On a city high up in a mountain, a white-feathered harpy was reading a few reports and laughing aloud.
Her right-hand woman looked sideways and sighed.
Tengliu asked with a smirk. "Did little Yasenia really do all of this?"
The woman with red feathers nodded. "Yes, she destroyed Five Shadow Fang, ignoring the fact that they are from a Nine sect. Then, she didn't stop there and destroyed another five clans that messed with her. Moreover, she ignored the Steel Back Wolves' and Desert Sand Garuda's warning about her dealing with their disciples in her sect and killed the City Lord of Koran City, a direct child from the current Steel Back Wolves Patriarch."
Tengliu burst into laughter again, flapping her wings in amusement. "As expected of little Yasenia, she is such an amusing child~."
The woman frowned and looked at Tengliu. "Tengliu-."
Tengliu cut her words with a flat tone. "Call me Matriarch Tengliu. We are not that close."
The red-feathered harpy sighed. "Matriarch Tengliu, I've investigated and found out that the dragoness still has a grudge against you. Aren't you worried that she will do something to you when she gets stronger? I think it's not a good thing to raise a person that could harm you."
Tengliu was silent for a moment. Then, she said. "She told me that the punishment would be beating me badly in combat. I don't care if she breaks all of my bones during a fair fight once or twice…"
"But, what if-"
"I know." Tengliu cut her again, her purple eyes looking out of the window at the prosperous Harpy Capital. Then, she smiled again. "That little girl is heartless and ruthless with those who step on her bottom line, but… I feel that my sincerity is reaching her. Our relationship is not at a point that's impossible to repair because I offended her when she couldn't retaliate, giving me a chance."
Tengliu looked at the sky and muttered. "I feel like Little Yasenia is not someone that will be limited by this World. So, if reports about her come, send them directly to me. Also, help her power to an extent that it won't affect us much negatively. Suffering some losses is okay, but don't be too selfish. I like the little girl, but even if I'm trying to repair our relationship, we are not her slaves. The conflict is a personal thing, after all."
The red-feathered woman sighed in relief. 'At least, Tengliu doesn't intend to become a tool. I thought that she was charmed to the point of stupidity by that dragon.'
A harpy entered with an urgent voice and said. "Matriarch, the Nine Silent Fang Sect has sent top assassins to the Astral Sky Sect. It seems that Yasenia captured or killed five of their nine fang assassins, so they are quite furious."
Tengliu's face dropped. "Did my and Coraline's warning reach them?"
The harpy nodded.
Tengliu stood up and ordered. "Let's visit those senile people with Alzheimer's. It seems that unless I make a physical warning, they will eventually forget that they can't ignore my words easily."
***
In a city deep underwater where the pressure would kill ordinary land mortals, many aquatic people lived under the rule of one of the strongest clans, the [Sun Engulfing Ore Lobsters].
A woman and man wearing royal robes sat on thrones in a castle-like building. One level below them, fifteen more women sat in fancy dresses. They were the Lobster King, Queen, and the King's concubines.
A man entered the throne room in the middle of a conversation, making the King frown. He was a handsome middle-aged man with a tall, muscular build and pinkish hair. "Why did you interrupt our meeting?"
The Queen, Coraline, spoke. "He is from my people. If he is here, it is about Ebirah."
A few concubines frowned for an instant, but their faces returned to normal.
Meanwhile, the king's face lit up and spoke. "Speak, what happened to that little troublemaker?"
Although the tone was a bit cold, everyone could hear the pampering and urgency in those words.
The man bowed and stated all of what happened. The King frowned. "That dragon woman is too rash. Did the little girl participate in the battle?"
The man shook his head. "To my knowledge, she didn't partake in the battle."
This made the King's expression relax slightly. "So, what's the problem? It's just some conflict of the land powers."
The man stated with a careful tone. "After destroying the Five Shadow Fang group, the Nine Silent Fang Sect seems to have sent top assassins to kill the dragon and those close to her. Probably the little princess is in the 'Close people' list."
The King's aura burst from him as he quickly stood up and shouted, enraged. "What is that dragon thinking!?"
Everyone felt a heavy weight, and some concubines tried to cater up to him. "Husband, don't be enraged."
"Husband, you should relax."
"Husband, how about you send your other talented children to deal with the land creatures?"
