By sheer bad luck, Omilaena was in the worst position, with two Bloodtails immediately menacing her and the third blocking off a direct escape. As their tails lashed out, Kai didn't think about it, he just leapt to defend her.

In midair he threw out another Tyrant's Claw, knocking aside a striking tail, then he collided bodily with another Bloodtail. His momentum threw them both into the third, driving them away from the group into the ground, neutralizing their ambush.

It had been an effective maneuver, but a risky one: the monsters weren't nearly as disoriented or stunned as Kai would have hoped, so the two he'd crashed into were now turning on him. Their claws latched onto him as their jaws menaced him and tails coiled around his limbs with enough length left over to still stab at him.

Almost instantly Kai was locked in place, gripping one tail just inches from his face, dodging a biting jaw, gripping the other Bloodtail by the head to hold back its bite. The last tail managed to get through, stabbing into his stomach.

For all of that, Kai still instinctively looked to his wives to make sure they were okay after the surprise attack and disorientation. He shouldn't have been worried.

The third Bloodtail was not intimidated and had attacked both women at once during Kai's brutal melee, but in closing the distance it made a fatal mistake. Prior to this point, they had been testing a dangerous but inferior opponent, and now they fully deployed everything they'd learned.

Zae Zin Nim met both tail and claws with her hands, not trying to cause an injury, only deflecting the blows to neutralize the beast's attack. And while it was fully engaged, Omilaena leapt onto its back from behind, stabbing needles into both its eyes. When it let out a roar of pain, she stabbed a much larger needle directly into its throat.

Then Zae Zin Nim closed in, and this time her palm struck the beast directly in the head. Its armor didn't help against that.

Even as it fell, however, Kai was still being assaulted by tooth and tail from all sides. If he had been weaker, his rush would likely have been suicidal, because he had taken multiple hits. But his skin, while not an armored shell, was tough enough that the Bloodtail teeth couldn't tear through him, and he could survive a few stab wounds.

Ignoring the jaw biting his neck, Kai grabbed the next tail trying to stab him. This time, instead of deflecting it, he stomped on the middle of the tail, then tugged. At first the monstrous flesh resisted, but when Kai fully deployed a strength phase, he tore it in half.

While one monster roared, Kai whipped the tail upward so that it arced around striking the monster biting his neck. The tail clanged off the shell, which disoriented it enough to loosen its jaws. Kai immediately threw his head back, knocking it away.

He had been prepared for another attack, but none came: one Bloodtail stumbled in disorientation, one roared over the loss of its tail, and the third... it was falling, having been killed by Zae Zin Nim's palm strike.

"I'll hold this one!" Omilaena leapt in the path of the first Bloodtail to recover and hurled another needle. When this one shattered against the armor, it broke into a storm, unleashing ice qi that began to freeze the monster in place.

Which left one more, and Kai had instinctively closed on it alongside Zae Zin Nim. She was coming from behind, which was actually more dangerous, since she had to evade all the tail's maneuvers. Kai lunged straight in, hammering a blow into the monster's armored chest. No damage, but it staggered enough for Zae Zin Nim to leap overhead.

She spun around, thrusting one foot down on the Bloodtail's head. This wasn't her Brightwind martial arts, she was just using the raw power of her Pure Yin Shroud. Kai joined her and they battered the Bloodtail from both sides, intentionally pitting themselves against its strength.

It stumbled, the rest of the body not able to keep up with the assault that its armor could survive, and they fell on it. Finally they managed to pummel it to death, Zae Zin Nim ending with a cry of rage, bringing both hands overhead. This time the armor made a loud crunch and buckled inward, crushing part of the Bloodtail's chest.

"I..." Zae Zin Nim flushed a little when she saw him watching, but she smiled as she caught her breath.

Meanwhile, Omilaena had been trying to inject and breathe ice into the last Bloodtail, apparently unsuccessfully. She had inhibited it but not finished it off, so Kai instinctively moved to help her. This one was more cautious, perhaps realizing what had happened to the others, but it was much too late.

Omilaena intentionally let the monster coil its tail around her leg while pulling back to give him an opening. Kai landed between them, wrapping one arm around the tail while slashing out with the other. This time he managed a strength phase instinctively, so his Tyrant's Claw smashed the Bloodtail back, nearly severing its tail.

Once its tail was injured, the two of them finished it off easily, ending with Omilaena smoothly landing on top and gesturing to him. "Getting hungry?"

