Fortunately, Zae Zin Nim's vehicle took them across Yulthens without any further attention, because they easily slipped in among all the other crystal ships. From the air, Kai got another opportunity to look over the new Yulthens, though he wished he could have flown under his own power and really explored it.

Unlike some other parts of Krysal, which were allegedly disasters, all of Yulthens seemed to be running in good order. Along the way Maggle provided running commentary, pointing out the best new bars and complaining about the worst streets. It seemed like the old noble quarter had been taken and given to heroes of the revolution, which made Kai again reconsider.

"Technically you have a place there too," Maggle said, gesturing vaguely. "There's a room set off just for you, with a big sign saying 'Kai Motherfucking Clanless' right on the door."

"Is that verbatim?" Omilaena asked wryly.

"You think old Maggle would exaggerate? I made that sign myself!"

"It should go to someone who needs it more," Kai said. "I don't like the idea of a room just sitting empty that I don't even need."

"Bah, we've got more than enough houses now, since the population went down. But if it's any comfort, I looted your fancy sheets."

Before they actually went to the "Acidarium" they stopped off to meet the trainees. Maggle greeted them eagerly, slapping Bonto on the shoulders and having the decency not to harass Tori. He promised that he could get them both plenty of crystals, since apparently his actual job involved distributing them. Kai supposed it was a mark of honesty that he hadn't taken more for himself, or then again he might just have not cultivated very many.

Even though things seemed to have started well, Kai waited until Omilaena was talking to the trainees about their chakra training and grabbed Maggle's shoulder to take him aside.

"Don't hit on Tori," he commanded. "She's dealing with enough right now."

"Okay, I was going to joke about her needing comfort, but you look like you'd eat a man for a joke right now." Maggle rubbed the back of his neck. "Message received, Papa Bear. I'll be all responsible and shit."

As soon as the students had begun their crystal cultivation, Kai was free to head across the city to this Acidarium. Once they were in the air and within visual range, he immediately realized that it was the old mercantile hall: the crystals and other ornamentation had been removed, and a new sign had been added, but the bones of the tall building were obvious.

Of course, something else had been changed: there was a huge glass tube running around the exterior of the building, bright acid pumping through it. He supposed it must have been made of transparent crystal, containing the acid so that its fumes didn't harm the city.

"I wonder if they actually pulled it off," Omilaena mused, draping herself over Kai's side. "A dirty secret of the nation transformed into a strength."

"Five years is not long enough to develop a new method of cultivation," Zae Zin Nim said, sitting primly on the other side. "That said, I am interested to see their progress."

"Personally, I'm eager to properly analyze some souls on a deeper level. I was pretty confident in my theories about it, but this is the real proof."

"We will also be able to see Yurwa and Gundle again."

"Eh."

That was foremost on Kai's mind as well, especially because his wives were the experts here. He hadn't seen Yurwa or her son once since their departure, which had been abrupt after the end of the battle. They had parted on generally good terms, but that actually made the reunion more awkward. Hopefully it would all work out.

When they landed beside the Acidarium, there was actually some commotion, a group of guards wearing yellow uniforms coming out to wave them off. As soon as Kai stepped out of the crystal ship, their reactions changed to fawning praise.

Running away from Yulthens had ultimately been the right decision, Kai considered as they walked into the building. Back then, he had terrified everyone with his uncontrolled monstrous form, but since he had been gone so long, all those memories had washed out into just remembering him as the savior of the city and the nation in general. It could be annoying to be celebrated like this, but at least it got them into buildings without any obnoxious trouble.

The interior hadn't been remodeled so much as repurposed, old meeting rooms stripped of their mercantile symbols and occupied by acid cultivators. Kai was most interested in the training rooms, which seemed to have glass-reinforced walls. He would have loved to get a better look at the men and women training within, but they were escorted to the deepest halls.

New glass doors separated one of the rooms, and when Kai stepped through he immediately understood: the fumes of acid filled the air on the other side. It looked like they had a glass pool in the center, filled with highly concentrated acid. Though it was a far cry from the miserable acid pits, the smell of it immediately sent his mind back to those days.

And if he was already moving in that direction, the sight of Yurwa completed the time travel. She sat on a bench beside the pool, apparently meditating, and hadn't seen them yet. Even though she was clearly a bit older, she still looked lovely to him, if a bit sad.

When she felt their presence she looked troubled for a moment, then Yurwa smiled. She rose to her feet smoothly and he was relieved to see that she didn't cough or otherwise look pained, so freedom must have been good for her health.

