At Morley's command base.
"Thank you for your instruction. I can now control my own power."
As Nareth listened to the Pale Nomad's report, he had the space simian begin concocting the Sequence 9 "Sailor" potion, using Siren Stone and other materials.
After Arkhas Fal sent the first batch of Carcharodons to serve as his Honor Guard, he had imdiately noticed the forr Chapter Master of the 19th Legion's Eleventh Chapter, the Pale Nomad.
He knew the future Chief Librarian of the Carcharodons held that title.
Unsurprisingly, he found the man was indeed a powerful Librarian, possessing the two unique psychic abilities he knew the Carcharodons' Librarians used: "Deep Invasion" and "Rending Maw."
Through instruction, he had easily mastered these two abilities, adapting them to his own psychic talents.
These two abilities were special forms of tempestuous psychic powers. "Deep Invasion" was a ntal attack, while "Rending Maw" was similar to telekinesis, altering physical reality.
Recently, he had been studying these two abilities.
He wanted to develop versions suitable for Shadows of Order, allowing the Legion's Librarians to master these two abilities unique to the Carcharodons.
At the very least, he wanted the Tyrant Pathway beyonders of the Ninth Chapter, recruited from ocean worlds, to master them.
Compared to Zahariel's "Fearsight," which only a handful in human history had mastered, "Deep Invasion" and "Rending Maw" were much easier to learn.
After all, most of the Carcharodons' Librarians could skillfully use them.
He also deduced that the Carcharodons had made Pale Nomad the title of their Chief Librarian to honor the creator of these two unique abilities.
He therefore preemptively fixed Pale Nomad as the title of the Carcharodons' Chief Librarian.
"...I offer the captured Qah to You, my Lord." The Pale Nomad concluded.
Nareth nodded with satisfaction. He had no intention of completely changing the Carcharodons' Chapter culture, as long as they followed orders. The Pale Nomad and the other Carcharodons had perford to his satisfaction.
With a turn of his hand, a potion appeared.
"You have proven your loyalty and ability with your actions. This is your reward."
"Drink it. You will gain power."
The Pale Nomad's liquid-black eyes stared at the dark green, viscous liquid. His emotions stirred.
'So this is the power the Shade Lord has gained.'
He reached for the potion and drank. A strong fishy sll hit his nostrils.
He felt as if he were back on Naktis, in the dark, deep sea.
Waves washed over him. Ethereal scales appeared beneath his skin.
He felt the waves in his liquid-black eyes grow more real, more heavy.
His connection to the sea grew stronger.
He reveled in the waves. Cold water washed over him, wave after wave.
His body unconsciously grew stiff, as if frozen. His blood seed to freeze.
"ditate!" The "Majesty" of Lord Nareth echoed in his mind, making him instinctively obey.
He reined in his thoughts. The waves gradually subsided.
Monts later, the newly promoted "Sailor" knelt on one knee.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift. I will do my utmost to carry out Your will."
After the Pale Nomad withdrew, Nareth waited until nightfall, then went to the Kingdom of Disorder.
He sat on his throne and extended his spiritual energy, touching the red-yellow orb of the "Protheus" Tierney.
According to his report, he had prepared for the advancent ritual as instructed.
Touching the orb, he saw Tierney in his Yeld-pattern Dominum Armor.
Unlike its usual black, his armor was now bright red.
His spread wings blazed like a great red bird.
He looked at the Shipmaster, Diana Paulin, her golden hair neatly bound.
"Lady Paulin, have they dread of ?"
The "Dream Stealer's" advancent ritual, as in his mory, required being a significant supporting character or major antagonist in the unconscious dreams of at least thirty people.
There was no ti requirent, but the dreams must be occurring when the potion was consud.
If Tierney had done it alone, he would have had to repeat so morable action to make thirty people dream of him as a significant supporting character or major antagonist.
The "Protheus" had no ability to influence dreams. He could only "steal" ideals and dreams after advancing to "Dream Stealer."
