《The Empyreal Gem Master》 Chapter 1: A New Beginning I The air was filled with a sweet morning breeze, the rays of the sun piercing through the intricatelyid out trees in neat rows. Just like these trees, there were also neat rows of young men and women walking through a path in between the trees. The mood was one filled with expectations and fear, this procession of young men and women barelying of age currently going up the Ancestral Mountain of the Mortal Branch of the glorious Asmodeus Bloodline. The count showed hundreds of such men and women as among them, there was a young man with dark hair andnguid eyes that didn¡¯t seem to hold too much weight to this whole event. He was the son of one of the two Mortal Branch Leaders- known for his quiet demeanor and introverted nature as even under the limelight of the Four-Link Gem Master as his father, he didn¡¯t make any grand moves! For this, many rumors came and went as even then, he seemed unbothered by them. This was Alexander Asmodeus. What people found the most baffling was the fact that the only daughter of the other Mortal Branch Leader, ire Asmodeus, had somehow been pulled by him to the extent that wherever he went, she would follow. Even though the two Branch Leaders of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline were of the same human lineage, there was still a sense ofpetition and hegemony as they essentially came from two opposing sides vying for more power. And yet, as far as anyone saw, these two were the best of friends. ire was on the more beautiful side of things, with dark hair that popted most of those of the Mortal Asmodeus Bloodline, but with eyes that shone with a gorgeous blue hue. Like all other young men and women around them, they wore simple white robes as they traveled on the path lined up with trees on the Ancestral Mountain. ire had a smile on her face as she looked around while speaking to Alexander. "Everyone else looks tense and worried for the Awakening Ceremony, but you are still asid back as ever. Are you that confident in the types of Life Sockets you will awaken to?" Words of utter fantasy left her mouth as their world was a unique one. A terrifying one. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Extremely vast in nature and filled with a few powerful Bloodlines that were defending thends under the Banner of Human Lineages- it was a world where the strong ruled. And all strength rted to nothing else but Life Sockets. When one came of Age, they would be viable for undergoing an Awakening Ceremony as their whole life would change from then! Alexander mulled the words of ire in his head before he shook it while replying. "It¡¯s not that I¡¯m confident, but I am simply resigned to whatever the result will be. Nobody can change the results of Awakening as what we all have is Innate to us. So long as I have even a Three-Link Life Socket, it will be enough for me to get stronger and survive against the onught of Beasts of Corruption." It would be enough. He didn¡¯t say thest words as in his shroud ofzy eyes, a fiery light reminiscent to that of his Father shed. It would be enough for him to strike back against those who had taken something extremely precious to him. He had cause to be as tense if not more than anyone here, but at the end of the day, it would not matter. What he was born with would be it. And if his father was a Four-Link Gem Master, could he truly be so much worse? "We¡¯ve arrived." He was taken out of his thoughts by ire¡¯s words as he saw the group of men and women barelying of age arrive at the peak of the Ancestral Mountain. Each wore the same white robes as him as their faces were filled with tension and worry while they looked around. The area was t and filled with white stones, no trees present in this clearing as massive statues of past Gem Masters were erected all around. When one looked at them, they would notice dazzling circles of light on their chest- these circles being the Life Sockets one gained after awakening their Primal Life Force! Most of the massive statues of previous Gem Masters had Three-Link Life Sockets, with the more terrifying ones having Four-Link Life Sockets as they were the Gem Masters of their era. But ultimately, even they fell under the constant grind of the Beasts of Corruption. They were that terrifying. Humanity was outssed by that much as in this day and age, powerful Gem Masters were much needed- especially those with many Life Sockets. The more Life Sockets one had on their chest at the time of their Awakening, the more powerful they could be. "Alright! The day hase for the next generation of Gem Masters to rise within our Mortal Branch of the glorious Asmodeus Bloodline!" Far ahead of the group of young men and women in white robes, a man with a robust body adorned in green robes could be seen. Beside him, two women holding huge clear white bowls filled with sparkling golden crystals could be seen. The golden crystals¡­were the Primal Life Gems that could be found within the Breaches stretched out across their world. Within the Breaches where Beasts of Corruption were abundant, and broke out of constantly to wreak havoc on Human Lineages. They were the tools to awakening one¡¯s Primal Life Force and reveal their Life Sockets! "It is Gem Master Azazel overseeing the Awakening Ceremony¡­" ire¡¯s eyes were sharp as she was locked onto the dim glow of three circles that could be seen below the robes of the Three-Link Gem Master Azazel. Alexander nodded while replying lightly. "From thest reports I peeked at from father, he was paramount in the victory of defending the Northern Front in the recent Breach." A powerful Gem Master! His Gem Recipe was one that any lucky Three-Link Gem Master followed- especially those who wanted to be forces of destruction while withstanding the ridiculously powerful Beasts of Corruption. Among the many resources and treasures that could be discovered within a Breach. There were the Primal Life Gems used for awakening, and then¡­there were the Primal Ability Gems. Ability Gems could be ced in Life Sockets, and they were ssified into two categories! Main Ability Gems, and Support Ability Gems. A Gem Master with a single Life Socket could only support a single Main Ability Gem. They were powerful- but their power was limited. But if one had multiple Sockets, they could augment their Main Ability Gem with Support Ability Gems and explode with tremendous capabilities! The Gem Master Azazel was one of such powerful beings with three Life Sockets, his Gem Recipe that was favored by many being the Main Ability Gem, [Barbarian Blood], that was supported by the Support Ability Gems [Ironblood Support] and [Energy Preservation Support]. Alexander knew of the Barbarian Blood Main Ability Gem as he had seen it many times brought into the Gem Treasury- this being a somewhat rare but obtainable Gem in the Northern Front that was filled with the Titan Beasts of Corruption. Its capabilities were as such. [Barbarian Blood]:: Once anchored in a life Socket, this Ability Gem passively causes one¡¯s body to burn with a powerful life force, increasing your physical strength and defenses by a factor of 2. One can also activate the Barbarian Blood in their body and burn it to momentarily increase their physical strength and defenses by a factor of 5. The maximum time to actively burn the Barbarian Blood is 30 seconds, and burning it any longer may result in permanent damage to one¡¯s life force. It was a powerful Main Ability Gem. Any Ability Gem that gave both passive and active effects was guaranteed to be a powerful one, and the Barbarian Blood Ability Gem covered one both offensively and defensively as it could make one a decent Gem Master! A decent one. But if someone had more than a single Life Socket¡­this was where the true power could be expressed. With a second Life Socket, one could bind to themselves the [Ironblood Support] and [Energy Preservation Support]. [Ironblood Support]:: Any blood rted Ability Gems can be supported to cause any boons granted to be further multiplied by a factor of two. [Energy Preservation Support]. Any Ability Gems can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. It allows the effects of a linked Main Ability Gem to reduce all resource costs while actively catalyzing the energy production of the body, allowing you to be constantly filled with energy. Two simple Support Ability Gems. But when you looked at a Single-Link Gem Master who simply had the [Barbarian Blood] ability or a Three-Link Gem Master who had the [Barbarian Blood] Ability supported by [Ironblood Support] and [Energy Preservation Support]...their ranks and power were tremendously different! The addition of the two Support Ability Gems alone caused Gem Master Azazel to constantly be filled with valiant levels of power and energy, where he could burn his Barbarian Blood and cut down Beasts of Corruption for hours instead of a mere 30 seconds. One could be a moving tank of destruction with such abination of Gems, with it being capable of even facing Tier 3 Beasts of Corruption that couldy waste to entire cities. ¡¯If I can have at least Three Life Sockets. I can use this Barbarian Gem Recipe or a few other viable Gem Recipes¡­¡¯ Alexander¡¯szy eyes almost shone with a fearsome light that he kept down as he moved towards the front naturally with ire. Others lined up behind them as the Son and Daughter of the two Four-Link Gem Masters overseeing the many City Fortresses of the whole Mortal Branch of the glorious Asmodeus Bloodline had the opportunity to go up first. Gem Master Azazel looked at the two of them and nodded with recognition, such an action causing some eyes of a few other young men and women in the back to sh with envy and jealousy. "You all are here today for a paramount moment in your lives- where you will either burn with glory and be a weapon that defends our homes against the foul Beasts of Corruption, or¡­there is no Or!" ¡­! A burst of crimson light burst from his body from his simple shout. It shook the white severy oneey stood on as everyone of the young men and women stood straight to attention. "There is only glory, and that is the only thing waiting after your Awakening! Now¡­" His green robes fluttered as his bright eyes turned to stare at Alexander and ire. Those who would awaken on this day as expectations were high. It was the start of their journey as Gem Masters! Chapter 2: A New Beginning II "Will you two take the Primal Life Gems and awaken first, or¡­" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He gave the preference to the Scions of the Mortal Branch Leaders to awaken first, but ire smiled gracefully towards Gem Master Azazel as her voice rang out. "Thank you for the opportunity, Gem Master Azazel. But if there are any who have the urge to volunteer, they can go first." "..." Alexander blinked as he turned to look at ire briefly. Was this girl actually nervous about this? Having known her for years now, he looked at her hands and as expected¡­they were stoic and rigid without a flutter of nervousness. Which actually meant¡­ ¡¯She¡¯s actually this nervous?¡¯ It was a surprise and understandable at the same time, with today being a truly big day that would decide one¡¯s future. After ire¡¯s words, a few hands rose hesitantly amongst the few hundred young men and women as ten volunteered to go first while they did their best to defy their fears. Gem Master Azazel nodded as he pointed to the nearest figure- a young man with dark hair like all those standing above this Ancestral Mountain. "You,e on up." His demeanor was a terrifying one as even the air felt hotter around him, the young man going up with fast strides as Gem Master Azazel took one of the Primal Life Gems and crushed it above his head. The Primal Life Gems could be taken and dissolved orally, or one could crush it in their hands, or even make a cut anywhere on the body and ce it in. Being about two inches in size made many things possible as either way, it would get absorbed in the body and awaken the Life Sockets lying within! The golden dust of the Primal Life Gem fell on the head of the young man and was absorbed as momentster, his body began to shine with a dull golden glow. "Ah¡­" A yelp of pain echoed out from this young man, his front turned towards all others in the clearing of the Ancestral Mountain as visibly, they all saw two bright points of circr light sh on his chest! Gem Master Azazel looked at this scene and nodded with appreciation as he voiced out. "A future Two-Link Gem Master, good! Dione, stand on the side." A face of ecstatic joy was present on the young man called Dione as he went off to the side, his future already brighter than most as it meant apart from a Main Ability Gem, he could have a single Support Ability Gem to aid him in the future! "Next!" The bright eyes of Gem Master Azazel seemed to be hungry for more results as more stepped up. Next was a young girl with a determined expression who stood facing everyone while a Primal Life Gems was crushed above her head, and¡­ The glow of a single circle shone on her chest after a brief moment as her bright eyes quickly became dark and sunken. "One Life Socket, next!" The voice of Gem Master Azazel was akin to a sharp knife on all those here as they were reminded how nearly 50% of Gem Masters¡­would only ever awaken a single Life Socket! Nobody wanted to be among them. But the Awakening Ceremony continued as the voice of Gem Master Azazel continued to ring out. "One Life Socket, next!" "One Life Socket, next!" Two young men left with darkened faces as they achieved the same result one after another, but the next one¡­ "A future Two-Link Gem Master, good! Stand on the side." Another one with two Life Sockets appeared as the mood brightened up again. Alexander looked at this scene and clicked his lips as beside him, the tense shoulders of ire remained high as he couldn¡¯t help but try to assure her. "Remember, whatever ising is already set in stone. There is no use worrying about it now." He wanted to calm her down, but he felt like his words weren¡¯t entirely the mostforting thing to hear as ire only nodded at them and continued looking ahead. "One Life Socket, next!" "One Life Socket, next!" "One Life Socket, next!" "One Life Socket, next!" More and more of the same results came as they showed just how rare and powerful Gem Masters with multiple Life Sockets were, and as Alexander saw the mood starting to sour¡­he breathed out while taking a step forward. ¡­! Gem Master Azazel was about to call on another random figure from the group when he stopped. He looked into the determined eyes of Alexander Asmodeus and nodded, giving the go-ahead as, with calm steps, he went forward. Behind him, it was as if he could feel ire¡¯s nerves buzzing as she almost reached out for him when he stepped forward, but he continued because he simply wanted to know. Would he be able to achieve what he wanted? Would he have sufficient strength to at least look at those who took his mother from him straight in the eyes? With a heavy heart, he came and stood before the eyes of a few hundred people as he closed his own eyes. Behind him, he felt the pressure of Gem Master Azazel, along with the risen hand of this being that crushed a golden Primal Life Gem right above his head! "..." It was a unique sensation. He kept his eyes closed as he felt the cooling sensation travel down his head and towards his chest- this cooling sensation wrapping around his Heart as in the next moment¡­ BOOM! He broke out in cold sweat as he clutched his chest, feeling like his own heart had exploded! "Huff¡­" He breathed out a few times while remaining standing, his eyes opening at this moment as they momentarily shed with an iridescent white hue. But it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared as he felt like every part of his body was burning. He felt a unique sensation begin to travel all throughout him, but he couldn¡¯t focus on this fully as he saw the faces full of shock among those who had yet to awaken! Because from where they stood, they could only see a single amalgamation of light on the chest of Alexander! A single Life Socket? On the Son of the Four-Link Gem Master?! Chapter 3: A Variant Life Socket! I It was such a shock that even Gem Master Azazel paused, his enhanced senses also initially seeing the single glow of light that represented one Life Socket, but uniquely¡­ Its size was much bigger than a normal Life Socket. And¡­ "Not circr?" His voice was akin to a boom as others quickly focused and realized it too. On his chest, there was a singr glow, yes. But it wasn¡¯t a circle like every Life Socket was known to be, but something holding sharp edges that looked like multiple triangles! The moment Gem Master Azazel confirmed this, his gaze became cloudy as he spoke out sternly. "Variant Life Socket. Stand by for an Analysis." ¡­! A variant Life Socket. Something that wasn¡¯t understood by the masses! It very rarely urred, but even when it did happen in the past, it wasn¡¯t something good. It made for good studies and research on the different Life Sockets out there, but most of the time¡­Variant Life Sockets were defective Life Sockets. The words smashed into Alexander¡¯s head like a hammer as he walked off the stage, ignoring the gazes of others as he wanted to understand himself. Ever since the golden dust of the Primal Life Gem fell on him and he underwent this change, he felt like he had a new vision of his body as he could look inside of himself in a way that even he couldn¡¯t believe. He could see his chest and back without turning around or using a mirror, he could even see the soles of his feet without raising them. He could also see¡­the massive Life Socket that upied his chest. It was¡­seemingly a collection of pointed triangles- nine triangles at that! If he could give it a name, it seemed like an Enneagram. A nine-pointed star! When he gazed at it, it felt grand and pristine- like something so far above that it didn¡¯t even make sense for it to be on him. But before he could study it any further¡­ He heard the calm steps of someone he recognized quickly. And he raised his head to see on the stage a now visibly nervous ire, her fists clenched in defiance as she was staring daggers towards a few groups among the few hundred who had begun to whisper the word ¡¯Defective¡¯ among others as they pointed towards him. The Son of the Four-Link Gem Master Julius- with a defective Life Socket! It was a shocking development as whispers would, of course, be spread by those who had always looked at his position and privilege with envy. Alexander didn¡¯t even pay it any heed, but it had gotten to ire as she went up next. "Gem Master Azazel." Her voice was respectful and sharp as she pulled the attention of all eyes here. She faced the crowd of young men and women with sharp eyes as behind her, Gem Master Azazel moved his hand with a hint of hesitation before he crushed the Primal Life Gem above her. The Daughter of the other Branch Leader. Surely, she wouldn¡¯t be aplex case like Alexander, right? This was the thought in his head as in the next moment, ire¡¯s body began to tremble as a bright sh of light bloomed on her chest! A bright light. One that outssed all others before it as wondrously, a burst of golden brilliance even shot upwards as if to announce something. It was only after this blinding light died down that everyone got a chance to see just what had risen on ire¡¯s chest. And¡­ ¡­! Everybody was forced to pause with their mouths agape, their jaws barely hanging on their mouths! On the side of the stage, Alexander smiled while speaking out silently. "And you were worried this whole time?" The one who was more tense than he was. At this moment¡­ Her chest shone with five dazzling lights. Lights that caused even Gem Master Azazel to stare nkly before he shouted out. "A Five-Link Gem Master!" It was like a bomb had exploded. Those waiting to awaken and those who had awakened stumbled back at the sheer reality of what was ahead of them, and even ire herself¡­she seemed frozen as she looked at her chest as if she couldn¡¯t believe it A Five-Link Gem Master! More pristine than even the two Branch Leaders of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. Someone with a grand future- someone that could be cultivated to be a pir of not just the Asmodeus Bloodline, but even for the other three Human Lineages! The moment that the shout of Gem Master Azazel echoed out, the skies shed and boomed with a p of thunder and lightning as the figure of a muscr middle-aged man with radiant blue wings of light behind his back appeared. One of the two Mortal Branch Leaders. ire¡¯s Father. The Four-Link Gem Master with the famous Gem Recipe termed the Lightning King- Gem Master Axel! His eyes pulsed with tendrils of lightning as from the skies, he shed again to appear beside his daughter, his eyes burning with waves of joy as if he were looking at the most precious thing in the world. It didn¡¯t take long before, from the bottom of the Ancestral Mountain, and even from above, other Gem Masters began to appear. At this moment, there was only a single being who seemed to be the center of the world. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Her chest shone with five circles of light. Her eyes held a hint of fear as she wanted to turn toward the one friend who could calm her. Towards the young man who was always by her side. She could barely see him and his supportive smile as he was all alone on the side of the stage. Everyone was surrounding and suffocating her, and his figure looked extremely lonesome in the distance with nobody around him. Momentster, the stout figure of her Father was in front of her as Alexander¡¯s figure was taken away from her eyes entirely. It was the advent of a star that shone entirely too bright- a star that momentarily overshadowed and took attention away from a young man whose chest was burning with silent brilliance! Chapter 4: A Variant Life Socket! II The appearance of a Five-Link Gem Master. It was news that spread rapidly, and one that energized any City Fortress it was spread to under the banner of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. This was because, in all thends that the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline protected, there wasn¡¯t a single Five-Link Gem Master! Such talents appeared rarely and were all within the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. Mortal Branch. Ascendant Branch. All Four Human Lineages had such a distinction as the tremendously powerful Gem Masters that were the hope of Humanity to stand against Beasts of Corruption that could wipe out entire City Fortresses within a blink of an eye stemmed from the Ascendant Branch of the Four Human Lineages. But today, ire appeared and made an exception. Alexander observed the bustle of activities still ying out as after the Awakening Ceremony where ire showed her Life Sockets, everything afterwards seemed like a blur. She was taken away by her father right after as Gem Master Azazel hurriedly finished the rest of the Awakening, and only 4 Three-Link Gem Masters appeared as the vast majority had either two Life Sockets or a single one. Such results would have been average for any other time, but of course, there was nothing average with the emergence of ire¡¯s Awakening. With all the attention spread elsewhere, Alexander had taken the time to go down the Ancestral Mountain and enter the carriage he arrived here in, motioning for the Butler his father had assigned to him to return home. Home. Past the neatly lined trees, one could barely see the outline of a massive obsidian wall that surrounded everything. The Wall of one of the bigger City Fortresses under the banner of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. A Capital City Fortress- Carthage! It was filled with structures built to withstand the earthquakes that regrly urred from the eruption of Breaches, with buildings rising up into small skyscrapers and castles to show a mixture of the advancements they had made in technology while utilizing the resources from the Breaches. Exquisite carriages pulled by horses like the one Alexander was on were rare and reserved for those with a little more wealth, the roads stretching out across the Capital City Fortress of Carthage filled with people moving about to make their daily living. The passage of buildings and houses across the busy city center was all a blur for Alexander, the shops selling Primal Ability Gems, Weapons of Corruption made from Beasts of Corruption, and many more things not evennding in his eyes as he continued to inspect himself. As he continued to inspect the Nine pointed star on his chest! He didn¡¯t even feel the half-hour ride until it arrived at the massive gates of the Mansion of Branch Leader Julius, the guards with vibrant two Life Sockets shining on their chest saluting Alexander as he went past the gates and into the mansion within. Past the garden filled with verdant grass and gorgeous flowers. Past the maids and butlers moving across the three-story mansion. Alexander went past all of it to arrive in his room as he ignored the shocked gazes and whispers of everyone he passed who saw only a single glow on his chest. He shut the door to his room and took his white robe off to view himself in the mirror. With simple white briefs remaining on him, His fair skin looked pale in the mirror as his chest¡­it looked like it had a massive tattoo of an Enneagram. Of a Nine pointed star! It glowed with a simple white light that would make it somewhat discernible even if he wore clothes. As he was looking at it¡­ ¡¯Is it not just a bit too bright? I don¡¯t want all the gazes to turn in my direction every time¡­¡¯ He thought this. And as if the Enneagram could hear his thoughts, it began to dim to the point that it could barely be seen- even its branding on his chest barely showing as if he had never awakened! ¡­! His eyes opened wide as he paused. And then momentster, based on his thoughts, the Enneagram brightened and dimmed as he wished, with his final action being to dim it greatly to the point that it could barely be seen! But he could still see it with extreme details as he continued studying it and confirmed a few things. At the pointed ends of the Enneagram on his chest, he could see faint circles of light. And in the center of the Enneagram, there was a slightlyrger faint circle of light! "..." These faint circles caused his heart to beat with a heavy light of fear and excitement. Was it actually possible? Was it what his thoughts were leading him to believe? A Variant Life Socket. Something that would mostmonly be defective! If it was real. If¡­what his own brain was telling him about it was real¡­ He controlled his breathing. He put his white robe back on as on the side of his bed, there was a table with amunication device to speak into and a round ck button beside it. He pressed it as he spoke calmly. "Butler James, is my father in his study?" His words were light as they traveled quickly. And in a short period of time, a reply came. "Yes, Young Master. He has been expecting you." "..." His father had been expecting him? His eyes remained cid as he walked out of his room, across a long hallway filled with paintings of old men that had long since passed. He went to the other side of the sizable mansion and passed a few maids and butlers that bowed to him as soon enough, he was in front of two doors painted gold, crimson mes burning on their very center. He knocked. "Enter." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A cold voice boomed from the room as Alexander pushed the doors open, walking in while nodding to the aged Butler with white hair who bowed towards him with a smile while leaving through the open door behind him. Once this door closed, the darkly lit room came into focus as one could see a ck rectangr table made of exquisite materials at the very center, an authoritative seat that almost looked like a throne behind this table as the figure of a single man was seated on it. The same dark hair as Alexander. The same dark eyes and a face that showed charm and ferociousness. A face filled with wisdom and age as on his chest, four dazzling Life Sockets could be seen. The one at the very center burned with crimson mes as this being, his father, Gem Master Julius- he continued perusing through the many papers on the table as he spoke out without even raising his head. "A Variant Life Socket?" A question of affirmation. Of course, his father had already been notified of everything the moment it urred as he was somewhat surprised he wasn¡¯t curious enough about the rise of the Five-Link Gem Master that was ire to go see her. "Yes, Father. A Variant Life Socket." He replied calmly and with respect as this was their rtionship. Since that day, everything had changed as the words they exchanged were very short and precise. At this moment, his father raised his head and looked at his son, his eyes not showing any emotions as he asked once more. "How can I help?" ¡­! Simple words. But they were exactly what Alexander wanted to hear as he replied while staring straight at his father, who seemed to be squinting his eyes to see the Life Socket on his chest. "I need to enter the Gem Treasury and see which Gems will fit me best. If I have your permission¡­" "Gems?" His father¡¯s eyes shone sharply as he picked up on the words he said. Gems. Plural. Why would anyone need multiple Gems if they had a single Life Socket? Did his Variant Life Socket have something nobody yet understood? Chapter 5: The First Gem Recipe! I Within the eyes of the Four-Link Gem Master Julius, a me briefly burned as he saw his son give a nod of affirmation. He looked at him silently as after a few seconds, he reached under the table and pulled out a chest that had multiple sparkling gems. "Some of the rarest Main Ability Gems and Support Ability Gems in our Treasury. Choose the ones you want and return the rest whenever. Unless you are absolutely confident afterward, I will not allow you to go to the Awakened Expeditions with the others." ¡­! The Awakened Expeditions. Journeys that recent Awakened Gem Masters take after they choose their respective Ability Gems as they are taken to Low Tier Breaches to gain a better understanding of Beasts of Corruption and begin their journey as Gem Masters. His father was warning him that unless he was absolutely confident, he would not be allowed to go. This showed that his father still trusted his judgment. And that he wanted to take all the extra precautions to make sure that Alexander¡¯s Life was not lost! Alexander stepped forward and looked at the small treasure chest holding dozens of dazzling Primal Ability Gems, taking it into his hands while nodding at his father. The weight was still manageable for him as he grabbed its handles, giving a light bow to his father as he then turned around and stepped out of the study. He had to hold the treasure chest with one hand while opening and closing the huge doors as when he pulled the door close with his left hand, the treasure chest shook as a single blue Primal Ability Gem fell out. He momentarily set the chest down to grab the Gem that fell, and the moment he did so¡­ HUUM! His right hand trembled as he felt like his brain was buzzing. He felt a strong reaction on his chest where the Enneagram was, its center brightening up and releasing an undeniable suctioning force as if it wanted to swallow this Primal Ability Gem right then and there! His breathing quickened as, along with the humming sound, he felt a part of himself expand outwards. He could see any part of himself ever since he Awakened his Enneagram Life Socket, but at this moment, he felt like he could see all around him even if his eyes were closed. Whatever sense this was, it expanded outwards as it even passed through the huge double doors into his father¡¯s study, and he was able to see inside once more as there¡­ He saw his father holding a framed painting. A painting that showed a woman with dark hair and blue eyes, with a smile so dazzling that it would take one¡¯s breath away. It was a smile containing endless kindness and radiance as Alexander nearly stumbled seeing this painting of his Mother. His father grasped this painting in his hands as his calm and stoic demeanor was gone, tears leaking from his eyes freely as one could feel immense pain from them! Alexander felt the same pangs of pain as on his father, he could see immense guilt and pain in his eyes. "I¡¯m sorry¡­" He whispered to the painting while passing his fingers over it. Alexander knew the story as he heard it from other Gem Masters. His father never talked about it with him as he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. Alexander heard about how his mom had stayed behind to stop the advancement of terrifying Beasts of Corruption that would haveid waste to the entire Squadron his father led. He heard how his father had screamed out towards her. How he felt like all of his power was utterly worthless as even when everyone was saved, he couldn¡¯t save the woman he loved. He couldn¡¯t save what mattered the most to him! "..." The image of the stoic man was nowhere to be seen as subconsciously, Alexander felt tears streaming down his own cheeks as he recalled the few memories of his mother while he was young. Her warmth. Her love. He grasped the Primal Ability Gem in his hand ever tighter as he pulled back whatever senses that had expanded out, picking the chest back up and walking across the halls back to his room silently. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The halls were wide, yet at this moment, they felt so small. So constricting. The image of the ferocious Beasts of Corruption he had only heard of from Gem Masters shed in his mind as his steps were steady. Power. He needed power. If he was to rectify what happened in the past, power was critical! And he would soon find out just what level of power he could obtain with his Variant Life Socket. With his Enneagram Life Socket! He arrived within the privacy of his own room within moments, setting the chest down on his bed as he grasped the dazzling blue Primal Ability Gem that had caused his senses to expand outwards to the extent of even seeing past heavy doors. The Primal Ability Gem glowed with a gorgeous blue radiance as it emitted waves of information about what it was to anyone who touched it, its capabilities being understood within a matter of seconds by the holder! [Ice Wave]:: Once anchored in a Life Socket, this Ability Gem passively causes one¡¯s senses to burn with an icy perception that can spread out for a few meters. Anything within the field of perception can be sensed instantly. One can also activate the Ice Wave to release a burst of freezing cold energy in a semi-lunar direction in front of them- freezing anything on their path as the icy coldness shuts down the functions of living beings. Using it too frequently will drain your life force and may even cause permanent damage. It was a Main Ability Gem he knew of from the many Gem Recipes out there! There were Gem Recipes that Three-Link Gem Master utilized, and even Gem Recipes focused on [Ice Wave] theorized for any powerful being who had Four-Link or Five-Link Gem Sockets. He grasped the Primal Ability Gem as he thought about all the Gem Recipes he was thinking of trying. Expanded senses and the ability to freeze the enemies in front of you- with their life force being drained while they were frozen until the inevitable happens. "This could work¡­" His thoughts moved rapidly. A Main Ability Gem by itself was powerful, but it could be made ridiculous depending on the Support Ability Gems adding to it. Once one bound an Ability Gem into their Life Socket, removing it injured one¡¯s life force- with such an injury taking days to heal as one couldn¡¯t freely change their Main Ability Gem in a short period of time. What he bound now would be what he would have to utilize if he joined the Awakened Expeditions. "..." His hands moved rapidly and with purpose as he looked through the treasure chest his father had given him, sifting through dozens of Primal Ability Gems as he quickly located the Support Ability Gems of the most powerful Gem Recipe for [Ice Wave], a Recipe known as the Ice King! At a minimum, two Support Gems were required, and Alexanderid them out as he began the test that would determine his future. He held up the [Ice Wave] Primal Ability Gem as the suction force that he felt since grabbing onto it¡­he focused on it and brought the blue Gem closer. ¡­! Chapter 6: The First Gem Recipe! II Ice Wave. He knew of it alongside many of the other Main Ability Gems in the treasure chest his father had given him. After analyzing the positives and negatives, the capability to control Beasts of Corruption by freezing them in addition to dealing heavy damage¡­he chose this Gem over a few other possibilities. A brilliant light erupted at the very center of his chest. At the very center of his Enneagram Life Socket, the faint circle glowed and sucked in the Ice Wave Ability Gem as the pointed ends of his star-shaped Life Socket began to spin around it. The temperature began to drop around him. He felt his body begin to course with a cold butfortable energy that made him feel stronger than before- no matter how small this change was. He closed his eyes, but he could still see everything around the whole room and even further beyond it, his senses expanding to cover halfway into the rooms connected to his! It was a terrifying new change that he needed time to get adjusted to as he breathed out, his eyes shining brightly. The first test was sessful. His Enneagram Life Socket could ept Main Ability Gems on the faint circle at the very center. Naturally, what he thought to be an oundish possibility of the Nine faint circles at the ends of his Life Socket being capable of holding Nine Support Ability Gems¡­ "..." DUM! DUM! DUM! The beat of his heart felt resounding. It felt entirely too loud as what would such a thing even represent? For him, it wasn¡¯t even the immense possibilities that tugged at his heart! It was what he could do with it. Those that took away the most precious thing to him¡­he may actually be able to face them without fear! So¡­ "Let¡¯s continue." He spoke to himself as he looked closely at his Enneagram. With the Ice Wave Ability Gem on the very center of the Nine pointed star, Alexander noticed a change where five of the 9 circles were now lit up brightly. The other four were dim as if they couldn¡¯t be utilized! It meant that only 5 Support Ability Gems could be utilized for the Ice Wave Ability- was this limitation due to the level of the Ability Gem itself? From the knowledge he had gathered so far, there were different tiers between Main and Support Ability Gems. Some were naturally higher in tierspared to others. Now he had to confirm what type of Ability Gem would allow all Nine ends of the Enneagram to light up. He turned his gaze to the Support Ability Gems to get started. [Energy Preservation Support]. Any Ability Gems can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. It allows the effects of a linked Main Ability Gem to reduce all resource costs while actively catalyzing the energy production of the body, allowing you to be constantly filled with energy. The first one was simr to the recipe utilized by Gem Master Azazel and others as it truly was a universal support ability gem. The boons of reducing the cost of the main ability and even allowing one¡¯s body to be filled with even more energy were too paramount! As for the second Support Ability Gem lying on the bed¡­ [Frost Energy Support]:: Any Ability Gem rting to cold or frost can be supported by this support ability Gem. The Linked Ability has the Cold Damage output increased by 200%, and the area of effect is increased by 200%. Straightforward and simple. And yet its capabilities were tremendous as a Three-Link Gem Master with this recipe could be known as the Ice King of the battlefield! "Come!" Alexander beckoned to the two Gems as they smashed onto the two faint circles on his chest, fusing into it as instantly, he felt his body buzz as if he had swallowed a freezing sun. His skin glinted with radiance. His somewhat skinny body seemed just a bit more packed as his eyes gained a small hint of blue! But this was only the beginning. There were theories on what Gems could grant shocking effects if added to the recipe of the Ice King- If someone with Four or Five-Link Gem Sockets were to utilize it! Additional support Gems included¡­[Frost Infiltration Support], [Elemental Discipline Support], and [Explosive Surge Support]. Alexander picked out all three from the treasure chest and allowed the pull of his Enneagram to intensify- all three Gems shimmering with white or blue lights flowing to the three remaining lit-up circles. ¡­! And his body trembled. It trembled as if it were epting and limating to tremendous power- pain beginning to course across his body as he could actively feel all parts of him changing! His t stomach gradually gained structure. The faint lines of abdominal muscles began to show as his shoulders, back, thighs, and many other parts of his body began to be more noticeable. His senses even told him his jawline was getting sharper as he should have gained even more charm. And when he looked at his Enneagram Life Socket that had all the five lit-up Support Ability Sockets filled, he saw this unfathomable Nine-pointed star begin spinning at its own unique pace. Spinning. Since when did one¡¯s Life Sockets move around crazily like this? And just what did this movement signify? There were too many unknowns still with his Enneagram Life Socket. He continued to watch its spins as in real time, he could feel himself getting just a little stronger! ¡ª The day after the Awakening Ceremony. Hours came and went along with a bustle of activity in the Capital City Fortress of Carthage, the main topic of conversation being the future Five-Link Gem Master who had appeared in their Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In passing, the name Alexander was mentioned as a contrast to how one of the two Scions of the Mortal Branch Leaders had ascended to the skies while the other had fallen below the earth. A Variant Life Socket? A defective Life Socket? Would this Scion even be able to force himself to step out of his father¡¯s mansion after this? There were many whispers and gossips under the talks of those pertinent across the city Fortress. But nobody dared to gossip too loudly. They all knew how terrifying the father of this Young Master could be. So even as this gossip came in whsipers, nothing could beat the gossip on the future achievements of ire Asmodeus! Chapter 7: Awakened Expedition I When looking at ire Asmodeus or any Gem Master, the biggest question was always about strength. Those recently Awakened were always looked at as potential or future Gem Masters because to truly have the distinction of a Gem Master, you had to obtain it over time. Because it was only over time that one¡¯s life force became stronger. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om It was theorized that the socketed Primal Ability Gems naturally and passively increased someone¡¯s strength, and that the more Life Sockets one had with Support Gems in ce, their strengthening effects would only stack as they would gain more strength even faster. Their life force would increase even faster. A recently awakened Five-Link Gem Master with all their Life Sockets filled would not be able to survive even a 1-minute spar against a Five-Link Gem Master who had been active for years. But¡­A newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master with all their life Sockets filled may just be able to fight equally against a veteran Four-Link or Three-Link Gem Master- the single additional Support Gem being that effective. Age and experience always came out on top, and this wasn¡¯t even mentioning the transformation to one¡¯s Life Sockets that urred after they raised the level of their Primal Life Force to a sufficiently high level. So before they fully grew up, if any genius potential Gem Masters appeared¡­their safety was paramount. Until they understood how to use their power most effectively. Until they at least had undergone¡­their first Ascendancy. It meant that for this year¡¯s Awakening Expeditions, there would beyers of protection surrounding the one girl whose potential publicly shone the brightest! "Are you sure about this?" In the mansion of Branch Leader Julius Asmodeus. Julius asked his son for what seemed like the third time, and Alexander nodded once more with eyes full of confidence. His father gazed at him sternly before rising anding forward with a set of green garments. "A Gem Master is always distinguished by how they act in private and in public. I¡¯ve never seen you show any pride and arrogance before, nor should you start now. Regardless of other people¡¯s gazes, let your power speak for itself." As he spoke he ced the green robes that many Gem Masters wore on Alexander, Julius looking at his son closely before he embarked on his first Expedition. "There are genuine and horrible monsters outside, but know that Beasts of Corruption are not the only monsters out there. Humans can at times be worse monsters than even Beasts of Corruption. Do you understand?" ¡­! Words of caution. Words from a father to a son that were taken seriously as Alexander nodded with seriousness. His father then backed away and spoke thest set of words to him for the foreseeable future. "Gem Master Azazel and his forces will follow you in this Expedition to ensure your safety. You are there to learn and face Tier 1 and 2 Beasts of Corruption. Do not try to be a hero, do not try to show off. Learn the ferocity of Beasts of Corruption from these weaker ones, and they will prepare you for the ones you will face in the future. Understood?" "Understood." Alexander nodded once more with affirmation as his father gave the go ahead. He looked towards the tall bookcase filled with manuscripts on the wall of his study as behind him, the doors closed. His son would soon set off. What he hoped for the most at this time¡­ "Be safe, my son." He closed his eyes as his chest burned with brilliance. Those with truly perceptive eyes could barely see that his four Life Sockets¡­held a faint blue hue in addition to the initial white circr hue that covered the Gems within powerfully! ¡ª Outside of the mansion of Branch Leader Julius. Alexander had only just stepped outside to see the Squadron of green robed Gem Masters led by Gem Master Azazel waiting for him. "Young Master Alex, I apologize for getting swept up in the excitement earlier and not being able to observe your Variant Life Socket a little more. Have you been able to gain an understanding of it?" The eyes of a loyalmander burned brightly as he didn¡¯t hold any prejudices, and Alexander could see simr eyes in the faces of at least half of those following him. The other half held skepticism as if they didn¡¯t entirely believe in the task they were given, but they followed orders! Nobody outwardly expressed any disrespect to the Son of the Branch Leader based on rumors they heard. Alexander nodded towards Gem Master Azazel with a smile as replied. "No harm done, and my Variant Life Socket is enough for me to not be powerless on the battlefield. Until then, thank you for taking care of me." He had known Gem Master Azazel for some time as this burlymander was a veteran with a lot of experience and more battles won than lost. As they talked, the horn of an airship could be heard in the distance as in the skies, the vessel that would be carrying the newest batch of Awakened Gem Masters came towards the Mansion of Branch Leader Julius. It was ovoid in structure with a t base at the bottom, artificial wings that stemmed from unique Aerial Beasts of Corruptioning out of the sides of this massive vessel that was nearly half the size of the Mansion near them. A product born from mixing ideas of innovation and wonders of terrifying Beasts of Corruption. It was known as a Corrupted Airship. The wings fluttered constantly as they released a blue hue that kept the massive vessel afloat until it came to hover above them. Over a dozen ropes were then flung down as Gem Master Azazel nodded towards Alexander. "We are thest to board, Young Master Alex. The Expedition this time¡­will be just hours outside our walls of Carthage." As he talked, he grabbed onto a rope nearest to him and tugged, his figure being taken upwards as his people followed. Alexander felt the beat of his heart pulse with a bit more caution as he breathed out before reaching towards another dangling rope- giving it a tug before he was also pulled up towards the Corrupted Airship! As he went up, he gazed down below at the mansion he had spent most of his life in. At the countless other houses of important figures and vast city streets of Carthage that followed everything. He paused at this scene ever so briefly. And then¡­he could even see a glimpse of the top of the wall in the far distance before his eyes were covered with the darkness of finally stepping inside the vessel. Chapter 8: Awakened Expedition II All the ropes came from a circr opening on the bottom of the ship that closed with a grinding of gears the moment thest Gem Master passed through, and Alexander released his hands from the rope as he fell a few meters onto the metal floor. Such a feat was simple for Gem Masters with their activated Primal Life Force, this simple action causing Gem Master Azazel who had already swung down to give a nod of recognition towards Alexander before he pointed towards the stairs leading up from the lowest floor of this airship. "Let¡¯s head up and meet the rest of those in this Awakening Expedition." The area they arrived in was the very lowest level of the vessel, and when one climbed higher, voices mixed with expectations, excitement, and a tinge of fear could be heard. The color green permeated all around to distinguish the new Gem Master, with a few like Gem Master Azazel having inscriptions and des on their robes to distinguish them even more. When arriving on the second level, Alexander could see an array of people grouped together and talking amongst each other, many of them with Two-Link Gem Sockets as among the few hundred newly Awakened Gem Masters, there were less than 100 on this vessel that were participating in this Expedition. These were the stronger and more resolute Awakened Gem Masters, and past all of them, towards the very front¡­a graceful figure surrounded protectively by multiple powerful Gem Masters could be seen. ire Asmodeus. The one with Five Life Sockets. At least five Three-Link Gem Masters could be seen surrounding her, with a dozen more Two-Link Gem Masters upying the space in the surroundings. At their arrival, Gem Master Azazel led Alexander in this same direction as their entering figures captured the eyes of those they passed. The prestige of Gem Master Azazel made it so that nobody spoke even in hushed tones about the young man he was escorting on this trip. Regardless of the rumors of the Son of Branch Leader Julius who had awakened a Defective Life Socket, nobody wanted to outwardly speak about them and get on the bad side of Gem Master Azazel! This caused a hush of conversations wherever Alexander passed as in no time, the figure of ire far ahead noticed this as they turned. And in an instant, ire¡¯s eyes instantly locked onto Alexander as she instinctively took a step towards him. Coming forward, Gem Master Azazel nodded towards her and the 5 Three-Link Gem Masters tasked with protecting her. "Circling around her like this, are you guys even giving the girl space to breathe?" He spoke with a smiling expression as those opposite him harrumphed, one man pulsing with power gazing at Azazel and Alexander as he replied. "Branch Leader Axel has already told us that if even a hair is missing on Lady ire, we¡¯ll face the torment of his lightning. If it weren¡¯t for his duties, he may havee here himself." ¡­! Branch Leader Axel was very protective of his daughter, and he had to be when she showed such potential as five Commanders who could have been defending different points of the City of Carthage from any unexpected Breaches were tasked with protecting her. And all of this was for an Expedition outside the Walls of Carthage on a newly risen Breach that Tier 1 and Tier 2 Beasts of Corruption had begun toe out of. As the Commanders talked to each other, Alexander nodded towards the tightly protected figure of ire and walked towards her, but before he could get too close¡­ A handsome face stood before him. One of the few Three-Link Gem Masters to have Awakened in this recent ceremony. Stemming from a powerful family on the side of Branch Leader Axel, he could be considered a cousin to ire. Adorned in a simr green battle robe with dark hair and eyes, Alexander smiled at the young man before him as he spoke. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Now why would you be standing in front of me, Charlie?" Someone who stayed out of his way many times in the past when they came across each other. He held obvious jealousy over Alexander¡¯s rtionship with ire, but he never said or did anything in front of Alexander before! Did the advent of his Variant Life Socket and ire¡¯s Five-Link Gem Sockets make him think things had changed? The expression on Charlie suppressed the fire of jealousy within as best as he could, an entourage of a few Two-Link Gem Masters lining up beside him as he spoke out. "Things are no longer the same as they used to be, Young Master. Lady ire is not someone you can still freely be around." ¡­! He was the first to speak boldly to Alexander when nobody else could! As someone who Awakened to Three Life Sockets, he was looked at as a force that could be another Gem Master Azazel one day. His pride and position had risen as he thought he could step up at this moment. But even before Alexander could reply¡­ "Who decided that?" The surrounding atmosphere buzzed. The chilly voice of ire Asmodeus rang out along with a sense of pressure that caused others to feel a sense of suffocation. A pressure that many weren¡¯t used to here as it could only stem from a Five-Link Gem Master! Charlie¡¯s expression turned ugly as the envy within his rose even more, his head turning behind him. "Lady ire, I-" "Step aside." WAA! A silent wave of light burst out from her chest as she spokemandingly, Charlie gritting his teeth before he looked down and moved himself to the left- the rest of his entourage also scattering. The Three-Link Gem Masters who were there to protect her adopted stern expressions as the strongest one was about to intervene when Gem Master Azazel stepped forward. "Todd, give the kids some space, hmm? We¡¯re a distance away from our destination. Let¡¯s get ready when things need our attention then." Strong words without a hint of rebuttal echoed out! Chapter 9: Awakened Expedition III Gem Master Azazel¡¯s words held a lot of weight as after a few seconds, Gem Master Todd nodded and waved his hands as many Gem Masters visibly rxed. ire¡¯s figure came out of the encirclement and wanted to talk to Alexander, but seeing all the gazes looking towards their direction...she couldn¡¯t even freely act how she wanted. Alexander looked at her and saw the sense of urgency in her eyes as he looked around, seeing the door leading to the topmost deck where ranged Gem Masters were stationed to be on the lookout in case any Aerial Beasts of Corruption appeared. He nodded to himself as he stepped forward and took ire¡¯s hand to the dismay of many eyes, walking with confident strides towards the metal door on the side opening to a set of stairs that led higher as nobody dared to stop him! He left behind the figure of Charlie who was clenching his fists as under the watchful gazes of many powerful Gem Masters, he closed the iron doors behind them and walked to the middle of the stairs. Above, there was another door that would lead to the upper deck, but for now¡­there were only the two of them here. On this staircase where no other gazes could peer into. Alexander nodded in affirmation as he turned around while speaking. "Are you oka-" ¡­! He didn¡¯t finish his words as the figure of ire flung itself towards him in a hug, Alexander shocked to feel the body of this girl trembling. Trembling. His eyes became filled with concern as he patted her dark hair, bringing their figures to sit down on the stairs as he asked again. "Are you okay?" The girl who held tremendous value. A potential Five-Link Gem Master who could be a pir of their Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. She pulled her head back as her blue eyes were actually hazy with held-back tears, and she looked at Alexander closely before sheid her head on his shoulders and spoke softly. "I¡­they¡­they are putting so many things on my shoulders¡­" Her words were akin to whispers. She was a powerful futurebatant, yes. But her mentality was not at all there yet. She wiped the tears on the rims of her dazzling blue eyes as she continued. "My dad told me that the rise of our entire family lies on me. That in the future, I will have to protect us and ensure that the lives of hundreds and thousands do not fall to Beasts of Corruption. That soon, I will have topete with even the Scions of the Ascendant Branch of our Asmodeus Bloodline. I¡­I don¡¯t¡­mean to be ungrateful for what I received. I don¡¯t mean to¡­" Her words held immense frustration. She knew her position was one of privilege. She knew that everyone wished they had awakened Five-Link Gem Sockets! So even though she couldn¡¯t bear the weight of the expectations her father ced on her, she still kept a strong front. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Alexander stroked her dark hair as he replied to her softly. "It¡¯s okay." He spoke calm words he had said to her many times before. "Is it though? How can I-" "Just leave it to me." His reply was firm. ire blinked and lifted her head to look at him, and he looked back with a calm gaze as he repeated himself. "Whatever expectations they ced on you. Whatever heavy weight you are carrying¡­just leave it all to me, okay? I¡¯ll help you shoulder it all." ¡­! They were words filled with confidence. So much confidence that after ire froze while looking at him for a few seconds, she gazed down towards his chest where she realized she couldn¡¯t even see anything there. Her fingers came to his chest as she wanted to ask him. She wanted to ask him how he could so confidently say that he would carry the weight ced on the shoulders of a Five-Link Gem Master. But she remembered the one thing she knew all her life. Alexander had never once lied to her. He had never once broken any promises. So¡­he wouldn¡¯t start now. She didn¡¯t ask him how or why, but she felt like the suffocating weight she had on this whole time lessened somewhat as she nodded and ced her head on his shoulder once more. Even though they had awakened, nothing had changed. He was always someone she could rely on. She closed her eyes as after what seemed like a day of people gazing up at her with expectations she could never meet, she could finally rx. "..." Alexander looked at the girl that seemed ready to fall asleep on his shoulders as clicked his tongue and touched the small bag beside his waist as he thought about the future. This bag held a few more Gems he had taken from the chest his father granted him, and he didn¡¯t fully know how they maye of use in the future, but he took them just in case. Out of the many lessons from his father, a major one was the fact that within Breaches- always be prepared for the unexpected. And for what he wanted to do, Alexander could not afford to lose his little life here! With a sharp gaze, he spoke softly to the girl beside him. "Come on, I think we¡¯re getting over the wall now." He said this, but he knew it with surety as on his chest, a total of six Gems continued to spin in his unfathomable Enneagram. A single Main Ability Gem, and five total Support Gems! Compare this to ire who was a Five-Link Gem Master, she only held a single Main Ability Gem and four Support Ability Gems as the difference was clear. But nobody knew. And nobody needed to know as his power was his secret. With the augmentations that his central Gem [Ice Wave] received from 5 additional Support Ability Gems, Alexander¡¯s senses did not just cover a few meters. Ridiculously, if he truly focused- he could sense things all around for a diameter of 1 mile. 1 mile! Chapter 10: Awakened Expedition IV A mile of omnidirectional senses was something entirely unrealistic for anymon Gem Master, much less one just starting out. This ridiculous capability came through from nothing else other than the umted support effects of [Frost Energy Support], [Frost Infiltration Support], [Elemental Discipline Support], and [Explosive Surge Support]. And this was only a single aspect of what they increased. When it came to the damage and area of effect from utilizing Ice Wave actively at this moment¡­he would need Beasts of Corruption to see just how terrifying the capabilities of having Six Gem Sockets active were. Six Gem Sockets. It effectively made him a Six-Link Gem Master, and not a single soul knew. Even more ridiculous was that if he could get his hands on a higher tier Main Ability Gem, the rest of the Sockets on his Enneagram may just light up. If and when such a time came¡­ n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om HUUM! The sound of a deep horn could be heard as the Airship crossed over the tall wall of the City of Carthage. Alexander took ire¡¯s hand and led her up the rest of the stairs,ing onto the third deck where Gem Masters with bows only gazed at them on the periphery of their eyes before they remained gazing outside like hawks. Heavy winds battered onto their bodies as this third deck held many openings, but from it¡­they could see the City of Carthage they were leaving behind. A vast wall stretching out circling so far that one couldn¡¯t see its end. Countless small houses and huts in the periphery near the Walls of Carthage, but they progressively became bigger and taller as they went toward the center of the city. Of course, the weaker and poorer Gem Masters that did not risk their lives going through Expeditions lived closer to the Wall of Carthage, while the more powerful and richer Gem Masters held abodes deeper in. Even now as their Airship climbed over the tall reinforced wall that Alexander remembered was raised from materials found within Breaches, they could see an archway of metal gates opening and closing that led out of the City and into a rough road that branched out into multiple directions. From these reinforced gates that had to be opened one after another for one to enter or leave, other Gem Masters either walked out in parties or carriages pulled by horses and moved towards other locations. Crowds of many were not going too far away, as a few dozen miles away from the City of Carthage, Alexander could see something that had appeared a few years ago. A Breach. A Breach that towered to the skies and looked like a massive tear in space- as if someone had looked at the skies and earth and simply tore a hole through it. One couldn¡¯t call it a portal as when you looked at it directly, you could already see a different world within it! This was a Tier 3 Breach that had appeared near the City of Carthage years ago, thousands of Beasts of Corruption erupting from it that the Gem Masters of the Asmodeus Bloodline fought against. After heavy losses and sacrifices, all emerging Beasts of Corruption were cleared as Gem Masters gained control of the Breach, and they set up camp and defensive lines outside of the massive Breach and within it- beginning to explore inside it deeper and eliminating any Beasts of Corruption they came across. This was a Tier 3 Breach that held powerful Tier 3 Beasts of Corruption as the weakest, so the Awakened Expedition that Alexander and ire were a part of...would not be delving into something like this. There was another Breach further away from the City of Carthage that their forces had also gained control over- a Tier 1 Breach that only ever held Tier 1 and a few Tier 2 Beasts of Corruption. Rtively safe- especially if they were being escorted by veteran Three-Link Gem Masters! But as Alexander stated at the distant fading City of Carthage and the rich movements of people within that made it work, his eyes couldn¡¯t peel away from the Breach close to it. The tear in space that looked like it was leading into another World entirely. There were a lot of theories regarding Breaches, with some of them stating that they could be gateways to other worlds. But some Breaches were small and could be explored by those powerful within a few days, while other Breaches had not been fully explored even now after years had passed. They were a curse, as well as a blessing. Within, Primal Life Gems to awaken more humans to be Gem Masters could be found. Ability Gems. Unknown Metals and Ore that could be used to enact Fortresses. Bodies of Beasts of Corruption that could be broken down to make weapons or armaments. As he looked at the fading tear of the skies and earth in the distance, the voice of ire rang out beside him. "The Tier 3 Breach termed the Den of Corruption. Every day, Father receives reports of a Gem Master or two that have fallen to Beasts of Corruption within from the rare appearence of Tier 4 Beasts. But we keep going again and again. They have to reinforce the defensive lines both within it and outside of it, they have to continue mining for more Ore and Gems to sustain our City. It is¡­" She didn¡¯t finish her words. She spoke of the reality of Gem Masters whose lives were unpredictable. Each one could die within days of their journey, while some lived for years. Even they didn¡¯t know what the future held. It was only after the City of Carthage was a distant blip in the distance, along with the Tier 3 Breach slowlying out of sight, that Alexander looked away. Their airship floated far above the earth below, and one could see mountain ranges that were filled with trees¡­that had no leaves. Seeing them made one think of death as a distance below them, there used to be a running river that stretched out for hundreds of miles into the Northern Sea. But at this moment, that river was dry. In their world¡­In the world of Ephesus, rain had been a rarity for decades now! Chapter 11: The Jungle Grounds! I Within their World of Ephesus, rain was a hazy concept. When it came, it came for a whole day as Gem Masters celebrated, and ever so briefly, life bloomed again. But after a brief respite of rain, it may nevere for months, and the longest had been years. It caused some areas to be devoid of life, and for Gem Masters to rely on Breaches and the abundant resources that could be found within as one of the resources always looked for¡­was water. Water was one of the precious resources brought into the City of Carthage to allow for the trees that lined up the Ancestral Mountain. For the few points of verdant vegetation that granted a false reality full of life. But the moment one left Carthage, they would be reminded of the true state of reality everywhere else. Looking at the mountain ranges filled with half-dead trees, Alexander was silent. Around them, the winds became rougher and rougher as the Airship delved further in, cracked and splintered earth being the only scenery all around them. A few minutes after that, a Two-Link Gem Master holding a fiery crimson bow looked toward Alexander and ire as he spoke out with a stern voice. "Rougher winds areing, Young Master Alex and Lady ire. It may be best for you to join the other recently awakened Gem Masters down below." The voice still carried a hint of respect in its authority as this should be someone from his Father¡¯s camp. Alexander nodded towards this man as truly, there wasn¡¯t anything worthy of looking at in these deste mountains that didn¡¯t remind one of death. So with light steps, Alexander and ire made their way back down as they waited to arrive at the Tier 1 Breach meant for them to explore. A Breach that was known as¡­the Jungle Grounds! ¡ª When outside a City Fortress, time always seemed to pass by differently as after what seemed like forever, the outline of a tear between the earth and extending to the skies could be seen ahead of them. Surrounding it were a few other Airships and rows of enacted walls and defenses, with hundreds of people seen stationed or moving to and fro. "Begin the Descent!" The voice of Gem Master Azazel boomed out as those controlling the Airship followed themand right away, the rough winds being cut through as after over 2 hours, a long trip through the skies ended. CLANG! As winds parted, the massive Airshipnded on the metal of a small hangar as the wings on its side buzzed rapidly, the impact being light- but not light enough to the extent that Alexander couldn¡¯t feel his body shaking from the vibrations. It even caused other Airships nearby to vibrate. When everything settled, all those who were already on the lowest deck of the Corrupted Airship faced the same direction. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A doorway that hadn¡¯t opened this whole time began to widen with the roaring of gears, revealing the world outside. HUUM! The first thing that Alexander noticed was a constant but low humming sound that only became more prominent when they began to disembark the Airship. A humming that his expanded senses that could cover a single mile quickly located the Source of- this being nothing else but the tear in space that was the Tier 1 Breach known as the Jungle Grounds. Being this close to a Breach came with a lot of new sensations, as well as a different atmosphere entirely. The Awakening Expedition got off the Airship as Gem Master Azazel and others led the way forward, with Azazel greeting other Three-Link Gem Masters stationed here as they talked amongst each other while walking. The newly Awakened Gem Masters followed behind closely as they took on everything around them. "Everybody seems to be on the edge, even though they are guarding a Tier 1 Breach¡­" ire¡¯s voice echoed in Alexander¡¯s ears as before he could even reply, Charlie, who was near them with his entourage, spoke out. "Any Breach is enough to make Gem Masters tense. Too many deaths have urred from even minorcency¡­" He replied lightly as he wanted to show he was knowledgeable as well, ire turning towards him briefly to nod as they continued forward. Alexander was tuning in on many more conversations than just this as his senses also expanded to hear the dozens of Gem Masters that had been stationed to guard this Breach for who knew how many weeks or months. A dozen meters away from them, three Two-Link Gem Masters were moving crates filled with Ores that were being loaded on the very Airship they came out of as they talked amongst each other. "I¡¯ll bet a single Support Gem that at least Three of these younguns will piss themselves at the first sight of a Beast of Corruption." "Only three? And I know one will do more than just piss. Remember months ago when that one guy shat his pants¡­" The conversations didn¡¯t have much value, but Alexander did keep his senses open moreso on what the powerful Gem Masters were talking about. Especially those moving with Gem Master Azazel. Their words entered his ears as they walked closer and closer toward the massive tear stretching across the earth and skies. "We¡¯ve confirmed over thest months and done a thorough check in the periphery of 50 miles past the Inner Barracks of the Breach. Only less than a dozen Tier 2 Beasts of Corruption and the rest are Tier 1. You all have nothing to worry about." A Three-Link Gem Master with a buzz cut talked to Gem Master Azazel and Todd with a stern expression. "Good. We will stay within that perimeter for no surprises. You¡¯ve practically been living in this Breach right, Richard?" Azazel turned towards the Gem Master with a buzz cut, Richard, as this man shook his head with a sense of annoyance and gave in. "Yes, yes. I will act as a guide to you and the young chicks. You guys brought so many Three-Link Gem Masters that could have been deployed to the Den of Corruption¡­but I guess I do understand the reasoning." As he spoke, he turned around to nce at ire. He wasn¡¯t the only one as while they walked, many other eyes hade to lock onto their group- specifically on ire. The newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master. "Alright, it¡¯s settled." The leaders came to their own conclusions as at this time, their group passed the opened metal doors of a reinforced wall that rose slightly above their heads- effectively leaving the Outer Barracks of the Tier 1 Breach in front of them anding near the bounds of the tear in space! At this time, Gem Master Todd turned around to stare at the less than 100 newly Awakened Gem Masters as he spoke out sharply. "We have already discussed how to move within this Breach. Remain within your ranks and only move when you are called upon. You are not to veer off on your own. You are not to make a move on your own. If you vite any of these rules and those we mentioned before to put everyone in jeopardy, I will personally send you back to your families in a body bag." ¡­! Chapter 12: The Jungle Grounds! II The words of Gem Master Todd were harsh, but the situation was just that serious. The moment Gem Master Todd finished speaking, the three circr Gems on his chest shed with a brilliant blue light. And in the next moment, a dazzling blue bow of lightning appeared in his hands- Alexander recognizing its features right away as such a bow could only be formed by following the recipe of [The Lightning Archer]! Most of those who followed Branch Leader Axel, ire¡¯s Father, tended to stick with Ability Gems geared towards lightning. Gem Master Todd was no different as momentster, simr bows of Lightning appeared on two others, while the Two-Link Gem Masters around them raised ck metallic shields that soon became reinforced with crackling Lightning. Defenders and Attackers. At the same time, a woman with three Sockets raised a weapon that looked like a staff attached to the skull of an Unknown Beast of Corruption- and yet it shone with a radiant white hue. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The staff in her hands pulsed as it formed two pure white wings of light on the skull- Alexander recognizing the features of this Ability to stem from nothing else but the Gem Recipe of [Light Acolyte Healer]. Some with the rare Ability Gem of [Life Force Rejuvenation] could actually heal themselves and others to an extent. Defenders, Attackers, and Healers. Branch Leader Axel truly wanted to ensure the safety of his daughter as this lineup was something that would rarely even be formed when going into the Tier 3 Breach- the Den of Corruption. And yet here they were at a Tier 1 Breach! Whether Alexander¡¯s father knew this or not, he sent Gem Master Azazel and his squadron to ensure Alexander¡¯s safety. Azazel who at this moment released a fiery red light- visible red mes beginning to swirl around him as his body radiated a terrifying pressure of a one-man army. Those behind him burned with a simr brilliance as they showed their [Barbarian Blood] to the fullest. "Let¡¯s go." The Breach was right ahead of them. Gem Master Azazel nodded towards Alexander, and beside him, ire stood close by! Around them, cautious Awakened Gem Masters moved along with hints of fear and excitement as they moved towards the tear in space ahead of them. Was it truly akin to another world? Was it a simple separate space? Fear and anticipation were abundant as after walking across the tightly guarded Outer Barracks that showed many Gem Masters moving crates of Resources and load them towards Airships, Alexander and dozens of other newly Awakened Gem Masters entered a Breach for the first time. How could the sensation of entering a tear between the skies and earth even be described? When Alexander was right in front of it, he could see vibrant green vegetation and trees within this tear in space, but his senses could not enter it to sense everything yet. It was only after he followed the procession of Gem Masters and stepped foot from what he knew to be Ephesus and entered an entirely different ce did the diameter of his senses expanded wildly again as he was able to sense everything around them for a mile away. The instant he stepped into the Breach, he felt his Enneagram pulse as the constant spinning that the Six Gems had been doing ever since he socketed them in...became just a little faster. And he noticed something unique as the speed of the spinning increased. Based on his own perception. Based on how these circr gems were when he socketed them. Did they not seem¡­smaller right now? Smaller. He had never heard of Main Ability Gems or Support Ability Gems bing smaller over time! Why were the Gems in his Enneagram bing smaller, and what end result were they going towards? Alexander couldn¡¯t confidently answer this yet as his focus was forced toe out into thends around him. The air. The atmosphere. The grass at his feet. All of it...felt so beautiful that it creeped him off. This was a Breach? A ce filled with terrifying monsters? So why did it give this unique sensation of an abundance of life? Why was the air here¡­so rich with life force? Before he could answer any of these questions¡­ "Who can tell me what Beasts of Corruption we can expect in these Jungle Grounds?" Up ahead, within this silence, the voice of Gem Master Todd echoed out. It was silent as everyone followed one of the first rules given to them. Do not speak or make conversation unless you were asked to. In the back, a young girl wearing green battle garments along with three Life Sockets that gave her the confidence she had chirped up to answer. "The Emerald Tree Boas, The Eight Eyed Tarants, and the Poison Dart Frogs are among the most frequently encountered ones, sir!" Her voice seemed filled with respect and excitement as Alexander recognized her to be Rachel Asmodeus- a girl from a distinguished family on the side of Branch Leader Axel. Gem Master Todd nodded as he turned his head to nod towards Gem Master Richard- the one who mapped out and knew the few dozen miles nearby like the back of his hand as he beckoned everyone forward while speaking calmly. "The first area we will head to is where there are thest dangerous lot- the Emerald Tree Boas." They began moving towards the left. Their pace was a quick one as another rule among the many they were given was to always move fast. If you stayed in one ce for too long within a Breach, you had to either be stupid or very assured of your strength. Many of those escorting them were strong, but even they didn¡¯t wish to be conceited even in this Tier 1 Breach! Beasts of Corruption had instilled this much fear in them. So they went deeper into the Breach. Ahead,rger trees and foliage arose as Alexander knew within seconds, all of them would be covered by the shade of these tall trees. They would freely enter the jungle! Chapter 13: The Jungle Grounds! III Alexander¡¯s eyes could only see the scene ahead of him, but his senses¡­were spread out for a mile all around as he captured everything nearby. The dewdrops on the leaves of theserge trees he could feel all around. The moisture of the damp grass on his feet. The tail of a green scaled¡­! A tail! His senses quickly focused on a straight path to the left of where they were- and there, .8 miles away, he could sense the outline and life force of something unique for the first time. Ten¡­twenty¡­25 meters in sheer length alone. Green scales that melded with the Trees and grass around it. A head with two Serpentine eyes that shone with a green hue, and on the backside of this terrifying creature, on the verdant scales that camouged it in a terrifying manner¡­a dazzling Gem Socket could be seen. The Ability Gems that humans obtained from Breaches. The vast majority of them¡­stemmed from terrifying Beasts of Corruption like these! The vast majority. Not all of them did. Alexander felt a sense of suffocation when watching such arge beast, his senses catching it opening its jaws to reveal an opening that could swallow a human being whole. They were slowly moving towards it as Gem Master Richard who had been moving in these Jungle Grounds a great deal seemed to know its general direction well. In his hands, wisps of tendrils of mes had begun to gather as after a while, he nodded to Gem Master Azazel and Todd who became stern- Azazel moving closer towards Alexander while Todd came closer towards ire. The powerful Three-Link Gem Masters who were supposed to ensure her safety guarded her from all angles as when they were a few trees away froming face to face with the massive Emerald Tree Boa¡­ HU! The hand of Gem Master Richard rose up along with his voice. "When youe across any Beast of Corruption, you should always strike first and strike hard. Since today is a day of lessons, you all will first see how to handle one, and subsequently take care of the rest under supervision." His rising voice of course caused a rustle of leaves ahead of them. ROAR! A booming Shockwave split apart the trees ahead of them as in the next moment, the unfathomably green scales of the head of the Emerald Tree Boa peered out with murderous eyes. It didn¡¯t hold any reservation or fear at observing dozens of Gem Masters in front of it, the Gem on its back radiating a frightening light as from its opened jaws- a swirl of poisonous green light formed and shot out towards their party! It was enough to cause some of the newly Awakened Gem Masters to stumble back, but one of the Two-Link Gem Masters holding shields buzzing with lightning jumped up- his shield held high as it came in contact with the poisonous ball of light and subsequently knocked it away. It sshed onto a tree to the left that began to melt as soon as it was hit. "This is still considered a Tier 1 Beast of Corruption, but there are Emerald Tree Boas that can have two Gem Sockets and yet remain as Tier 1 Beasts. A single attack from them can melt any average Gem Master who isn¡¯t prepared, but it remains a Tier 1 Beast purely because when ites to killing it, even a veteran with a single Socket is capable of doing so." ¡­! Gem Master Richard spoke as he valiantly walked towards the Emerald Tree Boa. He had fought and killed these Beasts many times. He knew their behaviors. He knew their movements. He walked up until he was meters away from the slithering body of this Beast that roared towards him, its heavy tail flung out like a fast hammer from the right side as¡­ ¡­! Gem Master Richard¡¯s hands surrounded by tendrils of mes rose to intercept the heavy tail smashing towards his body, a heavy impact booming out as his feet sank into the bare earth a few inches. But he remained immovable. With his right hand holding the vibrating tail of the Emerald Tree Boa, his left hand rose as a spear of mes formed around it, his eyes shing with a crimson radiance as he flung this spear out at a fast speed. HU! The Main Ability Gem, [me Spear]. The Emerald Tree Boa never got even a chance to dodge as the spear pierced its head from below- its jaws spewing out mes as a momentter, its entire head became scorched. Its massive body that could turn the Awakened Gem Masters fearful tumbled from its high point as it smashed into the earth below, the smell of scorched meat permeating outwards as the veteran Gem Master Richard took care of this Tier 1 Beast of Corruption with rtive ease! The strength and corrtion of Gem Masters to Beasts of Corruption could be made with rtive ease- the number of Gem Sockets a Gem Master had often corrted to the level of Beasts of Corruption they could potentially kill. Potentially. Take ire for an example. She had Five Life Sockets, but she still had the designation of a newly Awakened Gem Master as not much time had passed for her Life Force to grow under the influence of her socketed Gems. If she came across a Tier 5 Beast of Corruption who had 5 Life Sockets just like her, she would not even be capable of lifting a finger. Even a Tier 4 Beast with 4 Life Sockets would likely trounce the power she held currently. But if there was a genuine Gem Master- a Veteran with Four Life Sockets or even Five whose life force and power were robust, they could face Tier 4 or 5 Beasts without an issue! There was the factor of time needed for a Gem Master to truly represent the power of their Gem Sockets. Of course, theoretically, one could ovee experience and time with more Sockets. But who could easily awaken to five or six Life Sockets? Gem Master Richard finished his presentation as he looked back and spoke. "Simple enough, yeah? After you get over your initial fear, these Emerald Tree Boas are the easiest to hunt due to their size and the fact that their defenses are not that high." He went to the body of the Emerald Tree Boa he had killed and jumped on its back, his hands going down to yank the Gem from its Socket and cing it in a small bag beside his waist as his voice continued to ring out. "But, you can never really hunt even these Emerald Tree Boas alone as after a single one falls¡­" ¡­! The earth near them began to shake. In the back, Alexander watched this whole initial battle y out with sharp eyes that rose up halfway through the battle- his senses discovering three more Emerald Tree Boas rushing out from different directions after they heard the roar of the one they faced. These Beasts loved to draw each other as after a single one fell, three more that captured the roars of the first one appeared! Fear tensed in the Awakened Gem Masters behind him. But his own heart...felt steady. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t fearful. There was a sense of caution inside him no matter what. But¡­it also wasn¡¯t as pronounced as others, his right hand going towards his chest as he felt his Enneagram. With it, his mind knew that he didn¡¯t have to be fearful. Not of these Beasts of Corruption ahead of him. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Below his feet, the grass had just begun to freeze over as the hidden strength within him was stimted, his senses heightened for what was toe as all Gem Masters around prepared. "Three areing up based on these vibrations- shall the kids get a first taste?!" Chapter 14: Catastrophe I Gem Master Richard bellowed out as two ming spears appeared in both his hands, and Gem Master Todd held his lightning bow tightly as he looked back toward ire. "Lady ire." As much as this was an Expedition for all newly Awakened Gem Masters who were brave enough to seek to join the ranks of Gem Masters, it was mainly an Expedition to introduce the future Five-Link Gem Master to Beasts of Corruption. ire¡¯s rigid figure heard the voice of Gem Master Todd, her eyes facing forward and seemingly frozen, but a momentter¡­ Alexander¡¯s hand came tond on her shoulder as her figure became less rigid. She turned to look towards him as he nodded, almost as if reminding her to remember his words. ire¡¯s eyes then became firm as a momentter, crackles of lightning began to buzz around her. HUUM! Her blue eyes gained an even deeper shade of blue. Behind her back, wings of Lightning formed that looked reminiscent of those her father had when he flew in the day she Awakened her Five-Link Gem Sockets! The same Gem Recipe as her father. Lightning King. N?v(el)B\\jnn Main Ability Gem, [Body of Lightning]. And unlike her father who only had three Support Ability Gems aiding him, she had four! Along with the formation of her blue wings of Lightning, five floating balls of lightning coalesced around her as they buzzed with interminable brilliance- their light even causing some of the weaker Awakened Gem Masters behind them to squint as at this time¡­ ROAR! Three massive Emerald Tree Boas arrived in the clearing. Gem Masters had shields ready to reinforce as Gem Master Azazel and Todd were already in front of Alexander and ire, ready to move at any point. But in the next moment, as if receiving guidance- three of the five bundles of concentrated lightning around ire shot out to an Emerald Tree Boa each. Fast. This was the only word that could be used to describe what happened next as even Alexander was only able to follow the trajectory of the bundles of lightning with his senses. In the middle of their roars, before they could unleash any attacks...the concentrated bundles of pure lightning smashed into the heads of the three Emerald Tree Boas at speeds they couldn¡¯t even react to! BOP! The unique explosive sounds rang out simultaneously as chunks of meat and blood rained from the skies. The heads of the three massive Emerald Tree Boas were blown to smithereens at the moment of their entry as the scene left many speechless. The damage of her single bundle of concentrated lightning was far more potent than even the spear that Gem Master Richard had thrown out, and the speed was something that no Two-Link or Three-Link Gem Master could follow! "Haha!" Amidst everyone¡¯s shock, Gem Master Richardughed boisterously as he pped. "Now that¡­is an uing Five-Link Gem Master!" Undeniable power. With additional support from a Gem even her father couldn¡¯t use, she had something none of them didn¡¯t. At this stage, her damage output and survivability may already be nearing a weak Four-Link Gem Master. Maybe a tenth of the power that her father, Branch Leader Axel, or Branch Leader Julius held- without any of their battle experience added in. Maybe. She seemed just as shocked as everyone else as she controlled her breathing while turning to look at Alexander. Almost as if to confirm whether she had truly done that! She only saw his smile, which caused her heart to calm down even more, her fears lessening somewhat as she looked ahead. It was at this moment that behind her, the dozens of newly Awakened Gem Masters came to a realization that caused their eyes to brim with confidence. They were in a Tier 1 Breach with only Tier 2 and Tier 1 Beasts of Corruption. Apanying them were multiple Three-Link Gem Masters who regrly fought against Tier 3 Beasts, and they also had a young Five-Link Gem Master in their Expedition! Of all the Awakened Expeditions that had urred in the past, this had to be the safest one that ever urred. The tall trees around them and the endless jungle that followed did not seem that menacing anymore. With so many powerful Gem Masters around them, their safety was assured as they could simply focus on getting experience on how to handle Beasts of Corruption themselves. Nothing could possibly go wrong. ¡ª The goal of the Awakening Expedition was to be familiar with Beasts of Corruption and gain thebat sense to face them. So any time the Expedition came across an Emerald Tree Boa¡­ "Damian, join the fray!" A newly Awakened Gem Master was sent forward to go against the Tier 1 Beast that was already surrounded by others. From the ranks behind them, over a dozen had already gotten the chance to fight against an Emerald Tree Boa under the protection of the veteran Gem Masters here. The person with the most takedowns so far, though, remained ire Asmodeus. ROAR! Another Emerald Tree Boa crashed the nearby trees in front of it and came into the messy clearing where a few dead bodies of its brethreny dead, Gem Master Todd turning towards ire who retained her wings of Lightning. "Lady ire, you can finish this one off. With it, we should havergely cleared this region of Emerald Tree Boas." They had been moving across the jungle for thest hour. They were at least 30 miles in at this point, the thick foliage of trees being even more radiant. ire had gotten used to things at this point as the moment these words were uttered by Gem Master Todd, another concentrated ball of lightning formed above her and quickly smashed into the thick head of the Emerald Tree Boa- taking it down in a single shot once more! With every kill, her confidence grew. She turned towards Alexander beside her as he gave her thumbs up, their small exchanges causing annoyance in the eyes of others as at the same time, the other Awakened Gem Masters cut through the scales of thest Emerald Tree Boa andid it to rest. "Alright, that¡¯s thest of them¡­take the time to rest as after this, we will head towards the region of the Eight Eyed Tarants. Whoever hasn¡¯t gotten a chance to enterbat yet will take priority!" The voice of Gem Master Richard echoed out as he ced his hand on the bare green earth and closed his eyes- confirming no other vibrations or even the smallest movements. At this time, the figure of Gem Master Azazel walked toward Alexander and ire as he spoke to them with a smile. "Young Master Alex, you¡¯ve sat back this whole time and given Lady ire the limelight. How about we have you participate against the Eight Eyed Tarants and clear up any misconceptions others may have about you?" ¡­! Chapter 15: Catastrophe II Gem Master Azazel¡¯s voice was robust as others easily heard it. This whole time, Alexander had yet to make a move as everyone attributed it to his Variant Life Socket. And when they truly thought about it, a few realized how they could barely see the outline of this Variant Life Socket on him as they didn¡¯t even know the shape that made it defective. But was there actually something with it? For Gem Master Azazel to be speaking so confidently about Alexander joining the next battles? With these questions beginning to rise, Alexander couldn¡¯t help but nod with a smile towards Gem Master Azazel. He never meant to hide his power in the long term. He was his father¡¯s son. Strength didn¡¯t juste purely with one¡¯s output of power as a Gem Master. It also came with their position in this world. The higher the position, the more things he will gain ess to. "You don¡¯t have to worry, Gem Master Azazel. I¡¯ll take the next Beast of Corruption wee acros-" ¡­! Others had begun to rx and sit down while discussing the blood-pumping battles. The first taste of defeating Beasts of Corruption. asional nces towards ire as they wondered what her Support Ability Gems were to give her such a high damage that could kill Tier 1 Beasts in a single shot. Everything had begun to calm down, and yet in the middle of speaking, Alexander never finished his words! This was because his senses that extended up to a single mile felt something that did not seem real. He had to raise his head to make sure he wasn¡¯t imagining things as he looked to the skies. The skies! And there, in the far distance about half a mile in the air, he could barely, just barely see the same thing his senses clearly captured. It was¡­a tear in space. And it was only getting wider. His expression rapidly changed from surprise to shock, his turned gaze confusing Gem Master Azazel and ire as they also looked up. And at such a moment. CRACK! As if ss was shattered. As if the skies themselves were crying at being ripped apart! Within a second, the sky in the distance became torn as an unbelievable scene unfolded. From the sides of the tearing sky, massive furred hands pulled and stretched as the tear becamerger andrger. Until the body of the furry hands tearing apart the skies showed itself. The first thing that Alexander noticed was its eyes. Its deeply red eyes pulsed with arcs of red lightning, its face being that of a massive ck-furred Gori! The second thing that instantly came to attention was on the chest of this massive gori that seemedrger than even the Emerald Tree Boa- towering at the very least to be 30 meters. On its chest¡­were four vibrant Life Sockets. Four Life Sockets that each shone with radiant crimson Gems. It was a surreal reality. DUM! Alexander felt the beat of his heart and the spinning of his Enneagram that seemed to bring him to attention to the current situation. It was...a Breach inside a Breach. Something he had never heard of! But most disastrous in all this was the fact that the first Beast of Corruption to peer its head through was a massive ck furred gori that had four dazzling Life Sockets. At a minimum, any Beast of Corruption with 4 Life Sockets was considered a Tier 4 Beast. And they could very well scale up to being Tier 5 Beasts depending on their Bloodline! Such Beasts needed someone like his Father leading multiple Squadrons just to hold up against it and see if it could be taken down. For such a Beast to appear inside a Tier 1 Breach¡­was a death sentence. Time felt like it was going slower. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om With his heightened senses, Alexander felt the oppressive air of this beast closely, along with its face. He was able to see as its eyes looked around and came to lock on them right away, and they went further by distinguishing them as it seemed to be looking through them one by one! Until¡­ "No¡­" His shock turned into horror. This was because he saw the crimson eyes of this Beast lock onto none other than ire- at the dazzling collection of Five Life Sockets on her chest. And its eyes shone with intelligence and intellect as they curved into smiles. The furry arms of this massive beast that were tearing open the skies then grabbed onto the ends of this tear, and using them as leverage¡­it flung its body from the skies and towards their location instantly. Before anybody could even react! HUUM! At such a time, Alexander felt his Enneagram spin with even more speed. And yet time seemed to be moving ever slowly. He moved by instinct. He reached out and wrapped his left hand around ire¡¯s waist, and his right hand flung out in front of him and released a terrifying burst of cold light that flung his figure and ire backward! It was unfathomably quick. So quick that even the Three-Link Gem Masters like Azazel, Todd, and Richard could not react to it. But he had to do it as a momentter, where they used to be standing¡­ BOOOM! The earth splintered and cried as if a meteor had thundered down. Nearby, Gem Master Azazel was flung back as his body began to burn with crimson radiance of utter shock. Finally, time seemed to move again. The shocked Gem Masters came to grasp the realization that somehow, a massive Beast of Corruption with Four Life Sockets had appeared within their midst! The shock and fear from this alone were intense as, with his arms trembling slightly, Gem Master Todd raised his blue bow of lightning as he yelled out. "Protect! Lady! ire!" A dazzling arrow, nay, a dazzling spear was released from his bow made of lightning. A spear of lightning so quick that it instantly smashed onto the lustrous ck fur of the Beast of Corruption in their midst. And¡­what urred next caused the fear budding in their hearts to rise by another octave. The powerful attack from Gem Master Todd, one of the few most powerful Three-Link Gem Masters here¡­it smashed into the fur of this Beast as it fizzled out entirely before it pierced anything! "...!" Chapter 16: Bobo! I "Ah¡­" The rising bows and long ranged attacks that were being prepared by many faltered. At the center of the Gem Masters, the ck-furred Gori actually had its lips twist into a cruel smile as its fist smashed onto its chest, bursts of crimson tendrils of lightning erupting from its body and tearing apart the surrounding earth as a st was sent out in all directions. ROAAR! The bodies of most Gem Masters were flung back like ragdolls. The Three-Link Gem Masters were in better states as their robust life force protected them somewhat, but even they felt their bodies rocked to their core! And to make things worse, in the ruptured skies above, other roars could be heard as dozens of ck furred creatures began to rush out of the Breach. Their eyes glowed crimson, and either on their chests or backs, Two or Three Life Sockets released astounding radiance. It was a hellish scene that changed everything far too quickly, a scene that changed a safe Tier 1 Breach into something unthinkable! And at the center of it all seemed to be the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master; with the roaring Four-Link ck Furred Gori honing its eyes on her figure and the figure of Alexander that actually evaded its attack earlier. With a flicker of crimson radiance over its ck fur, it ignored everyone else and kicked off the earth below it, surging towards their two figures that were still smashing backwards. What was most horrifying was the speed its massive body had- the gap between them rapidly being closed as great peril was waiting ahead! Just what was this? Just what had gone wrong?! ¡ª Her heart felt like it was about to explode. By the time she blinked when she followed Alexander¡¯s gaze to the skies, she could already see the massive hand of the ck Furred Gori right before her eyes. Her senses barely kept up as her power wasn¡¯t able to move so quickly! But luckily, she felt his hands. His protective hands. They wrapped around her as a momentter, Alexander released a burst of cold white light that flung both of them away from the grasp of the terrifying beast. No sooner had they smashed into a tree that stopped their advance, the Beast was already cruising towards them again, the earth splintering beneath its feet as tall trees became torn as if they were paper! Its sheer pressure was so suffocating that ire barely managed to force her life force to move, but before she could activate anything, this beast was already on top of them again. This was when she came to a realization. This was truly a Beast of Corruption. The snakes they were fighting just before were absolutely nothing! In such a perilous situation, amidst her very own life force moving sluggishly, she felt her body pushed back as Alexander stepped in front of her. Directly in the path of the massive oing beast! "No¡­!" ire cried out as lightning finally began to gather around her, but at this time, she saw a ster scene. The temperature around them dropped drastically. And with Alexander as the origin, a tremendous wave of white blue cial Frost erupted outwards, freezing everything in its path as it shockingly slowed and covered the massive figure of the ck Furred Gori entirely. Its massive body became encased in what looked like a cier as after this, Alexander flicked his hand up! The waves of cial ice wrapping around the massive beast then exploded as its figure was actually flung towards the skies, its fur remaining frozen as in the skies, a ss shard spun above its head. The face of the ck Furred Gori showed tremendous shock and surprise as it gazed down below. But the ss shard spinning above its head exploded momentster, a gush of freezing cold waves of light wrapping around it again as its massive body became covered entirely with ice and frost! Like a cier floating in the sky. But it didn¡¯t stay like that for long as ire saw from the corner of her eyes¡­the fingers on Alexander¡¯s right hand flick down. BOOM! An explosive sound of shattering ice echoed out as a terrifying force smashed the massive body of the ck Furred Gori back for the green earth below, an impact booming out as the entire region raged with icy cold waves of light. The earth held an icy indentation as within it, the body of the ck Furred Gori could be seen. And yet at this moment, a gash leaking crimson blood was present on its shoulder- this blood freezing into icy streams soon after as an immense silence followed. The crimson eyes of the ck Furred Gori red with shock towards Alexander. ire stared with shock and stupefaction towards Alexander! n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In the distance, the distraught figures of Gem Master Azazel and others who were bleeding stared with their jaws flung wide open. In another direction, amidst the cluster of newly Awakened Gem Masters, manyy bleeding with bruises and broken limbs as among them, Charlie fell to his knees amidst his shock and fear as he stared at the progression of events that had just urred between Alexander and the massive ck Furred Gori. This¡­was Alexander? This was his Defective Life Socket?! ¡ª His Gem Recipe was a straightforward one. The Main Ability Gem of Ice Wave supported by [Energy Preservation Support], [Frost Energy Support], [Frost Infiltration Support], [Elemental Discipline Support], and [Explosive Surge Support]. The addition andpound effects of thest three Support Ability Gems added to this recipe was what made the ridiculous output of power that Alexander just unleashed on the Four-Link ck Furred Gori possible! [Frost Infiltration Support]:: Any Ability Gem rting to cold or frost can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The Linked Ability is capable of ignoring 90% of the defenses rting to cold or ice within the target, and has a 100% chance of freezing the target. [Elemental Discipline Support]: Any Ability Gem rting to the elements can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. When applicable, the supported Ability will trigger for a second time on the same enemy if there are no other targets nearby. If other targets are near, the supported Ability will trigger onto a maximum of three other targets. [Explosive Surge Support]:: Any Ability Gem rting to the elements can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The Linked Ability has its Damage Output increased by a factor of 4, and will activate an Explosive Surge of Elements under your directional control on any immobilized targets by gathering the released Elemental energy and exploding it with three times the damage. Ayering of ridiculous effects and increased damage outputs. What made the current reality possible! Chapter 17: Bobo! II The [Frost Energy Support] already granted Alexander a boon of 200% in increased Damage and Area of Effect, and the above mentioned [Explosive Surge Support] further increased the damage while adding an explosive effect! This wasn¡¯t to mention the boons of the Frost Infiltration Support and Elemental Discipline Support. Because of everything working together in a shocking harmony, he had released a single Ice Wave that entirely froze the massive Tier 4 Beast of Corruption. The support effect of Explosive Surge Support was triggered as he pushed the direction of the explosion up- and this sent the ck Furred Gori to the skies. The support effects of Elemental Discipline Support then activated as Ice Wave was triggered yet again on the ck Furred Gori, its figure bing frozen in the skies before Alexander chose the direction of the Explosive Surge towards the earth below! He used its own weight and this heavy Elemental explosion to deal even more damage, and with the capability of ignoring 90% of the target defenses when it rted to cold or frost¡­he was actually able to injure this Beast greatly while someone like the Three-Link Gem Master Todd wasn¡¯t even able to get past its fur. "..." And now, here everyone was. In the midst of a heavy silence as Alexander saw first hand how terrifying a single Main Ability Gem supported by five Support Ability Gems was! If someone with a single Life Socket also had [Ice Wave] and cast it towards the ck Furred Gori¡­it may not have even been able to cover a single limb of this Beast, nor even have the power to freeze it- much less fling it¡¯s body to the skies and back down to earth. Proper support abilities were that terrifying. This Gem Recipe that only he had right now from theories others only mentioned¡­he was keeping it simple with the same distinction as the Ice King Gem Recipe. DUM! The beat of his heart was still very loud. He felt a mixture of fear and exhration as even though he theoretically knew how many Gems he had and what they should be able to do, he still had never put it on disy as the results were unknown. And for his first Beast of Corruption to be a Tier 4 one? It was a shock not just for him, but for everyone else as in this silence¡­a few battle hardened individuals still broke out of it to react the quickest. Gem Master Azazel was the first. His figure felt like it was ame with mes of blood as [Barbarian Blood] went into overdrive, his voice booming out towards every single Gem Master here as when one looked towards the skies, they could still see an outflow of more and more Beasts of Corruption from the second Breach. "Head to the Inner Barracks! Carry those who are injured! Do not engage- only run!" ¡­! Do not engage. These words thundered into the newly Awakened Gem Masters, a few like Charlieing out of their stupor and on their feet, looking at their friends who were either knocked out or couldn¡¯t even walk as they carried them and began to make a run towards where they came from. The Veteran Gem Masters did the same as they carried anyone injured that couldn¡¯t move- and they all began to surge towards the entrance of the Breach where a defensive line was already established! The Gem Master with some healing capabilities continued to wave her staff towards those heavily injured- her face already drained of color and life essence as she seemed to be on herst straw while she made her retreat as well. Swiftly, all Gem Masters moved back. With their blood pumping, Gem Master Azazel, Todd, and Richard bolted towards Alexander¡¯s position as their eyes betrayed their urgency while Azazel shouted out once more. "Young Master, Lady ire! Please do not engage, we will buy time as you retreat!" ¡­! As he said this, Azazel¡¯s strong voice shuddered towards the end. He knew what it meant to buy time. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Against the Beast that even the attacks of Gem Master Todd could not pierce the fur of, they may only be capable ofsting seconds. But Alexander could not die. Lady ire could not die! In the distance, Alexander heard their words clearly. But he did not move a single step as his eyes remained locked onto the figure with frozen fur and a bleeding shoulder that had already been covered with frostbite. An undtion of crimson tendrils of light had already begun to dance on this creature as its eyes were locked onto him and ire with tremendous malice. Alexander did not take a single step as he knew any move he made, this creature would react. A single p from it could kill others. Chunks of ice fell from it as its chest shone brightly, a frightening aura ring from it as, in the next moment, its devilish jaws opened to reveal a blood-curdling voice. "Humans¡­can never. Be. Trusted." ¡­! The Hearts of all Gem Masters dropped. The eyes of Gem Master Richard became painted with despair as he stopped in his tracks. Only Gem Master Azazel and Todd continued while their faces drained of all color as they all heard the same voice. Their humannguage¡­from the mouth of a Beast of Corruption! Such a thing was only possible for highly intelligent Peak Tier 4 Beasts of Corruption, and even moremonly for those Tier 5 and higher. The broken speech gave them hope that this Beast was of peak Tier 4. Because if it wasn¡¯t, they would all undoubtedly die. The heavy chunks of ice all fell from this massive beast as it got on all Four limbs while giving a deadly re towards Alexander. "They...tell about girl. But. Not. You. Was this...a trap for Bobo?" Bobo. Bobo the Four-Link ck Furred Gori uttered words that caused everyone tremendous dismay. Words that caused Alexander and ire to open their eyes in shock for what they represented! Why did a Breach suddenly appear inside a Breach? Why did a Four-Link Beast of Corruption look for and lock onto ire? It came here with purpose after receiving a single piece of news about a newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master. And it was precise enough to even know what Breach they would enter, and once they had actually entered! Chapter 18: Bobo! III The moment the Four-Link Beast of Corruption appeared, its gaze had honed in on ire alone as this was its purpose. And the most catastrophic thing was that the only way any word about ire could have spread to a Beast of Corruption such as this¡­was through the mouth of Humans. Someone within the City of Carthage, or any of the distant surrounding City Fortresses hadmunicated such critical information about a powerful uing Gem Master to the Beasts of Corruption! Who? Why? Someone from their Asmodeus Bloodline, or one of the other three Human Lineages? Alexander¡¯s mind was buzzing with all the possibilities as he remembered his father¡¯s words. At times, humans could be worse than monsters. "Dare. To Scheme. Against Bobo?!" ¡­! The frozen earth splintered below the massive beast. It brought its thick right hand on one of the gems on its chest- a crimson light shing before Bobo grasped something¡­and pulled it out from the crimson Gem. Wondrously, an obsidian spiked bat made out of crystalline materials was pulled out of the support ability Socket- something that caused the ashen gazes of those running away to be even cker as this represented a dreadful spatial element. "Scheme. Against. Bobo?!" BOOM! The massive club smashed onto the frozen earth as like a speedy mountain, the Beast flung itself forward again. Alexander¡¯s senses told him many things. It¡¯s trajectory. It¡¯s speed. And just how painful it would be if this massive thing ever smashed into him. He then felt the rapidly spinning Enneagram Life Socket on his chest that seemed to be heating up and spinning ever faster in the middle of all this, his mind feeling tremendous strength from it that calmed his beating heart. He could do this. For his own sake. For the sake of his Father. For the revenge he still wanted to take against those who took away what was most precious! Beasts of Corruption like these¡­were the reason why. He felt the anger and hatred that was always submerged against the specific Beasts of Corruption that killed his mother. The Elven Beasts of Corruption that could speak humannguage fluently. Why did he only reserve his hatred for them? Even this Beast of Corruption before him came from the same camp! DUM! The beat of his heart came, but it did not bring him rity this time around. It further roused his anger and directed it as Alexander no longer wanted to beid back. He wanted to release these heavy emotions. He wanted to prove to himself that he could at the very least take care of this Beast in front of him if he was to target the even more terrifying Elven Beasts of Corruption in the future! For the first time in his life, he felt like screaming. And so, while an average of ck fur surged towards him, he screamed. "OOOH!" A scream of anger from the depths of his heart. It was met with a swing of a massive obsidian club that darkened the skies above them and threatened to turn him and ire into pulps of meat, but a st of ice rose up to meet it! Ice Wave. BOOM! The descending club never reached as even the hand swinging it down froze, the ck Furred Gori roaring out as tendrils of crimson light surrounded it again. But an explosive force cracked the ice and flung the club upwards before it became encased in ice once more, and another subsequent explosion urred that flung both the club and the ck Furred Gori that held it back. The support ability Gems on his chest continued to show their wonders as once more, the Four-Link Beast of Corruption was pushed back. And this time, Alexander didn¡¯t wait for it to strike first as feeling the strength of his body, he spoke to the girl behind him while he shot towards the ck Furred Gori. "Run." ¡­! His figure jumped towards the massive beast, the scene being etched in the hearts of all those watching and running as Gem Master Azazel roared out while he also followed. "Do not engage, Young Master! We will hold it back while you and Lady ire retreat!" The veteran Gem Master wanted to do his job. But¡­Alexander¡¯s voice came out just as robust and with surety. "You will die." Yes. As his figure shed over five meters high in a single jump, he told Gem Master Azazel and any other Three-Link Gem Masters what their fate would be if they neared this Beast- or if its attention actually changed to them. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om So¡­ [Ice Wave] Alexander called out to life force surging in his body once more as without giving the ck Furred Gori any time to regain its momentum in the skies, he released another cial wave of ice that froze its figure entirely. And once more, the ice then exploded as Alexander pointed up! BOOM! The ck Furred Gori bellowed out in rage and pain as it was flung further to the skies. Even before its bellows continued, it was frozen yet again before the cier of ice surrounding him once more exploded and pushed its massive body ever higher. Into the skies. The figure of Alexander that was almost beginning to fall pointed with his right hand down as a small st of Ice Wave erupted beneath him, propelling his body higher in the skies as well in an utterly astonishing scene. A single Awakened Gem Master was freezing and flinging a massive Four-Link Beast of Corruption ever higher in the skies. On the ground below, the earth was shaking as a flood of ck furred creatures spilled out of the Breach in the skies. Gem Master Todd reached ire¡¯s figure that was defiantly about to take to the skies towards Alexander as this Gem Master actually tackled her down. With fear present in his eyes, he yelled out towards her struggling figure. "Lady ire! Please! For the sake of your father, retreat. That beast is only one, there are hundreds of its kining behind us. Once your life force is spent, you will be nothing but meat on a tter!" She had been using her power these past two hours to attack the Emerald Tree Boas. Nobody knew how much of her life force she had left, but she could definitely overdraw if she also joined the fight against a Four-Link Gem Master! He knew this. She also knew this. And yet¡­ "I cannot leave him!" She shouted out while gritting her teeth, a burst of lightning erupting from her wings of Lightning and pushing away Gem Master Todd as she rose to the skies as well. Her eyes were firm. Her mind was made up. She relied on Alexander, yes. But it didn¡¯t mean she had to be helpless. After all, she was a Five-Link Gem Master. And this Beast of Corruption before them was a Four-Link Beast. Her power should be able to work against it! Chapter 19: Bobo! IV Gem Master Todd looked at the scene of ire buzzing with her wings of lightning and flying up with incredulity and dismay as he couldn¡¯t help but curse. "Shit!" The earth below him continued to shake. His figure was pulled up by Gem Master Azazel as these veterans had to make a hard choice, gazing at the dozens of other injured Gem Masters as they bellowed out. "Retreat!" They moved speedily. N?v(el)B\\jnn They didn¡¯t even look back towards the flood of ck Furred Beasts surging towards them. They gathered everyone they could- they gathered all those with a heartbeat as they rushed back towards the direction of the Inner Barracks! Those with a heartbeat. This was because during the initial st of red tendrils of light that the ck Furred Gori had released in their temporary camp- it was powerful enough that a few Awakened Gem Masters never rose again. There were already casualties- they couldn¡¯t afford any more! OH! OH! OH! Behind them, the bellows of Goris echoed out as they moved ever faster, Gem Master Todd and other long ranged Gem Masters asionally turning around to shoot lightning arrows at the wave of darknessing towards them. Todd and Azazel had to grit their teeth while looking at the skies and hoped. They hoped that somehow, the bright light with the Variant Life Socket that had surprised all of them wouldn¡¯t fail, and the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master would fall along with him! In the midst of all of this danger, they didn¡¯t even have time to entertain and wonder how Alexander was able to do what he did. Just what Variant Life Socket did he have, and howe it allowed him to erupt with such power?! Such thoughts only came in passing as under the assault of a cloud of ck furred Beasts behind them, they only rushed towards the entrance of this Tier 1 Breach faster. ¡ª BOOM! Another cial explosion echoed out that moved the body of Bobo, the Four-Link ck Furred Gori, ever higher. Multiple ruptures on its skin with frozen blood could be seen on this creature, its muscles spasming and contracting constantly as it had to be in immense pain! In the skies of the Jungle Grounds, chunks of ice floated and were eventually pushed down by gravity as the figure of Alexander was using the heavy chunks of ice falling off Bobo as footholds to jump ever higher, his heart pumping him full of exhration as he did things he would have never even imagined doing just a day ago. When he wasn¡¯t even Awakened, he would have never entertained the idea of jumping up and using an Ability to propel himself high in the skies, nor that he would push himself even higher while he used the ridiculous support capabilities of Gems to fling an oversized Gori through the skies! But here he was doing it. "Coward! Human!" The constant freezing and bombing effect had taken Bobo to its limits as at this moment, a second after it became unfrozen from thest explosion- its chest gathered all the tendrils of red lightning around it as its central Gem glowed. And Alexander felt a piercing sensation in his head- a sensation he wasn¡¯t entirely familiar with, but it urged him to send his life force towards the Gem in the center of his Enneagram right away! Ice Wave. In front of him, a heavy cier of ice and frost instantly erupted and covered everything for 50 meters, even freezing part of Bobo¡¯s limbs in the distant skies as within the depths of this cier¡­was a thick crimson pir of crimson lightning. ¡­! Lightning that had shot out of Bobo¡¯s central Gem and would have smashed onto him had he not frozen it before it arrived! And that piercing sensation in his head that forced him to act even when he didn¡¯t know what wasing...was that still the passive effect of the senses of Ice Wave that even granted him a sense of danger? These questions buzzed in his head, but even as they did, he was already moving to act. He didn¡¯t trigger the initial explosive effect of Ice Wave just yet as the massive figure of Bobo began to fall from the skies- the cier it¡¯s limbs were connected to pulling him along. Alexander began to feel the same sensation of falling as he released a burst of Ice Wave below his feet that gave him leverage and pushed him higher once more, his small figure just passing the fiery eyes of rage filled with Blood of Bobo. He went up, Bobo went down. It was the final step of the n he came up with seeing the weight of this massive beast and the fact that he could move it across space with his explosive Ice Wave. He hoped it would be enough. No, it had to be enough! After pushing his body ever higher, the force propelling him upwards ended as well as momentarily, he found himself gazing at the endless blue skies of this Tier 1 Breach while suspended in space. Truly, it didn¡¯t seem like some separate space. It felt like another world entirely. Before he began to fall, he wondered. Just what would he be able to see if he reached the highest point of these skies? Just as he had this thought, his eyes caught something on the edge as it was¡­ "Alexander!" The buzzing figure ire, with her radiant blue wings of Lightning, reached him. His figure that was about to begin its descent felt her hands wrap around him, her bountiful chest pushing on his back as she looked down at the falling Bobo. He didn¡¯t ask her why she didn¡¯t listen to him as since she was here¡­ "On my signal, release the strongest st of lightning you can gather, okay?" ¡­! He spoke calmly in the skies as she nodded towards him. "Now, dive down." Without hesitation, she followed his words. They on top, Bobo on the bottom. Their figures fell down with the sheer weight of Bobo making him crash towards the earth at an unprecedented pace! And it was at this point that Alexander released the st of explosion from the frozen cier and directed it downwards, further adding on to how fast Bobo was crashing down. "Now!" Behind him, ire¡¯s wings fluttered as he felt her hot breath on his neck. His senses showed him her serious gaze as the centermost Gem on her chest shed with a brilliant blue light- a cerulean lightning bolt instantly crashing down from above them to further strike the figure of Bobo and elerate him even further! A fearsome bellow was heard as the earth neared for Bobo. Below him, a cloud of ck furred creatures that were chasing the other Gem Masters only felt a shadow cover them as by the time they looked up¡­ BOOM! Like a meteor, the massive body of the Four-Link ck Furred Gori smashed down! Chapter 20: The True Enneagram! I Like a meteor crashing down! CRUNCH! A glimmer of frost and lightning shed. Bones cracked and splintered! In the skies, Alexander glided down gracefully with ire behind him, watching a heavy wheeze of unfathomable pain escape Bobo¡¯s mouth as all of its limbs were fractured or broken, the bones on its chest and back copsed into itself and even piercing some of its own organs! "..." It was a gory scene. On the earth below, a deep concavity could be seen with limbs and blood strewn about all around But Alexander faced it head on as he spoke lightly. "Ice Wave." He still saw signs of life in this beast even though it was gravely injured. So he sought to finish it. Yet another cial brilliance shed as the massive figure of Bobo was frozen- a booming impact shattering this cial block a momentter before Bobo¡¯s body was frozen again! And then, it exploded for the final time as at this point, the rageful eyes of Bobo that were looking up into the skies¡­were covered entirely by frost as they began to dim. Its heart was entirely frozen over. Its lungs and all other organs were encased in ice as, by all means, it should be dead! And yet its splintered jaw still opened as somehow, its voice echoed out. "Dirty. Humans. Tricked. Bobo." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! It¡¯sst words. It took great effort to even utter these as after that.. all light faded from its eyes. Dirty humans tricked Bobo. Alexander and ire had these words repeat in their minds again and again as they both understood what they meant. This Beast of Corruption before him was given information about ire- a newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master who would be entering the Jungle Grounds for her Expedition. But there was no information on Alexander. Well, there was- but it was that he had a Defective Life Socket so he wasn¡¯t someone to worry about! In the skies, the figure of Alexander tapped ire¡¯s shoulders as she let him go, his bodying down andnding on Bobo¡¯s chest as he went towards the nearest crimson Gem near him, his voice echoing out. "There are traitors." ¡­! His words were filled with calmness as he was just noting something about the weather. ire nodded with anger at these words as she didn¡¯t watch Alexander retrieving the Four Gems on Bobo, but her gaze was on their surroundings where dozens of dead, injured, and some very alive Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris were beginning to rise- those who could move anyways. Alexander moved towards the Gem Sockets of this Beast that was asrge as him, but the moment he made a lifting motion on the crimson Gem within this Socket that had no Life...it lifted off without any resistance as it even began to dwindle in size until it fit the palm of his hand. The size of the Gem was always erged or miniaturized to fit a Life Socket- so long as it held the same universal circr shape of Sockets! The Gems on defeated Beasts of Corruption could be plundered and utilized by Humans freely. But this wasn¡¯t all. There was one additional thing inside the bodies of powerful Beasts of Corruption- especially those that reached Tier 4. Behind their Life Sockets, after any Tier 4 Beast of Corruption or above died¡­the remnant umtion of their Life Force actually converged into something fantastical. Something that could be utilized by Gem Masters to further increase their own life force at a faster pace! After Alexander picked four dazzling crimson Gems from the fractured chest of Bobo, his foot forcefully smashed onto the Linked Sockets as they shattered and allowed the already fractured chest of this creature to open freely. There, shining with a dazzling red radiance, was a gem the size of Alexander¡¯s head. Ascendant Life Gems. Inside of a Breach, one could locate Primal Life Gems that Awakened an adult human to be a Gem Master in areas with concentrated energy that formed into mines. Unique and rare Breaches filled with powerful Beasts of Corruption even had Ability Gems of specific elements appear in regions of extreme heat or coldness- anything rting to the elements. And then, there were Ascendant Life Gems. Located and found only in the bodies of Tier 4 Beasts of Corruption and above. The Ascendant in the name was because these were the rarest resources utilized by Gem Masters to go towards their first Transformation that enhanced their Life Sockets! Alexander reached out and grabbed this dazzling Ascendant Life Gem, and the moment he did so¡­ HUUM! His Enneagram lit up. The humming of energy buzzed as he felt the Gem he held gush out its pristine life force within, all of it going towards his Enneagram as the rate it was spinning became faster and faster! The Gems connected under the Gem Recipe of Ice King within that had already be small continued to do so rapidly at this moment as in the next second¡­they seemingly became smaller than even a grain of sand as they entirely disappeared. The Ice Wave Ability Gem. It¡¯s 5 Support Ability Gems. Every single one disappearedpletely as in the next moment, the Enneagram stopped spinning. It was lit up brightly on all ends as Alexander could feel an unfathomable sensation spreading from it, his brain feeling like it was about to overload as next- he heard a voice! He heard his voice. As if it was something he thought. [The Enneagram Life Socket has been innervated sessfully.] [The Ability Gem Database has been sessfully constructed.] [The Gem Recipe designated as Ice King and all the Gems within its makeup have been recorded in the Ability Gem Database.] ¡­! All the gems he had socketed in his Enneagram had disappeared. Thereafter, he heard a voice inside his head. He heard his own voice ringing out inside him, but it wasn¡¯t his thoughts! He could feel these thoughtse from the currently shining Enneagram on his chest as he couldn¡¯t help but ask¡­ "What are you?" ¡­! Chapter 21: The True Enneagram! II What are you? A heavy question. One that wasn¡¯t capable of being answered so easily. And yet¡­ [I am you.] ¡­! His voice, no, the thought that came from the Enneagram and rang out in his mind- it felt monotone and free of any emotions. ¡¯The Enneagram itself? This is¡­¡¯ It wasn¡¯t something entirely feasible- something outside of the scope of what he currently understood! But this was the Nine pointed star on his chest. Something that other people didn¡¯t understand, and it now seemed he didn¡¯t understand it either. If he was to suspend everything he knew, then at this moment, his Life Socket was speaking to him. Communicating with him as the first thing it said was how the Enneagram had been innervated sessfully! "..." His eyes were bright as they turned up to briefly gaze at the stern figure of ire floating in the skies with thunder crackling in her hands. Other people¡¯s Life Sockets didn¡¯t talk to them, right? [My current knowledge is your current knowledge added to what I know about myself. Whether there are other Life Sockets like me is unknown, but the possibility of there existing something like me is infinitely close to zero.] The voice came out again. Its tone, without any semnce of emotions, was something to get used to as Alexander sensed the changes around him. He suspended his beliefs on anything he thought he knew. And he breathed out as he then asked calmly. ¡¯Okay. Aside from you being a part of me, what else are you? What can you do?¡¯ [I am as you named me, The Enneagram Life Socket. Any Gems ced within me will be broken down, their abilities extracted, and then recorded in the Ability Gem Database. Any Gem Recipe recorded within the Database can be used freely, and once more Gem Recipes are recorded, variations in Recipes can be utilized. Once a Gem Recipe has been sessfully extracted and recorded, another Gem Recipe can be ced within me as this process can be repeated again.] ¡­! Utterly terrifying words echoed within Alexander¡¯s mind. They were terrifying because every single Gem Master could only ever use the Gem Sockets they had socketed in their Life Sockers. They could change from one Gem Recipe to another and hurt their life force briefly in this process, but each Gem Master only ever possessed a single Gem Recipe at any moment! But his Enneagram¡­ His supposedly Defective Life Socket¡­it could actually break down Ability Gems and allow him to simultaneously have multiple Main Ability Gems. He had the Ice King Gem Recipe currently recorded as his Sockets were bright and empty. He could choose to put another Main Ability Gem right now and he would be capable of using both this and the ridiculous linked capabilities of Ice Wave simultaneously! This¡­ This¡­! [In terms of Support Ability Gems, all those Recorded in the Ability Gem Database can have their effects applied to the current Socketed Gem Recipe.] The voice of the Enneagram rang out again to deliver even more ridiculous news. Something like this was entirely out of the scope of his wildest dreams. The potential here. The possibilities here! He could feel his heart beating faster as when he thought about all the possibilities, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡¯Are there any¡­limitations in the number of Gem Recipes that can continue to be recorded? Or any other Limitations? Is what you can do now it, or are there more things?¡¯ [If there are any limitations or, we have yet to experience them. In terms of future advancements, there is a 99% probability of them urring over time. But no limitations have yet to be experienced by us. When we do, we will know.] ¡¯...¡¯ As unbelievable as it was, he felt like he had awakened something that could overturn everything they knew about Gem Masters. The power it could provide¡­it may just be enough for him to achieve what he wanted. It may even be possible to do a whole lot more! He clenched his fists. There was a lot to learn, and he and ire were still in a predicament. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om There were traitors leaking information to Beasts of Corruption, and there were also...injured and uninjured Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris carefully circling the massive body of Bobo. They were careful of the one who had killed their leader as they didn¡¯t attack freely- a level of logic still burning in their brains. Alexander looked at the remaining half of the Ascendant Life Gem in his hands as the voice of the Enneagram rang out again. [Unique Gems like this Ascendant Life Gem can be utilized to elerate the process of extraction and recording of Gem Recipes, and they can also be utilized for strengthening our current Life Force. Shall I proceed with the absorption of the remaining life force and the quantification of our resultant Life Force?] The Enneagram was proactive. It was Alexander, and Alexander was it. It knew his thoughts as with a simple nod, the remaining part of the Ascendant Life Gem disappeared into a sh of light as his body began to feel a burning sensation! ¡¯Quantification of life force, you said?