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Chapter 27 - Next Steps Cont

Hadorix now called out to Maximus and requested he bring Alexus through the newly formed portal. Maximus agreed and within the hour, Alexus was brough through the portal. When Alexus arrived, Hadorix brought her and her soul stone to the throne.

Alexus looked around in amazement. While she did not realize she was in a spaceship, the chamber she entered was massive, and the portals were marvels she had never imagined.

When Hadorix got her to the throne, a soul stone slot opened next to his at the top of the throne and it began to glow as he moved Alexus soul stone towards it. He placed the stone in the slot, and Alexus began to glow with a bright red light. Upon feeling the power emanating from her, all that were present began to kneel. When the glow dissipated, Alexus gasped out in shock. She then spoke to Hadorix, "Hadorix, my system just told me it had been upgraded to an Archdruid system. This cant be right, aren't you the Archdruid?"

Hadorix replied, "It is as it should be. You are queen and by right rule by my side and in some cases will rule in my stead. We will share the mantle of Archdruid just as we share rulership of the Coven. Welcome home, Alexus, Queen of the Deviants."

· Quest Complete.

· Quest Reward Granted. Queens Manikins activated.

· New System functionality added. You and Alexus now have a shared quest log. "Congratulations Hadorix. You have married Alexus, as such was yours is hers and vice versa."

· Hidden Achievement completed. 3 Archdruids recruited.

After seeing the last notification, Hadorix had a request. "Alexus, you asked me once to bring back the old Kings guard, starting with recruiting the Cyclops. We are now joined in ever way. Gather your new gear from your Manikin, take Maximus and Brina, and go to the undead city and recruit the Cyclops. He will become the second member of your Queens Guard. When you return here, place his soul stone and that of the undead city in the throne just as you saw me place them.

Alexus was speechless. When she suggested Hadorix marry her it was purely a political move in the Coven. Never in a million years would she have dreamed it would enable her to command Maximus and the Cyclops. They were legendary warriors. She still could not wrap her head around what the throne and Deviant Home truly meant. Fortunately for her, Brina had also heard the request, and while she did not understand how he intended to convince the cyclops to join, she did see the wall open. She gently placed her hand on Alexus's shoulder and brought her over to her manikins. She had a matching set of manikins to Hadorix. A lion, a spider, and 4 humanoids. Though while Hadorix only had one Manikin with armor, each form had its own set for Alexus. Each set was of similar design. They glistened with black dragon scales outlined in red. On the center stood their family crest, clearly displayed. Alexus had no robe to cover her armor. The armor for her natural form bore a great many weapons. There were many throwing daggers bound around the legs and arms, swords at the hips on both sides, a mirrored version of Tree Slayer on her back, and many hidden shuriken in various locations. With this armament she had become a one-woman army.

Seeing the grand armor Alexus possessed Hadorix could not find it in himself to be jealous. He felt she deserved it. She was born to be Queen after all. He sent Alexus on her way and began to make his own plans. First, he planned to pay a visit to Casper. With this destination in mind, he called out to Leonidas and his wolves. When Hadorix left, they numbered only 6. When Leonidas arrived, he had 20 wolves following behind. It would seem every portion of the army had grown in Hadorix absence. With Leonidas Present, Hadorix had only a few things remaining to do before they ventured out. He called out to Adonis, the green fairy, the husky, and the woman the husky had bit. Hadorix would place their soul stones in the throne.

He started with Adonis. As they approached the throne, the first Beast Commander slot lit up. Hadorix gladly placed Adonis Soul stone inside. Adonis began to glow with a brilliant white light. Once the light dissipated, he moved toward the manikins that appeared beside Leonidas's manikin. Adonis had long envied Leonidas for his armor and could not wait to claim his own set. His armor was made from platinum dragon scales with a golden trim. In the center of the chest stood the crest of Hadorix a glowing red lion standing on a black spider's web. It reminded Hadorix of the armor of an ancient paladin.

· 26/10 Beasts Recruited.

Hadorix then moved to the Green Fairy. Hadorix was ashamed to admit he did not yet know her name. But he supposed this was easily remedied. When she arrived, he spoke, "Green Fairy, you have saved several of my peoples lives, and yet I find I do not even know your name. I am Hadorix, and I seek to add your soul stone to my throne. What are you called, and will you allow me to?"

The green fairy spoke, "Hadorix worry not. I have heard of your many adventures. I am Tealsa. It would be an honor to be added to the throne."

