Utilizing all experience towards evolution!

  Your group has defeated [Immortal]!

  As a mortal, your experience has been greatly boosted for dealing damage to an [Immortal] creature!

  Experience put towards evolution!

  Trait Acquired: Hero's Spark

  Hero's Spark: A creature with this trait is capable of harming any creature regardless of the difference in power. This includes but is not limited to a mortal harming a deity. While it is true that most damage will be negligible, all creatures will view the trait holder as a dangerous adversary.

  Current Progress Towards Evolution: 17%

  Trillia watched as dozens of notifications turned into a handful. The choice to go for evolution probably cost her a lot of immediate power. She figured the long-term gain was worth it.

  Stas had taken almost the entire corpse for his own ends. No one complained since none of them were capable of manipulating immortal materials in crafting.

  Miah had made no mention or move to turn over the map that was needed and had taken her leave. Telling the group to recuperate in Kadessa while they came up with another plan. There was still some friction between the Queen and the Generals. Less so now that they had heard what happened and why she had acted the way she had.

  Trillia sat near her friends, watching over them as she contemplated her own path forward. If she didn't rush through this evolution, she'd fall behind in abilities and stats. After this current mission, her goal had to be to gain as much experience as quickly as possible.

  Alliyah turned to look over the group that was meandering a bit. "Shall I bring Honos back, and we can head to Kadessa together? I don't know what the young Goddess is planning, but I don't really fancy scouting out the entirety of the Beast Scar looking for this place."

  Stas nodded. Spreading his hands and the many limbs on his back out as he did so. "Pull all that which gives life into me! [Siphon]!" Trillia had never known the Generals to speak during most of their abilities unless it was for someone else's benefit. The group watched in fascination as every drop of blood that had been spilled during the battle slowly pulled under him. The bits of bone and dirt mixed in were sifted out, and the remaining clean blood flowed into his fingertips.

  "Three gallons of immortal ichor. Part of me hopes the little Goddess delays for a few weeks so that I have time to tinker."

  "Could I watch?" Trillia turned a bizarre look to Layla, who had spoken up.

  "Of course. Do you have interest in grafting and xeno alchemy?"

  Layla glanced at her friends, taking a deep breath she nodded and stepped forward. "I'm interested in a path to power. I can't speak for the others, but I'm quite done feeling left behind and powerless."

  Stas approached the young orc and carefully peered at her. "Hmmm. Orcs are good candidates for grafting, honestly. The trait that lets you stay living is surprisingly robust when it comes to surgeries. Very well, I don't mind taking you in as an apprentice, but you have to agree to travel with me. If that means I leave for a few weeks, you mustn't raise complaint about leaving your friends."

  "That should be fine, General Stas. We can keep in touch with the rings the Red River dungeon granted us."

  "Are you sure that's a good idea, Stas? She's still young and has a lot of growing of her own to do." Amara approached the two, clear apprehension in her voice.

  "It will be fine. She won't need to undergo anything nearly as drastic as I have. I will teach her the basics and replace the internal organs that are weak on orcs for something better."

  Trillia felt a chill run up her spine at the idea of it. There had been a time when she thought about going down that route herself, but the more the thought had played out in her head, the more strange it felt.

  "I'd like an answer from the rest of you." Alliyah's foot impatiently tapped while she looked at the others.

  "I think we're all ok with that. I think we need to have a much deeper conversation about what's going on when we do get back to the Capital. Not only about your future, Queen Alliyah. But also about Cordaos and how we are going to handle the [Primordial] and eldritch threats." Brutus looked briefly at the others to get confirmation nods, which he received unanimously

  "Is it odd to anyone else that it feels like nothing is stopping us from speaking about the eldritch now?" Trillia looked to her mother and then to the Queen.

  "Dawn works in mysterious ways. Maybe the immortal spewing information about it broke the geas. It's difficult to tell. We can discuss all of that later."

  The Queen spread her arms wide, the staff that forever seemed to hover around her snapped into her out stretched hands. Trillia watched with her mana-sight to see a veritable ocean of dark purple energy flowed around the Queen in a vortex. Most of the group was observing the spell, so Trillia dropped herself into the Aether to watch it there.

  A small strand of the same purple energy stretched out from the Queen and snapped taut in the direction of Kadessa. Trillia felt pressure coil around her like some great serpent and squeeze. With a pop, Honos sat in the clearing. The dragon was a beacon in the Aetherian realm, brilliant silver that seemed to make everything around her shine a little brighter. Trillia pulled herself out of the Aether, still rather unsure how the spell worked.