"I heard you were all back, but I almost didn't believe it." Yurwa dipped a bit of a curtsy to the group. "Sometimes I wondered if you'd make it back at all. I'm glad to see you're okay."

Kai nodded, instinctively smiling, but he wasn't sure how to move next. He had an impulse to hug Yurwa, which might not be appropriate, and another impulse to clarify their relationship, which would have been extremely awkward.

"Where's Gundle?" Zae Zin Nim asked.

"Oh, he's with his friends." Yurwa sighed and spread her hands helplessly. "He's young, and though he isn't as bad as some, he's not eager to spend time with his mother anymore."

While Zae Zin Nim broke the ice, and Omilaena began examining the other woman, Kai took the opportunity to check on her soul, even if on a more superficial level.

<

Name: Yurwa of N District Pits

Total Power: 117

Acid Cultivation: 1109 (81)

Physique Level: G-9 (20)

Soul Level: 4 (16)

>

She had reached 117 Power, which was not bad for a woman who had never considered herself a fighter. It looked like her Physique was still stuck in G rank, but considering how poor her health had been, that was impressive enough on its own. Above all, she looked happier and less weary than he remembered her.

"I'm going to need to draw some blood," Omilaena was saying, "and give you some chakra to test a theory."

"I'll do what I can," Yurwa responded, "but perhaps let's not rush into it. I'm not as young as I once was."

"Mom, I-" The interruption was itself interrupted as Gundle walked into the room, then froze. He was a lot taller than before, though still dreadfully skinny, with some acne and a bush of unruly hair. His jaw dropped a few degrees as he stared across them. "Kai?"

"I'm back," Kai said simply. This was awkward in a different way: he only remembered Gundle as a boy he had physically carried around, but this was a young man who likely didn't want to be thought of that way. Clearly Gundle remembered him, but how did he frame that relationship?

"You're... back for the incursion?" Gundle asked awkwardly.

"We'll be doing our best to help," Kai said.

"I wanted to fight, but they won't even let me. And they have a point, because I haven't grown a damn bit in years."

Frowning, Kai examined the boy's soul.

<

Name: Gundle of N District Pits

Total Power: 015

Acid Cultivation: 1433 (9)

Crystal Cultivation: 3 (1)

Physique Level: G-1 (4)

Soul Level: 1 (1)

>

He'd increased to 15 Power, which was remarkable in some ways but no doubt disappointing to him. Even though his base number for acid cultivation was even higher than his mothers, it wasn't providing him with much raw strength.

"You see?" Gundle cast a surly grimace in all directions. "I won't advance no matter how much acid I absorb."

"If it's any comfort," Kai said, "when I was your age I had zero Power. Most abilities don't awaken until about twenty years old."

"Really?" Gundle brightened a bit - surely others had told him the same thing, but maybe coming from Kai it meant more.

"Attempts to produce early prodigies are difficult," Zae Zin Nim agreed with a nod. "You will likely come into your power when your soul develops a little more."

"Though I'd love to run some tests," Omilaena added. "You mind giving a little blood?"

Gundle hastily agreed, apparently a bit awestruck. He was old enough to notice women now, and having Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena paying attention to him was overwhelming for any young man. While they went to examine him he seemed to have no idea where to look, his eyes desperately searching the ceiling or floor.

That wasn't how he'd planned it, but that gave Kai an opportunity of his own. He shifted next to Yurwa, and to his surprise she immediately hugged him. She was as soft as he remembered... Kai squeezed her back once, then pulled away.

"How have you been?" he asked quietly. "Are you, uh, married?"

Yurwa gave him a rueful smile. "Not much interest in older women with a child and a body ruined by acid. You?"

"Uh, yes. We're married."

"I'm glad, I really am." Yurwa's eyes rose slightly as she looked at the others, but then her face softened into an honest smile. "You had a bit of a rough, dramatic time while you were here."

"I feel like I wasn't much older than Gundle myself, back then." Kai smiled back at Yurwa, and as the understanding passed between them, he realized that everything was fine.

He wasn't a youth anymore, and he felt completely confident in his marriage. Even though there was a bit of nostalgia, he and Yurwa were both adults who could treat past relationships appropriately. While he was here, he would be able to help her however he could, without worrying about possible implications.

"So, how are you involved with acid cultivation?" Kai asked. "Considering when you started, you must be an expert by now."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Yurwa said. "The strongest are those who started with strong Physique, after we mastered the basics. Their bodies absorb the acid more like Gundle, so they aren't experiencing any harms..."

