It had taken Luis a few hours to reach the Advanced Tier. Noah had left the room after Luis reached the new tier, allowing him to rest and get some sleep because the last few days had been busy.
Noah was currently outside of the house, sitting on the edge of the beach, looking at the city view. Noah was still thinking about the meeting that had happened a few hours ago, below in the secret chamber under the city.
The meeting was a few hours long, but the main agenda didn't take long to discuss, it was just the final details that took longer.
Noah passed through many barriers and corridors to the meeting room. The passages all glowed because of the barrier placed on them. There were no guards, all the barriers opened up as Anara went through them.
Eventually, they reached the bottom, a big, round hall carved deep underground. At the center of it was a flat stone table, and a few wooden chairs seemingly came out of the ground around the table.
On the end opposite of the entrance to the hall was the Xoliti clan deity, sat on the ground, its figure blurred by one of its blessings.
From the Phoenix clan, Noah, Isabella, Bane, and Sera sat down on the chairs.
From the Xoliti clan, Anara, Revan, and Vaerin sat down on the chairs.
Vaerin was the new person who joined them. Noah had heard about him before, he was the one who managed the resources in the Xoliti clan.
Vaerin also wasted no time in starting the meeting.
"I'll speak honestly, and the Xoliti clan doesn't have enough resources to keep the Phoenix clan here for long."
The air in the room shifted at his words, tension hanging in the air.
"There aren't enough resources to feed the people or to make pendants to hide the Phoenix clan. Tracking the Black Talons' movements lately takes a lot of resources. And if the Phoenix clan is tracked," he said, taking a pause and looking at Bane, "back here we won't be able to survive, not against four empires. We don't have enough strength."
There wasn't any malice in his voice when he said that, he was just stating the reality of the situation.
Vaerin then contributed. "We can hide a small number of people, the injured, elderly, and children, but the rest of the Phoenix clan will have to relocate soon.
Bane replied calmly, "We understand that it is not possible for the entirety of the Phoenix clan to be able to live here."
Banes's voice became more resonant as he kept speaking. "But I don't believe we need to anymore. A lot of time has passed since the Phoenix clan scattered. During this short time of peace, we have been able to rest, been able to grow stronger, reach higher tiers."
Taking a pause, he continued. "There is no point in hiding or running away forever now. The Black Talons' tracking methods have gotten better. We cannot relocate to another place in hiding, and we cannot spread out. We need to go somewhere where no one will follow us, and we need to build a new base."
There is only one place I know of where we can stay The Great Storm of Karethrall.
Revan's eyes narrowed. Anara raised an eyebrow. Even the Alicorn who had not said anything yet stirred a bit at the mention of the name.
"That storm is unlivable, it's filled with powerful creatures, and it has no land in which you can live in." Anara commented.
"That is why it is a good place to live in," Bane replied.
Bane then described the storm in full detail.
Selvarra is a continent covered fully in snow. In the heart of the continent, a storm raged. It was not a typical storm. It was different and massive.
The inside feels like a new realm. The land inside is larger than some empires. The air inside is full of aura. It messes with your perception and blessings, and most importantly, Bane mentioned that it stops blessings from outside from reaching anything inside.
Bane admitted that there was no agricultural land, but for that, you could find some creatures who gave the proper blessing. There is a place for a settlement at one spo,t he said. "The middle of the storm, there is light, it is the only place with light and it's the side of the Xoliti clan Headquarters. There, the Phoenix clan can build a settlement. There's just one thing we need to take care of it's all the high and middle-tier creatures in the storm. There is nothing weaker than them.
Isabella spoke next, her voice firm. "Then we are walking into a death trap. How are we supposed to keep families safe against so many strong creatures?"
"It is true that there might be casualties. But how long are we going to keep running? Are we just going to wait for them to find every hideout? We will end up scattered again. We need a place of our own, somewhere where we can group up, and no one will follow."
Noah then commented, "We don't need to send everyone there at once. We can send in a few expeditions. Clear out an area to settle down in, and then slowly move in the rest. We can set up barriers there as well."
Then, the Alicorn spoke. It didn't speak out loud but directly in everyone's mind. "The last time I went in the storm. I saw four unclassified tier creatures wagging a war. It also seemed like they all were empowered by the storm."
"But if you are able to succeed and make a safe heaven there. It will be one of the most secure and untraceable fortresses."
"There are rare minerals there, aura filler plants, and resources not found anywhere else. Eliminating the beasts there is not necessary, diplomacy might be possible. I can go with you on the expeditions."
Revan nodded and spoke. "The Xoliti clan can fully support the settlement's building. We can find creatures whose blessing can help crops grow in the soil. And we can make a barrier that can protect you against the cold winds of the storm."
Anara spoke. "While that is happening, the Phoenix clan can stay here. Many people in the clan still remember the help with the Mad Dragon. And our people have been raised knowing the ties between our deities and clans."
"But goodwill doesn't stay in the minds of people for long. We have at minimum three months before people start questioning why we are still supporting the Phoenix clan."
The Alicorn's voice sounded again, a bit solemn. "I will help the Phoenix clan to the best of my abilities, but not if it means the destruction of the Xoliti clan."
Isabella then replied, bowing her head, "That is more than enough help. We are grateful for everything you have done."
Then the Alicon's voice became a bit heavier.
"There is another concern. The host of the Phoenix cannot go in the storm. He has the essence of the Phoenix, maybe not at first, but the unclassified creatures there will realise what is in him. They will want to absorb the essence. The Host has to stay here."
"He is still weak," the Alicorn added. Leave him here, his family could stay with him, but not too many people."
Noah felt all eyes in the room turn to him.
"There is still time before we start the expeditions. I'll think about it in the meantime."
Now, hours later, that was still all he could think about.
........
Creatures
Low Tier
Low Tier Rank 1
Low Tier Rank 2
Low Tier Rank 3
Middle Tier
Middle Tier Rank 1
Middle Tier Rank 2
Middle Tier Rank 3
High Tier
High Tier Rank 1
High Tier Rank 2
High Tier Rank 3
Unclassified Tier