From Toqlan, Jod, and the orcs alike, Mafu had learned of the system's two gates. Level 50 was the first gate, where your choice would set you upon a certain path. You would get choices, much like the choice I picked at level 10 when I got my fungal pool.
The fungal pool was now how I got skills. By researching in it, skills and new systems could be opened up. With Athena on the case, it was going smoothly. Skills among the orcs and refugees were obtained by effort. If you swung a sword 1000 times, you might get the skills [Basic Slash] and [Basic Swordsmanship]. If you were not talented enough for the sword, you might have to swing it 10,000 times or 100,000 times for the same skills to manifest.
What mattered was not exactly how you did it, as long as you put a certain amount of "effort" into it. Mafus [Fungal Pool] intercepted this system and made it so that any effort made outside of the pool did not matter as much. In return, it was easier to gain skills using the pool.
The dungeon series of skills had been enough of an effort to escape the debuff to skill gain speed that the pool put on Mafu. One could say that the pool was more or less Mafu's class. For example, Oran had become an [Archer] at level 10, a [Deepwoods Hunter] at level 50, and a [Greatbeast Hunter] at level 100.
Now Mafu was level 50 and was facing the long-awaited choices.
[The Wanderer] Gain the option of creating an avatar to replace your central mushroom. It will inherit all the powers and stats of the territory, focusing them into one being. The avatar moves slowly and can spread mycelium and use any powers obtained by you. The avatar will inherit your will and can move on its own when not controlled directly. If the avatar dies, it will be resurrected using the rules of your central mushroom's resurrection.
[Dungeon Creator] Any dungeons you create will have their management systems fully unlocked. Mana efficiency of dungeons greatly increased. Rare materials, ores, and monsters may spawn in your dungeons. Hides both the Mycelium Heart and the central mushroom inside their own dungeons. Creates strong guards in the dungeons, hiding your soul free of cost.
[Mushroom Kingdom] Your territory will grant some portion of the buffs attained by the chosen King to anyone living under his rule. Your mycelium will spread at a faster rate and is reinforced to be stronger and tougher. Any mushroom spawned, and to be spawned, is automatically upgraded to rank 2 for free. Mana efficiency for skills related to mushrooms or mycelium is greatly increased. The decomposition of biological material is easier, and you can gain materials out of what is decomposed.
Mafu had looked at the different paths ahead of him for hours already. It was a difficult choice, especially since these choices would influence what choices would be available once he got to the second gate at level 100.
Mafu had no doubt that he would be able to get to level 100. Unless the experience needed steeply increased, he would eventually get there. Unless he was killed by the Hollow. But one cannot plan for failure and hope to grow.
[The Wanderer] at first seemed tempting. But it focused Mafu's power into one entity, which Mafu thought would be a weakness. Right now, with the territory spanning quite far, he could reinforce and use his powers across it nearly instantaneously. With the Avatar, he'd have a slow but powerful single individual, and that role was more or less filled by Jod for now.
[Dungeon Creator] would help a lot. The Orcs would clear dungeons and gain materials and ores, and the start of the industry of weapons, clothes, and armor would be simplified. The added benefit of hiding his soul was also tempting.
But dungeons could be raided by enemies. Nothing stopped a being stronger than himself from running through his dungeons and laying waste to his soul. It was a false security against the strong. If the spawned guards were the same level as him, they'd be trash before anyone above level 100. Oran could kill anyone at his level in one shot if he ambushed them. So any assassin would easily slip into the dungeons and kill Mafu.
Therefore the only choice is [Mushroom Kingdom]. Strange, Mafu thought he already technically had a kingdom in the system. Jod was considered a king after all. But technically the system had always described it as a "territory." That was a vague choice of words.
The rank-up of the mushrooms in itself would defend against weaker foes. And growing the territory faster would gain Mafu more experience faster, closing in on level 100 faster. It would help the subordinates of Jod become stronger the more he leveled, and having his mycelium reinforced tempted Mafu greatly.
And general mana efficiency, plus the growth speed of mycelium, is honestly the only thing holding Mafu back. If he could do more of what he was already doing, but better and faster. The goal of killing the Hollow would not be far away.
After several hours of contemplating, Mafu chose [Mushroom Kingdom], and instantly, all mushrooms seemed to have gotten cleaner, slightly bigger, and more vibrant in color. Mafu felt the mycelium more clearly and felt he could truly move it as he wanted for once.
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It was like he had been stung by many bees at the same time.
Jod felt something happening to Mafu and went outside the camp to look at the territory. The mushrooms grew a bit and became more vibrant. Jod felt through his connection how that unnerving feeling was getting stronger.
He could now feel the earth itself through Mafu. He felt it chafe his skin across the entire territory. Jod knew that this feeling on his skin was Mafu's sense of his mycelium, but he could still not quite get used to the feeling.
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He sat down, as he was becoming a bit dizzy. He looked inside of Mafu's mind and learned what choice he had made. [Mushroom Kingdom].
Mafu had talked with Jod before making the choice, a couple of hours ago, and bounced his thoughts around with Jod. Jod knew now that he was the linchpin in Mafu's choice.
In order to use the new power Mafu had gained, Jod would have to level up and become stronger. Without Jod being strong, the people in the kingdom would not gain any substantial strength. Jod and Mafu would also have to convince the orcs to swear allegiance now, rather than after the Hollow was killed.
Without the orcs, the subordinates of the kingdom were pitifully few. To upgrade his [Royal Blood], more subordinates were needed.