Despite her modesty, Yurwa seemed to be a key part of continued experimentation with acid cultivation. If she was willing to submit herself to Omilaena's designs, it was likely that she would be the vanguard of the ability. Even if others forgot her, Kai thought that in a strange way she should be remembered as the mother of acid cultivation.

The two of them chatted about old times and new developments for a while, but not half as long as he would have liked. Before they could finish, or Kai could get any time with Gundle, they were interrupted by officials entering the room.

"Kai Clanless?" the man said. "Krainuun cleared out his schedule to meet with you. He'd like to start as soon as you can."

For the most part, returning to Deadwaste had not been engaging for Zae Zin Nim. The only ones who really interested her were the elites, and there were internal sect politics getting in the way of that, so she had focused on her own advancement. Easy enough, since she had everything she needed and little to distract her.

Now, however, she had a second exception: acid cultivation.

The cultivator she had been years ago would have dismissed it entirely as a bastard offspring of pure cultivation, and her view of it had expanded even from the begrudging respect she had given it during the Krysali revolution. In fact, acid cultivation represented a sophisticated, if overly narrow, path to power.

Once she accepted that it involved more fleshly body development, similar to a chakra art or essence abilities, it fell into place. The highly advanced acid cultivators had bodies that were attuned to the acid, first being immune to it, then absorbing it into themselves. It wasn't so different from her own Blackblood Physique, which did have some limits via its focus but was ultimately a perfectly valid path for cultivation.

In her absence, the acid cultivators had developed a few more abilities. Notably, they were better at drawing on qi than before, which they could use to produce large amounts of acid. Gundle also demonstrated how they had developed a technique for an acid qi bolt, though he was bitter about not being able to use it himself.

As far as she could tell, the bolt was perfectly viable as a technique. Most of the other developments impressed her less. For example, she saw some acid cultivators who used the acid to form crystal-like structures, which was completely ignoring its potential for liquid movements, just copying the old crystalliers.

Gundle would be more inventive, when he was old enough. His mother was dutiful and reasonably talented, but she didn't have his genius... and there were other complications there.

When the officials came, their husband asked if they wanted to come along, but both Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena were happy to remain and explore acid cultivation further. Omilaena especially seemed to be making progress, keeping her goggles on at all times and eagerly diving into her analysis. Their acidic bodies definitely seemed to be the most developed portion of their art, which is why it was a shame that so few had strong Physiques.

No, let Kai take care of the politics. Zae Zin Nim had finally found something else to occupy her.

Eventually they had Yurwa engaged in a sort of cultivation, sitting with a sphere of acid circulating in front of her, stirred by her qi. It was similar to circulating qi, making this a sort of external dantian similar to crystal cultivation's gemstones. This one, however, would not be a limitation to growth because it could be reabsorbed.

That was the best method they had come up with so far, given their limitations. The most generic method would be to continually absorb more qi-charged acid, which seemed likely to run into the same problem of diminishing returns as crystal cultivation. If they treated it like a chakra ability, then it would require seeking out new sources of acid to absorb. This was a sort of middle ground, letting the user intensify their own acid before reabsorbing it.

This was unlikely to lead to a new breakthrough, but Zae Zin Nim thought that it would help a cultivator reach the full strength of a given tier, which would be a major step to turning acid cultivation into a proper discipline.

"Well, you're lost in thought." Omilaena came to sit on the bench beside her, intentionally thigh-to-thigh. "It's not often that we get to work together like this."

"It is interesting," Zae Zin Nim answered. "Unfortunately, we will soon have to wait for Yurwa, or I suppose others, to advance so that we can test the results."

"I think she's underestimated, honestly. If I can figure out a way to boost her Physique a little, she might shed the last of her illness and be a decent fighter. Honestly, there are plenty of miners out there who think they're big hotshots with less total strength."

Zae Zin Nim nodded approvingly. "I concur. We should also see if we might be able to arrange a relationship for her. She would do better with support."

Instantly she knew she had made a mistake, from the way Omilaena's eyebrows rose and she then gave a savage grin. "Oh really? We work with Yurwa for a few hours and you're already trying to hook her up with someone? Interested in helping her out with some dual cultivation tips?"

"You know that is not the case."

"Oh, but you are focused on her personally, whether you want to or not." Omilaena leaned in, resting her hand on Zae Zin Nim's thigh. As they were married, this was perfectly acceptable, but Zae Zin Nim still bristled at the teasing.

