Tales of the Endless Empire
Chapter 232: Backlash

Thalion soared through the night sky, utterly unseen thanks to his passive skill that rendered him nearly invisible high up in the sky. The wind whispered past him, cool and steady, and for a brief while, he allowed himself to enjoy the sensation. Flying was like gliding through a dream, a soft detachment from the weight of the world. Up here, above the clouds and concerns, nothing else mattered. The half-hour journey back to base passed in a blur of moonlight and shadow.

Soon, faint lights shimmered on the horizon—the flickering torches atop the guard towers, the ethereal glow of blue runes etched into the stone walls. The sight was mesmerizing, like something pulled from an ancient tale. A pang of regret struck him. They couldn’t take this fortress to the new world. How long would it take to rebuild something like this by hand? And from where would they even source the materials, with no system shop to provide?

The tutorial had taught them little about survival without the System. There were blacksmiths, alchemists, even a few builders, but hardly enough to house thousands. Who among them knew how to construct walls strong enough to withstand monsters? Or how to defend against creatures that tunneled beneath? The shielding dome—yes, they had an idea how to replicate that but the resources and know-how were still scarce. The tokens would vanish too, their functions tied to this base. Everything they’d learned here seemed temporary, hollow. Perhaps the tutorial was never meant to teach sustainability, just combat—because in this world, maybe that was all that really mattered.

Still, inconsistencies gnawed at him. Skill descriptions varied wildly—some were walls of text, others barely a sentence. Beast skills seemed impressive at lower levels, but higher-tier monsters had oddly lackluster abilities. And yet, that lightning manta had offered some of the best skills he'd ever absorbed. The whole thing felt… unfinished. Random. Or simply flawed.

He forced the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time for philosophical wandering. Ankhet’s resurrection loomed ahead, and Thalion’s mission was clear: destroy the pillars before the fallen god could rise again. If he could claim the treasure in the palace afterward, all the better. One general of the undead had already fallen which was a impressive start.

But who were the real monsters here? He’d been granted both a divine skill and a bloodline, rewards that came with a heavy price. The vampires, the bloodwitch, the red orc—none of them seemed like true threats. No, the real danger might not even come from the undead. Perhaps it was the elves, with their suspicious offer of cooperation. Thalion didn’t trust them for a second. They’d claimed neutrality, but only now—at this late hour—did they move against the undead? If they’d been present since the fifth stage, why had they remained silent for so long?

The elves were only part of the problem. Jim and Amalia still lived and that was an issue he intended to correct. He'd tolerated their existence for too long. Opportunists, feeding off the weak, never contributing meaningfully to the city’s survival. He despised them for it. Back then, he'd chosen to focus on himself, ignoring the corruption festering in the city’s heart. No longer. He’d aligned with them once, but that loyalty was dead. They would not return from this mission. Not if he had anything to say about it.

This was the endgame and Thalion intended to win.

<--

“Nice to see you again,” the Spider Queen said with a hint of amusement, her many eyes glinting with curiosity as Evelyn reappeared in the sprawling web that hung between the folds of space. “Tell me, what just happened in the tutorial?”

The shimmering threads of the Queen’s realm pulsed softly around them, stretching into a horizonless void. Her high blessing allowed Evelyn to communicate with her more frequently now, an invaluable asset in these chaotic times. It wasn’t uncommon for a single tutorial to shift the balance between the greater factions.

“Well, not that much, actually,” Evelyn replied, settling onto a strand of silk that shimmered beneath her. “A group of elves showed up outside the gates, challenging us to a duel for leadership. Thalion took care of them without much trouble. But then another elf approached, asking for our help against the undead. In just a few hours, we’ll all be launching a joint assault on the undead, hoping to destroy the pillars hidden in the catacombs.”

“The elves, huh?” the Spider Queen murmured, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. “I thought they wanted to stay neutral. And now, one of their goddesses has lost a significant portion of her power in one fell swoop. I haven’t seen a god of that caliber suffer such a backlash in ages. Even Tenebrice, the strongest of the vampire gods, has taken a heavy hit. He’s in serious trouble now.”

“Wait,” Evelyn leaned forward, brows furrowed. “Maybe… maybe it wasn’t our tutorial? And how does a god even lose power? Isn’t that supposed to be impossible?”

“You’re still new to this, little blessed,” the Spider Queen said, amused. “Let me give you the short version.”

Her many legs shifted with grace as she reclined deeper into the net, as though preparing for a story well worth telling.

“As gods, we can bend the rules of the System—slightly—by paying a cost. Intervening in a tutorial, however, is especially dangerous. Blessings are one thing, but when gods start handing out powerful items, avatars, or meddling directly, the System fights back. Its core principle is balance. If a god gives too much, the System will lower the difficulty for others—or, if the interference is severe enough, it punishes the god directly. This backlash can strip power, collapse domains, even end divine influence entirely.”

Evelyn nodded, intrigued, as the threads of the web shimmered with quiet tension.

“The difference with the tutorial,” the Queen continued, “is that every god places an avatar within the tutorial space—just like this one you’re speaking to. That avatar can interact with events more directly, but it also exposes us to risk. If we’re not careful, the backlash can be devastating. For a god, the loss of divine power is the worst fate imaginable.”

Her voice took on a delighted tone.