Jod sighed and started walking towards the councilmembers' tent. He greeted the two orc guardsmen standing outside the tent.
"Good evening, I'd like to meet with the council." Jod got straight to the point; even without Jod's connection to Mafu, the orcs would have felt and seen the change in Mafu. Therefore, the council should have already gathered.
One of the guards went inside the tent, and soon Jod was invited in.
Farseer Telim did not waste words and asked:
"The mushroom has gained power. So, I ask, "In what way?" In a curt but not rude way.
"He entered the first gate and chose to focus on the territory and me as a king. My subordinates now become stronger the stronger I become. And Mafu's mycelium gained strength, as did his mushrooms."
The council quickly spoke amongst themselves; having worked together for decades already, they already had a grasp of what each of the others were thinking. But making things clear amongst the council was always a rule Telim especially followed.
Warchief Parek was more of a hothead who did not put much faith in detailed plans, but he also made sure to check with his colleagues in matters of great importance.
Telim continued:
"What, if any, benefits can be obtained by orcs?" His eyes shone with a bit of greed. Jod understood the greed for power; he had fought one big battle against the Hollow and felt the despair of it. The orcs had fought for generations upon generations.
"None." Jod said, and the council's eyes lost their flame. They leaned back in their chairs and sank down into their seats slightly. Then Jod continued:
"At least, none if you do not join us and become my subordinates. It is why I am here to discuss with you. With the orcs in my kingdom, I get stronger. Therefore the orcs get stronger." Jod paused and was astonished that he could say "my kingdom" with a straight face. "When I say 'my kingdom,' it should be understood that Mafu is not like any other kingdom."
Jod had to think through how to phrase things to the council. He knew that subordination to anyone was not the will of most people. And the orcs were hierarchal, with strong wills.
"I rule this kingdom according to the system, but Mafu is always present. It is a kingdom that has a will of its own. We talked before of how you would bend the knee after the Hollow was defeated. Now it is necessary to bend the knee before that day comes."
The council looked at Jod without revealing their emotions. They had respect for Jod. He had fought during the entire Hollow raid on the frontlines. Even though he had the strength, he never backed down and took attacks with his body that were aimed at his allies.
But this was not the deal they had made with the mushroom.
Warchief Parek leaned forward and said,
"What does the mushroom want?" Although he was a hothead, he was not unintelligent. Tying their cause to a kingdom with its own will could only be done if they agreed with the will itself.
Mafu joined the conversation, with telepathy heard by both the council and Jod:
"You do not have to be weary, Parek. My will is simply to grow. I want to encompass the world with my mycelium and have all sorts of different people live on it. At least for this world." Mafu paused, as the council looked a bit dizzy. Mafu realized the feeling Jod found unnerving was affecting them. He tried "not feeling" his mycelium.
For the first time he could shut it off. He no longer felt it all and felt incredibly lonely. It was almost as if he was blind and deaf, and darkness existed all around him. This was probably because of his power-up at level 50.
He contacted the Council again:
"I was summoned by a goddess, Omnia, as a challenger. My mission in the human world is therefore to overthrow the empire there and bring Omnia out of exile. While I would like the orcs' help, if you wish it, you can stay in your world while still being subordinates of the kingdom. This, I promise you."
Mafu let the council think about his words a bit and then continued:
"If you fear that I will break the agreement of killing the Hollow, do not fret. At this point, relocating myself is impossible. I would lose all I have gained since coming to your world. I have therefore staked my life and the lives of the humans and beast-kin on the extermination of the Hollow. I cannot leave."
Mafu then only talked to Jod:
"Jod, you can give noble titles, I assume? You are a king after all. In that case, make the three councilors Dukes. Have them be almost at the level of the king, and give them all the land the orcs have as their territory. If they can order the mushroom soldiers on their own turf, that might make them more comfortable."
Jod explained it to the councilors, and they discussed amongst themselves again.
Parek: "Doesn't seem too bad. We need the strength, and we've trusted them as allies all this time anyway."
Telim nodded, but Bulok looked worried:
"This is not in the stories. It is new ground; nothing in our history tells us of territories, let alone a territory with a will. It unnerves me, even if we get to decide our own affairs." Bulok was the most conservative of the council, a needed role to keep the orcs from making hasty decisions.
"Bulok, I agree with you. But what is the alternative? Are we to continue to fight and die until another opportunity to break out of these shackles arrives? I know a warrior when I see one, and Jod is one. He would not bind us with tricks." Parek countered.
Telim entered the conversation and ended the discussion with his words:
"We might find a way out of being the mushrooms' subordinates if we find it unbearable. So the question is: Die for a thousand more years, or serve for a thousand years. I choose the latter."
The council sat back in their chairs, and then Telim said:
"We agree to becoming your subordinates, and we three will be the Dukes of the orcs with our land preserved. After the defeat of the Hollow, we will see where we stand in regard to your otherworldly mission."
Jod felt his nervousness recede and stood up. He then said out loud:
"I name thee, Parek, a duke of my kingdom." A light appeared swirling around Jod; it was pale blue. His eyes yet again shone with the cold light of the moon. The light swirled over toward Parek and seemed to be absorbed by his body.
Jod continued with Telim and Bulok, and the same phenomenon happened. Afterwards Parek spoke up with a hearty smile:
"Look at that, I gained a skill. I am already stronger; what did I tell you, Bulok?" he said as he patted the back of Bulok roughly and laughed.
Which choice would you have made?
