Ash thought back to the exchange the boys had a couple hours ago.
"What was it like fighting the three disasters?" A solemn air replacing the once laid back atmosphere as Baika answered in a tense tone.
"Supernatural. You throw something at them and they throw it back five times harder. He's still recovering, but Hector, one of the kingdom's prince's fought the Demon goat. He was the least injured among us and still sustained heavy injuries. Kaz and I fought the asura and it killed many of our brothers. Kaz may not look it but he's strong, him, along with some of the smaller groups made it possible to push the creature back. It was inexhaustible. The cyclops completely decimated the smaller groups to where there aren't a whole lot."
Kaz's face dark as Macko's blissful tail swinging stopped, replaced with stillness. "Well, maybe this can lift your spirits a bit." Pulling the crown out of his bag of holding, Baika's eyes went wide. Kaz smiled but it quickly turned into fanatism when he saw the unassuming crown.
"What kinda metal is that, hehehhe?" Wanting to snatch it, both Ash and Baika gave him disdainful looks.
"Ash, you can take the crown and put it on the statue or.... you can sell it to me." Craftiness dwelled in the bald-headed boy but surprise soon stifled it.
"I'll sell it to you then. I want one massive favor and a lot of resources." Ash tossed the crown to the young monk faster than the other could have ever imagined.
"Why?"
Not breaking eye contact Ash just heaved a sigh and answered, "Because that thing will draw too much attention to me. Plus I know that after we're outta here there will be a steep investigation and I don't want to get caught in that. My final reason being I need actual resources and that favor will come in handy."
Baika smiled before nodding at the boy. "Understood, I'll owe you that favor and let me know what resources you need. The day after tomorrow will be the day we make our stand against the disasters then." Baika's hand trembled slightly but he quickly left to get prepared.
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Dawn welcomed them but only in the rigidity of actual time. There was no sun or warm weather to welcome the boys.
"I got your back twig this fight is gonna be something else though."
"I'm sure. Bet your ass we'll kill a disaster each."
"Damn straight, pops is gonna lose his beard if we bring back their parts." The coalition seemed to be abuzz far more than usual. The boys sat and joked in the face of all of it. Macko sat with his tail swinging, Grim perched on the calf's horns, and pocket leaning against Macko.
The boys and their bonds talked and laughed for awhile until a clear bell rang.
Baika spoke, "Listen up guys. We have the third ornament." A whisper that collectively sounded like gasps and half placed exclamations rang out.
"We will activate the statue but we will also prepare to fight the three disasters. Do not be fear, we have: Artemis of the Demon Lillies, Zamma of the Clown Gods, Expert Barbo from the School of Primals, Sir Kraven from the Blood Sect, Bertha from the Taotie Sect, Sir Alvin of one of the mystery schools, Otto Rothson from the Rothson family, myself, and the Seventh Prince Hector.
The crowd's initial despondence would've been noticeable by an ant but mentioning names from accredited organizations eased the people.
"Even more so, we have all of you from the various schools and sects to assist us in this battle. I know we have lost many but today we leave this place. Once the ornament is put in the statue the portal will open once more. Now that the realm is embroiled in conflict there are only two worries. The disasters and the distance from the portal. With everyone's help, there will be a clear resolution. All of the various parties involved will be paid with 10 mid-grade qi condensation stones once we leave. You have my word as a core disciple of the Orchard sect and the Rothsons will oversee the distribution."
The crowd whooped and hollered at the last part. However, looking at all of the soon to be leading figures. Ash recognized two of them. Grabbing Kaz and pulling him to a more out of sight location, he questioned cautiously.
"Kaz, I recognize that girl. Artemis, she's the one you insulted right?"
"Mmmm, yeah why?"
"We should be careful of her, and there was another guy we need to be careful of. That guy Kraven tried to kill me when I ran into him before I got here. Plus, well...there was another girl, Helena something that I offended."
Eyes squinting, Kaz sat on the new information while thinking. "That creep has always been standoffish and disregards what the others say. I think you'll be ok as long as you stay out of his sight for now. Bastard sacrificed his entire crew in order to get his bond, he's still very injured from the event. Artemis probably doesn't even remember us but that Kravin guy is bad news. I don't know any Helena girl but I'll be on the look out. I better not hear you talk about me offending people when you make cannibals your first enemy."
Heaving a breath after confiding what happened, Ash let out a nervous smile.
"I'm sorry Kaz, let's gather up any last minute things we need for this battle. You got talismans, healing material, etc."
"Mmmmm, yeah I'm good because I've been here for awhile. Go to Otto Rothson's emporium and give him the crest Baika gave you. Get whatever you need, the monk is good for it."
The two slapped their hands, yanked on their nose, and did a fist bump. Ash and his two bonds went off to Otto's emporium which seemed as busy as a bee hive.
Ash waited in line but did so happily as the extra time helped him organize what was needed and what was wanted.
'I need healing materials, some items to clean my weapons, special arrows, and I wonder if they have anything for Grim and Pocket.'
As time pushed forward so was the line and Ash approached the counter.
