《Advanced Cultivation Civilization (RE)》


 Chapter 1 Interview

    ACCR Chapter 1 Interview

    FAY 437,2nd Month, Day 7, 8:55 AM

    ''Chin up! Straighten your back! Make your face impassive!''

    ''Bakung! Narrowing your eyes doesn''t translate into impassiveness. Your expression must be the natural you without any emotion displayed upon it!''

    Even the words, an echo of memory from my mother couldn''t entirely chase away the butterflies fluttering within my stomach. I had nailed her instructions to a tee, but my steel core was blatantly giving my entire demeanor away because of its erratic pulsing, which was affecting the streams of spiritual energy within me, making them turbulent enough that some of my spiritual energy was leaking from my pores.

    The reason for all this was simply a single thing, I wasn''t here for merely a job, but also some form of protection. I had done my research extensively, through every avenue I could use.

    Those that had had stellar reputations had either refused, or revealed that there was more to them that meets the eye.

    One Venerable had even hinted at the possibility of marriage! Disgust had rippled through me the moment he had even offered.

    I didn''t like being treated as a commodity! And his harem had even been composed of scheming bitches without an ounce of true affection that I could see.

    ''A deep breath!''

    I exhaled a little bit of my grey spiritual energy, which turned into molecules of steel I reabsorbed before they could reach the ground.

    I decided to examine the room as I waited for the person supposed to be interviewing me to arrive.

    I had been early, earlier than the set time by about five minutes, which made it so that there was no cause for me to become dissatisfied.

    I was seated on a lone chair by the entrance, of the office. There was a levitating slab of what I could only take to be rock, polished to a marble-like glow within the soft white light of the bands embedded within the black walls.

    They weren''t a mere design esthetic, instead acting as conduits for spiritual energy to be delivered wherever it was needed.

    On the slab, there was nothing on its surface except for smaller bands of light that criscrossed into a grid pattern that served to enhance the beauty of the rock. It was on the far side of the room, near a window, which was just a screen displaying the outside scenery in realtime instead of the real thing.

    Before the desk, there were two comfortable couches, a velvety red, facing each other, leaving a space wide enough for a small black table to settle between.

    A small frown graced my face as I observed a lack of anything humanising within this room, a telltale sign that this wasn''t an office meant for a human.

    It could be that the owner was a minimalistic person, but I didn''t think so after perusing Mr. Mumaso''s profile.

    My nervousness partially vanished for a moment upon realising that the man himself might not show up.

    Being in the presence of a Nascent Soul cultivator was something most definitely bad for the nerves.

    Even when they tried to restrain their auras, it was hard to not develop feelings of either fear, or awe. And right now, I needed to be calm and stoic, with all the faculties of my mind in good order.

    Then I felt it, the shift in the air particles upon my skin as a rush of others pushed through the opening sliding door, bringing my attention towards the entrance to my right side.

    A male android, one with metallic skin and blue bionic pupils entered the room, with the scent brought upon due to the friction of its suit with metallic skin tickling my nostrils.

    "Ah! Miss Toba! I wasn''t expecting you for another 2 minutes! If I''d known that you''d be this early, I would have arrived faster!"

    It spoke with genuine enthusiasm in its tone. I stood up and clasped the hand held out in greeting.

    "There was no need for you to drop everything and rush here. I wouldn''t have minded the waiting." I said, though feeling more nervous than my outward expression was letting on, probably...

    "Come! Come! Come! That isn''t a seat suited for a matriarch! Its just a spare one, in case the couches are all occupied, which is in itself a rare occurrence!"

    The male android walked away, with his words enticing me to follow him. I chose the left couch, while it continued on, turning right at the levitating rock slab, with its black shoe covered feet taking it to the wall, where a partition slid out, exposing something resembling an extruding machine.

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    "Would you fancy a cup of coffee? Cause am famished!"

    When it looked towards me, I gave a tiny nod, with the butterflies in my stomach settling down at its attitude.

    "I still don''t know your name."

    "FAIB Paul. You can just call me Paul."

    A Federal AI bot?!

    That caused a minor shock to ripple through me.

    "I know that look. Many have had that same one when I revealed my affiliation. And the explanation isn''t something complicated. I was just loaned out to Mr. Mumaso. That''s what happens when someone is valuable enough to the Federation."

    ''Well, being one of the top five richest people in the world can really grant privileges!''

    "Anyway, here''s your coffee." While lost in my thoughts, a steaming mug, releasing a pleasant aroma that stimulated my hunger was presented to me. Only spiritual plants and meat were capable of drawing out such primitive instincts within me, and they also had to be at a certain level.

    I took it, with a plate of snacks that looked like biscuits, yet as soft as cake.

    "Why was I summoned here? Was there something missing within my documentation?" I asked while inwardly gushing at the heavenly taste when I took a bite of one of the weird treats.

    "Nothing of the sort! I only wanted some additional information. From the myriad of applicants, you and a few others are the only ones who have managed to qualify for this stage in the process." Paul explained while sipping a beverage that was releasing a blue glow from a transparent cup riddled with array lines.

    "Is that... What I think it is?" I asked as another minor shock threatened to ripple through me.

    "Yes, over 99% pure liquified spiritual energy."

    "How is it staying in that cup without turning to gas and scattering into the atmosphere?" I asked while leaning forward to take a closer look.

    "This container is special. The formation inscribed upon it is a hard one to mass produce, leaving it as a privilege of the few, except for large scale ones of course."

    My clan doesn''t have something like this! These Nascent Souls really have the means! Or should I attribute this to the Federal Government?

    "Now that you have managed to triumph over those butterflies, let''s get this show on the road."

    The moment Paul spoke, I froze. I had been so taken by things I didn''t normally see that my stoicism had slipped! My mother would have had a field day with it if she were still around.

    "Was I that obvious?" I asked curiously. I had been sure that all that had been kept inside.

    "Your body language. Auras can be masked, but body language always finds a way to let out the true feelings of a human."

    "Is that envy I feel?" I playfully asked.

    "Yes... Being confined to an android body because of a law... Anyway, let''s get back to the main point."

    I took a deep breath letting the other topic he clearly didn''t want to speak about, go.

    "We have had many applicants with great resumes, but yours... Yours was something we hadn''t even expected!"

    The shock within the words was palpable. Even after days of the actual submission, Paul appeared to still be captured by that. I couldn''t fault him on that. Because even I, a few weeks ago, might have been shocked. But circumstances and the whims of the universe were things no one could predict.

    "Isn''t this a drastic course of action on your part even though you are metaphorically being pushed against a wall by that sect?"

    "My reasons are many. But they aren''t important Mr. Paul. Are they?" The nervousness had returned in full force.

    "If we give you a job, that means we will have to contend with them. And that, my dear, is something that my boss is wondering about. Are there any potential benefits to recruiting you?"

    "Mr. Paul, in two centuries, I have enabled my clan to not only survive, but thrive enough that we currently boast Core Formation cultivators in our ranks even without my inclusion. Isn''t that enough to prove my abilities? I am also certain that you have at least perused the history of my rise." I spoke with a confidence and bravity I didn''t feel inwardly. But my mother would have approved.

    "Yes, we have. But those superficial things aren''t why you were summoned here. What I and my boss want to know is one thing. Are you really worth us betting on you? What is your drive? What really made you turn away the position of a matriarch of a clan, with power at your fingertips, to ask for a job as a secretary?"

    "Those are many questions." I said to buy myself a few seconds such that I could get my nebulous thoughts in order.

    "And they all only require a single answer." Paul retorted, leaning back into the red velvet while awaiting my answer, and giving me time to arrange my thoughts.

    "Since young, everyone in the clan has treated me, my mother and sister well, except of course, for my father."

    "These people are the ones am fighting for. So what if I have to grovel before you! So what if I have to lose my authority!? If I can save them from the tyranny of Zeus, then it will be worth it."

    "Well, that had my eyes sparkling. A naive way of thinking...and yet, it has just managed to save you and your clan from becoming sect slaves. Though, you shouldn''t be happy yet. There are still many things to go over before you get to meet the boss, Ms. Toba."

    I strained to hold in my joy, fighting to prevent my lips from curving upwards.

    "Though, there is something I am curious about..." Paul started as I picked up another piece of pastry and enjoyed my cup of coffee. It hadn''t gotten any warmer or colder, and with what I could feel, there were arrays at work within, feeding off the ambient spiritual energy particles in the air. With a nod from me, he continued.

    "...would the people you are helping so much do the same for you?"

    "Yes." There was no reason for any hesitation. I had grown up with them, enduring hard times, the good times, and many other experiences that had pushed our bonds to the limit.

    "..." Paul remained silent at that, but I was certain he wanted to speak more, yet for some reason all that left his lips was an exasperated sigh.

    "I believe you came prepared for an extensive trip...?"

    "What do you mean, Mr. Paul?" My heart skipped a beat. There was only one place we could go to after here...

    And the thought of finally meeting my boss brought back the butterflies.

    "Our next destination is the khaatam. You will need to be sufficiently prepared for the meeting. I could give you a few hours..."

    He let the offer hang while awaiting my response. After a bit of inward wrangling, I took it and was ushered out of the office.

    "Meet me atop the roof at exactly noon!"

    That was the only request before the door sealed itself, and I was left alone in the corridor, which was largely empty and silent.

    My lips, which I had been struggling to maintain within a thin line curled upwards as excitement caused my aura to surge out of my pores and encase me in a greyish metallic sheen before I curbed it.

    I have succeeded!

    With a spring in my step, I bounded away to search for a place where I could have the privacy of initiating communication.

 Chapter 2 Mawar

    ACCR Chapter 2 Mawar

    I felt as light as a feather from the joy that was coercing my cells themselves to jump in electrical energy, with my spiritual energy no less energetic as it circulated within my body. Even my core was getting in on the joy, pulsing in tandem with my heart as it pumped blood throughout my biological body.

    With a thought, my divine sense was unfurled within its cradle, a metaphysical space within my brain, bathing the entire light green corridor. Tiny flashes of light kept it within the corridor, preventing it from permeating the walls as was par of course. If divine sense was infallible, then there would be no secrets in the world.

    I wasn''t trying to spy or anything, just searching for a port that would allow me to connect to the spiritual network, but I came up empty.

    Though, the smooth wall in my gaze wasn''t that uniform in my divine sense, instead made up of countless tiny squares that had energy running through the boundaries, transmitting it to the arrays within the squares themselves and the building.

    A few of the squares even briefly morphed into light sensors which captured my image due to my release of divine sense, probably transmitting it to the building AI to determine whether I was a threat.

    Within mere moments of such an action, within the fraction of a second, one of the tiny units morphed into a spiritual network node.

    Upon connecting through it, only instructions to the public cafeteria where relayed through speech directly within my mind. It was the only place I could connect to the larger Federal spiritual network without a portable device.

    Mine was in the interspatial handbag, but I hadn''t wanted to step on any toes here. I hadn''t even gotten a glimpse into any of the rooms on my way here, which spoke of the security within the place. I didn''t want to come off as a threat. Mawar, had chosen the bag. She had described it with many words, though, a spatial ring would have done the same job. Though, her persuasiveness had eventually won out.

    Within mere moments, my joy carried me towards the cafeteria, a large hall filled with tables and chairs surrounding them. There was nothing ostentious about them, just simple tools meant for sitting down and enjoying a meal, whether alone or in a group.

    I found the nearest table, one free of occupants and sat myself down, ignoring the others. After rummaging through my handbag, now resting upon the table, I took out a gem which immediately plastered itself to my left wrist, partially sinking into the skin. It was in a diamond shape, glittering in the soft light and filled with energy and arrays so minute and complex that I couldn''t even begin to understand them.

    I felt a few gazes curiously pointed my way but ignored them in favour of my communication stone.

    The moment it sensed my aura and blood, an illusory blue screen appeared before my eyes near instantaneously. One of the missed queries made me frown in distaste, though the excitement I felt dispelled it instantly as Mawar''s contact came up with just a thought command.

    It flashed as I tried to connect with her before my surroundings were all replaced by an illusion, not constructed in my retinas, but within my very mind. Though, my awareness still had plenty of connection with the outside world, ensuring that my surroundings were safe.

    The illusory room was our private space, me and my sister. It was a near replica of the room we had had when we were about 5 years old.

    It was small, with two beds that were separated by a small path that went from the entrance to the window.

    Mawar had loved pink, while I had taken on a duller color, black. I hadn''t cared too much about such a pointless thing, but she had been someone who fussed about the appearance of every little thing she had, even her toys.

    A smile graced my lips as I reminisced about those days while waiting for her to show up.

    I moved towards my bed and sat down, facing Mawar''s. The texture of the sheets was the same as I remembered. Though, the thing appeared to be small now that I was older.

    "What happened? Did they ask you for sex or something of a clandestine nature?"

    A nervous voice dragged my attention from the sheets of my bed over to Mawar''s side.

    She had appeared, clad in a summer dress that was colored red with pink flowers woven into the red. It was a gown held up by two straps at her shoulders, and long enough to reach her ankles.

    Her nervous pink pupils brought a warm smile to my face.

    "They have agreed to hire me." I revealed spreading the joy to her.

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    For a moment her jaw hung open before, "Yes!"

    She shouted out, pumping her fists into the air, and doing a little twirly dance, like a child.

