Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends “This one,” Erdania said pointing at the map filled with scrawled markings all over it. Ryun glanced at where she was pointing, then looked at the small note stuck next to it. “That’s a weapons depot,” Ryun said. Erdania nodded. “Faris Kingdom, intel says that they supply half the front, the Exalted Empire brought one of their ziggurats there, they manufacture a big chunk of all the ammunition for the front. The Faris citizens are used for labor.” Ryun glanced at the reference number written on the note, then walked to another table nearby with stacks of reports. He had copied a lot of what he stealthily read. Being able to erase Essence made it easy for him to write out entire pages at once, it was almost like he was laser printing them. It had almost surprised him just how much his mind could hold and focus on at once. He found the relevant report then started reading. “This is where they keep their Reaction Engines,” Ryun commented, a flash of anger lancing through him as he continued reading. “Yes,” Erdania added. “It is likely that place was the staging point for their assassination attempts.” “Ziggurat is just outside the Faris Kingdom capital. That means defenses from both the Empire and the Kingdom. It is a heavily fortified territory.” Ryun narrowed his eyes. “This reports says that there are at least four void ships stationed there, it is also a mayor staging ground, we can expect a lot of troops constantly passing through.” Ryun raised his head and met her eyes. “We are going alone, just you and me. Do you think that we can handle it?” “Ryun, please. Have you not been paying attention?” “How difficult have our battles been so far?” Ryun tilted his head. “Not difficult at all.” “There you go. We are a lot stronger than you think Ryun.” “They haven’t been sending their strongest, obviously.” Erdania gave him a look. “Ryun, of course they have. What do you think their void ships are? Those are their trump cards, their most valuable pieces.” Ryun frowned, but didn’t say anything, instead he turned his eyes back to the map. It was true, he had a bit of a difficulty in actually measuring how strong he was. He knew that he was strong, that there were few that could even come close to his power. He and his partners have ascended above where even those at the peak could reach. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Every fight was easy for him in a way. He didn’t have any challenge anymore. Perhaps that is what had hurt him the most. The only thing that was an obstacle to him now was surprise and logistics. Being in one place at a time limited him. But Erdania was right, of course. The enemy didn’t pose a challenge to him personally, it was a threat to other people. There was only one threat that Ryun considered real—Ra’azel. The fact that he was yet to show himself worried Ryun. After the attack on their home, and near success of the assassination attempt, Ryun had started to be a lot more diligent in monitoring his surroundings. He wasn’t going to get caught by surprise again. “What are you thinking?” Erdania asked, pulling him out of his mind. He turned his eyes up and looked around. They were inside his territory, it was the only place he was certain the enemy couldn’t actually monitor them. His territory was surrounded by the Last Forest, a change that happened after he had achieved his Axiom. The bare trees and the sense of a finality was thick all around them. Ryun was still not quite certain what it all meant, but somehow, he suspected that his territory was now part of a Essence Plane, or at least far closer to it than before. It made sense, his Soul embodied the Essence of the End. He was the End, and the territory was inside his Soul. He wondered if that is how it would work for other people. If their Souls would grow so large to become part of an Essence Plane or take it over. He glanced back down at the map, at the symbol designating the capital of the Faris Kingdom. Suddenly, he felt his anger get reignited. Those people were helping the Exalted Empire, and if what was in the reports was correct, they were complicit in the assassinations. This was the place from where those attacks were launched. Where they stored their weapons. Erdania’s voice pulled him back. He met her gaze and knew exactly what she was thinking. He had worked out a lot of his emotions, put them into his creations, but there was still cause for his feelings. “They are guilty,” Ryun started. “We are planning an attack, what do you want from me?” “There is a difference between striking an enemy target and an action taken based on what you’re feeling right now.” He grimaced, but didn’t gainsay her. She was right. He wanted to kill them all still. It was his nature to pay back a thousand fold what was inflicted on him and his. To send a message. Updates are released by novelꜰire.net “We’ll see,” Ryun just said. He didn’t need to promise he wouldn’t do anything rash. For all the knew the enemy would give him cause all on their own. Erdania opened her mouth and he knew she was going to argue with him, but then she pulled herself back and just shook her head. She gave him a complicated look, but didn’t say anything, instead she changed the topic. “How are we getting there quickly enough and without being detected?” That was an issue. Ryun could move very quickly, but erasing Space at that scale would cause issues. He had seen it on a smaller scale, if he did it across such a long distance he would probably rip a hole in the Real Realm. And he didn’t know what that would do. It was probably better not to risk it. “Ethereal?” Ryun suggested. “You think you can navigate it that well?” Erdania raised an eyebrow. “We could try and contact Berion, or maybe Maleatus,” Erdania suggested. “That would take time, and… Somehow they always seem to know when we make such plans.” “How will they know if the only people that know are you and I?” “We don’t know how they are monitoring us, but I am suspecting that it is a powerful perk or ability.” “That’s… You are basically immune to scrying, though the people around you aren’t, but… I understand. So, no contact with anyone.” “I’m fairly certain that nothing and no one can scry us in here,” Ryun gestured at the territory around them. “This is inside my Soul, and we know that the Soul is the one place that is indomitable.” Erdania nodded in agreement. “How are we going to get there then? You know that it’s not just our planning that is at risk. If we don’t show ourselves they will notice our absence.” “We need to get there in as short period of time as possible. Before they get a chance to learn or assume our plans.” Instantly would be preferable.