War Games, Pt 1: Conference!
Corven and Jabari made their way to the Shadow Faction Manor and to the top floor, where the meeting between top students of all three years were convening.
As the two burst through the double grand doors of the meeting — black and grey, with silver undertones; grand and double, it was at least 14 feet tall, amongst the tallest doors on campus and definitely the tallest of the manor itself— they immediately garnered everyone presents' attention. After all, only the highest ranking students of each year were even invited to the planning room, and, in the eyes of those gathered, the two newcomers were intruders, or just uninvited.
The room itself was a wide chamber with many polished grey, marble columns adorned in silver as they supported the beamed ceiling. Silver-lit chandeliers lit the room alite, and indigo-blue, soul-flame torches helped give the chamber light and aura. In the center of the chamber, upon the decorated marble floors was a large map table of Lucid Dream meadows town, including the campus of Mythorus Academy, and the forests surrounding it by 15 and a half miles outward.
Leaning on the walls and standing around the table were 10 students — 4 from the 2nd years and 4 from the 3rd years, along with Celeste, who, standing close to the center of the meeting, had already made it before Corven and Jabari had even arrived. All students present had dawned themselves various armour types, even Celeste had dawned herself in her House's signature silver and white armour. Everyone was armoured….everyone but Corven, who was still wearing a hoodie and jeans.
This didn't go unnoticed by the others present, who, internally, found annoyance at Corven's casual display of indifference, as expressed by the sour looks he received and the murmurs that took place as he walked past.
"Who are you? Why aren't you properly dressed?" asked a third year, squinting their eyebrows together in what Corven translated in mild interest and concern. He seemed to be the leader of the second years, as, when he raised a hand, the third years silenced themselves alongside the other years. He had wavy black hair with blue highlights, Italian pale skin, dark black, blue tinted eyes with a piercing gaze, black-studded earrings, black jeans and a black long sleeve t-shirt with a white skull covered in blue flames etched on it in the middle. He didn't have a chestplate like his comrades, but he did have a black, leather shoulderguard with blue flames painted on it, black armoured boots and knee-ankle armor as well as a matching pteruges. He had an obsidian gladius with a blue diamond at its center between the blade and the hilt; the blade itself radiated a mid-Legendary rank aura, and was named the "Sapphire Obsidian" —- A name worthy of a blade of its caliber. The diamond itself matched the boy's eyes, or, at least, brought out the blue tint on their black surface.
The aura of the guy himself was a Peak Legendary rank cultivator, and, as a son of Hades, a literal god — and a powerful one at that — he was amongst the Shadow Faction's strongest students, definitely the strongest of the Year 3's, at only 15 years old.
'His name was Durian Hades, the youngest son of House Hades, a minor house, that take residence in the eastern side of the Dark Forests, and is the champion of his father — the literal god Hades,' Jabari soul-whispered, while Corven's eyes remained fixed on the boy. 'They say he has the highest potential to achieve godhood of our generation, having reached the Peak of Legendary rank at the age of just 15 years old. He's a beast on the battlefield, though. I've seen him spar against the Year threes in passing, and he bodied them like they were nothing!'
Corven was almost certain this guy would be a noble spaz — A powerful one, but one nonetheless. He was contemplating if he needed to worry about the guy being petty, the hairs along his arms raising, as if preparing for a fight.
As both Corven and Durian locked eyes, though, a sort of understanding passed through them, unsaid, but known. As the blood of the unders=world were shared through their veins — Some deep, unconscious thread they both recognized in one another, similar to how Corven sensed a similar feeling to Achlys and Cimon every time they're near one another, beside their kin sensing ability.
The moment, however, was brief, interrupted by the Versalies siblings.
"Look who it is, Dy," Oscar smirked, looking smug.
"It's the pippsquick from the Avouching Ceremony," stated Oxen, looking equally as smug as his brother.
"What happened, brat? Did you get lost?" asked Dylan, chuckling to himself.