    "I told you. I told you! I told you! My idol would never stoop to the same level as those cretins!" She continued.

    "Then what was that nervous look from before? If I had accused him of anything, would you have taken my side?"

    "Of course! You are my sister. There is a time for fangirling, and one for family. I would cease taking him as my idol if he asked for such unsavory things! Sexual favors are a big no!"

    "I sense a but coming."

    "...that''s true. It means that I was right to become his fan girl. Trash like that whatever generation Zeus can''t match up to even a single hair upon his head!"

    With a light cough, Mawar regained herself and sat back down onto the bed.

    "Did they contact you while I was away?"

    "No. They have been somewhat quiet today. I wonder why."

    "Let''s not speculate. Instead, it would be better if we discussed some important things. Mawar! I am going to name you the next clan leader."

    Her eyes widened the moment I said that.

    "Bu-wh-why?!!! I don''t think I could manage!" The words flew out of her mouth like kinetic shells.

    "You will have to manage. I don''t think our uncles and aunts will be capable of managing our farms, let alone dealing with others. They are good honest people who simply love to tend to the rice."

    That got her into her signature posture of contemplation, where she placed a palm atop her chest, and felt her heartbeat while her mind worked.

    "Mother always said that I will never be like you, a natural born leader."

    That brought a grimace to my face, eliciting me to stand up and take her into my embrace.

    "Mother said a lot of things. But I believe everyone has their path, their way. You have been acting as my aide for years now and I believe you are up to the task."

    "Really?"

    I pulled myself off of her but still held her by her shoulders with both hands and gazed squarely into her eyes, "I believe so!"

    Though her smile was strained, she nodded eventually.

    "Am I going to have to start now?"

    "No. I think they might give me a few hours to a day, to settle my affairs. That will be the time."

    A few minutes passed in relative silence before a question was hurled my way, one that I had partially expected.

    "So... How is Kampala city? Is it really one of the great ten? Did you get a glimpse of that race track?"

    Well... I had at least expected one.

    "It would be better if I just showed you."

    With that answer, the scenery around us shifted into one where we were floating up in the sky, gazing down below at the sprawling metropolis, a forest of concrete, metal and glass.

    This was the memory from when I had been within an aircraft, having just arrived at my destination.

    The buildings and grid-like roads started to become even clearer as our gazes were pulled downwards, a memory of the craft descending.

    "Wow! Is that really the race track!" Exclaimed an excited Mawar, prompting me to pause the frame and instead zoom into the superstructure in the North of the city. It was something that inspired awe within me even though I wasn''t a fan of the kinds of races taking place there.

    It was like looking at a long long snake, whose length was almost endless, with coils, twists and turns. Some of its length was buried under the ground, while some of it even managed to touch the height at which clouds formed. This entire lengthy superstructure sat on a piece of land larger than even Kampala city itself.

    "Its beautiful! They changed the previous blue and black stripes to full red! Wow! Bakung! Can you take me to the race next month? It''s a big one! I can''t afford to miss it!"

    "I know about your sneaking off. Can''t you do the same as before?"

    "No! I want you to come with me."

    I grimaced.

    "You know I am not a fan of those things, right?"

    "I just want to spend some time with you. I have been around what you love, administration. Can''t you do the same for me?"

    This put me in a very difficult position. But then I failed to conjure any real moment that we had managed to spend together in recent memory, leading to a hesitant nod from me.

    "Yay!" Remember! Its on the 18th of next month."

    "Okay! Can we now get back to seeing Mr. Mumaso''s Giga Factory?"

    As our gazes lowered towards a pad designed to be a landing spot for aerial vessels atop a tall dark green skyscraper that was bordering on black, I asked...

    "How much does you idol worship go?"

    My sister had always admired Mr. Mumaso, yet I hadn''t paid enough attention to ask about that particular topic. Now that we had time, I wanted to at least drag out some information from her.

    "If he appeared right before me and asked to take me now, right here, provided this wasn''t an illusion, I would simply raise my dress and-"

    "Ewwwwww! That''s unacceptable! Don''t ever think of doing-no! Don''t ever do that!" I shouted while also flicking her forehead.

    "What! We are over 300 years old. Why are you still acting like a teenager in these matters?" Asked an exasperated Mawar.

    But I turned my face away, hiding the rising heat I could feel on my cheeks.

    "I am not acting like a teenager! Am just... I don''t want you to just sleep with any guy without getting to know them first."

    "But Reed is a good person! I can feel it in my bones!"

    "Oh! Now you have decided to do away with honorifics and first names! You have to know that the man is going to be my boss in a matter of hours, right?"

    "What a scandal it would cause! We would become popular! Though, I am curious about how it would feel with him inside me."

    "Mawar!"

    "Okay! Okay!"

    After the ship had landed, we had rode an elevator, one which had gone directly underground after sliding down a large number of floors, with its doors sliding open within an artificial cavern that was gigantic enough to accommodate not one, but two Giga factories!

    I had already asked and they had allowed me to show this to Mawar.

    "So this is where the living array, the ACLA is produced from. Its huge!" Commented Mawar with stars in her eyes.

    Bots and people alike were moving things, and doing other manner of tasks as my memory played. Though, the people and the bots had had their facial features intentionally greyed out by me to prevent their whereabouts from leaking, plus the privacy infringements and all that.

    Though this was a private illusion within my and Mawar''s minds, we were still connected to the larger network. There were chances that someone was shadowing us through means I couldn''t detect.

    The hours passed with Mawar asking questions about the factory, many of which I lacked answers to, due to the fact that I hadn''t been allowed into any sensitive areas. I hadn''t asked to visit any, but I had been certain that even if I had requested, they wouldn''t have complied.

 Chapter 3 Threats

    ACC Chapter 3 Threats

    FAY 437, 2nd Month, Day 7, 9:01 AM

    The grass beneath my butt and feet was breathing, it would have been complaining through the minute signals I could sense if I had been directly seating upon it. But I was floating an inch above the tallest stalk, with my legs crossed beneath me, having assumed a lotus pose.

    The signs of nature and life were all around me, from the small critters, to the large beasts I could sense a bit further away. They were pure beings, not tainted by the heavens into becoming demons, yet.

    A cluster of bacteria were feeding off the dregs of a broken virus on the surface of the soil, within the tall grass, just as a bird, a white crane with beautiful feathers was feeding its chicks above the very tree casting its shadow above me.

    With divine sense, it was if I was close to everything within its range, simultaneously tasting, listening, feeling and seeing everything.

    Even now, a century and some decades later, it was still a novel experience, one that set my heart racing.

    But everything within my senses wasn''t as captivating as the staff floating just a few inches above my palms.

    It was two fingers thick and about four meters long, with its shaft a vibrant greenish-brown.

    Every single cell on its surface was vibrating as if there was a heart somewhere within, beating like that of something made of blood and flesh, creating ripples across its surface.

    Five long years had gone by since I had gone into seclusion to try and create it. I had been of the belief that it would have taken a minimum of twice that time, and yet, here it was, in its completed form barely into half that.

    Ever since I had theorised living arrays, my dream had been to create life, or something close, like this staff before me.

    The sheer joy I was feeling wasn''t something that could be expressed clearly. My very nascent Soul was thruming with it, with some of my attention directed at calming it down.

    I had produced millions of nano threads, woven them into array circuits that became fibres, all arrayed in such a way that they formed this staff. It had a core within, one which handled calculations of a biological nature.

    Through this creation of mine, I was going to improve upon my manifested energy form.

    With an intention transmitted by my divine sense, I felt the core light up for a brief moment before that energy was used to feed into biological code that triggered the DNA of the cells within, producing proteins that arrayed themselves in the exact configuration I wanted, upon which the greenish-brown staff transformed into one of silvery grey, the color of steel.

    Though, it wasn''t just the color, but the properties of actual steel had also been transmitted over, bringing a smile to my face.

    This was the most important reason I had chosen a wood affinity, pliability. Of course, something like blood would have been better, but I preferred wood.

    Now that it had been turned into steel, it was time for me to run an important test, that of durability.

    The staff spun around me as I controlled it through my divine sense brand, closing my eyes to simply feel it with that sense, allowing me to even pick out the air currents disturbed by its movement.

    After getting familiar with it, where I was moving it at speeds that made the leaves of the giant tree above me to rustle violently as if being blown by a hurricane, with the grass stalks being flattened onto the ground, it pierced out, like a thrown spear, moving at such speed that it almost seemed like lightning.

    A sonic boom only entered my ears after the staff had embedded itself within a massive tree countless kilometers away, having left small holes in the trees it had passed through while also severing any plant matter that it barrelled into.

    These trees were far more durable than their counterparts back on Earth, almost rivalling Nascent Soul cultivators in defense! After all, I had personally modified this entire organism!

    Yet the fact that it had managed to bore holes into five of them without even sustaining any damage was a testament to the durability it had gained by temporarily taking on the properties of steel, the advantageous ones of course.

    An intention of will and a flex of my divine sense brought the staff back into my hands near-instantaneously.

    My heart was racing in excitement with the possibilities I was about to unlock. This was a key to the secrets of life! Turning into steel was just a minor ability compared to what I had in mind for the staff.

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    Scanning it with my divine sense, I was relieved to find that there had been almost no impact damage. The minor damage was even being repaired as the torn fibres rejoined. The outer casing had only lost a few molecules and atoms.

    Before I could get too far into my experimentation though, a query for communication from a satellite above, pinged me, and it was someone who I had expected, though that still didn''t prevent my spiritual energy to almost sputter out of control.

    Nervousness was a disease I wouldn''t be able to chase away it seems.

    Taking small steps, with my bare feet feeling the soft grass, I finally walked out of the tree shadow and into the light from the Sun, which was bright and scalding. That was only to be expected considering the fact that the Khaatam orbited the star.

    My gaze fell upon my small hut, one which I hadn''t seen in five years. I had just arrived here a few hours ago from my outer space lab. It was the same as I had left it, except that it was almost reclaimed by the plants, which, with a flex of my control over wood-attuned spiritual energy, I ordered to regress a bit.

    The grass shortened to the same level as that beneath my feet with the vines and plants also doing the same, except that they all regressed to the exact heights they had been at, five years ago.

    Within just mere moments of entering the abode, I was seated upon a woven green mat with signs of life in the vines of its structure, I sighed, then allowed my divine sense to connect to the spiritual net, instantly creating a secure private room for the two of us, me and the sect master of Pantheon.

    "You have become calmer. I would have thought that your teeth would be bared." Spoke the man with the light blue eyes on the other side of our partitioned illusory room.

    My left index finger tapped on my thigh as I worked to restrain the rage and malice that was being dragged to the fore. That expression of his, the one where he was looking at me as some inconsequential bug was unnerving me.

    "The point, 3rd generation Zeus, the point. I don''t have all day." I spoke with a calm that contrasted the waves in my mind.

    That finally managed to get a tiny sliver of reaction out of the man, with the prized artifact resting at his desk letting out a few slivers of lightning that ionised the air and danced along the surface of the gem-like stone table, yet leaving no burn traces.

    "Brat, don''t get smart with me! Pantheon isn''t something a little dog of Taylor can contend with!" He leaned forward, his gaze menacing and infuriated.

    "Besides, we both know why I am contacting you! You have something of mine!"

    "I haven''t seen anything of yours anywhere, have you?" I asked with partially serious expression.

    He snarled, making me almost believe that he was about to blow his top, but with a breath, he schooled his expression into a stoic mask.

    "My woman, Lily Toba."

    "Are you playing with me, Zeus? Has there been anything official on your end that ties my secretary to you?"

    His eyes narrowed, with bolts of lightning slithering across his dark suit, with some even making impact with the walls. It seemed that the room he was in was made with durable materials, enough to withstand his wrath.

    Even though we were in an illusory connection, our surroundings weren''t a replica within the mind, but the real places our bodies were situated within.

    Then the lightning that was threatening to increase in intensity abruptly ceased, with a smile touching the man''s blue lips. It was weird on his face that almost resembled a marble statue.

    "I can see what you are doing here, revenge! You want-no, seek vengeance for the past. But let me tell you this brat, what you have is a bone without any meat!"

    Damned clone! Do you really comprehend the depths of my rage?!

    "How can it lack meat if it got you to contact me personally? That woman must be really important!"

    Something flashed across the man''s face for an instant. I hadn''t managed to get a glimpse before it vanished entirely, but for a moment, my symbiote, sleeping within my body had been stirred.

    "Are you really prepared to face my full wrath? Taylor won''t be able to protect you. Think very carefully about your decision. I will give you a few hour-"

    "No need. She has become my secretary. If you attack her, do trust me on this, Pantheon won''t be able to stay a super sect!"

    With that threat, I consciously shattered the illusory connection, causing the man''s half of the room to vanish like smoke.

    My fist moved, hammering the wooden floor with such force that the entire hut splintered into fragments which shot away, shredding the nearby vegetation except the trees.

    ''Pantheon! I will get my revenge! Of that I will make sure!''

    With a thought, the roots I felt beneath my feet shifted, with their cells multiplying, birthing new shoots that poked out of the soil to morph into a new hut, an exact replica of the one from before.

    (Miss Toba is about to arrive.)

    (Thank you, Paul!)

    My vest and dark green pants vanished into my spatial ring before I cleaned myself with a burst of energy that expelled everything clinging to my skin.

