The stone walls surrounding us are chipped apart, the scars of its making still marring its surface. Even after so long no one has found the time to smooth it all out. That’s not to say that it’s unchanged.

More gashes now line the stone walls, all along the narrow hall, remnants from the battle that crawled its way even up here. New chips knocked out of the stonework, more light fittings damaged, and paperwork thrown all about.

Though that last one might just be the natural state of this room. The lord is looking over paperwork at his desk as his assistant leans down over the large map before me, pointing out a few paths out of our current cavern.

“This path takes you to the Evergreen cavern, it’s currently under lord Grenwitch’s authority. The community there is rough, but still more civilised than our own colony, mostly made up of slayers hunting beasts and gathering wild plants.”

“I’m guessing we can move there if we have to?” I ask.

“They would accept more slayers and anyone able to work.” She says, running a webbed hand along her cheek. She’s the same species as the lord of the colony, Alaksar, I call them, though I usually don’t bother with the term. There are surprisingly few conversations about species in this world.

“So, it’s viable. How possible would it be to settle there temporarily?”

“Scouts have noticed the gremlins keeping watch over the tunnel joining our cavern to Evergreen. If you’re prepared to fight for it, it’s possible.” She says, looking at me curiously. “There’s also the crystal caverns over here, but there’s some tricky beasts living there, they’re made of floating crystal shards. Dangerous and difficult to kill without magic.”

“How aggressive?” I ask, looking over the tunnel she points at. “And is that tunnel underwater?”

“They are, and it is.” She nods slowly. “Sorry, I forgot that most of your people aren’t aquatic. So that’s not much of an option for you.”

The network of caverns surrounding us is much more dense than I was expecting, most of the tunnels connecting them on the map are small things, crevices that extend for kilometres in twisting mazes. Narrow enough to allow for only a few people at a time to pass, not an army.

“Not as many options as I’d hoped.” I say. The Evergreen cavern is the only viable option for moving everyone, and even that is not great considering the circumstances. The walls feel so much closer together than the first time I glimpsed this cavern.

The more I see of it, the more it feels like a cage. The academy above us the walls to the cell, the dungeons themselves the jailers, and also the biggest prisoners. There’s still so much about this world that I don’t know.

I’d thought that the Unified States was a weakening empire in its dying days, it’s warriors and armies, from what I can tell are retreating as they’re unable to defend their people. If Frey and Arduelle wished for it, surely they could break out of here and armies of the Unified States wouldn’t be able to stop them.

So, what holds them back?

Why are they so dedicated to keeping their heads down, wearing the academy as a cloak to hide themselves?

Was I wrong? Does the Unified States still have some power that I don’t yet know about? Something that could terrify the pair, and cause them to hide away here?

“I think that’s enough.” I say with a sigh. “How well is everything here?”

“Well enough.” The lord himself says, as his assistant rolls up the map. “The people are frustrated by the troubles of the war, but they’ll be glad to see Loekan’s threat ended. He’s one of the few growing threats in this cavern, most other powerful beasts have settled into their territory and rarely leave.”

“I’ll be sure to see him dead soon enough.” I say. “My people want for peace, and I do to.”

“What will you do when it’s over?” The lord asks, looking up at me from his desk. “You don’t seem the sort to be satisfied with what you have.”

“I’ll build.” I say. “I want a place where my people can be safe, where we can grow.”

He nods slowly. “Then perhaps you should find an escape from this place.”

“The cavern?” I ask. “When Loekan is gone…”

“Not the cavern.” He says, looking up from his papers. “Frey, and Arduelle. I’m saying that this place would frustrate you, it would leave you… unsatisfied, if peace is your goal.”

“What do you mean?”

“Unlike you, I do not speak with the goddesses so frequently, but I don’t need to in order to understand them. To an extent at least.” He says, sitting up straighter. “Chaos is a temporary state.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just listen for a moment.” He says, resting his chin on his hands. “I’ve read enough of my people’s history to understand a few things. Chaos is temporary, always a powerful force will rise up and provide some sense of order. Sometimes this is the omega beast, they consume and kill, until they are the last standing, literally killing chaos.

