"You have come" A strong and dignified voice rang in their mind, they could feel it there was a warmth, satisfaction, appreciation and slight pressure in their mind and soul. They subconsciously want to lower their head in shame and asking for forgiveness, this strange thoughts and emotions managed to Jolted them awake to reality ' What was I ashamed for ' everyone thought to themselves.
They looked at one another face in bewilderment and checking for confirmation were they the only one, who got affected like this. Noticing there wasn't any abnormalities with them, they also could not hear that voice in their head but unlike before like how the Old Man mentioned they could feel something was looking at them in appraising manner.
It made them very nervous, they were sure they didn't imagine things as everyone face was covered in concern they could tell what they experiencing was real they are not having some delusional thought of old age.
The Old Man could feel half of this people's eyes on him a vein popped in his forehead, why are they looking at him like this 'Did they think I know what to do? didn't I also quite concerned and agitated like them' he hesitated and dared to take a look at the cave.
There was a soft 'Hmm' echoed in his mind laced with exasperation and tinge of amusement, he was once again felt the urge to apologize and felt ashamed for their group incompetence. He gulped when he felt it wasn't any enchantment but directly come from his blood he know he was being disrespectful to this person not showing proper respect this person so required he hurriedly bowed.
""This humble one paying his respect to... Senior" He wasn't quite sure how he should address this person. He, felt this person could be their patriarch or one of the high level leaders he didn't want to wrongly call out or started to guessing the name of the person; it was seen as blasphemy, Considering his standards he didn't want to commit such a social fauxpas especially in front of such mighty figure.
As if they were keyed behind their back they also hurriedly followed his example they all bowed in unison respectfully shouted out "We greet and sincerely paying our respect to senior" The Old Man face changed, only when he heard this formal greeting he remembered he should call this entity as a 'Ancestor' not rudely something like disrespectful senior.
They are from the same tribe and share the same orgin, he hazard a guess he should be tens of thousands years old by their ancesteral teaching he should greet him as a Ancestor. Senior was greeting for someone who, of his generation or above few generations have exceptional talent and powerful respected.
"Don't worry about the etiquette for now, I don't begrudge kids like you, especially someone who struggling to not go extinct, it's alright" the voice soothingly spoke in their minds, few peoples clever enough to understand the situation as they steal a glance at Old Man's flushed face, they couldn't help but scolded the Old Man in their hearts.
They with the Old Man once again bowed and shouted in unison "We are grateful for Ancestor's magnanimous heart " the clueless ones also followed up with confused expression but they also figured out they must have ignorantly caused some social etiquette fauxpas they also cursed the Old Man with Cold sweat covering their backs.
They heard a amused chuckle out loud "Didn't I already said I, don't take it to the heart what are you so nervous about for " the voice spoke in Caring and gentle tone. As if noticing their fidgeting selves the voice countinued to spoke up.
"I'm grateful My people didn't disappear in all this years of bitter struggles" the evident pride and relief prominent in the voice with someother complicated expressions.
Everyone felt this surge of emotions, their emotions also little out of control they clenched their fist tightly as everyone body show traces of pride they felt they were standing taller their faces flushed in obvios excitement.
The Voice rang out loud catching their attention once again, " I bring forth a Important Message, A possible Mission and an Edict from The patriarch " This caught them off guard, they thought this person was their patriarch from the beginning there was many signs showing such then this person announces he was a messenger what's going on.
Some of them couldn't properly hide their expression of disappointment, but the Old Man thought otherwise he, has a slight suspicion that, this person wasn't simple he was either hiding his identity as a patriarch for some reason or he was one of the leader figure, personally send here by patriarch.
So he decided to act how he has been acting towards this person, then he respectfully asked "Lord, then may I ask whom we have honor of speaking, please bless us with your presence lord" he spoke very humbly.
"I am a son raised by, my father because of his insistence and seriousness of the matter I have descended here to secretly protect the tribe and make arrangements for the inevitable" The voice rang in their mind, the previous conversational tone was gone the information spoke with seriousness like first time the voice directly spoke in their minds.
The Old Man looking alarmed as he had a dangerous feeling about the message the other ten looking at him nodded towards him to ask about the details.
