Chapter 1370 (1/2)

After the Winged Serpent had made the announcement, the rest of the Nemesai looked at it in shock. They sat in the rather damp cave that they were forced to call their headquarters and still had the pride to balk at the decision that the Winged Serpent had made.

The Bandit King spoke first, leaning forward and growling across the table. “Are you being serious?”

The Winged Serpent nodded slowly. Obviously. “Yes. I believe it is our only option.”

“Our worlds will be doomed by this decision,” The Bandit King hissed. “Do you truly care about your own life enough to throw away the people that raised you…? I suppose in your case, the things that raised you.”

The Winged Serpent’s wings beat slowly. It tried to think of a way to comfort the other Nemesai, but none were forthcoming. The insults were meaningless, but it was indicative that the other Nemesis was currently experiencing strong emotions. So it simply shrugged. “Perhaps. Even at best, taking Randidly Ghosthound up on his offer of collaboration is a gamble. But I believe it is a smart gamble. He has been able to accomplish much that should be impossible.”

“But still-!” The Bandit King slammed his hand on the stone table, but the Grey Lich put a hand on the man’s shoulder. His undead touch was enough to force the other Nemesis to reign in his anger, perhaps as much from the disgust from the lich touching him as from the comfort such a gesture offered.

Then the Grey Lich turned to glance at the Winged Serpent. “It is why there is a caveat. If Randidly Ghosthound should successfully help the Earth pass the Corrupted Invaders… we will accept his offer and work with him. We are all aware of the forces arrayed against Earth at the moment… a Special Investigator was even dispatched. It is enough that was stand neutral for this trial and pick the winner afterward.”

“We are missing a chance to ingratiate ourselves with the Special Investigator,” The Bandit King countered with another firm thump on the stone table.

But this brought a snort from the Obsidian Duke. The man leaned back in his seat, his obsidian in its liquid form flowing around his limbs. “Don’t speak nonsense. He is an elite from the Xyrt Brigade. In what world would he ever put us in his gaze…?”

The Bandit King’s expression soured, but he couldn’t deny that fact. The Winged Serpent nodded and then looked around at the Nemesai around him. “Truth be told, the situation on all our homeworlds is tenuous. Our people gathered untold resources to earn this chance for ourselves to be Nemesai… a chance to hold onto the System for a little longer, so we won’t be abandoned. But even if we succeed here, by the time the next Cohort comes around, our worlds will be under the same threat.

“Randidly Ghosthound… is an unusual existence. His strength cannot be explained. And the speed of his growth… well. It is a gamble. But I believe it is for the best. It is a distant shot at what might be a permanent solution.”

“And what would that solution be?” The Bandit King said in a low tone. Much of the aggression had gone out of him, but his eyes were filled with a poisonous coldness. “Wait for a miracle?”

“Tier 3 Citizenship in the Nexus,” The Winged Serpent replied. Most of the other Nemesai looked thoughtful. And to that, even the Bandit King didn’t have a reply. Although it was almost impossible to achieve, it was least a known path. However, it was a fickle hope; all of the Nemesai were aware of what the Ghosthound would need to give up in order to save their planets.

Slowly, the other Nemesai drifted away. Eventually, only Thea Glasshammer was left, looking down at the stone table with a blank expression. A lesser being might believe she was confused by the last part of the conversation, but the Winged Serpent knew that was not the case. In fact, Thea likely sensed the true reason that the Winged Serpent felt forced to make this decision.

For a few minutes, the Winged Serpent gazed at her, waiting for her to start the conversation. But she did not.

Inwardly the Winged Serpent shrugged. Then it beat its wings to float away from the table and return to its own quarters. If you will not reach out, I will not wait for you, girl-

“Winged Serpent, I have a question.”

It’s tongue flicking out, the Winged Serpent twisted around and looked at Thea. It tilted her head to the side in askance. It did not intend to make this easy for her.

Although the Winged Serpent couldn’t see Thea’s hands, it was clear that they were balled into fists and pressed to her sides. Without the other Nemesai acting as buffers, Thea’s insidious and vengeful image blasted outward and filled the meeting cavern. Green spectral flames licked along the walls, reminiscent of the flames that animated her Soulbound companion.

“Is this… did you do this…” Thea even gritted her teeth as she spoke. The Winged Serpent blinked lazily. “Did you make this decision because of me?”

“Yes.” Then the Winged Serpent turned away from the human Nemesis once again. “If there is nothing else-”

“You question my loyalty to the cause?” Thea’s ominous voice was quiet, but the image of flames behind her was not. Guided by her reckless rage, the other-worldly green flames grew taller and taller as the licked up at the walls. They spread upward like a disease. A swirling pillar of flame began to coalesce directly behind Thea. The thing stood and stretched, becoming the massive upper torso of a monstrous bear.

Definitely powerful. And yet… The Winged Serpent’s tongue flicked out. Then it nodded. “Yes. I do question your loyalty.”

The direct answer stopped Thea’s image short. For several seconds she was at a loss. The strange green flames flickered and died. Emotions warred across her face. Then her expression hardened. “Just because I am human-”