In another realm, within a palace filled with a pervading pink mist.
This is the Palace of the Nine-tailed Fox, maintained by the descendents of the Origin Demon Fox. It is said that the origin beasts were born after the ancient gods. By that time, the ancient gods had tied themselves to the laws of the universe, and thus, the origin beasts were only born with a weaker connection to those laws. If there was any benefit to this for the origin beasts, it was that the weaker 'link' to the laws allowed the origin beasts to pass on these capabilities--instinctually intact-- to their descendents.
Eventually, the ancient gods fell, and thus the origin beasts rose to the top. Then the humans, against all odds, overthrew the position of these origin beasts. The Nine-tailed Demon Fox was defeated and severely injured. A primary target due to its capabilities in abilities related to fate, illusion and seduction.
So it was that it eventually chose to cooperate with the half-crazed Xune before it succumbed to its injuries, participating in his creation of the Xunians.
It is because of the Nine-tailed-Fox's descendents' abilities that the Xunians had so far avoided complete disaster.
The interior of the Nine-tailed Fox Palace was decorated in rich and vibrant colors. The walls are of calacatta white marble slabs separated by vertical quartz lines pulsing with stored cloudy aurae.
The white marble was layered with complex inscriptions that connect to the aurae-supplying vertical quartz lines. These walls are covered with many rich violet and dark blue draping curtains.
Jory entered such a hallway, her bare feet sinking slightly into the wine red velvety carpet below her feet. A comforting sensation that caressed the soles of her feet.
Her form was partially obscured by the overflowing pink mist as she approached a set of stone arch doors. This pink mist throws any unwelcome visitors into an illusion of pleasure and debauchery.
"Big sister. What are the results?" Jory asked, raising her voice to be heard through those stone arch doors.
The doors swung open, and Suey strode out in a pure white flimsy toga.
Through the doorway, Jory could see the many gems, incense sticks, magical items such as inscribed pots and rods that Suey had used to conduct her ritual.
"I barely saw any vision with clarity," Suey smiled. "The future is in chaos, and is no longer of certain doom."
Jory blew air out of purse lips in relief. Internally, she had many doubts with Suey's chosen course of action in the Fusion Realm. But she believes in the visions of the ritual. Her hands rested over her belly. The past generations of twin daughters that led the Demon Fox Palace almost never had the chance to interact with their aunt and father. Perhaps it would be different this time.
"Hmmm… but how strange," Suey's forehead furrowed with curiosity. "Wilo-- In my past visions, I never saw even a glimpse of Wilo. Yet now, though none of my visions have much clarity, her visage appeared in certain lines. Could it be-- she met her end early in all of those past visions?"
Jory shrugged and stayed silent. She did not understand why her sister cared for the appearance of Wilo in said hazy visions. She only cared for the fact that not all possible futures led to the Xunians' demise.
___________________________________________________
Far to the extreme west of the Fusion Realm is the mysterious area, the Rabid Wilds.
Once upon a time, the Western Wilderness was controlled by incredibly powerful demon beasts that did not bow their heads to the Rabid Wilds. However, times change. In the modern era, the mighty demon beasts primarily reside in the Southern Starry Seas' waters. Thus, the remnant demon beasts in the Western Wilderness obey the Rabid Wilds. In return, the Rabid Wilds provide a safe location for the demon beasts to rest and recover should the humans launch a massive raid on the Western Wilderness.
Wilo, in human form, was perched upon a vine belonging to the Endflower, who was in half-human half-plant demon form. The Endflower was essentially of a woman's appearance with large vines extending from her back and limbs.
The two approached a gargantuan tree in the distance. The World Tree. It stretched into the sky and beyond the clouds, to a height that could not be determined even with the sharpest of eyes.
They entered a city constructed entirely of various large trees. There are many levels to the city constructed by the interweaving of branches. These branches can be as wide as three elephants standing side-by-side. The paths themselves are curling branches twisting upwards. The leaves on the branches were specially positioned to allow streaming sunlight to enter from the thick canopy at specific locations.
As for other areas that do not receive sunlight, illumination comes from travelling fireflies of blinking stars as well as a sort of magical plant with a bulb. This bulb emits an eternal warm yellow glow that would place any heart at ease.
