Chapter 330: Beastly Backup
One week ago:
It was all well and good saying that Violet was going to recruit help from the local beasts, it was another matter entirely to actually do so.
Initially Violet had been quite optimistic in her efforts to gather friendly beasts that would aid her.
Saddly she had apparently overestimed herself and the intelligence of the vast majority of beasts that she encountered.
At first she had tried the diplomatic approach.
She had ventured into the domain of a nearby lord, keeping her presence expanded yet not actively challenging the authority of the Lord, which was quite the ballence to find apparently.
Still she thought she did a valiant effort.
Saddly her efforts at diplomacy hit an instant road block when the beast lord in question near instantly attacked her.
It was a bird of some kind and not even a particularly strong one at that, its level couldn’t even be over level 100, yet it still showed such blatant hostility and showed no signs of backing down even with the vast difference in strength.
Violet tried to just avoid the beast, repeatedly using blink and her agility to avoid the beasts wild attacks whilst repeatedly trying to communicate with the beast.
Saddly it was either too stupid to understand her words or simply chose to ignore them.
Then it started to screech, it was a truly irritating sound and it just would not stop. In annoyance Violet sent out a singular void spear to put some pressure on the beast.
However, Violet failed to realise how dumb this bird in particular was, why? Well instead of using its agility to evade her attack it decided to take it head on, quite literally as it ducked its head down and flew straight into the spear.
Violet watched on in dumb awe as the bird was impaled from head to butt, dying instantly.
A few minutes later Violet appeared besides Luna alone.
"So how’d it go?" Asked Luna with some humor, she had clearly felt her companions emotions and already understood that things did not go to plan.
"Stupid bird." Was all the Violet said in response.
After that first failed attempt at recruiting other beast lords, Violet’s approach took a change.
She no longer bothered to be respectful with her presence. Instead blasting it out at full force, imbuing her everything into it and utterly suppressing every beast within the various Lords domains.
Then when she landed before the beast Lord in question she did not ask them to follow her, she instead ordered them to do so.
That approach apparently worked much better than the gentle approach.
From there it was relatively simple, she and her ever growing group moved from domain to domain. Either she or Luna would approach the Lord, with their presences and auras on full display. Sometimes they would have to fight against the Lord in question, other times the Lord would capitulate without a fight.
And as time progressed Violet gained a much better understanding of the average beast.
It turned out that the vast majority of beasts were quite stupid, much to her surprise initially. Although when she thought back in her interactions with beasts she realised that it had actually always been that way. She had simply ran into a higher than average amount of intelligent beasts during her travels.
Still, for every 5 beast lords that she and Luna subdued, they tended to encounter one relatively intelligent beast. Whilst not quite as intelligent as Violet, or even some of the smarter dragons, they showed clear intelligence and capacity to learn.
It was with these beast lords that Violet and Luna would converse with and properly explain what it was that they were doing and why.
To Violet’s pleasant surprise they were actually quite eager to assist her once the situation had been explained. When asked why it was a gecko beast lord that responded.
"You are of the wilds, you command it as I do my lesser kin. Your words are true and your rules are fair, strength awaits those who follow you."
His words were somewhat strange but his intentions were clearly shared by the other intelligent beasts. They viewed her as something like a natural manifestation of the wilds itself, benevolent in her might and able to nurture those who submitted it her whims.
It was a humbling thought to be viewed as such by beasts she had only just met and gotten to know. Still she would not turn down their aid, for she knew that she would need it.
By now her group had swelled in number, they numbered in the thousands, they moved as a veritable hoard as they swiftly marched forwards.
After 5 days Violet had amassed over 200 beast lords, around 30 of them being truly intelligent. They had been elevated slightly and given command over several of the lesser beast lords so as to keep things easy for Violet to maintain.
It was on the 6th day since receiving her quest that something truly special occurred.
As Violet was once again at the front of the by this point quite sizable army, she instantly felt when she encountered another domain. However, this was no domain of a simple beast lord, no this was a domain backed by an actual domain of a true tier 5 beast.
This section of forest was lush with greenery and violet felt an innate attraction to the area before her, something deep within her called out in delight at the sensation that she got from within the woods before her.
Yet she stopped at the boundary.
Her presence pushed forwards, this time she did so in a manner similar to what she did upon her first recruiting mission. It was present yet polite, not truly infringing on the territory but clearly making her presence know.
At the same time she also projected her voice out to within the domain, her telepathy ringing out to become and almost physical thing.
"I seek an audience with the sovereign. I am the Wild Void Dragon, Violet."
She did not have to wait long before a form seemed to emerge from within the giant tree to her side. It was a creature made almost entirely of wood, it was vaugely humanoid in shape, with two arms and two legs. Yet it towered over Violet, standing at almost 40 meters in height.
Its deep mottled free bark like skin radiated a subdued power as its emeralds orbs that acted as eyes calmly observed Violet.
"I greet thee wild one. What reason do you have for venturing into my domain this day. And with such a force at your back no less."
The beast did not seem offended by Violet or the thousands of beast that cowered behind her at the creatures might. Instead it simply seemed curious at her arrival.
Violet took a moment to formulate her words before she spoke.
"I seek your aid to defeat a powerful foe that has invaded this lands. The humans of Eldor are on the war path. Already that had destroyed one wild city, soon they shall attack another. I intend to stop them from destroying more of the wilds. Will you aid me in my quest?"
The great Treant calmly pondered her words for several long seconds, its powerful presence and domain lightly brushing against her as if assessing her worth.
Eventually the creature spoke once again.
"I will not. I am bound to my domain and can not leave, I will defend against any who invade but I can not venture out." It paused for some time then before it carried on before Violet could become to despondent.
"However, I know of another who may join you. He is a mighty beast and, he owes me a favour. In return for a favour of yours to be claimed at a later date I will convince him to assist you."
Violet’s mind spun, the second strongest beast in the entire region? How powerful must that beast be to claim such a title. And perhaps even more importantly, how powerful must the being before her be to hold a favour from it.
Then came the issue of granting a favour to an unknown creature. It was a risk, yet what choice did she truly have? So after a rapid mental discussion with Luna so replied.
"I accept your offer, in exchange for the aid of the one you mentioned I shall own you a favour. So long as it is within my ability to grant and does not require me to go against my morals I shall fulfill what you ask of me."
Violet wasn’t quite sure why she needed to state such a thing but Luna insisted she add that preface to her acceptance.
Still the being seemed content and informed violet that she and her forces could pass through its domain, so long as they did not harm it in the process.
Something that not a single being in her force would be willing to do given the might of the being who rules this domain.
That in turn led to Violet being introduced to a separate sovereign, one who’s might was just as impressive as the Treant had stated.
The beast was not to happiest to have been called upon like that, yet seemed eager for the potential battle to come. So eager in fact that when they heard the distant sounds of an all out war in the distance the beast sovereign was no longer content to simply manoeuvre around the trees, no, instead he simply charged straight through the giant redwoods that got in his way.