‘I’d like to know how directly you’ll be controlling business in your city and your cavern, and further what you hope to make your city into. Can you explain these topics?’
I let the words sink in, and slowly formulate a response. Essentially, he’s asking a painfully astute question, wanting to know exactly what sort of city I’ll be building, from the politics to the business.
“I don’t directly control business in my cavern.” I say, “I let the experts pursue matters on their own and support them as they need it, all with as little interference as can be afforded. I do need to step in when there’s disputes or someone causes trouble, but there’s been rather little of that so far.”
This isn’t due to some grand political ideal of mine, though I do like to let people be as free as possible, it’s simply pragmatic more than anything else. I simply don’t have the expertise or command structure to control people in an authoritarian fashion. Any attempt at controlling the farmers, telling them what to farm, how to farm, and what lands to use, would be coming from a position of complete ignorance. There’s nothing more dangerous than an ignorant dictator, forcing farmers to follow bad directions.
If I had a team of perfect experts who knew better than anyone else how farming in our cavern should work, then I’d likely listen to their wisdom. I do not have that however, and letting each farmer succeed or fail on their own merits is the best option for us. The same holds true for the crafters, hunters, builders, and everyone else.
“I’m ensuring that people are protected from beasts, and from each other, while they’re free to pursue their own goals and careers.” I say, to the gathered crowd. They burst with curiosity, but while they don’t take it negatively, they aren’t particularly positive either.
“I intend to build an empire where this balance of freedom and safety is assured, while giving my people as much opportunity as possible.” I explain my goals at their simplest. “As such, my people will build everything worth building. Farms, smithies, textile factories, and everything else.”
That doesn’t seem to impress the crowd, matter of fact many of them turn warm smiles down towards me pityingly. It’s a little shocking. I was expecting booing or jeering, not this.
As if to free us of this growing tension, the man who asked the first question follows up quickly.
“So do you intend on building all of this in your cavern alone, or are you going to seize more lands?”
“We’re going to expand and grow.” I reply easily. “I have no specific plans in regards to this cavern, or any of the other factions locally, but we have ambitions on developing space magic to expand out into the wider universe. There are many realms, and in them, many worlds that we can make use of.”
Interest wanes quickly, and I can see that they expect failure on my part. That’s fine. I’d think the same in their positions, but their questions do make me question myself more than I usually want to.
What are my ultimate goals? What do I really want at the end of all this?
I don’t really know, and that’s not good for any of us.
The guild heads quickly turn conversation towards trade goods, what we develop and have in excess, and what is in demand among our people. There’s a little curiosity when Nel brings up the topic of mana waste. Essentially the worthless trash that still contains residual mana within, something that is difficult to tap into for everyone but me.
“Have you discovered a mana redistributor?” One of the younger members asks.
“A mana redistributor?”
“A machine that can refine mana from the atmosphere, or trash, and compress it into a mana storage vessel.” An older woman explains. “They’re incredibly valuable, if you have one.”
“We don’t.” I reply easily, turning to Nel. “Though it might be a good idea to get something like that.”
“Yes, I’ll add it to a long growing list.” She replies dryly.
“Then…?”
“We have another means of achieving the same ends.” I explain, and Nel lifts up one of our mana shards. “We’re developing our own mana currency, and we appreciate cheap sources of mana.”
They curiously look over the shards that Nel hands out as samples. It seems that they’re impressed with what they see, and they should be. Ria does good enchanting work, even if she is just a student.
“It seems that we can arrange for some of our associates to visit your city.” One of the older members says, inspecting the little shard. “They should be open to trade with you, they’re from one of the wild caverns where the monarchy’s rules aren’t so well enforced.”
“I would encourage you all to follow the noble ruling on the Empress to the intent rather than the letter.” One particularly stern guild leader says, rising from their seat. The others show respect in nods or bows, but I get the feeling that this view is shared only by a minority here.
So, we trade through a third party and everything is fine then? Is it really that simple?
I suppose there might be more to it that they’re not talking about, there’s no real reason to let us know exactly their schemes. So long as merchants visit our city, to buy and sell, that’s all the details I really need to know.
The meeting grows slowly more casual after that, and the guild leaders all seem rather cheerful, even their disagreements are either respectful or friendly. I guess that with such a large council out here in the relative wilds, they can’t afford to get bogged down by politics, whether within their group, or surrounding it.
We move from the stage and another group moves up instead. Their purpose here, to ask for support for the local arts, and they show their works as evidence of their value. After them is a group of farmers talking about expanding the farmland in the cavern and getting support and funding for the plan.
