"Everyone line up. we had a surprising number pass the first test. the first hundred yards were a pass. The second would allow you to receive a secondary reward after all the tests and.. The next test will be in the forest behind us. The deeper you go the more powerful and numerous the beasts. You will see I giant snake blocking your path if you go far enough. DO NOT DISTURB HER! She is an Academy protector on the level of the Academy ancestors. She is there to scare the more powerful beasts into leaving you alone. The test will end in three days, if you have not exited the forest by then or collected enough you will fail. That is all, you may now head inside. "After saying that Core disciple Jason turned to leave.
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"Damn these spiders. " Isabel screamed before burying her axe in the skull of the last stone spider. Stone spiders were the size of a small pony from earth, and covered in a solid rock armour. Surprisingly they were extremly fast. This is our 4th large group of monsters before coming this far. We had been deciding if we should head deeper or stay here.
" I think we should recruit here before we head deeper. Since we are going to build a faction and we are going to be your generals we need troops. At least 10 a piece. Eighty total should work, we still have those 2 mystery people joining us later that James has told us about. " Nizhoni said after the battle was over.
" I agree with Nizhoni, that we need troops. but currently we only have enough for us to reach outer disciple and are still 5 points from letting all of us do so. 80 more people plus the 8 of us we already have means we need 440,000. we would need to head deeper and fight with our lives to acquire that amount. " Kurt replied with his opinion on the matter.
" I agree with these ideas. Sarah head out with James. Look for people determined and loyal. With you twos abilities nobody can fool you in the rose regards. If they are willing to join we will except them. " I said after thinking on the matter for a while longer. " Make sure to bring them back by tonight. We will head out tomorrow to the core area. "
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Once everyone returned, we helped them bed down. "I know you don't know me yet. I am an eldritch knight with lacking talent. I come from a minor city in a small barony. Me and my team are friends and family first. But as a group I am the leader. i shoulder the blame for a loss and my blood is spilt to ensure their safety. If you join us we will all risk our lives so we all become inner disciples. If you join, you will be devided into teams of 10 , each team lead by one of my current followers. My friend James can "see" the future so he know my other two generals are out there which is why I had 80 people brought." I explained to them calmly but passionately.
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Surprisingly no-one left last night so after gathering everything we grouped up and headed out.
"I think we need to practice on smaller groups so that each team can get used to working as a team. " Isabel stated.
"You are right. But we only have 2 more days so we need to hurry. James is scouting for any swarm type beasts. If he can find one maybe our points will be enough. I also heard that faction leaders can request to pass the giant snake, they cannot bring their faction though. If we are running low I will take a "Demon's Rage" pill and cross the border to kill a stage 5 beast or two worth a hundred thousand each. " I said, my team does not look happy with my idea but they just not their heads after a while.
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Around noon James came running back. " I've found a nest of fire scorpions. There are a hundred tier fours in the group and I don't know how many other. If we use a ghast smoke pill they will leave the cave they're in. We can set up an ambush at the exit. I already checked there is only one other exit which we can block. The main one is large enough for us to do teams of twenty and when one group tire we alternate. "James quickly explained the nest and his idea for handling it.
"Ok this sounds like it could work. Maybe we could even get all the points we need?" I said after hearing him out. " Let's head over there and set up."
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After making a "ghast smoke" pill Nizhoni passed it to james. "Hurry you have, 30 seconds before it explodes and releases the noxious smell."
James took off at a sprint into the cave. we all hope he won't be caught before dropping off the "present" we prepared. Kurt was the only one not here. Kurt would be using his giant golem form to cave in the other entrance.
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The battle has been ongoing for a few hours now. By this point everyone is exhausted. every time the lines shift I release feavens wrath to by them time to reorganize. After all this battle everyone is moving in sync. Tania is doing great at healing.
Suddenly a loud screech was heard. Looking over our faces pale. One of the tier four leaders was evolving. it would wreck the new troops. Only those of my original team can fight a tier five fire scorpion and only with 2 or more can we kill it. Unfortunately the scorpion in question was too far from us and would have plenty of time to kill the new members.
James had his legs broke a little while ago so couldn't run ret. Me and Nizhoni ran as fast as we could hoping to lower the number of casualties. I was kicking myself for my hubris in coming hear to face a swarm.
"DOOOONG"
We heard a loud sound ring out. Looking in its direction we see a tall man glowing gold and white spitting up blood. Right after spitting he runs to block the tier 5 beast again. The second hit removes his left arm. but he still goes forward to block.
At that point me and nizhoni finally reach him. "Stand back I will kill it myself. " Nizhoni screamed. I was about to argue before I saw the rage and pain in her eyes. Slowly I no my head but I continue to grip my glaive ready to help as soon as she needs it. While she fights I ask the young man if he wants me to caterize the wound. Hearing me he quickly nods. We can get his arm regrown at the Academy.