Chapter 36: A Celebration to Remember

I entered the hall in my iconic black tunic with swirl patterns. My eyes exuded a glow that could not help but draw people in. We were at home in the city of Ashburn the capital of the western dukedom. Today was my birthday and tomorrow the vehicle that would be taking a little under eight thousand people to conquer a new world would be delivered. In truth I was surprised that we could truly take so many people. Especially since most traveling was done via carriage using magical beast. What sort of vehicle could fit eight thousand people.

In the stories I read on my time on earth an expedition like this would only consist of a few people may be less than 200 max. Yet here I was invading a world with just under eight thousand people. My eyes glowed even brighter at the thought.

I arrived in front of my father and knelt while clutching over my heart with my hand in a claw shape.

“Rise,” Vasu said.

He was in his crimson battle armor.

I stood and with a small ‘vmoop’ sound my ax appeared in front of me. I could tell it was different, yet I felt a comfortable feeling from it. I never got around to finding the runesmith who crafted the item.

My father presented the ax before me, and I looked into his eyes only seeing a proud approval radiating from them. My hands reached for the ax.

“This has become a Masterwork. Bestow upon it a worthy name.”

The moment my hands landed on the shaft my outfit began to change. Metal armor appeared upon me crimson just like my fathers. Snarling dragons appeared on the pauldrons and kneecaps and upon my chest appeared the Kan symbol. A claw clutching at a shield. A buckler with the same snarling dragon features appeared on my left and a helmet covered my head. While metal plate covered my legs and feet. Soft fur riddled throughout. I could feel my strength instantly get boosted and my mana pool seemed fortified as well. A small sword materialized upon my back similar to the one Aunty Agni used.

The ebony ax now had red slightly pulsing streaks funning through it giving it a mystical feeling.

“Final Twilight, the Conqueror.”

The words came out not of my own accord but as if the magic in the air and weapon combined with my own and produced something more.

I turned around in the armor and felt as if barely anything was on my body. I couldn’t wait to use the new feature’s I unlocked with the system for this.

“Ha-ha you look just like me when I first received my equipment,” My father laughed out clapping me heavily on the shoulders.

It was here that the crowd went wild, and the celebration commenced in earnest. All the worries of the upcoming trip faded from my mind as I enjoyed one of the best nights of my lives.

*

‘System what is going on?’

I asked as I looked at the ‘vehicle’ my mother said we’d be using for the interstellar travel.

I know not what you mean Aegis Kan.

‘That is clearly a spaceship.’

“What is going on?”

I turned my head and looked at my mother who was beaming at me.

“That my little shield, is the vehicle that will bring you to conquer another world.”

The ship was massive easily dwarfing my city as it settled into the grasslands outside of Aurora. I stared in confusion before quickly constructing the spell for |Fire Ball| but not releasing it.

My magic was still present. So, what was this clearly sci-fi looking vehicle doing here? This was the second time I’ve seen something like this in a world where it clearly doesn’t belong. Or does it? In terms of technology, I would put the Empire at 1800s-1900s if we were comparing to earth tech. We didn’t have trains but had airships and teleportation gates. I heard of the train problem the Empire was facing and investigated it. Apparently, they couldn’t figure out the magical matrix used to allow the things to move beyond a certain speed and the conversion of mana drawn from mana stones was horrendous.

The Empire did not have microwave or telephones, but we had magical hotplates and scrying orbs able to facetime one another through them. Hot showers were a staple in the last 500 years amongst other things. So how was a spaceship possible?

“Mother… what is that?”

“That Aegis,” she said while looking me in the eyes.

“That is why the Empire can remain on this continent and sit at the same table in the eyes of the other races. A gift from our ancestors. Some who live to this day. Only awakening to help progress and guide our race into greater prosperity. Along with the Star God’s blessing.”

I was missing some of the Empire’s history. I must be. I always heard about the first humans not coming from Nia and being placed here by Gaia the name of the world itself, but I never fully regarded the information as valid. Maybe it was time to reevaluate the history I learned. What did the Empire fight for in the greenskin lands during Eradication. The history lessons of my teacher began to flash through my head.

“Come, let us show you how it works. Once I deem you sufficiently trained, we will open the interstellar gate and you along with your army and a few congregations of priest/priestess will be off.”

Wordlessly I followed behind my mother calling out orders as we moved my mind racing an away from the conversation. As I moved, I began to relay orders through magical messages to a few squads led by the strongest members of my army.

Squads led by Aiden, Kal, and Mel were to learn the basics of maneuvering the spaceship along with a few others. The princess and other guest were under Amaya jurisdiction as I didn’t need that headache bothering me currently. I stepped forward my heart thumping loudly. My eyes shining brightly as I grew excited. Holy shit. This was a spaceship. My spaceship.

“This is the HH Heartfelt the Kan very own starship a gift from the ancestors and cast with the Star God’s blessing. Today it is your ship for any excursions you wish to go on to further add to our family’s glory.”