It’s enlightening to watch, and the guild heads all seem rather competent, though they don’t all agree on issues brought up. More than anything, it shows us just how much our own culture has to develop before we’ve found systems like this to help us deal with the minutia of day-to-day issues.
Freeing ourselves from the guild leaders and their little shows, I lean against the wall outside and take in the murals not yet made. Where the influential people and events are depicted and written of deeper into the guild house, the blank walls here describe a future not yet seen.
What is my goal, ultimately speaking? Where am I going, and where will my story end? Will it ever end? Can I ever feel satisfied? Will I ever feel safe.
Vii’s predictions, visions of the future, have proven to me what I can become, an Empress worthy of history books. Yet, that’s not what I am, and it’s not my goal.
I don’t want an empire, and I don’t want to rule, though it can be fun and satisfying at times. It warms my heart to have others look towards me for an answer, and for leadership. It’s still not what I want, nor what I’m after.
So, what do I want?
My heart beats out of its cage for a moment as I lose my calm. My mind reach the thoughts that I’ve been trying to hide away, and this time I don’t look away.
“Kyra?” Nel’s by my side, as always, as she ever will be. Her grip is tight, pulling me back to the present but I bring some of those same nightmares back with me. The thousand futures where this ends badly, the futures where I’m too weak.
I don’t want to be scared anymore.
That’s my goal. That’s the reason I’m trying to get stronger, but only worse villains show up for my efforts. I feel like Sisyphus, getting stronger just to face more dangerous enemies. That’s the future I’m racing towards.
“This place. Frey. Arduelle. They’ve been here for longer than we can ever even imagine. If there’s ever been a hole where a person can hide for eternity, it would have to be here, right?” I ask Nel, my mind racing for solutions to the fear still bubbling inside.
“I suppose, why do you ask?” Nel says, leaning in close to me.
“We’ll never be safe.” I say. I know it. I said it to her not so long ago. I thought that I could accept it, but it’s eating away at me, as well. The reason I’m ever reaching, the reason that I would conquer this new monarchy that I’m only just finding out about, and the republic, whatever that even is, is all to establish myself as powerful, as unassailable, as untouchable. To find some small measure of safety in that.
That’s my terrible goal. That’s what drives me. That’s all that I really want. A home where I can live happily, freely, and safely, where no one can hurt me or my loved ones.
An impossibility.
Unless I can find the power to take the role of a god, then I’ll have to settle for something less.
“Do you think it’d be okay to just become the most powerful person here in this dungeon. To hide here for eternity.”
“If that’s what you want.” Nel replies, smiling easily as she presses a hand against my side.
I never thought myself so delicate before. It seems that even I’ve managed to fall for my own bluffs. The strength that I show to protect myself from enemies that would hound me at the slightest show of weakness.
This is a better goal. It’s something within reach. Being strong enough to deal with any beast or threat within Frey, then support her in keeping hidden. It’ll grant me a good future, and there’s a reasonable peace to be found here. Frey is a nice young dungeon, and I’m sure I can come to terms with her being more powerful them myself.
“We can use space magic to gather resources, but hide here, away from all the most terrible threats this universe has to offer.” I say, feeling the earth firm beneath my feet.
It’s nice to have a proper goal again, one with an end, and something we can achieve.
“Then you’ll want to overthrow the factions down here? Deal with the assassins, and grow stronger, right?” Arduelle asks, flashing into existence beside us. “You’re still going to pursue strength, no?”
“Maybe.” I reply, sighing as I press my back against the stone. My mind races back to those first days off of Earth. I promised myself to become strong enough that even the natural laws of the universe, and evolution would twist under my power. Survival of the fittest, a slaughter that I’d rather not permit.
I’d need to become a god to achieve that on any wide scale, but at the very least, I can protect my people.
“I’ll become strong enough to protect the ones that I love.” I say. “To give people a good life here. I think… that would be enough.”
It’s like a heavy burden slipping from my shoulders, but while it’s relieving, I also feel like I’m on the verge of giving something up.
“I’m sorry to interfere when you seem to be making some grand character development, but I really must say something about that.” Arduelle says, and surprisingly Frey’s own fake body shows up by her side, as well.
“What is it?” I ask, taking a step back. Even with all the power I’ve gained, I’m but an ant before these two.
“Frey is not some closet for you to hide within.” Arduelle says. “Perhaps I should have brought up these particulars sooner, but I’ll remind you that we’re helping you for a reason.”
“You want someone dead. I remember.” I reply, shaking my head. If it’s someone that she can’t kill, then I doubt that I’ll ever be able to do anything to them.
