We sat together for the full half hour and nothing happened. Xerxes consumed another healing pill though it was mostly out of caution than anything else.

  "Alright, so which direction should we head in? We could go down the right swampy path that makes me think of a horror movie. Or we could go down the left swampy path that makes me think of a zombie movie."

  I grinned at Xerxes who snorted and leaped onto a route and took off. "I guess right it is." I leaped up and chased after him. We rushed through the swamp until I felt a familiar sensation. I grinned and gestured for Xerxes to follow. We landed on a patch of solid ground which let us pick up the pace. It wasn't until we came across a clearing that I realized what called to me. The clearing was nearly completely dark only the darkness was wrong. It was a bit like it was tangible.

  In the center of the darkness was a figure in the same robes as the Taesha Kingdom soldiers. For a moment I thought it was one of the princes but that hope was dashed. They wore better robes than the guards but based on the energy in them they were likely closer to Tamais. I couldn't tell if the person was male or female as they were on their knees and staring up at the tree crown above them. Their most striking feature was the purple flower growing out of their chest.

  The flower was nearly as big as the person's chest. It was a mix of black and purple where the black made up the base. A base that looked a bit like tentacles that dug into the victims chest. While the purple was like four conjoined roses. When I looked at with the **Eye of Heaven** I gasped. The flower was absorbing their energy. The plants tentacle roots had dug all the way into the person's body, into their channels and then into their Dantian.

  The plant had turned a person into nutrient rich soil. The whole thing was disgusting but also beautiful. I shivered and scanned everywhere. There was no way I would let one of those things sneak up on me. Assuming that was how it worked. I covered my face with a cloth as well.

  "Stay back and watch your self. I don't want that thing to get on you."

  I took a half step froward when another idea came to me. Wouldn't it be better to remove it without touching it? I mentally reached out with psychokinesis. As soon as I touched it the thing squirmed and then the person stood up. Black and purple eyes stared at me though I was sure they couldn't see anything. The puppet body then ran at me like something out of a zombie movie.

  In my surprise I unleashed a blast of pure mental energy. I didn't bother to shape into anything. Indigo washed over the body and it stumbled. The flower on its chest squirmed as if it wanted to dig itself deeper into the person's body. I unleashed another blast this time through **Psychic Blast**. Waves of indigo energy blasted into the body until a surge of energy ran into my dantian. I wasn't sure if the kill I got was the person or if it was the plant.

  I also couldn't bring myself to care. I pushed the body onto its back with my psychokinesis and waited. I half expected for the body to leap up at me but nothing happened. I gave it another moment before I walked up and kicked it. When it stayed still I activated my Tao field and compressed close it to my body. I then knelt down and picked up the flower. It made a horrible sound as I yanked it out of the person's body. A massive chunk of their chest was just missing which confirmed that they were definitely dead.

  I looked down at the flower and was pleased to see that it wasn't moving anymore. My treasure sense was just as strong as before so I put the thing in my ring. I didn't want to deal with now and there was no way I was about to eat the ugly thing. I was about to stand up when I felt someone enter my soul sense's range. I took a breath and watched. The person approached slowly and with the trees as cover.

  "Someone's coming. Get ready."

  They wore the same robes as the princes' guards which confused me. There was no way the man didn't know I was here so either they wanted to confirm the plant or they wanted to see me. I slowly expanded my Tao field while thinning it as much as possible. I wanted it in place just in case there was an attack but I didn't want it to cause an attack.

  The figure inched closer until he was a few feet away from the tree line. I slowly got to my feet and pretended to stretch. I gave him a few moments but he made no move to attack. I shrugged and activated Apportation. The portal appeared a second later a man was pulled through. They were bald with a complex array drawn across his face. His skin was pale almost vampiric and his build was thin. For a moment I wasn't' sure if he was actually a fighter. He looked more like a scholar that was forced into the field.

  When he realized what happened he scrambled to his feet and brushed his robes off. "You are the wondering cultivator yes? I am sent on behalf of the second prince, Prince Scythan. His royal Highness would like to meet with you."

