HC ch25

The next image was of a priestess sharing a pie with Loyee.

“ Thank you for coming to today Goddess. We had so much extra pie made that we were afraid that it would go bad.”

Loyee blushed slightly.

“ Please, just Loyee, and thank you for the invite. It was either here or some boring meeting between the other deities talking about if they should change the sky color to green or create a new mineral or something like that. And me forbid I decide to visit one of those murder holes. All the effort I put into helping them and they still attack me. At least here Hollow offers me drinks and now pie.”

As she talked a pedestal raised from the ground with fruit juice. The priestess giggles at that timing.

“ I’ve been a follower my whole life, but I got to ask, what is it like? Compared to being mortal?”

Loyee gave a gentle smile.

“ It is a lot of responsibility. I can not just forsake my duties and lounge around all the time as many mortals think. I must run around over thirty hours a day just stopping some incident or another from occurring in one of the dungeons. From rogue dungeons who think it a good idea to assimilate everything to glory happy invaders who break a perfectly sensible core for more power.”

“ But aren’t there only…”

Loyee puts a finger to her lips.

“Shhh, it does not work the same way for gods and mortals. In fact, I am not truly here right now. Just an image I am projecting with my power.”

Then the image starts to fade away focusing on the pie yet touched.

———-

Image after image started to playback to back. All with the recurring theme of being ancestors of those present, but as more image’s appeared the tone of them began to change. Slowly the content lives of casualness were lost. For some it was an adventure, seeking the unknown, but for many, it became the result of greed and power. Of the four houses of the firstborn, this was why only three of them were present. Because only the fourth stayed true to their origins.

Eventually, the images showed those present, namely Joseph, William, and Marvel. They were in an isolated room protected by strict wards and glyphs.

“ They have doubled their military in the last three years. I say it is a clear sign they are about to invade.”

After William’s report, Joseph looked at Marvel.

“ I shall be blunt. As a dungeon nation, we should not be attacking. It is one of those rules written down by the goddess herself, but waiting for a fight to come to us is disheartening. Spiritually, I can not be for what you planned Joseph, but logically I can not refuse your plan.”

Joseph looks at William next.

“ Every day the population grows. Which means less to go around. Not only will war reduce our numbers but the economy will boom in the need for arms and supplies. In addition to the spoils.”

Joseph closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Something Boss noticed was something they did as well.

“ It is a hard decision, but a tie will mean a no, while I do not wish for war I see it unavoidable.”

William cracked a greedy smile, one Boss recognized on many foul mortals over the centuries.

“ So a vote of two for and one abstain. I assume that is why you did not let our cousins in on this meeting William? Because you knew they would talk Joseph out of war and look for a diplomatic solution.”

William laughed.

“ Oh, get off your high horse, you’re a bloody butcher like the rest of us…”

With that, the image faded away.

“ HOW DARE YOU, I INSTALLED THE BEST COUNTERMEASURES MONEY CAN BUY! NO ONE WAS MEANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE INTO THAT ROOM!”

Boss lets out a low growl that remains ignored as Marvel takes William’s shoulders. Instantly a silence spell was on the other.

“ With no disrespect to the dungeon guardian, but why reveal our secrets like that?”

Bastion stepped forward this time. Knowing what he says next might push them over the edge.

“ So everyone knows what their leadership has become. I have been showing every citizen of my kingdom this entire conversation since the moment you entered the boss room.”

This caused William to pale, but the more noticeable action came from Joseph, who drew his sword and went for Boss’s neck. Being a C rank boss monster, he stood no chance against the one to lead the military who’s minimum strength was equal to his own. Bastion however reacted where Boss did not and blocked the attack and countered by throwing Joseph into the ground. His body making a creator upon impact.

“ Limit Break.”

“ Over Break!”

“ Infinite Break!!!”

With those three boosts Joseph went for Bastion and the clash was so strong it threw the nearby piles of gold away with explosive force. William and Marvel had to quickly retreat. Boss went flying into a wall. A moment later Bastion sent Joseph back into the same creator as before, this time his body penetrated the stone.

“ Legacy revoke!”

With those words a white sphere started rising from the hole. Not only was Joseph’s legacy being stripped from him but of those others in the room as well. They all went to the hands of a little girl kobold.

“ You know uncle Bastion if you wanted me to visit, I would have.”

Bastion smirked as he looked down at the girl.

“ You are always welcome to come see the old core yourself at any time. He would love the visit from his daughter.”

Boss arrives behind the two. His body marked with blood in several places and his breathing clearly hampered.

Mina turns to the dragon and gives a gentle bow.

“ And good to see you uncle, but I wish it was under more pleasant circumstances. Anyways, as my task here is done, as the authority of Legacy, I strip you of yours for being the cause of an oath-breaking. As penance to the legacies of homebound guardians, holy mantle and merchant guile will remain with me until descendants of the core find their origin once more.”

———-

And with that, the world changed once more.