“Precisely, and with what investments and risks we’ve made in supporting you, I cannot let you just grow fat and lazy off of our generosity.” She’s firm in her words, and worryingly Frey appears contrite, there’s also a hint of pity in her eyes as she looks towards me.
What exactly is this about that I deserve that look from her too?
“Then tell me about it.” I reply, feeling no particular desire to uphold the same etiquette as she’s taught me, not when she can see right through it regardless. “What grand quest would you send me upon?”
“As I said, there’s someone I need dead. An elf.” She says, suddenly growing hesitant. “A really, really old elf.”
“Great, and why do you think I’m going to be capable of doing anything about him?”
“Your remarkable ability to grow your mana form, your ability to drain mana, and your annihilation talent.” She replies calmly. “You’re a weapon. Or you could be.”
“Why?” I ask, trembling slightly. “Why should I?”
“Because he’s going to kill you and everyone you love otherwise.” Arduelle responds easily, knowing that her threat will work.
“There’ll be someone after him, won’t there? Another villain, bigger and stronger.”
“No.” She replies. “I rather hope not. If you defeat him, then I’m sure no one else could ever bother you.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever, point me to him and keep my family safe until I’m able to see him dead.”
If I throw myself into expanding my mana form I can probably build up enough power to blast whoever this person is from across the damn universe. I’ll devote myself to it if I have to.
“That’s…” Arduelle is slow to reply.
“Is he the god king of the Unified States or something?” I ask.
“Yeah, pretty much.” Frey whispers, shivering and shaking the ground beneath our feet as her real body copies her illusory one.
“A… good moniker.” Arduelle replies. “A god king. He ensures the safety of the Unified States and eliminates all else.”
“Then what about us? The entire rebellion going on? The beasts and the wild worlds?”
“Temporary pests.” Arduelle replies. “He’ll come by this realm soon enough to clean up.”
“Clean up?” I ask. Arduelle nods slowly, “It’s easier to show you. You two are still delicate, so I’ll be careful.”
“Come back safe.” Frey whispers looking between us before nodding.
“We will. I won’t attract his attention, we’ll be fine.” Arduell replies, but there’s a nervous energy to her voice that I’m not sure I’ve ever heard before as we teleport out of the room with a small flash.
For a moment I think that the teleport has failed as we’re surrounded by intense darkness, and chaotically colourful lights. As I look around however, I see Nel and Arduelle right at my side, taking in the same sights.
In the distance are hundreds of thousands of colourful stars but they’re not clearly defined spots. Rather they’re smeared and scattered a little bit, as if they’re covered in sparkling dust.
Nearby there’s a series of particularly dense dust clouds, each drenched in thick mana, and surrounding bright shining vortexes. These mana vortexes rumble with energy as they summon new mana into the realm right before us, a flood so tremendous that it’s difficult to comprehend.
“What’s…”
“Mana vortexes.” Nel says, gazing at the shining formations. A flaming light in the centre, and just out from it, an aqua blue ball shining with faint hints of water. Rock and earth, red hot metal, and grey sand. One more stirs with thick winds.
“Is this a new system?” Nel asks Arduelle, who looks darkly over the forming worlds.
“It’s an old system, reborn from ashes.” The ancient dungeon replies, staring down at the massing mana, slowly forming into matter and energy below us. “It was destroyed and is slowly reforming itself. All of it. Every light in the sky is like this one, reduced to basic elements.”
“What?”
“Have you ever wondered how the Unified States can survive, even thrive, when it’s constantly losing land and resources. When rebels and beasts take worlds, and the Unified States army is more concerned with punishing their own soldiers for trying to survive?” Arduelle chuckles darkly.
“What does that have to do with this?” I ask, looking over the massing matter and energy.
“This is the true might behind the Unified States. This is the ‘god king’s’ power. Any world that isn’t ‘civilised’ enough, is erased and left to reform again. Some of these realms are even cultivated into ‘civilisation’ by experts. The Unified States is still growing, you know.
“He will eventually reach your home realm, and he will do as he’s done here. Should Frey and I ever let our cover as an academy world be destroyed, we too will end like this.”
I look again at the dust and mana floating around. The worlds that are reduced to nothingness, and the swirling light in the great distance that’s the same. All of it, torn asunder to the most basic level.
“I want you to kill him.” Arduelle says. “You’ll need to get stronger. You’ll have to consume whole realms like this one, and only then can you even start to consider fighting him. If anyone else ever tried, he’d find them and destroy them before they ever reach a fraction of his power, but you…? You could do it. You could become strong enough, fast enough, to stand a chance.”
“You want me to kill a god…?” I ask, chuckling as I take in the sight before me.
