Hadorix received a notification.
· Quest completed. Cyclops recruited.
· Reward granted. Unknown city and Alexus favorability increased by 25.
Alexus completed her quest rather quickly. Hadorix marked one more item off the list of things he had to complete. It was now time for him to return to the lower depths of Anvilmar. Hadorix briefly considered how best to manage this, in the end he decided to change into the armor he wore on his previous trip. This way he would be more easily recognizable. With that in mind he asked Alice how to refer to the manikins to change his gear.
Alice replied, "Now I know your being silly. I can read your mind, all you need to do is picture the armor you want, and it will be equipped. Whatever your wearing will return to one of the manikins in your section. Now that my functionality is returned, every member of the army will have the same luxury. Picture your armor in your mind, and you can wear it. It is truly that simple. As the King, you also can picture any weapon or item that is in inventory. If it does not belong to another individual's manikin, you can summon it to you. On an unrelated topic, Hadorix I have been looking through the inventory of beings in Melatonin. There are several druids that would pledge allegiance to Anubis. I suggest you bring Anubis here and allow them too. There are also many high ranked members of the coven that would serve you, I suggest you bring them back as well. While you are in Melatonin, there are also a vast quantity of spirits there, some of which served with me prior to the sealing of supers above grade C. May I request they be revived and fill the ranks of guardian spirits? We will easily be able to fill the initial 10, however I believe we can recruit far more than that. The throne will expand to accommodate them all. You will need all the help you can get for what will come when you enter the galaxy. My final suggestion is a bit riskier. I am on my way back with the spaceship the World Tree arrived in. Once it is returned and repaired, I suggest you send out a portion of the Shadow Armory to seek resources. They could start with no named pirates. With the ships they capture they could send out more of the Shadow Armory. I have also aided Anubis in reviving the AI of the Spiders lair. It is also a rather high-grade super on the verge of becoming Grade S. I suggest you allow Anubis to fly the newly awakened Spiders Lair into the galaxy to claim resources. It will be able to teleport asteroids and meteors here easily, he would also have the capabilities to challenge small time pirates and claim their resources and the souls of their members. With my powers, we can instantly bring them all back if trouble arises. The risk to our group is minimal and the potential rewards are rather significant."
Hadorix considered what Alice suggested. On one hand it made sense, on the other, she had stressed the risk of the fortress being seen. Ultimately, he decided it would be up to Anubis and One. Hadorix summoned them both to discuss it.
When they both arrived, Hadorix began, "We have an opportunity to gain a significant number of resources to help us move into galactic society. That opportunity will come with some risk. The risks would be taken by both the Shadow Armory and those under the command of you Archdruid Anubis. This would consist of both of your groups venturing into the galaxy and claiming asteroids that are laden with minerals as well as the ships of pirates and other non-law-abiding citizens. I am told that if you turn in the pirates to the nearest law enforcement group you will be entitled to any resources you obtain during their capture. In our case, you would also be able to obtain the souls of those pirates you slay to power the well of souls. Alice currently possesses a body and has went out to claim the spaceship that the World Tree arrived in. She is bringing it back at present in hopes that the Shadow Armory will accept the quest I am offering them. The more pirate ships you can claim the more members of the Shadow Armory will be able to go out. As for you Anubis, it would be asked that you take the fortress known as the Spiders Lair and do the same. To enable your success, Alice has several suggestions on potential recruits from the prison known as Melatonin that you may desire to join your ranks. You have permission to raise any quantity of forces you desire; however, you deem fit. This will of course include the possibility of you flying your fortress to Earth to claim your army if you desire to do so. If you do, I would request you gather some of the asteroids near Earth, as there are several that are laden with rare Earth minerals, focus on those that possess silver and platinum if possible."
One replied first, "Commander I do not think you understand what we are. We are merely weapons that you point at enemies. If this is your command, we will comply."
Hadorix responded, "One, that may have been what you were in the past, however you are now under my command. As my officer in command of the Shadow Armory, I seek your opinion, is this a mission you desire to undertake?"
One replied, "Commander, it would be an honor to perform this service for you. We will bring you all the resources you desire."
Anubis spoke next. "The prisoners Alice suggests, can I take them freely or do I need to seek permission?"
Hadorix replied, "You may discuss the prisoners with Alice. If they are on her list, or if she approves your taking them, you need seek no other permissions. She will act as warden of the prison."
Anubis responded, "Very well then, this will greatly increase the speed at which I can gather troops. I have convinced Ember to stay with the eggs. They will see no danger if she is with them, and she will get word to me when they hatch. I accept your request."
Alice then spoke once more, "Hadorix, I know I initially suggested the spirits from Melatonin be placed as the primary 10 guardian spirits of Deviant Home, however, I have changed my mind. Would it be possible to create my own force? I could utilize some of the spaceships of my people to distract the World Tree from your other forces. I also request that I be able to use the body that is currently bringing back the spaceship to lead them. Since I can teleport them back at will, no one will be able to trace where they came from, and once my people's ships are seen, if any of my people still live free there is a chance, they will attempt to connect with me. Sending out all three elite units would be the fastest way to grow our resources."
Hadorix replied, "I appreciate you volunteering to take on this risk. I agree on the condition that all three of the elite units that go out maintain contact. If possible, protect one another. While I know you can all resurrect at the throne, I would prefer for that not to happen. I also suggest you take the high-level members of the Coven as well. From what you have said there should be more than enough spaceships."
Alice squealed with excitement; she had already anticipated Hadorix declining the request to grow his personal troops. The addition of the Coven was far beyond her expectations. She then began to revive the spirits and coven members she wanted as well as discuss the others with Anubis. Growing the power of the army would be far faster than Hadorix would have ever thought possible due to the existence of Melatonin.
