Once the mages from Witry were gone, the young Drake Riders came out from the building with excited smiles on their faces. Six of the ten had made it to Commander Rank, and Karl knew that they would all have at least one or two new pieces of equipment going back with them.
The dungeon was an excellent source of resources for the Commander Rank, with some Ascended items being possible from the Ogres on the way to the bosses, along with the coins.
That was the tradeoff. They had to pay to enter, but they got something in return that may or may not have been worth more than what they paid. Realistically, the experience alone was worth quite a bit, as the dungeon was a controlled environment, where you could send specific fighters without surprises.
The Drake Rider Overlords made a sharp whistle, and the younger Riders gave Johann and the other Overlords a sharp salute. Then they ran to their mounts, and in one smooth movement, they were aloft, soaring up into the sky on the wave of warmer air blowing over the tree line.
“It’s always creepy when they do that.” Johann complained.
“Do what?” Karl asked.
That mount and takeoff had been textbook perfect. It was like they were doing a synchronized gymnastics routine. Karl didn’t see anything creepy about it at all.
The Knight gave Karl a confused look. “Vanish. It’s creepy when they vanish like that.”
Karl turned and watched them fly away for a few seconds before he realized that it was just echolocation and thermal imaging that still saw them.
“Oh. Sorry, I can still see them, so I didn’t realize they did a thing.”
Niall smiled and shook his head. “Your senses really are insane. But to think that you could see through invisibility cast at the Overlord Rank.”
Karl shrugged. “It hides the visual image of them, but not the thermal image, or their radar signature, for lack of a better word. The echolocation that Rae uses to see in perfect darkness, along with her heat sight.”
Ahmad sighed. “Lazy bastard. It’s not invisibility. He cast lesser concealment, assuming that we wouldn’t be able to track him either way. A proper invisibility spell would hide him from thermal imaging and radar, at least conventional radar.”
[Tell him I want that spell.]
“I don’t suppose that you could spare a copy of that spell for a particular Princess who thinks Shadow Step isn’t sneaky enough for her.” Karl suggested.
“If I could turn that into a spell book, every mage in the nation would be trying to learn it right now. Unfortunately, I cannot. But she really does dream of becoming a nightmare for other species, doesn’t she?”
Karl smiled and nodded. “You should see it, it is adorable. Her legs make happy little chasing motions when she’s dreaming of hunting them down.”
“Because that’s not terrifying at all.” Bob mumbled from somewhere behind Karl.
Johann gave him a curious look, and Karl chuckled. “Bob here isn’t the biggest fan of arachnids. Even when they’re huge and furry and cuddly with razor legs and definitely not venomous mandibles.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Well, that’s two nations now that know for certain that Karl is a beast master, not counting the Giants. I suppose it’s not too big of an issue, as they’re used to strange things from our Elites, just keep an eye out for strangers trying to cut a deal.
It might be foreigners trying to poach your talents, and both the government and the Church feel a certain sort of way about that.” Johann cautioned.
“That is understandable. They have put a fair bit of effort into helping me along the way, and they’ve even agreed to my unreasonable demands to have a specific group with me, to the point they agreed to let us sign a magical contract.” Karl replied.
Johann chuckled. “Yes, so I heard. The High Priests say that you have an exceptional affinity for the World Dragon’s energy, so they wanted to see if your good fortune would rub off on those around you.”
The rest of Karl’s team smirked when they heard those words. It certainly seemed like it had rubbed off on them.
“Do you think that we’re going to have more visitors?” Morgana asked as she walked up with Doug.
“Almost certainly. There is a chance that they will want to do either individual challenges against a Commander Rank Elite, or group challenges against a Royal Rank Elite. Some might have all Ascended fighters, and they’ll want a group fight against a Commander, so if one of you is suitable for the task, be ready to volunteer.”
The team members nodded, and wondered which one of them would be the best suited to actually taking on a group of ten Ascended mages.
Not everyone was Karl, who had definitely cheated by allowing his beasts to assist without summoning them.
“What if they send a Royal Rank fighter to lead their team? Are we certain that we can win the challenge?” The familiar voice of the politician from the National Treasures Department asked.
“Yes. If it’s a proper duel, we won’t restrict the beasts. I didn’t want the foreign forces to learn any more than necessary about his combat power, but as long as the opponent isn’t a peak Royal Rank Divine Beast, it shouldn’t be an issue.” Overlord Niall replied with utter confidence.
“Is our champion that strong?” The politician asked hopefully.
“On a good day, one in ten Royal Rank Elites could take on Rae. Add in Karl and the other three beasts, and few things short of a full-blooded Dragon or a Divine Beast would stand a chance.”
The politician sighed in relief, but all of the Overlords turned to the field where the last duel was fought.
Another portal opened, and Karl prepared himself for another challenge.
But the first person to exit was an elderly man in the robes of the World Dragon Clerics.
He took down his hood and revealed a wrinkled face with long fox ears and sharp eyes that didn’t match the aging joints of his body.
He was an Overlord, and out of instinct, Karl nodded politely to him, while Niall, the Magic Knights and all the Clerics all bowed.
“Ah, I found the right spot on the first try. I knew that if I just followed the sensation of beasts fighting, I would find it.” The World Dragon Bishop muttered to himself, then gestured for others to come through the portal.
Ten beastkin, including one Worgen wolf girl that looked quite familiar to Karl, came through the portal, all at the peak of Ascended Rank.
The Worgen stopped and pointed at Karl. “It’s you! How did you make it to the Royal Rank so fast? It’s only been half a year since we met.”
The old man smiled. “Good, you’re all already friends. I do love emotional reunions.
Now, the Archbishop said that there was a dungeon around here somewhere. Would you care to guide an old man in the right direction?”
Karl smiled and stepped forward with his arm bent for the old man to use as a crutch.
“Of course, High Priest, it’s just over this way. Did you have other business with the Overlords first?”
“Oh, they can sort that out between themselves. I am more interested in the portal itself.”
Ruth came up and tapped Karl on the shoulder. “I will take the Elder to see the portal. I have magic to make the walk easier on him.”