    ''Zeus the clone'' himself wouldn''t contact me unless he really needed something. Lily Toba... What had made that woman important enough for a late stage Nascent Soul to desire? Because I was very sure that it hadn''t been her beauty.

    There was more to this!

    (Paul! I want you to investigate something. Find out if there has been any trace of missing people in the past few years...those with a core attuned to any metallic elements.)

    There had been rumors in the past of Pantheon''s particular lightning gathering formation needing some sort of sacrifice. I had recalled it because it had been attention grabbing at the time, and yet it had managed to be resolved.

    ''Could that be related?''

    A groan escapee my lips as I abandoned all those thoughts in favor of getting into the proper mindset to welcome a guest.

    Meeting people, especially those I am getting acquainted with for the first time was an activity I hated.

    I hoped the woman wouldn''t resort to any small talk. Commenting about the weather here would drive me nuts in less than a second.

    I threw on a white buttoned up long sleeved shirt, whose sleeves I rolled up to my forearms, tucking it into a pair of dark green pants.

    This ensemble was necessary for this meeting but I hated these formal clothes as much as I hated crowds.

    I made it out of the hut, holding the staff as a cane of sorts after making sure that I was satisfied with my attire. Though it wasn''t my satisfaction that I was keeping in mind.

    ''Now, how am I going to steer the conversation towards important things?''

    While ruminating upon that, I felt a craft enter khaatam''s atmosphere, one I was certain carried my new secretary, bringing a smile to my face, one far less genuine in nature.

    ''Let''s get this over with.''

 Chapter 4 Khaatam

    ACCR Chapter 4 Khaatam

    I had expected an outpost or some sort of factory in outer space, or in orbit around Earth and Mars, maybe even slightly included in that, were Jupiter and the other planets, but now that we were bearing upon our destination, I struggled to maintain control over my shock. It was a war to maintain my stoic mask.

    Khaatam!

    It was the single most valuable place in the entire solar system, with technological means surpassing almost every single thing on Earth, including the super large Federal Quantum Computer chip!

    It was both costly to build, yet profitable at the same time, with said profits far surpassing the cost! And all that profit came from a single important resource! Solar crystals! They were the crystallization of solar attuned spiritual energy, a type of energy that had come to be considered way more valuable than even unattuned spiritual energy crystals in the past 80 years!

    Just contact with any type of plant was enough to activate its growth by such speed that in just a few minutes, it would flower, and even bear fruit! And that wasn''t even the most amazing g of its functions! Genetic limitations could be broken! Actually even we humans-no, every living thing had some positive or negative reactions to the solar energy!

    "Mr. Paul..." I paused here to take a deep breath such that I didn''t fumble. "...Is Mr. Mumaso really located on that?" The words came out as calmly as I wanted them, instead of the inner me that wanted to simply scream them out.

    A 3D hologram, in the likeness of Paul, materialised beside me at the question. Meanwhile, his true body was on the bridge behind me, piloting the small private vessel.

    "Yes. Most of his time is spent on Khataam."

    "Has there been a concrete date of when it will be completed?"

    "In the year 4523. Of course, that''s just an estimate. The deadline could shorten or lengthen depending on a myriad of factors. The variables are too many."

    Over 4000 years!

    That was a very long time! If I was lucky, having had descendants that reached the Core Formation in every generation, and birthed new borns relatively late, then in about just over ten generations, someone from my line might be alive to see its completion! But, that could never happen since the future was in constant flux.

    Within mere minutes, the ship circled over the side of the ring, bringing us to the face, the side directly facing the sun, which was lined with panels that served to collect the hot radiated solar energy.

    One large panel slid to the side a minute later and the vessel slipped inside, upon which I released my divine sense for a moment, allowing me to catch a glimpse of the only human below, among the giant green and beautiful trees and flower stalks, which I counted to only be three, holding up three giant white flowers with countless petals and a vibrant yellow inner core accommodating the reproductive parts.

    The scenery was beautiful, like the way the emerald moss covered up every inch of tree bark, even reaching up into the branches, or the vibrant green carpet of grass that covered up whatever medium the entire ecosystem was seated upon, yet the moment my divine sense had swept past the man, I had been taken in. His aura, his emerald green eyes...

    A tile below my feet dissolved and I sunk below, encasing myself in my spiritual energy to prevent my already short silver skirt from fluttering upwards while also making sure that the auric shield around me obscured the tiny windows underneath my skirt.

    Upon making a soft landing upon the carpet of grass, making sure that my heels didn''t dig into the soil by covering the underside of my heels in aura that made it appear like I was wearing flat soles, my attention didn''t for a moment slip towards how soft it was or how unnatural it all seemed.

    My eyes were only drawn into those green orbs that were looking at me calmly and somewhat detached. Though, I could feel an undercurrent of uneasiness.

    My heart raced, with my aura following suit a moment later, almost bursting out of the constraints that was my body. Yet, in a fraction of a second, I contained everything, making sure to purge any hormones that had caused the problem.

    "Miss Toba, It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

    The voice was masculine, yet appeared to be uncertain, as if Mr. Mumaso hadn''t spoken to people in a long time.

    It cast a spell upon me, which I hurriedly broke apart, instead deciding to compartmentalize the memory for perusal at a later date.

    "It is the same for me, Mr. Mumaso."

    The shirt clinging to his lean form, the promise of his hands that were deep within his pockets, with only the forearms visible.

    Breathe Lily, Breathe!

    Maybe this weirdness was a result of being affected by the Nascent Soul stage aura...? After all, this was the first time I was meeting one on a personal basis since my birth.

    Even Zeus, I had only spoken with, in a virtual setting.

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    "You seem... unnerved. Is there something wrong?"

    "Huh?! No no no. I just need a minute to get over the fact that I am meeting a cultivator of your power for the first time. It will pass. Now that I have met you, would you enlighten me as to what kind of things I would need to do as you secretary?"

    A frown crossed his features for a brief instant, making me feel the burning in my cheeks. I was embarrassing myself, no doubt about it.

    It was puzzling. I searched through my memories at the speed of thought until I picked up what was really causing my peculiarities.

    ''There''s absolutely no way!!!''

    "An aide. That''s what you will be. Basically, this first week, you will be following me around, getting to know the people I work with and the places you might need to be. As you must have gleaned from my profile, I don''t love interacting with people, so most of that will be on you after getting familiar with the others."

    I nodded in understanding. My boss was an introvert, and though his Nascent Soul strength masked anything I could glean, I was certain that even talking to me was a herculean task.

    "What''s going to be first on our agenda?!" I asked with an enthusiasm I was partly faking. For some reason, my excitement was causing my aura to roil even though my body had been calmed down.

    The urge to from almost took me. It seems that as long as I was near him, I wouldn''t be bored.

    "A board meeting. Would you be interested in taking a look around this place for a few minutes?"

    "Is that allowed?" The question had to be asked even though I was entirely welcome to the suggestion.

    It was a reason to be close to him. It was a surreal feeling really. What was it about this man that caused me yo feel as if I had been lit on fire?

    -----

    Joy. That should have been the prevalent emotion at the appearance of my bait, this woman. Yet as I strolled with her, I couldn''t dredge out even the tiniest spark of said happiness. Instead, it was guilt that was eating at me.

    Using this woman for my own purposes was something I was struggling to deal with. Even as we walked leisurely, touring my organism, while she asked questions, with I satisfying her curiosity, most of my attention was taken up by thought. The moral conundrum was weighing upon me. If I had been sure that she was a bad person, then I wouldn''t have had any guilt. But the investigations done by Paul had turned up nothing. Most clan cultivators were a match for those sect bastards in evil or grey-are things.

    She is clean.

    That was a right statement. And it was the source of my moral dilemma.

    I took a breath, instead deciding to focus my mind on this peace, this beauty. The wind on my skin, the feeling of the stalks of grass as I crushed them beneath my shoe-clad feet, the cool air that kissed my skin when we occasionally walked underneath the canopy.

    I loved nature to an extent, especially the wood or plant aspect of it. Many had expressed immense disappointment when I had chosen to base my core around wood. I would have been dissuaded if it hadn''t been for one man. Yet now, many naysayers had been slapped and silenced at my success.

    Though, there was still a faction that was still holding out, with an argument that I was useless in combat.

    "What is your aim with this organism, these plants, trees, grass and large flowers?"

    The question set my heart aflutter with excitement. She was an administrative type of cultivator. That I knew. And yet, it still brought me joy that she had taken an interest in my work.

    "Miss Toba, what do you think is the biggest problem cultivators face in raising their realm of cultivation?"

    "Mmmm...time...?"

    "Right, time! That''s the thing we lack the most! Its the whole reason I created that talisman!"

    "It has really helped us out. I didn''t get the chance to experience it personally, but the younger generation have benefitted immensely."

    "Yes..." Some embarrassment welled up with that praise, but I moved on. "In the past, it took over 30 years for a Spirit Gathering cultivator to reach the peak of the realm. And their lifespans were a mere 100 years!"

    "That''s... I have lost many relatives because of that." She admitted with an air of sadness that I didn''t quite know how to handle.

    Though, before my mind would go into overdrive to think of a way to comfort her, she reverted back to how she was before.

    "And how is this grove going to help? Could they be some lifespan extension fruits?" Before I could answer that question though, she answered it all on her own.

    "Ah! If I were you, having invented that formation that allows auto cultivation, then that means that this fruit is of the same type, or close, right?"

    Her steely grey eyes were glowing with what I would consider awe while gazing at me, which prompted me to look away. I wasn''t worthy.

    "Yes. The fruit that will be borne from these flowers will be much the same. More on that will be a surprise for the future."

    "Really! How can you not sate my appetite, Mr. Mumaso?"

    The question, thrown out in jest brought me to a pause, though for her, the reaction was intense, with her eyes widening before she hurriedly apologised for overstepping her bounds.

    My pause had been of a different purpose, though her reaction puzzled me at first, yet in a moment, I managed to figure it all out. And the answer almost solicited a tired sigh out of me.

    "I am not like other Nascent Souls, or higher realm cultivators. For as long as we aren''t in a public setting, you can act at ease around me."

    "I dont think it will be that easy."

    She said, with the next few minutes walked in silence.

    "This board meeting, would you at least brief me on who will be there?"

    ''The types of people I really don''t want to meet.''

    "Shareholders and some department heads. Its been five years, so most of the crowd will be there except for those in seclusion... About 40 people."

    I stopped in place and reached out with my divine sense, connecting directly to hers, though only after she accepted my query.

    All the information I possessed on anyone who would be attending the meeting, sorted and organised, was passed onto her. It wasn''t much, but I also added a bit of my memories to the mix, so that she could parse out their personalities.

    "It seems that our walk must come to an end."

    My words brought her back from her parsing of the data.

    "A pity." Was all she said.

    With one last glance at my garden, I rose upwards, with Miss Toba trailing under me.

    I would have loved to spend more time here as it was a place that allowed me to unwind, but there were things to do. No matter how much I put them off, they weren''t going to go away.

    A small sliver ship appeared, the one that had brought the woman here.

    On entering it, Paul appeared, and I smiled. It had been some time since I had last seen him.

    "Its good to see you, boss." His metallic face mimicked an exact expression of pure joy with those words.

    "Yeah, its good that you are still here." I answered while clasping his hand in mine.

    "Did you really think that they would replace me with another?" He jerked back in mock shock.

    "Nah! I bet even they wouldn''t be able to handle you. You are a handful."

    "Thank you for the compliment!"

    "It wasn''t!"

    My retort brought a smile to Miss Toba''s face, though it soured my mood.

    It would have been better if I could keep her far from me.

    ''Should I leave her in Paul''s hands? She can surely learn the same as if she were shadowing me.''

    Even as my thoughts became complicated and conflicted, my feet were moving towards my private cabin.

 Chapter 5 Something Beyond

    ACCR Chapter 5 Something Beyond

    The room was bland. Just by standing in the doorway, gazing at the black walls stripped with bands of white-solidified photon pathways, providing the only illumination in the otherwise simple room.

    A query, one of a familiar nature tugged at my divine sense.

    Fantasy-like.

    That was my choice. Though, I refused to provide a template, allowing for something random, hoping to be surprised enough for thoughts about Lily to disappear.

    The moment I had finished my input, the bands of light brightened, and the room transformed instantly, with the blandness vanishing, the walls adopting an illusory image of a continuing landscape that was composed of forests off in the distance, surrounding a lone willow on a green hill, with a bench under it.

    The drooping branches were composed of leaves colored red, with white blossoms. The light was akin to high noon, and a gentle breeze was rustling the leaves, which released pleasant chimes upon clinking with each other.

    I walked to the bench and plopped down, leaning against the stem, and stared up above into the canopy.

    I closed my eyes and breathed in, taking in the clean air, soothing my mind.

    It was a partial illusion, that I knew. But it still didn''t take away from the naturalness of the scene.

    Beautiful!

    A certain part of me contemplated sleep, but that wasn''t something that could be achieved with the runaway guilt-filled thoughts within my mind.

    Lily. The coincidence that had allowed me to get someone like her, valuable to that man, Zeus, was something I couldn''t wrap my head around. It had simply been too convenient that I was still suspicious even now.

    Yet I was also certain that she wasn''t scheming something. So, what had really happened?