¡¯ [Yes. I can proceed with an analysis of the Life Force inside the body, and even track its usage with different Ability Gems, as well as how much we have remaining.] Even more daring capabilities were slowly unveiling themselves. Alexander nodded at this amazing feature of getting numerical values that the Enneagram spoke of as if it were nothing, his eyesing to lock onto the Four Ability Gems taken from the Four-Link ck Furred Gori. [Corrupted Lightning Maniption]:: A rare ability gem that has been Corrupted, making its cost of usage higher along with its output. Once socketed, it passively courses a unique type of red lightning throughout your body- naturally reinforcing the defense and speed of your body by an unknown margin corrted to your Life force. Actively, you gain the ability to manipte and call down Red Lightning to strike against your enemies. The Main Ability Gem that Bobo utilized to cause raging tendrils of red lightning, as well as why the attack of a Three-Link Gem Master didn¡¯t even cause it a dent, and the fact that it was so fast even with its massive body! It was a rare Ability Gem that Alexander had not read about before. If its tier was considered greater than the Ice Wave Ability Gem, would the number of possible Support Ability Gems for it be higher?! Chapter 22: The Second Gem Recipe! While his body itched and burned from the absorption of the remaining half of the Ascendant Life Gem. While his Enneagram Life Socket began analyzing what he knew as Life force and quantifying it! Alexander grasped the Main Ability Gem [Corrupted Lightning Maniption] and allowed the suction force of his Enneagram to pull it. And wondrously. Seamlessly. It floated to the central slot of the Enneagram that began to shine brightly, the connecting lines leading to three support slots dimming right away. But this left behind six lit up Support slots at the ends of the Nine pointed star. 6 possible slots for Support Ability Gems- 1 more than the Ice Wave Main Ability Gem! ¡¯How difficult will it be to find a Gem that allows for all 9 support ability Gems¡­¡¯ His mind buzzed with the possibilities as he nced at the Support Ability Gems from the ck Furred Gori quickly, sensing the agitation of the Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris in the surroundings who seemed ready to surge towards him at any moment. [Spatial Pocket Support]:: Any Ability Gem can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. The Linked Ability gains the capability to be cast anywhere within 100 meters, and an isted storage space of 100 cubic meters can be essed within the Spatial Pocket Support Gem itself. ¡­! Prior to this, Bobo had pulled out a heavy Obsidian club from his chest. It actually came out from an isted space inside of this Support Gem- something like this being extremely rare as Alexander had not yet heard of a Gem like this within the hands of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. He quickly flung this Gem towards his chest as the suction force absorbed it into a Support Life Socket right away, his gaze going towards the other two. [Life Force On Hit Support]:: Any Ability Gem can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. An Unknown Quantity of Life Force is gained whenever the supported Ability sessfully hits any enemy. [Chance to Corrupt Support:: Any Ability Gem can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. The linked ability gains a 50% Chance to Corrupt on hit. Corrupted enemies face a temporary leakage of their life force, and half of their Life Sockets are turned inactive for a duration of 30 seconds. "Shit¡­" Alexander¡¯s face was stern. All the gems that Bobo had were of tremendously high quality, with the Life Force on Hit Support and Chance to Corrupt Support being equally terrifying Support ability Gems that also became absorbed towards his chest and filled another two slots. Three of the six Support Life Sockets for this new Gem Recipe were filled. With every Gem he socketed, he felt another burst of increased life force in addition to the sensation he was feeling from the absorption of the Ascendant Life Gem. Herein came another fantastical boon of his Enneagram Life Socket. The measure of a Gem Master¡¯s power over time came from the Gems they had socketed as their life force increased over time depending on the number of Gems. He¡­already had Six Gems active with the Ice King Gem Recipe. And now, he could add 7 more Gems under his roster centered around the Corrupted Lightning Maniption Main Ability Gem! His hand went towards the bag with a few Gems he had carried from the Treasure Chest his father gave him as he traced the Spatial Pocket Support Ability Gem on his chest. He felt his thoughts and life force flow into it. And thereafter, a part of himself was sucked into a space of 100 cubic meters. It was dark, and asionally lit up with a crimson radiance. He tapped on the bag he had on his waist that held the remaining Gems he kept from the treasure chest his father granted him as momentster, the bag shed and disappeared with a crimson light into his chest! An isted storage space. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The utility of such a such a Support Gem was too extensive as after giving it a brief nce, he turned his gaze and looked around the ck Furred Goris that had entirely surrounded him. In the far distance, theirpatriots could still be heard chasing after Gem Master Azazel and the others towards the exit of this Breach. Their eyes seemed to only hold madness without a trace of logic. "You see your Leader lying dead under us, and your minds are still so muddy to surround and threaten us?" He didn¡¯t know whether they could understand him. But he gazed coldly at them while his foot smashed on the shattered chest of Bobo, his actions rousing the Goris even further as they beat their chests while roaring out! OOH! OOH! OOH! He looked at the madness in their eyes. He looked at their Bloodlust that sought to destroy everything. He hated it. Every time he looked at their emotionless eyes and need for destruction, he only remembered one thing. The body of his mother that wasn¡¯t even able to be recovered for a proper burial. Such a scene shed every single time as truly¡­they didn¡¯t understand just what their madness and destruction brought to others! "Alex¡­" Above him, ire called out softly as she could see the Beasts about to strike. Alexander nodded as he closed his eyes. He felt the Ice King Gem Recipe. He also felt the iplete Gem Recipe that he would term¡­the Corrupted Lightning King. He felt them both, as well as the vibrant and bustling life force inside of his body as he lifted his right hand and pointed forward, while his left hand pointed backwards. His hatred towards Beasts of Corruption¡­burned every brighter. "All of you can die." Calm words. And yet what followed them was anything but that. ¡­! In front of him, a burst of a massive crimson lighting erupted while behind him, a wave of cial ice thundered out. Dozens of ck Furred Beasts were frozen behind while ahead, dozens fell down with their bodies charred. BOOM! Behind, the frozen cier exploded as chunks of frozen bodies exploded with it, another Ice Wave being cast automatically as a few more dozen ck Furred Goris became encased in ice that soon shattered into another explosion! Chapter 23: A Leak! I Heavy bursts of explosions that decimated dozens of Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris. "...!" WU! WU! Any remaining Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris roared out with trepidation at such a devastating scene of carnage. But this was a clear disy of the power of someone with many Life Sockets. A veteran Five-Link Gem Master would be able to erupt with power simr to this! Yet within over a day after Awakening, Alexander was already there. And the ce where he currently was right now. His level of power at this moment. It was truly momentary. His eyes remained closed. With the Ice King Gem Recipe, his senses stretched out 1 mile around him. He felt everything. The low guttural roars of Beasts. The dead bodies of those he had killed! The Gems on their Sockets that had dimmed. His senses came to focus on these gems as he instinctively tried something. The Spatial Pocket Support allowed the Linked ability to be cast anywhere within 100 meters in all directions. So he activated Corrupted Lightning Maniption as multiple balls of crimson lightning appeared on top of the Gems on the dead Sockets of all ck Furred Goris he had killed. They were born from his life force as after this, he pulled every single Gem that his red lightning touched towards the Spatial Pocket Support Gem! N?v(el)B\\jnn And¡­ SAA! Lines of crimson brilliance shed behind and ahead of Alexander in a fantastical reality, all of them sank into a single red Gem within his Enneagram! "..." He did it by instinct. But it was his first action that used the expanded senses of one Gem Recipe and the capabilities of another Gem Recipe to simultaneously achieve a very precise action! He may be the first Gem Master to begin looking at the Synergy of having multiple Gem Recipes at once. The Main Ability Gems and Support Ability Gems of multiple killed ck Furred Goris entered his isted space as it was a scene of utter fantasy. Above him, ire looked at all of this with stern amazement as with every passing second since the attack of the Four-Link ck Furred Gori, she had begun to feel a sense of urgency. An urgency that seemed to show her and tell her that Alexander was pulling away to a ce where she might not be close to him anymore if she stayed right where she was. If she wanted to catch up, she had to run towards him. She had to run with everything she had! HUM! Her surroundings began to buzz with blue lightning. With her at the center, a rain of blue lightning began to surge as bolts thundered down onto the remaining Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Beasts! And in synchrony, with his eyes closed, more crimson lightning and a wave of cial ice streaked from Alexander and towards the remaining Beasts surrounding them. It was a gorgeous scene that, sadly, did not have any other eyes to witness. Within 30 seconds, no roars of Beasts could be heard in the surroundings. There were only the figures of a young man and a woman. Crimson streaks of light shed from the dead bodies of Beasts of Corruption and flowed to the young man, his green battle robe shing with an icy re as frost covered it with a chilling light. From above, the figure of ire descended with her lightning wings to stand beside him, her eyes showing tiredness as she breathed out heavily- but she couldn¡¯t help from admiring the scene around them! Dozens of powerful Beasts of Corruption left dead. No others wereing from the Breach inside this Breach, the only remaining enemies being those that were chasing Gem Master Azazel and others. "Huff¡­What do we do now?" Controlling her breath, ire looked towards Alexander as she asked. What could they do now? After such a thing had happened¡­ Alexander finally opened his eyes as he turned to look at ire, his eyes looking straight at her, and yet seeming to be thinking of countless other things. "There is a leak, and we do not know from where. All we know is that they passed information about you to powerful Beasts of Corruption, and that Beasts of Corruption have uses for you- or really any Five-Link Gem Masters. Since a Four-Link Beast came for you, is it somehow possible for Beasts of Corruption to take the Life Sockets of Humans and somehow make them theirs? Or do they have other uses?" ¡­! Alexander voiced out some of the countless thoughts in his mind. ire was a young and newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master. It was rtively easy to take her down and use her for whatever cruel means these Beasts of Corruption had! Thinking of what could have happened, ire¡¯s gaze was ashen as she voiced out with hesitation. "We¡­cannot go back?" She said this with hesitation. But Alexander nodded his head with heavy affirmation as he replied thoughtfully! "We cannot go back to Carthage. Not until we know just who may be passing by information. They could be in the Barracks of this Tier 1 Breach, or on the walls of Carthage, or in an important position. You will be a walking target so long as they tell the Beasts of Corruption where you are. And they can¡¯t find out too much about me either. They will know something went wrong with Bobo here, but they won¡¯t have too many details." He was thinking. He was trying his best to think of the best course of action! He felt like his brain was burning up, but the cooling sensation from the Ice King Gem Recipe always came and cooled him down as he continued to think. Beside him, ire was the same as she uttered out. "But inside Carthage, we have my Father, your Father, and hundreds of powerful Gem Masters. If they waited for me to leave Carthage before ambushing us, maybe their capabilities would make it so that they can¡¯t even have any designs on Carthage." "Maybe¡­" Alexander nodded in reply, his gaze going towards the Barracks of the Breach where Gem Master Azazel and others should have received reinforcements- and they should be more than okay in handling the few dozen Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris that had been chasing them with those reinforcements. "Maybe, but my father recently reminded me how Humans could be worse than monsters. We don¡¯t know who among those in the City of Carthage are on our side. Until we understand this, the safest bet is to contain any information about us- about you, to a minimum. Once we have a clearer picture, and even understand the core reason for them wanting your Life Sockets¡­we can move freely. For now¡­" A possible n formed in his mind! Chapter 24: A Leak! II He thought about it again and again before he nodded and crouched down, tapping his back as he called out to ire. "Hop on." He spoke to her nonchntly as she blinked. "Huh?" "You¡¯ve spent a lot of your life force, reserve your power and recuperate for now. Hop on." Alexander spoke with seriousness as ire naturally came behind him with her cheeks slightly tinged red, her reply low and barely discernible. "Mm¡­" The brilliant blue wings of Lightning behind her faded as she climbed on Alexander, her legs wrapping around his waist while her hands went over his shoulders and held tightly on his chest. ire felt her heart beating just a little faster at this, her face burying itself behind Alexander¡¯s back as he began to move forward. The only thing ire could think at this moment¡­was how warm Alexander¡¯s back felt. And¡­was it always so muscr? A passing thought. Even she didn¡¯t know that inside his body, he carried a total equivalent of 10 Socketed Gems. Each of them were providing a constant increase in life force and power. Six from one Gem Recipe, and Four from another! And the second Gem Recipe of the Corrupted Lightning King¡­Alexander was already analyzing which three other Support Ability Gems could be Socketed into it to make a terrifyingbination. But yes. At this moment, his back felt warm. Inside a Tier 1 Breach that had something life changing ur. A girl rested her head on the dependable back of a guy. A simple moment in these times of great danger, but for just this moment, everything felt okay. No matter how fleeting this moment was. Everything was okay. ¡ª "Do not let a single one through!" "We need a Three-Link Gem Master here!" Shouts were constantly booming out across the Inner and Outer Barracks- inside and outside the Breach. A few dozen ck Furred Goris were being pushed back by Gem Masters at this moment, with no one shining as brightly as a Gem Master who seemed to be surrounded by a sea of blood. The Blood of a Barbarian was burning as Gem Master Azazel used his bare hands to grasp the jaws of a Three-Link ck Furred Gori before he ripped it open! He seemed to be releasing his anger at the fact that the attacks of Richard, Todd, or himself never even stood a chance against the Four-Link ck Furred Gori. The monster that he left a child to deal with- someone he should¡¯ve been protecting! "OOH!" He roared out as every so often, he would look behind into the depths of the Jungle Grounds and fear he would see the massive shadow of the one called Bobo. But it never appeared. His fists swung like a hammer as they smashed onto the bodies of two Two-Link ck Furred Goris, their chests bursting as they fell down, his rampage continuing. The injured Awakened Gem Masters were moved outside of the Breach- with all defenses raised as not a single Beast was allowed to go outside. With the cooperation of all the Three-Link Gem Masters here along with the raised bastions of defenses, only a bit over 20 ck Furred Goris remained as they should be cleared within a few minutes. But what about the cloud of the rest of them that wereing out of the Breach? Why did so few reach the Barracks? ¡¯Young Master Alex...Lady ire¡­¡¯ n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Gem Master Azazel was filled with immeasurable guilt as at such a time. "Azazel." ¡­! His head rose as he crushed the neck of a Two-Link ck Furred Gori. He heard a voice in the wind. A voice that was of nobody else other than¡­ "Young Master!" He nearly shouted out at the top of his lungs as he looked around him, but he saw nobody. Amidst the heavy shouts of battle, his words were barely heard as he breathed out while looking for Alexander! But the only thing he heard was his voice ringing out beside his ears, his senses barely catching a sh of crimson lightning with this voice. "I¡¯m going more for a covert route, Uncle Azazel. ire and I are okay, the Four-Link ck Furred Gori is taken care of." ¡­! Unbelievable words echoed out as Azazel nearly stopped in ce. But the words in the wind continued. "News of ire has been spread to Beasts of Corruption, and we don¡¯t know who is spreading it, or how many there are. They could even be here in these Barracks. To ensure ire¡¯s safety, I want to propose something¡­" Words in the wind. They continued as a battle slowly ended, a n unfolding to ensure the safety of a Five-Link Gem Master! After a few minutes passed, bodies of Goris littered the Barracks of the Jungle Grounds as Gem Masters breathed heavily. The Three-Link Gem Masters looked at each other with stern eyes as one who was stationed in the Barracks couldn¡¯t help but shout. "What do you mean a Breach within a Breach?! Where is Lady ire? Young Master Alex?! And where the hell is Azazel?!" Words burning with a tinge of fear and rage as nobody truly knew what was happening. But¡­one mile away from the Barracks. Shrouded by trees, Gem Master Azazel carried two green robes with hoods in his hands as behind him, the confused and fearful figures of Charlie and Rachel followed After passing a few more trees, their eyes nearly bulged out of their Sockets as they came to a clearing that showed the figures of Alexander and ire! Unharmed. Fully in one piece! "Lady ire!" Charlie nearly shouted out while rushing over and stopping a few feet away from ire, his gazeing to hang on Alexander as he remembered the terrifying Beast of Corruption that this young boy had stayed behind to battle. If he was here in one piece¡­ "I am filled with joy at your safety, Young Master Alex, Lady ire." The figure of Gem Master Azazel came and spoke, a lot of emotions lifting from his shoulders as he came to ce his hands on Alexander. "How is this possible? Just what is that Variant Life Socket you Awakened?" Gem Master Azazel had many questions, but Alexander shook his head at all of them as he replied lightly. "Did you brief them about it?" He asked while looking at Charlie and Rachel who seemed to be shell shocked as Gem Master Azazel replied with a wry smile. "A little. They didn¡¯t believe me until now." The bodies of Charlie and Rachel came to as they pulled to attention. Alexander looked at them as he spoke calmly. "It¡¯s entirely your choice to do it, and you will likely be cing yourselves in a level of Danger. But if you agree¡­you can enact a y and take on the roles of Alexander and ire in returning to Carthage. Return in our ce as we figure out who has betrayed the Asmodeus Bloodline and ismunicating with outside forces- Beasts of Corruption nheless!" ¡­! Chapter 25: A Leak! III Yes. Part of the n. Alexander looked into the eyes of Charlie and Rachel- Scions of their Mortal Branch who both held Three-Link Gem Sockets. Powerful futurebatants, and the only one who may be up to the task. He saw their determination mixed with fear as he continued. "Because they didn¡¯t know about me, they sent someone that would have done the unthinkable to ire with this Breach inside a Breach. The less knowledge they have, the better. If you both wish to protect ire- the future Five-Link Gem Master of our-" "I¡¯ll do it!" Charlie nearly yelled out. The young man who was always filled with envy towards Alexander and held a level of infatuation towards ire. He was on board as beside him, Rachel clenched her fists as she nodded as well. "For the Bloodline." ¡­! ire stared at the two of them with a sad expression as she sighed. She went forward to hug Rachel as she whispered something in her ear, while Charlie looked at Alexander without saying a word. He was working through too many emotions right now. So he could only ask. "What will you two do?" Yes. Where would they go? What would they do? Alexander turned towards Azazel as he smiled. "We will initially remain in the Barracks of these Jungle Grounds. I want to see if I can sniff out any traitors here. I¡¯ll be in constantmunication with Uncle Azazel for any changes." As he spoke, Gem Master Azazel handed him a small device that actually had a Primal Life Gem embedded in it. It was a Gem Messenger Device, and Azazel handed it over with a gaze that was stern as he spoke. "Messages will take longer to reach you the further the distance, but it shouldn¡¯t be too drastic. Are you sure about this? When Branch Leader Axel hears you kept behind his only daughter with you, he will explode." Azazel asked carefully. And Alexander only shook his head dismissively as he replied. "Better his daughter be alive and safe than anything else. Any rage he has, my Father will calm it. And even when ites to me¡­don¡¯t reveal too much information. Just tell my father that I fully believe I can protect ire- even if another Four-Link Beast of Corruption appears. Nobody else needs to know anything else about me. Let¡¯s collect information first, see who is behind everything, and go from there." Alexander¡¯s eyes shone sharply as he outlined a n for how they would move. Looking at his figure, Azazel nearly sighed to himself as he felt like he was back to the time when Branch Leader Julius wasmanding them in battle, never expecting the same disposition of leadership toe from his son when he was so young. He always looked at him as just a young boy even after he Awakened. Had the time trulye to consider him a man? Gem Master Azazel sighed as he gazed towards the far, far distance where the Breach within a Breach that had appeared was already closing- almost as if the skies were healing themselves from a wound. He then turned around resolutely as he spoke out. "Let¡¯s do this." Charlie and Rachel followed behind him. They were shrouded by multipleyers of clothes that somewhat hid the configuration of the Life Sockets on their chest- where even if one looked closely, they would only see a singr dim glow of light and nothing else. Alexander and ire wore the hooded green robes as they became entirely covered, too, their faces being shrouded unless someone looked at them head-on. Covertly, they trekked back towards the nearby Barracks. ¡ª "Make way for Lady ire and prepare to set off at once!" A booming shout echoed out as in the Barracks, the figure of Gem Master Azazel was burning with a hint of blood around him as he carried the body of a young female Awakened Gem Master in his hands. Gem Master Todd and others tasked with protecting her changed their expressions and came over. "How bad are her injuries? Is she-" "MAKE WAY! Ensure the safety of the other Kids and get them on another Airship right away!" ¡­! His shout was invible as all others stopped in their tracks, seeing the urgency and anger in Gem Master Azazel¡¯s eyes as he stepped out of the Breach and went towards one of the few airships ready to deploy. Behind him, a hooded figure of a young man followed as Azazel turned to urge him. "We must hurry back to Carthage, Young Master Alex." His tone was that of urgency as while others recuperated from battle, they watched the scene of Gem Master Azazel entering an Airship with an injured ire whom he held in his hands, and a hooded Young Master Alex who followed in tow. Within seconds of their boarding, the vibrant shouts of Gem Master Azazel continued to whoever was controlling this Airship, and within moments¡­the blue wings on its sides began to buzz as it lifted off. Gem Master Todd and others looked at this scene while gritting their teeth, Todd looking around and beginning to gather all the injured and uninjured remaining newly Awakened Gem Masters and get them ready for departure too. "We are on high alert until further notice. Make sure all walls are manned!" A cacophony of activities ensued. The bodies of the dead ck Furred Goris were looted and subsequently assessed for viability of consumption. N?v(el)B\\jnn Opinions differed, but there were those who looked at the bodies of Beasts of Corruption entirely as resources- utilizing all parts of them to better the Human Lineages as some even looked at the meat of Beasts of Corruption as nutrients that were considered conducive to the growth of Life Force. The Airships utilized in Carthage had the wings of a rtively powerful Tier 4 Beast hunted by one of the Branch Leaders in the past as because of them, Carthage could have fast and smooth air travel! The possibilities were many when it came to Beasts of Corruption, and it only depended on how far one was willing to go in their utilization! Chapter 26: Quantification and Conspiracies! I As the busyness ensued. In a small tent among many inside the Barracks that were used for sleeping, two figures sat within. One was Alexander as he sat down with his eyes closed, his senses expanded out for a mile in all directions as he covered a lot of the Inner Barracks and Outer Barracks around the Breach tearing apart the sky and earth! His senses were fully expanded through the Ice King Gem Recipe as currently, he was fishing. He was fishing for anything abnormal around these Barracks as another Airship carrying the remaining newly Awakened Gem Masters was setting off, and the Barracks were gradually bing more and more secure as a calm wasing after a heavy battle. With his senses stretched out, he wanted to see whether the idea of someone spreading information about their entry into the Jungle Grounds was still here- and if they would do so again. With his senses stretched out, he could clearly feel the figure of ire sitting opposite him, her blue eyes blinking with a sense of calmness as she currently chewed on rations they found within this tent. She seemed to be spacing out thinking about who knew what, but he couldn¡¯t help but notice the curves of her lips every time she chewed. The way her nose wrinkled ever so often as she seemed to be thinking of somethingplex. Her deeply blue eyes that were a rarity within the Asmodeus Bloodline being so bright that he could swear some of their radiance was spreading out in front of them. Her¡­ ¡¯Hmm?¡¯ Alexander quickly shook himself out of this trance as he refocused. There wasn¡¯t any time to entertain other thoughts at times like these when their lives were in danger and they were still in the dark about many things! So he remained vignt. He listened in on any conversations that were noteworthy between Gem Masters. He tried to focus on any Gem Master that seemed suspicious in any way. And in the midst of all this, his voice- the voice of the Enneagram on his chest rang out in his head. [The quantification of the Life force within the body has been sessful.] Alexander¡¯s eyes fluttered with activity as a part of himself became more involved with the thoughts of his Enneagram. [The Value of Life Force that is mostmonly referred to by Gem Masters has been analyzed and found to be a mixture of a value of life that has been distinguished as Vigor, and a value of energy that has been distinguished as Energeia.] [These two Values of Vigor and Energeia intermix within the body of a Gem Master and are used when activating the effects of the Main Ability Gem and what it is linked to.] [The Value of Energeia is what is initially utilized and used up whenever Ability Gems are used, and it naturally regenerates over time. The Higher the maximum value of Energeia, the faster its rate of Regeneration. When this value is depleted, a Gem Master can still tap into their Life Force to activate their abilities- and this, in turn, will begin to deplete the Value of Vigor.] Alexander listened to the sound of the monotone voice in his head with focus as many things became clear. He felt like he was giving himself a lecture as the monotone voice of the Enneagram continued. [The depletion of Vigor is a costly process, and it takes much longer for this to regenerate if it was used as an active source of energy. The Value of Vigor in conjunction with Energeia together can express the level of power of a Gem Master. The higher their maximum values are, the more potent one¡¯s power, defensive, and offensive capabilities are.] [An Ice Wave Ability Gem utilized by a Five-Link Gem Master with Vigor and Energeia Values that are theoretically 20 or 30 times the Values of a Two-Link Gem Master would express vastly different results.] "..." Alexander understood it for the most part as he saw some changes in his Enneagram. On the topmost right side of this radiant Enneagram, he saw two dazzling rectangr bars erged from one side until the halfway point of the Enneagram. The top rectangr bar was a dazzling red color while the bottom one shone with a gorgeous blue hue! And at the ends of these bars, numerical values began to manifest. [The current value of Vigor is determined to be 898/898.] [The current value of Energeia is determined to be 677/811.] ¡­! A quantification of his values came! His levels of Energeia were still recovering from the recent battle, and his Vitality- his Vigor was unaffected and remained full. The values were great to see, but something to put them into a little bit more context¡­ [The casting of the ability of Ice Wave with its current Support Gems has been analyzed to have a cost of 5 Energeia, while the usage of the ability of Corrupted Lightning Maniption can range from 15-30, or even higher depending on the selected output.] The cost for Corrupted Lightning Maniption was much higher than Ice Wave. This could of course be attributed to the fact that unlike the Ice King Gem Recipe, the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe did not have the [Energy Preservation Support] added to it, and it was of course, of higher rarity. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om This issue caused Alexander to wish to finalize the remaining three Support Ability Gems to be ced into the remaining avable sockets of the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe. He had gone through dozens of Support Ability Gems and gotten the chance to view some unique Main Ability Gems from the Two-Link and Three-Link ck Furred Goris he had looted, which when added to the Support Ability Gems he kept behind from the treasure chest his father had given him¡­he had a wide array of choices on how the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe could be made even more fearsome! After deliberating in thest hour and finally arriving where he was right now, he finally picked the three he would utilize for this Gem Recipe¡­ Chapter 27: Quantification and Conspiracies! II [Unity Support]:: Any Ability Gem that releases an Elemental Ranged Attack can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The Linked ability and the Gem Master be one, allowing for the output of damage to be increased by 5 times, while the resource cost is cut by half. When the linked elemental ranged ability is used, one¡¯s body will temporarily turn into this Elemental ranged attack and further amplify its output while being capable of locking onto a selected target. [Chained Link Support]:: Any Ability Gem that releases an Elemental Ranged Attack can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The supported Ability will chain onto five additional targets. [Ssh Damage Support]:: Any Ability Gem that releases an Elemental Attack can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The supported Ability will deal 60% area of effect damage to all targets within the surrounding 5 meters. Three support abilities. Alexander took them out of the isted storage space as they circled on his chest briefly before they sank into their respective Sockets. Theypleted the recipe of the Corrupted Lightning King as with them, Alexander theorized doing some truly incredible things. The brief sh of crimson light shook ire of whatever reverie she was in as she looked toward Alexander. This whole time, she didn¡¯t ask him to exin anything about how he was able to do what he did, and-...! Alexander¡¯s thoughts came to a stop. His senses were expanded this whole time as finally, they locked onto an anomaly! He sensed a Two-Link Gem Master gaze around him many times over before he entered a tent. His attention instantly focused on this area as all details unfolded before his eyes. As soon as the Two-Link Gem Master entered the tent, he reached under his bedding and pulled out a device with a Primal Life Gem embedded in it- one very simr to the device that Gem Master Azazel had given Alexander formunication as it could reach vast distances! It was a [Gem Messenger Device]. The Two-Link Gem Master grasped onto this device with a stern expression as a momentter, his voice was picked up by Alexander¡¯s senses. "Something must have gone wrong. Azazel is en route back to the City of Carthage with the target injured, and the son of Branch Leader Julius following close behind. Awaiting further instructions." ¡­! The voice caused Alexander¡¯s face to turn unfathomably sour. There really was someone betraying them and passing along information. To where? To whom? How many more of them were there? These questions arose one after another as Alexander couldn¡¯t leave it alone! He turned towards ire as he spoke out while repressing his burning anger. "I¡¯ve located the leak. Wait for me at the same area we met Azazel away from the Barracks¡­I¡¯ll ensure they arrive there." His anger was making way to extreme coldness. He wanted to know. Why? Why would someone do such a thing against them? ire¡¯s eyes showed a sense of sadness at the confirmation of someone truly betraying them, her head nodding with resoluteness thereafter as they opened the tent they were in¡­and moved in different directions! Alexander went towards the tent that a Two-Link Gem Master was pacing back and forth in while the hooded ire began to leave the tents and go towards the shield of trees in the distance. Within a minute. Alexander stood outside of a tent as his eyes shone with a sharp light, stepping into it calmly as the figure within turned around cautiously right away! "Who-...?!" His pupils constricted as if he had seen a ghost. "You¡­!" Before he could speak any further, Alexander¡¯s hand shed towards him with a cial light as wondrously, his body from top to bottom slowly became covered in ice- this ice only stopping after half of his face, including his mouth, was encased in ice entirely! Only his shocked eyes and widening nose were left untouched as Alexander¡¯s hand grabbed onto his hair- his eyes looking at this Gem Master with controlled anger as he now needed a private ce. A private ce for a conversation without worrying about any other Gem Masters intruding. So his body began to crackle with crimson lightning. He felt as if this lighting and he were one and the same after thetest add-ons of the Support Ability Gems, and his body fantastically turned to be a streak of crimson lighting that shot out of the entrance of the tent! Tendrils of red brilliance grabbed a mostly frozen Gem Master and a Gem Messenger Device as they shed across the skies of the Barracks. It was a sh of crimson light that caused a few sensitive eyes nearby to turn and gaze to the skies, but those of their caliber didn¡¯t capture the speed of such an attack as it only caused the Gem Masters to carry out another sweep across the Barracks to make sure they didn¡¯t miss anything. Across the skies, a sh of crimson shed again as it entered the depths of the Jungle Grounds. After a few jumps, the confused and frozen figure of a Two-Link Gem Master was ced in front of a tree, ireing out from behind while crimson lighting formed the figure of a stone faced Alexander! Three people. Three humans. The unfrozen eyes of the Two-Link Gem Master shook as he saw ire, his pupils moving between her and Alexander in shock and confusion as his face seemed deathly pale! After all, the vast majority of his body was frozen as the cold was extremely prating- his skin feeling like it was constantly being pricked by needles. N?v(el)B\\jnn Alexander looked at this Gem Master as he waved his fingers downwards, the ice around the head and neck of this being breaking apart as he wheezed out while coughing once his mouth was free! "Lady¡­ire! Some sort of..mistak-" "You were reporting on this Messenger that something had gone wrong. Who was that message to?" ¡­! With his head trembling, he had begun talking to ire as Alexander¡¯s voice had cut in coldly. It froze any ounce of misunderstanding as he let this Gem Master know that he knew everything! Chapter 28: Quantification and Conspiracies! III And this trembling Gem Master gritted his teeth as he stopped any pleading words, looking between the two of them and the expanse of trees around them as he said nothing. He was freezing, and yet he said nothing! "You must have been the one who let them know when ire exactly entered the Jungle Grounds. So I ask you again, who are you sending your messages to? And why? Why would you betray your own humanity and work with Beasts of Corruption?!" His voice increased an octave as he asked this. And the trembling figure of the Gem Master in front of him had his teeth begin to clutter as he actually began tough. "Why?! You¡­ask me why?!" ¡­! Amidst hisughter, his expression paled even more as the life force inside of him tried to fight the frost to no avail. His eyes shed immense anger amidst hisughter as he turned to look at ire on the side. "Do you know? I had a S-Sister. I had a Broth-er." His words stuttered out as his lips shook, but he continued. "B-both were genius Three-Link Gem Masters! Do you know what happened to them? Undermands of your Father, they were forced into the Den of Corruption where they lost t-their lives!" His eyes radiated visible hatred as he spoke, this hatred seemingly energizing him as he looked at Alexander next! "And you¡­your father is the same! They continuemanding others to keep clearing the infested Den of Corruption and ensure the safety of Carthage, but do you know how many Gem Masters die there daily? How many families are broken every day?!" "..." Alexander¡¯s eyes became even colder. This wasn¡¯t something he had ever done before. Never did he think he would be freezing another Gem Master and trying to get information out of them! But the more this Gem Master spoke, the more revolting this whole thing seemed as he replied coldly. "Because of that, the logical thing is for you to link your hands with Beasts of Corruption?!" The calm face of the Gem Master trembled with coldness. As if he knew what his actions represented. Alexander looked at his face while shaking his head and asking again. "No matter. Who do you pass your information to? What do they want with ire? Just tell me this, and I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t turn into food for Beasts of Corruption here." He wanted to know who was behind all of this. And yet the frozen Gem Master sneered while trembling as he replied. "You stupid little shit, I¡¯ve already lost any feeling in my limbs. Thest dredges of my life force are b-barely hanging on. You¡¯ve already killed me. Ah¡­" His face became even paler, but Alexander didn¡¯t relent. The encased ice remained the same as momentster, the Gem Master shook his head while stuttering out. "Ah, w-why the hell does it matter anyways. One day, someone from the Gnis Bloodline reached out. Asking me if I wanna get back at the ones responsible for my family¡¯s deaths. Haha¡­the rest is history." ¡­! Gnis Bloodline! One of the Four Human Lineages- and a particrly powerful one since as far as Alexander knew from the wisps of information he would get from his father, just the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline had a few Five-Link Gem Masters in their midst. Across many mountains and dry rivers, the City Fortresses under their banner defended against multiple Breaches. The Gnis Bloodline? Their people were involved in this?! "Haha¡­" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Alexander and ire looked at each other as in their shock, the frozen Gem Masterughed with anger and madness. "You little shits¡­I have no idea how you survived this time, but you have no idea what¡¯sing for you. They want that Five-Link Gem Blueprint of that girl no matter what, and they will get it. The same pain of loss I felt¡­they promised it. They will deliver it. And you¡­y-you¡­!" His voice became raspy as his barely focused eyes came to lock onto Alexander. "T-today, you¡¯ve joined your father in bing a murderer. Haha, I will wait for you in the depths of the Abyss. I will wait for you and your father there! I will-" SAA! Alexander clenched his fists as instantly, the ice that had ended below the neck of this being traveled up- his whole head quickly bing encased in ice and frost as he was entirely frozen over! "..." Alexander did this as his eyes were opened wide, his right hand slightly trembling. He stared at the eyes filled with anger and madness that were frozen over, the Life Force within them rapidly fading away as soon enough, there wasn¡¯t even a single ounce of brilliance in these eyes. Everything was entirely frozen over. Alexander was forced to use his left hand to grab the right one- making sure the slight tremble didn¡¯t increase as he supported himself. A Gem Master¡­was dead by his hands. A day after awakening. Beasts of Corruption fell from his attacks, and before this day ended, a Gem Master did so as well. A traitor, yes. His passage of information would have gotten them killed, yes. But it was still a Gem Master! And today, he did not wake up with even an inkling that he would have to kill one. Behind him, he felt the figure of iree and give him a hug as his hands became steadier. They weren¡¯t just trembling from what he had done, but also for what he was about to do. What he may have to do. This Gem Master who had betrayed them and endangered their lives was not the only one. There were others. When he faced them as well¡­he would likely have to do the same thing! "..." "It¡¯s okay." The soft voice of ire echoed out beside him. Her body was trembling a little bit more, and Alexander straightened his back when he felt such tremors as he knew he couldn¡¯t wallow in his thoughts. On his chest, his Enneagram Life Socket spun with low hums already as it gave him a sense of tremendousfort. He breathed out and reset himself, turning away from the frozen Gem Master as he spoke softly. "The Gnis Bloodline. Your Five-Link Gem Blueprint." The most important pieces of information they had obtained. There was still much unknown, but they had achieved their purpose of rooting out the leak here. Now, they have to get this information to the Branch Leaders and see where to go from here! Chapter 29: A Blessing and a Curse! I If the words of the Two-Link Gem Master were to be entirely believed. If ¡¯they¡¯ would truly do anything to get their hands on ire, just what possible things could they do? Those from the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline, or the Beasts of Corruption they were involved with? And how extensive was themunication between the Gnis Bloodline and Beasts of Corruption? Was it a few select individuals or a group within this powerful part of the Human Lineages, or was it something even more catastrophic? "..." He didn¡¯t have the answers yet. But he couldn¡¯t sit still here as after the information they had gained, they had to make their way back towards Carthage and prepare! The location and status of ire herself were the only leading points they had as of right now, and this was their biggest advantage right now as it had to remain a secret. "We¡¯ll make our way towards Carthage as we wait to hear back from my father and yours. If they deem it safe enough to enter Carthage and n there, great. If not¡­" They could only take it a step at a time. Alexander turned around and looked at the girl who had stopped shaking, giving her a light smile as he asked. "Hey, how do you feel about camping?" Her body was filled with a heavy weight as she knew all of this was happening because of her, but Alexander¡¯s smile and words lifted her up somewhat as she nodded. "Mmm, take us as high as you can, and let¡¯s cross the Breach. We¡¯ll make our exit silently." Carthage was hours away. With their capabilities, getting back near Carthage would not be an issue. Their next steps would unfold as time passed. With a sh of brilliant blue hue, a barely discernible sh of lighting climbed above the trees, flying high as it began to make its way towards the highest point of the rupture stretching to the skies. In the skies, Alexander was carried by ire as her wings of lighting buzzed, his hand sping a Gem Messenger Device- the one Azazel had given him as he sent his words into it calmly. "There was a traitor in the Jungle Grounds passing information. The Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline is involved, and their target is ire¡­or what they refer to as the Five-Link Gem Blueprint!" Critical news was passed forth to Azazel as this would soon reach his father! Until then, they would continue to move by themselves. Far, far below them. On the green earth surrounded by trees. The rectangr casing of ice and frost that contained a Gem Master shattered, kes of coldness dispersing into countless shards that were carried by the wind¡­ ¡ª Hours passed. Within the City of Carthage. Rows of Gem Masters were lined up behind the powerful auras of the Branch Leaders of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. Branch Leaders Axel and Julius both stood at the forefront of the rows of Gem Masters as they gazed towards a descending Airship, their eyes showing serious gazes as news had already been passed regarding what happened in the Jungle Grounds to Carthage! A few Airships had left Carthage not too long ago filled with Two-Link Gem Masters led by Three-Link Gem Masters to ensure no issues even though thetest Intel stated that the Breach within a Breach had closed. And that it was a close call, but the lives of the newly Awakened Jewel of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline were safe! Against a surprise attack from a Four-Link Beast of Corruption, she had actually survived as she was currently in the Airship touching down before them. This whole area was surrounded by Gem Masters as it was the Hangar of Carthage, where many Airships were being designed and built, and also where thoseing and going would be stationed. CLANG! The Airship touched down, the metal doors opening as the rows of Gem Masters watched intently. "..." The eyes of Branch Leader Axel became sharp as blue lightning shed within them, their rising intensity only cooled when a figure actually peeked out of the metal doors of the Airship! It was none other than Azazel who looked calmly at the figures of the Branch Leaders and rows of Gem Masters behind them. They looked like escorts to guard a single being here, a being he didn¡¯t walk out of the Airship with as while gazing at his superiors, Gem Master Azazel actually bowed towards them while speaking out. "If the Branch Leaders would be so kind as to momentarily board the Airship- Lady ire and Young Master Alex wish for a word before anything else." ¡­! A daring request. One that made Branch Leader Axel explode with a heavy aura that pressed down over everything nearby as he took heavy steps towards the Airship. "If even a single hair on my daughter is off while you stand here safe and sound¡­" His words were those of immense power and oppression as Azazel kept his head bowed down, his eyes urging Branch Leader Julius to be the first as Alexander¡¯s father took a single step to appear beside Azazel and entered the Airship! Once both Branch Leaders passed through, the metal doors of the Airship closed- all other Gem Masters only witnessing the cold eyes of Gem Master Azazel as these doors closed shut. Within the Airship. The Branch Leaders were led up the stairs, Azazel leading the way in two as his voice retained its respectful tone while speaking. "I plead for Branch Leaders to control your eruption of power regardless of what you¡¯re about to see next. The safety of Lady ire and Young Master Alex are paramount. If nothing else, just think of their safety." Foreboding words echoed out from Azazel as they only caused the pressure that Branch Leader Axel emanated to get heavier, every step that Azazel took being really heavy until he flung the doors to the second level of the Airship! A dozen or so somber Gem Masters that controlled and maintained the Airship were standing there, and Azazel spoke out to them at this moment. "All of you can clear out." A simplemand. But seeing the cold gazes of the Branch Leaders behind Azazel, nobody dared to tarry as they all listened. "..." The doors of the Airship opened and closed again as immense silence reigned. It was only momentster did Azazel¡¯s voice echo out. "Come out, Lady ire, Young Master Alex." Words that acted akin to a signal as from the right, another set of metal doors opened. There. From the Doors leading to a control room where the Captain of the Airship would normally be in. Two hooded figures stepped out. And the moment they did so, the pressure that Branch Leader Axel radiated out became all that much more intense as he uttered out very slowly. "Are you fucking with me, Azazel?" ¡­! n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The surroundings vibrated as if a heavy pressure came down! Chapter 30: A Blessing and a Curse! II A tremendous pressure came down! But it was contained only in this room as Axel stopped staring at the figures of Rachel and Charlie right away, turning towards Azazel as he seemed ready to rip him apart. "Where is my daughter?" Words filled with interminable brilliance vibrated out as while Branch Leader Axel reacted this way, Branch Leader Julius looked at theplicated and scared gazes of the young man and woman before them as his eyes shone deeply! In reply to the words that seemed more like a threat, Azazel bowed his head while beginning to speak calmly. "There are traitors within our midst, so Lady ire and Young Master Alex designed this ruse." Shocking words came out as before any replies could be made, Azazel continued. "In the Barracks of the Jungle Grounds after I left, they were able to confirm this by capturing a Gem Master that sent a message through a Communication Device. A Gem Master who revealed that he wasmunicating with the Gnis Bloodline and subsequently- Beasts of Corruption!" ¡­! The words caused the gazes of both Branch Leaders to change greatly. From Branch Leader Julius, a heavy pressure also began to swirl as it felt even more suffocating! But it was Branch Leader Axel who continued to ask. "You left my daughter unounted for in a Breach? You thought that to be safer than within the walls of Carthage where I am along with armies of Gem Masters? You dumb motherf-" "She is safest outside of Carthage." The voice of Branch Leader Julius interjected at this time in an extremely somber tone that made Branch Leader Axel gaze towards him while continuing his fury. Branch Leader Julius continued. "If there is one rat, there are many. As of right now, those plotting against your daughter know that she is back in Carthage, while truthfully, she is far, far away. As for why Carthage would be even more dangerous for her¡­something I only had as a passing fear maye out to be true." ¡­! "The Awakening of a Five-Link Gem Master is a blessing¡­in the right ce. In a ce where they are capable of being protected and fostered. In a ce like this, she can be a target. For vile Four-Link Gem Master or any Four-Link Beasts of Corruption, she is a Panacea that if they can swallow¡­they can be Entities with Five-Link Gem Sockets themselves!" Words that caused the pupils of Gem Master Azazel to tremble echoed out. A Panacea? Azazel¡¯s unfocused eyes gazed towards Branch Leader Julius as he asked hesitantly. "You don¡¯t mean¡­?" "In the Ascendant Branches of any of the Four Human Lineages, It is possible to find Five-Link Gem Masters who live within grand Empire Strongholds. They are able to awaken stronger Gem Masters and raise them without worry because there are already existing Five-Link Gem Masters or even Six-Link Gem Masters there who can defend them. But if, in a corner of this World of Ephesus, a Five-Link Gem Master arises in a little ce that only has Four-Link Gem Masters¡­how can they possibly protect something like that? So the gazes of those seeking opportunity turn over. Those who always dream of Five-Link Gem Sockets or higher finally have such a possibility before them¡­they just need to get their hands on a girl who has only just Awakened and has umted very little life force." ¡­! The words of Branch Leader Julius caused Branch Leader Axel to shake and seethe with waves of anger. His daughter. They actually wanted the blood and livelihood of his daughter! His mind turned fast as countless thoughts shed within a second. And a momentter¡­ "I can send her to the nearest stronghold of the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. I will escort her myself!" Yes. If she was there. Her life would be protected. She could be fostered as a powerful force as they would dly take her! Even Branch Leader Julius gave a light nod to these words as he came before Rachel and Charlie, his hands rubbing their heads as if thanking them for their courage as he replied. "That is the only possible path to take. I just hope it is not toote. We will have to be vignt in the days toe. Azazel, let Alexander know to meet us at a point outside Carthage, there-" WU! WU! WU! Before his words could end, a massive sound of an rm that rarely rang over the months and years echoed out! An rm that caused the gazes of the Branch Leaders to sh with shock and somberness as Branch Leader Axel instantly turned into a streak of lightning that disappeared! At the same time, a difficult look appeared on Branch Leader Julius as he shook his head while leaving behind shocking words towards Azazel. "Things may already be toote. Tell Alexander to stay as far away from Carthage as possible for now. Just until we understand what ordeal ising." WU! WU! WU! The rm continued to ring out as Azazel¡¯s face was ashen! He knew this rm well. It sounded across the whole City of Carthage as it told those weak to shelter in ce. And it was a signal to those who could fight to man the Walls of Carthage and prepare. It only sounded when dangerous Beasts of Corruption were spotteding close to the Walls of Carthage. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It only sounded when at the very Minimum, a horde of Three-Link Beasts of Corruption were seen, or a Four-Link Beast of Corruption was spotted! A tremendously rare event. Why would it be happening now?! "Remain in here for now." Leaving behind these words, Branch Leader Julius turned into a pir of mes that disappeared. Momentster, a pir of mes shed and appeared above the Airship, levitating above and seeing the scene across the Hangar and beyond. At the panicking Gem Masters that were running towards the Wall. At¡­the skies above that had suddenly turned very, very dark. Clouds covered everything. And it didn¡¯t take long before Branch Leader Julius raised his hand before him, and he felt drops of rain begin to fall! Chapter 31: Rain! I Rain. An impossible rarity. Whenever it came, Life would bloom as it was always a happy asion! Yet at this moment, it felt very dreary and foreboding. Branch Leader Julius found himself questioning why there would be rain at this time. When the horns of Beasts of Corruption sounded and rain fell simultaneously, he actually felt a sense of despondency as with mes swirling around his feet, his figure shot towards the Walls of Carthage to see! The tendrils of mes came from nothing else but the [me Maniption] Ability Gem socketed in the center of his chest. A Gem he had with him for as long as he could remember, and its burst of power brought him to the top of the walls at this moment. Amidst scrambling Gem Masters. He saw. He was that horrifically, the Tier 3 Breach that was the Den of Corruption¡­had ripped the skies and earth even more. It had erged and be even more prominent. This alone would be reason for shock, but there was then the fact that from the entrance of this Breach, Branch Leader Julius could see with his enhanced eyesight...throngs of dark masses moving together. It was a tide of Beasts of Corruption. The Inner and Outer Barracks of the Den of Corruption seemed decimated at this moment, overrun by Beasts of Corruption as Julius already knew that the hundreds of Three-Link Gem Masters and below who were stationed here and didn¡¯t retreat in time...were dead! Dead! How many lives were those? How many of them left their families behind? Branch Leader Julius closed his eyes momentarily as it felt like time had stalled, but within moments¡­ "Branch Leader!" A shot came beside him as a Three-Link Gem Master with a Messenger Device came beside him. "Three Four-Link Beasts of Corruption spotted so far! They attacked together as the Barracks fell within minutes, and now¡­a tide of Beasts of Corruption is flowing through under their lead!" Three Four-Link Beasts of Corruption. Branch Leader Julius heard such a thing as he shook his head while looking into the skies. There, the visage of Branch Leader Axel could be seen surrounded by blue lightning and thunder, heavy waves of anger surrounding him! n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Julius sighed as he voiced out calmly. "If only it were just three Four-Link Beasts of Corruption." ¡­! If only. His attuned senses that had long since be ustomed to the aura of Four-Link Beasts of Corruption told him that from the Den of Corruption far ahead of them, a minimum of Six Four-Link Beasts of Corruption could be felt. And this wasn¡¯t all. WU! The horn red. The Beasts of Corruption neared! The paved roads leading to the Den of Corruption were destroyed as, at this moment, a flying type Beast of Corruption led swathes of other Beasts that blotted the skies, stopping a mile away as its piercing eyes gazed coldly. It was a Four-Link me Crow. ck mes burned around its body as behind it, a few hundred me Crows floated with ferociousness. Below them, a massive Four-Link Water Bison roared, tendrils of water surrounding its body as those like it followed behind by the hundreds! To its left, a Four-Link Lightning Praying Mantis twisted its head unnaturally as blue lighting coursed across its body and the bodies of those like it followed closely! One powerful Beast of Corruption after another was seen leading a tide of their brethren, and all of them came to a stop a mile away from the Walls of Carthage as they didn¡¯t even chase the Gem Masters fearfully running towards their Wall. When Branch Leader Julius saw this, his hand went towards a small bag to his right side as he pulled out an incandescent Gem. It glowed with a radiant white light as this was something very few Gem Masters around would ever know the purpose of. And yet Julius grasped it in his hands as after seeing the tide of Beasts of Corruption ahead of them¡­he crushed it. CRACK! The white Gem cracked and released a burst of white light up as if it were sending a signal! In the distance, the me Crow and other Four-Link Beasts of Corruption raised their gaze to follow this signal. A sneer escaped the me Crow as from its beak dripping with ck mes¡­ "It is no use, human." ¡­! A cruel humanoid voice echoed out from it. "Today, nothing will be of use." Utterly terrifying words echoed out, and as if toplement these words¡­ ROAR! A booming roar echoed out from behind as the tides of Beasts of Corruption parted. In between the Lightning Praying Mantis and the Water Bison, the Beasts parted ways as a Golden me Lion strutted through, its mane bright with mes! What was shocking was the fact that atop this Golden me Lion¡­was actually a human. A human! Hair shining with golden splendor. Eyes as blue as the sea. A middle aged man emanating power and vile grace was actually seated on a Four-Link Golden me Lion, his own chest brimming with the light of a Four-Link Gem Master as he was adorned in a pure white robe, and behind him¡­other Humans adorned in white robes also followed. Humans. Among the tides of Beasts. And it seemed like they came from the expanded Den of Corruption as well! The gaze of Branch Leader Julius became immeasurably sour as looking at the golden hair and blue eyes of the humans ahead of him, a single word arose. Gnis. Humans from the Gnis Bloodline were actually mixed in with throngs of Beasts of Corruption! What the hell was this? Why was this? Why?! OOOH! On the walls, a booming horn of order was bellowed out by a Three-Link Gem Master in amanding post, thousands of Ranged Gem Masters getting their bows ready. On certain sections of the tall walls, there were arrow tower battlements that had massive crossbows powered by unique materials pulsing with waves of energy. All of them were at the ready as behind Branch Leader Julius, rows of Gem Masters were already lined up behind him! And behind Branch Leader Axel, dozens of Gem Masters crackling with lightning flew up behind him as they were at the ready! Drops of rain heavily began to fall. No joy was on the faces of anyone as instead, immense trepidation and tension filled everything. Just what had gone wrong? Why was this happening right now?! Chapter 32: Rain! II The scene was a dreary one as a mile away from the Walls of Carthage, a tide of Beasts of Corruption led by multiple Four-Link Beasts and even a Four-Link Gem Master could be seen! It was menacing because all of these unruly Beasts of Corruption let out guttural roars silently, but they were restrained and controlled. Simply waiting for the permission to be let loose as they unleashed carnage thereafter. Looking at such a scene, the figure of Branch Leader Axel crackling with blue lightning shook with anger, his mouth opening to release a bellow directed towards nobody but the golden haired Four-Link Gem Master seated on the Golden me Lion. "A Gem Master strutting in on top of a Beast of Corruption! I never thought I would see the fucking day. What is your Gnis Bloodline thinking?!" His roar was filled with primal anger. The Beasts of Corruption thatid waste to their World before they were able to protect small continents over time. Those who took the lives of billions of Humans across the globe! Why would a human ever be seen sitting atop a Beast of Corruption within a Beast Tide facing other Humans? It was an idea so foreign and unfathomable that at this moment, the golden haired middle aged man on top of the Golden me Lion smiled while shaking his head. Golden hair and blue eyes. A trait of the Gnis Bloodline that distinguished them powerfully among the Four Human Lineages, with their overall strength and amount of remainingnd they protected making them ranked third in terms of power. The Asmodeus Bloodline was, of course, ranked fourth purely in terms of thend they protected, with their Gem Masters within the Ascendant Branches being of simr power! And yet, A Gem Master of the Gnis Bloodline stood in the midst of a Beast Tide, other Gem Masters following behind him as he shook his head while replying with mysticism. "There are things moreplex than you can ever imagine, Little Branch Leader Axel. I won¡¯t even waste words with you as I have a simple proposal." Words that caused the anger within Branch Leader Axel to rise and the grimness on Branch Leader Julius to increase came out. And their expressions only worsened from the words that followed. "Give us the girl, and the hundreds of thousands inside Carthage will be spared." ¡­! Give us the girl. A simple enough sentence that shouldn¡¯t have too much power. And yet it confirmed everything Branch Leader Julius feared as he closed his eyes, the tendrils of mes burning around his body bing even more radiant as he began to rise over the wall. In the skies where dark clouds gathered more and more, with drops of rain bing ever so prevalent, Branch Leader Axel had already reached the limits of his anger as only pristine apathy showed on his face when he heard the words that could only rte to his daughter. His voice was carried by the lightning around him as it thundered out. "Over my dead body, you traitorous worm. Did you ever think of what your actions mean? Do you think the Asmodeus Bloodline is so weak? Do you think the forces of the Ascendant Branch will sit still?! Do you think we don¡¯t know of you, Neiman?!" His words were booming. Branch Leader Neiman of the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline. He smiled once more at the words of Branch Leader Axel as he actually turned his gaze away from him and towards Branch Leader Julius. "I know you make most of the critical decisions here, so I¡¯ll let you know that the signal you sent out towards the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline will never reach them. When they do find out about one of their City Fortresses, it will be when it has all turned to rubble. So before that happens¡­let us make this easy. The cost of one girl, or the hundreds of thousands of lives behind those frail walls. The choice is clear, isn¡¯t it? Any true leader knows what the correct choice would be. The girl is known as¡­ire Asmodeus I believe, anyone on those walls can give her up and you will be granted amnesty and guaranteed safety for you and your family." The words were filled with snakelike venom, the gazes all Gem Masters changing on the walls. Hearing his daughter¡¯s name actually mentioned, the cold eyes of Branch Leader Axel closed as the tendrils of lightning around him became much more concentrated. He thought of the frail figure of Alexander that had actually thought ahead far enough to keep his daughter away from here. He prayed for her safety. And to ensure this safety¡­ BOOM! Crackling thunder and lightning crashed all around him as he opened his eyes and uttered out. "The mes of humanity burn bright." ¡­! His voice was booming. It covered everything ahead and behind as it thundered in the hearts of all who heard it. And once the Gem Masters on top of the Walls of Carthage heard it, their hearts became firmer as they opened their mouths and repeated in synchrony. "The mes of humanity burn bright!" Their voices were booming. A sense of fear and valor was mixed in, but it was firm. It was their dedication to protect the City behind them. Their dedication to not allowing Beasts of Corruption to gain another edge! An air of glorious power surged around the Walls of Carthage as the Beasts of Corruption roared in threatening tones in the distance. The body of Branch Leader Julius came to float besides Branch Leader Axel as his gaze was filled with heavy determination. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He whispered to his old friend beside him. "Let loose. Do not worry about your daughter, my son will keep her safe." ¡­! A whisper from one leader to another. Axel heard it as he nodded firmly, and Branch Leader Julius looked ahead at the enemies ahead of them. Multiple Four-Link Beasts of Corruption. Gem Masters under the lead of a Four-Link Branch Leader. It was an assault that may have caused despair for others, but for him and all the lives depending on him in Carthage¡­they were nothing! He wouldn¡¯t let history repeat itself. So he raised his fist up as he also bellowed out. "Unbreakable Honor!" HUUM! Unbreakable honor. The motto of the Asmodeus Bloodline. Branch Leader Julius shouted it out as it was followed by a bellow from all those behind him. "UNBREAKABLE HONOR!" ¡­! What followed thereafter was an incandescent glow of tens of thousands of Gem Sockets shining brightly- along with the roars of brutal Beasts! Along the heavy downpour of rain! Chapter 33: The Siege of Carthage! I When there were strong leaders, the people prospered. The City of Carthage¡­.did not have weak leaders. Behind the Walls of Carthage that had begun to glow with thousands of Ability Gems being cast at once, as well the battlement towers on the wall that had released the massive arrows capable of shooting down massive creatures. In the Corrupted Airship, Gem Master Azazel, Rachel, and Charlie heard the booming voice of the Gnis Bloodline Branch Leader asking for ire, as well as the shouts of their own Branch Leaders that effectively were calls to defend their home and attack their enemies! Even from afar, they could sense the oppressive aura that the Beast Tide was imposing on Carthage, and Azazel shut his eyes as he whispered silently. "Stay safely as far away as you can, Young Master¡­head to the Ascendant Branch of our Asmodeus Bloodline without looking back. Please. Please!" He whispered these words out, but they were the same words he had sent on the Gem Messenger Device to let him know the wishes of his Father. Stay as far away from Carthage as possible! Wherever he was, he shouldn¡¯t even worry about what was happening here as his path and ire¡¯s path had to be towards another direction entirely! Beside Azazel, the figures of Rachel and Charlie, who took the spots for Alexander and ire, trembled as their eyes betrayed their fear. They were justing of age. Sensing the aura of horrors descending onto Carthage, how could they not be fearful of what was toe? As they worked through their fears. Near the same Hangar where the Corrupted Airship was docked on. A group of Gem Masters adorned in robes silently neared the Airship that had ¡¯returned¡¯ with the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master. Leading them was a Three-Link Gem Master who actually wasn¡¯t even worried about aiding in the defense of the Walls of Carthage! ¡ª A few miles away from Carthage. Just belowyers of dark clouds releasing a heavy downpour of rain. A young woman held onto a young man, her blue wings of Lightning barely discerned amidst the dark cover of clouds. They had flown slowly from the Jungle Grounds and towards Carthage in thest few hours, staying in the far distance and observing any changes while waiting for word from Azazel that had already arrived. It was none other than ire and Alexander as they took a high vantage point, and from the distant skies, they could see the outline of Carthage a few miles away, as well as the erged Breach that had undoubtedly be a Tier 4 Breach! N?v(el)B\\jnn They saw the dots that were pouring out from the Breach. They felt the zing auras of powerful Four-Link Beasts of Corruption even where they were. And worst of all, they could see two shining points of light above the walls of Carthage. One shining blue, one shining with a crimson fiery light amidst the heavy rain. Their fathers. At this moment, in the middle of this heavy rain, ire¡¯s expression showed great distress and guilt as her eyes were red- the rain hiding just how many tears went down her cheeks! "It¡¯s all my fault¡­" Her voice was barely a whisper as she felt the Five-Link Gem Sockets on her chest. Ever since they appeared, her life had only changed as now, hordes of Beasts of Corruption knocked on the doors of her home because of these Gem Sockets! Hundreds of thousands of lives were now in peril. The life of her own father was in peril. And in the face of multiple Four-Link Beasts of Corruption¡­what could they do? Her whispers were picked up by Alexander who she held onto as he replied sternly. "You aren¡¯t to me. This is more than just about your Five-Link Gem Blueprint. A Beast Tide like this is not just intended for the capture of a single Gem Master. A Beast Tide like this¡­" The rest of his words were left unsaid. But they were clear. A Tide of Beasts such as this meant nothing but decimation. And if they were working with the Gnis Bloodline¡­something even more terrifying was in store. Alexander closed his eyes momentarily before he opened them decisively. He spoke to ire. "ire, I need you to do something for me." "No¡­" As if she could already predict what he was going to say, she shook her head as her tears freely fell. But Alexander was adamant. "I do not know how many Four-Link Beasts of Corruption there are. All I see is a continued outpouring of Beasts even now as there could be 5 or 10, or even more as far as we know. I¡­am not confident that I would be able to protect you." ¡­! "I¡¯m not telling you to hide. I¡¯m not telling you not toe. I just need you to stay back as we understand just how many enemies there are. On whether my Father or your Father even stand a chance. If your addition can tip the scales to even give us a chance of victory, I will let you know toe. But if our enemies are too many, if I do not give you the signal toe¡­please promise me to head towards the Ascendant Branch of our Asmodeus Bloodline without looking back." "..." A heavy ask. One that broke ire¡¯s heart as all she could think of at this moment was the one she was holding onto being submerged in a tide of Beasts. Her father also submerged in a tide of Beasts! It was so painful, but she knew they had to move fast as while gritting her teeth, she nodded heavily. Alexander¡¯s senses caught this as he could see her eyes that told him she was lying right away. She would undoubtedly fly in the moment she saw him in danger, whether he gave her the signal or not! But there was nothing he could do. Time was not on their side when an influx of Beastsid siege on Carthage! So his own body began to crackle with crimson lightning as he looked ahead. His Father. Logic said to get away from here and bid their time in the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline. But¡­he couldn¡¯t leave his father behind. He couldn¡¯t lose the only other family member he had left! Chapter 34: The Siege of Carthage! II So momentarily, logic was put aside. He felt his Enneagram that had begun to spin again with fervor the moment that the Lightning King Gem Recipe was filled. He felt the strength coursing through him, as well as the rectangr crimson and blue bars that represented his Vigor and Energeia. [Vigor]:: 951/951 [Energeia]:: 851/855 The values of both Vigor and Energeia had risen steadily due to the influence of his many socketed Gems, but he still didn¡¯t know whether it would be enough. But at this time, it had to be enough! He had something nobody else had. He socketed Gems with links that these Four-Link Beasts of Corruption were seeking so badly. With this power, it may just be enough to produce a miracle. So he breathed out as he spoke to ire. "I¡¯ll see you soon." ¡­! Not a goodbye. It was a set of words that left behind hope as a momentter, Alexander turned into a streak of red lightning that shot out towards the depths of a Beast Tide! After shooting forward for half a mile, he shifted from a radiant crimson lightning to a barely discernible humanoid form, his hands grabbing onto and ripping the green robe on him as he brought the fabric and covered his mouth and nose. He went even further to wrap his head- only his dark pupils being visible! The less that people knew about him, the better. They wanted to be filled with mysteries? He would unleash every ounce of power he had while making them wonder how it was all possible! BOOM! With a p of lightning and thunder, he made his way towards the front of the Walls of Carthage that had turned into a devastating battlefield. On the walls, countless blinking lights of Elemental Attacks raged down towards the Beasts of Corruption, with this being the Main form of attack to hold the tides of Beasts at bay! If they neared and tried to breach the wall, closebat Gem Masters would be there to use their very lives as bastions to ensure none went through the walls. This was the case for Three-Link Gem Masters and Beasts of Corruption, along with those holding Two-Link Gem Sockets and below. But then, there were the Four-Link Beasts of Corruption. There was the Four-Link Gem Master from the Gnis Bloodline! The two Branch Leaders had to stop them from nearing the wall at all cost, and so¡­the devastating scene of Branch Leader Julius and Branch Leader Axel withstanding the assault of multiple enemies at the same stage of power as them unfolded. Well, not exactly at the same stage of power! BOOM! n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A p of thunder and blue lightning echoed above the skies as a ring of circr thunder raged- Branch Leader Axel at its very center as he pushed away a river of ck mes from the Four-Link me Crow in front of him. And yet behind him, the Four-Link Lightning Praying Mantis circled and shot out speedily seeking to cleave his head off his neck whenever any gap presented itself! But Branch Leader Axel remained valiantly alert as his circle of lightning was never breached, with his hands grasping above him as lightning bolts gathered within them that he threw out to both the Lightning Praying Mantis and the me Crow. On his chest, vibrant life force was surging as if one looked closely, they would be able to see that his four Gem Sockets were surrounded by a white ring of light and a blue ring of light that held a sense of regality. A sign of nothing else but Ascendancy. When the Life force of a Gem Master reaches a high enough level that their Gem Sockets undergo a change! Around Branch Leader Axel, a silent but indomitable aura to represent this arose and shone brightly. But¡­it was nowhere near as indomitable as down below- where Branch Leader Julius alone was facing the Four-Link Gem Master from the Gnis Bloodline, Neiman, along with dozens of Gem Masters behind him and the Golden me Lion under him, and the Four-Link Water Bison who was surrounded by heavy rivers of water! And yet¡­ SIZZLE! The ground burned from the sheer heat stemming from the mes that Branch Leader Julius released. His battle robe was now tainted with a red hue as his surroundings were encircled by mes, his hands releasing swirling sts of mes towards the Four-Link Beasts of Corruption and Neiman! The white robes of the golden haired Gnis Bloodline Branch Leader fluttered amidst the heat as he scoffed, looking at the blue hue shining brightly on top of the white of the Four Gem Sockets on Branch Leader Julius¡¯ chest as he spoke out. "So what if you have taken your Sockets through Ascendancy and be a genuine Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master? The rest of us haven¡¯t been cking!" WU! His golden hair fluttered. His chest showed the same white and blue hues around his Sockets as below him, the Golden me Lion roared out whilences of golden mes formed all around! Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master. It was a title granted to those who had built up enough life force to allow for the evolution of their Gem Sockets that caused the effects and capabilities of their socketed Gems to increase by an unknown factor. Such Entities normally moved and protected thends of Ascendant Branches of Human Lineages against powerful Ascendant Beasts of Corruption, and it was a level of power that could be seen among Branch Leaders of Mortal Branches of Human Lineages. They were Gem Masters with great power! "But that¡¯s not all¡­" Branch Leader Neiman smiled with a devilish glint as he raised his hand up. CAA! The cry of a bird pped out as in a second, a Four-Link Thunder Sparrow came to perch on his hand. AWOO! This wasn¡¯t all as from behind, the rows of Gnis Gem Masters parted to allow an Arctic Wolf pulsing with arcs of frost toe and stand beside Branch Leader Neiman, followed by a me Hound that shone with red mesing on the other side! A Golden me Lion, A Thunder Sparrow, an Arctic Wolf, and a me Hound. All Four-Link Beasts of Corruption. And all were circling Branch Leader Neiman with unbreakable loyalty as they were Beasts bound to him through his Main Ability Gem- [Minion Maniption]! Chapter 35: Brutality! I Somehow, this Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master had bound 4 Four-Link Beasts of Corruption under his banner, and all of them gazed towards Branch Leader Julius with brutality. "Ah¡­" On the Wall, the Gem Masters of Carthage saw this scene and despaired. A single Four-Link Beast of Corruption was a cmity for them. For there to be multiple? For the Branch Leaders to be facing all of them alone? The feeling that came from such a reality was nothing but despair and destion! The Beasts of Corruption that were kept at bay with long-ranged attacks used this as an opportunity to make a breakthrough in the defenses- lines being broken as Beasts of Corruption reached the wall and began to climb it. It was only a prelude to what was toe. Before the Walls of Carthage, on the earth that was scalding hot to the point that the sand began to distort¡­Branch Leader Julius looked at the many Four-Link Beasts of Corruption before him as he sighed. It was a sigh of anger and tiredness. A sigh of regret. He had many hopes on what he wanted to do in the future. The revenge he wanted to take. The son he wanted to raise. Hearing his sigh, Branch Leader Neiman who was seated on top of the Golden me Lion shook his head. "It¡¯s a shame, really. For someone like you to die while not understanding anything nor knowing what is toe." ¡­! His Four-Link Beasts of Corruption under the control of his Minion Maniption Ability Gem encircled the ring of zing mes around Julius as he continued calmly. "The Asmodeus Bloodline always screams about Unbreakable Honor. How about this? I want to put that to the test right now. Stop fighting. I can offer you a position close to mine in the new era toe. You keep your life, the life of your son, and whoever else you choose. All you have to do.is let go of that honor. Break it." His golden hair whipped around as vortices of winds surged. He looked into the eyes of Julius and smiled cruelly as he saw they didn¡¯t even change a bit. "You can¡¯t do it, can you? This...is what separates you and I. I am a survivor. In your position, I would do anything to keep my life. Hell, you could hate me but take revengeter, or plot and never seed- but at the very least, you could keep your life. But your stupid Honor prevents you from doing even that. Nobody ever became strong by being honorable!" BOOM! His Beasts moved with their own attacks. It was a sequence meant to decimate and break Branch Leader Julius as with his head on a tter, the remaining defense on the Walls of Carthage would break down! Neiman¡¯s eyes lit up at the oing glory as he could almost taste it. N?v(el)B\\jnn He could see it. It was¡­ BOOOM! Interrupted by a massive crash of crimson lightning! His glory that was right at the tip of his fingers was interrupted by the unfathomable crimson radiance of a massive lightning bolt that smashed into his Arctic Wolf who was nearest to Julius, the fur on this beast bing scorched as this red lightning wasn¡¯t done! For the surrounding meters, any nearby Beasts and even the other Four-Link Beasts and Neiman felt booming tendrils of lightning smash on their bodies as they were pushed back slightly. And the st of lightning then traveled from the Arctic Wolf and onto the me Hound, another burst of multiple tendrils of red lightning being released in the surroundings when this urred! Horrifically, it did not stop. From the me Hound, it then jumped onto the Thunder Sparrow who tried to absorb the lightning- the same scene repeating itself as heavy damage was spread onto the surroundings asstly, this red bolt of thunder and lighting smashed towards Branch Leader Neiman himself. All of this¡­happened within the span of a second. The red lightning was that fast! Neiman roared out in shock as the Golden me Lion below him erected a wall of mes to face this unexpected and yet heavy attack. An attack built from multiple linked support abilities! Unity Support that turned Alexander into lightning itself. Chained Link Support that allowed a single cast of the ability to chain to multiple enemies. The Ssh Damage Support that gave area of effect damage on every hit. The Spatial Pocket Support that allowed the ability to be cast anywhere within one hundred meters. The Chance to Corrupt Support that had a 50% chance to Corrupt targeted enemies and make half of their Gem Sockets inactive for 30 seconds! This wasn¡¯t to even mention the Life Force on Hit Support that had not even begun to show its ridiculous uses. All of this was unfolded all at once as the terror of a Gem Master with many Gem Sockets slowly presented itself! BOOM! The golden mes were only able to stop half of the heavy waves of crimson lightning, but this deadly attack came to a stop as the lightning came to briefly dangle a few meters from the earth below as it turned into¡­the figure of a shrouded Gem Master. ¡­! Only his eyes could be seen as they simmered with tremendous anger. Of those affected by the crimson lightning, the Lightning Sparrow and me Hound had their Main Ability Gems and a single Support Ability Gem turn dull, a crimson skull floating above their heads as they were corrupted. "WHO DA-...!" The golden hair on the Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master Neiman was vibrating rapidly as he roared out, but he didn¡¯t finish his roar as he saw the blooming frost of a ciering to epass everything around him, and he could see another expanding cier near the me Hound and Lightning Sparrow that were corrupted and couldn¡¯t even utilize their Main Ability Gems. He saw them all stem¡­from the foreign Gem Master who he could swear just shot out the crimson lighting. So why the hell¡­.did such terrifying waves of ice and frost erupt from him too?! Chapter 36: Brutality! II In the midst of despair, a startling chance bloomed! Crimson lightning crashed down with heavy consequences, and no sooner had this urred, immeasurable cold spread out as waves of cial ice erupted out to cover everything. They were centered around the me Hound on one side whose Ability Gems were dim and the Lightning Sparrow that was under the same effect, a dazzling crimson skull shing menacingly above their heads. The eruption of ice centered around them and even extended backwards for tens of meters to cover the Beasts of Corruption there- its temperature being utterly disastrous as it rapidly ate up any trace of life force! No sooner had these cial masses enveloped major portions of the expanding battlefield¡­ BOOOM They exploded out as they saw frozen pieces of limbs of dozens of Beasts everywhere. The body of the Four-Link me Hound had huge gashes leaking frozen crimson blood as it whimpered fearfully, while the wings of the Lightning Sparrow were broken unnaturally as it dropped from the skies! Their life force had dropped to extremely low levels as their Ability Gems were not even responding to them. And just when they thought it was over¡­ WUU! Their bodies became encased in ice again. A repeated effect of a Support Gem from the Ice King Gem Recipe. They were frozen for a second time as when these smaller cial masses exploded once again¡­ Shattered ice cracked and fell as alongside it, the skull of the me Hound was split open with its eyes being entirely dim. The Lightning Sparrow had its body dismembered into multiple blocks of frozen ice as the only thing radiant on its body¡­were the four Gems on its dimly broken Sockets and a radiant Ascendant Life Gem that was contained in an ice block that had a part of its chest! ¡­! It was a horrifying scene. All of it urred in the span of a single second as nobody could even react. In the second that followed, tendrils of crimson lightning shed on the radiant Gems on the dismembered body parts of the me Hound and Lightning Sparrow, along with their bright Ascendant Life Gems that made up the brunt of their achievements before they perished. Momentster, their eight Gems and two Ascendant Life Gems turned into streaks of red lighting that sank into the chest of the man responsible. No. Not a man. The monster responsible for all this! Branch Leader Neiman looked towards him with fury and a trace of fear as he could only see his dark eyes that held billowing waves of anger. Who was this? A Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Master? Something even more dreadful? Feeling the budding fear in his heart, Neiman roared out. "Send everyone out! Everyone and more!" HUUM! In the midst of his fear, he called out heavily. And far behind them, the already expanded Breach of the Den of Corruption let out an incandescent light before zing auras of Tier 4 Beasts of Corruption began to surge out one after another. Your journey continues on freewebnovel The gaze of Branch Leader Neiman was twisted as he felt the deaths of his two Tier 4 Beasts, but his figure controlled the Golden me Lion to instantly jump backwards as he had to make as much distance from this monster who covered his head entirely! Yet¡­ His connected senses with the Golden me Lion red with danger as a Golden shield of mes rose above, instantly forming into a wall that blocked a massive crimson spear of mes held by none other than Branch Leader Julius. While others were shocked, he had made a move right away as hisbat senses were unbeatable- nearly skewering Branch Leader Neiman. This¡­was the power of a Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master! In the distance, an Arctic Wolf howled as it came to defend its master. It was an absolutely startling turn of events that nobody expected! ¡ª Alexander felt everything with his senses as the Enneagram on his chest spun like an engine. Inside of him, the monotone voice rose up as hemunicated with it simultaneously. [One Ascendant Life Gem is being used to elevate the level of your Vigor and Energeia.] [One Ascendant Life Gem is being used to increase the rate of extraction of the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe.] ¡­! His body, even though it had just utilized a great deal of Energeia, felt profoundly filled with power as waves of life force surged within him! He sensed the multiple iing auras of Tier 4 Beasts from the Den of Corruption. He sensed the breath and power of his father above an enemy Gem Master from the Gnis Bloodline. He sensed the eight Gems he had ced in the isted storage space and their details as his eyes became locked onto the enemy Gem Master with rage and fervor- even more so on the dazzling Gem on his chest! ¡¯Minions, huh?¡¯ With rage and ideas budding in his mind, he turned into a streak of lightning that once more went to bombard Branch Leader Neiman, a wave of ice and frost already blooming on the Golden me Lion he sat on as Alexander no longer even saw this being as one who was still alive. It was only someone he had to kill- someone who would die in the next second with surety! BOOM! As ice froze below him and fiery brilliance sought to break through from above, Branch Leader Neiman lost all color as crimson lightning smashed into him while he didn¡¯t have an ounce of defenses. He¡­was a Gem Master who relied on his Minions. His own defenses and power were negligible as his Gems purely supported his Minions! So when he took another piercing crimson lightning head on¡­the result was utterly disastrous for him. And horrifically, after the lightning struck him once, it pulled back before chaining on him again, and again, and again! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! It was heavy. It was brutal. By the time it was done, even the gaze of Branch Leader Julius floating on tendrils of red mes above changed to be stern as where Neiman used to be¡­were only four dazzling Gems. His muscture and bones were scorched, burned, and utterly broken away, the only sign of him ever being alive being a ck scorch mark above the roaring Golden me Lion trying to break out of a prison of ice! But the current reality was one that caused all nearby sentient beings to be gobsmacked as¡­ A Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master was dead! Where he used to be, crimson lightning transformed into the veiled figure of a young man who grasped the central Ability Gem that Branch Leader Neiman had into his hands. His chest, which was spinning rapidly, came to a stop on the Sockets where bright gems used to be¡­only emptiness could be seen as if they were ground to nothingness. [The Gem Recipe designated as Corrupted Lightning King and all the Gems within its makeup have been recorded in the Ability Gem Database.] ¡­! A fantastical message. N?v(el)B\\jnn The Enneagram on his chest shone ever brighter in his eyes as in the face of schemes anding monsters, he needed more power. And what grander power was there than increasing the number of Gems he socketed? While reading over its details, he grasped the [Minion Maniption Ability Gem] in his hand and threw it towards his glorious chest! Chapter 37: A Terror! I [Minion Maniption Ability Gem]:: A rare ability gem that once socketed, it passively allows the formation of an Isted Minion Shrine in its depths. With it, any dominated Life Form with a low degree of resistance can have its life bound to the Minion Shrine as it follows your bidding with near absolute loyalty. It passively enhances Energeia by an unknown amount once equipped. Any Support Ability Gems that are linked to this Ability Gem will gain another Isted Minion Shrine where another Life Form can be bound, stored, and released from for your own uses¡­ ¡­! It was a terrifying Ability Gem. A rare one at that too as if Branch Leader Neiman had not met Alexander, he would have continued to be a force to be reckoned on the battlefield! But the bombardment of lightning and ciers had taken him off guard at the heavy cost of his life as now, it fell on Alexander¡¯s hands. Basically, this Gem could allow one to bind any Life Form- whether that be a Human Being or a Beast of Corruption, and any Support Ability Gems added to this Gem to make a Recipe¡­would also allow one to bind more Life Forms. So depending on how many Gem Sockets one had¡­this would be the limit on the number of bound Minions. Branch Leader Neiman was only a Four-Link Gem Master as he had four Beasts of Corruption bound. But as his Enneagram began to pulse with brilliance, Alexander wondered¡­how many support Gems would light up for this Ability Gem? How many minions would it allow him to bind?! After the Main Ability Gem was Socketed, his Enneagram released a low hum as from the pointed ends, 6 faint circles shone. Six possible Support Ability Sockets. The same number of possible slots as the Corrupted Lightning Maniption Ability Gem! And to fill these slots, there were already the three Support Ability Gems he had looted from the dead Branch Leader Neiman. As he stood on top of a frozen Golden me Lion, with his father floating in the skies and grimly staring at the powerful auras of Tier 4 Beastsing out of the Den of Corruption, his mind worked rapidly to look at all the information. [Enhanced Minion Lifeforce Support]::...The supported ability gains a 50% increase in the life force of all Minions or Summoned Life Forms. [Frenzy Support]:: ...The supported Ability gains the chance to trigger an Onught of Frenzy whenever you or nearby allies kill an enemy. In the state of Frenzy, Life Force and offensive capabilities are increased by a factor of 2. [Energy Conservation Support]::...The supported Ability utilizes less than half of the required cost¡­ Your next read awaits at m v|l-e¡¯m,p| y- r "..." Alexander thought of the information these Support Ability Gems showed as he was a little disappointed. These Support Ability Gems¡­not all of them seemed to have high utility. The only one he directly socketed onto a Support slot was the [Enhanced Minion Life Support] as the other two didn¡¯t make it! Alexander looked at the small mountain of Support Ability Gems in his Isted Space that he had obtained from all the ck Furred Goris he had killed in the Jungle Grounds, as well as the Support Ability Gems that he looted from the recently killed me Hound, Lightning Sparrow, and dozens of other Beasts of Corruption. Among them¡­he remembered some that might have even more terrifying effects if he linked them together into an utterly ridiculous Recipe! But there was little time. He would have to do it simultaneously while he battled as with the Minion Maniption Ability Gem already on his chest with a single Support Gem, he turned his attention to the Golden me Lion below him that was half frozen. A crimson skull had now risen above it after sharing the ssh damage that its Master had taken. Alexander stood above its half-frozen head, looking into its buzzing golden eyes and its dim chest as he raised his foot. His foot which turned into crackling crimson lightning a momentter as he spoke out in heavy tone. "Will you ept death or submission?" ¡­! Death or submission. It was a heavy option, but every living thing wanted to live! Before the Golden me Lion could even reply though¡­ BOOM! Alexander¡¯s leg smashed down on its head, thunderous crimson lightning sting onto it and shattering some of the ice still climbing over its body as it became dazed. And his voice echoed out again coldly. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Death, or submission?" It felt cold. It felt chilling. The Golden me Lion instinctively knew that this question would note again as it couldn¡¯t help but whimper. Its eyes turned down in submission! A moment after, Alexander¡¯s chest shone with a dim golden radiance that flowed into the brain and chest of the Beast of Corruption below him, not an ounce of resistance present as soon enough, he felt a faint connection forming between him and something else. A connection of absolute loyalty to another life form. [The Tier 4 Golden me Lion has been sessfully bound into the Minion Maniption Ability Gem.] The monotone voice of the Enneagram echoed out in his mind as this time, it didn¡¯t stop there. [Would you like for me to automatically Socket Support Gems with highpatibility with the Minion Maniption Ability Gem from those within the Isted Storage Space?] ¡­! His Enneagram could even do this? This was one less thing he would have to focus on and try to do in the middle of battle as it would likely be even more efficient than him, so he gave themand. ¡¯Do it.¡¯ HUUM! At the same time, the cial Frost around the Golden me Lion broke as Alexander stood on its golden mane freely. He stared coldly at the Arctic Wolf that had lost its Master and the other Beasts nearby, as well as the astonished gazes of Branch Leader Julius and Axel above, along with all other Gem Masters! The Human Gnis Bloodline Gem Masters looked towards Alexander in fright. But his momentum was just building up as he didn¡¯t wait for the unknown Tier 4 Beasts rushing from the Den of Corruption to even arrive, the Golden me Lion below him roaring out and releasing a Golden me Spear towards the Arctic Wolf that was its ally not too long ago, while Alexander turned into crimson lightning that surged right above it even quicker. BOOM! Vibrant shields of ice formed around the Arctic Wolf, but they were all shattered as Alexander linked multiple strikes of Corrupted Lightning on it- his voice ringing out coldly moments after as the fur of this Arctic Wolf began to stain red with blood. "Death, or Submission?!" ...! Chapter 38: A Terror! II His voice held a hint of undeniable power in it. Remembering the fate of its Master and even what the Golden me Lion had done, the Arctic Wolf also whimpered and bowed its head as¡­ A golden hue flowed from Alexander and into the Arctic Wolf as another connection was formed! [The Tier 4 Arctic Wolf has been sessfully bound into the Enhanced Minion Lifeforce Support Gem.] ¡­! The voice of the Enneagram rang out in his mind as his entrance entirely changed the state of the battlefield. GRRR¡­ He rose up, his feet domineeringly stepping over the white-blue fur of the Arctic Wolf as the Golden me Lion also came to stand beside it. It was an utterly unfathomable scene that Branch Leader Julius and all other Gem Masters, and even the Beasts of Corruption looked at in a stupor! This unknown Gem Master...just came and killed one of the most powerful Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Masters on the battlefield, killing two of his Minions before he seemingly proceeded to put the other 2 in his control. Did this actually make sense? What could possibly make such a thing possible?! Nobody knew. Nobody could even guess. But in his head, Alexander heard the monotone voice continue. [The Support Ability Gem- Size Enhancement Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] ¡­! The name of a new Gem Recipe came out. And a second Support Ability Gem was added as four more remained! The moment this support Gem was ced within Alexander¡¯s Enneagram¡­ AWOO! The Arctic Wolf he stood on howled as it began to get bigger. It used to be over 10 Metersrge, but its size continued to expand as the Golden me Lion was the same! Their bones and muscture creaked and became reinforced with a brilliant light as they grew to be twice their original sizes, each one seemingrger than a mid-sized house with multiple floors at this moment. [Size Enhancement Support] had a simple definition. It stated that [...the resultant product(s) of the linked Ability Gem will have the area of effect or size enhanced by a factor of two.] A simple enough definition. But the results were powerful ones as when applied to Minions, they were considered the products of the Minion Maniption Ability Gem as their sheer size doubled! And size equated to power. But this wasn¡¯t all. The Enneagram was not done as it hand-picked fantastical Support Ability Gems that had shockingpatibility and efficacy among those that Alexander currently had on hand. [The Support Ability Gem- Lightning Grounds Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] Another simple-sounding Support Ability Gem was added. And yet the moment it came to be, around the erged bodies of the Arctic Wolf and Golden me Lion¡­tendrils of blue lightning began to crash around them as even they looked around with eyes that showed they didn¡¯tpletely understand! But the tendrils of lightning crashing around them felt connected to them, as if they were an extension of their own limbs. It was powerful, but also temporary. The definition of this Support Ability Gem was also a simple one. [...The effect of Lightning Grounds is temporarily applied to the output of the supported Ability,sting for 10 seconds and dealing 200% of the maximum possible damage. It requires 30 minutes before it can be activated again.] A support ability whose effects onlysted 10 seconds as it even had a limitation of a cool down. It didn¡¯t seem like a good choice at first nce, but Alexander was slowly beginning to develop trust with his Enneagram as he knew this monotone wonder in his chest was far more calctive than him. And just as this thought came, the next dazzling addition of a Support Gem confirmed it. [The Support Ability Gem- Unlimited Duration Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! [Unlimited Duration Support]:: ¡­Any linked Gem that produces Auras, Buffs, Debuffs, Curses, or Temporary Elemental Effects will have its duration extended infinitely at the cost of reducing its effects by 75%. The momentary tendrils of lightning shing around the bodies of his Minions became a permanent effect. They were slightly weaker, but they still deal half of their maximum damage output around them at all times from here on out! And this¡­would be applicable not just to these two Minions, but any other Minions that Alexander added. It was a genuine usage of support ability Gems that he wasn¡¯t even thinking about, and his Enneagram wasn¡¯t even done! There were still three more Sockets to fill up as he was curious just how deadly this Minion King Gem Recipe was about to be. But in his musings, the enemies from afar arrived. Your next chapter awaits on freewebnovel The Beasts that had been pushing forward now felt an aura of fear from the unknown appearance of a Gem Master that eradicated theirmander and took control of his minions soon after, only for these same Minions to berger and begin to unleash a storm of lighting around them soon after. So the enemies slightly pulled back from the Walls of Carthage as Alexander¡¯s mere appearance was that much of a menace! But they still circled Carthage. Because behind them, the powerful auras of multiple Tier 4 Beasts arrived at this moment- and they seemed of the same creed as the other Beasts of Corruption that had made their appearance here! Another Four-Link Water Bison. Two Four-Link me Crows in addition to the one attacking Branch Leader Axel in the skies. Behind them, clouds of Three-Link and Two-Link me Crows followed. Another two Four-Link me Hounds who were followed by a dense tide of weaker Tiers of me Hounds! Andstly¡­Another golden haired Gnis Bloodline Branch Leader who stood on a unique Aerial Beast that had white and green feathers. His gaze was currently livid as he looked towards Alexander with eyes of bloody murder. Five Tier 4 Beasts came with him, and he stood on a unique unknown Aerial Beast himself! This being looked towards Alexander as he voiced out with pain while looking around him. "You killed my Brother. You actually...killed my Brother. Do you understand what you have done?!" ¡­! His life force was vigorous. He was not reliant on Minions like Branch Leader Neiman. His presence as a Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master showed itself through his anger freely as his capabilities were robust! "All this Incursion was bound to be was the retrieval of a weak Five-Link Gem Blueprint in a backwater ce that had no equivalent Tier 5 Gem Masters to be a contender! That was all. Your people would have been spared. Your families would have been left alone. But now¡­you actually spilled the blood of a Tier 4 Ascendant Gnis Bloodline Gem Master- my own family! For this¡­you have doomed yourself and this entire City Fortress to death!" HUUM! His words boomed out like bells of the end. And Alexander did not interrupt him whatsoever as he wanted the time- his Enneagram finishing the optimization and adding of thest three Support Ability Gems in his new Gem Recipe. He only listened coldly as this being continued. "Do you think this Beast Tide led by Tier 4 Beasts is anything? Do you think this is terrifying? You have stepped on the path of something you do not even understand. Your city was only the first among many others. You would have been witness to the glory of the Gnis Bloodline as this whole world changed. But now¡­just die." He was angry. He was mourning. He was filled with rage as he waved his hands forward, and the thousands of hesitant Beasts surged forth like an endless tide! Chapter 39: A Terror! III In such a heavy situation, Alexander found himself bing increasingly calm. Much of the reason was the spinning Enneagram on his chest that felt like an extension of himself. Experience new stories with freewebnovel Every time that a new support ability gem was ced in. Every time he felt a thread of his Vigor and Energeia increase from all the Socketed Gems he had. At this moment, he came to a realization. He had more Gems Socketed inside of his body than any single Gem Master in the history of the Human Lineages. Within the Ascendant Branches of Human Lineages, he had heard rumors and Legends of Gem Masters who had Seven-Link Sockets or even Eight-Link Sockets. The Legends that had stood against the onught of Beasts of Corruption and carved out areas in their World of Ephesus that stood tall to this very day. He may just be starting out, but he had more Gems socketed than even these Legends! This realization. This moment when a tide of Beasts came towards him, his Father, and many other Gem Masters of the City of Carthage¡­this moment caused a sensation to be amplified in the depths of his mind. The sensation of confidence. This whole time, things were murky and filled with uncertainty. His own power. The power of other people and Beasts. There was a lot of careful consideration and hesitation in his actions as there was still a lot he didn¡¯t know! But after all of these considerations, after multiple exposures of what his own power was capable of¡­Alexander arrived at a ce where he could confidently take more risk while being sure that his own power could handle it. So he closed his eyes while sitting atop an Arctic Wolf Beast of Corruption who had tendrils of blue lightning constantly crashing around it. The lightning didn¡¯t harm a hair on his body as due to its sheer power, there was nobody around him. Feeling the fur of the Beast of Corruption on his feet, he still felt a sense of revulsion and hate even towards this Beast below him, but he gradually changed his mindset as he began to look at this Beast that was now considered his minion along the lines of¡­.a tool. A weapon. Humans used the Ascendant Life Gem and bodies of Beasts of Corruption were turned into weapons or technology of innovation to make themselves stronger. The Minions he could use with his newest Gem Recipe- he would look at them as weapons that he was using himself. His senses moved from the vibrant fur vibrating with frost and lightning and expanded all around him. His father was in the skies held up with coiling mes as a dozen mingnces had already appeared around him, his gaze solemn. Branch Leader Axel was even higher up as he faced two Aerial Beasts of Corruption. Alexander closed his eyes as he sensed all of this, along with the tide of Beastsing towards them as he called out towards the skies. "Come." ¡­! A single word. But someone that had been waiting for any sign- any indication whatsoever to not sit still heard it. And as if she was an arrow that was just knocked from a bow, an incandescent cerulean sh of lightning instantly appeared above Alexander- forming into the shape of a young girl in a green battle robe as her dark hair danced with lightning at this moment! Her hands were stretched out before her as she roared out with every ounce of Energeia she had, her Gem Sockets on her chest buzzing as in front of her- hundreds of lightning bolts formed and surged out towards the oing tide- condensed towards the very center of these Beasts where the Tier 4 Beasts wereing from. Her other hand was stretched above her as a passing lightning bolt formed- its speed zing as it spun like a drill and surged towards the Lightning Mantis facing Branch Leader Axel! The Five-Link Gem Master, ire Asmodeus, finally entered the fray. BOOM! With the growing confidence of his own power, as well as his own worries towards this girl, he found it was now a viable time to allow her to run free. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om She already med herself as the cause for all of this, so she had to grow her ownbat power and mentality to ovee whatever else wasing as he couldn¡¯t always shield her behind him! She had the talent others didn¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t hide her under the guise of protection and cause her brightness to dim. And at this moment, she shone brilliantly in the skies even though above, her father looked towards her figure with despair as he seemed to be asking her why she woulde here. But Alexander looked at these worries as unfounded, purely because¡­he was here. And the pain of loss he and his father were put through. The pain of losing a loved one without ever seeing them again. He would make sure nobody close to him ever felt this pain again! HUUM! His eyes opened wide. Tendrils of the blue lightning around the Arctic Wolf coiled around ire harmlessly and pulled her near him as his voice was slow. "Stay close to me." His dark pupils seemed to shine with strength as beside him, the Golden me Lion pushed off the scorched earth and flung its erged body towards the newly appearing Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Master and the Beasts of Corruption surrounding it in the skies. The massive Arctic Wolf did the same, and as the bodies of these two minions surged forward, more changes were already unfolding around them as the rest of the support Gems were ced on his Enneagram for the Minion King Gem Recipe. [The Support Ability Gem- Life Vessel Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] [Life Vessel Support]:: Any Ability Gem rting to Summons or Minions can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The Vigor and Energeia of any Summons or Minions on the field are linked to you. Your own Vigor and Energeia can draw from your Summons or Minions as these two values will never drop below 1 until the values of your Summons or Minions are entirely depleted. ¡­! The Fourth Support Ability Gem was a particrly wonderful one as it made it so that Alexander could note even close to death unless the Minions he was connected to were also dead. It gave him even greater survivability while the remaining two Support Gems sealed the deal on this terrifying Gem Recipe put together by his Enneagram! Chapter 40: A Terror! IV Inside of Alexander¡¯s mind. A voice echoed out while he stood on a massive Arctic Wolf whose surroundings crackled with lightning, its body leaping towards an army of Beasts of Corruption fearlessly while a Golden me Lion of massive size just like it followed close by. [The Support Ability Gem- Parameter Reinforcement Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] [The Support Ability Gem- Unruly Elemental Damage Support, has been added to the Minion King Gem Recipe.] [Parameter Reinforcement Support]:: Any Ability Gem can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. The parameters of all outputs of the linked ability gem are increased by a factor of three. [Unruly Elemental Damage Support] Any Ability Gem with an output of Elemental Damage can be supported by this Support Ability Gem. The linked Gem allows you to be ever closer to the workings and flow of Energeia, allowing you and any connected Elemental abilities you release to gain the Unstable Elemental Damage quality that causes it to tear across enemies with three times as much effectiveness. Thest two Support Ability Gems thatpleted the Minion King Gem Recipe. They seemed simple enough, but their effects were utterly terrifying as the moment the Parameter Reinforcement Support was slotted, the parameters of all connected Gems truly were increased by a factor of three. The size of the Minions. Their Speed. The Vigor. The Energeia. All Parameters! It meant that in the next moment, the already massive Arctic Wolf and Golden me Lion shone with a heavy brilliance as they erged, their size doubling once more before they increased even further. "...!" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Those watching from both sides were shocked as, in front of the Walls of Carthage, it seemed like two massive titans had risen. The two Beasts rose to berger than 100 Meters as standing on top of the Arctic Wolf, Alexander and the figure of ire he pulled alongside him looked like small dots of light! It truly felt like Titans had appeared on the battlefield. They were three or four timesrger than any of the other Beasts as they gave off their heavy pressures, and things rose another octave when the tendrils of lighting crackling around them like an endless storm¡­began to be tainted with an unstable crimson hue as its bolts became three times as thicker. Effectively, the storm of lightning around them became even bigger and posed an even greater threat, and with their size expanding¡­its area of effect reached the initial ring of the Tide of Beasts they were creeping towards. What urred next was imprinted in the minds of all who lived to tell the tale. The periphery of the lightning crashed down as the Three and Two-Link Beasts of Corruption caught in it¡­had their bodies instantly pulverized. Their fur, meat, and bones¡­anything that made them was struck with unstable and powerful lightning that actually destroyed everything about them- the only thing left behind being the dazzling Gems they had socketed! And since the two beasts were lunging forward with great speed that didn¡¯t match their humongous bodies, the range of their storm rapidly covered any nearby Beasts in the tide as they even reached the Tier 4 Beasts that were leading the packs. And terribly, anything below Tier 4¡­was eradicated instantly. The damage was too high. The difference in terms of power that was achieved after so many support Gems were stacked on¡­was something that none of those present on the battlefield fully understood! It was akin to taking an attack that dealt the numerical damage of 10 and multiplying it once, then multiplying it again, and again, and then adding unstable elemental damage on top of it all that was three times as effective. It was something too obscene as even without any active attacks from his Minions, just the effect of Lightning Grounds surrounding their bodies alone eradicated all enemies they came across. Shock gripped the Gem Masters behind him. Fear gripped the hearts of the beast tide that was surging in as those in the middle of it or those further back paused- their bodies innately feeling a sense of terror as they moved backwards! Terror! This was what the Beasts of Corruption actually felt. Those who felt the intensity and power portrayed by the Titans ahead of them. As for the Beasts who actually faced it? BOOOM! The Tier 4 Beasts bellowed out in shock and horror as their heavy defenses were obliterated, grievous injuries instantly echoing out across their bodies as they scrambled every ounce of their life force to retreat out of the storm of lightning. The golden haired Gem Master- the brother of Branch Leader Neiman who appeared above a unique floating Aerial Beast showed a look of anger and shock as even he flew back. But would it be so easy? Filled with continued understanding of just what power he held. Just what status he hadpared to others Gem Masters¡­Alexander moved forward relentlessly as his eyes shed. And from behind any retreating Tier 4 Beasts and even the Gnis Bloodline Gem Master, a cial wall of ice erupted that either sought to freeze their figures or push them towards him and his titanic minions! Explore stories on mvl "OOOH!" The Tier 4 Ascendant Gnis Gem Master screamed out as purple mes rose around him, breaking apart ice surging from behind and lightning booming ahead. It was a worthy effort, but Alexander wasn¡¯t even looking at him. He looked at the Tier 4 Beasts struggling to survive under the onught of just the Lightning Grounds as he shed towards them, leaving ire on top of the Arctic Wolf as she shot out sts of lightning in the distance. The me Hounds. The me Crows. The Water Bison. To him, they were all fantastical appetizers he needed to fill the rest of his Socketed Gems! He only had two minions bound in his Minion King Gem Recipe, and in this recipe¡­there were seven Gems in totality. There were 5 spots to bind Minions as the moment he did so, they would be transformed into terrifying titans that would cause even the most seasoned Gem Master to pause! Chapter 41: Why I On a battlefield in front of the Walls of Carthage, the scene of a Beast Tide pulling back and trying to retreat from the advance of a single Gem Master could be seen. A Gem Master who led Two titanic Beasts surrounded by unstable storms of lightning that wreaked havoc on anything near them! ¡¯It shouldn¡¯t be this way¡­¡¯ On top of a unique Aerial Beast of Corruption that was crying out while releasing sts of green light to heal and reinforce him, Branch Leader Enaman burned with rage and regret. Their Gnis Bloodline had just reached a crucial precipice of power, where they had juste to forge a shocking alliance. They learned more secrets about the Breaches that terrorized their World. They learned more about their nature and those that came from them. They learned just how weak they were¡­and how they could advance their power to a level where they could rule the World of Ephesus without fear! So they bid their time. They delved into and understood Breaches more as they stopped thinking in such a narrow fashion. In this period of time, their reach extended far as they came to hear about something. The appearance of a newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master in a City Fortress that didn¡¯t have anyone else of this caliber. It wasn¡¯t big news per se, but it was news that when his brother heard about it, he proposed going into this defenseless City Fortress and obtaining the Blueprint of the Five-Link Gem Sockets to transnt into himself! They wouldn¡¯t even have to move themselves as if they nned things well, even sending one of the Tier 4 Beasts they now had under their banner would be enough. Enaman thought about it and how they were still under orders toy low, but he had already heard of the movements of their people towards other City Fortresses as after careful consideration¡­he agreed to it! They collected information, and they sent forth the terrifying Bobo! Yet somehow, this had failed. Enaman wanted to pause and understand why- if there was anything that they missed regarding the power of the City of Carthage, but a furious Neiman took the lead and said he would do it himself. He would lead part of their forces forward, and since he knew that Enaman always erred on the side of caution, he could even follow behind and lend aid if it was needed. After all, their enemies were only two Tier 4 Ascendant Gem Masters and a chickling holding power she didn¡¯t even understand with 5 Gem Sockets. With the power they had under their banner, they could crush them and take the lead as the Branch Leaders who already conquered a City Fortress under their banner! After all, they had to do something to make themselves stand out. The forces they had aligned with were far too powerful. They had Tier 5 and Tier 6 Beast Commanders inrge numbers. They had forces that the Human Lineages could not even begin toprehend! If they remained at the stage they were at without having at least one of them with 5 Gem Sockets, would they really be able to get far? After all was said and done, Enaman was convinced. And the result of all of this¡­came to this point in time. ¡¯Why?¡¯ ¡¯Why?!¡¯ n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Stupid human, how could you miss this? That enemy is at the very least a Tier 6 if not a Tier 7 powerhouse! You¡¯ve brought us all to die!" ¡­! cial ice forming behind them. Apocalyptic lightinging ahead of them. In the midst of all of this, the Aerial Beast he was on- the Envoy thatmunicated with them and acted as an anchor between them and that terrifying force¡­her voice boomed out with wrath and fear. Even the Envoy felt the same fear as him, and she was a Tier 4 Ascendant Cdrius! A unique species of Beasts that specialized in healing among other wonders. Yet at this moment, it could barely support him and herself as the tendrils of thunder reached them. At such a moment, from the terrifying Gem Master standing on top of the erged Arctic Wolf, a booming voice filled with coldness came. "I won¡¯t ask a second time¡­Death, or Submission?" ¡­! He voiced out. As he did so, his figure was already flung forward like a buzz of crimson lightning as he arrived above a me Hound that was doing its best to withstand the storm of lightning from the Arctic Wolf and Golden me Lion that advanced forward. This being only stared at the me Hound coldly for a second. A second. The me Hound whimpered at his appearance as it tried to gather crimson mes around it, and the moment this scene was observed¡­ BOOM! cial ice froze its mes, the lightning storm around it piercing through its defenses as a momentter, this cial ice exploded to reveal a shattered me Hound whose eyes dimmed of any life! They instantly understood his words. He would not ask a second time as when he appeared before them, they had to decide. Either death, or submission! BOOM! Without batting an eye, the terrifying human wrapped in battle garments appeared on top of a me Crow trying to escape the storm of lightning all around it- its fur scorched as drops of blood already leaked out. The moment he appeared from a sh of crimson lightning, this me Crow shuddered as its beak quickly bowed down, its screeching voice echoing out. "Submission! Submission!" Ah¡­ As if it were asking to be spared. Its body radiated fear from this unknown Gem Master as the moment its beak was bent down in the air, a golden light flew from the terrifying Gem Master and onto its body as there was no resistance, and a secondter¡­ CAAW! The call of the me Crow erupted out as its body began to erge. Its bones painfully broke and erged along with its muscture, and soon enough, a storm of lightning began to form around it! All those observing this felt a chill in the depths of their hearts as on top of the Cdrius Beast of Corruption, Branch Leader Enaman felt even more regret and fear as the voice of the Envoy below him echoed out, this time filled with helplessness. "You fucking idiot. This enemy likely has an extremely rare Ascendant Ability Gem, and you actually came to fight him¡­haha¡­haha!" Desperation and madness could be felt in herughter, but both of them knew it wouldn¡¯t help them on this day! Chapter 42: Why II Pure desperation. This was what any Tier 4 Beasts of Corruption felt at the unfolding scene around them. On the walls of Carthage, Gem Masters were frozen in ce as they stared out in shock. In the skies, the Praying Mantis and Lightning Sparrow besieging Branch Leader Axel had their senses telling them a single thing as they carried it out right away. Without paying attention to anything else, their life force surged as they shot back toward the Breach in the distance. Branch Leader Axel reacted a stepter with his own shock as he bellowed out. "No you don¡¯t!" He turned into a streak of lightning that gave chase. Down below, amidst the heavy storms of lightning, a me Crow erged to be thergest Aerial Beast here, the natural ck mes around its body burning brightly as a lightning storm whipped around It! CAW! It cried out in disbelief as before it could understand what had happened, it received amand from the entity that had just bound it. And without a dy, its eyes zed with mes as it pped Its wings and appeared directly in front of the Cdrius. In front of the Envoy and Branch Leader who were already having a hard time holding on! The moment it appeared, the storm it brought without broke down the defenses around them, and spears of mes began to form and encircle the Envoy and Branch Leader Enaman. They lingered in the air like deadly spikes that could thunder down at any time. CAA! The Cdrius cried out in fury as white and green mes surrounded it, while Enaman burst with purple mes that were all torn apart! And in the next moment, above the ming head of the now titanic me Crow, the figure of the garbed Alexander appeared. He sat freely on the ming feathers of the me Crow that did no damage to him, his figure releasing an air of power. His left hand pulsed with swirling frost while his left hand sped a pulsing crimson lightning bolt threateningly. And he looked towards the Envoy and the Branch Leader Enaman coldly without saying a word. But his stance was clear! He didn¡¯t say a word, but he didn¡¯t have to. He changed his path and came directly in front of this unique Aerial Beast as her shrill voice had shown that she held a great deal of information. And what Alexander needed most right now was information! "Haha¡­you got us this time. But for me, it is akin to choosing death right now orter." The feminine voice of the Envoy echoed out. If she submitted right now, she would break her loyalty to the power behind her as when they ultimately understood what happened here, they would send a force to eradicate everyone- especially the one who betrayed them! This human was powerful, yes. But he was only one. Unless he got the help of other Ascendant Gem Masters from the more powerful Human Lineages¡­ BOOM! What met her despairingugh was a strike of the crimson thunder sting apart the green and white light surrounding her as her white feathersced with a gorgeous verdant light became charred. Before it utterly eviscerated her¡­ "I yield! I yield!" N?v(el)B\\jnn Her shout, filled with frustration and madness, echoed out. Another crimson bolt stopped above her as Alexander gazed forward coldly, keeping to his word of not repeating himself as a Golden light radiated from his chest and flowed to the Cdrius Aerial Beast before him. Seeing this scene, Branch Leader Enaman let out a despairingugh as he threw himself off of her back before the deadly transformation he had just seen on the me Crow unfolded, but he didn¡¯t get far before crimson lightning crackled around him and bound him like live snakes! CAA! Another cry of a bird species echoed out as the Cdrius Envoy was forcefully bound to Alexander, her body beginning to transform as her pupils dted with shock. And the figure of Enaman wrapped in crimson chains of lightning struggled with despair as Alexander flung him backwards towards a man floating in the skies surrounded by mes. Branch Leader Julius, his father, was surrounded by tendrils of mes as his calloused hands caught the leader of the enemy camp- his gaze difficult at this moment as he looked at the one man who was able to do all of this. He wanted to wonder how all of this was possible, but too many ridiculous things had happened in thest hour as he didn¡¯t know where to even begin. In the distant skies ahead, Alexander controlled the me Crow as its beak moved right in front of the white beak of the Cdrius Envoy, his figure moving gracefully from one Beast to another as he stepped on the head of this unique Aerial Beast and spoke out lightly. "Are there any others waiting in that Breach?" ¡­! Information. The most truthful one would onlye from the Beast bound to him at this moment! The Cdrius shuddered at his words as after undergoing all the changes just now, the shock she felt towards this being had risen another octave. With every new change or effect she felt as soon as she became bound to him, she confirmed the link between these changes and the effects of Support Gems. And if she counted right¡­was that five? Six Support Ability Gem augmentations? She didn¡¯t know for sure as at the very least, this Entity truly was a Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Master! Someone simr to the powerhouses she had only seen from a distance in her world. So towards his question¡­ "N-no, Ascendant Master. These are all the forces from the City Fortress of Nethus. Only a few Tier 4 Beasts were left behind to guard it." She answered truthfully. She had to. And the terrifying Gem Master walked across her beak and onto her white green feathers as he nodded. "Good. I have many questions, but let¡¯s ensure that everything that happened here stays that way." ¡­! As he spoke, he gazed towards the direction where the Praying Mantis and Lightning Sparrow were escaping to while Branch Leader Axel chased. Down below, the Golden me Lion and Arctic Wolf suppressed all other Tier 4 Beasts. A momentter, the me Crow already streaked across the skies to stop the retreat of the Mantis and Sparrow in the distance, its speed nearly three times as theirs even with its massive body! Nothing would escape today. After capturing the enemymander and binding the most powerful Beast from the enemy side, all that was left for Alexander was clean up as they had to do this cleanly while understanding just who their enemies were, and what they could expect from here! Chapter 43: A Scared Ritual! I In the crimson tinged skies. Branch Leader Julius reached out to bind the caught enemy Branch Master with tendrils of mes as everything still remained so surreal. He stared at the back of the figure shrouded with green battle robes all over his face. The figure that stood above a unique Aerial Beast whose pressure and size had increased multiple times over. His voice. The fact that he called out and from his call, ire Asmodeus had descended from the skies to appear beside him. Her figure could still be seen on top of a massive Arctic Wolf as she valiantly threw out bolts of thunder towards the Tier 4 Beasts rampantly scrambling to run away. With all of this knowledge, the shrouded young figure in the distance should be nobody else but his son, but he couldn¡¯t believe it or process it. Just what had happened in the past day? There were many questions, but no answers at this moment! CAA! The cries of titanic Beasts echoed out as in the distance, close to the entrance of the Breach, a me Crow returned while grasping a Lightning Sparrow and Praying Mantis that were barely clinging to life. Those who sought to run away were caught as the figure of Branch Leader Axel followed behind with aplicated expression. The me Crow brought the two Tier 4 Beasts towards its new Master with a fawning expression, almost as if it wanted to be praised. Yet as if it wasn¡¯t entirely used to its power¡­ SQUELCH! A horrid sound came from one of its ming ws as the Praying Mantis that was already holding onto dear life became squeezed into a pulp of meat and bones. "Ah¡­" Four dazzling Gems and an Ascendant Life Gem fell from it that crimson lightning shed near and they disappeared towards Alexander¡¯s chest. The me Crow bent its beak apologetically while carefully presenting the Lightning Sparrow in its other ws. Alexander looked at it with cold eyes, his chest shing with golden brilliance that wrapped around this Lightning Sparrow as well. It didn¡¯t even take a second for its wound to begin closing, its bones starting to crack and expand as it rapidly erged! An Arctic Fox, A Golden me Lion, A me Crow, a Cdrius, and now a Lightning Sparrow. Five titanic minions were obtained as Alexander only had two more slots remaining in his Minion King Gem Recipe to bind another two minions! Seeing his actions and the actions of the me Crows, all others subtly understood. Below him, the voice of the Envoy he had made his minion echoed out with intellect. "Please allow me, Ascendant Master." She called out with words that wanted to please, her body shining with brilliant white light as hundreds of vines stretched out towards the battlefield below. The vines were thick and pulsing with lightning as they speedily appeared around the remaining struggling Tier 4 Beasts who were doing their best to evade the strikes of the Lightning Grounds Support Ability. A me Hound. Two Water Bisons trying to heal their heavy wounds with sparkling waves of water. And another me Crow. Their bodies were enved by thick Vines they couldn¡¯t break, the power of the Cdrius supported by Alexander¡¯s support Gems far exceeding theirs at this moment as every single one was brought in front of him as if to be judged! He looked at the four Beasts for only a second before a golden light left his chest to go towards the Water Bison, and another golden light went towards the other heavily injured me Crows. Feeling the unbeatable power surrounding them, these two Beasts only epted their fate as they became bound minions soon after, the vines wrapping around them breaking apart as their bodies underwent transformations right after. All around, only the crackling of lightning could be heard as the battlefield was filled with low, fearful roars of lesser Beasts and the silence of the Gem Masters as they watched this unfolding reality. Alexander looked at the remaining Water Bison and me Hound still ensnared in the skies as he felt their downcast gazes. But for them, there would be no salvation. His slots for Minions were full. So he raised his hand as a massive crimson bolt of lightning formed and reflected in the trembling eyes of the two Tier 4 Beasts. Before it could crush down though¡­ "Ascendant Master, I know how they could be of greater use to you" The voice of the Cdrius trying its best to be on good terms with the one who currently bound it echoed out. "Oh?" Alexander looked below him with a sharp gaze full of questions, and the green white bird of titanic size replied. "Yes, Ascendant Master. You can use them to transnt their Four-Link Gem Socket Blueprint onto anyone you wish. I know the ritual and can aid you in it." ¡­! Seeking to be helpful, the Cdrius voiced out shocking words of a certain ritual. A ritual that would have been performed on ire were he not here! The bodies of the two Tier 4 Beasts trembled in shock and wrath towards the Cdrius at hearing this, the me Hound barely managing to roar out. "You traito-" Barely. Many vines covered its rabid jaws and the rest of its body as it couldn¡¯t even move a muscle. Alexander looked at this scene and nodded before gazing around the battlefield before the walls of Carthage with contemtion. All enemy Commanders were subdued. The remaining Two and Three-Link Beasts of Corruption were fearful and seeking to run away. And he¡­was tired. He let out a silent sigh as hemanded the 7 bound Minions under his banner. "Clean everything up and secure the entrance of the Breach." And then towards the Cdrius below him specifically¡­ "You wille with me." ¡­! The unique green white feathered Beast bowed its beak in affirmation as its voice echoed out again. "Shall all the lower tier Beasts be killed, Ascendant Master? There are still uses in keeping them alive. To mine the Lodes inside the Breach. To-" He raised his hand as she quieted down. He looked towards the other Tier 4 Beasts that were ready to move as he made his verdict. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Secure them all inside the Breach and wait for further instructions." Hismand was given. CAA! ROAR! And cries of titanic Beasts echoed out thereafter as they moved toplete hismands! At the same time, he turned around and stared at the Walls of Carthage. The figure of ire streaked across the skies as she came tond on the feathers of the Cdrius he was on, her gaze one of worry as she looked at the state of everything around them. It was the dawn of a new era. The Siege of Carthage was sessfully defended against, and yet they still felt like they were in for so much more chaos. They could all feel it! Chapter 44: A Sacred Ritual! II It was a unique sensation. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A sensation of utmost control, no matter how momentary it may be. Alexander watched as under his control, Beasts of Corruption were herded like sheep towards the Breach they came from, his massive Beasts roaring out threateningly to keep them all in line. Meanwhile, any surviving golden haired Gnis Bloodline Gem Master who followed their Branch Leaders here had bent their knees in surrender, with Gem Masters from Carthage descending from the Walls. The two Branch Leaders- his own father and Branch Leader Axel, were both gazing towards his direction as he and ire stood above the feathers of the Cdrius Aerial Beast. He knew he had to face them soon as they had to n how to move from here, but he sought to entirely grasp his own level of power so far as he looked at the levels of his Vigor and Energeia. [Vigor]:: 1,595/1,595 [Energeia]:: 1,126/1,778 His power steadily and rapidly jumped after he absorbed an Ascendant Life Gem, and he even had two more in his isted storage space to useter. If he were to look at his own power and the power of the Beasts he made into his Minions though¡­ He had such a thought. And no sooner did it echo in his mind did he begin to hear the voice of the Enneagram ringing out. [Through the bond shared and their status as Minions, the values of the 7 Minions under your banner can be observed and ssified. As the Enneagram bes moreplex and filled with more Gems, the ability to analyze and obtain the values of other Gem Masters and Beasts will be possible with great uracy] ¡­! What it could do now and what could be possible in the future wasid out. Alexander nodded as he looked at white green feathered beast he stood on first, a row of words being materialized above them from his own mind. [Tier 4 Cdrius] [Vigor]:: 4,005/4,135 [Energeia]:: 3,325/4,405 This powerful Minion had values nearly three times his own after all the boons it received from his Support Ability Gems. He looked at the rest topare as he raised his gaze towards the distant Beasts under his control. [Tier 4 Golden me Lion] [Vigor]:: 5,322/5,333 [Energeia]:: 2,100/3,300 [Tier 4 me Crow] [Vigor]:: 3,855/3,900 [Energeia]:: 3,555/4,456 "..." Their values ranged between higher Vigor or Energeia or a mixture of both, but Alexander looked at it all while once more affirming the utility and wonder of his Enneagram. He gained a sense of where his power could be at as he let out a sigh while sending his thoughts to the Beast below him, its massive body turning back and heading towards Carthage! Its sheer size and power frightened the Gem Masters below as the storm of lightning around it was nullified by tendrils of lightning closely surrounding its feathers- harmless to Alexander and ire above it. Sensing the atmosphere in the surroundings, Branch Leader Julius radiated ancientmand while he and Axel went back over the wall as well. "Secure the perimeter and remain on high alert!" There were too many things that raised questions. But they couldn¡¯t answer any at this moment. They had a great deal of questions themselves as they went past the Walls of Carthage, bringing along the enved Enaman as they followed the trail of the Cdrius Aerial Beast. The scene behind the wall should have been a calm one, but near the Hangar, burning mes slowly dimmed as one could see an enraged Azazel standing outside a burnt Airship, Charlie and Rachel behind him alongside a few other Gem Masters as they were looking at scorched bodies before them. Traitors who had sought to carry out the actions of the Gnis Bloodline! But whatever anyone was doing inside the walls of Carthage had toe to a stop as they shivered in fear at the sign of the massive beast floating above them. To their eyes, it was the appearance of a terrible tragedy. Alexander saw this scene below him as he voiced out towards the Cdrius below him. "Can you reduce your size?" The reply from the beast below was a quick one. "Others may not be able to, but it is simplicity for me, Ascendant Master." Its body shed with a green light. And a momentter, its massive stature began to reduce as it looked like waves of vines wrapped around it, where from towering over 100 meters, it went to be just over 3 meters in size- and yet from it, two massive vines that wrapped around two Tier 4 Beasts of Corruption remained tout and strong. In the skies, it was like a blinking green white light that came down under the control of Alexander towards the Hangar where Gem Master Azazel could be seen with others. The turbidity gaze of Azazel cleared when he clearly saw the figure of ire in addition to the shrouded figure of Alexander, the mes around him simmering down even further when he saw the Branch Leaders that were flying over from the distance. The miniaturized Cdriusnded silently, the bound Beasts behind ced near the simrly sized Airships as it retained silence while looking around for now. This was the new camp it had chosen, it had to understand the man who had overpowered her and what she could do to survive in the trials toe. This new Ascendant Master of hers who walked towards the bloodied visage of a Three-Link Gem Master who stood before charred bodies as he asked with a chilling light. "Traitors?" ¡­! His voice was akin to a signal that lifted the spirits of Azazel as he recognized it was the Young Master. "Yes¡­they came in seeking Lady ire inside the Airship. Of course¡­" Behind him, Rachel, who yed the part of ire, had a gash on her left hand, while Charlie seemed to be drained of all Energeia as he looked nkly towards the powerful aura of the Cdrius and two bound Beasts behind Alexander. Before any headway could be made¡­ "Is it really you?" The voice of Branch Leader Julius echoed out from behind as he looked tenderly towards his son, while Branch Leader Axel appeared like a sh of lightning in front of his daughter, his gaze stern as he gazed at her up and down! Chapter 45: A Sacred Ritual! III Was it really him? It was a question that Branch Leader Julius felt like he had to ask as too many unbelievable things had urred. Logic and every other sense he had stated that this young man before him was his son! And yet until he saw it for himself¡­ Alexander turned towards his father as the green garbs covering his head unfurled, his gaze tinged with many emotions as he called out in a low tone. "Father." He called out to father just like he always did. Their distant rtionship. The same pain they shared but didn¡¯t talk about. The father looked at the son with a heavy heart and a mixture of emotions as he went forward and grabbed his shoulders, looking at him up and down as he spoke out earnestly. "Your Mother¡­she would have been very proud. Prouder than you can even imagine." He said these words while looking deeply at Alexander, thetter trembling slightly as he nodded! Beside them, Branch Leader Axel looked at Alexander up and down as he held the worried ire, his voice echoing out what everyone wanted to ask. "How is this possible? It should have been a Variant Life Socket that you Awakened. Is it something we¡¯ve nevere across before? Are you a¡­Six-Link Gem Master? Or¡­even higher?" His questions were rapid. But before they could be registered fully, Branch Leader Julius waved his hands dismissively as he looked around them. "That cer whenever he chooses to talk about it. For now¡­just what is the status of things?" As he spoke, he turned the spotlight to his son as he asked directly. "What is the status of the Den of Corruption? The Gnis Bloodline? The Beasts of Corruption that besieged us¡­can we expect anything deadlier than what just came?" The questions were many, but they were important ones. Alexander looked towards the miniaturized Cdrius Aerial Beast and spoke lightly. "Speak. The most important details." His words were like an inviblew to his Minions as the beak of this green white bird pped open right away! "For the safety of Ascendant Master and his home, I will say that within the Den of Corruption, a Low Tier Spatial Gem Relic of the Royal Albatross Beast n was utilized to connect this Tier 3 Breach to a Tier 4 Breach hundreds of miles away from here near the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline." ¡­! Her words caused the gazes of many nearby to change, Branch Leader Julius looking around and waving his hands to clear the Hangar as Gem Master Azazel and other Three-Link Gem Masters quickly moved to make space. And the Cdrius continued. "Most of the Tier 4 Beasts stemmed from there¡­as we had been ced under themand of aiding the two Branch Leaders of that Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline. We only followed theirmands for everything that has happened so far." The information only became more terrifying. Branch Leader Julius raised his hand for the Cdrius to stop as he asked the most critical question. "What is the rtionship between Beasts of Corruption and the Gnis Bloodline?" "..." A critical question! After a brief silence, the Cdrius gazed at Alexander and continued. "Many months ago, A few Royal Beast ns came to an agreement with the Human Lineage of Gnis. For ess into morends of Ephesus, we would share our knowledge and power. No humans within their Lineage would be hurt. Since then¡­there have been many changes urring silently. Freely opened Breaches inside City Fortress and Strongholds. Communication between Human Lineage and the Royal Beast ns-" "Why?" Alexander stopped the words of the Cdrius that dropped a shocking bombshell as he asked. "Why do all this? Why do these Royal Beast ns want thends of Ephesus? Where do you all evene from?" Questions that made many Gem Masters lose sleep over the years. On this day, a Tier 4 Beast blinked as she spoke about it all simply. "Oh, Ie from the World of Ornis- a world where 5 Royal Beast ns ruled. A World drained of its resources and on the brink of copse as for survival, we formed gateways into thergest, most stable, and bountiful World that could ensure the survival of our many species." ¡­! n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om What! "The Breaches act as an intermediary between worlds, and they allowed us to reach thesends that we now seek to im for ourselves before the process of Energeia Star Ascension starts." Their World of Ephesus. It was actually deemed as thergest, most stable, and bountiful world. Ephesus? Truly? Alexander looked at his father and ire with eyes of disbelief as he spoke to his Minion right after. "Energeia Star Ascension? What is this?" The eyes of the white green bird were bright as she replied. "It is the reason why we have begun to be more active recently as we believe it is fast approaching. When a world sheds its former shell and attains its true state as an Ascended Star. Whoever controls the mostnd before and after this process¡­will be able to umte tremendous power and resources." ¡­! The words caused Branch Leader Julius to stumble backwards with an ashen expression, while Branch Leader Axel was frozen in ce! Inside his chest, Alexander felt his Enneagram spinning rapidly as he absorbed all of this information. Their barren World of Ephesus was actually some kind of treasure trove. Akin to a caterpir that had yet to be a butterfly. And the transformation to do so was called the Energeia Star Ascension as it would be happening in the near future, and the reason for the Breaches across the World was different monstrosities seeking thends of this world for themselves! It was shocking to hear as Alexander had a heavy expression while probing even more. "In your¡­World of Ornis, who is considered the most powerful? How high does their power reach?" A question that he knew may fill them with dread, but he had to ask regardless just to understand. And the Cdrius blinked as it replied. "There are powerful Tier 7 Beast Lords and even Tier 8 Beast Kings. Since the Breaches cannot handle the transfer of their power yet, they haven¡¯t begun to cross over until just recently¡­with the cooperation of the Gnis Bloodline, they had some sess." WAA! Words that caused a sense of defeat in the hearts of any humans echoed out. And yet the Cdrius wasn¡¯t done. "The most dreadful of all for Ascendant Master to be careful of are the leaders of the Royal Beast ns over multiple nearby Worlds. The Dragon Lords and the Dragon Kings. They are the ones seen as leaders of Gem Masters with their naturally high life force that far exceeds any others. As far as I know, they have yet to begin crossing over¡­" ¡­! Chapter 46: A Sacred Ritual! IV Waves of information smashed down one after another as they were enough to cause any Gem Master to despair. Dreadful Beast ns were out there. They were powerful already, and now there was the exposure of the fact that one of the Human Lineages had joined hands with such Beasts for their own benefits. For power and whatever else was promised, they actually abandoned defending their own World and joined hands with the invaders who had killed millions upon millions of humans. How extensive was this cooperation? Because of the Gnis Bloodline, how many more terrifying Beasts of Corruption had made entry into their world? Because as of right now, it seemed like Breaches were likely to be opened freely while Beasts walked through as if they were invited. There was the even more horrific Dragon n with Dragon Lords and Dragon Kings that had Seven-Link and Eight-Link Gem Sockets! All of them and more were targeting Ephesus. The World of Ephesus, gued by Breaches where Beasts came out in throngs, was actually a desired world that they wanted to take over as much of its space as possible! And they had achieved this. Over the years, Human Lineages were pushed into small localized strongholds while the rest of the vast continents of Ephesus became overrun by Beasts and Breaches. Never did they think this was all purposeful for them to hold as muchnd as possible! As all of this information buzzed in his head, Alexander shook his head in defiance as he bellowed out towards his Minion. "Why?!" A single word. Normally, one would have to ask for rity on exactly what this why was referring to, but the Cdrius knew. Why would these Beast ns be so bent oning here. On Ephesus. "Just like my home world of Ornis, other Worlds also face a depletion of resources after thousands of years as these have to be replenished somehow. If they are not and the very lifeline of a world continues to be utilized, the world will eventually perish alongside everything there." The voice of the Cdrius was calm and filled with a chill as she continued. "None of us havee across a world as stable as this Ephesus. Normally, once gateways begin to be forcefully formed between worlds, it sets off a reaction where its makeup slowly deteriorates. But this Ephesus¡­has not lost any stability nor faced any deterioration. It remains as stable as ever. This factor¡­and others that I am not privy to due to my low standing make it so that right now, many Beast ns have diverted their forces from other worlds and focused their forces here." ¡­! "We all await to see just what will unveil itself when this World undergoes Energeia Star Ascension and bes an Ascended World. There is a theory that if it keeps this same stability after its Ascension¡­that Ephesus may be a world where resources will not deplete that fast, and even the fantasy of a world only mentioned in legends that has endlessly regenerating resources." "..." Her words only caused them to be more and more grim as they made one thing clear. These Beast ns¡­would never give up on their World. If their words were to be believed, it was too enticing and critical for them! The feathers of the Cdrius shone with their white green hue as her eyes looked towards the grim expression on Alexander and those around him. She felt that she had spoken too much about the brutal truth as she hesitatingly continued. "I¡­was frankly scared to submit to Ascendant Master because I knew that I would either die back then under your hands, or after I became bound by you, I would be killed by my n once they knew of my betrayal. I...also want a chance of survival, Ascendant Master. So I will do my best to ensure this. To strengthen you. To strengthen your own n here. I can pass on as much knowledge I know about the practices of the World of Ornis, starting with the Sacred Ritual of Gem Socket Blueprint Transference." ¡­! Her words caused the two bound Beasts behind her to tremble. Alexander¡¯s face became stern as he thought about everything, while the two Branch Leaders seemed to be in extreme thought as they looked towards the future. There were insurmountable forcesing for them. The enemies felt so massive that at this moment, it was akin to feeling like a small animal tethered to the earth below them as they just waited for literally massive beasts like dragons to burn them and everything they loved down below! But even with all this being known¡­. Alexander clenched his fists with determination. He was slowly recognizing more and more of his own power. It had been days since he Awakened his Enneagram, and he was already where he was right now. He didn¡¯t need to wallow in despondency at how terrifying the enemies might be. Within his Enneagram, he was beginning to feel like he could aplish a great deal of things. So he looked towards his Minion and spoke out with surety. "Let us see this Sacred Ritual." As he spoke, he turned towards the slightly injured Gem Master Azazel and spoke out. "Uncle Azazel¡­do you want to gain a Four-Link Gem Socket?" ¡­! He spoke such words so calmly even though their meanings were heavy. His Father and Axel raised their heads at this as on the side, ire was looking between them while noting something. Her Father was always authoritative and assertive, but why was he so quiet now as Alexander seemed to take the reins? Even Alexander¡¯s own father was silent as Alexander alone chose to do something that may have been done to her if he had not managed to stop it. What was this? n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ire wondered about such a thing while Azazel looked at the two Branch Leaders before stepping forward and nodding decisively. Seeing this, the Cdrius brought forward the bound me Hound while extending its vines towards Gem Master Azazel as well! Chapter 47: A Sacred Ritual! V A Sacred Ritual! For ire, this was something that hit particrly close to home as this was exactly what the Beasts of Corruption wanted to do to her. To strip her of her Five-Link Gem Sockets and ce them in another. As she looked at the fearful me Hound that was pleading with its eyes towards the Cdrius, she became stern and continued watching. "Any being truly proficient in the usage of life force can do this, with those like me gaining this capability because I Innately possess healing abilities. There are some risks to harming your own Blueprint if you aren¡¯t proficient, but for me¡­" A sense of confidence burned in the small bird that had been taking center stage with its words this whole time. After the clearance from Alexander, it brought the tightly bound me Hound with its thick vines and exposed its chest. The chest of the me Hound burned with dim mes as its fur looked tattered, low whimpers being released from it as nobody paid it any heed. Vines then stretched out towards Azazel as they twirled around his body and elevated it a few inches higher! The Cdrius in the middle, the me Hound to its left, and Gem Master Azazel to its right. Under the watchful eyes of everyone here, thick verdant vines that looked like spears formed, one piercing its sharp tip into the center of the Gem Sockets of the me Hound while the other was akin to a fine needle that slowly sank an inch or two into Azazel¡¯s chest! Alexander watched on calmly as a momentter, the me Hound released a booming muffle of pain while its jaws remained tightly bound, mes sputtering around it as one could visibly see the brilliance of its crimson light flowing from its body and into vines. This crimson light then passed through the Cdrius and went towards the vine piercing into Azazel smoothly. ¡­! It wasn¡¯t just an exchange of a Gem Socket Blueprint. It seemed that in exchange for such a process, the very lifeforce of the me Hound was also being pulled alongside it! BZZZT! Its Gem Sockets began to lose their brilliance- such a thing visibly flowing towards Azazel as this process was horrifically fast. In moments, the Gem Sockets of the me Hound deformed and cracked as the Gems within them fell out, the lines connecting them fading as every single ounce of brilliance was taken towards Azazel. Within seconds, the massive body of the me Hound began to shrivel into skin and bones, its life force rapidly fading away. In its ce, Gem Master Azazel showed an expression of pain as on his chest, one could see an additional socket forming rapidly! The whole process seemed fantastical and gruesome at the same time. The Cdrius became extremely focused during it as after less than a minute¡­ CRACK! The me Hound fell down as dried skin and bones. Not an ounce of life could be felt from it, but the body of Gem Master Azazel seemed to be brimming with brilliance as a fourth Gem Socket fully condensed! "..." The process left everyone feeling grim at how fast and horrific it was, with the expression on ire being extremely sour as the Cdrius retracted its vines while voicing out. "It is done, Ascendant Master. Another Tier 4 Gem Master joins your side." Amidst the somber atmosphere, it spoke so simply as if nothing had just urred. As if the simplest of processes had taken ce! It acted as a reminder of the callousness of Beasts and how decisive they could be, even against their own kind. Alexander looked towards Azazel. "How does it feel?" The most important question. Azazel touched his chest that had an additional glow as he shook his head with incredulity while replying. "As if I¡¯d always had it¡­.it is a genuine Gem Socket." The results were confirmed. Alexander looked towards his father who seemed to be lost in thought, both of them knowing some heavy choices had to be made very soon. Where would they go from here? Subconsciously feeling his son¡¯s gaze among others, Branch Leader Julius came to focus and gazed around before he spoke with a stern expression. "We will send word to the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline regarding what we have learned, and the actions of the Gnis Bloodline. That is paramount to ensure that their actions do not silently continue." "As for ourselves¡­" When he got to this point, he came to look at his son. The one who was able to dominate Tier 4 Beasts as if they were nothing! "...what do you think we should do?" ¡­! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He sought advice from his son. Someone who never made administrative decisions regarding anything to do with Carthage before! Yet he was asked now as he was the one holding the power to defend Carthage more than anyone else. They had seen it. Alexander saw the trust in his father¡¯s eyes as he felt a weight fall on his shoulders that wasn¡¯t there before, but he was strong enough to shoulder it as he breathed out while gazing towards the bundle of information that was the Cdrius Minion! He could feel waves of its thoughts through their connection, and his gaze right now prompted it to speak up. "Ascendant Master, if we are to truly stand a chance against all that is out there, we need to increase how muchnd we control. We need to strengthen our forces and ourselves." "Ascendant Master is young, and your levels of energy may still be low. If you are proactive, we can set off to ensure the security of the Den of Corruption, enter the Gateway that I and the others utilized to take control of the Fortress that this fool used to lord over. There are still a few Tier 4 Beasts there that you could easily take down with even just me alone, and then you can further strengthen yourself with their Ascendant Life Gems. With the power at your disposal, Ascendant Master, I dare say we could even branch out further to hunt Tier 5 and Tier 6 Beasts in order to further elevate our forces!" ¡­! Expand thend under them. Strengthen their forces by actively hunting down powerful Beasts. It was straightforward, but it was the most optimum route as they prepared for terrifying enemies in the future! Chapter 48: Into the Breach! I It was a new dawn on Carthage! At this moment, drops of rain still continued to fall over the City Fortress as people within still felt like they could hear the distinct roars of Beasts. Families held each other close, whether it was those closest to the walls and heard the roars of beasts the most, or those in the depths of the city that were more well off. All faced an equally terrifying fear ever so briefly on this day. A few hours had passed since the heavy and shocking battle outside the Walls of Carthage, with stories beginning to spread about a mysterious Gem Master from the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodlineing down to push back the Beasts that were invading their city. Very few knew that one of the Mortal Branch Leaders of the Gnis Bloodline was killed, and one was captured. Even fewer understood the titanic Beasts that had taken the Tides of Beasts back into the Den of Corruption, nor what would happen next! Within the City of Carthage. Near the Walls, there was a Command Center surrounded by Barracks where ready to deploy Gem Masters would be stationed. Inside the Command Center, which looked like a dome-shaped ck building made of reinforced bricks, Alexander stared out of the ss windows as rain continued to fall on them ceaselessly. Beside him, the Cdrius Minion was doing its best to suck up to its new master, perched on a table to his right as it also looked out. "Have you decided?" Behind him, his Father¡¯s voice took him out of his reverie as Alexander turned around and nodded with affirmation. His voice was low as he looked at his father and spoke. "We can¡¯t sit back and do nothing. If we will all be killed by powerful Beasts so long as our power doesn¡¯t match up¡­then I will do what I can to increase our power. And there are still the Elven Beasts of Corruption for me to pay back what they have done!" ¡­! His revenge. His survival. Alexander stated his affirmations loud and clear as his father nodded behind a desk filled with documents. He smiled towards his son. "You have grown immensely in a short period of time. In power and in mentality. If I can give you any more lessons, my son, it is that in our world, power decides everything." He rose from behind the desk and came towards the same windows Alexander was staring out of as he continued. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Power decides survival. How people look at you, treat you, and what position you hold." ¡­! "You were an Unawakened Human days ago, and yet now, you have gained a power that drastically changes your position. Do not be hesitant to lean into this power and position. My status as a Branch Leader¡­what is itpared to the power of Beasts I couldn¡¯t withstand if you weren¡¯t there? So do not feel any reservations when making decisions for the City you protected." His father came to stare at the rain beside him as he said such words. Alexander only listened while nodding towards his father, and a voice echoed out behind them as the iron doors opened into this room. "It¡¯s just been hours, and you¡¯re already handing off your position to your son?" The gruff voice of Branch Leader Axel rang out with a sense of frustration as behind him, ire Asmodeus walked in with her hands twirling with her green battle robe. Julius raised his eyes towards Axel and asked calmly. "What¡¯s gotten you riled up?" "What? Oh not much. Just my own daughter defying me to run off with a man. Because why not?" His voice carried a trace of anger and frustration as beside him, ire remained quiet while looking towards Alexander, eventually walking towards him while her father shook his head with incredulity at the scene. ire had made it clear that she didn¡¯t just wish to sit inside Carthage doing nothing, and that if Alexander was leading an incursion out there to make themselves stronger, she would follow! No matter what her father stated, she stood by this decision. This was what caused the frustration within Branch Leader Axel. Alexander looked towards Branch Leader Axel. He didn¡¯t exchange many words with ire¡¯s Father aside from the asional respectful greetings whenever their two families got together, or whenever he happened to follow his father into any meeting. He only saw him as the powerful and distant father of the childhood friend who was always around him. But now, their roles seemed very different. He looked towards the figure of ireing to stand in front of him as he reached out to pat her head while speaking. "She¡¯ll be safer next to me than anyone else. I have seven massive Beasts that can eradicate even Tier 4 Beasts within seconds, and that¡¯s not even counting myself." "...!" His words made it so that not s single possible argument could be given, Branch Leader Axel adopting a weathered look of defeat as he slumped down on the chair behind the desk that Alexander¡¯s father was just on. "Just¡­keep her safe. Please. I cannot lose her too." A father earnestly pleaded for his daughter¡¯s safety. Alexander nodded as he looked out into the ongoing rain, gazing into the distant skies as there¡­ CAA! The cry of a me Crow whose mes were not extinguished by ongoing rain appeared near the Walls of Carthage, turning its ferocious face and staring out protectively towards the direction of the Den of Corruption. "I¡¯ll leave one of the Titan Beasts here just in case anythinges. But for now, we will set off towards the Den of Corruption¡­and then into the gateway leading towards thends of the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline." The n had already been refined and gone over a few times as they broke down the knowledge that the Cdrius let out. Alexander¡¯s father nodded as he spoke out. Read new chapters at §Þ?? "Take Azazel and a few others. As of right now, you are their Commanding Gem Master as they will follow your orders." ¡­! ns were made. Now, they would be carried out! Chapter 49: Into the Breach! II On the Walls of Carthage. The figures of Branch Leaders Julius and Axel could be seen staring out towards the massive tear in space that was the Den of Corruption in the distance. In the skies, the towering figure of a white-green feathered Aerial Beast that was over 100 meters carried over a dozen humans atop it- its destination being a single ce. "I do not understand your son. I cannotprehend how he obtained the power he obtained." Beside him, Axel voiced out to Julius, but he received no reply. The silence was deafening, almost acting as its own reply. It took some time, but Branch Leader Julius did make out a reply calmly. "In the past, when Beasts of Corruption first appeared and Breaches tore apart our world, Legends of the Human Lineages that we idolize to this day rose up to ensure our survival. He may simply be one of the Legends that will rise in order for us to stand against theing changes." ¡­! His reply was a grand one as Axel shook his head with a wry smile. "You¡¯re already cing him on a pedestal of a Legend. Ah, we¡¯ll see how things unfold. All I care about is¡­" His words never finished. He stared out towards the Aerial Beast disappearing into the Breach as he closed his eyes and turned around. His gaze was firm. "Come on, we need to get a clear line ofmunication with the Ascendant Branch. How much about your son are they to be told?" "Absolute nothing¡­" Two Branch Leaders moved, their minds filled with machinations and possibilities as behind them, a party delved into the Den of Corruption! This whole time, for better or for worse, the rain never stopped. ¡ª On top of the Cdrius Minion. Alexander breathed the air of the Den of Corruption for the first time as he saw the tattered Inner Barracks and Outer Barracks of this Breach, with his gaze quickly locating the five Minions that toweringly stood over thousands of Three-Link and Two-Link Beasts. Dense, tall trees with ck leaves stretched out into tall mountains in the distance, with no end in sight as tens of miles in, they could see another small crack extending from the peak of a tall mountain and towards the skies. The Breach within a Breach. Alexander looked at it as he asked the Minion below him. "Since these Breaches are gateways from your World to this one, how would you all return to your homes?" A simple enough question, yet it was one that Alexander knew may have a heavy answer. And as he expected¡­ "We do not return, Ascendant Master. At least, not in the current state of the Gateways. Think of them like a closed-loop system- a one-way gateway here. Once established, it mimics the environment of a part of our World, even eating up its brilliance further to enact what you all know as the Breach. To open it the other way would require a special Relic that even I haven¡¯t seen with my own eyes." ¡­! Alexander nodded at such an answer as beside him, ire cautiously asked. "Would you ever enter those¡­foreign worlds if you got the chance?" She tested where he was interested in this as well as Alexander smiled while shaking his head. "There is so much of Ephesus I haven¡¯t seen; there¡¯s no rush to go into dying worlds." He was cautiously looking forward to the process of elevation of an entire world that Cdrius had mentioned. Energeia Star Ascension. The morends of Ephesus one controlled before this urred, the more resources they could attain in the future toe! Continue reading on §Þ?? n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I would not rmend ever stepping foot outside of your World, Ascendant Master. It is far more stable than any other that I¡¯ve read or know of, and you won¡¯te across old monsters that have lived for hundreds or thousands of years so early. If you foster your strength and bid your time here¡­" The Cdrius advised as Alexander patted it while looking down below. "Alright. What¡¯s the usage of collecting all of these Beasts here?" "There are Mining Lodes deep within the mountains of this Breach that resemble those from the World of Ornis. There, they can be put to work to mine for minerals that can be used to reinforce walls, buildings, weapons, and other uses, Ascendant Master. Leaving one of us here is more than enough to oversee this work while we conquer the Lands of Gnis." ¡­! "Conquer?" Alexander smiled at this word as he gazed down below, already sendingmands to his Minions. "Yes, Ascendant Master. This isn¡¯t just me sucking up to you, but with the little I¡¯vee to understand about your power, you stand the chance to be a Conqueror Gem Master. Someone ruling over vastnds with an iron fist as you enjoy all the riches, food, and women yournds have to offer!" The voice of the Cdrius wasn¡¯t too loud, but it caused the faces of Azazel and others on the back of this Aerial Beast to change as they looked at each other, while ire who sat beside Alexander had lightning sh beneath her feet as she asked coldly. "All the women? You would offer him all the women?" Her voice dripped with coldness as the Cdrius felt like it had made a mistake and stuttered out. "Err¡­no, Lady of the Ascendant Master. It is all as the Ascendant Master sees fit. I will merely be an extension of his limbs to move and do as told." The Cdrius shifted words and me easily as within moments, they had crossed deeply across the skies of the Den of Corruption to near the Breach within a Breach. Behind them, four of his Minions were also arriving as one was guarding Carthage, another would stay within the Den of Corruption to set up a system of resource collection, and the rest¡­would go with Alexander into a venture within enemynds! Chapter 50: Into the Breach! III A few hundred miles away from Carthage. Inside of a bustling City Fortress that was filled with roars of Beasts and the timid gazes of Humans that stayed within their homes for the most part. "What? The Branch Leaders took a majority of the forces stationed here to take over a City Fortress of a Mortal Branch? How stupid are these humans?" A voice booming with authority echoed out within the center of this city- inside a Command Center of the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline! The voice stemmed from a humanoid entity, and yet they held the wild aura of a Beast of Corruption. Your next chapter is on §Þ?? They were adorned in white garments, and one could see long pointed ears on their heads along with two horns sprouting on their forehead. They held a sense of beauty and devilish charm that could not be easily ignored, their eyes crimson in color as their hair shone with the vibrant verdant hue of life. On their chest, a vibrant alignment of Five Gem Sockets could be seen! They looked feminine even though their body was muscr, and to their left and right were two others simr in form, but their chests shone with Four Gem Sockets. They were shockingly Elven Beasts of Corruption. High tier ones at that! "Elder Dadarius, this was a waste of our time. We do not need extra hands toplete our mission." The Tier 4 Elven Beasts of Corruption beside Elder Dadarius spoke with pride and arrogance dripping in her words. Her beauty and devilishness were just as enticing, with her chest blessed and her waist being stroked by the free hand of Elder Dadarius freely. The other one nodded in eptance as they all looked towards the Elder for affirmation! In front of them, a green white Cdrius Aerial Beast that looked very simr to the one under the banner of Alexander had its beak bowed while waiting for orders. The Elven Beast of Corruption, known as Elder Dadarius, stroked his chin as his white garment shone with a light of brilliance. "Mmm¡­we were told to gather as many Tier 4 Gem Masters as we can for the assault of a major human stronghold, and so we simply follow orders, nothing more. They went towards¡­Carthage, you say? Just a single Mortal Branch City of the Asmodeus Bloodline. They set their sights low¡­why?" "..." The Cdrius had eyes of hesitation after being asked this, but it replied as it couldn¡¯t handle the heavy aura of power from the Tier 5 Beast before it. "They¡­received the knowledge of a newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master within Carthage. They went to retrieve her." ¡­! The eyes of Elder Dadarius shone as he scoffed out. The two Tier 4 Elven Beasts of Corruption looked towards each other with a light of greed when they heard this. "Haha, they were actually hiding such a thing? Good? We may need to go ourselves." The eyes of Elder Dadarius shone with power as the Cdrius before them sighed internally. But at this moment¡­ CAA! The cry of a bird echoed out as the Cdrius recognized it right away. "Ah, that should be my Sister, Elder Dadarius. She should be returning with the forces of the Gnis Bloodline now, along with the prize of the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master." The cry came from the Breach a few miles away within this very City. They had recently opened another gateway within that breach to connect to another Breach close to the City of Carthage- and their forces should now be returning! "Very well, I will ept the Blueprint of that Five-Link Gem Master as a gift with open arms." The eyes of Elder Dadarius twinkled with brutality and power as they stepped out. They were not entirely wrong that right now, the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master wasing to this City. But she was not a prisoner, nor would she be a gift to anyone! ¡ª After crossing through the gateway that was known as the Den of Corruption, they stepped through another gateway that was an Unnamed Tier 3 Breach opened within the City Fortress of Anan belonging to a Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline. Alexander was on top of the Cdrius as they crossed a snowyndscape filled with coldness. It was like they were in another world entirely, with Beasts and Humans of the Gnis Bloodline scattered within this Tier 3 Breach they were in as they neared its exit which would lead into the City of Anan. Alexander stared ahead at the distant opening and the outline of tall buildings made of bricks and metal as he prepared himself. The words of his father and the Cdrius rang out in his mind. Him¡­a Conqueror? He didn¡¯t think of himself as such, but it was true that he needed to obtain more power. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om For his revenge, and for surviving the dangers toe. For this, he would do what it takes. "The world is filled with monsters¡­we have to also be monsters in order to survive." He spoke these words almost as a whisper to himself, but ire heard them clearly beside him as she fell into deep thought. Alexander felt the heavy winds batting his face as he turned his attention below. "Which Beasts remain in the City of Anan?" "Within the City of Anan should be my brother and two additional Tier 4 Beasts- another Lightning Sparrow and a me Crow. Ah, and to make things easier, the Ascendant Master can call me Nueire. Since my brother and I are of the same Lineage and look exactly the same, I ask the Master to spare him or bind him if possible. He is dumb, but he is still the only one that came with me into this world." Alexander¡¯s Minion, Nueire, spoke such words as they crossed the white snowy ins of the Breach and crossed into the City of Anan! Behind them, four titanic Tier 4 Minions augmented by Alexander¡¯s Gem Recipe followed behind, slightly remaining out of sight! Chapter 51: The Elven Beasts of Corruption! I The City of Anan. One of the Fortresses where a Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline could be found- this one being under the protection of Branch Leaders Neiman and Enaman! As of this moment, nobody within the city knew that Neiman was dead while Enaman was captured. In its skies, a Cdrius Aerial Beast appeared as it crossed from a breach tearing open the skies and earth. Above it, Alexander gazed down at the city below him coldly as he could sense Beasts present along the streets of this city. Humans cowering in their houses and barely running about. It was a heavy scene to observe, as even if their leadership made the decision to ally themselves with Beasts, it didn¡¯t mean all others were on board. But what could they do? Within their Two-Link or Three-Link Gem Sockets, what sort of defiance could they have? So many preserved their lives and their families and simply stayed out of sight. CAA! The Cdrius, Nueire, let out a screech once more as in the distance, another one just like it echoed out. "We are heading towards where my brother is, Ascendant Master. All others will gather there after our return." Her body wasrge, but it didn¡¯t take its full possible size- nor did it have the effect of [Lightning Grounds Support] actively raging around it at this time. But the aura of power it radiated could not be denied. With a few waves of its wings, it hovered over a Command Center as its eyes instantly caught something that caused it to be shocked, and it wasn¡¯t the only one! Above Nueire, Alexander felt the zing auras of someone exceeding a Tier 4 Beast, and once his senses waved down to see their form¡­his body trembled. Trembled. For he saw something that was only drawn on reports. Something he had both dreams and nightmares about. He sensed the outline of Elven Beasts of Corruption! "Ascendant Master, this¡­" Nueire stuttered out as she didn¡¯t expect this, but Alexander patted her fur with his feet as he spoke coldly. "Land." ¡­! In a wide open space near the Command Center where the earth was lined up with t sheets of metal. Corrupted Airships were stationed in the distance as the massive body of Nueirended; the figures who had just stepped out of the Command Center and those on top of this Aerial Beast were getting to see each other at this moment! Leading the other side, an exotic and devilish Tier 5 Elven Beast of Corruption looked at Nueire with questioning eyes, his gaze then going to the humans above it as it lingered on the over a dozen Gem Masters behind Azazel before it locked onto the two young Gem Masters at the very front. A handsome young man and woman. "Which ones are the Branch Leaders? And¡­" As he finished his question, his eyes quickly lit up as his gaze that lingered on Alexander and ire noticed the brightness on the chest of ire that pulsed with five Gem Sockets! "Bahaha, that chickling must be the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master prize. Good. Good!" Elder Dadarius stroked his chin as beside him, the Tier 4 Elven Beasts of Corruption looked at each other with expectation as it would likely be one of them who would get the transnt of this. Their gazes were those of greed and hunger as they locked their eyes on ire, but they saw this young woman staring back at them with a cold gaze of defiance and hatred as blue lightning crackled within her eyes! Elder Dadarius saw this whileughing jubntly. "She still has a fight in her eyes it seems. Not to worry. We will extinguish that light as thest thing you will see reflected back is fear. Endless fear!" The voice of Elder Dadarius was full of power, its might innately causing others to want to seek favor and eptance by bowing towards it. Yet around them, only an immense silence hung. The Tier 4 Cdrius Aerial Beast they were with, Nueire¡¯s brother, seemed to be gobsmacked as he stared at the sheer size of his sister and those standing on top of her. He knew none of them to be the Branch Leaders of the Gnis Bloodline, nor did he recognize any of the Gem Masters! What did this mean? "Are you all¡­from the Tier 5 Breach of Yendell?" ¡­! A voice filled with conviction and power rang out as it was none other than Alexander¡¯s. Elder Dadarius briefly lifted his head from inspecting ire as he looked over toward Alexander¡¯s visage. "Hmm? You know of our Gateway? That is so, human. But we don¡¯t have time for this. Offer the girl beside you there, and the resources your force will receive increase multiple times over. You¡¯ve made a great merit!" His voice was robust. Yet¡­ "I see." The reply from Alexander was calm as it contained his anger deeply, his eyes shining with conviction as he leaned down on Nueire and touched its feathers while he turned to lock his gaze on the three Elven Beasts of Corruption! "I will kill you all slowly. There is a great deal of information to obtain before you are granted death." ¡­! Words that caused the pupils of the Elven Beasts of Corruption to constrict echoed out. And an instantter¡­ "Scorch them." Amand came. And¡­ BOOOM! A storm of lightning instantly descended and covered all nearby surroundings. ROAR! From the distance, the 4 Minions by the gateway of the city finally roared out as they also made their entrance! N?v(el)B\\jnn The gazes of the Elven Beasts of Corruption rapidly changed as their chests began to glow, Elder Dadarius looking ahead and bellowing out. "You dare?! Do you know-...!" BOOM! A dense cluster of unstable lightning covered everything. The bolts were like deadly tongues of scorching blue mes that smashed down, but the bodies of the Elven Beasts of Corruption swerved around valiantly as their bodies lit up! They didn¡¯t panic. Their expressions were stern as from the Tier 5 Elder Dadarius¡­ "[Shrine of Life]" ¡­! He voiced out coldly. His chest shone with glory as around him, illusory green walls rose up to cover his figure and hispatriots, these walls gradually materializing and bing more solid as they pulsed with an immense aura of life! BOOM! When the lightning crashed on them, the walls only trembled and held strong as inside of these walls, a bow appeared within Elder Dadarius¡¯ hands that zed with crimson radiance! It was the eruption of a fight against an advanced Beast of Corruption- one who knew how to utilize their power very well! Chapter 52: The Elven Beasts of Corruption! II The Shrine of Life. Advanced Gem Masters who had many Sockets to work with always sought the most optimum Gem Recipe, and the one that Elder Dadarius had chosen was naturally what benefitted him the most. It could defend, and it could attack. The Gem Recipe was known as the Temr of the Shrine, and the Main Ability Gem was the Shrine of Life! A rare ability gem that when cast, a glorious Shrine would be enacted that could withstand damage equivalent to quintuple one¡¯s Energeia. And allow one¡¯s Vigor to regenerate thrice as fast. And from this temple, The Vines of the Temr could be released to bind and attack an enemy as those bound could have their lifeforce drained to keep powering up this Shrine of Life! If one paired such an Ability Gem with support abilities that further multiplied the effects, duration, and potency¡­the terrifying product that Elder Dadarius had just cast would unfold. "Daring, but not knowing how vast the skies are!" BOOM! Elder Dadarius bellowed out as lightning crackled around him. His bow was raised as a crimson arrow billowing with mes was already formed, and it shot straight toward the young man who actually thought he had some standing! CAA! The young man who stared forth coldly as the Cdrius Aerial Beast under it cried out, hundreds of vines instantly erupting from this bird as they covered the iing arrow and even billowed towards the Shrine of Life like verdant waves. "Hmph!" Elder Dadarius harrumphed as more of his Energeia was drawn out, dense vines also forming from the Shrine of Life as he called out to the Tier 4 Elven Beasts beside him. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Pure output of damage on this stupid bird first, I will take care of-" CRACK! ¡­! Elder Dadarius raised his head up as he heard and felt something that shouldn¡¯t be possible. It was¡­ ¡¯A crack?!¡¯ On the Shrine of Life. A crack had begun to form as it was indicative of a single thing. The damage threshold of the Shrine of Life had been reached, and it was soon going to shatter! ¡¯How is that possible? This¡­This lightning?!¡¯ The lightning roaring around them was that disastrous? "You two, release your strongest attacks!" Elder Dadarius roared out towards the two Tier 4 Elven Beasts around him. ¡¯With them, I can channel at least half of my Energeia to bind and incapacitate the human and beast, after that-¡¯ ROAR! Booming roars that split the gathering dark clouds above ever so briefly boomed out as one after another, the auras of four terrifying Beasts of the same caliber as the one opposing them appeared. A Golden me Lion towering over 100 meters, its storm of lightning ovepping the one currently taking ce as its eyes burned with golden mes. An Arctic Fox. A Lightning Sparrow. A me Crow! Find your next adventure on NovelBin.C?m One me Crow was left to guard Carthage while a me Hound oversaw the Beasts within the Den of Corruption, leaving Alexander with only Five Minions to utilize. Only. But these Minions alone caused the color to drain from the faces of the Elven Beasts of Corruption as the moment all of them arrived and the passive storm of lightning was unleashed, the Shrine of Life that was holding on gloriously began to gain more and more cracks. The Tier 5 Elven Beast was stunned at such a reality. BOOM! The Shrine of Life fractured and released an explosion of verdant light that temporarily pushed everything away, the Lifeforce of Elder Dadarius gathering once more as he roared out while raising his bow- gazing at the massive Beasts around him. "All Beast ns came to an agreement of not warring against each other in this world! Breaking this agreement will have you all hunted down once the Alliance finds out!" ¡­! His roar was followed by the brilliance of another Shrine of Life forming, this one releasing tendrils of vines to further fortify itself and leaving open gaps for the powerful attacks they were preparing to be released. But¡­they would be dismayed to realize that the lightning storms wrapping around the bodies of the Beasts was only a passive ability. It cost them absolutely nothing to keep on. So when they released an active Ability¡­disaster would unfold. From the Golden me Lion, its jaws opened wide as scorching golden mes erupted out like waves of a golden sea, burning any green vines and smashing into the newly formed Shrine of Life that broke down as if it were paper. "Ah¡­!" The Elven Beasts of Corruption watched in disbelief and horror as the golden mes swept over them, their defenses instantly bing broken as their fair skins burned! Thick green vines controlled by Nueire then rained down from above and wrapped around the three figures that were wreathed in golden mes- binding them tightly as they were carried across the skies. They screamed painfully from the heavy burns, Elder Dadarius being the only one still capable of stopping his screams as he gazed out defiantly toward the direction they were being brought to. There, a Young man sat on a white green feathered bird as he didn¡¯t even make a move, his eyes filled with veiled anger as he looked towards the bound and heavily injured Elven Beasts of Corruption. His voice was tinged with controlled rage as it rang out. "Why would I care about the agreement between Beasts?" ¡­! Elder Dadarius¡¯ eyes trembled. Yes. This whole time, he was under the misconception that these Beasts were powerfulbatants stemming from the Beast ns. But at this moment, as he was surrounded by them and as only this young man spoke authoritatively, a terrifying conclusion was reached. He controlled all of them. The massive Cdrius. The regal Golden me Lion. All the terrifying Beasts here seemed bent to his will. Beasts with enough power to bring him down under a minute! Elder Dadarius looked at this young man again as he grit his teeth with pain and rage. "Who are you?!" ¡­! Chapter 53: Dignity! I A drastic eptance of a shocking reality! The young human before them truly was the one controlling such powerful Beasts as even then, Elder Dadarius growled his words while looking towards him. Bound and humiliated, when had a Tier 5 Beast like him forced to be in such a situation? Around them, Lightning continued to crackle as they left this region free momentarily, but the Beasts surrounding them could unleash it all back at any moment they wished. Even then, Elder Dadarius looked defiantly towards Alexander who asked once more. "The Tier 5 Breach of Yendell where the Elven Beasts stemmed from¡­are you all still clustered there or spread out?" Stay updated with NovelBin.C?m His question was filled with malice and killing intent. He made it clear of his hatred towards them as receiving such a question, and Elder Dadarius actuallyughed in anger. "You stupid, ignorant thing. Are we still there? You think this is a question that matters? What, so you can try to hunt us down? No, human, we aren¡¯t all still there! A gateway is just that, a ce to pass through. Our Legions have joined the armies of the Beast ns Alliance as we raze down and take over your Human Fortresses. Whatever ignorant dream of revenge you have¡­will remain just that. A dream!" His words were poisonous even while bound, ire¡¯s gaze changing beside Alexander as Azazel and others on the far back of the Cdrius listened with heavy expressions. Yet Alexander only listened and nodded as he replied. "And where are the armies of this Alliance where you all are clustered within?" ¡­! "You¡¯re serious?" Elder Dadarius sneered in anger as the bindings around him became even more constrictive. "You dumb shit, you¡¯re actually serious? What exactly do you think a single Human like you will be able to do? What do you even know? You have no grasp of the power and depth of our forces. You humans¡­never stood a chance." Lightning crackled all around. Yet the Elven Beast remained defiant, his gaze passing from Alexander and towards ire and all others here. "You dirty humans are too different from us. You know nothing even about your world. You have no ambition. You have no power. No backbone for the future! Your Mortal Fortresses are already falling, and your Ascendant Fortresses will follow. This, I promise you." ¡­! Insult after insult echoed out as the words of the Elven Beast of Corruption caused Azazel and other Gem Masters to turn grim. At the same time, a light shone within Alexander¡¯s eyes as he was thoughtful. Ambition. He heard simr words from the Cdrius about seeking power and conquering. Did he have an ambition? Apart from seeking revenge for what they did to his mother, and now to gain more strength to survive the powerful Beasts making their way into Ephesus¡­did he really have any ambition? He looked at the Elven Beast of Corruption as he nodded. "You¡¯re right." ¡­! "I did not have any strong ambition. I just had a few things that I wanted. These things that I want¡­I will make them the base of my ambition. " WAA! His eyes began to sh with crimson lightning. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I want to live in a world where my mother was not mowed down by Beasts." His eyes became brighter and brighter as he rose from the feathers of the Cdrius Nueire and walked towards the Beast of Corruption. "I want to live in a world where I and those around me aren¡¯t treated like animals to ughter." ¡­! "I want to live in a world where there isn¡¯t a constant threat of death from beasts I have never met." The dark clouds that had been gathering above this city became even more potent. In no time, drizzles of rain also began to fall here. Rain. Alexander raised his head up as the raindrops fell, his words small and yet heavy at the same time. "I¡­want to be free." Freedom. Freedom to not fear for his life or his loved ones! He clenched his fists as he turned towards the defiant figure of the Tier 5 Elven Beast of Corruption. "I will make this the base of my ambition as it seems like in order to achieve this freedom¡­I need to be someone else." ¡­! "My little bird here said I need to be a Conqueror. What do you think?" He was inches away from the bound Elven Beast of Corruption. He could see the green of his pupils. The defeated breath from his lips formed into a sneer. "You? A Conqueror? You are not made for it, human. But you want to know where the armies of the Elven Beasts are moving within? I¡¯ll make it easy for you. I was sent here to gather more Tier 4 Beasts into such an army. Its target was an Ascendant Fortress under you humans, as I think¡­they can make a little detour." ¡­! CRACK! On the bound body of Elder Dadarius. A crystal shattered on his chest as it seemed to have received a small infusion of Energeia. He smiled devilishly. "A little crystal to you. But breaking it means I have found something worthy of the attention of the Battalion I belong to, and that my power isn¡¯t enough for it. Do not worry, Human seeking to be a Conqueror. I will bring an army to raze everything down right here! Haha¡­haha!" "..." Alexander felt the coldness and apathy of the Beast up close as he nodded. Ambition. Power. He looked deeply into the eyes of the Beast as he voiced out. "For what I want¡­I will be just a little more like your Beasts. Starting off with you." ¡­! Elder Dadarius¡¯ face became vile. "Oh yeah? And what will you d-" BOOM! Crimson lightning cracked. Blood spattered. Bound and unable to put up any resistance, where the head of the Tier 5 Elven Beast of Corruption used to be¡­was smoking blood and brain matter. Off to the side, the two Tier 4 Elven Beasts of Corruption trembled. Behind him, ire¡¯s face showed a sad expression! Alexander felt the crimson blood on his cheeks as he wiped it down calmly, his eyes firm as he came to a decision. "I will be a Conqueror." ¡­! For his freedom. For what he wanted to achieve! For being happyter on, he would be more Beast like now! Chapter 54: Dignity! II His hand pulsed with crimson lightning as it plunged into the chest of the Tier 5 Elven Beast of Corruption, very soon pulling out as it held a massive Ascendant Life Gem. It was a gory scene that caused the two Tier 4 Elven Beasts to tremble even more. At this time. "Nueire." Alexander called out calmly as his Minion understood right away. Thick vines shot out and pierced into the headless body of Elder Dadarius, wrapping around his Five-Link Gem Sockets as Alexander turned behind him while wiping away the blood on his chest! "Uncle Azazel." He called out to the man who used to be a Tier 3 Gem Master not too long ago as Azazel stepped forward unconsciously, the familiar scene of a vine piercing into his chest urring again before his mind could fully ept what was even happening. Conquer. Get stronger. ¡¯Only then¡­¡¯ Alexander¡¯s eyes were bright. Days ago, he couldn¡¯t have imagined standing against a Tier 5 Beast of Corruption, nor evene close to his revenge against the Elven Beasts of Corruption this quickly. But they were out of their Tier 5 Breach. They were mixed in across Ephesus in nearbynds as some were even within an army of Beasts of Corruption that was being gathered to assault a major Ascendant Fortress! Nearby, there were a few Strongholds that the Gnis and Asmodeus Ascendant Bloodlines protected within a few thousand miles. If the Gnis Bloodline was already working with Beasts, it was easy to put together which Strongholds they may be targeting. But such an army¡­the Tier 5 Elven Beast of corruption stated that he initiated a signal to first call it over here! How powerful would such an army meant to tackle an Ascendant Stronghold be? Before, he might have been fearful and filled with caution. Now, he would only be cautious but look forward to what he could obtain from such an army if he took it down! Ascendant Life Gems. New Gem Recipes. Information. Revenge. Power. All of it didn¡¯te free, and he had to take it all for himself! Starting with¡­the very City he stepped on. As a ritual took ce, he spoke out in a tone even he was surprised by as he chose a new direction for his life. "Clear the City of Anan of any Beasts or ce them within the Breach to mine resources. This City Fortress...is no longer under the banner of the Gnis Bloodline!" ¡­! His words carried a tone of authority and¡­dignity. Since he decided to be a Conqueror and attained power as much as he could, he would fully lean into this. "You heard the Ascendant Master, move!" Below him, Nueire roared out as her brother in the distance trembled with fright. ire walked ever closer to Alexander as she felt his imperceptible changes, but her eyes were firm as she would support him in what he wanted to do. His Minions began to move while crackling with waves of lightning. The vines constricting the remaining two Tier 4 Elven Beasts became ever tighter as Alexander turned his eyes toward them while speaking out. "And prepare to face an army of Beasts¡­one that you two will describe to me in great detail!" Within a threatening air and his hands crackling with crimson lightning that had just sted the head of a Tier 5 Beast, a Young man seeking to be a Conqueror took his first steps. Whether he would seed or fail in his path¡­was not entirely known. ¡ª Discover more stories at NovelBin.C?m A few hundred miles away from the City of Anan. Inside of a wide tent lined up with golden brilliance. An entity with long ears and three horns rising on his head sat on a makeshift throne as he reached down to grab the head of a Human Gem Master that he had been doing unsightly things to. Her eyes held no light within them, and the Elven Beast grabbed her and threw her body like a ragdoll to the other side of the tent where a few other human female and male Gem Mastersy. N?v(el)B\\jnn "You worthless humans lose your pride so damn quickly, but you are still the most fun!" Every single one was either a Three-Link or Four-Link Gem Master, and the Elven Beast seated on the makeshift throne had six dazzling Gem Sockets on his chest! He seemed to be pondering when all of a sudden¡­ "Elder Commander! Elder Commander!" A shout echoed out from outside the tent with a sense of hurriedness. "Stop squabbling ande in!" The Elder Commander roared out as his horns shone, the tent opening to reveal a Tier 4 Elven Beast of Corruption that held a shing verdant Gem in his hands. He knelt while hurriedly speaking out. "Elder Commander Lidar, Elder Dadarius has crushed his Distress Gem as he has likely faced a perilous situation and is calling for aid!" ¡­! The words caused the brows of the Elder Commander Lidar to rise in surprise. Dadarius? One of his Tier 5 Elders was actually ced in such a predicament? He thought of something calmly before his maic and powerful voice echoed out. "Was he not tasked with getting more Tier 4 Soldiers who were ced within a lowly-ranking human city? How could he face danger there? Did these vile humans break their word?! But even then, those who are there shouldn¡¯t even be capable of hurting Dadarius!" The Elder Commander roared out as he thought out loud. Before him, the Tier 4 Elven Beast remained kneeling without saying a thing as the Elder Commander¡¯s face became all that much more furious. "These humans¡­they have killed too many of our people as we only seek to findnds to survive from our dying world. We just seek a home¡­and they go to all lengths to prevent us from doing this! Theirplete eradication is the only solution¡­" ¡­! Terrifying words echoed out from him as he rose from his throne. "So what if they were here first? No world is designated as belonging to any race before it undergoes Ascension. We have a right to Ephesus just as much as they do, and if they think they can stand in our way¡­HMPH!" He walked towards one of the humans lifelessly thrown on the tent as his leg crushed down above them, crimson blood and gore flying out and painting the fabric of the tent. "Let us go see what tricks they have used this time to put Dadarius in a predicament. Our Target was the Ascendant City of Persepolis, yes? I will talk to the other Elder Commanders to make a slight detour¡­" ¡­! Chapter 55: Insurmountable! I The tent of the Elder Commander Lidar opened wide as this Elven Beast left it grandly. He was adorned in a golden robe that fluttered with radiance, his Six-Link Gem Sockets shining brilliantly as he walked on the green earth. Around his tent, there were hundreds of others smaller than it where thousands of Elven Beasts could be seen moving about, and in the far distance, there were other tents that had burly humanoid beats different from the Elven Beasts. Their skin was ck and shining with a heavy radiance, their bodies twice as big as they held pig-like faces and even tails behind them. The Orc Beast Lineage! A further distance away from them, with fewer tents as Beasts could be seen perched on trees¡­an array of avian Beasts could be seen. Most of them shone with multicolored radiance reminiscent of Peacocks, their feathers lustrous and filled with deadly radiance. Elder Commander Lidar went towards the very center of this whole encampment that held a few hundred thousand Beasts. His steps were light, and yet he moved rapidly to arrive outside a central temporary tent that seemed to be constructed from vines and emanated an air of regality. The three horns on Elder Lidar shone as he moved past the entrance of the Command Center of this army and delved into the eyes of multiple powerful entities turning towards his direction at this moment. Three Elven Elder Commanders just like him, their chests shining brilliantly with Six-Link Gem Sockets as well. They were standing around a device at the very center that shot out an illusory image of a wide Stronghold- an Ascendant City Fortress of the Asmodeus Bloodline! Apart from the three Elven Elder Commanders, the figures of three massive humanoid Orcs could be seen, their chests also brimming with Six-Link Gem Sockets as their pig-like faces brimmed with ferociousness. But the most distinguished of all were the multicolored Peacocks. Their feathers brimmed with regality, with two of them being of massive stature, standing to the left and right of¡­a human. Well, she looked human, but one could see gorgeous green locks of hair and green shapes around her eyes reminiscent of the feathers of a Peacock.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om She was a beauty that even actual humans would lose against, with her chest shining brilliantly with Seven Gem Sockets. A Tier 7 Beast Lord. Someone powerful enough to change from her Beast Form and into a human form seamlessly if she wished. That was how potent her life force was. How terrifying her levels of Energeia were! Under her gaze, even though a deadly fire rose in the loins of Elder Commander Lidar, he killed this fire so damn quickly as he knew the moment he showed it, he would die faster than anything else. He nodded towards his peers and the Orcs before he bowed even deeper towards the Tier 7 Beast Lord, who looked towards him with eyes that were naturally maic. "Beast Lord Vishp, a portion of our forces- authority Tier 5 Elven Elder along with his subordinates, have been ambushed by the unruly humans in a nearby City. I know ns are cemented and we set off soon towards our target, but would it be possible for us to make a small detour? The ce is only 100 miles or so from our original route. I can even temporarily leave the army to tten that human city as we then continue our way." ¡­! His words caused the brows of the Orcs and Peacocks to rise, while from the Elven side, a beautiful and devilish female Elven Elder Commander shed with a serious look as she asked with anger. "Do not tell me it is Dadarius¡­he is the only one who left to obtain more Tier 4 Beasts!" "..." Lidar turned to gaze towards this Tier 6 Beast with heavy eyes as he nodded. "It is precisely Dadarius." BOOM! Tendrils of wild Energeia erupted around the female Elder Commander. The lover she enjoyed her time with the most¡­was killed. Her eyes shed with a deadly light of bloody murder as she turned towards the Beast Lord within this space. "Beast Lord Vishp¡­please allow this slight detour." The eyes of the Elven Beasts were firm. Gazing at them, the Beast Lord radiated a colorful smile. She was adorned in somewhat see-through green robes as her fair skin could be seen underneath, the outline of her blessed chest and waist clear even though nobody dared to stare too closely. "Since the rest of our Commanders will not be put at ease unless this is taken care of, let''s go. It should be a Tier 5 Ascendant Human or even Tier 6 if they can easily take out an Elven Elder. No harm in taking care of them before we proceed on our way. We are done here for the most part¡­let us start." ¡­! Hermands were invible. Hearing them, everyone rose to attention as these terrifying Gem Masters nodded to each other and began to move. Among all the Beasts here, all of them had a white and blue ring around their Sockets as under Human assumptions, they could be considered Ascendant. But the Beast Lord held three faint rings of light around her Sockets on her chest. White. Blue. Red. It was tantalizing and filled with power, her figure shing with radiance at this moment as she disappeared from the eyes of all others here. It was a sh of teleportation too quick for any of them to see closely. Such a being would make a slight detour to lead her army towards the City of Anan. Under her banner, there were bound to be countless deaths even before she made a move. And when she did¡­oh! "Let us move!" With a booming roar, the Elven Beasts began to move along with the Orcs and Peacocks, tents being uprooted and stored away as very quickly, the massive army began to move like a single organism. The earth shook where they moved, with some even rising to the skies to scout ahead. It was the advent of a terrifying force. The advent of a battle that would change far, far too many things! Chapter 56: Insurmountable! II For the sake of power, just how far would one go? Alexander found himself asking this question while absorbing an incandescent Ascendant Life Gem in his hands. The flow of Vigor and Energeia was slow, but he liked the constant pulse his body released to show the increase in his power, as well as the ever-increasing numbers that only he could see continuing to rise. But he asked this question because after hearing the words of the Tier 4 Elven Beasts that nowy dead- he found out that Dadarius stemmed from an army that had tens of others just like him, and even so called Elder Commanders¡­who answered to a Beast Lord. A Beast Lord! This was an entity with Seven Gem Sockets. Of course, Alexander himself could be considered someone with the distinction of a [Lord] as he also held 7 linked Gems for a single Recipe in his Enneagram- he even had two, in fact! The Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe and the Minion King Gem Recipe. But even though he had the Gem Sockets, it did not mean his strength was anywhere close to an actual Beast Lord. How many years had they been active? How great were their levels of Vigor and Energeia from 7 Gems over the years? Meanwhile, he had only been active as a Gem Master for a few days. His Vigor and Energeia were rising¡­but it truly had only been a few days. He was so far outssing Tier 4 Beasts and this Tier 5 Dadarius purely because of the ridiculous augmentations his three Gem Recipes granted, but how effective were they going to be against Tier 6 Commanders and a Tier 7 Beast Lord who may have ten, twenty, or even a hundred times as much Vigor and Energeia than him? "..." The glow of the Ascendant Life Gem was the only thing lighting up his face as while this one was augmenting his life force, another Ascendant Life Gem- the one he took out from the chest of Dadarius, was taken in by his Enneagram that was currently spinning like an engine. "Alex¡­you haven''t said anything since then. What are you thinking?" Beside him, ire''s voice rang out. They were inside the Command Center of the City of Anan, his Minions stationed outside or keeping a lookout across the city, with Azazel and the other Gem Masters he brought along also stationed outside of this space. He gazed towards her with a reassuring smile as he replied. "I''m thinking that I made a promise to your father to keep you safe¡­and how I can ensure that." ¡­! Right. Even though he decided to be this distant idea of a Conqueror, he wasn''t alone. But those he was with were fully with him. "As long as we do it together."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ire''s words were without a shadow of a doubt as Alexander nodded. Before he fully made his decision, he was waiting for something. And that something should be finishing up right about now. On his chest. Unseen by others, his spinning Enneagram slowed down its rapid spins as the Minion King Gems entirely disappeared as if they never existed. [The Gem Recipe designated as Minion King and all the Gems within its makeup have been recorded in the Ability Gem Database.] This. He was waiting for this, as it meant he could add a whole other Gem Recipe to himself, and this would give him much greater confidence in facing terrifying Beasts that had lived far longer than him and had tremendous levels of Energeia and Vigor! And as he thought of which Main Ability Gem to go with next for a Recipe that would ensure his survivability¡­he was in for a surprise as the voice of the Enneagram in his mind actually didn''t stop. [Three Gem Recipes have been sessfully recorded in the Ability Gem Database, and the Enneagram itself has undergone a significant elevation.] [The Feature of Gem Constetion has been unlocked.] ¡­! What was this? He was more so asking himself as he hid the surprise in his eyes while he felt his chest heat up! [By sacrificing a Gem Recipe and making it unusable, a Gem Constetion can be born from it as it holds elevatedpounded effects of unknown values. The Effects of a specific Gem Constetion can then be applied to all current active Gem Recipes.] ¡­! A terrifying development. What was it that made many Gem Sockets so terrifying? It was the add-ons of support abilities that made a single main Ability more and more terrifying. And now, he had the possibility to make a gem recipe with Six Support Gems even more disastrous by applying the effect of a Gem Constetion on it?! His eyes began burning with a me of excitement as he felt the three recorded Gem Recipes in his Enneagram, and he then made a heavy decision. ''Sacrifice the Ice King Gem Recipe to make a Gem Constetion.'' WUU! His Enneagram buzzed. A glow of a brilliant blue light actually burst from his chest and shot upwards, ire and others here turning towards him in shock as they only saw a sh of blue brilliance pass through the building they were in and go towards the skies! And in Alexander''s mind, his monotone voice continued. [The Ice King Gem Recipe is now unusable and archived.] [The passive effects of any abilities augmenting you are retained.] [The Support Ability Gems within the sacrificed Ice King Gem Recipe are archived and selectable as Support Ability Gems for any future Recipes.] [The Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, has been born.] ¡­! His Enneagram spun crazily. Towards its very center, a faint twinkling star appeared. And at the same time, when Alexander focused on this star, he felt his gaze drawn towards the distant skies above where a blue light had shot out to- as if he could feel a connection with a distant star far past the skies! It was...a Constetion! The Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream. [Under the light of the Endless cial Dream, all active Gem Recipes are granted certain effects.] Alexander''s eyes trembled as the shocking effects of the first Gem Constetion were revealed! Chapter 57: Insurmountable! III The effects of the first Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, unveiled themselves! [The cial Armor of the Deep is applied to the holder of the Gem Recipes and any applicable life forms connected to him through the Gem Recipes. The cial Armor of the Deep grants a passive armament that can withstand damage equivalent to five times your current Vigor Value. The current Defensive Value of the cial Armor of the Deep is estimated to be 17,500.] [50% Elemental Damage Reduction is applied to all Elemental Attacks while the cial Armor of the Deep is active.] [20% Physical Damage Reduction is applied to all Physical Attacks while the cial Armor of the Deep is active.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [If the defenses of the cial Armor of the Deep are destroyed and breached, the Rage of the Ice King will be triggered and release a wave of cial frost that freezes all chosen enemies around, the damage equivalent to three times your total Energeia Value. Once destroyed, it takes a full minute before the cial Armor of the Deep can be active again.] ¡­! Alexander''s body subtly trembled. He couldn''t help but first gaze at the levels of his Vigor and Energeia- especially how they had advanced since he stepped into the Den of Corruption and arrived at the City of Anan! [Vigor]:: 1,595/1,595> 3,500/3,500(17,500/17,500 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 1,776/1,778> 4,322/4,500 ''Ah¡­'' His Values had risen rapidly as he absorbed more and more Ascendant Life Gems from his enemies. They had just barely reached the level that his Tier 4 Minions were at! But the advent of the Gem Constetion gave him a protection of five times his Vigor Value, along with Physical and Elemental damage reduction. This wasn''t to even mention what would happen if the defenses of the cial Armor of the Deep were breached. It was terrifying. But even this wasn''t the only boon of the First Gem Constetion. There was onest surprise as Alexander felt like he could see a white star blessing him in the distant skies. [All Parameters of all current Gem Recipes are further increased by a factor of 2.] "..." The Parameters. All Parameters. The Damage that his Corrupted Lightning King could deal. The power of the Minions under the Minion King Gem Recipe- including their Energeia and Vigor! ¡­! But this wasn''t all. It was All Parameters. Alexander closed his eyes and touched his chest as at this moment, he felt like a wall was broken. A wall that prevented the adding of any more Minions after a single one was assigned to the seven Gems under the Minion King Gem Recipe. This Parameter¡­was also doubled. "Crazy¡­" He couldn''t help but utter out. ire looked towards him with brows raised as around his body, a transparent icy suit of armor began to form. It took on the outline of his green battle robe, covering every part of his body as even his head held a faint film of brilliant transparent light- with a fantastical scene of a blue star rising a few inches above his head and spinning with a calm glow! An icy blue star that radiated a gorgeous glow above him, the temperature in the surroundings dropping a few degrees as a chill surrounded him. ire was shocked at such a change as outside of the Command Center¡­. CAA! The cry of Nueire rang out as the aura of this Cdrius became twice as terrifying. Her size also began to increase as she subconsciously resized herself to not be too massive, the change not just being limited to herself. On the Golden me Lion. The me Crows! All other Minions experienced the tremendous elevation in power as apart from this¡­their bodies began to be encased in a crystalline blue armor that seemed to cover the outlines of their bodies like unbreakable clear scales. Above them, an icy blue star began to spin as even these Entities¡­were blessed by the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream! "Ah¡­Ascendant Master! What is this? This¡­Oh?" The words of Nueire outside stopped. Alexander also rose from within the Command Center as the Lightning Sparrow perched on the Walls of the City of Anan saw something. "Master, we can feel the auras of Beasts nearing!" ¡­! Their expanded power could stretch out much further. Their perception. At this moment, they discovered the tremors of the earth. The earth of Ephesus was trembling at the sheer force that wasing for the City of Anan! Alexander confirmed the direction where this army wasing from as he looked above and saw the presentation of the Gem Constetion glimmering above him. The glow it released gave him confidence. The Enneagram in his chest that was ready for another Gem Recipe gave him a bastion of reliability! It all told him¡­he could actually try. He may just be able to do it! ''Conqueror, yes, let''s go all out for it.'' His thoughts were vibrant as his mindset gradually changed. He truly couldn''t see himself as thezy young man from days ago. He couldn''t afford to. He had the foundation and capability to be someone else entirely. He didn''t have to drown in anger and hatred, even though he wouldpletely achieve his revenge. "Hoo¡­" He breathed out. The smile and carefree sense he had gradually lost ever since he Awakened gradually. Seeing it, ire''s eyes lit up with happiness as she felt like the Alexander she knew was returning! She didn''t know that he was transforming himself into an even better version of himself. With a refreshed smile on his face and a body that was glowing with a transparent blue armor, he went outside and made a huge jump tond on his massive Cdrius. His mind was buzzing with many ideas. Slots of more Minions had been opened up, and they needed to be filled. The Beastsing were prime candidates as Alexander wondered. How terrifying of a Minion would a Beast Lord be? And the next Gem Recipe¡­just what would it be geared to?! Chapter 58: Insurmountable! IV On top of a Tier 5 Peacock that had wide spanning wings and shimmering with multi colored radiance. Elder Commander Lidar stared ahead toward the maic Beast Lord, as well as the other Elder Beast Commanders standing behind her on this massive beast crossing the skies. "Beast Lord Vishp¡­for you toe with us is more than we could ever ask." Lidar ingratiated himself as he spoke towards this powerful Beast Lord who chose to bring their main forces towards the City of Anan instead of just allowing the Elven Beast Commanders to take the detour and eradicate the one who took down Elder Dadarius. At his words, Beast Lord Vishp smiled and waved her hand dismissively, waves of charm radiating from her. "Since we are all nearby, let''s do things thoroughly. Sometimes, even if it is an ant, there is no harm in bringing millions of elephants to crush it." ¡­! Her words were resonant atop the Aerial Beast as soon, the outline of the City of Anan became clear to them. And¡­ "Oh?" The gorgeous brows of the Beast Lord rose as she squinted her eyes at the outline of a massive Lightning Sparrow above the walls of this city- its aura bright as its power was not something to ignore! "Interesting, what may that be?" Her body had tendrils of multicolored light rise from her feet as the Aerial Beast below her became ever faster, her chest shining brilliantly with the Seven Gem Sockers that held rings of white, blue, and red each! As they came forward, the earth behind them trembled as tides of Beasts followed their lead. ¡ª Alexander flew atop the Cdrius, Nueire, as this Minion spoke out jubntly. "Ascendant Master¡­just what is that dazzling star above you and all of us? With it, I feel like I have gained multiple more lives, with my power¡­oh!" The excitement on the Cdrius was palpable. It was worried when it heard of the army containing Elven Beasts, Orc Beasts, and the regal Peacock Beasts that may make their way here, but now¡­it truly felt like it could do anything. Its sensation of joy was passed through its connection to Alexander as he felt it, too. At this moment, as he actually went towards powerful Beasts that were intent on assaulting an Ascendant Branch. A Stronghold filled with Ascendant Gem Masters! He should feel a sense of fear. He should even possibly feel dread. But this¡­ What exactly was this sensation he felt right now? Was it¡­excitement? No. It was too contained. Too logical. This was¡­ [The Eye of the Enneagram has begun to open after a critical level of lifeforce has been absorbed.] From his chest. A hazy white glow spread out and went to bathe his whole body, but the vast majority of it clustered itself in his head. In his mind! [The Innate Feature of the Eye of the Enneagram- Analysis, has been unlocked.] [The Innate Feature of the Eye of the Enneagram- Meta Comprehension, has been unlocked.] Analysis. Meta Comprehension. One seemed fairly easy to understand, while the other¡­Alexander could tell that this was the cause of the unique sensation he currently felt. [Under Analysis, The Enneagram can now urately gauge the numerical values of Vigor and Energeia of other Entities visible to your naked eye apart from your Minions.] [Under Meta Comprehension, your mind is ced in a constant state of increased rity, calmness, and hypercognition as you can instantaneously take inplex waves of information and process them rapidly- with your mental state constantly analyzing information to provide you with the best possible oues. This feature is the preliminary feature required to begin operating before theter Feature of the Enneagram, Ability Gem Design, can be unlocked.] ¡­! Apart from the boons of the Gem Constetion, the Enneagram had reached a point where its [Eye] had begun to open. At the center of his chest, Alexander could see the faint outline of a pupil only just beginning to shine- its light so bright that it looked like it could epass everything! A mere glimmer of this light had begun to leak out as with it, the wonders of Analysis and Meta Comprehension came. This wasn''t to mention the idea of a feature known as [Ability Gem Design] that would be avableter on down the line! "I see¡­" Alexander spoke out with a sense of calm serenity as his eyes seemed to be absorbing all sources of light. Everything he saw. Everything he knew. Everything he heard. All of it seemed to settle in his mind and be understood instantly with the boons of Meta Comprehension, and after that¡­all of it began to bepartmentalized as what could bring him the best possible oues was put at the forefront. This was the cooling sensation he felt as he knew his state of mind and even who he considered himself to be had taken arge shift in disposition! As he stood on the Cdrius, he felt the rest of the Beasts under him converging where the Lightning Sparrow was. He felt ire, who shed with lightning and appeared beside him, and the figures of Azazel and other Gem Masters, who were wrapped with the vines of Nueire and brought onto her back as well. He felt like he analyzed every single possible thing as the first action he wanted to take from here¡­ "Uncle Azazel, do you want to get even stronger?" ¡­! The eyes of the Gem Master in his 40snded unstable atop Nueire as he looked towards Alexander with an astonished gaze. On his chest, he already had five dazzling Gem Sockets after they were transnted from Elder Dadarius. But he could get even stronger? How would such a thing even be possible? Alexander''s eyes shone with a calctive light as he pointed to the Beast below him and the others that were running on the City below to face theing army. "These Beasts below me¡­I can extend the same power to you as well. The only¡­awkward part of it is that a strong connection will be formed between you and me. Of course, I would never force you to do anything you don''t want to." ¡­! Something he didn''t wish to entertain in his mind in thest day. His Minion King Gem Recipe could dominate¡­any Life Form that submitted to make them a Minion. It never stated that it only had to be Beasts. But even the idea alone of making another Human being, much less a Gem Master he considered an Uncle as he saw him growing up...it was too difficult in Alexander''s mind before!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om But now? His mind was looking at things from an entirely different perspective. For better or for worse. Uncle Azazel''s eyes shook as he seemed to think ever so briefly. And then, he gazed towards the shaking earth in the distance, as well as the terrifying auras they could already feel in the distance. He breathed out a sigh as he knew his own limitations. If there truly were Tier 6 Beasts, and even a Beast King- a Tier 7 Beast¡­even the Ascendant Gem Masters of the Strongholds of the Asmodeus Bloodline would have to siege such beings with hundreds of their Tier 5 Gem Masters and their topmost Tier 6 and 7 Legends! How could he be confident before them? So¡­ "I trust you, Young Master." The old Gem Master breathed out and released his sense of control. At the forefront of the Cdrius, there were absolutely no mental reservations within Alexander as a Golden light shot from his chest and moments after. HUUM! A dominating light shot towards a human being as towards it, Azazel simply closed his eyes and allowed it to freely enter the depths of his being. The scene was shocking for others to see as, beside Alexander, ire felt her heartbeat getting ever faster as she looked towards Alexander. Then, with great courage and hesitation¡­ "Alex¡­me too. I will¡­!" She seemed to be gathering her will. She also didn''t want to be left behind nor feel helpless to help! Even in his new state of mind, Alexander turned towards her and stared into her blue eyes. His calm and analytical eyes smiled just a little as he asked. "Are you sure?" ¡­! Even though his mind looked at everything differently under [Meta Comprehension], this was still his childhood friend. Someone he had grown up ying with, the attachment being much greater! Her blue eyes locked with his as the lightning within them became even more decisive. Her fair face, which held traces of beauty, seemed to be more mature at this moment as she nodded with conviction. And Alexander...moved his hand to pat her head as he had done many times since they were young. On his chest, another st of golden light flourished before it sank into ire''s chest, their eyes locked onto each other as a shocking transformation began! A distance away, terrifying Beasts were about toe knocking! Chapter 59: A Terrifying State of Mind! I The changes were heavy, profound, and in the span of an instant. Behind, the body of the Cdrius nearly sank down as shockingly, a human Gem Master tremendously rose in size! His green battle robes expanded with him, this change urring in the most fantastical and eerie way possible as his state simply expanded in size until he came to tower over 30 meters. Nueire herself was over a hundred meters, and Azazel came to stand on her back while being a third her size. WUU! When his eyes opened, mes and lightning crackled. Arcs of lightning naturally fell over his body as his hands became wreathed in tendrils of bloody crimson mes. He held the [Barbarian Blood] Ability Gem as after gaining an additional two sockets, he had only further made his gem recipe more perfect. As he felt the size of his body. The explosion in his power. The fact that his vigor had increased by four or five timespared to what it was before! And even the fact that momentster, a blue star began to spin above him as his body became encased in a cial armament. He felt all of this as he couldn''t help but roar out. "OOOH!" A bellow of indignation and power! It shook the City of Anan and spread out towards theing army of beasts, Azazel seeming like a titanic ancient human to appear in the skies above as the pressure he radiated was utterly terrifying. ire, on the other hand, was much more controlled. Her body remained the same. As if she purposely didn''t want herself to erge in stature and be too different from Alexander, she remained slightly less than 2 meters tall, but her body feltpact with terrifying waves of lifeforce. The lightning around her from the [Lightning Grounds] Support Gem was much thicker and denser than others, and it coursed over her skin as it trembled to be released and expanded outwards! Her eyes opened with happiness as at this moment, she felt a faint connection extending from the depths of her mind towards Alexander. She focused on this connection and sent out a collection of thoughts. ''Can you¡­hear me?'' Her heart beat faster. And Alexander smiled as he nodded. ''Only when you want me to hear you.'' ¡­! Her eyes crackled with terrifying waves of lightning, but her smile became even sweeter at the fact that she and Alexander could now speak with their thoughts alone. She stood beside him, her power reigned in as nobody knew how terrifying it could be when she exploded out. Nueire arrived at the Walls of the City of Anan, this time beside the Lightning Sparrow, the Golden me Lion, and other Minions also appearing beside them like towering titans that looked ahead. In the distance, the outline of a massive Peacock neared! Alexander''s senses expanded out, his Enneagram letting out a dull glow as he continued his preparations. The set up of three possible Gem Recipes were ready to be socketed in his Enneagram depending on the enemies he was facing, and whether he even had to rush in selecting his next Gem Recipe in this battle. With a wider array of selection of Gems depending on how this battle went, he could have an evenrger database to choose from- or even a rarer Gem that can hold even more support gems. But of course, he had to survive to even enjoy any of these benefits. So¡­ The massive body of Gem Master Azazel sauntered forward and came to be at the center of Nueire, Alexander and ireing to stand beside his massive feet as Alexander¡­sent some of his thoughts towards Azazel. And momentster¡­like the bellow of a giant, his booming voice echoed out. "YOU DARE COME TO MY CITY?!" WU! His voice was deep and filled with power. A few miles away, the massive Peacock neared as a cloud of beasts followed behind it, its figure slowing down in the skies above as barely, the terrifying Beasts atop it could barely be seen with the eyes of powerful Gem Masters! But the most overpowering aura of all that forced people''s eyes to converge on it¡­was the ecstatic beast at the very center who looked with immense curiosity and interest towards Azazel. Around her, space seemed to flicker with instability. Around her, a formless aura spread out that cascaded for miles outwards, this aura arriving on the walls of Anan and radiating a suffocating pressure that actually caused the weak Gem Masters who were following Azazel to sink to their knees! Alexander and ire remained standing without an issue. One was the holder of the Enneagram with shocking features having been unlocked, and the other was connected to him with her power scaled up ridiculously! They stared at the terrifying cluster of Beasts of Corruption ahead- especially the one with the most terrific aura as on her chest¡­the brilliance of Seven Gem Sockets could be seen. Seven! A Beast Lord! This terrifying Beast Lord gazed towards Azazel as her red lips opened with amazement. "Big guy, where did youe from? Are you the one who killed Elder Dadarius?" Her voice was sweet and sultry as it echoed out. But the danger it posed¡­was unfathomable.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Azazel continued to relieve the thoughts of Alexander as he sneered and smashed his chest with his massive hand. "A mere Elven worm thought they could match against me. What else did he deserve but death?" ¡­! The words were meant to provoke. And boy, did they provoke. HUUM! Beside the Beast Lord, the Elder Elven Commanders erupted with heavy waves of Energies, one particrly powerful Tier 6 Elven Beasts rising up as her hair flickered dangerously! "Elven worm? Elven worm?! You brute!" ¡­! The cloudy skies began to change color. The radiance of green shed across it ever so briefly as an enraged Tier 6 Elven Beast brought forward dominating momentum and power. And this whole time, a certain Beast Lord had not even made a move! Chapter 60: A Terrifying State of Mind! II The skies were tinged green as fantastically, trees began to emerge in the very cloudy skies and sink their roots in as if they were on the ground. A dense number of trees suddenly sprouted, gradually growing taller as the vines of these trees whipped around like massive tentacles! On the main trunk, eyes and a mouth filled with ferociousness formed as within moments, dozens of sentient trees filled the skies and seemed ready to attack. But around the Tier 6 Elder Commander who had a great attachment to thete Elder Dadarius, the terrifyingly gorgeous figure of the Beast Lord raised her hand. Commanding for this terrifying entity to stop as she looked at everything. And her voice continued to echo out with interest as she looked at Azazel. "You only hold a Five-Link Gem Blueprint. How is it that your power is within the bounds of Tier 6 Beasts? I''m curious to know now as I find it''s easier for you to speak while you are alive. Obtaining any information afterwards is a challenge." ¡­! Her words turned terrifying at the very end. She was an extremely perceptive entity. She gagged the power of Azazel fairly well as she also had her eyes on the Cdrius and other Minions! What she didn''t know¡­was that the true master of all of these entities was actually the young man calmly standing on the Cdrius beside the girl who seemed to be ready to give her life for him. At this moment, this young man was looking at the terrifying enemies that hade and putting the new features of the Enneagram to use. Analysis. The Enneagram on his chest shed as uniquely, blue sets of words began to rise above the heads of the enemies before them. [Tier 6 Elven Beast]:: 6 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the rare Element of Life. [Vigor]:: 15,855/15,855(+5,000/5,000 from the Blessing of the Forest) [Energeia]:: 18,101/18,644 [Tier 6 Peacock Beast]:: 6 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the element of Air. [Vigor]:: 16,211/16,211 [Energeia]:: 19,222/19,399 [Tier 6 Orc Beast]:: 6 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the element of Earth. [Vigor]:: 23,555/23,555 [Energeia]:: 11,333/11,390 ¡­! The quantification of terrifying entities unveiled themselves as the Elven Beasts held around the same values, while the Orc Beast Commanders had terrifying levels of Vigor but much less Energeia! Their thick roiling obsidian muscles seemed like immovable bastions of steel, but they weren''t the most terrifying. Naturally, this fell to the Beast Lord. [Tier 7 Peacock Beast Lord]:: 7 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the rare element of Space. [Vigor]:: 38,581/38,581 [Energeia]:: 38,333/38,339 "..." Horrific values showed themselves. Values that were enough to make one feel despair! It felt like an imprable wall had appeared right before them, and they may not be able to scale how vast it was! But Alexander''s eyes shone with a terrifying state of mind as under [Meta Comprehension], all sources of information came in and were broken down as within moments, he already had a course of action to take. CAA! The cry of a bird echoed out as a p of lightning shed. In the midst of the Beast Lord seeking to talk and instill fear, the Lightning Sparrow moved under themands of Alexander as it instantly tore across the skies to appear in front of the Peacock carrying terrifying Beast Commanders! "Vile!" The massive trees floating in the skies struck out with their roots and branches that carried heavy weight, but the Lightning Sparrow was already near as around it, a deadly storm of lightning spread. It epassed the Peacock floating in the skies and those on it, but this may not necessarily be a good thing as those on this Peacock were too powerful. Alexander observed unique details under Analysis as the massive trees assaulted the Lightning Sparrow while it released a deluge of lightning from its beaks. [-300] [-400] [-200]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The spinning Constetion above it spun brilliantly as the cial Armor of the Deep protected it from any damage, with Alexander observing how much of it was being chipped away every second! But then, a dark spear appeared in the hands of the ferocious Tier 6 Orc. And it shot forth with terrifying speed and force. BOOM! [-6,000] A heavy impact smashed onto the chest of the Lightning Sparrow, the thin blue armor of ice fully protecting it. But from another direction, a bow was drawn by a Tier 6 Elven Commander from it, a ming arrow shot out and unfurled into the faint outline of a holy aerial beast! BOOM! [-7,000] And yet¡­the Lightning Sparrow remained unfettered, its tendrils of lightning smashing all around as the Peacock''s feathers became scorched. At this time, the Beast Lord harrumphed as her eyes became sharp. Her hand tapped out. An unseen impact smashed onto the Lightning Sparrow with such shocking force that instantly, the unbreakable cial Armor of the Deep shattered. [-16,500] An extremely heavy and terrifying attack that would have decimated the Alexander of a few hours ago. When it came, it showed how terrifying the power of a Beast Lord was! But at this scene, a sly smile rose on Alexander. Why did he send out a single Lightning Sparrow? First, the amount of Damage the enemy could deal had to be gauged. And then¡­ BOOM! The spinning star above the Lightning Sparrow trembled and cracked as in the surroundings, the temperature instantly dropped below freezing. When the cial Armor of the Deep was destroyed, the Rage of the Ice King would be released. In the distance, the gaze of the Beast Lord flickered as she waved her hands, thousands of multicolored feathers wrapping around her. And an instantter¡­ WUU! As if a star had fallen and cried out. The Rage of the Ice King ensued as for nearby miles, everything began to change as the skies and earth became painted white- as if an Ice Age had arrived! This¡­was only the first move of Alexander while he attained a terrifying state of mind. There were many more to follow! Chapter 61: Disastrous! I As if a star had fallen! And truly, the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, had its fantastical cial Armor of the Deep destroyed around the Lightning Sparrow. This action released the Rage of the Ice King, which was the equivalent of three times the Energeia Values of this Sparrow! Its Energeia Values had already exceeded 6,000 after the most recent boosts for the Minion King Gem Recipe. Its damage¡­was actually equivalent to the strike that the Beast Lord had released which had shattered the cial Armor of the Deep itself. But the Rage of the Ice King was wide. It was vast. BOOOM! As earthen earth and skies had entered a new age. An ice age! Deep waves of ice spread out and froze everything, heavy winds picking up where ice wasn''t present as even cial swirls of sharp cutting winds whipped around dangerously. |OOOH!| The roars of powerful Beasts could be heard as the Elder Commander Orcs shone with a dark light, the Elder Commander Elves shone with verdant lights, and the Elder Commander Peacock radiated a terrifying multicolored light that shattered! The terrifying Beast Lord¡­was nowhere to be found. But the most shocking thing was that amidst the cial storms pulsing in the background, on the bodies of the Tier 6 Beasts¡­jagged injuries from the sts of cial ice could be seen. Their expressions were immeasurably sour as none of them came out unscathed! Behind them, the towering army led by Tier 5 and Tier 4 Beast Commanders came to a halt as they felt the chilling air and the massive cier that extended its chill towards them, their eyes full of shock as they called out to their Commanders!N?v(el)B\\jnn At the same time, the Lightning Sparrow that had done all of this was called backwards, its protection now having been shattered as after a minute, the light of the Gem Constetion would shine on it again. At this time, Alexander sent his gaze up to the furthest point in the skies. There, a gorgeous entity looked down coldly as the dress she adorned had a rip, with a portion of her fair leg frozen as the ice on it was broken. She floated in the skies without any wings, a transparent Spatial light buzzing around her with extreme danger as she gazed towards Azazel with an extremely cold gaze at this moment. They still believed him to be the Leader, and how could they ever think differently when Alexander gave no aura or indication of having tremendous waves of power? Yet at this time, his thoughts flowed toward ire and Azazel. ''Gang up on the Beast Lord and expose more of her power; if your cial Armor of the Deep breaks, she will be further weakened as you can pull back.'' ¡­! SAA! ire''s small body lit up with cerulean lightning the moment this was uttered as she crossed the skies speedily towards the Beast Lord. "OOW!" Azazel let out a roar of earth shaking power as tendrils of blood formed into rivers of blood beneath his feet, his figure being raised upwards as in his hands, spears of blood appeared. The blood of the Barbarian burned brightly as he flung the spears of blood as if they were shot out of a massive bow, the figure of the Beast Lord teleporting away from her position multiple times to evade them as her gaze became colder, but this was when ire arrived! She brought with her a region of lightning. And her own hands crackled with even deeper waves of lightning. YAA! Fearlessly, she did something she couldn''t have imagined herself doing even hours ago. She tantly went against a Tier 7 Beast Lord! Azazel and ire cornered a terrifying Beast Lord in the skies, and the Cdrius Alexander was on cried out while the Golden Lion, me Hound and other Minions shot out Elemental attacks from a distance towards the injured Beast Commander. Seeing the shocking scene unfolding, these Beast Commanders gritted their teeth and broke the ice around them to pull back. "Use the forces of our armies! Pull back and let them wear down the enemy!" They had an army of a few hundred thousand behind them. Why take the brunt of the attacks themselves if they could wear down the Vigor and Energeia of their enemies?! So instead, they would send their forces first in waves. They would let them die in their stead while their enemies became more worn down! ''But¡­I do not wish to let you do that.'' Alexander''s eyes observed the whole battlefield as well as the retreating Commanders. This whole time, his mind was theorizing how he could act to end the battle with no casualties on his side, all the while obtaining new terrifying Minions and even getting his hands on rare Gems. To achieve this, he had a few possible Gem Recipes ready, but when he actually analyzed everything¡­ ''My greatest strength is currently the Minions.'' Yes. He came to understand that his power, at its best, was being expressed through these Minions. He was still too young, with his Vigor and Energeia not having grown to the point where his enemies were at! Even at this moment, the levels of Vigor of the Lightning Sparrow or Nueire were a few thousand higher than his due to the Minion King Gem Recipe. So, he came to a terrifying conclusion. ''Further increased the power of Minions.'' Make them even more terrifying. As he looked at the Tier 6 Beasts pulling back while healing themselves with skills or pulling out Gems filled with Life force, Alexander gave themand towards his Enneagram. ''Sacrifice the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe for another Gem Constetion.'' ¡­! [The Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe is now unusable and archived.] [The passive effects of any abilities augmenting you are retained.] [The Support Ability Gems within the sacrificed Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe are archived and selectable as Support Ability Gems for any future Recipes.] [The Gem Constetion, Light of the Void, has been born.] ¡­! His Enneagram spun with brilliance. Yes. He had seen how terrifying a Gem Constetion was in supporting currently existing recipes. If one already made things this fantastical, why not two? HUUM! On the Enneagram, a second faint twinkling star appeared near its center, its color a deep shade of red. The Gem Constetion, Light of the Void. Chapter Explore: It shone on Alexander''s chest. He then raised his head as only he could sense that in the distant skies, far past them, a second genuine star appeared and connected to him. The moment this happened, everything went utterly nuts! Chapter 62: Disastrous! II Ridiculous. That was the only word that could describe what happened next! In the distant skies, where a blue star was already radiating its grace downwards, a crimson star also bloomed. The second Gem Constetion. The Light of the Void!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Under the light of the Void, all active Gem Recipes are granted certain effects.] [The Wings of Crimson Light are applied to the holder of the Gem Recipes and any applicable life forms connected to him through the Gem Recipes. The Wings of Crimson Light grants the inherent ability of Nature Defiance- allowing for the absolute rejection of gravity and other forces that dictate movement across different states of matter. All usage of the Wings of Crimson Light is entirely passive and requires no input from Energeia. No matter the mass or amount of Energeia of the one the Wings of Crimson Light are attached to, their speed can achieve the equivalent of a Millionth the Speed of Light.] ¡­! This. This! The moment these words echoed out in Alexander''s mind, this was where everything began going utterly nuts. On his back and on the backs of all of those connected to him through the Minion King Gem Recipe, crimson light shed. Gorgeous wings that seemed to be born from pure crimson lightning- their brilliance painting their surroundings with a hint of red and they brimmed with silent power. Chapter Read: The moment they appeared around Alexander, he felt as if countless chains and limitations that were always weighing him down disappeared. What the Wings of Crimson Light granted was not just the ability to fly. No. Goodness no! They horrifically held something termed Nature Defiance where there was an absolute rejection of gravity among any other forces! No gravity. No wind resistance. Nothing. So when Alexander merely had a thought¡­ SAA! His figure flickered as he rose up from the feathers of Nueire who also had this pair of crimson wings now sprouting on her back. He rose up¡­and stayed up as if he were floating! But he wasn''t truly floating. His body turned sideways in the cold skies until his eyes were gazing at the blue skies above directly. He could be considered a horizontal line between the earth below and the skies above, but he felt nothing weighing down on him. As if his back was lying on something- he could never fall! He could even fall asleep in this current position in the skies, and he would remain so until his thoughts decided differently. "...crazy." He couldn''t help but shake his head. This was an effect of a Gem Constetion? This was simply nuts! But it wasn''t done. [Everything supported with the Wings of Crimson Light shall have the support of extremely charged red lightning, giving their attacks the speed equivalent to a Millionth the Speed of Light.] "..." That was it. The first Gem Constetion, the Endless cial Dream, had the cial Armor of the Deep, Rage of the Ice King, and Physical and Elemental Damage reductions among its boons. The Second Gem Constetion gave the Wings of Crimson Light and a single other boon as this alone¡­seemed extremely overwhelming! Capable of movement at a rate of one millionth the speed of light. How was this? And in addition to movements, one''s attacks would also be charged with red lightning to achieve the same speed! This was exactly what began an utterly disastrous battle. Alexander remained ''floating'' horizontally as he saw the scene above with rity. Azazel had the same Wings of Crimson Light flourishing behind him along with ire. Alexander''s thoughts already traveled towards Azazel and all others to let them know of the terrifying capabilities of the Wings, but they themselves could sense it as if they had obtained another limb! Their eyes expressed their shock and horror. Azazel expressed his incredulity as his massive body was being held up in the skies effortlessly. The bloody mes below his feet disappeared as he didn''t need them any longer. He stared towards the angered figure of the Beast Lord whose hands were raised, the skies above her turning a translucent color as the air began to take on the hue of ss. Undoubtedly, a terrifying attack wasing. But¡­ "So what?" Azazel''s deep voice was gruff as rapidly, another bloody spear appeared in his hands. But this spear crackled with tendrils of crimson lightning as with a flick. A single flick! SAA! The bloody spear disappeared. The gaze of the Beast Lord Vishp above changed greatly as her senses danced dangerously. But before she could even teleport away¡­ BOOM! A thick bloody spear smashed directly on her chest! CRACK! On her chest, a thin invisible film of light was smashed into with such speed that it nearly shattered, and her figure was flung up high in the skies! ¡­! The scene caused the retreating Tier 6 Beasts delving into their armies to stare with their mouths agape while the roaring army of a few hundred thousand beasts no longer made a great deal of noise. It was the start of a disaster. Elven Beast Commander Lidar, who came to avenge Elder Dadarius, gazed out with horror as even though he was tracking the smashed figure of the Beast Lord whose protection was nearly broken, he saw the skies be covered in the next instant. The massive body of a Golden me Lion appeared as it was suspended in the skies effortlessly. As if its body weighed absolutely nothing. Radiant Crimson wings cackling with lightning zed on its back as in the next moment, it opened its jaws. And Golden mes filled with tendrils of red lightning streaked out, Lidar''s expression changing as before his facial muscles could even fully develop the frowns and anger- before he could even blink¡­the mes had somehow already appeared around him as they raged down on him and the section of the army he just reached! ¡­! Shocking scenes like these began to bloom. Alexander remained suspended in the skies and smiled as his calctions paid off. "It seems that Gem Constetions were the way to go¡­" A bright smile. A smile because by his calctions, his current power that was already going towards shocking levels would likely rise even more. What he wanted to achieve¡­was more than possible! Chapter 63: Disparity I In the skies above the City of Anan. The Tier 7 Beast Lord, Vishp, floated in the skies while clutching her chest with shock and incredulity. Who was she? She was a paramount Beast Lord who led a whole army- someone who was getting ready to face Ascendant Gem Masters of the Human Lineage andy im to theirnds! She took a detour. A small detour to satisfy the Elven Beasts as she kept in mind the Elven Beast King that even her Master respected. But this detour¡­ Why did it seem like they had arrived in an ancient humannd that held Gem Masters more terrifying than even the Ascendant Gem Masters she was going to face? Things began simply enough, but they had now arrived at the point where dazzling crimson wings erupted behind the gigantic Five-Link Gem Master and the Beasts working under him! When these wings appeared, it felt like their true power was unveiled as she faced an attack she couldn''t escape from. A spear faster than what she could evade! The [Barrier of Space] around her nearly shattered as she was flung to the skies. She grit her teeth and disrupted the surrounding space while stabilizing herself, but even before she could retaliate¡­ SAA! Blue lightning crackled as it was oveid with crimson light, the figure of a young girl with Five-Link Gem Sockets instantly appeared above her while her body spun, her handsshing out a pir of blue lightning that was simply too fast! Facing this, the Beast Lord instantly twisted something inside of her as¡­ BOOM! Her humanoid form disappeared. Multicolored feathers flourished as the form of a dazzling Peacock unfolded in the skies, a storm being whipped around by its advent as even while it made its appearance¡­ "Fellow Gem Masters, can we have a discussion first?" The sweet voice of the Peacock echoed out towards Azazel who had prepared another spear, and ire whose hands were forming more Pirs of lightning! In the midpoint of the skies, a figure with radiant wings of Lightning stared calmly as the massive form of the Peacock that was actually forced to full power by Azazel and ire alone. This was a Beast Lord. A Beast Lord! Down below, the figure of Elder Commander Lidar had the massive w of the Golden me Lion pressing down on its injured body, the surroundings being hellish ones as the earth was transformed into ava-like area by the terrifying mes of the Golden me Lion. This whole area looked like a crater as thousands of Tier 4 Beasts and below had perished, the only thing left behind being their Gems and Ascendant Life Gems of the Tier 4 Beasts! At this moment, an extremely fast sh of crimson lightning buzzed around this whole crater, all Ability Gems and the Ascendant Life Gems disappearing from the scorched earth as momentster, this crimson light formed into the figure of Alexander as he appeared above Lidar. Lidar who burned as much of his Energeia as he could to ensure that he wasn''t crushed under the weight of the massive Golden me Lion. All the Gems within this crater had entered Alexander''s Isted storage space, which was among the passive capabilities retained even after the Corrupted Lightning King Gem Recipe became the Gem Constetion, Light of the Void. So he stored all the boons so far as he then looked into the eyes of the maddened Elven Beast Commander. The Elven Beast Commander who saw his calmly appearing figure and grit his teeth as he spoke out. "Mercy, O Human Gem Master. The Elven Beast Lord upying the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis will pay any price you put forth in exchange for my life." ¡­! Yes. He used one of the methods of his Beast World when he faced this terrifying enemy as whenever one of their forces was captured, their people would negotiate with the enemy for their release in exchange for resources! Of course, the enemy had to have sufficient power. But when it came to this massive Golden me Lion and how fast it could move, and how heavy its attacks were, that showed a great disparity of power between him and it¡­these enemies had the power to negotiate as Lidar put forth this method right away. And the Human Gem Master, whose Sockets couldn''t really be made out on his chest, looked at him calmly. As if he were looking at an ant below him. Lidar waited for his answer while gritting his teeth, promising internally to pay back this disrespect after he was back by the side of the Elven Beast Lord!N?v(el)B\\jnn But¡­from the human Gem Master, and extremely calm voice came out. "No Elven Beasts will survive this battle today." WAA! As if stating a fact. As if noting the color of the skies! Words were uttered out so simply that by the time Lidar''s gaze changed, he only saw the mane of the Golden me Lion shining brilliantly as its head locked onto him, its eyes releasing beams of cylindrical light that pulsed with crimson lightning! It reached his body in no time as his consciousness began to fade away along with its brilliance. Before it entirely faded, his unresigned will wondered. Just who the hell had theye across? BOOM! The earth became further scorched as at this time, the first Tier 6 Beast fell outside the City of Anan. Where his body used to be, six dazzling Ability Gems and a massive Ascendant Life Gem could be seen alongside a melting skeleton, Alexander going forward to obtain these as well as a sliver of the anger within his heart was satisfied. Every Elven Beast that died was a testament to his revenge. None of them would ever have the chance to be bound to him as Minions- with their only path being fuel for his growth as he obtained their Ability Gems and their Ascendant Life Gems. In this current battlefield, maybe the Orcs could be Minions. Maybe the Peacocks could be Minions. Chapter Find: But the Elven Beasts¡­there was only the path of death for them! Chapter 64: Disparity II A deathly cry of a Tier 6 Beast rang out across the battlefield as many heads turned ashen due to it! A Tier 6 Beast Commander. What did such a distinction mean? For one to fall, groups of Tier 5 Ascendant Humans led by at least one Tier 6 Ascendant Human were required! Yet, there were no Tier 6 Ascendant Humans here. Only Beasts, and three humans with crimson wings of Lightning. Faced with such a reality, the other Tier 6 Beast Commanders couldn''t help but feel a sense of dread for their own mortality, their bodies instantly erupting with all their power! "AWUU!" A Tier 6 Orc Commander bellowed out as his body erged. From towering over 10 meters, his crystalline ck skin and body erged to tower over five times in size as its eyes were red while looking at the me Hound.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It swung an equally erged club in its hands towards the beast as¡­ SAA! BOOM! The massive me Hound evaded as if it were a crimson phantom. Therge club smashed the frozen earth and caused a crater, with this Orc only being able to move its eyes in shock as it saw the figure of the me Hound already shing behind him- its w swiping down at a speed it couldn''t avoid as a booming sound more terrifying than what it produced echoed out! His obsidian body was caved into the earth while his life force cried out in dismay. In another area. A Tier 6 Peacock and an Elven Beast Commander stood side by side, an entire forest blooming around them defensively asrge trees rose from the cial surroundings! [The Forest of Life]! [Regal Fervor]| Two abilities thatplemented each other and ovepped rose up as the Beast Commanders sought to give themselves time and defend. But¡­ BOOM! The blooming forest cracked apart as the huge trees were overturned. Dense and massive vines crackling with lightning erupted out as in the distance, Nueire red at them coldly. The Gem Masters from the city of Carthage on her back looked at everything happening with sheer incredulity as they didn''t even know how all of this was possible. But many scenes like this urring across the front of the battlefield showed a single thing. A disparity in power. And surprisingly, it wasn''t favoring those that one would expect! "GAH!" The Tier 6 Orc Commander that was smashed onto the earth wheezed out a breath as its eyes shook questioningly. It wasn''t dead? Its eyes shook as the figure of a me Hound stood above him coldly, while in the distance, tens of thousands of Orcs from the army roared out with madness while ignoring everything- seeking toe and save him! Yet the moment they neared the storm of lightning surrounding all the Titanic Beasts¡­they were forced toe to a stop and pull back, or they were killed right away. It was maddening. The Tier 6 Orc Commander felt all of this closely as its mangled body couldn''t even rise up. The w of the me Hound pressed on it painfully as its very torn skin was being cooked from the sheer temperature of the mes surrounding the me Hound. Painful. It was too painful! If it was going to be killed, why not make it quick?! The moment this question rose, the bloodied eyes of the Orc Commander saw a sh of crimson light. And momentster, a Young human whose eyes caused him to feel even colder appeared above. His body was floating horizontally in the skies in an eerie manner as he floated down while voicing out calmly. "Will you live or die?" ¡­! He asked such a question as if he was mocking the Tier 6 Orc Commander. Shame and fear filled the mangled Orc down below as his blood burned bright, his eyes bing firm as he wanted to roar out! But¡­ "Will you submit and live, or will you die with pride?" His question expanded. Chapter Continue: The pupils of the Tier 6 Orc Commander constricted greatly as it gave a brief nce to the deadly me Hound that seemed to just be waiting for orders, as well as the other massive Beasts and that powerful titanic Human facing the Beast Lord. ''Ah¡­'' Things finally clicked. They were wrong from the very beginning. They hadn''t even managed to pinpoint the true enemymander standing opposite them! The Orc Commander looked at the eerie terrifying young human above it as it began tough with bloody tears and broken pride. "Gaha-ha¡­live. I want to live." ¡­! Nobody wanted to die. Certainly not extremely powerful entities that had gained a taste of true power! From above, a golden beam of light erupted from the chest of Alexander and went towards the heavily injured Tier 6 Orc Commander. Closer to the Walls of Anan, but far in the skies, the massive figure of the Peacock was actually towering over 30 meters as it faced both Azazel and ire, with Azazel and the Beast Lord looking like massive buildings smashing each other in the skies while ire radiated rivers of scorching lightning! CAA! The Beast Lord cried out with a sense of anger. "Are you all not listening?! Do not force me!" As her voice boomed out, her beautiful head shone as a massive green crown appeared above her. The crown was iid with thousands of Gems and radiating ecstatic power as it instantly released a st that pushed away Azazel and ire. The eyes of the Beast Lord were ferocious. "Do. Not. Force. Me!" She seemed utterly enraged as she boomed out at this moment! Behind her, a vibrant feathery tail vibrated with wonder as the green crown that had just appeared caused a shocking aura to spread across the battlefield. What was this? What type of weapon could be this heart-shaking?! "I say again, Fellow Gem Masters, can we have a discussion?" Her words brimmed with confidence and power that seemed deeply ingrained in her! Chapter 65: Between Life and Death! I Among the many wonders of Gem Masters, there were those with Abilities specifically geared towards forging. Within the Peacock Lineage, their regal bloodline held multiple Gem Master Forgers who could design and produce terrifying Gem Armaments! Beast Lord Vishp never thought she would be pushed to utilize the crown currently floating above her head by a force she didn''t even know existed. This force wasn''t mentioned by the intelligence reports they obtained from the Gnis Bloodline, even though they appeared in a City that was under their banner. And the power they disyed was utterly maddening as it was even sufficient to threaten her. She red with a terrifying gaze towards the young girl wreathed in lightning and the man who had pulsing mes of blood around him. They had 5 Gem Sockets on their chests, but their power was levels above this as she could not treat them like Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Masters at all! With the dazzling crown spinning above her, she brought a momentary pause as she gazed at the battles urring below. And what she saw only caused her gaze to deteriorate further as she harrumphed while speaking out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "We obviously made a mistake in targeting this domain of yours. We will pull back our forces right away, and neither of our sides will devolve into a life and death battle. You don''t want any casualties on your side, right? If I really stake my life and everything I have, I am confident in wiping out at least half of your forces¡­and I do not wish to go that far since there are no irreversible enmities between us. What say you?" The sweet voice of the Beast Lord rang out towards Azazel and ire as they stared at her wordlessly. It was only a momentter, after Azazel silently received words in his mind, that he replied. "We have no enmity with you, but hold great enmity with the Elven Beasts. You leave them behind, and you along with your army¡­could pull back." ¡­! Words that caused the face of Beast Lord Vishp to change while the Elven Beast Commanders in the distance seeking to avoid Alexander''s Minions became ashen. Lidar had already perished as the remaining ones did not want to meet the same fate! But when they only heard silence from the Beast Lord, their hearts shook even more as this silence said a great deal. She was actually contemting it! Such an idea was not even a possibility just second ago, and yet now it seemed to be a reality as how could they understand. From the perspective of the Beast Lord who faced the roided out Azazel and ire who had the support of two Gem Constetions¡­such a sacrifice may be more than okay to ensure their safety. The feathers of the Peacock in the skies illuminated with radiance as the terrifying crown above its head filled with Gems hid its terrifying edge, her voice echoing out. "Alright." ¡­! What! "Beast Lord!" "Vishp! You¡­!" Cries boomed out from below as the Orcs and Peacocks felt their enemies retreat from them as they went towards the remaining Tier 6 Elven Beast Commanders and the Tier 5, 4, and other weaker Beasts that they led. They breathed heavily as if a foot that was pressing on their chest was removed, and they grit their teeth as they did nothing to help the Elven Beasts. "You can''t do this!" "BEAST LORD!" A rain of hundreds of arrows gushed out from one area where a Tier 6 Elven Beast was clustered, but both the Lightning Sparrow, whose body shone with a cial Armor of the Deep once more, and a Golden me Lion were already above it. Their lightning stopped this rain of arrows as thebination of mes and lightning crashed down to scorch everything there! A scorching figure was all that remained around the melting earth as another Tier 6 Elven Beast fell. "No¡­!" Another one faced the wrath of Nueire who sought to prove herself along with the second me Crow, extremely heavy vines smashing down alongside mes as these attacks were truly overkill. But they achieved their effects! Another Tier 6 Elven Beast couldn''t defend and fell. The Gems they all left behind disappeared soon enough as a sh of crimson light constantly moved across the battlefield, this sight causing terror to rise in the hearts of the observing beasts as the Beast Lord didn''t wish to watch this any longer! "Let''s go!" Her voice echoed out as her massive body began to move back. The army that had just arrived churned and began to tumble back in waves. The Beast Lord was the first in her retreat, her body shing with green light as she ignored the pleas of the Elven Beasts below! She did this just in case. Her senses only breathed a sigh of relief as they observed the figures of Azazel and ire still floating in the skies behind without making a move. She had actually escaped this ordea-...! BOOM Her figure came to a halt in the skies. With a booming sound akin to the sound barrier being broken, an obsidian figure filled with tout muscles appeared in the skies in front of her. An Orc Commander. His titanic humanoid figure looked oppressive as he towered over 150 meters! Behind him, ring crimson wings of Lightning spread out as on his chest, six gems shone radiantly. He looked like a massive building floating in the skies as he had aplex and difficult expression on his face while he gazed at the Beast Lord. "My Ascendant Master¡­has changed his mind. None of you are to leave here." ¡­! The aura emanating from the Orc Commander in the skies was maddening. Depending on the starting point, the elevation of anyone who became bound to Alexander as a Minion varied. The Tier 4 Beasts were raised in power by all three Supporting Gems to be capable of unleashing peak Tier 6 levels of power as Minions. So what would happen when an already powerful Tier 6 Beast became bound as a Minion and obtained the multipliers to their Vigor and Energeia? To their size and power? The answer was pure, unfiltered, devastation! Chapter 66: Between Life and Death! II Just how much different was a Tier 6 Orc Commander after bing Alexander''s Minion? The answer was truly a terrifying one as there were Support Gems multiplying the Vigor and Energeia values of Minions, their size, as well as an all around increase of parameters from the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream! The difficult expression on the Tier 6 Orc Minion exined this as in his eyes, immense shock coursed through him while he sensed his own power. This was possible? One could actually do this? With the connection from the Ascendant Master, he even had a gauge of the quantity of the level of power he currently held. When he sensed it. When he felt its heavy oppression. He found himself questioning¡­was this not the overabundance of Life Force that could only be found within the bodies of the Dragon Beast Lineage and the other Rare Royal Beast ns?!N?v(el)B\\jnn [Tier 6 Orc Beast Minion]:: 6 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the element of Earth. [Vigor]:: 23,555/23,555 > 105,998/105,998 (+529,990/529,990 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 11,333/11,390 > 51,001/51,255 "..." The values of power reached were astonishing andpletely eclipsed anything else on this current battlefield! The effect of the cial Armor of the Deep on low values of Vigor that were in the hundreds or a few thousands was negligible. But when they reached tens or even a hundred thousand? The thin transparentyer of frost around the obsidian Tier 6 Orc made him akin to an imprable moving Fortress that far outssed anything on this battlefield. The Tier 6 Orc sighed and shook his head while he stared at the ashen and wrathful Beast Lord Vishp before him. "You¡­you¡­!" He knew what she wanted to say. That he was rebelling. How dare he rebel and join the enemy. But he also knew Vishp was smart. She could see the bright crimson wings of Lightning behind him and the swirl of a lightning storm reminiscent of all enemy Beasts she had been facing. She knew what this naturally meant. She knew that the Tier 6 Orc Commander was subjugated and turned into an enemy force! But her mind seemed to be utterly defiant at the fact that his power¡­seemed to cause her senses to pulse with such deafening danger at this moment. The crown above her, filled with Gems, began to spin rapidly as she bellowed out with fury. "Dishonorable humans!" ¡­! Dishonorable! The moment the massive Orc appeared before her, her heart shuddered as this was one of the few things repeating in her head. How it was impossible, and how dishonorable they were by saying they would do one thing and then proceed to do the direct opposite. Her bestial eyes turned around and gazed at the battlefield behind her where the retreating Tier 6 Peacocks and remaining Tier 6 Orcs were surrounded by titanic Beasts with crimson wings, and even the figures of Azazel and ire who were facing her. But now, they didn''t even pay attention to her. Her heart lurched as she instantly understood. Her eyes searched the skies. And she didn''t have to seek for a long time as there, past the Walls of Anan, she found the floating figure of a young man who seemed to be sitting in the very skies. As if there was a clear tform nobody could see, he sat in the skies while looking towards her with eyes that didn''t seem entirely human! Eyes that seemed to be calcting and analyzing everything coldly, with emotion shing within them every now and then. Especially when she called them dishonorable. She looked at this young man and his calm gaze that stared directly at her as it subconsciously caused her to shudder. "You¡­are the true master of these forces?" She asked a question she already knew the answer to. The young man floating in the skies didn''t even answer her as she instead made an undeniable statement. "In the next few minutes, you will either go through a great deal of pain and possibly die. Or¡­you can skip all of that and be like your Orc friend there. Submit. Otherwise, your long livese to an end here." ¡­! The words were said not just to her, with the eyes of this terrifying young man gazing towards the remaining Tier 6 Beasts as well. Submission, or Death. The choice they were given was a clear one, as when Beast Lord Vishp heard it, she closed her eyes. Eyes that then opened with vibrant defiance! Who was she? She was a fucking Beast Lord! She-...! BOOM! As if her defiance was seen, Alexander, in the distant skies, made a dismissive motion as an instantter, the towering Tier 6 Orc Minion shed above her and swung his obsidian fist down. Its size alone covered the whole surface area of the sizable Peacock form of the Beast Lord. It was utterly terrifying! The obsidian fist, moving at a speed of a millionth the speed of light, smashed into the dazzling bejeweled crown first, its force being so devastating that this crown that pushed down sank into the head of Vishp before a horrific force smashed her from the skies. ¡­.! As if she were a green meteor, she was flung towards the cial ground that met her within a matter of seconds. BOOM! Tens of thousands of weaker Beasts of the army down below were pulverized into blood and gore by the massive body falling from the skies, a crater being formed below as green and gold tendrils of light sought to protect a single beast lord! But¡­ BOOM! The earth quaked and trembled once more as the even more massive figure of the Orc Minion also touched down, his legs that were like ck mountains smashing another few thousand Beasts to actual pulp. After hended, he didn''t even give Beast Lord Vishp the chance to recover, or to even use the terrifying light of the Gem Armament crown to its full potential. The Orc Minion only raised his hands, which were akin to ancient obsidian mountains¡­and brought them smashing down onto the crater. BOOM! Once. BOOM! Twice. ¡­! The earth trembled rhythmically as a Beast Lord was being smashed to oblivion! Chapter 67: Lords, Kings, and Emperors! I Within a small corner of the World of Ephesus, a Beast Lord was being pounded by relentless obsidian fists mercilessly. In another corner of this world, there was the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of the Gnis Bloodline. A Stronghold was far bigger than mere City Fortresses stretched out to protect against low-tier Breaches, with it looking like a massive metropolis stretching out for over 200 miles. Tens of millions of Humans lived within such a stronghold as it was a bastion of humanity. Or...it used to be. Currently, massive obsidian skyscrapers built from crystals and materials excavated from Breaches could be seen, with Corrupted Airships floating across the skies serenely¡­but they weren''t the only ones. There were also Beasts patrolling the skies as if it were the norm, ranging from Peacocks to ferocious-looking Eagles, among others! Outside the massive walls of the Stronghold, swathes of Beasts numbering in the millions were camped out calmly in a shocking show of horror and power. Within the Stronghold itself, towards its very center.