He had sent the "Hypnotist" Diana to assist. Dreams induced by "Psychological Suggestion" would easily et the requirent.
Using another's ability was characteristic of the Error Pathway. Relying on another beyonder's help would not weaken the ritual's effect; it would enhance it.
He watched as Diana's blue-green eyes curiously examined Tierney in the shadows.
"I have enhanced the dreams of fifty-six mbers of House Wolfe. They are dreaming of you."
"Thank you for your help." Tierney placed his hand on his chest, thanking the lady with the standard etiquette of a Terran European noble.
As a "Swindler," he had ingrained noble etiquette into his instincts to execute his carefully crafted perfect deceptions.
Seeing this, he imdiately had the space simian in the first layer concoct the Sequence 5 "Dream Stealer" potion, using the Qah and other materials.
He then saw Diana, of House Paulin, return the salute with crisp, precise movents.
As Tierney straightened, his Yeld armor's red wings spread. He ran, gliding through the air like a great bird.
Shadows of Order on patrol in the hive looked up.
Seeing the friendly yellow rune on their helt displays, they resud searching for remaining xenos.
The Qah invasion had wiped out the hive's defense forces in their sleep. Now, security was entirely in Shadows of Order's hands.
Wind rushed over him. He lightly maneuvered between spires.
Monts later, he folded his wings and landed on a hive tower.
Its owners had been burned to ash in their sleep. It was now the Thieves' temporary base.
He landed on the smooth wall and tapped the window.
The latch popped. With a click, he slipped inside.
He drew his ritual knife and rapidly tapped the floor runes.
After activating the "Euclidian Runes," he began praying to the Black Emperor.
"Black Emperor of Shadow of Order..."
The mont he finished the first verse, wind stirred over the altar. Black mist rose. An ethereal gate opened.
A potion floated down into his outstretched hands.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift."
After thanking the Black Emperor, he examined the potion in his hands.
It was dark and deep, as if it could bind all thought.
He rose, deactivated the runes, and leaped from the tower, flying towards House Wolfe's spire.
The nobles' normally gleaming spire was dark. They did not want to draw the xenos' attention.
He pressed the crystal at his waist. Runes lit up one by one.
His red Yeld armor silently vanished like a firework.
Inside the spire, Viscount Wolfe slept soundly in his incense.
In his dream, a red figure flashed. The barrage from his guards' weapons could not keep up.
It rolled, its arm-mounted laser cutters spinning, slicing open the vault door.
"Useless! Kill him!" The Viscount roared.
He dared not approach, watching his guards open the door.
He craned his neck to look inside. He saw the red figure look back, a golden crown in hand, a mocking smile on its face.
"Fire!" He roared.
As bullets flew, the red figure nimbly slid back, slipping through the cut opening.
"Useless! All useless!" The Viscount raged. His guards, whom he paid handsoly, had let one person waltz in and steal the family's golden crown.
In the spire, fifty-six nobles' minds were haunted by the red nightmare.
For the past five days, the red figure had boldly broken in each day, looting House Wolfe's five vaults.
Every night, they dread of the arrogant red figure.
He was openly provoking House Wolfe, and they were deeply afraid.
The evil thief, who could co and go as he pleased, could take their lives at any mont.
As cold sweat soaked their soft beds, Tierney, perched on the tower, drank the potion.
The dark, deep liquid entered his mouth. He felt his throat constricted. He was suffocating.
As the potion slid down his esophagus, the suffocation grew worse.
His consciousness grew blurry. His face was pale as paper.
Just as he was about to suffocate, countless dark bubbles floated before his eyes.
Images of the nightmare the red thief had left flashed.
The deep suffocation slowly faded.
His thoughts gradually returned. He ditated, reining them in.
Monts later, his pale face regained color.
He breathed a sigh of relief. The newly promoted "Dream Stealer" clasped his hands, fingers pointing downwards.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your protection."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu
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