"I am simply concerned for-"

"Nonsense. You're thinking about the fact that she had a relationship with Kai, aren't you?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Do not be absurd," Zae Zin Nim snapped. "Kai was clear about that, and knows his duty as a husband, and Yurwa is not an unreasonable woman."

Omilaena smirked. "So you aren't going to be terrorizing her like you did with Nirka?"

"Nirka was selfish and annoying. Yurwa did nothing wrong. She would not be the first woman to be used, given a child, and then abandoned."

"Ah." Omilaena shifted against her, and even though this put them more in contact, her touch somehow became less sexual, more comforting. "So this isn't insecurity, you feel sympathy for her."

"I... suppose so." Zae Zin Nim sighed and leaned against her wife. "So many things have changed in Krysal, but she hasn't received the good fortune from the revolution. She deserves our help."

"I'm not going to argue with you there. I need to go to Irun and get a lot of things in motion, but we can't neglect Krysal... what do you think, are you planning to stay?"

In that moment, even though she hadn't been thinking about it, Zae Zin Nim realized that she did want to stay. All the jumping around teleporting was beginning to annoy her, especially since every new location brought new politics and new headaches. Krysal was familiar, and they had reasonable flying vehicles. Her standards for cultivation locations had risen vastly since her last visit to Deadwaste, but she was more likely to find an appropriate location here than in any of the other nations.

"So I guess you made up your mind?" Omilaena asked, reading her clearly.

"Yes, I will stay and prepare a groundwork for us here," Zae Zin Nim said. "We should discuss some of the details of the later work we have planned. Should we encourage them to develop an acidic Physique as a chakra-based ability, or more like qi's fleshly cultivation?"

"Oh, we can worry about that later. I'm much more concerned about you being here, all on your lonesome."

"I will be fine, and the two of you are only one teleportation portal away."

"Are you sure?" Omilaena's hand on her thigh went back from comforting to teasing, and though Zae Zin Nim squirmed in response, this time it wasn't unpleasant.

"Do your lusts never end?" she asked, not so crossly.

"Not when it comes to you." Omilaena kissed her on the cheek, but then finally pulled back, just leaving an arm wrapped around her waist. "You're actually right: we'll probably be jumping around the continent repeatedly, especially in these early phases. I have to focus on Irun, but I also need to check in with Juray, and to make a few other arrangements. So having you based in a consistent location will be easier on both of us."

"Very good, I will create and defend a home."

"Yes, yes, you're a master of the feminine arts." Omilaena snickered and pulled her a little closer.

This was also teasing, yet the old words no longer carried any venom. Zae Zin Nim smiled and breathed in the acid floating around her.

.

..

.

After being invited to meet with Krainuun, Kai hadn't been sure exactly where they would go. Their ship didn't remain in the parts of the city that had been wealthiest, instead turning toward a central location. Even from the air, he could see that people were moving about busily here, with far more porters and messengers than he'd seen elsewhere.

No, there had been plenty of movement elsewhere in Yulthens, he realized that the difference was that here it was all organized. The city might no longer be a center of trade in exactly the same way, but it administered even more of the nation than before, and it seemed Krainuun had scaled things up to match.

Near the center, there was a building that was a bit taller than average, but no fancier - if anything, it was plainer than the older buildings nearby, many of them legacies of old merchant families. One of them was the place where they first landed, so it was time to finally get his meeting with Krainuun.

Kai was looking forward to hearing from the old man, especially after getting so many different perspectives. He had a few connections in Goralia or Irun, but Krysal was the one place on the continent where he could speak directly with those in charge, and as a result he also had a responsibility to the nation.

When he walked in, he saw that there were only a few guards near the exterior of the plain building. A few officials looked at him and immediately moved on, everyone here too busy to fawn over him. At the center of the hive's activities there was a small desk, where an old man in rumpled robes was working steadily.

At least until Kai arrived, when Krainuun made a subtle gesture. Immediately the other officials moved away, leaving them isolated amid the work.

"Kai Clanless," Krainuun said mildly. "It's past time that we talk."

Even though they were in the middle of a hive of information, when Kai sat down opposite Krainuun, the meeting felt surprisingly intimate. The desk was small and simple - it might even have been one of the same ones the administrator had used in the past. Kai's chair was too small, so he loomed a bit, but that just emphasized the expediency of the place.

