By the time that they arrived back at the Clan, things were actually starting to

look a bit better.

The Clan Members had been cleaning, and repairs had started. The members had turned that into a form of front street festival, with everyone either grilling food, working on repairs or watching the children as they rested after one of the two.

Ikan was shocked by the community spirit of the New Home Merchant Clan, even after taking such heavy damage.

Even in victory, that level of damage would normally see a Clan lose membership.

The culture of the Immortal Worlds was strongly opportunist. If you didn't have what they needed at the very moment that they realized they wanted it, they would start looking elsewhere.

And that meant few had the patience for the rebuilding.

"Is that everyone safely back at the Clan?" Nerissa asked as she counted the Elders.

"We only left Rae and Opal behind, but they can find their own way back from the Templars compound." Karl agreed.

"Are you certain? Why did they remain behind? There was nothing left, and I won't approve of letting the spider eat the survivors."

Karl laughed. "That's not it. You see, being a Blood Destruction spider, her advancement process is strongly dependent on the vital essence of blood at or above her Rank. Her battle in the Templars compound nearly filled a swimming pool with it, and she's taking a little swim to absorb the energy before she returns."

Allie shuddered, while Merrick simply shrugged.

"That's somehow both incredibly disturbing and erotic at the same time," the Legendary black dragon noted.

The Elf gave him a concerned look. "See, this is why we worry about you." Yewan flapped over from the dragon's shoulder to land in her arms.

"Why are you worried about him? Auntie Rae is very nice. She taught me all sorts of things about how to properly use my claws when I first hatched." "That was very kind of her," the Legend agreed.

He had done what he could to put the little one back on the right path, and perhaps steered him away from attempting to bond with the Pet Master in a more permanent way. But it was clear that he really had been too late.

That one was never going to be normal.

Perhaps it might not be in the worst way, though. The Darklight Host members were never quite normal, and the curiosity might actually help the little black dragon grow up into a strong and well-rounded member of the species.

"We should be getting back home as well. If I stay here much longer, it will begin to raise questions, even with my aura suppressed," Merrick sighed. Allie nodded. "Indeed. I skipped the dungeon run, but I've got so many other things to do, and everyone is going to be excited to find out that there is another world with a Darklight Host presence, even if there isn't an official branch here yet.

Give it time, and I'm sure there will be. Then we can come visit freely."

Clan Leader Nerissa could only imagine the horrors that would come when a bunch of random Supreme Ranked Guild members started to drop by for tea.

The Darklight Host didn't seem like the sort to simply sit around and socialize, they would want to go out and do things, and that would throw off the whole power balance of a region where none of the Supremes were actually capable of holding a civil conversation, much less working together.

Honestly, that was their own fault.

They had spent too long letting their egos get in the way, rarely moving around after they reached Supreme Rank, so they had settled into a stalemate of rivalry and stopped coordinating to try to push themselves all ahead.

In retrospect, letting them start showing up once Karl reached Supreme Rank,

or Peak Immortal, might actually be good for the New Home Clan.

It would push everyone to better themselves, and from what she could tell, these Guild members actually had some confidence in helping Immortals advance. That prospect alone was enough to get her excited.

If New Home had a second Supreme, she wouldn't have to deal with every inter Clan issue herself.

There were a few of the Elders who were very close already, but her guidance hadn't been able to help them past the bottleneck. If they could make an alliance with the Darklight Host's other branches, that might not remain the case for too much longer.

Just thinking about it was glorious.

But her musing was interrupted by Merrick opening a portal that led to another Immortal world.

"It really is time for us to go. Branch leader Karl, it's been a pleasure to meet you, Dana, Nerissa, likewise," the dragon announced, then handed Yewan to Karl and simply walked away.

"{I guess it got too people-y out for him. He hides it pretty good, but being around people is a lot of work.}" Yewan decided, then yawned.

Allie smiled at the little dragon, who equated a hatchling's constant need for sleep with being around people. But he wasn't completely wrong. Merrick didn't like being around people for long periods of time.

Especially if they asked him questions.

The only reason that he had put up with it at all was because it was a hatchling black dragon, and he had either a genetic or divine imperative to educate the

little one.

Without that, he would have smashed the Templars compound and left three minutes after the battle started.

"Have a good day, and I'm sure that I will see you sooner or later. Don't forget that you can message us now if you have questions."

Allie rushed through the portal, while Merrick glared at her for the delay.

Yewan waved goodbye, and then they were alone, left with the aftermath of the

battle and a lot of repair work to do. With all the Elders just returning, a lot of

the work was yet to start.

People fixed things that were obvious if they had the skills. But the Elders would have to organize most of the repairs.