Scorching Ascension - 2.47: Milestone

Megan’s POV

With the headache still pulsing behind her eyes from their earlier clash, Megan—along with everyone else—trailed from a safe distance as Ethan made his way to the pylon. And she didn’t need to use her own Manifestation to sense the mood around her. It was obvious, and it was swirling around her. Easily visible through their pale features and barely audible discussions. They all spoke in hushed whispers, but no one dared stop the man. Even their most reckless fighters knew the score. Because they’d seen what happened in New Dawn. And they’d seen the fight that took down Zacharia.

The images were still flashing in Megan’s mind.

Once she’d woken up in Wyldrock, she’d booked it down to New Providence, flying and teleporting whenever her mana allowed her to—and she was going to be paying the price for the overextension over the next couple of days. But she had to warn them, just in case the scrying didn’t work, and by the time she made it, she had found that there was no need for her report. They already knew, and she had gotten there just in time to see him fight Zacharia.

Up until now, the Brotherhood’s leader had been considered the highest threat to their expansion and arguably, the strongest fighter in their region. Even when she herself had clashed against him and his forces, he had walked away unscathed. But ever since they watched the events unfold through Daniel’s [Reflected Eye], which allowed the council—and their elite—to see Ethan dismantle the assault on New Dawn then take down the Brotherhood, they knew this wasn’t a fight they could hope to win.

Even before he’d gotten here that was agreed upon. Everyone had been warned to not start any hostilities. To be wary, but to not throw the first stone.

Because sure, they could put up a fight. But to what end? To die? Because that was the only way a fight would go. They didn’t have the level to come out on top. The fight against Zacharia hadn’t even looked that close and having been on the receiving end of Ethan’s spell, she just knew it didn’t bode well. It had taken her everything to stop that meteor, and he hadn’t even been there to capitalize on it. He’d just tossed her away, like an afterthought, and the backlash had made her pass out.

Even her best effort had not been enough. People died.

Her throat dried out. It shouldn’t be surprising, considering their hostile approach. It had still been an aggressive move. And while their goal had been to breach the wall and take the pylon by force, their actions could have just as easily resulted in the death of some of the defenders of Wyldrock. So it shouldn’t be coming off as a shock that their own people had died in the assault. Still, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Because the leaders they had elected got swindled by one of their own. They all fucked up. And people had died for it.

There would be consequences for that. Morale was going to take a hit and it would be a while before it would recover. But they will recover. And maybe lining up behind someone who would personally take to the field to defend his factions—and actually make a difference—wouldn’t be so bad after all.

As she saw Ethan come to a stop in front of the pylon and dismissed the alert she’d gotten, she felt relief. From the looks of things and from what he’d told them, it seemed he’d already managed to set up some sort of working government. Maybe this way it’ll be better. With someone like him around, other factions would think twice when dealing with them. The issue with the previous council was that they all were somewhat equal, so most of them were squabbling and scrambling for influence instead of focusing on the faction’s future. Maybe with someone clearly at the top, everyone below would fall in line.

A deterrent. Unless he’s not that… no. That makes no sense, she thought as she shook her head. He cared. He really cared about the people under his care, and it doesn’t sound like he plans on making them all some sort of second-class citizens. If that happens… then they’ll have to figure something out. But from the look of his two settlements, he really did seem like a hands-off kind of leader. And he would go out of his way to do the right thing.

Well, what he considers the right thing. Executing someone was a little beyond what she was comfortable with. But he basically picked up a fight with them because the council had requested that Isabelle helped in their expansion. A teenager. And while Sarah, Megan, and a couple of others voted against it, the allure of power had been too much for the others.

But that had been a step too far for Ethan. Which was telling her that someone like that couldn’t be all bad.

And when this goes through, I’ll be able to check in with Isabelle and see how she’d been doing with them. That would tell us all we need to know, she thought as the pylon pulsed as the takeover process began. She hadn’t been kidnapped. She’d been taken in, because his faction didn’t resort to using teenagers for their expansion.

“Yeah. Maybe it’ll be better this way,” she muttered. But there was still another matter to attend to.

***

Just like it had happened in Wyldrock, once Ethan made his attempt at claiming the pylon, a flurry of text went off before quickly resolving once Sarah—the one who’d inherited the faction—agreed to the surrender. But unlike Wyldrock, this specific pylon was controlling eight others, and so the Integrate or Salvage options had offered him different options. Either to apply his decision to this pylon, or to all nine of them.

As he accepted the prompt that floated in his vision, Ethan wondered how this would apply in a larger conflict. Were other factions chipping at each other, one pylon at a time? Or were they targeting the capitals? Because if it’s the latter, then him and Amanda needed to seriously up the security at New Dawn.

Unless the status of a capital gets transferred? Just like the ownership of the faction had transferred from the senator to Sarah?

Ethan didn’t know. But he’d keep it in mind. As for Sarah… he found it a little curious how the only person who’d managed to stand in his way was nominated by the senator to succeed him. Or had that been random? He’d have to look into it later. Nominate who’d take over if something were to happen to him.

That seemed like the adult thing to do, he decided, then turned his attention to the new messages.

9 new pylons have been integrated. The access range of all of your pylons (12) has been increased.

That sounded like a lot, Ethan thought as he shot the chattering ex-leaders a look. They grew quieter, and shuffled a few yards away. Beyond them, the civilians were staring and talking. Some shouting questions toward their council and whomever they knew on the scene, but Ethan tuned them out as he continued reading

Milestones reached. Your faction has integrated 10 pylons.

Pylon function - Special Role: The Grand Administrator unlocked.

Pylon function - Special Role: The Protector unlocked.

Pylon function - Special Role: The Founder unlocked.

Pylon function - Administrative Report has been unlocked. Once every 24 hours, special roles can receive all updates and communications, no matter where they are within the System-controlled universe.

Pylon function - Administrative Recall has been extended to all users with a special role.

Ethan nodded appreciatively at that. This would come in handy and once things stabilized in his little stretch of the world, he’d be able to delve for longer without having the need to check in often. All in all, it was a great function, and he was looking forward to seeing what would show up next. Moving on to the next prompt, he almost whistled when he read its content.

228078 fragments have been transferred from New Providence (E-F3) to New Dawn (E-G12)

Clearly, the Union had been busy and while he and Amanda suspected this but hadn’t had a chance to confirm it yet, they must have had at least a couple of days’ worth of growth when compared to New Dawn.

It makes sense… not everyone would have finished their tutorial at the exact same time. But they did well, he thought as finally, he pulled up the communication module.

It was time to check in with Amanda.

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A/N: Still feeling a little iffy with the sinus stuff. Don't know if it's the weather change or what, but the headache's annoying. Next chapter's tomorrow! I'll be finishing the arc this week as promised, if it extends beyond tomorrow's chapter, that is. We'll be getting those leaderboards before I go on break.