"I apologize that I couldn't meet you sooner," Krainuun said. "It isn't a question of values: there are increasingly demands on my time that will make themselves disastrous if they aren't dealt with."

"Is that a euphemistic way of referring to factions in Krysal?" Kai asked. "I've been getting a sense for the situation and it sounds messy."

"That's one way to put it. I understand that you're back to help through the incursion?"

"As much as I can." Kai explained his position with the Frontier elites, the contests, and the potential that he might be sent off to another front. Krainuun listened in silence, occasionally scratching a note, and only responded after Kai was done.

"While your situation has difficulties," Krainuun said, "I'd be happy to trade Krysali politics for dealing with the Frontier elites. Here we completely lack a unified purpose, both in terms of our time frames as well as fundamental goals. I confess, I'm not sure what Krysal will become in the future."

"Seems like there are a lot of people who want to go back to the way things were before."

Krainuun brushed the matter aside as if it was another paper. "Hardline merchants and reactionaries are the least of our troubles, and they don't have a chance of actually reconstructing the old system. No, the strongest factions are those pushing for a new vision for our country, from establishing a new city-state model to democracy to communal rule."

Kai shifted uncomfortably. "I want Krysal to be able to choose its future, but right before the incursion seems like a bad time to experiment with government..."

"Don't worry, all but a few radicals understand the need for leadership now. The elites agree, which is why so much of the nation's preparation has been under my purview. But once the danger has passed, I will be stepping down and a coalition of the major powers will decide Krysal's future."

That, more than anything, gave Kai pause. Of course he'd known that Krainuun wouldn't lead forever, due to age if nothing else, but he'd gotten used to having the old man there. The idea that he would be forfeiting his position...

"I don't suppose they could elect you leader?" Kai asked.

"Absolutely not." Krainuun shook his head sharply. "Most importantly, I pledged that my governance of Krysal would be limited until the next incursion, after which I will irrevocably surrender executive power. But honestly, I've had enough. The demands of a large population are even more difficult to please than my old mercantile masters."

"Then you're out entirely? Will Krysal be alright without you?"

"I intend to take on a smaller administrative role, though we need to take care that I'm not mistaken for the power behind the throne. Hopefully, if the new coalition can form a stable government, I'll be able to do work I'm better suited to in the new Krysal."

Kai shifted forward, chin in one hand, reconsidering his plans even though this wouldn't affect the near future. Eventually he decided that the best route to the future was focusing on present trends, so... "So what are these factions, and how are they influencing our incursion planning?"

"I see half a dozen major groups," Krainuun told him, "though there are many splinters. The reactionaries, who think Krysal was better off before the revolution, are smallest. There is also a group of merchants and crystalliers who made peace with the revolutionaries and seek a smaller role now. Militant former slaves are one of the strongest forces - what they lack in concrete solutions, they make up for in blaming the old nobles."

"I believe I've met some of them. Seem a bit radical."

"No, the true radicals are splinters from even the militant groups, who believe that the revolution didn't go far enough. Those groups don't exactly come to meetings, but their influence can't be discounted."

"Are you saying they have the sympathy of the people?"

"The people?" Krainuun's eyebrows rose, then he sighed. "If we're talking about 'the people', then the largest faction of all consists of the majority who simply want a better Krysal without a particular vision for obtaining it. They'll be the ones all the factions try to convince, whether it's through actual voting or simply a new government."

"So all these groups are trying to use the incursion to get public opinion on their side, and afterward one of them will get to lead the new Krysal."

"Or," and Krainuun raised a thin finger like a knife, "none of them will. A troublingly likely possibility is that no faction will gain prominence, or that their governments will fall apart. In the end, with an unknown level of violence, Krysal will revert to being a disorganized region of city-states."

"Alright." Kai rubbed his eyes and then cast off the matter with a shake of his head. "I can't solve all those problems, but we need to survive the incursion first. Is there a path through that won't grant any radical groups too much power? I assume you know that the elites are considering a plan that will sacrifice a major region of Krysal, if it can't get its act together."

"Regrettably, this has become known, which only fuels radicals. Fortunately, I believe that our solution is simple, if not easy: a strong defense against the incursion with all factions on board will go a long way toward making Krysal a unified nation that can survive on the other side."

"What forces have you trained?"

Krainuun was extremely prepared for this section of the conversation, presenting Kai with a written report even as he explained the details. Overall, Krysal had large numbers of forces stronger than the average Goralian hunter, due to all the miner veterans of the revolution. Only a few of these reached the level of the former crystalliers, in offensive power and especially in mobility, so their defenses would have problems with more powerful monsters.

