A single day and night spent moving deeper and into the outer regions was all it took for Jack to catch the first glimpse of the locals, with two seperate scouts most likely, appearing at the far edge of his spirit sense range. His group had just finished off a pack, ten animals in size, of steppe grazers- deer like creatures that could be found all across the steppe, when he once again expanded his spirit sense to its maximum range, picking up the two.
Jack spent no time at all to inform his group, quickly cleaning up after themselves- though not dematerializing all of their kills as they saved a fair few to be used in making their meals- and set off towards the closet of the two scouts. Unlike Jack, said scouts had to rely on less advanced scouting mechanics, using their mortal senses and knowledge to catch sight of a potential danger. To be fair towards said scouts, they were quick to react once Jack was within their sense range, one that was larger than what Arsha was working with, since the latter did not sense the presence of the now retreating scouts. They were also doing a fairly good job with leaving no tracks behind them, ensuring no tracker could follow after them, assuming said trackers were not above level twenty five. Second awakening scouts would have easily sensed them long before they did after all.
The scouts were fast, Jack had to admit that, though not fast enough to escape his spirit lock, nor were they made of steel, their bodies tiring out in an expected timeframe. Still, most of the remaining day had been spent moving ahead in a rather brisk pace, with the scout stopping at what seemed like a pre-prepared campsite where he then spent the night resting and recovering. Jack and his group in turn set up their own campsite, though extremely barebones at that, well aware that they will have little time come morning to head out as they stayed on the scouts trail.
While the rest of Jack's group slept, recovering their strength just like the scout did, Jack himself was only meditating, his aura in near proximity around their own small camp resembling that of a ferocious monster, chasing away any beast that so much as came in a momentary contact with the inner layer. Jack had no desire to wake the maid squad from their recuperation, and he was not inclined to risk creating a commotion with a fight, thus the extremely dangerous predatory monster aura- a feat Jack found particularly easy to achieve as his intimate familiarity with an exquisite number of different and super ferocious abyss monsters was like no other.
The scout stirred from his sleep just as the first rays of a new day fell upon his face- the camp built in a way to ensure precisely that, serving as a natural alarm clock used in the wilderness. The man quickly got up, fished out a small, wrapped parcel from his pouch and unwrapped it hastily, moments later coming face to face with an ever dwindling number of meat jerkies and rather hard and dry piece of bread, the latter of which he then tore in half twice over, creating four, somewhat similarly sized chunks, taking one of them and a few jerkies and wrapping the remainder back in the same material it was kept in so far. Then, he took his own wineskin and poured a bit of water from it on the dry bread and a short while later wolfed down both the picked Jerky and the now not so dry and hard piece of bread, entirely clueless that just outside his own sensing range another group who followed the scout was having their own, improvised breakfast. And unlike him, theirs was quite a feast, consisting of a nicely cooked steak and boiled vegetables that looked surprisingly similar to sweet potatoes, with a side of wild vegetable salad. Had the man known of it all, worse yet seen it with his own eyes, he might just have cried tears of anguish. trully, ignorance was bliss.
A similar pace continued for the next couple of days, with the scout often glancing at a compass of sorts of his own, clearly of a similar make to Jack's own creations, guiding the holder towards the connected piece no doubt remaining with the rest of the scouts group, leading him safely back home. The more interesting situations were whenever the scout they followed ran into another scout, clearly serving the same role and sent from another tribe. Both kept their distance, though the newcomers always eyed him with a hint of suspicion, questioning the reason this particular scout was heading the other way. Was he rushing back home to warn of the beastmen scouts, or worse yet advance parties, flooding into the outer region? Or was he a part of one of those tribes that kept a scout or two on the edge of the outer regions border with the inner part all season long? And clearly the scout pursued understood the other parties thoughts, always pretending to be an exhausted fellow who was finally returning after his shift at the border was over, happy to get a well deserved rest and recovery. There was no way he would warn other tribes. The later other tribes start their retreat, the greater the chance his own would get further away and escape the coming seasons hunts. There was no unity since each tribe had to think of their own first, less their bleeding hearts lead to their own destruction.
Eventually the scout ran into what was clearly a friendly party- a hunting squad from his tribe who, upon noticing the man, immediately joined up with him, escorting him back home. The new larger group could move with greater speed, as more eyes and ears allowed them to rush past larger packs of creatures without worrying about an immediate attack, forcing Jack's own group to pick up their pace as well. Though unlike the group they were tracking, their strength was still mostly capped, with slight mental fatigue pestering them at most.
