Chapter 1609 (1/2)

While their allies in the mission to them given by the Ghosthound decided to ignore the issue and continue to the objective point, the Riders themselves, or the Lancers now, were also rather surprised by the abrupt changes. After the initial burst of heady chaos, everyone became aware that the current situation was untenable. They needed to control their new instincts.

But just as soon as they had managed to recover, another round of changes arrived.

After the third such moment of weakness, pain, transformation, and increased strength, the five most powerful Lancers who had accompanied Charlotte Wick gathered together to discuss the situation.

The leader of the Lancers who rode spiders, the Legion of Unavoidable Pivots, spoke first. She was the only leader of the three original factions to be present, so she had the most experience with these sort of changes in capability. Around her neck hung seventeen gleaming fangs. “We need to develop rules regarding the exchange of fangs. More chaos, especially while on a personal mission from the Ghosthound, will only bring us dishonor.”

The other four expressed their agreement with that sentiment; even though they were excited about the changes and their newfound power, all felt a bit of shame in their hearts that the mission had stalled out as they fought over the fangs. Establishing some rules would be a good thing. And of all of the different varieties, it couldn’t be denied that the strange and flexible Legion of Unavoidable Pivots were the best group to innovate.

The Ghosthound was not the sort to restrict the behavior of the Lancers, which they understood and appreciated. Yet at the moment, it made their job more difficult. If there were to be rules, they would need to make them themselves.

After some thought, the leader of the Spider Lancers spoke slowly. “First, we cannot continue to fight over the Fangs during a mission. Next… and perhaps this is the most difficult, I think there need to be two limitations put on the challenges. First that after winning a challenge against some other individual with Fangs, a victory will only earn you one of the loser’s Fangs. And to make sure someone simply does not repeatedly challenge the loser...a challenge can only seriously be issued by a Lancer to someone with the same number or more Fangs.”

The assembled five Lancers thought about this. It was a compromise between those who currently wanted more Fangs and those who wanted less. Those who wanted more wouldn’t have to fear losing all their fangs at once to another, more powerful entity, but they also couldn’t bully those with less. They would need to wait for the weaker party to challenge them to accumulate additional Fangs.

Very quickly, the attention of the leaders turned to another individual amongst the gathered five; this powerful Lancer rode an eagle and now possessed twenty-eight Fangs. Among the Lancers there was now an internal sense amongst them; they understood inherently that a powerful boundary called ‘Tiers’ now existed amongst them. Amongst this group, there were only two Tier III individuals: the leader of the Spider Lancers and the Eagle Lancer. The others were very powerful in the scale of Tier II, but the gap between the Tiers was significant.

There was a tense silence as the Eagle Lancer closed his eyes. The Eagle Lancer had not fought the leader of the Legion of Unavoidable Pivots, but its aura was even more domineering. If it opposed these rules...

It was only when he opened its eyes and slowly nodded that the others could breathe a sigh of relief. “Stability comes first. This is a gift from Lord Ghosthound. These rules… will promote the stability that we need to adapt.”

Very quickly, they were able to hash out the rules of engagement. Through their mental connection to their subordinates, the plan was spread to the Lancers on other missions. Due to the less time-sensitive nature of the patrols on which the other Lancers were riding, the situation there had been even more chaotic. Gradually, the Lancers collected themselves and focused on the task at hand.

However, just before the group of five was finishing up, one of the powerful Tier II Lancers spoke up, almost unwillingly. It was the leader of the Legion of Unavoidable Bounds that rode a toad, having been developed by the Ghosthound during his time in the Toad World.

“I believe… we should also acknowledge that possibility we now sense. It is possible for us Lancers of the Baleful Crusade… to break off from the Ghosthound and become independent existences.”

The other Lancers said nothing to this, but all of their faces contorted into unsightly scowls. This possibility was something that filled each of them with an instinctual fear. On the one hand, it represented their own increased capability, so a part of them were tempted by the opportunity. On the other hand, it represented a decisive view on the part of the Ghosthound: he would not force the Lancers to make their own decisions. Such faith made the Lancers realize they could disappoint their leader.

Sometimes, it was more emotionally tranquil to be controlled.

But even while the other four had anxious expressions on their faces, the Eagle Lancer spoke calmly. “This capability is simply part of our evolution. Do not many others follow the Lord Ghosthound willingly? Rather than being threatened by this option, we should take it for what it is: an acknowledgment of our growth. No longer are we simply minions; now we receive the same blessings that the other followers of the Ghosthound receive.”

“Some will take this opportunity,” The Toad Lancer spoke again, feeling a sense of vague dissatisfaction in his heart. Upon the third upgrade, they all felt a change occur within them; suddenly they understood the concept and value of ‘freedom’. This was one of the core motivators of the Lord Ghosthound. As such, it had trickled down the Lancers.

Some Lancers would be tempted to taste such a thing, despite their fear of independence.

The Eagle Lancer just shrugged. “Those who do so will reveal themselves as fools. More than anyone else, we Lancers understand the frightening growth of Lord Ghosthound. We are just one aspect of him, yet these recent changes are already so significant. To abandon such growth mid-way through the journey...”

The Lancers all nodded subconsciously at that. Each possessed an individual connection with the Lord Ghosthound due to the fact that the Lancers were sustained by his Skill. And that connection had only grown more powerful and obvious as time had passed. Now, these powerful Lancers could vaguely intuit the Lord Ghosthound’s position and intentions by peering through that connection.

But most relevantly, they could feel his power. Freedom was all well and good, but they understood that there was an associated cost to breaking off. Without the power of the Ghosthound, the Lancers weren’t yet at the point where they could achieve freedom for themselves.