In answer, he dropped down on top of the dying monster and opened his maw.

The armor had been resistant to everything else, but now the Bloodtail was just food, and Kai consumed it eagerly. Its flesh was rough and tangy, then to his surprise he realized that the armor itself tasted good. Kai eagerly feasted, consuming the monster's entire being.

"Do you need more?" Zae Zin Nim asked, dragging one of the others closer by its tail.

"I'd better," Kai said between bites. "I could use more of this essence."

"These aren't the only ones," Omilaena observed as she scanned the perimeter. "Just three couldn't threaten such a large area. I wonder how many others are out there."

Kai grinned, his teeth dripping with monster blood.

.

..

.

Kojajix had no idea how long they had been drifting in the Deadlake, propelled by the impossible force produced by the gray man. Everyone had despaired at first, with the poisoned waters all around them, but the supplies miraculously restored themselves, over and over. For a while Jonijix had tried to use his water gimmick to shift their course, it had moved them not an inch, and soon they all gave up.

Sometimes he started to think that this was hell and they were condemned to drift forever.

The others screamed when the monsters attacked, but truthfully, Kojajix was grateful. They'd be torn apart by these red-black beasts and then their torment would be over. At least those tails looked like they could spear a man and that would hopefully kill instantly. Even Yangix, so arrogant about his failed cultivation, didn't try his stupid qi attack.

"Back, you fucks!" Fodajix was screaming. "Defensive perimeter!"

It didn't matter, not against this many monsters. Kojajix watched numbly as one of the new hires went down under two of the monsters and it was worse than he expected. Their claws didn't kill him instantly, they just drew a lot of blood. The man screamed and thrashed, actually throwing off one of the monsters, so it seemed he would take forever to die. More were coming for the rest of them, and they all had this miserable fate.

Then a tsunami swept over the deck. Kojajix didn't understand what he was seeing, he just watched the water somehow push the monsters over the edge while leaving the sailors intact.

Everyone cried out in alarm and disbelief, some rushing to check on the new hire and others looking around for the source. Kojajix ended up finding it first: Jonijix was standing with his hands raised, just as shocked as the rest of them.

"Did... did I do that?" Jonijix stared down at his own hands and vast currents of water began to swirl around them. Days ago, he hadn't been able to do anything more than a few simple tricks, guiding the ship a little or spilling someone's drink as a prank. The men had mocked him for his useless elemental training, complaining that he couldn't even keep off the rain.

And now he had swept aside the monsters in a single rush of water.

Of course falling into the water wouldn't kill water monsters, everyone knew that. Kojajix tried to speak and his throat was too dry, so he could only point to the first of the creatures climbing over the side, its tail lashing angrily.

Jonijix let out a cry and rushed forward, stabbing it with his water sword. The thing was a piece of shit he had bought while drunk, blowing all his earnings in one night, not good for much. Yet now it tore through the monster's chest and it fell into the waters trailing blood.

Everyone stared to Jonijix, beginning to praise the former navigator as their unexpected savior... and then qi trembled through the air.

Several of the monsters climbed over the side, only to explode into fleshy pieces. This time Kojajix knew what to expect: he turned to see Yangix standing proudly. Before, the ex-cultivator hadn't been able to do anything but give a man a bruise, yet now his finger cast death at the monsters. He laughed loudly as he obliterated the monsters with a wave of his hand.

"What the hell is going on?" Jonijix stared down at the sword in his hands.

"Something must have awakened my true power!" Yangix thrust his finger triumphantly and qi exploded skyward. "I always knew that I had potential the sect couldn't see, I knew it. Now I've finally found my destin-"

"Shut up, idiot." Fodajix whacked him on the back of the head, just like he normally would when the ex-cultivator was being pompous. "That's not it."

"You won't get away with that any longer!" Yangix whirled on the man, pointing... was he actually trying to kill him? There was so much power in the air, it was hard to say, but nothing was happening. Everyone stared at the two confronting one another, even as more monsters climbed up the side.

"Look at this." Fodajix drew his knife and jabbed himself in the arm, only for the point to glance off. "I wasn't a strong enough Ironeater to resist a blade, and I didn't get stronger. It's like... we've come out from under one of those suppression fields, one we didn't realize we've been under our entire lives."

"That's the most absurd bullshit I've ever..."