A woman with reddish leafy appearance, especially over her ears and limbs, welcomed Wilo and the Endflower with a stern expression. She naturally noticed that Wilo carried many burnt marks on her body. Though Wilo had somewhat recovered, and the burnt layer would soon peel off, her injuries were obvious.
"Foolish child. The treacherous human world is not for the likes of us," the woman sighed, her core pained by the sight of the recovering Wilo. "Our noble lineage has watched over the Rabid Wilds for eons. The mountain race-- dwarves of the humanoid world… They, especially, love hollowing out mountains and forests. I hope you have, at least, learned your lesson."
Wilo bit her lips beneath her wooden mask as she returned the ancient chest into her mother's hands. She wasn't sure why her mother mentioned the dwarves. They had long faded and merged with the so-called primary human line.
"We safeguarded it for the ancient gods for eons. To think it has been lost since the beginning of the Age of Chaos. Perhaps it can be considered luck that the humans did not immediately come upon it. Or that they lack knowledge regarding the ancient gods." The woman hummed as she raised the ancient relic skywards in an offering.
The towering World Tree creaked and rumbled as a thick branch reached downwards and hooked itself around the ancient relic. The branch dragged the ancient chest above the clouds in a wondrous arc.
Wilo gazed upwards. It is said that they all came from the World Tree. The World Tree is the mother of all tree and plant spirits. As for her 'mother', Mapo? Wilo was raised by the color-changing tree spirit. She had seen her mother's leaves green, yellow, orange, red and purple, or a mix in between. Mapo is considered to be an incomparable beauty in their society.
Wilo found herself being pulled into Mapo's embrace.
"The mother tree welcomes your return, child," Mapo whispered.
The very next moment, Mapo was filled with anger, and her form seemed to stretch and rustle like a looming shadow.
"Who did this to you! One of your cores is missing! Tell me and I will--"
"Mother!" Wilo hurriedly interrupted Mapo then lowered her head. "I voluntarily gave it away!"
"You…"
"He owes me now!" Wilo emphatically stated. Her lack of explanation meant that it must be a human who had received said missing core.
"Foolish child…" Mapo sighed as she shrunk and shook her head. "We may believe in the balance and cycle of the world. The sea becomes clouds. The clouds become rain. The rain becomes a river and the river returns to the sea. As for the humans…" Mapo shook her head. "This is my fault. You have grown to be more similar to me than I would have liked."
_____________________________________________________
Back within the spatial tunnel, Rein could see a miniscule point of light enlarging in the distance-- the destination portal.
Chenhr's aurae reserves seem to have a depth beyond reason. Despite forcefully expelling his aurae as a protective earthy cloud through their entire trip through the spatial tunnel, he had yet to exhaust himself.
Yet even if they were to survive the current assault and exit the spatial tunnel, thus reaching their destination… it would only lead to absolute calamity. One-- this traitorous fourth brother, Zaihz, would continue to attack until Chenhr became spent. Two-- if their destination becomes known, the Allfather's forces are certain to crash upon the others soon after.
Meanwhile, Chenhr and Zaihz squabbled.
"Look at you," Zaihz scoffed as he adjusted his spectacles. "When I left, you called me a fool for abandoning Blasphemer Yirn's principles. To reject psychedelics and stunt progress. And Xeelsi foolishly chose to stay beside you. I truly do not understand what she sees in you. I know not if I can even save her from my master!"
Rein had little interest in their words. He was instead racking his mind for a way out of the dire situation.
"Only those who fail to fully discern their golden path with relation to the various advancer realms require psychedelics," Chenhr sneered. "You have always considered yourself of a sharp mind, with your ability to foresee actions. Yet you could not even foresee your own golden path! Those who fail to find their golden path are destined to stumble wayward!"
"Even the rare ones who have set their foot on a golden path are unable to fully explain how they did so!" Zaihz glared as he launched another barrage of light and hot swimming rays from his comb-shaped weapon.
"Haha!" Chenhr was amused. "So your 'sharp' mind has failed to find a golden path, even with retroactive psychedelics!"
Zaihz's face was dark. He had used psychedelics to breakthrough barriers to become an outer advancer. He had thought that his understanding of higher advancer realms would allow him to retroactively adjust and correct his comprehension. So far, he had failed.