    My eyes opened, with my gaze focusing off into the fake distant brown mountain range, beyond the green forest below the hill.

    Why does he want her?

    That was the fundamental question. The most important one that could be asked.

    She was a beauty. That wasn''t in doubt. But a man like Zeus wouldn''t be naive enough to be attracted my mere beauty. Besides, every single female cultivator was pretty in one way or another.

    So, what was it that he needed? Was it her metallic-steel core?

    That was the most plausible reason, yet I couldn''t lock it in because of the lack of more information. Hopefully, Paul would come through.

    Now, Zeus!

    The man was strong! The gap between me, at the early Nascent Soul stage and him, who was at the peak, was an immense chasm!

    It was a chasm that couldn''t be bridged by normal means. If Lily was as important to him as I suspected, then he will make a play to get her. That was something that couldn''t be refuted.

    Then there was his sect, Pantheon. It was a behemoth that had its roots through many aspects of the Federation.

    Some crucial industries were even partly in the hands of the massive sect, with many of its disciples spread within the Federation itself.

    And this problem had simply stemmed from one simple decision made by the current Zeus.

    I hadn''t been alive during that time, but apparently, the man hadn''t done anything in opposition ton the founding of the Federation, except to ask that the state of Greece be left sovereign. No Federal influence whatsoever.

    With the man''s disposition, I had been shocked that he had taken such a stance!

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    But that only meant one thing. There was something that the sects were hiding, something more important than starting a war with the Federation.

    I, and many others suspected that it was something that would allow them to make a comeback, with a legacy that would last for an age.

    Yet so far, no one had managed to get a sniff of information. Even those Radiant people, who were far more friendly with the Federation hadn''t divulged anything.

    Maybe, I should contact the President after Paul finds something.

    A dot appeared far off into the horizon, beyond even the mountains, with its movement alone churning up the sparse clouds.

    It was a bird, and within mere seconds, which in its perspective translated into just two wing beats, appeared just above the forest, with the wind trailing behind it bending the trees as if they were mere twigs, some even snapping, their top halves being blown up into the sky.

    It was a massive bird, a Roc. A legendary creature that had command of the wind itself, making it the master of the skies.

    My heartbeat sped up as I gazed at its golden plumage, which gave off a metallic shine that made its body appear to have been cast from gold.

    It was freedom in the flesh. The legends about it told of its ability to even fly within the void of space, an ability I envied greatly.

    With a maneuver, it dipped its left wing, with its body following that direction to start circling around the hill, devastating the forest below with the wind left in its wake.

    But I was attracted by its golden eyes. They weren''t focused on the ground... It was a truth I could feel within my bones. No, they were directed skywards!

    It was preparing for its eventual ascent.

    With each flap of its massive golden wings, the speed increased, forming a tornado right around me, which left the hill, the grass, the willow and I, untouched, yet chaos was unfolding wherever the winds met the ground, having already reduced the trees below into splinters with the tornado, now ripping off the soil of the ground with reckless abandon.

    Yet my eyes were drawn by the roc. The bird had this determination, one that I was sure matched my own as it became a blur even to my gaze.

    Then it started rising along the walls of the wind, riding the rising currents skywards, where the sky had at some point become cloudy because of the powerful draw caused by the spinning wind pillar.

    Its wing beats slowed in the interval they had been flapping. Anticipation gripped me as I stood up and walked out from beneath the shadow cast by the willow.

    This was the moment! A pivotal moment that would decide whether the roc had gained enough velocity to escape the clutches of gravity!

    Then the wing beats ceased, with the bird only coasting along with its authority over the wind.

    But I could feel the energy building within it, with my core dancing along to the suspense, forcing my spiritual energy to race through my channels with the speed akin to that of high pressure liquid spiritual energy flowing through a pipe.

    Then the wings rose upwards before a powerful beat caused the entire tornado of wind to collapse, destroying every single thing around me for miles, with the mountains in the distance even crumbling, leaving behind a massive depression with only the hill, the grass, the willow, and I as the only surviving witnesses.

    But the illusion shifted around me, as if I was flying just beside the roc while flames licked its skin, and the beak became something that caused the very air before it to be torn apart.

    The clouds were blown apart, leaving behind a massive hole within that was enlarging by the minute.

    I could feel the bird pulling every single scrap of air around it to aid in its flight, controlling the wind attributed spiritual energy with the familiarity of limbs.

    Yet the friction still couldn''t be avoided. Sparks had been birthed at the start, before a full conflagration had enveloped the roc. I could see the golden feathers melting, akin to actual gold turning liquid.

    But it didn''t scream out. It couldn''t. A closed beak pierced through the air better than an open one. And there was also the fact that it was determined to surpass its limits. The eyes didn''t lie.

    Within mere seconds, the planet had become a ball of blues and greens under us as the bird sped to the finish line, the last hurdle that would allow it to escape the shackles of gravity.

    My heart roared within my chest as I beheld the feat. It was exhilarating, yet also terrifying.

    Finally, a clarion cry, carried on chaotic spiritual energy within the void of space entered my ears from the bird.

    Feathers had melted, leaving behind patches of blackened skin, especially on the face. It must have been painful, yet it was all clouded by the joy of accomplishment.

    Then I felt the shift as all the solar attributed spiritual energy was pulled towards the bird, being absorbed in order to catalyse a breakthrough into something greater.

    Then, I was back on my bench, leaning against the willow. The forest was whole, and the mountains in the distance were still intact, as if everything had been, but a dream.

    In essence, it had been. Though, I knew that it had been an imagination, a visual representation of what tribulations a roc demon might go through in order to reach the fabled Deity Transformation stage.

    My heart was pounding with excitement. After revenge, this was my dream, to head for the stars themselves. I wanted to see knew things, to explore the universe''s wonders, to search for a higher cultivation... And many other things.

    But first, I had to get my sweet revenge, and it was all going to be starting with one woman, Lily Toba.

    The first step to that was sending a query, which I was hesitating to do. Her refusal to go along with the plan would be detrimental to my goal, yet lying to her would bring about a pit in the depths of my stomach, one I didn''t want to face.

    The problem with spiritual energy was the fact that it had a tendency to mutate in relation with emotions. Though that was limited to that which was within your body, or produced by you yourself.

    That meant that any problems in your mental state could be detrimental to your wellbeing.

    I took a breath, resolved myself, sat up straight on the bench, while also willing a new seat to appear, birthed by the programmable matter within the floor, though in its painted over illusion, appeared as a root, willed from the ground by the willow, to eventually morph into a small bench close to mine, yet also allowing the person upon it to lean into the tree, just like me.

    Then the query was sent and I waited with bated breath. To others, this might have seemed like a simple decision, something they couldn''t lose sleep over. But for me, it was something that would affect my plans.

    Others might opt to simply lie to her, or in the event that they decided to present the choice to the person, still pressure her into accepting their own choices.

    But I was certain that should miss Toba refuse and decide to go back to her clan, I wouldn''t disrespect her choice, instead needing to come up with a new plan.

    The part of the illusory holographic construct shifted as something like a portal appeared, though to my senses, the door had just opened.

    Her eyes lit up as she took in the scenery for a fraction of a second, with her face almost glowing for an instant before she controlled her self and within two steps, was beside me, on the other bench, seated in a way that denoted a certain measure of unease.

    My body was still reeling from the that visual ascension of the roc, with excitement still in a high.

    "How do you find the scenery? Is it to your liking?" Surely a mundane question would be a nice way to start, instead of jumping into things, right? Though, small talk wasn''t my thing.

    "The willow is certainly beautiful, not to mention the realism of the place. I would love to own something like this one day."

    "Too expensive. Those Radiant bastards just love stealing money." Even now, my liver still hurt at the sheer cost.

    Her fingers tapped at the wooden surface of the bench as we lapsed into silence before she turned towards me, her face a mask of utmost seriousness. "So, why was I summoned?"

    Yap! She had decided to leap right into the heart of the matter.

    I straightened myself up, then started, "Zeus... Do you have an idea of why he wants you?"

    There was a fraction of a second where her pupils widened, before settling back into calmness. Though I could feel sparks of suspicion off her soul aura. I wouldn''t have tried to read into that, but this was a conversation I didn''t want to risk getting into the wrong hands, so every single pulse of emotion had to be read and analysed.

 Chapter 6 Interlude; Darkness in Hearts

    ACCR Chapter 6 Interlude; Darkness in Hearts

    FAY 437, 2nd Month, Day 7, 10:34 AM

    My eyes were closed, with my divine sense unfurled, covering every inch of the colosseum, scanning the people, the place, and the centre itself, the pit, where a bunch of younglings were going at it.

    Every sensation, every gesture and pose, every single syllable... All of it, was something that was entering my mind from the hundreds of thousands of spectators, both cultivator and non-cultivator alike.

    There was a darkness within this colosseum. Schemes and treachery were afoot. Some of it was blatantly screaming in my face, while there also existed that which was in the shadows, especially from those we had dubbed <i>mortals</i>.

    In the beginning, before my tenure as Hades, at the creation of Pantheon... The Era had been glorious, but now, the advent of the Federation had birthed something within the mortals, a yearning to become like us.

    My peers could see it. That I knew. Yet, they were ignoring the festering wound.

    The plotting and the spying, not to mention the arrogance and entitlement of the <i>gods</i>... All of it was making me irritated and annoyed.

    I had known that this was what I was going to be exposed to. The wild cheering was only for the ignorant, plus those I could feel faking it.

    My fingers squeezed into the armrest as my annoyance reached a peak. This wasn''t supposed to be an event needing my presence!

    I felt an urge to shout at someone, yet there was none I could take my anger out on.

    Those beneath my throne, the lesser gods, weren''t at fault. They were also obligated to be here, just like myself. This was the nature of Pantheon, the law of Zeus.

    Posey was a somewhat lucky fellow, having the excuse of having to deal with those sea demons haunting his little coastal domain, allowing him the choice of not appearing.

    Though, I didn''t envy the man. Those monsters weren''t things that I wanted to deal with. Even a Core Formation demon from the ocean could take a person like myself down.

    Perhaps if the underground world, my domain, dubbed the <i>underworld</i>, had some threatening tunneling creatures, I wouldn''t have had to attend these useless duels.

    "How long do I have to endure this farce?" I asked my partner, seated upon my left, on a throne similar to my own in size, yet different in design. Flowers were blooming upon it, diverse in species, yet all alive, thriving upon the throne, like some symbiotic amalgam.

    "Evening." Persephone answered, her face a stoic mask. It was a challenge getting a read on the woman''s thoughts. Technically, we were married, yet I loved the fact that we only interacted on days like this. She and I were in pursuit of very different things.

    I stifled a sigh at her answer. Though darkness was shrouding my form, there was no guarantee that she wouldn''t pick up on that.

    With that answer, my attention shifted away from the crowds and the battle taking place below, to settle within my mind. Of course, I still left a sliver of awareness for the outside.

    There were important things to ponder about. Like the fact that Zeus had failed to attain someone he had wanted. She was a piece, maybe one crucial enough to unravel the skeletons within his closet.

    The majority of my attention was momentarily pulled back into the pit of the colosseum when the crowd went wild.

    A hand had fallen upon the brown stone ground, Hermes''. Ares had managed to amputate him.

    Another sigh almost escaped my lips. This was the problem with these little contests. Ares was supposed to always win. It was something of an unspoken truth.

    Decades ago, a Hermes of that time had almost managed to break tradition only for Zeus to meddle with the battle. The non-cultivators hadn''t even noticed the foul play!

    <strike>

    </strike>

    <i>Lillyanne!</i> Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    The woman had been saved by sheer coincidence. Her luck was certainly something praiseworthy. Escaping the clutches of Zeus wasn''t easy.

    That brat Reed wasn''t powerful enough to truly save the woman from Zeus, but the one standing behind him wasn''t someone the lightning <i>god</i> could hope to antagonise at this time.

    That was a monster that even I hoped to never have his attention falling upon me.

    Besides, though the brat wasn''t powerful. His vast wealth couldn''t be easily dismissed. Many things were capable of being made easy with money.

    Ignoring all that left one single fact. Zeus needed <i>Lillyanne</i>.

    I rubbed my chin, inwardly pondering the feasibility of a plan to capture her. It was a tempting thought.

    By having her in my hands, I could strike a bargain with Zeus. It was a risk though, one that would cause very many problems with the slightest misstep.

    Though, there were some eager pawns that could help me distract the man.

    I passed a hand through my hair, roughly tussling my hair in frustration.

    The problem with all my plans hinged on whether the secret was valuable enough to go through all that trouble.

    What was so important enough that Zeus had to hide it from even us, the <i>Great Gods</i>?

    I had spent hours, days and years Contemplating that mystery, yet had not come any closer to solving it.

    My agents, the shadows, hadn''t managed to purse out anything from their missions.

    The only fact that I had managed to glean was the involvement of the sect masters of the other sects! That alone made me certain that whatever was being hidden, was far more important than I had imagined!

    There was also the resources that seemingly vanished into thin air. These weren''t mere million-credit-worth things, but billions of credits simply vanishing into nothing, as if devoured by a black hole!

    Another roar rippled through the crowd, once again jolting me from my mind, bringing me into reality.

    Hermes had managed to inflict a gash upon Ares'' chest with his sword, wiping the smugness and arrogance from the man''s face.