Starting with relatively few slaves from the pits, acid cultivation played a smaller role in the defenses. They did have some "acid squads" that were fragile but could be flown to different locations to take care of monsters with defenses too tough for the average fighters to take care of.

This was one area where creativity could make up for power, and Krainuun had already shown his value there. He'd come up with a number of variations, including non-combat groups that would fill glass spheres with acid, which could be dropped from conventional flying vehicles. All in all, any monsters without a resistance to acid had a counter waiting for them.

Beyond that, the defense grew more difficult. An entirely new discipline had been created in the intervening years - "crystal shields" who used crystal cultivation to block or bind instead of attack. One could be created with many fewer qi crystals than a true crystallier, so they had decent numbers available, but again, they were lacking real elites.

"Where are the crystals coming from?" Kai asked once they'd covered all the troops. "I assume you can't be just reorganizing those that were already mined, yet starting up the mines again..."

"They're still operational at reduced capacity." Krainuun shifted his papers and pushed another overview across his desk. "More miners than you might expect are content with their old work, they just want to be paid fairly. This is, admittedly, one of our limitations. The days of revolutionaries seizing crystals from the wealthy are over and we need to produce more, which has unavoidable expenses."

"Oh, let me help with that." Kai reached into his spatial ring and began placing golden bars on the table. "I'm not carrying enough to fund an entire nation, but I think the materials I have are the equivalent of a million Goralian eagles or so. This should go a long way toward buying crystals for the trainees I asked about, I trust you met them?"

"I, uh, yes, I was informed."

As Kai continued to unload treasures, Krainuun's eyes continued to widen. Not wanting to crush the desk, Kai began to stack golden bars on the floor beside himself. Of course, he knew that raw gold alone would flood the economy and reduce the price of the commodity, which was why he switched to unloading jade from Cloudspire, then qi pills that he thought would be compatible with Krysali cultivators.

In the end, he'd placed a small fortune on the floor of the administration hall. This would have been an insane amount of money to him once, yet now it wasn't enough to change everything, and paled in comparison to his unique advancements. Surrounded by the shimmering wealth, Kai and Krainuun ignored it to continue their conversation.

"This can certainly be converted into new crystals," Krainuun said, calmly if a bit faintly. "I will make sure that your trainees receive all the resources they can productively use."

"Use your judgment, or whoever you have making military decisions." Kai shrugged, glad to get some decisions out of his hands for once. "Tori and Bonto could definitely become crystallier-equivalents, I'm sure of that. Cragrila will contact you at some point, so give her what she needs. Beyond that... Maggle and Nirka could use more too, but I'll leave that up to you."

"I promise that this won't be squandered."

"Great, I'll trust you on that. Omilaena also has some ideas about how to improve Krysal's strength, and Zae Zin Nim will be helping your acid cultivators. Between all that, do you think we can survive the incursion without sacrificing a large part of Krysal?"

"No."

The abrupt answer made Kai sit up straight, but Krainuun seemed completely serious. After giving him a weak smile, Krainuun flattened his hands on the table and continued.

"Instead of trying to fight the incursion as if we were at full strength, I have proposed a controlled evacuation." He found a map of the Krysal city-states and began making notations on the eastern regions near the wasteland. "Some cities were damaged in the last incursion, others were destroyed in the revolution, and in general people are emigrating west. Which creates problems of its own, but that's a separate issue. What matters is that we could use this as a buffer zone."

"Because monsters always focus on eating people." Kai understood and jabbed the cities listed on the map. "If you get the people out, you could use these as fortresses, cutting down the monster horde before it reaches the points you have to defend."

"Exactly. With a little investment in fortifications, I believe it could be a highly effective strategy. The problem is that evacuating so many is a radical path - and not in a popular way - and thus requires approval. Both from factions across Krysal and the elites."

"I can't promise every part of that, but if we succeed in convincing the elites, that will go a long way toward making the plan happen. I agree, better to accept a retreat and minimize losses than to try to fight everywhere and risk the entire line collapsing."

Though Krainuun shrugged, he seemed subtly pleased that Kai agreed. "There are some complications with the borders to the Elemental Nations and Goralia, so I hope we can compensate them for the additional monsters. If this works, Krysal will not be devastated by this incursion, and the evacuees can return home to rebuild their cities better."

"And I'm guessing it doesn't hurt that this plan might get all those radical factions to work together on something for once."