Chenhr suddenly roared and a blast of aurae emitted from his fist towards Zaihz. The swimming rays under Zaihz's control organized themselves into a net and easily caught then sliced apart the aurae blast ball, dispersing it into a hundred weakened chunks.
"Have you thought of a solution?" Chenhr urgently whispered to Rein.
"No, I haven't."
"I can't hold him off for much longer," Chenhr muttered. "Did you not claim to be intelligent when we first met?"
"Well… you quickly exposed me as a reckless fool," Rein shot back.
As a shell advancer, his aurae remains mostly wrapped around his body. Chenhr is able to blast aurae because of his origin ability, which allows him to store vast reservoirs of aurae that can then be forcefully expelled without exhausting himself. Rein simply isn't capable of this.
As for the singular 'Spear of Heaven' in Master Yirn's collection? That is but an ancient replica, usable for practice but useless in real combat. The closely guarded manufacturing knowledge of these powerful javelins remain in the Hall of Heroes' hands. Then taking into account that Zaihz can foresee all of their attacks, and even the structure of their defenses…
"There's no need to quarrel with one another," Zaihz was relieved to see Rein and Chenhr poking at one another. It meant Chenhr was likely on his last legs. Chenhr had lasted much longer than Zaihz had expected.
"The Allfather has trained him well," Chenhr begrudgingly admitted to Rein. "With the origin ability of foresight, his many swimming heat and light-based rays can be controlled to attack and defend in perfect unison, intercepting all that I can do."
"Just… shut up and defend!" Rein grumbled. Chenhr had essentially communicated that their survival depended on Rein.
The destination portal had become significantly larger in the distance.
Rein racked his brains. He only recently became a shell advancer. That means he is now capable of wrapping his whole body in a dark portal before simply vanishing. Unfortunately, he is currently in a dimension where spatial tunnels are constructed between existing physical realms.
Master Yirn's words returned to his mind. His spatial-aspected origin ability that creates portals is in fact a manipulation of order and chaos. To introduce chaos into the stable fabric of a realm and create an orderly tunnel to connect two points.
His eyes suddenly brightened.
"Half-senior. Tell me. How did the early humans travel from one realm world to another?" He questioned.
"Each realm has an aura. Our minds perceive these other realm worlds as stars upon the night sky tapestry. The ancients attuned themselves to the aura of a world over a long period of time to create a portal. It is said that it takes months. However, once in this other world realm, if one forms a bond with certain aspects of that world realm through the heart, future portals become astronomically easier to form." Chenhr did not bother asking why Rein needed this information, speaking as he sent another aurae blast at Zaihz.
"Most spatial advancers nowadays simply visit another world through portals maintained by the heavens, leave behind an item of sentimentality or even a fragment of their soul within a totem, and summon a portal by connecting to said item," Chenhr explained.
"Do you trust me?" Rein mumbled.
"Your recklessness? Never," Chenhr reflexively snorted. "But I hardly have a choice, do I?"
The destination portal was only ten breaths away.
"Leave along with your wife and child. Simply provide me with cover for a few breaths and don't look back."
"Will you survive?" Chenhr narrowed his eyes, expressing a rare moment of concern.
"Possibly," Rein coolly replied.
"Very well. I take this as our parting. Don't die too pathetically. You're the only uncle that Dusen really has." Chenhr's feet spurted a powerful stream of earthy aurae that sent him accelerating towards Xeelsi and Dusen. As he did so, he also repeatedly punched out with a fist, launching multiple rapid aurae blasts towards Zaihz. These aurae blasts were incredibly concentrated, and Zaihz was forced to weave his swimming rays together in multiple layers to block and disperse them.
Meanwhile, a blackish-purple aurae wrapped around Rein's palm.
"Hah! No ordinary advancer can--NO! You madman!" Once Rein's mind decided to take action, Zaihz knew what Rein was about to do. Zaihz initially thought Rein a fool for attempting to break the walls of a spatial tunnel, a task difficult for even himself. Until he foresaw Rein's success.
Rein chopped his palm into the gleaming walls of the spatial tunnel. Though Zaihz forcefully directed a number of his swimming rays towards Rein, Zaihz was simply… too slow and too late.
