Trope World - Volume 1 Chapter 49 Smell The Roses

Wight POV

My body was perfection. One of the patrolling zombies fell victim to my might. Its corpse was well preserved, and its foot looked to be near the right size. A quick dread beam cut the limb free and I connected it to my stump. What felt like crawling worms launched themselves into the new limb and bound it to me. The limb lengthened, enlarged, and changed color becoming as white as my own flesh. I was perfection, my limbs could be replaced.

“That’s incredible you must be a special human like Elder Od’s Melchior. Let the dark angels guide his soul. Do you worship the dark angels Wight?” Amelia asked. I chewed on those words for a moment. I’d seen their statues and I wasn’t impressed. Compared to my current power they were incredible. In a few years with the right good fortune, I’d surpass them easily.

“Dear Amelia, I’m a secular human. That means, I don’t worship a god.” I said. She looked at me curiously. We were closer now than ever to Od’s farm. I was getting nervous. I didn’t know what I would see or how I’d react to it.

After flying a few more minutes, I laid eyes on it. “Melchior will be furious.” I muttered softly. Our past was no more only the future laid ahead.

“What those monsters did isn’t right. If the nobility heard of a human controlling undead like this, they would be up in arms. This violates the entire code of undead rights. Is it worse for you Wight? These are your kind.” I frowned at her words. Despite the earthly energies running through my body, my heart still beat. I took her hand in mine and placed it on the center of my chest were my heart beat beneath.

Elf Seduction lv1; passive; +20CHA

“It beats slowly but a heartbeat is a sign of life not undeath. I’m alive and well. I’m a bit behind in my worldly politics. Who are the Nobility?” She gave me a pensive look.

“In the far south where snow coats the ground all year round. There are many kingdoms and races. At the edge of the divide between the southern human kingdoms where human hair is blond, there are the fiefs of the nobility. These are lands carved out by the ancient lords of the undead. There are many clans with political wills beyond human understanding. Not to sound rude. Humanity long ago named these nobles Vampire. They are creatures weakened to around 80% of their power during the day and powerful without pear at night.” Amelia let out a breath. We’d been flying south for a few hours now. I didn’t know how much stamina she had. We were almost away from the undead sphere of influence. Spirit energy was becoming plentiful again.

I took in a breath and began to cultivate immediately. With each breath, I felt a little bit stronger. I could step above my creator, by building my second pillar. I knew he didn’t have the spirit energy nearby to fuel himself. Victory for Wight, my divine providence was at hand.

I looked over to see Amelia sucking in spirit energy and a look of triumph flashed across her features. “Thank you for helping me Wight. I feel much better. Keep up with me, I don’t plan to slow down. We’re going directly for the one group who won’t hesitate to break the siege. We’re paying a visit to the fief of Albu. The Albu hate the monster lords of old. No one who lives near their fief can utter the name Apophis without suffering an accident. Get ready for enough good fortune to reach core level.” Amelia said and chuckled at the thought of payment.

“How could they not know about the siege?” I asked.

“There are many rules the Albu must follow or else insight the wrath of their overlords. We are lucky our skin color matches with theirs. Elves of the far south are often treated well in the Albu lands. A human with your skin color will fit in well. Your hair will be considered exotic at most.” Amelia said.

“It sounds like if we were of a darker skin color, we would have to steer clear.” I said.

“Vampires don’t like disorder in their homes. Their peasantry isn’t inviting to outsiders. If we were of a different skin color, we would go to a clan that matched our tones. We aren’t going there to live out our lives. I want to direct a war hammer to the siege. The Albu can be that hammer if we make a good impression.” I nodded; it was a simple plan. Direct the enemies of the monster lords to them. I forgot how large the world was. Jade slips can be used to send and receive messages in a spirit energy rich environment but the undead isolated us. How often did the various countries of this world communicate? Would a few months of a lack of contact matter?

There were more opportunities open to me. I could practice alchemy again. This was my chance to use the resources at my disposal to surpass my original.

“Are there humans in their lands?” I asked.

“Vampires need humans to feed upon. Most of their population are human mortals. Though there are a few human immortal sects within the Albu fief. For a vampire to cultivate efficiently, they need the blood of a human immortal.” I wouldn’t be food for parasites. If need be, I’ll destroy them as soon as their no longer useful.

She took out a jade slip shortly after we reached a new boarder. Amelia worked quickly sending out message after message. As we flew she received a multitude of messages some good news some not.

“Ok, we have our course plotted. Please don’t attack anyone. We must cross the boarders of many countries. Each have different methods of dealing with rogue cultivators. We must move quickly.” Amelia said.

At our side’s cultivators surrounded us. They were covered in orange, pink, and blue feathers. These were the harpy tribe. Each were at the palace or low core level. Once we passed a specific area, they abandoned us.

“Don’t worry about them. Its normal for cultivators to guide air traffic through their land.” I nodded slowly sensing out the bird brains. They were still watching us as we left their territory.

We continued flying for 6 days. The trip to the Albu fief took more time because of treaties. Certain territories didn’t allow humans or elves entry. “Halt, ssstop where you are. Thisss isss the land of the undisssputed queen, Nile none but naga may fly through the air.” A small naga with black scales said. He was only foundation level up was backed by three core stage users in the wings. I half wanted to try and reach space. Surely, these fine snake people couldn’t follow us there. The only issue was Amelia. She most likely needed to breath. That and the freezing cold, burning hot, and vacuum might pose an issue.

“We are on an important mission from the Black Moon Sect of the Equine Dominion. The treaty of Broken Hooves demands that you grant safe passage during times of war.” Amelia said. She turned her head up at the mere foundation level.

