“Tell your people to relax and follow me. Richard we will debrief in a moment. No need to worry about those here.
“In the meantime I want all war preparations you have made brought to the forefront. Things will be starting soon.”
The woman barked an order at the gathered forces, and they quickly dispersed in efficient fashion. Some went to train it seems, while others headed towards tents. They were an efficient and well trained group.
Which made me wonder about a few things.
Anyway, Richard’s features grew a bit solemn at my words before running off to carry out the things I asked.
Next I turned to the boys.
“Frian, gather the Ash Guard and have them stationed outside of the City Lord mansion. As soon as I’m ready, I want a report of their actions over the past 8 months.
“Lirian, they likely already know I’m here, but visit Greja and Jrino. Tell them I will meet with them as soon as possible.”
“Yes Patriarch!”
“Yes Patriarch!”
The boys snapped off swift salutes before running off to follow their orders.
Scalera observed all of this silently but made no comment.
She then fell in behind me without missing a beat as I began walking back towards the office. Her discipline was shining through.
Though it wasn’t lost on me just exactly what was happening here.
This woman was without a shadow of a doubt someone in the Nascent Soul Realm. She could snap me in half before I had to time to realize I was dead. Yet here she was. Walking behind me like a loyal soldier.
Anyway, only a few moments later and we were seated in my office. Well I was seated, she chose to remain standing.
“You mentioned you serve another. To clarify, does that mean you are a part of their Clan?”
“Yes Patriarch.”
“Does that mean you can use the Eternal Flame?”
“No Patriarch. I have not been granted that right, nor it is my place to question it.”
Hm, I guess that’s a sore topic for her.
“I see. Then among the gathered forces outside of the West Gate. How many are a part of your Clan?”
“Including myself, there are a total of 50 Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators. Half of us are a part of the Clan.”
Hm, so there are 25 Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators here that serve another Matriarch, while the other half are clan less…and might potentially be looking to impress enough to join mine. Hm. Honestly that seems like a stretch to me, but we’ll see.
Though that’s just the Nascent Realm folks… there were thousands of people out there.
“How many of you are here?”
“There are 10,000 Qi Refinement Cultivators, 1000 Core Formation Cultivators and you are aware of the Nascent Soul Cultivators.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
…Over 10,000 Infernals are standing outside of my City. I am responsible for them as they fight this war for Earth on my behalf.
That’s not a light responsibility at all.
I will need to make sure I keep that in mind.
Next.
“I was informed by Elder Zal that all of you are to be under my command. Are you aware of this and will it be an issue.”
As I asked that question something within me shifted. The Flame that was intertwined with my very soul felt…challenged.
It wasn’t communicating to me with words per se, but I got the feeling clear as day.
Why am I asking this question? Why is it even a thought that the Infernal standing respectfully before me, who is strong enough to snap me out of existence, would even think to be disobey my orders.
The Eternal Flame didn’t feel challenged by Scalera here. It felt it at me.
As if it was reminding me just who I was. What I was.
An Infernal who was not a Patriarchal or Matriarchal figure questioning me?
They would burn.
They would burn Eternally.
I understand. The mistake won’t happen again. Though…I will have to remind myself not to allow this power to twist into arrogance. At least arrogance that lacked the true power of a much stronger cultivator.
Anyway…while I knew the flame’s irritation was directed at me, and I fully understood it. I couldn’t say the same for Scalera.
At some point the flames had materialized around my body. It was only a small amount, and it did it on its own.
Nothing was being burned, and the temperature of the room hadn’t even shifted a smidge.
Apart from the light layer of pitch black flames coating my body, everything was normal.
Yet Scalera was sweating,
Sweating significantly.
A Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator was sweating.
And it wasn’t just a few barely noticeable drops.
She was genuinely sweating as beads of water continuously dripped down her body.
A part of me felt bad. It was not my intention to cause her distress.
This is really a learning moment for me. I suppose this is why Elder Zal never truly told me every single detail.
I needed to experience some of these things myself. Even my flames. I could feel that it had no intention of receding during the rest of this interaction.
I know that it would only take a moment to make it do exactly that, but it didn’t feel right to do that, so her distress would continue for now.
And that was only assuming my flames were the cause of her distress. I don’t think it’s the actual heat of the flames since right there wasn’t really any, maybe just ther sight of it?
Anyway, she bowed her head deeply before finally responding to my question.
“By Clan Law, I cannot kneel before another, but I assure you Patriarch, there will be no cause for concern in regard to my discipline. I will carry out all orders with certainty and the utmost efficiency.
“I will also ensure the contingent follows is kept to the same standard.”
“Good. Do not be afraid to give your opinions, any and all advice regarding the war is welcomed. For now, return to your contingent. Be ready to move at a moments notice. The enemy will be here soon.”
“By your leave Patriarch.”
After that, and with her head remaining bowed, Scalera calmly walked out of my office.
And it was only after she left, that my flames calmed down and receded back into my body.
Hm.
I’ll truly have to be careful going forward.
After that meeting with Scalera, a lot more meetings followed.
Richard was running around doing stuff so in the meantime I met up with the members of the Ash Guard.
Only four of them had advanced to the mid stage of Qi Refinement while the others were apparently close.
Apart from advancing their cultivation, they had spent this time training like never before with a focus on combat vs people.
Apparently Jrino had taken it upon himself to better their fighting skills. I’m sure that was particularly fun for them…
Anyway, they too were told to prepare for to fight at a moments notice.
That was all I could tell them for now. I had no idea what this war would look like or even how the fighting would begin.
What if the vamps simply landed on the other side of the Planet without me even knowing and then did whatever they had to do over there and I could do nothing to stop it.
Or maybe they plan to converge all of their forces on my City alone.
Considering me and the backing behind me a big threat and moving to kill me first.
And even the demons…they were thousands of them here on Earth. I doubt they just sit still and watch as everything happens without doing anything.
Even the other factions on the Planet. What would they do?
I really had no idea just how all of this would play out.
It was then that it happened.
Since I was in my office I felt it long before I saw it.
It felt as if a weight had just been placed on my body. Like something was pressing me down from above.
The feeling wasn’t oppressive enough to stop me from moving, but if a normal person was experiencing this it would feel far worse. Like they were walking in mud with a small dumbbell on their backs.
It only took a second for the feeling to settle in before I could hear something coming from outside.
Screams.
The people in the City were screaming.
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P.S Book One of Infernal Apocalypse will be Stubbing this year as well!!!