“Other times it’s a civilisation, a powerful group forms to bring their own flavour of justice and order to the world, and they spread, crushing the wild chaos as they go. I imagine the Unified States above are much like this, though they’ve found so much success that they no longer feel the need to expand further.”

“Yes, and I’m trying to bring that order to this cavern.” I say, “Do you have an issue with that?”

“Me? Not quite.” He says, closing his eyes. “We already have a pair who have taken control. Frey, and Arduelle. Strictly speaking, this dungeon, even in its current state, isn’t filled with chaos, but rather a peculiar flavour of order. Everything that is, is by their will.

“If you wish to build an empire here, then it is only with their support that you will be allowed to build it.”

I grind my teeth as I glare at the walls at my side. I close my eyes and steady my breath. He is not wrong. Those pair are the alien gods ruling this place. We are literally living inside Frey’s body at the moment.

It is their territory. I only live here with their blessing.

My skin itches, and cruel thoughts float to mind, but I supress the fleeting images filling my mind and the phantom sensations running through my flesh.

Do I have nothing?

The home I have on the surface is the Unified States territory, my home down here is Frey’s territory. In the ruins I simply live in the no man’s land between, a place where both can reach me.

A few people who put their faith in me, given me their trust, but that is all that I can truly claim as truly my own.

“There was one other thing I wanted to discuss.” I say. “Some of my people, well to put it simply, they don’t seem to want to be my people anymore. They want to stay here and join your town.”

“That’s fine.” He says nodding slowly, “In fact I would warn you that you can’t force them to stay with you should they choose to stay.”

“That’s good, but I can’t vouch for their nature,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t want to be responsible if any of them cause you trouble.”

“No one will think you responsible for their actions.” He says with a slight chuckle. “Worry for yourself and those who take orders from you, otherwise know that everyone in this cavern is subject to the rules of our society, and I will deliver punishment if they cross the line.”

“Understood.” I say, my skin crawling as my own power is undermined even more. He’s not doing anything wrong, but my very nature is incongruent with being in such a position.

“Then, if you have nothing you need from me.” I say, bowing my head slightly. The man is deserving of respect, particularly for how little he regards himself. A leader who values his people and society more than his own pleasures is more than simply a good leader. His office is still lacking in the luxuries that I’d expect from even a basic office back on Earth, and it’s not from lack of access.

“I’ll message you should I have a request for you.” He says, returning his attention to his paperwork.

The man doesn’t seem to fit his role in many ways, neither in pomp nor strength, but in others he’s the most respectable leader I’ve met since leaving Earth… actually I can’t recall even a handful of names even from Earth that I’d respect as much. Admittedly that’s partly because I wasn’t out there rubbing shoulders with the world’s leaders back on my home world.

Raw power from powerful mana forms or military might can only get a person so far. One needs to manage alliances, rights, trade, as well as ensuring the defence of his people, and so much else.

I’m still figuring things out as I go along, but I feel so far behind. I’m not wrong to be focusing my everything on my own personal strength at the moment, but that doesn’t excuse future me from learning how to act like a proper leader.

Peace will have its own challenges waiting for me, but hopefully nothing so awful as what war can bring me. Hopefully I’ll have some time before the next war comes for me, too.

Leaving behind the lord’s office, I run a hand along the roughly chipped walls of this small colony. While I can see some stagnant mana inside them, there’s also a strange absence. The invisible living mana form of the dungeon herself.

Frey.

We’re in the belly of the beast, surviving only because she let’s us. I cannot find my true home here.

“Frey.” I say, speaking in a low whisper. I’m not sure if she’s even listening at the moment, but I should try. Perhaps I should be messaging her instead, but it feels too impersonal.

“I’m not sure how much you care about us. How much life forms like us matter to a being so much more powerful like you, but I’d at least like the chance to prove that our lives have meaning.

“Maybe, we could even be friends.” I say.

“So you can ask me for favours?” The ghostly figure of a girl appears before me. An apparition through which she can speak to us. “So you can beg that I kill your enemies? Why is your life more important than Loekan’s?”

“From what perspective?” I ask her, sighing. “Of course, my life is more important to me. You get to decide for yourself who you like and who you’d like to support. Do you like the city that Loekan has made? The way he treats people? The way he treats you?

“What about me? Do you like how I treat people? Do you hate it? Do you hate the way I talk with you, maybe? You get to decide who you support and why.”