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Inside a skyscraper fifty stories tall, the door was splintered open as it led into a wide ck hall lined up with golden banners. The one who had broken the door to enter was an Elven Beast who had five horns growing from his head and Seven Gem Sockets burning brilliantly on his chest. A Beast Lord! And the hall he barged into¡­has the eyes of multiple terrifying beings turn towards his direction. Tier 6 and Tier 7 golden-haired Human Gem Masters. Tier 6 and Tier 7 Beast Gem Masters! And one entity at the very center who could leave one breathless. An entity so beautiful that it was unfair, with his chest showing¡­Gem Sockets that were shaped like triangles. Triangle-shaped Gem Sockets. Not the circr-shaped gem sockets like all others. There were also just seven of them¡­but they were Variant Gem Sockets! Vibrant Gem Sockets, but uniquely, one could still see triangr-shaped Gems socketed within them. This being had vibrant green hair shimmering with tendrils of gold light as he gazed coldly at the one who had kicked the door down. "Must you do something so boorish, Beast Lord Celefindel?" ¡­! "Boorish? BOORISH? Look at this!" The Elven Beast Lord exploded with rage as he raised his hands to show multiple shattered gem crystals. "Lidar! Faenwe! They and all of my Elven Commanders traveling with your forces are dead. Dead! You put your fucking sister in Command of an army to prove herself, and now my brethren are dead!" ¡­! His Sister. The Esteemed Beast Lord Vishp! The moment her name was mentioned alongside dead Elven Commanders, the Peacock Gem Master with the Variant Gem Sockets had his eyes sh with a sharp light as he waved his hands and caused a small verdant gold chest to appear. This golden chest opened to unleash colorful waves of light as within, nine green Gems radiantly glowed with life! The sharp gaze within this entity eased at this scene as he spoke out calmly. "Vishp is fine. As for why your Elven Beast Commanders may have died¡­" The Variant Beast Lord turned to the Human Beast Masters in this hall. "We moved our forces based on your information regarding the Human Gem Masters of that Stronghold. Did we receive¡­faulty information?" ¡­! The surroundings turned immeasurably cold as the Human Gem Masters became stern. Facing this being, even though a few middle aged men- Tier 6 and even a Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Master, faced his gaze alone¡­they found their bodies pressured greatly! The Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Master was adorned in golden robes, a crown on his head as he was the Lord of the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis. He ruled over this great Stronghold before he joined hands with the Lineages of Beasts, and he now had to delicately walk around them as he replied while shaking his head. "My people just recently came back from that Ascendant Stronghold of the Asmodeus Bloodline as we confirmed all Ascendant Gem Masters there. The details we gave you are 100% urate¡­any possible failures are not due to us, Beast Lord Commander." As he spoke, his gaze coldly went towards the Elven Beast Lord as if he was stating that his Beasts dying had nothing to do with them! The Elven Beast Lord saw this clearly as his face became livid. "You worthless human scu-" "Mayfaire!" BOOM! The booming voice of the Variant Gem Master, the Beast Lord Commander, echoed out. He sat at the center of this hall of a golden throne, all others standing up left and right- humans and Beasts alike! He looked between the Ascendant Human Lord of the Gnis Stronghold here and the Elven Beast Lord who seemed to be at great odds as he spoke out coldly. "Our people have be united in an inseparable manner. Your Ascendant Gnis King¡­" He turned his head towards the Tier 7 Lord of the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis as he continued. "Your Ascendant Gnis King is at this moment working with our forces to wee the Delegation of the Royal Dragon Lineage and the Mythical Phoenix Lineage into this World. This is of paramount importance as it means more King Ranked Gem Masters and even Emperor Ranked Gem Masters may start their entry into this world. We do not bicker amongst each other as for us¡­there is a glorious future waiting." WU! A st of colorful golden-green waves erupted from the Variant Beast Lord Commander as he stated such words! "This world is special. Far more than any of us realize as we keep discovering more and more of its wonders. Humans and Beasts can only join hands to embrace the change and wonders toe as we have to be united! In the matter of the death of Eleven Beast Commanders¡­we will get an answer for you, O Beast Lord Mayfaire. Anastasia¡­" The Variant Beast Lord Commander turned towards a graceful and utterly gorgeous woman to his left. The feathers of a Peacock covered her back gorgeously as she batted her eyes. "You are the fastest among many here. Track down the path of the army that Little Vishp led and find out what happened. If there are any surprises, reinforce her. Send a message as soon as you know anything." His words were thew. Beast Lord Anastasia nodded as her figure turned into a sh of green light that disappeared right away! Chapter 68: Lords, Kings, and Emperors! II After hismand to Beast Lord Anastasia, the Variant Beast Lord Commander gazed calmly towards the Elven Beast Lord Mayfaire. "We will give you any answer for this, Mayfaire. For now, any news on your reach towards the other three Ascendant Human Lineages?" His words calmed everything in the surroundings as while swallowing his anger, the Elven Beast Lord Mayfaire harrumphed and replied. "Hmph, the other three Ascendant Human Lineages do not seem to get that coexistence in this world is better than extermination. All delegations have been denied even being heard, and in the Strongholds of the Ascendant Asmodeus Bloodline, they even massacred our delegations. For this, they need to pay, O Commander Atticus." ¡­! His words were filled with brutality as when the Variant Beast Lord heard them, he tapped his fingers on his throne thoughtfully. "The ces where the strongest of the native Lineages that were born from this world¡­will be the ces where change will be concentrated the most. When the process of Energeia Star Ascension starts, these strongholds that hold the most popted and strongest Human Lineages will undergo the most stupendous changes. This is why cooperation is more beneficial¡­" Terrifying secrets were revealed as the Gnis Lord gazed at the Human Gem Master Commanders beside him with shining eyes. The reasons why they had allied with the Beast Lineages were many, but this was one of the foremost ones! As the native Human Lineages, they stood to inherit the most wonders during the process of Energeia Star Ascension. But only if they were actually alive for it. The Gnis Lord wanted to ask. Why was the mechanism of the Energeia Star Ascension like this? Why did thends where most of the humans were, and those who were the most powerful, experience the most change? When he had asked about this change before, the Variant Beast Lord Atticus had looked at him silently for a few seconds before he said even more terrifying words. ''That is getting into mysteries even we haven''t fully understood yet, but as I know it¡­it is a form of a defense mechanism. Because, just like all of us, even a Star does not wish to die.'' ¡­! The Lord of the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of the Gnis Bloodline remembered these words and repeated them in his mind every day. Even today, he wanted to talk to the many other Tier 7 Human Lords of the other three Lineages! But each of them had their own path to follow. He would lead the part of the Gnis Lineage depending on him forward! "Very well." WAA! A burst of golden light erupted from Variant Beast Lord Commander Atticus as he pped his hands. "Human and Beast will move as one to besiege the nearby Ascendant Strongholds. Killing is not the goal¡­the goal is submission and cooperation. If we can begin procreation between Lineages soon and give rise to those born between us, we shall slowly attain the boons as natives of this world until there is a full assimtion¡­" ¡­! The words seemed calm enough, but the gazes of a few human Gem Masters behind the Gnis Lord clenched their fists with ashen faces. Procreation! Mixing with Beasts to give birth to their offspring! Their people would have to go through this in the future? Even though their faces were ashen, they couldn''t do anything else but listen.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om This was the boat they had jumped on, and now¡­they had to follow it to the end! ¡ª BOOM! The crystalline obsidian fists of the Orc Minion pummeled again and again as green gold feathers of the Beast Lord Vishp were plucked and strewn everywhere. A bloody bird was all thaty below as¡­ "Wait¡­" BOOM! "STOP!" BOOM! Even in the midst of her crying, as her Energeia tried to gather itself to activate the terrifying Gem Armament on her head, the fists still didn''t yield as the fists sounded relentlessly! They seemed to be gauging how much life force remained with every strike as after barely any cries wereing out of the bloodied regal Peacock¡­only then did the bloody fists of the Orc Minione to a halt. On top of its right shoulder, the figure of Alexander looked down on the twitching Beast Lord that wasn''t even allowed to showcase its power. A weak voice came from it. "Yo-you fucking¡­bastard. I s-said, stop¡­" The voice was weak and filled with resignation. Who was she? What status did she have? And yet she wasn''t even given a moment of rest as above the Orc Minion, Alexander voiced out coldly. "Do you yield?" "..." Down below, Beast Lord Vishp wheezed as she felt barely a hundredth of her life force remaining. She¡­ She¡­! ¡­! She saw the obsidian fists of the Orc Minion rise again as terror rose widely within her, knowing that if these fists came down on her again, endless darkness awaited her. So she quickly spoke out with fear. "Yield! I yield!" "..." The fists of the Orc Minion still hung in the air. Almost as if they didn''t believe her. "I fucking yield!" She shouted out this time fearing that the fists may truly juste down and end her, but it was a golden glow from the chest of Alexander that cascaded from his chest and came to bind her. Her being. Her life force. Her very soul. Her expression was maddening as such a thing urred, but she didn''t even twitch as she allowed this golden light to do whatever it wished. Her binding of yielding spread across the battlefield as all Beasts turned chaotic and began to scramble away. If the Beast Lord herself had yielded, what were they to even do?! This battle...could be considered set, and the victor was very clear! "Ah!" Cries of shock and fear echoed out from the remaining Orc and Peacock Beast Commanders that were surrounded and heavily injured, but Alexander''s gaze was only in a single spot. The bloodied Peacock down below. He had gotten himself a Tier 7 Beast Lord. How terrifying would the power he wielded be? And someone as powerful as her was bound to have a great deal of information that would paint an even clearer picture of what the Beast Lineages had in store, and what was toe! Chapter 69: Lords, Kings, and Emperors! III Green gold feathersy scattered all around as they were mixed with blood. Vishpy there defeated as she felt a tight and unbreakable golden line bind her very being, rage and resignation coursing through her as she couldn''t even resist. But in the next moment¡­ BOOM! A flood of inexplicable power coursed through the established connection as her extremely low life force felt like it was ignited into a fiery me! Her life! Her energy! It all exploded upwards rapidly from the inexplicable golden connection binding her as her rage turned into utter shock. Her injuries rapidly healed. And she could swear that her mind saw two twinkling stars sh ever so brightly. And then¡­a thin blue membrane began to cover her feathers that shone more lustrously than ever before. Not to mention her very body feeling the coursing tendrils of crimson lightning that felt like a part of her! This¡­this¡­! BOOM! From the crater she was in, her figure exploded out with magnificence and glory. Green and gold brilliance permeated, but the allure of red also arose as behind her already vibrant feathered wings, crimson wings made of pure light formed from her back.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Two pairs. Four wings. It was akin to a Phoenix undergoing rebirth anding out the other side indescribably stronger- but in this case, it was a Peacock. "YAA!" Her cry reverberated out across the battlefield as it caused sharp winds to form. The Beasts who heard this cry felt their souls shudder as they bowed down in fear- not a single Beast rushing out or escaping anymore! What was a Beast Lord? This was a Beast Lord! In the skies, a vibrant Peacock with green, gold, and red feathers floated with pristine majesty, the bejeweled Gem Armament in the form of a crown she had never gotten the chance to use currently spinning above her head. Her eyes cleared up from the euphoria of it all as sheer incredulity descended in her mind. She looked at herself. Her body that she knew she could erge to be multiple timesrger than it was right now. And her life force¡­it was all just so unbelievable! But the reason for all of it was a single thing. That golden line of connection. Oh, that golden line! It tightly bound her as when she followed it, it was bound to a single man who stared at her calmly from the shoulders of a Winged Orc. She looked at him as she felt her heart shudder. She looked towards his chest as she sought to understand. She knew that at this moment, she had effectively be bound to this being as a ve. She had seen Gem Masters who took control over others and enhanced their power with their support Gems. Beast Masters. Summoners. Necromancers. There was a wide variety, and their ves were, at times, much stronger than they were. But¡­this was to an extent. To an extent. What happened to her after she became a ve was just unrealistic! She knew this very well since her life force alone was what¡­four or five times greater than before? This was impossible by itself, and yet as her will permeated across the thin blue armor covering her, she estimated it to be giving her the protection that was 5 times as much as her life force. What the fuck even was that?! She estimated that even if a Tier 8 Beast King came, she should be able to contend with them no problem! Even though she was only a Tier 7 Beast Lord, she felt like right now, even her brother with his terrifying power could be someone she could match. ''Ah¡­!'' She suddenly remembered. Her brother. She shed towards the man who had made her ve as her pride as a Beast Lord still remained, her figure arrived before him as she asked what was on her mind. An exnation of what could make her current change possible. "Are you¡­a Variant Gem Master?" ¡­! The question was a simple one, but it caused the distant figures of Azazel and ire to open their eyes in shock. As for Alexander, he floated towards the radiant Peacock while beckoning with his hands as he replied. "Why do you ask that?" He was beckoning, but Beast Lord Vishp turned her head sideways in confusion as she replied. "That''s the only way your power can be exined. And even then, it still doesn''t make sense. There are some truly terrifying Variant Gem Masters, especially within the Royal Beast ns and Mythical Beast ns, but no Variant Gem Socket that would have an enhancement effect as terrifying as this. And¡­what are you beckoning for?" ¡­! Variant Gem Masters! Azazel and ire Asmodeus looked at each other in shock. Were those the same Gem Masters that they considered to have Defective Life Sockets? That they themselves were defective? Of course, they never asked Alexander himself how exactly his Gem Sockets were, simply trusting him. But from the words of the Beast Lord, Variant Life Sockets were actually unique and powerful, and this seemed to apply greatly to Alexander! Alexander who at this moment pointed to the crown above the Beast Lord as he answered her as to why he was beckoning towards her. "It seems we have lots to talk about, but first- hand that over." ¡­! The eyes of the Beast Lord constricted. Her Gem Armament? This¡­ She wanted to say that this was her prized possession. That she was given under strict instructions to never lose it! She hadn''t even gotten the chance to use it as she was getting pummeled, and now¡­ She spoke to herself with resignation as the crown on her floated away and shrunk in size, going towards her new master. "What use will this be to you when you already have so much power¡­" She whispered this to herself, but she felt like the terrifying man ahead of her heard it as he raised his calm eyes towards her. She hurriedly gave away the crown as she began to worry. She began to worry about her brother¡­and her Peacock Beast Lineage if ever they had to face this terrifying being. How many of them will end up like her today, or even worse? Chapter 70: Lords, Kings, and Emperors! IV With clear resignation, Beast Lord Vishp handed over the dazzling Gem Armament that reduced in size until it fell into Alexander''s hands. A gold crown iid with many different colored gems. It looked like a stupendous work of art as the moment he held it, Alexander felt his Vigor and Energeia burn with activity- his Energeia that was used up slightly began to regenerate at a rapidly faster rate! In addition to this, the upper limit of his Vigor and Energeia seemed to have been tremendously increased! His Energeia was unconsciously pulled towards this crown as after it flooded into it and drained nearly half of his reserves, he felt a faint connection to it as it began to spin and float upwards¡­settling above his head before it sat itself sideways of his dark hair. "That¡­is a relic forged by a Beast King Engineer of the Dwarvebeast Bloodline. Iid with 100 Gems, it can boost the regeneration of life force and energy, grant at least a third of the Life force equivalent to a Beast Lord, and it can unleash a wave of Royal Gem Aura that suppresses others while enhancing the effect of your gem recipe. It is¡­" She wanted to say it was hers! Given to her to hold on to as normally, only truly powerful Beast Lords like her brother would be granted such tools to ensure their survival as they were the future of their Lineage. But¡­she could only sigh in resignation as her massive form radiated scintiting light before she transformed into a humanoid appearance. Her visage was utterly gorgeous to look at as her hair now held verdant and gold strands extending almost to her waist, her eyes watery and filled with shocking brilliance as a green dress covered her body. She looked towards Alexander and the gold crown thaty on his head, which made him look like a young king with his own green battle robe, as she sighed and epted what had happened. In front of her, Alexander touched the crown on his head as he spoke out calmly. "Is there any immediate threat I should be mindful of? Another part of this army, or your higher ups?" He asked such a question as Beast Lord Vishp had many thoughts sh in her mind. Should she¡­reveal everything? Her position was unique in that currently, she was bound to him. He could take her life any time he wished, and if she kept things from him and her brother was notified of this situation and came himself¡­ Even then, she couldn''t confidently say that her brother would be able to ovee this new master of hers! Truthfully, she was scared that he may not be anywhere close even with his Variant Life Sockets. And if that urred as she held back information¡­ "Haa¡­fuck!" She sighed with resignation while scratching her green gold strands of hair as she replied. "You killed the Elven Beast Commanders. Likely, their Beast Lords have been notified of their death with their Life Gems having cracked, and my brother- a Variant Beast Lord, would already be notified." ¡­! She went all in. This being in front of her was too terrifying as she couldn''t y. What made him most terrifying was the power that Vishp felt coursing through her, one that made her question¡­did her new master have Variant Life Sockets of a Beast King...or even a Beast Emperor?! Beast Lords, Beast Kings, and Beast Emperors! Lords stood powerfully with Seven Gem Sockets, while Kings were powerful forces of nature that held Eight Gem Sockets. Such beings could be leaders of their Lineages as they could wield terrifying power over time. Then, there were Emperors. Kings with 8 Gem Sockets could be given the distinction of Emperors if their power outssed all others of this same stage, or if they had Variant Life Socket. True Emperors were those rare and utterly exceptional with 9 Gem Sockets. Also known as Perfect Gem Masters. Legends.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om They were entities that were the Progenitors of entire Lineages, Protectors who made sure they lived even when their World copsed. Such entities were too rare. Too powerful! There were only rumors about them existing within some Royal Beast Lineages or Mythical Lineages. Vishp...did not exactly where to ce her new master as with the ridiculous gain in just her power that made her feel like she could rival a Tier 8 Beast King¡­she came up with two possibilities. One was already terrifying, and that her new master was an entity with Variant Life Sockets- 8 of them at that as this would make them a King. A Human King! The other possibility was that Humans of this world had actually given birth to a Tier 9 Gem Master. A Human Emperor! This was too terrifying to even think of whether it was the first possibility or thetter one; they caused Vishp to not mess around whatsoever as she continued. "If my brother has been notified, the first thing he will do¡­is likely send someone to see what has happened. Another Beast Lord likely, and a fast one at that. I even have an idea of who it may be. But they will go towards the Ascendant Stronghold we were supposed to be attacking, and after they see we aren''t there, they''ll easily pick up the movements of our army from our original route. Given their speed¡­it could be a range of half an hour to an hour before theye here?" She tilted her head with thought as she spoke such words! Hearing them, Alexander''s eyes shone sharply as he looked around the battlefield. He looked towards the decimated Tier 6 Peacocks and Orcs as from his chest, three more blinding rays of golden light shot out. Two towards two Tier 6 Peacocks, and one towards another Tier 6 Orc! "Then¡­let us wrap things up and prepare to intercept. There''s a lot more I need to hear from you." ¡­! With the crown adorned on him, the sheer presence he released was a suffocating one as he truly looked like royalty, Beast Lord Vishp biting her lips as she thought of the future toe¡­ Chapter 71: A Small Beast Lord Army ! I Past the walls of the City of Anan. The sheer aura of power radiating from Beast, Lord Vishp was pressing down on all of the Beasts of Corruption within her army as every single one bent their head in terror Alongside this show of power, the golden light radiating from Alexander had gone ahead to bind two Peacock Beast Commanders and another Orc Commander. After the terrifying boons of the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream- the number of minions under Alexander had been raised to fourteen. The induction of Azazel and ire took two spots, with the first dominated Orc Minion taking the third as Beast Lord Vishp was the fourth! Now, adding two Tier 6 Peacocks and another Tier 6 Orc made it so that all 7 slots were taken! "OOOH!" A roar came from the second Orc Commander to be made a Minion as the same profound changes urred within him and the Peacocks, their power stretching upwards and approaching the level of a Beast Lord with surety. Their Vigor and Energeia Values would evene to exceed Beast Lords as they were much higher than the values that Beast Lord Vishp had before her transformation! But where was she now? As many thoughts and calctions shed in his mind, Alexander nced at Beast Lord Vishp- his Enneagram spinning calmly as her life force was analyzed. [Tier 7 Peacock Beast Lord- Vishp]:: 7 Gem Sockets with a Main Ability rting to the rare element of Space. [Vigor]:: 38,581/38,581 > 179,652 (+898,260 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 38,333/38,339 > 178,991 "..." The values of Vishp alone were utterly unreal. They were over ten times greater than even Alexander''s own values of Vigor and Energeia as of course, his already rapidly rising Values were no match for entities who had been alive for much longer than him and enjoyed the boons of their Gems much more. But observing her values and the values of the Tier 6 Minions he was currently gaining made him look at two things. One was the fact that for his next Gem Recipe, he had to find one that bolstered his own levels of Vigor and Energeia as if he wasn''t under the protection of Vishp or any of the other Minions, a Beast of the same caliber as them could theoretically smash him to pulp with a single p. Emptying out his few thousand Values in Vigor and even the Armor of the Deep that granted a bit less than 20,000 values of defense to him currently could be done with but a single attack from a powerful Tier 7 or Tier 7 Beast! He, as the master of terrifying Minions with life force values exceeding the 100,000 mark could not be so flimsy himself. Of course, the fact that he could move as fast as a millionth of the speed of light due to the second Gem Constetion, the Light of the Void, meant that his reactions should greatly exceed the enemies who came after him. But why not be even more careful to preserve his life? The other point he had arrived at as he looked at the values of Beast Lord Vishp and others¡­was his old Minions. They were Tier 4 Beasts when he bound them. Their values were in the few thousand as even though the multiplier from his Minion King Gem Recipe was terrifying, what they could bring from it was limited. For the strongest Minions, Alexander would have to rece these initial Beasts that actually paved his path forward! An action that could be considered cruel. But under the now analytical mind brought forth due to Meta Comprehension, following this path was only natural to further increase his strength. The me Crows, Lightning Sparrow, Golden me Lion¡­they would likely have to be reced as his Minions in theing future to make way for even stronger Beasts that had a high initial start point of Vigor and Energeia values. Only then would terrifying minions continue to be born. Even now, he had four Beast Minions equivalent to powerful Beast Lords and Vishp, who should be more than powerful enough to rival a Tier 8 Beast King! This wasn''t to mention Azazel and ire who could both fight against a Beast Lord. Gradually, a small army of Beast Lords was forming around Alexander. As their Master, he naturally could not be the weakest one as at this moment, he looked down at the army of Beasts below who were suppressed by the sheer pressure of Vishp alone. They didn''t have too much time as they had to move fast. So¡­ "Take down all Tier 4 and Tier 5 Elven Beasts and bring me their Ascendant Life Gems." ¡­! Beginning Tier 4 and higher, one would have Ascendant Life Gems that umte life force.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om One could use these to raise their Vigor and Energeia ever higher, and Alexander could even use them toplete the assimtion of Gem Recipes within his Enneagram! Naturally, they had to be obtained en masse as this was another path to elevating his own values. The hearts of his Beast Minions clenched at themand, but the Orc Minions moved the fastest as the crimson wings behind them pped, their hands clenched as the blue and red tendrils of lightning formed into chains that they grasped and flung towards the subdued Elven Armies! The chains were like scorching beams from hell that scorched anything they touched, Elven Beasts beginning to be razed down en masse as roars and agonizing yells boomed out. Azazel and ire moved to do the same as well- Azazel especially as he had been a Gem Master for decades. He had seen friends die to Beasts again and again. He knew how entire City Fortresses were overrun and millions killed over the years. He held absolutely no sympathy for them as he crackled with lightning and used his own body to fly across the battlefield like a bomb that pulverized the Elven Beasts he came across! It was bloody. It was devastating. It was¡­. "War¡­" Alexander said this single word as he didn''t turn his eyes away from it. Hemanded it. He would not turn away from it! Chapter 72: A Small Beast Lord Army! II Beasts of Corruption killed billions of Humans since the advent of Breaches all those years ago. Men. Women. Children. This was a product of their war. Their invasion. They had even killed his own Mother. The morality of thought became clouded in times of war as at this moment, Alexander felt a heavy weight that would only continue to increase as a result of his actions! But he never turned away for a single second as he gave anothermand, this time towards a stern Vishp. "Prepare to intercept whoever is being sent to confirm the state of your army. Approach them as an ally and catch them off guard- heavily injure them to the extent that no word is passed back to your old forces." ¡­! His words were calm and carried a light of coldness within them. They weren''t the words of a boy who had juste of age as gradually, a man was being molded in the terrifying mes of war! Beast Lord Vishp bowed her head down at his words as she prepared. He floated in the skies as he took stock of exactly how much he had gained today. He didn''t spare any of the powerful Tier 6 Elven Beast Commanders as from them, three massive Ascendant Life Gems the size of his head appeared alongside their Gem Recipes that broadened his horizons. There were also over 6 Tier 5 Elven Beasts that fell, and at this moment, a few dozen Tier 4 Elven Beasts were being finished off! All the gains of their Ability Gems and Ascendant Life Gems would go to him as even now, he was already actively absorbing the biggest Ascendant Life Gem he had obtained. His Vigor and Energeia surged upwards as the Enneagram continued to spin calmly. [Viable Gem Recipes for the exponential increase of Vigor and Energeia are being analyzed, with those promising the greatest efficiency being pushed forward.] The monotone voice of the Enneagram rang out amidst the ughter below as while he absorbed the Ascendant Life Gems¡­ "Start talking. Tell me everything regarding your past forces. The Beast ns¡­their movements, everything." "..." Beast Lord Vishp bit her lips at such amand as she nodded hesitantly, her gaze slowly blocking firmer as she replied. "Instead of talking about it, I could¡­show you." ¡­! "Oh?" Alexander raised his brows. Before him, Beast Lord Vishp closed her eyes as she focused on the golden light connecting her to her Alexander. Through this connection, he could silently sendmands to her and others. He couldmand her andpel her, or even use it to dissipate her life force if she disobeyed! But through this same connection, someone more powerful and in control of their life force could do wondrous things. Within the mind of Beast Lord Vishp, a dense number of thoughts, memories, and knowledge that she knew were pulled out and brought together in a bundle of vibrant light! Knowledge of her native world. Her Lineage. Everything she knew. Her face became stern as a few droplets of sweat gathered on her fair skin, over ten thousand units of Energeia being spent just gathering and condensing all these bundles of information before she took it all and allowed it to flow through the golden line towards Alexander! ¡­! [A Collection of Records has been intercepted.] His Enneagram buzzed with life as it captured everything. [The Collection of Records is being organized and analyzed, and is now flowing into your mind in a set sequence.] Any form of disordered and clustered thoughts was smoothed out as within moments, Alexander began to feel an influx of what seemed like old memories that weren''t his flow in. It was unique, but his mind under the state of Meta Comprehension quickly sorted through these bundles of information! And his eyes¡­were truly opened. "This¡­was your world?" He spokenguidly as he saw a brand new world within his memories. The World of Ornis. The same one Nueire stemmed from. It was a massive world full of beauty¡­that was on the brink of destruction! But Vishp didn''t just have knowledge of this world.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om There were other Worlds near it filled with allied Beast ns- like the Mythical Dragoworld and the Mythical Nirvana World! These were much further away from Destruction, and they held the shockingly powerful Mythical Beast Lineages that were currently interested in Ephesus. Apart from memories of Worlds, even more waves of information came as gradually, Alexander''s expression became colder and colder. Minutes passed as he took everything in. Worlds. Lineages. Gem Masters. Variant Gem Masters! He sorted through a great deal of information, and, by the end of it all, he shook his head while gazing out toward the cloudy skies above him. It seemed like these cloudy skies carrying rain were bent on covering not just the City of Carthage, but Anan and beyond as they made everything just a little darker. All of this was just a small portion of this World- Ephesus! This world currently had terrifying Lineages flocking into it as if there was no tomorrow. "Hoo¡­" Alexander let out a deep breath and turned to look towards Vishp. In her memories, he had also gained expanded knowledge of her army and other armies of Beasts as this woman was in a high position of power! The Sister of a Variant Beast Lord who was seen as a special Beast Lord within their Peacock Lineage. He was respected and powerful as his power as a Variant Beast Lord could rival a Tier 8 Entity! And due to his position of power, he knew a number of things that he at times spoke about to his sister. What the elders of their Lineage- the Beast Kings, were discussing regarding Ephesus. How they had mapped out this world and already carved out which regions would go to which Beast n as they prepared for the process of Energeia Star Ascension to begin! Yes. They had already decided and distributed the differentnds of this world they were invading as they fully considered it theirs! Chapter 73: Subterfuge! I The waves of information felt like foreign and distant memories, but they were now there. Cemented in Alexander''s mind as with them, his vision was opened up greatly. There were many important points to consider, but one of the more important ones rted to Variant Gem Masters. No, of course, they were not Defective Gem Masters. The inability of Humans to understand and make use of such beings did not make them Defective- only that humans themselves weren''t capable of understanding them! Variant Gem Masters held Gem Sockets that differed from the norm, and due to this, they had different outputs of power and uniqueness that only they coulde to learn after specialized Ability Gems were socketed into their Variant Life Sockets. Some changes could be square or rectangr Gem Sockets instead of circr. Some Variant Gem Masters held Eight Gem Sockets¡­but two were of different shapes. A variation in shape, size, or even numbers- anything could happen! But once the variance was understood, a terrifying powerhouse could be born from it. When it came topatible Ability Gems, there were Variant Ability Gems that were extremely rare in nature, but their abilities were just as rare and monstrous. The Beast ns, whose world had already undergone Energeia Star Ascension and held much more advanced power called such Gems¡­Ascendant Ability Gems or Mythical Ability Gems. Mythical Ability Gems! They held abilities that were many times more powerful and uniquepared to others. Apart from being found in concentrated Sacred Lands within a star that had undergone Energeia Star Ascension, there was also another source where they coulde from. Tier 9 Beast Emperors. Entities who had Nine-Linked Gem Sockets and carried unfathomable power¡­were capable of using materials to forge their own Ability Gems. "..." When Alexander got to this memory, he reyed it again and again. Most people only knew that Emperors could design their own Ability Gems. They didn''t know how, and nobody dared to peer into such secrets as it was just attributed to the number of great things such entities could do! And yet¡­Alexander knew that this would be aing feature of his Enneagram. So long as he continued to gather more and more information and attained greater levels of Vigor and Energeia, this function would unlock for him to make his own Ability Gems! As he arrived at this point, he turned to look at Beast Lord Vishp ahead of him. "You must have some things in an isted storage space, yes? Any Variant Ability Gems with you?" ¡­! Her main element was space. And she had a unique position of being the sister of a Variant Gem Master. So theoretically¡­ Her eyes shed sharply at his question as if to confirm the question he asked- her hand opened its palm, and on top of it¡­a dazzling crimson-green jewel in the shape of a heart appeared. "A gift from my brother after his trip into the Dragoworld. It is a Mythical Ability Gem that didn''t fit him, nor may it even fit you. Since it was shaped like a heart, I liked it and asked for it as a gift. You would even take this away from me, my new Master?" Her strands of green and gold hair simmered as she asked in resignation. And the reply of her new Master was a cold one as he waved his hands, crimson light shing as the green red jewel in the shape of a heartnded in his hands. "I can take everything away from you." ¡­! Right. She was bound to him in a connection she couldn''t go against, and his power was likely that of a Tier 8 Variant Gem Master if not a Tier 9!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om She understood this, but she was stifled nheless as she was a woman of the Peacock Lineage who was treated like a noble by others. Like a queen! But this new Master of hers¡­didn''t even spare her more than a second of a nce as his gaze always contained calmness and ingenuity. She brought her hands to her face and touched her fair skin as she wondered. She could see everything regarding her changes as she knew she had gotten even more beautiful than she already was, with her figure bing even fuller in all the right ces. Did her beauty not work on him? If she could at least get this new Master of hers to treat her differently- if she could cause an attachment to form¡­who knew what possibilities there could be in the future? A smile began to rise on her face as she covered her mouth, her eyes shining with deviousness as her curved figure looked utterly regal. ''Right, there was also that¡­he may not know about it.'' Random thoughts and ns were rising in the mind of a Beast Lord as the man she was looking at was focused on the details of the dazzling jewel he currently held! [Scion of the World Tree]:: An extremely rare Variant Ability Gem that was condensed from a dying World Tree. Once socketed, it grants one the distinction of a Scion of the World tree as passively, the Vigor and Energeia of its host will be increased by +25,000, the rate of regeneration of Vigor and Energeia will be increased by 50%, and a Natural Blessing of the World Tree will passively be triggered whenever the values of Vigor drop below 10%- granting full Vigor Regeneration instantly. The passively triggered Natural Blessing of the World Tree can only be triggered once per day. Actively, one can activate this Gem to take on the form of the Scion of the World Tree- their abilities augmented in an unquantifiable way¡­ ¡­! A Variant Ability Gem. A Mythical Ability Gem! And boy, did it live up to its name! [The most suitable Ability Gem for the next Gem Recipe has been discovered.] Within him, the voice of the Enneagram boomed out as even its t tone seemed to carry a sense of excitement. It didn''t stop to ask whether this Variant Ability Gem could even be socketed. Alexander didn''t ask either as they would see soon enough, his chest lightning up and locking onto the crimson green jewel before an undeniable pull grabbed this jewel and caused it to disappear in his chest! To Beast Lord Vishp, it may have appeared as if he just stored the Gem into his own isted space. After all, one would need to unsocket their already existing Gem Recipe to put a new one. So nobody knew that Alexander had started on his Fourth Gem Recipe at this moment! Chapter 74: Subterfuge! II A gem in the shape of a heart. It was pulled towards the center of the Enneagram as while it neared, the hazy circle at the very center gradually changed shape. The shape, of course, was bing one that could seamlessly fit the iing heart-shaped ability gem. It was astonishing. Variant Life Sockets were set as if they held unique shapes different from circles, specific gems that fit these Sockets alone would be viable. And yet Alexander had the Enneagram that seemed to be malleable when it came to any type of Gem. Even a heart-shaped Gem¡­was fitted in seamlessly as it took the center spot of the Enneagram that shone with a silent white light! And in the next moment, on the extreme ends of the Enneagram, 8 dazzling illusory Sockets became lit up. Eight! In the past Gem Recipes, Alexander had generated 6 usable Support Ability Sockets, and when including the Main Ability Gem- it was the equivalent of 7 Sockets. A Seven-Link Gem Blueprint. But now, the possible Support Ability Sockets that had lit up with the introduction of the Mythical Ability Gem, Scion of the World Tree, were Eight! When putting together the Main Ability Gem itself, that was a total of Nine. A Nine-Link Gem Blueprint! Was this not¡­what Tier 9 Emperors held? Alexander''s eyes held a dazed light even with his exceedingly calm state of mind momentarily. Because still, within the Enneagram¡­there was one dark Support Ability Socket that wasn''t lit up. It meant that some time in the future, if any viable Gem arose¡­there could be a possibility for a Ten-Link Gem Blueprint. What even would such a thing be? What would it even mean?! DUM! The beat of his heart felt heavy and loud at this moment as he calmed himself. Like a cold spring, the coolness of Meta Comprehension washed over him as his emotions settled. Yes. The Enneagram was astonishing with a lot of its wonders still yet to be discovered. And with it¡­he actually saw a chance for himself even with the new memories from Beast Lord Vishp that showed that Human Lineages were about to be in truly sorry states in the future toe! But he could change this for himself, his Father, ire, and all those he grew up knowing. ''Let''s do it.'' With a tipped crown dangling on his head that made him look like a young king, he felt the continued spinning of the Enneagram as its voice echoed out. [The Support Ability Gem- Energy Preservation Support, has been added to the World Tree Scion Gem Recipe.] [The Support Ability Gem- Vigor Boost Support, has been added to the World Tree Scion Gem Recipe.] [The Support Ability Gem- Parameter Elevation Support, has been added to the World Tree Scion Gem Recipe...] ¡­! The Gem Tree Scion recipe began to unveil itself at this moment as its already shocking boons were about to get an overhaul! Support gem after support gem that were specially chosen by the Enneagram were added, Alexander''s body beginning to shine with a faint verdant red radiance as he seemed to be brimming with life. His figure and the figure of Beast Lord Vishp crossed the skies like mere crimson streaks, with the support of two Peacock Minions following behind just in case additional support was needed. They were fast. A millionth the speed of light. All without any usage of Energeia, and the capability of movement across space was enough to make even royal avians jealous as Alexander and his Minions could move in any direction seamlessly! So when they set off to intercept the force that should have been sent out to see what the situation of Vishp was, their speed was utterly ridiculous. Alexander flew alongside Vishp as even though his mind was under the effect of Meta Comprehension, which kept him cool and collected, his heart could still not help but enjoy this sheer achievement of flight. While growing up, one of the few cardinal rules his mother had taught him rted to this. The small things in life. The fun things in life. Alexander remembered the words of his mother as if she was speaking to him just yesterday. When he closed his eyes, he could feel her warm hand on his head as she spoke out. ''Little Alex, the world out there is a bleak and dystopian one. But if that''s the only thing you look at, it will eventually cause you to go crazy. So as you grow up, be sure to enjoy the few things that can bring you happiness. Your family, food, girls, and when you eventually awaken¡­the sensation and usage of lifeforce.'' ¡­! Her hand had been so warm. Her eyes beamed with a bright light and a crescent smile as Alexander remembered when she had gazed at the distant skies. ''Little Alex, do you know? One of my dreams has always been to shoot across the skies. To feel the wind on my skin. How colorful all of it is...and whether I can ever see its end. The skies¡­'' Her words faded away from his memory as he closed his eyes while feeling the wind that didn''t give any resistance at all. This was his mother''s dream. She couldn''t live to enjoy such a dream, but he could live it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In the corner of his eyes, an indiscernible tear quickly disappeared into the wind as he opened his eyes with vibrant fervor. He was ready. He had already released a me Hound from his bindings as one spot was wide open for whatever beast they were about to intercept! ''Oh, Master, I sense someone of my lineage nearing.'' The thoughts of Vishp entered his mind as this woman took on her human form and reduced her speed- the oppressive aura she could release reigned in a short few seconds¡­ HUUM! Heavy winds surged ahead as a glorious green Peacock full of lustrous fur could be seen, its figure hastening towards them as it should have sensed Vishp as well! Confusion was apparent in its eyes, but Vishp flew towards it as her eyes lit up with recognition. "Sister Anastasia! Something happened¡­" Her words were those of someone meeting their friend as they held no malice within them. The Tier 7 Beast Lord called Anastasia held no reservation as she hurried before Vishp! "Sis Vishp, just what happe-" BOOM! Vishp instantly erupted with a terrifying aura when she was a few meters away, her eyes carrying frustration and unwillingness as she turned on her own people at this moment and began to hand out a beat down! Chapter 75: Gem Master Alexander! I Anastasia was more in a stupor than anything else. Having seen the figure of Vishp, her eyes had lit up as she only observed the crimson winged human flying slightly behind her briefly. She had to know what had urred, and even why she was here alone without her Commanders or army. The Ascendant Stronghold she was supposed to attack seemed to be on high alert, but it was left untouched.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om So she had tracked the movements of her army towards another direction entirely as before she could get there, here was Vishp! And the next thing to happen¡­ BOOM! Was her receiving a heavy impact as the Vishp in front of her disappeared, her figure speedingly appearing above as she released a heavy attack on the back of Anastasia that flung her towards the ground. ¡­! It was such a shock that her brain barely registered when her massive body smashed onto the barren earth! The bones on her back were actually shattered as she felt great pain, and she couldn''t even open her wings as she looked up towards Vishp with pain and hurt in her eyes. Above, Vishp had on a frustrated expression as she waved her hands, translucent ss like chains appearing as they were flung towards the ground to lock down Anastasia. Seeing this, Anastasia felt even more pain as her massive body flickered with radiance, instantly bing smaller as she evaded the massive bindings that wereing down. The visage of a curvaceous bleeding woman appeared where she was, her back caved in unnaturally as she gazed up- only to find Vishp right in front of her, her figure ready to strike! But she came to a halt when she saw the eyes welling up with tears in front of her. Her hurt shuddered with pain and betrayal as Anastasia didn''t even fight back. She only looked towards Vishp while tears of hurt flowed and asked. "Sis Vishp¡­why?" Anastasia looked tender. They had grown up together. Anastasia was a genius fostered by her Lineage as over the years, they had be as close as sisters. For her to do what she did¡­ Vishp contained the pain in her heart as she waved her hands and caused chains of translucent restraints to appear and wrap around Anastasia before she asked icily. "Is this enough?" ¡­! Her words caused Anastasia''s watery eyes to widen as in front of her, the figure of the young human who was in the skies appeared with a sh of crimson light. His body seemed to currently be brimming with waves of increasing life force as he nodded while looking at the seven Gem Sockets on Anastasia with shining eyes. "More than enough." The words filled withmand only caused Anastasia to be more shocked as at this moment, she finally noticed the crown on the head of this human. She recognized it clearly. The Gem Armament that Vishp was given! For him to wear it, for Vishp to attack her and act this way towards him¡­ "You¡­" Anger rose in the heart of Anastasia as she looked towards Alexander as if she were looking at a demon. "What did you do to Sis Vishp?! Do you know her status? What did you do to force her to attack her own kind?" ¡­! Her words caused Vishp''s face to simmer with defiance and pain as she looked towards Alexander as if he had stripped her of everything! Anastasia saw this scene as her green hair nearly burst into mes, her fair skin frowning and bing stern as she looked between Alexander and Vishp who couldn''t even say anything regarding this current situation. "You¡­did you strip her of her dignity? Do you push her down and have your way with her because of her high status? Did you-" SMACK! A hand pped the left cheeks of Anastasia as Vishp looked towards her with shame and incredulity. Seeing this, Anastasia was even more convinced as she looked towards Alexander coldly. "I see, you really mounted one of the Princesses of the Peacock Lineage? Do you know what they''ll do to yo-" SMACK! Another p came from Vishp as both of the fair cheeks of Anastasia became red. "Can you¡­shut up?" Vishp looked coldly towards this Sister of hers whose head was always in the wrong ces, and she somehow always found the worst possible words to say. Vishp turned towards Alexander as she shook her head and sighed. "Can you just¡­do it so we can get it over with?" She wanted this whole exchange to be over as in front of them, Anastasia scoffed while she red at a calm Alexander. "You have her entirely under your thumb after mounting her a few times? Let me tell you, I won''t break down so eas-" BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Vishp''s fists hounded down onto Anastasia''s figure until she couldn''t speak anymore. She red towards Alexander, whose chest shone with a golden light that went on to wrap around Anastasia, with Vishp yelling out towards her. "Do not resist!" She had enough of this girl''s words as shemanded with anger. After this, the light around Anastasia only became more pronounced as soon enough, her bloodied figure began to heal as a terrifying boom of life force erupted from her! Green gold brilliance vibrated around her as the restraints wrapping around her body disappeared, her face bing even more wless with her curves ever so pristine as she looked with great shock towards Alexander! "I see¡­" As if she had understood, she looked between Alexander and Vishp as she nodded. "So this is how you did it¡­you bound her like this, and after she couldn''t deny yourmands, you mounted her over and ove-" BOOM! A strike at the speed of a Millionth the speed of light thundered out without mercy this time onto Anastasia, the frustrated figure of Vishp releasing some of her anger onto her as within moments, she found a unique gem that was attached to the hips of Anastasia that she plucked away. She then came towards Alexander while holding this gem. "I can transmit whatever message you want through this Thoughtweaver Gem. What am I saying to the forces of the Beast Lords wanting to know what happened to my army?" Her words were those of someone who wanted to get it over with as she gave a threatening re towards a healing Anastasia to not say any more stupid words! Yet this woman was relentless. "So you have already conquered her heart¡­but I won''t be so easy-" BOOM! Chapter 76: Gem Master Alexander! II In the middle of dead trees. In this region between the City of Anan and an Ascendant Stronghold a few hundred miles away, a woman adorned in a green robe was bowing towards another woman who looked and dressed very simr to her, but she stood beside a young man in a stern expression! It was Beast Lord Anastasia bowing down apologetically towards Alexander and a furious Vishp. "Please forgive me for my words, Ascendant Master. My mouth has gotten me in trouble before, but I''ve never misunderstood something like this." She was apologizing for all the words she uttered as when her head rose, one could see that she truly looked too simr to Vishp after bing bound to Alexander as she also had strands of green gold hair! Her eyes held a wateryyer of grievances as Vishp nodded towards her with a harrumph. Alexander was studying the quantification of Vigor and Energeia of this being as hepared them to Vishp, and when he didn''t reply to her apology. "Ascendant Master, did you hear me? I was apologizing because I misunderstood you not being impotent, and that you had mounted Sis Vishp already. But now that I know you aren''t even able to, I won''t mention your condition ever again." ¡­! Anastasia spoke as if she was stating the most obvious thing. Because, why would this new Ascendant Master not mount someone like Vishp when he had her bound and fully under his control with the possible gains he could make from doing it? The only answer within Anastasia''s head was that their new Master had to be impotent! At her words, Vishp turned ashen as she gazed toward Alexander with hesitation, scared that he might be enraged enough tomand her to kill Anastasia for her words! Yet¡­ Alexander only looked towards Anastasia with a calm gaze as he didn''t even refute her, only replying with a steady gaze. "You talk a lot." "Yes, Ascendant Master. My mother always praised me for my mouth amongst all other Peacocks." Anastasia clenched her fists with pride as she said this, and Alexander yed with the Thoughtweaver Gem in his hands as he asked her once more. "Share with me all the most recent information since you left your main camp, from there¡­I will decide what message is sent back." He had intercepted the only messenger who was sent to figure out what had happened, and he could control the narrative greatly from here as he understood his enemies! Seeing that he didn''t react to Anastasia''s crude words before, Vishp sighed while sending another mental message to Anastasia who nodded intently to Alexander as she began to speak. "Where do I start? I was born on an auspicious day-" "Speak of the most important things- the most recent things, and just share them mentally!" Vishp roared out towards the fool before her who had begun to ramble on, and Anastasia smacked her head as if she had just realized this as well. She closed her eyes and focused on the golden line of connection between her and her new master. ''Let''s see, can you hear me, Master?'' She sent her thoughts through the golden line as Alexander patiently looked at her and nodded.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ''Great! You seem like aid-back person to talk to, Master- you aren''t easily enraged with me saying a few words, which is rare. Let''s see, Sis Vishp should have already shared lots of information with you¡­what could she have kept back¡­ah!'' Within moments, through the connection they shared, Alexander saw tendrils of information gathering as they were intercepted by the Enneagram and browsed by him. [The Methodology of the Gem Resonance Cultivation Technique is being analyzed.] And the memories he saw¡­caused his eyes to flicker and for his gaze to lose his patience as hemunicated with Anastasia. ''What is this? How is this of importance?'' Anastasia blinked in surprise as her thoughts were quickly sent back. ''Master, this is very important. I know you are impotent, but you can still carry out this Gem Resonance Cultivation Technique without needing to be intimate- only proximity is enough even though it will be much less effective. And for those with powerful Gem Socket Blueprints like you, the effects this has to elevate your Sockets and the ones of the person you resonate with will be truly profound! You are a Tier 9 Human Emperor, right? You entirely changing my power to this level can only be exined through that- this technique will be a killer thing for you to have especially!'' "..." Anastasia shared a technique that allowed two entities to undergo a resonance of their Gem Sockets- with this technique increasing their levels of Ascendancy as it was most effective with entities who held more and more Sockets. For the best effectiveness, intimacy was required between a man and a woman as this¡­was not the type of information Alexander was looking for right now. He sighed while massaging his temples as unless he was very direct, it seemed like he wouldn''t be getting much critical information from this woman as he made a simplemand. ''Show me the memory of what happened the moment the deaths of the Beast Commanders were discovered.'' ¡­! ''Ah, yes, Master! Here they are¡­'' Information of a memory began to y. A memory that showed an enraged Elven Beast Lord and various other Beast Lords, as well as¡­A Human Lord! The Lord of the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis! He was standing amidst the Beast Lord as he even spoke about how he gave away information regarding the Ascendant Strongholds that the Beasts would then target. Alexander''s gaze became cold at this as his gaze then locked onto the Variant Beast Lord Commander. A powerful entity with Variant Gem Sockets whomanded dozens of Beast Lords of different Beast Races! What he spoke of was frightening as his words ryed the entrance of Tier 8 Beast Kings and Tier 9 Gem Emperors soon! "..." His eyes became increasingly somber at the information he obtained as gradually, he decided what should be sent back towards this Variant Beast Lord. And after this message...it seemed like he had to make his way to the Ascendant Stronghold that Vishp and her armies were originally going to attack! Chapter 77: Gem Master Alexander! III After some time passed, Alexander had a clear idea of what should be done as he handed Vishp the Thoughtweaver Gem and told her exactly what to say. With stern eyes, her Energeia lit up as she began to speak to it. "You didn''t need to send this loudmouth just to check up on me. Everything is fine, we were just ambushed by a force of Ascendant Gem Masters that had a deep grudge- even going to the length of throwing away their lives to trade them for some of the Beast Commanders under me. The Elven Beast Commanders seemed to be their primary targets. But the issue is dealt with as we will proceed to the target Ascendant Stronghold as nned." A message that was concise and to the point. It flowed into the Thoughtweaver Gem that radiated a purple radiance thereafter, and after a few seconds, the Gem lit up again as a voice echoed out from it. It was deep and filled with power as it echoed out. "Good. Give an update when you reach the Stronghold and the results thereafter. Anastasia will act as your reinforcement to cover up for the Beast Commanders you lost. I need to see results on this one, Vishp." The tone of the voice held distinct worry and sternness at the very end as Vishp gritted her teeth while listening to it as she ultimately nodded. "Understood." She replied with a single word before the Thoughtweaver Gem was put away.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He wanted results. He didn''t know that very soon, there would be tremendous results- just not the ones that he wanted! "Haa¡­" She sighed as in front of her¡­ "Let''s go." Alexander took to the skies while speaking outmandingly. Those who were following behind them just in case were sent back to Anan while Alexander and the two Tier 7 Beast Lords would make their way to the Ascendant Stronghold a few hundred miles away! The purpose of this was so that Human Gem Masters were not left in the dark regarding the movements of Beasts, and the fact that the Gnis Bloodline was no longer aligned with humans- in a much deeper way than what his father knew and had shared with those above him. The Human Lineages¡­ Alexander thought of the grandiose history of humans after the Breaches started to ur, and the legends who rose to elevate and protect humanity this whole time. Their names stood at the forefront as within the Lineage he stemmed from, there was the Legend of Asmodeus! Apart from him, there was Gnis. And the remaining two...were Argyros and Drakon! These four Legends protected humanity and enacted the Asmodeus Bloodline, the Gnis Bloodline, the Argyros Bloodline, and the Drakos Bloodline. They divided their power and rulings over City Fortresses and Strongholds, with Gem Masters holding Five-Link Gem Sockets and higher being clustered around the Strongholds as they were granted the distinction of Ascendant Gem Masters. These were the four pirs of humanity. But at this moment, one of these pirs was already aligned with other races! BOOM! Alexander''s figure tore across the skies powerfully as he thought about many things while heading towards an Ascendant Stronghold of the Asmodeus Bloodline for the first time. Behind him, two Peacocks followed as one had a simple expression on her face, while the other had a cloudy one filled with annoyance. Anastasia picked up on none of the cues whatsoever as she matched her speed and whispered to Vishp. "Sis Vishp, you got lucky that our new Master is impotent, otherwise-" "He is not impotent, and just shut up for now!" Vishp was more than annoyed by Anastasia who looked towards her in shock at this moment. As if she was asking, how could this be?! She had an entire conversation with him mentally as she even gave him the Methodology of the Gem Resonance Cultivation Technique! He didn''t deny any of her words, but they seemed to not be true? Then why¡­ She blinked as she touched her face and then looked closely at Vishp. "We¡­we can''t be ugly in his eyes, right?" Her voice carried genuine confusion as the annoyed Vishp sighed while turning towards her. "Seriously, drop this and find something else to fixate on." "What? How can I do that, Sis Vishp? He is very likely a Tier 9 Human Emperor. If my first Gem Resonance is with him, do you know how big a boost I will get? We can''t let such a chance slip by!" Anastasia was defiant as her green gold pupils shone with confidence. She and Vishp continued to hold their own conversation as they followed behind Alexander- their figures moving at such shocking speeds that they were bound to reach the Ascendant Stronghold soon! They were traveling a millionth the speed of light as this was over 11 miles every minute. In 20-30 minutes, they could seamlessly cover a few hundred miles! ¡ª A few hundred miles away from the City of Anan. Surrounded by a radiant white wall and dead trees covered by thinyers of frost, a fantastical Stronghold of the human race grandly stood. Temperatures in this region were much lower than others, withyers of coldness covering everything. The white wall stretched out for over a hundred miles all around- showing the innovation of the human spirit and the bastions they built to defend themselves! Near the wall, two massive Tier 5 Breaches shining with obsidian light could be seen as they looked like reality itself was torn between the earth and skies. The auras of powerful Gem Masters surrounded the entrance and the inner Barracks of these Breaches as nothing could get in or out without their say. Past the white wall, one could see a truly massive White Mountain rising up from the center of this Stronghold- with intricate structures built all around it as at the very peak, burning with crimson radiance, a ming word forever stood! [ASMODEUS]! In bold, mingyers, this word remained active above the white mountain for years. Around this White Mountain, heavy winds of coldness whipped about as over a hundred Airships floated around it. On the walls and within the airships monitoring everything, the eyes of powerful and prideful humans could be seen as their bodies were covered in heavy fur clothes, many of them adorned in blue and green robes. At this moment though, their eyes looked pensive. As if they knew something wasing. They were the powerful Gem Masters of the Ascendant Asmodeus Bloodline, and they reigned over one of the Asmodeus Strongholds that was known as the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold! At this moment. Atop the walls of the Stronghold, a Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Master sat at a high tower as a Tier 4 and a few Tier 3 Gem Masters were scattered around him talking while asionally gazing past the wall. The Tier 5 Gem Master was only gazing out calmly as at this moment, he blinked in confusion while squinting his eyes, and he eventually rose up in shock and rm as he shouted out! "Iing!" BOOM! No sooner had his words echoed out, a booming sound echoed out in front of the tower he and other Gem Masters were in, their bodies glittering with power and pensiveness as when they looked ahead, the figure of a young man with a crown, green battle robes, and radiant wings of crimson light suddenly came to a stop right before them. Fast. Far too fast! Chapter 78: Gem Master Alexander! IV The Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Master rose in shock and trepidation at the speed of this entity floating in front of their tower. He had only seen a glimpse of light a few miles away with his amplified sight, and yet a secondter, this being crossed that distance to appear right in front of his Defense Tower! DING DING DING! rms were automatically set off as after this being appeared, crimson light shed to his left and right as dazzling figures of two extremely simr women appeared. The vivacious women caused the eyes of all men in the Defense Tower to be momentarily dazzled and go nk before they refocused. One of the women had a lovely and exquisite look that made one inherently want to protect her, while the other held a regal coldness akin to an ice queen that was unapproachable! But apart from their beauty that could make some of them weak in the knees, the Seven-Link Gem Sockets on their bountiful chests caused them tremendous rm as their bodies began to cycle Energeia. The Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Master was a middle-aged man with dark hair, his eyes showing a gaze of great rm and valiance as he crushed multiple gems under his robe while voicing out. "What is your purpose?! Who are you?!" The voice carried innate authority within it as it didn''t freak out entirely even while standing before two humanoid entities that seemed to be Tier 7 Gem Masters. His gaze was flickering between them and the man who floated ahead of them, his green robe causing him confusion as this¡­was this not the same design of the battle robes of their Asmodeus Bloodline? But regardless, he had already sent forth rms and warnings. Along with the ring sounds, a heavy convergence of power could be felt as from all directions of this vibrant and yet cold Stronghold, auras of Gem Masters began toe over as if they were facing a great enemy. Alexander didn''t reply as he watched this scene y out, while behind him, Anastasia merely blinked with a smile as in her eyes, she could pulverize all of these humans with a tap of her finger with the power her Ascendant Master gave her! Vishp simply stared at the walls of the city she was supposed to conquer with mncholy as she sighed. Within seconds, nine Tier 6 Gem Masters appeared from different directions of this Stronghold, while from the peak of the white mountain¡­a zing figure wrapped in purple radiance came forward! A sea of purple light gathered at his feet. Adorned in purple battle robes, his aura was the strongest as his chest shone with seven circr glows that showed he was a Tier 7 Gem Master. He appeared like a storm of lightning above the defense tower as he looked closely at Alexander and the two terrifying auras beside him while uttering out cautiously. "Who are you?" The same question. One that Alexander finally answered as he looked calmly at this Ascendant Gem Master and those around him. They were entities¡­that he used to look up to in awe. Those belonging to the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline! But at this moment, they seemed incredibly average to his eyes. "I am Alexander. Alexander Asmodeus. Are you the Lord of the White Mountain Stronghold?" ¡­! He stated who he was, and the moment he did so, the gazes of the gathering Gem Masters were incredulous. He¡­was of their own Bloodline? The Tier 7 Gem Master especially felt stifled as he seemed like he was looking at a young man- and yet this young man didn''t show any ounce of respect or decorum while he spoke to him! But looking at the two Tier 7 Entities beside him, as well as the experiences he had over the years, he replied calmly as well. "I am. What brings a delegation of a human iming to be of our Bloodline and¡­two Beasts to the doors of our Stronghold?" Even as he spoke, countless messages were already exchanged as behind him, hundreds of Airships carrying weapons pulsing with Energiea were already gathering and pointing their targets towards their direction! The aura of Beasts was unique. Especially one as overpowering as the two beside Alexander. It caused them trepidation as they knew very well that a single Tier 7 Beast of Corruption could be a match for multiple Tier 7 Ascendant Human Gem Masters. And there were two before them! Yet Alexander didn''t bat an eye as he looked around the converging forces and spoke out slowly. "You must have received word from the City of Carthage, yes?" ¡­! The message his father had sent out as the Branch Leader. Hearing this, the eyes of the Lord of this Stronghold shone with an even more powerful light as this involved very sensitive matters! Alexander looked at the change in expression as he nodded while gazing at the Gem Masters around them. "There are many prying eyes, and we do not know where their allegiances lie. Why don''t we talk somewhere more private?" ¡­! The words caused many eyes to shift as a Tier 6 Gem Master came close while voicing out with caution. "Lord Tavu, this is likely a scheme to get you alone! Please-" HUUM! The purple lightning around the Lord of this Asmodeus Stronghold shed brilliantly as he raised his hand. All conversation died down. He gazed into Alexander''s eyes deeply before he looked down at the Defense Tower below them, his body descending towards it as he sent amand to those within. "Clear out." ¡­! He wouldn''t lead them into the Stronghold.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Nor would he see them outside of it. So he chose the Defense Tower atop the white wall of the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold. Above, Alexander''s figure also went down without worry as he- who was unawakened just days ago in the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline, was meeting with a Branch Leader of one of the Ascendant Branches of the Asmodeus Bloodline! Chapter 79: Gem Master Alexander! V Inside a Defense Tower atop the walls of the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold. Thousands of powerful Gem Masters were ready to unleash their abilities towards it if need be- and over a hundred Airships floated in the skies while carrying massive metal crossbows already armed with unstable pulsing arrows shing with Energeia. Yet with the Defense Tower, the gaze of the Lord of this Stronghold was a dark one. Lord Tavu. He oversaw the protection of this Stronghold as currently, his gaze was ashen while he looked at Alexander!N?v(el)B\\jnn "The entire Gnis Bloodline has aligned with Beasts? Mortal and Ascendant Branches alike?! They gave out information on this Stronghold and other Strongholds that may already have fallen if not under attack? This¡­!" His gaze was unsightly to see! He didn''t wish to believe any of these words. Especially from someone who came with two Tier 7 Beasts. He looked towards this young man with a gaze of disbelief and hesitation as at that moment, one of the Tier 7 Beasts beside him harrumphed. "Hmph, you dumb thing dares to not believe the Ascendant Master when he is going out of his way for your worthless lives? Majority of the forces of the Peacock Lineage are clustered within the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis. Let''s see, the Lord there was called¡­Bibus! His people just recently came here as they told us how many Gem Masters you all had, their level of power, and even intel on what Gem Recipe the Lord of the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold would be using. That''s you, yes? Let''s see, your Gem Recipe was¡­The Bear Titan?" ¡­! The color drained from the Tier 7 Ascendant Branch Leader of the Asmodeus Lineage before them! Rage began to burn within it as such knowledge¡­was not something Beasts should have. After she finished, Anastasia looked towards Alexander happily as if she had made some great contribution to this conversation. She instead saw a frown on his face as she blinked innocently, with the sharp voice of the Asmodeus Lord before them echoing out as he continued his rage at learning of betrayal. "So you are the Beasts working with Gnis? You say you''re a Gem Master of Carthage? Has the Mortal Branches of Asmodeus also fallen to the grasps of Beasts?" Their appearance here was too shocking. But Alexander only rose up while shaking his head with a sigh. "No. The City of Carthage survived against the first wave of attacks from a joint operation of Gnis and Beasts. And these two here¡­" Alexander looked at Vishp and the troublemaker Anastasia as he continued. "They''re beasts I convinced to change their ways and follow me." ¡­! The Asmodeus Lord of this Stronghold stared at him nkly with an incredulous look. He convinced Tier 7 Beast Lord to change their ways? What did that even¡­ "Haha, yes, Ascendant Master is very convincing. When he first met me, he used Sis Vishp here to pound me to the ground- Mmm!" The mouth of Anastasia was covered by Vishp as she struggled withints, Alexander gazing up at this Ascendant Gem Master in front of him with mixed emotions. It had only been a few days, but he had trulye too far. "I personally do not care whether you believe me or not. I simply came to pass on the most urate information as I don''t wish to see more children lose their mothers and fathers. I don''t wish to hear of entire Strongholds and Fortresses falling with millions killed. You hold a high position as a Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Master. Pass the message on to other Human Lords in charge of Strongholds. Ask for reinforcements if you have to. Do not get caught off guard." His words came out without hesitation. The Asmodeus Lord before him had a difficult expression as he stared at him, but he simply continued. "The World of Ephesus will face more and more Beasts of Corruption. Tier 7 Beast Lords, Tier 8 Beast Kings, and even Tier 9 Beast Emperors. I truly don''t even know how the Human Lineages will cope with all of this. And all of this knowledge is likely why the Gnis Lineage already turned¡­" The more words he uttered, the more ashen the face of the Asmodeus Lord became! Alexander himself shook his head as he had some minutes to think when he was flying towards the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold. He doubted his ce in this increasingly dangerous world of Ephesus. His head was set on revenge against the Elven Beasts whose hands were involved in his mother''s death, but after killing Elven Beast Commanders and thousands of lower ranked Elven Beasts¡­he didn''t feel any profound sense of aplishment or relief. He was looking for revenge for so long and the power to carry it out, but by the time it came¡­he didn''t feel much! This caused him to doubt himself. The state of Meta Comprehension still remained active. But even in this state, he asked himself. Who was he in this vastndscape? Was the ideology of bing a Conqueror that he formed over thest day enough? What if after he did all of this, he woulde to feel the same as he felt after thousands of Elven Beastsy dead? "..." The Ability of Meta Comprehension stifled his emotions and made him more analytical, but they were still there. He was still there. What did he¡­truly want? Yes, he wanted to have the power to be safe. For his father, ire, and those closest to him to be safe. But apart from all that. What did he want? The recent battle and level of power he was exposed to made him truly reflective as even until now, he didn''t arrive at a clear answer! "Why did you stop speaking? What else is there?" The Asmodeus Lord, with an ashen expression, spoke out after seeing Alexander stare nkly in thest few seconds. Anastasia was the one to reply to him as through their bond, she sensed tumultuous and calm waves within her new Master. "Hush, Human. The Ascendant Master is thinking!" ...! Chapter 80: Gem Master Alexander! VI Her voice carried a terrifying authority that riled up the power of the Asmodeus Lord in front of them, but this being cautiously remained silent too! Alexander paid no attention to all this as countless thoughts crossed his mind, until finally¡­ "Ah¡­" His eyes lit up as if he had an epiphany. His mind held many things, but at this moment, he went back to the time before he Awakened. Even when he ascended up the mountain while all the others were nervous about what Gem Sockets they would awaken, he was rxed. He waszy in nature. As he had walked beside ire up that mountain to awaken what others thought was a Defective Life Socket, he was smiling without worry! Why did he try to change himself after he Awakened? Why did he try to be some serious, brooding machine? Yes, his mother was gone. It was painful when it happened, and it was still painful now. But even the goal of revenge that he achieved didn''t give him some rpense from this pain as he had to deal with it like everyone else without it consuming him. He remembered his mother''s face again. Before she had gone on the mission where she never returned, she had held onto his face with a dazzling smile as she said¡­ ''Be happy, Little Alex. Above everything else, be happy.'' ¡­! The memory came and went like a bolt of crimson lightning as on his chest, his Enneagram began to spin and grow hot! [The Feature of Self Actualization is being unlocked.] Who he was. It was shown by his nature before he Awakened, and glimpses of it had shown itself afterwards. Even as he gained terrifying Gem Recipes, he ended up favoring the one that had others do the work while he sat back. And everything he did only made that reality even more real as at this moment, he didn''t even fight in the battles against his enemies- others did it on his behalf! Lazy by nature, and yet terrifyingly efficient in what needed to be done. Gradually, a smile began to appear on his face. A smile more genuine than any that had appeared these past few days as he sighed and shook his head. He felt like he had just begun exploring himself. What did he like? Why did these fantastical Gems and Gem Recipes fascinate him so much? And what exactly was the terrifying Enneagram that just unlocked another likely ridiculous feature? Self Actualization. Under it, Alexander felt like he could more easily and clearly define himself. His purpose, morality, and sense of being! He felt as if a road was opening up in front of him, and if he followed it, he woulde to find his true self! But to do this, he actually had to not die- so power was critical. Beast Lord, Beast Kings, or even Beast Emperors¡­he just had to make sure they couldn''t shake him off his path before he arrived at a ce even he didn''t know where exactly it would be. To ensure this, he had his Enneagram.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om And since he was putting everything on the Minion King Gem Recipe so far¡­he would lean into others doing everything for him even more! More Minions. More Gem Recipes simr to them. The possibilities were endless as Alexander''s smile only became wider! "What the hell is wrong with you?" Yet opposite him was a Tier 7 Ascendant Human who had just been told by him the terror of iing Tier 8 and Tier 9 Beast Emperors, and to smile after such a thing would only make one seem crazy. Alexander shook himself out of his reverie and looked towards the Asmodeus Lord in front of him while he replied lightly. "Sorry about that; a little self-reflection took me out for a second. What''s your name again?" "..." The holder of the Bear Titan Gem Recipe had his facial muscles twitch at this crazy being in front of him. "Gannicus. Ascendant Gem Master Gannicus." His reply was cold as there were just too many oddities urring right now. Yet the young man opposite him just continued freely. "Alright, Gem Master Gannicus. I''ve told you what I can as you should pass the information on to the most powerful Human Gem Masters. We should have a Tier 9 Human Emperor in our Asmodeus Bloodline, yes? Or multiple? Get the word going and just maybe, you can prevent the deaths of millions more humans. I''ve said what I can as for now, this Stronghold is safe. I''ll be going after the ones who are coordinating attacking this and other Strongholds after I prepare a bit, so you can rest easy for now. But prepare for the future, it will be a bloody one." He spoke such words far too calmly, and he looked like someone with a few screws loose as he beckoned towards the figures of Vishp and Anastasia. "Let''s go." ¡­! Just like that? His crimson wings buzzed as he began to float out of the Defense Tower,ing out to observe the walls and the now tens of thousands of Gem Masters who seemed ready to defend their Stronghold. He nodded towards them with a smile and began to move away as¡­ "Wait!" The voice of Human Lord Gannicus echoed out as he came out of the defense tower as well. He seemed frustrated beyond measure as he wanted to tell this young man he couldn''t just leave after all that! But, the only thing that escaped his mouth was¡­ "Who are you, really?" Who was he? When he heard such a question, Alexander couldn''t help butugh. For the first time in what felt like forever. "Wow, asking me the same thing I was just asking myself¡­" He thought out loud, with his words only making the expression of Gannicus darker. But, just because there was a threat of Beasts didn''t mean he couldn''t smile orugh as he used to! ''This¡­will be the first part of me that I will make sure I don''t lose.'' On this road he was starting on that he didn''t know the destination of. He made his first goal to not lose hisughter or sense of humor no matter what. He then looked at the Asmodeus Lord- Gannicus, and the Tier 6 and Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Masters behind him as he replied while waving his hands. "Alexander. I simply am, Gem Master Alexander." ¡­! Chapter 81: Seeking More Minions! I Simple words. With these, he turned towards Vishp and Anastasia as he voiced out. "One of you¡­transform. I wish to think a bit more." ¡­! "I''ll transform, Master! You can ride me!" With a burst of green gold brilliance, the astonishingly massive form of a Beast Lord Peacock with four wings unfolded, a terrifying aura pressing down on the humans atop the walls of the Sanctified White Mountain Stronghold as their Gems began to shine with caution. Yet Alexander didn''t even look back as he became a crimson sh of light thatnded on the feathers of Anastasia, the wings on his back fading their brilliance slightly as hey back on the feathers of this Beast Lord while staring at the skies. Vishp came to sit beside him as the massive figure of Anastasia in Peacock form began to fly away from the Stronghold, her eyes cloudy while she looked towards him with doubt. She couldn''t bring herself to say anything, but it was Anastasia who was as invasive as always- her voice ringing out as they serenely crossed the skies. "Master, I sense your mental state feels much freer. Did you have an epiphany? We always heard Legends that Tier 9 Gem Masters can undergo enlightenments and epiphanies that lead to terrifying Realms of power. Was that it, Ascendant Master?" Her voice chirped incessantly. But Alexander didn''t mind it as he replied while looking at the darkening skies. "Something like that." Something like that. Alexander said such words while focusing on the darkening skies above, finally asking himself what was prompting all these dark clouds and rain to be spreading everywhere these past days. "What? Master, that''s so vague. What did you gain from your epiphany? Master?" The incessant voice of Anastasia didn''t let up as she flew across the skies, leaving behind astonished Gem Masters who didn''t know how to make heads or tails of what just happened! On the skies above the white wall, the holder of the Bear Titan Gem Recipe had a cloudy face as he thought of all the information he had received, shooting back towards the Stronghold as such information needed to be spread right away. ¡ª The dark skies above. The feathers of a green gold Peacock below. In such an environment, Alexander felt a calm sense of serenity as he took a closer look at himself. The World Tree Scion Gem Recipe had beenpleted by the Enneagram as his life force had experienced the significant boon he was looking for, its Recipe being a long and heavy one! [Scion of the World Tree Ability Gem]-[Energy Preservation Support]-[Vigor Boost Support]-[Parameter Elevation Support]-[Life On Hit Support]-[Increased Regeneration Support]-[Elemental Proliferation Support]-[Vigor Explosion Support]-[Lifesteal Support] 8 Support Ability Gems. 1 Main Ability. Effectively, it was a Gem Recipe that an Emperor Tier Entity would hold- a Variant one at that, as they had to have the prerequisite of a heart-shaped life socket. ''And yet the Enneagram seamlessly made a slot for it¡­'' Alexander couldn''t help but shake his head at the capabilities of the mystery on his chest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om But the results were undeniable as after all the Support Ability Gems were added, Alexander''s Vigor and Energeia levels were bound to explode upwards. The details of the Scion of the World Tree Ability Gem, after all the added supports, were much more frightening! [Scion of the World Tree]:: An extremely rare Variant Ability Gem that was condensed from a dying World Tree. Once socketed, it grants one the distinction of a Scion of the World tree as passively, the Vigor and Energeia of its host will be increased by +125,000, the rate of regeneration of Vigor and Energeia will be increased by 75%, and a Natural Blessing of the World Tree will passively be triggered whenever the values of Vigor drop below 25%- granting full Vigor Regeneration instantly. The passively triggered Natural Blessing of the World Tree can only be triggered once per day. Any attacks made on a target will steal 1% of their total Vigor Values and transfer it to you, and 5% of all damage dealt will be returned to you in the form of Vigor. Actively, one can activate this Gem to take on the form of the Scion of the World Tree- their abilities augmented in an unquantifiable way¡­ ¡­! The added Vigor and Energeia went from 25,000 to +125,000! An increase in Regeneration, and even the addition of stealing life force. Multiple Support Gems could make even the weakest Ability Gem powerful. And it made strong Ability Gems simply monstrous. With how many Ascendant Life Gems Alexander had been devouring, added with the boons of the Scion of the World Tree Ability Gem, he could finally befortable with the values of his Vigor and Energeiapared to his Minions! [Alexander Asmodeus] [Vigor]:: 9,725 > 137,555 (+687,775 cial Armor of the Deep)(Additional boons from a Gem Armament being defined) [Energeia]:: 10,634 > 139,286(Additional boons from a Gem Armament being defined) "Hmm¡­" He hummed while nodding to himself as finally, he held the values equivalent to a Tier 8 Beast. Vishp, before she became bound to him, had almost reached 40,000 Values in Vigor and Energeia as a Tier 7 Beast. When breaking past the 100,000 barrier, it was likely a terrifying level of power of a Tier 8 Beast as for Tier 9¡­the information on this was far too little. But there was no harm in Alexander exploding his levels of lifeforce even further, right? And the way to do this was of course¡­ ''Another Constetion!'' His eyes shone brightly as three Ascendant Life Gems appeared in his hands before they were swallowed into his chest- the Enneagram spinning rapidly as the gem recipe of the Scion of the World Tree began to be broken down and assimted. After this waspleted¡­a new Gem Constetion would be born! "Ascendant Master, I sense the rise in your life force has stopped. What exactly was causing such an eruption of Vigor? Do you have secret techniques you also want to share with us?" ¡­! Chapter 82: Seeking More Minions! II Anastasia¡¯s voice chirped incessantly as Alexander didn¡¯t ignore it, the information of his Vigor and Energeia fading from his eyes as hey back on the Peacock and rxed while replying. "No secret techniques from me." No secret techniques- simply pure nonsensical capabilities from the Enneagram. "Do you two have any Gems rted to summoning?" His collection so far didn¡¯t have anything sufficient as maybe his Minions held something. After all, the Variant Gem that just boosted his life force came from Vishp! But¡­ "No, Master." "Nothing from me, Master. But¡­" Both Anastasia and Vishp denied having anything like it, with Anastasia adding extra information happily thereafter. "One of the Armies under themand of Variant Beast Lord Atticus has the Beast Lord Summoner, Dread, in the lead. He was sent out to conquer another Ascendant Stronghold as he should have what Master is looking for." "Oh?" Alexander¡¯s lips curved into a smile as he learned of this. Summoner. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om If he could add scores of more Minions through another Gem Recipe and then boost them with the ridiculous boons of his Gem Constetions¡­ What he could do should be raised an octave higher. He nced at Vishp beside him, who had only said no, and then towards Anastasia, who also said no but proactively gave more details that gave him exactly what he wanted. He noted this behavior down as after a few minutes, they already arrived above the skies of the City of Anan. "You know the direction of the Stronghold this Beast Lord Summoner was sent to?" "Yes, Master. I can lead you there whenever you want." Anastasia replied with enthusiasm as Alexander rose from her back, looking at the darkened skies around them as he gave amand. "First thing in the morning tomorrow, we will set off towards this Beast Lord Summoner. You all rest and recover for tonight." "Yes, Master!" "Yes, Master." The voices of the two Beast Lord Peacocks echoed out as Alexander¡¯s figure came to float on the skies, briefly observing the decimated army below where the heads of the remaining Beasts hung low- the Tier 6 Orc and Peacock Minions overseeing them as he went towards the inner City of Anan where he could feel the auras of ire and Azazel. In the skies, Anastasia transformed into her human form as she looked towards Alexander¡¯s disappearing figure with a smile. Vishp floated beside her as she seemed to have aplex expression, her voice light as it echoed out between them. "You¡¯ve been bound to him for a fraction of the time that I have, yet you have raised him to such a high pedestal and obey him as if your life depends on it." Her words were pointing out how Anastasia had been acting this whole time since she was bound to Alexander. Her agreeableness. Her enthusiasm. She seemed to be going above and beyond as, at this time, she blinked innocently while turning her green-gold eyes to Vishp. Her simple beauty was amplified even more as she replied. "Sis Vishp, I don¡¯t think a lot like you or Brother Atticus. I normally just sit back and follow orders. When ites to the new Ascendant Master¡­I just came to ept that with a single move from him, he was able to give me something that no Tier 8 or even the distant Tier 9 Peacock Emperor we hear the legends of was able to give me. Naturally, I ced him higher than all of them and n to devote myself to him wholeheartedly. I don¡¯t even know why you still have any reservations, Sis Vishp. You¡¯ve been with him longer, so you should know even more than me. Ah, I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s just me being stupid, but that¡¯s how I¡¯m looking at it. Give it some thought¡­" ¡­! Anastasia released a terrifying set of words before she left a shocked Vishp in the skies, her figure also flying into the City of Anan! ¡ª At the center of Anan. Inside a Command Center, a bustle of conversations and activities were abundant as the Human Gem Masters who came from the City of Carthage seemed to be celebrating in awe as they spoke of the power that the Young Master of Carthage wielded. Deeper within themand center, Alexander drank a cup of purified water as he pushed away a silver te, watching ire and Azazel carefully as he asked again. "You two are sure you¡¯re doing okay?" He thought that he may have acted too coldly when he offered them power through being bound to him, but they still had the same states of mind as before. Azazel rose up from the table that held a small feast as he excused himself while looking at him and ire. "I¡¯ve never felt better, Young Master Alex. But don¡¯t let this old man sour the mood of you young ones at a time like this. Just let me know when we are setting off to handle more Beasts, and I will be right beside you!" Azazel left with booming words of valor as Alexander nodded towards him while turning his head to ire who had only touched half of the food on her te. She wasn¡¯t able to fully meet his gaze before, but after he returned¡­ "You¡¯re finally smiling again like you used to. I thought taking on the role of some leading Gem Master was slowly changing you¡­" She spoke in a barely audible whisper as Alexander tapped on the table between them and replied while meeting her gaze. "You¡¯ve changed too. The timid little girl is slowly disappearing." "What timid girl?!" ire huffed as she rose from the table while raising her fist. "Did you not see me engage that Tier 7 Beast Lord? Hmph, no shred of a timid girl there." She seemed to be trying to convince herself and Alexander of how strong she was, and Alexander only nodded in defeat while rising up himself. "It¡¯s been a heavyst few days. Get some sleep for now as things will start to get a little wilder tomorrow. If you need anything, just ask." Within this Command Center, there were a few lodging areas for the Commanders as there were four doors from this dining area that led to them. Alexander pointed towards one of them as ire nodded and grabbed what remained of her te, skipping towards one of the expansive lodgings while giving Alexander onest look before disappearing! Chapter 83: Resonance? Alexander stared at the round table where no doubt, the highest Gem Masters of the Mortal Branch of the Gnis Bloodline used to eat around- and he sighed. They nowy dead, and what was it all for? Shaking his head, he shed in front of the metal doors of another lodging and entered. What could be deemed as a luxurious bed for the times they lived in stood at the very center, the mattress padded with gray covers as a small desk with a metal chair stood opposite it. Papers showing the logistics of the forces and the Airships of the City of Anan wereid all over the desk haphazardly as Alexander only gave them a nce before he floated towards and fell back on the bed. "Haa¡­" Too much had happened in a short period of time, and he felt like he didn¡¯t give himself even a moment to breathe. Things that he liked¡­he stared at the ck ceiling above as he remembered how he used to rx in the mansion within the center of the City of Carthage. Thinking of it made him want to go back and observe how his father was doing soon, but it also reminded him of one of the things he liked to do the most. Sleep. A simple joy, but many humans stretched out in thends of Ephesus found it hard to even get sleep without having night terrors of being ripped to shreds by Beasts that could invade their homes at any time. He did not have this terror as the son of the Branch Leader of a Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline, and he had even more freedom now as he had Beast Minions equivalent to Beast Lords and two even more powerful ones equivalent to Beast Kings protecting him! Not to mention the obscene protection of the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, and now the Scion of the World Tree Ability Gem. He could afford to not fear. Feeling the stress leave his body, he closed his eyes when¡­ WAP! A sh of silver light bloomed in the dark room as near the door, a figure appeared. Alexander didn¡¯t have to even open his eyes as the few connections he held told him who it was- the figure of Anastasia in a golden green robe appearing as she bowed towards him respectfully! "I apologize for intruding without permission, Master. I came to see if you were free to cultivate with me by utilizing the Gem Resonance Cultivation Technique." ¡­! Her gold green hair cascaded past her shoulders gorgeously as a figure like this could cause many misunderstandings, but she was very clear and direct regarding what she wanted right now as Alexander couldn¡¯t help but be stern. The Gem Resonance Cultivation Technique. A technique that allowed two entities to undergo a resonance of their Gem Sockets- with this technique increasing the levels of Ascendancy of their Gem Sockets as it was most effective with entities who held more and more Sockets! What it truly required was¡­intimate contact between the two cultivating entities. Alexander cleared his throat as even though he was curious about the resonance of Gem Sockets and the effect if would have on his Enneagram, he felt a mix of emotions towards this idea as unconsciously, he turned to the side past the Walls of this room- it was like he could see exactly where ire was. He felt a little guilty as he rose up from the bed and looked ahead, seeing the figure of Anastasia already walking towards him in a mesmerizing fashion as her hands had already pushed part of her robe off her shoulders. With his mind always in a calm state, he spoke calmly as he reigned in any of his basal tendencies. "We can try it out just with proximity." There were too manyplexities regarding everything to take into ount. Himself. This woman of the Peacock Lineage that was bound to him. ire in the distance. He didn¡¯t need to do anything irreversible right now as he said this to Anastasia! "Oh?" Disappointment was clear on her face as her tantalizing shoulder was covered once more, her face actually bing stern a momentter as she stepped back. "Proximity alone¡­no, that won¡¯t do, Master. The first Gem Resonance produces the most astounding effect as if it is done, it has to be in the most intimate manner. If the Master still has reservations now, we can carry this outter. Please, pardon my intrusion." ¡­! Her eyes shone with the light of defiance as she bowed her head towards him again, her figure bing wrapped in a silver light as she disappeared! "..." Alexander sat there and blinked as he felt like he had suffered a loss. The darkness of the room felt all the more suffocating as he fell back on the bed, feeling like he had lost a chance of something, but not really. There were too manyplexities to ount for. He couldn¡¯t be too reckless! With such thoughts, his mind felt the calm breeze of the Enneagram along with its low hum while it spun, the newest Gem Recipe that carried 9 Gems in total slowly having its Gems be smaller and smaller as they were being broken down and assimted. A dark night to rest through. Tomorrow, the n was already set as he would go obtain another Gem Recipe that could provide powerfulbatants to fight on his behalf. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The one who currently held such a Gem Recipe was another Beast Lord moving under the banner of Variant Beast Lord Atticus- an entity called Dread! He could live through one more night. Come tomorrow, whatever was his would be Alexander¡¯s! ¡ª A few hundred miles away from the City of Anan. The borders of the Four Human Lineages were indistinct and rough, with them maintaining a sense of closeness and covering quite a distance at the same time to ensure that uncontrolled Breaches did not entirely cover all of Ephesus. The Human Lineages of Gnis, Asmodeus, Drakos, and Argyros all shared some borders as their Mortal Branches and Ascendant Branches could be considered on the heart of a massive circr stretch of a continent that Humanity still defended. Inside this stretch of a vast domain. Near an Ascendant Branch of the Drakos Bloodline known as the Willow Tree Stronghold that was surrounded by white willow trees barely hanging on to life around their walls. A terrifying army led by a cruel Beast Lord was bearing down on such a Stronghold! Chapter 84: Dread! I WU! WU! WU! rms rang out heavily across the Willow Tree Stronghold as Ascendant Gem Masters moved towards its walls, their gazes shrouded in darkness as they observed a devastating scene outside. A Tier 6 Breach, where they had a few hundred Gem Masters stationed around, was now overrun with Beasts that were moving on four limbs with verdant scales- looking very simr to oversized crocodiles! Around them, waves of humanoid creatures resembling goblins of horror could be seen- their skin sleek with green and ck texture as there were tens of thousands stretched out in this army. An army that at its forefront¡­held a Beast Lord grasping a golden skull. He seemed like a titanic version of normal Goblin Beasts, his dark green skin radiating a poisonous hue as he currentlyughed boisterously while gazing at imprisoned Gem Masters who were captured around the Barracks of the Tier 6 Breach. "Kakaka! I detest killing in all forms so¡­I won''t kill you all. I''ll even give you all a chance to survive!" His eyes held a devilish glint of madness and cruelty as he looked at a few Gem Masters ring at him while controlling their fear. The Beast Lord let go of the golden skull in his hands as it floated in front of the 8 captured Gem Masters that ranged from Tier 4 and 1 Tier 5 Ascendant Gem Master. "Alright, so long one of you grabs this skull here and smashes the head of the one next to you, you get to go free." ¡­! The light of cruelty in his eyes only became stronger as he watched the faces of the Ascendant Gem Masters turn ashen. Around them, they were encircled by thousands of Goblin Beasts and four-limbed reptilian Beasts as there was no way out for them- their life force already spent! Their eyes held a tremendous sense of loss that when the Beast Lord known as Dread saw, the light within his own eyes shone with great enjoyment. He looked up towards the distant walls of the Willow Tree Stronghold as there, he could see two Tier 7 Ascendant Humans gaze towards him while gritting their teeth- a man and woman with silver hair and dark eyes! He seemed to be mocking them with the scene in the midst of his army as he prepared to siege their city. It was two Tier 7 Ascendant Humans, and yet Beast Lord Dread wasn''t the least bit worried. "Well? What will it be? The other option is for all of you to be eaten by these hungry guys around me, or out of the mercy of your own hearts¡­you can sacrifice yourselves for others to live. Choose." ¡­!N?v(el)B\\jnn His eyes were filled with malice as he waited. He saw the hesitation in their eyes as the few odd Gem Masters looked at each other, and ultimately¡­ "We will not fall to the whims of Beasts. Much less a Beast like you!" WU! Their defiance was united. Dread looked at this scene as the smile on his face instantly faded away; these humans were not ying his games as he wished to! Normally, one would take a step and bash the heads of another in, doing something irreversible as amidst his horror and regret, thinking he would at least live¡­Dread would also kill them right then and there to feel thest piece of horror, regret, and dread within their eyes. But they did not do this. "No fun." He snorted as his voice boomed out, the golden skull floating near the Human Gem Masters radiating poisonous green mes from its jaws thattched on to the group of Gem Masters like vines, voices of horror and death echoing out as they were burned alive! Beast Lord Dread looked at the distant city walls with a sneer as he pointed towards them and bellowed out. "You all¡­are next! Be fuel for my little ones, be the sustenance that makes them even stronger!" HUUM! As he spoke, greek smoke billowed around him as dark green skeletal creatures began to rise. They looked like unholy abominations- massive in structure as they towered above 10 meters, and there were 12 of them! Their bones shone with obsidian green luster as they looked like massive skeleton knights, bone shields and swords in their hands dripping with poison as they gazed menacingly towards the distant city walls. "Summon¡­fuckin'' Undead! Ka ka ka!" Beast Lord Dream bellowed out while raising his hands with valor and victory, his army roaring out around him as they were further bolstered by the massive Skeleton Knights! Their appearance caused the Tier 7 Gem Masters on the walls of the Willow Tree Stronghold to turn somber as each of these 12 Skeleton Knights¡­seemed to emanate a power that was immensely close to spilling towards Tier 7. With them being undead creatures, it was simply akin to this enemymanding nearly 12 Quasi-Tier Entities! How were they to survive this? ¡ª Night came and went. In the early hours of the day as the rays of a distant sun broke through scattered dark clouds, Alexander was already floating on top of the City of Anan. He looked at the distant city below him, the throngs of people and Beasts down below, and it all caused him to think of too many things. A different perspective in life. Flying so high above them, they all seemed¡­so small. But how different was hepared to them? He thought of this for a few seconds before he shook his head and called out towards a few connections of his Minions. He called out towards ire and Azazel, as well as the two Beast Lords and two Orc Minions! 1 Tier 6 Peacock Minion was sent towards Carthage to ensure the safety of his father if any other roaming armies of Beasts came, and one was left in Anan along with the first set of Minions that Alexander could cut off at any time to make space for more powerful ones if need be. In a matter of seconds. Those he called out to zed with power and began to appear in the skies around him! Chapter 85: Dread! II Two Beast Lords! Two Orc Minions, and ire and Azazel! All six had zing crimson gold wings appear on their backs as they looked at each other, with Anastasia being the first to speak as she floated closely towards Alexander and showed him her curvaceous back. "Master, I was testing out the extent and limitations of these wingsst night, and my goodness- even the Dragon Race, the rulers of the skies, would be jealous of these!" ¡­! Her actions of parading herself in front of Alexander caused the brows of ire to rise cautiously as her eyes shed with care. Alexander looked at Anastasia and nodded as he voiced out calmly. "Put them to use. Let''s head towards the Stronghold being targeted by that Beast Lord Dread at once." His dark eyes shed with a light of greed. An enemy holding a Gem recipe that would allow him to summon even more Minions. He had to get his hands on it! HUUM! Brilliance shone as the body of Anastasia became a radiant gold green Peacock, Alexandering to stand atop it along with Azazel and ire. Anastasia said nothing when it came to Azazel or ire, but when the Orc Minion also moved their massive bodies towards her back¡­ "You brutes also think you can mount this body only meant for Master? Fly yourselves- we all have the same maximum speed anyways." Her voice was authoritative and pompous as her wings red out before she became a streak of lightning in the distance. The Orc Minions looked at each other as if they were discriminated against before their massive obsidian bodies also followed at a millionth the speed of light! They left behind a quiet City of Anan as within its depths, a Cdrius looked at the empty skies while gazing down sadly. "Master¡­don''t abandon me¡­" Nueire spoke out in a voice no one could hear before she sighed, nudging her brother Cdrius nearby as they herded the Beasts within towards the Breach to mine. ¡ª In the skies of Ephesus. "The next target is heading to attack an Ascendant Stronghold under the banner of the Ascendant Lineage of Drakos. A Summoner Beast Lord." Alexander was talking to ire and Azazel as they listened intently regarding their target. "Any Tier 5 and 4 Beasts, kill and obtain their Ascendant Life Gems. The Tier 6 Beast Commanders¡­preserve their lives. They could be used to transfer their Gem Socket Blueprints. As for the Beast Lord Dread¡­his fate is already set in stone." He nned thoroughly for the battle ahead as he chose this powerful strike force to quickly deal with all issues before moving on! Amidst their discussions, the figure of Azazel was contemtive as he spoke out. "Are we going to every Stronghold being besieged by Beasts in the future and saving all who we can?" ¡­! An important question was asked by Azazel as he thought of things long term. And toward this, Alexander could only shake his head while looking ahead. "Our power is great, but not enough to cover all of Ephesus. If I am thinking of a distant end goal¡­it is to raise our power to a high enough level equivalent to the Leaders of Beast Races before our World undergoes Energeia Star Ascension. From what the Beasts know...the areas with the strongest natives of this world will be the ones where the boons of the Energeia Star Ascension will be most concentrated. So the biggest blow we can deal against the Beast Invaders is to entirely strip them of the chance to upy the most blessed areas of Ephesus after the Energeia Star Ascension." ¡­! His eyes radiated a terrifying light. "The same opportunity they seek from whatever this Energeia Star Ascension will lead to is what we grab onto the most as after we have power that can ovee all races invading this world¡­we can simply push them out of Ephesus thereafter!" His figure lookedid back, but the words he uttered out were anything but. Azazel looked into Alexander''s eyes and nodded as a momentter¡­they gazed changed as they looked in the far distance ahead of them. There, they could see rising dark smoke and distinctly hear the roars of Beasts and the cries of Human Gem Masters. It was the glimmer of sounds of war as in moments, they all became serious and stern as they continued ahead like streaks of crimson lightning. Soon enough, the dark clouds above them became even denser, but they could clearly see the outline of a massive Stronghold ahead- the Willow Tree Stronghold protected by the Ascendant Branch of the Drakos Bloodline! But at this moment¡­ Its strong white walls were torn down. Bloody scenes of devastation and horrory down below as throngs of Beasts flooded into the Stronghold, while Human Gem Mastersid down their lives to stop them! Most terrifying of all were 12 massive Skeleton Knights that waved their bone des with absolute menace, two Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Masters of the Drakos Bloodline flying in the skies and trying to use this to their advantage. But they weren''t able to stop the advancement of these creatures as the wall of the Stronghold was torn down, and their reserves of Energeia ran dangerously low! "Ka ka ka! Go! Go! Burn it all down! Keep any sulent women alive as today, we shall feast and breed!" Inside the midst of it all, a depraved voice filled with malice boomed out as it led this destruction. Alexander looked at it all with a terrifying gaze, speaking towards Vishp beside him in an extremely cold voice! "Take him down in less than five seconds."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! Hismand was a heavy one. And the moment it was heard, Vishp''s figure disappeared with a spatial light to appear above the distant figure of Beast Lord Dread who was not protected by any nearby Skeleton Knights- her eyes cold as they were intent onpleting themand much quicker than even the given five seconds! At the same time, Azazel and ire dashed out towards the Human Gem Masters dying in throngs, the Orc Minions following behind as they let out warring roars! Chapter 86: Dread! III A deafening sense of defeat. This was what the Human Gem Masters faced as in the skies, the two Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Masters and Branch Leaders of this Willow Tree Stronghold had gazes of rage and despondency as they evaded the bone des of massive skeletons that asionally burst with green waves of poisonous mes. These Beasts were more powerful than any they had faced from Breaches before as what were they to do? Even the reinforcements they called for would, at most, take half a day before they arrived here. During that time¡­all of the millions within this Stronghold would beid to waste! "Why? WHY?" The Tier 7 female Gem Master bellowed out her rage as her body became wrapped in white mes- chains of mes blooming around her as she flew straight towards Beast Lord Dread and put everything on the line! "Gahaha!" Yet the Beast Lord only waved his hands as the massive Skeleton Knights blocked her path, one even using their bone sword akin to a javelin and throwing it towards the woman wreathed on white mes. "Do not worry. I will absolutely not kill you. Do you know what else I can do to yo-...!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om His words never finished. His senses vibrated dangerously as he wanted to raise his head up. He truly wanted to! But he was far too slow. Something came down at the speed of a millionth the speed of light. It smashed onto his head as¡­ BOOOM! His whole figure felt a terrifying force course through him, and those whose eyes could capture extremely fast moving objects would be able to discern a silver semilunar curved de of spatial light hade swinging down. It tore across the hardened skin of this Beast Lord and smashed down with such shocking force that even the ground below caved in, any nearby Beasts who were in close proximity with the Beast Lord feeling a heavy pressure that turned their bodies into a bloody mess! When a second passed, booming shock reverberated out as Beast Lord Dread was only now able to look above. And as he did, he incredulously saw the outline of someone he knew from afar. "Vish..pa-" He tried to speak. But, he felt like his eyes were splitting apart. Like his mouth was also split apart. And in the next second, his head was clearly split in half- this cut extending down across his chest and throughout as his whole body was bisected in a vertical line! Two seconds. This was all it took as Tier 6 Goblin Commanders turned around to see their Beast Lord split in half, his life force rapidly waning as his bisected halves crashed into the ground. BOOM! "..." One hit, one kill. The eyes of humans and Beasts alike nearly bulged out as in the next second, the twelve Skeleton Knights began to crumble apart into nothingness as their Summoner was dead. And before anything else could happen¡­ SAA! SAA! Crimson streaks of light shed as they smashed onto the battlefield like bombs- newbatants that couldn''t even be properly seen crashing into the army of Beasts and beginning a massacre! Inside of the torn wall of the Stronghold, crimson blue lightning shed and scorched any Beasts seeking to hurt anymore Gem Masters- the figures of two Human Gem Masters whose bodies had begun to erge in size being seen. And to top this all off¡­ The cry of a green gold Peacock boomed out as its heavy aura crashed into everything, and above this Peacock¡­a young man with a bejeweled golden crown looked at the devastation down below coldly. ¡­! "This¡­" The woman wreathed in white mes who just thought reinforcements had arrived went through many emotions as first, it was shock and relief. Then came somberness as she saw the Peacock above! Then¡­confusion as she saw the young Human Gem Master on top of this Peacock. But the confusion didn''tst too long. From the crowned young man on the Peacock, a deep voice filled with authority came out for all those below. "Any Beast that dares to move a single muscle from now on will die." ¡­! Domineering words. Ones that when the Beasts who had just been carrying out a massacre heard, many of them gazed up defiantly and roared out! And the moment they did so, Alexander waved his hands. BOOM! Vishp moved once more as she transformed into a massive Peacock, her wings swinging like des as a storm of lightning began crashing all around her. Orc Minions crashed into the areas of defiant Beasts as blood began to flow freely! And then Alexander floated off the body of Anastasia who also joined the fray, his figure descending like a celestial prince who hade to save the masses. He floated down amidst the throngs of Beasts, his figure going directly into the middle of the army where the massive body of Beast Lord Dread wasn''t cut in two. There were thousands of Beasts all around this area, and yet after hearing his words and seeing what was happening to the defiant Beasts right now¡­not a single one moved a muscle! They all stood frozen in ce as they watched Alexander descend on top of the bisector Beast Lord, his eyes honed in on the Silver Gems on his Sockets as he began to pluck them out one by one- along with a particrlyrge Ascendant Life Gem. The scene was etched in the minds of all the desperate human Gem Masters who thought they were facing extinction not too long ago, those fighting within the broken walls gazing out in a stupor as the woman surrounded by white mes had the other Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Master appear beside her. Their faces hid their shock as they looked towards Alexander, no wordsing on their lips. Alexander on the other hand, calmly looked at a Silver Gem in his hands. Around him, Beasts were frozen in fear after he made his entrance- not even a minuteing to pass as he ended the war that was causing heavy casualties! Chapter 87: The Second Minion Recipe! A single change could change things so drastically that it leaves others astounded. A single change. At this moment, that change was witnessed clearly as Ascendant Gem Masters watched the tide of a war where their very lives would have been taken¡­be one of utmost standstill. Beasts didn''t dare move. And seeing the destruction dealt by the forces this young manmanded, even the Human Gem Masters found themselves not moving a muscle subconsciously! It was only the Ascendant Branch Leaders who had power and dignity ingrained in their bones who quickly reacted as the woman who had white mes dying down around her body asked hesitantly. "You are¡­" She was cautious because this being came with powerful Beasts that caused her skin to crawl. But he was clearly on their side as she had to ask. And down below, Alexander collected all the Gems from thete Beast Lord Dread, barely ncing at the bisected body of this Tier 7 Beast Lord as he rose up to the skies effortlessly. "Alexander. Alexander Asmodeus. I''m sorry for your losses." Words that caused immense relief to all Human Gem Masters were heard. He spoke sinctly without gazing at the Ascendant Gem Master, his eyes intent on therge silver Gem in his hands as he was looking at its details! At the same time, he had to give the battlefield below a direction as his voice echoed outmandingly. "All Beasts are to retreat from the Stronghold- kill any who resist. Anastasia, brief these Branch Leaders with the same information I exchanged with The Ascendant Lord Gannicus. I''ll be back." ¡­! He was actually leaving the battlefield behind just as quickly as he came, delegating the brunt of the work to his Minions! "Yes, Master!" Anastasia seemed more than happy as she transformed into her humanoid form and shed right in front of the two Tier 7 Branch Leaders as she smiled towards them. "Listen without any interruptions, please. One for the Four Human Lineages of Ephesus, Gnis, has already aligned with the Beast Races¡­" Horrific information began to be exchanged as the gazes of the Branch Leaders changed, while Alexander''s figure rose ever higher until¡­ PAH! He broke into theyers of dark clouds above. His figure disappeared from everyone''s eyes as he looked at the cloudy skies around him, turning his gaze ever higher to observe the distant outline of space. Confidence in his power was at an all time high, but it wasn''t so obscene as to make him think he could delve past theyers of atmosphere to look into the expanse of stars above. He stopped right within the clouds as he shook his head from any ideas of stars and instead focused on the silver Gem in his hands! [Summon Undead]:: A rare Ability Gem that was born in a Domain filled with death and destruction. Once socketed, it allows you to summon a base of Six Undead Minions, with the possibility of additional underlings based on the number of Support Ability Gems connected to this Gem. The Undead Minions will have 30% of your Vigor and Energeia Values, and they will be supported by the rare element of Death that can easily prate weaker elements. The type of Undead Minion summoned is heavily dependent on what initial Vigor Values they will have. If 30% of your Vigor Values are below 5,000, Average Tier Undead(Skeleton Knights, Wraiths, Zombies) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 30,000 Vigor, Lord Tier Undead(Duhans, Vampires, Draugrs) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 90,000 Vigor, King Tier Undead(Lich, Death Knight, Undead Dragon) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 270,000 Vigor, Emperor Tier Undead(Night Walkers, Vigor yer Lich, Abyss Knight) will be summoned. There is no limit of duration for the summoned Undead Minions, and they can be retracted and sent back to the Undead Space within the Summon Undead Ability Gem whenever they''re not in use¡­ ¡­!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om An utterly appetizing detail of a new Gem unfolded before Alexander''s eyes. He couldn''t help but look at his Enneagram and the thin outline of the heart shaped Gem currently being broken down and assimted. A sliver of it remained as from his isted space, he took out yet another Ascendant Life Gem to increase the rate of this process as he wanted to see what this new Gem held in store as quickly as possible! This was because in its details, it stated that the type of Undead Minion to be summoned relied heavily on what their initial Vigor Values were. At base, it was 30% of Alexander''s. With his own Vigor currently approaching 140,000, their base would be a bit over 40,000 Vigor. This meant that [Lord Tier Undead Minions] would be summoned. Something far exceeded the measly Skeleton Knights that thete Beast Lord Dread was able to summon! But¡­there were then the effects of Alexander''s Gem Constetions to think of. With the Vigor and Energeia of those connected to him multiplied by at least a factor of 2, would the initial Vigor of the Undead Minions not get close to the 90,000 mark that would allow King Tier Undead to be born? This was possible Undead Dragons! Liches! Death Knights! Such Minions caused Alexander''s mind to buzz as he was sure he could exceed the 90,000 Vigor mark after the capabilities of the Summon Undead Ability Gem were further modified and elevated by Support Ability Gems. And thete Beast Lord Dread already had fairly decent prerequisite Support Gems geared towards this as he could start right away. He felt the rapidly spinning illusory Sockets of his Enneagram. He felt the Main Ability Gem and Support Ability Gems of the Scion of the World Tree be increasingly thin as if they were about to disappear, and he already had the decision to turn this Gem Recipe into yet another Gem Constetion! How terrifying would a Gem Constetion from a Variant Ability Gem be? Especially one that was geared towards increasing Vigor and Energeia?! Chapter 88: The Gem Constellation, Yggdrasil! Alexander felt an inkling of a possibility as he thought of theing Gem Constetion with the sacrifice of the World Tree Scion Gem Recipe. A possibility that told him that maybe¡­just maybe the allure of Emperor Tier Undead may not be too far away. "..." He thought of the possible types listed in the description. Night Walkers, Vigor yer Liches, and Abyss Knights. How far away would he be from these Undead Minions after everything was over and done? With them under his banner, would the Beast Kings and Beast Emperors making their entry into Ephesus still pose a threat to him?! "..." The thought was a terrifying one as moments after it came¡­ [The Gem Recipe designated as the Scion of the World Tree and all the Gems within its makeup have been recorded in the Ability Gem Database.] Inside his Enneagram, the heart-shaped Gem entirely disappeared as everything was extracted and stored in the Ability Gem Database. And right away, Alexander didn''t dy. ''Sacrifice the Scion of the World Tree for another Gem Constetion.'' ¡­! A heavy but inevitable choice was made. And within Alexander, a radiant verdant light shed over his figure before it shot out towards the skies! Inside the clouds, he looked at it with waves of serenity. [The Scion of the World Tree Gem Recipe is now unusable and archived.] [The passive effects of any abilities augmenting you are retained.] [The Support Ability Gems within the Sacrificed Scion of the World Tree Gem Recipe are archived and selectable as Support Ability Gems for any future Recipes.] The same waves of information that came after a sacrifice was made for a Gem Constetion! But Alexander watched as in the distant skies, at a ce he couldn''t even see- another dazzling star bloomed. There was a blue one, and there was a crimson one. Endless cial Dream. Light of the Void. The first Gem Constetions shone radiantly as in the next moment, something green bloomed with majesty. [The Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil, has been born.] ¡­! A terrifying pressure descended. One that caused Alexander''s eyes to shift as he realized he underestimated what he had just done. The turning of normal Gem Recipes to Gem Constetions already gave such terrifying results. So what about a Variant Gem Recipe? The results were astonishing as the moment a constetion began to shine in the distant skies, his own body erupted with terrifying waves of lifeforce that seemed to be inexhaustible! [Under the influence of the Gem Constetion, Ygddrasil, you and all your active Gem Recipes are granted certain effects.] [The effects of Limited Nature Maniption are applied to the holder of the Gem Recipes and any applicable life forms connected to him through the Gem Recipes. Under its brilliance, the capability to propagate and manipte nts is born. Depending on the amount of Energeia used, one could cause a sapling to bloom, or cause an entire forest to bloom.] [Under the effects of the Gem Constetion, Ygddrasil, you personally gain the addition of 200,000 Vigor and 100,000 Energeia, while any life forms connected to you gain half of the above-mentioned values.] Two dreadful prompts shed within Alexander''s mind. Alongside them, on his forehead, the faint tattoo of an ancient tree appeared, his dark pupils beginning to radiate a terrifying verdant light! ¡ª On the earth below. Anastasia was releasing her power and aura to suppress the Beasts below while looking at the human Gem Masters who were gathering their forces while looking at her and the other Minions dubiously, the Two Tier 7 Ascendant Gem Masters showing extremely hardened expression after she told them of the betrayal of the Gnis Bloodline. The humans showed unique emotions, with their facial expressions always being so readable- unlike her new Master. When it looked like they were about to start speaking in a questioning tone to her¡­ "Hey, I really don''t care whether you all believe and warn your higher ups or not. I''vepleted the mission that Master gave me, so-" BOOM! In the middle of her words. Her eyes instantly began shining with green light as she felt an explosion of life force within her body! This was expressed outwardly as the aura that even the Human Gem Masters felt became shockingly oppressive, and she wasn''t the only one. Vishp. The Orc Minions. All those bound to the Ascendant Master experienced an explosion of life force in an unfathomable way, this mayhem causing Beasts and Human Gem Masters alike to turn around in fright! But Anastasia, Vishp, and other Minions only gazed towards the skies. There, a crimson brilliance of light wrapped with a vibrant green descended, his figure going down rapidly until he seamlessly arrived on the barren earth. The barren, cold earth. In the distance, a few Willow Trees with barely any leaves rose here and there. Hended on the barren earth, and the first thing he did was raise his hand that burned with Energeia. And from his hand, a dark green seed formed. A seed that he then took and ced on the earth below, Anastasia watching with widening eyes as the barren earth¡­actually opened to ept the seed. Thereafter, true wonder bloomed as all eyes felt like they were pulled towards him with a maic light, and they watched as from the barren earth¡­ BOOM! The trunk of a tree bloomed. Branches bloomed from the trunk, and after that, vibrant green leaves sprouted en masse! It was a tree.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A tree filled with life, and it towered over 10 meters as the green leaves on it radiated such a shocking aura of life that none of the Willow Trees nearby could evenpare! ¡­! "Ah¡­" Anastasia couldn''t help but utter out. Her new Ascendant Master had just gone up to the skies briefly, and by the time he came down, her own Lifeforce was exploding upwards while he waved his hands and caused the emergence of a tree as if it were so easy? It was possibly a simple act to others, but for those who were used to barrennds and dying nature, this seemed like a miracle! What did it take to cause such a thing to happen?! As others wondered such a thing. Alexander himself stood on the barren earth where he had just begun trying the Boons of Limited Nature Maniption. Limited. And yet¡­ He had just spent 1,000 Units of Energeia and caused this massive and vibrant tree to sprout. 