Hadorix and the green fairy then proceeded to the throne. As he approached the 7th druid slot began to glow. Hadorix placed her soul stone in the throne and Tealsa began to glow with a bright green light. When the glow dissipated, she summoned her new familiar, it was a hedgehog. She then shapeshifted into a hedgehog and ran towards her manikin. To Hadorix surprise, the armor Tealsa generated was a teal robe made with a silklike material with Hadorix crest on the center.

· 7/10 Druids Recruited.

Hadorix then went to the Husky and the Woman the Husky had bit. Hadorix spoke to them next, "I am sorry that I did not get your name before I disappeared. I am Hadorix, what should I call the two of you?"

The woman spoke, "My name is Ariel. The Husky is Drax. Can you put our soul stones in the throne please?"

Hadorix agreed and lead them both to the throne. The 8th druid slot glowed, but to Hadorix surprise it also split and formed two sockets. Hadorix inserted both soul stones into the sockets and stepped back. Ariel and Drax began to glow with a black light. When the glow dissipated, they were bound as one, you see, Drax became Ariels familiar. Drax had also grown to the size of a small horse. They both moved toward the newly formed manikins. The armor on the dog shaped one was pearl white scales with Hadorix family crest on the front. The human shaped was black leather with Hadorix family crest on the front. The human shaped armor had multiple weapons on them. There were whips on both sides as well as a set of daggers on the calves and swords on the hips.

· 8/10 Druids Recruited.

Hadorix attempted to hide his surprise yet was unable to do so. He welcomed everyone to the Deviant faction and invited them to join him on his trip to see Casper. They gladly agreed. Tealsa rode on Hadorix back, Ariel rode Drax, and the rest ran on the power of their own legs. The trip to Casper's wolf pack passed by extremely quickly. By the time Hadorix reached the entrance to Casper's cave, Casper was waiting to greet him.

Casper said, "Hadorix, it is always a pleasure to welcome you to the pack. Though the number of armored troops you bring with you concerns me. Do you intend to attack me my friend?"

Hadorix replied, "Casper my oldest ally, I would not dream of attacking you. I have been away for an exceptionally long time; I brought a portion of my people here to showcase the gains of officially joining me. Casper my dear friend, would you like to join the Deviant faction?"

Casper had expected this invitation and was honestly unsure how to respond. He could sense the power that Hadorix had gained. And he could not deny the desire to own a set of armor like that of Leonidas and Adonis. Yet he did not desire to lose his freedom of choice. He knew that if he agreed to join Hadorix, the gladiatorial fights would no longer be as they were. Casper knew that Hadorix hated the idea of slavery after all.

After a long period of silence, Casper replied, "Hadorix, it is not that I do not want to join you. It is that I do not wish to change the arena. If I join you, I will need to continue to live independently, and merely support you in your time of need. In return, I would ask for the same protection."

Hadorix considered this option and replied, "Casper my friend, I will gladly allow you your freedom. As to the arena, how about we compromise? You may take those that attack you as slaves. Innocents must be freed. I do not however intend for you to lose a great deal of wealth. I will purchase those you are going to free. Name your price."

This proposition would be hard to deny, as Hadorix gave him a method to keep the arena functioning, offered to increase his power, and would pay for those that did not meet the criteria he specified for combatants.

Casper replied, "Hadorix, you drive a hard bargain. Can you leave your people here? While you and I venture back to place my soul stone and that of my home in your throne, the pack can begin to collect what you call the innocents. After they collect them and I can see how many and what they are, I will provide you a bill."

Hadorix gladly agreed and brought Casper back to the throne. With the throne being located in his Land Grant this was a rather quick trip. He proceeded to place the soul stone of the Beast Arena in the throne. Afterwards, he placed Casper's soul stone into the stone directly under the Beast Arena. As such the throne registered Casper as the Alpha in command of that area. Once registered, Casper began to glow with a bright blue glow. When the glow dissipated, Deviant Home opened a new section with a new area of manikins for Casper and the Pack. The one for Casper contained a set of armor the appeared to be forged from the scales of a blue dragon. On the center of the chest, it bore the crest of Hadorix.

When Casper donned the armor, the soul stones of each member of his pack capable of combat appeared on the throne under Casper's command. As they were now bound to the throne, each of them would bear the crest of Hadorix on any armor they equipped and would gain the benefits such a mark would grant. This was far beyond the expectations of Casper; he was quite content with merely receiving the armor. He did not expect a gain for the entire pack.

With that completed, Hadorix lead Casper to the portal room. Alice had already generated a new portal to lead to Casper's home. Hadorix requested for Casper to return alone. He would be able to bring the innocents back through the portal as it would stand as long as they were bound to the throne.