Hugo rubbed his chin with one hand, and gave Reid a trepid look. The two of them were properly alone now, following a bout of revelry and celebration from the Vuxarinans that notably didn't extend to bad-hair Yudel and a few of the other officers. Maybe they'd come around, in time.

"My apologies for putting you in such a position without discussing the matter beforehand. I am afraid that it was the best way to ensure the proper outcome in the moment, and should limit rather than increase your involvement moving forward. The title makes no requirements nor responsibilities of you at this juncture - I promise that. Serroc, thank you for indulging me with your actions, and for tolerating my actions to give them all a stronger push. I... request that you remain an honorary Prince of Vuxarina, at least for the duration of this tutorial..."

The man was obviously flustered and more than a bit ashamed. Reid picked up where he trailed off. "You want your people to see me as some limit or target they should be reaching for."

The prince smiled, a bit sadly. "I do. I am not so naive to think things are truly settled. But I hope those still opposed to the idea in silence will want to exceed you out of hubris."

Reid took a sip of water and leaned back. Hugo had come out of left field with the stunt, but seemed genuine in his apology - and his desire to simply improve the lives of his people.

"He'd be a good one, Reid."

The sudden reemergence of Nyx's voice caught Reid off guard and he sputtered on his water. Hugo leaned forward in concern, but Reid waved him off and spoke internally.

"Now. Now you talk. Where the heck was my cosmic knowledge an hour ago?"

"Do you really want me to color every experience you have? It's better for you to have some unprompted interactions so you can learn from them. Also, I'm keen on just helping, Reid. Not driving. I only spoke up now because, when you let these people into your faction, you'll need someone to be responsible for them. Or to let people in on your behalf. Hugo's a good cookie. He makes sense. Use him as your second."

"I don't want to have to mess with a bunch of settings in my interface to-"

"I've seen your 'faction management' ability before - so I know it extends about as far as turning the difficulty to settler and only allowing domination victory conditions. Really, you should've at least tried to play that game properly. Anyway, I know you won't want to handle things yourself, so that I can help with. Prepackaged invitation, with permissions and rules set the way I'd think you would like them, is ready in your menu. Just pull the thread if you want to use it."

Reid let himself smile as he felt through the thread and what it meant. Nyx was absolutely spot on. He turned to Hugo with a wide grin and tugged on the thread as he spoke.

"Hugo, I think one surprise deserves another."

The prince's eyes went wide as he read the invitation. His expression was worried, then softened. Then it warmed, in a way Reid hadn't seen the man smile yet. His grin carried a hint of mischief.

"You know, some would see such an offering as an insult to the crown prince... But I prefer to think of it as a gift from a friend."

NOTICE: Hugo Vux has accepted the invitation to join [The Osteal Empire] as [Provisional Second]. Hugo Vux's faction title will appear to other faction members as [Prince]. Hugo Vux now has limited access to quests, rules and laws, invitations, structure, and settlements.

He put a hand on Reid's shoulder, and held out the other. Reid took it, and the prince shook his entire arm.

"My thanks once more to you, Serroc. I accept your gift, and only hope the strength it affords my people may one day be used to repay your kindness, no matter where you may roam."

Reid awkwardly rubbed his neck.

"Uh... Yeah - about that. I have other things to do in this tutorial, Hugo. I'll be leaving as soon as we're done talking. But, it sounds like you already figured that out."

"It may not be one of my system skills, but a good ruler can pick up on who someone really is and what they want. You have been looking for a time to depart - which is also why we have trekked alone out here. And if I am right, you are also still considering another surprise."

It was a bit uncanny how Hugo had managed to read him, but maybe that was the same kind of awareness that had led Win to Reid? He idly wondered if or when he would develop the same sense as he rose, and held out both hands.

Hugo lifted a brow but said nothing as 30 seconds passed - then he let out a gasp as a bin full of bone armor and a bundle of spears popped into existence below Reid's hands and landed on the ground. When Reid took a step back and made the same pose, the prince waited. He didn't gasp the second time as another two bundles of spears popped into existence. It was nearly Reid's entire stock of bone weaponry - and every bit of spare armor he'd made. Better to have it doing some good for Hugo instead of sitting in his storage ring.

Reid's final summoning brought Requiem back to his left hand, and dropped a small box of medicine out of the other. Hugo's eyes traced over the equipment, then over Reid himself.

"Osteal Empire, indeed."

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Away from the entrance, the tutorial space was full of energy and motion. There were a host of 'regular species' that seemed to have no end. Creatures similar to boars, deer, and a cross between cattle and bison wandered the forest floor and what he could see of the flat plains. They were docile enough that it felt almost as if they were created to be captured and domesticated. Flightless birds laid odd, translucent-shelled eggs with purple insides. Six-armed monkey-like things with a crop of feathers and beak, which the system identified as Tamrids, seemed to follow him out of curiosity.

He still hadn't eaten anything but rations and mole steaks in a good long while. Thoughts of scrambled eggs and venison wormed their way into his mind and left him salivating. He was tempted to slow down. To hunt. To take advantage of the creatures that were obviously placed to be utilized. But animal husbandry wasn't his goal, so Reid ignored all of the creatures as he pressed forward towards his mountain, and the beast lord waiting there.