Monsters tore into Fodajix from behind and he simply extended his arms, letting them attack. Tails and claws lashed out, but they failed to injure his skin. Kojajix had once seen a real master Ironeater do a trick like that, but Fodajix didn't have a tiny fraction of his strength, so this should be impossible. Unless what he said was true, and they really were more powerful here.

Suddenly Kojajix remembered back to the new hire: instead of the man dying immediately, the monsters had done way less harm than teeth and claws like that should do to a man. If that was true... Kojajix tightened his own fist, wondering if he could believe it.

He'd always been a loser, trying his best but not even reaching 1000 Power. He'd failed out of the things he'd tried, hadn't traveled far enough to meet any sects, and just generally resigned himself to life as a sailor. Not even a particularly good sailor, cursed to take the worst routes along the Deadlake. And yet now... maybe?

The other average sailors were watching in shock, but two others stepped forward. Budajix had gotten himself a Class that was complete crap... except now, when he punched the air, his fist blew away several monsters in one hit. Quorthix had a drop of godling blood, which normally just meant the others mocked him about his ears, but now he danced through the air, killing left and right. Just weeks ago, these men had been nothing special, rejects who at best could out-muscle a fellow sailor, but could be ganged up on if they put on airs.

Kojajix took a deep breath, stepped forward, and swung his sword at the nearest monster.

It wasn't a particularly good blow - he'd been a shit swordsman and his skills were rusty. But his sword cut through the monster like butter, like it wasn't even there. The beast thrashed angrily, as if filled with endless hatred, yet somehow it wasn't so hard to back away and avoid getting hit. Like he was faster somehow.

Laughing, Kojajix spun in a circle and decapitated it. The move was like a child playing around with a sword, nothing that should have worked in real life, yet the beast fell dead.

That seemed to break the shock and the other sailors began to laugh, wading their way into the melee and attacking wildly. Half made stupid mistakes that should have gotten them killed, but even if they got hit, they weren't too badly hurt, and Jonijix and Yangix were sweeping through, killing the monsters effortlessly.

Perhaps this wasn't hell after all. Or if it was hell, they would fight their way through it, laughing all the way. They emerged triumphant, yet they still understood nothing except that the ship took them inexorably onward.

In the end, it took them a few days to finish off about a dozen Bloodtails. After the first battle, the time was less about actually killing them than finding the remaining ones. Technically they might have saved a little time if they'd gone elsewhere and waited for reports of attack, but with teleportation resources limited, Kai was glad for a last hunt with his wives.

Especially because of what he suspected was coming, but he didn't want to think about that just yet.

Instead, as they got ready for the teleport back to Yulthens, Kai sat and focused on the new essences contained within his monstrous soul.

<

Bloodtail's Armor - I (alpha)

Bloodtail's Tail - I (alpha)

>

After eating so many Bloodtails, he'd been able to consume two separate abilities: one for their armor and one for their tails. The armor ability might be useful, though his real intent was to eventually merge it with other defensive essence, and the frustratingly named "Bloodtail's Tail" was just because it seemed like too notable an ability to skip.

Omilaena had joked that he needed to merge it with Lizarkyl's Tail to develop a hip-shaking ability. He honestly had no idea what he was going to do with it, but maybe this was the time to experiment. Kai glanced at his entire soul and everything it contained:

<

Name: Kai Clanless

Total Power: 953

Monstrous Hunger - XV (omicron)

Cultivation: Nascent Foundation 48% (261)

Savage Heart: 25 (251)

Physique Level: C-9 (345)

Beggar King's Robes: +3 (15)

Soul Level: 9 (81)

Behemoth's Heart - X (kappa)

Thunderbird's Wings - IX (iota)

Baleful Breath - VIII (theta)

Manticore's Spine - IV (delta)

Tyrant's Claw - XII (kappa)

Famished World - IV (delta)

-

Direboar's Strength - XIV (xi)

Void Gaze - VIII (theta)

Mutefang's Stealth - XV (omicron)

Isulfr's Bite - IX (iota)

Sahagin's Soul - XII (mu)

Lizarkyl's Tail - VI (zeta)

Wallcrawler's Feet - III (gamma)

Abominalgum - I (alpha)

Rose Piranha - III (gamma)

Cloud Piranha - III (gamma)

Bloodtrap - III (gamma)

Slime's Immortality - I (alpha)

Silver Demon - I (alpha)

Voidmaw's Bite - I (alpha)

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Great Cetae - II (beta)

Bloodtail's Armor - I (alpha)

Bloodtail's Tail - I (alpha)

>

Despite being on Deadwaste, his cultivation and Savage Heart continued to grow, plus the fight made him feel much closer to a Physique breakthrough, but his real interest was in all his monstrous abilities and what he might make of them.

