Chapter 4559: Conflicting Plans (Part 1)

With the combined power of Origin Flames and Life Maelstrom, the Rocs believed they would become invincible creatures with the strength of a Griffon and the martial might of a Phoenix.

They were willing to close one eye, if not both, to the Isharas’ manipulations, but only if they weren’t so severe that the Rocs would be deemed accomplices and killed for it.

"Once step two is complete, if any problem or conflict with Verhen arises, we can abandon Garlen and still obtain what we want. We’d leave behind only a skeleton crew to keep an eye on him and Valeron the Second, until the right moment to capture them presents itself."

"I can’t believe those idiots of the Royals really believe we collected money and resources to build a research facility." Wonira’s laugh sounded like the clicking of gears. "Conducting our research on foreign soil would be as risky as stupid.

"We Isharas aren’t a bunch of dirt-poor weaklings like the Garlen Council’s members. We rule the largest empire of Rathi, and if not for Selkis’ curse, we’d still rule the entire continent. We don’t need their petty money or their pathetic natural treasures!"

The loss of their foremother had brought the Ishara bloodlines together to ensure the survival of their species. The Isharas had conquered the Rathi continent a few centuries after Selkis’ demise and ruled it with an iron fist until a few decades ago.

Until too many Lesser Isharas were born and the remaining purebloods had become too precious to waste their lives in the eternal conflict with the local Awakened Council and the Divine Beasts born from the other Guardians of Rathi.

The Isharas had sent their envoys to Garlen to gain access to the Hydra’s lab, study their devices, and get their hands on all the data the Lesser Divine Beasts of Garlen had collected so far.

The mission was a success, and each squad of experts that had been granted access to the Hydras’ secret lab had understood the underlying principles of a new set of devices and provided the Isharas in Rathi the information they needed to replicate the Hydras’ diagnostic devices.

The blood of Selkis spared no resources or effort, and the lab had been quickly recreated thanks to the massive funds the Great Patriarch had set aside over the millennia, hoping one day a project capable of restoring the Isharas to their former glory would come.

"Those idiots have no idea that the only reason we infiltrated every region is to monitor the activities of the Dead King and build our own network of Warp Gates. We no longer need to rely on the Council for information and transportation.

"Even better, once we are done with our plan, our forces will be able to leave their stations and Garlen unnoticed. No one will ever know we’ve been here and how many of us were deployed.

"We’ll vanish like morning mist, and nobody will be able to track us after we detonate the Gates."

The Isharas were sincere when they offered their help to capture Orpal and fight his minions. What they had left out of their alliance speech was how much they needed the Dead King.

The Warp Gate and informant network allowed the blood of Selkis to reach anywhere Orpal’s forces struck the moment it happened. They would also allow the Isharas to muster their forces unseen, capture, and move Lith to Rathi as the last step of their plan.

"I also bring good news." Tornal said. "We might not need to capture the Dead King to complete step three. According to our spies in Bornar, one of the Upyrs turned into a Vurdalak during the fight between the Undead Courts and the Dead King.

"Restraining a pathetic half-blood is much easier than capturing a Horseman, and while the Council would question why we don’t ask their support to kill Night, we can exploit the chaos of the battlefield to bag an Upyr unnoticed."

"Then we force them to become a Vurdalak, and we’ll have a perfect specimen." Amnaku completed the phrase for him and sighed in relief. "Maybe Mogar hasn’t turned its back on us completely.

"Fate seems to be giving us a hand, and we must take it before our planet changes its mind. Let me be clear. Stay out of Verhen’s way. Do not approach, interact, or even breathe near him.

"If you stumble into him, apologize for what Ankhuta did, and suspend all operations in the area until he leaves. Verhen’s the only major flaw in our plan. He exceeded all our expectations and killed the entire Distar infiltration team with just two allies."

Amnaku’s voice expressed his grief and outrage at the death of his kin, but also the respect he felt for Lith.

"Even worse, he left no survivor, so we have no idea how he did it or how difficult the fight was for him. All we have is the Kingdom’s official report, and that might be a cover-up story. Maybe the Kingdom’s elite forces helped Verhen, or maybe he actually fought alone.

"If we are not careful, we might end up like those inferior creatures who tried to kill Verhen and his son. Dead. He’s clearly a powerful Divine Beast, and we can’t afford to underestimate him again.

"Consider him on the same level as our Great Patriarch and plan accordingly." The lieutenants gasped in shock, but didn’t object. "Remember, we only have one chance at this. If we fail to capture Verhen, we’ll have to face his allies and Valeron’s protectors.

"We’d be driven out of Garlen, and the Rocs would renege on their word and expose our deal. Any hothead in your teams must be sent back home and replaced by a cold-blooded veteran.

"We are this close to get everything we need to restore the blood of Selkis’ true potential and reconquer Rathi. I won’t tolerate the smallest mistake. May Mogar have mercy on those of you who fail me, because I won’t."

***

Jiera Continent, Maneka Region, Nareka fortress, a few hours later.

"Are all preparations complete?" Orpal asked, his face a mask of cold rage.

"The troops are assembled and the contingency plans ready." Jorl replied. "I need to ask: who do you want to send to Garlen to support your clone?"

"Are you afraid your Griffon siblings will come hunting your feathery ass?" The Dead King asked with a smile. "Don’t worry, so am I. I won’t jeopardize your life for a skirmish. You and Erion will remain here with me.

"Akhton and Uragar, however, have to go. I want a victory and no surprises. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." The Storm Griffon nodded and moved to relay the orders to his coconspirators.

The battle for Bornar had been the beginning of several setbacks for Orpal, but also the source of an unexpected boon. The death of the fragments he had unwittingly left inside his lovers had weakened the Dead King, but only for a while.

The details of Althika’s treatment and the execution of Orpal’s former lovers had driven most of the most attractive women away from his bed. Yet that was a minor inconvenience compared to the influx of recruits it had caused.