The place was nondescript, aside from the quest marker and a barely visible shape that moved against the skyline. Reid waited, but didn't see or hear anything in front of him. That was fine - he'd made good time getting here, and he could spend a bit searching for the 'spawn' of the beast lord if he needed to. The mountain wasn't particularly large, and the quest marker might even update to point him to stragglers, if there were any.

The Beast Lords - (Stage 1 of 10) NOTICE: You are the only faction that can currently access this questline. Beast lords are the unquestionable rulers of their domain. Now that you have proven yourself against a myriad of beasts and cleared their nests, it is time to challenge the strongest foes. Stage 1: Defeat the Beast Lord of Permilli Mountain and eradicate his spawn. (Level 20). Secret Challenge: Complete Stage 1 in less than a week. (3d 11h 51m Remaining) Secret Challenge: Complete Stage 1 without taking any losses

Reid took a minute and double checked his armor, requiem, and his sleeve full of black stones. He was ready for the fight. Armored and armed and had the ranged firepower he needed if he had to attack at range. Using Requiem like a walking stick, Reid climbed.

The mountain was empty. Devoid of life, though there were some signs of it. Broken nests and half-burrowed holes dotted the landscape, as though creatures attempted to live there but were driven away.

When Reid finally reached the summit, he found a massive bird with talons the size of a child, and a beak that looked like it could crush granite.

Golden brown feathers flowed out and over the entire beast, and a pair of baby chicks screeched out from a nest made of thick tree branches.

The bird's slightly orange eye watched him carefully, but it didn't show hostility until Reid stood on the flat top of the mountain.

That, the bird took as a challenge.

It let out a mighty screech and barreled forwards on the ground, wings out to its sides like the profile of an umbrella.

It attacked beak first. When Reid didn't run, its head snapped forward with serious speed and carved a hole into the mountain stone.

Part of Reid wanted to see if he could tank the attack - after all, he was over leveled for a tutorial - but caution won out over curiosity, and he sidestepped the blow to follow up with one of his own. Requiem came down hard on the bird's retreating neck. The force of the blow carried its head straight down to the ground - where requiem smashed the rest of the way through and shattered the back of its skull.

You have defeated Beast Lord of Permilli Mountain - lvl 20. Experience Awarded (+75,000 xp)

Reid stared, mouth agape at the bleeding, pulped neck of the beast.

Was this seriously the power of a beast lord? Just traveling to the thing had been more taxing than the fight. Maybe it was because he was over-leveled, but that felt... way too easy. Almost disappointing.

He hadn't exactly been looking for a difficult fight, but he was interested in experiences that would challenge him and make him tougher. It almost felt like the experience points he'd earned from the dead creature were a joke. The thing didn't feel like a level 20 anything, let alone a monster that was supposed to be part of a heightened challenge unlocked by his skill.

He sighed. In the end, he was here for experience points and levels, not a challenge. So even if the beast lords were weak, he would fight them and complete the quest all the same. Reid looked over to the nest, and grimaced.

You have defeated Beast Lord of Permilli Mountain's Spawn - lvl 2. Experience Awarded You have defeated Beast Lord of Permilli Mountain's Spawn - lvl 2. Experience Awarded You have defeated Beast Lord of Permilli Mountain's Spawn, Unhatched - lvl 1. Experience Awarded

Questline Stage Completed: The Beast Lords - (Stage 1 of 10) Secret Challenge Completed: Took No Losses in Stage 1 Secret Challenge Completed: Finished Stage 1 in less than one week

Bonus Experience awarded for completing secret challenges.

New Achievement Earned! Venator (Earned for engaging and defeating a beast lord in solo combat)

Venator

Beasts have a harder time detecting your presence. You deal increased damage against beasts.

Final Experience Awarded: 4,000,000 xp Accelerated Growth Experience (.11) Awarded: 440,000 xp

Experience: 411,429,200 -> 416,728,400 / 419,430,400

Questline Stage Unlocked: The Beast Lords - (Stage 2 of 10) NOTICE: You are the only faction that can currently access this questline. Beast lords are the unquestionable rulers of their domain. You have bravely bested the weakest of the beast lords. Do you have the power to challenge another? Stage 2: Defeat the Beast Lord of Lower Plains. (Level 21). Secret Challenge: Complete Stage 2 in less than 10 days. (9d 23h 59m Remaining) Secret Challenge: Complete Stage 2 without taking any losses

Reid lowered himself onto a rock, and summoned a water.

"Nyx, are all tutorials this... easy?"

"I'm going to answer that question with a question. The miners in the warrens were mostly peak G-grade, while suppressed. Without your weapons and Winnie's buff, they struggled against Mid-G vicipods. How many of them do you think it would've taken to kill that bird without help? Ten? Twenty? Reid, you're holding an F grade weapon that killed the mole king in two hits. You've used it to smash through f grade power armor. Your stats are massively higher than anyone else's would be at your level. Do you really think someone else - someone normal - would think the same thing you are right now?"

Reid sat for a bit in silent contemplation and idly stared at the dead beast, then slapped his hands on his knees and rose.

She was right. Reid was stronger than most people should be at his level. But stronger than most wasn't good enough. His goal - his ultimate goal - was to pull even with a prodigious daughter that had a thousand-year head start. He put the rest of the water bottle back in his storage ring, and started off.

Reid's dexterously-empowered legs brought him swiftly towards the plains, and the marker for the next beast lord. The first fight had taken almost nothing out of him, so he had plenty of energy left.

Enough to run - and enough to fight.

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