Avoiding the perception of ever increasing hunting parties was the hardest part in this last leg of the journey, with Jack needing to flex his imagination and tap into his matter storage just a bit, all for a worthy cause however. In the end, yet another week was spent along the way, leaving Jack with only one and a half months until the opening of the dungeon he was offered a spot in by the fox beastmen clan- not that he actually cared all that much about it as he himself had access to unlimited amounts of such dungeons. He was quite sure he might even push a few instances of level hundred dungeons if he wanted to, the accumulation of energy over a few millenia being just that big, but all in good time.
Their end goal turned out to be a rather nice, if admittedly small- at least for modern population center standards- temporary camp that seemed to house around five hundred souls, their homes looking like easily movable tepees, with quite well thought out camp plan. Clear and clean rows of tepees with plenty of space for groups of up to dozen people to pass between the rows, allowing for parties to easily get from the heart of the camp to the outer ring at any time, as well as plenty of designated waste disposal areas and communal cooking spots, with the whole tribe pitching in to ensure they all were fed and capable of defending their families and friends. At the same time slacking was not accepted, with strict rules that had to be followed, lest the tribe grows weak and fall prey to either the beastmen or other, more aggressive tribes- plenty of which stalked the outer regions of the steppe.
The scout and his now accompanying group rushed straight to the very heart of their encampment, given way by all who saw them approaching, each and every one understanding the implications the man's presence here betrayed. They too quickly headed back home, no doubt about to begin their own preparations for early departure, and unusually early one it was, beginning more than a month before most others would. Just what kind of calamity such haste prophesized that even beastmen could not hold back any longer? Had they run out of their last seasons captives? Or had they finally receded into their ancestral beastly forms, now devouring people like some simple prey? Regardless, the tribe would have to run, and run fast.
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And so the word spread from one family to the next, with each and every one beginning their own preparations, the tales accompanying the information growing wilder and wilder by the moment. What began as their scouts return, clearly here to warn of beastmen advance parties scouring the outer region, eventually turned into whispers of armies of thousands amassing near the border, the beastmen ready and all too willing to wash over all of the free folk like an unstoppable tide.
"That's one way to do it." Jack smiled helplessly as he picked up the ever growing worry that slowly transformed into near full blow panic as the people began to pack up, each and every one wanting to be ready the moment their leaders decided to head out. Still, Jack knew better than anyone that this time, the alarm was fake, his own group the reason all this had started. What way to approach them? That was the million dollar question, one that Jack decided to tackle head on.
It was clear to him that there were no second awakening fighters among this tribe, their smaller numbers and the general lack of high level dungeons no doubt to blame, so why should he try and attempt some sort of lowkey approach, especially so when he could do the same, likely better even, in a more direct way. Of course, simply walking over and demanding a meeting with the supposed leader might not work quite as well as one would expect, so a slight amount of creativity was needed.
"Let's see if I remember how." Jack hummed as he reached inside, stirring the near endless killing intent and bloodlust he had tainted his soul in during the first go, carving a bloody path ever forward while in the abyss, and once he felt it, he pulled on the feeling, allowing it to burst forth from his being and expand at a rapid pace like a sound wave blanketing everywhere around him.
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"Chief, Rukan has returned!" A distressed voice reached her ears even before she saw her guard and a close friend- Mina Ast- enter the slightly larger tepee that she called her home and office, leading the young man, who had been sent out scouting the movements of beastmen, in right behind her. Selin Sen was nothing if not decisive and steadfast, immediately turning on her chief mode- her face calm, yet focused entirely on the task.
"I'm glad you are back safely. Tell me what you saw?" she asked the man, her ears picking up slight movement juts outside, likely a hunting party or two who had encountered the scout along the way and decided to accompany him. She would deal with all that later. First she had to know the scope and with of the beastmen activity.
"Yes chief!" the young man replied, bowing deeply- respect and faith clear in his eyes and voice. In more mundane times, Selin Sen might metaphorically pat herself on the back, her hard work and smart decision making allowing her tribes continuous prosperity. Now was not the time however, yet another heavy decision about to weigh on her. And for the best course of action be reached, she needed as much information as possible. And so, with rapt attention, she soaked in the report that was delivered.
Rukan's words poured out, describing in quite the detail the group he had seen, creating more and more questions with each sentence Selin Sen heard. A group of humans, with a Fae and elf accompanying them? And not a single beastman in sight either? It was odd, extremely so, for even the most despicable and treacherous plans beastmen had employed over the generations- not limited to infiltration, sabotage and the works- would never be implemented without some sort of beastmen oversight, ensuring that the plans would come to fruition. At the same time, it was also true that not once had it been recorded in their tales of history of any group leaving the inner regions who had not come to result in harm to the free folk. The only true question now was the urgency with which should they begin their evacuation, and just how far should they run?
