Spirit Taming

While the preparations were made, many more things had been going on behind the scenes. This wasn’t just the scouting that was happening. This was the fact that the dwarves who could not fight were livid. That the humans who had just arrived were not using weapons they deemed fit.

The humans were using their beast. Where they did not match the dwarves in their armor or their weapons, they made up for in diversity. The number of different beasts that humans had radically out shined what the dwarven people and the elven people had.

This was why they had not been at a loss when it came to the dwarves and the elves. The humans had been weaker and less knowledgeable by comparison. however, they had also not shown them their real potential.

Because humans were used to splitting off in to their own groups based on their different experiences, humans often developed different beasts even within one family. It was less decided by their race and more so their experiences. Or at least this was the going theory due to the fact that both the elven and dwarven races always had similar beasts.

Therefore, when it came to combat and disputes, humans were usually better able to adapt to the situation than the other two races. But just because they could do that, did not mean that the other two races felt that the humans were ready for this battle.

The dwarfs began picking out those that they saw as unprepared. They remodeled their armors, completely repurposed some of the ruined metals from the destroyed mining city that had been brought back, and even began to make entirely new weapons.

The same happened with the arrowheads that the elves had. The dwarves and foreign their distaste for the levs since their current shared goal was much more forward in their minds. They did not wish to handle the blood moon cultists alone. They wished to destroy them once and for all as well as they could.

Eradicate their main base so that they would never grow like this again.

This mentality was also why the dwarves were getting a lesson on alchemy and natural healing methods from the elves that had arrived. The number of healers with the elves was higher than what the dwarves had. Simply because of cultural focuses. Nature begat healers better than forging did.

Since this was the case, many of the dwarven people harmed had begun to show signs of faster recovery. That had been the case since the elves arrived, but now was showing its benefits. Especially since those that were healed enough were showing their fire.

The healed dwarfs were prepared to throw down their lives to ensure that they never lost another again. Their beasts had been injured and now they had to ensure that it was not a possibility again.

Those with mechanical golems as their beasts were repairing them. Those with tool type beasts were ensuring that they created a potential weapon that they could use while their partners rested. What was clear in all this, was that the revenge of a dwarf should be feared. There was a singular obsession that had grown within all of them. Enough to prove that the dwarven race was fearsome if ever bothered.

This was similar to the more instinctual predatory hunting that the elves were doing. They were prepared to jump in to battle at the smallest notification. Their bodies were tense enough to make a room feel heavier when they came in to it. Clark had taken notice of their preparedness that came from traveling through dangerous forests and even the violent jungle regularly.

The humans were of a different attitude. Clark and the group had spoken a little more with the Star City lord. The others had taken to calling him star as that was the city he represented. The group itself had followed suit since it made a little bit more sense. He was one of the few lords that went to great lengths to stand for the people within his city. Why would it be wrong to call him by the city name that he stood for? It was more of an honor than anything.

Learning that the blood moon cultists had been eradicated at several small bases was an important set of details. The Universal alliance formation and the guards that had recovered had refused to waste time. An entire self appointed squad had gathered right in front of the academy grounds under construction.

This event had brought about the hunters guard squad. A group who had lost many to the actions of the blood moon cutlists. They also had stood with the group as they were fighting within the city. Many had even followed the Mane family for some time so they had in depth training of how an independent group could function.

As they had the means, they had hunted down eight small bases of monsters that had been using small dungeons as experimental areas. This was a higher number than what the group had initially imagined. However, knowing that those monsters were gone, was a greater gift than anything they could have heard.

It put Clark and the others at ease. They were making a difference. Even when they were separated from their home city, there were people working hard to achieve what needed to be done.

Before they could get in to too many details though, the elves scouting report appeared.

The direction they needed to travel had been decided. There were many signs that monsters had appeared in the fallen slate mountain. This was more than originally scouted. Now there were signs of the shadow swarm centipede having left from there. The unique tracks left form so many legs could not be missed by those with the keen eyes to spot tracks.

Furthermore, the elves had spotted odd looking cuts within the slate. As they felt it was not natural, they had spoken to a dwarf that focused on carving stone. This information led to the dwarf pointing out that the stone would not fracture in a zig zag pattern nor would it have such fresh cut marks on it since there has not been anything that could have caused it in nature.

Due to this, the cut marks were able to be followed. Right to a smaller monster that was doing so in the creation of a path for the cutists. They had been changing the route to their hidden base over and over until this point. A wise method to confuse and remain hidden from those hunting them. Until now that was.

If the races had not come together, the elves would never have found these markings. Then the dwarfs would never have given the right information. Now, the humans were leading the march toward that dungeon.

"They said that there is a lot of chaotic energy around the dungeon. Think it is close to breaking out in a beast wave?" Reese had heard this from one of the returned elven scouts. He felt that this was something that everyone needed to consider.

"I wouldn’t put it past them. These are evil things. They might be making one to make a bigger monster." with the way that grace thought, the cultists were making the worst monster a nightmare could have.

"I agree. The theory that they have one main base is most likely not due to location. They are not a logical group that follows analysis. They are made scientists trying to create a perfect race so to speak. They most likely believe that the larger number of beasts they fuse together, that the more perfect creature which they will become." even Ella was believing that this was the case.

The many people marching behind them made the entire group feel small. They had not been in such a large army before. They had never even seen so many people together. The various beasts and the various personalities had all become unified through their actions and the threat that they faced.

"When we arrive there, it will become a chaotic mess. This isn’t like the small basses. The cultists already know we are coming. This isn’t an army that can be missed. They can’t escape though. Too many scouts are watching every potential movement. So be ready for whatever they throw at us. We will infiltrate that dungeon and do what needs to be done. When I have information I will share it."

This was all Clark could add for now. He knew that his analysis of the dungeon would be the best for them. He also knew that the risks they would face could be greater than any fight they had yet. The only thing he feared, was that they were not strong enough.

They were going to face the strongest monsters they had seen yet. Even a demon was somehow involved. The risks were tipping the scales against them. Yet, he felt something more. A singular desire to break free for that potential danger while crushing the monsters plaguing their future.