“You want to be some immortal King.” Frey says, her voice low and angry. “You want me to support you, to make you immortal. You want to use my power to control and manipulate everyone else. You’re a greedy, selfish creature like all the rest.”

“Honestly I didn’t even know the immortal thing was an option.” I say, shaking my head. “Beyond that you’re both right and wrong.

“I do want your support, the same as I want from everyone who I would lead, but I don’t think you’ll accept me as your Empress. More realistically, I want your assistance to protect the things I love.

“I’d honestly rather not make the request, I’d rather be strong enough to do it all on my own, and one day I will be that powerful. I don’t want to use your power, so much as I want equivalent power of my own.

“You say I’m greedy and selfish? I am. I want a soft, warm bed. I want everyone I love to love me in return. I want to live in a civilisation with excess where no one is left wanting, where free speech and expression allows for every weird and wonderful idea to be expressed. For countless people to live different lives, with different values, but together, supporting each other.

“I want stability and peace.” I say, with a long tired sigh.

“You want war, you want power.”

“I want the power to make a home, where there is civilisation and peace. Where no one has to bow to corrupt and cruel leaders. I want the power to make my dream real. That sometimes means war, and it sometimes means violence.”

“I don’t trust you.” Frey says, leering at me from the walls all around. Her sight more powerful than my own new sight Skill by a ridiculous measure.

“So what can I do to earn your trust?” I ask, resting a hand on the wall. The cold stone feels closer now than before, the air warmer and harder to breath.

“Nothing.” Frey replies. “There’s nothing you can do.

“You speak like a violent warlord. Like Loekan, promising everything that you’ll never create. You’ll beat him and take his city, you’ll steal and kill to get what you want, but you’ll never share. You’re a liar. People like you are always power-hungry liars, taking more and more.”

She disappears as the mist on an early morning day, fading to nothing before my eyes. Her gaze from the walls is no different from before, a heavy weight on my shoulders.

I sigh, lifting my head.

“Fine.” I say, “I’m not on my own, anyway. I’ll make you look like a fool, Frey. I’ll prove to you that I’m not a liar. I’ll ask that you forgive a few fuck ups here and there, if you would be so kind. I’m not perfect yet, just trying to get there.”

“You killed a child.” Frey says, appearing behind me. “That gremlin child was playing, and you killed him.”

“I did.” I say, recalling the small body of the little creature that I pulled the mana from. “If it’d caused a fuss, Loekan would’ve arrived sooner. More of my people would be dead.

“I’m not as powerful as you, I can’t protect everyone, I have to pick and choose. If you wanted that child to live, you could’ve saved him, but you didn’t.”

“That doesn’t justify anything.” She pouts, waving her hands.

“Then judge me, my sweet, little goddess.” I say, lifting a hand to pat her illusory head. She dodges back. “Or lecture me, or whatever you want. For now, I have to talk with some people. If I act now maybe I can prevent more unneeded deaths.”

I walk away from her, heading deeper into the stone tunnels. People are talking up ahead, guiding me towards the markets. It’s always rather busy here, even when not shopping people show up to talk and get to know their neighbours. There’s none of the desperate atmosphere that I was expecting.

The people here are happy, even knowing that they’re not safe. Even with the war raging beneath our feet, and Loekan planning our demise.

I pause at a small, enchanted wall ornament as it catches my eye. The names and identities of the lost are listed here alongside messages from family and friends. Seeing the names, it’s a little surprising how many have died. It couldn’t have been through this one conflict alone, this must be everyone who’s died since they settled here.

As I look through the names, I expect some small stirring in my heart, but it beats on in its own steady pace. I know each name is a deceased person, someone who suffered and died here, but… nothing stirs inside.

When was it that I forgot the value of a life? Was it when Red crashed the ship with us in it? Was it sometime later when the trauma had time to settle in? Was it before? Have I always been like this?

It’s not that I feel nothing. Seeing so many lives taken prematurely, the ball of rage within me twists and turns constantly, but no more or less in this one moment. I still have a heart, even if it’s more twisted by rage than grief.

I won’t let my own people suffer like this.

That’s what my heart tells me.

To give them an opportunity for something better.

