Chapter 347: No Safe Haven

The old elf was in a wretched state when they finally left him behind to meet with Maike and Kaldrek. It was to be the most important council they had held since arriving on New Earth. The interrogation had yielded more than expected: the elves were planning to strike before the system shop opened. That revelation sent a cold weight through Thalion’s chest. They needed a solution, and quickly.

The only strategy Thalion had managed to cling to so far was also the one he least desired to share—splitting up. Traveling as a large group was inefficient, dangerous even. He himself preferred solitude; it was better for his path, especially if he was ever to test the bloodcurse gnawing at his veins. That was something he could not do with companions he actually cared for. Besides, staying near them while every elf on New Earth was hunting him seemed like a catastrophically poor idea.

In truth, it wasn’t necessary for the group to scatter. Only he needed to go. The others were strong together, and if they survived, perhaps fate would let them meet again one day. But whether he survived the storm of elven hunters was another matter entirely. The strangest part was their demand of his patron’s name. A patron he did not even have. Why would multiple elven gods be so fixated on him? Why not simply offer their blessings openly if they wanted his allegiance? That was the way he would have done it. Perhaps they feared wasting their divine favor without guaranteed return. Too many questions, and none that helped him now.

That the elves planned their strike before the system event made cruel sense. If he died inside the event, they would learn nothing of his “backer.” Worse, an outsider like the captured elf would likely never be admitted into his party, making it impossible to spy on him once the event began. The elves had only days to act, and Thalion could feel the noose tightening.

“We’ve already sent scouts far and wide,” Maike began, her voice firm but lined with worry. “If there are other human bases nearby, we must find them quickly. As things stand… this won’t work out.”

A murmur rippled through the room. Those not yet aware of the news gasped in shock, while even the inner circle shifted uneasily. The situation was worse than any of them had dared to imagine.

“What if we don’t find a way to hold out against the elves?” Annie asked, her voice soft, but carrying the weight of everyone’s fear.

“Then we run,” Maike admitted grimly. “Break into smaller groups, scatter, and hope to survive.” She and Kaldrek had worked tirelessly to build order out of chaos, and now it all seemed to be unraveling before their eyes.

“Can’t Thalion defeat a chosen?” Jakob asked suddenly. “How much stronger can they really be?”

It was a question that turned every head toward Thalion. He didn’t want to explain how little he truly understood of one of his own forms, nor that even with everything he had, raw power alone might not be enough.

“I don’t think I’m strong enough,” he said flatly. “I haven’t seen their true strength, but they’ve seen my fight against the female elf. I didn’t go all out there, but the fact that they’re so confident tells its own tale. Even if I was strong enough, it wouldn’t matter. The chosen will have escape tokens. You can’t kill someone who refuses to die. The real danger isn’t just them—it’s every elf that joins this hunt. It’s a manhunt we can’t win.”

The room sank into a heavy silence. It was one thing to fight an incursion. Quite another to be told that a relentless, continent-wide pursuit was on its way. The weight of it pressed down on all of them.

“If we have to run,” Jakob broke the silence, “we’ll stay together, right?” His voice carried the desperation of someone who had already lost too much.

“Yes,” Maike assured him. “We’ll remain as one group. Twenty should be the perfect number, especially for the coming system event.” Heads nodded in agreement, even Vorlok—who barely fit within the wooden beams of the treehouse they used for meetings—gave a slow rumbling grunt of assent.

Only Thalion’s expression told a different story.

“Well, actually…” he began, only to be cut off at once.

“Wait—what?” Kaldrek blurted. “You want to go off alone?” All eyes turned toward him in shock.

“I simply have things to figure out,” Thalion replied evenly. “That’s easier alone. And this way, you won’t be targeted.”

He didn’t mention the curse. Not here, not now. Some truths were better kept in shadow.

“But what will you do in the system event? It will be so much harder to reach a good position without a group,” Annie asked, still skeptical, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward.

“No,” Thalion replied firmly. “If there’s no good way to stop the elves from finding us and I doubt there is, then we’ll have to part ways. What comes next, I must do alone. But it isn’t forever. You’re all strong, and if you stay focused, we’ll meet again sooner than later. Remember, as long as we don’t get killed, we can live for thousands, perhaps even millions of years. This will just be a small chapter in our long lives.” His words were meant to soothe, though he felt the sting of truth himself. Dark times were approaching, and he knew deep down that solitude was the right path for him now.

