LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 22: Chapter 23: The seeds of Ascendancy
The Seeds of Ascendancy
The wind howled over the barren hills outside Briarstead County, carrying the scent of decay and war. Jin stood on the edge of a cliff, his cloak billowing behind him, eyes fixed on the distant lights of the county's capital. His mind churned with everything Void God had told him — the vision of realms beyond mortal understanding, the whispers of the Void, and the dark promise of what lay ahead.
It was terrifying. It was exhilarating. And it was a call to action.
The weight of it settled heavily on his shoulders, but Jin welcomed it. If his adopted brother was walking the path of destruction and transcendence, Jin would forge his own path — one of lightning and storm, of ambition tempered by strategy. Together, they would reshape this world.
But first, they needed power. Allies. Resources. And information.
Jin opened his interface, his fingers moving swiftly. Messages flew out — discreet summons to players and NPCs alike. He wasn't looking for just anyone. He needed the best.
"It starts now," he murmured.
---
The inn in Briarstead's outskirts was a dim, smoky place — the kind of den where whispers of rebellion and shadow deals thrived. Perfect for his needs.
Jin sat at a corner table, his back to the wall, watching as his contacts arrived. The first was a woman in black leathers — a rogue with eyes like flint and a reputation for breaking into vaults no one else could touch.
"Ghost Father," she greeted, her voice low. "You're gathering quite a bit of attention."
"Good," Jin replied. "But I'm not here for attention. I'm here for talent. You interested?"
Her smile was sharp. "Depends on the job."
Jin leaned forward. "I'm building something bigger than any guild. We're taking Briarstead. And when we do, the lords who think they own this place will burn."
The rogue's eyes gleamed. "You have my attention."
One down.
---
The next to arrive was a smith — not just any smith, but Kaelor Ironvein, a dwarf whose weapons were whispered about even in the higher realms. Jin had spent a fortune just getting the meeting.
"You'd better not waste my time, lad," Kaelor rumbled, arms crossed.
Jin slid a blueprint across the table — Void God's design for a weapon that shouldn't exist. A spear forged from corrupted heart shards and abyssal steel. Kaelor's eyes widened as he scanned the plans.
"Where in the nine hells did you get this?"
"Does it matter?" Jin asked. "You make it, and you'll be crafting weapons the gods themselves will envy."
The dwarf's grin was slow and dangerous. "I'm in."
Two down.
---
By the night's end, Jin had gathered five experts: the rogue, the smith, a tactician with a history of leading successful sieges, a beastmaster who controlled rare and dangerous creatures, and a spy whose network reached deep into Briarstead's nobility.
It wasn't enough — not yet. But it was a start.
As they sat around the table, Jin laid out the plan.
"Briarstead is rotten," he said. "The rival lords are too busy stabbing each other in the back to see what's coming. We're going to clear out their spies, undermine their power, and when the time's right — we take everything."
The rogue grinned. "And what's our first move, boss?"
Jin's smile was razor-sharp.
"We find the rats."
---
The next day, Jin's network went to work. Information flooded in — names, locations, secret deals. The rival lords had grown complacent, and their agents were sloppy.
By evening, Jin had a list. Twenty known spies. Ten suspected ones.
And one lord with a very dangerous secret.
"Void God," Jin whispered into the communication crystal. "I think we've found our first target."
The storm was coming.