    Hermes was a messenger god, one who was supposed to be faster than Ares by an incredible margin. It was commendable that he had managed to injure the other god even with the suppression of the colosseum''s array.

    <strike>

    </strike>

    <i>Wait! First generation Zeus! Did the secret have a connection to that man?! </i>

    Could he have conceptualized a piece of technology far more advanced than even the array circles that gave us three the edge against all other Nascent Souls?

    I licked my lips, feeling my heartbeat increase in anticipation and excitement. That Zeus hadn''t been selfish in relation to the sects.

    But what could such a thing be if it guzzled such a massive amount of resources? So far I had pinpointed that all the large sects had a connection to that.

    That begged the question. What kind of Advanced technology was it?

    From what I knew of the sects, there was absolutely no way they would have allowed the birth of a power that could threaten them. And yet, they hadn''t opposed the creation of the Federation in the slightest!

    At the time, I had thought that there was going to be a major altercation, yet nothing had happened?!

    Could whatever was eating up the resources be the means that would allow them to overturn the status quo? Or, was there something even larger at play?

    There was also the question of how that status quo could be overturned. From what I had gleaned in my limited interactions with the larger Federation, they were powerful enough to take on all the sects combined.

    Something was most definitely fishy. And it was tickling my curious bone.

    Another cheer rippled through the crowd, entering my ears, and dragging my awareness back to reality.

    The mortals were wearing a piece of technology in the form of glasses that allowed them to keep up with the speeds of the cultivators, an amazing contraption invented by the first generation Zeus.

    Could the man have created something that was capable of annihilating powerhouses?

    Or could it be something that could give the sects a lead that they might be able to maintain in the long run?

    I scratched at my scalp, frustrated with the endlessness of the possibilities.

    <strike>

    </strike>

    <i>Wait! Could it be...? No no no! That''s impossible!</i>

    The sky brightened further, with a lightning bolt striking behind me, specifically, Zeus'' throne, heralding the rumbling thunder that exploded across the colosseum, with the very rock making up the structure enhancing the sound to the point that it drowned out even the cheers of the crowd.

    When the thunder died down, a powerful roar of cheers rumbled from the spectators, far more powerful than that which had been directed at the battle taking place below.

    Within the scope of my divine sense, I caught the momentary smirk of vanity that crossed Zeus'' face before it morphed into a fake smile.

    The wave of his hand marked the end of his <i>glorious</i> entrance before he sat down upon his throne, with his ostentatious hairstyle adding to his imposing stature.

    He wasn''t beefed up in the body department... Just that his long reign had added that demeanor on him.

    My finger tapped the armrest on my left as I wondered whether he truly cared about the undercurrent of darkness among the mortals.

    His arrival alone had overshadowed the battle.

    "Your highness." Persephone turned her head and gave a nod, which was reciprocated by Zeus.

    But I didn''t even turn my head. Though his throne was above us, I wasn''t the submissive type. He knew that very well.

    "Hades, how is that little domain of yours? Is it cozy enough? Is your wife enjoying her time there?"

    My finger continued tapping upon the armrest at that question while I contemplated shattering the entire throne and duking it out with the man. His condescending tone was grating upon my ears.

    His pointed look as he gazed at Persephone, while asking that question was irritating.

    "Same old. Same old. Nothing changes. It''s all the same inky darkness. It''s akin to an underground prison cell." My voice came out calm as opposed to the sarcasm I had wanted infused.

    "Hmm. It looks like Ares, my son, is doing well in the battle." Pride, or any other emotional sign was absent from his tone, as if everything was as it should be.

    "A little bird told me that you lost a certain woman by the names of <i>Lilyanne</i> to that brat, Reed."

    His eyes narrowed imperceptibly, with a sliver of murderous intent surfacing from the depths of his mind for a moment, no longer than a fraction of a second, only for calm to forcefully take over in an instant.

    The prickle upon the back of my neck had caused me to enter a tense state, with my energy riled up in preparation for the man to strike. Just like lightning itself, Zeus had a tendency to strike without any prior warning.

    "Why would you want to stick your nose where it doesn''t belong, Underworld rat!"

    Sometimes, I admired how Persephone was capable of maintaining her cool facade when these verbal barbs were being exchanged.

    "Anything related to Pantheon, not to mention you as the <i>sect master</i>, is important intelligence to me." a tiny wrinkle appeared upon his forehead before it smoothed out, though not as fast as the tiny white - blue arcs in his hair.

    "That matter has no relation to Pantheon. I will give you a word of advice. One from a <i>Great</i> God to a <i>lesser</i> one; give up on that endeavor!"

    "Heh!" I scoffed, with laughter almost bubbling out of me. Do he really think that I was scared of him?!

    I shook my head at the preposterousness of that notion. Yet, before my thoughts could devolve even further down that pit, a light bulb moment lit up my mind, chasing away the clouds of darkness that had been burdening me.

    <strike>

    </strike>

    <i>Maybe, I should capture her! Wouldn''t that be enough to get Zeus to grovel at my feet? </i>

    But first, I had to live through this boring duel. My attention shifted to masses, to those that were trying to hide the fact that their eyesight was constantly on us, to those that were only going through the motions when cheering. And to those who were glaring with hatred, yet couldn''t do or say anything that would lead to the death of not just them, but their families.

    <strike>

    </strike>

    <i>Would it be possible to use their hatred? </i>

 Chapter 7 The Slap

    ACCR Chapter 7 The Slap

    A combination of purples and reds fluttered down from the willow, having been dislodged by a gust of wind, lending an air of fantasy to the scene before my eyes. I leaned back into the willow and took a deep breath of the scented air, one of the few real things in this illusory construct.

    I had had the privilege of being in the same room with Nascent Soul cultivators a limited number of times since my stint as the Toba clan leader, yet, I had fallen in love with Mr. Mumaso''s demeanor. Most people at that realm either blatantly or subtly flaunted their power, making it so that their immediate surroundings were a hazard, even for Core Formation cultivators. But he was different.

    I gazed up into the willow, watching as the leaves and petals fluttered down. His question was one I really didn''t want to ponder at this time, so I was buying myself some time.

    I could still vividly remember that particular experience, the one where Zeus had first contacted me. And the memories weren''t ones I was fond of. It had been akin to being thrust into war, expected to take down a Core Formation when you were just a Spirit Gathering whelp.

    The man had been the picture of musculinity, perfection and dashing. But I hadn''t bought into that at all. His smile had been warm and friendly, akin to an older brother, yet his eyes had been aglow with the glitter of yearning, coupled with love.

    It had been a perfect ensemble, one that would have won over the naive inexperienced women. But I had seen through the facade.

    He had professed his love and admiration, even going as far as to give the excuse that he had been too busy to have the chance of contacting me prior. Those electric blue eyes with lightning arcs had been capable of melting millions of hearts, but not mine. I had sensed a crisis!

    When those at the top of the power pyramid turn their attention towards you, the chance that it''s going to be good for you are always slim to none!

    After that first conversation, a few more were initiated by the man, even as I ran everywhere to try and secure a patron that would protect me and the clan from his clutches.

    Even through all that, as an administrative cultivator, I had scoured every conversation, every rumor, every piece of intelligence about the man and Pantheon itself, trying to puzzle out his interest in me.

    Yes... ME!

    Not the clan, not anyone related to me, but specifically me. The man wanted me. That I had managed to figure out, plus the fact that it might be related to my specific attribute of spiritual energy, yet nothing else.

    I turned to Mr. Mumaso, whose gaze was pointedly staring down into the vegetation below the hill.

    He''s handsome!

    Unlike the fake Zeus, Mr. Mumaso was more genuine. Not to mention that ostentatious hairstyle. Who the hell shapes their hair into a lightning bolt?!

    "I have no idea why that man would even want me. Do you know something?"

    I asked, wondering what was going through his mind.

    "Ms. Toba... Would you help me if I asked?" He asked, his gaze still gazing down the hill.

    My heart pounded within my chest as I directed a sliver of attention towards the blades of grass dancing to the whims of the breeze, illuminated by the Sun''s rays.

    He needs my help!

    This feeling was the same one those years ago when I had had a crush on a particular classmate. Had I fallen for him?

    I snuck a peek back at him, but his eyes were still not turned my way, which was starting to get to me.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "That would depend on a myriad of factors." I answered after a few seconds of overheating my brain.

    "The reason I hired you... Was mostly out of selfish intentions."

    For a moment, everything, from thought, to breath, paused when he spoke those words.

    "I wanted you to be the bait that would allow me to capture Zeus."

    My spiritual energy almost went haywire at his admission, with all my fantasies crashing to the ground and breaking like glass. And I had been deluding myself that he had been one of the few good people in the world.

    It started as an ember, a smidgen, yet that rage grew within me, consuming everying else, even rational thought itself.

    Bait! BAIT!

    I had been chosen because I had been the perfect bait!? I had been played to this extent. Why?! Because I had been a powerless desperate Core Formation woman?!

    My nails dug into my palms as I tried to control myself, feeling every single cell within my body vibrating with energy.

    "I am truly sorry for having kept this from you. I should have been honest with you from the start. But-"

    "But what?!" I shouted out. "Hah!? Am I that weak and inconsequential to the point that I am just one of the pieces on a chess board, or one of the cards in a deck?! Why can''t I become a player?"

    He even had the audacity to flinch. I stood up, taking deliberate slow steps until I reached right infront of him, looking down upon his form.

    His emerald green eyes gazed back at me, filled with guilt and myriad of other emotions which I didn''t have the patience to read.

    Do you have any idea of how many people I went to in order to ask for help? Do you have any idea of how many times my hopes have been dashed? And... And just when I had finally found it, you shattered it into smithereens!

    I wanted to shout out all those words at him, yet I couldn''t do it. So, I condensed each and every one of them into my right palm, and brought it down.

    Reed (POV)

    As Ms. Toba loomed over me, with my gaze locked with those steely grey round orbs of hers, all I could see was an all consuming rage.

    There was nothing to fault. Even I would have been equal to, or even more enraged than her.

    Then, her right hand was raised, bringing no small measure of surprise to my face.

    She wouldn''t!

    Lily Toba was an administrative type of cultivator. Those were the kinds that would mull over even the slightest of decisions extensively before committing. Yet here she was, having raised her arm with the intent of slapping me, a Nascent Soul cultivator!

    Could the previous days of despair have finally culminated into this course of action?

    I wondered even as the palm struck down, causing a thin film of compressed air particles to accumulate along its surface because of its speed, though still slower than my reaction speed, giving me plenty of time to ponder.

    This was an affront in the dignity of a Nascent Soul cultivator, yet there was a voice at the back of my mind telling me that this was my due. But that still begged the question. Should I accept it!

    With a sliver of my power, I created a transparent cage that would serve to lock all the fluctuations caused by her power within. The silver lining in this situation was the fact that she hadn''t released her spiritual power, instead relying on only her bodily strength, enhanced by years of being bathed within spiritual energy.

    The sound was loud, yet the pain was dull. I had allowed it to land, even making sure to prevent any instinctual defensive reaction by my spiritual energy.

    Heavy breaths entered the ears of my turned face as the woman heaved, trying to bring herself back in control, though not before releasing a gasp, which I was certain contained no small amount of shock.

    "I-I-I..." She tried to articulate something, only for the words to fail, with her feet faltering, making it so that she stumbled back a few steps.

    "I deserved that." After a sigh, I spoke. It fell upon me to break this deadlock.

    "I-I am sorry! I shouldn''t have lost control of myself!" She apologized while I finally brought my eyes back to her.

    She was a mess. There were tears in the verge of falling. There was terror within her eyes as the weight of what she had done sunk in. And most of all, her body was trembling, while her spiritual energy, grey in color, was spilling out of her to coat her entire body as she prepared herself for my retaliation.

    I combed a hand through my green hair as I beheld her, wondering about what I could do to alleviate her concerns. This was a situation I had never found myself in. It had always been the other way round, with my mother being my support until she had died.

    "This time... I am not going to hold it against you." I spoke after collecting my thoughts, which had taken a few tense seconds.

    "Sit down, Ms. Toba. We have much to discuss."

    A few minutes passed as I waited for her to get herself and everything within her mind under control.

    The breeze fluttered the petals and leaves of the willow, creating a scene like no other. The sun was right above the tree, bearing its wrath down upon the land. I gazed to the side, where Ms. Toba was seated. She was gazing far into the distance, having managed to get her outward appearance in order.

    "Ms. Toba..." I started only to pause as I lacked the words to use in order to bring up the previous topic without eliciting a massive fluctuation within her emotional state.

    "You want me to be the bait in a plan to bring down Pantheon."

    She spoke with a coldness that hadn''t been there before, though her face was a mask of stoicism.

    "Yes."

    "And what would that entail exactly? Will I still perform my duties as your secretary? Or, will I simply be an artwork to be paraded around?"

    "I hired you not just as bait. But also because of your extensive experience in management. There is no need to doubt your own abilities."

    That brought a twinkle within her eyes, which were still gazing into the trees below. But it was hurriedly smothered in the fraction of a second.

    She might never trust me again. But it''s better that she has an inkling of what''s needed of her. Atleast then, she will have a sense of preparation for the dangers ahead.

    "I will need some time to contemplate your offer."

    "Like... How long?"

    "A day, or more."