“He’s a god in power alone.” Arduelle replies. “In the end, that’s enough. Enough to stop anyone that stands in his way. Enough for him to treat us all as his toys which he can play with as he pleases.”
“I have to consume whole realms… just to stand a chance…?”
“Yes. Realms like this one.” Arduelle replies easily. “It’s why I can’t let you stop growing. I had high hopes in that welfare officer girl and the rest of those little bothers to keep you motivated, but it seems they just aren’t enough for you.”
“No, a little spat with a crazed murderer isn’t enough to get me hungry for galaxies, nor does it prepare me to kill a god.” I say, a laugh escapes my lips as I gaze out into the nothingness.
“Really…? I just don’t want to live in fear anymore. Do I really have to go this far?”
“Yes.” Arudelle replies firmly. “None of us are safe so long as he still exists. Unless you can think of a way that you can be an exception. There is reasonable safety in bowing to his welfare officers, and no one is ever too far gone for them. Simply give yourself up and accept the way they do things.
“Give up your every value and live the little life that they’ll allow you to have, fighting as a useless soldier in a war that you’re never meant to win.” She says, “Or, you can kill him.”
I try to find something to say, a swear word to fit the moment. A sarcastic remark to make me feel like I still have some little control over the situation.
I have nothing.
“Fine.” I whisper. “Fine, juice me up with a few galaxies and I’ll go and kill a god for you.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Arduelle says, bringing us back to the guild hall where Frey is waiting for us with her illusory form. They share a look between them before Arduelle disappears, leaving us with the younger dungeon.
It’s almost as if she’s running away before I can take back my words. I’m not even sure how sarcastic I was being in saying them, it just feels unreal, like a dream. Or a nightmare.
“What is it?” I ask Frey, not feeling the least bit of patience right now.
“It’s suicidal.” Frey says, looking down at the ground. “If you could do it, you’d free the universe of him, but there’s no way you could ever survive it. Are you really sure…?”
“I won’t die.” I reply firmly. I can believe it too. That invincibility that I’ve always felt when discussing these sorts of topics hasn’t left me yet. It’s a delusion, sure, but I don’t think I’m ever going to let it go again.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to give my family a safe home, and if that means taking on a ridiculous assassination request, then fine.”
“I’ll hide your family.” Frey says, staring at the ground. “When you… I’ll hide your family from him. I’ve been hiding a long time. He won’t find me.”
“Then why can’t we all stay here, like Kyra was suggesting?” Nel asks, stepping forwards and firmly meeting her eyes, even if they’re just an illusion.
“Nothing comes for free.” I say, stepping between them and grabbing Nel’s shoulder. “Their attention, their protection, their favour, even promising to protect you, all of it is to use me for this one task. It’s pointless to offer any of it if I don’t go.”
“It won’t be for a long time.” Frey says rather too quickly. “I didn’t think you’d be… but it’s… if you can do it…”
“Kyra…” Nel calls my name rather desperately.
“We’ll plan it out.” I reply. “There’s no point yelling at Frey. In fact. Thank you, Frey. For looking after my family, for protecting those that I love.”
The dungeon only looks even more ashamed of herself as I bow down towards her. She flashes away, her image fading from existence, but that doesn’t make much of a difference when the walls surrounding us are made up of her very spirit.
“You’re not allowed to get yourself killed.” Nel says firmly. “We’ll prepare for it, and it’s a long way off.”
“I’ll survive.” I reply, nodding at her words. I still can’t comprehend how we got here, or what sort of situation we’ve fallen into.
Walking on numb legs, we head out of the guild hall, and are quickly intercepted by a small runt of a girl, her eyes shining bright.
“You’re the Empress, right?” She asks. “You’ve come to free us from the Arch monarchy? Please, please come with me! Everyone has so much that they want to ask you, and they’re all impatient wondering when you’re going to take over.”
For some reason, it seems a rather meaningless little matter that she brings up, but while ruminating on the topic of killing gods and eating galaxies, I slowly follow her along anyway. Maybe her little group is interesting enough to distract me from the terrible thoughts raging around inside of my skull.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Skills & Stats
~Mana Form:
Current mana density: 18468 units
~Mana distribution:
Defence: 20/100%
Offense: 20/100%
Mana sense: 20/100%
Recovery: 20/100%
Gluttony: 10/100%
Misc.: 10/100%
Efficiency: 100/100%
~Favourited Skills:
-Tag and Film
-Trapping
-Stealth
-Mana surge movement
-Annihilation defence
-Annihilation flame burst
-Annihilation net
-Eyes of an Empire
Adaptions:
-Quick perception mind
-Annihilation Heart
-Clean bowels
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
//Author Note
More chapters available
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‘I’d like to know how directly you’ll be controlling business in your city and your cavern, and further what you hope to make your city into. Can you explain these topics?’