"Excuse me ma'am I got this from Baika and I was told by him he would take care of expenses."
Handing over the token the woman's eyes shrunk slightly before she told Ash to come around to the back.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't want everyone to see what you requested and for them to question why you get it for free. What would you like sir?
"I need 5 pure vials of nutrition lover's pills, 5 vials of pure mid-grade healing, 3 vials of berserker pills, and a vial of pure soul nourishing pills, plus some Gomba berries, Tuva root, Maca Maca toes-
Ash listed material after material without the slightest bit of shame.
"Then I need a weapon cleaning kit, 5 flame tornadoe talisman, 3 Ocean shield talisman, 3 Slyph walker talisman, 30 explosive arrows, 30 armor piercing arrows, and 30 debilitating arrows."
"Last, I'll need some materials for bonds. They must be death, blood, earth, and metal related."
'I don't know if she'll have much regarding the last one but everything else is doable."
By now the sweet looking girl had a furrowed brow. "You sure Baika is ok with the amount you'll spend?"
Ash answered without hesitation, "Yes". The girl could hardly believe the boy's shamelessness but performed her duty nonetheless.
In only two minutes she returned with everything he'd asked for. Handing him a paper was a list of materials that had to do with the four elements requested.
"Dead man's nails, good stuff, silver tungsten, good stuff, cavern rue, also good stuff. Huh?" One item in particular made Ash's eyes narrow and even Grim started to caw like crazy.
Ash looked and contemplated what he needed most right now.
"I'll take the Skeletal claw, Blood raven's bird brain, Jinn's token, Mole king's tongue, and fragmented Silver essence." The girl's eyebrow jolted at the request but immediately set to get everything and once it was handed over, she shut the back door without letting Ash say a word.
"Well that's to be expected." Heading back to the Orchard sect's camping area, Ash found Kaz and took the tent next to him.
Getting to work immediately, Ash organized all of his gains, cleaned his weapons, and then prepped the materials that would be given to each bond. Bead after bead slipped from the young man's head as he worked to crush, mix, heat, and cool various materials.
Grim was busy switching from death element to blood, while Pocket did the same. However, neither of the bond's eyes left Ash. The smells, the energy, it was the cause of much anticipation.
"Alright, finally." Done with his mysterious work, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow. Looking up he smiled before looking at one bond and then the other.
"Who gets to go first guys?" Ash's wide smile left the two dazed but only for mere seconds before Pocket tried to use [Soil Toss] but Grim Grabbed the goblin's head and slammed it into the ground. Grim promptly flew forth in front of Ash. Frustration and annoyance present in the little goblin's eyes.
The skeletal claw was melted down and combined with herbs into what now looked like a dark green and black worm.
" Start with this first." Grim looked to the side at the Bird brain now encased in a sweet-smelling crystal.
"Listen to what I'm saying Grim." The bird cawed in annoyance and snatched up the worm like food.
Ashton watched as Grim's figure tremored ever so slightly. The claws on Grim changed a bit. The leathery skin turned white with black bone surrounding the phalanges like armor. The claw itself now a complete black with red lines outlining the formation of a deeper claw within.
'They look a bit bigger too, well worth asking for.' Grim's eyes flashed white before turning back to normal. Taking the crystalized brain in hand, Ash held it as Grim cawed incessantly.
"Alright, Alright. When you eat this, channel the energy around yourself the best you can."
Tossing the crystal in the air, Grim ate it in whole. The bird's eyes flashed a pure red while the bird shook. The crown imprint on Grim's head progressed, a few more white notches added, that got closer to completely surrounding the head. A red tint now lining the bottom of all the notches.
Grim held his wings in close while seemingly sitting down. 'Hope this finishes before tomorrow.'
"Feeling the intense jealously of Pocket, Ash addressed him. "Time for you too buddy." A toss and the greedy goblin snatched the Jinn's token out of mid-air.
"Keep that tok--" Not even before his sentence was finished did his little goblin hide the token somewhere on his being.
Taking out the Fragmented Silver, Ash had created a chemical bath dissolving the unnecessary parts and now only three silver shards surrounded by dirty brown essence were left.
Pocket's eyes widened as Ash threw them to him. Just like Grim the material was devoured in an instant. Ash then tossed the Mole rate king's tongue which was now combined with herbs to create a small square that smelled of pineapples.
Pocket's body shook as well, a silver and brown gleam radiating off the scales covering his body. Some of the goblin's muscles swelled as small silver markings started to appear on every individual scale. Pocket's ear now had the Jinn's token adorning his ear like an earing while his hands and feet grew slightly. Ash smiled but raised an eyebrow when Pocket laid down on the floor and went fast to sleep like Grim
Tired after the ordeal, Ash didn't even clean up as he too went to sleep.
'Urghhh, what the heck.' Though not conscious, a line was visible to Ash. At the top of the line was him but beneath him were two nodes. Both of which grew slightly, an energy radiated off the two causing a special type of energy he'd never felt to be shared by all three. Pulsating waves passed over him like a wave but at the end of it he heard a loud caw and hiss.