  "Come. We won't be stopping as long each night."

  -= 2 Days Later =-

  The group all crawled down off of Honos, even more exhausted than before. The dragon had certainly not gone any slower on their return trip, and having less time to rest was something that all of the kids were feeling.

  "Lady Honos, may I make a selfish request?"

  The dragon turned her head to look at Simon. "You can make any request you wish. Whether or not I shall fulfill that request is not something I can promise."

  Simon nodded and motioned to Taz. "Once we've had a chance to rest. I'd like to ask you to help teach us. I know that we are far below you, but I still feel that we could learn so much."

  Honos turned her head to look at the Queen. "It is your choice, Honos. You know enough of Simon to know that he is an honorable man. Depending on what Miah chooses to do, I may need to call on you again in short order, so perhaps a distraction instead of a nap might be beneficial."

  "Very well. I'm not sure how you think I can help, given the difference in power between us, but if you have any ideas, I might be willing to try."

  Alliyah watched as the generals went about their own business and left, Stas dragging Layla along with him. "Any plans for the rest of you?"

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Fred and Malor both nodded. "We found a Runesmith who works here in the Capital. A blend of both of our classes. He offered to teach us some of what he knows if we have the free time. If it's ok with you, Queen Alliyah, we'd like to take him up on that with any free time we have."

  "Of course, my subjects are free to pursue their own interests at will. Let Thea know his name. Now that we're back in the Capital, she will rejoin your group and Thea will know how to speak to the Master of the Treasury to see the man properly compensated for his time and training."

  Malor blinked in surprise at that. "You'd pay for our lessons? We were going to use what we've saved up for it...not that I'm denying the help, it just seems..."

  "The lot of you are rather special cases. Primarily, it is because most of you are children of the Great Generals, but it is also a matter of seeing potential. I am not one to squander it, and truth be told, I've made enough of a fortune for a thousand lifetimes. Spending it on training for a group of promising young adventurers is hardly a waste."

  Fred and Malor both bowed deeply to her. "Thank you, Queen Alliyah. We won't let you down."

  "You had better not. The two of you may not be related to my Generals, but I am quite happy to find someone who you care about to glower in disappointment should you fail my expectations."

  Amelia spoke up excitedly. "Fred's mom is an amazing woman! I am sure she would be happy to glower at your command!"

  Fred shot her a look, but the rest of the group was happy to laugh at his expense.

  "I take it you will be following them?"

  The budding bard shook her head. "I...I actually wanted to visit the Churches of Mercy and the docks."

  Alliyah's smile grew wider. "Following in your mother's footsteps?"

  "The people of Kadessa have already done a lot to help us, and I have no doubt they will be doing more in the coming conflicts. If I can give back a little hope...that seems like a valuable use of my time."

  "That only leaves one person." The group now all turned to Trillia.

  "I'm not sure what my plans are just yet. I think, for now, I desperately want to eat and sleep. Is it ok if I speak with you about this tomorrow, Your Majesty?"

  "There will be another council meeting tomorrow anyway since we returned without fulfilling our quest. The Generals and Miah will be in attendance, it might be wise to have all of you join as well."

  With that, the group returned to their room to wash up and rest.

  Six hours later, Layla dragged herself through the doors and collapsed on a chair. The poor thing looked as if she hadn't slept in a week. Before anyone could ask if she was ok, they heard her snoring softly. Amelia draped a cover over her with a smile. "Looks like Uncle Stas is not an easy Master to apprentice for."

  Trillia smiled somewhat absently from her seat on the balcony. Looking over at her two canine companions and at Leaf. What would be the best use of her time?

  -=====-

  The group felt significantly better the next morning. Layla had showered early and despite still looking tired, seemed to have a renewed sense of purpose. The group got ready and slowly made their way to the throne room. Someone instructed them to stand right before the throne, lining the side opposite of the Generals.

  At this point, the nobles and merchant lords knew enough not to grumble about it.

  Queen Alliyah swept into the throne room rather quickly this time, and once she allowed everyone to stand, she turned to address the crowd.

  Trillia's breath caught in her throat as power descended into the throne room. The Generals and Queen all made moves to draw weapons, but the nobles and merchant lords seemed not to notice. In fact, they didn't seem to be able to do much of anything.

  There standing in the throne room, in front of Alliyah, was a young human woman, at least that's what she looked like. A bright red dress fell around tanned shoulders. As she turned to look at the room, her skin and species slowly shifted to whomever she gazed at.

  "Good. All the right people were left untouched." Dawn's tone sent a chill down the spines of everyone who was still capable of hearing. Which was the generals, Trillia's group, and the Queen. Everyone else had been frozen in time.

