Divine Beast Ascension

Deep emotions blended with confusion underneath her soft yet penetrating stare. It was one thing to joke about hooking up and be half-serious. It was another thing for the person she was interested in to be pressured into a relationship. That wasn’t what Liz wanted for her or Hurman. And her gaze said everything.

“You don’t have to–”

“You’ll be offered our last guest courtyard up until our relocation to Iron Territory. Then we can discuss whether you’d like to stay with us or claim your own property in Iron Territory,” Hurman claimed with a tender yet professional smile. “That much I can offer you, Liz.”

Finally releasing her pent-up breath, Liz stepped closer to Hurman and took his hand in hers. She looked to Oli and bowed slightly. “Then... I’ll accept the offer.”

While ignoring the sight of her father completely for the rest of the discussion, Lizbeth couldn’t help but clench tightly around Hurman’s hand. She whispered, “Sorry... It’s just for now.”

“It’s fine. Go right ahead,” Hurman replied while turning back to Oli and Rhyner.

.....

“What’s to come of Oliver now that my family will be traveling to Iron Territory?” asked Hurman.

Rhyner nodded and continued demanding everyone’s attention. “Oliver will spend the next two moons cultivating and preparing to leave for Bore City, where he will attempt the mortal champion qualifiers.

“But Oliver will do so under my recommendation, just as you’ll be leaving for Iron Territory under my recommendation,” claimed Rhyner. “This venture will be Trighton Territory reaching out to Iron Territory, not the other way around. Also, none of you are to mention Oliver’s link to Iron Territory. His true identity is to remain anonymous, though some people may try and link their identities. For that reason, you’ll witness his true form and better understand why you are to keep any record of Oliver being linked to Iron Territory.”

Not expecting to hear that, Oli nodded slowly at Rhyner and then at Vloz. With both in agreement, Oli began surrounding himself in yellow, bestial essence without a word. But words weren’t necessary to shock those present. The moment he finished shifting and dropped the earth essence around him, everyone was speechless.

But it didn’t take long for Nixt to grin uncontrollably and shout, “An Iron-body Gorilla?! You’re an Iron-body Gorilla?!?!”

“Yes. But please–”

“How?! Yet you’re not a perennial? Is your bloodline king-grade? I thought it was at best perennial-grade?” While his rambling began, Nixt scurried toward Oli and began inspecting his three-krin tall frame. “And I thought you would only have earth essence? Do your parents have dark essence too?”

Oli shot through each question on rapid-fire, already reverting to his human form since he felt his body waning, mostly due to the battles not too long ago and his activation of soul arts. “It could be considered a peak-elder bloodline. And no, I’m the only one in my clan with dark essence. That’s also a secret that not even my clan members know about, apart from Vloz, my uncle, and my mother.

“What about your cultivation–”

“My cultivation technique is that of my late father, a former mortal champion, not what I submitted to the tournament. Though I had to adjust some arts to my human form to make things feel more natural, like my gorilla armor,” stated Oli. “Also, as the former clan chief, my father taught a few soul arts to my entire clan, though most everyone only has a basic grasp, like I used earlier.”

“An entire gorilla clan with soul arts...” Nixt blinked as his smile gradually grew.

“Enough daydreaming, Nixt,” Rhyner cut in, “Now, you all know about Oliver’s true origin. In his territory, his name was Oli and he was driven out of the territory by thieves. Through complicated circumstances, he ended up here in disguise. When people try and link those two identities, you’re to act accordingly to remove suspicion or not acknowledge them at all, whichever is best for the situation.”

“You got it!” Nixt shouted, stepping back in line while admiring Oli from afar.

Bastol laughed, “Don’t go volunteering to leave. You’ve only just met the kid, so there’s no need to commit so fast.”

“Shut up...” chuckled Nixt, lightly punching Bastol’s shoulder.

“So, Vloz and Jarrit will be leaving immediately to reach Iron Territory and create a formation to link to ours,” restated Rhyner, wrapping up the discussion. “Lizbeth will join the Practor Family and become an official resident of Iron Territory, letting them be proof that our territories will interact peacefully while keeping Oliver’s true identity secret, on the threat of death. All while Oliver will cultivate and learn from our two professors privately, preparing for when Jarrit will soon send Oliver to Bore City.

“Are there any questions about what will be taking place?”

“... Rhyner...”

“Lizza, we will talk in full after this and I will explain everything as best I can. But now’s not the time for us to discuss matters of the Trighton Family,” Rhyner added. “Anyone else? No? Then allow me to explain my last action involving the Practor Family, regarding their intermingling with Libarn.”

“Go ahead...” Hurman nodded, remembering how Rhyner had mentioned the manager outside and their hidden schemes.

Leaning back and relaxing, Rhyner blinked a few times. “I’ll be brief. You already know about Mertin’s involvement with Reginol and you’ve seen Mertin’s secret ledger, documenting the black market deals that Mertin has done on behalf of Libarn. Do you know about his involvement in Lyle’s incident?”

“Yes... we do.”

“Good. Do you know about Mertin poisoning Lyle on a regular basis?”

“Yes.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Rhyner asked, “Do you know about Mertin poisoning you on a regular basis, though at a more subtle dosage?”

“Yes... That’s something our new doctor has made clear this morning.”