As the saying went 'When it rains, it pours.' and this time, it seemed that a goddamn storm of the century had been blow in, as the moment Selin Sen was about to come to a decision, a bloody, deathy cold force washed over their camp, stopping everyone in their tracks as fear gripped their hearts. Whatever had locked its sight on their home was close, and it was immensely powerful at that. The presence made one feel that the slightest movement would draw this creatures gaze on you, followed by who knows what kind of savage response. Worse still, the sensation was not only psychological, as even the system registered clear impact on her ability to fight.
Destroyers presence(unique)- reduces all attributes- spirit excluded- by 10%, as well as place a noticeable strain on one's mind, slowing down their reaction speed, willingness to fight and decision making.
Just what kind of monster had found them? And where in the seven hells had it come from? Chaotic, if sluggish thoughts lumbered through Selin Sen's mind, with not a single mention of a creature his immensely powerful existing within the outer regions.Even the few horror stories about the deadlands never spoke of monsters with presence as horrifying as this. Then, another wave washed over, this one even more imposing, though bearing a distinct presence of a monarch of sorts, almost demanding those affected prostrated before its owner. And along with it, a clear order flooded her mind.
"I am coming over. We will talk."
Destroyers Presence(unique legendary)- Both aura and a domain, cultivated through near endless slaughter, destruction and domination, sapping the strength of ones enemies while strengthening ones allies. Reduces all attributes- spirit excluded- by 10%, as well as place a noticeable strain on one's mind, slowing down their reaction speed, willingness to fight and decision making. With doing the reverse for allies, increasing their attributes by 10% and speeding up their mental faculties.The greater the difference in spirit of its wielder and those affected, the stronger the secondary effect. Attribute increase or reduction cannot be resisted within the domain.
And there it was. Jack's Destroyer's Presence once again gracing the light of day, rekindled from Jack's mind and dark days when he had been nothing but a desperate killing machine, clinging to life by any means necessary, ending anything and everything that so much as looked alive and capable of fighting or threatening his life in any other possible way. Jack remembered even now just how much of a bitch it had been to learn to reign it in when he found the first settlement - rare as they were- where not everything that moved wanted him dead. At least not from the get go. He had to admit though, as far as skills went, it was incredibly powerful. Perhaps a bit too much even, as his group could move entirely unimpeded across the camp, all those present too scared to move, or run, let along stand up and fight. Then again, it was not entirely fair, what with him being half a divine being- if only in spirit now.
A lone, insignificant gaze in Jack's direction from any of the tribe members conveyed a single, inescapable truth through their very being- 'There is no escape, don't even bother trying. If I so wanted. you would be dead already, so rejoice in my mercy. At least for now.' An overlord of untold power was walking among them, clearly on his way towards the very center of the camp. Who were the people walking alongside him then? What power did they hold to not shiver in fear, awe and helplessness? And more importantly, how had their humble little gathering of people drawn the eye of such a monster? So many questions, yet too little information, or courage, that would have to border insanity, to ask for answers from the very people who were walking. No, it was better, safer really, to let things play out as they will, for there was no other choice to speak off. Unless one considered throwing away one's own life as an alternative- not something that people were all too inclined under normal circumstances.
Soon enough Jack's group were in front of the largest tepee within the camp and without hesitation Jack moved inside, Spartacus lifting the entrance covering pelt. Inside, two women were waiting, with one standing slightly forward, covering the other behind her broader back, no doubt in what was a gesture of protection, though because of Jack's Destroyer's Presence, she too was frozen in fear despite the desire to protect her tribe leader.
Jack Raja(?)
Age- 27
Species- human(?)
Level- 31
Class- Awakened twin aspect of Creation and Destruction(Ex)
Stats unassigned: +4
Attributes:
Strength- 34 (14+7+13(gear))
Vitality- 28 (12+8+8(gear))
Dexterity- 29 (15+6+8(gear))
Intelligence-20(15+ 5(gear)
Spirit- Spirit- 30 (20+10)
Skills- Wisdom of Creation and destruction(EX), Choice of the creator(EX), Eyes of procurer(EX), Matter storage(EX), Arukain language(C), Spark of inspiration(EX), Origin of matter(EX), Unbound by laws of the lessers(EX), The end made manifest(EX). Destroyers presence(unique legendary).
Spells- none.
Titles(unlocked): The real Monster, Big Game Hunter, The brilliant rookie, The insane Solo. Monster debugger.The actor. Executioner. Survivor. Pioneer, Record breaker.The new champion supreme. Slavemaster.
Gear: Two handed sword(t3)+ 5 str +5 vit: Armor 3str +3 vit +3 dex; Ring 1 - spatial storage, ring 2 +5int, ring 3 +5 str; amulet +5 dex.