“Now, two of them have clearly crossed the line—and not by a little. I can't even imagine what kind of treasure could provoke a backlash of this scale. Whatever it was, it must’ve shattered multiple rules.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I see,” Evelyn said, still processing. “But… how are you so sure it’s our tutorial? Didn’t you say there were hundreds running at the same time? And if your avatar is inside the tutorial, how do you know what’s happening outside?”

“Ah, clever girl,” the Spider Queen chuckled, nodding approvingly. “First, almost none of the other tutorials are like yours. Yours is… unique. No other trial has a special quest with stakes as high as the resurrection of Ankhet Sekhmara. Most of the other tutorials have already been conquered by dominant factions—usually backed by gods. There’d be no reason for a deity to risk so much when they could intervene afterward without consequence.”

“And second,” she added, “my avatar is tethered to my true self through a controlled link. Most of what happens here doesn’t reach my main body—the System filters it—but a trickle of information still flows through. My true self doesn’t yet know about you, for instance.”

“Excuse me,” Evelyn interrupted, raising a hand. “But could you say exactly which gods we’re talking about and what the consequences were?”

“Ah, the best part,” the Spider Queen grinned, her voice rich with schadenfreude.

“The first is Tenebrice, the most powerful vampire god and a major player in the undead faction. Not only is he feared for his raw power, but he also created a unique blood-cultivation plant that couldn’t be replicated until now. It enhances blood magic and unlocks entire new skills for blood mages. But now? He’s wounded. Vulnerable. The other vampire gods are circling him like sharks scenting blood in the water. He’s always been a coward at heart, only fighting when victory was assured. But this time? He gambled and lost.”

She leaned closer, savoring the words.

“The second is an elven goddess. Not among the top tier, but still powerful. She’s been hit even harder than Tenebrice. Power gathered over eras gone in a heartbeat. Elves rarely move against each other, but she’s about to lose vast territories. I don’t see how she recovers. Which makes your report all the more curious. The elves had previously insisted on staying out of the Ankhet affair and now you say they’re joining your side?”

The Spider Queen reclined again, all eight eyes fixed on Evelyn, her smile sharp as silk thread. “Very interesting indeed.”

Evelyn, on the other hand, had no idea what to tell her patron. She fidgeted slightly, brushing a hand over her shoulder-length hair as she tried to think of something useful.

“Uh… I’d love to report something meaningful,” she admitted, her voice uncertain, “but not much has really happened. The elf lost the duel cleanly. The others just left and haven’t returned. The one who asked for an alliance wasn’t even from the same group.”

The Spider Queen circled slowly in her web, the threads humming faintly beneath her as if reacting to her mood. Her many legs moved with grace, casting shifting shadows that played across Evelyn’s face.

“Hm. It must have something to do with your base then,” she mused aloud. “This Thalion, he’s held off the vampires and now defeated an elf in a formal duel. Tell me, is the elf still alive?”

“I think so?” Evelyn said hesitantly, shrugging. “Depends on what Thalion did with him after the fight, but the other elves were already long gone. They wouldn’t know either way.”

“Hah, you’re right. That alone wouldn’t explain it,” the Spider Queen replied, pausing in her pacing. “Perhaps more will come to light once the tutorials conclude. Still, be cautious. There might be an incredibly powerful vampire and elf roaming your tutorial right now.”

She turned, a gleam of excitement in her many eyes. “Now then, what are your plans regarding Cathrin? One of my daughters recently captured one of Morgana’s witches. With the undead faction weakened, I’ve started making moves of my own. The witches are prime targets, and without Tenebrice or his undead protecting them, she’s nearly mine if I play this right.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened. “I don’t really have any concrete plans yet. I’d rather not confront Cathrin in her blood domain. Wait, did you say your daughter caught one of Morgana’s witches? She’s still alive?”

“Indeed,” the Spider Queen said, her voice oozing with amusement. “Why kill a god when you can trade them? Killing one brings experience, yes but if they’re part of a larger faction, like Morgana’s coven, their capture is far more valuable. You can trade them for rare materials you'd normally risk your life for. Until then, they’re quite useful for... other things. Things that wouldn’t suit your path, of course.”

The way she said it—calm, matter-of-fact, and yet tinged with dark satisfaction sent a chill through Evelyn. She had no love for witches, but something about the idea of tormenting a god just to squeeze out every drop of value left a bitter taste in her mouth. In this new universe, power ruled, but preying on the helpless for pleasure crossed a line she couldn’t stomach.

Brushing her discomfort aside, she shifted the topic.

“So... back to the tutorial. What should I do next? Should I warn Thalion to call off the attack? Maybe hide behind the walls if there’s a monster-level elf or vampire on the loose?”

The Spider Queen paused, as if considering the possibilities carefully. Then she responded with a sharp click of her fangs.

“You’ll likely receive a massive discount on everything next week, so I say do the opposite. Take advantage of the chaos. Earn as many credits as you can while the others are busy. Whoever got the item that broke the rules likely has other objectives and for now, the elf and vampire appear to be targeting each other. Just make sure to always carry an escape token. That will keep you alive even if things go terribly wrong. And don’t forget, the ship portals are still active. It’s a risk, but one worth taking.”

Their conversation turned more casual from there, shifting toward Evelyn’s path and the recent abilities she’d awakened. They spoke until the last seconds of their link faded.

Then, with a ripple through the cosmic silk, Evelyn vanished from the pocket realm.

Left alone, the Spider Queen’s settled deeper into her web, eyes gleaming as she continued to watch the unfolding tutorial with predatory interest.