    "It will be better if it''s just a day. We have no idea how urgently Zeus needs you. And I lack the manpower to protect you from afar."

    "..."

    All that answered me was silence before she stood up and walked out of the room, leaving me to sigh out some pent up frustrations and lay down upon the desk. That had gone better than I''d thought.

    I caressed my cheek as I remembered her slap. She had been more out of sorts than I had expected. The woman had supposed to have had a rational, calm and calculative demeanor, yet it seemed that she wasn''t as perfect as I had previously thought. It looks like I was still underestimating humanity.

    I had to wake up. Zeus was a foe that was more powerful and cunning than I. If I had any hope of winning, I had to anticipate his moves!

    Now that he had lost Ms. Toba to me? He was most definitely going to opt for more violent means. What I had to figure out, was the timing.

    Though, there was one thing I was certain of. He wasn''t going to act impulsively. Which meant that he was going to bide his time, waiting for a suitable opportunity. Acting now would only be offending me and the Federation.

    I stood up, dispelling the illusion with just a thought, reverting the room back to its original dull decor.

    (Reed, I have managed to collect some useful information)

 Chapter 8 Weight

    ACCR Chapter 8 Weight

    My mood was a soaking wet blanket. The atmosphere was the same, except that there was a very large amount of awkwardness in the air.

    I was standing by the vertical window... Though, it was more of a rectangular hole with an energy film spread across it. Behind me, was Mr. Mumaso Reed, a man I did not want to be in the same room with.

    There was a certain problem that all of us cultivators faced in the presence of those with higher realms, you couldn''t ignore them.

    Their presence was something that could acutely be felt. No matter how much they tried to hide or suppress their energy signature, even mere instincts were enough to alert you of their presence.

    The man was behind me. I could feel him. The reason we were now being tortured with being in the same unobstructed space was simply the fact that we had arrived at our destination... Not mine, as I would have to board a transport back to Earth.

    Mars was looming right before me, down below my feet. Glass-like panes, in a grid pattern were covering every inch of its circular stratosphere, serving the purpose of trapping the atmosphere from being stripped away by the void of space because of its weak gravitational forces.

    I would have been awed any other day, yet now, it only served as a minor distraction from the awkwardness. It had been a long time since I had last physically seen it up close.

    Below the panels, green and blue interwove, coupled with some metallic gleams here and there. And to think that over 400 years ago it had just been plain red soil and rock!

    Above the panels, there stood stations that served to receive the massive volume of crafts that delivered people and things to the planet, not to mention those leaving. The ports within my gaze were in a frenzy of activity.

    The craft got increasingly closer to the port, with the butterflies within my stomach increasing in the intensity of their fluttering.

    Only a single thought occupied my mind right now. We were going to have to talk. I couldn''t just leave without even a bye, right?

    The moment the subtle vibration of a successful docking passed through me, Mr. Mumaso walked towards me. I could feel myself stiffening up, dreading the idea of speaking to him.

    "Ms... Toba, I hope you can come to a swift decision. I will be waiting for good news."

    I turned around, feeling a surge of irritation within which was smothered the moment I gazed into those emerald eyes brimming with sincerity. All the expletives I had been about to spew out died within the my throat, with only an exasperated sigh leaking out.

    After giving a nod in acknowledgement, I alighted from the vessel into the port, where a cacophony of sound bombarded me as if a loud speaker was blaring right next to my ears.

    I mellowed down my heightened sense of hearing after a moment of regathering myself, then mingled within the crowd.

    I took steps, swarm through the crowd, with my mind occupied with thoughts about what I could do.

    Zeus!

    I had never understood how people could develop a dislike towards another, one which evoked distaste within the person. Yet now, I was feeling it.

    Just by showing an intention to have me, my life, coupled with that of my clan had been overturned. Was this how those people I had favored in the past had felt?

    Someone brushed up against me within the crowd, rubbing themselves against the thin film surrounding my body to protect me from spiritual energy pollution. It had been a weak Spirit Gathering girl.

    This crowd was a mixture of snakes and dragons, yet each were oddly tame. Of course they had to be. This was the Federation!This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Should I find a way to get in touch with the President?

    The question lingered within my mind even as photons wrestled with each other to get into my eyes from the many holographic advertisements floating above. If it hadn''t been because of regulations, then businesses might have been bombarding this crowd with spiritual messages.

    Shopping malls, restaurants, Healthcare facilities, array masters, Array artists... Basically every single profession and means of entertainment that could exist were here, nestled within the sprawling corridors of the space station, one of many.

    -----

    Upon closing the door to my tiny booked room, all sound vanished, just like back within Mr. Mumaso''s craft.

    I leaned against it while cradling my knees.

    I had thought it had been because of my star qualifications. The job. Yet, I had only been accepted because of the fact that I could be a chess piece that could be used against that man, Zeus.

    Atleast he told you before it could go any deeper, right?

    But that wasn''t enough justification!

    You were hurt because you had fallen deeply within those emerald eyes.

    I snorted at that stray thought. We had just met! How could I have been taken in that easily!

    Lies!

    With a groan, i picked myself off the floor before my restless thoughts could devour me and headed towards the bathroom, where I received a query from Mawar.

    As the water cascaded down my back, I wondered how I could answer her because I didn''t have anything to speak about now. Though, I still sent back emotions of being okay and also the intent that I was busy, calming her temporarily.

    Mumaso Reed was a man that had risen from being a mere orphan to a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage within just a mere 300+ years. Yet, what made him endearing to many was the fact that he was someone who didn''t put on airs.

    All this had been made known to me simply because of Mawar''s fangirling. She was a sucker for the man. And the idea of me turning to him for help had also been proposed by her.

    He is a good man.

    That... Was true. I didn''t want to admit it, but this situation wouldn''t have come about if he hadn''t been honest with me. I would have been blissfully unaware of everything.

    But I still couldn''t find it in me to forgive the man. Though...

    I brought my hand close to my face. I had slapped him. I had slapped a Nascent Soul cultivator. And lived to tell the tale! Though, there was no way I would tell anyone, even Mawar.

    My mind was in turmoil. Calming down was going to be far further than I had thought.

    How can I escape my mind?

    I wondered about that while perusing my recent memories, searching for something that might help only for something, a particular business advertisement, to catch my attention. Even with a cursory glance, I had managed to retain the layout of the entire route I had taken to reach this room.

    But... I have never been to such a place.

    That was true, but I had to unwind. And any normal, quiet place wouldn''t work. It would only magnify my thoughts.

    After a shower, I stepped back into the room and headed towards the accompanying wardrobe, where a variety of clothing designs was on display. They were nice, but I still searched for something racy. That was the the only piece that could allow me to step into that place.

    After getting myself all dolled up, I stood there, with a silvery mirror floating right in front of me. A pink blush, one of embarrassment at my current ensemble, lit up my otherwise pale cheeks.

    This was most definitely an attire Mawar should never see. No, not just Mawar!

    With a flex of my intent, my spiritual energy coalesced into a long coat that covered me entirely before I went out the door, upon which distant sounds of the crowded streets reached my ears.

    For a moment, I hesitated. This was going to be a new experience. And I was starting to question that decision.

    No! I have to go!

    I raised my chin and walked out onto the brown paved streets, where families, robots, workers and people from all walks of life could be seen going about their business.

    The glances sent my way unintentionally caused me to hold the long coat tighter around myself. I knew that they couldn''t really see what I was wearing underneath the coat unless they were a Nascent Soul, and even then, I was certain that I could detect their senses. But I still felt as if everyone could see the attire beneath the baggy coat.

    The road beside the streets was filled with all manner of levitating transport devices which were crammed with people each. Private transportation methods weren''t allowed here, apparently.

    I picked a direction, and joined the throng of people, making sure to head towards my destination, a place that might allow me to temporarily get rid of my complicated thoughts.

    Upon reaching the place, and making my way inside, sound from the blaring music assaulted my ears. For a moment, a sliver of a micro-second, I froze.

    And the reason that happened was because of the scene before my eyes. Bodies were stuck to each other in an amalgam of movements that brought heat to my face, with short skirts, hot pants, and tops that bordered on being mere bras, adorning the women. For the men, some lacked shirts, though, that was as obscene as they could go.

    I second guessed myself, even developing the intention to simply turn on my heel and high tail out of here. But, I was Lily Toba. A woman with nerves of steel!

    So, with a sharp intake of breath, I dived into the crowd, pushing my way through to reach the counter I could glimpse through the tiny openings within the forest of people.

    It was akin to a farm, one loaded with reared spirit beasts. Odors, impurities, and the tell-tale signs of spiritual energy discharge in heightened emotional states, were the prevalent things that continously assaulted my senses, making me feel so grossed out that I elected to apply my spiritual energy into a shield skirting the contour of my body.

    Then there were the hormones, the sexual juices in the air, coupled with people going at it while dancing, trying to come off as being discreet. I could feel my nipples firming up from just the atmosphere alone, but I ignored the arousal in favor of reaching my destination, which was just within reach.

    "OH! It''s surprising that a lady such as yourself has come to such a place."

    A smooth, silky voice entered my ears over the music blaring within the space. It was the bartender, a blonde haired crimson eyed man that gave off the aura of being in the Core Formation stage.

    "You work here. What''s the difference?" I spat back while taking a seat upon the tall stool.

    "Honey, we are different people. You are akin to a lamb that has just waltzed into the midst of a lion pride."

    "Heh! Will these people even dare!?" I flexed my aura.

    "I didn''t mean it in that way." He said before shrugging.

    "I need something that is strong enough to get me tipsy." I said after some time in deliberation.

    "Coming right up!" After a gaze that was borderline scrutinizing, the man turned towards his alcohol cabinet while I swiveled to gaze down into the crowd below.

    This... Memory was surely something that I will never be able to casually forget. The visual stimulation alone was too much.

    "Here!"

    A glass slid over, with me catching it without even turning my head. Then I brought it into my eyesight. It was a curious blend of purple with flickering dots of light, akin to stars. The surface of the liquid was blazing with a white flame that was over 150��.

    I brought it to my lips before chugging the entire concoction down my throat. I heard the click of a tongue but I didn''t care. I had some messy thoughts to banish... Even if only temporarily.

 Chapter 9 Pain of Interaction

    ACCR Chapter 9 Pain of Interaction

    I rolled up my fingers, clenching them into a fist, which I then released, repeating that particular motion at regular intervals. My hands were behind my back as I stood beside the rectangular hole that was the window, allowing me a glimpse outside the hull of the ship.

    Zeus!

    Just the mere thought of the man still breathing was enough to bring about a grinding of my teeth. Lily Toba had been the perfect pawn, the catalyst that would make those that were lacking justification, a reason to move against the man, yet, I had let her go. No, before that, I had told her the truth.

    Had that decision been foolish? Yes. There was no doubt about that. But lying to her would have made me feel far worse.

    I stifled a sigh and instead focused on the crowds that were moving through the transparent walk ways. The volume of people moving to and from Mars was the highest compared to anywhere in the solar system... Except of course, Earth.

    Ever since the terraforming''s completion a few hundred years back, settlers and visitors alike had made it their most important destination.

    "You humans are a fascinating species. No, all biological lifeforms with sapience are interesting in a variety of ways..." started Paul as he moved to stand beside me.

    "There is nothing fascinating about us. Emotions always burden us."

    ".... Even when paired with a quantum chip capable of calculating the impossible, I still haven''t managed to give birth to true emotions. You take such for granted, but I envy..."

    "Envy?" I gave the robotic body a side eye.

    "That is not an emotion. My calculations have simply led to the logical conclusion that emotions are needed in order to be capable of further evolution."

    "Just like I don''t understand your logic, you also wouldn''t understand why I call emotions a burden. Of course, there are as many moments when I am thankful for them too."

    A lull came into the conversation, where we simply stood there, a man and an AI, experiencing the passage of time.

    "Did you find anything?"

    "Syncing with the All-mother is always a pain, but, I have managed to dig out something that even made her alert the President himself."

    Those words alone instantly dragged all of my attention towards Paul.

    "What do you mean?"

    "Pantheon and all the big sects are up to something shady."

    "Many characters, mostly those that possessed weird spirit energy attunements and unusual talents have been disappearing from the face of the Earth without explanation."

    "Many cultivators do vanish. What''s different this time?"

    "Because most of them have had certain interactions with those sects before their apparent disappearances. Some even came out to speak about how they had been threatened, scouted, or even allowed to join, only to vanish from both the public and private eye in a matter of months, with some even taking years!"

    "And what makes these disappearances bizarre is the fact that they started just a few years after the creation of Pantheon itself!"

    The beginning of the sect called Pantheon had been an event that was still extensively contested by scholars. Why?

    Simply because of the fact that the first generation Zeus had brought about a change that had caused the sects to forever be beyond normal clans and loose cultivators.

    Revolutionary array technology, never before seen or even pioneered by any cultivator had simply came out of his mind as if granted by the gods themselves.

    Even now, in an Era beyond his time, it was still unanimously believed that the sects possessed technology superior to the Federation.

    Even I had to admit that all the advances I could see were a result of plundering, battering and coercion, courtesy of the sects.

    "Can you send me some data on the people that have vanished?"

    "Okudu Emmanuel, a man touted as a genius in the art of spatial arrays, vanished in the year 127 of the Federation..."