The King frowned, still angered. "What can they do against the top-level assassins? Do you want to send your children to their deaths!?"
Coraline spoke coldly. "Calm down."
Her words carried her own cultivation base and slammed the King's aura, making him sit back on his throne.
Everybody else also got silent and looked at the cold face of the Queen.
Even if many concubines didn't like it, even if they banded together to attack her, they wouldn't be able to beat Coraline. And this was when all the concubines were middle-level Epoch Cores, with the top three being high-level Epoch Cores.
During her growth, Coraline had luckily consumed extreme quality ores that made her grow into the continent's strongest [Sun Engulfing Ore Lobster]. The only reason she wasn't the main ruler was because of her lack of interest in politics.
Coraline just wanted to teach and take care of her children. Hence, the Nine Sect targeting Ebirah was not stepping on her bottom line. It was like someone spat on her food right in front of her face and then slapped her face.
Coraline stood up slowly and spoke with a regal aura. "Prepare the main army. We are visiting the Nine Sect. Husband, if I call you after not having a satisfactory response from them, contact the Ocean Swallowing Mermaid Queen and tell her that I want one of the favors she owes me returned in the form of eliminating a Nine Sect."
"O-Okay, dear." The King gulped as Coraline's aura twisted the sea around her in devastating whirlpools.
***
In a mountainous region, a city built with ordinary buildings and cave systems stood majestically. There, many wolf-like creatures and humanoids roamed with generally happy smiles.
In the most extensive cave inside the largest and most luxurious building complex, a feral man with a wild aura wore furry clothes.
His face was sharp and angular, with two large black fox ears and a bushy and prickly black tail.
The wrathful aura around his body made every other wolf-related creature bow their heads in fear. "Good, good, good. This Astral Sky Clan has guts!"
Although he didn't really care about Fu Hao, one of his many children, killing someone directly related to him was nothing but a slap in the face.
He then picked up the letter Yasenia sent him, and he burst into laughter because of the increasing anger building inside him. "She dared ignore my words!? An insignificant second-rate sect dares treat my race like a secondary priority!? Hahaha…"
He then roared, his howl cracking the solid walls of his abode. "I WANT TO EAT HER FLESH AND RIP HER ORGANS APART!"
One of the people who brought the report stuttered. "P-Patriarch Fu Lang Zu, what do we do? She said she is going to participate in the summit of powers. Should we wait?"
The golden feral eyes of the Patriarch locked onto him, making the person who asked almost piss his pants.
The wolf clan Patriarch took a deep breath and stated coldly. "What is the movement of the other powers?"
The man who almost pissed his pants stated while trying to keep his voice steady. "The Nine Silent Fang Sect has made minimal effort to hide the fact that they are attacking them… We also know that Matriarch Tengliu wants to move to speak with them. Other powers have taken a see-and-wait approach. The top five clans and five of the nine sects have not moved, showing a neutral stance. Others have yet to make their move."
The Patriarch nodded and leaned on his fist.
A wolf woman from the side slithered into his arms as if she were some sort of snake. "Dear Patriarch, that was our second child~. We must avenge him. Also…" The woman licked her lips as her hand trailed the perfect body of the Patriarch. "We should make another child~."
Naturally, he had a harem, and the reason he could have so many children was because he was close to reaching Progenitor level bloodline-wise.
The level of bloodline differentiated progenitors. A new race was a progenitor, but a new race of a high-level bloodline was considered a Progenitor Queen or King.
Steel Back Wolves were not that high-level bloodline-wise, so even if [Steel Back Wolf] were a new variation of a race called [Steel Claw Wolf], it was not that powerful.
The man was naturally not stupid, so he pondered and spoke. "Do not act yet. Let's see how well that arrogant dragon can go against a Nine Sect."
A woman at the side smirked. "I heard that the sect leader of the Astral Sky Clan is a divine beauty."
Fu Lang Zu's eyes flashed, and he asked. "Who said so?"
That same woman smiled. "Even Tengliu admitted that her beauty was at her level or higher. Her bloodline is also extraordinary. Maybe even better than the Patriarch's."
Fu Lang Zu turned his head and looked at the silver-furred wolf woman with his golden eyes. "Have you seen anything interesting?"
The woman shook her head. "Nothing…" Then, she smiled. "And that's what makes her even more interesting."