"Perhaps." Another thin smile, then Krainuun shook his head. "But I've already taken a huge amount of your time. We will need to coordinate more, but I'm glad that we are generally on the same page."

"Absolutely, and I'll be back to fight here after I help in Irun. Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena will talk to you about some of their plans, but hopefully those will help boost Krysal's defenses further."

"I'll have someone correspond with the two of them. There is, however, one other issue that I would like to beg your assistance on before you go."

"What is it? I'm getting pulled in a lot of directions these days, and I don't know how much of an influence I can have on these factions. I get the feeling my good reputation here depends a lot on being a 'hero of the revolution' who isn't around to talk."

"Oh, it isn't anything like that. A group of terrifyingly powerful monsters washed up on Krysal's northwestern shore, resisting even our cultivator response teams. I petitioned the elites for assistance, and apparently it is risky enough that they haven't been able to commit resources to... why are you smiling?"

Kai got to his feet, grinning while he cracked his knuckles. "Some monsters? I don't know about all this political business, but those, I can help with."

Flying over Krysal to hunt monsters, with only Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena along with him, gave Kai a jumbled sense of nostalgia. Every element of it felt so familiar - the hunt, his wives, the shores of Krysal - and yet this wasn't a real era of his past. Omilaena had been an uncomfortable ally at the time, they hadn't been honest about their relationships back then, and this Krysal was nothing like the one where he'd hunted monsters years ago.

Still, it felt good. Kai settled back in his seat and just relaxed as they scanned the coastline.

"Is there really a monstrous threat?" Omilaena asked. "Or did you just want a vacation?"

"If Kai had planned this," Zae Zin Nim said from the front seat, "he would have had us camping in a tent."

"Oh my, did you just join in the teasing? What's gotten into you? Other than the obvious."

"Hey now." Kai waved vaguely at the two of them. "We got our break in Cloudspire, everything is about the incursion from now until it's resolved. We can only take a break when it's contributing toward a legitimate objective."

Omilaena wiggled her eyebrows in an exaggerated fashion. "You mean like dual cultivation? Oh my, is that the real reason for taking us out here?"

"You used 'oh my' already," Zae Zin Nim put in neutrally.

"Betrayal! Undermined by my own wife!"

"I admit that I'm skeptical about how dangerous our targets will be." Zae Zin Nim had taken Omilaena's shenanigans in stride, but it seemed she was done with joking. "It seems more likely that the elites simply did not have time to deal with this than that the monsters represent a true threat."

"So you share my skepticism." Omilaena embraced their wife from behind, but she had shifted as well, no longer truly teasing. "Then why go along with it?"

"Because, if the monsters are worthwhile at all, then our husband can consume them. This is also an important part of preparation."

As stiffly as Zae Zin Nim spoke, Kai found himself smiling warmly. She didn't usually throw around "our husband" unless she was in a good mood, and she remained relaxed even with Omilaena wrapped around her. These casual, intimate interactions didn't exist in any false nostalgia, yet he already felt attached to them in a way he struggled to articulate.

Of course they hadn't flown off on their own, since that would have been a poor use of their time. Instead they'd focused on training, both his own students and Krysali trainees, until an elite stopped by and took them to the shore. From there, it took little time to confirm reports of monster attacks, which had led them to this coast and hopefully the monsters before too long.

The information from the local reports had been basically useless, since the monsters were too strong for the locals to even get a decent sense for them. Krainuun's paper reports had actually been better, stating that the monsters were vaguely crustacean in form, with unusually high defenses and dangerous tails.

So far they'd had no luck whatsoever - and the instant he had that thought, Kai finally spotted what he was sure was their target.

Something dark red was leaping from a nearby ridge toward their vessel, but Kai was on high alert after returning to the elite phase training, so he attained a speed phase instantly. The monster was fast, but not so fast that he didn't have time to examine it.

Contrary to the reports, it looked less like a crustacean than a lizard that had grown out of a boulder. The core body was entirely encased in a rounded shell, while armored arms and legs emerged from the sides, along with a squat head filled with needle-like teeth. All of those looked less dangerous than the tail, which was twice the length of the rest of the monster's body and shaded increasingly red until it reached a wicked point.

<

Monster: Bloodtail

Threat: XV (omicron)

>

His spiritual senses called it a Bloodtail and judged it as a omicron-ranked threat. Kai felt as though he was seeing something more fundamental and found himself leaning forward, trying to examine the monster on a deeper level, but he was out of time.