If he had been faced by a single dangerous opponent, Kai might have tried to develop more enhancement abilities, or maybe replace an older ability that was falling behind. Instead, he was going to be fighting against an incursion that spread across the continent, so what he needed was game-changing abilities. A long time ago, he had been rejected because he lacked enough offensive power - even though he had far surpassed the standard for hunters, he had newer, higher standards.

Before he could come to any particular decision about his abilities, his wives walked back in his direction.

"I think the elite just showed up in the nearby city," Omilaena said. "But we have to meet them over there, and - oh no! - it looks like we'll have to walk."

"We will not." Zae Zin Nim touched her spatial bracelet and dropped a small Cloudspire vessel onto the ground beside them. "I have more."

"Aww, and I was going to suggest that Kai carry you."

"I can request that myself."

For all that the two of them joked, when they climbed into the ship and flew back, there was a bit of melancholy to the silence. Once they made contact with the elites, their visit to Krysal was over and they would need to act quickly. Normally that was no problem, but Kai suspected what Zae Zin Nim was going to say, so he was unsurprised when she spoke up.

"I intend to stay here," she said softly. "I will continue my own advancement while helping the acid cultivators."

"I think that's the right decision." Kai stroked her shoulder. "This is a good place for you, and they certainly need the help. I'll talk to Krainuun about making sure you aren't disturbed by any of the local politics."

"Personally, I'm not so sanguine about it." Omilaena patted her other shoulder, turning it into an amorous caress. "I'm not going to leave you alone. Trust me, I'll be back while I work on my big pill project."

"But the two of you will be going to Irun?" Zae Zin Nim asked.

"Yes, we really should. The late start won't ruin us, but we shouldn't let the handicap get out of hand."

Having voiced the fact that they were splitting up again, the fact was defanged of its intensity in a strange way. It wasn't for so long, not with portals spanning the continent. Besides, Kai was overdue for a visit to Irun and curious about what had happened in his absence.

In theory, Yuinafal had been given just over a week to get a head start on his own project. Even though part of Kai was irritated by that idea, and wanted to take down the arrogant elite, he told himself that he should actually want more progress. Both of them ultimately wanted to help boost Irun, after all, and it was possible that Yuinafal really did have a major role in that.

Back in Yulthens, Kai had another meeting with Krainuun, this one much shorter. The administrator wasn't even surprised that they had eliminated the Bloodtail threat, just took a report, thanked them, and noted that the reward money would be used for their trainees. It seemed that getting a little bit of unconditional support had given him a second wind of administrative power.

Before they met up with the elite, Kai also checked in with his own students. Bonto had already learned the basics of crystal cultivation in the past, so being fed more crystals meant his Power was rising rapidly. Meanwhile, Tori needed some time to master the basics... but she was already forming crystalline structures and seemed eager to experiment further. His hope had been that the rapid construction of crystal cultivation could make up for her slower Path of Steel, and it looked like that might work out.

Ultimately, though, that was up to them. Krainuun or Tori or Bonto, or even Zae Zin Nim, Kai was going to have to step away and trust them to handle their part.

There was one other meeting he wasn't sure would happen, but was glad when it did: just before he left, Cragrila arrived on the rooftop. She was wearing new clothes, of Krysali make but indeterminate meaning, and looked somewhat healed from her time back home. Despite that, her eyes were even harder than he remembered.

"Krysal is falling part," she told him quietly. "Not its defenses, its people - there's no revolution to bind everyone together anymore. It's gotten much worse while I was gone, especially the anger. I hate nobles and crystalliers as much as anyone, but some of the people out there want to execute their children in the street."

"I heard about some of that from Krainuun," Kai said. "You should talk to him, by the way."

"We've spoken, but I don't think I can help with his struggles. He wants me to contribute my voice to his cause, and I don't think that would be effective."

"Hmm." Kai considered that for a moment and came to a conclusion he hadn't expected. "You said you hate crystalliers, and everyone knows that thanks to your part in the war. You're basically a hero to a lot of people here."

