Chapter 406: The Manticore Tribe Prepares for War
It took two weeks for them to return to the Manticore tribe's region, but with all three of them reunited, Kai didn't mind the trip at all. His training along the way was mostly for fun, while Zae Zin Nim actually advanced several levels with her Coldfire Corona. Just like with the early levels of other Class stages, releasing the pressure of the barrier seemed to make advancement easy again. And of course he wasn't complaining about getting to spend private time with his wives.
Once they returned, however, their break was over. Judging from how the tribes were marshaling, it was time for war.
As they got close, he pulled on the manticore cloak to play his official role. Despite the clothes and the tattoo, Kai reflected that he felt relatively little affinity for the Manticore tribe, nothing like his commitment to the revolution in Krysal. This was just a war between cultivators: they wanted his strength, he wanted the power he could get from them, and that was all.
Strangely, he hadn't needed to convince Zae Zin Nim or Omilaena to stay in the conflict instead of just abandoning the tribe. He got the strong sense it had less to do with any good will and more to do with their desire to try out their new power on enemies.
Still, when he leapt off the ship in his cloak, the response had an impact. Manticore tribesmen all over the camp shouted in amazement and many came to bow. Omilaena arrived in her own cloak, which awed them further, and when Kai pulled out the severed manticore head, they cheered and began to celebrate. Just by arriving, they had turned the morale of the entire camp.
Zae Zin Nim remained with the ship, refusing to wear the last cloak.
"We're honored to have you back, Patriarch." Ahn Rit Kulha gave them a bow before approaching. "Our enemies are gathering, so it's fortunate you've returned. But there i-"
"I need access to every tattoo specialist you have," Omilaena said. "And all your mana ink."
Kulha swallowed, but he obeyed with only a brief glance at Kai. Once Omilaena was off to finish up her own objective, however, he returned to Kai and gestured for him to separate from the others. Once they were alone in one of the command tents, he looked more nervous.