Another Stupid Isekai

The next couple of days were filled with preparations, upgrades, and casual talks filled with jokes, as we all desperately wished to keep a good mood. All of my friends were visibly getting stronger, by quite a lot, reaching easily beyond my potential from where I first lost to Ixa.

I snatched some crystals for myself too, but kept time in the vault, refraining from spending those. At least for now.

It all was put on hold when The Great One announced that he wishes to speak with us once again. We all ended up gathering in Loistavadvaar.

The fake queen Ixa was already waiting for us. Eyes closed. Levitating in the air and patiently waiting with the long limbs resting along his slim body. It made him look like one of those trees with all the branches reaching up, while the tree trunk is completely naked.

- What do you have for us? - Will asked.

The great opened his eyes and stretched the long hand spreading the fingers wide. The dust from the ground rose, then formed a familiar map, which then transformed further into a flat topography. Split into fragments that clearly were belonging to a different world, but were still linked to everything with those lines, showing the logistical network.

- Hope brought news about the fifth region which allowed us to find the closest path we should take. My researchers also prepared a device that will lead you through this labyrinth. We now know how they map it themselves and this is exactly how it looks - he said, obviously meaning the map he just showed us. - The whole fifth region is split into four sides. To make it easier for you, I\'ll use a familiar concept of the parts of the world. You have North, South, East, and West. In the center layers the capital of the region. The city you need to conquer, and the fruit you need to consume. Each of those four parts is then split into two more, which progress further like a binary tree. Two, four, eight et cetera.

- Ok, but where do we start? - I asked, having enough of the long explanation.

- We start here. In the southern region. It\'s the sixth ring, planet S52J - as he spoke, the map zoomed on the correct planet. - You consume the fruit, then travel through this portal to the fifth ring, planet S27B. Then fourth ring, planet S15C. Then the third ring, planet S7A. Then the second ring, planet S4G. Then the first ring S1J. From there you have a direct connection to your final goal. The capital of the region.

- And after we conquer the capital of the fifth region? - Nil asked.

- Then I\'ll provide you with the strategy to go further. We are still working on that, but rest assured. It will be ready - The Great One responded to him.

- Yeah, hold your horses Sanders. Who knows if we will even be able to get there in the first place? - Hatta asked.

- We will be! - Ki\'rai butted in the conversation. Then she looked at me - Will we?

It put a smile on my face, and I placed my hand on her head since she was right next to me.

- Of course, we will. So far we won all the times. What makes you think we suddenly will stop? - I asked her rising my eyebrows.

- Of course, we will! We will kill them all! Arrr! - She jumped, almost knocking my hand off her head, and after she landed she showed everybody her teeth.

- She is so fucking adorable - Nil pointed out.

- I\'m a hunter! I\'m a warrior! I\'m scary! Not adorable! - she bristled.

- Of course, you are - I told her, then gave Sanders a look so he would back down.

He had to bite his lips not to smile.

- Are you done? - The Great One asked us with a calm voice, bringing our attention back to him.

- Yes, we are - Will responded before anybody else did.

- Back to the plan then. Before you infiltrate from the south region, we will attack from the north at full force. Hopefully, we will drag all their fleets out, and even conquer the first few planets on the outskirts. Right here - he made the map zoom on a completely opposite side, showing us a row of planets. - I\'m hoping we will conquer this part with relative ease, then go after the second one.

He made the map show us the next row of planet split through several districts. They were forming almost a perfect arrowhead.

- If we take those planets, we should be able to build a good defensive line. One strong enough that they won\'t be able to take it back without investing the full force of the region. This means they will bring forces from everywhere, which will leave you with good access from the back - he informed us.

This made a few people smile because he made it sound like a walk through the park for us. Empty planets with low-hanging fruits for the taking. I knew this sounded too good. So did Hatta and Will.

- Your job should be easier if we succeed up till this point, but you will have to still kill the tree guardians. Those are usually the strongest people on the whole planet. They will stay there and protect the sapling or a tree until their last breath. You can expect up to fifty people. The capital will be worse though - he added.

- How much worse? - Hatta asked.

- The capital has a region general protecting the tree. It\'s an ancient being, just like me. He will be definitely stronger than Ixa was - he told us.

- Then I\'ll deal with that guy. You take care of the smaller fries. Just remember, to stay the hell away. Ixa had a crazy range - I told them.

- So where are we starting? - Martin asked.

- Few months. I\'m still gathering my forces - said The Great One. - Use this to get stronger, and more familiar with each other\'s fighting styles.

With those words, he vanished.