Path of the Deathless (Book 3 Completed)

120 (II) Offer [II]

120 (II) Offer [II]

And immediately Shiv thought back to the adamantine-armored orc. “There are some orcs that might need this speech from you.”

the Challenger said, not offended at all.

"So what's the point of this speech?" Shiv asked. There was less heat in his voice now. "Some kind of pep talk about self-discipline or self-awareness?"

Shiv simply grunted. Despite his reluctance, he contemplated the Challenger’s words and suspected there was more than a little merit to them.

Philosophy 6 > 7

“Tell me about your offer. I'm here. I'm willing to listen, but I'm not going to make any promises.”

the Challenger declared.

Shiv couldn't help but laugh at that. "If this is your pitch, it's a pretty shit one."

the Challenger said.

"But you think I'm different," Shiv said. “That I can manage an orc army? Is that your sales pitch? ‘”

Rather than responding, Shiv just nodded at the sky.

“Yeah? And what kind of thrill is that?”

"What are you talking about?" Shiv asked.

Shiv wanted to spit some other acerbic remark at the Challenger, but he thought instead. He considered why the Challenger said what he'd just said, and he considered his Vitaemancy as well. He'd reached into Can Hu. He'd filled in the parts that were absent. He'd managed to change a skill from its broken state to merely being damaged.

And then he considered how his Vitae detonated when he speared it through the basilisk. Once more, Shiv summoned a swirl of Vitae upon his palm and stared at it. Within that mess of flowing red and white currents was his Unique Magical Skill. A Magical Skill that allowed him unfettered access to another's soul and vitality, but also let him grasp their bodies as well. Right?

Then he considered how he simply drank things out of existence. Trees. Animals. They faded into the Vitae like they never existed at all. Combining that with how his Outside Context Problem worked, Shiv realized what the Challenger was trying to say.

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"I am capable of more than just killing an orc," Shiv said. "You mean I can truly break them? Destroy their souls?"

the Challenger said

"You have no problem with this?" Shiv asked. "No problem with me ripping one of your… kids asunder? Killing them for good?”

And for the first time, the clouds parted to reveal an immense shape looming above. The Challenger was just as Shiv remembered him to be. Colossal of form, with scars that hid mass graves along their river-like lengths, and brilliant, shining eyes that were bewitching to look upon. The colossal orc sent down his declaration then, his tone changing from that of a lecturing mentor to one of an imperious god.

"Gateway," Shiv asked. "What gateway?"

"I'm already going to have to shepherd all your little monsters. What do you mean by ‘not so easily’?”

The Challenger chuckled.

"What's that?" Shiv asked.

"So, kill to recruit," Shiv said. He considered the offer, and it was simple. Simple, but also poisonous. Poisonous, but also potent. Vicar Sullain had an orc serving in his forces. Shiv had killed that orc, but it took a little bit of cunning and quite a bit of force. If he could get more than a few orcs like that, then maybe, just maybe, he could make a fight of this. As for the Gateway part, he would need to see if it could be set up in a way that only allowed one-way access to its activation or something.

As with everything, though, there were costs, and there were risks. Shiv thought of everything the orcs could provide, and of his own capabilities. He was definitely going to need Uva's help—everyone's help, to keep these orcs under control. But most importantly, he needed to keep their eyes on him. He needed to be the one they wanted to test their mettle against, not anyone else. And he needed to make it clear that if the orcs harmed anyone else, he would kill them for good. He would find a way to break their very souls rather than just slaying them normally.

Shiv thought to himself. Shiv couldn't believe it. He was actually considering this seriously, considering accepting the Challenger's offer. But not yet.

"I'll tell you what," Shiv said, holding his head high. "I'll get back to you on this. I've got a few other people to consult with, and a few things to figure out."

the Challenger said.

"Well, I'm glad to please," Shiv scoffed. "So, we're basically done here, huh? Your offer is that we need to connect our gateway to your Tutorial so that you can funnel in what should be attacking Lone Star this summer, and that for every Initiate or Adept or Master or Hero or Legend I kill, an orc of the equivalent Tier will join in."

New Ritual: Bloodrites of the Vaketh-Insul - Slay enemies of an appropriate quantity and Tier to gain an equivalent in orc recruits from the Lone Star Orchestra.

“Vaketh-Insul?” Shiv asked.

Shiv gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine, I got it. Now, send me back."

the Challenger said.

"What are you talking about?" Shiv asked, worry creeping into his voice.

Shiv's eyes widened. "Wait, how many—”

And as Shiv blinked out of existence once more, the Challenger laughed, smiling down at the landscape of ruin from which his children hatched anew