I let the words sink in, and slowly formulate a response. Essentially, he’s asking a painfully astute question, wanting to know exactly what sort of city I’ll be building, from the politics to the business.
“I don’t directly control business in my cavern.” I say, “I let the experts pursue matters on their own and support them as they need it, all with as little interference as can be afforded. I do need to step in when there’s disputes or someone causes trouble, but there’s been rather little of that so far.”
This isn’t due to some grand political ideal of mine, though I do like to let people be as free as possible, it’s simply pragmatic more than anything else. I simply don’t have the expertise or command structure to control people in an authoritarian fashion. Any attempt at controlling the farmers, telling them what to farm, how to farm, and what lands to use, would be coming from a position of complete ignorance. There’s nothing more dangerous than an ignorant dictator, forcing farmers to follow bad directions.
If I had a team of perfect experts who knew better than anyone else how farming in our cavern should work, then I’d likely listen to their wisdom. I do not have that however, and letting each farmer succeed or fail on their own merits is the best option for us. The same holds true for the crafters, hunters, builders, and everyone else.
“I’m ensuring that people are protected from beasts, and from each other, while they’re free to pursue their own goals and careers.” I say, to the gathered crowd. They burst with curiosity, but while they don’t take it negatively, they aren’t particularly positive either.
“I intend to build an empire where this balance of freedom and safety is assured, while giving my people as much opportunity as possible.” I explain my goals at their simplest. “As such, my people will build everything worth building. Farms, smithies, textile factories, and everything else.”
That doesn’t seem to impress the crowd, matter of fact many of them turn warm smiles down towards me pityingly. It’s a little shocking. I was expecting booing or jeering, not this.
As if to free us of this growing tension, the man who asked the first question follows up quickly.
“So do you intend on building all of this in your cavern alone, or are you going to seize more lands?”
“We’re going to expand and grow.” I reply easily. “I have no specific plans in regards to this cavern, or any of the other factions locally, but we have ambitions on developing space magic to expand out into the wider universe. There are many realms, and in them, many worlds that we can make use of.”
Interest wanes quickly, and I can see that they expect failure on my part. That’s fine. I’d think the same in their positions, but their questions do make me question myself more than I usually want to.
What are my ultimate goals? What do I really want at the end of all this?
I don’t really know, and that’s not good for any of us.
The guild heads quickly turn conversation towards trade goods, what we develop and have in excess, and what is in demand among our people. There’s a little curiosity when Nel brings up the topic of mana waste. Essentially the worthless trash that still contains residual mana within, something that is difficult to tap into for everyone but me.
“Have you discovered a mana redistributor?” One of the younger members asks.
“A mana redistributor?”
“A machine that can refine mana from the atmosphere, or trash, and compress it into a mana storage vessel.” An older woman explains. “They’re incredibly valuable, if you have one.”
“We don’t.” I reply easily, turning to Nel. “Though it might be a good idea to get something like that.”
“Yes, I’ll add it to a long growing list.” She replies dryly.
“Then…?”
“We have another means of achieving the same ends.” I explain, and Nel lifts up one of our mana shards. “We’re developing our own mana currency, and we appreciate cheap sources of mana.”
They curiously look over the shards that Nel hands out as samples. It seems that they’re impressed with what they see, and they should be. Ria does good enchanting work, even if she is just a student.
“It seems that we can arrange for some of our associates to visit your city.” One of the older members says, inspecting the little shard. “They should be open to trade with you, they’re from one of the wild caverns where the monarchy’s rules aren’t so well enforced.”
“I would encourage you all to follow the noble ruling on the Empress to the intent rather than the letter.” One particularly stern guild leader says, rising from their seat. The others show respect in nods or bows, but I get the feeling that this view is shared only by a minority here.
So, we trade through a third party and everything is fine then? Is it really that simple?
I suppose there might be more to it that they’re not talking about, there’s no real reason to let us know exactly their schemes. So long as merchants visit our city, to buy and sell, that’s all the details I really need to know.
The meeting grows slowly more casual after that, and the guild leaders all seem rather cheerful, even their disagreements are either respectful or friendly. I guess that with such a large council out here in the relative wilds, they can’t afford to get bogged down by politics, whether within their group, or surrounding it.
We move from the stage and another group moves up instead. Their purpose here, to ask for support for the local arts, and they show their works as evidence of their value. After them is a group of farmers talking about expanding the farmland in the cavern and getting support and funding for the plan.