"Do you all want to die?" Corven asked flatly, his tone direct as he released his Demigod rank aura. "I'll kill you right now. I don't have the patience to deal with your shit today, so why don't you three just your spithole, yeah?"
The aura he released caused the Versalies siblings to tremble in hesitation, second-guessing their senses.
"L-low Demigod rank?" Dylan trembled, the only one of his siblings able to form a somewhat coherent sentence due to Corven's immense pressure. "I-impossible. It cannot be! The last time we saw you, you were only at the mid to high level Legacy rank! You cannot have advanced this far that quickly!"
A chuckle sounded as Corven pressed down his pressure on the trio, before suppressing it back into himself. Turning to his side, he saw Jabari chuckling, evidently amused by the circumstance. "Don't you know?" he sent the trio of second years a mocking of faux surprise. "Corven is the highest ranking of all the first years!" Jabari exclaimed, puffing out his chest as he spoke. "He deserves to be here."
A murmur passed through the collective of students before one spoke.
"As is so," came Durian's words, acknowledging Corven with a nod. Corven returned it with one of his own. Then Durian refocused on the task at hand. "The first order of business we need to discuss is the type of game we're playing today. The war game is called 'Last Faction Standing,' for you newer first years. It's basically how it sounds; all factions will be fighting each other until the last faction left standing, wins.
"That said, alliances aren't prohibited. From what we've gathered, however, only one faction alliance has united for this game. It's made up of Nature Faction, Psychic Faction, and the Mystic Faction. While I'm not necessarily worried about the Nature Faction—though they're strongest Year 3, Matilda Lorens may be half nature nymph, but in my presence, her powers are rendered useless—it's the Psychic Faction and Mystic Faction's Aubrey Lance and Terra Grimm that worries me most. Both are practitioners of magic, so their cultivation base is low, but their magic can hold down a Peak level Demigod.
The fact that I need to focus on Matilda, a low level Chaotic ranker, I can't also take on Aubrey and Terra—especially Terra from Mystic Faction, whose earth magic is second to none. Matilda's nymph magic allows her to contend with even High Legendary ranked beings, and, as a Peak Legendary ranker, I would rather not underestimate the girl. Who here would volunteer to take on the other two while I handle Matilda?"
"I'll handle Terra," Celeste spoke up, surprising everyone. "As a Primordial Spawn, I'm no stranger to handling those above my station. I've also recently made a breakthrough to Mid Demigod rank. If anyone can handle her, it's me."
Corven searched Celeste's eyes, even as the murmurs died down. His inquisitive stare responded by Celeste with a nod.
"You sure?" he said, whispering.
"I can do this," Celeste whispered back confidently.
"Ok," Corven nodded. "Congrats on making Mid Demigod rank, by the way."
"Thanks," Celeste blushed slightly at Corven's acknowledgement.
"Ok, Miss Celeste, you can take a few 2nd year sorcerers we have in our faction to help you," Durian gestured to the Versalies siblings. "Dylan will help you in that regard."
"We can handle Aubrey Lance," Dylan offered, gesturing to him and his siblings. "Our Dark Psychosis physique is a perfect match to Aubrey Lance's Mid Demigod ranked psychic abilities."
"Yeah," Oxen nodded proudly. "Psychics are at a disadvantage when facing us, even if they rank higher than us."
"We can take her and her psychics on while you guys attain victory," stated Oscar Versalies, sounding sure of himself and, for once, Corven didn't mind the confidence.
To this Durian nodded. "Very well, then that's settled."
"What about the other Factions? Infernis? Heavenly? R&D?" Corven asked.
"R&D don't typically join these games," Durian said. "The few who do only do so to test out new equipment. And Infernis Faction has its own powerhouses, so they don't take allies easily. As for the Heavenly Faction, they are pre-diminantly made up of nobles, and, considering theirs is the strongest of the academy's factions, they're too prideful to take allies.
"However, me and the top 2 & 3 powerhouses of the Infernis Faction aren't exactly on good terms. Chances are, they will come after me during my battle with Matilda.