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The others would manage. As long as they didn’t stumble upon some hidden powerhouse or a chosen, they should be able to survive. Each was strong in their own right, and together, they were formidable. Annie had a point, though—entering the system event alone was a disadvantage. Still, Thalion would not use his friends or followers as tools to harvest resources for him. Everyone must forge their own path. If he could not secure a place among the highest ranks by his own hand, then he had no business claiming eternity at all.

“These elves are becoming more infuriating by the hour,” Maike sighed, rubbing her temples. “It looks like running is our only hope of survival. Against an alliance that large, we don’t stand a chance—even if we still had our old base.” Her disappointment weighed heavily on the room.

“I’d like to grab those long ears of theirs and pull until they drag on the ground,” Kargul muttered, deadpan. For a heartbeat, silence reigned, then laughter broke out across the table. Even Thalion chuckled, though beneath it he felt the familiar pull of tension. He would miss these lighthearted moments, but the danger loomed ahead like a storm. There was no room for error.

That storm arrived sooner than expected. A young scout burst into the meeting, red-haired and lean, his chest still heaving from the run. His face was furrowed with exhaustion far too old for his years.

“I ran as far as you ordered,” he gasped, “and I found a group moving in our direction. It’s Thorwald.”

The name fell like a stone into the room. Thalion hadn’t seen the brute since the day he pinned him with the umbral predator. Pinned was a polite way of saying it—he would have killed Thorwald outright if not for the man with the light lance who had interrupted. Why would Thorwald come here? Surely he couldn’t still hold a grudge from the early stages of the tutorial? After all, Thorwald had been the one to attack first.

Even Annie looked unsettled. She had heard enough stories about Thorwald during her time with Kael to know the man was no idle threat.

“Wait—Thorwald? How can you be sure? And how do you know he’s heading here? Couldn’t it just be coincidence?” she asked, her tone edged with doubt.

The scout shook his head fiercely. “No, I’m certain. He held a small stone—some kind of spy crystal. It pointed directly at our camp. They’ve marked us. But before I came here, I alerted one of the hunting parties. They should be engaging him even now. I just wanted to bring word as fast as possible.”

“Could a hunting party really bring Thorwald down?” Thalion wondered silently. He had no idea how much the man’s strength had grown since their last clash.

“Was he traveling alone?” Jakob asked, suspicion sharpening his voice. The unease in the room deepened. Too many enemies had already discovered their location—it was becoming maddening.

“No,” the scout admitted. “He was with a group of ten. But don’t worry, the hunters have been warned.”

“How far?” Evelyn asked, her voice calm but cold. “If they’re close, we may still aid them.”

“It took me five hours to get here. The fight must already be over,” the boy answered, convinced the hunters would prevail.

“Thank you. Rest now—you’ve done well. Tomorrow will be difficult,” Maike said, dismissing him gently. The boy left smiling, unaware of the shadow he had brought.

“This is troublesome,” Kaldrek muttered once the door shut. “If Thorwald wins, he’ll return with reinforcements.”

“And why bring only ten?” Maike frowned. “If he planted a tracker here, he must know our numbers.”

Thalion’s jaw tightened. She was right. Something was off. Thorwald’s presence reminded him of another problem. If Thorwald could place a tracker, then surely Kael, Sylas, or Kai could do the same. And unlike Thorwald, they were cunning. Kael especially had every reason to hunt him, bound by both pride and his god’s orders.

“Maybe he’s just an idiot,” Kargul said with a shrug. “Most heavy warriors are. They think they’re unstoppable, until Kargul smashes them once, and then, bonk—gone.”

Thalion allowed himself a small smile, though unease lingered. “Regardless of Thorwald’s reasons, this place is compromised. We have six days until the system event. The elves will likely arrive a day early, to rally their warriors before the hunt begins. Tomorrow, we’ll tell everyone the base must be abandoned. But don’t mention that it’s because of me. If other powerhouses get curious, it will only bring more trouble.” His voice was heavy with resignation.

The room fell into a brooding quiet, broken only when Maike sighed and reached beneath her chair, producing a bundle of bottles. “Then let’s drink. It may be a while before we see Thalion again after the split.”

Kaldrek’s eyes lit up, but his hand was smacked away as Maike scolded, “No more than three for you.”

His sulky, exaggerated pout drew laughter from every corner of the table. The tension eased, if only for a moment. They would likely remain together for a few more days, but no one knew what storms would sweep down before then. Best to share a warm fire and a bottle now, before the horizon turned black.