It’s enlightening to watch, and the guild heads all seem rather competent, though they don’t all agree on issues brought up. More than anything, it shows us just how much our own culture has to develop before we’ve found systems like this to help us deal with the minutia of day-to-day issues.
Freeing ourselves from the guild leaders and their little shows, I lean against the wall outside and take in the murals not yet made. Where the influential people and events are depicted and written of deeper into the guild house, the blank walls here describe a future not yet seen.
What is my goal, ultimately speaking? Where am I going, and where will my story end? Will it ever end? Can I ever feel satisfied? Will I ever feel safe.
Vii’s predictions, visions of the future, have proven to me what I can become, an Empress worthy of history books. Yet, that’s not what I am, and it’s not my goal.
I don’t want an empire, and I don’t want to rule, though it can be fun and satisfying at times. It warms my heart to have others look towards me for an answer, and for leadership. It’s still not what I want, nor what I’m after.
So, what do I want?
My heart beats out of its cage for a moment as I lose my calm. My mind reach the thoughts that I’ve been trying to hide away, and this time I don’t look away.
“Kyra?” Nel’s by my side, as always, as she ever will be. Her grip is tight, pulling me back to the present but I bring some of those same nightmares back with me. The thousand futures where this ends badly, the futures where I’m too weak.
I don’t want to be scared anymore.
That’s my goal. That’s the reason I’m trying to get stronger, but only worse villains show up for my efforts. I feel like Sisyphus, getting stronger just to face more dangerous enemies. That’s the future I’m racing towards.
“This place. Frey. Arduelle. They’ve been here for longer than we can ever even imagine. If there’s ever been a hole where a person can hide for eternity, it would have to be here, right?” I ask Nel, my mind racing for solutions to the fear still bubbling inside.
“I suppose, why do you ask?” Nel says, leaning in close to me.
“We’ll never be safe.” I say. I know it. I said it to her not so long ago. I thought that I could accept it, but it’s eating away at me, as well. The reason I’m ever reaching, the reason that I would conquer this new monarchy that I’m only just finding out about, and the republic, whatever that even is, is all to establish myself as powerful, as unassailable, as untouchable. To find some small measure of safety in that.
That’s my terrible goal. That’s what drives me. That’s all that I really want. A home where I can live happily, freely, and safely, where no one can hurt me or my loved ones.
An impossibility.
Unless I can find the power to take the role of a god, then I’ll have to settle for something less.
“Do you think it’d be okay to just become the most powerful person here in this dungeon. To hide here for eternity.”
“If that’s what you want.” Nel replies, smiling easily as she presses a hand against my side.
I never thought myself so delicate before. It seems that even I’ve managed to fall for my own bluffs. The strength that I show to protect myself from enemies that would hound me at the slightest show of weakness.
This is a better goal. It’s something within reach. Being strong enough to deal with any beast or threat within Frey, then support her in keeping hidden. It’ll grant me a good future, and there’s a reasonable peace to be found here. Frey is a nice young dungeon, and I’m sure I can come to terms with her being more powerful them myself.
“We can use space magic to gather resources, but hide here, away from all the most terrible threats this universe has to offer.” I say, feeling the earth firm beneath my feet.
It’s nice to have a proper goal again, one with an end, and something we can achieve.
“Then you’ll want to overthrow the factions down here? Deal with the assassins, and grow stronger, right?” Arduelle asks, flashing into existence beside us. “You’re still going to pursue strength, no?”
“Maybe.” I reply, sighing as I press my back against the stone. My mind races back to those first days off of Earth. I promised myself to become strong enough that even the natural laws of the universe, and evolution would twist under my power. Survival of the fittest, a slaughter that I’d rather not permit.
I’d need to become a god to achieve that on any wide scale, but at the very least, I can protect my people.
“I’ll become strong enough to protect the ones that I love.” I say. “To give people a good life here. I think… that would be enough.”
It’s like a heavy burden slipping from my shoulders, but while it’s relieving, I also feel like I’m on the verge of giving something up.
“I’m sorry to interfere when you seem to be making some grand character development, but I really must say something about that.” Arduelle says, and surprisingly Frey’s own fake body shows up by her side, as well.
“What is it?” I ask, taking a step back. Even with all the power I’ve gained, I’m but an ant before these two.
“Frey is not some closet for you to hide within.” Arduelle says. “Perhaps I should have brought up these particulars sooner, but I’ll remind you that we’re helping you for a reason.”
“You want someone dead. I remember.” I reply, shaking my head. If it’s someone that she can’t kill, then I doubt that I’ll ever be able to do anything to them.