"That's where you two come in: J.C and Corven. As the top talents of the first years you'll be up against the 2 Infernis Faction head of the second years, Dwayne Lobane and Targus Lobane. Both are Peak Demigod ranked, but as long as you don't encounter their leader, Eugene Nex, a Peak Legendary ranker who's the leader of the Year Three students, you should be fine. Plus, I'd wager that he's more likely to come to me than go after either of you personally.
J.C and COrven locked hazes, nodding to one another.
"I look forward to working with a fellow child of the underworld," J.C outstretched his hand, to which Corven shook firmly.
"Likewise," Corven responded with a nod, as the two shook hands.
"Good," Durian clapped his hands. "Then we'll split our forces between these groups as specified before. We go in fast, we go in silent…".
"Like a shadow," the others chanted, much to the First Years' bemusement.
"Dismissed," said Durian.
As he walked past, Corven shared a meaningful nod with Durian, who responded in kind. And, as J.C Kladion was about to pass, Corven held out a hand, stopping the descendant of Zeus/son of Hades in place. They were amongst the last students still present, including Celeste and Jabari, who were eyeing Corven inquisitively, likely curious why he was stopping random students from passing, but neither said a thing; merely watched with curious eyes.
"Yes…?" J.C asked, looking at Corven, startled.
"I need you to break through to Demigod rank before this war game start," Corven said, handing him a cultivation boasting plum fruit. "This will help you do that."
"This is—," J.C's eyes went wide, as he immediately took the fruit, thanking Corven profusely. "If you ever need anything, anything at all, I'll be there. You have my word, as a son of Hades and a descendant of Zeus, I swear this, Corven, son of Erebus."
Corven watched as the son of Hades bowed repetitively, before taking his leave, clutching the fruit like a precious egg he didn't want anyone else near. As he watch the boy leave, he smirked in amusement. 'Using my soul read ability, I can see the potential of individuals via causal glance, and J.C's potential is almost on par with Durian's but without the bindings and politics of nobility keeping him bound to a singular house, as he is a bastard. He'll make a perfect ally.'
"Why'd you do that?" Celeste asked. "Give him such a treasure, I mean. You could've used it yourself or sold it for hundreds of thousands of Crescents. And I know you never do anything without a reason."
They watched J.C until he left their sights.
"I don't intend to lose," Corven said simply. "Speaking of which, you two need to break through as well. Jabari, you've been at mid-Legacy rank for a minute now, haven't you? And Celeste, you've gotta catch up with the others. You might have broken through to mid Demigod rank, but Cimon and Achlys are already at mid-Demigod rank and rising. Here, this should help you."
Corven handed both of them two Cultivation Boasting Plum Fruits each, to their shock. They took it with slightly trembling hands, eyeing Corven like he was the All-Father.
"Corven, I don't—," Celeste began, tentatively stuck with what to say.
"Relax, I have a ton of them," Corven answered, interrupting Celeste's hesitance with a beaming smile. "And you're not just my best friend, you're my betrothed. You deserve this."
"Oh, thanks, Cor," Celeste responded with a soft smile, blushing slightly even though she tried to hide it, nodding and giving her gratitude to Corven. "Seriously, thank you."
"Thanks, man," Jabari said, practically jumping up and down on his heels, happily and hyper — His usual self. "With this, I can make it to Peak Legacy rank before the war game starts in 3 ½ hours. Who knows? I might even be able to break through to Demigod rank. With energy fluctuations these fruits are giving off and its purity and aroma, it may be powerful enough for me to jump straight into it."
"Yes, thanks, Corven," Celeste said again, still blushing as she took a bite of her fruit.
The two headed to their dorm room to cultivate. Celeste knew when she broke through, she'd have to shower to wash away the impurities, and Jabari, who intended to make it to Demigod rank, would have his first expulsion of impurities — It was the reason both decided to go to their respective dorm rooms to breakthroughs.
Corven, on the other hand, intended to enter his Shadow Space to cultivate before the big game, but, before that, he needed to pay Marxes a visit. It was time to check on his armour and equipment.