Broken Core [LitRPG • Cultivation • Post Apocalyptic • Romance]

4.33. Contests of Power


Two days passed in the blink of an eye and James found himself gathered with everyone around the table. Coral and Priest had recovered and joined them, while Everest laid against the wall, snoring softly.

Luna sat on his right, with Amber on his left. They were the two that had claimed their places as his closest relationships, with Luna coming out on top of course. It didn't bother him in the slightest that they had some sort of internal competition. Instead, he focused on their next move.

"Zenaria, did you find the rent?" he asked.

The kitsune nodded. "Jamie and I found it yesterday. We are about three hundred miles from the rent, but we can reach it at a steady pace since you boosted us to violet."

Jamie cut in. "The whole place is on alert with more monsters active than I've ever seen. The nest along the way has decayed and its energy has returned to the rent. I can only assume the second nest did the same."

Grace cleared her throat. "I explored some of the nearby ruined cities and towns in the wasteland. There's not a single monster in sight."

Tapping his finger on the table, James felt his frown grow. "So, we are walking into the most powerful rent and we are going to have to fight hard to reach the energy source."

"Looks like it," Zenaria said. "We didn't test their durability, as we didn't want to draw their attention, but based on your violet strength, we should have no problem until we reach the energy source. With how much energy it likely has, Luna is going to have to get involved while you handle the energy."

"This doesn't make me happy." Getting to his feet, James stood behind his chair and pushed it in. "We are going to have to clear as many of the monsters as we can after we handle the rent, or even along the way. We do have the dragons at least."

"That's not entirely true," Everest said, speaking up at last.

"Why not?"

Opening her eyes, Everest yawned before stretching out. "Mother looked ahead. If we enter the fight with the rent and The Pact, most of us end up dying, and you lose the temple. We will be staying to keep the temple protected, alongside the animals."

Closing his eyes for a moment, James took a slow breath. Once he was calm, he said, "I see. With the way you make it sound, we are going to find The Pact near the rent."

"Yup."

"Great," Luna grumbled. "We won't even be able to rest between destroying the rent and monsters. They will likely attack us the moment we clear them a path."

James agreed.

Zenaria was the next one to get up. Walking over to his side, she handed him one of her tails. "It'll be fine, James. We're ready for the fight."

Rubbing his fingers through her fur, he forced a smile. "I won't lose any of you this time. They shouldn't put up much of a fight."

"I'll poison them," Grace offered. "Poison solves everything."

"Oh, honey," Luna started. "That will poison us too."

Pursing her lips, Grace huffed and got up. Walking out of the room, she glanced back one last time and frowned.

"We can't let her go alone," James stated. "We will head out now and set up a shelter. Bronson, can you and your brothers handle that?"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The oni nodded. "Piece of cake."

Linda yawned before getting up. "I'm growing roots, James. I need to kill something. I'll meet you there."

Jamie jumped up and ran after the elf. "Hey, Linda, I have a question!"

"I'm not sleeping with you!" the elf shouted back as she started down the hall.

"Oh, come on!"

Chuckling, James helped Amber to her feet. "Let's go. Mender, will you be okay keeping us alive during the final fight?"

The healer smirked. "Of course, brother. I'll only let Amber get hurt."

"Hey!" Amber growled. Flipping the healer off, she stormed out of the room.

Luna rolled her eyes and pulled Zenaria with her as the Elson brothers left after them. With Mender as his company, James started walking. "I'll see you when I get back, Everest."

"Sounds good." Closing her eyes, she started snoring.

Leaving the temple, he found Mother waiting for him. The large dragon lowered her head to him. "Did she tell you?"

"She did." Patting Mother on the snout, he added, "keep my home safe, please."

"I will, James. I wish we could join you, but there are so few of us left…"

"It's fine, Mother." Giving her an honest smile, he patted her one last time. "Now that we have a home, you can make my children some more friends."

Laughing, Mother nodded. "I'm sure Father will be up for it."

Leaving her, he started running toward the rent to the south. Mender kept pace with him easy enough.

"How many Pact members will they bring?" the healer asked.

"I don't know," James admitted. "They likely don't know that I've ascended. Luna too. We need to be careful either way. The pact will likely have violet level members in difficulty. I'll break their shields, but it'll be up to all of us to handle them."

"I'll keep us healed. I just ask that you focus on the strongest member. Trust the rest of us to handle the fight."

"You're asking me to trust the poison maniac?" James joked.

"Eh…"

Laughing, they picked up their pace, catching up to Luna. The snow white Fenrir glanced at him with a smile before falling in next to him.

"I'm curious what your Soul Form is like," James said.

"Don't have skills anymore, remember." Shrugging, she added, "But I can create something similar. I won't feel the endless hunger anymore." Dropping onto all fours, she transformed into her wolf form and sprinted ahead. As she gained distance, she grew in size, white flames rippling from her body as Amber gasped.

"Holy shit!" Zenaria shouted.

Luna stood taller than the nearby trees, towering over the forest as she knocked pushed through the trees, knocking everything over.

"That's enough!" James called out. "Don't bring the whole forest down."

A chuffing laugh escaped the Fenrir before she turned back into her human form. "Looks like I'm a little bigger."

"A little?" Amber questioned. "That was monstrous!"

Beaming, Luna changed back into her wolf form and raced off, leaving the rest of them in the dust. Only Amber was able to keep up as she morphed her legs and took off in a sprint that pushed her after the wolf.

Sighing, Mender shook his head. "What is with your women and contests?"

Zenaria slipped up to James. "I don't know what you are talking about. I'm still beside my mate, savoring his attention."

Rolling his eyes, James focused on his running as they approached the rent. It wouldn't be longer than an hour before they arrived.

***

Sebastian peered over the hastily erected walls of their compound. Set up in the mouth of a tunnel, his people had fought back the tide of monsters nearly every waking moment since their arrival. Not only had they run into stronger and more numerous monsters in the rent, but they were also hemmed in by monsters coming from the nest. It wasn't good.

"We are running low on medical supplies," his partner stated as the shadow clad man landed next to him.

Sebastian lowered his own shadow clad arm, returning his focus to the compound. "That's fine. If needed, I'll wipe out the monsters behind us so we can retreat. But something tells me that we won't have to."

His partner nodded. "You're usually right about these things. The rest of the Council is gathering for another meeting."

"Stuffy old men complaining about the coming fight." Scoffing, Sebastian glanced down at the main building. "What a waste of time. If I didn't need them for this fight, I would kick them to the curb."

Chuckling, his partner floated into the air again. "I'll join them for you."

With a small nod, Sebastian turned back to his own sleeping quarters. Standing outside his door was the same nekorian he had come to trust. Her bright red fur was a start contrast to the dreary gray walls of the cavern.

Floating over to her, he watched her tense. "At ease, child."

Forcing herself to relax, she bowed. "How can I assist you, My Lord?"

"Nothing at the moment," he said. "Why don't you run and eat with the others. I won't need you the rest of the day."

A slip of a smile graced her lips as she bowed one last time. "Thank you!"

The rare laugh escaped him as the nekorian raced off. Her overly fluffy tail danced behind her, shedding stray red fibers. He knew it wasn't likely that she would survive the coming battle. He could at least offer her a reprieve from command for the next couple of days.

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