For Alo and Vice, that means saving them from the welfare officers and their brand of justice. Something that I still don’t fully understand. I know that Adler was protecting us even with her Chip controlling her to an extent, but it’s still difficult to understand how Vice and Alo could be considered ‘beastly’ enough to deserve their treatment.

“Kyra?” asks Anna, a familiar human face.

“Anna, how are you doing here?” I ask.

“I… I’ve been better.” She replies, looking around the room.

“True for all of us.” I say, with a sigh.

“Aalia wants to stay here. Guy too.” She says in a hurry. “They… they don’t like you much.”

“Guy, too?” I ask. He’s been mostly polite to me, Aalia I could’ve guessed from our last few interactions that she’s not going to come to agree with me.

“Uh, yeah.” She nods. Looking about the markets. “Do you think…?”

“I spoke with the local lord. If they keep out of trouble they’ll be fine living here for as long as they like.” I say. “What about yourself?”

“I’ve been helping with the healer. He doesn’t have many people helping him with his work, and there’s been a lot of work for us lately. He agreed to help teach me healing magic.”

“That’s nice.” I say, nodding my head. It seems no one wants me as their leader, frustrating but I can’t really blame them. I’ve led them from disaster to disaster all this time.

I lean back against the smooth stone wall. It’s cleaner here, more work has been put into the structure, and I have to wonder whether the local lord doesn’t just prefer the rough textures on his own office.

“Doesn’t this feel a little closed in?” I ask, looking around the small room. For as nice as it’s been made, it’s still not anything that I could be happy with. It’s large for a cave, but that’s not how I’d want to describe my own living conditions. Even the cavern below us is starting to feel a little too familiar.

“I guess.” Anna replies with a shrug.

There isn’t really much for us to talk about. She’s been through a lot herself, but that doesn’t make for much in the way of conversation starters.

“Well, I’m going to go walk around for a bit.” I say, there’s still more people that I need to talk with. More things that I have to get done before I can focus on my training.

“I’ll see you around.” She says, waving weakly towards me.

It’s kind and warm, but the walls are too close together. This place belongs to Frey, not to me. At best I can rent out a room, but my landlord can break contract whenever she likes for whatever reason.

I don’t have any teleportation magic to take me away somewhere I can stand on my own without others over me. Instead, all I can do is get stronger until I’m free of their influence.

I speak with some of the local slayers who are back from their fights, they’ve been working to slaughter the gremlins and the beasts that have been running wild lately. While few of them are willing to assist us directly they do like to talk about their exploits and the terrifying things that they’ve seen.

They treat me like one of them, smiling and cheerful. It’s welcome but alien, I just want to return to my dorm room on the surface.

As I’m making my way back to my guards, who’ll be escorting me back up through the ruins, I see the talented chef from before. The pretty one that I’d been talking to for a time.

She’s smiling affectionately while speaking with Slan, his snake-like lower body curled up tight. The two seem to be getting along well. There’s a bright shine in her eyes.

My heart thumps painfully in my chest at the sight.

Strange.

I feel upset, almost angry, and possessive.

Nonsense feelings that don’t make any real sense considering the situation. If she wants to find love with Slan or anyone else, it’s none of my business.

Still my heart pounds on.

A half-hearted chuckle escapes me as I turn to leave. I guess I won’t ever be truly satisfied.

I still want more, and I don’t think it’ll ever be enough.

“I almost have dinner ready.” Nel sends. “Are you nearly done?”

“I’m coming back now.” I say, a pleasant warmth rising up in my heart, easing the discomfort of my earlier emotions. “Is everyone else there?”

“Not yet, but they’ll be here before you make it back. Hurry it up, but be careful not to get hurt.” She sends.

“Come on.” I say to my guards, the smile on my lips refusing me as I try to force it down. “I have to make it home before dinner gets cold.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Skills & Stats

~Mana Form:

Current mana density: 5902 units

~Mana distribution:

Category Current Max. Defence 0% 99% Offense 0% 99% Mana Sense 0% 100% Recovery 89% 89% Gluttony 0% 94% Misc. 0% 98% Efficiency 89% 100%

~Favourited Skills:

-Tag and Film

-Trapping

-Mana surge movement

-Annihilation defence

-Annihilation flame burst

-Annihilation net

-Eyes of an Empire