“Precisely, and with what investments and risks we’ve made in supporting you, I cannot let you just grow fat and lazy off of our generosity.” She’s firm in her words, and worryingly Frey appears contrite, there’s also a hint of pity in her eyes as she looks towards me.
What exactly is this about that I deserve that look from her too?
“Then tell me about it.” I reply, feeling no particular desire to uphold the same etiquette as she’s taught me, not when she can see right through it regardless. “What grand quest would you send me upon?”
“As I said, there’s someone I need dead. An elf.” She says, suddenly growing hesitant. “A really, really old elf.”
“Great, and why do you think I’m going to be capable of doing anything about him?”
“Your remarkable ability to grow your mana form, your ability to drain mana, and your annihilation talent.” She replies calmly. “You’re a weapon. Or you could be.”
“Why?” I ask, trembling slightly. “Why should I?”
“Because he’s going to kill you and everyone you love otherwise.” Arduelle responds easily, knowing that her threat will work.
“There’ll be someone after him, won’t there? Another villain, bigger and stronger.”
“No.” She replies. “I rather hope not. If you defeat him, then I’m sure no one else could ever bother you.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever, point me to him and keep my family safe until I’m able to see him dead.”
If I throw myself into expanding my mana form I can probably build up enough power to blast whoever this person is from across the damn universe. I’ll devote myself to it if I have to.
“That’s…” Arduelle is slow to reply.
“Is he the god king of the Unified States or something?” I ask.
“Yeah, pretty much.” Frey whispers, shivering and shaking the ground beneath our feet as her real body copies her illusory one.
“A… good moniker.” Arduelle replies. “A god king. He ensures the safety of the Unified States and eliminates all else.”
“Then what about us? The entire rebellion going on? The beasts and the wild worlds?”
“Temporary pests.” Arduelle replies. “He’ll come by this realm soon enough to clean up.”
“Clean up?” I ask. Arduelle nods slowly, “It’s easier to show you. You two are still delicate, so I’ll be careful.”
“Come back safe.” Frey whispers looking between us before nodding.
“We will. I won’t attract his attention, we’ll be fine.” Arduell replies, but there’s a nervous energy to her voice that I’m not sure I’ve ever heard before as we teleport out of the room with a small flash.
For a moment I think that the teleport has failed as we’re surrounded by intense darkness, and chaotically colourful lights. As I look around however, I see Nel and Arduelle right at my side, taking in the same sights.
In the distance are hundreds of thousands of colourful stars but they’re not clearly defined spots. Rather they’re smeared and scattered a little bit, as if they’re covered in sparkling dust.
Nearby there’s a series of particularly dense dust clouds, each drenched in thick mana, and surrounding bright shining vortexes. These mana vortexes rumble with energy as they summon new mana into the realm right before us, a flood so tremendous that it’s difficult to comprehend.
“What’s…”
“Mana vortexes.” Nel says, gazing at the shining formations. A flaming light in the centre, and just out from it, an aqua blue ball shining with faint hints of water. Rock and earth, red hot metal, and grey sand. One more stirs with thick winds.
“Is this a new system?” Nel asks Arduelle, who looks darkly over the forming worlds.
“It’s an old system, reborn from ashes.” The ancient dungeon replies, staring down at the massing mana, slowly forming into matter and energy below us. “It was destroyed and is slowly reforming itself. All of it. Every light in the sky is like this one, reduced to basic elements.”
“What?”
“Have you ever wondered how the Unified States can survive, even thrive, when it’s constantly losing land and resources. When rebels and beasts take worlds, and the Unified States army is more concerned with punishing their own soldiers for trying to survive?” Arduelle chuckles darkly.
“What does that have to do with this?” I ask, looking over the massing matter and energy.
“This is the true might behind the Unified States. This is the ‘god king’s’ power. Any world that isn’t ‘civilised’ enough, is erased and left to reform again. Some of these realms are even cultivated into ‘civilisation’ by experts. The Unified States is still growing, you know.
“He will eventually reach your home realm, and he will do as he’s done here. Should Frey and I ever let our cover as an academy world be destroyed, we too will end like this.”
I look again at the dust and mana floating around. The worlds that are reduced to nothingness, and the swirling light in the great distance that’s the same. All of it, torn asunder to the most basic level.
“I want you to kill him.” Arduelle says. “You’ll need to get stronger. You’ll have to consume whole realms like this one, and only then can you even start to consider fighting him. If anyone else ever tried, he’d find them and destroy them before they ever reach a fraction of his power, but you…? You could do it. You could become strong enough, fast enough, to stand a chance.”
“You want me to kill a god…?” I ask, chuckling as I take in the sight before me.
