"So, that's how you ended up at the Feathered Demons' castle, scouring their library when our armies showed up to sack it?" One of the enthralled young nobles asked as Wolfe finished his story stlater.
"More or less. I may have omitted a few details, but we got to the important parts." Wolfe agreed.
"I disagree, you left out the part about why the Succubus liked you so much she followed you around." One of the ladies added, much to Cassie's embarrassment.
"That's hardly a topic for polite company. But if you wish to gossip with the Ladies, I won't stop you." Wolfe replied.
"It seems like you have a knack for making up stories." A booming voice announced from behind Wolfe's shoulder.
He turned around and the Commander of the Army, the one that had been identified as Petros by the Colonel, was standing behind him.
"Lord Petros, forgive my intrusion on your lovely party. These kind Gentlemen sawin town after a minor portal mishap, and invitedto cmeet the locals." Wolfe replied.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"It really is you. Better that that Demon King had killed you, if you ask me." The grumpy Commander replied.
Wolfe wisely refrained from any more reminders that he was friends with their enemies, and simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, it would have saveda rather considerable bit of travel. But have you brought your lady wife? We have met before, but I heard rumours that she is every bit as dashing and gallant as you are."
The Rank Eight mage chuckled. "My wife is seventy-eight years old. Keep your hands off her, you Incubus.
How about you andhave a little discussion on the request that you made regarding the mages of the Sixty Third World? Those under the Emperor of All He Sees."
Wolfe nodded, and the powerful mage opened a portal that Wolfe could feel opening elsewhere in the building. He gave the witches a gesture to stay where they were, and followed him through into a sitting room, complete with comfortable leather chairs, maids and an extensive liquor cabinet.
The Commander sighed as he poured himself an entire tumbler full of rum, with no ice in it, then had the butler pour Wolfe a more normal drink.
"What I am more interested in today isn't the idiots of that world. We can have them stop challenging your barrier easily enough that it's hardly worth mentioning. What I want to know is how you did it, and why you no longer feel like a human magic user, but a Daemon of the Lowest Planes."
Wolfe gave him a curious look. "So, you do know the actual truth, do you? Well, that makes things easier than trying to be polite with religious sensibilities. The Divine One, as he is called here, and as he called himself, summonedand my party to his Realm to undergo a trial, much the sas we have been forcing his people to undergo trials in our world and using remote viewing to watch them for entertainment."
Petros laughed. "I knew it. I told the Council that you were watching them from outside the tloop, but they didn't believe me. But the energy in there, it's not from the Mortal Planes. Did you enlist a Fae Queen to power your Tribulation?"
Wolfe shook his head. "No, we had access to a King Rank Seraph for the day, along with a Demon King, and they helped us get everything set up, including populating the area with Ferals.
We honestly don't mind if you keep visiting, as long as the visitors provide their own mana to activate the region, it is the attempts to attack the civilian populations that was becoming an issue."
The old man looked shocked. "You got a being from the Upper Planes to descend, help you set up a trial for visitors, and not destroy your world? How is that even possible?"
"They can be surprisingly reasonable when their goals match yours. I'm sure you know by now that the magic of my world is a bit different, and they don't take as much offence to it. Plus, we have numerous Fae there now, and Faerie is technically the first of the Upper Planes."
Petros sipped his rum and then ran his fingers through his short grey hair. "Alright, things are more complex than I had imagined.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWe need those mages trained, as they can use types of magic that we can't, thanks to the source of our powers. But if you imagined.
We need those mages trained, as they can use types of magic start sending Demonic Overlords and hordes of Undead to ravage their planet, they're going to go into rebellion.
I can't have that. They're a pet project of mine as I push for the King Rank. Once I reach it, I will move there and take over personally. You have the backing of multiple Demon Kings and Fae Saints, so a prolonged conflict with your faction is not in my best interest at this time."
Wolfe nodded. He didn't miss the whole "At this time", but hopefully by the tthat Petros started to get ambitious again there was either another target, or he had made it to at least Rank Eight himself.
With that level of power and the Continental Representatives, they should be able to deal with most incursion attempts.
"I must say, the reward of whatever your Divine One did to my mana cores is a strange sensation, but it doesn't seem to be harmful. I just hope that it doesn't cause any issues when I return to my world. The mana of the Lower Planes isn't abundant there." Wolfe commented, fishing for information.
Petros shook his head. "That doesn't matter. You're still taking in normal mana, I can feel it. It's just that your body is converting it. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that you are slowly ceasing to be human at all. With that much essence of the Lowest Planes in you, I'm surprised that you're not an Eldritch Horror yet.
Can you release the shield over the rest of your cores, so I can see the extent of the change?"
Wolfe released the protective shield that was blocking off the rest of his mana cores and a vortex of mana was pulled from the entire city into his body, trying to balance them with the new energy level required to accommodate the change in composition.
"Close it. Fast." Petros demanded.