Initially, Rein thought Zaihz's origin ability, foresight, to be incredible. However, he soon realized that there are many ways to bypass it.
The blade of Rein's palm sliced into the gleaming wall, and the spatial tunnel began to unravel!
Seeing this, Chenhr wrapped his arms around his wife and child, and expelled his remaining aurae reserves in a forceful manner, accelerating into the destination portal.
As for Rein and Zaihz? Since it was at Rein's position where the order of the spatial tunnel was disrupted, he was naturally thrown into the void. Zaihz , travelling behind him, was inevitably also expelled into the void!
"You're--" Zaihz was seemingly having a moment of epiphany, his eyes wide in realization, but his words were cut off.
Zaihz screamed as he tumbled into the spatial dimension in between physical realms. It is said that all who became lost here would have their body corroded by an overpowering void energy. He simply could not believe that Rein was capable of breaking the order of the spatial tunnel with a single palm. Normally, spatially-aspected advancers need significant time to open a portal. Forcefully breaking a spatial tunnel naturally requires a similar degree of effort and time! Moreover, isn't Rein essentially sacrificing himself? What fool would do that for Chenhr?!
Without the protection of the spatial tunnel, Zaihz felt a violent corrosive energy attacking his body. This violent energy completely wiped away his swimming rays. Despair filled his heart as his protective shell defense was rapidly broken down. His best efforts to combat that corrosive power would only delay his impending death by a few breaths.
Soon, the blackish-purple corrosive aurae began to penetrate into his skin, and Zaihz knew he was as good as dead. After all, even powerful spatial advancers, more resistant to this energy, fear being lost in this strange spatial dimension. Perhaps only advancers who have mastered the spatial laws would dare to wander this place.
Zaihz's gaze roamed about as he took in the final sight of this dimension that is his coffin. The spatial dimension was illuminated by sparkles from chaotic swirls of blackish-purple aurae clouds, carrying a strange sort of beauty. These clouds filled the entirety of the spatial dimension.
But Zaihz's eyes were suddenly drawn to a figure in a knotted black jacket and pants, with eyes closed, floating cross-legged like a heavenly god, his body and clothing unblemished, completely unaffected by the corrosive void energy! It was as if the figure was wrapped in an impenetrable bubble!
Rein opened his eyes. "I knew it," he spoke to Zaihz, whose body was already mostly covered by a blackish-purple energy. "This is my domain!" He declared.
Zaihz eyes were filled with both rage and an unwillingness to accept the result. However, there was nothing he could do. Much of his body no longer responded to his brain.
Rein squinted his eyes as he noticed Zaihz's mouth repeatedly making the same movement. Rein mimicked the man's mouth movements to himself.
"Ai… I fu…I fund him? I found him?!" Rein felt his heart skip a beat as he understood Zaihz's words, but soon calmed himself when Zaihz's eyes became lifeless after a few breaths.
If Rein thought that was the end, he would be wrong. A shadow slipped out of Zaihz's body and rushed at him! The shadowy form's mouth opened and out came a flow of familiar-yet-foreign whisperings.
At the same time, a tonally different familiar-yet-foreign whispering rose in Rein's head. Rein's hand reflexively rose to block the approaching shadow, and the two familiar-yet-foreign whisperings seemed to clash and screech at one another in a standoff. Then, a swirl of blackish-purple aurae clouds in the spatial dimension wrapped around the shadow and swallowed it whole. The whisperings faded into a hissing silence.
As his adrenaline faded, Rein felt the biting cold of the void. He ignited the wood-based aurae in his veins with the circulating orange draconic lightning, yet the heat generated in his core did little against the encroaching cold. Rein knew that despite his immunity to the corrosive void energy, he still needed to leave--quickly.
Rein wrapped himself in a shell formed purely from spatial aurae, and focused his senses on his memory of the Fusion Realm. He attempted to activate teleportation.
Nothing.
He focused his memories on the destroyed Golden Desert Town, and instinctively activated his teleportation ability once again.
Nothing once again.
His brother Jein? No. Jein had been taken to a devil god's realm.
Rein frowned then shuddered as the chill gradually invaded his body. He could not understand why his origin ability failed to trigger. As a being born and grown in the Fusion Realm, he undoubtedly had an unbreakable link to the world realm. He considered trying for Suey's hidden realm. However, he had never even come into contact with the aura of that hidden realm.
