Chapter 1478: Immortal Proposal
Tired of waiting for the ones who knew Karl to finish talking, two of the strangers casually approached the two newly advanced Immortals.
One of them was the man that clearly smelled of Divinity, but his power level didn't seem to match the scent that he gave off to Karl's beast enhanced senses.
It was more like he was coated in Divinity than that he was actually divine.
"Welcome to the Immortal Realm, young Ascendant. You have made most excellent progress in your journey, I can tell by the youthfulness of your soul." The man declared.
"Thank you, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to come witness my tribulation." Karl replied carefully, not quite sure what to make of this odd man.
Nothing about him seemed to add up, and even Cara wasn't eager to anger him.
Taste test him, yes. But not anger him.
"I know that you are surely frazzled from the advancement, but tradition dictates that you choose right now whether you will cripple your progress and remain in this world, or come with us to the Immortal Worlds." The man continued.
Karl turned to Dakkarain, who nodded. "It's not an exile. Not exactly. But if you choose to stay here, you will have to start your journey to the Immortal Worlds entirely without guidance from a local, while if you do go today, your welcome back to your home nation only depends on your relationship with the local leaders."
"So, a test of quick thinking, is it? I can understand the need to stress test new Immortals to see what they're made of." Karl replied.
The man smiled. "You are an interesting pair, I will give you that much. The one called Dana said that she would be doing whatever you chose, and your first instinct isn't to panic, but to buy time to think and communicate with casual conversation."
"I will take that as a compliment. What sort of place is it that you're taking us to if we agree to leave for the Immortal Worlds with your assistance? Not that I have any particular objections to the idea, but if the offer isn't something that will work for me, I do have a few other options."
"Options?" The other strange Immortal asked.
"Fellow Darklight Host members. I could apply for a transfer to one of their branches."
The Immortal nodded. "Interesting. Yes, the Darklight Host is active on many worlds, as I recall. However, a transfer for a newly advanced Immortal that they haven't ever met?
That's a fairly large request from a Guild Master."
Karl shrugged, unconcerned. They had been at his wedding, surely they would not be too upset about him requesting a transfer.
The first Immortal smiled, and the Divine Energy on him seemed to increase for an instant.
"The world I have in mind is one where your Guild is active, actually. It is a private Realm, a form of pocket dimension, not a planetary body as part of a solar system.
The conditions there are quiet, and the challenge level is low for a new Immortal adapting to their status."
Karl nodded. "Which implies that our status will be quite low."
"Mortals who have just achieved Immortality, and who are not born citizens of the Immortal Worlds are considered the lowest of the low in society until they have at least managed to form their Immortal Spirit and reach the first actual Rank of Immortality."
"So, we're considered something like commoners?" Karl asked.
The man nodded. "Until you advance, you are not considered to be cultivators in the Immortal Worlds, you are the equivalent of Common Rank humans or beasts in this world."
"Presumably with equivalent rights to the beasts." Dana muttered under her breath.
The Immortal looked mildly offended. "Of course not. That is the status that Mortals in the Immortal Realms have. You are at least Immortals, with basic sentient rights.
At least on the world that I plan to bring you to."
Dana nodded. She had gathered some information on Immortal Realm politics on her own, and understood that they were very much under the control of the greater beings who ruled them. The laws could be vastly different, and could change immediately if the leader was replaced after losing a battle or wager.
She nodded to Karl, who extended his hand to the Immortal.
"In that case, we will take you up on the offer, and we will come to train in your world before returning to our own in the future." He insisted.
The Immortal smiled. He liked that level of confidence, but the life expectancy of a new Immortal was not high. Especially if they were older and used to having power and prestige in their home world.
Arriving as the lowest of the low, beneath even the minimum wage workers who had some job training, the first few years could be rough on Immortals.
Especially ones from worlds like this that didn't have regular contact with the Realms.
"You have made a wise choice. I will open the portal now. Do either of you have the skill to open inter dimensional portals?" He asked.
Both Karl and Dana nodded. "Yes, though with some limitations."
"Perfect. Then you won't have to plead for assistance when you want to come back and visit. Such requests can get quite expensive, if there isn't anyone else from your home world available to assist with the portal."
Going to protected Mortal Realm worlds was not easy, especially if you had never been there before.
And the residents of the Immortal Realms were not known for charity, generosity or owing favours if they could avoid it. So, it was not only unlikely that they would send you back for a reasonable price, but it was also unlikely that they would allow themselves to be put in a position where they owed a debt that could be traded for it.
At least, not willingly. There were plenty of gamblers and poor decision makers among the Immortals, but most of them did not have the power to do much of anything.
Advancing as an Immortal took discipline, and a lifetime of debauchery would kill the potential.
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