  I cocked my head to side and mentally checked the sigil for Ethereal Convocation. When I confirmed that the spell hadn't been damaged I shook my head. "If this is about Xerxes than no thanks. Not going to trade him or give him away or any other crazy thing."

  The man shook his head. "No, the prince would like to discuss your assistance with a problem."

  I squinted at him not sure if he was fucking with me. I looked at Xerxes and then I considered what to do. There was a nonzero chance that this was a trap and that as soon as I showed up they would attack us. "Why did you come here? Did the prince leave this person here to draw me out?"

  The man shook his head and looked at the corpse on the ground. "No, we have been searching for you for the last two days. I felt energy fluctuations from this direction and decided to investigate. How did you deal with the Dreamlilac by the way?"

  "I just attacked it. Once I realized that it was using that person's body as a soil it wasn't too hard. I have my own means for removing it from the corpse."

  From the look on the man's face he wanted to ask for more information but he decided against it. I wasn't sure if that was because he didn't want to offend me or if he didn't want to risk me not agreeing to travel with him.

  "I see in either case the prince would like to offer the lilac to you as both a gift and proof of his good will."

  I paused at that and then glared at the man. "Did he place the flower into that person? To grow it?"

  "Not quite, the Lilac was already in the forest but his royal highness was aware of what it was and how it could be of use to you. Or rather someone with your kind of class. It is true that you specialize in mental or psyche-based attacks?"

  I slowly nodded and looked over at the body. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth. The flower was something I wanted so that part was accurate but it does seem weirdly out of place. Everything in this place has been related to death. The only exception was the area I started in. Of course it could be random chance. This place is called the Chimeric Jungle after all. Still wasn't it rather cruel? They could have killed the person and saved them from whatever happened.

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  "And where is your prince? Where would he want to conduct this meeting?"

  The man gave a genuine smile for the first time in this conversation. "We have claimed a section of this untamed wilderness about three miles from here." He gestured behind him.

  "I see, in when does he want me to join him?"

  "I am ready to lead you to him right away."

  I looked over at Xerxes. "What do you think?"

  "We should go. It might be fun and provide good meat."

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. His simplicity was both inviting and annoying. It was literally like talking to a child but in a very real sense he was. "Alright, lead the way. I warn you if this is some sort of trick I will kill your prince. Even if you manage to take me out."

  I released my killing intent for just a moment. When I saw the color drain from his face I grinned. It was hard to know if he was seriously afraid but it would have to do right now.

  "Right, please uh please follow." The man turned and jogged off into the forest. I nodded to Xerxes and we chased after him. The run through the swamp was oddly peaceful. At first I thought there just weren't any monsters nearby but I soon realized that was wrong. The man in front of us had done something. A field of energy had settled around us and it was like our aura had faded from the world.

  It wasn't the same as pulling your own aura inside you. It was like he made a space that lacked energy and then stretched over us. I tried to duplicate the feat as we ran but it didn't work. The sounds of the swamp began to fade in favor of muted conversations. The colors of the Taesha Kingdom became more prevalent. At first I thought they couldn't see us as we passed but that was proven wrong when two guards stepped up to block our path.

  Based on their energy levels they were both stronger than the man who escorted us. Each one wore proper armor. The taller of the pair held a spear while the other a longsword. They only glanced at Xerxes and I but I was pretty sure that was for show. Either the prince wanted to project strength or if he wanted to intimidate me. Either way it didn't work. I briefly considered returning the favor but the memory of what happened on earth stopped me.

  The last thing I need was to kill the prince's lover or something and then get involved in a massive war. The man ended whatever effect he used to get us here and the pair of guards stepped aside. We strode forward and I was impressed. There were around twenty people in here which if I assumed all three princes had a similar entourage than the kingdom had sixty tokens. I wasn't sure how that worked but it felt odd. Of course for all I knew there were hundreds of people running around. I still hadn't figured out just how large this place was.

  We stopped walking when we stood about fifty feet from a massive command tent. The tent looked brighter than all the others ones as if it was brand new. Furthermore the tent had a potent array going through it. From the parts I could see it wasn't anything dangerous. It was mix between sound isolating and atmospheric control. "Wait here. I will let the Prince know you have arrived."