He inwardly cursed and closed his eyes to desperately meditate on his memories of the Fusion Realm as the temperature within his body dropped. He repeatedly ignited his wood aurae with the lightning dragon, but his aurae reserves rapidly drained as he attempted to generate heat against the biting cold.
Rein berated himself-- he truly was too reckless. Chenhr was right after all. As his body grew increasingly cold, and his hands became a clammy mess, his memories returned to those warm days in the Golden Desert Town. These were truly fond memories of a much simpler and joyful time. Jeihr Meynan, who he had grown up with, was to be his bride. If those devils hadn't-- the teleportation origin ability activated!
The swirls of sparkling blackish-purple aurae clouds close to Rein within the dimension accelerated in spinning motion, reaching a speed where the sparkles became tunnel walls of blazing light! A new spatial tunnel had formed!
Rein's figure entered this newly formed spatial tunnel and he zoomed towards a destination portal in the distance, before colliding into it.
The next moment, Rein landed on soft grass, and he fell onto his back in relief. Some remnant blackish-purple energy that came along with Rein's body corroded the surrounding grass, but faded after creating an eight feet blank patch as its power was spent.
Rein began to laugh out loud. One might think him a madman if they saw him now. Rein had not felt such exhilarating joy for what seemed like years. It was as if he was reminded of a long forgotten feeling. Since the destruction of the Golden Desert Town, his mood had been mostly flat. Only Suey had somewhat managed to disrupt that flatness.
This burst of elation was because he had somehow survived once again. He had slain an outer advancer with an origin ability. Indirectly, of course. But still, it served to release a weight on his heart.
There and then, Rein promised himself he would hold onto this exhilarating joy and never forget its sensation ever again.
He stood onto his two feet and observed his surroundings in a bid to determine his location. In the distance, he identified a carriage with a Jeihr family crest heading into a walled city. Above the archway was the name 'Final Solace City'.
Rein recalled his geographic knowledge. The Final Solace City has for centuries functioned as the most pivotal city in Minhr Nation's conflicts against the Zoh Empire to the east. All supplies for the forces battling against the Zoh Empire travels through Final Solace City. If this city was ever taken by the Zoh Empire, it would be an absolute disaster. Naturally, it is heavily protected, and serves as the final safety line on the northeast corner of the Minhr Nation.
"You're alive," a steady voice sounded behind Rein.
Rein turned his head to find Steward Xeer silently examining him with his hands clasped behind his back. He recalled when he still lived a sheltered life in the Golden Desert Town. Back then, Steward Xeer was a mysterious being he instinctively felt a degree of wariness towards.
"So. You are now an advancer. Come to the Jeihr Mansion. This is non-negotiable," Steward Xeer sternly stated.
Rein felt torn. He had long buried his memories and feelings regarding Meynan deep into the recesses of his mind. He assumed that with the Heihr Merchant House legacy gone, Meynan's father would seek a new marriage arrangement for his daughter, as is the norm in the Minhr Nation. Plus, it is generally forbidden for advancers to form too strong a tie with the mortal world.
Speaking of which, why is Steward Xeer, supposedly a telekinetic advancer, protecting the Jeihr branch that Meynan belongs to?
"...Is that a good idea?" Rein questioned, deciding that this was not the proper time to satisfy his curiosity regarding Steward Xeer.
Steward Xeer closed his eyes in contemplation for a heartbeat.
"It's best to live a life with no regrets." He then promptly flew away towards the city gate, back towards the Jeihr carriage entering Last Solace City.
Rein sighed. Meynan must be in that carriage. He had initially wished to avoid Meynan. After all, he is of the advancer world now, and Meynan belongs to the mortal world.
Yet, at the same time, he desired to at least confirm that she was doing well. Even if a different future had been arranged for her.
Rein realized that if he did not at least go forth to meet her once again and share one final conversation, he would always regret his choice.
Rein ambled towards the city gate. Upon the parapet above the gate stood a few robed advancers. Rein kept his head down as the eyes of those robed advancers scanned over his form. He suspected that some sort of divine sense-based investigative art must have been used to root out demons, devils, or Zoh infiltrators.