Their mind was still processing the information, how they should take it they know patriarch wasn't a married man or have relationship with any woman for few centuries it was documented about the patriarch personal information so had the information about other leaders.
What they have to keep in mind was the person way of saying that statement as 'He was a son raised by patriarch could mean many different things, he could be a son born to him in the long period of time or He was adopted by him at some time.
They didn't dare to pry into this matter any further, the voice continue to speak in their mind as if that person didn't notice their speculative expression "The Calamity was once again going to decend here, We have to prepare for the Calamity soon everyone would returned to our world"
They all stood in silent stupor, they could not help but astounded by this news, they shuddered at the thought of them, once again experiencing similar Calamity; something that dreadful give them an unprecedented fear in their heart.
And what does that mean they are once again going to face the horrifying thing once again, They really couldn't stand a chance this time, they survived the previous calamity because the bravery and sacrifices of their ancestors back then they are selflessly fight for the slim chance for weak people of human race to escape the clutches of grievous death.
The most horrifying thing is even the survivors could not understand what exactly caused all of this, why countless people lost their lives, they were too weak to understand what happened back then all they they have told their descendants was some wild speculation of what might have happened.
This information shocked them enough to speak past their unspoken agreement of let the Old Man be spoke person here, they are literally rained the person in the cave with questions.
"Lord! What do you mean? "
"What Calamity Coming once again!?"
"We, didn't survive past this!?"
"Human race going to get exterminated this time"
"Are you an idiot, the whole world is going to destroid this time " only selective few asked something they deeply feared "Lord, have we survive past this calamity?"
The voice was emotionless as it replied them "Don't fret, We have the greatest chance to survive the calamity this time if-"
"Lord, how can be there is another calamity isn't this soon" Balli asked his doubts, suddenly everyone fell into silent and looked at him as if noticing their eyes on him he, confusedly asked "What is it?" he frowned at them in confusion as they suddenly averted their eyes away from him.
His whole body trembled when he felt an emotionless eyes on his body he stuttered not know what to do, "Lord, please forgive this drunkard, he was not right in the head. he doesn't intend to be rude" Naala bowed towards the cave as she pleading.
Someone else kneeled towards the cave "Lord, please spare my master he was little addled in his head, quite ignorant in etiquette of conversations goes, I'll be indepted please! "
Balli was looking at them with complicated emotions, even though what they said about him wasn't nice things but their intentions were clear he couldn't help but feel little warmth in his heart, Slap "Ouch" he was slapped to bow from Naala's hand she hissed at him to bow.
But his disciple was on another level, balli felt someone pressed pressure points in his legs as his last strength he kneeled on the ground he muffled a scream when he felt a surge of pain in his knees, he couldn't help reevaluate the situation 'Are they helping me or humiliating me, not only did they talk to this lord, badly about him they now even balantly bullying me in front of everyone'
Even he could not decipher the act of this two, he still decided to finish up with his apology first "Lord, this humble one was at fault, please punish me I have sinned" the intensity of the stare lessen considerably and finally moved away from him.
"First let me finish with my message, I can give you my time for answering your doubts" the newly minted 'Lord' said in gentle tone. "And didn't I told you this already, I'm not begrudging person, rest assured as long as it's not intentional I'm not going to punish kids over this"
All of them nodded their head " As for his doubts, the truth is we don't manage to escape the first calamity to begin with so to be precise we are currently waiting for the calamity face it together" his voice was heavy and seriousness they could also notice slight apprehension towards the calamity.
"WHAT! This was still first calamity" it was vandhi who was freaking out hearing this he felt his whole world losing color, he never felt this desperate.
"Calamity wasn't a pleasant thing indeed, I can attest to that but we can't all freaking out in this situation. if we have this mentality when our people realised from the dimension seal there would be nothing for them to safe" the voice jolted their senses, demanding the attention it requires there was a heroic and unyielding tinge in that voice.
"I repeat, it wasn't a time for us to be muddled headed lambs waiting for death but we, have do everything in our power to Break past this obstacles, trust me! We aren't alone in this, if we managed to endure it long enough our friends and family rest of our tribe people released from the seal come to our aid, got it"
All of them nodded their head in hurry "But that wasn't our goal, we have to take our chances to increase the possibility of our survival then, try to take over this mess for obtaining more of this possibility and chances to rise up in this chaotic situation, the calamity not only about dangers but also about opportunities as well "
This time a person in the back speak up "lord, may I express my opinion on this?"
