked before they shut up again, reaching another group. Hector greeted a few of the scantily clad women but moved on quickly.
I doubt thats just for appearances, Ilea thought.
Already she saw much of a society that revolted her. Slaves being whipped, children in chains, and soldiers refused entry into the massive city.
There was a laughably one and a half meter high outer wall they had already passed, not a single guard protecting it. The area between it and the first real city wall had thousands of huts and simple houses, the slums of Yinnahall. People were being dragged out of their homes to make defensive structures out of them, or simply to destroy them for more space.
There were merchants shouting to sell their goods, smugglers loudly talking about getting people into the city, slavers selling people, and soldiers ignoring most of it all. It was utter chaos.
Judging by a few burnt up patches and destroyed houses, Ilea assumed war had brushed them already. Perhaps Hector was right and there were forces already present, too few or not willing to commit to an all out attack.
The slums provided a bit of a problem, the area between the high city walls and the poor outer district was separated by a trench. Ilea couldnt see yet what was inside of it or how far it reached but they couldnt just walk up to the walls and teleport through.
Hector gestured to her before they both entered a half burnt down house.
Theyre talking about raids in the night, tensions are high and people want to get behind the walls, he whispered in a barely audible voice.
Thats good then, they wont notice a few more troublemakers amidst the chaos, she whispered back.
Yes, but it might also push the Order to get their ritual done as fast as possible. I heard whispers of sacrifices. Its not uncommon in these parts but people speak of it in hushed tones. Some know of it, more than is good for the Order, he said.
How do we get inside? she asked.
No patrols along their walls. Theyre confident the enchantments will prevent teleportation. A few flying guards so we cant go in from above. I doubt either of us can just dig a hole but maybe we can get close enough, teleport into the trench and then into the city, he said.
Any clue whats in there? Water? she asked.
Its just a deep trench probably. Sharpened sticks and some monsters probably. I heard someone talk about an execution, a disobedient slave just thrown down there, he said.
Makes sense, with water mages around. Crocodiles would have been cool though.
Wait a second, she said and blinked. I heard right, she thought and blinked again, her ash slamming through the mans skull before she made the body vanish. Ilea covered the womans eyes and mouth with ash before she healed her.
She vanished again, the woman sobbing to herself as she curled up on the ground.
Ilea didnt know how much her healing could change but she doubted an experience like that could just be removed entirely.
You didnt joke about intervening whenever you can, Hector whispered when she appeared again just a few seconds after she left.
She was getting raped, Ilea hissed.
He smirked.
Dont dont start shit here. After we stopped the ritual, I dont give a fuck but dont test me now, she said.
Alright, alright, miss overly sensitive. Lets get it over with, theres booty waiting in town, he said.
Ilea was annoyed but she focused on what was at stake. Everyone here could be wiped out and turned into Cursed. And perhaps she had a chance to prevent that from happening.
Its a large fucking city, Hector said as they approached the wall.
So far they only got a few glances but no special attention. The armor really went a long way and nobody wanted trouble with a higher leveled soldier.
It is might take a while until we find it, she said with a sigh.
They were close to the thirty meter high wall now, quite far from the gates too. There were people patrolling on top but many of them didnt look particularly vigilant, let alone focused on the slums below.
Ilea displaced a pebble past the wall and found the spell working uninterrupted.
The continued their walk, waiting for an alarm or reaction but nothing happened.
Now its just a question what well find on the other side, she thought. If we appear in front of a patrol or even just random people itll mean trouble.
How far can you move things? Hector whispered when they reached a quiet spot.
About forty meters at the moment, way past the wall, she said.
Thats really good range we could hire someone to have a look or get a map, both will take time and bring their own risks, he said.
My perception cant get through, she said.
Neither can mine, he admitted. Should we just chose a spot and go?
Ilea thought about it. Some of the buildings behind the walls were higher than the walls themselves but it was still hard to gauge where the cellars would be exactly or if they were unoccupied. The wall was built onto the slope leading up to the high hill after all.
Dont they have sewers? she asked.
Maybe but those will be patrolled more than a random cellar, Hector said.
But we can see use our perception then, Ilea said.
It would take hours to walk to the other side of the city Hector said.
What do you mean? Ilea asked.
Well theres a lake there. I would think theyd pump their shit into the massive body of water instead of thinking of something more difficult to implement. And we cant just teleport around freely without being seen. Not out here, he said.
I dont feel like wasting a few hours, she said.
Neither do I, Hector said and looked around. He entered a nearby house without a sound.
Ilea followed, noting that the door had been locked. He used flowing water to get past the mechanism.
Handy, she thought, pretty sure her ash or force could do the same. Not that she needed to unlock doors with her teleportation. Enchantments would likely mean magical keys too, meaning she couldnt just use it for closed off sections either.
A tiny kitchen was located one room over, various ingredients sitting on a battered table. The dirty floor and small coats draped over a chair in the hallway suggested a family with kids.
Straight across, see the high building? Hector said and pointed through the murky window in the wooden door.
Mhm, Ilea mused. The distance is fine, she said. Ill just start really low and well work our way up.
She tried to move both herself and Hector into the buildings cellar.
The second try already did it, both of them appearing in a dark and rancid room.
Wonderful smell, Hector said and formed water around his head.