He successfully entered the city, inwardly sighing with relief. Initially, he had thought that he would need to display his mortal identity papers, which carries his name. That could mean trouble, as those papers were used in the Green Trout City. Trouble was certain to come for him if the Halls discovered that he was actually alive.
He spotted a pretentiously decorated tea and wine house right inside the gate, and inwardly chortled. Generally speaking, taverns target the lower class for customers, while luxurious tea and wine houses receive those of the upper class. This pretentious tea and wine house is clearly targeting those in the middle that desire to feel like an upper class. After all, the sommeliers within clearly lack the grace of a well-trained servant of an upper class establishment.
Not that any of this mattered to him. If anything, it was best for him to be one of the many travellers drawn to this establishment. Many travellers, after their long journey to Final Solace City, were attracted by this tea and wine house despite its questionable appearance. Perhaps they simply desired to feel partially pampered after a long journey.
As for the source of Rein's assessment? Rein could tell that all the materials used to construct this tea and wine house was, well-- fake. Maloewood is the go-to material for building luxurious tea and wine houses. The wood for this tea and wine house was clearly constructed from a common wood that was stained. The imitators had not even bothered with obscuring the mismatching grain of the wood.
As for much of the decorative elements-- the paintings of mountains, rivers, man versus demons, accompanied by verses of wisdom attached to the walls? They are clearly recreations. One of the paintings is the Eons of Mountains and Rivers from a renowned artist Lenhr. Well-- the real painting is known to reside within the Palace of the Dingien Clan.
Last of all, these luxurious tea and wine houses are meant to be mostly held up by maloewood pillars with no walls, such that its guests can gaze out at an expertly crafted manmade garden. A symbol of man's control over nature. The guests of this tea and wine house stared at a busy city gate.
Nonetheless, Rein found an empty table. To have survived an encounter with an outer advancer with an origin ability was worthy of celebration, so Rein reasoned. Or perhaps he was simply nervous regarding his impending visit to Jeihr Meynan.
He discovered through the menu that the place still sold the Golden Desert wine. It wasn't particularly well-rated wine, but was once a product that his family peddled from the Golden Desert Tribes.
He paid a limpite coin for a bowl of it and closed his eyes. How strange it was that when his mind drifted to Meynan that his origin ability had successfully activated. After all, he had long decided to leave behind the mortal world. To seek both revenge as well as to repay those that assist him on this journey.
When Rein opened his eyes again, he was alarmed to recognize an elderly man stride into the establishment. This is the elderly man that battled against Master Yirn! Supposedly, a servant or clone of the Allfather!
Rein's reaction attracted the elderly man's attention.
"Do you know me?" The elderly man queried in a raspy voice.
Rein's heart pounded with anxiety, and a single heartbeat seemed to last a lifetime. But Rein calmed as he smiled, recalling the exhilarating joy he felt upon returning to the Fusion Realm from the spatial dimension.
"Haha," he laughed. "For a moment, I thought you to be some immortal god hiding amongst us mortals."
"And what makes you say that?" A man following behind the elder narrowed his eyes. This man was dressed in a black robe with crimson slashes of color and golden seams. His hair was smooth and long, flowing below his shoulders. His face was white and pale, with a high-arching crooked nose, sharp eyes and crimson thin lips.
The intimidating sight of this man did not disrupt Rein's reply. Perhaps it was thanks to the taste of the Golden Desert wine, his impending visit to Meynan, or a false bravado from taking the life of Zaihz that Rein had no fear. Rein reached back in time and returned to his more jovial and spirited self prior to the Golden Desert Town's destruction.
"When I was younger, I once foolishly spat on a beggar resting in the alleyway next to my home. Before I had even left the alleyway, my vision spun and in the blink of an eye, I found myself trapped, submerged in a well," Rein was naturally lying through his teeth. "It took a day for my rescue. Ever since then, Whenever I see an elderly beggar, I can't help but consider them a possible immortal god."
Other customers close by laughed at Rein's fate within the tale. There are certainly many tales of immortal gods and goddesses hiding amongst the mortals.
"And so I drink to you," Rein raised his bowl to the elderly man and sipped his Golden Desert wine. "I do not wish to find myself a frog at the bottom of a well, you understand."