Cragrila raised an eyebrow.

"I mean that you should use that. I need you to do something I can't: go join the nativist Krysali faction. If they have their own ideas for the future, that's fine, but if they're planning anything that could sabotage us for the incursion... for example, I can imagine someone striking at the remaining crystalliers."

"Too believable." Cragrila grimaced slightly, then nodded. "It's a good plan, and I'm better suited to that anyway. I don't know when we'll meet again, but perhaps it will be in defense of Krysal."

Part of Kai wanted to stay and deal with all this, since he still viewed Krysal as his responsibility. But even if he had the stomach for all the politicking, he couldn't be everywhere at once. He would leave this to Zae Zin Nim, Krainuun, and Cragrila while he headed to the opposite side of the continent.

"You ready to do some Irunian eugenics?" Omilaena asked cheerfully as she walked up.

"Not quite yet," Kai said. "One other thing to take care of first."

"That thing better be Zin Nim." She stepped up beside him, hip against his and an arm around his waist.

It actually wasn't their wife: Kai asked the elite to take them back to the western coast, where his remaining students were still working. In his absence they'd actually started helping out the local communities with monster hunts, but fortunately it didn't take long to find Mariyay and take her with them. He didn't think many of his students had a future path through Irun, but Mariyay's difficulties with her Builder Class might be helped by Irunian metals.

Especially if Omilaena got her way and she was able to transform the nation into something new yet again. Of course, this time they wouldn't be unopposed, and there was no guarantee that Tusquo could help them enough.

So just another challenge as the underdog. Kai grinned and stepped into the portal to Irun.

Unlike their other trips, Kai was teleported into Irun with little idea where he was going. His only previous trip had been to the western regions, near the Frontier, and he knew a little about the northeast near Birtaegal. But this time the elites dropped off Mariyay in a southeastern city before leaving Kai and Omilaena in the far regions of Irun.

And the reason for that lay ahead: a straightforward gray building nestled among all of the spiky plants of Irun. The environment itself was familiar enough, so he was more interested in the fact that this was allegedly Tusquo's home. He hadn't seen the man in years, and all he had to go on was a brief letter in which Tusquo had accepted their invitation and invited them to meet directly.

"Nice little bungalow," Omilaena commented. "Adjacent to fuck all, though. Think Tusky and his wife are so loud they need the space so they don't bother people?"

"Omi, do I need to remind you about Irunians?" Kai asked wryly. Despite his tone, he was actually taken off guard, because her comment had reminded him that Tusquo was married now. On his last trip to Deadwaste, he'd missed meeting the man's wife due to her being away for training.

"Oh, I'll be on my best behavior. I want to play with delicious Irunian bodies, after all."

Kai cast her a flat stare.

"Got the last of it out, promise."

They headed toward the building, and the strange emptiness didn't last long. Tusquo appeared from within, his somber expression and gray robes matching the rest of the place and immediately making it feel more lived-in. Yet that expression might have cracked just slightly in a smile as he approached with rapid steps.

As they closed the distance, Kai quickly checked his old friend's soul.

<

Name: Tusquo Agyama of Irun

Total Power: 374

Manablade Class: 65 (75)

Physique Level: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Path of Steel: Steel 6 (93)

Ironpath Physique (+50)

>

It seemed like he'd advanced all his abilities since their last meeting, from his Manablade Class to his new Ironpath Physique, yet the total increase only brought him up to 374 total Power. He looked stuck at Physique E-9, reminding Kai that it really was a huge barrier on Deadwaste.

As they got close and clasped wrists, none of that mattered.

"Kai Clanless." Tusquo bowed and gripped his arm harder than normal. "It is good to see you again."

"It's been too long," Kai said, unable to stop a grin. "May I introduce my wife Omilaena?"

"We've met, of course, but I'm glad to meet you in your... new formal capacity." Tusquo went to clasp her arm as well, and Omilaena returned the grip and bow with surprising formality.

"Charmed," Omilaena said with exaggerated grace. All three of them began moving inward, past the outer gates. "I understand that you're married as well, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your wife."

While they walked inside, Kai got a look at the outer courtyard. It wasn't so large, filled with various plants that were even more blade-like than usual. This was definitely an Irunian garden, likely planted and cultivated for this specific effect. Based on the fancy palaces with servants that Kai had seen, he guessed this garden was the work of one individual, perhaps a personal project.