"You May!" The reply come in the dull dry tone.
"Ahem!? lord the world after calamity was poor and filled with treacherous filthy we, have to fight tooth and nail to other races for securing little bit of resources, in my opinion we should not expect nothing more than necessary, it's best stict to the survival" that person voiced out his opinion.
With the same dull tone the voice asked out "Are you done?" That person for some reason felt disdain from the voice he awkwardly nodded with "Yes my lord"
The voice cooly asked everyone "What do you guys think on this matter?" they felt something wasn't right with the situation they choose to be cautious as they collectively turned to look at the Old Man, whose face darkened by anger seeing through their plot.
He didn't think 'That Plan' had any way go wrong or done harm to them so he decisively choose to agree with him, "I agree with what lord has proposed, if it successful we became as powerful if not more powerful than before" The voice burst out in laughing for a whole minute.
"I didn't judge you wrongly, you are a warrior indeed" the voice praised him openly "I was selected to send here because patriarch believe in my ability trusted me enough to deal with this crucial step in his plan. So I certainly know what to do and not do"
"I have been observing you guys for last two years while recuperating here, I certainly know about condition of world, your activities and conditions of our people, I know what I am doing, I'm just informing my plan not asking your opinion in this matter"
The person who told his opinion flushed and, said " My Lord"
" SILENCE! Did I allow you to speak, Inaam was it? I'm not being judgemental but I know what kind of person you are, you are really too passive for the situation we are about to face, if It's not for thought of not wanting to kill someone from my race, I would have erased you from the existence" The voice spoke to him in deadly tone.
Even though they aren't not the receiving end of the pressure they couldn't move a feeling of despair and helplessness rosed in their hearts as they also experience this fearful feeling. They never felt this fearful of anything, most of them in fact go through at least one life and death struggle, not to mention the battle maniac old man feel just as much fearful.
Inaam was in catatonic state, he was hanging to consciousness state barely, "Again, I'm not asking your opinion just remember that regardless of what you thought of this like everyone you had to bleed for our race. If I saw slightest cowardice or hesitation in you I'll Kill you at the first possible moment and I really don't trust this kind of people"
The pressure gone Inaam strengthlessly plopped to the ground, the voice spoke once again targeting everyone, "Remember the sacrifices of your ancestors and your parents made of if you, can stand at this level then this is not only about your effort and talent. Every humans you fight for bit more resources you owe them big time, then you have to take responsibility for what you owe them"
They now suddenly find themselves suffocated by righteousness of the voice that smothering feeling of strong emotions "Each and every human have to remember what we have gone through to become an overlord of this region, We didn't did that just because we can become rich or terrorize some minor races, No! none of this selfish reasons. But for a simple cause just so we can be safe from being trampled on and plundered, to gained some self respect for ourselves detter the harassment of Other races don't forget we were once been treated like cattle by them "
The Lord said in a very cold tone, they couldn't help but being influenced by his emotion their eyes become red they know if they declined, their fate would end worst then before, knowing humans have higher potential in them they would try their best to get rid of them.
The voice continued with it's speech, "The patriarch know about this matter before hand, think it's same with every leaders of other races, he used a valuable treasure as one time spatial passage send me to his cave with A Message, Mission and an Edict "
"The cost we have to pay is very heavy, Now with that message over, There is Mission patriarch insist me take on this mission for the time being, I will elaborate the mission as simple as possible they, are about simple thing we can achieve. First, you have to eliminate any possible spy on our side."
"Second we have to inflirate the other races territories to make sure there is no one comes down or if they can communicate with each other in some way, if possible we have to aware of what is their plan and move beforehand "
"Third, Select talented people all over the tribes form a few troops, We have to build a stronger army to trample on and intimidating enemies this is something we must to at all cast and gather more resources while at that.
"Fourth, and important I have seen out of eighteenth large tribes only eleven of them have warriors of your stage leading them, this wouldn't do we have to rectify that if possible you guys can have some subordinates at your level as for the rest of the plans that will have to wait for few months" The voice explained each and every plan so casually it made them speechless, aside from first plan all of them are nearly impossible.