The elder that is the Allfather's clone wasn't sure if Rein was insulting or respecting him. Rein had essentially compared him to the appearance of an elderly beggar, yet at the same time called him an immortal god.
The elderly clone simply nodded and found an empty table, sitting down alongside the pale man of a high-arching crooked nose.
Rein quickly finished his bowl of Golden Desert wine and strode out of the pretentious tea and wine house.
Back in the pretentious tea and wine house. The elderly man waved a hand, creating a privacy barrier around himself and his accompanying man.
"All--"
"Luminary Zeum. Have I not reminded you to simply call me 'Senior' here?"
"I…" The pale-faced man of crimson lips bowed his head. "That is unbefitting of your status."
"Blasphemer Yirn is a troublesome cockroach. No doubt, he is already causing trouble in another realm. My attention is thus needed elsewhere."
Zeum kept his head bowed as he listened intently.
"You may be my youngest Luminary, but you have followed me since the Age of Chaos. You are to be my hand in the Fusion Realm," the elderly clone said. "Fate has become chaotic, and as such, this is an era of rising geniuses. Recruit those that will stand with us. Execute those that do not-- silently."
"It will be as you will, Al-- senior." Zeum replied, his head still bowed.
"Is there something on your mind?" the elderly clone asked when he noticed Zeum maintaining his bowed head posture.
"That young man-- I wish to immediately head out to take his life," Zeum's eyes glinted crimson.
"Do you not recall my words?" the elderly clone sighed. "You have always been far too bloodthirsty. However, your capabilities are undeniable. What would killing that young man do for us? Judging from his bone age, he is already an adult. He only very recently broke into the shell realm. Completely inconsequential."
"The more you kill, the more likely you will attract unwanted attention from the lesser heavens. Only strike when necessary! Your targets are the future talents who will not side with us. You must prevent these lesser heavens or other minor forces from protecting and recruiting these rebel geniuses."
"Remember," the elderly clone continued. "These middling realms are positioned in between the heavenly realms and the twelve hells. Thus, a will limits the power you can display. Do not be overly reckless. Do not allow your bloodthirst to guide you, for it will cause you to succumb to a well-placed trap."
Zeum took a deep breath. His eyes closed for a few heartbeats. When he lifted his eyelids again, the crimson glint within his eyes had vanished.
"It will be as you have ordered, senior!" He was determined to continue proving that the Allfather's faith in his capabilities was well-placed.
"That is good." The elderly clone drank a bowl of his chosen wine and his face scrunched up in disgust. "As foul as I recall. When I first tasted it during the Age of Demons. The perfect taste to harden one's mettle."
"Strange…" He placed down the wine bowl. "Zaihz has disappeared. I am completely unable to sense his existence."
Zeum was hesitant to offer any suggestions.
"I do not sense him in other world realms either. Could he have somehow pursued Yirn's underlings to an obscure world?" The elderly clone muttered to himself. Yet if that was the case, Zaihz should have immediately activated a soul flare. An art that only requires the time of a few hundred heartbeats to activate. It was by no means long-- in an ancient past, signalling across the thousand realms for reinforcements required significantly more time.
"Allfa-- senior, if I may," Zeum finally spoke up.
"Go ahead."
"Zaihz rarely obeys our commands to the letter. It took a good decade to even guide him on his Swimming Ray Art due to this," Zeum said with disdain. "He probably adjusted parts of your orders and did something idiotic. Likely now dead in an unknown ditch."
"If so, that is a pity," the elderly clone sighed. "Hopeless as he is, I had planned to use him against Yirn many more times."
______________________________________________
Rein soon identified the direction to the Jeihr's mansion in Final Solace City after speaking with a number of local residents.
As for his future? He withdrew a token from his spatial pouch. An intricate white swan taking flight was etched upon it. The emblem represented Baejenh, an elder from the Fusion Sect. Rein decided that he would use this token to join a sect branch under the Fusion Sect in this area. After all, the Fusion Sect occasionally assisted the Minhr Nation in stabilizing the border situation against the Zoh Empire to the east. As such, there should be a few sects in this area that would take him.
As he walked forth, Rein grinned. The Allfather was not all-seeing, after all. And the lesser heavens of the various races? They, too, must be blind.
End of Volume 1