With that taken care of, Hadorix thought of the situation in Anvilmar's dungeons. This brought back the memory of Ilana's soul stone. Hadorix quickly brought it out of his inventory and moved to his throne. The ninth druid slot began to glow. Hadorix inserted Ilana's soul stone into the slot. He then pictured Ilana and she appeared in front of him. Ilana wore mismatched armor and held a poorly crafted short sword. She looked dazed and disoriented. Once her vision cleared, she spoke.
· 9/10 Druids Recruited.
"Hadorix is that you? It has been so exceptionally long, I thought you had forgotten me."
Hadorix replied, "I am sorry Ilana, my return home was delayed. I am here now, what has happened since last we met?"
Ilana replied, "I fought in the arena, and I killed many creatures. Some of my own kind fell to my blade, hell some of yours did as well. How did you teleport me here? I was in a battle, for once I was losing, and then I was bathed in a bright light that made me feel so much more powerful, and then I was here. What powers do you possess? How is this even possible."
Hadorix replied, "I am the Archdruid. When your soul stone entered my throne, you became my 9th druid. You will now have many abilities you did not possess before. You also have a new set of armor should you wish to claim it." Hadorix then explained how the system worked and how Ilana could utilize it to grow stronger and view her abilities.
Ilana then tried her shapeshifting. She shapeshifted into a huge black spider. She then shifted back to her elven form and summoned her familiar. It was also a huge black spider. Both the familiar and the shapeshifting produced a spider with legs as long as Hadorix was tall. They were a fearsome sight.
Hadorix led Ilana to her armor manikin. Her armor was rather different from that of the others. It had no definite color, instead it adapted the color of its surroundings. When Ilana wore it, she would be completely invisible, even her weapons shared the same characteristics. Hadorix was extremely impressed, he did not know such a thing even existed.
Now that Ilana had some time to realize her new situation, Hadorix began to question her again. "Ilana, can you tell me how many spirits there are in the Great Gladiatorial games? Do you know how many guards there are?"
Ilana answered, "I've seen hundreds of guards. The strongest was a grade D super. A group of 10 spirits rule over the games, however there are many spirits that are prisoners that are forced to compete. I have killed at least 3 spirits in the last year."
Hadorix considered this, hundreds of guards could potentially be a problem for just the two of them. He no longer needed to accomplish this task alone. In fact, he had many groups he could rely on for aid. He began to list them out.
1. The Shadow Armory.
2. The Druids.
3. Leonidas and his pack.
4. Casper and his pack.
5. Anubis and his elite force.
6. Alice.
7. The Coven.
8. The Anvilmar city guard.
Hadorix considered his options. He eventually decided to send out The Shadow Armory members that were not venturing out in the World Trees spaceship, Ilana, Adonis, The druids, Leonidas and his pack, and the Anvilmar Guard. With that quantity of soldiers going out, Hadorix began to consider whether he truly needed to go. While he contemplated, Cato walked out. Upon seeing Hadorix he began to shudder in fear.
Hadorix tried to reassure him, he said, "Cato, welcome back among the living. I am offering you a new lease on life. If you are willing to serve your new King and change your attitude, I may be willing to keep your status as Prince. How do you feel about that?"
Cato replied, "New King? What happened to my father? Who is the new King?"
Hadorix responded, "I killed your father. He attempted to have me killed after your death. I have since become King of the Coven. Can you serve a human?"
Cato was clearly at a loss for words. He had felt humans were beneath him his entire life. Could he now serve one? Cato said, "Hadorix it would appear I have no choice other than to serve you. If you truly are King of the Coven that is. After all, that is my home. Whether I am allowed to remain a noble or not, it is where I belong. What would you ask of me?"
At that point in the conversation, Alexus returned with the Kings Guard and Brina. Upon seeing Cato, Alexus gasped in surprise.
Hadorix replied, "Welcome back my wife. When I killed Cato in the pit, I managed to claim his soul. Alice gave me the option to reattach his soul to a mechanical body made in his own image. I chose to do so and that is what you see in front of you. Cato, I would ask that you, Maximus, and Zed go with my troops into the depths of Anvilmar and free the prisoners there. Alexus, you are welcome to join them if you desire, though I would ask that you take your Queens guard if you do."
Alexus responded, "Rescuing slaves in the name of my husband and the Deviant faction? I would love to. Most of my life was spent protected in the Coven. I appreciate you giving me the freedom to choose my own destiny."
Alexus then summoned Patricia and Cyclops and informed them of what they would be doing. Patricia asked if the Coven army could join. It would be good for them to join their allies. Alexus then recalled she needed to add the soul stone of the unnamed city into the throne. When she did, the soul stones of all the undead appeared within the city. Alexus decided to allow them to join as well. She and Hadorix began to summon the various groups into the throne room. Once there, Hadorix made an announcement.
"Welcome my Deviant brothers and sisters. Today you will all be under the command of my lovely wife Alexus. She will be following the newest member of the druids, Ilana to the depths of the Anvilmar dungeons. There you will combat many guards and multiple spirits that have taken a great many creatures as slaves. The slaves are to be healed and set free. Tealsa, I ask that you oversee the healing with the aid of Obcha. The souls of the dead are to be sent to the Well of Souls. Spare any that chose to lay down their arms. They will serve in the gladiatorial pits. Any freed slaves that wish to continue to fight, will make up the first of the gladiatorial schools. Any of you that desire, can create your own gladiatorial school and hire creatures, or fight in the arenas yourselves. All but the prisoners of war will be paid for their time in the arena."