CHAPTER 159: | INTO THE THIRD SEGMENT WHERE I DECLARE WAR
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I waited for Samantha to digest the technique I had crafted especially for her, taking all possible outcomes into consideration.
To be honest, I wasn't so sure right now. I had no clue what her bloodline would mutate into once she absorbed a [True Bloodstone]. It was a resource so rare that it allowed one to inherit their most prime cycle capabilities in the form of a bloodline into the current one, or obtain a very powerful bloodline from an unknown entity that died a 'true death' which could only happen once the [True Bloodstone] acknowledged you as a worthy candidate to be its new vessel.
Thus, it remained uncertain. When two very high-level concepts, such as the very empress of these 'noble creatures of the night' meet the Void itself, what happens?
The question was, Would the noblest creature of the night be assimilated into the Void, or would they fuse altogether to create a more powerful bloodline, one much deadlier than the Void itself?
It was a question with no answer for now. So, I waited for Samantha to comprehend the technique, though I doubted she would take too long. It wasn't something that impressive to me. I closed my eyes and took a nap, maintaining my vigilance for when she woke up so the meeting could begin.
It was only after an entire hour had passed that I awoke. Samantha tugged at my sleeve, pulling me from my rest. I opened my eyes slowly, glancing at all of them sitting on the floor, staring at me as they waited for me to speak. Their attitudes showed neither submission nor reverence to their emperor, except for my zealot apostle, who gazed at me through her spiritual vision with burning zeal.
I cackled at the sight. Seeing that Samantha was getting impatient with me taking too long, I smiled softly. Then I flicked my hand.
Rumble.
The ground tremored. Earth gushed out from the marble floor, levitating all of them into the air as the stone molded into a set of lesser thrones. The walls of the sanctuary began to split apart with a grinding sound, causing the whole chamber to shake at the activity. My throne, along with the thrones of my subordinates, moved toward the portal that would lead us to the next segment.
Tellus, an elemental of the Sacred Earth, was shocked at this display of control. He pondered what he could learn from this cruel summoner of his. Though he still held a grudge due to me not protecting Solia, Tellus knew that it was his own powerlessness that caused it all.
So what if his summoner was powerful? What was the use of it when he was nothing but a cruel beast who would sacrifice anything to get what he wanted? So what of it?
He was Tellus, the Venerable of the Sacred Earth, the Earth Dragon who shall become the bastion of Solia to protect her from all threats. Even if it meant he had to go against his summoner, or learn from the lowest of all. So long as he, Tellus, was alive, he would strive to improve so that he wouldn't let the same tragedy happen to Solia or anyone on his side.
He clenched his teeth, staring at how his summoner controlled the mana, and began to mimic the methods while hiding it. He was too ashamed to casually display that he was stealing his summoner's techniques, his pride as one of the Five Gods wouldn't allow him to ask for help.
So, he stared at the methods of mana utilization and jotted them down in his head. He wasn't the best student when it came to learning, so he burned these moments into his mind to remember, mimic, and train in the future.
And I, Alister von Fai, reading his intents, smiled. I tapped his forehead. As a surge of data transferred into his head, all of the information that I sent into his mind was, my memories related to mana control. And the rest? He had to figure it out himself. Giving him more than this would damage his pride.
I flicked my hand again, and the thrones stopped meters away from the portal. The walls we had passed moments ago slammed shut.
I took a step, appearing near the portal, and turned toward them to declare my will. "This time, we're not going to lay in wait like Solia and I did at the second segment. That is too inefficient of a method. So, this time, we're going to do a full-scale invasion. Samantha will lead us into conquering the last segment. She'll be the center of command. It is a method to train her skills as a ruler and as the noblest creature of the night, since I don't have the time to manage an empire."
I paused, looking over them. "So let her manage it. Now, let us enter the next segment and play the role of an invader. For we are the invader."
With my words finished, Solia's excitement couldn't be hidden. She gripped her dual swords tightly, muttering internally.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
It's been a long while since I fought anything worthy of an adrenaline-pumping battle like I did with Surtr or Lumicor. Perhaps another powerful god will appear in the next segment? The God of Illusion? Or maybe the God of the Wind himself? If only I could fight him... maybe I'll be able to break this limit of mine and ascend beyond the realms of the gods that Surtr spoke of.
Solia’s nature as a Titan that sought destruction was triggered just pondering what lay in the next segment. But still, she kept in mind that her master was not the one leading this time, her mistress was. Solia stared at Samantha, who was walking toward her master.
Then, Samantha pushed Alister back into his throne. She turned to everyone. "Then, for starters, let us exclude Alister in this expedition. Only when we are in serious danger should he be able to help. Then into the next agenda, tell me how much you've grown or had fallen?"
Samantha stared at Lumicor after her final words, then continued. "First, introduce yourself, Solia. Tell me about your stats, your equipment, your core, your affinity, your skills, categorized into two, from normal to ascension skills, your unique skills, and lastly, your techniques."
Solia, hearing her words, nodded in acknowledgement. It was necessary for those in command to know their subordinates' capabilities. She explained her stats, equipment, core, affinity, skills, unique skills, and techniques. It took an entire hour of explanation.