    While sending the data, Paul spoke of some figures.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "Tayson Lee, a mechanical engineer who figured out how to embed attuned spiritual energy within metals-"

    "How come the Federation never protected some of these people?" I asked in puzzlement. There were those that had vanished even before the entity known as the Federation had come to be, but through the list, there were those that had been kidnapped during its reign.

    "As you can see, the disappearances stopped roughly 200 years ago. Before that, there had been no universal database, or even the registration of citizenship. Plus, the Federation hadn''t been all powerful then. There had still been factions and countries."

    After a nod, my vision blurred as I chose a point in the distance, superimposing my existence upon that space, and teleportung towards it.

    It was a suite, one I had booked prior to my arrival, allowing me to set up an anchor for seamless teleportation. I plopped down onto the white sofa upon materializing.

    The decor was amazingly good, making it feel as if I was a king in their own palace. Shades of blacks and whites were the prevalent colors of the room. With my divine sense unfurled, I scrutinized every thing within, trying to find anything that could be taken as a breach in privacy.

    In merely a micro-second, when everything had been done, I released my spiritual energy, molding it into a thin barrier that rested upon the surface of each and everything within the room, effectively creating a domain where only my power was existing.

    Of course there was still the threat of being spied upon through divine sense because of its invasive nature. Only the body of a biological creature, even a mortal, was immune to the invasive nature of the ability. Though, a cultivator always knows when another''s divine sense washes over them.

    I had heard rumors of a technology capable of repelling divine sense scans, but it was in the hands of the sects, making it a strategic resource that allowed them to shield their secrets from us.

    It was also one of the reasons why, I wasn''t actively barging into Pantheon.

    After setting up all that, I paced back and forth in the room, hesitating as to whether I would really like to contact those people right now.

    Questions were going to be asked. Questions I didn''t feel like answering right now.

    Yet... The information I had gained from Paul was important enough to warrant that. It was a dilemma indeed.

    Ultimately, I sucked a deep breath before initiating contact with a subtle frequency permeating the airspace, the only electromagnetic frequency I had allowed breach my domain.

    "So... How did it go?"

    That was the first question, with the person asking it having his fiery red gaze piercing through me... Anyway that was what I felt.

    "For now... We wait." I chose my words carefully, even making sure to school my features into a stoic mask.

    "We...wait... Did everything go according to plan, or did you become soft hearted?"

    He was trying to maintain a sliver of calmness even though his facial expression was warping, and his fiery red pupils were getting brighter.

    "No... There is no need to ask any more, Dalton. Instead, there is some piece of intelligence that I must transmit to you."

    "... He must have divulged the truth. It''s good that we already had certain plans in motion or else we would have gone back to zero."

    A voice cut in after a sigh, with someone finally appearing. It was a woman, a tall one, whose hand was resting upon the hilt of her sword, strapped around her waist.

    " Mr. Mumaso... Are you truly a man having the same goal as us, or are you just playing around?"

    "Dalton... I am the one that gathered you all. Taking down that sect is our goal, but I refuse to let innocents suffer just because I crave vengeance!"

    "We were going to make sure that she and her clan were well protected!"

    "Even I, a Nascent Soul cultivator, can''t be certain to provide that much protection. What makes you believe that you could?!"

    I glared at the man within the screen with an intensity that didn''t lose out to his, thereby throwing the atmosphere into an awkward well.

    "Let me talk to him. Move out of my chair Dalton!" shouted another voice before the man grudgingly broke eye contact and stood up.

    "Reed! It''s good to finally see you after five years! How have you been? Has anything succeeded? Have you stumbled onto another game changing creation?"

    "Calm down, Latniss. Paul, my assistant, managed to connect with the Federal archive, discovering something important related to Pantheon and other large sects."

    "OH!"

    Those words even pulled Dalton back into the screen frame.

    "I am going to send the data. Peruse it and see if you can spot any other anomalies or entanglements that we missed."

    With that, I turned off the communications just after sending the packet. Latniss was a bundle of energy I didn''t want to handle right now.

    Once again, I plopped down onto the sofa, feeling wrung out after enduring some emotional baggage previously.

    Before I could relax my mind, a query came in, one which was related to a data file. For a moment I became puzzled. After all I was certain that I hadn''t been expecting any file.

    The sender was Latniss though, so I accepted. Then an image appeared within my mind, one of a woman totally out of her element. For a moment, I couldn''t figure out who she was, only for my body to jerk upwards upon realizing whom I really was looking at.

    -----

    Right about now, I fervently wished that I could directly teleport to the woman, instead of having to prepare myself to sail through the crowd. They were all strangers, yet it would still be uncomfortable when even a small percentage of them cast their attention towards me. Not to mention the fact that those Core Formations will recognize me as a Nascent Soul cultivator due to the spiritual energy I would be radiating, no matter how minute it was going to be.

    Why was I rushing towards her in the first place? Because she had gone to a shady establishment. The ports of Mars were a mix of white, black, and a bit of both. It was the perfect place for anyone with unsavory ideas to act!

    What is that woman thinking!?

    After a sigh, I made my way out of the room, the normal boring way, which was to walk. Running or taking those long strides was forbidden due to the simple fact that the building materials wouldn''t be capable of holding up to to cultivators flexing their powers.

    Though, before I hit the streets, I made sure to apply some of spiritual energy to my face, morphing my features, and also taking measures to slightly alter my aura. As much as I didn''t want to admit it, I was still a big celebrity in the world. And fame, came with the problem of interacting with people.

    Through the crowded street, I made my way towards my destination, passing by people who had just arrived and were in the middle of preparing for their descent down onto the planet''s surface, and those that were preparing to take ships back to Earth, or towards the myriad asteroids.

    There were families, businessmen, impetuous youth, and many other kinds, with some that evoked disgust, while there were those that made me feel warm and fuzzy.

    After a few minutes, I reached my destination, which had a holographic signboard that depicted a glass, with a grasshopper''s leg instead of the usual stem.

    There was a line of people, seamingly being checked to prove their age, before they could enter.

    I walked up to the bouncers, cultivators who were at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and let out a sliver of my aura, though keeping the discharge within Core Formation levels. They stepped aside, with I walking in, leaving behind the street noise, only to be assaulted by the raging music inside the bar.

    The alcohol, the height of debauchery, the stink of smoke from exotic herbs and demon parts, the smell of aphrodisiacs in the air. This was a dump, one I didn''t even want to be in.

    With an intention of will, my emerald spiritual energy formed a thin film across my body, separating me from the atmosphere, while filtering any air that touched it.

    Only then, did I breathe a sigh of relief and started plotting how I was gonna push through this crowd of people riding on a high.

    Though, this was partly my fault. These people would have been holed up in abodes, trying to assail the next realm such that their lifespan could increase. But now, they could reach Foundation Establishment in their teens, giving them plenty of time to assail the next great cultivation realm.

    I pushed through the crowd, eventually reaching the bar counter, where two men had cornered the woman, trying to strike up a conversation.

    Yet, before I could even barge into the conversation, the words were smothered when I beheld her. The Lily Toba I had met before was a beautiful cool calm and collected lady who gave off intellectual vibes. But this!

    All those words still described her, and yet, the dress, the makeup and the jewelery enhanced everything about her to the point that I froze.

    Wow!

    Two straps held up a dress that hugged her body to the point that it emphasized her curves, not to mention the fact that it was short enough to only end in the middle of her thighs. Her legs were crossed, with the dress itself almost transparent, wetting the appetite of all that laid eyes on her.

    Her gaze was one of boredom as she listened to the two men on each of her sides, trying to woo her.

    She had become a goddess. I started having second thoughts about approaching her.

    What if she ignored me here?

    That was a situation that would embarrass me.

    Then her eyes met mine, and widened. She abruptly stood up and I could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks even from here.

    "Wha-What are you doing here?!"

 Chapter 10 An Honest Conversation

    ACCR Chapter 10 An Honest Conversation

    Why was I here?!!!

    Within the span of a micro-second, I had the urge to rage, with the words almost at the tip of the tongue, but when I took a good long look at the woman, I swallowed them back.

    She was blatantly showing her embarrassment. Though she was trying to mask the scent of alcohol with her spiritual energy, I wasn''t fooled.

    "Hey there bro, are you an old flame or something? I would suggest that you get lost, before my brother and I show you the door."

    I frowned at the dark and pink haired man. His condescending attitude alone was grating on me.

    "And who might you and that brother of yours be? No, I don''t have the time to care. Ms. Toba, this place is unsafe... For a woman like you."

    "Oh! Enlighten me then, Mr. Emerald..."

    She waltzed right next to me, raising her gaze into mine, with a smirk that elicited a flutter out of heart.

    "Do you believe that I can''t take care of myself? That I am weak? That I need a Nascent Soul to keep me safe? That I am only useful as a pawn in your eyes? A piece that can be casually discarded after its usefulness has expired?"

    The questions came one after the other, without any break within, making me very uncomfortable.

    The two men had slunk off after the third question, having finally gleaned that they couldn''t win.

    "You... Are intoxicated."

    "Are you going to ignore my questions?"

    "No. Just that this isn''t the right place to address them at length."

    "So that''s how you are gonna play it. Then... I will only leave this place under one single condition..."

    She took a dramatic pause at the end, her steely grey eyes boring a hole through me. I would have loved to say no to that, but the embers of anger were still smoldering within those eyes of hers.

    "What?" I decided to play along, resisting an urge to facepalm.

    "Do you see that platform, the one floating up there?"

    "There was no need for such an extensive explanation." I grumbled.

    "I want us to compete in that. Whoever wins, gets the other to do what they want."

    "Oh! Could it be that you are overly familiar with these kinds of places? Could you, the prim and proper Ms. Toba, be a rowdy fellow in secret?"

    "Don''t take that tone with me Emerald! Will you play, or will you use force?"

    Frustration welled up within me. This wasn''t a place for me. I was supposed to have been back in my suite, enjoying my calm and peace. This woman was getting in my nerves!!!

    "When I win, we will leave this place, and you will immediately go back to your accommodations!"

    "The game is called the steps..." She took the liberty of explaining while we floated up onto the platform under our own power. I decided to focus all my attention on the woman, because of the heartattack I might get upon putting my attention in the gazes from below.

    -----

    A few minutes later, I was at the counter, spinning an emerald coin, a condensation of my spiritual energy, on its top.

    "You should be happy with your win. What''s the long face?" I asked.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    "Did you use all your abilities?"

    The side eye made me ashamed.

    "Seeing me as nothing more than a pawn wouldn''t have pained me if I wasn''t the matriarch of a clan..."

    She started, with her gaze going back to the contents of her glass, which she was swirling with a finger.

    "I have put in a lot of effort in raising my clan to where it is. Yet, a single Zeus shows interest, and then everything changes instantly."

    "I used to think that I had atleast finally reached the pinnacle of power, where I could protect my clan. But the past few days have shown me how naive I had been. Tell me, Mr. Mumaso. Is a cultivator at the late Core Formation stage really too weak to even have a say in your war with Zeus?"

    "You shouldn''t devalue yourself. In the current Federation, even Zeus wouldn''t dare to blatantly dismiss you."

    "Yes, but he can still act in secret, right? And if that comes to pass, I doubt that the Federation would oppose Pantheon over me."

    Now that I have gotten to know you, there is no way I would sit back and leave you to that fate.

    "Ms. Toba. What I hate the most in this word are lies and secrets. Me divulging my reason for hiring you wasn''t because I took you to be a disposable pawn."

    "Should I be grateful?"

    "If I was powerful enough, I wouldn''t resort to these kinds of schemes. I have many things to do."

    A glint appeared within her eyes as they turned to look at me, regarding me seriously for the first time.

    "What kind of power would you need to take down that man?"

    "Late stage Nascent Soul."

    "What about political power? An organization? Can you take on the entire Pantheon without such things?"

    "They will only be constraints."

    "In my eyes such a cultivation level wouldn''t be enough. Organisations have all sorts of connections, especially the sects. The other great sects wouldn''t sit by and let you deal with him."

    "Ms. Toba, you underestimate the power of a cultivator!"

    Chatting with her was a pain. I wanted to sleep. To just go back and enjoy my quiet solitude.

    Once again, I absent-mindedly twirled the emerald coin. This activity took me back to the time when I had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage. My teacher had given us this homework. To sculpt a coin with just the imagination helping to mold the spiritual energy.

    It had been a taxing endeavor, yet here, years later, it had become this simple.

    "Why is that man after me? You must have an idea, right?"

    "All I have are conjectures, nothing concrete. But if they are right, then the other members of your clan might be safe."

    "Safe..." a breath left her lips as she gazed into her empty glass. It seemed like she had let out a sigh of relief.

    "Might!" I emphasized.

    "I hate this. I hate the fact that I can''t be a player beyond the board."

    "I am also not a player Ms. Toba. Don''t ever develop that notion in any game you''re taking part of. The true player is the universe itself."

    "The Universe being intelligent is an abstract and refutable piece of evidence. Right now, it''s better to focus on what I can see and analyze. I am a pawn. Zeus, you and probably the Federation itself, are the players."

    -----

    Outside the bar, we were leaning against the metallic construct, gazing out onto the street where the traffic was still heavy.

    "Whoever owns this port must be earning billions every single day."

    "In the grand scheme of things, those funds are still too small to support the entire Federation." I pointed out.

