Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King
Chapter 101: Trust

Chapter 101: Trust

"Verdant Lords have a certain aura about them," Veyra said, looking at Clayton. "I figured you had some means to mask yours, that’s why we never realized till you told us the truth".

"Anyway, Korrath must have sensed your growing aura from afar".

"The stronger you become, the bigger an imprint you leave on the Earthcore Nexus. Your signal thrums louder".

"Korrath must have sensed it, a new rival".

She paused in deep thought. "Sixty days on foot got us here, 2400 kilometers. No way we walk back, we’ll never make it in time".

She calculated. "Forty kilometers a day, sixty days. A car at ninety kilometers an hour, eight hours daily, hits 720 a day".

"Three, maybe four days to Atlanta with wheels".

"If we push it, maybe 2 days max".

"A car?" Clayton was confused.

Kaelin chuckled. "You’re really an old geezer. I mean, of course you’ll think humanity lost it all after the end of the world, but we didn’t".

"The Ironblood Remnants are a perfect example of how humanity clung to our technology despite the advent of Aspects and Awakened warriors. Bombs, especially the nuclear ones can still obliterate most Behemorphs".

"Even in the chaos of the end of the world, we clung to a lot of things".

"In Verdant Cities, there are military trucks built and improved, rugged enough to brave the Behemorph-infested wild".

Clayton was genuinely surprised. He just stared.

"New Phoenix," Torren said, "That’s the closest Verdant City. They’ve got military trucks, but they’ll want Embers or worse".

Kaelin, steadier, frowned. "Your Rootsite... don’t you think it’s gone?"

The others looked at him.

Kaelin didn’t back down. "You guys seem to forget, but this is a Luminous Seed Verdant Lord we’re talking about".

"Is it worth the cost? Can we even survive it?"

"Worth the cost?" Sorren nodded. "Definitely Kaelin. My brother’d say save what you can".

Kaelin looked at the others.

Lorn’s voice was firm. "We’ve traveled and fought alongside Clayton for 2 months. We won’t abandon him at the first sign of danger".

She looked at him. "Clayton, it’s your anchor. We fight".

Clayton stared at them, tongue-tied.

But then a screech cut through... four Initiate Ember Ash Sprites (2-meter fire wisps, Ash Crowns) surged from a Scorchshrine.

The group reacted instantaneously.

Torren’s Flamevine Wrath torched one, Veyra’s arrows piercing another, even as Lorn shielded Soren’s Emberblade, while Kaelin’s Ashveil Cloak struck precise.

Clayton fired Regalia’s root arrows, shredding two Sprites, Thornshade Dagger dousing flames.

A few minutes later...

The last of the Ash Sprites fell, ash settling.

DING!

~----~

[Behemorphs Slain: 4 Ash Sprites (Initiate Ember)]

[Aphid Network Losses: 1 Thornweave Sentinel]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 24 (Team Kills)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 5 (Random Network Hunts)]

[Genesis Embers Total: 4,585/6,000]

[Aspect Strain: Low]

~----~

Resting by the Scorchshrine, Clayton’s voice was grim.

"If I don’t take the risk, Korrath’s going to tear my Rootsite apart. New Phoenix is our shot for a trick".

Veyra nodded. "My sister traded there. They’re brutal".

Kaelin grinned. "321 years, Clayton, and you’re still scared? C’mon man, you’ll outlast this".

Lorn’s touch was steady. "We’re with you".

Torren pointed west. "New Phoenix, then Atlanta. Korrath’s war’s just starting".

"Don’t worry Clayton," he patted him on the back reassuringly. "We’ve got you. We’ve fought Scorchlord and Luminous Seed Behemorphs".

"Heck, we even survived a Behemorph stampede".

"A mere Verdant Lord won’t kill us".

"Hell yeah!" Kaelin grinned.

Clayton smiled.

And so, the team, bonds forged in fire, moved toward the Verdant City, Nexus’s pulse a harbinger of battle.

...

Clayton led his team through the ash-choked Scorchpaths Outskirts, the Earthcore Nexus’s pulse a grim reminder of the war ahead.

They were moving west.

But then, Torren noticed that something was off about Clayton during the journey.

"What?" He asked bluntly.

Clayton’s chest tightened, trust surging.

The decision to travel with Torren was made on a whim. He didn’t think it through, he followed them just for the adventure and thrill.

When the trust started brewing within them, turning them to a unit, Clayton felt out of his element at first. But his instincts never warned him of any ill intent, and so he let it develop.

Hearing them declare their willingness to go with him to defend his territory against an invasion from a Luminous Seed Verdant Lord warmed his heart.

Kaelin’s objection at first only made it more realistic, and highlighted how significant or maybe reckless of a decision they made. And they did it just for him.

This was why as soon as Torren asked, Clayton couldn’t hold it in anymore.

He sighed.

"Alright," he said, voice low. "Secrets out. Actually, my Aspect is far more versatile than I told you guys about".

Veyra raised an eyebrow but kept quiet, allowing him to explain.

"I have an Aphid Network, a facet of my Aspect that’s similar to beast taming. And currently, I have 32 minions under my control. I have Spore Plague Lords and Thornweave Sentinels guarding my Rootsite. Seven are left there, fighting Korrath’s drones".

"As for the others, they followed me on the journey".

Torren stumbled and almost fell.

His eyes widened. "You mean...?!"

Clayton smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. I always kept them at a distance".

The others were speechless.

"Also, I’ve got two bodies: this one," he gestured to his green-skinned form, "and my Verdant Lord form, a thorned titan back at Atlanta. It’s holding, but not for long".

The team stared, awestruck.

Torren whistled. "Two bodies? You’re a damn enigma".

Veyra smirked. "Explains the green.

Kaelin laughed. "Damn. At this point, I feel like legend’s too small a word".

A war cry interrupted their journey.

Three Initiate Ember Scorched Clans Scouts wielding Ashfang Daggers ambushed from a dune.

Torren sighed. "They never learn, do they?"

The group exploded, each using their Aspect and Artifacts and in less than a minute, they made light work of the 3 scouts.

DING!

~----~

[Enemies Defeated: 3 Scorched Clans Scouts (Initiate Ember)]

[Aphid Network Losses: 1 Thornweave Sentinel]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 18 (Team Kills)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 6 (Random Network Hunts)]

[Genesis Embers Total: 4,609/6,000]

[Aspect Strain: Low]

~----~