After hearing Solia’s explanation, Samantha had already compiled her index into a book titled 'Records', reading it over to make sure nothing was missing.
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Solia | Stage 2 | Lesser Sovereign: Combat Index
Destructive Force: 30 Zen
Defensive Power: 10 Zen
Health: 45,000
Stamina: 60,000
Mana: 120,000
Physique: 6,000
Mystique: 3,000
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[Equipment:]
Indra Storm Sword — Tier: Lower Sovereign
Storm Sword Art — Tier: Mystical
Veil of the Grand Priestess — Tier: Higher Champion
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[Monster Core:]
Mutated Lightning Essence
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[Affinity:]
Red Lightning
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[Skills:]
Red Lightning Mastery [Ascension V]
Red Lightning Manifestation [Ascension IV]
Witch of the Ever-burning Thunder Form [Ascension VI]
Red Lightning Mirage [Ascension III]
Ever-burning Maiden Step [Ascension V]
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[Techniques]
Storm Sword Art
Script of Nothingness
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Upon reading it, Samantha asked the three others. Tellus revealed his index without any hesitation. Samantha noted it without worry, since Tellus wouldn't be able to fabricate his index profile, her husband, Alister von Fai, wouldn't allow any of his subordinates to lie to his wife.
Then she turned her head to Ishtar and asked the repeated question. Ishtar told her without any lies, though Ishtar's profile was pretty lackluster. She didn't have any impressive skills or stats right now, but after recalling her fighting Alister, Samantha ignored the low numbers. Her opponents wouldn't be able to do anything to her so long as her [Corrupted Verdict] was in action.
Samantha flipped to another page, grabbed her quill, and asked Lumicor. Her impression of this man hadn't been great since the beginning, and that remained true until now. Samantha asked him politely and didn't press too much, since a leader's virtue is not to rule their subordinates with fear, but with trust. So, she asked as gently as possible.
Lumicor didn't care. He gave his descriptions without hesitation, then proceeded to ignore her as he jumped from his throne and swung his spear.
Samantha, taken aback by his actions, carefully listed his profile without any hesitation. She smiled gently, then read all of the profiles.
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Solia | Stage 2 | Lesser Sovereign: Combat Index
Destructive Force: 30 Zen
Defensive Power: 10 Zen
Health: 45,000
Stamina: 60,000
Mana: 120,000
Physique: 6,000
Mystique: 3,000
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[Equipment:]
Indra Storm Sword — Tier: Lower Sovereign
Storm Sword Art — Tier: Mystical
Veil of the Grand Priestess — Tier: Higher Champion
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[Monster Core:]
Mutated Lightning Essence
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[Affinity:]
Red Lightning
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[Skills:]
Red Lightning Mastery [Ascension V]
Red Lightning Manifestation [Ascension IV]
Witch of the Ever-burning Thunder Form [Ascension VI]
Red Lightning Mirage [Ascension III]
Ever-burning Maiden Step [Ascension V]
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[Techniques]
Storm Sword Art
Script of Nothingness
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Tellus | Stage 1 | Lesser Emperor: Combat Index
Destructive Force: 3 Zen
Defensive Power: 15 Zen
Health: [None]
Stamina: [None]
Mana: 34,080
Physique: [None]
Mystique: 157
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[Equipment:]
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[Monster Core:]
Sacred Earth Core
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[Affinity:]
Sacred Earth
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[Skill:]
Sacred Earth Mastery [Ascension IV]
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[Techniques]
---
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Ishtar | Stage 0 | None: Combat Index
Destructive Force: 1 Zen
Defensive Power: 100 Tons
Health: 700
Stamina: 400
Mana: 0
Physique: 1.00
Mystique: 0.00
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[Equipment:]
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[Monster Core:]
---
[Affinity:]
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[Skill:]
Elementary Tendril Control [Passive]
Elementary Krakenling Physique [Passive]
Elementary Weak Bite [Passive]
Elementary Tendril Restraint [Active]
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[Techniques]
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Lumicor | Stage 1 | Zenith Sovereign: Combat Index
Destructive Force: 70 Zen ‐> [4 Zen]
Defensive Power: 20 Zen
Health: 35,000
Stamina: 30,000
Mana: 50,000
Physique: 1,000
Mystique: 2,500
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[Equipment:]
Gilded Spear Tier: Lesser Emperor
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[Monster Core:]
Essence of Starlight
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[Affinity:]
Starlight
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[Skill:]
Starlight Origin[Ascension X]
Advent of the Starborn Leviathan[Ascension X]
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[Techniques]
Eclipse Spear
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I was satisfied at how Samantha was managing this small group of people. But what will happen when we have a thousand in our ranks? Would she be able to manage them? Or perhaps would she fail to keep all of them in check?
Well, time would tell. For now, she was done rechecking their index profiles. Samantha, noticing my gaze, stored the book containing their records, then ignored me as she clapped her hands to get their attention.
She spoke once more. "Now that we are done with the small introduction... shall we enter the portal?"