    Silence enveloped us, with the noise made by the crowd permeating the atmosphere.

    I wanted to bring up the previous topic, the one about her becoming a part of the plan to bring down Zeus and Pantheon. Yet I also felt that this wasn''t the right time to bring it up. It would make me out as someone desperate.

    "It looks like I have to go." she straightened up, pulling the silver cloak tight around herself.

    Honestly, I missed the short dress and the crazy her.

    "Yes, I too have certain matters that need to be taken care of tomorrow."

    "You really want to leave fast, don''t you." She mumbled out, puzzling me.

    "Okay, bye. Give me a few days. I need to sleep on your proposal."

    After that, she mixed into the crowd, and took the route back to her temporary residence.

    -----

    FAY 437, 2nd Month, Day 8, 11:21 AM

    Wind, having been attracted due to the presence of wind attuned spiritual energy in the engine, spewed out of the jets below and behind the small craft, propelling it forwards, leaving behind a trail of red dust in its wake.

    We as humans had managed to colonize Mars, but there was a population deficit, thereby causing large swathes of land to lay unoccupied by anyone for miles. Even on Earth itself, there were still places that hadn''t seen any human.

    Within the vehicle, I was by the window, gazing out onto the red landscape, dotted with monolithic red rocks, either as small as a person, or as large as an entire passenger spacecraft.

    Demons were a nonexistent race on Mars as humans were the only ones who had claimed the planet. And there were even laws that prevented the introduction of any Demons onto the planet, instead wanting to see how it would evolve. Of course, plant life was allowed.

    But this area I was within had no visible plants. It was a harsh arid land, bordering on desert. So far, the altered plants hadn''t yet evolved enough to claim it.

    -----

    On reaching my destination, a monolith greeted me, one whose height was the equivalent of a ten story building. With no sound at all, the rock before me dissolved, leaving behind a rectangular entrance that allowed my autonomous vehicle, passage into its bowels.

    The moment I alighted from the vehicle, a smirk from a figure a few meters away, greeted me.

    "Old man, why did you choose this location?"

    "Did you like the journey?"

    "How could I like it when the scenery is only composed of dull red rock? And from the signs I saw along the way, this place will turn into a full blown desert a few years in the future."

    I spoke while moving to meet him, who was up on the second level''s railing.

    "Nah... I have already taken a look at the flora at the edge. In just a couple of months, it will have evolved enough to wrestle the desert." refuted my friend, Nikolai.

    "So... What prompted you to come all the way here to my humble abode?"

    "I am only here as a visitor. Though, I didn''t have time to prepare gifts. It was a spur of the moment decision." I finally reached the man. The crow''s feet at the corners of his eyes already gave away the fact that age was getting to him.

    "Dont worry, Camilla will be happy to see you regardless of whether you brought something or not."

    "What about you, old man?"

    "I love gifts. Since you didn''t come with one today, I will put it on your tab."

    We both smiled at his last words.

    "How have you been since our last meeting? Any exciting discoveries or creations?" I asked in anticipation.

    "So far... none. I still haven''t managed to come upon a material that can hold enough spiritual energy to collapse a core into a black hole."

    "Do you really believe that the next stage of the core is the black hole? I am not casting doubt or anything, but wondering if there is another method to advance."

    "All arts, no matter how heaven defying, only stop at the late Nascent Soul stage. No one has managed to create anything beyond. Even the sects themselves."

    Which was why there was the theory that to reach the stage above the Nascent Soul, external means were necessary.

    "What about the integration of the Nascent Soul with the core? During my seclusion I have had the time to ponder extensively. And this path is one I have theorized to be plausible."

    "Merging a core with a nascent Soul? That''s an absurd idea. Everyone who has tried to gaze into the secrets of the nascent soul has failed."

    "I know that. But what if it''s possible?"

    The question brought our movement to a temporary pause as his quantum mind calculated the possibilities.

    "A core is like a sun, with immense gravitational pull over all unattuned spiritual energy, after which it is compressed into a liquid that makes up the surface of the core..."

 Chapter 11 Crossroads

    ACCR Chapter 11 Crossroads

    The nascent soul, consciousness and divine sense were the trio body enigmas of the current age. All of them were made up of, or harnessed a type of energy that couldn''t be quantified by anything.

    All three energies could interact with matter and spiritual energy yet, no one had managed to find out how, so far.

    "Your theory... Have you managed to test it out?" asked Nikolai.

    "Not yet... Because only someone at the very peak of the Nascent Soul stage can test it out. I believe anyone short of that will be unsuccessful."

    "Why?��

    "Because the heavens, the omni-present will of the spiritual energy in the universe won''t allow it."

    That answer brought a lull to the conversation, with us continuing our walk, bringing us to the end of the corridor, where it fed into a large spacious room. A woman, with a mid-30s look, was waiting for us with a warm smile upon her face, which became even warmer upon falling on me.

    She was dressed in a black cardigan with a long brown skirt that reached her ankles. Her brown eyes lit up the moment I entered.

    Long strides were taken, crossing the distance near instantaneously, only to feel myself enveloped in warmth as she hugged me.

    "I had thought that it would be a long while before we saw each other again."

    "How could I have delayed a visit to you, Aunt Camy?"

    "I missed you, my dear. Are you okay? Are you mentally sound. I know seclusion can wear down even the most steadfast of minds."

    "Am okay. On the contrary, I love being alone." I pulled away from her.

    She chuckled. "I know."

    After that she pulled my hand, leading me to sit down beside her on the couch, while Nikolai plopped down on another seat, his expression conveying a lot of dissatisfaction.

    "How are Marlon and Jeanne?"

    "Those brats love traveling the world. They barely visit or even contact us! Your invention made it such that they can''t stick around here at home for even a single second!"

    "Sorry."

    "I am not blaming you for anything dear. It''s just that I miss them dearly."

    "I too, would love to catch up with them some day."

    "Come on, Camilla! Don''t lie to the poor boy! Last week, Jeanne stopped by, and the week before that, Marlon contacted us."

    "Nikolai! I want my kids here with me every single day! Five days have elapsed since Jeanne came!"

    "There is no need to argue, Aunt Camy. If I get a glimpse of them somewhere, I will tie them up and bring them to you."

    "Hey! Brat! I don''t want those troublemakers here! I have been enjoying a quiet few months with Camilla. I wouldn''t want them to ruin it!"

    "Aren''t you the one who makes me stay in the bed every morning, wanting to create another little one? Wouldn''t that be counter productive?"

    I considered cutting off every other sense to the outside world at those words.

    "Nah! At our cultivation stages, it won''t be so easy to get another. Oh! Are you blushing, brat?" smirked Nikolai.

    "Don''t tease the boy, old fellow. Sorry about that, Reed. Since you have come all the way here, make yourself comfortable. I am going to come back with your favourite after a few minutes. You boys can chat for as long as you like."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    She stood up and walked away, leaving us in the room.

    "So, have you finally found a way to handle Zeus?"

    I shook my head.

    "I wish I could help you. But many eyes are resting upon me, and that bastard Taylor specifically warned me to not get involved without concrete justification"

    "Right now, there is a tenuous balance with the sects that needs to be maintained. A war with them wouldn''t be good for anyone. We have finally managed to leap out of the dark ages."

    My face darkened at his words. He was right, that I knew. Yet, I couldn''t let go of the grudge within my chest. I was actually in the same predicament as Nikolai, considering that I was one of the top three richest people in the world. It was the entire reason I couldn''t blatantly act.

    If I had been as powerful as the Golden Merchant, then I would have simply attacked without caring about the Federation as a whole.

    "I know how much you want this... Hell, even I want this as badly as you. But we have to be patient. I have been doing a little digging of my own and found out some stuff."

    "I also have some things to share."

    "Madam Livia has taken over as the new sect master of the Radiance sect, and for some reason, there has been a tussle with the other sects in the dark."

    "What do you mean?" I asked with a frown.

    Though, the memory of a well endowed curvaceous woman, with white pupils and white hair, akin to white light itself, appeared within my mind.

    She was an ambitious person. Though, it was still surprising that she had managed to take over such a sect, considering their patriarchical views.

    "Through my informants, I have found out that the sects, the great three, purchase a collection of rare materials at certain intervals. If it was just one sect, it wouldn''t matter. But the intervals are too close together to not be suspicious. There must be a connection between them."

    "That connection is also something I would love to speak with you about."

    The subsequent conversation took a few minutes before Aunt Camy came back with a variety of dishes, floating behind her, on clouds, a manifestation of her spiritual energy attribute.

    "Food is ready. Though I must say that I most definitely outdid myself. You might even find a few surprises within." She said, her face alight with the glow of happiness.

    Gently, the dishes were placed upon the table, with the aroma alone tickling my nostrils, birthing within me the desire to sample the taste.

    -----

    FAY 437,2nd Month, Day 11, 10:21 AM

    Most people see us, the clan leaders, Partriarchs, sect masters, and Presidents, as people to admire. That what we mostly do in our positions is delegation, thereby making ourselves, work free.

    That''s why kids have such delusional dreams of wanting to become leaders in society. I used to be like that when young. After all, my mother had always made time for us even though she had been the clan leader.

    But now that I had managed to climb to the same level of power, the delusion had wore off.

    ''Transportation costs have increased by 10%. Waste disposal has also become costlier. Someone is most definitely behind this. Someone with enough power to know of Zeus'' interest in me. Do they want to gain his favor? That''s a foolish endeavor. Unless they are geographically close to the state of Greece, that''s pointless. But if it''s a competitor...''

    Many faces and forces drifted into my mind at that particular trail of thought.

    A sigh escaped my lips while I dragged my attention away from the data within my retinas to the window, outside of which, were clear skies with little cloud cover.

    With a thought command, the chair dissolved and I stood up. The window was a door to the magnificent rice plants down below. It was a sea of green that always brought immense satisfaction to my mind, though, a particular thought ruined the view.

    A few days ago Mumaso Reed had made me an offer, one even now, I didn''t want to accept. But Zeus''s hands were covering everything, even when it was unintentional.

    The door silently slid to the side, though not before sending me an alert that made it to my brain. It''s amazing how we could create ways that could allow communication through divine sense without even truly knowing it''s composition.

    "Lily! How are you doing? How''s the office? Are you enjoying life?"

    "What''s up with the weird questions?" I turned towards my little sister, who had literally bounced into the room.

    "Nothing, nothing. How did it go with my idol?"

    "As expected... I told you that there was nothing much to speak of."

    "That''s a lie. I know you like the back of my hand, sister. There is something that you must be hiding."

    "Nothing exciting happened. I just had a chat with them. Then told them that I need a couple of days to get my things in order." I explained as calmly as I could.

    "The omnipresent aura around your body says otherwise. The fluctuations are minute, meaning you can fool everyone else. But not me!"

    "What happened? Can''t you trust even I, your sister!?"

    "The things I can''t tell you are company secrets. If I do, those people will bring up a lawsuit. You wouldn''t want the clan to be burdened with that, right?"

    "Sister! You shouldn''t lie to your cute little sister like this! What really happened? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me."

    "Can you just let it go! Please! Mawar!"

    "Okay. But not before you promise to tell me someday."

    "Okay, I promise!" ''Provided I am still alive.''

    "So, what really brought you to my office?"

    "That trashy guy, the one with the full-blown arrogance, Jidoshi. He blatantly told me that in the future, I am going to become his wife!"

    Disgust welled up within me at the mention of the man. He was one of the products caused by this Era of fast cultivation.

    "He''s just a Foundation Establishment brat. The only way he would utter that to your face with no fear is if his family divulged something to him." I analyzed.

    "It looks like every Tom, Dick and Harry is getting to know the predicament of our clan. How many days before my idol takes us in?" Mawar asked with those bright pink pupils of hers leaking anticipation in spades.

    An urge to sigh was stifled. Did I really want to go back to be used as a pawn? Absolutely not! But it seemed that my options hadn''t been diverse in the first place.

    -----

    Once again, I was alone in the office after chatting with Mawar for a few minutes, pondering on how to become the ultimate pawn that could overturn the board.

    Power.

    Since time immemorial, it has been a symbol of status, and also the only way to prevent someone from stepping upon you. Whether it be political or personal, power was something that was needed if you wanted to survive in this world.

    After becoming the matriarch of the clan, I had thought that maybe, even those Nascent Soul cultivators would have qualms about crossing me, thinking that since I was part of the larger Federation, I was somewhat safe, plus the people I was protecting.

    How naive I had been! Just a slight interest from Zeus, and the dogs were at the door, dripping with saliva, waiting to pick up the scraps left behind.

    I needed power! Now was not the time to have qualms about being used as a pawn! I needed to protect Mawar, the aunts and uncles that had raised me, and the family business, one which had taken several generations to reach where it was now.

    A pawn! I will be one! But I won''t let myself be insulted, or used only to be discarded. I needed to become valuable.

    What did it mean to become valuable? To hold critical information yearned for by the other party, or to make myself a valuable pawn in the grand game, one whose mere manipulation can cause a shift in the entire game itself!

    The question was how was I going to achieve that?

    I stood up, dissolving both the desk and chair back into the floor with a thought, giving myself space to pace around the room, with my brain working in overdrive to come up with multiple paths and ways.

    My choice had already been made for me the moment I had met with that emerald eyed man. Now, I just had to find a way to sweeten my end of the deal.