"Hmph." Zae Zin Nim stood up and thrust out one hand, unleashing a body-sized Coldfire Palm against the leaping beast.

The impact sent it flying backward instantly, but Kai was surprised that it hadn't been annihilated. In fact, it looked like the head and one arm had been burned while the central armor had resisted entirely. That suggested that the rumors of its defenses weren't just over-estimations; Zae Zin Nim frowned while Omilaena nodded in appreciation.

And a second Bloodtail struck the ship from the side, shattering the crystals.

Kai was thrown into the air and instinctively began using Thunderbird's Wings, stabilizing his position. Even in that time, the second monster struck Zae Zin Nim and drove her down to the ground, pinning her there. He reversed course to shoot down after her, but the beast was fast and he realized he'd be too late.

With one arm pinning Zae Zin Nim's shoulder, the Bloodtail opened its maw toward her face while its tail arched over its shoulder toward her neck.

It shouldn't have gotten close: Zae Zin Nim headbutted it right in its jaw, shattering several of its teeth as it staggered back. Kai arrived a second later, swiping one hand in a Tyrant's Claw that sent the Bloodtail flying backward, crashing over the rocky shoreline.

As he kept an eye on the monster, Kai offered Zae Zin Nim a hand even though she didn't need it, and it was a mark of how far they'd come that she accepted. Her fingers gripped his as she flipped back to her feet, and they lingered as they both examined the Bloodtail. Kai's claw technique had severed one arm, but where it struck the main armor it left only a line of fading energy.

"Pretty tough." Omilaena landed beside them, arms flying as she manifested and hurled new needles. Some bounced off the shell, as expected, but others broke the monster's unarmored skin and she got one in the beast's eye, making it roar in anger. "Hmm, not doing much."

"You mean it's immune to poison?" Kai asked.

"Not immune, just tough enough to resist. It's not just armor, though that is its notable trait."

That and the tail, which the monster used to slap the ground and launch itself forward in another assault. Zae Zin Nim charged to meet it, ducking under the stabbing point.

With startling speed, the Bloodtail twisted its tail around, first trying to sweep her feet out from under her, then finishing its twist with a second stab from below. But Zae Zin Nim stepped over the first and leapt to evade the second, putting her in range: her palm struck the Bloodtail's armor and it flew backward with the sound of a ringing bell.

Another solid hit, but though the Bloodtail got up more slowly, its shell hadn't broken.

"The palm strike didn't make it through," Zae Zin Nim said with a scowl. "I thought I could liquefy its insides, but the armor is more than purely physical."

"Don't feel bad," Omilaena said, raising goggles that Kai hadn't noticed that she had manifested. "Looking at this thing closer, I think it's from the Blood Current, so it's well above anything you'd expect to face here."

"Curious. I thought monsters from the Blood Current didn't leave."

"They certainly don't drift out, but I suppose it isn't impossible for them to reach other continents on rare occasions."

While they spoke, the Bloodtail advanced on them again, and this time Kai tried an experiment. He launched a Manticore's Spine at it, aiming to pierce the skull. Unfortunately the Bloodtail lowered its head just in time, and the back of its neck was armored almost as toughly as the main body, so it continued rushing toward them.

But that wasn't the real threat: Kai hadn't forgotten about the original Bloodtail that Zae Zin Nim had knocked away. When it came speeding from their flank, utterly silently, Kai was ready.

This time he didn't hold back: he unleashed Baleful Breath directly on the attacking Bloodtail, intending to annihilate it immediately. To his shock, he saw the shell sailing through the flame and darkness toward him - the monster had pulled its arms and legs in close, and wrapped its tail around its head like a helm - and though its armor looked damaged, it survived.

Kai's aggressive tactic worked against him then, because he'd closed the distance. He caught the claw slashing at him but felt the tail punch through his side and grunted in pain. It hadn't stabbed deep, but it got through his defenses, and it fucking hurt.

Omilaena was there the next moment, stabbing an injection into the Bloodtail's neck, and Zae Zin Nim knocked away the first one. The injection didn't seem to have enough effect, because the Bloodtail retracted its tail to slap against Omilaena.

It didn't get there: Kai lunged out and grabbed part of the coiling tail in both hands. That gave Zae Zin Nim an opening to approach and strike it... but they were all taken off guard when an attack swept in from above, forcing them to retreat in three separate directions.

There was a Bloodtail standing in front of them - a new one. As it let out a cry from its needle-like jaws, the other two answered, and then all three closed in.

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