“What is a human doing with you. He’d make a great gift to Queen Nile.” The naga’s tongue flashed out. “I believe she may allow you to fly through our territory for him.” The naga’s lisp was gone. It must have been for show. “I got it, that’s why he’s with you. I’ll guide you to the palace, so you may drop off your gift to queen Nile and be on your way.” Amelia opened her mouth to say something when I interrupted.

“It will be an honor to sacrifice my life for the Black Moon Sect.” I said. The naga licked his lips and Amelia straightened herself.

“If you knew already then why are you barring our way. I demand your life in exchange for the time you wasted.” Amelia said looking at the core formation naga.

“Indeed, wasting an allies time and making our queen wait for her gift is shameful.” A female naga said with a smirk.

“Hold on, I had to check her motives. Don’t eat me princess Samara.” The naga in question looked over to me with an odd look. She opened her mouth revealing two massive hollow fangs. She bit down on his throat and the foundation level naga’s body spasmed. Samara pulled away holding up her victim.

“Look at this human, this is what awaits you. My mother will swallow you whole and use your life as a battery to further her cultivation. Now, Liara be a dear and escort this nine-foot-tall gift to the palace.” A blue tailed naga appeared looking excited. In the blink of the eye she wrapped her massive tail around me.

“Hey cutie I’m Liara. Princess Samara will be snoozing for about a month after eating her lunch. Are you sure you want to feed yourself to our queen? Food back there was setting you up. You could tour our country its beautiful. How dire could your situation be?” Liara said. She was a cute naga with a long blue tail and dark skin. Her hair fell in chocolate curls.

“Good point, I don’t suppose the princess will be too broken up, if I don’t get eaten by her mother?” I said.

“She’ll see it as an opportunity to eat you later. The queen has more than enough males jumping down her throat. You’re a bit unique but I wouldn’t call you a treasure.” I snorted at her last comment. I was perfection. To say any other was better than me was laughable. “Oh, you think you’re some hot shot huh. Mr. Pillarman well then, I better keep you to myself.” Liara said.

“That won’t be necessary, we have an important mission. I’ll need him alive to get to our destination. We must cross the human lands to reach Albu.” The Naga stopped at those words.

“Albu, you want to go to the blood sucking domain of the Nobility. They snack on elves as well as humans.” Liara said. I took a breath and felt my cultivation base increase by a small amount. This land was rich in spirit energy. “Be careful, absorb too much and you’ll grow a tail.” Liara said in a sing song voice wiggling the blue end of her tail.

“That’s a myth but too much cultivation here will attract the attention of Hydras. Naga that have failed to reach the demon stage and have gone insane. Their personalities shatter each becoming a head.” Amelia said.

“Aren’t you a bookworm! Yes, our country is rich with hundreds of spirit wells. Mr. Pillarman tell me what would happen if you had s.e.x with one of us. Would your pillar become a palace or would your cultivation base crumble?” Liara asked.

“To me, nothing would happen. My father found a way around that problem a long time ago.” I said. I raised and eyebrow to Amelia causing the elf girl to blush scarlet.

“Oh, Mr. Pillarman that’s incredible. Does that mean humans will come to our lands to seek out wives? I’ve heard that human males can be quite persuasive.” I shook my head.

“Its not something that every human can do.” I thought of the traces of mana left behind by Zorg. Was it rare?

“So how are we going through here. We could run the whole way.” I said and squatted a few times feeling out the weight of 9meters of naga tail. Her tail was long and thick and weighed a few tons. I was certain, I could run well enough with it.

“I’ll have you know my country is beautiful. I’d rather not ruin your experience with a sweaty sprint.” Liara said.

“I won’t sweat the air is cooler here than the prairie.” I haven’t broken a sweat in a while. My perfect body was beyond efficient.

“Yes, and why waste this opportunity to enjoy the weather. I say we walk the whole of the country and stop at a few inns on the way. You might not get another chance to visit. There are many sights to see, we have grand libraries, casinos, and the best dancers in the world. Don’t you want to see we naga move our bellies?” Liara said pride heavy in her voice.

Amelia looked conflicted. “That could take us months to reach the end of the country.”

“It will only take 3 years. Come on why enter our queendom without looking at the sights. I’m sure there are a few quests pending. Little girls and boys go missing, they need a hero to venture into the gremlin caves and save them from becoming soup.” Liara pitched.

Amelia looked at me with her deep blue eyes. Duty and freedom battled against each other.

“Before we left, my brother had infiltrated the giant castle. My other brother had already slain 2 of the Demolition squad. The undead army’s strongest squad. Then my father cleared a path for us to escape. Did the Black Moon Sect task you to find help?” I asked. I wanted to take my time and enjoy this world. My motives were entirely selfish.

“We were sent out as a distraction. The other force invaded the castle. When I found you, most of my squad was worn down and killed. I didn’t expect to live much longer.” Amelia said.

“Well escorting you guys for three years beats boarder duty. I bet Samara will pay us a visit after she finishes off her meal.” Liara said. I nodded.

There was more to this than enjoying the sights. I wanted to practice the subversion of governments. My timetable was 3 years. In that time, I planned to figure out the how the power structure worked, take control of parts of it, and subdue the queen. It was a test of my perfect mind. That and I disliked abolitionist regimes almost as much as theocracies. Ideologically, I was an individualist.

I moved my hand and grabbed ahold of Liara’s tail tip and slowly unwound her. She pouted the whole time.

“It is settled, we’ll consider this a vacation while we decide our next move.” The sun began to go down as we made our way on a dirt road to a run-down mortal town. Obviously, this wasn’t Liara’s idea of a good first impression.