Supreme Magus

Chapter 3485: Common Root (Part 2)

"If only you could see farther than your smug nose, you ungrateful bunch would realize how much you owe to people like Fyrwal, me, and many others whose names have been forgotten by history simply because no one bothered writing them down." Silverwing said.

"Enough, Lochra." Baba Yaga grabbed Silverwing’s shoulder while shaking her head. "The Hydras can believe what they want. We came here to do a job. There is no point poisoning our collaboration before we even start."

It took Silverwing only a glance to notice the angry gazes and clenched fists of the people around her. What she said may be true, but that didn’t mean others would accept it or even like it.

"Lead the way, Fyrwal." Baba Yaga took point. "I need to study the data you have collected until now before I can start fixing your Harmonizer and adapt its technology to my children."

"Of course." Fyrwal noticed that the Red Mother’s business tone and polite attitude had quelled the rising fury in her clanmates. "Please, follow me."

She led the group toward the center of the cave where Ufyl’s pod was. The assembled Hydras made way for Menadion’s group, forming a corridor while extending their arms in the hope of a handshake.

Menadion sighed but was happy to oblige. She gave more slow high-fives than handshakes but the Hydras didn’t care and the mood in the room improved greatly. Find adventures at empire

"What changed your mind?" Baba Yaga asked. "How come you agreed to my terms after all this time?"

"Because we are slumped." Fyrwal said. "As in, we have run out of leads and ideas. Our hope for a breakthrough was shortly rekindled after we gained more willingly test subjects who have been transformed by Thrud’s Ambrosia, but in the end, their contribution proved fruitless as well."

"What are you talking about?" Baba Yaga raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Allow me to introduce you to the rest of our guests." Fyrwal replied. "These are Protheus, Leari, Ophius, Arka, Isha, Phoma, Rhak, and Ufyl. You already know Friya, right?"

"These eight all carry Thrud’s mark and I can sense a unique Divine Beast bloodline coming from them but they are supposed to be dead!" The Red Mother was flabbergasted. "Why are they here and since when is Friya part of this research?"

"Leegaain spared them due to their unique abilities." Fyrwal replied. "Once we ran out of options with Ufyl, Lith put us in contact with the surviving members of Thrud’s army and they agreed to help us.

"We hoped that by comparing their life forces with those belonging to the members of their clans of origin, we would have found a clue to further our research. For the rest of Mogar, however, all of Thrud’s generals but Ufyl are dead.

"Per our deal with Leegaain, the truth can’t be revealed to anyone outside this lab. Is that clear?"

"Crystal." Baba Yaga nodded, glad to have the opportunity to study the effects of the Ambrosia on multiple test subjects.

"To keep the secret, we could only contact a few lesser Divine Beasts of proven trust. On top of that, we have guaranteed them that we won’t hoard the fruits of our research. We are doing this for all lesser Divine Beasts, not just Hydras."

"A noble goal." Menadion said. "But what about Friya?"

"She’s my daughter’s future Harbinger and your great fan, Ripha. She asked to be here."

"Hi, Lady Menadion. I mean, Ripha." Friya stepped out of the crowd amid many grumbles. "I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see you at work."

’Like this wasn’t already bad enough.’ Ripha inwardly rolled her eyes.

"Don’t expect too much from me." She actually said. "I’m rusty and grumpy so I apologize in advance for anything my mouth might say before my brain filters it."

"Don’t worry. I understand." Friya said and the rest of the room nodded.

"Do you prefer to consult holograms or paper?" Fyrwal asked.

"Holograms, of course." Menadion replied before Baba Yaga could say anything.

Xubari pressed a button on a console and images of blueprints for the Harmonizers and reports of the experiments’ results filled the air in front of Menadion, Baba Yaga, and Silverwing.

"Not this." Menadion dispelled the holograms in confusion. "For this kind of information paper is better. We can take our time reading at our own pace. I meant the holograms of the life forces’ scans during your experiments."

"We don’t have that." Anata, the lead Forgemaster of the Harmonizer lowered her head in shame. "We can only study the life force of a test subject during an ongoing experiment."

"You can only what?" The honest surprise and shocked disbelief on Menadion’s face were worse than any insult she could dish out.

Some Hydras wrung their hands, others fiddled with their feet, and all of them kept their eyes low like a bunch of students who had failed to complete their assignment.

"Yes, Ripha." Baba Yaga patted her shoulder. "They are not incompetent, it’s just that there is no such technology. You, I, and the Guardians are the only ones who can do that."

Her words gained the Red Mother admiration for her achievement and respect for defending the Hydras.

"I’m sorry for my outburst. I didn’t mean to be rude. I’ve just returned after seven hundred years and I’m still unaware of what you consider common knowledge." Menadion gave everyone a bow, making the Hydras feel even worse.

"Paper for everyone, please."

Fyrwal handed a thick folder to every member of Lith’s group and conjured a table and chairs for them. Lith had just opened the first page when a familiar noise made him raise his head.

Menadion and Baba Yaga were flipping through the documents like they were a picture book. They glanced at a page and then turned it over for a second before moving on to the next.

’Fuck me sideways, I haven’t seen that kind of speed since I worked with Manohar.’ Lith knew Ripha wasn’t using the Eyes because otherwise he and Solus would have experienced a strong headache through their connection.

’That’s talent plus experience.’ Solus replied. ’Look at Aunt Loka.’

Silverwing was fast by Lith’s standards but slow compared to the other two women. She took several seconds to read each page but was fast enough to make the Hydras’ jaws drop.

’She’s a polymath genius but has never focused her studies on a specific subject.’ Solus said while flipping through the Forgemastering pages almost as fast as Lochra. The parts about the Healing techniques took her more time than those about Forgemastering.

’Damn, you guys are making me look bad.’ Lith sighed.

Without Soluspedia he was the slowest among them. The design of the Harmonizers was complex and he was unfamiliar with most of the runes they employed. The analysis of the life forces was just as complex but it took him even more time.

Messing with a rune while Forgemastering meant a failed experiment. Messing with a rune while using healing magic meant killing the patient. Lith took his task seriously so he put his pride aside and read at a comfortable pace.

By the time he was done, Menadion and Baba Yaga had read the material several times and were already discussing points they considered controversial. Lochra and Solus, instead, were asking the Hydras for clarifications on a few aspects of the Harmonizers.