My mother had a brilliant glow coming from her eyes and her body matched that same glow. Her voice slightly deepens as she spoke with passion. I rolled my eyes but followed alongside her as we quickly covered the distance to the ship.

“It’s beautiful,” I said as we approached the glossy silver ship. It was shaped like a heart with the tip having a figurehead of a woman reading a book. She was painted over and carved with such detail that she looked realistic. She wore a black shirt with a loose V-neck shirt sporting a few black buttons. She wore glasses and a white lab coat. Glasses that almost nobody in this continent wore as even a commoner could wait a few years and save up for divine healing from a church. Although there were tools made by enchanters and runesmiths that could allow one to enhance your vision and even zoom in on items far away.

“Interesting,” I said while appraising the figure.

“Very interesting indeed.”

I followed behind my mother as we entered the ship along with multiple people.

***

Moriah gazed up in wonderment at the large heart shaped ship that landed in the grasslands outside of Aurora. A roiling battle lust almost overtook her, and she almost lost control on the vast strength she was holding back. It would not do for her tier seven strength to come out. Aegis was not the only monster of the Empire. Her mother poured even more resources into her after hearing how the boy and quickly moving through the ranks and her trainer Will went even further honing her skills to the limit on her tier. Her blade would sing with every swing.

This was it. Everything she was waiting for. A red circle surrounded her iris and slowly dispersed as she calmed herself.

Lala and James appeared.

“Princess Moriah are you sure you will not reconsider? The world barrier would not allow us to go through. You will truly have to rely upon your own strength,” Lala spoke gently to the young woman. A had reach out and patted Moriah’s head. While James looked on with his stoic expression.

The words spoke by Lala only further fueled Moriah’s drive for battle. To truly rely upon her own strength and the group of young protectors along with Junior Watchers. No Sky Gods to parade around her. No one powerful to protect her. Just Moriah and Moriah alone upon the battlefields to come.

“No, no, I don’t think I need to reconsider. This is exactly what I’ve wanted for years. Look at the state of my little brother. It’s no wonder the Empire only has Empresses. First, I will fulfill this urge then I will take my rightful place as the Crown Princess. This is not only a test for Aegis but for me as well.”

***

Ryna checked over the last of her things. Her mind away from the task and on Aegis. She was almost certain he didn’t know that the Church of Arva and Rirrypha were coming along for the trip as Lady Keala said it would not be best for her to announce it to Aegis just yet as he was already in a foul state from having so many different parties with different goals join his expedition.

She thought of the messages she been receiving from her goddess and a conflicted expression appeared on her face. As her goddess wanted her to seduce Aegis and willingly have him come over to her side to explain what exactly he had done to her or if not, she glanced down at the necklace given to her by the High Priestess. Ryna contemplated her aspects, Aspect: Soul Genesis, and Devote Worshiper and her increase in strength as well as the amount of divine mana she could receive because of it. Aegis was the sole cause of her growing closer to her goddess, yet she also didn’t want to betray that cause.

Her feelings complicated; she followed the people that Lady Keala sent to fetch both churches.

***

I inspected the holding cells my troops and various animals and beast where to be stationed during the duration of our travel. The HH Heartfelt served as a stronghold and operations base until we could establish a fortress. Several city planners and task masters were part of the civilian force I was bringing along. All young and fresh recruits verified by my family’s intelligence network even if they came from Ashburn itself.

A few days past as we learned the in and out of the spaceship from the staff that delivered the vehicle. How to maneuver it, raise its magical shields, and other things. The HH Heartfelt worked off a magi-tech based system with powerful mana cores acting as a reactor to not only move the ship but power the life support amongst other things. I did not know all the details, but the ship was supposed to be extremely user friendly in truth after learning as much as I could I was confident in our expedition going well. Magical amplifiers would allow us to cast destructive spells from the comfort of the ship defending against any would be attackers.

We ship was loaded with plenty of supplies I had numerous spatial bags with goodies for my second city and troops in the event of a setback or emergency. With the way my family described these minor worlds to me I was more than confident in quickly finishing my mission before returning.

Finally, the day came my mother deem us worthy to step off. Amaya was next to me in the seats I dubbed for the captains of the vessel, and she grabbed my hand and squeezed it in nervous excitement. Once all systems were checked thrice, we were ready. Our goodbyes already given, and tears already shed. My thoughts flashed towards the priest/priestess I found snuck aboard my ship and a pang of irritation settled in my mind coming from the god killing technique at the thought of the gods themselves. This technique was harsh, but I knew one day I would use it. In my Path to Power no one would stop me. The gods? I scoffed at the thought.

The interstellar gate was a part of the ship located at the very bottom. Projectors showed the outside of the ship as Amaya, and I pressed the two blue glowing buttons that would take us to Prima. The ship began to rise from the ground, and I marveled at how smooth the transition was. The coordinates already locked, a massive circle of ebony like stone floated in the air showing the blue green planet a distance away. I held my breath as we approached the gate.

