The Extra Wants Control

Chapter 180: Encounters...

The sub-dimension was a vast, unforgiving landscape, filled with hidden dangers and untapped resources. To navigate this treacherous terrain, each faction had established a network of scouts, agile and stealthy individuals tasked with gathering vital information.

In the dwarven fortress, a series of intricate tunnels led to a central observation chamber, where a team of dwarven scouts analyzed incoming data. Information was relayed through a combination of coded signals and visual representations, a system developed meticulously. The dwarves getting information from their scouts who were mainly some elves, humans and some Beastmen.

The elven scouts, with their innate connection to nature, relied on a network of enchanted plants to communicate. These trees, strategically placed throughout the forest, acted as living communication nodes, transmitting information through a complex system of vibrations. And their was a deciphering queen plant at base which Lara had complete control over knowing what is happening and where.

The human scouts, leveraging their technological prowess, had developed a more advanced communication system. Small, wearable devices, equipped with rune encryption, allowed them to transmit and receive information instantaneously. This system, while efficient, was also vulnerable to interception, requiring constant vigilance.

But the range was limited and it was easily affected by magical fluctuations either from beasts, plants or animals as well as the users themselves.

The beastmen scouts, relying on their raw instincts and physical prowess, communicated through a combination of hand signals and coded vocalizations. Their messages were often cryptic and difficult to decipher, but they were also incredibly hard to intercept. Mainly the werewolves were incharge pf scouting.

And then there was the faction led by Zehn.

Their scouts, a mix of humans , used a combination of magic and technology to communicate. They could send messages through the air, using sound waves and heat, or through the earth, utilizing vibrations and seismic waves from the earth users but all this was just bait to lure the others. Theirs was a simple method of searching and getting back to report.

Two days later, a vast network of information began to emerge. The scouts, working tirelessly, gathered data on resource locations, potential threats, and possible activities of rival factions. This information was then relayed back to their respective fortresses, where it was analyzed and used to refine strategies and tactics.

The ability to gather, process, and disseminate information effectively had become a crucial factor in the struggle for survival. It was clear that the factions that could adapt to the changing conditions, that could anticipate their enemies' moves, would be the ones to ultimately prevail.

And as the scouts continued their tireless work, the stage was set for the next phase of the competition – the inevitable clash between the factions.

In the heart of the dwarven fortress, a team of cartographers worked tirelessly, their hands moving with precision as they etched details onto parchment. Surrounded by maps and tools of their trade, they were the eyes of the faction, translating the raw data gathered by the scouts into tangible representations of the area.

Outside the fortress, their knights who were in armor and their mage companions were engaged in a series of skirmishes. The plains, the desert, the mush land, the forests, the mountains and even the coastal areas that were once a peaceful expanse, had become a battleground.

Beasts and other monstrous creatures, driven from their lairs by the encroaching invaders' presence, fought desperately to reclaim their territory.

But they were overwhelmed, with the invader's superior organization and tactical prowess and were slowly but surely being pushed back by the enemy, securing territory for possible future expansion or resources.

There were instances they encountered upper 7 star beasts and this forced the faction leaders or the commanders to move.

As they fought, the cartographers worked. They plotted the locations of enemy encampments, identified potential resource points, and marked areas of strategic importance.

Their maps were not just mere rough representations of the land; they were detailed and constantly updated with new information.

The maps were clearly important and some factions thought they would be given points because of it.

With meticulous care, they made sure to plotted the location on the map, adding symbols to denote the unusual nature of the area. This information would be invaluable to the faction, providing potential opportunities or warning of hidden dangers.

Mountains, rivers, forests, and enemy encampments were all represented, creating a comprehensive picture of the surrounding landscape. With each new piece of information, the map grew more accurate, providing the factions with a crucial advantage in their struggle for survival.

They understood that their work was essential to the faction's success. By providing accurate and up-to-date information, they were helping to shape the future of their factions.

*************

The sub-dimension was a harsh mistress, a place where survival was a daily struggle. Movement across the vast expanse was fraught with danger, the terrain treacherous, and the unseen threats ever-present. Yet, the scouts, a specialized force within each faction, worked well in this hostile environment.

They were the eyes and ears of their people, the ones who ventured into the unknown to bring back vital information. Showing off their training at the academy.

Lara's faction, finally found something. It was one such scout, an elf named Ella, who made the breakthrough.

Deep within the heart of the plains, she stumbled upon signs of intelligent habitation. Trees had been felled, crudely fashioned tools lay scattered on the ground, and there were faint traces of campfires. The absence of wild animals was the most telling sign.

Predators, by their nature, were territorial, and the lack of their presence indicated that another intelligent species had claimed this land as their own.

Her heart pounded with excitement and trepidation. The discovery of another faction was a significant development and one that could get her merit points and elevate her status in the faction. With urgency, she sent a message back to the fortress using her portable plant, her mind racing with possibilities.

Her plant's leaf curved into a cone and it vibrated then she heard, " Good work. Keep updating a squad will make it's way towards you." Lara said.

Ella was filled with pride as she saw the leaves reverting back to normal.

And this was the first encounter in the sub dimension. The elves found the dwarves.

*********

Elsewhere... A scout squad from Axl's faction, stumbled upon a patrol hybrids from Draven's faction. The encounter was swift and brutal, a clash of hate and rage.

One of Axl's scouts, armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows, moved with the silent grace.

He had been trained to observe, to blend into the environment, to strike with deadly precision. But the scout was taken quickly spotted.

The scout, knowing he was outmatched in terms of raw strength, relied on his agility and tactical acumen. He dodged the Draven scout's initial charge, his arrows finding their mark, but doing little to deter the relentless onslaught. But the hybrid scout, driven by a primal rage, closed the distance, his powerful arms reaching out to grapple with his opponent.

The ensuing struggle was a blur of motion, a ballet of violence played out against the backdrop of the unforgiving wilderness. The human, fighting for survival, used his superior intellect to outmaneuver his opponent, while the hybrids, fueled by raw aggression, relied on brute force. In the end, it was the Draven's faction overwhelming strength that proved decisive.

Axl's scouts, despite their valiant efforts to even run, were overpowered. Bound and gagged, he was dragged back to the Draven fortress, they were captives in a war that had barely begun. The encounter had been brief, brutal, and filled with a raw intensity that mirrored the harsh realities of the sub-dimension.

They could've killed the enemy scouts but Draven ordered not to kill. They could be used to locate the rival factions and they heeded. Normally the hate between the dragons and the hybrids was too much for them reason but they respected their leader too much.

The Draven faction, having captured a scout from a rival faction, wanted to gain valuable intelligence. The location of Axl's faction, possible resources around the area and what they had discovered. They would also take their maps, if they had any on them, for comparison and compiling.

******************

Elsewhere some scouts noticed a column of smoke rose into the clear sky. To the scouts of Azrael's faction, it was a beacon, a signal that something was amiss. This smoke was definitely an anomaly meaning there was activity in that area.