"Regrettably, my wife is traveling in western Irun," Tusquo said as he opened the front door for them. "She sends her apologies that she could not greet you."

There was a whisper of a smile on Omilaena's lips, but she suppressed it. Kai guessed what she was thinking and had to admit that it had occurred to him as well. When they entered the spartan entrance room, he decided that Tusquo wouldn't mind the joke.

"You know," Kai said, "you keep talking about your wife, but there's always a reason why we can't meet her. One can't help but wonder if she's something of a myth."

"I see." Tusquo's smile was a strange one, and his eyes flickered inward. "As it happens, there is evidence of a sort."

Kai didn't understand at first until he felt a small presence, then he saw the child. He wasn't good with the age of children, but there was a little boy or girl only a few years old, staring at them from around the corner of the next room. They wore child-sized Irunian robes and a straight haircut, a stiff style he found surprisingly cute at that size.

"Hello, Ruotu." Tusquo bent down beside the child and touched their head with surprising affection. "Can you greet our guests?"

The child mumbled something inaudible.

"These are some of your father's old friends. It's good to be polite, isn't it?"

"Hello." Ruotu stepped out of the doorway and gave a little bobbing bow before retreating, first to their father's legs and then to the next room. Tusquo chuckled in a way Kai wasn't sure he'd ever heard before and straightened to speak to them.

"Forgive her, she's shy."

"You have a lovely daughter," Omilaena said with a polite smile. "How old is she?"

"Two and a half." Tusquo shook his head slowly. "Believe it or not, she's a handful. I'm glad that the incursions force us to space out children, because I don't know if we could handle two."

"But you want a larger family?"

"We hope to try for a son after the incursion."

Omilaena was handling the polite small talk while Kai was basically just trying to keep up. Tusquo had gotten married first, and now he even had a daughter. He decided that just standing there silently would be awkward, so he voiced his thoughts. "Seems like you're always ahead of me when it comes to stages of life. I've never put down roots anywhere, but now you're an Irunian leader with a family."

"Though the situation is reversed when it comes to power." Tusquo's fatherly expression flattened to business. "And on that note, I was heartened by your offer. We welcome your assistance, particularly as compared to Yuinafal's."

"Is that going to be a problem?" Kai asked. "I understand that he's been trying to block us, but I wanted to get your perspective on the entire thing."

"He is offering powerful resources, which will unquestionably strengthen Irun. The problem, as I see it, is that they threaten to replace our traditional arts entirely. Irun is not merely metal-working from any source, it is an ancient tradition."

"But his arguments are convincing others?" Omilaena asked.

"You well know that the source of our power is diminishing." Tusquo shook his head gravely. "And I cannot say for certain that they are incorrect, because the old ways may be the path to ruin. That said, I hope that they will not be lost, so I look forward to working with you."

"I have some new ideas. Good to see that you've been training that Ironpath Physique. Could be a good foundation for an overall Physique upgrade."

"Wait a minute," Kai said. "We want to help you, of course, but our competition with Yuinafal is based on training new Irunian warriors, isn't it? I understand that Yuinafal tried to take all of those from the academies for himself."

"So he did, but that is not such an advantage." Tusquo smiled narrowly. "The academies tend to produce exemplars in the conventional traditions, so their top students are strong, but limited. I know how Irunians seem to outsiders, but some of us are more flexible in our thinking."

"Like you gaining a Goralian Class?"

"Just so. But what I mean to say is that conventional students may be the least capable of absorbing these new arts, so I believe Yuinafal has made a strategic error. I can introduce you to some more unorthodox warriors, plus your wife will have many loyal volunteers after all she did for us before."

"I have to ask," Omilaena said, "how outside the law is this? I want as many resources as possible, but I don't want to disrupt your political situation."

"Yuinafal has great pull, because Irun needs to maintain its relationship to the Frontier elites, but you are a friend of Irun. This is all permitted, simply unusual."

"Speaking of that," Kai said, "I have a Goralian student back in the city who I'd like to take to the Insanity..."

He told Tusquo about Mariyay Hafkrir and her problems - Tusquo agreed that the Path of Steel had potential for her, but would need to discuss the matter with his superiors. It sounded like at minimum she could be tested and trained, so they'd go back to arrange things for her later.

