Chapter 1685

Brig was surprised by Sam's answer. "Marry my daughter to him? You really have a high opinion of him." "Of course, I do. He is honorable, humble, has strict moral code for himself. He also doesn't do stupid shit like the young masters of your clans do. He is a perfect guy. I would be his friend and not just friend for the sake of it. A proper friendship with a lasting relationship." Brig nodded his head and went into a deep thought. Kach and Yana don't know that Sam and Brig are actually discussing their relationship. The two youngsters who took a liking to each other were lost in their own worlds for a while. But every day, Kach started and finished his day with the same question. "What do you want me to do?" That is the only question he had for Sam every day. He always confirmed that Sam doesn't have any task for him before doing anything else. One of the reasons, why Sam had a great impression of him. Just like that, days passed. After the fourth day, the clashes became a bit intense. The clans that started their own battles and wars are rising the stakes with every passing hour and of course, Sura clan is also pretty much drawn in. Clan 2 and Clan 3 , the two clans that didn't completely break off the decorum with Sura clan in particular even tried forge a partnership with them on several occasions. And because of what Sam did, instead of being the single and sole victim against six clans, Sura clan became a normal player in this whole mess. Players are having a hard time. They cannot find enough man power to execute the plans against Brig. By the night of fifth day, they all came to a conclusion after tasting different types of failure. That is to escalate the war. Yes, that is the solution they came to after striving so hard and failing so many of their plans. Noah and Kumar also expressed this as soon as they came to the conclusion. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? Even though I had my doubts initially, your plans are mostly practical. If not for the powerful counters devised by them as if they already know what's about to happen are the only reason for this. I still have some good impression of you. Don't let that get to your heads and destroy your reputation." "This is not just a desperate attempt to get things done. Rather this is actually the most feasible solution that we can think of now. If our guess is right, the rest of the clans could also only do the same. Even they don't want to, once the both of your clans did that, the rest will have to follow suit. The war should now be in happening in such a way that all the troops and core members of the organization should be busy to the core. Even Brig who was in the protection in the clan grounds until now, should be unable to risk his lack of involvement. Only then will we be able to drag him out and catch him in action. The only time that we will get a chance to deal with him. And trust me, if we know the other players as much as we think we know, there is no way they are not going to think the same. They will be proposing the same thing to the other clan heads. They are going to do the same thing. Think carefully and make this decision." "Are you sure? The stakes are going to be high. We don't really want to stake all of the resources for a single technique. The probability of getting it is also not really that high. I personally really like you both. Just join Clan 4 and stay with us. We could grow together." One of the core elders from Clan 4 spoke. "There is no need. If they really want to join, they can join our clan too. They are more than welcome there." An elder from Clan 5 retorted. "Can you guys please stop discussing this? WE already told you. It is impossible for us to join not just you, any other organization for that matter. By this time, day after tomorrow, we will be gone. We might not even meet again in the future. So any talks of join the organization are futile to say the least. Anyway, just discuss this and let us know." Similar conversations are happening everywhere else, except for Sura clan and the Clan 6. Sam was clear that he will not be a part of this organization and the clan 6 didn't even push an offer forward. But one common point in conversation is an all out war. That night, hundreds of soldiers from different organizations were moved. Everyone waited for the dawn carefully and when the dawn finally arrived, a war happened. The war is in a scale that the land hasn't seen in centuries. The number of people is not actually that huge, but the strength of people and what they represent is insane. The players who have seen many things in many places were also shocked. The number of Astral Plane Consummate cultivators is huge to the say the least and a lot of them are just a little more than foot soldiers in this war. The realm is filled with battle cries and weeping commoners who are afraid when the war will catch up to them. Within a day, cities disappeared, resource points were destroyed. Hundreds of people died, authorities and reigns altered completely within the realm. Except for the clan leaders, everyone else joined the battle. Obviously