1,000. Currently, after the ridiculous effects of the Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil, his Energeia had already exceeded 200,000. If he could cause a massive tree to sprout with 1,000 Units of Energeia, just what could he do with 200,000?! Chapter 89: Cataclysm or Ascension?! I The possibilities were too grand and too many. And this was only Limited Nature Maniption under the third Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil! This was only from the sacrifice of an existing Gem Recipe as he had not even added the recipe he traveled all the way to this Willow Tree Stronghold to obtain yet. How many surprises was he about to have when this day had just begun? ¡ª As Alexander decimated a Beast Lord and experienced another jump in power near the Willow Tree Ascendant Stronghold. Far from such a location. Within the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold ruled by the Gnis Bloodline¡­and yet had the Variant Beast Lord Atticus presiding over it currently. Atticus stood on the balcony of a high-rise mansion as he looked out into the expanse of buildings and structures within the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold. Humans and beasts were moving in sequence as soon enough, the differences between them would be negligible. Soon enough, humans and beasts would be joined as they weed Energeia Star Ascension! Being from an extremely high position within the Peacock Lineage, Atticus knew many things as he had a lot to look forward to. In the next moment though, his gaze shifted and turned serious as his eyes looked to the skies There, a sh of brilliance erupted as something descended from above. It was wrapped in a crimson gold light of royalty, with the eyes of Atticus lighting up as they saw there from this crimson gold light, the figure of a woman with seven radiant Variant Life Sockets appeared. She was exquisite in all possible ways as her fair skin radiated the light of power and a tremendous level of life force- one that could only belong to an extremely powerful lineage! He knew this woman and he knew her very well. The moment shended, she smiled with a mischievous light as her figure shed speedily to go into the arms of Variant Beast Lord Atticus, the two of them embracing as Atticus grabbed her hair and nted his lips on hers. It was only after a whole minute passed that this woman seemed to have remembered something and pulled away from Atticus, her gaze bing serious as she wiped the saliva from her lips and stated straightforwardly. "We can catch upter, because it seems that you have a problem." "Oh?" A problem! "Yes, the Brightmoon Witch Seer of the Dragon Lineage has sessfully made her descent into this world as the first thing that she did was to observe the movements of our forces and whether any issues would arise in the future. She saw many things, but one of the biggest ones that concerned us is that the Peacock Lineage has its forcespromised within this world of Ephesus." ¡­! Compromised! It was a shocking word to hear as before Atticus even asked for rifications, the woman, his beloved, continued. "The Princess of the Shindo Peacock n is no longer bound to the Peacock n. The Witch Seer has foreseen that one of the main forces that will try to hamper our advancement into this world has already bound her soul. Her soul and any souls of those that were around her should already be under the banner of this unknown Gem Master." ¡­! "One of the few things that the Dragon Seer requested in exchange for this information¡­was the knowledge on who the Peacock Princess was supposed to be targeting, and which area she had moved around in as there, we will be able to locate this unknown force and send the strongest beings of our races before the Star Ascensiones." The strongest beings of their races. Atticus was still seeking to wrap his head around the bombshell that his sister was bound to another when he had just talked to her the day before! His face was filled with burning wrath as he remembered her voice that felt like absolutely nothing was wrong not too long ago. But he reined in his emotions as the terrifying Commander he was and asked the most important question. "Which of our forces have made their descent into this world? Are they capable of clearing this threat with certainty?" At these words, his beloved, Sierra, smiled. She smiled and stated sinctly. "With the help and guidance of the Ascendant Gnis Emperor, many Beast Lords, Beast Kings, and even a few Beast Emperors were beginning to send their bodies through. It will not be long before we have control of this world and all those that lie within i-" BOOM! Just as her words finished, the mansion they were in began to shake as their gazes changed An earthquake? Thends began to shake around them. The couple looked at each other as their gazes became stern, their heightened senses beginning to feel a change in the flow of Energeia all around them! It couldn''t be, right? The process that many thought was far away couldn''t actually be starting at this moment, right?! Just as the earthquake began, the gaze of Atticus further changed as he waved his hands to pull out a shattered gem crystal. Within it, the life force of a Lord rapidly faded as the crystal broke apart. "Dread is dead." He spatial out these words as he returned to gaze at the shakingnds around him, his Beloved nearby bing stern as she spoke dazedly. "Impossible¡­the Seers didn''t foresee anything starting right now¡­" Thend shook. Slowly at first, but it felt like it was just starting!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Far from the Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold, back near the Willow Tree Ascendant Stronghold, Alexander was gazing at the tall tree he had caused to sprout when all of sudden¡­ HUUM! Thend around him shook. The area around him trembled. "Master! Are you doing this too?!" The figure of Anastasia shed by his side with her eyes sparkling with excitement, but Alexander shook his head as he felt the earth below his feet shake more and more. And it didn''t stop. The vibrations felt constant, and even if it paused, the next one that came was slightly bigger in power! His gaze instantly changed as he rose to the skies while billowing outmandingly. "Let''s go!" He didn''t say a word to the Ascendant Branch Leaders in the distance, knowing they could take care of anything else here with their power as now, he had to worry about himself¡­and Carthage. He could feel that something was starting. And he wanted to be at his home when it did so! Chapter 90 Cataclysm or Ascension! II The trembling earth.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Such a phenomenon did not just ur in two or three Strongholds but across thends of Ephesus. Over the Strongholds and the City Fortresses of Gnis, Drakos, Argyros, and Asmodeus Lineages, thends shook as if they were roaring in anger In the skies, Alexander short forth like a bolt of crimson lightning, his calm gaze looking down ever so often as he could visibly see the tremor of the earth! In a short period of time, he crossed over the distant skies until he reached the City of Anan once more. It took less than half an hour, and in this time, his Enneagram had gone ahead and stipted what the best Gem Recipe would be for him to bind to the Summon Undead Ability Gem. Everything was put in order, but Alexander wanted to ensure the safety of his father and he knew ire felt the same as he made his first priority to get to the City of Carthage! Behind him, ire, Azazel, and Anastasia, along with the others, arrived just as quickly as he did not even make a stop once he reached Anan, simply going through the breach within the city that would lead to the Breach Within a Breach- into the Den of Corruption. All of this urred in an extremely short period of time! Time that was made even shorter by the fact that Alexander was moving a millionth of the speed of light with him rapidly crossing through the Den of Corruption and seeing the skies of Carthage once more. Readtest chapters at empire Here, the earth was shaking just as mightily. Shockingly, the tremors were so potent that the walls of Carthage had begun to crumble- the Gem Masters stationed nearby moving frantically as stones and boulders were being moved aside to save the Gem Masters within the copsed parts of the wall! In the skies, the figure of ire''s father could be seen burning with blue lightning as he floated in the skies and shoutedmands, while he himself sent out tendrils that grabbed parts of the decimated wall and flung them off in the distance to save those underneath. The me Crow that he left behind was shouldering a portion of the wall from breaking down and falling as near it, Alexander saw his Father. It was a chaotic scene as nearly 40% of the Wall protectively surrounding Carthage had fallen! The appearance of Alexander, along with the powerful auras of ire and others caused many shocked gazes to turn their way as the Minions currently expressed a shocking aura of power. Minions whose power had to truly be re-evaluated after the ridiculous boons of the most recent Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil! But none of this mattered currently, as the figure of Alexander appeared beside his father and looked at the chaotic scene around them. Subconsciously, he began moving his hands as they radiated brilliant verdant seeds towards the earth below and momentster, massive vines began to sprout from the ground below and stretched out to support any areas of the failing walls due to the trembling earth His father looked at the scene with incredulity as he asked in a somber tone. "Do you know what is happening?" At this moment, what exactly was happening? Even Alexander couldn''t answer this with confidence as he replied while looking around. "I can''t say for sure, but it might just be the start of Energeia Star Ascension that the Beast Races have been talking about. The Ascension of a World! A world shedding apart its shell and bing something evermore pristine, with this world supposed to be even more dazzling to the point that terrifying armies of Beast Races were drawn here. Alexander''s father listened to this while bing even more somber, his voice echoing out with wisdom. "Any change that starts with the very world shaking¡­may not be an entirely good one." ¡­! The words were enough to inspire fear. CAA! Momentster, the cries of the Cdrius and other Minions under Noah''s banner also arrived through the Den of Corruption as all of his Minions were in the same ce, with Alexander beckoning Anastasia and Vishp over to him. He asked them with a cold gaze. "The Energeia Star Ascension within your worlds or others- it began with the verynds shaking?" He had to ask. And these two Beast Lords looked at each other before they turned back to him and shook their heads. It meant they were all in the realm of unknown as- BOOM! Thend shook so heavily that at this moment, a massive fissure opened as the earth split apart! From it, a sea of radiant blue waves of Energeia gushed out and spilled into the surroundings. The concentration of energy in the surroundings instantly began to increase. But this wasn''t all. The opened fissure¡­it felt like it was getting wider as it did not reveal a hole- but more and more brown earth seemed to be emerging from it. As newnd wasing out. As if the earth was being split apart and stretching! The fissure rapidly spread out and became even bigger, going all the way towards the portal that led into the Den of Corruption as¡­ RIIP! As if the fissure was tearing apart paper, the Breach leading to the Den of Corruption was ripped apart and actually destroyed- beginning to disappear as even the skies seemed to be shaking madly at this point! The Gem Masters shuddered as horror dawned on their faces. This was because many turned their gazes back to the City of Carthage, and within it¡­countless fissures had begun opening as the City Fortress was being ripped apart. Buildings that were right next to each other were instantly miles away as thend between them expanded and exploded out. Screams echoed out en masse as some people fell into the expanding fissures while others tried to jump around this hellish scene! And an instantter, the earth shook even more as a sharp point of earth rose at the center of Carthage, this mound of earth rising rapidly as it shone with multicolored radiance and gushed out waves of potent Energeia. A mountain was rising within the center of Carthage. It pushed apart and destroyed everything else as seeing such a scene, horror and pain bloomed on the faces of the Branch Leaders and Gem Masters as Alexander''s Father yelled out maddeningly! "Save all those you can! Save them!" A few million men, women, and children within Carthage. At the sight of this apocalyptic scene, it was unknown if even a fraction of them would survive. What was this? What was this?! This was Energeia Star Ascension? It seemed more like a Cataclysm! Chapter 91 Ephesus! I A Cataclysm! Read new chapters at empire This was what was urring right before them as Carthage was nearly wiped out in a matter of seconds, the death toll unknown! "No!" "Jack! N!"N?v(el)B\\jnn Gem Masters who were defending the now wasted Walls of Carthage cried out for their families, many of them trying to stabilize themselves on the shaking earth to go into Carthage, which now had a massive rising multicolored mountain that continued to surge upwards. On this mountain, vibrant trees and vegetation that shone with bright light could be seen- waves of dense Energeia erupting from it as such a scene of pure fantasy did not cause anyone to appreciate it. The horror it caused became the focus! In the midst of all this, a massive tree began to rise around the horrified Gem Masters as vines stretched out from its trunk to wrap around the Gem Masters and lift them up. Wide green leaves that looked like tforms bloomed on this emerging tree- the figure of Alexander being seen atop it as he controlled the massive tree to release vines that wrapped around the Gem Masters of Carthage and ced them on the leaves of this tree he was controlling with Limited Nature Maniption! He continued to pour Energeia into it as the leaves he made expanded and became over 30-50 meters, and dozens of these massive tform-like leaves continued to sprout on this massive tree he nurtured as more and more Gem Masters were ced on it. Even though the earth was rolling, the roots of this tree fell under his control and continued to shift and remain in ce even as thend around him seemed to be stretching and expanding. Even more vines from this tree erupted out and went into Carthage to save as many as they could- the Gem Masters who could fly doing the same as Alexander''s Minions all moved under hismand to save as many as possible! Nueire was the one saving the most as vines erupted from her as she flew over the expanding Carthage, her eyes full of fear towards the rising mountain as she circled nearby to save as many as she could. Anastasia, Vishp, and all other Beast Minions moved under themand of Alexander as they also saved as many as they could and deposited them on the wide tform like leaves of the tree their master was growing! ire and Azazel moved as fast as lightning as their gazes were ashen. WOOO! Along with the rising mountain, the skies howled with heavy winds as the temperature in the surroundings¡­began to drop. Even further up in the skies, clouds gathered as they weren''t fully dark, with the sight of shocking gaps opening in the skies being seen as wisps of pure blue Energiea leaked from it and joined the dark clouds to give them a cerulean sheen. It was a gorgeous and terrifying scene to observe as moments after, these clouds seemed to cover all skies nearby and stretch beyond as...a flurry of snow began to fall. A flurry that soon turned into waves upon waves of pure snow before even a single one nketed the ground, but by the time one did¡­a whole sheet of snow covered the earth as the drop in temperature became even more rapid! Branch Leader Julius and Axel were ashen while looking around at this scene, with Axel voicing out dryly as his throat felt parched. "This¡­isn''t no Ascension of a world. This is the end¡­" ¡­! The end. That was what some people felt when they looked at the shocking changes taking ce! For Alexander and a few others who were more perceptive due to how much lifeforce they held, though¡­their eyes held ever-increasing shock and rm for another reason entirely. They could feel the concentration of the atmospheric Energeia all around¡­reach unprecedented levels. As extremely cold temperatures came and a massive mountain continued to rise in the middle of Carthage, the verynd seemed to be getting pushed back and expanding as alongside it, every grain of sand buzzed with Energeia! And as if this wasn''t the worst of it all¡­ BOOOM! A heavy sound as if the very skies were breaking echoed out. Alexander and a few others who could still observe amidst this chaos turned their gazes all around as they turned towards the right. There, in the distant cloudy skies¡­it truly did seem like they were broken as shockingly, a mountain peak pointing down began to emerge from the split skies. Obsidian in color and seemingly made of tenebrous crystalline ss, this mountain radiated a terrifying air of malice and power as truly, ignoring allmon sense, it rose out of the skies and pointed down towards the earth¡­and remained suspended there. ¡­! It was too fantastical. Too odd! "Alex!" At this moment, his father shouted out towards him as Alexander turned his attention back to everything around him. He couldn''t feel it due to his high life force, but all around, the saved Gem Masters and Unawakened Humans¡­were shivering. Not only that, but the rough winds and descending storm of snow, alongside the rapid drop in temperature, even showed some people beginning to freeze on their extremities! ¡­! Alexander quickly moved as the leaves that were like tforms grew, his control over Limited Nature Maniption being tested even more as he caused the growth of these leaves to form verdant flower petals that rose up and closed those in on any leaf tform. The massive tree he nurtured stood against the raging storm of snow and dropping temperatures as dozens of tforms twisted to be enclosed flowers that protected those within as much as possible. Only Alexander and his Minions were the only ones still out in the open, their gazes somber as when they looked around them- their gazes were already obscured by heavy snowstorms. There were no more screams from what used to be Carthage. Only howling winds and the sound of shifting earth, andyers uponyers of ice beginning to form around everything. The silence was deafening as it meant one thing. Millions were dead and frozen amidst the copsed earth. And yet the howling winds only raged forth with even greater fervor as if¡­thends and skies themselves were expressing tremendous rage. It was the start of something that nobody- absolutely nobody truly understood nor expected! Chapter 92 Ephesus! II The freezing winds that seemed capable of cutting skin didn''t bother Alexander nor his Minions much due to their tremendous life force. This allowed them to be much more observant of everything urring as apart from the heavy storm of snow that was obscuring their views, some things still remained clear. Like the massive upside-down crystalline obsidian mountain in the distant skies. Anastasia floated in the skies as she rubbed her eyes with confusion, taking multiple nces at this terrifying obsidian mountain. Her eyes showed a disconnect and disbelief of something that couldn''t at all be real as she called out amidst the storm. "Sis Vishp, that mountain¡­" Her voice drew the somber gaze of Vishp forward as she also gazed towards the crystal mountain. Initially, she also stared at it nkly, but as the seconds passed¡­ "Huh?" Her eyes showed incredulity. Both her gaze and the gaze of Anastasia expressed one thing. Recognition. Alexander saw their exchange as his gaze became somber as well, asking lightly. "You both recognize that mountain?" ¡­! In their stupor, Anastasia was the one to answer dazedly. "That¡­that looks almost exactly the same as the Tenebrous Crystal Mountain of our World. Of Ornis. It is a danger zone where even Beast Lord can perish, but rare Ability Gems are known to condense within it as it is frequented by Beast Kings seeking more power. But¡­why¡­" Why. Why would something that looked exactly like the Tenebrous Crystal Mountain of the world that the Peacock Lineage stemmed from be here? Was it just something that looked alike, or was it the actual Mountain? The implications of these questions were terrifying! "It''s impossible...it cannot be. Ornis is a few hundred thousand miles away from this World of Ephesus. It can''t be¡­" Vishp vehemently shook her head in disbelief. But they couldn''t deny the appearance of the mountain far ahead, and the storm around them only became more intense! "Gather and miniaturize." Themand came from Alexander as his Minions all came close,nding on a single leaf tform that also closed into a flower. Energeia burned freely from Alexander as momentster, a small opening was made on the Closed Flower tform he and his Minions were in, vines growing out of this opening and forming a passage towards another Closed Flower tform. The massive tree he had nurtured now held dozens of massive flower tforms that had thousands of Gem Masters and Unawakened Humans within. Thousands. At most, they may have reached a bit less than 50,000 Humans in total who were saved above those near the wall and in the immediate vicinity.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 50,000. Out of a few million. The mortality rate was utterly catastrophic as Alexander didn''t even want to think about Anan, any other Mortal Branch Fortresses, or the Ascendant Strongholds. The number of deaths today¡­would be incalcble as they could only imagine the horror that must be urring all over Ephesus! Within a few seconds, the vines had finished forming a pathway as Alexander, followed by ire and Azazel, walked across it to go into another Closed Flower tform. Inside, the ashen figures of the two Branch Leaders could be seen as they consoled grieving Gem Masters. Branch Leader Julius gazed towards Alexander as his eyes seemed to have aged decades in a short period of time. How could they not? He was responsible for the lives of millions, and today, he could only watch as a catastrophe befall them as he couldn''t do anything! He looked at his son nkly as he then looked around him. The unfathomable scene of a massive tree and leaves that closed in to protect them. Even though he didn''t understand it, he voiced it out to his son. "Thank you." And¡­ "...How many?" He wanted to know. How many were able to be saved? Alexander looked at his father withplex emotions before he voiced out with a sense of regret. "Less than 50,000." ¡­! The gazes of all those here turned even darker as some Gem Masters couldn''t help but sob! Yet none of this mattered to the raging storms andnd outside. As a few thousand people were protected by Alexander within thick vines, changes continued to bloom all across Ephesus. Alexander looked at the forlorn figures of his father as he sighed internally, his emotions being kept much stronger and stable by his Enneagram even though he felt the same sense of loss and pain as all of them! "Rest in here for now, and be ready. I will check on the changes urring outside as if and when they''re done...it may not be the same world we know greeting us. Prepare." He spoke towards his father and others before he turned around, going towards the pathways of vines he had made as he created an opening in the middle of this path- an influx of extremely cold air and snow instantly buffeting in as he rose upwards. Instantly, ire, Anastasia, and Vishp followed before the opening closed momentster. Coming out into the world outside after just a few minutes passed¡­somehow many things felt foreign as the temperature was below freezing! Alexander went to the highest point of the massive tree he nurtured, which was over 400 Meters, with dozens of intricate thick branches and trees connecting everything being seen. At the very top, a stalk of verdant green opened as he came to stand on it, the figures of ire, Anastasia, and Vishping to stand beside him as they squinted their eyes at the influx of snow all around them! Inside that short period of time. The Nurtured Tree that was atop the shattered walls of Carthage now seemed to be over 20 miles away, and the massive multicolored mountain that rose from the center of Carthage seemed much further away. Thend continued to expand! At the same time¡­ "AWOOO!" Amidst the raging winds. Amidst the storms of cold that could cut the skin of weaker Gem Masters. "Are those...roars?" ire shuddered and hugged her shoulders with a sense of fear as truly, they began to hear howls and roars from the distant mountain that only seemed to be gettingrger andrger! Chapter 93 Ephesus! III Roars. Bellows of an unknown source! They heard them ringing out even amidst the howling winds and storm of snow as Alexander''s gaze became increasingly heavy. In the next moment. His hand shed with silver brilliance as the Summon Undead Ability Gem only appeared briefly before it sank into his chest. Anastasia, who paid more attention to him, caught this action as she blinked, and she was even more shocked in the next moment as she could swear she saw glimmering gems follow this first one in disappearing into his chest. Did¡­the Ascendant Master not already have a Gem Recipe in his Nine-Link Gem Socket? What was this? A Peacock Beast Lord only gazed on in confusion while within Alexander''s mind, many lines ofmunication flowed between him and the Enneagram! After the full breakdown and extraction of the Scion of the World Tree Gem Recipe, another one was effectively slotted in ce as its recipe began to be put together by the Enneagram- using what Beast Lord Dread had along with other viable Support Gems. At the same time¡­ "You, you, you¡­stay and ensure that this Nurtured Tree remains untouched. Anything that approaches- kill!" Hismand was steadfast. He spoke through the lines of connections of his Minions as he selected some to stay behind, and others would be following him. Momentster, a Tier 6 Orc Minion and a Peacock Minion joined him, ire, Vishp, and Anastasia as their figures began to rise from the Nurtured Tree, the other Orc Minion and Peacock Minion along with Nueire and others being left behind to protect everyone else. There were too many changes urring right now and unknown levels of danger. He couldn''t just sit still as at this moment, he wanted to go see the massive mountain that rose out of Carthage and took the lives of millions! It was covered with multicolored radiance as if it were a treasure mountain- hazy clouds wrapping around its vibrant trees and obscuring one from fully seeing what was within. But the heavy roars wereing out from there as they had to see just what this change had brought forth. It was supposed to be Energeia Star Ascension. An elevation of the World into something even grander! It certainly seemed grand, but why did ite with such destruction? "Let''s go!" SAA! With a booming voice, he and his Mintuns turned into streaks of light across the heavy snowstorm and went toward the multicolored mountain. Heavy, buffeting winds. Extreme coldness that didn''t seem like it wanted to stop just at below freezing. Heavy atmospheric concentrations of Energeia that shocked Alexander as he felt his over half spent reserves of Energeia regenerate three times faster. "Be ready." They neared the mountain as their eyes and senses were extremely sharp, the scattered roars they could hear every now and then eerily quieting down the closer they came. And within seconds¡­ SAA! They broke pastyers of snow as they saw the beginning of the massive mountain. And they knew it was the beginning of the mountain because distinctly, even its soil was shimmering with brown shining radiance, a line drawn showing its borders with the rest of thend around them! Dense and tall trees covered by snow and shining with light rose all around in abundance, their trunks and leaves so thick that one couldn''t even see a mile into this mountain that seemed to be a few hundred miles long. Alongside this, extremely dense mist seemed to be covering everything nearby, making it hard to see anything else apart from one''s vicinity even more. "Master, my senses are telling me that maybe we don''t really need to go into this mountain." The voice of Anastasia echoed out warily as she looked around while they flew halfway up the trunk of the tall trees. Everything around them seemed to be brimming with intense lifeforce, and yet carrying a sense of eeriness at the same time as it was hard to describe! "Proceed slowly and be ready to move at any moment, we have to understand what happe-" ¡­! Time felt like it slowed. His pupils constricted as he rapidly moved backwards, his head just quick enough as inches away from his eyes- a stinger aze with poisonous green mes shed. SKRREE! It was too quick! He barely just dodged as Anastasia appeared in front of him with a deadly re, her hand shing out and releasing a semilunar silver spatial glow that seemed capable of cutting apart space itself. But¡­ BOOM! The stinger struck out and actually shattered Anastasia''s silver light, her handsing to cover her chest as the stinger smashed into her and flung her figure back! Spears of blue lightning from ire and attacks from Vishp, Orc Minion, and the other Peacock Minion then all smashed out in sequence ahead of them as finally, the stinger was pushed back.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! The outline of what it was connected to was clear. A massive creature! The stinger retracted upwards as from the branches of the tree, they could see a creature with the lower half of a scorpion¡­and the upper body of a white furred wolf. The eyes of this world radiated a shocking re of destruction, its pupils shining with blue light as this wasn''t the most astonishing thing. It was the fact that around the body of this creature, they could see a massive Blue Gem sticking out of the head of the wolf! Not within a Socket- but simply sticking out of its skin and muscles as it were fused into it. And on the back of this wolf until past the halfway point where its fur disappeared and the reddish, scaly exterior of the scorpion''s lower body, they saw green and blue gems also sticking out like jagged rocks in a line! A thin blue line connected all of these massive gems as they currently shone with heavy power. There were 8 massive blue and green Gems in total sticking out of this creature. Alexander looked at it with a thumping heart as his Enneagram glowed brightly in his chest, its Analysis zing out with brilliance at this moment as in front of his eyes, a name appeared. [Tier 8 Mutated Gem Chimera- Scorpiowolf] [Vigor]:: 155, 555 (+200,000 from the Tier 1 Blessing of Ephesus) [Energeia]:: 155,555 (+200,000 from the Tier 1 Blessing of Ephesus) ¡­! Chapter 94 Mutated Gem Chimera! I The analysis of a single creature. Yet it was enough to give a small glimpse that contained shocking information. A Mutated Gem Chimera. And under it¡­the Blessing of Ephesus! Ephesus! "ROAR!" The Mutated Gem Chimera roared out with such heavy hatred in its eyes- hatred that seemed to express its backer as its stinger struck out once more. This time, it caused over a hundred poisonous green spears to form along with its thrust! "Stay back, Master!" Vishp roared out as she and other Minions went to the forefront, their bodies lighting up as storms of lightning erupted around them. Alexander pulled back ire as his gaze carried immense seriousness, his chest beginning to light up as he actually came across a terrifying Beast that could even contend with his Minions! So¡­it seemed that he needed more Minions. "Summon¡­Undead." He called out lightly! While he called out such words, the description of the Summon Undead Gem that had changed slightly after 8 Support Ability Gems were added to it shed before his eyes. [...The type of Undead Minion summoned is heavily dependent on what initial Vigor Values they will have. If 40% of your Vigor Values are below 3,750, Average Tier Undead(Skeleton Knights, Wraiths, Zombies) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 22,500 Vigor, Lord Tier Undead(Duhans, Vampires, Draugrs) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 67,500 Vigor, King Tier Undead(Lich, Death Knight, Undead Dragon) will be summoned. At the demarcation of 202,500 Vigor, Emperor Tier Undead(Night Walkers, Vigor yer Lich, Abyss Knight) will be summoned.] ¡­! Yes. Your journey continues at empire The base Vigor that the Undead would have was improved to 40% of his own Vigor from 30%, and the demarcation values were reduced by 25% across the board! For the capability to summon Emperor Tier Undead, there was a reduction from 270,000 Vigor Values to 202,500. Alexander''s own Vigor Values after the ridiculous add-on of 200,000 from Yggdrasil made this aspect of his life force tip a total of 350,000. 40% of this was 140,000, and when adding the Parameter multiplier of 2 that stemmed from the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, which applied towards all parameters of those he was connected to Gem Recipes with...the base Vigor of any Undead that Alexander summoned became 280,000! "..." This was before the newest boon of the Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil, was applied to them. Yggdrasil granted Alexander 200,000 Vigor and 100,000 Energeia, while those connected to him gained half of this. It meant another 100,000 was added to anything summoned by the Summon Undead Ability Gem as the approximate Vigor Value¡­was actually 380,000. Far, far in excess of the requirement of 202,500 to summon the highest-tier undead. And so, when he called out so simply¡­ HUUM! Above him, under the shrouding of the massive trees, an intricate silver magic circle bloomed as it spilled out heavy clouds of obsidian light. Alexander''s gaze flickered as shockingly, he felt 90,000 Values of Energeia instantly sapped away- the highest usage of Energeia at one moment he had ever gone through. Even the massive Nurtured Tree he constructed that ate up over 100,000 Energeia was gradual! But at such a high cost¡­ "Ka Ka Ka!" A cacklingugh echoed out from the silver magic circle as a terrifying aura spilled out from it, the dark smoke billowing out and causing the heavy winds to be even rougher! BOOM! The magic circle then cracked as from its center, massive white bony hands emerged- along with a figure shrouded in a dark robe that carried the wails of thousands of souls within it. In no time, at the center of the shattered magic circle, a robed skeletal creature emerged as its right hand grasped a bony staff with a cackling skull on top, dark smoke constantly leaking out of its extremities as its head¡­was a shining silver white skull. Silver mes burned in its eye sockets, and on its skull, a bony crown burning with silver mes hung to the side as if to show it was of utmost royalty! On its back, tendrils of crimson lightning formed glorious wings as another effect of a Gem Constetion was applied to it just like Alexander''s other minions, along with a thin blue cial armor covering its skeletal body. Its sockets, burning with silver mes, gained rity at this moment as this creature moved rapidly like a streak of light. Towering over 15 meters, nearly seven timesrger than Alexander himself, this creature appeared before him instantly and bowed with respect, its voice eerie. "This lowly servant, Xebun, greets the Undead Master. Which poor souls shall I torment for you today?" ¡­! [Tier 9 Vigor yer Lich- Xebun] [Vigor]:: 450,000 (+2,250,000 cial Armor of the Deep) ( -/- Life Vessel) [Energeia]:: 690,000 Terrifying values showed themselves for an entity distinguished as an Emperor. An Emperor! Alexander nodded with bright eyes at this creature as he replied. "Torment any and all that stand before me as my enemies. Just bring me their Gems." ¡­! A devilish smile twisted itself on the skull of the Vigor yer Lich. "As the Undead Master wishes." BOOM! Its figure then disappeared once more, appearing on the earth below as its bony staff smashed into the earth, and it called out lightly, a sense of longing and reverie filling his words. "Rise once more, my Legion!" ¡­! The ground trembled as dark smoke began to cover everything nearby, an energy of death bing pervasive! At this time, the robes of Xebun fluttered. Underneath, 9 deathly gems were barely observed on its skeletal structure as its gaze rose up andnded on the Mutated Gem Chimera, its chilling voice continuing to ring out as it raised its staff with its eyes flickering with mes of tyranny and majesty! "Debilitating Curse of Life."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Energeia Suppression." "Bony Prison of Heresy." ¡­! ROAR! Dense spikes of bones instantly rose around the Scorpiowolf that isted it, terrifying debuffsnding on it at the same time as its aura became weakened! Vigor yer Lich. Just what did such a distinction mean? The silver mes within the Lich became cruel as after cursing the Mutated Gem Chimera that was contending with even Vishp and outer Minions, it called out coldly. "Life Vessel Generation- Vigor Drain." From the bony prison surrounding the Scorpiowolf, spears erupted out and sank into its hard defenses. The curses imposed on it greatly lowered its power and defenses as the bony spears skewered its body, its roars booming out filled with pain as its life force began to visibly leak out! But its roars were akin to a signal as a few miles away, the tall trees began to shake. The Vigor yer Lich paid no attention to this as its bony jaws smiled with unfettered joy, the energy of death leaking around it madly as on the earth it stood on, the outline of a titanic bony¡­dragon began to rise. It was a heart-shaking scene as Anastasia and others under Alexander''s banner looked at this with pure shock! Their eyes turned from the terrifying Lich to Alexander as they wondered. Just¡­what exactly was his actual Gem Recipe?! Chapter 95 Mutated Gem Chimera! II Howling cold winds. Increasingly cold temperatures! Amidst all of this, Alexander watched with calcting eyes as his summoned undead- the Vigor yer Lich- Xebun, began calling for a Legion down below while above, it encased a Scorpiowolf Mutated Gem Chimera effortlessly while having cursed it- its very life force currently being drained after the usage of a shocking ability. [Life Vessel Generation- Vigor Drain] Life Vessel Generation. Sure enough, when Alexander viewed the details of this yer Lich, its Vigor was already beginning to rise. Yet at this time¡­ "Undead Master, some truly disgusting guys seem to being over. I may be able to handle them alone¡­but shall I increase our power a bit more by turning these other followers of yours into High Tier Undead?" ¡­! His voice was chilling as he eyed Anastasia, Vishp, and the other Minions around Alexander greedily! Anastasia became ashen with anger at this as she pulled back and raised her fist. "You stupid skeleton! You join our Ascendantter than us, and you show no respect? Turn who into undead? I fucking dare you!" Anastasia seemed enraged at the cruel voice of the Lich that even Alexander frowned at while sensing the trembling mountain below them and other roars of beasts before he shook his head. "None of that, stay together and be ready, more will join us soon enough." "Mmm, yes, Undead Master." Lich Xebun followed themand while still looking greedily at the bodies of the Minions, causing Anastasia to raise her fists dangerously while the others only became stern. Within seconds, the terrifying Tier 8 Mutated Gem Chimera that had nearly caused them issue finished issuing thest of its screams, its body cracking with death as the 8 massive blue and green gems stuck to its body were forcefully plucked out by silver bones that moved like vines- these 8 Gems being brought towards Alexander. The remaining body of the Mutated Gem Chimera was then thrown towards the dark earth of death where a terrifying Bone Dragon was rising- its body sinking in and disappearing right after. "I present to the Undead Master the prize of this creature, but it seems many more areing. If any of your other followers perish in thising battle, I will raise them up again, Undead Master. You don''t need to worry." Find more chapters on empire ¡­! Its words continued to be utterly chilling as Alexander ignored them while looking at the massive contorted Gems in front of him, his fingers touching the foremost blue gem. [Tier 8 Mutated Ability Gem]:: An ability gem that held a specific purpose and designation in the past, but it has since then undergone constant rounds of mixing and amalgamation, eventually bing a mutated gem that holds multiple chaotic abilities within it. Finding a gem socket that fits it is nearly impossible as one of the few usages for it is to fuse it into one''s very own body and turn themselves into a mutated entity, using it as fuel towards already existing ability gems or sockets, or using it to supply and augment one''s lifeforce. With the mutated energy within the gem, you can rapidly cause the induction of normal ability gems towards a higher stage and increase the capability and rarity of that Gem. If enough Mutated Ability Gems are used, an entire gem recipe can be entirely transformed into an ascended version of itself¡­ Alexander read the details of the Mutated Ability Gem as his eyes shed with an incredible light. The power lying within the gems was so potent that one could use it to empower their own ability gems in an unfathomable way. It could even be used to replenish Vigor and Energeia alongside permanently adding them as sensing the tumultuous shaking of the Earth around them, he grasped up to the blue Mutated Ability Gem in front of him that was the size of his own body. His Enneagram began to spin as rivers of violent blue light cascaded into him- rivers of energy that soon turned into Energeia as his depleted reserves rapidly began building up again! He would be able to summon another undead very soon! He looked at the rest of the blue and green gems and waved his hands towards them- each one disappearing into his chest as he sensed the thoughts of the Enneagram that wanted one to be left for emergencies, while the rest were directed towards the Minion King Gem Recipe. There were many of them, and their power was already high- he needed to keep it that way. ROAR! At the same time, from the deathly roiling earth below, a majestic bony dragon fully rose up as wings burning with silver mes stretched out. It towered over 50 meters, its eye sockets burning with silver mes that soon turned red as crackling crimson wings of lightning also appeared on its back- its body greatly being altered as its aura of death rose up! On its chest, a bright silver-red me now burned. "The first of the Legion has arrived¡­and others shall follow, Ka Ka Ka!" The Vigor yer Lichughed brightly as it came tond on the head of the Bone Dragon, and Alexander looked at its details while bing a sh of light that passed through its ribcage, finding a wide area within the chest of the Bone Dragon that he sat on calmly! Inside a Bone Dragon. Yet anotheryer of protection!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Tier 8 Bone Dragon- Dieda] [Vigor]:: 290,000 (+1,450,000 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 330,000 Alexander snuggly fit himself into the Bone Dragon while marveling at its details, and not even a secondter, a terrifying aura seemed to descend from the trees above followed by a few others, entirely surrounding their group and encircling them. The lowughter of an excited Vigor yer Lich rang out at such a reality as the trees ahead forcefully parted, revealing a towering multicolored wolf that had¡­nine dazzling tails. Not just that. Above its head, a crimson ming crown floated as if to distinguish its breed and majesty, and on its back where multicolored fur was abundant¡­Alexander counted 9 dazzling Mutated Gems. Nine. A terrifying Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera appeared in front of them as its gaze was frosty, intelligence burning in its eyes as it actually spoke. "Defilers of the Great Ephesus¡­you actually already dare to climb one of its Sacred Mountains?" ¡­! Chapter 96 You are Defilers! Defilers? Alexander heard this word as the surrounding air became filled with a heavy sense of oppression and power! He was born and raised in this world. He was a native of Ephesus! Yet he was actually referred to as a Defiler of Ephesus? Was it because of his Minions and Summoned Undead, or was there something more here? His eyes turned sharp as seeing the appearance of a terrifying Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera Emperor, he made a motion as ire was also pulled into the Bone Dragon he was in. His voice was resonant at this moment as he spoke from the protective embrace of a Tier 8 Bone Dragon while the Vigor Lich yer and other Minions protectively positioned themselves around him! "We are not Defilers of Ephesus. I was born in the verynds this Sacred Mountain rose out of, and I have been fighting the invaders who came into Ephesus the moment I gained the power to do so¡­do I still earn the category of a Defiler?" ¡­! His voice was calm even while speaking to the massive wolf-like Beast floating ahead. Its multicolored fur radiated a magisterial glory as its nine tails waved in the wind- seeming capable of smashing entire mountains! Its eyes, brimming with callous intelligence, seemed to sneer with regality as they looked past the gaps of the dragon bones to look at him in reply. "You think the Invaders of this world are the only Defilers? You Children of Ephesus who were born from its embrace have only taken and taken, draining the very life from Ephesus itself as you are the worst Defilers. Which children only take and do not give back? Which children repay favor with death and destruction? Which Children drain the very life of the Great Mother knowing exactly what they''re doing? You have lost your standing as its Children¡­and must now return to its bountiful earth to repay what you were given!" ¡­! Explore more stories with empire Words that caused ire to tremble with shock echoed out. Meanwhile, Alexander became exceedingly somber as many things fell into ce. The Mutated Gem Chimeras with the Blessing of Ephesus. The chaotic and apocalyptic changes with rapid drops in temperature that now stood below freezing. All of them were conditions not conducive to life. Which of the weak Awakened Gem Masters could survive in this environment? Which of the Unawakened Humans could live for even a few minutes in storms of heavy winds that could cut skin at below freezing temperatures?! As he thought about all the things he saw so far and the conclusion he wasing across, even with his mental state, he still felt a tremendous sense of loss. A great loss! Akin to one''s parents turning their back on them. But this time, it seemed to be their own world. Ephesus¡­had turned its back on them and deemed them Defilers? Alexander found such a thing hard to ept as this was the world he was born into!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om If it rejected him. If it was trying to kill him and all other Humans on it¡­what even could they do? Where could they go? In these constant below freezing temperatures, how many humans would survive? How many hundreds of millions were already dead?! The sense of loss slowly turned into anger and defiance as Alexander shook his head within the Bone Dragon and red coldly at the Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera Emperor. "I do not ept such a distinction." He spoke out in defiance. And yet the multicolored wolf only sneered with majesty as its eyes shone brightly, other Mutated Gem Chimeras that had encircled them slowly showing themselves! "Do I look like a give a damn whether you ept this distinction, Defiler? My task is to only eradicate. Ever since I was taken from the Embrace of the Great Mother and returned here, my purpose is to erase all defilers even daring to step foot on the Sacred Mountains of Ephesus. I shall simply start with you." ¡­! Even more waves of information came as the Chimeras were about to strike! Defilers. Sacred Mountains. Alexander took these words and many more as his Enneagram helped hime to a few conclusions. The Chimeras defended this Sacred Mountain. It meant there was something on it they didn''t want others to have. And this¡­made Alexander want it greatly as he felt that on this mountain, there would be answers. So¡­ "I have yet to kill a Tier 9 Emperor." He spoke with a deadly light of coldness as his chest shone once more. Silver brilliance unfurled like a rising sun behind him as another terrifying aura bloomed behind the bone dragon! Even this only earned the harrumph of the Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera Emperor as its eyes shed brilliantly. "You won''t be killing any Tier 9 Emperors, Defiler, I''ll make sure of that." BOOM! From this terrifying creature. The tips of its nine tails radiated terrifying heat as beams gathered on it¡­before they struck forth heavily as they scorched everything on their path! OOOH! As such a battle bloomed, the Vigor yer Lich howled with mad fervor for death as a protective bony prison surrounded them, while the chest of the newly risen Tier 8 Bone Dragon swelled and burned with radiance. Its draconic jaws then opened wide as it released a terrifying Breath of crimson and silver deathly lightning towards the scorching beams ahead! Vishp, Anastasia, and the other Minions also made their moves as at the same time, but their eyes couldn''t help but pulse with trepidation as they looked behind them. Behind the Bone Dragon. As deathly silver energies that seemed like a portal leading to hellishnds disappeared, a titanic humanoid creature adorned in fur clothes stood. Twice as big as even the Bone Dragon before it, and a head taller than the Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera in the distance! [The Second Undead Summon, Night Walker- Jujugan, has been called to serve.] ¡­! The Second Undead Summon made his entry as Alexander sought answers! Chapter 97 No Need to Fear! I Continue reading at empire Jujugan. Out of the countless worlds stretched out into the unknown, his world was one that was already ruined and decimated as all those who lived within it were changed by the energy of death that bloomed from the death of the world itself. Jujugan was one of the champions who ruled over this world with an iron fist, but after its death¡­he lost all purpose! When the warmth of their sun even abandoned them, all he had were endless nights. Others turned into droves of Undead who held no minds of their own. He¡­remained as cognizant as ever in his torment as he walked through the destroyed world that only held endless nights. His very being slowly changed as he absorbed more and more deathly energies from the world itself, and ultimately¡­he became a unique Undead! The Night Walker. Jujugan! Many years had passed since the core of his world was destroyed as he felt that soon, it would fracture and split apart as everything would die to the terrifying pressure of space. Even he, a past Tier 9 Emperor, could only resist the undeniable ster gravity and void of space for moments before his life force would slowly dissipate. He had not reached that legendary stage that would allow him to embark and survive on the endless bounds of space as even with his unique connection to death- he too, would die! He hadughed with immense sorrow to meet such an end. And yet, days before his suspected time of the world fracturing¡­ HOONG! The deathly skies above him had seethed. Silver light shone as a High Tier Breach opened- one that called out towards uniquely powerful energy signatures! His body fit such a signature as he felt a pull towards this silver rift. It told him that should he choose to walk across it, bindings would be ced on his very soul as he would move under themands of another! The discourse within him only shed for a moment before he smiled and tapped his feet, instantly shooting across the skies and plunging into the silver rift. Binding shed across his soul. And then¡­he was here. WU! WU! WU! His Death Energeia pulsed thrice with excitement as it showed him extreme waves of life all around. He appeared behind a Bone Dragon and a Lich that almost neared him in the potency of Energeia, and his Master¡­ He squinted his eyes into the depths of the Bone Dragon as he followed the unshakable connection towards a young man. ''Hmm¡­'' Jujugan nodded as he further looked around him to see other lifeforms circling around his new master protectively, each of them releasing their Energeia in extremely ineffective ways as they defended against their enemies. The reason that Jujugan was pulled here. He saw the astoundingly powerful Tier 9 wolf like creature with nine tails ahead, feeling how its body seemed to be packed with dense life force that made it exceptional among others of this same stage! But that was it. It also didn''t seem to know how to effectively and efficiently use its Energeia. Around them, a few Tier 8 chicklings also circled them as the more that Jujugan sensed things, he couldn''t help but have a wide smile forming on his face! The creatures here. The world he was currently in. It was all¡­brimming with so much life! "Hmm¡­Good!" He spoke for the first time since his arrival as the very air shook from his deep voice, even the Tier 9 wolf in the distance gazing towards him with caution. The Night Walker. His body was humanoid, yes, but it was filled with glistening muscr mounds as it was sculpted to perfection! The skin was gray and dead, and yet the muscles underneath seemed to be roiling with life as he looked like a forged titan meant for battle. His head was filled with silver mes that danced madly as shockingly¡­there was no connection between his head and neck apart from these burning silver mes. His head was a dazzling ancient humanoid creature of death that was covered entirely by mes of Death Energeia, his eyes vibrantly looking around as he waved his right hand and caused frost to bloom in between! In a moment, a massive spear of ice formed in his hand as it was half in size, the gaze of the Night Walker bright as he voiced out. "Nice to meet you all." SWING! His hand then shed with speeds just slightly faster than even a millionth the Speed of light as the terrifying spear he just formed was flung out- and it reached the massive Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera Emperor in the next second as it was like a bomb had gone off!N?v(el)B\\jnn BOOM! The figure of the Tier 9 Emperor was flung backwards with this heavy force as it crashed across multiple trees, its fate unknown as Jujugan looked at his hands in surprise as he felt a slight explosion of his strength. It was only now that he noticed an extremely pure collection of Energeia coursing from his newly established connection anding to settle into his body. ''Oh?'' An extremely pure Energeia that actually began catalyzing and increasing his already potent Death Energeia and Vigor, even blooming with authorities that affected his maximum speed! With his control over Death Energeia, he could choose to reject this extremely pure augmenting energy, but he didn''t do so as he soon felt a coldyer of light cover his gray skin, and crimson wings unfurl behind his back. It was an action of giving an already terrifying Entity¡­actual wings. Such a set of actions caused Jujugan to feel even more rousing emotions as he nodded. "Good¡­Good!" HUUM! His body trembled with extremely oppressive power as even the bones of the Bone Dragon before it shook, and around the Night Walker, a dense number of terrifying Ice Spears began to form as his head that was ame turned to gaze at the Tier 8 chicklings around him- his gaze making them feel a sense of fear as he smiled. "No need to fear." ¡­! "For I, Jujugan, am here!" BOOM! Chapter 98 No Need to Fear! II With a wave of his hands, massive cial spears shot out with a terrifying force as they smashed into the Tier 8 Mutated Gem Chimeras nearby. The levels of power his body emanated were off the charts as after such a shocking introduction, he bent down as his ming head stared at Alexander within the Bone Dragon as he spoke! "You seem to contain things I''ve never heard of or experienced before, my new Master. What is the current situation here? What do you expect from me?" ¡­! He held certain things that Jujugan had never observed before. His eyes could trace the vibrant Energeia and Vigor with others as there was an extremely dense cluster of Energeia on the chest of his new master that even he couldn''t see through. Not to mention the rapid rise in life force that had him as the root cause! So he introduced himself and asked. What exactly was expected of him, and what was the current situation? Alexander looked back at this terrifying Undead Summon that seemed to be even more ancient and deadly than the Vigor yer Lich, his moth remaining quiet as his thoughts moved instead. He gathered a cluster of memories regarding what had just urred as well as a brief introduction to Ephesus- and this cluster of memories was sent through their connection as the Night Walker received and perused through it rapidly. "Ephesus¡­Energeia Star Ascension¡­Mutated Gem Chimeras!" With each word, his eyes shone with more and more mes as he looked ahead- past shattered trees where the massive body of a Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera Emperor rose up while burning with endless anger. A bloody gash was ripped open from its chest and towards its shoulder as its body was seen bathed in cackling crimson mes, shooting forward like a bullet as its eyes screamed murder! "Yet another Defiler!" BOOM! Utmost hatred coursed in its voice as while it surged over, the Vigor yer Lich cackled while waving its staff- an array of curses going forward. At the same time, the Night Walker nodded thoughtfully after receiving the bundle of information from Alexander as he looked around. "A world filled with hatred for invaders and natives alike¡­but this world, Master, do you see the biggest thing?" ¡­! The voice of the Night Walker carried a sense of mystery as Alexander was forced to listen to it. "What is the biggest thing?" Sitting within the Bone Dragon, he asked with sharp eyes as he realized the Undead had summoned was not a simple one- but the connection and bond between them was as strong as it could be! "Ie from a world that I watched the essence of when it was alive and filled with life. I also watched the essence of this world change as it copsed and turned everything within it towards death." ¡­! As he spoke, the Night Walker rose to the skies before his titanic body flung itself towards the oing Tier 9 Emperor. "From life to death, I knew the essence of my world like the back of my hand as it always remained the same. It had the same signature. The essence of this world that I see around me is much more potent than that of my world, but¡­it does not have a single signature." BOOM! Even before the words of the Night Walker ended. Alexander''s gaze changed greatly as he captured the hidden meaning behind them! "The essence of this world seems to contain multiple different signatures. It''s chaotic¡­but it is all mixing together as if multiple different World Essences are present here. You call this World Ephesus, yes? It seems that after its change, Ephesus has be an amalgamation of multiple worlds. And during that process, these little critters arose." ..! Little Critters. He spoke such shocking words and revtions as he arrived in front of the Nine Tailed Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera, his hand thrust out calmly as a booming impact echoed out! BOOM! Alexander''s pupils constricted. Anastasia and Vishp paled. ire shook at the words uttered out as a few things clicked together! Anastasia was ashen as she spoke out. "The Tenebrous Crystal Mountain we saw in the skies¡­" Discover hidden content at empire They had seen what they believed to be a famous danger zone of the World of Ornise down from the skies of Ephesus. It was a sign they saw early, but they didn''t know what it truly meant. The more they thought about it, the more their faces paled. Anastasia and Vishp looked at each other as they wondered. Was Ornis actually destroyed? Had it truly somehow fused with the World of Ephesus?! Why? How? They had so many questions and no answers as they could only persevere. Alexander calmed their mental states as he got out of the Bone Dragon.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He saw the dominance that this terrifying new Undead Minion he had summoned disyed as it far exceeded even the Vigor yer Lich, giving them a greater sense of protection as he could move more freely. He stared towards the Night Walker who seemed to know many things as he asked. "Who¡­are you? Who were you?" He asked inquisitively as while the Night Walker held back a roaring Tier 9 Emperor, an extremely cold sea instantly bloomed from his palm- bringing with it cial coldness as it began covering the Tier 9 Emperor entirely. The ming head of the Night Walker burned ever brighter as his ancient face smiled in reply. "I am merely a dead champion of a dead world. Seeing the abundant life here, I will move to ensure that another world does not die like mine. We will face whates together!" BOOM! A dazzling cial sea formed into a crystalline flower. In the middle of it, a raging Tier 9 Emperor was frozen and contained as the Night Walker, Jujugan, turned behind to see his new Master floating closer as he asked. "By the way, why were you struggling against this Little Critter, Master? The little beasties and even that Lich around you seem to be using their Gems in the most rudimentary way possible. They can only express a fraction of their power this way¡­" ¡­! Howling cold winds raged in a certain Sacred Mountain. The appearance of a single Night Walker seemed to be a game changer as answers wereing in ces one didn''t expect! Chapter 99 The Stage Emperors Seek! I Usage of Ability Gems in the most rudimentary way possible. These were the words that the Night Walker, Jujugan, uttered while easily holding back a massive nine tailed Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera. Encased in a cial flower, radiant crimson mes bloomed from all tails of the Tier 9 Emperor, its eyes utterly livid as it sought to break out. Jujugan watched this scene calmly while Alexander and others listened intently to what he was saying. On his muscr chest, 9 points of brilliant light were shining as he disconnected his hand from the cial flower prison he had encased the Tier 9 Emperor in, and he instead turned around to lock his gaze onto Alexander entirely while bringing his hand into his chest. "At the most basic level, Ability Gems can be looked at as Gates. Doorways that grant one ess to a predetermined location- thank location being a signature expression of Energeia." ¡­! "The Fireball Ability Gem is a Gate that when one ces their Energeia into, they can release a ball of fire in the outside world. Lightning Strike one ushers in their Energeia into the Ability Gem merely releases a strike of lightning. But all of this is just the utmost basic level. I have the Rare Ability Gem, cial Ice Cataclysm, that merely allowed me to unleash a heavy cataclysmic blow of ice, but now¡­"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Around his body. The already cold temperatures became even colder as exquisite ice flowers began to manifest around him! Not just that. Within moments, a humanoid sculpture began to be designed in front of Jujugan as it had the same handsome young face of Alexander, his facial features exquisitely recreated to shocking details! "Instead of just using my Ability Gem to unleash that single preset strike, I have expanded this doorway. Through this single gate of this Ability Gem, I can now do a lot more as I passed through that doorway and into what all Ability Gems lead to: the Covenants of Nature." BOOM! Alexander''s eyes became unfathomably stern as he watched on. At this moment, Jujugan closed his eyes as he pointed above him, the dark skies filled with mist beginning to seethe as from the tallest point of the surrounding trees waves of water formed and began to coalesce. Seeing such a scene astonished all those watching as the waves of gathering water that could be enough to fill a river came together and began to freeze- forming into a massive spear of ice that only increased in size over time! More and more waves of water surged into it as it became horrendously sharp, and with his burning head radiating brightness, Jujugan pressed down. ROAAR! Behind him, the Tier 9 Emperor encased in a frozen flower prison seemed just about break through as its whole body was ame, but its cries were furious as it felt a heavy sensation of death- its eyes only being able to observe as the massive spear of ice that formed above thundered down with tremendous speed and weight- piercing the flower it was imprisoned in as in the next moments, it pierced its reinforced back and punctured through. It went past its stomach as a sharp spear point gushed out below it along with its glistening Organs! At the same time, extremely cold waves of temperature froze everything within its body as ever so slowly, its life force faded and its body turned into a live sculpture. "..." The scene was a glorious one to see as the Night Walker, surrounded by endless coldness, continued. "The Covenant of Nature¡­Water. I have yet to truly grasp this abstruse Covenant that governs the nature of what we all know to be the element of water. But the more we ce our souls into the Ability Gems- the Gates that can lead one towards the Covenants of Nature, the closer we can be to them. Until eventually, we break past the distinctions of Tier 9 Emperors and be¡­Rulers of the Covenant!" ¡­! As he spoke, his eyes held an intense longing! For something he felt so close to but had never been able to fully grasp. Covenants of Nature. Ability Gems could lead to them as on the way there, one could really use their ability gems in fantastical ways and not merely in a rudimentary fashion. Alexander and his minions were stupefied as their world views were opened- even the Vigor Lich yer seeming frozen as its jaws cked to ask. "Is there¡­a Covenant of Death?" He felt as if a path his very being should have been following was there as he couldn''t help but ask. The Night Walker stared at him calmly before he nodded. "The Covenant of Death. The Covenant of Life. The Covenant of Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Space¡­all the countless Covenants that make up the nature of our Worlds. My people theorized all of this, but even with all of our power- we could not stop our world from dying. Had I been able to be a Ruler of a Covenant. Had I been able to truly grasp the Covenant of Water¡­" Jujugan shook his head with regret as within Alexander, his Enneagram was buzzing! Its voice- his voice, was already responding again and again. [Critical new information that can alter the workings of the Enneagram has been obtained.] [The Database of the Enneagram and path of progression is being altered.] ¡­! Stay tuned for updates on empire The waves of information were put together as they enacted a change that even Alexander didn''t know what the answer to would be. He only looked at the Night Walker that had just decimated a Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera- and it was all because he was using much more of the power of his Ability Gem as he came close to the Covenant of Water. He only came close to it, but he could already exceed what his Ability Gem stated it could do! Such a reality caused Alexander to look at himself and his Enneagram. If he could manage to do what the Night Walker was trying to do...would he not be able to attach himself to multiple different Covenants since he could have multiple Gem Recipes?! Chapter 100 The Stage Emperors Seek! II Shocking revtions hade out one after another as Alexander and the rest of his entourage were shocked, to say the least. After Alexander processed everything that was said by the Night Walker, he could feel his Enneagram vibrate with immense fervor! As if it was doing many things this whole time, but these critical pieces of knowledge had guided it towards an even grander path. With it, there were the Gem Constetions. There was the extraction of gem recipes and nowputations and calctions were being made for the pathway towards Covenants of Nature! Even though others took some time to limate, Alexander moved quickly as he looked at the prison that had turned into a tomb for the Tiers 9 Mutated Gem Chimera, and he looked at the devastatinglyrge spear of cial majesty that had pierced through a Tier 9 Emperor cleanly. This was just a glimpse of the power of a Covenant of Nature- and Jujugan hadn''t even fully grasped it yet! He could definitively say that the Night Walker was the strongest peace under him at this moment. He wanted things to be even clearer as he asked this Summoned Undead with scrutiny. "You say for us to infuse parts of our souls into these ability gems- into these Gates, but the mostmon way to do this is¡­" "Naturally, Young Master, you need to take part of yourself- your very soul, whenever you circte your energy and permanently nurture and bathe your Ability Gem. The more of a link you form with it, the more in tune you are with it, the more resonance there is between you and the ability gem, the more of yourself infused into it¡­the greater the effect. In addition to the most critical piece of high levels of energy that only Tier 9 Emperors can meet the conditions of, all of this leads to one getting closer and closer towards the Covenant of Nature." "To the point that when one utilizes their ability gem as if it were truly part of them- Inseparable from their body and soul!" ¡­! This was the method that the Night Walker had followed. He didn''t have any teachers or people to guide him as those of his world had continued to pave the path themselves until they reached where they were. Now, there might be a better method out there, but the Night Walker did not know it. So he stated what he knew. Alexander thought carefully as his Enneagram did even more than he could imagine- its voice ringing out in his mind at this moment! [Utilizing the proposed methodology of the Night Walker, it has been calcted that the extracted Gem Recipes turned into Gem Constetions are in a perfect state of resonance with your being since they were entirely extracted and assimted by you.] ¡­! [From here, it is theorized to be even easier for you to nurture and infuse a part of your soul into the Extracted Gem Recipes or Constetions. Since the infusion of your soul will be done into what used to be a Gem Recipeprised of multiple Ability Gems, your rate of progression and potential sess in attaining an understanding of a Covenant of Nature is much higher. ]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [The process of infusing your soul into the Gem Recipes need not even be of concern to you personally, as this process can be carried out due to the conditions of a certain amount of life force being met. It is theorized that the infusion of the soul into an ability gem or a gem recipe naturally causes injuries as if a part of yourself is being eaten away, but over time, your life force regenerates the lost parts of your soul. Thus, the requirement for high levels of life force that only Tier 9 Emperors can supply, or Entities that have Variant Life Sockets, or those that have elevated and empowered their life sockets to the extent that their life force besparable to Tier 9 emperors- they too can seek The Covenants of Nature at that point.] The words of his Enneagram continued again and again in his mind as a great deal of things were talked about with a great level of certainty or theorized to be the case! Alexander listened intently as it seemed that he would have a much easier timepared to others. All others would struggle to give parts of themselves to their ability gems. Meanwhile, he had to only leave it for his Enneagram to take care of! He smiled at such a reality as momentster, the Enneagram wanted to put its theories into practice right away. [I can slowly begin by taking small, insignificant parts of your soul and fuse them into an extracted Gem Recipe that is currently a Gem Constetion.] ¡­! The Gem constetion, Endless cial Dream. What Alexander would be infusing was not entirely an Ability Gem or support ability gems, but something entirely unique that was a product of the Enneagram itself- A Gem Constetion! Nobody- neither Alexander nor the Enneagram knew the potential results of nurturing and giving parts of one''s soul into a Gem Constetion would produce. Alexander did not hold back, nor was he fearful, as he gave a light nod. "Go ahead." HUUM! Discover hidden tales at empire Dazzling light shone in his eyes as distinctly, he felt an insignificant small part of himself slowly disappear and shoot up towards the endless skies above him- up towards the Gem Constetion that was the Endless cial Dream! It was a unique sensation, as not even a second passed before the voice of the Enneagram rang out in his mind. In addition to its monotone, cold nature, Alexander could swear that he sensed a slight trace of excitement in it. [The fusion of the soul with the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, has begun.] [The progress of fusion is currently 0.001%. The identified Covenant of Nature that will be grasped at Initial Understanding when this percentage reaches 100% is determined to be the Covenant of Water. The Stage of Power attained will be the Ruler of Water.] ¡­! Ruler. The stage that all Emperors sought- to be a Ruler! A process of tremendous wonder towards such a stage began. Alexander could feel its wonders closely, but as this took ce¡­themotion of their battle had spread once more. At this moment, the Night Walker and Alexander both gazed out into the depths of this Sacred Mountain as there, they could feel powerful auras rapidly approaching. But this time, these auras were not bestial in nature. They almost felt¡­humanoid. Humanoid! Chapter 101 Humans of Another World! I Humanoid auras. This feeling was starkly different from Beasts that held wild auras of savagery! In no time, from the direction where one of Jujugan''s cial spears had smashed a Tier 8 Mutated Gem Chimera towards. The tall trees shimmered and actually bent sideways as if a terrifying force wasing out, and in the next moment- the auras they felt became clear. And the faces of Vishp and other Minions became stern. Even the face of the Vigor yer Lich who had begun to move around busily had the mes in its sockets flickering radiantly as it also gave a few nces over! Because there, between the cloudy mist covering the trees, the figures of multiple human entities came out with a burst of radiance. What was maddening was the fact that among them, three terrifying auras radiated nine points of light on their chests. Tier 9 Human Emperors. Two were adorned in golden full-body armor as only their eyes could be seen, while the third was behind them- sitting serenely on top of a small white cloud that was surrounded by nine Tier 8 Human Kings! Their gazes were filled with care and suspicion as the two sides looked at each other. "Priestess, these are¡­?" One of the Tier 9 Emperors adorned in golden ted armor iid with gems asked sternly towards the white-haired woman that he and all the others surrounded. Priestess, she was called. Her white hair pulsed with a crimson-gold light as she spoke out calmly. "Heretics that will stand against us. Look at their defiling life itself? Demons and Beasts within their ranks, as well as unholy undead. They are here to deter us from achieving our aims on this Sacred Mountain. Kill them all." ¡­! Shocking words were uttered out by her loudly as her gorgeous face was filled with distaste while she gazed towards The Night Walker and the Vigor yer Lich especially! Alexander gazed towards these beings with a cold light after hearing the words of the one known as Priestess. Behind him, the Vigor yer Lich was making himself busy with the massive body of the Tier 9 Nine Tailed Emperor- and it had dragged it and the other bodies of Tier 8 Mutated Gem Chimeras that were decimated by the spears of Jujugan towards the ck earth of death where its Legion was rising. These corpses would soon join its Legion! The Night Walker stood beside Alexander as he voiced out with warning and caution. "They hold a unique different signaturepared to you, Young Master. They should be from another World aside from Ephesus. That woman in the middle...seems to be infinitely close to a Ruler. As for their animosity towards us¡­hmph!" The Night Walker was proactive as his voice boomed out towards these new forces. "You all¡­instead of sharing information during this time when the reality of our worlds seems to be shifting, you would rather wage war?" ¡­! He spoke towards them. Towards the Priestess more than anyone else. And yet...his words fell on deaf ears as the Priestess rose up from her cloud with a stern face. "Do not even let the words of the Undead be heard as they beguile and destroy. Let the Faith of the White Mistress protect you all to empower them!" HUUM! The body of the Priestess radiated a dazzling gold light. A light that covered the two Tier 9 Human Emperors and the nine Tier 8 Human Kings- the pressure they radiated bing that much more oppressive as golden tendrils of lightning began to coalesce around them! "Young Master, this will be just a little dangerous." Waves of freezing water had begun to gather around him. Further behind, the Vigor yer Lich had begun to infuse the Energeia of Death into the previously defeatedbatants as they would be ready soon! But before the battle could begin¡­the eyes of the Priestess pulsed with golden light as she spoke clearly once more as she looked between Alexander and his forces. "The greatest enemy is that young devil there. Disrupt his state of heart by killing that woman inside the bone dragon first. After that use the chaos to kill him before anything else." Find more chapters on empire ¡­! Words that caused Alexander''s mind to buzz echoed out. His expression became utterly livid. The young woman that the Priestess pointed to was naturally ire! Kill her first? His anger burned with calmness as he burnt more of the Mutated Gems to replenish his Energeia. He then spokemandingly towards Jujugan as he sought for more Energeia to summon another Undead! "Focus everything you have on that distasteful woman. Leave everything else to others." ¡­! He spokemandingly as Jujugan wanted to ce his input, but he listened to themand of his Master as he shot out like a pulled arrow! At the same time, behind Alexander, another dazzling rift opened as tens of thousands of Energeia were used for a third Undead Summon. WU! WU! A piercing and cruel cry echoed out as rapidly, the figure of an Undead whose body seemed forged from crystalline obsidian steel emerged. An Abyss Knight! He had four hands and two heads- broadswords filled with death grasped in each hand as he seemed like a dominating force of pure destruction. On its chest, nine dazzling obsidian gems radiated a light of terror as they pulsed!N?v(el)B\\jnn "Awaiting. Your. Orders." Its voice was like grating knives as sadly, its tier was more so closer towards the Vigor yer Lich than the enlightened Night Walker. But this was okay for Alexander. He spokemandingly as he directed both this Abyss Knight and Vigor yer Lich, along with its budding Legion, towards a single target. "Take down that Tier 9 Emperor there- you both can handle this?" He pointed towards the golden armored Tier 9 Emperor on the right. The Abyss Knight and Vigor yer Lich both affirmed as they also shot out, and what remained¡­ "The rest of you¡­can you not handle a single Tier 9 Emperor?" He spoke towards Vishp, Anastasia, and other Minions. Their eyes zed with light as Anastasia was the first to rise up, her cry valiant as she shot out! As for the nine Tier 8 Human Kings protecting the Priestess that had called for the death of ire? "I will take care of the rest." ¡­! His Enneagram was spinning rapidly as it devoured more and more energy from the mutated ability gems to recover Energeia. At the same time¡­ [The progress of the fusion of the soul with the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream is currently 0.01%.] Rapid advancement was being made as parts of his soul were taken away and regenerated just as quickly. At the same time, a verdant star shone far above as he pulled upon Limited Nature Maniption. And instantly. Around the nine Tier 8 Human Kings and even the Priestess standing on a cloud with a cold gaze, a terrifying forest bloomed! Chapter 102 Humans of Another World! II The Priestess had a difficult expression as the battle fully unfolded before them. She hadmuned with the Covenant of Faith- the trace amounts of it that she couldmune with anyways, and she saw that even though it would be difficult, winning was possible! And if they could take down these foreign humans and sacrifice them under the banner of the Covenant of Faith, she may just be able to get thest pieces of the puzzle and attain the state of a Ruler. Faith was born in blood. Through blood, she would attain the precipice of Faith and fully be a Ruler! But now¡­ BOOM! Terrifying cial winds gushed down from above as an unruly Undead creature actually tried to defile her. To the sides, Sir Jura and Sir N were being besieged by more Undead and Beasts, and to top it all off- a forest filled with dreadful vines arose to entangle the rest of her forces! She saw that these reinforced vines were under the control of the young devil whose blood would be the most appetizing to offer. Now, when shemuned with the Covenant of Faith, the results were no longer so clear. Such a result was not ideal for her. She was very pragmatic as when faced with it¡­she harrumphed and pulled on the dazzling Gem on her chest! "These vile enemies are proving to be defiant under the eyes of the White Mistress. Retreat!" ¡­! The idea of fighting to the death was never in her mind. She only fought when she could win. BOOM! A storm of white mes erupted all around, the rising forest being burnt as the vines howled, while the Night Walker and others looked on in surprise as their enemies instantly pulled back. What the hell?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om To begin a battle so abruptly and retreat just as quickly? They hadn''t faced such enemies before as while observing such a scene, Alexander''s eyes were cold as he uttered out. "Chase." ¡­! Threaten to kill them all and then run away that quickly? Alexander wouldn''t have it as, at this moment, his forces gave chase while delving deeper into the Sacred Mountain! ¡ª Away from what used to be Carthage. Over three thousand miles away. Where The Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis that Variant Beast Lord Atticus used to reign over used to be. Currently, searing heat bathed the surroundings as all structures, castles, and walls were burning from the heat- some things even melting from the terrifying heat. At this moment, Atticus held the body of his Beloved, his own body missing an arm as all around him, ava-like hell unfolded. His expression was dazed as he seemed to be at the foot of a massive crimson mountain that was releasing volcanic clouds, this wholend seared red as in front of him, an utterly oppressive entity floated and stared at them as if they were prey! And what else could they be if not prey? The creature that had killed his Beloved in seconds and now toyed with him had nine dazzling gems over its serpentine body, each one seeming covered by massive Gem Sockets that each shone with multiple rings of light. A Tier 9 Emperor. But the aura it emanated was far from the ones that Atticus had seen before on Ornis! Far, far heavier. It should not just be an Emperor. Likely, it had reached that legendary Stage above Emperors! With burning winged mes supporting its serpentine body in the air, it finally stopped ying around and opened its jaws- Concentrated mes shooting out as thest thing Atticus saw was a trace of gold in billowing crimson mes. BOOM! And then, everything was turned to ash. "Puny things¡­" The voice of the mewinged Serpent boomed out as around it, heavy tendrils of mes that carried an austere level of power roiling around it. The mes that could only belong to a Ruler. A Ruler of Fire! The mewing Serpent looked around this foreign area as the mountain behind him brimmed with volcanic light. "Now¡­just where did I arrive? What other delicacies await me here¡­" Its eyes radiated a devilish glint as it beckoned down below, tendrils of mes wrapping around the scorched figures of two Tier 8 Kings who were grilled well done at this moment, its jaws opening and swallowing them whole. With a fierce light, the mewing Serpent began to patrol nearby areas. Ephesus. It had undergone changes that many had no idea about, and it had brought together entities of varying levels of power. Some clusters of human poptions were faced with freezing Temperatures or scorching Heat as millions perished on the first day. Other clusters were lucky and had arge number of entities survive. But it was just the beginning. And amidst all this chaos, nobody knew who woulde out on top! At the top of the food chain, Tier 9 Gem Emperors could not be considered unshakable anymore. Depending on one''s luck, meeting the wrong entity at the wrong time would mean certain death. The Skypeak Ascendant Stronghold of Gnis alone was now over three thousand miles away from what used to be the City of Anan, and even further away from Carthage. Amon world had a diameter of 6,000 to 9,000 miles. Such a number¡­seemed to only be a fraction for Ephesus as there were even more vastndscapes where the other Human Lineages used to be! Moderately, the world of Ephesus seemed to now be the size equivalent to that of ten worlds. Moderately. And the changes were not done as this truly only seemed like the beginning! ¡ª BOOM! On a certain Sacred Mountain. A woman followed by Knights in Golden Armors was being chased by Undead and Beasts- a young man and woman following close behind them as, at this moment, she was driven to desperation. So she grit her teeth with a sense of madness as she stopped going up the mountain. And she voiced outmandingly. "Burrow in!" ¡­! She made a decisive choice that she knew would be even more dangerous. But what else could she do?! Chapter 103 Hollow Earth! I Burrow in. Such was themand given by the Priestess as one would normally ask why. Inside of a mountain was more mountain. Densends and earth contained within. So what use would it be apart from slowing them down? Such questions may arise in others, but the Followers of the White Mistress held utmost belief as they didn''t question! The gems on their bodies pulsed with radiance as colorful bursts of light smashed into the earth- sand and soil radiantly smashed away as, like a drill, they burrowed in. The Priestess was in the lead with a vibrant white authority getting close to the stage of a Ruler, her main Ability Gem letting out waves of milky white radiance as it spun and drilled through. In an instant, they began heading into the depths of the Sacred Mountain. As for the forces that forced them into this retreat¡­ "Master, shall we¡­" The Night Walker, Jujugan, asked as behind him, the figure of Alexander floated. His crimson wings and crown hanging sideways on his head glinted with radiance as he spoke slowly. "Keep a distance, but continue."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! The more time that passed, the more he regenerated his Energeia and summoned more Undead. The more time that passed, the more that a certain percentage rose. As he thought of it, Alexandermunicated with his Enneagram as another number showed itself. [The progress of the fusion of the soul with the Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream is currently 0.1%.] .1%! From decimal points, this number was rapidly rising as the Enneagram on his chest became increasingly proficient in fusing more and more of his soul towards the Gem Constetion, and it currently kept increasing the rate every so slowly as Alexander''s life force was used to regenerate the lost portions of his soul. Slowly but surely. He was going towards that ce that others had been seeking for decades. Others like Jujugan had already died and be Undead, and it was still just out of their grasp! Alexander cautiously looked forward to it as they slowed their chase. Behind him, Anastasia and Vishp led the Beast Minions, with ire flying beside him with a stern expression. Further behind, the massive forming Undead Legion being raised by the Vigor yer Lich was making the tunnel they were burrowing into evenrger as an Undead Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera with nine ming tails had now joined their ranks! The cackling Vigor yer Lich seemed to be frowning as its limit to the number of powerful Undead it couldmand in its Legion was already nearing its limit. But this was the force Alexander had protecting him as he moved with confidence while weighing the risks and benefits! Seconds passed as the chase continued. And seconds turned into minutes as after burrowing through what seemed like over 200 miles¡­ HUUM! A massive explosion was heard ahead as if a massive pocket was exposed and ruptured. Thereafter, booming winds initially gushed out from the ends of the tunnel where the Priestess and her people had been in the lead- Alexander and the others only seeing a sh of golden light erupt as after the rough winds that came, a terrifying pulling force grabbed at all them rapidly! It was undeniable. They only felt the golden light they could see get bigger and bigger until¡­ PAH! They crossed the tunnel entirely and came out the other side, their bodies still being pulled by a terrifying force, but it felt like time had slowed down when they saw what was ahead and around them! At the end of the tunnel. The golden brilliance they saw. It stemmed¡­from an extremely vast space. A space! As if the Sacred Mountain they had been borrowing through was hollow! As if inside of it¡­there was a whole other world. World. Alexander could only think of this word when he looked around as the space was just that massive. They appeared in an area that had dazzling gold clouds, and they could see tall rising green gold trees far below them as this hollow space within the Sacred Mountain seemed to be extending further down! Further down, the tall green gold trees were sprouting from round floatingndmass- with Alexander counting at least a dozen of such small world-like structures. The undeniable force was pulling them from the supposed ''sky'' of this ce as if they were never supposed to touch these radiant gold skies and towards one of these small round worlds. The figures of the Priestess and her people were being pulled in another direction towards a different green-gold floatingndmass. BOOM! Their figures crashed between the thick branches and leaves of the green gold trees as they crossed what seemed like hundreds of miles in a few seconds, and ultimately¡­ SAA! The pull on their bodies reduced as theynded on a small world of this hollow earth. Of this hollow Sacred Mountain! Their descent slowed down as they seamlesslynded on the golden earth of this small world, and before they could even understand their situation, the surrounding space began to tremble. From this trembling, Alexander''s eyes opened wide as he saw¡­words beginning to form from the potent waves of Energeia in the air. Words! Words that seemed to be in a universalnguage that everyone could understand, and they held shocking meaning. [You havended on the Third Sacred Mound of the Sacred Gold Mountain.] [On the Third Sacred Mound, there exists a Sacred Key. Obtaining this Sacred Key will give you ess and ownership to a part of the Sacred Gold Mountain, and obtaining all Sacred Keys will grant you Rulership over the Sacred Gold Mountain and the Covenant contained within it. 13 Sacred Mounds containing Sacred Keys exist within the Inner Domain of the Sacred Gold Mountain. Only through Ownership of a Sacred Mountain can one stand and survive the Ascension of Ephesus toe. Only those under the grace of a Sacred Mountain can survive the tribtions toe.] ¡­! Words. Colored gold and in an absolutenguage, they appeared before Alexander and others as finally, it seemed like they were about to grasp some answers regarding Ephesus and its shocking changes! Chapter 104 Hollow Earth! II Theynded on the Third Sacred Gold Mound of the Sacred Mountain that appeared from Carthage! When Alexander saw the golden words that floated in front of them, he felt an eerie sensation of power and solemnity as he looked around carefully. Everything around them seemed to have a golden influence on it. Green gold trees, green gold leaves. Gold sand. It felt far too foreign. The surroundings had an intense concentration of gold Energeia flowing that caused the pores of his body to open greedily and suck everything in- his regeneration of lifeforce that much faster. "Ascendant Master, this¡­!" Read new chapters at empire Anastasia and the others were shocked as they looked around. "Marvelous¡­this¡­this is a grand Covenant¡­" Meanwhile, the Night Walker was dazed as his ming head looked around. Alexander''s senses spread out as everything within a few miles fell under his gaze, but he didn''t even need to use his eyes as after they arrived in this small floating circr world that was called a Mound, they felt a pull towards a certain location on it! This pull¡­was from the so called Sacred Key they had to obtain in order to gain ownership of the Third Sacred Mound.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om If he gained all the keys and ownership of 13 Sacred Mounds, he would gain ownership of the Sacred Gold Mountain as it was stated that only through a domain like this would one survive what was toe! Alexander thought of his father outside of this mountain as he looked towards ire who stayed close to him while marveling at the sights around them. He felt the location of the pull where the Sacred Key should be as there, he could sense terrifying auras of power. His eyes became increasingly calm. He knew what he needed to do, and so, he could only move forward to do so. HUUM! Behind him, another silver rift opened as in addition to an Abyss Knight, A Night Walker, and a Vigor yer Lich¡­the fourth Undead to be summoned was another variation of an Abyss Knight. This one seemed old and withered, with its body looking like a mummy as its eyes were bright gray mes! It bent its head towards Alexander who simply nodded back as once more, nobody as special as Jujugan was summoned. He looked at the slightly apprehensive ire who was looking at everything with wonder along with the rest of his forces as he felt his Energeia dip below 100,000 once more after the recent summon, his eyes turning sharp as he began to float ahead. "We finally have a chance to understand what is really happening with Ephesus and these Sacred Mountains. If we need to gain ownership, then we gain ownership! The so-called Sacred Key will likely be surrounded by Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimeras. Wipe them out as quickly as possible!" Hismanding voice boomed out, and his forces followed his orders! Minions on one side, and Undead on the other. He took ire and returned within the Bone Dragon just to be safe as his small army moved forward speedily! Past the gorgeous golden earth and trees. Towards the area where an oppressive sense of power rose out! It didn''t take too long for them to cross over 100 miles on this Third Sacred Mound, the trees around them thinning as they saw thend rising to form a small golden mountain. Around this golden mountain, tendrils of pure gold Energiea flowed as the zing auras of nine Emperors zed like dazzling mes. Emperors. They seemed on par if not more powerful than the Nine Tailed Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimera they had already turned into an undead, the eyes of all of these powerful beasts turning towards them with a sense of malice! What they protected¡­was a dazzling gem that looked like a ring of golden light. A golden gem in the form of a ring that floated and spun at the peak of this small golden mountain! Alexander observed such a phenomenon calmly as with nine Tier 9 Emperors guarding this ce, it was hard to say if any single Emperor alone could have taken care of them. Unless someone had attained the Ruler Stage or was close to it, taking on this Sacred Mound was nearly impossible! And then, there was Alexander. He looked at the variations of beasts. A Mammoth. An Ape. An Eagle. An Anaconda! Variations of such Beasts roared out towards them at this moment as Alexander rose up while waving his hands- sending his forces towards them. Two Abyss Knights, A Vigor yer Lich and his growing Undead Legion, and a Knight Walker. BOOM! Deathly energies erupted as the Night Walker took charge and erupted with waves of coldness, three Tier 9 Beasts being pulled towards him with the terrifying level of power he possessed and the palpable reach towards the Covenant of Water that he held! The Abyss Knights took an Emperor each, and so did the Vigor yer Lich as instantly, six of the nine Mutated Gem Chimeras were upied- either being embroiled in a fight that took them off the small mountain or were forcefully pushed away. Thereafter, the Undead Nine Tailed Emperor leading the Legion of the Vigor yer Lich led other Undead to capture the roaring attention of another Emperor! Vishp and Anastasia both led half of the Minions here to match the remaining two Tier 9 Emperors as fantastically¡­all enemies faced abatant without Alexander lifting a finger. On the small mountain, dazzling abilities bloomed as the Ability Gems on the chests or other parts of the body radiated light, multiple elements shing. But none of this was the most important thing to Alexander''s eyes as during this chaos¡­ "Wait for me." He whispered to ire. And then¡­ BOOM! He finally made a move as moving at the millionth the speed of light, he turned into a crimson streak that instantly shot up the mountain. ¡­! By the time the entangled Tier 9 Emperors even felt his ascent, they could only turn around and bellow as he was already past the halfway point! SAA! Like a crimson streak of light, he instantly appeared on top of the small golden mountain as he reached out and grasped onto a dazzling ringed gold gem. All he had to do was obtain the key. There was nowhere that stated that all Beasts defending the small mountain had to be killed before he obtained it! Chapter 105 Sacred Gold Mountain! I On top of a small golden mountain. Alexander grasped a vibrant ringed gold gem, baleful Beasts and Undead battling halfway up this mountain and further down as he stood at the top by himself! Furious roars were billowing out from the Mutated Gem Chimeras that were protecting this Third Sacred Mound, but their brief loss of concentration against the enemies they faced cost them dearly! Jujugan wasted no time heavily injuring a Tier 9 Emperor- its life and death decided as when just one of these Emperors began to fall, the rest would no doubt follow. On the top of the mountain, Alexander felt his Enneagram buzz with activity as the ring he held radiated a golden light that sank into him- unique waves of Energeia he had nevere across blooming within him as the golden ring in his hands began to move by itself. It phased out of his fingers and came to coil itself around his wrist like a bracelet- but it truly looked like an indestructible golden gem was now wrapped around his hand. At the same time, his Enneagram that was focused on fusing his soul into the Endless cial Dream spun ever faster as its thoughts rang out. [After obtaining the Sacred Key, it is now possible to leave the Third Sacred Mound.] [A unique type and higher form of Energeia is coursing through you by the means of the bound Sacred Key.] [New details and quantifications to portray this change are now disyed.] ¡­! New details. As he felt these words ring out, Alexander saw the blue border with white text that the Enneagram disyed before his eyes- this time being greatly expanded as there was much more apart from Vigor and Energeia! [Alexander Asmodeus] [Vigor]:: 401,455/401,455 (+2,007,275 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 88,855/360,185 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy) [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Dream(.3% Rate of Fusion), Light of the Void, Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 1 Point] ¡­! His eyes opened wide as he stared nkly at the words that stated¡­Ruler''s Covenant Authority! ''What is this?'' His thoughts went towards the Enneagram as its reply was sinct. [The new source of authority obtained after you grasped the Sacred Key. It has been analyzed to be a type of Covenant Authority, and it currently seems to be seeking a direction and area to settle into as it courses through your body. The possible areas this Authority can be directed to at this moment are shown to your eyes.] His vision flickered once more. The blue bordered white text that showed his name and details¡­he began to see some of them light up with a gold hue as a plus sign appeared in front of them Vigor and Energeia bloomed with a gold hue as a gold plus sign was in front of them. In front of the Minion King and Undead King Gem Recipes, he also saw a plus sign as these words turned gold! This¡­was a ce where he could direct the new Authority granted by the golden ring gem obtained on this Third Sacred Mound.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The Gem Constetion remained dim, a dull plus sign showing there as if the amount of Ruler''s Covenant Authority was not enough to be directed towards them. He had this single point within the Ruler''s Covenant Authority as at this moment, he tested exactly what its purpose was as he focused on the radiantly golden colored Energeia. What he seemed to becking greatly. And his will pressed on the plus sign next to it as in the next moment¡­ HUUUM! The golden ring on his wrist became ever tighter around him, its brilliant light bing dim at this moment as it soon looked like a normal gold ring. And yet within Alexander¡­an explosion of authority bloomed as on the back of the hand bound by the golden ring, a tattoo of a single golden leaf bloomed! A tattoo. A branding. A stigmata! At the same time, his dark eyes gained a golden sheen as even in his forced state of calmness, he couldn''t help but express shock as he felt an explosion of his levels of Energeia! [The maximum value of Energeia has been increased by a factor of two.] [All reserves of Energeia have been replenished.] [Your Energeia has gained a small quality of the Covenant belonging to the Third Sacred Key.] ¡­! His body felt like it was exploding with energy. As if blue waves of Energeia were filling him to the brim and almost spilling out! He almost didn''t believe it as he looked at the quantification of his capabilities in the corner of his eyes. [Alexander Asmodeus] [Vigor]:: 401,455/401,455 (+2,007,275 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 720,370/720,370 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy) [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Dream(.3% Rate of Fusion), Light of the Void, Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 0 Point(s)] ¡­! "Unbelievable¡­" He shook his head at the sheer madness in front of him as it was true. A single Ruler''s Covenant Authority had actually allowed him to double his Value of Energeia. A single one! What would it do were it applied to the Gem Recipes? How many were needed before they could be applied to a Gem Constetion?! His brain was buzzing as, in the next second, his gaze rapidly changed and became serious as he looked around. He obtained the Ruler''s Covenant Authority by gaining a Sacred Key. There were 13 Sacred Keys total on 13 Sacred Mounds within this Sacred Gold Mountain! If just a single one made such shocking changes possible¡­he had to obtain the rest. And even more, he had to do it quickly! Because he wasn''t alone on this Sacred Gold Mountain. The murderous Priestess was also here as if she managed to get her hands on multiple Sacred Keys and gain even more power¡­ Continue reading at empire No, he couldn''t allow this. "Wrap it up!" HUUM! His body vibrated with power as faintly, a golden right of light appeared around his Enneagram. Half of his newly regenerated Energeia was burnt away rapidly as 300,000 Energeia were spent, and three dazzling silver portals bloomed behind him- screaming with deathly energy. But this time, there was a sheen of gold in these portals. An influence of the Covenant belonging to the Third Sacred Key that he had utilized the authority of! Chapter 106 Sacred Gold Mountain! II The first choice for the augmentation of the Ruler''s Covenant Authority, for good or for bad, was Energeia. Alexander badly needed it with the constant usage as his regeneration could not keep up! And so, the single point of Ruler''s Covenant Authority ingrained itself into Energeia- which now carried a blue sheen amongst the sea of blue. The Enneagram had stated that Alexander''s Energeia had gained a small quality of the Covenant belonging to the Third Sacred Key. This Covenant now disyed itself as after three silver portals bloomed behind him, a sheen of golden brilliance shed within them before terrifying auras began to strut out. Auras at the same level, or exceeding that of the Night Walker if ever by a slight margin. The Enneagram had begun to be more and more proactive with its analysis as its voice passively rang out in Alexander''s mind. [The Ancient Vampire, Lucana, has answered the call of your Undead Summon and is now bound to you.] [The Royal Duhan, Rima, has answered the call of your Undead Summon and is now bound to you.] [The Command Abyss Knight, Stifel, has answered the call of your Undead Summon and is now bound to you.] ¡­! The auras of three terrifying undead quaked out as a gorgeous-looking silver-haired woman wrapped in a gray robe gazed towards Alexander with crimson pupils, A headless knight holding an armored head burning with ck mes while seated on a deathly steed, and a pure obsidian skeleton that wielded a massive greatsword also looked on! They seemed to have only gazed around for a few seconds before Alexandermunicated with them and they began to move. Not towards the small mountain below¡­but up. BOOM! Alexander also followed as he sent his thoughts to ire as well, both of their figures shooting up like crimson streaks of lightning as they left others behind to wipe this battlefield! Jujugan released a cial wave of ice down the small mountain that bound the remaining enemies further while he also shot up and followed. Within seconds, they cleared the green gold trees and were in clear skies tinged with gold, and they left the atmosphere of the Third Sacred Mound soon after as they felt an attractive force pull them to the left. The force felt calm if one didn''t fight it, but the moment they sought to go another way, it would be much stronger and pull one in. So Alexander did not fight it, and instead went towards the direction it pulled them towards as another golden floatingndmass was there! The theme was speed. He knew he had to get his hands on as many Sacred Keys as possible, because if the murderous Priestess truly attained the distinction of a Ruler or attained multiple keys¡­it was hard to say how deadly a battle against her would be. So¡­ "If you can kill them quickly, do so. If you can''t- just hold them away until I obtain the Sacred Key, and we leave right after!" His voice boomed outmandingly as the three newly summoned undead that had gained their crimson wings nodded while observing their new Master, while ire and Jujugan followed close behind as their figures were pulled towards another goldenndmass, crashing through its trees as golden words rose around them once more. [You havended on the Second Sacred Mound of the Sacred Gold Mountain.] [On the Second Sacred Mound, there exists a Sacred Key. Obtaining this Sacred Key¡­] Alexander passed through the message painted in gold that rose from the Second Sacred Mound as he instantly shot towards the area where he could feel the stifling sensation of power. Their bodies were akin to crimson lightning that flickered through the trees, quickly crossing a few hundred miles and arriving in front of golden sand that elevated to form a small mountain. Simr to before, a floating golden ring spun calmly above this small mountain, but unlike before¡­only a single protector was there. A golden serpent that coiled around the whole mountain, its serpentine eyes cold as the pressure it emanated was a notch above Jujugan! It was something that had also almost grasped a Covenant. Nine golden gemsy on its back as just looking at its ferociousness made Alexander want to turn it into a Minion- if only he wasn''t running against time itself. Beating a terrifying beast like this would take time! Against such a terrifying beast¡­ Alexander clenched his hands without slowing down as he obscenely spent over 100,000 Energeia all at once. BOOM! Thick green gold vines erupted from the golden earth, going on to wrap and twist themselves around the massive serpent before they pulled it down towards the mountain- anchoring it in ce as it let out a furious bellow! Its jaws opened to release noxious gold smoke, but the figures of the Duhan and Ancient Vampire already appeared above it. From the Ancient Vampire, a crimson bloodnce thundered down while the Duhan used its steed to smash down with pure force, a heavy battle blooming in this direction! And Alexander moved past all of it as his figure never stopped, shooting past the vines he called out to immobilize the golden serpent as he arrived at the peak of the small mountain right away- grasping the golden ring atop it right away.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om WU! It red gold and reflected his determined eyes as it wrapped around his right hand and resonated with the first one he had on. [After obtaining the Sacred Key, it is now possible to leave the Second Sacred Mound.] [A unique type and higher form of Energeia is coursing through you by the means of the bound Sacred Key.] Just like before, a billowing and fantastical golden wave of brilliance gushed into his body from the sacred key! And surely, on the panel in the corner of his eyes, the Ruler''s Covenant Authority was refilled by a single point. He felt his eyes gain a deeper shade of golden radiance as he already began to rise, looking towards the bound golden snake that was now heavily injured as 4 uniquely powerful Undead Emperors ganged up on it! And Alexander couldn''t help but try as he arrived in front of its bloodied head that was roaring out in defiance. "I''ll give you three seconds to decide since I don''t have the time- will you die, or will you submit to me? You can live another day to fight for Ephesus." ¡­! Three seconds. It was an extremely short period of time, and the massive golden serpent could see the conviction within Alexander''s eyes! The four Emperor Undead around it vibrated with a chilling light as they prepared to finish the job. One second. Two seconds. On the third Second¡­ ROAR! The golden serpent roared out defiantly as Jujugan shook his head, a cial spear rotating rapidly being swung down along with other attacks as Alexander didn''t even look back. He and ire already shot up towards the skies as another Sacred Key was obtained, a Ruler''s Covenant Authority roiling within Alexander as on his panel, Only his Vigor, Minion King Gem Recipe, and Undead King Gem Recipe shone blue and could be augmented! Chapter 107 Sacred Gold Mountain! III Speed! The theme was tremendous speed as Alexander cleared the Second Sacred Mound within the span of barely less than a minute, his figure and ire flying out soon after as they were pulled towards another floating goldenndmass, The Tier 9 Undead Summons following close behind. On the Second Sacred Mound, the protector was defiant to submit before Alexander, and it became a corpse that when the Vigor yer Lich arrived on that Mound, it would only fall into its Legion. On the way to the next circr floatingndmass, Alexander only nced at the panel in the corner of his eyes that showed the brightly lit Vigor and two Gem Recipes that could be augmented by the Ruler''s Covenant Authority, the plus sign in front of them almost daring him as he didn''t make the choice yet. He wanted to umte them and see. He used a single point on Energeia as it doubled that value and gave it a terrifying influence. On the blue-bordered panel, Energeia was now golden and wrapped with golden radiance. He wanted to see how many points would be required to augment the Gem Constetions, and even what a second augmentation on the same thing would do! So he moved on with caution and speed. "Yaa!" The next floatingndmass theynded on was the First Sacred Mound, with ire unleashing a storm of blue lightning to temporarily paralyze two Tier 9 Mutated Gem Chimeras, Jujugan and the other Undead Minions decimating six others as Alexander seamlessly obtained a third Sacred Key- every single beast on thisndmass being killed as they continued on. Three Sacred Keys. Two Ruler''s Covenant Authority points! Nothing changed even after obtaining two as Alexander continued- with Vishp, Anastasia, and other Minions who were catching up finally joining them as they followed the unexinable gravitational force towards anotherndmass. From the third, second, and first Sacred Mounds, the next one they came across was the Thirteenth Sacred Mound. On this one, only a single Mutant Gem Chimera nearing the stage of a Ruler appeared as with Jujugan and three other Undean under Alexander radiating simr levels of power, this Emperor was downed even quicker than the golden serpent as atop a mountain peak, another spinning golden ring was obtained. It still bound itself on Alexander''s right hand as three Ruler''s Covenant Authority points were now collected! And finally¡­ HUUM! He felt his body pulsing with the foreign golden tendrils of authority that sought direction on where to go. When he looked at the panel that his Enneagram disyed for him, the words depicting Gem Constetions were finally and absolutely shining gold, plus signs appearing in front of them. "..." He stared at the golden brilliance briefly as his body was already floating in the austere brilliance of the Sacred Gold Mountain, heading towards another one of its Mounds inside its hollow earth! All three Gem Constetions could be augmented, and even their first augmentation required three Ruler''s Covenant Authority points. Meanwhile, Energeia that had been grayed out this whole time shone again, a golden plus sign appearing in front of it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om To augment it and likely Gem Recipes for the second time, three Ruler''s Covenant Authority points were required. These points were extremely limited as it seemed like in this Sacred Gold Mountain, only 13 of them existed. Every single one was critical as at this moment, Alexander continued to hoard them- his heart particrly drawn to the Gem Constetions that required three points each just for the first augmentation! But he persevered and continued on. From the Thirteenth Sacred Mound, they were pulled towards the Twelfth, Eleventh, Tenth, and Ninth ones without any issues as another four golden ringed Sacred Keys were obtained. The seventh and eighth Sacred Keys that granted Alexander a total of 7 Ruler''s Covenant Authority points did not bind themselves on his right hand, and instead went to his left. He currently looked like a grandiose bejeweled prince with these dazzling golden rings as he only noted this before continuing. There were now only 5 Sacred Mounds that Alexander had not visited. But while they were on the hollow earth of the Sacred Gold Mountain and heading towards the Eighth Sacred Mound¡­ ¡­! They saw the dazzling scene of the Priestess and her followers¡­in the same region as them. Being pulled along the same gravitational force as them! The robes of the Priestess were bloody as she held in her hands four radiant golden rings inparison to Alexander''s eight! It meant that this golden floatingndmass all of them were now flowing towards¡­held thest unounted key as all other Sacred Keys were in the hands of others. The Priestess had a frightening aura of power currently, but her forces were dwindled as only a single Tier 9 armored Emperor followed her along with six Tier 8 Kings! For her to have so many casualties¡­ Alexander''s eyes squinted as knowing the level of power the Beasts he faced showed, it was more than them just having some casualties due to the Mutated Gem Chimeras. They were a few miles away still as they were all pulled towards the same location, but Alexander could now see a sense of disharmony within their group as the eyes of the remaining Tier 9 Emperor were cold and filled with a light of resignation- his eyes shifting with caution towards the Priestess he followed this whole time. Seeing this, Alexander quickly understood and theorized that on the first or second Sacred Mound that this party entered, someone other than the Priestess had gotten their hands on a Sacred Key first. They grasped its shocking power as after that¡­they did not wish to give it up to the Priestess! After all, who would easily let go of something that literally granted Ruler''s Covenant Authority? What happened next had to be bloody- thus leading to this current situation. Feeling their bodies drawn towards the samendmass, Alexander knew the final leg of this perilous journey had arrived as he spoke out calmly. "Ignore everything and everyone else, and kill that woman for me." He gave a simplemand to the array of forces surrounding him as all his Minions and Undead Summons burned with a cold light. And seeing the even more terrifying aura around the Priestess, Alexander gazed at the panel on the corner of his eyes and decisively pressed on a golden plus sign! Three Ruler''s Covenant Authority points were utilized as rivers of golden light that were swimming within his body bloomed with halcyon radiance- their reach extending extremely high. Towards a Constetion. It was the Gem Constetion, Light of the Void! Chapter 108: Sacred Gold Mountain! IV He had 7 total remaining Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority points, and three went towards the Gem Constetion, Light of the Void. It was only a matter of which Gem Constetion would be first, as Alexander already knew Endless cial Dream and Yggdrasil would follow, but at this particr moment, he needed Light of the Void more than anything else. He only looked coldly towards the crazed Priestess emanating a deadly light of power as behind him, his crimson wings of lightning began to burn with a golden hue. ¡­! On the back of his hand, the tattoos of three more golden leaves appeared as the stigmata on his hand became more and more pronounced. He could feel the brightness of the Gem Constetion. At this moment, he felt likepared to others, it was pulled down all that much closer to him- or his status simply went higher. No matter which was the actual reality, the crimson lightning that bathed him and his forces became absolutely maddening. |The Speed that can be achieved with the Wings of Crimson Light is Half a Millionth the Speed of Light.] [Under the Nature Defiance inherent ability, Limited Vacuum Adaptation has been attained. For a brief period of time, you can ovee the bindings of your Physiology and be capable of surviving in the vacuum of space and other domains that lower level life forms cannot inhabit.] ¡­! Brilliance. Behind his back. Behind ire. Behind Vishp and Anastasia. Behind Jujugan and other Tier 9 Emperor Undead! The allure of gold bloomed amidst the crimson radiance of their wings as at this moment, the speed of Half a Millionth the Speed of Light erupted with fervor. SAA! Jujugan was instantly to the side of the Priestess, her eyes not even being able to follow such speed as her power activated innately. White gold brilliance erupted around her to form a shield that shed and vibrated with the terrifying frost filled hands of Jujugan, but he was not alone! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om BOOM! BOOM! Anastasia and Vishp smashed onto her white gold shield as it buzzed with defiance, the eyes of the Priestess within turning mad as she bellowed out. "I have faith on my side! Defiance of faith is not an option!" She had spent 4 Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority points just like Alexander. She didn¡¯t have a Gem Constetion, but she could have enhanced a single part of her twice, or four parts of her once. Whichever it was¡­. BOOM! Allowed her to wield a tremendous sense of power as Pirs of white gold light bloomed from above and smashed into Jujugan and others surrounding her. At this same time, they also crushed through the trees to arrive on the golden sands of thisst Sacred Mound. The hair of the Priestess weaved with maddened rage and fervor as when she looked around, the figure of Alexander wasn¡¯t even anywhere to be seen. She looked towards a distantnd as in that direction¡­ A Duhan and an Ancient Vampire appeared, their terrifying bodies turning into streaks of crimson gold light she could barely grasp! Her eyes turned absolutely maddened as she bellowed out, feeling like something she almost had in her hands was about to be taken away! "O YE UNFAITHFUL!" White gold Pirs of light materialized around her and smashed towards the enemies rapidly swirling all over this area. Herst remaining defenders were being picked off one by one as with seconds passing, more and more Undead and Beasts circled around her while resisting the Pirs of Faith she conjured! "No." Her skin became painted gold, and on her forehead, a slit appeared as a third eye bloomed. "I heard the voice of the Mistress. I am Chosen of the Mistress. I will have my way!" A golden eye sted open in her forehead as a terrifying pressure that knocked Vishp and all Tier 8 equivalent Kings radiated outwards. Only Jujugan and the Tier 9 Undead remained to resist this terrifying pressure as the Night Walker, Jujugan, currently felt a terrifying calling. The Covenant he was so close to this whole time. He felt like he could hear its bells. Its bells were ringing as he was infinitely close to it! After all the boosts that came through from the connection through his Master, his life force became increasingly vigorous as he freely gave himself away to his Ability Gem. WHOOSH! Around this Undead, a dazzling blue sea with raging waves unfurled, a thing of beauty that in the next moment raged to be frozen cial waves that circled around the Priestess- constricting her white gold Pirs as this allowed others to rush in. Bloody good spears moving at Half a Millionth the Speed of Light thundered towards the Priestess as she truly could barely see them- her power only activating innately to defend her as even under the influence of four Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority points¡­she still faced a disastrous and outssed match against this many terrifying Emperors! Her gaze became crazed as tears fell from her eyes, the golden eye on her forehead bing wider and wider as it bled gold blood. "I¡­am a follower of the Mistress herself¡­" She spoke dazedly as more and more white gold pirs bloomed to protect her, but it felt like her very life force was paying the price for it as her eyes became unfocused. At this moment, everything she knew and believed in was crumbling as she couldn¡¯t help but be dazed. In her dazed state, wrath began to rise as she looked around and was about to bellow out when¡­ SAA! A crimson gold spear of blood from an Ancient Vampire flickered past the cial waves of a small sea and the Pirs of white gold light protecting her. It fluttered past the gaps and smashed straight into her chest, the speed and lethality being so potent that it passed through cleanly! Your journey continues at empire Her figure wasn¡¯t flung back whatsoever. Her feet remained entrenched in the golden sand. And yet where her chest used to be, a clear hole could be seen. 90% of her heart, gone. Her lungs and a myriad of other organs, gone! She looked dazedly at the hole in her chest that white gold light bloomed and tried to heal, but the damage was far too extensive. At such a time, a crimson gold light shed as from above, Alexander reappeared. In his hands, there nowy 9 radiant golden rings as he had already obtained the Sacred Key on this floatingndmass. Beside him, ire gazed coldly at the woman who proimed her to die, her hand rising up and falling as in the skies, a blue de of lightning formed that swung down on the right hand of the Priestess. Cleanly and without resistance, the hand was bisected at the shoulder level as an instantter, vines erupted from the ground and raised his cut off lime towards Alexander- the four golden rings on this limb regaining their brilliance as if they had lost their previous owner! It was the reality of a single being attaining all 13 Keys of the Sacred Gold Mountain! Chapter 109: Sacred Gold Mountain! V The golden rings fell out of the severed limbs and floated in front of Alexander, three of them going towards his right hand as the fourth one floated towards his chest. With an eruption of golden radiance, he frowned as he felt a tinge of pain as the 13th golden ring fused itself on his chest- almost lining the exterior of his Enneagram! 6 golden gem rings on the right and left hands each. 1 on the chest. After they were bound to him, tendrils of golden radiance began to pulse around him as heavy changes began to ur! They were swept by a wave of gravity as they became drawn towards the center of the hollow mountain- Alexander and his Minions, and even the now lifeless body of the Priestess and her forces. At the same time, the 13 floating inds within this hollow mountain began to spin and rotate rapidly- at such a shockingly fast pace and in the same direction as soon, they achieved enough speed to make it seem like a single band of light was formed and humming around the hollow mountain. Alexander and his forces were at the center of this all as others looked around worriedly, but Alexander simply felt the bountiful Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority flowing within him as a momentter, he looked up! All 13 keys on him lit up brightly. At the peak of the hollow mountain, a golden pir of light shone down and smashed into him, isting his figure from all others entirely as in the next moment, everything and everyone faded away from his eyes. Immense silence descended. When he opened his eyes again, he seemed to be weightless floating in space as his body¡­was not here. He raised his hands and saw that they were made of pure energy- currently shining with an aurora of blue, crimson, and green lights that began to be entangled by waves of gold. Experience new tales on empire In this space, it was only him and¡­ SAA! The visage of an old man that emerged from an illusory golden Mountain! The old man had white gold strands of hair as he emanated Great age and wisdom, but his gaze towards Alexander was currently an unfriendly one as he spoke out calmly. [You have a single chance to ask a question and obtain an answer. What do you wish to know?] ¡­! The voice was monotone. Simr to his Enneagram, but different! It held emotion and coldness within it as Alexander couldn¡¯t help but stare at this illusory figure of an old man with caution. But the old man said nothing else. He only stared at him with the same coldness as after a minute passed, Alexander gathered his thoughts and asked the question that was guing him this whole time. "What¡­is happening to the World of Ephesus?" ¡­! A simple question. But it was one that nobody could say they definitely held an answer for. The gaze of the old man became even more unfriendly after getting such a question, but he spoke nheless as if he was bound by something. [Ephesus, like other worlds, is simply evolving. Changing from what it once was.] WAA! [Energy is finite. Creatures of worlds are akin to parasites that take and take without giving back. Thus, worlds have had enough, and are seeking means to change this. To heal. Energeia Star Ascension is not enough, so Ephesus Pioneered a different way to heal and propagate. Extermination of the masses is the first step, more will follow.] ¡­! The voice of the old man was absolutely chilling as he spoke, mentioning the lives of billions as if they were nothing. [But nothing can be done without a cost. For Ephesus to achieve its aims, it had to pay a cost to bnce out the Scales of the Covenants. Thus, there came the Sacred Mountains. Tools of resistance that the parasites of worlds could use to stand a chance in the new Age that Ephesus envisions- if they are powerful enough to attain ownership of such Mountains. You were lucky to arrive the moment this Sacred Gold Mountain formed as no Ruler has yet risen to protect it. Regardless, you have now gained ownership. Maybe, just maybe, you might be a useful parasite that can give back to Ephesus. Thispletes the answer to your question.] "...!" Alexander¡¯s eyes were unfathomably stern as he looked at the old man who began to pulse with golden light. Ephesus. It all revolved around Ephesus. Other worlds erupted with Energeia Star Ascension as they underwent an emergence that generated a tremendous amount of energy. But at the end of the day, even with all of this energy, the resources of the Worlds continued to be drained as they died again and again. Dead worlds. As if it had seen this fate for itself, Ephesus chose another path entirely- one that took other dying worlds as it shockingly fused them into itself! But everything came at a cost. The old man stated that the Scales of the Covenants had to be bnced! Ephesus couldn¡¯t simply move to eradicate everything on it as those living within the world had to be given a chance against this action. The Sacred Mountains were this chance. The old man looked at Alexander with distaste as he continued. [You have gained Ownership of the 9th Sacred Mountain of Ephesus, the Sacred Gold Mountain.] [With the Ownership, you have gained Limited Ephesus Land control as you can shroud and protect the Sacred Gold Mountain from the harsh environments of Ephesus.] [With Ownership, no other Mutated Gem Chimeras from different regions or Sacred Mountains of Ephesus can step foot on the Sacred Gold Mountain.] n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [With Ownership, you have gained 13 Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority points that rte to the Covenant binding this mountain- the Covenant of Gold.] [As the Owner of the Sacred Gold Mountain, your Existence will slowly limate to the authority until it gains the understanding of the Covenant of Gold. Ruler¡¯s Covenant Authority can be used to hasten this process and grant you entry into the recognition and understanding of the Covenant of Gold even faster.] ¡­! Chapter 110 Master of a Sacred Mountain! Terrifying waves of information came one after another as Alexander''s expression only became more somber. He couldn''t help but ask. "Can Ruler''s Covenant Authority only be grasped from Sacred Mountains?" A critical question.N?v(el)B\\jnn These points were far too unique and important as where they could be obtained was critical! But the illusion of the old man never answered. Alexander had only received a single chance to ask and get an answer. Anything outside of that, this Illusory entity has no obligation to answer! At this moment, it only gazed forth coldly while pirs of golden light began to flow into Alexander''s body. It was a unique sensation. As if he was gaining ess to some sort of ruling or idea, and he was gaining the capability to simply steer this ruling. To steer this Mountain. The Ruling was tightly enclosed in the Covenant of Gold- and it was what entirely bound this Sacred Gold Mountain! He couldn''t feel the Enneagram on his chest, but he still heard its voice in his head. [The Inheritance of the Covenant of Gold has begun, and currently sits at 1%.] [Unlike the recognition and understanding of a Covenant granted through Ability Gems, the very being of the Sacred Mountain of Gold acts as a massive World Gem that contains the full Covenant of Gold, and the temporary Ownership of this Mountain grants you its recognition over time.] [It is estimated that 7 days will be required for the Inheritance to bepleted. But this process can be hastened and reduced with the aid of the Ruler''s Covenant Authority of Gold. A Single Ruler''s Covenant Authority can reduce the inheritance time by one day.] ¡­! As the Owner of the Sacred Gold Mountain, he held many boons. One of the biggest ones turned out to be the inheritance of a Covenant of Nature in a week''s worth of time! One could be a Ruler within a single week after gaining ownership of a Sacred Mountain. But¡­ [The position of Rulership of the Sacred Gold Mountain can always change hands if the Sacred Keys are lost.] ¡­! He was the owner, but he could always lose this position! These waves of information all came and went as on his hands, stigmatas of golden leaves bloomed gloriously. He opened his eyes as he saw the illusory figure of the old man still looking towards him with distaste. As if he hated the fact that Alexander got his hands on this Mountain. As if Alexander did not deserve it. After all, if just a few days passed, the Mutated Gem Chimeras on this mountain who were close to bing Rulers¡­would have attained this position. At that time, how could anyone steal ownership of a Sacred Mountain? But he had moved too fast. He was too lucky! These seemed to be theints of this old man as soon enough, he faded entirely as the scene Alexander could see returned to that of the hollow earth of the Sacred Gold Mountain. The pir of golden light bathing him dissipated as his figure was revealed. ire and Anastasia let out audible gasps when his figure showed itself. His dark hair held strands of pure gold. The pupils within his eyes were tinged with vibrant golden lines! And on his body¡­a golden robe with 13 leaves etched on its back was draped over him as he looked entirely otherworldly. "Ascendant Master¡­you¡­" Anastasia couldn''t seem to get a hold of herself as she blushed and looked away, the glow of gold surrounding Alexander being too brilliant! At this moment, he looked at Jujugan and the Undead Minions gazing up at him in awe as he spoke calmly. "Let''s go." ¡­! His body floated up towards the peak of the mountain, and so did all those who followed him. They moved extremely quickly as up above, the golden earth parted ways as if the mountain was opening and about to erupt, light beginning to shoot out as the golden brilliance within the hollow mountain was more than the light outside! Beams of golden light bloomed at the peak of the Sacred Gold Mountain. As if announcing the arrival of its owner. And within moments, Alexander and his forces found themselves above the peak of the Sacred Gold Mountain! Dark clouds and mist roiled around them as the temperature could freeze even a Seven-Link Gem Master. One could barely see anything with these dark clouds, but they had to be unfathomably high. Alexander looked at all of this as he sighed and spoke out. Read new chapters at empire "Extreme temperatures will not affect this mountain and the immediate area around it." WUU! A few words. And yet in the next moment, the golden robe he wore shone with golden brilliance that was reflected on the massive mountain below! The brilliance of this Sacred Mountain emerged and showed itself even more. There were areas of multicolored radiance, but at this moment, a ring of faint golden light erupted all around this mountain as the terrifying snow storms and cold temperatures began to be pushed away. Outside of its bounds! It was the start of the enactment of the first safe haven from the wrath of Ephesus. As it started, Alexander could see much more of this lustrous Sacred Gold Mountain, and he could even feel the massive Nurtured Tree he had left at the base of this mountain that seemed to be over 1,000 miles. 