  I nodded and watched the man step into the tent. I spread my soul sense over the area but it made no difference. The arrays made it impossible for me to hear their conversation. I could confirm that the there was only three people in the tent. The Prince, a woman in armor and then my guide. I turned my focus to the rest of the camp and was shocked. If I hadn't known that everyone was teleported here than I would have thought this was a war camp.

  Which meant that they had this kind of thing down to a science. If this was what all organizations in the multiverse did than I really should join one. I caught several people eyeing Xerxes but none made a move. "Can you smell the people in the tent?"

  "I can but there are other scents blocking it. Some sweet smelling things."

  "Keep an eye on things. If people start to gather around once we enter let me know. We might need to force our way out of here." Just as I finished the thought the guide stepped out of the tent and glanced at me. "His Royal Highness will speak with you." He gestured to the tent and then stepped to the side.

  I nodded my understanding, expanded my Tao field to a two inches away from my body and stepped into the tent. The tent was surprisingly lavish for something inside a swamp. It looked like it was more for a rich person who wanted the aesthetic of camping without actually camping. There was a stone table in the middle of the room and then two chairs at either end. Once the tent's flap closed it was like the outside world ceased to exist. Both the sounds and smells of the swamp were replaced and there was even a nice flowery smell in its place.

  I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and focused on the prince who was disconcerting. I couldn't put my finger on why he made me uncomfortable but he did. He was definitely human with a similar skin tone to the other soldiers only he was in better shape. It was almost like he hadn't left this room the entire time.

  "Hello, I hope that my followers haven't been a problem for you? I assume you are familiar with my identity?"

  I nodded. "I am told you are the second prince of the Taesha Kingdom. A kingdom that I assume is out on the frontier."

  He grinned wolfishly and gestured to the free chair. I glanced over at the guard as I took a seat. Xerxes moved to my right. I stroked his fur and scales while I waited for the prince to speak.

  "You are well informed. I do not enjoy pointless conversation so I will skip to what I have brought you here for." He waved his hand and a pair of servants entered the tent. They held trays with small sandwiches, sandwiches filled with a purple meat that made me think of the strange flower. My body didn't react as they placed a tray in front of me. "I would like to buy your assistance."

  I was careful not to let my face betray any emotion as I leaned back in my chair. It didn't take a lot of thought for me to piece together what he wanted. "You want me to help eliminate your brothers? Is this some attempt to move for the throne?"

  The prince tossed his back and laughed. "Not exactly. My royal father has arranged rules for succession. I have arranged for my third brother to be dealt with for this competition. I would like for you to me deal with my crown brother. I am told you have already had a run in with him. How was the encounter?"

  I did my best to smile through gritted teeth. Either he already knew how that fight had gone or his information wasn't anywhere as good as he thought. "So why me?"

  "Oh come now why wouldn't we want someone so distinguished? There are so few mental specialists around that I am curious as to your origin. Would you mind sharing that with me?"

  "I mean no disrespect but why would I share such things? I am sure you understand that a person history could be used as a weapon aimed at their back. Wouldn't it be better to avoid that kind of additional pressure?"

  Prince Scythan smiled and clapped his hands as if he had found a partner for a fascinating game. "Of course, I merely want to be sure that associating with you won't cause problems for my father. As much as competition between juniors can be fun we can't afford to offend our elders right?"

  I grinned. It wasn't hard to piece it together. He was afraid that I had some powerful figure keeping an eye out for me. I briefly considered lying but if I did it might make things more difficult. If I claimed some powerful elder and then they never showed up that would be worse. Of course the brief threat might be all I needed. "Let's just say that my actions here are my own. No one will need to hear about what we do. Now what exactly do you want me to do?"

  "I would like you to deal with my elder brother while I and my people deal with the rest of his troops." He held up a hand stop my protest. "He will have a treasure that will ensure he can escape the trial. I don't want you to nor do I expect you to kill him. That would cause problems."

  I nodded and had to admit the idea was intriguing. It would also let me battle the first prince without his guards. I mulled it over several times before something came to me. "You said the prince would be able to leave. What about the rest of his people? I find myself doubting that everyone has similar safety measures."