After that, Omilaena and Tusquo discussed the details from their potential work, from Tusquo's personal training to the Irunian elites she had worked with last time. Kai was interested in all the details, but he had less to say in this discussion. The plan was for him to focus on his own training while taking care of any problems with Yuinafal, leaving the others to their work.

During the conversation Kai caught a glimpse of Ruotu peering from the other room, and he waved at her, but she only disappeared again. Still, he felt at ease now, having reunited with Tusquo and being welcomed into his home. They might have a difficult challenge, but they would be facing it with allies.

When he sensed a presence in the garden outside, Kai looked instinctively, in time to see a woman enter. She could only be Tusquo's wife, clad in the feminine cut of the classic Irunian robes. Her face had a sort of severe beauty, with elegant eyebrows that knitted together when she saw them.

<Shroud of Iron>

Kai instinctively checked her soul, only to find it blocked by a "Shroud of Iron" - that was interesting, because there weren't many Irunian shrouds, and this one actually blocked his enhanced spiritual sight. But he realized that the details might be secondary, because the woman sensed his sight and immediately glowered at him as if he'd caused offense.

"There you are," Tusquo said, stepping to her side. "Please let met introduce my wife, Quinta Agyama."

She did not look particularly pleased.

What followed was a meal that was technically hospitable and felt utterly icy to Kai. The strange thing was that Tusquo seemed unbothered by it, and his wife was so difficult to read that he couldn't be sure what to think of the entire affair. She was unfailingly polite, and Tusquo had clearly spoken well of them, yet Kai was left with the clear impression that she disliked him.

During the meal they discussed nothing but Irun and the potential training paths that they might try in the future. In the process Quinta formally lowered her shroud, which was an invitation to check her soul properly. Kai was hesitant, still unsure if he'd erred earlier, but since he could well be impolite to ignore the implicit offer, he viewed her soul.

<

Name: Quinta Agyama of Irun

Total Power: 331

Souliron Essence: 9 (93)

Physique Level: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 5 (25)

Path of Steel: Truesteel 2 (96)

Ironpath Physique (+10)

>

Quinta Agyama was only a little weaker than her husband, and with over 300 Power she was among the strongest Irunians. Notably, she had a Truesteel ability and something called Souliron Essence, both of which suggested she had ancient Irunian ancestry. Kai was most interested in the fact that she had the Ironpath Physique, which she could only have gained after they left the previous time, which meant that Irun had fully adopted the techniques.

When he said as much, Tusquo and his wife were both positive about the developments and the future of Irun, yet Quinta seemed to become even icier. By the time the meal was over, Kai had no sense for the woman and wasn't sure he'd heard a single meaningful word from her beneath the polite formalities.

Once they were all fed, Kai and Omilaena were escorted to a small room - the equivalent of the guest wing for the modest home. They had plans to pick up Mariyay and begin training, but it seemed they were being given some time alone first.

"Wow." Omilaena flopped down onto the gray-sheeted bed. "Can you imagine the two of them banging? Normally I would say my prurient imagination is quite strong, but I've met my match... 'Wife, I submit a motion to initiate coitus, do I have a second?' 'I suggest we table the activity until child-rearing duties have been completed.' Ugh."

"I don't know," Kai said, "I can imagine them making very intense eye contact the entire time."

"Wow, outdone by you? I'm getting soft." Omilaena looked up at him coquettishly. "But wasn't I well-behaved during the dinner? I let them make all the polite conversation about trying to have children without so much as intimating that it means Tusquo blowing loads inside her."

"You know, it's odd how some cultures are so restrained about sex, yet childbearing seems like a valid topic of conversation. Never really thought about that before."

"Ugh, am I completely losing my touch? Get down here, Kai!"

He chuckled and bent over the bed to kiss her, but they actually didn't have any time to mess around, euphemistically or in general. Now that they were in Irun, the only limiting factor was Tusquo making arrangements, and once that happened they had to work aggressively to catch up to Yuinafal.

"Quinta hates us, right?" Kai asked while resting against his wife. "I'm not just imagining things?"

"Oh dear, your understanding of women is still absolutely atrocious. Obviously she's in love with you."

"I'd say 'nice try' but apparently you really are losing your touch."

"I don't know, I somehow got you right where I want you." Omilaena wiggled underneath him with a smirk. "No, you're obviously correct, and I didn't pick up on anything in particular. Tusquo is your biggest fan, so... unless that biased her against us somehow, I'm not sure what's up her ass."