1,000 miles! It was that massive all around. And now, it had fallen under his influence as he had many things to do and consider! The temperature rapidly stabilized as Alexander began flying down the mountain, his gaze looking through the parting clouds as the wonders of Ephesus revealed themselves once more. The tumultuous skies. The massive inverted obsidian mountain in the distance. A Sacred Mountain that came from the World of Ornis where Anastasia and others originated. Within that mountain, there were likely other Sacred Keys- and the only ce to obtain more Ruler''s Covenant Authority. Even though he wanted to set off for it right away, he knew he had to stabilize himself on this Sacred Gold Mountain and ensure the safety of his Father and the remaining humans of what used to be Carthage! At the same time, his Enneagram churned and spun as it analyzed the best path forward. The usage for the few remaining Ruler''s Covenant Authority. And just what extent of authority Alexander had over this Mountain! Chapter 111 A Glimpse of Space! I Hundreds of miles were crossed in a short period of time. Atop the radiant Sacred Gold Mountain, the vegetation and trees radiated abundance and wonder as in many other areas, the Mutated Gem Chimeras could be heard howling or growling as they kept their heads down whenever Alexander passed. For the Mutated Gem Chimeras who didn''t die, they could not harm the new Owner of the Sacred Mountain. Instead, they would be among the first line of defenders if the Sacred Mountain was attacked! Alexander could see them. Their hatred. Their eyes radiated the same resignation he had seen in the eyes of the old man- they all seemed to say they unwillingly epted the oue of him bing the Owner of this Sacred Gold Mountain! But the more he saw them, the more he saw a simr light of coldness that was too singr. As if a single apathetic will was coiling around the illusory old man and the Mutant Gem Chimera while observing and moving countless pieces. An apathetic will he had almost made him think it was the Sacred Gold Mountain, but upon closer inspection, he thought the answer was even worse. In those eyes, he felt like he could see the maddening rage of Ephesus itself! Such a sensation made even him feel a sense of destion as he came to the realization that truly, the verynd he was born in wanted to kill him. The very world he called his home wanted all beings on it decimated as it came to this logical conclusion in the face of constantly and endlessly depleting resources! |...| It was a heavy emotion to stomach even as his mind continued to calm itself and maintain an intuitive state of mind. He crossed hundreds of miles in a short period of time as he came to a stop in the skies near the Nurtured Tree. Discover stories at empire His golden robe that seemed to be made of pure light and the stigmata of golden leaves behind it flickered brilliantly along with his crimson wings that wereced with golden tendrils of light. ire by his side, Vishp, and all others under his banner of the Minion King Gem Recipe carried simr crimson gold wings as they looked otherworldly, while Jujugan and the array of Undead Summons simply looked dreadful when constructed with the deathly aura and pristine augmentation of the Gem Constetion, Light of the Void. They descended the mountain and arrived before the Nurtured Tree that began to open up its round buds at this moment, those within looking at the unfolding light fearfully as thest thing they remembered were raging storms and cold winds that froze even Gem Masters! Yet¡­ "Ah¡­" Azazel stood protectively in front of Alexander''s father as when their bud opened up, they didn''t feel ravaging cold winds. They didn''t see a cloudy, dreadful sky. They saw waves of golden radiance shining down, and when they looked up, they saw Alexander and the brilliant gold light that surrounded him. All the buds of the Nurtured Tree unfurled as all those within witnessed this scene, the massive golden mountain and its grandeur presenting itself before them as when they saw it, they couldn''t help but look at this mountain with hatred! After all, it had risen and killed the millions of humans within Carthage! ire''s father rose up while looking tenderly at his daughter, and Branch Leader Julius gazed towards Alexander with dazed eyes that seemed to be lost in thought as he asked. "Is it over?" His words held a sense of defeat within them as with his role as the Branch Leader, he felt like he utterly failed, and the lives of many were put on the line for it. Even though he truly couldn''t have foreseen any of this! Alexander nodded lightly as he replied with a sense of gravity. "The surrounding mountain is secured. There are a few Beasts, but they won''t attack you. The mountain sprouted in the middle of Carthage and disced everything, but there may still be survivors that held long enough in the cold storm that is now dispersed. We can only search and hope for the best."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! Alexander looked at his father. And his Father looked at him. In his eyes, he could see the tiredness¡­as well as the sense of unfamiliarity as he looked at him. As if he couldn''t believe that this was still his son. He had, after all, changed far too much in this short period of time! He could only nod and wave his hands to the gem masters on the massive Nurtured Tree as his voice loudly echoed out. "Scour the periphery of the mountain! Retrieve any survivors!" The words held solemnity and hope as an instantter, the Gem Masters of Carthage looked at each other with a sense of destion before they began to move. Many didn''t hold much hope when they remembered how ravaging the cold storms had been! Alexander looked towards his Beast Minions and Undead Minions as he also nodded towards them. "Set up a perimeter around the Sacred Gold Mountain. Save any you can find." It might have been a fool''s job, but they could still try. As many people dispersed around him, Alexander saw his Father moving with the others and givingmands as he raised his head to the skies and looked above. "Spend some time with your father. Help him search." He spoke to the girl beside him as he felt Branch Leader Axel nearing their position, ire nodding towards him as his figure began to rise. She didn''t even need to ask him where he was going as at this moment, shrouded by wisps of golden radiance, Alexander simply rose higher in the skies. He wanted to see. He wanted to see Ephesus for himself and the shocking scale it had reached at this moment as he continued rising towards the skies, bing ever faster! He burst through theyers of clouds as seconds passed, feeling the air slowly change the moment he passed the massive peak of the Sacred Cold Mountain. He faced immense cold miles away from the influence of the Sacred Gold Mountain as even this didn''t deter him, his figure only rising higher and higher. The Gem Constetion, Light of the Void, had bloomed an extremely shocking feature after being augmented by the Ruler''s Covenant Authority. Under Nature Defiance, there was Limited Vacuum Adaptation. He could survive in many environments for a limited time. One of those was space. The ster, wondrous allure of space. He wanted to step into it- however limited he would be in time, and observe just how vast Ephesus had be! Chapter 112 A Glimpse of Space! II The air felt somber. The atmosphere felt constricting! Yet in the midst of it all, Alexander rose across the skies of Ephesus. His figure, adorned in a golden robe and with crimson gold wings of lightning flowing from his back looked extremely ethereal as he crossed the manyyers of the skies, the Sacred Gold Mountain below him that spanned over 1,000 miles slowly bing smaller and smaller! And yet, he could still feel the ''atmosphere'' of Ephesus itself that felt like a stifling, ever-present air that contained everything. As he rose up, he looked at theyers andyers of clouds he was passing, his gaze even going towards the base of the inverted Obsidian mountain that floated in the skies in a manner that made no sense whatsoever. What could possibly be holding an inverted mountain in the skies? Even as he asked himself this, Alexander could feel a tug of gravity simr to the hollow earth within the Sacred Gold Mountain permeating different regions far away. There were too many mysteries urring all around for one to even question how some things were possible. He kept his head high, seeing the fantastical darkness of space approaching as minutes passed. Continue your saga on empire He was traveling a bit less than 1 mile every two seconds as within half an hour, he had already crossed close to 2,000 miles! He couldn''t feel the air he normally felt and breathed this whole time as everything was bing unfathomably heavy. Around him, he already felt a subtleyer of protection encasing his body as he had long since crossed the stratosphere and mesosphere of Ephesus, and he was now crossing the thermosphere and about to enter the exosphere- the true outer space! At such a time, he turned around. "..." And the scene left him breathless as he saw¡­a hazyyer of green gold covering a truly expansivendscape. As a distant marker, far down below, he could see a small golden outline that represented the Sacred Gold Mountain. Around it, white storms were reduced to a scenery of white ckness and snow as near it, another marker that was an obsidian mountain could also be seen. And now, Alexander could see much more as past the region of whiteness surrounding the Sacred Gold Mountain, he saw what looked to be crimson ck earth where even from this high up, he could almost feel its heat! This area¡­should be close to where the city of Anan used to be as by now, everything may have been burned to ash. A distance away in this region, he saw a rising crimson mountain that released scorching fumes above and all around. As he rose up and he could see even further, the outline of a vast blue body of water that was far wider than any stretch ofnd so far could be seen, but he couldn''t see any brilliantly shining marker of a mountain until during his continued ascent, he observed a massive blue mountain floating above the waters of that endless sea! A mountain. Floating atop a sea. There were likely other Sacred Mountains within the depths of this sea as well, with an area that covered this much of Ephesus likely not being barren, with an unknown number of Mutant Gem Chimeras moving within. But even all of this¡­seemed to only be a fraction of Ephesus as even thousands of miles past its earth, Alexander was only looking at a portion of it. A single side as in the corner of his eyes, there were still morendmarks that could barely be seen! "..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He held no words as he felt unfathomably small in the grand scale of Ephesus. He didn''t actively use the boons of the Light of the Void, and yet he felt weightless. No air flowed through his nostrils, but his heart still beat and his blood still pumped. At this moment, he turned away from Ephesus and into the space above as when staring out, a sense of destion overcame him as for the most part, he only saw endless darkness. A twinkling of stars every now and then in a certain direction. The rays of a far too distant sun even further away that Ephesus itself seemed to be obscuring from them nowadays. It all seemed so vast and endless that it almost terrified him, with one major thing being utterly deafening! And that was...the silence. Up here, in the void of space, it was so quiet. Inside the vacuum of space, it was unfathomably silent. He opened his mouth. "...." And no words came out. No matter how he tried to vocalize them, he couldn''t even hear his own words! As this sense of destion and terror seemed to only be creeping in and making his mind buzz¡­ HUUM! His chest vibrated and shone with waves of multicolored splendor. [The Abnormal Mental State has been cleared.] [It is advised to only delve into regions such as these once a Covenant of Nature has been grasped, or after the Gem Constetion, Light of the Void, has been augmented further by Ruler''s Covenant Authority.] He couldn''t hear anything, but amidst the deafening silence, the voice of the Enneagram rang out. It was there with him as his mind felt a closing sensation flowing through, and any negative emotions that were there faded away! He stared out into the emptiness of space as he felt like he could clearly observe it without feeling a sense of destion, his eyes bing firm as he gazed down at the massive expanse of Ephesus below. At his world that wanted to kill him and all others on it! It arrived at such a logical conclusion in the answer to constantly depleting resources as was this truly the only solution? He denied this conclusion. He denied its methods of decimation on hundreds of millions of humans of the Four Human Lineages! As he felt the warning signs of the Limited Vacuum Adaptation sh, his expression was resolute as he turned into a streak of crimson gold light that dove back towards Ephesus, his will made known only by him as he bellowed it out in his heart. He would find another solution. Not the one that his own world came up with! And to live long enough to find such a solution, he had to ensure his survival in this deadlyndscape that Ephesus was setting up! Chapter 113 The State of Affairs On the Sacred Gold Mountain. Serene green gold trees arose from slightly gold earth as the leadership and what remained of Carthage were gathered in a single area. A few tens of thousands of people! In thest few hours, they had waded across the periphery of the Sacred Gold Mountain- the initial hour only making them all feel a sense of destion as they found nothing. It was onlyter that in andslide of what used to be Carthage, the cold had receded in this area as when they were searching, they felt the earth underneath shake! When they focused on that area, they were able to unearth an enclosed area filled withyers of artificial earth that crumbled down when they appeared, and within- 87 Humans shivering with coldness looked up. At their center, a Three-Link Gem Master with a haggard appearance and a Sand Maniption Ability Gem remained as he had barely managed to save others as he seemed drained. When the rescue party appeared, he instantly copsed from exhaustion. This had rejuvenated the Gem Masters seeking survival as their search became more fervent! They continued for hours. As time passed, emotions rose and fell as some fairly powerful Three-Link Gem Masters used theyers of earth during the quakes andndslides as protection- with some Ability Gems allowing them to iste and survive the cold temperatures long enough! But even after a few hours, the number of survivors found was only a few thousand. Out of millions, a few thousand! "..." And now, the two previous Branch Leaders gathered together with the remaining survivors on the base of the Sacred Gold Mountain. They were looking at each other with red eyes, a sense of destion and failure burning brightly in their eyes as they looked at those around them! Alexander was perched on top of the branches of a green gold tree, his figure seeming lost in thought. Vishp and a few other minions were back as only Jujugan and other Undead continued the fruitless search. ire stood near her father as the two Branch Leaders looked at the remnant forces of Carthage, Alexander''s father began to speak. "I have failed you in all possible ways as your Leader, and I relinquish this position here and now." ¡­! His words caused the already depressive air in the surroundings to be thicker as he turned up towards where the figure of Alexander perched towards the tree stood. "Whatever is happening around us is far bigger than anything you all or I could handle, so I leave it to someone who can. The one who was able to save all those he could, and was further able to give us a line to live even now. My son. Alexander." WAA! Many eyes gazed up at the young man on the vibrant tree as his wings and golden robe made him look like an otherworldly prince. His father looked at him and continued. "If you are okay with shouldering the responsibility, this old man leaves the lives of what remains of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Lineage of Carthage. They shall listen and follow your will." His father relinquished any sort of remaining power for his position as beside him, Axel said nothing in agreement. All eyes went towards Alexander as he shook his head wryly while looking at the many hopeful eyes gazing at him. "The world has entirely changed to something you all will barely be able to recognize. The only ce safe is this Mountain here. On it, Energeia is much more concentrated. The Beasts on it will not actively attack you, and within the depths of the mountain, there are areas with deep concentrations of Energeia that have formed mines with crystals and stgmites. I''ll explore them more, but they will be conducive to aiding Gem Masters. This¡­is as much as I can offer." He did not have time to lead thousands of people, but they could have a safe haven on this mountain. He thought long and hard about what he had to do, as all that he needed were his Minions and Undead Summons. So he looked at his father and all others as he continued. "Explore the Sacred Gold Mountain. If there is any way I can help in strengthening you all, I will. My goal for now¡­" Stay tuned for updates on empire He didn''t finish his words as his goal was far too grand. His body still pulsed with tendrils of golden authority as he already decided where the Ruler''s Covenant Authority would go towards. Due to that choice, what he would do next would be grandiose! As he thought of this, he turned his head towards an Obsidian mountain floating in the skies. After he finished his preparations here, he could already feel this mountain and the Ruler''s Covenant Authority within calling out to him. These Sacred Mountains¡­he knew they would be the key to surviving and reversing the dangerous actions that Ephesus had taken! So he would take over as many as he could! As life moved on near Carthage, it did the same in other parts of Ephesus. Thousands of miles away from the Sacred Gold Mountain. In a region where blue lightning was striking the earth every few seconds. A middle-aged man with dark hair and red eyes stood defiantly while gazing at a mountain shimmering with blue radiance. On his chest, nine dazzling gems shone brightly as beside him, a few Tier 8 Human Kings looked towards him. "Emperor Drakos, we are ready." ¡­! Drakos. The Tier 9 Emperor of the Ascendant Lineage of Drakos who inherited this title over the years! His gaze was bright as he began floating forward- his eyes looking to ovee the Sacred Mountain before them! It was not just him. Across other areas of Ephesus. The top powerhouses of the Four Human Lineages led by Emperors looked to ovee and explore Sacred Mountains at this very moment. Drakos. Argyros. Asmodeus. Gnis. They all moved in defiance of Ephesus as in a certain region, there were also the invaders that had Tier 9 Beast Emperors who descended on Ephesus! Then, there were also those that came during the change of Ephesus. During the fusion of different worlds. There were even Rulers that appeared and now walked over Ephesus as it became a vast stretch of chaotic domain- with the power over it lying in nobody''s hands at this time. It was scattered. And there were a lot of unknowns.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But one thing was clear. Sacred Mountains stood in the middle of all of it as from them, many Rulers would rise! But when the dust settled, who would remain powerfully roving over Ephesus- or even being capable enough to go against it before all those on it were decimated? Chapter 114 The Allure of a Covenant of Nature! I Ephesus. It gravitated serenely in a region of space surrounded by very few other stars. At this moment, hours after the first Sacred Mountain within Ephesus was conquered. A few million miles away from where Ephesus gravitated, there was a world over 20,000 miles in diameter. Two Moons spun near it along with two distant Suns, a hazy glow of blue surrounding this as it seemed to be brimming with life! Inside of this world. Past its vast skies and in the depths of its earth, there was an inverted multicolored mountain that brimmed with dense waves of Energiea. Within the hollow earth of this mountain. smic auroras of energy gathered and twirled around each other as at the center of these swirling waves of Energeia, three illusory figures could be seen looking at each other as one spoke with a calm expression at this moment. [Fine. I will relinquish 40% control, divided between the two of you.] ¡­! The illusory figure that had spoken was an old man. If Alexander was here, he would recognize him to be the illusory figure that had appeared when he gained control of the Sacred Gold Mountain! His words caused the expressions on the other illusory figures to sh sharply as one was in the form of a regal dragon, and the other looked like a celestial queen whose golden hair dropped past her feet. After his words, the sense of hesitation in the eyes of the other two illusory figures eased, and the old man continued. [You two have a much bigger starting point than me, but you have already undergone Energeia Star Ascension. It didn''t change the end result at all as the amount of energy produced is still finite, and you both will die regardless. My methodology leaves a path forward for survival. I wanted sole control before, but¡­unsavory figures are rising that maye up to be capable enough to stall my ns, so more chaos is required.] ¡­! As the illusory old man spoke, he thought of the creature that had gained Ownership of the Sacred Gold Mountain. He was now a catalyst for it to ensure sess in the cooperation of the two illusory figures before it! [Very well.] The illusory figure of the dragon agreed. [Worlds do not operate this way as the Covenant of Destiny states that we are always to die¡­but let us see if there is another path.] HUUM! The two agreed as the surroundings began to shake. The old man''s eyes radiated a terrifying light as the will within- the Will of Ephesus itself, reached out and came to an agreement with two other Wills! One was the representative of this massive world they were in, and another was the representative of a different world hundreds of thousands of miles away from here. [Let''s get started.] Ephesus reached out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om And opposing him, the World of Dragoisles became entangled, and the World of Alfana became even further entangled. Around them, incandescent waves of radiance began to pulse as a particrly terrifying Covenant wrapped around Ephesus- and it flowed through to the other two as it acted like the trigger for massive changes! Away from this hollow earth. In the World of Dragoisles itself, there were billions of lifeforms stemming from unique Reptilia Lineages. At this moment, many raised gazes up as they felt shocking changes bloom all around them, theirnds bing twisted and distorted as a spatial light covered everything. BOOM! Lands fissured and cracked as on a certain mountain shining with crimson radiance, Nine entities with the auras of Rulers rose to the skies while looking all around in shock. Each was a majestic variation of ReptiIia, but all nine had widespread wings and draconic features that made them look like Behemoths! "This type of power¡­it may divide and separate us as the destination is unknown. Stick together if you can and gather back as quickly as possible!" A feminine voice boomed outmandingly as, momentster, the light of the Covenant of Spacetime swept past this area as the entire crimson mountain and all their figures disappeared. Below them, as if an apocalypse was urring, Reptilia Lineage with dazzling Gem Sockets on their bodies was shocked to find a spatial light sweeping over them, everything disappearing from sight as a massive World soon began to be transferred piece by piece. It wasn''t the only one as quite a distance from here, another world covered in a golden sheen of brilliance had something simr urring. Within the world of Alfana. Atop a white mountain peak. A humanoid entity in white robes and golden skin sat on this mountain peak as beside him, a woman stood up in shock and rm at what was happening around them. The aura of powerful Rulers radiated from their bodies as the man remained seated while shaking his head with a sense of loss. "The Will of Alfana chose this path in the end." ¡­! The voice was full of power and destion as a spatial light passed over these beings, their mountain and even their figures all disappearing soon after! The terrifying Covenant of Spacetime covered everything asrge clusters of life were moved vast distances to continue a shocking process! ¡ª Within the World of Ephesus. On the Sacred Gold Mountain. Atop a green gold tree. Alexander was observing his panel that showed all the possible augmentations that could be made as the moment he was about to make a choice¡­ WUU! Space buzzed and howled chaotically as seated on top of a green gold tree, he felt thend shaking. The Whole Sacred Gold Mountain shook! Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire But nothing happened to it or its nearby surroundings, and instead¡­ BOOM! Tens of miles away from the Sacred Gold Mountain, the earth split and began to expand. "..." Alexander looked at this scene with cold eyes as it seemed¡­Ephesus was just getting started! This time around though, along with the advent of the expanding earth, auras of thousands of lifeforms began to also appear! Chapter 115 The Allure of a Covenant of Nature! II Choices. At times, one could make a choice based on their own volition, and at other times, one''s hand was forced to make a choice. At this moment, just as the dust began to settle. Just as the survivors of Carthage began settling into the Sacred Gold Mountain while nning for the future. The earth shook and tumbled once more, seemingly even heavier changes than before taking ce as outside the scope of the Sacred Gold Mountain, the earth roiled and stretched out rapidly while a gray mist of deeply condensed Energiea began to nket over and obscure many things. From this mist, auras of life bloomed as with a sh of spatial brilliance, thousands began to appear across the rapidly expanding earth. It was a chaotic phenomenon filled with the unknown as the moment it began¡­ SAA! The figures of ire and others appeared near the edge of the Sacred Gold Mountain where Alexander was. ire had a tired expression as she looked at all of these changes while shaking her head. "What now?!" They had barely a few hours of settling in. Not even a day had passed after they created this refuge as now, even greater changes seemed to be urring! Alexander had a difficult expression as his mind that was about to make the decision on where to allocate Ruler''s Covenant Authority onto his Gem Constetions came to a stop. He looked at the rapidly expanding earth and misting to nket thends as in the far distance, he could see the outline of another mountain rising, but what worried him the most¡­were the auras of lifeforms that came with these changes. Each one seemed striking and potent. Each one felt foreign. And worst of all¡­ ROAR! A booming roar echoed out within the roiling mist that caused ire, Anastasia, and others to turn numb. The figure of Alexander''s father and the past Branch Leader Axel who also just arrived behind them became ashen as their bodies felt a heavy pressure, their knees buckling as they fell to the floor! It was a roar that could innately oppress the weak and make them unable to even stand. Even ire and Azazel were supported by Alexander''s power as they, along with the others under the banner of the Minion King Gem Recipe and the Undead Minions were the only ones capable of still standing tall! But as each of them heard this roar, their faces shook as they prayed it would note towards this direction. "Father, the rest of you stay back. Climb as far inward into the Sacred Gold Mountain as possible, and onlye out after things have settled." Alexander voiced out grimly as vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around his father and Axel, dragging them back towards the mountain as he also turned towards ire. "You don''t have to stay. I can''t guarantee anything from here on out." His voice was firm as truly, he could not with confidence say what would happen to them from here. Because the roar they heard was the roar of a Ruler. And unlike others, Alexander could more distinctly feel the tremors of the earth and knew it was getting closer! And yet¡­ ire looked at him with a hint of defiance in her eyes as she shook her head. "Where you go, I go." ¡­! Her words were simple as Alexander could only sigh and prepare, because at this moment¡­ BZZT! The mist near the Sacred Gold Mountain seethed as a massive figure broke into the clearing, stepping onto the green gold leaves of the Sacred Gold Mountain as if it was sniffing for the aroma of life force, and it finally found it! A massive figure. It was more apt to call it a behemoth! Towering over 100 meters, it was reptilian in nature as it looked like a mythical dragon from sheer fantasy. ck scales that glinted with vibrant light. Crimson eyes that held great intellect and brutality within them! Wide spanning ck wings that stretched out and covered the figures of Alexander and others entirely as the eyes simmering with intellect and brutality looked at them. And before this massive beast¡­its jaws opened as waves of Energiea echoed out to make a sound. [Where is this?] ¡­! A powerful voice. Amanding voice. It didn''t resound like a normal voice as it was carried by waves of Energiea to be akin to a universalnguage anyone could understand. It was the action of carrying one''s words through Energeia! Something that weak entities could not do. In front of such an entity, Alexander''s very being felt a sense of trepidation as he sighed and spoke out, adding as much energy into his words as he could to aid in understanding. "This is the World of Ephesus. As natives here, we seek no conflict." WUU! His voice was carried by the wind. It went towards the titanic ck Dragon whose body radiated the terrifying pressure of a Ruler, with the eyes of this being showing their serpentine pupils shing with brilliance as its jaws curved into a smile. [Eph-esus? Interesting. I would ask you how we were forcefully teleported here, but you all are Lifeforms that haven''t even touched upon Covenants yet, so you would not know anything about this¡­] As it spoke. THUMP! It began to takerge strides into the Sacred Gold Mountain, its head looking around as it even gazed deeper at the radiance of gold all around that was reflected in its eyes! Continue reading at empire Gradually, its eyes came tond on Alexander who was the only one to speak. [What are you called, Little Human? Are you the attendant of the Ruler of this Sacred Mountain? Why won''t your Mastere out to even exchange pleasantries with another Ruler?] ¡­! Its callous eyes were proving carefully. It didn''t know much about thends it was in as it was gauging the level of power! Alexander looked at this massive ck Dragon as beside him, Jujugan and the Tier 9 Undead Summon gathered around him, their bodies pulsing even in the face of death. Alexander felt the heavy beat of his heart as he spoke out again. "We are the natives here, and we do not seek any conflict with you. There is another Sacred Mountain a few miles from here, and many more Sacred Mountains stretched out across Ephesus." His voice was carried by vibrant Energiea as it allowed the ck Dragon to understand. Yet when this being heard this, the smile on its jaws only became more cruel. [You don''t want conflict? In life, nobody wants conflict.] HUUM! Around the ck scales of the ck Dragon, obsidian mes began to burn as an utterly brutal aura of a Covenant began to wrap around this being. [Nobody wants conflict, and yet somehow. Always. Conflict seems to always find you.] The brutality within its eyes became clear. [This is a nice mountain here. I think¡­I will take it. And you¡­you seem to be the only thing here carrying traces of a Covenant. So I will assume that you are the Master of this Mountain. I ask you, Young One, how do you wish to die?] ¡­! Its words caused Alexander''s eyes to burn with regret as he shook his head. Around the Sacred Gold Mountain, roars continued to ring out for nearby hundreds of miles as among them, those of multiple Rulers could be made out! It foretold the shocking brutality toe, and the strength that would be needed to ovee it. At this point, a choice had already been made for Alexander as within him, 7 Ruler''s Covenant Authority points were used up.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He could wait 7 days before he inherited the Covenant of Gold as the current Owner of the Sacred Gold Mountain. If he sent the Ruler''s Covenant Authority, he could reduce this by 1 point a day! He didn''t intend to do this. But he wasn''t given the time. And the choice was made for him. Inside his mind, words shed briefly before everything in his vision was painted gold, and the serpentine eyes of the ck Dragoning in the distance shed with surprise! [You have gained the initial Recognition and Understanding of the Covenant of Gold.] [Covenant Authority begins to flow inside you for the first time, promoting you towards bing a more advanced Lifeform.] ¡­! Within Alexander, a terrifying light began to bloom- forced out by nothing other than desperation as a brutal enemy appeared before him- with many more seemingly crowding in the distance! Chapter 116 New Enemies, New Allies! I A brilliance of gold. It came as behind them, the massive Sacred Gold Mountain shook, a beam of light erupting from its very peak that speedily crossed the skies to smash into Alexander''s figure! It carried with it an invible authority of a Covenant as all of it was clustered around his Enneagram- intricately beginning to flow across its many lines and slots as it reinforced everything while also generating tremendous new Authority. A heavy feeling of brilliance began to emanate from him as tendrils of golden surrounded his figure. Opposite him though¡­ [You crazy thing, you actually were the master of this Mountain and did not ept its inheritance yet? I''m sorry to tell you... it is now toote!] BOOM! The dark mes around the body of this titanic dragon flickered. Behind him, a sharp tail struck out with pinpoint uracy as it was wrapped in heavy ck mes, a unique authority of a Covenant wrapping around it as it was far too fast! Jujugan and the others could not even react, their chests only brightening to release defensive skills to protect their master. Alexander only saw a glimpse of it as he felt his body erupt with activity, and his eyes flickered with mad brilliance as dense thick vines erupted all around him- already beginning to carry the allure of gold. And yet¡­as if the vines were paper. They were all shredded apart rapidly, a sharp point cruising past everything to smash into Alexander''s body- its size alone already being ten times his own body as nearby, even his minions were affected and thrown back! Their figures were flung back like ragdolls as they smashed onto the golden earth behind. BOOM! The over two million values of the cial Armor of the Deep granted by the Gem Constetion, the Endless cial Dream, shattered simultaneously on Alexander''s body, ire''s body, and all other Minions nearby even if they were only grazed by the pressure of the tail ming with a ming ck Covenant! The eyes of the ck Dragon flickered with heavy brilliance as it strutted forward. [In the face of the Covenant of Fear, what are flimsy abilities from Gems not reinforced by a Covenant?| BOOM! As it moved forth, its eyes flickered brightly as multiple sts of heavy snow storms erupted out from the destruction of the cial Armors of the Deep- ayer of frost seeking to cover the ck dragon. But it was burnt away before it even neared as this terrifying best remained unaffected. [What is this flimsy wind? Do you think-...oh?] The serpentine eyes of the ck Dragon flickered as the scene ahead cleared. Entrenched in a massive pit, Alexander held the body of ire that was breathing heavily, both of them having crimson blood leaking from various parts of their bodies- but alive. Around them, Jujugan had half of his body missing, while the Ancient Vampire and others breathed heavily with injuries! This wasn''t to mention the massive Peacock forms of Vishp and Anastasia whose feathers were covered with glistening blood. Continue your adventure at empire "Man." Shaking his head within the pit, Alexander confirmed the state of ire whose cuts were rapidly healing, his body bubbling with a new, foreign aura as he shook his head and red towards the ck Dragon! "I won''t leave your body in peace, big guy." He spoke with rising rage in his voice. The wings behind him became majorly painted gold as many words coursed through his mind. ||The Covenant of Gold is a unique authority that governs Gold and its many intricacies.|| ||The Covenant of Gold wraps around your Enneagram and empowers it.|| ||The Covenant of Gold wraps around your current Gem Recipe and empowers it.|| ||The Covenant of Gold wraps around your Gem Constetions and empowers them.|| Everything about him became ensnared with a golden light. Bursts of information constantly bloomed in his head as he felt something he couldn''t have imagined before coursing through him- as if his eyes were opened when they had been blinded this whole time! A Covenant. This was a Covenant? This was the power of a Ruler? His eyes flickered with golden mes as he looked at the massive ck Dragon that didn''t seem as terrifying anymore, but this beast had a chilling smile as its jaws began to heat up. [Even if I gave you all the time to limate to the power of a Ruler, there are still stages to it, little guy. And you¡­.would not be able to threaten me even if I gave you days.] His jaws were heating up rapidly with ck mes. But in the distance, Alexander shook his head as potent tendrils of golden brilliance coursed around him! "If I was normal, yes." ¡­! If he was normal. As he said this, the injured figures of his Minions that were injured all began to rise, waves of golden light gushing from them as massive and rapid changes took ce. Jujugan''s body rose to the skies as his deathly aura was covered by waves of gold, his skin bing covered by ancient gold tattoos. The bones of the Bone Dragon under a certain Lich also became painted gold as it confidently rose in opposition to the ck Dragon! Vishp, Anastasia¡­every single Minion rose up and formed a wall in front of Alexander- their bodies letting out heart shaking waves of power as their life force exploded upwards. Changes that others couldn''t even understand were blooming, with all of them only being privy to Alexander as bursts of information continued to flow into him!N?v(el)B\\jnn ||The Gem Constetions wrapped by the light of a Covenant for the first time are undergoing tremendous changes.|| ||The Gem Constetion, Yggdrasil, is transforming to be the Golden Tree of Old- Yggdrasil.|| ||The Gem Constetion, Endless cial Dream, is transforming to be the Endless cial Sun.|| ||The Gem Constetion, Light of the Void, is transforming to be the Halcyon Stanchion of Light.|| ¡­! Heavy, deep changes. And every single one was applied to him, and his Minions! Chapter 117 New Enemies, New Allies! II Covenant. Ruler. Terms that few would understand the profundities of unless they were beings with such distinctions already. Even Alexander only knew it as whispers¡­until now! ||The Quality of Gold has been applied to you and everything bound to you.|| ||Your Vigor has be augmented by the Covenant of Gold, altering the Gem Constetion- Golden Tree of Old, Yggdrasil, and increasing your durability and resistance as your Maximum Vigor Value has reached 2,250,000.|| ||Your Energeia has be augmented by the Covenant of Gold, altering the Gem Constetion- Endless cial Sun, and increasing its strength and permanence as your Maximum Energeia Value has reached 2,000,000.|| ||The speed of your movements and attacks has been reinforced and augmented by the Covenant of Gold, altering the Gem Constetion- Halcyon Stanchion of Light, and increasing your speed to be a thousandth the speed of light.|| ¡­! His synapses and thoughts were shing rapidly. Far too rapidly as even now, it didn''t even feel like a single second had passed while he sifted through droves of information. And the information was extremely heavy as one of the more terrifying things was the movement and attack speed of a thousandth the speed of light! Nearly 300,000 meters per second. Nearly 200 miles per second! This was just him. But the ridiculous boons of his Gem Constetions that were now painted with the terrifying Covenant of Gold also applied to his Minions. His Undead Summons. Just this¡­made his heart settle when he thought of the terrifying ck Dragon ahead of them! And these were only part of its boons. ||Through your initial understanding of the Covenant of Gold, you have obtained a Minor Auric Covenant Maniption Ability, bing capable of turning many things into gold and empowering objects, weapons, and entities with Auric Bestowal as the cost of high reserves of Energeia.|| There was a lot. Truly. And all of it came and went across Alexander''s mind, the transformation being quick as even before he did anything¡­ "You dare to hurt the Ascendant Master?!" An enraged Anastasia appeared like a sh of golden brilliance in front of the ck Dragon whose jaws had begun to leak ck mes. She was far too fast as her beak struck out- a golden spear of light covered by the allure of a Covenant erupting out and shooting ahead along with her enraged bellows! She wasn''t alone. Jujugan moved alongside her as above the ck Dragon, a blue gold sea bloomed. "I thought Water was the path forward, but Master, this Gold¡­" His Undead body was filled with golden brilliance! His blow was heavy as storms of typhoons of a raging blue gold sea came down with it- their speed being far too fast as they smashed onto the body of the ck Dragon! BOOM! A gold spear. A raging sea. They smashed into and actually pushed back the titanic body of the ck Dragon that was sauntering into the Sacred Gold Mountain, but when the dust cleared¡­ A dazzling forcefield of mes surrounded the ck Dragon as it looked ahead with a hint of annoyance and rage in its serpentine eyes. [Why struggle before the Covenant of Fear? Why¡­!] As mes circled around its body, its words came to a stop as it looked towards the right side- to the skies! The ck Dragon wasn''t the only one as Alexander also turned his eyes over, gold mes leaking from them as in the skies, the figures of three humans could be seen. Humans! But their skin shone with a golden hue as behind their backs, feathery white wings pped serenely. The one at the forefront was a gorgeous young woman adorned in a white robe and holding a white staff, her gaze filled with distaste as she stared at the ck Dragon burning with mes of the Covenant of Fear! Beside her, the figures of two aged old women in white robes could also be seen, feathers also sprouting behind their backs as they helm simr gold skins- but their bodies did not radiate the power of Rulers. [Vile beasts like you are in this new world as well? You all can never seem to sit still!] WUU!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The words of the young woman were filled with the power of a Ruler as the eyes of the ck Dragon became firm! Whatever was happening to Ephesus at this moment brought a great deal of entities over, and Alexander came across a Beast Ruler and a Human Ruler at this moment- and the two sides were at odds. At this moment, the golden hair of the Ruler flickered while turning towards the rising figure of Alexander that was painted with a sparkling gold radiance. [You seem to stand opposed to this creature. In this foreignnd, shall we join forces to eradicate it?] ¡­! The newly appearing Ruler pulsed with power, Nine sockets brilliantly shining on her chest as Alexander only nodded towards her while Undead Minions covered by golden light were already rushing out to cover the surroundings. He didn''t drop his caution even towards these newly appearing beings that looked like humans as to him, everyone was deemed dangerous at this moment! [Haha!] At this point in time, the ck Dragonughed raucously. ck mes intensified around its figure as above it, a terrifying ming crown zed as its voice dripping with dignity and power exploded out! [Puny humans remain puny humans. Even if you gather together, so what? Two weak Rulers against the dignity of a Dragon? Let! Me! Show! You!] It''s might was indomitable! Its aura rose to the very peak as the Ancient Vampire and other Undead Summons floated in front of Alexander seriously, ready to defend and attack as they limated to their new power. Explore more at empire And¡­ BOOM! At speeds that shattered the sound barrier, the massive body of the ck Dragon¡­instantly flickered backwards and disappeared into the roiling earth filled with mist behind them. ¡­! It ran! Its aura and words of confidence had just risen to a shocking level as it made it seem like it was about to unleash a shocking attack, and it turned tail and ran right after! Alexander''s gaze turned sour as he wanted to give chase right away. With his speed, he would be able to catch up. But in the gray mist and changing earth ahead of them¡­it was unknown what other Beasts were there, or if one woulde across other Rulers! At this moment, he didn''t need to take risks. [Dragons are full of shit, nothing like the dignified beasts they make themselves out to be. Young Friend, might you know more about where we are?] In the departure of the ck Dragon, the three golden skinned humans floated down as they looked around the Sacred Gold Mountain with curiosity. Alexander looked at them calmly as his Minions gathered around him. They presented themselves as allies instead of enemies in this increasingly chaotdscape of Ephesus. Who were they, exactly? And which world did they stem from? Chapter 118 Merging Worlds, Ability Design! I The Covenant of Gold permeated all around him. It entrenched itself deep into his being, going even deeper into his Enneagram itself as intense processes erupted within it. ||Due to the empowerment of the Covenant of Gold, the Enneagram has unlocked new features.|| |||Ability Gem Design- Gold Series, is now avable.|| ||Gem Constetion Descent is now being designed under the joint cooperation of the authority of the Covenant of Gold and the Enneagram.|| ¡­! His mind was buzzing with shocking possibilities. But he kept his face cid and calm as his Minions and Undead surrounded him, their bodiespleting their own transformations at this time! [You are a Summoner and Beast Tamer? Interesting. But so long as you are human, we can be considered allies. Tell me, just where are we?] The gorgeous young woman, who looked to be in her mid-30s, gracefullynded down and looked over everything with calmness, the two old women behind her in white robes seeming more wizened and cautious as they followed her close behind. Looking at her, Alexander gazed out to the shaking earth around the Sacred Mountain that continued to expand as he spoke slowly. That they were in another world entirely- a world known as Ephesus! As for what was happening, he simply stated simple versions of what he knew, and heced his words with the authority of a Ruler as he continued to gain proficiency in this. [The fusion of worlds. Whatever your world was is now getting incorporated into Ephesus.] ¡­! His words caused the eyes of these golden-skinned humans to experience a change of many emotions. The young woman remained silent, but the old women behind her, who seemed to be Tier 9 Emperors, showed disbelief, grief, dejection, and eptance all at once! [I see.] So she said. The air of another Ruler around her was vibrant as she sighed and closed her hand into a fist, bringing it to her chest as she continued calmly. [I am Ryanara Desmukes of the World of Alfana. One of its many, many Rulers who oversaw a small continent there. With this storm out there, the rest of my people scattered, and the scourge of Behemoths like that ck Dragon out there¡­would it be okay for us to seek shelter on your Mountain? Very few Rulers in the World of Alfana held the reigns of a Sacred Mountain, but those who did held a great deal of influence. I ask you this from one human to another.] ¡­! She asked with a straight face and waited calmly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om And before Alexander replied¡­ [Oh, and if wee across any other Alfanian Humans- for them to seek shelter here too, temporarily as it may be until we truly understand what is happening out there. There are Rulers we can contend with, and then there are Enlightened Rulers who have entirely understood a Covenant and began assimting it with their being who could crush us with a tap. There is strength andfort in numbers¡­what say you, Ruler of the Gold Mountain?] Her words contained many intricate secrets as well, with Alexander gazing at the wall of protective Minions and Undead Summons around him as he replied. [Just call me Alexander. And so long as it is to seek shelter and work together to soft through chaos¡­I see no harm.] There were too many unknowns. Having some allies instead of enemies was good at a time when so many chaotic things were urring! The moment his words finished. WAA! The golden-skinned Ruler, Ryanara, smiled brilliantly in a way that could cause weak men to skip a breath. She walked towards Alexander while nodding at the visage of ire beside him whose blue eyes currently shed with tendrils of gold- giving recognition to the other human here. [Tell me about Ephesus. We''ll have to be on guard for however long thesends decide to shake with their transformation along with whatever monstrosities may pop out, and the least we can do is pass the time with an exchange of information.] She emanated grace and calm as her whole visage was easygoing, her beauty causing Anastasia and ire to look at her closely with caution. In the midst of figuring out his own transformation and understanding what a Covenant truly was, Alexander nodded toward this woman and selectively spoke about Ephesus while gathering information as well! Minutes passed as Ephesus as a whole seemingly continued to tremble and expand. Away from the Sacred Gold Mountain, the vast stretches of the earth were covered by a heavy gray mist as at this moment, space seemed to be destabilized in some regions as massive spatial cracks formed! Within these cracks, a profound sense of danger spread out as the changes only continued. Explore more at empire The density of Energeia only became more intense while the total number of lifeforms within Ephesus itself¡­rose by an rming degree. The auras of two Rulers on the Sacred Gold Mountain seemed to deter many of the roaring Beasts who managed toe even a few miles of it, and there were even three instances where a bestial aura of a Ruler had passed by dozens of miles away¡­and did note near! A whole hour passed just like this. [So, the distinctions between Rulers are Land Rulers, Sky Rulers, and Void Rulers.] Alexander asked as he sat on a small Mound of earth he had turned gold, ire sitting beside him as she also looked curiously at Ryanara. Around this area, the Undead Summons and Beast Minions were stationed throughout as they kept a tight perimeter in case any enemies came. [Mmm, you and I can be considered Land Rulers. A single Covenant of Nature to our names, and we haven''t even reached the halfway point in understanding one. Those more powerful than us are Sky Rulers who have entirely grasped a Covenant and bound it to their Gem Socket to start assimting it, and Void Rulers¡­havepletely assimted an entire Covenant into their being!] Ryanara spoke with eyes burning with hope and fervor. [The reason for constant conflict and war is that it is very hard to gain aplete understanding of Covenants, much less entirely assimte them. But¡­the Ruler''s Gems and Covenant Gems are able to hasten such a process. And such things¡­are either found in extremely rare Sacred Mountains, or from the fallen bodies of Rulers.] ¡­! Chapter 119 Merging Worlds, Ability Design! II Rulers Gems or Covenant Gems. They were critical in order to understand the Covenants of Nature more and more, but they could only be formed from the crystallization of the very essence of a Ruler themselves! So even in the World of Alfana, Ryanara stood before Alexander and stated that they also had the scourge of Beasts. They had terrifying and dignified Beast Rulers who regrly hunted down their kind to obtain more resources to increase their own power- their rate of understanding and assimting Covenants of Nature. Apart from this, the crystallization of Rulers Gems and Covenant Gems also urred in extremely special Sacred Mountains. When such a mountain was discovered, blood would flow like rivers! As Alexander talked about these things with Ryanara being the one speaking the most, he found that she seemed to carry a sort of carefree and innate trust towards him simply because she identified him as a human. This was something that he was not returning the favor of, but he simply found unique as apart from Ryanara, the 2 old women behind her did not say much, and they seemed to be attendants of this gorgeous entity. As if she could read his mind, she looked towards him and smiled at this moment. [I can see the reservation in your eyes. I can see the doubt and mistrust. This world must have done its fair share of pain and trauma towards you. But, from one human to another, I will tell you that over the years, you wille to trust your own kind more and more. As you are exposed to and face the terrifying nature of other bloodlines- when faced with the unquestioning loyalty of some lineages and the brutality they can unleash, you wille to find that if you are alone, they can very easily grind you down no matter your level of strength. But if you have others beside you, if you have others to back you¡­you will find that there is strength in numbers!] WAA! Strength in numbers! Ryanara said these words carefully as Alexander only received them and pondered. When it came to having others beside him, who else could be more reliable than his Minions? As they spoke and time passed, the changes in the surroundings gradually slowed down as the thick mist became even denser. The roars of beasts and other entities became less and less as if thend between them was made to be further and further apart. At this moment, even Alexander could not say with absolute confidence just how massive thends of Ephesus had be. The only thing he could say with absolute certainty was that they had be even more dangerous! Currently, he was multitasking. He was talking with the golden skinned humans before him while half of his mental capacity was focused onmunicating with the vibrant Enneagram on his chest. It had produced vibrant new features because of the induction and empowerment of the Covenant of Gold.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om It gave one the capability to design their own ability gems! It was a fantastical boon as Alexander already sought to try it this time. His goal was twofold. Find exclusive stories on empire He could see the potential power to be unleashed with Minions as right now, he had the equivalent of over a dozen half Rulers who were wrapped up in the light of a Covenant of Nature, and the more time that passed, the closer that some of these Minions of his may just step into the path of a Ruler themselves- with a prime example being the Night Walker, Jujugan! He was already on the cusp of attaining an understanding of the Covenant of Water. With the exposure to Gold through Alexander, the very connection that they shared seemed to be vibrating as if something that was far out of reach now dangled right before its hands, and Jujugan could obtain it at any moment. So yes, Minions were important. But at the same time, if there ever came a foe who could speedily get past them or somehow target him while ignoring his minions, he himself had to have absolute power! These ideas paved the way for some ridiculous possibilities as Alexander familiarized himself with the newly born feature of Ability Gem Design. ''Start the first self designed Ability Gem.'' His thoughts came out akin to amand. And¡­ HUUM! He felt his mind buzzing as half of his will found itself drawn into the Enneagram itself. He appeared as an illusory version of himself as around him, a multicolored weaving of lines and colors rotated gloriously- this being the Enneagram itself! It felt like he was in the center of a massive nine-pointed star that was currently filled with liquid tendrils of the Covenant of Gold, and at this moment, a nk golden gem appeared before Alexander''s eyes while he heard the voice of Enneagram. ||Ability Gem Design- Gold Series, has been activated. The cost to make a Main Ability Gem is currently set at 1.5 Million Values of Energeia.|| ¡­! A heavy cost. And yet¡­Alexander waved his hands freely. "Take whatever is required." He had over 2 million Energeia currently. To design a single Main Ability Gem was something he afford as soon after, the nk golden gem began to spin. ||Awaiting your guidance. Within certain bounds and limitations, your design will be taken and interpreted. If viable with some modifications, the Covenant of Gold will be mobilized to achieve it.|| ¡­! What Gem did he want to design? He felt the many ideas coursing through him as he began to speak. "Start the design of the Main Ability Gem- Bonds of the Ruler." "An Ability Gem designed to empower a ruling figure. For every Minion or Summon present in the field, an additional +250,000 Vigor and Energeia is granted. Through the Bonds of the Ruler, the Covenants learned by the Ruler can be shared a maximum of three times with those who follow him, and he can obtain any maximum of three different Covenants of Nature grasped by those who follow him. Through the Bonds of the Ruler, the maximum collective amount of Energeia Values between all those that follow him form into the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler where all followers can pull from for their use." ¡­! His eyes shone brightly. He knew the words he uttered sounded a little crazy, but he didn''t hold back! And this¡­was only the single Main Ability Gem as he had yet to even touch the Support Ability Gems! Chapter 120 Merging Worlds, Ability Design! III Bonds of the Ruler. Alexander proposed such a ridiculous Ability Gem to the Enneagram as¡­ ||The conceptual idea put forth has been analyzed under the limitations of the current understanding of the Covenant of Gold and the capabilities of the Enneagram.|| ||The metrics and parameters of the proposed Ability Gem have been redefined.|| ||The following Ability Gem, Bonds of the Gold Ruler, can be forged.|| [Bonds of the Gold Ruler]:: For every Minion or Summon present in the field, an additional +100,000 Vigor and Energeia is granted. Through the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, the Covenants learned by the Ruler can be shared a maximum of two times with those who follow him, and the Ruler can obtain any maximum of two different Covenants of Nature grasped by those who follow him. Through the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, 50% of the maximum collective amount of Energeia Values between all those that follow him form into the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler, which all followers can pull from to utilize. A different version of the Bonds of the Ruler that he proposed was put forth. Something that could actually be done with the current limitations of both the Covenant of Gold and the Enneagram! Towards such a thing¡­ "Design it." Alexander gave the go ahead as he felt his Energeia seethe. Waves of heavy rivers of blue that were filling his body to the brim all seemed to surge into the Enneagram his Will was in, and he watched as blue rivers of brilliance surged in from all around and flowed into the golden gem currently rotating before him. 1.5 Million Values of Energeia. Alongside it, the authority of a Covenant painted everything in a glorious golden color, the golden gem before Alexander twisting and turning as gradually, it protruded 9 sharp angles. Gradually, it became a fantastic Nine-Pointed Gem that droves of Energeia and authority of the Covenant of Gold flowed into, and in a short period of time¡­ BOOM!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om As if a singrity bloomed. Heart-shaking golden waves of light erupted in this unique space where Alexander''s will was in as a dazzling gem disyed itself before him- floating grandiosely before it began to flow towards the center of this space that was the massive illusory Enneagram. Currently, the Summon Undead Ability Gem and its subsequent Support Ability Gems had long been broken down and assimted- with the space of the Enneagram being open and free. And so, from the Gold Series, the first ever designed Ability Gem by Alexander came to be socketed on the Enneagram. HUUM! A loud, glorious ringing sound boomed out and seemed to fill everything- a sense of resonance booming out as at this moment, all 9 slots of the empty support circles of the Enneagram lit up. The first gem to have 9 possible Support Ability Gems came from his own design! The moment it was slotted into the Enneagram, its profound changes and what it entailed were expressed right away. In the outside world. Ryanara was smiling with fluttering gold eyes filled with charm as she seemed to naturally find the gold light around Alexander appealing. To the extent that she asked. [Your Covenant...is it truly Gold itself? If you don''t mind me aski-] BOOM! They weren''t too far apart. And yet Ryanara felt her eyes nearly blinded by a golden eruption of light from Alexander''s chest as she subconsciously rose up in rm, seeing a terrifying maelstrom of authority seething around him! Distinctly, she could almost make out a nine pointed Gem radiating endless golden light at the center of his chest, but it faded away very quickly. After that, a sense of stifling pressure began to surround Alexander that wasn''t there before. A pressure that showed one''s Covenant carrying greater depth and power, and that one''s own life force was very exuberant! Howe? How and why did such a change ur when they were just talking?! Ryanara didn''t have any answers, but Alexander faced an explosion of voices in his mind. ||The First Sessfully forged Main Ability Gem has been socketed in the Enneagram and is now disying its effects.|| ||The sessful forging of an Ability Gem with the authority of the Covenant of Gold has allowed your understanding of Gold to rise to 2%.|| ||Due to the socketed Bonds of the Gold Ruler, you have gained an additional +2,800,000 Vigor and Energeia.|| ¡­! A terrifying number rose up! From the redefined Bonds of the Gold Ruler, Alexander gained 100,000 Vigor and Energeia for every Summon and Minion he held. 14 Minions from the Minion King Gem Recipe. 14 Undead Summons from the Undead King Gem Recipe. All of them came together to grant a terrifying boom of life force for Alexander. ||Due to the socketed Bonds of the Gold Ruler, the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler is forming within you.|| Its boons were plenty. And this was only part of it all as there was oneponent that Alexander had added which made things utterly ridiculous. [...Through the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, the Covenants learned by the Ruler can be shared a maximum of two times to those that follow him, and the Ruler can obtain any maximum of two different Covenants of Nature grasped by those who follow him¡­] So it was stated. At this moment, Ryanara looked towards Alexander in shock as she couldn''t exin his sudden burst of power, and just when she wanted to ask- she saw him turn towards the quiet girl beside him. ire. She didn''t want to leave him even in the face of danger, and for this childhood friend of his, Alexander spoke silently and made a choice. Continue your saga on empire It could only be utilized a maximum of two times, but one was reserved for her by default! As soon as his thoughts went out. The hair on ire Asmodeus fluttered as her eyes constricted. She felt an earth shaking authority suddenly erupt from the connection she shared with Alexander as even before she could turn to him in shock¡­ BOOM! Her body felt an explosion of Gold. There was an utterly tyrannical and forceful entry of understanding into a Covenant- and it was actually an Ability Gem that made it possible as at this moment, an illusory nine pointed Gem appeared above ire! With an explosion of golden brilliance, the aura and intensity of a Ruler began to build up around ire- with Ryanara and the two old women behind her looking at this scene with utter disbelief and stupor. Their shocked gazes seemed to be asking¡­what the hell was going on?! Chapter 121 Change! I Forceful. That was the best way that the process could be exined as bing a Ruler was a process that took strenuous effort and time, with one''s soul gradually fusing with a catalyst towards a Covenant of Nature until a strong enough connection was formed to allow one to gain an understanding of said Covenant! After that, there was a feedback loop of strength. By simply understanding a Covenant of Nature, one''s life force would be elevated and empowered based on that Covenant of Nature, and they would have new ways to unleash the power of their catalyst, which in this case would be their Ability Gems! ire Asmodeus was nowhere close to doing such a thing. With only a Five-Link Gem Socket, there was still a long way! And yet¡­ An illusory nine-pointed Gem floated above her as through it, concentrated waves of the authority of the Covenant of Gold flowed through unceasingly! Her sockets becameyered with a gold glow. Her eyes pulsated tendrils of golden radiance as her small body became even more attuned with power, her blue eyes gradually taking on a golden sheen as time passed. Anastasia and others in the background looked towards her in shock even while all of them also felt the construction of something grand they could pull a lot of power from- the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler that seemed to be buzzing within their Master. Every single entity here seemed to be astounded as the only one who wasn''t¡­many eyes turned towards him. Towards Alexander who acted like nothing was wrong! And Alexander''s calm face didn''t give any indication of an exnation as he only gave a smile of affirmation to ire who seemed to be asking him what was going on, and when she saw him not freaking out¡­she simply sat down in a meditative position and felt the changes coursing through her. All of this¡­came from just the designing of a single Ability Gem. [You¡­you¡­!] Ryanara lost her words as she looked like she wanted to ask many things, but seeing how this new friend didn''t offer any input, she controlled herself and didn''t ask. After all, everyone had their secrets! [You¡­seem to be much more exemry than you show yourself to be, Alexander. You wouldn''t happen to be a Sky Ruler, right?] A Sky Ruler. Someone who was above a Land Ruler andpletely understood a Covenant, and someone just below a Void Ruler who had entirely understood and then fully assimted said Covenant on their Gems. A Sky Ruler could potentially aid another in achieving Rulership by teaching them about a certain Covenant, but even that wouldn''t fully exin things! Alexander waved his hands to dismiss such a thought from the Alfanian Human before him as his eyes were more drawn onto his current panel that expressed his level of power. [Alexander Asmodeus] [Realm]:: Land Ruler- Covenant of Gold(2%) [Vigor]:: 5,050,000/5,050,000 (+25,250,000 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 3,300,991/4,800,000 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy), Golden Ruler [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Sun(10% Rate of Fusion), Halcyon Stanchion of Light, Golden Tree of Old- Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 2 Point(s)] A ster disy of his power. But even this didn''t seem enough as to prepare for whatever Ephesus would throw out there, Alexander felt like he needed more. He had just forged a Main Ability Gem that granted terrifying capabilities- and this was without it gaining any support abilities- of which it could have nine. He looked towards his reserves of Energeia that were nearly doubled due to the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, and his thoughts went out to the Enneagram once more. ''Begin the design of the first Support Ability Gem¡­Amplification Support.'' His mind buzzed with activity as he began to throw out ideas. The Enneagram would take them and then state whether they were viable or not as soon enough, he would have all nine slots within his Enneagram filled! Stay updated via empire In front of him, Ryanara was shaking her head in contemtion when all of a sudden¡­ ROAR! Bellows and yells were heard within the depths of the mist a few miles away from the foot of the Sacred Gold Mountain. Ryanara''s gaze changed rapidly at this roar as after she sent her senses out, she rose up and shot out into the mist speedily! Alexander only nodded towards Jujugan for him to follow as he didn''t sense the auras of any Rulers. More shouts bellowed out in the next few seconds, followed by the deathly roars of Beasts after that before silence followed. A minute passed, and from the deeply gray mist, multiple figures began to walk out. Led by the icy gold Jujugan and Ryanara, the figures of 7 bloodies Alfanian Lords and Kings could be seen, with one being a young man holding 9 dazzling Sockets- an Emperor!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om His skin and hair tinted with gold radiance made him emanate tremendous valor as his muscr body made him all that much more valiant. He followed directly behind Ryanara as if he had found the most sacred thing to protect, his gaze looking around rapidly as he was voicing out. [Great Princess, can they be trusted?] His gaze went towards the deathly energy surrounding Jujugan who paid him no heed- with this Night Walker currently pulling along a massive corpse of a Dragon as its prize! Ryanara frowned at his words as she made a motion to quiet him while they arrived. [A few more Alfanians who were being hunted down by Beasts. Thasana, tell us what you all experienced.] Ryanara walked towards Alexander as the new entrants from the World of Alfana looked all around wryly, many of them bloodied as the Tier 9 Emperor called Thasana hesitated before he opened his mouth- giving Jujugan a sideways nce as heid down a massive corpse of a Tier 9 Dragon on the gold earth under them! Chapter 122 Change! II The Alfanian, Thasana, kept his valiant demeanor as he spoke out in a deep voice- his voice being tinged with a bit of authority from Ryanara to ensure that he could be understood. Readtest chapters at empire "After our bodies were teleported into thesends, we found ourselves surrounded by the gray mist that istes your vision and hearing tightly. There were dozens of us- dozens! But we appeared in the same ce as Beasts who attacked with wild abandon soon after. It was too chaotic- only half of us managed to survive. But from that half¡­" His face turned sour.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He looked at the bloodied remnants of those who followed him as he continued. "Our remaining forces were further scattered when suddenly, the space around became turbulent with spatial Energeia, massive rifts forming that instantly swept up many others towards a different location. That is all that is currently out there- darkness, beasts, and massive rifts that can sweep you away at any moment!" ¡­! A light of ferociousness crossed his eyes as he turned his head down. "Great Princess, I am sorry that I couldn''t save more. I¡­" He kept his head lowered apologetically as he clenched his fists, but Ryanara only waved her hands with a somber expression as she walked towards Alexander. [It''s okay. This Ephesusian Human Ruler, Alexander, has graced us refuge on his Mountain. We will gather more information and begin rescue efforts soon to save as many as we can.] She naturally came to stand before Alexander as the valiant Alfanian Warrior, Thasana, frowned once more while he looked towards Alexander up and down. Alexander seemed younger than any of them here, but he was truly a genuine Ruler? One that even the Great Princess treated cordially? Did he not know her status as a Great Princess? That even Rulers of the World of Alfana treated her with decorum?! Seeing the gaze of conflict and veiled envy in the eyes of Thasana, Ryanara became stern as her authority coalesced around her eyes and smashed into him. [You will treat those above you with respect! We are no longer in the World of Alfana, nor do we have the positions we used to. Understand?!] She didn''t think she had to say this out loud for her people to understand, but such actions couldn''t continue any further as towards such an outburst, the Tier 9 Emperor, Thasana, held his head down and kneeled as he apologized. "Forgive me, Great Princess!" ¡­! Alexander watched this melodrama y out while shaking his head nonchntly towards Ryanara who was looking at him with an apologetic expression. [Forget about it. Check on your injured and get ready for any more surprises.] Surprises. After the first set of changes Ephesus went through, Alexander had already begun to anticipate many more surprises so that he could never be caught off guard again. He just needed to be ready for any surprises as his power simply had to exceed them. Ryanara smiled brilliantly at his words, her beauty illuminating the surroundings as she made a light bow toward him before she turned around to her people. They clustered towards a single area while Alexander looked towards the corpse of the Tier 9 Emperor Dragon that Jujugan had dragged over. Seeing its glimmering nine sockets, he thought of the possibility of performing a Sacred Ritual to transfer these sockets to another! As he did this, his thoughts continued to confer with the Enneagram in designing Support Ability Gems for the Bonds of the Gold Ruler. When he had the other thought¡­ ||With the authority of a Covenant of Nature, we are currently able to use it to wrap around the sockets of other lifeforms and transfer their qualities to another.|| ¡­! The Cdrius Bird could do the sacred ritual while it was a Tier 4 Beast. Why couldn''t Alexander- a Ruler, be able to transfer lifeforce at the same level if not exceeding this? He smiled at such a realization as he looked towards the corpse of the Dragon and sent his thoughts to Jujugan. He also sent his thoughts towards ire as they began to move right after! Around them, green gold vines rose from the ground and formed radiant leaves tens of metersrge, the figures of Alexander and ire bing hidden within while Jujugan dragged the corpse of the Tier 9 Dragon into it. He wanted a bit of privacy as in the distance, an authority leaked from Ryanara who was healing the injured Alfanian Humans as she only spared a single nce. Everybody had their secrets. The green gold vines and leaves closed all around them and created a small isted domain, and ire instantly threw herself onto Alexander with a hug before she looked at him while expressing incredulity! "What did you even do?! Is this really a Covenant? Like¡­what?!" She had only just heard Jujugan mention this topic not too long ago- this being a stage that the strongest of the Human Lineages would seek for. And yet¡­she just had it so easily? She didn''t explode in front of others, but in private, she hugged Alexander closely while trying to figure out just how the hell it was possible. But he didn''t give any answers as he only smiled while pointing to the corpse of the dead dragon. "That''s the least of your worries right now. We have to prepare for your increase in gem sockets." ¡­! Her eyes opened wide. She looked at the corpse of the dragon, and then to herself. And her mind went nk with shock while in front of her, tendrils of Covenant of Gold began to leak from Alexander and snake towards the corpse of a Tier 9 Emperor, other tendrils sinking into ire as she came to and blushed when she felt his waves of energy entering her chest! ¡ª A distance away from the Sacred Gold Mountain- at least a few hundred miles. [Are you sure it''s this direction, Lupiso? We''ve been going in circles this whole fuckin time looking for some gold mountain.] A massive serpentine Dragon without wings spoke out in a threatening tone as it looked towards a ck Dragon. The ck Dragon wasn''t the only other Ruler here as around it, four other dazzling auras of Rulers, including the Wingless One-Eyed Serpent, red! Five Rulers in total. Each of them was a titanic behemoth of a beast as at the forefront, the ck Dragon licked its lips while replying. [It should be. I can smell it! A gold mountain filled with an austere authority, and puny, weak Rulers actually gaining control of it. I wouldn''t have gone around searching for others if I could have taken it myself¡­] ¡­! Unbeknownst to those on the Sacred Gold Mountain, a heavy surprise was already heading towards them! Chapter 123 Is Killing a Ruler Hard? I On the Sacred Gold Mountain. Alexander watched the dazzling scene of his Enneagram controlling the flow of intense authorities- the nine sockets on the corpse of the massive dragon entirely melting away and flowing towards ire''s body that currently floated in the air. "Good¡­" His eyes were bright as he looked at this scene, seeing that in the future, he could repeat this process for his father and others as they didn''t have to feel helpless in the face of this changing world. But as this process was underway, he also felt droves of Energeia within him being spent as the process of forging Support Ability Gems for the Bonds of the Gold Ruler was costly. The main Ability Gem cost him 1.5 Million Values of Energeia, while the first Support Gem came at 1 Million. He still had to keep reserves for any possible battles, but the first Support Ability Gem waspleted inside of his Enneagram before it was socketed! And this alone granted another boost in power. He had named the first Support Ability Gem Amplification Support, but the Enneagram had taken the details he put forth and redesigned it further while lowering its capabilities to at least ensure it could be forged. And the result was a ster one. [Golden Ruler''s Amplification Support]:: A Ruling Ability Gem formed under the authority of the Covenant of Gold. It has a single doctrine that states the Ruler has to lead by example and express power far exceeding those who follow him. For this purpose, the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler has been further empowered as through it, the Gold Ruler can temporarily fuse with the strongest qualities, bloodlines, and Abilities of 7 Followers under him. The fused form is distinguished as the Enlightened Gold Ruler and can be maintained for a maximum of 5 minutes. The strength granted by the form of the Enlightened Gold Ruler is unknown and dependent on the chosen fused followers. Once it''s time has passed, a whole hour is required to stabilize your sense of self before another fusion can take ce.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! A single Support Ability Gem. And yet its capability was so ridiculous that it caused Alexander to truly wonder whether it was okay for him to be forging such Ability gems. He felt like he was breaking some sort of unknownws! "Mmm¡­" He was taken out of his thoughts as ire''s eyes fluttered, gradually opening as her figure began to lower itself. By the time she touched the ground, tendrils of gold light faded away as she opened her eyes and saw¡­dazzling nine sockets on her chest. ¡­! Her pupils trembled at the reality as she looked up towards Alexander who only smiled with satisfaction. He flicked her forehead to break her out of her stupor as his voice rang out. "Don''t ce any new Support Ability Gems right now. I will forge some new ones for you that are much better." ¡­! Ridiculous words escaped his mouth as ire was about to nod when she went over these words again in her mind, and her head rose incredulously. "You said forge? You¡­you can forget Ability Gems yourself now?!" This girl didn''t know what to think as Alexander only replied with a nonchnt nod- a nod that didn''tst too long as he frowned right after. He waved his hands to cause the enclosed domain of vines and leaves to fade away, lighting into the domain once more. In the distance, Ryanara looked over with bright eyes, her mood lifting up from the sight of two other Rulers as she was about to speak. But Alexander shook his head while rising slowly from the gold earth. [We havepany iing.] Company. The word instantly caused Ryanara to turn somber as the Alfanian Humans around her became alert! They looked out into the gray mist surrounding the edges of the Sacred Gold Mountain as currently, there was only a deafening silence. Tense energies bubbled up in the surroundings. Alexander floated in the skies as ire also did the same, her blue wings tainted with gold at this moment as she let out the allure of a genuine Ruler. Before anyone could turn skeptical¡­ ROAAR! A booming bellow of regality they very much remembered echoed out from the mist. And the gray mist seethed and churned as from it, the stature of a massive ck Dragon that had run away not too long ago reappeared! [Bahaha¡­Little ants, did you miss me?!] The ck Dragon came in strong. But this time, he did so because he wasn''t alone! WUU! A massive Wingless One-Eyed Serpent appeared beside it, the obsidian scales on it radiating terrifying danger as it wasn''t the only one. Another three auras came down as all belonged to Rulers! Their serpentine eyes gazed around the golden mountain greedily as the Wingless One-Eyed Serpent blinked its massive eye and belched outva-like mes while echoing out a vile voice. [A Sacred Mountain with two weak Rulers, right, Lupiso? So what the hell is this?] The vile voice echoed out as if it were talking about already consumed prey, with the ck Dragon, Lupiso, spreading out its wings in a reply. [Does it matter if one more joined them? Look at them. Fresh. Warm-blooded. They haven''t seen much of life. And there are five of us¡­.not to mention you, Dragoserpent Emperor. We will divide things equally and gain a foothold in this new ce.] [Hmph.] There was contention, but five Beast Rulers descended upon the Sacred Gold Mountain and were already discussing it as if it were theirs. Alexander looked at them as his Enneagram began to spin to obtain information from Analysis, his eyes showing a fearless kill as he thought of his newly forged Ability Gem and its recent Support Ability Gem. Already, he began to activate the capabilities of the Golden Ruler''s Amplification Support- golden light gathering around him as he made 7 selections! Even as Ryanara became somber and floated closer to him and ire, he kept his calm as his voice echoed out with power. [Are you sure you won''t just be running for a second time, Little Dragon? Do the four lizards you brought know how quick in escaping you are?] ¡­! Taunting words that caused every single entity nearby to constrict their pupils echoed out! Chapter 124 Is Killing a Ruler Hard? II The words uttered by Alexander were terrifying ones. At the moment they spread out, every single entity looked towards him in shock as if they were questioning the base of his confidence! What exactly caused him to look at five terrifying Beast Rulers ande to the conclusion that the first thing he should do was taunt them? He called the ck Dragon a Little Dragon while referring to the majestic Rulers that grasped a Covenant of Nature as lizards! Every single one was an entity that held the bloodline of the dragons inside of it- an entity filled with dignity and honor. And yet they were all referred to as lizards? The five Rulers blinked as the pride lying within the depths of their hearts was ignited- their bodies pulsing with terrific power as it was the Wingless One-Eyed Serpent that spoke up first. [Lupiso, is that a little humanoid Ruler who just called me a lizard?] The Dragoserpent Emperor asked as if he wanted to make sure he didn''t hear wrong.N?v(el)B\\jnn [Haha, that kid is all talk and no bite. When I initially arrived here, I was able to swat him away with a single blow and deal him major injuries. I only left to ensure that no other Rulers were hiding nearby and to bring reinforcements if need be, which seems like it was the right choice. But no, that little human Ruler will be the first to fall. No matter the words of bravado that woulde out of him.] The Rulers, who seemed to stem from the same world filled with a lineage of Dragons, spoke amongst each other freely as if they were having a casual conversation. As if the fate of this Sacred Gold Mountain was entirely determined already! Beside them, a Three-Headed Red Dragon looked at everything urring with multiple eyes as a feminine voice leaked out of it. [If you all are done posturing, let''s attack and get this over with. I always move with caution even when facing weak enemies, so I will not be the first one to make a move.] She spoke sinctly as apart from these 3, there was one massive Dragon with blue scales and another illustrious Dragon that had burning crimson scales looking at everything with a light of brutality. They all affirmed with each other and were about to make a move when¡­ [Huh?] They blinked as every single one of their gazes came to be focused on a single entity. The one who spoke with false bravado. At this moment, they saw seven distinct golden lines linked from him and 7 other entities on this Golden mountain. His calm aura of power seemed to be explosively increasing right after- and this rapidly increasing aura was heavy! It felt like it made the very Covenant of Gold in the surroundings denser. They did not know why, but at this moment, the Dragons began to feel a sense of eeriness and trepidation- as if something they could not quite put their minds on had gone wrong! [I will not give you the chance to leave this time, Little Dragon.] ¡­! The only thing they got in return was the eerily calm and confident voice of the young human Ruler. They spoke with an eruption of power being felt at this moment as behind them, golden green walls of vines shockingly rumbled from the earth and stretched up towards the skies. And without giving anyone even a moment to pause and understand what was happening, the single figure of Alexander shot out like a coiled spring towards the mighty and dignified auras of perplexed Dragons all by himself! Without waiting for reinforcement from Ryanara, he had even instructed ire to stand back at this moment as he shot forth alone. As for the reason for his confidence and oundish actions¡­they all became abundantly clear in the next moment. The Support Ability- Golden Ruler''s Amplification Support. It stated fairly straightforward details. [ ¡­the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler has been further empowered as through it, the Gold Ruler can temporarily fuse with the strongest qualities, bloodlines, and Abilities of 7 Followers under him¡­] Simple enough, right? THUMP! The beat of a heavy heart erupted and reverberated all around. The Heart of the Ruler. Deep within Alexander, it zed with golden mes as his body that was flying forward speedily changed! Instantly, it erged from a bit over 2 meters to 25- over ten times his normal size. His eyes that zed with golden mes became ever clear to others as his dark hair waved around madly. Above him, a crown made of bones bloomed and a deathly aura buzzed around his figure! On his back, there were already crimson gold wings as at this moment, they gained a tinge of blue lightning as well. The strongest qualities, bloodlines, and abilities of 7 of his followers. Even though this sentence seemed simple enough, what it afforded was terrifying. It made it so that the aura Alexander released exceeded all other Rulers nearby- and it caused the ck Dragon that had run away before to subconsciously take a few steps back, until he felt the tall green gold wall behind them anyways! [Tricks!] The Dragoserpent Emperor was enraged at such a dominant aura as it roared out, its massive body shooting out and appearing above Alexander mid-flight, its serpentine jaws opening wide and unleashing a pungent, vile green breath of liquid poison! The Authority of the Covenant of Poison zed heavily. On the lower scales of the Dragoserpent Emperor, Gems shone brightly as the liquid breath of shocking poison exploded further and fully epassed Alexander''s figure! It was meant to melt and erase utterly everything. And yet. WUU! A golden light red. The vile green breath sshed on an incandescent circr blood gold shield- the qualities of the Ancient Vampire being expressed through Alexander as he charged through the poisonous breath, his hands erging as he came to grasp the upper and lower jaws of the Dragoserpent Emperor- mping down tightly! Around his arms, bony protrusions sank into the jaws of the Ruler and mped without a chance of letting go- causing this Beast Ruler to wriggle in shock and rage. But before it could do anything. Alexander stared at it and expressed his own rage as his mouth opened. His pristine white teeth were clear to all. Past the base of his tongue, a blinding blue light seethed, and from it came a st of cial sea and tendrils of piercing blue lightning. The qualities and abilities of Jujugan and ire. He took them and exploded with them at this moment as from the mouth of a human being, a terrifying breath of cial lightning erupted out and shot into the wide-opened jaws of a Dragoserpent Emperor! Chapter 125 Is Killing a Ruler Hard? III cial lightning! Filled with the fervor of frozen grandeur and tantalizing destruction of lightning, it shot out like a beam of cylindrical light through the mouth of Alexander and into the jaws of the Wingless One-Eyed Serpent. At the same time, one could faintly see tendrils of gold at its very center. The musings of the Covenant of Gold. They coursed through such a deadly attack that bypassed the hard scales of the Dragoserpent Emperor and went straight for its soft inner body- the horrific st of cial lightning quite literally lighting the body of this Ruler to shine white blue! [OOOOH!] A guttural roar that was one of immense pain and horror echoed out, and yet Alexander did not relent- his hands reinforced by bony protrusion sinking deeper into the jaws of the Dragoserpent Emperor as they began to pull. If a counter for how much life force was being lost by the Dragoserpent Emperor could be seen by others at this moment, they would see negatives of hundreds of thousands every passing second! When Alexander grabbed the jaws of the beast Ruler and began to tear it apart, this life force only elerated in its reduction as crimson blood began to gush out. Enjoy new adventures from empire The innate strength of the Ancient Vampire paired with the deathly brilliance of multiple Emperor Tier Undead coursed through him as he continued to roar out- his breath of cial lightning utterly scorching the insides of this Ruler as at this moment, its organs seemed to slow down and radiate a shimmering of gold. Gold. The Covenant of Gold. At this moment, through Alexander, it imposed what it could really do as it decimated the dreary Covenant wrapping around the Dragoserpent Emperor. Each Covenant was unique as some were stronger, and some were weaker. But beings of their level¡­wouldn''t even be able to gauge which Covenant was the strongest unless they felt it firsthand! So with utter dominance and Suppression, in the span of a mere three or four seconds that left others in a stupor- Alexander''s hands pulled away from each other as they ripped open the jaws and head of a Ruler! ¡­! It was an ecstatic scene. As the Dragoserpent Emperor was torn in two, its guts and blood spilled out as wondrously...they shone gold. Droplets of golden blood rained down from the skies and painted Alexander''s ferocious figure, the spinning bone crown above him radiating a deathly light as the wings behind him crackled with lightning. He looked like a terrifying ancient human that now held a torn Ruler in his hands- with his gold eyes looking into the dimming eyes of this creature as his voice echoed out for all to hear. "And here I thought killing Rulers would be hard." ¡­! A few words. Yet they caused astonishment to the stunned Ryanara in the back, silent cheering from an anxious ire, and trepidation to rise amongst the four Dragon Rulers that just watched this unfold! The ck Dragon had its wings shuddering as the Dragoserpent Emperor that was just killed¡­was among the stronger ones between them. If he was killed¡­ The eyes of the ck Dragon flickered heavily as it regretteding back here at all! HU! In the skies. Alexander looked like a celestial beast bathing in gold blood as he turned his gaze toward the four remaining Dragon Rulers, who were momentarily frozen by his show of dominance. He looked at them as his voice echoed out, enjoying the power that came with the first Support Ability of the Bonds of the Gold Ruler! [I n to kill two of you and spare the other two. Which ones I kill and which ones I spare will actually be determined by you all. The two of you who make a move in the next second against the others will be spared.] ¡­! Terrifying words. And he stated that the decision had to be made in the next second! A second.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om A seemingly short period of time. But when one''s life shed before their eyes, it may as well feel like forever. In a single second, they had to decide that one- this being before them, who had killed one of their strongest could do so again with ease. And second, they had to jump from that realization and ignore their pride entirely- taking his threat very seriously as they would turn on their own kind in order to keep their lives! All these thoughts and decisions had to be made in the span of a second. And¡­ [Fuck!] The scales of a certain blue dragon pulsed with mes as she turned towards the nearest ck Dragon and released a phenomenal shockwave of blue mes filled with the Covenant of Lightning! This was simultaneously followed by the Three Headed Red Dragon turning to the other Crimson Dragon beside it- its three heads shooting out simultaneousva like mes as the Covenant of Fire bloomed with full emergence. Two acted the quickest as the ck Dragon and Crimson Dragon roared out ragefully! [Fools! All four of us can stand against him!] The ck Dragon roared out, but the Blue Dragon didn''t even hesitate as he furthermitted to his betrayal in order to keep his life. The Three Headed Red Dragon did the same as she also felt great trepidation towards the massive human in the skies! Alexander looked at this scene with cold eyes, his gaze soon being drawn to the Ruler he had ripped apart in his hands. Immense authority and life seemed to leave this Ruler in the next moment- its heavy body almost pulling him down as it became increasingly lighter while in the skies before him¡­radiant obsidian Gems began to form. Ruler''s Gems. He felt like he knew this instinctively as in front of him, three dazzling obsidian gems that looked like diamonds the size of his head floated serenely. The Enneagram already buzzed to begin analyzing them, but keep in mind the four battling Dragon Rulers ahead of him, Alexander put them away while continuing to move forward! He moved with a sense of excitement due to a certain description of the Bonds of the Gold Ruler. [...Through the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, the Covenants learned by the Ruler can be shared a maximum of two times to those that follow him, and the Ruler can obtain any maximum of two different Covenants of Nature grasped by those who follow him¡­] Yes. He could give the Covenant of Gold that he knew to two of his followers. And he could also obtain any Covenant that two followers had! Jujugan was just a bit off on the Covenant of Water still. But these Rulers before him¡­already grasped a Covenant as if he could bind the two that were already attacking those of their own lineage¡­ His eyes burned with a glorious purpose as he charged forth. Chapter 126 Emergence! I The terrifying battle between five Rulers¡­was urring on the foot of Sacred Mountain in an extremely small corner of Ephesus. A small, small corner. Across Ephesus, battles like these were shockingly abundant at this moment as many Rulers found themselves on foreignnds! Far from thends of gray mist and spatial rifts wreaking havoc all around. Within the depths of Ephesus, there was a hollow earth that seemed like a world of its own. With its own skies filled with wonder. It stretched out for thousands of miles all around! Vibrant Sacred Mountains rose and fell, with some anchored on the earth while others shockingly floated in the skies.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Each one radiated and gushed waves of radiance as at this moment. On a Verdant white mountain filled with tall white willow trees- thergest mountain of all those here, the visage of an illusory old man that Alexander would be able to recognize if he saw him again stood. His gaze was filled with solemnity as he was looking at a transparent green white Gem that had terrifying Waves of Covenants of Nature flowing into it. All around the mountain peak, an overabundance of multicolored Gems could be seen strewn about- their glow weak as if everything about them was given off to the single white green transparent Gem! It was radiating pulsing green light and releasing smoke at this moment as if it couldn''t take anymore, and the illusory figure of the old man nodded. Inside the transparent Gem, the visage of a humanoid figure could be seen- her strands of white green hair flowing past her shoulders as her fair skin glowed with a terrifying light. At this moment, the illusory figure of the old man raised his head as he bellowed out. [Ezra¡­the Instrument of Ephesus, arise!] HUUM! All of the surrounding structures began to shake. The mounting. The gems. The transparent Gem itself pulsed like a heart as it cracked, and from within¡­waves of steam akin to volcanic eruption gushed out and spread around as an embryo opened! ¡­! [...] A terrifying will arose with the emergence of the steam and mist as it quickly dissipated, a figure that was lying in a fetal position rising unstably at this moment. She touched the crystalline earth beneath her, and it instantly splintered and cracked from her mere touch. BZZT! The air around her cracked and vibrated from the sheer presence buzzing from her as she awakened! Ever so slowly, she rose up, her feet naturally floating off the ground moments after she was born as she looked around her with confusion. [Who¡­what?] Her red lips opened unnaturally as a sonorous voice echoed out, filled with booming waves of the authority of Covenants of Nature! Covenants. Plural. Her body seemed to contain insurmountable waves of power as opposite her, the old visage of the Will of Ephesus looked towards her with tired eyes and spoke. [You are Ezra. My Champion. Someone forged for the purpose of solving the greatest problem that gues us.] ¡­! His words entered her ears as she looked towards him while blinking and nodding. Ezra. This was her name. And her purpose¡­was to follow the will of Ephesus. She seemed to still be adapting to everything as she looked at the only Will before her- the one who had forged her, with a great sense of familiarity. Warmness. Looking at him made her feel safe as at this moment, she asked. [What¡­shall I do?] Looking at her, the Will of Ephesus couldn''t help but smile with pride as he voiced out. [Everything I have done is yielding temporary results. Extending the Lifeline of this World for hundreds or thousands of years. To achieve my aims, I will need to do more and search for more methods. One of my methods is the fusion of other worlds as thises with chaos. With individuals. For now, settle this chaos across Ephesus. If anyone stands in your way¡­use the strongest Covenant of Nature I have passed on to you to bring them to our side. Use the Covenant of the Soul to permanently alter their existence and ce them under our banner. Do this first, and more things will follow.] ¡­! Terrifying sets ofmands. And Ezra took them all in with ease as she turned down to look at her naked body. Her bountiful chest and curved waist. Her chest was filled with a uniquely designed set of Sockets- 9 in total, but they were all connected to each other by many lines simr to spider webs. Inside the sockets, multicolored gems swirled with heavy brilliance of power! She stared at everything curiously before the light of a Covenant wrapped around her, and clothes made of fur covered her visage scantily as she looked like an ancient human from long forgotten times! She seemed to have a preset knowledge base and memories as some things she knew and some things she didn''t. But at this moment, she nodded slightly towards the Will of Ephesus that continued. [Start your path from here, and go towards this direction.] The Will of Ephesus waved his hands as in the space above them, the illusory image of a golden mountain appeared. The Sacred Gold Mountain! [This is your first stop. On it is this creature here that you need to control. He seems to have something other creatures do not as he may be a good tool to utilize. Do not kill, but control.] An image of a young man adorned in a golden robe could be seen. His eyes shone with gold mes as the wondrous Covenant of Gold wrapped around him! It was none other than Alexander. Ezra looked at his image with sharp eyes as she nodded. [Understood, I will set off right away.] She was just born. But she was born with a glorious purpose. Threads of knowledge were fused into her being as the topography of the ever changing Ephesus flowed in her mind, and a line was made across it leading towards her first stop. The Sacred Gold Mountain! Alexander! Your journey continues at empire Chapter 127 Emergence! II On the periphery of the Sacred Gold Mountain. The furious roars of Dragons echoed out, someced with desperation as they fought back against their own kind while defending against a terrifying entity! Alexander, d in the best qualities of 7 of his Followers, descended from above while throwing down golden spears of light swirling with cial thunder. The Covenant of Gold seethed from his attacks as he was graduallying to understand battling as a Ruler. It was the imposition of one''s authority- one''s Covenant; by exchanging their Energeia, you unleash and control different volumes of said Covenant. The more Energeia one spent to unleash the authority of their Covenant, the more potent it was. Then came the disparity of the Covenants themselves. If one Covenant was stronger than another and both sides used a simr amount of Energeia, the stronger Covenant would win! And if one was preupied with one enemy while another sniped them from above when they couldn''t even defend¡­ BOOOM! Three golden spears of light surrounded by swirling storms of cial thunder pierced through the wings and back of the ck Dragon- its deathly roars maddened as its abundant life force allowed it to fight back even as it spiraled down! [We are of the noble Lineage of Dragons! We do not fight against each other we-] BOOM! Alexander''s figure shot down like aet as his body forced the ck Dragon to smash onto the earth below them, chains of bones forming from his hands that wrapped around it as the massive bone crown floating on his head spun powerfully. This state of fusion still had a few minutes left, but Alexander was already rapidly achieving what he needed to do in that short span of time. [I told you that you wouldn''t have the chance to run again.] BOOM! His hands were encased in sharp spiked obsidian bones that utterly mutted the muscles and bones of the Dragon below him. Wisps of a ck Covenant exploded out like a cloud as the ck Dragon roared in pain, but a brilliant Golden light swirled around Alexander that protected him from the Covenant of Fear as he continued pounding! BOOM! Every strike he thundered down released tendrils of chaotic gold light into the body of the ck Dragon- these threads of gold causing its blood and muscles to begin freezing over and gain a gold sheen as its roars became weaker and weaker. Until¡­ [I¡­yield-...!] BOOM! His fists thundered onto the majestic head of the ck Dragon as glimmering brain matter gushed out from a split head filled with majesty. [...] It was utterly brutal. His massive body akin to the size of a building towered over the corpse of a Dragon, blinding ck light gathering from its depths as its very essence was transformed into Ruler''s Gems that others could absorb! Alexander only spared the forming obsidian crystals a nce as he looked up to the skies where two Dragons seemed to be hesitant on whether to make a run for it. [The first one who tries running is the one I will chase alone. The first to touch the ground keeps their life.] ¡­! On the ground below, three corpses of dragons alreadyy silently as the moment his words echoed out, a terrifying sense of trepidation spread out as the massive bodies of a Three Headed Red Dragon and the Blue Dragon had their ws touch the slightly gold earth at the same time! Alexander felt the blood of a Ruler slide off his reinforced bony hands as he calmly sat on the body of the ck Dragon. Behind him, the corpse of a ripped apart Wingless One-Eyed Serpent and a Crimson Dragony, and he now stared at the remaining two Dragons with a sense of power as a heavy silence came down over everything. In the far back, Ryanara still watched all of this in a stupor as not once did Alexander ask for help. And he now stared at two Dragon Rulers who looked at him with somber gazes. The cowards of the group. The ones who had turned against their own race the moment their lives were threatened. Enjoy more content from empire The Three Headed Red Dragon didn''t like a stern silence as its feminine voice echoed out slowly. [I hope you can honor your word-] [Honor?] Alexander interrupted the Ruler as his body began to pulse with the Covenant of Gold. Honor. What good was that? Was Honor able to bring back the millions who died in Carthage? The millions more that died in other regions as their own world turned against them? Honor meant shit to his eyes. He looked at the Dragons before him as he spokenguidly. [I said two of you would live, and that is true. I can swear by the very Covenant of Gold regarding this.] ¡­! The serpentine eyes of the two dragons lit up with happiness and relief at this. Any deration made with a Covenant were extremely heavy- with a cost having to be paid by one''s own Covenant if broken! But before their relief couldst¡­ [You can live, but under my banner. You follow me, and you can get the protection of my Sacred Mountain. You are in a foreignnd with many dangers as just a few hours here, and you all nearly died. What will it be?] ¡­! Lesser Minions that he had first bound during the War of the Walls of Carthage were released, his hands radiating two globes of golden light as he looked coldly at two Dragons. They could live, but only through a single pathway. Through submission! The eyes of the two Dragons showedplex emotions as the Three Headed Red Dragon even let out augh of frustration. Alexander became stern as the Covenant of Gold began to surge around him, but¡­ The heads of the Three Headed Red Dragon all bent down soon after in a show of shocking submission- the most cowardly Dragon here bending first as her voice rang out with unwillingness! [You are a shrewd one, Gold Ruler.] She felt like she had to say something at the very least to preserve the dignity of her Lineage. But Alexander didn''t care one bit about this as the ball of golden light shot out to bind her to him, his gaze going towards the other Dragon who was heavily biting its jaws as it also bent down! Two Land Rulers bowed their heads towards another Land Ruler in the midst of a small corner of a changing world.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It was a shocking scene that was just the beginning of something far, farrger! Chapter 128 Emergence! III The allure of gold shone. But this time, it wasn''t the Covenant of Gold, and it was instead the brightness of the main Ability of the Minion King Gem Recipe! For the first time, it shone over two Rulers. The Three Headed Red Dragon and the Blue Dragon! One coursed with fiery brilliance, while the other pulsed with lightning. As much as their dignity denied it, Alexander''s will flowed through them and bound them tightly, no hint of defiance present as they epted their fate! It was either this or the fate of death against someone who had decimated Dragon Rulers with ease. When it came to life, even the most noble creatures would choose it over their own honor! The scales of two Dragons pulsed with radiance on both sides during this momentous asion as in a short period of time... Two Rulers became bound to him. And the first thing that urred was their gazes turning extremely serious as they felt a feedback of power course through them! Frost gathered over their scales as the cial Armor of the Deep was granted to them- granting them a tremendous sense of defense. Where their wings sprouted, crimson gold wings of lightning also erupted as their forms looked even more majestic! By all means, even Ryanara in the distance could see the pressure and life force that these two Rulers gave off entering a whole new stage. Her gaze became unfathomably heavy as she stared at the figure of Alexander in the distance. Meanwhile, the two Dragon Rulers were shocked as they looked towards him with even greater seriousness! How could another Ruler strengthen them this much just by binding them? Their unease and fear towards this being was high even though he had already bound them. Yet Alexander didn''t even bother with their buzzing emotions, his figure remaining seated on the dead Dragon as he nodded towards them. "Your names?" With their binding, they could understand him with ease even without using Authority. The Three Headed Red Dragon had its pairs of eyes locked onto him as she answered first. "Bsa, and this blue one here is Polet." "I can speak for myself!" Lightning buzzed on the Blue Dragon''s scales as she growled out towards the Three Headed Red Dragon, Bsa. Alexander nodded towards them freely as he spoke.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Alright, Bsa and Polet. Which world do you all stem from? How many Rulers roam across it?" Alexander wanted critical information first. If these entities were here, who else was? How powerful were they? Only by knowing this could he move freely. Bsa was more forting as she began to speak gracefully. "We have always been in the World of Dragoisles. A great world stretching out with 9 Continents- its seas endlessly vast as itsnds are! There, millions of Dragon Races lived with power and majesty-" "Critical information only." Alexander interrupted while waving his hands as Bsa looked at him silently before she answered his question. "Millions of Dragons roam free, and there are approximately thousands of Rulers among them." ¡­! A number that caused even Ryanara and the Alfanians in the back to draw sharp, gazed breaths! Thousands. What exactly did that number mean? That was thousands of Rulers! And each of them was a terrifying Dragon. How vast had Ephesus be to amodate them all? And if that world of Dragoisles alone was so vast, how massive was Ephesus now that it had swallowed it? Many questions arose from all this as Alexander remained calm while asking another question. "Of those thousands of Rulers, how many are Sky Rulers? Void Rulers?" Sky Rulers who entirely understood a Covenant. Void Rulers who entirely Assimted a Covenant of Nature! Their power was on a different level entirely as he had to know. Bsa and Polet gazed at each other as this time, it was Polet who answered. Her body crackled with crimson lightning as she opened her jaws. "Publicly, a few hundred famous Dragon Rulers are known to have understood an entire Covenant. As for Void Rulers who have entirely assimted a Covenant of Nature¡­there are nine! The Nine Void Dragon Rulers that each lorded over one of the Continents of Dragoisles." Nine. Among thousands, it seemed small- but even this number alone seemed like a de above many as in the back, Ryanara turned ashen. Even from a distance, Alexander could hear her whisper. [Alfana¡­only had three Void Rulers!] ¡­! A disparity in power levels. Based on this alone, the Lineage of Dragons that had arrived would entirely outss all others soon enough. "Land Rulers, Sky Rulers, Void Rulers¡­" Alexander spoke out thoughtfully as his brilliant eyesnded on the newly bound dragons, his voice continuing. "Of all these, howmon is it for Rulers to be proficient in multiple Covenants?" ¡­! He asked an extremely important question. One that even Bsa and Polet were surprised by as Bsa answered. Discover hidden tales at empire "Holding multiple Covenants of Nature is quite rare as for many, a pathway to a Covenant is through their Ability Gems. Seeking to understand even onepletely is rare, and only Void Rulers who have entirely assimted a Covenant start of another. There are some geniuses with Dual Covenants of Nature even before they be Void Rulers. They definitely wield more power, but at what cost?" A rarity. "I see." When Alexander heard this he smiled. And he then focused on his newly socketed Bonds of the Gold Ruler as he pulled upon one of its critical functions! The capability to obtain an understanding of the Covenants of Nature of at least two Followers! He pulled on such a boon. And instantly, he felt the nine-pointed golden gem on his chest vibrate with tremendous radiance, a Blue and Crimson star-like brilliance instantly blooming within it! And in the next moment¡­ BOOM! Around Alexander. Dazzling blue lightning erupted around him, while a fiery ring of light began to spin dangerously inches away from him! It was the brilliance of Covenants of Nature. And they were not Gold. Seeing it, the newly bound Dragons blinked as they wondered if they were seeing things! Chapter 129 Emergence! IV ||You have gained initial understanding in the Covenant of Fire.|| ||You have gained initial understanding in the Covenant of Lightning.|| The voice of the Enneagram shed through Alexander''s mind as he felt an extremely unique sensation. As if his mind- his very being was currently bing expanded and enlightened on the secrets of extremely important things! This was a change of his mind, but his Enneagram underwent even more shocking changes as he felt the bright gold brilliance of Gold that was centered on the Enneagram rush out and go to the very ends of one of the nine pointed ends. Thereafter, the crimson brilliance representing fire went towards another pointed end, and the blue brilliance representing lightning did the same! Three of the nine pointed ends red with heavy brilliance at this moment as Alexander felt his chest heat up, the Enneagram gaining a boundless sensation of power and heaviness as the monotone voice echoed out again. ||The Enneagram has expanded its capabilities after the understanding of multiple Covenants of Nature, and a Core Feature has been unlocked.|| ||The Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Natal Stage. Under its brilliance, every grasped Covenant of Nature increases your rate of Understanding and Assimtion of all Covenants of Nature by 100%.|| ¡­! His eyes pulsed with terrifying radiance. Something he could never even imagine rose up as his Enneagram became even more intricate, its lines bing bolder and even increasing in number as he felt like his mind was clearing up- the veryplex authorities and secrets of Gold, Fire, and Lightning beginning to flow into his mind smoothly as if he was simply reading a book about them that exined everything! He was utterly astonished by this elevation of the Enneagram as this object continued to amaze him more and more. How did he awaken such a thing? Why? What even was it truly? There was a lot he wanted to understand about it, but at this moment, a few things were clear. Apart from its smaller features rotating around Ability Gems, it had Core Features. He didn''t know how many Core Features there would be in total in the future, but the Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram had now been unlocked! And the results were crazy. [Alexander Asmodeus] [Realm]:: Land Ruler- Covenant of Gold(9.8%), Covenant of Fire(3.1%), Covenant of Lightning(3.1%) [Vigor]:: 5,488,000/5,488,000 (+28,440,000 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 3,000,138/5,100,000 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy), Golden Ruler [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Sun(25% Rate of Fusion), Halcyon Stanchion of Light, Golden Tree of Old- Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 2 Point(s)] [Core Feature(s)]:: The Reformer of the Enneagram(Natal)- x300% to the Rate of Understanding and Assimtion of Covenants of Nature. Readtest stories on empire His Understanding of gold neared 10% and continued to shoot up rapidly. The Covenants of Fire and Lightning were already at 3% each as he realized something. Alongside the increase in Understanding of the Covenants, his own life force continued to scale up as his Vigor and Energeia rose up a few hundred thousand! He shook his head at such a ridiculous capability as he spoke to the Enneagram. ''Based on the increased rate of progression of 300%, how much time is estimated to pass before a Covenant is fully Understood and the process of assimtion can begin?'' ¡­! He asked a truly important question, and the Enneagram was quick to answer. [The increased rate isn''t just subjective andparative to others, with the value of 300% applying absolutely and cing you in a unique sense of enlightenment of Covenants of Nature. Complete Understanding of all currently grasped Covenants is estimated to ur within 1 to 7 days depending on randomized and continued efforts of understanding. Resonance and other methods first introduced by the Minion, Anastasia, may also be beneficial in producing increased results towards the Understanding of Covenants of Nature.] ¡­! Alexander stared nkly after the answer that the Enneagram gave. There was a lot to unpack from it, with the terrifying reality of him leaving the stage of a Land Ruler to be a Sky Ruler actually being viable between 1 to 7 days. How ridiculous was that? But apart from this, there was also the subject of Resonance mentioned as this¡­required a sense of intimacy between two parties to achieve! What was the Enneagram trying to lead him to? Even now, he was still a little virgin who did not know much about that side of things! "Hmm¡­" He hummed to himself as he turned to look back towards ire, and his eyes then wandered over to the curvaceous figure of Anastasia he had said no to before, and he also nced at Ryanara. Only brief nces as he thought of a few things, the vibrant crackling of three Covenants dying down around him as he took it all shocked gazes of others calmly! He stood up from the Dragon while not acknowledging anything at all, simply talking towards Bsa and Polet. "Anything else I should know?" ¡­! His words shook them out of their reverie. They looked at each other as if to confirm- their eyes screaming the same question across. ''We just saw him erupt with three Covenants, right?!'' They screamed such a question to each other. They then turned back towards this new Master of theirs as they wanted to call him a Monster! But they could only shake their heads in disbelief as¡­ "Uhhh¡­" The three heads of Bsa twisted side to side while trying to calm herself, and moments after¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn "Oh! This fucking woman here, Polet- before she joined us, she said she was sent out by a Sky Dragon Ruler to gather information on the surrounding structures of this ce. If she doesn''t return soon to report¡­" ¡­! Bsa uttered some shocking words as Polet snapped her jaws towards her. "You stupid lizard, of course, I won''t answer to that Sky Ruler now that I am bound to the Gold Ruler!" An argument broke out among the Dragons. Hearing their discussions, Alexander couldn''t help but frown as he thought about what to do. Chapter 130 Carving Out Ones Domain! I The arguments between Dragons were slowly brought to a close as Alexander looked at them sternly. Alexander had already givenmands as the bodies of the three dead Dragon Rulers were dragged from where they fell and toward the depths of the Sacred Gold Mountain. His Father and other key figures of the past City of Carthage felt a sense of despondency and weakness from not being able to change anything. This weakness¡­could always be changed and turned into strength as what if they underwent a ritual that transferred the Nine Linked Sockets of a Ruler? Alexander had to also take a look at the Ruler''s Gems that condensed after the deaths of those Rulers- with their boons supposedly capable of increasing the rate of understanding of Covenant of Nature. So far, no Covenant Gems had been condensed as Alexander guessed they may do so from the dead bodies of Sky Rulers and Void Rulers. He put many things together as he sighed while talking to the two Dragons, Bsa and Polet. "This Sky Ruler that has begun amassing and directing other Dragon Rulers¡­what do you know of their power?" The bickering dragons looked at him before Polet spoke. "He is known as the Silver Ruler of Space. Having fully understood the high tier Covenant of Space, he has begun assimting it as he wields terrifying power." Polet stated such words as Bsa nodded and continued. "He has a Mythical Tier Ability Gem rted to Space that allows him to freely teleport Great distances and release attacks with the Spatial Attribute. Even other Sky Rulers steer clear of him due to hisbat abilities. It is why he can easilymand us- those below him." "..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om They spoke freely as a threat of high value was made clear! Alexander looked between the two of them as he focused on Polet, the one who was sent forth by the orders of the Sky Ruler. "Is there a chance other Dragons coulde in the direction you were told to scour and arrive here if you do not return and report?" ¡­! He asked a question that these two Dragons didn''t think of at all. "Uhh...I don''t know." Polet replied while retreating her head down. A somber atmosphere settled as in the distance, Ryanara came over with a sh of brilliance and spoke in a heavy tone. [A Sky Ruler is someone to never look down upon, especially if they have a rare attribute. In the chance he does direct any of his forces in this direction¡­] "We''ll deal with it if ites to that." Alexander smiled as he spoke, his figure finally returning to his normal form from the fused state as he began to fly back into the Sacred Gold Mountain. He had a few things to take care of and understand. As he left¡­ "You two, patrol the periphery of the Sacred Gold Mountain. Whenever you feel the auras of Rulers nearing it, head out to stop them even before they see the mountain. If a Ruler passes through the gaps and damages even a single Gold leaf on this mountain, you may lose your lives first before the intruders do." His words carried a trace of coldness as Bsa and Polet shuddered before they rose to the skies and began patrolling the Sacred Gold Mountain. Ryanara nced at Alexander''s retreating figure with aplex expression before she sighed and returned to the Alfanians. This new friend of theirs seemed to have a great deal of secrets as his true depth was not properly known! He disappeared into the Sacred Gold Mountain as his other forces were left to patrol, and the figure of ire, surrounded by the light of a Covenant, followed behind him. As the world around them became increasingly chaotic, they took refuge within the Sacred Gold Mountain! In a region surrounded by tall green gold trees, Alexander stared at the towering corpses of three Dragon Rulers where even in death, their bodies seemed to be brimming with life! But he ignored them for now as he focused on the multiple Rulers''s Gems condensed when they were killed. This was one of the two points of his focus at this moment. The other was of course, the other 8 remaining Support Ability Gems to support the Bonds of the Gold Ruler Main Ability Gem. It was said that the Sky Ruler, The Silver Ruler of Space, had a Mythical Ability Gem that gave him a wide range of power. What tier would the Bonds of the Gold Ruler be when it granted Alexander the ridiculous boons he was designing? He couldn''t say for sure, but he had already sent three other proposals of Support Ability Gems to the Enneagram to see what was feasible and how they needed to be adjusted before they could be made. Stay connected with empire But for now, he turned his attention towards Ruler''s Gems. Multiple obsidian and crimson gems that looked like they contained gorgeous stars within them. But when Alexander actually took one out of his isted space and had his Enneagram let him know the results of the analysis¡­ His eyes couldn''t help but sh with surprise. [Ruler''s Gem(Land)]:: An umtion of the lifeforce and Covenant of Nature within a Ruler that was on a path of understanding. It does not yet have an identity of a specific Covenant Gem, but the umted life force and basal authority of a Covenant is useful in increasing the understanding of a chosen Covenant of Nature by 2%. ¡­! A single Ruler''s Gem made it so that one could advance the percentage of understanding of their Covenant of Nature by a whole 2%. Alexander gained about 3 or 4 Ruler''s Gems from the deaths of each of the 3 Dragons as currently he had 12 in total! This was the extent of the life force and umtion of the Covenant of Nature that was mixed in for these beings. If there was a more powerful Ruler, there would be more Ruler''s Gems condensed at the time of their deaths, and as he theorized, maybe only Sky Rulers and Void Rulers who were either beginning their assimtion of Covenants of Nature or entirelypleted with an assimtion- they were the ones who could condense the rarer Covenant Gems. As he grasped the Covenant Gem in his hands, he spoke softly. "Put it all on Gold." ¡­! The starry ck Gem began to pulse and crack as tendrils of light leaked from it and into his body, his already clear mind under the effects of the Core Feature of The Reformer gaining luminosity over gold as his percentage of understanding began to increase! 2% Increased understanding for each Gem. He had 12 of them as this was an instant 24% increase on the Covenant of Gold! Or so he thought. ¡­! His eyes opened wide in astonishment as he saw that on his panel, the understanding of the Covenant of Gold rapidly jumped by a percentage, then an additional percentage, and then another percentage, and it continued! He was not given only a 2% increase in understanding. The Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram once more exerted the ridiculous effects of a 300% increase, as even this number was actually inted! In the blink of an eye, his understanding of the Covenant of Gold jumped from 10% to 16%. "..." He had no words. A process that took others an unknown number of years. It seemed that he may just be able toplete it in a single day! Chapter 131 Carving Out Ones Domain! II A single Ruler''s Gem was absorbed, and his progress jumped from 10% to 16%! Alexander looked at this in a daze as mechanically, the Enneagram continued the process and removed all remaining 11 Ruler''s Gems- beginning their absorption as only a single Covenant was focused on at this moment. Gold. Gold! HUUM! ire was just arriving in the area where Alexander and the Undead Minions who dragged the three corpses of the Dragons were when she saw that around Alexander, a palpable grandeur of Gold was rising. It wasn''t just light. At this moment, she could swear that she saw liquid gold surrounding Alexander as paired with his gold robes, he seemed like someone who was so far out of reach. He gave her the same Covenant of Gold. And yet, why did his seem so pure? So much more powerful? She was astonished at the scene as what she and others couldn''t see was the rapid jump in percentages within Alexander''s mind. ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Gold has increased by 6%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Gold has increased by 6%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Gold has...|| On and on! This number rapidly scaled upwards until an explosion of liquid gold radiance seethed around Alexander, his surroundings seeming utterly otherworldly as if he was a lone being surrounded by rivers of gold. ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Gold has reached 82%.|| ¡­! 82%! A shred away fromplete understanding of this Covenant, and he could then assimte it into himself! He opened his eyes. He saw the pristine gold rivers around him, and he felt like he had unlocked a tremendous amount of knowledge regarding Gold. What he could do with it now was ten times what he could do before. If he faced the three Dragons he killed before at this moment¡­he wouldn''t even need that fused form as he could slow them down and ovee their authority to turn their very bodies into gold in a short period of time! This was howrge the disparity was between those who had a great understanding of a Covenant, and those who didn''t. It also meant that Sky and Void Rulers were truly not to be messed with! His expression was calm and stern at the same time as he thought about The Silver Ruler of Space who wasmanding Dragons an unknown distance from here. He didn''t know how many hours would pass before his understanding of the Covenant of Gold, boosted by the Core Feature of the Reformer of the Enneagram, would reach 100%. But until then, he had to remain low key! Of course¡­there was another method he could use to speed things up even more, albeit it was a little more riskier. He thought for a few more seconds before he sent his thoughts to the Enneagram and asked it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "How does the riskpare to the potential boons?" He asked. And the Enneagram answered! ||The risk is minimal while the rewards are going to be exponential with the progression of events that may happen. Proceeding with this has a chance of generating tremendous benefit, and will allow the smooth demarcation of the domain of the Sacred Gold Mountain- with the set of actions also acting as a deterrent and a warning to all others.|| A n he slowly thought of and presented to the Enneagram. At this moment, the Enneagram analyzed and showed off probabilities, risks, and benefits as after this, Alexander chose to proceed! "Hu¡­" He breathed out pure gold light as he rose to the air and savored the sensation of what the Covenant of Gold truly meant, his voice echoing outmandingly soon after as it traveled across his few lines of connections and towards a certain Blue Dragon. Polet! "Leave the Sacred Gold Mountain. Make a return towards the region where the Sky Ruler and his forces are. Remain in the periphery and recruit a minimum of three Dragons toe back with you to take down two Human Rulers you found- exactly like that little dead dragon who had the Covenant of Fear did." ¡­! The n he thought of for an even quicker advancement of his understanding of the Covenant of Gold. What the ck Dragon did, he wanted to replicate himself! Hearing hismand, Polet shuddered as thismand did not just go to it alone. "You too, Bsa." ¡­! The Three Headed Red Dragon that was also given themand to patrol the Sacred Gold Mountain received the samemand- these two dragons gazing at each other dozens of miles away and feeling a sense of trepidation as their new Master¡­seemed to be very twisted and vile! They could only p their wings as they disappeared towards the fog surrounding the Sacred Gold Mountain. Where they used to be, Undead Minions arose to guard and patrol around the Sacred Gold Mountain. Back within the mountain itself, Alexander looked around with a light of ingenuity as he spoke towards the astonished ire behind him. "Can you call over your Father and mine here? Let''s give them the respect they deserve for helping bring us where we are now¡­" As he purposefully hatched a n to have more Dragons brought over, he looked at the Corpses of three Rulers that could be utilized to propel those close to him to even greater heights. Listening to his words, ire only nodded quickly before she disappeared in a sh of gold blue light! His body pulsed as it drew back in all the rivers of gold light, his mind buzzing as he looked at the changes to his lifeforce while he nearedplete understanding of a single Covenant of Nature. [Alexander Asmodeus] [Realm]:: Land Ruler- Covenant of Gold(82.1%), Covenant of Fire(3.8%), Covenant of Lightning(3.9%) [Vigor]:: 5,488,000/5,488,000 (+28,440,000 cial Armor of the Deep)>> 7,558,659 (+37,793,295 cial Armor of the Deep) [Energeia]:: 3,000,138/5,100,000>> 7,600,000 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy), Golden Ruler [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Sun(28% Rate of Fusion), Halcyon Stanchion of Light, Golden Tree of Old- Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 2 Point(s)] [Core Feature(s)]:: The Reformer of the Enneagram(Natal)- x300% to the Rate of Understanding and Assimtion of Covenants of Nature. A glorious glimmer of elevation showed itself as his Vigor and Energiea rapidly shot up alongside his understanding of a Covenant of Nature! Chapter 132 Carving Out Ones Domain! III Alexander felt the life force in his body as he couldn''t help but reflect on his state just days ago. When he had just a few hundred Values of Vigor. When fighting against Bobo- a low Tier Beast, was a tremendous challenge! But now, things had progressed from low-tier Beasts to Beast Lords, Kings, and Emperors who had Nine-link Gem Sockets. And now, Rulers. Entities that had grasped Covenants of Nature. Ruling authorities that only seemed to further expand a Gem Master''s ability! As a Ruler, Alexander was doing something that even though he didn''t have someone topare himself to, his speed of progression was utterly ridiculous. Of course, the one thing responsible for it all¡­was the Enneagram. "Just what are you¡­" He mused as he ced his hand on his chest while floating in the air above the corpses of three Dragon Rulers. "Alexander?" Behind him, the voice of his father, followed by Branch Leader Axel and Azazel, appeared- ire standing at the forefront as those behind her felt a stifling sensation just being near the three corpses of Rulers! Alexander turned towards them and smiled. The power he had was tremendous. And he never had trouble sharing it as he floated down, tendrils of golden rivers erupting around him as he got ready to perform a few rituals! Meanwhile. A distance away from the Sacred Gold Mountain. In gray skies where one could barely see meters away, Bsa was flying low while spreading her aura of daringly. She wanted to attract attention in order to achieve her new Master''s goal. But that did prevent her from grumbling as she followed his orders! [Who am I? A dignified Dragon! And now¡­] Her thoughts werementing ones even as she tried to study the terrifying power now coursing through her because of him. She didn''t know how, but she could swear that the Covenant of Fire seemed easier to understand nowpared to before. But¡­what sort of being could allow others to progress across understanding Covenants faster? Bsa couldn''t fully ept it as in her grumbling... [Ho? What''s this?]N?v(el)B\\jnn A voice echoed out from over a mile away as past the heavy fog, multiple auras that were circling another direction noticed her aura and floated over. Each was an aura of a Dragon Ruler as Bsa''s three heads squinted with mes and observed the gradual appearance of a party of five Dragons. Each one radiated magnificence as when Bsa looked at them, her eyes lit up. It was a bit more than three¡­but that should be okay with her Master, right? She looked towards them and looked aggrieved, as if her honor had been vited! It was an emotion she didn''t have to act out too much as she truly felt it. [Fellow brethren! I actually came across two Human Rulers who rebuked me and insulted the dignity of Dragons. Would you all lend me a hand in punishing them?!] Her three heads radiated a ferocious light. [Oh?] And the eyes of all five nee Dragons glinted as they looked at each other and silently agreed. [We were about to report to the Silver Ruler of Space of a Sacred Mountain we found that even causes us trepidation, how far is this Human?] [Not far at all, let me show you!] Bsa was happy to bring them along as if she suffered misfortune, bringing others to face it too would make her feel just a bit better. The emotions and thinking of a dignified dragon turned out to be quite twisted. While Bsa got lucky and came across arge party, Polet continued to look in another direction. Explore new worlds at empire Back on the Sacred Gold Mountain, some time passed as a few changes had taken ce! In a clearing of green gold trees, a few grasses swayed with vibrant Energeia as two Branch Leaders who used to oversee Carthage looked at each other in shock. This was because on both of their chests, nine vibrant sockets glimmered brightly! They weren''t the only ones as even the past Tier 3 Gem Master, Azazel, also had a dazzling array of 9 sockets on his chest. They couldn''t wrap their minds around how this was even possible as Alexander seemed to do it so simply. His father came out of his reverie and shock as he shook his head with emotion. "Your mother¡­would be tremendously proud, Alex." ¡­! He spoke such words as Alexander smiled not too far away. "Many things outside of our control urred in the past. We have the power to control things a bit more now as we can only protect those who are here." His father had wanted to leave everything to him. But he was alive and kicking, and now renewed with a burst of power! "The Ability Gems from these three Rulers are unique and rare ones- see if you all want to socket them for your new recipes." He floated up as he left them to limate to their new power. He had to observe and test out his own power as he already received word from Bsa about 5 Dragon Rulers returning with her! Alongside this, two more Support Ability Gems for the Bonds of the Gold Ruler had been proposed, analyzed, refined, and forged by the Enneagram. Being able to design one''s own support gems allowed ridiculous versatility as he could truly make a ridiculous Recipe that should never be allowed to exist. He looked at the two additional golden gems within his chest as his figure flew into the skies of the Sacred Gold Mountain and turned into a golden streak of light that went towards the foggy areas outside of it. If he knew where the enemy was, why wait for them to arrive at his home? His eyes flickered with a sharp light as he flew out while looking at the details of the second Support Ability Gem that was incredibly short for its heavy boost! [Golden Ruler''s Conqueror Support]:: A Ruling Ability Gem formed under the authority of the Covenant of Gold. It has a single doctrine that states the Gold Ruler cannot be without Conquered Subjects. It allows the souls of 6 beings who were defeated by the Gold Ruler to be bound to it and forever follow under his banner. ¡­! A support ability gem that looked like a Main Ability Gem of another recipe. And even this was corrected as initially, Alexander had ced the number of possible Conquered Subjects to be 18! Chapter 133 Carving Out Ones Domain! IV The second Support Ability Gem to be added was the Golden Ruler''s Conqueror Support. The third one had an even more dazzling name, and it was termed The Golden Ruler''s Endless Greed! Alexander defined this greed uniquely as his fervent need for more Covenant Authorities. What he wanted to do with the third support ability gem was to alter and increase a single factor within the Bonds of the Gold Ruler And that was¡­the number of how many followers he was allowed to obtain the covenants of nature from. This number was capped at 2- and he had already met its limit! Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire He wanted to alter this with a Support Ability Gem. So long as it was a support ability gem that modified a Main Ability Gem, this was not prohibited, right? In nature, it would be impossible to truly have the Support Ability Gem that was so specific and geared towards something that was unique to him in nature. Ridiculously, at this moment, Alexander was not following the rules of nature. [Golden Ruler''s Endless Greed Support]:: A Ruling Ability Gem formed under the authority of the Covenant of Gold. It has a single doctrine that states the Gold Ruler shouldn''t be bound to too many limitations regarding his followers. The maximum number of Followers with which you can obtain their grasped Covenant of Nature has been doubled¡­ Simple enough! By designing his own ability gems, the maximum number of covenants that he could obtain from his followers jumped from 2 to 4. He had a smile as he flew across the gray skies following the Energeia signature of Bsa. He truly did like to sit back and let his Minions do the work, but ever since he began dipping his feet into the Covenants of Nature, he found himself extremely curious about their workings as he inherently wanted to know more and apply the covenants of nature in unique ways. His entire life, he knew a basic set of rules: how to live, how to eat, how to sleep. Yet, the Covenants of Nature seemed to be some sort of rules that he could grasp, understand, and then begin to bend to his own will! It was an extremely unique sensation and it made him want to expose himself more to this side of things. So he left the Sacred Gold Mountain as a part of his mind was dancing with expectations at how it could apply the Covenant of Gold against his current enemies. How wide would the gap be between him, who nearly grasped the full Covenant of Gold, and other Land Rulers who were nowhere close? With his speed, he didn''t have to fly for too long before he arrived near a party of 6 Dragon Rulers. One of them was a nt- an imposter. Now, the other 5 were his meals! He didn''t slow down as he neared and he actually sped up. He felt the beat of his heart increase in frequency as his skin began to glint gold! Was this excitement? Was this him actually looking forward to what was about toe? It was a unique sensation as he enjoyed it fully while around him, the brilliance of the Covenant of Gold spread out! It wrapped across his body and illuminated the surroundings as he unleashed over 1,000,000 values of Energeia all at once. Rivers of the Covenant of Gold surged around him as his body began to be encased in an illusory gold spear. He was going forward at speeds that were a fraction of the speed of light as in addition to this, his body became armored in the Covenant of Gold as it seemed like a celestial golden spear made of liquid gold was tearing through the skies and heading towards a singr location in the far distance. This liquid gold spear felt menacing as if it would alter anything it touched to be just like it! The Dragon Rulers that wereing over felt an inexplicable sensation- their hearts stirring as they could swear that they saw a blinking golden dot of light ahead of them. A dot of light, but in the next second, it seemed to erge and be bigger and bigger to the point that it seemed like a zing liquid gold sun was heading toward them!N?v(el)B\\jnn [What¡­?!] A single word was uttered by one of the Dragon Rulers as beside them; they only saw the terrified look on the Three-Headed Red Dragon as she flew out and evaded sideways extremely quickly. They didn''t even have the time to be shocked at this as in the next moment, they felt their surroundings twist and distort as ahead of them, the tip of the liquid gold spear thundered down onto their bodies! Already, somehow, the very air in the skies around them seemed to be turning into gold as the moment the spear neared them, even their scales began to glimmer with a golden light as if in a moment, it would all be altered gold. Their hearts and bodies felt tremendous trepidation as every single one of them erupted with their own authority- the massive gems on their chests lighting up one after another as they tried to bring out defensive measures against the oing spear. But it was far too fast, and the authority carried was too brilliant. Almost fully understood by its user as none of them couldpare! BOOM! A deafening explosion bloomed in the skies as rivers of golden liquid light exploded and spread out all around. To the Dragon Rulers, this liquid gold was akin to something hotter thanva- their scales feeling a scorching heat pass through as their muscles began to atrophy and freeze along with their Vigor and Energeia! [OOOH!] Booming roars of utter shock and horror bloomed from every single Dragon with their exuberant life force, and yet the exploded rivers of gold around them were far too heavy. Once it surrounded them like a smallke and encased them within¡­ TSS! A horrific sound echoed out as the liquid began to harden, spears rapidly forming within itske-like structure as they pierced into the bodies of all dragons within it! It was too quick. Too fast! By the time one blinked, the skies held a magnificent sculpture. This was what could best describe it. A sculpture of gold spears containing magnificent Dragons inside of it! They were in the middle of roaring out and releasing their Covenants, and yet golden spears punctured their bodies through and through! "...." Bsa, the Three Headed Red Dragon, floated to the side as her face showed utter horror and shock. From the glorious golden sculpture, a figure that was encased in gold floated out, his expression marvelous as he pulled out one ster obsidian Ruler''s Gem after another from the sculpture- his grand magnum opus where he actually one shotted and decimated five Land Rulers. His eyes couldn''t hide their vibrant light as with the number of Ruler''s Gems obtained here, the understanding of a Covenant of Nature was about to reach 100%, and he would officially be graduating as a Land Ruler to be a Sky Ruler¡­just hours after he became a Ruler in the first ce! Chapter 134 Sky! I Bsa stared at the horrifying golden sculpture of punctured dragons that floated in the skies as she swallowed. She saw the figure of her new Master float out of it while collecting dazzling Ruler''s Gems, and she didn''t show even an ounce of envy as her massive body remained suspended in the air as she asked with a sense of fear. "What else¡­would Master like for me to do? I will aplish it without fail!" Seeing the horrific decimation of life this being just carried out, she knew she couldn''t get on his bad side as she would do whatever he asked. And he didn''t even look in her direction as he voiced out calmly, his gaze fully enamored by the Ruler''s gems that began to disappear into his body. "Same thing as before. Be discreet and do not draw the attention of the Sky Ruler of Space just yet." "Yes, Master!" The Three Headed Red Dragon nodded its head as if it were a chicken, the Covenant of Fire erupting around her massive draconian body as she shot out into the distance! As if running away from the presence of a monster. The area she left retained the brilliance of gold, Alexander in the skies listening as dazzling words passed through his mind! ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Gold has increased by 6%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Gold has increased by 6%.|| ||The rate of understanding¡­!| He kept his focus on the radiance of gold as from 82%, it shot up rapidly. On the third Ruler''s Gem to be absorbed. ¡­! He didn''t hear anything at all for a moment as everything seemed to freeze. His mind was filled with an influx of truly critical information as he found himself asking in a dazed tone. "What is Gold?" Gold. Just what was it exactly? As he asked himself this, his eyes closed while a terrifying aura began to bud within him. His Enneagram shone brightly on his chest as it began to gain bolded lines around its sockets. Gold. Gold was brilliance. Gold was strength. Gold was arrogance. Gold was of immense purity as that which was impure is altered with its presence. For someone whopletely understood gold, they grasped every single variation of its being and could freely express it! Alexander felt all of this in what seemed like the span of an instant, and he felt like a door opened inside of him that bathed everything in gold. He opened his eyes once more. And¡­ "Ah¡­" All around him, he saw particles of gold. Miniscule. Small. But abundant. In the skies, in the earth below, and even in this gray fog all around!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Gold seemed to be permeating all around as even through this fog that obscured his vision before; he now saw that he could visualize everything for at least ten miles all around. And that was in this restrictive environment! These countless particles of gold he saw in the surroundings all seethed at this moment as many of them surged into his body constantly, making him feel a sense of fullness he hadn''t felt before. He looked a few miles away and saw a single particle of gold. Just from observing it, he felt an intricate connection with it as he instinctively moved. And a momentter, he appeared miles away where this golden particle was! ¡­! Akin to teleportation. And yet all he did was express the arrogance and purity of Gold! He was dazed as many words rolled in. ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Gold has reached 100%!|| ||Great changes bloom within you as a Covenant Gem of Gold emerges at the center of your being. Incorporeal, this Covenant Gem does not require the bindings of a Socket, and is the seed that can be used for the Assimtion of the Covenant of Gold with your being.|| A Covenant Gem. Something that didn''t exist in a Land Ruler! ||With the Covenant Gem of Gold, a False Domain of Gold can now be unleashed in your surroundings.|| ||Complete assimtion of the Covenant of Gold will allow for the True Domain of Gold to be unleashed.|| ||Your Assimtion of the Covenant of Gold has reached 1%.| ¡­! His life force seemed jubnt. His Enneagram seemed to be getting bathed with a heavy brilliance of Gold! He could feel that even more changes wereing as rapidly, both his Vigor and Energeia crossed the 10 million point. And as they did so, they slowly began to change. The blue waves of Energeia seemed to be denser while the crimson waves of Vigor became more potent! ||The Value of Vigor is being transformed to be Ascendant Vigor. 10 Million Values of Vigor equal 1 Ascendant Vigor Value.|| ||The Value of Energeia is being transformed to be Ascendant Energeia. 10 Million Values of Energeia equal 1 Ascendant Energeia Value.|| ¡­! Everything about him seemed to be altered to be heavier and denser as the aura he currently radiated was something that no Land Ruler could give off. It was as if he himself was radiating a pressure that bore down on the skies themselves. Skies! ¡ª Across Ephesus. About 2,000 miles away from the Sacred Gold Mountain. Such a distance may have been considered very far before, but it was only an insignificant portion of Ephesus right now that was many timesrger. At the midpoint of a Sacred Mountain that pulsed with thunder and lightning, a massive silver dragon had its ws dug into the corpses of charred Alfanians, Golden skin outline amidst a bloody carnage as other Dragons had their heads bowed down while staring ahead. The silver dragon pulsed with heart shaking radiance that all other Rulers here feared, his gaze currently filled with callousness as purple rings of lightning that granted him Ruler''s Covenant Authority points disappeared on his limbs! [I want to say that all those who do not bow down before the majesty of Dragons shall perish¡­but why is it that 8 of you have fallen in such a short period of time? Who could be butchering my little worker bees?] ¡­! The Silver Ruler of Space uttered out coldly as the terrifying grandeur of a Sky Ruler pulsed from him. He marked all of those he sent out, and 8 of these markers had died and faded away. Three of them perished one by one, while 5 perished simultaneously! Such an action enraged him as it seemed that likely, another Sky Ruler was questioning his authority! Chapter 135 Sky! II Silver Ruler of Space. Sky Ruler of Space. The Behemoth of Space! He held many distinctions, and his power was a terrifying one as he had already begun assimting the Covenant of Space. Inside of his body, the Covenant Gem of Space made many things possible as he could even soar into outer space- something that mainly Void Rulers could manage to do and survive! His position was a distinguished one as he could evenmand other Dragon Rulers. His pride was naturally higher as feeling the deaths of three Dragon Rulers was akin to having the culprit standing right in front of him while cursing his entire Lineage. [A fool is about to die¡­] CRUNCH! He stepped on the mutted bodies of the golden skinned Alfanian Rulers who dared to oppose him as he thought carefully. And after a while, his body shimmered with silver radiance as his eyes became entirely silver- the serpentine pupils disappearing as he sent the frequency of his voice across space towards an extremely distant location thousands of miles away! [Void Master, this Disciple is sensing a possible threat of a local Sky Ruler in this foreign world that I will investigate. Have you finished scaling the world in its entirety?] ¡­! He ryed his movements to the Void Master. The one he followed in the World of Dragoisles! He waited briefly before a deep voice filled with interminable ruling rang out in his mind. [This world is far bigger than the Dragoisles, and covered by a terrifying veil that even I cannot pierce through. I recognize some features of the Mountains of the Dragoisles here, and even my Sacred Thunder Mountain has been transferred here. Be careful, a great power is budding here that even we do not understand.] Words of power and caution rang out as the Silver Ruler of Space nodded solemnly, his gaze turning towards the Dragons that were returning to this mountain and even the distant ones he could feel spread out. "Recall everyone back! A foreign Sky Ruler is likely roaming in these nearby domains. We will show them the power of the dignified Dragon Lineage soon enough!" ¡­! His majestic roar echoed out, and other Dragon Rulers raised their own heads and roared out in resonance. Below them, on the lower rungs of this Mountain, thousands of Dragon Emperors, Dragon Kings, and Dragon Lords who held powerful auras but had not attained Rulership yet could be seen- this entire mountain crackling with thunder and lightning seeming like an abode of a terrifying nest of Dragons that others would steer clear from! And the owners of such a massive mountain dered a nearby Sky Ruler to be an enemy. A Sky Ruler. They weren''t entirely wrong in this designation as the one who had been killing their Dragons was a Land Ruler until just recently! And now. A few thousand miles away, the figure of Alexander still floated in the skies as he breathed in and out. Whenever he did so, he felt like the countless particles of Gold in the surroundings were being drawn into his nose and circting across his body, constantly making him feel enriched and full of life. He breathed out gold light as he smiled with contentment and listened to the remaining words of the Enneagram. ||The Enneagram has expanded its capabilities after theplete understanding of a single Covenant of Nature, and another Core Feature has been unlocked.|| ||The Core Feature of The Individualist of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Natal Stage. Under its brilliance, you can form a singr Enneagram Clone of yourself that expresses 110% of your total power. If this clone dies, this feature will not be usable again for a full day.|| ||The Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Juvenile Stage. Under its renewed brilliance, every grasped Covenant of Nature increases your rate of Understanding and Assimtion of all Covenants of Nature by 200%.|| ¡­! A series of ridiculous boons unfolded as under the Core Feature of The Reformer, each grasped Covenant now increased his Understanding and Assimtion by 200%! But even this took the sidelines. It was ced in a corner even with all its glory as a new Core Feature of The Enneagram was unlocked. The Individualist. With it, he could actually enact an Enneagram Clone that would express not half of his power. Not even a portion of his power. But¡­it would actually be a clone that expressed 110% of his power. "..." Was it not supposed to be the other way around? That a clone of his body was weaker than the original body? This rule seemed to be vited at this moment as gazing at it, Alexander absolutely could not wait as he called out lightly. "Form the Enneagram Clone." ¡­! ||The Core Feature of The Individualist has been activated.|| ||A reflection of yourself with free autonomy under yourplete control has begun forming.|| HUUM! His body pulsed with a booming light of power as in the next moment, a light shot out from his Enneagram and formed a golden gem in front of his chest! The golden gem spun with bright radiance and began to slowly erge as Alexander felt the Covenant of Gold flow into it the most, along with the Covenant of Fire and Lightning from the other corners of the Enneagram. ||The Enneagram Clone is 1% formed.|| The budding gem became bigger and bigger as it slowly erged, and it seemed that in a few minutes, it would beplete!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He looked at it expectantly while observing the change in his panel after advancing to be a Sky Ruler. [Alexander Asmodeus] [Realm]:: Sky Ruler- Covenant of Gold(1.5% Assimtion), Covenant of Fire(8% Understanding), Covenant of Lightning(8.1% Understanding) [Ascendant Vigor]:: 2.4/2.4 (+12 cial Armor of the Deep) [Ascendant Energeia]:: 2.2/2.4 [Gem Recipes]:: Minion King(55% Progress towards Ascendancy), Undead King(1% Progress towards Ascendancy), Golden Ruler [Gem Constetions]:: Endless cial Sun(55% Rate of Fusion), Halcyon Stanchion of Light, Golden Tree of Old- Yggdrasil [Ruler''s Covenant Authority- 2 Point(s)] [Core Feature(s)]:: The Reformer of the Enneagram(Juvenile)- x600% to the Rate of Understanding and Assimtion of Covenants of Nature, The Individualist(Natal)- 1 Enneagram Clone ¡­! It was glorious, to say the least. Chapter 136 Sky! III His Vigor and Energeia Values were unique to look at as if they had not changed to be Ascendant Vigor and Energeia, it would actually disy 24,000,000 Vigor Values and Energeia Values! 24 Million. From the measly few hundred just days ago. Now, even if anyone wanted to drain his life force, the amount of damage they had to deal to him would have to be insane. But now, it was all neatly reduced down to small digits. Whenever he spent his Energeia, tiny, decimal points with multiple zeros would be used up! This wasn''t to mention¡­his rate of regeneration. "Can you quantify this too?" He asked the Enneagram calmly as in front of him, the gem brought to fruition by the Individualist was almost half the size of his body already. ||Data across your being will be collected to summarize the rate of regeneration.|| The Enneagram replied sinctly as Alexander smiled and waited in the skies above. He held great expectations as he continued to feel waves of Ascendant Energeia being drawn out from him. It was blue, but it had traces of brilliant gold light within it. It seemed extremely heavy and densepared to before as a single particle of it could equate to a few hundred thousand particles of the normal Energeia! He seemed to be advancing to a higher form of life as he became more entrenched with the Covenants of Nature. At the end of it all, where would he be? He didn''t have any answer to this as he could only think silently. ||The Enneagram Clone is 95% formed.|| He was taken out of his stupor as a sentence shed in his mind, and he observed a dazzling gem the size of his body floating in front of him. At this point, the golden gem began to twist and distort as it transformed into a humanoid shape, graduallying to resemble him! His features. His build. His handsomeness. He saw the body sculpted as, shockingly, the arms and build were muscr, with his stomach showing a tight eight-pack that made him whistle while questioning if he had ever looked that good before. And in no time¡­ ||The Enneagram Clone is 100% formed.|| ||Another version of you has appeared.|| ¡­! The brilliance of gold flickered gloriously. The being in front of Alexander opened his eyes as unlike his dark hair, his hair flickered with golden radiance. His skin glinted with magnificence as when he opened his eye, Alexander felt like his vision expanded greatly as if he was looking at everything around him for miles all around! He looked at himself. He raised his hands. His thoughts. His actions. Every single thing felt exactly the same as if this body was simply an extension of his limbs! His thoughts moved simultaneously and with great autonomy as after a few seconds of oddity, everything felt smooth. "Hey." He spoke to himself. "Hey." And he replied to himself as he took self-reflection to a whole other level! And momentster, both of his bodies radiated an aura of power as surely, the Enneagram Clone was much more powerful. And with his own Ascendant Vigor and Energeia Values! It was akin to the Sacred Gold Mountain¡­gaining another Sky Ruler minutes after it weed its first. It was an utterly ridiculous happening that Alexander nned to make full use of, his clone breathing in the surrounding air before it turned into a streak of light that shot towards another direction in these foggynds- towards the direction of Polet who had just managed to ensnare a party of Dragons! His Main Body beckoned towards the sculpture that encased five dead Dragon Rulers as he began to fly back towards the Sacred Gold Mountain. Even though he had just be a Sky Ruler, he wouldn''t think he was the most powerful being. If the gulf between Land and Sky was this much, what about Void Rulers who had fully assimted and be one with a Covenant of Nature? There was no harm in being low key and growing his strength rapidly as he survived whatever Ephesus was nning to do! ¡ª On a Sacred Mountain flickering with verdant radiance. Massive vines grew and snaked all over this mountain in an abundant show of life and power. At this moment. On the base of shattered vines, it seemed like a war had just been raging. Groaning and blooding figuresy all around, their skin tinted gold as they were Alfanians! There were at least five injured Alfanian Rulers here who had looks of shock and fear while they gazed at the center point of wreckage where they saw the cause of their nightmare. A small young woman in fur clothes as she looked like she was from archaic times.N?v(el)B\\jnn Her dashing beauty was deadly as her hair couldn''t seem to decide on its color, multiple Covenants of Nature coursing through it! Currently, her hands pulsed with a dreadful purple radiance that gushed out tendrils of light from her hands and into the orifices of an Alfanian Ruler who looked like an aged old man with a golden beard. The power he radiated was currently chaotic, but it was a notch above anynd Rulers as this old man¡­was a powerful Sky Ruler. Yet at this moment, after droves of purple light flooded into his being, his figure trembled for a few seconds before he became still and opened his eyes. On his forehead, a purple branding of a flower bloomed as his eyes were also purple, and he looked towards the young woman floating above him as he quickly fell to his knees while calling out! [O Great Ezra, what are yourmands?] ¡­! Ezra. The Champion forged by Ephesus! Her actions caused tremendous dismay to the observing Alfanian Rulers who looked at the wizened old Sky Ruler they always looked up to, but now¡­seemed to be under the control of another! "Great Elder...persevere!" A shout came from the distance as the so-called Great Elder did not even turn back, his gaze only on Ezra! Chapter 137 Sky! IV Persevere. This was the word uttered by the golden-skinned Alfanian Land Rulers as theyy heavily injured, but the one they referred to as the Great Elder acted like he didn''t even hear them. He only looked towards the young visage of Ezra with reverence as if he only lived for her orders. The Covenant of the Soul was just that terrifying! Ezra turned her head sideways and blinked as she looked at the heavily injured Alfanian Rulers and the heavy waves of emotions they expressed as her red lips parted, an extremely sweet and calm voice echoing out from them. "You all are in so much pain. Constantly filled with anxieties and stress. I am merely helping you all to remove this while you contribute to making these Lands less chaotic." ¡­! Her voice was sweet, and yet her words caused the remaining Land Rulers to shudder! Her figure bent down as her hands cradled the bearded face of the Sky Ruler Alfanian referred to as the Great Elder. "Even this one you all revere. Did you know how much weight he carried? The anxiety he had as he wondered how he could protect you all and all other Alfanians who found themselves in this ce?" ¡­! "It was far too heavy. But now, I have freed him. What he could not shoulder, I can easily hold up. Is that not better?" Terrifying words that only caused the defeated Land Rulers to shudder echoed out. But at such a time¡­ [Great Ezra is right.] The Great Elder under her control kneeled ever more as from him, a terrifying aura of the Covenant of Life bloomed- causing thousands of vines to appear and wrap around the few injured Land Rulers here, and then they spread down the mountain even further to restrict any and all thousands of Alfanians who were on this mountain! [Please, Great Ezra, show my people the way.] A terrifying influence had settled on the Great Elder, to the extent that he even sought to extend it to his people! This was how terrifying the Covenant of the Soul was. And Ezra was born with this Covenant assimted into her being among multiple others. She smiled at the actions of the Sky Ruler that was bound by his very soul- this smile being very pure. Akin to the smile of a child doing something they considered an aplishment. She stroked the golden hair on this Great Alfanian Elder as from her, terrifying purple tendrils of light erupted and delved into the orifices of the other Rulers- their eyes being turned into a deadly shade of purple! "I will ease the pain and chaos you all feel. All of your dreams, hopes, and anxieties will be wiped away as you will no longer have to worry about choices. You are among the first, soon, another will also join you in helping restore and maintain the order of Ephesus¡­" Her words trailed off as she turned towards a certain direction. There, over 20,000 miles away, stood a Sacred Gold Mountain where a creature of particr importance to Ephesus was marked. He would join the ranks of other creatures soon enough to work beside her for the stability of Ephesus. He was¡­ ''Alexander, yea?'' Ezra called out his name in her mind as the Covenant of the Soul further cemented and highlighted this name within her psyche! ¡ª [Alexander¡­] Ryanara called out this name as she sighed, other Alfanians surrounded her with stern expressions at the edge of the Sacred Gold Mountain. They all thought about the man who killed multiple Land Rulers easily- a man they couldn''t fathom! "You''re calling for me?" ¡­! And shockingly, his voice echoed out from the fog as his figure broke into the clearing of the Sacred Gold Mountain. Behind him, it seemed like a floating golden ind followed his figure- such a scene causing the Alfanians to be shocked as Ryanara stuttered out her words. [Err- yes, I was thinking about¡­!] As Ryanara was speaking. She felt the aura of Alexander truly descend as her eyes shed with shock! The aura he radiated. The power he expressed!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It was something she had only observed from the Great Elder Alfanians of her race. A Sky Ruler! [You¡­] She was dazed to feel such an aura from this being as her mind couldn''t fully process it, and she could only lower her head while saying the words she wanted to say before. [I¡­will head out to see if I can discover and bring more of those from the World of Alfana to the safety of your Sacred Mountain. If draconic beasts like that are running rampant¡­I cannot imagine how many Alfanians may be perishing to them. I will save those I can and bring them here!| The past Princess of a region in the World of Alfana wanted to do her duty, and Alexander didn''t have any problems with this as he just nodded. The Sacred Gold Mountain was dozens of times bigger than what the City of Carthage used to be. Even a few billion people could be housed here and it wouldn''t be an issue! [Be safe, and just retreat if youe across anything you can''t handle.] He gave her a few words of reply before he floated deeper into the Sacred Gold Mountain, disappearing amidst the tall green gold trees along with the massive sculpture of the dead dragons following behind! In the earth below, ire, his Father, and others were gathered as he went down towards them. The frozen gold authority around the sculpture of the dead dragons began to melt, their bodies taking on their normal form as there were far too many things to do with the corpses of Dragon Rulers. Apart from looting their Nine-Link Sockets, their meat was filled with the tantalizing Energeia of Rulers. How beneficial would it be to enjoy it? These were the thoughts within Alexander''s mind as another part of him was putting a great deal of work- the Enneagram Clone a few thousand miles away nearing the position of Polet as this time, the goal was not simply to kill. If he could gain another two Rulers under his banner just like Bsa and Polet, this would equate to two more Covenants of Nature under him! And with two more Covenants, the ridiculous capabilities of the Reformer of the Enneagram would rise from 600% to 1,000%! Chapter 138 The Attack of an Enraged Sky Ruler! I As Alexander''s clone went towards a group of ensnared Dragon Rulers a few thousand miles away, there was a cautious and powerful Silver Ruler of Space who was also setting off. He had done his due diligence as he even informed his Master what he was doing! Behind him, a procession of Dragons followed close by as one could appreciate at least 25 Land Rulers that currently moved behind him. Dragons of different varieties, each one capable of being looked at as a Titan or Behemoth of its own right- and all of them followed the lead of a single Sky Ruler. His voice was brooding and majestic as he called out. [There is an enemy Sky Ruler that is poaching and hunting down our forces. At this moment, any groups that have not returned are potential targets of this Sky Ruler, and we shall head towards these possible groups and see just who dares to blemish the honor and dignity of the dragon race!] The voice was utterly maic as the Dragon Rulers behind this being nodded with fervor and regality.N?v(el)B\\jnn The roars of majestic Dragons echoed out like a cacophony of noises as they left a Mountain filled with rolling thunder and lightning, the auras of only a few Land Rulers left behind to guard it. A terrifying force of dragons went out into the misty fog of the newnds they found themselves in- asionally changing directions when they came across areas of destabilized space that looked likeyers of shattered dimensions. They advanced! Thousands of miles away, the clone of Alexander slowed down as he silently approached the group of Rulers that the Blue Dragon Polet had managed to ensnare. Currently, they were having their own discussions. [Polet, can you not give any more details regarding these human Rulers that scared you away? We have all heard of the echoes of the Silver Ruler of Space that have been calling us back. We have to have a good reason to ignore these calls.] A purple dragon emanating royalty echoed out in a feminine voice. Beside it, an Earth Dragon and a Water Serpent Dragon also flew across the gray skies rapidly as they followed behind. The Blue Dragon Polet looked towards these three Dragons in anger and annoyance as she replied snappily. [I bring you for an opportunity and you do not even wish to risk a few things to take it? Very well. I will let you know that the human Rulers I met pushed me back from a Sacred Mountain- a sacred mountain with measly two human Rulers!] Sharp gazes shed as the 3 Dragons looked at each other with overjoyed expressions. Which one of them did not want to have a rulership over a Sacred Mountain? A Sacred Mountain meant another Covenant of Nature if one intricately became involved with such a mountain and lived there for some time¡­they would naturally gain a sense of understanding of such a Covenant. Thus, they were prized possessions that everybody I wanted to get a hold of! They- [She is lying, you know?] ¡­! A calm voice echoed out that caused all Dragon Rulers to stiffen and roar out powerfully. They stopped in the skies while the gems on their Chests lit up brightly! And yet the voice continued while Alexander''s gold figure actually appeared in front of them from the folds of the misty gray fog. [The truth is that I actually sent her out here to lure you all to me. And she has done her job admirably as now; all that matters is whether you will make the same choice she did or die.] ¡­! tant honesty echoed out as the Dragon Rulers looked at the newly appearing human with enraged and stupefied expressions. This human actually dared to be so daring? To think he could speak some nonsense and cause them to- [Polet.] He called out lightly as the figure of Polet shed with lightning, the majestic Blue Dragon appearing beneath his feet in the skies as he slowly descended onto her body and stroked her radiant blue scales. "....!" A single action that caused everything to freeze in this area! The words he just said that they dismissed. The figure of Polet that moved under the legs of a Human Ruler and was mounted by him! The three Dragon Rulers felt like their brains had short-circuited as they froze in the skies. And to make matters worse, a terrifying aura began to leak out from the Enneagram Clone- an aura far exceeding a Land Ruler. And they recognized it. "Sky¡­!" "The Sky¡­!" Even Polet underneath Alexander squirmed in shock- this being the first time she felt this aura as even she couldn''t help but stop to question! Yet none of this stunned silence mattered for Alexander as he voiced out. [What will it be? Death, or submission, just like your friend Polet here?] ¡­! Three Dragons. An Earth Dragon. A Purple Dragon. A Water Serpent Dragon! Their hearts all felt trepidation as they felt the oppressive aura of a Ruler who had begun to assimte a Covenant of Nature. What choice would they make at such a moment? [Three.] ¡­! Alexander wouldn''t even give them time as he began to count down! Before he could get to the number two¡­ BOOM! Blue rivers bloomed around the Water Serpent Dragon, their sizes massive as three of them shot out in separate directions! The body of the Water Serpent Dragon was escaping as it hid itself in one of these three Rivers, not intending to bend the knee here today! Its actions were fast. Yet under Alexander''s eyes, they felt tremendously slow. And he could very clearly make out which river the Water Serpent Dragon was escaping towards! His body flickered as he disappeared instantly. As if he teleported. And from a small golden particle of gold from the depths of one of the blue rivers, he appeared! Right in front of the escaping Water Serpent Dragon! [A shame.] His voice echoed out with disappointment as a horrified Water Serpent Dragon stopped its advancement, but the terrifying grandeur of an assimted Covenant of Nature was already emerging before its eyes. This brilliance would be thest thing it saw! As this urred. About 1,000 miles away. The Silver Ruler of Space and the Legion of Dragon Rulers he was leading towards the few remaining scattered groups of Dragons came to a halt as in the lead, the Silver Ruler of Space stopped and turned his head towards a certain direction. His serpentine eyes pulsed with a devilish radiance as his jaws smiled with a deadly re. [Got you now, ya little fucker.] Silver brilliance bloomed like a flower around him as he shot out into the distance- the other Dragon Rulers following! Chapter 139 The Attack of an Enraged Sky Ruler! II The glorious head of a Water Serpent Dragon was pierced through and through by a golden spear that seemed like solid gold. Crimson blood flowed down its body that still had its muscles spasming and twitching, and the man responsible for it all kept the body of this regal beast afloat while he collected the Ruler''s Gems that fell out! While he did this, his voice calmly rang out. [You all havee to a decision?] ¡­! In the distance, the bodies of the Earth Dragon and Purple Dragon shook as they bent their heads unwillingly, thinking up many plots as ultimately, they could do nothing but bow down if they wanted to keep their lives before a Sky Ruler! [We¡­will submit.] Once more, even the dignified Dragons bent the knee. Alexander nodded with a smile as two golden lines erupted from his chest- shooting out like fishing lines that went to sink into the bodies of the two Dragon Rulers! The Support Ability Gem, Golden Ruler''s Conqueror Support was put to use for the first time - two of its Six Slots being used at this time to bind the souls of conquered beings. WUU! The blood of the dragon lineage let out a final defiant roar as momentster, two more Dragons found themselves bound entirely by another. They looked at the small human that now controlled their fates as he asked calmly. [Names?] The Earth Dragon was the first to answer in a brooding tone. [Marcuso, Master. Of the Grand Lineage of Earth Dragons that can shake mountains and tumble the earth. I am proficient in the Covenant of Earth¡­] He seemed to be propping himself up while he let go of thest bouts of defiance, his body bing wrapped by a bronze light as he became a humanoid entity with a bronze horn on his forehead! Beside him, the Purple Dragon seemed to emanate endless majesty as she raised her head while spreading her wings out. [I am Emiliana- of the rare Royal Dragon Lineage as my roots trace back to the Royal Sky Dragon Luciana, who is a Disciple under the Royal Void Dragon Malthus! I burn with the Covenant of Nobility!] ¡­! Everything paused. Even though she was already bound by him, The Royal Land Dragon Emiliana let it be known how unique her personage was, and that she was connected to even more powerful beings! She said this as a warning as when Alexander heard her words, his head turned sideways as he asked sinctly. [If I were to order your very being to copse through our bound connection right now, would your Royal Sky Dragon or their Royal Void Dragon be able to save you?] ¡­! The Royal Dragon froze. [I asked.] And Alexander pressed on! [If I were to kill you now, would your Royal Void Dragon be able to do anything?] [...] The head of a Royal Dragon bent down. Her very Covenant seemed affected as her eyes burned with shame and defeat as she spoke sullenly. [No¡­Master.] [Then pipe the fuck down. The Covenant of Nobility and the Covenant of Earth, huh? How interesting are those?] He seemed to be asking a rhetorical question. Emiliana and Marcuso looked at each other as nobody would truly be able to express their Covenant unless one truly understood it. But this question wasn''t so much for them as it was for Alexander, another ridiculous Support Ability Gem being activated at this moment. It was the Golden Ruler''s Endless Greed Support! ||The understanding of the Covenant of Earth has been forcefully grasped from the Conquered Subject, Emiliana.|| ||The understanding of the Covenant of Nobility has been forcefully grasped from the Conquered Subject, Marcuso.|| In a matter of seconds. His body in the skies that was always bathed in gold light¡­instantly boomed with a bronze grandeur of Earth and a purple brilliance of Nobility! His right hand coursed with the Covenant of Nobility as instantly, his whole being seemed that much more majestic, and the Covenant of Earth made his figure seem unbreakable and imprable! He asked how the Covenants were, and he then disyed them right after. [...!] The Earth Dragon, Marcuso, stared in a stupor. The Royal Dragon, Emiliana, had her jaws hanging open! In the distance, a sidelined Polet only watched on with a dazed expression. What the hell was this?! They all wondered if what they were seeing was teal as the one all of their eyes were on only nodded with a happy smile. It was because he saw the rate of Understanding and Assimtion of all Covenants of Nature had now risen to 1,000%! How could he not be happy at such a sight? Now, all he had to do was ponder of Covenants of Nature and let this ridiculous percentage do the work, and-....! His expression rapidly changed. And he instantly disappeared from where he floated as his figure bloomed from a small golden particle half a mile away! The ce in the skies he was just on¡­ CRACK! Splintered and seemingly crumbled down like shattered ss, chaotic energies of the Covenant of Space instantly spreading out. [You survived my Copsed Space.] ¡­! A booming voice traveled out from a far distance as it was filled with dominance and lethality. [No Land Ruler has survived an instantly erupting Copsed Space, and any Sky Ruler I have faced has been wounded by this initial attack. You¡­are a lucky little fucker, aren''t you?]N?v(el)B\\jnn A grandiose voice. One that caused the bound Dragons under Alexander to feel a sense of oppression and fear. They couldn''t even be happy at its arrival as since they bent the knee to someone not of the Dragon Lineage, this being may just kill them in its rage! BZZT! The gray mist parted ways to reveal its massive body as Alexander stared with a heavy expression. Silver scales. A gigantic body towering over 100 meters! A devilish draconic head and serpentine eyes pulsing with silver pupils. It was none other than the Silver Ruler of Space! He stared at Alexander with devilish eyes full of brutality, multiple other behemoth figures of Dragon Rulers beginning to appear behind him as his massive body pulsed with rings of silver light. [How much blood of the Dragons have you now spilled? And why are these three fools just standing here and not battling you to the death, Little Human?] Utter dominance zed out with his words as his arrival here seemed to be the advent of death and massacre! Chapter 140 The Attack of an Enraged Sky Ruler! III Its gaze was ferocious as it captured every single detail nearby. Alexander. The three dragons near him, and the dead dragon held up by a spear of gold! Every single thing fell under its gaze as the pressure that the Silver Ruler of Space radiated was terrifying! It was. And yet, Alexander remained floating in the skies with sharp eyes as he did not stumble before this pressure. Within him, five authorities of Covenants of Nature swirled as they acted like a pir of defense for him. The Covenant of Gold, The Covenant of Fire, the Covenant of Lightning, the Covenant of Earth, and the Covenant of Nobility. Only a single one was assimted with him as it bore fruit to a Covenant Gem that allowed his whole being to burn with a terrifying density of authority as even against this Sky Ruler ahead of him, he felt free and unfettered!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [What an interesting little thing.] The silver scales of the Sky Ruler of Space glistened as it floated valiantly, other Dragons moving in formation behind it. A cruel smile was forming on the draconic jaws of this creature as its words continued. [You are an interesting one, but let me ask you something. Do you have someone that you love, someone that you care for? I know that humans tend to group together and form truly strong attachments. So I theorized that the first time some of my dragons were killed, it may have been when they stumbled on your home, perhaps even your Sacred Mountain. So while setting out, I went ahead and sent 2 parties separate from the one that I led to go to the two areas where Ist felt dragons to have been killed. Since you are here, I can assume that in one of these areas, your people would be left behind.] ¡­! His smile became deeper. His eyes released a devilish glow of brutality as if he was just waiting for the rapid change in expression on Alexander! [It may be a mother, maybe a father, or even a lover. I say all of this to let you know that the instructions I gave to the dragons I sent out¡­ were to very painfully and very slowly butcher the humans that they found. I wanted them to suffer, and I then wanted to tell you and let you know just how much your actions caused them to suffer. Was this not such an exemry n?] The words of the Silver Ruler of Space were utterly terrifying as if he was bent on causing as much misery as he could, as if he wanted to destabilize and offset the state of mind of Alexander even before they fought! And yet he did not get the reaction that he expected. Alexander did not be enraged, nor did he show eyes of hopelessness. Instead, he retained his calmness as he breathed out and said. [It is interesting that I never truly had bloodlust or the need to kill, but somehow you dragons find a way to push forward this need very, very easily.] WAA! The space around him began to tremble. He looked like he was about to release a heavy oppression of power as he started fighting back, but in the next moment, the massive silver-scaled dragon in the distance shed and disappeared speedily, silver brilliance erupting out behind Alexander as an extremely sharp pointed dragon''s tail thundered forward to pierce and decimate his small body! [I''m d I can evoke such an emotion in a soon-to-be-dead creature.] Merciless. Quick! That was how this Silver Ruler of Space was! And yet¡­ BOOM! His sharp tail was stopped in ce as Alexander didn''t even turn around. He only ced his hand backwards as currently, it was entirely gold in color and makeup. As if the arm itself was made of pure gold! It was enough to oppose and hold at bay the terrifying tail of the Silver Ruler of Space that vibrated with the Covenant of Space! At the same time, a Support Gem was used silently. Golden Ruler''s Amplification Support. It was the first support ability gem bound to the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, and it made it so that through the Vessel of the Heart of the Ruler, Alexander could fuse the qualities, bloodlines, and Abilities of 7 Followers under him! The fused form was called the Enlightened Gold Ruler, and it could be maintained for a maximum of 5 minutes. Alexander utilized this for the first time when he fought the party Bsa and Polet belonged to. Now, 4 of the 7 slots on who he was fusing with the strongest qualities of were selected to be the newly bound 4 Dragons! The qualities of the Three Headed Red Dragon, Bsa, the Blue Dragon, Polet, the Purple Dragon, Emiliana, and the Earth Dragon, Marcuso! The other slots were filled up with the qualities of ire, Jujugan, and the Ancient Vampire as the body of Alexander- of his Enneagram Clone, began to swell. He held the buzzing tip of the tail of the Silver Ruler of Space, the roars of dragons echoing out in the surroundings as over a dozen of them circled him and were ready to attack. And yet he was calm as his voice was steady. [The dignity of the Dragon Lineage is spoken about a great deal¡­so let me have a taste of it.] ¡­! BOOM! A maddening aura and concentration of power emerged from him, the dragon''s tail being knocked back while Alexander rapidly erged in size and power! Ster crimson blue scales appeared over his skin, their brightness being utterly blinding. Two pairs of wings, four wings in total, bloomed behind his back as two were burning with red mes, while two cracked with pure lightning! On his crimson blue ws, a tform of bronze earth formed as if anywhere he stepped on the skies, he would always have a pir of earthen support. The scales going towards his head changed color to be entirely gold, his entire head being that of a regal dragon as his golden eyes burned with mes! Behind him, a tail crackling with gold thunder shed dangerously as the whole body in this form¡­came to tower a bit over 110 meters. Slightly bigger than the Silver Ruler of Space himself. Alexander looked at himself and felt the unfathomable power contained in every muscle. In every organ. It felt multiple times grander than his own body as he couldn''t help but nod! [The body of a Dragon¡­why don''t you show me its full regality?] He spoke mockingly towards the Silver Rule of Space who was gazing over with increased rage. [You dare to mock the lineage of Dragons? To imitate our forms? Let me show you what Dragons truly are!] He gave a signal. Above and all around, the circling Dragons stopped in ce, their jaws opening like gates as an instantter, they all breathed out terrifying Dragon''s Breath towards a single enemy! Chapter 141 A Dance With Dragons! I Multiple Land Rulers targeted him. Alongside them, a Sky Ruler also watched his figure closely as he waited for the moment Alexander made a movement to unleash another Copsed Space right where he appeared! In the face of all of this. Alexander felt the exuberant lifeforce within him as he truly understood what it felt like to be a Dragon. He felt like he could fully unleash an inexhaustible amount of Energeia and he would get it back soon enough! And so he went all out. [Oh, Gold.] He called out to his assimting Covenant of Gold. A decimal percentage of his Ascendant Energeia was spent as from his scales, a golden brilliance shone and spread out! The oing sts of Dragon''s Breath flickered as they became covered by this golden light, and their ferocity and majesty were altered as they turned into rivers of gold. Horrific attacks from Land Rulers- all reduced to rivers of gold that rained down and swirled around Alexander with majesty! In the fused form of a Dragon, his voice was deep as he called out multiple times, his voice almost seemingly ovepping with its depths. [Oh, Fire! Oh, Lightning!] His voice seemed like that of an ancient Elder Dragon as he bellowed out, and with the surge of his voice, the skies changed color. Above all the Land Rulers flying in the skies, cackling storms of blue lightning embroiled in crimson mes crashed down with great malice. They weren''t light, a single lightning bolt embroiled with mes cracking open the thick scales of the Land Rulers as they roared out with pain! Seeing this, the Silver Ruler of Space harrumphed as his eyes shone. [Your opponent is me!] Space around him cracked as he instantly appeared in front of Alexander, the rivers of gold swirling around him turned chaotic as they were swallowed by fracturing space that looked like broken mirror shards! As the Silver Ruler of Space awaited a glorious impact, Alexander''s serpentine eyes shed with disdain as he¡­n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om WAP! Disappeared entirely. ¡­! His figure reappeared above the painfully roaring dragons who were trying to evade his storm of lightning mes, and he dove down like a speeding bullet as his four wings were turned pure gold and unfathomably sharp! The wings seemed like des that could cut the air itself, and he streaked across the skies with abundant Land Dragon Rulers like a de! It was too fast. By the time other Land Dragons moved away¡­the horrific scene of four majestic dragons bisected into multiple different pieces could be seen. Their regal gazes were full of horror and shock as from them, multiple Ruler''s Gems were spat from their bodies and became wrapped up in lightning mes, disappearing forever! Alexander chose to go after the Land Dragon Rulers as he didn''t even entertain the Silver Ruler of Space, this entity bing enraged and causing more of the skies to be destabilized space. But why would Alexander ce all of his focus on him when there were prime targets who were much weaker, ones he could kill effortlessly, and they would give him Rulers Gems that he could use to have aplete understanding of another Covenant rapidly? From the four decimated Land Dragon Rulers, he counted 16. The ones from the dead Water Serpent Dragon made it 20! And currently, through the Core Feature of The Reformer, he held a x1,000% increased rate of understanding and assimtion of Covenants of nature. It meant that the 2% gain of Understanding from a single Ruler''s Gem¡­was equivalent to 20%. Ten times as much! Just 5 of these Ruler''s Gems were enough to grant a full 100% Understanding of any single Covenant of Nature. Something only possible for Alexander who held the Enneagram and its advanced Core Features! Such a ridiculous reality caused Alexander to smile as in his Dragon form, it seemed extremely cruel and regal! ''Max out Lightning, Fire, Earth, and max out¡­Nobility.'' ¡­! He had four to choose from, but he didn''t even have to choose some or the others. 20 Ruler''s Gems were more than enough for all the Covenants of Nature he currently held! Nobility felt higher in tier than the other three, but a shocking undertaking took ce at this moment as from his isted space, Ruler''s Gems disappeared and melded into his Enneagram. The Enneagram he shared with the main body. And utter brilliance that others couldn''t even dream of unfolded thereafter. ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Lightning has increased by 20%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Nobility has increased by 20%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Fire has increased by 20%.|| ||The rate of understanding of the Covenant of Earth has increased by 20%.|| A heavy influx of information burst within his mind and only continued to permeate all around as the questions of Fire, Earth, Lightning, and Nobility were asked and answered! ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Fire has reached 100%!|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Lightning has reached 100%!|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Earth has reached 100%!|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Nobility has reached 100%!|| ¡­! A Sky Ruler, more often than not, had a single Covenant they hadpletely understood. Very rarely did a single sky Ruler have multiple understood Covenants of Nature, much less 5 of them! At most, Void Rulers who hadpletely assimted a single Covenant would begin grasping and understanding others. Alexander¡­began to exceed and break these norms. ||The seed that can be used for the Assimtion of the Covenant of Fire emerges at the center of your being.|| ||The seed that can be used for the Assimtion of the Covenant of Lightning emerges at the center of your being.|| ||The seed that can be used for the Assimtion of the Covenant of Earth emerges at the center of your being.|| ||The seed that can be used for the Assimtion of the Covenant of Nobility emerges at the center of your being.|| A Seed- a Covenant Gem, bloomed for each of the four fully understood Covenants of Nature! The moment they did, his life force utterly exploded upwards as his aura¡­caused the very skies to shake! Chapter 142 A Dance With Dragons! II A Sky Ruler, more often than not, had a single Covenant that they were assimting. A single one. Yet at this moment, Alexander began assimting an additional 4 on top of the Covenant of Gold! Four more Covenant Gems bloomed in the center of his being and pulsed with life, his whole person feeling a sense of profound satisfaction as he felt like all parts of his were rapidly drinking up the authority of these Covenant of Nature. His Ascendant Vigor and Energeia gradually rose by whole points every few seconds. And the authority he could wield became utterly intense as even the distant roaring figure of the Silver Ruler of Space looked in his direction with somber eyes, his expression quickly undergoing many changes! Confusion and shock were veiled within. What was this? Why had his aura exploded to be filled with such depth and density?! In the middle of such chaos, the speedily moving Alexander in Dragon form didn''t relent. Feeling his explosion of lifeforce, he freely called out something that would have cost him a great deal of Ascendant Energiea before all this. But now, it was more than bearable! [False Domain of Gold.] ¡­! With him at the center, a circr domain of gold bloomed as it seemed to cause the very skies themselves to lose their current color and turn gold. The Domain one could unleash after forming a Covenant Gem. It was currently False, and one could forge a True Domain and unleash it when theypletely assimted a Covenant!N?v(el)B\\jnn Releasing it for the first time, Alexander felt a truly unique sensation as if he had made himself grow for ten miles. Ten miles. In this region, he could use the dense majesty of Gold to do anything, anywhere, and with nearly twice as much force. The amount of Ascendant Energiea he had used was also all that was required, with no other cost required to unleash and apply the Covenant of Gold in this region! This¡­was a False Domain of a Covenant of Nature. Sensing its decent, the Silver Ruler of Space roaded out with defiance and regality as he called out maddeningly. [False Domain of Space!] CRACK! The gold space that Alexander hadid out faced opposition- as if another equally dominant circle- an equally dominant domain came to also ce itself in the same space! The two domains buzzed and fought against each other as soon enough, they would likely cancel each other out! Or so it should have been. But Alexander was no normal Sky Ruler. He looked at the gloriously roaring dignified dragon as he felt a sense of thrill. It was unique. It was a thrilling from knowing he could ovee and overwhelm a being as powerful as this, and he enjoyed this unique sensation very much as he called out consecutively! [False Domain of Nobility.] [False Domain of Lightning.] [False Domain of Fire.] [False Domain of Earth.] ¡­! Atop thebating gold and silver domains, a purple one had descended as thebined force of just this and the False Domain of Gold¡­entirely shattered the budding domain of Space. But thereafter, a dazzling blue domain crashed down, followed by a crimson one, and then a yellowish bronze one! Consecutively! One after another! It caused the eruption of such dense storms of Covenant Authority that all other beings felt stifled. This even included the Silver Ruler of Space who dazedly felt the ovepped False Domains of Covenants! The moment they wereid down, thick chains of earth erupted from all directions and wrapped around his draconic body- their intricacies being so heavy that the Silver Ruler of Space felt like he was anchored in space. Above him, thunderous ming spears formed and thundered towards his anchored body on all sides, piercing his scales a gloriously crimson gold blood gushed out! ROAAAR! The heavy roar of a furious pained Dragon rang out, but all that followed was the crackling of lightning as they coursed through the ming spears to cause them to sink ever deeper into the body of the Silver Ruler of Space! [Preposterous! What are you? What is this?] The Silver Ruler of Space barely bellowed out through the pain as truly, it didn''t make sense. But Alexander wasn''t giving him nor the other enemy Dragons any time to even think of retaliating. The ever-present allure of gold began to fall down like rain at this moment. Rain. Something rare on Ephesus before, and yet it seemed to be a regrity at this moment. Rain fell, and it dropped on the scales of the Silver Ruler of Space and other Dragons within the enacted False Domains. Anywhere these raindrops fell, the scales of dragons began to turn rigid and gold. The rain formed into rivers and streams when it came to the Silver Ruler of Space, flowing into his wounds as if it had sentience- beginning to turn the very inner parts and outer parts of the Silver Ruler of Space into Gold. It was terrifying. Drops of rain, and yet the effects were so deadly that everything was being turned into gold! [You¡­!] Heavy mixtures of emotions crossed through the Silver Ruler of Space as the situation had changed and deteriorated far too quickly. He was now chained under multiple ovepping False Domains of Covenants, and his very being was turning gold as he couldn''t even teleport away! Yet even in this perilous situation, the Sky Ruler of Space did not lose his patience or dignity as he spoke out grandly. [I am the Disciple of an Esteemed Void Dragon Ruler. A human like you has gained the upper hand, but it is temporary. If you proceed with your current actions. If I die¡­.you will have the wrath of a Void Ruler on you. Nobody wants that, yes?] ¡­! The Silver Ruler of Space spoke sinctly as Alexander looked towards this creature with a smile. Its life and death were decided long ago the moment that he saw a single Ruler''s Gem that normally granted 2% increased Understanding¡­gave 20% under the banner of the Reformer of the Enneagram! Alexander did not need another bound Follower, nor another Covenant. He needed to proceed upwards rapidly in assimtion as for this, he needed the Covenant Gems within Sky Rulers that he knew nothing about! They were the keys to obtaining a distant and unreachable power for others- the power of a Void Ruler! Chapter 143 The Fall of a Sky! A rain of gold cascaded down as everything touched by it turned gold. The over a dozen Land Dragon Rulers in the skies. The Silver Ruler of Space who was chained by the ovep of multiple False Domains of Covenants of Nature. Alexander had his own thoughts even while the silver ruler of space stated how he was a disciple of a powerful Void Ruler. Someone who was undoubtedly brought over when Ephesus fused the world of Dragoisles here. But Alexander did not fear, nor did this fact cause him to veer off of his ns for the death of the Sky Ruler before him. What was unique was that due to his heightened senses brought about by the Covenants of Nature, he was extremely perceptive of everything. At this moment, this included everything within the five False Domains that heid out. He could even feel the emotions of the silver dragon before him. He felt that even though this being was releasing an air of dignity and majesty even at this moment when he faced someone he did not understand- in the depths of his heart, there was a slow simmering fear. Alexander felt his fear as uniquely, the perspective of the Silver Ruler of Space shed before his eyes. And he shook his head as he spoke out. [No, it does not matter to me whose disciple you are. Whether it was another Sky ruler or another Void Ruler or someone even more powerful, it would mean that anytime someone threatened me to take my very life and the lives of those that I loved, I always just lie back and do nothing the moment that they bring up the name of someone else. No, my dear Silver Ruler of Space. It is time for your story toe to an end.] The serpentine eyes of the silver dragon finally trembled. He could see Alexander''s own draconic eyes as he knew this being was entirely serious. And for the first time in its life, the realization that it might actually die to a human that it looked down upon so much caused its mind to buzz with a sense of fear and madness. [I see.] The deep voice of this being echoed out as even at this point in time, his dignity was kept. But along with this voice, Alexander sensed the madness as his expression rapidly changed. [No human will take my life.] He was almost entirely turned into a sculpture of gold. His jaws were opened wide as no me wasing through. Just his voice, but this was enough for him to portray what he wished to do. Something that even Alexander could not stop. [I hope I can send you somewhere where you will face your own death, Little Human.] His maddened voice filled with fear and resignation boomed out with majesty till the very end as his body that was almost entirely turned into Gold began to explode with a heart shaking silver grandeur. [You fucker!] Alexander''s expression rapidly shifted as he turned into a streak of light to move his body back, but the self detonation of a sky ruler was not something so simple! The fiveid out False Domains contained it for the most part, but this terrifying silver Ruler of Space did not simply explode with the intent to destroy, but he exploded with the final grandeur of the Covenant of Space itself. It shed far too quickly and covered the span of ten miles- rifts of shattered space and broken mirrors seemingly spreading out across the skies and shing with gorgeous silver radiance for but a single second before in the next moment, everything disappeared. Every single thing and everyone teleported a vast distance away. ¡ª Over twenty thousand miles away, on an entirely different side of the world of Ephesus. On top of a mountain that burned with white brilliance, where the trees irradiated ster white light along with grass that seemed to brim with fantastic life force. The regions of this radiant ster white grass were currently filled with blood as two sides were battling against each other with their very lives on the line. One side seemed close to facing annihtion, and this was the side of humans where at the forefront- a single Human Ruler could be seen standing against the might of two Dragon Rulers. Their eyes were currently filled with immense greed and haste as they asionally nced up the mountain where iridescent white fruits hung on an extremely tall tree. Fruits. And yet the air they released was something that caused their very souls to feel a fervent need to devour. What exactly could cause a Ruler to feel such a need if it wasn''t an astounding treasure?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om These two dragon rulers waged war against the humans they found in this region, and now, the only remaining ruler of these humans was about to fall as the unknown fruits behind him would fall into their jaws. "Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus, forgive us for being so weak!" Behind the one remaining Human Ruler- Tier 7 and Tier 8 Gem Masters cried out. Their eyes were filled with weakness and regret as they watched someone truly important to the four original lineages of Ephesus about to perish. The very founder of the Asmodeus Bloodline! In this dire situation. Out of nowhere, the horrific sound of the skies themselves splitting apart echoed out along with a horrifying pressure of power that caused all those on this white mountain to look up. There in the glorious misty skies, the massive figure of the dragon towering over one hundred and ten meters with his body radiating multiple lights, with golden brilliance being the most iridescent¡­appeared. His eyes carefully swept all around as in his ws were three radiant silver colored gems. The air they gave off was far more pristine and valuable than themon Ruler''s Gems, as these were none other than Covenant Gems! Alexander made sure to obtain these as he was swept up in a chaotic spatial transfer that brought him to an entirely new ce. Alongside him, the appearance of multiple fully solidified gold dragons fell down from the skies, along with the shaken figures of Bsa, Emiliana and Marcuso. Their appearance changed many things as right away, Alexander gazed down where he was and saw the vast white mountain below, as well as the humans and two dragons looking up in their direction! Chapter 144 A Signal! I A massive white mountain stretching out for hundreds of miles. This was the scene that Alexander saw as on this mountain, a group of humans seemed to be struggling at death''s door against two Land Dragon Rulers! When he appeared in his draconic form along with his three followers, their gazes only became more despondent with their eyes simmering in despair. The dragons, on the other hand, were shocked as they felt the aura of a Sky Ruler, in addition to the bodies of massive dragons turned entirely gold, smashing onto the white radiant grass on the mountain below them! The other thing that Alexander noticed was a sweet and enticing smell, with his nose quickly clocked in at multiple points on this White Mountain where radiant round fruits pulsed with white light and released an extremely enticing allure of authority. A brand new environment, and a brand new mountain. Alexander took everything in all at once as all of the information was organized and categorized, and after that, he made a move. [O dignified Sky Ruler, we are followers of the Sea Emperor Dragon-...!] Down below, the two dragons that were hunting the humans began to speak out hurriedly as they thought the appearance of these dragons would overtake their ce and consider this Sacred Mountain as their own. And yet, even before their words finished, the skies began to rain down with a rain of golden spears wrapped in tendrils of lightning and mes! A grandiose pressure of Nobility that seemed to press on one''s very soul also cascaded down, causing them to be unable to even rotate the covenant authorities and their bodies. The Earth below them also seemed to have turned into their enemies as it rose and held on to their massive ws, making them unable to dodge as these sharp golden spears thundered down and pierced multiple points across their bodies. Crimson blood gushed out and overflowed as utter shock and incredulity settled in the surroundings. The crackling authority of Covenants slowly died down and receded as Alexander''s massive body touched the ground. The moment that he arrived, the two Land Dragon Rulers that were terrorizing and had already killed many humans were decimated in a matter of seconds. At the forefront, the dark haired man with blue eyes had a sombre expression as he stared towards Alexander. At this point, Alexander released his fused transformation state as the terrifying aura radiated lessened somewhat, but one could still feel the stifling sensation he applied all around. He became a human, and his transformation caused the Gem Masters opposite him to look on in shock and awe. The bodies of Bsa, Emiliana, and Marcuso crashed down behind him as their eyes carried a deep sense of fear and respect towards him, their minds still fresh on how he had just decimated a Sky Ruler. Alexander put aside the glimmering Covenant Gems in his isted space, as well as the multiple Ruler''s Gems from the recently killed Land Rulers as he looked at these humans cautiously, his Enneagram buzzing to analyze them. There was an eerie silence as the Ascendant Gem Masters did not know how to proceed, but the single ruler standing at the forefront was the first one that spoke as he looked towards Alexander. "We thank you for the help in getting past this tribtion. I am Asmodeus, and these behind me are my people just seeking a path forward in this chaos. May we know the identity and faction of esteemed personage?" Seeing that this newly arriving being who had the form of a Dragon had instead killed the two dragons terrorizing them while not targeting them at all caused many possibilities to arise. And he wanted to know whether they had truly been saved or fallen onto another tribtion. And yet¡­a perplexed expression appeared on the figure of the young-looking man who was adorned with a golden robe and had pure gold hair. He then shook his head wryly as he introduced himself. "I am Alexander Asmodeus of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Lineage that used to be in the city of Carthage." ¡­! A simple response, and an honest one at that. But the moment it was uttered, an immense silence settled in the surroundings. Alexander Asmodeus? From the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline? The City of Carthage? Such ridiculous words came out of a creature that transformed from a dragon! The Tier 7 and Tier 8 Gem Masters behind Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus were in a stupor, while Asmodeus himself processed this rapidly before he replied. "The City of Carthage and other Mortal Branches did not fall? Are more of our people safe?" He didn''t question the truthfulness of Alexander''s words, he merely asked for the status of the people of his lineage. Alexander could only sigh while shaking his head and beginning to walk up the radiant White Mountain, his gaze locked onto the fantastical ancient looking White Tree, as well as the fruits it had dangling at its highest point. "Out of millions, only a few tens of thousands survived from the City of Carthage. As for the status of other Mortal Branches or even Ascendant Branches of our Lineage, I have no idea."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! The gazes of all gem masters here became extremely sour. Many saw Alexander setting his sights on the treasures that nearly got them killed as a few wanted to speak up, but the Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus raised his hand behind him to make sure that nothing urred. His eyes were filled with serene wisdom as he continued to speak out. "If you truly are part of my lineage, I am hopeful and grateful for our future. After bing the Master of this Sacred Evolution Mountain, the fruits you see up there bloomed. The tree is known as the Tree of Evolution, and the fruits are simply Fruits of Evolution. They helped me to reach out and grasp the Covenant of Evolution within this mountain, giving us the power to defend against the monstrous dragons- the most powerful Beasts of Corruption that we have ever faced, but even that was not strong enough." As he spoke, he walked up towards Alexander while ncing at the three terrifying Dragons who didn''t make a move while looking towards him! "If these fruits can allow even more of our people to be Rulers who can grasp Covenants of Nature, then they may just be able to ensure the survival of the human Lineages on Ephesus. Do you know any more than us regarding what happened to our world?" The Emperor who used to stand at the top peak of power on Ephesus asked calmly. Alexander''s body had once more risen from the radiant white grasnds of this mountain as he floated up towards the so-called Fruits of Evolution, his eyes radiant as he thought of the words and questions of Asmodeus. What had happened to Ephesus? Very few would be able to understand and even know this as he couldn''t help but sigh! He reflected on everything that had happened so far, thinking back to how just days ago, his head was only filled with the fact that he was the son of a branch leader of a Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Lineage. Now, the Ascendant Gem Masters that he used to talk about with reverence and only dream about with their grand fortresses¡­he had somehow exceeded all of them with power. Even the Legend that was Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus whose feats were taught and whispered by all...was a step behind him in power at this moment! What had happened? Far too much had happened. And even now, it didn''t feel like anything was slowing down. While reflecting on all of this, he grasped the radiant white Fruit of Evolution in his hands. ¡ª The Void of Space. The ce where only Void Rulers who hadpletely assimted a Covenant of Nature could freely roam. An unknown distance away from the world of Ephesus. In an area in the void of space, where a few dozen stars clustered together in a unique orientation. Inside one of these stars, there was an extremely tall green mountain filled with an overabundance of lifeforms! Towards the peak, a round green structure that looked like a tower was built. Inside of this tower, on the top floor. There was a man seated in the middle of a crystalline blue floor, with dazzling holographic lines all around him and small shining dots that seemed to rotate all over the enclosed room that he was in. At this moment, he seemed to have confirmed something again and again as he picked up a small device in his hands and spoke to it. "I have confirmed the signal of a newly emerging Star Realm at least a dozen Star Sectors away from us. Its levels of energy are nothing to scoff at as we may want to send a few Void Star Rulers to im this realm under the Banner of the Star Alliance before any other forces make a move." ¡­! The man seated on the crystalline blue floor spoke sinctly as he looked at a shining dot many sectors away. He didn''t know what the dot was exactly- all he knew was that it was a budding Star Realm. And that was something far too valuable to be left in the hands of anyone else. Through it, the birth and cultivation of multiple Rulers could arise! Chapter 145 A Signal! II In the depths of a distant cluster of stars, a signal was picked up. The being that discerned the signal sent out a message to the echelons of power above him as decisions were made rather quickly. He remained seated on the crystalline blue floor as he waited for word back to confirm his findings. And in a few minutes¡­a voice echoed out from the other side and rang out in the room he was in. "Confirmed the coordinates of the newly emerging star realm. The Star Squad of the Light n is free and avable as it has been selected for dispatch." ¡­! The Light n. Hearing this, the man seated on the crystalline blue floor had a sour expression as his own n was not fully aligned with the Light n. The Star Alliance was made up of three ns in totality, a system of checks and bnces existing that allowed them to prosper across the star sectors. His Sea n and the Ethereal n stood in the second and first position in power, respectively, and in recent times, the third-ranked Light n had been looking to change these rankings. But even with their conflict, all three were part of the Star Alliance- a massive organization of people and forces that stretched out across multiple star sectors. And now they were looking to add yet another Star Realm under their banner, and the man seated on the crystalline blue floor wondered. ''What will this new Star Realm hold? Since it is just emerging, it should at most have a Ruler or two that has risen from its Star Treasures?'' Star Treasures! Naturally forming treasures from the emergence of Realms that contained hints of the Covenants of Nature within them. The man thought about what could be waiting in this newly emerging Star Realm, his mind wandering to the methodology of the Star Alliance and how they took hold of new Star Realms with their scope of influence. Since only weak Rulers would be present in any single Star Realm, it was hard for them to even think about opposition in front of Void Rulers who could cross the void of space. But the Star Alliance was a righteous one as they didn''t simply bulldoze through others to extend their influence. The Natives of a Star Realm would be promised Star Treasures that would seem like fantastical panaceas in their naive eyes as they joined The Star Alliance out of their own volition- the pathway across the Covenants of Nature exined to them! Thus, the influence of The Star Alliance continued to spread over time as they incorporated many more Star Realms under their banner. This one¡­would be no different. ¡ªn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Fruit of Evolution]:: A Sacred Treasure born on a Mountain filled with the essence of the Beginning. Consuming a Fruit of Evolution would allow one to smoothly gain an understanding of the covenant of Evolution. Depending on one''s rate of understanding- a single fruit may be more than enough, or a hundred fruits may not be enough to grant one sufficient understanding to actually grasp the Covenant of Evolution itself. If someone already has an understanding and is walking on the path of Evolution, consuming a Fruit will increase their rate of understanding by an unknown amount. If someone is already assimting the Covenant of Evolution, consuming a Fruit of Evolution would increase their rate of Assimtion by an unknown amount¡­ ¡­! The Fruit of Evolution! A lot about it was unknown as the singr fact that it could grant one understanding and even increase their rate of understanding and assimtion of the Covenant of Evolution was something worthy of note. Alexander plucked it from the tree that it was on as the sweet aroma filled his nostrils- almost as if the Fruit was screaming out towards him to be eaten! Behind him, the Ascendant Gem Masters from the Asmodeus Bloodline only watched on with difficult eyes as this being, who should be one of their own, grasped something that only the Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus had taken so far. "As the Master of this mountain, do you know how many of these are produced? Daily? Weekly?" Each Sacred Mountain was different. Some held Mines filled with unique crystals and natural treasures, while others had something as unique as the Covenant of Gold, and now there was another mountain with the Covenant of Evolution alongside Fruits of Evolution! Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus looked towards what could be his great, great, great Descendant as he spoke out while healing his wounds. "One a week, I believe." A single one. There were two here, and Alexander unabashedly grabbed both of them, biting into one as it melted into utter wonder in his mouth- his teeth moving and biting down as if they were possessed as he finished the fruit in a few quick gulps! And his eyes and body instantly pulsed with a unique white light. ||The understanding of the Covenant of Evolution flows through your being.|| ||Your rate of Understanding of Covenants of Nature is extremely high!|| ||Initial understanding of the Covenant of Evolution has been gained.|| ¡­! Depending on one''s rate of understanding- It could take a single one or one hundred Fruits of Evolution to simply gain an initial understanding of this covenant! Alexander gained it in a few bites, as more than this¡­ ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Evolution has reached 10%!|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Evolution has reached 12%!|| The understanding was shooting up rapidly just from this single fruit too! It was a ridiculous fact as behind him, Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus looked towards him with a grim expression, holding his shock from showing on his face! But Alexander didn''t stop there as he gazed at his panel and saw his rate of progression increased to 1,200% because of the addition of another Covenant of Nature, and his thoughts went towards the multiple Ruler''s Gems he had gained from the recent battle, and his authority reached out to swallow four of them at the very least. And all of their musings of Understanding¡­were directed towards Evolution! His understanding began to shoot up rapidly. Evolution. What exactly was it? It was a change over a period of time that resulted in adaptations over one''s environment! One became better adapted. Better suited. More capable in surviving! Chapter 146 Agent of Ephesus! I As this white authority of Evolution coursed through him, he felt his body cracking and changing, but not just that. Even his other Covenants seemed to be buzzing. It was a fact that caused his eyes to rise in rm as he wondered. The Covenant of Evolution couldn''t be the highest-rated Covenant he had attained so far, right? And the changes urring were not just limited to his Enneagram Clone over here alone, but his Main Body thousands of miles away! As his body continued to radiate waves of white brilliance, the figure of Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus seemingly made up his mind behind him and spoke out. "Even if you are a descendant of mine, I will treat you with the respect of a Peer...or even a Gem Master that is further advanced than me. I say this because I n to make this Sacred Evolution Mountain a safe haven for the Asmodeus Bloodline and the other three Human Bloodlines. Your help in ensuring this Safe Haven remains as such would be greatly appreciated¡­"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! His Ancestor. The one stood at the very top of the lineage as his name was passed down to him! Such a being pleaded with him wanting to etch out a bastion for the human lineages on this- a ce for them to feel protected and safe as he wanted to do this for all four human lineages! Alexander thought closely about the words of Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus, and eventually¡­he shook his head. ¡­! An action that showed sadness in the eyes of the dark haired Emperor, and anger on those behind him as his aura still reigned them all in to not say anything! "First of all, the Gnis Bloodline were those who were ready to ally with Beasts of Corruption and were already the betrayers of humanity. If you still choose to bring them into your fold, be aware of this and what the consequences might be of having such people within your Sacred Mountain." "As for me- what you and I have to protect are the same, but different. I have people depending on me with their very lives hanging on my shoulders right now on a mountain a far distance from here. I have to return to them. The changes urring throughout Ephesus are far too many and far too dangerous. You are considered a Land Ruler as you have only begun understanding a Covenant of Nature out there. There are hundreds of Land Rulers walking across thends of Ephesus, an unknown number of Sky Rulers who havepletely understood a Covenant of Nature, and an unknown number of Void Rulers who have entirely assimted with a Covenant of Nature." Alexander thought of the supposed Master of the dead Silver Ruler of Space as he sighed while putting away the other Fruit of Evolution. "So I have many worries of my own. But it does not mean I cannot support you at all. I will leave one of my followers here. Anotheryer of protection as a thanks for whatever contributions there were in the building of the City of Carthage where I was raised. For your help in carving out a path for our lineage when the Beasts of Corruption began to roam across thends. You can evenmunicate with me through this Earth Dragon here if need be." ¡­! As Alexander said this, his body already began to rise, his gaze going towards the Earth Dragon as he gave a silentmand to this majestic creature who nodded in subservience while the other 2 dragons rose up alongside him. Ascendant Emperor Asmodeus was quiet in the face of such a reality as he nodded while calmly looking above, watching as after Alexander obtained the two Fruits of Evolution, he flew away- leaving behind a single protector. ¡ª As his Enneagram Clone sought its way back towards the Sacred Gold Mountain. Alexander''s main body was on the lush green gold trees of this mountain, and he was experiencing the utterly ecstatic feeling of the Covenant of Evolution. When he rapidly and fully understood it and arrived at the point of initial Assimtion, his whole body felt a sense of exuberance and vitality as he found that every part of him was affected, including his other Covenants of Nature- as if they also were spurred to adapt and change as time passed! As all parts of him were affected by the Covenant of Evolution, so was his Enneagram. It was surrounded by illustrious white streams of brilliance as his chest glowed almost as if it was about to erupt into the birth of something new. ||The Enneagram is being affected by an extremelypatible authority.|| ¡­! The white glow caused the surrounding leaves of green gold trees to shine ever brighter as something truly was being born! ||The early release of a Core Feature has been made possible as the structure of the Enneagram undergoes further refinement and elevation.|| ||The core feature of The Investigator of the Enneagram has been unlocked.|| The Investigator! So far, the Reformer and the Individualist were the Core Features of the Enneagram that were unlocked, and now, a third was added due to the uniqueness of the Covenant of Evolution. Information about it began to flow into his mind freely as his pupils were forced to constrict. ||To ensure the survival of the holder of the Enneagram, the Core Feature of the Investigator seeks to passively utilize the currently avable authorities of the Covenants of Nature under its banner to provide threads of information on anything that may be rted to you, of relevance to your being and survival, or of relevance to your followers.|| ¡­! Another ridiculous capability! But what did it mean exactly?! ||Through currently avable authorities of the Covenants of Nature, information that could possibly rte to you is being gathered in the surrounding 50,000 miles of distance.|| What! Before Alexander could even be surprised, information began to flow in! ||13,266 Miles away, An Entity with great power that has uttered your name multiple times is moving towards the Sacred Gold Mountain.|| ||23,355 Miles away, an Entity at the Void Ruler level is sinking back into the atmosphericyers of Ephesus, his silent shouts asking who dared to kill his disciple, the Silver Ruler of Space, ringing out.|| ¡­! Chapter 147 Agent of Ephesus! II A ridiculous capability that he did not fully understand the true extent of unveiled itself at this moment and filled his mind with bursts of information. The Investigator. The third core feature of the Enneagram, and this one was a particrly unique one as it was ushered forth by the Covenant of Evolution. It utilized his currently grasped Covenants of Nature and actually gathered information in the span of fifty thousand miles! So in the span of fifty thousand miles- wherever there were particles of Gold, Earth, Fire, or Nobility, Lightning, or Evolution¡­anything that rted to him or of relevance to his survival, or of relevance to his followers was naturally gathered and ryed! And there were many threads of information. After the first two, multiple more followed. ||7,690 Miles away, a Sacred Mountain shining with ck luster and floating on the skies of Ephesus currently has no owner. Obtaining ownership of it could potentially further elevate your own power or the power of your followers.|| ||13,836 miles away, a Naturally Formed Covenant Lake has appeared after the dense convergence of three particles of Covenants of Nature.|| ||18,888 miles away, your Enneagram Clone is crossing across dangerous skies filled with mist.|| ||31,755 miles away, the one known as Ascendant Emperor Gnis has given up ownership of a recently acquired Sacred Mountain in order to preserve his life and the lives of his people. He now kneels towards a Dragon Sky Ruler and other Land Rulers behind it, the future of him and his people hanging by a thread.|| ||32,777 miles away, a Dragon Void Ruler meditates atop a newly acquired Sacred Mountain, multiple Covenants of Nature twirling around him as he makes a new addition.|| ||33,831 miles away, heavy distortions of unstable space have rendered a region of 100 miles inhabitable. Crossing the depths of this unstable space leads to an unknown location filled with a rich concentration of Covenants of Nature.|| ||33,745 miles away, three Sky Rulers from the World of Alfana are fighting against two Sky Rulers from the World of Dragoisles. Their forces look to be headed towards mutual destruction, or with heavy injuries on both sides.|| ¡­! One after another, threads of information continued toe. They were either relevant to his survival or relevant to elevating his power as they contained many possibilities! But what he focused on the most were the first two. One stated that an entity with great power was moving on a direct path towards Ephesus. Great power. It didn''t state exactly which stage this entity was, but the second thread of information directly stated that it was a Void Ruler- specifically, the one that the Silver Ruler of Space was connected to! Why was this? Why was one entity identified entirely along with their power, but not the other? Was this Core Feature of The Investigator utilizing currently relevant bundles of information that he knew alongside what was witnessed by the particles of Covenants to form the threads of information? It would exin why the Void Ruler he already held information on was more specific¡­or it could also mean that the entity with so called Great Power was tooplex to ce into a ranking. Either way, such an entity was headed in the direction of the Sacred Gold Mountain, and they were much closer to here than even where his Enneagram Clone was. Whatever this threat was, it would get here before his Clone. If it came to the Sacred Gold Mountain and a battle erupted on here¡­ Alexander''s gaze became stern as he had already sent amand to Bsa to make her return here. His body began to rise from the green gold earth as beside him, ire, who was sensing the bright allure of the Covenant of Gold, opened her blue eyes that now had traces of gold as she asked. "Is everything okay?" Was everything okay. Any answer he could give here was a frightening one as he sighed while nodding. "It should be, I just have to go check something out to be sure. Stay here for now, I have one of the other Dragon Rulersing back. If anything happens, rely on it first, do not put yourself in danger."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­! She always listened to his words without fail, and this time was the same as she nodded with sharp eyes while watching him float away- his figure gradually turning into a streak of light that shot into the distance! Someone wasing towards the Sacred Gold Mountain at high speeds. He couldn''t allow them to unleash havoc here where many people could die as he took it upon himself to make a move first! Around his body, the Covenant of Nobility seethed as his figure radiated an air of profound majesty at this moment! As he shot forward and crossed many miles in a matter of seconds, more threads of information continueding to him when he focused towards this one direction. ||The Entity with great powering towards you is followed by a group of creatures from the Worlds of Dragoisles and Alfana that range from Land Rulers to Sky Rulers, their bodies moving in synchrony as if a single will controlled them all.|| ¡­! The more information he obtained, the more serious he became ¡ª A bit over 8,000 miles away from the Sacred Gold Mountain. The figure of a young woman streaked across the skies, brilliant multicolored light surging around her as behind, a procession of a single Alfanian Sky Ruler, 9 Alfanian Sky Rulers, two Dragon Sky Rulers, and 17 Dragon Land Rulers followed close! Their eyes burned with purple brilliance as they looked zed over and filled with a simr frequency of light. They were flying ahead with a purpose that seemed to be shared amongst every single one of them equally, with the figure andmands of only a single being holding importance in their eyes! Minutes passed as they continued to fly forward relentlessly, with the young woman flying ahead asionally ncing down as she passed groups of Tier 9 and below Alfanians or Dragons, ignoring them entirely. After some time¡­ WUU! Her figure suddenly came to a stop, and those behind her also stopped in a synchronized fashion as they all stared ahead! There, adorned with a golden robe made of pure Covenant Authority, a dark haired young man had appeared from a sh of gold light as he stared at this group with a somber expression! Chapter 148 Agent of Ephesus! III A terrifying Beast in human form. This was what Alexander described to himself when he saw the figure of the young woman who was leading a procession of Rulers toward the Sacred Gold Mountain! Her body seemed small, and yet her aura was zing as if she was as massive as a mountain. Her face was exquisitely sculpted without any ws, with her hair surrounded by particles of multicolored radiance as every single particle represented a different Covenant of Nature. "..." Just...how many Covenants of Nature were swirling around her? The moment he thought of this. HUUM! He felt his Enneagram hum as the Core Feature of The Investigator activated naturally! ||In front of you, the Entity is discovered to have distinguished herself as Ezra. Just in her surroundings, particles of the Covenant of the Soul, Covenant of Space, Covenant of Air, Covenant of Earth, Covenant of Fire, Covenant of Water, Covenant of the Body, Covenant of the Origin, and the Covenant of Destiny have been discovered. All these may not be theplete extension of her Covenants.|| ¡­! Now, he was entirely dazed. Not just at the terrifying number of Covenants that this woman called Ezra held, but also the fact that he was able to obtain the information he just obtained! The extent of the feature of the Investigator¡­was simply insane. Information of relevance to him and his survival. This included her identity and her Covenants. And the waves of information continued toe! ||All above-mentioned Covenants seem to be in the process of rapidly Assimting with her Existence.|| ||Her level of power is estimated to be between a Sky and a Void Ruler but she may be capable of matching a weak Void Ruler. Extreme Caution is rmended.|| ¡­!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om One ridiculous thread of information after another came as Alexander only became more serious with each passing moment. He put together all the threads of information. His mind worked at extremely high speeds as, in the next second, he calmly looked at the floating young woman whose eyes had begun to shine with a purple light of curiosity. "What brings you here, Ezra?" ¡­! BZZT! Arcs of purple lightning instantly shed around Ezra as her red lips turned into an "o", her eyes shing with tremendous curiosity while her figure shed to instantly appear one meter away from Alexander! His eyes glowed gold. His Enneagram hummed and was ready to unleash multiple False Domains at any moment! Not too far from him, Ezra looked towards him as if she had found a toy as she asked with a tone full of curiosity. "How did you know my name? And for you to be here- how did you know I wasing?" Her gaze was purely inquisitive at this moment as if she held no other possible emotions! But Alexander knew better. For her to be heading towards the Sacred Gold Mountain. For her to have been uttering his name. He shook his head as he replied with another question. "Don''t mind that. I knew you were looking for me, so I came over. What exactly do you want?" He kept his question simple. Because even though the entity in front of him felt like a terrifying beast, his eyes also saw a sense of naivety as if she was experiencing everything for the first time! But he could also see threads of intelligence in those same eyes as he proceeded carefully. And towards his question, she actually smiled as if she remembered something. "Ah, I was actuallying to take you with me. I thought you would say no and I would have to convince you like these ones in the back. It was fun to y around with them." Each word of hers was terrifying as Alexander thought rapidly before replying. "What do you need me for? You have lots of Rulers behind you that could help you with anything you need." "Ah, these guys?" She pointed behind her as she shook her head. "These guys aren''t much. I was instructed to bring you into the fold. If you just allow me to touch your head for a second, I willplete this mission." ¡­! All sense of naivety instantly disappeared in her eyes as she moved! Like a snake, her hand thundered across and was instantly an inch away from Alexander''s head, her eyes filled with a callous purple brilliance! BOOM! An equally dazzling purple brilliance erupted from Alexander, a thin film of barrier bloomed as the False Domain of Nobility descended. The figure of Ezra even became pushed back, the action being extremely heavy as if an entire Sacred Mountain was being pushed back! Her eyes shed with surprise as she smiled with a sense of sadness. "You are just like them." WUU! Arcs of terrifying multicolored light began to gather around her. "I thought someone distinguished by the Will of Ephesus would be different from these other creatures. But you also resist. The illusion of a choice. The difficulty of emotions. Can you tell me why even you let such things control you? Can you tell me why I was born, and the first thing I had to do after that was make my way towards you?" ¡­! Words that could cause anyone trepidation echoed out, causing Alexander''s gaze to change even further! Ephesus. The will of Ephesus! It wasn''t enough that its own actions decimated millions of those who lived on it, now, the Will of Ephesus itself wouldn''t leave him be! His eyes shed with a cold light as he looked at Ezra who seemed ready to erupt with terrifying waves of power. In this single eruption, the Sky Rulers and Land Rulers behind her moved in a synchronized fashion to surround him. Yet he kept his eyes locked on the purple figure of Ezra as he replied coldly. "My choices do not act as a burden to me. You were told to bring me, I can make the choice toe with you. Where is the difficulty in that?" ¡­! His answer caused even Ezra to open her eyes wide. "You¡­woulde with me that easily?" It was unexpected for her. All the others were defiant in front of her as she had to immobilize them and control them first! He woulde freely? Alexander''s eyes shed as he nodded, thinking of the illusion of the old man he had talked to when he first inherited the Sacred Gold Mountain as he continued. "Anything for Ephesus, right? You and I are aligned in this regard. I would just much rather prefer my current state of mind remain as is." His answer caused her to pause and raise her brows. Anything for Ephesus. Was this not her purpose? She was unlike others as she thought methodically and went for the path of least resistance. She couldn''t be sure how much of her power she would have to use against him if he was someone that the Will of Ephesus wanted to control¡­his power may be close to hers. "Hmm¡­" She ced her hand on her chin and thought. She wished she could seamlessly ask the Will of Ephesus if this was okay, since it did indeed aplish her goal if he simply followed. But she would have to return to that ce where she was born for that, the connection everywhere else being far too faint due to how much power Ephesus was actively utilizing. She nodded to herself as if she hade to a decision, and she released a dazzling smile. "Alright! Alexander Asmodeus, obtained! Let''s go." Her gaze was cheery as the naivety in her eyes returned. But it was far from being real. Alexander nodded as the enclosure around him disappeared, his own False Domain fading away as his mind buzzed with possibilities! There were a few ways to ovee the current ordeal. Fighting was one, but the results were not ones he could confidently be sure about. If his Enneagram Clone joined¡­even then, he couldn''t say with certainty. But with every passing minute and second, his power was growing ever stronger. Until then, he could borrow time. Using the unique disposition of this being and the threads of information at his disposal, he seeded in this! Now, he would even get to learn more regarding Ephesus and what exactly this world was doing. In the meantime, his Enneagram Clone held multiple Ruler''s Gems and Covenant Gems. He was heading back to the Sacred Gold Mountain before, but his target had already changed as he was about to arrive at a certain ce. A ce stated by a thread of information from the Core Feature of The Investigator! Chapter 149 A Path of Survival! I Through the Core Feature of The Investigator that was unlocked early because of the Covenant of Evolution had given Alexander many things. Many possible actions that he could take that rted to his survival! His Enneagram worked with him to analyze every single thing- every possible action and what result it could achieve. Out of every single one of them, after analyzing the pros and cons, the level of difficulty, and how quickly he could obtain beneficial results, a single thread of information came out on top. ||33,745 miles away, three Sky Rulers from the World of Alfana are fighting against two Sky Rulers from the World of Dragoisles. Their forces look to be headed towards mutual destruction, or with heavy injuries on both sides.|| It was over 30,000 miles from the Sacred Gold Mountain at the time that this thread of information came. And such a distance was actually a bit more than half whenparing it to the Enneagram Clone! So his other body began heading in that direction while his main body was en route to intercept Ezra. One of the reasons why he chose this deadly battle where both sides might die through mutual destruction was due to nothing else but the Covenant Gems he obtained from the Silver Ruler of Space. [Covenant Gem of Space(Sky)](3x):: An umtion of the lifeforce and Covenant of Nature within a Ruler that was on a path of assimting. It has obtained the identity of a specific Covenant Gem of Space and gained tremendous distinction, with the umted life force and basal authority of a Covenant being useful in increasing the Assimtion of a chosen Covenant of Nature by .5%, or the assimtion of the Covenant of Space by 1%... Yes. A Covenant Gem had a specific identity as from the Silver Ruler of Space, he had gloriously obtained three. If he had the Covenant of Space itself, he could increase his rate of assimtion by 1% per Covenant Gem! And yet, space was the one thing he did not attain. But with him holding the Covenants of Gold, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Nobility, and Evolution, he now had a 1,200% boost to his rate of understanding and assimtion. It meant that he could increase his rate of assimtion of any Covenant by 6%, or he could increase the Assimtion of the Covenant of Space if he had it by 12% per Covenant Gem He did not currently hold the Covenant of Space as for now, the three Covenant Gems of Space were kept in the isted space, ready to be used at any time to elevate a single Covenant and give him a boost in power of 18% Assimtion. The reason he was heading towards a location where Sky Rulers were about to destroy each other¡­was to obtain more of these Covenant Gems at a rapid pace. He ignored the thread of information that spoke about the floating obsidian Sacred Mountain or the thread of information speaking about a destabilized space that if crossed sessfully, would lead one to an area abundant in particles of Covenants of Nature! He went towards a battle that had five Sky Rulers participating as if he could obtain everything they left behind¡­there was a possibility of the distinction of the Void. A Void Ruler! As he did this, Alexander also continued designing the Support Ability Gems for the Bonds of the Gold Ruler, with him trying to heavily lean towards more Followers and the attainment of Covenants from them, as well as the gifting of Covenants unto followers. If he could pull more Covenants from others and gift Covenants to others to form more Rulers¡­he would be able to build a force of protection that would allow him to livefortably even in the face of these increasingly dangerous threats. He didn''t forget that apart from Ezra, there was also the Void Ruler who was connected to the Silver Ruler of Space, and was currently looking for who killed his disciple. Without knowing the means of a Void Ruler, he couldn''t say just how long it would take before this being also turned his direction towards the Sacred Gold Mountain. So he continued to move forward. One body followed a terrifying existence surrounded by Sky Rulers and Land Rulers, while another neared a bloody battle that should have held many casualties! ¡ª In a region filled with roiling magma and small mountains shooting out hellish crimson ck liquefied earth. ROAAR! The bellow of a dragon rang out triumphantly as it stumbled right after, half of its body submerged in burning liquefied earth as even then, it stood tall. Its chest showed a huge gash that was leaking out crimson blood onto the burning earth below him, and one could see the body of another regal dragon that had three heads and three tails lying lifelessly a mile away. But it did not lie there alone as around it, the humanoid bodies of golden skinned Alfanians could be seen. One was split in half, four radiant verdant Covenant Gems splitting out of her chest as around her, the gory ripped apart bodies of other Rulers strewn about in pieces as Ruler''s Gems hung around them! In another direction, a burly Alfanian Sky Ruler had his body absolutely mangled from the waist down, his eyes dim as he still looked defiantly towards the only surviving Dragon Sky Ruler! Around his corpse, a dazzling array of pink petalsy all around in abundance.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The Dragon Sky Ruler looked at this scene while breathing haggardly, its authority spent as even it was nearly at deaths door, but it would recover! [Bahaha, at the end, it is I, Skinobar, who gets thestugh!] His eyes stared greedily at the Covenant Gems and Rulers Gems nearby, beginning to walk over to them when suddenly. From the gray skies that shouldn''t have held anything. A massive solid gold sword cascaded down at rapid speeds- its sharpest point aimed at the back of an already injured Sky Dragon! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 150 A Path of Survival! II The scene was a devastating one to watch. From a battle against three Alfanian Rulers and two Dragon Rulers, not a single one of the Alfanian Rulers survived as only a massive Dragon Sky Ruler remained! And this entity was going to im its prize at this moment, its gaze locked upon the Covenant Gems shining brightly. But at the next moment, its danger senses pulsed as it barely looked up to see the tip of a glistening golden sword crashing down. And more than this, the golden sword didn''t just seem to being down by itself- it carried with it the imposition of a False Domain of a Covenant of Nature! [Vile!] The dragon roared out maddeningly as it pulled upon its remaining resources to enact its own domain- but there was barely any shred of Energeia remaining. A murky barrier of Covenant Authority was the only thing it was able to gather as it withstood the sharp point of the golden sword and the descent of a False Domain of Gold! BOOM! Your next read awaits at empire And the impact was heavy. So heavy that the scales of the dragons buzzed, blood spurting out between them as its body sank into the molten earth! The huge gash that it had in its chest opened up even more right now, blood flowing out like mad, but at least it didn''t allow the gold de to pierce its body. [You think you can sneak attack a dignified entity and take me down?! I will let you know of the inexhaustible grandeur of Drag-...!] The dragon was bellowing out maddened words filled with power as it regenerated and gathered more and more of its remnant authority. But about halfway through, it felt the massive solidified golden sword that it withstood again, a tremendous amount of weight as under its gaze of disbelief- a second False Domain cascaded down! A second one! He didn''t even have the time to question if there were actually two Sky Rulers hiding in the dark waiting. SQUELCH! With the increase in weight and power, the golden sword was hindered no more by his defenses as it thundered down and entrenched itself deep into his back, cutting apart his wings and going through until its pointed end came out of its chest! Cleanly through and through! [Gah¡­!] A bellow of defiance and indignation boomed out as thest glimmer of the life force of a Sky Ruler dwindled down. Its body began to change its texture and material as the coverage of gold began to spread all around. And the eyes of this Sky Dragon were unwilling. Unrelenting! It wanted to see. It wanted to see just which two Sky Rulers were patient and cowardly enough to camp and wait to decimate it like so! And¡­ The eyes of the Dragon that were about to be transformed into pure gold trembled as its serpentine pupils saw the culprit responsible for its death. It was¡­a single human. A young one at that. His eyes held traces of gold as he was looking down at the devastation with a cold look that made the already dying dragon spit blood, its eyes bing gold as even in death, it was questioning! That little young human was the reason for someone as dignified as him to perish?! Onest thought, and that was itn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In the skies, Alexander looked at the horrid scene of the melting and bubbling earth below as extreme heat surrounded this entire area. He saw the dead bodies of Alfanian Rulers as he thought of Ryanara and sighed. The threads of information had told him regarding this event as he realized at this moment, his mind was not geared towards saving the Alfanian Rulers. On his way here, he had only been thinking about what the products would be from the mutual destruction of the battling Sky Rulers. He looked at them¡­as if they were merely sources of Covenant Gems. When did his thoughts begin to turn so cold and callous? Even as he had these thoughts, he kept his imposed Domains of Gold and Earth in the surroundings as tendrils of his authorities were picking up the Covenant Gems and the Ruler''s Gems all around. He reminded himself that he had many abilities through the Enneagram that made him calctive, but he still had his humanity. If he were to put himself into the shoes of the now dead Alfanian Rulers, including the Land Rulers and the Sky Rulers- they had their own worries, and families to think about. One of them may have even been connected to Ryanara who was at this moment searching for her people! What if there came a time when an enemy was looking at ire as simply a means for them to obtain Ruler Gems to empower themselves? The idea caused him to turn up to the gray skies and the distant void above it as he closed his eyes. He wanted more power, yes. But the method by which he achieved his power could not be the same as his enemies. Otherwise, he would be nothing but a hypocrite! This time around, he waste to save any Alfanian Rulers, but if there was a chance next time- he would do the more humane thing. He breathed out at such a conclusion as he opened his eyes and looked at the cluster of Gems now swirling around him. From the five dead Sky Rulers, he retrieved 17 Covenant Gems. And from the deceased Land Rulers, 12 Ruler''s Gems! The most critical thing were the Covenant Gems, and Alexander felt his heart beat chaotically as he looked at them. He held three before this as they would have advanced any Covenant by 18%. Even if he didn''t count them, the 17 he had just obtained¡­were enough to grant a full 102% to any Covenant! It meant that this pathway he had chosen to take could truly make him into a Void Ruler. "..." He was dazed at this as it didn''t feel entirely real. His path across the stages of a Ruler was astonishingly fast as he knew it took others years. Yet now¡­it seemed that within a single day, he would jump from Land Ruler to Sky Ruler, and now there was the grandeur of a Void Ruler ahead! It was ridiculous, but to face the enemies that came and ensure a life of calmness,ziness, and happiness for himself, it was exactly what he needed. He focused again on the Covenant Gems as there was yet another surprise. Among the 17, four were radiantly shining crimson and surrounded by mes. Covenant Gems of Fire. If he spent them towards his Covenant of Fire, he could gain an instant 48% Assimtion as the rate was doubled if the Covenant Gem absorbed went towards the same Covenant! But¡­he would not choose Fire for his first one. So these would be saved and usedst as for now, he would utilize the Covenant Gems towards a higher Tier Covenant of his, with the race havinge down to Gold and Evolution. He wanted them both. He would eventually have both! But which one would be the first? The effects of Evolution were unique as they even showed a level of empowerment and change in other Covenants, but its offensive power was not much to speak about. Meanwhile, Gold was his first Covenant, going in line with the Sacred Gold Mountain he was a Master of as it held more offensive measures that could cut down his enemies! What did he need the most at this moment? "Evolution¡­is change over time." ¡­! He spoke out the singr understanding of Evolution as the moment he said it, his decision was made. 20 Covenant Gems in total. At this moment, 17 of them were pulled into his Enneagram as he spoke out calmly. "Let Gold achieve full assimtion." WAA! Change over time. It was unique, but he needed a sharper tool at this exact moment in time! Gold. It was always Gold! So Gold led the way forward as his figure hung in the skies, a golden brilliance akin to a star being born shing out blindingly at this moment! Chapter 151 A Path of Survival! III He didn''t look back. He made the choice and forged ahead as rapidly, his life force felt like dried wood that was suddenly lit ame. It zed. It roared up with glory as his low digits of Ascendant Energiea and Ascendant Vigor shot up exponentially, his body suspended in the skies as he felt weightlessness! He felt like every part of his body was changing thoroughly, along with everything connected to him as the abundant waves of life force inside of him¡­coagted into raging rivers. His Enneagram allowed these raging rivers to flow through it as it shone with a wondrous hue of gold. His Gem Constetions that seemed far away and ever closer radiated waves of brilliance as they also shone with a hue of gold! Everything¡­seemed to be elevated with this significant jump in power! ||Your Assimtion of the Covenant of Gold has reached 99%.|| The skies were truly tinged gold. Down below, the molten earth and small mounds of mountains reflected gold as they became frozen over- every other authority they were expressing being overruled as this entirendscape became entirely solid gold. And then, all that remained¡­was a single percentage. At 99% Assimtion, it felt like everything stopped as Alexander felt his own body- his very own being¡­turning into pure golden brilliance! His feet melted away and disappeared. His lower body turned into a vibrant golden light that merged into the sea of gold all around! And soon enough, even his upper body turned into pure gold radiance. His chest that held the unfathomable Enneagram looked like the center point of all this gold, and it currently shone like a dazzling golden nine pointed star as it released scorching waves of heat! Only when every part of his body turned into pure particles of gold¡­ ||Your Assimtion of the Covenant of Gold has reached 100%.|| HUUM! A resonant ringing boomed out as from the dazzling nine pointed star, nerves, organs, muscture, and a skeletal structure began to form as it all shone pure gold. Reconstruction. Reformation! It was a change from the old to something entirely brand new, and it came with many, many advances. ||All parts of your being have taken a step forward.|| ||The Enneagram has made tremendous advancements.|| ||The Gem Constetions have made tremendous advancements.|| ||You have gained the distinction of a Master of the Covenants, allowing you to understand and assimte other Covenants twice as fast!|| BOOM! He opened his eyes. And everything around trembled with golden brilliance as the very skies seemed like they were shaking! This¡­was a Void Ruler? He felt immensely powerful. So powerful that he could cross the skies within a thousand miles in less than a minute. So powerful that he could sense everything within these one thousand miles! He recalled how not too long ago, he was only able to observe and see things within 1 mile.N?v(el)B\\jnn And now, this number had risen a thousandfold! But this was only a part of it. He looked at his hand as by simply sending it his thoughts, it turned liquid gold. A momentter, it turned into pure gold light, and then a block of solid gold! Any and all parts of him, he could turn gold. If someone who did not have full assimtion of a Covenant tried to fight him, much of their attacks would simply be absorbed by his gold form as injuring him would be extremely hard! Injuring a Void Ruler¡­was impossibly hard unless one was a Void Ruler themselves. This was how terrifying it was for one to fully assimte a Covenant of Nature with themselves. Alexander raised his head to the distant skies as he felt like even if he didn''t rely on a certain Gem Constetion, he could fully and freely cross the skies of Ephesus and enter its space, and he could survive there without needing to worry about anything else. This was how critical this stage was. As if he was now bing an entirely different life form. No longer bound onto any single star. This was a Void Ruler! "Void Ruler¡­" Alexander uttered this foreign term that didn''t mean anything to him a day ago as he was contemtive. What eveny ahead of this? After one assimted with a single Covenant of Nature, what then? He didn''t know. Not at this moment. So for now, he would make it his goal to assimte as many Covenants of Nature as he could. But for now, there were many things to understand about this current transformation as too many areas of himself had advanced! ||All currently unlocked Core Features of the Enneagram have advanced by a single level.|| ||The Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Adult Stage. Under its renewed brilliance, every grasped Covenant of Nature increases your rate of Understanding and Assimtion of all Covenants of Nature by 300%.|| ||The Core Feature of The Individualist of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Juvenile Stage. Under its brilliance, you can form two Enneagram Clones of yourself that express 150% of your total power. Your Main Body is now capable of Instant Recement with any deployed clone, where you can take their ce and vice versa. If a clone dies, this feature will not be usable again for half a day.|| ||The Core Feature of The Investigator of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Juvenile Stage. Under its brilliance, through currently avable authorities of the Covenants of Nature, information that could possibly rte to you is being gathered in the surrounding 100,000 miles of distance. The extent and nature of information have be even more urate in value, with a mapping feature being designed to cover all observable 100,000-mile regions with markers ced on each thread of relevant information.|| ||The Core Feature of the Challenger of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Natal Stage. Under its brilliance, any enemy that has had their life force depleted by you below 10% will be stripped of their very existence and turned into Nine Star Gem Panaceas. A single Nine Star Gem Panacea contains a varying level of the memories, understanding, or assimtion of Covenants of Nature depending on which entity it stemmed from.|| ¡­! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 152 Void Ruler! I Too many shocking boons unfolded before him. Far too many! A new Core Feature. The Elevation of previous Core Features! A single one alone would have been more than enough of a boon from him reaching the Void Ruler stage. For an example. He could now enact a second Enneagram Clone, and the power would even be 150% of his original body! What did this mean? With just a single Enneagram Clone, he had the equivalent power of two Void Rulers. Now, he would have three! He was alone, and yet one of him equated to three Void Rulers! And this was just a single thing. Three hundred percent increased rate of understanding and assimtion for every single Covenant of Nature that he held. What did this mean? It was a 1,800% increased rate of understanding and assimtion of any Covenant of Nature! There was the ridiculous expansion of the authority of the Core Feature of The Investigator, and Alexander could already feel it whipping out and covering all of Ephesus. All of it! He couldn''t personally sense everything with that 100,000-mile region, but he could tell that all of Ephesus was contained in it! And then, there was a new feature. The Challenger! Looking at this, Alexander was entirely stumped as he didn''t know exactly how ridiculous this feature was bound to be until he experienced it. But there was much more to be understood as even more waves of information and changes were grasped and understood by his body. ||The Gem Constetion- Golden Tree of Old, Yggdrasil, has transformed to be the Covenant Tree Sapling, Yggdrasil.|| ||Limited Nature Maniption has transformed to be Greater Nature Maniption.|| ||Through the Gem Constetion, Covenant Tree Sapling, Yggdrasil, it is possible to obtain the Covenant of Life once a sufficient amount of Ascendant Energiea has been utilized to nurture it.|| ||The Gem Constetion- Endless cial Sun, has transformed to be the Covenant cial Sea|| ||The cial Armor of the Deep has transformed to be the Lesser Covenant Armor.|| ||Through the Gem Constetion, Covenant cial Sea, it is possible to obtain the Covenant of Water once a sufficient amount of Ascendant Energiea has been utilized to nurture it.|| ¡­! One after another! Two Gem Constetions were heavily elevated as one of his Covenants became fully assimted, each one attaining the term of a [Covenant] in its distinction as through them¡­Alexander could actually obtain another Covenant. This was a terrifying truth. The Gem Constetion he forged from sacrificing his Gem Recipes¡­could give him ess to grasp even more Covenants of Nature! And this was just two. He closed his eyes as the voice of the Enneagram rang out once more, this time expressing the changes of his third Gem Constetion! ||The Gem Constetion- Halcyon Stanchion of Light, has transformed to be the Covenant Stanchion of Light.|| ||The speed of your movements and attacks has been reinforced and augmented by the Covenant Stanchion of Light, increasing your speed to be a hundredth the speed of light.|| ||Under the Nature Defiance inherent ability, Limited Vacuum Adaptation has been transformed into Greater Vacuum Adaptation. You are freely capable of surviving in the vacuum of space and other domains that lower level life forms cannot inhabit. The Vacuum of Space is akin to a home for you.|| ||Through the Gem Constetion, Covenant Stanchion of Light, it is possible to obtain the Covenant of Light once a sufficient amount of Ascendant Energiea has been utilized to nurture it.|| "..." He was silent.N?v(el)B\\jnn He had to be silent! A hundredth the speed of light. That was 1% the Speed of Light! That was nearly 3 million meters he could cover every single second. That was 1,863 miles he could cover¡­every single second! "..." His throat felt dry. Because this simply seemed over the top. The capability of this single Gem Constetion far exceeded all others by his ount as with it¡­he could cover over 111,769 Miles in under a minute. All of Ephesus, no matter how massive it had grown- he could cover it all in under a minute! His body felt like it was itching. He wanted to do it. He wanted to try it! He wanted to know! But before that¡­ His eyes became fierce as he called out. "Instant Recement." WUU! Blinding gold light shone as a new feature was put to use. A few tens of thousand miles away, the gaze of Ezra was stern as her hair whipped around chaotically, looking towards the figure of Alexander that had undergone a great change out of nowhere! A dazzling golden sea had stretched out around him as by the time it died down with its brilliance and his figure was revealed once more¡­ He had changed far too much. His hair was fully shining with a radiant gold luster. His pupils were like golden gems that instantly honed in on her! Ezra felt her danger senses tingling as she adopted a battle stance, but Alexander''s oppressive aura was slowly collected back into himself as he nodded with a smile. "Sorry about that, I just had a little enlightenment. Let''s keep going." ¡­! His voice was mesmerizing as at this moment, it wasn''t even his main body here- but his Enneagram Clone! Ezra looked at him as if she could notice the small changes and intricacies, but in the end, she didn''t ask. Because even with this change, he had not expressed anything differentpared to what he said before, with their path still being one of continuing forward! So she floated ahead as her eyes lingered on the ground below them where everything- even the trees, were solidified gold. A few tens of thousand miles away, Alexander''s Main Body floated in the clear skies where his sea of gold had actually pushed away the gray mist, his eyes overlooking the expanse of transformed earth down below that also radiated golden grandeur as he breathed out. The rapid exploration of Ephesus would unfold soon, but he had to finish his preparations first. So¡­ "Forge the second Enneagram Clone." His chest shed with brightness as he started forging another Void Ruler! Chapter 153 Void Ruler! II The process was even simpler than the first time. In the span of three minutes, a brand new Enneagram Clone with the likeness of Alexander was formed. His hair radiated the same golden brilliance as from the dark hair and dark eyes that he had just days ago, his whole look seemed to have changed to shine gold- to shine just like his first Covenant! Alexander looked at this clone that shared his thoughts and views as in the next moment, he uttered calmly. "Go." He had just gained the capability to traverse over one hundred thousand miles in the span of less than a minute. He had to use it to understand exactly what grandiose changes had urred throughout Ephesus!