Fu Lang Zu pondered. "Even with your Fate Intent Level Five, you can't see anything?" His lips arched in a wolfish smile, showing his fangs. "She sounds very… delicious."
***
Nine people stood in a luxurious room on another part of the Continent.
The nine people's aura was profound enough to bring almost anybody to their knees.
A woman spoke with a calming tone. "The Astral Sky Sect's potential is large. Their production methods are innovative, and their strength is just average. Why attack them?"
A man enveloped in a shadow answered. "Will you stay silent if that dragon suddenly destroys one of your sect branches? A main branch, at that?"
"Even then, that problematic Tengliu is her ally. Although the harpies are ranked tenth, that's because they are still a growing power. I wouldn't be surprised if, in two hundred years, they entered the top five."
With a sigh, another man said. "All clans ranked tenth and above are dangerous. Not to mention, even that lobster clan is their ally. I think that it's better to wait a few years and ask for compensation when all powers are in one room."
The shadowy figure answered coldly. "She even dared trap five of my Nine Fang assassins."
The woman, with a calming voice, spoke again. "They aren't even your strongest level-assassins. How about we tell her not to kill them, and you ask for them later? They are resistant to torture, right?"
The shadowy man stayed silent. "I'll still send a few. If she can't even defend against this force, she shouldn't have been this arrogant."
One of the nine, another woman with an extremely seductive air around her, suddenly frowned. "Hey, have you targeted the lobster princess?"
The shadow man asked. "Why?"
The woman laughed. "She is Coraline's daughter, fool."
The Nine Silent Fang Sect Leader disappeared from the meeting room, leaving the other eight behind.
The woman, with a calming voice, sighed. "Is the balance about to break?"
"It lasted too long."
"We should eliminate her before she stirs the powers more."
"I think it is time for a change."
"You always think too positively."
"And you are always so negative."
A person who had been silent since the beginning spoke. "Although there are grudges between us, I think this is a good time to gain the upper hand against the Thirty-Three clans and Three Empires."
The other seven became silent, pondering over it.
***
As the various powers plotted and moved, the delicate balance that had held the world together for so long trembled. The subtle shifts in alliances and allegiances hinted at an impending storm, one that would shake the very foundations of the Distancia Continent.
****************************************************
Yasenia: Wow, knowing all of this would be so helpful.
Cecile: That wolf's pelt should do a good coat.
Angel: I think it would be a bit dirty. How about a rug for the entrance?
Kali: Hm, it should be rough enough to clean our guests' shoes.
Author: Um… Anyway, I summon you!
Arfa42: Hello!
Tatyana: Hey, what question do you have for today?
Arfa42: The seniors have lived a long life and met several otherworlders, right? So, what otherworlder perks do the seniors know about, and how do those perks work?
Tatyana: That's a broad question.
Valeria: Agreed, it's a bit too long for this section.
Mirrory: Hm, let's do a summary. I'll tell mine, and if you two know extra, add them later.
Tatyana: Go ahead, antique.
Mirrory: Thank you for leaving me go first, grandma.
*Clashing Foreheads*
Tatyana: What did you call me?
Mirrory: A factual adjective, or did age get to your head because of your flesh body?
Tatyana: How can a demigoddess have Alzheimer's, you broken item? You are spouting so many lies; we might as well take the Truth out of your name!
Mirrory: Hahaha, maybe instead of Death Empress, I should call you About To Meet Death Empress!?
Author: Cough, how about you answer first?
Valeria: Leave those two alone for now. I'll do it, dear.
Arfa42: Thank you, Valeria.
Valeria: Fufufu, no need to thank me. So, there are things like Systems, heaven-defying skills, heaven-defying treasures, karma buffs, and similar. Honestly, they are pretty self-explanatory.
Valeria: Karma buffs increase the luck and chances to meet what they need. For example, the otherworlder might be about to die, but suddenly, a random meteor falls and hits the person who is about to kill them. Or they fall into an abyss that nobody survived before, but because of some of their skills, they can find great chances in them.
Arfa42: I see, I understand.
Valeria: There might be others, but those are the strongest and the ones you should be aware of.
Arfa42: Okay, thanks!
Valeria: You are welcome.
Tatyana: I'm going to give you permanent cracks!
Mirrory: Here, I have my original strength. Do you really think you can scratch me with such miserable strength!?
Author: Anyway, this is all for today. Bye-bye, little lurkers~.