Sura clan got more heat than the rest of the organizations, even though the danger has lessened quite a bit, Brig is still the point of focus for this bloodbath. So, all organizations more or less wanted to wear down the Sura clan a bit. Of course, the defensive measures didn't really make it easier for them. But by the end of sixth day, when everyone is accounting for the losses they suffered in that day, they noticed that the Sura clan has the least. This hit everyone by surprise. They didn't expect this at all. "What the hell is happened?" This is the reaction from anyone who heard this news. As for this happened, the answer is actually the thing that started this whole shit storm. The technique that he obtained from Hel. Brig decided to make full use of this and now he is a dark elemental user that can heal. When the clan heads learned about this, they couldn't help but salivate a bit. Even though they are a bit skeptical and reluctant about this whole plan initially, after looking at this data, they all wanted the technique. Now, they felt like the losses they encountered a bit justified. They didn't feel the same pinch. So, they informed the troops at the front line and the players were delighted to hear this. "Alright, the moment of truth will be at dawn tomorrow morning. The last day we have in this realm and the last day for this stage of the competition. Let's hope all of our hard work counts.' Noah said to Kumar. "Maybe, it will be. Sam is extremely injured and obviously, he is corrupted with hell's energy. You and I barely have any corruption on us, but it still hurt like hell. What do you think is happening within in body? He will be in endless pain. This is the only time, we might get his ass in this way." "We can't trust that. That guy is tough. Meanwhile back at Sura clan. What Noah guessed is true. Sam is tough. At that exact moment, he is actually trying to suppress the hell's corruption a bit. "How are you feeling? Are you sure you can go through this?" "Yes, it is fine. I have been through much worse than this. So, you don't have to worry about me. " Brig said as he looked at Sam. "So, you are going to leave after you are done with the task." "Yes. "Why don't you join in with us" "You already know the answer to this." Sam rejected the offer once again and got his focus on work. That night. Everything was smooth and calm. But irreparable changes are about to happen that will leave everyone a new person. The next day. Even before sunrise, the Sura clan is bustling with activity. They acted a bit passive in the whole full-blown war. They didn't actively seek the territory of their competitors, and nor did they look for opportunities to hit their rivals when they are down. They just heeded Sam's advice and stayed on defense.

As for the rest of the realm, it is burning like its hell. Numerous deaths, all meaning less. Centuries and generations of rivalry were all being resolved in such a brutal way. Sam didn't feel good about this. But he has to finish his task. So, all he can do is let it burn. By sunrise. Almost all of the troops are moving away. All the clans' leaders agreed tacitly to no get involved in all of this. So, the final battles, at least the battles that decide which player wins the first task are going to be decided. And there are two types of battles that are going to happen. One of them is obviously between Brig and the rest of his peers and the other type is between the players. As for why they are fighting each other. It is simple. Brig is the one that's going to be the one that's getting targeted. And there is a great chance that he will lose since he is going to be outnumbered. But then comes the next problem. Brig is obviously not going to be killed. He needs to be captured and tortured until he gives out the technique. As for killing and soul extraction. That would be one of the stupidest thoughts ever. Brig is a master of Dark elemental energy and all kinds of arts related to that. He is going to destroy his soul in a fraction of a second before someone could extract the information from him. So, the player's turn will come to help extract the information and if Sam is still in one piece without any damage whatsoever, they might as well give up. They already know that Sam's condition is not exactly good. So, they might as well take advantage of it and make sure that he doesn't have enough of strength to fight. They have a tacit understanding that they would all fight him. Except for Dayus of course. He also happened to be a target to the rest of the players. Sam is looking at the sunrise from the top of a mansion. He looked at the beautiful scenery. Kach is standing behind him as he looked at the scene too. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked Sam, concern apparent in his eyes. "Yes, why do you ask?" "Your body. It is emitting a weird aura. I have sensed that since the beginning, but now it is way too apparent. It is all over you and it seems to be trying to tear your body like a shell before coming out of it. What is happening?" "You can sense that?" Sam is surprised. Because even when he let the Corruption run lose now and then before normal cultivators of same cultivation level as him or lower, they never managed to notice anything. They didn't manage to sense it no matter how much Sam let it lose. In his current situation, Sam is actually holding up the whole corruption as much as he can. He holed it up and wound it up his spiritual energy. The corruption is making his wound fester and he has half a mind to concentrate all of it on the wounded arm and cut it right off. But it is too late. If he should do that, he should have done that a few days ago. When the corruption didn't wreak some havoc in his body. Now even if he removed it, he will be way too exhausted and without an extra hand. The most he could do is suppress his pain receptors to at least not feel the full extent of his physical pain. "It is just an ailment. Temporary. It will go away by tonight." "Are you sure? Your body is way too… exhausted. For a lack of a better word. It is extremely stressed out." "I know my body better than you think." "Why don't you heal the wound at least? It is festering. Your arm will be in trouble if you do that. If the damage is long-lasting, you cannot just amputate and regrow it again." "I know about that too. Don't worry, I got this." "It…" Kach was about to say something. But he stopped in the middle and looked to the side as he picked up his sword. He was ready to take a swing and at that exact moment, Sam blocked the sword with his own. "Don't worry. That's a friend." Sam spoke and soon landed Arkiv a few feet away from them on the top of the mansion. "Seems like you made a new friend. The trio is going to be happy. Delighted in fact." "Yeah, they are going to be. What are you here for?" Sam asked with a smile. Kach looked at Arkiv suspiciously. But realized he felt something familiar from him. "What's with the look man? He already told you. We are friends. Don't look at me like you want a piece of me." Instead of answering Sam's question, Arkiv spoke to Kach whose expression freaked him out a bit. "He has the same aura as you. He is suffering just like you. But way less. Way too less. But it is similar to energy. What the hell is happening?" Kach asked Sam instead of retorting to Arkiv's statement. "Well, hell is what happened. It is a long story, which you won't believe. So, let's save it for another time." Sam replied and looked at Arkiv. "What's he talking about?" Arkiv asked with a frown as he scratched his head. "Nothing. Just tell me why you are here. I thought you are going to help the clan with the attack." "I am going to do that. But before that could happen. Let me tell you something, which you might have already guessed." "That, the players are ganging up on me." "As I said, you have already guessed. Anyway, before ganging up on you, we are wondering if you would like to gang up along with us so that we can take Dayus out." "Why would I do that?" "Come on, you hate that guy. I will be surprised if you didn't." "Of course I hate him. But what's that got to do with anything you proposed." "What do you mean, what that's got to do? It's got to do everything. Isn't it enough reason for you to… I don't know.. Kick his ass, maybe? Or maybe something like killing him after all the stunts he pulled? Anything ring a bell?" "Of course, I am going to kill him. But just not here. I have a special set planned for him. So, until then, we can forget about it. Are there any other selling points that you have?" "Not really. I thought you would be onboard." "Come on, Arkiv. I know that you know that I am not stupid. Why are you here? What do you want?" "Okay, I don't like Dayus, alright and I don't like to deal with the rest of the shady plans with others. If you gang up on Dayus along with us, we can use that chance to deal with the other players while they are distracted. Then, you and I will be the ones standing at the last. We obviously don't want to kill the rest, but it is perfectly fine to leave Dayus here and make him never come back ever again. We can decide who wins after we are done." "Is that really, your great plan?" "Of course. Do you think that doesn't work? Dayus is like looking for opportunities to make your life living hell and the more you are progressing here, the more dangerous you are to him. Don't tell me, you didn't think of a possible assassination against you." Sam didn't speak and just smiled. "Not really. I don't know it. I just guessed it and I am kind of waiting for this." "Anyway, think about it. No matter what you choose, I will not attack you from the start. I will only attack you at the end of the rest of the players. I can promise that to you." "Thank you so much. I wouldn't have minded if you just went on like normal. But I really appreciate your gesture." Arkiv nodded and left the place. Kach looked at Arkiv and then at Sam. "Are all people you are familiar with, this weird? Why would someone give you such a headstart, going as fast far as revealing the weaknesses of others, and theirs also? What if you kill them all, at an opportune moment?" "That is the fun part. They should take a gamble whether I would do that or not."