  "Lady Dawn. To what do we owe the honor?" Alliyah went down to one knee, and everyone else followed suit.

  "You and yours do so love clever wordplay, don't you?" The universe slowly walked towards Alliyah, running a finger along her chin and lifting the Queen's head. "I have tried endlessly to be kind. I have tried endlessly to tell you that there would be consequences. I am here to deliver on that, Alliyah."

  No one spoke. No one dared to interrupt.

  "You see, your dear husband being the reckless little whelp that he is, set Caelum and his mutated mistress on Alirast. The hope was to break the debuff that is supposed to act as his punishment for using Words of Creation in a battle." Dawn pulled her hand away while looking at the others in the room.

  "The All-Father, in his infinite patience and wisdom, has seen fit not to snatch your souls to the hereafter and instead is curious if this realm can rise to the challenge. So he has forbidden me from ascending any of you for fifty of your short little mortal years."

  Trillia didn't quite understand, but the Generals and the Queen did. The dread in their eyes was palpable.

  "But you see, I too love clever wordplay, and the All-Father knows this. I wanted to come here and warn you in person, Alliyah. What follows is entirely because you and Cordaos refused to take my hand in peace and ascend." Dawn's gaze lingered on Trillia.

  "It saddens me how many lives this lesson is going to cost, but the Darktones and their servants need to understand that they are not beyond reproach." Dawn's gaze hardened as she turned it back to Alliyah. "Good luck, Alliyah. I truly hope that you all survive this."

  Before anyone could respond, time resumed, and the physical representation of the Universe was gone.

  A second later a bright red notification popped up in front of everyone's face.

  Realm Announcement!

  For a period of 50 years, no creature is capable of Ascension that is native to the realm of Alirast. Regardless of what happens to them. After this 50-year grace period. Every creature that is capable of Ascension will be forced to ascend. If they refuse, their souls will be obliterated by the system.

  Good luck!

  Trillia read the notification and felt her heart dropped. Everyone else in the room must have had a similar feeling.

  You are in the presence of the Ambassador of Mortality!

  You are in the presence of the Empress of Humanity!

  You are in the presence of the Mother of Divinity!

  ...

  The many notifications from the Queen rang out and sent everyone to their knees. Alliyah held a staff in one hand, and the other glowed with thick mana that had begun coiling around it. "May my voice carry to all subjects worthy of hearing it. May the winds guide them, and may the realm tremble at its arrival. May my enemies know my intent. [Voice of the Empress]!"

  Trillia felt a wave of mana and energy that could have rivaled Storm himself flow out, not just of the Queen but of Kadessa itself.

  "Hear my voice. For we have all been informed of a grand decision beyond our understanding by the System. In fifty years, I will be forced to ascend. Do not take this as a time for war. Any who stand against the might of Kadessa and threaten her people will be crushed without question and without remorse under fists of steel. Let us show the deities that look down on us that we are better than to rise to their bait."

  Alliyah ended the spell and looked out over the throne room. "Prepare for war with the other kingdoms. Every blacksmith, every farmer, every street urchin is to be employed to the best of our ability. Any noble or merchant lord caught conspiring with the enemies will be tortured to death by General Stas, and their body will be repurposed for the war efforts."

  More fear crept into Trillia as Cordaos and Amara took up positions on either side of the Queen. "Make no mistake, my warning might dissuade some, but knowing that gaining power will not force ascension is going to create more enemies than we can muster a defense against. Prepare for the worst and know that it still won't be enough. Go."

  Most everyone left the room, and as the Queen sat on her throne, another figure entered.

  You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! Skill effectiveness is reduced by 99%!

  You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! Healing reduced by 99%!

  You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! You must have a derived stat that equals or exceeds 150,000 to use any offensive abilities!

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating lightning mana! You cannot use lightning mana skills or abilities.

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating wind mana! You cannot use wind mana skills or abilities.

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating water mana! You cannot use water mana skills or abilities.

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating storm mana! You cannot use storm mana skills or abilities.

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating healing mana! You cannot use healing mana skills or abilities.

  You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating radiant mana! You cannot use radiant mana skills or abilities.

  Once more, everyone was forced to pause, save for the Queen, who had pressed her hands together and stared at the dragon's drakken form as he so casually strode into her throne room.

  "Queen Alliyah. I think it best if you and I have a discussion about our futures."

  "Indeed. Ignis and Ventus are also on their way."

  Trillia looked between the two mighty mortals with a new level of fear.