Even for the first plan was trouble some, they know there were some spies among their tribe either bought out by foreign race, or some humanoid races disguised as a humans while infiltrate them. it's not that they are hard to find as a peak experts and acting leaders they kept a note of suspicious people, they were sure with their ways they could easily eliminate most of them.
But the problem start from their, the human race really have no real alley currently, only one time deals with various people this spies are, just their approach to let the other races relax a bit about them.
If not, they might become more suspicious of their activities and might join forces in advance, if they eliminate this pesky spies, some might use this chance to kindle the fire make some boldly made move to get rid off them, they have no chance to tolerate such a inconvenience for being diplomatic, dispite knowing the risk.
As for second and following plans this wasn't something they could achieve for example: unlike their tribe the races have tightly nit security in their tribe and often check among themselves about obvious spy, they can until now only bought second hand information from some other tribes they have short time dealing with.
'Can resources grow in trees and found In river blank' one annoying fellow itching to ask aloud but he didn't dare to speak out loud, ' Without resources there is no way they could build army' A depressed soul thinked.
The Old Man seeing the atmosphere was depressed hurriedly asked a question to distract his friends from courting death. "Lord if may I boldly ask! for what reason our world facing such a calamity? "
The Old Man asked this because he have always been curious about this now knowing they are not even escaped the previous calamity he really wanted to know what might have caused such a terrifying calamity befall on them in fact everyone was to certain degree curious about them.
There was a complete silence, everyone looked at the cave curiously, some people felt the old man might going to suffer little seeing lord temper little a tired sigh sounded out from the cave.
"Well, Father talk to me very little about this subject, Even though I have some guesses about them he advised against me to acted up on them" The lord for the first time spoke little warily " I think even he might not necessarily found out about the cause I doubt others would have.
They could sense the 'but' "Father, think there is a big opportunity in this if we out perform other races our gain is something we couldn't imagine " The voice spoke like a swindler " by the way this is your opportunity to break through to the next realm the suppression on your cultivation and higher realm will be lifted as well and he thinks this calamity help him raise up his level in the first place"
The depressed eleven experts, looked never this energetic in their life like now, this was a great news for them like old man some people have their lifespan dozen or some years, this was their chance.
The Old Man heard the voice talk to him "Warrior, I was very pleased with your character, This was how I, wanted to my human race experts should act and be like. Here is my little gift for you, I've seen you like claw techniques this is something I created for you"
The Old Man mind jolted, there seems an memory of a profound realm claw technique, it's called ' abyssal demon claw ' his expression turned very excited as he more read about it, it was really tailer made fit for him it was very similar to his previous practiced technique he readily believe it, what the Lord said, this mean he could master it in very shorter time period.
He could not wait to practice it he loved to battle and kill, this technique was made for kill very very powerful he bowed towards the cave in awe "This humble one felt overwhelmed by your grace. I'm indebted "
Juala jolted this time "Little girl, I know you have been wronged have betrayed before I admire your conscience for still protecting human race, I know you have no attachment towards our people I have Ashamed by their actions, I have an offer for you lend your strength to our people I will in return let you grow stronger here! I never go back on my word"
Juala felt a foreign information appear in her mind it was soon fused with her memories, two techniques appeared in her memory a movement Technique and fist technique both are at profound level. She immediately understand what does that mean she doesn't have good enough movement technique, she practiced fist technique from the start of her cultivation.
For the first time she felt little grateful for someone show little warmth of acknowledgement and appreciation. there was someone treating her without any hidden motive this indeed liberating feeling towards her, she bowed and express her gratefulness.
The Lord didn't give anyone, anything further continue to spoke were he left his main conversation topic "The patriarch gave his Edict, he ordered every humans of our Misty Mountain tribe to return to our lands, 'My People when you hear my Edict returned to our home land as quickly as possible, there is troubling time await us we will be targeted by the joint forces of other races be aware! only our home land can protect us it was blessed to protect our race from extermination' I repeat..." the voice once again repeated the edict.
"You guys heard it right, before anything bring back each and every member of our people to our land quickly. phew, that's everything I guess"
There was a Pin drop silence among them some people mouth twitched subconsciously by the casualness of this lord.