"It doesn't seem like just asking would work." Kai sighed and pushed himself upright. "Well, it doesn't matter for now. I'll go gather up the trainees while you begin your experiments. We have a lot of work to do."

Over the next several days, Kai took care of business, gathering up a variety of Irun's top soldiers. Just as Tusquo had promised, they were somber but inventive warriors, eager to try Omilaena's new methods. There were also some elites from before, back to further strengthen themselves, and while they wouldn't count for the competition with Yuinafal, Omilaena didn't hesitate to help them out as well.

Despite what Kai had said, he didn't have much work to do himself. He sparred with the trainees, using their Irunian weapons to refine his Physique further, but otherwise it wasn't his job. Occasionally he exchanged information with Krainuun or Zae Zin Nim, as Krysal continued without him. Sometimes he spoke to the Irunian elites, who offered Mariyay a normal metallic pool and required more convincing to let her use the hidden Insanity - at least she was getting Irunian training meanwhile.

His other major task was countering Yuinafal, so he attempted to spy on the opposing Irunian trainees. But according to rumors and Tusquo's info, Yuinafal was training them under some sort of elite barrier, so it was hard to find out any concrete information. The only upside was that Yuinafal still had no idea that Omilaena and Kai had begun work, so he couldn't try to interfere.

With that done, Kai was free to use his time for his own training. Aside from his usual cultivation, he spent all his time on refining his Physique, and soon enough he felt confident he'd reached the peak of C-9. Reaching B rank was almost unheard of, but he had the Twisted Immortal Carnal Seed, which he had been attuning, so he was ready.

Once it was time to break through, he meditated on his body while making final preparations. There wasn't much: he had a few potions and medicinal pills in case the transformation inhibited Behemoth's Heart, but otherwise he didn't anticipate problems, just a little pain.

Actually, his biggest concern had been making sure that he wouldn't scare Ruotu, but the girl had gone on a trip with her mother, so he had the house to himself. Kai sat down in the garden, hands cupped in his lap around the Seed, and began to work.

It took qi to activate the pill, which began to grow curved spikes in all directions. That was part of the normal method, but his wives had discussed it on the flight to Deadwaste and suggested that Kai use mana and chakra as well. The thorns extended, plunging into his palms and beginning to work their way through his body.

There was pain, of course, but Kai was accustomed to pain. His biggest struggle was holding back Behemoth's Heart to prevent it from destroying or diverting the thorns digging through his flesh. They needed to follow his meridians according to Cloudspire principles, tearing the channels in his flesh wider and thus ripping open a new rank - in theory.

Yet as the thorns plunged inward, Kai could feel that something was wrong. It wasn't the pain, actually the lack of it: even though he was flooding qi, chakra, and mana into the seed, it didn't feel like the thorns were impacting him spiritually. The whole point was to unify the two, yet the pain felt purely physical, as if it was running up against something...

No, a lack of something. Kai was puzzled at first, since it didn't feel like any sort of barrier he could break through, or like previous Physique advancements. Eventually distant memories combined with theory and his heart sank.

The problem was the 999 Power limit.

Some transformations could break through on their own, and some could create limited power, but the way the Twisted Immortal Carnal Seed was only damaging his body felt deeply wrong. If he used it now, he would waste all its power and not break through, or worse, only unlock a limited Physique. After seeing how much Physique could do with Zae Zin Nim, Kai couldn't sacrifice that much future power for the sake of a little now.

So he began to push back the energy, healing his body at the same time. The process wasn't designed to be reversed, but he wrestled control of it and forced the thorns to retract. In the end, he was left with the spiky seed he'd started with... now with a red tinge from his blood. It sat in his hands, motionless and yet somehow malicious.

Kai cursed as he stared at the seed in his palm. This pushed him even closer to B rank, and might have strengthened the seed, but he knew he was never going to break the barrier this way. Problems like this weren't solved by will or excess power - he needed a specific method to expand his soul into four digits, and those were in short supply.

Technically there was no rush, since he already had excessive power for the upcoming incursion. But everyone else was working so hard, preparing for the fight of their lives, that Kai was unsatisfied to be blocked here.

He'd find a way through... but what? The problem with surpassing all his peers was that there was no treasure that could solve the problem for him, no ancient path to provide easy answers, no mentor to pull him up. There was no choice but to forge a new path on his own.

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