Were not alone, Ilea said, taking in the sights and activities. If outside the walls was chaos, the this was utter madness. Talk about overpopulation, she thought and walked over to the dying group of people, healing them all as she summoned food. Water please, she said, the man not refusing as a few pots and crates were suddenly filled with liquid.
She caressed a girls cheek as she displaced the steel chains binding her arms. Her first target was an older woman two floors above, currently in the process of watching two men kill each other, both heavily injured with a few guards watching.
First the ritual, Hector said.
Ilea ground her teeth. Just her, she said.
We can also split up, Hector said.
Yes, we meet back here in two hours, Ilea said and tried to wake the girl. She needed just a confirmation. Enough to stop what was going on upstairs. Hector was already gone, likely looking for the closest and largest cache of gold. What have they done to you, she whispered, holding the girls mouth closed as her healing mana flowed into her.
Comments
Detrox
This implies that those who live with love and harmony shouldn't be prepared for getting invaded and enslaved? 😄
Kris
thanks for the chapter .
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Venalitor
Wow. This situation seems to have really gotten to Ilea. She's lost all her usual sarcasm and levity, and is becoming an abrasive bitch uncaring for gold or all but the vilest of villains. She's going down a very bad way. It's good character development though.
Rip Woodham
From here, all the way to the King. Bet Ilea gets a title in the minds of the people after this is finished.
Rip Woodham
It will end better for the majority. Less soldiers of both sides will die in the taking of the city. It will be an easier transition of power to Imperial Rule. It will give Ilea more power in the minds of others, as well.
Ilea infiltrating like an angry, drunk rhinoceros ... this gonna b gud
Nate
Illea's going to make it like a block before stopping another crime, haha.
Nate
That and it'd really suck to kill your lover in the throes of passion, haha.
Johannes Sauer
So the „she does not have Sex anymore,because fighting> sex“ Theorie was comfirmed🤓
Connor Bruha
Thanks for the chapter!
Where's Taylor Hebert when you need her
Jemini
You... might want to work on your conversions if you think 1.5 meters can be considered high by anyone. 1.5 meters would come up chest-high to most adult men, and they'd be able to see right over it. It's laughable as in they might as well have not built a wall at all for all the good it will do them.
Alan McBrayer
I believe Adam Strand was in the mid 200s not past the 300 mark. His power came from his large number of summoned monsters in the demon realm he alone had some trouble dealing with Ilea and Trian who were only ~210. Plus he seemed like the type who spent all his time on his research. I do think you're right about the ascended though. He was either talking to one or the enemy he was persueing was one
Alan McBrayer
You're really doing a good job pushing home the whole, each lord rules his domain/city in his own way, idea. You've got the Wynehold that takes pride in their slaves, Nara with their massive towers and fortress like defenses, Seyna with a sprawling city and 5 coliseums, Harchat with vigilant guards and significant enchantments on it's defenses, and now Yinnahall with massive unprotected slums surrounding a super densely populated inner city with no care for its slaves.
Chopper
No, what he said was he couldn't get her to fight him. It doesn't mean he has a chance at all. Remember these people (Hector and Ilea) are crazies that would jump at the chance to fight a level 400+ human.
fennek
Oh, if Ilea is exposed to too much suffering in this town, that will not be good for her. I could see her loosing her shit and whipping out all the nobles herself. Not casually, no, but if thomthing drives her over the edge, it will not end good for anyone, maybe except the slaves.
Speaking of the founders of Golden Lily, if I remember right when Elder Adam summoned the demons there was a scene with him speaking with somebody and that person ,,pushed him'' from behind to do it. He was kind of afraid of that person and don t forget that he is at least level 300...So I think it s an Ascended, a Human or something else.
agentjongon
I wanna say that those people are overcrowded in that dark cellar dying as a result of the war but another part of me thinks that the war and the situation that those people are in are unrelated. So tragic
Adam Roundfield
Her understanding that it is literally a different world works well as a coping mechanism.
Adam Roundfield
When you just want to save a city from being destroyed but then you realize that the only way to really save it is to conquer it and impose your own justice...
Andrew
Thank you!
Alexander Dupree
This is getting dark
Cadastral
"a laughably one and a half meter high outer wall" --> should probably be either a laughable wall or a laughably high wall, 1.5 meters tall, I'm not sure if that works with the adverb separated.
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapter. The nobles of Barila deserve to be wiped out. Ilea should just go on a murder spree. Eve style.
Straven
Thank you very much for the new chapter, can't wait to see what comes next.
Acquiles Vitorino de Melo Graça
See, that's like what I feel about some cultures! If you live by making others lesser and laugh at their pain then you should be prepared for the exact same to happen to you!
Matthew D
I believe it’s around 4 years too
SoggyBiscuit
Does anybody have an accurate estimation of how much time Ilea has spent on Elos? I'm thinking of something like 4 years, but that's pure guessing. Also, how much time do you guys think it'll take her to get to 500? I'm hoping for about 2-3 years, but that may be too optimistic.
Chase Clawson
Thanks for the chapter Harthane! Liking where this is going. Tbh, with how different their morality seems, I'm surprised there hasn't been more friction than there has between her and The Destroyer
G. Harthane
Ye, was a little late today, sorry :)
Vegetables
Yay been waiting since chapter was posted on RR an hour ago. Cheers!
Bobtur
Thanks for the chapter