“He’s a god in power alone.” Arduelle replies. “In the end, that’s enough. Enough to stop anyone that stands in his way. Enough for him to treat us all as his toys which he can play with as he pleases.”
“I have to consume whole realms… just to stand a chance…?”
“Yes. Realms like this one.” Arduelle replies easily. “It’s why I can’t let you stop growing. I had high hopes in that welfare officer girl and the rest of those little bothers to keep you motivated, but it seems they just aren’t enough for you.”
“No, a little spat with a crazed murderer isn’t enough to get me hungry for galaxies, nor does it prepare me to kill a god.” I say, a laugh escapes my lips as I gaze out into the nothingness.
“Really…? I just don’t want to live in fear anymore. Do I really have to go this far?”
“Yes.” Arudelle replies firmly. “None of us are safe so long as he still exists. Unless you can think of a way that you can be an exception. There is reasonable safety in bowing to his welfare officers, and no one is ever too far gone for them. Simply give yourself up and accept the way they do things.
“Give up your every value and live the little life that they’ll allow you to have, fighting as a useless soldier in a war that you’re never meant to win.” She says, “Or, you can kill him.”
I try to find something to say, a swear word to fit the moment. A sarcastic remark to make me feel like I still have some little control over the situation.
I have nothing.
“Fine.” I whisper. “Fine, juice me up with a few galaxies and I’ll go and kill a god for you.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Arduelle says, bringing us back to the guild hall where Frey is waiting for us with her illusory form. They share a look between them before Arduelle disappears, leaving us with the younger dungeon.
It’s almost as if she’s running away before I can take back my words. I’m not even sure how sarcastic I was being in saying them, it just feels unreal, like a dream. Or a nightmare.
“What is it?” I ask Frey, not feeling the least bit of patience right now.
“It’s suicidal.” Frey says, looking down at the ground. “If you could do it, you’d free the universe of him, but there’s no way you could ever survive it. Are you really sure…?”
“I won’t die.” I reply firmly. I can believe it too. That invincibility that I’ve always felt when discussing these sorts of topics hasn’t left me yet. It’s a delusion, sure, but I don’t think I’m ever going to let it go again.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to give my family a safe home, and if that means taking on a ridiculous assassination request, then fine.”
“I’ll hide your family.” Frey says, staring at the ground. “When you… I’ll hide your family from him. I’ve been hiding a long time. He won’t find me.”
“Then why can’t we all stay here, like Kyra was suggesting?” Nel asks, stepping forwards and firmly meeting her eyes, even if they’re just an illusion.
“Nothing comes for free.” I say, stepping between them and grabbing Nel’s shoulder. “Their attention, their protection, their favour, even promising to protect you, all of it is to use me for this one task. It’s pointless to offer any of it if I don’t go.”
“It won’t be for a long time.” Frey says rather too quickly. “I didn’t think you’d be… but it’s… if you can do it…”
“Kyra…” Nel calls my name rather desperately.
“We’ll plan it out.” I reply. “There’s no point yelling at Frey. In fact. Thank you, Frey. For looking after my family, for protecting those that I love.”
The dungeon only looks even more ashamed of herself as I bow down towards her. She flashes away, her image fading from existence, but that doesn’t make much of a difference when the walls surrounding us are made up of her very spirit.
“You’re not allowed to get yourself killed.” Nel says firmly. “We’ll prepare for it, and it’s a long way off.”
“I’ll survive.” I reply, nodding at her words. I still can’t comprehend how we got here, or what sort of situation we’ve fallen into.
Walking on numb legs, we head out of the guild hall, and are quickly intercepted by a small runt of a girl, her eyes shining bright.
“You’re the Empress, right?” She asks. “You’ve come to free us from the Arch monarchy? Please, please come with me! Everyone has so much that they want to ask you, and they’re all impatient wondering when you’re going to take over.”
For some reason, it seems a rather meaningless little matter that she brings up, but while ruminating on the topic of killing gods and eating galaxies, I slowly follow her along anyway. Maybe her little group is interesting enough to distract me from the terrible thoughts raging around inside of my skull.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Skills & Stats
~Mana Form:
Current mana density: 18468 units
~Mana distribution:
Defence: 20/100%
Offense: 20/100%
Mana sense: 20/100%
Recovery: 20/100%
Gluttony: 10/100%
Misc.: 10/100%
Efficiency: 100/100%
~Favourited Skills:
-Tag and Film
-Trapping
-Stealth
-Mana surge movement
-Annihilation defence
-Annihilation flame burst
-Annihilation net
-Eyes of an Empire
Adaptions:
-Quick perception mind
-Annihilation Heart
-Clean bowels
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
//Author Note
More chapters available
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