Bro, I'm not an Undead!

1421  Permanent Haven (2)

The look on Azila's face immediately told Grim that his suspicions were correct. He had heard from Karima the purpose of the Crowns and stars on some of the beasts he had seen.

It meant that they had the potential to achieve the peak established by the Deities of Aigas for beasts: the development of a Permanent Haven.

Grim hadn't known that it would look and feel like this though. It was significantly different from a Territory. If anything, it felt more like the inside of a Cluster. As Grim had bonded with Baddan during the voyage past the Central Boundary, he connected what Baddan explained to him to this. Apparently when it came to being in his home as a Cluster beast, there were things he felt that contrasted merely being in a world.

It was definitely different from what Grim felt when inhabiting his home world, Aigas.

Here, in Asthon's Permanent Haven, he felt as though an unseen force was urging him to grow, eager to support his every inclination towards thriving – whatever interpretation the word took.

Asthon himself was nowhere to be seen, which was rather queer, but it seemed only Grim found that strange.

Azila's eyes was shining as he looked up at the foggy orbs and webs of light in the multi-coloured sky.

"We don't have long here," a voice spoke from around them, making Grim turn every which way, searching for its source. "This is my Permanent Haven. I regret to say, it's my and every beast's limit with growth, if they don't change their very nature, at least. Listen well. Jiggorrhax and the Fruit Bearers are out there holding off the Fiends. They will die soon if we work slow."

Grim started to piece it together as Asthon spoke.

He remembered what Skullius had told them before they left the Empyrean Bosom.

Majestic Territories were never meant for humans and they essentially altered how humans' powers developed since the Grand Wars.

It showed, really.

Only beasts could bring out the full potential of Territories.

Grim had spent some time with Timmit while Replicus' Faction still used the island of Deign as a base back then. That was when he discovered the many ways beasts could use Territories to their advantage.

They could make them Dormant, which helped them produce the Secondary and Tertiary assault functions quicker, for instance.

He also learned from Baddan that beasts could make their Territory boundaries exceptionally wide, allowing them to clash with multiple opponents at once.

And thus, it stood to reason that there was more that beasts could do with the Territories than humans.

In the case of Asthon with the Permanent Haven, Grim discovered especially terrifying.

'Like the Deities… did he use his body to create this place?' he thought, a little horrified. The implications…

"This place is like a larger scale Territory, nearing the quality of a real world. It's a better version of what Jiggorrhax tried to create earlier, and there are several perks that I admit, if I had utilised to their fullest in the last 4,000 years, would have made me pretty competent even by Divine standards, but…." Asthon's voice came, sounding heavy and frustrated. "In this place, I can alter the characteristics of existing living beings through the abundant life energy you sense – their race, their mutations, their Tiers, even their Territories. It would have been especially useful if I hadn't let the creatures that developed in my Territory perish over the years."

Grim and the other beasts gaped in shock and excitement.

Hauza, the ice goblin, let out a thrilled, "Ha!"

He realised belatedly that his reaction could have easily been misinterpreted as him celebrating Asthon's regrets, but no one had such thoughts.

"Alter the characteristics of living beings?" Grim said aloud, his eyes round and misty with thoughts of the possibilities.

"Indeed," Asthon confirmed. "That property is meant for the creatures a beast develops in their Territory, but in this case… I can expend it on others. There are three more qualities to a Haven, but before I disclose them, I have to explain how we will deal with the situation – the Fiends, I meam. Most of you will not like it."

Suddenly everyone grew tense.

What was Asthon going to propose?

"Without a strategy, all of us will die the next time a single Impermanence Fiend breaks our defences. I could feel it. Just being within close proximity with one will do us in. It won't matter how much mana or Nitros we have, or even genuine Divine energy for that matter," the old bird said. "Frankly, there is no reason for all of us to face the enemy. We have to invest in Grim. I will have you all expend every ounce of your strengths for him."

The guardian beasts were indeed displeased.

Was this to be their sole role then? Were they to submit to the human just like that?

 Hauza was the first to speak up.

"I will admit, I had doubts about this human's strength before, but even then, he can't do it alone, even if you give him all our powers. This task requires all our input with our individual skills working up a clever and clear strategy, rather than brute, amalgamated power!"

Azila was second.

"With all due respect, Asthon, we all came here ready to die," he said. "We have skills that we have sharpened over many, many years, and this… this is our time to show their efficacy with the help of Grim! Don't underestimate us! Do you expect us to become docile after you've just made our blood boil with your display of power? You've shown us what we can become by persevering through harsh odds! How can we just sit around after witnessing that?"

Grim felt he had no right to argue in this. He watched and waited for Asthon's response, even though he knew what the old bird would say. Heck, he knew Azila and the others knew what Asthon would say. They had been there when he explained all about his plan with Grim; it seemed they had not accepted it.

The old bird, wherever he was, scoffed. There was pity in his voice.

"This is why I detached myself from beasts. You see a Permanent Haven and you see invincibility. It's a cage, nothing more. I told you before. Your role is not as limited as you think. I'm trying to make a path for you. A new stage of progression. You will understand after you invest yourself in Grim and learn from what he becomes. You will watch and learn and surpass what I have shown you without having to waste 4,000 years of your lives, my friends! I ask you… watch and wait." @@novelbin@@