The ship moved through the gate, and I breathe a sigh of relief as we made it through, but once again marveling at how smooth the transition was. I kind of expected a lot of shaking like the earths astronauts experience but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I watched as the gate deconstructed behind us and the stones passed through the portal before proceeding to reattach itself to the moving ship.

***

Highest Heavens – Council of the Divine Nine.

[Knowledge] gazed over the council of the gods a board expression upon his face as he chewed upon a few world seeds. His chair sat the highest for he was the Leader of the Gods and owner of Endless Gaia.

[Death] and [Power] the two members of his faction were not that behind in terms of prowess themselves. [Knowledge] gazed at [Power] a complicated expression appeared on his face for the briefest of moments as he gazed at her. So quick that only [Death] caught a glimpse of it. She smiled.

The Divine Nine gather today to host a celebration of the passing of a new Cosmic Cycle.

[Hero] and [Villain] sat opposite one another while the third member of the faction [Noble] tried to placate the bickering siblings.

The only three none gods that where present in the throne hall of the Palace of Divinity was the three cultivators who could hold their own against the gods.

[Sword God] leader of the last faction of the Divine Nine sat with an uptight posture body present but mind cast into the vast void as she battled constantly against the Firmament ever expanding their portion of the universe. [Nirvana] and [Unknown] sat in silence gaze firmly fixed upon the planet known as Gaia. [Knowledge] had spread many manuals that tried to mimic the strength of the Qi cultivators through magic and essence. As qi was not the dominate energy of this part of the universe but its effects on personal power allowed the three cultivators to hold up their own against the gods. He was still waiting on the results of his one of his older test stuck behind one of the countless bound places on Gaia.

Suddenly all the gods paused, and a curious expression appeared on [Knowledge] face as he was the first one to detect it.

“Someone is calculating against me.”

“Against us,” [Death] corrected [Knowledge] as the Divine Nine gazed upon Endless Gaia. Somewhere upon the scheming planet something that could affect even them appeared. [Endless Gaia] gazed back emotionless body covered in chains. It wasn’t like someone, or thing wasn’t always calculating against the Rulers of Heaven but for the Divine Nine to truly care it must have been something major enough to come to their attention.

“Take care of it will you,” [Death] said, a laid-back unworried expression upon her face.

“|Grand Archive, Spell Series 9999: Reality Shift|.” [Knowledge] deep voice rang out spreading through the entirety of their portion of the universe. Those below True God would not have heard it and thus would suffer the most.

The members of the Divine Nine waited with anticipation on their face while those who were privy and strong enough to hear the voice of the Leader of the Gods braced themselves securing their loved ones and tightly holding onto their domains and cultivation. A few of the Divine Nine cast spells themselves on little pet projects they had in motion and didn’t want affected by the change in realities. Their portion of the universe seem to pause, and everything was still for a yoctoyoctosecond then reality shifted.

***

Arva gazed in anticipation as Aegis and his party traveled through the interstellar gate. A marvelous invention and Arva would love to know how the humans got their hands upon it but in truth she didn’t much care. Arva could open a gate to another world with her physical prowess alone. Her connection would soon be cut off as they traveled a vast distance, and it would take centuries for the prayers of her followers to find her from wherever they traveled in the vastness of the universe. It was too bad she couldn’t extract the exact coordinates the Kan’s used to locate the world. Just as the ship was going to pass through the gate the screen went black.

Irritated Arva called for Gorrg who appeared with Jarrgax in tow.

“The blasted thing is not-.”

Arva, Gorrg, Jarrgax spat out a mouthful of blood as their godly cultivation deviated. The very rules of their domain had shifted. Grass would grow just a little greener, or men and women would have a few more sperm and eggs or less. Her domain of Fertility had changed. Reality shifted and changing everything in a small manner around them. Arva took a step back and then another as her cultivation dropped and her goal of reaching True God became slightly longer. The same happened for most of the Pantheon of Arrgonton. If not for a portion of their domains tying together to create a pantheon Arva did not know if they would still be alive. Aegis Kan completely faded from her thoughts as she struggled to understand the changes to her domain.

The gods vanished each returning to their realms to cultivate and combat the changes to their understanding of their LAW.

The Lowest Heaven was in a complete turmoil as various gods who could not withstand the changes to reality perished and the millions perhaps billions mortals that worshiped them followed. Changes were coming to Endless Gaia.

***

We slowly approached the world called Prima, Amaya still tightly grasping my hand. She was scared and I did not fault her, for so was I. No matter the confidence I projected outwards I was truly scared. Scared of the things to come.

Aegis Kan brace yourself!

The blue green world grew closer before something shifted. An overlay of another world, a slightly bigger world, seemed to cover Prima. With this world being a darker color and version of Prima but the continents and seas being all out of order. Then they melded together changing into something entirely new. Different from both imagines prior. Our ship alarms rang out and I felt a strong pull to the world. What just happened?

END OF VOLUME ONE.