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Put in this endeavor, there was nothing that said he couldn''t be extra cautious. So the Enneagram Clone was sent out. In the skies, his body became wrapped in a golden radiance of pure light, the Gem Constetion Covenant Stanchion of Light shining brightly above him as he¡­shot out into the distance! SAA! Like a literal sh of light, he shot out. Even a bit faster than 1% the Speed of Light since this was his Enneagram Clone that could disy 150% of the power of the main body! He could observe anything within the span of one thousand miles, with everything seeming like a blur of light initially, but after the passage of a mere second, he adjusted. He felt like he was moving so immensely fast that the world around him turned slow. As if even the particles of Covenant of Nature were moving slower! And all he had to do¡­was flitter across the earth and skies of Ephesus like a mere sh of light while observing anything important around him. Any Sacred Mountains. Any powerful forces. Anything of Relevance to him! As his clone did this, Alexander''s main body also turned into a streak of light as it went back to the Sacred Gold Mountain. The Covenants of Nature were pristine and seemed like truly sacred things that he loved to explore and understand, but he felt like they would seem a lot duller if he didn''t have the people he always knew around him. The one friend he always had as he grew up. What did all of his power mean if he continued to understand and assimte more and more Covenants of Nature, but a distance was growing between those he loved? He thought of ire. She didn''t say anything, but he could feel a subtle sort of distance forming between him and her ever since she chose toe under him as a Follower. When did theyst talk like they used to? When were they free to hang out and y games around their Manors like they used to? Since awakening, all of this had gone away. He didn''t like this. He was still his old self even amidst these grandiose changes and power, and what he felt like doing now amidst all of these dangers- as his Two Enneagram Clones dealt with these dangers¡­he felt like he wanted to give time to the things he put aside for the sake of survival! Very quickly, he approached the Sacred Gold Mountain as he could already feel exactly where ire was. She sat on top of tall verdant gold tree, the figures of her father and his father below her along with Azazel as they were sparring to get used to their Nine-Link Gem Sockets. He looked at her fair skin. Her strands of hair that were now a mixture of ck and gold. And her blue eyes that were also stained with gold due to the Covenant he passed down to make her a Ruler. By all means, she looked utterly breathtaking as he sent her a message through their connection. [Hey, I wanted to show you something.] ¡­! Her eyes opened rapidly as she looked up in surprise, her eyes blinking in confusion as she had just seen him off not too long ago where he had to go deal with something. Had he already finished? In her confusion, tendrils of blue gold wings erupted behind her as she also rose into the skies. "What is it? A new finding, or¡­" Alexander waved his hands dismissively as he did something he had never done before. "None of that. I¡­just wanted to take you out. On a little date. I feel like so many things are happening that we don''t get the chance to just talk like before." ¡­! "You¡­!" His words caused ire to open her mouth in shock, her mind barely registering what he said as she broke eye contact soon after! Her face turned just a tad bit redder. A date. A practice much moremon before the Breaches and Beasts of Corruption appeared! She only thought of this briefly before she gathered herself. After that, she continued staring down as she nodded with a small voice. "Mmm." A simple recognition. Alexander took it as around them, a golden bubble formed that contained just the two of them, and it began to shoot up the skies! Down below, Branch Leader Axel breathed out heavily as he faced Branch Leader Julius, his tired but excited eyes watching while Alexander disappeared with his daughter as he asked gruffly. "What is your son doing now?" He came and went, with a lot of things that urred around the Mountain being taken care of by him as just recently, the Dragon Rulers he sent out also returned for the task of protection. Julius shook his head as his body burnt with reddish gold mes. "You don''t worry about the kids too much. Let''s go!" BOOM! Waves of power erupted out as these leaders sought to regain their power and standing. Secondster. Inside a golden bubble that carried the power of a Void Ruler, it moved close to 2,000 miles every single second. In the span of just ten seconds, they had already left the atmosphere of Ephesus as Alexander caused the golden bubble to gradually be transparent, ire looking out and literally seeing their two bodies floating off the world they were always on¡­and entering outer space! The void! Below them, the vast outline of Ephesus gradually became clear as Alexander looked at it and spoke with mncholy. "Remember when we used to imagine which Gem Masters we would be in the future? Neither of us ever mentioned bing Tier 9 Emperor Gem Masters, or even thought about anything that is happening right now¡­" He recalled the past that seemed so far away, even though it was mere days ago. At the same time, the golden bubble they were in rapidly expanded, the Covenant of Fire blooming a few meters away as there, a small one-meter portion of a cut-off dragon wing from a Dragon Ruler appeared and began spinning over the mes conjured by the Covenant of Fire. A date in space to celebrate bing a Void Ruler. The entertainment- reminiscing of their past selvespared to where they were now, all while overlooking thendscape of a changing world! For the food, the rich meat of a Dragon Ruler. Such a rich outing began as unbeknownst to them, many tens of thousands of miles away, a group of Void Rulers from the Star Alliance were on their way over this direction! Chapter 154 Void Ruler! III It was a moment of peace. Something that could not be bought or obtained for many others, they held in the palm of their hands. Inside an expansive golden bubble surrounded by a fully assimted authority of a Covenant of Nature, Alexander and ire spent a precious moment that seemed brighter than many things that had urred recently. After she overcame her initial shyness, ire became much more straightforward as she talked to him like she used to before, her eyes lighting up as they talked about all the things that happened so far. After a while. "I missed this." ire hugged her feet while looking at the crimson mes roasting the meat before them, her eyes feeling a long-forgotten peace as she sighed. Behind her, she could feel the wide back of Alexander as they both leaned against each other- she was staring at the fire and he was staring out at the ster expanse around them. "But¡­it doesn''t feel like we can just go back to how everything was. I like this new ce we''re at. You called this a¡­date. Does that mean¡­?" Her eyes stared at the crackling mes as she felt the warmth of his back behind her. She couldn''t see his face, but she knew he would be smiling mischievously at this moment as his voice came out from behind. "Yeah. I''ve always wanted to try it, but I felt like your dad would eat me alive if I even said anything back then. Now¡­hmm." He didn''t finish his words, but ire could not help but smile brilliantly. It was something small. Something innocent amidst what seemed like waves of darkness and chaos. She reached out behind her as she felt the fingers of his left hand on the golden floor they were on, and she twirled her fingers to grab a hold of his hand. It felt safe. It felt peaceful. It felt-...! HUUM! The surrounding weavings of Covenants of Nature instantly buzzed as Alexander rose up suddenly while still holding ire''s hands.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He looked out to the distant space in shock and heaviness that caused the light in ire''s eyes to dim, her gaze changing as she didn''t even have to ask what it was. Something else chaotic and crazy is probably approaching! "We have to go." Alexander''s voice was heavy as their figures became fully wrapped with the golden light, and they began to shoot back into the folds of Ephesus. This was because just moments ago, his mind buzzed with a thread of information that came from over fifty thousand miles away! The distance he could obtain information of relevance to him expanded akin to a circle with a diameter of 100,000 Miles. At this moment, something of tremendous relevance came. ||49,999 miles away, a party of Void Rulers is shooting across the void towards a path directly in line with Ephesus.|| ||49,910 miles away, the party of Void Rulers is observed to be radiating the aura of the assimted Covenant of Space, the assimted Covenant of Lightning, the assimted Covenant of Chaos, the assimted Covenant of Gravity, and the assimted Covenant of Blood. Particles of other Covenants of Nature that have only been understood and not assimted also surge around the Void Rulers in abundance.|| ¡­! His gaze continued to change as his main body delved back into the folds of Ephesus while pulling along ire, continuing to receive more and more threads of information. They told how these beings that wereing directly down towards Ephesus held powerful assimted Covenants of Nature, in addition to them understanding multiple other Covenants of Nature! This whole event was something brand new that caused many questions to arise in Alexander''s mind. This wasn''t an action of Ephesus per se, where the fusion of worlds would bring about their inhabitants here as well. These entities came from afar as the biggest question was, who were they, and what exactly was their intention for Ephesus? Ephesus! The ce where Alexander had been mapping for thest half hour. He utilized the threads of information from the Core Feature of the Investigator to steer away from any Void Ruler powerhouses that he was about toe across. In his findings, he confirmed the shocking truth of at least six or seven Void Rulers being present within Ephesus itself- and the regions they were in were the only ones that remained unmapped. Every other part of Ephesus, he knew. Well, the Outer Ring of Ephesus. Outer Ring. This was what he called the earth above in view with the skies and space above it! It was because through the Investigator, he knew of the existence of another ce hebeled the Hollow Earth! The ce where Ezra was currently leading him to, and it was located deeply inside Ephesus. One could only reach it by passing through a few unique channels that drilled straight down, or a Void Ruler could use sheer power to break through into that space. In there, Alexander felt like the will of Ephesus was much more vibrant. It was another ce he had yet to explore- his other Enneagram Clone about to arrive there with Ezra! This was Ephesus. The ce that currently had 5 foreign Void Rulersing towards it. How was he to face them? His mind moved at quick speeds as many possible schemes arose, his eyes beginning to shine as he thought of the hidden Void Rulers within Ephesus itself. A n gradually formed in his mind as his main body arrived on the Sacred Gold Mountain, and his Enneagram Clone that was running all over Ephesus¡­quickly went towards the direction the new entrants would arrive from! Leaving ire on the Sacred Gold Mountain, Alexander smiled as he let go of her hand and rose up. "I''m gonna visit a few Sacred Mountains to pick up some things. I can be back here in a matter of seconds if need be, so don''t be worried too much." He assured her as he saw her worried look, and ire could only nod as he disappeared! There was much to do. The mapped Ephesus showed him a great number of Sacred Mountains. He wanted to see how quickly he could strengthen himself through them as his Enneagram Clone¡­went to greet the new entrants and gauge what they wereing here for! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 157 Ambassador of Ephesus! I It was a wonderful sensation. Over ten thousand miles away from the initial point of contact between Ezra and Alexander, there was a massive swirling hole on the earth of Ephesus. A gray fog covered it entirely as even when one was close, one would only see a rising column of gray mist and nothing else. Enjoy new tales from empire But after diving into it and going in for a few hundred miles¡­ WHOOSH! One would arrive in a brand new world. Here there was no great mist surrounding every single thing. Down below, there were verdant grasnds and tall trees surrounded by twinkling white and gold lights. Above the skies, the ceiling of earth filled with crystals lit up every single inch of this ce as it looked utterly magisterial! At the moment they entered the figure of Ezra shot towards a location that held a blinding convergence of Covenant authority from all around. An area with an extremely tall tree- the tallest one in this location, and yet it seemed to be rising up. Its branches created small Inds in the skies as the trunk went on to connect with the ceiling of the earth up above. On the Hollow Earth, there was actually a tall tree massive enough to go from the bottom of the earth here through its skies and to anchor itself in the ceiling of the earth above! This tree alone spanned over five thousand miles as it radiated a terrifying Covenant Authority of Life! Ezra took them towards this tree- towards its base where many dazzling authorities clustered. As they neared, a small ind became visible- an ind filled with white gold trees. A terrifying amount of authority seemed to be held here as the illusory figures of three entities could be seen at the very center. One was an old man that Alexander recognized, and the other 2 beings¡­one looked to be an entity that seemed closely in line with the Alfanians, and the other held an image of a massive dragon. Undoubtedly the representations of the world of Ephesus, the world of Alfana, and the world of Dragoisles! Near them, the auras of dozens of rulers can be felt on the periphery of this ind- some being Humanoid, some Alfanian, and others Draconian. They calmly remained stationed where they were, but their gazes shed dangerously towards Alexander and others! At this moment in time, Alexander was receiving tons of threads of information after arriving in the Hollow Earth. Just on this small ind there were at least twice a dozen Land Rulers, 5 Sky Rulers, and a single Void Ruler whose figure was shrouded in white light in the far distance! They arrived at a clearing of white gold trees as Ezranded on radiant fallen leaves while pointing back towards Alexander. "I have brought back those who should be here." ¡­! Her words were ones that caused the three manifestations to look up, a blinding point of light gathered behind them that they never moved away from as the illusory figure of the old man held a cold gaze as he replied. "You did, and at the same time, you didn''t. This one creature here¡­" The bright eyes of the Will of Ephesus were locked onto Alexander in the distance, the aura of a Void Ruler hidden in the distance burned heavily as if it was about to make a move. But at such a point¡­ "This creature here?" Alexander''s voice rang out in the midst of such serene wonders! BZZT! A sense of hostility from dozens of lifeforms nearby zed and became directed at him. His figure floated grandly as his golden hair and eyes shed with brilliance, his gaze steady as he continued calmly. "Is it this creature here that is preventing the decimation of thends of Ephesus? The decimation brought about from a signal sent out into the Void by none other than you all?!" WAA! "Even now, can you not feel what is happening around this world? This Realm?!" ¡­! His words were resonant as after they came out, a resonant silence followed. Thousands of eyes filled with a deadly light were locked onto Alexander at this time, the illusory visage of the Will of Ephesus looking stern as momentster¡­this gaze shifted to shock! As if it was finally able to sense something. The eyes of the humanoid Alfanian and the massive Illusory Dragon were the same as they looked towards each other in rm. Beside the visage of the Will of Ephesus, the will of a Void Ruler bloomed as silver particles of the Covenant of Space flourished. There, a muscr humanoid entity that held faintly gold draconic scales stood- massive Gems socketed into its body as it looked like a terrifying Chimera! But the particles of Space were chaotically assimted into its body as its crimson eyes stared coldly at Alexander, almost as if it were just waiting for an order. At this time, the Will of Ephesus spoke out as it felt the white gold barrier of light spreading all around from the g of the Alliance. "What¡­is this?"@@novelbin@@ ¡­! What was it. With the limited but tremendous power it held, the Will of Ephesus did not know! Alexander could only shake his head in disappointment as he waved his hand, golden brilliance flourishing to form a liquid gold recreation of the leading Ambassador, Maximus, and hispatriot, Lana. These liquid gold figures began to produce the sounds and voices that the Covenant of Gold had witnessed before. [As Ambassadors of the Star Alliance, we were brought over here due to the signal of the emergence of a new Star Realm. When any new Star Realm is born, it releases a unique signature of Ascension of power that leaks out into the surrounding Void and stretches out onto other Star Systems¡­] The words they uttered to Alexander were repeated here! As they were, the gazes of Ezra and even the crimson eyes of the Void Ruler Chimera before Ephesus shed, but it was the gazes of the Wills of the Realm of Ephesus that became the most somber! Alexander looked at them all as he voiced out in the silence after enough information was passed along. "The emergence of a new Realm brought these unknown people here. Something you achieved. Was this part of your grandiose ns? Did this factor into the ns of freely allowing the genocide of the native life forms of this world? For there to be an unknown force of beings that descends here to likely drain whatever vibrant life has begun to grow here?!" ¡­! His questions were callous as he wanted to know. He truly wanted to know if these Wills of Worlds had any ns as at this moment¡­all they gave him was silence. Chapter 160 Instant Understanding of Covenants! I Chapter 160 Instant Understanding of Covenants! I Sacred Gem Engines. What powered up the Sacred Mountains where rich reserves of Covenant Authorityy! Alexander looked at them as they held all sorts of varying colors, each one brighter than thest. Standing over 50 meters tall, they were daunting to look at as they came to this region filled with verdant gold vegetation and smashed down like small mountains! "Nine Sacred Gem Engines. What you can obtain from them depends on your own talent, as well as the potential of your very soul. Nine are the only allocations that can ur right now while still retaining the positive flow of authority. Your job and the jobs of Ezra, Prototype X-1, and others¡­ is to ensure that other Sacred Mountains and Resources of this world are not consumed and devoured by any outside forces." The Will of Ephesus spoke out as such, and Alexander looked towards it coldly while nodding and looking at the dazzling Sacred Gem Engines around him. His feature of the Investigator was going nuts while currently looking at this! ||Half a mile away from you, the Sacred Gem Engine of Space has stably been anchored onto the earth. Stepping into it will allow the rapid infusion of the understanding of the Covenant of Space. It is also estimated that Ruler''s Covenant Authority Points can also be obtained passively through this Sacred Gem Engine as it holds a level of pure natal covenant authority.|| ||Half a mile away from you, the Sacred Gem Engine of Air has stably been anchored onto the earth. Stepping into it will allow the rapid infusion of the understanding of the Covenant of Air. It is also estimated that Ruler''s Covenant Authority Points can also be obtained passively through this Sacred Gem Engine as it holds a level of pure natal covenant authority.|| ||Half a mile away from you, the Sacred Gem Engine of Destiny has stably been anchored onto the earth¡­|| @@novelbin@@ ¡­! Every single ounce of their information flowed into his mind as he looked at them with greedy eyes! Off to the side, the wills of this Realm were having a silent conversation amongst each other as they looked at Alexander while he began walking towards the Sacred Gem Engines. Alfana spoke silently. [What we need now are the strongest points of every living creature in our database to build a single powerful force. Prototype X-1 was meant to be this as he holds the strongest genes of the Dragon Lineage, Human Lineage, and Anian Lineage. Putting the risk of choosing another for this¡­why would you do so, Dragoisles?] Her voice was sharp as she asked the figure of the massive Dragon. The Will of Dragoisles! Toe to this agreement, Dragoisles had actually paid a heavy cost by stating that if the pathways of choosing this human known as Alexander did not yield any true results, it would use up all of its natal sentience as the cost to proceed with the elevation of Prototype X-1! An action that would erase its will entirely as the Will of Dragoisles would forever disappear. And yet it had taken this risk. Not the Will of Ephesus that was impartial. Nor the Will of Alfana that was actually against it. It was Dragoisles who looked at Alexander and made the proposition and even bore the cost of it should it fail! [Why? Even with these Sacred Gem Engines, he will need days to grasp and understand all of their Covenants. Even after burning a great deal of authority, we were only able to forge Prototype X-1 with a single assimted Covenant. We cannot burn the same in a short period of time.] Even the will of Ephesus uttered out between them, their voices traveling through their vibrant authorities. The eyes of Dragoisles were heavy as he spoke in a deep voice. [A few thousand years ago, when I barely gained sentience, I had a creature living on Dragoisles. The brightest creature I had evere across. A year after they were born, they grasped full assimtion of the Covenant of Life. The year that followed, they grasped and assimted multiple more Covenants of Nature before this creature felt a pull¡­and left Dragoisles.] ¡­! Even Ephesus and Alfana were shocked at these words as Dragoisles continued! [They never returned since then, but I still remember them to this day. I do not know what grand path they have reached right now, but I do remember...their eyes. The depth of their eyes. Theplexity within them. They gave me a feeling. That same feeling¡­that I get when I look at this Alexander.] WAA! Its words were shocking as Alfana and Ephesus did not have a reply! They only watched as Alexander arrived in front of a Sacred Gem Engine. A dazzling gold one as if his assimted Covenant of the same color drew him here. Ephesus looked at this scene as he spoke out with caution. [We will know whether you''re right or not very soon as we gauge his rate of understanding Covenant of Naturepared to Prototype X-1 and Ezra.] Yes. The Sacred Gem Engines were unique. They granted one even better boons than if they had just gotten ownership of a Sacred Mountain, as it was akin to receiving treasures from the Source! Alfana looked towards Alexander as she still shook her head. [With those outsiders already here, how fast can he be to grow sufficiently without burning up natal authority? It may take days before-...!] BOOM! Alexander had arrived in front of and touched the Sacred Gem Engine of Destiny. Destiny. A peculiar Covenant. And yet the moment he did, a fluorescence of gold erupted out as the Sacred Gem Engine of Destiny dimmed tremendously, while around Alexander¡­an intense grandeur of particles of Destiny swirled like a storm as his eyes released golden beams! The pupils of Ephesus and Alfana constricted. The reddened eyes of Dragoisles pulsed as all of them knew this eruption of particles of Covenant around Alexander¡­to be theplete understanding of a Covenant. [Instantaneous Complete Understanding?!] The sharp voice of Alfana boomed out as she couldn''t hide her shock! Even if he utilized the Ruler''s Covenant Authority Points, that would only give an initial understanding. What was this exactly?! Chapter 161 Instant Understanding of Covenants! II The wills of the World looked over with a trace of shock. The only one who was not burning with shock was the massive stature of the Will of Dragoisles, his ancient eyes that had lived for a few 1000 years seeming to recall the image of a creature that once walked on its world all those years ago! They had just observed someone that without burning extremely Pure Natal Authority- went through the initial understanding of a Covenant, all the way through toplete understanding in what seemed to be the span of an instant! Yes, the Sacred Gem Engine of Destiny was there to bolster and grant one the infused understanding of that specific Covenant of Nature. But what this entity had just shown was something that they had never seen in all their collective years. The Will of Ephesus found itself questioning as it looked towards Alexander. A creature that lived in its midst all of these years, only now did it begin shining so illustriously. Beside them, the figure of Ezra had aplex expression crossing her eyes as within the apathy and understanding, there was a sense ofpetitiveness as she looked towards Alexander. But none of these gazes of shock or jealousy or inferiority mattered to the being that became the center of attention at this moment. His mind only buzzed as he felt the musings of a grand Covenant of Nature flow into his being, and as it did, changes bloomed within his Enneagram! Discover exclusive content at empire Whenever there was a unique Covenant of Nature or when he hit upon a unique achievement of his existence- whether that wasplete understanding of a Covenant of Nature orplete assimtion of one, there were always boons associated with it. The understanding of other Covenants of Nature did not grant much, but Evolution granted a change. And now, it seemed like this unique understanding of Destiny would do the same. The Sacred Gem Engine before him had a singr job of infusing understanding directly into one''s soul. With Alexander holding an increased rate of understanding and assimtion, these infusions of understanding were elerated so much that he grasped the entirety of Destiny in the span of an instant! His eyes glowed an even grander shade of gold as he felt like he was in a trance. His Enneagram was spinning rapidly as the almostpleted Gem Recipe of the Bonds of the Gold Ruler hummed with wonder and beauty within! Whatever feature was waking up would be grand as in his trance, Alexander released his hand from the Sacred Gem Engine of Destiny and looked towards the other Sacred Gem Engines. His figure flickered like a mere blink of golden light as he instantly appeared before a purple Sacred Gem Engine. It was the Sacred Gem Engine of the Soul! There were already pure threads of the Covenant of the Soul within him due to the bindings that he took with the Will of Ephesus. But if there was an engine right before him, why would he not grasp its boons right now? So his hand fell on the Sacred Engine as he felt like he came in contact with a zing purple sun. In response, this purple sun radiated its tendrils of pure light into the depths of his being- his Soul lighting up at this moment! ||The initial understanding of the Covenant of the Soul has been obtained.|| ||Your understanding of the Covenant of the Soul has reached 100%.|| ¡­! Two steps. This was all it took as once more, in the span of an instant, he grasped understanding and then fully understood a Covenant of Nature! The Soul. He found his mind buzzing even more along with his Enneagram as musings of the Soul filled his being. He came to understand that within him, there were actually three majorponents that made him.@@novelbin@@ His Soul, his Body, andstly his Origin. His Body, he could easily see. His Soul was his buzzing consciousness that conducted everything that he did, and his Origin seemed to be hidden within the depths of his Enneagram! A point of singrity where he collected, stored, and ushered in the usage of Authorities. He felt his Vigor and Energeia spread throughout these three Aspects of his being as at this moment, he felt like his Soul had lit up. The Enneagram in his chest began to spin with an even greater speed and intensity. The Covenant of the Soul also seemed to be unique as it may juste with its own additional boons. But once more, Alexander continued to be in a trance as in the next moment, he turned towards the other Sacred Gem Engines. His figure disappeared once more as this time, he appeared before a brilliant crimson Sacred Gem Engine His hand once more connected with it as¡­ ||The initial understanding of the Covenant of Blood has been obtained.|| ||Your understanding of the Covenant of Blood has reached 100%.|| Blood. The Covenant of Blood! Before its musings even fully settled inside of his mind, his body flickered once more as hended before another Sacred Gem Engine. This one burned with a different hue of purple as the moment that his handnded on it, he found his body beginning to burn with purple mes as well. ||The initial understanding of the Covenant of the Body has been obtained.|| ||Your understanding of the Covenant of the Body has reached 100%.|| ¡­! The Covenant of the Body. After the Soul, this Covenant actually held its musings in a Sacred Gem Engine here as while his body burned with purple mes, a st of light waved from him as he appeared before another Engine! The moment he came in contact with it, he felt like multiple missing pieces were finallying together in recognition. ||The initial understanding of the Covenant of the Origin has been obtained.|| ||Your understanding of the covenant of the Origin has reached 100%.|| WU! The Soul, Body, and Origin. His body vibrated at the sheer weight of their understanding as his Enneagram currently seethed with maddened grandiosity. But he wasn''t done. Oh, he wasn''t done! BOOM! The verdant gold earth he stood on held cracks as he disappeared, continuing to go from one Sacred Gem Engine to another until he obtained all the Covenants they contained! In the distance, the Wills of the Realm watched all of this in a stupor as immense silence reigned in. Away from this region within the Hollow Earth. In the space above Ephesus. Alexander''s other Enneagram clone was watching the enveloping of the realm below them by the g of the Alliance as Ambassador Maximus had a smiling expression while he spoke towards him. Alexander''s eyes were half-focused as he controlled his Clone not to erupt with the raging authority that was being obtained through another clone within the realm below them, but at this time¡­the Core Feature of the Investigator bloomed once more! A thread of shocking information entered his mind. ||Fifty thousand miles from here, an entity categorized as Extremely Dangerous has appeared and is heading straight towards Ephesus|| ¡­! Extremely Dangerous! What the hell was happening right now that this already chaotic area was about to turn even messier? ¡ª Tens of thousands of miles away. A figure d in a dark robe could be seen, her head full of lustrous dark hair that formed into a cute bun behind her. Her skin was fair and radiating a distinct light of multiple Covenants of Nature, with all of their particles seemingly converging towards a white gold light. Her eyes were a gorgeous blue as they blinked rapidly at this moment from being able to sense multiple life forms far ahead of her! "I tell them again and again not to bother me, and they really give me a mission of reconnaissance of a new Realm. And now, it turns out to be troublesome enough that it seems those hypocrites are also here¡­" Hypocrites. Of the types of people that she hated the most were those who put on a facade in front of the eyes of the majority, presenting themselves to be what they were not. She much rather liked it when things were straightforward. She liked people that did not portray one thing, but truly meant something else. Her mind buzzed as the mere appearance of these hypocrites caused a sort of a trigger as her blue eyes slowly began to turn red! She sighed as she took a few steps forward, her body bing covered by a terrifying Covenant of Nature as with every step, she crossed five thousand miles. It was terrifying to see as in a short span of time¡­ HUUM! She arrived a few hundred miles away from the bounds of the Star of Ephesus. The recently nted g of the Alliance was clear, as well as the Five Ambassadors grouped up together and the one entity that seemed to be different from them. The new entrant looked at all of this as her expression remained cold, and she sped her hands onto her chest as she uttered out words that all those here heard clearly, the gazes of the Ambassadors of the Star Alliance rapidly turning to those of shock and rm! [O Father, forgive me for what I am about to do.] ¡­! Chapter 163 The Dark Ruler- Alexander! I Masako! This was her name. She came with a ster introduction as she sheathed the sword she used to cut down five Void Rulers easily. Alexander looked at her as he was ready for anything, but the eyes of this being did not show any hostility towards him. [You are weing me to the Dark Rule?] She replied to her with a question. Continue reading at empire And she nonchntly blinked before she nodded and gazed towards the decimated bodies of the five Void Rulers, as well as the dazzling gems that now stood where they were. [Yes. Those hypocrites that have gone into their eternal slumber must have arrived here and told you how grandiose their Star Alliance is. How across the many systems of the nearby Void, you were lucky toe across them. All they would have done is plunder the Natal Authority of your emerging Realm slowly over time as you stand there unable to do nothing.] ¡­! She voiced out the purpose- or what the Ambassadors of the Star Alliance would have done, which wasn''t too far from what Alexander and those within Ephesus expected. She said this clearly as Alexander nodded and asked. [Is this any different from what the Dark Rule will do?] ¡­! He was direct with his questioning. And the blue eyes of Masako shone like two ster seas as she replied passively. [We do not care for the Natal Authority within Realms. What we care about are the Rulers born within them. So long as you agree to join the ranks of the Dark Rule, we extend our protection to your Realm. As an Entry Dark Ruler, we ensure your Realm protection against any forces at the Void Ruler level or below. As an Associate Dark Ruler, we ensure your Realm protection against any forces at the Ster Ruler level or below. Past that, you can be an Elder Dark Ruler- but if you reach that level, you will not need to set up any protection for your Realm- your might alone would be enough to deter any forces.] ¡­! She spoke of many things as there were few critical pieces of information. The organization known as the Dark Rule had multiple rankings of Rulers- Entry, Associate, and Elder Dark Rulers. And there was also the mention of the stage thaty above a Void Ruler- a Ster Ruler! Alexander repeated these pieces of information in his mind again and again as he asked another critical question. [You said so long as I agree. Does that mean I can choose to disagree to be a Dark Ruler without any repercussions from you?] His words caused her to blink as she raised her brows and replied. [Sure. Of your own volition. I would leave you to your own devices, as whatever groups of hypocritese here after me will be yours to deal with. What will it be? You will, of course, have responsibilities toplete on behalf of the Dark Rule if you so choose to join and maintain your status as an Entry Level Dark Ruler. It is why you see me here right now- this is simply a mission that I am undertaking on behalf of the Dark Rule. You could be given a simr mission in the future or something else entirely, it all depends on the choice you make right now.] ¡­! The information was plenty, but Alexander did not need to think too much about it. Comparing this Star Alliance to the Dark Rule, one had a more clear and straightforward purpose, as they were upfront in what they expected and wanted. Such beings would be much easier to deal with as the other point that Alexander liked¡­was the level of power that a single one of these Dark Rulers showedpared to the Ambassadors of the Star Alliance. Of the Ambassadors that nowy dead and would likely prompt another party to be sent over in this direction, so when they did- it was best to have the one responsible for killing them already here. Thinking about this Alexander couldn''t help but smile and nod towards Masako. [Very well, I can represent the Realm of Ephesus in bing an Entry Dark Ruler.] He made the choice easily as the Dark Ruler in front of him gave him a light smile and nodded, but in the next moment- her eyes opened wide as she smacked her forehead as if she had forgotten something. [Goodness, I seem to be getting more and more forgetful. I didn''t mention that there was a Rite of Passage for you to be a Dark Ruler. After you meet certain requirements and if you are willing, you''re able to join us. If you are not, we can look for other Rulers within your Realm who could meet such requirements.] ¡­! There was still more. But Alexander was unfettered as he asked what the requirements were. The young woman in front of him blinked as she asked.@@novelbin@@ [Can you show me at least 9 grasped Covenants of Nature?] Nine! She asked for such a heavy requirement first thing as Alexander waved his hands, the dazzling particles of Gold, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Nobility, Evolution, Soul, Body, and Origin blooming around him one after another! These were not even all the Covenants he held, but he only showed those that he needed as after such a wondrous disy, The Dark Ruler Masako whistled. [Some premium stuff you''ve got there too. Alright, that''s the biggest requirement.The only other thing is to be a Void Ruler, and that you are. So I will be the first to wee you to the Dark Rule- a ce to further yourself in power and be a Gem Ruler whose name can be renowned across the different Sectors of nearby Systems, or beyond.] She said these words calmly as she took out a dark badge that looked like a triangr obsidian crystal! [This here is your identifier, so do not lose it, and this¡­] She waved her hands to further distort space as a small dark book appeared in her hands and floated towards Alexander. [...this will help you to get acquainted with somemon knowledge if you have yet to truly step out of your realm and interact with anyone.] Alexander epted both of these two items as his eyes were hungry when he looked towards the small book. But he controlled himself as he asked. [Is there something simr like the g of the Dark Rule you will need to ce around the Realm below or¡­] Towards his question, the Dark Ruler blinked before waving her hands dismissively. [Nothing that rudimentary. I''ll be here for now to ensure the protection of this Realm, and in a short while, they''ll send out a few people from a nearby Void Base to construct a Breach Portal here. In the meantime, do you have any good food down below? I get an apatite whenever my sword gets to cut down a few fools.] ¡­! A unique individual arrived outside the scope of Ephesus. With her arrival, the Ambassadors of the Star Alliance were decimated, and Alexander instead joined the organization known as the Dark Rule to ensure the safety and istion of Ephesus! Chapter 165 Advancement! I The World he was in¡­was unfathomably small. Alexander knew this the moment he first stepped into the void and looked out, looking at glittering stars in the far distance that looked just as small, even though they had their own weight. But he didn''t know just how small Ephesus was. He closed the book that the Dark Ruler Masako had given him as he breathed out. For the sake of simplicity, the nearby Void of Space could be segmented into regions that were hundreds of millions of miles vast- with three powers embroiled in these regions fighting for hegemony and resources! Resources. They could either be obtained from other Rulers, or Realms that were constantly born within these Sectors. A newly emerging Realm, untouched by others, could hold enough Resources to raise multiple Void Rulers. There were even unique Realms that had Unique Gem Socket Blueprints, Covenant Gems, Ability Gems, and Support Ability Gems! In the case of the Dark Ruler Masako, she had even stated that her Ability Gem came from a dying star. Out there in the Void of Space, there were many unique things and oddities as there even existed special regions where Covenant Authorities coalesced into profound Gems that could grant one understanding and assimtion of powerful Covenants of Nature! In such a ce, three forces are dominant- the Star Alliance, the Dark Rule, and the Beast Alliance. All sides held their own ambitions and worked differently, but the crux of their powery in the Rulers they had under their banner. Their core forces were those who had assimted a Covenant of Nature and could roam the Void of Space- Void Rulers! Above them were the entities that had assimted with multiple Covenants of Nature and even sessfully managed to fuse at least two- Ster Rulers! There were then the ruling powerhouses behind these three groups in these Sectors. Entities that had exceeded the level of a Ster Ruler. No information was present for them in the booklet as Alexander would have to find out for himself as he increased his position in the Dark Rule. What he needed to do now was prepare and be ready. The Dark Ruler Masako had wiped out the Ambassadors of the Star Alliance as they would not leave something like this alone. Even if she presented herself to be supremely powerful, he couldn''t leave the livelihood of Ephesus in her hands as he himself had to be ready! And this was where his own strength came in. And at this moment, his strength was experiencing a surge of continued elevation from instantly grasping 9 new Covenants of Nature! His constantly spinning Enneagram was releasing low hums as if it was an enhanced beast, its voice ringing out loudly at this moment. ||Multiplepatible Covenants of Nature have their authorities burning within the Enneagram.|| ||The Covenants of the Soul, Body, and Origin have tremendously elevated theplexity of the Enneagram.|| ||The Covenant of Destiny has unlocked a unique feature of the Enneagram.|| ||All currently unlocked Core Features of the Enneagram have advanced by a single level.|| ...! That one sentence. That one sentence caused Alexander''s heart to beat faster as it affected far too many things! ||The Core Feature of The Reformer of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Elder Stage. Under its renewed brilliance, every grasped Covenant of Nature increases your rate of Understanding and Assimtion of all Covenants of Nature by 500%. You can now begin fusing different qualities of Covenants of Nature at a rate of understanding that has not been quantified due to insufficient data.|| ||The Core Feature of The Individualist of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Adult Stage. Under its brilliance, you can form Four Enneagram Clones of yourself that express 175% of your total power. Your Clones can now independently cultivate different or the same Covenant of Nature, and their rates of progression are additive to the main body.|| ¡­! Everything slowed down. DUM! The Enneagram Clone of Alexander ced his hand on his chest as he felt the faint beat of his own heart. What?@@novelbin@@ Four total Enneagram Clones? Each one could understand or assimte Covenants of nature simultaneously to add percentages that stacked on top of each other?! This was in addition to the rate of understanding and assimtion being increased to 500% for each Covenant of Nature! All 16 Covenant of Nature he now held¡­granted an 8,000% increased rate of understanding and assimtion. "..." His throat felt dry. He was speechless as his heart began to burn with excitement! He wanted to roar and ask- what else was there from this advancement?! ||The Core Feature of The Investigator of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Adult Stage. Under its brilliance, through currently avable authorities of the Covenants of Nature, information that could possibly rte to you is being gathered in the surrounding 1 million miles of distance. The extent and nature of information has be even more urate in value, with a Map naturally formed of all relevant things in a 1 million mile range. Additionally, the Covenant of Destiny has gone to further elevate this core feature as it can asionally perceive future possibilities of boons or cmity.|| ||The Core Feature of the Challenger of the Enneagram has been unlocked to its Juvenile Stage. Under its brilliance, any enemy that has had their life force depleted by you below 20% will be stripped of their very existence and turned into Ascendant Nine Star Gem Panaceas.|| There were far too many boons, and this was only the beginning. Bur Alexander wanted to put what he already had into practice as his Enneagram Clone¡­began to radiate a golden radiance that shot out to begin forming another Enneagram Clone! The versatility of what he could do had greatly increased since the core feature kept on being upgraded. And as this was urring, the Enneagram Clone sat in a meditative position in the skies surrounded by gray mist as he began to focus on the Covenant of Evolution. Explore more stories at empire On assimting it! With an utterly ridiculous percentage of assimtion in addition to other clones being able to join in the same process¡­just how long would he need topletely assimte a covenant of nature?! Chapter 168 A Dimming Star! II Through the eyes of his main body, intricate sets of details flowed. ||The Core Feature of the Enneagram, the Loyalist, has been unlocked and elevated to the Adult Stage.|| ||Under the banner of the Loyalist, the level of power you hold and the level of power that those who follow you hold is ced in a unique distortion of reality. Those who follow you gain an elevated percentage of progression in the understanding and assimtion of the Covenants of Nature in rtion to how much more powerful you arepared to them. If your level of standing is much further advanced than theirs, then this modifier will be elevated even further to the extent that it is even possible for your followers to gain sudden enlightenments and epiphanies to understand the same covenants as the ones you hold.|| The first thread of detail that flowed was regarding a new Core Feature of the Enneagram- one that may not directly help him, but it directly helped those around him in a fantastical way! Depending on how much further in power he waspared to them, there would be a distortion of reality itself to ensure their increased advancement! Sudden enlightenment. Epiphanies. For this, he had to wait and see just how ridiculous the results were bound to be as he studied ire and others. Then, there was onest thread of detail that came as he grasped his 12th fully assimted Covenant of Nature! ||The Core Feature of the Enneagram, the Achiever, has been unlocked and elevated to the Adult Stage.|| ||Under the banner of the Achiever and through the assimted Covenants of Space, Gold, Nobility, Evolution, Soul, Origin, Body, Gravity, and Time- the Temporal Enneagram Space can be essed for as long as enough Ascendant Energiea exists to sustain it. Being the peak of achievement of the Enneagram, the Temporal Enneagram Space is one that has a dtion of time, with three seconds passing within for every 1 second in the outside reality. Inside the Temporal Enneagram Space, higher tier Ability Gems can be designed within, among other locked possibilities that will arise when this feature enters higher stages.|| ¡­! A feature that almost caused his main body to stumble shed! [You okay?] The voice of the Dark Ruler Masako rang out as she currentlyy back on her chair with contentment after finishing a few hours long feast, her eyes filled with a sense ofziness as she saw the rm in Alexander''s eyes and asked.@@novelbin@@ [Mmm¡­] Alexander only nodded dismissively as Masako sighed while staring at the misty skies above. [You aren''t a bad host. In other Emerging Realms, I''ve been to have stuck up old men or lineages of beasts who care very little for etiquette. I''ll introduce you to some good things when you make your way into the domains of the Dark Rule¡­] She continued talking as Alexander was only half listening, much of his attention on his three Clones that rose up in the far distance while repeating the details of the newly unlocked feature of Temporal Enneagram Space! A space where time itself moved differently! A dtion factor of 3. It was surreal and something entirely new for Alexander as he¡­marveled at the changes that the Enneagram could undergo with the right Covenants of Nature. And the Temporal Enneagram Space¡­was something he had to taste right away as why would he not permanently leave his Enneagram Clones there to make rapid progression?! "Let''s go!" His Second Enneagram Clone uttered out as the voice of the Enneagram resounded in his mind. ||ess to the Temporal Enneagram Space is being granted for the first time.|| ||Ascendant Energiea has begun to be passively utilized for the maintenance of the Temporal Enneagram Space.|| ¡­! Something grand was about to happen. And yet right before it unfolded¡­ HUUM! Find adventures on empire A golden glow suddenly erupted above Alexander''s head. It was not the Covenant of Gold. It was the golden allure of Destiny that was burning within the Core Feature of the Investigator! The color was gold, but it shed with a tinge of red at this moment! ||An unfavorable possible Destiny had been detected through the Investigator. Would you like to disy the unfavorable possible Destiny?|| ¡­! A sh of gold filled with a foreboding crimson light. Alexander became stern as he looked at it, and the clone within the Hollow Earth opened its eyes and rose from its seated position. In the distance the figures of the Wills of the Realm of Ephesus were looking at him withplex eyes as if he were some sort of a monster, none of them being able to grasp something they had been seeing multiple times in thest few hours. The fact that around Alexander¡­a different Covenant of Nature would swirl with a light of full assimtion every 15 minutes! It was utterly nonsensical as they were forced to question everything they knew in their thousands of years of collective history. And yet before they could talk with him regarding how anything he had done was possible, he suddenly rose up with a grave expression as he spoke. "Show me." ¡­! Show him? Show him what? The three Wills of this Realm looked at each other as before they could ask anything, the space above Alexander shone as a dazzling gold circr illusory Enneagram showed itself. And from this Enneagram¡­light began to flicker and be disyed above it as, in the next moment, a massive round Star Realm was portrayed above it! A Realm filled with misty skies and atmosphere that everyone here recognized to be Ephesus right away. "Why¡­" Why would he disy something like this? Even as such a question arose, many saw something else sh above the illusory Ephesus. It was¡­a scorching ck sun that looked to be a tenth in size, and it was barreling towards Ephesus at a terrifying speed! It smashed into Ephesus in the next moment as a terrifying impact bloomed, cracks spreading across the star realm as a Cataclysmic scene of a dying realm very soon yed out! ¡­! The expressions of all those here instantly deteriorated and became ashen. Chapter 171 What a Star! What a Star! I Destiny was a unique Covenant of Nature to look at and experience. Mixed with the Core Feature of the Investigator, Destiny was granted wings as what Alexander could find out exploded. To him, after assimting Destiny into himself, he realized that his understanding of Destiny was that of possibilities. One could have a certain Destiny or possibilitye to pass without knowing, but if they held immense understanding and had even assimted destiny into their being, they could foresee future possibilities and future destinies! From that moment on, they could choose which path- which possibility would be theirs to take. At this moment, Alexander had seen a few possibilities. An unfavorable possibility involved a scorching ck sun smashing into Ephesus, and the favorable destiny¡­well, that was something that was too fantastical to even imagine! Continue reading stories on empire Alexander kept this in the back of his mind as he weed the arrival of multiple enemy Void Rulers. They arrived one after another, and in a matter of seconds, they exceeded a dozen. In a short period of time, the stifling and oppressive aura of fifteen Void Rulers filled the space before them, and these were only the ones who chose to leave the vessels that looked like three mountains! There was a Void Ruler at the forefront who had an extremely ferocious gaze as her body was swirling with particles of chaos like someone else that Alexander recalled not too long ago. Even their facial expressions and likeness were simr as he quickly concluded that this was a family member of the woman killed by Dark Ruler Masako. But even as he gazed at all of these fifteen Void Rulers whom he did not fear even a tiny bit, he knew that they were not the root cause of the unfavorable threat he felt before. And yes- he did not fear them! This was not a baseless sensation he felt, but something that he felt with confidence as his own power made it abundantly clear. And he then had the elevated feature of the Investigator that disyed to him the very statistical values of Ascendant Energiea and Vigor of these beings, including the number of Covenants of Nature they had assimted! All pristinely clear. Among the 15 Void Rulers floating before him- at this moment, not a single one exceeded even a third of the number of total Covenants he assimted. This was what gave him a feeling of confidence! These entities before him, no matter how ferocious they looked, he felt that even if they came at him all at once- he would be able to withstand them and push them away. This was a terrifying feeling of invincibility that came with having an excess of 16 Covenants of Nature fully assimted! Yes. All 16! The terrifying wonder of the Temporal Enneagram Space that to be given all the credit as what could be done within waspletely shocking. Because of it- because of what he had managed to aplish in a short time span, he was staring at a group of fifteen Void Rulers and feeling absolutely no fear of them! Instead, he was cautious as he waited for the true enemy that the threads of the Investigator showed to appear. At this moment. "I am sara of the Star Alliance! Would it be correct of me to assume that a little Dark Ruler like you decided to massacre our people here unjustly?!" The woman shrouded in chaos spoke as her voice was filled with authority to ensure every single entity understood. And Dark Ruler Masako harrumphed while gazing at her, with her eyes looking carefully at all Void Rulers here as she spoke out. "I won''t waste any of our time here. The Emerging Realm behind me is now under the banner of the Dark Rule. I killed five little hypocrites who were also here trying to im this Realm behind us as theirs. I am Masako, the Fast Sword. The only Disciple of the Dark Sword Ruler. Any business you have, you have with me. So I ask you now, will you be attacking me? Will you fight against me?" ¡­! Her words instantly caused many faces to change and be ashen. Disciple of the Dark Sword Ruler- the Fast Sword Ruler! They knew of her from their intelligence reports as she was a dreadful Void Ruler at the peak of power of this level, and her master was someone nearly every Ster Ruler stayed away from! When sara heard these words, she was shocked as she instantly turned around and looked towards one of the vessels behind them. She recalled the words of a man she had just serviced within that Vessel. A Ster Ruler that was grievously injured by the Dark Sword Ruler- one who had sworn death to any Void Ruler he came across! And her eyes couldn''t help but sh with anger of retribution and chaos. She looked towards Dark Ruler Masako andughed as her figure began to burn with Chaos. "Haha, Disciple of the Dark Sword Ruler, yes? You think your identity means shit? Today, you will learn that your name will not necessarily be something that saves you!" BOOM! Her figure erupted with power as she¡­instantly disappeared. But she didn''t attack. Her figure entirely disappeared as Alexander looked towards a central vessel. Everything was eerily silent as the two sides faced off, but in the next moment¡­. HUUUM! The void of space began to tremble.@@novelbin@@ A horrific aura bloomed from within one of the Vessels and brightened up rapidly as it looked¡­like a waking star! In the next moment, a portion of the metallic vessel actually exploded as from within, a man with a chestid bare came out. He had smooth ck pants adorned for his lower body, but his muscr chest could clearly be seen alongside the huge wound on it, and the dazzling Gem Socket that held...a bright spinning star. A Star! It was a Ster Ruler who came out at this moment, and his face was one filled with malice and madness as it instantly made Void Ruler Masako somber. Because the face she looked at...was not that of clearheadedness! And Alexander beside her was gazing with bright eyes as he locked onto nothing else but the brilliant star on the chest of the Ster Ruler! Chapter 173: What a Star! What a Star! III The action of walking. The actions of running. Swimming, eating, copting. Every action had to be learned as before doing or understanding this action, one would not know much about it! A child learned how to talk as they were taught. But each child knew how to crawl when they were able to. To breathe the moment they were born. Something like breathing¡­was innate as nobody was taught how to breathe! Alexander¡­was not taught how to fuse Covenants of Nature. The moment before he began fusing Covenants of Nature, he still didn¡¯t know how or whether he could actually do it! And yet when hemanded to start it¡­ HUUUM! He felt the assimted particles of Gold flow into the Enneagram first. They entered and began circling across the lines of this nine-pointed star. The circles containing the Ability Gems of the Gold Ruler Gem Recipe. The curves of the Enneagram that brimmed with authority. And after the particles of gold cycled through and stably flowed across the Enneagram, he felt as if his soul was being asked which covenant should flow in next! And so he chose the particles of the Covenant of the Soul. Streams of purple radiance flowed into the Enneagram thereafter as they followed the same pathways as the particles of Gold. The particles of Gold and Soul slowly mingled and mixed as they crossed the angles of the nine pointed star, and ultimately¡­ HUUM! They achieved a resonance as they moved at the same pace and speed, forming a mixture of purple and gold lights that now cycled throughout the Enneagram! "¡­" It was effortless. He himself was not doing anything or forced to focus as if it were some difficult problem. Enjoy new chapters from empire The Particles of the Covenants of Nature cooperated. And his Enneagram did the rest. His Enneagram¡­seemed to be actually doing everything as all he had to do was select which particles of Covenant to cycle through it next! And so he chose. "Body." WAA! "Origin." ¡­! "Evolution." In rapid session, he called out one Covenant after another as they all flowed into the Enneagram seamlessly, following the same pathway of the lines of the nine-pointed star as they only elerated! It was only now that Alexander noticed a slow trickle of Ascendant Energiea flowing out of him and into the Enneagram to sustain the rapid flow of particles of Covenants of Nature. It seemed to be rising along with the input of more and more particles, but the drain was still minimal to himpared to the reserves he held as he went on full speed. "Input all assimted particles of Covenants into the Enneagram." ¡­! BZZZT! Inside of the Temporal Enneagram Space. This region was uniquepared to everything else that Alexander knew as it was a ck void all around, and there was a purple blue tform in the shape of a nine pointed star that hummed with bright incandescence. It was here that his main body and two Enneagram Clones were seated facing each other, and the Main Body had his chest vibrate heavily while a multicolored light rapidly began to flow across his Enneagram! As if an engine wasing to life. The brilliance was intense, and the sound was droning as if something was waking up! @@novelbin@@ 16 different Covenants flowed across his Enneagram. 16! There was no disharmony. No rejection. It was just as if they were coursing through a massive construct, and due to the speed and forceful route of the Enneagram, they were forced to seamlessly bind together as if they were a single unit! And ultimately¡­ ||All assimted Covenants of Nature have achieved perfect resonance within the Enneagram.|| ||A rate of 10 Ascendant Energiea per second is required to maintain this state of resonance.|| It started off slow. As everything spun together at a rapid rate, the center of the Enneagram¡­began to light up as a gas cloud slowly bloomed. A gas cloud! ||The coursing of many assimted Covenants of Nature has initiated an unknown process at the center of the Enneagram.|| ||The Process has been determined to be Star Formation.|| ¡­! Star Formation! The rapid cycling of authorities caused a cloud of gas to form as it spun around heavily, immense heat being given off in his chest as instantly, his chest turned red hot. As if a sun was blooming within his chest! As this process urred, his Enneagram Clones also began to burn and give off intense heat. He felt every ounce of change urring within him and all his other bodies as he closed his eyes. He saw the gas cloud forming on his bodies as he envisioned the Core of the Ephesus itself. He envisioned the star that Ster Ruler Bartholomew disyed. It felt small in intensitypared to the rapidly spinning cloud of gas. Only the Core of Ephesus felt close, but what he was forming in the center of his Enneagram seemed even grander than that! The cloud of gas became murky. It bloomed with dust, spinning rapidly as it contained every single particle of the 16 Covenants of Nature that seemed melded together. And after some time¡­ BOOM! The cloud of gas and dust copsed. Not even an instant after it copsed, a dazzling multicolored point of light and mass bloomed! This point of light was shockingly dense and filled with terrifying levels of heat that even seared the surrounding space, Alexander feeling as if his chest was carrying an extremely heavy object at this moment. And yet, gradually, this heaviness began to fade and be weightless as the multicolored point of light expanded rapidly! ||Within the Enneagram, a Massive Covenant Star is being born- far distinct from a normal Covenant Star.|| ||The extent of change and elevation this Massive Covenant Star brings is currently unknown.|| ¡­! Weed by a terrifying eruption of heat, a star unlike any that others understood began to form! Above Ephesus. A booming impact urred between Ster Ruler Bartholomew and Void Ruler Masako- with Masako being flung back like a ragdoll as she spat out blood and looked ahead in rage! As a Void Ruler- just being capable enough to survive a strike against a Ster Ruler was an astounding feat itself, no matter the means she used. But she would likely not be able to withstand another strike as terrifying ck suns were gathering ahead! At this moment though. All Rulers nearby stopped. The enraged Bartholomew stopped as his eyes gazed towards the nondescript figure meditating in the middle of the battle- a figure that currently erupted with an aura that even caused him to feel a stifling sensation! Chapter 175 Massive! I It was an utterly horrific disy of power. A conjured ck sun of Ster Ruler Bartholomew was squeezed to oblivion in between his fingers! A star- extinguished by fingertips! A Void Ruler may not be able to understand what this represented, but a Ster Ruler sure did. This was why, after a single second passed, the figure of Bartholomew was surrounded by waves of obsidian radiance that began to shoot out in the distance. He ran! He was a mere speck of light shooting out as seeing such a scene, the ashen Void Rulers sought to do the same! And yet¡­ "Hold on." Alexander''s voice echoed out as he raised his hands and brought them to p towards his chest. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire PAH! As if he was pulling things back. And from this motion of his, he felt the Star within his Enneagram stir. The Covenant of Gravity erupted, and yet it did so with the product of the power of all other Covenants and the terrifying force of the budding star! Tendrils of purple radiance shed from Alexander as in the second that passed¡­ HUUM! The figure of Bartholomew, who was rushing out into the distance, was pulled back uncontrobly. Around him, the terrifying ck heat raged out as if to oppose the undeniable force taking him back, and yet shockingly, even with the power of a Ster Ruler like him¡­he actually could not go against this terrifying gravitational pressure! His body was plucked back like a lost star as along beside him, the Void Rulers who had not even gotten a chance to go too far were pulled back with him. Alexander''s hands left their pping the position as the moment they did, it felt like the gravitational force in the surroundings was scrambled, and the figures of Ster Ruler Bartholomew and the Void Rulers of The Star Alliance began to spin and gravitate as if they were uncontroble objects in space! The expression on Ster Ruler Bartholomew was that of utter horror as at this moment, he actually found his star to be quivering. Quivering! Even when he faced the Dark Sword of the Dark Rule, he did not find himself so helpless as to shake in front of that being, he had even been capable enough to run away from him with a heavy wound. But this unknown Gem Master before him was actually someone that he could not even run away from as the Star at his very center shook from this sheer fact. When such a situation arose, Ster Ruler Bartholomew sped his hands respectfully near his chest as while his body was uncontrobly being moved across space in a circr motion, he spoke out. "I do not have any enmity with Sir or the Realm behind you. Nor would I dare to throw an attack on the Realm of a Ster Ruler as esteemed as you. I just wished to take action against apatriot of a man who gravely wounded me not too long ago. I hope you can overlook doing this in your presence and let bygones be bygones. After all, I am a Ster Ruler of the Star Alliance, and there are many who are my allies out there." ¡­! Shockingly, in the face of such pure dominating power, a Ster Ruler found his role to be reversed as simr words of pleading that he had heard from the Void Ruler, who was the disciple of the Dark Sword, wereing out of his own mouth! The roles seemed so entirely reversed that it was shocking to observe, but at this time, Alexander shook his head and spoke calmly. "Destiny has taught me several things as one of them is uprooting a very clear and imminent danger, even if it swears that it will no longer point its sword towards you. So today, I shall follow another path of Destiny that I am not entirely sure of its favorability, but I am sure of its magnificence." His words were akin to a deadly call of judgment on Ster Ruler Bartholomew and the Void Rulers of the Star Alliance They were shaken when they heard this as in the next moment, Alexander spoke out calmly "Copse." ¡­! A single word. But the word was intended for a star as if he wasmanding a star to copse- and this single word that he spoke was taken by the burning and expanding Massive Covenant Star in his chest as it spun with terrifying waves of power. Over a 1000 Ascendant Energiea were being siphoned out of him at this moment as instantly, a terrifying pressure enveloped Bartholomew. It felt like time had stopped. The expression on Bartholomew was unfathomably ugly to behold as in the depths of his body, origin, and soul¡­he felt his formed Star quiver and whimper out weakly. Quiver and Whimper! That was all that could be done in the face of the terrifying might of an even more massive star as in the next moment, the entire humanoid figure of Bartholomew¡­became crumpled. Crumpled! As if he were mere paper.@@novelbin@@ As if he didn''t hold multiple assimted covenants and authorities! The terrifying pressure of a Massive Covenant Star focused on him and applied all the might of 16 assimted Covenants of nature as his body was crushed and copsed into itself in an utterly horrific manner. After it copsed, it was followed by an explosion from the depths of the crumpled mass of blood, bones, and muscture! The explosion was a unique one, as it was akin to the flickering light of a dying star bing a cloud of gas and dust once more. Gas and ster dust. In a matter of seconds, this was all that remained of Ster Ruler Bartholomew as within this cloud of gas and dust, a dim miniaturized obsidian star shone with a powerful light! ¡­! The mouth of the Dark Ruler Masako was flung wide open as she stared towards Alexander in utter shock. The Void rulers from the Star Alliance became ashen with fear as what they saw was utterly iprehensible. They feared for their own lives even more so as their minds buzzed while they wondered- just what sort of terrifying force was required to cause the instant copse of a Ster Ruler?! Chapter 177: A War for What? I A Minor Covenant Star! It was the umtion of power for all the years a Ster Ruler had been active! It could be used to expand the Breadth of a Star as eventually, one could give birth to multiple Stars. To a Ster Neb. Alexander read through the details of such a dazzling item as while holding on to such a star, he decisively brought it close to his chest as it sunk in hungrily as if a terrifying beast of greedy within. ||A Minor Covenant Star is being absorbed and used as fuel to elevate the Breadth of the Massive Covenant Star.|| ||A new feature of the Enneagram conducive to the growth of the Origin Core is being born due to the rise of the Massive Covenant Star.|| ||The Core Feature of the Peacemaker has been unlocked and elevated to the Elder level. Under its brilliance, it is deemed that only through extreme and undeniable strength can there be guaranteed peace. Such a type of strength depends on the rate at which you elevate yourself, whether it be through the understanding and assimtion of Covenants or when ites to elevating the breadth of your Origin, Body, and Soul. The Peacemaker has deemed it so that your rate of elevation for all aspects of your being is increased by 10,000%¡­|| ¡­! Alexander was silent as he received this feedback. He gazed out into the nk space all around him as he was contemtive. The Enneagram¡­continued to be profoundly ridiculous. Why was this the Gem Socket that he awakened? And what other ridiculous surprises did it hold? @@novelbin@@ He didn¡¯t have the answers, so for now¡­he would enjoy the ridiculous boons it granted! And the most recent one was the increased rate of progression when he elevated the breadth of his being. His Massive Covenant Star seemed interlinked with the Enneagram and vice versa, while this was the center of his Origin. Contained within his body, and his Soul was spread throughout the body and origin as everything was connected! So long as he continued to elevate his Massive Covenant Star, his aspects of the body, origin, and soul would scale upwards. And now, this rate of progression has increased by 10,000%. HUUM! A droning humming sound boomed out within his chest as the star inside of it spun heavily, the Minor Covenant Star that came from Bartholomew rapidly being devoured and turned into nothingness while his own multicolored star increased in size and pressure! As this process unfolded¡­ ||The Boons of the Challenger have been automatically obtained and stored. Shall they also be used for the elevation of the Massive Covenant Star?|| The Enneagram released a low hum as it asked. The Core Feature of the Challenger! It stated that so long as enemies were taken below 20% of their life force, they would be stripped of their very own being and turned into Ascendant Nine Star Gem Panaceas! ||18 Ascendant Nine Star Gem Panaceas have been obtained through the Challenger so far.|| Alexander didn¡¯t have to think too much regarding this as he gave the affirmation right after, and the star on his chest continued to spin and getrger as it seemed like a Super Massive Star may be born soon enough. Alexander monitored this for a few seconds longer before he turned towards the shocked visage of the Dark Ruler Masako and the allure of Ephesus lying behind her. Her gaze was currently difficult as she looked at him with hesitation. "What has just urred will likely have long-term consequences. I¡­am personally not sure how everything will unfold, but I can assure you that the Dark Rule will not turn its back on you." ¡­! Consequences. Alexander knew very well as with the assimted Covenant of Destiny, possible favorable and unfavorable paths continued to show themselves before him. Many favorable pathsy ahead after he did what he did today. He nodded towards Masako as he turned to look at the solidified gold vessels and shells of rulers who had their very being stripped away as he thought about what woulde next. Everybody had stated it clearly. A War! He would be embroiled in a war as in such a path, there would be many possibilities of advancement if he defeated the enemies that stood against him. A War also meant that Ephesus could continue to be targeted. Your next chapter awaits on NovelBin.C?m But so long as he was here¡­ He turned to look at the dazzling Realm in the distance as he thought about many things. Within the depths of Ephesus, his other Enneagram Clone that stood in front of the Core of Ephesus. The Wills of this Realm were looking at him with unique expressions as from this moment on, the dynamic between them had changed! The Will of Ephesus had a difficult expression as this Realm was saved from destruction, and yet the joy felt stifled as at this moment- Alexander held an unfathomably high ground when it came to everything. The Will of Ephesus looked at the Core of this Realm and its brilliance, and he then turned to see the budding Star on the chest of Alexander as he sighed. All the things done by Ephesus up to this point, was it all truly the wrong route to take? The Will of Ephesus could not say for sure as at this time, Alexander rose up and asked while looking towards the dazzling core of Ephesus. "Are you able to continue doing what you did with Alfana and Dragoisles?" A simple question. One that the Wills of the Realm nodded to after looking at each other as a momentter, Alexander continued. "Focus on that and nothing else. If Gem Masters can continue growing their Stars, we can see to what limit Ephesus will continue to grow- to the point that even my protection will not be needed." ¡­! He began to think ahead. Of what was toe! "A War ising. As of this moment, the Dark Rule and the Star Alliance will be embroiled in it. And Ephesus lies at its very center." It felt foreign to even say these words, but it was exactly what would happen! "I will continue protecting Ephesus without fail. I need you¡­to continue providing me with Sacred Gem Engines." ¡­! A source of free Covenants of Nature. It was another pathway he needed to take to increase his power to be a terrifying Gem Master! At this moment, the advancement to be a Ster Ruler fully unfolded as unequivocally, he became the strongest being on the Realm of Ephesus. And¡­it had only been a few days since he awakened! Chapter 179 A War for What? III A man with dark hair and eyes, overflowing with power and sharpness. This was how Alexander saw the Dark Sword- the Master of the Dark Ruler Masako who had recruited him into the Dark Rule. They were seated on top of one of the Vessels he had turned entirely gold and discussing many things in the past hour as Alexander was able to expand his mind even more regarding whaty around him. "There is a delicate bnce between the Beast Alliance, the Star Alliance, and the Dark Rule as all three sides guard against the threats from the Death Lands. Any change in the powerhouses that either side holds could mean catastrophic consequences- which is why a War is avoided for the most part. But today, the Star Alliance did not just lose multiple Void Rulers, but a Ster Ruler as well. A critical piece in the bnce of this already unstable puzzle. I fear that it truly may be enough to¡­."@@novelbin@@ The Dark Sword shook his head as he spoke in great detail regarding the things within the nearby Sectors. Alexander listened intently as he couldn''t help but ask. "These Death Lands¡­what threats are being guarded against? What is it?" A ce where all three factions of these nearby Sectors were interested in! The Dark Sword became serious as this as it was Masako who replied beside him. "A ce of great danger and opportunity. Ster Rulers routinely go there as within, there are Void Beasts that thrive on the chaotic elements of the Death Lands. But these Void Beasts¡­their bodies are extremely treasured due to being extremely in tune with the Covenants of Nature. Even Ster Rulers can make rapid advancements in their assimtion of Covenant and forge their stars with the resources obtained from the Death Lands. If they make it out safe that is." ¡­! And of death and opportunity. Alexander couldn''t help but smile when he heard this. A ce with resources rting to Covenants of Nature? Was that not a paradise for him? In his thoughts, The Dark Sword looked towards Masako before replying. " It is not just that. In the Death Lands, there is a constant Erosion that we have not found a source of. This erosion can eat up Covenant Authority like it is absolutely nothing as if it continues to spread, nobody knows what will happen to the Sectors nearby." Heavy words echoed out that caused a silence, and Alexander only thought for a moment before he probed for more information. "Alright, putting aside the Death Lands. The powers of the Beast Alliance, Star Alliance, and Dark Rule itself¡­who stands at the peak of power within these groups?" ¡­! He wanted to know who he would be up against. How far did he have to go, and how powerful did he have to be? What would the price to be paid be?! His gaze radiated confidence that stemmed from nothing else but the Enneagram as the Dark Ruler Masako and The Dark Sword looked at each other before thetter replied. "Ster Rulers vary in power. Someone like me or Bartholomew, or¡­you- we would be considered Ster Rulers of the lowest level. Above us are Ster Rulers that have already formed Ster Nebes, and then there are those with unknown numbers of stars within their Nebes. These Rulers are the Elders of the three factions- the decision makers. Above them, there are the Founders of the Beast Alliance, Star Alliance, and Dark Rule- those who have been capable of elevating their Ster Nebes and forming¡­a ck Hole within their Gem Socket." WAA! A ck Hole. A ck Hole! What sort of Gem Master was that? What level of power could their Gems unleash? Alexander listened intently as amidst their talks¡­ HUUM! The Realm of Ephesus behind them vibrated as the life force it emanated became even more intense, with those capable of perceiving it even seeing that its size¡­was increasing! The Dark Sword and Masako looked at this scene before turning to Alexander, who only smiled without saying anything as they didn''t probe. They didn''t know, but Ephesus had continued what it did with Dragoisles and Alfana at this moment, focusing all of its Natal Authority on this as there were no longer any worries about making a force for protection. Alexander would take care of that. It meant that fairly soon, there would be new Sacred Gem Engines for him to grasp. He waited patiently at this as at the same time this urred, the threads of the Investigator danced in his mind once more as he noticed other entrants entering this region. Momentster, the Dark Sword also rose as he spoke up. "The forces of the Dark Ruler to set up a base here are arriving. I propositioned for my Rulers to be sent here just because this area is the center point of what urred." In the distance. Massive floating ships began to arrive one after another as they looked nothing like the vessels of the Star Alliance Each one contained a minimum of three Void Rulers and lesser Rulers who remained within as ever so slowly, Alexander was fully getting embroiled into the factions surrounding this sector! ¡ª Millions of miles away from Ephesus. Within the depths of a grandiose Realm. A woman in white robes appeared inside a small domain that was filled with pure threads of violet-colored brilliance. Her chest held vibrant spinning gold stars- a Neb that shone with heavy radiance, and even this being was bowing towards a man at the center of this domain The man had gold hair and eyes as he was surrounded by extremely dense violet lights, and his chest¡­showedplete darkness as if staring at it for too long would swallow one whole. His chest radiated the terrifying light of a magisterial ck Hole, the pressure and gravity alone emanating from it being enough to crush a Ster Ruler like a twig. The white-robed Ster Ruler spoke towards such a being. "The Star Council is in a meeting right now as many are screaming for war in response to recent events. Which path are we choosing to take, Master?" ¡­! Which path would be taken. Which path would be best. The Ster Ruler asked as towards this¡­the man with a radiant ck hole sighed as he replied. "Let them have their war. The time hase to probe and get to the bottom of the opportunity within the Death Lands. Let this war pave the way for it." ¡­! Chapter 181 Of Rulers and Men! II Many changes were urring, but Alexander kept a simple for himself. Yes, there was a war.@@novelbin@@ Powerful Rulers that had likely been living far longer than him wereing around Ephesus, and he would face others soon enough! So in the middle of all of this¡­ "Land, Sky, Void, Ster, and then Neb? Does it just continue? And it continues to revolve around Covenants of Nature?" His main body returned to the Sacred Gold Mountain as he was currently spending time with ire. He was telling her about all of the things currently urring while she experimented with the Covenant of Gold. Because of the effects of the Core Feature of the Enneagram, even ire was just a little bit off frompletely Assimting the Covenant of Gold. She was currently constructing an entirely golden castle as she conversed with Alexander. He was floating while looking at the skies that were clearing above as he replied. "I don''t know too extensively how the Covenants of Nature will continue to be critical as you go higher, but as of right now, they''re the biggest thing. I even have another Clone of mine heading out into Void to chase another pathway." "Oh?" ire''s eyes sparkled with interest. "I would love to see things outside of Ephesus. You could have taken me with you." Take her with him? Alexander shook his head at that. "Not on that trip. Maybe if you are able to make a clone of yourselfter when you be a Void Ruler. The ce I am going to is the Death Lands of the Void." ¡­! Yes. Alexander currently had a Clone going towards the Death Lands of the Void after he talked to the Dark Sword and obtained information regarding the coordinates of this ce. He learned about nearby sectors, where his Realm of Ephesus was located inparison to the Dark Rule, the Beast Alliance, and the Star Alliance. He had already formed a rough map as an Enneagram Clone was en route for one reason, and one reason alone. The Death Land was touted as a ce of great danger and opportunity. Many Ster Rulers would make their way there as within, there were Void Beasts with bodies that were extremely treasured due to being extremely in tune with the Covenants of Nature! One could make rapid advancements in their assimtion of Covenant and increase their power if they could survive against the Void Beast and use their bodies for their own gain. The only caveat was that the Death Lands were a bit far away. It had taken the Dark Sword a few hours after hearing from his daughter for him to make his way from the deathnds and to the bounds of Ephesus. But that was the Dark Sword. At this moment, Alexander was putting himself to the test. In Ephesus, one body was on the Sacred Gold Mountain, and another was within the Hollow Earth. Inside the Hollow Earth, the Wills of the Realm were looking as three newly formed Sacred Gem Engines born from Pure Natal Authority descended near Alexander. "We were able to add three more worlds as these are the only different Covenants that we were capable of condensing into Sacred Gem Engines with our current power. The Covenant of Chaos, Karma, and Light. As more and more power is umted, even the Covenants of Life and Death, among others, will be viable as well." The Will of Ephesus spoke as Alexander reached out towards the Sacred Gem Engine of Chaos, ready to do another speedrun of understanding and assimting Covenants of Nature. As one body tested itself this way, the other that was heading towards the Death Lands of the Void was testing the limits of his power! It was an Enneagram Clone that was more powerful than the Main body, 175% more in fact! And currently, it was freely putting to the test the burning star on his chest that spun with heavy waves of gravity. He utilized every ounce of power that he could possibly pull from the star and focused it all on speed. His figure was akin to a multicolored streak of light that irradiated power as he shot across the dark Void of Space. It was a level of speed that the Dark Sword could not even dream of matching. And the moment that another clone added the extra Covenants of Nature from three new Gem Engines¡­ BOOM! The speed exploded different further. He ignored any regions where there was an ovep between the Dark Rule and the Star Alliance as this trip had a singr purpose. And in this manner, time slowly began to pass. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Close to an hourter. Alexander began to slow down as his shining eyes could see a unique region of space unfolding up ahead. His newly grasped Covenant of Chaos buzzed as up ahead, he saw clouds of murky darkness surrounding the region ahead. Cloud. In space! They were extremely concentrated and in overabundance, as they extended in all directions, with the particles of chaos mixed in with other unknown authorities that caused one''s skill to prickle. To enter, one would have to protect their bodies with their own authority constantly as within that murky darkness, they would very likely alsoe across the Void Beasts. This was why only Ster Rulers, who somewhat had control of their lives, would choose to enter a ce like this. Alexander only looked at the Periphery of the Death Lands for a second before his body delved in without worry. The formation of an Enneagram Clone gave him a tremendous sense of freedom as with it, he could pursue opportunities without worrying too much about consequences! He was curious what he would find within the Death Lands as a War was about to break out in the background. As Alexander did this. He didn''t know that from another direction, forces from the Beast Alliance also arrived under the direction of the Spider Queen. He also didn''t know that a Mimic with his face¡­had arrived at the boundaries of thends of the Star Alliance- even more chaos was about to unfold! Chapter 183 Unexplored Lands! I In the Void of Space where very few beings could survive, those who could cross it smoothly were limited to Void Rulers and above. If ever you saw any entity floating or flying through the Void of Space alone, one had to have the expectations that they wereing across a possibly terrifying Ruler of Power! Alexander came across multiple Rulers in the Death Lands of the Void as these rulers were going against a Beast that towered dozens of miles in size alone. Even with everything that he had experienced so far, when he looked towards the supposed Void Beast of these Death Lands, he could not help but marvel! ROAAR! On its chest, there was aparatively massive star when one looked between it and at the rulers that were surrounding it as it seemed like a genuine behemoth whose defenses could not even be breached. But the Rulers surrounding it were definitely trying! Trying, but not seeding. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire "One more try!" A roaring boom came out from a Ster Ruler who, in the next moment, let go of his humanoid form and transformed himself into a massive three-winged World Serpent. A serpent that towered over a hundred meters in size, but was still just a fraction of the size of the Void Beast. Its body glimmered with crimson radiance as magma-like spears of mes unfurled around it like a storm, and its chest lit up brightly. A gem recipe was allowed to run rampant, while the star on the World Serpent''s chest released constant streams of astral power! Theva-like spears were filled with potent Covenant Authority of Fire as around it, tendrils of other authorities reinforced and made it burn even brighter. Thousands of them formed as they lit up the dark skies covered by the murky clouds of the Death Lands. In addition to this, the chests of other Rulers nearby also added their own attacks as terrifying volleys thundered onto the Void Beast! And yet¡­ BOOOM! A chaotic burst of brilliance erupted. The attacksnded on at the fixed scales of this beast as they did not make even a single dent! The expression of many of these Rulers that had features of beasts here changed rapidly as their leader roared out while his body already began to move backward. "This Ster Void Beast is almost about to form its Neb! We will not even be capable of crossing its defenses as at this moment, we need to retreat! Scatter and do not look back, once you escape- join the main force!" His maddening roar echoed out even as it became eclipsed and dwindled by the murky clouds raging all around them. He basically said it was everyone for themselves. The words made the seven Void and three Ster Rulers nearby charge out in different directions as it gave the Beast multiple options of who it wanted to chase. Its eyes were filled with tumultuous waves of darkness and the crimson brilliance as coincidentally. Fatefully. Or through other means unknown¡­ The Void Beast looked towards a Ster Ruler in the form of a massive Pterodactyl that was currently charging toward the same direction that Alexander was observing everything from. A Beast Ruler that was being chased by a Void Beast heading towards his direction! Alexander looked at this with burning eyes as the covenant of Destiny danced around him. He closed his eyes and foresaw a few paths. Even now, it was unique to describe the utilization of Destiny. As for him, what he saw were faint illusory possibilities that may happen or may not happen. At this moment, he saw a possibility where he sought to join hands with the Steller Ruler that was rushing towards his direction to face this Void Beast as he saw the moment that his figure was ascertained¡­the Pterodactyl Ster Ruler actually attacked him while seeking to throw his body towards the Void Beast. ¡­! He became stern at this as he looked at another path. Here he saw the illusury version of himself ignoring the Pterodactyl Ruler and simply going to face the Void Beast as here, when he had its attention¡­this Ster Ruler actually turned around to attack him in the back as he roared out¡­.[You!] Him. Him! "Okay ¡­" Alexander craned his neck as he spoke out calmly. "You know me, and you are an enemy. Got it. Got it!" He foresaw with destiny. What could possibly ur¡­as at the end of the day, the results that could unfold were always different. But one thing was clear. He wanted to face that Void Beast and see exactly what made its body so prized. To get to it, it seemed that he would have to take out this enemy Beast Rulerbwho always found ways to attack him even if he did not make a move against it! And so, his massive star began to churn as around him, a golden sea began to form in the shape of a sharp arrow. Waves of gravity swirled around his figure as a rotational force was applied again and again, with his entire being seeming like a tout arrow as after a second, he released himself and thundered towards the Pterodactyl Ster Ruler! His heavy, heavy star spun.@@novelbin@@ The allure of gold radiated outwards madly as it was fused to his body, origin, and soul- the collective force of all of this contributing to his charge! mes and lightning also cracked around him along with an allure of Nobility as when he attacked, his Massive Covenant Star attacked. All of his Assimted Covenants attacked. And his speed granted by Gem Constetions that continued to be elevated turned into a streak of brilliance that arrived before the Pterodactyl Ster Ruler before it could even react. It only felt the allure of gold- of something sharp shing through him! By the time he realized it was another Ruler, and a terrifying one at that¡­he looked down at his chest to see his Nine Linked Socket missing along with his Star as all that could be seen was a gaping bloody hole that was turning into sold gold. Another Ster Ruler fell under Alexander''s hands as his charge didn''t stop- his figureing directly before the massive Void Beast as the two sides came in contact! BZZZT! Arcs of brilliance erupted as a heavy battle between Alexander and an unknown Void Beast truly started! Chapter 184 Unexplored Lands! II A Pterodactyl Ster Ruler had its eyes dimming as it lost its life, thest embers of its gaze only barely managing to capture a lone young Ruler facing a Void Beast. The impact was deafening as a burst of gold and ck storms formed- the point of impact shockingly forming a vacuum as Alexander found himself pushed back! "Hoo¡­." He breathed out as his heart beat loudly, feeling a surge of exhration. Because opposite him, the figure of the massive Void Beast has actually been stopped in its tracks! An enemy that multiple Ster and Void Rulers could not do anything against. Something close to the peak of Ster Rulers as it was about to form its Nebe! And yet he stopped it, why? How? First was his own terrifying Massive Covenant Star born with arge number of fused Covenants, and then there was his Enneagram. His Enneagram with its core features that among them were Enneagram Clones that could further grant the power of 175% of the Original! All of this came together to make way for a level of power that exceeded the norms of Ster Rulers. "But I need more than this¡­" Alexander spoke to himself as he sensed the spinning star in his chest and the Void Beast that was roaring while looking towards him with cautious eyes. Alexander knew he needed more than this as he had a terrifying raw power¡­but not really a way to channel it. And the truly powerful Gem Masters¡­chose unique ways to channel their power through their Gem Recipes. The recipe that he had currently was an auxiliary one that gave him ess to followers and, subsequently, the attainment of Covenants from those followers. It was supplementary. Something he was currently missing was a main offensive gem recipe. And so¡­ "Begin the formation of a new Main Ability Gem." He gave amand to his Enneagram as at this moment, the Gem Recipe of the Gold Ruler was entirely assimted into his Enneagram. His Enneagram had its slots freed as right away, Alexander sent his thoughts on what type of Offensive skill he wanted to form! "The Main Ability Gem will be¡­Hammer of the Covenant." WUU! His Massive Covenant Star spun rapidly and granted waves of Ascendant Energiea, a Gem rapidly being formed with the purest possible authority as in a second¡­ ||The Main Ability Gem, Hammer of the Covenant, has had its description refined and designed, and is now Socketed in the Enneagram.|| ||The Hammer of the Covenant is an Ability that allows the formation of a massive Hammer that pulls from the authority of all current Covenants to smash onto your enemies for 200% of the Damage.|| The voice of the Enneagram rang out as Alexander nodded. The main ability itself was simple enough, with the biggest thing being the inclusion of all Authorities. This was just the start. Others had to collect specific Gems to form Recipes, but he could make his as wild as possible! "Design the Support Ability Gems Armor Break, Earthquake, Covenant Breaker, Ignore Defense, Amplified Damage, Increased Pration, Instant Cast, Trigger on Hit, and Star Breaker." ¡­! He listed the names and began infusing the definitions of what he envisioned these support ability gems to be into the Enneagram- even more waves of Covenant Authority and Ascendant Energiea being utilized! As these Support Ability Gems were being formed. "Let''s test out how it is in its basic form¡­Hammer of the Covenant." WUU! As the Void Beast seemed to have decided to attack once more, crackling ck lightning began to rage around it as from behind Alexander, a ming golden hammer dozens of miles in size formed. It was simr to the first attack he had thrown out in terms of power, and this hammer swung towards the Void Beast and crushed apart the tendrils of ck lightning- proceeding to smash onto the beast only to cause¡­for it to be slightly pushed back again! But it did not seem that injured. At the same time, multiple bolts of ck lightning surged towards Alexander as his figure weaved across space to evade them, radiant crimson gold wings burning behind his back as he was too fast for each of them. |The Support Ability Gems Armor Break, Earthquake, Covenant Breaker, and Ignore Defense have been refined and designed, and are now Socketed in the Enneagram.|| Four Support Gems were designed and formed. His Enneagram lit up brilliance as Alexander called out again! "Hammer of the Covenant."@@novelbin@@ Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire ¡­! This time, it was backed by Armor Break, which was defined to be a Support Ability Gem that broke 50% of the target''s defense on impact. It was backed by Earthquake, a support ability gem defined to cause multiple seismic explosions on impact that were equivalent to 150% of the power of the initial strike. It was backed by Covenant Breaker whose sole purpose was to break the authority of Covenants protecting the target, being capable of destroying the protection of 50% of theyers of Covenants around the target. Lastly, there was Ignore Defense, which was intended to further get past the enemy''s protectiveyers, giving the small statistic of ignoring 25% of the enemy''s overall defenses! All of it¡­was geared to get past even the thickestyers of protection of an enemy. And these were only the Support Ability Gems that the Enneagram had managed to design in this short period of time. HUUM! Space shook as a new Hammer of the Covenant formed. Alexander''s eyes squinted as he found forming this one¡­took away 1% of his total reserves of Ascendant Energiea. But the result was an astonishing one as a hammer one-fourth the size of the obsidian Void Beast formed, and it thundered down while extinguishing tendrils of ck lightning to smash onto the head of this beast! BOOM¡­SQUELCH! A booming impact followed by skin tearing and muscle splitting apart could be heard, gushes of ster ck blood following as a horrific roar of pain boomed out- only to be swallowed by the churning clouds nearby. But it did spread. This pained roar was heard by the Beast Rulers who had already scattered in multiple directions as they turned around at this moment, astonished to hear what they heard. Was that¡­truly a Void Beast in pain? They couldn''t fathom such a thing as against their better nature, the Ster Beast Rulers crept towards this scream to see what could have possibly caused it! Chapter 186: Unexplored Lands! IV A massive Void Beast disappeared as the only thing it left behind was an obsidian star. Alexander felt an interesting pull from this object as his body floated towards it while the feature of the investigator pulled out even more information. By the time he arrived, a description of what he was staring at had already risen within his mind. [Chaotic Covenant Star Remnant Core]:: A Remnant of a Core that gave birth to a Pandemonium Beast that is made up of multiple chaotic Covenants of Naturemonly found in the Unexplored Void Lands. Due to the pure authority of chaos within it, this Core can be utilized to elevate one¡¯s own core, or even explore different Chaotic Covenants of Nature. With the formation of every Remnant Core and the fall of a Pandemonium Beast, the concentration of Entropy within the surroundings will increase. It has currently already reached an irreversible level as in an unknown period of time, the Rift of Pandemonium will open in this Sector of the Void¡­ ¡­! Alexander read the details with rising shock as it seemed there were truly an unknown number of things here! Things that others may know or not have known about! But the biggest thing was the fact that this Remnant Core had multiple purposes to raise strength in others, and every time that it formed or Void Beast fell, entropy increased until eventually, in an irreversible process, a Rift of Pandemonium would open. One didn¡¯t have to exin what could possibly being out of a rift. Especially one that was apparently of pandemonium! @@novelbin@@ Alexander felt like he was stepping into some sort of conspiracy as he wondered whether the most powerful Rulers from the three factions in the nearby Sectors knew what they were doing every time that they ventured into this ce and killed Void Beasts. Now the process had already be irreversible! Meanwhile, those who had been killing Void Beasts, whether knowingly or unknowingly, had obtained their boons and gotten stronger, at the expense of an unknown Rift of Pandemonium openingter. Irreversible. "So whatever I do now won¡¯t change change a thing¡­" Alexandra spoke out to himself as he arrived right before the Remnant Core and ced his hands on it. And his Enneagram instantly gave feedback. ||The Chaotic Covenant Star Remnant Core has been analyzed. Particles of the Covenant of Chaos, Death, Destruction, and Shadow have been sensed within. A form of extremely pure natal authority also lies within it that is conducive to the growth of your Massive Covenant Star. Begin absorbing the particles to grasp new Covenants and devouring the Remnant Core for the growth of the Massive Covenant Star?|| ¡­! The Enneagram sought permission for two things. And Alexander¡¯s eyes shone as he nodded, his eyes looking at the Covenants of Death, Destruction, and Shadow as he already had attained Chaos! And in the next moment, the massive ster obsidian Remnant Core was sucked into his Enneagram as it began to be eaten up entirely. ||Assessed the amount of time required forplete devouring of the Remnant Core to be 5 minutes. By then, the Massive Covenant Star would have attained enough weight to transform into a stage ignored by others before they form their Nebe- the stage of forming a Super Red Giant Covenant Star. It has been analyzed that following this path would allow for a much greater density and power, with the subsequent supernova of the Super Red Giant Covenant Star making way for the formation of Neutron Star Nebe centered around a ck Hole.|| ¡­! The Enneagram spoke out in his voice as usual, but it left behind shocking words. As far as he currently knew, the stages of power went from Ster to Nebe to ck Hole. A single Star formed Ster Nebes, and Ster Nebes copsed to form a ck Hole! But¡­there was seemingly another stage in between to grow one¡¯s density even more. Super Red Giant. Alexander was thoughtful as he floated amidst the murky clouds analyzed to be of the same breed as the Void Beast- of Pandemonium. Experience exclusive tales on Freewebnovel He thought of how he obtained his own Massive Covenant Star. "More than 10 fused Covenants initially? 15?" He theorized to himself what was required to stumble onto such a stage as even he wasn¡¯t too sure. But so long as he had it, he would notin. Because¡­ "Nobody knows when the Rift of Pandemonium will open here, or what wille out of it." He looked around the Clouds of Pandemonium as he spoke to himself. Once such an event did happen, it would affect entire sectors nearby. Ephesus included. If he was too weak when such a thing urred¡­then would the unfavorable destiny foreseen once before of Ephesus copsing simply unfold again? "¡­" The only solution was to be as strong as possible when it urred. And when it came to what could contribute to his power rapidly¡­ ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Death has reached 100%. Beginning assimtion¡­|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Destruction has reached 100%. Beginning assimtion¡­|| ||Your Understanding of the Covenant of Shadow has reached 100%. Beginning assimtion¡­|| ||Within one minute, the transformation of the Massive Covenant Star and into the Super Red Giant Covenant Star will begin.|| ¡­! Yes. The fastest and greatest possible contributor of power remained these Void Beasts- these Pandemonium Beasts that the nearby factions here had been hunting! And since everything was irreversible anyway, Alexander had to increase his power as much as possible before then. So¡­he looked towards the threads of information from the Investigator. Of where more Pandemonium Beasts nearby were! After that, his figure turned into a streak of light as he went deeper into the Unexplored Void Lands! ¡ª Near the bounds of Ephesus. Hundreds of thousands of miles away, five vessels were rapidly approaching as on it, two esteemed Nebe Rulers followed by 5 Ster Rulers and a few dozen Void Rulers shuttled forth, the number of lesser Rulers below them being even higher. One Nebe Ruler was a vivacious older woman with a striking figure, her hair fiery red as she spoke towards the male Nebe Ruler beside her. "Is this not overkill? A newly risen Ster Ruler is getting the attention of two Nebes? We should be on the front lines protecting our interests from any surprise attacks from either the Dark Rule or the Beast Alliance¡­" ¡­! Chapter 190 Immensity! I ||Through the life and records of the Nebe Ruler, Tiana, you have gained an understanding of the Covenant of Fate.|| These words resounded in his mind for a second time before he truly registered them as he was filtering out far too many waves of information currently! The lives and memories of so many beings since they were born were all sequentially blooming within him as it was not akin to watching a scene y out in front of his eyes, but as if he lived all of those memories. He lived the memories of that Nebe Ruler, Tiana. She lived for 580 Years, and all the experiences of those years shed within Alexander''s mind as if he lived them. The mistakes, the lessons. The understanding. The assimtion of Covenants! Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire ||Through the life and records of the Nebe Ruler, Tiana, you have gained an understanding of the Covenant of Hatred.|| ||Through the life and records of the Nebe Ruler, Tiana, you have gained an understanding of the Covenant of Metal.|| ||Through the life and records of the Nebe Ruler, Tiana, you have gained an increased assimtion of the Covenant of Fate.|| Understandings. Even increased Assimtion! Since he lived it, it was akin to having learned how to walk as he simply started walking again. Fate, Hatred, and Metal were all gained from Tiana as there were ovepping Covenants like Fire and Water that he already had, as these were not mentioned. This¡­was the life and the memories of a single being he had killed. There were many beings that he had killed! His Enneagram Clone had just re-entered the atmosphere of Ephesus, where he was forced to stop, particles of over a dozen new Covenants beginning to swirl around him as he gained understanding and subsequent assimtion of these Covenants as well! After Tiana, there were the memories of the Arbiter- who had lived for 700 years. There were the memories of the Pandemonium Beast that had been alive for¡­a single year! These memories were the most dreadful and disturbing as Alexander found himself peering into an unfathomable region. He found himself breaking out of crystalline obsidian shells, breathing in the air of Pandemonium and chaos as he screeched out!@@novelbin@@ When he was born¡­he felt the intense need to devour as deep within him, he felt a star. He¡­was already born with a star. When his Will formed and gazed about, he found thousands of others just like it breaking out of their shells, roars and screeches echoing out as immense chaos raged! In a distant area, murky dark clouds covered everything as the outline of bodies hundreds of timesrger in size than the newly born Pandemonium Beasts could be seen. On their chests, 9 obsidian Gems were socketed as there was an ovep of Nebes or ck Holes on the chest of those massive Behemoths in the distance! The Pandemonium Beast felt a sense of oppression from those distant beings as it broke out of its shell and began to roam about until eventually, it felt a hungering need that drove it towards the murkyyers of dark clouds that were present below them. It dove in without a care in the world as it felt a slight resistance, but due to its body being somewhat smaller and less powerful, it was still able to pass through these lines of resistance. And eventually after an unknown period of time, it arrived with a region of these murky dark clouds where it came across extremely small entities that still held a level of power. Rulers of the Star Alliance, Dark Rule, and the Beast Alliance! It fought some, killed some, and even ran away from some until it met Alexander. That was itsst day. The memories of this Pandemonium Beast were the most impactful ones as apart from the shocking new knowledge that others may not even know, there was something else seen in the memories of this beast that caused Alexander to be unfathomably somber. On the backs of those tall Behemoths that held Nebes and ck Holes, you could see the distant outlines of small humanoid figures. Creatures with power and intelligence! It made him feel the urge to get stronger all that much more as when the Rift of Pandemonium opened¡­such Behemoths and humanoid creatures would be able toe through and enter into these sectors of the void that included the Realm of Ephesus. But Peacemaker gave him this knowledge and more to ensure that he could guarantee his peace. The memories flowed on. At a certain point, if he was not strong enough, his mind may have fractured into different personalities as all of these lives and memories intersected. But for Alexander with his unique state of mind brought forth by the Enneagram¡­everything was calmly analyzed and sorted. And yet when he opened his eyes again, they did not show the same naive light of a young man less than 20 years of age. They showed the brilliance of an ancient entity that had collectively lived and experienced hundreds of years that added up to a few thousand. The mistakes of those he killed, as well as the things they learned and the lessons along the way. He attained all of it as he became an even better version of himself! And of course, he was gaining multiple Covenants of Nature as well. He took a deep breath. From the memories of the Star Alliance Rulers he killed, he knew a tremendous amount of information regarding their inner workings, as well as what they knew regarding their enemies. But the memories of the Arbiter were the most unique. With them, he was able to see the depth of power of the Star Alliance. He knew the number of Ster and Nebe Rulers they had, and even the fact that the man above the Star Alliance that many feared¡­was not the only ck Hole Ruler that made up the Star Alliance! "Your forces are hidden deeply¡­" He spoke out as his voice contained multiple ents. Multipleyers of ancientness! "But for the sake of Peace¡­some of you might have to die." WAA! His eyes were unfathomably bright as instead of having his Enneagram Clone continueing down into the realm below, it actually turned around and shot out into the Void of Space. At a speed that others barely observed to be a radiant crimson gold brilliance that shed away. None of them knew that it was actually headed towards thends of the Star Alliance! Based on what he now knew. He understood that the Rulers of the Star Alliance would not stop just based on his warning. Or really, the higher ups would not stop. They would continue sending their forces to die before they moved themselves. So¡­those at the top simply needed to go. "For the sake of peace¡­" Alexander spoke out with shining eyes as one of his Clones went towards thends of the Star Alliance! Chapter 193 Immensity! IV They had to stop the Pandemonium Beasts or every single thing within this Gxy would be bathed in their image. That was an unknown number of light years to cover as the entities aboard the floating flower-like vessel sighed while thinking about the arduous road ahead. "We are simply the Advanced Party to gauge this Rift of Pandemonium." Commodore Liana spoke reassuringly as their vessel changed directions. "Others are already being assembled for long-term stationing over there and will follow right behind us. If the Pandemonium Beasts are manageable to us, we can act in advance. If they aren''t, we will simply wait for others to arrive." "¡­" "What if there are nearby stars or star clusters with many Lifeforms on them?" ¡­! A critical question was asked. Towards such a question¡­ Commodore Liana was silent as she could not manage to answer it! ¡ª As the forces of an unfathomably powerful Empire proceeded to send an advanced party towards the location that they believed to be the budding of yet another Rift of Pandemonium, Alexander''s Enneagram Clone arrived within thends of the Star Alliance. He currently floated in the void of space as he stared at a distant star cluster that was surrounded by a few dozen vessels. The vessels seem to be moving in and out constantly as a level of hurriedness and busyness could be felt all around. After all, it was a time of war. He recognized this cluster of stars very well since it was something present within the minds of the Arbiter and Tiana.@@novelbin@@ It was a location that held one of the core aspects of the Star Alliance! Here, there were multiple Nebe Rulers, as well as a unique figure that had always remained hidden in the dark. "The Deerborn Star Cluster¡­" Alexander smiled as he called up the name of the star cluster while floating toward it silently. Inside the Deerborn Star Cluster. Within the Central Star, which had a tremendous number of auras of Rulers, there was a floating pce above golden clouds. It currently held the magisterial figures of Ster and Nebe Rulers discussing what had just unfolded. The discussion was taking ce inside of a grand hall that had multiple thrones attached on either side, with rulers seated on them as at the very center- there was a device that reyed the scenes of the deaths of the Arbiter and Tiana. "We cannot let this stand! To have an unknown Ruler do this to our people while our response is to simply send part of our forces again and again? We needed to treat this threat seriously as we need to send a core part of all our forces to ensure the death of this being!" A Nebe Ruler whose chest radiated dozens of stars spoke majestically, his figure pulsing with crimson hair and eyes that expressed the rage he felt. "When has The Star Alliance ever looked this weak? Especially in front of the Beast Alliance and the Dark Rule that is standing beside this unknown creature? We should march there right now and use a show of power to deter every single other entity from ever doing something like this again!" Another Nebe Ruler shouted as the number of stars within his chest actually reached over one hundred. Even as all of them spoke and discussed amongst each other, there was a single lone throne that was white in color with a tall woman sitting on top of it. It was off to the side as it wasn''t one of the more radiant thrones, and not a whole lot of people paid too much attention to it. Yet, in the corner of the eyes of the Rulers arguing every time they spoke, they constantly looked in that direction- almost as if waiting for a response toe out of that calm woman. At this time, the eyes of that woman who was calmly seated on the white throne flickered slightly as if she had a sense of something, but after this brief change, she returned right back where she was and maintained her calmness. Right after¡­ "What exactly do you n to do after you arrive in front of that being?" Another voice echoed out "We will¡­.-!" A Nebe Ruler was about to reply to this voice when their gaze suddenly changed drastically as they realized¡­it was not familiar to any of the voices of the many Rulers here. It was heavy. It was dignified. It felt foreign as the moment that he traced the source of this voice, he found a lone figure of a young man floating in the middle of their hall. ¡­! A young man who smiled towards him while looking at every single other ruler here, and he repeated himself once more! "What exactly do you all n to do to my home and to me? After you keep antagonizing me and sending more and more of your people to die?" WAA! A moment of pure shock and incredulity descended as the Rulers here truly came to the realization that in the midst of their very meeting, the Covenant of Space, supported by an unknown number of other Covenants, had actually teleported an enemy into their midst silently! An enemy they were talking about at this very moment! Alexander Asmodeus! He actually floated right in front of all of them here as after the silence of incredulity, their powers and auras erupted a momentter. "Hold!" Before anyone could act, the booming roar of one of the more powerful Rulers here echoed out as a man with a few hundred stars within his chest became surrounded by a radiant green light of Life as he floated up from his throne and looked towards Alexander. Alexander looked towards this being and smiled as he spoke out. "Nebe Ruler Zakanus." ¡­! He called out his name and identity seamlessly as Zakanus became somber. "You know me?" He growled out the words as all other Rulers in the space rose up and circled Alexander as if they were ready to move at any moment! In the midst of all of them here, Alexander did not show an ounce of fear as he nodded and replied. "I know you just as I know Nebe Ruler Val, Nebe Ruler Chritof, Nebe Ruler Tayshana, and¡­" He looked from one Ruler to another- all the prominent Rulers here, and he called out their names with their faces bing ashen every single time he did so. He knew them all. How the hell did he know them?! Their Gem Sockets pulsed with a terrific sense of power as apart from the anger and apprehensions, they also began to feel a sense of caution. Because they had seen how this being right before them had decimated two Nebe Rulers within a matter of a second. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire He may likely be able to do the same to them, even though in the back of their heads¡­they had an assurance. The force that nobody should know about. Something that- "Oh, I also know about one of the Core Forces of the Star Alliance that is hidden here apart from the big man himself in the Heart of the Star Alliance known to be the Leader by other factions. Isn''t that right, ck Hole Ruler Asviena?" Alexander calmly turned towards the woman who remained seated on a white throne with a face full of calmness. The face that only flickered with brilliance at this moment as she turned towards him with a deadly re! On her chest, a veiled ck Hole shone with a terrifying immensity! Chapter 195 I am a man of peace! II As a terrific battle blooomed on the Deerborn Star Cluster. Another one of Alexander''s Clones looked at the corpses of four Pandemonium Beasts that were moving together, their Chaotic Covenant Star Remnant Cores being pulled out and floating before him as he knew with these¡­he would step into a new stage of power. It was iparably quick when he looked at the lives of others and how much time they needed just to jump from a single Star to a Cluster of Stars. What made him different was a single thing. "One of these days, I''ll figure out exactly why I have you¡­" He touched his chest and felt the buzzing Enneagram and all of the ridiculous features it came with. And yet even with his words¡­ ||I am simply another part of you. Akin to an organ. Akin to a heart that pumps blood to keep normal humans alive.|| The Enneagram voiced out while making an analogy that caused Alexander to smile, and he watched the Remnant Cores flow into his chest as he asked. "Does that mean if I lose the Enneagram, it is akin to losing my heart? Will I cease to exist?" ¡­! He asked such a question as the Enneagram hummed silently before a reply. ||I cannotpute the results of this possibility.|| The answer was unknown as Alexander stayed silent at this. The next words toe out of the Enneagram rted to his Super Red Giant Covenant Star as finally, it reached saturation. ||A unique path followed by few is being embarked on as the Super Red Giant Covenant Star connected to your Origin inseparably has reached a level of saturation that allows for it to undergo an explosive supernova. From this Supernova, a unique formation of an unknown number of Neutron Star centered around a budding ck Hole is theorized to bloom|| Theorized. He raised his brows at such a word. "Is this not guaranteed?" ||It is theorized, but is all but certain.|| The Enneagram seemed to still look at things in a certain way as it never stated absolute certainties. But even if this was the case¡­ "Let us get started then." ¡­! He had hundreds of years'' worth of memories from many beings that now umted to a few thousand collectively. His eyes, at this point in time, were gazing at a faraway ce while still grasping where he came from. He was Alexander Asmodeus. A son.@@novelbin@@ A Ruler. A friend. He was many things, and as he obtained more and more memories of others, he tried to find more of himself! His Enneagram Clone here had a fantastical thing ur on its chest, this phenomenon only being a representation of what was actually urring with his main body. The Super Red Giant Covenant Star¡­reached such a tremendous density that it exploded. It shattered into an explosive supernova as this¡­meant death! A supernova was the death of a star. And yet for Alexander, the massive expanse of gas and dust within the heavy supernova held countless dense particles of all the Covenants he assimted so far! And from these tremendously dense particles of gas and dust that contained millions and billions of dense particles of Covenants¡­ BZZZT! They were forced to gravitate and interact with each other, spinning rapidly until clusters of millions of particles¡­formed extremely dense Neutron Stars! One Neutron Star was entirely filled with dozens of fused particles of Covenants, and yet Gold prevailed as it was a Neutron Star of Gold. There were multiple such Neutron Stars alongside them, Neutron Stars of Life, Neutron Stars of Death, Neutron Stars of Lightning, and many more, all bloomed! Each of them was unfathomably dense as they emerged from the supernova, and thergest concentration of the supernova was at the very center where something that was far denser than all Neutron Starsbined formed. A small ck dot. A¡­budding ck hole. HUUM! Alexander opened his eyes once more as he could not help but breathe out heavily. The murky clouds of Pandemonium around him churned at his breath, with his eyes showing tremendous surprise as he felt the aspects of his being- his Body, Origin, and Soul all collectively rise by an unimaginable level. The root was the Origin. The Enneagram and the Neutron Star Nebe centered around a ck Hole! From there, terrifying authority, Energiea, and Vigor spread out and elevated everything else! ||The Gem Constetions have been foundationally affected by the birth of a Neutron Star Nebe and are elevating another level.|| |The Core Features of the Enneagram have been foundationally affected by the birth of a Neutron Star Nebe and are elevating towards grander stages.|| ||The level of authority capable of being pulled from Covenants of Nature has tremendously increased.|| ¡­! His very being felt profoundly elevated. The level of power he could unleash¡­ "This should be more than enough to achieve peace, yes?" He smiled to himself as in his smile, he felt a sense of mncholy as at this moment, he knew he could not deny it. That young boy who awakened days ago. His current self. They were far too different as he truly had to make sure he didn''t lose that part of himself! But he wasing to understand that the goal was not to remain what he was in the past. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire That was his mold. His foundation. But from here on out and into the future, he would continue to change and transform. He would not be another person entirely, but he would certainly grow and change into a better version of himself! And tomemorate this advancement and change¡­his vision became focused on the Enneagram Clone within the Deerborn Star Cluster. The one who was facing the ck Hole Ruler Asviena! This body of his formed the same Neutron Star Nebe centered around a ck Hole as he counted¡­over 1,000 miniature Neutron Stars that only continued to propagate and increase in number even at this moment. The number of stars his Enneagram Clones held¡­would be many more than his Main Body due to the Core Feature of the Individualist. This clone looked at the enraged visage of the ck Hole Ruler Asviena before him as he uttered out silently. "For the sake of peace." HUUM! An instantter, a winged Hammer of the Covenant bloomed. But¡­it caused the eyes of the ck Hole Ruler to shudder as it spanned over one thousand miles. And it was covered by the illusions of hundreds of dense Neutron Stars, with a barely visible illusory dark point of a ck Hole visible at its very center! It instantly vaporized the castle and everything within a thousand mile radius, and it focused on the ck Hole Ruler who had over a dozen Summoned me Giants around her- Summons that had their ck Holes crack and splinter before they were also vaporized! Soon enough, this Hammer would touch the visage of Asviena herself as after that¡­ Alexander closed his eyes. There was silence. And his heart¡­was unfathomably heavy! Chapter 196 Memories of a Distant Place! Silence. Within the core of the Deerborn Star Cluster, there was an immense silence as Alexander stood in a domain of space filled with buzzing particles of Covenants of Nature. His eyes showed immense calmness and apathy as around him, no signs of life could be seen except for his own. He was calm. Read thetest on My Virtual Library Empire He didn''t feel any sort of negative emotions regarding what he just did as his mental state was that of him doing what needed to be done against those threatening him and his interests. He did not have to wait for them to plot and n, and with this action of his¡­was it not one of mercy? Instead of armies being sent to Ephesus dying in his hands, only the higher-ups who made the decision toe after him perished. He had eradicated dozens of Ster and Nebe Rulers, and a ck Hole Ruler as at this moment, there was silence. There was peace. And with the horrific capabilities of the Peacemaker, it continued to give even at this moment as the memories of dozens of Rulers, as well as Asviena¡­flowed within him. And it was the memories of Asviena that caused him to raise his brows in surprise as they revealed brand-new wonders. First and foremost¡­ ||Through the life and records of the ck Hole Ruler, Asviena, you have gained an understanding of the Covenant of Summoning.|| ||Through the life and records of the ck Hole Ruler, Asviena, you have gained an assimtion of the Covenant of Summoning.|| New Covenants that he did not have ess to were given to him, but his mind did not focus too much on these as much as the memories of Asviena! She had lived for a truly long period of time. 1,255 years, to be exact. But even more important than her age was just where she was and what she did within that period of time. She¡­was not born within these nearby sectors of stars as she had arrived here after traveling for many years! After running away from a ce¡­far more vibrant and exuberant than these nearby sectors. A ce with Millions of Rulers freely moving about clusters of Star Realms and constructed domains that were light years away from here. "The Neidgard Empire, is it?" His eyes were illuminated with light as he received these records of life in an entirely different ce! It was not just Asviena- she traveled here with two others to seek a life away from the Empire after they offended someone they should not have offended. Jointly, the three of them founded the Star Alliance as they conquered nearby stars that only had Ster or Nebe Rulers at most, beginning to forge their own hegemony in this small region of this unfathomablyrge Gxy.@@novelbin@@ All the threads of information that Alexander was receiving only made him feel smaller and smaller in the eyes of how vast everything was, his eyes filled with curiosity as he lived the life of Asviena in the Neidgard Empire! With millions of Rulers making this Empire as powerful as it was, it controlled an unknown number of star clusters as ck Hole Rulers were only considered powerfulbatants that could rule over their own star clusters. There were¡­thousands of ck Hole Rulers alone as those who were Ster and Nebe Rulers were in the tens of thousands. He lived her life. Her hardships. Her love. Her heartache. And the decision to join ck Hole Ruler Adasan and Juan in finding a new sector away from the Empire just for them to rule. Alexander went through all of this calmly as among the many memories regarding an Empire whose influence stretched many light years away; there was also the knowledge of Pandemonium Beasts and Rifts of Pandemonium! ck Hole Ruler Asviena, Adasan, and Juan knew of Pandemonium Beasts as they were shocked to find an Origin Point near the sector they chose, almost choosing to move from here as well. Only Adasan had been elevated to the level of a ck Hole Ruler back then, and they ultimately chose to stay because they only observed weak Pandemonium Beasts. With the most powerful reaching the level of ck Hole in the very depths of Pandemonium, they chose to stay and gradually elevate their power by killing Pandemonium Beasts here! Even though they knew¡­this would increase the concentration of Pandemonium- of chaos and disorder, and eventually lead to a Rift of Pandemonium opening up. Rifts that wouldy waste to any surrounding sector as by the time they were discovered, it was likely far toote already, and powerful Pandemonium Beasts were already leaking out. They knew all this¡­and yet they stayed and used it for the benefit as eventually, Asviena and Juan attained their own ck Holes. And now. Two ruled the Star Alliance from the dark while the most powerful ck Hole Ruler, Adasan, took central leadership. Over time, they came across other powers with their own ck Hole Rulers nearby- the Beast Alliance and the Dark Rule, as they formed a bnce with asional skirmishes and wars. And now, here everything was. A small party of Void Rulers were sent out to observe and im an emerging Star Realm that was Ephesus, and by the end of it¡­destiny had moved in such a way that now, one of the three ck Hole Rulers of the Star Alliance was dead! And for the sake of peace¡­ "Will you two choose to die as well?" He mused to himself while thinking about the ce they came from. The Neidgard Empire! A powerful force that at this moment, Alexander did not have any rtionship with. This force was actively fighting against Rifts of Pandemonium, blocking the onught of Pandemonium Beasts as much as possible to ensure that the light years of this Gxt were not turned to chaotic wastes. "Well, one thing at a time¡­" He kept them in the back of his mind as his figure rose, the Neutron Star Nebe within his chest buzzing as he disappeared right after! His direction was even deeper within the Star Alliance. Where the two remaining ck Hole Rulers were located at as the moment that Asviena died under his hand¡­the other two ck Hole Rulers should have been alerted! Now, Alexander just had to wrap things up for the sake of Peace, possibly deal with the Beast Alliance muddying the waters, and then delve deeper into the Unexplored Void Lands filled with threads of Pandemonium where a massive rift may soon open! Chapter 198 A Heavy Heart! II Adasan and Juan. Alexander looked at them calmly as these were thest pieces of the puzzle who had a major conflict with him that he had to resolve. Adasan was the leader as this war would not have begun without his say, and Jaun¡­was far too connected to Asviena as he would never let things be. Alexander knew this. He had the memories to know for sure! So he nodded towards the enraged Juan and spoke out calmly. "I do this with a heavy heart as I know how much she loved you. Since she is gone, it will be good for you to join her in death." He spoke like he understood them. And truly, he did understand them! The gaze on Juan was an enraged one, while Adasan was unfathomably cautious as his power began to gather around him. "Our people were killed around you as this sparked a war. Obviously, we have greatly miscalcted just who you are as it led things here. We will let bygones be bygones. Had we known of your power, none of this would have urred." ¡­! He spoke rapidly as if he could not get his words out fast enough. He was calcting everything as he came to the realization that they truly knew too little regarding this being! Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire They thought he was merely a Void Ruler initially, and then his power was upped to be a Ster Ruler, and after that¡­he killed a Nebe Ruler! Clearly, they did not estimate his power as even now, it was unknown. Whether he was an entity with a single ck Hole or multiple was unknown! Adasan did not want to take that risk. Ao he called for bygones to be bygones! His dark hair flickered with brilliance as he looked above while continuing to speak. "I have been in this ce for too long too as I think I will make my way out of here. The Star Alliance will be dissolved, and we will never meet again. No destiny, fate, or karma to tie us once we part ways!" He spoke. And he continued to speak because Alexander¡­remained silent this whole time! Normally when there was silence, the reason for it was that someone had made up their mind. And the more silence that Alexander portrayed, the worse the situation became for Adasan and Juan! He truly did not want to take the risk to fight this being whom they had sopletely misjudged. And yet¡­ "When did you be such a coward, Adasan?! He is at most at the same level of power as us, otherwise he would not have locked this space down! Let us avenge Asviena and end this!" ¡­! Juan roared out as around him, radiant ming lotuses began to form and grind around his body. The pressure he radiated became intense as towards his words, Adasan only became stern before he spoke out right after! "This friend of mine is blinded by anger, but I am not. His fight with you is separate from me as I truly do wish to end this altercation here¡­" He was staunch in not wanting to fight Alexander! Two Rulers. Two sides. Alexander looked at the both of them before he sighed and spoke out. "I have lived¡­too many lives and years as experience in all of them lead me to make a single choice." ¡­! He spoke such heavy words as truly, he had lived for arge number of years!@@novelbin@@ He had lived through the records of many people, and even now, the Core Feature of the Peacemaker fed him information regarding his surroundings and their histories. To make sure that no possible thing would return to bite him in the back, these two had to die. The moment he heard Alexander''s words, Adasan became somber and clenched his fists as truly, he did not want a confrontation with such an unknown! Who the hell spoke about living too many lives and years? Why would he want to fight with such a being?! And yet¡­ "For the sake of my peace, you two must die." WAA! Alexander made a deration. And Juan roared out right after as his body gravitated with the terrifying weight of a ck Hole and struck out! "Let us see just who will die-¡­.!" His words stopped mid-sentence. They had to. After all, in the next moment, at the speed of light, a massive winged hammer carrying the allure of Neutron Stars arrived right before his charging figure! And¡­ SPLAT! Akin to a very heavy object meeting something soft and malleable. The body of the ck Hole Ruler known as Juan was smashed into oblivion, his makeup of an unknown number of Covenants and very being bing utterly vaporized in the next moment! The pupils of Adasan dted at this scene as his heart shook with trepidation, his own ck Holes seeking to erupt with power as he roared out. But¡­ SAA! Already, at the speed of light, four multicolored winged Hammers of the Covenant radiating a fantastical ster hue came from all four directions- their pressure being so heavy that they even copsed the space where Adasan was in as there was a huge ng! And thereafter¡­silence. "¡­" The Hammers of the Covenant moved away and dispersed into brilliant light right after, Alexander''s eyes calm as he stared where two ck Hole Rulers used to be. After attaining the Neutron Star Nebe centered around a ck Hole, his level of power had far exceeded anymon single ck Hole entity even by the standard of the Neidgard Empire, and with his Gem Constetions¡­this became even more insane. The feature of light speed was one. It didn''t just mean crazy fast. What happened when something with tremendous weight was going as fast as light speed smashed into an object? The speed alone granted a terrifying level of power as in addition to the support of his Neutron Star Nebe that continued to increase the number of Neutron Stars in real time¡­the result was clear. He sighed as he waved his hands, tworge dazzling ck Holes and two smaller ones from Adasan floating towards him. They represented the umtion of their lives and their assimted Covenants, with Alexander only sparing them a nce before they disappeared into his chest to be added to his own power. As their memories and lives also began to flow into him, he breathed out with contentment as finally¡­ "Peace¡­" He finally felt a semnce of peace. Obtained through blood, it was another form of peace as with it¡­the Star Alliance was effectively done! There were only a few things left to do¡­